Road safety: Through this picture, five-year-old Hoang Phuong Linh calls on people to wear helmets. — VNS Photo Minh Thu

HA NOI (VNS) — Art by children who entered a road safety painting contest went on display today as one among a series of cultural events the culture ministry holds to celebrate the capital's Liberation Day on October 10.

The contest called for colourful art about traffic safety and rules. Members of the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association selected winning paintings from 1,200 submissions.

The exhibition will run until October 12 at the Viet Nam Centre for Art and Cultural Exhibitions, 2 Hoa Lu Street in Ha Noi.

During the event, visitors can watch a traditional puppet show on traffic safety by artist Phan Thanh Liem.

Situated in a small alley on Kham Thien Street, on the fourth floor of his four-story house, Liem's water puppetry stage has become popular among tourists in recent years. He has written skits on traffic safety and performed in schools.

"This way, students are introduced to traffic rules and water puppetry at the same time," he said.

The exhibition centre also hosted art from 318 domestic painters, on materials such as canvas, lacquer, silk paintings, wood blocks and sculpture.

"Each artwork is unique and depicts its author's own style," said Pham Kim Binh, chairwoman of the Ha Noi Fine Arts Association.

The artwork portrayed Ha Noi's people, lifestyles, history and landscape, marked important historical events and depicted traditional customs.

South Korea's Seoul artists also sent 22 pieces for the show.

"Through their art, the South Korean artists expressed their love for Ha Noi, and enhanced the friendship between the two cities," Binh said.

The exhibition centre organised a talk show commemorating the soldiers and people who fought for the capital's liberation from the French in 1954. It will premiere 1ive on HTV1 tonight.

On Saturday night, artists and singers will perform songs praising the city and its history during an outdoor concert at the exhibition centre.

Liberation photos

About sixty photographs featuring the 1954 liberation of the capital city are on display at the Viet Nam National Library here.

The 10-day exhibit, entitled Ha Noi-Ngay Tiep Quan (Ha Noi-Liberation Day), runs until October 16 at the Library at 31 Trang Thi Street.

The event is expected to remind the Vietnamese people of these glorious moments and on October 10 60 years ago when the Vietnamese army took over the capital city from French troops.

Residents who witnessed this historical event took most of the photographs while the rest came from Vietnamese and foreign journalists.

Also on display are 50 books and 20 magazines about Ha Noi which Vietnamese and foreign authors wrote before, during and after Liberation Day. — VNS