HA NOI — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Foreign Cultural Relations and UNESCO Affairs has been awarded the Labour Order, second class, by President Nguyen Minh Triet.
The department was recognised for its great contributions to compiling documentation needed to achieve UNESCO recognition for much of Viet Nam's cultural heritage, as well as for organising Vietnamese culture weeks overseas that have contributed to promoting the image of the nation to its international friends.
Fans gather to welcome Backstreet Boys arrival
HCM CITY — Two members of world leading boy band Backstreet Boys, Nick Carter and Howie Dorough, arrived HCM City yesterday for two performances.
They will play with the two other band members, Brian Littrell and A.J.McLean, in HCM City and Ha Noi on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Hundreds of fans dressed in yellow uniforms and singing the band's hit songs gathered at Tan Son Nhat Airport to greet their idols.
The band, which has sold 130 million records world-wide, is one of the biggest-selling groups of all time.
Ancient Vietnamese relics found in northern cave
HA NOI — Artefacts of Vietnamese people who lived at least 7,000 years ago in the northern province of Thai Nguyen have been unearthed by Vietnamese archaeologists.
The team from the Thai Nguyen Museum and the Viet Nam Institute of Archaeology discovered more than 300 stone artefacts, such as knives and hoes, in a 100sq m cave in Vo Nhai District.
Snail shells and animal bones, believed to be food remains from the same era, were also found in the cave along with ceramic pieces of the metal era dating back 3,000 years.
Oc Cave is in Binh Long Commune.
Capital hosts gala concert in conjunction with UK foundation
HA NOI — The first ever UK-Viet Nam Gala Concert, featuring the Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet and young artists from the UK's Concordia Foundation, will take place tonight.
The Ha Noi Opera House's concert, organised by the British Council Viet Nam, is in honour of the official visit by Alderman Michael Bear, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, who is currently in the country until Thursday.
The concert is the first international event in a unique collaboration between the Lord Mayor and the Concordia Foundation, with concerts also planned in China and Kenya.
The aim of the concert, which forms part of the Concordia Foundation global projects, is to build bridges through music and the arts, and to provide much-needed concert platforms for emerging young artists. Concordia has been active in Viet Nam for the past 10 years. Supported by the British Council, a workshop will be organised with the Viet Nam Stage and Drama Academy on Sound Recording and Amplifying Classical Music, led by Tim Brice – a member of the Concordia Foundation.
The Concordia Foundation will provide start-up funding for a Viet Nam performing arts foundation to offer performing opportunities, as well as vocal and technical training for young Vietnamese artists. — VNS