HA NOI — Toyota Motor Viet Nam yesterday helped launch a project to plant 30ha of forest in the centre of Soc Son district to improve the landscape around Giong Temple, a World Heritage Site.
Giong Temple is 30km north of the capital and surrounded by mountains, natural lakes and forests, which have an effect on Ha Noi's climate.
Toyota VN put up VND4 billion (US$190,000) for the project, in co-ordination with the Institute of Ecological Economy and the People's Committee of Soc Son Commune.
The project also aims to regreen natural forests around Ha Noi and raise awareness among local people, particularly the youth, of the need to protect the environment and bio-diversity.
Toyota VN general director Akito Tachibana said the project would run until 2016 and contribute to the green "lung" for Ha Noi, helping it deal with climate change.
Quang Ngai to restore ancient sailboat, barge
QUANG NGAI — The central Quang Ngai Province has hired a local resident considered to be a historical scholar to restore a 3m sailboat used by royal troops in the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago during the reign of the Nguyen Lords.
Vo Hien Dat, 81, known as ong do dat dao (scholar on islands), will also help restore a wooden barge used by Ly Son Island residents in the storm season several centuries ago.
They are being restored for the National Tourism Year 2011 themed Central Sea and Island and Quang Ngai's Potential and Sustainable Development, said Nguyen Dang Vu, director of the province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Viet Nam participates in Asia-Pacific Choral Summit
HA NOI — Viet Nam participated for the first time in the Asia Pacific Choral Summit, held in Macao last week, and the nation's representative to the summit – Viet Nam Ballet Theatre Choir deputy director Pham Hong Hai – was elected to the APCS executive board.
During the conference, an Asia-Pacific Youth Choir performed for the first time with 32 singers from 14 countries and region,s and Hai urged the conference to establish a permanent Asia-Pacific Children's Choir. The summit also heard choir performances from each member and discussed plans of action for future international choral co-operation.
Doctor showcases photos of colourful life
DA LAT — Doctor Duong Dinh Hung opened a photo exhibition to celebrate Viet Nam Physicians' Day yesterday.
Entitled Colours of the Life, the exhibition displays 40 photos enlarged on canvas and paper, the result of his trips to many regions in the country. Each photo is captioned in verse to express Hung's opinions.
The exhibition will run for two weeks at Hoan My General Hospital, Mimosa Street, the Central Highlands city of Da Lat.
Hung has 20 photo exhibitions to his name, and is a writer with more than 10 books published. — VNS