Gigantic placard of President Ho sets new record

Last Tuesday, nearly 3,500 students in the southern province of Vinh Long held colourful display cards to create a massive portrait of President Ho Chi Minh at the provincial stadium.

An image of the legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap was also created along with the portrait of President Ho.

The two towering portraits were showcased at a ceremony to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the Reunification Day, April 30 and the 60th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory, May 7.

The event featured a grand march, which was participated by thousands of dancers, performers, and acrobats. A mass gymnastics performance was also presented at the event.

Divided into three chapters, Lich Su Hao Hung (Glorious History), Que Huong Phu Sa Trai Ngot (Land of Alluvium and Juicy Fruits), and Hoi Nhap va Phat Trien (Integration and Development), the performance was staged by 2,500 students.

The Vietnam Guinness Book of Records has also granted certificates recognising the two portraits as the country's biggest placard images and the mass gymnastics performance as the largest of its kind to be presented.

Freelance designer wins tourism logo and slogan contest

Freelance Graphic Designer, Doan Hai Tu, 25, from HCM City was awarded the first prize in the city's new tourism logo and slogan design contest.

Tu created the logo with five cubes, featuring the image of the city's Ngu Hanh Son (Marble) Mountains, a major destination, in five colours depicting the young city.

The logo portrays the city as a ballooned sail in the sea, the beauty of a pristine beach, and a dynamic young city. The designer also described the city by a slogan: FantastiCity with the letter C connecting the two words, fantastic and city.

The contest was launched in January by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The winner walked away with a prize money of VND100 million (US$4,800).

Da Nang to build Hoang Sa Islands Museum

The central city will build the Hoang Sa Museum inspired by the design of a 1835-made seal from the Nguyen dynasty's King Minh Mang for establishing the Hoang Sa Flotilla.

This announcement was made by Chairman of Hoang Sa District Dang Cong Ngu while introducing the museum's architecture.

The design, which was developed by architects Tran Quoc Thanh, Nguyen Quang Huy, and Japanese Fuminori Minakami, features modern architecture under the Vietnamese sculptures.

"The design is an image of the 1835 seal of a decision founding the Hoang Sa Flotilla from the Nguyen dynasty. The seal justifies Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos as per ancient documents from previous centuries," stated Ngu, who is also the director of Da Nang's Department of Home Affairs.

As scheduled, the museum will be built on a 685square-metre area near the Hoang Sa coastline street in the Son Tra Peninsula, this June.

It will store and display collections of artefacts and documents on Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands.

The city has managed to gather a comprehensive collection of 95 maps published between 1626 and 1980, 10 of which indicate that the Paracel and Spratly archipelagos belong to Viet Nam, and 102 books published in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and the Dutch, and the Han Chinese script.

Many maps in the exhibition also indicate that the frontier of Southern China is the Hainan Island and that Paracel belongs to Viet Nam.

Television show revitalises old music

The television show Giai Dieu Tu Hao (Melody of Pride) is featuring songs that are making a comeback with the younger generation in Viet Nam.

The show is produced by Viet Nam Television based on the format of a Russian programme titled "National Treasures".

It aims to praise the songs composed by Vietnamese veterans during the American War as well as the country's construction period (1964-80).

The show's producers are famed artists including poet and documentary filmmaker Phan Huyen Thu; director Viet Tu and composer Quoc Trung.

Guests young and old are invited to come on the show to express their views on songs and memories of society and culture.

"Even though their opinions can conflict, it is the most interesting part of the show," Thu said.

Unlike the previous two shows in January and February, guests on the third show, titled Dem Qua Toi Mo Thay Hoa Binh (Last Night I Dreamed of Peace) broadcast on March 29, were keen to share their viewpoints.

Most of the songs performed on the show were about young people in the 1980s, which raised different topics of discussion among composers, journalists, artists and critics.

Representing the younger generation, journalist Quynh Huong from HCM City's Phu Nu (Women) newspaper, said she was worried about young people living without trust or purpose.

In contrast, veteran composer Tran Tien said we should let the past stay in the past.

"The past can not help us. Trust and dreams are decided by young people. They should behave and make their contributions to the country in their own ways," he said.

But art critic Nguyen Thi Minh Thai had a different point of view.

"We can not forget the past, we should just close it. The Vietnamese youth should be proud of their country," she said.

On the show, many Vietnamese songs have been recovered and performed with a modern twist, including Ho Keo Phao (Cannon-tugging Chantey) on the most recent show last Saturday.

The song was composed by Hoang Van in 1954 to praise the brave soldiers he witnessed pulling cannons up a hill in Dien Bien Phu.

The new version of the song appealed to younger audience members, but the older guests were not so sure.

"In our time, music resounded everywhere with only a guitar. We love melody and highly appreciate words. The loud of electronic music in this version mean I cannot hear the lyrics," said journalist Phung Huy Thinh.

Composer Nguyen Cuong also said that the performance did not transmit the spirit of the song.

Artist Dinh Cong Dat disagreed with the two older guests, saying youngsters should listen to what they like.

"Let them enjoy in their own way," said Dat.

Composer Quoc Trung also shared Dat's opinion. "To protect the country needs the combined will of millions of people, but we should have millions of opinions about one piece of music. This will help music develop," Trung said.

"Music is just notes. A composer is successful when the music and melody conquer the audience. In the case, the lyrics are the same, but the remix appeals to young people," he said.

Four shows have been produced and aired on national television since January with a warm response from television viewers.

"The show is important. It is great to listen to the old songs that l used to sing again," said former youth volunteer Nguyen Thi Soan. "Once upon a time, these songs encouraged young people to devote ourselves to the protection of the country," she said.

VNN/VNS/VOV/VNA