Twelve sites recognised as national relics

Twelve archaeological, historical and architectural relics around the country have been recognised as national relic sites by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Ky Anh ancient rock rampart in Ky Lac commune, Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh province.

The list consists of three archaeological, seven historical and two architectural relics, located in 10 provinces: Son La, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien–Hue, Quang Nam, An Giang, Binh Phuoc, Long An and Khanh Hoa.

Three archaeological relics named are the Loi Citadel in Thuy Xuan and Thuy Bieu wards, Hue City, Thua Thien–Hue province; Hoa Diem relic in Cam Thinh Dong commune, Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province; and Khe Ho ancient rock ground in Hang Chu commune, Bac Yen district, Son La province.

The seven historical sites comprise three in Thai Nguyen, including the complex of Muc Temple and Huong Ap pagoda in Pho Yen district; the relic where the Brigade 308 — the first ground brigade of the Vietnam People's Army — formed in Phu Luong district; and the former agency of General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People's Army in Tham Tang hill, Dinh Bien commune, Dinh Hoa district.

Four others are situated in Long An, Nghe An, Quang Nam and Binh Phuoc provinces with Tan Xuan communal house, Ho Hung Dat temple and the memorials dedicated to the Ha Lam–Cho Duoc struggle and Dong Xoai victory, respectively.

Meanwhile, the two architectural sites are Ky Anh ancient rock rampart in Ky Lac commune, Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh province and Binh My communal house in Chau Phu district, An Giang province.

The recognition is expected to raise public awareness of preserving and promoting the value of archaeological, historical and architectural relic sites in the country.

Vietnam Television’s New Year Concert 2015 to be held in Hanoi

A special music show titled VTV New Year Concert will be broadcast live on VTV1 Channel on January 1, 2015.

Artists including Thanh Lam, Hong Nhung, Ha Tran, Phuong Thanh, My Tam, Ho Quynh Huong, Tung Duong, Ho Ngoc Ha , Ha Anh Tuan, Phuong Linh, Doan Trang will perform more than 40 Vietnamese and international songs which are famous film soundtracks.

The annual concert organized by Vietnam Television will use spectacular visual effects that will be implemented by talented staff members, said Director Pham Hoang Nam.

TV reps talk tailoring to internet

Over 500 representatives of television broadcasters around the country as well as Japan and South Korea gathered yesterday in Hue to discuss the challenges and opportunities brought by the internet.

At the workshop, part of the 34th National Television Festival, participants agreed that the internet's growing popularity was changing audience preferences. People wanted access to television programmes anywhere, at any time and with any device.

Moreover, they pointed out that competition in the internet era was not only between broadcasters, but also between television and online media. Young people spent less time watching traditional television, compelling broadcasters to switch advertisements from television to the internet.

Lee Dokyung from Korean channel KBS said broadcasters needed new strategies to keep audiences, suggesting television programmes be accessible via mobile devices.

Since smartphones were the dominant mobile internet devices, broadcasters should use them as a tool for interaction with audiences and develop advertisements specifically for them, said Kato Tatsuhito from Japan's TBS Television.

Photo exhibition features Hanoi beauty

A photo exhibition opened at the Kim Dong Culture Centre in Hang Bai Street, Hanoi on December 18, introducing the natural beauty and people of the capital to domestic and international friends.

Close to 100 photos selected from 530 entries to a photo contest titled “Exploring Hanoi” highlight famous landscapes in Hanoi such as Sword Lake, West Lake and Tay Tuu flower village as well as the daily lives of its people.

Tran Quoc Chiem, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the photos make a significant story on Hanoi as a gift to visitors.

The exhibition, organised by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will run until December 30.

TV series on General Nguyen Chi Thanh aired

A TV series on the life and career of General Nguyen Chi Thanh aired on HCM City Television's HTV9 channel this week, as part of the station's screening to mark the 70th anniversary of Viet Nam People's Army Day (December 22).

The eight-part series, titled Dai Tuong Nguyen Chi Thanh - Canh Chim Khong Moi (General Nguyen Chi Thanh - Unweary Wings), was directed by Le Phong Lan, a female documentary filmmaker and TV producer.

Produced by the HCM City Television Film Studio, the work covers the General's life and revolutionary activities.

Born in 1914 in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, Thanh, whose real name was Nguyen Van Vinh, joined the revolution in the mid-1930s.

The series focuses on the work of the General between 1965 and 1967, when he served as the leading strategist and military commander in the resistance war against the Americans in South Viet Nam.

Using documentary reports by veteran filmmakers and interviews by Lan and her staff, the series tells stories of the General and his colleagues.

To complete her series, Lan and her staff travelled around Viet Nam, meeting and interviewing dozens of soldiers, historians and war researchers.

She wrote the film's screenplay and commentary, and conducted interviews as well.

The film airs daily at 9pm on HTV9.

Experts to talk communal houses

Experts will discuss the quintessence of Vietnamese communal houses and their cultural and historical values during a seminar tomorrow in Ha Noi.

Traditionally the communal house is the soul of the community, where tutelary gods of the village are worshipped. They are also places for communication with other communities, cultural and educational activities and ritual ceremonies.

Tran Hau Yen The, a lecturer at the Viet Nam University of Fine Arts, and Nguyen Duc Binh, head of the editorial board of the Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition magazine, will contribute thoughts on the preservation of these old houses.

The seminar is open from 9am to anyone interested at the Heritage Space, Dolphin Plaza, 28 Tran Binh Street, Nam Tu Liem District, Ha Noi.

Military history exhibition held

The 70th anniversary of Viet Nam's military force is being commemorated by holding an exhibition in downtown Ha Noi, which showcases as many as 300 items recording the force's development.

The exhibition, titled Heroic Army Force – Glorious Tradition, features photos, papers, and other items that reflect the 70-year development of the force, which has been serving the country from December 22, 1944 to December 22, 2014.

Possessions of hero Cu Chinh Lan are displayed at the exhibition.

The exhibit focuses on four topics. One topic is the birth of the Viet Nam People's Army, featuring the August Revolution in 1945 and the country's resistance against the French occupation, which was ended by the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954. Another topic is the development of the army during the American war, which ended in 1975. The army's contributions in protecting the country since 1975 is showcased as well. Rounding up the four main topics is the display featuring the high honours given to the People's Army by the State and the People.

The objects include items that are being introduced to the public for the first time, such as the possessions of Hoang Sam, the former head of the Armed Propaganda Brigade for the Liberation of Viet Nam – the previous name of the Viet Nam People's Army. The belongings of military heroes, Tran Can, Cu Chinh Lan and Hung Sinh, who fought during the Dien Bien Phu campaign are included in the exhibit as well.

The exhibition will be held at Viet Nam's Military History Museum, 28A Dien Bien Phu Street, until January 1, 2015.

Year-end book fair for children

HCMC’s book distributor Fahasa has opened a special exhibition of books, souvenirs, toys, stationery and the like for children in celebration of Christmas and New Year.

The event at both Fahasa Nguyen Hue and Fahasa Xuan Thu bookstores in District 1 lasts until January 11.

Half of some 20,000 book titles are foreign comics, pictorial and how-to books for children from popular publishers such as Penguin UK, Random House U.S. and Parragon and Usborne.

In addition to children’s books, there are classic books for teenagers like Day con lam giau and Doi thay doi khi chung ta thay doi by Tre Publishing House and well-known works by Kim Dong Publishing House such as Doraemon, Trang Quynh and De men phieu luu ky.

The organizer expects to attract young readers with delightful ambience and attractive promotions like 10-20% discounts and lucky draws.

Hoi An and My Son conservation in review

The government of Quang Nam Province is reviewing the conservation and promotion of the ancient town of Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary, the province’s two World Heritage sites recognized by the UNESCO.

Speaking at a conference on Tuesday, the authorities praised four organizations and 12 individuals for their efforts and contributions to conserving and promoting these sites.

In Hoi An, 425 relics have been restored at a total cost of VND188 billion. Meanwhile, VND85.4 billion has been spent on the restoration of My Son Sanctuary.

Dinh Hai, director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the preservation of Hoi An and My Son has helped boost tourism growth.

VNN/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/ND