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Skillfulness

Bringing the quintessence to Hanoi * Business villages, streets, guilds * Not only have brains and hands * The qualification of workers ‘conscience * Business town specialized street

Sowing the Trang An elegance in every family

We all know and are proud that Hanoi is the thousand-year civilized Thang Long land strip; Hanoi is a heroic capital in struggling to protect the country and in creating and labor; Hanoi is the city for peace, the center of politic, culture, science… Mentioning Hanoi, we cannot help emphasizing that this is the elegant Trang An land strip.

The one-thousand-year civilized land

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The youth of Hanoi today

Mentioning Hanoi, people immediately thinks of a thousand-year cultural quintessence with the values which were recognized, honored and became the symbol of Vietnam. They are the thirty six antique streets, One-Pillar pagoda, Quoc Tu Giam Temple of literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, etc.

Craftsman Nguyen Ba Muu: Who brings dried flowers to art

In Ha Noi capital, when talking about flowers and decorative plants, people always think about well-known flower villages, such as Ngoc Ha, Nhat Tan, Tay Tuu and Me Linh. But in the field of making dried flower, only name was mentioned. He is the craftsman Nguyen Ba Muu. He is the vanguard in making dried flowers and using them to create vivid and colorful pictures.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Thăng Long queen city center receives international relic degree

Lunar Year 4 th light (ie on February 10, 2008), Ministry of Culture - Sports and Tourism has awarded Decision ranked national monuments with Relics history of art and architecture of Park Royal Center Thang Long, Hanoi (including relic of old Hanoi and archaeological relic 18 Hoang Dieu).
Mr. Tran Chien Thang - Deputy Minister of Culture - Sports and Tourism; Ms. Ngo Thi Thanh Hang - Vice Chairman Hanoi City with representatives of some departments, branches, localities and specific aging published in Bac Ninh, Ly Thai country attended.

By first ceremony to receive the National monuments, government representatives in Hanoi and Bac Ninh with the position of the two elderly local flavor dishes procession from there (Dinh Bang, Tu Son, Bac Ninh) - 8 places of worship are King Ly on Park Royal Center Thang Long.
Deputy Minister Tran Chien Thang affirmed that the ranking is not only a monument to honor area of Thang Long Imperial Center, but also to honor the career of money to people more proud tradition of his father he and the Thang Long ancient, continue to build and protect the valuable cultural values of the nation.

Park Center Thang Long Hoang Ha Noi is up dossiers of recognized as national relic is especially important, at the same time, it was suggested that UNESCO world cultural heritage.

After the ceremony, the traditional cultural activities were held at the Royal Center area, serial Royal Society Spring Thang Long was conducted prior Lunar Year.

New findings about Thăng Long queen city

Block is the palace where the focus typical of the monarch, the most advanced products of the economy, the country's culture through historical periods.
On September 2, 2002, a conference on scientific relic Hoang Thang Long was held in Hanoi brings together historians, archaeologists across the country. Approval of the historian Professor Phan Huy Le, we post all discussion to the new conclusions deepen awareness of the monument is especially rare. We put the headline.

Nhập mô tả vào đây

1. Areas Hoang Thang Long at 18 Hoang Dieu began excavations from 12-2002 and are revealed in a large area in the mid-2003.

Area excavated so far is 19,000 m2. From the findings, about archeology and historians have determined preliminarily that the relics are located within Thang Long Hoang Ly, Tran, Le record, Mac, and the Le Trung Hung Nguyen, Hanoi time. But this is a complex archaeological relics, including many urban architectural monuments and a massive amount of relics of many different historical periods so many questions to be posed and engaging the attention Research research of many scientists in the country and internationally.

In 2004 - 2005 until early 2006, several workshops with computer science or research report specialized, interdisciplinary is the Social Science Institute of Vietnam, Ministry of Culture and Information Ministry of Construction organization. Most importantly, national scientific conference by the Institute of Social Sciences held on 19-20/8/2004, workshop international consultant by the Institute of Social Sciences and coordinate with the Vietnam National Committee UNESCO Vietnam male and UNESCO Office in Hanoi and held on 10-11/8/2004 Meeting on February 18, 2006 by Ministry of Culture and Information organized.

Through workshops, many problems are posed by issues such as general location of the relics in the structure of Thang Long-Hanoi, the nature and age of the relics, the value of the relic ... to the very specific issues such as age structure and individual architectural monuments, types and characteristics, origin and some relics dating, dating and relationship between the cultural layer , decode the writing on some relics, geological features composed, ecological environment, the origin of the relic rivers, lakes ... Something worth more pleased that more research and discussion, besides several issues need further research, many new questions are posed, the general perception of scientists in general the value of relic They may get together trends consensus. The results of this study, we like to thank the participation and cooperation of several research experts from the International UNESCO, Japan, France, Italy, Spain.

2. Awareness is relatively common consensus about the value of the relic Hoang Thang Long Hoang Dieu 18 can summarized as follows:

- Areas once discovered is defined in the Thang Long Royal is gradually defined more specifically in the Forbidden City is the center of Royal City News. Thang Long Citadel of three rounds to: La City University, Imperial City (the name used by Le record) and Block. The University of La and Royal have changed from the Ly, Tran Le to record, from time to time, record Mac Le and Le Trung Hung, but the location and size of the Forbidden City is virtually unchanged, only palace is undergoing many construction and repair, dismantling, destructive ... Block is the palace where the focus typical of the monarch, the most advanced products of the economy, the country's culture through historical periods.

- Areas of multi-level serial culture quite different from An ongoing India-South domination University La VII-IX century, particularly from the Ly, Tran, Le Mac file to the time, Le Trung Hung century XI-XVIII and XIX century Nguyen Dynasty. Relic's history from pre-culture of Thang Long thousand years time and near Thang Long-Hanoi. Many foreign experts rated value because the capital is rare in a country where the ground still preserve vestiges relatively systematic and continuous with depth historical and cultural nearly five thousand such , even if pre-Thang Long, then up to 13th century.

- Relic 19,000 m2 is part of the Block, but disclosed a priceless cultural heritage of the Bible, crystallize the value of cultural history of both peoples. This value is expressed through the architectural monuments and other relics, including wells, the drains, the foundation architecture, building materials, the sophisticated pottery, materials with typical architecture of the era ... all showed a high level of economic development, culture and national identity with dark, especially during Vietnam century civilization University XI - XV with organizations to build capacity, create good nutrition of the ancestors.

- The relics of foreign origin as the money, pottery of China, Japan, West Asia relations delivered proven economic and cultural capital of the widely with our country abroad. This is a feature and value of culture in Vietnam, always developed on the solid foundation in conjunction with the exchange and absorption of external cultural influences.

- It can be said of the capital of the country, each capital has as its history, contributing to create the flow of history and cultural centers of political, economic, cultural countries. Among them, economic Thang Long-Hanoi has a long history and the most typical for the period of the country's prosperity: economic Thang Long time civilization University Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh era. Areas Hoang Thang Long 18 Hoang Dieu has reflected the history of economic development, convergence and regulations has crystallized the value of history and ethnic culture via annually. It is a heritage of priceless cultural production capital and the whole nation.

By comparing the results of some scientists in the country and international experts, the legacy is still world class, the criteria have been recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Himself Kōichiro Matsuura, President of UNESCO, when visiting the monument on July 17, 2005 said: "Areas have cultural values and history extremely important and pursuant to Heritage Convention cultural world, it can be fully considered cultural heritage of humanity ".
Cấm thành Thăng Long được xác định trong phần viền đỏ.
3. Recently, archaeologists Vietnam during revise the artifacts, setting records and work with scientists from Japan studied the relics in the field, has provided some more information give a results of new research results raise further awareness of the value of the relics. Archaeological Institute reported on new research results, in which the results of my concerns is:

Through revise the kind, archaeologists have put out again on decorative objects and discover more relics are Hanja. In addition to the Hanja name army's version and some administrative units involved the construction of Royal, also the word architectural Han named an imperial palace in the Forbidden City was old bibliographic notes such as "Royal Villa subjects People directory created "," Changle supply "," Kim Quang power. Revise the results of artifacts and statistics also provide information about the system characteristics and changes pottery through the period, the currency of Vietnam from the Ly, Tran Le to the Nguyen and money China from the Han dynasty, Tang to Song, Minh, Thanh. The statistics on mobile core animal found to provide information regarding activities and art supply moisture paddy home.

Results of studies of architectural monuments in the field for experts in Japan and Vietnam make comments on the architecture and set of architectural drawings in a certain architecture Ly, Tran with the number Data specific measurements. This information shows that more fairly large scale of the palace in the ancient Forbidden City.

Many problems and questions still being posed, the research results is increasingly clear over the value of the relic Hoang Thang Long.

4. Areas Hoang Thang Long since has revealed to date has more than 4 years and is facing the requirement is urgent resolution.

Research as valuable as the monuments are confirmed, but the state has considerable worry. Archaeologists have tried hard to protect the relics such as roof covering, set up the system vacuum pump, apply a solution of anti-submarine, anti-moss milestone ... But the change of environment conservation in from the ground to outside, the climate change such as humidity, heat will affect the quality relics.
Over four years, despite all efforts to protect the above, the relics are gradually degraded by years. Japanese experts are worried about our status is degraded. Status degradation is only resolved when the basic long advocated the preservation of relics, on the basis of the established long-term conservation planning and construction plan for each step depending on their ability ta. In this respect, UNESCO and experts from many countries ready cooperation, consultation and support us. Also on that basis, can apply the solutions to long-term conservation and efficiency with modern technology.

Relic of Imperial Highway has combined with relics on the ground and the ground (not being the architect of modern destruction) of the Thang Long Block and revolutionary relics, modern resistance, may be planning a historical-cultural Thang Long-Hanoi run through from pre-Thang Long, Thang Long-time business, time to Hanoi to Hanoi capital, Ho Chi Minh era. Range planning and names relic should also researched and discussed widely among management agencies and experts on science and related fields.

A cultural heritage such exist between the center of Hanoi will enhance the position of history, cultural capital and meet criteria to be recognized as a National Monument and special cultural heritage in the world. It was proposed by the scientific community through scientific conferences, is the earnest aspirations of the people of the capital and the country, is also the responsibility of our generation before history.

And if the relics are not preserved, and all you can say long-term capital Hanoi will forever be a world cultural heritage in the heart of the capital, thousands of culture, pride of of capital and people throughout the country and community Vietnam abroad. It is more meaningful sacred when Hanoi and the country is preparing anniversary of Thang Long thousand years old.

Propose Thang Long queen city becoming world relic

5 / 4, Forum UNESCO - University and Heritage 12th place in Hanoi. Vietnam hopes this is the opportunity to promote Hoang Thang Long became a World Cultural Heritage in 2010.
Attending the seminar are 380 professors, researchers, experts and students from 52 counter.

Cấm Thành Thăng Long nằm trong giới hạn viền đỏ. Khu vực nằm trong hình vuông xanh là số 18 Hoàng Diệu. Ảnh lấy từ cuốn Hoàng Thành Thăng Long.

Earlier this year, the record (nearly 900 pages) of the Royal Central Vietnam Thang Long was completed and sent to Paris (France) proposed UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. According to experts, the Royal meeting three of the six criteria of the UNESCO

Hoang Thang Long confirmed as one of important relics of Hanoi in particular and the country in general and Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen The Thao said, after the complete dossiers to UNESCO, Vietnam hy expectations will have world heritage in 2010 again, this time celebrated 1,000 years of Thang Long, Hanoi.

Also Chairman National Committee for UNESCO Vietnam Nguyen Thanh Son for, after reviewing documents, the UNESCO would like to Market Monitoring in place in April or May to come. May 6-7/2010 to Vietnam will submit the full dossier Council UNESCO.

If UNESCO, Hoang Thang Long will be the 8th World Heritage Sites in Vietnam after the Natural Heritage: Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha - Ke Bang; Cultural Heritage - History: Hue , Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary and Cultural Heritage Intangible: Nha nhac Hue imperial palace, Space Culture gongs Highlands.

Thăng Long queen city in balance with old capitals

Detection sites 18 Hoang Dieu enough proved invaluable to the economic value of Thang Long thousand years ago from the left in the ground, that makes it fortunate enough when thanks to the conservation of ground that we, and generations of children, many opportunities will study and learn history.
The value of the relic Hoang Thang Long (been revealed in 2003) were the scientists in the country as well as international experts, including UNESCO Director General Mr. greatly appreciate, fully deserves to recognized as the cultural heritage of humanity.

Each city has a fixed value but only its own it, the Thang Long Imperial comparison with the Co Loa ancient capital, Hue and Hoa Lu is intended to affirm the value added is extremely rare sites of The Citadel , ancient capital of Thang Long culture in 1000. Professor Phan Huy Le, chairman of Vietnam's history of Science and Professor Phan Khanh was very consistent in putting out the interesting perspective of this comparison.

According to Professor Phan Huy Le, and evidence analysis and research archaeologists have confirmed for sure Loa is the oldest capital city, is the earliest buildings of the entire region of Southeast Asia. From the third century BC (about 2,300 in this way), a business with a large enough scale to a total of three rounds over 16 km as Loa is extremely rare. Capital Cities Loa also take advantage of natural river Hoang Giang thoroughly when connected to the system in the proud, to be swept back from that across the northern plain, the Red River, Thai Binh river, to the Continental Early Giang, Bridge on the River, River Trade, Luc Ngan river. Value of the sites located in Co Loa site: is the oldest business in Southeast Asia.

Undergone several transformations thousand years, traces of the three rounds into the ground is not much longer, are severely sexually abused. Efforts to "rescue" Loa appears as "harmful" to the other surviving traces more. Fortunately for longer underground Loa both a treasure, according to Prof. Phan Khanh. Have found the space here, and only a hole where archaeologists found the couple ten thousand arrows, new in 2005 also discovered an entire underground weapons production facilities, with the stove, a teacher molds , casting the same arrows arrows we have discovered here.

Fortunately for Loa, as even the capital for several decades, then go through ups and downs than 2,000 years, including the variation, then the remnant, and is the soul of the ancient capital is still there, has urged the generation of post-birth cosset preserve historical value.

Capital Hoa Lu is there a special historical role, even exist in the non half-century (from 968 to 1010, when Ly Thai To, the first king of the Ly Dynasty, decided to move capital to Thang Long ). Reply by Prof. Phan Khanh, the first king of Vietnam's reunification "have built capital Hoa Lu on dangerous terrain, take advantage of natural conditions with limestone cliffs and river system to citadel ", creating an" army to "take serious computer defense. Professor Phan Huy Le also stressed several factors to "natural time, local interest, of peace" of economic Hoa Lu ancient capital. In essence, the capital of Hoa Lu bring more business to fall into, relevant in the "fight" more than political stability, promoting culture, expand the economy.
Huellas arquitectura Ly - Tran agujero en D4 - D6 (zona D)



Hue is the cultural heritage of the world's first Vietnam is recognized by UNESCO. Professor Phan Huy Le appreciate the architecture of the ancient capital Hue, by the result of cultural exchange, to acquire a western heritage. That is whether the time is not very long capital, just half a century young (from 1802 to 1945), and, again very young age compared to the ancient capital, Hue is recognition of the very respectfully world. "For example to say much about Hue, which is free for anyone to feel the value," said Professor Phan Khanh so on the last business in Vietnam.

Back on the past, asked the Co Loa, Hoa Lu, or the ancient capital of Hue, as we better understand the precious value of Thang Long Royal, the "superior class, especially on the thickness and contact time continue. Archaeological excavations have identified traces of the University of La over 1000 years ago. Then the supply of electricity, the economic architect of ancient ... Indeed, hard to find the world's capital has a long history of thousands of years, now is the "capital" of Vietnam modern.

Mentioned Hoang Thang Long is referred to the continuity of cultural classes Ly - Tran - Le was carefully hidden underground, but without surprise excavations in 2003 at 18 Hoang Dieu shall remain confidential , still just the words written in the history data, the maps quite profiles. Professor Phan Huy Le monument is called "the relics of the" business of Thang Long, from which to understand a lot about architecture, about cultural identity, the combination of nature (adapted and advantage), combining thoroughly waterway transport, handling space ...

Of the popular architecture of Thang Long Imperial City did not also how much (ie, lost remote Hue), the most precious and oldest far only the power of the telescope and Le Doan Mon Mac (post-Le), Forbidden City is no longer little, The Citadel only a few paragraphs, single cell door just in District Attorney ... But the discovery of 18 Hoang Dieu enough proved invaluable to the economic value of Thang Long thousand years ago from left in the ground, that makes it fortunate enough when thanks to the conservation of ground that we, and generations of children, more opportunities will study and learn history.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Online dialogue deepens capital’s traditional values

An online dialogue themed “1000 years of Thang Long-Hanoi - Traditional values” was held on Oct. 18, helping readers better understand historical and cultural traditions as well as valuable heritages of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The online dialogue, organised by the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper, is part of a plan toward the millennium of Thang Long-Hanoi.

During three hours, readers raised over 200 questions relating to the one-pillar pagoda, the architectural space of the ancient Thang Long citadel, relics, as well as former names of Hanoi and important figures who made contributions to Thang Long-Hanoi.

The organising board selected and answered 20 questions. The remaining questions will further be answered and posted onto on the CPV online newspaper./.

UNESCO to attend capital city’s 1,000th birthday



Representatives of 193 UNESCO members have passed a resolution on the participation in the grand ceremony to mark the millennial anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi in October, 2010.

The adoption was made at the 35 th UNESCO General Assembly session on Oct. 22.

According to Pham Sanh Chau, Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Foreign Relations Culture and UNSECO, UNESCO participation in the event is not only an honour for the Hanoians but also for all Vietnamese people.

The news, together with the election of Vietnam to UNESCO’s executive council for the 2009-2013 period, prove the international community’s recognition to the Southeast Asian country’s role, position and contributions to UNESCO./.

Hanoi plays host of national tourism year 2010

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on the evening of Oct. 10 to celebrate the 999th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and announce the Year of National Tourism 2010.

Present at the event, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, were Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi and Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao.

Close to 1,000 artists, actors and actresses entertained local audiences with special art performances that feature the most typical cultural characters of Thang Long-Hanoi and promote the city’s friendly and attractive images to visitors.

In connection with celebrations of the capital’s 1,000th founding anniversary, the Year of National Tourism 2010 will include nine major programmes and almost 30 activities combining tourism with culture and sports.

This will be a chance for the city’s tourism industry to improve the quality of its services, facilities and human resources, in a bid to become an attractive tourist destination in the region and the world at large./.

Online dialogue deepens capital’s traditional values

An online dialogue themed “1000 years of Thang Long-Hanoi - Traditional values” was held on Oct. 18, helping readers better understand historical and cultural traditions as well as valuable heritages of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The online dialogue, organised by the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper, is part of a plan toward the millennium of Thang Long-Hanoi.

During three hours, readers raised over 200 questions relating to the one-pillar pagoda, the architectural space of the ancient Thang Long citadel, relics, as well as former names of Hanoi and important figures who made contributions to Thang Long-Hanoi.

The organising board selected and answered 20 questions. The remaining questions will further be answered and posted onto on the CPV online newspaper./.

Contest about Thang Long-Hanoi launched in Laos

A contest on knowledge about the heroic, thousand-year old city of Thang Long-Hanoi was launched in Vientiane on November 4.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hanoi Moi newspaper editor-in-chief Ho Quang Loi laid stress on the national scale of the contest which is expected to conclude in October, 2010 in coincide with the 1000-year anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The contest, which is first being launched outside Vietnam , will motivate participants to learn more about the history of the ancient city of Thang Long , now Hanoi , and about Vietnam ’s people, Loi said.

The contest will also be a chance for Vietnamese at home and abroad to express their patriotism for their fatherland, he added.

According to editor-in-chief Loi, the deployment of the contest in Laos is an important event, contributing to increasing the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos .

Also on November 4, representatives from Hanoi Moi newspaper and New Vientiane newspaper signed a Memorandum of Understanding which focuses on increasing bilateral cooperation between the two newspapers through the exchange of visits, personnel training and the provision of equipment and technology.

The two sides also agreed to work together to promote the millennial anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 450-year history of Vientiane through their newspapers for the sake of increasing public awareness in each country on the other’s land and people./.

Flower power pulls crowds


Thousands of Hanoians and foreign tourists flocked to Hoan Kiem Lake to contemplate the hundreds of thousands of flowers displayed at the capital’s second flower festival, which kicked off on Dec. 30.

Not only an event to welcome the forthcoming New Year, the festival is also one of 80 events in the city organised by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Department to celebrate the 1,000 th anniversary of Hanoi in 2010.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Chairwoman of Hanoi People’s Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang said that the event also aimed to highlight the refined flower hobby of Hanoians and promote Hanoi ’s culture.

“The festival will be memorable event for local residents and foreign tourists,” she said.

Three new Vietnam Guinness Records, which are on display at the festival, were recognised at the ceremony.

The records were granted for the longest train on an ao dai (traditional dress), the biggest rattan vase of lotus flowers and the biggest shell-inlaid wooden block presenting a royal proclamation by King Ly Thai To.

While flower designer Nguyen Manh Hung used up to 1,000 flowers to form the 10m-long train on the traditional dress, artisan Nguyen Phuong Quang from Hanoi ’s Chuong My district spent more than two years on the 6.5m-high rattan vase.

The 1.9m high and 1.3m-wide royal proclamation was completed by veteran artisan Tran Ba Nam from Hanoi ’s Phu Xuyen village, who spent three years on the work. The royal proclamation made by King Ly in 1010 states that the country’s capital will be relocated from Hoa Lu (in Ninh Binh province) to Thang Long (the former name of Hanoi ).

During the five-day event, visitors will also have a chance to see some of Hanoi ’s typical images, including the Temple of Literature and Long Bien Bridge . Replicas of these works have been created from flowers and are on display at the festival.

At the festival, visitors can see a 6m-high tower with nine dragons curving around and up, created from flowers and fruits, which represents 215 years of power of the Ly dynasty.

A tulip carpet, created from 22,000 tulips donated by the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Gerda Verburg, has attracted many visitors.

A flower show, entitled One Thousand Years of Thang Long – One Thousand Flowers Bloom will be held on Dec. 31 at the festival. The contest will gather competitors from 29 districts in the city, and all of the award-winning flower creations will be presented./.

Flower festival draws in 3 million visitors


Almost 3 million locals and foreigners flocked to Hoan Kiem Lake to join a flower festival, the 2nd of its kind in Hanoi , which was held from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3.

Not only an event to welcome the New Year, the festival was also one of 80 events to be organised by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Department to celebrate the millennium anniversary of Hanoi in 2010.

The festival ended on the evening of Jan. 3, with a tea offering ceremony in front of the statue of King Ly Thai To. Artisans presented know-how to embalm tea with lotus fragrance, infuse and enjoy tea of different kinds.

The closing ceremony was of more significance as visitors had a chance to enjoy traditional folk songs from Kinh Bac (now Bac Ninh province) – the native land of King Ly Thai To who founded the capital city of Thang Long a thousand years ago.

Organisers said three new Vietnam Guinness Records, which were put on show at the festival, were recognised.

The records were granted for the longest train on an ao dai (traditional dress), the biggest rattan vase of lotus flowers and the biggest shell-inlaid wooden block presenting a royal proclamation by King Ly Thai To.

While flower designer Nguyen Manh Hung used up to 1,000 flowers to form the 10m-long train on the traditional dress, artisan Nguyen Phuong Quang from Hanoi ’s Chuong My district spent more than two years on the 6.5m-high rattan vase.

The 1.9m high and 1.3m-wide royal proclamation was completed by veteran artisan Tran Ba Nam from Hanoi ’s Phu Xuyen village, who spent three years on the work.

The royal proclamation made by King Ly in 1010 states that the country’s capital will be relocated from Hoa Lu (in Ninh Binh province) to Thang Long (the former name of Hanoi ).

During the five-day event, visitors were enabled to see some of Hanoi ’s typical images, including the Temple of Literature and Long Bien Bridge . Replicas of these works were created from flowers and displayed at the festival.

At the festival, visitors saw a 6m-high tower with nine dragons curving around and up, created from flowers and fruits, which represents 215 years of power of the Ly dynasty.

A tulip carpet, created from 22,000 tulips donated by the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Gerda Verburg, attracted many visitors.

A flower show, entitled One Thousand Years of Thang Long – One Thousand Flowers Bloom took place on Dec. 31 at the festival. The contest gathered competitors from 29 districts in the city./.

2,000 people to make tale painting a record

A total of 2,000 people are expected to join in drawing the “Tale of carp turning into dragon” painting at the Tet Viet 2010 Fair slated for the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on Feb. 5.

The 7m high and 3m wide painting drawing the record number of participants will feature carps in various colours and different dance positions leaping and crossing over Vu Mon (Rain Gate) to transform into dragons.

The only carp that turned into a dragon, a symbol of 1,000 years of Thang Long-Hanoi, will be placed at the top of the painting.

The drawing of the painting will be organised by the Thang Long Technology and Trade - Investment Joint Stock Company to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The three-day fair is expected to draw 45,000 visitors.

The tale of carp turning into dragon is an interesting story about animals. One year, it was drought and there were not enough dragons to make rains. Dragon King decided to hold a contest and invite all animals to participate in crossing over Vu Mon (Rain-Gate). If any animal is successful for three times, it will be turned into a dragon.

All the animals were excited by this news but only carp trained harder than others.

In the day for the contest, all the animals failed but only carp passed thanks to its hard work./.

Businessmen celebrate millennium anniversary

A festival entitled “Vietnamese entrepreneurs with Hoa Lu-Thang Long-Hanoi – 1,000 years of construction and sustainable development” will be held on Mar. 4 in Hanoi and the northern province of Ninh Binh.

The festival is one of the first activities in the lead-up to the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The programme will start at the Hanoi Friendship Palace by entrepreneurs’ travelling to Ninh Binh province for burning incenses at the Dinh and Le Kings Temples in Hoa Lu.

The activities in Ninh binh will also include planting a Bodhi tree, a peace ceremony, a vegetarian food party and provision of 1,000 scholarships to poor and outstanding high school students.

Then, the participants will have a party at the My Dinh National Convention Centre in Hanoi .

A gala held at the My Dinh National Convention Centre will be televised in the presence of Party and State leaders.

The event is expected to draw the participation of 4,000 people, including 1,000 businesspeople from all 63 cities and provinces, 300 representatives from cities, provinces, ministries, agencies and associations, 300 Buddhist monks and followers and 60 reporters.

Hoa Lu district in Ninh Binh province is about 110km south from Hanoi . Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam ’s feudal era from 968 to 1010.

Covering only 300 hectares, the ancient capital reigned from the 10th century, during the Dinh and Le dynasties, to the 11th century, during the Ly Dynasty. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long ( Hanoi now)./.

Overseas composer dedicates work to Hanoi’s anniversary

The French composer of Vietnamese descent Nguyen Thien Dao has devoted almost a year to the creation of a 60-minute work dedicated to the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi-Thang Long.

Called “Soul of Vietnamese fatherland”, the work is comprised of 16 movements, which involve performances of a symphony orchestra and a traditional Vietnamese band, both traditional and modern-style dances, and a demonstration of Tay Son drums.

The work also includes the recitation of General Ly Thuong Kiet’s poem “Nam Quoc Son Ha” (Rivers and Mountains of the Southern nation), which is considered Vietnam’s ‘first declaration of independence’, General Tran Hung Dao’s “Hich Tuong Si” (Proclamation to the Officers), and scholar Nguyen Trai’s “Binh Ngo Dai Cao” as well as a screen displaying film clips of Vietnam’s victory over the French at Dien Bien Phu and the unification of the country in 1975.

Dao, who has been named in France’s “Le petit Larousse” and “Le Petit Robert” dictionaries, the US’s “Who’s who?” and the UK’s “Who’s who in music”, said he felt honoured to create the work depicting the heroism the nation has upheld throughout the course of building and defending the country.

Binding his life to music for more than a century, the composer has thus far created 86 works of instrumental music and won many awards from international musical competitions.

In 1983, Dao was presented with the French Fine Arts Academy’s “Andre Caplet” award and the French Government’s “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres”.

Recently, the composer has written works for major musical events held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam Musicians’ Association, such as “Tay Nguyen”, “Khoc To Nhu”, “Ba me Viet Nam”, “Phu Dong”, “Mau va Hoa”, and “My Chau-Trong Thuy”.

His “Enlightenment” concert dedicated to Buddha was performed by 500 instrumentalists and singers at the closing session of the 2008 United Nations Vesak in Vietnam.

Another of Dao’s symphonic works, called “Hon thieng song nui” (Sacred soul of rivers and mountains), will be performed at the “ Vietnam – my fatherland” musical gala to welcome the country’s first ever conference for overseas Vietnamese in Hanoi on November 21-24.

Composer Dao and 14 other overseas Vietnamese were honoured by the Vietnamese State in 2005 for their contributions to the nation./.

Historical film to be shot for Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary

A major film on the history of Hanoi will start shooting on March 15 and will be shown on the 1,000th anniversary of the capital city, said the film director Luu Trong Ninh.

The film, entitled “Aspirations of Thang Long”, is about King Ly Cong Uan who decided to move the country’s capital from Hoa Lu to a broad area lying in the flat alluvial delta named Dai La, now Hanoi.

The film, produced by the Ky Nguyen Sang company, will be shot at a great number of traditional craft villages and many local people will be mobilised to take part in a war scene in the film, Ninh revealed.

However, the director has not disclosed who will play the main roles in the film, which is expected to be taken to international film festivals./.

Book of authentic dishes to be published on Hanoi’s birthday

A book featuring 200 Hanoians’ authentic dishes will be published on the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The book, entitled “Cuisine Identities of Thang Long-Hanoi,” is being written by Dr. Nguyen Nha, head of the Institute of Vietnamese Cuisines .

The writer said he had to look up age-old documents and visit families who lived in Hanoi long ago for materials in his book.

In an effort to help the world know more about Vietnamese foods, the institute has launched a programme entitled “Jointly prepare Vietnamese foods for the world.”

Under the programme, the institute offers courses for foreigners who want to learn how to cook Vietnamese dishes and Vietnamese people who plan to go overseas for work and study.

In addition, the institute collaborates with enterprises sending Vietnamese cooking utensils and usage abroad./.

Grand poetry festival opens with flame procession

The 8th annual Vietnamese Poetry Day kicked off on February 26 with a special procession of the sacred flame from the Hung Kings’ Temple in Phu Tho province to Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam ( Temple of Literature ) in Hanoi .

As the first cultural activity of the chain of events celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, the flame procession aims to honour traditional cultural values in a modern poetry festival as well as encourage writers to create literary works.

At 12:00 on Feb. 26 (the 13th day of the first lunar month), the traditional flame was taken from the Thuong Temple, which is dedicated to the Hung Kings - the founders of Vietnam--to the Vu The Lang High School in Viet Tri city of Phu Tho province.

The flame will be brought to Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam, the main venue of the Poetry Festival, on February 28.

In honour of the event, Van Mieu will have its entrance decorated as a “forest of poems” with each tree carrying a poem representing a city or a province. A display will also be reserved for an exhibition of poetry written on porcelain products made by artisans in the famed Bat Trang pottery village.

In the lead up, on February 26 and 27, the Vietnam Writers’ Association, which initiated National Poetry Day, will honour translated poems at the Russian Cultural Centre, and commemorate poets of the past./.

Spring festival starts for 1,000th birthday of Hanoi

A large spring festival has taken place around the Hoan Kiem Lake in the capital city of Hanoi on Feb. 20, raising the curtain for a series of festivities to welcome the 1,000 anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The festival, entitled “The 1,000 th Spring of Thang Long-Hanoi”, aims to highlight cultural features of Hanoi . It started with an animated dragon dance, followed by a folk dance and a long march carrying the symbol of Hanoi and a portrait of late President Ho Chi Minh.

The festival seemed more ebullient with a sport dance and martial art and art performances.

Before the opening of the festival, the capital’s leaders and people paid an homage to King Ly Thai To who himself decided to move the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long, now Hanoi .

The same day, a festival to commemorate the legendary Mother Au Co who is said to be an ancestor of Vietnamese people was held in the northern province of Phu Tho. It is also part of activities to be held across the country to mark the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Legend has it that Au Co, who is a fairy, met and then got married to Lac Long Quan, a dragon. Au Co gave birth to 100 eggs which hatched out 100 sons, who were the forefather of the Vietnamese nation./.

Spring festival starts for 1,000th birthday of Hanoi

A large spring festival has taken place around the Hoan Kiem Lake in the capital city of Hanoi on Feb. 20, raising the curtain for a series of festivities to welcome the 1,000 anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The festival, entitled “The 1,000 th Spring of Thang Long-Hanoi”, aims to highlight cultural features of Hanoi . It started with an animated dragon dance, followed by a folk dance and a long march carrying the symbol of Hanoi and a portrait of late President Ho Chi Minh.

The festival seemed more ebullient with a sport dance and martial art and art performances.

Before the opening of the festival, the capital’s leaders and people paid an homage to King Ly Thai To who himself decided to move the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long, now Hanoi .

The same day, a festival to commemorate the legendary Mother Au Co who is said to be an ancestor of Vietnamese people was held in the northern province of Phu Tho. It is also part of activities to be held across the country to mark the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Legend has it that Au Co, who is a fairy, met and then got married to Lac Long Quan, a dragon. Au Co gave birth to 100 eggs which hatched out 100 sons, who were the forefather of the Vietnamese nation./.

Grand poetry festival to herald 1,000-year old Hanoi

Since its first debut on Nguyen Tieu day (the 15th day of the first lunar month) in 2003, Vietnamese Poetry Day has become a national tradition in the early Spring of each new year.

This year’s Poetry Day will be a “grand festival” to be held nationwide to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and other big events in the country, according to poet Huu Thinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.

In the capital city of Hanoi , the eighth annual Vietnamese Poetry Day will open on February 28. It will begin with a special procession of the sacred flame taken from the Thuong Temple, which is dedicated to the Hung Kings--the founders of Vietnam--and the Edict on the Transfer of the Capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Dai La (present-day Hanoi), written by King Ly Thai To.

According to the organisers, poems – both classical and contemporary, by poets from localities nationwide--will be recited in the main courtyard of Van Mieu ( Temple of Literature ), which is Vietnam ’s first university.

In honour of the event, Van Mieu will have its entrance decorated as a “forest of poems” with each tree carrying a poem representing a city or a province. A display will also be reserved for an exhibition of poetry written on porcelain products made by artisans in the famed Bat Trang pottery village.

In the lead up, on February 26 and 27, the Vietnam Writers’ Association, which initiated National Poetry Day, will honour translated poems at the Russian Cultural Centre, and commemorate dead poets.

In Ho Chi Minh City , National Poetry Day will be held for the first time, at the municipal Opera House, and will uphold the theme of “the south thinking of Thang Long”, while in Hue city, poetry readings and recitations along with other related activities will follow the theme of “from ancient capital to ancient capital”.

In response to National Poetry Day, localities nationwide will organise activities to honour poetry which has been an integral part of Vietnamese culture for thousands of years./.

Thang Long-Hanoi video clip contest launched

The Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on February 4 launched a video clip contest on the subject of Thang Long-Hanoi to celebrate the upcoming millennium anniversary.

Speaking at the ceremony, director of the Hanoi Culture Fund Vu Phuong underscored the scale of the contest, which will be open to both domestic and foreign participants.

The contestants must show at least three works within a limit of nine minutes, using any medium--such as video cameras, mobile phones or still cameras--to depict Hanoians and their daily lives in modern times, he said

The entries selected from the primary examination will be posted on the official website of the festival, www.thanglonghanoi.gov.vn to be judged by the public.

The contest winner will receive 20 million VND. There will also be two second prizes, each worth 10 million VND.

Those wishing to enter should send their work to the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism between March 10-15. The award-granting ceremony is scheduled to take place in July./.

Scenario for grand ceremony of Hanoi millennium anniversary

A plan for a grand ceremony on the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi that has been submitted to the Government for approval will be one of the most glorious cultural and historical programmes in Vietnam ’s history.

The event, which will take place from Oct. 1-10, will include 30 cultural activities and festivals that aim to honour the country’s historical and revolutionary values, said the plan’s author Nguyen Khac Phuc.

During the event, Hanoians and people across the country will be entertained with a music and symphony programme, a traditional dress (ao dai) show, a street festival, kite flying and a physical exercise performance given by 1,000 old people.

The ceremony will include the debut of a book collection entitled “Thang Long-Hanoi – 1,000 years of culture”, the inauguration of the Hanoi Museum and Uncle Ho statue and a awards ceremony for the international contest “Thang Long-Hanoi - your rendezvous”.

Following the opening ceremony of the event on Oct. 1 will be a play called “Thang Long-Hanoi - Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh era”.

The play tells the story of the nation’s development since the August Revolution in 1945 with the participation of tens of thousands of people and the image of Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence in Ba Dinh Square .

Other events, including the Government’s takeover of the city in Oct. 10, 1954, Hanoi’s downing of US B52 planes, a Politburo meeting to initiate a massive offensive in 1975 and Hanoi’s construction and development process will be vividly manifested in the play./.

Hanoi listed among world’s top tourist destinations in 2010

Hanoi is ranked third among 12 most attractive destinations in the world in 2010, announced a US prestigious tourist publisher.

Frommer with the most best-selling guidebooks in the US advised travellers to chose Hanoi for their destinations as the city will celebrate its 1,000 th birthday and the National Tourism Year 2010.

“ Hanoi also happens to be Asia’s most Asian city”, said Ron Emmons, author Frommer’s Thailand and co-author Frommer’s Southeast Asia .

A cultural centre littered with pagodas, temples and historic monuments, Hanoi offers plenty for traveller to seek an authentic experience with excellent meals available at both street-side stalls and fine eateries, the labyrinthine Old Quarter, the area around Hoan Kiem Lake that houses water puppetry theatre and art galleries, said the publisher.

Ha Noi will restore important beautiful landscapes, including Bat Trang tourism port, Duong Lam ancient village and Huong pagoda to mark the National Tourism Year 2010./.

Poetry festival opens to celebrate Hanoi’s birthday


The 8th Vietnam Poetry Day opened at Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam ( Temple of Literature ) on February 28, the fifteen day of the first lunar month.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi and poet Huu Thinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, the organiser of the festival, lighted the sacred flame to kick off the festival.

The flame was taken from Phu Tho province’s Thuong Temple , which is dedicated to the Hung Kings - the founders of Vietnam . It represents a respect for the traditional values in the creation of modern literary works.

This year’s Poetry Day is a “grand festival” held nationwide to mark the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and expected to attract the largest number of participants so far.

On February 27, a ceremony to commemorate writers who laid down during the nation’s resistance wars against French and US aggressors was held at the Hanoi-based Quan Su Pagoda./.

Vietnam Spring Newspaper Festival opens in France


The Vietnam Spring Newspaper Festival 2010 opened at the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in Paris on February 27.

Nearly 200 local officials, Vietnamese and French readers as well as representatives of Vietnamese and international news agencies were present at the opening ceremony of the festival, the first of its kind held abroad, which, a Vietnamese official said, marks a new advance in the integration and development of the Vietnamese communication sector in the international arena.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Do Qui Doan said that the event provides an opportunity for the Vietnamese media to give a rundown on the country’s achievements in a foreign country.

The festival is also a meeting place for Vietnamese journalists and the public, including overseas Vietnamese and French readers, he added.

More than 500 newspapers, including Spring and Tet (Lunar New Year) editions, are on display on a 200 sq.m campus, making a strong impression on the French audience and bringing in warm feelings on the homeland’s spring to overseas Vietnamese.

The Vietnamese community in France will also wallow in an atmosphere of the traditional Tet festival and other national spring festivals through documentary films to be screened during the nine-day festival.

The Spring Newspaper Festival is the first in the series of cultural activities to be held by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France this year in order to mark the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi scheduled for October./.

Tourism promotion in Malaysia marks Hanoi’s birthday

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia and Vietnam Airlines jointly held a seminar and a gala night to promote the Vietnamese tourism in Kuala Lumpur on March 5.

This is part of a tourism promotion programme celebrating the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi conducted in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia from March 1-5 in order to advertise Vietnam’s tourism to regional countries.

The tourism promotion programme in Malaysia focused on introducing the hidden charm of Vietnam through a series of tourism products as well as preferential policies to attract tourists to Vietnam .

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Counsellor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia Trinh Vinh Quang said that Vietnam , as the ASEAN Chair in 2010, will make active contributions to building an ASEAN Community based on three pillars, including politics-security, economics and socio-culture.

The Vietnamese Embassy will serve as a bridge linking the two countries through which Vietnam can promote its hidden beauty and tourism potentials to the Malaysian people, helping strengthen mutual understanding about each other’s culture, history and custom.

Pham Quang Hung, Director of the VNAT’s International Cooperation Department, stressed that boosting intra-ASEAN tourism is high on the agenda of the Vietnamese tourism sector’s programme.

This year, the VNAT will have many programmes to attract tourists from Southeast and Northeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand , he added.

According to Nguyen Thanh Vuong, Deputy Director of the VNAT’s Tourism Market Department, tourism promotion programmes in Thailand , Singapore and Malaysia have brought in satisfactory results.

On the occasion, VNAT representatives had a working session with officials from Malaysia ’s Ministry of Tourism during which the two sides agreed to boost bilateral cooperation, he said, adding that Malaysia pledged to train Vietnamese human resources in management and serving skills.

During the gala night, guests had a chance to enjoy art performances imbued with the Vietnamese national identities.

In 2010, Vietnam , described as a land of peace, is expected to welcome 4.2 million international visitors from neighbouring markets, especially regional countries./.

Vietnamese businesspeople with Thang Long-Hanoi

Almost 3,000 people flocked to the northern province of Ninh Binh on March 4 for a cultural programme for Vietnamese business people to celebrate the millennial anniversary of their country’s capital.

The programme of activities, entitled “Vietnamese business people with Hoa Lu-Thang Long-Hanoi: 1,000 years of construction and sustainable development”, is the biggest to be held for the Vietnamese business community to mark the grand anniversary.

Among the participants, 1,000 business people offered incense to the temples of Kings Dinh and Le and at a stele that honours King Ly Thai To. They also planted 1,000 Bodhi trees in front of the Bai Dinh pagoda.

Attendees also joined 100 Buddhist monks and followers in a festival to pray for peace, prosperity and favourable weather for the whole nation at the Bai Dinh pagoda—the same site where King Dinh Tien Hoang conducted a ceremony to pray for favourable weather more than 1,000 years ago.

Following the festival, the participants attended a vegetarian feast at the pagoda.

Hoa Lu means “Flowers of Reeds” and was the capital city of the Dinh dynasty (968-980) and the Tien Le (Early Le) dynasty (980-1009). The Ly dynasty (1010-1225) was also formed from this capital city.

Hoa Lu, as a capital city, existed for only 41 years, from 968 to 1009, during which time the first 12 years belonged to the Dinh Dynasty. Dinh Bo Linh was crowned as King Dinh Tien Hoang and he named the country Dai Co Viet (Great Viet). The next 29 years were ruled by the Tien Le Dynasty.

But in the year 1010, as the country stepped into a higher stage of development, King Ly Thai To decided to move the capital city to Thang Long (now Hanoi), where it remains to this day. Since then, Hoa Lu has been known as the former capital./.

Historic relics to go on display for Thang Long


Hanoi (VNA) - Relics of the Thang Long imperial city (former name of Hanoi) will open to public during the 1,000th founding anniversary of the city.

The relics of the imperial city, which covers more than 18,000sq.m, is made up of the archaeological site at 18 Hoang Dieu Street and Hanoi's Old Quarter.

In the past five years, archaeologists have discovered an enormous ancient architectural site underground. Witness to more than 1,000 years of Thang Long history, the imperial city is a fine collection of architectural styles from different eras.

Authorities in Hanoi have submitted the venue to UNESCO for recognition as a World Heritage site./.

Laos invited to join Hanoi's 1,000th anniversary

Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh has invited Laos to participate in celebrations for the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the making of policies to attract tourists.

Minister Anh made the proposals during his working session with the Lao National Tourism Administration’s Vice Chairman Succaseng Phothisan in the capital city of Vientiane on March 14.

The officials informed each other of tourism development in their respective countries. Despite the global economic crisis, the two nations only suffered a slight drop in the numbers of holidaymakers thanks to the stimulus policies, tourism incentives and concerted efforts from both sides, they said.

Phothisan thanked Vietnam for its effective assistance to the Lao tourism sector and asked Vietnam to continue with the transport of passengers from neighbouring countries to Laos , mainly by air.

He also urged Vietnam to open more tours to provinces along the shared border, develop tourism in the former revolutionary base of Xiengkhoang and send experts to assist Laos in preparing for the National Year of Tourism in 2012./.

Nearly 12 bln VND to upgrade Hanoi’s ancient citadel

The Hanoi Housing Development and Investment Corporation on March 19 kicked off a 12 billion VND (613,000 USD) project to refurbish the moat surrounding the Son Tay Ancient Citadel.

This is one of the five projects under the Municipal People’s Committee’s plan to improve the environment of lakes in the inner city to mark Hanoi ’s 1,000th founding anniversary. The project is expected to be completed within four months.

Located in Son Tay town, 42 km from central Hanoi , the Son Tay Ancient Citadel was built in 1822 under the reign of King Minh Mang to defend the western gateway of the city of Thang Long , which is now Hanoi . Its walls were made of laterite, an extremely strong type of stone.

Covering an area of 20ha, the square-shaped citadel is surrounded by a 20m-wide, 2,000m-long moat. It has four gates, namely the Front (Tien), the Back (Hau), the Right (Huu) and the Left (Ta).

Inside the citadel, there are an 18m-high flagpole, a ceremonial place called Kinh Thien Hall, a lotus pond, a water well and soldiers’ camps.

During the 1870-1980s, the citadel was the Nguyen Royal Court ’s defence centre during the resistance war against French colonialism.

Time and war have destroyed many areas inside the unique military fortification, which was recognised by the State as a national historical and architectural relic in 1994. In February 2009, the Hanoi People’s Committee decided to preserve and restore the Son Tay Ancient Citadel to serve the millennium celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Together with the moat, several other sections in the citadel such as the flagpole, water well and Vong Cung - a place for the King and mandarins to relax and offer scarifies – have also been restored and upgraded./.

Birthday facelift for Hanoi

The Construction Department is expected to join a project to rejuvenate Thang Long-Hanoi for the city’s 1,000 anniversary at the beginning of April.

It will paint houses; refurbish public works; clear illegal advertising signs and ban pavement encroachment.

Municipal agencies will help home owners who take responsibility for the renovation of their houses.

City-managed offices will receive 47 billion VND (about 2.4 million USD) for the work.

“Black and red are banned to ensure consistent colour,” said Tran Duc Dung, director of the Ba Dinh Urban Management Office.

About 2,000 dust bins and public toilets will be installed at bus and train stations.

Parks and flower gardens will also be replenished.

Thoroughfares including Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai, Lang-Hoa Lac and Highways 1.5 will be renovated in addition to those in Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts.

Encouragement for people to join project has been disseminated in most wards.

“Most people support the project but some still hesitate to repair of repaint their houses because of their financial situation,” said the management office director.

The director said he was worried about the clearing of uncontrolled advertising signs and stopping pavement encroachment.

“The problem is how to keep the advertising signs in order and pavements clear and clean,” he said.

Tu Liem district Urban Management office director Do Anh Tuan warned that commune, wards and hamlet officials would have to “diligently follow up the project to ensure its success.”/.

VNA launches Thang Long-Hanoi website

The Vietnam News Agency launched its website on Thang Long-Hanoi at www.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn on March 18, becoming the first and only website on the capital city published in four languages.

The site - a cooperative project between the Hanoi People’s Committee and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) - not only aims to serve the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi but also will be continuously updated to provide full and plentiful information for Hanoi lovers in and outside the country.

In her opening speech, Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, said the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi is an important event of the country.

“We believe that with the strong contingent of more than 1,000 journalists and a network of bureaus in all 63 provinces and cities nationwide and 27 foreign countries, the VNA website will be an effective and special information channel that diversifies forms of promoting the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and timely provides all-in information on the capital city as well as the whole country,” she said.

VNA Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Loi said, “the advantage of having four languages, which no other e-paper in Vietnam has, will make an important contribution to implementing the goal of “promoting news for foreign service” as part of the media campaign on the millennium celebration in particular and the capital city of Hanoi in general.”

He affirmed that VNA will actively improve the content of the website in order to make it more plentiful and useful to readers.

Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Tran Chien Thang and VNA leaders together clicked the button to launch the Thang Long-Hanoi website.

The website is designed and managed by the VNA’s e-paper Vietnam Plus.

Apart from information about Hanoi and activities to mark the 1,000 th celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi, the website gives detailed information about the capital relating to its history-geography, administration, culture, artisans, craft villages, gastronomy, among much else. It also provides useful details on the city’s entertainment venues, tourist sites, hotels and entrepreneurs for the benefit of both tourists and companies seeking business opportunities in Hanoi .

To date, nearly 900 entries in the Vietnamese language and hundreds of others in other languages have been posted on the website.

The photo albums include rare photos of the ancient quarter of Hanoi , Long Bien Bridge and collections of maps of Hanoi from the 19 th century./.

Overseas composer dedicates work to Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary

The French composer of Vietnamese descent Nguyen Thien Dao has devoted almost a year to the creation of a 60-minute work dedicated to the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi-Thang Long.

Called “Soul of Vietnamese fatherland”, the work is comprised of 16 movements, which involve performances of a symphony orchestra and a traditional Vietnamese band, both traditional and modern-style dances, and a demonstration of Tay Son drums.

The work also includes the recitation of General Ly Thuong Kiet’s poem “Nam Quoc Son Ha” (Rivers and Mountains of the Southern nation), which is considered Vietnam’s ‘first declaration of independence’, General Tran Hung Dao’s “Hich Tuong Si” (Proclamation to the Officers), and scholar Nguyen Trai’s “Binh Ngo Dai Cao” as well as a screen displaying film clips of Vietnam’s victory over the French at Dien Bien Phu and the unification of the country in 1975.

Dao, who has been named in France’s “Le petit Larousse” and “Le Petit Robert” dictionaries, the US’s “Who’s who?” and the UK’s “Who’s who in music”, said he felt honoured to create the work depicting the heroism the nation has upheld throughout the course of building and defending the country.

Binding his life to music for more than a century, the composer has thus far created 86 works of instrumental music and won many awards from international musical competitions.

In 1983, Dao was presented with the French Fine Arts Academy’s “Andre Caplet” award and the French Government’s “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres”.

Recently, the composer has written works for major musical events held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam Musicians’ Association, such as “Tay Nguyen”, “Khoc To Nhu”, “Ba me Viet Nam”, “Phu Dong”, “Mau va Hoa”, and “My Chau-Trong Thuy”.

His “Enlightenment” concert dedicated to Buddha was performed by 500 instrumentalists and singers at the closing session of the 2008 United Nations Vesak in Vietnam.

Another of Dao’s symphonic works, called “Hon thieng song nui” (Sacred soul of rivers and mountains), will be performed at the “Vietnam – my fatherland” musical gala to welcome the country’s first ever conference for overseas Vietnamese in Hanoi on November 21-24.

Composer Dao and 14 other overseas Vietnamese were honoured by the Vietnamese State in 2005 for their contributions to the nation./.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel relics to be exhibited

The Hanoi People’s Committee and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) have agreed to showcase a part of the relics at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel on the occasion of the capital city’s 1,000th founding anniversary.

At a meeting jointly held by the Hanoi People’s Committee and VASS on March 31, the two sides agreed that the showcase must comply with the Heritage Law and meet the demand and aspiration of people who want to study the relic site.

Relevant agencies are required to build a careful and quality plan for the display of the special tourist site’s relics before summiting it to the authorised level for approval.

Also at the meeting, historians and archaeologists said that initial studies have discovered the special cultural values of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic complex. It was a centre of the Chinese and Indian cultures lasting through 13 centuries and was also Vietnam ’s national administrative centre from the feudal dynasties of Ly and Tran to the era of Ho Chi Minh.

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic site is one of the 10 special national relics nominated for UNESCO recognition as a world cultural heritage in 2010./.

UNESCO to attend capital city’s 1,000th birthday


Representatives of 193 UNESCO members have passed a resolution on the participation in the grand ceremony to mark the millennial anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi in October, 2010.

The adoption was made at the 35 th UNESCO General Assembly session on Oct. 22.

According to Pham Sanh Chau, Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Foreign Relations Culture and UNSECO, UNESCO participation in the event is not only an honour for the Hanoians but also for all Vietnamese people.

The news, together with the election of Vietnam to UNESCO’s executive council for the 2009-2013 period, prove the international community’s recognition to the Southeast Asian country’s role, position and contributions to UNESCO./.

PM okays celebration plan for capital’s 1,000th birthday


The Prime Minister has approved a grand ceremony to mark the 1,000 th anniversary of the founding of Thang Long-Hanoi, with the highlight being a ten-day festival from Oct 1-Oct 10, 2010.

The festival will start with an opening ceremony at the foot of King Ly Thai To monument and streets around Hoan Kiem (Sword) lake.

A series of activities will follow, including exhibitions, art performances and sports event.

To mark the event, a national press competition on Thang Long-Hanoi was launched on June 10.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao stressed the significance of the competition, which aims to encourage not only journalists but also all Vietnamese people at home and abroad to write on the topic.

The organising board will receive entries in the forms of articles for printed and online newspaper, photo and programmes for television and broadcasting from January 2 to August 19, 2010./.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Vietnam holds first international piano contest

Vietnam will host its first international piano competition in Hanoi from September 4-12, according to the country’s National Tourism Administration.

This will be just one of the many cultural events to mark the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and will also commemorate the 200 th birthday of world-renowned Polish composer Frederic Chopin.

The 2010 Vietnam International Piano Contest aims to identify and support talented young classical musicians not only in Vietnam but throughout the world.

The contestants, aged between 10-23, will play works by four world-renowned composers, namely Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Sebastian Bach, Frederic Chopin and Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff.

The famous Vietnamese pianist Dang Thai Son will act as the competition’s Honorary Chairman and Artistic Director and the contest is expected to be held every two years./.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival 2010 opens


Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and Secretary of the Ninh Binh provincial Party Committee Dinh Van Hung beat the drum and gong to open the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival 2010 on April 18.

This year’s festival is to mark the 1,042 nd year since Dinh Bo Linh defeated 12 warlords to unite the country, made himself king and named the country Dai Co Viet as well as the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Ninh Binh provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Thang highlighted the accomplishments of Kings Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Dai Hanh and Ly Thai To, who founded strong dynasties fostering long-term independence for the nation.

In the opening night, the provincial Cheo (traditional opera) theatre staged a Hoa Lu festive drum performance which took aspiration from a magnificent period in the nation’s history.

A special art performance directed by People’s Artist Pham Thi Thanh provided the audience an insight of the glorious historical period of the Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, ended with the moving of the capital to Thang Long (now Hanoi ) by King Ly Thai To.

On the morning of April 18, the festival’s organising board held a fire parade from the Dinh King’s Temple in Gia Phuong commune, Gia Vien district – the birthplace of King Dinh Tien Hoang – to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, a water parade from the Hoang Long River and a palanquin parade by 24 local delegations.

During the four-day festival, there will be many cultural and sports activities, including music and water puppetry performances, wrestling, volleyball, human chess, tug of war and walking on stilts.

From now until the grand celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi, Ninh Binh province will implement a number of works of historical significance such as dredging the Sao Khe River , the waterway which King Ly Thai To used to travel to Thang Long-Hanoi.

Traffic routes to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital relic, the Trang An ecotourism area, the Bai Dinh Pagoda and the statue of King Le Dai Hanh will be built./.

Foreign capitals to celebrate Hanoi’s anniversary


Up to 22 capital and cities around the world and foreign embassies in Vietnam have registered to take part in activities marking Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary that will be held later this year.

According to the National Steering Committee for the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, the city of Fukuoka , Japan , has registered for Japanese culture days in Hanoi .

The capital city of Seoul in the Republic of Korea has offered to organise a wide range of activities, entailing artistic performances, a Seoul-Hanoi friendship night, a Seoul-Hanoi trade fair, and a seminar on the Red river project.

The capital city of Moscow in Russia has proposed organising Moscow days while Berlin , Germany has offered to hold a classical music concert during the event.

The Ile de France region of France said it wants to organise a fashion show and a seminar featuring French architecture in Hanoi , and other French cities such as Toulouse , Lyon and Rouen have registered to participate in street shows, and various musical, circus, and modern dance performances.

The committee said a number of cities and international organisations have registered to take part in projects to light the Long Bien bridge and public works located in the heart of Hanoi , such as the Government Guest House and the Ly Thai To garden.

The Australian embassy has registered with a programme to introduce its country’s ancient and aboriginal culture, while the Danish embassy has offered a street art performance, the Italian embassy, a photo exhibition and a musical concert, and the Argentine embassy, a performance of tango./.

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