By Hà Nguyễn Hữu Ngọc was born and raised in Hà Nội, but it wasn’t until he left the city in 1946 to join the national resistance war against the French that he realised just how much he loved his hometown. Living in deep forests, eating cassava and potato, he missed Hà Nội’s steamed glutinous rice, the fragrance of steamed green bean and particularly phở (beef noodle). “When eating these foods daily, we could think them characterless. But when living far away, we understand their value,” the cultural scholar says. While he could return to Hà Nội to savour his favourite foods after the war was over, he fears that today the wars, market economy, and exposure to western culture are polluting Vietnamese traditional villages. Since his first extended trip outside the capital, he has dedicated his life to celebrating and preserving Vietnamese culture so that locals and foreigners will fight … [Read more...] about Scholar still fights to save Vietnamese culture
Understanding vietnamese culture
Vietnamese culture festival held in Seoul
The 8th Vietnamese culture festival (Vietfest Seoul 2018) was held at Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul, the Republic of Korea (RoK), on September 2 (Photo: VNA) Seoul (VNA) – The 8th Vietnamese culture festival (Vietfest Seoul 2018) was held at Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul, the Republic of Korea (RoK), on September 2 to celebrate the 73rd National Day of Vietnam. The event was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tu, deputy head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Bui Truong Giang, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, other local officials, and thousands of Vietnamese people. Opening the festival, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese People Association in the RoK Nguyen Ngoc Cam, who is also Honorary Mayor of Seoul, said the event helps expatriates, who number 180,000 in the RoK at present, to remember their origin. Meanwhile, local people could better understand the traditional culture of Vietnam, … [Read more...] about Vietnamese culture festival held in Seoul
Vietnamese Cultural Day held in Singapore
An art performance at the event (Source: VNA) Singapore (VNA) - A Vietnamese Cultural Day was held in Singapore on July 31 night in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic ties (August 1) and five years of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries (September 1). The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who was on an official visit to Singapore from July 30-31, and Singaporean Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, along with hundreds of guests. In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said over the past 45 years, the Vietnam-Singapore relationship has continuously moved forward with marked progresses made in cooperation in various areas, ranging from politics to economy, trade, investment, national defence and security, education-training, and tourism. Singapore is one of the first ASEAN nations with which Vietnam has set up the Strategic … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Cultural Day held in Singapore
Film screening brings Vietnamese culture to Indian friends
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh (middle) (Source: VNA) New Delhi (VNA) - The Centre for Vietnam Studies under the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) coordinated with the Embassy of Vietnam in India to screen the movie “I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass” on July 10 to bring Vietnamese culture closer to its Indian friends. Attending the screening ceremony were Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh, Secretary General of the International Chamber of the Media and Entertainment Industry Ashok Tyagi, Director of the ISS Ash Narain Roy, Director of the Centre for Vietnam Studies Sonu Trivedi, as well as numerous students. Based on the novel by best-selling author Nguyen Nhat Anh, the film, directed by Vietnamese-American Victor Vu, is set in the mid-1980s in a small village, telling the story of two young brothers who share everything, but compete for the affection of a girl. It has won a number of domestic and international prizes, including the … [Read more...] about Film screening brings Vietnamese culture to Indian friends
Vietnamese cultural colour in Mexico
An art item performed by Mexican children (Photo: baoquocte.vn) The event attracted over 600 teachers, students and parents. The students painted, decorated flags and lively paintings about Vietnam with the image of a flying dragon on the main stage. Many photos about the land and people of Vietnam provided by the Vietnamese Embassy were displayed at the festival, helping local people understand more about the country of Vietnam with many beautiful natural landscapes. After hearing an introduction of Vietnam’s geography, history, culture, education, economy, habits and customs, Mexican students from preschool to secondary levels in colourful costumes of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities performed special dances, creating a happy and attractive atmosphere, as well as helping Vietnamese culture to be closer to Mexican friends. After the art program, the students and their parents enjoyed Vietnamese traditional dishes prepared by the teachers. Through the art program, photo … [Read more...] about Vietnamese cultural colour in Mexico