HCMC businesses will need 19,000 new workers after Tet

Ho Chi Minh City will need 19,000 new employees for 1,371 businesses after the Tet Lunar New Year break, a labor center said.

The city’s Center of Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labor Market Information (FALMI) said the demand comes from different sectors from sales and marketing, hospitality, design, communications, mechanics and electronics engineering, food processing, garment and leather shoes, to house helping, security and delivery services.

A third of the vacancies are for part-time and temporary jobs, it said, as cited by local media.

Tran Anh Tuan, deputy director of the center, said the demand is lower than after the holiday last year as businesses have improved their policies to keep workers stay.

The center said the city is expected to have around 65,000 job vacancies in the first quarter this year, including 20% with university graduate requirements.

Tourism industry strained by influx of visitors

The stream of tourists through the Mong Cai Border Gate in Quang Ninh Province has never been better than it has this holiday season, says the provincial Department of Information and Culture.

According to the Department, the number of inbound tourists flowing across the border put a strain on customs officials— as nearly 20,000 people came through the gate during the first four days of Lunar New Year (Tet).

Gaining in popularity for its rich culture, great weather and exotic sights, Vietnam this holiday season, saw a record high number of visitors from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and China, says the Department.

“A number of initiatives over the past year were undertaken in a bid to boost tourism,” said Department Head Pham Thi Oanh.  “It looks like all of our effort paid off this holiday season.”

Oanh said many of the changes now allow easier access to the country.

In addition, Oanh said the establishment of sister city relations between Mong Cai and China’s Dongxing City along with loosening of travel restrictions allowing for tourists to cross the border in private cars was a boon for tourism this holiday season.  

Crimes decline as cameras installed in many streets in southern Vietnam

People in several communes in the southern Vietnamese province of Long An can enjoy the national festival without the fear of crimes as many security cameras have been placed across the areas.

My Loc is the first commune in Long An to pilot the security camera system, with 80 cameras having been installed since September, 2015 in most of the streets and alleys in the locality.

The positions of the cameras as well as the installment process were carried out by local police and based on the surveys and opinions of citizens.

“These are infrared cameras that can record clear footage even under low light conditions,” said Le Thanh Tuan, a police officer in My Loc Commune.

Officers in My Loc Commune are seen monitoring the camera system on February 10, 2016.

Several signs informing the installment of these cameras have also been planted along the roads to act as a reminder to local people as well as criminals, according to Lieutenant Le Tan Du, Chief of My Loc Department of Police.

The cameras can store data of up to 15 days, which have been very useful for the solving of traffic accidents as well as several crimes and violations in the area, he added.

Illegal dumping, which used to be a common offense in the commune, has not been committed by anyone since the cameras were positioned, Lt. Du recounted one of the obvious changes.

Nguyen Tu Nga, a shopkeeper in a rural town of Can Giuoc District, Long An, said that her goods were often stolen during previous Lunar New Year holidays.

Ever since the installment of the security cameras, the number of similar incidents has significantly decreased, Nga continued.

“The camera system acts as additional eyes and ears for police officers to monitor the safety of traffic and of the area, as well as to provide necessary evidence of the violations,” said Lieutenant Pham Thanh Tam, Chief of Can Giuoc Police Department.

It also helps deter the crimes before they actually happen as violators would be afraid of getting caught by the cameras, according to Lt. Tam.

“Therefore, the number of accidents and theft cases has been drastically lowered during this Lunar New Year holiday,” he asserted.

Cameras have been positioned in several main streets in six communes of Can Giuoc District so far, providing around the clock surveillance in the areas.

Over 50% of the streets in Can Giuoc District is expected to be outfitted with the camera system in 2016, according to Nguyen Van Thiep, a local official.

A warm Tet holiday in Truong Sa

Spring has come to every corner in Vietnam. Tet atmosphere has covered all the islands on Truong Sa archipelago.

In Truong Sa town which is considered the capital of Truong Sa district in Khanh Hoa province, soldiers and islanders are participating in cultural and art programs to welcome the traditional Lunar New Year.

After days prior to Tet, cargo ships from mainland transport essential goods to Truong Sa archipelago and Truong Sa town. Since then preparations then begin.

Wrapping ‘Chung’ cakes or cakes made of sticky rice, green beans, and pork meat, cleaning and decorating houses, preparing 5-fruit trays and art shows have been assigned to each person.

Vo Thi Thu Sang, a Truong Sa islander, said although Tet on the island is not as bustling as in the mainland, everybody seems to be more united.

“The preparation began on the 25th day of the last lunar month. Everybody is close to each other. We wish each other all the best like family members. This Tet seems cozier than in previous years,” Sang said.

Tet on the island now is as sufficient as in the mainland. In addition to shipments from the mainland, people in Truong Sa town have prepared their own supplies, ranging from poultry, fish, to vegetables for the Tet holiday.

A local resident Le Thi Truc Ha said “Thanks to the support of local authorities and people in the mainland, we have everything needed for Tet including sticky rice cakes, pork, and poultry. We also make cookies and jams of various kinds.”

This Tet, Truong Sa town has special guests who are five youth union members of the Club of Youths for National Seas and Islands. Launched by the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union, its members have wrapped 2016 Chung cakes and a delegation of 5 members has departed for Truong Sa to welcome the Lunar New Year with the soldiers and people in the island.

The Muong ethnic Bui Thi Hong Duyen said “This Tet is very special and one of the most significant event in my life. I can welcome a New Year with island soldiers and people on Truong Sa island.”

Cultural and art programs began since the New Year eve involving both local residents and soldiers.

But the most solemn function on Truong Sa Island is the flag salute ceremony on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Truong Sa military staff and soldiers, local people and children stand decently under the national flag and sing together the national anthem and the “Marching song”.

Lieutenant colonel Nguyen Van Tuan, political commissar of Truong Sa island, said “the flag salute ceremony on the first day of a Lunar New Year  is important for each Vietnamese and of greater significance for Truong Sa, one of Vietnam’s most sacred areas. The event left me a strong impression due to its sacred meaning and the feeling of honor. During these moments, all what I wish is all Truong Sa soldiers and military staff and islanders are healthy and united to achieve more successes in safeguarding national territorial waters.”

Following the flag salute ceremony, both soldiers and local people go together to the pagoda to pray for a happy and lucky year and burn incense at President Ho Chi Minh Memorial House and Martyrs Monument.

This is the third time for the 9-year-old To Phuong Linh to enjoy Tet on the island. She expressed her joy to visit the soldiers on the island on New Year and “wish them fulfill their assignments.

"I also pay New Year visits to the neighbors. My mom takes me to the pagoda and I help her prepare offerings to place on the altars. I also phone my grandparents and friends in the mainland to send them good wishes and promise to study well this year,” Linh said

Lieutenant colonel Do Hai Dang, deputy commissar of the island, said “We have organized various sports activities during Tet like tug-of-war, football or volleyball. Competitions among units have also been held to help them relax and keep fit.”

Vietnam sees surge in Chinese tourist arrivals

Mong Cai Border Gate at Quang Ninh Province experienced a busy Tet Holiday as Vietnam welcomed a surge in Chinese tourists.

Mong Cai City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported that on the first day of lunar calendar, it welcomed over 3,000 Chinese tourists and this number reached 8,000 on the second day and 6,500 on the third day. It is predicted that the number of tourist would continue to increase in coming days.

China is Vietnam's biggest customer. Large numbers of Chinese tourists like to visit Danang and Nha Trang.

Authorities in Quang Ninh Province hope to welcome eight million domestic and international arrivals and VND8trn in revenue this year.

The surge in tourist numbers has been attributed to several promotion methods. Last year, the self-drive tourist cars pilot programme which enabled tourists to travel between Mong Cai and the Chinese city of Dong Xing City through the Mong Cai Border Gate was approved by prime minister.

Mong Cai’s authorities are exploring how to boost tourist co-operation with Dong Xing particularly in the Tra Co area and China's Bailang Tan region.

Young people dread Tet

Many young Vietnamese people dread Tet due to nosy parents and relatives or patronising neighbours asking intrusive questions about their careers or love lives.

Nguyen Thi Hoa, 26 years old, in the central province of Ha Tinh said that "Tet is the longest holiday in a year and I know I’m going to get asked annoying questions. I often get questions about my personal life from my friends and relatives.

"Last year, on the first two days of the new year when I visited my relatives, many of them asked me whether I would get married. In rural areas, 26 is a bit late for getting married," Hoa said.

Meanwhile, her parents are also worried about her love life, so, they have nagged her to get married early as she and her boyfriend have been together for four years.

Hoa added, “My boyfriend and I have planned to get married in 2018 after we can be financially independent to have our own life. I’m being pressured heavily by my parents."

Pham Minh Phuong, 24 years old, in the northern province of Thai Binh who currently isn’t dating not yet had a boyfriend is continuously bothered by her parents. When she returns home on holidays, especially at Tet, some of her relatives try to act as matchmakers.

Meanwhile, Tran Minh Tu in Thai Nguyen Province faces questions about how much he earns. He studied at a big university in Hanoi, but due to lack of experience, he could only find a job at a small company.

During Tet when he comes to visit his relatives, many ask him about salary and patronise him with stories about other people of his age who make big money despite studied at college or undertaking vocational training.

Tet is a costly occasion for many Vietnamese people, even students. This year, Nguyen Hoang Nam at the Hanoi Transport University had to do a part time job for two weeks before Tet to earn money to buy gifts for his girlfriend and travel with his friends.

For Hoang Anh Tu from HCM City Industrial University, Tet is an almost non-stop drinking session with old friends. After Tet, Tu often loses 2-3 kilos.

Central Highlands grows despite difficulties

Despite the negative impacts of prolonged drought, the Central Highlands region still saw positive socio-economic development in 2015, with its gross domestic product (GDP) valued at nearly 140 trillion VND (6.16 billion USD), up 7.06 percent from the previous year.

According to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands Region, investment mobilisation for social development reached approximately 74 trillion VND (3.25 billion USD) in 2015, a year-on-year increase of 13.17 percent, while credit activities were stepped up, contributing to production, developing infrastructure and improving living conditions in disadvantaged and border communes.

The completion of the Ho Chi Minh Highway running through the region, the upgrade of airports and the implementation of numerous transport projects also helped promote the region’s economic growth.

Last year, regional enterprises made optimistic progress. The number of newly-established companies rose, while the number of businesses that had to dissolve or stop operating decreased remarkably.

Over the year, 2,417 new enterprises were registered with a total capital of 10.2 trillion VND (448.8 million USD). It also attracted 131 investment projects totaling 19.3 trillion VND (849.2 million USD), including 13 foreign-invested businesses.

Many socio-economic development targets such as the industrial production index and total retail sales of consumer goods and services were reached, and per capita income reached 36.15 million VND (1,668 USD), up 12 percent year-on-year.

The value of agro-fishery and forestry products rose by nearly 6 percent from 2014.

In 2015, Central Highlands provinces spent a total of 88.4 trillion VND (3.89 billion USD) on building new-style rural areas.

They also provided vocational training for 85,800 locals, and jobs for 101,000 labourers.

A total of 35,000 households received assistance to successfully escape from poverty, and as a result the region’s poverty rate dropped to 8.5 percent.

According to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands Region, in 2016, the region will strive to maintain socio-political stability, strengthen national unity, accelerate economic growth and speed up economic restructuring in order to fulfil its socio-economic development targets.-

Ha Nam: additional 15 communes declared new rural areas

Another 15 communes in Ha Nam have been recognised as new-style rural areas, raising the total number of communes winning the recognition in the northern province to 33.

The communes are in Phu Ly city and Duy Tien, Binh Luc, Kim Bang, Thanh Liem and Ly Nhan districts.

Ha Nam strives to have at least 50 communes included in the list by the end of this year. Kim Bang and Duy Tien are also expected to become new rural districts in the year.

During 2011-2015, the province mobilised more than 7.5 trillion VND (337.5 million USD) in service of the new-style rural area building.

As a result, the locality built 1,800 km of roads and 347 cultural houses, and implemented 5,000 new animal breeding models. The poverty rate also reduced to 2.92 percent of all households in the province.

The national target programme on building new-style rural areas was initiated by the Government in 2010 and sets 19 criteria on the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacities, environmental protection, and the promotion of cultural values.

The country aims to have 50 percent of all communes nationwide meeting all the requirements by the end of 2020.

Ca Mau greets over 104,000 visitors during Tet

Over 104,000 travelers visits tourism sites across the southernmost province of Ca Mau during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday (February 6-14), reported the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Mui Ca Mau (Ca Mau Cape) National Park alone lured nearly 13,000 tourists in the period, up 67 percent compared to the same period last year.

Historical relic sites and ecotourism sites were attractive destinations for holiday-makers on the occasion.

The most popular destinations include Hon Da Bac, welcoming nearly 40,000 travelers, and the Hung Vuong cultural park, serving over 36,600 arrivals.

Others included the late President Ho Chi Minh memorial site, the U Minh Ha National Park, and Quoc Te and Ly Thanh Long tourism sites.

Ho Ngoc Tan, deputy director of the department said his agency enhanced inspection of cultural and tourism services in the locality, aiming to provide the best service to visitors.

Festivals pray for good harvest in new year

The annual Tich Dien (ploughing) festival to pray for a year of favourable weather and bumper crops took place in Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district, the Red River Delta province of Ha Nam, on February 14 or the seventh day of the first lunar month.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan joined crowds of guests, local officials and residents at the festival.

Legend has it that in 987, King Le Dai Hanh came to the foot of the Doi Mountain to hold the first ploughing ceremony. The festival then became a tradition and was held through many dynasties before falling into oblivion.

The tradition was restored in 2007.

The same day, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held a Xuong Dong (going to the field) festival and launched the annual tree-planting spring campaign in the city’s farming district of Phu Xuyen.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai highlighted the significance of tree-planting to the landscape and environmental protection.

The tree-planting festival, held at the outset of a new year, is an annual tradition initiated by President Ho Chi Minh in 1959.

Festival commemorating nation’s legendary mother opens

A festival dedicated to the nation’s legendary mother Au Co kicked off in Ha Hoa district, the northern province of Phu Tho, on February 14, the 7 th day of the Lunar New Year.

The festival marked the start of many festive activities in the locality. It was opened with an offering ritual to the guardian deity at the local communal house. A palanquin procession began later in the day, taking the offerings from the communal house to the Au Co Temple.

The three-day festival offers visitors a chance to take part in folk games, and enjoy arts performance.

Legend has it that Au Co, a fairy and the daughter of De Lai, descended to earth on this day. Later, she met with Lac Long Quan and gave birth to 100 sons. Fifty of them followed their father to the sea and the other half followed their mother to the mountains.

When the family arrived at Hien Luong commune, mother Au Co and her children were so captivated by the area’s fertility and stunning landscapes that they decided to settle there, and this was where the eldest son was crowned as Hung King.

They practised water rice cultivation to provide food, planted mulberry trees, and bred silk worms before Au Co returned to heaven on the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The Au Co Temple in Phu Tho was built under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong (15th century) and recognised as a national relic in 1991.

Vietnamese culture highlighted at Australian festival

The land, people and culture of Vietnam were introduced at the 20th National Multicultural Festival which took place in Australia’s capital city of Canberra from February 12-14.

With various cultural publications, souvenirs and traditional dishes like “nem ran” (fried spring roll), “pho bo” (beef noodle soup) and Vietnamese-style sandwiches, the Vietnamese booth attracted a large crowd of visitors.

This is the second time the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia has participated in the festival.

As one of Australia’s largest annual cultural events, the National Multicultural Festival aims to unite the community and encourage the harmony between nations and cultures.

Apart from 463 booths of over 800 organisations, foreign embassies and community groups, the festival also accommodated eight stages which saw the performances of over 350 artists.

More than 270,000 visitors flocked to the three-day event.

Buying luck at Vieng Market

On the 8th day of the first lunar month people flock to a unique market in Nam Dinh province, which is held only once a year to sell – guess what – bad luck as well as to buy good luck for the year to come.

This year's market opened at midnight of Jan. 29 and lasted only until Jan 30 morning.

According to the popular belief, any thing bought at the market would bring good luck to the buyer for the whole year.

This spring market displays handicraft products, antiquities and false antiquities, utensils, tools for agriculture production, and many kinds of ornamental plants. Specialties are barbecued veal and “banh day” (sticky rice cake).

The cheapest things at Vieng would be flowers and trees, which bring both the buyer and seller happiness and luck.

From around 2a.m, deals are done under the light of candles or flash-lights. Deals are agreed quickly, as people believe, to keep the luck.

Visitors then can go on to pray for a happy new year at several local temples.

Crowds of tourists flock to Hai Duong during Tet

Famous historical and cultural tourism sites in the northern province of Hai Duong have attracted a large number of holiday-makers during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, which began from February 8.

According to Le Duy Manh, vice head of the management board of Con Son – Kiep Bac relic site , the special national heritage served about 80,000 tourists as of February 13.

The Tranh temple in Ninh Giang district greeted around 7,000 visitors a day during the last seven days.

Meanwhile, the national relic site Dao Co (Stork Island) in Thanh Mien district and Bia temple dedicated to Tue Tinh, a famous doctor in traditional medicine, in Cam Giang district each reported up to 10,000 tourists.

Management boards of the relic sites worked closely with local authorities to ensure security and social order during the Tet holiday, the longest and most important festival in the year.

My Son marketed as tourism treasure

Authorities in Duy Xuyen District of the central province of Quang Nam have spared no efforts to promote tourism to the local My Son Sanctuary.

The site consists of more than 70 tower-temples that were a part of the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence.

The site also houses the remnants of a unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam between the fourth and the 13th centuries.

According to Nguyen Cong Dung, chairman of the district's People's Committee, the locality has focussed on building infrastructure, training tourism human resources as well as applying favourable policies for investment attraction.

"The local authorities have divided the district into three tourism regions, which link closely to one another," he said. "The east of the district has potential to develop ecological tourism with lots of sea and island tourist attractions, and cultural and historical sites at Hoi An Old Quarter and Cu Lao Cham Island."

The district has made use of Cua Dai Beach to enrich sea tourism sites at Non Nuoc-Hoi An- Duy Xuyen.

The west of the district is named the My Son-Thach Ban Ecological Site, which has been a special tourist attraction linked to the neighbouring areas of the province.

"In a few months, the district will enhance co-operation with travel agencies to push up advertising for local tourism," Phan Ho, head of My Son Sanctuary Management Board said.

Ho said the board would introduce more tourist attractions to turn My Son into a tourist site with modern and environment-friendly features.

He said Cham dancing, excerpts of singing, dancing and folk music performances, are indispensable attractions to welcome guests to the site.

My Son was recognised as a World Culture Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999. The site receives an average 300,000 visitors per year, 70 per cent of whom are foreigners.

A busy Tet for Vietnamese doctors as 35,400 hospitalized

The Lunar New Year from February 7 to 12 sent nearly 35,400 people to hospital for injuries from traffic crashes, fights and alcohol poisoning, according to the Ministry of Health.

Of nearly 30,000 people hospitalized after traffic crashes, 160 died. That compared to 233 traffic deaths during last year's Tet holiday.

Doctors at an emergency room of a hospital in Hanoi.

Meanwhile, brawls sent around 3,400 people to hospitals across the country. Ten of them died.

There were 6,200 brawl-related patients and 15 deaths last year.

The health ministry also said hospitals admitted nearly 2,000 patients for rice wine poisoning.

People flock back to Ho Chi Minh City after Tet, causing serious congestion

An influx of people have been returning to Ho Chi Minh City after they visited their hometown for Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration, bringing about serious traffic jams on an arterial national highway and several others throughout Saturday, the sixth day of the festival.

National Highway 1, which runs through several Mekong Delta provinces, experienced serious congestion since people and their vehicles peaked on the day.

Most office workers will resume work on Monday, as the Tet festival, which began on February 8, is drawing to an end.

Tran Quoc Dung, a local, said that the arterial highway experienced traffic constriction since early Saturday morning.

Prolonged gridlock occurred yesterday afternoon on a National Highway 1 section that snakes through Cai Be District in Tien Giang Province.

Hordes of motorcyclist, coach and truck drivers found themselves stuck in long lines at the two ends of the An Cu and Rach Mieu Bridges in the district.

It took them dozens of minutes to travel a distance of just 30 meters.

Several spots along the highway section traversing Tien Giang are currently prone to congestion, including streets leading to and from narrow bridges such as Ba Dac and My Duc Tay in Cai Be District; and My Quy and Nhi My in Cai Lay District.

Many locals have been angered by peddlers on the section through Hoa Hung Commune in Cai Be, who occupy parts of the road and obscure drivers’ visibility.

A crash had happened between a passenger bus and motorbike on this stretch, killing two people.

Another jam stretched for over two kilometers for hours on a section of National Highway 62 in Thanh Hoa District in Long An Province.

A number of people, including women with young children, sought shelter beneath shady canopies and waited until the road was cleared to resume their journey.

Residents explained that drivers took National Highway 62 as a detour to avoid the crowded National Highway 1A, but they did not fare any better.

A traffic jam also occurred on a section of about two kilometers at the traffic lights on a street leading to the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway and National Highway 1.

The national highway section in Tien Giang Province also experienced relentless congestion on Thursday and Friday, or the fourth and fifth day of the Tet festival.

Traffic was painstakingly slow on National Highway 60 in the direction from Ben Tre Province to Tien Giang Province.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Dung, deputy head of Tien Giang Province’s Police Department, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that many traffic police officers have been mobilized to the scenes to handle the jams, which are forecast to continue in the coming days.

Similarly, traffic flow was congested from early Saturday morning on National Highway 1 sections in Vinh Long Province.

Many bikers took rest and snapped photos on the Can Tho and My Thuan Bridges, exacerbating the chaotic traffic situation on the bridges.

Vinh Long Province’s railway and road police department has confirmed that traffic was heavy throughout the province on Saturday compared to a few previous days.

However, congestion did not occur on streets, they said.

The department has assigned forces to better control traffic on National Highways 1, 53 and 54.

Security staff of the My Thuan Bridge, one of the Mekong Delta’s major structures, will deal with peddlers and inadvertently parking motorcyclists who worsen the traffic flow on the bridge.

People have also had much difficulty traveling through Truong Xuan Commune, Thap Muoi District, Dong Thap Province.

The Vam Cong Ferry Station in An Giang Province has operated to its full capacity to carry passengers, but hundreds of motorbikes still lined up for one to two kilometers under the blazing heat.

New historical documentary to be aired

A new television documentary entitled Trieu Dai Quang Trung - Nguyen Hue (Nguyen Hue - Quang Trung Dynasty) is expected to be aired on television.

The documentary will be aired to mark the 227th Ngoc Hoi – Dong Da Victory anniversary on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year (February 12).

The 18-part documentary has been produced by Viet Long Studio with the film crew of Director Nguyen Duc Long, and script writers Vo Dac Du and Nguyen Trong Tin.

"The film covers the life and career of the Nguyen Hue brothers and later the Quang Trung Dynasty," Long said. "They left their native home in the central Nghe An Province to go to Binh Dinh Province in central Viet Nam."

Long was born in the central Quang Nam Province, where he witnessed the fierce American war. That inspired him make a historical documentary to pay tribute to the older generation.

"I want to contribute towards helping young people understand national history through the documentary," the director said.

This is the second documentary that Long, who has a passion for historical documentaries, directed.

The 18 episodes were shot at more than 500 locations, scattered across 48 provinces and cities of Viet Nam. The shooting took about one year in 2015, with a total investment of nearly VND2 billion (US$89,000).

More than 10 history and literature researchers such as Professor Phan Huy Le, chairman of the Viet Nam History Science Association; Dr Vu Minh Giang, head of Ha Noi National University; historian Le Van Lan; and author Quach Giao were invited to take part in the documentary.

However, Long is looking for television studios that will agree to buy the documentary for VND36 million per 20-minute episode.

"I contacted many local television studios, but only some studios such as Dong Thap Television, Dac Lac Television, Quang Ngai Television and Binh Dinh Television responded to my offer. They also quoted a lower price," Long said.

"I think more historical films are needed, besides entertainment films, for young people to know more about our glorious history," he said.

In the early spring of 1789, Nguyen Hue – who was later proclaimed Emperor Quang Trung – led his troops from the Hue imperial palace to Ha Noi, which was then occupied by the Qing army.

He launched a surprise attack and defeated more than 29,000 invading soldiers in a battle on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

The victory of Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da has gone down in Vietnamese history as an immortal and epic struggle for national construction and defence.

A festival has been held every year on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year to honour Emperor Quang Trung at Dong Da Park in Ha Noi.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri