Day: February 4, 2022

Vietnam exported 287 tonnes of agricultural products to China via Kim Thanh border gate in the northern province of Lao Cai on the first three days of the Lunar New Year (February 1-3).

The volume included 38 tonnes of dragon fruits, 66 tonnes of watermelon and 183 tonnes of bananas, according to the provincial Department of Customs.

Meanwhile, 877 tonnes of Chinese farm produce was imported into Vietnam during the three days.

Competent agencies at the border gate have coordinated with the Chinese side to facilitate import-export procedures.

On the first three days, more than 200 drivers and driving assistants were still stuck at the Kim Thanh border gate. Most of them transported farm produce from southern provinces.

The management board of the border gate has, therefore, arranged some booths selling food to drivers during Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Hundreds of gifts, including Banh Chung (square glutinous rice cakes), dry food, water and necessities, have been offered to the drivers and driving assistants.

Total import-export value via the border gate reached 1.7 billion USD last year, of which export revenue was 768,000 USD.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 4 attended the inauguration ceremony of Cao Bo-Mai Son section, one of the 11 component projects of the eastern North-South expressway project.

The 15.2-kilometer Cao Bo-Mai Son expressway section, with a total investment of over 1.6 trillion VND (70.8 million USD), starts at the end of Cau Gie-Ninh Binh expressway in Y Yen district, Nam Dinh province, and ends at National Highway 1A in Ninh Binh province’s Yen Mo district.

The Cao Bo-Mai Son section plays an important role in the North-South expressway as it connects economic and political centres in the northern key economic zone. Construction of the project started in December 2019 and completed on schedule.

Addressing the event, PM Chinh affirmed that the Party and State identified infrastructure development, including transport infrastructure, as one of three strategic breakthroughs. The State mobilises all resources to invest in infrastructure, but there are focal points, including the eastern North-South expressway.

He hailed the efforts by administrations at all levels of Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh provinces as well as relevant agencies in overcoming difficulties to complete the project with high quality.

The PM requested ministries and agencies to continue accomplishing necessary procedures to ensure the project’s effectiveness.

Lessons should be drawn from the project’s implementation so that other projects would be carried out with better results, fulfilling the target of having 5,000 km of expressways by 2030, he said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The number of passengers through Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City rose to a record of 97,700 on February 4, according to the Southern Airports Authority.

As many as 704 flights were expected to land at or take off from the airport on February 4 in comparison to 528 with 83,800 passengers recorded on the previous day.

The sudden increase in the number of passengers has caused a serious shortage of taxis since late February 3.

To solve the problem, the Southern Airports Authority has worked with the city’s Department of Transport, the Taxi Association and relevant units at the Tan Son Nhat airport to arrange vehicles for them as soon as possible and prevent congestion.

The Southern Airports Authority has advised passengers to travel by their own cars or order a taxi in advance to avoid waiting for a long time.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Com” (young sticky rice flakes) made from Tu Le glutinous rice grown in terraced fields of Van Chan and Mu Cang Chai districts in the northwestern mountainous province of Yen Bai has gained its reputation thanks to its unique green colour and special taste.

The Tu Le sticky rice flakes is the perfect combination of the nature and skilled hands of Thai ethnic minority people in Yen Bai.

In October, when terraced fields in Na Loong, Pom Ban, Ban Com, Pung Xom villages of Tu Le commune in Van Chan district and those in Lim Mong and Lim Thai villages of Cao Pha commune in Mu Cang Chai district enter the end of harvesting season, local residents start to make “com”.

The Tu Le valley is surrounded by three mountains of Khau Pha, Khau Than and Khau Song. It is famous for its Tan sticky rice – which is similar to rice made from nowhere.

Scientists held that the nice taste of the rice comes from the year-round cool weather in the area with great difference in temperature in daytime and at night, which leads to high energy reserve of rice grown in the area.

At the same time, the soil of Tu Le is rich in humus and minerals, coupled with fresh water from the stream flowing from the top of Khau Pha pass also among the natural factors that create the special flavour of Tu Le sticky rice.

This particular grain of rice has large, round seeds and when it is cooked, the rice has a special soft and fragrant taste. When it is processed into “com”, it tastes sweet and pleasant and has a unique green colour.

This specialty is not only made from the quintessence of the nature but the love and soul of local residents.

In order to make “com” with original flavor, Thai people process a sophisticated procedure. The rice for making “com” must be harvested at the right time when the grain is not fully ripened. The harvesting activities are conducted at night when the rice is still soaked with night dew. After bringing them home, Thai people will roast the grain right away to fully maintain its green colour and sweet and delicious flabour.

They use firewood stove to roast the grain. The roasting pan is usually made of cast iron to ensure that the sticky rice is not overcook and remain sticky.

The roasting process takes about 30 minutes. After that, the grain is pounded in the stone mortar to soften the grains, which also demands typical technique and experience.

The process of pounding the nuggets must be even, continuous and rhythmic so that the pounding power is not too strong or too light. At the same time, another person used a piece of bamboo to stir the rice in a mortar to discover husk. When he saw the husk, he removed it and then pounded it again.

Hoang Thi Sang, a local in Na Long village of Tu Le commune, said the stages of making “com” are complicated. At the start of Tu Le nugget season, the villagers start to harvest the rice from 5am and then only the newly ripe rice are carefully selected to make delicious nuggets.

Currently, all villagers in Tu Le commune are involved in producing nuggets. Each local family can make around 20kg per day. Each kilo of Tu Le nuggets could be sold at 100,000 VND (4.4 USD), which has become their major source of income.

Today, “com” has become a cultural symbol of Tu Le, a must-try specialty of the mountainous land.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The long and narrow central part of the country with harsh weather has caused local residents to struggle with droughts and constant floods. Although they led a difficult life, people in the central region still try to arrange a hearty meal to worship their ancestors during Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. It reflects the wish for a family reunion, a prosperous and peaceful life in the new year.

The Tet feast of the central region is cooked very skillfully and meticulously. The food is divided into small plates and usually put on round trays, showing economical spirit. The popular dishes in the central region include boiled chicken, fried eggs, soups, vegetables and rice.

After offering the meal to the ancestors on the altar and the incense has burned out, people eat the food together in a warm atmosphere.

While banh chung – square sticky rice cake – is a must-have item in the new year tray in the north, banh tet – the cylinder-shaped sticky cake – is preferred by people in the central region. They might be different in length but all wrapped in banana leaves, filled with glutinous rice, green beans and pork before boiling them for 8-10 hours. Then, banh tet is cut into even circles. Banh tet was varied by people in each region. They might add lamb, goat meat or vegetarian ingredients to give them a strange taste and make them more delicious.

The central region’s harsh climate is believed to be the reason why local residents pay more attention to the ability to preserve Tet feast.

In addition to banh chung, banh tet which can be preserved for up to a month, dua mon is also a popular dish during the occasion. Dua mon – sliced papaya, kohlrabi, carrot and onion were dried and soaked in fish sauce or Hue’s typical shrimp paste, retains its crispy and delicious taste even though it is kept for a long time. Dua mon is often served together with banh tet in order to enjoy a combination of different tastes – sweet, salty, fatty, and spicy.

The foods commonly found in the central region’s feast include cool dishes such as beef or pork soaked in fish sauce, Vietnamese beef sausage, nem chua (fermented pork).

The type of alcohol to put on the altar to worship the ancestors during the Tet festival is also considered a specialty of each region such as Hong Dao alcohol of Quang Nam province, Bau Da alcohol of Binh Dinh province or Minh Mang alcohol in the ancient capital of Hue. All create a traditional Tet tray full of flavours and imbued with homeland identity.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A special art performance was held in front of Ho Chi Minh City’s theatre, also known as Saigon Opera House, on February 3 to celebrate the 92nd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) (February 3, 1930-2022).

The event, which lasted for 95 minutes, praised the CPV, President Ho Chi Minh and the long and arduous struggle of the army and people to gain independence and freedom for the nation and its reunification.

The Party organisation, administration and people of the city have always promoted the resilient revolutionary tradition, dynamism, creativity and solidarity. Despite facing challenges, HCM City has always been a pioneer and succeeded in carrying out solutions to obtain positive achievements.

During the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city’s people have united and shared with each other, becoming a special characteristic of local residents.

The event also highlighted the affection of people across the country in helping the city ease the difficulties and gradually resume socio-economic development.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

With steep cliffs and a thick primeval forest, the untouched and mysterious beauty of Hon Chuoi Island remains intact nowadays.

Hon Chuoi Island in Song Doc township of Tran Van Thoi district, the southernmost province of Ca Mau, is nearly 32 kilometres to the west of the mainland. It has an area of about 7 square kilometres and its highest point nearly 170 metres above the sea level.

Hon Chuoi is one of the important outpost islands in the southwest of Vietnam, and also one of the five islands included in a plan on developing islands of the youth for the 2013-2020 period approved by the Prime Minister.

The island boasts complex terrain and harsh weather conditions. With steep cliffs tens of metres high and a thick primeval forest, the untouched and mysterious beauty of Hon Chuoi Island remains intact nowadays.

The most popular plant here is wild banana, hence the name “Hon Chuoi” (Banana Island).

Compared to Tho Chu, Hon Khoai, Nam Du, and Hon Doc Islands, it is rather difficult to reach Hon Chuoi since there haven’t been any tours of this island, but people have to use boats of border guards or fishermen.

To set foot on Hon Chuoi, visitors have to pass rough stairs or cling to rocky slopes to reach higher positions. Such vehicles as motorcycles or bicycles have yet to appear here.

However, given the crystal clear seawater around it, strangely shaped rocks, and complex terrain, Hon Chuoi is still a destination worth a visit by travelers at least once in their lifetime.

At must visit site is the Hon Chuoi Lighthouse, built by the French administration on the highest mount in the island. It promises an interesting experience for visitors after they complete a cut of around 3.5 kilometres through the primeval forest and 43 steps of spiral stairs.

A vivid landscape will appear in front of visitors’ eyes when standing on the peak of a mountain and looking around.

Here, fishermen work hard every day to earn their living from the immense sea. The sunset is also the time when glitters gradually appear on the sea surface off this island, creating a sparkling scene.

Though Hon Chuoi is not as well-off as other islands, it is home to many touching stories of civil – military relations. Both civilians and soldiers have come to this place together to develop and safeguard every inch of the Fatherland’s land and sea, braving numerous difficulties and hardships on the island. Hon Chuoi features three areas called “ganh”: Ganh Nam, Ganh Chuong, and Ganh Nom. From the ninth to the third lunar months, people reside in Ganh Nam (southern area) to avoid “chuong” (northeast) winds. From the third to the ninth lunar months, they move to Ganh Chuong to avoid southwest winds.

At those times, soldiers of Border Guard Post 704 come to assist residents move their houses and gear up against storms.

In addition, though there hasn’t been a school on the island, soldiers have opened classes for local children, teaching dozens of kids from the first to the sixth grades at present. Thanks to these offshore classes, these children have been able to continue enrolling in higher grades in the mainland.

The maintenance of those classes, as well as teachers and students’ will to surmount difficulties, has also helped improve many islanders’ awareness.

Calm or rough the sea may be, Hon Chuoi is always busy with boats coming in or out to rest, take shelter from storms, or trade aquatic products.

The diversity of delicious and nutritious seafood also offers a wide range of choices for visitors to taste right on the spot or bring back home.

The beautiful and pristine landscape, cool climate, and tasty seafood make this island an ideal destination for those who love to explore and experience new places.

Source: Vietnam News Agency