Thousand year old water

After considering several solutions to expand its headquarters, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has decided to take up a proposal by U.S. architecture firm Gensler, which will not demolish a 130-year-building in downtown Saigon, but build on it. The city's Department of Planning and Architecture will work with the American firm to come up with the most feasible plan, the administration recently announced. This 130-year-old French colonial structure adjacent to the iconic Ben Thanh Market is the second oldest building in Saigon. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. The department had proposed earlier that the city’s People's Committee invites international experts to make detailed plans on preserving the old building, which faced the threat of demolition as part of a proposed expansion plan for the city’s People’s Committee headquarters. In their petition, experts and other signatories had dismissed the argument that the building not being part of an official … [Read more...] about 130-year-old building to serve as ‘tradition house’ for HCMC administration

The 258 square meter Huynh Thuy Le House was built in 1895 by Huynh Cam Thuan, a wealthy Chinese businessman, on the banks of the Sa Dec River, Dong Thap Province. The house, on 255A Nguyen Hue Street, combines Chinese architecture with some Western elements. When Thuan passed away, his youngest son, Huynh Thuy Le, inherited the house, and it was named after him. Besides its architectural features and artifacts that reflect the luxurious lifestyle of a very wealthy person many years ago, the house acquired added interest with Le’s love story. By chance, Le met Marguerite Duras, a writer, on a ferry in 1929. Le's father did not approve of their relationship and his will prevailed. After the writer returned to France, Le married a Vietnamese woman. Duras turned their relationship into an autobiographical novel, The Lover. The work was awarded the Goncourt prize, France's top literature award and translated into 43 languages. It was later adapted into an eponymous … [Read more...] about A 124-year-old Mekong Delta house bespeaks opulence and romance

She may only be nine-years-old but young writer Bui Mai Khue is already heading on the ‘write’ path in the world of literature after winning a top prize in a competition. Bui Mai Khue won the Special Prize at The JX-ENEOS Children's Story Award in Vietnam. Photo daidoanket.vn The JX-ENEOS Children's Story Award is an annual contest in Japan running since 1970. It was brought to Vietnam last year by Viet Nam More Production and Kim Dong Publishing House. Khue won the first prize at elementary school and younger category for her short story Bướm Lá (Leaf Butterfly). It tells the adventures of yellow leaves that are thought to be butterflies. The story is inspired by the leaves falling down from the tree which Khue's mother shows her. Leaf Butterfly captured the heart of the jury board because of its meaningful content, according to Khue's mother. "I think the jurors liked the story because it highlights sacrifice when the leaves accept they must die to … [Read more...] about Nine-year-old triumphs at writing competition

Nguyen Tan Phuoc, 41, a former sub-lieutenant with the Traffic Police Department in the southern province of Dong Nai, was found guilty of "murder" and "illegal use of military weapons." According to the indictment, Phuoc’s girlfriend opposed a relationship between Bui Viet Hai and her 19-year-old daughter, but had been unable to make them break up. On January 6 last year, after Phuoc’s girlfriend asked him to bring her daughter home, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He took a gun from the office and went to Hai's place to find his girlfriend’s daughter. After Hai told Phuoc that he didn’t know where she was staying, Hai pulled out the gun and shot him. Hai was rushed to a local hospital but died later. In 2010, Phuoc had worked as a driver for retired provincial police chief Nguyen Van Khanh and was given the gun to protect his superior. Phuoc was then transferred to the Traffic Police Department in 2012 but he didn’t hand over the gun to … [Read more...] about Former cop gets 18 years in prison for shooting civilian to death

Hotel News Christmas and New Year promotions at Saigontourist’s hotels By Thanh Nguyen Thursday,  Dec 12, 2019,16:24 (GMT+7) Christmas and New Year promotions at Saigontourist’s hotelsBy Thanh Nguyen The Hotel Grand Saigon operated by Saigontourist is a perfect place to celebrate Christmas and New Year in HCMC - PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAIGONTOURIST HCMC – Hotels and tourist sites under Saigontourist Holding Company have rolled out numerous promotions in celebration of Christmas 2019 and New Year 2020. Hotel Grand Saigon Saigon Palace Restaurant on the second floor of the Hotel Grand Saigon will serve a Christmas buffet dinner from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., featuring turkey, lobster and other Christmas delicacies. Diners are entitled to a welcome Sangria cocktail and free flow of wine, beer, soft drinks and mineral water. Music and art shows will be performed during the buffet, accompanied by dance … [Read more...] about Christmas and New Year promotions at Saigontourist’s hotels