What does a custard apple look like

Any foreigner who can unscramble the rich tapestry of the Vietnamese language deserves the keys to the city, a Nobel Prize, a Golden Buzzer from Simon, and, while we’re at it, let’s toss in an honorary ambassadorship. The plethora of homonyms, at least to the Western ear, is an exciting feature, as there is nothing more catastrophic than calling someone a horse’s ass when you simply want to wish them a nice day. It’s not as if the language had a few ups and downs here and there as does every tongue, but conveying even the simplest sentiments can be precarious. How about the infamous ‘em yêu anh, anh yêu em, em thương anh’ and ‘anh thương em” jigsaw puzzle? It’s damn good that most people know ‘I love you’ in English, for sorting the ‘em’s’ from the ‘anh’s’ and the north from the south is quite a hurdle. Let’s look at personal pronouns in Vietnamese because addressing people is the first and most basic step in any relationship, thus a logical starting point. That innocent … [Read more...] about Vietnamese language torture

According to Berly D. Alvarez, chairman of the Philippines’s Kaunlad Lending Investors Corporation and a speaker at the 2018 Horasis Asia Meeting held recently in Binh Duong province, Vietnam’s ability to attract FDI is due to its consistent economic reform, a young and increasingly urbanized population, affordable labor, constant improvements to its business climate, and political stability. The fact that it hosted the 2017 APEC meetings highlights its regional economic integration and steadily improving business climate, he added. Vietnam has been attracting investment in infrastructure, including power projects, road and rail construction and renewable energy. Don Lam, CEO of VinaCapital, said Vietnam’s economy remains strong with 6.6 percent growth targeted next year, inflation remaining under control and manufacturing expanding. “More foreign investment is expected to flow into Vietnam in the coming time.” Pakpoom Vallisuta, chairman of The Quant Group Corporation, a … [Read more...] about Vietnam a regional FDI magnet say experts

The Japanese retailer sells Vietnamese agricultural products in some 350 of the group's stores and supermarkets across Japan and on its websites from July 1 to 3. AEON Group, the Japanese retailer, expected to sell about 30 tons of fresh lychee and 2.5 tons of fresh bananas from Vietnam during the three-day Vietnamese Goods Week in Japan. The Japanese retailer sells Vietnamese agricultural products in some 350 of the group's stores and supermarkets across Japan and on its websites from July 1 to 3. A number of Vietnamese fresh lychee are sold at AEON supermarket. Photo: congthuong.vn "Last year, we imported  five tons of fresh lychee from Vietnam and sold it only in large supermarkets. However, this year, we imported up to 22 tons of lychee and sold them in all AEON supermarkets throughout Japan," Soichi Okazaki, Executive Director of ASEAN Business at AEON, told the Vietnam News Agency . Okazaki added that Vietnamese lychee is very fragrant and … [Read more...] about Some 30 tons of fresh lychee sold at Vietnamese Goods Week in Japan

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines resumes services between Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta (Indonesia) on July 2. (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines resumed services between Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta (Indonesia) on July 2 after months of closure because of COVID-19. The first flight in months, coded VN631, departed from HCM City for Jakarta at around 9:40am, with 144 passengers on board; and the return flight took off from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 1:50pm carrying 171 passengers. There are now regular round trips on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. This is another international destination Vietnam Airlines has relaunched air route to after the Vietnam reopened its border and lifted travel restrictions. Nguyen Minh Toan, head of Vietnam Airline’s representative office in Indonesia , said there is high travel demand between Vietnam and Indonesia, and the resumption of an air route between the two … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines relaunches services to Indonesia

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (centre) speaks at the Vietnam - UK high-level forum on economy and trade in London on June 29. (Photo: VNA) Rome (VNA) – Some media agencies in Italy higlighted Vietnam’s economic links with Europe and achievements in ensuring human rights when covering a recent tour of some European countries by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue . In an article about Vietnam’s trade and investment links with Italy and Europe, the La Città Futura newspaper said Vietnam is effectively implementing the commitments in the free trade agreements with the EU ( EVFTA ) and the UK (UKVFTA). So far, key farm produce of Vietnam like peppercorn, cashew nut, vegetables, fruit, tea, and rubber have benefited from preferential tariffs in the EU, which is one of the five largest markets of Vietnam’s fishery products. La Città Futura noted Vietnam is a leading partner of Italy in Southeast Asia and also a helpful bridge linking the EU, including … [Read more...] about Italian media spotlight Vietnam’s economic ties with Europe, human rights achievements

At the foot of Tam Dao mountain range, the Ngao waterfall in Dai Tu District has become a popular weekend retreat, easily accessed with a two-hour drive from Hanoi. The road leading to the waterfall cuts through dense forests offering cool shelter from hot summer days. Promoted by travel bloggers as an ideal summer escape, the waterfall has drawn increasing numbers of people from the capital city. Of these, many choose to camp overnight in the area. As tourist numbers increase, some families living near the waterfall have opened homestay facilities with camping and catering services. Around two kilometers from the Ngao Waterfall is the Mo&Jen Camp Retreat. It offers luxury camping services with amenities like bathrooms, toilets, mattresses, fans and food. The campsite has 11 tents that can accommodate four people each, all set up in a grove on the edge of a small stream. Each tent is … [Read more...] about Chill out in summer, camp at a waterfall near Hanoi