Culture

HCMC carries out plan of organizing sport, cultural events

April 16, 2021 by sggpnews.org.vn

Illustrative Photo (Source: SGGP)

A series of activities have been held, including Nguyen Hue Flower Street, Book Street Festival, Spring Flower Festival at Tao Dan Park, floating flower market, Ao Dai festival, HCMC Festival marking the anniversary of the day Saigon-Gia Dinh that was officially named after President Ho Chi Minh, Reunification Day.

In addition, there will be Vietnamese traditional arts and culture festival, Day of Reading Culture, Family Day, Autumn Melody concert, Olympic Day Run, International Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Festival.

The municipal People’s Committee asked the Department of Culture and Sport to coordinate with relevant agencies and districts to carry out the project effectively.

By Vo Tham – Translated by Kim Khanh

Legal corridor considered for Vietnamese film industry

April 16, 2021 by sggpnews.org.vn

The record-breaking movie Old Dad (Bố Già) (Photo courtesy of the film)

According to experts, the film industry in Vietnam can only develop to new heights when supported by State policies that ensure a balance between the needs of filmmakers and concerns of society.

Experts at the conference believe that suitable government policies are essential for the film industry to reach new heights by balancing the market’s demands and filmmakers’ requirements.

The currently applicable Cinematography Law of 2006 was built on the basis that cinema is an art field, which is a dated concept since cinema has long developed into an industry as well, said Chairwoman of the Vietnam Association of Film Promotion and Development (VFDA) Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan.

While the old law only regulates aspects of the industry like screenwriting, issuing, and distributing film products, experts believe it should be amended to take into account the management of this special product that can provide a unique entertainment value while being profitable.

On the subject, it was proposed by a representative from BHD Co., Ltd, one of the first private Vietnamese companies in media and film distribution that the Cinematography Law (amended) should include incentives on taxes and land, investment funds as well as low-interest loans for domestic firms investing in cinemas.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Finance under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Thi Hong Lien added that the bidding and ordering of film production should be considered as well. There were also proposals to remove the film pre-check process and switch to post-check review.

Policies for the foreign film industry were also discussed, with proposals to create incentives for foreign film crews coming to Vietnam and mechanisms for co-production films aiming to professionalize domestic films and promote the country.

By Mai An – Translated by Tan Nghia

Hanoi Library to organize book festival

April 16, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

“Sky of Knowledge” book festival is an opportunity to honor the value of books, affirming book’s position in enhancing people’s knowledge, experience, thinking and education.

Taking place from April 15-17 at the Hanoi Library, Hanoi’s book festival features various activities including an artistic book installation, talk shows about book and reading culture; knowledge competitions on Hanoi’s history and culture, the National Assembly of Vietnam through the periods and National Assembly elections; a painting competition themed “Hanoi: city for Peace”; and exploring the newly launched space of “Dream plus library”, among others.

The book festival aims at praising reading movement in the community, especially children. Photo: Minh An.

Especially, an exhibition commemorating the 110th anniversary of Uncle Ho’s departure to find the national salvation way (1911-2021) with 600 valuable documents will also be held.

Speaking at the opening of the book festival, Deputy Director of Hanoi Library Vuong Thi Ly emphasized: “This is an opportunity to honor the value of books, affirm book’s position in the socio-economic development the nation. It is also a chance for people to praise and honour the writers and those who are working in the field of book publishing, collection and archieve.”

This book festival aims at praising reading movement in the community, raising awareness of the people about the great significance and importance of reading culture as an inevitable way for social development since it enhances people’s knowledge, experience, thinking and education.

“Cong Troi” project offers artworks in digital form

April 14, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

The “Cong Troi” (Sky Gate) project offers artworks by Vietnamese artists as NFTs (non-fungible item) at https://congtroi.org (Still photo taken from the website)

Hanoi (VNA) – “Cong Troi” (Sky Gate), a project offering Vietnamese artworks in digital form, is expected to expose Vietnamese art to collectors worldwide.

The project provides digital Vietnamese artworks as NFTs (non-fungible items) on KardiaChain , a blockchain platform founded by a Vietnamese team.

Pham Toan Thang, founder of “Cong Troi”, said the project creates opportunities for Vietnamese artists to step into the world.

He added that with NFTs, collectors from anywhere in the world can access and own NFT artworks from Vietnamese artists. The items are guaranteed for ownership, uniqueness and global transfer value.

Art lovers and collectors can find their works at https://congtroi.org .

Thang said his team is working with the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association , the Recording Industry Association of Vietnam, the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF), and private collectors to build an NFT community featuring more artworks by Vietnamese artists./.

VNA

World News in Brief: April 16

April 16, 2021 by en.nhandan.org.vn

* Global stocks hit a record high and oil climbed after strong US and Chinese economic data bolstered expectations of a solid global recovery from the coronavirus-induced slump.

* China is willing to strengthen cooperation with France and Germany to cope with climate change, President Xi Jinping told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese state media reported on Friday.

* India pledged on Friday to raise monthly production of its own COVID-19 vaccine about tenfold to nearly 100 million doses by September, as immunisations have slowed in the country despite a surge in new infections.

* President Vladimir Putin discussed retaliatory sanctions against the United States on Friday with Russia’s security council after Washington hit Moscow with an array of punitive measures, the RIA news agency quoted the Kremlin as saying.

* Brazil is in talks with Spain and other countries as hospitals are running out of emergency drugs, its health minister said on Thursday amid reports of the seriously ill being tied down and intubated without effective sedatives.

* No decision has been made yet on whether the European Union should sign new contracts for vaccines with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, a French junior industry minister said.

* Negotiating teams for Iran and the United States will return home for internal discussions on how to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal, a European Union official said on Friday, after Tehran’s decision to ramp up uranium enrichment complicated talks in Vienna.

* India on Friday called for a ceasefire in Afghanistan and said it was deeply concerned about targetted killings of people in that country.

* Thailand will close schools, bars and massage parlours, as well as ban alcohol sales in restaurants, for at least two weeks starting from Sunday after a jump in cases, a senior official said.

* Food prices in West Africa have jumped more than 30% since last year to their highest levels in nearly a decade due to coronavirus lockdowns and a decline in cereal production, the World Food Programme (WFP) said Friday.

* Greece’s centre-right government said on Friday it wanted a “positive agenda” with Turkey despite differences, a day after their foreign ministers clashed during a news conference, while President Tayyip Erdogan defended Ankara’s response.

* German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged lawmakers to approve new powers that would allow her to force lockdowns and curfews on areas with high infection rates.

* The French government is working on gradually re-opening some cultural and leisure venues from mid-May onwards, government spokesman told France Info radio.

* Finland said it would allow all restaurants to reopen next week after a steady fall in infection rates over the past month.

* Denmark said it would reopen the economy sooner than expected as infections decrease, allowing indoor service at restaurants and cafes and football fans to cheer from the stands from April 21.

* Sweden will ease restrictions on those, mostly elderly, citizens who have had at least one vaccination shot against COVID-19, the Public Health Agency said.

* London’s FTSE 100 rose above the 7,000-mark for the first time since the pandemic pummelled financial markets last year.

* Portugal has lifted its ban on flights to and from Britain and Brazil for work and studies but not for tourism, the government said on Friday, while restrictions on travel by land and sea to Spain will stay in place for another 15 days.

* A shortage of coronavirus shots may force the Madrid region to close down mass vaccination centres next week, the regional public health chief said on Friday, as infections in the Spanish capital outpace the national average.

* People in their 30s showed up in their hundreds on Friday morning as Latvia offered the AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone who wanted it in order to clear a growing backlog of the shot often refused by the old.

* Many Africans who have received their first vaccine do not know when they will get a second shot because deliveries are delayed, the continent’s top public health official said on Thursday.

* The coronavirus is killing one person every four minutes in Iran, state TV reported on Thursday.

National Forum on Domestic Tourism 2021 opens

April 16, 2021 by en.nhandan.org.vn

The event gathers nearly 600 participants including representatives from the culture ministry, tourism management agencies and leading tourism firms. At the forum, participants analysed the importance of the domestic tourism situation, the development of domestic tourism in Vietnam and other neighbouring countries, and solutions to develop domestic tourism as a sustainable economic sector.

Speaking at the forum, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented difficulties but has also caused administrators to realise that the tourism industry was not balanced between international tourism and domestic tourism.

The Minister expressed his hope that the travel businesses participating in this forum would pioneers to impact on domestic tourism, causing domestic tourism to become the main product in the tourism structure in the new context of Vietnam being unable to open to the international tourism market.

The forum is considered as the affirmation and determination of the tourism industry in restoring tourism, and for the time being domestic tourism.

On the sidelines of the forum, there will be a signing ceremony of cooperation between the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province with Vietnam Airlines, VISTA and Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, four tourism associations of Ninh Binh – Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Can Tho; and Vietnam Airlines with Xuan Truong Construction Enterprise.