Vietnamese designer attends Fashion Week Paris 2013

Vietnamese designer Hoang Minh Ha’s “Black Rose” collection has been displayed along with others from 10 foreign designers in Paris.

The Tiffany Fashion Week Paris 2013 was held in Marriott Paris Hotel Champs Elysees from on September 27-29.

Ha wished to make women look sexier in the black colour of oganza, fabric and chiffon.

In addition, Ha and other designers will carry out photo shoots at the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and many other famous places in Paris.

The fashion week, the first of its kind organized by Tiffany McCall, aimed to create a new playground for young fashion designers from different parts of the world-the US, Germany, India, Sweden, Peru and Asian countries.

Among them were famous designers such as Sushma Patel and Tehra Pilar, as well as artists and models.

Lam Kinh Historical Relic recognized as National Monument

On September 26, Lam Kinh Historical Relic was recognized as a National Historical Monument on occasion of the 595th anniversary of Lam Son uprising and 580th death anniversary of Le Loi, the leader of the Lam Son uprising.

Lam Kinh Historical Relic is located in Xuan Lam Commune of Tho Xuan District in Thanh Hoa Province. The Lam Kinh Historical Relic where Le Loi and many Kings of the later Le Dynasty lie at rest covers about 200ha, including royal tombs and temples.

Within the frameworks of Lam Kinh Festival 2013, the Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has held many attractive activities such as art performances, exhibitions, folk games, film screenings and camps.

In the past, the State has invested more than VND100 billion to reconstruct the historical monument.

Book exhibition marks Vietnam-UK ties

A book exhibition opened in Hanoi on September 26 to mark the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-UK diplomatic ties.

The four-day event, co-organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the UK Embassy in Vietnam, aims to introduce domestic and foreign readers land and people of Vietnam and the UK as well as their cooperation.

At the opening ceremony, MIC Deputy Minister Do Quy Doan said the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the UK on September 11, 1973 opened up a new chapter in the history of bilateral friendship and cooperation.

The two nations’ diplomatic relations have since been continuously consolidated and developed, he noted.

On display are more than 1,000 valuable books published in both Vietnamese and English, giving readers a deep insight into the land, culture and people of the UK.

Through this event, book lovers have a chance to enjoy famous British literary works which were translated and published in Vietnam decades ago.

Also in September, together with the book exhibition, a UK film week in Vietnam and a Vietnam week in the UK will be held to mark this special occasion.

Hotly-tipped war epic to open film fest

Feature film Nhung Nguoi Viet Huyen Thoai (The Legend Makers), a reportedly strong candidate at the 18th National Film Festival in Quang Ninh Province next month, is already making headlines as it opens an on-going film week to celebrate the Film Festival.

The wartime story took place about 50 years ago, but young director Bui Tuan Dung puts a fresh spin on the tale.

"I didn't embellish and politicise the film as some have said. I focus on the people. How did they make a legend?" Dung said."The film is based on historical facts, but I tell the story from my personal point of view."

The Legend Makers depicts one of the most vibrant periods of the country's history. It focuses on the construction of an oil pipeline along the Truong Son mountain range by General Dinh Duc Thien and his soldiers, who contributed great efforts to the cause of national liberation.

The film targets young audiences, encouraging them to understand how their fathers' and grandfathers' generations fought for the nation.

"It's a new angle. The filmmakers attempt to show audiences the reality of wartime," Thu Ha wrote in Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. "It does not describe a huge campaign with numberless soldiers moving in waves or glorious feats of arms. But it recounts how soldiers showed strong skills and the spirit to fight, surviving through onslaughts of bombs and weapons to fulfill their task. There is lots of blood spilt and many deaths."

The filmmakers faced many challenges when it came to recreating the battlefield atmosphere, such as finding weapons to use as props.

"Those found in museums are not only insufficient, they are also quite old," Dung said. "At that time, the soldiers' uniforms and their equipment were quite new."

The limited State budget posed another challenge. Luckily, the filmmakers were able to obtain funding from other sources. More than 200 scenes were completed with the assistance of digital technology, which cinematographer Ly Thai Dung – the key cameraman behind The Legend Makers – said was a crucial tool for modern filmmaking.

"It can make the impossible possible. We used digital technology to create the image of fighting planes in the air and other weapons," Dung said.

According to Ha, the techniques were effective. "Explosions and bombs in the battlefield as well as sounds and images of war planes dropping bombs and hovering in the ‘Dead Valley' make the film feel so real," the critic wrote.

Photojournalist Viet Van of Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper agreed.

"The film's rapid rhythm draws the audience in. The fierce atmosphere of the war is vividly depicted through bombings and duels between those protecting the pipeline and the enemy forces," Van wrote. "The director has skillfully intertwined humorous situations with heavier ones."

The film is a top candidate for the Golden Lotus Award, Van added.

During the film week (September 23-29), the public in Ha Noi, Da Nang and HCM City can view The Legend Makers as well as other candidates for the award such as Dam Me (Passion), Bi Mat Tham Do (Scandal), Hello Co Ba (Hello Ms Ba) and Duong Dua (The Race).

VN abstract icon celebrated in HCMC

Galerie Quynh, in collaboration with Sofitel Saigon Plaza, will present an exhibition of works by abstract artist Tran Van Thao, one of Viet Nam's pioneering abstract painters, from today to November 22.

The works reflect 15 years of the artist's creative practice.

This is the first exhibition of a series of curated showings the gallery will organise at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza.

"When we close our eyes, we see shadows of the infinite, disorientation, profound depth... not just the literal meaning of shadows," Thao says of his work.

"And when we open our eyes, we see many things: sun and wind, air, objects, people... This eye-opening moment could be at any time, in any mood, can catch any subject, can recall any atmosphere."

Born in 1961 in Sai Gon, Tran Van Thao graduated from Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts University. He has held numerous exhibitions in Asia, Europe and the US.

In 2002, Thao was the recipient of the Asian Cultural Council's Starr Foundation Fellowship and spent four months as an artist-in-residence in New York.

Ha Noi festival promotes street art

A youth street arts festival on Saturday is expected to attract hundreds of young people, said a Ha Noi Youth Union official. It will be at Thong Nhat Park with four entrances on Tran Nhan Tong, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Le Duan and Dai Co Viet streets.

According to Nguyen Van Thang, the festival will feature three types of street entertainment – skating, freestyle football and hip-hop dancing.

"The festival is to promote street arts in Ha Noi," he said, "It's a chance for young people to compete and share passions in a modern healthy way."

The organisers have already received more than 100 registrations from individuals and teams wishing to take part.

The event is part of a series of "I Love Ha Noi" activities initiated by the union.

Directors to speak at Film Fridays

Film directors Charlie Nguyen and Othello Khanh will take part in the second film industry networking and social event, Film Friday tomorrow at Cargo Bar in HCM City's District 4.

The networking event was launched by the producers of 48 Hour Film Project - Cloud 9 Production.

Nguyen, a well-known American-Vietnamese movie director, will talk about his experience working with actors and provide useful insights on directing.

Othello Khanh, a famous French-Vietnamese film director and producer, will talk about having a long-term career in the movie industry.

Ross Stewart, the producer of the 48 Hour Film Project, will also introduce his new film competition, Sci-Fi Project, which aims to educate and promote science fiction filmmaking.

Mekong Delta contestants win at Cai Luong Singing Contest

Nguyen Thi Luan from the Mekong Delta Province of An Giang won the 8th Cai Luong Singing Contest called Chuong Vang (Golden Bell) Vong Co which ended at Ho Chi Minh City Television Theater on September 26.

The winner of the Golden Bell Award also took home the Jury Choice Award.

Lam Ngoc Hoa, the youngest contestant from the Mekong Delta Province of Bac Lieu got the Silver Bell Award and Audience Choice Award. The Bronze Bell Award went to Nguyen Minh Hai from the northern province of Thai Binh.

The 8th Cai Luong Song Contest organized by Ho Chi Minh City Television was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang City, Bac Lieu and Long An Provinces in August.

The jury narrowed down from hundreds of contestants to just 12 in the final round which took place at the HTV Theater in HCMC on September 26.

Besides discovering young talent, the annual competition also aims at keeping alive the tradition of Cai Luong and fostering a love for folk opera among young people.

Photo exhibition introduces Vietnam to Ukraine

A photography exhibition entitled ‘Vietnam – World’s Rendezvous’, displaying 100 photos of the landscape and people of Vietnam, has opened at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine.

The photos, selected by the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam, were divided into seven parts including ‘Vietnam National Assembly – Vietnam Government’, ‘Vietnam – Integration and Development’, ‘World Cultural Heritages in Vietnam’, ‘Vietnamese Traditional Trade Villages’, ‘Vietnamese Festivals’, ‘Vietnamese Cuisine’ and ‘Beauty of Vietnam’.

The events contribute to introducing the image of Vietnam’s land and people to the world in general and Ukraine in particular.

Visitors and audiences to the exhibition have an opportunity to learn more about Vietnam, a country with great potential that has a long-lasting history and tradition.

The event, runs until October 31, is part of activities to celebrate 21st anniversary of Vietnam – Ukraine diplomatic ties.

Exhibition showcases historical evidence on Hoang Sa, Truong Sa archipelagos

An exhibition featuring historical maps, documents and photographs affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos opened in Son Tay town, Hanoi on September 25.

The exhibition, organised by the Department of Politics under the High Command of Border Guard, introduced over 100 maps published in Vietnam, China, and Western countries from the 15th century, which all affirmed Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

The highlight of the exhibition is the display of a collection of 150 maps published in the UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, the U.S, the Soviet Union, and Hong Kong (China) from 1626 to 1980, which shows that the southern Chinese territory is limited to Hai Nan Island, without any mention of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

The exhibition is expected to raise awareness among people, especially youths, about Vietnam’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos as well as the importance of protecting the national sea and island sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Source: VEF/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri