HA NOI — Two Vietnamese films are screening at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea this week.
Canh Dong Bat Tan (The Endless Field) by director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh will compete with 12 entries from eight countries and territories in the festival's New Currents category, while Bi, Dung So (Bi, Don't Be Afraid) by director Phan Dang Di will join the Asian Cinema Window programme.
The top two winners in the New Currents category will receive cash prizes of US$30,000 each.
Over 300 films from 67 countries and territories are being screened at the festival, of which over 100 are premieres, including Viet Nam's Canh Dong Bat Tan.
The screenplay of Bi, Dung So won a $10,000 award at the 2007 Busan Film Festival.
Malaysian businesses learn about Vietnamese culture
HCM CITY — Representatives from more than 100 Malaysian businesses celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi at a meeting held yesterday by the Malaysian Business Chamber (MBC).
The group enjoyed traditional Vietnamese cuisine, including spring rolls, chicken and corn soup and purple sticky rice in bean curd.
The chairwoman of MBC, Shimi Sumathi, who has worked in Viet Nam for 18 years, spoke highly of the country's cuisine as well as its history and people.
She said Malaysian businesses operating or wishing to invest in Viet Nam should learn more about the culture.
Old soldiers depict memories of war in HCM City exhibition
HCM CITY — An exhibition of art and posters painted by a group of 33 veteran soldiers opened on Thursday at HCM City Fine Arts Association.
About 59 recently made paintings using oil paints, water colours and lacquer on canvas, paper and other materials depict the veterans' memories of the war and their impressions of development in the city today.
The exhibition also has several brass sculptures of popular figures of Viet Nam's military like General Vo Nguyen Giap and Major General Tran Dai Nghia.
According to the association, the war veteran artist club has about 100 members, who were witnesses to the country's war for liberation and reunification. Members of the group also keep a lot of other war memorabilia.
The exhibition is at HCM City Fine Arts Association, 218A Pasteur District 3, HCM City.
Beer lovers drink up at HCM City's Oktoberfest
HCM CITY — The Windsor Plaza Hotel in HCM City's District 5 and the German Business Association are celebrating Oktoberfest with a seven-day party that opened at the hotel yesterday.
Also the 200th anniversary of the original beer fest, the bash is being held at the hotel's ballroom with Krombacher draught beer, Schneider Weisse beer, schnapps and typical German food like sausage, sauerkraut, pork knuckle and pretzel.
A German band, Trenkwalder, returns for the third year to play traditional songs.
Guests receive a beer mug as a souvenir and take part in traditional German games and lucky draws.
Admission to the seven-day event – until tomorrow and again from Wednesday to Saturday next week – is only for people aged 18 and over. — VNS