13:47' 28/04/2007 (GMT+7)
Prime Minster Nguyen Tan Dung and other government officials met with the management of the National University in Ho Chi Minh on Thursday to iron out the difficulties hindering the university’s integration into the international university system.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung (standing) speaks at the meeting with leaders of the HCMC National University.Professor Phan Thanh Binh asked the Prime Minister to give his university autonomy at the highest level so that it could set its own tuition fees and proceed with site clearance for the university’s physical expansion.
He also asked PM Dung to allow the university’s software technology zone to operate as a commercial science and technology enterprise.
Deputy Minister of Education and Training Banh Tien Long said his ministry was well aware and appreciative of the university’s achievements and was drafting regulations to give it greater autonomy. Once granted, he said, this autonomy would let the university operate more effectively and efficiently.
The PM stressed that education and training were of vital concern to the government and the state as they played an important role in the country’s development. And so, he said, the government would do whatever was needed for the university to grow.
As one benefit of increased autonomy, he said, the university’s director would be able to appoint deputy directors, set enrolment targets and carry out construction works under what is termed "Category A".
PM Dung approved the university’s request to set tuition fees without outside interference, but only on a pilot basis.
He summed up by saying that, with such incentives, his hope was that the National University in Ho Minh City would "walk abreast" with the National University in Ha Noi so that Viet Nam could have two leading universities offering a prestigious education of international standard.
Since its founding in 2001 on 645 hectares of land, the National University in Ho Chi Minh City has constantly expanded its academic programs and teaching facilities.
These days it is like a small city with lecture halls, administration blocks, libraries, 15 student dorms, a nanotech laboratory and the afore-mentioned software industrial zone.
The university’s lecturers include 190 professors and associate professors, 470 PhDs and 795 masters degree holders.
(Source: SGGP)
Monday, April 30, 2007
Vietnam’s hospitals: cheap, good, but not favoured
12:36' 17/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Many hospitals in Vietnam are recognized to have good and cheap services compared to foreign ones but they can’t attract foreigners who are working and living in Vietnam.
Early March 2007, Katharina, the daughter of Joachim Gromotka, technical advisor to a health project in Vietnam, had a high temperature. The girl was brought to the SOS Clinic.
Doctors said that Katharina had one kind of unclear fever. One week later, her health became worse and her kidney almost didn’t work. The family was advised to bring Katharina to Bangkok (Thailand) or Singapore.
The family made a midnight phone call to the Vietnam - France Hospital. This hospital diagnosed that the girl might need kidney support machine. However, the hospital doesn’t have this service and they also advised the family to transfer Katharina to Thailand or Singapore.
Joachim phoned to a hospital in Bangkok and an airplane and doctors from Thailand came to Hanoi to pick up Katharina to Thailand.
The girl was admitted to a hospital in Bangkok 30 hours later, on March 15. Within four days in Thailand, Thai doctors made tests and confirmed that Katharina didn’t need a kidney support machine. The girl caught one kind of dengue fever and Thai doctors didn’t find out the connection between the fever and kidney failure.
The hospital sent Katharina’s family a report, which says that her kidney might get bacterial contamination.
Mr Joachim Gromotka knew that the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi has kidney support machines but he said that he didn’t believe in the way those modern used at the hospital.
Doctor Nguyen Cao Luan, Head of the Bach Mai Hospital’s Kidney Ward, accepted that the filter pipe and the artificial kidney for patients who use this service regularly are used six times and only one time for patients who use high-class service. However, those components are used for the same patient for six times.
No policy to lure foreign patients
A Japanese patient at the Vietnam - France Hospital said that services here could compare to foreign hospitals.
Around 50% of the patients at the hospital’s Cardiovascular Ward are foreigners who come from Russia, the US, Ukraine, Bangladesh, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Libya, etc.
As the operational mechanism for hospitals are loosened, some domestic hospitals have taken initiative in inviting foreign patients but they seem to not have marketing skills.
“Foreign patients mainly come to local hospitals through personal relations or they know about the hospitals themselves. Most hospitals don’t have policies to attract foreign patients,” said an official from the Ministry of Health.
At the Central Eye Hospital in Hanoi, tens of foreign patients used the hospital’s eye surgery service within the first two months it used most modern EC5000 CXIII equipment. A foreign visitor said that she could save 50-80% of expenses thanks to the hospital’s service. All of those foreigners came to the hospital through recommendations of their friends.
“In Singapore, this service is cost $2,000 while it is only nearly $300 here,” the visitor said.
A heart operation in the US costs $30,000 compared to $4,000-$6,000 in Vietnam. Eye and nose plastic services are also very cheap, around $200-400 including seven-day caring service compared to $2,000-4,000 abroad.
“The Odonto Stomatology Hospital welcomes patients from many countries, who use our dental services,” said professor Tran Van Truong, former Director of the Hanoi Odonto Stomatology Hospital.
However, hospitals don’t have methodological strategies yet, said Professor Pham Gia Khai, Director of the National Cardiovascular Institute.
Travel firms ignore potential of medical tourism market
A manager of Saigontourist, Nguyen Xuan Thien, said that his company has not offered any healthcare tours for foreign visitors. The company has not conducted any surveys about this market.
“We welcomed a group of French tourists who come to Vietnam for travel and treatment by Oriental medicine. But this tour was offered by the French partner, not a popular tour of us,” Mr Thien said.
According to him, Vietnam is not a destination that is widely known like India or Thailand because Vietnam’s advertising is still poor.
A representative of Hanoitourist also said that the company has not had any plan about this kind of tourism.
(Source: Tien phong)
VietNamNet Bridge - Many hospitals in Vietnam are recognized to have good and cheap services compared to foreign ones but they can’t attract foreigners who are working and living in Vietnam.
Early March 2007, Katharina, the daughter of Joachim Gromotka, technical advisor to a health project in Vietnam, had a high temperature. The girl was brought to the SOS Clinic.
Doctors said that Katharina had one kind of unclear fever. One week later, her health became worse and her kidney almost didn’t work. The family was advised to bring Katharina to Bangkok (Thailand) or Singapore.
The family made a midnight phone call to the Vietnam - France Hospital. This hospital diagnosed that the girl might need kidney support machine. However, the hospital doesn’t have this service and they also advised the family to transfer Katharina to Thailand or Singapore.
Joachim phoned to a hospital in Bangkok and an airplane and doctors from Thailand came to Hanoi to pick up Katharina to Thailand.
The girl was admitted to a hospital in Bangkok 30 hours later, on March 15. Within four days in Thailand, Thai doctors made tests and confirmed that Katharina didn’t need a kidney support machine. The girl caught one kind of dengue fever and Thai doctors didn’t find out the connection between the fever and kidney failure.
The hospital sent Katharina’s family a report, which says that her kidney might get bacterial contamination.
Mr Joachim Gromotka knew that the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi has kidney support machines but he said that he didn’t believe in the way those modern used at the hospital.
Doctor Nguyen Cao Luan, Head of the Bach Mai Hospital’s Kidney Ward, accepted that the filter pipe and the artificial kidney for patients who use this service regularly are used six times and only one time for patients who use high-class service. However, those components are used for the same patient for six times.
No policy to lure foreign patients
A Japanese patient at the Vietnam - France Hospital said that services here could compare to foreign hospitals.
Around 50% of the patients at the hospital’s Cardiovascular Ward are foreigners who come from Russia, the US, Ukraine, Bangladesh, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Libya, etc.
As the operational mechanism for hospitals are loosened, some domestic hospitals have taken initiative in inviting foreign patients but they seem to not have marketing skills.
“Foreign patients mainly come to local hospitals through personal relations or they know about the hospitals themselves. Most hospitals don’t have policies to attract foreign patients,” said an official from the Ministry of Health.
At the Central Eye Hospital in Hanoi, tens of foreign patients used the hospital’s eye surgery service within the first two months it used most modern EC5000 CXIII equipment. A foreign visitor said that she could save 50-80% of expenses thanks to the hospital’s service. All of those foreigners came to the hospital through recommendations of their friends.
“In Singapore, this service is cost $2,000 while it is only nearly $300 here,” the visitor said.
A heart operation in the US costs $30,000 compared to $4,000-$6,000 in Vietnam. Eye and nose plastic services are also very cheap, around $200-400 including seven-day caring service compared to $2,000-4,000 abroad.
“The Odonto Stomatology Hospital welcomes patients from many countries, who use our dental services,” said professor Tran Van Truong, former Director of the Hanoi Odonto Stomatology Hospital.
However, hospitals don’t have methodological strategies yet, said Professor Pham Gia Khai, Director of the National Cardiovascular Institute.
Travel firms ignore potential of medical tourism market
A manager of Saigontourist, Nguyen Xuan Thien, said that his company has not offered any healthcare tours for foreign visitors. The company has not conducted any surveys about this market.
“We welcomed a group of French tourists who come to Vietnam for travel and treatment by Oriental medicine. But this tour was offered by the French partner, not a popular tour of us,” Mr Thien said.
According to him, Vietnam is not a destination that is widely known like India or Thailand because Vietnam’s advertising is still poor.
A representative of Hanoitourist also said that the company has not had any plan about this kind of tourism.
(Source: Tien phong)
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Girls who “like to play with words”
17:44' 16/03/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - H.Chi, a female copywriter, said, “If I say I sell words, people may think I’m a teacher or writer. So when asked what my profession is, I say I play with words.”
According to Mai Han, copywriting isn’t monotonous at all. "You can write commercials for TV, radio, or write scripts for ad films, or write newspaper ads, etc. Copywriting isn’t just writing slogans." To a copywriter, "playing with words” means “arranging words in the most effective way". H. Nhung, another copywriter, said whenever she sees a great TV commercial, she mumbles the words in the commercial to herself. She explained: “I want to try to see whether I can make them sound better.” A monthly salary ranging from VND 3 million (US $ 188) to VND 15 million (US $ 938) is an incentive to many young women who want to be copywriters. At present, no universities in Vietnam have training programmes in copywriting. Therefore, copywriting in Vietnam is chiefly a self-taught profession. Many female copywriters have notebooks in which they write down interesting Vietnamese words they encounter in books, newspapers or on the Internet. Most of them are always seen with Vietnamese dictionaries. And some read poetry extensively. A copywriter named Thanh said, “Words in poetry are succinct, expressive and meaningful. Reading poetry is excellent for copywriters.” As for constantly checking Vietnamese dictionaries, Thanh explained, “You many think that as Vietnamese is your mother tongue, your Vietnamese is impeccable. But it isn’t true. Vietnamese is a rich language while our vocabulary for everyday activities is limited.” When their ads are used, copywriters are extremely happy. P.Khanh recalled, “The first time my slogan was accepted, I felt like crying.” Other copywriters have similar feelings because they say each slogan is the result of a tireless and passionate working process. Life isn’t always rosy. N.Hang said, “I had such headaches for a whole month and came up with 3 slogans, all of which were rejected. Yet, 6 months later, one of these 3 slogans appeared on the labels of my client’s products. I was so mad, but what could I do? The time and money I would have had to pay if I had sued the client were better spent in creating new slogans.” Vietnamese female copywriters feel even worse when hearing such comments as “Vietnamese ads sound funny with slogans as long as several km.” M.Trang said, “Yet, on second thought, such comments are true, which makes me sad. Foreign slogans are short and catchy. That’s why we try hard to come up with concise and interesting slogans though we know it’s difficult to change the habit of saying too much about products.”
(Source: Tien Phong)
VietNamNet Bridge - H.Chi, a female copywriter, said, “If I say I sell words, people may think I’m a teacher or writer. So when asked what my profession is, I say I play with words.”
According to Mai Han, copywriting isn’t monotonous at all. "You can write commercials for TV, radio, or write scripts for ad films, or write newspaper ads, etc. Copywriting isn’t just writing slogans." To a copywriter, "playing with words” means “arranging words in the most effective way". H. Nhung, another copywriter, said whenever she sees a great TV commercial, she mumbles the words in the commercial to herself. She explained: “I want to try to see whether I can make them sound better.” A monthly salary ranging from VND 3 million (US $ 188) to VND 15 million (US $ 938) is an incentive to many young women who want to be copywriters. At present, no universities in Vietnam have training programmes in copywriting. Therefore, copywriting in Vietnam is chiefly a self-taught profession. Many female copywriters have notebooks in which they write down interesting Vietnamese words they encounter in books, newspapers or on the Internet. Most of them are always seen with Vietnamese dictionaries. And some read poetry extensively. A copywriter named Thanh said, “Words in poetry are succinct, expressive and meaningful. Reading poetry is excellent for copywriters.” As for constantly checking Vietnamese dictionaries, Thanh explained, “You many think that as Vietnamese is your mother tongue, your Vietnamese is impeccable. But it isn’t true. Vietnamese is a rich language while our vocabulary for everyday activities is limited.” When their ads are used, copywriters are extremely happy. P.Khanh recalled, “The first time my slogan was accepted, I felt like crying.” Other copywriters have similar feelings because they say each slogan is the result of a tireless and passionate working process. Life isn’t always rosy. N.Hang said, “I had such headaches for a whole month and came up with 3 slogans, all of which were rejected. Yet, 6 months later, one of these 3 slogans appeared on the labels of my client’s products. I was so mad, but what could I do? The time and money I would have had to pay if I had sued the client were better spent in creating new slogans.” Vietnamese female copywriters feel even worse when hearing such comments as “Vietnamese ads sound funny with slogans as long as several km.” M.Trang said, “Yet, on second thought, such comments are true, which makes me sad. Foreign slogans are short and catchy. That’s why we try hard to come up with concise and interesting slogans though we know it’s difficult to change the habit of saying too much about products.”
(Source: Tien Phong)
What do you know about banh khot?
15:15' 27/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Possibly no one knows when banh khot (a somewhat small Vietnamese pancake) appeared in Vietnam’s cuisine and people are sure if the popular and cheap dish is the specialty of the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Cooking banh khot in Vung Tau City. (inset) A dish of banh khot at Goc Vu Sua stall in Vung Tau City.However, many Vietnamese know that the neighbors of HCMC, especially Vung Tau City, are well-known for having many stalls selling delicious banh khot.
A banh khot stallholder on Ba Cu Street in Vung Tau City, who has been named Ms. Muoi by guests, said that the general method to make banh khot is the same at every stall, but each one focuses on different details to create specific characters to attract more guests.
Rice, cold rice after being cooked or rice crust at the bottom of the pot, shrimp, ground dried shrimp, nuoc mam (fish sauce) and vegetables are the main ingredients of the dish.
Muoi said that first she mills the mix of rice and cold rice after being cooked into flour before pouring the flour into a mould that has nearly 50 small holes in the shape of a half circle.
After that, she adds dried shrimp and fresh shrimp to the holes. Diners can eat the dish after the mix’s skin becomes yellow. “Rolling the banh khot with vegetables and using fish sauce is the feasible way to enjoy the banh khot,” she said, adding that a banh khot dish contains 8-10 pieces.
The owner of the Banh Khot Goc Vu Sua stall on Nguyen Truong To Street, which is said to serve the most delicious banh khot dishes in the city, has a different specific detail to attract diners.
“In the flour mix, besides rice, we also use rice crust from the bottom of the pot so that the cake becomes crisper,” the owner said. “Moreover, for the vegetable, we use many cabbages. The combination the slight bitterness of the cabbage, banh khot’s crispness and the fish sauce’s saltiness is wonderful for diners.”
The stall is now some 21 years old, the same age as the owner’s daughter, who is being trained to inherit her mother’s stall.
Available for breakfast or light meals
Because of the popularity of the dish in small pieces, the banh khot can be eaten for breakfast. “Especially on weekends, when people are off work, the mornings are peak times at our stall with many diners coming here to enjoy banh khot for breakfast,” the Banh Khot Cay Vu Sua’s owner said.
When traveling to other banh khot stalls from Banh Khot Co Hai on Ky Dong Street to Banh Khot Ms. Muoi on Ba Cu Street or others on Hoang Hoa Tham Street, they are found to be just as busy.
In the afternoon when school or work is finished, friends can drop in at a stall to enjoy banh khot pieces as a light meal.
The Banh Khot Rach Dua Stall on Ba Muoi Thang Tu Street, about 5 km from the city’s downtown, can be an interesting option because it only serves banh khot in the afternoon. Although it is a good distance from downtown, many residents and tourists visit there to dine because of its quality.
At night, especially on weekends, is also a favorite time to enjoy banh khot. During the trip around the Vung Tau City, tourists can visit a banh khot stall to enjoy the dish while relaxing in the quiet atmosphere and cool wind from the sea.
It is said that besides seafood, which is already famous there, tourists can enjoy a banh khot tour when visiting Vung Tau to understand more about the specialty.
A banh khot dish includes 8-10 small pieces. Prices start from VND10,000-15,000 a dish.
Some banh khot stalls in Vung Tau:
Banh khot Goc Vu Sua: 14 Nguyen Truong To Street, Vung Tau City, tel: (064) 523 465.
Banh khot Ba Hai: 42 Tran Dong Street, Ward 3, Vung Tau City.
Banh khot Ba Muoi: Ba Cu Street, Ward 4, Vung Tau City.
(Source: SGT)
VietNamNet Bridge – Possibly no one knows when banh khot (a somewhat small Vietnamese pancake) appeared in Vietnam’s cuisine and people are sure if the popular and cheap dish is the specialty of the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Cooking banh khot in Vung Tau City. (inset) A dish of banh khot at Goc Vu Sua stall in Vung Tau City.However, many Vietnamese know that the neighbors of HCMC, especially Vung Tau City, are well-known for having many stalls selling delicious banh khot.
A banh khot stallholder on Ba Cu Street in Vung Tau City, who has been named Ms. Muoi by guests, said that the general method to make banh khot is the same at every stall, but each one focuses on different details to create specific characters to attract more guests.
Rice, cold rice after being cooked or rice crust at the bottom of the pot, shrimp, ground dried shrimp, nuoc mam (fish sauce) and vegetables are the main ingredients of the dish.
Muoi said that first she mills the mix of rice and cold rice after being cooked into flour before pouring the flour into a mould that has nearly 50 small holes in the shape of a half circle.
After that, she adds dried shrimp and fresh shrimp to the holes. Diners can eat the dish after the mix’s skin becomes yellow. “Rolling the banh khot with vegetables and using fish sauce is the feasible way to enjoy the banh khot,” she said, adding that a banh khot dish contains 8-10 pieces.
The owner of the Banh Khot Goc Vu Sua stall on Nguyen Truong To Street, which is said to serve the most delicious banh khot dishes in the city, has a different specific detail to attract diners.
“In the flour mix, besides rice, we also use rice crust from the bottom of the pot so that the cake becomes crisper,” the owner said. “Moreover, for the vegetable, we use many cabbages. The combination the slight bitterness of the cabbage, banh khot’s crispness and the fish sauce’s saltiness is wonderful for diners.”
The stall is now some 21 years old, the same age as the owner’s daughter, who is being trained to inherit her mother’s stall.
Available for breakfast or light meals
Because of the popularity of the dish in small pieces, the banh khot can be eaten for breakfast. “Especially on weekends, when people are off work, the mornings are peak times at our stall with many diners coming here to enjoy banh khot for breakfast,” the Banh Khot Cay Vu Sua’s owner said.
When traveling to other banh khot stalls from Banh Khot Co Hai on Ky Dong Street to Banh Khot Ms. Muoi on Ba Cu Street or others on Hoang Hoa Tham Street, they are found to be just as busy.
In the afternoon when school or work is finished, friends can drop in at a stall to enjoy banh khot pieces as a light meal.
The Banh Khot Rach Dua Stall on Ba Muoi Thang Tu Street, about 5 km from the city’s downtown, can be an interesting option because it only serves banh khot in the afternoon. Although it is a good distance from downtown, many residents and tourists visit there to dine because of its quality.
At night, especially on weekends, is also a favorite time to enjoy banh khot. During the trip around the Vung Tau City, tourists can visit a banh khot stall to enjoy the dish while relaxing in the quiet atmosphere and cool wind from the sea.
It is said that besides seafood, which is already famous there, tourists can enjoy a banh khot tour when visiting Vung Tau to understand more about the specialty.
A banh khot dish includes 8-10 small pieces. Prices start from VND10,000-15,000 a dish.
Some banh khot stalls in Vung Tau:
Banh khot Goc Vu Sua: 14 Nguyen Truong To Street, Vung Tau City, tel: (064) 523 465.
Banh khot Ba Hai: 42 Tran Dong Street, Ward 3, Vung Tau City.
Banh khot Ba Muoi: Ba Cu Street, Ward 4, Vung Tau City.
(Source: SGT)
Vietnamese French drug smuggler sentenced
09:57' 27/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Members of a drug syndicate masterminded by a French national of Vietnamese origin were handed prison terms by a Ho Chi Minh City court, on April 25.Dang David, who is also known as Dang Van Tam, 53, was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in the ring. Dang was arrested on May 12, 2004 for being accused of illegally selling and purchasing 1,115 grammes of prohibited narcotics.Between January 2002 and September 2003, through the Medical Centre in central Khanh Hoa province’s Van Ninh district, Dang had sent to Vietnam five batches of drugs, disguised as pharmaceutical products for a bogus humanitarian aid organisation called the French Association of Non-border Pharmacists.The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court also gave out jail terms of three and four years to Nguyen Thanh Thai, former Director of the Van Ninh Medical Centre, and Nguyen Ngoc Son, a centre employee, respectively, for their involvement in the case.
(Source: VNA)
VietNamNet Bridge - Members of a drug syndicate masterminded by a French national of Vietnamese origin were handed prison terms by a Ho Chi Minh City court, on April 25.Dang David, who is also known as Dang Van Tam, 53, was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in the ring. Dang was arrested on May 12, 2004 for being accused of illegally selling and purchasing 1,115 grammes of prohibited narcotics.Between January 2002 and September 2003, through the Medical Centre in central Khanh Hoa province’s Van Ninh district, Dang had sent to Vietnam five batches of drugs, disguised as pharmaceutical products for a bogus humanitarian aid organisation called the French Association of Non-border Pharmacists.The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court also gave out jail terms of three and four years to Nguyen Thanh Thai, former Director of the Van Ninh Medical Centre, and Nguyen Ngoc Son, a centre employee, respectively, for their involvement in the case.
(Source: VNA)
Health ministry to try methadone to bolster fight against addiction
16:39' 27/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong has approved a pilot project for the experimental use of methadone in HCM City and Hai Phong in an effort to mitigate the HIV/AIDS spread.
Under the deputy PM's decision, 700 drug users aged 18 and older will take part in a two-year project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK Department for International Development.
Volunteers who have been on narcotics for at least two years will take an oral dose of methadone liquid as a replacement for heroin once a day.
According to the American Office of National Drug Control Policy, methadone is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence.
Heroin releases an excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to need a constant supply of opiates to feed certain receptors in the brain.
Methadone, on the other hand, can occupy the receptor and is the stabilising factor that allows addicts on methadone to change their behaviour and discontinue heroin use.
Deputy PM Trong, who is also the chairman of the National Committee for the Prevention and Control of AIDS, Drug Abuse and Prostitution, asked the Ministry of Health to work with the two cities' People's Committees to closely control the project's implementation.
The health ministry will report to the prime minister for further application of the drug.
Le Truong Giang, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Health, said that to curb the spread of HIV, methadone could not be used alone but must be accompanied with education.
Drug users who must visit a health care clinic every day to receive the dose would have more opportunities to interact with educators who could help them return to a normal life, he said.
According to the committee, more than 280,000 people were infected with the deadly HIV virus last year in Vietnam, double the figure in 2000.
(Source: Viet Nam News)
VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong has approved a pilot project for the experimental use of methadone in HCM City and Hai Phong in an effort to mitigate the HIV/AIDS spread.
Under the deputy PM's decision, 700 drug users aged 18 and older will take part in a two-year project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK Department for International Development.
Volunteers who have been on narcotics for at least two years will take an oral dose of methadone liquid as a replacement for heroin once a day.
According to the American Office of National Drug Control Policy, methadone is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence.
Heroin releases an excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to need a constant supply of opiates to feed certain receptors in the brain.
Methadone, on the other hand, can occupy the receptor and is the stabilising factor that allows addicts on methadone to change their behaviour and discontinue heroin use.
Deputy PM Trong, who is also the chairman of the National Committee for the Prevention and Control of AIDS, Drug Abuse and Prostitution, asked the Ministry of Health to work with the two cities' People's Committees to closely control the project's implementation.
The health ministry will report to the prime minister for further application of the drug.
Le Truong Giang, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Health, said that to curb the spread of HIV, methadone could not be used alone but must be accompanied with education.
Drug users who must visit a health care clinic every day to receive the dose would have more opportunities to interact with educators who could help them return to a normal life, he said.
According to the committee, more than 280,000 people were infected with the deadly HIV virus last year in Vietnam, double the figure in 2000.
(Source: Viet Nam News)
Prime Minister tours southern provinces
09:26' 29/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made fact-finding tours of the Mekong delta province of Hau Giang and the southernmost province of Ca Mau on Apr. 27-28. In Hau Giang, "the rice basket of the Mekong delta", the PM suggested the provincial authorities to focus on developing the processing industry to raise the living standard for the local people whose per capita income currently remains at $470 per year, much lower than the national average of $720. He noted the suggestion as one of the feasible solutions that Hau Giang should take into account in the course of making the province an industrial locality with good educational and cultural system.In Ca Mau, PM Dung urged the provincial authorities to exploit the locality's coastal feature to promote aquaculture, especially the breeding of shrimp, for export.The Government leader also discussed with local leaders the implementation of the Ca Mau electricity-gas-nitrogenous fertiliser project, an industrial complex of the national-scale.The Ca Mau thermo-electric power plant No. 1 has put its first turbine group into operation and the construction of the Ca Mau power plant No. 2 is underway for its operation slated for March 2008.
(Source: VNA)
VietNamNet Bridge - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made fact-finding tours of the Mekong delta province of Hau Giang and the southernmost province of Ca Mau on Apr. 27-28. In Hau Giang, "the rice basket of the Mekong delta", the PM suggested the provincial authorities to focus on developing the processing industry to raise the living standard for the local people whose per capita income currently remains at $470 per year, much lower than the national average of $720. He noted the suggestion as one of the feasible solutions that Hau Giang should take into account in the course of making the province an industrial locality with good educational and cultural system.In Ca Mau, PM Dung urged the provincial authorities to exploit the locality's coastal feature to promote aquaculture, especially the breeding of shrimp, for export.The Government leader also discussed with local leaders the implementation of the Ca Mau electricity-gas-nitrogenous fertiliser project, an industrial complex of the national-scale.The Ca Mau thermo-electric power plant No. 1 has put its first turbine group into operation and the construction of the Ca Mau power plant No. 2 is underway for its operation slated for March 2008.
(Source: VNA)
An Giang Province to restore Khmer pagodas
16:40' 14/04/2007 (GMT+7)
An Giang Province is home to over 86,000 Khmer people.
VietNamNet Bridge – Southern An Giang Province has handed out VND300mil for restoration work on 65 of the province's Khmer pagodas, in order to celebrate the Khmer New Year Festival, Chol Chnam Thmay.
A further VND50mil was given to the pagodas to be used for the teaching of Pali, an ancient Khmer script.
During the harvest festival, which falls on April 12-14, officials of the province paid congratulatory visits to over 60 Khmer families.
An Giang Province is home to over 86,000 Khmer people, who account for four percent of the total provincial population. They live mainly in the districts of Tri Ton, Tinh Bien, Chau Phu, Chau Thanh, and Thoai Son.
(Source: VNA)
An Giang Province is home to over 86,000 Khmer people.
VietNamNet Bridge – Southern An Giang Province has handed out VND300mil for restoration work on 65 of the province's Khmer pagodas, in order to celebrate the Khmer New Year Festival, Chol Chnam Thmay.
A further VND50mil was given to the pagodas to be used for the teaching of Pali, an ancient Khmer script.
During the harvest festival, which falls on April 12-14, officials of the province paid congratulatory visits to over 60 Khmer families.
An Giang Province is home to over 86,000 Khmer people, who account for four percent of the total provincial population. They live mainly in the districts of Tri Ton, Tinh Bien, Chau Phu, Chau Thanh, and Thoai Son.
(Source: VNA)
Sex blogs blossom
17:00' 16/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Besides serving exchange purposes, many personal blogs are becoming places to disseminate sexual images, stories and even personal photos.
Tuan, a student residing on Phan Van Han, District Binh Thanh, HCM City, said, “These days, I’m making a lot of money by creating blogs for prostitutes. I can earn a few hundred dong for each blog. It is an easy way of making money.” These blogs don’t have very elaborate looks. The content, however, is open sex sales. For instance, blogger L.A. advertises in her blog, “L.A., 18 years old, just been 2 months in the profession. Tall, white-skinned, having all that is necessary, very enthusiastic. Money back if not satisfied. Contact 091855xxxx.” Accompanying these words are sexually stimulating photos. Another ad on N.H’s blog runs as follows, “Specialised in providing all kinds of ‘flowers’, from high-class to economy. ‘Flowers’ can be transported as far away as Phan Thiet and Nha Trang. Beauty, enthusiasm, and reasonable prices all guaranteed. Contact 090924xxxx for home delivery.” There are also blogs that sell sex toys for both heterosexuals and homosexuals. And blog M. is where sex CDs and videos are sold and delivered by mail; payments are made through account transferring. H., the owner of another sex blog, advertised, “I have all sorts of CDs to ‘warm up’, as well as toys for both males and females. I have products from Japan, China, and the US. What do you like? We deliver to your door.” Many bloggers create sex blogs as proof of their connoisseurship. For instance, sex bloggers often visit M.H’s blog as a forum of sex lovers. In this blog, the owner regularly brags and updates his “achievements”. And following these “diaries” are lists of phone numbers of girls who have slept with M.H. M.H. often receives feedback full of enthusiasm and admiration like “You’re such a connoisseur”, “I bow to you as to a teacher”, or “Can you tell me the secrets of your success?”Not only boys, but many girls also consider blogs a “gallery” of “happy moments” with their lovers. A blogger claiming to be a 12th grader at a high school in HCM City brags, “Yesterday, I went out. If father hadn’t called me home early, I would have deflowered H.” Or another female blogger called N who writes her husband is a sailor so she is “in need of love, markets herself with nude photos and such words as “need boys to confide in. Only beauty and strength are required, money isn’t necessary.” N is actually 32 years old and currently working at a state-owned company. Besides creating sex blogs to satisfy their own vanity and sexual needs, some bloggers like N.A use sex to lure more visitors to their blogs. Nhan, a blogger, said, “My blog has been in place for several months but there have been no visitors. So, following friends’ advice, I posted sexual images to attract more visitors. The number of visitors has been increasing by leaps and bounds.”Nguyen Thi Huong, an office employee in District 1, HCM City, said, “I was dazed when accidentally entering a sex blog, which is even worse than sex websites since its owner publicises his or her name. That makes the blog no longer a personal blog, but a public place distributing perverted materials. I don’t know where our cultural managers are.” With such statements as “Sex is a vital part of life”, more and more bloggers are disseminating perverted sexual messages and images. A cultural official said, “We can find ways to stop questionable sex websites. But as for personal sex blogs, we don’t know what to do yet.” (Source: Tuoi Tre)
VietNamNet Bridge – Besides serving exchange purposes, many personal blogs are becoming places to disseminate sexual images, stories and even personal photos.
Tuan, a student residing on Phan Van Han, District Binh Thanh, HCM City, said, “These days, I’m making a lot of money by creating blogs for prostitutes. I can earn a few hundred dong for each blog. It is an easy way of making money.” These blogs don’t have very elaborate looks. The content, however, is open sex sales. For instance, blogger L.A. advertises in her blog, “L.A., 18 years old, just been 2 months in the profession. Tall, white-skinned, having all that is necessary, very enthusiastic. Money back if not satisfied. Contact 091855xxxx.” Accompanying these words are sexually stimulating photos. Another ad on N.H’s blog runs as follows, “Specialised in providing all kinds of ‘flowers’, from high-class to economy. ‘Flowers’ can be transported as far away as Phan Thiet and Nha Trang. Beauty, enthusiasm, and reasonable prices all guaranteed. Contact 090924xxxx for home delivery.” There are also blogs that sell sex toys for both heterosexuals and homosexuals. And blog M. is where sex CDs and videos are sold and delivered by mail; payments are made through account transferring. H., the owner of another sex blog, advertised, “I have all sorts of CDs to ‘warm up’, as well as toys for both males and females. I have products from Japan, China, and the US. What do you like? We deliver to your door.” Many bloggers create sex blogs as proof of their connoisseurship. For instance, sex bloggers often visit M.H’s blog as a forum of sex lovers. In this blog, the owner regularly brags and updates his “achievements”. And following these “diaries” are lists of phone numbers of girls who have slept with M.H. M.H. often receives feedback full of enthusiasm and admiration like “You’re such a connoisseur”, “I bow to you as to a teacher”, or “Can you tell me the secrets of your success?”Not only boys, but many girls also consider blogs a “gallery” of “happy moments” with their lovers. A blogger claiming to be a 12th grader at a high school in HCM City brags, “Yesterday, I went out. If father hadn’t called me home early, I would have deflowered H.” Or another female blogger called N who writes her husband is a sailor so she is “in need of love, markets herself with nude photos and such words as “need boys to confide in. Only beauty and strength are required, money isn’t necessary.” N is actually 32 years old and currently working at a state-owned company. Besides creating sex blogs to satisfy their own vanity and sexual needs, some bloggers like N.A use sex to lure more visitors to their blogs. Nhan, a blogger, said, “My blog has been in place for several months but there have been no visitors. So, following friends’ advice, I posted sexual images to attract more visitors. The number of visitors has been increasing by leaps and bounds.”Nguyen Thi Huong, an office employee in District 1, HCM City, said, “I was dazed when accidentally entering a sex blog, which is even worse than sex websites since its owner publicises his or her name. That makes the blog no longer a personal blog, but a public place distributing perverted materials. I don’t know where our cultural managers are.” With such statements as “Sex is a vital part of life”, more and more bloggers are disseminating perverted sexual messages and images. A cultural official said, “We can find ways to stop questionable sex websites. But as for personal sex blogs, we don’t know what to do yet.” (Source: Tuoi Tre)
Learning from foreigners on the streets
16:52' 16/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Rather than restrict themselves to learning foreign languages at language centres, many young people choose a more “amateur” form of training: learn from foreigners at roadside teashops, on the streets and tours.
Improving English on the streets “I love traveling very much, so I often pack up my things and spend all of my savings on traveling. When I run out of money, I find a job to earn more for another trip,” said Kevin, a “backpack” foreigner, as Vietnamese people often call tourists with modest means, to Khanh Nhu, from the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Kevin and Nhu seem like very close friends, but they have just made acquaintaince with each other on the street. Khanh Nhu is actually a student of “wandering studies”. When they first arrived in HCM City for college, Khanh Nhu and a group of friends, who love traveling and wandering around, chose to learn English on a “Western” street in District 1, where hundreds of foreigners from many places in the world frequent day and night. With limited English ability, the group only ventured as far as saying “Hello” in the beginning. But after greetings, conversations gradually unfolded, getting longer and longer. The Western street is now considered a sort of a foreign language centre. “Kevin’s story of working to earn money to travel reminds me that not all people dare to do everything to pursue their passions,” said Khanh Nhu. Frequenting the Western street, Nhu has made many friends and collected countless “transnational” stories. Nhu’s language ability has also improved. And so have her confidence and social skills and knowledge. “Yes! You can cast fishing nets, catch crabs and live the true life of waterways residents,” said Ngoc Bao to 2 British tourists about the southern countryside. Bao is a freshman at HCM City National University. Only 2 months ago, Bao stammered with her face turning red every time she had to speak English. But since then, she has volunteered to be a “free guide” for foreign tourists on the streets to practice English. Ngoc Bao said proudly, “Many tourists are very enthusiastic in helping me to pronounce words correctly which I don’t find in books. And of course, there are stories which books can never have.” Huong Thuy and her friends from the University of Natural Sciences have a different approach. Every afternoon, she and a few girlfriends go to September 23 Park to exercise and talk with foreign tourists walking in the park. Thanks to young, active students such as Bao and Khanh Nhu, only 5 months after arriving in Vietnam, Jason, an Australian guy, had 8 very close Vietnamese friends. He willingly helped them in their efforts to learn English and about his country and culture. In return, Jason had many chances to learn Vietnamese, learn about Vietnamese culture, and eat all kinds of Vietnamese noodles and food. HCM City is now Jason’s favourite city and he will return in November this year to visit his lovely friends as well as introduce the bustling city to his father. Amid a noisy and active city, students of “wandering studies” have become a strange and interesting image to tourists. “They are very nice and lovely. I have learned more about Vietnam through them, and they have learned more about France from me. They are very impressive,” said a Frenchman. (Source: Tuoi Tre)
VietNamNet Bridge – Rather than restrict themselves to learning foreign languages at language centres, many young people choose a more “amateur” form of training: learn from foreigners at roadside teashops, on the streets and tours.
Improving English on the streets “I love traveling very much, so I often pack up my things and spend all of my savings on traveling. When I run out of money, I find a job to earn more for another trip,” said Kevin, a “backpack” foreigner, as Vietnamese people often call tourists with modest means, to Khanh Nhu, from the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Kevin and Nhu seem like very close friends, but they have just made acquaintaince with each other on the street. Khanh Nhu is actually a student of “wandering studies”. When they first arrived in HCM City for college, Khanh Nhu and a group of friends, who love traveling and wandering around, chose to learn English on a “Western” street in District 1, where hundreds of foreigners from many places in the world frequent day and night. With limited English ability, the group only ventured as far as saying “Hello” in the beginning. But after greetings, conversations gradually unfolded, getting longer and longer. The Western street is now considered a sort of a foreign language centre. “Kevin’s story of working to earn money to travel reminds me that not all people dare to do everything to pursue their passions,” said Khanh Nhu. Frequenting the Western street, Nhu has made many friends and collected countless “transnational” stories. Nhu’s language ability has also improved. And so have her confidence and social skills and knowledge. “Yes! You can cast fishing nets, catch crabs and live the true life of waterways residents,” said Ngoc Bao to 2 British tourists about the southern countryside. Bao is a freshman at HCM City National University. Only 2 months ago, Bao stammered with her face turning red every time she had to speak English. But since then, she has volunteered to be a “free guide” for foreign tourists on the streets to practice English. Ngoc Bao said proudly, “Many tourists are very enthusiastic in helping me to pronounce words correctly which I don’t find in books. And of course, there are stories which books can never have.” Huong Thuy and her friends from the University of Natural Sciences have a different approach. Every afternoon, she and a few girlfriends go to September 23 Park to exercise and talk with foreign tourists walking in the park. Thanks to young, active students such as Bao and Khanh Nhu, only 5 months after arriving in Vietnam, Jason, an Australian guy, had 8 very close Vietnamese friends. He willingly helped them in their efforts to learn English and about his country and culture. In return, Jason had many chances to learn Vietnamese, learn about Vietnamese culture, and eat all kinds of Vietnamese noodles and food. HCM City is now Jason’s favourite city and he will return in November this year to visit his lovely friends as well as introduce the bustling city to his father. Amid a noisy and active city, students of “wandering studies” have become a strange and interesting image to tourists. “They are very nice and lovely. I have learned more about Vietnam through them, and they have learned more about France from me. They are very impressive,” said a Frenchman. (Source: Tuoi Tre)
Vietnam to have encyclopedia on women
12:29' 17/04/2007 (GMT+7)
Vice President Truong My Hoa and editors.VietNamNet Bridge – Vice President Truong My Hoa met with editors of a book titled Almanac of Mothers and Women on April 16 in Hanoi.
This book was printed 21 years ago in 1986 with only 500 14.5x20.5cm pages. This time, however, the book will be turned into a mini encyclopedia of women: 1,800 to 1,900 copies with 21x31cm pages with thousands of pictures.
The book will cover a wide range of areas such as famous women in history including politicians, politiciansa, presidents, ministers, and winners of prestigious prizes such as Nobel, Cannes, Oscar, Golden Palm; famous love poems and poems extolling the mother; winners of Miss Vietnam and Miss World.
There will also be sections on how to raise children, cook, eat, and live as well as health, beauty and exercise tips.
With the participation of many leading professors and experts from different fields, the almanac promises to be an interesting and useful read. The book will hit bookstores at the beginning of October, 2007.
Ha Nguyen
Vice President Truong My Hoa and editors.VietNamNet Bridge – Vice President Truong My Hoa met with editors of a book titled Almanac of Mothers and Women on April 16 in Hanoi.
This book was printed 21 years ago in 1986 with only 500 14.5x20.5cm pages. This time, however, the book will be turned into a mini encyclopedia of women: 1,800 to 1,900 copies with 21x31cm pages with thousands of pictures.
The book will cover a wide range of areas such as famous women in history including politicians, politiciansa, presidents, ministers, and winners of prestigious prizes such as Nobel, Cannes, Oscar, Golden Palm; famous love poems and poems extolling the mother; winners of Miss Vietnam and Miss World.
There will also be sections on how to raise children, cook, eat, and live as well as health, beauty and exercise tips.
With the participation of many leading professors and experts from different fields, the almanac promises to be an interesting and useful read. The book will hit bookstores at the beginning of October, 2007.
Ha Nguyen
Jazz band to usher in the dawn
14:04' 18/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Dawn will arrive early in the capital this Saturday, with a concert by jazz band Song Hong (Red River) entitled Binh Minh (Dawn) II.
A river runs through it: Jazz band Song Hong (Red River) will perform at the Ha Noi Opera House on Saturday night.The concert at the Ha Noi Opera House will be a second performance of the group's original Binh Minh show, a hit at the French Cultural Centre L'Espace in February.
Band member Nguyen Bao Long says the main goal of the performance is "to bring jazz nearer to the public", while depicting the new directions the genre is heading.
"We also hope to highlight the latest styles and trends in this kind of music and express the aspirations and passions of enthusiastic young artists," he said.
The 10 original pieces to be performed will be divided into two parts: the first a blend of traditional Vietnamese music and modern jazz, and the second a selection of contemporary jazz pieces.
Since the group's formation in 1996, led by musician Quyen Van Minh, Song Hong has been showcasing the innovative work of its five members, ambitious students at the Ha Noi Conservatory of Music.
Song Hong has enjoyed several opportunities to take part in master workshops organised by the conservatory, which have allowed them to learn from famous jazz groups from around the world.
The award-winning group has performed in a wealth of international shows, including the 2000 Singapore Tour, the 2nd Annual European Union Jazz Festival in 2003 and the Jazz Festival for Peace in 2006.
The group performs regularly at the Jazz Club on 31 Luong Van Can Street, one of Hanoi's few venues for live jazz.
(Source: Viet Nam News)
VietNamNet Bridge – Dawn will arrive early in the capital this Saturday, with a concert by jazz band Song Hong (Red River) entitled Binh Minh (Dawn) II.
A river runs through it: Jazz band Song Hong (Red River) will perform at the Ha Noi Opera House on Saturday night.The concert at the Ha Noi Opera House will be a second performance of the group's original Binh Minh show, a hit at the French Cultural Centre L'Espace in February.
Band member Nguyen Bao Long says the main goal of the performance is "to bring jazz nearer to the public", while depicting the new directions the genre is heading.
"We also hope to highlight the latest styles and trends in this kind of music and express the aspirations and passions of enthusiastic young artists," he said.
The 10 original pieces to be performed will be divided into two parts: the first a blend of traditional Vietnamese music and modern jazz, and the second a selection of contemporary jazz pieces.
Since the group's formation in 1996, led by musician Quyen Van Minh, Song Hong has been showcasing the innovative work of its five members, ambitious students at the Ha Noi Conservatory of Music.
Song Hong has enjoyed several opportunities to take part in master workshops organised by the conservatory, which have allowed them to learn from famous jazz groups from around the world.
The award-winning group has performed in a wealth of international shows, including the 2000 Singapore Tour, the 2nd Annual European Union Jazz Festival in 2003 and the Jazz Festival for Peace in 2006.
The group performs regularly at the Jazz Club on 31 Luong Van Can Street, one of Hanoi's few venues for live jazz.
(Source: Viet Nam News)
Nghe An Library receives old Han-script books
17:03' 19/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - 85 year-old Tran Hieng from Cong Thanh Commune, Nghe An Province has donated to the Nghe An Library 2 valuable Han-script book sets about national hero Tran Hung Dao and Buddhism.
Kangxi dictionary These two sets titled Tran Dai Vuong chinh kinh and Cuu sing thuyen chan kinh alternatively are made up of 49 wooden slates sharply engraved with Han letters. Each of the slates is 16cm wide and 19cm long and weighs 0.6 kg. In addition, Mr. Hieng also presented the library with a Kangxi dictionary set consisting of 29 210-page, 11cm x 16 cm volumes printed on brown Neohouzeaua paper and 71 other old Han-script books. According to Mr. Hieng, Tran Dai Vuong chinh kinh was printed in the Duy Tan period (1907), Bo Cuu sinh thuyen chinh kinh in Bao Dai Tan Ti (1941), and the Kangxi dictionary during the Manchu Quing Dynasty. All of the 3 sets were engraved and printed in what is today, Cong Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District, Nghe An Province. Mr. Hieng is very fluent in the Han language, so he has preserved these books for many years. But because his children don't know the Han script he decided to give them away to the Nghe An Library. According to Mr. Hieng, in his area, some households used to have old Neohouzeaua paper books. Yet, since they didn't know how to read Han, they used them as incense materials or to wrap fire-crackers with. The Nghe An Province's People's Committee plans to give Mr. Tran Thien a paper of commendation. (Source: Tuoi Tre)
VietNamNet Bridge - 85 year-old Tran Hieng from Cong Thanh Commune, Nghe An Province has donated to the Nghe An Library 2 valuable Han-script book sets about national hero Tran Hung Dao and Buddhism.
Kangxi dictionary These two sets titled Tran Dai Vuong chinh kinh and Cuu sing thuyen chan kinh alternatively are made up of 49 wooden slates sharply engraved with Han letters. Each of the slates is 16cm wide and 19cm long and weighs 0.6 kg. In addition, Mr. Hieng also presented the library with a Kangxi dictionary set consisting of 29 210-page, 11cm x 16 cm volumes printed on brown Neohouzeaua paper and 71 other old Han-script books. According to Mr. Hieng, Tran Dai Vuong chinh kinh was printed in the Duy Tan period (1907), Bo Cuu sinh thuyen chinh kinh in Bao Dai Tan Ti (1941), and the Kangxi dictionary during the Manchu Quing Dynasty. All of the 3 sets were engraved and printed in what is today, Cong Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District, Nghe An Province. Mr. Hieng is very fluent in the Han language, so he has preserved these books for many years. But because his children don't know the Han script he decided to give them away to the Nghe An Library. According to Mr. Hieng, in his area, some households used to have old Neohouzeaua paper books. Yet, since they didn't know how to read Han, they used them as incense materials or to wrap fire-crackers with. The Nghe An Province's People's Committee plans to give Mr. Tran Thien a paper of commendation. (Source: Tuoi Tre)
Lacquer painter Doan Van Nguyen: 20 years for an exhibition
21:58' 22/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - The Exhibition of painter Doan Van Nguyen at 29 Hang Bai, Hanoi shows not only a huge creation but also a serious passion for the traditional lacquer painting.
With 35 works on show, with the oldest created in 1986 and the lastest in 2007, the largest of 2.4 square metres and the smallest only of 20 x 30cm size, the exhibition is a summary of 20 years of working of the artist Doan Van Nguyen.
Nguyen has won various prizes for his creativity, such as the National Prize for a set of 5 art works, and various Gold Medals at different national fine arts exhibitions. Some of his works are now on display at the Prime Minister’s Office, Fine Arts Museum, Military Museum, and at Museums in Russia, Germany and Chile.
Art critics say this is a a rare opportunity for lovers of lacquer painting, as it is very difficult to collect such a high number of lacquer painting with such high quality on display.
It takes months, sometimes years to accomplish a lacquer painting. Lacquer painting requires artists to paint various layers to get the required impression. The artist has to polish the painting various times, letting the colour mature and polish them again. It has taken Nguyen his whole life to compose several dozens of such paintings.
“This is a huge collection, showing a huge workload for the artist. It also reflects a serious passion for this unique art.” Tran Khanh Chuong, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association commented on the exhibition. “Doan Van Nguyen is not in anyway similar to his predecessors, or his sucessors. He has a special individual style, both modern and traditional.
The exhibition is not only a collection of his life works, but also reflects the different artistic period Nguyen has experienced. The works also shows his creativity and efforts in searching for new materials to be applied to this traditional art form. Many of his findings, such as the use of egg shell and gold, have been developed by his students and successors to leading greater successes.
Professor Doctor Nguyen Do Bao says Doan Van Nguyen has made a trademark of his own by using strong strokes. At the same time, his paintings are always fully worked out and generates in viewers a feeling of praising for life.
Nguyen Quoc Huy, one of his outstanding student, says what he learnt most from Nguyen is the passion for the traditional form of art, his patience and love for art. “He is very careful from sketching, to making the painting. He doesn’t mind going back and adjust his painting to reach perfection, that’s what many young artists are ignorant of”, Huy says.
Thanks to his efforts and excellence, Nguyen has been dubbed “an authentic lacquer painting artist” by art critics and lovers.
(Source: Nhan Dan)
VietNamNet Bridge - The Exhibition of painter Doan Van Nguyen at 29 Hang Bai, Hanoi shows not only a huge creation but also a serious passion for the traditional lacquer painting.
With 35 works on show, with the oldest created in 1986 and the lastest in 2007, the largest of 2.4 square metres and the smallest only of 20 x 30cm size, the exhibition is a summary of 20 years of working of the artist Doan Van Nguyen.
Nguyen has won various prizes for his creativity, such as the National Prize for a set of 5 art works, and various Gold Medals at different national fine arts exhibitions. Some of his works are now on display at the Prime Minister’s Office, Fine Arts Museum, Military Museum, and at Museums in Russia, Germany and Chile.
Art critics say this is a a rare opportunity for lovers of lacquer painting, as it is very difficult to collect such a high number of lacquer painting with such high quality on display.
It takes months, sometimes years to accomplish a lacquer painting. Lacquer painting requires artists to paint various layers to get the required impression. The artist has to polish the painting various times, letting the colour mature and polish them again. It has taken Nguyen his whole life to compose several dozens of such paintings.
“This is a huge collection, showing a huge workload for the artist. It also reflects a serious passion for this unique art.” Tran Khanh Chuong, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association commented on the exhibition. “Doan Van Nguyen is not in anyway similar to his predecessors, or his sucessors. He has a special individual style, both modern and traditional.
The exhibition is not only a collection of his life works, but also reflects the different artistic period Nguyen has experienced. The works also shows his creativity and efforts in searching for new materials to be applied to this traditional art form. Many of his findings, such as the use of egg shell and gold, have been developed by his students and successors to leading greater successes.
Professor Doctor Nguyen Do Bao says Doan Van Nguyen has made a trademark of his own by using strong strokes. At the same time, his paintings are always fully worked out and generates in viewers a feeling of praising for life.
Nguyen Quoc Huy, one of his outstanding student, says what he learnt most from Nguyen is the passion for the traditional form of art, his patience and love for art. “He is very careful from sketching, to making the painting. He doesn’t mind going back and adjust his painting to reach perfection, that’s what many young artists are ignorant of”, Huy says.
Thanks to his efforts and excellence, Nguyen has been dubbed “an authentic lacquer painting artist” by art critics and lovers.
(Source: Nhan Dan)
“Night street” painters
17:33' 23/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Many students from the University of Industrial Art, Hanoi Art University, the University of Architecture and the University of Construction are making money and practicing painting on Hanoi’s night streets. Drawing at night
Pham Thi Toan, a junior student from Hanoi Art University, the street painterThe night streets in Hanoi are the busy streets in the Ancient Quarter like Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, and Dong Xuan. Every weekend, these streets are particularly crowded by young people visiting the weekly sidewalk sales. After choosing a convenient space on the pavement of Hang Ngang Street and putting down a few small chairs and a sign that reads “Drawing Portraits”, Pham Thi Toan, a junior student from Hanoi Art University said, “Painters on these streets are mostly students like myself or amateur painters.” Toan has been painting on the night streets for nearly 2 years and has had many regular customers. "Sitting on the street was embarrassing and challenging at first. It was embarrassing when friends saw me by chance. Challenging since I was new on the job. And painting before many on-lookers distracted me. But I’m used to it now,” said Toan. Amid many kiosks selling shoes, clothes, glasses and countless little knick-knacks, visitors attending the weekend sidewalk sales still see the future artists. "Customers are mostly young people and children and those who want their own portraits as gifts or souvenirs,” Toan said. Studying on the streets According to Toan, each portrait costs from VND20,000 to 35,000. On busy days, he can have as many as ten customers, while on quiet days, there isn’t any one at all. Thanh Dat, another street painter, who even rents a kiosk for his portraits, said, “We have chances to both earn money and practice painting. We can earn enough money to help our parents pay for our own living expenses and tuition fees.” Asked whether working late at night affected studies, Dat said, “Not all all. This is also a way to study, as I said, though the two types of painting are different.” Toan agreed, “Painting in class is highly academic and artistic. Portrait drawing is much less so. Many of my classmates don’t like this kind of art.”Another thing Toan and other art students learn is that “drawing on night streets” makes them more “mature” and “grown-up”. “In the beginning, I was too shy. I did anything customers wanted me to do. I didn’t dare to chat to them while drawing. Imagine a lot of people staring at you while you are working and sometimes throwing out not-very-nice comments. But these things don’t affect me now,” said Toan. Besides drawing on night streets, Dat, Toan and students like them also sit inside parks and outside universities to have a chance to make money and learn. (Source: Nguoi Lao Dong)
VietNamNet Bridge – Many students from the University of Industrial Art, Hanoi Art University, the University of Architecture and the University of Construction are making money and practicing painting on Hanoi’s night streets. Drawing at night
Pham Thi Toan, a junior student from Hanoi Art University, the street painterThe night streets in Hanoi are the busy streets in the Ancient Quarter like Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, and Dong Xuan. Every weekend, these streets are particularly crowded by young people visiting the weekly sidewalk sales. After choosing a convenient space on the pavement of Hang Ngang Street and putting down a few small chairs and a sign that reads “Drawing Portraits”, Pham Thi Toan, a junior student from Hanoi Art University said, “Painters on these streets are mostly students like myself or amateur painters.” Toan has been painting on the night streets for nearly 2 years and has had many regular customers. "Sitting on the street was embarrassing and challenging at first. It was embarrassing when friends saw me by chance. Challenging since I was new on the job. And painting before many on-lookers distracted me. But I’m used to it now,” said Toan. Amid many kiosks selling shoes, clothes, glasses and countless little knick-knacks, visitors attending the weekend sidewalk sales still see the future artists. "Customers are mostly young people and children and those who want their own portraits as gifts or souvenirs,” Toan said. Studying on the streets According to Toan, each portrait costs from VND20,000 to 35,000. On busy days, he can have as many as ten customers, while on quiet days, there isn’t any one at all. Thanh Dat, another street painter, who even rents a kiosk for his portraits, said, “We have chances to both earn money and practice painting. We can earn enough money to help our parents pay for our own living expenses and tuition fees.” Asked whether working late at night affected studies, Dat said, “Not all all. This is also a way to study, as I said, though the two types of painting are different.” Toan agreed, “Painting in class is highly academic and artistic. Portrait drawing is much less so. Many of my classmates don’t like this kind of art.”Another thing Toan and other art students learn is that “drawing on night streets” makes them more “mature” and “grown-up”. “In the beginning, I was too shy. I did anything customers wanted me to do. I didn’t dare to chat to them while drawing. Imagine a lot of people staring at you while you are working and sometimes throwing out not-very-nice comments. But these things don’t affect me now,” said Toan. Besides drawing on night streets, Dat, Toan and students like them also sit inside parks and outside universities to have a chance to make money and learn. (Source: Nguoi Lao Dong)
Hanoi to see classical guitar performances
17:06' 24/04/2007 (GMT+7)
The Hanoi Classical Guitar Club will organise a programme titled Music with Time from April 24 to May 19 at 5 places throughout Hanoi. These are the Institute of Journalism and Propaganda, the Institute of Finance, the University of Foreign Languages, the University of Cultural Studies and Hanoi Palace of Culture and Friendship. Performers include 2 talented Vietnamese guitarists Van Vuong and Phuong Han. Entrance is free. At each performance, 10 musical scholarships plus guitars will be awarded to poor students who can play the guitar and have outstanding academic records. (Source: Tuoi Tre
The Hanoi Classical Guitar Club will organise a programme titled Music with Time from April 24 to May 19 at 5 places throughout Hanoi. These are the Institute of Journalism and Propaganda, the Institute of Finance, the University of Foreign Languages, the University of Cultural Studies and Hanoi Palace of Culture and Friendship. Performers include 2 talented Vietnamese guitarists Van Vuong and Phuong Han. Entrance is free. At each performance, 10 musical scholarships plus guitars will be awarded to poor students who can play the guitar and have outstanding academic records. (Source: Tuoi Tre
Hip-hop dance and DJ music at Ho Tay
17:11' 25/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – An open-air night with hip-hop dance and DJ music will take place at Hanoi's Ho Tay Waterpark on April 28 at 7pm until 11pm.
The program is a return of "Traffic performance", which is back after its stunning success in January at Ho Tay Waterpark in Hanoi.
Two famous break-dancers from Germany and France, Storm from Berlin and Sebastien from Perpignan, together with 10 young dancers of the Vietnamese ensemble "Big Toe" developed this affectionate, neck-breaking homage to traffic on the streets of Hanoi.
Thousands of young people in different parts of Vietnam have acclaimed "Traffic" with an enthusiastic response. The repeat performance of this memorable production will be part of a music night with the renowned German DJ Hans Nieswandt from Cologne.
After an initial workshop in October 2006, Hans will again work with young DJs in Vietnam.
Tickets are available at Hanoi Goethe Institute, 56 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, tel: (04) 7342251; L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street, tel: (04) 9362164; and British Council in Hanoi, 40 Cat Linh Street, tel: (04) 8436780.
(Source: SGT)
VietNamNet Bridge – An open-air night with hip-hop dance and DJ music will take place at Hanoi's Ho Tay Waterpark on April 28 at 7pm until 11pm.
The program is a return of "Traffic performance", which is back after its stunning success in January at Ho Tay Waterpark in Hanoi.
Two famous break-dancers from Germany and France, Storm from Berlin and Sebastien from Perpignan, together with 10 young dancers of the Vietnamese ensemble "Big Toe" developed this affectionate, neck-breaking homage to traffic on the streets of Hanoi.
Thousands of young people in different parts of Vietnam have acclaimed "Traffic" with an enthusiastic response. The repeat performance of this memorable production will be part of a music night with the renowned German DJ Hans Nieswandt from Cologne.
After an initial workshop in October 2006, Hans will again work with young DJs in Vietnam.
Tickets are available at Hanoi Goethe Institute, 56 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, tel: (04) 7342251; L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street, tel: (04) 9362164; and British Council in Hanoi, 40 Cat Linh Street, tel: (04) 8436780.
(Source: SGT)
Sex-scandal related actress not licenced to perform in the US
17:17' 27/04/2007 (GMT+7)
Yen VyVietNamNet Bridge - Though many posters advertising the participation of sex-scandal related actress Yen Vy in a show on May 19 in the US are now hung in many places in the US, the HCM City Department of Culture and Information has stated that it hasn’t licenced Yen Vy to perform in the US yet.
Sex scandals: authentic or staged for publicity?
According to the website of the Saigon Entertainment Company, Yen Vy was in the US on March 31 to perform in a programme titled “Foxwood by night” with some famous Vietnamese singers like Dam Vinh Hung, Phuong Thanh, Khanh Ngoc and Nhat Tinh Anh.
Posters advertising this programme have been delivered in the US with a photo of Yen Vy besides other famous Vietnamese singers. There is a rumour that after two shows on May 19, Yen Vy will stay in the US to take part in another show called Pala by night with Ngoc Son, Tuan Hung, Ho Ngoc ha, Phan Dinh Tung and Pham Khanh Hung.
An overseas source said that as the Saigon Tinh Ca (Saigon love song) film by overseas Vietnamese director Ringo Le was introduced in the US in early March 2007, many show organisers planned to invite Yen Vy to take part in their shows as they knew that Yen Vi and Hua Vi Van (the leading actress and actor of the film) would come to the US to introduce their film. However, only Hua Vy Van appeared at the introduction ceremony. Yen Vy couldn’t get a visa to go to the US. However, the Saigon Entertainment Company acquired a visa for Yen Vy.
Nguyen Ngoc Thach, Chief of the HCM City Social Evil Prevention Bureau, said that Yen Vy’s citizen rights had been restored and she could go abroad to perform like others.
Yen Vy, meanwhile, refused to talk about her shows in the US.
Pham Dinh Thang, Chief of the Art Management of the Performance Art Department, said that the HCM City Department of Culture and Information was responsible for granting a performance licence to Yen Vy.
The HCM City People’s Committee is the agency licencing Yen Vy’s overseas performance under the request of the HCM City Department of Culture and Information.
Nguyen The Thanh, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Culture and Information, said that the agency had not received any document related to Yen Vy’s application to go abroad to perform.
Yen Vy can go abroad as a traveler and doesn’t need the permission of the HCM City Department of Culture and Information. However, if she takes part in overseas shows, she must receive the approval of the Vietnamese Consulate General in the host country.
According to Ms Thanh, this is not a suitable time to licence Yen Vi to return to performing.
“We are not narrow-minded or prejudiced against Yen Vy but she committed mistakes. She took the initiative in making mistakes. So we can’t licence her to perform like other artists who seriously obey rules on performance and professional ethics,” Mr Thanh explained.
(Source: Phap luat TPHCM)
Yen VyVietNamNet Bridge - Though many posters advertising the participation of sex-scandal related actress Yen Vy in a show on May 19 in the US are now hung in many places in the US, the HCM City Department of Culture and Information has stated that it hasn’t licenced Yen Vy to perform in the US yet.
Sex scandals: authentic or staged for publicity?
According to the website of the Saigon Entertainment Company, Yen Vy was in the US on March 31 to perform in a programme titled “Foxwood by night” with some famous Vietnamese singers like Dam Vinh Hung, Phuong Thanh, Khanh Ngoc and Nhat Tinh Anh.
Posters advertising this programme have been delivered in the US with a photo of Yen Vy besides other famous Vietnamese singers. There is a rumour that after two shows on May 19, Yen Vy will stay in the US to take part in another show called Pala by night with Ngoc Son, Tuan Hung, Ho Ngoc ha, Phan Dinh Tung and Pham Khanh Hung.
An overseas source said that as the Saigon Tinh Ca (Saigon love song) film by overseas Vietnamese director Ringo Le was introduced in the US in early March 2007, many show organisers planned to invite Yen Vy to take part in their shows as they knew that Yen Vi and Hua Vi Van (the leading actress and actor of the film) would come to the US to introduce their film. However, only Hua Vy Van appeared at the introduction ceremony. Yen Vy couldn’t get a visa to go to the US. However, the Saigon Entertainment Company acquired a visa for Yen Vy.
Nguyen Ngoc Thach, Chief of the HCM City Social Evil Prevention Bureau, said that Yen Vy’s citizen rights had been restored and she could go abroad to perform like others.
Yen Vy, meanwhile, refused to talk about her shows in the US.
Pham Dinh Thang, Chief of the Art Management of the Performance Art Department, said that the HCM City Department of Culture and Information was responsible for granting a performance licence to Yen Vy.
The HCM City People’s Committee is the agency licencing Yen Vy’s overseas performance under the request of the HCM City Department of Culture and Information.
Nguyen The Thanh, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Culture and Information, said that the agency had not received any document related to Yen Vy’s application to go abroad to perform.
Yen Vy can go abroad as a traveler and doesn’t need the permission of the HCM City Department of Culture and Information. However, if she takes part in overseas shows, she must receive the approval of the Vietnamese Consulate General in the host country.
According to Ms Thanh, this is not a suitable time to licence Yen Vi to return to performing.
“We are not narrow-minded or prejudiced against Yen Vy but she committed mistakes. She took the initiative in making mistakes. So we can’t licence her to perform like other artists who seriously obey rules on performance and professional ethics,” Mr Thanh explained.
(Source: Phap luat TPHCM)
Phu Tho: Tens of thousands journey to land of founding fathers
12:29' 23/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Yesterday, April 22 or the 6th of lunar March, the Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary was inaugurated at the Hung Temple in Viet Tri City, northern Phu Tho Province.
According to Mr. Ta Duc Chuyen, Deputy Head of the Management Board of the Hung Temple Historical Site, more people are taking part in this years anniversary than in previous years since, because as of 2007, state employees will have a day off on Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary, the 10ht of lunar March, or April 26 this year.
On Saturday and Sunday, the 5th and 6th of lunar March respectively, about 17,000 pilgrims journeyed to the site of the first Vietnamese nation.
A series of cultural activities are being organized throughout Viet Tri City and Lam Thao and Phu Ninh Districts.
On April 23, or the 7th of lunar March, at the Hung Temple, there will be such activities as the opening of a cultural camp and a public musical festival; a volleyball competition for men; folk wrestling; Chinese chess; man chess; copper drum performances; and others.
On April 24-4, or the 8th of lunar March, Viet Tri City will host professional artistic and public musical performances as well as a book exhibition at the Phu Tho Province Library. And at the Hung Temple, there will be incense offering and palanquin welcoming ceremonies as well as other cultural and sports activities.
On April 25, or the 9th of lunar March, palanquin welcoming ceremonies by different communes will continue at the Hung Temple, besides the opening of square rice cake making, rowing and folk musical competitions as well as a fireworks show in Viet Tri City.
On April 26, or the 10th of lunar March, another incense offering ceremony will take place at the Hung Temple, in addition to the awards ceremonies of sports competitions.
(Source: Tuoi Tre, VietNamNet)
VietNamNet Bridge – Yesterday, April 22 or the 6th of lunar March, the Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary was inaugurated at the Hung Temple in Viet Tri City, northern Phu Tho Province.
According to Mr. Ta Duc Chuyen, Deputy Head of the Management Board of the Hung Temple Historical Site, more people are taking part in this years anniversary than in previous years since, because as of 2007, state employees will have a day off on Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary, the 10ht of lunar March, or April 26 this year.
On Saturday and Sunday, the 5th and 6th of lunar March respectively, about 17,000 pilgrims journeyed to the site of the first Vietnamese nation.
A series of cultural activities are being organized throughout Viet Tri City and Lam Thao and Phu Ninh Districts.
On April 23, or the 7th of lunar March, at the Hung Temple, there will be such activities as the opening of a cultural camp and a public musical festival; a volleyball competition for men; folk wrestling; Chinese chess; man chess; copper drum performances; and others.
On April 24-4, or the 8th of lunar March, Viet Tri City will host professional artistic and public musical performances as well as a book exhibition at the Phu Tho Province Library. And at the Hung Temple, there will be incense offering and palanquin welcoming ceremonies as well as other cultural and sports activities.
On April 25, or the 9th of lunar March, palanquin welcoming ceremonies by different communes will continue at the Hung Temple, besides the opening of square rice cake making, rowing and folk musical competitions as well as a fireworks show in Viet Tri City.
On April 26, or the 10th of lunar March, another incense offering ceremony will take place at the Hung Temple, in addition to the awards ceremonies of sports competitions.
(Source: Tuoi Tre, VietNamNet)
US doctor publishes book on Vietnam war
VietNamNet Bridge - The latest Vietnam war book, “Failure to Atone” by US doctor Allen Hassan, has been released in Vietnam. Hassan is a former Marine sergeant and surgeon who witnessed and experienced the heat and throes of the war in Vietnam. The doctor’s debut novel took three years to complete and was first presented to the public at the Frankfurt International Book Fair in 2006. Hassan has saved 10 percent of the book’s proceeds to raise funds for war victims. Information about the book can be found on the official website www.failuretoatone . Present at a ceremony to introduce the Vietnamese version of his book in Ho Chi Minh City on April 24, Dr. Hassan granted 25,000 USD to the fund “Failure to Atone”, which was established on the occasion for Vietnamese war victims. The Tri Viet-First News company contributed 50 million VND to the fund.
(Source: VNA)
(Source: VNA)
US doctor publishes book on Vietnam war
13:44' 25/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - The latest Vietnam war book, “Failure to Atone” by US doctor Allen Hassan, has been released in Vietnam. Hassan is a former Marine sergeant and surgeon who witnessed and experienced the heat and throes of the war in Vietnam. The doctor’s debut novel took three years to complete and was first presented to the public at the Frankfurt International Book Fair in 2006. Hassan has saved 10 percent of the book’s proceeds to raise funds for war victims. Information about the book can be found on the official website www.failuretoatone . Present at a ceremony to introduce the Vietnamese version of his book in Ho Chi Minh City on April 24, Dr. Hassan granted 25,000 USD to the fund “Failure to Atone”, which was established on the occasion for Vietnamese war victims. The Tri Viet-First News company contributed 50 million VND to the fund.
(Source: VNA)
VietNamNet Bridge - The latest Vietnam war book, “Failure to Atone” by US doctor Allen Hassan, has been released in Vietnam. Hassan is a former Marine sergeant and surgeon who witnessed and experienced the heat and throes of the war in Vietnam. The doctor’s debut novel took three years to complete and was first presented to the public at the Frankfurt International Book Fair in 2006. Hassan has saved 10 percent of the book’s proceeds to raise funds for war victims. Information about the book can be found on the official website www.failuretoatone . Present at a ceremony to introduce the Vietnamese version of his book in Ho Chi Minh City on April 24, Dr. Hassan granted 25,000 USD to the fund “Failure to Atone”, which was established on the occasion for Vietnamese war victims. The Tri Viet-First News company contributed 50 million VND to the fund.
(Source: VNA)
Duong Thanh Exhibition opens in Hanoi
15:52' 27/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi art enthusiasts will once again have an opportunity to contemplate Vietnamese well known artist Van Duong Thanh's works, following the success of her solo exhibition on the Old Gates in the capital city last year.
Artist Van Duong Thanh (R) and Spanish artist Soledad Fuentes.The exhibition will also feature Spanish artist Soledad Fuentes, a professional artist who has had a number of shows in France, Norway and Australia.
The art show will display differences, from an artists perspective, between Vietnam and Spain. It is a successfully interaction between the two artists who have recently worked together, sharing experiences and perspectives of their countries based on a friendly and cooperative point of view.
The exhibition reflects the common art language in their work, in spite of their different styles, techniques and materials.
From this cooperation, Van Duong Thanh has created art about Spain - the architecture of Madrid and a perspective of the famous Dama de EIche. Soledad Fuentes, on the other hand, introduces abstract art on her favorite subjects with inspirations from Vietnam.
Thus, through the exhibition viewers can contemplate Duong Thanh's semi-abstract style in her latest works.
Last year, Van Duong Thanh opened a solo exhibition on the Old Gates in Hanoi. Her art is highly appreciated and endorsed by many art lovers because her paintings broach old topics through very new - methods.
Applying an expressive, semi-abstract style with bright colors and strong brush strokes, she paints nostalgic works that provoke not melancholy, but hope for the future.
Thanh is one of the most recognized female artists in Asia. After graduating in 1980 from the Hanoi Fine Arts College she went to study and work in France and Sweden.
Thanh's paintings were displayed at Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum at the age of 21. Today her paintings are on show at national museums in Thailand, Singapore and Sweden.
Thanh returns twice a year to Vietnam to work on new paintings and exhibit completed paintings. This exhibition will open this Friday (April 27) at Villa White Lotus C29, lane 210 Nghi Tam Street, District Tay Ho and it runs until May 5.
(Source: SGT)
VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi art enthusiasts will once again have an opportunity to contemplate Vietnamese well known artist Van Duong Thanh's works, following the success of her solo exhibition on the Old Gates in the capital city last year.
Artist Van Duong Thanh (R) and Spanish artist Soledad Fuentes.The exhibition will also feature Spanish artist Soledad Fuentes, a professional artist who has had a number of shows in France, Norway and Australia.
The art show will display differences, from an artists perspective, between Vietnam and Spain. It is a successfully interaction between the two artists who have recently worked together, sharing experiences and perspectives of their countries based on a friendly and cooperative point of view.
The exhibition reflects the common art language in their work, in spite of their different styles, techniques and materials.
From this cooperation, Van Duong Thanh has created art about Spain - the architecture of Madrid and a perspective of the famous Dama de EIche. Soledad Fuentes, on the other hand, introduces abstract art on her favorite subjects with inspirations from Vietnam.
Thus, through the exhibition viewers can contemplate Duong Thanh's semi-abstract style in her latest works.
Last year, Van Duong Thanh opened a solo exhibition on the Old Gates in Hanoi. Her art is highly appreciated and endorsed by many art lovers because her paintings broach old topics through very new - methods.
Applying an expressive, semi-abstract style with bright colors and strong brush strokes, she paints nostalgic works that provoke not melancholy, but hope for the future.
Thanh is one of the most recognized female artists in Asia. After graduating in 1980 from the Hanoi Fine Arts College she went to study and work in France and Sweden.
Thanh's paintings were displayed at Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum at the age of 21. Today her paintings are on show at national museums in Thailand, Singapore and Sweden.
Thanh returns twice a year to Vietnam to work on new paintings and exhibit completed paintings. This exhibition will open this Friday (April 27) at Villa White Lotus C29, lane 210 Nghi Tam Street, District Tay Ho and it runs until May 5.
(Source: SGT)
Pilgrimage to the ancestral land
17:37' 27/04/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Thousands of people went on a pilgrimage to the Hung Kings’ Temple in the northern province of Phu Tho on the 10th day of the third lunar month (April 26), the Hung Kings’ death anniversary.
The 10th day of the third lunar month has become a national holiday this year, an opportunity for the Vietnamese people to commemorate the dynasty of the Hung Kings, considered the founding fathers of Vietnam.
The legend of the Hung Kings
It is said that the first king of the country was Kinh Duong, who ruled over a vast territory in the south called Xich Quy (Red Devil).
Kinh Duong married the daughter of Than Long (Sacred Dragon), king of Lake Dong Ding. The couple had a son, Sung Lam, who later became king and called himself Lac Long Quan (King Dragon of the Land of Lac). The wife of Lac Long Quan, Au Co, gave birth to a sac containing 100 eggs from which 100 babies were born.
One day, Lac Long Quan told his wife, "I descend from dragons and you from fairies. We’re as incompatible as water and fire and we cannot continue in harmony." The king parted from his queen, taking to the sea with 50 of his children and his wife moved to the mountains, followed by the rest of the clan.
The eldest son, who was with this mother, established himself at Phong Chau, now the southern part of Phu Tho Province, and made himself king. That was King Hung I whose realm was made up of 50 tribes.
The 18 Hung kings then ruled the country from 2879 to 258 BC.
According to historical records, the regime of the Hung Kings was an impressive, brilliant and outstanding start for establishing Vietnam as a sovereign nation.
The 18 generations of the Hung Kings saw the birth and development of a nation and are credited with forging national characteristics such as the sense of community, mutual affection, patriotism and unwillingness to yield to oppression. From this original settlement, the Hong (Red) River civilisation and the pre-Dong Son cultures grew.
This celebrated date, the 10th day of the third lunar month, is dedicated to commemorating the anniversary of their ancestor’s death, the founder of the Vietnamese nation—the first Hung King.
The Hung Kings’ Temple complex
The historic relic complex of Hung Kings’ Temple, which is located in Co Tich village, Hy Cuong commune, Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province, worships the Hung Kings who founded the first state of Vietnam named Van Lang. The temple is 7km north of the centre of Viet Tri city and 90km from Hanoi. From Hanoi, tourists can reach the Hung Kings’ Temple by car or bus driven along National Road No.2 or by train on the Hanoi-Lao Cai route.
The temple is a cultural and historic relic especially important to the country and built on Hung Mountain in Phong Chau – the neighboring area of the capital of Van Lang State 4,000 years ago.
The whole relic area has 4 temples, 1 pagoda and 1 royal tomb in harmony with the natural beauty. The top of the mountain is 175 metres above sea level. It is said that Hung Mountain is like the head of a dragon turned toward the south. The body of the dragon is divided into Van Mountain, Troc Mountain and Pheo Mountain. Van Mountain is 170 metres high. Troc Mountain is located between Hung Mountain and Van Mountain and has the height of 145 metres.
The whole Hung Temple area was previously an old tropical forest. From the foot of Hung Mountain, tourists can see architectural relics like:
1. Temple Gate
2. Ha Temple
3. Stele House
4. Thien Quang Pagoda
5. Trung Temple
6. Thuong Temple
7. Gieng Temple
8. Au Co Mother Temple
9. Hung Vuong Museum
Temple Gate:
The gate of Hung Temple was built in 1917. The gate is vaulted and 8.5 metres high. It has two storeys of roof. The lower storey has a big vault and the top storey has a smaller one. 4 corners of the roof are embossed with two young lions and decorated with winding dragons. The middle of the two pillars is embossed with two boxers wearing armor. One is holding a battle-axe while the other is holding a lance.
Ha Temple
According to the legend, Au Co gave birth to a pouch containing 100 eggs, which hatched to produce 100 boys. Mat Rong Well (Dragon Eye Well) where Au Co incubated the eggs remains located behind the temple.
Ha Temple was rebuilt in the 17th-18th centuries. The temple consists of 3 buildings, which are 1.5 metres far each other. Each building has 3 rooms.
At the foot of the temple is the Stele House with hexagonal architecture. On the top of the house is a small bottle of wine. Inside the house is a stone stele embossed with the words of President Ho Chi Minh:
"The Hung Kings had the merit of founding the country
You and I must stick together to safeguard it."
Located close to the temple is a pagoda previously named “Son Canh Thua Long Tu”. The pagoda is now called “Thien Quang Thien Tu”. It contains a forecourt with 5 rooms, an incense burning house with 2 rooms, the Buddha Trinity with 3 rooms and the ancestor house.
In front of the pagoda, there is a 1,000-year-old tree. At the foot of the tree, President Ho Chi Minh had a talk with soldiers on their way to Hanoi.
The pagoda also has a steeple built in the 17th century.
Trung Temple
The legend says that the Hung Kings and Paladins and Military Chiefs used to go to Trung Temple for sightseeing and political meetings. It is also the place where the 6th Hung King ceded the throne to his son Lang Lieu, who found how to make sticky rice cakes.
The temple is 7.2 metres long and 3.7 meters wide.
Thuong Temple and Hung Kings’ Tomb
Thuong Temple is located on the top of Hung Mountain. According to the legend, the Hung Kings usually climbed to the top of Nghia Linh Mountain to carry out the religious rites of farmers worshipping the heaven and earth and the rice genie and praying for good weather, bumper crops and good health.
The legend also says that Thuong Temple is the place where the 6th Hung King set up an altar to offer prayers to the heaven so that the heaven would grant a talented person to the country to defeat the An invaders. The heaven granted Thanh Giong, a legendary hero. After defeating the An invaders, Thanh Giong returned to the heaven. Afterwards, the 6th Hung King built the Thuong Temple to worship him.
The legend also said that the Hung Kings’ Tomb is the grave of the 6th Hung King. The tomb is located to the east of Thuong Temple.
Gieng Temple
Gieng Temple is the place where the two princesses Tien Dung and Ngoc Hoa of the 18th Hung King saw their images when passing this region. The two princesses taught the people how to grow paddy trees. As a result, the people there built the temple to worship them. The temple was built in the 18th century.
Au Co Mother Temple
The Au Co Mother Temple was built from 2001 to December 2004 on Oc Son Mountain (Van Mountain) according to traditional architecture. The key temple covers an area of 137 square metres.
The temple worships Au Co Mother and two Paladins. It takes 553 steps to reach the temple.
Hung Vuong Museum
The Hung Vuong Museum was begun in 1996 and finished in 2003. The museum showcases over 4,000 things, including 700 original things.
The things in the museum are divided into 3 groups with distinct topic:
- Introducing the culture of Hung Vuong with things related to eras of the Hung Kings found in Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc.
- Introducing the appearance of the Hung Temple Relic complex.
- Describing the sentiment of the people, the attention of President Ho Chi Minh and Party leaders to the Hung Temple.
The Hung King’s Temple Festival
The Hung King’s Temple is located on Nghia Linh Mountain, Hy Lang commune, Phong Chau district, Phu Tho province, 85 kilometres northwest of Hanoi. Every year, a national festival called Hung King’s Temple Festival is held to worship the Hung Kings.
The festival lasts for 3 days from the 9th to the 11th of the 3rd month of the lunar calendar. A day before the festival, ancient and modern flags are hung along the road leading from Viet Tri to Hung mountain. A large balloon also publicises the festival to surrounding areas. On the eve of the festival, 100 flying lights are released into the night sky. The main worship service is held in earnest the following morning, the 10th day, beginning with a flower ceremony.
In Den Thuong (Upper Temple) where the Hung Kings used to worship deities with full rituals, the ceremony consists of a lavish five-fruit feast. Banh chung (square cake) and banh giay (circle cake) are also served to remind people of the Lang Lieu Legend (the 18th Hung King who invented these cakes), and the merit of the Hung Kings who taught people to grow rice.Next to the stage procession for deities, there are several marches in the procession such as the elephant march followed by the procession chair. These procession marches are conducted in Tien Cuong, Hy Cuong, Phuong Giao, and Co Tich villages. The procession marches are followed by a Xoan song performance (a classical type of song) in the Den Thuong, a "Ca Tru" (a kind of classical opera) in Den Ha (Lower Temple), and other activities like cross-bow shooting, rice cooking, swinging contests, cock fighting, and dragon dancing.
Later this day, a march of local people, including representatives of the country’s 54 ethnic minorities is rounded off with a speech and the release of doves, carrying the hope for peace of Vietnamese people.
The Hung King’s Temple Festival not only attracts visitors from everywhere and allows visitors to participate in the special traditional cultural activities, but it is also a sacred pilgrimage back to the origins of the Vietnamese culture. People usually show their love and pride for their homeland and ancestral land.During the festival, pilgrims always spend time visiting the temples and historic sites on Hung mountain.
The Den Ha, memorial temple for primal mother Au Co, is approximately 100 steps higher up, in a courtyard entered through a gate with a bell tower. The mother of the Hung Emperors and all Vietnamese is represented on the main altar; the left-hand altar is dedicated to the last Hung Emperor.
The steps continue to the Den Trung (Middle Temple), the main temple, which dates from the 19th century. It is dedicated to the founder of the dynasty and all other Hung Emperors. On the summit of the wooded hill is Den Thuong, which is dedicated to the gods of heaven and earth.
Lying on the middle altar is the sword of Phu Dong, the country’s first hero; another altar is dedicated to the wives and daughters of the Hung Emperors. On the hill is a mausoleum for the dynasty. Upon the Stone of Oaths here An Duong Vuong, founder of the realm of Au Lac, who came from the hills to the plain, swore to defend the land of his fathers.
The Hung King’s Temple Festival is one of the most important and sacred festivals of the Vietnamese people, deeply imbedded in the minds of every Vietnamese citizen, regardless of where they originate from. (Source: VNS, Phu Tho Province’s website, Vietnam Style)
VietNamNet Bridge records the anniversary in photos:
Banh day braying contest
The first ever fireworks in Phu Tho
Thousands of visitors pilgrimage to Phu Tho
Peddlers sit on the way to the Thuong Temple
Watching boat racing on the Lo River
The palanquin carrying the giant banh day to the temple
The giant banh day
Viet Tri City
Boat racing on the Lo River
Banh chung packing contest
The 2.5 tonne banh chung
Banh chung mass
Writing petition to the Hung Kings
Calligraphy
People follow the banh chung palanquin
In the Thuong Temple
Ngoc Oanh, Trung Kien, Xuan Truong
VietNamNet Bridge - Thousands of people went on a pilgrimage to the Hung Kings’ Temple in the northern province of Phu Tho on the 10th day of the third lunar month (April 26), the Hung Kings’ death anniversary.
The 10th day of the third lunar month has become a national holiday this year, an opportunity for the Vietnamese people to commemorate the dynasty of the Hung Kings, considered the founding fathers of Vietnam.
The legend of the Hung Kings
It is said that the first king of the country was Kinh Duong, who ruled over a vast territory in the south called Xich Quy (Red Devil).
Kinh Duong married the daughter of Than Long (Sacred Dragon), king of Lake Dong Ding. The couple had a son, Sung Lam, who later became king and called himself Lac Long Quan (King Dragon of the Land of Lac). The wife of Lac Long Quan, Au Co, gave birth to a sac containing 100 eggs from which 100 babies were born.
One day, Lac Long Quan told his wife, "I descend from dragons and you from fairies. We’re as incompatible as water and fire and we cannot continue in harmony." The king parted from his queen, taking to the sea with 50 of his children and his wife moved to the mountains, followed by the rest of the clan.
The eldest son, who was with this mother, established himself at Phong Chau, now the southern part of Phu Tho Province, and made himself king. That was King Hung I whose realm was made up of 50 tribes.
The 18 Hung kings then ruled the country from 2879 to 258 BC.
According to historical records, the regime of the Hung Kings was an impressive, brilliant and outstanding start for establishing Vietnam as a sovereign nation.
The 18 generations of the Hung Kings saw the birth and development of a nation and are credited with forging national characteristics such as the sense of community, mutual affection, patriotism and unwillingness to yield to oppression. From this original settlement, the Hong (Red) River civilisation and the pre-Dong Son cultures grew.
This celebrated date, the 10th day of the third lunar month, is dedicated to commemorating the anniversary of their ancestor’s death, the founder of the Vietnamese nation—the first Hung King.
The Hung Kings’ Temple complex
The historic relic complex of Hung Kings’ Temple, which is located in Co Tich village, Hy Cuong commune, Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province, worships the Hung Kings who founded the first state of Vietnam named Van Lang. The temple is 7km north of the centre of Viet Tri city and 90km from Hanoi. From Hanoi, tourists can reach the Hung Kings’ Temple by car or bus driven along National Road No.2 or by train on the Hanoi-Lao Cai route.
The temple is a cultural and historic relic especially important to the country and built on Hung Mountain in Phong Chau – the neighboring area of the capital of Van Lang State 4,000 years ago.
The whole relic area has 4 temples, 1 pagoda and 1 royal tomb in harmony with the natural beauty. The top of the mountain is 175 metres above sea level. It is said that Hung Mountain is like the head of a dragon turned toward the south. The body of the dragon is divided into Van Mountain, Troc Mountain and Pheo Mountain. Van Mountain is 170 metres high. Troc Mountain is located between Hung Mountain and Van Mountain and has the height of 145 metres.
The whole Hung Temple area was previously an old tropical forest. From the foot of Hung Mountain, tourists can see architectural relics like:
1. Temple Gate
2. Ha Temple
3. Stele House
4. Thien Quang Pagoda
5. Trung Temple
6. Thuong Temple
7. Gieng Temple
8. Au Co Mother Temple
9. Hung Vuong Museum
Temple Gate:
The gate of Hung Temple was built in 1917. The gate is vaulted and 8.5 metres high. It has two storeys of roof. The lower storey has a big vault and the top storey has a smaller one. 4 corners of the roof are embossed with two young lions and decorated with winding dragons. The middle of the two pillars is embossed with two boxers wearing armor. One is holding a battle-axe while the other is holding a lance.
Ha Temple
According to the legend, Au Co gave birth to a pouch containing 100 eggs, which hatched to produce 100 boys. Mat Rong Well (Dragon Eye Well) where Au Co incubated the eggs remains located behind the temple.
Ha Temple was rebuilt in the 17th-18th centuries. The temple consists of 3 buildings, which are 1.5 metres far each other. Each building has 3 rooms.
At the foot of the temple is the Stele House with hexagonal architecture. On the top of the house is a small bottle of wine. Inside the house is a stone stele embossed with the words of President Ho Chi Minh:
"The Hung Kings had the merit of founding the country
You and I must stick together to safeguard it."
Located close to the temple is a pagoda previously named “Son Canh Thua Long Tu”. The pagoda is now called “Thien Quang Thien Tu”. It contains a forecourt with 5 rooms, an incense burning house with 2 rooms, the Buddha Trinity with 3 rooms and the ancestor house.
In front of the pagoda, there is a 1,000-year-old tree. At the foot of the tree, President Ho Chi Minh had a talk with soldiers on their way to Hanoi.
The pagoda also has a steeple built in the 17th century.
Trung Temple
The legend says that the Hung Kings and Paladins and Military Chiefs used to go to Trung Temple for sightseeing and political meetings. It is also the place where the 6th Hung King ceded the throne to his son Lang Lieu, who found how to make sticky rice cakes.
The temple is 7.2 metres long and 3.7 meters wide.
Thuong Temple and Hung Kings’ Tomb
Thuong Temple is located on the top of Hung Mountain. According to the legend, the Hung Kings usually climbed to the top of Nghia Linh Mountain to carry out the religious rites of farmers worshipping the heaven and earth and the rice genie and praying for good weather, bumper crops and good health.
The legend also says that Thuong Temple is the place where the 6th Hung King set up an altar to offer prayers to the heaven so that the heaven would grant a talented person to the country to defeat the An invaders. The heaven granted Thanh Giong, a legendary hero. After defeating the An invaders, Thanh Giong returned to the heaven. Afterwards, the 6th Hung King built the Thuong Temple to worship him.
The legend also said that the Hung Kings’ Tomb is the grave of the 6th Hung King. The tomb is located to the east of Thuong Temple.
Gieng Temple
Gieng Temple is the place where the two princesses Tien Dung and Ngoc Hoa of the 18th Hung King saw their images when passing this region. The two princesses taught the people how to grow paddy trees. As a result, the people there built the temple to worship them. The temple was built in the 18th century.
Au Co Mother Temple
The Au Co Mother Temple was built from 2001 to December 2004 on Oc Son Mountain (Van Mountain) according to traditional architecture. The key temple covers an area of 137 square metres.
The temple worships Au Co Mother and two Paladins. It takes 553 steps to reach the temple.
Hung Vuong Museum
The Hung Vuong Museum was begun in 1996 and finished in 2003. The museum showcases over 4,000 things, including 700 original things.
The things in the museum are divided into 3 groups with distinct topic:
- Introducing the culture of Hung Vuong with things related to eras of the Hung Kings found in Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc.
- Introducing the appearance of the Hung Temple Relic complex.
- Describing the sentiment of the people, the attention of President Ho Chi Minh and Party leaders to the Hung Temple.
The Hung King’s Temple Festival
The Hung King’s Temple is located on Nghia Linh Mountain, Hy Lang commune, Phong Chau district, Phu Tho province, 85 kilometres northwest of Hanoi. Every year, a national festival called Hung King’s Temple Festival is held to worship the Hung Kings.
The festival lasts for 3 days from the 9th to the 11th of the 3rd month of the lunar calendar. A day before the festival, ancient and modern flags are hung along the road leading from Viet Tri to Hung mountain. A large balloon also publicises the festival to surrounding areas. On the eve of the festival, 100 flying lights are released into the night sky. The main worship service is held in earnest the following morning, the 10th day, beginning with a flower ceremony.
In Den Thuong (Upper Temple) where the Hung Kings used to worship deities with full rituals, the ceremony consists of a lavish five-fruit feast. Banh chung (square cake) and banh giay (circle cake) are also served to remind people of the Lang Lieu Legend (the 18th Hung King who invented these cakes), and the merit of the Hung Kings who taught people to grow rice.Next to the stage procession for deities, there are several marches in the procession such as the elephant march followed by the procession chair. These procession marches are conducted in Tien Cuong, Hy Cuong, Phuong Giao, and Co Tich villages. The procession marches are followed by a Xoan song performance (a classical type of song) in the Den Thuong, a "Ca Tru" (a kind of classical opera) in Den Ha (Lower Temple), and other activities like cross-bow shooting, rice cooking, swinging contests, cock fighting, and dragon dancing.
Later this day, a march of local people, including representatives of the country’s 54 ethnic minorities is rounded off with a speech and the release of doves, carrying the hope for peace of Vietnamese people.
The Hung King’s Temple Festival not only attracts visitors from everywhere and allows visitors to participate in the special traditional cultural activities, but it is also a sacred pilgrimage back to the origins of the Vietnamese culture. People usually show their love and pride for their homeland and ancestral land.During the festival, pilgrims always spend time visiting the temples and historic sites on Hung mountain.
The Den Ha, memorial temple for primal mother Au Co, is approximately 100 steps higher up, in a courtyard entered through a gate with a bell tower. The mother of the Hung Emperors and all Vietnamese is represented on the main altar; the left-hand altar is dedicated to the last Hung Emperor.
The steps continue to the Den Trung (Middle Temple), the main temple, which dates from the 19th century. It is dedicated to the founder of the dynasty and all other Hung Emperors. On the summit of the wooded hill is Den Thuong, which is dedicated to the gods of heaven and earth.
Lying on the middle altar is the sword of Phu Dong, the country’s first hero; another altar is dedicated to the wives and daughters of the Hung Emperors. On the hill is a mausoleum for the dynasty. Upon the Stone of Oaths here An Duong Vuong, founder of the realm of Au Lac, who came from the hills to the plain, swore to defend the land of his fathers.
The Hung King’s Temple Festival is one of the most important and sacred festivals of the Vietnamese people, deeply imbedded in the minds of every Vietnamese citizen, regardless of where they originate from. (Source: VNS, Phu Tho Province’s website, Vietnam Style)
VietNamNet Bridge records the anniversary in photos:
Banh day braying contest
The first ever fireworks in Phu Tho
Thousands of visitors pilgrimage to Phu Tho
Peddlers sit on the way to the Thuong Temple
Watching boat racing on the Lo River
The palanquin carrying the giant banh day to the temple
The giant banh day
Viet Tri City
Boat racing on the Lo River
Banh chung packing contest
The 2.5 tonne banh chung
Banh chung mass
Writing petition to the Hung Kings
Calligraphy
People follow the banh chung palanquin
In the Thuong Temple
Ngoc Oanh, Trung Kien, Xuan Truong
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