Bye, WHALE! Vietnamese fishermen gathered by the thousands to give a royal funeral and farewell to a gigantic dead whale. The whale was floating lifeless 26 miles off the coast yesterday before it was spotted. Ten boats full of fishermen spent a day hauling it ashore. The whale is referred to as "ngai" ("Your Excellency") which has an honorific translation used only when … [Read more...] about Farewell, Whale!
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Vietnam Announces Participation in 2010 Earth Hour
On Thursday, Vietnam officially announced its participation in World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) 2010 Earth Hour Campaign for the second time. WWF's Earth Hour Campaign raises awareness and addresses global warming issues. Earth Campaign urges participants to simply switch off a bulb for one hour on March 27th for energy conservation. In 2009, Vietnam joined the cause for its … [Read more...] about Vietnam Announces Participation in 2010 Earth Hour
Proposal to Grant Hanoi More Autonomy and Its Implications
A new draft of the Capital Law presented to government officials this week proposes giving authorities in Hanoi more power; citizens of the capital receive more benefits accompanied by more stringent standards; and violators will be penalized more severely. As reported by Tuoi Tre, the proposal states that laws in Hanoi could differ from that of the central government but would … [Read more...] about Proposal to Grant Hanoi More Autonomy and Its Implications
Vietnam’s Deadly Challenge: Crossing the Street!
In my opinion, Vietnam has the most “amazing” traffic in the world. If you have not had a chance to visit the country before, I could feel very safe to bet $100 that you cannot cross any major street in Saigon or Hanoi by yourself in a 15-minute period. Traffic signs are unclear; not everyone obeys the laws; and there aren’t any laws “set in stone” to follow. Sometimes you … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Deadly Challenge: Crossing the Street!
First Vietnamese American Congressman Visited Vietnam
01.09.2010 – A group of American congressional representatives, including Vietnamese American Congressman Cao Quang Anh Joseph of Louisiana, visited Vietnam last week. Congressman Cao attended a meeting with Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son at the Government Guest House in Hanoi on January 5, 2010. The purpose of the trip was to see firsthand and … [Read more...] about First Vietnamese American Congressman Visited Vietnam