Vietnam wins international flute contest in China

Vietnamese flautist Nguyen Ly Huong has won first prize at the International Flute Competition hosted by the Chinese city of in Nanning over October 10–13.

Huong’s victory is Vietnam’s first ever at the prestigious international competition.

She studied at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Her recital before the 17-member jury board of professors and famous Chinese musicians was unanimously acclaimed.

The Vietnam National Academy of Music’s Nguyen Trong Bang was also a jury member.

Huong finished first out of 79 contestants from across China.

French music festival to be held in Hanoi

Les Siestes Electroniques, a French festival dedicated to experimental music, will be held in Hanoi on October 19.

It will draw the participation of well-known French and Vietnamese musicians, including Vincent Moon, Laurent Jeanneau, Jean Nipon, Vu Nhat Tan and Nguyen Hong Giang.

The event will offer the audience a fresh experience with new and exciting discoveries and different music genres. Vietnamese traditional music will also be performed.

Les Siestes Electroniques has been held annually in France since 2002, and later on in Germany, Canada, Japan and Congo.

Finish artist to host solo exhibition in Hanoi

Finnish artist Maritta Nurmi – Creative Person of the Year 2013, nominated by the Embassy of Finland – will hold a solo exhibition at Manzi Café, Hanoi, in November.

Ms Nurmi, who has lived and worked in Vietnam for already 18 years, studied in the Turku Arts Academy from 1989 to 1993, and in Hanoi Fine Arts University in 1994.

She has held close to 20 solo exhibitions in Finland, Vietnam, Thailand, Sweden and the United States.

In addition, she has participated in over 30 group exhibitions in Finland, Vietnam, Thailand, Macao, France, Germany, Sweden, UK and the United States.

The exhibition is part of the jubilee year program for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and Vietnam in 2013.

HCM City to host Holland Village Festival

To mark 40 years of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Vietnam, the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City will organize the Holland Village festival at Sep 23 Park in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 from October 22-31.

The festival will recreate life in the Netherlands and showcase its people, culture, traditional houses, and the quintessential windmills, which are symbolic of this small yet beautiful country.

Holland’s favorite flower, the tulip, will be the highlight of the festival, and will be seen in abundance at the festival venue.

Small children can take part in the festival in milking and feeding a cow or other interesting activities.

The popular Holland Village journey started in 1985 and has visited many parts of the world.

Along with the festival on October 22, there will be a cyclo and bicycle demonstration called ‘Waves of Orange’ on streets in HCMC’s downtown area.

Movies prove effective promoters for the tourism industry

In the framework of the 18th Vietnam Film Festival, for the very first time a seminar was held to emphasize the strong connection between movies and tourism.

Film director Ngo Quang Hai ‘Chuyen cua Pao’ (Pao’s story), a well-known movie, said after the film was premiered in Ho Chi Minh City, many people asked him about the background of the film as they wanted to go there for a sightseeing tour. In 2003, the film was shot in the Dong Van Plateau, a beautiful plateau and one of the 77 geological parks of the world.

Hai returned to the plateau in 2010. Surprisingly, he found the plateau had become a tourism spot with a sign saying ‘Cultural Tourism Village’ in front of the path to the village house used in his film.

When the film ‘Indochine’ was screened in France, a wave of French people flocked to Vietnam to visit Ha Long Bay that was used as a stage in the famous film.

Someone even insisted on booking a room where actress Catherine Deneuve had stayed to increase the romantic level of their holiday in the Southeast Asian nation.

Trinh Dang Thanh, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the northern province of Quang Ninh, home of the UNESCO-recognized natural heritage site of Ha Long Bay, said that the Indochine film and the film ‘Vertical Rays of Summer’ (Chieu Mua He Thang Dung) showed Ha Long Bay which attracted many Japanese holidaymakers to the famous bay.

Quang Ninh Province boasts of 22 races, with more than 600 historic sites and natural landscapes, namely, Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, Yen Tu Mountain, Co To Island which are preferred by film makers.

Ngo Phuong Lan, Head of the Department of Cinematography, said to date more than 70 films including feature films, television films and documentary films have been staged in Quang Ninh adding that very few provinces can attract film makers like Quang Ninh does.

However, life styles, traditions, customs and cuisine of locals in Quang Ninh Province have not been exploited in the films. Everyone who arrived in Quang Ninh wish to buy grilled cuttle-fish to present to relatives; yet, the famous food has not been included in any films so far.

French journalist Federic Ferrer said Quang Ninh Province in particular and Vietnam in general have advantages in attracting travelers from across the world as the country has diverse and unique culture, a variety of beautiful landscapes and excellent cuisine. Film makers should produce good films with such beautiful scenes to display to the world and draw more tourists to Vietnam.

Festival marks Vietnam–UAE diplomatic ties

The Vietnam Festival is underway in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Taking place from October 9-19, it celebrates the 20th anniversary of Vietnam–UAE diplomatic ties, luring the public with a series of music and cultural events.

Attractions include folk music performances, a range of culinary treats offered by 2012 Master Chef Vietnam winners, plus documents and screenings featuring Vietnam, its people and relations with the UAE over the past years.

The event is co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in UAE and UAE’s Foreign and Culture Ministries.

On the occasion, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phuong Nga met with Minister of Development and International Cooperation Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State and Managing Director of Dubai World Expo 2020 Bid Committee Reem Al Hashimi, her counterpart Abdullah Al Hamed, Assistant to UAE Foreign Minister Tariq Ahmed Al Haidan and Vice Executive Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Khadem Al Rumaithi.

During the meetings, the UAE side declared that they attach importance to further cementing all-around cooperation with Vietnam.

Deputy FM Nga stated that Vietnam stands ready to promote multifaceted links with the UAE.

Both sides agreed to facilitate all-level visits, actively prepare for the second meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee scheduled for next year in the UAE and activities in celebration of the anniversary.

Both foreign ministries will boost cooperation, consultations and work closely together at regional and global forums while improving the efficiency of links across trade, investment, labour, oil and gas, and tourism.-

Exhibition on Indochina opens in Paris

An exhibition titled "Indochina – People and Territories 1856-1956" is showcasing 100 years of French history in Indochina at Paris's Army Museum.

Nearly 400 objects, costumes, documents, weapons and celluloid films, which have been kept at the Army Museum, Museum of Quai Branly and archives in overseas French territories, are being displayed at the museum.

Visitors can see images of French soldiers from the early 19th century, French ethnologists and geographers from the French occupation of Indochina.

The 600sq.m exhibition will also feature images of Indochinese soldiers who fought against the French and Vietnamese resistance soldiers who won the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

General Christian Baptiste, director of the Paris Army Museum, said the museum wanted to provide explanations and illustrations on the history of French colonies.

The exhibition will allow visitors to see the first maps of the Mekong River delta where the French occupied, as well as weapons and costumes used by thousands of soldiers from around the region, who fought in France and Europe during the two world wars.

Two royal costumes from the Nguyen dynasty's Mandarin Nguyen Tri Phuong (1800-1873); who directed royal troops to fight against the French invasion at Da Nang (1858), Gia Dinh (1861) and Ha Noi (1873); will also be on display.

The Museum's collection of celluloid films will also give visitors an insight into the loss by the French army at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

The exhibition will run until January 26 and kicks off the "Indochina Season", which will gather participants from the Guimet Museum in Paris and the Museum of 1930s in Boulogne-Billancourt.

Thai Nguyen opens exhibition honouring revolutionary life of General Giap

An exhibition featuring more than 500 artefacts on the legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap was opened yesterday in the northern province of Thai Nguyen. The exhibition showcases the life and work of General Giap, including his critical role in leading resistance efforts against the French and Americans.

Visitors will also have the chance to view important books, such as General Vo Nguyen Giap – the Era's Famous General Through Foreign Documents, and General Vo Nguyen Giap with the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

Important documents will also be on display including secret message number 1574, dated May 7, 1975 that the General sent to Vietnamese troops on the way to liberating Sai Gon (now HCM City).

Thousands of people are expected to visit the exhibition which opens at the provincial General Science Museum and will run until November 15.

Hue Festival to showcase 26 art troupes next year

A total of 26 countries and territories have confirmed their participation in the Hue Festival 2014 by sending art troupes to perform at the event.

The festival's main partners include France, Mexico and Israel.

Retaining the theme of the previous year's festival, "Cultural heritage with integration and development," the event will start on April 12 of next year and will feature nine days of art performances, cultural exchange events, and community activities.

According to the Hue Festival Centre, the festival will also showcase an ao dai fashion show, street parade, re-enactments of royal ceremonies, and community festivities in addition to the grand opening and closing ceremonies.

The fashion show will also feature the history of the poetic Perfume River, the 115-year-old Truong Tien Bridge spanning over its banks, and the nearby Dong Ba Market.

The centre has invited 30 countries and territories to participate in the festival with most confirming their availability and participation of their art troupes at the event.

Participants voluntarily performing at the festival include the OSD Nadarzyn orchestra from Poland, the SISU percussion team from Norway, and the Raduga and Smile dance troupes from Russia.

Several of art troupes will be performing at the festival for the first time. The Tarasam dance and music troupe from Israel is expected to bustle the festival through their mixture of dancing and melodies produced unconventionally using utensils, bottles and other types of percussion instruments.

Planters in rush for Da Lat Flower Festival

Farmers in Da Lat city of the Central Highland Lam Dong province are rushing to grow more flowers in preparation for the Da Lat Culture and Tourism Week 2013 scheduled for later this year.

In Thai Phien village, a traditional daisy-planting community, more than 30 hectares of daisy, lily and carnation have been planted, ready for display at the 5 th Da Lat Flower Festival.

Ho Ngoc Dinh, president of the local farmers’ association, said the village will also welcome tourists wanting to learn more about the local flower planting tradition.

Farmers in Van Thanh village are building a 120-metre-long “rose road” to greet the cultural week.

They will also prepare various types of flower products such as dried flowers and flower paintings to serve visitors at the festival.

The Da Lat Culture and Tourism Week 2013, to be held in Da Lat city from December 27-31, comprises four main events, including the first Vietnam-ASEAN heritage festival, the launch of the National Tourism Year 2014, the 5th Da Lat Flower Festival and the 120th founding anniversary of Da Lat city.-

Music and arts activities to be held to mark Vietnam-Finland relations

Concerts by Finnish band Jari & Taika and an exhibition of artist Maritta Nurmi in Hanoi are among upcoming activities to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and Vietnam.

Jari & Taika are set to perform on the Octagonal Stage in Ly Thai To Park at 20:00 on 22 October, at the Workers Theatre at 20:00 on October 23, and at 21:00 at the Metropole Hotel on October 24th.

The group is also scheduled to perform at Hai Phong Opera Theatre at 20:00 on October 21.

Formed in 2004, Jari & Taika tours worldwide, mixing rhythms and genres – from international evergreens to Finnish pop music – with their own compositions.

Free tickets are available at the Embassy of Finland on the 6th floor of the Central Building, 31 Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi from 8:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 on Monday to Thursday and from 8:00-13:00 on Friday.

From November 1-30, art lovers can visit a solo exhibition of works by artist Maritta Nurmi – who has been nominated as Creative Person of the Year 2013 by the Embassy of Finland – at Manzi Cafe, 14 Phan Huy Ich, Ba Đình, Hanoi.

Nurmi studied at Turku Arts Academy from 1989 to 1993 and at Hanoi Fine Arts University in 1994. She has lived and worked in Vietnam for 18 years.

She has held nearly 20 solo exhibitions in Finland, Vietnam, Thailand, Sweden and the United States. In addition, she has participated in more than 30 group exhibitions in Finland, Vietnam, Thailand, Macao, France, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.