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

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International cruise ships dock at HCMC’s ports

Three international cruise ships with 3,000 visitors and crew members have anchored at Saigon Port and Lotus Port in Ho Chi Minh City.

The two US ships, Nautica with 700 passengers on board and SeaBourn Pride with over 100 passengers, docked at the Saigon Port Saturday.

The Nautica will arrive at the Chan May Port in central Thua Thien Hue Province and then cruise to the northern Ha Long City. It will leave for Hong Kong Thursday.

The SeaBourn Pride will anchor at the Tien Sa Port in Danang city before cruising to Ha Long and leave the city for Hong Kong Friday.

The tour is arranged by Viet Excursions Company.

The Costal Classica of the Italian cruise line Costa Crociere S.p.A docked at Lotus Port Saturday in a tour arranged by Saigontourist Travel Service Co.

The ship is taking around 2,500 cruise passengers to attractions in HCMC, My Tho, Danang, Hoi An, Hue and Danang.

It arrived at Tien Sa Port, Danang city Monday and will sail out the country Wednesday after visiting Ha Long.

The Costal Classica is scheduled to come back to Vietnam next month.

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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

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Film of young, revolutionary President Ho to debut

HA NOI – The joint Viet Nam-China film, Vuot Qua Ben Thuong Hai, or Passing Shanghai Wharf, which charts the revolutionary life of President Ho Chi Minh as the young Nguyen Ai Quoc will premier in cinemas throughout Viet Nam next Friday.

The film follows Nguyen Ai Quoc travels from Hong Kong to Shanghai and his revolutionary activities in China between 1933-1934.

It portrays the young revolutionary's humanity, inner feelings and nobility as he plays with children, recalls childhood folksongs and arranges offerings for his ancestors on New Year's eve.

Although French and Chinese nationalist police hunted the escapee after he fled Hong Kong in 1933, he was able, with the help of Soong Ching-ling, patriotic Vietnamese and international friends in China, to reach Vladivostock, Russia, in 1934.

Vietnamese writers Ha Pham Phu and Le Ngoc Minh and Chinese author Jia Fei wrote the film's script and it was produced by the Viet Nam Writers Association's Film Studio and its Chinese partner, the Zhoujiang Film Studio.

The film will screen at Megastar theatres in Ha Noi and HCM City and the National Cinema Centre, Ha Noi. – VNS

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Noyce, Wu and Cheung to heat up film festival in Vietnam

(From L to R) Angelina Jolie, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Phillip Noyce at event of Salt - Photo: Reuters

Australian director Phillip Noyce, known for The Quiet American and Salt movies, and Hong Kong movies stars Daniel Wu and Nick Cheung are seen adding glamour to the first Vietnam International Film Festival set for October 17-21 in Hanoi.

Noyce will serve as lead judge in the film festival and during his forthcoming Vietnam visit at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, he will spend some days in Hanoi and HCMC training local film directors and producers.

The two Hong Kong stars Daniel Wu and Nick Cheung will attend the introductions of their new films Triple Tap and Stool Pigeon, which will be screened on Monday and Tuesday at the new Platinum Cineplex in Hanoi. The two will also meet film lovers at the Hanoi Opera House square.

Triple Tap and Stool Pigeon will be screened for the World Cinema On Monday category of the festival.

The festival will draw 68 movies from 23 countries and territories and they will be classified into categories Feature, Documentary/Short film, Documentary, Short Animation Film, World Cinema On Monday, and Country in Focus introducing French movies.

In addition to the awards for the above categories, the organizing committee will present NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) award.

All the movies will be shown in Hanoi with ticket prices ranging from VND10,000 to VND40,000 at Megastar Vincom City Tower, 191 Ba Trieu Street, Hai Ba Trung District; Platinum Cineplex, The Garden, My Dinh; and Vietnam National Convention Center, 57 Pham Hung Boulevard.

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Friendship Association issues book about Ho Chi Minh

HCM CITY — The book Russians Talk about Ho Chi Minh was introduced at a meeting organised by the Russia-Viet Nam Friendship Association in HCM City this week.

The 160-page book written in Russian is a collection of stories and memoirs of 16 Russian writers, journalists and diplomats, who met President Ho Chi Minh from the 1920s to 1967.

In Russia, the book's debut was made at a ceremony to celebrate the 120th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh and to open the Ho Chi Minh Institute in Saint Petersburg on May 19.

"We're proud and happy that today the book is introduced to Vietnamese readers in the city named after Ho Chi Minh," the President of the Russia-Viet Nam Friendship Association, Vladimir Buiyanov, said.

"In Russia, the book helps readers better understand about President Ho's works and life, " he said.

The book also includes a number of photos of the President during various periods of his life.

Hong Kong all-male choir to perform fund-raiser in City

HCM CITY — The Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir will return to HCM City for a special charity event Songs for a Brighter Future at the Caravelle Hotel today.

The choir will perform folk songs of Wales, following appearances from the Chamber Music Group of Tieng Duong Cam Company and a fashion show.

Founded in 1978 by a small group of expatriates in Hong Kong, the all-male choir has 70 amateur singers. Many of its performances are for charity fund-raising purposes.

In 2004 and 2008, the group performed in London's Royal Albert Hall, and in 2009, the choir sang from the Great Wall of China.

The choir performed for the first time in HCM City two years ago.

The charity event is organised by Sai Gon Children's Charity to raise funds for education of disadvantaged children.

The funds will be raised through both entrance ticket sales and sponsors. Tickets are VND1.5 million (US$75) per person.

Letter writing contest gets under way in Da Nang

DA NANG — A ceremony was held in the central city of Da Nang on Friday to mark the 136th World Post Day and to launch the 2011 Universal Postal Union International Letter Writing Contest.

The annual contest for children up to 15 years old aims to develop children's creative writing skills and help to strengthen friendships among nations, while giving young people an understanding of the postal sector's role in social development.

The contest has the theme, "imagine you are a tree in a forest, then write a letter explaining why it is important to protect forests" in response to the 2011 International Year of Forest.

The contest has been held in Vietnam 21 times since 1987, with eight school children winning prizes, including a first prize awarded to Ho Thi Hieu Hien from the Tay Son Secondary School in Da Nang's Hai Chau this year.

Hien received a certificate of merit and awards from the UPU, MoET, the Health Ministry and the HCMCYU. — VNS

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Contemporary paintings exhibited

HONG KONG — An exhibition of contemporary Vietnamese paintings opened at Rotunda Exchange square in the centre of Hong Kong on Monday.

Viet Nam Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau Pham Cao Phong said the exhibition is expected to help visitors understand more about Viet Nam and its people as well as the country's efforts in its development.

He also said he hoped that the exhibition would contribute to strengthening friendship and cooperation between the people of Viet Nam and China, including those living in the Hong Kong special administrative region.

Florence Hu, acting head of the Hong Kong Civil Administration, said the event would help boost art and culture exchanges between Viet Nam and Hong Kong.

The five-day exhibition, which is jointly held by the Viet Nam Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau, Lotus Gallery and Hong Kong Land Ltd, is part of activities to mark the 65th anniversary of Viet Nam's National Day (September 2).

Vietnamese in world bake-off

HA NOI — Vietnamese candidates took part in a selection process on Saturday for the World Bakery Cup.

Run by French yeast and bread company Louis Lesaffre, the Vietnamese section attracted 23 previously prepared products from Ha Noi bakeries.

Participants were entered in three categories: bread, pastry and artistry.

Twelve Vietnamese bakers will be selected to attend the final round in December from which three will be selected to compete in the Asian section to be held in China in May next year.

The final round of the World Bakery Cup will be held in France in 2012.

Global beauties espouse environment

HCM CITY — Contestants from nearly 90 countries and territories will take part in the month-long Miss Earth beauty pageant to be held in Viet Nam in November.

HCM City's Miss Viet Nam World 2010, Luu Thi Diem Huong, will represent the host.

The pageant will open on November 4 with environmental protection activities in HCM City, Phan Thiet, Hoi An and Nha Trang.

These will include talks on environment on TV and in schools, and seminars on environmental protection.

The candidates will visit famous historical sites and schools for disadvantaged children, and take part in other cultural and community activities.

The finals and the awards ceremony will be held on December 4 in Nha Trang.

Apart from raising people's awareness of environmental protection, the pageant will also showcase tourist destinations of Viet Nam.

The pageant is organised by the Philippines' Carousel Productions Inc and Vietnamese partner Thanh Nien Media Group.

Instant pho makes top 10

HCM CITY — As the popularity of Vietnamese pho rises internationally, a brand of instant pho has made the top 10 in the IUFoST Global Food Industry Awards.

Viet Nam Food Industries Joint Stock Company (VIFON) made the instant pho that was judged at the15th IUFoST World Congress of Food Science and Technology themed Food Science Solutions in Our Evolving World held in Cape Town, South Africa last week.

The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) is a voluntary, non-profit federation of national food science organisations linking more than 200,000 food scientists and technologists worldwide and around 70 national food organisations.

IUFoST aims to strengthen global food science and technology. Every two years, it hosts a World Congress of Food Science and Technology. — VNS

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