Many old French villas in Hanoi have been degraded. Photo: Doan Thanh Due to the large value and profitability of these villas, many owners have renovated them for different purposes. According to Chief Inspector of the Hanoi Department of Construction Nguyen Viet Dung, since the City People's Committee delegated inspection works to districts and wards, the handling of the construction violations has improved however it still requires more strict inspection and control from the local authorities. … [Read more...] about Urgent conservation of old French villas in Hanoi
Best preserved old west towns
Meet Kyuta: the 10-year-old, 85-kilo sumo in training
Kyuta eats steak, which his father bought him as a reward after training, at 'Chime', a restaurant in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters Over a bowl of chanko nabe, a speciality sumo broth, Taisuke said Kyuta needs to put on another 20 kg by the time he enters middle school in two years. … [Read more...] about Meet Kyuta: the 10-year-old, 85-kilo sumo in training
Old French dwellings a base for Ba Vi to grow
“So, whatever we do, we must respect and protect the forest. I believe the operation of the Melia Ba Vi Mountain Retreat will be done in a proper manner. New buildings don’t harm the jungle, as they are built on the grounds of the demolished French buildings.” … [Read more...] about Old French dwellings a base for Ba Vi to grow
Muong people preserve mother tongue
Dinh Cong Tien, a Muong shaman in Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province, said “I learned to be a shaman when I was head of acooperative. I wrote down all the worship prayers I learned orally from old people. I listened to them, memorized them, and transcribed them. Worship prayers are a cultural treasure of the Muong.” … [Read more...] about Muong people preserve mother tongue
Thai Hai reserve preserves Thai minority’s typical culture
As Deputy Director of the reserve Ly Thi Chien said, all people in the village join hands in raising their children and supporting their schooling thanks to a special fund donated by locals. As a result, the village has two children studying in Australia, four others in Singapore, and many at domestic universities and colleges. … [Read more...] about Thai Hai reserve preserves Thai minority’s typical culture