February 2016 - Vietnam Breaking News

Xen Ban, Xen Muong Festival prays for peace of Thai people

Xen Ban, Xen Muong Festival prays for peace of Thai people
<p><em>Xen Ban, Xen Muong, one of the biggest festivals of the Thai ethnic group in Son La Province is held annually in the second lunar month to pray for peace and commemorate founders of ‘Muong’, the land of the Thai people.</em></p>
<p>‘Xen’ in Thai means worship or festive and ‘ban’ means village. The Xen Ban, Xen Muong festival expresses the close relations between the people and the gods as well as the locals’ aspirations for peace, bumper crops and healthy animals.</p>
<p>The traditional cultural practice was introduced to Hanoi residents at the recent ‘Colours of spring from every corner of the country’ in the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, Son Tay District, Hanoi.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853754" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1n4YE6f"><img alt="Having fun at a bamboo pole dance." class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="280" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1QNVRMF" width="500" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Having fun at a bamboo pole dance.</p>
</div>
<p><em>Nhan Dan</em></p>
<br />
Xen Ban, Xen Muong Festival prays for peace of Thai people Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1QNVRMF" width="200" /><br />

Xen Ban, Xen Muong Festival prays for peace of Thai people

Xen Ban, Xen Muong Festival prays for peace of Thai people

Xen Ban, Xen Muong Festival prays for peace of Thai people Xen Ban, Xen Muong, one of the biggest festivals of the Thai ethnic group in Son ...

HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May

HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May
<p>The Ho Chi Minh City will host the International Fair on Environmentally Friendly Technologies 2016 (Ecotech Vietnam) which is scheduled for May 5-7.</p>
<p>According to the organising board, the event is jointly organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the National Trade and Advertising Joint Stock Company (VINEXAD) among others.</p>
<p>The significant event is hoped to actively meet the national strategy and action on green growth.</p>
<p>Several areas will be introduced at the event such as environmental technologies, agriculture, food processing, industry, construction, traffic- transportation, and energy.</p>
<p>About 100 companies, including to foreign firms registered to attend the event as of February , according to the organising board.</p>
<p>Seminars and conferences are expected to be held during the three-day event.</p>
<p>With an average economic growth rate of over 6 percent a year, Vietnam is moving towards sustainable development targets through bolstering science and technology application research, as well as by receiving transfers of technology from advanced countries.</p>
<br />
HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May

HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May

HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May The Ho Chi Minh City will host the International Fair on Environmentally Friendly Technologies 2016 ...

Germer team unveils New Year concert

Germer team unveils New Year concert
<p>Kieu Giang</p>
<div id="attachment_1853894" style="width: 415px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwKyw"><img alt="A poster of Tinh Da concert which the Germer team stages on Saturday - PHOTO: COURTESY OF ORGANIZERS" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="150" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwKyw" width="405" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">A poster of Tinh Da concert which the Germer team stages on Saturday - PHOTO: COURTESY OF ORGANIZERS</p>
</div>
<p>There were pieces like Schumann’s Träumerei No. 7 – Ritter von Steekenpferd No. 9 – Fast zu ernst No. 10 from Kinderszenen Op.15 by pianist Hoang Dung; Beethoven’s Sonate in D major Op. 28 No. 15 “Pastorale” 1st movement by Bao Minh; Brahms’ “Lieder in G flat major “Wiegenlied” Op. 49 No. 4 by soprano Hong Vy and pianist My Dung; Tchaikovsky’s Lark’s song” in G major Op 39 No 22 from Album for the Young by Bao Minh, and Saint – Saens’ Symphonic Poem in G flat major “Danse macabre” Op.40 by violinist Hoai Bao and pianist Phong Lan.</p>
<p>The rest of the show featured pianist Phuong Khanh with Chopin’s Nocturne in B Major Op. 9 No. 3 and Beethoven’s Sonate in C minor op. 10 no. 1 first movement; pianist Thao Hien with Glinka’s Variations on Alyabyev’s Romance in E minor “The Nightingale”; pianist Tri Dung with Chopin’s “Ballade in F minor Op. 52 No. 4; and soprano Hoang Kim and pianist My Dung with Charles Gounod’s Aria “Je veux vivre” in C major from Romeo et Juliette 1st Act and Schubert’s Lieder in A flat minor d. 774 “Auf dem Wasser zu singen.</p>
<p>Established last September by a group of HCMC Conservatory of Music students, Germer hosts regular non-profit concerts plus presentations, exchanges and meetings to provide music knowledge for audiences and bring classical music closer to the community, especially youth.</p>
<br />
Germer team unveils New Year concert Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwKyw" width="200" /><br />

Germer team unveils New Year concert

Germer team unveils New Year concert

Germer team unveils New Year concert Kieu Giang A poster of Tinh Da concert which the Germer team stages on Saturday - PHOTO: COURTESY OF ...

Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival

Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival
<p>The Saigon Times Daily</p>
<p>Piccioni has accepted an invitation from Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh to don ao dai designed by Hanoi-based Chula Design for an ao dai show at the event to promote ties between Vietnam and Italy, she told a news briefing held Tuesday on the Vietnam Fall-Winter Fashion Week, which will take place in the capital from February 25 to 28.</p>
<p>She said she is happy and honored to join the show. Ao dai is one of the most beautiful costumes she has ever worn, she said. She has five ao dai at the moment and the number will rise to six when she wears one more at the coming festival.</p>
<p>This year’s Ao Dai Festival will take place in four days starting from March 1. The event will be attended by 18 designers from Hanoi, Hue and HCMC.</p>
<p>For the coming festival, each designer will choose a type of flower to design their ao dai, designer Minh Hanh was quoted by Voice of Vietnam (VOV) as saying. There will be ao dai for elderly women and men, children and disabled people, she said.</p>
<p>The Ao Dai festival in Hanoi will be followed by a number of activities in HCMC from March 5 to 19.</p>
<br />
Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival

Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival

Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival The Saigon Times Daily Piccioni has accepted an invitation from Vietnamese designer Min...

Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc

Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc
<p>Drought and water shortages are forecast to hit the southern province of Binh Phuoc, seriously affecting locals’ daily activities and taking a toll on agricultural production.</p>
<p>According to the provincial People’s Committee, about 11 percent of rural households and about 34,000 hectares of cultivation area will face a shortage of fresh water, while around 2,000 hectares of aquaculture will be threatened by drought.</p>
<p>According to surveys conducted by local authorities, water level in reservoirs managed by the locality in early January fell by between 0.1-0.5 meters compared to the average level. A number of reservoirs, such as Ta Te in Loc Ninh district, Dak Ton, Binh Ha and Bu Ka in Bu Gia Map district, and An Khuong and Bau Um in Hon Quan district have water levels 1.5-3 meters below average.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853892" style="width: 454px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPM"><img alt="Photo: phapluatplus.vn" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="310" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPM" width="444" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Photo: phapluatplus.vn</p>
</div>
<p>Water levels in irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs in the end of January also fell compared with their designed capacity, causing water shortages for over 10,000 hectares of farming areas.</p>
<p>To counter the situation, local authorities have taken measures to prevent drought, aiming to minimising damage to agriculture production, industry, services and aquaculture.</p>
<p>Relevant sectors and agencies, and the local agricultural sector were asked to ensure enough water for the cultivation area in the winter-spring 2015-2016 crop. Local farmers are advised to switch to crops that require less water to adapt to water shortages caused by prolonged drought.</p>
<p>El Nino is causing extreme weather in Binh Phuoc. This year’s rainy season will come late and end early. Rainfall in the locality dropped 20-30 percent compared to the average for previous years.</p>
<p>Data collected at the Phuoc Hoa hydrological monitoring station showed that water levels in the Be River in late January reached 17.5 meters, 1.5 meters below the alarming level.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPM" width="200" /><br />

Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc

Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc

Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc Drought and water shortages are forecast to hit the southern province of Binh Phuoc, seri...

Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort

Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort
<p>The Vietnam Forest Administration has blamed the recent severe cold weather for partly slowing afforestation progress during the first two months of 2016.</p>
<p>The administration, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported that about 2,510 hectares of concentrated forests had been planted across Vietnam by February 20, down 6 percent from the same period last year.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853890" style="width: 454px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwLm9"><img alt="Young people plant trees in the Can Gio protection forest in Ho Chi Minh City" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="313" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwLm9" width="444" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Young people plant trees in the Can Gio protection forest in Ho Chi Minh City</p>
</div>
<p>Due to the strong cold spells in the north in late January and early February, the forest area planted in the region declined by 10 percent from a year earlier to 2,403 hectares, the administration noted.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the dry weather and local residents’ poor awareness resulted in forest fires in some province such as Vinh Phuc, Lao Cai and Cao Bang in the north and Tay Ninh in the south.</p>
<p>Thirty-two hectares of forests burned down during the first two months, up 25 percent from the previous year, the agency added.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwLm9" width="200" /><br />

Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort

Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort

Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort The Vietnam Forest Administration has blamed the recent severe cold weather for partl...

Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed

Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed
<p>The Lao Embassy to Vietnam held a conference in central Thue Thien-Hue province to review a performance of Lao students in Vietnam during the academic year 2014-2015, and set plans for the year 2015-2016.</p>
<p>Present at the event were representatives from the Lao Consulate in Da Nang, the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports, Vietnamese officials and nearly 100 Lao students studying in Vietnam.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853888" style="width: 438px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwM9C"><img alt="A Vietnamese class for Lao students in Vietnam at Ha Long University. Photo: quangninh.com.vn" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="296" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwM9C" width="428" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">A Vietnamese class for Lao students in Vietnam at Ha Long University. Photo: quangninh.com.vn</p>
</div>
<p>According to the Lao Embassy to Vietnam, more than 12,000 Lao students are attending postgraduate and undergraduate courses at 150 universities, colleges and institutes across Vietnam this academic year.</p>
<p>The Lao and Vietnamese embassies agreed to continue working closely with the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports and the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training to implement a project on enhancing Vietnam-Laos cooperation in education and human resources.</p>
<p>On the occasion, the Lao side honoured its students in Vietnam who had excellent academic results during the last year.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwM9C" width="200" /><br />

Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed

Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed

Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed The Lao Embassy to Vietnam held a conference in central Thue Thien-Hue province to review a ...

Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians

Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians
<p>A roadside police patrol camp in southern Thailand was attacked Saturday by an improvised car bomb that left seven officers and two civilians injured, police said.</p>
<p>The attack in Pattani province was believed to have been carried out by Muslim insurgents who targeted the outpost used by special forces, said police Col. Keerati Waeyoosoh, the Pattani police superintendent.</p>
<p>Keerati said the bomb, made from a cylinder gas tank, was placed inside a car that had been stolen earlier Saturday from a tire shop whose owner was shot three times but survived. The car was then parked before it exploded outside a roadside restaurant adjacent to the police camp, which was destroyed by the blast.</p>
<p>More than 5,000 people have been killed since an insurgency erupted in 2004 in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces, the only ones with Muslim majorities in the predominantly Buddhist country. Last year, the level of violence dropped, according to official figures, but peace talks have made little apparent progress.</p>
<p>The insurgents are known for drive-by shootings and bombs placed on parked motorcycles and cars.</p>
<br />
Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians

Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians

Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians A roadside police patrol camp in southern Thailand was attacked Saturday by an i...

Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience

Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience
<p>Twenty key officials from the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) will start a three-month training course at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics from March 1.</p>
<p>The course, the second of its kind, is part of a cooperation agreement inked between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Mozambican ruling party.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853885" style="width: 454px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPG"><img alt="Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung (third from right) and Frelimo officials before they set off for studying in Vietnam in a group photo" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="319" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPG" width="444" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung (third from right) and Frelimo officials before they set off for studying in Vietnam in a group photo</p>
</div>
<p>The training program will focus on Vietnam’s experience in ideological and political affairs and the making of development and international integration strategy.</p>
<p>This is the second training program for Frelimo officials hosted by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.</p>
<p>In the cooperation framework between the Vietnamese academy and the Central Frelimo Party School, the Frelimo will send four specialists to Vietnam to learn experience in teaching and conducting scientific research.</p>
<p>On February 24, the Vietnamese Embassy in Mozambique met with the Frelimo officials before they set off for studying in Vietnam.</p>
<p>Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung briefed the trainees upon Vietnam’s revolutionary history and socio-economic development process.</p>
<p>He expressed his hope that the trainees will receive helpful experience to contribute to their country’s policy-making efforts.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPG" width="200" /><br />

Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience

Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience

Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience Twenty key officials from the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) will start a...

Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi

Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi
<p>PANO – The Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations (CER) held a new year get-together for ambassadors and heads of foreign representative agencies to Vietnam on February 26th.</p>
<p>Addressing the event, the commission’s head Hoang Binh Quan thanked them for regularly sharing information and closely cooperating with the commission in conducting diplomatic activities between Vietnam and other countries.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853883" style="width: 454px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwKhZ"><img alt="CER head Hoang Binh Quan addressing the event" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="332" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwKhZ" width="444" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">CER head Hoang Binh Quan addressing the event</p>
</div>
<p>Especially, the recent 12th National Party Congress received care and encouragement via congratulatory messages from leaders and parties of over 100 countries worldwide and diplomatic missions to Vietnam.</p>
<p>In addition, he underlined that 2016 is the first year of realizing the resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, and once again stressed the country’s foreign policy.</p>
<p>In turn, Moroccan Ambassador El Houcine Fardani, Head of the diplomatic corps to Vietnam, congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 12th National Party Congress and extended Lunar New Year greetings to the Vietnamese Party, State leaders and people.</p>
<p><em><strong>Translated by Van Hieu</strong></em></p>
<br />
Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwKhZ" width="200" /><br />

Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi

Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi

Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi PANO – The Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations (CER) held a new year ge...

Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends

Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends
<p>More than 20 ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in Vietnam enjoyed a performance of Chau Van singing and Hau Dong (trance ritual) in the northern province of Nam Dinh on February 26.</p>
<p>The show is part of a program highlighting Buddhism, Christianity and Mother Goddess worship – initiated by the UNESCO Vietnam. It aims to shed light on the Vietnamese spiritual life and local freedom of religious practice.</p>
<p>Chau Van singing and Hau Dong are pivotal parts of a ceremony to worship Mother Goddess. Followers perform the spiritual singing and dancing to entertain and praise deities. During the performance, they dress up like the deities they sing for.</p>
<p>A performance of Chau Van singing and Hau Dong</p>
<p>The Mother Goddess worship was created during the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400) and has become part of the Vietnamese spiritual life as a reminder of national history and the great contributions of predecessors and national heroes.</p>
<p>The ritual combines music, singing, dancing, martial arts, cooking and fashion. During the associated trance ritual, mediums serve as ambassadors connecting the material world with the genies.</p>
<p>After the performance, US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius said he read about the ritual, and found it fascinated to watch it being performed live.</p>
<p>UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Katherine Muller-Marin stated the Mother Goddess worship lay stress on the women’s roles in society.</p>
<p>Combining different cultural and artistic values, it promotes humanity through demonstrating respect for ancestors, and national contributors, she noted.</p>
<p>In March 2014, Vietnam submitted a dossier on the Mother Goddess worship to seek UNESCO recognition of the art as invaluable cultural heritage. The file is expected to be assessed in December 2016.</p>
<p>Nam Dinh is among Mother Goddess worship centers nationwide, possessing 287 temples and vestiges relating to the belief.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends

Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends

Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends More than 20 ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in V...

Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed

<p>The Lao Embassy to Vietnam held a conference in central Thue Thien-Hue province to review a performance of Lao students in Vietnam during the academic year 2014-2015, and set plans for the year 2015-2016.</p>
<p>Present at the event were representatives from the Lao Consulate in Da Nang, the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports, Vietnamese officials and nearly 100 Lao students studying in Vietnam.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853888" style="width: 438px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwM9C"><img alt="A Vietnamese class for Lao students in Vietnam at Ha Long University. Photo: quangninh.com.vn" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="296" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwM9C" width="428" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">A Vietnamese class for Lao students in Vietnam at Ha Long University. Photo: quangninh.com.vn</p>
</div>
<p>According to the Lao Embassy to Vietnam, more than 12,000 Lao students are attending postgraduate and undergraduate courses at 150 universities, colleges and institutes across Vietnam this academic year.</p>
<p>The Lao and Vietnamese embassies agreed to continue working closely with the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports and the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training to implement a project on enhancing Vietnam-Laos cooperation in education and human resources.</p>
<p>On the occasion, the Lao side honoured its students in Vietnam who had excellent academic results during the last year.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwM9C" width="200" /><br />

Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed

Performance of Lao students in Vietnam reviewed

The Lao Embassy to Vietnam held a conference in central Thue Thien-Hue province to review a performance of Lao students in Vietnam during th...

Vietnam submits bid to host AFF Cup

<p><em>Viet Nam will bid for the right to host the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup 2016.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwO16"><img alt="1853825-20160227162707-aff-cup" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="300" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaWmE" width="500" /></a></p>
<p>The Viet Nam Football Federation has sent a proposal to the federation to replace the Philippines as a co-host of the biennial tournament that will be organised later this year.</p>
<p>The Philippines have withdrawn after failing to meet the criteria set by the AFF.</p>
<p>Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are also in the running.</p>
<p>A decision on the replacement will be made by the AFF Council at its next meeting on March 12 in Da Nang.</p>
<p>The competition is scheduled for November 19 to December 17 with the participation of eight teams, and two others who will go through qualifiers from October 13-22.</p>
<p>Viet Nam co-hosted the last edition of the AFF Cup with Singapore when they lost to Malaysia in the semi-final.</p>
<p>Thailand won the Cup beating Malaysia 4-3 in a two-legged final.</p>
<p><em>VNS</em></p>
<br />
Vietnam submits bid to host AFF Cup Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaWmE" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam submits bid to host AFF Cup

Vietnam submits bid to host AFF Cup

Viet Nam will bid for the right to host the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup 2016. The Viet Nam Football Federation has sent a proposal...

Three British tourists die in accident in Da Lat

<p><em>More than 20 members of a rescue team yesterday found the bodies of three foreign tourists in waters below the Datanla Falls site in Da Lat City, according to police.</em></p>
<div id="attachment_1853780" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwLTc"><img alt="The site where the accident occured. Photo Tuoi tre" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="333" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaW6o" width="500" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">The site where the accident occured. Photo Tuoi tre</p>
</div>
<p>Officials from Lam Dong Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that two females and one male foreign tourist were involved in an accident while taking part in an expedition tour of the falls.</p>
<p>Vo Anh Tan, deputy general director of Da Lat Tourist Company, said the British tourists had bought tickets from Dam Me Company, which organised the tour illegally and did not give them safety equipment.</p>
<p>A local tour guide said that local tourists rarely booked expedition tours of the site.</p>
<p><em>VNS</em></p>
<br />
Three British tourists die in accident in Da Lat Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaW6o" width="200" /><br />

Three British tourists die in accident in Da Lat

Three British tourists die in accident in Da Lat

More than 20 members of a rescue team yesterday found the bodies of three foreign tourists in waters below the Datanla Falls site in Da Lat ...

Historic milestone for Vietnam’s futsal team

<p><em>Vietnam’s futsal team has made national football history, making it through to a World Cup event for the first time ever.</em></p>
<p>This came as a result of strategic orientation and a process of radical development from an amateur football background.</p>
<p><strong>Surprise comes like a dream</strong></p>
<p>The AFC Futsal Championship also functioned as qualification tournament for the 2016 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Colombia from September 10 to October 1, with the five World Cup slots granted to the four semifinalists and the winner of play-off matches, which gathered the four losers of the quarterfinals.</p>
<p>Drawn into a relatively easy group, the Vietnamese team not only targeted the quarterfinals but also looked towards securing a World Cup berth.</p>
<p>But ahead of the tournament, head of the Vietnam futsal team Tran Anh Tu, coach Bruno Garcia, as well as players, only dared to dream of the fifth slot (through play-off matches).</p>
<p>The door to the semifinal round was tight for Vietnam, with opponents Iran, Thailand, Japan and Uzbekistan superior in their qualifications and almost guaranteed to be semifinalists.</p>
<p>However, surprises and shocks always happen in football, and Vietnam proved that to be true by knocking down three-time Asian champion Japan in the quarterfinals.</p>
<p>The shocking 2-1 victory on penalties after a 4-4 draw in both official minutes of play and extra time was the most glorious triumph and the best match of Vietnam’s futsal team.</p>
<p>It was the victory of a resilient competition spirit that helped Vietnam successfully reverse the situation after being led 2-0.</p>
<p>It was the victory of an extremely rational tactic by Spanish coach Bruno Garcia – playing slow and solid in two thirds of the match to conserve power to deliver decisive blows at the end of the game.</p>
<p>Two goals in the last six minutes of play helped Vietnam equalise 3-3 in two official halves despite lagging behind 1-3.</p>
<p>The surprising victory marked a big step forward in the history of Vietnamese football – winning the Futsal World Cup place through the front door instead of the side door as initially calculated. Focusing all energy on the game against Japan, as well as the dense group-stage competition schedule were the two major causes for Vietnam’s losses to powerhouses Iran and Thailand in the semifinal and third-place matches later.</p>
<p><strong>Victory never comes naturally</strong></p>
<p>It is not wrong to say that securing a World Cup slot was a moment of sublimation of Vietnam’s futsal team, because in order to achieve this amazing result, Vietnam still has a lot of work to do at the moment, as the sport is still existing and growing strongly in the form of amateur tournaments.</p>
<p>However, these achievements did not come naturally but came as a result of a process of serious and thorough preparation and a process of constant efforts over the past two years as noted by head of the Vietnamese team Tran Anh Tu.</p>
<p>Realising Vietnam’s futsal team could make even greater progress after cruising to the quarterfinals of the 2014 AFC Futsal Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, those responsible for Vietnamese futsal, specifically head of the Vietnam Football Federation’s futsal department Tran Anh Tu, decided to intensify their investments in the sport.</p>
<p>Tu used his own money to organise training courses for Vietnam’s futsal team in countries with advanced futsal, including Spain, Japan and Uzbekistan, in order to help players sharpen their skills and accumulate experience.</p>
<p>For instance, ahead of the 2016 AFC Futsal finals, he spent VND350 million (US$15,750) to invite the Malaysian national team (a team progressing in recent time) to Ho Chi Minh City as a training partner for the Vietnamese team.</p>
<p>In order to get used to the weather in Uzbekistan – the host country of the 2016 AFC Futsal Championship – Vietnam’s futsal team left for Uzbekistan nearly 15 days early and had two friendly matches with the host team and China.</p>
<p>Regularly competing against strong teams helped Vietnam’s futsal players advance significantly in terms of both qualifications and international experience.</p>
<p>Intensive preparations drove Vietnam’s futsal team to make national football history, as well as world futsal history, with their first-ever ticket to play in the world’s largest futsal competition, the Futsal World Cup.</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>related news</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://bit.ly/1oGaW6m">Beating Japan on penalties, Vietnam books first-ever place at Futsal World Cup</a></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><em>Nhan Dan</em></p>
<br />
Historic milestone for Vietnam’s futsal team Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Historic milestone for Vietnam’s futsal team

Historic milestone for Vietnam’s futsal team

Vietnam’s futsal team has made national football history, making it through to a World Cup event for the first time ever. This came as a re...

VN National Volleyball Champs to start in April

<p><em>The first stage of the National Volleyball Championship will kick-off in April with the participation of 21 teams, of both men and women.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwLT2"><img alt="1853693-20160224100555-volleyball" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="332" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwLT2" width="500" /></a></p>
<p>They are divided into two groups in each category with the Group As in Yen Bai Province and the Group Bs in Hai Duong Province.</p>
<p>Play-offs on the round robin format will be from April 2 to April 9.</p>
<p>The top teams of each group will then take part in the Hung Vuong Cup from April 14 to April 17 in Phu Tho Province.</p>
<p>The second stage of the tournament is from December 4 to December 11 and destinations will be confirmed later.</p>
<p>The top two squads of both men’s and women’s pools will compete in the final round which will be held from December 15 to December 18.</p>
<p>A total of VND 420 million (US$18,700) will be delivered to top teams with the champions walking away with VND100 million ($4,400).</p>
<p><em>VNS</em></p>
<br />
VN National Volleyball Champs to start in April Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwLT2" width="200" /><br />

VN National Volleyball Champs to start in April

VN National Volleyball Champs to start in April

The first stage of the National Volleyball Championship will kick-off in April with the participation of 21 teams, of both men and women. ...

Viet Nam submits bid to host AFF Cup

<p>DA NANG (VNS) — Viet Nam will bid for the right to host the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup 2016.</p>
<p>The Viet Nam Football Federation has sent a proposal to the federation to replace the Philippines as a co-host of the biennial tournament that will be organised later this year.</p>
<p>The Philippines have withdrawn after failing to meet the criteria set by the AFF.</p>
<p>Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are also in the running.</p>
<p>A decision on the replacement will be made by the AFF Council at its next meeting on March 12 in Da Nang.</p>
<p>The competition is scheduled for November 19 to December 17 with the participation of eight teams, and two others who will go through qualifiers from October 13-22.</p>
<p>Viet Nam co-hosted the last edition of the AFF Cup with Singapore when they lost to Malaysia in the semi-final.</p>
<p>Thailand won the Cup beating Malaysia 4-3 in a two-legged final. — VNS</p>
<br />
Viet Nam submits bid to host AFF Cup Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Viet Nam submits bid to host AFF Cup

Viet Nam submits bid to host AFF Cup

DA NANG (VNS) — Viet Nam will bid for the right to host the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup 2016. The Viet Nam Football Federation has ...

Infantino pledges new era after winning FIFA vote

<p>Gianni Infantino was announced as the new president of FIFA after winning an overall majority in the second round of voting on Friday (Feb 26).</p>
<div id="attachment_1853650" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwKOU"><img alt="New FIFA president Gianni Infantino holds his first press conference following his election in Zurich on Feb 26, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Fabrice Coffrini)" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="281" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaYuY" width="500" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">New FIFA president Gianni Infantino holds his first press conference following his election in Zurich on Feb 26, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Fabrice Coffrini)</p>
</div>
<p>ZURICH: Gianni Infantino on Friday won FIFA’s presidential election and vowed to lead the scandal-tainted body into a new era as he faced immediate calls to ensure genuine reform.</p>
<p>The 45-year-old UEFA general secretary scored a convincing victory in the battle to replace the disgraced Sepp Blatter, whose 18-year reign ended with FIFA mired in unprecedented crisis.</p>
<p>Infantino, a Swiss-Italian, defeated Asian rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in the second round of the vote of 207 members.</p>
<p>“FIFA has gone through sad times, moments of crisis, but those times are over,” he said, asserting that a “new era” had begun for world’s football’s governing body, dogged by a vast set of corruption scandals.</p>
<p>Blatter, who many hold responsible for the culture of patronage and graft that plagued FIFA, congratulated Infantino on his win.</p>
<p>“With his experience, his capacities, his sense of strategy and diplomacy, he has all the qualities to continue my work,” Blatter said in a statement.</p>
<p>SECOND ROUND WIN</p>
<p>Infantino got 115 votes in the election’s second round while Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman, from Bahrain, got 88. They were just three votes apart in the first round.</p>
<p>Five candidates started the day in contention.</p>
<p>Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne saw their support fizzle after the first round, while South African tycoon Tokyo Sexwale withdrew before polling opened.</p>
<p>Infantino said he would have no trouble uniting world football after an election which exposed divides between Europe, Infantino’s power base, and voters in Asia and Africa.</p>
<p>“Today it was an election but not a war,” the new FIFA supremo told reporters. “In an election you win or lose and then life goes on.”</p>
<p>Sheikh Salman said he was looking forward to working with his campaign rival, and called for “unity” while stressing that FIFA needed to be more “inclusive and reflect the diversity of world football”.</p>
<p>Infantino’s election was hailed by world figures such as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and federation chiefs. Putin, whose country will host the 2018 World Cup, said Infantino comes into the post with “high authority”.</p>
<p>PRESSURE TO CHANGE</p>
<p>The multilingual lawyer takes over leadership of the world’s top sport with its reputation at an all-time low.</p>
<p>Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini have been banned from football for six years, US prosecutors have charged 39 people over more than US$200 million in football business bribes and Swiss authorities are investigating FIFA’s management and the awarding of hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.</p>
<p>Infantino, who only entered the contest after Platini was ruled out, will also face immediate financial problems.</p>
<p>Acting secretary-general Markus Kattner said “general uncertainty” caused by the crisis meant FIFA was US$550 million (€500 million) behind in its US$5 billion budget target for 2015-2018.</p>
<p>The shortfall could complicate Infantino’s ability to deliver on a campaign pledge of more than doubling the amount given back to national associations to over US$1.2 billion in total every four years.</p>
<p>Hours before he was elected, FIFA members approved a reform package that aims to limit the powers of the new president and to end the corruption that prevailed under Blatter.</p>
<p>The president will become more like a corporate chairman of the board, providing strategic guidance but with less management authority.</p>
<p>FIFA’s executive committee, which had become an epicentre of graft allegations, has been rebranded as a FIFA council. It will operate like a corporate board of directors.</p>
<p>Measures such as declaring the salary of the new president to improve financial transparency were also included. But sponsors gave a cool reaction to the measures.</p>
<p>“We urge FIFA’s new leadership to prioritise their implementation,” major backer Visa said of the reforms. “As we have said before, we believe it is in the best interests of FIFA, the fans, sponsors and everyone involved, that there is long-term independent oversight of the reforms.”</p>
<p>Atlanta-based FIFA backers Coca-Cola said in a statement that deeds, not words, regarding accountability will be the critical factor in judging future support of Infantino’s FIFA. “Under Mr Infantino’s leadership, FIFA must regenerate itself,” it said.</p>
<p>END OF AN ERA?</p>
<p>FIFA still has doubters and considerable judicial troubles ahead, particularly from the US investigation with trials that could start this year.</p>
<p>Blatter, 79, the big absentee at the congress, suffered a spectacular fall over the last nine months. He has since been banned from football for six years for ethics breaches and could face criminal charges.</p>
<p>Infantino also faced questions over his UEFA ties to Platini, but offered thanks for the French football legend’s years of support. He also pledged to work “tirelessly” to drag the organisation out of one of the darkest period’s in its 112-year history.</p>
<p>“You will be proud of FIFA,” he said. “You will be proud of what FIFA will do for football.”</p>
<p><em>Source AFP</em></p>
<br />
Infantino pledges new era after winning FIFA vote Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaYuY" width="200" /><br />

Infantino pledges new era after winning FIFA vote

Infantino pledges new era after winning FIFA vote

Gianni Infantino was announced as the new president of FIFA after winning an overall majority in the second round of voting on Friday (Feb 2...

Three British tourists die in accident

Three British tourists die in accident

Three British tourists die in accident

LAM DONG (VNS) — More than 20 members of a rescue team yesterday found the bodies of three foreign tourists in waters below the Datanla Fall...

Infantino goes from stop-gap to soccer’s most powerful man

<p><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwKyC"><img alt="1853831-infatino-pvdd" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="333" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaYLs" width="500" /></a></p>
<p>New FIFA president Gianni Infantino delivers a speech after winning the FIFA presidential election during the extraordinary FIFA Congress in Zurich on February 26, 2016</p>
<p>Six months ago Gianni Infantino was a low-profile right-hand man to European soccer boss Michel Platini. He was the striking, shaven-headed character who pulled balls out of glass pots during televised UEFA competition draws.</p>
<p>Barely-known by the general public, he was also the man behind a complex attempt to force Europe’s clubs to rein in their spending, but which ended up leaving fans and even club directors confused.</p>
<p>On Friday, Infantino was chosen as the new president of FIFA, a position which made his predecessor Sepp Blatter as instantly recognizable as some of the world’s leading statesman.</p>
<p>It was a remarkable leap for the affable Swiss-Italian.</p>
<p>The polyglot lawyer only entered the FIFA race in late October, one day before the deadline, as a stop-gap candidate after Platini had been placed under investigation for ethics violations.</p>
<p>When Platini failed to clear his name and was banned from soccer for six years, Infantino was left carrying the hopes of European soccer.</p>
<p>In the intervening time, he has visited several dozen countries, clocking up by his own calculations enough air miles to have flown around the world three times.</p>
<p>“On October 27, I started my journey in Cairo, and last Monday I finished in Cape Town, so it was a kind of Cape to Cairo in reverse,” he said during his presentation to the FIFA congress on Friday.</p>
<p>“It was destiny which brought me to start the journey, an exciting journey, a fantastic journey,” he said. “Five months ago I was not thinking of being a candidate but many things have happened.”</p>
<p>Changing fortunes</p>
<p>At the same time as he was delivering his speech in Zurich, almost three hours’ drive away in Nyon the draw was being held for the Europa League, Europe’s second-tier club competition. Had the dice fallen differently, Infantino would have been conducting that draw.</p>
<p>Having joined UEFA in 2000, Infantino rose to become its general secretary in 2009, just as Platini announced his break-even rule known as Financial Fair Play.</p>
<p>Designed to stop rich owners buying success by ploughing unlimited amounts of cash into their clubs, the rule banned them from spending more than their generated revenue.</p>
<p>Infantino has said it saved European clubs from spending themselves into oblivion but critics argued it prevented smaller clubs from growing and cemented a status quo in which the same teams dominate.</p>
<p>There was also confusion over the way it was implemented. UEFA initially said that clubs who did not comply would be kicked out of European competition, no matter how big.</p>
<p>In the event, clubs were allowed to negotiate settlements and, while some were subjected to financial penalties and squad reductions, no big clubs were expelled from European competition.</p>
<p>“Financial Fair Play is a very important tool and the only thing (problem) is that it’s not all that easy sometimes to understand how the system works, and maybe UEFA has to do it more transparently,” said Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.</p>
<p>Infantino’s watch has also seen the European Championship expanded from 16 to 24 teams and the innovative move of staging the 2020 tournament in 13 cities around Europe rather than a single host nation.</p>
<p>Although it is hoped Infantino’s election will mark a clean break with FIFA’s past, his rise to the top bears some similarities to that of his disgraced predecessor Blatter, who has been banned for six years for ethics violations.</p>
<p>Both were raised in the same Swiss valley, only 10 km (six miles) from each other, both were modest amateur footballers and both speak the same five languages. Each went to university and then began their careers in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.</p>
<p>During the campaign, Infantino often had to fend off suggestions that he is too Eurocentric.</p>
<p>“I’m not the European candidate, I’m not the UEFA candidate,” he responded at one point. “I’m a football person, so I feel that I am the candidate for football.”</p>
<br />
Infantino goes from stop-gap to soccer’s most powerful man Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaYLs" width="200" /><br />

Infantino goes from stop-gap to soccer’s most powerful man

Infantino goes from stop-gap to soccer’s most powerful man

New FIFA president Gianni Infantino delivers a speech after winning the FIFA presidential election during the extraordinary FIFA Congress i...

Another festival drops violent ritual

<p><a href="http://bit.ly/1oGaYLm"><img alt="1853567-le-hoi-dua-voi-o-buon-don-se-khong-tien-hanh-nghi-thuc-dam-trau" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="280" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaYLm" width="431" /></a></p>
<p>Dak Lak’s authorities will replace the traditional buffalo stabbing ceremony at annual Buon Don Elephant Racing Festival this year with a symbolic ritual as part of an effort to stop violent activities at festivals.</p>
<p><em>Buffalo stabbing ceremony</em></p>
<p>Bui Van Khoi from Dak Lak Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on February 24 that, “The buffalo stabbing will be replaced with a symbolic ritual in accordance with Circular 15 issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.”</p>
<p>Real buffalo will continue to be used in non-sacrificial rituals. The department is considering the use of fake buffalo for the stabbing ceremony.</p>
<p>Buon Don Elephant Racing Festival is held on even years and has a wide range of activities and ceremonies including buffalo stabbing, elephant hunting and elephant football. The buffalo stabbing ceremony was held to pray for bountiful crops, health and prosperity.</p>
<p>The festival will run from March 12-14.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, the buffalo fighting festival in Phuc Tho District was cancelled because of claims of cruelty to animals.</p>
<p>Authorities started tightening the monitoring of local festivals after the Animals Asia Foundation called on authorities of Bac Ninh Province to end the pig slaughtering tradition during Nem Thuong Festival last year. The pigs suffered being spread-eagled then decapitated while alive in front of a baying crowd, with local people mopping up the blood with bank notes, believing this would bring good luck for the whole year.</p>
<br />
Another festival drops violent ritual Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaYLm" width="200" /><br />

Another festival drops violent ritual

Another festival drops violent ritual

Dak Lak’s authorities will replace the traditional buffalo stabbing ceremony at annual Buon Don Elephant Racing Festival this year with a s...

HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May

<p>The Ho Chi Minh City will host the International Fair on Environmentally Friendly Technologies 2016 (Ecotech Vietnam) which is scheduled for May 5-7.</p>
<p>According to the organising board, the event is jointly organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the National Trade and Advertising Joint Stock Company (VINEXAD) among others.</p>
<p>The significant event is hoped to actively meet the national strategy and action on green growth.</p>
<p>Several areas will be introduced at the event such as environmental technologies, agriculture, food processing, industry, construction, traffic- transportation, and energy.</p>
<p>About 100 companies, including to foreign firms registered to attend the event as of February , according to the organising board.</p>
<p>Seminars and conferences are expected to be held during the three-day event.</p>
<p>With an average economic growth rate of over 6 percent a year, Vietnam is moving towards sustainable development targets through bolstering science and technology application research, as well as by receiving transfers of technology from advanced countries.</p>
<br />
HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May

HCM City to host Ecotech Vietnam in May

The Ho Chi Minh City will host the International Fair on Environmentally Friendly Technologies 2016 (Ecotech Vietnam) which is scheduled for...

Germer team unveils New Year concert

<p>Kieu Giang</p>
<div id="attachment_1853894" style="width: 415px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwKyw"><img alt="A poster of Tinh Da concert which the Germer team stages on Saturday - PHOTO: COURTESY OF ORGANIZERS" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="150" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwKyw" width="405" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">A poster of Tinh Da concert which the Germer team stages on Saturday - PHOTO: COURTESY OF ORGANIZERS</p>
</div>
<p>There were pieces like Schumann’s Träumerei No. 7 – Ritter von Steekenpferd No. 9 – Fast zu ernst No. 10 from Kinderszenen Op.15 by pianist Hoang Dung; Beethoven’s Sonate in D major Op. 28 No. 15 “Pastorale” 1st movement by Bao Minh; Brahms’ “Lieder in G flat major “Wiegenlied” Op. 49 No. 4 by soprano Hong Vy and pianist My Dung; Tchaikovsky’s Lark’s song” in G major Op 39 No 22 from Album for the Young by Bao Minh, and Saint – Saens’ Symphonic Poem in G flat major “Danse macabre” Op.40 by violinist Hoai Bao and pianist Phong Lan.</p>
<p>The rest of the show featured pianist Phuong Khanh with Chopin’s Nocturne in B Major Op. 9 No. 3 and Beethoven’s Sonate in C minor op. 10 no. 1 first movement; pianist Thao Hien with Glinka’s Variations on Alyabyev’s Romance in E minor “The Nightingale”; pianist Tri Dung with Chopin’s “Ballade in F minor Op. 52 No. 4; and soprano Hoang Kim and pianist My Dung with Charles Gounod’s Aria “Je veux vivre” in C major from Romeo et Juliette 1st Act and Schubert’s Lieder in A flat minor d. 774 “Auf dem Wasser zu singen.</p>
<p>Established last September by a group of HCMC Conservatory of Music students, Germer hosts regular non-profit concerts plus presentations, exchanges and meetings to provide music knowledge for audiences and bring classical music closer to the community, especially youth.</p>
<br />
Germer team unveils New Year concert Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwKyw" width="200" /><br />

Germer team unveils New Year concert

Germer team unveils New Year concert

Kieu Giang A poster of Tinh Da concert which the Germer team stages on Saturday - PHOTO: COURTESY OF ORGANIZERS There were pieces like S...

Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival

<p>The Saigon Times Daily</p>
<p>Piccioni has accepted an invitation from Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh to don ao dai designed by Hanoi-based Chula Design for an ao dai show at the event to promote ties between Vietnam and Italy, she told a news briefing held Tuesday on the Vietnam Fall-Winter Fashion Week, which will take place in the capital from February 25 to 28.</p>
<p>She said she is happy and honored to join the show. Ao dai is one of the most beautiful costumes she has ever worn, she said. She has five ao dai at the moment and the number will rise to six when she wears one more at the coming festival.</p>
<p>This year’s Ao Dai Festival will take place in four days starting from March 1. The event will be attended by 18 designers from Hanoi, Hue and HCMC.</p>
<p>For the coming festival, each designer will choose a type of flower to design their ao dai, designer Minh Hanh was quoted by Voice of Vietnam (VOV) as saying. There will be ao dai for elderly women and men, children and disabled people, she said.</p>
<p>The Ao Dai festival in Hanoi will be followed by a number of activities in HCMC from March 5 to 19.</p>
<br />
Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival

Italian ambassador to wear ao dai at Hanoi festival

The Saigon Times Daily Piccioni has accepted an invitation from Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh to don ao dai designed by Hanoi-based Chula D...

Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc

<p>Drought and water shortages are forecast to hit the southern province of Binh Phuoc, seriously affecting locals’ daily activities and taking a toll on agricultural production.</p>
<p>According to the provincial People’s Committee, about 11 percent of rural households and about 34,000 hectares of cultivation area will face a shortage of fresh water, while around 2,000 hectares of aquaculture will be threatened by drought.</p>
<p>According to surveys conducted by local authorities, water level in reservoirs managed by the locality in early January fell by between 0.1-0.5 meters compared to the average level. A number of reservoirs, such as Ta Te in Loc Ninh district, Dak Ton, Binh Ha and Bu Ka in Bu Gia Map district, and An Khuong and Bau Um in Hon Quan district have water levels 1.5-3 meters below average.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853892" style="width: 454px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPM"><img alt="Photo: phapluatplus.vn" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="310" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPM" width="444" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Photo: phapluatplus.vn</p>
</div>
<p>Water levels in irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs in the end of January also fell compared with their designed capacity, causing water shortages for over 10,000 hectares of farming areas.</p>
<p>To counter the situation, local authorities have taken measures to prevent drought, aiming to minimising damage to agriculture production, industry, services and aquaculture.</p>
<p>Relevant sectors and agencies, and the local agricultural sector were asked to ensure enough water for the cultivation area in the winter-spring 2015-2016 crop. Local farmers are advised to switch to crops that require less water to adapt to water shortages caused by prolonged drought.</p>
<p>El Nino is causing extreme weather in Binh Phuoc. This year’s rainy season will come late and end early. Rainfall in the locality dropped 20-30 percent compared to the average for previous years.</p>
<p>Data collected at the Phuoc Hoa hydrological monitoring station showed that water levels in the Be River in late January reached 17.5 meters, 1.5 meters below the alarming level.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPM" width="200" /><br />

Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc

Severe drought, water shortage threaten Binh Phuoc

Drought and water shortages are forecast to hit the southern province of Binh Phuoc, seriously affecting locals’ daily activities and taking...

Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort

<p>The Vietnam Forest Administration has blamed the recent severe cold weather for partly slowing afforestation progress during the first two months of 2016.</p>
<p>The administration, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported that about 2,510 hectares of concentrated forests had been planted across Vietnam by February 20, down 6 percent from the same period last year.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853890" style="width: 454px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwLm9"><img alt="Young people plant trees in the Can Gio protection forest in Ho Chi Minh City" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="313" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwLm9" width="444" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Young people plant trees in the Can Gio protection forest in Ho Chi Minh City</p>
</div>
<p>Due to the strong cold spells in the north in late January and early February, the forest area planted in the region declined by 10 percent from a year earlier to 2,403 hectares, the administration noted.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the dry weather and local residents’ poor awareness resulted in forest fires in some province such as Vinh Phuc, Lao Cai and Cao Bang in the north and Tay Ninh in the south.</p>
<p>Thirty-two hectares of forests burned down during the first two months, up 25 percent from the previous year, the agency added.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwLm9" width="200" /><br />

Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort

Cold weather blamed for hampering afforestation effort

The Vietnam Forest Administration has blamed the recent severe cold weather for partly slowing afforestation progress during the first two m...

Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians

<p>A roadside police patrol camp in southern Thailand was attacked Saturday by an improvised car bomb that left seven officers and two civilians injured, police said.</p>
<p>The attack in Pattani province was believed to have been carried out by Muslim insurgents who targeted the outpost used by special forces, said police Col. Keerati Waeyoosoh, the Pattani police superintendent.</p>
<p>Keerati said the bomb, made from a cylinder gas tank, was placed inside a car that had been stolen earlier Saturday from a tire shop whose owner was shot three times but survived. The car was then parked before it exploded outside a roadside restaurant adjacent to the police camp, which was destroyed by the blast.</p>
<p>More than 5,000 people have been killed since an insurgency erupted in 2004 in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces, the only ones with Muslim majorities in the predominantly Buddhist country. Last year, the level of violence dropped, according to official figures, but peace talks have made little apparent progress.</p>
<p>The insurgents are known for drive-by shootings and bombs placed on parked motorcycles and cars.</p>
<br />
Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians

Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians

A roadside police patrol camp in southern Thailand was attacked Saturday by an improvised car bomb that left seven officers and two civilian...

Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience

<p>Twenty key officials from the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) will start a three-month training course at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics from March 1.</p>
<p>The course, the second of its kind, is part of a cooperation agreement inked between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Mozambican ruling party.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853885" style="width: 454px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPG"><img alt="Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung (third from right) and Frelimo officials before they set off for studying in Vietnam in a group photo" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="319" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPG" width="444" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung (third from right) and Frelimo officials before they set off for studying in Vietnam in a group photo</p>
</div>
<p>The training program will focus on Vietnam’s experience in ideological and political affairs and the making of development and international integration strategy.</p>
<p>This is the second training program for Frelimo officials hosted by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.</p>
<p>In the cooperation framework between the Vietnamese academy and the Central Frelimo Party School, the Frelimo will send four specialists to Vietnam to learn experience in teaching and conducting scientific research.</p>
<p>On February 24, the Vietnamese Embassy in Mozambique met with the Frelimo officials before they set off for studying in Vietnam.</p>
<p>Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Trung briefed the trainees upon Vietnam’s revolutionary history and socio-economic development process.</p>
<p>He expressed his hope that the trainees will receive helpful experience to contribute to their country’s policy-making efforts.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaVPG" width="200" /><br />

Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience

Mozambican party officials to learn Vietnam’s experience

Twenty key officials from the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) will start a three-month training course at the Ho Chi Minh National ...

Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi

<p>PANO – The Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations (CER) held a new year get-together for ambassadors and heads of foreign representative agencies to Vietnam on February 26th.</p>
<p>Addressing the event, the commission’s head Hoang Binh Quan thanked them for regularly sharing information and closely cooperating with the commission in conducting diplomatic activities between Vietnam and other countries.</p>
<div id="attachment_1853883" style="width: 454px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1LlwKhZ"><img alt="CER head Hoang Binh Quan addressing the event" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="332" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwKhZ" width="444" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">CER head Hoang Binh Quan addressing the event</p>
</div>
<p>Especially, the recent 12th National Party Congress received care and encouragement via congratulatory messages from leaders and parties of over 100 countries worldwide and diplomatic missions to Vietnam.</p>
<p>In addition, he underlined that 2016 is the first year of realizing the resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, and once again stressed the country’s foreign policy.</p>
<p>In turn, Moroccan Ambassador El Houcine Fardani, Head of the diplomatic corps to Vietnam, congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 12th National Party Congress and extended Lunar New Year greetings to the Vietnamese Party, State leaders and people.</p>
<p><em><strong>Translated by Van Hieu</strong></em></p>
<br />
Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1LlwKhZ" width="200" /><br />

Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi

Foreign diplomats to Vietnam gather in Hanoi

PANO – The Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations (CER) held a new year get-together for ambassadors and heads of forei...

Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends

<p>More than 20 ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in Vietnam enjoyed a performance of Chau Van singing and Hau Dong (trance ritual) in the northern province of Nam Dinh on February 26.</p>
<p>The show is part of a program highlighting Buddhism, Christianity and Mother Goddess worship – initiated by the UNESCO Vietnam. It aims to shed light on the Vietnamese spiritual life and local freedom of religious practice.</p>
<p>Chau Van singing and Hau Dong are pivotal parts of a ceremony to worship Mother Goddess. Followers perform the spiritual singing and dancing to entertain and praise deities. During the performance, they dress up like the deities they sing for.</p>
<p>A performance of Chau Van singing and Hau Dong</p>
<p>The Mother Goddess worship was created during the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400) and has become part of the Vietnamese spiritual life as a reminder of national history and the great contributions of predecessors and national heroes.</p>
<p>The ritual combines music, singing, dancing, martial arts, cooking and fashion. During the associated trance ritual, mediums serve as ambassadors connecting the material world with the genies.</p>
<p>After the performance, US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius said he read about the ritual, and found it fascinated to watch it being performed live.</p>
<p>UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Katherine Muller-Marin stated the Mother Goddess worship lay stress on the women’s roles in society.</p>
<p>Combining different cultural and artistic values, it promotes humanity through demonstrating respect for ancestors, and national contributors, she noted.</p>
<p>In March 2014, Vietnam submitted a dossier on the Mother Goddess worship to seek UNESCO recognition of the art as invaluable cultural heritage. The file is expected to be assessed in December 2016.</p>
<p>Nam Dinh is among Mother Goddess worship centers nationwide, possessing 287 temples and vestiges relating to the belief.</p>
<p><em><strong>Source: VNA</strong></em></p>
<br />
Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1eWmqbm" width="200" /><br />

Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends

Vietnam’s spiritual singing bewitches international friends

More than 20 ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in Vietnam enjoyed a performance of Chau Van singing and Hau Don...

Southern hub to host ninth book festival

<div id="attachment_1853879" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1oGaYuW"><img alt="Photo: tuoitre.vn" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="211" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaYuW" width="300" /></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Photo: tuoitre.vn</p>
</div>
<p>PANO – Ho Chi Minh City’s ninth Book Festival will get underway at the Le Van Tam Park, District 1 between March 21st and 27th.</p>
<p>Under the theme “Books – Culture – Integration and Development”, the biennial event is expected to attract about 200 publishers inside and outside the country, with more than 500 stalls.</p>
<p>Visitors can also participate in exhibitions, seminars and talks, book launches and other entertainment.</p>
<p>The festival aims to further promote good reading habits in the community, raise public awareness of books’ values, appreciate the efforts of those involved in book development, and enhance responsibility of various sectors, social organizations and individuals towards promoting reading.</p>
<p><em><strong>Translated by Viet Anh</strong></em></p>
<br />
Southern hub to host ninth book festival Related image(s)<br />
<img height="200" src="http://bit.ly/1oGaYuW" width="200" /><br />

Southern hub to host ninth book festival

Southern hub to host ninth book festival

Photo: tuoitre.vn PANO – Ho Chi Minh City’s ninth Book Festival will get underway at the Le Van Tam Park, District 1 between March 21st a...

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Populars
Comments
Archive

Top