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City cruise

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:10:02 +0000

Ho Chi Minh City has spent lots of money upgrading its drainage system. People have put up with green barriers erected for the sake of street upgrades with the hope that the city won’t suffer from flooding anymore.

However, has the upgraded drainage system proved itself yet? Streets that have never seen floods now suffer the same fate as others.

With the way things are going, perhaps rich people will buy yachts to go around the streets in the rainy season in a couple of years!

Khanh0798@

The more things change…

I raise just one question to the city authorities. It’s also an old question that has been asked for a long time. “Why is it that the more we fight against flooding, the more heavily flooded our city is?” Is it because Vietnam doesn’t have the capacity to do it or is it because of other reasons? Every year we fight floods, we spend money, and we undertake “strong” measures. But the flooding just gets worse every year. I can’t understand it. People have spent lots of money, but the only answer given by contractors of anti-flooding infrastructure is that “it is currently under construction…”

Huynh Ngoc Khanh (District 7, HCMC)

In circles

I’m from the southern province of An Giang. My hometown is usually flooded, but Long Xuyen Town is almost never flooded. When I came to HCMC, I saw some areas get submerged just 15 minutes after heavy rains started. To stop the flooding, the government raised the height of the streets, and then people increase the height of the ground floor of their houses.

As this area gets higher, water flows to other lower areas, prompting the latter to raise their height as well. Everything then just goes around in circles, and citizens are still victims to floods. In my opinion, the city’s leaders should consider different solutions, including those put forward by locals and experts, to ensure that anti-flooding efforts really work.

Tran Van Loi
(Long Xuyen Town, the southern province of An Giang)

Stop waiting

I live in Ward 26 of Binh Thanh District, which was heavily flooded between November 4 and 11. Water from the river flowed into our alley and then our houses, bringing rubbish with it. Everybody was exhausted from fighting against the flooding. But not a single official came to see how we were doing. Luckily, an old man in the neighborhood came up with a solution to tackle the flood with a stainless steel panel, a pumping machine and a couple of rubber washers. Thanks to his initiative, the neighborhood isn’t flooded anymore. This showed me that people need to join hands to save themselves first, even as we wait for officials to come and review the situation and undertake anti-flooding measures.

Khuong Thanh
Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Ward 26, Binh Thanh District, HCMC

A flooded street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 5

Rare ornamental fishes for Hanoi’s great celebration

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 06:59:07 +0000

Around 20 dragon fishes (Arowana), which are very rare, will be displayed at the Hanoi Museum on Pham Hung Road, Hanoi, from October 5.

VnnNews – Around 20 dragon fishes (Arowana), which are very rare, will be displayed at the Hanoi Museum on Pham Hung Road, Hanoi, from October 5.

The Panorama of Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary

The Hanoi Ornamental Trees and Animals Association will display the special fishes until October 10. The organizers had planed to showcase the fishes at the Flagpole Stadium but this will be the place for cannon shooting so they decided to move the exhibition to the newly-opened Hanoi Museum.

A dragonfish breeding movement has developed dramatically in Vietnam, mainly in big cities like Hanoi and HCM City. There are thousands of dragonfish breeders in Vietnam now.

Most of dragonfishes in Vietnam are imported from reputable Singaporean fish farms. Some come from Malaysia, Indonesia and China. Vietnamese dragonfish breeders are said to be playing catch-up with their colleagues across Southeast Asia.

Some dragonfish in Hanoi and HCM City are priced nearly $15,000/fish. Though the price for dragonfish has reduced in recent years, small dragonfish are still priced around $1000/head (18cm long).

In Asia, dragonfish is the symbol of power and luck in business. An adult dragonfish can be as long as 60-70cm in 5-6 years. Dragonfish can live for dozens of years.

Dragonfish breeders often choose red or yellow dragonfish, depending on their age.

All dragonfish imported into Vietnam have chipsets, which have information about the origin of the fish.

Phu Thai

ENVIRONMENT IN BRIEF 19/10

admin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:00:58 +0000

Japan to construct plant for industrial waste in capital; Polluters in Tay Ninh face shutdown; Waste treatment areas to be built in Delta

Japan to construct plant for industrial waste in capital

Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Org-anisation (NEDO) will help fund and build an industrial waste treatment system in Ha Noi that will also be used to generate electricity.

The high-tech waste treatment system will be built on a 1-hectare area at the Nam Son waste treatment complex in the suburban district of Soc Son.

The project will include the construction of an incinerator with a daily capacity of 75 tonnes of waste, an exhaust fume treatment system and heat recovery system connected to a 1.2 MW electricity generator, according to NEDO Chairman Seiji Murata.

The pilot project, which may be expanded to other cities in Viet Nam and throughout South-East Asia, aims to treat waste in a way that’s environmentally-friendly while fostering sustainable development.

Work on the project, which has total investment of US$21 million, of which the Japanese side financed $17 million, will be carried out by NEDO in co-operation with Ha Noi authorities and relevant Vietnamese Government agencies.

The involved parties are expected to complete a feasibility study for the project by the end of November, review final assessments during December and sign an agreement by the end of this year.

Construction, production, installation, test runs and personnel training for the plant will be carried out in 2011 and 2012.

NEDO, under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, specialises in advanced technologies relating to the environment, energy and industry.

Polluters in Tay Ninh face shutdown

Nearly 120 establishments and factories in southern Tay Ninh Province were told to resolve their environmental issues by the end of this year or face closure, the province’s Environment and Natural Resources Department said.

They were found violating environment regulations.

Waste treatment areas to be built in Delta

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a plan to build solid-waste treatment areas in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta’s key economic zone over the next 10 years.

Six solid-waste treatment areas will be located in Can Tho City and An Giang, Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces.

The plan targets that the Delta’s key economic zone, which comprises Can Tho City, An Giang, Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces, will collect and treat 90 per cent of solid waste in urban areas and industrial parks by 2015, and 100 per cent by 2020.

Under the plan, the Delta’s key economic zone will build an inter-provincial solid-waste treatment area in Ca Mau to treat toxic solid waste for the Delta’s key economic zone.

The remaining five provincial solid-waste treatment area will be built:, one in Ca Mau, one in An Giang, one in Kien Giang and two in Can Tho.

From 2010-15, the Delta’s key economic zone will review and set up a roadmap to close down existing rubbish dumps that do not meet environmental protection standards.

They will also set up plans to collect and classify the kinds of solid waste that come from industrial parks or households.

In 2015-20, the Delta’s key economic zone will focus on building the six solid waste treatment areas.

The Delta’s key economic zone will give priorities to treating solid waste by recycling and limiting burying solid waste in order to avoid environmental pollution. The total amount of solid waste in the Delta’s key economic zone is estimated to reach 4,600 tonnes a day in 2015, and will increase to 7,550 tonnes a day in 2020.

Revised law to better preserve minerals

The management of the exploration and exploitation of natural resources should be strengthened to preserve valuable assets for younger generations, according to attendants of a conference in Ha Noi last week.
This idea was put forth by experts from several sectors to discuss the draft of the amended law on mineral resources exploitation.

“This is a necessary regulation to overcome the poor management of minerals exploitation,” said Nguyen Viet Dung, vice director of People and Nature Reconcilation (PanNature).

Dung said that there has been an unusually high increase of business licences for mineral exploration activities in localities in recent years, causing adverse effects on the environment as well as on people’s livelihoods.

Deputy director of the Consultancy on Development Institute (CODE) Pham Quang Tu said within 12 years, from 1996 to 2008, ministries granted 928 operation licences in this field, 353 of which allowed businesses to exploit minerals.

Many provinces had not reported exploration results to authorities. Tu said the situation was due to lax State management s on mineral exploitation. In addition, he said businesses rushed to exploit resources despite little to no experience and knowledge of the natural resource sector.

Statistics from CODE showed that the sector contributes three to eight per cent to GDP, which is lower than others despite being ranked fifth of all sectors that receive the highest levels of investment from the Government.

Sharing these thoughts, Nguyen Thi Lai from the Mining and Metallurgy Science and Technology Institute said that by 2007 there were nearly 1,700 enterprises participating in mineral exploitation, four times higher than 2000 with a yearly increase of 22 per cent.

Tran Thanh Thuy from PanNature said where there are mines, the lives of locals is much harder: “Roads are destroyed, the environment devastated, unemployment is high and social evils are rampant in these places.” She proposed that mining firms be required to compensate local people for these harmful effects.

Le Dang Doanh, the former head of the Central Institute for Economic Management, said it was time to change the definition of “people ownership” to “national ownership”.

“The revised law, which would be submitted to the Government next month, must declare minerals to be the national resources of the people, and require that their exploitation benefit the State, the people and miners,” Doanh said.

Conference participants suggested the Government hold a trial bidding process for some mineral exploitation areas to formulate regulations so that bidders pay the required taxes and fees.

Le Quoc Dung, deputy head of the National Assembly’s Economic Committee, said the revised law was expected to improve the problems. Dung said the Government needs to build strategies for the next 10 to 20 years, which define clearly the amount of exploitation allowed and the appropriate areas and protection plans.

“The right to explore and exploit minerals will be auctioned, and information and databases on mineral resources will be commercialised to increase the State budget.”

He said the law had recognised auctions as one of the ways to go about mineral exploitation since its enactment in 1996. In reality, mineral exploration and exploitation has mainly been conducted by the State.

“The mining auction process would not only increase contributions to the State budget, but make licence granting in mineral exploitation more transparent and limit ask-and-receive mechanisms.”

However, CODE deputy director, Tu, said it would be dangerous if we carry out auctions without clarifying the exact mineral amounts.

Source: VNS

Hanoians eager to pay “moral debt” to flood victims

admin — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 20:59:42 +0000

VnnNews - A three-day Hanoi music festival will raise money for floods victims, helping to repay what organisers are calling “a debt” to those suffering in Central Vietnam.< />

Organisers feel that while Hanoi had its ten days in the spotlight during it’s millennium events, large parts of the country were suffering a rising death toll and horrific conditions.

In addition, under the banner hanoi1001 the event looks to celebrate optimism and promote positivity for the future.

“We’ve recognised Hanoi’s brave history and now we’re looking to celebrate optimism for the future with a strong line up of rock and jazz musicians,” said a spokesperson for the organizers.

“We’re also aiming to recognise the diversity and creativity of modern Hanoi with artists from across the world”

The event starts on Friday October 22^, and finishes on Sunday October 24. The first event takes place at Green Mango on Hang Quat in the Old Quarter with rock and jazz and funk music. It’s followed by a jazz event on Saturday at Matchbox on Cao Ba Quat Street then a Sunday event at Noc View on Hoang Hoa Tham Street with DJs and later a live salsa band.

Each event costs 100,00VND to attend.

The organisers’ spokesperson added: “All ticket receipts will go to the flood victims. We owe Central Vietnam a moral debt and we want to do what we can to assist them at this time.”

Vietnamese fashion’s “Dreaming”

admin — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:59:06 +0000

The 9th Dep Fashion Show, the largest annual fashion show in Vietnam, named “Dreaming” will take place on October 31 at The Garden trading centre in Hanoi.

VnnNews – The 9^th Dep Fashion Show, the largest annual fashion show in Vietnam, named “Dreaming” will take place on October 31 at The Garden trading centre in Hanoi.

“Freedom” on Dep Fashion Show stage

“Dreaming” is the place where designers will show their dreams through the languages of fashion and arts. Four designers will participate in “Dreaming”, including Juliane Kunze (Germany), Hoang Ngan from HCM City, Kelly Bui from Hanoi and Luu Anh Tuan (Hungary). The show director is famous cheographer Le Vu Long.

Introduced the first time in 2004, Dep Fashion Show has proved its prestige through eight annual shows. This is not only the playground for professional fashion designers at home and abroad but also foreign hair designers working in Vietnam and top directors, cheographers, artists and models in Vietnam.

This time, the organizers will introduce the “Dream” collection by Hoang Ngan, “Nomadic” by Juliane Kunze, “Story” by Luu Anh Tuan and “Supernatural World” by Kelly Bui.

Among organizers are famous names like DJ Tri Minh, supermodel Xuan Lan, cheograhers Hoang Thi Ngoc, Quach Hoang Diep and Tran Thanh Nam, video art and stage designer Le Quoc Hung, French light director Domique Raby, French audio artist Jerome Breger and circus artist Ngo Le Thang.

For the first time, the audience will have a chance to see the production process of Dep Fashion Show through clips on Fansipan TV/VCTV1 at 9pm every Friday.

British man to sing with Vietnamese diva

admin — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:59:06 +0000

Lee Kirby, the British man who is known for his sweet voice in late composer Trinh Cong Son’s songs, will perform at the ATB club on October 16-17 with Vietnamese famous singer Anh Tuyet.

VnnNews – Lee Kirby, the British man who is known for his sweet voice in late composer Trinh Cong Son’s songs, will perform at the ATB club on October 16-17 with Vietnamese famous singer Anh Tuyet.

Kirby will sing well-known songs by Trinh Cong Son, including “Diem xua”, “Ha Trang”, Dem Thay Ta La Thac Do” and other songs written by Vietnamese composers, such as “Khoanh Khac” by Truong Quy Hai, “Nong Nan Ha Noi” by Nguyen Duc Cuong, “Tim Lai” by rock band Microwave, “Oi Que Toi” by Le Minh Son, “Em oi Ha Noi Pho” by Phu Quang-Phan Vu and “Mat Troi Be Con”, “Que Nha” by Tran Tien.

He will sing a duet with Anh Tuyet, a northern folk song entitled “Beo Dat May Troi”. The show will close by Trinh Cong Son’s “Noi Vong Tay Lon,” performed by Kirby, Anh Tuyet and ATB chorus.

Anh Tuyet said she listened to Kirby’s songs on Youtube. “My first impression is Lee Kirby sang Vietnamese songs with his own lifestyle and sweet voice,” Anh Tuyet remarked.

“I hope to have a chance to help Lee Kirby improve his singing technique and his Vietnamese pronounciation. I believe that after being trained, he woull sing Vietnamese more accurately,” she added.

ATB club at 197/4 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan district, HCM City has organized shows for foreigners who love Vietnamese music like Richard Fuller (American) and Frank Gerke (German).

In July 2010, Lee met with Joe in Hanoi and perfored “Hanoi Boogie”, a song written by Joe, to celebrate Hanoi’s 1000^th anniversary.

On October 9, Kirby and singer Le Cat Trong Ly performed at L’ Espace, 24 Trang Tien.

Kirby is working on his music project named “Ice tea with Lee”. This project has two parts: the first is perfecting his musical skills and Vietnamese, learning new Vietnamese songs and the second is making a trans-Vietnam tour.

“I and my friends will travel throughout Vietnam to sing. We will stop at any place to play guitar and sing for local people. I plan to invite some famous singers to join this project,” he said.

Lee Kirby is currently a manager of the London-based Ashbourne tại Kenshington school. He began studying Vietnamese since 2004 and can play guitar very well. He was a football player of the HCM City Post Office team in 2003.

Major calligraphic exhibition opens in Hanoi

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:59:58 +0000

VietNamNet Bridge – As many as 250 unique paintings of various sizes and styles are now introduced at a large-scale calligraphic exhibition at the Temple of Literature.

VietNamNet Bridge – As many as 250 unique paintings of various sizes and styles are now introduced at a large-scale calligraphic exhibition at the Temple of Literature.

Calligraphy preserved as a Tet tradition

Calligraphy festival combines tradition, modernity

Stroke of Art, brush with history

The exhibition is decorated with 200 lanterns.

This book is 217kg in weight, 1.6m long, 1.1m wide.

Bronze-made version of King Ly Thai To’s Royal Edict for Moving the Capital < />

A Ly Thuong Kiet’s poet.

Calligrapher Tran Cong Tuan.

A flower-made calligraphic work.

Calligraphers show their talents.

Continue

Vietnam symphony orchestra to perform in the US

admin — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 21:00:12 +0000

The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra will perform on the prestigious stages of Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre in New York City from January 8 – 11.

VnnNews – The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNNO) will perform on the prestigious stages of Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre in New York City from January 8 – 11.

Absurdity at Southeast Asian second largest symphony orchestra

Vietnam Symphony Orchestra having difficulty keeping musicians

Japanese conductor leads Vietnam Symphony Orchestra

South Korean pianist genius Isadora Kim.

At the event celebrating the co-operation of Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and America, VNNO will perform with South Korean pianist genius Isadora Kim, and Japanese conductor Honna Tetsuji.

“This event will help promote Vietnamese symphony as well as culture”, said Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the International Affairs Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. “We should be very proud of VNNO for its development in the past few years. The upcoming tour will also use musical connections to improve harmony between the four nations”.

VNNO will perform compositions to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi along with the best Vietnamese symphonies such as the national anthem and the Thang Long concerto, as well as world famous works including Symphony No 4 by G. Mahler.

Last year, the US symphony orchestra played the Vietnamese national anthem in Vietnam so the Vietnamese orchestra will return by performing the US national anthem in the US.

The Mahler piece is very important for New Yorkers because the author played this work in New York before he died. “The Vietnam Symphony Orchestra and I have practiced this symphony for four years, so we are very confident,” Honna Tetsuji noted.

The Vietnam leg of the tour will be held from December 30 – 31 and all proceeds from the event will go to Understand the Heart charity organisation, which helps underprivileged and handicapped children.

Pianist Isadora Kim or Kim Ji Eun, 16, is living in HCM City. Among young and famous pianists, Kim is more special. She was not taught by famous pianists and didn’t show any talent of music when she was a child. Since moving to Vietnam, Kim practiced piano based on clips on Youtube to become a talent after three years.

When the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra invited Kim to join its show in December, Kim had just signed a contract with Carnegie Hall in New York. She invited the orchestra to join her show in the US.

“Kim is a famous piano talent that I admire. It is our honor to perform with her,” commented Honna Tetsuji, art director of the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra.

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF 30/9

admin — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:00:23 +0000

Vietnamese film week to be held in America; Vietnamese-Canadian virtuoso to perform in Hanoi; Press centres open for Hanoi’s anniversary; Hanoi Culinary Festival to feature 500 dishes

Vietnamese film week to be held in America

A Vietnamese film week entitled New voices from Vietnam will take place at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California in the US from November 5 to 14.

Works including Fading light, Bi dung so (Bi, don’t be afraid), Me va con gai (Mother and daughter), Phuong Thanh Cong (Thanh Cong Ward), Ong va chau (Grandfather and grandchild), Day dog, Canh dong bat tan (The endless field), Trang noi day gieng (The moon at the bottom of the well), Mua oi (The season of guavas), Giao thua da qua (New Year’s eve passed), Choi voi (Adrift), Nha cua cha (Father’s house), Toi mo lam cong nhan (I dream to be a worker), Chung cu cua toi (My apartment building), Toi yeu Viet Nam (I love Vietnam), Bay rong (Dragon trap), Mai hien (The eaves), Cu va chim se se (Owl and the Sparrow) will be screened in the event.

Vietnamese directors consisting of Dang Nhat Minh, Bui Thac Chuyen, Nguyen Phan Quang Binh and Vietnamese American director Stephane Gauger will meet and talk with audience about their movies during the film week.

The film show is organized by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and UCLA Film & Television Archive.

Windsor Plaza to hold Oktoberfest 2010

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest, Windsor Plaza Hotel and the German Business Association are teaming up for the 6th year to host Saigon’s biggest festival, Oktoberfest 2010.

Continuing a 19-year tradition of bringing the spirit of Munich to the heart of Saigon, the Jade Ballroom at the Windsor will be transformed into a German-themed venue.

Due to public clamor, Trenkwalder, a native Bavarian band, will be returning for the third year to entertain guests and get the crowd on their feet with rockin’ versions of traditional songs.

To cherish the excitement and Oktoberfest fever, each guest will receive a free souvenir beer stein and can participate in traditional German games and lucky draws.

Enjoy incredibly wide choices of delectable German delicacies such as sausages, sauerkraut, pork knuckle, pretzels, potatoes and a lot more.

At the party, guests can enjoy Krombacher draught and Schneider Weisse beer or visit private champagne bar for schnapps

The party will be from October 8th through 10th, and again from October 13th through 16th. Every evening the festivities begin at 6:30pm and run till late.

Oktoberfest 2010 is proudly supported by diamond sponsors: Bayer, Tanner and Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam.

Last year’s Oktoberfest saw over 12,000 guests.

Vietnamese-Canadian virtuoso to perform in Hanoi

Pianist Dang Thai SonWorld-renowned pianist Dang Thai Son will play Rachmaninov’s Concerto No.2 in C minor for piano and choir at a concert tomorrow to mark Hanoi’s millennium anniversary.

At the event organized by the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra at the Hanoi Opera House, soprano Phuong Nga, tenor Dang Duong, alto Phuong Uyen, and bass Phuc Tiep will perform Beethoven’ Symphony No.9.

It is considered the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphony.
Spanish conductor Carlos Cuesta, who was the lead conductor at the Santa Fe Orchestra in Spain from 1995 to 2002, will wield the baton.

“Playing this famous piece marks a turning point of my career,” Son said ahead of the concert.

He became the first Asian to win the Frederick Chopin International Piano Competition in Poland in 1980 and currently teaches at the Université de Montréal in Canada.

Admission to the concert at 8 pm will be by invitation only though the public can freely watch the final rehearsal at 9 am tomorrow.

Press centres open for Hanoi’s anniversary

Two press centres that will accommodate journalists covering the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi opened in Hanoi on September 30.

According to the Director of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications, Pham Quoc Ban, the press centres are located at the Hanoi Post Office, No. 75 Dinh Tien Hoang Street and My Dinh National Sports Complex in Tu Liem district.

The press centres, which are equipped with computers and high-speed internet connections, will serve domestic and foreign reporters from 7 am to 11 pm during the ten days of celebrations, he said, adding that reporters will also be provided with information, books, newspapers and documents on Thang Long-Hanoi.

Hanoi has arranged for volunteers to assist the journalists, especially foreigners, he said.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Do Quy Doan presented a number of publications on 1,000-year-old Thang Long-Hanoi to the press centres.

Photo exhibition opens to celebrate Hanoi’s birthday

A photo exhibition entitled “From Van Lang capital city to Thang Long-Hanoi” opened in Viet Tri city, the northern midland province of Phu Tho on Sept. 30.

The exhibition is jointly held by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Phu Tho People’s Committee to celebrate the 1,000 th anniversary of Hanoi and the provincial Party Congress.

On display at the month-long event are 150 photos selected from documentary photos of VNA and Phu Tho province.

On the highlights are photos of President Ho Chi Minh in Phu Tho, which include the one capturing the moment President Ho was talking to Tien Phong (vanguard) Brigade at Gieng Temple before the troupe left for Hanoi to take over the capital city in 1954.

There are also photos of Vietnam ’s capital cities over time.

RoK-Vietnam celebration marks Hanoi’s birthday

A meeting and celebration was held at the offices of the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) National Assembly on September 29 to mark the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Vietnam’s economy is developing sustainably and the nation is becoming one of the most powerful countries in Asia, said the President of the RoK-Vietnam Friendship Association, Lee Byung-suk, in his opening speech.

He said that he hoped cooperation and diplomatic ties between the two countries will continue to develop, especially on the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and 20 years of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2012.

Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Trong Toan said that the meeting shows the solidarity and friendship between both peoples.

The event was co-hosted by the RoK National Assembly’s office, the Vietnam Embassy in RoK and the RoK-Vietnam Friendship Association.

Hanoi Culinary Festival to feature 500 dishes

Some 500 dishes from every part of Vietnam will be introduced at the Hanoi Culinary Festival, which is to be held from October 6-10 at Ho Tay Park, the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on Sept. 29.

A special focus is on traditional Hanoian food with about 300 dishes.

Ten provinces and cities including Hanoi, Dak Lak, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Hung Yen, Lang Son, Ninh Thuan, Quang Nam, Son La and Thanh Hoa will fill up 130 pavilions at the event, to be divided into five separate sites – food of northern, central and southern regions, international dishes and vegetarian cooking.

Besides food, the traditional cultural specialities of different regions throughout Vietnam will also be on show./.