VFF-AVG pact on TV rights not valid: VPF

Nguyen Duc Kien, vice chairman of the Vietnam Professional Football JSC (VPF)

The newly established national football company, VPF, says it rejects the validity of 20-year-contract between the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the An Vien Group (AVG).

Early this year, VFF and AVG signed an agreement worth VND 6 billion (US$285,000) per year that provides the latter with exclusive rights to air live the country’s top-tier Super League matches. Television stations nationwide must pay to be able to re-broadcast the matches live.

VPF was established late last month, taking over from the VFF the task of managing the country’s national football competitions. The VFF had asked the VPF and to honor and execute the contract signed with AVG. The VPF has denied this.

Speaking to Thanh Nien on Saturday, VPF vice chairman Nguyen Duc Kien said, “VPF on Saturday received a document from VFF saying that it had not asked for opinions from the clubs before signing the contract with AVG.

“Therefore, VPF has denied the validity of the contract. We [VPF] ask that AVG and VFF be responsible for clarifying the validity of the contract.”

VPF has meanwhile negotiated with other TV stations like Vietnam Television Station VTV. Kien said, "We follow three rules. Rule 1 is ensuring the ultimate right of the TV viewers. Football fans must be able to see the best matches live. As much as possible, the maximum number of matches of each round must be aired.

"Rule No.2 is that a contract can be no more than three years long; and Rule No.3 is that the value of each contract can’t be under VND10 billion per year.

Kien also said that VPF is now focusing on promotion rather than the commercial issue. He said the company has not signed a contract with VTV but has reached some agreement in accordance with legal regulations.

Asked what VPF would do if the contract between VFF and AVG was taken to court and the judge ruled the federation would have to compensate the latter in the event the company signs deals with other TV stations, Kien said he didn’t know if VFF or AVG wanted to take the problem to court.

He said the VPF has thought about it and doesn’t think it is the worst situation.

According to Kien, VPF wants the situation to be made clear and is not averse to the matter being settled in a court.

By Lan Phuong, Thanh Nien News

Super League makes impressive start

The derby between Saigon FC (Blue) and Navibank Saigon ended in a 2-2 draw at Thong Nhat Stadium on Sunday.

Twenty goals from seven matches were not many, but the first round of Vietnam’s top-tier Super League on the weekend was generally thrilling.

The most exciting match on Sunday was perhaps the scoreless draw at Vinh Stadium between visitors Thanh Hoa and the league champ Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA).

Despite having sold several of their favorite players, Thanh Hoa was still a strong, united team thanks to the management of coach Trieu Quang Ha.

The host SLNA had more scoring chances, but Thanh Hoa’s goalkeeper To Vinh Loi was excellent, and defenders were tough and stood firm until the final minute.

Another visiting team that was very good was Dong Thap, which had sold several of its best players while coach Pham Cong Loc moved to Navibank Saigon.

Dong Thap's young players nevertheless were in high spirits and were bold throughout the match, helping them to come back from two goals behind to earn a 2-2 draw with host Ninh Binh.

The derby between Navibank Saigon and Saigon FC was a see-saw game before ending in a 2-2 draw at Thong Nhat Stadium.

The 2010 champ Hanoi T&T beat neighbor Hanoi FC 1-0 at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium, while the 2009 champ SHB Da Nang struggled to defeat Khatoco Khanh Hoa 3-2 at Chi Lang Stadium.

In early matches on Saturday, the 2007-2008 champion Becamex Binh Duong beat visitor Kien Long Bank Kien Giang 2-0 at Go Dau Stadium. The 2004-2006 champ Hoang Anh Gia Lai won 3-1 against visiting squad Vicem Hai Phong at Pleiku Stadium.

By Thanh Nien News

Exhibition to honour Holy Mother

Thousands of artworks featuring cultural life of Vietnamese women will be introduced in a special exhibition entitled “Mother Goddess Worship”.

Mother goddess worship becoming more popular

The works will be on show at the Vietnamese Women's Museum, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi from January 5.

With more than 1,000 items and 21 documents on display, visitors will have the chance to learn about the unique religious culture of women from different places in Vietnam. The exhibition, to be divided by themes, including Women in Family, Women in History and Women’s Fashion, will together depict a lively picture of Vietnamese women in real life.

The exhibition is the result of research, which was started 2009 by the Centre for Research Support and Development of Culture (A&C) and the Vietnamese Women Museum, with an aim to help people better understand the Vietnamese practice of worshiping the mother goddess.

The results include an extensive collection of items and interviews with hundreds of people who still worship in Hanoi and other northern provinces, such as Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa, Nam Dinh, Hung Yen and others.

There will be performances of lên đồng (a sort of trance performance) which includes dance, singing and music. Besides, the arrangement and decoration of altars, the offerings and costumes to the mother goddess will also be on display.

The exhibition will focus on four main colours which represent four palaces in which the mothers live: Red for heaven, white for water, yellow for earth and green for the forest and mountains.

dtinews.vn

Street Book Festival returns to HCM City

The 2nd Street Book Festival themed “Tradition-Present-Future” celebrating the Tet holiday season will open in Ho Chi Minh City from January 20 to 26, 2012.

Design of a section in the 2nd Street Book Festival 2012.

The book festival will be held along the main city streets namely, Mac Thi Buoi, Nguyen Hue and Ngo Duc Ke in District 1.

Publishing houses Tre, General, Culture and Arts and book distributors such as Fahasa, Phuong Nam, and museums and libraries in the city will all participate in the festival.

Launched for the first time during the last Tet holiday season, the 2nd Street Book Festival aims to promote reading and increase knowledge of culture, traditions and highlights of the city.

The “Tradition” section on Mac Thi Buoi Street will present to readers historical and cultural books as well as rare ancient and valuable documents on Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelago islands.

The “Present” section on Nguyen Hue Street will highlight the achievements, changes and varied images of HCMC in various fields; portraits of well-known scientists and businessmen; and the concept of e-books.

The “Future” section on Ngo Duc Ke Street will be an area for children, in which there will be an abundance of children’s books and entertainment activities.

dtinews.vn

Vietnam chess ace Liem invited to join Olympics Torch Relay

International Grandmaster Le Quang Liem of Vietnam has been invited to join the 2012 Olympics Torch Relay in Manchester, England in June though there are no chess competitions in the Games.

Le Quang Liem

He was invited to represent Vietnam together with Ms. Ngo Phuong Lan, the winner of the 2007 Miss Vietnam World Pageant.

According to the Torch Relay organizers, the event will be attended by more than 100 outstanding individuals across the world. The torch relay is one of the traditional events held before the Olympics starts.

In Ho Chi Minh City on Jan. 1, Liem was named one of the seven “Outstanding Young Citizens 2011” of the metropolis. They were honored for their contributions and they represent young city dwellers with a way of living being a good example for the public.

dtinews.vn

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Countryside specialties popular gifts for Tet

Many people are seeking to buy countryside specialties as gifts for their families and friends on Tet holiday, in addition to unique fruits of wine-gourds and other items.

Many people are seeking to buy countryside specialties as gifts for Tet

Countryside specialties grow in popularity

Born in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, Tran Dinh Hoan has lived in Hanoi for nearly 20 years, since enrolling in university. But he still perfers to buy things for Tet from his home town.

“I had my relatives in Cao Bang buy five kilos of roast buffalo in Bao Lac and 10 kilos of mien noodles from a company called Binh Nguyen. These things help me to feel connected with the place I grew up, and keep me from getting homesick. I'm happy to share these things with my friends," he said.

Quach My Uyen Nhan, of Hue City, said she often sends over 50 jars of tom chua, a sauce made from shrimp and chilli, to her daughter, who is studying at a university in Hanoi for Tet.

Hoang Dinh Trong, owner of a communications firm in Hanoi, has his mother send 400 kilos of Dien Bien rice, something that can be found in the northern mountains of Vietnam. He then divided it and sent it to business partners as Tet gifts.

"I had this idea after eating a meal with some of my partners at my house. Many people complimented the dish and one asked me if I could help him get 30 kilos for his family."

Trong added even a lot of well-to-do people prefer simple, countryside products to luxurious foreign ones.

Me xung, known as sesame candy, is a specialty in Hue

Growing market

After seeing a request on an online forum for parents asking for certain countryside specialties for Tet, Uyen Nhi, of Hue City, decided to make a business out of it.

With help from her family, Nhi started to offer products from her hometown via the internet. She started receiving orders within days.

Some people have even set up a website at Quatetvn.com to trade in presents including countryside specialties like salted vegetables, pickled scallions, banh chung, banh day, an other kind of rice cake. Packages of such specialties are offered at VND545,000 (USD25.7). Dozens of people have ordered these gift packages.

dtinews.vn