Talk show on books about Saigon to open in town

A talk show by journalists Trac Thuy Mieu and Nguyen Hau, and writer Nguyen Ngoc Th ach on books written about Saigon was held on Sunday at Nha Nam Bookstore in HCMC’s Phu Nhuan District.

Speakers discussed the current trend of books about Saigon which has attracted the attention of many readers with some famous writers such as Pham Cong Luan, Anh Khang and Nguyen Ngoc Th ach.

Questions such as what is the true spirit of Saigon, how the city is reflected in literary works and why those came from other places write better books about Saigon compared to those born and having lived in the city for years, will be raised at the talk.

Symphony to feature VN soldiers

Veteran composer and conductor Vinh Lai's Mien Dong Thanh Dong (The East- Iron Bulwark) symphony will be staged for the first time by the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) tonight.

The 60-minute symphony includes four sections, Quat Cuong (Rising), Tuong Niem (Memory), Huong Rung-Tinh Bien (The Scent of Forest - Love of the Sea), and Rang Ro Vien Ngoc Mien Dong (Shiny Eastern Pearl), featuring Vietnamese people and soldiers on stage who contributed to the country's independence.

Conductor Tran Vuong Thach will lead the orchestra of 60 artists.

Born in 1939, Lai graduated in composing and conducting from the Viet Nam National Academy of Music and later studied at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig in Germany.

The event's second part will feature artists from HBSO's ballet corps, including Ta Thuy Chi, Thu Trang, Ho Phi Diep and Duc Nhuan.

They will be featured in To Quoc (The Country), a dance in four acts choreographed by People's Artist Ha The Dung and Luong Xuan Thanh.

With music by talented composers Viet Anh and La Y San, To Quoc tells the story of historical events that contributed to building and protecting the country.

The concert is one of the city's many cultural programmes to celebrate the 125th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh.

The two-hour show will begin at 8pm tonight at the Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, in District 1.

Film on President Ho Chi Minh debuts in Thailand

The film entitled ‘Thau Chin in Siem Reap’ is being shown to overseas Vietnamese (oVs) in Thailand from May 17-21, as part of activities to celebrate the 125th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19, 1890 – 2015).

The film recreated the revolutionary activities of President Ho Chi Minh in Thailand during the 1928 – 1929 period, including building a revolutionary base to prepare for the building of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1930.

He also assisted Thai people to build factories, schools and pagodas as well as taught oVs the national language, significantly contributing to strengthening the solidarity between Vietnam and Thailand.

‘Thau Chin in Siem Reap’, which was adapted from the historical script of Dinh Thien Phuc and directed by Bui Tuan Dung, was presented with an A prize for the literary, artistic and journalistic contest on ‘Studying and Following President Ho Chi Minh’s Moral Example’ on May 13. Actor Nguyen Manh Truong played Thau Chin in the film.

The touching film expresses Uncle Ho’s message of solidarity and national reconciliation, encouraging the oVs community in Thailand to unite in order to contribute to their fatherland’s development.

In addition to the screening in Bangkok on May 17, the film will be introduced in the northeastern region in Thailand such as Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon and Udon Thani where Uncle Ho lived and worked during his stint in Thailand.

On the occasion, an exhibition displaying more than 100 photos on the topc of Uncle Ho as well as landscapes and socio-economic development of Vietnam was held in Khon Kaen province.

The event offers an opportunity for oVs and Thai people to learn more about the simple life of President Ho Chi Minh, a national hero and a man of great culture.

VNS/SGT/ND