Massive parade marks 70 years of independence

At least 30,000 troops and civilian units marched through Ba Dinh Square, the same historic place that witnessed the establishment of a free and independent Viet Nam following the victory of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945) against fascism in World War II. — VNA/VNS Photo
 
HA NOI (VNS) — The largest-ever parade in the country was held this morning in Ha Noi to commemorate 70 years since the day late President Ho Chi Minh made the Independence Declaration.
At least 30,000 troops and civilian units marched through Ba Dinh Square, the same historic place that witnessed the establishment of a free and independent Viet Nam following the victory of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945) against fascism in World War II.

Viet Nam marks 40th anniversary of great victory, reunification

A spectacular ceremony with a parade involving nearly 6,000 soldiers, militia, and civilians took place early on April 30 in HCM City. — Photos Anh Dung and Van Dat

HCM CITY (VNS) — A spectacular ceremony with a parade involving nearly 6,000 soldiers, militia, and civilians took place early on April 30 in HCM City to mark the 40th anniversary of the liberation of southern Việt Nam and national reunification.
The celebration to mark the victory over the US aggressors was attended by Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung, former national leaders, and leaders of HCM City and many provinces.

“Triumphant Smile”

11 years ago, Vietnam Pictorial did an article about Mrs. VoThiThang who is famous for “Triumphant Smile” which was deeply imprinted in the memory of the times. On August 22, she passed away at the age of 69. To honour her, Vietnam Pictorial would like to introduce to readers the article printed on Vietnam Pictorial No.3, 2003.

Mrs.Vo Thi Thang (in 2003). Photo: VNP's file

How could a young girl just over 20, sentenced to 20 years’ hard labour, have such a gentle and innocent smile of self-confidence! That’s why, some wonder whether or not Vo Thi Thang was real; her smile had become virtually surreal. However, to those who know the land and the people living on this soil, this is quite simple and understandable. That smile belongs to Mother – the Vietnamese Motherland.

Exhibition showcasing 104 photos of General Vo Nguyen Giap

PANO - The exhibition, titled “Vo Nguyen Giap, the People’s General” celebrating the General’s 104^th birthday (August 25^th) opened in Hanoi on August 24^th by the Capital Veterans’ Newspaper and the Hanoi Art Photographers’ Association. 
 

On display are 104 photos of General Vo Nguyen Giap at different moments. The photos were taken by photographic artist, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trong Nghi during nearly 15 past years. 

This is the 3^rd time photographer Nguyen Trong Nghi has exhibited his photos of General Vo Nguyen Giap. The two previous exhibitions under the theme “General Vo Nguyen Giap with Truong Son Troops” and “General Vo Nguyen Giap with Veterans” were in 2009 and 2012, respectively.

President Ho Chi Minh’s 124th birth day marked at home and abroad

(VOVworld) – A delegation of party, state, government, National Assembly, and Vietnam Fatherland Front senior officials paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on Sunday to mark his 124^th birthday.

The 33^rd singing festival of the Sen village, the home village of President Ho Chi Minh opened the same day in Nghe An province. Screening of films about President Ho Chi Minh will begin in Nam Dan district. Ho Chi Minh city launched a movement to plant trees. Delegates planted 316 yellow apricot trees, symbolizing the 316 years of establishment and development of Ho Chi Minh city. Tran Thi Thanh Ha is a teacher: “The tree planting movement teaches young people and students about President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching about keeping the environment clean. In school, we have a subject on environmental protection.”

A photo exhibition entitled “Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s cultural heritage” opened at Vietnam Culture Center in Paris, featuring the revolutionary life of the President. It also introduces the beauty of Vietnam and Vietnam’s policies to preserve and protect its cultural and natural heritages. Nguyen Thuy Duc is acting director of the Ho Chi Minh Museum: “The more than 100 photos on display introduce to Vietnamese people in France and French people President Ho Chi Minh’s concern for cultural heritages. Through this exhibition, we hope that more overseas Vietnamese and French people will come to Vietnam, strengthening the bonds between our two countries.”

President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday was celebrated at St. Petersburg National University in Russia with the participation of a large number of Vietnamese and Russian students.

Vietnamese embassy staff, students and businesspeople in Laos on Saturday burned incense to pay tribute to the late President at a memorial site in Kham Muon province. 

Source: vovworld.vn

PM hails new Binh Duong towers as symbol of remarkable success

HCM CITY (VNS)— Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday attended a ceremony held to mark the opening of Binh Duong Province's new seat of government and the start of construction of Binh Duong New City.

 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is flanked by provincial leaders as he visits the Centralised Administrative Centre in the southern province of Binh Duong yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vu

The Centralised Administration Centre, which comprises twin towers 104 metres high, has 21 storeys for offices and two for parking and a heliport on the roof, according to the province People's Committee.
The 104,000sq.m centre will house most local agencies' offices, including the province Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee and most departments and sectors in the province.
Dung praised the province's efforts in overcoming difficulties to achieve economic growth that was double the national average.
He said Binh Duong has successfully striven to transform itself from a farming-reliant province to one of the leading industrial hubs in the country while ensuring commensurate cultural and social development.
He said the opening of the new Administration Centre is of great significance, since it is the most modern of such facilities in the country thus far.

The Centralised Administration Centre was built by Becamex IDC at a cost of more than VND1.4 trillion ($66.4 million) under the BT (build-transfer) model.
There is an exhibition and convention centre built at a cost of VND416.7 billion ($19.76 million) inside the complex.

The Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, the Departments of Planning and Investment and Natural Resources and Environment, and industrial park managements have already moved in, and by March more than 50 other government offices will move in.
The centre would play an important role in improving the province administration and the development of Binh Duong New City would attract high-quality human resource and investors, Tran Thanh Liem, deputy chairman of People's Committee, said.
Covering an area of 1,000 hectares, Binh Duong New City, located in the 4,196ha Binh Duong industrial, urban, and service complex, will be developed into a modern urban area and Binh Duong city's central business district by 2020 under a Government master plan.
At the inaugural ceremony, the province gave away investment certificates to several investors and certificates of merit to outstanding businesses and announced projects that will kick off this year.
The event was attended by some 1,500 people, including officials and local and foreign investors.

New city to bring FDI

The construction and development of Binh Duong New City has created favourable conditions for the province to attract more foreign investment.
So far this year it has attracted $715 million, Mai Hung Dung, director of the local Department of Planning and Investment, said.
This includes $189 million in 20 new projects and $525 million in 19 existing projects, according to the department.
The investments are mainly in technology and highly competitive products. The investors include Nexfil (South Korea), which has invested $30 million in insulating film production, Tanaka Ai Viet Nam (Japan), which has invested $20 million in production of raw materials for cosmetics and Yamazaki (Japan), which has invested $15 million in manufacture of appliances.
Binh Duong has over the years attracted $19.4 billion in over 2,250 FDI projects. This year it targets $1 billion. — VNS

Source: vietnamnews.vn

Vietnamese Tet, then and now

Tet (Lunar New Year) activities have more or less changed over time, but beautiful traditional customs are followed today in every Vietnamese family.

For the people, Tet is when reality blends with dreams. It's not only an occasion for them to decorate houses and shop for more goods, but also a chance for family members to reunite and pay respect to their ancestors.
The people have to cut spending due to the current economic difficulties, but none forgets the traditions that symbolize the spirit of the nation during the holiday.
Viet Nam News photographer Doan Tung recalls the old days while capturing the present-day activities in Ha Noi during Tet 2014.

Villagers arrange la dong (Phrynium leaves) in the olden days. The leaves were indispensable for wrapping traditional Chung cakes. -- File Photo

People buy phrynium leaves in a present-day Ha Noi market. -- VNS Photo Doan Tung

Chung cakes were compressed and boiled in the past. -- File Photo

Many young people still follow the traditional custom of boiling Chung cakes at home. -- VNS Photo Doan Tung

Jam, cigarettes and wine were essential articles during Tet earlier. -- File Photo

Now Tet goods are much more diversified and ceremonious. -- VNS Photo Doan Tung

The Hang Luoc flower market during Tet in the 1930s. -- File Photo

Peach blossoms are still bought by every Ha Noi family for Tet. -- VNS Photo Doan Tung

Hanoians shop for Tet goods at a state-run market in the old days. -- File Photo

Today, many people shop for Tet items at supermarkets or trade centres. -- VNS Photo Doan Tung

Scholars wrote parallel sentences, a Tet custom, a a street corner in the old days. -- File Photo

The tradition is still preserved today, as many young people ask for scholars' handwriting on Tet. -- VNS Photo Doan Tung

Today, many youngsters request scholars' handwriting on the Lunar New Year in the hope for achieving better learning. -- VNS Photo Doan Tung

Source: vietnamnews.vn

State funeral for legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap

 

A State funeral will be held for the legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap, who died on October 4, according to an announcement of the Funeral Committee. 

General Giap’s coffin will lie in state at the National Morgue at No. 5, Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi .

Mourners will pay respect to General Giap at the morgue as from 7:30 on October 12, and a memorial service will be held at the site as from 7:00 on October 13.

He will be buried the same day in his home province of Quang Binh, in line with the wish of the General and his family.

The memorial and burial services will be broadcast live by Vietnam Television and Radio the Voice of Vietnam.

Memorial services will also be held at the office of the Quang Binh provincial People’s Committee and the Thong Nhat Hall in Ho Chi Minh City at the same time with the ceremonies in Hanoi.

During the two-day funeral, from 12:00 on October 11 to 12:00 on October 13, all State offices and public facilities will fly the national flag at half-mast and all entertainment activities will be stopped.

Legendary Vietnam General Vo Nguyen Giap Dies at 102

General VO NGUYEN GIAP JUST PASSED AWAY …
With deep regret and sorrow , we regret to inform comrades the passing away of General GIAP …

Vo Nguyen Giap, the first four-star general and the supreme chief commander of Vietnam, died at 6:00pm today at the Army Hospital 108 in Hanoi, over a month after he celebrated his 102th birthday.

The general has been in the hospital for medical care since 2009.
He was born on August 25, 1911 in Le Thuy District, Quang Binh Province in the central region of Vietnam.
He started his career as a history teacher before joining the army and becomes the legendary general, who led Vietnam Army defeating the French and US invaders in 1954 and 1975 respectively.
He directly commanded major operations including the Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and Ho Chi Minh in 1975.
General Giap served as Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister since the national reunification in 1975 till 1980. From 1981-1991, he was Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, which is now the government.
 The General is credited as one of great men in the world in encyclopedia of many countries, including the US.

Happy 102nd birthday to General Vo Nguyen Giap

Happy 102nd birthday to General Giáp. General Vo Nguyen Giap, our hero, is 102 life springs.
El legendario general Vo Nguyen Giap, creador de la estrategia militar “guerra de todo el pueblo”, cumplirá 102 años de edad ( el 25/8/2013)

General Vo Nguyen Giap (25-8-1911), who is considered the eldest brother of the Vietnam People’s Army, and who played an important role in the national resistance against foreign invaders , is the hero of VietNamese revolution, also one of the greatest military strategists in the world. General Giap is an excellent student of late President Ho Chi Minh and an outstanding leader of the Vietnamese People’s Army.

 

Special flag hoisting ceremony in Ba Dinh Square

VietNamNet Bridge – The flag hoisting ceremony is performed daily at 6 am in the Ba Dinh Square, in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This morning, June 7, the ceremony became special because it was aired live with the flag salute ceremony on Truong Sa Lon in Khanh Hoa Province.

Whether it is sunny or rainy, at 6am every day, soldiers of the Command for Protection of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum perform the flag hoisting and flag salute rituals at the Ba Dinh Square.

Going first are soldiers with the flag.

The 34 guards representing 34 first soldiers of the Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, the predecessor of the Vietnam People’s Army today.

Saigon after 38 years of liberation

On the occasion of the liberation of Saigon, 30/4/1975, three photo exhibitions are held at the Lam Son Park, Chi Lang Park and Dong Khoi Road, HCM City, displaying 220 photos with the themes "Ho Chi Minh City - 38 years of construction and development," "HCM City’s economic development and integration," "HCM City - urban construction and development." The exhibitions will last until May 10.

 

Right after 30/4/1975, the army and people of HCM City embarked on the reconstruction. After 38 years, the city has always been the motive force in economics, science-technology and education of the country. 

Below are some photos at the exhibitions.

 At 10:45 am on 30/4/1975, tanks of the liberation army entered the
Independence Palace, liberating the South and reunifying the country.

 Immediately after the liberation of Saigon, the Saigon Port continued to operate.

 A class at the Center for Experimental Practice and Education of Hoc Mon District in April 1982.

 Building the national grid in Can Gio district in 1990.

 The inauguration of Nha Be – Duyen Hai road on the occasion of the 10th
anniversary of the liberation of the South and the country’s reunification in 1985. 

Late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, who was HCM City Party Secretary at that time, joined volunteers and voluntary workers to reclaim the suburban area of Cu Chi District on March 28, 1976.

 Late Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh visited the Dielac Milk Factory on November 2, 1990.

People visited the Nguyen Hue Flower Market.

The project to improve the environment of Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal
and to build Hoang Sa – Truong Sa Road.

 HCM City looked from above.

 An Nghia Bridge, one of the first bridges built on the Nha Nha – Duyen Hai road.

 Breeding shrimp for export at a state farm in Can Gio District.

 Inauguration of the aqueduct from Dau Tieng reservoir and Dong Canal in Cu Chi district.

Students worked at the Le Minh Xuan economic zone in December 1975.

 The voluntary youth force grew pineapples in Pham Van Hai farm in Binh Chanh District.

 Workers of Vinatexco textile factory in October 1975.

Electric fan manufacturing at Lidico Company.

 The people in Saigon’s suburban area built dykes to prevent saline water.

 Farmers harvested rice in Hoc Mon district.

 HCM City’s people welcomed the first north - south to the Saigon railway station in 1976.

 

 Implants at the HCM City High-tech Agricultural Zone.

Vietnamnet