VN culture's the source of endless inspiration

Theatre director Việt Tú, whose art shows are big hits in Việt Nam, has continued his run of successes with his latest show Thủa Ấy Xứ Đoài or The Quintessence of Tonkin. Inspired by the traditional art form of water puppetry, more than 100 real farmers and villagers are part of the show that has won rave reviews from critics. Director Tú spoke to Thúy Hằng about his work and inspiration.

Need for smart, clean toilets a no-brainer

Lê Văn Hiệp, director of the Kim Hoàng Hiệp Trading, Service and Environment Limited Company, has installed some trial-free smart toilets at public areas in Bình Dương. He has active solutions to change the quality of toilets throughout the country. Lê Hương explores his interest in toilets.

 

Doctor ups grassroots healthcare standards

Dr Nguyễn Minh Quân has brought advanced technologies normally used at city- or central-level hospitals to an outlying district, Thủ Đức, in HCM City. He spoke to Gia Lộc about his work.

 

French director tells story of love in war

Oscar-nominated French screenwriter and film director Olivier Lorelle was in Việt Nam this week for the premiere of his film Ciel Rouge (Red Sky). This is the fourth film made by a French director and entirely shot in Việt Nam.

Have passion and self-respect in everything you do

Hứa Thanh Bình is the deputy director of the HCM City Museum of Fine Arts. He sits down and talks with An Vũ about his passion for art, how he runs the museum and his plans for the future of the museum.

Healing hands for Vietnamese feet

Ha Nguyen spoke with Mike Strauss, who has joined eight others from the US, Netherlands, Australia and Turkey as well as 170 Vietnamese surgeons to perform surgeries on 100 disadvantaged patients suffering foot and ankle deformities in seven northern localities.

Disney cartoons a great way to learn English

Lý Khánh Quỳnh, a 9th grader of the Thoại Ngọc Hầu Secondary School in An Giang Province, has won a major competition to join the Global Forum of Young Leaders to be held in New York this August. She spoke with Hà Nguyễn about her experience and expectations.

 

 

Phạm Thu Hà puts her heart into classical music

SopranoPhạm Thu Hà, winner of the 2013 Devotion Award for Album of the Year, is one of few Vietnamese artists consistently pursuing the classical music genre. Hà has recently released her first vinyl record titled Đường Em Đi (My Way), featuring eight classical love songs by late composer Phạm Duy. Phạm Thu Hà talks with Hồng Vân about the new album and her plans for the future.

Making music to reach out to the world

The HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO), established more than 20 years ago, provides quality chamber and vocal concerts and dance performances for local and foreign audiences in HCM City. Meritorious Artist Trần Vương Thạch, HBSO’s director, speaks with Phương Mai about the theatre’s achievements and challenges ahead.

Writing ’forces you to know’ and helps you move on

Bestselling author Phan Việt has released the third volume of her non-fiction series called Bất Hạnh Là Một Tài Sản (Unhappiness Is an Asset). Việt talks to Lương Thu Hương about her new book and her writing.

Five-star resort conjures up a dream village

After living for more than 30 years in Europe, mostly in Prague, the Czech Republic, running a tourism company and traveling the world, Phạm Văn Hiến has returned to Việt Nam to build a ‘northern Vietnamese village’ of his dreams.

Stress a positive emotion for performers

Mexican-Spanish guitarist Mauricio Diaz Alvarez, a widely travelled performer, also teaches classical guitar at the Conservatory of Fine Arts of Choisy-le-Roi (France). After performing at Hà Nội University on April 19, he spoke to Vương Bạch Liên about his passion and his career.

A comedian who made people cry

Famous comedian Hoài Linh has reduced his audience to tears in the newly released film Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang (Night Drumbeats Cause Longing for Absent Husband) directed by Nguyễn Quang Dũng. Linh tells Hà Nguyễn that his own experiences helped him play truthfully a character  uprooted from his country.

Creating manga from the heart

Popular Vietnamese comic artist, Can Tiểu Hy, took silver prize at the 10th Japan International Manga Awards. Chosen out of 296 entries from 55 countries and territories, Hy won for her work Địa Ngục Môn (Gateway to the Underworld). She speaks with Bùi Quỳnh Hoa about her passion for manga, an art form loved around the world.

Glass a class apart when it comes to paintings

Dương Văn Kính, 32, an employee of Huế City’s Culture Department, is a rare practitioner and proponent of glass paintings, an art form not in its heyday. But there are reasons to hope for better days, he tells Huê Phong.

The nucleus of science and art is love

Nguyễn Ðình Ðăng, 58, is a Vietnamese nuclear physicist working at RIKEN, Japan’s largest research institution in a range of scientific disciplines. He shares with An Vũ his thoughts on his latest research as well as his passion for fine arts.

Our fashion should reflect our culture

It’s a pity that some famous Vietnamese people going abroad prefer using clothes made outside the country. They lose the opportunity to promote Vietnamese clothing.

 

Passion and patience key to gymnastics

Coach of Viet Nam's national female gymnastics team, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thúy, has been training young gymnasts since 1993. For more than 23 years, Thúy has seen many of her outstanding athletes go on to success at regional and world tournaments. Thanh Nga talks to her about her life and career.

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