Thứ Tư, 1 tháng 10, 2014

Political News 1/10

10th Heads of Asian Coast Guards Agencies Meeting opens
Nearly 55 delegates from 18 nations from Asian region and Hong Kong gathered in Yokohama, Japan on September 30 for the 10th Heads of Asian Coast Guards Agencies Meeting (HACGAM).
In his opening speech, the Japan Coast Guard vice commandant of operations Yuji Sato highlighted cooperation among law enforcement agencies as active contributions to ensuring maritime security and safety in the region.
He expressed his wish law enforcement agencies in the region will continue to speed up cooperation aiming to maintain safer and brighter maritime zones in accordance with international law.
Addressing the conference, Major General Nguyen Quang Dam, commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) affirmed Vietnam’s Coast Guard’s willingness to cooperate with international and regional law enforcement forces in anti-crime at sea, maritime safety and security enhancement, search and rescue work and human resource training.
The conference runs through October 1, 2014.
Chairman of J.P Morgan in Asia visits Vietnam
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh received Nicolas Aguzin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Asia-Pacific business at J.P Morgan Chase and Co., a global banking firm, in Hanoi on September 30.
The Deputy PM spoke highly of the firm’s monetary and financial support for Vietnam to recover its economy, especially its statement to the country’s long-term development.
As Vietnam is implementing a master plan on economic restructuring with sustainable and long-term macro-economic development objectives, he expressed wish that J.P Morgan in Asia will continue support for and experience sharing with Vietnam in this field.
For his part, Nicolas Aguzin said he hopes that that Vietnamese Government will create more favourable conditions for the bank to get involved in the country’s economic development in the future.
He affirmed that his bank will back Vietnam in the fields of its demand to help improve its people’s living standards.
Leaders congratulate China on National Day
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang on September 30 sent congratulations to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee and President Xi Jinping on the occasion of China’s 65th National Day (October 1, 1949).
The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also extended his congratulatory wishes to his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang while National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung cabled greetings to Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhang Dejiang.
In the messages, the Vietnamese leaders congratulated the Chinese people on their achievements over the past 65 years, particularly during 35 years of the reform process.
They affirmed that the Party, State and Government of Vietnam are willing to work with the Party, State and Government of China to incessantly consolidate and develop the two countries’ traditional friendship, improve the peoples’ mutual understanding and trust, and foster the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a stable and healthy manner, thus contributing to the regional and international peace, stability and development.
On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also conveyed congratulations to Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Hanoi ceremony marks Germany’s National Day
The Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association held a ceremony in Hanoi on September 30 to celebrate Germany’s 24th National Day (October 3, 1990).
Addressing the event, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, who is also Chairman of the association, congratulated the German friends in Vietnam on this occasion.
He said since the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership was established in 2011, bilateral ties have seen encouraging achievements in politics-diplomacy, economy-trade-investment, education-training, and development cooperation.
Germany is Vietnam’s largest trade partner in the European Union with two-way trade reaching US$7.7 billion in 2013, he said, adding that the former directly invested over US$1.3 billion in 136 projects in Vietnam by August this year.
The German Business Association has selected Vietnam as the host of the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 14). The event, to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from November 21-22, will be a great opportunity for German companies to boost their trade-investment links with regional partners, including those in Vietnam.
The minister added the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association will continue to do its utmost to diversify people-to-people exchange activities in a bid to further develop bilateral ties.
At the ceremony, German Ambassador to Vietnam Jutta Frasch voiced her hope that the association will organise more activities to deepen the flourishing relations between the two countries.
Laos’ female NA deputies welcomed in Hanoi
Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan received a visiting delegation from the Female National Assembly Deputies Group of Laos led by its head Boungong Boupha in Hanoi on September 30.
At the meeting, Vice Chairwoman Kim Ngan spoke highly of Laos’ successful organisation of the 35th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-35).
Highlighting the practical and effective development of the friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, she stressed that Vietnam always gives top priority to consolidating and strengthening the special relationship with Laos.
She added that Vietnam will continue to be one of the leading investors in Laos.
The NA Vice Chairwoman also expressed her wish that the two countries’ female NA deputies groups will further promote their collaboration, increase the exchange of experience, especially in law-making and supervision activities.
Boungong Boupha informed her host that the two sides have focused on sharing experience in promoting the legislative and supervision role on issues related to the building of the law on domestic violence prevention and a legal framework on gender equality.
In the coming time, the two sides will continue exchanging experience in drafting the NA’s resolutions on social issues, she said.
President Sang works with Central Economic Commission
President Truong Tan Sang on September 30 worked with leaders from the Central Party Committee (CPC) Commission for Economic Affairs on restructuring the national economy along with renewing the growth model.
He asked the committee to find effective solutions for the settlement of public debts and bad debts.
Regarding the 2011-2014 economic restructuring and growth model reform, Commission Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said Vietnam’s growth model has been concentrated more on increasing the quality of growth in recent years as a result of ensured macroeconomic stability and reduced economic downturn. Inflation is under control, dropping from over 18% in 2011 to 6.8%.
Some initial results have been achieved in restructuring the economy and public investment to ensure macroeconomic stability and promote model growth renovation.
In addition, due attention has been paid to iron out snags in production and business and State-owned enterprises (SoEs) equitization, Hue said.
However, he also pointed out that the Vietnamese economy still reveals weaknesses and limitations such as implicit uncertainties in the long run, slow-paced growth model renovation, heavy dependence on capital and natural resources, lower labour productivity than other regional countries (2-15 times lower than ASEAN countries).
At the meeting, economic experts contributed many opinions on the economic growth model in the current period which should be based on labour productivity and efficiency towards the rapid and sustainable development to improve market economic institutions and boost international integration.
In his statement, President Sang underscored the need to assess economic growth model based on experiences from other nations and revamp the legal system to bring proper policies to life.
The Commission should work out solutions for resolving public debts and bad debts, overcome SoEs’ shortcomings, use capital efficiently and facilitate business operations.
Asides this, priorities should be given to human resources training, scientific and technological application in agricultural production, Sang added.
Former Party Chief receives 65-year Party badge
The General Department of Politics on September 30 hosted a solemn ceremony honouring former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu with the 65-year Party membership badge- a Party and State noble award for his positive contributions to national construction and defence.
In his speech, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said, “Le Kha Phieu had experienced different working positions, tempered himself and became matured in the struggle for national liberation as well as the Doi Moi (Renovation) process, national construction and defence. In any position, he is unswervingly loyal to the Party, the homeland and the people while being consistent with Party goals and ideals, preserving revolutionary ethnics of a Party member who has always constantly learnt and trained himself to fulfill all assigned tasks.”
For his part, the former Party Chief expressed his great honour to receive the 65-year Party membership badge, saying that the award is seen as his continued responsibility to make greater contributions to the long-term process of national construction and defence.
Although he retired, Phieu pledged to do well his job as a loyal Party member and devote his life to the nation until he dies.
Law on Government’s organisational structure to be updated
The National Assembly Standing Committee continued its 31 st session in Hanoi on September 30 by looking at changes to the draft Law on the Organisation of the Government, the first update in 12 years.
A number of premises in the document were found to be out of date, including the legal status, functions and tasks of the Government and the Prime Minister.
The amendments will provide a means to implement the revised Constitution and ensure the smooth operations of the State and the Government.
Almost all the suggested changes highlighted the need to define the organisational structure and operations of Vietnam’s highest executive body.
National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung proposed the clarification of the role of the Government, its responsibilities to protect and enforce the Constitution, and its relationship with the President.
Mutual judicial assistance under review
The Law on Mutual Judicial Assistance has created a legal framework for the fields of civil law, criminal law, extradition, and the transfer of convicts over the last six years, a conference heard in Hanoi on September 30.
The law, the first act on mutual legal assistance drafted by the National Assembly, came into effect in 2008. It is regarded as an important step in Vietnam’s international cooperation efforts on law and justice, participants in the conference to review the law’s implementation said.
Ministries and sectors handled an increasing amount of complex judicial mandate cases.From January 2008 to the end of June 2014, the Ministry of Justice received 14,842 legal mandate orders from Vietnamese agencies to other countries, and 5,193 replies. Out of the replies, 540 came from countries with mutual judicial assistance agreements with Vietnam.
Statistics show that replies from countries with legal agreements with Vietnam accounted for 39 percent, while replies from nations without bilateral agreements accounted for 34.5 percent.
A total of 2,876 foreign judicial mandate orders were received, including 1,229 from countries with mutual judicial assistance agreements. Half of the received orders have been processed so far.
According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Khanh Ngoc, the low level of responses to mandate orders can be attributed to the poor linkages between litigation regulations, including civil legal procedures, and stipulations in the Law on mutual Judicial Assistance.
Additionally, the law on civil legal procedures does not mention specific regulations for cases with international elements or cases requiring legal mandates, Ngoc said.
In the short term, a hotline will be set up at the central level between Vietnam and countries that signed mutual judicial assistance agreements with Vietnam. This will enable courts to directly notify the Government of Vietnam or Vietnamese overseas representative offices, helping to shorten procedures and boost coordination between relevant ministries, sectors and agencies.
Participants suggested the development of separate laws to regulate different aspects in mutual legal assistance in the long run. The Law on Mutual Judicial Assistance should be revised and supplemented to ensure it addresses Vietnam’s international commitments. It must meet the realistic demands of crime prevention and control, settle civil cases that arise as a result of the country’s international integration and legal reform, and clarify the areas covered by the Law on Mutual Judicial Assistance and other laws on legal procedures.
Source: VNA/VOV
Art & Entertainment News 1/10

Dragon dance festival to celebrate Ha Noi's liberation

Dragon dance, My Tam, free concert 

Ha Noi will hold the fourth dragon dance festival this Saturday, as part of a series of cultural activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the city's liberation on October 10.
The Ha Noi Dragon Dance Festival 2014 will take place from 1.30pm to 18.30pm at the King Ly Thai To Park, opposite the Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake.
According to the organising board, the festival features pairs of dragon dancers from all districts in the city, promising a large-scale event with motley-embroidered dragons.
After the dragon dance and an award ceremony, the pairs of dragon dancers will parade around the Hoan Kiem Lake, which has been decorated with fresh flowers and flashing lights to create a joyful and festive ambience for the local people and foreign tourists alike.
German director to screen film in Viet Nam
Director Pepe Danquart will come to Viet Nam to screen his film, Run Boy, Run, in Ha Noi and HCM City this weekend.
The Academy Award winning director, whose work focuses on German society, sports and politics, comes at the Viet Nam Cinematography Association's invite.
Run Boy, Run, an adaptation of Uri Orlev's novel, tells the true story of an eight year old refugee who escapes from a Warsaw ghetto during the WWII German occupation. Along the way the boy is forced to rely on the goodwill of the people he meets in a battle-torn countryside.
The film will air at 7pm in German with Vietnamese and English subtitles. After the screenings, there will be question-and-answer sessions with the director.
Street Art Gallery Hanoi” celebrates German Unity Day
An art project entitled “Street Art Gallery Hanoi” is underway in Hanoi marking the 24th anniversary of German Unity Day (1990-2014) and 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Paintings showed on walls around the German Embassy campus in Hanoi aim to remind of the fall of the Berlin Wall- a historic event in the world.
Additionally, an online gallery with works involving in the project as well as painters’portraits will be posted on the website: www.streetartgallery-hanoi.com.
The exhibition runs until late 2014.
Veteran author writes cultural commentary
Noted culture researcher and author Huu Ngoc has just published a new book containing his commentaries on Vietnamese culture as well as famous Vietnamese and foreign contemporaries.
Titled Huu Ngoc – Dong Hanh Cung The Ki Van Hoa Viet Nam (Huu Ngoc Accompanies a Century of Vietnamese Culture), the book has three chapters: Nhung Nguoi Viet Cung Thoi (Vietnamese Contemporaries), Nhung Nguoi Nuoc Ngoai Cung Thoi (Foreign Contemporaries) and Nhung Goc Nhin Van Hoa (Cultural Views).
In his latest work, published by the Information and Communications Publishing House, the 96-year-old culturist writes about the development of Vietnamese culture including the impacts of exchange with foreign cultures.
His commentaries on Vietnamese and foreign acquaintances that he has directly met or been influenced by also paint a vivid picture of Vietnamese culture.
Among the people he discusses are Huynh Thuc Khang, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ho Chi Minh, Phan Khoi, Tan Da and Vu Trong Phung.
"In Vietnamese culture, we should understand the very important notion of change," Ngoc said at the book's launching ceremony held last Saturday as part of the Ha Noi Book Fair.
"So where or what is the Vietnamese cultural identity?
"The roots of over 3,000 years ago are still living. For example, here and there, there are still images of ploughs and buffaloes; old folk verses and songs still live in the souls of Vietnamese people, consciously and subconsciously."
Poet Tran Dang Khoa said Huu Ngoc's latest work was "a special book, a dense and diverse cultural forest with many colours, simple, strange and alluring.
"Huu Ngoc does not seem to age. He's like a fossil skeleton. Time seems unable to "strike" him. He's like a river flowing very rapidly…"
Born in 1918 in Ha Noi, Huu Ngoc is fluent in four foreign languages – French, English, German and Chinese. He has authored numerous articles, including commentaries on foreign cultures and long-running columns in Le Courier du Vietnam and Viet Nam News.
His writing is light, but carries many interesting and little-known facets of a culture, using historical sources, myths, legends, festivals, cuisine and politics. He also delves into spiritual aspects of other cultures.
A collection of his essays titled A Sketch of Vietnamese Culture in French and English is considered a literary landmark that was presented by the Vietnamese Government to visiting Heads of State at the 7th Francophone Meeting in Ha Noi in 1997.
He has continued to work on the book after 1997, developing it into a larger tome of 1,200 pages under a new title, Wandering through Vietnamese Culture that included selections from the weekly edition of Viet Nam News.
Khanh Hoa develops new tourism products
The central coastal province of Khanh Hoa’s Department of Tourism has developed a number of new tourism services in the run-up to the 6 th Asian Beach Games in 2016 in order to attract more holidaymakers to its Nha Trang city.
Among those are dolphin performances at Vinpearl Land and Flyboard, a water jetpack that propels those fearless enough to try it meters into the air.
In addition, the local tourism sector has looked into eco-tourism along the Cai River and the surrounding countryside. The province also aims to develop handicraft and fine arts facilities between now and 2020 in a bid to attract more visitors.
The province is undertaking maximum efforts to prepare for the Sea Festival 2015 and the 6 th Asian Beach Games in 2016, with a focus on infrastructure and tourism services.
This will be the third time an Asian sports competition is held in Vietnam , after the Asian Indoor Games in 2009 and the Southeast Asian Games in 2003.
During the first nine months of this year, Khanh Hoa welcomed more than 2.7 million tourists, up 21 percent compared to the year before. They included more than 608,000 foreign tourists, an increase of 26 percent.
The province earned more than 4.5 billion VND (214 million USD) from tourism activities.
Ancient literature temples honor Vietnamese literature
Five Vietnam’s ancient literature temples have been recognized as the country’s favorite spots, announced the General Director of Vietnam Guinness Book Center (Vietbooks).
Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam- the Temple of Literature that is also known as the first university of Vietnam was founded in 1070. Temple of literature has been not only a symbol of Vietnamese culture and intellectuals but also a Confucianism cultural icon of Hanoi and the country for nearly 1,000 years. Its campus houses a garden of 82 stone steles honoring 1,304 doctors who were honored in 82 ancient time examinations during 15th to 18th centuries (1442  -1779) under the reign of Le Kings. The Temple of Literature was recognized as the UNESCO’s World Documentary Heritage in 2010.
The remaining records are Xich Dang Literature Temple in Hung Yen Province, Mao Dien Literature Temple in Hai Duong Province, Van Thanh Temple in Thua Thien-Hue Province, and Tran Bien Literature Temple in Dong Nai Province’s Bien Hoa City.
Pop singer My Tam to bring free concert for youth
Vietnam's most famous pop singer, My Tam will give a free lconcert for students and youth at Military Zone 7 Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on November 9.
Music lovers will have a chance to enjoy her popular and latest songs in various musical genres, such as pop ballad, electronic dance Rock, Latin house and more.
Musicians Le Quang and Tam Vinh, choreographer John Huy Tran, dancers Lam Vinh Hai and Anh Khoa, and artists of the MTE dancing troupe will join the performance.
The organizer expects the concert will attract from 20,000-30,000 audiences.
The singer will also bring the music show to Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium on November 23rd.
Artists join street project to mark Germany’s unification
Artworks by 21 Vietnamese and foreign artists are being hung on walls surrounding the German Embassy in Hanoi under a German-sponsored project entitled ‘Street Art Gallery Hanoi’.
The project was launched as an event to mark Germany’s National Day (October 3, 1990 -2014) and the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall - a monumental day in history that led to Germany's reunification (1989-2014), announced the Embassy at a press conference in Hanoi on September 30.
Participating artists were encouraged to present their ideas of how to overcome barriers between people.
Works will be on display until the end of 2014. An online gallery of the exhibits and artists’ profiles can be seen at www.streetartgallery-hanoi.com.
Also at the press conference, Ambassador Jutta Gisela Frasch revealed the inauguration of a “German House” in Ho Chi Minh City in 2015. The construction is set to provide Vietnamese visitors with comprehensive information about the culture, politics and economy of Germany.
Hanoi to have 6 more pedestrian streets on weekends
Hanoi will make six more pedestrians only streets during weekends beginning October 3, said Nguyen Cong Khoi , party secretary of Hoan Kiem District.
These streets will include Hang Buom, Hang Giay, Luong Ngoc Quyen, Ma May, Dao Duy Tu and Ta Hien.
The move is aimed at creating more open space for tourists and help the cultural environment of the old quarter, particularly in terms of food.
According to the Hanoi People’s Committee, business activities on the sidewalks will be banned to make walking easier for tourists.
The committee also licensed several parking lots covering a total area of 648 square metres to facilitate the increased parking demand.
In April this year, Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company piloted the project to make these six streets pedestrian only. They found that the project would be feasible and had strong public support.
The Department of Transport has been asked to improve the road surface of these streets.
Vietnam artists to support half-Vietnamese survivor of ferry disaster in Korea show
Around 30 Vietnamese artists will be in South Korea next month to join a four-day program to support the Vietnamese community in the East Asian country, particularly a half-Vietnamese girl who survived the tragic Sewol ferry disaster in April.
They include singers Thu Minh, Hoang Hai, Truc Nhan, Trang Phap, cai luong (a kind of Vietnamese traditional music) artist Que Tran, and the artist delegation from the Vietnam Contemporary Art Theatre.
The program, running from October 1 to 4, aims at establishing an aid society to support Kwon Ji Yeon, the five-year-old passenger rescued from the Sewol ferry that sank off South Korean coast on April 16.
Kwon was born to a Vietnamese mother and a South Korean father who died in the accident with her older brother. The Sewol ferry disaster killed more than 290 people.
The program is one of the major activities of a series to celebrate the 22nd year anniversary of the Vietnam – South Korean relation.
The main show of the program, slated to take place on September 3 at Hong Seong City in Chung Cheong Nam District, is expected to be broadcast on Vietnam Television on November 9, and in South Korea the same month.
The show director Oh Hyung Jick has expressed his appreciation of Vietnamese artists since they do not receive any payment for their performance.
This is the second time the show is hosted in South Korea, after last year’s event, which caught attention from the Vietnamese community in the country.
Both shows are intended to help Vietnamese people living in Korea ease the nostalgia for their homeland.
There are around 230,000 Vietnamese people living in Korea, including about 70,000 Vietnamese wives of local men.
The performances also hope to help children who were born to Vietnamese – Korean parents understand more about Vietnamese culture.
Japanese antiques on show in city
The exhibition ‘Japanese Antiques’ has just opened at the HCMC Museum of History, displaying about 240 antiques dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty from the 16th century to give Vietnamese visitors a glimpse of Japanese history and culture.
On display, antiques are arranged into different themes from household ceramic utensils and bronze worshipping objects like Buddhist statues and altar cupboards to metal coins and many fine arts works.
Vietnamese people can have a chance to admire Katana sword, a wooden or metal weapon of the Japanese people in the 17th century, as well as traditional altar cupboards and incense burners for use in rituals of Japanese, and Netsuke masks made of wood.
The show aims at highlighting the trade exchange between Vietnam and Japan from the 16th century when Japan merchants visited Vietnam for commercial and cultural exchanges.
The exhibition runs until February 29 next year at the museum, 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in HCMC’s District 1.
Source: VNS/SGGP/VOV/Dantri
EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 1-10 (daily updated)

Pop Concert with Sophie Maurin in Hanoi and HCMC
Sat 11 Oct 2014, 8 pm
L’Espace, Hanoi
24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội
Fri 10 Oct 2014, 8 pm
IDECAF, HCMC
You are invited to the Pop Concert with Sophie Maurin in Hanoi and HCMC.
The singer – songwriter Sophie Maurin made an appearance on French and international music scene in 2013 with her debut album entitled “Far away”, which is rich in pop and catchy melodies. Accompanied with her piano, the young architect takes us into a world in constant motion where composers are inspired by blues and classics underline a feminine and soft voice.
Tickets
Ticket price: 160 000 VND
Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 80 000 VND
Tickets are available at L’Espace and IDECAF.
Screening of Film “Mère et Fille”
Fri 10 Oct 2014, 8 pm
L’Espace
24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội
You are invited to the screening of “Hidden Diary” (French, 2009, 105 mins) directed by Julie Lopes Curval.
For more information about the 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.
Oktoberfest 2014 in Hanoi and HCMC
Hanoi: 23 and 24 Oct 2014, 6 pm
JW Marriott Hotel
HCMC: 10 and 11 Oct, 14 – 18 Oct 2014, 6 pm
7th floor, Jade Balloom
Windsor Plaza Hotel
Oktoberfest comes back to Hanoi and HCMC this October. The Oktoberfest in Vietnam definitely creates the authentic atmosphere found in the massive beer halls of the original Oktoberfest in Munich, complete with delicious German cuisine, premium imported German brews and a great party mood with very authentic Bavarian music from the band “Gaukis Bavaria” in Ho Chi Minh City and the “Anton Showband” in Hanoi, who promise to keep the party in both cities rocking through the nights this year.
Source: vietmaz.com
Tickets
Hanoi:
GBA non-member: 1,210,000vnd/ticket
GBA members and non-member with order of more than 20 tickets: 1,100,000vnd/ticket
For tickets reservation, please contact at 08. 3823 9772, ext 112 or email Ms. Ngoc at: oktoberfesthanoi@gba-vietnam.org
Or hotline: 84 986219180 (Pierre) / Email: hien.le@marriott.com
HCMC:
For Tue – Thu: 1,000,000vnd/ticket
For Fri and Sat: 1,300,000 vnd/ticket
For tickets reservation, please contact: 08. 3823 9772, ext 113 or email: oktoberfestsaigon@gba-vietnam.org.
JW Marriott Hotel
8 Do Duc Duc Str, Me Tri, North Tu Liem, Hanoi
Windsor Plaza Hotel
8 An Duong Vuong, District 5, HCMC
Theatre Performance “Waiting for Godot”
09, 10 and 12 Oct 2014, 7 pm
Sat 11 Oct 2014, 3.30 pm
Cargo Bar
7 Nguyen Tat Thanh, D.4, HCMC
You are invited to theatre performance of “Waiting For Godot” by Samuel Beckett. Generally considered to be one of the finest plays of the twentieth century this black comedy takes a lighthearted and irreverent look at the biggest questions in life: Who are we? Why are we here? What are we waiting for? The play follows two men as they wait for the seemingly never present Godot. At times striking and thought-provoking, at others down right silly, this is a play for all.
Tickets
Purchase your tickets at ticketbox.vn – 300,000 VND in advance, 350,000 VND at the door.
Performance of Ballet “Coppélia” in October
Thu 09 Oct 2014, 8 pm
HCMC Opera House
No. 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC
Following the huge success of two performances in the last August, the classical ballet Coppélia (The Girl with the Enamel Eyes) by Léo Delibes will come back to HCMC Opera House on 09 Oct 2014.
Coppélia is a comic ballet originally choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon to the music of Léo Delibes, with libretto by Charles Nuitter. Nuitter’s libretto and mise-en-scène was based upon two stories by ETA Hoffmann: Der Sandmann (The Sandman), and Die Puppe (The Doll).
Coppélia, considered one of the greatest comic ballets of the 19th Century, has remained one of the best-loved classical works in the ballet repertory.
Music: Leo Delibes
Choreography: Johanne Jakhelln Constant
Assistant choreography: Mer. A. Phan Thị Hồng Châu, Trần Hoàng Yến
Scenography: Johanne Jakhelln Constant
Costume design: Johanne Jakhelln Constant
Lighting design: Nguyễn Phúc Hải
Stage manager: Nguyễn Mạnh Duy Linh
Swanhilda: Trần Hoàng Yến / Đinh Thị Diễm Trang
Franz: Đàm Đức Nhuận / Hồ Phi Điệp
Dr. Copelius: Bùi Ngọc Quang
Performed by HBSO Ballet
Tickets
Ticket price: 650.000 – 550.000 – 400.000 – 150.000 VND (For students)
Booking and Delivery: 08 38237419, Ms. Hương 0989874517, Mr.Luân: 0903041959 at HCMC Opera House, no. 7 Lam Son Square, District 1, HCMC
Exhibition by Jeong Il Jin, Painter of the Fire
Opening: Tue 30 Sep 2014, 5 pm
Exhibition: 30 Sep – 06 Oct 2014
Korean Cultural Centerc
49 Nguyen Du, Hanoi
You are invited to the art exhibition “Jeong Il Jin, Painter of the Fire”.
12 oil paintings on canvas themed “Fire” successfully record burning moments of the fire and raise different questions towards human life. “At the moment he looks at blazing fire, he wonders himself what is the purpose of existence”.
Exhibition of Wearable Art Collaborative Project “Memories of Vietnam” at Lucy’s Dream
Exhibition: 30 Sep – 15 Oct 2014, 10 am – 10 pm
Lucy’s Dream
31 Hang Giay, Hanoi
Showcasing our latest collaborative wearable art collection featuring Viet Phuong Le, the artist with his outstanding Digital Art Manipulation and Hand-drawing Skills.
“Memories of Vietnam” strings together historical elements, modern symbols and emblematic images of Vietnam, such as the Dong Son Bronze Drum, the Temple of Literature, Traditional Propaganda Artworks, Sapa Ladder Rice Fields, etc. Our aim is to engineer visually-striking objects of art around the human forms, to create an innovative collection that will be remembered for its design aesthetic as well as function.
The Second Hanoi Open Exhibition
Opening: Sun 05 Oct 2014, 3 pm
Exhibition: 05 – 26 Oct 2014
Work Room Four
24th floor, Packexim Building, lane 15, An Duong Vuong Str, Tay Ho, Hanoi
We would like to formally invite you to the opening of the Second Hanoi Open Exhibition on Sunday, 5th of October 2014 at 3pm. Our first Open Exhibition in 2013 showcased over 100 artworks produced by more than 60 artists. Similarly, this year, we have received a large range of submissions from established and unknown, professional and amateur, national and international artists. The exhibition will take place in our exciting new space on the 24th floor of Packexim Tower 1, 49 An Duong Vuong.
The exhibition is designed to be a unique showcase for art and design in a variety of style and media, including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. The works have been selected and curated by Work Room Four Directors and artists. This year, we have received generous sponsorship from a number of organizations for 7 different awards. Works will be judged by a panel consisting of Work Room Four directors, our sponsors, and Suzanne Lecht from Art Vietnam Gallery, who will oversee the process and offer her expertise.
Free entry.
Hanoi Urban Flea Market in October
Sun 05 Oct 2014, 9 am – 5 pm
Hanoi Rock City
27/56 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho, Hanoi
Hanoi Urban Flea Market open-air shopping and gathering place where people from all walks of life come to buy and sell new and used stuff, So whether you are clearing out the attic, leaving the country, strapped for cash or just looking for a good day out, is the meeting point for all those who want to remove stuff in good conditions from home and for those who come to browse or simply have a good time with friends in a good atmosphere.
Here you will find a mish-mash of second hand, vintage and retro clothing, collectibles and antiques, as well as a tightly curated selection of jewelry, art, and crafts by local artisans and designers and much, much more! It is the best spot to meet your friends, browse, rummage, haggle, drink and eat delicious food.
Ticket: 15,000 VND
“Z” Factor 2014 – Connecting Souls
Sun 05 Oct 2014, 8 pm
Hanoi Club
76 Yen Phu, Hanoi
“Z” Factor 2014 will be a chain of events including the main event held on 5th October 2014, in the presence of “Alisson Sandi” – “Audrey Isautier” and many famous Vietnamese artists such as Nhat Thuy (winner of Vietnam Idol 2013), Minh Hien, Toan Trung, Hoa Duc Cong (So you think you can dance),…
Alisson and Audrey are world’s leading zoukers and have won numerous awards internationally. In particular, they achieved the gold medal for Zouk at the Australian Championship in May 2014;
You can also join Zouk’s workshops:
- Workshop 1:
19:00 – 20:30, Thursday, 2nd October 2014
BlackBox, 2nd Floor, 54-56 Nguyen Khuyen, Ha Noi
- Workshop 2:
19:00 – 20:30, Friday, 3rd October 2014
Hanoi Dancesport Club, 14A Trinh Hoai Duc, Ha Noi
- Workshop 3:
19:00 – 20:30, Saturday, 4th October 2014
Hanoi Dancesport Club, 14A Trinh Hoai Duc, Ha Noi
Tickets
Workshop Fee: 200,000 VND (10$) / 1 Workshop
Main Event Ticket: 250,000 VND (12$)
Full Pass: 700,000 VND (33$) (no discount)
Hotline: 0938 279 510    
JF Garage Concert Vol. 04 – J-CLASSIC
Sat 04 Oct 2014, 8 – 9 pm
Courtyard, Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung
Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam proudly presents its fourth act of the JF Garage Concert, “J-CLASSIC” by Hanoi Ensemble & friends in Hanoi on Saturday 4 October 2014.
Hanoi Ensemble consists of young artists and teachers from Vietnam National Academy of Music. They had studied in Vietnam and several well-known conservatories abroad. Members of Hanoi Ensemble had won several domestic as well as international prestigious music prizes. They have participated and plays regularly in several concerts, music festivals as well as many cultural exchange programs in Vietnam and abroad.
In this fourth garage concert, Hanoi Ensemble & friends introduce us not only all-time masterpieces by Antonio Vivaldi, Béla Bartók and Ástor Piazzolla but also a variety of classical and popular tunes from Japan, including by Nanae Mimura, Takatsugu Muramatsu and Shin-itchiro Yokoyama.
JF Garage Concert is a series of concerts at the garage and courtyard of the Japan Foundation in hope to provide musical diversity to Hanoi through the introduction of Japanese music played by distinguished musicians.
Program
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
“Le Quattro Stagioni, The Four Seasons” – String Quartett
L’estate , Summer
L’ inverno, Winter
Béla Bartók (1881-1945)
“Contrasts” – Piano, Violin & Clarinet
Verbunkos
Ástor Piazzolla (1921 – 1992)
“History du Tango” – Flute & Marimba
Bordel 1900
Nanae Mimura (*1974)
Transformation of Pachelbel’s “Canon” – Marimba
Takatsugu Muramatsu (*1978)
Land – Marimba
Shin-Ichiro Yokoyama (*1982)
“Le Nid des Roseaux” – Flute, Violin, Viola & Cello
Takeda no Komoriuta: Lullaby of takeda
(Japanese folk song) – Violin, Viola, Cello
Soran-bushin
(Traditional Japanese song) – Flute
Furusato: Hometown
(Japanese folk song) – Piano, Violin, Clarinet
Aizu Bandai-san
(Japanese folk song) – Tutti
Free admission and no registration is required. First come, first served (Capacity: around 100 guests)
Screening of Film “Run Boy, Run” and a Talk with the Director
Sat 04 Oct 2014, 7 pm
Goethe Institut
56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
You are invited to the film screening “Run Boy, Run” with the participation of director Pepe Danquart from Berlin.
Run Boy, Run! is the film adaption of the same-titled novel of Uri Orlev, which has been translated into 15 languages. The book tells the true story of an 8 year old refugee, escaping from the ghetto of Warsaw, who is out on a limb during the occupation period. Always depending on the goodwill of the people he meets on his way.
Academy Award-winner Pepe Danquart staged this oppressive and impressive story of a boy who manages to be one step ahead of his pursuers for three years because of his courage and an incredible instinct for survival as an ode to life and humanity into chaos.
Genre: drama, colour, 107 minutes
FSK: from 12 years old Germany/France/Poland 2013
Language: German with Vietnamese and English subtitles
Free entrance.
Pepe Danquart was born in Singen. He studied communication science from 1975 to 1981 at the university in Freiburg und was co-founder of the  
collective Medienwerkstatt. He taught at German Film and Television Academy Berlin and has been lecturer at Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg. His short films and documentaries reflect German society, sports and political affairs. In 1994 he received the best short film Oscar for “Schwarzfahrer”.
Image from danquart.de
Screening of Film “Les Gamins”
Fri 03 Oct 2014, 8 pm
L’Espace
24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội
You are invited to the film screening “Les Gamins” (French, 2013, 95 mins) directed by Anthony Marciano.
“Two men, two kids’ dreams. Two prices to pay for regaining their teenage dreams? … A real burst of French laughter.”
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
Monsoon Music Festival 2014
02 – 04 Oct 2014
Thang Long Imperial Citadel
19 Hoang Dieu St., Hanoi
For the first time in Hanoi, a true music festival featuring international and local famous artists, will be held in 3 consecutive days.
A colorful and sumptuous musical feast of professional artists who will perform jointly to thousands of audiences in a large outdoor space.
Be ready for the performance of famous artists Vietnam: Thanh Lam, Ha Tran, Suboi… and from countries Denmark, England, France, Belgium, South Korea, Japan; an annual music festival aims to become an international brand name made and developed by the community.
Ticket
Ticket price: VND80 000VND/ticket.
Ticket price for students: VND150 000/3 nights
Tickets are available now at:
- Ticket booth at Thang Long Imperial Citadel (Hoang Dieu St., Hanoi)
- Paris Deli – Ciao Coffeee
- Cộng Café
- Tonkin Coffee
- Argento Coffee
- Âu Lạc Cafe (3A Nguyen Khac Can, Hanoi)
- Ấy Café & Lounge (63 Hang Bun, Hanoi)
- Swing Lounge & Cafe (21 Trang Tien, Hanoi)
- Cosa Nostra Lounge & Cafe (24 Tong Dan, Hanoi)
- The Bank Entertainment (41 Hai Ba Trung St., Hanoi)
Exhibition “Black and White”
Opening: Fri 03 Oct 2014, 6 – 9 pm
Exhibition: 03 Oct – 03 Nov 2014
Craig Thomas Gallery
27i Tran Nhat Duat, Tan Dinh ward, Q.1, HCMC
You are invited to “Black and White”, a solo exhibition of lacquer paintings by Binh Duong-based artist Nguyen Quang Son.
Nguyen Quang Son was born and raised in what is commonly referred to as the “lacquer village” in Binh Duong Province. Son says, “Growing up in a family wedded to the use and production of lacquer, it is quite natural for me to pursue this as my artistic practice. I know and understand this special material and am more intrigued by the possibilities of lacquer than I am of any other kind of creative material.”
Lacquer is among the most technically demanding and time consuming of materials for an artist to work with. Experience is crucial and one small error at any of the numerous stages of creation can mean the difference between success and failure. In this regard, Son benefits from operating a workshop where in addition to making his own art he also produces basic materials used by other lacquer artists. This includes the commercial production of vóc which are the upholstered and lacquered panels of wood which serve as the beginning “canvas” upon which lacquer artists craft the images in their work.
Son’s bona fides as a lacquer craftsman serve him well in his artistic practice. His fluency with the entire lacquer process is evident in the flawless colors and smooth finishing achieved in his paintings of the Black and White series. Eschewing the traditional themes of temples and rural life common to most Vietnamese lacquer painting, Son has chosen a more abstract route for his latest collection. He uses large quantities of sliced pieces of mother of pearl, inlaid into the lacquer and sanded to a delicate fineness, to create his abstract compositions. Set against the deep black background of the lacquer, Son’s images glitter and sparkle evoking the infinite cosmos.
Nguyen Quang Son (b. 1971) graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts University in 1998.
Exhibition “VietnamSouth Korea Art Exchange”
Opening: Wed 01 Oct 2014, 4.30 pm
Exhibition: 01 – 07 Oct 2014
Exhibition House 29 Hang Bai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
On the occasion of 60th anniversary of Hanoi Liberalization, Hanoi Fine Arts Association in collaboration with Busan International Art Exchange  Association is holding an exhibition titled “Vietnam – South Korea Art Exchange”.
The exhibition expresses the intimate relationship and offers a better understanding of Korean and Vietnamese culture, plus a chance to learn from one another in both daily life and art creation.
During one week, 108 artworks including Paintings, Graphics and Sculptures will be featured (84 artworks by Korean artists), which all reflect life and the mindset of Korean and Vietnamese people. Main materials used by Korean artists are acrylic, water color and oil while traditional ones: lacquer, oil, silk, acrylic, synthetic are preferred by Vietnamese counterparts. People, lively everyday activities and beautiful landscapes of two countries are the main themes of this exhibition.
The opening will be held at 4.30 pm at Exhibition House, 29 Hang Bai Street, open to public from 01 – 07 Oct 2014.
VNN
Seminar looks at future of local cocoa industry
 
Cacao is processed at a cacao development centre in the southern province of Binh Phuoc. The cocoa industry sees new opportunities thanks to growing global demand, which is expected to cause a shortage of one million tonnes in 2020. - VNA/VNS Photo The Anh
HCM CITY (VNS) - Agricultural officials, experts, farmers, and business executives yesterday discussed the state of the cocoa industry and the opportunities to develop it in Binh Phuoc and the south-eastern region at a seminar held in the province.
Organised by the "Cooperation for enhancing sustainable cocoa development" project (also known as PPP Cocoa) in collaboration with the Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, it sought to help agriculture managers and policy makers come up with a more efficient production paradigm to deliver benefits to farmers and the agricultural sector in the region.
Le Thi Phi Van, a researcher at the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, said a study done in Binh Phuoc in July underlined the great potential of the cocoa industry.
"The climatic conditions and soil and the very large area under cashew (around 140,000 ha) are ideal for developing an intensive cocoa-cashew farming model there," she said.
Nguyen Van Hoa, deputy director of the Department of Crop Production, said the cocoa-cashew model was, if enough water was available, a suitable intercropping solution for cashew growing areas, helping increase the productivity and quality of both crops.
There were many successful instances of this model in the province which have delivered more efficiency for farmers and increased the value of each unit of land, he said.
Le Xuan Phien, a farmer in Thong Nhat Commune in the province's Bu Dang District, said that he planted 600 cocoa trees on one hectare of cashew and coffee, annually harvesting around one tonne of dry cocoa beans, two tonnes of cashew, and 1.2 tonnes of coffee to earn more than VND100 million (US$4,760). "Since we intensively farm cocoa-cashew, my family's income has increased by VND40-60 million ($1,900-2,850) a year."
Nguyen Vinh Thanh, director of the cocoa sector at Cargill Viet Nam, said, "When planting 500 additional cocoa trees on one hectare of cashew and intensively farm both, farmers can double their income to around VND80 million ($3,800) per hectare at current prices."
In the domestic market, fermented cocoa bean prices have been stable since the beginning of the year at VND55,000-59,000 ($2.6-2.8) per kilogram (excluding the premium), a significant increase from the VND45,000 ($2.1) prevailing at the end of last year.
When farmers apply proper farming practices and suitable fertilisers, cocoa trees offer high yields and profits.
Binh Phuoc has been implementing policies to enable farmers to grow cocoa in a sustainable manner, and targets increasing the area under intensive cocoa-cashew farming to 20-30 thousand hectares by 2020.
Phan Van Don, deputy director of the Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said, "The model of intensive cocoa-cashew farming in the province has brought about greater efficiencies and saving of lands compared to monoculture crops, contributing to a shift towards crop diversification and the province's poverty reduction programme."
With its potential and advantages, the province was expected to become one of the major cocoa-growing regions in Viet Nam, contributing greatly to socio-economic development at the local and national levels, he said.
The cocoa sector in the province also receives great support from the private sector. The PPP Cocoa project, for instance, aligns the public efforts with those by Mars, Cargill, Grand Place Puratos, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Dutch Government, Rabobank Foundation, and IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative.
PPP Cocoa aims to achieve sustainable development in Viet Nam by supporting the development of quality seeds, technical transfer through training and creation of model fields, lending fertilisers, and making a commitment to buy cocoa.
The cocoa industry sees new opportunities thanks to the growing global demand, which is expected to cause a shortage of one million tonnes in 2020, according to experts. The demand is rising significantly in populous emerging countries like China, India, and Indonesia, which are also Viet Nam's markets.
Viet Nam has suitable climate and soil for the crop, and its cocoa products are considered among the world's best. - VNS