Lifestyle

Apart from enjoying the tranquil atmosphere of Hoi An ancient town, visitors can also enjoy fun activities such as growing vegetables, riding buffaloes, and rowing coracles, among others.

Local tourism service providers have also taken a step forward in promoting environmental protection by collecting bio-waste from restaurants and hotels to make compost. Many have invested in technology to save energy and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Forty local tourism companies have undertaken to apply the circular economic model, which aims at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. Local green community tourism models, with no plastic use, have also been developed.

Green tourism is not just a cash cow but also brings sustainable benefits to local residents. Indeed, many farmers in Hoi An have earned handsome profits from providing agro-tourism services.

Green tourism not only benefits tourists by providing exotic experiences, it also inspires them in environmental protection and green lifestyle s./.

Members of Recycling Knight group using instant noodle bags to make some recycled products. Photo baovanhoa.vn

In Hanoi, many environmental protection models have brought practical results, contributing to spreading green lifestyles.

With a passion for inventing toys from discarded plastic cans and bottles, Luu Chung Nghia, a 30-year-old man in Vong La Commune of Dong Anh District, has a beautiful collection of animals and robots.

His outstanding products include a crocodile made from cardboard and fitted with an engine that can crawl on a flat floor and pigs made from beer cans and shampoo bottle caps.

“I have created about 1,000 products from discarded objects. Most of the things I made were small, funny, and suitable for children,” Nghia said.

“Before being assembled into finished products, I had to neatly trim to avoid hurting users,” Nghia said.

Nghia usually gives the products to relatives, friends and children’s centres.

In addition, he regularly lends his recyclables for displays at environmental exhibitions in Hanoi.

According to Nghia, making a product takes a lot of time and effort, from forming ideas to selecting materials.

“The brainstorming process usually takes the longest time. I have to calculate so that the idea is close to reality, easy to implement and especially beautiful and attractive,” Nghia said.

Every day, after working at a private company, he spends time researching, tinkering, and cutting and grafting products in his small room full of waste.

In Hoang Mai District, a group named the ‘Recycling Knights’ was launched in 2018.

The group aims to train environmental “ambassadors” to spread the green lifestyle.

In addition, the group collects and recycles waste and connects with other organisations to find ways to treat waste with the highest efficiency.

Cao Thi Sao Mai, the group’s leader, said: “The group members often collect instant noodle packages, cardboard, beer cans and old clothes for recycling.”

“With the waste, they unleash their creativity to make useful and eye-catching products,” Sao Mai said.

“From discarded objects, through skilled hands and creativity, the young people here turn instant noodle packages to bags, vases, plates, and pillows while the old fabrics and clothes are sewn into pillow bags, purses, and towels,” Sao Mai said.

Sao Mai said after each waste collection drive, the group’s office was like a landfill.

Thanks to the work and creativity of the members, these scraps are usefully “revived”, reducing the burden on the environment.

“We proudly called our office the ‘happy landfill’,” said the group leader.

Having been in waste recycling for nearly 10 years, Nguyen Dieu Thuy in Ba Dinh District said: “Initially, my husband and I found many glass bottles with beautiful colours, then we collected them and cut them into flower vases and then we decorated them more beautifully.”

“Initially, the products were made for use only and presented to friends,” Thuy said.

“But we were surprised that many people were interested in these recycled products so we decided to do more, gradually becoming our main profession,” Thuy said.

They found cutting glass so difficult. To make different kinds of glass products, Thuy had to make her own cutters, but this was not highly effective.

In addition, painting on glass was very difficult and the paint was expensive, meaning their income from recycling was low, she said.

However, the recycling profession has given her a new, green and meaningful life.

“I want to use the recycling work as a message to people, especially youngsters, to pay more attention to environmental issues,” Thuy said.

Representatives of some waste recycling models in Hanoi said the goal of the models was to spread green lifestyles and protect the living environment for the community.

Therefore, the products were made with minimum profits.

“The revenue from selling our products is invested in environmental protection, helping and creating jobs for children with disabilities and people in difficult circumstances,” Sao Mai said.

The Recycling Knights group has worked with cafes and tourism sites to sell their products.

“All the money is used to raise funds to open a free book library called Vietnam Reading Spots. The spots are present in all 63 provinces and cities, with the number of participants up to nearly 4,000 people,” said Sao Mai.

Sharing the idea of ​​spreading a green lifestyle, Nghia expressed his wish that in the future, waste collection and recycling will no longer be a single action but replicated throughout the community.

VNS

With expectations for the best, lifestyle and design play essential roles in young Vietnamese buyers’ decision-making when choosing a new home.

The value of individuality

Famous for delivering awe-inspiring music, young Vietnamese singer Ha Anh Tuan brings years of international living and travel back to his home country.

“I love to travel and believe each new experience gives us priceless life lessons,” he says.

While inspired by architecture, art, and music from around the world, young Vietnamese still take immense pride in their own arts and culture with a view to maintaining them.

Having traveled far and wide, gaining experience and education, this next generation of buyers expect to see what they have experienced similarly reflected in the quality and luxury of their self-imposed lifestyles.

Foreigners in Vietnam have noted this preference and can relate to it.

With more than 20 years of experience working on such acclaimed and large-scale projects as Trump, Paramount, and Versace, Youssef Akila, head of design at Masterise Homes, says, “It is clear that young Vietnamese are curious about the wider world and in search of knowledge and connection.

“Rather than copying what other countries have done, they’re keen to introduce a fresh perspective to every aspect of their lives.

“To match these expectations, we invested highly in the interior design and meticulously considered even the smallest details for Masteri Centre Point.

“Creativity and balance have gone into the choosing of colors, materials, and general design.”

Be inspired

The haste and demand of modern life inspire people to search for peace and tranquillity wherever they can.

The design found at Masteri Centre Point is fresh and unique; it sets the standard of luxury for interested buyers in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City.

“Each morning, I ask myself what I can do to stay motivated and have a great day,” Ha Anh Tuan says in a discussion about the new standard of luxury living.

“I often think about the phrase ‘be inspired,’ which speaks to the innovation and passion needed in all facets of life.

“That said, I love the clear inspiration Masterise Homes, as a developer, and their international team of designers have put forth toward meeting my generation’s shift in expectations.

“They have delivered on the lifestyle young Vietnamese like myself have come to expect for ourselves.

“As citizens of the world, we have seen, grown, and experienced so much, and there is no reason we cannot apply those same world-class living standards here in our own country.

“We work hard – we’ve earned a happy, comfortable life.”

Look to world-renowned brands

Masteri Centre Point is a benchmark-setting residence in the new Thu Duc City.

The team behind this luxury project comprises international experts with experience from leading global design companies.

“I have traveled extensively, gaining great insights and experiences far and wide,” continues Ha Anh Tuan.

“These insights have led me to consider the prestige and reputation of the brands I work with and make part of my life.

“Prestige and reputation can only be built with experience and expertise.”

In cooperation with international partners, Masterise Homes is proud to deliver Masteri Centre Point as a trusted and preferred residence among the country’s young elite.

Dr Jonathan Halevy. — Photo courtesy of Family Medical Practice

Dr Jonathan Halevy*

We all know how important it is for children and teens to make healthy food and activity choices. But, while it may be easy to say, it’s not always so easy to do!

However, the benefits of setting some time aside to plan key steps towards getting the kids and whole family eating better and doing more activity make it all worthwhile.

When children are young, parents and other caregivers are responsible for providing an environment that helps them maintain a lifestyle that is beneficial to their health. You can help your child by doing the following:

• Be a positive role model for healthy eating and activity habits
• Provide a calm, reassuring atmosphere at regular meal and snack times
• Set appropriate limits for screen entertainment like television, tablets and video games
• Involve the whole family in fun physical activities
• Help children develop and maintain a positive body image
• Avoid restrictive diets and excessive exercise regimens

When it comes to nutrition and fitness, the role of parents is the same no matter the size of their children. A healthy weight for kids is about much more than numbers. It is about healthy behaviours, such as enjoying a variety of foods and activities for strength, flexibility and aerobic capacity.

Good food and eating well

Healthy eating means enjoying a variety of foods from each of the five food groups every day.

The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating gives us a good idea about which foods children and teens need each day. These include:

• Plenty of vegetables, legumes, fruits.
• Plenty of cereals, including bread, rice, pasta and noodles – preferably wholegrain
• Lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives
• Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives – choose reduced-fat choices where possible.

And remember, water is the best drink for kids and teens.

Did you notice the foods that are not on the guide?

Lollies, chocolates, soft drinks, cakes, chips and the like do not fit into the food groups. That’s because, as tempting as they are, children and teens (and adults as well!) don’t actually need them.

These ‘extra’ foods, sitting in the bottom corner of the guide, should only be eaten sometimes and even then, only in small amounts.

How much of each food group?

Every child is different, and the amount of each of the food groups they’ll need will depend on age, body size and activity level, but there are recommendations for how many servings of each food group children and teens normally need.

Encourage them to eat more vegetables and fruits

Getting kids to eat more fruit and vegetables every day can sometimes be a struggle. However, research shows they’re more likely to tuck into these healthy foods if they’re available, ready to eat and their parents are enjoying them.

We can also involve our kids in growing, buying and preparing different foods. This can help them taste and enjoy a bigger range of foods, including fruits and vegetables

Teen’s eating habits can change

The life of a teenager is full of change. As well as physical changes, there are changes in fashion, attitude, interests, income and even tastes.

So it’s not surprising that their eating habits may change as well – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse – and may include dieting, skipping meals, filling up on takeaway food or, if you are lucky, taking up cooking as a serious hobby.

Eating habits of teenagers can be brought about by:

• Growth spurts
• A focus on fitness and looks
• Media messages and body image
• Eating away from home.

Diets are not the answer

Diets can do more harm than good. Research suggests kids who diet end up weighing more than non-dieters, with lower self-esteem and greater risk for eating disorders. Do not put your child on a diet, especially without consulting your doctor and a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Here are some simple actions adults can take to help children develop positive lifestyle habits. These strategies have been shown to promote a healthy weight for adults, too:

• Be active by playing together
• Make family mealtimes a special time together
• Eat breakfast
• Don’t forbid foods or use food as a reward
• Dine out responsibly
• Enjoy a rainbow of fruits and vegetables
• Encourage mindful eating
• Choose healthy beverages
• Remove televisions and video games from bedrooms.  — Family Medical Practice

*Perhaps the most well-known figure at Family Medical Practice thanks to frequently posting paediatric advice on social media, Dr Jonathan is a graduate of the Sackler School of Medicine of Tel Aviv University, then undergoing his residency in the Pediatric Department of the Wolfson Medical Center in Israel, earning his certification as a specialist in paediatrics. He first joined Family Medical Practice in 2005 and returned in 2013 following a short period in Melbourne.

A published author on paediatric care, Dr Jonathan is frequently invited by the local community to conduct health talks, having addressed many schools and parent groups on paediatric health issues and other medical topics. His Vietnamese-language book “Nuôi Con Sao Cho Đúng” on the subject of children’s health was released in 2015.

Family Medical Practice was the first foreign-owned primary healthcare provider in Việt Nam, and has consistently remained at the forefront of international-standard medicine since 1995. It offers extensive healthcare and emergency medical services nationwide to Vietnamese, expatriate and corporate customers.

For more advice on any medical topics, visit Family Medical Practice Hanoi at: 298 I Kim Mã, Ba Đình District. Tel: (024) 3843 0748.  E: [email protected]

FMP’s downtown Hồ Chí Minh City location is: Diamond Plaza, 34 Lê Duẩn, District 1; 95 Thảo Điền, District 2. Tel: (028) 38227848. E: [email protected]

FMP Đà Nẵng is located at 96-98 Nguyễn Văn Linh, Hải Châu District, Đà Nẵng. Tel: (0236) 3582 699. E: [email protected]

A renowned Vietnamese designer will have his collection featured at the New York Fashion Week (NYFW), one of the ‘Big Four’ fashion weeks in the world, next month in a first for his country.

The official website of the NYFW, which is usually held in February and September of each year as a semi-annual series of events generally lasting seven to nine days, has released a list of designers for its upcoming show in February.

Nguyen Cong Tri, 41, a respected name in the Vietnamese fashion industry, has been invited by the NYFW organizers to introduce his collection at the show taking place between February 6 and 13.

This is the first time a Vietnamese designer has received such an honor.

A screenshot of the introduction about Nguyen Cong Tri on the NYFW’s official website

“Each of his collection is state-of-the-art and a fascinating story to be told,” the NYFW’s official website wrote in the introduction about Tri.

“His work as the Chief Designer for CONG TRI brand provides unique statement designs for women’s day and evening style.”

The introduction went on to highlight some of Tri’s significant achievements, including being the first Vietnamese member of the Asian Couture Federation in 2014.

A screenshot of Nguyen Cong Tri’s scheduled show on the NYFW’s official website

“Cong Tri Nguyen is globally recognized by fashion and lifestyle publications with an influential celebrity coverage that includes Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani, Rihanna and Jacqueline Fernandez,” the introduction reads.

The collection for the upcoming winter by Tri will be introduced at Spring Studio’s Gallery II at 2:00 pm (New York time) on February 11, according to the NYFW’s schedule.

On this occasion, Tri will also have a chance to cooperate with New York-based Kate Young, one of the most in-demand stylists in Hollywood and fashion who works for Dior, Chanel, Valentino, Victoria’s Secret, for the fashion photography part.

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A view of An Binh Islet – Photo: THAMHIEMMEKONG.COM

The trip offers tourists a chance to taste fresh tropical fruits, explore local life as well as the unique river culture and traditional craft villages and much more.

The following are three destinations in the Mekong Delta capable of providing satisfaction.

Can Tho’s Phong Dien District

From the heart of Can Tho City, tourists follow National Route 1A leading to Soc Trang City. After passing Dau Sau and Cai Rang bridges, they turn right to reach Phong Dien District.

Among the tourist sites in Can Tho, Phong Dien is more well-known than its counterparts as the district is home to vast orchards. Moreover, its peacefulness also attracts many people.

The orchards in Phong Dien cover more than 6,000 hectares. Local farming households cultivate many kinds of fruit such as dau (Baccaurea), star apple, longan, durian, purple mangosteen, mango, jackfruit, papaya, to name but a few. The season of dau (Baccaurea) and bon bon (Lansium parasiticum) falls in March to June. Besides, summer is also the seasons of rambutan, mangosteen, durian and jackfruit.

An entrance ticket costs VND20,000-80,000 if they want to enter orchards and ecotourism sites.

An Binh Islet

An Binh Islet comprises An Binh, Hoa Ninh, Dong Phu and Binh Hoa communes in Long Ho District, Vinh Long Province. The islet on the Co Chien and Ham Luong rivers can be said to feature an “orchard culture.”

An Binh Islet and Vinh Long City are separated by the Co Chien River. From the city, tourists can catch the An Binh ferry at Tien River Park to An Binh Islet. It takes them only 15 minutes to reach the location.

On the islet, tourists can visit  rambutan and longan orchards. Some of them are Chin Hoan and Chin Can rambutan orchards and Tam Ho longan orchard.

Also on the islet are Tien Chau Pagoda on the left bank of the Co Chien River and Cai Cuong ancient house which is a mixture of European and Asian architectures. Moreover, tourists can visit Phuoc Dinh Village which is famous for its old cherry apricot flower trees. Then, they can learn how to make local specialties or catch fishes by hand.

Visitors who want to stay overnight may use local people’s homestay services. They may as well take part in the local lifestyle and enjoy delicacies such as deep fried tai tuong fish (Osphronemus goramy), fried spring roll, grilled snakehead fish, etc.

Cai Mon: a fruit paradise

Cai Mon is an iconic village in the Mekong Delta. Being in Cho Lach District in Ben Tre Province, Cai Mon is dubbed as a land of fruits, seedlings and flowers.

From Ben Tre City, tourists pass Ham Luong Bridge on National Route 60 and travel four kilometers more to reach Tan Thanh Binh-Mo Cay Bac intersection. Then, turn right to Provincial Road 882 which connects with National Route 57 and travel 10 kilometers further to get to Cai Mon fruit village.

Cai Mon’s zigzag paths in the orchards please many tourists. Every year, the village provides a huge amount of fruits for markets in the south. Especially, durian grown there has a very special flavor.

Local flower gardens are also a highlight of Cai Mon. A wide range of flowers can be found there, including van tho (Tagetes erecta), cuc dai doa (Chrysanthemum grandiflorum), thuoc duoc (Dahlia Variablis Desh), cam chuong (Dianthus caryophyllus), cuc mam xoi (Chrysanthemum morifolium), etc.

Cai Moi Church built in 1872 is the oldest and biggest church in the delta.

SGT