Royal costumes

Troupes invested considerable sums on designing costumes for actors which often didn’t meet the high quality expected by critics.One of the main reasons was most Vietnamese theatres don’t employ professional designers, said Hoang Song Hao, a lecturer in fine arts design at the Ha Noi Academy of Theatre and Cinema.Despite costing considerable sums, many costumes used in historical plays were not designed appropriate to the period they represented.Costumes used in Oan Khuat Mot Thoi (Once Injustice) cost VND300 million (nearly US$17,200) but were criticised by art critics.A dress for the queen from the Le dynasty (15th century) was designed like a modern evening dress with the back exposed. During feudal reign, women in general and the queen in particular obeyed customs which frowned on scanty and low-necked dresses.During each reign in Viet Nam’s long history, emperors established different customs. Kings always wore royal mantles but the embroidered dragons were … [Read more...] about Costume designs lack professionalism

A set of big bells and musical stones – instruments of Hue court music (Nha Nhac) – has been restored under the assistance of the Republic of Korea (RoK). The RoK National Center for National Traditional Performing Art handed over the instruments to the Center for Preservation of Hue Royal Relics on April 8. The instruments were restored in Hue city, at the cost of $14,000. Mr. Lu Huu Thi, 102, the last instrumentalist of the Hue royal orchestra of the Nguyen Dynasty – the last feudal reign in Vietnam – tested the instruments. He was very pleased to listen to the true sound of ancient royal instruments. The instruments were repaired by Korean artisan Kim Huyon Kon and Vietnamese artisan Hoang Trong Trong within six months. Nha nhac is a form of Vietnamese court music. Vietnamese court music is very diverse, but the term Nha nhac refers specifically to the Vietnamese court music performed from the Tran Dynasty of the 13th century to the Nguyen Dynasty, which … [Read more...] about RoK helps Vietnam restore royal musical instruments

(Cinet)- Book “Ngan Nam Ao Mu” (A Study of Costumes in 1,000 Years) exploring the Vietnamese costumes is being displayed at Manzi Art Space, 14 Phan Huy Ich Street, Ha Noi, from August 23 to September 09. Tran Quang Duc, a 28-year-old researcher from Vietnam Institute of Literature, has spent many years researching ancient costumes of Vietnam during the period from the tenth to the nineteenth century and completed the book “Ngan Nam Ao Mu”. Through text and images, the book provides a very detailed description of how Vietnamese people from the Ly Dynasty to the Nguyen Dynasty and beyond dressed.Researcher Trinh Bach, who has spent many years studying traditional culture and especially Vietnamese royal costumes, one of many experts to praise the new book, said: ““It is an absolute blessing that such valuable resources have been published as a book. Up until now, this is one of the most in-depth and detailed studies on Vietnamese culture and … [Read more...] about Book reviews Vietnamese Costumes through the ages

The Hue royal dynasties’ dancing costumes are being restored by the Ancient Capital Hue and Relics Conservation Centre and researcher Trinh Bach.This is part of a national programme aiming to preserve Vietnamese Royal Music including Hue’s royal music sponsored by a Japanese fund via UNESCO.According to researchers, royal dancing costumes that were worn by artists to serve Nguyen Royal Families in Hue were lost and no one has made them for 65 years.Recently, some kinds of dresses and hats were remade by researcher Trinh Bach and will soon be introduced to Hue’s Royal Music project management board and the Science-Arts Council of the Relics Conservation Centre for examination.The restored costumes are the results of Trinh Bach’s extensive efforts. He redesigned them after thorough researches of historical documents and stories told by old-aged witnesses.Source: QĐND Photo: Tuoitre … [Read more...] about Royal dancers’ costumes being restored

The Centre for Preservation of relics in Hue ancient capital and researcher Trinh Bach are producing historically accurate costumes for royal music performances. This is a part of the national action plan to preserve Hue royal music supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) via the Japanese Trust Fund. Vietnam . Hue ancient capital for approval. Source: CPV … [Read more...] about Producing historical costumes for royal music performances

The body of King Le Du Tong (1680-1731), the only remains that have been found of a Vietnamese King, will be reburied on Monday in Bai Trach Village, Xuan Quang Commune in the central province of Thanh Hoa, the place where they were accidentally discovered 52 years ago.The remains, which has been preserved in the Viet Nam History Museum since they were unearthed, will be wrapped in new shrouds and royal robes imitating the original ones. A new coffin has also been made of Ngoc Am wood, the same material and the same size as the original, which was damaged at the excavation and has been ruined over time.According to deputy culture minister Tran Chien Thang, the King’s remains will be put into the coffin in a solemn ceremony at 1am on Monday morning with representatives from the Central Buddhist Association as witnesses.Artisans have been hired from Hue to remake all the personal items such as shrouds and royal robes for the body, to mimic how it was originally found.The new … [Read more...] about Royal remains for reburial

Miss Vietnam 2010 Ngoc Han and Miss Vietnam 2008 Thuy Dung, were vedettes of a Vietnamese fashion show at the UK’s ancient hotel of Dorchester.A collection featuring ao dai designed with patterns from the UK’s royal costumes by Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh was showcased to mark the occasion that Vietnam Airlines opens direct flights to London from December 8. Source: Vnn Miss Vietnam 2010 Ngoc Han … [Read more...] about Misses Vietnam shine in London fashion show