National photography contests

The rice-offering ritual is held before the village elders judge the winners. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - In the quaint village of Thi Cam in Hanoi’s Nam Tu Liem district, a culinary tradition unfolds each Lunar New Year. On the eighth day of the new year, residents gather to participate in a rice cooking contest. This time-honoured event symbolises hope and well-wishes for prosperity and happiness in the whole year. In a tale steeped in legend, General Phan Cong of the 18th Hung King is said to have passed through Thi Cam village while leading his country to victory against the Chinese Shu dynasty. In a show of hospitality, the villagers gathered to offer rice to the victorious soldiers. After his victory, Gen Phan Cong was said to have stayed back in the village, imparting farming knowledge to the locals. In a display of gratitude, each New Year the villagers hold a rice cooking contest in their communal house, commemorating the village's patron saint. The … [Read more...] about Villagers continue traditional rice cooking contest

Speaking at the award ceremony, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue congratulated the winning journalists for having many high-quality works on Party building. He emphasized that the 7th National Press Awards on Party Building with the name of the Bua Liem Vang Awards in 2022 displayed the explorations, discoveries, and creative work of professional and non-professional journalists across the country. The awards’ organizing panel received positive response and active participation from various press agencies, journalists' associations, journalists, and correspondents at home and abroad as well as from people of all ages, all walks of life, diverse professions and educational levels. N.A. Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highly appreciated the efforts of the steering committee and the organizing panel of the National Press Award on Party building, who carried out their tasks in a serious, scientific, professional, and effective manner. He also valued the initiative and … [Read more...] about Winners of 7th National Press Awards on Party Building honored

"What cognac is to France , so the pungent, fermented fish sauce is to Viet Nam : a national treasure that shouldn't be produced anywhere else. And everyone agrees that the best fish sauce, or nuoc mam, comes from the island of Phu Quoc ," said a correspondent of the "Christian Science Monitor". In an article "Vietnamese island guards a national treasure: fish sauce" on March 25, Simon Montlake said: "The islanders use only top-grade black anchovies, natural inputs, and traditional storage methods to make their sauce, as they have done for a century or more." He wrote: "Wherever you travel in Viet Nam , you're never too far from a bottle of fish sauce. It's a protein-rich staple of the cuisine, and a constant companion to any savoury dish. Other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Cambodia produce their own sauces, but nobody does it quite like the Vietnamese." However, he said, Phu Quoc is changing, and so is the fish-sauce industry. … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc island guards a national treasure: fish sauce

VinAI Research Founding Director & CEO Bui Hai Hung presents flowers to speakers, and partners accompanying AI Day 2022 (Photo: VNA). Hanoi (VNA) – Artificial Intelligence (AI) Day 2022 officially opened in Hanoi on August 26, attended by both leading Vietnamese and foreign AI experts. The two-day event is organised by VinAI Research - the tech arm of Vingroup, the biggest conglomerate of Vietnam, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Innovation Centre. It brings together leading researchers, policymakers and practitioners from all over the world to exchange on how AI is transforming societies, economies, and the environment. Under the theme of ‘Empower the Future’, AI Day 2022 features three tracks: AI for Global Equality, AI for Sustainable Development, and AI for Safety. Specifically, during the discussion on AI and Sustainable Development, speakers analyse the social and environmental impacts of designing, developing and … [Read more...] about AI Day 2022 kicked off, seeking ways to develop AI industry in Vietnam

The philosophy that widely adopted in Vietnam demonstrates the close relationship between the two nations which are now leading trade partners of each other in ASEAN. Thailand and Vietnam have as close relationship that has been strengthened through different fields, including some initiated by late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura delivers a speech at the ceremony held in Hanoi on Dec 2. Photos: Minh Nguyen The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) is the typical model found throughout Thailand and widely adopted in Vietnam. According to Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura, SEP is a guideline cultivated by the late King that emphasizes how individuals and communities should establish strong basic economic foundations, through the core principles of moderation, reasonableness, and resilience, in order to ensure sustainable growth. Today, the SEP Project in Vietnam’s Northern Province of Thai Nguyen aims to … [Read more...] about Thailand’s philosophy promoted in Vietnam

During their meeting, FM Son and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn were pleased with the fruitful developments of the bilateral relationship in recent times, and agreed to continue promoting the exchange of high-level visits via all channels, enhancing people-to-people exchange; maintaining and optimizing the effectiveness of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms; fostering economic connections; strengthening cooperation between localities, especially those that share borders; and exerting effort to speed up tourism recovery. They also agreed to accelerate negotiations towards completing the remaining 16% of the land border demarcation and marker planting in order to build a common borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development between the two nations; and closely coordinate at regional and international forums as well as sub-regional mechanisms, and support each other's candidacy to multilateral organizations. Sokhonn … [Read more...] about Foreign Minister meets Cambodian, Philippine, Malaysian counterparts

Located in the northern highlands province of Yen Bai, Mu Cang Chai, home to ethnic minority groups, primarily the Hmong people, is around a seven hours drive northwest of Hanoi. The remote rural district is famous for its terraced rice fields which change color depending on the time of the year, from green in late spring and summer to golden yellow in October during the harvest season. "These rice paddies in Vietnam’s isolated northern reaches have gained Instagram fame for their impressive angles in a topographically challenging region," Condé Nast Traveler said. The magazine urged visitors to explore the rice paddies in early October when the rice harvest begins, and to stop by the fields twice in a day: once early in the morning before the crowds arrive, and a second time at sunset. Around 500 kilometers from Mu Cang Chai, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay, in Quang Ninh Province, is well known for its "blue-green water, and spectacular limestone karst … [Read more...] about Ha Long Bay, Mu Cang Chai among world’s 40 most colorful destinations: US magazine

According to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, the meeting had substantive discussions on key issues, focusing on evaluating the implementation of ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar; regional and international issues; and the relations between ASEAN and partners. Regarding Myanmar, Indonesia, as the ASEAN Chair in 2023, mentioned the implementation of 5PC, emphasizing that the consensus has important significance and demonstrates ASEAN's unity in solving issues related to Myanmar. ASEAN Foreign Ministers reaffirmed a unified approach to the implementation of the 5PC in order to settle the political crisis in the bloc’s member nation as well as to ensure humanitarian assistance programs for Myanmar people, especially the Rohingya Muslims. Regarding the theme of the meeting “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth,” ASEAN member countries agreed on important contents to push towards positive outcomes, and mobilize resources to develop ASEAN Blue Economy Framework as … [Read more...] about ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat wraps up

Foreigners visit Ho Chi Minh City during the Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration. (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet together with other tourism senior officials in ASEAN countries attended the 26th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (M-ATM) that opened on February 4 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia . Participants in the event that is part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum( ATF) 2023 heard a report and gave comments on the results of the 57th meeting of the ASEAN National Tourism Organisations, considered the agenda of M-ATM 3 (ASEAN plus China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea); M-ATM-India and M-ATM -Russia; and attended consultations with international organisations. The meeting also reviewed and approved the Chairman's Statement and 26th meeting of M-ATM Minutes. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet said that 2022 witnessed a rapid recovery of the regional tourism industry. … [Read more...] about Vietnam attends 26th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers in Indonesia

The annual Nguyên Tiêu Festival on the 15th of lunar January in Hội An has been recognised as a National Intangible Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Lanterns are used to decorate Hôi An every full moon. The tourism hub also lights up lanterns on weekends. — VNS Photo Công Thành The festival celebrates the full moon of the first lunar month of the year. The city’s Centre for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation confirmed the certificate was handed over on February 5, marking the fifth national intangible heritage after Thanh Châu bird's nest, Thanh Hà Pottery village, carpentry of Kim Bồng village and Trà Quế vegetable garden. The centre said the festival was a major event in a series of cultural and ritual activities among local people held during the first lunar month. Local people often prepare for the festival from the seventh day of the month with ancestor worship and praying for peace at the communal houses of Cẩm Phô, … [Read more...] about Ancient town’s full moon festival named intangible heritage