Laos youth travel

Scientists from Vietnam and NASA are working on a joint project to monitor Southeast Asian land use, local media have reported from an ongoing conference attended by 60 scientists. The “Land Use Status, Change and Impacts in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos” project aims to build a quantitative database on land coverage and land use, and to create maps on the changing populations and the demography in the Southeast Asian nations. NASA would provide scientists with data retrieved from its satellites to help assess regional land use and its changes. Nghiem Van Son, a senior researcher from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology and one of the project’s founders, said that data retrieved from satellites will help create a comprehensive picture of Vietnam’s landmass so that scientists can monitor the entire area instead of having to rely on individual reports, Vietnam News Agency reported. Quantitative research, including the … [Read more...] about Vietnamese scientists look to the skies with NASA on observation project

Son Doong Cave in the central province of Quang Binh opened to tourists in 2013 and has become a top adventure destination in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA) Quang Binh (VNA) - Oxalis Adventure Tours has been granted exclusive rights to accompany adventure seekers to Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, located in central Vietnam, for up to 10 years. Oxalis is the only private company licensed to explore Son Doong. Quang Binh province’s authorities approved tours from now till 2030. Earlier, the licence was only given annually.   The province requires the tour operator to achieve economic efficiency and ensure tourist safety while promoting Son Doong, a fast-emerging tourist destination. Due to limited space, registration for Son Doong tours must be made well in advance. According to Oxalis, 570 slots are available for 2020.  A four-day expedition costs 3,000 USD. Quang Binh authorities recently increased the number of tourists allowed to visit … [Read more...] about Private company granted exclusive rights to Son Doong tours

Commuters on the Paris metro faced another day of travel havoc Thursday as unions pressed their strike against a planned pension reform. (Photo: AFP/Philippe LOPEZ) Officials have said they are ready to negotiate, with Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer meeting teachers' representatives on Friday to try to stave off another day of class shutdowns. "It was an intense and frank meeting ... but we still need details, and maintain our call to strike on Tuesday," Stephane Crochet of the SE-Unsa teachers' union said. Unions are hoping for a repeat of 1995, when they forced a rightwing government to back down on pension reforms after three weeks of metro and rail strikes just before Christmas. The prospect of a protracted standoff has businesses fearing big losses during the crucial year-end festivities, and travellers worried that their holiday plans are compromised. "Right now it's a catastrophe here, but we're hoping there will be a solution before Christmas," Frederic Masse, a … [Read more...] about France braces for holiday misery as pension strike persists

The UN agency said Friday that the practice of singing "Then" met all criteria to merit the recognition. The practice was "part of the spiritual life of the Tay, Nung and Thai people, reflecting the relationship between man, the natural world and the universe," the agency said. It also reflects the cultural identity of the groups - from the music to the musical instruments and the dance that accompanies the singing. The singing of "Then" is a spiritual ritual that seeks peace and happiness for the villages and their people, the UN agency noted. According to the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the ceremonies associated with this singing follow the journey of a "Then" master, who can be a man or a woman, leading an army of soldiers from the earth to heaven with offerings to the gods, presenting hopes of peace, health and happiness in the New Year. When the "Then" master begins to sing, the journey begins with the accompaniment of a … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s “Then” singing an intangible cultural heritage

The ongoing serious air pollution in Hanoi and northern Vietnam has entered its sixth day, while local authorities are still silent amidst rising concerns. According to Dr. Hoang Tung Duong, president of the Vietnam Clean Air Partnership (VCAP), many northern localities, including Hanoi, have been plagued by horrific air pollution in the past six days. As of Friday morning, air quality in many locations across Hanoi was very unhealthy, evidenced by the statistics of the PAM Air. The air quality index (AQI) in such districts as Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Thanh Xuan, and Tay Ho was measured at between 202 and 240. An AQI of 201-300 is considered dangerous to health. Measuring tools operated by the Hanoi People’s Committee also showed similar results. In response to the situation, the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment only cited the average AQI of 256 and issued a short warning that the atmosphere could have serious impacts … [Read more...] about Authorities remain silent amidst terrible air pollution in Hanoi