Cold war vs hot war

For Thien, the official visit to Vietnam by U.S. President Joe Biden earlier this month was not only an important event between Vietnam and the U.S., but a memorable milestone in his life. At the National Assembly Building on September 11, Thien received his war diary lost during a battle in Tay Ninh that borders HCMC in 1967, as witnessed by Biden and National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. "I couldn’t have imagined ever receiving my lost diary from the war around 60 years ago. It was truly surprising and moving. For me, it was an invaluable relic," said Thien, 75. Thien was born in northern Thai Binh Province and joined the army in 1965, at the age of 17. He brought with him a diary to recount what happened during his march into the southeastern Vietnam battlefield. "I want my descendants to know how their forefathers used to face dangers and hardship," he said. He would often sit down and write in his diary one or two days into the march, or when emotions ran … [Read more...] about How a Vietnam War diary found its way home after 56 years

THE HAGUE -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) said on Tuesday its computer system had been hacked, a breach at one of the world's most high-profile international institutions and one that handles highly sensitive information about war crimes. The ICC said it had detected unusual activity on its computer network at the end of last week, prompting a response that was still ongoing. A spokesperson declined to comment on how serious the hack was, whether it has been fully resolved, or who might be behind it. "Immediate measures were adopted to respond to this cybersecurity incident and to mitigate its impact," the ICC said in a short statement. The ICC is the permanent war crimes tribunal in the Dutch city of The Hague, established in 2002 to try war crimes and crimes against humanity. Prosecutors at the court are currently conducting 17 investigations into situations in Ukraine, Uganda, Venezuela, Afghanistan and the Philippines, among others. Highly sensitive documents at … [Read more...] about War crimes tribunal ICC says it has been hacked

At the Vietnam - US defence dialogue. (Photo: nhandan.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and US Assistant Secretary of Defence Dr Ely Ratner co-chaired the annual Vietnam – US Defence Policy Dialogue in Washington, D.C on September 19 (local time). Commending positive defence cooperation between the two countries in the past year, Chien and Ratner said post-war recovery cooperation has continued to be a pillar and a bright spot in the bilateral relations, helping build trust and foster mutual understanding between the two sides. Chien took this occasion to thank the US for increasing its non-refundable aid from 183 million USD to 300 million USD for the project to clean up dioxin-contaminated soil at the Bien Hoa Air Base, describing it an important resource to complete the first phase of the project. Vietnam will continue creating favourable conditions for the search for US soldiers missing in action … [Read more...] about Vietnam, US hold annual defence policy dialogue

To mark Mid-Autumn Festival, the people with Teochew heritage from China in Ho Chi Minh City often exchange boxes of crispy-shelled pia , filled with green beans, taro, and salted eggs. Trieu An, the owner of Trieu Minh Hiep pia shop in District 6, notes the rarity of handmade pia cakes in the city. These cakes hold an enduring place in Teochew culture, gracing weddings and Lunar New Year holidays for generations. The name pia itself is derived from the Teochew dialect, meaning cake. In contrast to the popular Cantonese-style mooncakes, pia cakes are mainly reserved for Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations among Teochew people. Within each box, diners will find four pia cakes, each adorned with a golden crust. A box of four Teochew handmade pia cakes at Trieu Minh Hiep Bakery in HCMC's District 6. Photo by VnExpress/Bich Phuong. Pia first made their way to southern Vietnam in the 17th century, brought by the Minh Huong people, a group of Chinese nationals who … [Read more...] about Timeless flavors: 75 years of handmade Teochew pia cakes in Saigon

The renowned food-store has won the hearts of many Hanoian generations with its only kind of foodstuff for over 70 years. The Banh cuon , or steamed rice crepe, is not a luxury food but has become favorite of not only Vietnamese but also foreign visitors to Hanoi. The Banh cuon Ba Hoanh restaurant is always packed with diners at the weekend. Photo: Duy Khanh “I feel like I’ve just swallowed a piece of ‘silk’,” Marco Lipuma- a friend of our family from Germany exclaimed as soon as he tried his first bite of the Banh cuon . “It’s outstanding, cool and very...slippery,” he said. After his first taste in early this year, within the following months he’d tried it countless more times. “I don’t like food with rich protein, so this is a good choice and I think it’s also a perfect detox food after so many giant feasts,” he stated. Truong Kim Dung, a customer of Banh Cuon Ba Hoanh eatery said that she tried the dish some 30 years ago when she got … [Read more...] about [Quintessence of Hanoi’s cuisine] “Banh Cuon Ba Hoanh”: Gorgeous decades-long delicacy of Hanoi

During the dialogue, the two head delegates evaluated that on the basis of the outcomes of the previous dialogue in 2022, such fields as settlement of war legacy, U.N. peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, navigation security, defense industry, cyber security, military medicine have been carried out as planned and reaped positive results. Among them, the cooperation in addressing war legacy has continued to be a pillar and a bright spot in the bilateral relations, helping build trust and strengthen mutual understanding between the two sides, raising the significance of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Vietnam - U.S. comprehensive partnership (2013 - 2023). On behalf of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (MND), Gen. Chien thanked the U.S. side for officially increasing the non-refundable aid for the Bien Hoa airport dioxin cleanup project from USD 183 million to USD 300 million according to the Limited Scope Grant Agreement (LSGA) on the project … [Read more...] about Vietnam, U.S hold defense policy dialogue 2023

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (third, left) and US senators. (Photo: VNA) Washington D.C. (VNA) – The establishment of the Vietnam -US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development will open up a new period for the enhancement of bilateral relations across spheres, including cooperation between the two legislative bodies, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at a meeting with leaders of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington D.C. on September 19. During the meeting, part of his trip to the US for the high-level week of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly and bilateral activities, Chinh affirmed that Vietnam considers the US a partner of strategic importance. He used the occasion to thank the US Senate in general and its Foreign Relations Committee in particular for their support for promoting the Vietnam-US relations over the past time, including the settlement of war … [Read more...] about Prime Minister meets leaders of US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

During the meeting, part of his trip to the U.S. for the high-level week of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly and bilateral activities, Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam considers the U.S. a partner of strategic importance. He used the occasion to thank the U.S. Senate in general and its Foreign Relations Committee in particular for their support for promoting the Vietnam - U.S. relations over the past time, including the settlement of war consequences. The support and cooperation of the two countries’ legislatures plays a crucial role in concretizing new collaboration frameworks and areas of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the time ahead, the leader stressed. Pham Minh Chinh called on the committee to further support joint efforts in fostering cooperation in economy-trade-investment, and other fields like science-technology, innovation, semiconductor industry, energy transition, and climate change response, while stepping up assistance to … [Read more...] about Prime Minister meets leaders of U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu (R) welcomes Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko arrived in Hanoi on September 20 afternoon, starting their official visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations (1973-2023). The visit is hoped to contribute to further deepening the friendship between the Vietnamese and Japanese people as well as the ties between the two countries. Japan is one of the leading important and long-term partners of Vietnam. During Vietnam's 35-year path of Doi Moi (Renewal) and 50-year ties between the two countries, Japan has always supported Vietnam in international integration and socio-economic development. Particularly in recent years, the bilateral Extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia has seen strong and comprehensive progress. Japan … [Read more...] about Japanese Crown Prince, Crown Princess’s Vietnam visit to reinforce bilateral ties

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung addresses the event. (Photo: VNA) Washington D.C. (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy in the US in collaboration with the US Institute of Peace organised a banquet on September 19 evening to celebrate the 78th National Day of Vietnam and the newly-elevated Vietnam-US relationship to a  comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. The event was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is on a US trip for the 78th United Nations General Assembly and bilateral activities in the country, his entourage, and nearly 30 US guests who are senior officials of the US administration and parliament, and representatives of businesses and organisations, along with scholars and US friends. Opening the event, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung highlighted the significant of the National Day of Vietnam and the elevation of the Vietnam-US ties during the Vietnam visit by US President Joe Biden . He thanked US friends and … [Read more...] about National Day, elevation of Vietnam-US ties celebrated in Washington