The country''s leading conservationists gathered in
Hue over the weekend to discuss the poetry that is carved on wooden and
concrete heritage buildings in the former royal capital city.
World recognition is being sought for a vast archive of administrative
documents, many of them signed by the Nguyen kings from 1802 to 1945.
Some of them record Viet Nam''s ownership of islands in the East Sea.
Hai Duong, a province in the heart of the Hong (Red) River Delta, is a
famous tourist destination for water puppetry, a unique and traditional
artistic display in Viet Nam.
Though rain bucketed down last Saturday, the dry board and smiling faces
of those joining the cruise made for a great start to our tour along
the Hong (Red) River in Ha Noi.
The coastal province of Nam Dinh lies 100km
south-west of Ha Noi, about two hours by car, and I''m relieved to reach
my friend''s home in Nghia Hung District, to enjoy the sea smell and
escape the city heat.
To escape Ha Noi''s summer heat, I imagine that many
people are like me and think about the thick green forest and high
mountains of Cao Bang Province, 300km north of the capital.
Vietnamese actress Minh Huong who starred in the film Dung Dot (Don''t
Burn) as Doctor Dang Thuy Tram won the best actress award at the 8th
International Festival of Military Patriotic Films "Volokolamsk Line"
held in Russia.
