Vietnamese photographers listed in “Who’s Who Masterpieces”

Vietnamese artists Le Hong Linh and Tran Phong have been accorded the prestigious distinction of being cited in the “Who’s Who Masterpieces” of modern contemporary photographers.

Selections of their finest works are also included in a collection of over 360 photos of 180 photographers from 20 countries worldwide published by the Photographic Society of Hong Kong (PSHK).

Publication of the collection is sponsored by the Photographic Society of America (PSA), the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) and the UK’s Royal Photographic Society.

These authors have previously been ranked in the top 10 of their profession by the PSA from 1952 to 2012. They include Kan Hing Fook, Chow Chung Lim (Hong Kong), Lee Wellington, Fred Greene (USA), and Raota Pedro Luis (Argentina).

Folk musicians perform in Hue

Fourteen folk music troupes from the central provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue gathered in Hue City to showcase 64 performances during a folk music festival this weekend.

Phan Tien Dung, the director of the local Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said the festival aims to promote unique forms of folk music and helps in the preservation of traditional music, which has been threatened by the popularity of modern art forms.

The festival offers an opportunity to folk artists to exchange knowledge and train young performers, including vocalists and traditional musical instrument players.

"Among the 360 artists attending the festival, the eldest is 84 years old, while the youngest is just seven. This provides an ideal platform to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and performing skills from the latest generation to newcomers of the art forms," he reiterated.

Shows at the festival included solo and group performances, featuring the distinctive tunes and melodies of each locality.

Nine out of the 14 troupes were not trained and were farmers and local people who love folk music. At the festival, they showcased performances featuring their daily routines related to farming and the joys of normal life.

Ca Hue, a unique art form developed by feudal mandarin families during the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945), was performed at the festival as one of the most professional forms of the region's folk music.

Vietnamese stand attracts customers at Mexican cultural fair

Thousands have visited the Vietnamese booth at the sixth 2014 Culturas Amigas Fair being held at Zacalo Square in Mexico City.

They were fascinated with Vietnam’s traditional products, such as lacquer painting, Ao Dai (traditional long dress), and conical hats. They were curious about Vietnam’s culture, land and people, tourism information and cuisine.

More than 200 cultural activities will be held during the fair which has attracted booths from 87 countries and territories.

The organising board expects that around 2 million visitors will call in the event which runs until June 1.

The annual fair has been held since 2009 with the aim of tightening solidarity and friendship among different cultures in the world and demonstrating that Mexico City is an attractive destination for international friends.

Paris photo exhibition spotlights President Ho

An exhibition showcasing photos and documents on the late President Ho Chi Minh’s life and revolutionary activities opened in Paris on May 17.

The event, entitled “Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese cultural heritage”, was jointly held by the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the Vietnam Culture Centre in France in observance of the Vietnam Year in France and President Ho Chi Minh’s 124th birth anniversary (May 19).

In addition to highlighting Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary life, the exhibition also introduces international visitors to the beautiful landscapes and people of Vietnam, as well as government policies aimed at upholding and preserving natural and cultural heritages.

Nguyen Thuy Duc, acting Director of the Ho Chi Minh Museum, said the photos would help French friends and overseas Vietnamese in France understand more about President Ho’s attention to cultural heritage preservation.

Through the exhibition Vietnam is expected to attract more French tourists and Vietnamese expatriates and strengthen international solidarity between the two nations.

Visitors to the exhibition, which runs until June 4, will have the opportunity to enjoy a special music and dance programme, with the participation of famous singer Anh Tuyet, in praise of President Ho Chi Minh and his revolutionary activities abroad.

TV series aims to improve farming methods

HCM City Television (HTV) and Cuu Long Studio, a private film company, have contributed financing and staff to produce a new TV programme aimed at the farming community in southern provinces.

The five-part series, Nong Thon Moi (New Rural Areas), will feature personalities who have achieved success in farming and have sold their produce at home and abroad.

The 20-minute shows, to air next month, will be shown in areas where entertainment shows and films usually rule the roost.

They will include the latest information about farming and the opportunities and challenges in a global market.

"We hope our programme will become a forum for farmers to talk about their agricultural successes and problems," said Phan Hoang, director of the Cuu Long Studio.

Since 2009, Hoang's staff has worked with HTV directors to produce five programmes that feature traditional cultures and lifestyles, tourist destinations in the region, and different forms of agriculture.

The Thoi Su Nong Nghiep show, for example, which airs every weekend on HTV9, highlights the latest information and reports on how to run a business.

"We invited dozens of experienced businesspeople and academics to participate in our programmes to help viewers improve their agricultural knowledge and skills," said Hoang, adding that the producers had received thousands of letters from viewers each month who support the Thoi Su Nong Nghiep show.

Hoang, with a staff of nearly 40 people, is confident they can achieve better business.

His programmes have been sold to seven TV stations in the region, including Vinh Long Television and Binh Duong Television. The new five-part series Nong Thon Moi will air on HTV9 channel every Thursday.

Duong Thanh Tung, deputy director of HTV, said his station had worked with Cuu Long Studio to produce quality TV series portraying the life and work of farmers living in the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta region.

Their films like Khat Vong Dong Que (Countryside Aspiration) have captured thousands of viewers and highlight the ambition and skills of young farmers who have helped local villagers escape poverty.

Dancenter show features 200

Dancenter, an international dance school, will stage a two-hour dance show 5, 6, 7, 8! – featuring 200 dancers performing a variety of dance styles on June 7 and 8 in HCM City.

The show at the Youth Cultural House in HCM City will include 20 performances featuring jazz, ballet, hip-hop, zumba, belly dance and contemporary dance.

The name of the show reflects an adventurous exploration of numbers, including segments called The 7 Sins, 5 Senses, H2O, 911 and others.

The show was created by Dancenter's team of choreographers, including TV dance show consultant John Huy Tran; Linh Rateau, joint art director of the 2014 Charming Vietnam Show; and Rosie Pollard, guest choreographer from So You Think You Can Dance Vietnam.

Established in 2007 and located in District 2, the Dancenter teaches more than 800 students of all ages and nationalities.

HCM City to host food festival

The annual cuisine festival Dat Phuong Nam (Southern Land) with more than 100 local dishes will be held from May 29 to June 1 at Dam Sen Park in HCM City's District 11.

The unique cuisine of the Central Highlands will be the highlight of the event. More than 100 booths will display dishes from the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to the southern tip of the country.

The fair will include demonstrations of cooking and bartending as well as the art of food garnishing and vegetable and fruit carving.

In addition, exhibitors will participate in a contest that will select 100 delicious southern dishes with the aim of promoting southern cuisine.

Demonstrations of the gong culture in the Central Highlands, along with southern traditional music and traditional folk games, will be part of the event as well.

The event is co-organised by the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the HCM City Tourism Association and Phu Tho Tourism and Service Company.

Da Nang club wins kite flight comp

The central city's Phu Quoc kite club won the first prize at the annual kite competition on the beach of the Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa on Saturday.

The club, which had designed its kite with the theme "Boat Going to the Sea", beat nearly 100 competitors from Hue, Sa Pa, Phan Thiet, Can Tho, An Giang, Cambodia and Hoi An to win a cash prize of VND12 million (US$570).

Anh Vu and Dang Hoang clubs from Thua Thien-Hue won the second place, while three kites of Tran Quy Cap club and Victoria Hoi An Resort from Hoi An and one kite of Anh Vu club drew for third place.

This is the 10th edition of the annual competition held at Cua Dai beach.

Hoi An listed in world’s top 20 interesting places

Hoi An ancient town has been cited as an essential stop on any tour of Vietnam and one of the top 20 most interesting places in the world by www.roughguides.com.

Stubbornly traditional and jam packed with sights, the intriguing small city of Hoi An was rated in 15th position.

Most attractive is the beauty of the city at night on the eve of the full moon, the site reports.

“Downtown Hoi An turns off all its street lights and basks in the mellow glow of silk lanterns. Shopkeepers don traditional outfits, parades, folk opera and martial arts demonstrations flood the cobbled streets, and the riverside fills with stalls selling crabmeat parcels, bean paste cakes and noodle soup.”

Rough Guides is a highly acclaimed British website providing tourist information and guides.  

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