Art & Entertainment News 10/9

Hanoi Collective Orchestra to perform improvised work

An improvised orchestra performance by the Hanoi Collective Orchestra with the participation of the audience will take place at 5pm on September 17 in Ha Noi.

The Hanoi Collective Orchestra is part of the Ensembles Asia Orchestra, a project launched in 2014 by the Japan Foundation with musician Otomo Yoshihide. The aim of the project is to create a free-form orchestra for non-professional musicians.

After arriving in Ha Noi, Otomo Yoshihide (musician), Fuji Hiroshi (artist) and six university students from Tohoku area will search for material from daily life in Ha Noi to write new music.

The musical score won’t be used at the performance. The sound will depend on feelings, relationships and conversations among participants, who have never learned to play an instrument.

Before the performance, there will be a workshop to teach participants how to create and use the music instruments at 2pm.

The event is being organised by the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Viet Nam, at 27 Quang Trung Street. Admission is free for all visitors.

ASEAN photo exhibit bridges boundaries

The beauty, history, similarities and differences of ASEAN countries are on display to bridge cultural and geographical distances at a new photo exhibit that has opened in Ha Noi.

Entitled 48 Years of Peace and Development is a collection of photos selected by embassies of ASEAN member countries to represent their nations’ past, present and future achievements.

The event is also a demonstration to Hanoians and internationals the growth and success of ASEAN over the last 48 years.

“The 48-year-old ASEAN bloc will continue to maturise and stablise, and a community of peace, stability and prosperity are within reach,” said Vu Thi Hai, executive chairwoman of the Ha Noi Union of Friendship and Organisations (HAUFO).

Landscape highlights like Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and Brunei Darussalam’s Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, as well as cultural relics like Malaysia’s Sabah Sarawak traditional dance dot the exhibit walls.

The exhibition celebrates ASEAN’s 48th anniversary and Viet Nam’s 20 years of ASEAN membership. It will run until September 15 at the Viet Nam Union of Friendship and Organisations, located at 15A Ly Thuong Kiet Street.

Manzi concert dedicated to lullabies

“Old Sounds of New Days” – a music concert series hosted by Manzi Art Space explores ancient and traditional musical genres of Viet Nam, will continue on Friday night with an evening of lullabies.

Lullabies are universally appreciated as both a parent’s aid as well as mesmorising little melodies with equally telling lyrics. In a lullaby, one can find distinctive traits of a people and of a time.

Master artists Xuan Hoach, Thanh Hoai, Thanh Binh will perform some of Viet Nam’s most enduring lullabies in genres of traditional music such as ca tru (ceremonial singing), cheo (traditional opera), chau van (ritual singing) and xam (a form of folk music performed by blind buskers).

Manzi Art Space is located at 14 Phan Huy Ich Street. Admission is VND250,000 including 1 drink.

Poster contest held for first election anniversary

A poster contest to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Viet Nam’s first General Election Day (January 6, 1946th) was launched yesterday by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The contest aims to promote Viet Nam National Assembly’s operation and renovation, its history and achievements.

The contest also aims to encourage people throughout the country to promote the traditions and achievements of the country in the renewal period.

The contestants are professional and amateur painters who are Vietnamese citizens and Vietnamese people residing abroad.

Each author is allowed to send one or more works which they have recently drawn, these works cannot be used in any other contest.

The organisers will award one first prize of VND10 million (US$450), two second prizes of VND7 million each ($310), and two third prizes worth VND5 million each ($220).

Entries can be submitted to Information Desk, Department of Grassroots Culture at 86A, Alley 3, Le Van Huu Street, Ha Noi until October 20.

The award ceremony will be held on January 2016.

Artist presents video installation

Visual artist Bang Nhat Linh’s newest video installation will star in a solo exhibit, The Vacant Chair, at Nha San Collective starting this Saturday.

The piece of work was inspired by George F. Root’s self-titled song about the loss and emptiness of loosing loved ones in the American Civil War.

It’s an intimate narrative informed by the country’s modern history that attempts to step out of its original context by transforming a war object into a universal symbol of love.

Artist Linh will hold a talk about his works on September 19 at 4pm. The exhibition runs from September 12-22, 10am-6pm at 24 Ly Quoc Su Street.

FVH excursion to rice terraces during harvest

This weekend the Friends of Vietnam Heritage (FVH) will host a two-day excursion to the Mu Cang Chai, a national rice terrace heritage site in Yen Bai Province, and Xuan Son National Park in Phu Tho Province.

At Xuan Son National Park attendees will trek through the forest, visit the lime stone forest, and stop off at a Muong village in Nghia Lo Town of Yen Bai.

On the second day, the group will explore Mu Cang Chai District, home to some of Viet Nam’s most beautiful terraced rice fields, which is currently in harvest season. At Kha Pha Pass, the group will get one last visual treat as they get pass over the district’s impressive rice terraces. After a lunch featuring traditional mountain dishes, the group will start its return to Ha Noi.

The English-speaking excursion costs VND2,300,000 per person. Limit: 20 people. Registration: Mai, email: phmai@fpt.vn or 0917294923. Registration will close September 11.

The Observatory presents US, UK artists

Two DJs and producers Nick Monaco from San Francisco and Pete Herbert from London will perform at The Observatory tonight and tomorrow, respectively.

Monaco, who released his first extended play Naked Is My Nature in 2013 under Soul Clap Records, will present electronic funk from his newly released album Mating Call, an adventurous project that incorporates Nick’s own voice and live instrumentation.

Herbert, owner of the Disco Deviance label, will bring disco, house, dub and funk to the city’s music lovers. The artist has toured Europe, China, Japan and Australia.

The shows start at 10pm and entrance is free before 11pm. After 11pm, tickets are VND100,000 (US$4.45) for the first show and VND150,000 ($6.67) for the second. The venue is at 5 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4.

Three bands to rock city this weekend

Three local and expatriate rock bands will gather for a rock show at Saigon Ranger tomorrow.

Trio band Javana will cover hits of legendary rock artist Chuck Berry and band Led Zeppelin, while The Rover will present rock and roll songs.

Weed Elephant, consisting of one local and two expatriate artists, will perform songs by Jimi Hendrix, an American rock composer, singer and guitarist. The band’s guitarist Yuichi Matsumoto will be featured in solo performances.

The performance will begin at 9pm at 5/7 Nguyen Sieu Street in District 1. Admission is free.

Day-time fest features reggae music

Saigon Rockers, a crew aiming to bring quality live reggae music to HCM City, will host a day-time mini festival called Reggae Sunday at Papillon Bar Saigon on Sunday.

The event will features the city’s outstanding artists like K-One, Jase, Knappe, Dubwise, Maraphoria, Morgan and Ivy Phi.

Entertainment activities, food and drinks are included.

The event will take place from 3 pm at 3A Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1. Entrance fee is VND50,000 ($2.2).

Japan-Vietnam concert extends message of peace

Japanese artists on September 9 joined the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) in a concert in Hanoi sending a message of peace.

The event was at the baton of Conductor Honna Tetsuji while flautist Tachibana Saburo performed folk songs of the two countries, including Trong Com (Rice Drum) and Aizu Bandai San.

The concert, the first of its kind in Vietnam is intended to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association Vice President Nguyen Phu Binh.

Exhibition on Truong Sa, Hoang Sa archipelagos opens in Da Lat

An exhibition on the historical and legal evidence proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos was launched in Da Lat city in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong on September 9.

The exhibition, co-organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the provincial People’s Committee, showcases hundreds maps, documents, publications and objects issued by Vietnamese states and other foreign states throughout history that testify to Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

Notably, the National Archive Centre No. 4 in Da Lat is exhibiting the UNESCO-recognised woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) for the first time, which were compiled from 1802 to 1888. Many parts of the documentation mention the Vietnamese state’s exercitation and protection of sovereignty over the two archipelagos.

The exhibition also showcases four atlases issued by the Chinese Qing dynasty in 1908 and the Republic of China in 1917, 1919, and 1933. All of them show the Chinese southernmost territory ending at Hainan Island without any references to Truong Sa or Hoang Sa archipelagos.

The event will run until September 13.

Michelin star chef Herve Rodriquez to visit Vietnam

Michelin star chef Herve Rodriquez from Paris, France will visit Vinhomes Riverside Ecological Urban Area in Long Bien District, Hanoi, Vietnam, on September 23-27.

Hanoians will have an opportunity to enjoy unique menus such as goose liver, Kobe beef, Spanish pork, Chile bass or Abla truffle mushroom.

During the visit, Herve will carefully select fresh food from France to prepare Vietnamese dishes. He will not miss an opportunity to honour Vietnam’s famous food such as Nha Trang lobster simmered in coconut juice.

Participating to the event will have an opportunity to experience luxury services and discover attractive tours in Vinhomes Riverside.

The event will be held in Ruby restaurant in the Almaz Culinary and Convention Centre in Hoa Lan road in Vinhomes Riverside Ecological Urban Area. The price of menu will be VND8,000,000 per person excluding VAT and service charge.

Vietnam Week opens in Mexico

Vietnam Week was kicked off in Mexico on September 8 to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Mexico and tighten traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two nations.

Addressing the ceremony, Chairman of the Mexican Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee for Asia Pacific, Senator Teofilo Torres Corzo and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carlos Alberto de Icaza González underscored the importance of Vietnam Week on this occasion and reaffirmed fine sentiments of the Mexican people towards Vietnam.

The Mexican leaders highlighted the bilateral friendship and all-round cooperation over the last 40 years and Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements in recent time. They also pointed out the role of culture in national development and international relations expansion.

They agreed that the Vietnam Week in Mexico will give the Mexican people an opportunity to understand Vietnam’s traditional culture and develop new cooperative projects in the coming time for the benefits of the two nations.

For his part, Vietnamese ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan emphasised that the Vietnam-Mexican time-honoured relations have been consolidated in the fields of politics, economics, trade, culture and people-to-people diplomacy over the past 40 years.

She said 2015 creates a new opportunity for both nations to bring bilateral relationship to a higher level. She expressed hope that the image of a renewed Vietnam exposed during the Week will attract Mexican friends closer to the nation and learn more about its culture, culinary arts and beautiful landscapes.

Photo exhibition on ASEAN’s 48-year path launched in Hanoi

An exhibition highlighting 48 years of ASEAN peace and development as well as 20 years of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership opened in Hanoi on September 8.

The exhibition, available at 15A Ly Thuong Kiet Street, features ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste.

Jointly held by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations’ Hanoi chapter and the embassies of the bloc’s member countries, the exhibition introduces about 100 photos featuring the outstanding attainments of each country since they each joined the bloc.

The event is expected to give visitors an overall and diverse view of the efforts, achievements and booming growth of ASEAN countries.

The exhibition will run until September 15.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

VNS/VNA/VOV/ND

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