This article was jointly written by Neil Nguyen and Isabella Nga Lai. Looking at my mom's old school pictures, (I) Isabella was inspired to write this article about one of the key essence of Vietnamese culture: the Ao Dai. Coincidentally, Neil also did a write-up about the ao dai so we decided to combine our two pieces into this story today. The beauty and gracefulness of … [Read more...] about Áo Dài: History and Significance in Vietnamese Culture
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Officials Jailed in an Adoption Scam
Sixteen health and charity officials in northern Nam Dinh province were tried for getting involved in an adoption scam. Six of them were sentenced to jail terms of two to five and a half years; the other ten were were on suspended sentences of fifteen to eighteen months. These officials were accused of receiving babies from mothers with unwanted pregnancies, assembling false … [Read more...] about Officials Jailed in an Adoption Scam
Typhoon Ketsana Devastates Philippines, Vietnam
Floods caused by Typhoon Ketsana have killed 246 people in the Philippines, and that number is expected to rise according to officials. The Typhoon has caused the heaviest rain in over 40 years in the Philippines and reaches wind speed of around 120km per hour. To put into perspective, Stephen Anderson, the United Nations World Food Program's country director in Manila, … [Read more...] about Typhoon Ketsana Devastates Philippines, Vietnam
Grass-skiing: the newest sport in Vietnam
Think you can't ski in a tropical country? You're wrong again. Grass-skiing is the newest sport that has just recent sprung up in Vietnam - a country where conventional skiing and snowboarding is virtually non-existent. With 20,000 VND ($1.50), you are entitled to a grass-sled and a push down from the local employee. The sled speeds up to 40km/hr (25mph) on the slightly steep … [Read more...] about Grass-skiing: the newest sport in Vietnam
UN to Review Vietnam’s Human Rights Report
Vietnam’s human rights record is scheduled to be reviewed for official approval at a Thursday plenary session of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council in Switzerland. The review is part of a regular process it conducts every four years. The Southeast Asian nation is one of 192 member states of the UN to go through the Universal Periodic Review which is a new mechanism of … [Read more...] about UN to Review Vietnam’s Human Rights Report