Rare documents archivist honoured

HA NOI — Historical researcher Phan Thuan An has received a commemorative insignia for his archiving career presented by the State Records and Archives Department of Viet Nam.

"National Archives Centre 1 has carried out the arrangement and stored all the rare documents provided by Phan Thuan An," said department's director, Vu Thi Minh Huong.

An has provided two original records and 86 copies of records of the reign of King Bao Dai (1926-1945), some of which detail the past sovereignty of the national sea and islands.

At present, An is the only Hue researcher whose name is listed in the Wikipedia Encyclopedia. His studies have been translated into many languages and stored in international libraries.

A similar insignia will also be given to Pham Van Khoi, who is storing 15 royal conferments under the Nguyen dynasty.

Miss Earth proceeds go to flood victims

BINH THUAN — The organising board of Miss Earth 2010 has decided to donate nearly VND2 billion (US$100,000) to the flood victims of the central provinces, including Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, and Quang Nam.

During the traditional costume night, contest representatives gave VND300 million ($15,300) to flood victims. The rest will be given during the gala nights held in Nha Trang, Phu Yen and Quang Nam.

No charge to view historical movies

HA NOI — Four historical films will be shown for free to celebrate the Viet Nam Fatherland Front's 80th birthday.

The movies, namely Sai Gon Liberation, The White Silk Dress, Don't Burn and The Fate of a Songstress in Thang Long, all focus on war and ethnic solidarity. They will be shown daily at 8pm from November 18 to 21 in the National Cinema Centre.

Environment films to be awarded

HA NOI — The best films about the environment will be awarded at the 4th National Environment Film Awards in December.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in co-operation with Viet Nam Television and the Viet Nam Cinematography Association launched the awards held every three years.

The films have been in the works since 2008 and fall into various categories like documentary, science, reporting, cartoon and feature films.

A special prize, Geen Viet Nam, and many others, will be awarded. — VNS

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Long Bien Bridge Festival this weekend

After numerous delays, the Long Bien Bridge Festival will take place on November 20 and 21, reports VietnamPlus.

The street festival will be themed “The dragon bridge tells the Thang Long-Hanoi story – The bridge of peace, integration and development.”

The main festival event will be the arrival of dragon boats from Ninh Binh Province on Hoa Lu River on their way to Ha Long Bay. There will be performances on the boats.

The bridge will have two different themes: the bridge of memory and the bridge of dreams.

The bridge of memory section featuring exhibitions and displays about the national victory and traditional costumes and artifacts will be in the outbound lanes from Hoan Kiem District to Gia Lam District.

In the inbound lanes of the bridge from Gai Lam District to Hoan Kiem District, the dreams section will feature exhibitions about the era of integration and development and an artist camp and art related to the theme Green Globe.

The organizers encourage festival goers to dress up in traditional costumes to make the spirit more celebratory. There will also be collections for flood victims in the central region.

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French photojournalist shows two decades of Hanoi

A photo of Long Bien Bridge by Nicolas Cornet at the exhibition in Hanoi that opens on November 23

French photo-journalist Nicolas Cornet is holding a retrospective exhibition of photographs at L’Espace – French Cultural Center in Hanoi from November 23 until December 10.

The exhibition, held during French Week, features 30 photos from Cornet’s latest book titled “Hanoi”. The book covers 23 years of photojournalist’s work in the capital.

Cornet’s photos of landscapes and people show how the city has changed in two decades.

He has worked with French newspapers and magazines including L’Espresso, Mare, D-La Repubblica, Le Figaro Magazine, Le Monde, Ulysse, Siete Leguas-El Mundo and Geo and published many photo books about Vietnam such as Khi binh minh lo dang (When the dawn comes), Chan dung Viet Nam (The portrait of Vietnam) and Sai Gon, mien dat mong tuong (Saigon – a dreamy land) among others. His photos have been displayed in France, Germany, Switzerland, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The introduction for Nicolas Cornet’s photo book was written by journalist Jean-Claude Pomonti who was awarded the Albert-Londres prize for his reports about the Vietnam War. Pomonti has written books about Vietnam, among them a book about Vietnamese spy Pham Xuan An named Un Vietnamien bien tranquille (2006).

Nicolas Cornet and Jean-Claude Pomonti will present a talk on the opening day of French Week at 7 p.m. on November 23.

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Comedian Nguyen Hanh dies

The much loved comedian, Nguyen Hanh (R), who passed away on Saturday

Comedian Nguyen Hanh passed away at the age of 70 at Hospital 115 last week after a long struggle with diabetes, heart and kidney disease, reports Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper.

Nguyen Hanh performed in many cai luong (Southern opera) and drama troupes including Kim Hoang Nhu Mai, Bich Thuan, Kim Cuong, Song Tuy Hong and Tham Thuy Hang among others. Hanh also played in two movies named Loan mat nhung of Cosunams Film Studio and Sau gio gioi nghiem (After curfew) of My Van Film Studio.

Hanh was known by many fans for his role as Tu van nghe in the television drama Gia dinh ong Ky (Mr. Ky’s family) with actors Tam Van, Kim Cuc, Minh Chanh and Tu Trinh.

After South Liberation Day on April 30, 1975, he joined Bong Hong Theater Company and No. 284 Cai luong troupe where he took part in famous pieces such as Doi Co Luu (The life of Ms. Luu), To Anh Nguyet, Pha Le va Cat Bui (Crystal and Dust) and Nhung vi sao khong ten (Nameless stars). Audiences especially loved his role in the drama Ngao so oc hen of the Sai Gon 1 Stage. His last stage role was as a showman in Than tuong nua dem (Midnight idol) by playwright, Thu An. 

In his personal life, Hanh was known for his optimism and sense of humor and his readiness to teach young actors. Most comedians at Saigon Drama Stage and Nu cuoi moi stage called him their father. Hanh’s work and devotion will be a lesson for generations of young artists.

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Festival to celebrate Delta's ‘Plain of Reeds'

Blossoming future: A farmer works in the Sa Dec Flower Village, one of the sites for the upcoming festival to celebrate the Plain of Reeds. — VNA/VNS Photo Duy Khuong

HCM CITY — Dong Thap Province plans to organise the biggest ever festival in the Mekong Delta region to mark the 30th anniversary of the Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) sub-region.

As many as 500 booths in the ornamental plant and trade festival will feature various products and activities. They will review the achievements of the region during the past 30 years and promote tourism in the area.

Besides showcasing beautiful trees, flowers and bonsai creations, several conferences will be held on developing the Dong Thap Muoi region and promoting investment in the Mekong Delta. Several contests will also be part of the December 1-5 festival in Cao Lanh city.

Le Minh Hoan, deputy secretary of the province's Party Committee, said the festival will honour the economic social, cultural achievements of the region that has great potential for tourism.

The province expects to attract more domestic and foreign tourists to the area, especially through eco-friendly tours. Hoan said one of the important events during the festival would be the opening ceremony of the Nguyen Sinh Sac historical site.

The site comprises the village and tomb of the late President Ho Chi Minh's father, Nguyen Sinh Sac.

According to organisers, ecological tours to the Sa Dec Flower Village and other beautiful destinations in the province will promoted during the festival.

Thirty years ago, when the Dong Thap Muoi region spanned the three provinces of Long An, Tien Giang and Dong Thap, it was a fallow marsh famous for its lotus blooms.

Agriculture was even then the region's mainstay, with the three provinces that comprise it being top exporters of rice in the country, according to local officials.

Of late, however, tourism, industry and trade are being developed in the region. — VNS

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Fest to celebrate cultural heritage

Carved in stone: Stone steles at Ha Noi's Temple of Literature, which have been recognised as world heritage. — File Photo

HA NOI — A five-day festival will open at the Viet Nam Culture and Art Exhibition Centre this Saturday to mark the sixth Viet Nam Cultural Heritage Day.

Dubbed Hallmark of Thang Long – Ha Noi and the Youth with Vietnamese Cultural Heritage, the festival celebrates the country's rich past and young people's contribution towards preserving the nation's cultural traditions.

An earlier festival to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of the Thang Long Royal Citadel – which was recently recognised as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO – was a resounding success, organisers said.

On display during the festival will be artefacts belonging to the Thang Long Citadel that were discovered during the excavation of the fortress in 2002.

In addition, about 500 antiques dating from the Dong Son Culture (700-100 BC) to the Nguyen dynasty (19th-20th century) will be on show.

There will be also paintings and photos of Ha Noi, as well as publications and valuable documents kept at the National Library.

The festival has been co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the People's Committee of Ha Noi; the Ministry of Education and Training; and the Association of Viet Nam Cultural Heritage.

Among the activities that will take place during the festival will be a calligraphy demonstration, a display of traditional culture and arts, folk games, music and dances.

Researchers will also hold a workshop on the day to discuss the preservation of Ha Noi's tangible and intangible heritage, such as ca tru (ceremonial singing) and Thang Long folk dance.

A performance in honour of Viet Nam's cultural heritage will be broadcast live on Viet Nam Television from the Au Co Theatre.

The festival will run until next Wednesday. — VNS

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European Music Festival returns

Members of the Tharichens Tentett jazz band from Germany

The European Music Festival returns to HCMC and Hanoi from November 26 to December 4 to celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and Vietnam.

The music festival will make its come-back with a remarkably diverse line-up of concerts with the pop night by El Guincho from Spain and a jazz night with the 10 piece German jazz band, Tharichen Tentett.

The festival is organized by the European Commission Delegation to Vietnam and the embassies of 10 European Union member states, including Wallonia-Brussels (Belgium), France, Austria, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

The festival will be staging jazz, classical, world music, pop, electronic music, fusion of jazz and flamenco, graceful piano pieces and warm tones of the harp. The jazz night by Tharichens Tentett will be at Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien Street in Hanoi on November 26 and the pop night by El Guincho will be at the Youth Theater,11 Ngo Thi Nham Street in Hanoi on November 27 and at the HCMC Opera House in November 28.

All performances start at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale in Hanoi at the Goethe Institute, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, tel: 04 3734 2251 and in HCMC at Do Thanh Apartment at 18, Street No.1, HCMC’s District 3.

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