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Showing posts from August, 2024

Hanoi’s Charming Streets: A Walker’s Paradise for Foreign Visitors

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“A sensory overload of vibrant sights, enchanting sounds, and delectable flavors” is how a Travel2Next author described Hanoi, Vietnam’s captivating capital. A serene corner of Hanoi. Credit: Chuyen cua Ha Noi Group “Hanoi is an extraordinary city that leaves an indelible impression, whether it’s your first or tenth visit. It offers a unique glimpse into Vietnam’s rich culture and history,” wrote India-Jayne Trainor, a British-Australian writer, in her captivating article titled ‘Unveiling the Charms of Hanoi: Where to Stay and Why.’ Despite its tumultuous history, Hanoi has emerged as a bustling metropolis that seamlessly blends the old and the new. Visitors are treated to a unique contrast of elegant cafes and restaurants alongside ancient temples and pagodas that bear witness to the city’s rich cultural heritage. “Navigating Hanoi can be a daunting task, especially for first-time visitors. With its bustling streets and myriad attractions, choosing the right place to...

Berlin’s Biggest Vietnamese Market: Experience the Vibrant Cultural Festival

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The annual four-day summer festival, which kicked off on July 25, was a celebration of Vietnamese culture and community in Berlin. The event featured a diverse range of live performances, including music, art, comedy, dance, and culinary delights, showcasing the vibrant fusion of Vietnamese and German cultures. One of the highlights was a special film program presenting award-winning short films and exclusive pre-screenings of the new series, “Made in Germany,” directed by the talented Vietnamese-German director, Ngo Ngoc Duc. The festival also marked a significant milestone—the 20th anniversary of the shopping center’s founding. Nguyen Van Hien, the general director, reminisced about the challenges and triumphs of the center’s journey, now a thriving and unique presence in the multicultural landscape of Berlin. The Mayor of Lichtenberg, Martin Schaefer, acknowledged the district’s evolution, home to Dong Xuan and the largest Vietnamese community in Berlin, shaped by the immigrants ...

The Ancient Art of Vietnamese Ceramics: A Philatelic Tribute

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The ‘National Treasures’ stamp series, designed by Vietnamese artist Nguyen Du in collaboration with Vietnam Post, showcases four remarkable ceramic artifacts through intricate stamp designs. Each stamp, measuring 37×37 mm, highlights the rich history and cultural significance of these artifacts, providing a glimpse into Vietnam’s vibrant cultural tapestry. The first stamp in the series features the Dau Ram Ceramic Vase, an artifact dating back over 3,000 years to the late Phung Nguyen culture. Discovered in 1998 at the Dau Ram archaeological site in Quang Yen town, Quang Ninh province, this unique vase is now housed in the Quang Ninh Museum. With its national treasure status recognized in December 2018, the vase stands as a testament to Vietnam’s ancient cultural heritage. Moving on to the second stamp, we find the Long Thanh Terracotta Vase Collection, comprising 18 exquisite vases that embody the artistic prowess of the Sa Huynh culture. These vases, preserved at the Quang Ngai ...

A Week of Vietnamese Culture in Scandinavia

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The upcoming event marks a significant milestone: 55 years of strong diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Sweden, with a cultural celebration extending to Denmark. This cross-country collaboration will feature performances by talented artists from the Vietnam National Academy of Music, alongside international performers. The shows will showcase a diverse range of musical styles, including traditional Vietnamese instruments, jazz, and classical music, creating a unique blend of cultures. As part of the celebrations, a special music gala will be held in Stockholm to commemorate the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Sweden diplomatic relations. This gala promises to be a highlight of the event, bringing together the very best of both countries’ musical heritage. Additionally, Vietnamese artists will participate in a cultural exchange at the Malmö Academy of Music in Sweden. This exchange will foster a deeper understanding and friendship between the two nations, providing a platform for arti...

The UNESCO-Approved Guide to Preserving and Developing Imperial Citadels

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At the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in New Delhi, India, a significant move was made to recognize Vietnam’s achievements in fulfilling its commitments to preserving and promoting its cultural heritage. The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, has been a testament to Vietnam’s dedication to safeguarding its rich history. The WHC highly appreciated Vietnam’s efforts and approved a dossier on the preservation and promotion of the site’s values. This decision is expected to facilitate the restoration of the Kinh Thien Palace, a primary relic within the citadel. Ha Kim Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, emphasized the importance of this dossier, highlighting the WHC members’ praise for Vietnam’s willingness, seriousness, and responsible spirit in cooperating with the World Heritage Centre and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (IC...

The Ultimate Security Team: Snipers, Divers, and AI Unite for the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

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The numbers only partially convey the massive effort to safeguard the river parade on the Seine, a groundbreaking departure from traditional stadium openings for the Summer Olympics. France is deploying approximately 45,000 police and paramilitary officers, supplemented by 10,000 soldiers and 20,000 private security guards, to ensure the event’s security. This operation focuses on an extensive area along the Seine, spanning over six kilometers (four miles), which will host 300,000 ticketed spectators. Additionally, the area will be bustling with hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists occupying the overlooking buildings. As a precautionary measure, a no-fly zone with a radius of 150 kilometers will be imposed over Paris an hour before the ceremony commences at 7:30 pm (1730 GMT). This will lead to the grounding or diversion of flights at one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs. On Wednesday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin described the opening ceremony to BFM television as “t...

A Taste of Kindness: Free Meals for the Needy in Southern Vietnam

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A heartwarming initiative is bringing smiles and warmth to those in need in Thuan An City, Vietnam. On Phan Chu Trinh Street, in Lai Thieu Ward, a unique kitchen has opened its doors, offering a haven of love and compassion. This “Kitchen of Love” welcomes the disadvantaged, the elderly, poor children, and those struggling to make ends meet, such as lottery ticket vendors, low-income employees, and motorbike taxi drivers. With a focus on community and charity, the kitchen provides free, nutritious meals to those who need them most. Xuyen, a 65-year-old motorbike taxi driver, and his wife, who sells lottery tickets, are regular visitors. They shared their gratitude for the kitchen, explaining how it has helped them save money and enjoy delicious, safe meals. The couple is just one of many who benefit from this generous initiative. Xuyen, a friendly motorbike taxi driver, is a familiar face at the Kitchen of Love in Binh Duong Province. His warm smile and kind heart make him a...

Celebrating Tet Doan Ngo: A Journey Through Unique Traditions

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Experience Vietnam’s Captivating Capital: Hanoi I hope that was helpful! Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to improve this or if you have any other requests. You may also like Painting contest held for buffaloes joining ploughing festival in Ha Nam A buffalo painting contest for the Doi Son Tich Dien (ploughing) Festivalwas held on February 10, or the sixth day of the Lunar New Year in Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district, the northern province of Ha Nam. Pho Hien folk cultural festival kicks off in Hung Yen The Pho Hien Folk Cultural Festival opened in the northern province of Hung Yen on April 21. Sam Son sea festival slated for April 21 The 2018 sea festival of Sam Son city of the north central coastal province of Thanh Hoa will take place on April 21, heard a press conference held in the city on April 12. Ha Long Carnival opens in Quang Ninh The Ha Long Carnival, a highlight of the Ha Long – Quang Ninh tourism week 2...

The Secret to Reviving Vietnam’s Iconic Floating Market

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A number of floating markets are in danger of fading into obscurity as boat, vendor, and buyer numbers dwindle, resulting in a decline in trade. As a director of a hospitality services company in Phong Dien District, Can Tho City, Martin Stiermann, a German national, shared his insights and recommendations with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on how to restore the bustling atmosphere of the floating markets in the Mekong Delta. “I’ve noticed the changes in Cai Rang Floating Market over the years,” he said. At a conference several months ago, I suggested that the floating market should not be enclosed by concrete. However, the construction of a high anti-erosion embankment has now deterred boats and traders from coming.” The decreasing number of boats at the floating market has led to a less vibrant trading environment and a subsequent drop in tourism. While Cai Rang Floating Market, one of Can Tho City’s main attractions, has undergone significant changes, Phong Dien Floating Market c...