Denmark supports fine arts education in Viet Nam

HA NOI — Denmark will grant US$700,000 to fund the second stage of a fine arts education in Viet Nam's primary schools during 2011-15, under an agreement signed on Tuesday between the Danish embassy and Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training.

Building upon the success of the first stage of project during 2006-10, the project would contribute to promoting comprehensive education for Vietnamese school children and encouraging new teaching methods in the arts, said Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan at the signing ceremony.

President Ho's palm leaf testament recognised

HA NOI — The testament of President Ho Chi Minh written on palm leaf will be among 30 new Guinness Records for Viet Nam.

The Centre for Viet Nam Guinness Records says the unique display at the Thoai Son District's Cultural and Tourism Complex, southern province of An Giang, will be included in the new listings to be announced on Saturday

Almost 20 of the new listings are for art and culture.

They include musicologist Tran Quang Hai, who is able to create melodies with spoons. The "King of Spoon" plays jazz, pop, techno and flamenco.

Nguyen Vinh Bao, 92, will be recognised as "The Oldest Musician Who Offers the On-line Course on Vietnamese Traditional Music."

The 118-year-old Tran Thi Viet of southern Long An province of Long An will be recognised as "The Oldest Vietnamese Heroic Mother."

Men fail to make up numbers in quan ho love songs

HA NOI — The number of women singing quan ho (love duets) far exceeds the number of men, according to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the northern province of Bac Ninh.

Female singers make up 81 per cent of the over 8,000 members of the 598 quan ho clubs in the province, they said.

Quan ho singing is a Vietnamese folk music characterised by its antiphonal nature – with alternating groups of female and male singers issuing musical challenges and responses – and by the fact that most of the songs in the repertoire deal with topics of love and sentimentality as experienced by young adults. The artform was recognised by UNESCO in 2009 as Intangible Cultural Heritage, while Vietnamese authorities are trying various methods to popularise it and train new singers – as well as attract more men to join in.

Writers Association awards prize for historical novel

HA NOI — The novel Hoi The (Oath-Taking Ceremony) by Nguyen Quang Than has been granted the top prize in the Novel Competition of the Viet Nam Writers Association.

The novel reflects the Lam Son uprising against the Chinese domination in the early 15th century which established Le Loi as the first king of the Le dynasty.

The competition, held for the third time, received entries from 245 writers during 2006-09.

The Viet Nam Publishers Association has also granted annual awards since 2005 for books with good design, recognising 77 titles this year. The awards presentation ceremony will take place on Sunday at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Ha Noi. — VNS

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Vietnam to introduce 30 new records at weekend

Two brothers Bui Ngoc Vinh and Bui Ngoc Khanh in Hue set up Vietnam record by eating chilli

Photo: Tuoi Tre

President Ho Chi Minh’s will, the oldest professor, an unconventional musician and other items will be honored as records on December 18 in Ho Chi Minh City’s Rex Hotel.

Half of the records fall to art and culture categories including President Ho Chi Minh’s will written on the biggest palm leaf (1.8 meter in width, 2.05 meter in height) in An Giang and the oldest professor (92 years old) teaching music online.

Professor, Doctor Tran Quang Hai with his skills of playing spoons to produce different sounds of jazz, pop, techno, flamenco will be honored with the title: “man who can play multiple rhythms and sounds with spoons”.

Vietnam records this year also award members of the same family.

Two brothers Bui Ngoc Vinh and Bui Ngoc Khanh in Hue go into national records as each can eat a kilo of chili within 10 minutes.

Ca Mau locals Hua Van Bach and his son Hua Tay Ha will be awarded for their ability to float upon water for hours without having to move a limb. Last June, Bach played guitar and Ha sang while they were floating upon a river for 4 hours. The performance has amazed numerous spectators.

The event this Sunday is a chance for record holders around the country to meet and show off their talents to the public.

Hua Van Bach (L) and his son Hua Tay Ha are singing a song while floating on river water (Photo: VnExpress)

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War memorabilia goes on display in Ha Noi

Shot down: Belongings of US airmen are displayed at the exhibition. — VNA/VNS Photo Truong Vi

HA NOI — Many never return from war. Through keepsakes and photographs, however, it is possible to keep their memory alive.

To help us somehow come to terms with the great sacrifice made by those who died in the war-torn 20th century, the Museum of Military History in Ha Noi has launched an exhibition of war memorabilia.

On display are 1,033 personal possessions and war memorabilia from 11,000 items donated over the last three years.

The museum's campaign, launched in July 2008, received the support of surviving war veterans and martyrs' relatives. US veterans and their families also donated precious keepsakes in response to the appeal.

Major-General Le Ma Luong, the museum's former director, said it was vital to preserve the memories of those who lost their lives in Viet Nam's various campaigns so that younger generations could fully appreciate the great sacrifice made by their forebears in the name of peace and freedom.

"The campaign holds significant social meaning as it highlights Viet Nam's glorious feats of arms and teaches us to respect those who devoted their lives to the revolution," Luong says.

General Vo Nguyen Giap was the first person to respond to the museum's appeal, donating many of his most precious war memorabilia.

Memorabilia from the French and American wars was donated by martyrs' relatives and veterans themselves such as former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, General Pham Van Tra and Colonel Nguyen Van Ich. Their private letters to their relatives are also on display.

Former American serviceman Henry Prunier, 86, donated 200 documents, pictures and videos to the collection – the largest contribution by a foreign veteran. Prunier was a member of the US intelligence Deer Team, who answered Ho Chi Minh's call to join the war against the Japanese in Tan Trao in northern Tuyen Quang Province in 1945.

Even though the personal belongings are intrinsically of little value, visitors to the exhibition will be able to understand more fully what the dead and their surviving relatives had to endure in the name of peace. One such item is the bicycle belonging to Lang Si Thuy.

Thuy was injured in battle and sent to a military hospital in central Thanh Hoa Province. Even before the young soldier's wounds had healed he begged to be allowed to rejoin his comrades at the front in Quang Tri, where the battle was very fierce. Despite doctors' objection, he discharged himself from hospital and borrowed his sister the bicycle, which he pedalled 450km to Quang Tri to be with his companions. He left the bicycle at a local woman's house in Vinh Linh District and told her he would come back to collect it after the war. If he was killed he told the woman his sister would collect the bicycle for him, and he left his sister's name and address. His sister later collected the bicycle on her dead brother's behalf.

Accounts such as these have been published in two books by Cong An Nhan Dan (Pubic Security) Publishing House.

The exhibition organisers – the Museum of Military History and Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper under sponsorship of North Asia Bank – will also be granting prizes to the winners of the War Memorabilia Writing Contest launched by Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army) newspaper that has been running since April.

The exhibition's closing ceremony on December 19 will be broadcast live on VTV1. — VNS

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Australian tourists favour Viet Nam

by Huong Lan

HCM CITY — Viet Nam's status as Southeast Asia's fastest growing tourism destination is reflected in new statistics that show Australian visitors are flocking to the country like never before.

The Australians have cultivated a reputation for being voracious travellers, but traditionally, they have looked to Indonesia – particularly Bali – Fiji and Thailand when making plans to explore other parts of the Asia-Pacific region.

While these locations are still very popular, data from some of Viet Nam's top hotels, as well as Viet Nam's National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the country's tourism authority, show that growing numbers are choosing to spend their vacation in Viet nam.

HCM City's iconic Caravelle Hotel has seen a twofold increase in visitors from Australia this year while the Sofitel Legend Metropole Ha Noi, perhaps the capital city's most prestigious address, has reported a 48 per cent rise over the past 12 months.

On the fledgling central coast, the award-winning The Nam Hai resort has also witnessed a significant upsurge in visitors from Down Under. The property, recently voted among Asia's 20 best resorts by readers of travel bible Conde Nast Traveler, reported a 69 per cent increase in Australian occupants through the first eight months of the year.

VNAT has reported a 128 per cent rise in Australian visitor numbers in 2010 – the greatest percentage increase of inbound arrivals from non-Asian countries.

The trend looks as though it will sustain for the foreseeable future. The results of the Asia-Pacific Travel Intentions Survey, a poll conducted by Visa and the Pacific-Asia Travel Association, showed that an impressive 16 per cent of Australians prepared plans to visit Viet Nam in the coming two years.

"Australia escaped the worst of the global downturn and its dollar is relatively robust, which means the Aussies are travelling as much as they have ever done," said Kai Speth, general manager of the Metropole Ha Noi.

"What's more, Australia has been one of our priority markets in recent years. We have representation at all the big travel trade shows there and I think it's fair to say that our efforts in marketing the hotel are really starting to reap rewards."

John Gardner, the Caravelle's general manager, agreed that an increased focus on the Australian market has paid dividends. He also believed that Viet Nam is finally beginning to rival traditional regional heavyweights such as Thailand and Indonesia in the eyes of holidaymakers.

"Thailand is beginning to recover after the recent turmoil," Gardner said. "But throughout that stumble, and troubles elsewhere, Viet Nam has sharpened its profile as the region's most safe and secure destination. Safety and security is far more top of mind for travellers today than it was 10 long years ago."

Gardner also pointed to other factors boosting the country's reputation Down Under – its solidifying infrastructure and its value for money.

"As well, Viet Nam is catering to a wide variety of customers from business visitors to traditional sun-seekers who are steering toward an array of resorts opening throughout the country."

Also significant in the opinion of travel industry insiders is the improvement in air links between Viet Nam and Australia. Low-cost carrier Jetstar operates regular flights between HCM City and Australia's major conurbations, while competition between other airlines means that travelling to Viet Nam has never been more cost effective.

"I think Australian interest in Viet Nam has grown for a number of reasons," said Damien Van Eyk, Australasian Sales Manager for Exotissimo Travel, a company that specialises in individually tailored trips within Southeast Asia. "The country's relative proximity to Australia makes travelling to Viet Nam very easy.

"I also think that word of mouth is a very important factor. As more Australians experience the sights, sounds and cuisine of Viet Nam, they come home and share these experiences with their family and friends." — VNS

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German textbooks gifted to National Library

HA NOI — The German Embassy granted 50 textbooks to the National Library yesterday.

Textbooks on law, economics, and engineering purchased by the German Foreign Affairs Ministry, have been selected by the Goethe Institute in Ha Noi and the library.

Earlier, the library and the Goethe Institute signed a memorandum of co-operation focused on improving the standards of human resources working in the library and archiving sector.

Embroidery depicts famous poem of Zen master

HA NOI — Veteran artisan Le Van Kinh has completed a set of embroideries depicting a poem by Zen Master Man Giac.

Kinh has spent 10 years to complete the paintings in a variety of languages including Danish, English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Lao, Cambodian and Thai.

The artisan, who works in the former imperial capital of Hue, plans another six such embroideries.

Zen Master Man Giac (1052-96), or Ly Truong, was famous for his Buddhism theory and writing skills during the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong.

TV personalities set for Miss Charming Television

HCM CITY — Thirteen women television personalities from around Viet Nam and one from Laos will take part in a traditional-culture and lifestyle contest that begins in HCM City tonight.

At the four-day annual Miss Charming Television organised by HCM City Television (HTV) contestants will be judged on appearance, performance, emceeing skills, and presentation style.

The Vietnamese competitors work for television stations in Ha Noi and HCM City and some provinces, and the Lao contestant, Nhom Mala is from Attapeu Television.

All work as reporters, producers and hosts.

Five will go through to the final to be held on Saturday at the HTV Theatre where they will perform folk songs and dances in their traditional costumes.

The contest will be shown on HTV's channel 9.

Winners of British Council ‘green' contest announced

HA NOI — The winners of the British Council's Green Tips essay contest were announced yesterday, as part of the council's I Am Green campaign to raise environmental awareness.

The contest, launched last month, sought to encourage young people to think about and develop responses to the challenges of climate change, said the organising board. It drew 400 entries from around the country, all written on recycled paper

Two other competitions under the campaign have also wrapped up, including the How Green Is Your City photo contest – which chose ten winners, each of whom will win English courses at British Council and trips from the Exotissimo tour company – and the Green Tip Box competition, which selected eight winners.

Another 28 young people have won a trip to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Centre in another contest on wildlife conservation. — VNS

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Fabric patterns on display in Hanoi

Maritta Nurmi

Photo: Tuoi Tre

An exhibition featuring diverse Oriental and African patterns on cloth fabrics by Finnish artist Maritta Nurmi is taking place at the Art Vietnam Gallery, No 7 Nguyen Khac Nhu, Hanoi.

Nurmi draws different patterns and sends them to India to be printed upon fabrics, from which she makes clothes in her own style.

She has held 14 exhibitions in Vietnam, Thailand, Finland and the US.

“Nurmi is one of the pioneers in introducing an exhibition mixed between fashion and art," commented art director Suzanne Lecht of the Art Vietnam Gallery. "She discovers all materials and shapes, bringing everyday details into a higher level."

Last year, she went to Africa and was amazed by colorful clothes Beninese women wore. Back to Vietnam, she tried to represent their patterns and colors à la her designs.

“Colors, how beautiful and attractive they are,” Maritta, who has lived in Hanoi for the past 13 years, said in Vietnamese.

A late starter, Nurmi graduated from the Turku Academy of Art when she was 40 years old after working in the chemistry industry in Finland for 10 years.

She is now living in Vietnam with her brother.

“Influenced by modern arts, her works still have oriental spirits and femininity. Her bending all laws and creativity is something young Vietnamese should learn,” said Pham Trung, chair of the modern art faculty at the Vietnam University of Art.

Her exhibition opens until January 7 next year.

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Heather Jakeman performs at Purple Jade

Singer Heather Jakeman takes residence at the InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel five nights a week - Photo: Courtesy of the InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel

Californian singer Heather Jakeman will play every Tuesday to Saturday night from 8 p.m. till late at the signature bar Purple Jade on level 1 of the InterContinental Asiana Saigon in HCMC’s District 1.

After graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, she performed as a singer for the United Services Organizations (USO) and played at many national events on the USO World Tour. Heather also won a Toppers Award for Best Actress for her performance as Audrey in the ACT production of Little Shop of Horrors in Italy.

Heather has performed alongside Wayne Newton, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Miss America, and Diamond Rio and has entertained crowds across the United States and internationally, including a special invitation to Washington DC to sing for the first lady.

Chill out to her smooth soulful tunes while enjoying the exclusive cocktail drink menu at Purple Jade during happy hour from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.

InterContinental Asiana Saigon is at the corner of Le Dua Boulevard and Hai Ba Trug Street, District 1, HCMC.

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