Viet Nam News by Trần Dũng Nguyên hesitantly stopped his bike at the three-way crossroads. Long Thạnh Village looked so different now. Nguyên looked around for the haggardness of more than 20 years before, but couldn’t find any trace of it. The hot and dry north-easterly wind lent a fresh rosiness and eagerness to the coastal village. Nguyên felt glad, wondering whether he had contributed even just a little to the prosperity of Long Thạnh today. It was strange though. As a wandering journalist, rarely had he set foot in a region twice. Yet this remote land, which seemed as tiny as a little cup, kept drawing him back. The first time he was here, he exposed a ruse in which a bunch of communal cadres falsified papers to prove a man had died fighting in the American War to help his wife claim war martyr benefits. Today he returned to report on a flourishing business model which was gaining nationwide fame. Suddenly, Nguyên felt … [Read more...] about Curtain Fig Wharf
Easter greeting
‘A new history starts now’ as leaders of two Koreas begin summit
Smiling and holding hands, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met at the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between the countries on Friday in the first summit for the two Koreas in over a decade. The meeting, aimed at ending their decades-long conflict and easing tensions over the North's nuclear weapons programme, comes weeks before Kim is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump. Moon greeted Kim at the military demarcation line at 9:30 a.m. (0030 GMT), making Kim the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the 1950-53 Korean War. In an unplanned move, Kim invited Moon to step briefly across the demarcation line into North Korea, before the two leaders crossed back into South Korea holding hands. The two were handed flowers by a South Korean boy and girl, residents of a village situated in the demilitarised zone. Walking on a red carpet rolled out for the two heads of state, the pair were met by a South Korean honour guard in … [Read more...] about ‘A new history starts now’ as leaders of two Koreas begin summit
Leaders of two Koreas head for historic summit at DMZ
The leaders of the two Koreas made their way to the heavily fortified demilitarized zone between the countries early on Friday, seeking to end their decades-long conflict and ease tensions over the North’s nuclear weapons program. South Korea’s Moon Jae-in will greet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the military demarcation line at 9:30 a.m. (0030 GMT), making Kim the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the 1950-53 Korean War. The two are expected to talk denuclearization and exchanges between the Koreas and also will plant a memorial tree at the border truce village of Panmunjom as part of the first inter-Korean summit in more than a decade. Friday’s summit will set the stage for Kim to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in late May or early June, in what would be an unprecedented first encounter between sitting leaders of the two countries. Just months ago, Trump and Kim were trading threats and insults as North Korea’s rapid advances … [Read more...] about Leaders of two Koreas head for historic summit at DMZ
VFF leader congratulates Catholics, Protestants on Easter
President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man (centre, left) extends Easter greetings to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers in Hanoi on a visit to the Hanoi Archdiocese and the Evangelical Church of Vietnam on April 3. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man extended Easter greetings to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers in Hanoi while visiting the Hanoi Archdiocese and the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) on April 3. In a meeting with Archbishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese Cardinal Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon, Man highlighted the country’s outstanding achievements of socio-economic development and major activities in the front work in 2017, saying that Catholics nationwide have made great contributions to attainments. He expressed his belief that Cardinal Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon will encourage Catholic dignitaries and followers in the Hanoi Archdiocese to … [Read more...] about VFF leader congratulates Catholics, Protestants on Easter
Easter greetings extended to Catholics in Hanoi
Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai presents flowers to Archbishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese Cardinal Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai wished Catholic dignitaries and followers in Hanoi a merry Easter holiday when visiting Archbishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese Cardinal Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon on April 2. She emphasised the close relationship between the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation and the Hanoi Archdiocese. She affirmed that the Hanoi Archdiocese, Cardinal Nguyen Van Nhon himself and Catholics in Hanoi have contributed greatly to the country’s socio-economic achievements. Mai also acknowledged their contributions to charitable activities and encouraged local parishioners to continue following the Party’s policies and the State’s law. Cardinal Nguyen Van … [Read more...] about Easter greetings extended to Catholics in Hanoi