Some of the 238 national treasures that are featured in the 2023 New Year calendar. (Photo courtesy of National Political Publishing House)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – ꦦThe National Political Publishing House haslaunched a daily wall calendar for 2023 featuring images of hundreds ofnational treasures.
The 356-page tear-off calendar is among three special calendars which the houseis printing for the coming year.
Each page includes images and information of the national treasures tointroduce an overview of the history, culture and daily life of Vietnamese overthe last thousands of years.
"The treasures are kept in different places in the country," said NguyenThai Binh, from the publishing house. "We have to ask for permission toaccess them and take photos. The calendar making takes time and we also receivesupport from relevant bodies, experts and scientists to finish."
The calendar is designed with the two favourite colours of red and yellow whichsymbolise luck and prosperity in the new year.
National treasures include the Ngoc Lu bronze drum, artefacts from the 11th to15th centuries, 82 stone steles at Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam (Literature Temple),24 paintings and others.
The Ngoc Lu bronze drum was recognised as a national treasure in 2012.
It was made by the Dong Son culture, 2,000 to 2,500 years ago and wasdiscovered during a dam construction in Ha Nam province in 1893. In April 1903,the drum was collected by the French School of Asian Studies and kept at LouisFinot museum. It is now in the Vietnam National Museum of History.
The calendar also highlights paintings. One of them is Em Thuy (Little Thuy) byTran Van Can in 1943. Little Thuy stands out among many oil paintings by thegraduates of the French Indochina Fine Arts College and is the best of Tran VanCan, who graduated top of his 1937 class.
Painted in oil with western techniques and materials, the portrait of little Thuydescribes the oriental spirit, according to the Ministry of Culture’s archive.
Critics often show that Little Thuy was typical, if not the best, of theportraits painted in the first half of the 20th century.
The calendar makers aim to honour Vietnamese national treasures and encouragepeople to keep the habit of hanging wall calendars in their home as a featureof Vietnamese traditional culture.
Historian Duong Trung Quoc said that the calendar is an "encyclopedia ofnational treasures” that will help Vietnamese people understand the nationaltreasures better and be more conscious of preserving them.
“Hanging the calendar in the home will contribute to popularise and promoteheritage protection in each family and each locality. It also provides theimage and the information for research and study," said Quoc at thecalendar launching ceremony in Hanoi recently.
The calendar will be displayed at book fairs in Germany and the US.
The publishing house will publish two other calendars with the themes ofnational islands and seas, and the great solidarity of Vietnamese 54 ethnicgroups./.
Two national treasures – a wooden burial jar with a bronze drum as a lid and an animal figure dating back thousands years ago – are among about 1,300 artifacts and 500 scientific documents on display at the Binh Duong Museum in Thu Dau Mot City, the capital of southern Binh Duong province.
But Thap Pagoda, courtesy name Ninh Phuc Tu, is one of the most beautiful of its kind in the Red River Delta region and home to four groups of national treasures that have been kept almost intact.
The Red River Delta province of Hung Yen is currently home to five national treasures, two of which are kept at Huong Lang Pagoda - an ancient Buddhist temple in Minh Hai commune, Van Lam district.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
Some of the 238 national treasures that are featured in the 2023 New Year calendar. (Photo courtesy of National Political Publishing House)
