Photo exhibition by disabled Vietnamese in Germany

Face to Face is a photographic project for disabled people in Thanh Hoa province, which was organised in summer 2008 by the German Development Service Organisation (DED) and Schmitz Foundation, assisted by German senior photographer Paul Zetter.

After a five-month training course, 16 disabled people in Thanh Hoa used eight digital cameras to take more than 8000 photos about their communities. Several seminars were held during this time for trainees to exchange photographic techniques, communicate with each other and take photo together.

Ninety photos were chosen for exhibitions. A documentary was produced, describing the life of Huong, a disabled girl in Thanh Hoa, a member of this project. read more>>

Sauntering along Xa No Canal in Hau Giang Province

Once visiting Hau Giang Province, home to endless rice fields and canals entangled with boats, tourists should visit Vi Thanh Commune to let the soul drift with the ships and boats on the stream along Xa No Canal.

About 60 kilometers from Can Tho City, Vi Thanh Commune attracts travelers to its canal along Xa No Park with its poetic surroundings. The park runs along Tran Hung Dao Street, protecting visitors from the sun with its many green trees. It is amazing to walk in the park under the moonlight to watch the boats silently float on the canal.

The canal was formed in 1901-1903 by two French people, Duval and Guery. At night, departing from Vi Thanh Market, tourists can stroll along the canal to taste the rustic flavor of the delta. Along the canal is a statue garden with dozens of white stone sculptural works. Stepping onto the overpass, travelers can see the great length of the canal.  more>>

Saigon, Vietnam - Saigon Seafood Stalls

from eatdrink&bemerry blog

You don't need to go far to find food in Saigon. All you really have to do is stand and do a 360, and you'll realize that it is actually the food that finds you. Pho was cooking on the left. Banh mi was being prepared on the right. But straight ahead, we were attracted to a small stand lit by the greenish, fluorescent lights that seem to be so prominent in Asia. Like moths in flight, we headed towards the light source.

There are many tough decisions you make in life, like friendships, relationships and careers. Add this seafood dilemma to the long list because there was just too much going on. I love extensive menus but when almost everything looks appetizing, I get very annoyed. So we picked a few, mainly rarities, and she asked if we wanted a choice of garlic, spicy garlic or sweet & sour tamarind sauce. We asked for one of each with our dishes.  explore more here>>

Paintings made of rice and tree bark

A group of students in HCM City has made unique paintings of landscapes, animals and still-lifes using rice, tree bark, newspaper and bamboo toothpicks to raise funds for charity.

 

Hanoi’s One-Pillar Pagoda is made of rice.

Hoi An town, made from bark, bamboo and gravel.

 

The portrait of a young girl is made of wool, chicken feathers and dried grass.

To see more of the artwork, click here.

Seeking beauty through pain

Tattoos have been imported into Hanoi for nearly a decade, but actually tattooing was very popular within the gang world for several decades and has even older historical roots in Vietnam.

When a client comes, tattoo artists will show him/her tattoo designs on the Internet. Like painting, tattoo uses three basic colors: red, yellow and deep blue to make other colors. Tattoo artists use different kinds of needles, which run at frequencies of 50 jabs/second.

 

Because of the pain caused by tattoo machines, tattoo artists only work from 20-30 minutes on a tattoo. 

Tattoo artists are also art students, so they also design original tattoos.

Each tattoo is a message.

Arabs fascinated by Vietnamese cuisine

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has hosted an Asia Culinary Fair, at which guests and diplomats from many countries had the chance to enjoy Vietnamese food. After the opening of the fair, hundreds of visitors, including local people and foreign ambassadors, called on the Vietnamese stand and tasted the food. They especially favoured such dishes as chicken and beef noodle soup (pho), spring rolls, and pickled vegetable. The fair, which took placed in the capital city of Abu Dhabi on March 13, was attended by the embassies of Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. more>>

Photographers show their love via black-and-white photos

Members of Hai Au club for female photographers will introduce black-and-white pictures about Vietnam’s people, landscape and specialties at the Da Lat Cadasa Resort in Da Lat from April 2 to May 2.

Drawing up a net by Nguyen Thi Sin.

Established in 1990, Hai Au club has chosen 65 pictures for the upcoming exhibition to celebrate Da Lat Liberation Day (3.4/1975) and the country’s union (30/4/1975).

Hai Au is the first photography club for women in Vietnam. With 15 members who share a passion for photography, the club has organized many exhibitions and won over 100 international awards and many local prizes. The club also contributes to Vietnam’s photography circles with outstanding talents like Dao Hoa Nu, An Dung and Hong Nga.

The club will bring around 100 photos to an exhibition in Hanoi in late August to celebrate the city’s 1000^th anniversary.

Some photos by Hai Au Club:

Saying goodbye on Hoai River by An Dung.

Thay pagoda by Dao Hoa Nu.

Hue’s boat by Dao Hoa Nu.

Hong Nga’s Hanoi in Spring.

Bac Ninh love duets by Hong Nga.

Dao do girl by Hong Nga.

Brushing hair by Kim Lan.

Peaceful by Phan Thi Thu.

White night by Thi Tho.

Rain in ancient street by Tuyet Mai.

Stork condition by Dao Hoa Nu.

In early fog by Dao Hoa Nu.

Clean water by Kim Phuong

Driving ducks by Nguyen Thi Sin.

Religious practicing by Pham Thi Thu.

Baking rice cake by Thanh Son.

Making rice cake by Thanh Son.

Kid pleasure by Thi Tho.

About to go to market by Tuyet Mai.

Leaving school by Xuan Hong.

PV

Dancing with the Stars comes to Vietnam

The competitors of Buoc nhay hoan vu, Vietnamese name of the hit celebrity dance show Dancing with the Star.

In the hit celebrity dance competition, named Buoc nhay hoan vu (Universal Steps) in Vietnamese, singers Siu Black, Doan Trang, and Quang Vinh, actress Ngo Thanh Van, actors Luong Manh Hai and Minh Beo, and models Vu Hoang Diep and Tien Doan will be paired with professional dancers from the US and Bulgaria to perform Ballroom and Latin dance. more>>

Vietnamese cuisine introduced in Paris

Vietnamese cuisine lovers and French-speaking chefs from around the globe gathered in Paris on March 31 for a four-day food festival dubbed “Cooks’ village in Paris”.

A book titled “Time zone cuisine” was launched by Menu Frettin Publishing House at the festival, which has been an annual event since 2007. The book, introducing typical dishes and culinary culture of many different countries, was co-authored by 26 famous Francophone chefs.

Vietnamese cuisine was prominently featured, thanks to the articles by Didier Corlou and David Lacroix, who are fascinated with Vietnamese food.

According to Corlou, Vietnam has a unique culinary culture, and he never misses an opportunity to show off the country’s typical dishes.

Vietnamese food plays a positive role in bringing Vietnam’s culture to the world.
A programme of Vietnamese food will be broadcast on April 4 on TV Channel 5 with French chef David Lacroix demonstrating two dishes.

(Source: VOV)

Exhibition tells lives of Mekong residents

Nine stories of the lives, dreams and struggles of the people of three Mekong River countries – Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia – are featured at an exhibition in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang.

“The Mekong’s story: Challenge and dream,” a mobile exhibition, was jointly opened at the provincial museum on March 30 by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Heritage and Culture under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
more>>

Bac Ninh Festival 2010 to be organised at national level

written by Huyen Tran 

 

The Bac Ninh Festival 2010 will be held at the national level at the Kinh Bac cultural centre, said Nguyen Dang Tuc, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on April 1. Party and State leaders, representatives from ministries, agencies, embassies and Ly clan representatives from the Republic of Korea will attend the opening ceremony on April 17.

The five-day festival will feature a ceremony to mark the Quan Ho singing’s recognition by UNESCO as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Other highlights of the festival will include the 20th annual Quan Ho singing contest as well as wrestling, badminton and other games.  A trade fair, exhibitions of cultural artifacts, paintings, sculptures and photos and other activities to mark the 35th anniversary of Vietnam-Germany diplomatic relation will be held during the festival.

Northern culture fest to highlight folk traditions

The Bac Ninh Province People’s Committee March 31 announced an upcoming festival from April 14-18 titled “Bac Ninh Literature – Gather and Shine.”

Quan ho performances, a unique tradition of Bac Ninh Province, will be officially recognized as “World intangible heritage” by UNESCO on April 17 during the “Bac Ninh Literature – Gather and Shine” festival Addressing the press at Kinh Bac Cultural Center, event organizers said the festival will feature several activities related to art, culture, music and sport.

In addition, there will be a relics exhibition and folk music singing contest along with local art displays including Dong Ho paintings, Phu Lang terracotta, Dai Bai bronze works, Dong Ky woodworks, and time-honored Quan ho performances. more>>