ENTERTAINMENT

Tran Lam Binh, a Vietnamese painter has produced more than 100 works featuring US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with a message of peace for the world. Binh, a painter from Quang Binh Province, started painting US President Trump portraits since 2015 after he entered the presidential race. He painted 30 portraits in one year and had a small exhibition near the White House. When Binh knew about the summit between the two leaders would be held in Vietnam, he flew to Hanoi about 10 days ago and painted 10 more portraits of them. Binh said he started painting Kim Jong Un since 2016 on canvases. It took him from one day to several weeks to complete a painting. Some photos of Binh and his works: Tran Lam Binh and his works on US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un … [Read more...] about Artist made 100 paintings for Trump-Kim summit

Hai Phượng (Furie) starring Ngô Thanh Vân will compete at the 14th Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) from March 8-17. A scene from Hai Phượng (Furie) starring Ngô Thanh Vân. — Photo courtesy of Studio68 The film tracks the journey of a mother who saves her daughter from human traffickers. The film will be premiered nationwide on February 22 with English subtitles. It’s one of 14 films competing for the Grand Prix and Most Promising Talent Award, according to information released on the official website of the festival. Other entries in this section include The Girl in the Orange Dress (Philippines), Our Body (Korea), Asandhimitta (Sri Lanka), The Lady Improper (Hong Kong) and Tanabata’s Wife (Philippines). Directed by Lê Văn Kiệt, the film is likely to be Vân’s last action film. Vân is known for her roles in The Rebel, Clash and The Tailor. She also participated in Rouge, a … [Read more...] about Vietnamese action movie to compete at film fest

A buffalo painting competition has been held at a ploughing festival in Ha Nam Province on February 10. The buffalos were turned into canvases as 24 participants from Hanoi, Ha Nam, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh and one from Russia joined the contest. The buffalo painting competition was first held in 2009. The buffalos were gathered for Doi Son Tich Dien or ploughing festival which was held on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year which fell on February 10 this year in Doi Son commune, and the winning buffalos will be used in the ploughing ceremony to pray for good harvests held on February 11. The festival is an important event, aiming to encourage agriculture and promote the building of new-style rural areas. King Le Dai Hanh started the festival when he worked on the field himself in 987. However, the annual festival was forgotten for a long time and was only resumed in 2009. Some photos of the festival taken on February 10: Buffalo painting competition … [Read more...] about Buffalo painting contest held in Ha Nam

The custom of erecting a bamboo pole, or a Neu tree, to drive away evils and pray for good luck for the New Year has been held in the Hue Royal Citadel on January 28. The pole is often erected in front of the house on the last day of the lunar year and removed on the seventh day. The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre has re-enacted the ceremony in the imperial citadel with traditional music and costumes since 2013 along with other scenes in the citadel to attract visitors. The 15-metre long pole was carried from Hien Nhon Gate by a group of men in soldier costumes. At The Mieu, the ancestral temple, several rituals were carried out while being accompanied by royal court music. Small offerings were tied to the top of the pole to ward off evils and to call for deities before the pole was erected at the ancestral temple. Two other poles were also erected at Trieu Mieu and Long An temples. Phan Thanh Hai, director of Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, said, "The ceremony is a … [Read more...] about Bamboo pole ceremony held in Hue Citadel

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made a personal call to Vietnam head coach Park Hang-seo and his players, encouraging them in the run-up to the Asian Cup quarterfinal match against Japan. He made the call ahead of his departure for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc wishes national team good luck ahead of Asian Cup quarterfinal Over the phone with head coach Park Hang-seo, the government leader hailed the national squad’s efforts. He hoped that the team would play well in the quarterfinal match against Japan Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai today, January 24, at 8 pm. Early this morning, hundreds of Vietnamese fans have left Vietnam for Dubai to cheer the national team. Five large-size screens will be installed on Le Duan Street in HCM City for the public to enjoy the match. … [Read more...] about PM wishes national team good luck ahead of Asian Cup quarterfinal