TRAVEL IN BRIEF 25/9

HCM City holds seminar on Ha Noi
More than 100 cultural researchers, historians and writers are taking part in a seminar on Ha Noi’s history and culture in HCM City this week in honour of the capital’s upcoming 1,000th anniversary celebration.
Seminar organisers said they hoped that participants, especially youth, would learn more about the old and new Ha Noi.
About 125 research works on culture, language and philosophy have been presented.
Hanoians and their lifestyles were also discussed.
Dr Phan Xuan Bien, of the HCM City Research and Development Institute, spoke about the role of Thang Long-Ha Noi in the country’s development.
Young audiences enjoyed the speech given by lecturer Nguyen Thanh Loi of the Central Teachers’ College, titled From old streets in Ha Noi to business streets in HCM City.
Dr Phan Thi Thu Hien of the city’s Social Science&Humanities University eulogised the capital’s ancient literature, showing the difference in the inner life of Ha Noi and HCM City authors.
Exemplary speeches and research works will be edited and published in a book, as part of the city’s cultural and social activities to celebrate the 1,000th birthday of Ha Noi-Thang Long early next month.
The seminar was organised by the HCM City’s People’s Committee, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and National University of HCM City.
Tourists flock to whale festival
More than 50,000 visitors flocked to HCM City’s coastal Can Gio District this week for the annual Nghinh Ong Festival in honour of the whale.
Besides traditional rituals, there were cultural events, music shows, folk games, and sports at the festival which, though officially celebrated for two days ending on Thursday, continued into Friday.
Fishermen believe that the whale saves them from storms at sea and helps them safely reach shelter and enables them to get bumper catches. As a result the Nghinh Ong Festival is celebrated all along the coast from central Quang Binh Province to the south.
A ritual was performed by elders at sea the next day to express their gratitude to the whale, commemorate fishermen who died at sea, and pray for good luck and bumper catches.
More than 100 fishing boats decorated with colourful flags and carrying locals and visitors followed out to sea.
HCM City is planning to develop next year’s festival into a city-level cultural and tourism event.
VN-born violinist wins int’l prize
Viet Nam-born violinist Ailen Pritchin won the third prize in the 7th Frits Kraiser International Violin Competition on Thursday in Vienna. The first and second second prizes in the competition were won by Russian violinists Nikita Borisoglebsky and Ekaterina Frolova, respectively.
Pagoda unveils giant buddha statue
A giant Buddha will be dedicated at Phat Tich Pagoda in the northern province of Bac Ninh today, Sept 25. The stone statue, 27m high and weighing 3,000 tonnes, has been placed atop Phat Tich Mountain.
According to monk Thich Duc Thien, the total cost of the statue was VND180 billion (US$ 9.2 million).