“Peach, Pho and Piano” has generated 1 billion VND in revenue and is now being screened in 11 cities

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As of February 21, the independent statistical unit Box Office Vietnam reported that the “Peach, Pho, and Piano” film made VND 1 billion in revenue. The film is currently screening in 11 provinces and cities across Vietnam, including Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Thanh Hoa, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Hoa, Binh Duong, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Lao Cai. This is great news for those who have been eagerly waiting for the movie to be released nationwide.

Behind the scenes of the movie “Peach, Pho and Piano”.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Beta Group, Mr. Bui Quang Minh, announced that “Peach, Pho, and Piano” will premiere nationwide through Beta theaters on February 22. The movie is expected to run for at least four weeks, but the number of screenings and specific screening hours have not been disclosed yet and will depend on the situation.

The film will be shown in Beta theaters and Cinestar theaters, and both theater systems and distributors will charge for tickets. However, they will not share the revenue as per the State’s regulations on ordered movies, which require ticket fees to be refunded to the State budget.

The film’s total investment was VND 20 billion, so the revenue of VND 1 billion is still quite modest. However, experts consider the film to be a good sign for state-ordered films and a testament to the efforts of the film crew and relevant management agencies.

Director Phi Tien Son behind the scenes of the movie set. (Photo: FBNV)

To produce more state-ordered films like “Peach, Pho, and Piano”, experts in the film industry suggest additional solutions such as investing in promotion and film distribution, and developing the Cinema Fund for projects.

Following the film’s success, director Phi Tien Son expressed his gratitude to the audience and colleagues who helped him make the movie. He called it a special thing and said that the audience’s interest in the film has been very touching. He hopes that his colleagues will gradually repay the debt owed to the audience on historical topics soon.

“Peach, Pho, and Piano” is a film commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and directed by Meritorious Artist Phi Tien Son. The film narrates the 60-day battle that took place in Hanoi from late 1946 to early 1947 during the Winter-Spring season.

In addition to portraying the intense war scenes, the film also showcases the love story between a militiaman named Van Dan (played by Doan Quoc Dam) and a Hanoi woman named Thuc Huong (played by Cao Thi Thuy Linh). Furthermore, the film highlights the story of an old artist (played by People’s Artist Tran Luc) who aspires to create a valuable painting before his death and a pho shop couple who hope to finish cooking a pot of pho before evacuating.

Hanoi: Deploying cashless parking fee collection

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Tay Ho district in Hanoi has started a new system for collecting parking fees that doesn’t require cash. This is being tested as part of Project 06 on the National Digital Transformation of the Government. The first area to try it is around the Tay Ho Palace ceremony area and Tran Quoc Pagoda. This new payment method has made things faster and easier for people who park their cars or motorbikes in the area. It has also helped with traffic, security, and safety during the New Year holidays.

In the area, there are four parking lots, three for cars and one for motorbikes. All of them now accept cashless payments and show the prices publicly. This has made it easier for people to know how much they will have to pay and has stopped them from being overcharged.

The police in the area have said that the new way of paying has also helped with traffic and made things more organized. During the Tet peak, many cars and motorbikes were coming and going, but there were no traffic jams or thefts.

Collecting cashless parking fees has also made things easier for the government to manage. They can now collect data more easily and prevent any money from being lost.

In addition to the parking lots, restaurants and businesses around the area are encouraged to accept cashless payments. This will make things easier for people and stop thieves from stealing.

The government is planning to expand this new way of paying to other areas such as temples, pagodas, and airports in the future.

@vtv.vn

Paris Saint-Germain Becomes First Soccer Team to Validate a Blockchain

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The club will reinvest the proceeds from being a validator into buying back PSG fan tokens.

French soccer giant Paris Saint-Germain said it will become a network validator for the Chiliz Chain blockchain that hosts its PSG fan tokens, and use the money it generates to buy them back on a regular basis.

Sports clubs have dipped their toes in crypto over the years through the creation of fan tokens, which can be used for sports memorabilia and experiences, however this is the first time a club is getting involved as a blockchain validator. Validators are entities that manage blockchain nodes, securing the network through functions including transaction verification and smart-contract authorization. In exchange, validators generate revenue from running a node.

The club, currently leading France’s Ligue 1 competition, introduced its fan token in September 2018. The token now has a market cap of $28 million, according to CoinMarketCap data. The buy-back program will allow PSG to “regularly refresh” its fan token reserves and help build a sustainable digital economy around them, Chiliz said.

“We will optimize our future engagements for network effects, amplifying the value and revenue each stakeholder can generate and experience within this new digital economy,” Pär Helgosson, Paris Saint-Germain’s head of Web3, said in a statement.

Other big-name soccer clubs with tokens on Chiliz include FC Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus, Arsenal, Inter Milan and AC Milan.

Paris Saint-Germain also announced that it will host a hackathon event at its Parc Des Princes in the coming months in an event that will be co-hosted by Chiliz.

Bitcoin Back Over $51K, Crypto Market Recovers as Nvidia’s Earnings Rejuvenates AI-Tokens

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The haphazard price action caused over $200 million in liquidations of crypto-tracked futures, of which $150 million were longs, or bets, against higher prices.

Bitcoin fell to as low as $50,700 late Wednesday, while ether dropped just under $2890 before reversing losses early Thursday.

Some traders said the sell-offs were expected and not indicative of a broader market trend, citing price-action analysis.

The crypto market hit multi-month highs earlier this week, declining a bit, before recovering early Thursday, as traders took profits and market observers looked to the earnings report of chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA) as a catalyst for movements.

Bitcoin (BTC) fell to as low as $50,700 late Wednesday, while ether (ETH) dropped just under $2890 before reversing some losses. Polygon’s MATIC led losses among crypto majors, slipping 7%, while Cardano’s ADA and XRP were down as much as 5%. Meanwhile, the CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20), a benchmark for the biggest and most liquid cryptocurrencies, dropped 1.2%.

Markets slumped in anticipation of Nvidia’s fourth-quarter earnings reports, which beat expectations and spurred a rally in artificial intelligence (AI) tokens. AI tokens saw a surge in activity last week on the back of OpenAI introducing its Sora product. The total market cap of AI tokens crossed $15 billion, with Worldcoin’s WLD hitting an all-time high.

The haphazard price action caused over $200 million in liquidations of crypto-tracked futures, of which $150 million were longs or bets on higher prices. Shorts, or bets on lower prices, were later impacted as the market recovered following the Nvidia report.

As such, some traders said the sell-off was expected and not indicative of a broader market trend, citing price-action analysis.

“Bitcoin has managed to avoid a sell-off without replicating the upward momentum observed in recent days,” said Alex Kuptsikevich, FxPro senior market analyst, in an email. “Technically, Ethereum’s pullback to $2700 is a correction of this month’s rally and should not cause much alarm. “A break below these levels could be a cause for concern for these assets,” he added.

However, some market participants are predicting the start of the alt season, but some remain cautious.

Markus Thielen, head of 10x Research, pointed to the continued dominance of bitcoin with a 51% market share in a report earlier this week. Thielen said dominance “needs to fall below 45%” for the altcoin season to begin.

Bitcoin dominance represents the ratio between the market capitalization of bitcoin and the market capitalization of all other cryptocurrencies. Historically, falling dominance has indicated a migration of capital toward other tokens, which is favorable for altcoin investors.

Nha Trang prepares to welcome tens of thousands of cruise tourists

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Nha Trang is expected to welcome a massive influx of tourists via sea tourism routes in 2024.

On February 21st, Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, stated that approximately 43 international cruise ships are expected to choose Nha Trang Bay as a port of call to disembark tourists for sightseeing in 2024.

Specifically, from the beginning of 2024 until now, there have been 10 sea cruise ships entering Nha Trang Bay, bringing nearly 21,000 tourists ashore to visit this coastal city. Currently, cruise ship companies have also scheduled visits to Nha Trang. According to the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, this is a positive signal towards a new year full of optimism for international tourism to Khanh Hoa and sea tourism in Vietnam in general.

According to Ms. Thanh, among the 43 planned cruise ship visits to Nha Trang, most of the tourist ships are luxurious, with the majority flying the flags of the Bahamas, Malta, the Marshall Islands, France, Italy, etc. Many of these ships can accommodate thousands of passengers at once, such as the Spectrum of The Seas, 347 meters in length, and the Quantum of the Seas, over 340 meters in length, both capable of carrying 4,000 passengers…

The coastal city of Nha Trang has many strengths to welcome international cruise ships

In 2023, Khanh Hoa province welcomed 23 sea cruise ship visits with over 45,000 tourists visiting the city of Nha Trang. However, all the ships arrived and departed on the same day because they could not dock at Nha Trang seaport but had to anchor outside the bay, then use small vessels to transfer passengers ashore. Additionally, most ships planned for a short time to visit the city before returning passengers to the ship to rest and continue the journey.

To better accommodate and serve the increasing number of international tourists arriving by sea in 2024, tour operators and tourism entities in Khanh Hoa have designed numerous tours and sightseeing programs. Alongside city tours, featuring popular destinations such as Ponagar Tower, Long Son Pagoda, and Dam Market, there are tours that take visitors to explore the production of rice paper, observe buffalo plowing rice fields, visit rural households, enjoy tropical fruits, visit Phu Vinh Temple, Loc Tho Weaving Village, Xom Moi Market, Long Son Pagoda…

This year, the tourism industry in the province aims to welcome 9 million visitors for accommodation, sightseeing, and relaxation, including 6 million domestic tourists and 3 million international tourists, with tourism revenue reaching over 40 trillion VND.

@Thanhnien.vn

Surpassing Maldives, Hoi An becomes the dream honeymoon destination of 2024

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Surpassing renowned names like the Maldives or Venice, Hoi An has become the second favorite honeymoon destination in the dream list of 25 destinations for 2024 by Tripadvisor.

Accordingly, Hoi An is the sole representative of Vietnam on the list, ranking second after Bali, Indonesia, famous for its long beaches with fine white sand and beautiful scenery.

Located on the coast of Central Vietnam’s Quang Nam province, this city is an important trading port in Southeast Asia from the 15th to the 19th century, and it has been well preserved to this day.

Not only that, but it’s also a popular stopover for backpackers, especially gaining more fame among foreign tourists.

On the 14th lunar day of each month, Hoi An is sparkling and romantic with the light of colorful traditional lanterns. Additionally, the ancient town has famous landmarks such as the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Quan Cong Temple.

When visiting Hoi An, tourists should consider getting tailored clothes from skilled tailors. This is an experience worth trying and not to be missed.

Other destinations on the list include other “celebrities” such as the Maldives, Dominica Republic, Santorini Greece, Mauritius, Venice Italy, Khao Lak Thailand, Zanzibar, Budapest Hungary…

The list is part of Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best 2024 to honor destinations with restaurants, hotels, and entertainment activities that have received significantly more votes than expected from travelers. Less than 1% of the 8 million profiles were awarded Best of the Best.

@Vietnamnet

Civil Aviation Authority requires airlines to report Tet holiday ticket prices

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The Civil Aviation Authority has requested airlines to report Tet holiday flight ticket sales in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Transport by no later than February 26th.

Airline ticket prices during Tet used to “fever” every day. Photo: VNA.

The Civil Aviation Authority has recently sent a document to airlines including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines, requesting reports on the sale of flight tickets for the 2024 Lunar New Year.

Companies are also required to report on monitoring the activities of airlines regarding ticket agents and measures taken, with reports to be submitted no later than February 26th.

Previously, the Ministry of Transport had issued a document requesting the Civil Aviation Authority to inspect and clarify media reports on the “skyrocketing” airline ticket prices each day.

This agency is also responsible for enhancing transportation inspection activities, serving passengers; ticket sales activities, implementing price declaration, price listing, and publicly disclosing information on airline ticket prices during peak periods…

According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority, the total air passenger transportation market from February 8th to February 14th (from the 29th of the Lunar December to the 5th day of Tet) reached over 1.5 million passengers, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2023.

Of which, international passenger transportation reached nearly 750,000 passengers, an increase of 54%; while domestic passenger transportation reached over 762,000 passengers, a decrease of 13%. The total cargo transportation volume reached nearly 8,500 tons, an increase of 7%.

The total transportation volume of Vietnamese airlines reached 1.1 million passengers, a decrease of nearly 3%, and over 2.8 tons of cargo, an increase of 17%.

The Civil Aviation Authority evaluates that during the Tet holiday of the Year of the Dragon 2024, air passenger transportation activities met the demand for passenger travel and cargo transportation occurred regularly, smoothly, and continuously.

@Znews

10 friendliest destinations in Vietnam 2024

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Hoi An has been voted as the most hospitable and friendly destination in Vietnam, followed by Phong Nha and Ninh Binh.

Hoi An, Phong Nha, Ninh Binh, Cao Bang… are among the top tourist-friendly destinations in 2024. Photo: Phuong Lam.

On February 20, the online booking platform Booking.com announced the ranking of the 10 most friendly destinations in Vietnam in 2024. This is a category within the framework of the Traveller Review Awards 2024 of this application.

Accordingly, Hoi An, the famous historical city of Quang Nam, tops the ranking. Next are Phong Nha (Quang Binh) and Ninh Binh, two famous tourist destinations in Vietnam.

The list also includes places like Cao Bang, Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Ha Giang, Ha Long (Quang Ninh), Da Lat (Lam Dong), Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen), and Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa). In 2023, Phong Nha was in the top position.

According to Booking, whether you’re a food enthusiast, a beach lover, or simply want to immerse yourself in nature, these destinations all offer travelers the opportunity to explore and experience. Each place provides warm hospitality and excellent friendliness, making the travel journey more memorable and meaningful than ever.

Booking also announced the list of the 10 most friendly destinations in the world in 2024, including Arraial d’Ajuda (Brazil), Ermoupoli (Greece), Viana do Castelo (Portugal), Daylesford (Australia), Grindelwald (Switzerland), Moab (USA), Uzes (France), Mazatlan (Mexico), Jaisalmer (India), and Fujikawaguchiko (Japan).

Last year, Ninh Binh was the only destination in Vietnam on this list, ranking 7th.

Hanoi is a destination with many of the friendliest establishments in Vietnam. Photo: Do Le Anh Trang.

In addition to destinations, Booking also announced hotels as the leading type of accommodation in terms of friendliness in Vietnam.

In recent times, travelers are increasingly seeking more unique lodging experiences rather than just sticking to the traditional hotel model. Vietnam is no exception to this trend.

Despite the development of many unique types of accommodations, hotels still lead with the title of “most friendly,” followed by rental apartments, homestays, luxury resort apartments, and finally guesthouses.

The diversity and popularity of these types of accommodations in Vietnam show that travelers highly appreciate not only the variety of choices but also the unique hospitality that providers offer.

Booking also noted that Hanoi is the most friendly destination in terms of accommodations in Vietnam, followed by Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat.

The Traveller Review Award is an annual event that has been taking place for the past 12 years. Varun Grover, Booking’s Country Director in Vietnam, said that this award is a way to acknowledge the relentless efforts of over 1.5 million travel partners worldwide, operating in 221 countries and territories. Notably, among them are over 11,360 partners in Vietnam. The rankings of this award are based on 309 million real reviews from experts and travelers, creating a true and reliable picture of the quality of tourism services.

@Znews

Vietnamese Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Fashion Shine at Fashion Week 2024 in London and Paris

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Through their collaborative efforts to pay homage to the traditional textile industry and Vietnamese heritage, La Pham and EWA have captivated audiences at the recent Fashion Week events in London and Paris.

This marks a significant milestone in their shared mission to uplift ethnic minority communities in Vietnam, such as the H’mong in Ha Giang and the Thai in Mai Chau, while championing sustainable fashion practices globally.

London Fashion Week 2024: A Journey Through Nostalgia at Tower Bridge

Hosted by House of Ikons against the iconic backdrop of Tower Bridge, La Pham and Empower Women Asia will unveil their distinctive collections, promising a memorable fusion of cultural narratives and worldwide resonance through impactful presentations and introductions.

Paris Fashion Week 2024: A Symphony of Elegance at Vendome Paris

The collaboration continues in Paris, as Home of Fashion welcomes La Pham and Empower Women Asia to the prestigious Vendome Paris venue, radiating opulence and refinement. Here, the intricate beauty of Vietnamese craftsmanship will be showcased, reinforcing the global footprint of both brands.

Advocating for Traditional Sustainable Heritage

This collaboration underscores a global commitment to sustainable fashion and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. By showcasing the traditional weaving arts of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities, the initiative aims to foster a deeper appreciation for eco-conscious fashion and cultural conservation.

Empowering Asian Women: Fostering Empowerment and Solidarity

At the heart of this partnership lies Empower Women Asia’s dedication to empowering minority women in Asia through economic and social initiatives. By providing a platform for these artisans to showcase their talents, EWA is instrumental in preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Their participation in London and Paris Fashion Week epitomizes their steadfast dedication to these communities, as well as broader principles of gender equality and environmental sustainability.

Ngoc Anh: Pioneering Design Excellence

Driving these groundbreaking designs is Ngoc Anh, a visionary designer seamlessly blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics. Her creations transcend mere garments, weaving narratives of cultural identity and environmental consciousness, brought to life by the skilled hands of minority artisans.

A Legacy of Collaborative Advocacy

The partnership between La Pham and Empower Women Asia is rooted in shared values and past successes, with numerous collaborative fashion events celebrating the talents of ethnic minority women in Vietnam. Together, they have consistently worked to create opportunities for these artisans, ensuring their voices are heard and their craft recognized on a global stage.

Honoring Unsung Artisans

La Pham and Empower Women Asia’s presence at London and Paris Fashion Week 2024 pays tribute to Vietnam’s often-overlooked minority women artisans, who tirelessly contribute to their communities. Through this collaboration, their stories and legacies will be shared with the world, marking a significant stride in acknowledging their contributions and elevating Vietnam’s presence on the international stage.

Install 5-lane temporary overpass at gateway to Tan Son Nhat airport

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Building temporary overpasses is aimed at temporarily relieving traffic pressure on Tran Quoc Hoan Street while the construction unit expands the scope of barriers for the construction of the Tran Quoc Hoan – Phan Thuc Duyen underpass (part of the project connecting Tran Quoc Hoan – Cong Hoa).

The joint venture of CK4 Group Joint Stock Company – Thanh Phat Construction Company Limited – Saigon Traffic Construction Joint Stock Company is maintaining 2 continuous construction sites: the open tunnel area on Phan Thuc Duyen Street adjacent to the airport and the tunnel located in the middle of Hoang Van Thu park

Representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Management Project Investment Management Board (Traffic Management Board) confirmed on the morning of February 21 that the proposed measures to ensure traffic safety for the Tran Quoc Hoan – Phan Thuc Duyen underpass project have been approved by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport.

Accordingly, starting from February 24, the construction contractor will expand the scope of existing barriers on Phan Thuc Duyen Street (on the Thang Long Street side) to Tran Quoc Hoan Street by an additional 13.5 meters to construct the underpass crossing Tran Quoc Hoan Street (Tan Binh District). The initial phase of expanding the barriers will reduce the existing 5 lanes on Tran Quoc Hoan Street to 3 lanes. Therefore, temporary overpasses will be installed with 5 lanes on the route to relieve the pressure of vehicles coming from the direction of Tan Son Nhat Airport area.

The plan is that from February 25 to April 25, the contractors will build a temporary overpass on Thang Long Street, 66 meters long, 14 meters wide, with 3 lanes. Then, from April 25 to June 25, the second temporary overpass will also be constructed with a scale of 2 lanes, 100 meters long, 9 meters wide towards Hoang Van Thu Park for vehicle passage. From June 25 to December 31, the investor will proceed with the completion of the entire sealed underpass with a length of 79 meters, width ranging from 5 to 9 meters.

The Tran Quoc Hoan – Phan Thuc Duyen underpass project is package No. 9 of the project connecting Tran Quoc Hoan – Cong Hoa – a key project to solve congestion issues for the Tan Son Nhat gateway area, connecting to Terminal 3 in the future. This is the most important package of the road running through the Tan Son Nhat Airport area, with a total investment of over 4,800 billion VND, currently completing more than 50% of the construction volume.

@Thanhnien.vn

Saigon River Cruise ranks among the top romantic experiences worth trying

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Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hue are among the top 10 romantic destinations in Asia for couples in 2024. In Ho Chi Minh City, a standout experience is the Saigon River cruise.

Dinner on a Saigon River cruise is a great experience for couples. Photo: Rossaigon.

The travel website 12Go has just announced 10 romantic destinations in Asia for couples. Vietnam is represented with 3 renowned locations: Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hue (ranking 4th, 5th, and 6th respectively).

According to 12Go, Da Nang is a romantic resort destination favored by couples from around the world. Visitors can explore the beauty of this city through a cruise on the Han River. Da Nang at night resembles a poetic painting under the sparkling lights.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the travel website suggests couples explore the city’s romance through a dinner cruise on the Saigon River. This is not only an opportunity to admire the city’s glittering beauty at nightfall but also a chance to enjoy a peaceful and joyful atmosphere together.

With flexible ticket prices and a variety of accompanying services, from rich dining experiences featuring Asian-European flavors to lively entertainment performances, tourists can indulge in and experience memorable moments on the river flowing through many districts of the city.

Meanwhile, Hue, the prominent city on the banks of the Perfume River, is not only a tourist destination but also a vivid picture with a unique blend of ancient and modern landscapes. It offers a romantic and poetic atmosphere suitable for couples to immerse themselves in peaceful and beautiful surroundings.

@Znews

Schedule for visiting the HCMC People’s Council and People’s Committee headquarters in 2024

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In 2024, Ho Chi Minh City will organize 12 tours to visit the National-level Architectural Art Heritage of the People’s Council and People’s Committee Headquarters of Ho Chi Minh City, starting from February 24th and 25th.

The program aims to offer visitors new tourism products, contributing to attracting both domestic and international tourists to the city.

Tourists visit the Headquarters of the People’s Council – People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Saigontourist

The tours of the People’s Council and People’s Committee Headquarters of Ho Chi Minh City in 2024 are scheduled to be held in 12 rounds, each round comprising two days on the last Saturday and Sunday of the month.

Specifically, Round 1: February 24th and 25th; Round 2: March 30th and 31st; Round 3: April 27th and 28th; Round 4: May 25th and 26th; Round 5: June 29th and 30th; Round 6: July 27th and 28th; Round 7: August 24th and 25th; Round 8: August 31st and September 1st (on the occasion of the 79th National Day anniversary); Round 9: September 28th and 29th; Round 10: October 26th and 27th; Round 11: November 23rd and 24th; and Round 12: December 28th and 29th.

Visitors will explore a part of the National-level Architectural Art Heritage of the People’s Council and People’s Committee Headquarters of Ho Chi Minh City. On the ground floor, visitors will tour the main hall, international guest reception room 1, and the main staircase. On the first floor, visitors will explore the main hall, international guest reception rooms 2 and 3, balcony, and meeting room 5.

Each tour lasts for 60 minutes. Visitors will have 15 minutes to explore the exterior of the headquarters, 35 minutes inside, and 10 minutes for photography in the visited area. Additionally, visitors will receive a briefing on the history and development of the building, architectural highlights, artistic design outside the building, and the functions of each room.

The People’s Committee Headquarters of Ho Chi Minh City is one of the remaining French architectural heritages in Ho Chi Minh City. In 2020, the building was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National-level Architectural Art Heritage.

@SGtiepthi

Vietnamese fermented pork roll ranks among the world’s best spicy dishes

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The culinary specialty website Taste Atlas has recently honored a series of Vietnamese dishes in its list of the best dishes in the region and the world.

Experts from the prestigious culinary website based in Croatia have always favored Vietnamese cuisine. In the recently released ranking of the 100 best desserts in Asia, flan or caramel custard is the only representative from Vietnam in the top, ranking 87th out of 100.

While this type of cake originates from Europe, it is now popular in many places around the world. In Vietnam, flan is prevalent and widely enjoyed. The soft cake, covered with a layer of caramel, is evaluated by Taste Atlas as a “classic dessert, timeless,” “delicate and visually appealing.”

Additionally, six other Vietnamese dishes including spring rolls (ranked 30th), savory fried pancakes (ranked 53rd), fresh spring rolls (ranked 57th), shrimp paste on sugarcane (ranked 73rd), fried cake (ranked 87th), and mini savory pancakes (ranked 100th) made it to the top 100 best snacks in Asia.

Standing highest on this list is the Vietnamese spring rolls, recognized by Taste Atlas as having a “visually appealing golden color, thin crispy outer layer, and deliciously fragrant filling.”

Previously, Taste Atlas also honored boiled chicken along with three other Vietnamese dishes in the top “65 best chicken dishes in Asia.” Pho, bun rieu, hotpot, sour soup, and Nam Vang-style noodle soup are among the dishes with the best broth in Asia.

On February 9th, fermented pork roll, a starter made from pork and spices fermented for 3-5 days, was the only representative of Vietnam named in Taste Atlas’ list of the world’s best spicy dishes.

In the list of the “100 best beef dishes in the world,” Vietnam also has a series of dishes named such as beef stew (ranked 4th), beef in vinegar hotpot (ranked 6th), shaking beef (ranked 58th), and beef noodle salad (ranked 95th).

Established in 2015, Taste Atlas connects with 9,000 local restaurants, introducing over 10,000 dishes to readers, with thousands of reviews and research by culinary experts and chefs. The website aims to become a world map of traditional dishes made from local ingredients.

@Vietnamnet

Ho Chi Minh City invites bids for 17 bus routes connecting to metro No. 1

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On February 27th, Ho Chi Minh City will organize an opening session for bidding documents for 17 bus routes connecting the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line. These bus routes will not receive subsidies.

Ho Chi Minh City invites bids for 17 bus routes connecting to metro No. 1. Photo: Minh Hoang.

The Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Center has recently sent invitations to passenger transport units by bus to submit capability profiles for providing public passenger transport services on the 17 bus routes connecting urban railway line No. 1 (Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line). The session for opening capability profiles will take place on the afternoon of February 27th.

These bus routes operate without subsidies. The contract period will be from July 1st, 2024, to June 30th, 2026, with the possibility of extension subject to decisions by the competent authority. These are the bus routes connecting to the upcoming Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line.

Previously, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council (HĐND TPHCM) had passed a resolution on the investment policy for enhancing access and organizing connections between bus routes and stations along urban railway line No. 1.

The city will invest in technical infrastructure to serve these bus routes, connecting them to the metro stations and bus stops around the 11 stations for passenger transfers. The total investment for the project is over 93 billion Vietnamese dong from the city’s budget.

As of now, the construction progress of metro line No. 1 Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien has reached 97.5%. The project is expected to be completed and put into operation in July 2024.

@SGtiepthi

Starknet’s STRK Drops 53% Amid Token Issuance Criticism

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The tokens started trading at around $5 apiece, exchange data shows, but fell ahead of significant token unlocks planned in the months ahead.

Starknet’s STRK tokens lost half their value after going live for trading on Tuesday as the team faces ongoing criticism around a 2022 token generation event.

Data shows that STRK has been down 55% in the past 24 hours, with over $1.2 billion in trading volumes. Only $3 million worth of STRK futures were liquidated, suggesting most of the selling pressure was spot-driven.

Some 728 million STRK were distributed to around 1.3 million addresses based on predetermined criteria, such as participation on the blockchain and in its community. The selling pressure suggests that recipients likely sold tokens as soon as possible.

Over 100,000 wallets have claimed upward of 220 million STRK as of Tuesday, the team said on X.

Starknet is an Ethereum rollup platform that allows applications to scale using zero-knowledge proof technology to prove the veracity of a set of data without revealing the data itself.

A large part, 50.1% of STRK’s supply, has been allocated to the Starknet Foundation for community airdrops, grants and donations. 24.68% of STRK’s total supply will be distributed to early contributors and investors, while 32% has been assigned to developer StarkWare’s (its developer) employees, consultants and developer partners.

The tokens will be unlocked every month for 31 months, starting from April, adding to possible selling pressure.

However, the schedule for team and investor unlocks has created criticism among some in crypto circles.

In the past week, market observers seemingly discovered that Starknet’s actual token generation event took place in November 2022, initially having a one-year vesting period that was later pushed to April 2024.

Starknet developers say the generation event was mentioned and documented in its technical papers, but it was one that the market seemed to have missed. However, some critics consider it an obfuscation of facts – one that may benefit insiders more than the community, observers say.

Ideally, such a vesting period begins after tokens go live on exchanges or are issued closer to their trading date. In STRK’s case, the issuance was done nearly two years before a public announcement of the tokens in an unusual step.

That means core contributors and investors will see 13.1% of the supply unlocked in April 2023 and more than each month beyond this. The initial unlock could be worth more than $2.6 billion at current prices, data from Token Unlocks shows.

Starknet has followed its decision so far and has not changed the vesting date as of Wednesday.

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