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As a long-time expat living in Ho Chi Minh City, there is nothing more heartwarming and inspiring than witnessing the incredible acts of charity and compassion displayed by my fellow expatriates. Their dedication to improving the lives of those less fortunate in Vietnam fills me with immense pride and joy. One such remarkable act was the journey of two men, who embarked on an ambitious walk from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to raise funds for underprivileged children. This extraordinary feat, spanning over 80 days and covering approximately 2,000 kilometers, has left an indelible mark on my heart during my time in this beautiful country. The story of Australian Jake Norris and Irish Sean Down is a testament to their unwavering determination and kindness. Their journey, which began as a dream three years ago, culminated in a charitable endeavor to raise funds for two notable NGOs: the Blue Dragon Foundation and the Thanh Loc Project. These organizations are dedicated to transforming the ...

The upcoming workshops, initiated by Singaporean Jason Lim and Vietnamese Tran Luong, promise an insightful exploration of performance art. With a unique perspective, the project delves into the multi-faceted world of this art form. Performance art is a dynamic and versatile medium that fosters open dialogue and negotiation. It expands interactive spaces, encouraging discovery, sharing, and cultural exchange, ultimately promoting mutual understanding across diverse communities and backgrounds. From July 3 to 15, the Vietnamese leg of the project will offer a rich program. This includes performance art workshops, led by the project members themselves, along with in-depth discussions, talks, and field trips to immerse participants in the local context. A key highlight will be the workshops facilitated by Lim and Luong on July 7. Jason Lim, a ceramist, and performance artist with an educational background from Central Saint Martins, London, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Techno...

On July 5, the Dong Nai Union of Provincial Friendship Organizations, the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association of Dong Nai, and the People’s Committee of Vinh Cuu District joined forces to organize a cultural exchange festival between the youth of Dong Nai and Lao students studying in the province. This event aimed to foster international connections and enhance cultural understanding between the young people of Vietnam and Laos. It also provided a platform for participants to delve into the historical ties between the two nations, thus fostering solidarity and friendship. The exchange program embodied the practical efforts to bolster understanding, camaraderie, and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos. Source: Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations Among those in attendance were Phonesy Bounmixay, the Consul General of Laos in Ho Chi Minh City; representatives from the Provincial Youth Union, Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations, the Vietnam-Laos Friendship As...

Tran Thi Hien Minh, Vice President of the Saigon Professional Chefs Association, proudly announced that Vietnamese chefs brought home an impressive haul of awards from the competition. Among the 40 Vietnamese participants, there were 18 gold, 26 silver, and 24 bronze winners—a testament to their culinary prowess. Minh attributed this success to the rising popularity of Vietnamese cuisine both domestically and internationally. She asserted that the record-breaking number of awards proves that Vietnamese chefs are among the best in the world and that local cuisine is gaining well-deserved recognition. Nguyen Thi Khanh, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, highlighted the event’s impact on promoting Vietnamese cuisine to a global audience. She emphasized the cultural exchange aspect, with chefs from various countries coming together to share their unique culinary traditions. One of the most notable achievements of the competition was the high praise received by Viet...

Traditional martial arts practiced in Binh Dinh has become part of the province’s cultural heritage. The locality also hosts plenty of cultural festivals in a bid to attract visitors each year, such as Cau Ngu (whale worship) Festival and a boat racing festival. Along with photos featuring landscapes, historical and cultural relics, and festivals, traditional craft villages are also interesting topics among the Binh Dinh photo collection compiled by Nguyen Phan Dung. Thay Boi (Fortune teller) tower is a popular suggestion for visitors to enjoy the dawn. Situated a few kilometres away is Thi Nai Bridge which is one of the longest cross-sea bridges nationwide, spanning for 2,477.3 metres and connecting Quy Nhon with the Nhon Hoi economic zone. An Lao district in Binh Dinh province offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and savor the cuisine of both the Bana and H’Re people. The highest point in the area stands at an elevation of 1,000...

The dramatic 25-18, 25-27, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13 result proved the Vietnamese team’s bravery against a tough home side and their determination to secure a ticket to the FIVB Challenger Cup, scheduled for France from July 27 to 30. The Vietnamese team is now set to prepare for the 2023 FIVB Women’s Challenger Cup, an annual women’s international volleyball tournament contested by eight national teams. Besides Vietnam and host France, three other nations have been confirmed for the tourney, namely Colombia, Kenya, and Mexico, while two other pairs, Belgium-Sweden and the Czech Republic-Ukraine, are competing for qualification. The remaining team will join through relegation from the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League. Vietnam effortlessly secured a 25-18 victory over their Indonesian opponents in the opening set. The second set witnessed an intense battle between the two teams. When the Vietnamese came close to victory with a 25-24 lead, they allowed Indonesia to score three...

The Élysée Palace’s Chef and France’s Culinary Ambassador, Guillaume Gomez, recently returned from a business trip to Vietnam, where he served as a judge in a baguette-making contest in May. Two important rules There are two rules when cooking for the presidents. “You can’t imagine how important you are to the image of France,” former French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Gomez before leaving the palace. In May 2012, Chef Gomez was presented with the National Order of Merit (Ordre national du Mérite) by Sarkozy. Gomez began working at the Élysée Palace in 1997 and, at the age of 25, was awarded the Meilleur Ouvrier de France medal, a prestigious honor given every four years to craftsmen, including chefs and bakers. He was the youngest person ever to win the title in the culinary category. Guillaume Gomez and the four French presidents he has served. Photo : Twitter In 2013, Gomez succeeded Bernard Vaussion to become the ‘chef de cuisine’ of the Élysée. He worked...

Middle-aged women, young men and women, children – members of the Green Wind Choir sing joyfully: “And the wind sings forever in my heart/Go with me to far away places / And the pure heart speaks / The word of love for life.” As they dance to the tune, their faces light up. It seems that the gift they bring to the audience is not only a song but also the positive energy of music. Using the power of music to spread love and goodness is the guiding principle and factor that unites the members of Green Wind, a special community choir in Hanoi. Music for the sake of humanity Conductor Nguyen Hai Yen founded the Green Wind Choir in 2019, with the desire to familiarize people with choral music and bring good values to the community. Green Wind Choir performs with singer Le Cat Trong Ly. Photo courtesy of Green Wind She never forgets that art, in general, and music, in particular, is meant to serve people. The harder life is, the more lonely and sad people are, the more m...