VietNam Life Style: book

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

French historian writes book on life of General Giap

HA NOI – French historian Alain Ruscio has authored a book entitled Vo Nguyen Giap – A Life as part of Anti-Colonialism Week in France last week. The book, written between 1979 and 2008, was published by Les Indes Savantes.

In the preface, Ruscio expressed his pride at meeting Giap when he was a correspondent and special envoy of l'Humanite newspaper in Ha Noi in 1979 to cover the 25th anniversary of the victory at Dien Bien Phu.

Ruscio said he never forgot that first meeting and later, whenever he returned to Viet Nam, he always tried to see Giap again. However, in Ruscio's last visit in January last year, the 100-year-old general was unable to receive him due to health conditions.

With Giap's permission, Ruscio collected his writings, speeches and historic reports for a five-part book on Giap's life as a teacher of history, a patriotic youth, a guerrilla, a revolutionary theorist and a revolutionary practician to fight French colonialists and American imperialists.

Ruscio said he hoped that the book would present a portrait of the Vietnamese revolution's great and talented military strategist to readers in Europe and around the world. — VNS

Friday, February 18, 2011

New book traces last decade of Vietnam’s development

A new book called Vietnam tu nam 2011 – Vuot lens u nghiet nga cua thoi gian is a compilation of articles by Tran Van Tho

The Saigon Times Foundation has released a new book that tracks the country’s development since the late 1990s through newspaper and magazine articles by Prof. Tran Van Tho from Waseda University, Japan.

Tri Thuc Publishing House published the book Vietnam tu nam 2011 – Vuot len su nghiet nga cua thoi gian (Vietnam from 2011 – overcoming the cruelty of time) which contains nearly 50 of the professor’s articles in Vietnamese that have been published, mostly in Thoi bao Kinh te Sai Gon published by Saigon Times Group.

The compiled articles express the writer’s hopes over the past decade that Vietnam would regain the time it had lost and catch up with the developed world.

Tran Van Tho, a researcher on Vietnam’s economy, education, culture and society, theorizes about national policy and discusses the hot issues here and globally. Articles include: From the Quang Trung spring to the twentieth century; Establishment Nguyen Trai spirit in Viet-Trung economic tie, Express railway: Vietnam on Thursday and Japan 50 years ago.

The printing costs were sponsored by Trung Nguyen Coffee Company. It has 362 pages and costs VND89,000. All proceeds from book sales will be used by the Saigon Times Foundation to grant scholarships for students in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, where the writer went to highschool.

To buy it, contact the reader relations department of Saigon Times Group at 3821 0019, email: phathanh@thesaigontimes.vn or Miss Hoang Tuyen of the Saigon Times Foundation at 3740 2712.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

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

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

Friday, January 14, 2011

Photos recall events of 1945

Attention!: President Ho Chi Minh (in white) visits the Tran Quoc Tuan military school in one of the images included in the new volume. – File Photo

HA NOI — A book of photographs has been published covering the major political events in Viet Nam around the time independence was declared in Ha Noi in 1945.

Entitled Ky Uc Ve Nhung Ngay Doc Lap Dau Tien 1945-46 (Memory of the First Days of Independence), the book reproduces more than 200 images taken from August 17, 1945 to June 18, 1946.

Most photos were taken in the capital and northern provinces. The events were captured by photographers from the Ministry of Information of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (the former name of the current Socialist Republic of Viet Nam).

The photos are mostly from a photo album which was later given to French journalist and historian Phillippe Devillers.

Sixty years later, it was re-presented to Professor Phan Huy Le, President of the Viet Nam Association of History Science, during his working trip to France.

Another book on Viet Nam's leading patriot, titled Ho Chi Minh, Nguoi Mang Lai Anh Sang (Ho Chi Minh, Bringer of Light), has also been published.

Contained 61 articles by domestic and foreign writers, the book's name is the headline of an article for the AsianTime written by Stanley Karnow. It was published on April 14, 1998.

A Pulitzer Prize winner, Karnow is a specialist on Viet Nam. — VNS

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Two books worth reading

HA NOI – A book of photographs has been published covering the major political events in Viet Nam around the time independence was declared in Ha Noi in 1945.

Entitled Ky Uc Ve Nhung Ngay Doc Lap Dau Tien 1945-46 (Memory of the First Days of Independence), the book reproduces more than 200 images taken from August 17, 1945 to June 18, 1946.

Most photos were taken in the capital and northern provinces. The events were captured by photographers from the Ministry of Propaganda of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (the former name of the current Socialist Republic of Viet Nam).

The photos are mostly from a photo album presented to an officer with the French High Commissioner by the revolutionary government.

The album then was given to the French journalist and historian Phillippe Devillers. Sixty years later, it was presented to Professor Phan Huy Le, President of the Viet Nam Association of History Science.

Another book on Viet Nam's leading patriot, titled Ho Chi Minh, Nguoi Mang Lai Anh Sang (Ho Chi Minh, Bringer of Light), has also been published.

Contained 61 articles by domestic and foreign writers, its name is the headline of an article for Asian Time written by Stanley Karnow. It was published on April 14, 1998.

A Pulitzer Prize winner, Karnow is a specialist on Viet Nam. – VNS

Guidebook captures Can Tho spirit

A taste of the Mekong: The Bang Lang Stork Garden shown in "Tham quan Can Tho qua tranh ve" (Sighseeing Can Tho through drawings), a beautifully illustrated guidebook.

CAN THO — The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Can Tho has become the first locality in the country to be featured in a colorfully illustrated tourist guide book that its promoters call MComic.

The Mekong Advertising and Supplying Travel Information Co., Ltd (Metinfo) will officially released yesterday the Tham Quan Can Tho Qua Tranh Ve" (Sighseeing Can Tho through drawings) guidebook.

The book employs a comic-graphic medium in which images convey a sequential narrative that helps tourists learn about the city on the banks of the Mekong with its beautifully portrayed natural landscapes and easy-to-remember historical and cultural stories.

"I hope that tourists can in a few minutes get a complete overview of Can Tho, the delta's biggest city," said Tran Kim Dinh, Metinfo director and chief editor of the book.

Established in 2005, Metinfo is the first travel advertising company in Viet Nam. Its experience over five years have helped it compile the book with succinct and accurate information.

The simple but detailed drawings capture the spirit and soul of rural Viet Nam in the southern region, a Metinfo representative said.

"We expect the Mcomic to be a valued souvenir for visitors to Can Tho," he added.

The illustrated guidebook, published by the Youth Publishing House, contains 92 18cm by 28cm pages using the Couche-Matt paper, and will sell at VND45,000 (US$2.25).

The Can Tho City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has bought 2,000 copies of the book to offer as gifts and to document the city's tourism promotion activities. — VNS

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Actor does charity star-turn

Doing his bit: Actor Chi Bao at a ceremony held to review the UHP charity programme in HCM City last week. — VNS Photo Vo Le Hong

HCM CITY — A charity programme run by popular actor Chi Bao has sold a self-improvement book by Zen master Minh Niem to raise money for providing heart and cleft palate surgeries for poor children.

The programme, called Hieu ve Trai Tim (Understanding the Heart Programme), has sold 27,000 copies of Understanding the Heart and the proceeds have funded operations for 78 children with congenital heart diseases.

Carried out in co-operation with the Heart Beat Viet Nam and VinaCapital Foundation, the programme will benefit a further 22 this year.

Bao, deputy president and manager of the UHP, told a ceremony held to review the programme last week: "I recently read by chance some stories in [the book] which I found very useful for myself. The book helps readers understand some basic concepts like happiness, unhappiness, love, and suffering.

"I introduced the stories to some people and received positive feedback. So, I decided to gather friends to publish the book for charity."

He has also lectured about the book at clubs attached to dozens of colleges and universities around the country and firms.

The 50 psychoanalytical stories in Understanding the Heart are simple and practical but profound, enabling youths to look into their soul.

Niem, the author, has followers around the world. His writings help readers discover themselves, seek to sow good traits like generosity and selflessness in their soul, and transform negative energy caused by anger, envy and other sentiments. — VNS

Saturday, October 16, 2010

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

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Ciao! Italian language week begins in capital

HA NOI — The 10th annual Italian Language week will kick-off in Ha Noi tomorrow.

This year's theme is Our Italian & the Italian of Others, and the programme of events aims to promote the use of Italian around the world.

In Viet Nam, Italian has been taught not only at foreign languages colleges but also at the Thang Long, Construction and Business and Trade colleges.

The highlight of the week will be an international seminar on the study of the Italian language featuring guests such as the ambassadors of Argentina, Pakistan, Switzerland and Venezuela, and the director of the Goethe Institute among others.

The seminar will be held at 6pm at L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street. Participants will discuss the advantages of learning Italian in a discussion in Italian that will include English and Vietnamese translation.

The seminar will be chaired by writer Mario Fortunato, former director of the Italian Institute of Culture in London and contributor to The Guardian and Le Monde.

An Italian wine tasting buffet sponsored by Viet-It Wines import company and the Restaurant Da Paolo will be held at the seminar.

Fortunato introduced the Italian book If This Is a Man in Ha Noi yesterday at a ceremony to launch the book's Vietnamese translation.

The autobiographical book was written by Italian writer and chemist Primo Levi, who based the book on his own experiences in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.

The book is considered as a classic in Italy and is taught at schools across the country. "Usually books taught at schools are boring and full of theory," said Fortunato. "But this book is humane, and it helps readers become more human."

The book has a simple and clear vocabulary which is suitable for people who have not been studying Italian for very long.

For the last 40 years of his life, Levi grappled with the philosophical implications of having survived interment at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The book was first published in 1947 but won acclaim ten years later as a masterpiece of Italian literature.

Levi also published poetry, science fiction, essays and short stories. In 1987, at the age of 67, he killed himself.

In other events to promote Italian culture, author Fortunato will meet Vietnamese students of the Italian Language Department at the University of Social Sciences in HCM City at 5pm on October 18. — VNS

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Phuong Nam Cultural Corporation book fair opens in HCMC

More than 4,000 foreign publications, mostly of medicine and economics, are on display at selected city locations as part of Phuong Nam Cultural (PNC) Corporation’s book fair that opened in Ho Chi Minh City Tuesday.

McGraw-Hill publishing house’s selection include marketing, finance-credit, business administration, foreign trade, and accounting publications with popular titles such as “Strategic Bond Investor: Strategies and Tools to Unlock the Power of the Bond Market”, “Appreciative Leadership”, “Bond Portfolio Investing and Risk Management”, “Carrots and Sticks Don't Work”, “Competitive Selling: Out-Plan, Out-Think, and Out-Sell to Win Every Time”, and “Everything I Know about Marketing I Learned From Google”.

They are on shelf on the second floor of Saigon Center, 65 Le Loi Street, District 1.

The event also showcases 2,000 new medical reference publications from various publishing houses like Elsevier, Lippincott and McGraw Hill including Harrison's “Nephrology and Acid-Base Disorders”, Rutherford's “Vascular Surgery”, Williams’s “Hematology” and, Ferri's “Fast Facts in Dermatology”.

Medical titles are on display at the bookstore of the HCMC Medicine and Pharmacy University.

The book fair, which PNC hopes to organize twice every quarter, offers discounts of 10-50 percent.

The fair ends on October 15.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Get bookish at Hanoi fair

The third Vietnam International Book Fair will be held at the Vietnam Exhibition & Fair Center, 146 Giang Vo Street in Hanoi from September 17-21 as part of activities to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the capital city.

The event, held every two years, will display publications of nearly 80 publishing houses, book distribution companies, book stores and printers across the country.

The fair has been expanded with participation of foreign publishing houses and book distributors. The Frankfurt center for international book fairs and exhibitions will bring 800 books to the fair with plans to present them to the National Library. Meanwhile, the Chinese press and publication general office will bring over 2,000 titles.

Publishing associations from Southeast Asia will also have displays.

A special feature of this year’s fair will be the Thang Long-Hanoi display with maps, carved wood blocks, old books, the full text of King Ly Thai To’s decree to relocate the capital city to Hanoi, many artifacts and about 2,000 publications on Thang Long-Hanoi.

During the event, children can read books at the booths of Kim Dong Publishing House. There will be short talk and seminars with renowned writers such as Tran Dang Khoa, Ma Van Khang, Nguyen Xuan Khanh, Nguyen Nhat Anh, Phan Hon Nhien and Nguyen Vinh Phuc.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Vietnam international book fair to opens in Hanoi

Photo: VNA

The third Vietnam International Book Fair will be held in Hanoi from Sept. 17-21 as part of activities to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the capital city.

Nearly 80 publishing houses, book distribution companies, book stores and printing establishments across the country will display their publications at the event.

The Frankfurt centre for international book fairs and exhibitions will bring 800 books to the fair and plans to present them to the National Library.

Meanwhile, the Chinese press and publication general office will bring to the fair 2,610 book titles and 2,685 books.

In addition, about 30 foreign publishing houses and book distributors will take part in the event.

Prominent at the fair will be the historic book which includes the full text of King Ly Thai To’s decree to relocate the capital city to Hanoi, and many objects and publications on Thang Long-Hanoi.

During the biennial fair there will be seminars, exchanges between writers, publishing houses and readers and a ceremony to launch the book on the 1,000th celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Vietnam international book fair to opens in Hanoi

Photo: VNA

The third Vietnam International Book Fair will be held in Hanoi from Sept. 17-21 as part of activities to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the capital city.

Nearly 80 publishing houses, book distribution companies, book stores and printing establishments across the country will display their publications at the event.

The Frankfurt centre for international book fairs and exhibitions will bring 800 books to the fair and plans to present them to the National Library.

Meanwhile, the Chinese press and publication general office will bring to the fair 2,610 book titles and 2,685 books.

In addition, about 30 foreign publishing houses and book distributors will take part in the event.

During the biennial fair there will be seminars, exchanges between writers, publishing houses and readers and a ceremony to launch the book on the 1,000th celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

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.

Friday, August 27, 2010

War martyr's diary published in France

PARIS — A French translation of Dang Thuy Tram's diary has hit bookstores in France. The book was printed by Philippe Picquier publishing house under the title Notebooks Found During 1968-70.

French journalist Didier Jacob said the French translation of the book provided valuable material about the war in Viet Nam.

Translator Jean Claude Garcias said he spent three years reading and translating the book into French. He had studied Vietnamese in HCM City and had lived in Viet Nam for two years.

Garcias is translating another book from Vietnamese about a child growing up in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, which will be published next year.

International puppetry festival to be held

HA NOI — Puppeteers from 12 foreign countries will gather in the capital city between September 4 and 9 for the second international puppetry festival.

Five Vietnamese puppetry troupes will perform at the festival, which is held every two years.

The performances will take place at Hong Ha Theatre at 51 Duong Thanh Street, Viet Nam Puppetry Theatre in Truong Chinh Street, Thang Long Puppetry Theatre in Dinh Tien Hoang Street and Cinema 17 Ly Nam De Street.

The winning troupe will be awarded US$1,000.

Bronze drums to enter Ha Noi in procession

HA NOI — About 100 bronze drums will be taken to Ha Noi from the central province of Thanh Hoa in a solemn ceremony this Sunday, according to Duong Trung Quoc, general secretary of the Viet Nam Historical Science Association.

The procession will take the drums from where they were cast in Thanh Hoa to tour Hoan Kiem Lake. The procession will then stop at King Ly Thai To statue before heading to the Literature Temple.

The drums will be on display there till September 3. — VNS

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

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