Art & Entertainment News 31/7 Culture facility in Ha Tinh raises public ire    The Temple of Literature project in Ha Tinh Province. A Temple of Literature in Ha Tinh Province has raised public controversy about who should be the subject of worship in a country that takes its cultural heritage seriously, and because it is a waste of money in a poor community. Completion of the 1.7ha complex in Thach Linh Ward, expected to cost VND80 billion (USD3.52 million) and for which planning began in 2010, is uncertain as it has yet to be declared for any particular cultural deity. The temple, on which construction began in 2014, is designed to have a worshiping house, four gates and a semicircular lake. Pham Tien Sinh, head of the construction work management board of Ha Tinh Province, said local authorities are worried the project may not be completed because of a lack of financial resources. A DTi reader named Pham Thanh Hung said, "It is a great waste. It should be inspected by the government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The investment of VND80 billion can be used for building houses for many poor people.” Ha Nhi ethnic group’s traditional festival recognised as national heritage ‘Kho gia gia’, a traditional festival hosted by the Ha Nhi ethnic group in Bat Xat district, in the northern province of Lao Cai to pray for good crops, has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage. The provincial People’s Committee held a ceremony on July 29 to receive a certificate from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism honouring this acknowledgement. According to Vice Chairwoman of Bat Xat district People’s Committee Sung Thi Mai, ‘Kho gia gia’ is one of the major festivals of the Ha Nhi people. It is celebrated over five days, from the Day of the Dragon to the Day of the Monkey, in the sixth lunar month annually. During the festival, people worship the gods of agriculture, forestry, water and soil, and pray for bumper crops, health, prosperity and happiness. In preparation for the event, a buffalo is butchered as an offering to the gods. After the ritual, the buffalo’s meat is divided equally among households in the village as offerings to their ancestors in hopes for their support and protection in life. The long-standing custom also features many other rituals and folk games, including tug of war, stick pushing and bag jumping. It is also a good opportunity for single boys and girls to make friends. The traditional practice not only helps consolidate the solidarity among the community’s members, but has also developed into a unique tourism event to attract visitors to the locality. The festival is the eighth heritage in Lao Cai province to be listed as national intangible culture heritage, after the ‘Then’ ritual of Tay ethnic group; 'Gau Tao', a spring festival praying for happiness and longevity of the Mong people; 'Cap Sac' (coming-of-age) rite of passage of the Dao; 'Roong Pooc' (going to the Field) festival of the Giay people in Ta Van commune, Sapa district; the 'Put Tong' ritual (a fire dance of selected shamans) of the Red Dao people in Sapa district; the silver carving of the Mong people in Sapa district; and 'Chang slaw' (the making of paper cut pictures) of the Nung Din people in Muong Khuong district. Ha Noi to display fireworks on National Day Many cultural and art activities will take place in Ha Noi to mark the 70th anniversary of August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2), with the highlight being a grand meeting and parade at Ba Dinh Square, according to the Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. About 10,000 local people will march in the parade at Ba Dinh Square on September 2 morning, and many large screens will be installed at various locations in the city for the public to watch the live broadcast of the parade. Concerts and sports activities will also be held at Ly Thai To Park, August Revolution Square and in front of My Dinh National Stadium to mark the day. In addition, the city  will also hold various significant activities including a workshop on Ha Noi, its tradition and prospects for development, a knowledge contest on the August Revolution and National Day, an exhibition on war items at the ancient Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a bicycle race around Hoan Kiem Lake and free film screenings for the public. The capital Ha Noi will let off fireworks at 9pm on September 2. The fireworks display is planned about 30 venues across the city, including five high-range shows at Hoan Kiem Lake, Thong Nhat Park, West Lake, Van Quan Lake and My Dinh National Stadium to celebrate the 70th anniversary of August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2). Chibook donates books to children Chibook, a book brand of HCMC-based Le Chi Culture & Communications Co., Ltd., has donated book libraries to cultural and entertainment centers for children in the city. The project includes a range of activities for children such as singing, painting, and English contests. Since July 18, Chibook has donated a book library worth VND5.5 million (US$252) to the Children’s House of HCMC and another library worth VND8.5 million to Vietopia, an educational, entertainment and indoor sport center for children aged from 3 to 14, as well as organized multiple activities for children there. Between August 1 and 16, the firm is expected to give one book library costing VND4 million to children in Thanh An Commune in Can Gio District, one worth VND8.5 million to Children’s Cultural House in Tan Binh District, and one valued at VND8.5 million to Children’s Cultural House in Binh Thanh District. Long An inaugurates memorial house of lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho The inauguration ceremony of the commemorative site of Lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho was held in Ben Luc Town in the southern province of Long An on July 29. Speaking at the event, Party Central Committee Secretary Truong Hoa Binh, Chief Justice the Supreme Peoples Court, said that the construction aims to mark the 105th birthday of late lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho (July 10, 1910) who was a great patriotic intellectual. Lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho was born in Long An province. He was sent to France for studying at the age of 11. After 11 years, he returned home and worked as a lawyer. He participated in patriotic activities at that time. The lawyer was arrested many times by the enemies and kept in Saigon, Lai Chau, Hai Phong and Phu Yen. Lawyer Nguyen Huu Tho was elected to various important posts, including Chairman of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, Vice President of Social Republic of Vietnam, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Chairman of the Central Committee of the National Liberation Front. King Khai Dinh's consort's house opened for tourism The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre has opened the house at 145 Phan Dinh Phung Street, King Khai Dinh's consort's, to tourists. Queen Mother Doan Huy stayed there after the Ngo Dinh Diem Government seized An Dinh Palace in 1955. The first and second floors display photos and documents about the king, the queen mother, and the families of King Bao Dai and Ton Nhan Phu. Hanoi opens cooking class on Peruvian dishes The Peruvian Embassy in Vietnam opened a cooking class on traditional Peruvian dishes in Hanoi on July 30. The event forms part of activities for the Peruvian Cuisine Week, the first of its kind in Vietnam to mark 21 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries (1994-2015). Chef Aldo Vargas from the Hilton Lima hotel shared recipes to cook South American dishes such as pisco sour cocktails and ceviche - part of the Peruvian cultural heritage. Luis Tsuboyama, a representative from the Peruvian Embassy in Vietnam, said two cooking classes were opened in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City last year. At the end of this year, the embassy plans to organise a film festival and photo exhibition on Peru as well as seek partners to translate Peruvian literature into Vietnamese to introduce the Latin American country’s culture to Vietnam. VNS/SGT/ND/Dtinews