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| Visitors at the Ve Nha An Com exhibition. (Photo courtesy of artist Nguyen The Son) |
Entitled Ve Nha An Com (Go Home For Meal), the exhibition is jointly organised by Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Vietnam.
As the theme of United Nations' International Youth Day 2022 is “Intergenerational solidarity,” aiming for a cohesive society where everyone works together towards sustainable development goals, Ve Nha An Com explores the concept of “family meals” through the eyes of youth as its guiding concept.
Curator Giang Kawako said: “Ve Nha An Com is a common Vietnamese phrase to remind people to come back home and share a meal with their family.
"It means a reason to decline an unwanted invitation; an invitation for someone that you would like to cook for them; and an endearing way for your family members/loved ones to show that they care about you (and your well-being).”
The artworks, created from various materials, not only showcase the food shared on the dining table but also about the stories behind these dishes from the perspectives of young artists.
Giang added: “We kindly invite you to immerse in the stories of Ve Nha An Com – as a gentle reminder and endearing common phrase in Vietnam – and engage in emerging conversations from these stories. We also hope you will share the stories between different generations in your own family, and more importantly, appreciate your moment(s) of Ve Nha An Com.”
The exhibition is divided into two sections including dishes and food trays. In the first section, visitors can see simple and familiar dishes but that contain emotional stories. Each of them manifests the love of parents for their children, for example, it could be porridge cooked by dad when his child gets sick or braised fish made by mother sent to children studying far from home.
The second section features paintings of the food trays, which express the emotions, warmth and natural bonds among family members. For example, Tet Cua Nguoi Ha Noi (Hanoians’ Lunar New Year Festivals) by painter Le Phuong Thao aims to remind viewers, especially those who are living far away from home, of the cosy moments of gathering around the food tray with other family members during Tet.
Ve Nha An Com exhibition will conclude on August 18. Entrance is free.
Vietnamese handicrafts introduced in New York
Eight Vietnamese handicraft exporters are introducing their products at the NY Now exhibition that is underway in New York, the US with the participation of about 950 businesses from 35 countries.
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| The Vietnamese national booth at the exhibition (Photo: baoquocte.vn) |
The products included toys, gifts, and household items that are handcrafted from natural materials such as sedge, rattan, bamboo, wool, and ceramic.
Le Ba Ngoc, General Secretary of the Vietnam Handicraft Exporter Association (Vietcraft) said that Vietnamese handicraft products have been available in 163 countries and territories.
Export revenue from the products grew about 9.5% per year to about 2.2 billion USD recently, making the products one of the 10 product groups with highest export revenue of Vietnam.
The US is the largest market of Vietnamese handicraft products, accounting for 35% of total export revenue.
Visiting the national booth of Vietnam at the exhibition, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) in New York said that he hopes the Vietcraft will continue to work closely with Vietnamese representative agencies in the US to expand Vietnamese handicrafts' market share in the US, contributing to creating jobs and promoting sustainable rural development of Vietnam.
Vietnam first joined the biannual NY Now exhibition in 2004 as part of a national trade promotion programme held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Foreign traveler suggests 10 most unique Vietnamese cities
Canadian freelance writer Matthew Pike, who departed his homeland to settle in Vietnam, has listed the 10 most unique Vietnamese cities for travelers to visit.
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| At the Temple of Literature in Hanoi |
“On the map Vietnam looks small, but it turns out there are many beautiful places enough to fill a continent. From the majestic, pristine mountain ranges in the North to the charming tropical beaches in the South or the rich history and culture in the Central,” the writer said.
The capital of Hanoi boasts a rich culture and history, making it the first name to appear on the list. This is the centre of tourism for the country, and is home to busy streets, bustling nightlife, and the planet’s best dishes of Vietnamese cuisine, he mentioned.
World Cultural Heritage Site Ha Long Bay ranks in second. The Canadian writer said, “If talking about Vietnam tourism but forgetting to mention Ha Long Bay in Ha Long city, it is a big omission... If you have not yet gone to Ha Long, quickly plan to see with your own eyes the precious gem that nature has bestowed on Vietnam.”
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| World Cultural Heritage Site Ha Long Bay ranks in second. |
The third-place position goes to Hue City, the former imperial capital under the Nguyen dynasties. Currently, the central city is one of the important cultural, tourist, and culinary hubs of the central region and the whole country which is notable for its extremely beautiful destinations.
As Matthew wrote on the travel site the Culture Trip, the old town in Hoi An is really much more charming than it appears in the photos. The UNESCO recognized World Heritage Site is especially beautiful at night, particularly as it features rows of bright lanterns of various colours. In addition, the city was once a trading port on the Silk Road and was renowned for its garment industry. With Hoi An being home to hundreds of famous tailors, visitors can choose to have a few outfits made to bring back as a souvenir.
The fifth destination is Nha Trang, a beautiful coastal city which makes the list as a diverse destination. It has both beautiful natural scenery and plenty of exciting activities for those who enjoy adventure games, such as jet skiing, surfing, and even flyboarding.
In sixth place is Da Lat which is a great place to escape from the sweltering heat. Located on a plateau with an altitude of 1,500m above sea level, the Central Highlands city always has a fresh, cool, pleasant atmosphere, which is an ideal destination for couples and families.
The seventh location is Ho Chi Minh City, which Pike described as a vibrant and attractive metropolis with a multitude of impressive attractions such as museums, world-class restaurants, luxury hotels, and sidewalk eateries. Indeed, the diverse cuisine found in the southern city can satisfy the tastes of a large number of customers.
Furthermore, exploring Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho is an unmissable activity when on holiday in the country. The nation’s largest floating market has everything from clothes to fruits for guests to choose from.
Moreover, the coastal city of Da Nang boasts countless attractive destinations for guests to explore such as Golden Bridge, My Khe beach, Son Tra peninsula, Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains), and Lang Co beach.
In 10th position is the northern port city of Hai Phong, also known as the city of red phoenix flowers. This place is worth exploring as it is home to many old colonial buildings such as Hai Phong Railway Station, Central Post Office, and City Theater.
Vietnamese start-up enters top five innovators in plastic waste settlement
Plastic People is the only Vietnamese innovator in the Top 5 of the Plastic Waste to Value Southeast Asia Challenge to tackle plastic waste mismanagement in the region.
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| Plastic waste recycled (Illustrative photo) |
The challenge was jointly launched by The Incubation Network, in partnership with the Global Plastic Action Partnership, UpLink by the World Economic Forum, and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, aiming to accelerate innovative solutions that are focused on plastic recycling and upcycling in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The top five innovators will be participating in the tailored development programme over the course of five months.
The challenge received a total of 101 applications through the UpLink platform. Of the total, 48 shortlisted candidates were carefully assessed by academic researchers, corporate sustainability practitioners, innovators, and climate and circular economy specialists.
The selected innovators will receive partnership building opportunities, mentorship, increased visibility, access to networks, and grants to scale their solutions./.