Int’l yacht festival in Nha Trang set for August

The provincial People’s Committee of the south central province of Khanh Hoa recently announced this year’s annual International Yacht Festival is scheduled for August 2-4.

Among the main activities are the opening ceremony, a yacht exhibition and a parade at Hon Tre island, a wine festival and an international cuisine show at Tran Hung Dao Park, a Gala Dinner programme, and a closing ceremony at the 2/4 Square.

A concert on the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, and an exchange between businessmen and yacht owners will also be held within the framework of the event.

Nha Trang hosts culinary festival 2014

The opening ceremony of Vietnamese Culture Cuisine Festival 2014 kicked off in the central coastal city of Nha Trang on July 8.

During the six-day festival, ninety professional chefs from across from the country will compete in a cooking contest, featuring the essence of traditional dishes from all three regions of Vietnam – the north, the central and the south.

A cuisine market, replicating a Vietnamese traditional market, will also feature over 80 stalls offering regional specialities such as Cha Ca La Vong (grilled fish), Banh Dau Xanh (green bean cake) in the north; Bun Bo Hue (noodle with beef from Hue city) and Mi Quang (noodle dish from Quang Nam province) in the central; and Banh Xeo (crispy pancake) and Hu Tieu (noodles with seasoned and sautéed beef) in the south.

Visitors to the festival running through July 13, will be accorded the opportunity to purchase a wide range of high-quality Vietnamese products through more than 250 stands providing both essential goods and handicrafts.

A week-long exhibition showcasing Venezuelan handicraft kicked off in Hanoi on July 8 as part of festivities celebrating the 25th anniversary of Vietnam- Venezuela diplomatic ties.

On display are over 100 products by artisans in the South American country famous for producing in the small carpentry and craft shops scattered throughout its colonial villages including bags, vase, caps, basket, plate and jewellery.

Ms Lilisbeth Ligiaelena Aguilera, a Venezuelan artisan expressed thanks to the Vietnamese Government for giving her an opportunity to participate in the event. She expressed hope that a similar event will be held on a large scale in the near future so that other Venezuelan artisans can become involved in. The event, co-organized by the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s Ministry of Culture runs through July 14.

The event is part of activities under the framework of the Venezuelan Culture Week in Vietnam.

Central city hosts Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange festival

Danang and its Japanese business association will host the Vietnam-Japan Culture Exchange and Cuisine Festival on July 16-17, vice director of the city's Foreign Affairs Department Mai Dang Hieu said on July 7.

An art troupe from Kawasaki, drum group from Ottawara and kite art group from Misuke will perform with students from Japanese-language colleges in Danang. Artists will demonstrate martial arts, Bon Odori and bamboo pole dances, while Vietnamese and Japanese restaurants offer specialties from Japan and the central region of Vietnam. Participants can even try on kimono and yukata.

The event, which aims to boost friendship between Vietnam and Japan, marks the launching of a new direct flight between Danang and Tokyo's Narita Airport.

The Danang People's Committee has allocated an area of 7,000sq.m in Ngu Hanh Son district for a Vietnam-Japan Cultural Friendship Centre.

The facility, the first of its kind in the central region, will provide a space for Vietnamese and Japanese people to exchange cultural performances, fashion shows and bonsai exhibitions. It will also organise Japanese language courses.

Author's books to be reprinted

Phuong Nam Book publishers will republish noted writer To Hoai's colossal works of literature by July next year to mark his death on Sunday at the age of 94.

They will also organise a workshop on his life and career.

The company has since 2006 bought copyright to republish more than 100 of the author's works of literature in different genres, excluding the famed children's tale, De Men Phieu Luu Ky (Adventure of a Cricket).

Six of his books were republished by the company in the first half of this year.

The company also plans to print books, make ebooks and audiobooks of his fairy tales.

To Hoai, who was born Nguyen Sen into a craftmen's family on the outskirts of Thanh Oai, Ha Noi, received the Ho Chi Minh Award in Literature and Arts (1996), and Bui Xuan Phai Award – For the Love of Ha Noi (2010), as well as other distinctions for his works.

Book describes life after the American War

Well-known author Nguyen Ngoc Thuan's latest book on post-war has been released in HCM City by the Tre Publishing House.

The 128-page book Co Ban La Buon (Only Sad) features the lives, challenges, dreams and hopes of Amerasian children living in Viet Nam after the American war.

It focuses on Huu Nghi, a boy who suffered from the effects of dioxin.

It also describes difficulties and challenges of American veterans who cannot forget the war although it is over.

"I didn't want to write a story about war. I have no ideas about war. I met a victim of Agent Orange in Bien Hoa City. He left a very strong impression on me. I felt war through his life. I decided to write Co Ban La Buon later," said Thuan in an interview with local media last weekend.

The postwar era is a new topic for Thuan, who is famous for his children books.

But the 42-year-old writer believes his new book "will bring a new experience for my readers".

A writer from Binh Thuan Province, Thuan won top prizes at national writing contests.

His winning-prize works, Tren Doi Cao Chan Bay Thien Su (Tending Cherubs on High Hill) and Mot Thien Nam Mong (Children's Dreams) and Vua Nham Mat Vua Mo Cua So (Closing Eyes while Opening Windows), have been reprinted several times by prestigious publishing houses.

Tren Doi Cao Chan Bay Thien Su won first prize at the National Writing Competition for Youth 2003-2004, while the Mot Thien Nam Mong was acclaimed at the Writing Competition for Children 2002-03.

Born into a poor family, Thuan, a former student of HCM City Fine Arts University, worked hard to maintain his love for literature.

Vietnam royal art in full swing in Paris

Dozens of artefacts featuring the millennium-old history of Vietnam, dating back to the Bronze age culture to the last feudal Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), are being put on show at a royal art exhibition in Paris.

The objects are made of different materials such as gold, silver, bronze and gemstones, with many carved with images of the dragon - which occupies a privileged position within the bestiary of mythical creatures, and symbolises power and influence of the feudal states.

They are collected by the Vietnam National Museum of History and the National Museum of Asian Arts – Guimet.

Themed “Flying Dragon - Vietnamese Royal Art”, the event forms part of the activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France, said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vuong Duy Bien.

French Minister of Culture and Communication Aurelie Filippetti described the exhibition as a good chance for the two peoples to discover their respective culture and history, helping improve the bilateral friendship and cooperation.

The event runs from July 8 to September 15.

Vietnam Culture Week 2014 celebrated in Japan

Vietnam’s Consulate General in Fukuoka, Japan, in co-ordination with Vietnamese students attending Asia Pacific University (APU), has organised Vietnam Culture Week 2014.

The APU is a famous university in Japan located in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, which has students enrolled from 80 nations of the world. The number of Vietnamese students attending APU has increased remarkably to over 300.

Vietnam Culture Week 2014 introduced diverse activities including culinary arts, folk games, fashion, and sports exchanges.

Especially, the event helped international friends and local residents learn more about Vietnam’s unique cultural characteristics and its people.

This year, Vietnam’s Consulate General decided to co-ordinate with APU to co-organise the cultural programme and elevate it to a cultural and diplomatic event in Kyushu region. 

Film week celebrates National Tourism Year 2014

A film week marking the Central Highlands-Da Lat National Tourism Year 2014 will take place nationwide from July 17-23.

Films including Gio rung suong (The misty forest wind), Gio thien duong (The wind in heaven) and a documentary film Vi su binh yen cua bien (For the sea’s safety) will be screened during the event.

There will be also an exchange between artists and audiences in Da Lat City.

The event is co-organized by the Cinema Department, Giai Phong (Liberation) Film Company, and the National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio.

The Central Highlands-Da Lat National Tourism Year 2014 themed ‘Dai Ngan Tay Nguyen’ (High Mountains, Thick Forests of Central Highlands) aims to introduce the beauty of the region to domestic and international tourists. A series of national cultural events will take place in Lam Dong and other provinces from now till year-end.

HCM City’s ballet concert features local contemporary music

A ballet concert will be held at Ho Chi Minh City Opera House by the municipal Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera on July 9.

Dancers and musicians will perform works such as Bong cuc trang (White daisy) by Tran Manh Hung, Truong Son (Truong Son mountain range) by Vu Viet Anh, Lan gio nhe bay (A gentle breath of air) by Nguyen Manh Duy, Mong moi (Be in hope) by Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Guom than (Deity lord) by Do Kien Cuong, Tinh yeu va su doi tra (Love and lie) by Tran Dinh Lang by Vietnamese and western musical instruments.

Music lovers will have also a chance to enjoy a ballet titled Danh mat va tim lai (Lost and found) as it will be introduced for the first time in the event.