Culture sports

Hanoi (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap recently released a plan on preserving and bringing into play the art of “Don ca tai tu” music and song and “Ho Dong Thap” ( Dong Thap singing ), both of which are national intangible cultural heritages, so as to improve awareness and raise a sense of responsibility in the community and the political system regarding the task.

Not only a national intangible cultural heritage, “ Don ca tai tu ” music and song was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.

Evoking people’s lives and work on the land and rivers of the Mekong Delta, it is an indispensable part of spiritual activities and the cultural heritage of local people and helps to foster amateur cultural activities.

Meanwhile, “Ho Dong Thap” is a type of folk singing that reflects the thoughts and sentiments of local residents.

Authorities have worked on studying and revitalising the art. In particular, training courses have been held in all district-level localities, while classes and extra-curricular activities have been organised at all schools province-wide so as to inspire a love among students for the cultural heritage.

Ngo Hoang Viet, Deputy Director of the centre for culture, sports, and radio broadcasting in the province’s Cao Lanh city, said 47 “Don ca tai tu” clubs with 530 members have been set up around town.

Vice Chairman of the Dong Thap provincial People’s Committee Doan Tan Buu noted that local authorities are striving to have “Don ca tai tu” and “Ho Dong Thap” clubs established in 50 to 70 percent of all communal-level localities.

They are also encouraging each commune, ward, and township to form one club and maintain festivals on the arts annually at the provincial level and biennially at the district level.

The province is also stepping up communications in the media to help turn “Don ca tai tu” and “ Ho Dong Thap ” into typical tourism products of Dong Thap./.

VNA

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Thach Du said that 2017 marks an important milestone in the two countries’ relations. Therefore, the joint organization of celebration activities is to make the two countries’ people, especially young generations, understand more about their time-honored friendship and solidarity.

Minister of State of the Cambodian ministry Ung Sean highly valued the bilateral relationship, adding it has been nurtured ceaselessly through the exchange of delegations from the grassroots to highest levels.

After the ceremony, the two sides participated in friendly badminton and table tennis matches.

They also took part in Cambodia’s traditional dances and sang songs praising Vietnam-Cambodia solidarity.

Within the framework of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, a friendly football match between the two countries’ national U17 teams will take place at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on June 21.

Source: VNA

Quang Ngai (VNA) – The Tu Linh boat racing festival in the island district of Ly Son, the central province of Quang Ngai, has been recognised as part of the national intangible cultural heritage.

The certificate presentation ceremony was held on April 27 by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the district People’s Committee.

According to old documents, the Tu Linh (four mythological creatures – dragon, qilin, tortoise, phoenix) boat racing festival on Ly Son Island was first held in 1826.

It takes place around the Lunar New Year festival to pray for good weather, bumper crops, and peace. It is also meant to pay tribute to ancestors who explored this land, as well as the then Hoang Sa flotilla that planted sovereignty markers on Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes and frequently .

To preserve and bring into play this festival, the Ly Son district People’s Committee conducted many surveys and studies over the past years to compile a dossier seeking the inclusion of this activity in the list of national intangible cultural heritage.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism made the recognition in September 2020.

Thanks to this move, Ly Son district is currently home to two festivals named national intangible cultural heritages, with the other being “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” (Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa Soldiers).

The Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa Soldiers this year was held on April 19.

According to Vietnam’s feudal state history, the Hoang Sa Flotilla was set up when the Nguyen Lords began their reign in the south of the country. Thousands of sailors overcame roaring waves and storms to survey sea routes, plant milestones and erect steles affirming national territory in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, and exploit marine resources ordered by Nguyen Lords. Their missions were full of dangers, and many of them never returned to land.

To pay tribute to the men enlisted in the flotilla, “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” has been observed through hundreds of years by families in Ly Son island and many coastal areas in Quang Ngai .

The festival, which is held every April on the island, was recognised as part of the national intangible cultural heritage by the State in 2016. It reflects Vietnam’s history of protecting the national sovereignty in the East Sea, especially over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

Ly Son island covers an area of less than 10 sq.km but it has nearly 100 relics, most of which are related to the Hoang Sa Flotilla, such as the empty graves built for Hoang Sa soldiers who never returned to land, the temples dedicated to Pham Quang Anh and Vo Van Khiet who were captains of the Hoang Sa Flotilla, and a showroom displaying the items of the Hoang Sa Flotilla sailors who also controlled Bac Hai and Ba Ri Lagoon.

A monument and memorial house dedicated to the Hoang Sa Flotilla stand near the main road of the island./. /.

VNA

HCM City (VNS/VNA) – A special concert featuring Vietnamese music and songs will be staged by veteran and young artists of leading art troupes in HCM City on April 29.

The event, Ban Hung Ca Cua Mua Xuan Dai Thang (The Heroic Song of the Victory Spring), celebrates the 46th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification on April 30.

It will feature more than 100 performers in music and theatre.

Revolutionary songs by famous composers Tran Hoan, Hoang Van and Phan Huynh Dieu will be highlighted.

Folk songs in praise of the country and soldiers will be performed by pop stars Cam Ly and Hien Thuc.

Contemporary dances featuring HCM City and its history and culture in different periods will be also included.

People’s Artist Thanh Ngan and Meritorious Artist Trong Phuc will introduce tai tu music — a part of the region’s traditional music that began 100 years ago — at the event. Their performance will depict the daily life of southern farmers who have worked hard to develop their land and wealth.

“Our show, Ban Hung Ca Cua Mua Xuan Dai Thang, will tell the stories of Vietnamese people, the country’s history, culture and lifestyle,” People’s Artist Ngan, who has 20 years of experience in cai luong (reformed opera), said.

“Our artists will introduce a truly unique style of Vietnamese art.”

“We have worked hard for several weeks and spent a lot on beautiful clothes and accessories suited to the show’s theme,” she added.

Ban Hung Ca Cua Mua Xuan Dai Thang will begin at 8pm today at the Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1.

HCM City is also opening two exhibitions featuring photos and sculptures to serve city people during the national holiday.

The sculpture exhibition of 73 works by 52 artists from the city and southern provinces is on display at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum, 97 Pho Duc Chinh street, District 1.

Most of the sculptures are in stone, metal, bronze and composite. The works highlight southern people and their challenges in life today.

The photo exhibition at Nguyen Hue Pedestrian street, called Tu Hao Mot Dai Bien Cuong (The pride-worthy frontier strip) features 196 works highlighting outstanding economic, social and economic achievements of HCM Ctiy.

Many photos feature the country’s seas and islands.

Both events will run through May 9./.

VNA

The program is a part of activities to mark the 46th anniversary of the liberation of South Vietnam and National Reunification Day and other major national anniversaries.

The event is divided into three parts featuring well-prepared performances by famous artists and singers, namely Thai Bao, Duc Long, Dang Duong, My Linh, Pham Thu Ha, Anh Tho, Thanh Le, and more.

* On this occasion, the Hanoi municipal Department of Culture and Sports will hold six major art shows on big stages at the My Dinh National Stadium, in the center of Tay Ho and Ha Dong districts at 20:00 on April 30 and May 1, both at the Ly Thai To Monument and in the center of Long Bien and Thanh Tri districts at 20:00 on May 19.

These art performances will be staged by artists from the Hanoi Cheo Theater, the Hanoi Circus and Variety Arts Theater, and the Hanoi Music Song and Dance Theater.

* Moreover, the People’s Army Cinema will screen a film entitled “Khuc mua”, directed by director Bui Tuan Dung.

The film tells about survivors with deep psychological wounds from those who died during wartime.

Along with this story, other people are striving to overcome their pains to rebuild a new life.

The film will be shown in military units and aired on national television stations.

Translated by Quynh Oanh