HCM CITY (VNS) — Local authorities have spent nearly VND7 billion (US$350,000) from the State budget to broaden cultural and entertainment offerings to the rural poor in HCM City's outlying districts.

Funds were spent to build and upgrade libraries, sports clubs and cultural centres in Can Gio, Nha Be, Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon and Cu Chi districts.

The effort is part of a national programme to improve rural areas' socio-economic, political and national security development.

The city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and traditional art troupes have offered a variety of new, engaging shows at traditional festivals, focusing particularly on youth, who have few entertainment options.

The HCM City Circus Troupe and Tran Huu Trang Theatre, for example, have become popular among rural children and teenagers who eagerly await their free performances featuring traditional dances, puppet and animal shows.

During the Tet (Lunar New Year) and Mid-Autumn holidays, the Tran Huu Trang Theatre often stages cai luong (reformed opera) extracts from popular operas such as Huyen Thoai Me (The Legend of Mother) and Ngao, So, Oc, Hen (The Stories of the Clam, Oyster, Snail and Mussel).

In Cu Chi District, dozens of exhibitions have been organised by the district's cultural authorities in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh Museum and Viet Nam Southern Women's Museum.

Nguyen Huu Nghi, director of the HCM City Culture Centre, said the centre as well as district centres had organised many culture programmes and festivals, serving thousands of residents. — VNS