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Showing posts from July, 2023

Mongolia Hosts Vietnam’s Inaugural Fine Art Exhibition

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The inaugural art exhibition of Vietnam in Mongolia, named “Scent of the South Wind – Vietnamese Contemporary Paintings,” is currently on display at the Mongol Art Gallery in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. The exhibition will be open to the general public until August 2nd. The exhibition helps introduce Vietnamese contemporary art to Mongolian audiences. Photo: Embassy of Vietnam in Mongolia The exhibition showcases a collection of 50 paintings and prints by 16 talented Vietnamese artists hailing from the major cities of Hanoi, Haiphong, and Ho Chi Minh City. Additionally, two paintings by a Mongolian volunteer artist are also featured in the exhibition. The Vietnamese Ambassador to Mongolia, Doan Khanh Tam, has stated that the purpose of this cultural event is to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Mongolia (1954-2024). “The exhibition serves as a valuable platform to foster mutual understanding and strengthen bilat

Vietnamese Dancers to Showcase Routines at International Festival

The event is being held in Salerno, Perugia, and Naples by contemporary dance agencies including Campania Danza, Borderline Danza, Dance Gallery, Campano Della Danza, and Artgarage. There will be over 20 shows in total. Arabesque Vietnam will be performing for five nights, starting from July 21. The performances will feature Kliselamef (Female Silk), choreographed by Nguyen Tan Loc, and Melting, choreographed by Lim SunYoung. Kliselamef is a work dedicated to Vietnamese women, inspired by the old Vietnamese quote “Thân em như tấm lụa đào” (A woman’s body is as soft as silk) and images of ancient women, said choreographer Nguyen Tan Loc. Using silk Ao Dai designed by Kieu Viet Lien, Loc aims to blend the softness of Vietnamese silk and dance movements to promote the country’s symbol. The music for Kliselamef is also a highlight of the performance, with contributions from musician Ton That An who composed the piece using Vietnamese traditional instruments like the moon lute and Eur

Hanoi Audience Mesmerised by BlackPink’s See Tinh Dance Performance

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The inaugural performance of the Born Pink World Tour’s Hanoi concert was held on the evening of July 29th. Taking place at My Dinh Stadium, the event attracted an audience of 30,000 enthusiastic individuals. The iconic lightsticks of BlackPink transformed the national stadium into a vibrant pink spectacle. Throughout the two-hour concert, the crowd exuberantly cheered, creating an electrifying atmosphere. The band commenced their performance at My Dinh Stadium in Vietnam at 7:50 pm, marking their inaugural show in the country. How You Like That was performed as an opening act, setting the stage ablaze. The mesmerizing performance was followed by captivating renditions of Whistle and Pretty Strange , featuring impressive vocal skills and energetic choreography.  My Dinh National Stadium is packed with 30,000 spectators. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times The South Korean idols greeted their fans with Vietnamese salutations, “Xin chao,” before performing their songs “Lov

Exploring the French Architectural Gems of Hai Phong by the Sea

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As one of the most important cities in Vietnam during the French colonial period, Hai Phong has a rich architectural heritage influenced by French design. These buildings are not only important cultural landmarks, but also serve as reminders of the city’s historical development. The Governor’s Building is currently the headquarters of the People’s Committee of Hai Phong City. Photo: Le Minh East meets West in architecture The urban development of Hai Phong lagged behind that of larger cities like Hanoi, Saigon, and Da Nang after the war. However, the city’s architectural charm lies in its harmonious blend of Asian and European influences. Many neighborhoods in Hai Phong still boast well-preserved French colonial-era buildings, such as the villas in Hong Bang district. Notable structures include the former Hai Phong City Hall (now the Hai Phong People’s Committee Office) and the town hospital (now the Military Hospital 7), which were among the first buildings erected by the Frenc

Premiers of Vietnam & Malaysia and their Spouses Enjoy Water Puppet Shows in Hanoi

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The spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Binti Wan Ismail, met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s spouse, Le Thi Bich Tran, during Prime Minister Ibrahim’s two-day visit to Vietnam. As part of their visit, both spouses enjoyed water puppet performances at the Vietnam Contemporary Art Theater in Hanoi. The visit took place on July 20, 2023, and Prime Minister Ibrahim and his spouse arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. They were invited by their Vietnamese counterparts, Prime Minister Chinh and his spouse. During the visit, the spouses were introduced to the history of Vietnamese water puppetry and learned how to make puppets and perform with them. They also immersed themselves in Vietnam’s folk music played with traditional musical instruments. The Vietnamese water puppetry showcases daily life in the countryside and the Malaysian prime minister’s spouse was particularly impressed by performances of a dragon dance and a play where

Exploring Realism through the Eyes of Nguyen Sang and His Love for Hanoi

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Nguyen Sang, a renowned painter, has made significant contributions to modern Vietnamese painting. He is hailed as a master of the realist art movement, and is one of the four iconic Vietnamese artists of the 20th century, along with Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Duong Bich Lien, and Bui Xuan Phai. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Nguyen Sang’s birth (August 1, 1923 – August 1, 2023), the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, in collaboration with the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, organized a talk show to reveal lesser-known stories about the artist. The ‘father’ of two national treasures Nguyen Sang was born on August 1, 1923, in the city of My Tho, Tien Giang province. In 1938, he enrolled in the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine. In August 1945, he joined the revolutionary movement in Hanoi. At the end of December 1946, he went to the Viet Bac war zone to fight in the national resistance war, using his drawings as a powerful medium. The painting Party Admission Ceremony in Dien B

HCMC Strengthens Ties with Portugal’s Porto City

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During a business trip to Portugal, a delegation from the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, led by Vice Chairman Duong Anh Duc, met with Porto Mayor Rui Moreira, according to VNA. Ho Chi Minh City and Porto City in Portugal signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the two cities for the period of 2023-2025. At the signing of the MoU between HCM City and Porto. Photo: VOV The MoU aims to enhance collaboration in culture, tourism, economy, trade, urban upgrading, and heritage conservation. Both cities will facilitate exchanges and sharing of experiences among their football teams and clubs, and encourage departments and agencies to increase cooperation. Vice Chairman Duc expressed his hope that the MoU will strengthen the partnership between the two cities, which are both economic hubs, especially in the areas of economy, culture, tourism, and innovation. This will contribute to promoting ties between Vietnam and Portugal. Mayor More

Vietnam and Israel Sign Historic Free Trade Agreement to Strengthen the Retail Sector

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It is forecast that the size of Vietnam’s retail market will increase to US$350 billion by 2025. Photo: congthuong.vn The Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) was officially signed on July 25, and is expected by the business community to bring new opportunities for trade cooperation and export promotion. For the retail industry, this FTA is also expected to have positive effects for businesses in this industry. Israel is known as an innovation powerhouse, with more than 500 startups specializing in retail technology, providing solutions for wide-ranging applications, from logistics and supply chains to the in-store consumer experience. This is also the reason in recent years, multinational companies such as Nike, Alibaba and Walmart are increasingly interested in Israeli solutions. Therefore, when VIFTA was signed, Nguyen Anh Duc, chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Retailers and general director of Saigon Co.op assessed that there will be two aspects that

Vietnam and Italy Agree to Boost Strategic Alliance

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President Vo Van Thuong and President of the Italian Senate Ignazio La Russa. Emphasizing the significance of the visit on the two countries’ 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership , President Vo Van Thuong acknowledged Vietnam’s strong commitment to maintaining a close relationship with Italy, particularly in fostering cooperation between the legislative bodies of both countries. The President of the Italian Senate warmly welcomed President Vo Van Thuong and the high-level Vietnamese delegation, marking an important milestone in bilateral cooperation, as it is the first exchange of state-level visits between the two countries in seven years. Ignazio La Russa emphasized the friendship and solidarity between the two peoples, highlighting Vietnam as Italy’s most important partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Italy expressed its support for Vietnam’s role in promoting rel

Vietnam to Increase Retail Sector With New FTA With Israel

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It is forecast that the size of Vietnam’s retail market will increase to US$350 billion by 2025. Photo: congthuong.vn The Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) was officially signed on July 25, and is expected to bring new opportunities for trade cooperation and export promotion. The retail industry is also expected to benefit from this agreement. Israel is renowned for its innovation, with over 500 startups specializing in retail technology. These startups offer solutions for various areas, including logistics, supply chains, and in-store consumer experience. This has attracted the interest of multinational companies like Nike, Alibaba, and Walmart, who have increasingly shown interest in Israeli solutions. Nguyen Anh Duc, Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Retailers and General Director of Saigon Co.op, believes that the VIFTA will directly impact the Vietnamese retail industry in two ways. Firstly, retailers will have access to high-level technology sup

Families in Mexico Utilize Banana Yarn to Ensure Financial Stability

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Hajipur (Vaishali), Bihar In March this year, six women living in villages in Vaishali district of Bihar started a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) that produces yarns from discarded banana stems. The banana yarn is then used to make various products such as bags, sanitary pads, paper, and decorative items. The FPO, named Kera Jeevika Mahila Kela Resha Kisan Utpad Company, is the first banana waste processing unit in the state, supported by the Government of Bihar’s Jeevika project. The project aims to empower rural women socially and economically. Asha Devi, Renu Devi, Kumari Krishna Sinha, Susheel Kumari, Sonam Kumari, and Lalita Kumari are the co-founders of the FPO. Asha Devi, who has been a part of Jeevika since 2017, said, “At present, we are only making about Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 a month from the company, but we are confident that soon our earnings will go up a lot more.” Apart from the six co-founders, there are 15 to 20 women from Jeevika working as labore