Anwar bin Sholeh had something to cheer when he showed up at a Jakarta training centre to practice pencak silat -- the Indonesian martial art was added to UNESCO's prestigious heritage list. "It's an honour that pencak silat has been recognised internationally," the 38-year-old, who has been practising the art since elementary school, told AFP. "This will motivate us to preserve our traditions and culture," he added. Dating back to as early as the 6th Century, one legend has it that the ancient martial art -- which blends self-defense and artistic elements -- originated after a woman watched a tiger do battle with a giant hawk, and copied their techniques to fight off a pestering group of drunken men. The term pencak silat describes hundreds of indigenous combat styles in Southeast Asia, with fighters wielding a terrifying array of weapons such as knives, sickles and machetes. It has gained greater awareness outside Indonesia after being featured in Star Wars and John … [Read more...] about Indonesian martial art pencak silat gets UNESCO heritage status
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HCM City boosts medical cooperation with RoK’s Gyeonggi province
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Hospital managers, renowned doctors and investors from the Republic of Korea’s Gyeonggi province attended a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on June 4 to study investment opportunities in the field of health care in the southern economic hub. Director the municipal Department of Health Nguyen Tan Binh said his department and the Gyeonggi counterpart had signed minutes in 2018 on cooperation in human resources training, professional and management experience exchanges, and information technology application to serve medical examination and treatment. Under this document, 24 Vietnamese students were sent to the RoK for professional exchanges and intensive training, he said, adding that the RoK province also assisted Vietnam in research, diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer as well as in healthcare management issues. Ryu Yong Chol, director of Gyeonggi’s health department, evaluated HCM City as … [Read more...] about HCM City boosts medical cooperation with RoK’s Gyeonggi province
Bac Giang aims to draw 2 billion USD in investment this year
An overview of Bac Giang province (Photo: VNA) Bac Giang (VNA) – The northern province of Bac Giang is working out measures in an effort to attract 2 billion USD in domestic and foreign investment in 2018. Priority will be given to projects in the fields of transport, energy, key urban area development, supporting technology for garment-textile and footwear sectors, hi-tech industry, spare parts, hi-tech agriculture, and farm produce preservation and processing. The province will also focus on developing various forms of tourism such as spiritual tourism, eco-tourism, and resort tourism with hi-end hotels. To realise the target, the local authorities have requested investors of industrial parks to speed up the completion of technical infrastructure. The province is accelerating the compensation payment for land clearance at Hoa Phu industrial park and selecting investors to build infrastructure at Vietnam-Korea industrial park. It also asked the Embassies of Japan and the … [Read more...] about Bac Giang aims to draw 2 billion USD in investment this year
Many poets but few good poems: critics
Teenagers release balloons printed with poems at last year’s Vietnamese Poetry Day at the Literature Temple in Hanoi (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Many critics and poets attending a workshop on contemporary poetry in Hanoi on February 27 agreed: the country is home to many poets, but few good poems. “Never before there have been so many poets and poetry fans,” said poet Vu Quan Phuong. There are dozens of thousands of poetry writers throughout the country. “There are about four thousand poetry collections published each year,” he said. “Poetry has become an elegant spiritual creative endeavour, which should be respected and encouraged. Composing poems has become a passion of the whole community, but few poetry reciting galas have been organised.” Big-name publishers are no longer interested in printing poetry collections. That’s why poets themselves pay their own money to publish their work and struggle to sell their books. Poet … [Read more...] about Many poets but few good poems: critics
Poetry society memorial complex inaugurated in Kien Giang
The memorial complex of Chieu Anh Cac is opened in Ha Tien city of Kien Giang province on February 19 (Photo: VNA) Kien Giang (VNA) – The memorial complex of Chieu Anh Cac, a literary and poetry society established in the city in 1736, was opened in Ha Tien city, the southern province of Kien Giang on February 19. The construction celebrates the 283rd anniversary of the society and the 2019 Ha Tien Tourism Year. The 14,000 sq.m complex is located in the Binh San Mountain Cultural and Historical Area in Bình San district. It consists of a 198-sq.m house with two storeys, a flower garden and an outdoor stage, costing more than 15 billion VND (644,500 USD). The complex displays literary works and poems by Chieu Anh Cac’s members, including the poem collections Ha Tien thap canh khuc vinh (Ten landscapes in Ha Tien), and Minh Bot di ngu (The last fisherman in Minh Bot). Literary and art works by contemporary artists from the province and across Vietnam are featured … [Read more...] about Poetry society memorial complex inaugurated in Kien Giang