Old village gates ‘fossilized’ for art

Miniatures of Hanoi’s old village gates, suspended in blocks of resin, are on display at an exhibition Lang trong pho (Villages inside streets), at the French cultural center L’Espace.

The unique exhibits are the work of artist Vuong Van Thao. Apart from the gates, miniatures of hoes, spades, utility poles dating back to the French era (1858-1945), and the Turtle Tower (a city landmark in the middle of Sword Lake), have been encased in faux amber to create a fossilized look.

Thao, 42, said he photographed village gates across Hanoi, like those along Thuy Khe Street, cast their miniature replicas, and suspended them within resin. He then cracked the blocks to resemble fossils, and for visual effect.

This is Thao’s second public exhibition. In 2008, his exhibit of fossilized Hanoi’s old quarters was shortlisted in the top ten at the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize in Singapore.

The exhibition is open through June 18.

Charity tour in Hanoi

Bloom Microventures, a UK non-profit organization, has launched a tour of the untouched rural countryside in Soc Son Province, which is 40 km from Hanoi.

During this big day out, tourists will have the chance to try rice farming, enjoy a traditional lunch, bike ride and visit a forest.

Besides on this big day out in the countryside, tourists learn about community development by providing a microloan to a local poor woman.

The tour price is from US$15-US$25 (based on the number of travellers on this trip). All of the funds will help provide loans to local women.

The tour will begin at 830 a.m. June 5 from Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien street, Hanoi.

Bloom Microventures offers microcredit to entrepreneurs living below the poverty line in developing countries to alleviate poverty by promoting responsible tourism products.

Famous French photographer to visit Hanoi

“Biodiversity,” an exhibition by award-winning photographer, journalist and environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand will take place in Hanoi from June 20 to 30.

The exhibition will be held at L’Espace the French cultural center located at 24 Trang Tien street, Hanoi.

Arthus-Bertrand foundered the Altitude Agency in 1991, the world’s first press agency and image bank specialising in aerial photography.

This exhibition showcases work that the celebrated photographer collected from the skies.

Arthus-Bertrand said that he feels biodiversity has given him so many gifts all of which he would like to pass along.

A French gastro-vaganza

The five-star Caravelle Hotel’s Reflections Restaurant will offer traditional French dishes during June 9-17.

The French left Vietnam, but left their cooking behind. Though French culinary traditions have survived in the country, it is hard to find authentic French cuisine here.

But don’t buy your tickets to Paris just yet, for the Caravelle Hotel is bringing genuine French food to Ho Chi Minh City.

Named after a famous tree-lined restaurant street in Paris, the Champs Elysees food fest will be held June 9-17 at Reflections Restaurant in the five-star hotel.

On the menu are traditional French food like foie gras, bouillabaisse, coq au vin, delectable desserts and specialty French wines.

The French are master bakers. Among the many French additions to Vietnamese cuisine is the ubiquitous banh mi, or baguette, a cornerstone of meals across Vietnam Рbuttered for a quick snack and stuffed with pickled vegetables, meats and pat̩ for lunch-on-the-go.

The food fest will see trained chefs baking traditional French breads and desserts such as fruit pastry, profiterole, cream puff, chocolate cake and breads. French crepes – made of wheat flour, milk, egg and butter – will also be served during the fest. Crepes can be made sweet or savory depending on customers’ orders.

Each meal is complemented with French wine selected by chefs at Reflections Restaurant.

Parisian cafés are famous for their coffee, another strong tradition Vietnam shares with France. In Vietnam, coffee is served with slow-drip “French presses.” Reflections Restaurant will serve fresh coffee with dessert to complete the French experience.

Customers can choose from two options – the set menu and a la carte menu. The set menu, priced at VND980,000++ per person, will include traditional dishes, assorted desserts, tea, coffee and chocolate.

The a la carte menu offers a wider range of options such as coq au vin (French braised chicken cooked in wine, lardoons, mushrooms and garlic), or ragout of potato-crusted red mullets on ratatouille. Dishes on the a la carte menu cost VND118,000++.

All prices are subject to 5 percent service charge and 10 percent VAT.

Saturday brunch buffet at Legend Hotel Saigon

The five-star Legend Hotel Saigon will offer buffet brunches on both Saturday and Sunday at its Atrium Café through June 25.

In addition to the great food – an array of seafood and irresistible desserts, complemented by free flowing drinks – customers can enjoy lounging by the pool with friends and family.

Prices range from VND630,000 (US$30) per adult, with free flow of wine, beer, coconut cocktails, fresh juices, soft drinks, coffee and tea included.

Prices are halved for kids aged 4-12. Children under four get in free.

The brunch also includes free access to the swimming pool from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children can enjoy themselves at the Kids Play Center which is stocked with toys, learning activities and comic books.

For more information or to make reservations, call (08) 3 823 2833 or (08) 3 823 3333 ext. 189/190.

Chả cá and seafood promotion at Meliã Hanoi

The Meliã Hotel Hanoi has launched a number of food and beverage promotions for the month of June.

The hotel’s El Oriental Restaurant will serve traditional chả cá (filleted fish grilled in turmeric and galangal) served with bún (rice noodles), fresh herbs, vegetables and shrimp sauce (both for lunch and dinner). Priced at VND290,000 this promotion starts in June and will continue until August.

Chả cá is considered one of the capital city’s most iconic delicacies.

The hotel’s El Patio Restaurant also serves a seafood dinner buffet featuring a wide selection of seafood and meat on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Priced at VND732,000++ per person, this package offers a diverse range of seafood, hot pots, authentic Japanese sushi and sashimi, and free draught beer, house wine and drink.

For details, please contact the Meliã Hotel Hanoi at 44B Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi, tel: (04) 3 934 3343.

Free multicultural event with music and art in HCMC

French General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City is sponsoring a free multicultural event at 30 Pham Ngoc Thach, district 3 on June 26.

The event starts at 6 p.m. with performances of DJ Anna, famous Parisian graffiti artist Julien Malland and art installations by 12 French and Vietnamese artists.

Other highlights of this event are fashion show by young designers (Tsafari, All and Kujeans) and hip hop dancing with famous band Destiny Family.

The event is free and food and drink will be available for purchase. This promises to be a good time hanging out with friends in an multicultural atmosphere!

Hanoi to host H-Artistry musical concert

The H-Artistry concert will present a blend of musical talents from America, UK and Australia at Quan Ngua Sports Palace in Hanoi on June 16.

American Idol 2008 David Roland, X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke and Australian Idol contestant Thanh Bui will hit the stage together in the show.

American rock singer-songwriter David Roland was born in Houston, Texas in 1982. He rose to fame after winning in the seventh season of the reality television show American Idol. Prior to Idol he had released an album ‘Analog Heart’ and his post-Idol album, produced by Rob Cavallo, was released on November 18, 2008 and was declared a platinum hit by RIAA.

Alexandra Burke, 23, is a British pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning in the fifth season of British television show The X Factor in 2008. After wining in The X Factor, Burke released her debut single “Hallelujah” which sold 105,000 copies in a single day. Her debut album Overcome was released in October 2009 and entered the UK Albums Chart at number one.

Thanh Bui is an Australian-Vietnamese singer and songwriter. He was part of the boy-band ‘North’ who were among the top ten groups in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and India. The group split up in 2006. Bui was a contestant in the 6th season of Australian Idol. He was amongst the last top ten contestants.

The H-Artistry concert (previously called Hennessy Artistry) will present international talents to Vietnamese music lovers. The musical event has attracted thousands of people over the years.

Photographic contest for young couples

A photographic contest for couples around 18 years of age was launched by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union on the social network website Zing Me.

The contest named “When I am 18” will be held from June 4 to 12. The aim of the event is to provide knowledge, vocational guidance, social skills, general knowledge of society and a platform for teenagers from sixteen to eighteen years of age to find expression before they turn 18 and step into adulthood.

Contestants should post their couple photographs on the website http://go.zing.vn/khitoi18 where people will select the 10 most beautiful couples. The organizers will then select five couples to enter the final round.

These five couples will take part in three contests, namely, costume of their choice, multiple-choice questions to check their intimacy and a behavior competition.

Contestants must prove they are mature, talented and have good goals in life, to be able to win the contest.

The final round will take place in Dam Sen Entertainment Park in Ho Chi Minh City. The first prize is worth VND5 million (US$250), the second VND3 million and the third VND2 million, with a special prize of VND2 million for the most popular couple.

Many interesting activities will also take place during the contest in Dam Sen Park on June 12. Young people will join the ‘Grown Up’ ceremony where parents and other adults will acknowledge the importance of turning 18.

The website Zing Me will give a certificate of “A grown up internet citizen” to all the contestants.

Sea and Island Festival 2011 opens in Quang Ngai

The 2011 Sea and Island Festival opened in Quang Ngai on May 5, as part of the National Tourism Year for the southcentral coastal region.

The highlight of the event was the arts festival taking place on May 5-6 with the participation of artists from coastal districts such as Binh Son, Son Tinh, Ly Son, Tu Nghia, Mo Duc and Duc Pho.

Later in the second half of June, an exhibition on the sea and island culture heritage of Quang Ngai province and the southcentral region will be held at the local museum to introduce ancient relics and documents relating to Quang Ngai’s sea and islands.

Children will have chance to take part in drawing competitions and arts performances in praise of Vietnam’s sea and islands.

Other activities will include the publication of a collection of books on Quang Ngai’s sea and islands, a traditional boat race and a beauty contest for local tour guides.