Kings wife

To many Vietnamese people, the Islamic world is still kept behind a curtain. Is it possible for pho – Vietnam’s national pride – to win over Muslims with their religious beliefs and practices, especially their Halal diet, and come closer to the community of 1.6 billion followers? After coming to Vietnam for the first time in 2014, falling in love with a Vietnamese woman and moving to Hanoi in 2016, more than anyone, Ibrahim Rakaa – an Egyptian chef – understands that food is the biggest barrier to the Islamic community here. With strict dietary laws set up by religious beliefs and culture, all foods served to Muslims have to meet the Halal, meaning permissible or lawful, standards. Although the Islamic community accounts for one-fourth of the world’s population, the term Halal is still unknown to most Vietnamese people. Rakaa and his wife have poured their hearts and souls into opening a Halal Egyptian restaurant to service Hanoi’s tiny Islamic community and bring Arabic … [Read more...] about Pho: Vietnam’s culinary passport

'Buffalo' represents hard work, persistence and stability in the Vietnamese people's conception, and these characteristics are considered to apply to people born in the Year of the Buffalo [according to eastern zodiac]. According to many experts in 'feng shui', 'buffalo people' are more suited to traditional business than other lines. Việt Nam News spoke with three entrepreneurs born in the Year of the Buffalo to see how they lead their businesses. Tran Dinh Long, chairman of the Hoa Phat Group: “I don’t say much, but when I do, I make it happen.” Though not the first to produce construction steel in Viet Nam, Long, born in 1961, made the Hoa Phat Group the leader in the industry in 2018. He noted the demand for construction in Viet Nam and began leveraging his two businesses in machinery and furniture trading to produce construction steel in the late 1990s. Industry insiders said at the time: “He knows nothing about steel, so how can he succeed?” They would never … [Read more...] about Born in the Year of the Buffalo

Daily at the cock's crow, when everyone is still snuggled up in their cozy beds, a man is busy using well-worn wooden moulds and clay to make traditional Kitchen God statues. Dia Linh village (Huong Vinh commune, Huong Tra town, Thua Thien - Hue province) has long been known as the traditional land for sculpting Land Genie and Kitchen God (Stove God) statues for Vietnamese Kitchen guardian day on the 23rd of December (lunar calendar). Along the paths across Bao Vinh old town approaching Lunar New Year, there are many raw statues basking in the sun getting ready to be baked. The sound of knockings on the moulds rings out evenly, covering the whole village in a festive atmosphere. This sight is incredible to behold at the very entrance. Land genie and Stove God statues, after going through firing process, will then be colored by skillful hands, smoothly and rhythmically. Sitting in a corner of the house is a 64-year-old man diligently putting the clay in wooden moulds of Land … [Read more...] about The land of statues

Vietnam's imperial city to keep lights on for tourists Hue to open royal citadel at night for tourists to escape summer heat Hue’s Imperial City covers an area of more than 500 hectares (1,235 acres). Hue was the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 until the end of feudal Vietnam in 1945, and is on the initerary of Japan’s emperor Akihito and his wife during their first Vietnam visit, which will wrap up Sunday. The citadel was built between 1804 and 1833, serving as a symbol of wealth and power of Vietnam’s last ruling family. The royal walls are the most popular attraction to Hue. O fficials have said the citadel wi ll open during summer nights this year for tourists who are discouraged by sunshine during the day. The royal palace stands next to the Perfume River. Ngo Mon, or the South Gate, is the main entrance into the citadel. The city has special areas to hold grand ceremonies, … [Read more...] about Centuries-old walls show off Vietnam’s royal power

The Hanoitimes - In the early 20th century, there was a saying "First Sy, second Phuong, third Xuong, and fourth Dinh" referring to the four wealthiest men in the country and Indochina at that time. Huyen Sy - Richer than the King The sculptors of Huyen Sy and his wife, also the grandparent of the last Queen in Vietnam - the Nam Phuong Queen. Documentary photo. Born in 1841 into a Catholic family, Le Nhat Sy was sent by a priest to study at a theological seminary in Penang, Malaysia. Once returning  home, he worked for the French colonial government as an interpreter then a member of the Nam Ky Colonial Council and was called Huyen (an administrative rank) Sy by his title. It was said that his property came from land investment and... luck. All the land he bought produced good harvests, making him richer and then the richest in the region. He spent a large sum on building two large churches in Saigon, namely Huyen Sy in District 1 and Chi Hoa in District … [Read more...] about Top four richest people in Vietnam in the early 20th century