Exhibition displays photos of Vietnamese beauty

A photo exhibition featuring national beauty showcasing the best artworks from a competition launched by the Viet Nam Tourism magazine has opened at the Exhibition House, 45 Trang Tien Street.

Viet Nam – Endless Beauty showcases the best artworks from a photo competition launched by the magazine.

Ha Noi-based photographer Vu Thanh Chung won first place, followed by Thua Thien-Hue's Vo Dong Bay and Vinh Long's Nguyen Bach Thao (second prize) and Khanh Hoa's Vu Ngoc Hoang, HCM's Tran Vu Dung, and Yen Bai's Tuan Nghia (third prize).

The competition's organising board selected 164 works for inclusion in the 6th National Tourism Artistic Photograph Exhibition, open to visitors until tomorrow in Ha Noi.

Festival in Hoi An to mark ties with Japan

Street performances and traditional crafts of Viet Nam and Japan will light up the old streets as part of the annual Hoi An-Japan Cultural Festival on August 23-25.

Hoi An's sport and culture centre said the performances would include Japanese tea making, origami (paper-folding), samurai performances and Japanese food specialities like udon (Japanese noodles).

Yoko Ishikawa, a Japanese resident in Hoi An, said she proposed to create Hoi An lanterns using kimono fabric to hang by the Japanese bridge.

This year's festival marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Japan.

Opening events will take place on the Japanese Bridge.

Kim Hong invited to judge Mrs. America

Vietnam's First Mrs World Doan Thi Kim Hong will judge the Mrs. America due to take place in Arizona State from August 18-28.

In his letter, the President of the Mrs World Organisation, David Marmel, said as president and managing director of the Mrs. America, he is honoured to invite Hong to be a jurywoman.

This is the second time Hong has been invited to judge at such contests.

Hong said she will try her best to fulfill her duty as this is a good chance for her to show Vietnamese women’s qualification and knowledge.

In 2011, Hong honourably presented the crown to April Lufriu who was Mrs America and Mrs World.

Vietnamese models appreciated at Asian Contest

Vietnamese two representatives at the 2013 Asian Super Model Contest in Nanning (China) Nguyen Dieu Linh and Hoang Thu, have received enthusiastic applause from spectators.

They performed very well during the two- day photo shoot before entering the qualifying round of the contest in the first haft of July.

Dieu Linh‘s group is led by a supermodel from New Zealand who has made it to the top 10. Hoang Thu is in another group headed by an Indian representative, also listed among top 10

With their professional skill, style, and hospitality, they are very hopeful to enter the top ten.

Hoang Thu is 1.72m tall and measures 89-60-89. She has awarded the first prize and crowned Miss Bikini at last year’s Future Star Model Seeking Contest.

Dieu Linh is 1.72m tall and measures 85-62-88, having graduated from the Haiphong Vocational College of Tourism and Services. She got the second prize and the title of Miss Photogenic in the same event last year.

Artisan inspires paper flower revival

Than Van Huy has trained 30 young girls in his village to make paper lotus flowers in an attempt to revive the traditional craft in Hue's Thanh Tien Village.

Huy has used traditional techniques to make paper lotus flowers for seven years.

"The products are now standing firm in the market and I feel a need to train the younger generation in the village," said Huy, adding that he had a strong desire to revive the industry.

Ten of the girls have produced paper flowers for Huy under processing contracts, and have got family members involved as well.

In 2006, Huy and his brother, Than Dinh Hoai, revived the traditional technique and started to create paper lotus flowers.

The siblings have created various kinds of lotuses, including lotus buds, blooming lotuses and lotus lanterns to attract customers.

They have found strong demand from markets in Ha Noi, Hue and HCM City, and expect to expand their business throughout the village.

Villagers hope the paper lotus flowers will thrive now it has been given a new lease of life, 50 years after it disappeared from local life.

Vietnam joins Carnival Paris 2013

Vietnamese representatives, along with thousands of international friends from 50 countries, are participating in the 12th Carnival Paris from July 6.

This year’s carnival, themed “Confiserie du monde” (Global Confectionery), marks the first time Vietnam has entered, alongside other newcomers including Bolivia, Colombia, China, and Indonesia. The festival attracts around 200,000 visitors.

Vietnam’s participation in the event is part of Vietnam-France Exchange Year 2013 activities and commemorations for the 40th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The expatriate Vietnamese community in France has embraced the celebrations as a chance to introduce the beauty of their homeland to a cosmopolitan audience.

Participants and visitors were impressed by traditional Vietnamese costumes, musical instruments, and martial arts.

Hermano Sanches Ruivo, an official in charge of cultural and foreign affairs in Paris, praised Vietnamese performance, saying it helped further his understanding of Vietnamese culture and lifestyles despite never experiencing the country in person.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Duong Chi Dung said the event gives the Vietnamese delegation an opportunity to send a message of united national development.

The Carnival aims to honour the cultural diversity of French immigrant communities. Vietnam’s participation embodies its desire to engage in positive cultural diplomacy.

VNN/VOV/VNS