BERLIN — An exhibition displaying 150 photos of peaceful daily life of Vietnamese people has opened in the Adlershof Cultural Centre in Berlin. The photo exhibition entitled Flow – Viet Nam in Peace is part of activities celebrating the 35th anniversary of Germany-Viet Nam diplomatic ties.
Attending the event included the Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany, Do Hoa Binh, and a large number of German visitors and Vietnamese expatriates in Germany.
Ambassador Binh praised the traditional friendship between the two countries and expressed his gratitude to local authorities and artists that organised the event.
He also introduced important events in Viet Nam Year in Germany, and invited those who are attending the photo exhibition to participate in the Viet Nam Festival, scheduled to take place in Alexander Platz on August 28-29 with interesting performances by famous Vietnamese artists.
The photo exhibition which lasts until August 6, is a project conducted by the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle.
Capital plans to fire cannon on celebrations to mark millennium
HA NOI — Ha Noi authorities have asked the Government for permission to make a cannon and cannon balls for use in the city's 1,000th birth anniversary.
Ha Noi will team up with the Ministry of Defence to produce and fire the cannon on October 1 to herald the city's millennial birthday.
So far, more than 30 embassies and international organisations in Viet Nam have registered to take part in the anniversary.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has worked out the October 10 programme, which will include a grand meeting and parade at Ba Dinh Square to be attended by more than 18,000 people on the morning of October 10.
That night a gala will be held at My Dinh Stadium with the theme "Thang Long-Ha Noi – the city of the ascending dragon".
Sapphire turtle to be presented to Ha Noi to mark anniversary
HA NOI — A sapphire turtle made by the DOJI Gold and Gems Group will be presented to the Ha Noi People's Committee as a gift for the city's 1,000th anniversary.
The turtle, made from a monolithic sapphire, will weigh two tonnes upon completion and will be displayed at the Ruby Plaza shopping mall on Le Ngoc Han Street in Ha Noi through July.
Entitled the Giant Precious Sapphire Turtle, the statue will have spiritual meaning as a symbol of longevity and peace.
The natural blue and reddish brown colours of the sapphire would give it a unique beauty, said a DOJI representative, noting that artisans have spent over 200 days working to finish the piece.
The turtle has a symbolic association with Ha Noi, said DOJI general director Do Minh Phu. In legend, a turtle helped King An Duong Vuong (3rd century BC) build Co Loa Citadel, while King Le Thai To (1385-1433) returned a precious sword to a tortoise in Ha Noi's Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake after using it to defeat invaders.— VNS