#014 Vietnam Thanks Nguyen!

The 800d and 4000d stamps were issued on Jun.3,2008,depicting Hue's Court Music (The Masterpieces of the Oral and Intagible Heritage of Humanity).

With the meaning of “elegant”, Hue’s Court music mentions the music performed in annual occasions such as ceremonies, regional anniversaries as well as enthronements, funerals or official receptions. Among the diversified types of music, Court music is the only one that owns the National scope.

The existence of Court music was strongly threatened with upheavals in the 20th century, especially the collapse of monarchy and the continual wars. Losing the imperial scene, this traditional music lost one of its original functions. Nowadays, with the assistance of the Government and the local community, some old musicians are trying to resurrect this traditional music and deliver their skills to younger generations. Some remained forms of Court music are now the inspiration for Vietnamese temporary music.

The 1500d stamp was issued on Jul.1,2009,showing a Praying Mantis. Praying Mantises or Praying Mantids are carnivorous insects that live in warm areas, camouflaging them among plants. There are about 2,000 species of mantis. Most mantises are pea green or brown. Like all insects, they have 6 jointed legs, 2 antennae, large compound eyes, a hard exoskeleton and a three-part body (head, thorax, and abdomen). Mantis can rotate their triangular-shaped head in almost a full circle. Most adult mantises are from 2 to 6 inches (5-15 cm) long. Females are larger than the males.

The natural life span of a Praying Mantis in the wild is about 10-12 months, but some have been known to live up to 14 months in captivity. The males sometimes die suddenly 2 or 3 weeks after mating.

Praying Mantises eat flies, aphids, moths, butterflies and many other insects (including other mantids). Praying Mantises are useful in gardens, since they control the insect population. They will only eat live insects.

The 2000d stamp was issued on Sept.1,2009,from Ornamental Fish issue. It shows Clown Loaches (Botia macracanthus),a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Cobitidae (loach) family of Cypriniformes.