As the Lunar New Year approaches, the old ABBA song “Happy New Year!” is played again and again, almost in a loop, by radio stations and city shops in and around Hanoi. Elsewhere in the world the Swedish band ABBA has become a distant memory, vaguely remembered as a cheerful and slightly tacky group whose music was very successful… but not particularly inspired. However, Hanoians of all ages know the song. And most of them love it! In fact, ABBA’s “Happy New Year!” is probably the most spirited and revered song of Vietnam after “Tiến Quân Ca”, the epic national anthem written and composed by Văn Cao in 1944. How it came to be seen that way is very telling about the history of Hanoi. Back in the 1980s, in the middle of the subsidy period, Vietnam was mostly closed to the outside world. The only links with foreign countries where with brotherly nations in the Soviet Bloc. Foreigners were rare in Hanoi. There were just a few Russians around, visiting as part of cooperation missions. Comparing with the war period, Hanoians saw them like “Americans without the dollars”. But there was one, only one, Western country that maintained a close relationship with Vietnam. That country was Sweden. Driven by strong ethical principles, and rightfully indignant about the absurdity and the carnage of the American War, Sweden was unusual in having an embassy in Hanoi, and a large development cooperation program with Vietnam. Olof Palme was the Swedish Prime Minister… [Read full story]
Son La urged to lead northern mountain region He attended a festival in Pa Kha mountain village and shared the holiday, wishing the villagers a happy New Year and good health, and encouraging them to promote production and raise living standards in upcoming year. Mr Hung said he was pleased with the district’s socio-economic achievements, particularly those in Long Luong commune. The NA Chairman praised the unity among the Mong ethnic group and their efforts to build a better life, especially the changes they have made in crops and livestock to increase income, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, in addition…... [read more]
(Cinet)- Vietnam Contemporary Art Theatre and the MOV media corporation organizes the arts program “Happy New Year 2015 – Voice of Thang Long – Hanoi” in August Revolution Square on December 31, 2014. The program aims to honour value of history, culture and the country love, especially some values of Hanoi – thousands of integration and development. From that, the event sends a message to the young generation in a better future. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in;…... [read more]
Eight subscribers using service of Viettel Telecom Co have just won a special prize - a Mercedes C200K worth VND1.068 bln. This new was officially announced in a lottery draw programme on Feb 4 held by Viettel Telecom Company and Capital Lottery Company, name "Happy new year, grateful customers". Besides, there are 2088 encourage prize, worth VND500.000 service fee each. Total value of this lottery draw programme is nearly VND10 bil. "Happy new year, Grateful customers" programme lauched from Dec 18, 2008 to Jan 28, 2009. Customers using Viettel's service such as mobile service, HomePhone, Internet, ADSL, Leased-Line, etc are…... [read more]
President Tran Dai Quang said President Ho Chi Minh’s poems recall the glorious and heroic history of the Vietnamese people and inspire people to a new year full of hope. “Following President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching, we will continue to successfully implement the resolutions of the 12th Party Congress, the Party resolution on Party building, and promote national construction and defense. Listening to President Ho Chi Minh’s poems, we feel more pride in Vietnam’s tradition and history," he said. President Ho Chi Minh began writing New Year poems in 1942. In the spring of 1947, after the national resistance day,…... [read more]
On the occasion of Vietnamese Lunar New year, the year of the water buffalo, On Jan. 19 morning, a delegation of Buddhism led by superior Buddhist monk Thich Minh Chanh and head of the Buddhist Executive Committee of Dongnai province together with a delegation of Catholicism led by priest Dang Van Tu who is the representative of Xuan Loc Bishop's Office paid a visit and wished happy new year to the provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Fatherland Front Committee. Attending the meeting, the Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Hong Phuong, the Vice-Chairperson of the provincial…... [read more]
