FTAs bewilder many Vietnam business owners As the government prepares to seal a fresh trade deal with the twelve-nations of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a new survey has revealed that most Vietnam business owners neither understand nor make use of existing ones. The Vietnam government has recently negotiated 10 free trade agreements (FTAs) and is trying to reach agreement on yet others in the coming time as part of its overall strategy to boost partnership with many economic powers. However, the survey conducted by the Ho Chi Minh City Support Centre on World Trade Organization Integration shows that most Vietnamese business owners have little or no understanding of the provisions of any FTAs. Up to 90% of Vietnam businesses are very small and closely held by a limited number of owners so it is not surprising that some would generally not be aware of the details of extremely complex trade deals, said Pham Binh An, director of the Centre. What is startling, however, is the sheer number of business owners that just shook their head in bewilderment and said they either don’t or couldn’t understand the complex agreements. “When asked about specific FTAs with particular foreign government such as the agreement with the Republic of Korea (RoK) the majority of responses was that they had never heard of the agreement," An said. "So yes, I think, many companies miss the benefits of the FTAs." An stressed that it is problematic such a staggering number of business owners failed to possess even a basic grasp of the content of the FTAs and their impact on the economy in general and their business specifically.   When asked how frequently they used government trade support initiatives including the services of the Vietnam trade offices and other trade promotion agencies, most respondents said they "never" used the services. Ly Kim Chi, president of the Food and Foodstuff Association in Ho Chi Minh City, in turn said the results of another survey by the Association show that 80% of very small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) lack even basic information on how to obtain information regarding the contents of FTAs. Professor Doan Thi Hong Van from the University of Economics in HCM City has also reported that the results of many workshops and forums organized by the University have been disappointing and in the final analysis unproductive. "The results suggest that business owners are generally either not aware of the trade support available, it does not address their needs, or they do not perceive the prospective gain to be worth the effort in utilising the service," Van said. Most importantly business owners need to be informed about key issues such as rules of origin – a new technical barrier that may limit or disable the benefits of tariff reductions – anti-dumping and other major rules of the free trade agreements. For example, strict ‘rules-of-origin’ require that any textile and apparel exports by Vietnam businesses to the US be wholly assembled within the 12 TPP member countries to qualify for tariff-free treatment under that pact. This means Vietnam businesses cannot import fabric from a third country, such as China or certain ASEAN nations and use it to make clothing that qualifies for tariff-free treatment by the 12 TPP member nations. The rule is commonly referred to as ‘the yarn forward rule’ in essence requires that only fabric produced from yarn made by a TPP member country would qualify for the trade agreement’s tariff-free status. Professor Ban said the rules of origin are complicated, costly to comply with— but a necessity for Vietnam business owners to understand if they want to get into the developing supply chains in Vietnam and on the road to prosperity. It is inarguable that Vietnam business owners need to better understand the regulatory overview of tariff commitments of FTAs and their provisions,Professor Doan Van stressed. As well, the government and the nation must strive to implement an improved system to convey the major content of the FTAs to business owners and assist them become more competitive in the nation’s dynamic period of integration.  The 12 countries involved in the TPP negotiations include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam; they represent a market of almost 800 million people and a combined gross domestic product of more than US$25 trillion. VOV

Vietnam’s premier chess masters head for Asian championships       Vietnamese chess masters will leave for the United Arab Emirates on July 31 to participate in the 2015 Asian Continental Chess Championships, scheduled to take place at the Hilton Hotel in Al Ain from August 1 to 13.  Vietnam's top chess player Le Quang Liem The eight-member team gathers most of the country’s premier players, including Le Quang Liem, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy, Nguyen Duc Hoa, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, Pham Le Thao Nguyen, Nguyen Thi Thanh An and Le Kieu Thien Kim. The tournament will be conducted as a Swiss system competition of nine rounds, with the top five from the Open section qualifying for the 2015 World Cup, and the women’s champion eligible for for the Women’s World Championship. The prize fund is US$50,000 for the Open and US$25,000 for the women’s section in the rapid, blitz and standard events. Vietnam’s top player Le Quang Liem secured the Asian blitz gold medal in 2013 before claiming the world blitz crown and the rapid fourth-place finish at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia later the same year. After the tournament, Quang Liem and teammate Truong Son will compete in the 2015 World Cup - slated from September 10 to October 4 in Baku, Azerbaijan - which they qualified for after winning the Zone 3.3 qualifying round in Ho Chi Minh City earlier this year.       Nhan Dan

Airlines’ big spending on new aircrafts raises concerns about public debt The government has guaranteed the loans that Vietnam Airlines got from commercial banks to buy modern aircraft. Will this add to the public debt burden?   Vietnam Airlines, the national flag air carrier, and Vietjet Air, the first private airline in Vietnam, have caused controversy with their plans to expand their fleets. Vietnam Airlines has received one Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a super-product of the modern aviation industry. The state-owned air carrier plans to spend VND21.2 trillion on its fleet expansion plan in 2015 alone, under a plan approved by the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Vietjet Air has spent $56 million to buy an aircraft engine and spent another $680 million to buy six A321s more under a plan submitted to the Ministry of Transport. Under current laws, the loans under the government’s guarantee are counted as public debt, which means that the public debt will increase with loans for Vietnam Airlines. The Head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) Lai Xuan Thanh has tried to calm the public down by saying that the risk of the loans is not high because Vietnam Airlines has been performing well. A 20-year review over Vietnam Airlines’ operation showed that the air carrier always make profits, therefore, there is no need to worry that the government may have to pay debt for Vietnam Airlines. Vietnam Airlines is still a state-owned enterprise, though it was equitized, because the state holds the controlling stakes. However, as the air carrier now operates as a joint stock company, the transparency in financial activities and business management will receive higher attention. Thanh also denied that taxpayers have to pay for the air carrier’s borrowing to expand its fleet, and have to pay high airfares for domestic flights to offset the loss the air carrier incurs for international flights. “We cannot say people have to bear the airlines’ loans. It is Vietnam Airlines which has to take responsibility for this,” he said in an interview with Dat Viet. When asked how the government, as the guarantor, will control the Vietnam Airlines’ loan, Thanh said that all airlines have to draw up annual, medium- and long-term strategies. However, he said it is the airline which will determine their business plans. Meanwhile, CAAV will still maintain state management over the airfare. However, as Thanh said, it is not the state’s function to intervene in enterprises’ operations by releasing administrative commands. Dat Viet

Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – July 31 A copy of the July 6, 2015 issue of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper is seen in this picture taken in Ho Chi Minh City. Tuoi Tre News What you need to know in Vietnam today: Politics -- Border guard forces in the northern Vietnamese province Lao Cai and Honghe County of Yunnan Province in China on Thursday took part in a joint anti-terrorism drill – The Red River No.1 2015 – for a virtual scenario in which many terrorists rushed to the border area in Yunnan’s Hekou District for illegal entry into Vietnam after carrying out terror attacks in China. -- UK Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday left Ho Chi Minh City, concluding his two-day official visit to Vietnam. During the visit, PM Cameron held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung and met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Truong Tan Sang in Hanoi. The British premier also met with Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Le Thanh Hai and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan, and joined the Vietnam-UK Business Forum in the city. Society -- Only 280 tourists out of some 1,500 stranded on Co To Island in the northern province of Quang Ninh were successfully transported to the mainland by a naval vessel on Thursday, as the plan to bring all of them back to shore was ruined by bad weather, according to Chairman of the People's Committee of Co To Island District Hoang Ba Nam. The naval ship will transport the remaining 1,200 tourists to the mainland on Friday if the weather gets better. -- The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea on Thursday announced that it will continue to run a vocational training and skill development program for Vietnamese women, an official development assistance-funded project worth US$552,000 the South Korean government has provided for developing countries, including Vietnam, for 2015. The ministry has helped Vietnam establish three career and capacity development centers in the northern province of Thai Binh, the central province of Quang Nam and the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho since 2011. Business -- Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Tat Thanh Cang held a working session on Thursday with a visiting UK business delegation who came to seek opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure development, including a deep-water seaport and the Thu Thiem residential area. -- JFE Steel, Japan's second-biggest steelmaker, has announced it will invest $220 million in a steelworks being constructed by Formosa Plastics Group (Taiwan) in the central province of Ha Tinh. -- Private capital is being sought to upgrade and build marine, waterway and railway transport systems in Vietnam following plans to release a list of 41 projects for marine infrastructural development from 2015 to 2020 at a cost of $2 billion, according to the Ministry of Transport's Marine Department. The ministry also plans to approve 45 Build-Operate-Transfer projects from 2015 to 2020, with $500 million in costs needed. Sports -- Around 800 local and international runners from 45 countries will join the Vietnam Mountain Marathon 2015 that has challenging climbs and exhilarating descents on September 26-27. The event, organized by Topas Travel since 2013, is one of the most difficult trail marathons in the world. TUOI TRE NEWS

WHAT'S ON AUGUST 1-15 (DAILY UPDATE) Music Story of the Old Quarter in August Fri 14 Aug 2015, 8 pm Center of the Old Quarter’s culture exchange 50 Dao Duy Tu, Hanoi Hanoi – the capital city of Vietnam has its proud 1000-year-old history and tradition. The music born here shares the same richness as the city’s history itself: diversified, unique and original. “Music Story of the Old Quarter” is a chain of music shows whose objective is to introduce generally to the world the evolution of the Hanoi’s music, past to present. The shows are to replicate the footsteps of the city’s music through history, using traditional voices, rhythms and beats combined with contemporary installation arts. The performance will be delivered by the top class singers and musicians. Through portraying Vietnamese’s unique music, The Old Quarter’s story of music hopes to successfully communicate the core values inside Hanoi’s culture, history and humans to the audience, both foreign and native. Incentive Idea: Vu Nhat Tan, Dam Minh Create & arrange the show: People’s Artist Xuan Hoach, Thanh Hoa, Thanh Binh, Cong Hung and the team “Dong Kinh Co Nhac” Artist: Ly Truc Son, Tran Duy Hung, Trinh Tin… Contact Mr. Tan at 01249125212 or email: dongkinhconhac@gmail.com for ticket or any further information. Film Screening: “Les Garcon et Guillaume, à Table” by Guillaume Gallienne Fri 14 Aug 2015, 8 pm L’Espace 24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội You are invited to the film screening “Me, Myself and Mum” (France, 2012, 85 mins) with screenplay written by Guillaume Gallienne. This special comedy, in which Guillaume Gallienne plays the role of both mother and son, earned 5 César awards in 2014. 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: 50 000 VND Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 40 000 VND Tickets are available at L’Espace. Meeting and Book Introduction “The Fate of the Universe” by Trinh Xuan Thuan Exhibition: 10 – 30 Aug 2015 Meeting: Fri 28 Aug 2015, 9.30 am L’Espace 24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội You are invited to the meeting and book introduction “The fate of the universe” by Trinh Xuan Thuan on the occasion of its publication in Vietnamese with the participation of translators and editors Pham Van Thieu, Lai Thi Thu Hien Hoang Thanh Thuy; MC: Thuy Linh. Trinh Xuan Thuan is a French-speaking astrophysicist and writer. A professor of astrophysics and researcher at the Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, he specializes in extragalactic astronomy and has written many works on the formation and evolution of galaxies and the place of man in the cosmos. The exhibition will feature images from the book that traces the evolution of the universe since its creation until today. Language: Vietnamese Free entrance. Concert “Tango or not” at Manzi Art Space Sun 09 Aug 2015, 8 pm Manzi Art Space 14 Phan Huy Ich, Hanoi One night only and for those who love Tango Nuevo! For the first time ever, audience of Hanoi will have a chance to enjoy a marvelous collection of Tango Nuevo compositions by Astor Piazzolla. The concert is led by world re-known conductor Philippe Lesburguères who is Piazzolla’s friend and co-composer of the legendary “Oblivion”, together with other talented musicians of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre. Surcharge: 250,000 VND (incl. one free drink) Due to limited seating capacity (acoustic concert for 30 people only), please email us at manzihanoi@gmail.com before Wed 6 Aug to reserve seats. Film Screening “9 Mois Ferme” by Albert Dupontel Fri 07 Aug 2015, 8 pm L’Espace 24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội You are invited to the film screening “9 Month Stretch” (France, 2013, 82 mins) directed by Albert Dupontel. This is a comedy that “makes us laugh endlessly!”. 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: 50 000 VND Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 40 000 VND Tickets are available at L’Espace. Toyota Concert Tour 2015 Hanoi: 05 and 06 Aug 2015, 8 pm Hanoi Opera House — Da Nang: Sun 09 Aug 2015, 8 pm Trung Vuong Municipal Theatre — HCMC: Tue 11 Aug 2015, 8 pm Saigon Opera House — Thanh Hoa: Thu 13 Aug 2015, 8 pm Lam Son Municipal Theatre From Toyota Motor Vietnam: Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) in cooperation with the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) proudly announces the “Toyota Concert Tour 2015”. This is the 18th year of the annual Toyota Concert Tour since 1998. Especially, this year, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of operation and development of TMV, the Tour will be organized in 4 big cities with 5 performance nights: Hanoi (2 nights), Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Thanh Hoa from 5th August 2015 to 13th August 2015 (01 more location compared to last years). This is the first time for music lovers from Thanh Hoa Province to join the Toyota Concert Tour, on the occasion of National Tourism Year 2015 “Connecting World Heritages”, with the desire to enhance the culture life of local people. In 2015, with the performance of VNSO, under the baton of talented orchestra conductor Honna Tetsuji, with performance of famous artists such as world-class violin soloist Bui Cong Duy, saxophone artist Tran Manh Tuan and young talented singer Nhat Thuy – champion of Vietnam Idol 2014, Toyota Concert Tour is the combination of various types of music, and is promised to be an emotional and impressive show for the audience in Vietnam. The performances are chosen from the master pieces composed by Saint Saens, P.I. Tchaikovsky and L.V. Beethoven. Besides, with the first-time appearance of Tran Manh Tuan, the famous saxophone artist of Vietnam, for the lyrical pieces of “White Summer”, “Butterfly Dream”, “Send the Wind for the Flying Clouds”, and also first-time appearance of young talented singer Nhat Thuy – champion of Vietnam Idol 2014 with a sweet beautiful voice, the Concert is expected to appear with new and young image. The performance of Nhat Thuy includes “The Land Faraway”, “The Color of Red Flower” and “The Voice of Singing in Pac Bo Forest” with romantic and magnanimous melody will bring pride and patriotism to the people of the country. Toyota Concert program is one of social contribution activities which TMV coordinates with Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra to conduct annually since 1998, aiming to contribute to the development of the culture of Vietnam, contributing to popular classical music as well as supporting the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra to improve performance. By 2007, the program was renamed as “Toyota Concert Tour Vietnam” to tour the major cities across the country such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Da Nang, Can Tho, Thanh Hoa… In 2012, the first time the program toured the three Indochinese countries was called the “Toyota Concert Tour 2012 Vietnam – Laos – Cambodia”. Through the journey of 18 years, Toyota Concert program has hosted 50 concerts for the wide public in, becoming one of the most expected annual music events in Vietnam. Classical music lovers are welcome and appreciated. The program also contributes bringing classical music closer to the Vietnamese audience. PROGRAM Trong Bang The Poem Symphony “His return brought happiness to us” Duc Trinh The Land Faraway Thuan Yen The Color of Red Flower Nguyen Tai Tue The Sound of Singing in Pac Bo Forest Saint Saens “Introduction and Rondo capriccioso” Op. 28 (Bui Cong Duy) P.I. Tchaikovsky “Mélodie” from Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Op. 42 (Bui Cong Duy) Trinh Cong Son White Summer (Tran Manh Tuan) Tran Manh Tuan Butterfly Dream Doan Chuan – Tu Linh Send the Wind for flying Clouds (Tran Manh Tuan) L.V. Beethoven Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” (1st movement) TICKETS – Ticket prices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are classified as below: A level: VND 700,000/ ticket B level: VND 500,000/ ticket C level: VND 300,000/ ticket Student level: VND 150,000/ ticket – Ticket price in Da Nang and Thanh Hoa is classified as below: A level: VND 100,000/ ticket B level: VND 50,000/ ticket – Tickets available from 21st July 2015 at: + Hanoi Opera House – No.1 Trang Tien Str., Hanoi (Free Delivery 0913 489 858 / 0983 067 996) + HCM City Municipal Theatre – No. 7, Lam Son Construction, District 1, HCM City (08 6270 4450 / 098 987 4517) + Trung Vuong Municipal Theatre – No. 86 Hung Vuong, Hai Chau 1 District, Da Nang City (0511 3810515) + Lam Son Municipal Theatre – No. 22 Phan Chu Trinh, Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa City (037 3852722) * All ticket proceeds will be contributed to the “Toyota Scholarship for Vietnamese young music talents”.    Hanoi Opera House No. 1 Trang Tien, Hanoi    HCM City Municipal Theatre No. 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC    Trung Vuong Municipal Theatre No. 86 Hung Vuong, Hai Chau 1 District, Da Nang City    Lam Son Municipal Theatre No. 22 Phan Chu Trinh, Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa City Public Performance “From. To .” Opening: Sun 02 Aug 2015, 12 pm – 10 pm Date: 03 – 16 Aug 2015, 10 am – 4 pm Nha San Collective 2 15th floor, 01 Luong Yen, Hanoi To launch our new space at Hanoi Creative City (HNCC), Nhà Sàn Collective, in colaboration with Ly Hoang Ly and Tuan Mami, would like to present a performance event. Participating artists: – Nguyen Thuy Tien – Patricia Nguyen – Duc Flying Bay – Ly Hoang Ly – Tuan Mami I. Sunday 2.8.2015 12 am to 6pm: Public performance 5 artists start off their performances from 5 different locations, moving towards HNCC building, 1 Lương Yên, Hanoi 6pm to 10pm: Gathering 5 artists appear at unspecified time from 6pm to 10pm on the first floor of HNCC building 10pm to 12pm: Dismissal Artists and audience decide their own dismissal All five performances will be live streamed from 12am to 12pm, Sunday 2.8.2015 via Twitter and Meerkat (live-stream link will be provided on 2.8 on the event’s Facebook page). At the same time, these performances will also be broadcasted via 5 projectors located at HNCC hall. II. From Monday 3.8.2015 to Sunday 16.8.2015 Videos and relics of five performances (if available) will be displayed from 10am to 4pm at Nhà Sàn Collective 2, floor 15, HNCC. Art Workshop “From Regeneration to Creation” Sun 02 Aug 2015, 12 am – 6 pm Pasteur Garden, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi You are invited to the conceptual performance and interactive installation workshop by Tuan Mami (visual/performance artist) and Nguyen Hoang Phuong (architect/social activist). This workshop is a part of the art event [FROM. TO.] hosted by Nha San Collective, opening from 6PM-10PM, videos showed from August 3rd to August 16th, 2015. Open to everybody at any age/occupation, especially people who care about art and environment. How to register: Please send your email to Nguyentuan_painter@yahoo.com or post to our facebook event your name and preferred time slot. *This workshop is free of charge. Concept: This workshop is inspired by the interactions between living beings and their surrounding environment, memories and everyday stories. By observing, selecting, interacting, reporting, telling stories the participants take part in the process of collectively constructing a multimedia artwork, through a course of action: creating – moving – installing with ready-made materials. This workshop is constructed with the interdisciplinary structure of conceptual art, social study and environment. How to participate: + The participant will find/choose/randomly pick up a piece of wood and bring it to the workshop. + Work with the artist and workshop instructor to create something out of that piece of wood, make it your very own artwork (through painting, writing, sculpting…). + The participant must agree to have their artworks shown/presented in a collective installation that will take place from August 2nd to August 16th, 2015. The participant will move the artwork and install it themselves in the exhibition space. (The participant can take their artwork back after the exhibition). Painting Program with Pallet Workshop Sun 02 Aug 2015, 8 am – 5 pm Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Nguyễn Văn Huyên Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội This program is for Vietnamese children only, for more information visit Vietnamese page. Hue – Exhibition “The Bridge Span” Opening: Sun 02 Aug 2015, 5 pm Exhibition: 02 – 11 Aug 2015 New Space Arts Foundation, Hue 2nd Floor, 15 Le Loi Street, Hue City Come to the art exhibition “The Bridge Span” by artists: – Purich Srisuay’s – Natthapoom Saenghan – Thanomasak Suwannasi – Lê Quốc Hoàn – Nguyễn Thành Trung Art Workshop “From Regeneration to Creation” Sun 02 Aug 2015, 12 am – 6 pm Pasteur Garden, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi You are invited to the conceptual performance and interactive installation workshop by Tuan Mami (visual/performance artist) and Nguyen Hoang Phuong (architect/social activist). This workshop is a part of the art event [FROM. TO.] hosted by Nha San Collective, opening from 6PM-10PM, videos showed from August 3rd to August 16th, 2015. Open to everybody at any age/occupation, especially people who care about art and environment. How to register: Please send your email to Nguyentuan_painter@yahoo.com or post to our facebook event your name and preferred time slot. *This workshop is free of charge. Concept: This workshop is inspired by the interactions between living beings and their surrounding environment, memories and everyday stories. By observing, selecting, interacting, reporting, telling stories the participants take part in the process of collectively constructing a multimedia artwork, through a course of action: creating – moving – installing with ready-made materials. This workshop is constructed with the interdisciplinary structure of conceptual art, social study and environment. How to participate: + The participant will find/choose/randomly pick up a piece of wood and bring it to the workshop. + Work with the artist and workshop instructor to create something out of that piece of wood, make it your very own artwork (through painting, writing, sculpting…). + The participant must agree to have their artworks shown/presented in a collective installation that will take place from August 2nd to August 16th, 2015. The participant will move the artwork and install it themselves in the exhibition space. (The participant can take their artwork back after the exhibition). Film Screening “Minuscule: La Vallée des Fourmis Perdues” Sun 02 Aug 2015, 4 pm L’Espace 24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội You are invited to the film screening “Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants” (France, 2014, 89 mins) directed by Thomas Szabo & Hélène Giraud. “An animation in 3D, which is full of ideas, tender, burlesque, green and poetic.” – 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: 50 000 VND Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 40 000 VND Tickets are available at L’Espace. VNN

Art & Entertainment News 31/7 Culture facility in Ha Tinh raises public ire    The Temple of Literature project in Ha Tinh Province. A Temple of Literature in Ha Tinh Province has raised public controversy about who should be the subject of worship in a country that takes its cultural heritage seriously, and because it is a waste of money in a poor community. Completion of the 1.7ha complex in Thach Linh Ward, expected to cost VND80 billion (USD3.52 million) and for which planning began in 2010, is uncertain as it has yet to be declared for any particular cultural deity. The temple, on which construction began in 2014, is designed to have a worshiping house, four gates and a semicircular lake. Pham Tien Sinh, head of the construction work management board of Ha Tinh Province, said local authorities are worried the project may not be completed because of a lack of financial resources. A DTi reader named Pham Thanh Hung said, "It is a great waste. It should be inspected by the government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The investment of VND80 billion can be used for building houses for many poor people.” Ha Nhi ethnic group’s traditional festival recognised as national heritage ‘Kho gia gia’, a traditional festival hosted by the Ha Nhi ethnic group in Bat Xat district, in the northern province of Lao Cai to pray for good crops, has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage. The provincial People’s Committee held a ceremony on July 29 to receive a certificate from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism honouring this acknowledgement. According to Vice Chairwoman of Bat Xat district People’s Committee Sung Thi Mai, ‘Kho gia gia’ is one of the major festivals of the Ha Nhi people. It is celebrated over five days, from the Day of the Dragon to the Day of the Monkey, in the sixth lunar month annually. During the festival, people worship the gods of agriculture, forestry, water and soil, and pray for bumper crops, health, prosperity and happiness. In preparation for the event, a buffalo is butchered as an offering to the gods. After the ritual, the buffalo’s meat is divided equally among households in the village as offerings to their ancestors in hopes for their support and protection in life. The long-standing custom also features many other rituals and folk games, including tug of war, stick pushing and bag jumping. It is also a good opportunity for single boys and girls to make friends. The traditional practice not only helps consolidate the solidarity among the community’s members, but has also developed into a unique tourism event to attract visitors to the locality. The festival is the eighth heritage in Lao Cai province to be listed as national intangible culture heritage, after the ‘Then’ ritual of Tay ethnic group; 'Gau Tao', a spring festival praying for happiness and longevity of the Mong people; 'Cap Sac' (coming-of-age) rite of passage of the Dao; 'Roong Pooc' (going to the Field) festival of the Giay people in Ta Van commune, Sapa district; the 'Put Tong' ritual (a fire dance of selected shamans) of the Red Dao people in Sapa district; the silver carving of the Mong people in Sapa district; and 'Chang slaw' (the making of paper cut pictures) of the Nung Din people in Muong Khuong district. Ha Noi to display fireworks on National Day Many cultural and art activities will take place in Ha Noi to mark the 70th anniversary of August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2), with the highlight being a grand meeting and parade at Ba Dinh Square, according to the Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. About 10,000 local people will march in the parade at Ba Dinh Square on September 2 morning, and many large screens will be installed at various locations in the city for the public to watch the live broadcast of the parade. Concerts and sports activities will also be held at Ly Thai To Park, August Revolution Square and in front of My Dinh National Stadium to mark the day. In addition, the city  will also hold various significant activities including a workshop on Ha Noi, its tradition and prospects for development, a knowledge contest on the August Revolution and National Day, an exhibition on war items at the ancient Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a bicycle race around Hoan Kiem Lake and free film screenings for the public. The capital Ha Noi will let off fireworks at 9pm on September 2. The fireworks display is planned about 30 venues across the city, including five high-range shows at Hoan Kiem Lake, Thong Nhat Park, West Lake, Van Quan Lake and My Dinh National Stadium to celebrate the 70th anniversary of August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2). Chibook donates books to children Chibook, a book brand of HCMC-based Le Chi Culture & Communications Co., Ltd., has donated book libraries to cultural and entertainment centers for children in the city. The project includes a range of activities for children such as singing, painting, and English contests. Since July 18, Chibook has donated a book library worth VND5.5 million (US$252) to the Children’s House of HCMC and another library worth VND8.5 million to Vietopia, an educational, entertainment and indoor sport center for children aged from 3 to 14, as well as organized multiple activities for children there. Between August 1 and 16, the firm is expected to give one book library costing VND4 million to children in Thanh An Commune in Can Gio District, one worth VND8.5 million to Children’s Cultural House in Tan Binh District, and one valued at VND8.5 million to Children’s Cultural House in Binh Thanh District. Long An inaugurates memorial house of lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho The inauguration ceremony of the commemorative site of Lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho was held in Ben Luc Town in the southern province of Long An on July 29. Speaking at the event, Party Central Committee Secretary Truong Hoa Binh, Chief Justice the Supreme Peoples Court, said that the construction aims to mark the 105th birthday of late lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho (July 10, 1910) who was a great patriotic intellectual. Lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho was born in Long An province. He was sent to France for studying at the age of 11. After 11 years, he returned home and worked as a lawyer. He participated in patriotic activities at that time. The lawyer was arrested many times by the enemies and kept in Saigon, Lai Chau, Hai Phong and Phu Yen. Lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho was elected to various important posts, including Chairman of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, Vice President of Social Republic of Vietnam, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Chairman of the Central Committee of the National Liberation Front. King Khai Dinh's consort's house opened for tourism The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre has opened the house at 145 Phan Dinh Phung Street, King Khai Dinh's consort's, to tourists. Queen Mother Doan Huy stayed there after the Ngo Dinh Diem Government seized An Dinh Palace in 1955. The first and second floors display photos and documents about the king, the queen mother, and the families of King Bao Dai and Ton Nhan Phu. Hanoi opens cooking class on Peruvian dishes The Peruvian Embassy in Vietnam opened a cooking class on traditional Peruvian dishes in Hanoi on July 30. The event forms part of activities for the Peruvian Cuisine Week, the first of its kind in Vietnam to mark 21 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries (1994-2015). Chef Aldo Vargas from the Hilton Lima hotel shared recipes to cook South American dishes such as pisco sour cocktails and ceviche - part of the Peruvian cultural heritage. Luis Tsuboyama, a representative from the Peruvian Embassy in Vietnam, said two cooking classes were opened in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City last year. At the end of this year, the embassy plans to organise a film festival and photo exhibition on Peru as well as seek partners to translate Peruvian literature into Vietnamese to introduce the Latin American country’s culture to Vietnam. VNS/SGT/ND/Dtinews