Life
Swedish family share their good fortunes with Vietnamese people
Lê Hương
Residents in Hội An are very familiar with the charitable activities of the Wandi family, made up of Kawa, Nishte and their triplets Alexander, Leah and Joline, from Stockholm, Sweden.
Since 2017, the family has been on a journey through many countries in the world, helping all kinds of people through their charity the Wandi Union, which is mostly based on their own financial sources.
They arrived in Việt Nam in February 2020, just before the pandemic forced the closure of international borders. They decided to remain in Hội An.
“During the pandemic, we saw the situation in Việt Nam become harder for many families,” Kawa Wandi told Việt Nam News. “Many lost their jobs in the tourism industry. We decided to reach out to help those in need.”
“We did not feel good about seeing the Vietnamese people suffer, he said.
Kawa said locals in Hội An have been kind and respectful to him and his family.
“The country has welcomed us with open arms. Việt Nam is very dear in my hearts,” he said as he explained why they have stayed so long.
They have faced no difficulties in living here.
“Life is simple and nature is amazing,” he said.
Kawa said they do charity work almost every day. Usually, they give out food packages, to cover the needs of a family of four for a week.
The package contains rice, noodles, oil, preserves, vegetable and more.
They also sometimes cook food and distribute it among the poor in the city.
“Sharing your bread with your fellow human beings is the best experience we can have. We have worked in charity for many years. We are happy to be able to share the blessing we have had in our life with other people,” he said.
Wandi said one of his most memorable moments was when the team reached a remote village in Tây Giang District to install a water purification system for a village of 400 people.
They didn’t have clean water. Instead, they had to go kilometres every day to get drinking water. This machine produces 200m3 clean water an hour.
“Seeing the kids running after the car cheerfully when we left them with all the joy and hope that gave us strength and love to continue,” he said.
The family has made many friends that help out with the charity work. After a serious storm last year in the central region, the team carried out a series of charity activities in flood-hit areas like Quảng Trị, Quảng Bình, and Quảng Nam.
He said local authorities have also been helpful in their charity activities. They sent trucks and volunteers, allowing the Wandi Union to send big donations.
In Quảng Trị, the team had to travel by boat from one house to another to give locals essential things.
“It was a risky trip. I left my family alone in Hội An,” he said. “It was with great happiness that I returned home after such a dangerous trip.”
Trang Quốc Trí, a restaurant owner in Hội An who joins Wandi’s family in many charity activities, said he was really moved to see Wandi walking with his bare feet in the flood, giving essential things to locals in Quảng Trị.
“He was so moved by lonely elders in flood areas that he gave them millions more as extra gifts,” Trí said.
Trần Tấn Dũng, Chairman of Hội An City’s Vietnam Father Front Committee, said local authorities and people have been moved by the donations from organisations, enterprises and individuals.
“We highly appreciate the gifts from the Wandi family and other sponsors,” he said. “Many families have had to overcome difficulties during the pandemic. This is a great source of power for us to fight back the pandemic.”
Wandi said because of the COVID-19 situation, they have not been able to drive up to the mountains. They have a few projects up there that they had to put on hold up until the roads open and things get easier.
In Hội An, the team plans to support three schools. They will continue with the food distribution.
“Kids have always been the focal points in our project,” he said. “Our children are our future in society. Investing in them is the best thing that one can do. Their families are in need in Hội An and Quảng Nam so we will continue to support as long as we are healthy and able to.”
“We want to thank our friends from around the world and our families for helping and supporting us to make it possible,” he said.
Second home
“Việt Nam has a rich culture and beautiful landscapes, from small towns with a lot of charm to cities like Hà Nội and HCM City.
“The best thing for me is Vietnamese people, who always keep smiling no matter how they feel.
“Hội An is an incredibly beautiful city. People are among the nicest we had met in our life. We are truly happy to live here, in this amazing country that nowadays we call our home.
“There is nothing that we dislike about Việt Nam, except maybe that we cannot get some Swedish goods here!”
Wandi said his wife and children enjoy the quiet and stress-free life here in Việt Nam.
“The warm smile and the love we received from Vietnamese people is a blessing. They enjoy the social life, the easy-going people, the nice weather, the beautiful nature, the rich culture and the amazing traditions,” he said.
“It’s hard not to fall in love with this country. Việt Nam will always have a piece from our heart and forever will be the second home to us,” he said.
Source: https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/expat-corner/1077361/swedish-family-share-their-good-fortunes-with-vietnamese-people.html
The Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2023 opened on Saturday evening in Nha Trang, a famous beach city in south-central Vietnam, with the theme of ‘Nha Trang – Aspiration for Development,’ attracting tens of thousands of local and foreign visitors.
The opening ceremony of the four-day event, which covers more than 70 cultural and sports activities, took place at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, the city capital of Khanh Hoa Province, given the organization of the provincial People’s Committee.
This biennial festival, which was first launched in 2003, reflects traditional and contemporary cultural values toward preserving and promoting the cultural quintessence of the nation in general and Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa in particular, Dinh Van Thieu, deputy chairman of the Khanh Hoa administration, said at the ceremony.
This is also one of the important events to celebrate the 370th anniversary of the construction and development of Khanh Hoa (1653 – 2023), the organizing board said, adding that the festival was suspended in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s festival commenced with the shows of motorized paragliding, LED kites and ten hot-air balloons lighting up the sky with 3D effects, bringing excitement and pleasure to thousands of viewers.
The main highlight of the ceremony was the brilliant light show by more than 1,600 drones that were arranged to form different words and spectacle structures including aircraft in the sky, attracting a lot of audiences.
Following the drone light show was a five-minute artistic fireworks display, combined with multi-layered sound and light effects.
A unique art and music program followed the opening ceremony, comprising two parts: ‘Love words of the sea’ and ‘Sea – development potential.’
The program began with a song that features the beauty of the country’s sea areas stretching from north to south, and of the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa – Truong Sa in the East Vietnam Sea.
During the festival that will last until Tuesday, there will be a lot of attractive sports and cultural items, including a fish-worshiping festival, a hip-hop club party, a fishing contest, a marathon race themed ‘Run to Future,’ art and music performances, and a fashion show, among others.
It is expected that Khanh Hoa will welcome about 100,000 visitors during the festival, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
This year, the province is set to receive four million visitors, including 1.5 million foreigners, and earn some VND21 trillion (US$894.4 million) in travel revenue, the news agency cited the province’s Department of Tourism as saying.
These targets are far higher than the total of 2.57 million travelers and the revenue of nearly VND14 trillion ($596.2 million) recorded in 2022.
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| This photo features numerous visitors gathering at the April 2 Square in Nha Trang City to attend the tenth sea festival in the beach city of Nha Trang. Photo: Cong Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| A drone light show features the theme of this year’s sea festival: ‘Khanh Hoa – Aspiration for Development.’ Photo: Cong Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
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| This image shows visitors using their smartphones to photograph one of the drone light performances at the opening ceremony of the tenth sea festival in Khanh Hoa Province’s Nha Trang City on June 3, 2023. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre |
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| An art and music performance at the opening ceremony of the Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2023. Photo: Hoai Bao / Tuoi Tre |
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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20230604/sea-festival-kicks-off-in-nha-trang/73577.html
The People’s Committee of Cu Chi District, located some 37 kilometers from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, has started offering visitors a captivating opportunity to indulge in a rustic countryside experience that showcases the district’s rich cultural heritage, traditional lifestyle, and scenic beauty.
This initiative, taking place in Trung An Commune from Saturday to June 10, marks the district’s second year of hosting such an interesting countryside experience.
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| Nguyen Canh Toan (R) and his family harvest rambutans during a program offering visitors countryside experiences in Trung An Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 3, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Visitors can engage in a wide range of activities including shopping for products and culinary delights crafted from fruits at a space that replicates the ambiance of a countryside market.
They can also explore and buy fruits instantly at the gardens, as well as participate in several traditional folk games.
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| Visitors try riding bicycles during a program offering countryside experiences in Trung An Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 3, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Besides its reputation of being a historical destination, Cu Chi is famous for fruit-laden orchards, livestock farms, green vegetable gardens, and colorful flower routes.
Currently, the district is ablaze with rich colors from an assortment of local delicacies such as mangosteens, rambutans, and green Burmese grapes that are at their prime of beauty and juiciness.
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| Farmer Nguyen Thanh Long harvests rambutans during a program offering visitors countryside experiences in Trung An Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 3, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
“In this year’s fruit season, Trung An Commune warmly welcomes visitors to explore 35 open gardens,” Nguyen Thi Hang, deputy chairwoman of Cu Chi District, said at the initiative’s opening ceremony on Saturday morning.
“With its refreshing and temperate climate, coupled with fertile soil, the commune showcases an abundance of fruit-filled gardens that will definitely offer a delightful sensory experience with their delectable flavors and enticing aromas.
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| Visitors harvest rambutans at a garden in Trung An Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 3, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
“I hope that the gardeners treat tourists as esteemed guests, reflecting the hospitable nature of our community, so that our visitors find utmost satisfaction in the products and services we provide, experiencing the genuine warmth and friendliness of the rural people of Cu Chi.”
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| Mangosteens are displayed during a program offering countryside experiences in Trung An Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 3, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
The program aims to showcase the essence of Cu Chi’s land, its people, and culinary delights to visitors, while also highlighting the district’s distinctive agricultural products and fruits.
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| Visitors play a folk game during a program offering countryside experiences in Trung An Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 3, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Hang stated that the organizers’ ultimate goal is to establish Cu Chi as a renowned destination for eco-tourism, fostering connections between farmers, businesses, and tourists, thereby making a significant contribution to the effective implementation of the district’s tourism development program.
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| Children try catching ducks during a program offering visitors countryside experiences in Trung An Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 3, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Bottles of a vegetable pickle product are displayed during a program offering countryside experiences in Trung An Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, June 3, 2023. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20230604/district-in-ho-chi-minh-city-welcomes-visitors-for-countryside-experiences/73558.html
The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2023 kicked off in Vietnam’s central coastal city of Danang on Friday evening, featuring a large fireworks and music party that lit up the night sky over the Han River.
The festival started with the performances by the Vietnamese and Finnish teams.
Le Trung Chinh, chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, said the success of the DIFF over the years has proved its attraction for local residents and international visitors.
This year’s festival, themed “The World Without Distance”, is expected to serve as a bridge bringing people closer together and removing all barriers, especially after a three-year hiatus induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinh said.
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| The performance of the Vietnamese team at the DIFF 2023 lasted over 20 minutes. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
The 20-minute performance by the host Vietnam highlighted the theme “Da Nang – The Sound of Peace”, telling stories, including a story about the recovery of Da Nang post pandemic, through the combination of light and sound and spreading a message of peace, stability, and happiness.
Tran Van Hung, in charge of the technical group of the Vietnamese team, said the performance by the host used close to 4,500 fireworks of various types and more than 128 different color effects, in addition to music.
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| The performance of the Vietnamese team at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
The Finnish team, Joho Pyro Professional Fireworks, took the stage under the theme “Ignite the Heart”, dazzling the audiences with its perfect combination of music and fireworks.
Johan Hollander, the Finnish team leader, said his team wanted to bring to the DIFF 2023 a dynamic and emotional performance, which wrapped up with a call for unity and love for life.
The DIFF 2023, scheduled to last from June 2 to July 8 along the Han River, gathers eight teams including Danang-Vietnam, the UK, Italy, Poland, France, Australia, Canada, and Finland.
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| The performance of the Vietnamese team at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Vietnamese team at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Vietnamese team at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Finnish team Joho Pyro Professional Fireworks at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Finnish team Joho Pyro Professional Fireworks at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Finnish team Joho Pyro Professional Fireworks at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Finnish team Joho Pyro Professional Fireworks at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Finnish team Joho Pyro Professional Fireworks at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Finnish team Joho Pyro Professional Fireworks at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Finnish team Joho Pyro Professional Fireworks at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The performance of the Finnish team Joho Pyro Professional Fireworks at the DIFF 2023 in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre |
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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20230603/sparkling-fireworks-displays-delight-audiences-in-da-nang/73552.html
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