Nearly 100 participants including researchers and collectors, experts from the  National Library, the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and libraries from Danang to Ca Mau provinces discussed ways to preserve the old documents in Nom (old Vietnamese ideographic script adapted from Han Chinese script).

The HCMC General Science Library, Vietnam National Library, and archives and information agencies also talked about their experiences collecting ancient documents, their preservation and the promotion of their value.

Bui Xuan Duc, Director of the HCMC General Sciences Library, said after the loss of many Han-Nom documents due to storms in Hue and Phu Yen, the library started to collect them from the region for restoration and digitalisation.

The library is continuing its documents-finding trips to Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces with a special interest to find old papers which describe the location of Sai Gon-Gia Dinh, from the time when Nguyen Huu Canh first discovered the southern land, Duc said.

An exhibition featuring a collection of more than 100 articles and documents written in Han-Nom scripts including books, seals and administration papers form libraries, and collectors and researchers like Nguyen Van Pham and Tran Dinh Son, as well as digitalised versions was also presented.

The exhibition will open until November 27 at the HCMC General Sciences Libarary at 69 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1.

The festival also featured a display of Vietnam’s handicraft products as well as the nation’s culture, tourism and cuisine.

Addressing the opening ceremony on August 28, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son, who is also Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, spoke highly of the initiative to host the festival in Germany, saying that it is a good opportunity to enhance the exchange between the two peoples.

Berlin Deputy Mayor Harald Wolf said that the relationship between Germany and Vietnam has become closer over the past 35 years through the exchange of experiences, culture and high ranking delegations as well as political and economic activities.

There are around 20,000 Vietnamese people in Berlin, said Wolf, adding that the Vietnamese community in Berlin now has a stable position in the society, contributing to diversifying Berlin’s cultural life.

“Vietnamese food is well known internationally and is one reason tourists flock to the country every year,” said Hoang Thi Diep, Deputy Director General of the VNAT.

“The VNAT hope that the contest will be a good chance for executive chefs from all cities and provinces to showcase their talents and introduce traditional dishes from their regions,” Diep added.

About 150 chefs from more than 100 hotels in 20 localities registered to take part in the event. Each of them is allowed to present up to three dishes and asked to introduce the origin and influences of the dishes to the audience.

“With competitors from all three regions, we believe that many new and delicious dishes will be introduced,” Do Thi Hong Xoan, Director of the Hotel Department under VNAT, remarked. “We also hope some chefs will surprise us with their passion for food and bring back traditional dishes that have long since been forgotten.”

A small exhibition will also be organised where delegations from different regions will have a chance to present their specialities to the public.

“The contest is not only a chance for us to promote Vietnamese food and maintain its origin but also an opportunity for contestants to improve their knowledge and sharpen their cooking skills,” said Xoan.

“Despite the small award money reserved for the winners, the organisers believe attendance will be high due to the potential for chefs to gain recognition for their talent,” she added.

All dishes will be documented in a list which will then be used as the basis for tourism promotion and teaching activities in the VNAT’s colleges and cooking centres.

The exhibition, coorganised by the Quang Ninh provincial Museum and Tuan Chau Group, is to mark 65 th anniversary of August Revolution and National Day (September 2) and in celebration of the Hanoi’s millennial birthday.

The month-long exhibition showcases nearly 300 precious photos and objects founded in Tuan Chau, Quang Ninh province, including pottery, Dai La bricks and a clay tower dating back to from 7 th -10 th century.

Over the past 1,000 years, the influence of Hanoi on Ha Long city to the northeast, as well as the influence of Ha Long on the nation’s capital, Thang Long/Hanoi, has created a rich and unique culture for both.

Numerous objects under the Dinh, Pre-Le, Ly and Tran dynasties have been discovered in Tuan Chau city, Quang Ninh province while the Ly dynasty from the Thang Long capital set up the Van Don trading port in Quang Ninh, which opened the way for economic and cultural exchange.