SGGP charity concert for veterans to be held; Vietnamese students visit Japan for cultural exchanges; Vietnam willing to share experience in craft villages with Japan; Great painting contest to mark national events

Meritorious Artiste Quang Ly

The gala concert “Nghia tinh Truong Son” (Sentimental Attachment for Truong Son Road) is the opening event of a program to raise funds for veteran soldiers. Launched by Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper, it hopes to revive the heroic spirit of Vietnamese soldiers at Hoa Binh Theatre on September 15.

Many immortal songs like Dat nuoc (Nation), Mau hoa do (the Color of Red Flower), Bai ca Truong Son (Truong Son Mountain’s Song), Truong Son Dong – Truong Son Tay (West and East of Truong Son Mountain) and Me (Mama), will be performed by the city’s most famous singers and bands.

Confirmed acts include “Meritorious Artiste” Quang Ly, Dam Vinh Hung, Phuong Thanh, Cao Minh, Thanh Thuy, Cao Thai Son, Huong Giang, Dong Quan and the three bands of Ao Linh, VCB and Giai Dieu Xanh.

All donations are welcomed via three hotlines: (848) 3834 1008, (848) 3834 0019, and (848) 2211 1263.
For those who want to send their donation directly to the newspaper, they can visit SGGP’s main office: 432-438 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, or pay directly into the fund’s bank account: 0071005154702, Vietcombank – Ho Chi Minh Branch.

The concert will be broadcast live on two channels, Vietnam TV and Binh Duong Province TV and later reported on Ho Chi Minh City TV.

Vietnamese students visit Japan for cultural exchanges

A Vietnamese delegation of 90 students is on a visit to Japan from September 15-25 as part of efforts to boost exchange between the two countries’ young people, according to the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Central Committee.

The visit is within the framework of the “21st Century East-Asia Youth Exchange Programme”, which is funded by the Japanese Government.

During the trip, the Vietnamese students will visit Nagano, Mie, Shiga and Hyogo provinces to learn about various cultures in different areas in Japan.

Under the programme, about 400 Vietnamese students will be invited to Japan between August this year to July next year.

In addition, 19 Vietnamese young people are attending a programme on training young leaders, which is taking place in Tono city from August 31 to September 17.

Vietnam willing to share experience in craft villages with Japan

Vietnam is willing to share its experience in rural craft villages with Japan, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung has said.

Receiving Norihiko Hiramatsu, Chairman of the Japan Association of One Village, One Product, in Hanoi on September 15, the deputy PM said that the Vietnamese government always places importance on agriculture, rural area and rural people.

Vietnam is in the process of modernisation and industrialisation, expecting to give a new look to rural areas, he said, adding that careful attention is being paid to infrastructural improvement, agricultural encouragement and craft village development.

Norihiko Hiramatsu said he wished to exchange experiences with Vietnam in developing craft villages as Vietnam possesses valuable traditional products.

He stressed that the “One Village, One Product” movement is an effective instrument to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, rural areas and urban areas.

It has not only helped encourage the production of characteristically local products but also contributed to preserving traditional values, he added.

Under the movement, one village produces one competitive and staple product as a business to earn sales revenue to improve the living standard of local inhabitants.

The movement, which originated from Oita prefecture, where Norihiko Hiramatsu was Governor for 24 years, has helped the locality increase its production output two-or three-fold, and quadrupled the prefecture’s revenues, he said.

Great painting contest to mark national events

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched a painting contest in Hanoi on September 15 to mark some important events next year.

These events include the 80th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3), the 35th anniversary of Saigon Liberation and National Unification (April 30) and President Ho Chi Minh’s 120th birth anniversary (May 19).

The contest will highlight the wise leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh and enhance public confidence in the renewal process.

The Ministry will award 3 first, 6 second, 9 third, 30 consolation and 9 amateur prizes with a total cash value of VND135 million.

PV