Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — With a rapidly aging population and declining fertility, Japan had to adopt a more open-door approach towards foreign workers to staff its labour-strapped industries, with Vietnamese workers among the fastest growing groups. The country’s previously strict approach to immigration changed in June as the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, officially announced a set of measures to increase the flow of labour to the country, including the creation of “a new visa status for non-professional foreign labourers,” the Japan Times reported. New policies would allow apprentices to remain in Japan for a maximum five additional years under a labour visa after their standard three-year training. The Japanese Government said it was also considering letting these visa-holders stay in Japan indefinitely if they pass language proficiency and technical skills tests during their five-year sojourn. In a bid … [Read more...] about Japan’s open-door policy to foreign workers a boon for Việt Nam
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Ducks raised in the field, a specialty of Việt Nam
Viet Nam News By Hà Nguyễn Despite the summer heat, gourmets are still searching for dishes cooked from vịt chạy đồng — ducks raised in the field or free range ducks. The meat is so tasty that if you try it once, you’ll never forget it. In Việt Nam’s Cửu Long (Mekong River) Delta, the country’s rice bowl, ducks enjoy happy and healthy lives. After rice is harvested from the immense fields, thousands of such ducks arrived to live here for several months. They comfortably swim and jump here and there to eat corn, catch shrimp and fish and sleep in any brushwood they like. A duck raiser often pitches a tent in the field to sleep at night, said Huỳnh Văn Mừng, a duck raiser from An Giang Province. “Both the ducks and the raiser live a nomadic life for at least three months until the ducks are grown up thanks to the fields. Each duck can weigh from 1.5 to 2 kg. … [Read more...] about Ducks raised in the field, a specialty of Việt Nam
The songwriter dressed as a cowboy
Viet Nam News Nguyễn Cường is a songwriter who always dresses up as a Western cowboy. His songs are mostly about the Central Highlands. He has just released his first album. Nguyễn Cường is seventy-five years old. Born in Hà Nội’s Old Quarter, songwriter Nguyễn Cường is most famous for his songs about the Central Highlands region. The 75-year-old has just released his debut album entitled Tùng Dương Sings Songs by Nguyễn Cường. The album, which is a joint production with divo Tùng Dương, features 10 songs that were inspired by the Red River Delta region and its rich culture. The veteran songwriter, who always dresses up like a Western cowboy with a cowboy hat, jeans and denim shirt, talks with Thúy Hằng about his newly born ‘offspring’ and his simple life with little need for money. Inner Sanctum: How … [Read more...] about The songwriter dressed as a cowboy
Bringing back the men’s dress
Viet Nam News Traditional long dresses for men are slowly coming back into fashion. This is thanks to a men’s group whose members wear them and hope that other men will do so too. During colonial times, men started to wear Western suits more often. When Vietnamese men wear traditional long dresses while on overseas visits, they can attract a lot of attention because they look quite different to other types of clothes. By Lê Hương & Hồng Vân Carefully wrapping a black turban on his friend’s head, Chu Đức Giang is helping his friend take a trip back in time. With the sun shining as bright as the clothes Giang and his friend wear, these two young men are keeping a tradition alive through the robes on their backs. They spent a Sunday morning joining other members of the Traditional Long Dress for Men’s Club to tour the Literature Temple and the Imperial Academy, the first university of Việt Nam built in 11th century … [Read more...] about Bringing back the men’s dress
Vietnamese woman unfailingly smiles at decades-long illness
A Vietnamese woman has always taken a positive outlook on life although she has lived with many diseases for nearly two decades. Nguyen Thi Nhu Y, 32, in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, has received medical treatment at Da Nang Hospital in the adjacent city for 18 years. At 14, she menstruated only twice and the menses never occurred to this girl merely beginning to reach her puberty. “At that time, I was waiting for the period to recur but in vain,” Y recalled smilingly. Nguyen Thi Nhu Y prepares medicine to take at the beginning of the day. Photo: Tuoi Tre As a portent for looming gloomy days, she always vomited repeatedly after eating – a condition that has lasted until now with no sign of cessation and necessitated her undergoing a prolonged cure. “At first the doctor told me I had stomach ulcers, then acid reflux and some other illnesses I can’t remember. I’ve taken a lot of medicine but the diseases aren’t over. I vomit as … [Read more...] about Vietnamese woman unfailingly smiles at decades-long illness
Kon Tum midwife changes minds, saves lives
Village midwives honoured at the ceremony on March 7 for excellence achievements in protecting and caring for mother and children’s health. (Photo: VNA) Kon Tum (VNS/VNA) - Old habits die hard, but Y Ngoc, 38, from Dak Sao commune in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum’s Tu Mo Rong district is determined to make a difference in reproductive healthcare for women in her village’s. “Being a woman, I understand how pained and worried women may be when they give birth. During this period, we need care and sympathy from relatives and experienced people. But most of the people believe in giving birth naturally without assistance," she said. Lack of access to healthcare during childbirth results in frequent deaths of both mothers and children. An opportunity to bring change came to Ngoc in 2009 when she was sent to attend a training course under the "Midwife in the Village" programme implemented by Ho Chi Minh City-based Tu Du Hospital. The popular … [Read more...] about Kon Tum midwife changes minds, saves lives
Social News
Green trees neglected in Ho Chi Minh CityWhile some of the city’s trees have become common dumping grounds for local garbage, others are suffocating from cement poured over their roots.According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, trees along D2 Street in Binh Thanh District have had their roots buried under a layer of cement, making it difficult for the plants to be taken care of or watered.“They are still growing just fine. I protect these trees from being chopped down,” a resident explained.Several trees on the promenades of Hoa Hao Streets in District 11 have also been subjected to such neglectful treatment.“The concrete surrounding their roots has been damaged, causing soil to be washed into our houses,” a local said.“Since authorities have been unable to deal with the problem, we decided to fix it ourselves,” he continued.Meanwhile, green trees on a section of Dien Bien Phu Street in Binh Thanh District have become … [Read more...] about Social News
Mong man turns home into business
VietNamNet Bridge – Y Ty Commune in Bat Xat District, in the northern province of Lao Cai, has become a new tourist destination for domestic and foreign visitors.Many locals have been exploiting natural and cultural advantages to develop their business.With agility and intelligence, 33-year-old Sung A Ho, a resident of Ngai Cho Village, was one of the first to offer a homestay service in the commune.The first impression that people have of Ho is that of a friendly and frank man. Born into a poor family with eight children, he did not have the resources to go to school. He cannot read or write, but that has not stopped him from earning a stable living.“My family used to be very poor,” he said. “We had to work on terraced rice and maize fields throughout the year. Sometimes when we did not have a good harvest, we had to eat cassava instead of rice or maize.”The family did not have enough food all year round. Thus, none of his brothers and sisters knows how … [Read more...] about Mong man turns home into business
Doctor of the island
He went to work there and found that there were so little medical help for people that they often went to people who believed they had magic powers. At first, Dr Bùi Đình Lĩnh had very little to work with. However, in time he came to understand that different seasons brought different diseases. by Phương Hà During 30 years’ work on Phú Quý Island in the East Sea in the central province of Bình Thuận, Dr Bùi Đình Lĩnh has treated so many serious cases and saved so many lives that he is referred to affectionately as "Uncle Lĩnh”. Located 120km from the mainland, Phú Quý is isolated from the outside world and rarely visited by outsiders. A few decades ago, life on the island was difficult. There was no fresh water, electricity or medical facility. All the paths were covered with sand while the only means of access to the island was by boat, which might take one or two … [Read more...] about Doctor of the island
Vietnam’s Dec crude oil output falls 12.1 pct y/y to 1.09 mln T
TUOI TRE NEWS – THE NEWS GATEWAY TO VIETNAM Tuoi Tre News, an English-language publication of Tuoi Tre Newspaper, is a go-to news website for international readers, foreigners living in Vietnam, Vietnamese living abroad, entrepreneurs, and the general public – in essence, everyone interested. Tuoi Tre News offers Vietnam news in English with credible, updated information provided by Tuoi Tre Newspaper, which is among the most reputable media houses in Vietnam. … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Dec crude oil output falls 12.1 pct y/y to 1.09 mln T