Coconut

Illustrative photo. In a pattern that seems to have prevailed for years, a transport project is usually put into operation soon after its inauguration, but then within a short time there is a need for its expansion or upgrade. What is more surprising is that even projects that are still under construction are being reconsidered for expansion or an upgrade. Such as in the case of the Hanoi Highway which has been expanded four times and still not complete. It may be that this Highway may even be further expanded. The Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh to Dau Giay Expressway was started in 2009 with an original design plan of four lanes, then soon after increased to six lanes and now being considered for eight lanes. For all we know it may also be extended to twelve lanes soon. The 17 km long metro line 1 has not yet been put into a trial operation but is being considered for an extension to include the route to Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces. More recently, the 51 km long Trung Luong … [Read more...] about Constant re-planning of transport projects in Vietnam

The land lot of Pham Thanh Huong is eroded, but is not allowed to reinforce due to complicated administrative procedure One day at the end of this June, inhabitants of Hamlet 3 in Binh My Commune of Cu Chi District suddenly heard a bang. Rushing out of their house, they frightenedly saw a 20-meter-long and 3-meter-wide section of the current embankment being eroded by the river. For fear of this incident could threaten their life, these people worked with the local authorities to temporarily reinforce this embankment with coconut piles and sand. The section next to it is also subsided by nearly 20cm compared to the road surface, almost separating itself from the whole embankment. Facing a similar downgraded state is the embankment section passing Nhi Binh Commune of Hoc Mon District, now having a lot of potholes. More troublesome is that the dike along Ba Hong Channel to prevent high tides at present is too low to perform its function. Nguyen Trong Hoang from Nhi Binh Commune … [Read more...] about Saigon riverbank erosion arousing deep anxiety in local residents

Our group departed for Phu Quoc Island in the middle of December. With the optimum time to visit between December and March each year, this period is only just around the corner and the excitement to book a new trip here will soon be high. This is also the dry season on Phu Quoc, when the weather is clear and ideal for sight-seeing and tourism. And indeed, as soon as I got off the plane, I sensed a totally differ-ent vibe from the city: the freshness and tranquillity of the sky here with every breeze. The wind from the ocean whips through the hair as if blowing away all the work tired-ness. Phu Quoc, the biggest island in Vietnam and located in Kien Giang province ranked among the top 25 finest islands in the world by the World’s Best Places survey in July. It is a site where nature bestows riches, with a diverse ecosystem: from ancient forests of melaleuca to coral reefs and seagrass beds. Visitors may not be able to comprehend and appreciate all of the natural beauty here if they … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc Island an orchestra of wonder

Alongside its picturesque scenery, Hon Son Island in the Mekong Delta's Kien Giang Province, serves up some of the region's most mouthwatering delicacies, including fresh fish salad. Ca goi , also known as ca gioi , is a fish that measures approximately the size of a finger with a sharp, swordlike snout. It lives near the coast and, is therefore, relatively easy to catch. A batch of freshly caught 'ca goi'. Photo: C.Cong / Tuoi Tre It is typically prepared as part of a salad alongside vegetables, rice paper, vermicelli, and grated coconut. Nguyen Van Hung, a resident of Hon Son Island with nearly 20 years of fishing experience, shared that ca goi can be caught all year in the early mornings when there is a slight breeze. Hung typically sells the ca goi he catches for VND60,000 to 70,000 (US$2.56-3) per kilogram. A fisherman catches bucketfuls of 'ca goi' near Hon Son Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Photo: C.Cong / Tuoi … [Read more...] about Grab a bite of this mouthwatering fish salad on Hon Son Island in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta

Hu tieu (rice noodles) have long been a must-try dish on any visit to Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, but the five-colored hu tieu in Can Tho City offers visitors a fun twist on the long-standing local specialty. The Cai Rang floating market is one of Can Tho’s most popular tourist attractions, and those who choose to take a boat ride through Cai Rang rarely pass up the opportunity to try the hu tieu sold by Huynh Huu Hoai (Sau Hoai) and his family on the banks of the Rau Ram Canal in the city’s An Binh Ward. What makes Sau Hoai’s hu tieu so popular is his family's unique takes on the dish -- a pizza-inspired version and naturally-dyed one featuring five vibrant colors. Sau Hoai leads three generations of family members each day as they produce hu tieu for hungry tourists and locals alike. Each and every noodle thread produced by Sau Hoai and his family is handmade and sun-dried until their texture reaches the perfect balance of soft and chewy. To ensure that his noodles … [Read more...] about Five-color ‘hu tieu’: New twist on traditional noodle in southern Vietnam

Karen Vusisa has been struggling to find a decent catch of a favourite Fijian edible seaweed, amid concerns that ocean temperatures have hit harvests and are threatening livelihoods of fisherwomen like her. Like many others, Vusisa, 52, is managing to collect only about half as much of the seaweed, nama, as she once did. She must hunt for it over wider areas, spending more time at sea. "We are struggling to find some spot for a lot of nama," Sera Baleisasa, another Fijian fisherwoman, told Reuters. Nama, found mostly in the waters off Fiji, resembles small green grapes. It is part of the Pacific island nation's daily diet and usually served soaked in coconut milk and added to salads. Sea grapes are piled up after harvest at sea, near Namuaimada village, Viti Levu, Fiji July 15, 2022. Photo: Reuters It is also crucial for the livelihoods of hundreds of fisherwomen, who earn about $10 to $20 for a bag weighing 10 kg (22 lb.). When harvesting, they leave … [Read more...] about Ocean warmth, seaweed scarcity threaten Fiji’s fisherwomen’s livelihoods