Children’s best selling author releases new book

Nguyen Nhat Anh, children’s best selling author, will present his latest book “Bay buoc toi mua he” (Seven Steps to summer) for his little readers in early 2015.

50,000 copies of the book and 5,000 hardcover copies will be released nationwide by the Youth Publishing House.

The writer will travel to Hanoi for book signing at Lam bookstore on March 1. He will sign books for readers in Ho Chi Minh City at Kinh Van Hoa  (kaleidoscope) bookstore in District 1 on March 8 and at the Youth Publishing House in District 3 on March 22.

The book's launch will kick off a series of events held by the publishing company in March.

Nguyen Nhat Anh is a favourite author of children, teenagers and adults. His well-known novels recently published include Toi la Beto (I am Beto);  Cho Toi Xin Mot Ve Di Tuoi Tho (Give me a ticket to childhood); Dao Mong Mo (Dream Island); and Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (I see  yellow flowers on green grass).

Anh was granted the Southeast Asian Writer Award last year for the book Cho Toi Xin Mot Ve Di Tuoi Tho (Give me a ticket to childhood).

Largest Buddhist flag go on display

The largest Buddhist flag of record, which is 25.58x20metres and weighs 60 kilograms,will be exhibited at the 2015 Yen Tu spring festival.

The flag has five colours namely green, yellow, red, white and orange thatrepresents the solidarity and unity of Buddhism in five continents.

The Yen Tu spring festival, which is one of the biggest festivals in the northern region, will kick off atthe Trinh Pagoda in Uong Bi Town in the  northern province of Quang Ninh on February 28,the ten day of the first Lunar month.

Within the framework of the festival, participants will enjoy a wide array of art performances such as lion-dragondancingand martial arts and folk  games.

This year, it is expected to attract 400 visitors and 2,500 Buddhist followers.

Dai Nam Van Hien tourism area offers free entry to visitors

The management of a popular tourism area, Dai Nam Van Hien, in the southern province of Binh Duong has announced free entrance for all  tourists. This special offer began on the third day of the Lunar New Year (February 20) and will end on March 20.

In November last year, the area offered free tickets, attracting millions of tourists to the province.

Con Son-Kiep Bac Spring Festival set to open on March 4

The Con Son-Kiep Bac Spring Festival 2015 will open on March 4 in the northern province of Hai Duong, with many cultural features. The festival  this year will celebrate the 50th year since the day that Uncle Ho, or former president Ho Chi Minh, visited the site.

During the four-day festival, many traditional games and competitions will be organised.

Con Son-Kiep Bac has been ranked as a National Relic since 1962. In 2013, the Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival became the national  intangible heritage of the country.

Vietnam shines at Egypt cultural festival

Vietnam made its inaugural presence at Egypt’s Sakia Sawi, an international cultural week, which turned to the 12th edition this year, on  February 26.

The event took place in Cairo with the participation of 21 countries and territories around the world.

As the first-time attendee, Vietnam brought to the festive event its classic dance with iconic conical hats, leaving a significant impression on  friends worldwide.

An open space displaying distinguishable Vietnamese traditional items, such as Dong Son bronze drums, stone musical instrument and conical  hats, also enjoyed attention from the crowd.

Egypt was the first Arabian country to establish relationship with Vietnam. On September 1, 1963, the two nations established official diplomatic  relations. The same year, the Embassy of Vietnam was opened in Cairo. One year later, Egypt opened its Embassy in Hanoi.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Dao Thanh Chung, trade turnover between Vietnam and Egypt reached 400 million USD in  2014, doubling the previous year’ figure.

Besides, image on the land and people of Vietnam has been broadcast on Egypt’s Nile TV and Egyptian TV channels, helping the Egyptians  better understand the Southeast Asian country as well as contributing to promoting friendship between the two countries.-

Tuyen Quang ethnic groups observe Long Tong festival

Ethnic groups in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang on February 26 held the Long Tong (going to the field) festival – an annual  ritual of the Tay ethnic people that became part of the national intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

Amidst the spring festive atmosphere, the locals as well as visitors flocked to the provincial Chiem Hoa district for the age-old agriculture festival,  which is traditionally observed on the eighth day of the first lunar month to pray for favourable weather, bumper crops, and happiness.

The annual event began with a parade of nine trays of local specialties as offering to gods to thank them for good crops and hope for a well-off  and blissful life in the New Year.

It was followed by a lion dance performed by youngsters, a Tich Dien (ploughing) ceremony, and folk games such as tug of war, stick pushing and  cloth ball throwing.

The festival, which is also popular in other northern mountainous provinces such as Bac Kan , Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang, Lang Son and Ha Giang,  has become a tourist attraction every Spring.

In addition to Long Tong festival, Tuyen Quang province boasts other national intangible cultural heritage, namely Then singing of the Tay ethnic  minority group, “cap sac” (coming-of-age) and “Pao dung” singing of the Dao ethnic group.

TripAdvisor names Vietnam beach among Asia’s top 25

Cua Dai in central Vietnam has been listed among the top 25 beaches in Asia by travel website TripAdvisor.

Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An City’s Cam An Ward, located in Quang Nam Province, ranked 18th on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Beaches-Asia” list.

The website describes Cua Dai as “a ‘hidden’ gem” and suggests the best time to explore the gorgeous beach is between February and August.

“Hoi An is a well-preserved example of the important Southeast Asian trading port it was from the 15th-19th centuries. Already a common stop  for backpackers, it is becoming better known to tourists. Sights include the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Quan Cong Temple,” the site said.

Topping the list is White Beach in Boracay, the Philippines, which is followed by Radhanagar Beach on India’s Havelock Island, and Nai Harn  Beach in Rawai, Thailand.

In July last year, Cua Dai Beach and Non Nuoc Beach in Da Nang were also included in the website’s “Top 25 Best Beaches in Asia” category.

Expert criticises inappropriate cultural value at violent festivals

Rising violence at some traditional festivals may be related to the revival of inappropriate cultural values, a researcher from the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts Studies (VICAS), Bui Trong Hien, has suggested.

Hien says the encouragement of people to fight and attack one another to get some items during such festivals as the Giong in the Soc temple of Hanoi’s Soc Son District, and at the Tran temple in Nam Dinh Province, in the belief such items will bring them good luck are a throwback to long out-dated customs.

People fought to get a bamboo flower from a palanquin during a procession at the Giong Festival in Hanoi’s Soc Son District on February 24.

Perpetuation of ancient customs and rituals appears to condone robberies, physical assaults and even murder, Hien argues.

“Everything should be seen in context of what is right and wrong in today's society, not based on someone's personal beliefs," Hien said.

"But we have revived too many festivals that are no longer suitable for modern life, and we cannot simply ban them immediately."

He says many communities want to maintain their own festivals as they consider them to be unique and a source of pride, but some activities should be viewed with caution, in particular those that incite violence or social disorder, or at odds with what society as a whole deems acceptable.

One key step would be to remove or better explain violent and brutal stories in school textbooks so students do not seek to emulate such behaviour in real life, or come to view it as acceptable.

“Violent festival like pig slaughtering in Nem Thuong Commune of Bac Ninh Province should not be open to all visitors but be designed for only residents in the village, who better understand its meaning. Visitors should be only encouraged to see other parts of the festival,” he said.

Hien suggested that to minimise violent activities at traditional festivals, the authorities should consider developing and adopting clear cultural policies.

Vietnam’s culture celebrated at Chingay Parade Singapore 2015

Vietnam’s gong performance and traditional Ao Dai (long dress) are being introduced at the Chingay Parade Singapore 2015 from February 27 to 28.  

Chingay is the largest annual street festival in Singapore, celebrating the Lunar New Year festival since 1973.

This year’s event is particularly significant as it is part of the major activities to celebrate the country’s 50th National Day.

The highlight of the event is the participation of around 1,000 foreign artists from 14 countries and territories, which is expected to not only introduce other nation’s cultural identities to Singaporeans, but also help enhance mutual understanding between these countries.