Vietnamese cultural festival in Taiwan
 
The “Vietnam-our homeland” festival will take place at the Taiwan National University (NTU) on April 3.

This will be the first cultural festival ever held by the Vietnamese Students Association since its establishment on October 24, 2009 to provide a good chance for Vietnamese students to strengthen their solidarity and promote the image of Vietnam.

Nguyen Van Huy, head of the association, said that the event is expected to attract nearly one-tenth of 3,500 Vietnamese students and a large number of Vietnamese residents in Taiwan as well as international friends.

The festival will include activities, such as an exhibition of Vietnamese ceramics, monetary and handicraft products, a film show on Vietnamese history, music performances, an exchange on Vietnamese cuisines.

Beer festival to be held in HCM City
 
The Windsor Plaza Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City will hold its annual Beerfest Sai Gon from May 6 - 9.

For an entry ticket of US$21, guests can get a free mug of beer at each booth set up by various Vietnamese and foreign brewers. There will also be a buffet, games, daily lucks draws with attractive prizes, and music by some HCM City rock and pop bands.

It is not yet known which country will be represented this year but last year there were popular beer from Germany, Singapore, Australia, Ireland, the Czech Republic, the Philippines, Mexico and New Zealand.

Last year the event lured more than 5,000 people to the hotel. This year it will be even larger as the festival will run for an extra day with extended hours.

“Germany Year in Vietnam” programme kicks off
 
The German Embassy in Vietnam held a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City on March 25 to announce the start of “ Germany Year in Vietnam.”

The announcement was timed to coincide with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (1975-2010).

The Year will see events in major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Can Tho with various activities focusing on environmental protection and other issues related to urban planning, transport and architecture along with the hosting of concerts, photo exhibitions, cultural and artistic exchanges, fashion shows, film screenings and German beer festivals.

This will be a chance for German businesses to increase their involvement in Vietnam through an international economic seminar themed “Renewable Energy” to be held in HCM City on April 21, 2010, which will be attended by former German Prime Minister Gerhard Schoroeder.

According to Heinz Lauten, German Consul General in HCM City , “Germany Year in Vietnam ” not only helps German policymakers shape their political and economic policies in Vietnam but also aims to raise awareness of Germany among young Vietnamese people.

2010 is an important and significant year for both countries as it has been chosen as “Germany Year in Vietnam ” and “Vietnam Year in Germany ” with various activities and programmes taking place in both countries.

Contemporary Vietnamese fine art displayed in New York
 
A painting exhibition opened at a showroom of the Judith Hughes Day Contemporary Vietnamese Fine Art in New York on March 24.

The exhibition, which was part of activities to mark Asian Week in the US, was co-organised by the Boston Properties, the Midtown Arts Common and the Judith Hughes Day Contemporary Vietnamese Fine Art.

On display were unique paintings created by famous Vietnamese artists, featuring beautiful landscape, historical scenes, and depictions of the religious, cultural and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

Judith Hughes Day, a member of the exhibition’s organising board, said she has visited Vietnam many times and invited Vietnamese artists to introduce their works in the US. Her showroom aims to display works created by Vietnamese artists in both Vietnam and the US.

The exhibition will last until April 30.

Vietnam wins top design prize in Japan
 
A Vietnamese team has won the first prize at the 13th Large Scale Integrated (LSI) Design Contest in Okinawa, Japan.

The Little Chickens team with two members – Tran Thi Hong and Luyen Duc Hanh – from the IC Design Research and Education Centre under the Ho Chi Minh City National University was the best team among the 13 that entered the final round.

The winners will be granted scholarships to pursue master’s degrees in Japan by the competition’s organizing committee.

This year, the contest attracted 27 teams with 103 members from various countries and territories including Japan, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam. Three second and third prizes went to teams from the host country.

This is the first time that Vietnam has taken part in the contest.

Ambassadors join cooking contest
 
The ambassadors of Italy, Germany, Brazil, Sweden and Belgium will join a cooking contest at Mediterraneo restaurant in Hanoi on April 3.

The best cook will be voted by the participating guests and all prizes will be put on auction for charity.
The event is sponsored by Piaggio, VinaPearl, Metro, Melia Hotel and The Warehouse.

PV