The central government currently doesn't have enough money to build a huge statue commemorating women whose children and husbands sacrificed in wars in the central province of Quang Nam, the VnExpress news website said. Quang Nam's authorities last week announced that they need the investment of over VND410 billion (US$19.7 million) for the project. The provincial People's Committee planned to continue with project, which was launched in July, 2007, while waiting for the government's approval of supports, VnExpress said. However, the website quoted Vu Duc Dam, head of the Government Office, as saying that although it is important to build works of educational and historical significance, the current economic difficulties means public investment is being tightened. The government will mainly spend on projects that are really urgent or in final stages. According to VnExpress, the project was first approved in 2007 with the total investment of VND81 billion ($3.9 million), … [Read more...] about Vietnam lacks money to build memorial statue: gov’t
Face building
Historic Hanoi buildings to house theatres
The Hanoi Times - The capital is about to get two new theatres – both converted from historical buildings. The venues are Khai Tri Tien Duc House near Hoan Kiem (Sword Return) Lake and the Pupils’ and Students’ Cultural House on ThienQuangLake . The move comes after several artists complained that there were not enough places to perform in the city. The State has not invested any money into building new theatres in the capital since 1954. Khai Tri Tien Duc House, which is nearly 100 years old, occupies a prime spot in the property market. one side runs along tree-lined Le Thai To Street, facing HoanKiemLake . The other side looks onto Hang Trong Street . The house is right next to the King Le’s Memorial. The building is stepped in history. When it was first built in 1910, it was the head office of the Khai Tri Tien Duc Association, a society of Hanoian intellectuals. It changed hands 44 years later and was renamed the Thong Nhat (Reunification) … [Read more...] about Historic Hanoi buildings to house theatres
Ha Noi puts best face forward
VietNamNet Bridge – An art exhibition entitled Nha Mat Pho (Houses Facing the Street) by Nguyen The Son, focusing on the rapidly changing nature of the capital, is on display at the Goethe Institute. The tall and short of it: Photos in a new exhibition spotlight the lengths to which business owners will go to promote their services. — Photo courtesy Goethe Institute Son has utilised "giclee print" technology in his work, which features huge billboards covering entire house fronts in various colours. Ha Noi's residential buildings, which have long shaped the face of the city, are changing: instead of windows and balconies that facilitate communication between neighbours, tall billboards seal houses off, both towards the street, the outside and the inside. The artist seized upon the issue of these billboards and by digital means made them into entire streets using a unique printing technique on fine arts paper and silk. "With a closer look at the relief-like photographs in … [Read more...] about Ha Noi puts best face forward
Hanoi puts best face forward
An art exhibition entitled Nha Mat Pho (Houses Facing the Street) by Nguyen The Son, focusing on the rapidly changing nature of the capital, is on display at the Goethe Institute. Son has utilised "giclee print" technology in his work, which features huge billboards covering entire house fronts in various colours. Hanoi 's residential buildings, which have long shaped the face of the city, are changing: instead of windows and balconies that facilitate communication between neighbours, tall billboards seal houses off, both towards the street, the outside and the inside. The artist seized upon the issue of these billboards and by digital means made them into entire streets using a unique printing technique on fine arts paper and silk. "With a closer look at the relief-like photographs in Son's installations we see people passing by on motorcycles," said art critic Veronika Radulovic. "Families, workers, mothers with their children; their movements mirror the tempo of the times. Even … [Read more...] about Hanoi puts best face forward
Girl builds business out of paper dolls
VietNamNet Bridge – A dozen pretty dolls stand around Nguyen Thuy Duong as her fingers deftly work on another creation, carefully dressing a doll in a stunning red paper dress. Five years ago, the Trade and Technology University student began making paper dolls after receiving one as a birthday gift from a friend. "I fell in love with the paper doll at first sight and asked myself ‘why don't I try to do it myself'," said Duong. Duong's friend taught her how to make the body of the doll and since then she has learnt to make the other parts by herself. She began spending several months looking for materials in Hang Ma Street, where toys and decorative objects are sold. She also began designing the dolls herself, which she said was not easy at the beginning and required hours of patience. The first doll she made had long brown hair and was dressed in a long pink dress, which she gave to her teacher as a gift. Duong says that it takes her about 4-5 hours to create a doll … [Read more...] about Girl builds business out of paper dolls