Thousands of flights may be affected by Tan Son Nhat airport upgrade Tan Son Nhat International Airport, HCM City, is planning to restrict the exploitation of runway 25R/07L to widen the runway and the parking lot from April 10 to June 25. This may affect up to thousands of flights.   According to statistics of the Airport Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), at present Tan Son Nhat Airport reaches 30-32 times of take-off and landing from 6am to 6pm everyday and up to 39 times per hour during the peak hours. If the use of the above runway is restricted, the average frequence of take-off and landing will be only 25, ie the reduction of 5-7 flights/hour or a few dozen to 100 flights being canceled each day. The chief of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) – Mr. Lai Xuan Thanh, though construction activities are not conducted on the runway, but it will not be used if construction activities take place near it, under the principle of aviation safety. The restriction of use of the runway during the upcoming holiday (April 30-May 1) is said to greatly affect the business of airlines. Therefore, air carriers have proposed to delay the construction until August or September. However, the CAAV said that that time is the rainy season, which is unsuitable for the repair. The agency is considering increasing the number of take-off and landing to 25 turns per hour. The agency promised to coordinate with the related organizations to have the most appropriate option. Tan Son Nhat Airport has two runways 25L/07R and 25R/07L which were built in 1965-1967 to serve military aircraft DC8 and DC10. 25L/07R runway was upgraded in 2002 and 25R/07L was repaired in 1992 to serve B747-200 with operating frequency of 43,000 take-of and landing times for 20 years. In 2013, 25R/07L runway was upgraded again. Thuy Nga, VNN

Tien Sa Port developer turns down Official Development Assistance Infrastructure developers prefer seeking capital from domestic and foreign commercial loans than official development assistance (ODA), which is in the long run more expensive than people think.   “If we cannot find capital for the Tien Sa Port expansion project, I will step down,” said Nguyen Huu Sia, general director of the Da Nang Port JSC when asked if he could arrange capital for the important project. Sia refused to borrow capital from Japan’s ODA to implement the project on expanding Tien Sa Port in Da Nang City, saying that his company would seek capital itself. Sia understands why the expansion project is important to Da Nang City. Huynh Duc Tho, Da Nang’s Mayor, told him that he must commit to find capital from other sources if he refuses ODA. With a rapid annual growth rate of 10-20 percent, the volume of goods expected to go through Tien Sa Port in the next five or six years would be 10 million tons per annum. This means that if the port cannot be expanded, it would get overloaded. Sia said that it is now easy to seek capital for investment projects, if the projects are feasible. “No need to worry about capital mobilization. Capitalists would offer capital at reasonable costs, provided that you can use the capital effectively,” he explained. Nguyen Thu, chair of the Da Nang Port JSC, said the company needs VND1 trillion for the second phase of the project, while the company itself has 40-50 percent of capital needed. Thu said Da Nang Port JSC refused ODA because of the anticipated risks from the exchange rate fluctuations. If he borrowed capital from ODA, the project would only kick off in 2016. Meanwhile, capital from domestic sources may allow it to begin in 2015. A finance expert said he agrees with Sia that it was not difficult to find capital now, so it would be better to ease the reliance on foreign sourced capital and ODA, which is believed to have latent risks. Dr. Le Dang Doanh, a renowned economist, noted that if Vietnam receives ODA from Japan, it would have to use Japanese consultants, Japanese contractors and materials to be imported from Japan instead of domestic ones. This would make ODA-funded projects more costly because of high transport fees. Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh from the Hanoi National University warned that ODA “is not a gift”, but “a debt Vietnamese will have to pay in the future”. Pham Chi Lan, also a renowned economist, noted that as Vietnam has become a lower middle-income country, it needs to try to gradually reduce borrowing from ODA. Dat Viet

Hydropower plant blamed for flooding crops      A hydropower plant in Thua Thien Hue Province has been blamed for an unexpected discharge of water that flooded hundred of hectares of crops. Rice fields seriously flooded Huong Dien hydropower plant started to discharge water from March 27, causing serious flooding that, by March 30, had seriously affected rice paddies and other crops in the communes of Quang Vinh, Quang Tho and Quang An as well Sia town in Quang Dien District. Hoang Vong, deputy director of the district Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the cost of the damage had yet to be calculated. “Around 213ha of rice crops may be saved but the productivity may be down between 30 and 40 percent, while the rest of flooded rice fields may be entirely lost,” said Vong. On the first day when the hydropower plant discharging water, at least 800ha of rice fields and 32ha of other crops were flooded. Phan Thanh Hung, chief of the provincial steering committee for flood and storm prevention and control’s office, said, “Even though we were aware of the consequences in the lower land areas, we were compelled to discharge water in order to prevent a possible dam breakdown.” Tran Kim Thanh, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the hydropower plant had been following standard safety procedures, and the discharge was necessary due to unexpected heavy rainfall.  But Phan Van Hoa, deputy director of the provincial Hydrometeorology Forecasting Station, said the rain had been forecast and other measures should have been taken. “It’s not exact to claim that the hydropower plant was compelled to discharge water due to the lack of proper information about weather forest,” said Hoa. Hung said the hydropower plant must inform local authorities and people living in the lower land areas about any plan to discharge water six hours in advance of opening the floodgates, but district authorities say they were only told two hours in advance and communal authorities got one hour's notice. Do Duc Quang, director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Hydropower Department, said Huong Dien hydropower plant’s managers informed local authorities about the plan, but it was up to communal authorities to investigate. He said if the hydropower plant failed to strictly follow the standard water discharging process it must be held accountable.      NLD

New social insurance rule sparks worker strike in Ho Chi Minh City   Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep (R) and Deputy Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Tat Thanh Cang (C) at a meeting on March 30, 2015 with the media on the strike of workers at Taiwanese-owned Pou Yuen Vietnam Co. Ltd. in Binh Tan District. Tuoi Tre Tens of thousands of workers at a Taiwanese-owned company in Ho Chi Minh City have gone on strike over the past several days to object to a new rule that restricts them from getting lump-sum social insurance allowance payments. The strike began on March 26 and has continued with the participation of nearly 90,000 workers of Pou Yuen Vietnam Co. Ltd., a maker of sport shoes and garments for export in Binh Tan District, Vietnamese media said. On Monday morning, a number of workers returned to the company but they did not work, news website VnExpress reported. Representatives of the district’s labor authorities met those workers and advised them to resume work but they refused, the newswire said. Pou Yuen workers have gone on strike to oppose a new regulation under which they will not be allowed to take a lump-sum social insurance allowance when they resign from their current job. This new regulation is provided for in Article 60 of the 2014 Law on Social Insurance, which revised the 2006 Law on Social Insurance and will take effect on January 1, 2016. Pursuant to the article, the scope of employees eligible to receive a lump-sum social insurance allowance when they resign from work is narrowed. That means only a limited number of people are entitled to such lump-sum payment while the other resigned employees must wait until they reach their retirement age to get or receive such lump sums. In Vietnam, the retirement age is 60 for men and 55 for women. Pou Yuen workers argued that they likely cannot continue to work until they retire. If they quit their jobs in the near future they will have to wait for a long time to get such payment, the striking workers complained. Most of the strikers said such lump sums help them pay for their daily needs when they already face financial difficulties while seeking new jobs after quitting the old ones. Facing the prolonged strike, the local People’s Committee invited Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep to meet with the media on Monday to provide information related to the new article to help workers better understand it. Deputy Minister Diep said Pou Yuen workers have gone on strike as they have yet to fully grasped Article 60, which he said is a positive move to ensure the interests of laborers. Article 60 is aimed at encouraging laborers to accumulate their periods of payment of social insurance so that they can receive pensions when they retire, instead of receiving lump-sum payments after each time they quit a job, Diep said. For those people who fail to get a new job soon after resigning from work, they will be allowed to reserve their previous periods of payment of social insurance premium while waiting for a new job, the official said. He added that such laborers can also take part in voluntary social insurance while waiting to reach retirement when they do not take a new job.  He said the new regulation is intended to serve long-run social security objectives for the sake of laborers. However, Diep said the ministry will listen to the opinions of workers and take them into account during the preparation of guidance on the implementation of the law. The ministry will also consider subjects that should be given support when they join the voluntary social insurance program, the official said. At the meeting, Tat Thanh Cang, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee, said that for the time being, the authorities will halt the dissemination of the revised Law on Social Insurance pending the issuance of a decree or circular to guide its implementation. Local authorities will continue to collect feedback from the public and will report it to the central government and competent agencies for consideration. Today, March 31, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee is scheduled to convene a meeting with Pou Yuen to provide them with information about the new regulation on lump sum social insurance allowance and listen to their feedback. In talking with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about this issue, Dang Quang Dieu, head of the law policy board under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, said that the agency’s units will carry out activities to introduce to workers in different locations the preeminent points of the 2014 Law on Social Insurance. “It is necessary to let workers know what benefits they will have when they cannot receive lump-sum social insurance allowance payment under the revised law,” Dieu said. When workers completely understand the interests they will have from an accumulation of periods of social insurance premium, they will agree to the new rule, he added. TUOI TRE NEWS

EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1-10 (daily updated) Film Screening “Vandal” Fri 10 Apr 2015, 8 pm L’Espace 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi You are invited to the film screening “Vandal” (France, 2013, 84 mins) directed by Hélier Cisterne. “A bold and charismatic film which expresses the concern for adolescent” – Le Figaroscope For more information about synopsis, please see L’Espace website (in French) or refer to the Vietnamese version of this post. Language: French with Vietnamese subtitle. Tickets Ticket price: 40 000 VND Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 20 000 VND Tickets are available at L’Espace. Berlin Club Night at Hanoi Sound Stuff Festival 2015 Fri 10 Apr 2015, 4 – 10.30 pm Hanoi Creative City, Nr.1 Luong Yen, Str., Hanoi In recent years, Berlin Club Nights have happened in India, Poland, Egypt and Brazil, a successful co-production between the Berlin club scene, the Goethe Institutes, visitberlin and German embassies. This year Berlin Club Night, at the invitation of the Goethe Institut, is the highlight of the festival Hanoi Sound Stuff 2015! The festival kicks off on April 10 with a live street art performance by the graffiti artist Julian Bird on the buildings of Hanoi Creative City. This is followed by “Meet the Artists” at the Goethe Institute, where Lutz Leichsenring, founder of the Berlin Club Commission, and the two DJ’s CHI THANH & CHOPSTICK (SUOL/BERLIN) will share insights into the electronic scene in Berlin, and their networking and marketing. Excerpts from the film “SubBerlin” about the history of the legendary techno club Tresor will be screened. Then it’s on to Hanoi Creative City with the live concert by DJs CHI THANH & CHOPSTICK (SUOL/BERLIN), both well-known names in the Berlin club scene. The Club Night will be documented by Thorsten Konrad Founder, creative director & director of the digital production company “Nautik”. On 11 April at the Goethe Institut the artists from Berlin will present a workshop on “The Art of Remixing”, for anyone interested in the production of electronic music. Festival Day 2: 10 April, 4 pm to 10.30 pm 4 pm: Start Live Street Art Performance 7 pm: Film Screening “SubBerlin – The Story of Berlin’s Tresor Club” 8 pm: Panel Discussion 9 pm: Live DJ-Sets Chi Thanh & Chopstick (Soul/Berlin) Free entrance Special Guests from Berlin: Chi Thanh is a German-Vietnamese multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, drums, bass, saxophone, etc.), music producer and DJ from Berlin. His name translates as energy (Chi) and pure sound (Thanh). With this clear energetic mix in his music, he is also very successful, producing for such famous artists as Madonna, P. Diddy and Usher, and has released remixes of bands like Booka Shade and the top number 1 hit “Brutal Hearts”. Under the names Chopstick & Johnjon, the German-Vietnamese artist Chi-Tien Nguyen and John B. Muder have successfully produced Techno, House, Electro and Hip Hop music for 10 years. They have now found their artistic home in the scene with the Soul Label and have created remixes for major artists such as LL Cool J, Xzibit, Deep Dish, Miss Kittin, Sister Sledge and many others. Chi-Tien Nguyen was born into a Vietnamese family of artists, who settled in southern Germany. He now lives and works in Berlin. Photo Exhibition at Art Vietnam Gallery “Vietnam – 25 Years Documenting a Changing Country” Opening: Fri 10 Apr 2015, 6 pm Exhibition: 10 Apr – 08 May 2015 Art Vietnam Gallery 24 Ly Quoc Su (2nd Floor), Hanoi Art Vietnam Gallery is honored to present, in celebration of the 20 year anniversary of diplomatic relationship between America and Vietnam, and the 40 year anniversary of the end of the American Vietnam war, the photographs of Catherine Karnow’s 25 year journey into the heart of Vietnam. Renowned for her work for National Geographic covering the globe over the last three decades, Catherine presents an intimate view from the lens of the consummate insider. Certainly her father, Stanley Karnow, the renowned journalist and author of the seminal book and Emmy award-winning documentary on the country, “Vietnam: A History”, has informed some of her passion, but clearly she has found her very own personal relationship to this land with its troubled history and promising future. Catherine Karnow’s attachment to Vietnam, her 25 year history of photographing the changing society and landscape is a visual diary of how she entered this land of enigma and discovered its twists and turns at every intersection of life, becoming immersed in the land and its people. Vietnam has a way of entering your pores, slowly, silently it becomes a part of your breath, the way you move in the world without you ever realizing it until one day you have absorbed its very essence in your being. Vietnam has entered the soul of the photographer and at each juncture as she forms relationships – often lasting friendships – with her subjects we see not only the transformation of the country but also the photographer herself. Her photographs show her deep love for the country and its people. Behind the photographs are extraordinary stories of friendships and connections that seem destined, that perhaps define “gap duyen”: it is meant to be. The exhibition is sectioned into periods of time from the somber years of the early 90’s, the General Giap era, the “doi moi” years, Agent Orange/Amerasians, and finally, the New Vietnam. Each era holds its own special place, reflecting the moment captured by the lens of a sensitive camera attuned to the idiosyncratic atmosphere. The early works are pensive and full of questioning. The Giap years from her initial visit with the General in 1990 to her historic return, as the solitary foreign journalist invited to his homeland for his funeral in 2013, are confirmation that not only is she accepted in this land, she belongs. The Agent Orange/Amerasian works depict the sad legacy of war, tragedy for both sides, resolution unrequited. Disquieting images of disfigured infants, the loneliness of the abandoned Amerasians are not comfortable, but important. To face the tragedy of the past is to begin the healing. Amidst the sorrow one can perceive a faint hope, the promise of reconciliation and healing. Doi Moi works portray a country with doors opening to international trade. Foreign alliances are formed as the country, poised on the cusp of a bright future, is hailed as the new Tiger of Southeast Asia. Moving on to the New Vietnam series of works, the youth of Vietnam come forward, blazing with renewed energy and a passion for life that is palpable as we gaze at brazen consumption, fashion without rival, and extravagant lifestyles, all merely a dream only a scant 25 years before. We are honored that Ms. Karnow will be present at the opening as well as many of the subjects in her photographs and other Vietnamese and American dignitaries. A truly celebratory occasion as subjects and photographer confront their shared history reviving and sharing tender memories of long ago. For two American women, photographer Catherine Karnow, and Suzanne Lecht, Art Director of Art Vietnam Gallery and resident of Hanoi for 21 years, this occasion is a tribute to all the people who have touched our lives and made Vietnam reside in our hearts. Please join us in this celebration of the photographer’s reunion with the country and the friendships renewed as it has progressed through the decades and the grand occasion of the 20 year anniversary of the diplomatic relationship of America and Vietnam. United in peace and harmony we move together into a bright future. A Night of Concert and Ballet – Changing of the Seasons Thu 09 Apr 2015, 8 pm Hanoi Opera House 1 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội You are invited to A night of concert and ballet – Changing of the Seasons with the performance of: Conductor: Dong Quang Vinh Singer: Thang Long (Soprano), Thu Quynh (Mezzo Soprano), Anh Vu (Tenor), Manh Dung (Baritone) Pianist: Thu Huong and the Dancers of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Program Part 1 Conductor: Đồng Quang Vinh Perform: The symphony orchestra of Vietnam National Opera and Ballet I. “The Marriage of Figaro” Overture, K.492 (W.A.Mozart) II. Symphony no.40 in G minor, K.550 (W.A.Mozart) 1. Molto allegro 2. Andante in E-flat major 3. Menuetto. Allegretto – Trio 4. Finale, Allegro assai Intermission Part 2 1. Ballet Chopiniana excerpts Ballet “Chopiniana” also called “Les Sylphides” one act ballet, non-specific content that focuses on factors that evoke the vitality of romanticism. Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Mikhail Fokine Staging choreography: People’s Artist Kiều Ngân Perform: Hàn Giang – Thu Huệ 2. The Jewel Song from Faust by Gounod Perform: Thăng Long (Soprano) Pianist: Thu Hương 3. Recondita Armonia from Tosca by G.Puccini Perform: Anh Vũ (Tenor) Pianist: Thu Hương 4. Aria Dorabella (E a mo reunla dron cel lo…) from Cosi fan tutte by Mozart Perform: Thu Quỳnh (Mezzo Soprano) Pianist: Thu Hương 5. Avant de quitter ceslieux from Faust by Gounod Perform: Mạnh Dũng(Baritone Bass) Pianist: Thu Hương 6. Soa il vento from Cosi fan tutte by Mozart Perform: Trio Thăng Long, Thu Quỳnh, Mạnh Dũng Pianist: Thu Hương 7. Heart of Silk contemporary ballet Music: J.S Bach Choreography: Pontus Linberg Perform: Ngọc Cần, Việt An, Như Quỳnh, Quỳnh Nga, Hải Ly, Phan Lương, Văn Đức, Văn Nam, Minh Hiền, Thọ Dương As a foreigner travelling to the Old city of Hoi An, young talented choreographer Pontus Lidberg had a strong impression by many silk lanterns in the ancient street. The silk lantern could represent the symbol of an encounter. The bamboo inside resistant and strong like the swaying back of a male dancer, tenderly, supporting movements of female as silk, and these blends was made up of a golden love, shimmering… Tickets Ticket prices: 200000, 350000, 500000 VND. All tickets available at Hanoi Opera House or can book online at ticketvn.com. For free delivery Call: 0913489858, 0983067996. Summer Concert at L’Espace Thu 09 Apr 2015, 8 pm L’Espace 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi You are invited to summer concert at L’Espace with the participation of: Conductor: Nguyen Khac Thanh Viola: Nguyet Thu Violin: Tran Quang Duy and the Hanoi Chamber Orchestra Program W. Mozart – Symphony Concertante for Viola, Violin and Orchestra – Symphony No.25 in G minor Tickets Ticket price: 250,000 VND. All tickets available at L’Espace, Hanoi Opera House or can book online at ticketvn.com. For free delivery Call: 0913489858, 0983067996. Artist Talk with Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai about Video Project “Day by Day” Wed 08 Apr 2015, 7 pm Goethe-Institut Hanoi 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ba Dinh, Hanoi Hosted by Nha San Collective, we cordially invite you to “Meet the Artist” Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai. Thanh Mai conducted several research trips throughout 2014 to Vietnamese fishing villages in Siem Reap, Pursat (Cambodia) and Long An (Vietnam). During her time here and there, she listened and recorded people who shared their intimate memories and spoke about their lives – lives that are ephemeral, uncertain and change “Day by Day”. The result of her journeys is the exhibition “Day by Day”, curated by Roger Nelson. Day by Day was honored 2014 by the Cultural Development and Exchange Fund (CDEF) and in 2015 she was a finalist of the Sovereign Asian Art Prize. Mai’s work forms a part of the long-term programme titled “Skylines with Flying People 3”. Nha San Collective will also give an introduction on this exciting project, which looks at Vietnam’s past and present histor(ies); and examines the nature and role of art in the context of contemporary Vietnam, as well as its interrelationship with other disciplines. Language: Vietnamese, English. Free Admission. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai (born 1983 in Hanoi) is currently living in Hue. Mai’s practice has been largely centering on issues of female body, sex, and constructed social values that affect women. She has gained increasing recognition both at home and abroad. She will be attending the artist in residency program at Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, until 2016. Workshop 3/6 Rethinking Architecture with Designer Tran Quoc Trung 04 and 07 Apr 2015, 7.30 – 9 pm Blossom Art House 6th Floor, 94B Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Marco Polo describes a bridge, stone by stone. “But which is the stone that supports the bridge?” Kublai Khan asks. “The bridge is not supported by one stone or another,” Marco answers, “but by the line of the arch that they form.” Kublai Khan remains silent, reflecting. Then he adds: “Why do you speak to me of the stones? It is only the arch that matters to me.” Polo answers:” Without stoes there is no arch.” Excerpt from the book titled “Invisible Cities” by Italo Calvino. Architecture is the invisible art. Unlike arts that focus on the objects, like paintings and sculptures, we can never escape architecture, but we hardly notice its existence. With this “3/6” Workshop, we will examine the omnipresence of architecture, realized in modeling a city based on Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. This workshop is an experimentation with abstract thinking, 3D forms and how they interact with each other, given a theme. Here you will have the opportunity to try your hands on model making, thinking outside the box as well as presenting your ideas. Day 1: – Introduction about Italo Calvino, excerpts from his book and the theme of workshop. – Drafting ideas & initiating model making with materials provided by us or prepared by you. Day 2: – Introduction about Italo Calvino, excerpts from his book and the theme of workshop. – Finalising models. – Discussion and comments. TIME From 7:30 PM to 9 PM Day 1: Saturday 04/04/2015 Day 2: Tuesday 07/04/2015 NUMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS: 10-12 (aged above 14) Fee: For the 2 days 300,000 VND/ person TO REGISTER: Please send email with title “3/6 ReThinking: Architecture” stating your personal infos & contact number to email address blossom.arthouse@gmail.com before 12 AM Wednesday 01/04/2015. ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR Tran Quoc Trung Graduated with a Bachelor degree in Interior Design at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. Now Trung is a freelance designer in Viet Nam, working in the fields of interior design, architecture, visual branding and marketing. Trung’s focus is for the perfect combination of realistic demands between efficiency and aesthetics, as well as predictions for potential changes in the future, to finally create a space well designed for its users. Performance of Music Theatre and Documentary Film Project “Arrival Cities: Hanoi” 04 and 05 Apr 2015, 8 pm Hong Ha Theatre 51 Duong Thanh, Hanoi Arrival Cities: Hanoi is a music theatre and documentary film project with the Vietnamese Swedish group The Six Tones, dealing with the dissolution of the relationship with tradition that urbanization brings. In the performance, multiple voices and perspectives create an expansive portrait of a city vibrant of memories from the Vietnamese countryside. Arrival Cities: Hanoi builds a narrative from the life story of Lưu Ngọc Nam, an actor and costume maker in traditional Tuồng theatre. His travels in the country, the home­sickness and his life long love for Tuồng theatre becomes the point of departure for a piece of music theatre set at the threshold between traditional and urban culture. The piece was premiered in Sweden in November 2014. The piece is now played for the first time in Vietnam in the Tuồng Theatre Rạp Hồng Hà, 51 Đường Thành, Hà Nội on April 4 and 5 at 20:00. Tickets are free and can be collected from Monday 30th March at the reception of the Goethe Institute. Opening hours Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm and 1pm-5pm. A seminar in which members of The Six Tones discuss the working process with the Swedish director Jörgen Dahlqvist will take place in the DOCLAB series at the Goethe Institute on April 6 at 18:00. Produced by Teatr Weimar and Ars Nova with support from Kulturbryggan and the Swedish Research Council. Co-organizers: DOCLAB, Dom Dom and the Swedish Embassy. Video Night at Hanoi Social Club – Travel Sun 05 Apr 2015, 8 pm Hanoi Social Club 6 Hoi Vu Str, Hanoi Have a relax Sunday night with Video Club. We will be showing short movies and short videos in the topic of Travel. This will also be a night for socializing with other people with same interests of watching movies or making films. At the end of the night, feel free to share your own videos. Please come a bit early to order your drink on the first floor, before getting your favorite seat on the second floor. Note: This event will be run mostly in Vietnamese. Free entrance. Cabaret Night in April 2015 at L’Espace Sat 04 Apr 2015, 8.30 pm L’Espace 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi Cabaret Night will come back in April and offer a performance themed on an artist, an era or a specific subject. Come and see your favorite played by Vietnamese and French artists. Note the date and let yourself be seduced! Free entrance. International Music Festival (IMF) 2015 Fri 03 Apr 2015, 8 pm Hanoi Rock City 27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho The International Music Festival is a series of philanthropic concerts, spanning over 70 cities, featuring local and up and coming artists. Bands participating in the IMF are eligible to win an all expenses paid world tour through Europe and Africa! All net proceeds go to CHOSA (Children of South Africa – chosa.org) and Musary (a music lending library located in Boston – themusary.org) Come Support charity and your local Hanoi bands! Performances by: W A A H Mimetals Ngọt 18+ band Tickets: 100.000 VND –> Entry + 1 Free Beer Affordable Art Fair Singapore 2015 17 – 19 Apr 2015 F1 Pit Building 1 Republic Boulevard, Singapore This spring, we’re back with over 70 galleries offering new and fresh works just for you! Joining in the galleries, we welcome our SG50 Feature Wall showcasing selected artworks from 50 artists at only $500. This Spring, we will also be launching a brand new night named ‘AAFter Glow’, so be sure to come down and unwind with us on this special Friday night! We’re here to make art as fun, accessible and affordable as possible and whether you are a seasoned collector or a new enthusiast for the arts, we hope to bring you an educational and interactive experience for you to fall in love with art. There are 2 Vietnamese galleries taking part in this edition: Vin Gallery from Ho Chi Minh City and ArtBlue Studio which represents Vietnamese artists but based in Singapore. Ticket price: $12-$25. You can buy tickets here. Read more about the previous editions of Affordable Art Fair Singapore reported by our team member, Hue Tran, from Singapore in 2014: Subscription Concert Vol.79 03 and 04 Apr 2015, 8 pm Hanoi Opera House 1 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội You are invited to Subscription Concert Vol.79 with: Conductor: David Alan Miller Piano Soloist: Ilya Rashkovsky and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra Program Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings op.11 Sergei Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.3 C-minor op.26 Interval Edward Elgar Enigma Variations op.36 Tickets Ticket prices: 200000, 350000, 500000 VND. All tickets available at Hanoi Opera House or can book online at vnso.org.vn. For free delivery Call: 0913489858, 0983067996. Vietnam – Malaysia – Thailand Watercolor Art Exchange Exhibition Opening: Wed 01 Apr 2015, 5 pm Exhibition: 01 – 07 Apr 2015 Vietnam Fine Arts Museum 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St. Hanoi You are cordially invited to the art exhibition VIETNAM – MALAYSIA – THAILAND. This is the first water color exhibition ever takes place in Vietnam for artists from those 3 countries. From Vietnam, we have artists: Phan Cẩm Thượng, Doãn Hoàng Lâm, Vương Văn Thạo, Hà Mạnh Thắng, Phạm Huy Thông, Đoàn Xuân Tặng, Vũ Phạm Trường Minh, Ngô Quang Dương, Lưu Bảo Trung, Bùi Duy Khánh, Trương Văn Ngọc. From Thailand, there are 2 artists: Direk Kingnok, Suwit Jaipom. And there is 9 other artist from Malaysia: Chow Chin Chuan, Chua Cha Hui, Chua Cheng Koon, Leong Kim Kuan, Tan Suz Chiang, Tang Moon Kian, Yong Look Lam, Long Thien Shin, Angelo. Exhibition introduction by painter / art critic Phan Cam Thuong, translated by Nguyen Bich Thuy: Natural colors have been used for painting since ancient time, traditional Chinese painting is a remarkable example. Vietnamese people have used natural colors that come from nature such as grass or stone: yellow comes from Hoe flower, black comes from Bamboo leaf, green comes from Cham tree and red comes from red stone. Those natural colors can be painted on paper and silk as they are naturally adhesive. However, when water color – a ready-made product was brought to Asia by Western people, Asian painters do not seek for natural colors anymore. The affect between natural colors and water color are not so much different. Chinese painters keep working with two techniques parallel: Shui tai hua is water colored-artworks and Guohua is natural colored artworks. Since 1960s, Leningrad – a Russian water color product used to be popular to many Vietnamese painters, it has been a common, practical material for many painters for a long time. The idea of an exhibition of water colored artworks originated by Malaysian painters. The first exhibition of water colored artworks by Malaysian, Vietnamese and Thai painters will be held at Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum. Participants will travel and work outdoor together in the nature. The next time, there will be a workshop in Malaysia. Painters work together and artworks are exhibited after the workshop. The idea is to give prominence to using water color in Asia more often and water color is considered to use as a real material instead of using it for making sketches. In fact, water colored painting has been regarded equally as other kinds of painting in over the world. It has the same value as an oil painting or an acrylic paintings etc. During the war of resistance, water color was a popular and effective material for many Vietnamese painters to make sketches at the battlefield. These sketches are vivid described. When painters went home they did not have time to repaint or to make these sketches into bigger paintings as they wanted. Nevertheless, many sketches were painted carefully as a completed painting not simply a sketch. After the war time, during 1970s and 1980s Vietnamese painters travelled and stayed at the field or locations to paint, water color became less used. Since then, water colored sketch was reduced, there are painters continue using it for making design or water color is used among other materials in multi-media painting (with pencil, charcoal, gouache, ink, natural color etc.,). If we look at paintings by Malaysian and Thai painters, we can see that realism is still highly regarded and water color is still given as a prominence material. A panorama landscape or a moment of high speed life can be visualized by individual feeling of creators, it does not matter if it is a painting or it is photography. It is a creation of realism. On the other hand, Vietnamese painters compromise their inspirations, follow their spontaneous imagination more than describe the reality. We can see these styles are different in spirit as well as techniques of using water color. Technique or personal style, however, both are respected because it is an individual exploration, it is the freedom of painters. The importance of this meeting point between painters from different countries is a chance to exchange experiences, views of life, creative process not simply an exhibition of water colored artworks or the comparison of technique between Cultures in South East Asian region. Trio Vivo from Denmark Plays Music of the Romanticism Sat 04 Apr 2015, 8 pm Goethe-Institut Hanoi 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ba Dinh, Hanoi The expression ‘Vivo’ is used to describe music that is vivid, intense and brilliant. That is very fitting for these three, young and passionate musicians from Denmark, who have made their mark on the Danish music scene as both soloists and chamber musicians. All three of them can present a long list of prestigious awards. The Goethe-Institut Hanoi is pleased to host “Trio Vivo” and guests on their tour through Vietnam. “Trio Vivo”, founded by three good friends in 2012, has performed at a number of significant concert series and festivals, including the Copenhagen Summer Music Festival. This evening, Trio Vivo will perform two major works by Brahms and Schumann, two of the most important composers of German Romanticism, as well as a piece by late-Romantic Danish composer Rued Langgaard and a tango by Astor Piazzolla. “Trio Vivo” will be accompanied by the violinist Nguyễn Mỹ Hương and the Danish violist Nicolaj Moeller Nielsen, who currently lives in Hanoi. Characteristic of “Trio Vivo” is the combination of great technical mastery and deep dedication. Due to limited places we request that young visitors are invited at the age of 12 years up only. Free tickets are available from Monday, 12:00, March 30th at the Goethe-Institut. Program 1. Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Piano Trio No.1, Op.8 2. Rued Immanuel Langgard (1893 –1952) : ‘Fjeldblomster’ (Mountain Flowers) Andante molto 3. Astor Piazzolla (1921 – 1992): Primavera Porteña 4. Robert Schumann (1810-1858): Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44 Benedikte Damgaard had her debut from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in January 2014. She won the Jacob Gade Violin Competition in 2004, and in June 2013 the Val Tidone International Chamber Music Competition. Johan Krarup has been a member of the National Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra since 2002. Emil Gryesten Jensen has also been educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. He won both the 1st prize and the audience prize in Nordic Pianist Competition at Nyborg Castle in 2010. My Huong Nguyen is one of Hanoi’s most prominent musicians. She was educated in Vietnam as well as in Graz, Austria and is a member of the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra, Vietnam Symphony Orchestra, Hanoi Ensemble and Trinity Piano Trio. She also teaches at the Vietnam Academy of Music. Violist Nicolaj Møller Nielsen has over the last 10 years worked in nearly all Danish orchestras, completed two artists residencies at the Banff Centre in Canada and is currently working on his first solo album of electro acoustic viola music. Exhibition “Day by Day” by Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai Opening: Sat 28 Mar 2015, 3 pm Exhibition: 28 Mar – 09 May 2015 Sao La 1 Le Thi Hong Gam St., District 1, HCMC You are invited to “DAY BY DAY”, a solo exhibition of Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai. Thanh Mai is an internationally award-winning artist, based in Hue. The exhibition consists of four interrelated serial artworks in various media, which draw on one year of extensive research by the artist in several small fishing communities in Siem Reap and Pursat, Cambodia as well as in Long An, Vietnam. Day by Day, the title Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai has chosen for this travelling solo exhibition, is a phrase the artist borrowed from villagers living in a small fishing community in Siem Reap province, in northern Cambodia. She heard it also in another fishing village, in Pursat, and in a village across the border in Long An, Vietnam. In her artist’s statement, Nguyen suggests that the villagers’ frequent use of this phrase “drew the picture of their future.” “DAY BY DAY” presents a set of circumstances that are highly specific to the case of Vietnamese in Cambodia, yet also of broader relevance, intersecting with universal questions of citizenship and migration. (Roger Nelson) * For parking: parking lot, 3 Le Thi Hong Gam St. (next to The HCMC Fine Arts Museum) “DAY BY DAY” is part of a bigger community art project titled “MARCH: ART WALK” from March 29 to May 9, 2015. VNN