HA NOI — A book collection of comics titled Danh Tac Viet Nam (Vietnamese Famous Literary Works) will be translated into Japanese and published in Japan later this year. Japan is considered one of the strongholds of the comic art form.
The collection includes Chi Pheo by Nam Cao and Giong To (Thunderstorm) by Vu Trong Phung.
The publishing work is being carried out by the Phan Thi Company, a pioneer publisher of Vietnamese comics. It aims to bring classic novels closer to young readers through comics.
The company has published many comics in the past 10 years, such as Than Dong Dat Viet (Vietnamese Child Prodigies) and Truyen Hay Su Viet (Interesting Stories of Vietnamese History).
Students who have forgotten Vietnamese history can quickly recall it through these books, said Phan Thi My Hanh, the company's director.
Diplomats to help disadvantaged
HCM CITY — The Consular Club of HCM City will organise its annual charity art auction to raise funds for disadvantaged people on March 4.
At the Art Auction, under the hammer will go paintings, decorative artworks and photographs by both Vietnamese and foreign artists and amateurs.
A highlight will be an antique Uchikake kimono, a formal Japanese garment often worn by brides or on stage.
The auction will be held at the Sherwood Residence, 127 Pasteur, District 3.
Last year more than 100 works of art were sold, including paintings by well-known artists like Nguyen Thi Kim Chi, Do Hoang Tuong, Nguyen Than and Tran Van Thao, raising over US$15,000.
The money has already been spent on 29 projects meant to improve the lives of the poor.
More bronze drums to be made
HA NOI — Kinh Do Investment and Media Company and the AMC Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, under the patronage of the Viet Nam Cultural Heritage Association and the Viet Nam Historical Science Association, plan to cast 37 bronze drums.
The traditionally made drums will be presented to the Hung Kings Temple in the northern province of Phu Tho, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ha Noi and Vietnamese embassies abroad.
Craftsmen from the central province of Thanh Hoa have been commissioned for the work.
The Viet Nam Historical Science Association is funding the project.
Hue student wins Japan design prize
HA NOI — Phan Khanh Trang from Hue University of Arts won the Grand Prize in a traditional cloth design competition sponsored by the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Viet Nam.
The awards ceremony will be held today at the centre. Workshops and an exhibition of furoshiki – traditional Japanese cloth used to wrap everything from grocery items to presents – will run until March 10.
Literature, arts members meet
HA NOI — Representatives from 63 literature and art associations took part in the first annual meeting of the Union of the Viet Nam Literature and Arts Association in Ha Noi yesterday.
Members were discussing the association's activities in 2010 and plans for this year.
At the meeting, poet Huu Thinh, who is president of the association, said the focus last year was patriotism, humanity and social morals.
From 2010-15, he said the association's key task would be to promote public virtue and nurture new talent. — VNS