Vietnamese lacquerware history

The art of lacquerware (nghề sơn mài) as a means of decorating objects was probably introduced from China during the first century CE. The lacquer itself is actually the resin of a tree which is mixed with coloured pigments and solvents and applied layer after layer to the object's surface, producing a shiny and durable finish. Other substances, such as eggshell and gold leaf, may be applied to the surface before the lacquer is applied, in which case the finished product is sanded down to reveal the decoration beneath. The high quality of resin from Vietnamese lacquer trees, notably those of Phú Thọ in the north, was a crucial factor in the rapid development of this art form, which became very popular at the court of Đại Việt during the feudal period. Decorated lacquer statues, panels, boxes and trays, some dating back to the Lê era (1428-1527), may still be seen at many temples and pagodas throughout the country.
In subsequent centuries the use of lacquerware was extended to larger items such as wooden chairs and tables, decorated with engraved, painted or inlaid mother-of-pearl (khảm xà cừ) designs. By the 18th century important centres for lacquerware production in the north included Nam Ngư (Hà Nội) and Bình Vọng (Hà Tây) in the north and Thủ Dầu Một (Bình Dương Province) in the south.
As part of their strategy to open up Vietnamese handicrafts to new foreign markets, the French introduced formal training programmes in lacquerware at the Thủ Dầu Một School of Indigenous Arts (Trường Mỹ nghệ Bản xứ Thủ Dầu Một, now the Bình Dương Secondary Technical School) near Sài Gòn from 1901 and at the École supérieure des beaux-arts de l'Indochine (Trường Cao đẳng Mỹ thuật Đông Dương) in Hà Nội from 1930. It was the creativity of staff and students of the latter institution that led to the birth to a new hybrid form, Vietnamese lacquer painting (for more details see Contemporary art below).
Since that time lacquerware has continued to develop into one of the mainstays of the Vietnamese handicraft industry, both at home and abroad. Today's most popular items include vases, jewel cases, desk sets, trays and vertical blinds

ELLY

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Boys over flower

Here are some photos of F4 in film " Boys over flower" Korea.
You can use these for wallpaper.

Mysterious beauty of night sea

Sexy, attractive and creative are words being used to describe Miss Vietnam Mai Phuong Thuy’s bikini photos, which are on display at 2/4 Square in Nha Trang city, on the occasion of the Sea Festival.

Thuy’s “Mysterious beauty of night sea” photo collection is a part of her “Beauty at the Sea” exhibition, being held from June 6-12 in the coastal city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province.

Below are some photos taken by Quoc Huy.

Source: VietNamNet/VNE

Mong ethnic people celebrate New Year festival

Vietnam’s Mong ethnic minority group celebrates the New Year festival (Tet) following their own calendar, which has 12 months in a year without an inter-calendary month. This year, their Tet falls on Dec. 27.

On the first day of Tet, Mong people pay homeage to their ancestors with offerings of boiled, fried and grilled chicken.

Mong people in the northwestern region welcome Tet during three days. They often put their working tools on or beside the altar. In their tradition, everything has a soul so they stamp serrated paper on their tools to ward off ghosts and devils.

Mong people organise a ritual festival called Gau Tao on a large area, which attracts many local people to various folk games, such as stick pushing, bow shooting and tug of war.

In the cold weather, family members gather around a fire and taste Banh Day (a kind of round sticky rice cake), which is an indispensable part of Mong people’s Tet.

Banh Day is made of best-quality sticky rice, which is grown on the best plot of land.

During the Tet holiday, Mong girls and boys rejoice in the beautiful sounds of pan-pipes, perform dances and joyfully participate in folk games such as shuttlecock. These festive activities may last for a month, and then Mong people return to their daily work on fields in the mountains.

There is a special game on this occasion - Lay Pao. Girls often throw balls made of fabric scraps, 5-7cm in diameter, to boys, who then throw them back to their partners. As usual girls will throw the ball to those boys they like.

Mong ethnic minority people have their own language and long-standing culture. Pan-pine playing and umbrella dancing are two typical features of their rich culture.

On the Tet occasion, all people wear new clothes.

VietNamNet/VOV

Misses World on last day in Hanoi

Zhang Zilin, Miss World 2008, and Ksenia Sukhinova, Miss World 2007, had an interesting walk in Hanoi and participated in a special music show at the National Convention Hall on January 13 in Hanoi.

The two girls will return to HCM City today to do charity in some central and southern provinces.

VietNamNet featured their activities in the capital:

Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova

Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin.

Miss World 2008 Sukhinova and the Chairwoman of the Miss World Organization.

Miss World 2008 Sukhinova and a Vietnamese correspondent.

Zhang Zilin tried on her Vietnamese costume, which she would wear at the gala at the My Dinh Convention Hall last night.

The ao dai for Sukhinova.

The two beauty queens at the National Convention Hall.

The two Misses World and the Chairwoman of the Miss World Organization.

The two girls with Hoang Kieu, General Director of RAAS Company, the sponsor of Misses World's visit to Vietnam.

The Miss World 2008 at the gala entitled "Singing from the Root" at the National Convention Centre.

Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin

(Source: VietNamNet /VNE)