Xin chao!

  Terry F. Buss Updated : 07/25/2014 10:41 GMT + 7   Riders stop their motorbikes and bicyles on a zebra crossing Rule 1. As a pedestrian, never look drivers in the eye and never smile. Not only does this cause the driver to lose concentration, but it can also be interpreted as a challenge, in this case presumably to the death. It also means you’re likely afraid: drivers, like tigers, can smell your fear. Rule 2. For the beginning crosswalk experience, try to find a child or elderly person to walk with. All Vietnamese children are cute, so no one is likely to run them down. Elderly people are the best choice though: if they’ve survived crossing the street for years and are still alive, they must know something. Do not force the young or the old to cross with you as Vietnamese frown on this behaviour. There is nothing worse than an irate grannie. Rule 3. Try waiting around until a large group of people are about to cross the ...

Tuoi Tre News Updated : 07/21/2014 15:05 GMT + 7    There is debate brewing among expats in Vietnam over the recent proposed prohibition on the sale of liquor between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am the following day. Ben Robinson from the UK is skeptical about the health effects brought about by the possible prohibition. “The health effects of closing at 10:00 pm will be bad because it makes people drink more during the evening, then leave the bars drunk at the same time,” said Ben, adding that: “It might also cause violence and major problems for police.” According to the British expat, the UK government used to implement a law that prohibited pubs and bars from selling alcohol after 11:00 pm. However, the ban was not effective and the government changed the law a few years ago to allow bars and pubs to be open 24 hours a day. The new law still remains controversial due to the perceived increase in potential for binge drinking...

Tuoi Tre News Updated : 07/19/2014 14:42 GMT + 7  The Ministry of Health has suggested banning the sales of beer and alcohol after 10:00pm in the draft law on the prevention of ill effects of alcoholic beverages in the community. It suggests banning alcohol sale between 10:00pm and 6:00am in the following morning. However, ideas have claimed that it is infeasible to carry out the ban. Nguyen Huy Quang, head of the legal department of the Ministry of Health, admitted that it is acceptable to establish a limit but authorities are studying measures to make the ban more effective if it is approved by the law-making National Assembly. Last year, the traffic police department in Ho Chi Minh City proposed to ban the sale of beer after 10:00pm. However, it was not supported then by the city’s authorities. Vietnam has a heavy consumption of beer and alcohol and the amount has been increasing year after year. In 2013, Vietnam consumed ove...

Tuoitrenews Updated : 07/19/2014 11:05 GMT + 7  The English version of a series on Vietnamese cuisine and tourism, hosted by famed Chinese American chef Martin Yan, will air on American television starting September 2014. “Martin Yan--Taste of Vietnam,” a 26-episode series, is set to air on KQED, PBS and APT on more than 300 stations across the US starting Sept 6. The show is airing after a 2-year negotiation process. It aims to promote Vietnamese culinary delights and destinations to the world. Launched in Vietnam in mid-2013, the show features Yan travelling to 15 provinces and cities across the country: Hanoi, Lao Cai, and Ninh Binh in the north; Da Nang, Hue, and Nha Trang in the central region; and Ho Chi Minh City, Tien Giang and Can Tho in the south. Yan explores and features particular places of interest, intriguing cuisine and culture. The show has been broadcast on the Asian Food Channel (AFC) in addition...

Cafe Tuong Address: 152/9 Thanh Thai street, Ward 12, District 10     (http://ione.vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/nhip-song/ba-lo/quan-xa/quan-ca-phe-lam-tu-do-bo-di-khien-teen-me-tit-3010160.html)

A Vietnamese man has created a fresco that depicts Da Lat’s tourist destinations with basalt, a natural resource prevalent in the area. Trinh Ba Dung, 42, has carved replicas of many of Da Lat City’s famous buildings—such as Con Ga (Rooster) Church, Da Lat Railway and Da Lat Pedagogy College—into basalt along the walls of a 1.2km-long, 6m-deep tunnel.   Known as a romantic resort town, Da Lat is the capital of Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands. The sculptures are featured at the Dat Do Tourism Complex, owned by Sao Da Lat Co., which is located on a hill near Tuyen Lam Lake. Also carved in the walls are replicas of houses built by Lach and Co Ho ethnic minorities, the city’s native residents. Their daily lives are vividly depicted on the walls, alongside familiar trees, houses and fruits. Many tourists consider the complex a guide to Da Lat, as the tunnel illustrates every aspect of the resort town. The tu...

Bach Ma national park is about 40KM from Hue city, Thua Thien Hue province. From the national park's gate to the top of Bach Ma mountain is 16KM. Take about 45 minutes by car.  Pictures and Vietnamese text: Pham Quang Tuan (http://dulich.vnexpress.net/photo/anh-video/ve-dep-nhu-tranh-cua-nui-rung-bach-ma-3002712.html )

The Vietnamese team of six high school students won three gold medals, two silvers and a bronze at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held in Cape Town, South Africa from July 3 to 13. The news was announced on Saturday by the exam department under the Ministry of Education and Training. Three gold medalists include Tran Hong Quan from Thai Binh High School in northern Thai Binh Province, Pham Tuan Huy from the special high school math training class of the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, and Nguyen The Hoan from the special high school math training class of the Vietnam National University - Hanoi. Vuong Nguyen Thuy Dung from Le Quy Don High School in central Da Nang City and Ho Quoc Dang Hung from the special high school math training class of the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City grabbed two silver medals. The bronze medal went to Nguyen Huy Tung from Tran Phu High School in northern Hai Phong Ci...

Picture: Dinh Van Tuan Anh (http://nhipdoi.tuoitre.vn/trang/chi-tiet?id=4824#.U8IH86IUegI) Ha Giang karst plateau global geopark: http://vietnamguidebook.blogspot.com/2012/08/ha-giang.html

Stivi Cooke Updated : 07/12/2014 12:03 GMT + 7   Cua Dai beach, Hoi An town. Pictures: Vietnamuidebook Every so often I get asked by locals, “Stivi, why do you stay in Vietnam?” It happens so frequently that I wonder if they just want to hear, “Because it’s great!” Well, we do know and love our little slice of Vietnamese heaven, don’t we? If you were to browse Facebook, you would get the impression there’s an amazing number of expats living here in Vietnam who absolutely hate the place. Every petty bad habit of the Vietnamese culture is nit-picked, argued about, insulted, joked about, examined and abused. Yet there isn’t a conga line of expats heading for the airport shouting, “So long! And thanks for the beer!” The culture is exhausting. Mad traffic, no sense of time, lousy table service, constant headaches as plans are changed, forgotten and cancelled and the classic, ever prevalent wedding-karaoke-death in the family-shop opening music to contend ...