Prize hat trick for local movie Trang Noi Day Gieng; Artist crafts picture from coconut shells to toast capital’s birthday; Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol set

The prizes include the audience award, the Best New Asian Cinema selected by audience and the second prize by the judging board.

Along with the best actress prize for Hong Anh in the Dubai Film Festival and the Best Director Award for Son in the Madrid International Film Festival, these three prizes are considered to “complete the international prize collection” of Trang Noi Day Gieng, according to Son.

Artist crafts picture from coconut shells to toast capital’s birthday

A special picture made of coconut shells is being made by artist Vu Quy Quoc to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Ha Noi.

The picture features the moment when King Ly Thai To held Chieu Doi Do (Edict on the Transfer of the Capital) along with an image of a golden dragon flying up to form the letter S, which represents the shape of Viet Nam.

About 20 beauty spots and traditional cultural activities of Ha Noi will also be depicted in the picture.

The picture, costing VND4 billion (US$222,000), will be completed in September 2010 to coincide with his ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) collection entitled Ngan Nam Thang Long (1,000 Year of Thang Long - the former name of Ha Noi).

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol set for five-city tour of Viet Nam

The opera of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens will be performed in Viet Nam by actors of London’s TNT Opera House under the approval of the Performing Arts Department.

The play will be performed in five cities including Ha Noi, Hue city, Da Nang, Quy Nhon and HCM City from November 21 to December 6.

This is the first time A Christmas Carol has been staged in Viet Nam and it will be performed live in English with Vietnamese translation.

Portuguese-Canadian band performs at Sheraton bar

Sonic, a Portuguese-Canadian – US band, has performed at the Nightspot in Sheraton Saigon Hotel&Towers for two months started last week.

The six-member band plays a variety of musical styles including R&B, Top 40, dance, and classic hits.

Sonic comprises male vocalist Oba Hyacienth, female vocalist Nadia Theobal, keyboardist Guillaume Van-Hecke, guitarist Gerard Rodrigues, bassist Nuno De Oliveira Vilar, and band leader and drummer Robert Varro, a professional drummer and singer who has played all over the world.

Sonic performs from 7pm daily except on Mondays at the nightclub situated in the hotel’s 23rd floor.

Poetry contest to celebrate 1,000th anniversary of Ha Noi

A contest to select the top 100 lines of Vietnamese poetry has been launched by the Van Nghe (Literature and Art) newspaper with the aim of celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of Ha Noi and Viet Nam’s Poetry Day next year.

Vietnamese and foreigners who are interested in the country’s poetry are supposed to send a minimum of 10 lines from their favourite poems about the Vietnamese people and landscape to the organisation board.

They are especially encouraged to select lines about Thang Long-Ha Noi.

The top 100 lines will be printed on silk and pottery products to make gifts and souvenirs.

Entries to be submitted to the Van Nghe newspaper at 9 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ha Noi, by December 31.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News