More than 300 musicians and artists from around the world has gathered at the third Asia-Europe New Music Festival 2018 that opened at the Hanoi Opera House on November 24.
The third Asia-Europe New Music Festival has attracted over 300 musicians and artists from around the world (Photo: hoinhacsi.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) –More than 300 musicians and artists from around the world has gathered at the thirdAsia-Europe New Music Festival 2018 that opened at the Hanoi Opera House onNovember 24.
At the opening ceremony, poet Huu Thinh,Chairman of the Alliance of Arts and Literature Associations of Vietnam, saidfollowing the previous events in 2014 and 2016, the third festival, themed“Sound Bridge”, continues to be the rendezvous for the world’s leadingcomposers and artists to introduce artistic values and cultural identities oftheir countries, thereby helping to enhance the friendship and culturalcooperation between Asian and European nations.
Chairman of the Vietnamese Musicians’ AssociationsDo Hong Quan said this year’s festival is also a chance for composers andartists to introduce new compositions of symphony, chamber music, choral musicand folk-inspired music. They can also gain an insight into the development ofVietnamese music through different activities.
Following the opening ceremony, the audienceenjoyed a concert under the baton of conductors Honna Tetsuji from Japan andZoe Zeniodi from Greece. Eleven works created by Asian and European musicianswere performed by the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra.
The festival will feature several concerts, theintroduction of traditional musical instruments and rituals of Vietnam, andvisits to some destinations in Hanoi and Ninh Binh province.
American conductor Christopher Zimmerman, music director of Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in the US, will lead a Scheherazade concert at the HCM City Opera House on October 19.
Many of the Vietnamese artists, who have claimed global fame for classical music, like violinist Bui Cong Duy, pianists Dang Thai Son and Luu Hong Quang, have returned home for projects to share the love for chamber music with local audience.
Polish and Vietnamese artists are set to perform together during Polish Music Days in Hanoi on November 24, 28 and 30 to celebrate the 100 years since Poland’s Independence Day.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Vietnam continues to sit just behind continental powerhouses Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The third Asia-Europe New Music Festival has attracted over 300 musicians and artists from around the world (Photo: hoinhacsi.vn) 
