The ships’ officers and crew members are scheduled to pay courtesy visits to leaders of Danang People’s Committee, the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, the High Command of the Navy, the Military Zone 5 High Command and the Naval Zone C.

They will take part in friendly sporting activities and visit some sites of scenic beauty in the city.

Hanoi xua displays 150 photographs of the capital city’s people, life and architecture in first years of last century taken from local and foreign sources.

The photographs are divided into three categories.Hanoi truyen thong cua nguoi Viet (Traditional Hanoi of Vietnamese People) has photos that depict its people, streets, temples, trading and cultural activities.

Dau vet xua con ton tai duoi thoi Phap thuoc (Old Vestiges during the French Colonisation period) presents photographs of ancient architectural wonders that have survived French colonisation, like the Chua Mot Cot (One-pillar Pagoda) and the Khue Van Cac (Literature Constellation) of Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) that was built more than a 1,000 years ago. Several ancient vestiges were destroyed during the French colonisation.

The exhibition also features photos of architectural works of the French and cultural activities during French occupation. The City Court, the Hanoi Opera House and the Notre Dame Cathedral were built during the French colonial era and still exist now.

The Hanoi Xua exhibition is organised by the Xua va Nay (Past and Present) Magazine and the HCMC Museum to mark 55 years of the capital’s liberation and celebrate its 1,000th anniversary.

It will also open at the Can Tho Museum in Can Tho City from November 15 to December 15, 2009; at 16 Tran Hung Dao in Dalat City from December 1 to 10, 2009; at Trung Vuong Theatre in Danang City from January 1 to 10, 2010; and at Hanoi Library in the capital from January 25 to February 5, 2010.

At the inauguration ceremony, the Secretary of the HCMCYU in Hanoi chapter Ngo Duy Hieu and that of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region’s Youth Union Li Ze affirmed that young people will work hard to further develop the traditional friendship between the two countries’ Parties, States and people.

The programme, which will last through July 30, draws the participation of 138 Guangxi delegates. It aims to respond to the “Vietnam-China Friendship Year - 2010”, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries’ diplomatic ties and the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The programme will include talks to exchange experiences to pave the way for more concrete cooperation, a tour of Thuong Tin District’s successful youth business models, as well as visits to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, a photo exhibit on Hanoi-Guangxi tourism, a cultural and art exchange and a musical gala.

On this occasion, the HCMCYU in Hanoi and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are set to sign a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation for the 2009-2012 period.