HA NOI — Valuable pieces of research on folk literature and art were granted prizes by the Viet Nam Folk Arts and Literature Association on Wednesday in Ha Noi at an annual association event. Research on the spiritual customs of the Thai ethnic group who live in the northern mountainous region of Viet Nam by Luong Thi Dai and Lo Xuan Hinh and a book on the geography of Quang Xuong District in the central province of Thanh Hoa by Hoang Tuan Pho received the most prestigious awards on the occasion.
Pho's work provided a range of information on the coastal district of Quang Xuong including its history, geographical traits and potential development in tourism and traditional handicrafts.
Dai and Hinh researched the long-standing traditions of the Thai people, concentrating on their marriage ceremony, known as sen phan be.
The association awarded 66 prizes selected from 89 entries in the fields of philology, folk culture, performing arts, geography, traditional customs and folk knowledge, according to To Ngoc Thanh, the association's president.
Academy to present quarterly concert for children
HA NOI — The Viet Nam National Academy of Music will offer a special concert for children every quarter at the academy's campus, according to piano instructor Ta Quang Dong, who initiated and organised the programme.
"We spare a regular concert for children as we hope to bring them a real appreciation for European classical music, " Dong told Viet Nam News. "Vietnamese audiences have little knowledge of this kind of music, which is partly a result of our improper music education.
"Children audiences like to see children perform," he said. "At the same time, young artists will get a chance to perform in front of a real audience rather than waiting for scarce opportunities to perform in major shows."
"Classical music is the root from which a music student begins before concentrating on other genres," Dong said. "Today, more wealthy families are facilitating their children's music education, not to earn a living but to enhance their aesthetic sense."
17th century stone steles found in northern province
VINH PHUC — Sixty-eight stone steles dating from the 17th century have been catalogued by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the northern province of Vinh Phuc.
Stone steles, often found in pagodas, temples and community halls, provide valuable information on history, tradition, geography and customs, said Tran Van Quang, the department's director. Contents carved on the steles recorded notable events, he said.
However, Quang warned that communities were often not aware of the significance of the carved stone and that regional authorities had no plans to preserve it.
Heavy rains bring brighter news as artefacts are unearthed
NGHE AN — People in Do Luong District and Cua Lo Town in the central province of Nghe An have collected 40 pottery pieces dating from the Ly and Tran dynasties (the 10th-18th centuries) in recent months.
Most of the artefacts, including dishes, bowls, pots and cups, were found by farmers after heavy rain washed the soil away.
Many of the pieces were decorated with lotus and daisies, enamelled in different colours. They are now being stored at the provincial museum. — VNS