Hanoi

Hanoi Book Street is currently hosting an exhibition known as “Be the change” which features a number of displays of items made from plastic waste. Following a year long hiatus, the Davines Art Series has returned for this year in a much larger scale and has so far attracted plenty of visitors. A puppetry character by artist Do Hiep made out of an array of colourful straws. The straws have been collected from coffee shops throughout Hanoi. At first, the character was 1.9 metres in height, but due to being exhibited at the unique event, the artist increased the height to 3.5 metres. A bespoke piece created by artist Pham Tran Quan depicts a person who is tired of plastic pollution. The artwork has been created by filling the outline of a person with plastic waste such as straws, nylon bags, and plastic bottles. A floral arrangement by artists Flinh and Dang Thuy Anh sends a message to viewers of the need to live green and protect the earth. Each plant … [Read more...] about Unique exhibition showcasing recycled plastic opens in Hanoi

Hanoi's railway street’ was once world famous as the perfect spot for selfies.  Lê Minh Thúy sits on the railway track to take her wedding pictures despite potential danger.  Every day, hundreds of tourists would perch precariously on the tracks to get their Instagram-ready shot. But now, they may be looking to another site in the city. In October, to ensure safety, authorities took the decision to restrict access to the track running through the capital and close cafes that had sprung up alongside. The move means those in search of the best backdrop for their wedding shoots have shifted slightly down the track – to a bridge that’s a big part of the city’s history. Long Biên Bridge, which opened in 1903, is one of Hà Nội’s iconic sites and attracts waves of foreign and local selfie-seekers. For most, the beauty of the location outweighs concerns over safety. Trương Văn Quyên, a resident of … [Read more...] about Selfie seekers change tracks to Hanoi’s Long Bien Bridge

The event to launch the international photo contest 'Proud of Hanoi' on October 18 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – An international art photograph contest titled “Tu hao Ha Noi” (Proud of Hanoi) was launched in the capital city on October 18. The competition is jointly held by the city’s Department of Culture and Sports, the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA), the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition (APE), and the Hanoi Association of Photographic Artists. Photos must capture the beauty of Hanoi and Hanoians and convey messages themed around either “Thang Long, Hanoi a thousand years of culture”, “the Heroic Capital”, “the city for peace”, “Hanoi: integration and development”, or “Hanoi-Green-Clean-Beautiful.” Both amateur and professional photographers in Vietnam and overseas are eligible to submit their works. Each contestant is allowed to send a maximum of two entries … [Read more...] about Hanoi-inspired international photography contest launched

Air pollution in Hanoi soared to the most hazardous level since the beginning of 2019 on Tuesday morning, according to the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA). The Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at one VEA-run monitoring station on Nguyen Van Cu Street in Long Bien District hit 341 as of 6:00 am. At other locations in the Vietnamese capital city, AQI hovered above 200. An AQI of 201-300 is considered dangerous to health, according to the VEA website. Records from other independent air quality analysis systems, such as PAMAir, showed similar AQI levels, which are also the highest in 2019 to date. The general public “should greatly reduce outdoor exertion” while sensitive groups “should avoid all outdoor activity,” the VEA advised. Hanoi has experienced four air pollution spells since the beginning of 2019, but AQI records never climbed to such alarming levels as they did on Tuesday morning. “This is the first time I’ve seen such hazardous air … [Read more...] about Hanoi’s air pollution reaches worst level since year-start

Urban waste is collected in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The Hanoi People’s Committee has asked all of its organisations and agencies to refrain from using plastic bags and single-use plastics starting from this month. Luu Thi Thanh Chi, deputy head of the Hanoi Environment Protection Division, told reporters at a recent press conference that the municipal People’s Committee has approved a plan to reduce plastic waste in the capital. It was the latest effort by authorities to combat "white pollution" in the city that sees about 80 tonnes of plastic and nylon bags discarded every day, not all of which can be properly collected or treated. According to Chi, the Hanoi People’s Committee demanded that 100 percent of the city organisations stop using polyethylene (PE) plastic bags – the most common type but takes the longest time to decompose – and single-use plastics products from November. The committee also set the goal of reducing … [Read more...] about Hanoi’s agencies requested to stop using single-use plastics