Cong Tri’s colorful designs for summer 2012

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s famous fashion designer Cong Tri has launched his latest collection for summer 2012, which is very colorful and sexy.

PV

Miss Vietnam 2012 to be held in Da nang

VietNamNet Bridge - The central city of Da nang will host the final round of the Miss Vietnam 2012 pageant this August, to choose Vietnam’s representative at international beauty contests.

Miss 2008 Thuy Dung, a Danang's girl.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has permitted the Tien Phong newspaper and the Da nang authorities to jointly hold the pageant this year.

This will be the first time that the central city hosts the national beauty contest. In 2008, Da nang’s Thuy Dung was crowned Miss Vietnam in Hoi An town, Quang Nam province.

According to Tien Phong newspaper, the qualifier round will begin in April throughout the countries. The semi-final round will take place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to select the best candidates for the final.

The organizing board says that Da nang is selected because this is a famous tourism city in Vietnam. Organizing the Miss Vietnam 2012 in Da nang will contribute advertising Vietnam’s tourism.

The top three contestants of the Miss Vietnam 2010 pageant.

Initiated by Tien Phong newspaper, Miss Vietnam pageant is held biannually.

The Tien Phong Newspaper also holds the right to organize the Miss Vietnam World pageant, but this is not a periodic event, says the newspaper’s chief editor Doan Cong Huynh.

The current Miss Vietnam is Dang Thi Ngoc Han, 23, from Hanoi.

Thanh Van

Ha Long Bay officially recognized as new world natural wonder

VietNamNet Bridge – The New7Wonders organization has officially recognized Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay as a new world natural wonder, announced a senior official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the International Relations Department, said that he met with the New7Wonders’s general director in the morning of March 28 in Hanoi. 

This organization’s chairman will come to Hanoi to present the title and the world natural wonder icon to Ha Long bay this weekend. The icon will be placed in Hanoi and Quang Ninh.

“I’m not surprised when the Ha Long Bay officially became a new world natural wonder, because this site was always at the top in qualifier rounds in the last four years,” Mr. Tinh said.

The 4-year vote for the new seven natural wonders of the world, held by the New7Wonders, closed at 2am, November 12, 2011, (Vietnam time). The winners included Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, Amazon forest in South America, Iguazu waterfall in Argentina and Brazil, South Korea’s Jeju Island, the underground river in the Puerto Princesa of the Philippines, Komodo Island of Indonesia and Table Mountain of South Africa.

At that time the New7Wonders said that the above result was not the final. Independent auditing firms would check and the final result would be announced after March 2012.

Vietnamese people sent 24.09 million text messages to vote for Ha Long Bay, worth over VND15 billion ($700,000). According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s officials, this was the expenditure for promoting and advertising the Ha Long bay brand and Vietnam’s tourism.

Mai Linh

Vietnamese books seek way to go overseas

VietNamNet Bridge – The copyright of over 40 literary works by 11 Vietnamese writers will be offered for sale abroad from March 2012. It is a piece of good news for Vietnamese writers, though the result is unclear yet.

Translator Nguyen Le Chi, director of Chibooks, and writer Phan Hon Nhien (left)
at the signing ceremony on March 16.

Among these selected works, writer Bui Anh Tan owns the highest number, with 12 novels and two collections of short stories. Tan is widely known for his stories about the life of homosexuals.

The remaining authors are all younger than Tan, including Phan Hon Nhien, with six works, Nguyen Vinh Nguyen with three, Can Van Khanh and Vu Dinh Giang with two each, Tran Nha Thuy and Duong Binh Nguyen with one each, etc.

The list of selected work has been printed in many languages, with information about the authors and their main works. Some works have been translated in English.

Translator Nguyen Le Chi, director of Chibooks Company, who will represent Vietnamese writers to sell their works--says that these works will be advertised at international book festivals, for example, the Kuala Lumpur book copyright fair in April 2012, or the Beijing book festival in August and September 2012.

Chibooks signed contracts with related writers on March 16.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, writer Bui Anh Tan said: “This is like fishing. But I hope that I and my colleagues can sell our works overseas.”

Chibooks will ink similar deals with nearly ten other writers this year, to raise the total number of Vietnamese books offered for copyright sale in 2012 to nearly 100.

These contracts are effective for 8-10 years, which is long enough for making negotiation, translation, printing and distribution. Chibooks will earn 10 percent of the contract value.

Vietnamese literature is unpopular in the world. Chibooks’ plan is seen as a new way to bring Vietnamese books to the world.

V. Tien

Nights in Hoi An

When night falls, the ancient town of Hoi An, a World Cultural Heritage Site, becomes sparkling and fanciful in the light of thousands of lanterns. From somewhere, the chants of the Quang area sung by young women resound, fascinating visitors. 

Night in Hoi An is always deep, making visitors feel peaceful, cozy and familiar like they are in their native places.

Along small streets are old houses with rows of lanterns hung at the entrances spreading warm red or yellow light. There are shops selling many souvenir items with typical characteristics of the town, such as the lanterns made of fabric, silk garments, terracotta toys and fine-art items made from bamboo, rattan, copper and wood.

On the sidewalks, under the shade of the bougainvillea flower trellis are small shops selling coffee or dinner. Inside the shops, people can enjoy a bowl of noodles from Quang Nam, or sip coffee in a calm atmosphere full of gentle music and yellow shimmering candlelight.

At night, the streets are always crowded with people, but the atmosphere is not too noisy like other tourist destinations. Everyone walks slowly to enjoy the street life with a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere.

The streets along the Hoai River create the most beautiful scene. Late at night, the river looks more brilliant and sparkling in the light of the decorative coloured lanterns from the streets on both banks. The singing from a Bai choi singing group becomes more and more thrilling, luring visitors to stop to watch the folk games and enjoy the love duets sung by young men and women. Not far away, near the Cau (Bridge) Pagoda, many passers-by are interested in the smooth folk songs performed on the sidewalks by young men and women of Hoi An Town. A little further on, there is a folk song class for children. In the yellow light, about ten children sit quietly to learn to sing folk songs. They look like young birds that are learning to sing.

In Hoi An today, visitors also have an opportunity to take a cruise on the Hoai River to listen to folk songs at night. On a wooden boat floating slowly on the river in gentle breeze, they sit in the soft yellow light of a hurricane-lamp hanging on the mast to listen to girls singing the chants of the Quang area. The rustic singing gently spreads over the river, making the visitors relaxed. 

As usual, on the night of the 14th of every lunar month, all people in the town turn off all electric lights and hang decorative coloured lanterns in front of their houses. This is a practice that has existed for over 300 years. In the quietness of the night, the town looks more beautiful in the moonlight. The incense fragrance from a tray of offerings placed under the front eave makes the atmosphere more shimmering and splendid.

Hundreds of years have passed, but Hoi An still retains the features of a prosperous port town in the past. More importantly, in the architectural space which has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site, the residents are still as simple, ardent and decent as they were in the past. Seemingly, the noisy life of modern times cannot make any changes in their lifestyle, even in their thoughts.

Hoi An sparkles with thousands of lanterns. 





A small restaurant on a street. 





An ancient house with lanterns in Hoi An. 





A Choi singing group in Hoi An. 





On the Hoai River. 





Foreign tourists are interested in different kinds of lanterns in Hoi An. 

VNP

Hanoi - Old streets and traditional trades

Hanoi - Old streets and traditional trades

Hanoi has an old quarter of 36 streets, each being closely attached to a traditional trade that is clearly shown by its name, such as Hang Muoi (salt) Street selling salt, Hang Manh (curtain) Street selling bamboo curtains, Hang Bac (silver) Street selling silver jewellery, etc. 

Hanoi has an old quarter of 36 streets, each being closely attached to a traditional trade that is clearly shown by its name, such as Hang Muoi (salt) Street selling salt, Hang Manh (curtain) Street selling bamboo curtains, Hang Bac (silver) Street selling silver jewellery, etc. 

Mentioning the old streets of Hanoi, the essay “Notes taken on rainy days” by Pham Dinh Ho writes: “Dien Hung ward (present-day Hang Ngang) and Dong Lac ward (present-day Hang Dao) are places where many cloths and silk products are sold.” According to Hanoi researcher Nguyen Vinh Phuc, all kinds of papers, such as Giay ban (tissue paper), Giay moi (inferior tissue paper), Giay boi (coarse paper) and other popular papers made by people in Buoi and Cot Villages were sold on Hang Giay Street in the past. 

Some streets were named after a legend or special ana, such as Hang Chao (rice porridge) Street which was the place selling rice porridge to candidates who came to the capital to attend “Thi Hoi” (National Examination) and “Thi Dinh” (Court Examination) or Trang Tien Street near Hoan Kiem Lake where once existed a coin casting workshop of the Nguyen Dynasty (the 19th century). 

At present, the number of old streets in Hanoi is a matter of controversy because someone said that 36 is only a symbolic number. However, it is correct to say that people on each old street engaged in a trade. In the past, people from all parts of the country flocked to the capital to set themselves up in business. Following the trade motto “It needs friends when trading and it needs to establish guilds when selling”, they lived together in one place and gradually established guilds specializing in trades and products.   

Due to this unique feature, Hanoians usually think of one street where they can buy what they want. For example, the locals usually venture to Hang Manh Street to buy bamboo curtains, Thuoc Bac Street to buy medicinal herbs, Hang Chieu Street to buy mats, etc. 

Hanoi is undergoing drastic changes daily and the old quarter with “Hang” streets are also affected by the process of development. Hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, etc., have mushroomed on these streets, so only a few streets with the traditional trades remain, such as Hang Bac, Hang Ma, Hang Manh, Hang Chieu, Hang Dong, etc. 

The others have engaged in other trades, for example, Hang Than Street now sells Banh com (green rice flake cakes), teas and cigarettes in service of wedding ceremonies; Hang Vai Street sells bamboo products; Hang Chao sells mechanical and electric products to meet the demand of customers in the modern life. In addition, many new streets with new trades have been established in Hanoi, such as Hai Ba Trung Street selling electronic products, Ly Nam De Street selling computers, Luong Van Can Street selling children toys, Hoang Hoa Tham Street selling ornamental trees and Dang Dung Street selling second-hand mobile telephones. 

Strolling through the old quarter or “36 streets” of Hanoi one can perceive the beauty as well as typical feature of these streets which should be preserved by not only the authorities but also the locals. 

Lo Duc is the only street having rows of Sao trees (Hopea odorata) hundreds of years old. 
 




A corner of Hang Quat Street in Hanoi.
 





A family engaging in the traditional goldsmithery on Hang Bac Street. 
  




Making unicorn’s heads on Hang Ma Street.
 




Traditional toys are available on Hang Ma Street. 
 





A stall selling different kinds of bamboo curtains on Hang Manh Street. 
 





Thin Pho restaurant on Lo Duc Street. 
 





Hang Than Street is famous nationwide for making cakes for wedding ceremonies. 
  




Hang Bac Street is one of the most ancient streets in Hanoi with the traditional goldsmithery.
 




Hang Thiec Street still preserves the traditional craft and now the locals in the street 
also participate in making other mechanical products. 
 



Making bronze products on Hang Dong Street.

 
VNP

Hanoi - Old streets and traditional trades

Hanoi has an old quarter of 36 streets, each being closely attached to a traditional trade that is clearly shown by its name, such as Hang Muoi (salt) Street selling salt, Hang Manh (curtain) Street selling bamboo curtains, Hang Bac (silver) Street selling silver jewellery, etc. 

Hanoi has an old quarter of 36 streets, each being closely attached to a traditional trade that is clearly shown by its name, such as Hang Muoi (salt) Street selling salt, Hang Manh (curtain) Street selling bamboo curtains, Hang Bac (silver) Street selling silver jewellery, etc. 

Mentioning the old streets of Hanoi, the essay “Notes taken on rainy days” by Pham Dinh Ho writes: “Dien Hung ward (present-day Hang Ngang) and Dong Lac ward (present-day Hang Dao) are places where many cloths and silk products are sold.” According to Hanoi researcher Nguyen Vinh Phuc, all kinds of papers, such as Giay ban (tissue paper), Giay moi (inferior tissue paper), Giay boi (coarse paper) and other popular papers made by people in Buoi and Cot Villages were sold on Hang Giay Street in the past. 

Some streets were named after a legend or special ana, such as Hang Chao (rice porridge) Street which was the place selling rice porridge to candidates who came to the capital to attend “Thi Hoi” (National Examination) and “Thi Dinh” (Court Examination) or Trang Tien Street near Hoan Kiem Lake where once existed a coin casting workshop of the Nguyen Dynasty (the 19th century). 

At present, the number of old streets in Hanoi is a matter of controversy because someone said that 36 is only a symbolic number. However, it is correct to say that people on each old street engaged in a trade. In the past, people from all parts of the country flocked to the capital to set themselves up in business. Following the trade motto “It needs friends when trading and it needs to establish guilds when selling”, they lived together in one place and gradually established guilds specializing in trades and products.   

Due to this unique feature, Hanoians usually think of one street where they can buy what they want. For example, the locals usually venture to Hang Manh Street to buy bamboo curtains, Thuoc Bac Street to buy medicinal herbs, Hang Chieu Street to buy mats, etc. 

Hanoi is undergoing drastic changes daily and the old quarter with “Hang” streets are also affected by the process of development. Hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, etc., have mushroomed on these streets, so only a few streets with the traditional trades remain, such as Hang Bac, Hang Ma, Hang Manh, Hang Chieu, Hang Dong, etc. 

The others have engaged in other trades, for example, Hang Than Street now sells Banh com (green rice flake cakes), teas and cigarettes in service of wedding ceremonies; Hang Vai Street sells bamboo products; Hang Chao sells mechanical and electric products to meet the demand of customers in the modern life. In addition, many new streets with new trades have been established in Hanoi, such as Hai Ba Trung Street selling electronic products, Ly Nam De Street selling computers, Luong Van Can Street selling children toys, Hoang Hoa Tham Street selling ornamental trees and Dang Dung Street selling second-hand mobile telephones. 

Strolling through the old quarter or “36 streets” of Hanoi one can perceive the beauty as well as typical feature of these streets which should be preserved by not only the authorities but also the locals. 

Lo Duc is the only street having rows of Sao trees (Hopea odorata) hundreds of years old. 
 




A corner of Hang Quat Street in Hanoi.
 





A family engaging in the traditional goldsmithery on Hang Bac Street. 
  




Making unicorn’s heads on Hang Ma Street.
 




Traditional toys are available on Hang Ma Street. 
 





A stall selling different kinds of bamboo curtains on Hang Manh Street. 
 





Thin Pho restaurant on Lo Duc Street. 
 





Hang Than Street is famous nationwide for making cakes for wedding ceremonies. 
  




Hang Bac Street is one of the most ancient streets in Hanoi with the traditional goldsmithery.
 




Hang Thiec Street still preserves the traditional craft and now the locals in the street 
also participate in making other mechanical products. 
 



Making bronze products on Hang Dong Street.

 
VNP