Life

Black History Month Exhibit in Vietnam: Dialogue for racial reconciliation

Published

2 years ago

January 31, 2022

The Charles A. Ray Black History Month exhibit is organized in Vietnam to spread the message about the importance of uplifting diversity in the community for national and worldwide benefits.

The exhibition, which will be open in Ho Chi Minh City until the end of February, is to honor trailblazing Black diplomats who have served in Vietnam and in the region.

The display is named for Charles A. Ray, a Black person and the first U.S. consul general in Ho Chi Minh City.

This month’s Black History Month events will include a diversity dialogue on fighting unconscious bias on February 16 and a closing happy hour celebration on February 28.

The message of diversity is important not only to the Black community but also to other communities such as Asians in the U.S..

“This is the first exhibit of its kind at the U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City and we hope that this is just the beginning of a wonderful and meaningful tradition,” Acting Consul General Doron Bard said at the opening ceremony on January 26.

The exhibition is a compilation of knowledge about Ray and other diplomats, namely former Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Visitors are to be provided with information about inequality and challenges in Black health and wellness.

The Charles A. Ray Black History Month also recognizes the achievements of Kizzmekia Corbett and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, two African-American women leading the way in the fight against COVID-19.

Acting Consul General Doron Bard looks at information about the Black community in the United States at the Charles A. Ray Black History Month exhibition at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, January 26, 2022. Tran Phuong / Tuoi Tre News

“As we celebrate the achievements and contributions by the Black community that make the United States the nation that it is today, we also think about how far we have to go when it comes to addressing inequality and disparities within our own system,” Bard said.

“We are not afraid to say that we still have this path to walk because we know the distance that we have traveled.

“And as a nation, we are always ready to keep working to make ourselves better.”

Bintu Musa-Harry, information officer at the U.S. Consulate General, thinks it is important to initiate conversation, encourage dialogue, and work together to overcome challenges.

“It is a part of the solution we want to attend by the entire community,” Musa-Harry said.

“It is dialogue that we want to start and continue to have and always have together.”

On the issue of discrimination against people of Asian and other communities, Musa-Harry said that dialogue about racism is not just for one community, but for everyone.

“This is not an American thing or Vietnamese thing, it’s everybody’s thing,” she stressed.

Perhaps that is the reason why visitors were treated on January 26 to Gumbo, the famous dish first prepared by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Gumbo now becomes a feature of the diplomatic culture of America.

With no specific recipe to cook, it has a taste of familiarity with easy-to-find ingredients such as beans, vegetables, and the signature brown sauce, which is served with rice.

“It is comfort food for so many people,” Musa-Harry remarked.

“It reminds people of their background, their history, and their family.”

Gumbo is thus considered a message of sharing and connecting people to start a dialogue.

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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20220131/black-history-month-exhibit-in-vietnam-dialogue-for-racial-reconciliation/65514.html

Life

In Vietnam, woman helps disabled husband fulfill wish of organ donation

Published

5 hours ago

September 29, 2023

TienphongNews

The wife of a disabled man in Hanoi who was declared dead from a brain hemorrhage donated his organs to save the lives of others, according to his wishes.

D.T.B., 43, passed away but his heart, liver, and two kidneys still survive in the bodies of others, Hanoi-based Viet Duc University Hospital said on Wednesday.

N.T.H., B.’s wife, said she and B. got married in 2008 and have raised their son and daughter together despite obstacles and difficulties.

B. worked as a cargo transporter and H. as a rice farmer, scrap trader, and domestic helper to make ends meet.

Her family lived in a nine-square-meter house before recently moving to a larger home.

H. has been undergoing thyroid disease treatment at an oncology hospital over the past eight years. However, the disease developed into thyroid cancer last year.

While receiving treatment at the hospital, she was informed that her husband had collapsed while resting after work.

B. was rushed to the General Hospital of Agriculture where doctors found that he had suffered brain hemorrhage and his heart had stopped beating.

H. hurriedly returned home to see her husband for the last time.

Suppressing the pain of losing her husband, H. requested that his organs be donated, according to her deceased husband’s wishes.

According to H., B.’s dream of donating his organs was ignited after watching a report on organ donation in 2009 and deciding he wanted his organs to be used to help other continue their lives.

Despite her family’s protest, H. had B.’s body transported to Viet Duc University Hospital where his organs were donated.

“Whenever someone told me that he would hurt, I smiled and replied that was his wish. He left but still did good things for life,” H. shared.

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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20230916/in-vietnam-woman-helps-disabled-husband-fulfill-wish-of-organ-donation/75566.html

Life

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta to host first trail race in November

Published

12 hours ago

September 28, 2023

TienphongNews

An Giang Province in southern Vietnam is set to host a trail running competition on November 22 this year at the Cam Mountain tourist area, located in the province’s Tinh Bien Town.

The provincial Center for Investment and Trade Promotion and the administration of Tinh Bien jointly held a press conference on Thursday to announce the Cam Mountain Trail 2023, the first trail race in the Mekong Delta region.

The tournament is co-organized by the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel, the Victoria Nui Sam Hotel, Vietrace365 JSC, and the management board of the Cam Mountain tourist area.

The Cam Mountain Trail is expected to promote physical activity habits and the trailing running trend in the area as well as across the country.

Le Trung Hieu, director of the provincial Center for Investment and Trade Promotion, said the event will enable An Giang to promote its tourism, cultural customs, and local specialties, aside from spreading a positive message to keep a healthy lifestyle.

Running enthusiasts from beginners to athletes are welcomed to take part in the sports event, which offers runners 5km, 10km, 21km và 42km races through stunning landscapes including lush forests, mountain passes, and tourist attractions.

Some trails of the upcoming Cam Mountain Trail 2023. Photo: Courtesy of organizer

The participants are required to finish their races starting from delta areas to the top of Cam Mountain within 7-8 hours.

The first finishers of the mentioned-above distances will be awarded medals and the respective sums of VND3 million (US$124), VND4 million ($165), VND5 million ($206), and VND7 million ($290).

Up to now, around 1,000 runners have registered to join the trail race, according to the organizer.

Since the Cam Mountain Trail 2023 is the first of its kind in the delta, the organizer limits the number of runners in the competition at some 1,300 only.

The figure will be revised up in the next few years if local lodging facilities are able to offer their services to more runners.

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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20230916/vietnams-mekong-delta-to-host-first-trail-race-in-november/75606.html

Life

40 cruise ships, yachts join parade at Ho Chi Minh City River Fest

Published

2 months ago

August 6, 2023

TienphongNews

The ongoing Ho Chi Minh City River Festival, taking place from Friday to Sunday this week, features a boat parade every night with the participation of some 40 cruise ships, yachts, floating restaurants, canoes operated by tourism businesses on the Saigon River.

This waterway parade is expected to be one of the highlights of the three-day festival, hosted by the municipal Department of Tourism, in coordination with the municipal Department of Culture and Sports as well as relevant agencies.

The boat parade starts from the Saigon Cruise Port in District 4 to the waters near the Landmark 81 building, the highest skyscraper in the country, with the participating ships decorated with colorful lights to attract festival-goers.

The boat parade will take place between 7:30 pm and 9:00 pm on Saturday and from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Sunday this week.

Illuminated boats stage a parade on the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City, August 4, 2023. Photo: T.T.D / Tuoi Tre

Aside from watching the boat parade, festival-goers can access some 150 special deals offered by over 100 travel firms at the event.

They can also explore riverside cultural space, take part in a wide range of traditional folk games, and enjoy various traditional music and dance shows.

These activities are scheduled to take place at the Saigon Cruise Port, the Bach Dang Wharf Park, the Binh Dong Wharf, along the banks of Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Canal, and in various tourist sites.

Below are some photos of a boat parade held on Friday night:

Illuminated boats are on parade near the Ba Son Bridge, which spans over the Saigon River and links District 1 with Thu Duc City in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre