As the Mid-Autumn Festival is five days away, a busy atmosphere pervades Phu Binh lantern making village, which is now over 50 years old, in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City. Artisans in the village manually make lanterns with various shapes and colors. There are many phases to complete hand-made lanterns, including choosing bamboo trees, cutting bamboo sticks to make frames, painting plastic papers for wrapping the frames, and decorating the lanterns. Artisan Nguyen Trong Thanh said traditional lanterns using candles feature a great cultural value of Vietnamese people. Children and those who are interested in cultural and artistic values still prefer them. Stuffed bunny toys are attached to bamboo lanterns. Nguyen Trong Binh, who has had half a century of experience in making lanterns, said he spent much time restoring traditional lanterns and preserving the craft. Phu Binh’s lanterns have been put up for sale across Vietnam. Luong Nhu Hoc Street, which is … [Read more...] about Lantern village in Ho Chi Minh City busy ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival
Why calcium carbonate used in plastic industry
16 strange new parasitoid wasp species discovered in Vietnam
Researchers have discovered 16 new species of the elusive Loboscelidia, a type of parasitoid wasp, following a recent exploration in Vietnam that also uncovered their unique egg-burying behavior, according to ScienceDaily . The findings by scientists from Kyushu University in Japan and Vietnam’s National Museum of Nature were published in the European Journal of Taxonomy. Loboscelidia wasps are 2-5 mm in body length. The discovery has expanded the global count of the species by 30 percent to 67. While unnoticed by people, the wasps perform a vital function in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Assistant Professor Toshiharu Mita and Dr. Yu Hisasue of Kyushu University’s Faculty of Agriculture, together with Dr. Pham Hong Thai of the National Museum of Nature in Vietnam, conducted field surveys at six sites across the Southeast Asian country, setting traps and using nets to capture the tiny parasitoid wasps. On one occasion, they trapped a living female from one of … [Read more...] about 16 strange new parasitoid wasp species discovered in Vietnam
Red Sea corals threatened by mystery sea urchin deaths
The Red Sea's spectacular coral reefs face a new threat, marine biologists warn -- the mass death of sea urchins that may be caused by a mystery disease. Because the long-spined creatures feed on algae that can suffocate corals, their die-off could "destroy our entire coral reef ecosystem", warned scientist Lisa-Maria Schmidt. In Israel's Red Sea resort of Eilat, which borders Jordan and Egypt, Schmidt recalled the moment she and her colleagues first witnessed the population collapse. "When we jumped into the water, all of a sudden all those specimens we used to see before were gone, and what we saw was skeletons and piles of spines," she told AFP . The team had first heard reports in January that a sea urchin species off Eilat was dying rapidly, so they went to a site known for an abundance of the species Diadema setosum. They first thought that local pollution could be to blame. But, within two weeks, the spiny invertebrates also started dying down the coast, including … [Read more...] about Red Sea corals threatened by mystery sea urchin deaths
VNPT wins big at Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards 2021
During the event the VNPT received three gold prizes, including the award for the Innovation in Technology Development, a prize for Innovation in Medical/Dental, and the award for Innovation in Education or Training Apps. Furthermore, the country’s leading telecom company also carried off an additional two silver prizes, including in the award for the Innovative Use of Technology in Human Resources, along with the award for Innovation in Media, Visual Communications & Entertainment. Elsewhere, a total of seven bronzes were awarded for Innovative Management in Health Care Industries, Excellence in Innovation in Health Care Industries, Innovation in Business Utility Apps, and for the Innovative Use of Technology in Customer Service. This is in addition to a prize for Innovation in Business-to-Business Services and an award for Innovation in Government Services. The Stevie Awards are widely considered to be the world's premier business awards as they recognise various … [Read more...] about VNPT wins big at Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards 2021
NA leader’s visit set to strengthen traditional, multifaceted ties with Bulgaria
Representatives of the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria welcome NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at Sofia International Airport on September 23. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The official visit to Bulgaria, starting on September 23, by Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue is set to further intensify the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, including their parliamentary ties. This is the first visit to Bulgaria by a chairperson of the Vietnamese NA in 15 years, since the trip by then NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in 2008. The two countries boast long-standing friendship and cooperation. Bulgaria was one of the first countries in the world to recognise and set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam, on February 8, 1950. The official visit to the European country by then President Ho Chi Minh in August 1957 laid the foundation and marked an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations. Over the last more … [Read more...] about NA leader’s visit set to strengthen traditional, multifaceted ties with Bulgaria
N.A. leader’s visit set to strengthen traditional, multifaceted ties with Bulgaria
This is the first visit to Bulgaria by a chairperson of the Vietnamese N.A. in 15 years, since the trip by then N.A. Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in 2008. The two countries boast long-standing friendship and cooperation. Bulgaria was one of the first countries in the world to recognize and set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam, on February 8, 1950. The official visit to the European country by then President Ho Chi Minh in August 1957 laid the foundation and marked an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations. Over the last more than 70 years, the countries’ Governments and people have unceasingly nurtured their traditional ties in various fields, from politics, diplomacy to culture, science, education, and security-defense. Leaders of Vietnam and Bulgaria have maintained frequent dialogues and taken concrete steps to enhance bilateral cooperation. Trade between the two countries have been growing steadily but yet to live up to potential. During the first eight … [Read more...] about N.A. leader’s visit set to strengthen traditional, multifaceted ties with Bulgaria