Mai celebrates the last night of the lunar year yachting on the Saigon River in January, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Tam Born to a father who served in the American marine corps and a Vietnamese immigrant mother, Mai, 32, felt she was different from others ever since she was a child. "Our names, our hair color, and our eye color were different," Mai told VnExpress as she recalled her and her siblings’ childhood in a small town an hour’s drive from San Diego, California, where the majority of residents were white. "We considered ourselves different from others the moment we stepped out of our houses." Hoping to help Mai and her brothers and sisters blend into the local community, her mother didn’t teach them Vietnamese or Vietnamese culture. Her family rarely watched Asian movies and only visited the area’s Little Saigon district once a year to visit her grandmother. Racism was a serious problem during Mai’s school days. Asian children were forced by other students … [Read more...] about Vietnamese-American woman returns to her roots
Vietnamese work culture
Program spreads cultural values of lotus and Vietnamese Ao dai
The event introduced thousands of lotuses, together with collections of the Vietnamese Ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress), and antique bicycles. Through the activities at the program, the organizing panel expected to spread the beauty of the lotus flower and the traditional cultural values of the Ao dai which flatters the beauty of Vietnamese women. At present, Vietnam is studying and finalizing dossiers seeking recognition of the lotus as the National Flower of Vietnam and UNESCO recognition of the Ao dai as intangible cultural heritage. Earlier, an art space, themed “Lotus Calligraphy,” was held at the Hanoi Museum to introduce 40 calligraphy works written on lotus paintings by collector Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, President of the Vietnamese Ao dai Heritage Club. This event was part of the activities to mark the 133rd birthday of President Ho Chi Minh. Showcased works were part of Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam’s “Lotus in Vietnamese cultural life” collection which won an Asia record. … [Read more...] about Program spreads cultural values of lotus and Vietnamese Ao dai
Vietnamese ministry strengthens cooperation with RoK National Police Agency
Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam (R) and Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun inspect the guard of honour. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam hosted a reception in Hanoi on June 5 for a delegation of the National Police Agency (NPA) of the Republic of Korea (RoK) led by Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun. Lam stressed that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the RoK has made progress, contributing to promoting bilateral relations, meeting aspirations of their people, for peace and prosperity of both nations. He noted with pleasure outcomes of the second phase of the project on improving criminal science capacity funded by the Korean agency, saying it has helped raise criminal science capacity for the Vietnamese ministry’s officers. To strengthen relations between the two countries as well as the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and the NPA, the minister suggested the two sides continue consolidating their … [Read more...] about Vietnamese ministry strengthens cooperation with RoK National Police Agency
Sketches of master painter Nguyen Gia Tri on show in HCMC
Art collector Truong Van Thuan is hosting the exhibition in HCMC in remembrance of the 30th death anniversary of the painter. According to Thuan, before applying lacquer finishes to his paintings, Tri had to make many sketches in order to calculate the details, including ideas, graphics, colors, and compositions. “I want to show viewers how detailed and careful the painter [Nguyen Gia Tri] was with these sketches,” Thuan said. The most outstanding work, which is also the largest in size, is a sketch of part of one of Tri’s complete paintings. The majority of the works displayed are portraits, landscapes paintings, and abstract paintings. Some move beyond sketches and could be considered almost complete paintings, including this painting, “Kieu,” which portrays a woman holding a four-chord lute. This painting, which portrays landscapes in a rural area, is almost … [Read more...] about Sketches of master painter Nguyen Gia Tri on show in HCMC
PM calls for early finalisation of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with UAE
PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi at the meeting in Hanoi on June 5. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Hanoi on June 5, calling on the UAE to work closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade to soon finalise talks on the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The host leader hailed the two sides’ efforts to promote negotiations on the CEPA, especially when the two countries are celebrating the 30th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2023. He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, and being a good friend, trustworthy partner, and responsible member of the international community. The country is also working to develop an … [Read more...] about PM calls for early finalisation of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with UAE
The future of tourism in Vietnam new visa policies and beyond
The fifth plenary session of the 15th National Assembly has discussed and approved a number of important draft bills, including three new amendments to regulations that have significant impacts on the tourism industry in Vietnam. These policies are expected to boost the recovery and development of the tourism sector. Martin Koerner - Chairman EuroCham Vietnam’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee The first law is to extend the visa exemption duration from the current 15 days to 45 days for citizens of countries that currently can travel to Vietnam visa exempt, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden. This law aims to attract more tourists from these key markets and encourage them to stay longer and spend more here. The second law is to expand the list of countries eligible for e-visa from 46 to 80, including markets such as India, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. The e-visa allows visitors to apply … [Read more...] about The future of tourism in Vietnam new visa policies and beyond
BUV pledges investment in quality education in Vietnam
Operating for 14 years in the country, British University Vietnam (BUV) has asserted its position, quality, and outstanding reputation in the education sector by continuously improving the quality of its training, demonstrating the international standard and value of British higher education. BUV pledges investment in quality education in Vietnam BUV, located in Ecopark 14km from the centre of Hanoi, is the first and only university in Vietnam and ASEAN to have been awarded accreditation from the Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency. To earn the recognition of quality, BUV has completed the International Quality Review, a rigorous procedure which benchmarks global higher education institutions against the United Kingdom’s international quality assurance standards, with the university achieving the highest level of performance in all 10 categories and outstanding accomplishments in all academic aspects. BUV is also the first and only university in Vietnam to be … [Read more...] about BUV pledges investment in quality education in Vietnam
Australian PM’s Vietnam visit a success: researcher
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese . (Photo: VNA) Sydney (VNA) – Dr. Nguyen Hong Hai , a researcher at the Centre for Policy Futures under the University of Queensland in Australia, has noted that the freshly-concluded visit to Vietnam by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was a success, as reflected through the agreements reached by the two sides on both bilateral and multilateral issues. Albanese paid an official visit to Vietnam from June 3-4 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh. According to Hai, the two sides shared the view on positive developments of the bilateral diplomatic ties over the past 50 years, and the bilateral strategic partnership in the three pillars of politics, national security and defence; economy, trade and investment; and education and training. They said ample room remains for cooperation in economy, trade and investment. Therefore, … [Read more...] about Australian PM’s Vietnam visit a success: researcher
Red River – a centerpiece in Hanoi’s green development
The vision is for Hanoi to become a vibrant, green, and serene metropolis with the Red River landscape axis. "For a long time, people often say that Hanoi has turned its back on the Red River," Nguyen Van Loc, a 60-year-old resident of Phuc Tan Ward, Hoan Kiem District, told The Hanoi Times as he gazed out at the vast expanse of lush green land ahead, with thriving banana plantations growing on the fertile alluvial plains known as the Red River Alluvial Island (or Bai giua song Hong in Vietnamese). The Middle Island of the Red River. Photo: Chien Cong/The Hanoi Times Spanning around 18 hectares and stretching 3.8 kilometers in length, the area is under the jurisdiction of Chuong Duong and Phuc Tan wards, Hoan Kiem District. For many years, a significant portion of the alluvial island has been tilled by over 30 households for vegetable production. However, there is still a portion of the land that remains vacant and covered with overgrown reeds. "It is … [Read more...] about Red River – a centerpiece in Hanoi’s green development