[news] VN artists performed in Japan/ famous singers got together/ etc

[AnHai Doan <anhai@cs.washington.edu>]

First talent contest for dancers to take place in June and July

The Performance Art Department (Ministry of Culture and
Information), in coordination with the Vietnam Dancers' Association
and the HCMC Service of Culture and Information, will organize a
talent contest for young dancers, the first of its kind in Vietnam
so far. The qualifying round for zone 1 will be held in Hanoi from
June 25 to 27, and the qualifying round for zone 2 and the final
round will be held in HCMC from July 7 to 15.

 Vietnam's folklore artists perform in Japan

A group of artists from Hanoi Conservatory led by honorable artist
Nguyen Hong Thai, head of the folklore faculty, visited and
performed in the Exotic East Fair for Asian countries held in Tokyo
between April 24 and May 8. The trip gave Vietnamese artists a good
opportunity to expose their skills, and introduce to local audiences
typical Vietnamese musical instruments, thus contributing to the
development of the cultural exchange between the two countries.

 Get-together of famous Vietnamese singers in HCMC 

"Get-together '97" is the name of a musical performance to be held
from May 16 at Ben Thanh Theater, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1,
HCMC. The program, organized by the HCMC Performance Organization
Company, will be attended by singers winning domestic and
international prizes such as Ngoc Tan, My Linh, Siu Black, Y Moal,
Hong Nhung, Thanh Lam, Hong Hanh and Anh Tuyet. Previously, the
program was staged twice in Hanoi and was given a standing ovation
by the capital's dwellers.     

 Long An Red Cross Association calls for "reforms" in the burial service

The Red Cross Association of Long An Province recently organized a
seminar on the burial service, with the participation of
representative Red Cross members throughout the province. The
association aims to restrict complicated rituals included in this
service, specifically the habit of considering dates, hours and
formalities for corpse-shrouding and burial that seriously affect
the environment, or ceremonial music which is out of keeping with a
civilized lifestyle. Long An Province currently has 213 Red Cross
undertaker teams with 3,247 members.

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