SEA largest bronze Buddha statue unveiled

The northern province of Nam Dinh on August 31 inaugurated a bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, the largest of its kind in South East Asia.

The 14.8m tall statue sits on a 2.8m tall lotus throne. It weighs 150 tonnes, with bronze making up 90%. Construction on the VND80 billion project began in April 2012 and the first batch of bronze was cast in April 2014.

The giant Buddha statue is considered a significant spiritual and cultural work in Nam Dinh, located inside the Great Truc Lam Pagoda which was also inaugurated the same day.

The pagoda was built on at an area of 4,840sq.m at a total cost of VND49 billion, of which VND41 billion was raised by Buddhist followers from across the country.

Cambodia celebrates Vietnam Culture Week 2014

The commemoration of Vietnam Culture Week 2014 in Cambodia will consolidate our good neighbourly traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation, contributing to enhanced peace and stability between the two nations.

The statement was made by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Khanh Hai at the opening of Vietnam Culture Week in Cambodia in Phnom Penh on August 31.

In his speech, Hai said the event is of great significance for fulfilling the two nations’ cooperative relations, particularly in culture and arts.

“The event serves to deepen traditional relations and honour those generations of Vietnamese and Cambodians who sacrificed in the struggle for national liberation,” he said.

Cambodia Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sakana in turn affirmed that friendship and cooperation is a treasure of immeasurable value between the two peoples, which was immensely important in repelling foreign invaders and the Pol Pot regime.

During the event, Vietnamese artists are entertaining Cambodian and international friends with traditional art performances in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from August 31 to September 5.

A photo exhibition is also being staged at the Royal University of Fine Arts, at which audiences can relax and enjoy picturesque images of Vietnamese landscapes and natural heritages.

Hanoi gala honours late President

A special music gala paying tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh took place in Hanoi on August 30, with the participation of Party and State leaders, and was broadcast on national television.

The show was organised in celebration of the 45th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh’s Testament, and the 69th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc graced the guests with their honourable presence.

In his welcoming speech, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Education and Popularisation Dinh The Huynh said that when President Ho Chi Minh left this world behind on September 2, 1969, he gifted the Party and nation an invaluable spiritual legacy, namely his thoughts, virtue, and, above all, his sacred testament.

“This timeless document echoes the noble virtue, mindset and soul of a national hero and global cultural celebrity. Over the past 45 years, Ho Chi Minh’s testament has emboldened and guided our entire Party, people and armed forces through a myriad of hardships, pushing our revolution on, from victory to victory”, he said.

The will predicted the inevitability of triumph in the war against America and urged the Party to devise plans to improve public well-being, both economically and culturally.

It lays out a theoretical approach to the process of building the Party and socialism, along with the provision of useful instructions, he added.

The performances featured artists from the Vietnam Contemporary Arts Theatre and the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

Vietnam War spotlighted at France photo exhibition

Eight photographs featuring Vietnamese people’s resistance war against American aggression are being displayed at an international photo journalism festival “Visa pour l’image” taking place in Perpignan city, south of France.

The photos, taken by Vietnamese war correspondents between 1966 and 1973, describe the severity of the war as well as the bravery of Vietnamese soldiers – a decisive factor in clinching a hard-fought victory over imperialism.

Patrick Chauvel, French photo journalist, who recorded fierce battles in Vietnam during the war, expressed his admiration for Vietnamese war correspondents’ courage in snapping these pictures.

“They are both war correspondents and soldiers,” he told Vietnam News Agency. “We are very proud to introduce their story today.”

A photo by Doan Cong Tinh on display at the exhibition from August 30 to September 14

The veteran journalist said between 1966 and 1975 many foreign photo journalists came and ran coverage on the Vietnam War. Some of them, namely Larry Burrow, Duncan, Burnett, Don McCullin, Philip Jones Griffiths and Henri Huet, were known worldwide.

On this occasion, Chauvel introduced his book Photo Journalists of Northern Vietnam published by Arenes publishing house. The book gathers 140 photos taken by such war correspondents as Doan Cong Tinh, Chu Chi Thanh, Luong Nghia Dung, Minh Dao, Dau Ngoc Dan, Vu Ba, Hua Kiem and Mai Nam.

The publication also highlights Vietnam News Agency contributions to the two resistance wars against French and American aggressions in the 20th century, with more than 260 of its reporters laying down their lives on the battlefield.

"Visa pour l'image" is held annually in Perpignan city to introduce and vote for outstanding works by journalists and professional photographers covering a variety of themes, from warfare to nature, the environment, population, and religion.

This year’s festival devotes special attention to conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria and Iraq. It has rung alarm bells about risks war correspondents face when reporting from warzones. Since the beginning of the year, approximately 70 journalists have been killed when reporting on these topics.

Exhibitions affirm Vietnam’s sea, island sovereignty

A special art performance by martial art artists, singers and instrumentalists took place in Hanoi on August 29 to honour soldiers who are day and night safeguarding the nation’s sacred sea and island sovereignty.

All money collected during the programme will be provided for on-duty coast guard and fisheries surveillance soldiers and fishermen.

The event formed part of activities responding to a campaign themed “Joining efforts for national sea and islands” launched by the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) and the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The same day, an exhibition displaying 101 photos confirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in the East Sea opened in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long.

All the exhibits prove that the two archipelagos as part of Vietnam ’s territory.

In addition, 150 books, magazines and newspapers are also on show at the three-day event.

Fireworks display to mark Hanoi’s 60th Liberation Day

Hanoi is set to light up the sky by a fireworks display at 31 venues throughout the capital city on October 10 to mark its 60th liberation anniversary.

As scheduled, high-range fireworks will go off at Hoan Kiem (Restored Sword) Lake, Thong Nhat (Reunification) Park, Lac Long Quan flower garden (near the West Lake), Van Quan lake, and My Dinh national stadium.

Low-range fireworks will be let off in both inner and outlying districts of the city.

The 15-minute pyrotechnic performance will last 15 minutes, starting from 21:00 on October 10.

First career reality TV show debuts

The first-ever, business-oriented reality TV show in Viet Nam called Overtime is being aired on YANTV at 8-8.30pm every Thursday.

The show follows 12 contestants who made it past the final casting round by tackling tough business challenges. They were selected from more than 20,000 contestants from the first casting round.

The business challenges range from producing promotional videos and building communications plans to approaching clients to sell various kinds of goods.

In each challenge, contestants will be divided into two teams.

The contestant who has the worst performance during the challenge will have to leave the competition, while the rest will have to deal with even tougher challenges.

The winner will receive an EHome apartment with modern furniture, a brand ambassador contract with VietnamWorks, and a training course in the US with well-known training expert Brian Tracy. This represents a value of VND1 billion (US$47,600).

Independence film heads to Toronto

The independence film Dap Canh Giua Khong Trung (Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere) by young director Nguyen Hoang Diep will join the 39th Toronto Film Festival.

The 98-minute movie, which is the debut production of Diep, will vie for the festival's Discovery category.

The Toronto Film Festival will take place from September 4-14, with the Vietnamese movie slated for three screenings, including the one for the international press today, an official screening tomorrow, and a public screening on September 3.

The movie is also screening at the on-going Venice Film International Festival, where it will compete for the Lion of the Future award at the event's International Critics' Week.

Vietnamese Cultural Festival featured in RoK

More than 2,000 Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) living and studying in the Republic of Korea (RoK) attended the fourth Vietnam Cultural Festival, which recently wrapped up at Chodang University in Jeollanam-do province.

The festival was held in celebration of the 69th anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnam’s National Day (September 2) and coincides with the 22nd anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the RoK.

Organisers of the event said it aimed to strengthen solidarity and exchange among the OVs community in the RoK while promoting the images of Vietnam as a friendly, peace loving and hospitable nation.

At the festival, participants had ample opportunities to attend and participate in traditional folk games and art performances, and enjoy Vietnamese traditional cuisine.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Manh Dong spoke glowingly of the association’s activities over past years and expressed his hope that the OVs community in the RoK will continue to promote their spirit of mutual support and assistance.

The festival was organised by the local Vietnamese Association with support from the Vietnam Embassy in the RoK, Chodang University and Kumho Tire.

VCPMC settles copyright fee feud

The Viet Nam Centre for Protection of Music Copyright (VCPMC) and the concert organiser of Vietnamese overseas singer Khanh Ly have struck a deal after a prolonged battle over copyright fees.

The agreement was reached at a meeting on Wednesday hosted by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry.

Under the deal, the Dong Dao Entertainment Company will have to pay VCPMC VND275 million (nearly US$14,000), including VND25-million in value added tax.

The sum covers the copyright fee for two shows staged in Ha Noi and Da Nang earlier this month.

The deal follows days of discussion between Dong Dao and the VCPMC since the two shows by the singer, whose repertoire includes songs by the late musician Trinh Cong Son. 

VOV/VNS