Kyo York releases MV in commemoration of Trinh Cong Son

American singer Kyo York has released a music video called Ha Trang (white autumn), a well-known song by the late music composer Trinh Cong Son, on Youtube in commemoration of Son’s upcoming death anniversary.

The song is performed in both Vietnamese and English. Kyo said Trinh Cong Son’s music is what has brought him to Vietnam. Son’s songs have philosophical meanings on many aspects in life. In the previous tenth death anniversary, Kyo was invited to a memorial music show and highly acclaimed by lovers of Son’s music.

The MV is set in a very simple way with a window frame accompanied by white flowers and familiar Con Rua Lake in District 3. These simple things successfully express the cornerstone of Trinh music through Kyo’s charming and inspiring voice.

The plan to make this MV to honor Trinh Cong Son took Kyo and his team quite a long time. He once intended to postpone it due to another video reaching the deadline. But he managed to complete it in time for Trinh Cong Son’s death anniversary.

Kyo has been in Vietnam for five years. He used to be a voluntary English teacher at a college in Hau Giang Province. One of his friends happened to find out his ability of singing in Vietnamese and seriously advised him to go for it. One year later, Kyo was invited to a music program of singer Tuan Ngoc.

Since then, he has become a singer of Vietnamese songs. His other videos like Xin chao Ha Long (Hello Ha Long), Ve que bac Ba Phi (Going to Ba Phi’s hometown) and Con gai (Girls) have attracted millions of viewers on Youtube.

YxineFF 2014 looks for entries

The fifth edition of the international online film festival YxineFF is calling for entries in 2014. The event this year is themed The Dreamers, following Choice in 2013, Individual in 2012, Belief in 2011 and Love in 2010.

YxineFF 2014 accepts submissions over three months, from April 1 to June 30. Vietnamese and international filmmakers can send in their productions of all genres, which do not exceed 60 minutes in length and which come with four categories: International Competition, Local Competition, Panorama and In Focus. Movie screenings will commence on September 19 and the closing and award ceremony will take place in December.

The film fest will continue to hand out awards for Golden Heart, Red Heart, Green Heart, Fire Heart, Rainbow Heart and Vietnamese Heart as well as individual awards in the International Competition category. The jury of International Competition, the most important part of YxineFF 2014, will have five members as usual.

“We look forward to receiving the most distinctive and creative works from the young filmmakers who dare to follow their dreams.  Just let your minds fly, discover the world through your personal lenses,” Marcus Manh Cuong Vu, president of YxineFF, said in a statement. He added filmmakers could bring the audience the stories that go beyond reality, reflect their inner personal aspirations and cover them all by the cinematic language and those beautiful frames on screen.

Since its inception in May 2010, YxineFF, a voluntary, non-profit and independent project, has received support from many organizations, companies and individuals, including the IDFA Bertha Fund from the Netherlands, Danish Cultural Development & Exchange Fund, Goethe Institute Vietnam, British Council Vietnam and the U.S. Consulate General in HCMC.

For detailed information about registrations, categories and other related information, visit www.yxineff.com or email questions to film@yxineff.com.

French painter thanks Hue artists

French painter Nadja Sacco on Tuesday opened her exhibition in Hue, showing 32 oil paintings as a mark of appreciation towards the local artists and audiences.

Sacco named the exhibition Les apprentissages (Apprentices) as a gesture to thank the artists from Hue that taught her oil painting techniques. The 63-year-old artist has wide-ranging experience working with different art communities in France, Morocco, and Algeria, but, this is the first time she tried oil painting.

Thirty-two paintings displayed at the exhibition are Sacco's work done at local artist Nguyen Duc Huy's workshop in Hue. The paintings are a strong depiction of faces and the art of colouring.

The entry to the exhibition organised at the French Culture Centre at 1 Le Hong Phong, Hue City, is free for public until April 10.

At a flat in the city's Nguyen Truong To, where the late music composer Trinh Cong Son once lived, local artist Dang Mau Triet is displaying 30 oil paintings to commemorate Son's death anniversary.

Triet's works themed Return of Horse Footprint, were inspired by Son popular songs, including Mot Coi Di Ve (A world for the return) and Mot Ngay Dau Thu Nghe Chan ngua ve (Horse footsteps return on an autumn day).

Son, who was a Hue native, is one of the greatest composers in Vietnamese music history.

Japanese artwork exhibition gives taste of old and new

An art exhibition featuring Japanese modern art as well as chuusen, a fading traditional dyeing and weaving method of Japan, is scheduled to open today in the capital city.

Entitled Sakura, the display will exhibit artworks by 13 young female Japanese artists.

Although different in choices of materials, styles and areas of interest, the artists in this show have one thing in common – a continuous devotion to expressing themselves only on canvas, using languages from contemporary art, illustration and textiles.

Like the air of an early morning in spring, the works on display beautifully capture and depict the lightness and tranquility of the season of love.

Through the artworks, the show expects visitors to feel the spring in the air.

The second part of the display, A Japanese Tradition with Illustration, will feature chusen – the technique of dyeing cloth which is becoming rare nowadays.

In an attempt to revive chusen and to popularise it among the younger generations, a company is using the technique to produce tenugui, a type of multi-purpose handkerchief with modern patterns, which can be used not only to wipe, but also to wrap presents or as a scarf, thus helping users make a unique fashion statement.

The artists have collaborated with the company to design and produce tenugui handkerchiefs especially for this show in Manzi, which will be available for purchase at the venue.

One can lend a touch of Japanese tradition combined with contemporary art to one's daily life in the form of a beautiful fashion garment.

The free-entry Japanese show will take place at Manzi Art Space, 14 Phan Huy Ich Street, from April 3 to 7.

Films to honour 60 years since Dien Bien Phu

Vietnamese films celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory will be screened for a week starting on April 28 in Dien Bien Phu City, northern Dien Bien Province.

Both old and new feature films and documentaries on the Dien Bien Phu victory, including new movie Song Cung Lich Su (Living with History) and documentary Dien Bien Que Toi (My Homeland Dien Bien), will be shown.

There will be interactive sessions between locals and artists such as film director Nguyen Thanh Van, cameraman Ly Thai Dung, and playwright Doan Minh Tuan.

From April 22, local mobile film screening teams will start touring to serve locals in remote areas in the Tuan Giao, Muong Ang and Muong Cha districts.

Between April 25 and May 20, various Vietnamese films and documentaries featuring revolutionary wars will be screened throughout the country.

The screenings will celebrate Reunification Day (April 30), Labour Day (May 1), Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7) and the birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19).

TPD to screen US, Taiwanese film

The Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents (TPD) will open its April screening programme with two movies from the US and Taiwan.

The 2013 release, The Spectacular Now is a funny, compassionate and poignant look at young adulthood, written by (500) Days of Summer scribes Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, directed by James Ponsoldt.

This adaptation of Tim Tharp's novel with the same name captures the insecurity and confusion of adolescence without looking for tidy truths.

The movie will be presented in original English-language version with Vietnamese subtitles.

The second screening at 2pm on Saturday will feature You're the Apple of My Eye — a 2011 Taiwanese romantic film based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Giddens Ko, who also made his directorial debut with the film.

Well received by film critics, the movie set box-office records in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ko Chen-tung won the Best Newcomer Award at the Golden Horse Awards for his role in the film.

Both the screenings will take place at 51 Tran Hung Dao Street, 4th floor.

Fine dining gala celebrates AmCham b'day

The American Chamber of Commerce – Hanoi will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Viet Nam with a gala event on Saturday from  6 -11pm, featuring fine dining, top-shelf drinks, great entertainment, and a fun and elegant party atmosphere unmatched in the city.

While the Phuong Bac Band will present their smooth jazz moves, DJ Longnely will spin music to dance to later in the evening.Guests will enjoy a five-course gourmet experience with paired wines.

The event will raise funds for the AmCham Scholars Program, which recognises talented students at the best universities in Ha Noi.

Tickets are available from the AmCham office.

British, Aussie artists entertain Ha Noi

London-based artist Spikey Tee will perform on Saturday at CAMA ATK, 73A Mai Hac De Street.

Over almost 20 years, he has progressed from being a warehouse DJ in London, to band member of avant-garde group The Sindecut, to lead vocalist in Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart. All the while, Spikey has continued to DJ, mixing hip-hop, R&B, ragga, and drum ‘n' bass.

He has toured Australia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Russia, Finland and Viet Nam.

His performance will start at 8pm.

The same night, The Hanoi Social Club will host a show featuring T.V. Jones — an Australian songwriter and musician whose music is a blend of roots and folksy blues in the style of Fink and John Martyn.

Local ukulele player and vocalist Trang Tooc will share the stage with T.V. Jones in his show, which will start at 8pm and finish at 10.30pm. The Hanoi Social Club is at 6 Hoi Vu Street.

James Bond-themed party at Saigon Outcast

The Saigon Outcast will hold a James Bond-themed party called Diamonds are Forever – from a 1970s movie that starred Sean Connery as the British spy – on April 12.

The event will feature music performances by DJs from the UK and Viet Nam like Spikey Tee, Jase, Joe Thomson, and Dastardly and Bond-related games.

Men attending the bash should wear costumes worn by any Bond character while women should come in their favourite Bond girl outfit.

The event will begin at 8pm.

The bar is at 188/1 Nguyen Van Huong Street, District 2.

IDECAF to screen 4 comedies this month

Four French comedies will be shown at the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF)'s monthly screening in April.

The films are Comme un Chef (The Chef), Quartier Lointain (A Distant Neighbourhood), Pop Redemption, and Paulette. They will be screened with Vietnamese subtitles at 3pm every Saturday.

IDECAF is at 28 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1.

Conservatory hosts VN-Thai concert

Somtow Sucharitkul, music director and conductor of the Bangkok-based The Opera Siam Orchestra, and violist Tanayut Jansirivorkul will perform together with the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert titled Somtow in Saigon at the HCM City Conservatory of Music on April 4.

The show will feature Sucharitkul's "Suriyothai" Suite, Wagner's Rannhauser overture, and Beethoven's Symphony No 2.

The show will begin at 8pm at the conservatory, 92 Nguyen Du Street, District 1.

Finalists named for Tran Huu Trang Awards

Twenty-three artists from HCM City and the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces reached the final of the 2014 Tran Huu Trang Awards, annual cai luong (reformed opera) competition hosted by the HCM City Theatre's Association. The top twenty-three finalists were chosen from a field of 60 contestants.

The up and coming HCM City artists Nguyen Trung Kien, Nguyen Hoang Hai and Ngoc Quyen, captured the hearts of judges and audiences in the selection rounds of the contest. Their colleagues from cai luong troupes in Long An, Tien Giang, Hau Giang, Dong Thap, Can Tho and Bac Lieu provinces also left a very strong impression on fans.

"We're following in the footsteps of our troupe's veteran artists who lived and worked for the art of cai luong, and trying to provide some new offerings for theatre lovers," said Nguyen Hong Tham of the Long An Province Cai Luong Troupe, one of the three artists of Long An to get to the final round this month.

Tham began her career when she was 17 and has worked hard to meet the challenge of luring audiences back to cai luong.

"I am always working on improving my skills and creativity and I strongly believe in the power of cai luong. Our younger artists are trying to breathefresh life into cai luong," said the 22-year-old.

Tham performed an excellent excerpt from the cai luong play Hon Dat ( The Soul of Land), a play which highlights maternal love. Both her voice and and stage performance made a lasting impression on the judges and audiences, who left impresssed by the young singer.

"My performance combines traditional and modern performance styles," she said.

Tham's closest competitor, Nguyen The An of Long An Province, said: " I don't want to live in the shadow of my teachers—whose art has definitely influenced me. I have worked hard to demonstrate my own personal style on stage," he said.

An captured the hearts of audiences by singing and dancing an excerpt from Khi Nguoi Dien Biet Yeu (When the Foolish Man Falls in Love), a play that has made cai luong stars famous.

"With the Tran Huu Trang Prize, we want to commemorate and promote cai luong, a traditional southern Vietnamese form of theatre which originated in the Mekong River Delta after the First World War," said Nguyen Hong Dung, chairwoman of the HCM City Theatre's Association and head of the jury.

"We hope our contest's winners will keep cai luong theatre alive," she added.

Dung said that Tran Huu Trang winners last year had since worked as leading performers in professional cai luong troupes.

The 2014 Tran Huu Trang competition, which opened in HCM City early last month, aims to celebrate the union of young talent with veteran artists, music researchers and fans of cai luong music through the event.

The final round will be hosted in Can Tho City across three nights, April 18, 19 and 20. 

Book sales put at VND38 billion at week-long fair

Book sales revenue at the eighth book fair held in HCMC last week amounted to VND38 billion, a rise of 30% versus last year’s same event. The top fi ve revenue generating firms at the fair were Fahasa with VND12 billion, Tiki with VND4 billion, Phuong Nam with VND2.5 billion, Youth Publishing House with VND2 billion and Vinabook with VND1.8 billion.

During the week from March 24 to 30, the fair attracted nearly one million visitors, mostly young people, up 20% against the previous event.

The top ten best-sellers were Buon lam sao buong (too sad to leave it behind) by Anh Khang, Chuc mot ngay tot lanh (have a nice day) and Cho toi xin mot ve di tuoi tho (traveling back to my childhood) by Nguyen Nhat Anh, Nguoi yeu cu co nguoi yeu moi (ex’s got a new one) by Iris Cao, Dao (island) by Nguyen Ngoc Tu, Thuong nhau de do (leaving love alone) by Hamlet Truong, Neu nhu khong the noi neu nhu (if (I) cannot say if ) by Alpha Books and Lao Dong Publishing House, Inferno by Dan Brown, Detective Conan by Gosho Aoyoma, and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

Derwent Art Prize opens for pencil entries

The second Derwent Art Prize for Works Created in Pencil in London has opened for entries from artists around the world who are 18 years old or older.

Entries must be created in graphite, charcoal, pastel, water-soluble or colored pencil. Each artist can submit up to six images in digital format (jpg, max. 4MB in size) which must be between 1,000 x 3,000 pixels resolution, minimum at 1,000 x 1,000 and maximum at 3,000 x 3,000 pixels.

The entries must not be copied images or in breach of copyright, and they must not have been previously exhibited and contain noxious or toxic substances.

A non-refundable £15 application fee is required for the fi rst work and £5 per additional. Deadline for submission is June 9.

About top 80 works will be chosen for exhibition at the Mall Galleries, The Mall in London from September 15 to 20.

Following the London exhibition, a selection of the exhibition will be shown at the Pencil Museum, Keswick in Cumbria from December 1 to January 9 next year.

Following the selection process, the contestants will be notifi ed by July 11, 2014. Th ose who have not heard by this date should contact Parker Harris, organizers of the Derwent Art Prize at derwent@ parkerharris.co.uk. A total prize fund of £12,650 will be awarded at the Private View at Mall Galleries in London on September 15, with £6,000 of it going to fi rst prize, £3,500 to second prize, £1,000 to third, £700 to People’s Choice Award, £500 to Young Artist Award under 25 years old and £250 to the U.K Colored Pencil Society Award.

International Science Seminar honors great Vietnamese poet Nguyen Du

Vietnam is hosting an international seminar honoring poet Nguyen Du to celebrate his 250th birthday.

The seminar will focus on his achievements and contributions to Vietnamese literature, said Ho Bach Khoa, head of the managing board of Nguyen Du Special National Relic.

The seminar will discuss persevering Vietnamese language and incorporate foreign languages and culture to further enrich the Vietnamese language. It is the fifth project honoring the poet.

Du was recognized by UNESCO for his masterpiece, Truyen Kieu (Take of Kieu). He was also recognized by the World Peace Council as a great poet in 1965.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) chose Nguyen Du among other world famous personalities.

Phu Day festival gets underway in Nam Dinh

Thousands of visitors and pilgrims have flocked to the 2014 Phu Day festival, which kicked off today (the third day of the third lunar month) at the Phu Day historical and cultural relic site in Kim Thai commune, Vu Ban district, the northern province of Nam Dinh.

The festival is one of the country’s largest and features many traditional rituals including an incense offering ceremony at the main (Tien Huong) temple, recitals of Buddhist scriptures, the palanquin procession at Van Cat temple and the torchlight procession at Tien Huong temple.

Various cultural activities are a central part of the six-day festival. A chau van (spiritual) singing contest is the highlight of the festival, while arts performances as well as lion and dragon dancing also delight audiences.

Festival goers have a chance to participate in traditional folk games like human chess, wrestling and keo chu in which a team of 32 boys under 15 years old arrange a formation to create phrases in Han (Chinese characters) and Nom (former Vietnamese system) scripts.

The Phu Day historical and cultural relic site comprises nearly 20 pagodas, temples and palaces dedicated to the Mother Goddess, Lieu Hanh — one of the four immortal gods in Vietnamese folklore.

The Phu Day festival was recognised as national intangible cultural heritage in November 2013. Nam Dinh provincial authorities are working on a dossier for submission to UNESCO to gain recognition of chau van rituals — ‘Vietnamese Mother Goddesses worship rituals’ — as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.