Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội’s Old Quarter will host the opening of the traditional Mid-Autumn festival on Friday. Nguyễn Thị Thu Trang, a member of the old quarter’s management board, said the board will co-ordinate with local artisans to organise a wide range of cultural activities. There will be an exhibition on the festival held at Heritage House, 87 Mã Mây Street. Meanwhile, there will be an exhibition of folk paintings at the Hà Nội Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre, 50 Đào Duy Từ Street. It will feature three famous genres of painting – Đông Hồ, Kim Hoàng and Hàng Trống. From September 14-23, Kim Ngân Communal House at 42-44 Hàng Bạc Street will host artisan-led workshops on how to make traditional toys such as star-shaped lanterns, paper effigies, paper kites and tò he (figurines made from glutinous rice powder). The … [Read more...] about Mid-Autumn festival to begin in Hà Nội’s Old Quarter
Ha noi old quarter
Artefacts donated to museum depict old Hà Nội
Passed down: A set of silver carving tools donated by artisan Quách Phan Tuấn Anh. — VNS Photo Minh Thu Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Silversmith Quách Phan Tuấn Anh from Định Công Ward donated a set of silver carving tools to the Hà Nội Museum with aim of promoting the traditional handicraft which was passed down from his grandfather to his father. These devices have been used in silver carving in his family for a century. His father Quách Văn Trường, 86, told him many times to promote and preserve the traditional handicraft. “Donating these objects to the museum, I expect that many people will understand more about silver carving and the history of the trade in Định Công Village (now Định Công Ward),” said Anh. The set of silver carving utensils is one of more than 1,000 artefacts and documents which individuals and organisations have recently … [Read more...] about Artefacts donated to museum depict old Hà Nội
Documents revive old days of Hà Nội
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The announcement of a referendum on widening Hàng Đậu Street issued in 1925 is on display at an exhibition in Hà Nội. The document is one among 130 important texts and pictures stored by National Archives Centre No 1 which are on show at an exhibition entitled ‘Nostalgic Walk in the Heart of Hà Nội’. The notice explained that Hàng Đậu Street would be expanded to 20m in width. Maps and information on the road were available for public viewing at the City Mayor’s Building, where residents were able to express their opinions between May 2-22, 1925. Historian Dương Trung Quốc, vice chairman of the Việt Nam Association of Historical Sciences, said this announcement showcased the process of French people building up the urban area in Hà Nội. It also proved the democracy and Western-style urban management applied in Hà Nội at that … [Read more...] about Documents revive old days of Hà Nội
Underground anti-flood pool proposed in Hà Nội
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI - Summer has come along with heavy downpour, and with each bout of torrential rain parts of the city remain flooded for hours. This has been a problem that Hà Nội’s leading officials have been working to solve for years, and as yet have failed to find a successful solution for. A downpour which brings around 50 to 100mm of water during a two hour period will likely cause flooding in 15 areas, according to the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Hà Nội Sewage and Drainage Company recently came up with the idea of building an underground pool at the crossroads of Đường Thành and Hàng Da streets, in order to prevent flooding. The proposed underground pool which has been submitted to the municipal People’s Committee for feedback would be able to store 2,000 cubic metres of water. Võ Tiến Hùng, the company director said that the pool will apply cross-wave … [Read more...] about Underground anti-flood pool proposed in Hà Nội
History through Hà Nội’s architecture
Trading hub: The architecture of Đồng Xuân market in the heart of Hà Nội is known for its tropical features, though it was designed and constructed by the French in 1889 when they embarked on exploiting Indochina colonies. VNS photo Trương Vị Viet Nam News by Lương Hương & Hồng Vân Located in the centre of Hà Nội, Đồng Xuân Market has become an iconic landmark that has witnessed many ups and downs of the 1,000-year-old capital. The architecture of the market is known for its tropical features, though it was designed and constructed by the French in 1889 when they embarked on exploiting Indochina colonies. Specifically, the two-layer corrugated iron roof of the building aims to aid ventilation and release heat. Initially, the market had a total area of about 6,500m2 including a complex of five adjacent houses. The façade of the market consists of five big … [Read more...] about History through Hà Nội’s architecture