Art & Entertainment News 9/5 Terracotta park opens in Hoi An with mini famous landmarks Thanh Ha Terracotta Park, designed in the shape of a potter's wheel and featuring miniatures of various world wonders, opened recently in Hoi An city, central Quang Nam province. Spread over an area of 6,000sq.m in Thanh Ha Pottery Village, the park cost 20 billion VND (930,000 USD) to build and features Britain's Stonehenge, the Statue of Liberty National Monument, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pyramids, and the Sydney Opera House besides old and contemporary terracotta works. The park is expected to apprise tourists about the famous pottery village. Old Quarter to host traditional music show Several renditions of traditional musical pieces will regale tourists at the Ha Noi Old Quarter tonight. Titled Old Quarter's Music, the programme will comprise quan ho (love duets), chau van (spiritual singing), cai luong (reformed theatre), cheo (traditional opera), ca tru (ceremonial singing), xam (blind wanderers' music), and tuong (classical drama). Musician Vu Nhat Tan, who is also the event's art director, said the programme is aimed at offering tourists a panorama of the city's traditional music. From now, the music show series will be organised once a month at the Ha Noi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Centre, 50 Dao Duy Tu Street, Ha Noi. Each show will see acclaimed artists presenting one genre of traditional music. European Literature Days in Vietnam narrows cultural gap The fifth European Literature Days opened in the Goethe Institute in Hanoi on May 7, aiming to bring Vietnamese readers closer to European culture. The four-day event includes book readings, workshops, a live-drawing concert and short movies screening. New works in German, French and Dutch, which have been recently translated into Vietnamese, are also introduced to readers, including “Other Pleasures” of Jerzt Pilch, “The adventure of the giant pear”, and the Vietnamese-language version of Italy’s book “Geronimo Stilton”. Vietnamese bookworms are also offered a chance to talk with Annette Kohn, the writer of the story “Leto – Journey to Ha Long Bay” and Israeli writer Etgar Keret, the father of the well-known short story “Suddenly, a Knock on the Door”. The European Literature Days event is a part of the 2015 Europe Days in Vietnam, which also features a series of cultural activities, such as a laser show, a European Food Festival and a European Film Festival.- Stamp honours General Thai on 100th birthday A stamp bearing a portrait of the late General Hoang Van Thai (1915-1986) has been issued to commemorate the 100th year of his birth. The stamp was designed by painter Do Lenh Tuan. General Thai was born on May 1, 1915, under name Hoang Van Xiem in the northern province of Thai Binh. He became the first General Chief of Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army at the age of 30. He was given the title of four-star general in 1980 after making great contributions to the nation's revolutionary war. Thai is considered as one of the most influential military leaders in the nation's history. He was awarded various medals, including the Gold Star Medal, Ho Chi Minh Medal and First-Class War Medal. Book fair to promote culture of reading in capital Publishing houses and firms catering to children will hold a book fair at the Viet Nam youth academy occasioned by the International Children's Day, June 1. The event's board of organisers said there would be a variety of activities such as introduction of new books and presenting of cultural products for children. Many products and services at the fair will also offer 50 per cent discounts. Visitors will get an opportunity to get involved in games and other activities that aim to improve intelligence and life skills. For instance, there will be Bizkids Corner, which will teach children how to manage property, a seminar on methods of taking care of children with the participation of psychologists and sociologists, and a free consultation on nutrition and dental health for children. France screens documentary on Vietnamese forced immigrants The difficult circumstances and silent contributions of Vietnamese peasants across southern French fields more than 7 decades ago, when they were unwillingly brought to the European country, was documented and recently premiered in France. France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group President Pascal Deguilhem said his agency is pleased to host the premiere of the documentary Bitter Rice, and that the event aims to enhance ties and share memories between the two nations. The film was based on the book “Immigres de Force, les Travailleurs Indochinois en France 1939-1952” (Immigrants Force, the Indochinese workers in France 1939-1952) by French journalist Pierre Daum. The book recounted the story of 20,000 Indochinese workers, mostly Vietnamese, who were forced to leave their countries for France in 1939. The move was designed to ease labour shortage issues in the defence industry as many young French were sent to the battle field. After three months at sea, their boat reached southern French Marseille city’s port and its unwilling passengers were immediately confined before being sent to work at gunpowder factories. After France lost the war to the Nazis a year later, most of the forced immigrants were trapped in the unfamiliar land, working day and night in local fields as prisoners or slaves. Their efforts turned a century-old saline land into a high-yield rice production area—now a pride of southern France—but was not appropriately recognised by the Government and was forgotten after the war. The documentary provides insight into the period of French colonisation, said Daum, hoping its wide screening would put pressure on the government to remedy its past mistreatment. According to Deguilhem, the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group—who initiated the film—is running campaigns for state recognition of the legitimate rights of Vietnamese workers. Bitter Rice is a product of Pointe Sud Production and France Television. It is scheduled to be screened in Arles city on May 12 and broadcasted on the channel France 3 on May 18. Sen Village Festival to remember beloved President Ho’s birthday The central province of Nghe An will host the 2015 National Sen Village Festival from May 12 to 19 to celebrate the 125th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh. An array of activities are scheduled to take place during the festival, including film screenings on Uncle Ho and exchanges with actors who played the role of the President, a propaganda poster exhibition, as well as a photo display themed ‘Study and follow President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example’. The highlight of the festival will be the Sen Village Singing Contest, gathering 30 art troupes from across the country and two guest delegations from Laos and Thailand. The opening ceremony of the festival will be held at Ho Chi Minh Square in Vinh city on the evening of May 16 and will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television’s Channels 1 and 4 as well as on Nghe An provincial Radio and Television. The event is co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Nghe An provincial People’s Committee to express the gratitude and respect of the entire nation to President Ho – the hero of national liberation and outstanding cultural figure of the world. It also aims to educate the younger generations on the President’s thoughts, while boosting Nghe An’s image to domestic and foreign visitors. Quay for love padlocks The quay for locking love padlocks at DHC Marina cruise port by the Han River lures many young adults at night. (Inset) A heart-shaped love padlock at the quay Following the growing trend of locking padlocks to bridges and gates to symbolize love of couples in France, Italy and South Korea, DHC Marina Corp based in Danang City has recently opened a quay at its cruise port in the central coastal city for lovers to lock their love padlocks. By the Han River, the quay has attracted the attention of young adults in Danang and other provinces who come to celebrate their love with small padlocks. The lovers’ quay decorated with red heart-shaped lanterns now attracts a lot of young couples. VNS/SGT/VOV/VNA