The filming of Graham Greene’s famous novel ‘The Quiet American’ took place recently in Vietnam. The film, starring Sir Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, and Vietnamese actresses Do Hai Yen and Mai Hoa, is about a love triangle during the early days of America’s direct involvement in the Indochina Wars. The production is expected to cost an estimated US$30 million and is the first Hollywood movie to be made in Vietnam. Filming is expected to last three months and locations featured in Vietnam include Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Hoi An. The final leg of shooting will be done in Australia. The film is directed by Australian film maker Phillip Noyce, who has made his reputation with a string of thrillers including Patriot Games, Silver, Clear and Present Danger, The Bone Collector, and The Saint. It is jointly produced by Mirage Enterprises, Intermedia Films and Pacifica Film Development. Hanoi born Yen, who plays Phuong, is the first Vietnamese actress to be cast in a major Hollywood production. Sir Michael Caine plays the British journalist Fowler and Brendan Fraser plays CIA agent Pyle. The Quiet American’s author Graham Greene first came to Vietnam in 1942-43 as a war correspondent for The London Times and returned in 1951 to write the classic novel.

The winners of Vietnam’s prestigious Guide Awards 2000 have just been announced. Hanoi’s Sofitel Metropole and HCM City’s Caravelle were selected as best luxury hotels, while the Meritus Westlake and Sofitel Plaza Saigon won the best business hotel awards. The Sunway and Majestic were judged to be the best boutique hotels, Melia and Equatorial won the service awards and Nikko and New World picked up the best all round awards. The best beach resort awards went to Nha Trang’s Ana Mandara and Danang’s Furama Resort. Hanoi’s Press Club once again collected the award for best fine dining.

Authorities in Kien Giang province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, plan to invest around US$3.4 million to preserve the site of the former revolutionary base in U Minh Thuong. The former resistance base, awarded an historical certificate by the Ministry of Culture and Information, is home to 300 animal species, many of which are listed in the Red book of endangered species. The area also has the largest cajaput swamp forest in Vietnam.