The HCMC Media Center hosted an exchange program to honor Olivier Parriaux and Bernard Bachelard, two of the three people in the group that raised the flag of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam atop Notre-Dame de Paris (France) in 1969.
Olivier Parriaux recalled that when they learned U.S. President Johnson had announced a temporary halt to the bombing of North Vietnam and was willing to engage in peace talks, the three Swiss students—Olivier Parriaux, Bernard Bachelard, and Noé Graff—realized that the Paris negotiations would be a crucial moment to mark international recognition of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam after nine years of its establishment. At the time, Bernard Bachelard climbed the spire to hoist the flag, Olivier Parriaux was tasked with planning and supporting his teammates throughout the mission, and Noé Graff was responsible for driving and keeping watch.
During this trip to Vietnam, the individuals were also surprised by the warm welcome they received from the city. It was an opportunity for them to witness firsthand the changes in HCMC and Vietnam as a whole.
ASEAN-Japanese Youth Program delegation visits HCMC
The Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) delegation arrived in Vietnam aboard the Nippon Maru from November 14 to 17, reported the Tuoi Tre news site.
The visit to HCMC offered young delegates from 10 Southeast Asian countries (excluding Myanmar) and Japan a meaningful opportunity to create lasting memories of the warmth and hospitality of Vietnam. They exchanged and discussed with speakers and local youth on soft power and public diplomacy, sustainable economic and community development, global environment and climate change, disaster risk reduction and recovery, health and well-being, and the digital society.
One of the highlights of SSEAYP 2024 was the homestay experience for delegates in 13 districts and Thu Duc City. Participants stayed with host families, immersing themselves in Vietnamese cuisine, history, culture, and people in the most authentic and personal way.
Ben Thanh Market recognized as city-level relic
Of the works that have been classified by the HCMC People’s Committee, Ben Thanh Market has been listed as a city-level architectural and artistic relic.
On November 20, Chairman Phan Van Mai of the HCMC People’s Committee signed a decision to recognize Ben Thanh Market as an architectural and artistic relic of the city. Accordingly, as a city-level relic, the market will be protected by law.
The Ben Thanh Market relic will be jointly managed by the HCMC Department of Culture and Sports, and the people’s committees of District 1 and Ben Thanh Ward. Ben Thanh Market was built in 1912 and completed in March 1914. The market has thus been operational for 110 years. As one of the city’s symbols, Ben Thanh Market has a total area of 13,000 square meters and is surrounded by Quach Thi Trang Square, and Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chu Trinh, and Le Thanh Ton streets. The market was repaired once in 1985.
According to dantri.com.vn, the city government also recognized the Temple of Saint Tran Hung Dao (Vo Thi Sau Street, District 1), the office of District 1 People’s Committee (Le Duan Street, District 1), the tomb of Binh Bo Kiem Duyet Ty (Tran Van Dang Street, District 3), and the office of the HCMC Department of Customs (Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1) as the city’s relics.
Taking photos of reptiles countrywide
Nguyen Minh Phu, 20, who lives in HCMC and is co-founder of Viet Snake Rescuer (a voluntary team), has traveled to the country’s three regions to take pictures of reptiles, especially snakes and amphibians, to satisfy his passion.
Phu began to rear colubrid snakes when he was a ninth grader. Seeing that his snakes were not as beautiful as those in their natural habitats, he started traveling around to take pictures of snakes in nature and to admire their beauties.
Phu has so far arrived at quite a few forests around the country, namely the Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve, Fansipan Mountain in the northwestern region, Tam Dao National Park, Son Island off the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, and jungles in Lam Dong Province and Ngoc Linh Mountain in Kon Tum Province in the Central Highlands to take photos of reptiles, join snake rescue missions and release them under the permission of local forest rangers.
Phu told vnexpress.net that he usually organized photography sessions in forests for foreign guests to take pictures of reptiles and amphibians, adding that such sessions were held at night – the high time for all the activities of snakes and frogs. He said he would like to promote the passion for reptiles and amphibians, as well as the love for tours of watching these animals, thus raising awareness of wildlife protection.
