Long Bien Festival

105 year old Long Bien bridge remembered - Long Bien Festival

Memories of Hanoians of different generations on 105 year old Long Bien bridge, its historical and cultural values will be recalled lively in a single one day festival named “Long Bien Festival: A Memoir of Bridge” scheduled to be held on October 11.

An art programme is to be held to mark the Liberation Day of the capital city (October 10) and celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi

In anticipation of the event, an exhibition named “Memoir of a Bridge” was opened on July 3 at Maison des Arts (31A Van Mieu street). The exhibition aims to collect all stories or memories in various forms of arts such as painting, sculpture, video, calligraphy, literature, poetry, photography dedicated to the Long Bien Bridge and its history. The exhibition will last until October 11, the day of the festival.

Long Bien Festival “ A Memoir of a Bridge” will last for 24 hours and be reserved for all Hanoians. This is considered a street festival with the context of Long Bien bridge. During 24 hours, the Long Bien bridge, closed to traffic, will be transformed in an Art bridge. It will be one way street from Hanoi to Gia Lam and conversely.

For the opening of the festival, an old steam engine Train will stop in the middle of the bridge, artists and organisers will get out from it. During the rest of the day railway traffic will be regularly running to and from so that travellers can participate to the festival during the crossing.

At the festival, various forms of art will be presented on the bridge such as music, circus, video, poetry and painting with the participation of around 100 artists.

Besides, the festival will also see many activities such as kite flying and calligraphy display while traditional villages showcase their craftsmen’s products,

An ethnic parade will also be organised in which people from ethnic minorities, as a living museum, will parade to show theirs sumptuous traditional costumes, dances and songs.

The festival will also include music concerts to be organised at the two ends of the bridge . One large screen at one end is for traditional music (chamber music, opera) and at the other end is for modern music (pop, rock, electro).

On the island under the bridge will be shown some contemporary art installations, giant weather cock and other original propositions, representative of contemporary art development in Vietnam

On the two ways of the bridge, many stands, performances, calligraphers, portrait painters, poets, photographers, storytellers, jugglers, musicians... will enchant the visitors.

In the bridge’s recess there will be small kiosks selling books, souvenirs, postcards, drinks, sweets and flowers with sellers wearing traditional costumes. On the banks, boat-restaurants will offer Vietnamese specialities.

The festival is initiated by Vietnamese French Nguyen Nga, the owner of Maison des Arts. She said everyone is welcomed to contribute to the exhibition. “Anyone can take part in the festival, all contributions are encouraged, she stressed.”

Anyone interested in submitting their works can email at maisondesarts@gmail.com or contact through address 31A Van Mieu street.

(Source:NhanDan)

Tag: Exhibition , Festival , Hanoi , Sculpture , Thang Long , Train , Travel , Vietnam , Vietnamese

105 year old Long Bien bridge remembered - Long Bien Festival

Lastest News


Wind quartet perform with City orchestra - Thang Long Four young wind instrument musicians will perform a concert next Wednesday at the Hcm city Music Conservatory, accompanied by the city’s symphony orchestra (HBSO).
Hanoi’s 105-year-old bridge in the spotlight - Long Bien Bridge Long Bien Bridge, famous for its unique architecture and long history, has provided a great inspiration for many Hanoi-loving artists in the past and at present.
Millions visit Hanoi in six months Hanoi welcomed 3.8 million visitors, including 655,700 foreigners in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 12.4%.
Beauties Charm In Ao dai The 80 Miss Universe hopefuls in town have, by all accounts, been floored by the beauty of the ao dai, the flowing traditional Vietnamese tunic.
Rock-hewn gardens of human diversity - Ha Giang Ha Giang Province in the mountainous far north is home to 23 ethnic minorities brought together by hard work and natural beauty. Bui Quynh Hoa reports.
Portraitists in digital age - Hang Ngang street A portraiture shop that offers black and white portraits looks very modest and quiet besides colourful and noisy shops on Hang Ngang street, Hanoi That shop belongs to 75-year-old man named Bao Nguyen.
Meet the new modern vegetarians - Viet Chay Restaurant It’s no longer just Buddhists who are finding delight in a diet of vegetables.
The rise of Ha Noi fast food Hanoi has always been seen as a tough market to crack for western-style fast food companies but now kids in the capital city are happily eating hamburgers and fries.
German art space opened in Hanoi - Hanoi Fine Arts Artistic works by 14 artists, who were not born in Germany but are well-recognised for their successes in the country, are being showcased by the Goethe Institute at Hanoi Fine Arts University at 42 Yet Kieu street in Hanoi from June 13-23.
Dong Ho Prints Displayed at Café - Dong Ho paintings A collection of more than 100 Dong Ho prints are being displayed at Hoa Da Café at 349/175 Le Dai Hanh Street in District 11 from June 8 to 22.
Just follow the mosaic dike road - Ha Noi Ceramic Road An exhibition currently in the capital’s Ly Thai To Square gives viewers a sneak peak of images that will become part of the next section of ceramic mosaics to beautify the dike road along the Hong (Red) River.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to hold weaving and textile course This summer, young people will have the opportunity to discover their creative abilities as well as skills in a textile class at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. The class will be held from June 15 to August 10, 2008 in the children's discovery room. This is the fourth year the museum has organized the course.
Muong ethnic gongs to be performed in Hanoi ancient quarter With the hope of introducing the traditional culture of Muong ethnic minority group to people and tourists, the Vietnam Center for Music Art Development is staging gong performances of Muong people in front of Hanoi’s Dong Xuan market at night during weekends.
Scuptor creates real bodhi tree - La Pagoda La Pagoda in Hcm City’s Go Vap District features an evergreen bodhi tree that never needs watering. That’s because it was made of cement and steel by a young sculptor named Tru Cong Vu.
Preparations Made for Miss Universe 2008 Forty days before the contest’s climax on July 14, those responsible for Miss Universe 2008 are making sure everything is ready for the big event. There is much to do before the first major beauty contest staged in Viet nam can take place.
Accor builds 40 million USD hotel in Hanoi Construction of a 40 million USD hotel started in Hanoi on June 6. The Novotel Hanoi hotel is jointly built by Accor – world leading hotel management corporation, the Hanoi Tourism Corporation and SIH Investment Group from Singapore. The five-storey hotel will house 376 rooms, a restaurant, a 500 square metre conference room and entertainment facilities.
Chinese art troupe to perform in Hanoi The Lotus Art Troupe from Guangxi, China will give a performance at the Hanoi Opera House on June 17.
Tourist vessels need mooring sites in HCM City waterways - travel by boat west to My Tho Hcm city is failing to exploit the tourist potential of its waterways due to a shortage of mooring stations for boats, said La Quoc Khanh, vice director of HCM City's Tourism Department.
Online Contest on Ha Noi Cultural Heritage Launched An international online contest on Ha Noi’s historical works and cultural heritage was launched on May 31 towards the 1,000 th birthday of the capital city.
Int’l sports movie & TV fest in Hanoi From June 5-8, producers of sports movies and television shows from seven countries will be in Hanoi to participate in the 4th Hanoi International FICTS Festival.