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Hanoi locals and visitors alike are in for a treat as they witness the vibrant yellow cosmos flowers blooming beneath the iconic Long Bien Bridge. After Typhoon Yagi , the once-flooded wastelands of the Red River’s tidal flats have transformed into a stunning sea of golden blossoms in just over a month. This magical setting, located in Phuc Xa Ward, Hoan Kiem District, spans an impressive 10 hectares, offering a breathtaking sight to all who visit. The flower fields, a result of a nature restoration project by local associations such as the Women’s Union, Veterans’ Association, and Youth Union, in collaboration with residents, offer a beautiful contrast to the bridge’s sturdy structure. This alluvial land is susceptible to flooding when the Red River’s water levels rise. However, when the waters recede, it transforms into a stunning flower field, providing a delightful leisure spot for tourists and locals alike. The flower fields flourish due ...

Nguyen Huong Lan has dedicated her career to translating renowned literary works, including Little Nicolas , as well as books by celebrated authors Marc Levy and Guillaume Musso. Her passion project, InBook, is more than just a bookstore; it’s a labor of love aimed at fostering a reading culture within families and inspiring a love of books in children.  The visionary behind InBook: Translator Nguyen Huong Lan. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times In 2017, Lan’s dream took shape in the form of a quaint bookstore in Vietnam, born out of a desire to nurture her children’s love of reading and extend the same opportunity to other families. Esteemed cultural scholar Huu Ngoc endorsed her endeavor, recognizing the potential impact a bookstore in Hanoi could have not just on families but on society as a whole. And so, Blue Horizon, a charming bookstore in Hoan Kiem District, opened its doors. “While selling books may not bring immense wealth, it offers a sense of fulfillment,”...

The Noor brothers, Sabir and Abid, were reportedly taken into custody during a security operation earlier this month, plunging their family into a state of distress as they desperately seek information about their sons’ whereabouts. Enforced disappearances have become an all-too-familiar tragedy for families in Balochistan in recent times. “Over a 25-year period, an estimated 55,000 people are believed to have suffered a similar fate, with the region bearing the scars of a tumultuous history of human rights abuses. The ongoing protest sheds light on the escalating crisis, as communities unite to demand justice amid a climate of fear and uncertainty for those still missing,” reports indicate. The plea from the Noor family for the safe return of their sons resonates with countless other families across the region who have endured comparable ordeals. Activists and local residents have come together, staging demonstrations across Balochistan to bring attention not only to the...

The underground Opera House station is the second among 14 stations of the first metro line to reach completion. The metro station is 190 meters long, and 26 meters wide, and features four basements. Its first basement encompasses such facilities as a waiting lounge, ticket machines, a restroom, and automated fee collection gates, while the second and fourth basements function as platforms where passengers can board trains.  The third floor houses equipment for employees at the station, a safety control system, a rest area, and rooms containing electric tools and devices. The Opera House station was designed to have five exits to Lam Son Park, Union Square Tower, and Pasteur Street. The 19.7-kilometer-long metro line, which carries a price tag of VND43.7 trillion (US$1.8 billion), has 17 trains, each consisting of three cars and designed to run at up to 110 kilometers per hour above the ground and 80 kilometers per hour underground. Each Japanese-manufactured train is 61.5 me...

With only a few days left until Halloween (on October 31) season 2023, Hanoi’s downtown toy streets are filled with colorful playthings and masks, hats, mannequins, skeletons, and scythes, providing selfie photo opportunities for many young people. Hang Ma Street Hang Ma Street is a street in Hanoi that is the go-to spot during the Halloween season. A month ahead of the festival, Hang Ma Street is brightly and magically decorated with a series of mannequins, masks, clothes, colorful lanterns, and scary toys. These days, it is packed with people shopping, taking selfies, and savoring the lively environment. Hang Ma Street is an ideal backdrop for photography on this occasion. Ho Guom Pedestrian Street Every Halloween, young people often turn the wide pedestrian street into a fashion runway where they show off their bizarre costumes and unique makeup. There are also many interesting activities such as dressing up, mask painting, exciting magic shows, or street performances. Don’t w...

Accommodations that guarantee a beautiful view of the thick, white clouds floating in the sky are the perfect choice for visitors who do not want to move around too much, but still want to enjoy cloud–hunting in a more convenient and relaxed way. If you prefer to stay inside and see the clouds from your window, a hotel, resort, or homestay that is located near the cloud–hunting spot will satisfy your need. Below are the 3 best choices of accommodations to relax and have the most wonderful cloud–hunting experience. Topas Ecolodge Photo: Zing Address: Thanh Kim, Sapa, Lao Cai Price: From VND 16 million (US$670.85)/ night This eco-resort is located on a conical-shaped hilltop of Muong Hoa valley, about 18 km from Sapa. The place consists of small wooden cottages built separately with modern equipment and amenities. Even though the resort is far from the center of Sapa town, it still draws many domestic and global travelers coming here. The price is quite high because ...

The Can Tho-born beauty made the Top 22 of Miss Vietnam 2020 and finished as runner-up of Miss World Vietnam 2022. She represented Vietnam at Miss Intercontinental 2022 and become the first Vietnamese beauty named the winner of the contest in its grand finale held in Egypt on October 14. Ngoc will be accompanied by other celebrities in different fields such as the arts, journalism, television, and fashion to form the judging panel of Miss Vietnam 2022. Le Xuan Son, editor-in-chief of Tien Phong (Vanguard) Newspaper, will be head of the judging panel. The other jury members include poet Tran Huu Viet, MC & actor Xuan Bac, fashion designer Le Thanh Hoa, Miss Vietnam 2008 runner-up Nguyen Thuy Van, and Miss Vietnam 2018 Tran Tieu Vy. The preliminary rounds in the southern and northern region are scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi on October 22 and October 23, respectively. Miss Vietnam initiated and organised by Tien Phong (Vanguard) Newspaper and Sen...

According to a release published on its website, the French auction house, founded in 1928, will put up for auction 329 antiques at 11am on October 31 (Paris time). Two among them were said to be from the last Vietnamese feudal dynasty Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). They are a golden seal cast in 1823 during the reign of King Minh Mang (1820-1841) and a golden bowl dating back to the reign of King Khai Dinh (1917-1925). The ministry’s Department of Cultural Heritage said that if the seal was the ‘Hoang de chi bao (Emperor’s Treasure)’, it had been used for public and political activities of the country throughout a historical period and carried significant historical and cultural values. In its dispatch sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the MCST has urged the MoFA to direct the embassy to work with Million to quickly verify a series of information related to the items, including their owner, legality, expected selling price, and the ability to negotiate direct purcha...