#111: Thu Trang

[Thocon]

Contestant #111: Thu Trang
Quang Binh Highschool For The Gifted
Email: teen9x_blue@yahoo.com

Each one has something, somewhere or someone to love in his life. And so do I. There is a special place which plays an important role in my heart. It is a small city where I spent my peaceful childhood in, where I always love and proud of. That is my hometown - Dong Hoi. My love to this city isn't exposed by any luxuriant words, but by everything I do and its Essie in my thinking. If you know more about Dong Hoi, my dear, I'm sure that you will love it too.

Dong Hoi is the only city of Quang Binh and it is also the economic and political center of the province. Dong Hoi is called "The Rose City" by the visitors who enjoy its beauty. It developed at the point where the Nhat Le river disembogues to the East sea. It is this location that makes the city more beautiful and poetic!

Dong Hoi is in the tropical monsoon area, it has two differential monsoons: the dry season and the rainy season. I love all the seasons here. In the spring, you can trapse through every street, enjoy the brisk air and the slight rains. The streets in spring are often crowded and jaunty. When the summer comes, the weather is hot, Nhat Le beach will be a great place to relax and entertain in. Most of the people who come to Quang Binh, for holiday or business, spent their time swimming here. Or you may like the fall weather here: cool and rainy - It is especially suitable for everyone who need to take his ease, because the rains usually give us the fresh feelings. And if your winter holiday is too humdrum, why don't you come here? Dong Hoi in the winter is a cozy big house although the rains are heavy. Taking an umbrella and go to the market isn't a bad idea. May be, you will have more friends by this way!
Each city has its especial beauty. Dong Hoi is not as luxurious as many others, but this sea-city is not a humdrum place.

If you like the peace and a bit romanticism, you will love walking on the beach, let your feet be massaged by the cool sand during contemplating the sunrise or the gloaming. Imagine! That's extremely great! Besides, you can also take on a bike to get an airing in the parks which are on the bank of the Nhat Le river. Or walk along the streets that are overshadowed by the green trees.

If you love traveling, you can find a guide or a city map to go to everywhere in Dong Hoi. You will be expressed by so many interesting places such as: Quang Binh Citadel Gate - a citadel built during Nguyen Dynasty, Dong Hoi market - located opposite the Gate, Nhat Le - the gentle river, Tam Toa church - built during the Vietnam War, Dong Hoi Wall - one of the city's relics, Bau Tro lake...I'm sure that you will learn more things and improve more knowledge. Beside those places, you shouldn't forget to try the sea-foods. They are very delicious and fresh. "Banh loc" and "Banh nam" are tasty, too. It is not difficult to find them, you can choose many sea-foods in the restaurants by the beach, and "Banh loc", "Banh nam" are sold in the markets or in the small stores in the roadside. Sometimes, you can buy them from a pedlar. And if you want to have a comfortable and modern holiday, you are always welcomed by the Sun Spa Resort and the Sai Gon - Quang Binh Hotel. They are now the best in Dong Hoi city.

Dong Hoi's attraction is not only the beautiful places, but also the lovely people. They proud of their traditional culture and the brave fightings during the Vietnam War. Dong Hoi has more than 100 heroic Vietnamese mothers, and mother Suot is the most well-known. On the bank of the Nhat Le river, people built an obelisk to remind themselves and their latter young generations to conserve the precious traditions.
People are also friendly, hospitable and open-hearted. The lives go peacefully day-by-day, and people always take care of each other. Sometimes, their regard is just a greeting - inconsiderable but necessary! So many visitors, especially the foreigners, feel happy to say "hello" and wave theirs hands to everyone they see in the city. That is a nicely welcome. Some of them who really love the life here decided to live in this city.

The time has gone by, Dong Hoi has been changed much: younger, more beautiful and more prosperous. But it is still the small cozy house of the indigence. In my eyes, Dong Hoi is always beautiful - even in the past, now or ever after.

I think it is worth visiting Dong Hoi. And you, do you think so?

[Thocon]

This contestant did not resubmit her work. For more info, go to :

http://www.forum.quangbinhonline.com/4r ... 5023#25023

Content: 42
Technicality: 20
Grammar: 18
Total: 80

[Tocxu]

It's a pity that this contestant has not sent us the resubmission. This is a very beautiful piece of writing (although a little bit short). The following is my grading (I partly overlook the spelling mistakes and some other technicalities and am in favor of the ideas):

Content: 45.
Technicalities: 23
Grammar: 22

Total: 90.

[Smiley]

My grading:

Content: 43.5
Technicalities: 21.5
Grammar: 19

Total: 84

This essay has a great potential: lots of interesting ideas (like the part about using an umbrella to make friends during a rain :=), however, the contestant needs to have a better control of her vocab (esp. word choice) and basic grammar to create a smooth flow.

[Thiên Bình]

[dieuvuongqb]

This is one of the two best essays of my group (though there are still some errors).

Here is my grading:

Content: 47
Technique: 27
Grammar: 21

Total: 95

@Thien Binh: pedlar = peddler; trapse = traipse ( I have carefully look them up in the dictionary)

[kimhoa]

My grading:

Content: 45
Technique: 26
Grammar: 21

Total: 92