Wet rice civilisation

Born and bred in Son Tay town in Hanoi, painter Nguyen Tan Phat has a deep love for the Vietnamese countryside, especially buffaloes. With skill and creativity, he created more than 1,000 unique buffaloes in different shapes and sizes, with the aim of celebrating the anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi and the Year of the Buffalo. There are 1,010 unique buffaloes in 1,010 shapes and sizes, with no two being alike. The collection has three main themes, including “real buffaloes”, which are regular buffaloes working in a field or looking lovely or funny; “village gate buffaloes”, which are a set of a herd passing through a typical village gate in the countryside; and “dragon buffaloes”, depicting buffaloes turning into dragons, in the hope of a good Year of the Buffalo. The buffalo is a symbol of wet rice civilisation. The buffalo is the traditional symbol of Vietnam, representing bravery, happiness, and prosperity. Buffalos also play a very important role in Vietnamese agriculture, being a farmer’s most valued possession and often treated like a member of the family./.VNA …

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Vietnam’s festive staycation the grandest offers of the year (photo: freepik.com) Park Hyatt Saigon’s festive staycation package Nothing ordinary ever happens during Christmas and New Year. From now to December 31 (excluding the peak nights of December 24, 25, 31, and January 1), you can experience a special staycation from only VND7 million ($305) per night for two guests, including a VND4 million ($173) credit per night redeemable for all of hotel services, 30 per cent off for spa, a premium bottle of Prosecco upon arrival, daily breakfast for two, and much more. On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the hotel celebrates the season with promotions running round the clock and all-day festivities at all outlets. Among them, Le Petit Chef Festive Edition is priced at VND 4,000,000 per guest, excluding beverages. Its Magic At The Park – Holiday Edition organised in the Ballroom on December 13, 20 and 27, pricing from VND650,000 ($28) for 6-12 year olds, VND950,000 ($41) for people over 12, and VND1.2 million ($52) per guest for the premium two front rows. Furthermore, all you need for a cosy and wonderful Christmas season is just one call away. The Pastry Boutique introduces a wide range of artisanal Christmas cakes, sweets, and pastries. Joyful stay at An Lam Retreats Saigon River This year, An Lam Retreats Saigon River offers a great combination for Christmas and New Year’s Eve at a special rate from VND8 million ($347) per night for two, including a complimentary roundtrip pickup service, Christmas dinner, New Year’s Eve dinner, music performances, lucky draws, and fireworks by the river. The offer is applicable for a minimum of 2-night stays. The city resort celebrates Christmas and New Year with special rates on December 24 from VND1.75 million ($76) for adults and VND1 million ($43) per child, including buffet by the river, complimentary round trip transfer, free flow of soft drinks, …

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The village, located in Tien Canh Commune, the central province's Tien Phuoc District, was established between the 15th and 16th century with a total seven generations living in harmony. Around the old house complex are fruit trees that not only produce a variety of fruits but provide ample shade for the dwellings. There are eight old houses left in Loc Yen, built 80 to 150 years ago. Their structures are typical of a house called "nha ruong", made of solid jackfruit wood pillars and beams. Their cultural value is critically acclaimed and deemed worthy of preservation. The well-preserved interior of 82-year-old Dong Viet Mao’s home. A pumpkin-shaped rafter carving in the middle of Mao’s house signifies prosperity. All carvings and reliefs were skillfully produced by craftsmen from Van Ha carpentry village, Tam Thanh Commune of neighboring Phu Ninh District. A mysterious "auto rotating" table made by Van Ha Village carpenters. Stone stairs leading to an old house appear wet and slippery in the rain but create a nostalgic feel and smell induced by a green moss layer. Large stone-paved steps with tea fences and fruit tree gardens on both sides. Stone footpaths skirting lush green paddy fields are ideal for a pleasure walk. In 2017, Quang Nam People’s Committee approved Tien Phuoc‘s ecotourism development, with plain concrete roads now decorated with stone fences and colorful petite flowers. Bon bon fruit trees, which are native to Southeast Asia can be seen in almost every garden here. The fruit turns ripe in the eighth lunar month with a translucent sweet flesh under its skin. This type of fruit belongs to the same family as bon bon fruit, except that it turns red when ripe. …

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