“As the plane ascends The screeching chaos I turn to take on last look. What am I fleeing from? I cannot yet comprehend. Where am I going? that... God only knows” Sue Bylund’s poem asks a question with retrospective effect going back 44 years. She was 36 days old then. That day, when she and 17 other children were taken out of Vietnam, she was too young to know or understand anything. She now knows a lot more, but fundamental questions remain, and she has been looking for answers for many years. Sue Bylund during her first days in Australia Fateful flight Sue Bylund was born at the Maternity Hospital Saigon on April 18, 1974 (Vietnam war time), under the name Luu Thi Van, and was taken to an orphanage the same day. A month later, her name was put up for adoption by an Australian couple, Richard and Marlene. “On May 24, 1974, I was taken to Australia and started a new life under the name Sue Bylund,” she told VnExpress. The little Asian girl with dark … [Read more...] about I want mommy: Australian’s 17-year-search for Vietnamese mother continues
New life lodge
Parents of terminally ill UK toddler lose new legal bid
British toddler Alfie Evans suffers from a rare neurological disease. (Photo: AFP/Action4Alfie) Toddler Evans, who suffers from a rare neurological disease, had his ventilator support removed late on Monday, but has continued breathing independently for more than a day. Three judges sitting in London's Court of Appeal upheld a Tuesday ruling that the 23-month-old could be taken home from Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, northwest England, but could not be taken to Rome for further treatment. "The respective appeals ... must be refused," said Judge Andrew McFarlane. Noting the boy's father, Tom Evans, had displayed "utter focus and tenacity", the judge added: "this is awful for everyone concerned". Paul Diamond, a lawyer for Tom Evans, told the court the parents were not "seeking a miracle cure in Italy". "They are simply seeking the palliative care that is needed," he added. Diamond told the judges a plane would be leaving from northern Italy tonight, ready to transport … [Read more...] about Parents of terminally ill UK toddler lose new legal bid
Vietnamese student traverses Europe to answer life questions
A Vietnamese student has been embracing her lifestyle of wanderlust by traveling across Europe and other places around the world during her time as a student in France. Huyen Le was a student of the chemistry-specialized class at Le Quy Don High School for Gifted Students in Da Nang City before taking off to France for her study at the University of Technology of Compiègne. "France and the whole Europe have brought several new chapters to my life," Huyen said. "I would not have known that the world is so beautiful, had I not got out of my home country to see other places," the Vietnamese student continued. Kayaking at Lake Bled in Slovenia. Photo courtesy of Huyen Le Before enjoying traveling, Huyen was just like many other young people, not knowing exactly what she really loves to do. Thanks to various experiences from travel, she is now able to answer many important questions of her life, namely "Who is she?", "Where is she?", "What does she want?", "Why does she need … [Read more...] about Vietnamese student traverses Europe to answer life questions
In Vietnam, plastic surgery goes hand-in-hand with love and fortune
In the western world, pronounced cheekbones are widely regarded as an attractive feature, but for Vietnamese women the same attribute could mean an untimely demise for their future husbands. Vietnamese folklore and face reading have long advised men not to marry women with high cheekbones, unless they want to die early. Ngoc, a 26-year-old Hanoian woman, has had her cheekbones reduced for fear of becoming another woman 'left on the shelf'. “Everybody told me it was true, so I haven't dared to fall in love with anyone,” Ngoc told VnExpress this January after her surgery. For a full transformation, Ngoc paid a total $8,800, which included double eyelid surgery, a nose job, and chin and cheekbone reductions. 26-year-old Hanoian Ngoc before (L) and after (R) cheekbone reduction surgery. Photo courtesy of Ngoc. Vietnamese women like Ngoc are increasingly undergoing plastic surgery not just for beauty reasons, but in the hope of a happy love … [Read more...] about In Vietnam, plastic surgery goes hand-in-hand with love and fortune
Japanese wood-carvings on display
VietNamNet Bridge – A unique exhibition will introduce Japanese contemporary wood-carvings in the netsuke tradition, a technique used since the Edo period (1603-1868).Entitled Contemporary Wood-Carved Netsuke, the exhibition presents 65 works by contemporary netsuke carvers and artists. A netsuke is a non-slip toggle that has long been used to secure the small personal items such as money pouches, inro-medicine containers or tobacco containers worn suspended on cords from the obi sash worn with the kimono.The exhibition is co-held by the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam and the Japanese embassy in Vietnam in celebration of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam this year.These practical objects were created by and for the common people. As Western clothing was adopted from the Meiji period (1868-1911) on, however, netsuke disappeared from daily life in Japan.Meanwhile, with the interest in Japonisme in Europe and America in … [Read more...] about Japanese wood-carvings on display
Co-living and green: the latest trends to sweep Vietnam’s real estate market
Owning real estate will no longer be a priority for millenials across the world, who will make up half of the global workforce by 2020, according to PriceWaterhouseCooper's latest Millenials at Work report. The latest trends in real estate development show that environmentally-friendly and smart co-living and co-working models promise to change Vietnam's property market in 2018. Co-living Shared accommodation is forecast to be the leading trend, as co-living and co-working spaces are becoming more popular among young people. A recent report on Global Market Perspective by Jones Lang LaSalle Vietnam shows that the main target for shared accommodation is young people, and investments have started pouring in. Many co-working spaces have opened in Hanoi over the past few years. Photo courtesy of Toong co-working space. Just last year, Ascott Limited, an international serviced residence owner-operator, introduced a new co-living brand called … [Read more...] about Co-living and green: the latest trends to sweep Vietnam’s real estate market
The year in pictures: Vietnam in 2017
2017 has been a year of records for Vietnam in many ways. In November, the country hosted its biggest event, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Da Nang, attended by world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Just a week before APEC, Damrey, one of the biggest typhoons to hit Vietnam in 30 years, wreaked havoc in central Vietnam affecting Da Nang as well. In total, natural disasters have left 389 people dead or missing, causing damage totalling around VND60 trillion ($2.64 billion), according to the General Statistics Office. The economy boomed, hitting a 10-year high growth of 6.81 percent and so did tourism, welcoming a record high 12.9 million visitors. Even the corruption crackdown hit an all-time high, according to Communist Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong, under whose watch scores of high profile officials have been nabbed. Besides headline grabbing events, in 2017 photographers also … [Read more...] about The year in pictures: Vietnam in 2017
Social News 24/12
Khanh Hoa welcomes 2 millionth foreign visitor in 2017 The 2 millionth foreign passenger Kim Sun-won is interviewed by a reporterThe central province of Khanh Hoa, on December 23, hosted its 2 millionth international tourist of the year, who landed on a VietJet Air plane from Incheon, the Republic of Korea.The lucky passenger was Korean national Kim Sun-won, who received free accommodation for two nights at the local Vinpearl Nha Trang Resort and six months of free flights on all routes operated by VietJet Air. The 1,999,999th and 2,000,001st foreign visitors to Khanh Hoa were also from the RoK.In 2017, the province is estimated to welcome nearly 5.5 million visitors and earned about 17.3 trillion VND (761.2 million USD) from tourism activities. The number of foreign arrivals to Khanh Hoa has to date surpassed 2 million, up 69 percent from last year.The province houses 650 lodging facilities with close to 27,000 rooms, of which over 14,000 meet 3 – 5 star standards. … [Read more...] about Social News 24/12
Bringing out the best in VN’s bloggers
The Thao Van Hoa (Sports and Culture) Newspaper has launched a writing competition entitled "Your Entry – The Life Around Us" to create a playground for Vietnamese bloggers to test their writing skills and share their thoughts and feelings about social issues and everyday life.This is seen as an acknowledgement of the role of blogging as a means of expression despite the many controversies surrounding its validity, accuracy, legal status and inability to be controlled.While this undeniably powerful medium continues to increase in popularity around the world, including here in Viet Nam, organisers hope contests like this will help persuade bloggers to write healthier and more quality content.According to Le Khac Hiep, the head of Viet Nam Communication Joint Stock Company and a contest juryman, his busy schedule gobbles up most of his time but he nevertheless joyfully spends hours surfing and reading the entries of his partners and relatives."Apart from expressing the … [Read more...] about Bringing out the best in VN’s bloggers
High-end lodging for workers
High-end lodging for workersBy Thu Hang in HCMCThe property, with a spectacular view of the sea and natural poplar forest, is really a major landmark in a future city that is still largely in a rural setting. The property, facing the cross of main streets, is designed with strong curved lines to make the main building aesthetic smoother. In front of the main building is a courtyard embraced by other buildings in the complex.The solution of elevation of the buildings is not new, but it lends itself perfectly to the natural landscape, resulting in harmonious coordination of classical tile-roof, beautiful molding, and high-tech material and structural solutions.Facilities and amenities in the complex of five blocks with seven floors can compare well with those in a star-rated hotel. Buildings in the complex are connected by good landscape, pedestrian paths, and especially sports facilities for lovers of badminton, tennis, volleyball, basketball, mini golf range, swimming, and children … [Read more...] about High-end lodging for workers