The treasure of a senior citizen in Hoi AnBy Nhan Tam Nguyen Dinh Cu and his special bookstore which he treasures - PHOTO: NHAN TAM A bookstore in the ancient town of Hoi An in the central coastal province of Quang Nam is rather special. The books on offer there are all in foreign languages. The store also stands out for its unique way of selling and exchanging books: its customers can take out any book they like, but they have to leave behind two of their own books. The bookstore is peacefully sandwiched by rows of fashion stores, picture galleries, cafés and general stores on Phan Boi Chau Street. It has no name, but has a a sign that reads “Books for sale and exchange.” The bookshop’s owner is Nguyen Dinh Cu, an octogenarian. The house No. 43 where his bookstore is located, like other houses on the street, is typical of Hoi An, with its ancient, yellow walls and classical architecture. In 1969, Cu bought this house where his family lived, without any … [Read more...] about The treasure of a senior citizen in Hoi An
Quang nam province 1969
Social News 25/1
Polluted water kills fish at Vinh Citadel Polluted water has caused mass fish deaths since early this month in the moat around the ancient Vinh Citadel in the central city of Vinh, Nghệ An Province, an environmental official said. Head of the city’s Natural Resources and Environment Department Nguyễn Huy Hoàng said on Wednesday that after receiving reports about the dead fish, local authorities’ examinations found waste water from local residents’ daily activities being discharged into the moat. The waste water should have been collected and transferred to Hưng Hoà Waste Water Treatment Plant. Since early this year, the dry season has made the moat water stagnant, resulting in a shortage of oxygen that kills fish, according to Hoàng. Relevant agencies are also investigating to see if there are any production units releasing untreated waste water into the moat. Since January 9, people living around the moat have reported that … [Read more...] about Social News 25/1
Poet, painter and writer passes away
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Popular poet and composer Nguyễn Trọng Tạo passed away on January 7 after dealing with a lengthy and serious illness. He was 71. Born in 1947 in Diễn Châu, the central province of Nghệ An, he joined the army in 1969. In 1976, he was sent to Hà Nội to join a writing camp hosted by the army and study at Nguyễn Du Writing School. From 2000 to 2005, he worked as a member of the Poetry Council at the Việt Nam Writers’ Association. Between 2003 and 2004, he worked as the head of the Poetry Editorial Board of Văn Nghệ Việt Nam (Việt Nam Literature and Arts) newspaper. Tạo proved to be a talented artist. He showed his ability in literature with dozens of poetry collections, epics, prose collections and essays. He also composed various historical songs, which have been performed widely, and created many paintings. He is the author of over 400 poems, which … [Read more...] about Poet, painter and writer passes away
Biography of Party General Secretary, President Nguyễn Phú Trọng
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee (CPVCC) Nguyễn Phú Trọng was elected President for the 2016-21 tenure at a plenum of the 14th National Assembly’s sixth session in Hà Nội on Tuesday. The following is a brief biography of Party General Secretary, President Nguyễn Phú Trọng: - Current positions: General Secretary of the CPVCC, President of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission. - Date of birth: April 14, 1944 - Ethnicity: Kinh – Native village: Đông Hội Commune, Đông Anh District, Hà Nội - Current residency: No. 5 Thiền Quang Street, Nguyễn Du Ward, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hà Nội - Family background: Poor peasant - Occupation when recruited: Student - Date of joining … [Read more...] about Biography of Party General Secretary, President Nguyễn Phú Trọng
Australian veteran, wife send poor children in Hoi An to school
Once every few days Phan Thu Lan visits Truc Xanh kindergarten in Hoi An city of the central Quang Nam Province. She plays with the students there, checks with the teachers on the stocks of food and keeps an eye on the facilities to ensure they are in good shape. This has been part of Lan’s routine for the last few years. She used to live in HCMC, where she met Roy Erle Hornsby, an Australian soldier in 1969-70 in the Vietnam War. In 2003 he had returned to Vietnam as a web design professor, and married Lan seven years later. Lan and Hornsby gave presents to the students. Photo courtesy of Lan. The couple travelled to many places before settling down in Hoi An in 2014. In their house in Cam Chau Ward, Lan opened a nail salon while her husband worked as a web designer. When they started building their house, one of the female workers would often be absent. Lan later found out that the worker had to stay at home to take care of her kid since she did not have enough money to … [Read more...] about Australian veteran, wife send poor children in Hoi An to school
Leaders commemorate Hồ Chí Minh’s birthday
A delegation of Party and State officials led by Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng pays tribute to late President Hồ Chí Minh on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn ĐiệpViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Government and Party leaders gathered Friday morning in Hà Nội to pay tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh on the 128th anniversary of his birthday. Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, President Trần Đại Quang, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân and Việt Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee President Trần Thanh Mẫn led the delegation, which laid a wreath at the former President’s mausoleum. Former Party General Secretaries Lê Khả Phiêu and Nông Đức Mạnh, former NA Chairman Nguyễn Văn An, along with other … [Read more...] about Leaders commemorate Hồ Chí Minh’s birthday
VN has no so-called “prisoners of conscience”
Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. Hang stressed the point at the Ministry’s press briefing today as she was asked about Viet Nam’s reaction to some human rights organizations’ condemnation of the trial of six defendants who have been accused of carrying out “activities that aim to overthrow the people’s administration.” This morning, a court in Ha Noi opened trial of the accused, namely Nguyen Van Dai (born in 1969, Ha Noi), Pham Van Troi (1972, Ha Noi), Nguyen Trung Ton (1972, Thanh Hoa province), Nguyen Bac Truyen (1968, Ho Chi Minh City), Truong Minh Duc (1960, Kien Giang province), and Le Thu Ha (1982, Quang Tri province). According to the indictment of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, from March 2013 to July 2017, Nguyen Van Dai, Pham Van Troi, Nguyen Trung Ton and Nguyen Bac Truyen initiated and established the “Hoi anh em dan chu” (Brotherhood for Democracy) organization. They built the organization’s … [Read more...] about VN has no so-called “prisoners of conscience”
Social News
Green trees neglected in Ho Chi Minh CityWhile some of the city’s trees have become common dumping grounds for local garbage, others are suffocating from cement poured over their roots.According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, trees along D2 Street in Binh Thanh District have had their roots buried under a layer of cement, making it difficult for the plants to be taken care of or watered.“They are still growing just fine. I protect these trees from being chopped down,” a resident explained.Several trees on the promenades of Hoa Hao Streets in District 11 have also been subjected to such neglectful treatment.“The concrete surrounding their roots has been damaged, causing soil to be washed into our houses,” a local said.“Since authorities have been unable to deal with the problem, we decided to fix it ourselves,” he continued.Meanwhile, green trees on a section of Dien Bien Phu Street in Binh Thanh District have become … [Read more...] about Social News