The construction date of the Shiofune Kannon-ji Temple is still unclear but is estimated to be between 645 and 650 AD, more than 1,300 years old. (Photo: AQUA Geo Graphic) According to legend, a mysterious Buddhist nun known as Yao Bikuni founded the temple by enshrining a wooden thousand-armed Kannon statue in the valley. The nun is said to have lived to be 800 years old. In Japanese mythology, eating mermaid can make a person immortal. This incredible longevity of Yao Bikuni is attributed to the fact that she accidentally ate mermaid meat when she was young. (Photo: Travels With Nano) Shiofune Kannon-ji is hidden in a valley whose entrance is led from the streets of a rural town. During the festival, visitors are greeted by stalls selling food in front of the temple such as ice cream, fried yakisoba noodles or takoyaki octopus cakes. The entrance of the temple is vividly decorated with small lanterns and colorful flags and banners. (Photo: Travels With Nano) The best time to visit Shiofune Kannon-ji is during the azalea blooming season which peaks between mid-April and early May. On this day, many events are organized, such as walking on the mountain. fire that anyone can join. The area around the shrine is home to about 3,000 rhododendron trees of about 100 different species, including rare varieties like the black rhododendron. (Photo: Masayuki Nazaki) The rhododendron bushes on either side of the valley are adorned with beautiful vibrant colors, from pink to red, purple and white. Many paths go down and up through azalea bushes that immerse you in the brilliant colors of the sky. The area at the foot of the large statue of Shiofune Heiwa Kannon offers a view of the entire valley covered with azaleas, contrasting greatly with the gray urban buildings in the distance. (Photo: Kanpai-japan) (Photo: Japanvisitor) (Photo: Japanvisitor) In addition to rhododendrons, the temple is also famous for hydrangeas in June, lilies in July, and September and October is the time of birches. Therefore, the temple is also known as “flower temple”.

The project “Urban embellishment” of the People’s Committee of Truc Bach ward has been “socialized”, attracting a large number of people to contribute and jointly implement. Facing this situation, the People’s Committee of Truc Bach ward has planned to implement a project to improve the environment of this lakeside road (section from Ngu Xa 1 bridge to Ngu Xa 2 bridge). The project implementation route has a length of 200m, one side is Truc Bach flower garden, the other side is a row of houses of 28 households. With the motto “Building to fight”, in the spirit of “The State and the people work together”, most of the funding for the project has been “socialized”, attracting a large number of people to participate in the project. contribute and join hands to implement. Hoang Duc Long (80 years old, living in Ngu Xa Street, Truc Bach Ward) said, after 24 years living here, for the first time his family and households here feel get fresh air; No more garbage piled up, no more fish dying in the water. Mr. Long’s house and other households are put on a new “clothing”, the yard in front of the house is planted with trees and carefully installed with a fence system. 28 houses of households along Truc Bach ditch are put on “new clothes” from the project. Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Trang added that the most impressive thing is in the evening, when the sunset gradually fades, it is also when 200 lanterns light up. From the lakeside route to the flower garden campus, it becomes shimmering and fanciful by the color of lanterns. Mixed with the lantern light are frescoes reproducing the old town space, ancient beauty and culture of the old Hanoians. Nguyen Dan Huy, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Truc Bach Ward, affirmed that, in the context of the complicated development of the COVID-19 epidemic, as soon as the project was completed, many residents and tourists also came to “check-in”. but local officials have propagated and reminded people not to gather in large numbers. When the city controls the epidemic better, this place will become one of Hanoi’s tourist attractions. Although the scale of the project is still small, this is a very important premise so that many models can be replicated in the ward in the near future. Earlier on the evening of June 8, the People’s Committee of Truc Bach ward also held a ceremony to attach the sign “Urban embellishment work” for this project. Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, the ceremony’s activities took place quickly, avoiding large gatherings, and strictly following epidemic prevention rules. Video and photo series of News reporters recording the success of the project “Urban embellishment” of Truc Bach ward, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi: 200 brilliant lanterns beside Truc Bach canal. Image of large format propaganda poster “Protecting the environment and repelling plastic waste”. The flower garden is also attached with lanterns on the trunk to create a clean and beautiful environment. Many large frescoes are decorated along the wall of the route along Truc Bach lake. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, this area is currently limited to gathering people. In the future, this place will be a tourist attraction. Mixed with the lantern light are frescoes reproducing the old town space, ancient beauty and culture of the old Hanoians. At the end of March 2021, the project “Urban embellishment” of Truc Bach ward was implemented. This project is “socialized”, attracting a large number of people to participate in funding support and jointly implement it. Previously, this place was flooded with garbage, but now the living environment has improved. People have more entertainment spots, and the quality of life is improved. Many large-format billboards propagate people to protect the environment. On June 8, the People’s Committee of Truc Bach ward held a ceremony to sign the project “Urban embellishment”.

Chestnut trees are often planted in the corner of the yard or garden. Chestnut is a humble tree, accustomed to living a simple life. Many say they often grow on wild hills. But perhaps, ordinary people often encounter them in the familiar living space of an idyllic, rustic countryside with village and neighborly love, with simple and kind people. Looking at the slender tree’s shadow nestled in the wind, I often wonder: If it weren’t for the fragile, slightly curled long-petaled flowers, would anyone notice the existence of that tree in the world? The flowers are like beautiful little lanterns emitting a sweet fragrance, when they are new, they are green, when they have saved enough wind and dew, they will turn into sunny colors, which is a charming and delicate touch that nature created. dedicated to this plant. Chestnut flowers have long, thin, drooping petals, green when new, then turn pale yellow Because they are used to a simple life, even though they are planted in the yard, outside the gate or sometimes forgotten, lying dormant in a corner of the garden, chestnut flowers still radiate fragrance and bloom. Then, every time the wind accidentally passed by, carrying that cool, gentle scent, each person’s soul would give rise to feelings, feelings of restlessness, anxiety, reminiscent of the peaceful and full of peace. memories, nostalgia. From a distance, chestnut flowers look like pretty little lanterns hanging from the tree Many generations of students have passed the innocent and pure age with the poem “Bundle of chestnuts” by poet Xuan Hoai: “Where is the tree bank crowded with leaves / Where is the bunch of chestnuts hanging? / The wind brings strange scents / Always fragrant, stirring!”. Not only the scent, the “bundle of chestnut flowers” is reminiscent, but also filled with images and childhood memories: “Boyfriend picks up branches/Girlfriend picks up his hands/Boyfriend’s pocket is full/Girlfriend’s hat is behind/This bunch of yellow flowers/Inviting each other for her/Class hasn’t arrived yet/Scented the teacher’s desk “. Unknowingly smiling, the scent of chestnut flowers still follows the wind and fills my mind. Missing the days spent with friends playing under the shady old oak tree. An elementary school with a few rows of horizontal houses, the school yard is still the ground. The mischievous students gathered in groups of five and three, playing all kinds of games on that yard. This is playing umbrella, playing u, skipping rope, throwing cans, playing marbles… Everyone is enthusiastic and passionate as if they never get bored, the sweat pouring out on their faces also innocently raises their sleeves to swipe and swipe. and then engrossed in the game, shouting loudly. Remember the resounding reading lessons, math exercises that have to “mobilize” all 10 toes, fingers still find it difficult… Missing teachers, caring teachers, dedicated to teaching… Remember the feeling of craving ice cream cones sold in front of the school gate after school. The ice cream stick costs only 200 VND but yearns for a whole childhood… Many years have passed, those innocence and purity follow the hustle and bustle of life, but the memories and nostalgia still follow the attached scent of rag flowers, deposited in the mind forever. leave. That place is a peaceful landing place so that when we are tired and exhausted, we seek refuge, a “spiritual medicine” to ease the pain, heal the wounded soul. Now, every time I look out at the yard in front of the house, where the jasmine tree silently emits a sweet and fragrant fragrance, every flower season, I often remember that sweet and clear memory. This year’s grandmother is over 90 years old, often whispering to her granddaughter-in-law “help her pick some bunches of chestnuts, she puts them at the bedside for fragrance”. My father-in-law often keeps the habit of picking a few bunches of ragweed flowers on the full moon day and putting them on a small plate on the altar to burn incense for the ancestors. And my little daughter, even though she’s only just turned three, loves to smell chestnuts. I am glad that. However, it is still attractive with industrial, synthetic scents emanating from cakes, candies and countless other things. But after all, the memories and nostalgia of a wild flower with a sweet and fragrant scent will be a peaceful destination that follows us for the rest of our lives.

The designer Duc Hung’s innovative silk ao dai for the summer 2021 collection has bold media as well as his personal style, in color coordination, pattern and pattern coordination.

The set of photos are set in familiar places around Hanoi such as Hoan Kiem Lake, The Huc Bridge, .. Lam Vy Da is the ‘muse’ for the Duc Hung’s collection this time.

Still a familiar, attached material of the designer such as silk, silk, but with this new collection, the more youthful and modern designs focus on the stylization of the sleeve, using the puffing technique to create impressive and fancy designs.

Instead of the traditional long-sleeve style, designer Duc Hung transforms into details with lantern sleeves, large swollen fairy arms, and pleated sleeves.

Large bows on the hands and shoulders add more emphasis to the overall outfit.

The Ao Dai with bold summer colors, patterned silk fabrics or smooth fabrics are randomly combined, each design has its own distinctive, opposite color, such as red, green, yellow, duck neck blue, purple, forming a colorful whole.

Silk is famous for being light, cool, suitable for summer, when the temperature is high, you can completely wear ao dai with this fabric, without worrying about heat or inconvenience.

In addition, the lightness and flight of the silk make the ao dai become much more flattering and feminine.

Lam Vy Da has a small body, very close to the figure of Vietnamese women, so the designs are highly applicable.

Lam Vy Da said that she loves to wear ao dai every time she has the opportunity, the number one priority for her is ao dai.

In addition to being successful as a designer, Meritorious Artist Duc Hung has also tried his best and achieved a lot of success as a stage director, program director, and recently appeared in hot movies on VTV. : The Judge, The Crocodile Profile, and a short role in the movie ‘Kieu’.

Ngan An

Photo: Kim Quyet

The previous travel note shared with you our travel notes in Xichong Village, Wuyuan.

Xichong Village is a pristine millennium ancient village. It is said that Xi Shi, one of China’s four great beauties, died here. Today, the village still retains many cultural relics related to Xi Shi.

In addition to Xishi, Xichong Village’s beautiful pastoral scenery, well-preserved ancient Hui-style houses, and original folk customs also left a deep impression on us.

PS. For more information about Xichong, you can read my last travel note:At the junction of Jiangxi, Anhui, and Zhejiang, there is an ancient village in secret, where the beauty Xi Shi lives forever

In front of the Yu’s ancestral hall, I met the old man Yu Dakai, a master of Xichong lantern craftsmanship

When we first arrived in Xichong Village, we found a tall and magnificent Yu’s Ancestral Hall at the entrance of the village. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Yu clan in Xichong was a prominent family in Huizhou, with strong clan power and strict patriarchal clan system. Within a few days of traveling in Wuyuan, this can be regarded as the most magnificent, most complete, and most exquisitely carved ancestral ancestral building I have ever seen. Now it is also a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Originally, we came to this pristine village by accident. We didn’t expect that such exquisite ancient buildings were still hidden. At that time, we felt that this trip was a great value!

PS. Regarding the specific content of Yu’s Ancestral Hall, you can read my last travel note:There is a water jail in the ancient village of Huizhou, which punishes the woman who has come out of the wall, and she feels terrible even when she comes close

When visiting the Yu’s ancestral hall, we saw many lanterns hung in the ancestral hall, which was very beautiful. It happened that two villagers were walking out carrying lanterns. We ran over to talk and knew that this was a unique handicraft in Xichong Village, called Xichong lanterns!

In the Yu’s ancestral hall, we also found that the Xichong lantern has won the gold medal of the National Folk Lantern Competition.

After walking out of the ancestral hall, we discovered that the trail leading to the village was covered with lanterns on both sides. Each of these lanterns has a different shape, including square, rhombus, parallelogram, hexagon, rice-shaped, pagoda, and so on.

There is a seven-story six-sided pagoda-shaped lantern that is really beautiful, with poems and paintings written on each side, which is very elegant. The carvings on the tower are all hollow. The most amazing thing is that there is a revolving lantern inside, but unfortunately the photos did not show the feeling of revolving lanterns.

After walking around the village, we walked out of the village again and came to the pond at the entrance of the village. There is a wooden plank road in the pond at the entrance of the village. The plank road is also full of colorful lights. We met Master Yu who we met just outside the ancestral hall.

Master Yu’s full name is Yu Dakai, who was born in 1946 and is 75 years old this year. But he is so spirited, he really can’t tell his actual age at all! It can only be said that the beauty Xi Shi chooses to be this place of death, and the landscape is too supportive.

Master Yu told us a lot about the history of Xichong lanterns. The traditional handmade craftsmanship of Xichong lanterns has been around for more than 500 years, but for 50 to 60 years, no one has made them again. In the past few years, the village has re-convened the elderly in the village to dig out and sort out the craftsmanship of making lanterns, and this has reappeared in people’s vision.

Xichong lanterns are made of bamboo stents, and all the steps are handmade. The lanterns have different shapes and different patterns, but they are all composed of objects related to Huizhou elements, such as archways, pavilions, seven-story towers, horse head walls, fish tanks, vases, and so on.

Old man Yu Dakai tells us the history of Xichong lanterns

Master Yu told us that there will be a lantern festival in the village at night, which is more beautiful. Unfortunately, our decision to come to Xichong Village was made temporarily. We didn’t arrange our accommodation in advance. I was afraid that we would not be able to call the car back to the county seat later, so we had to leave early.

If you have the opportunity to travel to Wuyuan, you might as well stay in this quiet ancient village for one night to see the ancient buildings, feel the pastoral style, and chat with the unsophisticated locals, maybe you can catch up with the Xichong Lantern Festival!

Finally, I will talk about some useful travel information, friends who want to come can refer to:

Coordinates: Xichong Village is located in Sikou Town, Wuyuan County, which is more than 20 kilometers away from Wuyuan County and about 2 to 3 kilometers away from the scenic area of ​​Sixi Yan Village.

Tickets: Free

Transportation: There is no direct shuttle bus. You can take a country bus from the county north station to Sikou Town, and then call a Didi or a farm tricycle.

If you want to learn more about popular and fun tourist destinations, you are welcome to pay attention to “Xiaoyu’s Travel Diary”. Let’s discover more beautiful scenery in the world with Xiaoyu!

This is a new project of designer Duc Hung in cooperation with Southern artists since a long time ago.

This time, Duc Hung’s silk ao dai collection returns with many unique changes. The set of photos are set in familiar locations around Hanoi.

Still a familiar material like silk, silk, in this collection, designer Duc Hung returns with more youthful and more modern designs, focusing on the stylization of the sleeve. He uses puffing techniques to create impressive, fancy designs.

Instead of the traditional long-sleeve style, designer Duc Hung transforms into details with lantern sleeves, large swollen fairy arms, and pleated sleeves. Large bows on the hands and shoulders add a highlight to the overall outfit.

Ao dai is bold in the colors of summer. The patterned silk fabrics or plain fabrics are randomly combined, each design has its own color, opposing to create a colorful whole.

Silk is famous for being light, cool, suitable for summer. Designer Duc Hung said that these designs can be completely worn in the hot season.

In addition, the lightness and flight of the silk make the ao dai become much more flattering and feminine.

Lam Vy Da has the typical petite figure of Vietnamese women. The designs she introduces are close and highly applicable.

Duc Hung is one of the leading designers in Vietnam, famous for its traditionally imprinted Ao Dai designs as well as personal style, expressed in color coordination, pattern and pattern coordination.

Duc Hung has also tried and succeeded in many fields other than fashion, such as theater director and program director. Most recently, he was admired by the audience for his acting skills in hot dramas on VTV such as “Judge”, “Crocodile Profile”. He also played a short role in the movie Kieu. (Photo: Kim Quyet)