HA NOI — Three well-known Vietnamese fashion designers will present more than 120 ao dai (traditional Vietnamese women robe) creations during the Month of Vietnamese Culture in the Bretagne region of France on May 5-27.
Trong Nguyen, Viet Lien and Minh Hanh are among the country's leading ao dai designers, and will showcase their collections to the French public at the Gabriel Hotel and the Grand Theatre Square in Lorient.
While Nguyen's collection was inspired by the image of the phoenix, a symbol of nobility, Lien used strong colours combined with traditional embroidered patterns.
Veteran designer Hanh opted to use dark, hand-woven materials for her collection. The ao dai is a symbolic image of the beauty of Vietnamese women, and an integral part of Vietnamese culture.
Shows fete National Assembly
HA NOI — Over 700 artists from 30 troupes around the country will perform in a series of programmes next month to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the National Assembly.
Peformances will take place in the provinces of Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son and Bac Giang from April 28 to May 5. Events will also celebrate elections for the 13th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2011-16 term and will include the opening of an exhibition of posters in Bac Giang Province.
Tuong fest nurtures young artists
BINH DINH — The national tuong (classic drama) festival for 2011 will take place in the city of Quy Nhon on April 25-30.
Top tuong companies, including the Viet Nam Tuong Theatre, Hue Royal Tuong Troupe and Dao Tan Tuong Troupe will appear in nine performances.
This year, with the aim of encouraging talented youth, the festival will only allows artists under age 40 to take part. The festival is held every two years by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Children's fiction contest begins
HCM City — The Denmark Writers Association and Kim Dong Publishing House launched a children's story contest for young writers on Monday.
The contest, part of the Supporting Children's Literature Project, features two categories: comics for children aged 3-6, with the theme Nguoi Ban Dau Tien Cua Toi (My First Friend); and short stories for readers aged 10, under the theme Uoc Mo Xanh (Green Dreams).
Vietnamese living in or outside of the country may submit original, unpublished entries through June 30 to publishers at 55 Quang Trung street in Ha Noi.
Film awards presented in California
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — The closing ceremony of the 5th Viet Nam International Film Festival, along with the Bronze Drum awards ceremony, took place at the University of California at Irvine on Sunday.
In the feature category, Bi, Dung So (Bi, Don't Be Afraid) by director Phan Dang Di beat Nguyen Phan Quang Binh's Canh Dong Bat Tan (Floating Lives), Stephane Gauger's Sai Gon Yo!, and Laura Bari's documentary Antoine for the top prize.
Do Thi Hai Yen won the best actress award for Floating Lives while Dustin Nguyen took best actor for his role in the same film.
Cham (Touch) by Minh Duc Nguyen received the audience award for favourite feature, while Nhung Dieu Ban Khong Dua (Things You Don't Joke About) by Viet Nguyen and The Fading Light split the audience award for short films.
Phia Sau Cai Chet (Behind Death), a film made by HCM City College of Stage Arts and Cinematography student Ta Nguyen Hiep, defeated Theo Huong Den Ma Di (The Fading Light) by Thien Do, Chung Cu Cua Toi (My Apartment Block) by Trinh Dinh Le Minh, and Thuc Don Ngay Chu Nhat (Sunday Menu) by Liesl Nguyen, for the jury's short film prize. — VNS