VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang on Tuesday discovered a newly eroded area extending 270 metres along the Hau River on An Thanh Islet. Authorities in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang on Tuesday discovered a newly eroded area extending 270 metres along the Hau River on An Thanh Islet. — Photo tuoitre.vn The section, located in Cho Moi District’s Hoa An Commune, is near another eroded area of 2,000 square metres that fell into the river on August 10. The land was being used to grow flowers for Tet (Lunar New Year) next year. At least 19 erosion spots, covering a total length of 1,738 metres along the riverbank, have been detected, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Cho Moi People’s Committee has asked residents to move … [Read more...]

Shortly after taking over and consolidating the operation of An Giang Tourism Joint Stock Company, Sao Mai Group has embarked on a strategy to rebuild the entire Dong Thap Tourism Joint Stock Company. This is not only an internal reform but also shows the determination of Sao Mai Group to blow a new wind and arouse tourism potential in Dong Thap province, which is popularly dubbed the Realm of Pink Lotus. Comprehensive changes With a total budget of nearly VND200 billion, Sao Mai Group is resolute to reshuffle almost all infrastructures for the hotel chain and complete other items unfinished by the old company. The 3-star Song Tra Hotel is being totally rebuilt with a sophisticated and scientific architectural design. Every item like the administrative area, reception hall, kitchen, massage room, karaoke, bedroom, garden cafe, Hanh Phuc Restaurant and rooftop … [Read more...]

A lull in the HCM City real estate market is pushing developers to offer promotions to bring back buyers.(Photo: nguoiduatin.vn) HCM City (VNA) - A lull in the Ho Chi Minh City real estate market is pushing developers to offer promotions to bring back buyers. Tuoitre.vn quoted an unnamed developer as saying that in the last two months it has been difficult to sell apartments. His project in District 6 has 450 units but only 140 have been sold since the beginning of this year. His company had planned to begin a new project in the second quarter of this year, but it has been put on hold as a result of the market slowdown. All his employees have been put on the job of selling apartments at old projects, he said.  Pham Lan, general director of Danh Khoi A Chau Company, said the land segment has slumped since last month since customers have become apprehensive … [Read more...]

A lull in the HCM City real estate market is pushing developers to offer promotions to bring back buyers.— Photo nguoiduatin.vn A lull in the HCM City real estate market is pushing developers to offer promotions to bring back buyers. Tuoitre.vn quoted an unnamed developer as saying that in the last two months it has been difficult to sell apartments. His project in District 6 has 450 units but only 140 have been sold since the beginning of this year. His company had planned to begin a new project in the second quarter of this year, but it has been put on hold as a result of the market slowdown. All his employees have been put on the job of selling apartments at old projects, he said. Pham Lan, general director of Danh Khoi A Chau Company, said the land segment has slumped since last month since customers have become apprehensive after prices skyrocketed in districts 2 and 9. Besides, many … [Read more...]

A lull in the HCM City real estate market is pushing developers to offer promotions to bring back buyers. A lull in the HCM City real estate market is pushing developers to offer promotions to bring back buyers.- Photo nguoiduatin.vn Tuoitre.vn quoted an unnamed developer as saying that in the last two months it has been difficult to sell apartments. His project in District 6 has 450 units but only 140 have been sold since the beginning of this year. His company had planned to begin a new project in the second quarter of this year, but it has been put on hold as a result of the market slowdown. All his employees have been put on the job of selling apartments at old projects, he said. Pham Lan, general director of Danh Khoi A Chau Company, said the land segment has slumped since last month since … [Read more...]

A congested expressway in southern Vietnam is frustrating travelers who depend on the thoroughfare to ease their commute. The construction of Long Thanh International Airport in the namesake district in Dong Nai Province, about 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is causing bumper to bumper traffic in the area. The most serious of these congestion problems takes place on an expressway connecting Ho Chi Minh and Long Thanh, with commuters finding themselves trapped in hours-long gridlock each weekend. According to an observation by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, endless lines of vehicles stretched endlessly down the expressway beginning at the Long Phuoc toll station in District 9. “We pay a toll for the expressway just to be caught in traffic jams even more severe than on regular roads,” a car driver complained. Truck drivers who … [Read more...]

The construction of Long Thanh International Airport in the namesake district in Dong Nai Province, about 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, is causing bumper to bumper traffic in the area. The most serious of these congestion problems takes place on an expressway connecting Ho Chi Minh and Long Thanh, with commuters finding themselves trapped in hours-long gridlock each weekend. According to an observation by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, endless lines of vehicles stretched endlessly down the expressway beginning at the Long Phuoc toll station in District 9. “We pay a toll for the expressway just to be caught in traffic jams even more severe than on regular roads,” a car driver complained. Truck drivers who depend on the route also complain that the bottleneck is causing them to fall behind schedule. During the weekend, it … [Read more...]

Returning home after a busy afternoon in the peach field, my father wearily sat down on the wooden plank bed and rubbed the dirt off his trousers. Then, he picked up the thuốc lào (tobacco pipe), put a small pinch of tobacco into its bowl, struck a match and began smoking. He seemed so lost in thought that he nearly forgot my presence in the hut. To me, he was worrying about his peach field. In these silent moments he remembered how he had given up everything behind in the city: his profitable job as a doctor in a renowned hospital and his beautiful home close to his parents’ place, so he could settle down here on a rented plot of land near the river bank in the countryside to grow peach trees, whose blossoms he liked best. * * * Growing up, I was often a silhouette beside him, always busy at work in the field. Most of my memories about the brilliantly-lit city, about my father, with his spectacles and scrubs were vividly etched in my … [Read more...]

The nationwide growth of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) slowed down in the second quarter of the year, after reaching a record peak in the previous quarter. Nationwide FMCG grew 5.8 per cent this quarter versus one year ago, according to the Nielsen Quarterly Market Pulse report released by Nielsen Viet Nam, a global performance measurement company. All six super FMCG categories--beverages, food, dairy, household care, personal care and cigarettes--showed positive growth in the quarter. Both food and dairy sectors grew 8.1 per cent, while home care grew 5.7 per cent, beverage grew 5.4 per cent, personal care grew 5 per cent and cigarettes grew 4.7 per cent. However, in comparison with the last quarter, these numbers reflected a decline across categories. Beverage still accounted for a large proportion of total FMCG sales in quarter two at 42 per cent. Food, cigarette and milk-based accounted for slightly … [Read more...]

Hanoi (VNA) – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered incense to commemorate late President Ho Chi Minh at House No.67 in Hanoi on January 26 on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year and the 87th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The Party chief expressed his gratitude to the great Vietnamese leader who devoted his whole life to the cause of national independence and the happiness of people. Talking with the relic site’s officials and staff, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said he was glad to know that more domestic and international tourists visited the site, which reached 2.8 million in 2016. He wished the officials a New Year of good health and prosperity. Located within the President Ho Chi Minh relic site, House No.67 was named after the year 1967 when it was constructed. This is where Uncle Ho worked and passed away. The foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam by President Ho Chi Minh on February 3, 1930 was an important … [Read more...]

Good morning from Vietnam! Good morning from Vietnam! Society -- Unseasonal heavy rain is in the forecast this afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern provinces as a result of equatorial depression and disturbance, according to Ho Chi Minh City-based meteorologist Le Thi Xuan Lan. -- Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City has warned passengers of pickpockets who prey on careless travelers at the airport’s waiting lounges, taking advantage of the busy season when large numbers of Vietnamese rush home from the big cities to enjoy Tet, or Lunar New Year holiday. -- Ho Chi Minh City Police yesterday unveiled its special criminal police division made up of specifically trained officers who are tasked with hunting down muggers and other dangerous criminals in the city’s districts of 7, 8, Binh Tan and Nha Be, in an attempt to crack down on prevalent crimes in the city. Lifestyle -- A grand flower display running the length of Nguyen Hue pedestrian … [Read more...]

Check out the news you should not miss today, January 25, the 28th day of the last month of the lunar calendar, or three days away from the Tet, or Lunar New Year holiday. Check out the news you should not miss today, January 25, the 28th day of the last month of the lunar calendar, or three days away from the Tet, or Lunar New Year holiday. Politics -- Vietnam consistently wants to develop its strategic partnership with Singapore, State President Tran Dai Quang asserted when receiving Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Catherine Wong in Hanoi on Tuesday. -- Vietnam and Belarus celebrated the 25th founding anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relationship on Tuesday, with Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang extending a congratulatory message to his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on the occasion. Society -- The request was made by Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held at a working session with the Mobile Police High Command in Hanoi … [Read more...]

Check out the news you should not miss today January 24: Check out the news you should not miss today January 24: Society -- Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) still retains its traditional customs compared with 20 years ago, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius said as Tet is coming. Meanwhile, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Charlotte Laursen and her daughter have decided to stay in Hanoi during Tet to experience the holiday. -- Police in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on Monday destroyed more than 10 tons of stale jam after catching it being transported for consumption on January 10. -- More than 3,000 workers in the southern province of Binh Duong on Monday took free-of-charge buses provided by the provincial Labor Federation to their hometowns for Tet celebration. The federation also gave them 400,000 presents worth VND170 billion (US$7.59 million). -- Mai Linh Group today launches its electric bus route which is the first of its kind in Ho Chi Minh City, from 23/9 … [Read more...]

Here are the news stories you should not miss today: Here are the news stories you should not miss today: Society -- Salt water is intruding on a large area along the Tien (Front) River in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, threatening local paddy fields, according to Nguyen Thien Phap, head of the Irrigation Department in Tien Giang Province. -- Two eight-year-old boys were found dead in a lake in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on Saturday evening. They had gone missing since the afternoon of the same day. -- Two teachers in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak were killed after their motorcycle collided with a state-owned vehicle belonging to the provincial administration on Saturday afternoon, Bui Hong Phuoc, head of the office of the Dak Lak People’s Committee, affirmed on Sunday evening. -- Nine Vietnamese fishermen were brought to safety on Sunday night after their ship was sunk by an unidentified vessel while operating about 44 nautical miles southwest of … [Read more...]

Check out the news you should not miss today, January 21, the 24th day of the last month of the lunar calendar, or ten days away from the Tet, or Lunar New Year holiday. Check out the news you should not miss today, January 21, the 24th day of the last month of the lunar calendar, or ten days away from the Tet, or Lunar New Year holiday. Politics -- Vietnam is ready to send more officers to UN peacekeeping operations, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Pham Ngoc Minh asserted at talks with a delegation of the UK army medical services in Hanoi on Friday -- Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc wrapped up his participation at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Friday, having engaged in a continuous series of sessions and meetings with world and business leaders as part of his sideline activities. Society -- Vietnam's State President Tran Dai Quang met 50 overseas Vietnamese delegates in Hanoi on Friday, hailing … [Read more...]

Check out what is in the news today, January 18 Check out what is in the news today, January 18 Politics -- Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will lead a delegation to the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland from Wednesday to Friday, a local diplomat has confirmed. Society -- Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday jointly organized a charity program at a pediatric hospital in the central city of Da Nang where disadvantaged child patients were treated to music and variety performances and received Tet (Lunar New Year) gifts. -- Vietnam is now empowered to demand removal of or directly block inappropriate, anti-state information, according to a circular on via-border provision of public information recently released by the Ministry of Information and Communications. -- The People’s Court of the south-central province of Binh Thuan announced on Tuesday that they had reached negotiations on a compensation sum of VND10 billion (US$ 438,385) with a … [Read more...]

The streets and markets are a frenzy of shoppers picking the freshest foods, best clothes and new home accessories. Colourful and festive items are displayed in the stores and the clatter of bargaining fills the air. These are all on top of the anticipation among the little ones as they count down to the festive fun and the thrill of receiving Lì Xì. When they receive special red envelope with their Lì Xì, the children show respect by clasping both hands and bowing. I am also fond of Tết because it is when people set aside time for their family and friends. They visit relatives on both sides of the family and pay respect to the different generations. Vietnamese living abroad or away from their hometown try to make a special trip back to mark this holiday. Now I know Giao Thừa is an important moment of the Tết. Giao Thừa represents the passage from the old to the new for the Vietnamese. During Giao Thừa, they bid farewell to the past and welcome the New Year and the new opportunities … [Read more...]

Tet, the largest and most widely-celebrated national holiday in Vietnam, is traditionally a time for family togetherness and the value of everyone and everyone a person may hold dear. It’s a happy time for all Vietnamese. Of course, there are always the foreign nationals living and working in Vietnam, and in IS-VNU in particular, who also look forward to the holiday as well. IS will close for two weeks in 2011 for the Tet holiday, and several foreign nationals working at the university are planning to join in the local festivities by visiting the hometowns and families of their closest colleagues and students. Many of them will even have the privilege of being the New Year’s first visitor. Many permanent expatriates, married with children, are also looking forward to a family holiday in Vietnam, putting a comfortable twist of their own on Vietnamese tradition. Lecturer Mike Beard from IS-VNU said he was planning on celebrating Tet the Vietnamese way: with his wife and … [Read more...]

Vietnamese people call the 7th full moon festival “Vu Lan bao hieu” (Parents' Day) or “Xa toi vong nhan” (Wandering Soul’s Day). The festival is the second largest annual traditional festival of Vietnam after the lunar New Year (Tet) festival, and it is celebrated by Vietnamese people participating in various religious rituals and humanitarian activities. From traditional customs The seventh lunar month is believed to be the time wandering souls are returning to their former homes. Ancient legend has it that a Buddha's disciple named Muc Kien Lien saw his mother suffering from hell’s tortures. Following Buddha’s advice, on the seventh full moon of the year, Muc Kien Lien gathered monks and devotees to pray for his mother’s relief. Hence, such gathering has become an annual festival to express gratitude towards parents and ancestors. During the festival, people visit pagodas and temples to worship, burn incense and offer votives to … [Read more...]

Together with two other common village symbols-the banyan tree and the well-the temple is essential to the spiritual life of almost all people in rural areas. The village temple serves as a common playground for kids, a place of worship for adults, and an ideal meeting hall for village elders to impart their wisdom to youngsters. Every village in the countryside has its own temple and grounds that transform into a venue for religious rituals and contests during traditional festivals. The temple is also a launching pad for national patriotic movements or acts of charity. The lead-up to the spring and Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday is an especially busy time as villagers make use of temple ground for communal preparations and celebrations. They gather for music and dance performances, and folk games like wrestling, ball throwing, and tug-of-war. For centuries, the village temple has functioned as both a communal house and a place of worship dedicated to village founders and other … [Read more...]