First int’l chorus festival to open in Hoi An

The first International Choir Festival and Competition will be held in Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam from March 16-20.

The festival, co-organized by Quang Nam Province and the German-based Association InterKultur, is for amateur Vietnamese and international chorus.

The organizers of the festival said until mid-January 2011, 34 choirs with 30 from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Hongkong, and four from Vietnam have applied for participating in the event. The total number of participants now is more than 1,000, of which foreigners account for over 85%. It is expected that the number of choirs participating will be increasing.

Artists will compete in 13 contests, divided into six groups of male chorus, female chorus, concert chorus, chorus for children under 16, chorus for adult from 16 to 25, sacred music chorus, chorus in church in the 18th and 19th centuries and folk chorus.

The opening ceremony of the festival will take place on a floating stage at the Song Hoai (Hoai River) Square in Hoi An Town.

The schedule of the first International Choir Festival and Competition

-  7 p.m. on 15 and 18 March: Public performances by the choirs in Hoi An town.

-  On March 16:

+ 6:30 p.m.: The choirs traditionally dressed or uniformed to perform in Hoi An Museum of History and Culture (10B Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoi An City)

+ 8 p.m.: the opening ceremony:

 - 7 p.m. on March 17: Competition in the traditional folk music on Hoai River Square.

 - March 18:

+8 a.m.: - Competition under the categories registered by the choirs at Hoi An Beach Resort

+ 6:30 p.m.: The event of “Hoi An Legendary Night in the early 20th century” in Hoi An ancient town

- March 19:

+ 6:30 p.m.: - The awarding ceremony

+ 8 p.m.: The Closing ceremony in conjunction with the Performance of chorus and solo by the choirs, traditional folk songs, dancing and music, the retreat rite of the national flags of the choirs, fireworks display, the Quang Nam traditional gastronomy night – Gift presentation and farewell.

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First int’l chorus festival to open in Hoi An

The first International Choir Festival and Competition will be held in Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam from March 16-20.

The festival, co-organized by Quang Nam Province and the German-based Association InterKultur, is for amateur Vietnamese and international chorus.

The organizers of the festival said until mid-January 2011, 34 choirs with 30 from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Hongkong, and four from Vietnam have applied for participating in the event. The total number of participants now is more than 1,000, of which foreigners account for over 85%. It is expected that the number of choirs participating will be increasing.

Artists will compete in 13 contests, divided into six groups of male chorus, female chorus, concert chorus, chorus for children under 16, chorus for adult from 16 to 25, sacred music chorus, chorus in church in the 18th and 19th centuries and folk chorus.

The opening ceremony of the festival will take place on a floating stage at the Song Hoai (Hoai River) Square in Hoi An Town.

The schedule of the first International Choir Festival and Competition

-  7 p.m. on 15 and 18 March: Public performances by the choirs in Hoi An town.

-  On March 16:

+ 6:30 p.m.: The choirs traditionally dressed or uniformed to perform in Hoi An Museum of History and Culture (10B Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoi An City)

+ 8 p.m.: the opening ceremony:

 - 7 p.m. on March 17: Competition in the traditional folk music on Hoai River Square.

 - March 18:

+8 a.m.: - Competition under the categories registered by the choirs at Hoi An Beach Resort

+ 6:30 p.m.: The event of “Hoi An Legendary Night in the early 20th century” in Hoi An ancient town

- March 19:

+ 6:30 p.m.: - The awarding ceremony

+ 8 p.m.: The Closing ceremony in conjunction with the Performance of chorus and solo by the choirs, traditional folk songs, dancing and music, the retreat rite of the national flags of the choirs, fireworks display, the Quang Nam traditional gastronomy night – Gift presentation and farewell.

Related Articles

• First int’l chorus festival to open in Hoi An
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Box offices boom over Tet

Cinemas and stages had bumper box offices over the Tet holidays.

Tickets to a total of 18 films at eight theaters across HCMC were sold out with operators adding extra sessions to cope with the demand. Most of the productions were comedies, thrillers or social dramas.

The theaters said they have sold out  tickets until the end of February, with many people resorting to buy tickets from outside the theater for as much as VND800,000/pair, compared to the set price of VND100,000. Seats for live shows of local comedians for VND1.5 million were also sold out.

Vietnam’s first 3D movie, Bong Ma Hoc Duong (School Ghosts) produced by Galaxy Studios, lived up to expectations with a record VND22 billion after 12 days of screening nationwide, mostly attracting students.

Minh Thuy, a high school student in Ha Dong, said, “The movie covered some real issues such as school fights and violence.”

School Ghost has sold 300,000 tickets so far turning over VND1.8 billion a day, higher than local blockbusters last Lunar New Year. Co Dau Dai Chien (Battle of the Brides) produced by BHD was next with VND14.2 billion and 230,000 viewers during Tet.

Phuoc Sang Corp’s production Thien Su 99 (Angel 99) with VND9 billion and 200,000 tickets sold, ranked third but was down a third on Phuoc Sang’s offering last year called  Cong Chua Teen va Ngu Ho Tuong (Teen Princess and the Five Brave Generals Teaser).

A representative of Hung Vuong MegaStar Cineplex in HCMC’s District 5, said every day from the first to the fourth day of Tet, the cinemas welcomed 10,000 movie lovers, but American 3D cartoon, Tangled, was the biggest attraction.

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Rip-off prices and fake bush meats at Pagoda Fest

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Tens of thousands of pilgrims have flocked to the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi to pray for good luck only to enjoy fake wild meats and be charged rip-off prices, sometimes 10 times higher than usual.

Parking cost goes up 10 times, from VND2,000 to VND10,000-20,000 (up to $1) for a motorbike, and VND40,000-60,000 per car.

To arrive at the pagoda where the 3-month festival kicked off yesterday, pilgrims have to take a boat to cross Day River.

The fixed price for a one-way boat trip is VND25,000 (US$1.2 ). However, each tourist needs to tip the boatman VND50,000-100,000 in order to arrive safe and sound.

Along the road, oriental doctors offer free pulse readings but then prescribe pricey medicines, which are just some normal herbs.

To fill up their stomach, visitors may need to think again as a meal could burn a hole in their pocket. A cup of coffee costs at least VND40,000 and a glass of hot tea VND100,000.

>> The Pilgrim's tales

While a bowl of Pho (noodles) can cost around VND20,000 in downtown Hanoi, here the price is 10 times higher with poorer quality.

One of the attractions of the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda is the beautiful Huong Tich cave. But to reach there, one needs to walk or take a cable car and this is where troubles start.

Although the ticket booth is located nearby, many people were forced to buy from scalpers at a more expensive price.

Because most pilgrims choose to walk step by step to the cave to demonstrate devotion, the trip lasts long and thus hotels spring up to cater to their needs.

Needless to say, prices are all exorbitant, around 3 times higher than normal.

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Fighting fest opens in northern province

Thousands Tuesday flocked to Chuong market in the northern Thanh Hoa province’s Dong Son District to throw potatoes and rotten eggs at one another -- a practice thought to bring good luck for the year ahead.

From early morning (5:00 am), locals and visitors wearing new clothes rushed to the festival, which is annually organized on the 6th day of first lunar month, to buy eggs, potatoes and apples to be used later as weapons to ‘fight’ one another.

Locals told Tuoi Tre it is impossible to go to the market unattacked by potatoes and eggs thrown by festival goers.

According to traditional beliefs, the redness of potatoes is a symbol of luck while fighting is said to bring abundant crops and a prosperous life.

However, some young people have taken advantage of this custom to settle real-life dispute. Actual fights and serious injuries, even death, do happen sometimes.

“Usually, police are mobilized to the scene to handle such problems. However, in some cases, the public security forces are also victims,” said Hung, a policeman in Dong Son District.

According to legend, an army general was once besieged by the enemy when he was passing through the market. He sharp-wittedly ordered his men to pretend to be market goers and hide all weapons inside baskets.

As the result, the enemy was misled and defeated.

“Our village saw abundant crops that year,” said 70-year-old Tuan.

To celebrate the event, locals gather at the market on the 6th lunar day to wish for a lucky and prosperous year.

They also stage a mock battle - with eggs and potatoes - to commemorate the legendary victory.

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In-bound tourists up 20 percent during Tet

The tourism industry in Vietnam saw an increase of domestic tourists by 20 percent during the five days of the Lunar New Year festival (Tet) from February 3-7 against last year’s period.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that 75,000 Vietnamese traveled around the country during the holidays.

Among the most favorite destinations include Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam, the ancient capital of Hue, the beach cities of Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, the mountainous city Dalat, as well as Phu Quoc Island and other locations in the Mekong Delta provinces.

Meanwhile, Dalat, Da Nang and Hue were the most-selected venues for Tet travelling by foreign tourists, according to the department.

In total, 70,000 local and foreign travelers arrived in Dalat during Tet, while Hue received 25,000 – an increase of 10 percent and 22 percent, respectively.

The uptick in visitors created a surge in room prices. In Dalat, tourists paid VND150,000 – VND200,000 (US$7.5 - $10) for a room for one day, up by 60% over the off-peak season rate.

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World heritage photo competition begins

HA NOI – Amateur and professional photographers will display their best imeages in a competition entitled Vietnamese World Heritages to be held in July.

Launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibitions in co-operation with the Viet Nam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA), the Natural Cultural Heritage Department and National Administration of Tourism, the competition aims to draw attention to the value of the nation's UNESCO-recognised world heritage.

UNESCO has recognised the imperial city of Hue, Ha Long Bay, My Son Sanctuary, the ancient town of Hoi An, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, the citadel of Thang Long-Ha Noi, as world heritage sites, and nha nhac (royal court music), the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) gong culture, quan ho (love duet singing) in the northern province of Bac Ninh, ca tru (ceremonial singing), and the Saint Giong Festival as tangible or intangible cultural heritage.

The photo competition will award a first prize worth VND10 million and a gold medal from VAPA. Two second prizes worth VND7 million, three third prizes worth VND5 million, and ten encouragement prizes worth VND2 million would also be awarded, along with certificates from VAPA.

About 250 entries will be selected for display at an exhibition to be held in the central city of Da Nang on National Day, September 2, and in Ha Noi on Liberation Day, October 10.

Vietnamese and foreign photographers are being invited to submit entries, in colour or black-and-white. Images should be sized 30 by 45cm and not previously awarede prizes in other competitions held by the ministry or the association.

Contestants could submit up to 11 entries, which is the number of UNESCO heritage recognitions the nation has received, said competition organiser Vi Kien Thanh. All 11 photos can be taken from a single heritage site, he explained.

However, veteran photographer Van Tho argued, "Eleven photos cannot show the beauty of Vietnamese world heritage. I have taken many photos at the Giong Festival, and I propose that photographers be allowed to send more to the organisation." – VNS

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