The building was built on the old Carlton hotel, where President Ho Chi Minh used to work during his years in London. Photo: VNA One morning in June in the cool early summer period, the London sky is blue, the sun is golden like honey, I visited the Drayton Court Hotel on The Avenue in Ealing district, west of London. Elegantly located in one of London’s greenest and most beautiful suburbs, Drayton Court is one of the oldest and largest pubs in Ealing, opening in 1894. With its impressive façade and antique décor Classic, elegant, this is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing weekend with the family, or enjoy a drink with friends at one of West London’s largest beer gardens. Song Drayton Court is also attractive to visitors because this is the only hotel in London that has ever had a waiter who later became a world-class leader, that is President Ho Chi Minh. On the Drayton Court’s website, the hotel’s history introduction reads, “Ho Chi Minh, the leader of Vietnam, worked hard in the hotel’s kitchen in 1914, before he continued his journey to change his name. changed the country’s history, driving out forces from Japan, France and the United States.” In 1914, President Ho Chi Minh served at the Drayton Court Hotel located on the quiet, deserted The Avenue street, in the Ealing district, west London. Photo: VNA/phat Stepping into the hotel with classical and elegant architecture and decoration, giving visitors a feeling of relaxation, I can’t help but be moved when I imagine the days of hard work to exhaustion of the young man. Nguyen Tat Thanh was in his twenties here more than a century ago. Talking to the hotel’s receptionist, I learned that after Drayton Court was renovated in 2011, the kitchen where Uncle used to work was completely rebuilt and became part of the cool green beer garden, Open space located behind the hotel. Walking around the beer garden where local guests happily enjoy beers with friends, I seem to see a glimpse of a slender Vietnamese young man who does not care much, hard at work in the old kitchen of the customer. hotel. Although Drayton Court is no longer imprinted with the period when President Ho Chi Minh worked here, his imprint still seems to be intact. When I was struggling to look around the outside corners of the hotel to get a good picture, a man in his 60s approached and asked: “Do you know what’s so special about this building?”. I pretended to ask: “What is it?”, “This is where President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam used to work”. I felt a mixture of amazement, delight and pride. Amidst the busy modern life of London, a British citizen mentioned the leader of Vietnam in a historical event more than a century ago. Before I could react, he continued: “This is really an interesting and special destination for Ealing. A lot of tourists have come to visit.” The man, named Brian, said he lived in an apartment complex right next to the hotel. When he learned that I was Vietnamese, he excitedly said that he had met many Vietnamese tourists coming here, and expressed his admiration for Ho Chi Minh, who had found the way to liberate the Vietnamese people. Drayton Court Hotel is located on the quiet, deserted The Avenue street, in the Ealing district, west London. Photo: VNA/phat Leaving Drayton Court with mixed joy and pride, I continued my journey to the New Zealand building located on Haymarket Street. In contrast to the quiet space of Drayton Court on the deserted The Avenue, the modern New Zealand building is located at the end of bustling Haymarket Street in the heart of London, close to Trafalgar Square and the National Museum of London. The New Zealand High Commission’s 19-story building was the first high-rise to be built in central London, on the site of the Carlton Hotel, a luxury hotel that opened between 1899 and 1940 before being completely destroyed by bombs. in war. While living in London, President Ho Chi Minh worked as a kitchen assistant at the Carlton Hotel. The front of the New Zealand building has a green peace sign with the words “In 1913, Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969) – the founder of Vietnam – worked at the Carlton Hotel, the building that used to be on this ground”. This place is probably the most famous destination in London with Vietnamese tourists. Vietnamese delegations to London often ask the New Zealand High Commissioner to visit the basement below the building, where the kitchen of the Carlton Hotel was formerly. The New Zealand building is also known by many locals and visitors for its speciality. As I was reading intently the green sign outside the building, to my surprise a man on a bicycle stopped by and happily asked if I would like him to take a picture of the underside of the sign, because you’re sure I’m Vietnamese. Not only did he agree immediately, but I asked if he could take a picture with me at this meaningful place. The 10-minute conversation between me and Mr. Steven helped me understand his special affection for Vietnam. Steven said he was originally from London, living in Covent Garden, about a kilometer from the New Zealand building. He said he really admired Ho Chi Minh’s patriotism and said that it was that patriotism that helped him find the way to independence for the nation. Steven made me feel really grateful when he said that whenever I or my friends come to the UK, give him a call. Sitting right on the sidewalk, he wrote on a small piece of paper his name, address and phone number, gave it to me and said that he always welcomes Vietnamese friends. I feel very fortunate to have met Steven, because the brief meeting helped me understand that Ho Chi Minh’s patriotism, courage, and vision made the whole world aware of the cause of Vietnamese national liberation. Male. In May 1913, Ho Chi Minh left France for England, the largest empire in the world at that time, to learn English and observe first-hand the dominating power of imperialism. In England, in order to make ends meet and spend money to learn English, he worked hard as sweeping snow, lighting furnaces, helping cooks at the Drayton Court Hotel and washing dishes at the Carlton Hotel. According to writer, historian, director of the Archives Center, Marx Library in London, John Callow, 4 years in London contributed to the formation of Ho Chi Minh’s thought. It was here that he first read the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and creatively applied Marxism to the cause of national liberation and independence. President Ho Chi Minh’s journey to find a way to save the country created a turning point of the Vietnamese revolution, changed the development direction of history and changed the fate of the entire Vietnamese nation in the 20th century. and at the same time make a mark in the history of the modern world. From a true patriot, Uncle Ho became a communist soldier, finding the right way to save the country in accordance with the historical situation of the country. For me, the trip to follow Uncle Ho in London left special emotions. I am secretly grateful to Him because His greatness has helped strangers like me, Steven and Brian become close friends.

Drayton Court Hotel is located on the quiet, deserted The Avenue street, in West Ealing. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) Drayton Court is easily accessible by train. West Ealing Station is just a 2-minute walk from the hotel. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) Drayton Court is the only hotel in London to ever have a valet who became a world leader. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) Drayton Court is a familiar destination for many Vietnamese tourists. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) The hotel is decorated in a classic style. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) Reception area welcomes guests. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) A corner of the beer garden behind the hotel. Part of the garden used to be the kitchen where President Ho Chi Minh worked. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) Restaurant. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) The bar is quiet. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) In 1914, President Ho Chi Minh worked as a kitchen assistant at this luxury hotel. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) The 19-story New Zealand building is located on Haymarket Street in central London. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) The building was built on the foundation of the Carlton Hotel, where President Ho Chi Minh worked during his years in London. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) Mr. Steven wrote the address to welcome Vietnamese friends. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) A green sign with the name of President Ho Chi Minh attracts tourists. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+) The green sign with the name of President Ho Chi Minh is the pride of every Vietnamese tourist visiting the building. (Photo: Hop Nguyen/Vietnam+)

Rosé has been ridiculed many times by anti-fans because of her title of global ambassador In an exclusive interview with a BLACKPINK member, Elle Singapore wrote that Rosé has become the latest global ambassador for Tiffany & Co. through the campaign Tiffany HardWear 2021 starting April 23rd. This caused many anti-fans to joke that Rosé is not the official face, even calling her a “self-proclaimed ambassador”. Proof that Rosé is a righteous and righteous ambassador. But on April 23, Tiffany & Co. posted a short video with a solemn introduction to Rosé. Most recently, the luxury jewelry company from the US continues to prove that they are extremely fond of Rosé. That’s the fact that this brand just hung up a giant billboard that covers the entire main store (flagship store) in New York, and the sign had Rosé’s picture on it. The picture made BLINKs tear up. Needless to say, BLINKs are so proud to see a huge portrait of Rosé covering a building in the middle of the busiest shopping street in the world. It is known that Tiffany & Co. will actively introduce the new global ambassador by displaying Rosé’s picture in other stores across the US and Rosé will also be a key element of its upcoming advertising campaign. Now, no one can doubt the identity of Rosé’s representative face anymore. Even BLINKs have the right to be proud that before Rosé, no K-Pop idol has ever had a giant billboard for a big brand in New York like this.

Orte clothing store in Madrid Bright red, lined with polka dots and as long as three cars, the Orte clothing store sign has long been located on Madrid’s Alcalá street (Spain), its presence unwavering since its inception. even when fast food restaurants and chains started popping up. When the store closed and the land turned to rent, the news quickly reached Alberto Nanclares. Within days he arrived at the site, working with a team to try to remove the sign from the façade, where it has stood for more than five decades. Nanclares is part of the Iberian Graphic Heritage Protection Network, which includes more than 50 projects dedicated to honoring and protecting a type of heritage that they say is endangered: the commercial signs that have long made their mark. city ​​identity. “Everybody sees these signs, but few people pay attention to them,” said Nanclares. “When they are thrown away, the memory of our city is thrown away.” The projects in the network are diverse – there is a movement to preserve signs in the hope that they might one day appear in a museum, such as Nanclares’ Paco Graco project, as well as a project to classify objects. signs, from century-old enamelware to colorful neon signs. It all creates a living archive that spans 25 cities and towns across the peninsula. The core vision of the network is that heritage includes not only palaces, cathedrals and royal jewels, but also the places that shape our lives and identities – a heritage that is open to all. everyone, according to Nanclares. “There are very few people in Spain who think that this is heritage, that this is what binds us together, allows us to progress and understand ourselves better.” Inspired by signage museums in Berlin (Germany) and Warsaw (Poland), the Iberian movement took on new meaning after a series of recessions – from the 2008 economic crisis to to the Covid-19 pandemic – which changed the cityscape. Laura Asensio, a graphic designer in Valladolid, Spain, says that when small businesses close, they are often replaced by giant global corporations that don’t have much of a local connection. She points to the changes that have swept Spain’s city centres: “Whether you’re in Madrid, Barcelona or Salamanca, the city’s iconic symbols are now essentially the same,” Asensio says. “There will always be a McDonald’s, a Zara store… It’s a pity that cities lose their charm.” The Letreiro Galeria project has collected more than 250 signs Asensio’s project, Valladolid with Character, hopes to prevent this monotony with an interactive map of more than 1,000 signs around the city. Compiled by a team of people, the map marks everything from the decades-old red bus stop signs welcoming visitors to the giant calligraphy pen that sits above the sign of a fountain pen shop. In Lisbon (Portugal), Rita Múrias and Paola Batata started their project in 2014, when souvenir shops and crepe stalls sprang up all over the city. “We were designers in search of ideas, and then we realized these signs capture the stories of store owners and human memories,” says Múrias. “People tell you about a time they visited these stores with their grandmother, or when they were kids. They associate location with memories.” The two soon began using their free time and budget to “rescue” signs from businesses that were about to close. Their project, Letreiro Galeria (Sign Exhibit), has now collected 250 different signs. They are currently in a borrowed warehouse while the two strive to realize their dream of opening a museum. While some cities have enacted laws to protect signs, the network’s members hope that their efforts will help people understand heritage of this kind. “It is a process of raising awareness. People’s reactions are amazing when they follow me on Instagram and then they love the sign more than the selfie,” said López. “Then they started sending me pictures of the signs they saw while traveling. It creates a chain effect.”

Although the local government has announced that it will install railings to prevent people from approaching, this area is still a place that attracts many children to play. Previously, the government of Phushun city asserted that this strange architecture was built simply to adorn the urban beauty. Even to build the “Circle of Life”, city planners had to cancel 3 other works. Built in 2012, the “Circle of Life” architecture is about 153 meters high and is made from a giant 3,000-ton steel block. At night, the bracelet is lit with 12,000 LEDs. A viral video on Chinese social media shows children carefree climbing up and then sliding down excitedly from the curve of the “Circle of Life”. Although there are signs near this structure that prohibit visitors from approaching, children and parents still often come here to play. “It is difficult to prevent children from climbing, maybe the local government should install fences to prevent people from approaching”, “The budget should be used to build real slides, instead of building giant hoops this”, are 2 of the comments of Chinese netizens.