Culture - Sports

Proud history: A scene in the film ​Cao Hon Bau Troi (Higher Than the Sky), directed by Xuan Cuong. (Photo courtesy of Giai Phong Film Productions)Hanoi (VNA) - The Department ofCinema will organise a film week introducing films on the topics of war,patriotism and revolution.The special film screenings will be heldfrom February 3-18 across the country to celebrate the 88th anniversary of theestablishment of the Communist Party (February 3, 1930-2018).The organising board selected manysignificant documentaries and films such as Cao Hon Bau Troi (Higher Than theSky), directed by Xuan Cuong, honouring the victory of the Vietnamese army andpeople in Hanoi during the 12 days and nights fighting an onslaught from the USAir Force in 1972. The film is highly regarded by cinematic experts.Other films include Dinh Cao Chien Thang (Climaxof Victory) about the Linebacker 2 campaign in 1972, Duong Toi Doc Lap Tu Do (Wayto Independence, Freedom) directed by Le Phong Lan, Dung Dot … [Read more...] about Film week celebrates patriotism

Cover of the album Hieu và Thuong (Understanding and Love) by Vietnamese-American singer Phi Nhung (left) (Photo from the artist’s facebook)HCM City (VNA) - Vietnamese-American singer Phi Nhung, who has morethan 20 years in the industry, will release an album to raise funds for poorchildren next week.    The album, Hieu va Thuong (Understanding and Love), sends messages onlove, sharing and compassion. It includes nine songs in bolero, pop and folkcontemporary music.Featured songs are performed by Nhung and child singers Ho Van Cuong, QuynhTrang, Pham Tuyet Nhung and Pham Thien Ngan. Nhung was born in 1972 in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Pleiku(now Gia Lai province). Her father was an American serviceman. She moved tolive in the US as part of its immigration policy towards Amerasians.She began her career in 1989 in California and has worked with American andFrench entertainment centres and music producers.  In … [Read more...] about Viet kieu singer to help poor kids

Dancer To To plays Lucia in the musical Lucia and the Ice Mountain, which will premiere in HCM City today. (Photo courtesy of the organisers)HCMCit​y (VNA) - Lucia and the Ice Mountain, a fairy tale musicalco-produced by young musicians and producers from ASEAN countries, premiered inHCM City on January 6.Themusical was inspired by and based on the book Land of the Blue Mountains byEnglish children’s writer Enid Blyton.Itfeatures the adventure of Princess Lucia Valentina O’Donnell along with herfaithful dog Saxton who travels to Ice Mountain to find a cure for the diseaseof her sick mother, Queen Marian.Onthe journey, she faces challenges made by the cold-hearted Ice Queen.Themusical is directed by Singaporean actor and director Marc Valentine, and itsscreenplay was written by producer and writer Kevin Chua, who is based inSingapore and Los Angeles.Theplay’s music is composed by Indonesian composer Ivan Tangkulung and singerMavelina Setiawan and it is … [Read more...] about Fairy tale musical Lucia and the Ice Mountain premiered in HCM City

Conductor Le Phi Phi (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Conductor Le Phi Phi will return to Vietnam from Macedonia toconduct a classic concert entitled “Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich” in Ho ChiMinh City on January 9.Born in Hanoi, Phi graduated from the MoscowTchaikovsky Conservatoire. After graduation, he became the permanent conductorof the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra from 1993 to 2000. He has alsoconducted numerous concerts around the world.He has performedwith Macedonian National Symphony Orchestra, Macedonian Ballet Theatre, theSymphony Orchestra of the city of Nis in Serbia, the Vietnam National OperaBallet (VNOB) and Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra (HBSO) in HCMCity.He has toured in Macedonia, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Sweden,Albania and Bulgaria and is currently teaching at the Macedonian Centre ofOpera and Ballet.Since 1995, Phi has returned home regularly andjoined hands with the VNOB and HBSO for organising concerts. He has also … [Read more...] about Conductor Le Phi Phi returns home for classic concert

Vi​etnam's top tennis player Ly Ho​ang Nam. — (Photo: thethaovietnam.vn​) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s top tennis player Ly Hoang Nam entered the quarterfinals of HongKong F6 Futures tournament on January 3.Nam beat AlbertoLim, the Philippines’s No. 1, 12-10, 6-2 in a second round match that lastedone hour and 38 minutes.Nam is world No. 498, andLim is world No 1561.Earlier, Nam has pairedwith Lim to compete in the men’s doubles category at international events likethe 25th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup and the ITF Junior Tennis Championship(Grade 1).Nam will next meet thewinner of the match between Yamasaki Jumpei of Japan, world No 804 and FabienReboul of France, world No 438.-VNA … [Read more...] about Nam in quarters of HK F6 tennis tournament

French photographer Réhahn Croquevielle (R) with old woman named Xong, the model of his photo titled “World’s most beautiful old woman” (Photo: www.rehahnphotographer.com)Hanoi (VNA) – An overseas Vietnamese in Australia has purchased the printedversion of the photo titled “World’s most beautiful old woman” by Frenchphotographer Réhahn Croquevielle for 30,000 USD, according to the photographer.The photo belongs to Croquevielle’s project“Hidden smile” in 2014, which features an old woman named Xong (aged 80), aboat rower on the Hoai River in Hoi An city of central Quang Nam province.All ofthe proceeds were contributed to the construction of a museum on Co Tu ethnicgroup’s culture in Tay Giang district of Quang Nam, which is scheduled to openin late 2018. [Photo of Vietnamese old woman sold for 10,000 USD]Aprinted version of the photo was previously sold for 10,000 USD during one of Croquevielle’s … [Read more...] about Photo of old Vietnamese woman sold for 30,000 USD

Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (Photo VNA)Hano​i (VNA) - Swimmer Nguyen ThiAnh Vien grabbed her fourth Best Athlete of the Year award after winning a voteorganised in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on December 28.The 21-year-old topped the poll with 1,560points, just 21 points more than her nearest rival weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan(1,539 points).Runner Le Tu Chinh came third winning 1,274points.Vien convinced voters, about 200journalists, with her great performance at different competition throughout theyear.Apart from medals that she took in theUnited States where she is training, Vien was gold-hope of Vietnam in all sportfestivals and she made it.The girl brought home two golds, one silverand set a new record at the Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts (AIMAG) inSeptember in Turkmenistan after eight top podium finishes along with threerecords at the Malaysian Southeast Asian Games in August.It was Vien’s strong comeback after failingto win the award in 2016 to Olympic winning … [Read more...] about Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien voted Best Athlete of 2017

Local residents gather to mourn their dead on the 45th anniversary of the attack at the B-52 victims monument on Kham Thien Street (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Few livingpeople witnessed the carnage and destruction of the US bombing of Hanoi inDecember 1972. But those who were there remember it clearly.There is a monument for victims of thebombing on Kham Thien Street. At its centre stands a woman with a child in herarms. The child lies still, motionless as the woman appears to take a stepforward with a blank expression on her face.The street was one of the capital city’searliest and busiest streets. It was so well-known for its many tailor shopsand "geisha style" parlours during French colonial times thatHanoians used to refer to it simply as “the street of tailors or the street ofgeishas”. There was not a target of strategic value to American bombers in thevicinity.It is hard to imagine that this peaceful andbusy street was the site where one of the most hideous … [Read more...] about Monument honours victims of American bombing

A scene from the action film Loi Bao (In the Storm) (Photo courtesy of the film producer) HCM City (VNA) - A superhero film coming to cinemas nationwideduring the Christmas and New Year season is expected to do well at the boxoffice and possibly surpass earnings of its competitors.Vietnamese-American director Victor Vu’s Loi Bao (In the Storm), released lastweekend, has attracted more than 30,000 people in Ho Chi Minh City.  The 1 million USD-film features secrets about a superman played by dancer andrapper Cuong Seven, who fights evil and protects justice.Vu worked on the film with art director Vincent Wang, who has been involved inHollywood blockbusters Doctor Strange, The Great Wall, Now You See Me andDracula Untold.He also invited a crew of lighting and sound specialists from Thailand who workin filming and post-production. His staff spent several months in Da Latfilming kung-fu scenes.“I spent a lot in filming because I want my audiences to watch quality … [Read more...] about 1-mln-USD-fantasy film expected to be big hit

A colossal Christmas tree made from 6,000 earthen pots has been erected in Luu My parish in Tru Son commune, Do Luong district, Nghe An province, aiming to promote Tru Son craft village’s traditional production.The Christmas tree is 25 metres tall and eight metres wide. It is made of five tonnes of steel and covered in more than 6,000 claypots. “The earthen pots are soft and fragile. It’s difficult to make the tree”, said Dang Van Thanh, a worker from Tru Son commune, Do Luong district, Nghe An province.Thanh said all the workers were very happy to work night and day to complete the special Christmas tree.Whatever you cook with these earthen pots, the food will be more tasty, our priest wants to promote the traditional craft and introduce it to foreign friends, therefore we made this Christmas tree, said Nguyen Thi Thai, another worker from Tru Son commune, Do Luong district, Nghe An province.More than 20 skilled craftsmen and welders in Luu My parish worked on … [Read more...] about Giant Christmas tree made of 6,000 earthen pots