HA NOI — The Japan Foundation for Cultural Exchanges in Viet Nam and the Viet Nam-Japan Human Resources Corporation Centre (VJCC) will hold a Japanese language festival in Ha Noi on October 17.
Participants will have a chance to exchange and express their linguistic abilities in the Japanese language. Three competitors will win a trip to Japan in the next two weeks.
First launched in 1997, the annual festival aims to encourage people to learn the Japanese language, study its culture, and strengthen friendship, solidarity and mutual understanding between the governments and peoples of Viet Nam and Japan.
In 2009, out of 300 contestants, Nguyen Huu Bao Trung from Ha Noi's University of Science and Technology won first prize.
Entrepreneur publishes books as gift for capital city's birthday
HA NOI — A HCM City entrepreneur has published 22 books on Ha Noi as a present to the city on its millennium.
Dang Duc Thanh, general director of HCM City-based Dream House Group, has collated the works of 168 researchers and entrepreneurs over the last three years.
The collection covers culture, economy, agriculture and environment, Thanh said.
The collection covers the Vietnamese economy and society including such topics as inflation, corruption and skills training.
The collection, which is now on sale throughout the country, has been endorsed by the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Painting of Old Quarter sells for $30,000 at Miss World auction
HA NOI — A gem-engraved painting of Ha Noi's Old Quarter sold for US$30,000 at the Miss World's charity auction in Shanghai.
The painting was the most expensive piece sold at the auction.
"I came on the stage with Miss Venezuela and Miss Wales. But I was surprised at the final price. It was much more than I expected," said Kieu Khanh, Vietnamese contestant at the contest.
Khanh's ao dai (traditional long dress), which was designed by Ngan An that featured an embroidered image of Tortoise Tower in Ha Noi's Sword Lake, received rave reviews at the event.
The final round of the Miss World contest will be held in Sanya, China, on October 30. — VNS