Ta Thi Thanh Huong, urban green growth specialist from the Global Green Growth Institute in Vietnam Vietnam boasts one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economies and one of the most rapid rates of urbanisation in the region. The breakneck expansion of cities come with a set of unique challenges – but also with exciting new opportunities to ensure growth is inclusive, sustainable and, above all, green. Creating smart cities will allow Vietnam to sidestep the pitfalls of rapid urbanisation – pollution or inadequate infrastructure, for example – as its cities expand, with more than 50 per cent of the population set to live in cities by 2030. A blueprint for smart cities – or smart green cities – could see solar panels on the roofs of Ho Chi Minh City’s skyscrapers, electric buses ferrying passengers across Hanoi or energy-efficient lightbulbs illuminating the streets of the central city of Danang. These changes will no doubt improve the … [Read more...] about Smart city dreams only a stretch away
A get away
Bustling HCM City a top spot for tourists
Spiritual life: A foreign tourist burns incense at Thiên Hậu Pagoda in Chợ Lớn (Chinatown) in HCM City’s District 5. Photo San Hà Viet Nam News The country’s largest city brims with things to do and explore, from motorbike tours of former Chinatown to incense-filled pagodas, underground war tunnels and a UNESCO-listed biosphere. San Hà HCM CITY — HCM City, formerly known as Sài Gòn, has emerged from its darkest days to become one of Asia’s most exciting cities. The international travel guide publisher Lonely Planet named Việt Nam’s southern metropolis one of the top 10 places to visit in Asia in 2018. If you’re a first-time visitor and don’t have a week-long holiday in HCM City, it’s crucial to experience some of the city’s intriguing historic landmarks, vibrant markets, local food and diverse nightlife offerings and activities to make the most of two or three days in the … [Read more...] about Bustling HCM City a top spot for tourists
Keane accuses Man Utd players of “getting away with murder”
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has on Friday (Dec 21) accused the current crop of players at Old Trafford of getting away "with murder" and of throwing Jose Mourinho "under the bus". Roy Keane has launched an attack on the Manchester United players after Jose Mourinho was sacked. (Photo: AFP/MIGUEL MEDINA) The Irishman's broadside comes just days after Mourinho was sacked as United manager, having presided over their worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Former United player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was this week named caretaker manager until the end of the season. Mourinho had reportedly fallen out with several of his first-team stars towards the end of his two-and-a-half-year tenure at the helm of United and Keane feels the behaviour of the players may be at least partly to blame. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Keane said: "I do think the players obviously get away with murder. Just the way they hide behind the manager ... They have thrown him under the bus." … [Read more...] about Keane accuses Man Utd players of “getting away with murder”
Marriage to Vietnamese brides just a click away for China’s desperate single men
A decades-long one-child policy has created a yawning demographic disparity in China, with tens of millions more men than women. Sites like Zhongyuelove.com make their margin plugging that gap, promising to solve the "single problems" of Chinese men, linking them with Vietnamese women, pressed by poverty at home to marry thousands of miles away, and "Vietnamese women are a blessing for this group (unmarried Chinese men)," the website says, using an image gallery of women in their early 20s backed up by poetic words on the prospective brides to seize the interest of China's bachelors. "They (the women) are pure, beautiful, traditional," it says "and possess the gentleness and virtue of Chinese women but also the romantic exoticism of a foreign bride." Its matchmaking fee for connecting bachelors is around $4,000 -- which includes non-refundable 'blind dates', an unspecified 'pre-marital medical exam' and wedding photography if all goes well. The fee does not cover wedding gifts to the … [Read more...] about Marriage to Vietnamese brides just a click away for China’s desperate single men
Pérolas Villas Resort, a serene jewel of true and refined natural beauty
The romantic sight of beachfront swimming pool during sunset A unique harmony between nature and the bathrooms The spa constructed from natural bamboo in the middle of the tropical forest Pérolas Villas Resort in detail Location: Hon Lan International Tourism Area, Ham Thuan Nam, Binh Thuan; Area: 5.4 hectares; Construction progress: 90 per cent of the infrastructure was finished by September 2018. 70 per cent of the forest was planted, while the villas and other facilities will be finished by the second quarter of 2019; Number of villas: 40 hotel villas, 60 sea view villas, and four premium villas; Price: starting from VND3.6 billion ($159,000) per unit; Exclusive consultant and distributor: Thu Thiem Real Hotline: 0899 223 223 BINH THUAN – KING OF RESORTS Located in the coastal area of the southern central region, Binh Thuan holds an important geographical position as a gateway for economic, cultural, and social exchanges among the southeast … [Read more...] about Pérolas Villas Resort, a serene jewel of true and refined natural beauty
Mumuso and likes getting away with gentle fines?
With their huge revenue from selling goods of unclear origins, the VND100-140 million ($4,400-6,200) administrative fines may not be enough to discourage stores like Mumuso. Mumuso, Miniso, and similar brands are being investigated Mumuso and similar firms are facing the highest administrative fines of VND100 million ($4,424) and VND140 million ($6,194), according to Decree No.185/2013/ND-CP stipulating fines for administrative violations for producing and trading in fake goods and Decree No.71/2014/ND-CP stipulating the sanctions on violations of the Law on Competition. However, lawyer Kieu Anh Vu from KAV Lawyers Company in Ho Chi Minh City told VIR that the administrative fines of violating the origin of goods and labelling rules are not high enough to discourage such practices because the illicit profit earned from these violations is likely much higher than the fines. Despite no reports being at hand about the brands’ revenues in Vietnam, with Mumuso’s rapid … [Read more...] about Mumuso and likes getting away with gentle fines?
A couple who are not clutching at straws in Saigon
Julia Mesner and Michael Burdge had their first date on a helicopter in Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, United States. Photo by Zero Waste Saigon And just like that, what was supposed to be their romantic getaway in Vietnam was turned into a mission against plastic consumption. Julia Mesner said it was a Christmas gift from her husband, a holiday in the small beach town of Ho Tram, about 125 kilometers southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. There, they headed up to the Ky Van mountain, which hosts a Buddhist monastery known locally as the Monkey Pagoda. Built in 1990, the sacred place is home to hundreds of the simians. "It was a really beautiful, idyllic and heavenly experience.” But then, all of a sudden, the spell was broken. "There was this baby monkey eating a plastic bag," Michael told VnExpress, adding that it really bothered his wife. Their son had just turned one a few months ago. "So she kind of had a motherly reaction to it. That thing … [Read more...] about A couple who are not clutching at straws in Saigon
A couple who are not clutching at plastic in Saigon
Julia Mesner and Michael Burdge had their first date on a helicopter in Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, United States. Photo by Zero Waste Saigon And just like that, what was supposed to be their romantic getaway in Vietnam was turned into a mission against plastic consumption. Julia Mesner said it was a Christmas gift from her husband, a holiday in the small beach town of Ho Tram, about 125 kilometers southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. There, they headed up to the Ky Van mountain, which hosts a Buddhist monastery known locally as the Monkey Pagoda. Built in 1990, the sacred place is home to hundreds of the simians. "It was a really beautiful, idyllic and heavenly experience.” But then, all of a sudden, the spell was broken. "There was this baby monkey eating a plastic bag," Michael told VnExpress, adding that it really bothered his wife. Their son had just turned one a few months ago. "So she kind of had a motherly reaction to it. That thing … [Read more...] about A couple who are not clutching at plastic in Saigon
Women take a break from family for travel: Why not?
Viet Nam News by Nguyễn Khánh Chi A recent lunch date with my old friends from university turned into a stirring round-table discussion when one friend proposed that we all make a plan to travel together. As we envisioned a change of pace, time together and the chance to explore, everyone seemed excited—but one woman looked a bit concerned. “Does that mean we leave our kids and husband at home?” she asked in a low voice. “Yes!” “Yep!” “Why not?” the others jumped in. Vietnamese traditional family values dating back to the feudal period stipulate that housework is women’s responsibility. This view is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it leads to celebrations of Vietnamese women’s dedication and hard work for their families. On the other, it punishes Vietnamese women who dare to assert some purpose or passion in life outside of their home. The persistence of this view makes it hard for many women to … [Read more...] about Women take a break from family for travel: Why not?
Vietnam lose once-in-a-lifetime AFC U23 final to Uzbekistan at last minute
The Golden Stars continued to bring emotions to the snowy finale of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship against Uzbekistan, who wrestled to find a last-grasp goal in extra time to win the title on Saturday. Vietnam, as usually, displayed a fantastic fighting spirit under extraordinary weather conditions in China. The Vietnamese players had inspired fans around Asia with their tough performance from the group stage through to the semis before the final showdown, their first ever at Asian levels, with the Uzbeks. It heavily snowed in Changzhou before the game so many fans might have thought the Vietnamese and the Uzbeks were playing ice hockey at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center in Changzhou. The Vietnamese played like real warriors even though most of them had never seen snow in real life, as they come from a country where the norm is 30 degrees Celsius. Both sides drew 1-1 in 90 minutes before the Uzbeks scored the winner at the end of the second half of extra time to … [Read more...] about Vietnam lose once-in-a-lifetime AFC U23 final to Uzbekistan at last minute