Editor’s note: Luu Vinh Trinh, an 18-year-old contestant from Ho Chi Minh City, outlines her vision for Vietnamese education to emulate that of Singapore’s and share the top spots in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the next two decades in this entry sent to the “Ky Vong Viet Nam 20 Nam Toi” (“My Expectations for Vietnam in 20 Years”) writing contest. >> An audio version of the story is available here Vietnamese education will emulate that of Singapore’s and share the top spots in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – such a promising prospect has always been students’ source of inspiration so that we will strive harder in our studies. Our greatest aspiration is learning in a truly wholesome environment where teachers and students teach and learn and are assessed on the basis of their real abilities. Leaders of the education sector would create auspicious conditions to turn schools into … [Read more...] about Vietnamese education capable of rivaling Singapore’s in 2035
Ho chi minh city university of pedagogy
The City of Ao dai
The 3rd Ao dai Festival held in several places in Ho Chi Minh City from March 5-20, 2016 included many activities to honour Vietnamese traditional Ao dai and contribute to the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values of the nation. Unlike two previous occasions which took place in Dam Sen Cultural Park, this year the Ao dai Festival was held in different places in Ho Chi Minh City such as the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, the War Remnants Museum, the Ao dai Museum, Ho Chi Minh City General Sciences Library and the area surrounding the Uncle Ho Statue. From early March, local citizens have been urged to wear Ao dai in their daily lives, like going to work, going out or partying to highlight the beauty and use of the traditional costume. At the Youth Cultural House, the Ao dai Festival started with a performance of 1,000 students and dancers wearing Ao dai, which received much praise from locals and visitors. At night, a special … [Read more...] about The City of Ao dai
Art & Entertainment News 17/3
Photo exhibition depicts country's land and people An exhibition featuring 117 photos taken by 14 members by the Viet Nam Association of Photographic Artists are on display at the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang. The exhibition, titled A Meet of March, depicts the country's landscape and people in preparation for the 40th celebration of the country's Reunification Day (April 30) and the city's Liberation Day (March 29). The event also marks the 62nd anniversary of the Viet Nam Photographic Day (March 15). The exhibition will run until next Tuesday. Artist sells paintings to save wife's life It may not be the ideal way to present a painter's work, but Pham Khac Quang is trying to gather every last penny he can to save his wife, currently in a coma at Ha Noi's Viet Duc hospital. Quang's wife slipped into a coma after undergoing two operations on March 13 to terminate a nine-week foetus and remove gall bladder and kidney stones. Doctors have said that blood infection caused by her … [Read more...] about Art & Entertainment News 17/3
State of the arts
Students paint during a contest in Hanoi. Art education does not get due attention, an expert says. Vietnamese education has failed to improve the ability of youth to enjoy and engage in the arts, former rector of the National University of Art Education, Trieu Khac Le, tells Vietweek. Vietweek: Art education is a part of primary and secondary school education in Vietnam, but students still have very little knowledge about it. Why?Trieu Khac Le: Art was not taught originally in schools. It was only in the 1990s that the Ministry of Education and Training required that nine subjects, including music and fine arts, are compulsorily taught in primary schools, and later, in secondary schools. At that time, schools faced a shortage of art teachers. Earlier, the Central Pedagogy College of Music and Fine Arts, which now is the National University of Art Education, was the sole establishment training music and fine arts teachers for primary and secondary schools. However, the university … [Read more...] about State of the arts
‘Taste of the World’ culinary festival attracts many tourists
About 60 restaurants, hotels, tourist agencies from 20 countries and territories participated in the 'Taste of the World' culinary festival that took place at the September 23 Park on December 6. This annual event is organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Tourism Association in Ho Chi Minh City with the aim to introduce and honor the best chefs and cuisines of the world, besides also honoring the culinary culture of Vietnam. Coming to the festival, visitors can taste a lot of traditional delicious foods from South Vietnam and foreign foods from Thailand, France, Korea, Malaysia, and Germany. Ta Thi Quynh Tram, a student of University of Pedagogy in Ho Chi Minh City said that she visited the festival at September 23 Park early to taste the many good foods. She said many food booths were decorated beautifully and attractively. Besides, many attractive activities were also held at the festival, including dancing performances by dancers from Malaysia, and … [Read more...] about ‘Taste of the World’ culinary festival attracts many tourists
Nha Trang through stream of time
Memories of Nha Trang Nha Trang used to be a deserted area from 1653 to the 19th century. After just two decades of the early 20th century, Nha Trang underwent a rapid change. On 30 August 1924, the Governor-General of French Indochina (Gouverneur-General de l'Indochine) established Nha Trang as a townlet from the ancient villages of Xuong Huan, Phuong Cau, Van Thanh and Phuong Sai. On 7 May 1937 , the Governor-General of French Indochina by another decree upgraded Nha Trang Townlet to town. Its past photos show that NhaTrangCity used to be very deserted. Its oldest known photograph taken in 1894 by Dr. Yersin depicts a deserted beach with a few scattered houses. The second oldest known photograph taken in 1902 was of Con Hamlet with low houses and La San Hill beyond Cu Huan Estuary. During French Indochina, Nha Trang was seen as de facto capital (chief lieu) of KhanhHoaProvince. The colonial administration offices like Nha Trang Post Office (photo taken in 1920), Nha Trang … [Read more...] about Nha Trang through stream of time
Ukrainian artist exhibits lacquer paintings in HCM City
Liubov Fedotova, the wife of the Ukrainian Ambassador to Vietnam, is displaying her Vietnamese-inspired lacquer paintings at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City. Using traditional materials such as silver, bronze and nacre, the artist is exceptional at depicting the traditional images of Vietnam and the Ukraine through remarkable pieces such as "Blonde angel" (2006), "Dialogue between the two cultures" (2007) and "St. Michaels's church in Kyriv, Ukraine" (2008). Ms Fedotova was born in Kazakhstan in 1959 and graduated from the Chita Pedagogy University. She accompanied her husband to Vietnam in 2003 and started producing lacquer paintings in 2005. The exhibition is on show at the RMIT International University Vietnam until April 18. … [Read more...] about Ukrainian artist exhibits lacquer paintings in HCM City
The elusive words
It may take a genius and more than a few dong to capture the essence of a Vietnamese literary classic and adapt it to ballet. There was news the other day that the long-expected ballet adaptation of the Vietnamese literary classic, Nguyen Du's epic poem the Truyen Kieu (Tale of Kieu) had been delayed. People's Artist Nguyen Cong Nhac, the project's choreographer, told local media he did not know when the country's most beloved work would appear on the ballet stage. The Vietnam Opera and Ballet Theater's director, Meritorious Artist Pham Anh Phuong, said the delay was due to lack of funding. Phuong said foreign sponsors do not want to spend money on a 100 percent Vietnamese ballet-script and local ones hesitate to invest in a ballet that is not tied to any official festival or event. Enthusiastic readers of Vietnamese literature would mull over the news with bitterness. For lack of money and talent, contemporary art does not seem to do justice to the country's rich … [Read more...] about The elusive words
ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 25/11
Artist's abstract works on show Artist Dao Trong Luu is displaying 15 abstract oil on acrylic paintings at the Tu Do Gallery in HCM City. Nhip Dieu Va Choi (Rhythm and Game) features works he created in Sa Pa this year like Overture Tet (Overture for Lunar New Year), Giao Huong Ngay Moi (Symphony for a New Day), and Tiec Da Khuc (Party of Nocturne). "I love to be alone with music and paint," the 69-year-old painter says. "I always begin my day with a ‘game' of oils, toile, acrylics, and melodies, and end with a symphony of colours. "That's my art." Luu, who was born in Ha Noi, and a graduate from the Ha Noi Pedagogic Fine Arts College, was a teacher, and founded the Youth Art Club at the Ha Noi Youth Culture Palace.• In 1984 he worked as an assistant to the art director of the film Commandos of Sai Gon, and then worked and studied with artists Olivier Debre in Paris and Hashegawa in Zurich. He has held several solo and group exhibitions in Viet Nam, Japan, South Korea, … [Read more...] about ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 25/11
ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 9/10
Photo exhibition on Fidel Castro opens in central province A photo exhibition documenting former Cuban President Fidel Castro’s visit to the central province of Quang Tri in 1973 opened on October 7. The event, which is co-organized by Quang Tri Provincial Literature and Arts Association and Phap luat va Xa hoi (Law and Society) newspaper, aims to commemorate the 85th birthday of the revolutionary veteran. On display are 50 photos, which have been chosen from 250 pieces of work by photographer Sy So. Sy So was one of the few reporters assigned to receive the Cuban delegation at Hien Luong bridge in 1973. He recorded lively images of the former Cuban leader and late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong in newly liberated Quang Tri province. The exhibition will run until October 11.HCMC Theater stages verse drama IDECAF Theater in Ho Chi Minh City has debuted its first drama whose script is written as verse. Title “Quyen Luc Tinh Yeu” (The Power of Love), the drama unveiled … [Read more...] about ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 9/10