Splendid homes

Young man and his splendid home-based antique exhibition

December 2, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

Mr. Nguyen Tan Hieu, 34, in Binh Thuy district, Can Tho city has acquired a collection of around 200 valuable vintage cassettes, radios, and over 100 old kerosene lamps.

8X sở hữu báu vật trăm chiếc cassette cổ, độc nhất Cần Thơ

The much-admired collection on display in every nook of Hieu’s house.

The vast array of antiques captures the attention of passersby despite the house being located in a little alley on Bui Huu Nghia street (Binh Thuy district).

The majority of cassette players and radios here date back to a few decades ago, even more than half a century, but are still surprisingly new-looking and functional.

To demonstrate, Hieu even switched on VOV1 (Voice of Vietnam) channel from a radio produced in the 1950-1960s, and the sound was strikingly smooth and clear.

The quirky perennial machines originating in Japan, the US … from big brands like National, Panasonic, and Sony were all manufactured between 1955 and 1975.

Many phonographs, vinyl records and other items. From all over the country also massively contribute to Hieu’s captivating collection which he has sweated blood for.

Mr. Hieu remarked that though modern electronic audio equipment is of very high quality, the retro style machines, particularly the signature sound produced from vintage cassette players, for ever has his heart.

Radio and cassette players obtained by the sweat of Hieu’s brow.

“I have been passionate about collecting cassettes since I was a school boy. Back then before the digital age took over, people listened to music via cassettes or radio stations, which I feel immensely nostalgic for. Even a simple dysfunction calling a halt to my contemplation could completely cast a shadow over my day,” Hieu recalled.

The devotion he has to classical cassette players burgeons every passing day, so handsomely that it became a part of him, making him expend his energy and effort into seeking further and further.

“I was initially only choosing ones with clear sound and durability, but later on set the bar higher to items of rarity and colour/model variations, ” he added.

Hieu prioritizes rare and even unused items.

Many machines in his home-based exhibition are original and neatly boxed. Some of them can be badly damaged, which may sometimes cost him the earth to get them overhauled.

Circuit error is the most common problem among the cassette players and radios when found.

Even when functional, maintenance, frequent cleaning, board waterproofing, and non exposure to direct sunlight are all indispensable for these items.

Inco Mica cassette radio manufactured between 1955 and 1963 is considered a one-off in Hieu’s collection.

“This is the most special cassette player that I could find across the whole nation. It cost up to VND25 million and is fully intact and operational. Its model is among the most exclusive and elite up to this point in the world of vintage cassettes,” Mr. Hieu said.

Hieu also owns more than 100 Kim Loi Hoa kerosene lamps. The lilac one is regarded as the rarest in the collection. Akai vinyl record players, old televisions, southern pottery …are all intriguing.

Hieu’s Kim Loi Hoa oil lamps.

Mr. Huynh Dang (35 years old, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city): “I am also a cassette player and radio maniac. It’s undeniable how profoundly the collection left me bedazzled upon my first visit. It definitely is the finest in Can Tho.”

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Lunar New Year southbound travels of ancient peach trees

August 2, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

Over the past 20 years, Mr. Son has selected old peach trees of fancifully defined shapes with the nicest blossoms for his southward-bound journey to serve customers in HCM City.

Two decades of great love and care

Born into a family with a tradition of planting and selling peach trees every Lunar New Year (Tet), Pham Hong Son (50, Hanoi) has carried the love for them since a very young age.

Although transportation businesses say that the trees will be under utmost protection, this barely succeeds in supplying Mr. Son with peace of mind.

“It’s been 20 years since I started this career of selling peach blossoms in the South. Annually, I only pick the ones of the finest quality for sale in Saigon,” Mr. Son said.

The climate this year has been so supportive of peach trees that they are producing splendid branches and flowers, which has encouraged Mr. Son to start his southerly travel even earlier than usual. A corner of 23/9 Park (District 1, Ho Chi Minh city) is the location he selected for the trees to be on display.

Mr. Son shared that most of the trees on sale are over ten years old, which means stumps might have grown mossy, covered with fungus or turned rough. All that, however, only contributes to their appeal, alongside the wondrous tree-shaping work that the qualified artisans have done on them.

This tree breed grows best in cool climate of the North. Hence, for thriving to be maintained and to cope with the constant harsh sunlight in Saigon, the peach trees are put under special care in pots starting from September lunar month.

“These trees prior to Tet are planted in the ground, then around the 9th lunar month will be potted up to grow accustomed to that. This explains how they stay fresh and do not wilt in such warm climate of HCMC, without any need to be wrapped in plastic,” Mr. Son said.

The trees here are quite dear. They usually range from VND40 to 50 million, depending on their age, shape and flower density. Mr Son added the sales this year has to some extent been constrained by the impact of the epidemic. He therefore has had to lower the prices, the resplendent the trees look notwithstanding.

“I by choice do cut-rate offers. If a few ten-year-old peach trees with nice looks last year costs 80-100 million, I would only sell the two for about VND60-80 million this year.”

Homeland nostalgia

As yellow apricot blossoms are preferred by Southerners during Tet holiday, Mr. Son has his own patrons over the past 20 years. They are individuals and collectives who headed here from the North and along with them there’s still the joy, the affection for peach blossoms like the tradition back home.

“Most of my clients are people who were born and raised in the North. They therefore have fond memories of peach trees throughout Tet days. Every year, I transfer peach blossoms to Saigon so they will have a chance to bring home the festive air,” Mr. Son shared.

Also, after many years of southbound journeys, peach blossoms gradually became special in the hearts of people living in the most dynamic city in the country. Currently, many gardeners have shared the same idea, to bring peach trees from northern provinces to Ho Chi Minh City for sale.

“Both my parents are Hanoians, so having a peach tree at home for Tet is forever a must. My mother especially loves Nhat Tan peach blossoms, she frequents here to pick one every Lunar New Year,” shared a peach buyer at Mr. Son’s garden house.

Alongside Mr. Son’s ancient Tet peach tree booth at 23/9 Park, there are also many other garden owners displaying their own gorgeous ones. Customers can also be economical by purchasing tiny Nhat Tan peach blossoms for only VND2-10 million.

The well-timed full bloom of the peach blossoms with long-lasting and glowing effect is assured by the gardeners. Care instructions will also be included upon each purchase if required.

Mr. Son said: “The peach trees do not need too much care but if not done properly, they might not grow well or even give out flowers at undesired time. Therefore, we always give shopping advice to clients on how to spot healthy and weak peach trees…”

Mr. Pham Hong Son

Perennial peach trees from Hanoi are available in HCM City.

Peach trees of around ten years old are always on the hunt and at high prices

This old one tree attracts many visitors.

Gorgeous blossoms in this year’s favorable weather

Coming with age is the rough mossy stumps…

…It’s irrelevant to how brilliantly the buds sprout, these trees will experience on time full bloom this Tet.

Tet is around the corner and loads of pre-orders have been placed

The poetic beauty of these lovely pinky peach blossoms in the eyes and in the hearts is absolutely manifest for a Tet season in the offing.

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Chi Linh city after 10 days under lockdown

August 2, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

On February 6, after 10 days under lockdown, Vietnam’s largest Covid-19 hotspot – Chi Linh City in the northern province of Hai Duong – moved to a different state.

The streets were deserted, shops were closed, flower markets were very quiet. Local people will welcome a special Lunar New Year (Tet) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

There were a few people on Nguyen Trai, the city’s major street, on February 6, five days before the Lunar New Year. Almost all shops along the road were closed.

However, the flower garden in the city center is still decorated splendidly.

In previous years, Sao Do Square used to be home to hundreds of kiosks selling flowers, peaches and products for Tet. This year, there are only about 10 stalls.

Sitting in a stall selling orchids, Truong Van Linh, 30, said, he had been here for 3 days but had not yet sold any pots of flowers.

The usually busy Nguyen Trai Street was deserted

Sao Do – the largest market in the city – was in a blockade.

In the blockade area, the people of Chi Linh still prepare a full Tet, according to traditional customs.

The family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Chi, 73, a resident of Huu Nghi Street, started making banh chung on February 6. This Tet is more special for her family because her children who work in Hanoi cannot return home to celebrate Tet.

Chi said her family used to make nearly 30 banh chung but this year, the family only made 8 cakes.

“Usually, Tet is the time of family reunion but this year it will be the Tet of safety. The whole country is striving for the fight against the epidemic, why am I sad? I told my children to not return home nor travel, and only visit us when lockdown is removed,” said Mrs. Chi.

At the central flower garden of Chi Linh city, a group of workers were working on the last item to serve people this Tet.

The flower garden in the city center is still decorated splendidly this year.

Nguyen Trai - Chi Linh’s major street – is nearly empty.

Linh has not sold any pots of orchids for several days

A kiosk selling kumquat at Sao Do Square

Porters are unemployed

The quiet Tet flower market

Mrs. Chi still makes banh chung this Tet, although her children could not return home for Tet union.

A deserted street

Sao Do – the largest market in Chi Linh City – is closed

Most shops in Chi Linh City are closed.

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Hanoi streets sparkle ahead of Christmas

December 20, 2020 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – Stores on Hanoi’s Old Quarter street at nights are glowing with lights and decorations during the Christmas season.

Chiristmas is in the air, Hang Ma street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter has been sparkling and crowded with visitors in the days ahead of Christmas.

The whole street has been filled with colorful decorations. A large number of decorative items to celebrate Christmas is on sale for Hanoians, whether Christian or non-Christian to prepare for their seasonal occasion.

As Christmas nears, colorful decorations have already been sold at various shops and stores along Hang Ma street.

Especially, at nights, stores on the street are glowing with lights and decorations during the Christmas season.

Items sold in Hang Ma street changed according to festive season. The hottest sales for the moment are Santa Claus figurines, bells, reindeer, among others.

Large and small Christmas trees are available. The decorative color of Christmas trees this year includes white, pink and platinum.

Snowmen are also displayed on the booths, incredibly suitable to this freezing cold.

Reindeer pictures are hang with splendid electric lights at the booths.

Decorations with different categories, sizes and prices which suit all needs and wallets. Many people buy lanterns for home decorations during Christmas.

Some shoppers said that this year people go shopping earlier than previous years, joking that possibly want this to-be-forgotten year 2020 to end soon.

Vendors on Hang Ma street have also prepared merchandise earlier this year in the hope that a good Christmas sale would make up for a difficult year.

Owner of a stall on Hang Ma street said that every seasonal greeting, the whole street is brightly decorated my traders to enhance sale as this has been traditional job of many families here for decades.

Full range of items are available for people to visit as well as to shop for Christmas decorations, different designs and reasonable prices for all people, a shop owner has said.

Hang Ma street is colorful when Christmas approaching and has become a snapshot venue for Hanoi’s youngsters.

Many young people are happy and excited to take beautiful photos at the street.

Hang Ma street shimmers at night.

The street is always crowded at night this time of the year.

A touch of Hue’s charm

February 23, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – The An Hien Garden House is a not-be-missed tourism destination in the emperor capital of Hue city.

Peacefully located at the No 58 Phuc Nguyen Street, the An Hien Garden House is one among over 85 palaces of royal family members still in existence in the former capital, showcasing how royal Vietnamese people lived in harmony with nature.

An Hien Garden house is house is used to be the residence of a Nguyen Dynasty princess. Photo courtesy by An Hien Garden House.

The green living

The solid wooden houses hidden away in splendid gardens can be found in many places around Vietnam, but those in the north feature large red-brick yards for sun-drying rice and other agricultural products, surrounded by low trees and bushes. In Hue, however, a more harmonious combination is achieved with the house set in the middle of a garden fringed by tall trees.

The An Hien garden House is said to “offer a journey into Hue’s authentic mandarin residential area and lifestyle where tradition, poetry and spirit have been preserved over time.”

Built 136 years ago, the house is used to be the residence of a Nguyen Dynasty princess. Set in a spacious 6,500 square meter area with architecture of an ancient house, a lush green garden and a pond, An Hien Garden House is designed in accordance with ancient Hue garden architecture, which is influenced strongly by “feng shui”, where architecture, nature, and humans intertwined in harmony.

The screen is craved with Chinese letter meaning “Longevity” in the middle and two other meaning “Happiness” on both sides. Photo: An Hien Garden House.

Not only a special home of many generations of the royal family, An Hien is also an ecological space that is lush green all year round.

Plants and trees in An Hien’s garden are arranged in three tiers: tall, old trees that provide precious wood, like jackfruit and enrythrina indica; fruit trees like mangosteen, durian and dragonfruit from the south, apricot, persimmon and litchi from the north, and Thanh tra , or Bouea Macrophylla, and figs from the central region; and ornamental and flowering plants, including jasmine, Aglaia and Chloranthus.

Exceptional architecture

Besides the beauty of the lush green garden in harmony with nature, An Hien Garden House is also famous for its “wooden house” architecture in the Hue royal style.

According to the ancient rule of “feng shui”, “the back of the house must be leaning against a mountain, the door must face a river”, An Hien Ancient House was built facing the romantic Huong or so called Perfume River. Its gate is an arch shape, underneath the middle of which is a panel with two Chinese characters for “An Hien”, inlaid with white and white-blue clay on a black background.

The flower in the house’s pond is blooming all year round. Photo: An Hien Garden House.

From the main gate, strolling down the long road, visitors will see a brick wall symbolizing a mountain, bending slightly to the west to shield the main worshiping house.

The shield carries its unique architecture that is rarely seen at other ancient architectures in Hue. It’s craved with Chinese letter meaning “Longevity” in the middle and two others meaning “Happiness” on both sides. Behind this is a small pond with water lilies, in front of the main house’s yard.

Despite turning on the right or the left, visitors would be able to reach the wooden ancient house, but prior to that, visitors will need to go through a large yard under the old trees’ shades and passing by ancient bonsai pots placing in the front of the house.

The old style doors of Vietnamese house architecture. Photo: An Hien Garden House.

The 135-square-meter wooden house features three spaces with two separate wings on either side and is a great example of traditional Hue architecture under the Nguyen Dynasty. The house is built from jackfruit wood to ward off termites.

Connecting beams link the two main pillars of the house at the ceiling, giving stability to the entire frame. The beams also create a platform for a small attic for storing the family’s precious possessions. The roof is covered with different layers of roof tiles in the Chinese ying-yang style.

The middle space is the “worshiping area”, containing altars positioned on the principle of “the Buddha altar is at the front, the Ancestor altar behind”. As per the rules in feudal times, the spaces to the sides are for receiving guests, under the principle of “men to the left, women to the right”, while the two wings obey a similar rule: the living space for men is on the left and the space for women is on the right.

An Hien Garden house is a great example of traditional Hue architecture under the Nguyen Dynasty

Many precious treasures from the Nguyen Dynasty court are on display in the house. In the middle space are two horizontal boards hung on two wooden pillars.

While the front board reads “ Tai quan quan trong ” (“An important person to the royal court”), the board behind has the phrase “ Van vo trung hieu ” (“A loyal mandarin”), both of which were written at the order of Emperor Bao Dai (1913-1997) and bestowed to the owner of the house in 1937. Many poems written by Emperor Thanh Thai (1889-1907) are also displayed.

A hundred years on, having passed through the ups and downs of history and the harshness of time, An Hien is now a peaceful place, a cultural venue and a familiar stop for tourists to the imperial capital.