Of particular note is a collection of more than 2,000 unique works from lacquer artist Nguyen Tan Phat , with each sculpture and lacquer creation having its own colour and cultural story. Phat began the collection nearly 2 years ago. There is no template, with each work a unique version with its own colour and charisma and inspired by daily life and folklore. In his talented hands, Phat breathes life into each statue by combining jackfruit wood and laterite with traditional lacquer art. These works are not only a bridge linking folklore and contemporary culture but also have high applicability. This unique cat statuette can be a display product or a flower vase, a tea table, or a lamp./. VNA … [Read more...] about Vietnamese artist marks Lunar New Year with thousands of carved cats
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Hanoi Party chief attends tree planting festival
The tree planting festival was among the traditional activities during the first days of the Lunar New Year. Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung today [January 28] attended the 2023 New Year tree planting festival at Dinh Cong Thuong, a relic complex in Hoang Mai District. Up to now, the majority of goldsmiths in Hanoi are from Dinh Cong Thuong, one of the three villages that founded Hang Bac (silver) Street (once known for jewelry trading). Dinh Cong Thuong shrine was built in the 17 th century to honor two generals Hoang Cong (son of the 17 th Hung King) and Doan Thuong, while the Dinh Cong Thuong temple worships the three local founders of the jewelry handicraft and remains an attractive tourist destination. The Party chief and the ward's representatives plant a tree. Photos: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times The Hanoi Party chief Dinh Tien Dung and city's officials at the relic complex. The relics are … [Read more...] about Hanoi Party chief attends tree planting festival
Migration significant to Vietnam’s socio-economic development: IOM
Remittances contributed by migrants account for 5% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP). International migration and internal migration in Vietnam have long played a very important role in the country’s socioeconomic development and they will continue to do so. Park Mihyung, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Vietnam, shared that view with The Hanoi Times . Park Mihyung, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Vietnam. Photos: IOM Vietnam “If you look at the GDP, up to 5% of the country’s GDP comes from remittances contributed by international migration and that’s only recorded remittances, so it should be a lot more,” she said. For that reason, when the migration governance is done right and well, there’s a lot of positive development and contributions to Vietnam when they return and with their remittances, Park added. In addition, there’s also a recognition that … [Read more...] about Migration significant to Vietnam’s socio-economic development: IOM
Vietnam spends US$9 billion on oil imports in 2022
South Korea was the largest petroleum supplier of Vietnam, with 3.22 million tons, up 96% year on year. Vietnam imported nearly 8.9 million tons of oil and petroleum products in 2022 worth $9 billion, nearly double that of the previous year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC). Locals buying petrol products at a gas station in Hanoi. File photo In December 2022, the country imported nearly 950,000 tons of oil and petrol products worth $823 million, up 22% in quantity and 11% in value against November. Diesel made up a lion’s share of the imported volume with 4.74 million tons, accounting for 54% of the country's imported petroleum in 2022. In 2022, the country consumed 1.7 million tons of gasoline, 2.3 times more than in 2021; and 1.46 million tons of jet fuel, representing 2.2 times on-year, and 16% of imported oil. South Korea was the largest petroleum supplier of Vietnam, with 3.22 million tons, up more than 96% year on year; … [Read more...] about Vietnam spends US$9 billion on oil imports in 2022
Prime Minister examines Mai Son – National Highway 45 project
The first phase of the 652.86km North-South Expressway has 11 component projects, three of which are invested in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) and the rest, including the Mai Son-National Highway 45 project, are funded with public investment. The Mai Son - National Highway 45 section has a total length of 63.37km and an investment of 12.11 trillion VND (561.03 million USD). Its construction started in September 2020, and is scheduled to complete on April 30, 2023. So far, 83.7% of all workload has been finished. PM Pham Minh Chinh took the occasion to pay New Year visits to workers in some construction sites along the route and relocated residents at the resettlement area in Dong Minh commune, Dong Son district of Thanh Hoa. He later moved on to examine the Dien Chau - Bai Vot project, another component of the North-South Expressway, which connects Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. The PM also had a working session with relevant ministries, sectors and localities on … [Read more...] about Prime Minister examines Mai Son – National Highway 45 project
Hanoi coffee shop among world’s quirkiest: US weekly magazine
"It's not just the coffee," said the American magazine, "but the hundreds of handwritten notes that adorn most every surface." Located at 64 Luong Van Can Street right next to Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake in the heart of Hanoi, the entire coffee shop is covered with colorful post-it notes written by its customers. The notes are mainly inspirational quotes or comments about the lessons of life left by visitors from around the world. The three-story café attracts passers-by with its red signboard, views of Hoan Kiem Lake and nearby pedestrian zone. "Make sure to try a cup of egg coffee, which is more delicious than it sounds," Newsweek recommended. In addition to signature egg coffee, the café serves fresh juice, smoothies, snacks and sweet cakes with prices ranging from VND30,000-50,000 ($1.28-$2.13). The list also included Coffee 101 in Colombia, Majestic Café in Portugal, Café Sofa in the Czech Republic, Blacklist Coffee Roasters in Australia and The Roastery by Nozy Coffee in … [Read more...] about Hanoi coffee shop among world’s quirkiest: US weekly magazine
Vietnam’s famous comedian apologizes to TV audiences
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Van Hoa newspaper published his apology on Friday, which said it was a personal story and not meant to offend anyone. The comedian and director of the Vietnam National Drama Theater had posted "Mother’s slap" three days earlier to seemingly take a potshot at people who criticized his TV show. In the story, a woman cooks "banh chung" (glutinous square rice cake) every year for Tet, but her son, who does not know how to make it himself, always criticizes it. It read: "This year is no exception. At 8pm on Lunar New Year’s Eve, I criticized the cake after the first bite. My mouth has two sides, one to chew on ‘banh chung’ and the other to criticize the cake. "Not really because the cake is not delicious, not necessarily because it is bad, but because it is not what I imagined, it is not what I wanted. I criticize it because I have the right to criticize, because it is my mother’s responsibility to cook cakes as I want them." In the … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s famous comedian apologizes to TV audiences
Vietnamese mathematician receives Clay research fellowship
A screenshot of the Clay Matthematics Institute announcing its new research fellows Paul Minter (L) and Pham Tuan Huy. Pham Tuan Huy was awarded the Clay Research Fellowship along with Paul Minter, the Clay Mathematics Institute announced Friday. Huy would become a Clay Research Fellow for five years starting July 1, the institute said on its website. Those awarded with the fellowship would be provided with salary and research expenses. Huy has become the second Vietnamese to be honored by the institute. Vietnamese-French mathematician Ngo Bao Chau and Gérard Laumon received the 2004 Clay Research Award for their proof of the Fundamental Lemma for unitary groups. Huy, born 1996, will receive his PhD from Stanford University this year. He has published 28 articles on numerous journals on mathematics. He was an alumnus from the VNU-HCM High School for the Gifted, and won gold medals twice at the International Mathematical Olympiad in 2013 and 2014. The Clay Mathematics … [Read more...] about Vietnamese mathematician receives Clay research fellowship
PM examines Mai Son – National Highway 45 project
PM Pham Minh Chinh inspects construction of the Mai Son-National Highway 45 project (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 28 inspected the Mai Son (Ninh Binh province)-National Highway 45 project, a section of the North-South Expressway. The first phase of the 652.86km North-South Expressway has 11 component projects, three of which are invested in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) and the rest, including the Mai Son-National Highway 45 project, are funded with public investment. The Mai Son-National Highway 45 section has a total length of 63.37km and an investment of 12.11 trillion VND (561.03 million USD). Its construction started in September 2020, and is scheduled to complete on April 30, 2023. So far, 83.7% of all workload has been finished. PM Chinh took the occasion to pay New Year visits to workers in some construction sites along the route and relocated residents at the resettlement area in Dong Minh commune, … [Read more...] about PM examines Mai Son – National Highway 45 project
Intertwined opportunities, challenges for Vietnam’s economy in 2023
Vietnam has to deal with one major external challenge and two internal ones, Dr Pham Sy Thanh, Director of the Chinese Economic Studies Program under the Vietnam Institute for Economics and Policy Research, told the Vietnam News Agency. The external challenge is a strong decline in demand for Vietnamese exports. Many export sectors with revenue of over 1 billion USD like wood and apparel recorded their earnings in October and November 2022 falling 30 - 40% year on year and month on month. This indicates that foreign markets are no longer open or attractive enough for exports in 2023. Export contraction will have a huge impact on many social issues, especially lay-offs, job shortages, and unemployment in industrial parks, he pointed out. Among internal challenges, the first is that the handling of wrongdoings in the bond market and the banking system has caused serious disruptions and congestion of the capital flow. Meanwhile, the cost of capital is one of tough barriers to … [Read more...] about Intertwined opportunities, challenges for Vietnam’s economy in 2023