New York festival promotes Vietnam’s cultural heritage

Vietnamese handicraft, cuisine and distinctive culture received great acclaim from visitors to the 6th Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Festival, which opened in New York, the US, on May 25.

The annual event aims to introduce American people and international friends to the intrinsic cultural values of countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, and promote cultural exchange and diversity between nations.

The festival attracted the participation of Japan, India, Thailand, Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam.

The Vietnamese representatives showcased the country’s unique cultural identity and beauty through Ao Dai (traditional women’s long dress), folk dance, handicrafts, and agricultural produce.

Outstanding performances of traditional musical instruments by Vietnamese students in the US received enthusiastic applause from audiences.

Visitors to the festival were also impressed by the flavour and unique style of Vietnamese coffee.

Pham Hue Anh, a member of the festival’s organising board, expressed hope that the event will help promote Vietnamese culture in the US and other foreign countries.

Bulgaria’s Day of Culture and Slavic Script marked

A get-together was held in Hanoi on May 23 to mark Bulgaria’s National Day of Culture and Slavic Script, which falls on May 24.

Congratulating the Bulgarian community in Hanoi on the occasion, Bulgarian Ambassador Evgureni Stefanow Stoytchev expressed his pleasure with the two countries’ increasing development of friendship and cooperation.

He described the event as a chance for Vietnamese people who studied and worked in Bulgaria to meet and recall their memories of the European country.

On behalf of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association, and over 30,000 Vietnamese people who studied and worked in Bulgaria, Chairman Nguyen Van Tuan praised Bulgaria’s valuable and effective assistance to Vietnam’s national liberation in the past and its current development drive.

He expressed his belief in the further development of the traditional friendship between the two countries and peoples.-

Composer Thuan Yen passes away

Composer Thuan Yen breathed his last at 12:06 p.m. at his house in Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi on May 24 after a long illness.

Composer Thuan Yen’s real name is Doan Huu Cong, who was born in 1932 in Duy Xuyen District, the central province of Quang Nam.

He is well-known with songs Bác Hồ một tình yêu bao la (Uncle Ho-an Infinite Love), Chia tay hoàng hôn (A Goodbye in the Sunset), Màu hoa đỏ (The color of Red Flower), Khát vọng (Aspire), Tình yêu không lời (Wordless Love), Người mẹ miền Nam tay không thắng giặc (Southern Mother Defeats the Enemy with Bare Hands) and Mỗi bước ta đi (Every Step We Go).

Thuan Yen family is considered as music family. His wife is Dan tranh (Sixteen Stringed Zithe) artist Thanh Huong, daughter is singer Thanh Lam and son is composer and DJ Tri Minh.

The 83 year old composer’s funeral will be held at the National Funeral Home in Hanoi on May 27 and burial service will take place at Vinh Hang Cemetery on the same day.

Ethnology museum to raise children’s love for country’s sea and islands

A series of events themed ‘Our country’s sea and islands’ have been planned for children at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology on May 31 and June 1 on the occasion of International Children’s Day.

Many contests will be organised to enrich children’s skills in locating Vietnam’s islands on the map, provide them with information about Vietnam’s sea and islands, and encourage them to feature their dreams and thoughts about their country’s sea through paintings.

The activities are intended to increase the youngsters’ understanding about Vietnam’s territory and to inspire their love for their country’s sea and islands.

Popular folk games, such as O An Quan (a board game of calculating ability), will be renewed by using materials from the sea, such as shells and oysters.

Children will also have the chance to enjoy folk melodies performed by artists from Bac Ninh and Hoa Binh provinces.

Additionally, they can try their hand at making bamboo toys under the instruction of artisans from Hanoi’s Thanh Oai district or to try on traditional costumes from Vietnam, Korea and Japan.

Nick Vujicic inspires Hanoi audience

The famous Australian amputee Nick Vujicic, who attracted crowds during his first Vietnam visit last year, returned to the “Toa Sang Nghi Luc Viet” (Shining Vietnamese Will) gala in Hanoi on May 24.

The program was launched in November last year by the Vietnam Youth Federation, the Ton Hoa Sen Group, and Vietnam Television with the aim of honouring people who, with perseverance and positivity, have overcome hardship and excelled in their life

At the event, 21 individuals chosen from a writing competition, themed examples of tremendous spirit, were honoured and had the opportunity to meet Nick Vujicic.

Nick inspired audiences by sharing his sentiment and opinions on human survival and adversity.

“All of you may be a miracle to your surrounding people. You can pass on mutual love and inspiration,” Nick sent the message to Vietnamese people.

Ton Hoa Sen Group presented gifts worth VND30 million each to 21 outstanding individuals and scholarships worth VND10 million each to ten disadvantaged students.

The head monk of One-Pillar Pagoda has filed complaints that the repair process does not meet requirements.

Time and weather have left their marks on Mot Cot, or the One-Pillar Pagoda, and its complex. The roof was already damaged, and due to a bad drainage system, the whole complex becomes flooded after normal rains. Moreover, the monks have had to live in the worship house because the complex does not have monks' quarters.

The pagoda's head monk, Thich Tam Kien, had to file complaints and has been asking for help from various agencies since 2008. By the end of 2013, Hanoi authorities announced the plan to restore the One-Pillar Pagoda complex. However, according to monk Thich Tam Kien, the original plan has been changed and has become impractical.

The low terrain is part of the cause of flooding, making it necessary for the ground level to be raised, but this issue is not included in the plan. Also, according to the plan, total area for monk residency is only 48 square metres. Kien said, "The One-Pillar Pagoda receives many visitors. 48-square-metre monks' quarter leaves little room for other activities. Besides, the small residence does not fit in with the complex landscape."

The Prime Minister's directive, issued in December 2013, stated that 25% of One-Pillar Pagoda complex would undergo construction. The Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam then asked Hanoi authorities to expand total area for monk residences to 120 square metres.

The monks at the One-Pillar Pagoda decided to file another complaint to the Prime Minister. On May 13, the Government Office asked authorities in Hanoi to review the plan. Currently, the construction at One-Pillar Pagoda complex has been halted.