Life

Hỏa Lò Prison hosts exclusive Hà Nội war exhibition

Published

2 years ago

December 2, 2021

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The image of a suicide soldier holding a lunge mine, ready to destroy enemy tanks. Photo courtesy of the organiser

HÀ NỘI — In 1946, the streets of Hà Nội were the scene of 60 days of intense fighting between revolutionaries under President Hồ Chí Minh and the French colonial forces. Now, an exhibition on the battle is being broadcast on the social media channels of the Hỏa Lò Prison.

According to the organiser, the exhibition, which is called Lời Thề Quyết Tử (The Vow of Fighting to the Death), is to celebrate Việt Nam’s Cultural Heritage Day on November 23, the 75th anniversary of the National Resistance Day on December 19, and 77 years since the establishment of the Việt Nam People’s Army on December 22.

The exhibition consists of three main themes: “Hồ Chí Minh’s appeal for national resistance”, “Hà Nội standing up” and “Forward to Hà Nội”.

Responding to President Hồ Chí Minh’s call for resistance, the people of the capital rose up to fight against the French. The army and people of Hà Nội fought bitterly to achieve the country’s independence.

The scene has been painstakingly recreated, from anti-vehicle obstacles made of tables, chairs, doors and sandbags, to the chiselled walls creating secret paths, house-to-house, through the heart of the city.

These walls are imprinted with slogans written by soldiers and people: “Live and die with the capital”, “It is better to die with honour than to live with shame”, “Forever Thăng Long – Hà Nội”.

Placed in the most solemn position is the image of a suicide soldier, standing ready with a lunge mine to destroy enemy tanks.

The event will be broadcast until the end of March 2022 on the prison museums Facebook page, as well as on the exclusive radio channel “Time travel” on Spotify and Apple Podcast.

Hỏa Lò Prison was constructed between 1886 and 1901 and was originally named Maison Centrale. It was considered one of the three most savage prisons in Việt Nam, along with Côn Đảo and Sơn La prisons.

Hỏa Lò was designed to hold around 500 prisoners; however, by the 1930s, the number of prisoners had soared to approximately 2,000. Most of them were political prisoners.

Between 1964 and 1973 the prison was used to house hundreds of American pilots who were shot down during bombing raids against North Việt Nam, including John McCain, former US Presidential candidate, and Douglas Peter Peterson, who later became the first US ambassador to Việt Nam.

In 1993 the government retained part of Hỏa Lò Prison to transform it into a museum.

Hỏa Lò Prison, which has also gone by the monikers ‘Hell on Earth’; ‘The School for Patriots’ and the ‘Hanoi Hilton’, is located at 1 Hỏa Lò Street, in the centre of Hà Nội.

The prison gained notoriety as a French prison for political prisoners.

There is a memorial monument dedicated to the Vietnamese patriots and revolutionary fighters who were interned at the prison.

This is also a ‘Red Address’ to educate Vietnamese people from all walks of life, especially the younger generations, on the patriotic and revolutionary traditions of those who sacrificed for the sake of the nation’s independence and freedom.

The exhibition runs till the end of March at Hỏa Lò Prison relic site, No 1 Hỏa Lò Street in downtown Hà Nội

Source: https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/1089106/hoa-lo-prison-hosts-exclusive-ha-noi-war-exhibition.html

Life

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

Published

6 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