Art & Entertainment in Brief Writers receive prizes at awards ceremony in capital Minh Va Ho (They and Us), a novel about life at the fight against Chinese invasion in 1979 in the northern border region has won the annual Award for Prose 2015 by the Ha Noi Writers Association. — Photo tienphong.vn  A novel about life at the fight against Chinese invasion in 1979 in the northern border region has won the annual Award for Prose 2015 by the Ha Noi Writers Association. The novel titled Minh Va Ho (They and Us) was written by Nguyen Binh Phuong between 2007 and 2010 and published by the Tre (Youth) Publishers. Poet Phan Huyen Thu won the Award for Poetry for her collection titled Seo Doc Lap (Scars for Independence) published by the Lao Dong (Labour) Publishers and Nha Nam Culture and Communications Company. Critic Pham Xuan Nguyen, chairman of the association, held that the collection expressed a fresh poetic ideology on personalities. Prof Tran Dinh Su won the Award for Theory and Criticism with his research on the new trends of Vietnamese literature titled Tren Duong Bien Cua Ly Luan Van Hoc (On the Border of Literature Theory) published by the Van Hoc (Literature) Publishers. The Poetry Achievement Award was given to Truc Thong – Tho (A Poetry Collection by Truc Thong) published by the Writers' Association Publishers. The collection provides a general view on the career of poet Truc Thong (born in 1940) and his enthusiasm in composing poems as well as rewriting contemporary poetry. Young writer Dao Quoc Minh won the Prize for Young Author with his poetry collection titled Nhung Nguoi Vu Cong Memphis (Dancers in Memphis). Critic Nguyen said the collections "reveal a fresh style, alluring and obsessive". The awards ceremony will be held today at the Ha Noi Library, 47 Ba Trieu Street.  Living with children inspires artists Paintings of children and artists in Mountain Star programme 2015 are on display at the "Chroma of Rock" exhibition, which opened yesterday in Ha Noi. The Mountain Star programme, a charity art project, was initiated in 2014 by Taiwanese student Kuo Yen Wei, a research student of Vietnamese Studies at Ha Noi National University. This year, the second Mountain Star project continues in poor villages of Ha Giang's Quan Ba District with the participation of 20 contemporary Vietnamese artists. Painter Luong Xuan Doan, vice chairman of the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association, said on the opening day: "I believe by living with children, artists can practice resilience. They can open their minds by embracing themselves in the beauty of nature." More than a hundred children aged 8 to 11 attended a fine arts teaching programme by experienced artists which aimed to support the disadvantaged ethnicchildren in Viet Nam by art education. The children were all delighted to be using professional tools and painting on huge pieces of canvases what they dreamed about, things they adore in life. The exhibition also features paintings of contemporary Vietnamese artists which depict the contrast between days and nights, lights and shadows in the northern mountainous villages. The event runs until October 16 at the exhibition centre 29 Hang Bai Street.  First woolen garment exhibitions to open in major cities Showcasing the very best of fashion in wool in Viet Nam, the Woolmark Company is hosting two exhibitions in Ha Noi and HCM City, respectively. The company will exhibit the best of Australian Merino wool from Viet Nam, including woollen sweaters, scarves, hats, socks, circular knit fabrics and garments, along with woven fabrics and suits made from Australian Merino wool. The exhibition will open on October 20 at the Apricot Hotel in Ha Noi, and October 23 at the Eastin Grand Hotel Sai Gon in HCM City. The Woolmark Company is the global authority on wool.  Books on Ha Noi's history and culture go on show The capital city's history and culture can be examined through books displayed at an exhibition that started on Thursday at the Nha Nam Bookshop. Nguyen The Bach, owner of hundreds of old books on Ha Noi, introduced part of his collection for the first time at the exhibition, aiming to share his love and knowledge of the capital city with other readers. Besides these old books, the exhibition also displays books on Ha Noi that were recently published by Nha Nam Culture and Communication Company. Visitors will have a chance to understand more about Ha Noi through the works of famous authors such as Vu Bang, Nguyen Tuan and Nguyen Huy Tuong. French and English books on Ha Noi at the exhibition include Histoire de Hanoi (History of Ha Noi) by Philippe Papin; Traits D'Architecure, Hanoi a L'Heure Francaise 1985-1945[S1] (Architecture of Constructions in Ha Noi during the French Period); Hanoi en Couleurs (Ha Noi in Colours); and Images of Ha Noi in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries by various authors. The exhibition will run until October 22 at the Nha Nam Bookshop on 107 B9 To Hieu Street, Ha Noi.  International puppetry festival opens in Hanoi The fourth International Puppetry Festival, with the participation of both Vietnamese and international artists, officially kicked off at the Hanoi Opera House on October 10. This year’s festival features three puppetry troupes from host Vietnam including the Central Puppetry Theatre, Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre and Hai Phong Water Puppetry Theatre. The event also attracted groups from Russia, the UK, Germany, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Belgium and the Philippines. The puppet show entitled ‘The halo from the past’ by the Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre was performed at the opening ceremony. All activities during the festival will take place in the Central Puppetry Theatre, Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre and the Hanoi Children’s Palace. Additionally, puppetry troupes will give performances to serve the public at various places in Hanoi and neighbouring localities. The annual event offers an opportunity for puppetry troupes to present their most outstanding plays as well as for domestic puppeteers to discuss their experience with their foreign colleagues and learn about new skills, techniques and creative trends in this art form. The festival is a unique cultural event, significantly contributing to promoting co-operation relationships in the field of culture and arts between Vietnam and other countries. The fourth International Puppetry Festival will last until October 16. Master plan on southeast region’s culture development announced A ministry representative said the master plan aims to make full use of the potential of the resources and technical infrastructure in the region. It will create a driving force for the development of culture, family, physical exercise, and tourism. The plan is also to strengthen regional linkages based on the advantages of each - and to reinforce co-operation with ASEAN countries to accelerate the development of regional culture, sports and tourism, he added. Government Decision No. 1400/QD-TTg dated August 18 indicates that Ho Chi Minh City is the nation's main centre for culture, arts, scientific research and human resources training and the development of the East-West cultural axis will boost cooperation in culture and arts among regional provinces. By the year 2020, the southeastern region is expected to welcome more than 6 million international visitors and about 34 million locals, earning up to VND170 trillion (US$7.6 billion) from tourism services, and create jobs for more than 200,000 workers. Vietnamese culture and cuisine impress Czech people More than 1,000 Czech people living in Brno city in the South Moravia region took part in the Vietnamese Cultural Day that opened in the city on October 9. The five-hour event featured beautiful melodies of Bac Ninh province’s Quan Ho (love duet) singing, lion dance, Vietnamese martial arts performances as well as folk songs on the natural beauty and customs of Vietnam. Short videos on tourism potential, festivals, tourist attractions and famous cultural sites were also screened during the event. Czech visitors queued up in long lines to enjoy Vietnamese signature dishes such as pho (noddle soup), bun rieu (crab noodle soup), nem cuon (spring rolls) and nem ran (fried spring rolls). Arnost Mader, a visitor to the event, said that he was impressed with the event, particularly the Vietnamese food. “I love your dishes very much, they are very delicious and eye-catching”, he said. According to Vice Chairman of Vietnamese People's Association in the Czech Republic, Truong Cong Su, the event was held to advertise the land, people, cultural features and gastronomy of Vietnam to people in the host country. It also sought to increase mutual understanding and cultural exchanges between peoples from the two countries. Oktoberfest opens with fanfare in town Hundreds of locals and expats gathered at the Oktoberfest opening on October 8 at the Jade Ballroom of the Windsor Plaza Hotel in HCMC’s District 5. This year, the 23rd edition of the German beer festival is held in HCMC from October 8-10 and on October 14 and October 17 from 6 p.m. to 12 p.m. At the JW Marriott Hanoi Hotel, it is organized for the 6th time from October 22 to 24. Organizers  – the German Embassy in Vietnam, the German Consulate General in HCMC and the German Business Association in Vietnam (GBA) – expect to lure over 15,000 visitors in HCMC and 4,500 in Hanoi. The Oktoberfest in HCMC is not only the largest German cultural event in Vietnam but Southeast Asia as well. According to Reuters, the Oktoberfest in HCMC is amongst the top 10 Oktoberfests outside Munich. “We are proud that the GBA’s Oktoberfests have become such popular landmark events with the Vietnamese and the entire foreign community in Vietnam. This bridges cultural gaps and brings people together in excitement. In view of the 40th anniversary of German-Vietnamese diplomatic relations, we strive to hold even bigger and better events this year, and we welcome all to join,” said Kai Marcus Schröter, GBA board member and head of the Event Working Group. Visitors to the Oktoberfest in HCMC have the opportunity to experience the authentic atmosphere of the original event in Munich in a large ballroom, together with an original German buffet, free flow of Krombacher Pilsener and other beer specialties. This year’s event will last seven days, with an expected number of visitors of over 2,000 per day. The “Anton Showband” who impressed the crowds in 2014 have come back to HCMC and Hanoi stages with their rock and pop hits as well as popular Bavarian folk music. Guests are able to sing in chores, swing beer mugs, hold each other’s hands and dance together with great enjoyment. This year also marks the 10th year in a row that the GBA Vietnam has teamed up with the Windsor Plaza Hotel Saigon to host the event. The Oktoberfest Hanoi 2015 will replicate the original atmosphere with a large tent on an open ground, the ‘Festzelt’, together with an original German buffet, free flow of König’s Pilsener and other beer specialties. This year’s event has an increased capacity from 1,300 to 1,500 visitors per day. Tourism programme goes through Viet Bac heritage sites The seventh tourism programme “Through Viet Bac Heritage Sites” officially opened in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang on October 9.  The festival brings together six provinces in the Viet Bac region, including Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen and Cao Bang.  Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Khanh Hai praised the region’s natural beauties and its cultural and historical heritage sites, which have strong links to the country’s history.  He appreciated the success of the festival in boosting development cooperation and promoting tourism in the region after six times of organisation.  From October 7, many cultural and sport activities have been held within the framework of the programme, including an exhibition showcasing typical tourism products of the six participating localities, a photo display, and a Viet Bac cultural market.  Visitors also had chance to take part in folk games such as stick pushing, tug of war, crossbow shooting and Con throwing (throwing a cloth ball through a ring).  The highlight of the event was a raft racing on the Gam River in Bac Me district, Ha Giang province which encourages traditional values and introduces lake tourism services to travellers.  On October 10, a conference reviewing tourism cooperation of the six provinces over the past six years took place as part of the programme, also offering an opportunity for local authorities to design a strategy to promote tourism and socio-economic development in the region.  Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ngo Hoai Chung suggested the localities build sustainable development strategies with focus on addressing basic issues like environmental pollution, sanitation, and food safety. They should choose their own tourism products to serve visitors, and better human resources working in this field, he added.  The localities were also urged to establish a group of tour guides who are the natives to provide information about local land, people, culture and heritage sites for tourists, he noted.  In 2014, these provinces welcomed over 6.5 million tourists, including 410,000 foreigners, earning a total of VND4.5 trillion ($202.5 million). By the end of last year, they boasted more than 1,100 accommodations for holidaymakers. VNS/VOV/SGGP/SGT