That is why some researchers have stated that quan ho still exists but it is now gone. It sounds absurd but it is true because hat canh, the most interesting and quintessential part of quan ho, has virtually vanished. Hat canh is a form of quan ho in which a group of singers express their thoughts and feelings towards a twinned group of singers over a night. Hat canh is the source of new quan ho songs when one side asks the other side to respond to their songs. It is a small contest between groups of quan ho singers. Today quan ho is mostly seen in the form of stage performance. In the past, hat canh was a private activity between quan ho groups without an audience. But blame cannot be laid on the changes in how quan ho is performed. In the old days, a person’s living space was restricted to the boundary of their village and commune. One village was twinned with another village and one group of quan ho singers in that village was connected with another group in the other village. … [Read more...] about In Vietnam, cultural heritages are evolving with societal transformation
Vietnam culture facts
New impulse for Vietnam
Ambassador Ngo Duc Manh (Photo: VNA)Reporter: Could you please tell us the significance of the official visit to the Russian Federation by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong? Ambassador Manh: The visit is of great significance as it continues to confirm Vietnam’s consistent foreign policies in attaching great importance to reinforcing and promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, considering it one of the leading important and trusted partners of Vietnam. In fact, the Vietnam - Russia relationship has recently seen strong development, both in Party and State relationship, cooperation among localities and people-to-people exchanges. The trusted political relationship has been continuously increased through bilateral exchanges. The two sides have cooperated and given mutual support at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, APEC, ASEM and ASEAN. Continued development has been reported in economics, trade and investment … [Read more...] about New impulse for Vietnam
Vietnam cuisine to become a unique tourism product
Making Vietnam become the 'Kitchen of the World' is considered a promising approach for a "smoke-free industry”, as well as the country's cuisine, especially in the context that the tourism industry needs to build its characteristic products to attract tourists, especially international visitors. Visitors show interest in Vietnamese food With richness, diversity, harmony and sophistication, Vietnamese cuisine is considered a cultural heritage and a valuable resource of tourism in Vietnam. In 2015, Vietnamese cuisine was voted as one of the 10 best food destinations in the world by CNN's television audience. Vietnam has 12 dishes named in the "Top Asian cuisine value dishes", as recognised by the Asian Record’s Organization (ARO). In the beginning of 2018, CNN listed 15 must-try dishes when visiting Vietnam. Vietnamese cuisine attracts both domestic visitors and foreign tourists. Images of the leaders of other countries coming and enjoying Vietnamese food, such as … [Read more...] about Vietnam cuisine to become a unique tourism product
Milestones in Vietnam-France defense relations
On the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-France diplomatic relations, Deputy-Defense Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh wrote an article on the People’s Army Newspaper reviewing milestones in the Vietnam-France defense relations. The People’s Army Newspaper would like to present the article as follows. After 45 years (1973-2018) of establishment, the Vietnam-France diplomatic relations have seen strong development in both depth and width. Among various areas of relations, the Vietnam-France defense cooperation has achieved specific outcomes and served as a pillar in the general bilateral relations. In fact, all these achievements did not come by chance. With the humane tradition and strategic vision, after the resounding victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Vietnam treated French prisoners of war in a humanitarian manner, returned them to the French side, and signed the Geneva Accords on restoring peace in Vietnam and sought to … [Read more...] about Milestones in Vietnam-France defense relations
Fast food and its invasion of Vietnam’s culinary paradise
For seven happy years, from 2003 to 2010, I lived on Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi. Right behind our elegant French villa, within a few blocks, there was a food paradise. The area to the south was full of wonderful eating places, from grand restaurants to sidewalk cafés. I loved the oceanic taste of stir fried squid, the freshness of rice-paper spring rolls, the strength of beef in black pepper sauce… But perhaps my biggest favorite was bun cha, which we used to purchase from a little restaurant on Le Van Huu Street, to eat at home on Sundays. Renowned chef Anthony Bourdain once wrote: “You don’t have to go looking for great food in Vietnam. Great food finds you. It’s everywhere. In restaurants, cafes, little storefronts, in the streets; carried in makeshift portable kitchens on yokes borne by women vendors.” I was not at all surprised that the little restaurant on Le Van Huu Street where we used to buy our Sunday bun cha was the place where … [Read more...] about Fast food and its invasion of Vietnam’s culinary paradise