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Art &
Entertainment News Headlines 18/2
Paris
fashion academy backs TV show Project Runway
This
year, "Project Runway Vietnam 2014" program has decided to
cooperate with
Accordingly,
top three contestants of "Project Runway Vietnam 2014” will have the
opportunity to go to Paris to practise and work with the academy’s fashion
gurus to create the final collections for the Project Runway finale.
In
addition, the competition winner will be awarded a scholarship to train
at Atelier Chardon Savard academy with VND200 million in cash from the
leading fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar.
"We
are very excited and pleased to be given the opportunity to work with
Project Runway
“I
hope that the cooperation will help young Vietnamese designers gain
experience and skills as well as proving themselves on the way to becoming
professional fashion designers.
“I
believe that this will be a long-term collaboration between the academy and
the Vietnamese fashion sector”, she said.
The
program’s audition round will be held in
The
first episode will be broadcast on VTV3 at 20h on May 11.
MTV
EXIT, the world's largest behavioural-change campaign in the fight against
human trafficking and exploitation, in collaboration with MTV Thailand, will
hold a music festival in Udon Thani on March 15.
The
show includes the bands Slot Machine and MILD from
Matt
Love, director of MTV EXIT, said: "Once again, we expect to create a
breakthrough in using methods to educate the young about human trafficking.
We are moving to the places where offenders target young people."
Le
Luong Minh, general secretary of ASEAN, said: "Human trafficking is one
of the most popular transnational crimes, not only in ASEAN but also the
world."
The
MTV EXIT campaign is implemented with the assistance of the US Agency for
International Development (USAID) and the Australian Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade.
Power
Jam make Hard Rock Café debut on Sunday
Power
Jam, who won The Battle of the Bands in the
Formed in 1996 in
The band’s versatile repertoire includes dance hits, classic rock tunes,
contemporary pop music, rhythm and blues, funk, soul, popular Latino music,
acid jazz and ballads.
Daisy Phuong Vu, General Manager of Hard Rock Café HCMC, said: “As a market
leader for entertainment in HCMC, we have recently introduced young and
energetic
Catch Power Jam performing at the Hard Rock Café HCMC nightly, from Tuesday
to Sunday, from 9 p.m. onwards with free admission.
For more information and reservations, call (08) 6291 7595.
RoK
photo project helps Vietnamese highland children tell their story life
Photos
taken by Vietnamese children living in Sapa town, Lao Cai province, are now
on show at an exhibition that opened this morning at the Korean Cultural
Centre in Vietnam (KCCV).
More
than 323 pictures and photo collections are on show, produced by students at
Kim Dong secondary school and Sapa town elementary school with the help of
arts instructors from the RoK’s Iksan Community Arts and Culture Centre
during a RoK-sponsored two-month photo training workshop.
Participants
were given cameras and provided with basic photography training. They were
asked to take photos inspired by topic such as, ‘About me’, ‘My Friends’, ‘My
Family’, ‘My Dreams’ and ‘Sapa – My Hometown’, in which they were free to
capture anything and anyone they liked.
Through
this the young amateur photographers were encouraged to observe objects,
places and people seen a million times, through new eyes , while nurturing
their and giving them a space to express themselves.
The
teachers also encouraged their students to add information about the photos
they took as well as their thoughts and feelings about their work.
Speaking
at the opening ceremony, KCCV Director Park Nark Jong said that it is an
honour for the centre to host the exhibition, adding that the photos on show
beautifully reflect the innocence of the pupils.
Sharing
the same idea, Director of the
Lee
Soo Hyun, a member of the teaching staff, said that she felt very happy to be
part of the workshop, adding that although it was over, she will continue to
feel a great connection with the pupils.
The
workshop was held under the framework of an ODA project on RoK – Vietnam
culture and arts co-operation organised by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry
of Culture, Sports and Tourism with the support of the RoK Institute for
Education, Culture and the Arts Development, the KCCV and the Korea
International Co-operation Agency (KOICA).
“I
highly appreciate the initiative of the RoK Culture Ministry for launching
the programme, which helps children in northern mountainous region in
The
exhibition, which was held earlier on February 10 in Sapa town, will last
until February 19 at
The
Hue Monuments Conservation Centre started the restoration of the Ta Tung Tu (
The
VND11.5 billion (US$540,000) project, implemented by the Vietnam Institute
for Building Science and Technology’s (ISBT)’s central sub-institute, is
expected to be completed within 12 months.
Director
of the centre Phan Thanh Hai said recent scientific and technological
advances in combination with original materials and traditional techniques
will be applied in the restoration to properly preserve the relic’s intrinsic
architectural, cultural, artistic and historical style.
Covering
an area of over 210 sq.m, the temple was built in 1843, together with Huu
Tung Tu (Right Temple), Sung An Palace, and Hien Duc Mon to worship King Minh
Mang (1791-1841), his empress and other high ranking mandarins.
It was
badly damaged by war, time and weather, Hai said, adding that the restoration
will contribute to the preservation of the old imperial complex of
Ben
Tre has new heritage tree
A
300-year-old apricot tree in Phu Tu communal house, Phu Hung district, the
southern city of
A
certificate was handed over to local authorities by the Vietnam Association
for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) at a ceremony on February
13.
The
tree’s leaf canopy spreads over 200 sq. m., while its small trunks grew 14
metres in height.
The
VACNE launched a programme to conserve Vietnam Heritage Trees in 2011. To be
recognised as heritage trees, the trees must be at least 200 years old in the
case of wild trees, and at least 100 years for those planted. Moreover, the
trees should be connected with historical and cultural characteristics of the
area where they grow.
Nearly
500 trees have been named Vietnam Heritage Tree so far.
Ancient
Chinese pagoda restored to former glory
Nghia
An Hoi Quan, or Ong pagoda, one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City,
was unveiled on February 13 after four years of restoration at a total cost
of VND66 billion (US$3.1 million).
Built
by the Chaozhou Chinese population in the 19 th century, the pagoda was
recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national
architectural and artistic relic site on July 27, 1993.
Noteworthy
for its gilded woodwork, the pagoda is dedicated to Guan Yu, known as Quan
Cong, a general who lived during the Han dynasty.
Over
the past time, its monks and nuns have actively responded to charity
activities, reaching out to the poor and talent across the city.
Festival
held for renowned Vietnamese folk music
The
Mekong Delta
Known
as a musical art that has both scholarly and folk roots, “Don ca tai tu”
(amateur singing) developed in southern
It has
been transmitted from generation to generation through official and
unofficial forms of education. “Don ca tai tu” has continually been
popularised through cultural exchanges among peoples.
The
art form is played on a variety of different instruments including both
traditional instruments such as ty ba (pear-shaped lute), tranh (16-string
zither), bau (monochord), sao (bamboo flute), and the western instruments of
violin and guitar.
The
event attracted the participation of more than 100 master instrumentalists,
master lyricists, master singers, instrumentalists and singers from 11 bands
across Long An and nearby localities such as Vinh Long province and Ho Chi
Minh City.
On the
fringe of the festival, the 20th of its kind held so far in Long An, a photo
exhibition was organised featuring artisans who have devoted their lives to
“Don ca tai tu”.
The
art is performed at numerous events, such as festivals, death anniversary
rituals and celebratory social occasions. The audience can join in
performances by suggesting new words to be included in the songs.-
Festival
commemorates nation’s legendary father, mother
The
Kinh Duong Vuong festival began at the historical site of the Kinh Duong Vuong-Lac
Long Quan-Au Co temple and royal tomb complex in Thuan Thanh district,
northern Bac Ninh province on February 15 (the 16th day of the first lunar
month).
Vice
President Nguyen Thi Doan and local authorities respectfully offered incense
to commemorate the nation’s legendary father Lac Long Quan and mother Au Co,
and pray for peace and happiness to the country and people.
Legend
has it that Lac Long Quan, whose real name was Sung Lam, the son of Kinh
Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu, married the daughter of De Lai, fairy Au Co.
Au Co
then gave birth to a pouch filled with one hundred eggs, which soon hatched
into one hundred sons, believed to be
Their
eldest son was made the King, who named the country Van Lang and set up the
capital in Phong Chau (nowadays Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province), starting
the 18 reigns of Hung Kings.
Along
with the solemn rites to represent respect for the ancestors, a wide range of
sport and cultural activities such as Quan Ho (love duet) singing, water
puppetry performance, card game, chess, wrestling, swinging and earthenware
pot smashing, will be held at the three-day festival.-
Vietnam
attends Asian Cuisine Festival in Abu Dhabi
Traditional
Vietnamese dishes, like Pho (noodle soup) and Nem (Spring Rolls) has received
great attention from international visitors at a recent Asian Cuisine
Festival.
Guests
at the festival, which opened in
There
were also long queues at a Vietnamese tourism pavilion which showcased
special and unique Vietnamese handicraft products.
The
Asian Cuisine Festival, held annually in
Thousands
of people gathered on February 16 at the
The
highlight of the event is the horse racing festival, put on by the H'Mong
people in Bac Ha district, northern mountainous
Sixteen
horses and their horsemen have travelled more than 400km to participate in
the annual event, which is particularly special since this lunar year is the
Year of the Horse.
The
horse is traditionally the friend of the people of Bac Ha, as it helps them
with transportation and their farming work, and the horse racing, which
existed in the minds of the Bac Ha people as a myth, has become a unique
traditional culture found on the ‘white plateau'.
The
traditional form of riding, without a saddle, makes the race more
interesting, coupled with spectacular performances. The rider who has the
fastest horse and obtains the most goals is the winner.
During
wartime, racing was not held for many years since horsemen were needed on the
battlefields.
Now,
the racing has been brought back as part of the activities to meet the
cultural and spiritual demands of local ethnic groups, helping preserve their
special cultural values.
As a
race designed for "barefoot cavaliers", who have always been
friends of horses, the festival has become an attraction for both domestic
and international tourists, particularly as more tourists choose Bac Ha as
their travel destination.
Students
join int’l cultural festival in India
Vietnamese
students at universities in
A
diverse programme of cultural exchange activities were held throughout the
two-day event to help promote links between students and lecturers in
The
opening ceremony kicked off with art performances by international students,
followed by a student march displaying traditional national dress from 13
different countries..
International
students also organised a cultural camp with tents reflecting the unique
characteristics of each nation. Visitors will have the opportunity to
participate in playing traditional music instruments and cooking national
dishes.
The
Vietnamese embassy’s counsellor in India Khieu Manh Dinh presented gifts to
Vietnamese students who have contributed to promoting a positive image of
Ethnology
museum receives precious elephant hunting tools
Viet
Nam Museum of Ethnology has received a set of elephant hunting tools from the
family of a so-called "Elephant King" in Tay Nguyen (Central
Highlands)
The
tools, which were used to hunt down and tame wild elephants, belong to the
Khun Ju Nop family which is well-known in the area for following the vocation
of elephant hunting. The tools are now owned by Kham Phet Lao, a medical
practitioner and the 11th son and official heir of the "Elephant
King" Ama Kong in Ko Tam Hamlet, Ea Tu Village, Buon Ma Thuot City.
Most
of the tools in the 20-tool set are more than 100 years old, and include rattan
switch, timber hammer, cords made of buffalo skin, horn, a flat platform
fashioned out of buffalo skin to sleep on during an extended hunt, among
others.
Besides
the set granted to the museum, the Kham Phet Lao family also owns two other
kits passed down from their ancestors which they are expected to put up for
sale through an auction for charity.
The
museum director, Dr Vo Quang Trong, said this collection was precious because
"these tools are not simply instruments to hunt for and tame wild
elephants. They do help interpret the daily life, activities, culture and
customs of M'Nong ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands."
Hoi
An hosts first Cam
Thousands
of local residents and visitors flocked to the Cam Nam corncob festival in
the ancient town of
The
festival provided an ideal opportunity for the Cam Nam craft village to
promote the Cam Nam trademark of sticky corncob to both local and
international visitors.
Those
attending the event had the opportunity to learn how to cook the Cam Nam
sticky corncob and enjoy the specialty.
During
the event, the Cam Nam craft village demonstrated the production process of a
variety of corn products which have brought high economic value to the
region.
The
event encouraged all kinds of of people to promote the culinary arts of Cam
Japanese
winter festival opens in HCM City
Thousands
of young locals are celebrating the Fuyu Matsuri winter festival at
The
festival offers Vietnamese attendees a valuable chance to learn more about
Japanese culture by playing games, enjoying Japanese cuisine, costume play,
and karaoke contests.
Traditional
Japanese couture like Kimono, Yukata, and Furisode were available to try.
Stalls
displayed and sold Japanese handicrafts including Hina dolls, Hagoita arts,
Ichimatsu, and Maneko Neko towels.
Fuyu
Matsuri is observed for two days.
Vegetarian
feasts in Ho Chi Minh City
Many
of
Vinh
Nghiem Vegetarian Restaurant, on
Co Noi
Vegetarian Restaurant on
La Tia
To restaurant in Phu Nhuan District serves its 200 vegetarian northern
regional specialties on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month.
The
city’s budget restaurants, tailored to the city’s students, labourers, and
office staff, also expand their vegetarian options, available for only
VND20,000 per set.
A
recent market survey showed a diverse variety of vegetarian food—both fresh
and frozen—is widely available. Famous brands such as Au Lac Company, Cau
Tre, Vissan, and SG Food can be purchased at supermarkets, shops, and
traditional markets across the city.
German
Film Week to open in Hanoi
The
Goethe Institute’s Film Week, beginning on February 21 and lasting to March
1, will screen a selection of German cinema’s recent box office successes and
critical hits.
Audiences
can enjoy 12 diverse films including dramas, documentaries, and stories
inspired by classic folklore.
The
Younger
audiences will savour the silver screen adaptations of famous fairy tales
such as “Snow White and the
Danish
Embassy showcases Vietnamese art
The
Danish Vietnamese Cultural Development and Exchange Fund (CDEF) and the
Embassy of Denmark have announced the launch of a third project to promote
Vietnamese paintings.
Artists
wanting to introduce their works can send their photos (size 20 x 30 cm) and
personal information to the Danish Embassy, 17-19 Dien Bien Phu Str,
All
the selected paintings will be hung in the corridors and offices at the
Embassy from March to July 2014.
The
promotion of Vietnamese artwork began on January 3, 2013 with nine paintings
by eight artists. The second exhibition took place on August 8, 2013 with 26
works by 14 artists from three regions across the country.
The
exhibition, hosted by Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen, aims to
promote the work of Vietnamese painters and further boost mutual
understanding between artists and the public.
Vietnam
an honourable guest at Vesoul Film Fest
About
100 films produced by Asian countries, including
The
festival’s organisation board allocated a special space introducing
Vietnamese cinematography.
Accordingly,
Vietnamese films will be screened at the festival, including “Bao gio cho den
thang 10” (When October comes) directed by Dang Nhat Minh, “Me Thao-Thoi vang
bong” ("Me Thao, Once Upon a Time) by Viet Linh, “Doi Cat” (Sand life)
by Nguyen Thanh Van, “Song trong so hai” (Living in fear) by Bui Thac Chuyen,
“Bi dung so” (Bi, Don’t be Afraid) by Phan Dang Di and “Chuyen cua Pao”
(Pao’s Story) by Ngo Quang Hai.
In
addition, four documentary films by Le Hong Chuong, Vuong Khanh Luong, Dao
Thanh Tung and four cartoons will also be shown.
A “One
day in
Over
the past 20 years, the festival has become a gateway for Asian films to
penetrate the wider world.
Last
year’s event attracted more than 30,000 spectators.
A
special programme featuring the culinary arts of
Called
Ngay hoi que toi (Festive Day of My Homeland), it will take place from 4-9pm
on three days to introduce food from all regions of the country, north,
central, south, northwest and the Central Highlands, to both domestic and
international tourists.
According
to the organiser, this year's programme focuses on the country's traditional
cakes and sweetened porridges.
In
addition, there will be folk games, including demonstrations on how to make
toys with coconut leaves and bamboo, and from coloured rice dough.
Musical
performances include love duets, folk songs from
A
craft village area displaying cooking demonstrations of traditional cakes,
and a fishing village with boats, tools and typical meals of fishermen along
Viet Nam's coastal areas, will also be included.
Entry
price is VND250,000 (US$11.9) per adult. Participants receive coupons that
can be used to buy food and drinks.
Van
Thanh Tourist Park is located at
Ha
Noi launches design contest
A
design contest to preserve the Hoang Thanh Thang Long Imperial Citadel's
archaeological site on
Jointly
organised by the Thang Long - Ha Noi Heritage Conservation Centre, the Ha Noi
Department of Architecture Planning and the Institute of Planning and Urban
Architecture of the University of Construction, the contest aims to attract
winning designs to build a community cultural space that blends with the
surrounding landscape and the infrastructure of Ba Dinh.
Organisers
said the contest also aims to promote the Thang Long Citadel and the capital
to domestic and overseas audiences and develop tourism.
The
selection panel will be made up of local officials from the Ha Noi People's
Committee, the Ministries of Construction and Culture, Sports and Tourism,
the UNESCO representative office in Ha Noi and the Viet Nam Architecture
Association.
The
panel will review submissions until April 10 this year with all designs to be
displayed at an exhibition on April 30.
The
contest will award 6 cash prizes measuring a total of VND300 million (nearly
US$15,000).
The
Hoang Thanh Thang Long Citadel was built in the 11th century under the reign of
King Ly Thai To. The site measures more than 18,000sq.m site, including the
Ha Noi Ancient Citadel and an archaeological site.
Dr Bui
Minh Tri, from the Viet Nam Archaeology Institute, said researchers and
archaeologists over the past decade had discovered valuable artifacts from
different periods, including bricks, band tiles and ornamental tiles with
images of dragons and phoenixes.
Archaeologists
have also recovered pieces from 95 separate architectural monuments, 22 wells
and 31 sewers. Seven foundations of protective walls, lakes and embankments
have also been found.
"Unique
ceramic artifacts from
Cuban
band to perform in HCM City
The
Cuban Brothers' gig is set to feature tunes inspired by Cuban historical fact
and mythology in a show at the Cargo Bar on February 19.
The
three-member band has performed at big music festivals around the world.
The
show will be held at
Book
reveals untold stories about Dien Bien Phu
Several
untold stories about the historical Dien Bien Phu campaign, which led to the
world-famous victory over French colonialism in
Penned
by veteran military writer Do Sam, the book unveils many stories about
different processes of the campaign, from the strong preparation of all the
military sources to the moment when the Vietnamese troops opened fire.
Developments
of the 170-day battle also has been mentioned in the book through 25 stories
told by witnesses.
The
author, who was a young scout of an artillery regiment during the campaign,
had interviews with the late legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap, who was the
campaign's Commander-in-chief.
Other
significant witnesses, including the Acting Division Commander of the 351
Artillery Brigade Dao Van Truong, regiment commanders Huu My and Doan Tue,
supplied worthy sources for the book.
Heroes
Dung Chi, Vu Dinh Hoe, Vu The Chau, and secret agents Bao Ninh, Nguyen Cong
Binh, Phung Hien Thiet also contributed their stories.
Published
by the People Army Publishing House, the release of the 200-page book is to
celebrate the 60th anniversary of the
Dao people fight
to preserve coming-of-age tradition
The
Dao ethnic community in the northern mountainous
In
particular, their highly-valued ‘cap sac rite’ (literally translated as
Granting an Order) is under threat of dying out.
Their
efforts to prevent this have received a boost recently thanks to State
recognition of the rite as part of national intangible cultural heritage. The
accolade brings with it more expert research and investment in preserving the
unique custom.
All
Dao men must go through the cap sac rite in order to be recognised by the
community as mature enough to undertake communal positions
According
to a local shaman, Chu Van Bich from Thai Hoa commune, the cap sac rite has
its origins in a thousand-year-old legend of the Dao. The story goes that
when the Dao community was attacked by devils, the Jade Emperor told fairies
to teach magic to household heads in villages and issued an order (sac) for
them to fight the devils.
The
rite is usually conducted at the end or the beginning of the lunar year for
one or more men, always an odd number. Three shaman chair the rituals with
the assistance of three others over the course of three days.
Before
undertaking the rituals, the men must keep themselves clean, refrain from
speaking bad words or sexual activity.
On the
first day, the ritual is conducted in the open air. The next day, the men
enter the house to listen to the shaman praying and learn several traditional
dances. The third day is dedicated to rituals paying respect to ancestors.
The
Tuyen Quang provincial cultural department has made video and audio records
of the rituals and undertaken extensive research of the cap sac rite of all
Dao sub-groups in the province.
Tuyen
Quang is home to 77,015 Dao people belonging to nine sub-groups, making up 11
percent of the locality’s population. The Dao is the third largest community
among 22 ethnic groups in the province, after the Kinh and Tay-
Culture
festival stages ethnic traditions nationwide
A
horse race featuring ethnic Mong jockeys from the northern mountainous
province of Lao Cai drew thousands of spectators to the Culture Tourism
Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups on February 15.
The
event was part of the three-day Sac Xuan Tren Moi Mien To Quoc (Spring in
Every Region Nationwide) festival, which stages the festive spring rituals of
various ethnic groups. The village is in Dong Mo, Son Tay Town, about 40km
west of Hanoi.
Tran
Huu Son, Director of the Lao Cai Culture, Sports and Tourism Department,
explained that horses play an important role in Mong culture.
"In
the past, to be considered a true man, a Mong guy must not only be able to
play khen (traditional Mong bamboo pipe flute), but also ride a horse.
"Horse
races in every village offer young men the chance to prove themselves,"
said Son, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese
Folklorists.
The
most famous large-scale race took place in Bac Ha commune and attracted not
only Mong, but also Tay and Nung ethnic people living in neighbouring
regions. However, it was interrupted for a long time. Since its restoration
in 2007, it has drawn thousands of people every year, even though the horses
are not professional racehorses.
"The
Mong people regard our horses as family members. The horses help us with
farming and accompany us to the market, carrying many heavy packs on their
backs," said 19-year-old jockey Vang Seo Vu.
First-time
spectator Le Thuy Dung said the race brought her "a lot of laughs",
especially when horses couldn't run forward but turned back to the starting
point or threw the jockeys down to the ground.
Middle-aged
visitor Tran Quang Hung said he was impressed by the brave ethnic jockeys who
rode without harnesses.
"I
enjoyed the event very much and I will definitely visit Bac Ha to experience
the real race," he said.
The
festival kicked off in the morning of February 15 with the staging of a
ritual ceremony of the Lo Lo group in Meo Vac commune in the northern
mountainous province of Ha Giang.
Held
from the 15th to 17th day of the third lunar month, the ritual involves
praying for good weather and a bumper crop. The necessary offerings include
chicken, pork, steamed sticky rice, maize wine, joss sticks, candles and joss
paper, as well as a piece of red cloth and a sword, which the Lo Lo believe
gets rid of evil spirits and bad luck.
To
conduct the ceremony, the shaman gathers villagers and chants a prayer to the
gods of the rain and wind and other genii from the four corners of the earth:
"Please bring us a better life than last year. Please bless whatever we
plant: rice, maize and beans. Once we plant a seed, let it become 10 seeds.
Our rice plants will grow higher than the grass. Please offer us good weather
and bumper crops and bring every family prosperity and happiness."
After
the shaman finishes his chant, he burns the joss paper and offers the wine to
the villagers. To conclude the ritual, the villagers then dance together.
Their
dancing movements mimic the work of farming, such as rice terrace clearing
and maize planting.
The
February 15 event also presented to visitors the rice-planting rituals of the
B'rau group in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum.
On
February 16, there was a traditional wrestling contest and a bumper-crop
praying ceremony of the San Chay group in the northern midland province of
Phu Tho.
On
February 17, the New Year Festival of the Cham people living in Binh Thuan
Province will be staged, as will the cha chieng festival of the Thai group
and the New Year gong festival of the Muong in Hoa Binh province.
The
husband-catching festival of the Chu Ru group in Lam Dong and the
rain-praying ceremony of the Cor people in Quang Nam will also be on display.
Coorganised
by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Culture Tourism
Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups, the annual Sac Xuan Tren Moi Mien To
Quoc festival aims to present the rich culture of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups
to visitors and strengthen the solidarity between the groups.
Son
La enjoys buffalo fighting festival
Phu
Yen district in the northern mountainous province of Son La held its first
ever buffalo fighting festival on February 15-16, attracting crowds of ethnic
people from the surrounding area.
Twenty-eight
buffalos from Hai Phong city and the provinces of Son La, Yen Bai, Vinh Phuc
and Tuyen Quang competed in qualifying rounds.
After
two days of competition and many interesting fights, the top three prizes
went to buffalo trainers from the Song Hong (Red River) Company, the host
district of Phu Yen, and Van Chan district in Yen Bai province respectively.
The
festival offers a venue for people in northern provinces to engage in
exchanges while preserving and promoting local tangible and intangible
cultural values.
Fishing
festival-goers pray for good fortune
Thousands
of fishermen joined a festival i n Da Nang city’s Thanh Khe district on
February 15 to pray for bumper hauls of fish and safe voyages at sea, as well
as peace, happiness and prosperity throughout the year.
Cau
Ngu Festival is held every year on the 16th of the first lunar month. It is
the biggest festival of fishermen in the central coastal city.
Cau
Ngu Festival represents the desire of the fishermen for a peaceful life, free
from the difficulties and dangers that can occur when out at sea.
“Last
year, we enjoyed big catches but encountered a number of storms as well. Now,
we pray for safety first and foremost, while still hoping to harvest more
fish than last year, said Tran Tien Thanh, captain of boat DN90340 in Da Nang
City’s Thanh Khe district.
During
festival days, there are many activities and traditional games which only
take place in coastal areas, such as swimming and boat racing. Folk games
such as net knitting competition and fish salad cooking are also held.
There
are now around 1,900 fishing boats in Da Nang city.
“Xoe”
folk dancers whirl around in Yen Bai
More
than 1,000 local artists are slated to perform six popular xoe dances of the
Thai ethnic minority people in Nghia Lo town of the northwestern mountainous
province of Yen Bai on February 14.
The
dances, collected by Lo Van Bien – a local Thai dance master, were once
staged by over 2,000 local artisans in the largest-ever mass performance last
year that set a Vietnamese record.
Xoe is
an important collective dance of the Thai people who develop about 30
different variations of the dance.
The
dance is charmed by its gentle and alluring rhythms. Dancers usually form a
circle around a festive flame and move to the sound of melodic traditional
music.
It
plays a significant role in the country’s traditional dance canon, depicting
the daily lives of the Thai ethnic groups and showing their wish for a
peaceful and prosperous life.
Han
Khuong – a unique traditional festival of the Thai inhabiting the Northwest
is scheduled to take place the same day in Nghia An town.
During
the festival, with “Han” meaning stage and “Khuong” meaning yard, young boys
and girls together build a one-entrance stage with the height of 1.2-1.5
meters surrounded by wide-meshed bamboo lattice, where they enjoy dancing,
singing together, making friends, and taking part in competitions. It is a
brilliant chance for participants to find their future spouse.
The
organisation of such events is part of efforts to develop Nghia Lo into a destination
of culture and tourism, according to Deputy Chairwoman of the district
People’s Committee Hoang Thi Hanh.
The
project focuses on boosting a culture and sport environment tailored to meet
the tastes of ethnic compatriots along with promoting the community-based
tourism from 2013 till 2020.-
Bac
Ninh – home to innumerable cultural heritages
The
northern province of Bac Ninh is home to many cultural heritage, particularly
UNESCO-recognised love duet singing (Quan ho) and ceremonial singing (Ca
tru), along with Dau and But Thap pagodas that have recently won special
national heritage recognition.
Love
duet singing, an art form that combines various elements, including music,
lyrics, costume and a unique style of singing reflecting the affinity between
the singers, and featuring the distinctive culture of people in the region
formerly called Kinh Bac, was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural
heritage of humanity in 2009.
The
same year, Ca tru, an ancient type of music also known as “hat a dao” or “hat
noi”, was also listed by the organisation as an intangible cultural heritage
in need of urgent protection.
The
most widely known type of ca tru involves only three performers: a female
vocalist, a lute player and a spectator.
Located
in Thanh Khuong commune, Thuan Thanh district, Dau pagoda was built in the 2
nd century AD and is claimed to be the “Cradle” of Buddhism in Vietnam .
The
annual Dau pagoda festival, which falls on the 8 th of the fourth month, is a
brilliant opportunity for visitors to study the pagoda’s history, myths,
legends and outstanding architectural features.
Meanwhile,
But Thap temple in Dinh To commune, Thuan Thanh district is one of only a few
ancient pagodas in Vietnam with the unique architecture of the Le-Nguyen
dynasties that still exist.
The
temple houses unique statues, including the remarkable Avalokitesvara with
one thousand eyes and one thousand arms, which was recognised as a national
treasure in 2012.
As a
cradle for various national historical and cultural vestiges, Bac Ninh
province is making great efforts in conserving its intangible cultural
heritage, looking towards the development of cultural tourism.
It has
spent 13.5 billion VND (more than 600,000 USD) implementing a project to
preserve Quan ho. So far, apart from in 44 original Quan ho villages, the
folk art is practised at 329 more villages and is taught in various schools
in the province.
At the
same time, many Ca tru clubs have been established in Thuan Thanh, Gia Binh
and Yen Phong districts with almost 100 regular members.
Between
2003 and 2006, the province spent over 15 billion VND (705,000 USD) restoring
a number of items at Dau pagoda, and more than four billion VND (188,000 USD)
in 2012 upgrading But Thap pagoda.
Local
authorities have asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to
consider and submit to the Government a number of local vestiges to be
recognised as national heritage such as Phat Tich pagoda, Ba Chua Kho (Lady
of the Storehouse) temple and Kinh Duong Vuong shrine.
With
547 festivals held annually, Bac Ninh is considered the locality with the
most festivals in Vietnam . Many have become national events, such as Ba Chua
Kho Festival, Lim Festival, Dau Pagoda Festival, Kinh Duong Vuong Festival
and Phat Tich Pagoda Festival, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.
Over
the past time, the province has undertaken numerous measures, aiming to
preserve and develop these traditional festivals, and prevent superstition
and the commercialisation of such events.
Camping
trip organised for Central Highlands tourism year
The
province of Dak Nong organised a camping festival at its Nam Nung historical
tourism site on February 14-15, in the latest activity arranged for the 2014
Central Highlands – Da Lat National Tourism Year.
The
event attracted the participation of more than 300 young people, who came to
meet and build connections.
The
festival was also attended by more than 1,000 tourists from inside and
outside the province.
It
offered a chance for visitors and entrepreneurs to understand more about the
culture, history and people of Dak Nong.
On the
occasion, a ceremony to worship spirits was also performed to make visitors
aware of the unique ritual, which is practiced by the M’Nong ethnic group.
Source: VNA/VNS/VOV
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Thứ Hai, 17 tháng 2, 2014
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