Vietexplorer2024

Hanoi locals and visitors alike are in for a treat as they witness the vibrant yellow cosmos flowers blooming beneath the iconic Long Bien Bridge. After Typhoon Yagi , the once-flooded wastelands of the Red River’s tidal flats have transformed into a stunning sea of golden blossoms in just over a month. This magical setting, located in Phuc Xa Ward, Hoan Kiem District, spans an impressive 10 hectares, offering a breathtaking sight to all who visit. The flower fields, a result of a nature restoration project by local associations such as the Women’s Union, Veterans’ Association, and Youth Union, in collaboration with residents, offer a beautiful contrast to the bridge’s sturdy structure. This alluvial land is susceptible to flooding when the Red River’s water levels rise. However, when the waters recede, it transforms into a stunning flower field, providing a delightful leisure spot for tourists and locals alike. The flower fields flourish due ...

Nguyen Huong Lan has dedicated her career to translating renowned literary works, including Little Nicolas , as well as books by celebrated authors Marc Levy and Guillaume Musso. Her passion project, InBook, is more than just a bookstore; it’s a labor of love aimed at fostering a reading culture within families and inspiring a love of books in children.  The visionary behind InBook: Translator Nguyen Huong Lan. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times In 2017, Lan’s dream took shape in the form of a quaint bookstore in Vietnam, born out of a desire to nurture her children’s love of reading and extend the same opportunity to other families. Esteemed cultural scholar Huu Ngoc endorsed her endeavor, recognizing the potential impact a bookstore in Hanoi could have not just on families but on society as a whole. And so, Blue Horizon, a charming bookstore in Hoan Kiem District, opened its doors. “While selling books may not bring immense wealth, it offers a sense of fulfillment,”...

Vancouver Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025 showcased an exhilarating display of creations from global designers, among them was 32-year-old Vietnamese talent, Tran Phuong Hoa. On October 28, Hoa unveiled her newest collection, Radiant Symphony , comprising 12 innovative designs that fused pearls from the seas of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, with Canada’s iconic maple leaves. In her wedding dress designs, Hoa masterfully incorporates chiffon, silk, and linen, along with intricate embroidery, embellishments, 3D shaping, and alluring cutouts. Her attention to detail accentuates each bride’s distinctive allure. Tran Phuong Hoa’s Radiant Symphony collection artfully marries Canadian maple leaves with Vietnamese pearls. Photo courtesy of Hoa Drawing inspiration from Vietnamese weddings of the 1980s, Radiant Symphony exudes sophistication through a palette of whites, symbolizing purity and festivity. The gowns, crafted from luxurious chiffon and adorned with Swarovski crystals and pe...

The Noor brothers, Sabir and Abid, were reportedly taken into custody during a security operation earlier this month, plunging their family into a state of distress as they desperately seek information about their sons’ whereabouts. Enforced disappearances have become an all-too-familiar tragedy for families in Balochistan in recent times. “Over a 25-year period, an estimated 55,000 people are believed to have suffered a similar fate, with the region bearing the scars of a tumultuous history of human rights abuses. The ongoing protest sheds light on the escalating crisis, as communities unite to demand justice amid a climate of fear and uncertainty for those still missing,” reports indicate. The plea from the Noor family for the safe return of their sons resonates with countless other families across the region who have endured comparable ordeals. Activists and local residents have come together, staging demonstrations across Balochistan to bring attention not only to the...

The underground Opera House station is the second among 14 stations of the first metro line to reach completion. The metro station is 190 meters long, and 26 meters wide, and features four basements. Its first basement encompasses such facilities as a waiting lounge, ticket machines, a restroom, and automated fee collection gates, while the second and fourth basements function as platforms where passengers can board trains.  The third floor houses equipment for employees at the station, a safety control system, a rest area, and rooms containing electric tools and devices. The Opera House station was designed to have five exits to Lam Son Park, Union Square Tower, and Pasteur Street. The 19.7-kilometer-long metro line, which carries a price tag of VND43.7 trillion (US$1.8 billion), has 17 trains, each consisting of three cars and designed to run at up to 110 kilometers per hour above the ground and 80 kilometers per hour underground. Each Japanese-manufactured train is 61.5 me...

On the evening of October 28, the Hanoi Singing Contest, organized by Hanoi Radio and Television, held its final round. The contest featured 12 contestants across three genres: Chamber Music, Folk Music, and Light Music, as well as a song about Hanoi. Tran Thi Van Anh, an 18-year-old contestant from the central province of Ha Tinh, competed in the folk music genre and won first prize. She is the youngest participant in this year’s competition. The Hanoi Singing Contest marks Van Anh’s first entry into a professional music contest. During the final round, Tran Thi Van Anh delivered an outstanding performance. Her talent and dedication were clear to the judging panel, earning her the top prize. The photo captures the intensity and emotion of Tran Thi Van Anh’s performance, which deeply impressed the audience and judges. In addition to Tran Thi Van Anh, three more contestants were recognized for their exceptional performances. Ho Van Kanh received second place in the light music catego...

Vietnam International Fashion Week Fall Winter 2023 is set to take place at the Quan Ngua Sports Palace in Hanoi from November 8-11, playing a vital role in shaping the future of Vietnamese fashion. According to Trang Le, Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Fashion Designers (CAFD) and President of Vietnam International Fashion Week (VIFW), the 16th season of VIFW will bring together esteemed designers such as Ivan Tran, Thao Nguyen, Hoang Quyen, Prio Oktaviano (Indonesia), Cao Minh Tien, and Henry Kof, among others.  President of Vietnam International Fashion Week Trang Le (center) and fashion designers. Photo: The Hanoi Times Notably, designer Xuan Thu Nguyen (Netherlands) will be making a homecoming with her brand XUAN. She will be the first Vietnamese designer invited by the French Haute Couture Federation to participate in the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. The event will also showcase collections by young designer Phan Dang Hoang, who recently l...

With only a few days left until Halloween (on October 31) season 2023, Hanoi’s downtown toy streets are filled with colorful playthings and masks, hats, mannequins, skeletons, and scythes, providing selfie photo opportunities for many young people. Hang Ma Street Hang Ma Street is a street in Hanoi that is the go-to spot during the Halloween season. A month ahead of the festival, Hang Ma Street is brightly and magically decorated with a series of mannequins, masks, clothes, colorful lanterns, and scary toys. These days, it is packed with people shopping, taking selfies, and savoring the lively environment. Hang Ma Street is an ideal backdrop for photography on this occasion. Ho Guom Pedestrian Street Every Halloween, young people often turn the wide pedestrian street into a fashion runway where they show off their bizarre costumes and unique makeup. There are also many interesting activities such as dressing up, mask painting, exciting magic shows, or street performances. Don’t w...

Accommodations that guarantee a beautiful view of the thick, white clouds floating in the sky are the perfect choice for visitors who do not want to move around too much, but still want to enjoy cloud–hunting in a more convenient and relaxed way. If you prefer to stay inside and see the clouds from your window, a hotel, resort, or homestay that is located near the cloud–hunting spot will satisfy your need. Below are the 3 best choices of accommodations to relax and have the most wonderful cloud–hunting experience. Topas Ecolodge Photo: Zing Address: Thanh Kim, Sapa, Lao Cai Price: From VND 16 million (US$670.85)/ night This eco-resort is located on a conical-shaped hilltop of Muong Hoa valley, about 18 km from Sapa. The place consists of small wooden cottages built separately with modern equipment and amenities. Even though the resort is far from the center of Sapa town, it still draws many domestic and global travelers coming here. The price is quite high because ...

An art performance at the meeting. Photo: VNA A meeting was held in Khammouane province of Laos on October 28 to celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and 45 years of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two countries, VNA reported. The event saw the attendance of representatives from the Vietnamese provinces of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Quang Tri that border Laos, and from the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Savannakhet. In his remarks, Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Khammouane Vanxay Phongsavane thanked all-level Party Committees, authorities and people of Vietnam for their support to Laos during the country’s past struggle for national liberation as well as its present cause of national defence, construction and development, and the development of Khammouane province in particular. Tran Thang, Chairman of the People’s Committee of the central provin...

According to a release published on its website, the French auction house, founded in 1928, will put up for auction 329 antiques at 11am on October 31 (Paris time). Two among them were said to be from the last Vietnamese feudal dynasty Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). They are a golden seal cast in 1823 during the reign of King Minh Mang (1820-1841) and a golden bowl dating back to the reign of King Khai Dinh (1917-1925). The ministry’s Department of Cultural Heritage said that if the seal was the ‘Hoang de chi bao (Emperor’s Treasure)’, it had been used for public and political activities of the country throughout a historical period and carried significant historical and cultural values. In its dispatch sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the MCST has urged the MoFA to direct the embassy to work with Million to quickly verify a series of information related to the items, including their owner, legality, expected selling price, and the ability to negotiate direct purcha...

The pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem, also known as Returned Sword Lake, are popular spots among young people. The special celebrations offer visitors the chance to don scary outfits of their favourite characters whilst enjoying the festive day. Shopping centres are good suggestions for families to visit as they are ideal places for locals and their families to snap photos, go shopping, and enjoy meals together to celebrate Halloween. Parks feature scary decorations to offer visitors an interesting experience. In cinemas, young people have the chance to watch horror movies and enjoy wonderful Halloween celebrations. Bars and pubs are familiar places for many people as they provide exciting festive decorations, live music, and new drinks. They’re expected to bring unforgettable Halloween celebrations for both locals and tourists. The post Best Halloween hangout spots in Hanoi appeared first on Vietexplorer.com . View more from VietE...