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

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Tet Flower Festival on Jan 28

HCM CITY — Local authorities are gearing up for the annual Spring Flower Festival at Tao Dan Park in HCM City as the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday approaches.

The event will begin on January 28 and end on February 8 (the sixth day of the lunar calendar's first month).

More than 8,000 indigenous and foreign flowers, ornamental fish, bonsai plants and trees will be featured at the festival. They will be provided by florists, farms, handicraft villages and business people involved in agriculture, according to Tran Thien Ha, director of the HCM City Green Tree and Park Company, a member of the festival's organising board.

Well-known handicraft villages and farms in HCM City, Ha Noi and the provinces of Binh Duong, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Vinh Long and Lam Dong will introduce their products at the festival.

In addition to the flower displays and sales, the event will include musical and dance performances, as well as cultural exhibits such as traditional food festivals and painting displays. The festival's themes highlight the 11th Congress of the Viet Nam Communist Party, which opens today in Ha Noi.

The opening ceremony will include three music and song programmes in praise of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, which feature dozens of veterans and young performers.

The show titled Sac Hoa Dang Dang-Dang Bac (Flowers for the Party and Uncle Ho) will highlight revolutionary music.

Designed to feel like a colourful garden, Tao Dan Park will attract children and young people who find inspiration in nature.

Visitors will participate in a variety of street shows featuring folk art and games staged by hundreds of puppet and circus performers, which begin at 8pm every night.

Organisers said they have received help and support from the city People's Committee and other offices and organisations. — VNS

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Ancient martial arts school under renovation

THUA THIEN-HUE — A VND1-billion (US$50,000) renovation project on the Xien Vo Temple in the ancient capital of Hue has been launched by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre.

The project, which deals with the temple's main compartment and two wings, is expected to be completed by October.

The building, also called Vo Ban Temple, was used as a martial arts teaching facility for children of high-ranking mandarins under King Minh Mang (1820-40).

Recognised as a provincial historical and architectural vestige in 2006, the temple presents features of a ruong house – a typical wooden house that once dominated the city.

One-day photo contest to be held in capital

HA NOI — Photography enthusiasts over 18-years of age are invited to join a one-day photo contest in Ha Noi on Sunday.

Organised by the site www.xomnhiepanh.com – a website for people interested in photography – the contest will focus on the unique features of the city, such as sidewalk tea shops, street food stalls, local open-air markets and cyclos.

Contestants will have from 7am till 4pm to capture images before submitting their five best photographs to the judges.

The top three photos will be auctioned for charity. The first-prize winner will receive a digital camera.

Renovation of old community house complete

THANH HOA — A VND3 billion (US$150,000) renovation project on the Dong Mon Communal House in the central northern province of Thanh Hoa has been completed.

Built under the reign of King Le Trung Hung (1570-1623) in Vinh Long District, the temple is the province's oldest communal house and still has nearly all of its original features.

It is a five-compartment complex with sophisticated carving patterns on its pillars, demonstrating the typical architectural style of Vietnamese communal houses.

Charity gala event to help aid children in need

HA NOI — Leading artists will gather to perform at a charity gala on Thursday to raise money for children living at Ha Noi's Phuc Lam Preschool and Nursery.

The show, which is to take place at the capital's historic Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel, is entitled Cay Lieu Khoc Cho Em (Willow Weeps for Me).

As a curtain raiser, Spanish fashion designer Chula will present her latest collection, which features the diamond jewellery of the Ha Noi-based London Diamond Gallery.

Vietnamese diva My Linh and virtuoso pianist Pho An My will share the stage with the hotel's resident French jazz diva Trebeka on the night. Award-winning actress Le Khanh will MC.

The event is organised by the the non-profit charity organisation, Willow Weeps for Me, founded by Trebeka.

High schools win top prizes for ‘Sweet Dream' performance

HA NOI — Phan Dinh Phung and Kim Lien High Schools won the first prizes in the final round of the Ha Noi High School English Festival 2010 on Sunday for their outstanding performance titled Sweet Dream.

Organised by the Ha Noi Department of Education and Training and Apollo English, the festival awarded three second prizes to Viet Duc High School for their performance of the English song Stand up for Love, Hoai Duc A High School for their eloquence, and Nguyen Sieu High School for their hip-hop play titled Apologise.

Prizes were also given to other schools joining the festival held at the Youth Theatre in Ngo Thi Nham Street. — VNS

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VN singer wins top prize at Golden Voice Festival

Diva: Singer Thu Minh performs the song Shadow of the Kapok Tree at the ASEAN Golden Voice Festival 2010. — File Photo

HCM CITY — Vietnamese singer Thu Minh has won a gold medal in the folk music category at Saturday's ASEAN Golden Voice Festival 2010 in HCM City.

The female singer performed the song Bong Cay Konia (Shadow of the Kapok Tree), which had previously earned her first prize at the Television Singing Contest in 1990.

In the same category, judges also awarded a silver medal to another female Vietnamese singer, H'Zina Bya, who won the recent Star Television Singing Contest in HCM City.

Indonesian singer Netta Kusumah also received silver medal for her performance.

Thailand's Plengraphun Kingthong and Myanmar's Kyaw Zin Min claimed the bronze medals.

In the pop category, singers Herson Silas from Indonesia and Sri Nazrina Johari from Brunei, collected golds, while silver was granted to Kasim Hoang Vu, the winner of Viet Nam's Sao Mai Diem Hen (Morning Star – Rendezvous) singing contest in 2004.

The bronze prizes for pop went to Tung Lam from the host country and Brunei's Mohammad Fikri Bin Abdullah.

Vietnamese singers Thu Minh and Kasim were bestowed with the "Favourite Singer" title, while 18-year-old Malaysian Ikhwal Hafiz was judged "The Most Promising Singer".

Created by the HCM City Television, the annual ASEAN Golden Voice Festival aims to strengthen the cultural exchange between ASEAN member countries. This year, singers from ASEAN countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, performed at the festival. — VNS

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FV, SNEC patients see in the New Year

A doctor tests a patient’s eyes during the FV Hospital and SNEC cataract surgery program - Photo: Dieu Binh

FV Hospital gave new meaning to the phrase “seeing in the New Year” by working with Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) to give cataract surgeries to 40 poor patients.

A team of nine staff from SNEC, flew in from Singapore last week to perform the surgeries at FV Hospital, including Senior Consultant and Head of Cataract Service & Ocular Inflammation and Immunology, Prof. Chee Soon Phaik; Doctors Daphne Han and David Chan and Director of Nursing Low Siew Ngim.

All costs, from medical consultation, surgery, medicines and meals were paid by donations from FV Hospital and SNEC. The program also received support from two artificial intraocular lens implant suppliers, Viet Long and Alcon.

FV Hospital appointed its Head of Ophthalmology Dr. Tran Minh Hoang, Head of Laser Eye Centre Dr. Pham Hong Nam Tran. and Dr. Nguyen Thi My Hanh, to do the surgeries.

 “At FV, we are always keen to work with the world’s top specialists, to strengthen ties with our neighbors” said FV’s Head of Ophthalmology Dr. Tran Minh Hoang. “This cooperation is particularly special as when these 40 patients leave FV Hospital they will view the world differently – they will be able to see the faces of their loved ones clearly again.”

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Night of classics

Soprano singer Rumi Yano, pipa maestro Tu Shan Xiang and the HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra are conducted under the baton of Dean Khomik Anderson, one the rising stars conducting in the U.S.

The Saigon Times Concert - Harmony of Trust played to a full house on Saturday night at the HCMC Opera House. The concert, which was organized by the Saigon Times Group to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Thoi bao Kinh te Saigon (January 4, 1991 – January 4, 2011), also raised money to help disadvantaged students in central provinces. This year’s event featured four international artists including Filipino-American conductor Dean Khomik Anderson, Chinese pipa maestro Tu Shan Xiang, Ukrainian violinist Mira Khomik and Japanese soprano singer Rumi Yano. Here are some photos taken by The Saigon Times Daily’s photo-journalist Le Toan at the event.

The beautiful Ukrainian violinist Mira Khomik in her soaring moment performing Passacaglia & Burleske movements from the Violin Concerto No. 1 by composer Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich, under the baton of Dean Khomik Anderson. The masterpiece mirrors the composer’s emotions during the ups and downs in Ukraine

The four international artists pose for photos together after the concert

Pipa maestro Tu Shan Xiang performs his piece The Vietnam Sketch which he wrote after he played at the first Saigon Times concert in 2010. The piece was inspired by “seas of motorbikes”, Cham dancers, historical sites and the people’s attachment to their homeland

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How to be fashionable without paying much?

To be stylish does not mean you have to pay dear: you just need to stick to the three Đs - Đẹp (beautiful), Độc (Unique), and Được (Good) as Ho Chi Minh City’s youngsters have found out.

To become a 3Đ player, you must have aestheticism, creativity and skills in managing your finance, said Nam Hung, an IT staff at a company in District 1.

According to Hung, there are 1,001 ways to become a 3Đ aficionado.

It’s easy to develop creativity in daily life, which can include making a unique table calendar from waste paper and timber or one stylish necklace from snail shells.

“I’m very happy to make products from common objects aroud us as a gift for me and my friends.” Thanh Truc, creative manager of Laiceps fashion company, said.

“We can make everything, even some expensive handicrafts if we are clever and skillful.”
Meanwhile, Ngoc Hang, a student from Nguyen Huu Cau High School in Hoc Mon rural district, told Tuoi Tre that she learns to create some unique objects from websites like afamily, xinh xinh.

“I have a handbag made of old jeans. All my friends like it.”

Nobly cheap way

Nowadays, more and more young office staffs, students in HCMC are hunting for second-hand goods, which are considered not fashionable for youths. However, with some creativity, they could be turned into new clothes that satisfy the three Đ criteria.

Thanh Ha - a shopowner of secondhand goods - told Tuoi Tre unique objects created by recycling could sell very well.

Ha, along with other “3Đ” young girls are very clever at embroidery and sewing and often shares tips on the topic at hoitheuthua.net.

Another reader - Thi Tran - said she bought fabrics from markets, embellished and turned them into business suits for sale at VND200,000 ($10) each.

Her products are popular thanks to their low price and individuality.

Another craze is in making customized T-shirts.

“First, you select your favorite photo and then have it printed. Many young people like to draw some pictures onto the shirts themselves.

Nguyen Phuong Nam, director of Aothun.vn that makes customized shirts said the last Đ (Được) means affordable prices.

Many youngsters have considered this trend a good way to be fashionable without having to pay a dear price, he added.

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