Visitors to the Hùng Temple Relic are asked to wear masks and keep their distance from others. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kiên HÀ NỘI — The Hùng Kings Festival, which pays tribute to the founders and first kings of the nation, will be held similarly to last year, with ceremonial activities but no festivities. The plans for the national major festival were decided at a meeting of the People's Committee of the northern province of Phú Thọ where it is held annually. The ceremonies will be conducted with the death anniversary of the great father of the nation Lạc Long Quân and the incense offering to commemorate great mother of the nation Âu Cơ on April 17 and incense offering ceremony to commemorate the Hùng Kings and the flower offering ceremony on April 21. Speaking at the meeting, vice chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hồ Đại Dũng said the event would take place in a respectful atmosphere, while strictly abiding by measures to prevent COVID-19 from … [Read more...] about Hùng Kings Festival 2021 to exclude festivities
Japan kite festival
Hanoi launches tree-planting festival on New Year of Bufallo
Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (second right, front row) waters a newly-planted tree in Hanoi's Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The launching ceremony of a tree-planting festival on the Lunar New Year was held in Hanoi on February 21 as part of this year’s efforts in response to the Government’s programme on planting 1 billion trees to 2025. Addressing the launching event, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh said tree planting has remained as the city’s annual programme. Planting a tree is just the beginning; it is more important to take good care of it and let them grow well, he said, adding that it is a responsibility of everybody. Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh speaks in the launching ceremony of a tree-planting festival on the New Year of the Buffalo on February 21. (Photo: VNA) He asked all districts and towns to accelerate public awareness campaigns on … [Read more...] about Hanoi launches tree-planting festival on New Year of Bufallo
Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival draws 350,000 visitors
The four-day event saw the sale of 6,000 tours with total revenue of VND 60 billion (USD 263,340). Addressing a closing ceremony on March 26, Le Truong Hien Hoa, Director of the Ho Chi Minh Tourism Promotion Agency said that the event contributed to boosting domestic tourism, introducing new destinations and creating a chance for travel agencies and customers to meet and trade. The festival also gave much space for the youth to meet travel companies, helping them sketch out career orientations practically and effectively, he said. At the same time, the event also enabled other localities and businesses to access the Ho Chi Minh City market with a population of over 11 million, added Hien. During the event, many tours in the northern and central regions where the film “Kong: Skull Island” were shot were introduced. Meanwhile, island tours, such as those to Phu Quoc, Con Dao and Ly Son as well as tours to western and central highlands localities were among best-selling products … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival draws 350,000 visitors
Hi, Robot: Japan’s android pets ease virus isolation
Nami Hamaura says she feels less lonely working from home thanks to her singing companion Charlie, one of a new generation of cute and clever Japanese robots whose sales are booming in the pandemic. Smart home assistants such as Amazon's Alexa have found success worldwide, but tech firms in Japan are reporting huge demand for more humanlike alternatives, as people seek solace during coronavirus isolation. "I felt my circle became very small," said 23-year-old Hamaura, a recent graduate who has worked almost entirely remotely since April 2020. With socialising limited, life in her first job at a Tokyo trading company was nothing like she had imagined. So she adopted Charlie, a mug-sized robot with a round head, red nose and flashing bow-tie, who converses with its owner in song. In this picture taken on February 4, 2021 shows communication robot Charlie being pictured in Nami Hamaura's apartment in Tokyo. Photo: AFP Yamaha, which makes Charlie, describes it … [Read more...] about Hi, Robot: Japan’s android pets ease virus isolation
Ong Hao village busy ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival
Entering the village at this time, through the gate of Ong Hao village, visitors can feel the bustling atmosphere with the sound of carving, drums and laughter. The vitality of the traditional craft village exists in each country lane. The places that can catch the sun, the large yard in front of the house, the wall or the road in the village are packed with logs for making drums or paper masks. On the porch, skilled artisans and craftsmen diligently carve and colour to perfect the final products. The toys for Mid-Autumn Festival in Ong Hao village are made from natural materials. Bamboo is used to make the star-shaped “ keo quan ” lanterns (a traditional hand-made lantern with vivid rotating paper-cut figures on the cover), while wood and buffalo skin are used to make drums. Meanwhile, scrap paperboard and paper are "enchanted" to become the paper masks. Even the glue used for paper backing is made from cassava starch, making it user-friendly. Besides the traditional masks, the … [Read more...] about Ong Hao village busy ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival