Readers search for books on General Vo Nguyen Giap

In the past few days readers’ interest in books about General Vo Nguyen Giap has increased considerably announced by Vietnam Book Publishing Company.

In particular, two books on the General are already on the best-selling list, namely, ‘Vo Nguyen Giap-A Life’ by French historian Dr. Alain Ruscio which was published by Vietnam National Political Publishing House and ‘Victory at Any Cost’ by American historian Cecil B.Currey published by Thai Ha Books and World Publishing Company.

Dr Alain Ruscio, an expert on the modern history of Vietnam, worked as a permanent press correspondent in the L'Humanité Newspaper in Vietnam for many years. During that time, he had many opportunities to contact as well as carry out interviews with the General. The book ‘Vo Nguyen Giap-A Life’ is therefore compiled of many interviews between him and General Vo Nguyen Giap from 1979 to 2008. The book covers the entire life of the General.

The author of second book is an American historian who was professor in military history at the University of South Florida in the US.

Beside these two books, readers are also browsing for other literature on General Vo Nguyen Giap in bookstores across the country.

First French street music festival in Vietnam

Sieste Electronique-a French street music festival will be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for the first time this October as part of the 2013 France Year in Vietnam.

The event will draw the participation of many Vietnamese and international talents whose names are closely associated with specific music genres such as Vincent Moon (alternative and indie), Laurent Jeanneau (folk music and experimental music), Jean Nipon (folk music and electronic music), Vu Nhat Tan (electronic music and experimental music), and Nguyen Hong Giang (noise music).

The festival will take place in Tao Dan park, Ho Chi Minh City from 4pm-6.30pm on October 13 and in Thong Nhat park, Hanoi from 3pm-6pm on October 19.

Sieste Electronique has been organized in Toulouse since 2002 on the initiative of stage director Samuel Aubert to create an open space for electronic music.

The festival has been held annually in France, then in Germany, Canada, Japan and Congo.

Museum of Ethnology receives artifacts from Thailand

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology has received artifacts and documents as gifts from the Thai Ministry of Culture through the Embassy of Thailand in Hanoi on October 8.

At a hand-over ceremony, Thai Ambassador Anuson Chinvanno emphasized these artifacts and documents as an important symbol of cultural cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand.

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology expressed its wish to exhibit typical artifacts of Thai culture at the second joint meeting between the two countries in October, 2012.

The artifacts and documents include two masks, five puppets, one Korlae boat, 105 DVDs on art culture performance, 3 catalogues of Thai culture, people and landscape and other publications.

Notably, two masks are used in the Phi Ta Khon procession held annually in Dan Sai village in Loei, Isan province. The procession takes place on the first day of the Buddha thanksgiving festival to pay respect to village gods and pray for rain in new crops.

Dr. Vo Quang Trong, Director of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, said these artifacts and documents will be used on suitable occasions to enhance public awareness of Thai culture, landscape and people, promote mutual understanding between nations in the region, and speed up the process of building a culture-society community of Southeast Asian countries by 2015.

They will contribute to the successful building of a Southeast Asian culture exhibition area which is scheduled to open in late 2013, he added.

Hanoi hosts “Special Egypt” photo exhibition

The Vietnam Exhibition Centre for Culture and Arts (VECCA) opened its “Special Egypt” photographic exhibition on October 8, marking 50 years of Vietnam-Egypt diplomatic ties.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Vuong Duy Bien said the exhibition is part of the cultural exchange integral to the tradition of bilateral friendship and multifaceted cooperation.

Bien noted since 1991 bilateral relationship has seen unprecedented development in fields ranging from politics, economics, and diplomacy to culture, education, science and technology, and tourism.

“Special Egypt” showcases the work of renowned Egyptian artist and visual arts scholar Ahmed Mohammed El-Ganainy.

Ahmed Mohammed El- Ganainy’s professional accolades include a host of individual exhibitions, first prize at a group exhibition in Baghdad, and third prize at the Port-Said Biennale.

The exhibition offers Vietnamese audiences the chance to enjoy one of modern Egyptian painting’s leading talents.

The week-long exhibition is jointly hosted by VECCA, the Vietnam Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and the Egyptian Embassy in Hanoi.

Asian museum leaders meet in Hanoi

The fourth congress of the Asian National Museum Association (ANMA) opened in Hanoi on October 8, attracting museum managers and curators from ANMA member countries.

Themed “Museums’ Contributions to Social Change”, this year’s event has seen the participation of representatives from 12 of the 14 ANMA members: Japan, Cambodia, India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Nepal, and Vietnam.

Vietnam National Museum of History Director Dr. Nguyen Van Cuong opened the Congress by noting the role of museums in preserving heritage is an issue whose relevance extends beyond Asian borders.

Delegates presented proposals and discussed the ANMA’s future directions regarding its operational funding, human resources training cooperation, and membership expansion.

The Lao National Museum was officially admitted the ANMA, and Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum Director Alan Chong elected as ANMA President for the 2014­–2015 term.

Singapore will host the ANMA’s fifth Congress in 2015.

The ANMA was founded in the South Korean capital Seoul in 2007. It aims to encourage exchanges and cooperation between Asia’s national museums. Its Congress is convened every two years, and was last held in Beijing, China.

ASEAN photography exhibition opens in Venezuela

The photography exhibition “Impressive ASEAN”, accompanied by an Indonesian, Malay, and Vietnamese cuisine exchange, has opened in Venezuela on October 7.

Organised by the ASEAN Committee in Caracas (ACC) with contributions from the embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, and incumbent ACC President Vietnam, the week-long exhibition focuses on culture, tourism, and each participating country’s Venezuelan relationship.

Its 45 outstanding photographs offer visitors an overview of ASEAN’s dynamism and drive towards a unified community by 2015.

The organising board and opening ceremony attendees reserved one minute’s silence in tribute to Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap’s recent passing.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Ngo Tien Dung said the exhibition is intended to strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding shared by the three ASEAN countries and their Venezuelan partner.

He confirmed ASEAN’s intention to expand its multi-faceted relations with the Common Market of South America (MERCOSUR) and its current Chair Venezuela.     

Elena Gil, a Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, acknowledged the tradition of friendship between her country and the ACC.

She hopes Venezuela’s cooperation with ASEAN can open up and explore promising emerging opportunities within the cultural, tourism, and artistic spheres.

Book on India-VN business relationship hits shelves

A book on an Indian businessman featuring his 30 year relationship with his Vietnamese partners has been released in Ha Noi by the Culture & Information Publishers.

Compiled by Vietnamese writer Luu Son Minh under the title A Tale of Three Decades, the book shares the memories and photos of Shantanu Srivastava, who served as second secretary at the Indian Embassy in Viet Nam in 1982. In 1989, he switched to business and became the first chairman of the Indian Business Chamber in Viet Nam (INCHAM).

With a good knowledge of Vietnamese, a love for local food and an understanding of Vietnamese history, he was mentioned in the 500 "best friends" of Viet Nam in a book titled Viet Nam and Friends' Hearts, published by the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisation. He was also awarded a Friendship Medal in 2003.

Thousands sign up to compete for Vietnam Idol title

The 2013 Vietnam Idol auditions for which began a month ago, has received 21,000 entries so far via SMS and online.

The auditions have been held in seven cities – Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Hai Phong, Da Lat, Can Tho, and Ha Noi.

In HCM City, where the largest number have applied, it will be held on October 14 and 15 at the Tan Son Nhat Sai Gon Hotel in Phu Nhuan District.

Vietnam Idol is based on reality show Pop Idol created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller to find new solo singing talents. It has spawned local versions all over the world.

Vietnam Idol is being produced by Vietnam Television and BHD Pictures

First cooking contest for professional chefs to be held

The HCM City Tourism Association and Binh Duong-based Minh Long I Company are inviting all chefs working in restaurants around Viet Nam to take part in their Golden Spoon culinary competition, the first of its kind in the country.

They hope to have 195 teams with three members each in the first round that will be held at nine venues.

The jury will nominate 22 teams for the semi-final to be held in Ha Noi and HCM City on December 24 and 31.

In the first round and semi-finals, contestants will have two hours to cook up a four-course meal with a starter, one seafood and meat dish each, and dessert.

The 10-team final and awards ceremony will be held in Binh Duong Province on January 14, 2014.

In the final round, contestants will create a set menu using ingredients given to them.