Art & Entertainment News 18/5 HCMC museum shows off never-before-seen artifacts   Some 250 artifacts, most of them never before shown in public, are on display at the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum. The items on show at the “A 40-year collection of artifacts” exhibition include a gemstone earring in a skull dating back 2,500 years, a bronze jar from the 1st-3rd centuries, and ceramic oil lamps from the 19th-20th centuries. They have been excavated, gifted, or bought over the past 40 years. While most of the items belong to Vietnamese cultures, some are from Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Laos, and Myanmar. After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the new government took over the museum from the US-backed Saigon regime and increased the number of items from 5,000 to the current 37,000. The exhibition will run until October 31 at the museum at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1. Festival launched to mark 125th birthday of late President Ho “Le hoi Lang Sen” (Sen Village Festival 2015) opened on May 16 at Ho Chi Minh Square in President Ho Chi Minh’s home province of Nghe An in the central region to mark the 125th birthday of the late President. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dinh Thi Le Thanh said the festival, held every five years to express the admiration and gratitude towards the National Hero, has become a much expected event for not only local people but also people from across the country and international friends. The festival also offers an opportunity for Nghe An to introduce the beauty of the landscape and local friendly people together with the rich culture in the province. The event, comprising a wide range of cultural and sports events, has attracted 35 teams of both local and foreign art troupes. On this occasion, there will be performances of Nghe Tinh Vi-Giam folk singing which was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity last year. The festival was jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the provincial People’s Committee. Lang Son starts building Tan Thanh pagoda The construction of the Tan Thanh pagoda in Van Lang district, the northern border province of Lang Son, got underway on May 16. The pagoda, invested by the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam’s Lang Son chapter at a cost of 530 billion VND (24.35 million USD), will spread across 20 hectares near the Tan Thanh border gate with China. The Three Refuges building, the Hung Vuong Temple, the Tran Saint Temple, and the Mother Temple are just a few of many buildings within the estate of the pagoda. Songs about President Ho Chi Minh Songs about President Ho Chi Minh have been popular among the Vietnamese people. Musicians wrote about President Ho Chi Minh with great love and respect for the Vietnamese great leader. President Ho Chi Minh was the person who laid the foundation for the Vietnamese revolution and led the struggle for national independence. He is beloved and respected by the Vietnamese people for his morality, modest lifestyle and great love for the people. The image of President Ho Chi Minh has been depicted in many songs. Following the victory in Buon Ma Thuot, Hue and Da Nang in 1975, the liberation soldiers marched to Saigon. Journalist Dang Trung was asked to write some special articles about Sai Gon to celebrate the victory. He spent one night writing the article “From this city, he left” referring to President Ho Chi Minh leaving his homeland in the cause of national salvation. The words were then set to music by musician Cao Viet Bach to create a song for liberation day called “Song from the city which is named after President Ho Chi Minh”. The lyrics go “The image of President Ho Chi Minh is bright in the heart, dreams and lives of Vietnamese people”. Nguyen Huu Chau, a former reporter for Saigon Liberation Radio, shared his feeling about this song: “The song has a forceful and joyful melody. I like the song’s lyrics about the image of President Ho Chi Minh being in the hearts, dreams and lives of Vietnam’s people. It also shows the great unity of the Vietnamese”.   Songs about President Ho Chi Minh are immortal to Vietnamese people, the image of President Ho Chi Minh is always in the people’s hearts. This is what musician Van Cao wrote in a song in praise of President Ho Chi Minh. Van Cao’s song has been performed by many generations of Vietnamese singers, depicting President Ho as a great father close to the people. Singer Tung Duong, who sang the song in praise of President Ho Chi Minh, said: “This is a well-known song which has been performed by many artists. But I still feel very moved when singing it. I perform it in a new style but still maintain its solemn spirit”. Many musicians highlight the significant role of President Ho Chi Minh in the history of the nation. Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Thai said: “Songs about President Ho Chi Minh have great political value. President Ho was Vietnam’s great leader, we are proud to have so many musicians who have written many beautiful songs about him”. The song “Uncle Ho, an immense love” is a popular song written by Thuan Yen. He wrote: “Uncle Ho is a great love of the people and humanity”. Most of the songs depict the President as a great leader but one who led a simple life, close to the ordinary people. That’s the reason why songs about him will live forever in the hearts of the Vietnamese. Da Nang: Cultural programme calls for support for AO victims A cultural programme themed “Join hands to ease Agent Orange pain” was held in the central city of Da Nang to raise funds for over 5,000 Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims in the locality. Organised by the Da Nang Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, the programme also called for contributions to the Da Nang Detoxification and Rehabilitation Centre. The event ultimately raised over VND3 billion (US$138,000) for the Agent Orange Victims Association. Also on the occasion, the organising board granted the Golden Heart Certificate to 50 organisations and individuals for their support to AO victims. “Uncle Ho and children” Exhibition held in Hanoi An exhibition (Photo) titled “Uncle Ho with women and children” opened at the Experimental Primary School in Hanoi on May 15. The event presents 79 paintings and photos by artists Le Lam and Van Tho showing Uncle Ho’s with women and children in the country. An exchange with poet Tran Dang Khoa is launched by organizers during exhibition. On the occasion, the Kim Dong Publishing House also launched a painting contest on Uncle Ho for children aged 6-15 years old. The exhibition after that will be organized at others schools in the capital. The display is co-organized by the Kim Dong Publishing House and the Vietnamese Women's Museum. Exhibition on “Study and Follow Ho Chi Minh’s Moral Example” marks Uncle Ho’s 125th birthday An exhibition titled “Study and Follow Ho Chi Minh’s Moral Example” celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh (May 19) opened at the Exhibition House in Hanoi on May 15. The exhibition features 120 artworks including paintings, graphics, sculpture and posters with a focus on President Ho Chi Minh and his journey to find a way to liberate Vietnam; the establishment of the Communist Party... They are made from various materials such as lacquer, oil, silk, acrylic, ceramic, wood, composite, copper. The display will run until May 25. Vietnam-Russia cultural exchange programme held in Da Nang A cultural exchange between Vietnam and Russia was held in Da Nang on May 16, as part of activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Russia. The event, co-organised by Da Nang Union for Friendship Organisations; the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association of Da Nang city; the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Da Nang; Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; Da Nang city Women's Union; and Da Nang University, open free to the public. The programme was attended by the Russian Consulate-General in Da Nang, Valentin M. Dikushin; Lao Consulate-General in Da Nang Phommaseng Khamsene; city leaders and students of Da Nang, as well as Russian people, who are living and working in Da Nang. Addressing the event, Deputy Chairman of the Da Nang municipal People's Committee, Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, expressed his hope that the programme would introduce Russian culture to people in Da Nang, especially to the young generation; as well as promote Vietnamese culture to Russian friends. The programme is expected to offer an opportunity to boost culture and tourism ties between the two countries. The programme includes an exhibition on the history of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Russia; an exhibition displaying cuisine, souvenirs and products of the two countries; and an art programme featuring traditional art and traditional clothes of Vietnam and Russia. It is expected to attract a large number of students and local people in Da Nang. Exhibition ‘President Ho Chi Minh with cultural heritage’ opens An exhibition titled ‘President Ho Chi Minh with cultural heritage’ kicked off on May 16 at the Thua Thien – Hue provincial branch of the Ho Chi Minh Museum, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday. More than 300 documents, photos and artifacts displayed at the exhibition are divided into two groups, including President Ho Chi Minh with cultural heritage; and Vietnamese cultural heritage throughout the integration and development process. The displays feature President Ho Chi Minh’s interest in cultural heritage in general as well as Vietnam's cultural heritage in particular. Additionally, the exhibition also introduces Vietnam’s cultural and natural heritage as recognized by UNESCO, among them are some heritages in Thua Thien – Hue province, such as the Complex of Hue Monuments and Nha Nhac (Hue royal court music), which has been named by the UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humankind. According to Director of the Thua Thien – Hue provincial branch of the Ho Chi Minh Museum, Tran Dinh Luyen, a number of valuable documents and artifacts will be displayed, such as several poems engraved in wood by Tuy Ly Vuong Mien Trinh; performing costumes of Nha Nhac (Hue royal court music) restored by artisan Trinh Bach; stamps and money featuring images of Vietnamese heritages; and traditional musical instruments of ethnic groups in Thua Thien – Hue province. The exhibition will run until August 15. Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri