Touching 80s songs

The vibrance of Hanoi culture is inspiring young musicians – locals and expats alike – to take on electronic music as a new medium to search for the ‘soul’ of the city. Ever since he set foot in Hanoi during a short exchange program six years ago, Robin Marty, a French student majoring in marine science, has been captivated by the robust life brimming in every corner of the Vietnamese capital city. “You always see bunches of young girls and boys driving around on their cheap electric bikes gagging and shouting. Most people smile first, then talk," Marty wrote in a release note for his 2021 EP Tra Da (Iced Tea). “And it is not uncommon to see people randomly singing in the street, in a shop, on their balcony. “I feel like that’s something we have forgotten back home [in France]." Limebócx members perform at a music event at Hanoi Rock City in December 2022. Photo : Hanoi Rock City Yet, in the meantime, the allure of modernism is gradually taking over the … [Read more...] about Poetry in commotion: Young artists capture Hanoi’s spirit in electronic music

The movie, released during the Lunar New Year holiday, immediately dominated the domestic box office and broke many records. According to Box Office Mojo, the global box office tracking site of IMDb, "Nha Ba Nu" recorded the sixth highest revenue in world box offices (excluding North America) from January. 27 to 29. "Nha Ba Nu" generated over $4.3 million during the three-day period. This put the movie at sixth among the highest-grossing movies in 2023. As of Thursday, the movie had reached the VND300 billion ($12.8 million) mark in Vietnam. And it is predicted to soon reach the VND400 billion mark that "Bo Gia" (Dad, I’m Sorry), which also starred Tran Thanh, achieved in 2021. Film experts and distributors said "Nha Ba Nu" contributed greatly to the revival of the Vietnamese box office during the Lunar New Year holidays ( Tet ). According to a representative of Box Office Vietnam, a film data site, the total revenue of movies released during Tet (from January 22 to 31) is … [Read more...] about Vietnamese movie enters world’s top 10 box office on weekend

A Chinese spy balloon has been flying over the United States for a couple of days, U.S. officials said on Thursday, in what would be a brazen act just days ahead of a planned trip to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Fighter jets were mobilized, but military leaders advised President Joe Biden against shooting the balloon out of the sky for fear debris could pose a safety threat, advice Biden accepted, U.S. officials said. The United States took "custody" of the balloon when it entered U.S. airspace and had observed it with piloted U.S. military aircraft, one of the officials told reporters on condition of anonymity. Separately, Canada's defense ministry said a "high-altitude surveillance balloon" was detected and that it was monitoring a "potential second incident", without giving further details, adding that it was in frequent contact with the United States. The news initially broke as CIA Director William Burns was speaking at an event at Washington’s … [Read more...] about Chinese spy balloon flies over the United States, Pentagon says

More than 80% of rice varieties in Vietnam are fragrant high-quality rice, which is an important factor that helps increase Vietnamese rice's value and accessibility to markets.(Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s rice export is forecast to continue reaping successes this year as the world's rice prices remain high at least in the short term as global economic and political uncertainties have resulted in a high demand for rice reserves, according to experts. According to the Vietnam Food Association, by the middle of last month, Vietnam earned nearly 115 million USD from exporting more than 226,000 tonnes of rice, an increase of over 41% in terms of both volume and value compared to the same period last year. The country exported ST24 and ST25 rice to the Middle East region with a record-high price of 1,000 USD per tonne, doubling the price of normal white rice. Vietnamese rice further penetrated demanding markets like Japan and the EU. According to experts, more than 80% … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s rice export forecast to enjoy another successful year

Before the  dawn broke, local people had already gathered to enjoy the lunar New Year (Tet) celebrations. According to the eldly in Mo De village, when spring comes, Yen Bai province’s Party Committee and authorities always join hands with troops stationed in the locality to take care of local people to ensure that all poor people, national contributors and disadvantaged people in the village enjoy a cozy Tet. Senior Colonel Nguyen Cong Phuong, Deputy Political Commissar of Yen Bai provincial Military Command, informed that Yen Bai province is home to 30 ethnic groups with diverse cultural identities. Over the past years, in implementing the movements “Whole country joins hands for the poor, no-one is left behind,” and “The military join efforts to build new-style rural areas,” the provincial military command has conducted many practical activities for the locals, especially during Tet holidays. In this year’s program, the military command of Mu Cang Chai district held a wide range … [Read more...] about Military-civilian relations in Mu Cang Chai enhanced

According to local people, since troops of Regiment 996 of the Quang Binh provincial Military Command implemented mobilization work, the commune has been changed positively. Head of Coi Da village Ho Van Vua held that in the past, the village was divided by a stream so local people had to wade through the water or travel quite a long distance to pass the stream. However, the troops helped locals build a concrete road so that the local people were able to go around the village. Coi Da is a village in Ngan Thuy commune with hard living and road conditions, and poor economic development. There are a lot of Pa Co and Van Kieu ethnic people living here, and they are facing difficulties in their daily life. Over the past time, troops of Regiment 996 have developed infrastructure for the locality, contributing to reducing local poverty rate. Visiting the village center, from afar, the PAN’s reporters could hear the bustling sound of revolutionary songs as the medical team of the Quang … [Read more...] about Military-civilian ties boosted in Coi Da village

After three consecutive years of hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lim Festival is back in full swing, attracting thousands of visitors to the small neighboring province of Hanoi. Lim Festival in the northern province of Bac Ninh, home to UNESCO-recognized Quan ho (love duet) singing, is welcoming dozens of thousands of visitors. Held in Tien Du District, about 30km from downtown Hanoi, the festival takes place for two or three days with the main day falling on the 13th day of the first Lunar month [February 3 this year]. The most vibrant festival in northern Vietnam The Quan ho folk performance in a boat, Lim Festival 2023. Photo: Duy Khanh The festival includes a procession, rituals, and love duet singing, among others. The activities are held in communal houses, temples, and pagodas in Noi Due, Lien Bao, and Lim Town villages. The Lim Festival, one of the largest spring festivals in northern Vietnam, is a cultural feature of Bac Ninh. … [Read more...] about Biggest northern Vietnam festival attracts tens of thousands visitors

U.S. tourists spend an average of 2,000-3,000 baht on accommodation a night and they always stay in the country up to 15 days per trip, according to the survey conducted by the Tourism Council of Thailand, which polled 200 Western tourists during the final quarter of last year. The survey also showed that European tourists spend 1,000-2,000 baht per night on accommodations and stay in Thailand for 13 days on average. In Vietnam, foreign tourists spent $117.80 a day in 2019, the year before the onset of the pandemic, according to statistics from the General Statistics Office (GSO). On average, foreign tourists in Vietnam spent about $35.50 for accommodations, $25.80 for food, $18.90 for transportation, $19.70 for shopping and about $18 for other expenses, such as sightseeing and medical services. Vietnam welcomed a record 18 million foreign tourists in 2019. The country reopened its borders in March 2022 and received 3.6 million foreign arrivals for the year. Thailand welcomed … [Read more...] about American tourists spend more money than Europeans in Thailand: survey

The North-South railroad passes through many residential areas in Hanoi. For long road users have threatened to cause accidents at grade crossings by ignoring safety norms. Motorcyclists scurry through even as a crossing keeper pulls the barrier shut on Giai Phong Street in Hoang Mai District for the arrival of a train. “This is an everyday story, and there are days when I have to shout to make them [commuters] stop,” the keeper says. He has to close off the road 90 seconds before a train arrives. At a level crossing on Ngoc Hoi Street in Thanh Tri District, a taxi driver crosses the tracks despite the red light and alarm bell. There are unmanned grade crossings where people open the barriers on their own to get through. There are at least 100 such points along a six-kilometer stretch in Thanh Tri District. An unofficial crossing that … [Read more...] about Commuters risk their lives to cross rail tracks in Hanoi

Changes in villages From a mountainous commune of hardship of Huong Hoa district with poor infrastructure, low income and living standards, Huong Lap has witnessed many positive changes. The infrastructure of Huong Lap commune has been upgraded, while rural roads, healthcare stations, spacious schools have been built. Every villager is very delighted at those changes. Cu Bai village of Huong Lap commune has 128 households with 598 residents, of whom the Van Kieu ethnic group people account for more than 96%. Previously, thanks to the State’s investment, the village built an inter-village road; however, the road was heavily damaged by rain and floods. Learning about the situation, the Party Committee and People's Committee of Huong Lap commune have mobilized resources to build a road to the village, enabling vehicles to travel more easily. Cau Bai is considered the village with the most changes in hunger eradication and poverty reduction in Huong Lap commune. According to Head of … [Read more...] about Those who bring spring to ethnic minority people