In 2005, I was fortunate to meet Dang Van Viet, a revered elder, in Hue, where he had come from Hanoi to join the 60th anniversary of the Frontline Youth School. There, I learned that he was the one who, together with a comrade, raised the red flag with the yellow star over the Phu Van Lau (Phu Van Pavilion) flagpole on August 21, 1945-when the August Revolution had yet to break out, Japanese forces were still armed, and the Nguyen dynasty still stood in the imperial capital of Hue.

On September 18th, the People's Committee of Vinh Xuan Commune (Phu Vang District) held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Vietnam heritage trees. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Sinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment; Professor, Dr. Dang Huy Huynh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, and Chairman of the Heritage Tree Council attended the ceremony.

At the invitation of the Consulate General of the Republic of Uzbekistan to attend the International Gold Embroidery and Jewelry Festival, taking place from May 3 - 5 in Bukhara City, Ms. Nguyen Thi Doan Trang, artisan, designer, and Director of Doan Trang Embroidery and Sewing Trading and Service Co., Ltd. (at 2/56 Bach Dang Street, Gia Hoi Ward, Hue City), was honored to be the Vietnamese representative winning the third prize.