VietExplorer

March is the time for Hoa Gao or Bombax Ceiba, which literally means “rice flower” in Vietnamese.  All the old leaves fall off, leaving the tree with only flowers. The trees now look like a burning torch with hundreds of red flames. The enchanting red color of the blooming flowers reminds Hanoians of their childhood. The quiet happiness of the old days when the street was still almost empty and modern high-rise buildings had not yet obscured the beauty of Bombax Ceiba.  Once a year at the end of March, the “rice flower” trees at Thay Pagoda in Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi, bloom, creating a unique beauty for the ancient Buddhist temple. The bright red color of the flower helps to dispel the gloomy weather of the late Spring days and lights a small fire of joy in the viewer. From afar, visitors can admire the Hoa Gao tree on the shore of the iconic Sword Lake. The bright red color of the blosso...

The workshop, co-organised by the Vietnam Association of Film Promotion and Development (VAFPD), the Danish Embassy in Vietnam, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Representative Office in Vietnam, was one of the activities to celebrate the 70th establishment anniversary of the Vietnam National Enterprise of Cinematography and Photography (March 15, 1953 – 2023) which is the precursor of the cinema and photography industries in Vietnam today. Speaking at the workshop, VAFPD Chairwoman Ngo Phuong Lan noted that the film industry is key to the development of the cultural industry. The Law on Cinema, taking effect on January 1, 2023, creates a favourable legal corridor for the development of the country’s film industry as the law determines that cinema is not only an art but an industry and an economic sector. However, Lan said that specific appropriate mechanisms and policies are needed to realise the law, fully mak...

The world is rapidly moving forward, and current learning methods fail to keep pace; SEAC is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for more effective technology-supported education design and delivery. SEAC has been developing and testing a range of seamless and cost-effective SMART learning experiences that will bridge learning gaps in the region. James Engel, SEAC Chief Learning Architect, said: “These ‘smarter’ ways of learning to move the experience from an instructor, topic, and event focus to a leaner, technology-supported design and delivery that emphasizes the learner, their needs & context. Our finish line is applied to learn that positively impacts their lives and the world around them.” “Our investment in the Thai and ASEAN SMART learning market is a game-changer for the corporate and lifelong education sectors,” said Ms. Arinya Talerngsri, SEAC’s CEO. “We are committed to offering comprehensive and engaging SMART learning experiences to a broad range of lea...

One Pillar Pagoda in Khon Kaen province – symbol of Vietnam-Thailand friendship. Photo: VNA A ceremony of was held in Thailand’s Khon Kaen province on March 18 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the One Pillar Pagoda, a symbol of the Vietnam-Thailand friendship in the locality, VNA reported. The event was co-organised by local authorities, the Vietnamese Consulate General and the association of Thai people of Vietnamese origin in the province. Attending the ceremony were Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen Chanchai Sornsrivichai, Consul General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen Chu Duc Dung, representatives of the All-Thai Vietnamese Association, Khon Kaen Thai Association of Vietnamese Thais, and representatives of the diplomatic corps. provincial government, and many expatriates. The pagoda was built in the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Park in Khon Kaen per wish of overseas Vietnamese, and has become an attractive tourist destination, according to President of the association Dang Th...

The Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is collecting people’s opinions on the draft Law on Social Insurance (amended), which proposes to reduce the year of social insurance contributions from 20 to 15 years to enjoy a minimum pension of 45%. Nguyen Duy Cuong, Deputy Director of the Social Insurance Department of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said to the media that this regulation is intended to create opportunities for late participants, who are already 45-47 years old when starting the contribution. This is also beneficial to employees who participate intermittently and do not accumulate enough 20 years of social insurance contributions at the time of retirement. These cases will now receive a monthly pension while would not previously be entitled to a pension according to the Social Insurance Law 2014. However, as regulated in the Law, employees participating in social insurance for 15 years will receive a low pension. For example...