By Hà Nguyễn Hữu Ngọc was born and raised in Hà Nội, but it wasn’t until he left the city in 1946 to join the national resistance war against the French that he realised just how much he loved his hometown. Living in deep forests, eating cassava and potato, he missed Hà Nội’s steamed glutinous rice, the fragrance of steamed green bean and particularly phở (beef noodle). “When eating these foods daily, we could think them characterless. But when living far away, we understand their value,” the cultural scholar says. While he could return to Hà Nội to savour his favourite foods after the war was over, he fears that today the wars, market economy, and exposure to western culture are polluting Vietnamese traditional villages. Since his first extended trip outside the capital, he has dedicated his life to celebrating and preserving Vietnamese culture so that locals and foreigners will fight … [Read more...] about Scholar still fights to save Vietnamese culture
Culture art
Cultural, art activities celebrate Hanoi’s Liberation Day
A string of cultural and art activities will take place in October in Hanoi to mark the 64th anniversary of capital city’s Liberation Day. (Photo:vietnamembassy.org) Hanoi (VNA) - A string of cultural and art activities will take place in October in Hanoi to mark the 64th anniversary of capital city’s Liberation Day (October 10). The highlights are a Hanoi cuisine festival, a singing contest and a theatre festival, according to the Hanoi municipal Department of Culture and Sports. The 2018 Hanoi Cuisine Culture Festival will take place from October 5 to 7 at the Thong Nhat park, honouring and promoting typical food of Hanoi to domestic and foreign visitors. Pham Thi Lan Anh, head of the Heritage Management Division under the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, said the event will introduce the history of traditional trades relating to cuisine and the cuisine performance process as well as cooking utensils and materials, and famous cooks’ know-how in … [Read more...] about Cultural, art activities celebrate Hanoi’s Liberation Day
New regulations on culture & arts human resources trained abroad
The revision and supplement contents feature training areas, training subjects, and training levels. Under the project, the areas of training consist of music, fine arts, stage, cinema, dancing, circus and culture, with a priority given to training the disciplines in which Vietnam is not capable of training or the training quality is not high. Regarding the training subjects and levels, the Decision No. 1240/QD-TTg stipulates the bachelor’s level training for the following subjects: - Students of culture & arts training establishments with ethical grading of credit or above, academic grading of distinction or above, or with national, regional and international prizes. - Overseas Vietnamese students who have graduated from intermediate schools and colleges at foreign culture & art training institutions and are received by foreign training establishments, or who are asked by domestic training establishments, which send them for overseas training, to register for … [Read more...] about New regulations on culture & arts human resources trained abroad
ASEAN cultural arts and traditional costume performances 2018 in Hanoi
It was held by Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations in coordination with Hanoi City Department of Culture and Sports to mark the 51st founding anniversary of ASEAN (August 8th) and Vietnam’s 23 years of ASEAN membership (July 28th). Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Lan Huong said that the programme aimed to intensify the popularization on building a strong ASEAN community; and foster the friendship between Vietnam and other ASEAN nations as well as the solidarity in ASEAN Community. Following are photos about the event:Vietnamese Ao dai at the performance (Source: kinhtedothi.vn)Vietnamese traditional costume performance (Source: CPV))ASEAN members introduce traditional costume (Source: VNA)Vietnamese art performance (Source: VNA)A dancer from Thailand at the event (Source: VNA)Representatives from the Organizing Board and guests at the event (Source: CPV) Compiled by BTA … [Read more...] about ASEAN cultural arts and traditional costume performances 2018 in Hanoi
Vietnam Cultural Week organized in Japan
An art item performed at the event (Photo: vov.vn) The event included various cultural, art and cuisine activities such as village festival, parade, Hanoi-Thang Long event, folk games, especially opera night “Le Chi garden's secret”, which gathered more than 200 students from different nations, introducing the land, people and culture of Vietnam through traditional and modern performances such as fashion show with the collection by designer Le Thi Lan Huong, royal dance, silk dance and martial arts. In spite of disadvantageous weather, the Week still attracted a large number of international friends and local people, as well as Vietnamese students in Oita prefecture and neighbouring areas After one year of preparation, it has left good impression in international students and local people, contributing to enhancing exchange between peoples of the two countries and the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan. Established in 2000 in Oita … [Read more...] about Vietnam Cultural Week organized in Japan
Hand embroidered pictures charm art lovers
In Vietnam, hand embroidery is a long-standing traditional craft and a unique cultural characteristic of the country. Through colourful threads and skilled hands, artisans have created vivid embroidered pictures, helping preserve a traditional trade which is gradually fading into oblivion. Located on Ton Duc Thang street in downtown Hanoi, the Theu Viet (Viet Embroidery) has brought art enthusiasts, especially those who love traditional hand embroidery, a unique space rich in Vietnamese cultural characteristic. Embroidery has been considered as a “painting” art, requiring a high level of meticulousness, subtlety and patience during the process of making a hand embroirdery art product. Nguyen Thi Thanh, embroidery artisan: "I have embroidered for seven years. I have a great passion in making embroidered pictures. The work requires subtlety and patience. To produce beautiful embroidered pictures, craftsmen have to put their hearts and feelings in every step." "As a … [Read more...] about Hand embroidered pictures charm art lovers
Vietnamese artists participate in cultural art exchange in Norway
Artists including Le Xuan Chieu, Dang Thi Duong, Ly Khac Nhu, Hua Thanh Binh, Bui Tien Tuan, Viet Thi Kim Quyen, Nguyen Phan Nam An and Nguyen Tri Minh Tuyet brought 45 artworks in various materials, such as lacquer, oil, silk and ceramic to the “Saigon art exhibition” held in Hedmark county in Eastern Norway. At an exchange between the two sides, Norwegian artists are interested in Vietnamese artists’ activities, their trend, role and position in the modern society as well as materials used for fabric and lacquer paintings. The delegation of Vietnamese painters also visited art museums, landscapes and met Norwegian Vietnamese artist Duc Thanh Hong who is specialized in painting on ceamic in Norway. The “Saigon art exhibition” runs until August 25. By MINH AN – Translated by Kim Khanh Tags: Vietnamese artists cultural art exchange in Norway … [Read more...] about Vietnamese artists participate in cultural art exchange in Norway
Seminar discusses Industry 4.0 impacts on culture, arts
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien (Source: Internet) Thua Thien – Hue (VNA) – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sought to tap Industry 4.0 achievements in culture and arts from analyzing the revolution impacts on the sector at a scientific seminar in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on June 21. Speaking at the event, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien said the ministry wants to listen to scientists and researchers’ opinions in the field, thereby effectively renewing the State management to boost the effective application of Industry 4.0 achievements in culture and arts. Participants proposed roadmap to technological application between now and 2021 to build key products and services, as well as measures regarding capital, mechanisms, policies and human resources. Nguyen Phuong Hoa from the ministry’s Department of International Cooperation said with over 20 UNESCO-recognised heritages and … [Read more...] about Seminar discusses Industry 4.0 impacts on culture, arts
An opportunity to promote Vietnamese stage arts
In the following interview granted to Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper, Director Le Quy Duong explained the reason why Da Nang city was selected to host the festival and shared his thoughts on the current situation of Vietnam’s stage arts. Director Duong was recently elected to the International Theatre Institute’s Executive Council and President of the International Festival Forum’s Executive Board at ITI’s 35th World Congress in Spain last year. Question: Can you please give us a short introduction on the International Theatre Institute and the International Festival Forum (IFF)? Director Le Quy Duong: The ITI was founded by UNESCO in 1948 with a mission to build a sustainable and equal connection among all countries in performing arts. After its 70-year development, the ITI now has 90 official members. The IFF is a major forum of the ITI and UNESCO, serving as a coordinator, policy-maker and organiser of performing arts festivals around the globe. How far has … [Read more...] about An opportunity to promote Vietnamese stage arts
Việt Nam, China strengthen cultural exchange
HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and China will enhance co-operation and exchange in the field of culture as ministers of culture from the two countries held a discussion yesterday in Beijing. Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện, is on a business trip to China between January 7-9. He met Minister of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, Luo Shugang. They reviewed co-operation in the period of 2016-18 with highlighted achievements and planned the programmes for the period 2019-21 period, focusing on promoting culture, art training and collaborating to protect cultural heritage. They signed an MoU to enhance co-operation and use culture as a diplomatic bridge between the two countries. Thiện also visited China’s national tourism and sports agency during the trip. Today he will open an exhibition of traditional Vietnamese and Chinese paintings displayed on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. — … [Read more...] about Việt Nam, China strengthen cultural exchange