HA NOI — The best photos from the 5th tourism photo contest entitled Viet Nam – My Homeland are on display at the Exhibition House in Ha Noi.
The contest was jointly organised by the Viet Nam Tourism Review and the Viet Nam Artistic Photographers Association to promote tourism during Ha Noi's 1,000th anniversary and National Tourism Year 2010.
Entries including 4,426 colour and black-and-white photographs from 456 Vietnamese and foreign photographers.
The organising board selected the 138 best photos and presented awards to the top 17. A special prize went to a series of photographs entitled Cong Chieng Tay Nguyen (Gongs of the Central Highlands) by Ta Quang Bao from Ha Noi.
The contest entries were asked to reflect the uniqueness, beauty and variety in the life and culture of the Vietnamese people, as well as tourist areas, traditional festivals, and heritage, cultural preservation, and historic sites throughout the country.
The exhibition runs through Monday at the Exhibition House, 29 Hang Bai Street, Ha Noi.
Teens join military training course
VINH PHUC — More than 200 secondary school students joined a military training course which opened in the midland province of Vinh Phuc yesterday.
The 10-day course aimed to help the students train to learn defence tactics. They will also be taught national traditions and history, physical training, self discipline and skills of living.
Other activities include first aid, volunteer work, environment protection and community activities.
Last year's first military course was appreciated by parents and relevant agencies, said organisers.
The course is the second of its kind to be held in the northern region for students from 13 cities and provinces including Ha Noi and Hai Phong.
17th century headstone unearthed
DA NANG — A headstone possibly dating back to the 17th century has been unearthed in the central city of Da Nang.
The sandstone artefact was excavated in a residential area in Hai Chau District's Nam Duong Commune by a group of scientists from the Hue city-based Viet Nam Cultural Art Institute.
It is 65cm high and 40cm wide and, according to researcher Nguyen Phuoc Bao Dan, may date back to 1626 when Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen ruled southern Viet Nam from Phu Xuan (modern-day Hue).
The archaeologists are continuing their excavation and hope to find more items that could shed light on the Nguyen Lords' era.
The cultural art institute is working with local authorities for not only the excavation but also for research into and preservation of artefacts.
Beauty queens hammer out aid
HCM CITY — Nguyen Anh Nghia of Thanh Binh Company paid VND75 million (US$4,000) for a picture of Van Mieu Quoc tu Giam, Viet Nam's first university, at a charity auction at the Rex Hotel in HCM City on Thursday.
The 2009 Miss Global Viet Nam Huong Giang and 2008 Miss World Viet Nam Mai Phuong Thuy acted as auctioneers to raise money to build a children's playground at the HCM City Tumor Hospital and care for poor child patients.
The picture (2.10m by 1.95m) was put together using thousands of plastic grains in 20 colours and is the biggest made in Viet Nam, Giang said.
Van Mieu – Quoc tu Giam, or the Temple of Literature, was built by the Ly Dynasty in 1070.
The auction was held at the opening of the three-day Wedding Fashion Week 2010 held by PL Group and Rex Hotel. — VNS