Hanoi Times - Riding on a motorbike on burning National Highway 1 on a scorching sunny noon, I felt the difficulties of To he craftsmen from Xuan La village, I Phuong Duc commune, Phu Xuan district, Hanoi. Everyday, To he (toy figurine) craftsmen in Xuan La village have to leave their home in the early morning on bicycles to be timely present at parks, flower gardens and markets in Hanoi. With small wood boxes containing glutinous rice powder of various colours, some bamboo sticks and magical hands, Xuan La craftsmen create extremely lively toy figurines to sell to children at VND3,000-5,000/toy. Xuan La village has three thousand people and around 200 people are earning their living by making To he. Everywhere there is To he - that place has Xuan La villagers. The toy figurines which have brought a small joy to many generations of Vietnamese have experienced many ups and downs, but Xuan La people are faithful to this job, though this job can't make them rich. To he - folk … [Read more...]
Buon Ma Thuot, the capital of coffee
(VOVworld) - Buon Ma Thuot city in Dak Lak province is known as the capital of coffee. This central highlands city is famous for its excellent coffee and numerous cafes. Today, Discovery Vietnam takes you on a tour of Buon Ma Thuot. Nothing is easier than drinking a cup of coffee in Buon Ma Thuot. All the streets in the city are lined with little cafes. Some have romantic names like "Purple afternoon", "Moon Light", "Hyacinth", or "Mimosa". If you want to enjoy your coffee in a quiet atmosphere, you should go to the "Green Bamboo", "Dandelion", "Little Alley", or "Now and Then", all of which offer a shady garden. The "Sun", "Rock" and "Melody" cafes, on the other hand, cater to a very young clientele. Trung Nguyen coffee village in the center of Buon Ma Thuot is surely the place that attracts the most tourists. Covering 20,000 square meters, the café embraces the architectural style and cultural identity of the Central Highlands. The café does double duty as a museum dedicated to … [Read more...]
The art of Hat Boi
The art of Hat BoiThanh Uyen A Cultural Community Discourse with the topic “Echoing drums - The art of Hat Boi” will take place at 146 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, HCMC on August 26. Scholar Petrus Truong Vinh Ky once defined Hat Boi (traditional opera) as “a play with many characters, instead of only one.” This genre of art, which originated in village life in Vietnam, is based on the principles of old theater from China and the art of singing from Cambodia with Viet indigenous elements to create a unique kind of artistic performance. What are the factors that determine the success or failure of a Hat Boi performance? What are the potentials and challenges that Hat Boi faces? In the Cultural Community Discourse, performer Dinh Bang Phi, who has dedicated his life to Hat Boi, will answer those questions. Over the past 50 years, Phi has observed Hat Boi and had a lot of write-ups about the rules, techniques and methods of this performing art, thus … [Read more...]
Dancers learn the art of perfection
More than 100 young dancers and choreographers from 48 dance troupes in HCM City and other provinces are participating in a training course launched this week by the HCM City Dance School. Into the groove: Young artists from the HCM City Dance School perform in Luc Van Tien, a folk dance choreographed by Kim Quy. — Photo by Duc Ngoc "Without young talent, the art will decline," says People’s Artist Vu Viet Cuong, one of the organisers for the new Dance Creation course. Cuong says better training and management will play an important role in improving the country’s dance profession. The curriculum for the course includes 13 subjects, including ballet, music for dance, and the language of folk dance. Cultural researchers and theatre experts, Tran Huu Ta, Ngo Hong Khanh and Le Tien Tho, developed the curricula. Fact-finding tours to scenic landscapes, historical sites and museums will help the students gain deeper experiences about traditional folk dance skills. "We … [Read more...]
Organize the Arts Performing in the framework of “Culture Week of Laos in Vietnam”
(Cinet)- Recently, MOCST has issued the Decision No 4363/QD-BVHTTDL on holding the Arts Performing in the framework of "Culture Week of Laos in Vietnam ". In preparation for the program, MOCST assigned to the Arts Performing Organization Center under the Department of Performing Arts to host to welcome the artist delegation of Democratic Republic of Laos (35 people) and organize the arts performing in the framework of "Culture Week of Laos in Vietnam" from 21 - 28/12/2010 at the Hanoi Great Theater and 01 location in the northern region. For the funding for the program: Laos will be charged to travel on the international journey; the Arts Performing Organization Center will pay the expenses such as meals, accommodation, gifts for members, transportation in Vietnam, translator, printing the materials of the promotion, reception, tour expenses, rents of performance location and organization, the remuneration of training and performing for the delegation, overtime salary for staff of … [Read more...]
Vietnam’s first luxury tour operator nominated for the “Oscars” of the travel industry
Luxury Travel Ltd. (www.luxurytravels.asia) has been nominated in ‘Vietnam’s Leading Tour Operator’ category at the 2014 World Travel Awards. The World Travel Awards (www.worldtravelawards.com) serve to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. Hailed as the “Oscars” of the travel industry, the awards seek to raise the standards of customer service and overall business performance throughout the international industry. Now In their 21st year of operation, the World Travel Awards have evolved to represent a global search for the very best travel and tourism brands. After a rigorous selection procedure, Luxury Travel emerged with a nomination for ‘Vietnam’s Leading Tour Operator’ for the first time, confirming its position as a leader within the Vietnam tourism industry. As a company, Luxury Travel has contributed significantly to the benchmarking of … [Read more...]
Cambodian art troupe to tour northern Vietnam
A delegation of 30 Cambodian artists and officials will give three performances in northern Vietnam as part of various activities to celebrate the Cambodian Culture Week 2009 later this month. The first show to be held in Hanoi ’s Opera House on Dec. 23 will kick off the culture week, according to the Art Performance Organising Centre under the Department of Performing Arts. The Cambodian artists will also star in another concert in the capital city at the Military Theatre on Dec. 25 and wrap up their tour on Dec. 27 with a show in the northern portal city of Hai Phong. Tickets to the shows will be distributed free of charge among guests. During the Cambodian Culture Week, a lot of art performances, exhibitions and film screenings will be held with the aim of bringing the rich and extraordinary folk art of Cambodia to Vietnamese people, thereby fostering the friendship relations between Vietnam and Cambodia . The first culture week of Cambodia was held in southern Vietnam two … [Read more...]
The instructions of the Deputy Minister Trần Chiến Thắng at the shift handover worshop of the Ministry on 16/02/2009
(Cinet) - At the weekly shift handover workshop on 16/02/2009, on behalf of the Minister hosting the weekly Ministerial shift handover workshop 08, the Deputy Minister Trần Chiến Thắng had the instructing ideas in parallel with the activities of the whole branch. The tasks are as follows: Appointing the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism: appointing Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of provinces, cities to register tourist products to welcome the Ceremony of 1000 years of Thang Long-Hanoi; Reporting to the Ministerial leadership about the national tourist year project of 2010. Appointing the Performing Arts Department to host and cooperate with performing arts units belonging to the Ministry to build up plans to perform in 2009 in the provinces: Highland, Northern Central, Southern Central and Mekong River Delta. Each orientation of going on tour will be appointed to a theatre to be in charge mainly in organizing and performing, with the participation of other … [Read more...]
Reporting the activities of CST in the lunar Tet holiday 2011
(Cinet) – The MOCST already had the Document No. 18/BC-BVHTTDL to submit the Prime Minister to report the activities of the culture, sports and tourism in the lunar tet holiday 2011. The report reads that, implementing the Directive No. 2164/CT-TTg dated 30 November 2010 by the Prime Minister about continuing to enhance the production and ensuring the balance of demand and supply of products, services, stabilizing prices, markets in the lunar tet holiday 2011 and the first quarter of 2011, the MOCST and the industry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should soon concentrate on instructing, holding well activities of culture, sports and tourism to serve people nationwide to welcome the lunar tet holiday to be cheerful, safety and economical, at the same time instructing activities to commemorate 81 years of the establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam to be practical and suitable for the Directive No. 45-CT/TW dated 22 July 2010 by the Ministry of Politics about renovating … [Read more...]
Indonesian art troupe to tour southern Viet Nam
HCM CITY — A group of 40 Indonesian dancers and musicians will arrive in HCM City early next month for a four-day performance tour in the city and provinces. The tour is part of an effort by the Indonesian consulate in HCM City to showcase the nation's traditional dances, and will be led by well-known choreographer C. The West Sumbawa Cultural Troupe from West Nusa Tenggara Province is scheduled to arrive on May 3 for performing in HCM City and Vinh Long, Binh Phuoc, and Dong Nai provinces. In HCM City, it will perform at the University of Economics on May 5 before leaving for Vinh Long a day later. The Indonesian consul, Bambang Tarsanto said he hoped the event would help deepen understanding of Indonesian culture and further promote the close relationship between the two countries.-VNS … [Read more...]