Monday, October 3, 2011

Monument of President Ho

Biggest monument of President Ho placed in Gia Lai

October 2, 2011 about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - On completion, the 10.8m high bronze statue and stone relief of 500sq.m showing the love of the Central Highlands’ people to President Ho Chi Minh, will be the largest artwork of its kind in Vietnam. The monument is based at the Great Unity Square in Pleiku city.

A delegation of Gia Lai province paid a visit to the construction site of the monument at the Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi on September 29.
The composite-made model statue of President Ho Chi Minh has been completed and will be cast by bronze. The soil-made relief model featuring the Central Highlands’ people is nearly completed.
Director of Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Phan Xuan Vu, said that the monument includes a 10.8m bronze statue of President Ho Chi Minh, with a 5.4m stone-made platform, and a 60m long, 12m tall relief, which is made by natural rock.
“President Ho Chi Minh never visited the Central Highlands but his love for ethnic minority groups in the region was great. The monument is the love of people in the Central Highlands to Uncle Ho. Seeing the monument, we will feel like seeing Uncle Ho,” Vu said.
Nguyen Van Mac, director of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Co., Ltd, the monument maker, said that up to 28 tons of bronze will be used to cast the statue. The relief will be made by artisans in Ninh Binh, using natural stone from Thanh Hoa province.
The work is scheduled for completion by May 2012 to celebrate President Ho’s 122nd birthday.

Artisans began making the monument in October 2010. The monument will be placed at
the Great Unity in Pleiku city.

The model is being made at the Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi.

The statue model of President Ho is completed.

The 500sq.m relief model is nearly completed.

The relief features the life of the Central Highlands’ people.

Ksor Phuoc, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Ethnic Groups.

Artists from Gia Lai province performed gong art.

Ruou can, a gift of Gia Lai people.

VNE

They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.