Entertainment

A book festival took place at the National Library of Vietnam on April 20 in Hanoi in response to Vietnam Book Day (April 21) and World Book and Copyright Day (April 23).

The biennial cultural Hue Festival bid farewell to thousands of visitors at the closing ceremony yesterday evening.

Two Vietnamese artists talked about the real lives of Vietnamese celebrities, giving an image that is completely different from what many of the artists themselves are trying to promote.

Preparations for the 2014 Ha Long Carnival, slated to take place on April 30 in the northern province of Quang Ninh, have been quickened up to ensure things go smoothly.

The HCM City-based Hong Van Drama Troupe, a leading private theatre, is offering training courses in performance skills as the number of talented actors has declined in recent years.

The US band Amigos staged a free music performance at the Hue Central Hospital in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue as part of the ongoing Hue Festival 2014.

Twenty six artists from Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines are joining in a painting exhibition, to share their sympathies and compassion for the victims of the historic typhoon Haiyan.

The biennial Hue Festival opened on Saturday night at the citadel's Noon Gate Square with performances from 65 international art troupes from 38 countries and territories from Asia, Europe, America and Africa.

A four-day festival entitled ‘Spring honouring nation’s culture’ closed with a special art performance at Hanoi’s Bao Son Paradise Park on April 9.

Khanh Ly, a famous overseas Vietnamese singer will perform in Hanoi this May for the first time since she left the country in 1975.

Kelly Rowland, an American singer, songwriter, actress and television personality, will join Vietnamese and foreign artists in the sixth Hennessy Artistry at the Hanoi Opera House on April 17.

A special art performance highlighting the Dien Bien Phu victory (May 7, 1954) will be held at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi on April 26, as part of activities to celebrate the 60 th anniversary of the victory

An international exhibition at a New York museum from April 14-July 27 will feature Southeast Asian sculptural traditions from the Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms, including a variety of Vietnamese antiques.

Nu Cuoi Phong Bi (Envelope Smile) was one of three first prize winners at the biennial Vietnam press cartoon contest, taking the Rong Tre (Bamboo Dragon) Cup at a ceremony organised on April 6 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Acclaimed American music band The Amigos will perform at a free public concert and take part in outreach events for disadvantaged people from April 12 to 14 during the Festival Hue.

After several delays, the Art Performing Department began to draft plans to start granting work permits for artists starting in July, one official has said.

Nine foreign troupes and 16 local ones have registered to attend the Vietnam International Dance Festival 2014, which will be held in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue from April 14-18.

The first-ever caricature festival will be held in HCM City to bring the art closer to the public and provide a comic playground for professional caricaturists and the audience.

The large amount of USD1 million to be poured into the film project of the Dien Bien Phu victory has caused concerns about wastefulness in production.