World Cultural Festival in Hanoi: Raising 2.5 billion VND to support flood victims

The auction atmosphere became lively when 3 items: The ao dai of the General Secretary's wife was auctioned for 350 million VND, the ceramic vase "Mother and Child" fetched half a billion VND and the large-sized painting fetched an impressive 1 billion VND.

People's Artist Tu Long participated in leading the auction, pictured are two items successfully auctioned for 1.55 billion VND. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

Late on the evening of October 11, at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the program "Heritage Footsteps: Charity Auction" took place . part of the 1st World Cultural Festival in Hanoi, to support people affected by floods in Vietnam recently.

In less than 2 hours with 9 items, the program successfully raised 2.5 billion VND.

The items include 4 ao dai, 1 silk scarf, 1 handmade ceramic vase, 1 pearl necklace and 1 large painting. Notably, the ao dai worn by Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly - wife of General Secretary To Lam in Saint Petersburg (Russia) was auctioned for 350 million VND and the painting "Ancient Cheo melody and kite flute sound on the golden field" was successfully auctioned for 1 billion VND.

The first auction revolved around 4 unique ao dai designs and a special silk scarf. The first item came from designer Vu Viet Ha - Hanoi ao dai of the 1930s, inspired by paintings by famous artists Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu... with lily motifs on the dress, showing the elegant and graceful features of Hanoi women.

Lily ao dai from the 1930s Hanoi ao dai collection, worn by Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly in Saint Petersburg. (Photo: Tam Hang/VNA)

The work (on a tray) at the auction, People's Artist Xuan Bac was the one who "hammered" the price of 350 million VND. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

The shirt is dyed, woven and hand-sewn by artisans from Trach Xa village. Notably, the shirt was introduced during the Vietnam-Russia cultural exchange trip to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and was worn by the General Secretary's wife, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, at the inauguration ceremony of Ho Chi Minh Square in Saint Petersburg (Russia) on July 30.

The shirt had a starting price of 20 million VND, with a step price of 1 million VND, and was bid 10 times by generous donors. In the end, the shirt went to the person who bid 350 million VND.

Next is the Golden Lotus Ao Dai by designer Anh Thu, described as a symbol of abundance, prosperity and wisdom, using high-quality organza, crystal with hand-painted lotus motifs. The set was successfully hammered at 50 million VND, in addition, actor Viet Anh also participated in the auction but was unsuccessful so he donated 35 million VND to the fund.

Click on the image to see the full size of the ao dai up for auction. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

The next 3 products, including Yen Vu Ao Dai - a four-panel dress model of the Le Trung Hung period, Huyen Thach Ao Dai inspired by the stone dragon steps of Dien Kinh Thien, and Liem Diem silk scarf inspired by the terracotta dragon head statue decorating the roof of the Ly Dynasty palace, were successfully hammered out with a total price of 350 million VND.

In particular, the silk scarf of Liem Diem was previously presented by the wife of the Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam. She was also the one who proposed the auction of the scarf to bring a message of friendship and cultural sharing.

"It was truly wonderful to see the artistic beauty on stage today, as well as the individuals who raised their hands to bid. You gave to those who lost everything in the recent storms. We were honored to participate in the event with our silk work and witness this spirit," said Ambassador Thomas Gass.

The Swiss Ambassador and his wife on the auction stage. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

Session 2 opened with the handmade ceramic vase "Mother and Child" by artist Ngo Ba Hoang, led by the Director of the Army Cheo Theater - People's Artist Tu Long and the Director of the Department of Performing Arts - People's Artist Xuan Bac. The two artists "released comedy" rhythmically and sang many Cheo tunes to keep the emotions of the auction.

Painter Ngo Ba Hoang (head of the Monumental Painting Department, University of Industrial Fine Arts) shared that the work brings new and unique discoveries about colored glazes, took 5 years to complete and perhaps "will never be done again."

The work, which had a starting price of 50 million VND, was successfully hammered at 555 million VND thanks in part to the juggling and stirring up of the atmosphere by the duo Xuan Bac and Tu Long. People's Artist Tu Long sang "Mother loves child" by the late musician Nguyen Van Ty twice - a song that "became extremely famous" thanks to the effect of the program "Anh trai vu ngan cong gai" and the "National concerts" in recent times.

Artist Ngo Ba Hoang (in blue shirt) introduces his work. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

Next is a high-end pearl necklace from the brand Huong Jewelry - a brand introduced as a close friend of the wife of the US ambassador and the ambassador of the Czech Republic to Vietnam, which was hammered down for 100 million VND.

The most notable of the two main sessions is the painting “Ancient Cheo melody and kite flute sound on the golden field” in the series of 63 large-sized paintings with a total length of up to 63m, depicting the beauty of all regions of Vietnam from Lung Cu flagpole to Ca Mau cape by author Ngo Ba Hoang.

The auctioned painting depicts a peaceful scene of a Northern Vietnamese village, where the sound of Cheo singing blends with the sound of kites flying over ripe rice fields, with a starting price of 150 million VND.

Mr. Ngo Ba Hoang shared at the event: "Our country currently has areas heavily affected by natural disasters and floods. I hope we can join hands to help so that places can have back the ancient Cheo melodies and the beloved kite flute sounds."

The price of the painting was continuously raised by the sponsors from 200 million VND to 600, 700, 888 million VND, and finally the sponsors hammered the price at 1 billion VND. This was also the last item to be hammered in the auction on the evening of October 11.

In the end, the auction organizers successfully bid 2.435 billion VND and received additional support from another anonymous donor, rounding the number to 2.5 billion VND to contribute to the fund to overcome difficulties for people in areas affected by the storms.

Some pictures at the auction:

The new owner of the "General Secretary's wife's ao dai" shakes hands with designer Vu Viet Ha. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

Ao dai and silk scarf designs are being auctioned. (Photo: BTC)

The Ambassador's wife in an elegant silk design. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

Representative of the sponsor who owns the 1 billion VND painting (the person in blue shirt is standing next to him). (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

The owner of the ceramic vase "Mother and Child" took a photo with Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy and the author. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

Owner of the pearl necklace. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

Representatives of the organizing committee, designers and authors took souvenir photos with successful bidders.

(Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/le-hoi-van-hoa-the-gioi-tai-ha-noi-gay-quy-25-ty-dong-ung-ho-ba-con-vung-lu-post1069774.vnp