Art & Entertainment News 30/1 Hoi An to host fourth Vietnam International Choir Competition Hoi An has again been chosen by Interkultur (Germany) to host the 4th Viet Nam International Choir Competition. The competition will take place over five days from April 29 with 1,500 artists from 15 countries and territories — Australia, Finland, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand , and Viet Nam – taking part. Besides the contest at the Hoi An Beach Resort, there will be a street music performance in the ancient town on April 30 and May 1. There will also be an event on May 2 in which Hoi An will be decked up in early 20th century style and Quang Nam food will be served. Photo show fetes VN-Hungary ties   Night in Budapest, a photograph by Janos Devcsics. A photo exhibition showcasing scenes from Viet Nam and Hungary took place yesterday in Ha Noi. Entitled Friendship Erases Distance, the exhibition displayed 24 colour and black-and-white photos by Le Luong and Janos Devcsics. It aimed to introduce viewers to the culture, people and landscapes of Viet Nam and Hungary to strengthen the two countries' relationship. While Luong focuses on daily life, cultural diversity and minority communities, Devcsics's photos depict beautiful scenery in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, and the famous Hungarian wine-making industry. Devcsics takes pictures of both modern and traditional wine-making methods. One photo is of wine tanks, the modern section of the winery where reductive wines are stored in stainless steel tanks. Thanks to this technology, rose and white wines can become fruitier and lighter. "I know that Hungary occupies a special place in Vietnamese hearts, and Viet Nam also shows much affection toward us as its countrymen," Devcsics said. "I wish to illustrate a beautiful capital and modern technology used to manufacture palinka, wine and mineral water in Hungary today. Even though Hungary is a small country, it produces top-quality beverages with cutting-edge technology." Nguyen Dang Vang, chairman of the Viet Nam–Hungary Friendship Association, said mutual understanding and cultural activities help enterprises in the two countries co-operate effectively. "The exhibition has deep significance for Vietnamese people who used to study and work in Hungary, those who love Hungary and the Hungarian community in Viet Nam," he said. "Also, I visited some ethnic minority groups in mountainous areas and now seeing Luong's photos, I believe that he selected the most beautiful images of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups. I expect that our Hungarian friends will understand more about the diverse culture of our country." Luong, a freelance photographer, said he has been travelling all around Viet Nam, meeting and talking with lovely people. In that way, he was able to see the life, cultural diversity and different characteristics of each community in various areas. "Smiles and special feelings on those trips have been captured in my photos," he said. "Through them, I, on the Vietnamese people's behalf, want to express a warm welcome to international friends." The exhibition will run until February 13 at the Hungarian National Trading House in Viet Nam, 1 Ba Trieu Street, Ha Noi. Photo contest for IPU-132 In honour of the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly being held in Vietnam this upcoming March, a photo contest has been launched by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Hanoi. The contest is open to all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners residing in the country who are aged35 or less. Entrants are required to demonstrate their ideas about Vietnam- a dynamic and peace-loving nation with young population. All entries can  be taken by  mobile phones, tablets or digital cameras. The organizing board will award one first prize, two second prizes, three third prizes and five consolation prizes to winners. Vietnam featured at international book fair in India Nearly 150 Vietnamese books in both English and Hindi are on display at the 39th International Kolkata Book Fair in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal, India. Vietnam’s participation at the event was organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in India in conjunction with the India-Vietnam Solidarity Committee (IVSC) in West Bengal. Among the books are English versions of “Ho Chi Minh: Vi cuu tinh cua hoa binh, doc lap va hanh phuc” (Ho Chi Minh: Saviour of peace, independence and happiness), “Dai tuong Vo Nguyen Giap” (General Vo Nguyen Giap), “Duong mon Ho Chi Minh” (Ho Chi Minh Trail) and “Nhung dau an van hoa An Do tai Viet Nam” (India’s cultural hallmarks in Vietnam) along with Hindi editions of “Nhat ky trong tu” (Prison Diary) and “Ho Chi Minh’s Biography”. Notably, IVSC President Geetesh Sharma debuted his book on the comparable liberation wars in Vietnam and Kolkata city and the close relationship between the pair at the event. According to Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh, the annual book fair offers Vietnam the opportunity to promote its landscapes, people and rich culture. He expressed his delight at the rapid development of the bilateral cooperation, especially in culture, education and people-to people exchange. Looking forward, the Vietnamese Embassy will work with West Bengal’s IVSC to build upon progress in cultural exchange, tourism and education collaboration between Vietnam and the West Bengal state, nurturing the growth of the two countries’ strategic partnership, he added. The International Kolkata Book Fair – the world’s third largest book event – commenced on January 28 and features over 700 publishers and writers from more than 30 countries around the world. Open until February 8, it is estimated to attract 3 million visitors this year. Hanoi photo exhibition features Party history More than 200 photos along with a series of valuable documents and objects featuring the founding and development history of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) are being displayed at an exhibition that opened at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi on January 28. The event is part of the activities to mark the CPV’s 85th founding anniversary and in honour of the upcoming all-level Party congresses. The exhibition highlights the Party’s glorious achievements over the past 85 years, especially the fruitful outcomes of the “doi moi” (reform) process launched in 1986. It also features the country’s important milestones under the leadership of the CPV such as the successful August Revolution in 1945, the struggles for national independence and reunification from 1945-1975, and the national construction, defence and renewal from 1975 to now. The event contributes to raising public awareness of the Party’s history and educating young generations about patriotism and national pride. It will be open to the public until May 19. HCMC’s book street festival to welcome Lunar New Year Ho Chi Minh City’s annual book festival along Nguyen Hue Street is scheduled to open on February 16, part of numerous events to welcome the Lunar New Year. Head of the department of information and communications, Le Thai Hy said the festival will run until February 22, the fourth day of the first lunar month, under the theme ‘Vietnamese identity – Vietnamese spirit’. He added that the book street will consist of four sections featuring titles on the history and people of Ho Chi Minh City, its image in modern times, as well as the sea and islands of Vietnam. The section on Vietnamese sea and islands will present to visitors a wide range of pictures, maps and other materials of historical evidence concerning Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. The 2015 book festival will also have special areas dedicated to e-books, books for children and people with disabilities, and old books published since the late 19th century. The event is expected to create a festive atmosphere during the early days of the Lunar New Year and promote reading culture among HCMC residents. Hanoi to reposition calligraphy writing street at Temple of Literature During the coming new lunar year festival (Tet), the calligraphy writing street at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi will be organised at Literature Lake (Ho Van) in the temple, according to Truong Minh Tien, Vice Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The calligraphy writing activities, which have taken place every Tet for over a decade on the pavement along Van Mieu Street, Dong Da district, Hanoi, often causes congestion during the busy last days of the year, thus this year’s repositioning will help ensure order and traffic safety, Tien said. The activities will be organised from February 8 to March 5 under the theme ‘At Mui Spring Calligraphy Festival’ by the Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam Scientific and Cultural Activities Centre and the Vietnam UNESCO Calligraphy Club. There will be one to two ‘ong do’ (calligrapher) each in about 100 booths wearing traditional costumes, writing and selling nice words in calligraphy to customers. The calligraphers will be certified by other well-known calligraphers. Along with the calligraphy writing activities, a calligraphy exhibition themed ‘Encouraging Study’ showcasing 70 calligraphy works by famous calligraphers will be held. The fine Tet custom of calligraphy is preserved through such activities when Tet comes. Visitors often ask calligraphers to write nice words in calligraphy with the hope of bringing health, prosperity, good luck, promotions, and good academic results to their homes and to use them as decorations for the Tet holiday. Source: VNN/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri/ND