The trophy won by live entertainment show ‘Tinh Hoa Bac Bo’ or ‘The Quintessence of Tonkin’ at The Guide Awards 2019. (Photo: VietnamPlus) – The live entertainment show ‘Tinh Hoa Bac Bo’ or ‘The Quintessence of Tonkin’ has received a special prize at The Guide Awards 2019 recently.spectacle contains more than 250 performers, of which 150 are local farmers living in the area. The prize honours the farmers who perform in the show as “exceptional cultural and tourism ambassadors.” (Photo: VietnamPlus) The Quintessence of Tonkin includes six acts presenting traditional elements of Vietnamese culture in a contemporary and innovative way. Photo: VietnamPlus The stage is permanently submerged under a thin layer of water and offers a performing area for up to 250 people at the same time, who are a mixture of both professional artists and local farmers.'quan ho' (love duet singing) and 'ca tru' (ceremonial singing), … [Read more...] about Spectacle ‘The Quintessence of Tonkin’ wins The Guide Awards 2019
Nobel prize winning literature
Former Roland Garros champion Schiavone ‘wins’ cancer fight
Champion: Italy's Francesca Schiavone with the 2010 Roland Garros trophy. (Photo: AFP/Patrick Kovarik) The 39-year-old, who became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam title with victory at Roland Garros in 2010, revealed her diagnosis in a short video on her Instagram account. "Hi everyone, upon 7-8 months of silence from social media and from the world, I wish to share with you what happened to me," said Schiavone who appeared in the video with her dark hair closely cropped. "A cancer had been diagnosed to me. I did chemotherapy, I fought a tough battle and now I am still breathing. I have won this fight. And now I am back in action." She did not elaborate on the type of cancer which had been diagnosed. Schiavone retired from tennis after the 2018 US Open having won eight career titles and playing in three Fed Cup winning teams with Italy in 2006, 2009 and 2010. Her greatest moment came when she defeated Australia's Samantha Stosur in the 2010 Roland Garros final. She went … [Read more...] about Former Roland Garros champion Schiavone ‘wins’ cancer fight
EU warns of post-Brexit rival Britain after Johnson win
French President Emmanuel Macron warned of the possibility that London could become an 'unfair competitor'. (Photo: AFP/Aris Oikonomou) But the EU chiefs, meeting in Brussels, also expressed relief that British voters had sent a clear message, bringing to an end the first phase of a crisis that has dogged Europe for more than three years. Led by France and Germany, EU member states said they would pursue a swift trade deal with a tight deadline of end 2020, but insisted that any new arrangement must uphold European values and norms. "There is no question of concluding a deal at any price," EU Council President Charles Michel told a news conference after the talks. "Negotiations are over when the results are balanced and guarantee respect for the different concerns," the former Belgian premier said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Britain would be an economic "competitor at our door" after it leaves the EU and French President Emmanuel Macron saw a threat that London … [Read more...] about EU warns of post-Brexit rival Britain after Johnson win
A 124-year-old Mekong Delta house bespeaks opulence and romance
The 258 square meter Huynh Thuy Le House was built in 1895 by Huynh Cam Thuan, a wealthy Chinese businessman, on the banks of the Sa Dec River, Dong Thap Province. The house, on 255A Nguyen Hue Street, combines Chinese architecture with some Western elements. When Thuan passed away, his youngest son, Huynh Thuy Le, inherited the house, and it was named after him. Besides its architectural features and artifacts that reflect the luxurious lifestyle of a very wealthy person many years ago, the house acquired added interest with Le’s love story. By chance, Le met Marguerite Duras, a writer, on a ferry in 1929. Le's father did not approve of their relationship and his will prevailed. After the writer returned to France, Le married a Vietnamese woman. Duras turned their relationship into an autobiographical novel, The Lover. The work was awarded the Goncourt prize, France's top literature award and translated into 43 languages. It was later adapted into an eponymous … [Read more...] about A 124-year-old Mekong Delta house bespeaks opulence and romance
“The Quintessence of Tonkin” brings VN culture out to the world
Hanoi (VNA) – Staged entirely on water and providing a broad overview of village life, from folklore to music, poetry, water puppetry, Buddhism and more, the open-air show “Tinh Hoa Bac Bo” (The Quintessence of Tonkin) is described as a truly standout tourism product of the capital city of Hanoi, helping nudge local culture closer to international friends. The live entertainment show has been open to the public for two years. (Photo courtesy of the organising board) Tuan Chau Hanoi JSC, and takes place on an outdoor stage on the western outskirts of Hanoi. The Quintessence of Tonkin includes six acts presenting traditional elements of the Vietnamese culture in a contemporary and innovative way. The spectacle draws inspiration from Thay pagoda’s history as it tells how it was founded by monk Tu Dao Hanh and the ancient union between religion and monarchy. (Photo courtesy of the organiser) The spectacle draws inspiration from the pagoda’s history as … [Read more...] about “The Quintessence of Tonkin” brings VN culture out to the world