Moscow State University could teach Vietnam novel

Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh signs books for his fans

Photo: Tuoi Tre

A Russian professor has proposed the Vietnamese novel “Cô gái đến từ hôm qua” (The girl comes from yesterday) be included in official curricula at the Moscow State University.

Dr. Maxim Syunnerberg, of the Vietnamese faculty belonging to the Moscow State University, wants his faculty to teach the novel written by the famous 46-year-old Vietnamese writer Nguyen Nhat Anh.

Syunnerberg is one author of the Russian-Vietnamese dictionary published in 2008.
The 10 chapters of the original novel are suggested to be arranged into 16 chapters to fit the 16-week study schedule.

In related news, last month, Anh officially allowed Thailand-based Nanmee Books publishing house to translate his short story "Give Me a Ticket Back to Childhood" into a Thailand version.

The book last year won the Southeast Asian Writers Awards 2010 in Thailand.

It is expected to be released in Thailand in early August to mark the 35th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.

Anh is a Vietnamese author well-known for his engaging stories for both teenagers and adults. He also works as a teacher, a poet and a reporter.

His works are enormous, including approximately 24 short stories, two giant novel series and poetry collections.

He is regarded as one of the most successful writers for teenagers.

His most well-known series "Kinh Van Hoa" (Kaleidoscope) which contains 45 volumes about three teenagers and the stories around their friendship and school life, has recently been adapted into four drama series of the same name.

In 1995, he was voted the most popular writer in the last 20 years (1975-1995) and the most talented individual through a poll held by Tuoi Tre newspaper.

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January, a month of festivals and feasts

Vietnam celebrates more than 9,000 local and national festivals that can be categorized as folk, historical-revolutionary, religious, foreign-origin, and cultural-sport-tourist.

They mostly have their origins in the north, according to cultural scholars.

The first lunar month is a “month of festivals and feasts,” according to an old saying.

The New Year marks the arrival of spring according to the Chinese and Vietnamese calendars, and people are eager to visit historical sites and temples and pagodas, go sightseeing, and participate in festivals.

Many of the festivals are aimed at invoking patriotism and solidarity among people and act as platforms to preserve and pass down the nation’s culture to future generations.

Some commemorate national heroes. The Dong Da festival in the north, for instance, pays homage to King Quang Trung’s glorious feat of arms against 29,000 Qing invaders from China in 1789.

Festivals in the 1st lunar month - Saint Giong Festival in Phu Linh Commune, Hanoi, 6th to 8th. - Tich Dien Festival on Doi mountain, the northern Ha Nam Province, 5–7. - Huong Pagoda Festival, Hanoi, starts on the 6th and goes on for three months. - Gia La night-festival in Duong Noi Commune, Hanoi, 6-14. - Sai Temple Festival in Thuy Lam Commune, Hanoi, 12. - Tu Xa Festival in Tu Xa Commune, Lam Thao District, Phu Tho Province, 11 and 12. - Lim Festival in Lim town, Bac Ninh Province, 13. - Co Loa Festival in Dong Anh District, Hanoi, 6-15. - Ba Chua Kho (Queen Kho) Temple Festival in Co Me village, Bac Ninh, 14. - Va Temple Festival in Trung Hung Commune, Hanoi, 15. - Tam Thanh pagoda festival in the northern city of Lang Son, 15. - Long Tong Festival in Cao Bang Province on the China border, 6-15. - Vieng Market Festival in Kim Thai Commune, Vu Ban District, Nam Dinh, 8

Dong Da Fest

Co Loa Fest

Many of the festivals feature traditional sporting events -- like crossbow shooting and wrestling at the Co Loa Festival in Hanoi’s Dong Anh District, fighting, wrestling, and running at the Vi Khe Flower Festival in Nam Dinh Province and the Buffalo Stabbing Festival in Mo Hra village in the Central Highlands.

Buffalo Stabbing Fest

They also showcase traditions like singing love duets, weaving fabric, and many others.

In the south, most festivals are meant to worship ancestors and deities and seek their protection and blessings for prosperity. Like the festival on Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh province during spring which people attend to pray for a year of prosperity and success.

Ba Den pagoda

The southern celebrations also often feature ornamental flowers and trees grown by traditional trade villages.

Ethnic peoples usually have spectacular festivals -- like the Tay and Nung’s Long Tong and the Hmong’s Sac Bua in the northwestern region and the Kho Me’s Lunar New Year celebrations in the south.

Long Tong Fest

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Local films shine during Tet

Vietnamse flavour: A scene from Bong Ma Hoc Duong, one of the Vietnamese-made films shown in cinemas during the Tet holiday. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Despite stiff competition from entertainment centres, Vietnamese-made films attracted big crowds at cinemas in HCM City and Ha Noi during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

One of the blockbusters, Bong Ma Hoc Duong (Ghost at School), drew thousands of young moviegoers to Galaxy, Megastar and BHD Maximart cinemas.

Audiences queued up in front of the cinemas' ticket kiosks for the chance to watch the country's first 3-D film featuring an amusing story of an online author haunted by three ghosts.

The horror comedy attracted dozens of young pop stars and fashion models including Wanbi Tuan Anh, Truong Quynh Anh and Dinh Ngoc Diep.

Attracting more than 300,000 filmgoers, the US$1 million-film Bong Ma Hoc Duong grossed VND22 billion ($1.1 million) after 12 days of release in only HCM City and Ha Noi.

"We believe our film will set a record in ticket sales this Tet," said Phan To Hong Hai, a member of Thien Ngan Studios' managing board, the film's producer.

District 5's Megastar HungVuong cinema attracted 10,000 people a day, an increase of 20 per cent over the same period last year.

Thien Ngan's competitor, BHD Company, also believes in the financial success of its production, the comedy film Co Dau Dai Chien (War of the Brides).

The producer said the film's Vietnamese-American director Victor Vu had brought something new to fans.

Co Dau Dai Chien revolves around the love of a group of young people living in urban areas, portrayed by Huy Khanh, Phi Thanh Van and Van Trang.

It attracted 230,000 audiences in 10 days, earning VND14.2 billion in ticket sales. The numbers are expected to be higher in coming days.

The private film company Phuoc Sang's Thien Su... 99 (The Cherub... 99) features a love story, offering comedy and exciting action.

The film contains a large cast of well-known artists, including young singers Khong Tu Quynh and Ngo Kien Huy. Like its competitors, Phuoc Sang also spent a large sum on filming.

"Comedies will be big hits with youngsters looking for more lighthearted entertainment," said Phuoc Sang, the film's director.

The film is being screened at cinemas across the country, and has thus far earned a profit of VND9 billion.

In HCM City, thousands of families have also flocked to theatres as well as cinemas.

Cat Phuong of the HCM City Small Drama Theatre said that mostly big drama troupes and theatres, including Phu Nhuan and Hoang Thai Thanh, staged more comedic plays during Tet and Valentine's Day.

The theatre's two plays, Chua Yeu Sao Hieu Duoc (Can't Understand Without Love) and Cuc Yeu (Fall in Love), feature performances of young artists, including Hoang Anh and Diem Chau.

"We will continue to stage comedies in the upcoming weeks instead of showing serious productions as we had originally planned," said a representative of Hoang Thai Thanh Drama Stage.

All the tickets for the theatre's three plays have been sold out for two months.

Phuong also predicts that comedies will continue to draw audiences to the theatre until International Women's Day on March 8. — VNS

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Culture Vulture

The Ha Noi-based composer Tran Manh Hung has been presented with annual awards from the Viet Nam Musicians Association for the past two years. The 38-year-old won prestigious prizes for his poetic symphony Hao Khi Thang Long (Thang Long's Spirit) and the romantic piece The Gioi Khong Chien Tranh (A World Without War), which were honoured in the best symphony and romance categories, respectively. He talks with Culture Vulture about his works.

How did you feel when you won the award?

No words can describe my feelings when it was announced. I was extremely happy because if any composer wins an award it brings them happiness, and then I received a award the following year.

Besides those awards, the Viet Nam Musicians Association also presented you with other awards?

Yes, that is right. I started receiving awards from the Viet Nam Musicians Association in 2007 for the four-movement symphony Mot Nua Coi Tram (Half a Life), and the choral song Gio Long Bon Phuong (Rising Wind on All Sides). In 2008, I bagged the first prize for the composition, String Quartet No 2.

My poetic symphony Le Chi Vien (Le Chi Garden), and the romantic piece Giac Mo Mua La (Dream of Falling Leaves) won the best symphony and romance categories in 2009.

Last year, I sent three pieces to be considered for the awards. Besides two first prizes for the symphony Thang Long's Spirit and the romantic piece A World Without War, a second place prize was given to my composition Dat Me (Motherland).

The symphony Thang Long's Spirit was presented at a gala concert to celebrate the capital's millennium anniversary, while A World Without War was performed at the Buddha's birthday celebration last year.

Do you have any secrets? Why do you win so many prizes?

I would be a turkey-cock if I said my talent was responsible for the prizes.

I truly believe that all the cultural and historical values produced by humanity in general, and of Viet Nam in particular, have moulded the true, good and beautiful arts.

It can be said that all my teachers helped contribute to my success. They not only taught me but were role models. I always will have deep gratitude for them.

The awards provide encouragement for composers, which helps us continuously contribute to the country's glorious musical traditions.

Some other musicians compose quite a lot of work, but are unable to present their compositions to the public. How about you?

Like assiduous bees, my colleagues and I work endlessly. However, we don't publish every piece that we write.

To vie for a Musicians Association award, composers have to submit their recorded pieces. It is not difficult or costly to record the songs, unless you are working with large symphonies or operas. That's why some talented composers, who write substantial compositions but do not have the chance to record their work, were not able to popularise their musical pieces.

Do you have any plans to release a CD containing your award-winning music?

I have a plan to release such a CD, but I don't want to talk about until it is completed. However, I'm sure that a CD with a collection of my choral songs will be aired this year.

For many Vietnamese popular singers, you are their favourite musical mixing master. You were invited to join their music projects. However, you seem prefer a to keep "hidden" life, is that true?

In order to nurture our big musical dreams and make ends meet, several other composers and I have are looking into marketing our skills. By working with such musical projects, we, the people who specialise in chamber and symphony music, have a chance to understand more and practise performing popular music. — VNS

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Photo competition to spotlight VN's world heritage sites

HA NOI — Amateur and professional photographers will display their best images 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 heritages.

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 awarded 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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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.

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