A fresh batch of baguettes From the countryside to the city, the long bread made by hand is a familiar image in the daily life of the French people. The baguette has also been a creative inspiration for many artists and has gone into many works of art. From a foreign perspective, when it comes to France, in terms of cuisine, the baguette is probably one of the most intimate and simple symbols, next to countless types of wine, champagne or cheese. So when did baguettes in France come from? According to historian Steven Kaplan, up to now, in France, there are usually three anecdotes about the origin of baguette bread. It is said by many that the long bread was invented by the bakers of Emperor Napoleon in the early 19th century. Lighter and less bulky than the earlier round loaf, the long loaves were easily carried by soldiers. people. In another anecdote, baguettes originated in Austria and were brought to France by a Viennese baker named August Zang in 1839, and were originally sold in Paris as ovals. And finally, the baguette was invented on the Paris subway site in the 1900s, a time when workers from all over France flocked here, and there were often fights between Brittany and regional workers. Auvergne. To prevent workers from stabbing each other with knives, contractors are said to have asked bakers to make loaves of bread that are easy to break by hand rather than using a knife. However, those are just oral anecdotes. Historian Steven Kaplan asserts that the traditional baguette originated in the 20th century, stemming from a change in the dietary needs of urban people. The affluent class living in urban areas wanted to eat fresh bread many times a day, while the big, round breads weighing 1.2-2kg at that time were too big, they had to eat a few meals to finish. Moreover, people also prefer to eat the crust rather than the inside. For centuries before that, bread was made with sourdough, obtained by the natural fermentation of bacteria found in wheat. For the workers, the process of making cakes is very hard work. Steven Kaplan recounted, the baker at that time was likened to a “white miner”, working all night. Many consider it inhumane to let bakers work in such conditions, leading to a movement to find ways to reduce their hardship. By 1919, France had a law banning bakers from working at night. Therefore, the craftsmen have come up with a simpler way to make bread and shape the long, thin baguette to bake the cake faster. And so the baguette was born. According to the National Federation of French Bakery and Pastry Shops, 32,000 artisan bakeries with 180,000 employees earn about 11 billion EUR/year in revenue. However, the French Ministry of Culture said that the number of bakeries has dropped sharply in the past five decades due to competition from supermarkets with industrial, frozen bread. Many people hope that the French Ministry of Culture’s selection of baguettes to submit to UNESCO for nominations for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will contribute to preserving France’s artisanal bread production from the competition of the industrial production methods.

Customers buy bread at a shop on Phan Dinh Phung Street, Bien Hoa City. Photo: Huy Anh According to the document, French baguette bread appeared in Hanoi since the early 20th century. Hanoians call it “Western cake” because the cake is made by the French. People from other regions in the country call it “bread” because the baking ingredient is flour. The French baguette has many anecdotes about its origins. It is said that it was made by Napoleon’s baker in the 19th century instead of the previous round loaf for soldiers to carry conveniently. Another anecdote suggests that the baguette originated in Austria, and was introduced to France in 1839 in the form of an oval. There are also people who believe that in the 1890s, French workers in those two regions often fought and used bread knives (old type) as weapons, so the contractor made long bread. need a knife. The French historian Steven Kaplan explained that because the old bread was round, weighing over 1.2kg, it took a few days to finish, so people made baguettes more compact to break and eat during the day, and had a crust to help. delicious. On the other hand, making old-fashioned bread is very laborious and time-consuming, so the new type of cake helps less labor, and the baking time is also shorter. *** In those days, the baguette was long, so no one ate “one loaf” at one time. In addition to the shops, this type of long bread is peddled on the street by charies on motorbikes or bicycles carrying boxes of wheels and all sorts of “spare parts” behind the car. The wheelie box is usually closed in aluminum in an inverted U shape, with a lid, placed on the “boggage” of the vehicle. When stopping to sell, the car is erected with a solid footrest on the rear wheel. On the inverted U-shaped aluminum box, in addition to the loaves of bread, which are still intact or half-cut, are pork skin, chopped and thin roast pork, shumai, pork sausage, spring rolls, coriander, green onions, tomatoes , sliced ​​chili, soy sauce (soy sauce), pickles, sauces, salt and pepper… In 2021, the French Ministry of Culture submitted a dossier to UNESCO to nominate French baguettes as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Buyers can ask to cut the middle or top of the loaf for themselves. Depending on the purchase price, the loaf is cut into one-third or one-quarter length. The cut is usually a 30-45 degree diagonal to the cake body. Many people like to eat simple bread (but is considered to be luxurious) sandwiched with sausage or spring rolls, or fried eggs, pork rub… sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, add coriander stalks. Also a “luxury” with half or whole shumai sandwich with chili slices, chan shumai, can be sprayed with a little soy sauce for flavor. Another “luxury” class is bread with canned fish, usually sardines. If you are poor, you can eat bread with sauce, add a little soy sauce or maybe baguette. Normal and medium is bread filled with meat, tamarind. Street vendors are usually men, but rarely see women. They cut the cake, add the filling according to the customer’s request, before adding the sauce, they often ask “Can you remove the chili?”. Finally, they took a pre-cut piece of newspaper (or old school paper from the student) wrapped around the piece of cake, adding an elastic band to the outside. Receiving money, they always smile for the love of “God”, especially with the children on the way to school. Sweetened condensed milk sandwiches like “Ong Tho Milk” are children’s favorites. Many children also like to make a cup of hot milk and then break the bread to eat it. This way of eating comes from the program of the Ministry of Education that day, providing a light breakfast for elementary school students with bread and milk “Foremost” mixed in a glass. This is also a dish of patients during recovery because it is easy to digest and has nutrients. My childhood was associated with baguettes with tails, skins, chopped roast pork, pickles, sauces and no chili. On days when I had to be treated for illness, I tore bread into small pieces and put it in a glass of milk and then scooped it up with a spoon. The aftertaste of the last part of the cake is rarely mixed with the filling and sauce of ordinary bread, and the sweet aroma of the milk of the sick days at that time, as if still somewhere in me. *** Bread is processed by Vietnamese people in bakeries with the main ingredient being flour (some places add a small percentage of rice flour). After kneading the dough, adding baking powder, the cake is molded into small loaves, the top is covered with a layer of sugar water to create a light yellow color for the crust. Each loaf is also slit from 1-3 lines to allow the dough to expand and the cake after baking has 1-3 “eyes”. French bread served to delegates attending a ceremony to celebrate the Independence Day of the French Republic (July 14) at the Consulate General of France in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Luong Xuan Tuyen Bread now still has a French baguette-style long cake or a smaller baguette, which is limited in some supermarkets (such as Cora before, BigC…). Most bread today makes one serving, about an arm’s length in length. Depending on the bakery and the taste of the eater, there are types of bread with crispy crust, soft and hollow intestines for easy filling; bread “scented with butter”… There are also palm-sized cakes, thin slices… The filling now has butter, cheese spread on the inside of the cake before adding the filling, then the pate, sausage, western style; There are banh lou, Chinese style char siu… In addition, there are also vegetarian sandwiches to meet the needs of vegetarians. Bicycles carrying the rear bread box for sale are almost gone, instead there are bread carts with a metal frame wrapped in aluminum below, three sides of glass on the top for buyers to see. cakes, attractive “stuffing” plates are placed inside. Some bread carts also allow their brand to be painted on the front glass, or a slogan. These bread carts are often located at fixed locations with many visitors such as roadside or market gate, theater… There are also shops where customers eat and sit with decent tables and chairs, specializing in a bread dish, usually is with shumai, sausages and most commonly an “omelette” with one or two eggs, or bread served with beef steak… Many bakeries sell cakes with fillings and water. their own special sauce, put in a paper bag printed with the shop’s brand, with toothpicks or small plastic cups of coke… for customers to “take away”. There is a bakery selling online, delivering goods in the amount of a few dozen loaves, free of “chips” for customers. In tourist areas, they often sell ice cream sandwiches, in the style of ice cream sandwiches in some countries. The cake is a small loaf the size of a palm or bread slices, ice cream is of all kinds depending on the customer’s choice. Recently, bread has also appeared in special forms such as: dragon fruit bread, charcoal bread … but it seems to be just a “movement” item with no signs of lasting long… Besides the popular bread as mentioned, there are also Hamburger bread, sweet worm-shaped bread, bit-cot bread (the old bread is baked again) while chewing while listening to the sound of crispy crispy bread, bread coated with white granulated sugar or cotton wool… Bread appears in parties or in family meals, served with curry, ra-gu… (chicken, duck, goat, beef, ostrich…). At noodle shops, noodle soup has pho or beef noodle soup served with bread. Banh mi is also available in noodle shops, noodle shops, and noodle shops to satisfy some people’s taste, the rest is considered as an “anti-hunger” side dish! *** In 2011, the term “banh mi” written in Vietnamese appeared in the Oxford dictionary with the caption: “A type of bread consisting of a cake with many different ingredients, usually meat, vegetables and chili”. Bread originated from Europe and imported to our country, but today, it has returned to its original origin with a new name, “Vietnamese bread” or “Saigon bread”, in the form of a loaf with filling. just one serving. Vietnamese bread in the US is considered a sandwich of this country. Many “Vietnamese bread” and “Saigon bread” shops have been opened in the capitals of France, England, Germany, etc., showing the attraction of dishes prepared by Vietnamese hands, second only to “Vietnamese noodle soup”. oversea.

Tran Trinh Huy (1900 – 1974) was the third son of Mr. Tran Trinh Trach, the richest landowner in Bac Lieu. Mr. Trach has 7 children including 3 boys – Tran Trinh Dinh, Tran Trinh Huy, Tran Trinh Khuong – and 4 girls. All 3 sons are notorious playboys, but the most prominent is still Uncle Huy. Prince of Black, Prince of Bac Lieu Tran Trinh Huy Uncle Ba Huy was born at a time when Mr. Council Trach’s estate was at its peak. Ba Huy’s childhood and childhood lived completely in luxury. Throughout the day, Uncle Ba was pampered and played to his heart’s content. Studying was not interested by Ba. However, when he was growing up, he had to meet the fashion trend of young people to study abroad in France, so Ba Huy asked his father’s permission to study abroad. With the concept that the surface field is not equal to giving his son a letter, Mr. Trach Council tried everything to let Uncle Ba go on the road. After three years in a foreign land, Uncle Ba returned home. In order to welcome the return of his son to be worthy of the family routine, Mr. Trach Council from Bac Lieu to Saigon went to the car company on the corner of Charner (Nguyen Hue) – Bonard (Le Loi) to buy a new car. Although the family’s old Ford is still in use and is the coveted dream of many people. Uncle Huy’s car. This car is currently on display at the Bac Lieu Prince’s showroom Looking at the council man with his grandmother’s clothes, with the … countryside with a faint smell of rice, the car salesmen showed disdain. Regardless, the councilman told his companions to choose the most luxurious, best and most expensive car for him. He sat in that car. Cozy, comfortable. Satisfied, the councilman pulled out the mound and opened it. Countless piles of money made the car salesman roll his eyes. After buying a car, the car was on duty at Nha Rong wharf to wait for the train carrying his son from France to return to the wharf. Uncle Ba Huy ashore to get on a new car next to it, carrying parents and relatives back to Bac Lieu. The car, driven by Uncle Ba Huy, ran at a fairly high speed, making the people sitting in the car tremble with fear. Sitting in the car, the council asked about his learning situation, he calmly replied that he only likes to learn to fly a plane, learn to dance, learn to drive as well as travel to visit farming. of the French. He also did not mention that he left the capital of light a French wife and a half-blood child. Unlike Bach, because he loved the stage, when he went to France, besides having fun, he also approached the Western stage, Ba Huy only focused on agriculture. Uncle Ba accumulated a little capital for farming, so he was then assigned by the council to look after the estate. However, being not interested in the job, Uncle Ba immediately hired a Frenchman to look after and manage the land and gardens. In his spare time, he indulges in playing, leaning with love affairs, going crazy with red and black animals… Compared with the king Going to Bac Lieu to meet the elders, you can hear anecdotes about . This anecdote follows the waterfall anecdote that makes the story of Ba Huy even more vivid. The story is told that after being assigned to manage the estate by his father, every time he visited the field, his father wore a cravatte vest and sat in a Ford vedette. In areas that have to travel by water, he uses canoes. At that time, all vehicles on the river were rowing. His father’s canoe to visit the fields powered by a machine is indeed a rare image in the countryside of Bac Lieu. Moreover, every time he plays sports, he uses a Peugeot sports car. This car was in the South at that time, in addition to his father, only one other person used it, King Bao Dai. Legend has it that in this world, Uncle Ba is not inferior to anyone, including kings. So whenever King Bao Dai had something, Ba Huy got it, including an airplane. The small plane was bought and brought back to Vietnam. Thanks to his time in France, he learned to fly, so Uncle Ba is a pilot who controls the plane every time he visits the field. King Bao Dai’s plane was purchased with public funds. Only Bac Lieu’s son is the only Vietnamese who owns a private jet. The reputation of Bac Lieu’s son’s way of life and play resounded throughout the land of Cochinchina. He lived in harmony with farmers, understanding the plight of farmers. He is willing to reduce rice, write off debts for special circumstances. He also enjoys playing. Once he flew a plane to visit the fields in Rach Gia, he went to Ha Tien. The scenery of Ha Tien was so beautiful that he kept wandering around in the sky until the fuel gauge ran out, he had to land at a nearby airport. Unfortunately, that airport is in Thai territory. Thai authorities impounded the plane and then fined an amount equivalent to 200,000 bushels of rice. Mr. Trach Council had to mobilize a rather long group of boats to carry rice to Thailand to pay the fine to welcome his son back. A newspaper at that time named Le Courrier Saigonnais also published information about this aircraft purchase event. The expression “Bac Lieu’s son” was born in the early 20th century to refer to the children of rich people who are more interested in playing than in learning and working. At first, this idiom was just to generalize about the rich children in Bac Lieu, but later on, because Ba Huy’s play performance was so outstanding, everyone understood that when it came to this word, it was referring to him. Prince of Bac Lieu Tran Trinh Huy is a special phenomenon that is probably difficult to find a second person in this world.

Red roses, books and lovers are the three indispensable factors in the streets of April. Not just a religious festival, this is considered the most romantic time of the year. In particular, for the people of Catalonia, it is more valuable and meaningful than Valentine’s Day. Spaniards often refer to April 23 as Rose Day, Book Festival, or a version of Valentine’s Day; is an opportunity for book lovers to gather, buy and buy books and celebrate the best holiday of the year: the Feast of Saint Jordi. On April 23, lovers will give books and red roses to their other half. Photo: Getty. Legend of red rose and Saint Jordi The origin of this religious festival is a mixture of traditional customs of many periods. According to legend, in the old days in Catalunã appeared a dragon monster specializing in cannibalism. To alleviate its hunger, every day people had to pay tribute to him a virgin. One day, the death number called the name of the beautiful princess. Thinking death was imminent, suddenly a knight named Jorge (later named Saint Jordi) appeared with sparkling armor, riding a white horse, defeating the monster, promptly rescuing the attack. God. After his death, from the blood spilling out from the monster appeared bright red rose bushes, strangely beautiful. Jorge quickly picked up a flower and gave it to the princess. The legend of Saint Jordi became the design inspiration for Batlló house by architect Antoni Gaudí. The house is located in Barcelona, ​​attracting many visitors during April. Photo: Casabatllo. Since then, the villagers are at peace, Jorge is considered the patron saint of Catalonia. This day is annually taken as Valentine’s Day in Catalonia for the same reason. Guys who are “in love” will give a rose to the girl they love. For them, a rose branch represents eternal and unique love. And the women will give a book to the man they love in return of their sincerity. That custom becomes a new and unique feature. With the flow of time, it gradually expanded to include not only lovers, but also family members, friends or colleagues. This anecdote has been passed down in some European countries such as England, Greece, and Portugal. There, the campaign for each customer to buy a book will be rewarded with a rose, which is also very enthusiastic. Random overlaps Since 1929, the city of Barcelona has held its annual global exhibition on October 7. Bookmakers took this opportunity to promote and sell books. But after many years, they decided to choose April 23 (this time in Spain is spring) as a reading festival on the street. The idea also stems from a very beautiful traditional custom in Catalonia: On April 23 every year (is the feast of St. Jordi), there are many book fairs and street festivals held, attracting crowds. Island people to visit. In addition to the cool climate, a Valencia native living in Barcelona found a coincidence between the death of St. Jordi and the two world great writers Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare. These two great pens are said to have died on April 23, 1616. In fact, the “father” of the work Don Quijote fights the windmill died 10 days earlier than Shakespeare, but since Spain at that time used the Gregarian calendar, while in England it was Julian, there was a coincidence. April 23 is also the birthday or death anniversary of other famous authors such as Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. With that special coincidence, in 1995, UNESCO selected April 23 every year as World Book Day and Copyright, to honor books and those who have made great contributions to the cultural development of the people. species. April 23 becomes more special in Catalonia and Barcelona As an important holiday with interesting stories in Catalonia and Barcelona, ​​the bookstores and flower shops here are open all day. The attraction of the event made the streets full of passersby. Red rose, the book of the same flag Senyera is covered in the color of love. The towns of Barcelona and Catalonia are full of people buying books and flowers. Photo: Vietcasa. In the midst of that bustling scene, it is not difficult to see writers and poets signing books directly to customers, readers love you. If on normal days, people here are afraid to go down the crowded streets, in this festival they cannot ignore the tradition of walking the streets and looking to buy books. Barcelona and Catalonia quickly became a huge library with street corners selling a wide variety of books and red roses. The crowded line of people, interspersed between bookstores and flower stalls is the most popular on Ramblas, Gracia, Sant Joan, Rambla de Catalunã or Sant Jaume squares. April 23 is really an opportunity to take a walk in the bustling atmosphere and filled with the scent of roses. In addition to giving flowers, lovers give books as a way to remember the traditions deeply ingrained in the culture of gaur people.

There is a theory that the official died suddenly, not due to illness, but was actually poisoned by the Emperor himself. Is that true or not? If that was the case, then what was the reason why a famous and benevolent king like Tong Nhan Tong was so merciless with his righteous courtiers like Bao Chan? The thrilling anecdote about the death of Bao Thanh Thien: Eliminated by the Emperor for committing a taboo? Bao Chan (999 – 1062), commonly known as Bao Thanh Thien or Bao Cong. He served as a mandarin for the Northern Song Dynasty, held many important positions in the court and was also known for his integrity, integrity and righteous judgment. Bao Thanh Thien served as mandarin during the reign of Emperor Tong Nhan Tong – the fourth king of the Northern Song Dynasty. As recorded in the old history, Tong Nhan Tong is famous for being a benevolent man, so historians always give favor to this Emperor with a lot of praise. Even at the time of his death, even the Emperor of Lieu could not help but mourn his tears. However, according to Qulishi, Tong Nhan Tong had an irreparable flaw in his life. That is, there is no son to follow. For men in ancient times, especially for an emperor like you, this is indeed a somewhat embarrassing and regrettable affair. But in the end, the king still faced a very difficult problem. It is a choice of a successor. Because he did not have a son to follow, he could only accept the 13th son of Boc An Y Vuong as a reserve. However, the anecdote about the king poisoning Bao Che said that the mandarin of the Bao surname was somewhat dissatisfied with the Emperor’s action. Bao Che wanted the king to return the throne to the descendants of Trieu Khuong Dan. This reached the final boundary of the Emperor. Stemming from suspicion and fear, Tong Nhan Tong took the opportunity of Bao Chan to get sick and sent medical staff to give him medicine. As a result, shortly after taking the king ban medicine, Bao Chan quickly passed away. The time from when the sick became sick to the time this official passed away was only 13 days. Because of that, the supporters of this hypothesis believe that Tong Nhan Tong was behind the death of Bao Thanh Thien, not some kind of “sickness” as history often records. The death of many doubts of Bao Thanh Thien The excavation of Bao Thanh Thien’s remains also clarifies a truth that posterity has mistaken for a long time: Bao Cong only owns a 1m65 tall, not big, imposing body like on the film. Regarding the last years of Bao Chan’s life, Bac Tong history only recorded a few lines: “In the sixth year of Gia Huu in the North Song Dynasty (in 1061), Bao Chan was appointed as the deputy envoy area”. This official position is on par with the Deputy Prime Minister, also the highest position he has ever held. Also according to this main historical document, in May of the following year, Bao Chan passed away from illness, “in the city, everyone is in grief, sighs from the big street to the small alley can be heard. In the 70s of the last century, the burial population of the Bao family was unearthed by Chinese archaeologists. Tomb and remains of Bao Thanh Thien were also included in the study. In this population of tombs, people have discovered an epitaph in the tomb that has recorded the life of Bao Cong. On it was written a few lines about the cause of his death: “In May, the seventh Gia Huu year (1062) suddenly got sick while he was working, so he had to return to the palace. His Majesty gave precious medicine, and on the day of Tan Mui, I could not wake up.” Specifically, the time of Bao Cong’s death fell on May 20, 1062. The reason for his death was declared to be due to illness. It is worth mentioning that, the time from the time he fell ill to his death was only 13 days. Illustration. The anomalies surrounding Bao Thanh Thien’s rapid death aroused many doubts of contemporaries and posterity in the future. The fact that some documents mention the precious remedy that Tong Nhan Tong bestowed upon Bao Cong made this king one of the most questioned people. (Illustration). Among them, the most questioned figure was Emperor Tong Nhan Tong – the king in office during Bao Chan’s time as a mandarin. There is even a theory that affirms that, during the period of his illness, Bao Cong only used the “precious medicine” given by His Majesty, then quickly passed away. Therefore, it is possible that the remedy given to him by King Song was not used to cure illnesses, but was actually a poison that took the life of that integrity official. Is Tong Nhan Tong the culprit behind Bao Thanh Thinhay’s death? If that was true, what was the motive for that Emperor to eliminate such a righteous and righteous god by his side? The real cause of Bao Cong’s death In 1973, the excavation of Bao Cong’s mausoleum opened up the posterity of the truth related to the death of this integrity official. According to experts, the assumption that Tong Nhan Tong poisoned Bao Chan is completely unfounded and unreliable. Not to mention that Song King had no motive to eliminate Bao Cong, just looking at the historians’ judgment was enough to remove suspicions against this emperor. Because, Tong Nhan Tong is considered a rare intelligence in Chinese history. How could such a monarch mercilessly bring down the powerful spirit at his side? There is also a theory that his departure is related to the “tonic” that His Majesty gave indirectly. This theory suspects that the physicians, due to jealousy of Bao Cong, should intentionally add toxic ingredients to the drug, making his illness worse. Regarding the mysteries surrounding the death of Bao Thanh Thien, the results of bone analysis from the remains of this official have partly revealed the truth of the matter. Chinese scientists coordinated with Anhui Provincial Museum to test bone fragments believed to be Covered by the method of synchronizing radiation with the Electron-Positron Collider. The results showed that the content of mercury, iron and calcium elements in Bao Thanh Thien’s bones was much higher than that of modern humans. Meanwhile, the content of lead and arsenic is lower than that of ordinary people. According to expert Ho Han Dan, director of the Anhui Provincial Museum at that time, this result preliminary excludes the possibility that “Bao Dai” is acutely poisoned by taking drugs containing arsenic. Regarding the problem of high mercury content in Bao Cong’s bones, the scientists gave two possibilities. One was when he was buried, people put in the coffin many robes to keep the body. This substance invades bones leading to high levels of mercury. Second, Bao Cheng used to take drugs or eat foods containing small amounts of mercury, causing chronic poisoning. Prof. Trinh Nhu Phong, expert Van – Su, Vice President of Bao Cong Research Association in Hefei City, said that through the test results, we can conclude that Bao Cong did not die from poisoning. Most likely, he had a heart disease or stroke that resulted in his illness and died so quickly. However, which illness led to the death of this famous historical judge is probably still a mystery.

This is the work with the most unique architecture of Ha Giang province, ranked by the State as a national architectural monument. This has made many tourists curious and determined once to come to Ha Giang to explore. “The King’s House”, the name Ha Giang people still used to call Vuong Chi Sinh mansion area Entering the mansion, the first impression is the tall, straight rows of sandwood trees that are hundreds of years old. The stone gate of the palace appeared superficially carved subtly. The gate is curved, winding with bat wings – the symbol for the word “blessing”. The wooden gate roof is exquisitely carved, with many patterns. The palace is nearly 100 years old, King Meo has hired many excellent Chinese and Mongolian craftsmen and thousands of workers, built the mansion day and night and built within 8 years to complete, the total area is up Up to 1,120 square meters, the owner of the house had to spend 15,000 dong Dong Duong white silver to build, equivalent to 150 billion Vietnamese Dong at that time. The mansion architecture simulates the citadel architecture of Qing China, combined with Mongolian patterns and selected with French architecture such as fireplaces, bunkers … The Vuong Dynasty is the residence and fortress of the Vuong family, the Mong ethnic group in Dong Van district. The palace has 3 palaces, middle and queen, with 64 rooms, large and small, can accommodate about 100 people. Between the rows of closed 2-storey bungalows is a large, light courtyard. Surrounding the house is a garden with many types of trees: safflower, cinnamon, peach, pear, flowers … The unique feature of the mansion lies in the structure and layout of the rooms. The mansion is like a solid fortress, with thick walls, built of green stone, terracotta tiles and wooden furniture in the rows of stone pine. The owner of the house is Mr. Vuong Chinh Duc (1865 – 1947). More than a century ago, with the profession of growing and trading opium, the Vuong family dominated the entire vast highlands and was called the Meo King by local people. The opium warehouse in the Meo King mansion. The palace has 2 basements for defense, with a storage of assets, an arsenal, opium warehouse, and the layout of the rooms is like a miniature citadel. The house was built of eternal green stone, very hard rocky mountain pine and was very resistant to termites. Tile green gray yin and yang can resist heavy hail The “cat” symbol is engraved on the stone column. At the time of building the mansion, there were no tools to help, the roads were extremely dangerous. Therefore, the mansion is completely handcrafted by the Mong people. All stone materials are carved by the local people by hand and then transported from 7 km away to build houses. Another highlight of the palace is the sculpture art in parts of the house, bearing the imprint of the royal family, the mark of opium trade. Many stone details of the building are elaborately carved, cleverly bearing symbols for wealth and prosperity. Many stone details of the building are elaborately carved, cleverly bearing the symbols of wealth, longevity, prosperity. This residence is recognized by the State as a National Monument in 1993. All wood of the previous house is made from stone pine. Since it became the property of the State, the wood materials of the house have been altered about 60% by ironwood and crushed wood. The pillars are carved into the shape of a large jar-like poppy stalk, which resembles every detail, and is polished in white silver. The stair piers are also precious stone sculptures, bearing the silhouette of poppy flowers. The eye-catching, opium-shaped motifs on the rafters, left houses, doors and windows.

Amanda Keravel, female editor-in-chief of the French travel guidebook Routard , and Fran # ois Vey, author of the book on the Secrets of “Mrs. Dam Iron” (La Dame de fer) (follow La Tour Eiffel, Vérités et légendes, éditions Perrin . 2018), recounting 10 unknown anecdotes about the Eiffel Tower inaugurated on the occasion of the world exhibition in 1889. 1. The Eiffel Tower might have a different name The Eiffel Tower may have been called the Bonickhausen tower because engineer Gustave Eiffel, who was involved in the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, was not born with the name we know it today. His family is of German origin, his birth name is Gustave Bonickhausen. “At first, Gustave Eiffel kept his German name. Then during the Franco-French War of 1870, this name made it difficult for his business, ”explained Fran # ois Vey. He submitted to the Government Council to change his surname and was approved in 1881, a few years before the design and construction of the tower. This is because it was later called the Eiffel Tower, not the Bonickhausen tower. 2. Gustave Eiffel did not create, design the Eiffel Tower, but bought the patents of the first inventors. History retains the name of Gustave Eiffel. But as Amanda Keravel said: “Gustave Eiffel was not the inventor of the tower”. Fran # ois Vey adds: “Surrounded by excellent engineers, he asked them to work on a project to prepare the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889. The engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier imagined this project and drew the first prototype. ” Then an architect, Stephen Sauvestre, came up with the figure we see today. Inspired by the project, Gustave Eiffel later acquired the patents of two engineers and persuaded all political and industrial circles to build the tower. He is also the funding provider for the project. That is why the name of this great industrialist and businessman was so famous in the political world at that time, used to name the tower. 3. When built, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world “Building the tallest tower in the world was an imaginary project for all the engineers back then,” explains Fran # ois Vey. When designing the Eiffel Tower, the goal was to build a tower that was 1,000 feet high, or about 300 meters. Therefore, for many years, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest tower in the world. “It was truly a technical feat at the time. Americans are very curious, even jealous. The American press loudly reported on the front page about the inauguration of the tower. Many American delegations came to see, ”said Fran # ois Vey. It was not until 1930 that the Eiffel Tower was dethroned by the Chrysler building in New York (319 meters) and the Empire State Building (381 meters). Today, many other towers are twice as tall as the Eiffel Tower, such as Taipei Tower (508 meters) or Burj Dubai Tower (828 meters). 4. The Eiffel Tower has repeatedly escaped destruction Amanda Keravel said: “When the construction is completed, the Eiffel Tower is just a sightseeing spot and has no other function. Hence the original contract is expected to demolish the tower ”. The concession was planned for 20 years from 1890. Therefore, in 1910, the tower was supposed to be dismantled. But Gustave Eiffel made a clear determination to keep the tower. Fran # ois Vey added: “For most of his life, Gustave Eiffel struggled to extend the franchise”. In the end, the concession was extended several times. And then, the public’s admiration as well as the various uses of the Eiffel Tower for new technologies made it indispensable. Today, no one imagined the Eiffel Tower would be dismantled. 5. Utilized and occupied by the Germans, the Eiffel Tower played a major role in the two world wars In its entire history, the Eiffel Tower was only closed to the public three times: during the Coronavirus 2020 pandemic, and during the World Wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. Fran # ois Vey explains: “In 1914, the French army used the Eiffel Tower as a listening center for German radio stations”. The gathered information enabled the French to identify a decisive attack point for the battle of La Marne. During World War II, Germans occupied the Eiffel Tower to place the antenna at the top of the tower. Released in 1944, the Eiffel Tower was used by the US military as a place for soldiers to relax: a nightclub formed on the first floor. The tower was only handed over to France in 1946. In addition to the above conflicts, the tower is also used for many military experiments. A building reminiscent of this “military” past. “A bongke is built at the foot of the tower. Today, it is used as the mechanical storage of the engine system. It is also used to transport food to the Eiffel Tower restaurants. Since the restaurants are relatively small, some dishes are prepared in this bongke, “said Amanda Keravel. 6. The Eiffel Tower played an important role in the development of television Thanks to the Eiffel Tower, French people were able to watch the Queen’s coronation in 1953. “The antenna helps to record from England and broadcast in France,” Amanda Keravel said. This anecdote illustrates the importance of the Eiffel Tower to the telecommunications industry. Throughout history, antennas placed on top of the Eiffel Tower have been used for many experiments in wave propagation. Fran # ois Vey adds: “In 1903, the first wireless telegraph experiments were carried out on the tower. The Eiffel Tower is also used for radio and is currently broadcasting terrestrial digital television in Paris. 7. A scammer pretended to sell the Eiffel Tower before fleeing with the proceeds In 1925, a crook sold the Eiffel Tower, although never owned it. Amanda Keravel said: “Victor Lustig had read an article explaining that it was very expensive to repair the tower. From there Victor came up with the idea of ​​pretending that it was for sale. This name sent to several scrap dealers with an offer to sell the tower to the highest bidder, and made it clear that it was necessary to keep the project a secret until the sale is complete. “. A scrap dealer fell into the trap and signed a check of great value. And then, Victor ran away with the money he wiped. “The victim was so embarrassed that he never sued,” reported the editor-in-chief of the French travel guide Routard. 8. The Eiffel Tower has never been brown and 3 paint colors are still used When looking at the Eiffel Tower, you can only see one color throughout the tower. However, this is only an optical effect! “Gustave Eiffel devised a technique: in order for the colors to appear uniform from below, three colors had to be used. Darker colors below and lighter colors above, ”revealed Amanda Keravel. This trick is still used until now. However, the tower is not always brown. “The Eiffel Tower is painted and repainted regularly. Between the original color and the color today, nearly 12 different official colors are used, including sepia, brown, ocher and beige ”, said Fran # ois Vey. 9. It shrinks in winter and moves in summer Like all tall buildings, the Eiffel Tower is quite sensitive to the environment. The low winter temperatures can cause it to shrink from 4 cm to 8 cm. During the hot summer months, metal moves the tower. In fact, iron is subjected to an expansion force that causes the tower to grow a few centimeters larger and may cause the tower to tilt a bit. If the sun heats one side, the tower can tilt to the other a few centimeters. In contrast, the tower is insensitive to wind. The reason is simple: “Its construction allows the wind to blow through”, emphasizes Fran # ois Vey. 10. From now to 2024, the Eiffel Tower will have a new face In 2024, the Eiffel Tower will become the center of attention of the world when the Olympic Games take place in France. “This is also the symbol used for the first Paris logo in 2024,” said Fran # ois Vey. A modernization plan is underway for the neighborhood. Many embellishments are planned to facilitate promenade. The Big Park Trocadéro will be connected to the Eiffel Tower. Currently, these two buildings are separated by a road. Many information kiosks and food stalls will be placed on the promenade and in the new gardens around the Eiffel Tower, enough to give a new look to this “Iron Dress Lady”, over 130 years old.

Panoramic view of My Linh Cung viewed from above. In Nanjing, China has a very famous tourist destination that is My Linh Palace, also known as My Linh Palace. This is an architectural building located in the complex of Ton Trung Son tomb. Anecdotally, this magnificent palace is a gift that Tuong Gioi Thach gave his wife, Tong My Linh, on his birthday to show his love. Visitors to Nanjing often admire the beauty of the French field corn (a type of tree belonging to the Xiaoten family) because they can be found everywhere in the city. But few people know, hiding behind the history of those ancient trees is a romantic love story. According to anecdotes, Tong My Linh was extremely fond of this plant, so Tuong Gioi Thach ordered a series of French corn plants in the city before getting married to win the hearts of the beautiful people. The rows of old maize trees have been closed to nearly a hundred years. More specifically, these rows of cornflowers are also planted in the shape of a giant necklace and the central location is the residence of the couple Tuong Gioi Thach – My Linh Cung. Looking down from above the population is like a necklace with the highlight of a giant blue diamond. In the fall, when the leaves of the old cornflowers turn bright yellow, the majestic palace is in the middle. The fall of golden leaves makes the mansion stand out even more. My Linh palace is located on the top of Tieu Hong mountain in Nanjing, was started from 1931 until 1936 to complete. At the time of construction, the most famous overseas architects were invited to design this mansion in a style that combines classical Chinese architecture and modern Western style. My Linh Cung moment has just been completed. It was Tong My Linh who came up with the idea and gave many suggestions to change the design and decoration of the building. Once completed, the mansion officially named the Presidential Palace of the National Citizen Government. However, it is said that this building is a gift that Tuong Gioi Thach gave to his wife, so people often call this place My Linh Cung. The magnificent mansion is said to be a gift from Chiang Kai-shek to his wife. My Linh palace is designed with three floors. The first floor is the nest room – where the couple Chiang Gioi Thach welcomes guests of the country and holds parties, the second floor is the bedroom and the study room, the third floor is a small chapel. The whole building was designed to be roofed with Thanh Thanh Ly – a special type of tile that was previously only used by nobles or mandarins. Not only that, there are more than 1000 phoenixes carved on the porch of the building, this is a special feature that makes this place unique architecture in China. In addition, the palace has a total of 34 pillars, all of which are built from marble. Each pillar is engraved with a sophisticated dragon phoenix image, creating an extremely lavish feeling. Therefore, this place is also known with the beautiful name “The First Villa of the Far East”. Winter snow falls white, giving this place a different beauty. The initial budget approved for the construction of My Linh palace was 260,000 ounces of silver, but the cost was eventually greatly increased, up to 320,000 pounds – a huge number at that time. The reason is that during construction, Tong My Linh has repeatedly proposed to amend many items. The interior décor and bathroom tiles have been changed many times, and the balcony has been demolished for renovation. The design and layout of a number of bedrooms, large and small dining rooms, two letter rooms and many other ancillary works are reviewed and assessed by Tong My Linh one by one, until she is satisfied. Because of Tong My Linh’s sophisticated decorative design requirements, it took the villa 6 years to complete. Through the ups and downs of history, My Linh Cung was quite destroyed and damaged. However, in 2012 it was renovated according to the original design. Today, My Linh Cung becomes a famous tourist destination in Nanjing, China, attracting a lot of tourists to visit. In addition to admiring the beauty of the magnificent mansion, visitors can not help admiring the romantic love story behind this lavish palace.