Ha Noi's Temple of Literature offers calligraphy classes

HA NOI — A Sino-Nom calligraphy training programme will open this September at the Temple of Literature.

The programme is based on past Sino-Nom training programmes, which aims to provide trainees with a basic knowledge of Chinese characters and Nom (Vietnamese ideographic script derived from Han Chinese) in a short period of time. After finishing the class, students will be able to read Sino-Nom documents and write Chinese and Nom letters using a traditional pen brush.

Learners interested in the art can join the calligraphy group with calligraphers from Viet Nam, China, Japan and South Korea.

The training programme is divided into three levels and lasts for three years.

First educational products fair gives on site discounts

HA NOI — A book and educational equipment fair will be held at the Viet Nam Fair and Exhibition Centre in Ha Noi from August 3-8.

As many as 67 publishing houses and enterprises will display their products in 100 stalls and four play areas.

Children attending the fair can learn English through songs, read comics and play traditional games in English.

All products on display will be reduced in price by 10-20 per cent.

The Ministry of Information and Communications said if the fair succeeded, it would be held regularly at the beginning of the new academic year, which starts in early September.

Cartoon exhibition reveals world of "ignored" artists

HA NOI — A cartoon exhibition, gathering nearly 100 works throughout the country, is on display at the Exhibition House, 16 Ngo Quyen Street, Ha Noi.

The paintings cover various topics including corruption, traffic safety, urban allocation, environment and other burning social issues.

The works have been produced by ball pens, pastels and oil on canvas.

There are about 100 amateur and professional cartoonists throughout the country.

"This exhibition is a valuable chance for us, who contribute works everyday in print and online newspapers," said cartoonist Ly Truc Dung, "yet our works are mostly printed small, and in black and white, in newspapers.

"We hope to bring laughter to audiences through the exhibition."

A workshop on cartooning will be held at the exhibition at 9am on August 5, where cartoonists and audience can exchange views.

Puppetry and folk games on show in HCM City

HCM CITY — More than 650 children from HCM City and southern provinces are taking part in a two-day puppetry and folk game festival that opened in HCM City yesterday.

The sixth Puppet Festival and the second Folk Game Festival for Children in the Southern Region has attracted 36 provincial and city teams.

Each team has to perform a puppet show featuring Vietnamese or foreign folk tales, or stories eulogising love for the country and family.

They also have to play a folk game, with its members demonstrating to the audience how to play it.

The participants are divided into four groups that are based in districts 4, 12, Thu Duc, and Nha Be.

Pham Ngoc Tuyen, director of the city Children's House, said the festival enables children to meet and play in summer and brings interesting performances for children in suburban areas, and promotes puppetry and traditional games. — VNS