The UN agency said Friday that the practice of singing "Then" met all criteria to merit the recognition. The practice was "part of the spiritual life of the Tay, Nung and Thai people, reflecting the relationship between man, the natural world and the universe," the agency said. It also reflects the cultural identity of the groups - from the music to the musical instruments and the dance that accompanies the singing. The singing of "Then" is a spiritual ritual that seeks peace and happiness for the villages and their people, the UN agency noted. According to the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the ceremonies associated with this singing follow the journey of a "Then" master, who can be a man or a woman, leading an army of soldiers from the earth to heaven with offerings to the gods, presenting hopes of peace, health and happiness in the New Year. When the "Then" master begins to sing, the journey begins with the accompaniment of a … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s “Then” singing an intangible cultural heritage
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Hương Canh ceramic village
Aritisant Nguyễn Hồng Quang works on a ceramic jar. — VNA/VNS Photos Hoàng Hùng Hương Canh ceramic village in Bình Xuyên District, Vĩnh Phúc Province has been famed for its products for more than 300 years. Craftsmen at the village make various ceramic products like pots, jars and food containers of various sizes. Legends have it that more than 300 years ago, after a war, mandarin Trịnh Xuân Biên of the Lê – Trịnh reign visited the site and realised how poor local people were. Customers choose products to buy at a local workshop. He learned the local soil was suitable to making ceramics and he then taught locals how to farm and produce ceramic wares. Though the ceramic handicraft trade in Viet Nam was born later in other villages, people like the simple products from Hương Canh due to the special local green clay that doesn't need a glaze but is still … [Read more...] about Hương Canh ceramic village
Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable export value falls in 11 months
Việt Nam saw a slight decrease in the export value of fruit and vegetables during the first 11 months this year. Photo vietnambiz.vn HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam's fruit and vegetable exports dropped 0.6 per cent year-on-year to US$3.5 billion in the first 11 months this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The drop was attributed to falling earnings from dragon fruit, which accounted for 31 per cent of total fruit exports, (down 9 per cent), durian (down 17.4 per cent), coconut (down 35 per cent), longan (down 56 per cent) and watermelon (down 26.4 per cent). MARD’s Agricultural Products Processing and Market Development Department said the strong decrease in exports to China, which accounted for 66.8 per cent of all fruit and vegetable exports, was also a reason behind the fall. The rise in exports to the US, the European Union, Japan and the Republic of Korea was not … [Read more...] about Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable export value falls in 11 months
Mekong Delta’s main flower, ornamental plant growing district affected by saltwater in rivers
Farmers prepare to sell flowers during the 2019 Tết in Bến Tre Province’s Chợ Lách District. – VNA/VNS Photo Huỳnh Phúc Hậu BẾN TRE – The unusually early saltwater intrusion this year is threatening the farming of flowers and ornamental plants in Bến Tre Province’s Chợ Lách District, the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta’s largest producer of flowers and ornamental plants. Chợ Lách is growing more than 11 million pots of flowers and ornamental plants for Tết (Lunar New Year), which falls on January 25 next year, according to the district Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development. Phan Thị Bé of the district’s Long Thới Commune is worried about a shortage of water to irrigate her 1,000 pots of chrysanthemum since saltwater from the sea has come upriver. Her chrysanthemums are in the budding stage and need a lot of water. She now has to use water … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta’s main flower, ornamental plant growing district affected by saltwater in rivers
Bến Tre develops value chains for key agricultural products
A coconut orchard in Phong Nẫm Commune in Bến Tre Province’s Giồng Trôm District. – VNA/VNS Photo Công Trí BẾN TRE — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bến Tre is focusing on building value chains for its key agricultural products to meet domestic and export demand. The products are coconut, green peel and pink flesh grapefruit, rambutan, longan, ornamental plants and flowers, pigs, cows, and shrimp. The province is the delta’s largest coconut and green peel and pink flesh grapefruit producer. It has more than 28,000ha under fruits and an annual output of more than 300,000 tonnes and nearly 71,000ha of coconut, according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Huỳnh Quang Đức, deputy director of the department, said efficient value chains had been developed for coconuts, green peel and pink flesh grapefruit and longan. The province has 98 co-operative … [Read more...] about Bến Tre develops value chains for key agricultural products