A series of cultural and intellectual events, as part of Europe Days inVietnam 2012, will take place in localities nationwide this month. Ambassador and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Vietnam ,Dr. Franz Jessen on May 3 said this month’s highlight will be theEurope Day programme on May 9, to mark the 62 nd anniversary of thehistorical speech, the “Schuman Declaration” in 1950, which served as abasis for the foundation of the EU. It will be achance for European countries to enhance relations with countries aroundthe world, including Vietnam , he said. Anoutstanding event will be a music concert staged by the popular Notosband from Germany at Hanoi Opera House and Ho Chi Minh City OperaHouse on May 9-10. Free tickets are available at the Goethe Institute inHanoi and HCM City from May 4. Acapellaperformances staged by the UK band Black Voices will take place atHanoi Opera House on May 21 and HCM City Opera House on May 20.Rock-electronic performances by Success band will follow at the FrenchCultural Centre in Hanoi on May 30. At theCactus Contemporary Art gallery in HCM City from May 12-26, anexhibition entitled “Riverscape in flux” will showcase artworks by 17young artists from Southeast Asian countries, featuring ecological,economic, social and cultural changes that rivers flowing throughcountries in the region are experiencing. Additionally, Vietnamese audiences will be able to enjoy European films,including Oscar winners and short films for children at the annualEuropean film festival. More information is available at the websitewww.europe2012.com/Eufilmfestival. Meanwhile,visitors to the second European literature days can learn about thediversity of traditional European culture, featured through booksoriginally published in Italy , Spain , Belgium , Germany , UK ,Denmark and Poland and now translated into Vietnamese, at theNational Library in Hanoi from May 11-13. European ambassadors will talk about Europe with Vietnamese students atQuy Nhon University in the central province of Binh Dinh onMay 16, and at HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities andForeign Trade University on May 17. Students at universities nationwide will have a chance to take part in acontest about Europe with a round trip to Europe as first prize. Regarding EU-Vietnam trade ties, enterprises in HCM City and thecentral province of Binh Dinh will seek insight into business atseminars on May 16 and May 18.

A round-table seminarentitled, “Can women play a better role in politics?” will bringtogether European and Vietnamese scholars to discuss women’s roles infamily and social life. The event will take place in Hanoi on May 22and in HCM City on May 29.

A European culinary festival and the third comics festival will also be held in Hanoi as part of Europe Days.-VNA