Le Petit Prince to reign at Metropole Hanoi

Le Petit Prince, one of the most beloved childrens stories of all time, is coming to Ha Noi next month.

Starting from June 1 – International Childrens Day – the 113-year-old Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel will host an exhibition, calledle Petit Princes Journey, which is an old childrens tale of a little boy fallen to Earth who encounters the strangeness of the adult world for the first time.

Le Petit Prince, one of the most beloved children's stories of all time, is coming to the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel next month.

The month-long exhibition will feature scanned copies of the pages of the original manuscript produced by the books author Antoine de Saint-Exupery; selections of artistic photography by Vincent Nguyen of locations around the world travelled by Saint-Exupery; and a rare colour film recording Saint-Exupery writing the story in Canada in 1942.

Selections of artistic photography by Vincent Nguyen of locations around the world travelled by Saint-Exupery will be on display at the le Petit Prince's Journey.

All the images will be on display in the hotel's Le Club Bar and LOrangerie.

Sofitel organised the travelling exhibition as an opportunity to expose its work with the Saint-Exupery Foundation, a group that promotes initiatives to support children living in difficult environments.

For every family that makes reservations at the hotel using the Magnifique Family package, the hotel donates 2 euros per night to the Saint-Exupery Foundation.

Italian nights lend inspiration to city photographer

Photos depicting Trevi Fountain in Rome (above) and part of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan are among the photos displayed at the Nocturnal Memory. Milan and Rome exhibition in Casa Italia. — Photos courtesy of Paolo Belletti

A photo exhibition that has opened in Ha Noi offers an opportunity for visitors to discover the night scene in Milan and Rome.

Taken by Italian photographer Paolo Belletti, the 20 photos on display are a part of a huge collection that he has compiled in the two iconic cities since last June.

The freelance photographer said he decided to depict Milan and Rome in his Nocturnal Memory project because the cities "have significantly influenced my own background."

"I've lived in Milan for more than 10 years. I graduated from the university and began my career in photography here. I also work very often in Rome. So for me, these two cities are very important," said Belletti on Monday.

Nocturnal Memory is a collection of photos by Belletti and words [reflections] written by young Italian writer Giulia Cavaliere.

To take his pictures, Belletti typically left home at midnight and returned in the early hours of the morning – around 4am.

Through the darkness of night, the photos unveil the hidden life of empty urban spaces, paving the way for a new aesthetic and cognitive experience for the viewers.

"I want to present how the cities look like without their daytime bustle. The light of the night changes magically the structure and shape of every location and place," Belletti said.

"Through my photos, I hope that people who are busy dealing with their daily concerns and problems can stop for a while and look around to enjoy familiar places that they ignore."

On the opening day of the exhibition, the Italian photographer said that he was planning a similar project on Ha Noi.

"For me, Ha Noi consists of many interesting surprises. I don't know much about the city as I was here for just a week in November and this is my second visit. I would like to discover and penetrate deep into the city every night, trying to search for places that can inspire. So far, I've written down some notes," he said.

Casa Italia is located at 18 Le Phung Hieu Street. The Nocturnal Memory: Milan and Rome will remain open to public until May 22.

Fairy tale themed operas performed in Germany

The Vietnamese fairy tale “Con Rong Chau Tien” (Children of the Fairy and the Dragon) took centre stage at the Bremen Theatre on May 8-9 under the baton of conductor Christoffer Nobin.

A opera was composed by Karsten Gundermann, based on the Vietnamese fairy tale "Su tich qua dua hau” (The Legend of Watermelon).

The performance, hailed as a huge success by the audience, attracted great attention of German media and newspapers including public TV broadcaster ZDF and Deutschland national radio.  

Encore performances are scheduled throughout Germany.

Vietnamese artists Nguyen Hong Uyen Khanh, Nguyen Dan Thy, Tran Phuong Hoa and Hung Le performed in the opera, alongside foreign professional instrumentalists of the Bremen orchestra and as many as 600 other participating artists.

Veteran composer To Vu leaves behind rich legacy

Noted composer To Vu passed away on Tuesday in his home in HCM City's District 9. He was 91.

To Vu, who was born as Hoang Phu in the northern province of Bac Giang, was among the talented musicians who made substantial contributions to Viet Nam's modern music.

At the age of 15 he joined the Dong Vong (Echo) group with some friends, who composed songs praising the country and the heroism of people as well as romantic love songs.

During the resistance war against the French, he worked actively to found the Viet Nam Composers Association. He was among the pioneers of today's National Academy of Music, where he worked as a lecturer between 1959 and 1967.

After the liberation of south Viet Nam in 1975, he held the post of Deputy Rector of the Viet Nam Music Research Institute, and was in charge of the institute's HCM City branch office.

To Vu has been popular with beautiful songs like Ta Tu (Good Bye) and Anh Den Tham Em Mot Chieu Mua (A Visit in Rainy Afternoon). He has also composed music for tuong (classical drama), cheo (traditional opera), and cai luong (reformed opera). He also made music for puppetry and cinema.

He published a research book titled Am Nhac Viet Nam - Truyen Thong va Hien Dai (Vietnamese Music - Tradition and Modernity), in 2002, which gathers various research material on folk music, cai luong, traditional instruments, central highlands' gongs and lithophone [stone instrument] .

His funeral was organised yesterday in HCM City, while a commemorating ceremony will be held at his house in Ha Noi tomorrow and Saturday.

New TV show features heroic Con Dao prisoners

A television documentary series on the life of Vietnamese revolutionaries in Con Dao Prison will be filmed this month by Viet Nam Television (VTV) and Viet Nam Film Studio.

The 12-part series, Bat Khuat Con Dao (Indomitable Con Dao), is written and directed by Minh Chuyen of VTV.

The series is about the lives of revolutionaries sent to Con Dao Prison from 1862 and the mid 1970s during the French and American wars.

It includes depictions of jailbreaks of prisoners who lived and sacrificed for the country's independence.

Located on Con Dao Island, Con Dao Prison is known as "Hell on Earth" where more than 200,000 prisoners, including leading Vietnamese revolutionaries, were jailed.

Nearly 20,000 died in atrocious conditions under the French and US-backed Sai Gon regimes.

"Through the film, we wanted to spotlight Vietnamese revolutionaries' remarkable spirit and work in achieving the country's freedom," said Chuyen, who spent 10 years filming.

Chuyen and his crew began filming in Con Dao and Con Dao Prison in 2003. They conducted research on the prisoners and also met and interviewed hundreds of witnesses.

"We filmed dozens of reports on Con Dao prisoners. We wanted our production to be real to help young audiences understand what war really is and the heavy losses that occur," Chuyen said. "Bat Khuat Con Dao is similar to a heroic song which highlights the spirit and revolutionary cause of Con Dao prisoners in Viet Nam history."

Chuyen, once a soldier, began working as a reporter in 1975 for the Thai Binh newspaper. He published 20 books on war and post-war topics.

In 1997 he began working at VTV, and has since directed 40 films and TV series.

He has won top prizes at national and international film festivals. His film, Cha Con Nguoi Linh (Father and Son Soldiers) won the Golden Prize at an International Film Festival in Pyongyang in 2006.

Post-production work on the film Bat Khuat Con Dao was completed in Ha Noi. The film will be broadcast on VTV1, VTV3 and VTV4 channels on May 25.

Guitarist Gabriel Bianco performs at L'Espace

L'Espace will welcome classical guitarist Gabriel Bianco to their stage on May 20 from 8pm.

Bianco has been hailed as a "classical revelation", and despite his young age, has broken the boundaries between modern and classical genres with his eclectic mix of sound. Influenced by Bach and Paganini Turina, Bianco is a virtuoso not to be missed on stage.

Tickets are on sale at L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street for VND120,000 with discount for students and L'Espace members.

Brazilian party to welcome World Cup

A Brazilian-themed party to welcome the 2014 World Cup will be held at Thao Dien Village on May 23.

The party will feature samba music and dance, Capoeira - a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music - a lucky draw, and churrasco (beef or grilled meat).

Cuban music band Luna Negra and French DJ Ken J will perform at the event.

The party will begin at 6pm. The restaurant is at 195 Nguyen Van Huong Street, District 2. Tickets costing VND350,000 can be booked at.

Bar hosts rock-paper-scissors tournament

The outdoor Saigon Outcast bar will host a rock-paper- scissors tournament on May 18.

The rule is that rock beats scissors, which beats paper, which beats rock.

There will also be ice-breaking, networking, music, and a barbecue.

Registration will start at 3pm that day and the game at 4pm. The bar is at 188/1 Nguyen Van Huong Street, District 2. More information on the event and prizes is available at .

Australian indie pop band to perform at Cargo

The Cairos, a four-piece indie pop band from Australia, will perform at the Cargo Bar on May 17.

The band, formed in 2009, consists of guitarist and vocalist Alistar Richardson, guitarist Alfio Alivuzza, bassist Reuben Schafer, and drummer Jacob Trotter.

They have released five albums and toured many countries and performed across Australia.

Their concert will also feature the city-based fuzz-punk band The Secret Asians.

The show will begin at 8pm. The venue is at 7 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4. Tickets are priced at VND150,000 if bought in advance and VND200,000 at the door.

Cinematheque screens short documentaries

The Friends of Vietnam Heritage on May 22 will present a line-up of five short documentary films from The Center for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents (TPD).

The screening will include No (The Destiny) by director Ha Thai, Toi Di Ban Toi (I Put Myself on Sale) by Mac Pham Ngoc Ha, Oc Dao Gio (Oasis of Breeze) by Le My Cuong, Cho Toi Mot Ve Ve Tuoi Tho (Give Me a Ticket Back to Childhood) by Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, and Nghe Bang Mat (Listen by Eyes) by Do Thu Hien.

Among the movies, No was granted the 2012 Silver Kite Award by the Viet Nam Cinema Association, while Cho Toi Mot Ve Ve Tuoi Tho received the annual Golden Lotus Bud – Audience Award — by the We Are Filmmakers project.

The screening will start at 7.30pm and take place at the Ha Noi Cinematheque, 22A Hai Ba Trung Street. Tickets are VND150,000. To reserve seats contact: nguyenvunganhang@gmail.com. The films total time is about 75 minutes. There will be a Q&A session with TPD directors afterwards.

Work Room Four celebrates first birthday

Work Room Four - Ha Noi's incubator of creativity; providing co-working spaces, art classes and workshops, is turning one year old this May, as well as celebrating the opening of their second studio.

Work Room Four's birthday celebration will take place tomorrow from 6pm at on Level 24, Tower 1 of the Packexim Building at 49 Lane 15, An Duong Vuong Street, Tay Ho District.

The birthday bash promises art, music, drinks and great company. More information at www.workroomfour.com.

Many experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) along with domestic and foreign scholars have discussed ways to preserve and promote folk values of Vi-Dam singing in contemporary society.

At a workshop held in central Nghe An province from May 14-15, delegates presented more than 80 reports aimed to evaluate true values of the thousand-year-old folk music.

On May 14, they made fact-finding tours to some Vi-Dam singing clubs in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, and enjoyed a performance by artists of the Phu Viet club in Ha Tinh.

Vi-Dam singing, two kinds of folk music from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, often reflects the working and cultural lives of people in the coastal provinces. The art is the treasured cultural heritage that features vocalists singing in a call and response pattern.

The workshop is part of Vietnam’s efforts seeking UNESCO’s recognition of Vi-Dam folk music as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.

Vietnam now has eight examples of world intangible heritage listed by UNESCO, namely Hue’s royal court music; Gong space culture in the Central Highlands; Quan ho (love duet) singing; the Giong festival; Ca Tru ceremonial singing; Xoan singing; the Worship of the Hung Kings, and Don ca tai tu (southern folk music).

“Mosfilm” cinema week present Russian movies

Russia’s oldest and largest studio Mosfilm week will present to film lovers in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City both classical and contemporary Russian movies from May 20 to 28 to mark its 90th anniversary last year.

“Mosfilm week” will feature White Tiger by Karen Shakhnazarov, Ivan's Childhood by Andrei Tarkovsky, Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears  by Valentin Chernykh and Vladimir Menshov, The Hussar Ballad by Eldar Ryazanov, They Fought for Their Country by Sergei Bondarchuk, and She by Larisa Sadilova.

All of them will be sub-titled in Vietnamese.

Mosfilm, which remains the top studio in the country, has produced thousands of motion pictures since its founding in 1923.

Musical tribute to Vietnam marine police, a big hit

Canh sat bien Vietnam (Vietnam marine police) written by Nguyen Manh Hung, a lecturer at the Hanoi College of Art, has been recorded by him and his students to pay tribute to the Coast Guard who safeguard the country’s maritime security.

It hails their performance and encourages them to protect the country's sovereignty over its seas and islands.

The song, which the musician said took him two hours to compose, has become a hit with Vietnamese both at home and abroad and gone viral on social networking sites.

Ho Chi Minh's childhood home restored

Three houses of President Ho Chi Minh neighbours in Nghe An Province’s Nam Dan District have been restored to allow visitors a chance to get a better idea of Uncle Ho's childhood community.

The houses have been restored to appear much like they looked during the time the Late President Ho Chi Minh lived in Sen Village, Kim Lien Commune.

The original house has three rooms with a roof held up by wooden pillars. It covers a total area of 50 square metres.  Quite modest in their design, the houses of the late President and his neighbours all had soil floors.

The owners of these homes all expressed their feelings of honour at the renovations as well as a hope that they would add to the national heritage.

Nguyen Ba Hoe, Director of the Kim Lien site, said the restoration efforts would help tourists to better understand the relationship between the late President and the community in which he spent his formative years.

Although renovations are still underway, many visitors are already flocking to Lang Sen Village, the hometown of Late President Ho Chi Minh.