Art & Entertainment News In Brief

An exhibition opened yesterday to the capital to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Monkey. Titled Monkey, the show features 30 paintings depicting human's smart, clever and funny primate cousins.

Participating artists include Le Thiet Cuong, Nguyen Quang Thieu, To Hieu Chien and Nguyen Quoc Thai.

They will draw sketches and portraits of visitors during the exhibition which runs until February 2 at LACA Cafe, 24 Ly Quoc Su Street, Ha Noi.

Da Nang offers seven new tourism products

The Da Nang provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has unveiled new and renewed tourism products to be marketed this year.

The products include Than Tai mineral spring resort, Asia Park, Ba Na Hills Mountain Resort (second phase), Da Nang Fine Art Museum, new cruises on Han River, international events and art programmes.

It is noteworthy that Than Tai mineral spring resort with 70 mineral pools will be put into use as from April. It will upgrade the Multifunction Performance House, the culinary market, and the F1 race route. Meanwhile, Asia Park will offer a number of attractive entertainment programmes.

Da Nang city will increase the number of cruises and consider it a key for the tourism industry this year.

Tet DVD features nearly 300 performances

A Tet DVD set showcasing performances by 70 singers and 200 dancers titled Tet Trong Tam Hon (Tet in the Soul) was brought to the public in an event held yesterday in HCM City.

The Tet programme features some of the country's most popular singers performing traditional songs and a comedy sketch.

Notably, it also includes footage of overseas Vietnamese preparing to celebrate the traditional holiday as well as cultural experts' explanations of some of the most popular practices during the Lunar New Year Festival.

Hanoi to host 4th Int’l Film Festival

The fourth Hanoi International Film Festival (HANIFF) is set to take place in five days of the fourth quarter.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has authorized the Vietnam Cinematography Department and relevant agencies to organize the event.

Earlier, at the third HANIFF in 2014, the ‘Best Feature Film’ belonged to the Russian film ‘Two Women’ and the ‘Best Actor and Actress in Leading Roles’ came to Anna Astrakhantseva.

Vietnam’s Film ‘Flapping in The Middle of Nowhere’ (Dap canh giua khong trung) won the special award.

The third festival offered 190 film shows for 30,000 viewers.

Japanese cherry blossom festival to open in Feb

The Hanami (Cherry Blossom) Festival will take place from February 11-13 at Bao Son Paradise Park on the outskirts of Ha Noi.

Visitors will have a chance to enjoy real cherry blossom trees from Japan, and take part in a variety of traditional Japanese activities like yosakoi dancing and taiko drum performances. The highlight of the festival will be a costume contest for young Vietnamese people.

The festival aims to introduce Japan's cultural beauty to Vietnamese people, and promote cultural exchanges between the two countries on the occasion of Lunar New Year.

Ancient temple's restoration begins

Work to restore Cao Lo Vuong Temple in the northern Bac Ninh Province has been officially launched.

The project involves the restoration and embellishment of the Cao Lo Vuong cultural and historical relic. The VND42-billion (USVND44,667 million) project is divided into three contract packages.

Launched on Monday, with nearly VND27 billion (VND29,034 million) provided by Bac Ninh's department of culture, sports and tourism, the first contract package is managed by the Duy Linh Restoration and Construction Joint Stock Company.

During the restoration work, the original structure of the temple will be preserved, while the damaged sections will be replaced by using new materials such as iron wood. Some sections will be rebuilt, such as the place for votive paper burning, sanitary area, department for temple janitor and the kitchen.

According to Tran Quang Nam, the director of the local department of culture, sports and tourism, the Cao Lo Vuong Temple and tomb is a typical relic with high historical and cultural values.

The relic is also proof of Viet Nam's tradition of paying tribute to ancestors, which contributes to reinforcing national solidarity.

Legend says Cao Lo, a Vietnamese weaponry engineer and minister under King An Duong Vuong from 257 to 207BC, was born in Cao Duc Commune in Bac Ninh. He is credited with building the Co Loa ramparts and helping the king to build a crossbow, which he christened "Saintly Crossbow of the Supernaturally Golden Claw", to fight northern invaders.

To pay tribute to the talented general, the local people constructed his temple and tomb in Cao Duc Commune in Bac Ninh.

The temple has been restored a couple of times, but its original structure and designs have been preserved.

It was recognised as a national cultural and historical relic on March 8, 2006.

Thai Binh: Tran Temple Festival sets to open on Feb 20

The Tran Temple Festival, one of the biggest annual spring festivals in Vietnam, will open in the northern province of Thai Binh from the 13th to the 16th of the first lunar month, or February 20 to 23.

The festival will take place at the national historical complex of the Tran Kings’ shrines and tombs in Tien Duc commune, Hung Ha district.

It will start off the first day with an incense-offering rite at the Kings’ tombs and a ritual for the opening of the gates of Den Thanh (Thanh Temple), Den Mau (Mother Temple) and the Tran Kings’ shrines.

They will be followed by a water procession, in which about 1,000 people carry nine ornate palanquins with memorial plaques of the Kings of the Tran Dynasty and members of their royal families.

On the opening night, an hour-long performance titled “A Dynasty Shines Forever" will recreate Tran Dynasty (1225-1440) milestones to pay tribute to the dynasty’s dedication to the country.

A series of folk games will also be organised during the festival, such as a rice-cooking challenge, clay firecrackers, chung (sticky rice) cake wrapping and tug of war, alongside traditional performances.

The Tran Temple Festival was recognised as a national intangible heritage in 2014. The historical complex of the Tran Kings’ shrines and tombs received special national relic status last year.

The Tran Dynasty repelled the Yuan-Mongols on three occasions, making it the most brilliant reign in Vietnamese history.

Thai Binh is considered the birthplace of the Tran Kings, while Nam Dinh was their first residential area. The festival is also held at the Tran temple complex in the neighbouring province of Nam Dinh during the first lunar month every year.

US professor to talk untold stories of Vietnam’s legendary spy

Untold stories of Pham Xuan An will be brought to life for the first time in a event chaired by an American historian, who authored a book on the famed Vietnamese spy, in Ho Chi Minh City on January 23.

Prof. Larry Berman will disclose several pieces of information about An, which the late spy had specified in his will should only be made public after his death.

Berman is the author of the “Perfect spy X6 - the incredible double life of Pham Xuan An, Reuters, Time, New York Herald Tribune reporter & Vietnamese strategic intelligence general” book, which features the dangerous double life of revered Vietnamese intelligence general An.

The talk show will take place at the booth run by Tri Viet (First News) Publishing House on Nguyen Van Binh, known as the Ho Chi Minh City’s Book Street, in the city’s downtown area at 4:30 pm.

Prof. Berman hopes to be able to put more details, regarding An’s reports about China in 1972, in the next reprint of his book, he told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Friday morning.

In 1972, after the then President Richard Nixon’s visit to China, everything became a little tougher for An as there were many Chinese spies in Vietnam, according to the professor.

But Berman said he could not give more details when An’s reports on this period have yet to be approved by local authorities.

A Vietnamese screenwriter has adapted Berman’s book into a script for a 30-episode TV film, which is pending approval from the Vietnam Television before the filming process could start.

The U.S. professor is the film’s advisor and his visit to Ho Chi Minh City this time was therefore dedicated to read and revise the adapted screenplay.

Berman said he will have to discuss the screenplay with Cat Tien Sa, the film producer, and will provide details of the discussion during the talk show on Saturday.

But the professor said he is happy with the adapted screenplay as it is a full and detailed reflection of his book.

The movie tells the story of An in the same angle as the author did with his book, he said, adding that he hopes the film will soon be approved and broadcast.

Besides the TV series, the U.S. historian also plans to produce a widescreen movie about the Vietnamese spy.

Berman said he hopes that TV film will be approved and broadcast to give him a considerable amount of funding to invest in the widescreen movie.

The life of An is so great that it should be featured on the silver screen, the professor said.

The Hollywood movie should be shot in Vietnam, and it will be a film about war, peace, friendship and the love An had with both countries, he elaborated.

Berman asserted that the movie will be up to international standard and qualified for attending international film festivals.

He also revealed that he has dreamed of winning the “Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film” with his brainchild.

Pham Xuan An (1927 – 2006), also known by ‘X6’, ‘Hai Trung’ or ‘Tran Van Trung’, worked in South Vietnam as a reporter for Reuters, TIME magazine and the New York Herald Tribune during the Vietnam War, while at the same time spying for North Vietnam.

An lived this dangerous double life for more than twenty years. After the war, he was conferred with the title ‘Hero of the People's Army’ and promoted to general - one of the country’s only two intelligence officers to achieve that rank.

His eventful spy life has inspired several locally and foreign produced books and documentaries including Jean-Claude Pomonti’s “Un Vietnamien bien tranquille” (A tranquil Vietnamese) and Thomas A. Bass’s “Pham Xuan An's Dangerous Game”.

Prof. Berman, founding dean of the Georgia State Honors College and winner of the Bernath Lecture Prize, has written several books on the Vietnam War including “Planning a Tragedy: The Americanization of the War in Vietnam” and “Lyndon Johnson's War: The Road To Stalemate in Vietnam”.

Berman first wrote and published his book in 2007, after recording the eventful, thrilling spy life recounted by An himself.

Six years later, Berman made significant additions to his publication, including astoundingly intriguing facts and details on An’s life, which he recorded but did not include in his first edition.

Renowned Mexican photographers display works in town

The Mexican Embassy in Vietnam, the HCMC Union of Friendship Organizations and the War Remnants Museum of HCMC on January 20 opened an exhibition of photos by two famous Mexican photographers, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, at the museum.

Titled “Diego and Frida: Complicities,” the display marks the 41st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Mexico and celebrate the 43th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords which helped restore peace in Vietnam.

The photos on show were taken in the first half of the 20th century, Mexican Ambassador Sara Valdes told the opening ceremony.

The show familiarizes viewers with the historical, political and social context of Mexico during the period, strongly marked by the Mexican Revolution in 1910.

The photos also present different important life aspects of Rivera and Kahlo, who are considered two pillars of modern Mexican art, and emblematic figures of a generation of artists and intellectuals in defense of the working class, national values and Mexican culture, she said.

The exhibition has been held in different countries in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. The War Remnants Museum of HCMC is its first venue in Asia.

Huynh Ngoc Van, the museum’s director, said the exhibition will help Vietnamese people and foreigners to the museum know more about Mexican people and culture.

She said she expects the first such cultural and artistic event organized in HCMC by the Mexican Embassy to contribute to deepening ties between Mexico and Vietnam.

The War Remnants Museum is located at 28 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3.

Ossso Fusion to introduce fusion of traditional music and orchestra

Eleven pieces mingling orchestra and Vietnam’s traditional music will be performed at the Ossso Fusion Musical Experience at HCMC Opera House on Friday.

With an aim to bring traditional music of Vietnam to a higher level, musician Tran Manh Hung has done research on composing instrumental pieces by combining contemporary and traditional melodies.

The Spring Harmony themed show will be directed by Tat My Loan with the participation of local conductor Nguyen Viet Trung, Russian conductor Marius Stravinsky, traditional band Mat Troi Do (Red Sun), Meritorious Artist Tran Vuong Thach, director of the HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO), musician Nguyen Hoang Kim Quang, music expert Nhat Ly and artist Cao Ho Nga and artists of HBSO.

The organizers have also invested in speical visual and lighting effects. It will tell a music story of Vietnam, from the mountain to the sea.

“Three major elements of the show are the academic feature of classical music, diversified tunes of traditional music and a breath of contemporary melody. Traditional music and especially traditional musical instruments are an endless treasure for a composer,” said musician Tran Manh Hung at a press conference last week in HCMC.

‘Perhaps these 11 songs can’t completely express the whole big thing. However, this is what we are ambitious to preserve and promote the culture of Vietnam to the world,” Hung added.

It is expected that there will be more regular shows of Ossso Fusion Musical Experience to serve both local and international guests prior to the launch of the show overseas.

The invitation-only show will take place at the HCMC Opera House 7 Lam Son Square in HCMC’s District 1. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/Ossso.Fusion.

Thua Thien-Hue: 129 billion VND for restoring relic site

The Hue Relics Preservation Centre will pour 129 billion VND (5.8 million USD) into restoring the ancient imperial relic site in 2016.

Accordingly, architectural works such as Thai Binh Lau (Royal Library), Chieu Kinh Palace, and the tombs of Kings Dong Khanh and Thieu Tri will be restored and opened to the public this year.

Last year, the Hue relic site welcomed more than 2.3 million holiday-makers and earned nearly 210 billion VND (9.45 million USD) in revenue from entrance tickets.

In 2016, Thua Thien-Hue expects to serve from 3.1 to 3.3 million tourists, including 1.3 to 1.5 million foreigners.

The locality aims to pocket up to 3.3 trillion VND (144-148 million USD) from the tourism industry, a year-on-year rise of 10 to 12 percent, raising the tourism-service sector’s contribution to the provincial GDP to about 55.3 percent.

The Hue Relic Site was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 1993, and Hue Royal Court Music was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2003.

Vietnam acts as honourary guest at Kolkata book fair

Vietnam is joining in the 40th International Kolkata Book Fair – one of the biggest of its kind in the world – in Kolkata, the capital city of India’s West Bengal state, as a honourary guest.

At the opening ceremony on January 25, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh said this is the first time Vietnam has attended the fair as a honourary guest.

He expressed his hope that his country’s participation will contribute to the event’s success and help tighten the friendship and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam’s book pavilion at the fair displays more than 400 books in both Vietnamese and English. Many of them are about late President Ho Chi Minh, late General Vo Nguyen Giap, the country’s people and culture, and some literary works.

Signature Vietnamese handicrafts are also being exhibited there.

While Vietnamese painters will showcase the best of their artworks, singers and dancers from the People’s Police arts troupe will have a chance to popularise Vietnam’s image through their performances on January 28 – Vietnam Day at the event.

An exchange between Vietnamese author Ho Anh Thai with Indian writers and readers will be held on January 27.

The 40th International Kolkata Book Fair expects to attract millions of visitors and runs until February 7.

23 sites added to Dien Bien Phu battlefield relic complex

Twenty-three relic sites have been added to the Dien Bien Phu Battlefield Relics Complex in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien, lifting the total number of constituent sites in the complex to 45.

In 1961, Dien Bien was one of the 62 tourist attractions in the north recognised as a national relic site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It was further recognised as a special national relic site under a decision signed by the Prime Minister in 2009.

The addition lays a basis for the provincial authority to set up investment projects to preserve, embellish, and promote the value of the complex.

Dien Bien is home to 18 historical, cultural and tourism relic sites, including one special national relic site, 11 national relic sites and six local-level ones. Four sites considered intangible culture heritages of the province have been listed among the national intangible culture heritages.

Dien Bien Phu Battlefield was witness to Vietnam’s historical victory over France 62 years ago, which sent shockwaves reverberating around the world and helped end the nation’s nine-year war of resistance against the French colonialists.

Gia Lai works hard to preserve ethnic cultural identities

Authorities of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai have devised a series of measures to preserve and promote cultural identities of ethnic minority groups, which account for over 45 percent of the locality’s population.

The province, which possesses various cultural identities, considers this a key task for its 2015-2020 socio-economic development plan.

The province is implementing a 2016-2020 project to preserve and uphold the value of the Gong culture space, part of a plan to conserve and promote cultural values of ethnic minority communities. The space of Gong culture in the Central Highlands was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible and cultural oral masterpiece in 2005.

Gia Lai boasts more than 6,000 sets of gongs, many of them extremely old. It is home to 13 national sites and site complexes, as well as four local-level ones.

Research on gongs and traditional costumes of local ethnic minority groups have attracted the interest of scientists in and outside the province.

As part of efforts to preserve the art genre, many gong-playing courses have been organised in schools, and clubs and ensembles have been established. Gong festivals are held every two years, drawing many gong troupes from across the province.

Local authorities are also working to preserve the Bahnar group’s epic poems, which received the title of National Intangible Heritage in September 2013.

Preferential policies have also been adopted to encourage singers and storytellers to continue performing and passing their knowledge on to younger generations.

Additionally, training courses have been organised for staff working in cultural fields to improve their knowledge of conservation of traditional culture.

Communication campaigns aim to raise public awareness about the importance of cultural preservation, thus enhancing ethnic minority groups’ ability to conserve and promote their cultures.

Relevant agencies are working to support vocational training and build traditional trade villages that make brocades, weave and produce traditional musical instruments. Artisans were given funds to open classes on gong playing, folk singing and brocade weaving.

Local authorities have paid special attention to restoring and maintaining traditional festivals. They have also built and upgraded infrastructure in order to help maintain cultural parks, villages, and spaces for cultural exhibitions and museums.

According to Phan Xuan Vu, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, many traditional cultural identities of the locality are falling into oblivion because of increasing economic and cultural exchange among ethnic groups.

He urged stronger efforts and more practical measures from local authorities to deal with the situation, contributing to preserving cultural identities of local ethnic minority groups.