VietNamNet Bridge – Non-Vietnamese speakers, especially tourists, will have a chance to enjoy Vietnamese cai luong (reformed theatre) at the Ha Noi Theatre of Cai Luong (Chuong Vang Theatre) in English.

English interpretations will be available through headphones, an idea trialled last year for foreign audience members at a performance of the opera Menh De Vuong (The King's Fate), about the life of Ly Chieu Hoang (1218-78), the last empress of the Ly dynasty.

After the successful outcome last year, organisers decided to introduce cai luong to foreigners through a project which will begin next Saturday at the Ha Noi Theatre of Cai Luong, 72 Hang Bac Street, Ha Noi.

Apart from cai luong, the performance also brings a range of traditional arts such as folk songs, drama and dance to foreign audiences.

* Archaeological site discovered in north

The remains of a complex dating back to the Tran Dynasty (13th to 14th century) was recently unearthed in the northern province of Tuyen Quang.

Artefacts through to the Le dynasty (15th to 17th century) were discovered at the Lang Dao Pagoda (Tuyen Quang) by researchers from the Viet Nam Academy of Social Science and the Tuyen Quang Provincial Museum.

Three sections of patterned enamelled tiles and many other ceramic items and building materials from the Tran and Le dynasties were unearthed, including roof tiles shaped like the tips of shoes.

The archaeologists also found many unique traditional roof decorations including phoenix shaped items made out of terra-cotta, animal heads, and leaf-point tiles.

This find of a complex and rare ancient construction built in an organised structure was expected to greatly help archaeologists to delve into the history of ancient Tuyen Quang, said Tran Anh Dung, a historical researcher at the Academy of Social Science.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News