First theatre dedicated to traditional ceremonial singing opens; Royal ordinance involving Hoang Sa Archipelago revealed; New TV show to interact with demanding music lovers; Vietnamese culture and arts at exhibition in France

The Ca tru Theatre officially opened at the Thang Long Ca tru Cultural Centre in Ha Noi.

With 100 seats and a standard audio system, this is the first professional ca tru (ceremonial singing) stage in the country.

A 15-member troupe led by artist Bach Van will perform regularly with artistic advice from veteran artists including Vu Van Hong and Do Thi Song.

The centre will also offer ca tru training courses for future singers, said director Nguyen Lan Huong.

Royal ordinance involving Hoang Sa Archipelago revealed

A historical royal ordinance related to the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago by King Minh Mang has been made public after more than 170 years being held by a family in the central province of Quang Ngai.

The royal ordinance sent three ships to the Hoang Sa Archipelago in 1835. The document indicates that among 24 crew members, Vo Van Hung was in charge of recruiting skilled divers for the fleet, Dang Van Siem was the guide and Vo Van Cong was responsible for logistics.

This is the first original document related to the archipelago in Viet Nam, according to Nguyen Dang Vu, vice director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

New TV show to interact with demanding music lovers

A new TV show on VTV3 will be aimed at meeting the demands of music lovers.

Audiences can send requests, and their comments on songs and singers directly via telephone. Artists and the audience will also interact via phone and internet.

Fifty 45-minute episodes will air every Saturday at 10pm in 2009.

Vietnamese culture and arts at exhibition in France

The Viet Nam-France Friendship Association held several arts and cultural activities at the Palace of Culture in Tremblay-les-Villages in France to introduce French people to Viet Nam and its people.

Activities included screening’s of films on Viet Nam and its people, displays of traditional handicrafts, silks and pottery and samplings of traditional cookings. Hundreds of visitors attended the event.

The money raised at the exhibition will assist disabled people and war victims.

Established in 1992, the Viet Nam-France Friendship Association has about 150 members, including many French. The association’s humanitarian activities have focused on public health, education and vocational training in Viet Nam.

The association has also raised funds to help disabled people, to assist Vietnamese students in France and has created links between local public health services in both countries.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News