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The Kitchen Gods Farewell Ritual  kicks off the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebrations with a touching love story that has been passed down through the ages. The Kitchen Gods Farewell Ritual, an ancient Vietnamese custom with a poignant love story at its heart. Photo: Le Thu Huyen This annual tradition, held on the 22nd of January this year, is steeped in folklore, with the most popular tale involving the Tao Quan  or Kitchen Gods. In Vietnamese culture, it is believed that the Land Genie presides over the household and its land, while the Kitchen Gods, represented by a woman and her two husbands, are tasked with overseeing the kitchen and the family’s happiness and well-being. The legend goes that Trong Cao and Thi Nhi, a married couple, struggled with childlessness, which led to frequent quarrels. After one heated argument, Thi Nhi left home and, in time, married Pham Lang. Trong Cao, realizing his mistake, spent months searching for his wife. He eventuall...

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has been recognized by Time Out magazine as one of the top global destinations to visit in 2025. The city’s rich history, vibrant culture, and diverse cuisine are just some of the attractions that have caught the publication’s eye. In their recent list of the 50 best cities to explore worldwide, Time Out ranked Hanoi as the 21st most appealing destination. This ranking places Hanoi as the second-highest among Southeast Asian cities, just after Thailand. According to the magazine, Hanoi has been a cornerstone of Vietnamese culture for millennia. The city’s Old Quarter, encircling the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake, is a culinary and architectural hub, offering a unique blend of traditional and modern influences. Visitors are invited to discover the grand Opera House and a church reminiscent of Notre Dame, along with hidden gems—cozy cafes nestled in narrow alleyways or perched atop ancient structures. One of Hanoi’s distinguishing features, as noted by Time O...

According to Hoang Viet, a skilled craftsman, his facility produces more than 5,000 dragon figurines every day. Every stage of making these clay figurines needs to be done with great care to ensure a perfect product. With the increasing demand for clay figurines in recent years, a wide range of attractive designs is being produced. Lai Thieu’s clay figurines are gaining more attention and competing with plastic and wooden items. These artisanal products are distributed to provinces such as Tien Giang and An Giang, as well as the southwestern and southeastern regions of Vietnam. They are also exported to markets in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. The price of each figurine varies based on its size and design, typically ranging from VND30,000 to VND170,000 per piece. The painting stage is a meticulous piece of work as the paint must be evenly coated without smears. The crafting village experiences its highest level of sales du...

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife arrived in Hanoi on January 23 for a two-day state visit at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong and his wife. During their visit, foreign guests had the opportunity to explore Vietnamese culture through a visit to the historic Temple of Literature, a site that showcases Vietnam’s traditional fondness for learning. The high-ranking German delegation received a briefing on the history of the Temple of Literature. This is Steinmeier’s second visit to Vietnam, following his first visit in October 2016 when he served as the Foreign Minister of Germany. This is the first foreign visit by the German President in 2022 and marks the first high-level exchange between the two countries this year. It is an important year as both countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2025. The post German President’s Visit to Temple of Literature in Hanoi appeared fir...

President Vo Van Thuong invites German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to step on the podium while military bands play the national anthems of both nations. Vietnam and Germany first established diplomatic relations in 1975. The two countries lifted ties to strategic partnership in 2011. Germany is Vietnam’s biggest trade partner in Europe, and more than 350 German businesses are operating in Vietnam. As of May 2023, Germany had 444 valid projects worth over US$2.36 billion, ranking fourth from a total of 24 European countries investing in Vietnam. The two leaders inspect the guard of honour. This is the first foreign visit of the German President in 2024 and the first high-level delegation exchange between the two countries this year – a pivotal year towards the 50th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2025. The two leaders hold talks immediately after the welcome ceremony. During two-day visit, German Presid...