Nadarzyn orchestra to bring Polish music space to Vietnam

Nadarzyn orchestra will perform on the streets of Vietnam on the occasion of Hue Festival 2014 under title ‘Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development’ from April 12-20, announced by the organizers of Hue Festival on January 13.

On the occasion, the Poland musicians will perform many musical genres, including folk , pop, jazz and classical tune. The musicians will paradise on the streets with cloths like soldiers and musical instruments such as drums, clarinets in order to attract more and more viewers.

This is the first time that the Poland orchestra will perform in Vietnam, expectedly, they will bring special Polish music to Vietnamese audiences.

Nadarzyn orchestra was founded in 1998 by music director Miroslaw Chilmanowicz, which is considered as one of outstanding orchestra in Poland.

Nadarzyn orchestra has ever toured in many countries around the world such as Italy , Czech Republic , Ukraine , Bulgaria , Germany , China , Malaysia, Singapore and the United States.

Moreover, Nadarzyn orchestra was awarded the medal ‘Contribute to the Polish Culture’ by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland.

New photo book on General Giap published

Photographer Tran Tuan, a former photo journalist of the Vietnam News Agency, has published a photo album on General Vo Nguyen Giap titled "General Giap in People's Hearts".

The book is a compilation of more than 100 photos taken before, during and after General Giap's funeral, and showcases the Vietnamese reactions to the general's death in October last year and how they paid their respects.

The pictures were taken at various locations, such as General Giap's house at 30 Hoang Dieu Street in Ha Noi, the National Funeral House in Ho Chi Minh city and the general's hometown in the central province of Quang Binh.

Tuan spent 35 years accompanying the general and has captured thousands of images, especially the important moments of the legendary general's life.

Bilingual fairy tales published

The Kim Dong Publishing House has introduced a series of fairy tales in both English and Vietnamese in time for the lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

The collection includes popular, well-know fairy tales favoured by generations of Vietnamese children and their parents, such as Cô bé quàng khăn đỏ (The little girl in a red scarf), Ba chú heo con (Three Little Pigs), Cậu bé người gỗ Pinocchio (The wooden boy), and Vịt con xấu xí (The Ugly Duckling).

Each story gives a valuable moral lesson that helps improve children’s reasoning and promote their creativity.

The newly-published series comprising of six books also provides readers with Q&A sessions and several fun activities.

Magic show appears on TV screens

A reality show on which illusionists will conjure up money to help disadvantaged people and perform other magic tricks starting this Friday promises to be the year's hottest show on HCM City Television's Channel 7.

Bo Tu Ao Thuat (The Magic Four), which will air on Fridays at 9pm, will feature Chung Manh Tai, 23, Hoang Tuan Vu, 22, Tran Anh Duc, 25, and Le Phuc Thinh, 24 performing four distinct styles of street magic.

In each 25-minute episode, they will also help needy people or a charity organisation by raising funds, turn a disadvantaged person's dream into reality, teach children magic, and focus on a social issue and join a community activity.

The show has been shot in crowded areas to "promote Viet Nam's tourism and culture", its producer Vu Quang Tri said.

There are certain elements that would ensure the success of the programme, he said. The first is that magic has not been exploited much on TV. The show has plenty of human interest by providing a "golden moment" and smiles for unfortunate people, he added.

Dien Quan Media & Entertainment's show has been produced by a foreign crew comprising Malaysian director Chew Han Tah and photographer Ngoh Min Kit, French art director and magic consultant Jean Eichelbrenner, and American scriptwriter Max Murta.

People wishing to help disadvantaged people through the show can do so ar www.botuaothuat.vn or Facebook fanpage www.facebook.com/botuaothuat.

Annual street book festival reflects city’s cultural characteristics

A street book festival, part of Nguyen Hue Flower Street-the much awaited annual flower show will open from January 28-February 3, according to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee's  Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

The book fair will include an exhibition of books and paintings commemorating the revered General Vo  Nguyen Giap and pay tribute to his great contribution to the country.

The display featuring 80 photos will be divided into four themes including “Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap in people's hearts”, “General Vo Nguyen Giap, the Commander-in-chief of the Vietnam People's Army”, “General Vo Nguyen Giap and international friends”, and “Vo Nguyen Giap, General of Peace”.

Exhibits will present to viewers the General’s revolutionary life and daily activities.

The street book festival featuring thousands of copies of publications of various genres such as politics, culture, history, literature and economics, and universal knowledge will be held on Mac Thi Buoi, Nguyen Hue and Ngo Duc Ke.

Publishing houses namely Fahasa Book Distribution Joint Stock Company, Thai Ha Books, Nha Nam, Tiki, Phan Thi and HCM City’s General Science Library will join the event.

Readers will have a chance to participate in exchanges with Italian painter Valentina Giannangeli; local painter Pham Thanh Tam; teacher and writer Nguyen Ngoc Ky; young writer Hamlet Truong and storyteller on radio, Nguyen Huong Duong, director of the Speaking Book Library for the Blind.