Vietexplorer2024

The captivating Otherwise exhibition, a collaboration between three renowned artists in painting, literature, and sculpture, has debuted at the Center for Culture and Arts on 22 Hang Buom Street, Hanoi. Masterful creations by painter Le Thiet Cuong, writer Nguyen Viet Ha, and sculptor Dinh Cong Dat are on display, featuring 150 sculptural masks crafted from ceramic and papier-mâché. The exhibition showcases masks crafted from the artists’ own faces, capturing their unique expressions. Photo: Thuan Thu/The Hanoi Times United by a decades-long friendship, the artists felt compelled to merge their talents in literature and art. While their individual successes presented a challenge in finding a unifying theme, their shared passion for traditional elements and techniques guided their creative process. By inscribing classical phrases, old street names, and traditional patterns on the masks, the artists forged a deep connection to Hanoi’s ancient values. The materials they ...

Tucked away on Trinh Dinh Trong Street in Ho Chi Minh City is a humble porridge shop with a 40-year legacy. The unassuming eatery, located at 104/22B, specializes in traditional Teochew-style porridge, a simple yet comforting dish. At the heart of their menu is plain rice porridge, a blank canvas for a variety of toppings and accompaniments. Diners can customize their bowl with options like meat, offal, shrimp, fish, and even peanut worms. Each bowl is served with crown daisy, pickled or fresh ginger, and deep-fried dough sticks, along with soy or fish sauce for an added punch of flavor. Portion sizes vary to suit different appetites. A bowl brimming with toppings will set you back VND70,000 ($2.79), while the standard and smaller portions, with fewer accompaniments, are priced at VND60,000 ($2.39) and VND50,000 ($1.99), respectively. For those who want to indulge in the toppings without the porridge, the shop also offers the option of having meat, offal, seafood, or peanut worms wit...

The Hanoi Lotus Festival kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony on the Trinh Cong Son pedestrian street. A highlight of the event, the ceremony featured a captivating art show with 1,200 professional and amateur performers on a floating stage, enhanced by underwater light mapping technology—a unique effect celebrating the vibrancy and beauty of the lotus plant. As a first-of-its-kind event, the festival also showcased a range of activities, including OCOP product introductions and exhibits showcasing the culture of northern mountain provinces. Lotus products took center stage, and a workshop on preserving and developing Vietnamese lotus flowers added an educational dimension. The festival presented a holistic experience, connecting attendees with the local community and its traditions. The five-day festival also featured community-led events, such as a record-breaking gathering of 1,000 people donning traditional long dresses adorned with lotus motifs and a mass cycling eve...

According to Truong Minh Tien, Chairman of the Hanoi UNESCO Club Association, expanding the lotus cultivation area and fostering better collaboration between Tay Ho District authorities, local communities, and tour operators are crucial steps in developing and enhancing local tourism offerings. A local lotus tea artisan demonstrates their craft at the Hanoi Lotus Festival 2024. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times Speaking at a conference held as part of the ongoing lotus festival, Tien highlighted the unique characteristics of Tay Ho District, noting that it is the only metropolitan district in Hanoi boasting large lotus ponds. “Tay Ho has a wealth of popular relics and attractions, and by combining these with tours of the lotus ponds, the district can offer a truly distinctive and memorable experience for visitors,” he added. Pham Duy Nghia, Director of VietFoot Travel, emphasized the importance of closer collaboration between local authorities, communities, and travel ag...

Kien Trung Palace is transformed into a mesmerizing spectacle with 3D Mapping technology, showcasing the exquisite architecture and artistry unique to Hue. The light show is a cultural extravaganza, introducing Hue’s cuisine and heritage to an international audience. The opening ceremony captivates the audience with a magical display of music, lighting, and images, transporting them to the ancient capital of Hue. The ancient capital comes alive with laser effects, LED matrix, hologram projection lights, and 3D mapping on the semi-realistic art stage at Kien Trung Palace. The iconic Nón lá Huế, a palm-leaf conical hat, is a symbol of Vietnamese culture, especially in Hue, where it is commonly worn by local women. A captivating light show brings to life Tôm chua Huế, the famous fermented sour shrimp sauce that is a specialty of Hue’s cuisine. The vibrant light show promises to leave a lasting impression on spectators and visi...