Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The demand for Kim Hoàng paintings, a genre of Vietnamese woodcut paintings that originate from Kim Hoàng Village in Hà Nội, has been increasing over the Lunar New Year. Thanks to efforts of local authorities, artisans and collectors, Kim Hoàng paintings have avoided fading into oblivion and are experiencing a revival. Kim Hoàng paintings were a common sight at cultural events over the festive period at locations like the Temple of Literature, streets around Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Old Quarter. Nguyễn Thị Thu Hòa, director of the Pottery Museum, said this year the demand for Kim Hoàng paintings increased remarkably, especially for paintings featuring pigs, given 2019 is the Year of the Pig. She said pigs are depicted in various ways and styles in the paintings. In addition, red, the colour thought to bring about luck in the new year, is the theme colour of this painting. … [Read more...] about Traditional folk painting enjoys a revival
Seeking paint that looks like wood stained
Pigs in folk paintings: Reflect age old desire for prosperity, luck
(VEN) - Pigs are everywhere in Vietnam these days as the country prepares to celebrate the Year of the Pig, which starts on the Lunar New Year, Tet, in early February. The pig is the 12th and last Chinese Zodiac sign, after which the yearly cycle begins once again with the mouse, followed by the buffalo, the tiger, the cat, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog, and the pig. People born in the Year of the Pig are considered generous, gallant, kind-hearted and bold, but also stubborn and temperamental. The Chinese zodiac, observed in other parts of Southeast Asia such as Vietnam, is also reflected in Dong Ho folk paintings that date back to the 12th century. The woodcut paintings were traditionally sold or displayed on Tet, although the art is virtually extinct except as tourist souvenirs. Dong Ho painting originated in Dong Ho Village on the left bank of the Duong River in Bac Ninh Province, about 35km from Hanoi. We came to find artisan … [Read more...] about Pigs in folk paintings: Reflect age old desire for prosperity, luck
Look good, or play good?
By Robert Bicknell Comedian Billy Crystal joined the cast of Saturday Night Live the 1984-85 season. His most famous recurring sketch was his parody of Fernando Lamas, a smarmy talk-show host whose catch phrase was “It is better to look better than to feel good and, darling, you look Mahvelous!” became a media sensation So, here’s an interesting question… Is it better to look good, or to play good? (Grammar critics stop screaming, I know “play good” is wrong, but it’s the only way it fits the set up correctly. Call it, artistic licence and shaddap). The reason behind this is that I see far too many people on the driving ranges trying to swing like Tour pros and failing miserably. The painstakingly compare their swings to what they see on YouTube and keep making changes, despite not having the physical characteristics or strengths of the player in the video. So the question is, do you want to look like you can play golf, or do you want to … [Read more...] about Look good, or play good?
If it looks like a duck…and massages like a duck…
The "Duck Stop" is located near the Phong Nha - Ke Bang Cave in Quang Binh Province. It has become a very popular destination of late. Western tourists enjoy a duck massage. Photo courtesy of Bianca Yorke - Davies The Duck Stop Farm is a brainchild of 20-year-old Tran Van Quynh. The owner of the 120 ducks has also named the farm "Duck Heaven". Quynh guides visitors for the first attempt at getting the duck massage, on how to hold a handful of seeds in their cupped palms and allow the ducks to munch them. The experience is similar to the famous fish massage in Thailand where people put their legs in water tanks full of small fish that nibble at the skin. Robyn, a tourist from Poland, said she’d never laughed so much. "I never thought I would be chased by hundreds of ducks. It felt great to have them massage me," she said. Tourists also have the opportunity to become a "leader" of hundreds of ducks. The "Duck Leader" section is introduced soon after tourists … [Read more...] about If it looks like a duck…and massages like a duck…
AFF Cup: This is what anticipation looks like in football-crazy Vietnam
Following the chaos that occurred outside the My Dinh Stadium the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) might switch to selling tickets online if Vietnam enter the semi-finals. Despite the cold and rainy weather on Sunday, fans queue up patiently outside the stadium. Some had even arrived the day before. A barrier was installed by security officials two hours before the counters opened at 8 a.m. But the barrier collapsed as thousands of people jostled and shoved. Luckily there were no injuries. This woman waited in the line since 7 p.m. the day before. She scaled the fence but couldn’t get down because there was no space left on the ground to put her feet. A person could buy up to four tickets. After one hour, all 9,000 tickets were sold out. The VFF said 1,000 organizations and associations had demanded some 60,000 tickets while the stadium’s capacity is only 40,000. The tickets are priced at VND150,000, 200,000, 300,000, 400,000 ($6.46, 8.62, 13, 17). The match is … [Read more...] about AFF Cup: This is what anticipation looks like in football-crazy Vietnam
Vietnam destinations among Asia’s hidden gems that make the US look like a dump
Asia is a huge and mysterious part of the world which has so many incredible places that it would take us years to visit and properly feel them. Phong Nha-Ke Bang. Photo: Thetravel.com Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Con Dao islands and Hue in Vietnam have been ranked 18th, 12th and eighth among the 20 hidden gems of Asia will surely inspire wanderlust and make you want to get back to this wonderful place again and again, according to a list released by The Travel, a website on vacation destination. “Vietnam has plenty of outstanding beaches, tasty street snacks and hidden gems that are yet to be discovered by the traveling enthusiasts. Central Vietnam is especially interesting because it serves home to the cities of Hoi an and Hue and to a number of natural wonders one of which is Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park,” The Travel wrote. The Travel advises travelers that by visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site you can see the world’s largest cave complexes which were only … [Read more...] about Vietnam destinations among Asia’s hidden gems that make the US look like a dump
Johnson leads Hoffman at US Open, Woods misses cut
Dustin Johnson of USA celebrates after making a birdie on the seventh hole during the second round of the 2018 US Open. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP) Shinnecock Hills presented a different face as Thursday's gusting wind gave way to morning mist with stretches of wind-driven rain, followed by afternoon sunshine. Johnson was more than equal to all of it, his two-round total of four-under 136 putting him four ahead of Americans Charley Hoffman and Scott Piercy. "Dustin was in complete control of what he was doing," said his playing partner Tiger Woods, who missed the cut in his first US Open since 2015 as he added a two-over 72 to his opening 78 for a 10-over total of 150. "He's hitting the ball so flush and so solid," Woods said. "I know it's windy. It's blustery. It was raining early. But he's hitting right through it." After two birdies in his first nine holes, Johnson made his only bogey of the day at the first, unable to get up and down for par from a greenside bunker. But he … [Read more...] about Johnson leads Hoffman at US Open, Woods misses cut
Vietnam F1 race looks likely, says Ecclestone
A Formula One race in Vietnam could be on the calendar by 2020, according to the sport’s former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone. “I think you’re going to get a race in Vietnam,” the 87-year-old told reporters invited to his private offices in central London to talk about various issues ahead of the new season starting next month. The billionaire Briton, who was moved aside into an undefined ‘emeritus’ role in January last year after U.S.-based Liberty Media took over, said a street race in Hanoi looked likely. Ecclestone, who remains employed by Formula One on a multi-million pound salary, said the Vietnamese government was willing to pay a significant amount to promote the South-East Asian country by hosting a grand prix. “They haven’t made a contract yet as far as I know. But if they have, it’s at least two years away isn’t it?” he said. The Malaysian Grand Prix dropped off the calendar after last year’s … [Read more...] about Vietnam F1 race looks likely, says Ecclestone
Vietnam Formula 1 race looks likely, says Ecclestone
A Formula One race in Vietnam could be on the calendar by 2020, according to the sport's former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone. "I think you’re going to get a race in Vietnam," the 87-year-old told reporters invited to his private offices in central London to talk about various issues ahead of the new season starting next month. The billionaire Briton, who was moved aside into an undefined 'emeritus' role in January last year after U.S.-based Liberty Media took over, said a street race in Hanoi looked likely. Ecclestone, who remains employed by Formula One on a multi-million pound salary, said the Vietnamese government was willing to pay a significant amount to promote the Southeast Asian country by hosting a grand prix. "They haven’t made a contract yet as far as I know. But if they have, it’s at least two years away isn’t it?," he said. The Malaysian Grand Prix dropped off the calendar after last year's race but Formula One bosses have talked about … [Read more...] about Vietnam Formula 1 race looks likely, says Ecclestone
Vietnam looks like an entire different kingdom in these 1990s photos
By Phong Vinh  February 18, 2018 | 11:09 am GMT+7 These two-decade old snaps offer a rare look into the past. Kyle Michael Nunas, the now Canadian General Consul in Ho Chi Minh City, was one of a few people who had the chance to travel and capture Vietnam in the late 1990s, when the country just started to open to the outside world after a long period of isolation. With a Minolta XD-11 camera in his hands, the diplomat captured various tourist attractions in their far-off pristine days. Nunas first flew to Saigon, then officially named Ho Chi Minh City, in January 1997. The photo was taken in front of the Hotel Continenal Saigon in the city center, when Honda Cubs were trendy and traffic jams were a strange concept. The Municipal Theater, or Saigon Opera House, before a major renovation in 1998. A wet market in the late 1990s, when bicycles were a popular affordable vehicle. Another take of traffic in Saigon in 1997, a decade before the government … [Read more...] about Vietnam looks like an entire different kingdom in these 1990s photos