Art & Entertainment News 7/2 Old Quarter exhibit recalls Hanoi's rich past   An exhibition is highlighting daily life of the past in Hanoi's Old Quarter. More than 100 photographs and artefacts will be on show from February 2-15, giving an insight into life in the 36 streets of the Old Quarter during the late 19th-early 20th centuries. Highlights include an exploration of the area's unique architecture and traditional two-wheeled carriages that once plied the narrow streets. Historian Duong Trung Quoc said the exhibition would help visitors better understand the significance of the Old Quarter in Hanoi's history. The precinct is undergoing major redevelopment, succumbing to expansion pressures of modern Hanoi. Chef club debuts in central city The city's tourism association has debuted its Chef Club with the participation of 250 head cooks from hotels and resorts in the city. The club will host regular competitions and cuisine festivals for chefs to show off their skills and promote local food. School gives nine-month scholarships to study film The Saigon International Film School (SIFS) plans to offer promising young filmmakers six scholarships to attend long-term courses in scriptwriting, directing, acting, editing, cinematography and film production. The course content is based on consultations from two professors, Michael Toshiyuki Uno of the University of Northern California and Michael Casterngena of the University of Georgia in the US. The scholarships, worth VND24 million (US$1,100 each), will pay for nine months of tuition and for all documents and textbooks. Eligible candidates must show samples of their work and their need for financial aid. Applications should be sent from February 9 to March 12 to academic@sifs.edu.vn, or to the school at 15A Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Binh Thanh District, HCM City. The courses are scheduled to begin on April 6. Tet programme held for kids at City shelters, rehab centres Juvenile offenders at rehabilitation centres and children aged 18 and under at city shelters will receive gifts and scholarships during an entertainment programme in HCM City on February 18 (Lunar New Year Eve). The event will be attended by 1,600 children who live at shelters and rehab centres in HCM City and neighbouring provinces. The event, Mai Am Gia Dinh Viet-Xuan At Mui (Viet Nam Family's Home-The Year of the Goat), will be held at District 10's Lan Anh Stage. All of the children will be presented with gifts, and 17 of them with good school records will receive scholarships worth VND2 million (US$90) each. The programme, which includes famous Vietnamese singers, was organised by the Hoa Sen Group in co-operation with Cong An (the Police) newspaper and HCM City Television. It will be broadcast live on HCM City Television's HTV3 channel. Spring festival shines in Hanoi Hanoi Spring Festival commenced in Hanoi on February 4, spreading festive cheer with live music, traditional martial arts, and dragon dance performances. The festival offers 300 stalls presenting craft villages, ornamental trees and flowers, food, and traditional arts. Folk games and workshops, including cooking square glutinous rice cakes and making traditional products and toys, are some of the event’s highlights. Hanoi Spring Festival, currently taking place at Quan Ngua stadium, 30 Van Cao Street, will run through February 10. To Van Dong, Director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the occasion is significant opportunity for local craft villages and businesses to present themselves as a part of initiatives for the 2015 National Tourism Year. Seminar highlights culture’s role in promoting tourism A seminar on the role of culture in developing tourism was organised in central Phu Yen province on February 4-5, during which participating researchers agreed that culture is a product to develop tourism and tourism, in turn, is a motivation to preserve culture. They urged localities to intensify the conservation of traditional festivals and relic sites in order to attract more tourists. They also pointed out that biological degradation, urbanisation and industrialisation are leading to a decrease in cultural diversity. Associate Professor-Doctor Ngo Phuong Lan from the Institute of Literature suggested improving the management capacity of personnel working in the tourism sector, while researcher Nguyen Thi Phuong Cham of the Institute of Cultural Studies emphasised the need for the tourism and culture sectors to coordinate in diversifying tourist products. The two day seminar was co-organised by the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education, the Phuong Dong (Oriental) Research Development Institute and Phu Yen provincial People’s Committee.- Czech int’l school honours Vietnam culture As part of the festivities celebrating the 2015 Vietnam Cultural Year in the Czech Republic, a week-long schedule of events kicked off on February 4 at the Gymnazium Ostrov School in Teplice. At present, nearly 50 Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) students are studying at the school and based on an idea of one of the students, Tran Thi Hoai Anh, it decided to sponsor the cultural week entitled – Colourful Vietnam Culture. Prominent figures attending the opening included Vietnam Ambassador to the Czech Republic Truong Manh Son, Chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) Association in the Czech Republic Hoang Dinh Thang and the Mayor of Teplice Senator Jaroslav Kubera. At the event, two traditional Vietnamese dances and a photo exhibition were introduced honouring the Southeast country’s land and people. Vietnamese culture introduced in Czech A cultural programme themed “The Colours of Vietnamese Culture” was held on February 4 at the Gymnaziym school in the city of Teplice, the Czech Republic , to introduced the country’s unique culture to the locals. The Mayor of Teplice city and Senator Jaroslav Kubera and Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Truong Manh Son attended the event. During the programme, participants enjoyed two exciting musical and dance performances staged by the Vietnamese living in the locality. As part of the programme, an exhibition was opened, displaying valuable photos from the archives of the Vietnam News Agency. Around 50 Vietnamese children are studying at Gymnaziym School . The Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic numbers about 65,000.- Hanoi welcomes OVs returning home for TET The rich and vibrant culture of Hanoi’s craft villages is the highlight of this year’s spring festival, which kicked off February 7 with a grand reception for Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) returning to the homeland for the TET holiday season. At the festival, some 300 pavilions and a vast array of performances are featuring all aspects of the culture of the craft villages, particularly their handicrafts, special cuisine and traditional dances. Phung spring rolls, Banh Chung (a savoury Tet cake made of glutinous rice, pork, green bean, and pepper) Bo Dau and Thai Nguyen tea were a hit at the opening of the festival said an organiser of the event. Within the event, a wide variety of activities have been planned including a Banh Chung cooking competition, Ca Tru (ceremonial singing) performances, martial art performances and folk games. In short, there is a little bit of something for everyone, the representative said. The event, taking place on February 4-10 at the Vietnam National Village of Ethnic Culture and Tourism, has been organised by the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. “What do you know about Vietnam” contest 2015 2015 will mark many important events in Vietnam: the 70th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day, the 85th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 125th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh and the 40th anniversary of liberation of southern Vietnam and national reunification. The Voice of Vietnam(VOV) will also celebrate its 70th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, VOV is launching another “What do you know about Vietnam” contest for listeners and overseas Vietnamese around the world. The prizes are: - 1 first prize: a free week-long trip to Vietnam - 1 second prize: a free 5-day trip to Vietnam - 2 third prizes: a free 4-day trip to Vietnam - 10 consolation prizes worth VND1 million each - All contestants will receive a gift worth VND300,000. Here are the questions: 1. What were Vietnam’s most outstanding achievements in economics, external relations, social welfare, society, and poverty reduction in 2014? 2. Vietnam is a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term. What have been Vietnam’s contributions and activities during the first year of its 2-year term? 3. In 2014 UNESCO recognized 2 relic sites and/or art forms in Vietnam as tangible or intangible cultural heritages of humanity. What are they? How many tangible and intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO does Vietnam have? What are they? 4. What do you know about Vietnam’s 2015 National Tourism Year themed “Connecting world heritages”? Name the most prominent cultural and tourism events during the year. 5. The Voice of Vietnam will be 70 years old on September 7, 2015. What have been the major developments at VOV over the last 5 years? 6. How many people will participate in this contest? Entries should be postmarked between February 1 and June 30, 2015. Entries can be sent via postal mail or via email at vovworld@vov.org.vn. The answers will be included in our radio programs and on our website at vovworld.vn. Ba Ria- Vung Tau to open Tourism Festival 2015 Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ba Ria- Vung Tau province will hold the first Ba Ria- Vung Tau Tourism Festival in Vung Tau city from February 27 to March 2.   The festival is considered as a favorable opportunity so that enterprises can advertize and introduce their tourism products to domestic and foreign tourists. Until now, 20 enterprises in Ba Ria- Vung Tau province and six other provinces and cities nationwide have registered to participate in the event, including Ho Chi Minh City, vinh Long, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu, Tra Vinh, Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau. Many attractive activities are expected to be taken place during the event . Traditional activites for Tet opened in Can Tho Can Tho Museum launched many cultural activities for Tet holidays on February 4 including writing calligraphy, introducing traditional handicraft production and folk games. Especially, artisans in Ben Tre province and An Giang province took part in this event. The Mekong Delta provinces’ artisans will wear traditional clothes to perform art cultural activities during the event. Besides, visitors will have chance to taste typical cuisines of Vietnamese, Chinese and Khmer people. Kon Tum receives certificate “national intangible cultural heritage” title for Homon epic A ceremony receiving certificate recognizing Homon, the epic of Ba Na – Ro Ngao of Bana-Ro Ngao ethnic minority group in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum, as an national intangible cultural heritage was held in the province on February 4. An epic is traditionally a genre of poetry, known as epic poetry. The epic of Ba Na – Ro Ngao reflects cultural characteristics, history and everyday life of Bana-Ro Ngao ethnic minority group. Kon Tum City, Dak Ha and Sa Thay districts in the province are homes of Homon epic. Writing contest portrays ‘silent sacrifice’ by medical staff An award ceremony was held at Hanoi Cultural Friendship Palace on February 5 to honour winners of the third ‘Silent sacrifice’ writing contest depicting the silent contributions and supreme sacrifices of Vietnamese physician’s caring for the health of all people. Launched in July 2013 by the Ministry of Health and Suc khoe va Doi song (Health and Life) newspaper, the organising board received hundreds of articles from all over the country, portraying devoted health workers who work tirelessly for the sake of people’s health. The first prize of the contest was given to journalist Nguyen Thi Khanh Ly from Vnexpress e-newspaper for her article ‘Bac si noi dau song ngon gio’ (Doctors at national outposts). In addition, two second place, three third place and ten consolation prizes were also presented to other works. Speaking at the ceremony, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien stated that the contest, held for the third time, brought to the public not only the difficulties of medical workers but also their love and devotion to their work. It also encourages health workers to be more confident and motivated further to overcome obstacles in fulfilling their duties, Tien said, adding that the contest affirmed the trust of the community in ‘white blouse’ staff who are quietly battling disease and illnesses’ in caring for people's health. At the event, the audience also heard from several physicians who have made important contributions to the welfare of people's health, including Director of the National Hospital of Endocrinology, Dr. Tran Ngoc Luong, whose name was given to an internationally recognised surgical method; Dr. Bui Dinh Linh, Director of the Phu Quy Island Civilian and Army Medical Hospital in Binh Thuan province, who spent 30 years caring for people’s health on the island; and Dr. Cao Huu Nghia, Head of Clinical Biological Department under the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute, who spares no effort to treat patients with HIV/AIDS at his own home. An art performance on the same theme was also held to honour physicians on the occasion of the Vietnamese Physicians' Day (February 27). Phu My Hung Spring Flower Fair brings countryside to city Phu My Hung Flower Fair 2015 themed ‘Mua gat’ (Harvest season) for the coming Lunar New Year, or Tet, will reproduce paddy fields in the harvest season and the particular scenes of the Vietnamese countryside in Phu My Hung Urban Area in HCMC’s District 7. Starting from the 23rd of lunar January, the flower fair will cover seven hectares of the area around the Crescent Lake to celebrate the Year of the Goat. A section of 700 meters along the lake will be transformed into a yellow paddy field. The bustling atmosphere of the harvest time will be reflected in images simulating steps of harvesting paddy from cutting, carrying, beating the paddy to get the grains to drying the grains. Along with them are images describing the Vietnamese countryside such as thatched mud, stack of straw, straw man, and manual agricultural tools. As in previous years, the Vuon Xuan (Spring Garden) will feature different species of flowers and countryside vegetables and fruits such as cucurbit, loofah, and melon. Highlights of the garden will be a 1,500-square-meter field of yellow cabbage flowers and a real goat stable. On the water surface of the Crescent Lake, the Ben Xuan (Spring Wharf) area of the Phu My Hung Flower Fair will feature flower boats and flower garlands and colored lanterns, along with don ca tai tu (Southern folk music) performances. This year flower fair will put on display a collection of insectivorous plants and two tamarind trees which have set a Guinness Vietnam record for their age of more than 150 years. Other side activities include 500 stalls selling ornamental flowers and 200 stalls selling essential products for Tet. The fair will take place until January 29. Source: VNN/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri/ND