Ancient houses of Hoa ethnic people in Bang Van and Thuong An communes, Ngan Son district, Bac Kan province have stood for half a century and became a destination in the northeastern mountainous province. However, harsh weather and fast-paced urbanisation are challenging the longevity of those houses, requiring local authorities and people to use proper preservation measures. At first, there were some 100 houses standing along one-kilometre road of Duc Van commune. Now there are only 10 preserving its original shape while the others have been replaced by modern houses. The houses have witnessed the lives of many generations of Hoa people so there are still people choosing to keep them that way, with certain modifications for a more modern and cozier living space. Dong Phuc Linh, Village elder of Ban Duom B village, Thuong An commune, Ngan Son district, Bac Kan told reporters: "Our great great grandfathers have the same idea of building a house in … [Read more...] about Ancient houses requires proper preservation measures
Materials needed to build a house
600 kids in Vietnam forced to stay home as preschool runs out of space
A commune in the central province of Nghe An has to leave 600 preschool-age children to stay at home as its only kindergarten is overcrowded. The kindergarten in Quynh Loc Commune is catering for 500 children, and another 200 are being schooled at the local communal house and an old storage building, said Le Duy Trung, chairman of the commune, more than four hours south of Hanoi. The storage building is heavily damaged and chunks of plaster regularly drop from the ceiling. The rising population and a limited budget are to blame for the problem, Trung said. “We have asked authorities for VND16 billion ($702,400) to build a new kindergarten, but we are still awaiting approval,” he added. Despite its low budget, the commune has recently spent VND6 billion to restore a two-kilometer road, a project many locals did not approve of. “This road was still in a good condition. The money should have been spent on the kindergarten,” said a local resident. But Trung said … [Read more...] about 600 kids in Vietnam forced to stay home as preschool runs out of space
No rocket science needed to prevent such blasts
by Mai Khuyên A deep crater is all that remains where a building once stood. An explosion the likes of which the nation had not seen since the American War days obliterated the building, killed a baby boy and a five-year-old girl, injured at least eight people, destroyed several houses, unroofed several others, and scattered live ammunition over a very large area. Wednesday’s blast in Bắc Ninh Province’s Quan Độ Village in Yên Phong District has shaken the nation, and provided yet another grim reminder that the deadly legacy of the war has not left us. More importantly, it has also reminded us, graphically, that even fundamental safety precautions are often not being taken when dealing with the issue of unexploded ordnances that litter large swathes of our land, killing and maiming people with depressing regularity (see infographic). The explosion happened at a scrap warehouse that had, officials say now, illegally stored military weapons. The … [Read more...] about No rocket science needed to prevent such blasts
BTM Global: We work and operate as a partner
BTM Global: We work and operate as a partner When looking for a partner to help your retail organization with technology development or implementation, your options can be overwhelming. How do you tell the difference between companies? Don’t they all promise to do the same thing? And doesn’t it really come down to who can do the work at the least cost? When you discuss your needs with a partner or vendor, most of them will likely say they can manage and execute the project. But in order to sort out the great partners from the adequate partners – the ones that will be proactive, solve problems creatively and keep your best interests in mind – you will need to dig a little deeper. The real questions for a technology partner are: What will be the process for completing the project? Will it be predictable? And especially, what will your relationship be like with this partner? This last question is one of the most important: it sets the stage for how you will tackle … [Read more...] about BTM Global: We work and operate as a partner
Martin Rama, a Uruguayan economist with big love for Hanoi
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Martin Rama has developed a great love for Hanoi since he first came here 20 years ago. According to the Uruguayan economist, while many large cities in Southeast Asia are becoming ugly or boring in an incurable manner, Hanoi is always a city worth living in and even an extremely lovely city. In Rama’s eye, Hanoi is like a dish made with fresh ingredients at an ideal dose. The buildings constructed in a variety of architectural styles are still standing in harmony with each other, from traditional to Soviet styles, from Art Déco to French styles and from the Beaux Arts style to Khu Tap The buildings (collective quarters). Temples and churches are interspersed with crowded shopping areas, while tree-lined streets are interwoven with narrow, Oriental-style alleys that are unconfusable. “Hanoi was in a way like a bowl of pho, the quintessential local dish. One can only love the taste of pho, but so many different ingredients are needed to prepare a good pho!” Martin … [Read more...] about Martin Rama, a Uruguayan economist with big love for Hanoi
Project helps build flood resistant homes for the needy
Anyone who meets Pham Thi Huong Giang, initiator and key operator of the "Nha Chong Lu" (Flood Resistant Houses) – a social project which supports residents living in areas affected by natural disasters, always wonders how this woman has so much energy to handle her heavy workload. A needy family pose in front of their newly built flood-resistant house in Tan Hoa Commune, Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province. (Photo courtesy of NCM)More widely known by her nickname, Jang Keu, the smiley 38-year-old is a jack of all trades – from organising several fundraising events for the project, to travelling thousands of kilometres to flood-prone areas to meet needy people, from connecting and collaborating with relevant partners, to supervising the project’s implementation. Alongside the Flood Resistant Houses project, Giang also heads her two own businesses, which provide significant financial support for her charity project.Launched in … [Read more...] about Project helps build flood resistant homes for the needy
Building material manufacturers say sales remain dreary
Building material manufacturers say sales remain drearyManh Tung By Manh Tung - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Despite recent reports showing a slight recovery of the building materials sector, many manufacturers say they still have difficulty selling their products. According to data of the General Statistics Office, the consumer price index (CPI) for the group of housing and building materials surged 0.43% in May, with the consumption of major materials like cement, steel and tiles soaring year on year. Another report of the Building Material Department released at the same time pointed out that the rising consumption of building materials entailed growth of transport and other services. Speaking to the Daily, Vietnam Cement Association chairman Nguyen Quang Chung said domestic sales and exports of cement amounted to nearly 33 million tons in the January-June period, up around 10% from last year’s same period. The domestic consumption was almost equivalent to that … [Read more...] about Building material manufacturers say sales remain dreary
Halt restoration to protect relics
Reputed painter Le Thiet Cuong and painter, art researcher Phan Cam Thuong shared their viewpoints about the way historical and cultural relics have been “restored” in the last two decades.Le Thiet Cuong: The larger relics are, the more they are sabotaged during restoration. The more investment in relics, the more they are damaged. Why? Why did the Heritage Agency of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism suggest a plan to restore Va Temple, in Trung Hung commune, Son Tay, Hanoi, by tearing it down to build anew? Who advised the agency to do it that way? How could they build a ludicrous three-storey house in front of Ly Quoc Su Pagoda, Hanoi, on the occasion they restored the pagoda? Which state agency allowed them to break the thousand-year-old wall of Bo Pagoda or build a ferro-concrete statue to cover wonderful terra-cotta reliefs, typical of unglazed terra-cotta art of Vietnam in the late 16th century, at Tram Gian Pagoda, Hanoi? And then the ancient … [Read more...] about Halt restoration to protect relics
Morocco a priority partner in Vietnam’s external policy
At their talks, the two legislators highlighted parliamentary cooperation as one of the effective channels to augment all-around cooperation between Vietnam and Morocco. Chairwoman Ngan affirmed Vietnam's recognition of great attachment to developing friendship and multifaceted cooperation with African countries, of which Morocco is a priority partner in North Africa.She suggested enhancing connectivity between the two countries’ businesses in such potential areas as trade, tourism, finance, and renewable energy, looking toward the establishment of a joint business council.The two sides should establish direct payment ties between their commercial banks and use the Moroccan banking network in Africa to support business activities, including payment, for Vietnamese firms in the region, she said.Ngan thanked the Moroccan Government and House of Representative for facilitating the settlement and integration of the Vietnamese community in the African country, adding that the … [Read more...] about Morocco a priority partner in Vietnam’s external policy
Project helps build homes for the needy
More widely known by her nickname, Jang Keu, the smiley 38-year-old is a jack of all trades – from organizing several fundraising events for the project, to traveling thousands of kilometers to flood-prone areas to meet needy people, from connecting and collaborating with relevant partners, to supervising the project’s implementation. Alongside the Flood Resistant Houses project, Giang also heads her two own businesses, which provide significant financial support for her charity project. A needy family pose in front of their newly built flood-resistant house in Tan Hoa commune, Minh Hoa district, Quang Binh province. (Photo courtesy of NCM) Launched in November 2013, Flood Resistant Houses has helped residents build safe houses and earn a living, thus relieving the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. The factor that sets Flood Resistant Houses apart from other charity and social projects is the direct participation of needy people. They are the … [Read more...] about Project helps build homes for the needy