Ban Gioc Waterfall in Dam Thuy Commune, Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province, has been listed among the 21 most beautiful waterfalls in the world in 2024 by the travel magazine Travel + Leisure. Ban Gioc, the only waterfall of Vietnam, was ranked 17th in the Travel + Leisure’s list of the 21 most beautiful waterfalls in the world in 2024.
Lying on the Vietnam-China border, with a height of over 60 meters and the longest slope of some 30 meters, Ban Gioc Waterfall encompasses a series of cascades. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls of Vietnam, the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia, and the fourth largest border waterfall in the world.
The 21 most beautiful waterfalls in the world in 2024 are: Victoria Falls (Zambia and Zimbabwe), Havasu Falls (Arizona, the U.S.), Angel Falls (Venezuela), Dudhsagar Falls (India), Yosemite Falls (California, the U.S.), Seljalandsfoss (Iceland), ‘Akaka Falls (Hawaii, the U.S.), Iguazu Falls (Argentina and Brazil), Plitvice Waterfalls (Croatia), Sutherland Falls (New Zealand), Niagara Falls (the U.S. and Canada), Jog Falls (India), Kawasan Falls (the Philippines), Kuangsi Falls (Laos), Kaieteur Falls (Guyana), Tegenungan Waterfall (Bali, Indonesia), Ban Gioc Waterfall (Vietnam), Jim Jim Falls (Australia), Yumbilla Falls (Peru), Rhine Falls (Switzerland), and Multnomah Falls (Oregan, the U.S.).
Young people collect trash in Saigon’s canals
Saigon Xanh, a voluntary group in HCMC, has collected garbage in polluted canals around HCMC for years. Recently, the group has managed to install plastic buoys attached with metal fences in several canals to gather waste and thus make it easy to be collected.
Nguyen Luong Ngoc, head of Saigon Xanh, told vnexpress.net that chains of plastic buoys attached with metal fences have been installed in selected sections of some canals around the city over the past six months. So far, six chains of such plastic buoys with metal fences below have been installed in the canals in District 12, Binh Thanh District, and Thu Duc City.
Each chain costs VND3.5 million to VND30 million, depending on the number of plastic buoys and metal fences. They were bought from the fund of the group and contributions of benefactors. Depending on the length of the canal section chosen for the installation of the chain, the number of plastic buoys and metal fences varies from 5-30 plastic buoys and metal fences.
Once a month, the group members take turns to collect garbage gathered at these chains, sort the waste and transport it to dumpsites.
Foreigner serves pork skewers and sizzling pancakes in Hanoi
Moritz, a 28-year-old man from Switzerland, visited Vietnam last year and traveled from the north to the south of the country. Falling in love with the beauty and culture of Vietnam, he decided to return to the country in end-2023 to take part in a six-week voluntary activity.
Having many friends in Hanoi, especially Le Duyen, a girlfriend who is good at cooking, Moritz then decided to stay in the capital city. Given his love for Vietnamese cuisine, he supported Duyen when she opened an eatery serving sizzling pancakes and pork lemongrass skewers in a foreigners’ quarter in Hanoi.
With Duyen’s English proficiency and the help of Moritz every evening after his work, her eatery attracted quite a few local diners and expatriates living or working in Hanoi. Helping his girlfriend in grilling pork lemongrass skewers and preparing dipping sauce, Moritz told tuoitre.vn that he could improve his Vietnamese skill through speaking with Duyen and many new Vietnamese friends in the capital city.
Adorning fishing villages with over 110 artworks
The local government of Tam Thanh Commune in Tam Ky City, Quang Nam Province, inaugurated a program in May to enhance artistic products at Tam Thanh Community Art Village. Plans include adding over 110 murals and artworks to adorn the fishing village.
Around 120 volunteer artists from various provinces and cities nationwide collaborated with local residents to create murals and paintings on sculptural objects, and they exhibited their artworks in the village. The artworks comprised 20 mural paintings on house walls, 33 artworks on boats, 50 on roofed boats, and between 10 to 15 sculptures, according to dulich.laodong.vn.
Tran Nam Hung, secretary of the Tam Ky City’s Party Committee, said the program’s goal is to enrich the artistic products, thereby supporting tourism development in both Tam Thanh Commune and Tam Ky City. Established in June 2017, Tam Thanh Community Art Village is the nation’s first mural village.
