wiki globe

Posts Tagged ‘of’

, , , , , , , , ,

International seminar on “The art of Đờn ca tài tử”

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:13 am

On January 9 an international seminar on “The art of Đờn ca tài tử and sentimental performance” was held in HCM city by the HCMC People’s Committee, Music Institute.


 


“Đờn ca tài tử “is a fading genre of folk music which developed and spread mainly in the south of Vietnam during the last century.


 


120 delegates from Germany, France, Cyprus, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore and Japan attended the seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City from January 9-11.


 

Performing don ca tai tu in Sep 23 Park in HCM city

Since April 2010, under the guidance of Vice PM Nguyen Thien Nhan, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in cooperation with HCMC People’s Committee and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of other southern cities and provinces has been conducting research to trace the origins and systemize the theory of this form of music to present to UNESCO for recognition as a world heritage art form. Signature songs of “Đờn ca tài tử “have been compiled to submit to UNESCO by March 2011, for recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.


 


The seminar is aimed to raise the awareness of the world community on Vietnam’s “đờn ca tài tử”, which has long been one of the most-searched genres of music by foreign travelers, especially by those visiting the Mekong Delta. The seminar also encourages domestic and international preservation and development of the traditional values of “đờn ca tài tử”.


 


“Đờn ca tài tử” is worthy of representation of the southern region of Vietnam, alongside  “ca trù” and “quan họ” of the north, Hue royal court music of the central region and the gong music of Tay Nguyen, which has already been recognized as a cultural heritage by UNESCO.


 


Tran Van Khe, professor and master of Vietnamese traditional music claims that this unique art of music subtly combines both folk and scholarly features and also brings out the creativity of players as the genre is not firmly bound to any fixed formula.


 


Vinh Bao, a master musician stated during a regular music gathering held two weeks ago at the private house of professor Khe, that this art certainly has its rules but these rules are flexible to permit players to express their emotions in different tones, melodies and rhythms. He also believed that even though “đờn ca tài tử” was only 200 years old it should not be an obstruction in its effort to seek recognition as a heritage form.


 

Nguyen Vinh Bao, a master musician , who can play different don ca tai tu instruments

According to Prof Khe, UNESCO has expressed its interest in the reputation and status of “đờn ca tài tử” since 1960.   In 1963, UNESCO officially invited him and a local female singer Bach Hue to record a “đờn ca tài tử” clip entitled “Vietnam Traditions of the South” comprising of 11 tracks, which were later produced as part of a UNESCO Collection. In 1972 another “đờn ca tài tử” clip played by Professor Tran Van Khe and musician Vinh Bao playing different musical instruments was produced and publicized. In 1994, Ocora Radio France coordinated with the two masters and Hai Phuong, a female artist playing 16-chord zither, to produce two albums which became best-sellers in France during that year.


 


“Don ca tai tu” has won international acclaim and admiration, especially amongst connoisseurs of traditional music forms. South Korean expert Sheen Dae-Cheol is one such admirer who praises the charm and special characteristics of the genre. He is one of the dozens of experts who will participate in an international conference on “don ca tai tu”. Due to the influx of western and foreign music, Vietnamese traditional music genre of “don ca tai tu” has survived and not lost its unique musical flavor or aesthetics.


 


Hence it can aptly be concluded that “don ca tai tu” is a very valuable traditional music form which needs to be preserved and enjoyed for posterity. “Don ca tai tu” certainly merits its place on the world stage, notwithstanding being designated as a masterpiece of Oral and Intangible cultural and musical Heritage for all humanity.


 


 



 


Source: SGGP

, , , , , ,

WWF, Vietnam to increase protection of Saola

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:11 am

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced on November 22 a financial aid package of US$213,773 for the central province of Thua Thien – Hue in order to protect the enigmatic Saola’s reserve.


The German government also plans to give US$2.1 million for the protection project for the Saola or Vu Quang ox (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis).

Pairs of Saola’s horns found in a residents house ( Photo: SGGP)

One of the goals of the project is to eliminate the use of traps and banned hunting dogs from protected areas.


Saola is a forest-dwelling bovine found only in the Annamite ranges of Vietnam and Laos. The species was first discovered in Vietnam in 1996 at a village in Ho, in the Thua Thien-Hue’s district of Huong Thuy.


Le Ngoc Tuan, director of the reserve in Thua Thien – Hue province, said his organization has carried out a survey from November 2006 to February 1997 in five districts. The survey showed that the rare mammal has appeared in 19 communes in five districts. These were A Luoi, Nam Dong, Huong Thuy, Huong Tra and Phong Dien. Officials also collected 27 pairs of horns and skulls.


In 1998, forest wardens and local residents manage to save a female pregnant Saola and in 1999, eight-kilogram Saola was discovered in the wood in the district of A Luoi. However, it died after eight days. Since then, scientists have not found any more Saolas in the wild, although many searches have been conducted.


The Saola’s rarity, distinctiveness and vulnerability make it one of the greatest priorities for conservation in the region. Despite little information available on the Saola, there is no doubt that its existence is severely threatened.


Since its discovery, it is believed to have rapidly declined in the face of ever-increasing human presence, although the actual size of the remaining population is still unknown. According to scientists and researchers on wildlife, Saola numbers had crashed to around 200 worldwide.


Mr. Tuan said that the Saola is at a high risk of being hunted and will panic if it sees hunting dogs in the woods. Moreover, many Saola’s are trapped and killed, since the illegal sales and hunting of the Saola are rampant in the province.


The WWF and Vietnam authorities have carried out a plan for the period between 2005-2010 in six central provinces (from Nghe An to Quang Nam). Forest wardens have eliminated all traps to catch the Saola. Three protection stations now protect the endanger species. However, Mr. Tuan complained that he still needs more personnel in order to perform his protection work of the Saola successfully.


From 2006-2008, the WWF and the Forest Protection Department of Thua Thien – Hue province, have run a four-year Green Corridor project, with funding from the World Bank – GEF, WWF, Thua Thien Hue PPC and SNV. The aim of this project is to strengthen the capacity of local stakeholders and conserve the landscape of the Green Corridor area.

The project is expected to save and facilitate the development of Sao La deer and several endemic animals that are in extreme danger of extinction, such as Truong Son Muntjac, the douc langur, the white-cheeked gibbon and other newly discovered species.

Two reserves in districts A Luoi and Nam Dong were established in April, 2010. The reserves have an area of 12,153 hectares.

Source: SGGP

, , , , , ,

Two hours of TV-watching boosts heart risk

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:09 am

People who spend more than two hours per day of leisure time watching television or sitting in front of a screen face double the risk of heart disease and higher risk of dying, a new study said.


Researchers said the effect was seen regardless of how much people exercised, indicating that how we choose to spend our free time away from work has a huge impact on our overall health.


“It is all a matter of habit. Many of us have learned to go back home, turn the TV set on and sit down for several hours — it’s convenient and easy to do,” said Emmanuel Stamatakis, expert in epidemiology and public health at University College London.


“But doing so is bad for the heart and our health in general,” said Stamatakis, who along with the other study authors is advocating public health guidelines to warn of the risks of being inactive during non-work hours.

A family watching TV. People who spend more than two hours per day of leisure time watching television or sitting in front of a screen face double the risk of heart disease and higher risk of dying, a new study has shown

Such warnings are urgent, “especially as a majority of working age adults spend long periods being inactive while commuting or being slouched over a desk or computer,” said the study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.


Researchers studied data from 4,512 adults who took part in the Scottish Health Survey of households.


The information on screen time came from self-reported data about TV or DVD watching, leisure time computer use and playing video games.


When scientists compared people who reported spending less than two hours a day in front of screen-based entertainment to those who spent four or more hours per day, they found a 48 percent higher risk of death from any cause.


In those spending just two or more hours per day in front of screen after work, they also found a 125 percent higher risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack.


“These associations were independent of traditional risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, BMI (body mass index), social class, as well as exercise,” the study noted.


However researchers were able to make associations between the levels of inflammation and cholesterol in sedentary people.


“One fourth of the association between screen time and cardiovascular events was explained collectively by C-reactive protein (CRP), body mass index, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,” said the study.


CRP, an indicator of low-grade inflammation, was about twice as high in people who spent more than four hours of free time daily in front of a screen compared to people who spent less than two hours a day.


Stamatakis said he intends to continue to study how prolonged sitting impacts human health and how lifestyle changes could be advocated to reduce the amount of time people spend inactive.

Source: SGGP

, , , , ,

Renovation of old community house complete

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:08 am




Renovation of old community house complete


QĐND – Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 21:34 (GMT+7)

A 3 -billion VND (150,000 USD) renovation project on the Dong Mon Communal House in the central northern province of Thanh Hoa has been completed.


Built under the reign of King Le Trung Hung (1570-1623) in Vinh Long District, the temple is the province’s oldest communal house and still has nearly all of its original features.


It is a five-compartment complex with sophisticated carving patterns on its pillars, demonstrating the typical architectural style of Vietnamese communal houses.


Source: VNA


Source: QDND

, , , , , , ,

Long spells of biting cold trouble flower growers

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:05 am

Hanoi and northern provinces have been suffering biting cold for a week, which is warned to continue, making flower growers “like to be a cat on hot bricks” as the biggest holiday is approaching.

Peach flower growers in Phu Thuong and Nhat Tan wards in Tay Ho precinct, two largest flower suppliers in Hanoi, complained that just over 20 days away from Tet, but weather forecasters have warned of several other spells of biting cold ahead.


If the forecast comes true, peach flowers are in a threat to be unable to blossom at the Lunar New Year festival (Tet).


Peach flower growers are resorting to all means to make their flowers blossom at the right time. They have intensified watering, fertilising and even turned on electric lights the night round to warm up peach roots in an effort to make peach bloom soon.


Peach flower growers said the ideal weather should be the mixture of cold and warm. Peach will yield huge flowers with thick petals and beautiful colour and numerous buds in a weather which has several days of the cold weather after several warm days.


Growers of rose and c hrysanthemum are also struggling against the long spells of chilly cold. They cover their orchards with nets, maintain the necessary humidity level and keep trees warm with electricity light.

Source: SGGP

, , , , , ,

Millions of flowers and plants for Tet

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:05 am




Millions of flowers and plants for Tet


QĐND – Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 21:37 (GMT+7)

Flower growers and gardeners in Cho Lach District in the southern province of Ben Tre are preparing 4 million flowers and bonsais of different kinds for the coming Tet holidays. Mr. Bui Thanh Liem, Director of the district’s Agriculture and Rural Development Office said most of them are domestic products.


The District is expected to provide nearly all demands, except some kinds of foreign flowers imported from China and Thailand.


* Meanwhile, Da Lat City’s flower exports have not increased compared to previous years, said Mr. Tran Huy Duong, Chairman of the Da Lat Flower Association, at a recent seminar on agriculture.


There is only 5% of the City’s output to be exported to foreign markets due to lack of investment, small-scale production and ineffective plans.


Source: TT&TP


Translated by Duy Minh


Source: QDND

, , , , ,

Lack of transparency hits property floors

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:03 am




Lack of transparency hits property floors


QĐND – Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 21:36 (GMT+7)

Recent Ministry of Construction statistics show that only 15 percent of real estate transactions take place on transaction floors.


This means that the development of the floors has not yet met the expectation of a real estate market seeking transparency.


According to the ministry, the market is plagued by poor transparency, while land and home buyers are keen to have clear information about the house or land they want to buy.


To improve the situation, the establishment of a trading floor system under the strict control of authorised agencies has been proposed.


According to the Department of Housing Administration and Real Estate under the Ministry of Construction, the country has a total of 600 real estate transaction floors.


Despite this, the number of transactions remains very low.


Total real estate sales nation-wide through these floors totalled 3,679, – 327 in Hanoi and 3,352 in HCM City.


Many investors have sought to avoid trading through transaction floors by exploiting legal loopholes. As a result the number of deals made through the transaction floors remains low.


Director of Housing Administration and Real Estate Nguyen Manh Ha said the department requested the floors to report their performance from the beginning of 2010, but only 20 percent have so far complied.


Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tran Nam acknowledged that agencies have not fined violators. He also admitted that administrative procedures to set up real estate floors are too simple.


Nam said that in the current context, authorised agencies need to gradually improve the quality service provided by trading floors so as to eliminate those that are in efficient.


Source: VNA


Source: QDND

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Stock market to jump up in first half of 2011, experts predict

In Uncategorized on January 8, 2011 at 4:26 am

Vietnam’s stock market will roar back in the first half of the year on the US’s bullish market, financial experts expect.

(Photo:Minh Tri)

The stock market in Vietnam last year were effected by many macroeconomic factors, while nearby markets including Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand were boosted by the US’s financial bailouts, said M.A. Le Dat Chi, head of the financial investment faculty of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.


“A part of the US$600 billion bailout of the US flew into Asian markets, especially emerging ones. It was just a small proportion for the US market, but it did make big impact to emerging markets, except of Vietnam,” Tri said.


Only investors holding control stake in listed enterprises made profits from dividends as the VN-Index dropped to 430 points in the last quarter of last year, with many shares slumping to incredible levels, he said.


“Vietnam’s stock market is at the bottom, with the ratio of dividends per share equal to 15 percent. This rate is extremely attractive to some investment funds,” the economist said.


“Besides, investors’ confidence in a successful Eleventh Party Congress with new members elected into the central committee will boost the market sentiment. Foreign investments will flow stronger into the stock market, which hit the bottom. Therefore, the market will likely to roar back in 2011.”


Statistics showed nearly the foreign indirect investments (FII) pour into the stock market last year reached $1 billion. Stabilizing the foreign exchange rate should be the top priority this year to attract more FII, Tri noticed.


The financial expert also recommended that more adequate taxes on shares will attract more foreign investors.


“Instead of asking foreigners either to pay security before entering the market or not to sell shares in at least one year, we can impose taxes on the dividend from their share investments,” he suggested


Stock market analysts also predict the market will likely to recover strongly in the first half of the year on the increase of the US market.


“The US dollar getting weaker in the first half of 2011 will be good news for the country’s stock market. However, it will be stronger again in the last half. The market’s winning run will likely to last until June, with Dow Jones Index climbing 12,600 points,”  Tri said.


Statistics showed the stock market usually climbs up in March, April and December every year.


However, the market is still carrying some risks including the US dollar getting stronger constantly, warned Pham Xuan Anh, deputy head of the brokerage BIDV-BSC’s market analysis unit.


“Standard Chartered Bank expected the foreign exchange of Vietnam dong and dollar will reach VND20,800 per dollar at the end of the year, a year-on-year increase of around 6.6 percent,” said Tri.


“The Asia Development Bank last September predicted Vietnam’s inflation in 2010 would rise to 7.5 percent, caused by a weakening dong and an increase in food prices.”


Low foreign currency reserve and large amounts of dollar and gold owned by residents would put the central bank in difficult time, Tri added.

Source: SGGP

, , , , ,

Vietnam denies sale of fake eggs

In Uncategorized on January 8, 2011 at 4:24 am

Vietnamese health authorities confirmed on December 29 that Chinese made synthetic eggs were not being sold in markets around the country.

A step to make fake egg

This confirmation came after certain revelations made in the Chinese media stated that companies were using fraudulent technology to make fake eggs.


Nguyen Cong Khan, head of Vietnam Food Administration, reaffirmed that health authorities had so far not found any fake eggs in markets anywhere in the country, but added that his department would visit markets and do more intensive checks to clarify the situation further.


Meanwhile, the Animal Breeding Department claimed that it was impossible to manufacture uncooked fake eggs and that only cooked eggs were possible to be reproduced artificially.


Many companies in China teach people how to produce fake eggs fraudulently by chemicals and certain technologies. Internet ads teach people that eggs can be produced from calcium carbonate, starch, resin, gelatin, alum and some other chemical products.


Normally the method involves putting a raw egg into a mould to which calcium chloride is added along with some coloring dye. The ‘yolk’ is then shaped into a round mould. Calcium chloride is used to create the desired effect and by further adding a yellow pigment an egg yolk is produced. 


In another mould 1 / 3 raw egg white is poured and similar to the method of making an egg yolk, some chemicals are added to produce the egg shell. A perfect looking egg can take about 1 hour to dry. To make the egg white, various ingredients such as a white powder and alum are mixed together.


The hard shell of an egg is formed by pouring paraffin wax over it which is then left to dry. When consumers use these eggs, small bubbles can be seen during the frying process though most people will not be able to tell the difference between a real egg and a fake egg. The cost to produce a fake egg is much cheaper than a real egg.

Source: SGGP

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Report: Over 20% of foreign visitors return to Khanh Hoa for 3rd time

In Uncategorized on January 8, 2011 at 4:16 am

According to a survey from Khanh Hoa Province’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, more than 20 percent of 600 international visitors return to the central coastal province for the third time.

Foreign travelers visit Nha Trang City in Khanh Hoa Province. (Photo: Sggp)

In addition, 23 percent (138 travelers) visit the province for a second time.


Khanh Hoa received over 390,000 foreign visitors last year, presenting an increase of about 30 percent.

The visitors mostly come from the UK, France, Russia, the US, Australia and New Zealand. Seventy-four percent of tourists spend their holidays at the seaside and visiting friends. The other type of visitor is looking for business opportunities.

Every visitor spends about VND8.2 million (over US$400) on accommodation, restaurants and shopping, and entertainment services.

Source: SGGP