Campaign promotes environmental practices

HA NOI — Hundreds of students and other volunteers joined in the Green City Tour campaign in Ha Noi, HCM City and Da Nang yesterday, aiming to promote public awareness of environmental protection.

The campaign, part of Toyota Viet Nam's Go Green Programme, was co-organised by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources' Department of the Environment Protection and the Ministry of Education and Training.

Volunteers cleaned streets and distributed stickers containing simple and practical messages of how to conserve energy and protect the environment in their daily lives. Many contain short messages, such as Remember to Tighten Me (to be pasted on water taps), Clean Before Using (to be pasted on microwave ovens and irons), and Turn off the Screen When Not in Use (to be pasted on TV screens and computer monitors).

The Green City Tour campaign will be held on weekends between now and March 2011, co-ordinating closely with local governments and groups such as the Women's Union and representatives of residential units and apartments. For further information, you can visit the website www.gogreen.com.vn. — VNS

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South Africa sex industry did not see World Cup boom

South Africa's sex business did not see any spike in activity during the soccer World Cup and the male patrons who participated in the trade practised safe sex, according to a survey obtained on Friday.

"There were not significantly more clients seen per sex worker during the World Cup period," said the survey from the South African Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Task Force that was conducted in conjunction with the UN Population Fund.

There were worries ahead of the June-to-July sports spectacle that it would lead to an increase in human trafficking and in the spreading of HIV because South Africa has one of the highest infection rates of the disease in the world.

The survey said there was little change in the average number of clients per week -- 14.4 on average -- for sex workers during the World Cup and reported condom use for males was at about 99 percent.

There were more foreign clients for the sex workers, but "this may mean that a part of the local clientele was temporarily replaced by foreign clients," it said.

There was massive condom distribution ahead of and during the Cup to prevent the spreading of HIV/AIDS.

The survey was conducted among 663 sex workers.

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New culture show to lure visitors to HCMC

Photo: Tuoi Tre " style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">

Artists rehearse an act of the "Xin Chao" in Ho Chi Minh City Circus on October 20, 2010

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Starting this December, locals and tourists will have a chance to experience a cultural show organized by the Xin Chao Art performance Co. Ltd, featuring cultural traits of Vietnam to attract tourists.

Entitled “Xin Chao” (Hello), the premier with 50 artists will kick off on December 3 and will continue every night at 6.30pm at the Ho Chi Minh City Circus Theater at September 23 Park in District 1. Sunday shows are meant for kids and family with discount fares.

There will be three parts featuring the tale of Lac Long Quan and his wife Au Co, who are believed to be the first ancestors of Vietnam, heroines Trung Sisters and the contemporary life in Vietnam.

“Xin Chao” is the same genre as Cirque du Soleil, a dramatic mix of circus arts and performances originated from Canada that has been widely spread to Japan and Macau.

The script is written by Laura Burke, an American producer and director who have been living, working and researching on Vietnamese culture and history over the last 8 years. She has also participated in different art activities such as her recent staging a traditional musical show called Ho Xuan Huong at HCMC’s Opera House.

For this new project, Laura expects to employ Binh Dinh martial art and Vietnamese traditional and cultural habits into the show to attract international audience.

This is also a chance for young artists in different fields like circus, martial arts, aerobat and dancing to show off their talents in a big stage for long term.

“There are many tourists coming to HCMC every year. However, they are only hanging around bar, cinema or restaurant because there is no entertainment place with Vietnamese culture,” said Augustus Greaves, representative of the show.

“Vietnam is a beautiful country with a rich culture. We need to exploit the cultural traits to attract tourists and they will spend more and have more reasons to stay in Vietnam.”

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Students win video news quest

HA NOI — A student competition to produce a video news clip has been won by a team from Phan Chu Trinh Secondary School in Ha Noi.

Panasonic Viet Nam yesterday awarded the first prize of the Kid Witness News (KWN) Viet Nam 2010 national contest for the video clip entitled The circles.

The story was about recycling through creative use of milk cans to make useful items.

Phan Chu Trinh Secondary School will represent Viet Nam in the Kids Witness News regional contest in Singapore in December this year. The global contest will be held in Japan in July next year.

The contest introduced a recycling topic in an attractive and figurative reporting style with "firm audio-visual effects", the judges said.

Panasonic believed the contest would encourage pupils to develop their video making abilities, said Panasonic Viet Nam general manager Shinichi Wakita.

Best Script was won by a team from Giang Vo Secondary School with a video clip entitled My Ha Noi; Best Anchor went to a Lomonosov Secondary School team with Advantage and Disadvantage; Best Editing: Ly Thuong Kiet Secondary School with The Soul of Viet Nam's Bamboo ; Most Original: Thuc Nghiem Secondary School with An Unforgettable Trip.

A Phan Chu Trinh School team member said that through the video clip they showed the daily life and that pupils could also help protect the environment by recycling so-called useless items into useful products. — VNS

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Vietnam wins two prizes at film festival

Johnny Tri Nguyen and Ngo Thanh Van pose for pictures at the closing ceremony of the first Vietnam International Film Festival in Hanoi on October 21, 2010

Photo: Tuoi Tre

The Vietnam International Film Festival wrapped up Thursday night at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, with Vietnamese films winning the Best Documentary and Best Actress prizes.

Nguyen Thi Kim Hai’s “Always Beside You,” the story of a mother who cares for her three-year-old son who has leukemia, was named the Best Documentary.

Nhat Kim Anh was the Best Actress for her performance in “The Fate of a Songstress in Thang Long.”
Australian director and jury member Phillip Noyce described the film as “Extremely beautiful [and] revealed parts of Vietnamese history that we as outsiders were not aware.”

Hong Kong’s Fiona Sit shared the award with Anh for her performance in “Break Up Club.”

Malaysia’s A Niu was named the Best Actor for his role in “Kacang Puppy Love” while.

“Sandcastle” made by first-time Boo Junfeng of Singapore made a huge impact, winning the Best Feature Film, Best Director, and NETPAC Jury Awards.

“Boo’s film doesn’t look like a first film, it is so self-assured,” US entertainment trade publication Hollywood Reporter quoted Venice Film Festival director Marco Mueller as saying at the festival.

The closing ceremony was attended by 2,000 people, including movie stars and filmmakers from Vietnam and abroad.

Lai Van Sinh, the head of the Vietnam Cinema Department and the festival’s chief organizer, said: “The first VNIFF has made a good impression on international audiences. Besides, it has helped bring cinema closer to the public.”

Large audience

Vietnamese films attracted large crowds at the five-day event.

All 14 Vietnamese feature films shown at the Vietnam International Film Festival that concluded Thursday were sellouts despite being screened four times every day, according to the organizers.

“Always Beside You”, “Adrift”, “The Legend Is Alive”, “Living In Fear”, “The Rebel”, “Hanoi- Hanoi”, “The fate of a songstress in Thang Long”, “The Lieutenant”, “Pao’s Story”, “The Buffalo Boy”, “Don’t Burn”, “The White Silk Dress”, “Moon At The Bottom Of The Well” and “Temple Of Literature” were screened at Platinum Cineplex, Megastar cinemas, and the National Screening Center.

To meet the demand, organizers put up 40-70 temporary seats at the venues.

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Statues of former State leaders on display in HCM

HCM CITY — An exhibition featuring 25 miniature statues of President Ho Chi Minh and Vice President Ton Duc Thang opened at the Ton Duc Thang Museum in HCM City on Wednesday.

In addition sculptors from the HCM City Fine Arts Association sent in 26 entries for a contest to create a giant copper statue of the two leaders for installation in Ha Noi for the millennium anniversary.

Lam Quang Noi's creation won the contest and a 5.4m copper statue of President Ho shaking hands with Ton Duc Thang to congratulate him for becoming vice president of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam in 1960 now adorns Thong Nhat Park in the capital's Thong Nhat Island.

The other 25 entries are on show at the exhibition where they will remain until February 20 next year.

The museum is at located 5 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1.

Holland Village opens in HCM City Park today

HCM CITY — The Holland Village event, held by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in HCM City, will open at September 23 Park today.

The 10-day event aims to promote the culture and customs of the people and country of the Netherlands to Vietnamese, expatriates and international visitors here.

It will introduce several abiding images of the Netherlands including 12 typical houses, windmills, tulips and other objects.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy music from Holland, the country's traditional cuisine and games.

Around 15 well-known artists from Holland will show their special skills in making wooden shoes and other handicraft and fine-art products, including the art of glass blowing by well-known artist Frans Limpens.

Some of the best paintings produced by artists and visitors at the event will be auctioned, and all the proceeds donated to the "Dance4Life" fund, a fund for developing HIV and AIDS prevention projects.

The event marks the 37th anniversary of bilateral relations Viet Nam and the Netherlands.

Touch of French food and culture in HCM City

HCM CITY — HCM City's Hotel Equatorial will host a French wine and food fair that will also feature cultural events this week.

The two-day Une Balade en France opening today will showcase French heritage with wine and food producers from seven regions, including Burgundy and Champagne, bringing their products for visitors to discover and enjoy.

City wine merchants like AuA, Vine Descombe Viet Nam, Daloc, Red Apron, Bacchus Corner, and The Warehouse will be part of the event.

There will be live music by France's Bigot Swing band and some typical French games.

Tickets booked in advance will cost VND350,000 and VND400,000 at the venue. Discounts are available for group bookings.

It will be held from 6pm to 11pm today and 5pm to 11pm on Saturday.

The money collected from the games and food sales will be donated to French charity Poussiere de Vie. — VNS

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Works by late poetess published in Vietnamese and French

A collection of poems by the late Vietnamese poet Xuan Quynh (1942-1988) has been published in both Vietnamese and French, reports VietnamPlus.

The title of the collection “Neu ngay mai... Si demain...” (If tomorrow) was taken from a line of one of her poems, “Neu ngay mai em khong lam tho nua” (If tomorrow I give up writing poems).

The collection contains Quynh’s first poem called “Choi biec” (green bud) and the last poem named “Thoi gian trang” (white time) and her popular poems including “Thuyen va bien” (boat and sea), “Song” (waves), “Tho tinh cuoi mua thu” (love poem in the late autumn) and “Tu hat” (sing by myself).

Nguyen Minh Phuong translated the poems. He has also translated other well known poets - Huy Can, Te Hanh, Nguyen Binh, Ho Dzenh, Nguyen Duy and Phan Thi Thanh Nhan.

Phuong’s translation was revised by teacher Dang Tran Thuong and Pierre Montagu from France. The collection’s preface was written by Pierre Enckell, a French journalist/linguist.

Telecom Technology Consultant International sponsored the publication of five hundreds copies of which two hundreds copies will go on sale in France.

Xuan Quynh was a commissioner of the third course of Vietnam Writers’ Association. Quynh and her husband playwright/poet Luu Quang Vu were killed in a traffic accident in 1988. Quynh was granted the national literature award posthumously in 2001.

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