VietNam Life Style: 2/6/11

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Valentine's Day offers bouquet of options

A rose by any other name: People shop for flowers, which are expected to go up in price for Valentine's Day. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan

Love songs: To celebrate this year's Valentine's Day, pop star Duc Tuan will bring his romance-themed Chuyen Tinh Yeu tour to HCM City, Can Tho, Nha Trang and Hue. — File Photo

HCM CITY — Businesses are gearing up for Valentine's Day which falls on Monday.

The demand for flowers and gifts to express love will be higher than usual, says the managing director of The Gioi Hoa Tuoi (Flower World), Nguyen Thi Thuy Vu.

"We don't have enough roses to meet demand," Vu said.

The prices of flowers at gardens in Da Lat remain high, with a rose in HCM City selling for VND4,000-6,000, double the usual price. Prices are expected to rise to as high as VND10,000 (US$0.5) for a single rose this weekend.

Meanwhile, shopping centres in HCM City are offering discounts and promotions to take advantage of the holiday buying. Co.op Mart's Qua tang Tinh yeu (Gift of Love) promotion features discounts of up to 40 per cent on chocolates, clothing, stuffed toys and decorative items

Duong Thi Quynh Trang, director of public relations for the French-owned supermarket chain Big C, said its Nhan Doi Hanh phuc (Double Happiness) promotion ran all last week.

Jewellery is a favourite gift during the Valentine's Day holiday, and Phu Nhuan Jewellery Joint Stock Co has launched a collection of gold and silver jewellery featuring new designs for rings and pendants meant for couples. Prices range from VND400,000-500,000 ($20-25).

Romantic books have become increasingly popular with young people every year, and publisher Thoi Dai has issued such titles as Khong Co Gi Ngoai Rac Roi (Nothing but Trouble) by Rachel Gibson, Mong Phu Du (Trading up) by Candace Bushnell, and Cau Hoi Tinh Yeu (A Question of Love) by Isabel Wolff to take advantage of the holidays.

Kim Dong Publishing House has published collections of short stories by young Vietnamese writers like Ho Viet Khue and Minh Nhat, while the Nha Nam Communication and Culture Co has published translations of works by foreign writers such as Guillaume Musso, Yumoto Kazumi and Jane Green.

For those tired of the usual chocolates, flowers and jewellery, the Chuyen Tinh Yeu (Love Story), a pop and dance music tour performed by young star Duc Tuan, will tour HCM City, Can Tho, Da Lat, Nha Trang and Hue.

He will perform dozens of love songs, including Huy Du's Chuyen Tinh Yeu (Love Story), Tran Le Quynh's Tre Mai (Young Forever) and Chan Tinh (Passion) and Pham Dinh Chuong's Don Xuan (Welcome Spring).

A series of musical productions staged and composed by veteran musician Pham Duy will also be part of the show.

An extravaganza show for young couples will be staged in Da Lat on Monday night.

In celebration of Valentine's Day, the HCM City Television's monthly music and song programme, Thay Loi Muon Noi (Speak for Silent Hearts), will be broadcast tomorrow night and feature romantic works.

Young singers, dancers and pop bands such as My Tam, Ha Anh Tuan, Phuong Linh and the band FM will woo the audience with popular love songs in Vietnamese, English and French.

For theatre lovers, actors from the HCM City Small Theatre will stage a comedy written by Nguyen Quoc at 5B Vo Van Tan Street this weekend.

Ly Khac Lynh's Cuc Yeu (Too Much Love) centres on the theme: Is love more important than money?

The play features young performers Hoang Anh and Diem Chau, who will accompany veterans My Uyen and Thanh Hoang.

For Valentine's Day, Cafe Central A Dong Restaurant in HCM City's Windsor Plaza Hotel will serve a Western and Asian buffet dinner, with couples to receive a gift from cupid, according to the hotel's assistant public relations manager Nguyen Ngoc Han.

Dinner and kisses

Couples could also enjoy a multi-course set menu at TOTT Bar and Restaurant on the 25th floor while overlooking the city skyline, Han said.

The Sheraton Sai Gon Hotel, Sofitel Sai Gon Plaza, New World Sai Gon Hotel, Caravelle Hotel and the Park Hyatt all have also announced special dinners. Meanwhile, Espressamente Illy is offering a free tiramisu to customers who spend at least VND200,000 ($10) during February 7-19.

Romantic getaways are also becoming popular with couples.

Saigontourist is offering a three-day stay at Hon Ngoc Viet for VND16.3 million ($810), a three-day Da Lat tour for VND10.15 million ($507) and a four-day Da Lat tour VND6.36 million ($318) per couple.

HCM City-based tour operator Viettravel will also hold its annual underwater wedding for nine couples at the Viet Nam Dive Centre in the coastal resort city of Nha Trang on Valentine's Day.

About 100 couples are expected to compete in a marathon kissing festival in the Kisses' Party at the Viet Tiep Friendship Cultural Palace in the northern city of Hai Phong on Sunday. The 10 longest kisses will receive prizes, including a pair of laptops worth VND15 million.

Contestants must be at least 18 years old, and over 50 couples had already registered, said Do Minh Phuong, director of event organiser Golden Trademark Communication Joint Stock Co.

"The festival is expected to be an unforgettable moment in the lives of the participants," Phuong said. "This is the place where love will be spread and people will express love and a civil lifestyle."

For those who prefer to stay at home for Valentine's Day, television broadcasters have featured love stories throughout the week in the countdown to the holiday.

HCM City Television's HTV 7 has begun airing the 30-episode Goi Nang (Calling for Sunlight) series in time for the holiday. Directed by Tran Canh Don, the series focuses on two foster sisters and two men who battle betrayal, deception and envy before they find true love. It stars singer Maya, actress Trang Nhung and actors Quang Tuan and Gia Huy.

Vinh Long TV, meanwhile, has begun broadcasting the 35-episode series Tinh Nhu Tia Nang (Love Like Sunlight), directed by Truong Dung. The film tells the story of the love between a young woman from a rich family and a young composer who helps her retrieve her inheritance from the clutches of her cruel stepfather. Le Phuong and actor-singer Nguyen Vu play the lead roles.

Trinh Le Phong's 30-episode Dem Nguoc Cho Den Ba Muoi (Countdown to 30) tracks the search for love by three unmarried 30-year-old women who face growing pressures from their families to marry. The series, to begin on VTV1 on Valentine's Day, stars Kieu Oanh, Vi Cam and Chi Trung. — VNS

VN pupil conquers South Pole

Poles apart: During his expedition to the South Pole, Quang will make a short documentary about the life of Antarctic inhabitants, including whales and penguins. — File Photos

Intrepid: Quang poses with Dr Olav Orheim, a scientist working at the South Pole.

HA NOI — Ten-year-old Pham Vu Thieu Quang did not celebrate the Lunar New Year in the traditional way with sticky rice cake, but instead with icy mountains, whales, sea lions and penguins at the South Pole.

Quang became the youngest Asian person to conquer the South Pole when he and other members of his expedition reached the southernmost point of the Earth on February 2.

Accompanied by his father, businessman Pham Quang Vinh, the 4th-grade student left Ha Noi on January 29 bound for Ushuia in Argentina, where they boarded English cruise liner the MS Fram, heading to the South Pole.

During the 10-day expedition, Quang and his companions visited the Rothera Research Station, a British Antarctic Survey logistics centre on Adelaide Island. They also visited several well known regional spots, including Deception Island, Half Moon Island, Yankee Harbour, Port Lockroy Post Office and Wilhelmina Bay.

To prepare for the journey, Quang took up cycling and biked up to 20km every Sunday.

Although it is summer time at present at the South Pole, the temperature was between -14oC to -5oC, challenging conditions for little Quang who is more familiar with a tropical climate.

"I had to ask some friends that live abroad to purchase specific clothing and other equipment such as anti-UV sun-glasses, gaiters and waterproof boots," Quang's father said.

According to Vinh, the expedition was not simply a journey of discovery, but also an experience his son would never forget.

"By taking him with me to the South Pole, I wanted him to know that I, like all parents, will always support his dreams."

Documentary

Quang was extremely excited when he found out about the expedition and started to research the area he was going to explore on the internet.

Quang revealed that he planned to make a short documentary about the life of Antarctic inhabitants, including whales and penguins.

To complete the documentary, Quang will conduct interviews with explorers, crew members and expedition members.

"I will present the documentary to my classmates and other people, hoping they will be able to learn more about the area and raising their environmental awareness," Quang said. — VNS

City honours participants in HCM City's Tet festival

HCM CITY — The Saigontourist Holding Company yesterday organised a closing ceremony for Nguyen Hue Flower Street which opened during the Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.

The city People's Committee commended the active participation of 48 organisations and 78 individuals in the 2011 Tet Festival.

An estimated of 1 million people visited Nguyen Hue Flower Street during Tet.

The main sponsor for this section, Kinh Do Company, contributed VND500 million (US$25,000) to the Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients.

The organiser also collected VND68 million ($3,400) of coins from the Wishing Pond that were sent to the association.

Hue kicks off eight-day New Year festival

HCM CITY — Thua Thien-Hue Province authorities on Thursday kicked off an eight-day annual festival celebrating the New Year at Huyen Tran Temple in Hue City.

The temple worships both Princess Huyen Tran, who is considered the founder of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri and Quang Nam provinces, and her father, King Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308).

The first event of the festival was a prayer and ritual ceremony conducted by Buddhist monks to pray for peace and prosperity in the new year. Leaders and residents of Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Tri lit incense sticks during the ceremony.

The festivities include lanterns, traditional prayers for good luck, folklore performances, handicraft exhibitions and a vegetarian food festival.

The festival ends on February 17.

Hoi An students to learn Japanese in pilot plan

QUANG NAM — The central province of Quang Nam on Thursday started a pilot programme to teach Japanese language at the primary and junior-high school levels.

The lessons are being taught in one third-grade class at Luong The Vinh primary school and two sixth-grade classes at Kim Dong junior high school in Hoi An.

The programme's organisers are Hoi An City People's Committee and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Human Resources Institute (HRI) Viet Nam.

Japanese teachers from HRI Viet Nam are in charge of helping the students get acquainted with Japanese language and culture through interactive activities.

Nakamura Kouji, a teacher at Kim Dong School, said: "I started to discover a big world outside Japan when I first made contact with foreigners."

"I hope that Vietnamese students like the subject and realise it is a way for them to know more about the country, people and culture of Japan," Nakamura added.

Since the 17th century, Hoi An has a longstanding history of commercial exchanges with Japan. Many relics of Japan can be found in Hoi An. — VNS

Vietnamese children's author is hit with Thais

HCM CITY — Popular children's book writer Nguyen Nhat Anh has sold the rights to Thailand-based Nanmee Books Publishing House for translation of one of his best-selling books into Thai.

Cho Toi Xin Mot Ve Di Tuoi Tho (Give Me a Ticket Back to Childhood) is a narration by an urban boy named Mui of the events in his and three friends' lives.

The book received a sensational reception from critics and readers of all ages, selling a record – for children's books – 20,000 copies within a week of being published in 2008.

It was reprinted by the Tre (Youth) Publishing House.

Translator Montira Rato will work to get the Thai version published in August to mark 35 years of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Thailand.

Last year the Viet Nam Writers Association nominated the book for the Southeast Asian Writers Award instituted by the Thai royal family, and it duly won the prize.

The HCM City-based Anh began writing in 1984 and is known for his simple style and accurately depicting the purity and sensitivity of children's minds.

His other famous books include Toi La Be To (I'm Be To) and Dao Mong Mo (The Dreamlike Island), both about young girls and boys. Both have seen reprints.

His latest book, Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass), sold 32,000 copies in just two months of publication last year.

Co Gai Den Tu Hom Qua (The Girl Comes from Yesterday), which Tre published in 1995, remains one of the country's best-selling kids' books.

Moscow University recently included it in the curriculum for Vietnamese-language students.

It is also expected to be translated into Russian. — VNS

Local books translated into two languages

Author Nguyen Nhat Anh talks about his recent book, Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh, with readers - Photo: Tuong Vi

Two books by author-for-teens, Nguyen Nhat Anh, will be translated into Thai and Russian, Tre Publishing House said.

In mid January, Nguyen Nhat Anh signed a contract with Thai publisher Nanmeebooks Co., Ltd. to allow them translate into Thai his teen novel, Cho Toi Xin Mot Ve Di Tuoi Tho (Give me a ticket back to childhood), which won the Vietnam Writers’ Association award in 2009 and a Southeast Asian Writers Award.

Another of Anh’s teen novels, Co Gai Den Tu Hom Qua (The girl from Thursday), will be translated into Russian for possible inclusion in the Vietnamese Studies curriculum at Moscow State University in Russia.

Doctor Maxim Syunnerberg, the author of Russian-Vietnamese Dictionary and associate professor of Vietnamese studies at the Asia and Africa Institute of the university nominated the book for translation to help Russian students learn Vietnamese.

Doctor Montira Rato will be in charge of the translation for Cho Toi Xin Mot Ve Di Tuoi Tho into Thai with the Thai version to be published in Thailand in August, to mark 35 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Thailand. Four years ago, Rato translated a war diary by Dang Thuy Tram that was kept by American veterans for 35 years with the intention of eventually returning it to Tram’s family.

Anh’s most recent novel, Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (I saw a yellow flower on the green grass), had a 5,000 copy reprint released on Thursday following the sell-out of 30,000 copies here and overseas since it was first released 50 days ago.

When fishermen have a whale of a time

Having a coastline of 3,260 km means for Vietnam the sea is intimately connected with its economy, culture, and history and has had a major influence on them.

Not surprisingly, fishing communities have traditionally celebrated festivals throughout the year, mostly to revere nature and invoke its blessings.

With the New Year just past, the celebrations reach a crescendo as people pray for a lucky year, good weather, good catches, and just good luck.

As an old Vietnamese saying has it, the first month of a year is for making merry.

Traveling south from Quang Ninh through 22 provinces, one can witness festivals one after another.

In Phan Thiet, for hundreds of years a boat race dressed in splendid costumes has taken place on the Ca Ty River on the second day of the New Year.

Local coracles also join in and compete for the prize.

City dwellers flock to the river banks, which are a splash of red due to team flags, and cheer the teams.

As the race began, a spectator managed to shout to us amid the clamor of the excited crowds: “Yeah it is a yearly tradition we are all proud of. It symbolizes our strength and determination versus the power of nature.”

More solemn but no less important is the Nghinh Ong Festival (Welcome the Guardian), the most widely celebrated festival from Quang Binh Province down, each place with its own version of it.

The festival is closely connected with locals’ practice of worshipping whales which are believed to guard fishermen at sea.

Tales of fishermen protected from sharks or brought ashore after their boats were wrecked have been handed down through generations and retold time and again to pay tribute to the huge mammals.

No matter how far they are out at sea, fishermen always make it back home in time to attend what is the year’s biggest festival for them.

sea 2

In Ho Chi Minh City, the Nghinh Ong Festival celebrated in Can Gio District features a procession towards the sea from a temple where the whale is worshipped.

Along its route, fishermen and their families make votive offerings and burn incense to pray for a year of good catches and blessings.

“We fishermen never use his real name, but refer to him as ‘Mr’ to show our respect and gratitude,” one local whispered amid the solemn atmosphere as the procession passed.

The procession then climbs aboard the main golden dragon boat which is escorted by groups of flamboyantly decorated fishing boats.

Offerings presented, the flotilla returns to shore where groups of lion and dragon dancers formally welcome the spirit of the sacred guardian back to the temple.

The festival then turns lively with traditional singing and dancing and theatrical and sports performances in which fishermen and other locals eagerly participate.

After a year of hard and dangerous work at sea, the fishermen deservedly let their hair down.

Vietnam set for 1st international chorus contest

For illustration purposes only

The first ever Vietnam International Chorus Festival and Competition to be held in Hoi An next month will provide Vietnamese choirs the opportunity to meet their international counterparts and take part in a festival of this size for the first time.

It will be hosted by renowned choir organizer, Interkultur of Germany.

For its six categories of competition, 34 choirs from eight countries have signed up so far. The compulsory categories include mixed, male, female, and children choirs.

Indonesia will send 12 choirs, followed by the Philippines with 10. Vietnam will be represented by five choirs from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Quang Nam province.

The event will also feature advisory circles, rehearsals with choir experts, and encounter concerts.

A highlight will be the big opening show on March 15 on a giant floating stage by the Hoai River square.

Besides the competition, the choirs will also perform for locals and tourists at eight venues across Hoi An.

The event, scheduled to be held from March 15 to 18, is among 12 international competitions for amateur choirs held by Interkultur.

Thais fall for Vietnamese kids' book

HCM CITY — Popular children's book writer Nguyen Nhat Anh has sold the rights to Thailand-based Nanmee Books Publishing House for translation of one of his best-selling books into Thai.

Cho Toi Xin Mot Ve Di Tuoi Tho (Give Me A Ticket Back To Childhood) is a narration by an urban boy named Mui of the events in his and three friends' lives.

The book received a sensational reception from critics and readers of all ages, selling a record -- for children's books -- 20,000 copies within a week of being published in 2008.

It was reprinted by the Tre (Youth) Publishing House.

Translator Montira Rato will work to get the Thai version published in August to mark 35 years of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Thailand.

Last year the Viet Nam Writers Association nominated the book for the Southeast Asian Writers Award instituted by the Thai royal family, and it duly won the prize.

The HCM City-based Anh began writing in 1984 and is known for his simple style and accurately depicting the purity and sensitivity of children's minds.

His other famous books include Toi La Be To (I'm Be To) and Dao Mong Mo (The Dreamlike Island), both about young girls and boys. Both have seen reprints.

His latest book, Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass), sold 32,000 copies in just two months of publication last year.

Co Gai Den Tu Hom Qua (The Girl Comes from Yesterday), which Tre published in 1995, remains one of the country's best-selling kids' books.

Moscow University recently included it in the curriculum for Vietnamese-language students.

It is also expected to be translated into Russian. - VNS

Hue agencies consider creating tours based on city's heavy rain

Le Huong

Touring in the rain: Foreign tourists enjoy walking along Hue's Trang Tien Bridge in light rain. Local authorities and travel agencies are thinking hard to design tours targeting Hue's rainy days. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Viet

Royal treatment: Tourists visit one of Hue's royal palaces. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

The song Remember Ha Noi's Autumn by late composer Trinh Cong Son has inspired Saigontourist to design a tour of the city's beautiful locations mentioned in the lyrics.

"Ha Noi in autumn with yellow-leafed Celtis sinensis, red-leafed tropical almonds . . . small lanes perfumed by milky pines, old houses with brown mossy roofs, West Lake with flocks of Eurasian coot flying to the sun . . .," the song says.

Nguyen Duc Thanh, 67, who has taken the tour says it is both romantic and has deep cultural meanings.

"It has not only satisfied tourists' desires to explore the capital, but also introduced in the most vivid and realistic way the city's tangible and intangible cultural spaces," Thanh says.

He wonders why Hue travel agencies do not design a tour in Hue's rainy season based on the theme Old Flame, after another song by the same musician about his first love.

"It rains hard and long over the old tower . . .," says the song.

Tourists may visit the famed musician's house by Phu Cam Bridge, where he used to watch the small road on the other side of the An Cuu River through a curtain of rain "over small tree leaves".

Columns of trees, narrow roads and ancient towers in the rain are all mentioned in Son's song, redolent of his feelings and memories of Hue. This will lure tourists to a Hue Old Flame tour as they were attracted to the Remember Ha Noi's Autumn tour, Thanh says.

While the rest of the country has two seasons – wet and dry – the central province of Thua Thien-Hue also has two seasons – heavy rainy and light rainy.

Hue's heavy rainy season starts in September with widespread flooding and lasts till December. Drizzling rains then continues till April, when the summer thunderstorms arrive.

The Hue area is at the junction of climates of the North and South. The average rainfall in the whole province is 2,700mm.

While locals may look on such continuous rain as a disadvantage to the area's economic development, artists regard the rain as heaven's gift.

"Hue's rain is a way of playing guitar by the heaven, a combination of fragile and abnormal clashes," writes author Nguyen Xuan Hoang, "Rains can be as quiet as whispers over the leaves, as far as an old tale and as uproarious as laughter. Hue's rain is as mysterious as a human."

Writer Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong says to see Hue in a vaporous blanket of rain is to comprehend the innermost feelings of the people.

Painter Vo Xuan Huy, a teacher at the Hue Fine Arts College, admits that the blur and no clear borders in his paintings are the unconscious influence of Hue's rain.

Huy says it might be the same with music, with deep melodies inspired by the sorrowful sound of continuous rain.

Researcher Nguyen Thu Hanh, who chairs the Scientific Union for Developing Sustainable Tourism, has recently proposed that Hue's rain be turned into a unique tourism product.

"Rain curbs outdoor activities while at the same time nurturing indoor entertainment," Hanh says. "Tourists have more time to get closer to one another, to meditate, enjoy music, poetry and drink tea or coffee."

Union members have put forward some ideas for tourism products that can be exploited during the rainy season.

These include visiting suitable destinations, tours along the Huong River with stops to view the scenery like Vong Canh Hill, Ngu Phung Tower (at Ngo Mon Gate), the peak of Ngu Binh Mountain and high-rise hotels along the Huong River.

They have proposed a system of hotels and cafes, with decor to suit the environment, offering suitable atmospheres and spaces for watching the rain and enjoying its profound pleasures.

Indoor activities could include the likes of poetry readings, musical performances, exhibitions and cooking or painting classes while pagodas and gardens could meet the demand for meditation.

The wet season is a good time to enjoy Hue's complicated cuisine and increase the sale of the likes of umbrellas, traditional bamboo conical hats and raincoats, they say.

The director of Vietnamtourism's branch in Hue, Nguyen Thi Kim Binh, says tours designed with rain themes are more suitable to small groups of tourists.

"Taking care of tourists in the rain requires proper organisation," she says. "My branch receives big groups. Not many foreign tourists have a specific urge to drink coffee in the rain."

Tran Tien Dat, from the Sales Department of Hue Travel, admits the proposal has merits. The company has been in operation for 20 years but has no specific tour designed for the wet season.

"From now on we may take advantage of the rain, to keep tourists longer rather than letting them go to other destinations when it rains," he says.

Ngo Hoa, deputy chairman of Thua Thien-Hue People's Committee, agrees that tourism might be the economic sector to take advantage of the rain.

He tells of his own experience of the serious flood in 2007, when he saw tourists at Hue's Century Hotel swimming in the pool watching the rain on the river bank.

"They told me it was interesting to see fierce streams running in the Huong River," he recalls.

"The wet season is also a high tourism season in Hue, when luxury hotels are fully booked, mostly by westerners and Hue's temperature of 150C is still warm enough. Many told me they liked the rain."

Hoa says he will ask the local culture department to consider the proposal, and will consult tourism enterprises to help authorities further exploit tourism in the rainy season.

"Of course, the State should be responsible for completing infrastructure while local authorities and enterprises will design the product." — VNS

Friday, February 11, 2011

Pop star Hung tops awards list

Patriotic pop: Singer Dam Vinh Hung (left) has been nominated Favourite Singer at the annual HTV Awards. Voting for the awards begins this month. — File Photo

HCM CITY — Pop star Dam Vinh Hung is among the 46 nominees in nine categories of music, theatre performance arts, and TV series for this year's HCM City Television (HTV) Awards.

He has been nominated for Favourite Singer for the awards given to performers making contributions to HTV and to social activities.

Hung rose to fame in 2001 when he won the award for best singer from the Ben Thanh Theatre Music Club.

He has since become very popular, especially among young and middle-aged fans, for his renditions of pop and patriotic songs.

Earlier, at last month's Mai Vang (Golden Ochna) Awards given away by Nguoi Lao Dong (The Labourer) newspaper, he won in three categories – Favourite Pop Singer, Favourite for Patriotic Songs Singer, and Favourite Song.

HTV will conduct a public poll beginning later this month and closing on March 14 to choose winners of this year's awards.

Of the five or six people nominated in each category by HTV and a panel of journalists, audiences will vote for three.

Five-minute video clips of the nominees and a 60-minute film on former winners and audiences will be shown on HTV 7 every day and on HTV9 every Friday until April 4 to help viewers choose their favourites.

An Binh Bank, the event's sponsor, will also give away one award for the performer making the biggest contribution to social activities.

The winner of each category will receive the HTV Cup and VND20 million (US$1,000) in prize money.

The awards ceremony will be held at the HTV Theatre on April 4 and broadcast live on HTV9. — VNS

Poetry Day set for next week

HA NOI — The annual Poetry Day will take place next Thursday in Ha Noi, Nghe An and HCM City.

Huu Thinh, chairman of the Viet Nam Writers Association, said the occasion would also be used to mark the 100th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh who left the country in 1911 to seek ways for national salvation from the French colonists.

"There will be a soil and water procession at Ha Noi's Temple of Literature," Thinh said. "A delegation of writers from the central region will bring some soil from President Ho's home in Sen Village to the temple."

They will also bring some water from the source of the historical Pac Bo Cave's Lenin Stream, where the president lived and worked in the 1940s, in the northern province of Cao Bang to the temple.

The soil and water will be housed at the association's museum in Ha Noi.

Poetry readings will take place in President Ho's homeland, Nghe An Province, and at Nha Rong Wharf in HCM City.

At Ha Noi's Temple of Literature the busts of 30 famed writers will be displayed.

Lanterns bearing 100 verses will also adorn the temple.

The first Poetry Day was held in 2003 at the Temple of Literature. — VNS

Coffee buzz surrounds festival

The third international coffee festival will be held in Buon Ma Thuot in the Central Highlands on March 10 - 13.

At the event, more than 160 foreign and local coffee firms will showcase their technologies, products, and services at 500 booths.

There will be an international seminar on coffee attended by representatives from the world's biggest coffee producers, including Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia.

Ethnic groups from the Central Highlands and artists from coffee-growing nations will put on performances.

Brazilian football legend Pele will be among the attendees.

Hotels, resorts make ‘best' list

Four hotels and resorts in Viet Nam have found a place in Conde Nast Traveller's 17th Annual 2011 Gold List of World's Best Places to Stay.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Ha Noi, Life Heritage Resort Hoi An, Evason Ana Mandara & Six Senses in Nha Trang, and Park Hyatt Sai Gon were the ones making the list published in the magazine's January issue.

The list was selected by readers.

Life Heritage and Evason were also among Conde Nast Traveler's 20 Best Resorts in Asia last November.

Last year the Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards ranked Evason Ana Mandara & Six Senses eighth followed and Life Heritage Resort Hoi An, ninth.

Trekkers race to summit Ta Cu

Thousands of local and foreign visitors gathered in Tra Cu Mountain in Binh Thuan Province on Wednesday to watch a contest to trek to the top.

The 15th annual contest attracted 250 male and female athletes from Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Binh Thuan Provinces.

The course measured 6.3km for men and 5.3km for women, including the 2,300 steps leading up to Linh Son-Truong Tho Pagoda.

Ta Thanh Xinh of Binh Thuan won the men's open division in a time of 40 minutes. Nguyen Ngoc Quang of Dong Nai and Tran Cong Binh of Binh Thuan came second and third.

In the women's division, Nguyen Thi Diem My of Binh Phuoc was first followed by Nguyen Thu Hiep of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Nguyen Thi Dung of Binh Phuoc.

Travel firms call off Egypt tours

Vietnamese travel agencies have cancelled tours to Egypt though it is the high season due to security concerns following spreading unrest in the country.

Viet Media Travel cancelled tours departing on February 4 and 5 for which 62 persons had booked.

Perfect Tour Travel and Vietravel also cancelled trips scheduled to start during Tet last week. Vietravel said it will resume the tours when the political situation in Egypt stabilises.

VN welcomes 470,000 foreigners

Viet Nam welcomed 470,000 foreign visitors in January, a year-on-year increase of 8.9 per cent, according to the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism. The largest number came from Cambodia, followed by France, China and Japan.

HCM City received 310,000 of them, a 10 per cent rise.

The figures include overseas Vietnamese, mostly from the US, Australia, and France.

2,000 cruise tourists visit Nha Trang

More than 2,000 passengers and crew on board three cruise ships visited Nha Trang on Wednesday. Minerva, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel brought 400 passengers, mainly American tourists, Princess Dauphine (Portugal) came with 300 visitors from Australia and Europe, and Nautica (Marshall Islands) had 700 Americans.

According to Khanh Hoa Province tourism authorities, the city had also welcomed 1,800 foreign visitors on board the cruise ship Artermis (Bermuda) on February 5.

In the first five days of the lunar year – starting on February 3 — the city welcomed 96,000 visitors, including 19,000 foreigners, a year-on-year increase of 9 per cent. — VNS

Tickets for Backstreet Boys concert set to go on sale

HA NOI — Tickets for a concert by the Backstreet Boys will go on sale tomorrow in Ha Noi, HCM City, Bien Hoa and Hai Phong.

Tickets can also be booked online by visiting the website www.bsb.com.vn, according to Water Buffalo Productions, the organisers.

Tickets cost VND500,000-VND2 million (US$25-100).

The This Is Us concert will take place on March 24 at Military Zone 7's Stadium in HCM City, and on March 26 at My Dinh National Stadium in Ha Noi.

Viet Nam to host inaugural international choir competition

DA NANG — The first ever International Choir Competition will be held in the central city of Hoi An between March 15 and 18, according to Le Van Giang, chairman of the Hoi An People's Committee.

Already, 34 choirs from various countries and territories including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and Estonia have registered to take part in the contest, he said.

Around 900 singers and musicians will compete in 13 categories of six different choir groups of various ages.

The opening performance will be held on March 16 on a floating stage in the Hoai River Square.

The event has been jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Quang Nam Province authorities and the Germany-based Interkultur organisation.

Tour operator plans underwater weddings in Nha Trang

HCM CITY – HCM City-based tour operator Vietravel has unveiled plans to organise underwater weddings for a record nine couples in Nha Trang on Valentine's Day, February 14.

The Viet Nam Dive Centre, or Vinadive, a branch of Vietravel, said it will organise the 30-minute underwater nuptials with traditional Christian rituals like exchange of rings and kissing of the bride.

Other rituals like popping the champagne and cutting the wedding cake in front of the two families and friends will be held on board the Vinadive off Mun Islet off the central city.

The day before the wedding, Vinadive instructors will teach the couples to dive.

For Valentine's Day this year, Vinadive is offering the package at VND8 million per couple, a discount of VND2 million.

The centre organised Viet Nam's first underwater wedding in 2007.

Further information is available at Vinadive, Biet Thu Street, Nha Trang and www.vietnamdive.com.

Pirated DVD copies of ‘Bi, Don't Be Afraid' flood local shops

HCM CITY — Illegal copies of the award-winning film Bi, Don't Be Afraid are flooding shops in Ha Noi and HCM City a month ahead of its release around the country.

"Many people have bought the bootleg DVDs but they have hazy pictures and awful sound," Chu Tat Khang, a representative of Galaxy, the distributor of Bi, Don't Be Afraid, said.

"I believe buyers of the pirated DVD will buy tickets to see the film at cinemas to enjoy its picture and sound quality," he added.

Bi, Don't Be Afraid, directed by Phan Dang Di, tells the story of a family in Ha Noi as seen through the eyes of Bi, a six-year-old boy.

It won several international prizes last year, including the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes International Critic's Week and the New Talent Award at the 54th Hong Kong Asian Film Festival.

The film is scheduled to hit the screen on March 13. — VNS

Backstreet Boys tickets sell online Saturday

The U.S. male pop band Backstreet Boys will perform in Vietnam in March, following their tour to Latin America. The American band said on its website that it expected a total of 55,000 concert attendees in HCMC on March 24 and 26 in Hanoi.

According to the organizer, Water Buffalo Productions, the show is the same as the one performed on other stops during the band’s worldwide This Is Us Tour. The four members of the group, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and A. J. McLean, will perform at Military Zone 7 Stadium in HCMC on March 24 and My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on March 26.

The company says the tickets will sell online from Saturday via the site www.bsb.com.vn.

For online bookings, bring ID card or passport to pay and get tickets. The tickets will be available in Hanoi at: MegaStar VinCom City Towers, Floor 6 VinCom City Towers, 191 Ba Trieu, Hai Ba Trung Street; 11B Tran Quoc Toan Street; 20 Phan Dinh Phung; VIT Building, 519 Kim Ma Street; My Dinh National Stadium, Tu Liem District; and in HCMC at: 75 Pasteur, District 1; Galaxy Nguyen Du Cineplex, 116 Nguyen Du, District 1; Galaxy Tan Binh, 246 Nguyen Hong Dao Street, Tan Binh District; MegaStar Hung Vuong, 126 Hung Vuong Street, District 5. In addition, tickets will be available at MegaStar Cineplexes in Hai Phong and Bien Hoa.

Tickets range from VND500,000 to VND2 million each.

Backstreet Boys will have two meet-and-greet sessions with fans. The “Fan Meet and greet” will take place on March 23 and the “VIP Party” will be March 25.

Ticket sale to Backstreet Boys concert announced

Tickets for Backstreet Boys Concert Tour “This is Us” in Vietnam will be available officially from February 12 with prices ranging from VND500,000 (US$25) to VND2 million, according to the tour’s organizer Water Buffalo Productions.

Fans can buy tickets at official ticket outlets in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi (mentioned in the box below), or book online at http://www.bsb.com.vn/bookticket.html, or call 1900 6604 (Hanoi) or 1900 6608 (HCMC) for phone booking and ticket delivery.

Backstreet Boys is scheduled to perform in Ho Chi Minh City-based Military Zone 7's stadium on March 24 and grace Hanoi's My Dinh national stadium two days later.

According to the organizer, a total of 55,000 tickets for the two performances will be sold in Vietnam.

A 30-strong technical and support team is expected to accompany the band.

The band consisting of four members A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson, was formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993.

They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys in 1996.

They reached to superstardom with their album Millennium in 1999 and its follow-up album, Black & Blue one year later.

Richardson left the group in 2006 to pursue other interests, leaving the band as a four-piece, but the remaining members did not rule out a possible return of the singer.

The Backstreet Boys have sold over 130 million records worldwide, making them one of the biggest selling artists of all time.

According to Billboard, they are the first group since Sade to have their first seven albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200.

backstreet Boys

Hanoi’s five ticket outlets:

- Megastar Cineplex Vincom City Tower
- 11B Tran Quoc Toan
- 20 Phan Dình Phung
- My Dinh National Stadium
- VIT Tower – 519 Kim Ma

HCMC’s ticket offices:

- 75 Pasteur Road, District 1.
- Nguyen Du Galaxy Cinema – 116 Nguyen Du
- Tan Binh Galaxy Cinema – 246 Nguyen Hong Dao, Ward 14, Tan Binh District.
- Megastar Cineplex Parkson – Level 10, Parkson Plaza, 60A Truong Son, Tan Binh

Hai Phong and Bien Hoa's ticket outlets:

Tickets can be purchased at any Megastar branch.

Moscow State University could teach Vietnam novel

Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh signs books for his fans

Photo: Tuoi Tre

A Russian professor has proposed the Vietnamese novel “Cô gái đến từ hôm qua” (The girl comes from yesterday) be included in official curricula at the Moscow State University.

Dr. Maxim Syunnerberg, of the Vietnamese faculty belonging to the Moscow State University, wants his faculty to teach the novel written by the famous 46-year-old Vietnamese writer Nguyen Nhat Anh.

Syunnerberg is one author of the Russian-Vietnamese dictionary published in 2008.
The 10 chapters of the original novel are suggested to be arranged into 16 chapters to fit the 16-week study schedule.

In related news, last month, Anh officially allowed Thailand-based Nanmee Books publishing house to translate his short story "Give Me a Ticket Back to Childhood" into a Thailand version.

The book last year won the Southeast Asian Writers Awards 2010 in Thailand.

It is expected to be released in Thailand in early August to mark the 35th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.

Anh is a Vietnamese author well-known for his engaging stories for both teenagers and adults. He also works as a teacher, a poet and a reporter.

His works are enormous, including approximately 24 short stories, two giant novel series and poetry collections.

He is regarded as one of the most successful writers for teenagers.

His most well-known series "Kinh Van Hoa" (Kaleidoscope) which contains 45 volumes about three teenagers and the stories around their friendship and school life, has recently been adapted into four drama series of the same name.

In 1995, he was voted the most popular writer in the last 20 years (1975-1995) and the most talented individual through a poll held by Tuoi Tre newspaper.

January, a month of festivals and feasts

Vietnam celebrates more than 9,000 local and national festivals that can be categorized as folk, historical-revolutionary, religious, foreign-origin, and cultural-sport-tourist.

They mostly have their origins in the north, according to cultural scholars.

The first lunar month is a “month of festivals and feasts,” according to an old saying.

The New Year marks the arrival of spring according to the Chinese and Vietnamese calendars, and people are eager to visit historical sites and temples and pagodas, go sightseeing, and participate in festivals.

Many of the festivals are aimed at invoking patriotism and solidarity among people and act as platforms to preserve and pass down the nation’s culture to future generations.

Some commemorate national heroes. The Dong Da festival in the north, for instance, pays homage to King Quang Trung’s glorious feat of arms against 29,000 Qing invaders from China in 1789.

Festivals in the 1st lunar month

- Saint Giong Festival in Phu Linh Commune, Hanoi, 6th to 8th.

- Tich Dien Festival on Doi mountain, the northern Ha Nam Province, 5–7.

- Huong Pagoda Festival, Hanoi, starts on the 6th and goes on for three months.

- Gia La night-festival in Duong Noi Commune, Hanoi, 6-14.

- Sai Temple Festival in Thuy Lam Commune, Hanoi, 12.

- Tu Xa Festival in Tu Xa Commune, Lam Thao District, Phu Tho Province, 11 and 12.

- Lim Festival in Lim town, Bac Ninh Province, 13.

- Co Loa Festival in Dong Anh District, Hanoi, 6-15.

- Ba Chua Kho (Queen Kho) Temple Festival in Co Me village, Bac Ninh, 14.

- Va Temple Festival in Trung Hung Commune, Hanoi, 15.

- Tam Thanh pagoda festival in the northern city of Lang Son, 15.

- Long Tong Festival in Cao Bang Province on the China border, 6-15.

- Vieng Market Festival in Kim Thai Commune, Vu Ban District, Nam Dinh, 8

Dong da fest

Dong Da Fest

Co Loa Fest

Many of the festivals feature traditional sporting events -- like crossbow shooting and wrestling at the Co Loa Festival in Hanoi’s Dong Anh District, fighting, wrestling, and running at the Vi Khe Flower Festival in Nam Dinh Province and the Buffalo Stabbing Festival in Mo Hra village in the Central Highlands.

Dam Trau fest

Buffalo Stabbing Fest

They also showcase traditions like singing love duets, weaving fabric, and many others.

In the south, most festivals are meant to worship ancestors and deities and seek their protection and blessings for prosperity. Like the festival on Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh province during spring which people attend to pray for a year of prosperity and success.

ba den pagoda

Ba Den pagoda

The southern celebrations also often feature ornamental flowers and trees grown by traditional trade villages.

Ethnic peoples usually have spectacular festivals -- like the Tay and Nung’s Long Tong and the Hmong’s Sac Bua in the northwestern region and the Kho Me’s Lunar New Year celebrations in the south.

long tong fest

Long Tong Fest

Local films shine during Tet

Vietnamse flavour: A scene from Bong Ma Hoc Duong, one of the Vietnamese-made films shown in cinemas during the Tet holiday. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Despite stiff competition from entertainment centres, Vietnamese-made films attracted big crowds at cinemas in HCM City and Ha Noi during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

One of the blockbusters, Bong Ma Hoc Duong (Ghost at School), drew thousands of young moviegoers to Galaxy, Megastar and BHD Maximart cinemas.

Audiences queued up in front of the cinemas' ticket kiosks for the chance to watch the country's first 3-D film featuring an amusing story of an online author haunted by three ghosts.

The horror comedy attracted dozens of young pop stars and fashion models including Wanbi Tuan Anh, Truong Quynh Anh and Dinh Ngoc Diep.

Attracting more than 300,000 filmgoers, the US$1 million-film Bong Ma Hoc Duong grossed VND22 billion ($1.1 million) after 12 days of release in only HCM City and Ha Noi.

"We believe our film will set a record in ticket sales this Tet," said Phan To Hong Hai, a member of Thien Ngan Studios' managing board, the film's producer.

District 5's Megastar HungVuong cinema attracted 10,000 people a day, an increase of 20 per cent over the same period last year.

Thien Ngan's competitor, BHD Company, also believes in the financial success of its production, the comedy film Co Dau Dai Chien (War of the Brides).

The producer said the film's Vietnamese-American director Victor Vu had brought something new to fans.

Co Dau Dai Chien revolves around the love of a group of young people living in urban areas, portrayed by Huy Khanh, Phi Thanh Van and Van Trang.

It attracted 230,000 audiences in 10 days, earning VND14.2 billion in ticket sales. The numbers are expected to be higher in coming days.

The private film company Phuoc Sang's Thien Su... 99 (The Cherub... 99) features a love story, offering comedy and exciting action.

The film contains a large cast of well-known artists, including young singers Khong Tu Quynh and Ngo Kien Huy. Like its competitors, Phuoc Sang also spent a large sum on filming.

"Comedies will be big hits with youngsters looking for more lighthearted entertainment," said Phuoc Sang, the film's director.

The film is being screened at cinemas across the country, and has thus far earned a profit of VND9 billion.

In HCM City, thousands of families have also flocked to theatres as well as cinemas.

Cat Phuong of the HCM City Small Drama Theatre said that mostly big drama troupes and theatres, including Phu Nhuan and Hoang Thai Thanh, staged more comedic plays during Tet and Valentine's Day.

The theatre's two plays, Chua Yeu Sao Hieu Duoc (Can't Understand Without Love) and Cuc Yeu (Fall in Love), feature performances of young artists, including Hoang Anh and Diem Chau.

"We will continue to stage comedies in the upcoming weeks instead of showing serious productions as we had originally planned," said a representative of Hoang Thai Thanh Drama Stage.

All the tickets for the theatre's three plays have been sold out for two months.

Phuong also predicts that comedies will continue to draw audiences to the theatre until International Women's Day on March 8. — VNS

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Culture Vulture

The Ha Noi-based composer Tran Manh Hung has been presented with annual awards from the Viet Nam Musicians Association for the past two years. The 38-year-old won prestigious prizes for his poetic symphony Hao Khi Thang Long (Thang Long's Spirit) and the romantic piece The Gioi Khong Chien Tranh (A World Without War), which were honoured in the best symphony and romance categories, respectively. He talks with Culture Vulture about his works.

How did you feel when you won the award?

No words can describe my feelings when it was announced. I was extremely happy because if any composer wins an award it brings them happiness, and then I received a award the following year.

Besides those awards, the Viet Nam Musicians Association also presented you with other awards?

Yes, that is right. I started receiving awards from the Viet Nam Musicians Association in 2007 for the four-movement symphony Mot Nua Coi Tram (Half a Life), and the choral song Gio Long Bon Phuong (Rising Wind on All Sides). In 2008, I bagged the first prize for the composition, String Quartet No 2.

My poetic symphony Le Chi Vien (Le Chi Garden), and the romantic piece Giac Mo Mua La (Dream of Falling Leaves) won the best symphony and romance categories in 2009.

Last year, I sent three pieces to be considered for the awards. Besides two first prizes for the symphony Thang Long's Spirit and the romantic piece A World Without War, a second place prize was given to my composition Dat Me (Motherland).

The symphony Thang Long's Spirit was presented at a gala concert to celebrate the capital's millennium anniversary, while A World Without War was performed at the Buddha's birthday celebration last year.

Do you have any secrets? Why do you win so many prizes?

I would be a turkey-cock if I said my talent was responsible for the prizes.

I truly believe that all the cultural and historical values produced by humanity in general, and of Viet Nam in particular, have moulded the true, good and beautiful arts.

It can be said that all my teachers helped contribute to my success. They not only taught me but were role models. I always will have deep gratitude for them.

The awards provide encouragement for composers, which helps us continuously contribute to the country's glorious musical traditions.

Some other musicians compose quite a lot of work, but are unable to present their compositions to the public. How about you?

Like assiduous bees, my colleagues and I work endlessly. However, we don't publish every piece that we write.

To vie for a Musicians Association award, composers have to submit their recorded pieces. It is not difficult or costly to record the songs, unless you are working with large symphonies or operas. That's why some talented composers, who write substantial compositions but do not have the chance to record their work, were not able to popularise their musical pieces.

Do you have any plans to release a CD containing your award-winning music?

I have a plan to release such a CD, but I don't want to talk about until it is completed. However, I'm sure that a CD with a collection of my choral songs will be aired this year.

For many Vietnamese popular singers, you are their favourite musical mixing master. You were invited to join their music projects. However, you seem prefer a to keep "hidden" life, is that true?

In order to nurture our big musical dreams and make ends meet, several other composers and I have are looking into marketing our skills. By working with such musical projects, we, the people who specialise in chamber and symphony music, have a chance to understand more and practise performing popular music. — VNS

Photo competition to spotlight VN's world heritage sites

HA NOI — Amateur and professional photographers will display their best images in a competition entitled Vietnamese World Heritages to be held in July.

Launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibitions in co-operation with the Viet Nam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA), the Natural Cultural Heritage Department and National Administration of Tourism, the competition aims to draw attention to the value of the nation's UNESCO-recognised world heritages.

UNESCO has recognised the imperial city of Hue, Ha Long Bay, My Son Sanctuary, the ancient town of Hoi An, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, the citadel of Thang Long-Ha Noi, as world heritage sites, and nha nhac (royal court music), the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) gong culture, quan ho (love duet singing) in the northern province of Bac Ninh, ca tru (ceremonial singing), and the Saint Giong Festival as tangible or intangible cultural heritage.

The photo competition will award a first prize worth VND10 million and a gold medal from VAPA. Two second prizes worth VND7 million, three third prizes worth VND5 million, and ten encouragement prizes worth VND2 million would also be awarded, along with certificates from VAPA.

About 250 entries will be selected for display at an exhibition to be held in the central city of Da Nang on National Day, September 2, and in Ha Noi on Liberation Day, October 10.

Vietnamese and foreign photographers are being invited to submit entries, in colour or black-and-white. Images should be sized 30 by 45cm and not previously awarded prizes in other competitions held by the ministry or the association.

Contestants could submit up to 11 entries, which is the number of UNESCO heritage recognitions the nation has received, said competition organiser Vi Kien Thanh. All 11 photos can be taken from a single heritage site, he explained.

However, veteran photographer Van Tho argued, "Eleven photos cannot show the beauty of Vietnamese world heritage. I have taken many photos at the Giong Festival, and I propose that photographers be allowed to send more to the organisation." — VNS

First int’l chorus festival to open in Hoi An

The first International Choir Festival and Competition will be held in Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam from March 16-20.

The festival, co-organized by Quang Nam Province and the German-based Association InterKultur, is for amateur Vietnamese and international chorus.

The organizers of the festival said until mid-January 2011, 34 choirs with 30 from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Hongkong, and four from Vietnam have applied for participating in the event. The total number of participants now is more than 1,000, of which foreigners account for over 85%. It is expected that the number of choirs participating will be increasing.

Artists will compete in 13 contests, divided into six groups of male chorus, female chorus, concert chorus, chorus for children under 16, chorus for adult from 16 to 25, sacred music chorus, chorus in church in the 18th and 19th centuries and folk chorus.

The opening ceremony of the festival will take place on a floating stage at the Song Hoai (Hoai River) Square in Hoi An Town.

The schedule of the first International Choir Festival and Competition

- 7 p.m. on 15 and 18 March: Public performances by the choirs in Hoi An town.

- On March 16:

+ 6:30 p.m.: The choirs traditionally dressed or uniformed to perform in Hoi An Museum of History and Culture (10B Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoi An City)

+ 8 p.m.: the opening ceremony:

- 7 p.m. on March 17: Competition in the traditional folk music on Hoai River Square.

- March 18:

+8 a.m.: - Competition under the categories registered by the choirs at Hoi An Beach Resort

+ 6:30 p.m.: The event of “Hoi An Legendary Night in the early 20th century” in Hoi An ancient town

- March 19:

+ 6:30 p.m.: - The awarding ceremony

+ 8 p.m.: The Closing ceremony in conjunction with the Performance of chorus and solo by the choirs, traditional folk songs, dancing and music, the retreat rite of the national flags of the choirs, fireworks display, the Quang Nam traditional gastronomy night – Gift presentation and farewell.

First int’l chorus festival to open in Hoi An

The first International Choir Festival and Competition will be held in Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam from March 16-20.

The festival, co-organized by Quang Nam Province and the German-based Association InterKultur, is for amateur Vietnamese and international chorus.

The opening ceremony of the festival will take place on a floating stage at the Song Hoai (Hoai River) Square in Hoi An Town.

The schedule of the first International Choir Festival and Competition

- 7 p.m. on 15 and 18 March: Public performances by the choirs in Hoi An town.

- On March 16:

+ 6:30 p.m.: The choirs traditionally dressed or uniformed to perform in Hoi An Museum of History and Culture (10B Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoi An City)

+ 8 p.m.: the opening ceremony:

- 7 p.m. on March 17: Competition in the traditional folk music on Hoai River Square.

- March 18:

+8 a.m.: - Competition under the categories registered by the choirs at Hoi An Beach Resort

+ 6:30 p.m.: The event of “Hoi An Legendary Night in the early 20th century” in Hoi An ancient town

- March 19:

+ 6:30 p.m.: - The awarding ceremony

Box offices boom over Tet

Cinemas and stages had bumper box offices over the Tet holidays.

Tickets to a total of 18 films at eight theaters across HCMC were sold out with operators adding extra sessions to cope with the demand. Most of the productions were comedies, thrillers or social dramas.

The theaters said they have sold out tickets until the end of February, with many people resorting to buy tickets from outside the theater for as much as VND800,000/pair, compared to the set price of VND100,000. Seats for live shows of local comedians for VND1.5 million were also sold out.

Vietnam’s first 3D movie, Bong Ma Hoc Duong (School Ghosts) produced by Galaxy Studios, lived up to expectations with a record VND22 billion after 12 days of screening nationwide, mostly attracting students.

Minh Thuy, a high school student in Ha Dong, said, “The movie covered some real issues such as school fights and violence.”

School Ghost has sold 300,000 tickets so far turning over VND1.8 billion a day, higher than local blockbusters last Lunar New Year. Co Dau Dai Chien (Battle of the Brides) produced by BHD was next with VND14.2 billion and 230,000 viewers during Tet.

Phuoc Sang Corp’s production Thien Su 99 (Angel 99) with VND9 billion and 200,000 tickets sold, ranked third but was down a third on Phuoc Sang’s offering last year called Cong Chua Teen va Ngu Ho Tuong (Teen Princess and the Five Brave Generals Teaser).

A representative of Hung Vuong MegaStar Cineplex in HCMC’s District 5, said every day from the first to the fourth day of Tet, the cinemas welcomed 10,000 movie lovers, but American 3D cartoon, Tangled, was the biggest attraction.

Rip-off prices and fake bush meats at Pagoda Fest

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Tens of thousands of pilgrims have flocked to the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi to pray for good luck only to enjoy fake wild meats and be charged rip-off prices, sometimes 10 times higher than usual.

Parking cost goes up 10 times, from VND2,000 to VND10,000-20,000 (up to $1) for a motorbike, and VND40,000-60,000 per car.

To arrive at the pagoda where the 3-month festival kicked off yesterday, pilgrims have to take a boat to cross Day River.

The fixed price for a one-way boat trip is VND25,000 (US$1.2 ). However, each tourist needs to tip the boatman VND50,000-100,000 in order to arrive safe and sound.

Along the road, oriental doctors offer free pulse readings but then prescribe pricey medicines, which are just some normal herbs.

To fill up their stomach, visitors may need to think again as a meal could burn a hole in their pocket. A cup of coffee costs at least VND40,000 and a glass of hot tea VND100,000.

>> The Pilgrim's tales

huong 2

While a bowl of Pho (noodles) can cost around VND20,000 in downtown Hanoi, here the price is 10 times higher with poorer quality.

One of the attractions of the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda is the beautiful Huong Tich cave. But to reach there, one needs to walk or take a cable car and this is where troubles start.

Although the ticket booth is located nearby, many people were forced to buy from scalpers at a more expensive price.

Because most pilgrims choose to walk step by step to the cave to demonstrate devotion, the trip lasts long and thus hotels spring up to cater to their needs.

Needless to say, prices are all exorbitant, around 3 times higher than normal.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

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Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh signs books for his fans

Photo: Tuoi Tre

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

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