Filming Location for Vietnam-India Collaboration
Filming commences for “Love in Vietnam” at Samten Hills Dalat
On September 23, the film “Love in Vietnam” officially began filming at the Samten Hills Dalat Cultural and Spiritual Space in Tu Tra, Don Duong, Lam Dong.
“Love in Vietnam” is a collaborative effort between India and Vietnam, aiming to promote the country’s tourism, culture, lifestyle, and scenery. The project is supported by the Indian Consulate in Vietnam and the Vietnamese Consulate in India, stemming from a cultural exchange conference held last year.
The film revolves around an Indian man who falls in love with a Vietnamese woman during his journey of discovering Vietnam’s captivating landscapes. The film crew is primarily from India, including director and screenwriter Rahhat Shah Kazmi and producer Captain Rahul Bali.
The Samten Hills Dalat tourist attraction was recognized as the “Most Attractive Cultural and Spiritual Destination in Asia-Pacific” on August 3, 2023. Despite being inaugurated less than a year ago, the Buddhist Cultural and Spiritual Space of Samten Hills Dalat has attracted millions of visitors.
According to the tourist site’s fanpage, after more than a year of operation, Samten Hills Dalat has transformed Tu Tra – Don Duong into an international destination, attracting 400,000 visitors.
The Great Sutra Wheel Stupa Plated with 24k Gold
The Great Sutra Wheel Stupa plated with 24k gold – the largest in the world
Earlier, on March 7, 2023, Samten Hills Dalat officially held a ceremony to receive the Guinness World Records title for the largest Sutra Wheel Stupa. The stupa is made of copper and plated with 24k gold, situated within the Buddhist Cultural and Spiritual Space of Kim Cương thừa.
The Great Sutra Wheel Stupa, officially named “Drigung Kagyu Rinchen Khorchen Khorwe Go Gek,” weighs a massive 200 tons, stands at a height of 37.22 meters, and has a diameter of 16.53 meters.
The stupa symbolizes a prayer wheel that helps liberate all sentient beings from the suffering of samsara if they pray with a sincere heart and practice correctly.
According to Ms. Sonia Ushirogochi, the official adjudicator from Guinness World Records, the criteria for the Great Sutra Wheel Stupa include being constructed as a cylindrical “wheel” filled with scriptures inside, and the ability to be rotated by human power, water power, or other means.
Inside the prayer wheel are over a billion Om Mani Padme Hum mantras printed on thin silk paper, along with auspicious objects such as Buddha’s relics and relics of saintly monks.
Hanging Khata scarves and rotating the Sutra Wheel
Behind the Great Stupa and the Samten Hills Dalat tourist site is the Kim Phát Trading and Production Company.
However, after the inauguration, there were concerns about the ambiguity of Samten Hills Dalat being a project that blends religious activities with cultural and spiritual tourism.
On April 25, the Lam Dong Provincial Department of Information and Communications held a press briefing. At the event, Mr. Le Quang Trung, Director of the Department of Construction, clarified that this project has multiple functions, including afforestation, forest protection, animal husbandry, experiential tourism, and later, the addition of cultural and spiritual tourism.
The project’s 220-hectare area is divided into 10 sub-areas, one of which, approximately 6 hectares in size, is dedicated to cultural and spiritual tourism, known as Samten Hills Dalat. Within this sub-area, the enterprise is permitted to engage in cultural and spiritual tourism, combined with relaxation and leisure activities.
Ms. Nguyen Thu Ngoc, General Director of Kim Phát Trading and Production Company, also provided information: “We received the Investment Registration Certificate from the People’s Committee of Lam Dong Province and agreed to adjust and supplement the project’s objective to include cultural and spiritual tourism. The adjustment of the name and function of the central area for cultural and spiritual tourism activities at Samten Hills Dalat is in line with the prescribed procedures. Therefore, the investor’s organization of activities at the cultural and spiritual tourism site at Samten Hills Dalat is appropriate.”
Kim Phát Trading and Production Company
Kim Phát Trading and Production Company, formerly known as Kim Phát Production and Trading Joint Stock Company, was established on October 11, 2004, in Ho Chi Minh City, with Mr. Chau Anh Tuan (born in 1978) as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The company’s primary business focused on buffalo and cattle breeding. They also registered for the breeding and cultivation of other animals and plants, as well as milk and dairy product processing.
In 2018, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong (born in 1977) became the new Chairman of the Board of Directors. In the same year, the company transformed from a joint-stock company into a limited liability company with a charter capital of VND 15 billion. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong held 80% of the shares, Ms. Nguyen Thu Ngoc held 5%, and Mr. Nong Huu Duc held 15%. The company relocated its head office to Don Duong district, Lam Dong province.
In 2022, Kim Phát increased its capital to VND 150 billion, with VPMilk holding 26%, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong holding 72%, Ms. Nguyen Thu Ngoc holding 0.5%, and Mr. Nong Huu Duc holding 1.5%. By the end of 2022, the company reduced its charter capital to VND 80 billion. VPMilk was no longer a capital contributor, leaving Ms. Phuong with 96.325%, Ms. Ngoc with 0.938%, and Mr. Duc with 2.737%.
In reality, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong is a well-known female leader in the dairy industry, serving as the Chairman and General Director of VPMilk.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong – Chairman and General Director of VPMilk
VPMilk, formerly known as Dinh Duong Bega Joint Stock Company, was established in 2012 with a charter capital of VND 9.9 billion, with Ms. Phuong as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. In 2019, VPMilk increased its capital to VND 30 billion. In 2020, the company further raised its charter capital to VND 200 billion.
The company gained prominence by engaging Park Hang Seo, the famous football coach, as its exclusive brand ambassador. The company’s products became widely known as “Sữa ông Park” (Mr. Park’s Milk).
In March 2017, VPMilk made headlines by committing to sponsor Hoang Anh Gia Lai football club with VND 50 billion for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
VPMilk’s exclusive brand ambassador – Park Hang Seo
In addition to her role at VPMilk, Ms. Phuong also holds important positions in various enterprises, including Commercial and Production Company Bảo Lâm, Nam Dương Hưng Yên Joint Stock Company, Bảo Lâm Mineral Joint Stock Company, and Đầu tư văn hóa thiền Samtenling Company.
Prior to establishing VPMilk, Ms. Phuong achieved remarkable success in the distribution of imported milk from Nam Yang (South Korea) under the premium brand XO.
In October 2022, VPMilk inaugurated the VPMilk Eco Farm Factory in Don Duong, Lam Dong. The factory spans an area of 3.5 hectares, encompassing workshops, farms, and auxiliary facilities. In the first phase, the factory has a production capacity of 20 million liters of milk per year.
As for Kim Phát, Ms. Nguyen Thu Ngoc currently serves as the General Director and legal representative of the company.
