Malaysia-Vietnam folk music event held in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia-Vietnam folk music event held in Kuala Lumpur

A folk music programme to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Vietnam and Malaysia was organized in Kuala Lumpur on May 11.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Nguyen Hong Thao said that the political, socio-economic and educational relations between the two countries are flourishing.

Such cultural programmes help strengthen solidarity between Vietnam, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations, towards successfully building an ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community in 2015, he said.

Malaysian audiences had a chance to enjoy traditional Vietnamese music performed by famous bands such as ‘Co La’ (Strange Grass).

The event was jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM).

Vietnam Flights

RoK airline helps promote VN world heritage

Asiana Airlines of the Republic of Korea has pledged to promote Vietnam ’s central region heritage sites on its international flights.

This is major focus of the project, “Promoting World Heritage sites in Vietnam ’s Central Region” launched on May 8 in Hoi An, in Quang Nam province.

The project, funded by Asiana Airlines through the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU) and UNESCO Hanoi office, aims to connect three World Heritage sites in the region, including Hue Monuments Complex in Hue city, Hoi An ancient town and My Son sanctuary in Quang Nam province.

In the first year of implementing the project, key activities will focus on Hoi An heritage site, including producing flyers, brochures and handbooks in English and Korean to provide tourists with information about various places of interest, such as typical handicraft villages, and the traditional cultures of the destinations.

Asiana Airlines will also fund solar energy lighting systems at all three sites, with the system in Hoi An scheduled to be put into operation this year.

At the launching ceremony, Tran Minh Ca, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee, spoke highly of the support from Asiana Airlines, which launched a new route in December, 2011 linking the RoK capital, Seoul with Da Nang . He expressed his belief that thanks to the Asiana promotion, the world heritage site in the central region will be broadly presented to international tourists.

Ca said that with Hoi An ancient town, My Son Sanctuary and Cham Islands Biosphere Reserve, the province has received a lot of cooperation and support from international agencies, organisations and individuals on heritage site conservation and sustainable tourism development.

Hanoi honours artisans in Bat Trang pottery traditional village

The valuable trademark of Bat Trang pottery traditional village has been built on the contributions of outstanding artisans, with their skilled hands and creative minds, said chairman of Hanoi City People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao.

On May 6th a ceremony took place honouring outstanding artisans in Bat Trang pottery traditional village in Gia Lam district.

He said that he hoped these artisans would continue to create more unique products to build the trademark of Bat Trang pottery village.

He added that the village needs to promote commerce in combination with tourism to improve its economic effectiveness.

There are more than 60 economic units and nearly 1,000 households in the village. As many of 18 folk artisans were presented with the title of Hanoi artisan, and three artisans were given the title of outstanding artisan by the state.

After the ceremony, Mr. Thao visited the production establishments of several artisans.

On this occasion, a club of outstanding artisans in the village was founded to develop and preserve the local pottery style.

Ho Dynasty Citadel given World Heritage status

A ceremony to receive the UNESCO certificate declaring the Ho Dynasty Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage site will take place in the central province of Thanh Hoa on June 16.

An art programme entitled Thanh Nha Ho-Niem Tu Hao Dat Viet (Ho Dynasty Citadel- the Proud of Vietnam) will be held following the ceremony to honour the historical and cultural value of the citadel.

A range of activities will also take place to celebrate the event including a village market, a festival of Ly-Tran dynasty folk games, and a display of objects, photos and articles about the citadel and the Ho Dynasty to promote tourism in the region.

On the occasion, Thanh Hoa will also host an International Conference for UNESCO National Committees in Asia-Pacific Countries on June 15-17

VN-China border trade fair planned for November

The Vietnam – China International Border Trade Fair 2011 will take place from November 11-16 in Vietnam ’s northern border province of Lao Cai .

The schedule was agreed at a recent meeting between Lao Cai province’s centre for investment, trade and tourism promotion and representatives from He Kou district, the Chinese southern province of Yunnan .

The five-day fair themed “Cooperation – friendship for integration and development” expects to have 650-700 pavilions, including 200-250 pavilions of Chinese businesses.

This is an annual event that is hosted in turn by Lao Cai and He Kou.

At the previous exhibition in Lao Cai in 2009, 14 contracts worth 114 million USD were signed between Vietnamese and Chinese partners.

(Source: VNA)

Developing cultural industries.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) in coordination with the Danish Embassy and the British Council held a seminar in Hanoi on July 13 to devise a development strategy for the cultural industries in Vietnam.

Present at the seminar were representatives from the cultural organisations and arts and communication associations, cultural researchers and businesses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

MCST Deputy Minister Ho Anh Tuan said the seminar helps managers and law makers at both local and central levels to discuss practical and theoretical issues of the cultural industries, especially cinematography, performing arts, fine arts and photography in Vietnam as well as devising measures to support these sectors.

During the two-day seminar, delegates heard reports on the condition of the cinematography, performing arts, fine arts and photography sectors and discussed other issues related to intellectual property rights and the creative industry.

(Source: VOV

Developing sustainable sea tourism !

A scientific seminar was held in Da Nang city on July 9 to discuss the planning and management of construction and improvements to socio-economic conditions in the central coastal provinces.

The event was attended by representatives from relevant agencies in the central highlands provinces and international consultants.

The coastal central province have great potential for tourism with their many beautiful beaches such as Sam Son, Cua Tung, Lang Co, Da Nang, Hoi An and Nha Trang. However, the construction of hotels, tourist sites and golf courses near the beaches is likely to have a negative impact on the environment.

At the seminar, delegates focused on developing public space in the central coastal provinces and discussed solutions for planning and construction in accordance with the characteristics of each locality. This will make great contribute to ensuring sustainable tourism development and improve the socio-economic environment in the region.

The event was co-organised by the Vietnam Institute of Architecture, Urban and Rural Planning and the Ministry of Construction.

(Source: VOV)