Day: February 16, 2024

Hanoi: Vietnam’s sweet and sour soup and clay-pot caramelised fish have respectively ranked 11th and 44th in a list of 53 best Asian fish dishes by cuisine magazine TasteAtlas.

Canh chua ca – the sweet and sour soup – refers to a range of Vietnamese fish soups known for their blend of sweet, spicy, and sour tastes. These soups are typically made with a tamarind-infused broth and feature chunks of pineapple, tomatoes, okra, bean sprouts, or assorted veggies. According to the magazine, while catfish is a common choice, other variations may include carp, snakehead fish, eels, or salmon. Typically garnished with cilantro, these soups are served alongside rice.

The soup has also earned recognition as one of the top 35 highest-rated fish soups by TasteAtlas, securing 5th position.

Meanwhile, ca kho to – caramelised fish in a clay pot – involves braising fatty fish cuts in clay pots. Typically featuring catfish or snakehead, the dish is caramelised with a mixture of fish sauce, sugar, and coconut water, often enh
anced with sliced scallions, onions, or garlic. Traditionally, caramelised fish in a clay pot is served with rice.

The list, based on the number of votes from diners and culinary experts, also includes Indonesia’s pempek – a fish cake made from ground fish meat and tapioca starch, Bangladesh’s shorsheilish – hilsa fish cooked in a mustard sauce, and Japan’s maguro, otoro, and chutoro nigiri sushi that feature different cuts and qualities of tuna./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The 1984th anniversary of Hai Ba Trung (Trung Sisters)’s uprising was commemorated in a ceremony in Me Linh district, Hanoi on the sixth day of the first lunar month, which fell on February 15 this year.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of Me Linh district People’s Committee Hoang Anh Tuan reviewed the indomitable struggle of the two Trung Sisters and other heroes to expel invaders in the past, bringing independence to the country.

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women’s Union Ha Thi Nga emphasised that the two heroines are the heroic examples and pride of Vietnamese women and people.

For the first time, a show using 3D mapping technology was staged at the event, telling the story of the uprising in a modern and novel way using various forms of performance.

The show is hoped to become a frequent cultural and artistic tourism product, appealing to young generations who will be more appreciative of the nation’s history, thus increasing their love for the country and gratitude for the contribution
of their ancestors.

Other activities at the festival included a parade and ritual ceremony, cultural and art performances, folk games, and sports competitions.

On the sixth day of the first lunar month in 40 AD, the Trung Sisters led a mass uprising against the Han invaders to reclaim national independence after more than 200 years of foreign rule.

After defeating the invaders, Trung Trac became King and established the country’s capital in Hanoi’s Me Linh district. Three years later, the Han army returned and defeated the Trung sisters and their army, after which the sisters killed themselves by jumping into the Hat Giang river./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Quang Ninh: The northern border province of Quang Ninh, home to UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage Site Ha Long Bay, plans to put 62 new tourism products into operation in 2024 to increase experiences, extend the length of stay, and promote the spending of visitors.

Specifically, there will be 11 products in the Ha Long Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay area, such as boat services from Ha Long to Bai Tu Long, water games, and traditional boat race.

Ha Long city will exploit nine more products, including Korea-style pedestrian street, Bai Chay ferry, and community-based tourism in mountainous commune, while Van Don district will have 14 new products related to health care, outdoor sports, and MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourism; and Co To island district seven.

In the Lunar New Year holiday from February 10-14, or the first to fifth day of the first lunar month, Quang Ninh welcomed more than 800,000 tourists, including 109,000 foreigners.

The locality is striving to serve 17 million
tourist arrivals, including 3 million foreigners, this year./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) on February 16 held a memorial service in Hanoi for US peace activist Merle Evelyn Ratner, a close friend of Vietnam, who passed away earlier this month.

The event was connected with many sites in the US, with the participation of representatives from Vietnamese ministries, agencies and organisations, and the activist’s friends.

Ratner was killed by a tow truck in the East Village while crossing the street near her house in Brooklyn on February 5.

Born in 1956 in New York City, she had a special love for Vietnam. She took to the streets to protest against the Vietnam War when she was 13 years old and became famous for hanging anti-war slogans on the Statue of Liberty. She was a co-founder and coordinator of the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign (VAORRC) in the New York area.

Ratner actively participated in protests against the US war in Vietnam since the late 1960s, the anti-imperialism movement in the 1970s and 1980s, and
anti-racism campaigns in America today.

After 1975, with a deep love for Vietnam, Ratner campaigned for the normalisation of the Vietnam-US relations, and supported Vietnam’s international activities. She visited Vietnam many times, and engaged in joint work with mass organisations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.

Ratner was awarded the “For the Development of Vietnamese Women” insignia in 2010 and the ‘For Vietnam Agent Orange Victims’ insignia in 2013.

In his remarks, VUFO President Phan Anh Son expressed his sadness over the death of the activist, and recalled her activities in support of Vietnam, saying she will be remembered forever by generations of Vietnamese.

He called Ratner a symbol of international solidarity and support for Vietnamese people during movements against the US war in the Southeast Asian nation.

Son said after the war ended, Ratner further supported Vietnamese people in national reconstruction, highlighting her efforts to push for th
e normalisation of Vietnam-US relations and the removal of the US embargo on the country.

As the VAORRC co-founder, she made tireless efforts to garner support for Vietnamese AO victims to ease their difficulties and seek justice for them, he continued.

Son also stressed Ratner’s support for the VUFO and its member organisations in organising peace, solidarity and friendship activities with left-wing friends and the Communist Party of the US./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: A lunar New Year Gala concert 2024 is due to be held at the Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi on February 17, the eighth day in the first lunar month.

Attendees will have the chance to see a range of outstanding performances put on by the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) and artists from the People’s Police Music and Dance Theatre.

The concert is set to feature a number of famous domestic songs and foreign classic masterpieces, such as Mua Xuan Dau Tien (First Spring), Hanoi muoi hai mua hoa (12 flower seasons of Hanoi), ‘Im Krapfenwald’I Polka’ op.366, ‘Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Polka schnell’ op.214, ‘The Blue Danube Waltz’ (Johann Strauss II), and Heia in den Bergen (Emmerich Kalman).

Japan’s Honna Tetsuji, who has been music director and principal conductor of the VNSO since 2009, will conduct the concert./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a directive urging ministries, sectors, localities, and state employees to promptly implement key tasks after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

This year, state employees had seven days off for Tet, the largest festival in a year of Vietnamese people. For a long time, Vietnamese people usually kept an outdated thinking that the first lunar month is a time for festivals.

In his new directive, the PM commended good preparations for Tet, hailing ministries, agencies, localities, and forces for well performing their jobs during Tet, particularly health workers, officers and soldiers, street cleaners, and workers who had to work during the holiday to ensure key projects progress.

The PM said that in the coming time, it is forecast that the world and domestic situation will still see many complicated and unpredictable difficulties and challenges, creating great pressure on the direction and management of implementing socio-economic development tasks, especially in
the first months of 2024.

He requested ministries, agencies, localities, organisations, and individuals in their capacities to immediately focus on handling post-Tet jobs, especially backlogged work due to the Tet holiday.

The government leader asked ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of governmental agencies, Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to review and identify key specific tasks for each month and each quarter to focus on directing and operating, have timely and effective policy response, and solve issues properly.

He asked for improved institutions, mechanisms, and policies to mobilise resources for the country’s development.

PM Chinh also asked for drastic measures to ensure public investment disbursement, and support enterprises and people in overcoming difficulties.

After pointing out specific key tasks for ministries and agencies, PM Chinh also asked officials, civil servants, public employees, and workers in state administrative agenc
ies and related agencies and organisations to quickly handle jobs right from the first working day after Tet.

PM Chinh noted that they must not go to festivals during working hours nor use the state budget, vehicles, or regulated public assets for festivals or entertainment activities.

Leaders of ministries, agencies, and localities must not attend the festivals unless assigned by competent authorities./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bangkok: Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) living, working and studying in Udon Thani province of Thailand gathered in a get-together on February 15 to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival.

The event was held by the management board of the Ho Chi Minh Monument Site in Udon Thani as an annual activity to thank local authorities and people for their support for the site over the past two decades in organising important activities.

Addressing the event, Director of the management board Pham Duc Dau said the support has contributed to introducing Vietnamese culture to Thai people, and promoting the Vietnam – Thailand relationship.

A project to expand the site on an area of 4,800 sq.m is underway, he added.

Vietnamese Consul General in Khon Kaen Chu Duc Dung said that activities organised by the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani have contributed to promoting and preserving the language and traditional culture of Vietnam.

He expressed his hope that OVs in the Thai locality will continue to unite and support ea
ch other in life, serving as a bridge for the relationship between the two countries.

He took the occasion to thank local authorities and people for their assistance and facilitation to the Vietnamese community in the locality to have a stable life, contributing significantly to the development of Udon Thani in particular, and Thailand in general./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ha Giang: A two-day bicycle tour linking two international border gates of Vietnam and China was launched on February 16, helping to enhance tourism ties between the two sides and promising exciting experiences for visitors to Vietnam’s northernmost province of Ha Giang.

Trieu Thi Tinh, Deputy Director of the Ha Giang provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the tour, named ‘One journey – Two countries’, starts at the Tianbao International Border Gate in China’s Yunnan province, goes through the Thanh Thuy International Border Gate in Ha Giang province, and ends in Ha Giang city.

In the city, visitors will explore such destinations as the culture and tourism village of Ha Thanh hamlet and Tha hamlet of Phuong Do commune, the March 26 Square, the Km0 milestone, the Provincial Museum, and the Nguyen Trai pedestrian street. They can also enjoy the cuisine and unique culture of local ethnic groups, she noted.

Tinh added that the tour, a new tourism product jointly held by the Explore Ha Giang
Co. Ltd. and the Ma Li Pho international travel company of Yunnan, is expected to help enhance tourism cooperation between Ha Giang and Yunnan, increase the number of tourists travelling through the Thanh Thuy – Tianbao international border gates, and offer attractive experiences to visitors.

It is also a suggestion for domestic and foreign travel companies to pay more attention to bicycle tourism in Ha Giang, according to the official.

Ha Giang province is home to a number of famous destinations like the Quan Ba twin mountains, Dong Van ancient town, Lung Cu Flag Tower, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Meo Vac market, Hoang Su Phi terraced fields, and Mount Tay Con Linh. It also boasts long-standing history and culture and accommodates 19 ethnic groups with special cultural identities.

In 2023, it welcomed over 3 million tourists and earned nearly 7.1 trillion VND (290 million USD) from tourism, statistics showed./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency