(HBO)- Five-fruit tray is an indispensable part for Vietnamese traditional Tet. Painting Tet pictures and calligraphy on polemos, melons and coconut fruits is a new trend for Hoa Binh people. Sticking with the passion for painting for a long time, 3 years ago, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nong, group 12, Thinh Lang ward (Hoa Binh city) boldly tried to work on drawing calligraphy on fruits, creating new and unique products to attract people.
She was the first person to bring the
movement of calligraphy on fruits to Hoa Binh city.
Each product is drawn in about 15-20 minutes
depending on the difficulty and the fussiness of the patterns. On average, she
produces 100 products per day. Each fruit after finishing is 150,000 - 200,000
VND. Most of the customers’ orders are from Hanoi, customers in the province
are not many. They have mainly ordered for the Lunar New Year. Each product is
polished and meticulously made by Mrs. Nong from the stage of picking fruits,
choosing the paint and the painting color, to covering the lines on the
drawings to match and stand out. She herself directly cut polemo fruits in Tan
Lac district. Currently, due to the increasing demand of the customers, she
imported Tien Vua pomelos in Tuyen Quang province. These fruits presented on
the five- fruit tray look eye-catching, unique and strange.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nong painted calligraphy with
the word "Loc"(Wealth) on Tien Vua pomelos according to the orders
In order to paint after drying faster, some
places often bring to drying, but Ms. Nong chose to dry naturally. It takes a
long time to wait, but the quality is much better. The fruit will not be
withered and burnt and it will take a long time to be damaged. The material to
create a complete product is simple, only fruit, non-toxic acrylic paint and a
bit of purl to cover the surface of calligraphy. Textures favored by customers
are cherry blossoms, apricot flowers and calligraphy letters "Phuc",
(Happiness) "Loc"(Wealth),
"Tho" (Long Age) ... The main color is red - the color of peace,
luck. Besides there is a yellow color of apricot blossom and green shoots of
trees.
This year, the number of orders is more than
1,000 ones, estimating that the number of orders will be more when it is near
Tet holiday. Due to the increasing demand of customers, Ms. Nong will try to
draw on many different kinds of fruits and create more patterns in the coming
time.
In late March, 29 labourers from Da Bac district were sent to work as seasonal farm workers in Buyeo county, Chungcheongnam province, the Republic of Korea (RoK). Upon arrival, they quickly settled into their jobs, enjoying good working conditions and benefits, with wages aligned with the terms of their signed contracts. The programme is now being expanded, with relevant departments and sectors actively seeking additional seasonal employment opportunities in various localities across the RoK.
Luong Son Industrial Park has invested in standardised wastewater and emissions treatment systems, enforced tight emission controls, reduced noise, dust, and solid waste, and expanded green spaces, contributing to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development.
Hoa Binh police are collecting public feedback on amendments to the 2013 Constitution via the national identification app VNeID. This innovative approach marks a giant leap towards modernising grassroots democracy and enhancing transparency in public consultation.
A total public investment capital of 113 billion VND (over 4.3 million USD) was disbursed for a project to upgrade infrastructure and stabilise residents in the vicinity of the Da River reservoir between 2021 and the first quarter of 2025, giving a facelift to local rural areas and improving the quality of people's life.
Since the end of 2023-2024 academic year, Cu Yen Primary and Secondary School in Luong Son district has deployed e-study records for all of its 500 primary students, said the school principal Nguyen Thi Tuyen.
The Labour Federation of Hoa Binh city has actively worked to protect the rights and welfare of nearly 8,000 local workers and union members at 152 grassroots unions. Through regular dialogues, education campaigns, and welfare programmes, the federation has helped foster stable, progressive labour relations.