Category: Sports

HCM City: Nguyen Hue flower street in Ho Chi Minh City attracted over 1.2 million visitors from February 7-14 (from the 28th day of the 12th lunar month to the 5th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Dragon).

The flower street was organised by Saigontourist Group under the direction of the HCM City People’s Committee, and supported by agencies and departments.

According to the organiser, about 10 million images relating to the flower street have been posted on the media and social networks during the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

Seensio Go app – an AI-powered Augmented Reality app for Vietnam’s most visited landmarks, starting with Nguyen Hue walking street have recorded tens of thousands of downloads. App users can witness a dragon fly over the iconic tourist site during Tet, snap selfies with SeensioGo-specific characters and share them on social networks.

Pham Huy Binh, Chairman of the Saigontourist Group, said that the flower street clean-up will be finished by February 16 morning instea
d of February 15 as previously planned. Meanwhile, the two dragon mascots at the street welcome gate will be kept until the end of the first lunar month./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hung Yen: Aside from the archaic and solemn landscape, Nom Pagoda in Van Lam district of northern Hung Yen province is also home to valuable objects which are old statues dating back centuries.

Also known as ‘Linh Thong Co Tu’, the pagoda is part of the relic complex of Nom village in Dai Dong commune. It is a famous Buddhist facility with many old features kept intact in the northern region.

According to the writing on the stone stele kept at the pagoda, the pagoda was re-built in 1680, but no one knew exactly when it came into being. In the late 18th century, a bell tower and two corridors were added to the construction, which later continued to be repaired during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 – 1945).

Undergoing numerous ups and downs in history as well as natural impacts, the pagoda is still standing today and preserving some of the oldest statues in the Red River Delta. It is also associated with many legends that have added to its attractiveness to visitors from far and wide.

The local elderly said once
upon a time, a Buddhist monk while sleeping at Dau Pagoda suddenly woke up at midnight and saw bright light in the south. He followed the light to a pine forest where this light became an aureole. Believing that this was a good omen from the Buddha, the monk built a pagoda there and named it ‘Linh Thong Co Tu’ (Ancient pagoda of sacred pine forest).

Nom Pagoda covers an area of 15 hectares and has the ‘noi cong ngoai quoc’ architectural structure, which means the inner parts are arranged in the shape of the Chinese character ‘gong’ (?, called ‘cong’ in Vietnamese) while the outer parts arranged in the shape of a square like the Chinese character ‘guo’ (?, called ‘quoc’ in Vietnamese).

Passing the three-door gate, visitors can see the bell and drum towers opposite to each other on the two sides of the gate. There is a crystal clear lake next to the bell tower, opening up a tranquil space for the pagoda.

Aside from the antique and solemn landscape, Nom Pagoda is also preserving valuable objects which are old
statues dating back centuries.

Though this area often suffers from flooding, the old statues here are still maintained. Their original red lacquer trimmed with gold remains, which many historical and architectural researchers haven’t been able to explain.

Nom Pagoda is currently home to more than 100 old statues made of clay, but there hasn’t been exact information about the time and process of their creation. Some researchers believe that these statues were made during the Ly – Tran dynasties (the 11th – 13th century).

Most of the statues were made of terracotta in a meticulous manner, and each of them features different a posture and facial expression. They are considered an illustration of the development of the art of ceramic and terracotta making in Vietnam’s history.

In addition, this pagoda also boasts a garden of old three-story grave towers made from laterite stone.

Another thing that helps attract visitors to Nom Pagoda is a nine-span stone bridge with dragon head decorations built about 200 ye
ars ago over the Nguyet Duc River.

This pagoda has long been a witness to history and accompanied local residents in both wartime and peacetime. Its sacredness seems to have been deeply infused into each roof tile, wooden object, and statue.

Alongside the development and integration of the contemporary culture, Nom Pagoda and many other Buddhist ones in Vietnam have still been preserved, helping to enrich people’s spiritual life and also create momentum for the Vietnamese culture to develop./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: A special display featuring the national education history during the royal period is opening at the Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in the centre of Hanoi.

The exhibition themed Khoi Nguon Dao Hoc (Initial Sources of Education) highlights the outstanding contributions of prestigious people in the “historical flow” of Vietnamese education.

It includes more than 300 documents and artefacts with contents showcased in four parts to feature and recreate life of honourable people including kings and scholars, such as kings Ly Thanh Tong (1023-1072), Ly Nhan Tong (1066 – 1128) and Le Thanh Tong (1442 – 1497), Scholar Chu Van An (1292-1370) and other influential people such as Queen Mother Y Lan, and academics Le Van Thinh, Than Nhan Trung and Luong The Vinh.

Speaking at the opening ceremony held early this month by the Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam Cultural and Scientific Centre (VCSC), Do Dinh Hong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, said through the displayed documents and arte
facts, a heritage space will be created serving well the needs of visitors to learn about the contributions of academic luminaries to education and fostering talents, and their lessons are still valuable in today’s social life.

Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the VCSC, said the exhibition was carried out by officials and staff of the centre with the help of Vietnamese scientists and experts from France.

The exhibition tells the stories of three kings, a queen, a scholar teacher and doctorates. They all have virtue and high intellect, sharing the same vision of school and education – factors that enable us to move towards a more peaceful, prosperous and equitable society, according to Kieu.

The event also helps the public better understand the history and development of Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam, the first national university, as well as the ancient Vietnamese education and examination system during the royal period.

Amélie, a representative for Beau Design, the foreign unit which carried out the Khoi Nguon Dao Hoc
project, said that the display content aims to honour five famous people who strived to turn education into a core foundation of the Dai Viet nation.

The content is associated with the history of Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam. It is also a continuation of the exhibition space themed “Quoc Tu Giam – The First National University” to further spread the values of the relic site, and honours its status as the first national school in the royal period, according to Amélie.

Amélie also said the display gathered maximum historical data and arranged the spaces to convey the values of intellect and memory.

With a contemporary, formal and sustainable style of expression, the design focuses on the theme of education through artefacts and associated values that attract visitors, especially young people, through interactive forms of expression, she added.

The colours used for the display are reminiscent of past dynasties while artefacts such as the students’ desks or desks in the kings’ study rooms are arranged to spread the
image of famous people’s efforts and spirit of learning during the royal era.

The exhibition content also aims to present famous people not as monarchs but as exemplary role models, according to Amélie./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A six-day spring festival officially opened at NovaWorld Phan Thiet tourism and entertainment economic city in the south central province of Binh Thuan on February 12 (the 3rd day of the first lunar month), expected to attract more visitors to the province.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Phan Thiet city People’s Committee Phan Nguyen Hoang Tan stressed that the Vibe Fest, featuring an array of stellar art programmes and fascinating entertainment activities, marks the start of a series of large-scale tourism events that Binh Thuan will hold in 2024 to realise it set target of 9.5 million tourist arrivals this year.

Meanwhile, Dennis Ng Tech Yow, General Director of Novaland Group – the developer of NovaWorld Phan Thiet, said that the group stands ready to join hands with the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and localities to organise tourism promotion activities.

NovaWorld Phan Thiet, with various novel and modern amenities already or to be put into operation, is hoped to not only t
urn tourism into an economic spearhead in Binh Thuan but also help put Vietnam in the group of 30 countries with leading competitive tourism capacity in the world, he said.

A kaleidoscope of activities are organised within the Vibe Fest, including Hip-hop, Rap and dance shows, folk and modern games for both individuals and groups, and music and circus festivals.

Besides, a food festival is arranged at the Miami night fair with more than 100 stalls displaying regional staples and cuisines.

Visitors also have many opportunities to have an exchange with renowned artisans and calligraphers. /.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Four Vietnamese dishes have made the list of “67 Best Chicken Dishes in Asia” compiled by cuisine magazine TasteAtlas.

Lemongrass chicken, chicken curry, shredded chicken salad, and boiled chicken were at the 34th, 40th, 59th, and 61st places, respectively, in the list.

Lemongrass chicken, a popular dish in the Mekong Delta, is made by marinating the meat in a mixture of lemongrass, chili, shallot, garlic, sugar, salt, oil, turmeric powder, and fish sauce.

The chicken is then stir-fried and simmered until tender, and usually served with hot rice or noodles.

Vietnamese chicken curry is an adaptation of the Indian variety, and the meat is cooked with potato, carrot, onion, garlic, coconut milk, chicken broth, and flavoring like lemongrass, fish sauce, bay leaf, and curry powder.

It is served with white rice or bread.

Shredded chicken salad is a blend of sweet, savory, crunchy and tangy ingredients like boiled chicken, carrot, onion, cilantro, mint, and, occasionally, cabbage.

The ingredients are m
ixed in a bowl and dressed with a mixture of lime juice, fish sauce, chili, garlic, and sugar. It is garnished with roasted peanuts and crispy fried shallot before serving.

Boiled chicken involves cooking a whole chicken with ginger, salt, scallion, and turmeric powder, giving it a golden appearance. After boiling, the chicken is cooled in ice water to halt the cooking process and prevent darkening.

The dish is often accompanied by a salt and lime dip and served with sticky rice.

The top five chicken dishes in Asia are Korean fried chicken, Indian butter chicken and tikka (boneless chicken roasted over charcoal in the traditional cylindrical clay oven), Indonesian ayam goreng (fried chicken seasoned with spices), and crispy fried chicken of Guangdong (China) which is a traditional dish of the Cantonese cuisine./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: UNESCO Representative to Vietnam Jonathan Wallace Baker has highlighted Vietnam’s remarkable achievements at the organisation last year as evidence of its active participation, enormous potentials, and valuable experiences.

The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Office in Hanoi said in a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of Tet or Vietnamese Traditional Lunar New Year that the year 2023 marked a series of highlights that Vietnam had achieved at the UN cultural agency, with the nation for the first time serving in five institutional structures of the organisation.

Vietnam currently serves as members of UNESCO Executive Board for the 2021-2025 tenure, World Heritage Committee 2023 – 2027 and UNESCO 2003 Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention’s Intergovernmental Committee 2022 – 2026.

The Southeast Asian country also acts as Vice Chair of UNESCO Committee for Protection of Cultural Expression Diversity for the 2021 – 2025 tenure a
nd is one among 31 Vice Presidents of the UNESCO’ General Conference from 2023.

The year also saw Vietnam expanding its UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), with the recognition of Hoi An – an ancient city in the central province of Quang Nam – in craft and folk arts, and Da Lat – the largest city of the Central Highlands region – in music.

Meanwhile, the progenitor of Vietnamese traditional medicine Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac (1724 – 1791) was included in the list of eminent personalities and historical events commemorated in 2023 – 2024 passed by the UNESCO General Conference at its 42nd session in Paris last November.

According to the UNESCO representative, these achievements are certainly the evidence that Vietnam has convinced other member states of its active participation to all mechanisms of UNESCO, as well as preparation of quality dossiers that could demonstrate the enormous potentials and the valuable experiences that the nation could bring and contribute to the common knowledge and values
upheld by UNESCO and all its member states.

‘Most recently, the fact that Vietnam has been elected in the World Heritage Committee while it has already been serving in many other convention mechanisms indicated that it gained a high level of trust as well as the international expectations for its potential contributions,’ he said.

He went on noting that: ‘As suggested by UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay during her official visit to Vietnam and meeting with H.E Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, we hope that Vietnam could consider to host the international committee meetings which would be much meaningful during its serving terms for the demonstrations of the practical results of the UNESCO Conventions in the national context. I believe those opportunities would be highly appreciated by all other Member States and international delegates.’

‘Vietnam has been a pioneer Member State in initiating the forums on the UNESCO designations and sustainable development,’ Baker said, referring to the country’s effor
ts in preserving and harnessing UNESCO designations for economic development.

He held that each designation under different framework and mechanisms shall follow the respective operational guidelines. Some required highly monitored preservation work such as the World Heritage sites, of which the listed attributes of Outstanding Universal Values must not be undermined or diluted for any reasons; while other designations are completely open to the idea of promoting and enabling the innovation and culture creativity such as the UNESCO Creative Cities or UNESCO Learning Cities.

‘There is no such one size fits all approach for all types of UNESCO designations and I find that the Vietnamese Government, together with various local partners have placed a great importance in the ultimate goal of ensuring sustainability in all programmes and actions,’ he added.

According to him, that long-term vision would be fundamental for guiding immediate plans which seek to foster the creativity, mobilise the dynamics of cultur
al and social capitals and the young talents and creative businesses without scarifying the valuable heritage and other natural assets for the shortsighted decisions.

Talking about Vietnam’s potentials and advantages regarding cultural industry development, he said cultural and creative industries are not merely conduits of economic growth, but are pivotal to a holistic model of sustainable development. These industries resonate across the foundational facets of economic, environmental, cultural, and social sustainability.

‘Vietnam demonstrates notable potentials to be further explored. The country’s historical and cultural landscape is interwoven with the dynamic threads of cultural and creative industries. These industries not only serve as vehicles for economic prosperity but also as guardians of tradition, fostering social cohesion, and driving sustainable practices,’ he noted.

According to Baker, Hanoi is one of the country’s pioneers in development of cultural industry policies, thanks to its rich ta
pestry of cultural resources including thousands of heritage sites, traditional craft villages, and an emerging community of designers and innovators and creative spaces across the city.

Hoi An, a UNESCO-designated site, harmoniously balances cultural preservation with economic prosperity. The creative economy thrives through traditional crafts and culinary treasures, engaging both local communities and tourists. The town’s architectural treasures, combined with cultural experiences like traditional craftsmanship and culinary delights, magnetize tourists and generate revenue. This synergy vividly portrays the potential of cultural industries to not only invigorate local economies but also safeguard heritage.

‘Pivoting from existing paradigms of cultural and creative industries for sustainable development, Vietnam needs to further capitalise on the potential of culture through cohesive strategies and policies. The following measures suggested by the UN System Task Team on the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda
can serve as a helpful point of reference for public and private stakeholders,’ Baker said.

He gave some suggestions for Vietnam to develop its cultural industries and

enhance the contribution of these industries to the nation’s economy.

First, policy makers should continue integrating culture into governance such as formulation and practice of development programmes and legislations.

Second, a stronger push for culture and creative industries to grow as powerful economic sub-sectors that generate employment, local development and entrepreneurship while taking into account the protection of fragile cultural and heritage assets is necessary.

Third, environment sustainability should become a new focus as sustainable environmental understanding get integrated more consistently into cultural and creative practices.

Last but not least, the local community needs to remain at the centre in culture industries for development paradigms through intercultural dialogue and knowledge transfer for social cohesion and
empowerment, especially among youth and vulnerable groups.

‘At the same time, the specific context of Vietnam and each region working on cultural industries in sustainability should enrich the frameworks above to ensure that policies and incentives are locally aware and based to maximise synergies and progress,’ he concluded./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vientiane: Going to pagodas on the first lunar days remains a tradition of Vietnamese people both at home and abroad, including those in Laos.

On those days, Phat Tich Pagoda in the Lao capital city of Vientiane have welcomed crowds of visitors who come to pray for peace and good health for themselves and their relatives.

Phan Tien Anh, who has lived in Laos for years, said his family has maintained the practice to educate children about Vietnam’s tradition, and pray for a New Year with good health, happiness and peace.

Nguyen Thi Bich Lien, born and raised in Laos, said her family goes to pagodas on the 30th day of the last lunar month, where they can enjoy the sacred atmosphere of Tet.

For every Vietnamese citizen, the cultural beauty of going to pagodas at the beginning of a lunar year is not only a tradition but also an occasion for families to pass on Tet (Lunar New Year) values to future generations./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency