Weddings

Editor’s note: Valentin Constantinescu wrote to Tuoi Tre News to share his thoughts on his own wedding following our series on things that often ‘shock’ foreigners when it comes to traditional Vietnamese weddings. The Romanian man has lived in Vietnam since 2004 and married his Vietnamese wife in 2018. This piece has been titled, subtitled, and edited by Tuoi Tre News for clarity, consistency, and coherence. Long story short, I met my wife in 2016 in Hanoi. About six months into our relationship, we realized we would be with each other forever. In August 2018, we decided to sign the papers to be legally married in Vietnam. We moved to Ho Chi Minh City shortly after and planned to hold our actual wedding ceremony on September 17, 2021. 17th of September is our anniversary – it’s the day she agreed to be my girlfriend. She chose the year 2021 because it looks cool – 20 and 21 are consecutive numbers. Unfortunately, COVID-19 completely ruined our plans – we lost a … [Read more...] about ‘Weddings in Vietnam seem very aloof to me’

Glass noodles is a specialty of Cao Bằng. VNA/VNS Photo Chu Hiệu Phia Đén Hamlet in Thành Công Commune in the northern province of Cao Bằng is home to green fields of canna, whose roots are the main ingredient of glass noodles. Raw glass noodles are dried under the sun. VNA/VNS Photo Chu Hiệu Canna is grown in Phia Đén Mountain, lying 1,000m above sea level, from January to February in the lunar calendar and harvested in October and November. Finished glass noodles are tied and packed for consumption.VNA/VNS Photo Chu Hiệu Phia Đén glass noodles are renowned nationwide thanks to their delicious taste and smooth texture, which are created using traditional methods and favourable weather conditions. Canna starch mixture has an ivory colour and smooth texture VNA/VNS Photo Chu Hiệu The glass noodles are white, the natural colours of the canna starch mixture without the use of any bleaching or colourants. According to locals, the … [Read more...] about Glass noodles a specialty of the mountains

A three-bedroom lagoon pool villa at Regent Phu Quoc opens today on Phu Quoc Island. — VNS Photo HCM CITY —  IHG Hotels & Resorts debuts its first resort under its upper luxury brand, Regent Hotels & Resorts, in South East Asia with the opening of Regent Phu Quoc, its first resort in Việt Nam, on April 19. Located off the southwest coast of Việt Nam alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, the all-suites-and-villas resort is a stone’s throw from the water’s edge along Long Beach. Exceptional design and state-of-the-art technology will be delivered alongside the brand’s legendary hospitality for a seamless guest journey. “We are delighted to introduce Regent’s renowned hospitality to Việt Nam and look forward to welcoming guests to experience the inimitable island jewel that is Phu Quoc," said Juan Losada, general manager of Regent Phu Quoc. Regent Phu Quoc will surely be a brand-defining resort in Việt Nam and South East Asia that will deliver a genuinely … [Read more...] about Regent Hotels & Resorts opens first resort in Việt Nam

MUSIC & PERFORMANCES Creative Dance – METTLER Scholarship 2 semesters: 06 Feb – 29 May, 2022 Registration link From the organizer: Mettler-based Creative Dance Scholarship program provides an introduction to the underlying principles and teaching methods used in Mettler-based Creative Dance. The scholarship is provided by Mettler Studio Inc., USA & Vietnam Dance/Movement Therapy for professional and personal development. ____________________________________________________ EXHIBITION Until May 29, 08 am – 05 pm Hanoi-Solo Art Exhibition Phan Minh Chau: Rock ballad in Colors May 16 – 22 Hanoi-Signifiant Dream May 20 & 21, 08:30 pm Rooftop Manzi Exhibition Space, 2 ngõ Hàng Bún, Ba Dinh District From Manzi: “With the world being stretched, spread in connection, we’re in a tendency of being taken far from home” Signifiant Dream A site-specific staging by XplusX … [Read more...] about What’s on May 16-22/2022

Young artists from the HCM City Tuồng Theatre will perform a new experimental play at the National Tuồng and Traditional Theatre Festival held May 17-28 in Nghệ An Province. — Photo courtesy of the theatre Thu Anh HCM CITY — Young artists from the HCM City Tuồng Theatre will perform a new experimental play set in the third century BC at the National Tuồng and Traditional Theatre Festival that will start tomorrow. The play, performed by members of the HCM City Tuồng Theatre troupe, will feature tuồng or hát bội (classical drama), a unique Vietnamese art that developed from a folk art into a royal art in the 17th century. The new experimental play, titled Chiếc Áo Thiên Nga (Swan Coast), is written by Lê Duy Hạnh and Hữu Danh. It deals with patriotism, honesty, love and betrayal based on depictions in Vietnamese folk stories. The play is set during the reign of King An Dương Vương, founder of the Âu Lạc Kingdom in the third century BC. King Vương uses a magic … [Read more...] about Young artists to perform new, experimental play at national traditional theatre festival

Quý Dương Hưng Yên Province is not only well-known nationwide for specialties like fragrant and sweet longan, which have been used as offers to kings in the past, but also chả gà (grilled chicken nugget). The dish has been made in the province’s Tiểu Quan Village of Khoái Châu District, for hundreds of years according to Phùng Văn Phong who has been making the specialty for several decades. Chả gà (charcoal grilled chicken nugget) is a specialty of Hưng Yên Province. Photo toplist.vn “My grandmother said our ancestors created the dish as a specialty compared to traditional boiled or fried chicken,” he said, noting that in the past the dish was only made for special occasions like Tết (Lunar New Year holiday) or other big celebrations like engagements or weddings. Now, the dish is more common and is a special gift for guests to bring home from Hưng Yên. Phong said making the dish needs care and skills. First, the maker has to choose a healthy young chicken about … [Read more...] about Visiting Hưng Yên to enjoy ‘chả gà’ or grilled chicken nugget

Dr Trần Tố checks a patient's wound. — Photo baodaklak.vn ĐẮK LẮK — A doctor has devoted his life to leprosy patients in a remote hamlet in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk. Trần Sỹ Tố, head of Ea Na Leprosy Treatment Department (also known as Ea Na Leprosy Camp) of Đắk Lắk Dermatology Centre in Tuôr A Hamlet of Dray Sáp Commune, Krông Ana District, is much-loved by leprosy patients and their relatives. He is considered one of the family. It is only 20km from Buôn Ma Thuột City, but few people know that Tuor A Hamlet used to be an isolated area for a long time. Tuor A Hamlet has been renovated with kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and medical centres, including the leprosy treatment department. This achievement is thanks to the efforts and contributions of many generations of staff, doctors, nurses and volunteers who have silently devoted themselves to this community. Since those difficult early days, Doctor Tố was present at the Ea Na Leprosy Camp. … [Read more...] about Doctor dedicated his life to aids lepers in Central Highlands

Actor Trần Nghĩa Hiệp. Photo thethaovanhoa.vn Overseas Vietnamese actor Trần Nghĩa Hiệp (Hiep Tran Nghia) is well-known for award-winning roles in Đông Dương (Indochina), Platane , Leila and All About Actresses . His most recent role is an old Vietnamese-origin man in the short film Malabar . The film has been nominated for Best Short Fiction at the César 2022. Thể Thao Văn Hóa (Sports & Culture) daily reporter Nguyễn Huy chats with Hiệp about his acting career in France. Do you remember when you first engaged with art? I was born in 1942 in Thái Hiệp Thành District, in the southern province of Tây Ninh. My mother was a teacher and was a close friend with the owner of Thanh Minh Cải Lương (reformed drama) Troupe. Late cải lương star Thanh Nga and I were taught to sing by the owner's husband. His name was Năm Nghĩa. I sing traditional and bolero songs well. Năm Nghĩa wanted to turn Thanh Nga and me into a duo. But my mother did not want it. She wanted me … [Read more...] about Overseas Vietnamese artist preserves traditional culture