Painting exhibition features children’s insight

The ‘2nd Flower and Sun’ painting exhibition, which opened on June 1 in Hanoi, offers a chance to contemplate works by child painters and helps adults relive their childhood.

Nearly 100 paintings by 26 children and one teacher from the Flower and Sun Club on display at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street feature their insights into nature, landscapes, dreams and daily life.

Nguyen Nhu Quynh, who is a teacher and the chairperson of the Flower and Sun Club, shared that the club was established in April 2012 in the hope of creating an environment to develop children’s artistic ability and creating a wholesome activity for children.

The exhibition, which forms part of activities to celebrate International Children's Day, is intended to present the works of these little painters while encouraging and honouring their artistic creations, according to Quynh.

“Joining the club, I can satisfy my passion for drawing and also have chances to participate in some charitable activities which help me understand more about the difficult life of friends who still suffer from poverty. I want to express sympathy with those people through my paintings ”, said Ngo Minh Kien, a 10 year old painter of the Flower and Sun Club.

Part of the revenue earned from the exhibition will be given to ‘Only Rice Is Not Enough’, a charity programme that raises funds to provide food and cooking services in elementary schools in poor mountainous regions. The children in these areas have only plain rice and salt everyday without any other source of nutrition. In addition to supplying food, the programme also aims to expand its activities by aiding more basic needs, such as clean water, hygiene, books and learning tools.

The Flower and Sun club, managed by teacher Nguyen Nhu Quynh, was established in April 2012 in the hope of creating an environment to develop children’s artistic ability and creating a wholesome activity for children.

The exhibition runs until June 5.

Hoang Sa, Truong Sa set multiple records

Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos have been confirmed as record holders in the sea and island category of the Viet Nam Book of Records.

The 2014 additions to the book were announced in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday.

Hoang Sa and Truong Sa have been confirmed as the archipelagos under Viet Nam's sovereignty which have had the most names. Hoang Sa was previously called Cat Vang and Con Vang, among other names, while Truong Sa previously bore names including Van Ly Truong Sa and Dai Truong Sa.

They also received recognition as the furthest archipelagos from mainland Viet Nam and the ones with the largest area, the greatest depth and the biggest number of stone islands.

Additionally, the two archipelagos have appeared most frequently on maps of Viet Nam and the world, from both ancient and modern times.

Other records relating to Hoang Sa and Truong Sa include the Hoang Sa Festival in Ly Son District, central province of Quang Ngai, which is the only ancient folk festival depicting the hardships of maritime soldiers in safeguarding sovereignty over the islands.

Meanwhile, a book entitled Viet Nam Quoc Hieu va Cuong Vuc – Hoang Sa, Truong Sa (Viet Nam's Official Names and Territories – Hoang Sa, Truong Sa) by Nguyen Dinh Dau contains the largest number of ancient and modern maps featuring the two archipelagos.

Dr Nguyen Nha, 75, also received an award for doing the most research on Viet Nam's sovereignty over the archipelagos.

VN holds international TV technology exhibition

As many as 15 countries and territories will join the annual Viet Nam International Exhibition on Film and Television Technology in HCM City between June 5 and 7, according to Nguyen Thanh Luong, deputy general director of Viet Nam Television.

Luong said the 300 booths at the exhibition would share the most advanced products and services in the television field as well as telecommunication and multimedia entertainment technology.

Leading companies in the field such as Cat Tien Sa, BHD, Multi Media, TNS, Lasta, SOng vang and ADT will join the event together with partners from developed countries like France, Canada, Denmark, Japan, South Korea and China.

Kids frolic at event for International Children's Day

Nearly 350 children in HCM City joined the fun and games that were part of the Chung Mot Uoc Mo (Sharing a Dream) programme to celebrate International Children's Day at Hoang Van Thu Park in Tan Binh District.

The annual event featured games, a circus, music performances, and a painting competition.

The kids also enjoyed food and drinks and received gifts, toys, T-shirts, and others at the fair organised by Siam Cement Group with Khan Quang Do (Red Scarf) magazine and the Tan Binh District Youth Union.

A photo exhibition named ‘I Tell You My Stories’ featuring 120 photographs by ethnic children is being held at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology from May 30–June 3.

The photographs, selected from thousands taken by ethnic children from Ninh Thuan, the northern province of Lao Cai and the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong, reflect the children’s awareness of urgent issues such as hygiene and environment.

These ethnic students were provided with a camera to capture what they saw in their communities. Through their eyes, visitors can get a glimpse into childhood games, school and family activities, and traditional festivals.

The activity is part of a project funded by Oxfam, an international organisation working to end injustice and poverty, and the Institute for Social Research, Economics and Environment (iSEE).

The selected students were trained in character photographing and story building by experts in the Photovoice method.

Addressing the opening ceremony, iSEE Director Le Quang Binh said “The project shows us the point of view of ethnic students. When people see these photos, they can understand more about the life of ethnic people, as well as how children see the world.”