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A stunning 1.6-meter bronze statue depicting a vendor selling pho , Vietnam’s iconic noodle soup, has found its home on Tong Duy Tan Street in Hanoi’s historic Old Quarter. This vibrant food street, nestled in the heart of the Hang Bong Ward, is part of the renowned Hoan Kiem District. The captivating bronze statue, a recent addition to Tong Duy Tan Street, instantly captivates locals and visitors alike. Curator Nguyen The Son shared that the statue’s strategic placement at the entrance of Tong Duy Tan Street, just a stone’s throw away from the iconic “Train Street” on Tran Phu, makes it a welcoming sight for all. “Its proximity to Hoan Kiem Lake, a beloved tourist destination, further enhances its allure,” Son added. The statue is not just a work of art but also pays homage to Hanoi’s rich culinary heritage, with pho being a shining example. The design of the statue draws inspiration from a vintage photograph captured by an unknown French photographer. It beautifull...

As the year draws to a close, caring for kumquat trees demands extra attention to ensure they remain vibrant, lush, and healthy. The dry weather in the final month can be challenging, so adequate watering is crucial. In Hanoi’s Tay Ho District, Tu Lien Bonsai Village buzzes with activity a month before Tet. Farmers are in the final stages of preparing their kumquat trees for harvest, a tradition they’ve meticulously practiced all year. Hoang Luan, a local farmer, emphasizes the significance of this period for kumquat growers. “Each year, we diligently care for our trees, mindful of the weather, to ensure they’re ripe in time for Tet. With the holiday arriving earlier this year, we’re working diligently to accelerate their growth,” he shares. Tu Lien’s kumquat trees have evolved over the years to meet the diverse preferences of consumers. From grand pots to miniature displays, their shapes and designs have been refined to captivate customers. Tu Lien Bonsai Village, nestl...

Li, a former Everton player, was initially tried and sentenced to a 20-year fixed-term imprisonment, according to the state news agency Xinhua , who provided no further details. The far-reaching crackdown on official corruption, initiated by President Xi Jinping over a decade ago upon assuming power, has ensnared the sports industry. In late 2022, anti-graft authorities turned their attention to sports, and this week, they announced the convictions of several former football administrators. Li, who served as China’s coach from January 2020 to December 2021, had previously admitted to accepting over $10 million in bribes. The 47-year-old, a well-known former footballer in China, played as a midfielder for Everton in the Premier League. He featured in a documentary aired by CCTV in January, exposing the pervasive corruption in Chinese football. Li confessed in the program to paying nearly $421,000 in bribes to secure his position as head coach. He also admitted to match-fixing duri...

About 24 million tourists have visited Hanoi this year, showing a significant annual growth of 27%, according to statistics from the Hanoi Department of Tourism. This includes four million international visitors, a remarkable year-on-year increase of 266.7%, and 20 million domestic tourists, representing a 16.3% increase compared to the previous year and accounting for 91% of the 2019 figures. Foreign travelers in Hanoi. Photo: Hanoi Tourism Department The estimated tourism revenue for the city in 2023 is approximately VND87.65 trillion (US$3.65 billion), a 45.5% increase compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the hotel sector’s average room occupancy rate is expected to reach 58.7% this year, a 20.1% increase compared to the previous year. The year 2023 has been a successful year for Hanoi’s tourism industry following the Covid-19 pandemic, as it received three prestigious awards in September: Asia’s Leading City Destination 2023, Asia’s Leading City Break Des...

The concert will kick off with well-known compositions that celebrate both Christmas and New Year, specifically Te Deum-Prelude composed by Henri Charpentier, Concerto for Oboe by Alessandro Marcello, and Adagio by Tomaso Albinoni. Following that, Vietnamese artists, including cellist Phan Nhu Quynh, violinist Dao Mai Anh, and oboist Bui Son Tung, will perform with the VNSO’s symphony orchestra under the baton of Japanese conductor Honna Tetsuji. Conductor Honna has been the musical director and principal conductor of the VNSO for over 20 years. With his extensive experience of collaborating with world-renowned solo artists such as Martha Argerich, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Antonio Menses, and Cecile Licade, as well as conducting various orchestras, Honna has contributed to enhancing the performance quality of the VNSO. The VNSO was originally established in 1959 and has since held nearly 40 concerts per year, featuring classical, romantic, and contemporary music. The orchestra has pe...

The newly-launched event titled “Weekend Book Street” will be one of the highlights of Hanoi Book Street in Hoan Kiem District at the weekend. Artist Xuan Bac will join the weekend event at Hanoi Book Street. Photo courtesy of the event organiser This is an initiative of the Hanoi People’s Committee to enrich the operation of Hanoi Book Street every weekend, making the place an attractive destination for Hanoians and foreign visitors. The premiere program will begin this weekend, from December 31 to January 2, to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2023. There will be a host of activities, such as book launching ceremonies, instructions on how to read books effectively, craft workshops, bookbinding, cover drawing, a calligraphy contest, and instruction on making artistic flower arrangements. In addition, some gastronomic events will also be organized, such as the practice of the Vietnamese tea ceremony; street cooking demonstrations; the corner of Hanoi specialties, among o...

Contestants from 35 countries and territories competed in the final night of Miss Tourism World 2022 at Ho Chi Minh Square Park in Vinh Yen City, Vinh Phuc Province on Saturday evening. This is the first time Vietnam has hosted the final round of Miss Tourism World, with the theme ‘Bringing the World to Vietnam.’ Vietnamese beauty Huong Ly and the top five of Miss Tourism World 2022 during the pageant’s finale in Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam, December 10, 2022. Photo: Mai Thuong / Tuoi Tre The 35 beauties previously had a journey to discover landscapes, historical, and cultural relic sites in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Son La, and Vinh Phuc. At the final night, the audience had the opportunity to look back on the journey of the contestants and see them in their national costumes, silk ao dai by designer Anna Hanh Le, and evening gowns by designer Thach Linh. The finale of Miss Tourism World 2022 in Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam, December 10, 2022. Photo: Mai Th...

Nguyen Thi Thu Giang, Head of the European Department, Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (R), and Marius Kach, Member of the Executive Committee of the Swiss-Vietnam Friendship Association at VUFO’s Room of tradition (Photo: Thu Ha) Speaking at the meeting, Marius Kach thanked VUFO for welcoming him to its headquarters and to Vietnam and expressed his affection for Vietnam and his impression on his first visit to Vietnam. As a young representative from the Swiss – Vietnam Friendship Association – VUFO’s partner in Bern, Switzerland, he wishes to cooperate with VUFO to organize visits to Vietnam for young members of the Swiss Friendship Association. – Vietnam and young Swiss love Vietnam, thereby contributing to the cooperation relationship between the two countries. Sharing the view, Nguyen Thi Thu Giang, Head of the European Commission, VUFO , proposed to hold regular exchanges between Vietnamese and Swiss youth, especially in the culture and economy in order t...

During the meeting with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Albert, Co-Founder of Traveloka, affirmed his commitment to support more initiatives, technological developments, and other solutions to aid the recovery of Vietnam’s tourism industry and accelerate its digital transformation. Albert also took the opportunity to congratulate the President on Vietnam’s success in ensuring the recovery of the country’s tourism industry. He also noted and expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese government for its strategic business cooperation, partnership, and support, which minimized the consequences and impact of the pandemic. As Southeast Asia’s leading travel platform, Traveloka hopes to deepen collaboration with the Vietnamese government in projects to support the recovery of the tourism sector, accelerate digital adoption, as well as to further develop sustainable tourism. The tourism industry needs to harness digital transformation to create breakthroughs and drive positive impact for t...

Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Tuyen Quang city of the northern province of Tuyen Quang. Photo: VNA Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Tuyen Quang city of the northern province of Tuyen Quang has been ranked fifth among 11 outstanding landscape projects winning the Asian Townscape Awards 2022, VNA reported. Covering an area of over 8.5 ha, Nguyen Tat Thanh Square is an impressive work in both landscape and urban architecture. It also serves as a place for organising cultural, political and historical events. At the center is the “Uncle Ho and the people of ethnic groups in Tuyen Quang province” monument. In front is a group of 7 figures, in which the statue of Uncle Ho is in the central position, 7.9m high; surrounded by characters representing the armed forces, children, young people, women, workers and intellectuals, simulating Uncle Ho’s visit and talk with the people of Tuyen Quang ethnic groups in March 1961. Behind is a relief of the symbol of Tan Trao banyan tree, a historica...

In the later months of the year, the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang attracts flocks of tourists who come to watch blooming fields of buckwheat and beautiful golden paddy fields. Ha Giang is not only famous for being a travel destination all over Vietnam with its wilderness and beautiful natural scenery, but also for the mouth-watering, unique traditional foods that you have never tried before. Aconite root congee (Chao Au Tau) Photo: VOVTV This congee is cooked from rice and aconite roots. The roots are soaked overnight in water that has been used to wash rice before being simmered together with rice and pork trotters until the roots get soft. Locals also add chili, pepper, herbs, and chicken eggs to the congee. This dish is especially loved by elderly people to keep them strong and healthy, and it also works like a natural herb medicine to improve fatigue, help with sleep and relieve tiredness after a long, hard–working day. The first time one tastes the ...