The vendors in Hanoi Mesmerize the Lady from Netherlands

Loes Heerink, a Dutch photographer waited for hours on the bridge to catch the moment when the vendors passing by. The special images will be present in the upcoming photo book of her.

Living in Hanoi in 4 years, Loes Heerink said, the vendors on the street gave her the inspiration to make a photo book right at the time she arrived in Vietnam.

The last image of a street vendor selling flowers was taken from the bridge by Loes two months before she came back to the Netherlands. Loes said while she was here, she spent a lot of time on the bridge to wait for the vendors passing underneath.

The reason for her to choose this corner is the photos would only have the image of the vendor – without any other factors. 

"I want people to see what I saw. I believe that these street vendors create pieces of artwork every day" she shared.

The photos were taken at various sites in the city by Loes, such as from the balcony of the restaurant in the old town, or from the bridge.

Sometimes she has to get up very early to wait for the vendors passing. Sometimes she took time for the break at noon or weekend to “hunt” the precious moments from the street vendors.

"Sometimes I have to wait in 5 hours without taking any photo," Loes shared.

Loes also took the time to talk to the sellers. They shared with her about their livelihood by selling fruit, vegetables and other things on the bike.

She is planning to return to Vietnam to continue another project of photo book about the vendors. Loes also set up the website Kickstarter to raise funds for the project. The photo book about the street vendors will include about 100 photos.

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• Source: Hanoi Tours

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Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel in Bac Giang Province

Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel is located in Xuong Giang commune, Bac Giang City, Bac Giang Province. This is an ancient citadel built by Minh dynasty (of China) in the 15th century.

Bac Giang is an ancient land with long tradition connected with the history of the country during the period of building and defending the country.

Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel is located in the commune of Xuong Giang, Bac Giang City

Xuong Giang Ancient Citadel is located in the commune of Xuong Giang, Bac Giang City, Bac Giang Province. Xuong Giang is the name of the ancient citadel built by the Minh dynasty in XV century (1407). Built from earth, the remnants show that the citadel is rectangular, the length in the direction of East – West is 600m, the width in the direction of north - south is 450 meters and it has an area of 27ha, with thick soil walls, four fortresses in four corners and the citadel is surrounded by wide moat with 4 doors, the main door faces the West.

According to the actual survey and monument records, the left traces of this ancient citadel are not much, the walls are around 3- 4 meters above the fields, the foot is 25 meters wide, the surface is from 16 to 20m wide, 4 fortresses in 4 corners protrude, the citadel is surrounded by the trench.

In the first excavation in 2008, archaeologists from the Archaeological Institute initially outlined the system of works in the architecture of Xuong Giang citadel.

According to historical records, Xuong Giang victory of Dai Viet army and people led by Le Loi defeated 10 thousand Minh invaders in nearly 1 month in the provinces of Lang Son and Bac Giang today. There were four great victories: the Battle on 10/ October smashing enemy’s vanguard and killing Prince Lieu Thang at Chi Lang border pass; the battle on 15/ October defeating the enemy in Can Tram (Huong Son- Lang Giang), forcing the enemy’s general Bao Dinh Ba Luong Minh to suicide; Ho Cat Battle on 18/ October (Voi, Xuong Lam, Phi Mo, Lang Giang) making Minister Ly Khanh suicide and the Battle taking place on the field of Xuong Giang (in the communes of Tan Dinh, Xuan Huong, My Thai of Lang Giang district, and Tho Xuong, Bac Giang city) on 3/ November/ 1427, after 10 days of siege, our military defeated more than seven thousand enemies led by Thoi Tu and Hoang Phuc, forced Minh invaders in Dong Do (Hanoi) to surrender and withdraw from our country.

The victory of Lam Son- Le Loi insurgent troops led by General Tran Nguyen Han occupied Xuong Giang citadel and destroyed Lieu Thang's army, made an important contribution to the historical victory overthrowing the yoke of tyranny Minh lasting 20 years and was a decisive victory for the independence of our nation in the XV century.

Xuong Giang citadel was considered the center of the battle and then also witnessed many important events in the homeland, especially the uprising led by Nguyen Huu Cau (Quan He) occurred in the second half of the 18th century.

To celebrate the historic victory of the Lam Son insurgent army in Xuong Giang, annually, Bac Giang holds the festival on 6th – 7th lunar January. During the festival, there are many ceremonies and special fun. Before the start, the festival (the night of 5th January) young people make a campfire. In communal houses, pagodas, temples, shrines and culture houses, lights and the torches are lighted all nigh. In the early morning of the 6th lunar January, the caravan with bright colorful clothes from the wards holding flags, playing drums, carrying palanquin from the streets flock to the center to start the festival...

With this historical significance, on 22nd January 2009, the Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 293 / QD-BVHTT-DL, which rated Xuong Giang victory historical relics as a national monument. There are 14 relics: The northeast door, the east door, the north door, the southwest door, the south door, central section, traces of the citadel, the part of Xuong Giang River flowing through the citadel; the archaeological area no. 2 and 3, Phu wells, Thanh Temple and two points outside the protected area including the southeast door and the west door. The protected relics scatter in the alternating location of the residential area of the villages of Dong Giang, Nam Giang, Trai Bac in Xuong Giang commune. There is also a part of Bac Giang School of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Department of Plant Protection of Bac Giang province ...

With the values recognized in history, the consensus of all levels and sectors and people, the historical monument of Xuong Giang victory is forever the pride of the people of Bac Giang in particular, and people of Vietnam in general in the history of defeating the invaders of the country.

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The Strange Fire-Dance Festival of Red Dao People in Ha Giang, Vietnam

Fire - dance Festival, usually taken place in late spring, is the very unique culture of Red Dao people in Vietnam.

Fire - dance Festival is usually taken place in late spring which is hoped to bring warmth and bumper harvest and to give prayers for the local prosperity, and the immune to evil spirits and illnesses.

To prepare for the ceremony, the patriarchs and their descendants prepared food for ceremonial activities and dining. In the ritual of the Red Dao, the must - have items are rice, wine, boiled chicken, mineral water, carpentry white cloth, incenses, silver rings, paper money, lights or candles.

There are many shamans taking part in the ceremony, each has their own responsibility in their platform. This has contributed an elaborate ceremony with several stages and lasted for hours. The Sylph sacrificial ritual is taken up by prayers luck, peaceful life and happiness, good weather, good heath, and warding off evil spirits.

The rituals are conducted in the central compartment of the house on the ending day of the year. Meanwhile, they gather members of families, relatives and invite their close friends and also some local to attend the ceremony. The fire- dance ceremony is held on a large yard with a big pile of burning charcoal.

When the pile has become a heap of burning coals, the shaman will petition a yin and yang hexagram. If the Sylph was agreed, just the boys who attended the beginning of the ceremony,would be allowed to sit in front of the shaman to be blessed.  The hauntingly sound of bamboo sticks, the deafening sound of gongs, the urging sound of drums that make the atmosphere more sacred. The boys are like being dictated by god, strongly sway. They hopped in front of the altar and then plunge into the pile of flaming coals.

They is like being in their passion, dance with their bare feet on the heap of burning coals without burning sensation or fear. Not only dance, they also spill the charcoal pile by their hand what sometimes frighten viewers.

Each person normally dance on fire pile within 3-4 minutes, then continue hopping back to the altar before returning to normal. One can participate in dance festival several times, which shows his strength, ingenuity and agility. Fire dancing is only for men and these people always get the admiration from everyone who ever seen them.

Fire- dance festival is not only a testament to the strength, the courage of the Red Dao boys but also their unique cultural activity bearing the characteristics of their wild and mysterious life which need to be studied and preserved.

This festival is unique perhaps because of its mystery. These youth who taken part in the ceremony have always said that the flaming dance after "being blessed"  would have a supernatural power that lead them in. They also claimed that during the ritual, they are always awake and aware of everything. It still remains as an interesting mystery.

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Xoan Singing - World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Vietnam

Xoan singing - an unique traditional orally transmitted art, also known as Lai Len singing, Dum Singing, Cua Dinh singing (singing at the communal house) is originated from worshipping King Hung custom in Vietnam. So far, Xoan singing has become one of the unique cultural activities in Phu Tho province.

A Xoan singing performance

Formerly, Xoan singing was called Xuan Singing (sing in the Spring); later, word “Xuan” was changed to Xoan. Legend has it that, In Huong Nha commune, Tam Nong District there was a temple worshipping Ms. Xuan, or Xuan Nuong woman general; in Huong Non commune, Tam Nong District, there was a temple of Le Xuan Lan Holy Mother; in Huu BO, Lam Thao district, there was Xuan Dung Holy Mother temple. Annually, the villages organized festivals at the communal house and invited the Xuan singing troupes invited to perform the worship singing. Since the village's tutelary God named Xuan , the troupes had to change their name from Xuan to Xoan.

In seventeenth century, many villages in Phu Tho built communal house to worship Gods, hold the village meetings, ... Then, Xoan troupes had to transfer the performance place from at the temples to at the communal house.. This change forced the Xoan troupes to find suitable art solutions to integrate and adapt to new performing place (Cua Dinh singing).

The artists are singing Xoan at the communal house’s yard

Until eighteenth century, most villages in Phu Tho had their communal house. In the festive season, the village often invited Xoan singing troupes to perform the worship singing. This custom came from the fact that communal houses in the villages of Phu Tho worshipped the historical person or mythological figures related to Hung Vuong era. Ancient people believed that Xoan singing had been taught by Hung kings to worship the ancestors of Lac Viet country. Therefore, in the spirit and belief of people living in Van Lang formerly and in Phu Tho nowadays, Xoan singing is the most sacred and attractive form of worship singing.

Normally, a complete Xoan singing performance consist of three stages :
(1) – the Worship singing – this stage aims to commemorate the Hung Kings, the gods, the people who had merit for the country and ancestors of the clan;
(2) – the Ritual singing which praises the nature, human beings, productive life, community life through 14 different melodies called 14 Qua cach;
(3) - the Festival singing expressing desire for life, love between men and women and serving the cultural needs of the community with the lyrical and funny tunes performed through the alternate and repartee between men and women and between the singers and instrumentalists in the guilds... However, depending on the activity in the local area, in many cases, Xoan singing is only performed one of two of the three above- mentioned stages.

The alternate singing between men and women

Music in Xoan singing is constituted primarily from the simple notes. Xoan melodies are rustic, rhythm is simple, the singing voice is close to speaking voice. Xoan singing instruments only consists of a small drum and some pairs of bamboo clappers.

Currently, in the province of Phu Tho, people has preserved the 31 Xoan songs and 4 Xoan guilds (named An Thai, Thet, Phu Duc and Kim Dai) which all belong to Viet Tri city. A Xoan music guild is headed by a leader (called a Trùm) . In Xoan singing, the male instrumentalists (kép nam) often sing first (act as Chanters), dance, and beat the drums; meanwhile, the female singers (đào nữ) often repeats, alternate singing, or dance... Additionally, when Xoan music guilds are invited to perform in other places, in the Festival Singing stage, there has the participation of men and women representing the local community....

Xoan singing is recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding of humanity by the UNESCO

With all the historical, cultural and scientific value of this unique art form, on November 24, 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially recognized Xoan singing of Phu Tho as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding of humanity. Therefore, the protection and promotion of the values of Xoan singing art will positively contribute to the maintenance of national cultural identities and maintaining diversity of human culture.

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Saigon, the City that Never Sleeps

In the perceptions of Vietnamese people, Saigon is a young and developing city, the driving force of the economy. Not possessing many historical heritage sites like Hanoi but Saigon still leave a deep impression on visitors by its non-stop way of living, especially after midnight. This is not a great place for those who enjoy a peaceful and quiet life. When the sun disappears below the skyscraper-packed skyline of District 1 and the bright street lights are lit up, Saigon has a brand new face.

After a hard working day, the people of the city are ready for the night life. Saigon suddenly turns into a friendly and lovable place for both Vietnamese people and foreigners. In here, everybody is welcomed. They all want to put all the burdens of life aside to immerse themselves in a captivating Saigon.

The picture of the city at night is dazzling and vivid. The iconic Ben Thanh Market is put into rest after a hectic day full of buyers and sellers. The old Notre Dame Cathedral see thousands of cars and motorbikes passing by in front of it. In the abundant cafes of the city center, people enjoying their cup of coffee while watching the bustling streets. Saigon now is the perfect rendezvous for the couples. They’re sharing stories on motorbikes. Hand in hand, they walk slowly in Tao Dan Park or along the tree-lined streets. At night, the city is also where friends and families gather in the street cafes or restaurants to relax and have some good time after work.

The foreigners can enjoy themselves in this vibrant ambiance. They enjoy taking photos of the city’s famous landmarks, looking for some souvenirs or lovely souvenirs or just want to wander aimlessly along the corners of Saigon.

The night is still young even when the clock on the top of Ben Thanh Market strikes 12 o’clock. This is perhaps the difference between Saigon and Hanoi as well as any other urban areas in Vietnam. The young people spend the night at the bouncing bars and clubs. The busiest area of the city after midnight is unquestionably Bui Vien Street and the surrounding neighborhood. Here people can easily make new friends from all over the world. Saigon proves itself as the most cosmopolitan city in Vietnam.

On the other side of the city that never sleeps, you will also witness some people who working tirelessly at night to make a living. They are lottery sellers, shoe-polishing boys, old man in the food stalls or the women cleaning the streets. Some “anh xe om” (motorbike taxi driver) is sitting in a group of 5 to 7 to smoke a cigarette, take a nip of a “nau da” (Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk) while waiting for customers. A Saigon night is not the same without them.

If you have the chance to spend even just one full day at Saigon, experience the night life of this vibrant city. Anything will be new and unexpected and this city that sleeps will never go into oblivious.

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