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THE HANOI CHRONICLE — The enchanting ban flower, native to Vietnam’s rugged northwestern mountains, has found a new lease of life in the heart of the capital city. Every spring, it graces Hanoi’s iconic streets with its subtle beauty and delicate hues, captivating locals and visitors alike. Come April, Hanoi takes on a peaceful and poetic ambiance. Deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the ethnic Thai and Tay communities, the ban flower holds symbolic significance. It embodies grace, purity, and the innate beauty of mountain women. In literature and folklore, it often serves as a metaphor for love and nostalgia. As the ban trees blossom, they shed their old leaves, revealing clusters of fragile, scentless flowers. These blooms boast soft purple petals, pink stamens, and delicate lilac veins. The contrast of their refined beauty against the weathered walls of colonial-era buildings and ancient relics is simply mesmerizing. Stunning displays of ban flowers line the streets ...

For the youth of 20th century Hanoi, an excursion to Hoan Kiem Lake would involve a visit to the General Department Store, the forerunner of today’s Trang Tien Plaza, savoring  Trang Tien ice cream , and exploring Dinh Le’s renowned “book street”. Despite the passage of generations and the emergence of numerous other book hubs across the capital, the title “Book Street” remains synonymous with the stretch of  Dinh Le Street .  Dinh Le Street is a beloved destination for book enthusiasts in Hanoi. Photo: Hai Yen The Genesis of Hanoi’s First “Book Street”  Dinh Le Street connects Ngo Quyen Street to Dinh Tien Hoang Street. In the 1990s, it was colloquially known as “Do De Street” due to its notoriety as a trading hub for US dollars (“Do” for dollars) and Deutschmarks (“De” for Deutschmarks), highly valued currencies at the time. Prior to the 1990s, Hanoi’s two prominent state-owned bookstores, the National Literature Bookstore and the Foreign Li...

Phuc, who has accrued a sizeable following among fans on social media, including TikTok, has become the first ever Vietnamese freestyle footballer to showcase his skills at an official LaLiga match.  The performance was orchestrated by LaLiga and Deportivo Alaves, who invited a total of 16 TikTok content creators from Asia-Pacific countries to attend Sunday’s game at Alaves’s Mendizorrotza Stadium. Phuc was the only content creator among them to deliver a performance. Wearing an áo bà ba,  a traditional garment of people in southern Vietnam, a nón lá, or Vietnamese conical hat, and the Vietnamese national flag, Phuc seamlessly incorporated these elements into his artistic football showcase.  To prepare for his gig, Phuc had a session to get familiar with the field and rehearse the music a day before, according to The Thao & Van Hoa  (Sports and Culture) newspaper.  Initially, he encountered concerns because the field was affected by strong winds and co...

Vietnam News Today (May 8) notable headlines Vietnam ready for open and frank dialogue on human rights at UNHRC 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory celebrated Vietnam, Australia seek opportunities for trade and investment promotion Vietnam, Brazil enjoy strong trust, substantive cooperation over 35 years: Diplomat Hanoi pilots parking cashless payment Vietnamese athletes come fourth at Asian Jujitsu Championships Canada regards Vietnam as gateway to Indo-Pacific region Vietnam – model struggle for liberation of colonial peoples: Algerian scholar Paris Court of Appeals yet to rule on Vietnamese dioxin victim’s lawsuit At the dialogue on Vietnam’s national report on human rights protection and promotion under the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. Vietnam ready for open and frank dialogue on human rights at UNHRC The dialogue on Vietnam’s national report on human rights protect...

Nestled approximately 35 kilometers from the heart of Da Lat, a popular tourist destination and capital of Lam Dong, Tu Tra is a commune located within the Don Duong District. Despite its challenging terrain, marked by rugged mountain ranges, Tu Tra has faced difficulties cultivating rice, coffee, and vegetables due to the scarcity of water sources and unfavorable soil conditions. However, a revitalizing force emerged over a year ago with the commencement of the Samten Hills Dalat project, initiated by Hanoi-based Kim Phat Production and Trading Company Limited. Encompassing an area of 220 hectares, the complex showcases the architectural grandeur of Vajrayana Buddhism, originating from India. It houses an array of significant Buddhist artifacts, including the colossal Maitreya Buddha statue, and the world’s largest prayer wheel, crafted from bronze and adorned with 24k gold, alongside other revered relics. Since its inception, Samten Hills Dalat has welcomed approximately 400,000...

Arsjad Rasjid, chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council 2023 (ASEAN-BAC 2023). Photo: VNA Ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place on May 9-11 at Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Arsjad Rasjid assessed that Vietnam made important contributions to the realization of the ASEAN Chair’s economic priorities in 2023. According to Rasjid, Vietnam plays an important role in promoting trade and investment within and outside the region, participating in initiatives such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area. Vietnam recently expressed its desire to join the cross-border payment network, which is considered a positive development step for regional economic integration. In addition, Vietnam’s hosting of the upcoming ASEAN Wind Energy 2023 conference is a significant contribution to the region’s renewable energy goals. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Southeast Asia has wind power capacity of up t...