Friday, April 13, 2012 - 16:50:21 (VOVworld)-Stories about the daily lives and unique culture of the Dao ethnic group of Nậm Búng commune in the northern province of Yen Bai are being recorded through thousands of images as part of the PhotoVoice project. Conducted by the Institute for Studies of Society Economy and Environment, the project aims to help farmers and ethnic people throughout Vietnam use digital storytelling methods to represent themselves and help others see the world through their eyes. Lan Anh reports. Dao ethnic people in Vietnam's northwestern region Dao ethnic people in Nậm Châu village, who used to be familiar with almost nothing from modern society, except for farming tools, are now able to capture amazing photos of their rich culture, thanks to cameras and photography and cultural diversity classes provided by the Institute for Studies of Society, Economy, and Environment. Doctor Võ Mai Phương from the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology has been directly involved … [Read more...] about Images tell stories of Dao people Culture
Cultural diversity definition
HCM City hosts exhibition on cultural diversity of Vietnam
An exhibition on a theme "Vietnam’s diversity through photographic works" was opened at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum. More than 150 photos featuring Vietnamese culture and lifestyle during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which were selected from 200,000 pictures in the EFEO’s archives are being displayed to the public. The exhibits show a peaceful and beautiful country, with images of Hanoi's Old Quarter, traditional festivals and rites, ancient architectures, cultural heritages and daily life activities of Vietnamese people. The display is co-organized by the École francaise d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO), the French Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum. The event will run until June 28. The French School of the Far East (École Française d' Extrême – Orient – EFEO) is a French institute dedicated to the study of Asian societies. It was founded in 1898 but … [Read more...] about HCM City hosts exhibition on cultural diversity of Vietnam
Culture Vulture (18-01-2007)
Culture Vulture (18-01-2007) Lisa Travis, an American choreographer, helped the Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) stage West Side Story, based on the Oscar winning musical produced in 1961. The 30-minute contemporary dance is a modernised version of Romeo and Juliet story done to a mambo beat. It received great praise from audiences last week at the Ha Noi Opera House. Before leaving Ha Noi, Travis shared her thoughts about her first visit to Viet Nam with Culture Vulture. How did you become involved in this project? VNOB's orchestra played music from West Side Story last summer under the tutelage of American conductor Daniel Perkins. This year they wanted to do more with the piece, so Perkins, who worked with me at a university in the US, asked me create a dance to accompany his music in Ha Noi. I only had two weeks to complete the piece, not very long, but I made it happen. What was your inspiration for the choreography? The inspiration for the ballet, for me, was … [Read more...] about Culture Vulture (18-01-2007)
Trang An seeks world cultural landscape title
The management board of Trang An tourist attraction in Ninh Binh province is compiling a file to submit to the UNESCO, seeking this organization's recognition of Trang An as a world cultural landscape. The concepts of world natural and cultural heritage were launched in 1972. However, until 1992, the definition of "cultural landscape" was introduced by the UNESCO. To be recognized as a world cultural landscape, nominated sites must satisfy six criteria for cultural heritage and four criteria for natural heritage. So far, only 28 sites in the world have been recognized as cultural landscape by the UNESCO. "Some UNESCO's experts advised us to seek this title," said Mr. Nguyen Duc Long, director of the Trang An tourist site. The file of Trang An will be sent to the UNESCO in September 2013. The result will be announced in 2014. Long said that it is more highly possible for the site to be recognized as a cultural landscape, because there are only 28 cultural landscape sites in the … [Read more...] about Trang An seeks world cultural landscape title
Coffee Culture in Hanoi
My first morning in Vietnam I was extremely jet lagged after a twenty hour journey from Chicago. I stumbled blurry eyed down the streets of the backpacker district and hopped into the first cafe I could find and ordered a coffee. Pavements add unique cultural colour to Hanoi The little cafe had only plastic stools to sit on; I remember them being quite near to the ground and it felt more like I was squatting than sitting. Hunched in such a way I examined my first cup of Vietnamese coffee. It was brought out with a smile by a young waitress and placed before me in a casual way as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I did not agree with this notion. There was a bowl full of hot water. In the bowl was a small glass with condensed milk on the bottom; it was wearing a tiny metal hat. I soon observed that the hat, or phin, was actually a filter as there was a dark oil like substance leaking from the bottom of it. I remember thinking that it must be broken, because even … [Read more...] about Coffee Culture in Hanoi