Tuna fishing, which began in Vietnam 15 years ago, has brought increasing export earnings to the nation while helping to reduce poverty amongst fishermen in the south-central region, especially in Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces. Local tuna fishing associations have been established in the three provinces and they have linked up fishermen, businesses and managers to overcome difficulties for mutual benefit.However, experts suggest that a Vietnam Tuna Fishing Association be established to build up the Vietnamese tuna brand and promote sustainable development in the future. National organisation a must Bien Minh Tam, the deputy director of the Phu Yen provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has said that the establishment of such an association is inevitable. “This organisation will have full legal status and connect members across the country with each other to share both benefits and risks,” says Mr Tam. Tuna is subject to the … [Read more...] about Creating a brand for Vietnamese tuna
Voyager 1 facts
Nguyen Lords exercise sovereignty over Hoang Sa, Truong Sa
Vietnam has established and exercised its national sovereigntyover Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in a peaceful manner and inline with international law. Hoang SaFlotilla – the first feudal state-controlled group exercising managementin the East Sea – is a forceful evidence of Vietnam’s sovereignty overHoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes. Inaddition, the missions of the Flotilla clearly reflected the fact thatVietnam had established and exercised its sovereignty over Hoang Saand Truong Sa archipelagoes in a peaceful and continuous manner inaccordance with international law. NguyenLords and Kings demonstrated their will as a State by setting up astate-managed flotilla whose operation was conducted on an annual basisand put under the state disciplines. Accordingly, the first task of theFlotilla was to exploit resources at sea. The book“Phu bien tap luc” (Miscellany on the Pacification at the Frontier)written by scholar Le Quy Don in 1776 … [Read more...] about Nguyen Lords exercise sovereignty over Hoang Sa, Truong Sa
Phu Yen strives for 5,000 tonnes of tuna
Since the beginning of the year, fishermen in the central coastal province of Phu Yen have brought onshore over 540 tonnes of tuna. The volume represented a decrease of 27 percent year-on-year.Local fishermen said so far this year, they have enjoyed bumper catches, with each boat netting between 1.5 and 3 tonnes. However, the total amount was less than last year’s figure, the fishermen said, citing the fact that the area around the Dong Tac fishing port was filled with silt has prevented more than 220 local fishing boats from going fishing.In late February, the port was dredged, making way for all boats to begin their voyages. Local fishermen expect that the improvement of the port together with the use of steel-hulled boats will help increase the volume of tuna.Phu Yen is now home to nearly 800 fishing boats, working at Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fishing grounds. Local fishermen expect to catch roughly 5,000 tonnes of tuna this year.-VNA … [Read more...] about Phu Yen strives for 5,000 tonnes of tuna
HCM City unveils top 100 attractions
HCM City has announced a list of its top 100 attractions following a poll of visiting tourists in a campaign that lasted more than three months.The 100 Excitements were short-listed from 150 candidates in 10 categories – places of cultural an historical interest, shopping venues, entertainment clubs, local dishes, cultural events, specialties, coffee shops, restaurants, boutique hotels, and city tour programmes.The top two landmarks are markets – An Dong in District 5 and Ben Thanh in District 1.They are followed by Can Tho District’s Eco Park, ‘China Town’ in District 5, the Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnamese History and War Remnants Museums, the Reunification Palace, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral.Winners in the dishes category are banh cuon (wrapped steam rice pancake with meat), banh mi thit (Saigon-style sandwich), banh xeo (yellow pancake with shrimps and pork), ca kho to (braised fish in clay pot), canh chua ca loc (sour fish soup), cha gio … [Read more...] about HCM City unveils top 100 attractions
Mekong nations take on Golden Triangle narco-empire
THE MEKONG RIVER - The Lao People's Army patrol boat was custom-made in China with night-vision capability and two of the most powerful engines on this remote stretch of the Mekong River. Today, like most days, it sits idle for lack of gasoline, guarded by a single Laotian soldier in flip-flops. Even occasional patrols by boats like these, supplied by China to the Laotian army and Myanmar police, have successfully subdued the pirates who once robbed the Mekong's cargo ships with impunity. But there has been little progress on another objective - stemming the flood of illicit drugs - exposing the limits of China's hard power in mainland Southeast Asia even as Beijing accelerates its militarisation of disputed islands in the South China Sea, known as the East Sea of Vietnam. While attacks on Mekong shipping have tailed off, drug production and trafficking in the untamed region, known as the Golden Triangle, is booming - … [Read more...] about Mekong nations take on Golden Triangle narco-empire
Warm ocean melting East Antarctica’s largest glacier
SYDNEY: The largest glacier in East Antarctica, containing ice equivalent to a six-metre rise in global sea levels, is melting due to warm ocean water, Australian scientists said on Monday (Jan 26).The 120-kilometre-long Totten Glacier, which is more than 30 kilometres wide, had been thought to be in an area untouched by warmer currents.But a just-returned voyage to the frozen region found the waters around the glacier were warmer than expected and likely melting the ice from below."We knew that the glacier was thinning from the satellite data, and we didn't know why," the voyage's chief scientist Steve Rintoul told AFP. He said that up until recently the East Antarctica ice sheet had been thought surrounded by cold waters and therefore very stable and unlikely to change much.But the voyage found that waters around the glacier were some 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than other areas visited on the same trip during the southern hemisphere summer."We made it to the front of the glacier and … [Read more...] about Warm ocean melting East Antarctica’s largest glacier
Titanic dead remembered, 100 years after tragedy
A visitor takes a photograph of a display of the Titanic outside Belfast City Hall during events marking the centenary of Titanic sinking at the ship's birthplace in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 14, 2012. In Belfast, the city that built the Titanic, a memorial garden containing the first-ever monument to list all the victims' names was unveiled during a commemorative service attended by about 300 members of the public.Earlier, wreaths were thrown into the Atlantic at the site of the wreck from MS Balmoral, a cruise ship that has traced the doomed liner's route across the ocean, while people also held a minute's silence.And in Halifax, the Canadian port city from where ships sailed to retrieve bodies from the icy Atlantic waters following the sinking on April 15, 1912, 1,000 locals and tourists, some in period costumes, attended a solemn interfaith service at a cemetery where 121 of Titanic's victims are buried. (Twenty-nine more … [Read more...] about Titanic dead remembered, 100 years after tragedy
Diversifying cruises along the Red River
In keeping with the ancient Vietnamese adage - Best is to live near a market, next best is a life near a river - Vu Thi Hai, a food seller in Ha Noi, recently went about an exploring tour along the Hong (Red) River that turned out to be not just fascinatingly enchanting but also left her with many warm memories. Hai said her tour had left her with many soothing memories that she will treasure for the rest of her life. "We visited some famous places along the river, such as Dai Lo Goddess Temple, Dam and Chu Dong Tu temples, and ended the tour at Bat Trang pottery village. "As we departed very early in the morning, a dim layer of fog floating above the river induced in us a strange feeling. We felt as if we would simply melt into the lovely river scene, even as we longingly watched the beautiful landscape along the two river banks," she said. The idea of travelling on the river is catching up fast. In order to exploit the tourism potential along the Red … [Read more...] about Diversifying cruises along the Red River
Gypsies across Europe and their public images
Recent legislation in France has stirred up the immigration debate as gypsies take centre stage, writes Trang Anh from Paris. >> France\'s criminal dilemma Gypsy woman with child in England (late 19th century) Gypsy girls in Spain (early 20th century) Roma models in Vogue, 1992 In recent weeks, human rights organizations, anti-racism groups, and labor unions have been taking part in public protests against President Sarkozy’s new measures to deal with the problem of crimes associated with immigration.In the past, France was viewed as the most desired destination for nomadic people due to the generous welfare system. However, France has been suffering from a high increase in crime and the public image of one group in particular, the gypsies, has become a negative one for many.Most … [Read more...] about Gypsies across Europe and their public images
Three Chinese astronauts return to Earth
Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth as heroes on Friday after carrying out China's most complex and longest mission in orbit, vital steps in the country's effort to build a space station by 2020. This photo of the giant screen at the Jiuquan Space Centre shows Chinese astronauts Liu Wang (C), Jing Haipeng (L) and Liu Yang in the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft as it prepares to link with the Tiangong-1 module just over a wee The 13-day voyage also saw China send a woman into space for the first time, and the nation's leaders celebrated as soon as the crew members emerged from their cramped return capsule smiling and seemingly in good health. "This is... another outstanding contribution by the Chinese nation to human exploration and the use of outer space," Premier Wen Jiabao said, reading a statement representing all the top leaders. "It has profound significance in enhancing China's comprehensive power and … [Read more...] about Three Chinese astronauts return to Earth