Vietnamese snapper storms to photography win

Truong Minh Dien of Vietnam has won the 2013 CGAP Photo Contest for his photo Rainy Afternoon.

His photo was chosen out of a record number of 3,890 entries from professional and amateur photographers in 91 countries.

The winning photo depicts a woman transporting potatoes to a local market in Vietnam during a downpour. The woman's earnings help feed her husband and two children.

Four other entries from Vietnam also featured prominently among the winners and finalists.

The photo The Gold Life by Vo Chi Trung was selected as the Regional Winner for East Asia and the Pacific.

Three other Vietnamese entries were among the finalists.

Con Dao prison exhibition reveals "hell on earth"

Valuable documents and photos featuring the history of Con Dao Island, dubbed "hell on earth", with a colossal systems of jails built by the French and Americans, are on display at the Con Dao Temple in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Over 30 large copies of 102 documents written in French and Han Nom (Vietnamese ideogram and Han Chinese script) and photos from the National Archives Centre 1 and the Con Dao Jails Relic Management Board will last until April 30 next year.

The copies will feature the island district since the Nguyen dynasty sent people there to reclaim the virgin land in 18th century; the jail system on the island; ruling people on the island under the French regime from 1876; and patriots and revolutionary soldiers who were imprisoned on the island.

Most of the original documents are kept at the National Archives Centre 1, at 18 Trung Yen Road, Ha Noi's Cau Giay District.

Vietnam elected to World Heritage Committee

The General Assembly of the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention elected Vietnam as one of its 21-member board in Paris on November 19.

This is the first time Vietnam has been elected to this committee over the past 26 years.

Dang Van Bai, a member of the Vietnam National Cultural Heritage Council, said this is a great honour of Vietnam to have a seat on the committee, as the World Heritage Committee is one of UNESCO’s key bodies entitled to recognise cultural and natural heritage examples in the world.

In an interview granted to a Paris-based VOV correspondent, ambassador Duong Van Quang, head of the Vietnamese mission to UNESCO, said as a World Heritage Committee Vietnam will encourage 190 parties to the World Heritage Convention to fully and effectively implement the convention.

It will appraise 40 to 60 dossiers seeking UNESCO titles every year and examine ways to improve the operational efficiency of the committee.

Vietnam joined the Convention in 1987. It has so far had seven properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, including the Complex of Hue Monuments (1993), Ha Long Bay (1994), Hoi An Ancient Town (1999), My Son Sanctuary (1999), Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (2003), Hanoi’s Thang Long Royal Citadel (2010), and Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (2011).  

Together with Vietnam, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Croatia, Poland, and Turkey were also elected to the committee this year.

Green Heritage Week in Hanoi

The Green Heritage Culture and Tourism Week- a connection between people and nature opened at the Vietnam Culture-Art Exhibition Centre in Hanoi on November 19.

The highlights of the week include a display of photos, maps and logos on Vietnam’s biosphere reserves, as well as objects, documents and other cultural values of its ethnic minority groups.

During the week, there will be a wide range of activities, such as a pigeon releasing contest and traditional art performances like Bac Ninh love duets, ceremonial songs, and Bai Choi folk songs.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association, involves various provinces and cities having biosphere reserves, world natural heritage sites and national parks, such as Hanoi, Ha Giang, Haiphong, Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, Quang Nam and Ca Mau.

It provides a good chance for local authorities to promote and honour the values of cultural and natural heritage sites, especially those that have been recorgnised by UNESCO.

The week within the framework of 9th Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day will run until November 23.

US Embassy supports cultural heritage preservation

The US Embassy has announced the launch of the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2014 Competition.

Vietnamese non-commercial entities may submit proposals of US$10,000 or more for projects to preserve cultural heritage in Vietnam.  Proposals (in English) are due to the Embassy Hanoi by December 16, 2013.

Grants may be made to Vietnamese non-commercial entities, such as non‐governmental organizations, museums, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations that are able to demonstrate that they have the requisite experience and capacity to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage.

AFCP does not award grants to individuals, commercial entities, or past award recipients which have not fulfilled the reporting requirements of previous AFCP awards.

Program activities may include cultural sites, cultural objects and collections and forms of traditional cultural expression.

Proposals for projects that meet one or more of the following criteria will receive consideration in FY 2014: directly support US treaty or bilateral agreement obligations, such as cultural property protection agreements; strengthen capacity in country to preserve and protect cultural heritage; support the preservation of inscribed World Heritage sites; advance long-term cultural preservation objectives, lay the groundwork for subsequent AFCP-supported activities, or encourage the continued or expanded application of proven methods at the project site or elsewhere; and engage women, youth, or under-served communities.

Hanoians to taste French wine

Hanoi will host a wine tasting programme on November 23 as part of activities to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France.

Co-organised by the French Embassy in Hanoi and the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB), the programme will feature 74 leading wines from the renowned viticultural region of Bourdeaux.

Pessac-Leognan, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Paulliac, Saint-Estephe, and Sauternes are all available to taste.

UGCB experts will personally present the wines to attendees, answering any queries regarding the winemaking process and viticulture generally.

An admission ceremony for incoming members of La Commanderie de Bordeaux has been scheduled for November 22.

Established in 2011, the Hanoi chapter of La Commanderie de Bordeaux assists Vietnamese wine connoisseurs to deepen their understanding of the history and value of wine in Bordeaux.

Photo show traces history of nation's seas and islands

A photo exhibition featuring Viet Nam's seas and islands will open tomorrow at the Exhibition Hall, 45 Trang Tien Street, Ha Noi.

Jointly organised by Viet Nam News Agency and Vietnamese – Russian oil and gas joint venture (Vietsovpetro), the display presents nearly 200 photos selected from tens of thousands of films and files in the organisers' archives.

The exhibition is classified into different sections, focusing on the landscape of seas and islands and documents demonstrating Viet Nam's sovereignty; State and Party leaders visiting seas and islands; the construction, development and protection of seas and islands through different periods of time; the growth of oil and gas industry; and sentiments of people nation-wide with people by the sea and on the islands.

With 3,260km of coastal line and over 1 million sq.km of sea area under its sovereignty and jurisdiction rights; two archipelagos Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel); thousands of islands big and small; the love for peace, friendship and co-operation; and the strong will to protect its sacred sovereignty, Viet Nam is steadily stepping forward in its development path.

The display will be on until November 26 .

Symbol of Hanoi to be restored

The Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities and municipal authorities are working hard to restore Khue Van Cac (the pavilion of the constellation of literature) – the symbol of Hanoi.

Accordingly, only the broken parts of the work will be replaced, its status quo will be maintained.

Bat Trang bricks will be used to replace the broken ones, and worm-eaten wooden building component will be reproduced before the whole structure is trimmed with red lacquer like it was a long time ago.

A new lighting system using LED bulbs will be installed to make it brighter at night.

The project’s consultation council will also invite scientists to supervise the restoration progress to ensure that it follows all the required methods and principles.

Khue Van Cac is a two-storey complex with a square structure and eight sloping roofs. The upper floor, made of a wooden frame, has its banister engraved with eight sacred objects. With four round windows facing north, east, south and west, Khue Van Cac attracts sun light which makes it look like a shining constellation. It was chosen as the symbol of Hanoi, according to the Law on the Capital City, which was approved at the fourth session of the 13th National Assembly.-

International lecturers grace third European Language Day

The third European Language Day will be hosted in Hanoi Goethe Institute from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The event is organized by Hanoi´s European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) cluster members - British Council, Goethe Institute, the Embassy of Poland, the Delegation Wallonie-Brussels and the Italian Embassy.

EUNIC is aiming to introduce the diversity of the national languages in Europe, promote multilingualism and discuss patterns of training of teachers of a foreign language.

The morning is a chance for linguists, scientists and teachers to discuss foreign language programs. It will feature lectures and presentations and discussions from professors such as Vu Thi Tu Anh, the director of Vietnam national foreign language project 2020, and Ursula Hirschfeld from Halle University in Germany, who will talk about the positive effects of studying pronunciation.

Celine Mariage from the Delegation Bruxelle Wallonie will introduce sample exercises while Laura Grassick from Leeds University has undertaken research which she will offer to the British Council. Priscille Lasémillante from the French Embassy will talk about results of bilingual courses and Marcello Silvestrini from Peruggia University will lecture about prepared courses for students who want to study in Italy.

From 2 p.m. onwards the floor is open to the public and will also feature a language festival. It is being held to target youngsters, students and parents interested in languages and culture.

At the festival of European languages, representatives of the participating institutions will present their respective languages and countries. Thirty-minute model lessons in English, French, German, Italian and Polish will be offered with guests able to peruse posters, books and brochures which may excite curiosity for European languages as well as an interest in the different countries and cultures.

Additionally short films from the participating countries shall be screened at Goethe Institute’s exhibition hall.

Former U.K. Young Musician of Year comes to Hanoi

Cellist Guy Johnston – who won the BBC Young Musician of the Year award in 2000 – joins fellow Brit conductor/professor Colin Metters to perform at a concert to celebrate 40 years of Vietnam–U.K. diplomatic relations tomorrow and Thursday at the Opera House in Hanoi.

The program hosted by the British Council Vietnam will feature the Roman Carnival Overture by Hector Berlioz, Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 5.

Ninety musicians of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) also join in the fun while talented Vietnamese conductor Tran Nhat Minh from the HCMC Ballet, Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will assist Metters.

Tickets are available at the Hanoi Opera House at 1 Trang Tien Street; Sketch Travel, 25 Truong Han Sieu Street and Shop P, 8 Nha Chung Street. Prices vary from VND200,000 to VND500,000. Students enjoy a discounted price of VND100,000.

For bookings and free delivery, call 0913 489 858 or 0903 067 996.

Johnston was also awarded a Classical BRIT Award for Young British Classical Performer in 2001. He is currently enjoying a successful international career as a soloist and chamber musician.

Metters was invited to Vietnam for the first time 16 years ago by the British Council to begin a training project for the VNSO. He was awarded the Cultural Activists Medal by the Vietnamese government in 1999 for his services to Vietnamese culture.

Japanese-Parisian singer debuts at Sofitel Saigon

Japanese-born, Paris-based singer Rié Furuse last week had a meeting with local media to announce her arrival as resident artist of the Boudoir Lounge on the Sofitel Saigon Plaza’s ground floor from now until December 15.

Furuse’s performances will start at 8 p.m. from Tuesday until Sunday every week. Specifically, percussionist Scott Brantley will perform with Rie from Wednesday to Sunday.

Rié grew up in Kumamoto, Japan. Showing a talent to sing and play the piano at an early age, her parents enrolled her in music lessons aged three. Later, while studying French literature at Dokkyo University, she discovered jazz and was immediately hooked on the music. Furuse performed at several jazz clubs in Tokyo, interpreting songs of Ella Fitzgerald and her own renditions of French songs. Furuse has her own style, a mix of Contemporary Jazz, Fusion, Funk and Jazz-Pop with her influences Roberta Flack, Eva Cassidy, and Lalah Hathaway.

She has visited Vietnam before during the festival of the 48 Hour Film Project Awards in HCMC in 2010. She received “The Best Music Award” for one of her songs “The One” composed by herself and Chris Mosdell which was featured in the movie short “Postcards from Heaven”.

In France, Rié composes her songs inspired by Parisian life and its culture.

German twins open European Music Festival

Twin guitarists Peter and Zoltan Katona will perform with musicians of the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra at the Youth Theater in the capital at 8 p.m. on Friday to open the European Music Festival 2013.

The Katona brothers then come to HCMC Conservatory of Music for a performance at 8 p.m. on Sunday.

The concerts will feature works of Boccherini, Bach, Manuel de Falla and Astor Piazzolla. The duo will bring to audiences new musical experiences when they transfer from strictly classical into more popular musical genres.

Furthermore the artists will offer an “Open Lesson” for guitar students at the National Music Academy in Hanoi.

The festival, co-organized by the European Union Delegation to Vietnam and the six EU embassies of Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Sweden and Vietnam will be a colorful music banquet. The highlight of the festival will be stunning performances by esteemed pianists from Hungary and Poland, and some eventful nights of pop, classics, jazz and electronic music presented by artists from Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

The festival invites two leading Vietnamese opera singers – Ngoc Tuyen and Trieu Yen – to present opera works with electronic music background.

The Youth Theatre Hanoi is located at ­11 Ngo Thi Nham Street and HCMC Conservatory is at 112 Nguyen Du Street in District 1. Tickets are available at Goethe Institute in Hanoi and HCMC.

Source:VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri/VIR