Name	Ha Tran
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Tran Thu Ha
Born	August 26, 1977 Hanoi, Vietnam
Instrument	Vocals, keyboards, piano
Voice type	Soprano
Genre	Electronica, alternative rock, pop, indie
Occupation	Singer, dancer, producer, fashion model
Years active	1988–present
Label	Ha Tran Productions, Thuy Nga Entertainments, Youth Pictures
Url	www.hatranmusic.com, www.hatranproductions.com

Tran Thu Ha, (born August 26, 1977 in Hanoi, Vietnam), known professionally as Ha Tran is a Vietnamese pop singer, recording artist and entrepreneur. Raised in a music family, Ha Tran is famous as the most creative and intelligent singer who pioneered in combined Vietnamese folk music with western modern style.

Childhood

Ha Tran is the daughter of Tran Hieu and Vu Thuy Huyen. Trần Hiếu has known as a People's Artist and an opera teacher. Her mother was former Dean of Singing Department of Hanoi National Conservatory of Music and also an achievements teacher died due to cancer when she was 14. Ha Tran grew up most influenced by her brother Trần Vũ Hoàng, a painter/Dean of Fine Arts Department at Hanoi College of Arts, and her uncle - the famous songster Trần Tiến, who she looks up as an inspirer of her music career.

Ha Tran faced with many difficulties at the beginning. She did not have a strong natural voice. Many of her early critics thought she was not a distinguished talent. Her parents therefore decided to put her in a dance class at the age of 6 and piano lessons when she was 8. Despite the set-back, Ha Tran applied to learn singing with her auntie at elementary level in Hanoi College of Arts at the age of 11, and continued study to get her "Bachelor of Singing" from Hanoi National Conservatory of Music in 2000. Throughout her hard work at school, Ha started to earn many awards: Most potential voice in the contest Best Voice of Hanoi (1993); First Class of National Student Singing Festival (1994); 3rd place at the Oriole Voice (Giọng hát Vàng Anh) held by Japan NHK Television and Horitro Productions (1995). She also won Golden Medal of National Professional Singer Award in 1995 and Best Recording Artist by Viet Nam Musician Association in the following year (1996).

In 1998, Ha Tran contract signed with Youth Pictures (Hãng Phim Trẻ) mark her starting point as a professional singer.

1998 - 2001: Em về tinh khôi (Purity) and Bài tình cho giai nhân (Love Songs For Beauty)

Ha Tran first studio collaboration with Bang Kieu Wake up eglantine produced by Hãng phim Trẻ (Youth Pictures) in 1998 includes songs composed by Dương Thụ, Bảo Chấn, Trần Tiến, Ngọc Châu ... The album gained them both regconition throughout the country and was one of the best new artist sellers at that time.

In 1999, Youth Pictures released her debut studio album Purity, which produced by musician Quốc Bảo. A series of hits in this album established her pop star status such as Purity (Quốc Bảo), Lời ru cho con (Lullaby) (Xuân Phương – theme for drama of Của đề dành (Inherit)), Tóc gió thôi bay (Trần Tiến), Ngày em đến (Từ Huy) and gave her the title People of The Year among the most high-profile entertainers.

In 2000, her second solo album Love Songs For Beauty co-produced with musician Quốc Bảo, including songs: "Đêm cô đơn" (Lonely night), "Hãy yêu nhau đi" (Love to love) a remarkable duet with Diva Thanh Lam, "Dấu phố em qua", "Em về tóc xanh", "Chờ em nơi thềm trăng"... Both of her albums received positive critical reception and became best-selling albums of all time under her label Youth Pictures. However, she deparded from them and went freelance when the contract ended. She continue to released another collaborations Tự họa (Self portrait) with her uncle the famous songster Trần Tiến, which soon became another national best-selling records and open a new chapter of her career mark her angelic voice with hits written by him like: "Em vẫn như ngày xưa" (Forever young), "Dòng sông mùa thu" (River and the Fall), "Phố nghèo" (Old Town), "Tóc gió thôi bay", "Sắc màu" (Colors), "Chị tôi" (My sister), "Thành phố trẻ" (City of the Youth)...

In April, Ha live performance in FM Blue Wave Awards made the song "Colors" became a mega hit. She was voted Top 10 Singers by radio program of FM Làn sóng xanh (Blue Wave Awards) from 1998 to 2001 and also won the title "Most Favorite Singer" of Mai Vàng (Golden Orchid Awards), 2000. Later this year Ha Tran took part with many household names in live concert Chiều Hà Nội (Hanoi evening) created by musician Vũ Quang Trung to promote their previous jazz collaborations Lullaby for your eyes (1999) features saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan. Many fabulous songs were performed by Ha Tran like: "Tiếng mưa", "Lời cuối tình yêu", "Anh yêu em"…drew the fans interest and expanded her influence as a multi style soloist.

During 1998-2001, Ha Tran participated in many other collaborations: Môi hồng đào 1,2,3 (Red lips); Nghe mưa 2 (Listen to the rain) (with songs composed by Bảo Chấn and Dương Thụ), Thanh Tùng Love songs 1 & 2, Vừa biết dấu yêu (Puberty), series of Quốc Bảo's albums (Ngồi hát ca bềnh bồng, Vàng son)...and featured in many popular concert shows such as Duyên dáng Việt Nam, Đồng Vọng Bốn Mùa, Dòng thời gian, Mai Vàng Awards, etc...

2001-2002: Nhật thực (Solar eclipse)

In 2002, Ha Tran and musician Ngọc Đại held Nhật thực (Solar eclipse) live show throughout Vietnam to introduce the same album - Nhật thực. The live show was designed with all songs written by Ngọc Đại and lyrics from poems of Vi Thùy Linh. Besides, this show was also contributed by composer Đỗ Bảo, singers Minh Anh - Minh Ánh (2M band), choreographer Quỳnh Lan, vision director Việt Tú and the stage decorator Trần Vũ Hoàng (Hà's brother).

"Nhat thuc" faced with a burden of troubles with its commencement. There was a scandal of copyright dispute between Ha and Hồng Nhung in respect of song- "Det tam gai" (Weaving Tam Gai), Ngoc Dai then stopped Hong Nhung to perform this song. However, in December 2001, Nhật thực was hindered by the Performance Administration because the lyrics was so "sexy" that they may "cause bad effects to the culture and ethic of Vietnamese music" (said Mr. Lê Nam – Director of the Administration). Therefore, the album was delayed in order to remove and amend its lyrics; 2 songs - "Tự Tình" and "Mơ" (Dreaming) used to be the starting songs in this concept album with marvelous melody were removed; the lyrics of 2 songs "Cây nữ tu" and "Đừng hát tình ca du mục nữa" (Don't sing the nomad's love song) .

After settling the above matters, the show took place in April 2002, and then Nhật thực album was also public in May. Nhật thực album includes 7 songs: "Nghi ngại" (Shadow of doubt), "Đừng hát tình ca du mục nữa" (Don't sing the nomad's love song), "Phía ngày nắng tắt" (Other side of sunset), "Dệt tầm gai" (Weaving Tam Gai), "Tiếc nuối" (Regret), "Ảo ảnh" (Illusion), "Nhật thực" (Solar eclipse). The two songs "Mơ" (Dreaming) and "Tự tình" were removed, the album with 9 songs became 7 songs album, song of "Cây nữ tu" was changed under new name of "Ảo ảnh". Nhật thực was one concept album, with a completed story. 7 songs expressed 7 stories told by a girl in love with her desperation, doubt, regret and obsession.

Right after release, Nhật thực made a shock to Vietnam's music with its strange and new trend, including lyrics, melody, performance art and arrangement. This show became a special music event and was voted by presses as one of the cultural phenomenon of 2002, a great landmark of innovation in music original style and performance in Vietnam. In additions, the existence of Nhật thực oriented the music audiences in Vietnam to be interested in music harmony, arrangement and mix of an album. Nhật thực was also an important step in the career of Ha Tran, causing prominent development of her style: Stronger, Special and Diversity. As from Nhật thực, Ha was called as one of 4 divas of Vietnamese music.

Nevertheless, after success of the first show, the dispute arose among the members of the show, Ngọc Đại - Trần Thu Hà - Vi Thuỳ Linh. As a result, after Nhật thực 1, Trần Thu Hà announced on the press that she quit Nhat thuc. Ngọc Đại continued with his own Nhật thực 2 in 2003, without Ha Tran and Vi Thuỳ Linh, but there were many stars of Vietnam such as: Thanh Lam, Hồ Quỳnh Hương, Linh Dung, Tùng Dương, Khánh Linh, Ngọc Khuê… However, "Nhat Thuc 2" live concert and the album (sold at special price of VND 6000, equal to about USD 0.5) did not get any success as the first one.

2002-2004: Thanh Lam - Hà Trần

In October 2002, Hà Trần and Mỹ Linh went to San Jose, California, USA for a charity show. The show was held by Vnhelp to raise a fund for the poor students. Ha Tran not only performed her hits but also sang many prewar songs, such as "Yêu" (To love) (Văn Phụng), "Hương xưa" (Memory of Incense) (Cung Tiến)... At the same time, a famous rock band of Vietnam The Wall noted that they would only invite Hà Trần in their show but she could not participate.

November 2002, Ha had her great performance with Ian Shaw in the special show held by British Council. She suddenly inspired and filled in with several folk songs with Ian Shaw.

In 2003, her voice appeared in the album vol.3 of Quoc Bao - Bình yên (Peaceful) with the songs: "Bình yên, Gió" (Windy), "Tình ca" (Love Song), "Là yêu chưa từng yêu" (To love as the beginner), "Tình ơi" (Dearest). "Bình yên" a duet song with her father - Trần Hiếu – received many supports and good complements from the audience. Her voice in the song of "Là yêu chưa từng yêu" was taken in to Hotel Vietnam album of Japanese musician, Makoto Katoba.

In April 2003, she suddenly appeared in the second live show of The Wall band with the song "Khám phá" (Discovery) as a female rocker.

In August 2003, she was invited as a judge of Sao Mai Singers’ Contest (former name: National Music Festival of VTV) when she was only 26, the youngest judge in the history of this national music contest.

In October 2003, Ha held a live show in the series of Âm nhạc và những người bạn (Music and friends show) with theme of Colors. This show was supported by Vietnam Televisionand live broadcasted on VTV3 channel with the participation of Ha's friends: Trần Hiếu, Trần Tiến, Thanh Lam, Phương Thanh, Nguyễn Ngọc Ánh, 5 Dòng Kẻ, etc.

In 2004, Ha cooperate with her closed friend, Diva Thanh Lam, to release the album Thanh Lam - Hà Trần. The album included songs written by Trịnh Công Sơn, Thuận Yến, Kim Ngọc, Niels Lan Doky, Lê Minh Sơn and Thanh Lam (Thanh Lam wrote some songs for this album). Most of songs in this album were duet, Ha Tran had 3 solo songs "Sao đổi ngôi" (Kim Ngọc), "Chạy trốn" (Lê Minh Sơn) and "Trái tim lang thang" (Thanh Lam). At the same time, Ha also participated in Nghiêng nghiêng rừng chiều album of Nguyễn Cường with 2 songs "Cho tình yêu bay lên bồng bềnh" and "Để em mơ".

In October 2004, Ha Tran participated in the Lời của giòng sông - Trịnh Công Sơn and guitar. The album included 5 classic solo guitar song and 8 songs with singer and guitar, in which Hà Trần sang 4 Tình xa, Tình nhớ, Mưa hồng, Xin trả nợ người.

Ha got married in 2004 with an Oversea Vietnamese in the USA. Then, she moved to the USA with her husband.

2004-2005: Hà Trần 98-03

Since moving to the USA, Ha coordinated with Thuy Nga and had some performances in Paris by Night.

In 2005, Ha release Hà Trần 98-03. The album included hits of Ha Tran from 1998 to 2003 which were remixed: Mùa xuân gọi, Phố nghèo, Dòng sông mùa thu, Sắc màu, Chuyện tình thảo nguyên (Trần Tiến), Lời chưa nói (Xuân Phương - theme of drama Phía trước là bầu trời), Mưa tháng giêng (Việt Hùng - Nguyễn Việt Chiến), Tình ca, Em về tóc xanh, Em về tinh khôi (Quốc Bảo), Hoa gạo (Ngọc Đại - Phan Huyền Thư)... The album was also released in the USA under name of Sắc màu - Tình ca by Thúy Nga and was added a song Tiến thoài lưỡng nan . The album has 3 tracks recorded with some American musicians in 510 Studios, Fremont, California.

In July 2005, she performed in Miss Vietnamese USA Contest. In 11/2005, Ha came back Vietnam to perform as main actress in the musical Mythology Night dedicated to Trinh Cong Son by Phuong Nam Film. She sang three songs: Nắng thuỷ tinh (duet with Quang Dũng), Lời thiên thu gọi, Tự tình khúc (with 5 Dòng kẻ).

2006: Communication 06

In September 2006, Ha released the 5th album Communication 06 (Đối thoại 06). This album was the first album produced by Hà Trần Productions (a company found by Ha Tran since 2005) implemented with her coordinators: musician Trần Tiến, Nguyễn Xinh Xô, Thanh Phương, Ben Doan (her husband), and 2 American sound engineers John Vestman and Max Neutra. The album was recorded at Kingkong Music Group (North Hollywood), Sound Matrix and Vestman Studio in Orange County, California and was published by Viết Tân Studio. The album was also released in the USA, and was sale on some website, such as CDBaby, Amazon, Target.

Communication 06 deemed to be the conversations between Eastern music (Vietnam) and Western music (The USA), between 2 musician generations Nguyễn Xinh Xô and Trần Tiến. The album was an indie album and subjected to genre of ambient/triphop/electronic, including songs of Trần Tiến (Ra ngõ mà yêu, Bình nguyên xa vắng, Mưa bay tháp cổ, Lữ khách sông Hồng and Quê nhà) and Nguyễn Xinh Xô (Giấc mơ lạ, Nước sâu). Besides album had 3 instrumentals: Tiếng gọi (The Calling) by Ben Doan & Hà Trần, outro Quê nhà(Nolstagia) by Thanh Phương and Without by Ben Doan & Ha Tran.

After release, the album caused many debates and controversies in Vietnam on the value of such music. The album also drew the interest of both audiences and music critics with different comments. For all that, Hà Trần won the pride for the Best Album of Cống Hiến Contribution Awards (Culture and Sport Newspaper).

Beside album Communication 06, Ha also dedicated some songs for album of Van Tuan Anh -Giao khúc biển cả và núi đồi.

2007: Tình ca qua thế kỷ (Century of love songs)

In 2007, Ha participated in Paris by Night 90, 88, 86, 85, 84, 83, 82, 78. She had 2 duet song with Bằng Kiều in his album - Vá lại tình tôi: Bây giờ tháng mấy (Từ Công Phụng) and Cho quên thu đau thương (Main dans la main). She acted as judge again in the PBN Talent Show. Hà also participated in the debut album of new singer Hòa Trần by duet song Lời ru cho con (Lullaby) (Xuân Phương). Ha Tran, Thanh Lam and Tùng Dương also performed in the album of musician Trần Viết Tân - Biệt.

In July 2007, Ha Tran production cooperated with Thúy Nga to release album Tình ca qua thế kỷ (century of love songs). This album included prewar songs of Từ Công Phụng, Ngọc Bích, Đức Huy, Tùng Giang, Trịnh Công Sơn, Đoàn Chuẩn, Ngô Thụy Miên, Nguyễn Ánh 9, arranged by Thanh Phương, Nguyễn Xinh Xô, Nguyễn Nhân, Shane Barber. The album had some records of live performance in Paris by Night: Tình khúc tháng 6 and Đường xa ướt mưa – duet with Bằng Kiều (PBN82), Cô đơn - Nguyễn Ánh 9 (PBN83), Giọt lệ thiên thu – duet with Khanh Ly, guitar Thanh Phương (PBN84). Especially, Cô đơn (Alone) was her great performance and musician Nguyễn Ánh 9 considered Ha Tran as greatest voice for this song. However, this album was only published in the USA because of some political issues.

2008: Trần Tiến

In 2008, Hà Trần Production released album the first musician's album Trần Tiến. Beside Hà Trần, the album was also contributed by Tùng Dương, Hòa T. Trần and David Trần. This album also expressed the maturity of Ha Tran's voice, sweet, feeling and sophistical and showed a different master picture of Trần Tiến. In this album Hà Trần skillfully used her voice as an instrument, she sang as she talked, naturally and balance in emotion. Album Trần Tiến was arranged with the concept of colors, theme and style of Trần Tiến.

In September 2008, Ha participated in her close friend's album Đỗ Bảo Thời gian để yêu. The songs Bài ca tháng 6 (Song for June) and Câu trả lời (The answer) were not catch-ear songs but they suddenly inspired Vietnamese audience right after release. Song for June was her perfect performance and was considered by Đỗ Bảo as the mutual understanding between the song writer and singer. At the end of 2008, Ha perform her dancing and singing in PBN95 with song Ra ngõ mà yêu (Leaving the alley).

In March 2009, album "Tran Tien" was nominated for 2008 Best Album of Cong Hien Contribution Awards (Culture and Sport Newspaper). Voting was done by music critics and newspapers/magazines in Vietnam. "Tran Tien" lost by 6 votes to first place winner Do Bao album "Thoi gian de yeu".

Awards

Album Tran Tien received second place category the Best Album of Contribution Awards, 2008.

Album Communication 06 won the Best Album of Contribution Awards in 2006 and Top 10 Albums by Labor Newspaper and Album of the year on Nhacso.net dedicated by online viewers, 2006.

Album Nhật Thực (Solar Eclipse) with Ngọc Đại, Đỗ Bảo and Vi Thùy Linh was voted as cultural phenomenon by National Newspapers, 2002.

Most favorite singer of Mai Vang Awards (Golden Orchid Awards), 2000.

Top 10 Vietnamese Singers since 1998 by FM Radio South Vietnam.

Most Favorite Television Performer by Hanoi Broadcast Center, 1997

Best Recording Artist by Vietnam Musician Association, 1996.

Gold Medal of National Professional Voices, 1995.

Third Place of the Oriole Singer "Tiếng hát Vàng Anh" held by Japan Television NHK and Horitro Productions, 1995.

First Class of National Student Voices Festival, 1994.

Most Potential Face of Hanoi Best New Voice, 1993.

Albums

Solo albums

Tran Tien (2008).

Century of love songs (2007) – Only in the USA.

Communication 06 (2006)

Ha Tran 98-03 (in Vietnam) and Colors – Love songs (in the USA) (2005)

Solar Eclipse (2002)

Love song for beauty (2000)

Purity (1999)

Collaborations

Do Bao's abum 'Time for love (2008)

Do Bao's abum Bow (2004)

Thanh Lam - Ha Tran (2004)

Lullaby for your eyes - with Vũ Quang Trung and Trần Mạnh Tuấn (2001)

Self portrait - with Tran Tien (2000)

Wake up eglantine - with Bang Kieu (1998)

Featured in 3 Quoc Bao's album Binh Yen (Peaceful 2002), Vang Son (2000), Ngoi hat ca benh bong (1999) and many more....

References

External links

Trang web của Hà Trần

Trần Thu Hà tại MySpace

Trang chủ của Hà Trần Production

Category:Vietnamese singers Category:1977 births Category:Living people

Caption	Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Birth place	Alsace, France
Style	Contemporary French cuisine, Thai-inspired French fusion cuisine, American Nouvelle cuisine
Education	Culinary school in Perpignan, France
Ratings
Restaurants	JoJo, Vong, Jean Georges, Mercer Kitchen, Spice Market, Perry Street, Matsugen (New York City), Prime (Las Vegas), Jean Georges Steakhouse (Las Vegas), Vong's Thai Kitchen (Chicago), Chambers Kitchen (Minneapolis), Market (Paris and Boston), Cafe Martinique, Dune (Bahamas), V, Rama (London), Jean-Georges (Shanghai), Lagoon (Bora Bora)
Website	http://www.jean-georges.com/

Jean-Georges Vongerichten () is a French chef. He was born in Alsace, France in 1956 and now resides in the United States of America. Vongerichten commands restaurants in culinary capitals Las Vegas, London, Paris and Shanghai, as well as New York's Jean Georges restaurant. He is author of four cookbooks, two with Mark Bittman.

Early life

Born and raised on the outskirts of Strasbourg in Alsace, France, Vongerichten’s earliest family memories are about food. The Vongerichten home centered around the kitchen, where each day his mother and grandmother would prepare lunch for the almost 50 employees in their family-owned business. His love for food cemented his choice of career at the age of 16, when his parents brought him to the 3-star Michelin-rated Auberge de l’ill for a birthday dinner.

Culinary education

Vongerichten began his training soon after in a work-study program at the Auberge de l'ill as an apprentice to Chef Paul Haeberlin. He went on to work with the top chefs in France, including Paul Bocuse and Louis Outhier at L’Oasis in the south of France. Often working with Outhier, Vongerichten opened 10 restaurants around the world from 1980 to 1985, including the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, the Meridien Hotel in Singapore, and the Mandarin Hotel in Hong Kong. Vongerichten and Suarez opened a bistro, JoJo, in 1991. JoJo was named Best New Restaurant of the Year, and earned three stars from The New York Times, in which Food critic Ruth Reichl claimed: "His food took my breath away".

Vong

His next venture, Vong, paid homage to his passion for the spices and flavors of the East. Using over 150 different herbs and spices to create his take on Thai-inspired French cuisine, the menu at Vong impressed critics, earning another three-star review from The New York Times for his "explosive flavorful food". In an adjacent space to Vong, Vongerichten also opened The Lipstick Cafe, catering to the midtown business crowd and serving breakfast and lunch in a casual, upscale setting. The Lipstick Cafe has since closed. In November 2009 it was revealed that the struggling restaurant was closing at its longtime location indefinitely after it decided not to renew the lease.

Trump Tower location

In March 1997, Vongerichten opened Jean Georges restaurant in the Trump International Hotel and Tower, earning a four star review from The New York Times less than three months after opening, and the "Chef of the Year Award" from John Mariani at Esquire. Jean Georges Restaurant remains one of five restaurants in the city awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide.

Frank Bruni of The Times said it offers “accessible elegance,” providing “classic French indulgence with a contemporary flair.” The restaurant trades “the richness of traditional French cooking for a different kind of intensity,” he added — it eliminates “thick sauces and embraces oils and broths, preferring them for their lightness and for the way they release their scents, like the perfume of lemon grass that rose from a bath of Asian herbs and seeds around a delicately baked lobster tartine.”

Expanding the brand

A year and a half later, Vongerichten opened a second Vong in the Knightsbridge area of London, earning a three-star review and the 1996 vote for the Evening Standards "Newcomer of the Year". In September 1997, he opened Vong in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong, which Robb Report awarded "Best Restaurant in the World" award in 1998. A fourth Vong in Chicago, partnering with restaurant corporation Lettuce Entertain You and Geoff Alexander to become VTK (Vong's Thai Kitchen) in 2002. This change was to make the signature Jean-George style available to a wider audience at a more accessible price point. All three additional Vongs, including VTK, have since closed.

Vongerichten followed with The Mercer Kitchen, opened in July 1998, in the stylish Mercer Hotel in Soho. This venture features an American-Provincial menu and ‘communal’ style tables in the open kitchen area. Another addition is the Prime Steakhouse in Steve Wynn’s Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, which opened in October 1998.

Vongerichten opened Spice Market (Southeast Asian street food) in 2004 and Perry Street in 2005 (French-American) in NYC, as well as the Chambers Kitchen in Minneapolis in 2007.

In 2008 Jean Georges teamed up with the Matsushita Brothers from Tokyo to open Matsugen. Matsugen's cuisine focuses on Japanese Soba dishes, but also served sushi and other traditional items including shabu-shabu and sukiyaki.

Vongerichten has no plans to slow down his expansion. His latest projects for 2009 include Jean-Georges at Aria in Las Vegas, a restaurant in the Mark Hotel in NYC, a Market and Spice Market in the W Hotel in Doha and a J&G; Steakhouse in Scottsdale, Arizona and Washington, D.C.. J&G; Steakhouse opened opposite the White House in the W Hotel on July 8, 2009.

Starwood Hotels

Vongerichten and partner Phil Suarez have formed a new company with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Catterton Partners, a consumer-focused private-equity firm which will own, operate, manage and license restaurants in Starwood properties as well as freestanding concepts not attached to the hotel giant's lodging outlets. The deal calls for seven Spice Markets and other concepts world wide. The total number of eating destinations could total 56 with this contract. The first to open were two Spice Markets at the W Hotel in both Atlanta and Istanbul, respectively.

J&G; Steakhouse (Scottsdale)

Vongerichten opened his newest steakhouse in December 2008 atop The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Described as a "sleek, sexy, glamorous restaurant, floor to ceiling windows frame the dramatic views of the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. With fare consisting of steaks and seafood, the restaurant has received 4 stars from the Arizona Republic and is regarded as one of the top 3 steakhouses in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.

Vancouver restaurant

Vongerichten opened a restaurant at the Hotel Shangri-La Vancouver, a luxury hotel that Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts opened in 2009. “Market by Jean-Georges” is the first collaboration between Shangri-La and Vongerichten and is the famous chef's first involvement with Canadian or west coast dining.

Jean-Georges Steakhouse

Vongerichten is set to open a namesake restaurant inside Aria, one of the first properties to open in the newly-built CityCenter on the Las Vegas Strip. The restaurant will feature fine steaks served on hot lava rocks as well as sustainable and organic ingredients.

Market (Boston)

In November 2009 Vongerichten opened 'Market' in Boston's new W Hotel, with the intention of it being "a combination of food market and the market of art, which changes every month".

Spice Market (New York)

Jean Georges offers bento box lunches, which run $24.07 for an entree, dessert and drink.

Management

In September, 2008, Vongerichten agreed to settle a lawsuit for $1.7 million filed by staff who claimed tips from several of his restaurants had been redirected to managers.

Influence

New York wrote that in the past two decades, no single chef has had more influence on the way New Yorkers dine out—or on the way other chefs cook and other restaurants look. “He invented America’s answer to nouvelle cuisine,” says Mario Batali. “When I first came to New York, his book Simple Cuisine was the holy grail for young chefs, and JoJo was the hottest ticket in town.”

In June 2009, Jean Georges catered a dinner party at the home of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Guests included New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and former President Bill Clinton.

Family

He is married to Marja Allen. His has three children with Marja their names are Chloe, Cedric and Louise.

Books

Simple to Spectacular (co-authored with Mark Bittman) (2000), ISBN 0-7679-0360-9

Jean-Georges: Cooking At Home with a Four-Star Chef (co-authored with Mark Bittman) (1998), ISBN 0-7679-0155-X

Simple Cuisine: The Easy, New Approach to Four-Star Cooking (1991), ISBN 0-13-195059-2

Asian Flavorings of Jean-Georges (October, 2007)

See also

French cuisine

Thai cuisine

References

External links

Biography at Starchefs

Official website

Official blog

Facebook

Jean-Georges's Asian Fusion Cuisine

Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:People from Bas-Rhin Category:French chefs Category:Michelin Guide starred chefs

Name	Gia Long
Title	Emperor of Vietnam
Caption	Emperor Gia Long
Succession	Emperor of Nguyễn Dynasty
Reign	1802–1820
Full name	Nguyễn Phúc Chủng Nguyễn Phúc Noãn Nguyễn Phúc Ánh
Predecessor	Tây Sơn Dynasty
Successor	Minh Mạng
Spouse	Tống Thị Lan Trần Thị Đang Lê Thị Ngọc Bình
House	Nguyễn Dynasty
Anthem	Đăng đàn cung
Date of birth	8 February 1762
Date of death	February 03, 1820
Place of burial	Thien Tho Tomb
Father	Nguyễn Phúc Luân
Mother	Nguyễn Thị Hoàn
Posthumous name	Thế Tổ Cao Hoàng đế
Temple name	Thế Tổ
Era name	Gia Long
Era dates	1801–1820

Emperor Gia Long (Hán tự: ; 8 February 1762 – 3 February 1820), born Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (Hán tự: , often referred to simply as Nguyễn Ánh), was an emperor of Vietnam. Unifying what is now modern Vietnam in 1802, he founded the Nguyễn Dynasty, the last of the Vietnamese dynasties.

A nephew of the last Nguyen Lord who ruled over southern Vietnam, Nguyen Anh was forced into hiding in 1777 as a fifteen year old when his family was slain in the Tay Son revolt. After several changes of fortune in which his loyalists regained and again lost Saigon, he befriended the French Catholic priest Pigneau de Behaine. Pigneau championed his cause to the French government—and managed to recruit volunteers when this fell through—to help Nguyen Anh regain the throne. From 1789, Nguyen Anh was once again in the ascendancy and began his northward march to defeat the Tay Son, eventually moving by 1802 to the border with China, which had previously been under the control of the Trinh Lords. When this was over, he had reunited Vietnam after centuries of internecine feudal warfare with a greater land mass than ever before, stretching from China down to the Gulf of Siam.

Gia Long's rule was noted for its Confucian orthodoxy. He repealed Tay Son reforms and reinstated the classical Confucian education and civil service system. He moved the capital from Hanoi south to Huế as the country's populace had also shifted south over the preceding centuries, and built up fortresses and a palace in his new capital. Using French expertise, he modernized Vietnam's defensive capabilities. In deference to the assistance of his French friends, he tolerated the activities of Roman Catholic missionaries, something that became increasingly restricted under his successors. Under his rule, Vietnam strengthened its military dominance in Indochina, expelling Siamese forces from Cambodia and turning it into a vassal state.

Early years

Born on 8 February 1762, Nguyen Anh was the son of Nguyen Phuc Luan and Nguyen Thi Hoan. Luan was the designated heir of Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat of southern Vietnam. However, a high-ranking mandarin named Truong Phuc Loan changed Khoat's will of succession on his deathbed, and installed Luan's younger brother Nguyen Phuc Thuan on the throne in 1765. Luan was jailed and died in the same year.

However, Thuan lost his position as lord of southern Vietnam and was killed during the Tay Son rebellion led by the brothers Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue and Nguyen Lu in 1777. Nguyen Anh was the most senior member of the ruling family to have survived the Tay Son victory, which pushed the Nguyen from their heartland in central Vietnam, southwards towards Saigon and into the Mekong Delta region in the far south. a French priest who became his adviser and played a major part in his rise to power. Pigneau hoped that by playing a substantial role in a Nguyen Anh victory, he would be in position to lever important concessions for the Catholic Church in Vietnam, helping its expansion in South East Asia.

In late-1777, the main part of the Tay Son army left Saigon to go north and attack the Trinh Lords, who ruled the other half of Vietnam. Nguyen Anh stealthily returned to the mainland, rejoining his supporters and reclaimed the city. He was crucially aided by the efforts of Do Thanh Nhon, who had organized an army for him, which was supplemented by Cambodian mercenaries and Chinese pirates. The following year, Nhon expelled further Tay Son troops from the surrounding province of Gia Dinh, and inflicted heavy losses on the Tay Son naval fleet. Taking advantage of the more favorable situation, Nguyen Anh sent a diplomatic mission to Siam to propose a treaty of friendship. However, this pact was derailed in 1779 when the Cambodians held an uprising against their pro-Siamese leader Ang Non. Nguyen Anh sent Nhon to help the uprising, which saw Ang Non defeated decisively and executed. Then, in 1781, Nguyen Anh sent further forces to prop up the Cambodian regime against Siamese armies who wanted to reassert their control.

In October 1782, the tide shifted again, when forces led by Nguyen Phuc Man, Nguyen Anh's younger brother, and Chau Van Tiep drove the Tay Son out of Saigon. Nguyen Anh returned to Saigon, as did Pigneau. To make matters worse, the Tay Son regularly raided the rice growing areas of the south during the harvesting season, depriving the Nguyen of their food supply. Nguyen Anh eventually came to the conclusion that using Siamese military aid would generate a backlash amongst the populace, due to prevailing Vietnamese hostility towards Siam. This came about after Nguyen Anh had considered enlisting English, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish assistance. Pigneau advised against Nguyen Anh's original plan to seek Dutch aid from Batavia, fearing that the support of the Protestant Dutch would hinder the advancement of Catholicism. The French administration in Pondicherry, led by acting governor Coutenceau des Algrains, was conservative in outlook and resolutely opposed intervention in southern Vietnam. To compound the already complex situation, Pigneau was denounced by Spanish Franciscans in the Vatican, and he sought to transfer his political mandate to Portuguese forces. The Portuguese had earlier offered Nguyen Anh 56 ships to use against the Tay Son.

In July 1786, after more than 12 months of fruitless lobbying in Pondicherry, Governor de Cossigny allowed Pigneau to travel back to France to directly ask the royal court for assistance. Arriving at the court of Louis XVI in Versailles in February 1787, Pigneau had difficulty in gathering support for a French expedition in support of Nguyen Anh. Pigneau told the court that if France invested in Nguyen Anh and acquired a few fortified positions on the Vietnamese coast in return, then they would have the capability to "dominate the seas of China and of the archipelago", and with it, control of Asian commerce. However, Pigneau found that Governor Thomas Conway of Pondicherry was unwilling to fulfill the agreement; Conway had been instructed by Paris to determine when to organize the aid, if at all. He also managed to procure several shipments of arms and munitions from Mauritius and Pondicherry. and that more Tay Son troops were being evacuated from Gia Dinh by their commander Dang Van Tran in order to aid Nguyen Nhac. Sensing Tay Son vulnerability in the south, Nguyen Anh assembled his forces at home and abroad in preparation for an immediate offensive. The combined forces helped to consolidate Nguyen Anh’s hold on southern Vietnam. The exact magnitude of foreign aid and the importance of their contribution to Gia Long's success is a point of dispute. Earlier scholars asserted that up to 400 Frenchmen enlisted,

Consolidation of southern Vietnam

The French officers enlisted by Pigneau helped to train Nguyen Anh's armed forces and introduced Western technological expertise to the war effort. The navy was trained by Jean Marie Dayot, He taught the troops various methods of manufacturing and using European-style artillery and introduced European infantry formations and tactics. Pigneau and other missionaries acted as business agents for Nguyen Anh, purchasing munitions and other military supplies. Upon Pigneau's death, Pigneau was buried in the presence of the crown prince, all mandarins of the court, the royal bodyguard of 12,000 men and 40,000 mourners.

Fortifications

Following the recapture of Saigon, Nguyen Anh consolidated his power base and prepared the destruction of the Tay Son. His enemies had regularly raided the south and confiscated the annual rice harvests, so Nguyen Anh was keen to strengthen his defense. One of Nguyen Anh's first actions was to ask the French officers to design and supervise the construction of a modern European-style citadel in Saigon. The citadel was designed by Theodore Lebrun and de Puymanel, with 30,000 people mobilized for its construction in 1790. The fortress was bordered on three sides by pre-existing waterways, bolstering its natural defensive capability. Following the construction of the citadel, the Tay Son never again attempted to sail down the Saigon River and try to recapture the city—its presence having endowed Nguyen Anh with a substantial psychological advantage over his opponents. Nguyen Anh took a keen personal interest in fortifications, ordering his French advisors to travel home and bring back books with the latest scientific and technical studies on the subject.

Agrarian reform and economic growth

With the southern region secured, Nguyen Anh turned his attention to agrarian reforms. Due to Tay Son naval raids on the rice crop via inland waterways, the area suffered chronic rice shortages. Although the land was extremely fertile, the region was agriculturally underexploited, having been occupied by Vietnamese settlers only relatively recently. Furthermore, agricultural activities had also been significantly curtailed during the extended warfare with the Tay Son. Nguyen Anh's agricultural reforms were based around extending to the south a traditional form of agrarian expansion, the đồn điền, which roughly translates as "military settlement" or "military holding", the emphasis being on the military origin of this form of colonization. These were first used during the 15th century reign of Le Thanh Tong in the southward expansion of Vietnam. The central government supplied military units with agricultural tools and grain for nourishment and planting. The soldiers were then assigned land to defend, clear and cultivate, and had to pay some of their harvest as tax. In the past, a military presence was required because the land was being seized from the conquered indigenous population. Under Nguyen Anh's rule, pacification was not usually needed but the basic model remained intact. Settlers were granted fallow land, given agricultural equipment, work animals and grain. After several years, they were required to pay grain tax. The program greatly reduced the amount of idle, uncultivated land. Large surpluses of grain, taxable by the state, resulted. The food surplus allowed Nguyen Anh to engage in welfare initiatives that improved morale and loyalty among his subjects, thereby increasing his support base. The surplus grain was deposited in granaries built along the northward route out of Saigon, following the advance of the Nguyen army into Tay Son territory. This allowed his troops to be fed from southern supplies, rather than eating from the areas that he was attempting to conquer or win over. Newly acquired regions were given tax exemptions, and surrendered Tay Son mandarins were appointed to equivalent positions with the same salaries in the Nguyen administration. By 1792, fifteen frigates were under construction, with a design that mixed Chinese and European specifications, equipped with 14 guns. The Vietnamese learned European naval architecture by dismantling an old European vessel into its components, so that Vietnamese shipbuilders could understand the separate facets of European shipbuilding, before reassembling it. They then applied their newfound knowledge to create replicas of the boats. Nguyen Anh studied naval carpentry techniques and was said to be adept at it, and learned navigational theory from the French books that Pigneau translated, particularly Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert's Encyclopédie. The Saigon shipyard was widely praised by European travelers. the European-style vessels in the Nguyen fleet inflicted hundreds of losses against the Tay Son in 1792 and 1793. He then quickly overran the north, with Hanoi captured on 22 July 1802. After a quarter-century of continuous fighting, Gia Long had unified what is now modern Vietnam, The French failure to honour the treaty signed by Pigneau meant Vietnam was not bound to cede the territory and trading rights that they had promised.

Rule

Gia Long's rule was noted for its strict Confucian orthodoxy. Upon toppling the Tay Son, he repealed their reforms and reimposed a classical Confucian education and civil service system. He moved the capital from Hanoi in the north to Hue in central Vietnam to reflect the southward migration of the population over the preceding centuries. The emperor built new fortresses and a palace in his new capital. Using French expertise, Gia Long modernised Vietnam's defensive capabilities. In deference to the assistance of his French friends, he tolerated the activities of Catholic missionaries, something that was increasingly restricted by his successors. Under Gia Long’s rule, Vietnam strengthened its military dominance in Indochina, expelling Siam from Cambodia and turning it into a vassal. Despite this, he was relatively isolationist in outlook towards European powers.

Administrative structure

, the longest-serving and the last military protector of the four provinces of Cochinchina.]] During the war era, Nguyen Anh had maintained an embryonic bureaucracy in an attempt to prove his leadership ability to the people. Due to the incessant warfare, military officers were generally the most prominent members of his inner circle. This dependency on military backing continued to manifest itself throughout his reign. Each of these ministries had around 70 employees assigned to various units. The provinces were classified into trấn and dinh. These were in turn divided into phủ, huyện and châu.Tonkin, with the administrative seat of its imperial military protector (quan tổng trấn) at Hanoi had thirteen provinces (tổng trấn Bắc Thành), and in the Red River Delta, the old officials of the Le administration continued in office. In the south, Saigon was the capital of the four provinces of Cochinchina (tổng trấn Nam Hà), as well as the seat of the military protector. The citadels in the respective cities directly administered their military defense zones. This system allowed Gia Long to reward his leading supporters with highly powerful positions, giving them almost total autonomy in ordinary administrative and legal matters. This system persisted until 1831–32, when his son Minh Mang centralized the national government. When Gia Long unified the country, it was described as Charles Maybon as being chaotic: "The wheels of administration were warped or no longer existed; the cadres of officials were empty, the hierarchy destroyed; taxes were not being collected, lists of communal property had disappeared, proprietary titles were lost, fields abandoned; roads bridges and public granaries had not been maintained; work in the mines had ceased. The administration of justice had been interrupted, every province was a prey to pirates, and violation of law went unpunished, while even the law itself had become uncertain.” Furthermore, Cambodia had been periodically invaded by both Vietnam and Siam. Cambodia lurched uneasily between both poles of domination as dictated by the internal strife of her two larger neighbors. In 1796, Ang Eng, a pro-Siamese king had died, leaving Ang Chan, who was born in 1791. When Gia Long unified Vietnam, Eng was given investiture by Siam in order to hold out Vietnamese influence, Gia Long responded by sending an ambassador bearing the book of investiture, together with a seal of gilded silver. In 1812, Ang Chan refused a request from his brother Ang Snguon to share power, leading to a rebellion. Siam sent troops to support the rebel prince, hoping to enthrone him and wrest influence from Gia Long over Cambodia.

Napoleon's aims to conquer Vietnam as a base to challenge British supremacy in India never materialized, having been occupied by vast military ambitions on mainland Europe. Gia Long was generally dismissive of European commercial overtures. This was part of a policy of trying to maintain friendly relations with every European power by granting favors to none. In 1804, a British delegation attempted to negotiate trading privileges with Vietnam. It was the only offer of its kind until 1822, such was the extent of European disinterest in Asia during the Napoleonic Wars. Gia Long had purchased arms from British firms in Madras and Calcutta on credit, prompting the British East India Company to send John Roberts to Hue. However, Roberts's gifts were turned away and the negotiations for a commercial deal never started. The United Kingdom then made a request for the exclusive right to trade with Vietnam and the cession of the island of Cham near Faifo, In 1817, the French Prime Minister Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis dispatched the Cybele, a frigate with 52 guns to Tourane (now Da Nang) to "show French sympathy and to assure Gia Long of the benevolence of the King of France". The captain of the vessel was turned away, ostensibly on grounds of protocol for not carrying a royal letter from the French king.

Gia Long kept four French officers in his service after his coronation: Philippe Vannier, Jean-Baptiste Chaigneau, de Forsans and the doctor Despiau. All became high ranking mandarins and were treated well. They were given 50 bodyguards each, ornate residences and were exempt for having to prostrate before the emperor. Recommendations from French officials in Pondicherry to Napoleon Bonaparte suggesting the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Vietnam were fruitless due to the preoccupation with war in Europe.

Domestic policies and capital works

Gia Long abolished all large landholding by princes, nobles and high officials. He dismantled the 800-year old practice of paying officials and rewarding or endowing nobles with a portion of the taxes from a village or a group thereof. Existing highways were repaired and new ones constructed, with the north-south road from Saigon to Lang Son put under restoration. He organised a postal service to operate along the highways and public storehouses were built to alleviate starvation in drought-affected years. Gia Long enacted monetary reform and implemented a more socialized agrarian policy. There was little emphasis on innovation in agricultural technology, so the improvements in productivity were mainly derived from increasing the amount of cultivated farmland.

Although the civil war was over, Gia Long decided to add to the two citadels that had been built under the supervision of French officers. Gia Long was convinced of their effectiveness and during his 18-year reign, a further 11 citadels were built throughout the country. De Puymanel and Lebrun left Vietnam before the end of the war, so the forts were designed by Vietnamese engineers who oversaw the construction. The position of Citadel Supervision Officer was created under the Ministry of War and made responsible for the work, underlining the importance that Gia Long placed on fortifications. Gia Long's fortifications program was marred by accusations that the people labored all day and part of the night in all weather conditions, and that as a direct consequence, land went fallow. Complaints of mandarin corruption and oppressive taxation were often levelled at his government. In 1804, Gia Long promulgated edicts establishing similar schools in the provinces, and guidelines to regulate their staff and curriculum. He appointed Directors of Education (quan đốc học) to oversee the provincial education system and the selection process for the entrance examinations into the National Academy, beginning in 1802. The directors were assisted by Subordinate and Assistant Directors (phó đốc học or trợ-giáo). Gia Long explained to his court in 1814 that the goal was to create a cadre of classically educated, politically loyal administrators:

Gia Long promulgated a new legal code to replace the system that had existed since the Hong Duc era of Le Thanh Tong in the 15th century. It focused on strengthening the power and authority of the emperor, his mandarins, and the traditional family unit. In cases of serious crimes, particularly those against the state, collective punishment was meted out to the family of the convict, including the death penalty.

Now that Vietnam was unified, the center of gravity of the country was further to the south following centuries of southerly migration and conquest, The structure was a square shape of 2.5 km per side. A 9 m rampart was cased with masonry and protected by protruding bastions, each defended by 36 guns.

Gia Long tolerated the Catholic faith of his French allies and permitted unimpeded missionary activities out of respect to his benefactors. The missionary activity was dominated by the Spanish in Tonkin and French in the central and southern regions. However, he expressed dismay at the Catholic condemnation of the traditional ancestral worship, a basic tenet of Vietnamese culture. Gia Long was also known for his disdain for Buddhism, the religion practiced by the majority of the population. Despite its popularity among ladies of the court, Gia Long often restricted the activities of Buddhists.

In August 1802, Gia Long retaliated against the captured Tay Son leadership who had executed his family in the 1770s. The surviving members of the family and its leading generals and their families were executed. The remains of Quang Trung and his queen were exhumed and desecrated, and his son, the last Tay Son monarch Quang Toan was bound to four elephants and torn apart.

Family and succession

Gia Long had three wives. In 1780, during the war against the Tay Son, he married Tong Thi Lan, the daughter of a Nguyen general. She bore him two sons, the first being Crown Prince Nguyen Canh, and later Nguyen Phuc Chieu, who died shortly after birth. Following Gia Long's ascension to the throne, she became Empress Thua Thien. Sometime during the war with the Tay Son, he married his second wife Tran Thi Dang, a daughter of one of his ministers. She bore him three sons, Nguyen Phuc Dam, Nguyen Phuc Dai and Nguyen Phuc Chan, and was posthumously given the title of Empress Thuan Thien. After his conquest of Vietnam, Gia Long, took his third wife, Le Ngoc Binh. A daughter of Le Hien Tong, the second-last emperor of the Le Dynasty, she was betrothed by Emperor Quang Trung to his son Quang Toan. After Gia Long defeated the Tay Son and executed Quang Toan, he took her as his wife. Binh bore him two princes, Nguyen Phuc Quan and Nguyen Phuc Cu, and princesses An Nghia Ngoc Ngon and My Khue Ngoc Khue. Gia Long had almost 100 concubines who were daughters of his mandarins; Gia Long did not favour polygamy but he did so to secure the loyalty of his inner circle. Gia Long chose him for his strong character and his deep aversion to westerners, whereas Canh's lineage had converted to Catholicism and were reluctant to maintain their Confucian traditions such as ancestor worship. Before his ascension, Nguyen Phuc Dam was reported to have praised the Japanese for having expelled and eradicated Christianity from their country. Gia Long told his son to treat the Europeans respectfully, especially the French, but not to grant them any position of preponderance.

Notes

References

Category:1762 births Category:1820 deaths Category:Gia Long Category:Nguyễn Dynasty emperors

Name	Don "The Nuge" Nguyen
Birth place	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Death date
Other names	The Nuge, Pho King Nuge, Don the Nuge
Known for	Ollie down El Toro
Occupation	Professional skateboarder

Don "The Nuge" Nguyen, is an American pro-skateboarder from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma., currently residing in California. He currently rides for Baker skateboards and played Shogo Kubo in Lords of Dogtown. Don also played bass for American Ruse and can been seen playing bass as part of the LSDemons (along with Justin (Figgy) Figuero and Thomas Bonilla).

Filmography

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |- style="text-align:center;" ! colspan=3 style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film and video |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="background:#ccc;"| Year ! style="background:#ccc;"| Title ! style="background:#ccc;"| Company |- | 2002 || Hollywood Promo || Hollywood Skateboards |- | 2003 || Oklahomies || TDS |- | 2003 || On Video – Winter 2003 || On Video Magazine |- | 2005 || Lords of Dogtown || Sony Pictures |- | 2006 || 411 Video Magazine #66 || 411VM |- | 2007 || 411 VIdeo Magazine Volume 14, Issue 3 || 411VM |- | 2007 || Thrasher King of the Road 2007 || Thrasher Magazine |- | 2007 || Cataclysmic Abyss || Foundation Skateboards |}

References

External links

Don's Official Blog

Baker Official Site

Foundation Skateboards Official

American Ruse MySpace

Category:American skateboarders Category:People from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Category:Living people