VietNam Life Style: 1/2/11

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Some musical attractions of "Don ca tai tu"

Don ca tai tu has won international admiration, especially among connoisseurs of traditional music. South Korean expert Sheen Dae-Cheol is one of them with his report on the charm and special characteristics of the genre.

He is one of dozens of experts who will take part in an international conference on don ca tai tu to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from January 9-11 ahead of its presentation for UNESCO recognition as a world heritage.

Tuoitrenews makes some excerpts of his report prepared for the meeting.

Since the influx of western and foreign music, Vietnamese traditional music genre of don ca tai tu has survived and not lost its unique musical flavor or aesthetics.

Don ca tai tu is comparatively young Vietnamese music, appearing in the 19th century. However it is loved by many southern Vietnamese people and openly holds a very good position in the nation’s music.

Lyrics of don ca tai tu can be accompanied by several musical instruments as dan tranh (16-stringed zither), dan bau (one-stringed gourd zither), dan nguyet (moon shaped two stringed lute), dan nhi (two-stringed fiddle), song lang (two pieces of bamboo struck against each other to keep rhythm, guitar phim lom (concave-fret guitar) and also likely with western violin, flute of Chinese origin.

Vietnamese musicians accepted the Western guitar for don ca tai tu but they transformed and Vietnamized it to be a suitable one for playing their don ca tai tu.

They improved the guitar by making the frets deeper, turning them into deep fret guitar and changing the way to attune the instrument.

The instrumentation to accompany the song is very peculiar and unique. Upper mentioned musical instruments are used to accompany the songs of don ca tai tu as ensemble, however, the instrumentation is very flexible as only two or three of them can form up an ensemble.

Vietnamese doctor Tran Van Khe said, “Of the instruments for the ensemble, the dan nguyet plays the most important role. The dan tranh embellishes center tones of music and dan nhi ornaments other tones. Off all musical instruments of the ensemble, the role of these three is more important than any other.”

The monochord dan bau is a very peculiar and charming musical instrument. It is one of real Vietnamese traditional musical instruments and its sound is amazingly beautiful. Vietnamese musicians widened the range of it and dan tranh to play higher and lower tones respectively.

Originally the musicians of don ca tai tu did not perform for their livelihoods, just to entertain themselves or others and that is a reason why it is called amateurs’ music. But it doesn’t mean to be a musician of don ca tai tu is easy. Its musicians have to practise very hard for a long time so that don ca tai tu musicians can be called as professional musicians even if they don’t perform it for materialism.

As an amateur, it needs not any special prepared stage as professional art music. Accordingly it can easily and deeply goes into every corner of usual Vietnamese life so that it can be played at festivals, various parties, after harvests, under shade of trees, on boats, temples and romantically under a bright moon night.

It can be said it possesses a musical and magical power of charming Vietnamese people. Especially it is said that the emotion and the soul of southern Vietnamese people are melted in it.

Don ca tai tu has some extemporaneous nature when musicians perform it, but maintaining the integrity of music is very important. Don ca tai tu has to learn it by heart the basic tune of each repertoire from which they can improvise, yet still maintain the integrity.

Don ca tai tu players are free to create their own musical style as the spirit if impromptu is highly respected in don ca tai tu as such.

Accordingly it can be concluded that don ca tai tu, from the point of musical and cultural view, is very valuable traditional music to be preserved, disseminated and enjoyed. Naturally, don ca tai tu is qualified to be the center of public attention from Asia and the world. In addition, it is qualified to be designated as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity as well.

Harmonizing heritage preservation and locals’ rights

Two experts offer opinions on how to harmonize the clash between efforts to preserve national heritages and residents’ rights to a comfortable life inside modern, well-equipped buildings.

Fine art expert Phan Cam Thuong:

It’s very difficult to preserve heritages, even in developed countries. The government needs strategic solutions such as maintaining a certain population density, thinning out the population, boosting cultural tourism revenues, and building resettlement areas for locals.

Besides, the government should take measures like taking back ancient houses and not developing tourism services in areas being preserved, sponsoring traditional crafts aiming at boosting up locals’ income.

The government should resolutely force them to move to other places if they want to renovate or construct houses.

As I know, governments in developed countries always build new resettlement areas in ancient towns to balance locals’ welfare and develop tourism.

The most important thing is that locals’ right to live in modern houses also needs to be taken into account and the government should work with them to reach an agreement.

Based on the country’s economy, we cannot take comprehensive measures. Instead, we should do it step by step.

Hoi An ancient town is a typical example. All houses are used for commercial purposes.

If the locals are not allowed to renovate or construct them, they will have to sell them or move to another place to build new homes.

Consequently, wealthy people from other places have gradually replaced the locals.

The same thing happens in neighboring country China and in western countries, where rich residents like to preserve ancient houses as a means to earn more money.

We have witnessed cultural bankruptcy in Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi, where the locals are not proud of traditional houses.

For example, the landscape surrounding the Kiem Lien Pagoda has been turned into a matchbox as more and more hotels and guesthouses are being built there.

Vong Canh hill, ancient citadels Tuyen Quang and Son Tay, O Quan Chuong - the last remaining ancient gate in Hanoi - has also fallen victim to commercialization.

How to preserve Duong Lam ancient village

Ngo Kieu Oanh of the National Institute of Science and Technology told Tuoi Tre her opinions on how to preserve the Duong Lam ancient village in Son Tay near Hanoi.

The government has to prioritize the locals’ rights and hand over the power of preserving ancient houses to them.

Many travel agencies have developed home-stay tourism in Mong Phu hamlet, Duong Lam ancient village.

I think that is a good way to preserve the village through tourism activities.

In addition, the government should focus on the village’s specialties and promote them to the world.

The locals need to abide by preservation laws in not building tall houses. But in turn, the government needs to give assistance and support to them.

Part 1: Modern-loving locals turn back on ancient village

Part 2: Hue residents not keen on heritage, government dithers

Some photos of Duong Lam ancient village by Dat Viet Newspaper:

Mong Phu village gate in Duong Lam

Nine-floor tower in Mia pagoda

Ancient houses in Duong Lam

Mong Phu communal house

Tich River

Esquire dubs singer-actress Viet Nam's sexiest woman

Exquisite: Actress Ngo Thanh Van becomes the first Vietnamese woman to be selected for Esquire magazine's Sexiest Women Alive Atlas. — File Photo

HA NOI — Esquire magazine has chosen singer and actress Ngo Thanh Van as the sexiest woman alive in Viet Nam, the first time a Vietnamese woman was selected for the magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive Atlas, which anoints one woman per country.

In Asia, Chinese model Liu Wen and Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan were also included on the list.

Van, 32, has also been named as 2010's most beautiful woman by Vietnamese magazines.

"All the selections are valuable," said Van. "I have to try my best to maintain a beautiful image."

Van moved to Norway with her family at 10 years of age but returned to Viet Nam in 1999, when she participated in a beauty pageant sponsored by Vietnamese Women's World magazine, finishing as second runner-up.

She began a career as a pop singer 2002 with the help of producer Quoc Bao and has since had a successful acting career, with roles in popular films likeSai Gon Love Story, 2 in 1, and The Rebel. She won the Best Actress award at the 15th Viet Nam Film Festival in 2007. Her latest movie, Oriental Pearl, will be released in March

Last year, she became the first champion in the Vietnamese version of Dancing with the Stars, and she has been active in supporting the charity Heartbeat Viet Nam, which brings needed heart operations to disadvantaged children. — VNS

Choir festival welcomes opening of 11th Party Congress

HCMCITY — A choir concert bringing together more than 1,000 performers will be held here to welcome the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam that opens in Ha Noi next Tuesday.

The event, Nhung Bai Ca Dang Dang (Songs offered to the Party), will feature more than 1,000 amateur and professional performers from 11 different universities around the city.

The choir will perform famous works of veteran composers including Do Nhuan, Huy Du, Vu Dinh An and Pham Minh Tuan. The patriotic songs praise the country, the Party and President Ho Chi Minh.

A series of contemporary dances will be choreographed to support the choir on stage, said the event's art director Hoang Diep.

The festival will open at 8pm next Monday at the city's Opera House. It will be aired live on the Ho Chi Minh Radio and Ho Chi Minh Television's HTV9 channel.

Later the choir will perform for students at the city's National University and Economics University.

Dong Thap Province to welcome in Tet with art shows, festivals

DONG THAP — Cao Lanh Town in the Mekong Delta Province of Dong Thap is preparing to usher in the Lunar New Year early next month with five days of art performances and other events.

Hoi ngo tren dat sen hong (Meet in the land of the pink lotus), to be organised by the local Culture Centre and Say Cheese Event and Media Company and opening on February 2, will spotlight the culture of Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds).

Flower-shaped coloured lanterns will light up the city's Van Mieu Park where ornamental creatures will also be on display.

Visitors will also have the chance to see cultural symbols from around the country: there will be models of Ha Noi's Khue Van Cac Pavilion, considered a symbol of literature, and Tortoise Tower; terraced fields from the misty north-west; the moss-grown Cham Tower in the central region; stilt houses from the Central Highlands; and the floating markets of the Mekong Delta.

Costumes worn by the country's 54 minorities will be on show.

Visitors can take part in traditional games and game shows based on traditional culture, the Viet Nam – My Fatherland painting competition for children, a calligraphy contest, and a poetry recitation contest.

There will be fights between nightingales and cocks.

A beauty contest for cats will be the highlight of a festival meant to welcome Tan Mao, or the Year of the Cat.

Hundreds join Ha Noi High School English Festival

HA NOI — Hundreds of students plan to attend the final round of the Ha Noi High School English Festival on Sunday, organised by the Department of Education and Training and Apollo English.

Nineteen outstanding performances that include English pronunciations, singing, dancing and aerobics will be conducted by the winners selected from the previous two rounds in December.

There are two first prizes worth VND4 million (US$200) each and three second place prizes each VND3 million ($150) among others, said organisers, adding that two special awards will be given to the most devoted schools.

The festival, which started last November, has attracted hundreds of students from 16 high schools in the capital.

The final round will take place at the Youth Theatre at No11 Ngo Thi Nham Street, Ha Noi. — VNS

Domestic comics offer light relief

HCM CITY — Several new comic book series for children written and designed by Vietnamese authors and artists from HCM City-based TVC Culture Company will hit bookstore shelves nation-wide this month.

"We hope our comic series with interesting content will capture the attention of young readers, " said Duong Thien Vuong, TVC director.

TVC is one of a few companies which have invested in the domestic comics industry dominated for years by foreign comics.

A sci-fi adventure series including Hiep Uoc Rong (Dragon Treaty) and Vo Ngua Sai Gon (Horse Steps in Sai Gon) are among the comics to be released by TVC this month.

Seven others will be published in coming months, Vuong said.

The struggle between good and evil in the comic series Dung Si Hesman (Hesman The Valiant) and the magical events in Sieu Nhan Viet Nam (Vietnamese Supermen) published by TVC a few years ago were warmly welcomed by children and teenage readers around the country.

"The success of the series encouraged us to invest in our ambitious project ‘Vietnamese comics for Vietnamese,' Vuong said.

Vuong said he was able to start the project only after a number of writers and designers agreed to work permanently with TVC.

"Our co-operation marks a concerted effort to develop a local comic book industry," he said.

"We've invested in Vietnamese comics because this market remains untapped and we always receive letters of encouragement from young readers, especially children's parents, many of whom complain of violence in many foreign comic books," he said.

With some 500,000 copies rolling off the presses in Viet Nam each week, comic books have come to dominate the book market, proving very popular with young readers. However, 90 per cent of these are translations of comic books from other countries, mainly Japan and China.

Vuong said local comic books still lacked good scripts that appeal to a child's imagination.

"To improve the content and design of our productions, we hope to receive readers' creative ideas for characters and stories that capture the imagination of Vietnamese youth," he said. — VNS

Friday, January 7, 2011

HBSO launches spring season

HCMC Ballet and Symphony Orchestra (HBSO) will put on two concerts to open their spring program at HCMC Opera House at 8 p.m. on January 9 and 19. The first show features choral music and dance from America and South America, while the second will be classical music performed by students from Vietnam National Music Academy.

The performance on January 9 begins with the three folk songs from America, Ecuador, and Mexico,
followed by the song Maria from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, Don’t cry for me Argentina by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Choral Selections from Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin. Joined with the HBSO Choir in the first part, HBSO Ballet will perform dances from Spain, Russia, Mexico.

The performance on January 19 features classical works by Haydn (Piano Concerto in D dur), Jules Massenet (Thais), Edward Elga (Salut d’amour), Piotr Tchaikovsky (Violin Concerto), Pablo de Sarasate (Zigeunerweisen), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Piano Concerto No.21 in C dur, KV 467), and Nguyen Manh Duy Linh (Concerto Grosso for violin, piano, percussions, and string orchestra).

Tickets are available at HCMC Opera House at VND250,000, VND150,000 for general public, and VND60,000 for students.

“Don ca tai tu” – the southern spiritual creature

Coming to life no more than two centuries ago and becoming much loved by southerners of Vietnam, “đờn ca tài tử” is deeply rooted in the culture and spirits of locals and considered a traditional music of the nation.

Origin

Two professional forms of arts, “Tuồng” and “Nhạc lễ”, have taken roots among the southern community in Vietnam since the 19th century. “Tuồng” is a kind of theater in which drums and oboes are the main instruments and “Nhạc lễ” is the other genre serving ritual customs and mainly uses string and percussion instruments.

Starting from playing for relaxation during periods between crops or during free time, musicians started to create “don cay” movement (playing musical instruments without percussion). This movement quickly expanded its influence all over the region.

In the late 19th and the early 20th century, many musical mandarins and musicians of the Nguyen Dynasty moved to the south during a revolutionary movement and they combined their Hue music and that of the south to compose new “tài tử” songs and open classes to locals.

Successful learners of “tài tử” can be listed as Nguyen Quang Dai (Ba Doi) (1880) in Long An Province, Tran Quang Diem (1853 – 1927) in My Tho, Le Binh An (1862 – 1924) in Bac Lieu, together with masters like Tam, Dzung, Phan Hien Dao and Ton Tho Truong who studied music in Hue.

They contributed to composing songs and transmitting them to the south. Thanks to the “don cay" movement, musical teachers of Hue – the old capital – created physical changes to make “don cay” music the new kind of traditional music: “đờn ca tài tử”.

The art

It often takes people from 2 to 3 years to play fluently some of the most famous pieces and to be able to well deploy the techniques of “điệu” and “hơi” (tune and air).

Now there are hundreds of pieces in “tài tử” repertoire, in which 20 typical songs include Luu Thuy truong, Phu Luc Chan, Binh Ban chan, Co ban truong, Xuan tinh chan, Tay Thi truong, Xang xe, Ngu doi thuong, Ngu doi ha, Long dang, Long ngam, Van gia, Tieu khuc, Nam Xuan, Nam Ai, Dao ngu cung, Tu dai oan, Phung hoang, Giang nam – cuu khuc, Phung cau.

While playing these 20 oriental pieces as well as others, musicians are allowed to improvise new sub-melodies based on “long ban”, which is the basic theme.

Each musical sentence has a fixed number of measures. There are usually two types of sentence: sentence with 4 measures of 4/4, sentence with 8 measures of 4/4. The basic tunes was created on Bac tune (Bac air, Ha air), Nam tune (Xuan air, Ai air, Dao air) and Oan tune (Oan air).

All “tài tử” musicians have to learn by heart the basic tune of each repertoire from which they can improvise, yet maintain the integrity.

A traditional “tài tử” orchestra comprises such instruments as don kim (Vietnamese two-chord guitar), don tranh (Vietnamese 16-chord zither), don ty ba (Chinese four-chord lute), don co (Vietnamese two-chord fiddle), don bau (monochord) and ong tieu (flute).

Since the late middle of 20th century, guitar and violin have been added into the “tài tử” orchestra.

But the guitars’ frets are carved so as to leave a concave surface. With such a deep fret, the guitar, now called “guitar phim lom” or concave-fret guitar, offers a unique sound that goes along well with other acoustical sounds produced by traditional instruments in the “tài tử” orchestra.

Based on “tài tử” music, lyrics are composed for singers. Lyrics soon became a very effective tool to promote the art values and educational functions of “đờn ca tài tử” to the public.

Soon after that, “tài tử” singers changed the way of performance which does not only include singing but also acting called “Ca ra bo”, which was the first step for forming “cải lương”.

In 1917, the play “Luc Van Tien” by Truong Duy Toan was opened in Sa Dec and it was considered the first “cải lương”, the third Vietnamese stage art after “tuồng” and “chèo”.

Thanks to great artists and improving repertoire from “tai tu” music, “cải lương” has been developing fast and became one of the most attractive on-stage performances in the south during the 20th century.

In its turn, cai luong plays an active role in helping “tài tử” expand.

People who play “đờn ca tài tử”

Most “tài tử” performers are also composers. They don’t earn their life as singers, just act alone or sometimes together for relaxation in their free time. Usually, they are close friends and neighbors joining together to perform the music, as a way of expressing own emotions.

That is the reason why they perform with their whole hearts.

And when “đờn ca tài tử” became popular, public demand for it increased and that has urged greatest artists to build the “tai tu" band for greater performances in larger places.

Four criteria to list “đờn ca tài tử” as traditional

“Đờn ca tài tử” is the youngest in comparison with other kinds of Vietnamese traditional music such as “Hát xoan”, “Ca trù”, “Hát văn”, “Ca Huế”, “Hát xẩm” because its age is less than 200 years old. However, the music is considered traditional for the following criteria:

Firstly, it retains the Vietnamese traditional structure with “long ban” structure.

Secondly, it employs the musical scales and the ranges of scale of Vietnamese traditional music.

Thirdly, performers use Vietnamese traditional musical instruments. The instruments are promoted with new techniques by their composers.

Fourthly, professors keep their traditional teaching by direct instruction with traditional songs.

Nowadays, although the Vietnamese culture is greatly impacted by integration, information technology and globalization, the southern people still hold dear “đờn ca tài tử” and perform them in their daily life.

“Đờn ca tài tử” is thus worthy of being regarded as the Vietnamese spiritual creature.

Hue residents not keen on heritage, government dithers

Dong Mau Tu" ancient house on 158 Bach Dang Street in Hue central city is in extremely poor state

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Two centuries-old areas in Hue, a UNESCO world heritage city, are suffering from the worst effects of modernization and government neglect, with people demolishing ancient structures to build houses.

There are also few sponsors willing to fund preservation of relics that often date back 200 years in Bao Vinh and Gia Hoi areas.

The city government announced plans to preserve and develop Bao Vinh in 2003 and set up a board to conserve ancient relics in Hue, but little has been done so far to protect the old homes.

Shockingly, the government continues to grant licenses to people for building tall houses and converting ancient ones into modern buildings.

Time may have run out for the relics.

In 1991 there were 39 traditional houses in Bao Vinh, but only 15 remain now that are more than 200 years old. The rest have either been turned into modern high-rises or are too dilapidated.

The same situation obtains in Gia Hoi. Only 23 traditional houses and 32 French-era houses on Chi Lang Street retain their original status out of 150.

Like in Bao Vinh, most of them have been replaced with modern buildings or are severely degraded.

Nguyen Van Bon, chairman of the commune administration that oversees Bao Vinh, said no support has been forthcoming from the central government for preservation.

ancient town

Only the roofs are ancient in Bao Vinh

The only assistance received so far was VND411 million (US$21,000) given by the French Senate to repair three ancient houses, he said.

Ancient or modern?

However, there are different points of view about whether Hue’s ancient houses need to be preserved.

Nguyen Viet Tien, the Head of the Urban Planning Association in Hue, said since architecture is a reflection of history, ancient towns need to be preserved.

But locals’ right to live in modern houses also needs to be taken into account and the government should work with them to reach agreement, he said.

Either way, he said, “We must take action now.”

But Bon said that the government should not preserve the old houses because it will affect people’s lives as well as the economy.

“Many people have filed petitions against preserving the ancient houses.”

The government should focus on preserving national relics of historical and cultural significance, he said, citing some examples like buildings in the Bach Dang Arc such as the Dieu De national pagoda, Hindu temple, some French-era houses with their shuttered windows, grand balconies, and pitched tiled roof.

Bao Vinh is located on the famous Huong (Perfume) River and is just a few minutes’ drive from the former Imperial City of Hue. Seen from the river, the line of old houses reminds visitors of the streets of Hoi An though Bao Vinh’s history only dates back 200 years.

The Gia Hoi area, which covers Phu Cat, Phu Hiep, and Phu Hau wards, is an island surrounded by the Dong Ba Canal and Huong River.

The ancient Gia Hoi street used to be a busy trading centre in the past. Many houses here have architecture as unique and ancient as in Hoi An.

Part 1: Modern-loving locals turn back on ancient village

To be continued

Homemade comic book treats in store for VN youth

HCM CITY – Several new comic book series for children written and designed by Vietnamese authors and artists from HCM City-based TVC Culture Company will hit bookstore shelves nation-wide this month.

"We hope our comic series with interesting content will capture the attention of young readers, " said Duong Thien Vuong, TVC director.

TVC is one of a few companies which have invested in the domestic comics industry dominated for years by foreign comics.

A sci-fi adventure series including Hiep Uoc Rong (Dragon Treaty) and Vo Ngua Sai Gon (Horse Steps in Sai Gon) are among the comics to be released by TVC this month.

Seven others will be published in coming months, Vuong said.

The struggle between good and evil in the comic series Dung Si Hesman (Hesman courageous soldiers) and the magical events in Sieu Nhan Viet Nam (Vietnamese Supermen) published by TVC a few years ago were warmly welcomed by children and teenage readers around the country.

"The success of the series encouraged us to invest in our ambitious project 'Vietnamese comics for Vietnamese'," Vuong said.

Vuong said he was able to start the project only after a number of writers and designers agreed to work permanently with TVC.

"Our co-operation marks a concerted effort to develop a local comic book industry," he said.

Vuong said local comic books still lacked good scripts that appeal to a child's imagination.

"To improve the content and design of our productions, we hope to receive readers' creative ideas for characters and stories that capture the imagination of Vietnamese youth," he said. – VNS

Restored Mong King's house becomes major tourism site

by Thuy Hang

Kingly features: A Mong ethnic woman stands at Vuong mansion's main entrance. — VNS Photos Truong Vi

Forest lair: Stone steps between old pines lead to the mansion.

Hanoian couple Bich Thuy and Thanh Trung chose the Vuong Mansion – an old two-storey wooden house in the Dong Van karst plateau in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, as the background for their wedding photos.

The house is the place where bride-to-be Thuy received her proposal of marriage a year ago. "The beautiful wooden mansion somehow is a part of our love story, so we wanted it (the house) present in our photos," she said.

Located in Sa Phin Valley, the house originally was the mansion of Vuong Chinh Duc, the head of the Vuong family – the most powerful Mong ethnic family in the region more than 100 years ago. He proclaimed himself as the King of the region, and adopted the title "Vua Meo", meaning "King of the Meo" (former name of the Mong ethnic group) to dominate all the northern mountainous region.

During the Nguyen dynasty, King Khai Dinh in 1913 issued a royal proclaimation appointing Duc as the sole rule of the frontier region; and today visitors can see the royal proclaimation hanging in the main room of the mansion.

Inheriting power from his father, Duc's son, Vuong Chi Sinh, also commanded the region in the early decades of the 20th century before becoming a deputy to the first and second National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (the forerunner to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam). He was renamed Vuong Chi Thanh by President Ho Chi Minh

Sinh donated most of his treasure to the Vietnamese resistance government led by President Ho in the war against the French occupation (1946-54).

To enter the 64-room mansion, visitors have to climb up a series of stone steps sandwiched in between old pine trees leading to the mansion's entrance of a small wooden gate set into a round stone wall.

According to Vuong family history, to build the house, Duc invited a Chinese fengshui master to choose an auspicious location for the building. The tortoise-shaped Sa Phin Valley, was believed to act as symbol of longevity and prosperity, a good omen when combined with the protective belt of eight surrounding mountains.

The mansion's structure is based on the shape of the Chinese character "wang", which also means "wealthy", with four horizontal and six vertical house blocks.

Iron wood, green stone and yin-and-yang double tiles are the main materials used in the construction of the mansion, which combines the typical architectural style of the Chinese Qing dynasty with Mong ethnic features. Wealth is also represented through the sophisticated dragon, phoenix and bat patterns carved on the mansion's pillars. The Chinese Han character "shou" meaning longevity also can be seen in every roof tile.

It took eight years to complete the two-storey mansion. Covering 1,200sq.m, the complex includes the main area with living room, working room, bedrooms, and additional rooms for servants and guards, food and weapon storage, a kitchen and cattle stable.

Located in a water-deprived region, the mansion also includes a huge stone tank to retain rain water, which nowadays has become the main water supplier for the valley's residents.

Staying alive: The Chinese Han character shou, meaning longevity, can be seen at the end of every roof tile.

A green area outside the protective wall is the glorious family's graveyard, where visitors can offer incense at the tombs of Sinh and his father. Visitors can see the words "tan trung bao quoc, bat thu no le" (A life devoted to the nation, never accepting of being a slave) – the epitaph given by President Ho.

Although recognised as a national architectural and artistic relic in 1993, the mansion was beginning to suffer from a lack of repair and the loss of various valuable household items.

In 2004, a VND7.5-billion (about US$500,000 at that time) project conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism restored the original beauty of the mansion. The house then become one of the most highlight tourism spots in Ha Giang.

"As an architectural masterpiece of the Mong ethnic people living in the Dong Van karst plateau, the mansion is among one of the must-visit spots whenever tourists visit the region. Local cultural researchers have kept collecting items related to the history of the Vuong family, aiming to turn the mansion into a small museum," said Nguyen Trung Thuong, director of the Ha Giang Culture, Sports and Tourism Department.

Today the mansion not only greets an increasing number of tourists, but also welcomes many professional photographers, who are attracted by its unique features and beautiful location. — VNS

Windsurfing race in Mui Ne

Some 30 international competitors will take part in a downwind slalom racing competition to be held by a Russian windsurfing school in Mui Ne, Phan Thiet, today.

Races for the second annual Surf4you Open Cup at Surf4you International Windsurfing School start at 12 noon with registration opening at 9am. Competitors will race seven downswind slalom events over a 4km course. The first prize is a Neil Pryde sail.

The event may be changed to the following day if the conditions are not suitable for racing, said Andrey Zabolonyvy, the event organiser and owner of the kitesurfing school.

Cyclists promote marine protection

Fifty cyclists from Cycling Club in Da Nang and other central provinces joined a cycling event last Sunday to promote protection of the sea environment.

The cycling tour was organised by Son Tra Peninsula Management Board in collaboration with the Cycling Club and authorities of tourism beaches in Da Nang.

Da Nang has become a major sea tourism destination, with beaches and sea resorts attracting some 900,000 tourists, or half of the total number of tourists to the city in 2010, according to figures from Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Four Viet Nam hotels in top 500

Sofitel Legend Metropole and Hilton Opera Hotel in Ha Noi, and Caravelle and Park Hyatt Sai Gon in HCM City won coveted spots in a listing of the world's top 500 hotels by Travel + Leisure magazine.

In its January issue, the New York City-based magazine called out the four hotels in its ninth annual survey, known as T+L 500.

The magazine polled its 973,000 subscribers, soliciting votes for the best hotels around the world.

More chartered flights for Tet

The number of chartered flights to central Viet Nam has increased significantly before the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, compared to the same period last year.

According to the director of the Da Nang-based tour operator, Vitours, Cao Tri Dung, local and foreign airlines have 12 to 15 charter flights from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and elsewhere in Asia to Da Nang for the period, with more than half of them catered to by Vitours. Half of these chartered flights are operated by Vietnam Airlines from such markets as South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, and the rest by TransAsia Airways of Taiwan and other foreign carriers.

Vietnam Airlines has also started a series of more than 40 flights chartered by the international travel firm Vietlink from Hong Kong and Da Nang until early May 2011, using the 184-seat Airbus A321 aircraft.

In December, Russia's Vladivostok Air kicked off their chartered flights from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk to Cam Ranh Airport in Khanh Hoa Province.

Turkish Airlines flies to HCM City

Turkish Airlines began air services last week to HCM City by extending the Istanbul-Bangkok route to Viet Nam's southern city.

The airline has four weekly flights, with departures from HCM City's Tan Son Nhat Airport on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday on 270-seat Airbus 340.

The flights arrive in HCM City at 4:50 and depart at 8:30. The carrier also offers promotional roundtrip airfares at VND18.83 million for departures that last until March 31.

Hotel offers special group package

The InterContinental Asiana Sai Gon has offered a special residential package starting this January, applying to group bookings from 10 to 100 rooms per night. The package deal wraps up on February 28 and is priced starting at US$165 a person. The cost includes one night's stay in a deluxe room, daily breakfast, internet access and a one-hour welcome reception.

InterContinental Asiana Sai Gon has been honoured by the World Travel Award as Viet Nam's Leading Hotel 2010. — VNS

Museum exhibits 1,000 years of handicrafts

HA NOI — An exhibition of 100 historic craft items is on display in Ha Noi in an exhibition entitled A Connection between the Past and the Present. The exhibition includes tools, musical instruments, copperware, ceramics, wood carvings and stonework from the feudal era to the present day.

The artefacts were selected from collections of the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum and UNESCO's Viet Nam Centre for Antiquities Preservation and Study. The exhibition will run through Monday at the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ha Noi.

17th century Truong Luy rampart to be recognised

QUANG NGAI — Documentation of the Truong Luy heritage site will be completed by next month and submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for recognition as a vestige of national historical and cultural heritage.

Truong Luy, built in the 17th century, is one of Asia's largest ramparts. It runs north to south for about 200km through the southern provinces of Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh, and along the Truong Son mountain range.

In a workshop held on Wednesday, authorities from the areas around the ramparts committed to protect the site, which has played an important role in transport, military affairs and exchange between ethnic groups in the region for many centuries.

University hosts literary discussion, exhibition

HA NOI — Writers and publishers will meet with students today for a literary discussion and book exhibition at Hoa Binh University in Ha Noi.

On the occasion, readers will have an opportunity to buy books at a discount, and the university's library will receive a donation of 1,000 books from publishing houses.

HCM City choir prepares special New Year treat

HCM CITY— The HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra's (HBSO)'s choir will put on a special performance featuring world famous choral and dance pieces this Sunday, offering a New Year treat for music fans.

Solo singers Tran Duy Linh, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga and Pham Trang will lead the HBSO's choir as they perform American, Mexican and Ecuadorian folk songs including The Winter Is Wide, Varija de Barn and Celito Lindo Prende de Vela.

The choir will also perform Leonard Bernstein's Maria from West Side Story, Andrew L.Webber's Don't Cry for Me Argentina and George Gershwin's Choral Selections from Porgy and Bess.

Tran Nhat Minh, a graduate of the Tchaikovsky Music Conservatory in Moscow will be the chorusmaster.

The show will end with a mixed repertoire of characteristic dances that features a series of dances from Russia, Span and Mexico.

The show will begin at 8pm on Sunday, at the Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, District 1. Tickets, costing VND150,000 (US$7) to 250,000, can be bought at the theatre's box office. — VNS

Capital to host Japanese anime fest

Taken aback: Movie Sprited Away will be screened at the first Japanese Animation Film Festival in Ha Noi next week. — File Photo

HA NOI — The first ever Japanese Animation Film Festival will be held in Ha Noi on January 12–16, 2011.

Sponsored by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs (JACA), the festival will include eight outstanding animated films from the past decade.

The opening screening next Wednesday will be the highly acclaimed film, Colourful (2010), director Keiichi Hara's latest film.

"The movie will touch audiences with a story based on the award-winning novel for young adults," said Ikeda Hiroyuki from the Japan Image Council (JAPIC), which is co-organising the festival.

The story involves a spirit, referred to only as boku (me), who has recently died. The spirit is put in the body of a 14-year-old who recently committed suicide.

Colourful was extremely well received when it was released last August in Japan. Director Hara will make a speech at the opening screening.

The other seven films chosen for the festival, including Spirited Away (2001) by director Hayao Miyazaki, and Redline (2010) by director Takeshi Koike, are all distinguished and unique in their own right, and according to the organisers will enable viewers to more fully enjoy and "discover" the diversity of Japanese animation.

Redline is anticipated to be a highlight of the festival. Released in Japan last October, Redline took seven years to make and used approximately 100,000 handmade drawings.

"The whole thing has the feel of a high-speed car chase, and the exquisite attention to detail will be particularly evident to the audience in some of the explosions," said Ikeda Hiroyuki.

Spirited Away follows the adventures of Chihiro, a 10-year-old Japanese girl, as her family moves to a new town in the countryside.

Spirited Away earned tremendous critical acclaim both domestically and abroad, becoming the highest grossing film in Japanese history as well as receiving the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival.

Others films being screened include Millennium Actress, Mind Game, Summer War, Mai Mai Miracle and The Great Adventure of Hutch the Honeybee, and will all be shown at the festival with Vietnamese subtitles.

This event is part of an ongoing Japanese Film Festivals in Asia initiative begun by the JACA in 2004.

The initiative was designed to both deepen understanding and interest in Japanese culture abroad, as well as increase a sense of friendship between Japan and the countries in which they are held.

In addition to the upcoming festival in Ha Noi, a festival held in Seoul, South Korea in November last year screened an entirely different programme of 16 films.

"This is the first such event that has been held in Ha Noi as part of this initiative, and it also marks the first time a film festival devoted entirely to Japanese animation has taken place in Ha Noi," said Takeji Yoshikawa, director of the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange.

In connection with these screenings, Mai Mai Miracle's director Katabuchi Sunao, The Great Adventure of Hutch the Honeybee's director Amino Tetsuro and other special guests including popular voice actress Mitsuki Saiga will attend and take part in cultural exchange events with those involved in the animated film industry in Viet Nam.

Saiga is the Japanese voice actress who was awarded the Overseas Fan's Choice Awards at the Seiyu Awards 2010 for voice actor/actress.

A talk and live performance will be given by Saiga and guitarist Kazuya Nishikawa next Friday at the National Cinema Centre, located at 87 Lang Ha Street.

Free tickets for the festival are available now at the Japan Foundation, 27 Quang Trung Street, Ha Noi.

For a detailed screening schedule, please visit the website at www.jpf.org.vn. — VNS

Don ca tai tu seeks UNESCO recognition

A don ca tai tu performance in Can Tho Province - Photo: Dang Khoa

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has asked Vietnam’s National Academy of Music to file a national dossier on “Don ca tai tu” (southern amateur music) to be submitted to UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, reports Thanh Nien.

March 2011 is the deadline for Vietnam to forward its dossier, so a film crew from the institute began a fact-finding tour in mid-November to shoot a documentary on southern amateur music in 14 southeastern and Mekong Delta provinces over two months.

An international seminar on don ca tai tu will also be hosted at the Rex Hotel Saigon on January 9 in HCMC’s District 1. The seminar will feature 33 scientific studies, of which seven are from France, Cyprus, Germany, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

A singer will perform with traditional instrument musicians playing the dan co (also known as a dan nhi), the Vietnamese two stringed fiddle, dan tranh, or 16 string zither and the doc huyen cam (the monochord, which is now often replaced by the guitar).

Officials say they hope the compilation of a dossier to ask UNESCO for recognition of the music as an intangible culture would protect the nation’s cultural heritage at an international level and raise the community’s awareness of the art while promoting the country’s image to attract more tourists.

As ca tru (ceremonial singing) and quan ho (love duets) in the north or nha nhac (Hue royal music) in the central and gongs in the Central Highlands have been recognized as the world’s intangible heritages, don ca tai tu needs the same recognition.

According to statistics,, 21 provinces and cities in Vietnam have don ca tai tu with 2,019 clubs with 22,643 members and 2,850 musical instruments.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Don ca tai tu seeks UNESCO recognition

A don ca tai tu performance in Can Tho Province - Photo: Dang Khoa

According to statistics,, 21 provinces and cities in Vietnam have don ca tai tu with 2,019 clubs with 22,643 members and 2,850 musical instruments.

ASEAN Golden Voice Festival opens

The ASEAN Golden Voice Festival 2011 opened last night at the HCMC Television Theater, with 17 singers from ASEAN nations.

The singers used the opportunity to meet other singers from the region and introduce their country’s music to Vietnamese audiences, reports VietnamPlus.

Last night at the theater at 14 Dinh Tien Hoang Street in HCMC’s District 1 singers performed folk and traditional genres in their native language. They will perform pop songs in English on Friday night. The awards gala party on Saturday night will be broadcast live on HTV9.

Singers Thu Minh, Kasim Hoang Vu, Do Tung Lam and H’Zina Bya will represent Vietnam. The other 13 contestants are Plengpraphun Kingthong and Wongloung Sirilux from Thailand, Khim Su Su Naing and Mr.Kyaw Zin Min from Myanmar, Netta Kusumah Dewi and Hershon from Indonesia, Uela Basco from the Philippines, Samsann Annda and Vannika from Cambodia, Iqwal Hafiz and Katherine Chan from Malaysia and FIQ and Moon from Brunei.

Two singers from Japan, Annabel Yu and Okuma Ryo, will attend the event as guest singers.

The judge panel will include song-writer Tran Long An, Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Duong Thu of the host country, Indira Sotyawati from Indonesia and Toshiba Emi from Japan.

The organizers will award four gold medals, four silver and four bronze medals and an audience choice prize.

ASEAN Golden Voice Festival opens

The ASEAN Golden Voice Festival 2011 opened last night at the HCMC Television Theater, with 17 singers from ASEAN nations.

The singers used the opportunity to meet other singers from the region and introduce their country’s music to Vietnamese audiences, reports VietnamPlus.

Two singers from Japan, Annabel Yu and Okuma Ryo, will attend the event as guest singers.

The judge panel will include song-writer Tran Long An, Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Duong Thu of the host country, Indira Sotyawati from Indonesia and Toshiba Emi from Japan.

The organizers will award four gold medals, four silver and four bronze medals and an audience choice prize.

Vietnam folk songs on modern instruments

A performance program of contemporary music with Vietnamese cultural influences will take place at HCMC Conservatory of Music on January 7.

The program includes a recital of new Australian and American compositions written for guitar and percussion, inspired by Vietnamese music culture.

Traditional folk songs, melodic and rhythmic idioms from various regions of Vietnam, especially the Highlands, are brought to life in harmony with music of the twenty-first century. Each composition displays the explorations of musical and technical possibilities for the guitar.

The program supported by the Australian National University and the HCMC Conservatory of Music is an Australian-American collaboration between Le-Tuyen Nguyen, a Vietnamese Australian guitarist, and Salil Sachdev, who chairs the music department at Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts.

Le-Tuyen is also a music specialist of the Creative Arts Council of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, Australia. He is the inventor of the staccato-harmonic duotone, a new guitar technique which involves the simultaneous sounding of two tones on one guitar string.

Meanwhile, Salil Sachdev has composed music for a variety of media including the orchestra, percussion, piano, theater, voice, and electronic music.

Windsurfing race in Mui Ne on Friday

A windsurfer comes into the beach where the Surf4you Open Cup will be held on Friday - Photo: Michael Smith

A Russian windsurfing school in Mui Ne will hold a downwind slalom racing competition this Friday Dec. 7 with 30 international competitors.

Races for the second annual Surf4you Open Cup at Surf4you International Windsurfing School will start at 12 midday with registrations opening at 9 am. If the conditions aren’t suitable for racing the event may be changed to the day after.

“I want to invite spectators and competitors. Everyone is welcome to register no matter what the level,” the race organizer and kitesurfing school owner, Andrey Zabolotnyy, said.

Competitors will each race seven downwind slalom events over a four kilometer course.

The first prize is a Neil Pryde sail.

Zabolotnyy, 24, who first started windsurfing in Vladivostok when he was nine, said the event would test competitors’ fitness.

“Many people from Vladivostok are already training for the event and they will stay in Mui Ne until the Vietnam PWA Grand Slam that starts February 25,” said the Russian, who has been coaching windsurfing in the resort town for five years.

Dozens of competitors were making use of strong wind conditions on Sunday to train for the race. Many of the windsurfers from Vladivostok in Mui Ne windsurf all year round by coming to Vietnam during their hometown’s offseason.

The windy season in Mui Ne is a few months late this year.

A local freestyle windsurfer who will be racing, Chiga Somogyvari, from Hungary said he likes to race in downwind slalom events the best because they are so fast.

Surf4you is at 90 Huynh Thuc Khang St. in Mui Ne, tel: 1233397716, Website: www.surf4you.ru.

Windsurfing race in Mui Ne on Friday

A windsurfer comes into the beach where the Surf4you Open Cup will be held on Friday - Photo: Michael Smith

A Russian windsurfing school in Mui Ne will hold a downwind slalom racing competition this Friday Dec. 7 with 30 international competitors.

“I want to invite spectators and competitors. Everyone is welcome to register no matter what the level,” the race organizer and kitesurfing school owner, Andrey Zabolotnyy, said.

Competitors will each race seven downwind slalom events over a four kilometer course.

The first prize is a Neil Pryde sail.

Zabolotnyy, 24, who first started windsurfing in Vladivostok when he was nine, said the event would test competitors’ fitness.

The windy season in Mui Ne is a few months late this year.

A local freestyle windsurfer who will be racing, Chiga Somogyvari, from Hungary said he likes to race in downwind slalom events the best because they are so fast.

Surf4you is at 90 Huynh Thuc Khang St. in Mui Ne, tel: 1233397716, Website: www.surf4you.ru.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Windsurfing race in Mui Ne on Friday

A windsurfer comes into the beach where the Surf4you Open Cup will be held on Friday - Photo: Michael Smith

A Russian windsurfing school in Mui Ne will hold a downwind slalom racing competition this Friday Dec. 7 with 30 international competitors.

“I want to invite spectators and competitors. Everyone is welcome to register no matter what the level,” the race organizer and kitesurfing school owner, Andrey Zabolotnyy, said.

Competitors will each race seven downwind slalom events over a four kilometer course.

The first prize is a Neil Pryde sail.

Zabolotnyy, 24, who first started windsurfing in Vladivostok when he was nine, said the event would test competitors’ fitness.

The windy season in Mui Ne is a few months late this year.

A local freestyle windsurfer who will be racing, Chiga Somogyvari, from Hungary said he likes to race in downwind slalom events the best because they are so fast.

Surf4you is at 90 Huynh Thuc Khang St. in Mui Ne, tel: 1233397716, Website: www.surf4you.ru.

Green film makers get 48 hours in contest

International eco film competition, 48 Go Green, is calling for registration in Vietnam. The competition is an avant-garde festival that gives film-makers the opportunity to express themselves and speak up against the ecological destruction taking place on the planet.

The competition will kick off online at 7 pm local time, February 18. Entrants will then have 48 hours to make a narrative short film, including writing, shooting, and editing, to submit before 7.30 pm local time, February 20.

At the start each team will be assigned a random theme about the environment, potable water, forests, wildlife, the earth, the next generation, energy, the sea or the planet. The organizer will nominate a character, prop and a line which must appear in the film.

The winner will go to Cannes International Film Festival, accompanied by a US$5,000 cash prize. The 16 top films of 48 Go Green could be selected to screen at the NAB Show in Las Vegas from April 9-14, 2011.

48 Hour Film Project launched its first competition in Vietnam last October and November.

For more information, visit www.48gogreen.com.

Green film makers get 48 hours in contest

48 Hour Film Project launched its first competition in Vietnam last October and November.

For more information, visit www.48gogreen.com.

Falling into the city deeps

A violin and piano performance at Roi Café - Photo: Thanh Hang

The violinist seemed to recognize the little girl at once and smiled faintly at her as she came into the room. A brief moment later, he was lost again in the Ave Maria. The girl of about six or seven sat next to her brother and told him to shush, then made room for her grandfather. Once settled, the family sat in silence to listen to the live classical music which is a regular weekly event at Roi Café.

Roi Café is in a fine house which also has a flower shop. Opening only two hours a night from Wednesday to Sunday night, Roi is purely for music lovers. The way that sonatas for violin and piano are played in the private sitting room resembles how chamber music used to be enjoyed in European salons in the 18th Century. It’s the intimate nature that makes people call chamber music the “music of friends”. In Roi cafe, although its not a string quartet there is an intimacy that is a vital aspect of chamber music.

And it’s not just classical music at Roi. A few instrumental versions of old covers are rolled out. As the musician played the much-loved Russian song “One million roses”, all the visitors at Roi Cafe seemed to fall into reveries. An old man closed his eyes and tapped his fingers gently on the table. In the easy flow of music, the tiny space created an illusion of drowning in the deepest ocean, with all the trees waving in the dark outside.

Roi Café serves drinks for a very reasonable price from VND30,000, compared to other live music café lounge in Saigon. Doors open at 8pm from Wednesday to Sunday and close at 10pm. Roi Café is at 92 Dinh Tien Hoang, Binh Thanh District, HCMC.

Conference to mull ways to revive southern amateur music

HCM CITY – More than 120 Vietnamese and foreign cultural experts will gather in HCM City on Sunday for a three-day conference to discuss ways to revive don ca tai tu, or southern amateur music.

The organisers said researchers, educators, cultural administrators, and musicians from Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and other countries will attend the conference at the Rex Hotel.

Don ca tai tu artists from 21 provinces and cities and four professors representing the International Traditional Music Association will also attend.

There will be 33 reports tabled at the event, seven of them by foreign experts.

Prof Yamaguti Osamu of Japan's Osaka University, who helped get UNESCO recognition for Hue royal music as a world intangible heritage, will deliver a speech.

Prof Le Van Toan, head of the Viet Nam Institute of Musicology, described the conference as being very important.

There are 2019 don ca tai tu clubs in the country having 22,643 members. The number will be increased by the time an application is made for UNESCO recognition as a world heritage, he said.

Prof Tran Van Khe, a master of Vietnamese traditional music, said don ca tai tu was born at the end of the 19th century and has become popular in several countries.

"Don ca tai tu is not just for entertainment but is a communal cultural activity," he said. – VNS

Flower growers hope to reap Tet rewards

Business blooms: Gardeners throughout the country are ready to meet customer demand for flowers and bonsai trees for the up-coming Tet (lunar new year) festival. — VNA/VNS Photos Minh Quang & Van Khanh

HCM CITY — Gardeners from southern provinces and HCM City's suburban districts of Hoc Mon and Thu Duc are hoping that their hard work to meet customers' demands for the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival will pay off in handsome profits.

Foreign hybrids seem to be increasingly favoured over traditional flowers, said Tran Van Tiep, owner of a farm in Dong Thap Province's Sa Dec Town.

"This year Sa Dec expects to sell 4 million flowers and plants of different kinds, many of them foreign hybrids from Australia, the Netherlands and the US."

"For the foreign hybrids, we hope to attract vendors from HCM City and northern provinces who prefer quality and exotic flowers, even if they are expensive," he said.

For Tet, Tiep and his colleagues have invested several millions of dong in new foreign hybrids as well as the more traditional flowers.

Traditional Vietnamese flowers like daisies, carnations and roses are selling at VND 20,000 – 40,000 (US$1-2) a bush/pot, around 15 per cent higher than last year.

Dealers from HCM City and Ha Noi have shown greater interest in buying foreign hybrids such as tulips and lilies at prices ranging from VND10,000 per flower and VND50,000 per pot.

Florist Nam Tien of An Giang Province's Hoa Binh Town said:"This year Hoa Binh's 40 farmer households are offering 350,000 different traditional flower plants and pots.

"We hope urban customers change their minds and that we can sell the more traditional flowers as the festival draws nearer."

Local farmers in Thu Duc and Hoc Mon said ochna flower prices will increase about 20 per cent compared to last year.

Truong Van Du, who owns a farm in Thu Duc, said he has cultivated more than 2,000 ochna trees and expects to sell them at about VND500,000 – VND2 million a tree, VND100,00 to 400,000 higher than last year.

"Because of good weather, the ochna flowers would open in time for Tet. I hope God will bless our farmers," he said.

In Ha Noi, people prefer peach blossoms, typically grown in the famous flower village of Nhat Tan, and will pay about VND1 million for a big branch, while a peach bonsai may sell for VND20 million or thereabouts.

Gardener Vu Van Lan of Tay Ho District, who plans to sell 400 mandarin trees in Ha Noi, hopes he can get VND1 million for a quality tree and that prices would go up further during the last few days of the holiday.

Traditional flower fairs in HCM City and Ha Noi are expected to attract the participation of hundreds of local and provincial florists and hundreds of thousands of residents.

As in previous years, HCM City has designated Nguyen Hue Street as the "Flower Street," where millions of flowers from all over the country will be assembled to depict an overall theme chosen every year. — VNS

Saturday, January 8, 2011

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