VietExplorer2020

As one of the most important cities in Vietnam during the French colonial period, Hai Phong has a rich architectural heritage influenced by French design. These buildings are not only important cultural landmarks, but also serve as reminders of the city’s historical development. The Governor’s Building is currently the headquarters of the People’s Committee of Hai Phong City. Photo: Le Minh East meets West in architecture The urban development of Hai Phong lagged behind that of larger cities like Hanoi, Saigon, and Da Nang after the war. However, the city’s architectural charm lies in its harmonious blend of Asian and European influences. Many neighborhoods in Hai Phong still boast well-preserved French colonial-era buildings, such as the villas in Hong Bang district. Notable structures include the former Hai Phong City Hall (now the Hai Phong People’s Committee Office) and the town hospital (now the Military Hospital 7), which were among the first buildings erected by the Frenc...

The F-Istanbul event is a prestigious annual gathering that unites the food industry in Turkey. It proudly brings together Turkey’s key partners from the EU and the Middle East, showcasing an impressive array of 479 booths representing nearly 40 countries. To learn more about this event, visit the official F-Istanbul website . The event aims to facilitate collaboration between enterprises looking to enhance cooperation, exchange knowledge, and facilitate import-export operations in various sectors such as food and beverage, nuts, dried fruit, snacks, production technology, packaging, and retail store design and construction. Ambassador Do Son Hai and the F-Istanbul’s management board. Photo: Vietnamese Embassy to Turkey During the event, Ambassador Do Son Hai held meetings with executives from F-Istanbul, leading enterprises in Turkey, and other countries in the region. He also took the time to visit various booths. “Vietnam is well known for its expertise in exporting ...

During a two-day visit to Thanh Hoa, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, collaborated with Thanh Hoa’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Youth Union to organize a trip for overseas Vietnamese. The visit included stops at the Special National Site in Lam Kinh (Tho Xuan), World Cultural Heritage – Ho Dynasty Citadel (Vinh Loc), Thanh Hoa SOS Children’s Village, Thanh Hoa Museum, and Sam Son Beach. There were also cultural exchanges and campfires with Thanh Hoa’s Youth Union. Impressed with heritage and historical relics On the morning of July 23, the delegates of the Vietnam Summer Camp 2023 paid their respects at the Special National Sites in Lam Kinh, honoring King Le Thai To and the heroes of the Lam Son who played a significant role in protecting the country’s peace and independence. They were particularly intrigued by the “smiling” guava tree, one of 18 trees in the Lam Kinh site. Later that day, they visited the Ho Dy...

Ambassador Tao Thi Thanh Huong speaks at a New Year celebration held in Singapore. Photo: VNA What is your impression of the country and people of Singapore? Singapore is a small country that continues to surprise me with its amazing achievements. Despite its limited land and natural resources, Singapore has managed to become the world’s leading developed country in just one generation. It is a country that perseveres and always finds a way to overcome challenges, as seen in its increasing FDI even during the global economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. One interesting memory I have is when the embassy organized an exhibition of Vietnamese paintings in Singapore, where a painting was famously transferred to authorities for pre-valuation due to Singapore’s strict regulations against accepting gifts. The Minister of Manpower eventually paid for the painting and donated to a Vietnamese charity. Ambassador Cao Thi Thanh Huong on a meeting with YCH Group,...

The visit to the US in July 2015 by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has an important meaning for Vietnam-US relations. Photo: VNA What are the most outstanding achievements in the 10-year journey of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership? The Vietnam-US relations have witnessed significant growth and deepening in various fields over the past 10 years. This comprehensive partnership has flourished in politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, culture, education, science, technology, healthcare, national defense, security, and people-to-people exchange. Each area of cooperation has its own notable highlights. In politics and diplomacy, there has been a considerable increase in mutual understanding and respect. Both sides have displayed respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions. The two nations maintain regular exchanges and high-level contacts, with visits from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other senior V...

Vietnam’s expects to soon reach its yearly target as the second half of the year is usually the peak time for international visitors. Photo: Nhipsong Kinhdoanh.vn According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the country has experienced a significant growth in foreign visitors. In the current month, there have been around 1.04 million foreign tourists, which is a 6.5% increase from June and a remarkable 194.6% increase compared to the same time last year. According to the authority, Vietnam has received almost 6.6 million international visitors in the first seven months of this year, representing a significant increase of 592.8% compared to the previous year. This achievement also accounts for 83% of the yearly target. The tourism sector is expected to reach its yearly target soon, as the second half of the year is typically the peak time for international visitors. During the seven-month period, the Republic of Korea (RoK) emerged as the largest contrib...

The spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Binti Wan Ismail, met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s spouse, Le Thi Bich Tran, during Prime Minister Ibrahim’s two-day visit to Vietnam. As part of their visit, both spouses enjoyed water puppet performances at the Vietnam Contemporary Art Theater in Hanoi. The visit took place on July 20, 2023, and Prime Minister Ibrahim and his spouse arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. They were invited by their Vietnamese counterparts, Prime Minister Chinh and his spouse. During the visit, the spouses were introduced to the history of Vietnamese water puppetry and learned how to make puppets and perform with them. They also immersed themselves in Vietnam’s folk music played with traditional musical instruments. The Vietnamese water puppetry showcases daily life in the countryside and the Malaysian prime minister’s spouse was particularly impressed by performances of a dragon dance and a play where ...

Nguyen Sang, a renowned painter, has made significant contributions to modern Vietnamese painting. He is hailed as a master of the realist art movement, and is one of the four iconic Vietnamese artists of the 20th century, along with Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Duong Bich Lien, and Bui Xuan Phai. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Nguyen Sang’s birth (August 1, 1923 – August 1, 2023), the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, in collaboration with the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, organized a talk show to reveal lesser-known stories about the artist. The ‘father’ of two national treasures Nguyen Sang was born on August 1, 1923, in the city of My Tho, Tien Giang province. In 1938, he enrolled in the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine. In August 1945, he joined the revolutionary movement in Hanoi. At the end of December 1946, he went to the Viet Bac war zone to fight in the national resistance war, using his drawings as a powerful medium. The painting Party Admission Ceremony in Dien B...

During a business trip to Portugal, a delegation from the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, led by Vice Chairman Duong Anh Duc, met with Porto Mayor Rui Moreira, according to VNA. Ho Chi Minh City and Porto City in Portugal signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the two cities for the period of 2023-2025. At the signing of the MoU between HCM City and Porto. Photo: VOV The MoU aims to enhance collaboration in culture, tourism, economy, trade, urban upgrading, and heritage conservation. Both cities will facilitate exchanges and sharing of experiences among their football teams and clubs, and encourage departments and agencies to increase cooperation. Vice Chairman Duc expressed his hope that the MoU will strengthen the partnership between the two cities, which are both economic hubs, especially in the areas of economy, culture, tourism, and innovation. This will contribute to promoting ties between Vietnam and Portugal. Mayor More...

On July 27, representatives from the capital cities of Hanoi and Cairo signed a friendship and cooperation agreement. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, who was on an official visit to Egypt. The agreement, signed by Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen and Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel A’al, aims to foster the relations and enhance mutual understanding between the two cities in various fields including culture, sciences, education, healthcare, tourism, sports, environment, and trade. The signing ceremony of the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement between Hanoi and Cairo, Egypt. Photo: VGP/Hai Minh Speaking at the event, Quyen stated that the signing held great significance, taking place at a historical and crucial moment as Vietnam and Egypt commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. During October 2022, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committ...