January 2014 - Vietnam Breaking News

First shipments of coal exported in lunar New Year

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>First shipments of coal exported in lunar New Year<br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 410px' id='attachment_1416270'><a href='http://bit.ly/1bdJ8ML'><img alt="MAGNOLIA ACE and Vinacomin 02 are the first callers at Cam Pha port." class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="267" src="http://bit.ly/1bdJ8ML" width="400"/> </a><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'>MAGNOLIA ACE and Vinacomin 02 are the first callers at Cam Pha port.</p><br /></div><br /><p>Nhan Dan Online – The MAGNOLIA ACE bulk carrier vessel from Panama and Vinacomin 02 were the ‘first callers’ of the new lunar year at Cam Pha Port, Quang Ninh Province as they were loaded with coal.<br/><br />Shortly after a welcome ceremony done according to Vietnamese customs, the Cam Pha Port and Logistics Company, a subsidiary of the Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) and Cua Ong Coal Preparation Company, loaded 24,200 tonnes of coal onto the MAGNOLIA ACE and more than 2,800 tonnes onto Vinacomin 02.</p><br /><p>The Cam Pha Port and Logistics Company said that from January 31 to February 3 there will be three more ships receiving more than 27,000 tonnes of coal destined for domestic and foreign markets.</p><br /><p>This year, Vinacomin hopes to sell more than 35 million tonnes of coal and earn a total revenue of over VND105 trillion (roughly US$4.9 billion).</p><br /><br/><br />First shipments of coal exported in lunar New Year Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1bdJ8ML" width="200"/><br/></div>

First shipments of coal exported in lunar New Year

First shipments of coal exported in lunar New Year

First shipments of coal exported in lunar New Year MAGNOLIA ACE and Vinacomin 02 are the first callers at Cam Pha port. Nhan Dan Online – T...

Quang Ninh ships first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Quang Ninh ships first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year<br /><p>The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh exported some 28,000 tonnes of coal on January 31, the first day of the Lunar New Year, from the Cam Pha port.</p><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 310px' id='attachment_1416034'><a href='http://bit.ly/1edeIgr'><img alt="Loading coal in the Cam Pha port (Photo: VNA)" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="225" src="http://bit.ly/1edeIgr" width="300"/> </a><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'>Loading coal in the Cam Pha port (Photo: VNA)</p><br /></div><br /><p>As many as 24,200 tonnes of coal were loaded into the ship Magolia Ace from Panama for shipment to Japan, while the Vietnamese vessel Vinacomin No.2 received another 2,800 tonnes to provide for the domestic market.</p><br /><p>The Cam Pha Port and Logistics Company said that from now until February 3, three more ships will deliver coal from here to the domestic and international markets.</p><br /><p>In January, more than 1.6 tonnes of coal were shipped via Cam Pha port.</p><br /><p>This year, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) targets earning 105.5 trillion VND (5 billion USD) in revenue from selling 35 million tonnes of coal.</p><br /><p>Quang Ninh is the number one centre of Vietnam in terms of coal reserves.-VNA</p><br /><br/><br />Quang Ninh ships first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1edeIgr" width="200"/><br/></div>

Quang Ninh ships first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year

Quang Ninh ships first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year

Quang Ninh ships first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh exported some 28,000 tonnes of coal on J...

Hai Duong excitedly welcomes spring

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Hai Duong excitedly welcomes spring<br /><p><b>It was slightly cold on the Lunar New Year’s Eve. Streams of people flocked to streets to celebrate the moment. Spring finally came to every alley and village.</b> </p><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415894'><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcyvr'><img alt="Brilliant firework display on the Lunar New Year's Eve at Bach Dang Park" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="358" src="http://bit.ly/1kjcyvt" width="512"/> </a><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'>Brilliant firework display on the Lunar New Year's Eve at Bach Dang Park</p><br /></div><br /><p><a href='http://bit.ly/1iT4UtY'><img class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="244" src="http://bit.ly/1kjcA6F" width="512"/> </a><br/><br /><i><br/><br /><a href='http://bit.ly/1iT4SSM'><img alt="hai-duong-excitedly-welcomes-spring-1415892-tp-hai-duong-tet-giap-ngo-2014-13" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="305" src="http://bit.ly/1kjcyvz" width="512"/> </a> </i> </p><br /><p><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcA6H'><img alt="hai-duong-excitedly-welcomes-spring-1415892-xuan-giap-ngo-tp-hai-duong-2014-2" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="351" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4SSS" width="512"/> </a> </i> </p><br /><p><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcyvD'><img alt="hai-duong-excitedly-welcomes-spring-1415892-xuan-giap-ngo-tp-hai-duong-2014-3" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="321" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4SSU" width="512"/> </a> </i> </p><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415900'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcyvH'><img alt="Art performances to welcome Giap Ngo Spring 2014" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="286" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4SSY" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>Art performances to welcome Giap Ngo Spring 2014</i> </p><br /></div><br /><i><br/> </i><br/><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415897'><a href='http://bit.ly/1iT4Uu2'><img alt="Lion dance performance at Doc Lap Square (Hai Duong city)" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="346" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4Uu4" width="512"/> </a><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'>Lion dance performance at Doc Lap Square (Hai Duong city)</p><br /></div><br /><br/><br /><i><br/><br /><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcyM1'><img alt="hai-duong-excitedly-welcomes-spring-1415892-xuan-giap-ngo-tp-hai-duong-2014-1" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="742" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4UKk" width="512"/> </a><br/><br /><br/> </i><br /><p><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcyM5'><img alt="hai-duong-excitedly-welcomes-spring-1415892-tp-hai-duong-tet-giap-ngo-2014-14" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="358" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4UKm" width="512"/> </a> </i> </p><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415901'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcyM7'><img alt="Entertainment areas are crowded with young people" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="392" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4UKo" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>Entertainment areas are crowded with young people</i> </p><br /></div><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415902'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcA6L'><img alt="Many people buy sugarcane for good luck" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="409" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4ST0" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>Many people buy sugarcane for good luck</i> </p><br /></div><br /><i><br/> </i><br/><br /><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcyMb'><img alt="hai-duong-excitedly-welcomes-spring-1415892-ong-do-cho-chu-giap-ngo-2014-1" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="361" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4T9e" width="512"/> </a><br/><br /><i><br/> </i><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415903'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcA6N'><img alt="Firework display in Thanh Ha district" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="382" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4T9g" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>Firework display in Thanh Ha district</i> </p><br /></div><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415904'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcyMd'><img alt="Chairman of Thanh Ha district People's Committee Pham Duc Tuan expresses New Year wishes to the district Military Command" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="312" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4UKu" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>Chairman of Thanh Ha district People's Committee Pham Duc Tuan expresses New Year wishes to the district Military Command</i> </p><br /></div><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415905'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcyMf'><img alt="Streets in Ke Sat district town (Binh Giang) are brightly decorated to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="371" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4UKw" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>Streets in Ke Sat district town (Binh Giang) are brightly decorated to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse</i> </p><br /></div><br /><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcAn3'><img class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="287" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4T9i" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415907'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcBHF'><img alt="Firework display at Mat Son Lake (Chi Linh)" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="705" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4UKC" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>Firework display at Mat Son Lake (Chi Linh)</i> </p><br /></div><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415908'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcAn5'><img alt="Many young people use cell phones to record firework display images on the Lunar New Year's Eve" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="356" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4T9k" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>Many young people use cell phones to record firework display images on the Lunar New Year's Eve</i> </p><br /></div><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415909'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcAn7'><img alt="Firework display at Hoang Thach Bridge (Kinh Mon)" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="429" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4V0Q" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>Firework display at Hoang Thach Bridge (Kinh Mon)</i> </p><br /></div><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 522px' id='attachment_1415910'><i><a href='http://bit.ly/1kjcBHJ'><img alt="People flock to the bridge to watch the fireworks" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="382" src="http://bit.ly/1iT4V0S" width="512"/> </a> </i><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'><i>People flock to the bridge to watch the fireworks</i> </p><br /></div><br /><i><br/> </i><i>(HaiDuongnews)</i><br/><br />Hai Duong excitedly welcomes spring Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1kjcyvt" width="200"/><br/></div>

Hai Duong excitedly welcomes spring

Hai Duong excitedly welcomes spring

Hai Duong excitedly welcomes spring It was slightly cold on the Lunar New Year’s Eve. Streams of people flocked to streets to celebrate the ...

Expert warns against using Bitcoin

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Expert warns against using Bitcoin<br /><p>According to a post on the forum of the State Bank of Vietnam’s portal, using the virtual currency Bitcoin may be illegal in Vietnam.</p><br /><div title='Currently, the SBV is studying the currency and has not announced any official decision. However, by a post on SBV's forum, poster Xuan Thanh gave grave warnings about the Bitcoin.' class='wp-caption aligncenter'><img alt="Currently, the SBV is studying the currency and has not announced any official decision. However, by a post on SBV's forum, poster Xuan Thanh gave grave warnings about the Bitcoin." class="attachment-medium aligncenter" src="http://bit.ly/1jRB2yi"/><span class='wp-caption-text'>Currently, the SBV is studying the currency and has not announced any official decision. However, by a post on SBV’s forum, poster Xuan Thanh gave grave warnings about the Bitcoin.</span> </div><br /><p>Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer payment system and independent digital currency introduced as open-source software created in 2009 by a developer who goes by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto. Because of its characteristics, the use of Bitcoin is not regulated by the central bank and the cost for its management is cheaper than credit cards and account transfers. In addition, Bitcoin users do not have to pay fees, and so has attracted many users.</p><br /><p>In 2013, the price of a Bitcoin went up from USD13 in January to over USD1,100 in the last few months. However, if the Bitcoin system stops working, the responsibility for compensation is unclear.</p><br /><p>According to Thanh, many experts consider Bitcoin as valid useful currency and hope that its value will continue to rise like that of the stock market. Bitcoin can be bought or exchanged with users, however newly-created Bitcoins can be obtained through a process called mining.</p><br /><p>Bitcoin has a public database that records all transactions. Anyone can join to maintain this database and will be rewarded with new Bitcoins after a certain time, but it is a competitive business because it requires strong computer and calculation skills. In addition, the public database may be vulnerable to hackers and the rising value may make it useful for the purposes of money laundering.</p><br /><p>Many countries have already advised against an independent currency for various reasons, political and cultural and especially taxes. In Vietnam, Bitcoin has not been accepted by any state management agencies and the evaluation of financial market will be affected if transactions use one of these unofficial currencies. No agencies may deal with disputes or compensations with Bitcoin.</p><br /><p>“Bitcoin is a new virtual currency to Vietnam, so management agencies will need time to observe and study the effects its use would have. Investors should be wary since transactions using Bitcoin may be considered illegal,” Thanh wrote.</p><br /><br/><br />Expert warns against using Bitcoin Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1jRB2yi" width="200"/><br/></div>

Expert warns against using Bitcoin

Expert warns against using Bitcoin

Expert warns against using Bitcoin According to a post on the forum of the State Bank of Vietnam’s portal, using the virtual currency Bitcoi...

Drink alcohol on Tet holiday: To be funny without getting drunk

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Drink alcohol on Tet holiday: To be funny without getting drunk<br /><p><strong>Lunar New Year is an occasion for family, brothers, friends who reunite, toast and congratulate together health and spring celebration. Drink in some ways, it’s a culture, a style of communication, a source of joy. However, drink alcohol how to ensure the health, as well as fun in the New Year not anyone really can do.</strong><br/> </p><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 360px' id='attachment_1415848'><a href='http://bit.ly/1jRB09M'><img alt="Prof. Dr. Pham Due shared information with reporters of Communist Party of Vietnam online paper on the wine infected fight work on Tet holiday 2014. Photo: Kha Thoa" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="262" src="http://bit.ly/1jRB09M" width="350"/> </a><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'>Prof. Dr. Pham Due shared information with reporters of Communist Party of Vietnam online paper on the wine infected fight work on Tet holiday 2014. Photo: Kha Thoa</p><br /></div><br /><p>To avoid and prevent alcohol poisoning, particularly on the New Year, just to buy and use bottled wines with origin, and clear labels. However, should not abuse too much alcohol on the Tet holiday, especially for patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular, diabetes, high blood pressure and etc. Alcohol can help digestion, limit cardiovascular disease and cancer as well as slow the degenerative process. However, if you drink too much alcohol you will face the poisoning risk; in the long term you will face diseases: alcoholic brain disease, cirrhosis, stomach ulcers, heart attack, dementia and etc. Therefore, to drink alcohol usefully, safely, you should not take too 30ml/day for hard liquors and 700ml/day for beer.</p><br /><p>To celebrate New Year full joy, Prof, Dr. Due sent a message to all people who do not remember 3 not: Not drunk too much alcohol, not force your friends or your friends force you, not challenge each other to drink too much alcohol. Need to remember that, invite you to drink alcohol to have fun and not invite you to drink then you must go to the hospital or take you to the afterlife.</p><br /><br/><br />Drink alcohol on Tet holiday: To be funny without getting drunk Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1jRB09M" width="200"/><br/></div>

Drink alcohol on Tet holiday: To be funny without getting drunk

Drink alcohol on Tet holiday: To be funny without getting drunk

Drink alcohol on Tet holiday: To be funny without getting drunk Lunar New Year is an occasion for family, brothers, friends who reunite, toa...

Quang Ninh shipped first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Quang Ninh shipped first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year<br /><p>The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh exported some 28,000 tonnes of coal on January 31, the first day of the Lunar New Year, from the Cam Pha port.</p><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 310px' id='attachment_1415802'><a href='http://bit.ly/1kiWOsu'><img alt="Loading coal in the Cam Pha port (Photo: VNA)" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="225" src="http://bit.ly/1kiWOsu" width="300"/> </a><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'>Loading coal in the Cam Pha port (Photo: VNA)</p><br /></div><br /><p>As many as 24,200 tonnes of coal were loaded into the ship Magolia Ace from Panama for shipment to Japan, while the Vietnamese vessel Vinacomin No.2 received another 2,800 tonnes to provide for the domestic market.</p><br /><p>The Cam Pha Port and Logistics Company said that from now until February 3, three more ships will deliver coal from here to the domestic and international markets.</p><br /><p>In January, more than 1.6 tonnes of coal were shipped via Cam Pha port.</p><br /><p>This year, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) targets earning 105.5 trillion VND (5 billion USD) in revenue from selling 35 million tonnes of coal.</p><br /><p>Quang Ninh is the number one centre of Vietnam in terms of coal reserves.-VNA</p><br /><br/><br />Quang Ninh shipped first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1kiWOsu" width="200"/><br/></div>

Quang Ninh shipped first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year

Quang Ninh shipped first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year

Quang Ninh shipped first tonnes of coal of Lunar New Year The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh exported some 28,000 tonnes of coal on...

Horses are cultural icons in Hue culture

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Horses are cultural icons in Hue culture<br /><p>THUA THIEN – HUE (VNS) — This is the first day of the Year of the Horse and certainly, horses are on people’s minds.</p><br /><p>However, horses have been featured in art and rituals in Hue for a long time. Earlier, horses were used by the feudal troops. In Hue, horses served two kings who ascended the throne in two different dynasties: King Bac Binh Vuong of the Tay Son Dynasty (1778-1802); and King The To Cao of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945).</p><br /><p>Horses have marked their presence in art and life too. In tuong Hue (Hue opera), horses are depicted as dynamic symbols but also as being very friendly with people. Though horses or horse dolls were not brought onstage, horses were introduced to the audience by actors holding rods or imitating the movements of riding, catching or controlling a horse. These movements had close connections with Vietnamese marital art.</p><br /><p>Horses have been given more respect in Hue ritual architecture. On ritual buildings in the former capital city, horses were illustrated as dragon horses, which were horses that turned out to be dragons.</p><br /><p>These could be seen on walls between the entrance road and the yards of buildings such as communal houses, pagodas, temples or family temples.</p><br /><p>The dragon horses are visible on different ritual items today, including wooden altar carvings in important ritual buildings, following a 1000-year-old tradition in Hue.</p><br /><p>At the mausoleum for kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, visitors can find many stone statutes of horses beside the statues of mandarins and elephants.</p><br /><p>These life-size statues resemble real horses. Their faces look alive, just like a real one, making visitors feel like riding them. But riding these statues in the monuments is not encouraged.</p><br /><p>Around the former royal city, there are many temples where horses are objects of worship. They still have holy significance and people continue to light incense for them.</p><br /><p>A term “ngua Thuong Tu” or “Thuong Tu horse” used for women in Hue has a close connection with horses and is listed as among the worst insults to women. Thuong Tu is one of the entrance gates to the former royal imperial city, where horse were kept caged for royal use. The sounds of the fierce horses could be heard by people around that area.</p><br /><p>Thus the term “Thuong Tu horse” is used to describe a lady for being too fierce and uncontrollable or as wild as an untamed horse. Actually, it is a big insult to ladies in Hue, who are famous for their grace and beauty.</p><br /><p>The images of and reference to horses in art and life shows the impact they have had on the people of the central province, generation after generation. — VNS</p><br /><br/><br />Horses are cultural icons in Hue culture Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200"/><br/></div>

Horses are cultural icons in Hue culture

Horses are cultural icons in Hue culture

Horses are cultural icons in Hue culture THUA THIEN – HUE (VNS) — This is the first day of the Year of the Horse and certainly, horses are o...

Huge cargo ship moors in Quy Nhon port

Huge cargo ship moors in Quy Nhon port

Huge cargo ship moors in Quy Nhon port

Huge cargo ship moors in Quy Nhon port The Danish vessel Leopard, owned by container ship operator Maersk Line, berthed in Quy Nhon port in ...

HCM City official visits bridge building workers

HCM City official visits bridge building workers

HCM City official visits bridge building workers

HCM City official visits bridge building workers Secretary of the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Le Thanh Hai visited workers at the co...

Poverty reduction, better social welfare named as 2014 tasks

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Poverty reduction, better social welfare named as 2014 tasks<br /><p>Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen underscored job creation, reduction of poor households and guarantee of social welfares as key 2014 priorities during a recent interview granted to the media.<br/><br />She said more ethnic groups have enjoyed better lives thanks to a nation-wide campaign to eradicate poverty, saying that it has received warm acclaim from the United Nations and the world.</p><br /><p>Chuyen, however, also admitted that the rate of nearly-poor households and those relapsing into poverty remains high, as much as 50 percent in some areas.</p><br /><p>In order to resolve this, the ministry will do all it can to ensure basic social services like health care, education, housing and water supply, information, legal assistance, production development via incentives, vocational training, facilitation of agro-forestry-fisheries and infrastructure ramp-up.</p><br /><p>Simultaneously, the sector will review and tailor policies on sustainable poverty reduction, especially in ethnic communities, while investing in key fields to avoid wastefulness.</p><br /><p>Referring to vocational training, she said this will generate jobs for over 1.6 million workers with a focus on the poor, ex-soldiers and those displaced by construction projects. Up to 1.78 million will be recruited and undergo training, she said.</p><br /><p>According to her, the ministry will raise allowances and adjust salaries for families of war heroes, offering 97 percent of them living conditions that are on par or higher than those in their residential areas. Better care will be given to those living in need along the way, she added.-VNA</p><br /><br/><br />Poverty reduction, better social welfare named as 2014 tasks Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200"/><br/></div>

Poverty reduction, better social welfare named as 2014 tasks

Poverty reduction, better social welfare named as 2014 tasks

Poverty reduction, better social welfare named as 2014 tasks Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen underscored...

Golden sands of Sa Huynh offer tourists break from city life

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Golden sands of Sa Huynh offer tourists break from city life<br /><p>Stretching for 6km along National Highway No 1, far from the noisy city, Sa Huynh in the central province of Quang Ngai offers a quiet escape along the central coast.<br/><br />The area was a major salt production centre during the Nguyen Dynasty; its name means “golden sand”. Today, tourists can visit the Sa Huynh salt field, where farmers still do the job.</p><br /><p>In the early years of the 20th century, French archaeologists discovered many tombs containing jars and other artifacts there. They revealed that the Sa Huynh civilisation spread over a vast area, from Ngang Pass in the central province of Ha Tinh to Dong Nai and the Central Highlands . At Ma Vuong Hill, visitors can see many of these ancient relics.</p><br /><p>“Tourists have many options for day trips. From Sa Huynh beach resort, you can take a half or full day to see the beach, travel in a boat or trek in the forest on Monkey Island ,” said Sa Huynh resort tour operator Thuy Kieu.</p><br /><p>Home to 500 wild monkeys, the island offers adventurers a challenge. “You have to climb up a mountain to land on the island, although you can also rent a boat from local fishermen to explore the island by sea,” Kieu said.</p><br /><p>Visit on the 16th day of the third lunar month to see the annual fish-worshipping festival. Even on an ordinary day, there are plenty of watery activities. Kieu recommended hunting freshwater crabs in Sa Huynh lagoon with a local guide or visiting Thach Tru hot springs , 30km northeast of Sa Huynh.</p><br /><p>Discovered in 1837, the Spring always has temperatures between 60 and 80oC; local people believe that bathing in it is good for health.</p><br /><p>“I visited Sa Huynh with my family last summer. We did a three-day-and-two-night stay and loved the ocean air and pristine beach. My children and I will never forget joining local fishermen to catch fish and enjoying grilled seafood over a campfire,” said Vu Hong Thanh, a tourist from Ha Nam province. “We hope to come again to relax and explore the culture and lifestyle of local people.”</p><br /><p>Sea urchin is one of Sa Huynh’s specialties. Salted urchin was a frequent offering to King Minh Mang during the Nguyen Dynasty. Today, divers hunt deep in the sea for this local delicacy, which can be grilled with onion and oil or placed in hot broth to make soup. The red frog crab or spanner crab is another specialty.</p><br /><p>Sa Huynh’s three restaurants can host around 1,000 visitors. There are also two hotels and nine bungalows. Sa Huynh is easily accessible by car, train or plane. You can book a tour from travel agencies or go there on your own. Fly to Chu Lai Airport in Quang Nam province, 90km away from Sa Huynh, or Phu Cat Airport in Binh Dinh Province . Or take a train to Quang Ngai, followed by an hour-long bus ride.</p><br /><p>Sa Huynh is often crowded on summer holidays and weekends. The tourism site attracts 15,000 visitors each year, of which 20 percent of them are foreigners.-VNA</p><br /><br/><br />Golden sands of Sa Huynh offer tourists break from city life Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200"/><br/></div>

Golden sands of Sa Huynh offer tourists break from city life

Golden sands of Sa Huynh offer tourists break from city life

Golden sands of Sa Huynh offer tourists break from city life Stretching for 6km along National Highway No 1, far from the noisy city, Sa Huy...

TPP – a push for garment sector’s sustainable development

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>TPP – a push for garment sector’s sustainable development<br /><p>The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, expected to be signed soon, will serve as a push for the Vietnamese garment sector’s growth and sustainable development, said a senior official in the industry.<br/><br />In a recent interview granted to Vietnam News Agency on this issue, Le Tien Truong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), said experts at many seminars affirmed that the garment sector, with its international competitiveness, will benefit much from free trade agreements (FTAs) in general and the TPP in particular.</p><br /><p>This is also the main reason for garments to be considered a top priority in TPP talks, he said.</p><br /><p>According to statistics, in 2012, the textile sector earned 17.2 billion USD from exports and made up over 15 percent of the country’s total export turnover. The 2013 respective figures were estimated at over 20 billion USD and 17 percent.</p><br /><p>TPP countries now account for nearly 60 percent of Vietnam ‘s total garment export value. Of them, the US makes up 43 percent, Japan 11 percent, and the others 4 percent. In 2012 alone, Vietnam exported nearly 11 billion USD worth of garment products to these nations.</p><br /><p>Therefore, it can be said that the TPP countries are the most important markets of Vietnamese garments, both at present and in the future, Truong stressed.</p><br /><p>According to him, at present, there are about 6,000 garment businesses in Vietnam . Most of those are interested in the TPP negotiations relating to their industry, especially regulations on origin and tariff barriers.</p><br /><p>Although Vietnam ‘s garment export turnover may surpass 20 billion USD before the signing of TPP, the country spends less than 10 billion USD on materials, which is not attractive to businesses that hope to invest in material production, he said.</p><br /><p>To boost the material production and raise the rate of locally made products, one of the prerequisite factors is to increase export scale, he noted.</p><br /><p>Regarding opportunities for local textile producers, the VITAS official said that if the TPP helps promote material investment, the sector’s norms on trade surplus, added value and rate of locally made products will be improved.</p><br /><p>The industry expects to fulfil its target of reaching the locally made rate of 60 percent by 2015 and 70 percent by 2020, he said.</p><br /><p>Truong said that when Vietnam joins the TPP, textile businesses will face three major challenges, including pressure on tax reduction, regulations on origin, and foreign investors’ rapid and strong investment trend.</p><br /><p>Therefore, VITAS recommends that enterprises should make preparations to link more closely with the supply chain and avoid being overly defensive and so failing to take advantage of the preferential tariffs offered by the TPP, he said.</p><br /><p>They must form a close and responsible supply chain to build its competitiveness with the aim of adding momentum to the garment industry’s sustainable growth, he added.</p><br /><p>Furthermore, businesses should not consider the TPP as the end for long-term development but take this chance to boost their sustainable development and accumulate resources for improving competitiveness, Truong advised.-VNA</p><br /><br/><br />TPP – a push for garment sector’s sustainable development Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200"/><br/></div>

TPP – a push for garment sector’s sustainable development

TPP – a push for garment sector’s sustainable development

TPP – a push for garment sector’s sustainable development The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, expected to be signed soon, will se...

Southern farmers create unique fruits for Tet

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Southern farmers create unique fruits for Tet<br /><p>Watermelon and grapefruit are two typical fruits that are indispensable in the ancestral altars of Vietnamese families during the Lunar New Year or Tet.</p><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 310px' id='attachment_1415520'><a href='http://bit.ly/1a5OZFF'><img alt="Photo: VNA" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="225" src="http://bit.ly/1a5OZFF" width="300"/> </a><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'>Photo: VNA</p><br /></div><br /><p>Mekong delta farmers have created watermelon and grapefruit with special shapes, making the traditional ancestral altars more beautiful.</p><br /><p>Vietnamese farmers have cultivated watermelon for a thousand years, when the sweet fruit was discovered by Mai An Tiem in the old legend of the nation.</p><br /><p>With their creativity, farmers have made the fruit more attractive and unique. Square and gold-bar or wine gourd-shaped watermelons are now familiar with consumers. They represent prosperity and luck for Vietnamese people.</p><br /><p>According to watermelon farm owner Trần Thanh Liêm in Bình Thủy district, Cần Thơ city, normally it takes 75 days to grow a watermelon into a shape. In order to produce beautiful wine gourd-shaped watermelons for Tet, farmers have to cultivate the tree two months prior to the occasion. They are closely watched every single day. One small mistake will ruin the shape of the fruit.</p><br /><p>However, the success of the production process also depends on the weather conditions. Extreme weather like heavy rain or too much sun may also lead to a slim harvest.</p><br /><p>This year, Liêm expects to produce more than 300 pairs of gold-bar-shaped and square watermelons for Tet.</p><br /><p>If uniquely shaped watermelons are loved by customers nationwide, so too is Năm Roi grapefruit of Hậu Giang, which has developed its own strong trademark. Grapefruit also helps farmers in the province improve their income remarkably.</p><br /><p>Thanks to the initiative to make wine gourd-shaped grapefruits of Võ Trung Thành, a farmer in Hậu Giang province, the value of Năm Roi grapefruit is growing even higher.</p><br /><p>Thành even thought that if a grapefruit engraved with the two words ‘Prosperity’ and ‘Luck’, it would be very meaningful in Tet. So he started to think about realising the idea and succeeded.</p><br /><p>However, it is costly to make the special-shaped grapefruit, not to mention the long growing time and subtle technique. And is why such a unique grapefruit has a high price of about 400,000 VND each.</p><br /><p>With wonderful weather conditions and fertile farmland, the southern region is the fruit hub for the whole nation. The special fruit not only makes the ancestral altars of Vietnamese people more meaningful and beautiful, but also affirm the unlimited creativity of Vietnamese farmers. Their efforts have helped the southern region flourish.-VNA</p><br /><br/><br />Southern farmers create unique fruits for Tet Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1a5OZFF" width="200"/><br/></div>

Southern farmers create unique fruits for Tet

Southern farmers create unique fruits for Tet

Southern farmers create unique fruits for Tet Watermelon and grapefruit are two typical fruits that are indispensable in the ancestral altar...

Vietnam’s diplomatic agencies see in Lunar New Year

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Vietnam’s diplomatic agencies see in Lunar New Year<br /><p>The Vietnamese Embassy in France and the Vietnamese Defence Attaché Corps in Laos on January 30 organised activities to see in the Lunar New Year.</p><br /><div class='wp-caption aligncenter' style='width: 310px' id='attachment_1415505'><a href='http://bit.ly/1a5P0Jt'><img alt="Lao Defence Deputy Minister Lieut. Gen. Chansamone Channhalath (left), Ambassador Duong Chi Dung (Photo: VNA)" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1a5P0Jt" width="300"/> </a><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'>Lao Defence Deputy Minister Lieut. Gen. Chansamone Channhalath (left), Ambassador Duong Chi Dung (Photo: VNA)</p><br /></div><br /><p>In the very first moments of the Lunar New Year (Vietnamese time), the embassy in Paris offered incense to late President Ho Chi Minh.</p><br /><p>Reflecting on the year just gone, Ambassador Duong Chi Dung said that the “France Year in Vietnam 2013″, which marked the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, was celebrated with an array of events in various fields from politics, economics, culture, education to tourism.</p><br /><p>The “Vietnam Year in France 2014″ will be launched during a visit to the European country by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh in February, he added.</p><br /><p>The diplomat went on by saying that the two events have strengthened national ties in all spheres, opening prospects of effective and sustainable cooperation.</p><br /><p>Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Defence Attaché Corp in Laos held a get-together in Vientiane to celebrate the Lunar New Year.</p><br /><p>On behalf of the corps, Colonel Tao Van Thai informed guests about outcomes of cooperation between the two countries’ armies, adding that the corps’ work in 2013 has contributed to the close connection between both armies.</p><br /><p>Lao Defence Deputy Minister Lieutenant General Chansamone Channhalath expressed his belief that Vietnam ‘s achievements will encourage the Lao people and army in their national construction and defence.</p><br /><p>He wished that more practical exchanges will be held between both sides to deepen mutual understanding and treasure accomplishments in the two countries’ relations.-VNA</p><br /><br/><br />Vietnam’s diplomatic agencies see in Lunar New Year Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1a5P0Jt" width="200"/><br/></div>

Vietnam’s diplomatic agencies see in Lunar New Year

Vietnam’s diplomatic agencies see in Lunar New Year

Vietnam’s diplomatic agencies see in Lunar New Year The Vietnamese Embassy in France and the Vietnamese Defence Attaché Corps in Laos on Jan...

Amway Vietnam office building is conservable energy from architectural design solutions

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Amway Vietnam office building is conservable energy from architectural design solutions<br /><p><strong>The building with low building density around 50% is covered by surrounding ventilation, so it frequently receives winds all year round. The cool breeze blow around the campus of the building that has created the comfortable feeling for everyone and helped cool the surface of the work.</strong><br/><br /><a href='http://bit.ly/1nuj7Og'><img alt="amway-vietnam-office-building-is-conservable-energy-from-architectural-design-solutions-1415483-2014-01-31-15-35-03dtphong" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="262" src="http://bit.ly/1nuj7Og" width="350"/> </a> </p><br /><p>Design of Vietnam Amway Office Building focuses on energy conservation factors, including, office systems can take advantages of the most of natural light and the landscape around the building in order to create open, beautiful and luxurious space. Amway Vietnam Office Building was built and put into operation with international quality. The building has a main direction of the East; around 3 sides are coolly spacious with a green of trees, the west side is covered by the adjacent factory. All the advantages create an impressive green building that attracts investors to the project.</p><br /><p>The work is designed in modern architecture combining large pieces of glass in the direction of less sunlight to illuminate naturally for the building. Thanks to the large glass area at the front and 2 sides that allow natural light to illuminate deeply into the inner construction building, the area has the ability to take advantages of natural light sources well, such as working offices in the floors, corridors, lobby, and etc. The natural light source illuminate deeply into the building to help reduce the use of lights in the daytime just to help everyone to have feeling of being connected to the outside environment creating comfortable feeling for each person arriving in the building.</p><br /><p>The surface of the wall is painted by white in the direction of the illumination (East). It was built of two thickness about 2, 5 cm between 2 layers with separate space for insulation. The West is covered by the whole factory behind. The unilluminated direction of the building use common glasses to increase efficiency.</p><br /><br/><br />Amway Vietnam office building is conservable energy from architectural design solutions Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1nuj7Og" width="200"/><br/></div>

Amway Vietnam office building is conservable energy from architectural design solutions

Amway Vietnam office building is conservable energy from architectural design solutions

Amway Vietnam office building is conservable energy from architectural design solutions The building with low building density around 50% is...

Ancient Thai books: a treasure of Son La province

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Ancient Thai books: a treasure of Son La province<br /><p>The provincial museum of the northern mountainous province of Son La has collected 1,094 ancient books of the Thai ethnic group, some of which have been translated into Vietnamese.<br/><br />The books, which came in a variety of sizes, ranging from 15cm x 15cm to 50cm x 30cm, were not printed. Authors used brush and black Chinese ink to write on the Thai traditional paper called Do paper. The book covers are made either by cloth, animal skin or thick paper.</p><br /><p>The books tell rich stories about the history and culture of the Thai people. The “Quam to muong Muong Muoi”, “Quam to muong Muong La” or “Quam to muong Muong Mua” recalled how the current Thai villages and communes were formed. The “Cuon Tay pu soc,” “Quam chuong han” and “Quam xoc Han Co Luong” wrote about how the Thai joined other ethnic groups in fighting foreign invaders.</p><br /><p>There are also books recording official documents of village heads, giving an insight into the operation of the feudal administrative system in the old time.</p><br /><p>Thai traditional customs and practices were recorded in some other books, as were detailed description of rituals such as marriage, funerals, completed with guides on how to choose good days for important activities and shamans’ prayers.</p><br /><p>Not a few books are literary works, folk verses and songs and proverbs of the group, such as “Song chu son sao”, “Khun Lu-Nang Ua”, “San Luong-Inh Lai” and “Tao Hom-Nang Hai”. Some works of the Thai were based on Vietnamese and Chinese classics including Luu Binh-Duong Le, Tong Tran-Cuc Hoa and Three Kingdoms .</p><br /><p>On the other hand, researchers said the books will help the study of the script of ancient Vietnamese people. According to leading historians and ethnologists including the late professors Tran Quoc Vuong and Tu Chi, the ancient Thai script was the “Khoa dau” script used by the Vietnamese during the time of the Hung Kings. Some quoted ancient records in China saying that a Hung King presented a big tortoise to Emperor Yao, with greetings in Khoa Dau carved on the animal’s shell.</p><br /><p>The Son La museum has put on display some of the books, while the provincial Culture, Sport and Tourism Department has started a project on translating the books into Vietnamese.</p><br /><p>Several books will be re-published in bilingual form (Thai-Vietnamese) in order to popularise the cultural treasure of the Thai ethnic group.-VNA</p><br /><br/><br />Ancient Thai books: a treasure of Son La province Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200"/><br/></div>

Ancient Thai books: a treasure of Son La province

Ancient Thai books: a treasure of Son La province

Ancient Thai books: a treasure of Son La province The provincial museum of the northern mountainous province of Son La has collected 1,094 a...

Experts predict Lenovo’s U.S. buys will pass regulatory muster

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Experts predict Lenovo’s U.S. buys will pass regulatory muster<br /><p><strong>WASHINGTON – U.S. officials are likely to allow China’s Lenovo Group to buy IBM’s low-end server business and Google Inc’s Motorola Mobility handset business if it agrees to concessions aimed at protecting U.S. national security, experts said.</strong> </p><br /><p><a href='http://bit.ly/1iS5I2e'><img alt="experts-predict-lenovos-u-s-buys-will-pass-regulatory-muster-1415042-s49j79at" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="290" src="http://bit.ly/1iS5I2e" width="450"/> </a> </p><br /><p>Computer maker Lenovo has advantages over other Chinese companies that should help it overcome the mutual suspicion between the United States and China over industrial spying and cybersecurity, such as its track record of successful U.S. acquisitions in the past. And importantly, it is not directly controlled by China’s government.</p><br /><p>Even so, it could be in for a battle over its latest deals with at least one lawmaker expressing concern.</p><br /><p>Lenovo said on Wednesday it would acquire Motorola Mobility, along with some 2,000 patents, for $2.91 billion. That news came days after an announcement the company would purchase IBM’s low-end server unit for $2.3 billion.</p><br /><p>The deals will be reviewed by the inter-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, to ensure they do not threaten national security.</p><br /><p>“We look forward to going through the regulatory process and we’re going to work with the regulators with an open and transparent approach,” Lenovo spokesman Brion Tingler said.</p><br /><p>Lenovo has been through the secretive CFIUS process three times before and has won approval each time, according to a source familiar with the process.</p><br /><p>The first was in 2005, when Lenovo bought IBM’s ThinkPad business in a deal that catapulted the company into the global technology big leagues. In that case CFIUS approval came to the dismay of Representative Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia and a tough critic of China.</p><br /><p>Wolf said he discovered after that approval that the State Department had made plans to purchase Lenovo computers. “They were not able to cancel the purchases but made sure that none of them were used for anything,” he said.</p><br /><p>“I just think we have to be careful,” said Wolf.</p><br /><p>Lenovo also went through CFIUS reviews when it bought Stoneware Inc to expand cloud solutions and formed a strategic partnership with EMC Corporation. Both deals were announced in 2012.</p><br /><p>It is not known what security concessions – if any – CFIUS wrung out of Lenovo in the previous transactions, but typical measures include having a security officer, a security plan or other steps aimed at preventing a foreign government from influencing a company in a way that would put U.S. security at risk, the expert said.</p><br /><p>CFIUS may also require that only U.S. citizens handle certain products and services or demand that certain products be located only in the United States.</p><br /><p>Lenovo has already been in touch with CFIUS about its latest U.S. deals, as is typical, said sources familiar with the process.</p><br /><p><strong>Patents in focus</strong> </p><br /><p>A typical CFIUS analysis will touch on two sides – what threat may be posed by the foreign company involved and what vulnerabilities are exposed by the purchase, said Anne Salladin, a former Treasury official with CFIUS experience.</p><br /><p>“I do think that both of these deals are likely candidates for mitigation measures,” said Salladin, who is now at the law firm Strook & Strook & Lavan LLP.</p><br /><p>Another former government official with CFIUS experience, Jonathan Gafni, said the review of the Motorola Mobility deal likely would not focus on handsets but on more complicated patents.</p><br /><p>Lenovo will receive more than 2,000 “patent assets” as part of the transaction, the companies said, although it is not known which ones will change hands. Gafni said regulators would want to give them extra scrutiny.</p><br /><p>“There are already a ton of Chinese handsets being sold in this country,” said Gafni, now with Compass Point Analytics. “I think it could take some time to figure it all out, but I don’t see a big problem here.”</p><br /><p>In the end, experts said, Lenovo was likely to win CFIUS approval.</p><br /><p>“If there was a Chinese company that was well-positioned to see this deal come off, it’s Lenovo,” said Jim Lewis, a security expert with the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies. “They’ve done the dance before and they know what the steps are.”</p><br /><p>CFIUS, which is headed by the Treasury Department, usually takes 30 days to review simple deals, but may take an additional 45 days on more complicated transactions.</p><br /><p>Of the 23 transactions CFIUS reviewed in 2012, 10 were withdrawn and abandoned, according to the latest CFIUS annual report. One Chinese transaction was blocked in 2012 – the proposed purchase of an Oregon wind farm near a sensitive Navy installation.</p><br /><br/><br />Experts predict Lenovo’s U.S. buys will pass regulatory muster Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1iS5I2e" width="200"/><br/></div>

Experts predict Lenovo’s U.S. buys will pass regulatory muster

Experts predict Lenovo’s U.S. buys will pass regulatory muster

Experts predict Lenovo’s U.S. buys will pass regulatory muster WASHINGTON – U.S. officials are likely to allow China’s Lenovo Group to buy I...

Hanoians saddle up for Year of the Horse

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Hanoians saddle up for Year of the Horse<br /><p>City dwellers in various career fields, from a middle-school student to a famous film director, describe their recent successes in work and life as well as their hopes and plans for the coming year. Viet Nam News’ An Vu reports.</p><br /><p><a href='http://bit.ly/1jQwlos'><img alt="hanoians-saddle-up-for-year-of-the-horse-1414996-06" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="259" src="http://bit.ly/1jQwlos" width="180"/> </a> </p><br /><p><strong>Truong Thi Ngan Ha</strong>, born 2002, student at Nguyen Sieu Secondary School, one of the excellent faces of the capital last year:</p><br /><p>I’ve never thought of myself as special, but last year I was named one of the prominent faces of Ha Noi by the city’s youth union. It really made me proud and at the same time a bit nervous. I felt I had to try harder to be worthy of this title.</p><br /><p>When I was in first grade, my mom told me that if I tried a bit each day, I would end up with a big achievement. If you allow yourself to be lazy just one day, time will fly quickly and you get nothing, she said. Therefore, I tried to spend a bit of time learning English and practising the piano after finishing my homework every day. Since then, those two things became my subjects of interest. Making friends with those who share my interests is also a motivation for me to exchange knowledge and get involved in extra-curricular activities.</p><br /><p>Every day I practice on the piano for one or two hours. Homework is getting more difficult day by day so I try not to waste any time to finish it completely. As a sixth grader, I have tons of things to remember and many new subjects. I try to focus on what the teacher says and sketch a map of ideas in my mind.</p><br /><p>I love many subjects besides English and piano, like fine arts, but there are only 24 hours in a day, so I must focus on my main subjects at school, as well as my studies at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music.</p><br /><p>I think there is no universal formula for success. There is a saying: “No pain, no gain”. The awards I’ve achieved are only proof that my initial efforts were successful. Although they are not big, they motivate me to move on, as I have a long way to go.</p><br /><p>I study under People’s Artist Tran Thu Ha and was recognised as one of the best students of the Academy during my first year studying here. This year, I’m nurturing a plan of attending international piano contests to exchange experiences with foreign friends.</p><br /><p>As Tet draws near, people are perhaps busy with their own plans, but I hope they will set aside time for music, especially classical piano. They will surely get more energy and continue to work better.</p><br /><p><a href='http://bit.ly/1bEWChm'><img alt="hanoians-saddle-up-for-year-of-the-horse-1414996-06a" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="193" src="http://bit.ly/1bEWChm" width="180"/> </a> </p><br /><p><strong>Bui Lan Huong</strong>, born in 1990, of Public Relations and Content Licensing Department, Ha Noi Television:</p><br /><p>At present, I work for the Public Relations and Content Licensing Department of Ha Noi Television. I’m also a collaborator on Hoa Hoc Tro (Pupil’s Flower) Magazine, in which I write several weekly columns.</p><br /><p>I’m not a journalism graduate, but have been writing since a very early age. Perhaps that will be the path I choose to pursue in the near future.</p><br /><p>It’s hard to say whether I’m satisfied with what I’ve done over the past year. Yet 2013 marked the moment I finished my children’s comic book for Thien Than Nho (Little Angels) magazine. It’s what I’ve loved for a long time, but until now, I’ve not had the chance to give it a shot. The rest of 2013 was perfect timing for me to experience working in communications.</p><br /><p>My job helps me to exchange information. However, I was born in the Year of the Horse, so I don’t want to stick to administrative office work. As an editor, I can manage my time to finish my work and pursue personal hobbies.</p><br /><p>In the upcoming lunar year, I hope that good luck will come to everyone. It’s said that people should avoid bad luck in their climacteric year, but that’s just a joke. What I really wish in this year, the Year of the Horse is to run at full gallop like a horse, completing all my plans.</p><br /><p><a href='http://bit.ly/1jQwkRu'><img alt="hanoians-saddle-up-for-year-of-the-horse-1414996-06b" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="271" src="http://bit.ly/1jQwkRu" width="180"/> </a> </p><br /><p><strong>Nguyen Quang Dung</strong>, born 1978, movie director:</p><br /><p>Frankly, I have no idea why I decided to enter the entertainment world. Until now, I still don’t think of myself as a showbiz person. For me, being a director is just like any other job. It involves both joy and pressure.</p><br /><p>I’ve long been known as the “crazy director” of Viet Nam. Honestly, each person has a standard for craziness. I do what I love and make sure that it will not cause harm to anyone. Some people will see that as crazy, while others won’t.</p><br /><p>As one of the judges of this year’s Viet Nam Idol singing contest, I think the quality of contestants is equal, but those who sing with true feeling and instinct will be the most successful.</p><br /><p>My favourite movie is Nu Hon Than Chet (Kiss of Death) as it is one of the few romantic movies in Viet Nam. It brings up my favourite scenario, where hope and love triumph over death. In real life, things like that never happen. I also hope the Vietnamese movie industry will have more best-seller genres, not just comedies. But this completely depends on actors’ ability and viewers’ demand.</p><br /><p>Twelve years ago, in my climacteric year, I made my first film, Con Ga Trong (the Rookie). It was my lucky year as well. Many years have passed, and I’m not really obsessed with karma, as I think 90 per cent of my life was decided by myself. When bad things come, I just realise bad results were born from bad preparation.</p><br /><p>In the Year of the Horse, I wish to find a good rider so that I can become a battle horse. I also wish a happy and healthy year to all of the audience.</p><br /><p><a href='http://bit.ly/1bEWDlg'><img alt="hanoians-saddle-up-for-year-of-the-horse-1414996-06c" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="241" src="http://bit.ly/1bEWDlg" width="180"/> </a> </p><br /><p><strong>Vu Quang Vinh</strong>, born 1954, editor-in-chief of Thieu Nien Tien Phong (Young Pioneers) newspaper:</p><br /><p>My most memorable moment of 2013 is when I visited Truong Sa (Spratly) Island to inaugurate the Truong Sa Elementary School, co-built by the Vu A Dinh scholarship foundation and HCM City Laws newspaper. With the sponsorship of the foundation, students will get annual scholarships. We were all moved by the adoration that children living on the island expressed for us.</p><br /><p>Before being appointed editor-in-chief of the magazine, I experienced many other positions in different fields like arts, fashion and sports. Every position left an unforgettable impression. But eighteen years as deputy editor-in-chief of Nhi Dong (Children) newspaper and vice chairman of Viet Nam Football Federation were the times that I treasured most. I created lots of printed matter and organised the national teenage football league successfully, as well as providing professional players for football teams and clubs.</p><br /><p>In recent years, the education and training sector has received concern from the Government and people. However, the education programme needs to be simplified. If we can reduce things that are unnecessary, it will help students and teachers.</p><br /><p>In the Year of the Horse, I will continue to improve the quality of the newspaper and join the groundbreaking ceremony of the second Truong Sa school on April 30. I hope our country will develop faster and stronger and overcome all difficulties it faces in the future. — VNS<br/><br /><em>Source: VNS</em> </p><br /><br/><br />Hanoians saddle up for Year of the Horse Related image(s)<br/><br /><img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1jQwlos" width="200"/><br/></div>

Hanoians saddle up for Year of the Horse

Hanoians saddle up for Year of the Horse

Hanoians saddle up for Year of the Horse City dwellers in various career fields, from a middle-school student to a famous film director, des...

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