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Showing posts with the label January 27

The Ageless Art of Ballet: Embracing the Dance at Fifty

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Nguyen Kieu Trinh’s journey to ballet was an unconventional one. With a fine arts background, she had a diverse career as a painter and journalist before becoming a writer for an English-language newspaper. Yet, dancing was always a dream. For most of her life, it remained a fleeting pastime, a stress reliever she dared not pursue seriously. It was only in middle age that Trinh truly embraced dance as a path of self-discovery and a way to challenge herself. She found her place at Kinergie Studio in Hanoi, where a diverse group of dancers of all ages shared a meditative and joyful approach to dance, focusing on personal growth rather than competition. Trinh faced unique challenges as an older learner, including reduced flexibility, limited range of motion, and diminished strength and stability. Even the smallest progress required immense effort and persistence. She recalls the foundational stage as the hardest, with endless repetitions at the barre that felt monotonous at times. How...

Celebrating Cultural Diversity: “Vietnamese Tet Within” Competition

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The “Vietnamese Tet in Me” contest is divided into four creative categories: photography, painting, video, and literature/poetry. Each category boasts attractive prizes, with a first-place prize of €500, two second-place prizes of €300 each, and three third-place prizes of €200 each. Additionally, the contest features special awards, including the Excellent Collective Prize and the Audience Choice Award. With a total prize pool expected to reach an impressive €12,000, this competition is an exciting opportunity for creative individuals. Organized by the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe and the Union of Vietnamese Women’s Associations in Europe, this contest aims to strengthen cultural bonds within the community, particularly among younger Vietnamese living abroad. By encouraging expressions of Vietnamese culture and traditions, especially those surrounding Tet, the holiday that celebrates the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, the competition seeks to unite the Vietnamese diaspora ...

The Culinary Artist of Hanoi: Crafting Tet Feast Trays with a ‘Sweet’ Twist

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Thuy Duong, a talented 30-year-old baker from Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan District, recently captivated the online community with her stunning creation. Her post on the “Esheep Kitchen Family” e-group, featuring photos of a Tet feast tray with the nostalgic caption “Old Flavor,” garnered over 7,000 reactions and countless admiring comments. The intricate Tet feast tray, a masterpiece crafted from cake and fondant, includes six traditional dishes, along with bowls, plates, and chopsticks. Photo courtesy of Thuy Duong/Yeu Bep Esheep “As someone who left home at a young age, I rarely had the chance to savor my mother’s home-cooked meals,” Duong shared. “So, I wanted to recreate the magic of Tet with this edible work of art.” Indeed, the attention to detail is remarkable. Each dish, from the banh chung (square sticky rice cake) to the pork jelly and fried spring rolls, is meticulously crafted from cake, sugar, and chocolate. Even the bowls, plates, and chopsticks are works of ar...

Preparatory visit made to isolated island districts before Tet

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The purpose of the visit is to encourage them to remain strong in protecting the country’s sea and island sovereignty. In Ly Son district, the officers and reporters toured administrative units and brought gifts to the staff working at the Ly Son Radar Station. The delegation deliver Tet gifts to soldiers and local people in Con Co island district of Quang Tri province. For their participation, military units have planned duty timetables to ensure their staff can enjoy a cozy Tet, which is the country’s largest festival of the year. The post Preparatory visit made to isolated island districts before Tet appeared first on Vietexplorer.com .

Vietnam News Update (Jan. 26): President of the Philippines to Visit Vietnam

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Vietnam News Today (Jan. 26) notable headlines Philippine President to make state visit to Vietnam Special preferential import tariffs issued to boost Vietnam-Cambodia trade Petrol prices rise in latest adjustment Bookings for Tet tours on the rise Vietnam introduces program for English-teaching foreigners Vietnam remains 7th largest seafood supplier for Canada HCM City to hold fireworks shows at 8 venues on Lunar New Year’s Eve Vietnam continues to call for ceasefire in Gaza Strip Latvia aspires to boost all-around cooperation with Vietnam Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr (Photo: Manila Times) Philippine President to make state visit to Vietnam Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse are set to pay a state visit to Vietnam from January 29 to 30. The visit is made at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong and his wife, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on January 25. In recent years, the relationship b...

Weather Forecast in Vietnam (January 28th): Persistent Cold Waves in the North

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According to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, the weather has been extremely cold in the Northern and north-central regions. In some areas, there has even been frost in the northern highlands. It is strongly recommended that people wear warm clothing when outdoors, as the cold waves and rain can be detrimental to their health, especially in mountainous areas. Heavy rain can also impact sightseeing, tourism activities, and the safety of vehicles on the roads. This harsh weather conditions can also have an effect on livestock, poultry, and the growth of plants. Weather Forecast in Different Regions Northwest region: The weather forecast predicts cold and rainy conditions in the early mornings and at night. High mountain areas may experience frost and snow. The lowest temperature will range between 8-11 degrees, and in some areas, it may even drop below 0 degrees. The highest temperature will range between 11-14 degrees, with some places reaching above 14 degre...

“Xong Dat” remains cherished Lunar New Year tradition

That is the meaning of the “Xong dat” (first footing), a Tet tradition in Vietnam, which has been passed down through generations and continued with equal enthusiasm today, To ensure good luck for the house, the selected “first foot” is normally required to have zodiac signs compatible with the host. He or she should also be successful and content with life.  The invited guest usually visits the house in the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, bringing with him small gifts for the family, including lucky money in red envelops for children. He greets each member, wishing the old with longevity, businessmen with thriving prosperity, and kids with good academic achievements.  The host generously welcomes the special guest, offering the family’s best New Year treats, wine or tea.  Some families choose a member to become the first to enter the house. In this case, the “first foot” normally goes out and comes home after midnight with a spring branch,...

Flower festival in Ho Chi Minh City’s Phu My Hung attracts multiple visitors

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The flower festival officially opens at 6:00 pm on Sunday. Being held along Ban Nguyet (Crescent) Lake, the spring flower road is divided into three segments dedicated to Phu (Wealth), My (Beauty), and Hung (Prosperity) themes. The ‘Wealth’ segment includes miniatures of bumper crops and red envelopes symbolizing the affluence. In addition, statues of cats, the zodiac animal of the upcoming lunar year, gold ingots, and bags of golden coins are to be on display in the segment. Meanwhile, the ‘Beauty’ section is decorated with miniatures featuring the culture of various countries. The ‘Prosperity’ segment shows the development and expectations for a brighter 2023, when Phu My Hung Corporation, the organizer of the flower festival, will celebrate its 30th anniversary. “I come here every year to have good moments with my family and friends. Miniature landscapes are eye-catching and diversified,” said Tra, a Phu My Hung resident. Thuy An, residing in District 1, excitedly s...