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

Related Articles

• HCMC to be hit by rise jobless claims
• Market drops below 450 points
• Vietnam devalues dong again to mend economy
• Wozniacki cruises to win at Montreal Cup
• Property ownership limits stir controversy

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

Related Articles

• Timeout with a good book
• Vietnam’s tra fish export to Egypt still down
• Major moves in Vietnam's currency policy
• Vincom Center shares moment of love with couples
• Seafood exports targeted at US$5.3 billion

Book show welcomes Party Congress

HCMCITY— A special book exhibition has opened at HCM City's Nguyen Hue Bookstore to welcome the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam that officially begins in Ha Noi today.

The exhibition, featuring more than 1,500 titles in different fields, attracted many readers, young and old, to its opening ceremony yesterday.

The display has three major themes: The Party's Documents; The Life and Work of President Ho Chi Minh; and Historical Events during the American War in Viet Nam.

Around 10,000 books cover events and heroes of different periods over the 81 years since the Party's inception, according to the HCM City Books Distribution Company (Fahasa), a member of the event's organising board.

Participating in the exhibition are leading printers like the HCM City General Publishing House, National Politics Publishing House, Tre (Youth) Publishing House and Thanh Nien (Young People) Publishing House.

The Culture-Theatre Publishing House's Hanh Khuc Giai Phong (Liberation March) is one of the exhibition's highlighted books.

The book is a research work compiled and edited by Lu Nhat Vu, Le Giang and Le Anh Trung, three of the city's veteran composers and art critics.

Hanh Khuc Giai Phong displays nearly 600 songs and 54 works by musicians and authors during the 1954-75 period. They creatively capture the people's thirst for national independence as well as their love for President Ho Chi Minh and soldiers.

The Tre Publishing House introduces one of its bestsellers of last year, Tran Thai Binh's Vo Nguyen Giap -Hao Khi Tram Nam (General Vo Nguyen Giap - Magnanimity for a Hundred Years).

The book portrays the life and military career of Vo Nguyen Giap, focusing on the General's outstanding contributions to the victories against French and American aggressors.

Organisers said they hope the exhibition would help people, particularly young readers, learn more about the country's heroic history, the Party and its causes and victories.

Nearly 1,000 books will be presented to soldiers working for the Border Guard Command, they said.

The exhibition will remain open at 40 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, from 9am to 10pm until January 16. Entrance is free. — VNS

Related Articles

• Book show welcomes Party Congress
• Timeout with a good book
• Live shows heat up this week
• Painters show works inspired by nature, nostalgia
• 11th Party Congress to discuss the future

Publishing house obtains rights to publish Fidel Castro's memoirs

HCM CITY — Cuba's History Office, that represents former president Fidel Castro, has agreed to give the HCM City-based Tre (Youth) Publishing House the rights to publish the leader's memoirs in Vietnamese, according to the director of Tre Publishing House.

The books, titled La Victoria Estrategica (The Strategic Victory), released in Cuba in August this year, and La Contraofensiva Estrategica (The Strategic Offence), released in September, will be translated into Vietnamese by Le Xuan Quynh, vice chairman of the Viet Nam-Cuba Friendship Association from the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

The books are scheduled to hit bookstores across the country next year.

Spanish musician El Guincho to open music festival in HCM City

HA NOI — A performance on Sunday featuring Spanish musician El Guincho will kick off the European Music Festival in HCM City.

El Guincho is the recording alias of Pablo Diaz-Reixa, who gained recognition from his 2008 Spanish modern music album, Alegranza!.

Influenced by several artists, including the New York-based indie rock band Animal Collective and the Brazilian psychedelic rock band Os Mutantes, El Guincho's musical style incorporates elements of Afrobeat, dub, Tropicalia and rock & roll. His music is a great mixture of styles.

El Guincho has recorded four albums so far, including two releases this year – Piratas de Sudamerica and Pop Negro.

His performance in HCM City will start at 8pm at the city's Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, District 1.

Tomorrow, El Guincho will perform at Ha Noi's Youth Theatre, 11 Ngo Thi Nham Street.

Tickets for his performance in Ha Noi are available for free at the Embassy of Spain at 4 Le Hong Phong Street, while the tickets for the HCM City performance can be collected from the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Spain at 21 Phung Khac Khoan Street (5th floor), District 1.

Group seeks UNESCO recognition for southern amateur singing

BAC LIEU — A meeting to define the values of don ca tai tu (southern amateur music) in order to seek UNESCO recognition of the art as a form of intangible heritage of humanity was held on Wednesday.

The conference gathered over 30 researchers, educators, cultural administrators, and musicians in the southern province of Bac Lieu, considered the cradle of the art.

When King Ham Nghi fled from Hue to the central province of Quang Tri in 1886, many patriots and court musicians accompanied the king before spreading throughout the south and joining anti-French movements, bringing their music along the way.

Class strives to preserve central region folk melodies

PHU YEN — A class teaching bai choi (folk melodies of central region), as well as heritage preservation skills, has been held in the central province of Phu Yen for more than 200 cultural workers. The class is part of a programme begun in August by the Folklore Arts and Culture Preservation Fund and the provincial Folklore Culture Research Association to preserve bai choi. — VNS

Related Articles

• Aid for thousands in four poor provinces
• Chau Doc’s curried fish vermicelli: Bun nuoc ken
• Arts journal now also in English
• Aid for thousands in four poor provinces
• Going green way to bigger profits

Books to mark capital birthday

HA NOI — The Gioi Publishing House has published a dozen English-language books about Ha Noi's festivals, cuisine, culture and arts for the celebration of the capital's 1,000th birthday in October.

The books included Ha Noi Past and Present, A Journey through the Traditional Culture of Thang Long-Ha Noi and 130 Pagodas in Ha Noi, said the Publishing House's director Tran Doan Lam.

The Publishing House had commissioned English Writer Carol Howland to write the 300-page Ha Noi's Thousand Years in which the author explored the history, arts, traditions and lifestyles of Vietnamese, including the Hanoians, he said.

A history of Ha Noi written by US author James Edward Goodman would be published soon.

Theatre collates artist record

THUA THIEN-HUE — The Hue Royal Traditional Art Theatre has announced that it has completed a scientific record on artisans, artists of royal music, classical drama and dancing.

The compiled material, collated by the research group of the theatre, is based on 20 artisans and artists aged 45 to 101 living in central provinces from Quang Binh to Da Nang.

Its results include 45 DVDs and 22 recordings capturing the performances and work of royal artists and other important documents. The record will act as the foundation for future performances of royal traditional music.

Religious wood blocks discovered

NAM DINH — A set of 34 religious wood blocks has been discovered in the northern province of Nam Dinh's Quang Cung Palace.

The wood blocks are reported to be the most precious wood blocks preserved in the region, said manager of the palace, Tran Thi Van.

Giant embroidery praises feats

NINH BINH — A giant embroidered picture entitled Hon Thieng Dai Viet (Sacred Spirit of Dai Viet) was introduced to audiences in the northern city of Ninh Binh yesterday.

It praises the feat of arms of the national heroes under the Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties and is divided into seven portions of historical processes.

The picture which is 100sq.m (33.2 by 3.3m), was created by embroiderers of the Dong Thanh Company.

Feudal period material on show

HA NOI — An exhibition of education materials from the feudal period until the present day has been held in the Temple of Literature for the occasion of the coming millennium anniversary of the capital.

More than 600 objects including oil lamps, ink pots, pen brushes and other items used during feudalism, the post-revolution illiteracy campaign, the subsidised economy period (1955-86) and the current day are on display at the exhibition.

The exhibition will run until the end of this month.

New Stone Age shovel in museum

LANG SON — A huge stone shovel has been added to the northern province of Lang Son's museum.

According to provincial archaeologists, the shovel dates back to the New Stone Age period (about 5,000 to 4,000 BC).

The shovel, which is 30cm long and 24cm wide, was found by a farmer in 1979 in Na Po Hamlet. — VNS

Related Articles

• SBV to review capital rules
• Unique design key to Japanese market
• Market moves up sharply
• Giant embroidered picture on display
• Companies encouraged to know their customers

Book on Ho Chi Minh’s life published in Cuba

Late President Ho Chi Minh

A book on late President Ho Chi Minh has been published in the Spanish language in Cuba to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Cuba and Vietnam.

The book entitled “Memories of Uncle Ho”, written by Senior Lieutenant-General Phung The Tai, was published by the Jose Marti Publishing House.

Speaking at the ceremony to present the book, in Havana on September 7, Cuban reporter Marta Roja highlighted the milestones in President Ho’s life and work.

Roja, the last foreign reporter to interview President Ho before he passed away, said that President Ho was a pioneer during the struggle for freedom by colonized countries in Asia and Africa and the founder of the Vietnamese Democratic Republic, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. He was well-known for his statement “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom”. He was the person who led the revolution to liberate the Vietnamese people and ensured their victory over foreign aggressors.

The 2,000 copies of the book that the Jose Marti Publishing House have printed will help young Latin American people, particularly avid Cuban readers to better understand President Ho Chi Minh.

Related Articles

• Poor rural children blaze education trail
• Civil servants to enjoy State housing
• New decree hopes to protect holders of convertible bonds
• Thousands await relocation
• Timeout with a good book