Conference to mull ways to revive southern amateur music

HCM CITY – More than 120 Vietnamese and foreign cultural experts will gather in HCM City on Sunday for a three-day conference to discuss ways to revive don ca tai tu, or southern amateur music.

The organisers said researchers, educators, cultural administrators, and musicians from Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and other countries will attend the conference at the Rex Hotel.

Don ca tai tu artists from 21 provinces and cities and four professors representing the International Traditional Music Association will also attend.

There will be 33 reports tabled at the event, seven of them by foreign experts.

Prof Yamaguti Osamu of Japan's Osaka University, who helped get UNESCO recognition for Hue royal music as a world intangible heritage, will deliver a speech.

Prof Le Van Toan, head of the Viet Nam Institute of Musicology, described the conference as being very important.

There are 2019 don ca tai tu clubs in the country having 22,643 members. The number will be increased by the time an application is made for UNESCO recognition as a world heritage, he said.

Prof Tran Van Khe, a master of Vietnamese traditional music, said don ca tai tu was born at the end of the 19th century and has become popular in several countries.

"Don ca tai tu is not just for entertainment but is a communal cultural activity," he said. – VNS

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Flower growers hope to reap Tet rewards

Business blooms: Gardeners throughout the country are ready to meet customer demand for flowers and bonsai trees for the up-coming Tet (lunar new year) festival. — VNA/VNS Photos Minh Quang & Van Khanh

HCM CITY — Gardeners from southern provinces and HCM City's suburban districts of Hoc Mon and Thu Duc are hoping that their hard work to meet customers' demands for the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival will pay off in handsome profits.

Foreign hybrids seem to be increasingly favoured over traditional flowers, said Tran Van Tiep, owner of a farm in Dong Thap Province's Sa Dec Town.

"This year Sa Dec expects to sell 4 million flowers and plants of different kinds, many of them foreign hybrids from Australia, the Netherlands and the US."

"For the foreign hybrids, we hope to attract vendors from HCM City and northern provinces who prefer quality and exotic flowers, even if they are expensive," he said.

For Tet, Tiep and his colleagues have invested several millions of dong in new foreign hybrids as well as the more traditional flowers.

Traditional Vietnamese flowers like daisies, carnations and roses are selling at VND 20,000 – 40,000 (US$1-2) a bush/pot, around 15 per cent higher than last year.

Dealers from HCM City and Ha Noi have shown greater interest in buying foreign hybrids such as tulips and lilies at prices ranging from VND10,000 per flower and VND50,000 per pot.

Florist Nam Tien of An Giang Province's Hoa Binh Town said:"This year Hoa Binh's 40 farmer households are offering 350,000 different traditional flower plants and pots.

"We hope urban customers change their minds and that we can sell the more traditional flowers as the festival draws nearer."

Local farmers in Thu Duc and Hoc Mon said ochna flower prices will increase about 20 per cent compared to last year.

Truong Van Du, who owns a farm in Thu Duc, said he has cultivated more than 2,000 ochna trees and expects to sell them at about VND500,000 – VND2 million a tree, VND100,00 to 400,000 higher than last year.

"Because of good weather, the ochna flowers would open in time for Tet. I hope God will bless our farmers," he said.

In Ha Noi, people prefer peach blossoms, typically grown in the famous flower village of Nhat Tan, and will pay about VND1 million for a big branch, while a peach bonsai may sell for VND20 million or thereabouts.

Gardener Vu Van Lan of Tay Ho District, who plans to sell 400 mandarin trees in Ha Noi, hopes he can get VND1 million for a quality tree and that prices would go up further during the last few days of the holiday.

Traditional flower fairs in HCM City and Ha Noi are expected to attract the participation of hundreds of local and provincial florists and hundreds of thousands of residents.

As in previous years, HCM City has designated Nguyen Hue Street as the "Flower Street," where millions of flowers from all over the country will be assembled to depict an overall theme chosen every year. — VNS

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Commemorative bell tower dedicated in Ha Tinh

HA TINH — A bell-tower in Dong Loc T-junction, the central province of Ha Tinh, which is dedicated to 10 young female volunteers who died at the site in the resistance war against the US aggressors was inaugurated on Sunday.

Addressing the function, Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee Information and Education Commission To Huy Rua praised Ha Tinh Province and the National Political and Administrative Academy for their joint initiative to build the tower.

The Dong Loc T-junction, which played a vital role in the transport of necessities and ammunitions from the north to the south during the American War, is well-known for the story of 10 young female volunteers, all of them were unmarried, who sacrificed their lives to ensure transport on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

The construction of the bell tower, which cost VND24 billion ( US$1.2 million) represents people's gratefulness to the sacrifice of the soldiers for national independence.
The seven-floor tower includes a six-tonne bronze bell, which is 3.6m high with a diameter of 1.92m.

Centre receives artefacts from citadel site

HA NOI — Over 200 artefacts excavated from the site of the Thang Long Royal Citadel were transferred yesterday to the Centre for the Preservation of Co Loa and Ha Noi Ancient Citadel, along with storage and display equipment.

Southern province promotes eco-tourism, cultural tourism

CA MAU — Efforts are underway to promote tourism in the nation's southernmost province of Ca Mau, with visitors to enjoy eco-tours in mangrove swamps or discover cultural festivals and customs in the province.

Ca Mau greeted 760,000 tourists in 2010, including 14,600 foreign visitors.

Massive work published on southern resistance

HA NOI — A two-volume History of the Southern Resistance, with contributions from 33 historians, revolutionary leaders and veterans, has been published after after eight years of compilation under a decision from the Party Central Committee and the Government.

The 4,300-page work is divided into two parts, addressing the anti-French resistance war and the anti-US resistance war, and reflects the great contributions of the people in of southern Viet Nam to the victories in both wars.

Architectural heritage being destroyed, warn experts

LAM DONG — Much of the nation's architectural heritage is being destroyed to make way for modern but insensible constructions, said experts at a two-day workshop on cultural tourism and architectural heritage held here on Monday and Tuesday by the HCM City Urban Research and Development Centre and France's University of Aix-Marseille.

Participants in the workshop urged greater harmony between modern and traditional architecture and between cultural values and commercial demands. — VNS

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Uncle Ho diary translated into Tay

Linguist: A teacher with 40 years' experience, Hoang An translates President Ho Chi Minh's Prison Diary into the Tay-Nung language. — VNS File Photo

CAO BANG — President Ho Chi Minh's Prison Diary has been translated into the Tay-Nung language by Hoang An, a member of the Tay ethnic group.

Responding to the movement to study and follow Ho Chi Minh's moral example, launched by the Party, An said his work aimed to popularise the late President's life and work among the Tay and Nung people.

"Since the Party launched the movement, I've tossed it over in my mind a lot," said An. "I thought I should do something significant to respond to the movement."

An has already translated Nguyen Du's epic poem Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu) into the Tay language. "Almost all of the Tay and Nung people in the region like to read it," said An, adding that he believed Ho Chi Minh's work would also be well-received.

A teacher with 40 years' experience, An was born in the northern province of Cao Bang's Trung Khanh District and speaks Mandarin as well as Tay-Nung. To prepare to translate the Prison Diary, An said he read extensively and began to increase his vocabulary.

"I have to translate very carefully every word, every sentence, every verse, and after finishing, I try to read it aloud to my friends and to experienced researchers to gather their ideas for revisions," An said.

After three years of work, An completed a draft of 300 pages in the Tay-Nung language which is expected to be published this year by the Culture and Nationalities Publishing House.

"Reading An's draft, I admired it greatly for its vivid translation which could help the Tay and Nung ethnic people more easily read and understand this difficult work," commented poet Ngo Luong Ngon.

An's hard work not only helps preserve the national cultural character but is also an invaluable spiritual gift to the Tay and Nung people to learn about and follow President Ho's ideas, Ngon said. — VNS

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Uncle Ho's diary translated into ethnic language

CAO BANG – President Ho Chi Minh's Prison Diary has been translated into the Tay-Nung ethnic language by Hoang An, a member of the Tay ethnic group.

Responding the movement to study and follow Ho's moral example, launched by the Communist Party of Viet Nam, An said his work aimed to popularise Ho's life and work among the Tay and Nung people.

"Since the Party launched the movement, I've tossed it over in my mind a lot," said An. "I thought I should do something significant to respond the movement."

An has already translated Nguyen Du's epic poem Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu) into the Tay language. "Almost all of the Tay and Nung people in the region like to read it," said An, saying that he believed Ho's work would also be well-received.

A teacher with 40 years experience, An was born in the northern province of Cao Bang's Trung Khanh District and speaks Mandarin as well as Tay-Nung. To prepare to translate the Prison Diary, An said he read extensively and began to increase his vocabulary.

"I have to translate very carefully a word, a sentence, a verse, and after finishing, I try to read it aloud to my friends and to experienced researchers to gather their ideas for revisions," An said.

After three years of work, An completed a draft of 300 pages in the Tay-Nung language which is expected to be published this year by the Culture and Nationalities Publishing House.

"Reading An's draft, I admired it greatly for its correct translation which could help the Tay and Nung ethnic people more easily read and understand this difficult work," commented poet Ngo Luong Ngon.

An's hard work not only helps preserve the national cultural and character but is an invaluable spiritual gift to the Tay and Nung people to learn about and follow Ho's ideas, Ngon said. – VNS

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Delta man becomes Mr Viet Nam

Winner: Mr Viet Nam 2010 Le Khoi Nguyen will represent Viet Nam in the Mr International competition in the Philippines. — VNS File Photo

HA NOI — Le Khoi Nguyen, 20, from the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Dong Thap, has been crowned Mister Viet Nam 2010, beats off 30 other contenders for the title in a pageant in the coastal city of Vung Tau.

He received a cash prize of VND100 million (US$5,000) and will represent Viet Nam at the Mister International 2011 contest to be held in the Philippines.

The competition, which aims to honour the physical beauty, spirit and knowledge of Vietnamese men, was held for the first time in Viet Nam, organised by the Bac Dau Entertainment Co, and broadcast on Viet Nam Television's VTV9.

Do Ba Dat, 24, from HCM City, and Ha Trong Tai, 21, from Ha Noi, were named first and second runners up and won VND50 million ($2,500) and VND30 million ($1,500), respectively.

During the final round of the contest on Saturday night, Nguyen Nhat Duy won the title Mister Sport, while Pham Thanh was named Mister Talent and Vu Duy Hung was dubbed Mister Gentleman. The judges also presented the title of Mister Knowledge to Do Ba Dat, and Mister Environment and Mister Favourite to Le Kien Dinh. Each received a prize of VND10 million ($500).

The judging panel included historian Duong Trung Quoc, designer Nguyen Manh Cuong, photographer Quoc Huy, anthropometrist Tham Hoang Diep, and Mr International 2010 Ryan Terry. — VNS

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Longevity, not talent criteria prompts People's Artist furore

Contesting the title: Artists from Ha Noi's Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre perform on stage. Performing artists throughout the country are complaining about stiffer criteria recently set for the prestigious titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist. — VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Hoa

HA NOI — Recently revised criteria for awarding prestigious titles such as People's Artist and Meritorious Artist are stirring controversy among performing artists.

People's Artist is the most prestigious title for performing artists in Viet Nam, given since 1984. Up until the last award in 2008, 191 artists have received the title. Pianist Dang Thai Son was the youngest artist to receive the honour, being named a People's Artist in 1984 at the age of 26.

Meritorious Artist is a lower level title, deemed a stepping stone to the higher honour.

Although the period for considering new nominations has been reduced from once every five years to once every two years, some artists are claiming the new criteria are too demanding.

For the title of Meritorious Artist, eligible nominees must have worked in their particular field for at least 15 years (10 years for circus artists) and needed to have won at least two gold medals at national or international festivals.

"This condition is too challenging," said Dao Quang, head of the Nam Dinh Drama Troupe. "It tends to judge an artist's contribution according to medals he or she has won rather than by his or her actual contribution to the community.

"It is quite difficult for an artist to win at least two gold medals as the national theatrical festival is only held every five years," Quang added. "And it's not sure that a second medal can be won at such rare festivals."

Quang claimed that, in fact, some enormously talented artists do not win any medals at all.

Cai luong (reformed opera) artist Quoc Hung from Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre agreed, saying that some young artists might be eligible for the nomination list before other, more experienced artists.

"Young artists always have more chances to get leading roles, which lead to more chances to earn medals," Hung said.

Hung also argued that the requirement was not fair to artists who worked closely with the troupes that travelled to remote areas to serve rural audiences, a time of performance few medal holders were keen on.

The Nam Dinh Drama Troupe has nominated two artists for the People's Artist title and four for the Meritorious Artist title this year. The Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre, instead sent a list of artists who did not meet the criteria on the number of medals but were talented and experienced enough for the prestigious titles.

"The list includes artists Thoai Mieu, Truong Hong Long and Kim Phuong, who have worked in the theatre since national liberation in 1975 and worked hard with their colleagues to overcome difficult times and preserve the art of cai luong," Hung said. "They have also been ready to step aside and let younger artists try their hands at lead roles."

The Ha Noi Cai Luong Theatre has also submitted a list of six artists for the Meritorious Artist title, four of whom were proposed under special privileges.

"Some artists do not have enough gold medals," said theatre director Quang Hung. "But they have four silver medals. They deserve the Meritorious Artist title."

Hung proposed the culture ministry consider two silver medals as equivalent to one gold medal, along with considering nominees' enthusiasm for their work.

Even eligible nominees are now required to receive at least three-fourths of the votes from the jury, another obstacle for some talented and enthusiastic artists to receive the titles. — VNS

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