Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos

Nha Trang's makeover

2012-06-03T01:09:00.000-07:00

Nha Trang’s makeover

June 2, 2012

The resort city is more than just beach, trumpet three newly-opened tourism sites

Tourists relax in a mud bath at a resort on the outskirts of the central resort city of Nha Trang.
Nha Trang is one of the most famous resort towns in Vietnam, thanks to its long and beautiful beaches. But the dazzling beaches also meant tourism was virtually restricted to sun and surf. Hoping to change that perception, the central city has been busy adding new attractions.
Yangbay Waterfall
Yangbay, which means “God’s water” in the ethnic Raglai language, is situated in a 570-hectare valley some 45 kilometers from Nha Trang. It is surrounded by a pristine forest, and together with another waterfall nearby, Yangkang, has created many ponds, some more than 100 meters wide.
In 2008 a tourism area was set up here, and it now has several attractions that show a glimpse into the culture of the Raglai people, such as pig racing.
During New Year and other festivals each Raglai family chooses its best pig for a village race. The winner is killed and offered to the Gods and shared among the village, and the family owning the animal is awarded and wished good luck.
Also on show at Yangbay are performances on traditional musical instruments, including the lithopone, by ethnic artists.
Another must-see is a 30-meter-tall tree named Moc Thieng (sacred wood) at the entrance to the tourist area. It is actually three different trees growing close together and is so thick that it takes more than 20 people holding hands to encircle it completely. No one knows for sure how old it is, but locals say it has been there for a very long time.
The Raglai believe it is the abode of the God of Yangbay forest. Every day before entering and leaving the forest, they stop at the tree and pray for good health and career and happiness. Tourists can also take part in the traditional practice and pray for good luck.
Mud bath
Vietnam’s first mud bath opened at the Thap Ba hot spring on the outskirts of Nha Trang in 2000. Though many more mud baths have come up across the country since, Thap Ba remained the most famous, thanks to its quality and varied services.
However, its preeminence may now be threatened by the newly-opened resort in Vinh Ngoc Commune, also on the city’s outskirts.
Owned by architect Ngo Van Ich, the 5.6-hectare resort devotes more than half its area to a mineral mud bath, while the rest is still being built and expected to be finished in a few years.
The design is based on nature. It has an outdoor bathing area, another meant for families, massage pools, spas, and a place where tourists can try Vietnamese folk games.
We paid VND2 million (US$96) for a mud bath, which is the rate for a family of two to four. We were given a hut with wooden basins to pour mud and mineral hot water over ourselves. There were also soft drinks, fruits, ginger tea, snacks, and massage for the money.
The service is excellent with staff always available outside the hut, ready to meet any customer need.
The countryside
Memento – meaning “memory” in Italian – is a 1.5-hectare resort situated around 15 kilometers from Nha Trang.
Unlike other resorts, fancy and built along the beach, Memento, owned by Tran Dang Nhon, an English teacher, is set amid fields next to a village in Dien Hoa Commune.
It is, in fact, built on what used to be his family orchard.
It has 12 bungalows designed just like local houses. There is a swimming pool, lawns, vegetable and fruit gardens, and a fish pond.
The resort offers guests various activities like fishing, kite flying, and touring the village on horse- and cow-drawn carts.
A real treat is the opportunity to enjoy authentic foods together with local families. Guests are taught how to make simple Vietnamese dishes like banh xeo (fried pancakes made from rice flour and stuffed with fatty pork, shrimp, onions, and others), and goi cuon (a salad roll with pork, prawns, rice vermicelli, and herbs in rice paper).
People who used to live in the countryside will surely feel twinges of nostalgia at Memento. For others it will be an all new travel experience.

HCM City woman suddenly dies, leaves $50 million | Look At Vietnam

2012-06-02T10:51:00.001-07:00

I think I knew this woman.

HCM City woman suddenly dies, leaves $50 million

June 1, 2012

LookAtVietnam – A 65-year-old woman in HCM City died suddenly, leaving VND1 trillion (around $50 million) without a testament, resulted in a dispute between her adopted daughter and her relatives.

Ms. P’s brother at Sacombank on May 30.

This huge amount of money is now at the Saigon Commercial JS Bank (Sacombank).
The woman, named P, dropped dead in early 2011 without a will. She did not have children, only a 22-year-old adopted daughter, who was studying in Germany when she died. Ms. P adopted this girl when she was just born at HCM City’s Hung Vuong Hospital, and the daughter is recognized by the law.
In March 2011, Binh Thanh District Distrainers’ Office conducted inventory of Ms. P’s assets at the witness of the woman’s brothers and sisters, her adopted daughter and local police officers.
Distrainers had to work for nearly a week to check her assets, which include 100 taels of gold, $1 million, diamonds, 17 saving books worth hundreds of million USD. She also owned a lot of land, factories in HCM City and some southern provinces.
The woman not only kept gold, diamonds and money in strongboxes but also hid gold under her desk in her office. She also kept a lot of banknotes with face values of only VND200, VND500, VND1,000 and VND2,000.
The woman’s parents were Chinese, who produced rice vermicelli. They transmitted this trade to their children, including this woman.
At first, the woman produced vermicelli manually. She gradually expanded this trade and built factories. She bought a lot of land in HCM City and neighboring provinces. Her assets kept growing to millions of USD.
According to this woman’s workers, she lived very simply and often did charity in secret.
Ms. P has six brothers and sisters who also produce vermicelli and are rich. One of them currently owns a famous vermicelli brand. Two of them are living in Germany.
Most of Ms. P’s relatives want to keep her assets at bank, not giving to her adopted daughter. They and the Ms. P’s adopted daughter agreed to keep the assets at Sacombank by the end of March 2012. After this day, the adopted daughter wanted to withdraw it but the woman’s relatives did not agree because the conflict was not solved yet. They said that the huge assets were created by the efforts of the entire family, including those in Germany, who contributed money to Ms. P’s business.
The adopted daughter refused to answer any question about the assets. However, according to distrainers’ office, if she inherits the assets, she will donate it to UNICEF Vietnam.
Nam Nguyen

Vietnam, China discuss cooperation in 'less sensitive' maritime issues | Look At Vietnam

2012-06-02T10:46:00.001-07:00

Vietnam, China discuss cooperation in 'less sensitive' maritime issues

June 1, 2012

Vietnam and China held the first round of talks on cooperation in “less sensitive" maritime issues in Beijing on May 29-30, Vietnam News Agency reported.
The two sides discussed cooperation in fields like marine environmental protection, maritime science research, search and rescue at sea, and preventing and limiting impacts of natural disasters.
They reached high consensus on adhering to the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, according to VNA.
The two sides also agreed to hold the second round in Vietnam in the second half of this year.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi told Thanh Nien Wednesday that the two countries would cooperate based on the principle that issues involving Vietnam and China would be settled bilaterally.
Issues involving other countries would be settled through discussions among all involved parties, he added.

By Ng.Phong, Thanh Nien News

1.4 tons of precious timber seized in central Vietnam | Look At Vietnam

2012-06-02T10:38:00.001-07:00

1.4 tons of precious timber seized in central Vietnam

June 1, 2012

Police in Quang Binh Province weigh the precious timber Sua they seized on Wednesday.

Police in Vietnam’s central Quang Binh Province seizedÂ 1.4 tons of precious Sua timber from two trucksÂ on a street Wednesday, believed to have come from three trees illegally logged at the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
It is not known how the timber made its way out of the park.
The trees were felled in early April, and forest rangers said it has been hard for them to protect the timber from armed loggers and mobs of locals entering the forest to grab pieces of wood.
The police said they seized more than 600 kg of wood at around 6 p.m. from a truckÂ owned byÂ Tran Thi Hoa, 41, a local.

Hoa said seven locals had hired her vehicle to carry the timber to another spot in the province.
Later that night another truck was stopped with 780 kg.
Further investigations are on.
Vietnam banned the use of Sua (Dalbergia tonkinensis) for commercial purposes in 2007, but the high demand due to its quality, especially from China, sustains illegal logging.
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By Truong Quang Nam, Thanh Nien News

Wearing scanty clothes, artists to be banned from stage for two years | Look At Vietnam

2012-06-02T10:35:00.001-07:00

Wearing scanty clothes, artists to be banned from stage for two years

June 2, 2012

LookAtVietnam – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will impose administrative fines, withdraw show licenses or ban artists from appearing on the stage from 6 months to 2 years if they change the content of their performances or wear scanty costumes.

Singers and models who were criticized for wearing scanty clothes.

The announcement released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on May 31 said that the Ministry has assigned the Performing Art Agency to send a dispatch to all radio and television stations to ask them not broadcast art shows in which artists lip-sync, perform unlicensed works or wear scanty clothes.
The Ministry will also amend Decree 75 on administrative fines on violations in performing arts. Accordingly, artists who willingly change their performances, wear scanty clothes, have rude statements or lip-sync will face tough punishment, including withdrawal of performance license and being banned from stage from 6 months to 2 years.
Today the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a conference on addressing violations in performing activities in Hanoi.
Dan Viet

How much is enough for tourism promotion? | Look At Vietnam

2012-06-02T10:33:00.001-07:00

How much is enough for tourism promotion?

June 2, 2012

LookAtVietnam – The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism VNAT has
spent a lot of money on tourism promotion campaigns. However, the costly
programs prove to be unprofessional and ineffective.

Fastening belt in economic downturn
VNAT has suggested a mechanism on budgeting tourism promotion campaigns, under
which one dollar earned from every traveler to Vietnam would be re-invested to
advertise and promote Vietnam’s tourism in Vietnam and in foreign countries.
With the mechanism, the more foreign tourists to Vietnam, the higher budget for
tourism promotion campaigns would be allocated. In 2011, for example, Vietnam
received 6 million travelers, which means that Vietnam should reserve 6 million
dollars (120 billion dong).
However, in reality, the budget for tourism promotion activities has been cut
year after year. Nguyen Manh Cuong, VNAT’s Deputy General Director, said
Thailand and Malaysia spend 80-100 million dollars a year to promote their
tourism. Meanwhile, Vietnam would have only 2 million dollars this year for the
activities.
In principle, the budget of 2 million dollars would be allocated to different
agencies. It is estimated that 70 percent of the sum would be put under the
management of VNAT, while 20 percent would go to the International Cooperation
Agency, and the remaining to some small projects. The dispersing of the
resources is believed to be not a good choice, because this would lead to the
overlapping and low efficiency.
The limited budget is really a big barrier that hinders the advertisement and
promotion activities. Though VNAT attends foreign trade fairs to promote
Vietnam’s tourism, it lacks money to organize supporting events, such as press
conferences, reception or visual promotion activities.
The representative of Sao Viet travel firm said that the lack of money makes the
Vietnamese booth at trade fairs dim and unattractive. Meanwhile, some big travel
firms and the national flag air carrier Vietnam Airlines, which are believed
financially powerful, all have their own stalls and they refuse to display their
products and services at the national tourism booth.
Cut your coat according to your cloth
Pham Trung Luong, Deputy Head of the Tourism Research and Development Institute,
said it’s clear that the budget cuts would badly affect tourism promotion
activities. However, as the budget cut proves to be unavoidable for now, it
would be better to discuss about how to use the modest sum of money to promote
tourism.
Luong said that while Vietnam lacks money, it still wastes money on the things
which cannot bring effects. Travel firms have many times complained about the
unprofessional way of the watchdog agencies in organizing the outbound trips to
attend foreign trade fairs.
Vietnam once brought a lot of leaflets to a foreign trade fair to promote
tourism. However, the leaflets were then left at the Vietnamese embassies in the
countries.
There could be two reasons behind this. First, Vietnam brought to the trade fair
the products which were not interested by travelers. And second, Vietnam did not
choose the right way of doing marketing: while people try to search for tourism
information on Internet, Vietnam only bring printed leaflets and brochures.
“One should not blame everything on the lack of money,” Luong said.
He believes that Vietnam needs to learn thoroughly about a market before it
plans to penetrate the market. Opening representative offices in the foreign
markets proves to be the best way to learn about the new markets. Besides, the
offices can also act as the bridge that connects Vietnam’s tourism with local
travelers.
However, to date, Vietnam still has not offices in foreign countries, including
in Japan, which is considered the most potential market for Vietnam.
Tin Tuc

The best player of Premier League to come to Vietnam next week | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-31T22:58:00.001-07:00

The best player of Premier League to come to Vietnam next week

June 1, 2012

LookAtVietnam – Before the EURO 2012 starts, Vietnamese football fans will have a chance to see the best player of the British Premier League 2012, Vincent Kompany, on June 7-9.

Less than one month after highly contributing to Man City FC’s the Premier League 2011/12 championship, midfielder – captain Vincent Kompany will pay a visit to Vietnam. The football star will arrive in HCM City on June 7.
During his three days in Vietnam, Kompany will meet and talk with Vietnamese fans, meet with the U22 national team, and visit the SOS Village for Orphans in HCM City.
Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany, 26, is a Belgian footballer who plays for Manchester City and the Belgium national team. He is capable of playing at both centre back and defensive midfield. In the 2011–12 season he was awarded the captaincy of Manchester City, leading his club to win the Premier League that season, their first league title in 44 years.

Kompany began his professional career at Anderlecht, spending three years at the Belgian club before moving to German club Hamburger SV in 2006.
In the summer of 2008, at the age of 22, he completed a transfer to his current club, Premier League side Manchester City. He has since established himself as an integral part of the Manchester City squad and is one of the bargain buys of the revolutionized City era, blossoming into one of the Premier League’s best centre backs.
Kompany was included in the Premier League Team of the Year for two years in a row in 2011 and 2012, and won the Premier League Player of the Season in 2012.
S. Tung

Most Vietnamese gov’t websites could collapse any time, survey | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-31T22:53:00.001-07:00

Most Vietnamese gov’t websites could collapse any time, survey

June 1, 2012

A recent survey found thatÂ 78 percent ofÂ Vietnamese government websitesÂ are vulnerable to cyber attacks, VietNamNet reported.
The statistic was reported byÂ Internet security firm Vietnam Information Security Association during a conference on expanding the role of online government in Hanoi last Friday.Â
The association teamÂ randomly testedÂ 100 websites with the domain name .gov.vn. Nearly 3,700 security flaws were detected during the survey.
Around 58 percent of theÂ sitesÂ showed “serious security weakness” and around 20 percentÂ exhibited “high security weakness,” a representative from theÂ association said.

“Around 80 percent of the websites doÂ not meet the minimum security requirements.
“Around 78 percentÂ are susceptible to have theirÂ content alteredÂ or their operating engines collapse at anytime,” the representative said at the conference.
TheÂ Hanoi-based Internet security firm Bkav calculated thatÂ from the beginning of this year, six VietnameseÂ websitesÂ had been attacked every day.
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Thanh Nien News

Homosexual community upholds same-sex wedding in Ha Tien | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-31T22:46:00.001-07:00

Homosexual community upholds same-sex wedding in Ha Tien

May 31, 2012

LookAtVietnam – After the local authorities penalized two men in Ha Tien city for holding a same-sex wedding, ICS, the largest organization on the interest of homosexuals in Vietnam, has stated that it was legal when the two men organized their wedding party without marriage registration.

Nguyen Hoang Bao Quoc and Truong Van Hen.

In its announcement released on May 30, ICS supported the wedding of Nguyen Hoang Bao Quoc and Truong Van Hen, reasoning that holding wedding party without marriage registration is completely legal. This organization praised the two men for being brave to overcome social discrimination to live with their true nature.
“Love and be loved is not the privilege of any gender. The right to seek happiness is the most fundamental right of everyone. ICS is glad because your love is supported by your families, who organized a wedding for you. This is a humane activity based on parents’ love for their childrenâ¦,” the press release wrote.
Admitting that same-sex marriage is contrary to the Law on Marriage and Family, ICS said that the Vietnamese law does not ban two persons of the same sex from having relationships, on conditions that they are voluntary, are not juvenile and there is no connection with prostitution.
“Holding a wedding party is not considered as getting married, because it is not recognized by the law. The wedding party is only a get-together so it is wrong if the authorities ban or dismiss it just because it is held by two people of the same sex. Every citizen has the right to do things that are not banned by the law,” ICS said.
According to ICS, the local authorities’ threat to impose fine on the couple is the serious violation of the residential freedom right of citizens. “In other countries, this act can be charged as hate crime,” it wrote.
A same-sex wedding in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang’s Ha Tien town has drawn public attention for the last two weeks.
Local people in Ha Tien town in the southern province of Kien Giang keep talking about the wedding of two men though the event has passed for a week.
On May 16, the wedding of Truong Van Hen, 22 (bride) and Nguyen Hoang Bao Quoc (groom) took place at a house on Phuong Thanh Road. The wedding was held in large scale, with the witness of the two men’s parents and the participation of hundreds of guests.
After that the local government asked the couple and their families to come to the local police station to educate them and give them an administrative fine, because the wedding “broke the Law on Marriage and Family.”
Previously, two girls named Nga and Nhu held a marriage and they were also fined for breaking the law.
According to ICS, 19 countries and territories in the world have recognized same-sex marriage. Forty-four others have permitted people of the same sex to register to legally live together under the forms named “civil marriage”, “registered relationship”, “family relations”, etc. with similar rights like marriage of different-sex couples.
Lawyer Nguyen Van Duc from Can Tho city said that there are no grounds for imposing administrative fines on the families that organized same-sex wedding for their children, because the couple did not register for marriage so they are not a legal couple. “The local authorities can only ask them to come to their office to educate them,” he said.
Mai Lan

Go Native or Go Home..The Word

2012-05-31T10:05:00.002-07:00

Go Native or Go Home

Written by The Word

Foreigners living in Vietnam do more than just adapt. Many of them go native. Have you? Here are 20 ways of telling

1) When driving a motorbike you accelerate through amber lights, drive the wrong way down one-way streets, don't give way and overtake other vehicles on the outside, even when they're indicating that they're turning left.

2) Taking the rubber bands off plastic bags filled with takeaway noodle soup has become easy — you can now do it without spilling any liquid on yourself. You are even able to put on the rubber bands faster than the lady in the soup shop.

3) You have stopped trying to eat a bowl of rice with chopsticks.

4) Time takes on a totally new meaning. A 2.30, afternoon meeting means 2.45 or even 3pm. And hitting deadlines and getting everything ready in time becomes the exception rather than the norm.

5) Picking your nose in public, spitting on the sidewalk or squeezing your spots with the reflective aid of your wing mirror are no longer repulsive. They are things you do, too. You even let your partner dispense of those gruesome blackheads over your morning, on-the-street cafe da.

6) You start wearing long trousers and shirts out of work and during the day in heat so intense that even sunbathing on the beach would be too much. And if the temperature goes below 25°C you start complaining that it's cold.

7) You spend half your time raving on about how amazing your home country is but then claim conversely that you would never live there again. You spend the rest of your time telling other foreigners how dire ‘home’ really is and trying to justify in some roundabout way why you're living in Vietnam.

8) You complain about the lack of music or culture in this town and yet when it comes to spending VND500,000 or even VND200,000 to go to a gig, a Cham event or a cultural party, you don't go. And yet you're more than happy to spend double that on a night out on the town and quadruple on impressing the latest girlfriend.

9) It no longer seems odd to be giving, erm, your girlfriend or boyfriend a monthly salary for erm, being your boyfriend or girlfriend.

10) The music you hear in the nightclubs has stopped feeling dated, crass and mainstream.

11) You cross the road in the middle of busy junctions, roundabouts, highways and when the lights are green.

12) Even though teaching is a noble, vital profession, you start looking down on all English teachers and begin treating them like they are the scum of the earth. Because after all, you're the one with the real job.

13) Heading down to The Pham only happens on those rare occasions when you end up at Go2 or Long Phi at 3am. Otherwise you avoid the area like a plague. The idea of having crass conversations with backpackers or being treated like just another tourist is demeaning. You live here.

14) Left-wing, political correctness, indignance at all the unfairness in the world and an unquestioning belief in the moral and intellectual superiority of the west no longer rule the way you look at and behave towards Vietnam.

15) The majority of travel and news features published about Vietnam overseas make you froth at the mouth due to their lack of accuracy and their lack of fairness towards your adopted home.

16) No longer do you try to be ‘green’ and environmentally friendly by sleeping at night with only a fan. You have long since switched over to an air-conditioner.

17) Telling your staff “this is the way it's done in the west” is no longer part of your vocabulary. You have instead adopted a pragmatic approach to dealing with problems, getting things done and motivating the people you work with.

18) You start telling people that although you don't speak great Vietnamese, you understand what people are saying. Until of course it comes to the moment you are surrounded by Vietnamese and are completely lost.

19) Sentence constructions such as “yesterday I go to shop” and “we eat finish, we go home” become regular, subconscious features of your vocabulary.

20) You’ve given up learning Vietnamese.

So how well have you acclimatized and how much have you been influenced by life in Vietnam? Have you gone native or have you merely adapted?

If you have checked 10 or more boxes, then the answer is that you’ve probably gone native and if these assessments disturb you at all, don't let them. After all, who wants to live in those dull, failing democracies overseas anyway?

Vietnam demands China release fishing boats | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-30T23:01:00.001-07:00

Vietnam demands China release fishing boats

May 30, 2012

Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi

Vietnam has asked China to release two fishing boats that its forces confiscated from local fishermen when they were fishing along Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago over the last few months.
At a press conference held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said the ministry had sent a diplomatic note to the Chinese embassy in Hanoi that day after being informed that 14 fishermen in the central province of Quang Ngai were detained by China on two boats on May 16.
They were released on May 21 on one boat, but the other boat and their catch and equipmentÂ are still being heldÂ by Chinese fishing management forces, according to a notice China sent on May 21.
China’s detainment of the Vietnamese fishing boats when they were operating legally inÂ Vietnamese waters aroundÂ Hoang Sa was a "serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty," Nghi quoted the diplomatic note as saying.
Vietnam demanded China free the boat and the fishermen’s properties, as well as stop such acts in the future, he said.
According to Nghi,Â the ministry’s noteÂ also asked China to release another boat it confiscated from Vietnamese fishermen when they were fishing in Hoang Sa waters on March 4.
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By Nguyen Phong, Thanh Nien News

Nation to assess English teachers | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-30T22:46:00.001-07:00

Nation to assess English teachers

May 31, 2012

LookAtVietnam – Viet Nam was looking to implement a comprehensive assessment of graduates from English teaching colleges in an effort to improve the quality of English teachers, said Nguyen Ngoc Hung, manager of the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) ’s National Foreign Languages 2020 Project.

The results of the assessment would be announced publicly to all universities and colleges nationwide, according to Hung.
Starting this summer, graduates from the English teaching departments at the University of Foreign Languages and Viet Nam National University would be tested on whether they have achieved at least the B2 level, which is equivalent to a 5-6 score with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Speaking at yesterday’s conference on internationalisation and English capacity building co-organised by MoET and the British Council, Hung stressed that the lack of good English teachers and effective teaching methods had produced students who “failed to communicate in English for any useful purpose”, even after nine years of studying in schools and colleges.
“For years, we have put an over-emphasis on whether English teachers have the right diploma or certificate, not on their actual listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills,” he said.
The project, started in 2008, aims for most Vietnamese students graduating from secondary, vocational schools, college and universities to be able to use a foreign language confidently.
Officials estimate about 20 million students would benefit from the project. It would also develop new ICT applications in education and make efforts to digitalise textbooks. In three years, it has trained 2,500 English teachers at elementary level, according to Hung.
Professor Stephen Bax, from the University of Bedfordshire’s Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment, said the centre and the British Council had recently completed a study to assess staff levels of English at the University of Thai Nguyen and Hai Phong College for Tourism and Services.
According to Bax, the study, which consisted of staff self-assessment, an online test and site visits to observe classes, suggested that pronunciation remained an area of weakness; some students were left behind due to overcrowded classrooms; and better teaching methods such as how the teachers question the students or how to mark reading texts were needed.
VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Influences of e-war to Vietnam would be not big | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-30T22:44:00.001-07:00

Influences of e-war to Vietnam would be not big

May 31, 2012

LookAtVietnam – Most of the current Vietnamese websites now simply provide
information, and they are not associated with inside systems such as level-3- or
4- public services. Therefore, if a cyber war occurs, it would not have big
influences to Vietnam.

More than half of the systems cannot record attacks
Vu Quoc Khanh, Director of VNCERT (the Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Team)
said at a workshop on building up information security policies in developing
e-government held on May 25, that the budget for information security solutions
just amounts to a small proportion in the agencies’ total budget for the
information technology application program.
As for state agencies, 29 percent of agencies plan to spend 10-15 percent of the
budget on information security solutions, while the average level is 19 percent
for the whole country. Sixteen percent of agencies plan to invest 5-9.9 percent
of the total budget, lower than the average level of 19 percent, while 24
percent of agencies would pay less than 5 percent of the budget, while the whole
country’s level is 38 percent.
A survey of VNCERT has found out that 53 percent of units which have information
security systems cannot record attack behaviors. This means that though more
than 50 percent of Vietnamese websites have houses, and their homes have been
equipped with locks; however, the owners of the houses would not know if burglar
broke into their houses, because they are not informed by the system.
The survey has also found out that 63 percent of units cannot calculate the
financial loss caused by the attacks, while the figure is 64 percent for state
agencies.
VNISA, the Vietnam Information Security Association, which carried out
assessments on 100 accidental websites of government agencies (.gov.vn), has
found that 80 percent of websites do not apply safeguard system against the
scanning, such as the intrusion prevention system. It has also estimated that 78
percent of the websites could be attacked and collapsed at any time.
Especially, the websites have popular weak points, such as the information
telltale from using ASP.NET of Microsoft (15 percent), the errors relating to
SQL Injection (11 percent), or XSS (9 percent).
Vietnam nonresistant to cyber war
Nguyen Viet The, former of Head of the Informatics Agency under the Ministry of
Public Security, has many times warned that cyber crimes have become more and
more professional, therefore, network security would continue to be a burning
problem in 2012, which may lead to a cyber war.
Khanh also thinks that Vietnamese websites comprise of many holes, and that if
an attack is carried out, targeting to the websites, it would be very difficult
to ensure the operation of the whole system. However, as for unimportant
websites which do not need heavy investment, the administrators would be able to
recover the system after a short time. Meanwhile, very important websites which
must be online 24/24 all have information security measures already.
It is estimated that errors cannot be found in 20 percent of the systems which
hackers would find it very difficult to attack. Meanwhile, as for DDoS attacks,
one would need the support from outside, including the measure of expanding
bandwidth.
To prepare to struggle against a cyber war, according to Khanh, it’d better to
focus on protecting the most important objectives, instead of “trying to protect
any pieces of land of the territory.”
As for unimportant websites, they should be given warnings about holes and
recommendations.
Source: Buu Dien

Cambodia Holidays - Top Five Resorts

2012-05-30T22:35:00.001-07:00

Cambodia is one of the most beautiful and culturally-rich countries in the world. It maintains its natural beauty, but also offers 21st century luxuries such as modernised hotels, lodges, exquisite lakeside homes and restaurants to delight visitors during the heavy tourist season. If you would like to take a trip that is a bit 'out of the ordinary', where you can relax and enjoy some of the best resorts around, then might want to think about reserving your tickets and checking out some of the Cambodia holidays that are available. The five luxury resorts and hotels that are listed below are all four-star and five-star accommodations where many people have enjoyed staying on their Cambodia holidays.
Amansara Resort
One of the most popular and finest resorts that you can find to spend Cambodia holidays, the Amansara Resort can be found in Siem Reap which is arguably the cultural capital of this stunning country. Amansara was at one time the guest villa for King Norodom Sihanouk. These days, the garden compound has the capacity to serve 24 guest room suites that allow those who are staying there on Cambodia holidays to feel right at home. This luxurious former royal getaway was built by the French architect Laurent Mondet in 1962 and was reconstructed in 2006.
Sokha Angkor Resort Siem Reap
Located in Siem Reap, this classic luxury resort features 276 rooms and has a five-star rating from former guests who have spent their Cambodia holidays there. This resort is conveniently located right in the heart of this grand town and is walking distance from the Old Market, which is a wonderful area to find handmade souvenirs and unique collectables. Just a few minutes away from the airport and 15 minutes from the world-famous Angkor Wat Temples, you are sure to enjoy your Cambodia holidays at this beautifully constructed resort.
Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort
This five-star resort offers those on Cambodia holidays peace and relaxation near to many of the country's most famous landmarks. This location is most commonly referred to as Siem Reap's best hotel, and it is easy to see why once you enter this beautifully-detailed building constructed out of a mixture of Khmer and French-inspired architecture. This resort features several glorious gardens and peaceful lake areas as well as the largest free-form swimming pool. There is also a spa for you to enjoy while you are there, five fine dining restaurants, two bars and an 18-hole golf course.
AMATAO Tropical Residence
For those who would like to stay somewhere a little more discreet whilst on their Cambodia holidays, the AMATAO tropical residence is the place to be. This amazing private resort located in Siem Reap is the first private tropical resort in the country. Surrounded by nature and offering total relaxation, AMATAO will treat you to the best possible personalised service and assistance. The rooms are designed to make guests feel like they are in a tropical fantasy, and the fun events that await you during your stay will make you enjoy this resort even more during your Cambodia holidays.
Angkor Palace Resort Spa
The Angkor Palace Resort Spa is located in Siem Reap and is one of the best resorts to stay in while on Cambodia holidays. The intriguing design and beautiful décor of this luxury hotel are all inspired by traditional Cambodian architecture that was created for royalty and dignitaries at the time. Located in a convenient part of town, you are sure to enjoy your stay at this resort which is located just twenty minutes from the world famous Angkor Wat Temples.

Cambodia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, making Cambodia holidays popular with those looking for a relaxing, luxury getaway. To book holidays in Indochina, including Cambodia and Vietnam holidays, visit a reputable online travel agent.

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HCM City to allow advertising on public buses | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-30T12:10:00.001-07:00

HCM City to allow advertising on public buses

May 29, 2012

Authorities in HCM City plan to allow
advertisement on public buses in order to help reduce the huge subsidies
provided for the service.

The city has spent huge amounts of
money on building hundreds of public bus routes with thousands of
vehicles that have served hundreds of millions of passengers per year
since 2003. However, revenues from the service have been too modest
compared to the investment, in addition to mounting subsidies.
In order to reduce subsidies for the
service, the municipal Department of Transport sought approval from the
city’s government to allow advertising on public buses in 2008. The
department expected that the advertising could bring about VND100
billion (USD4.78 million) in revenue per year.
However, the proposal was turned down by the municipal government that issued a decision in June 2009 to ban advertising.
The decision meant that the city has
continued to provide increased subsidies for the service year after
year. The subsidies soared to VND1.268 trillion (USD60.72 million) in
2011 from VND734 billion in 2010, VND697 billion from 2009, and VND574
billion from 2008.
The figure is forecast to reach VND1.5 trillion (USD71.83 million) this year.
In 2011, the city’s government allowed the department to study a plan to allow advertising on public buses once again.
Municipal authorities will amend and supplement local government decision 39/2009/QD-UBND in the near future.
Dantri

Fantastic Bubbles, Hanoi

2012-05-30T12:07:00.001-07:00

Fantastic bubbles fascinate children

May 29, 2012

LookAtVietnam – On the evening of May 27, Hanoi’s kids enjoyed the bubble show by the world famous Vietnamese-Canadian artist Fan Yang, at the Hanoi Friendship Palace.
Fan Yang is a Canadian bubble artist. He was born in Vietnam in 1962. He has earned international acclaim as a result of his complex displays of bubble theater.
In addition to performing, he has developed his own bubble solution formulas and equipment to create bubbles. Fan Yang has broken bubble-related world records on numerous occasions.
Yang has a show, the “Gazillion Bubble Show,” in New York City, and has staged it elsewhere, including Las Vegas. His wife, Ana Yang, performs the show in his absence.
Let’s see the performance in pictures:

Paintballers fight for the right to have fun | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-30T12:04:00.001-07:00

Paintballers fight for the right to have fun

May 30, 2012

LookAtVietnam – Hiding behind a bamboo wall in the middle of a site pock-marked with piles of sand bags and empty 44-gallon drums, Nguyen Dieu Phuong silently watches someone moving on the other side of the battlefield. She motions to her comrades to advance on the enemy, but to keep under cover to avoid being shot.

Taking cover: The game offers a good chance for players to sharpen their senses and teamwork.

Bullets fly over her head, falling near the drums behind her, breaking into splashes of red paint.
She suddenly takes aim and fires at the figure who cries out, “Deadman!” and a man stands up and silently walks off the battlefield.
This is not a real battle or a military training exercise, it’s a paintball game at a newly established club in Ha Noi.
“I really sweat from crawling, running, hiding and attacking,” Phuong said after the game, wiping the sweat from her face with her sleeve.
“When the game starts I feel the stress and tensions of a soldier in battle but at the same time it’s really fun.”
Nguyen Huu Minh, a frequent player with his friends at weekends, said the game was good for physical training.
“It offers a good chance for players to sharpen their creativity, senses and teamwork,” he said. “It’s good to experience the role of a soldier for sometime in our life.”
Club managing member Do Manh Dung told Viet Nam News that the “battlefield” covered an area of 12,000sq.m, which could host up to 100 players at a time.
A game could be made up from four to dozens of players.
Dung said the game had attracted not only family members and friends but also colleagues at companies, as a team building activity, with an average throughput of 600 a day, though peak times were at weekends and holidays.
“The club has co-operated with the Ministry of National Defence to maintain safety at the site, through tight rules that cover the construction of the paint ‘bullets’ and protective clothing,” he said.

Group mentality: The game has attracted not only families and friends, but also groups of colleagues from companies as a team-building activity. â VNS File Photos

“The weakest part of the players when wearing their protective gear is the back of the neck. That’s why the participants are not allowed to shoot at the back of someone’s neck. Even at a distance of 3m, the players are encouraged to take the enemy alive.”
Dung said a normal player used at least 50 “bullets” in a battle, which lasted 45 minutes on average.
The club’s eight referees guided players on how to shoot, wear protection clothing, hide and attack as well as how to control the battle to keep it fair and safe.
The scenarios could include rescuing hostages, he said.
The game was introduced in Viet Nam in 2009. The Ha Noi Paintball Club, on Thang Long Highway, is the first of its kind in the north; there have been several others in HCM City and Nha Trang.
Vu Quang Huy, a retired soldier who played the game with his sons and friends, admitted it brought back memories and some of the tactics he was able to pass on to his sons, which he rarely could mention in daily life.
“I think some fighting strategies can be applied in solving daily problems,” he said. “That’s why the game is not only fun, it’s a place for the youth to gain problem-solving skills as well.”
Meanwhile, Ngo Thu Ha, a housewife, said she just hoped to lose some weight during the game.
VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Investment needed to restore historical Da Lat cog railway | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-30T11:59:00.001-07:00

Investment needed to restore historical Da Lat cog railway

May 30, 2012

LookAtVietnam – Central provinces of Lam Dong and Ninh Thuan are calling for investment to restore the 84km railway linking the coastal Phan Rang – Thap Cham City in Ninh Thuan Province and the mountainous resort city of Da Lat in Lam Dong Province.

Back track: An historical railway in the mountainous resort city of Da Lat in Lam Dong Province, one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the area, is in need of restoration. â File Photo

The restoration project, which would cost VND5 trillion (US$238 million), was officially approved by the Government in 2007.
The 84km cog railway, built by the French in 1928, was destroyed in the wars and abandoned in the late 1960s. It is one of only two such railways in the world; the other is in Switzerland.
Although it was scheduled to be restored and put into use by 2015, the project is still on paper.
The restoration project is part of the two provinces’ tourism-development plan through 2020.
A portion of the track, 7km between Da Lat and Trai Mat, has been rebuilt and operating for tourism purposes since 1997.
Currently, the station is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Da Lat.
Last year, it received 47,000 passengers.
The Government has allowed the private sector to take part in the re-construction of the railway, as the entire railway will be restored to its original state.
Once finished, the railway is expected to boost tourism in the mountainous and central coastal provinces.
The route, which has five tunnels through mountains, 46 bridges and 14 stations, will be restored for train travel at the speed of 35 to 70km per hour.
VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Historical comic books fascinating young readers in Vietnam | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-30T11:57:00.001-07:00

Historical comic books fascinating young readers in Vietnam

May 30, 2012

LookAtVietnam – Of late, more and more Vietnamese publishing houses are grabbing young readers market with their focus on historical topics via comics and cartoons, making it interesting, entertaining as well as educational for children.

Historical comic books are attracting more and more young readers in Vietnam. (Photo: SGGP)

Their focus on historical topics as theme has won them a bigger market share in Vietnam than their foreign counterparts.
Consider one of Vietnam’s most flourishing private publishers of children’s books, the Phan Thi Educational Media and Entertainment Company, which has brought out a successful series like ‘Than Dong Dat Viet’ (Vietnamese Prodigy), ‘Ngay Xua Ngay Xua’ (Once upon a time), ‘Truyen Hay Su Viet’ (Interesting stories from Vietnamese history), and ‘Danh Tac Viet Nam’ (Vietnam’s masterpieces).

This summer, the company will release more comic books in the series ‘Danh Tac Viet Nam’, which will include ‘Chiec Luoc Nga’ (The Ivory Comb), ‘Chi Pheo’, ‘Chi Dau’, and ‘Giong To’ (The Storm). These will aid young students to understand more thoroughly the original masterpieces in their academic year.
Kim Dong Publisher, a leader in children’s books for 55 years, will have the most number of historical titles this summer. They are planning to reprint their most popular historical books such as ‘Dao Hoang’ (Desert Island), ‘Nha Chu’ (Chu Dynasty), and ‘Chuyen No Than’ (Story of the Magical Bow) by To Hoai; ‘Tren Song Truyen Hich’ (Transmitting Orders on the River), ‘Ben Bo Thien Mac’ (On the Thien Mac River), and ‘Trang Nuoc Chuong Duong’ (Chuong Duong River on a Full Moon Night) by Ha An; ‘La Co Theu Sau Chu Vang’ (Flag with 6 Gold Letters) by Nguyen Huy Tuong; ‘Sao Khue Lap Lanh’ (Twinkling Morning Star) by Nguyen Duc Hien; ‘Sung Ruou The’ (Wine of Oath in a Horn) by Nghiem Da Van.
During the summer, Kim Dong Publisher will also introduce new historical comic titles in two series ‘Bac Ho Song Mai’ (Uncle Ho forever) and ‘Cac Vi Vua Hien’ (Benevolent Kings).
Historical and cultural topics have gradually become favourite choices of not only parents but also children. Comments on the website www.webtretho.com, a popular forum for parents in Vietnam, shows a frustration in adults in selecting suitable books for their children, since they are not sure which titles have violent or sexual content.
Therefore, books about history and culture are always warmly welcomed, as they are both entertaining as well as educational.
Moreover, with a careful investment in their illustrations and content, publishers are now able to attract more young readers to buy historical comics. With books that need more accuracy such as ‘Cac Vi Vua Hien’, they refer to the well-known ‘Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu’ (Complete History of Vietnam) published in 1998 by Social Sciences Publishing House. Meanwhile, other books that can be adapted for young readers are written by authors themselves.
Nguyen Quang Sang, author of ‘Chiec Luoc Nga’, commented that the comic version of his work had many new details, yet he did not distort the real message he needed to convey. On the contrary, his interpretation was far livelier and clearer, which would leave a strong impression on readers.
The publishing of more historical titles these days has contributed a great deal to filling the knowledge gap in young students in both the fields of history and literature, normally considered boring subjects at school.
VietNamNet/SGGP

Anti-virus service launched | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-30T11:54:00.001-07:00

Anti-virus service launched

May 30, 2012

One of the country’s top anti-virus software developers, Bach Khoa Antivirus (BKAV), has launched its free online scanning service that allows individuals and companies to better manage security risks on their websites.
Using cloud computing, an online data storage technology, the service allows online-users to detect and evaluate thousands of hacker vulnerabilities and their current security status without installing any software.
According to BKAV’s statistics, six Vietnamese websites see attacks from hackers everyday. More than 2000 websites are hacked annually, causing great damage to the development of domestic companies.
According to Nguyen Minh Duc, director of BKAV’s Security Division, the first seven months of testing, the service saw 1,063 registrations for the new BKAV product.
More than 70 per cent of the registered websites saw security holes and risks after an initial scan.
The service is provided at BKAV’s website: webscan.bkav.com. BKAV is one of the first three antivirus software producers including McAfee and Comodo to provide a free online scanning service.
VNA

Backpacking Cambodia

2012-05-29T22:52:00.002-07:00

Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the largest city in Cambodia and the nation's capital, and although it was liberated from the Khmer Rouge in 1979, it still has a long way to go to completely recover from that period. Many of the roads are in disrepair with constant traffic problems. However, traffic lights are slowly making an appearance, and a few more high rise building are built every year alongside the old neglected French colonial buildings.
There are pleasant places to visit along the waterfront where you can eat in one of the several restaurants, all reasonably priced. As with most Asian countries the streets are notorious for dangerous driving amid dust and pavement thieves.
If you feel like seeing a bit of Phnom Penh's sordid history, you can visit the killing fields where an estimate of 20,000 mass grave sites contain around 1.7 to 2.5 million victims attributed to the policies of the Khmer Rouge. Over 1.3 million deaths are blamed on Pol Pot and the rest of the deaths from disease and starvation under the regime. Millions of bones and skulls that were removed from the mass graves are available should you wish to see them.
A prison called S-12, which used to be a high school, shows movies of the old regime containing interviews with survivors and guards. This venue was used by the Khmer Rouge to torture and kill over 20,000 people.
Sihanoukville
To reach Sihanoukville you take a bus from Phnom Penh. The journey is about 3 or 4 hours, but it is worth it for the beach and facilities. For the length of the beach there are hostels, guesthouses, bars and restaurants where you can chat with fellow countrymen and drink cold beer. There is diving here and you can hire the necessary equipment, but unfortunately the underwater visibility is poor and lacks sufficient sea life to make it interesting.
Siem Reap/Angkor Wat
Tourist and residents travel from all over SE Asia to visit the Angkor Wat. The closest town is Siem Reap and apart from a market in the middle of town, there is little else of interest. The market sells souvenirs, clothes and you can get food there, but most people like to head over to Bar Street, which, surprise, surprise contains a row of bars. And it's a good place to meet fellow travelers to chew the fat.
The Angkor Wat is an amazing spectacle and worth going to Cambodia just for this sight. There is one or three day passes, and it is recommended you visit in time to see the sunrise over the temples. This is a scene that will remain in your memory for years to come.
You will love Cambodia; it has a charm you won't find anywhere else. The people are sweet and the food amazing. Everywhere the cheap prices will astound you, and you will leave Cambodia with a definite plan to visit again.

Hello this is Jonathan, The best way to avoid any backpacking problems is to adopt the boy scouts motto and be prepared. Visit my website to see more information on all types of backpacking adventures. http://backpacking essentials plus.com an article that may interest you is Around the world backpacking

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NUDE Mother and Daughter to keep land

2012-05-29T15:44:00.001-07:00

Can Tho: Mother and daughter are nude to keep their land

VietNamNet Bridge – Ms. Pham Thi Lai, 52, and her daughter, 33, took off their clothes in order to prevent a construction company from taking her land for its project.

On May 22, Ms. Lai and her daughter did not wear clothes--to prevent workers of Construction JS Company No. 8 from implementing the Hung Phu residential area project on their land, which was revoked.

The company’s guards appeared and dragged the woman and her daughter at mid-noon.

The case was reported to the authorities of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Loi, Vice Party Secretary of Can Tho said on May 28 that the city would solve the case properly. The construction company was also criticized for their rough behavior against Ms. Lai and her daughter.

In 2005, the Construction JS Company No. 8 offered Ms. Lai’s family with nearly VND300 million ($18,000) to buy their land, but this family did not agree. In 2010, the company raised compensation to VND1.2 billion ($60,000) but the family still did not accept.

In December 2011, the land was revoked by force. Lai’s husband attempted suicide by insecticide to protest, but he was saved.

Ngoc Anh

Vietnamese, foreign singers heat MTV Exit 2012

2012-05-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

Vietnamese, foreign singers heat MTV Exit 2012

May 29, 2012

LookAtVietnam – Tens of thousands of fans were enthusiastic with the MTV EXIT 2012 show at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium on May 26.

Addressing the event, US Ambassador David Shear conveyed the message of joining hands to fight human trafficking.
The show started with the MTV EXIT 2012 exclusive song performed by local singers namely Kimese, Karik, To Minh Duc and Quang Thang.
It was followed by performances of rapper Karik, rocker Tran Lap, Australian alternative pop singer Kate Miller-Heidke, and the Republic of Korean band Brown Eyes Girls.
The highlight of the show was the passionate songs of the leading rock band Simple Plan.
The band also shared the stage with top Vietnamese female singer My Tam.

The two hosts: Tran Thanh and Doan Trang (right)

US Ambassador David B. Shear.

Kate Miller Heidke

The Wall

Brown Eyed Girls

My Tam

My Tam and Simple Plan.

Simple Plan

After the show.

US Defense Secretary to visit Vietnam next month | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-27T20:20:00.001-07:00

US Defense Secretary to visit Vietnam next month

May 27, 2012

The US Secretary of Defense Leon Edward Panetta will arrive in Vietnam next month during his tour of Asia, which begins on May 30.
Panetta’s two-day visit to Vietnam will follow theÂ Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the Department of DefenseÂ announced on Tuesday.
The Shangri-La Dialogue is a security forum held annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, an international think tank.

The meeting is typicallyÂ attended by defense ministers and military chiefs from 28 Asia-Pacific states. The forum is named after the Shangri-La Hotel where it has been held since 2002.
Panetta,Â 74, became the 23rd AmericanÂ Defense SecteratyÂ last July.Â Prior to that, he served asÂ Bill Clinton’s Chief of StaffÂ and President Obama’s Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
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By Nguyen Phong, Thanh Nien News

Cases of HFMD in Vietnam increase more than tenfold year on year | Look At Vietnam

2012-05-27T20:18:00.001-07:00

Cases of HFMD in Vietnam increase more than tenfold year on year

May 27, 2012

A child being treated for hand, foot, mouth disease at a hospital.

The number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in Vietnam is 10.2 times higher over the first five months of 2012 than it wasÂ for the same period last year.
According to the Ministry of Health’s report on Friday, 46,277 HFMD cases have been recorded across Vietnam since the beginning of this year.
Twenty-seven deaths have also been reported, 1.7 times more than last year,Â it said.
The ministryÂ noted that cases with serious complications concerning heart andÂ brain function, as well as the respiratory system have been reported at major hospitals including the Hanoi-based National Hospital of Pediatrics and the Ho Chi Minh City-based Children Hospital I.

It is also taking the disease less time to become serious and turn deadly.
It said a patient whoÂ did not display the symptoms associated with HFMD, such as blisters and fevers,Â ended up havingÂ HFMD whenÂ herÂ condition worsened and tests were conducted, according to the ministry.
Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien, chief of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said his agency is cooperating with the National University of Singapore to study the Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes most HFMD cases in Vietnam, to see if it is mutating.
The institute will also ask the ministry for permission to cooperate with China in conducting human trials of the EV-71 vaccination produced by that country, Hien said.

By Nam Son, Thanh Nien News