Dong Tho was known for a special job “exchanging hair for candy” in the past. At present,
processing hair for export is the job of many families there.

Mr. Do Van Thu, the manager of a hair processing enterprise in Dong Tho, says: “We go to
Saigon and even Laos and Cambodia to buy hair. We hire workers to comb, clean and make
curls of hair to export to China. We sell from 6-7 tons of hair monthly.”

Dong Tho’s people purchase all kinds of hair, from black to white hair, short to long hair.
They even buy loose hair and hair of men from hairdressing salons.

Ms. Tan, a hair buyer, says: “I usually go to hairdressing salons to buy ruffled hair. Though
this kind of hair is dirty but it yields higher profit than men’s hair.”

Hair is combed with spike-boards and big combs. 

After being combed, hair is cleaned and divided into curls. Each curl weighs around two
hundred grams. A curl of hair is priced at least VND500,000 ($25). Hair is used to make wigs,
artificial eyelashes, artificial beard, etc.

“I work from 7am to 4.30pm. I’m paid VND100,000 ($5) a day, plus lunch.
My income is not high but this job is stable,” says Ms. Sinh, 45.
According to Asinh, a Chinese hair trader, Vietnamese hair is the most beautiful
because the hair is black, smooth, with thick strands. Such kind of hair can be
treated freely with chemicals, without becoming thinner.

Collecting and processing hair for export has become a good job for local people in the
last ten years, says Do Van Kien, a local official.

source from: vietnamnet

Students are starting to study less common foreign languages

The 10 scholarships for the summer training courses in Thailand offered every year are the main reason that prompted Nguyen Kim Phuong, a student of the German language faculty of the Hanoi University, to start learning Thai language.

Phuong complained that she meets so many difficulties with the learning. The textbooks used for teaching and learning are just photocopied versions, while reference books and dictionaries could not be found at libraries and bookstores. As very few people are learning Thai, Phuong cannot find anyone to consult with every time when she has problems with the learning.

She said she sometimes feels disappointed with the learning and intends to give up the hard work.

Vu Hoang Quan, a Spanish Language Faculty’s student of the Hanoi University, is learning Italian language, because he loves Italian football, Italian culture. Quan believes that he has aptitude for foreign languages, but he admits that he usually mistakes Spanish for Italian words.

When learning Italian, Quan also meets a lot of big challenges. Lacking materials and the environment to practice skills are the two biggest problems. Having the Latin letter system, but the complexity of Portuguese grammar has made many young learners puzzled.

Though facing so many difficulties, young people believe that they would have more opportunities to find good jobs, if they have fluent foreign language skills. Therefore, a lot of students now rush to enroll in less common foreign language faculties. Especially, no high requirements have been set up for the students to the faculties, while the learning of the foreign language has been encouraged.

The Hanoi University, the biggest foreign language school in Vietnam, enrolls students for 10 foreign language faculties. Students need to have 21 marks from the university entrance exams at least to be able to obtain a seat at the faculties. Meanwhile, the University of Foreign Languages, an arm of the Hanoi National University, requires 22 marks.

Foreign language schools in Vietnam all have opened their doors widely to the learners of less common foreign languages. However, local newspapers still have quoted head hunting companies as saying that the workers who can speak the foreign languages fluently are seriously lacking in all business fields.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), by May 2011, Vietnam had had 5272 international tour guides having practice cards. Of this amount, only 171 tour guides speaking less common languages, including Spanish, Thai, Italian, Lao, Bulgarian, Indonesian, Romanian and Hungarian.

Tran Hai Yen, the lecturer of the Portuguese Language Faculty of the Hanoi University, has affirmed that those, who can speak Portuguese, now have the chances to find good jobs. The military telecom company Viettel, for example, is expanding its business to Mozambique, therefore, it needs the staff who can speak Portuguese.

Viettel regularly asks the school to introduce the Portuguese speakers to the company. Therefore, the school is considering increasing the number of students to the faculty by 20 students this year.

Pham Van Kim, MA, from the Hanoi National University, has affirmed that in the context of the global integration, students would have more opportunities to get jobs if they have foreign language skills. Kim said that Arab language skills would be a big advantage for the students who want to work for state agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security or Ministry of National Defense.

source from: dtinews

Da Nang International Fireworks Competition 2012 (DIFC) officially kicked off at 8:20pm on Sunday with the participation of four champions Canada (2008), China (2009), France (2010), Italy (2011) and host Da Nang – Vietnam.

The annual contest adds a joyous atmosphere to the 37th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30) and May Day.

It began with a stunning performance “Lighting up night” by the Canadian team, featuring the beauty of Han River, landscape and active night life in the central city.

As 9:35, host Vietnam conducted marvelous fireworks displays to the traditional songs amid the cheers and applause of many people.

As 22:15, Chinese team, the champion in 2009, told a fairy tale through their fireworks display, capturing the hearts of many viewers.

French and Italian teams will show their talents tonight – April 30.

The Da Nang International Fireworks Competition first started in 2008. This event has attracted huge attention of tourists and TV viewers at home and abroad.

Fireworks displays by Canadian team

Fireworks display by by hosts Da Nang – Vietnam

Fireworks displays by Chinese team 

source from: tuoitrenews

The coconut tree has become the symbol of the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre.

Therefore, indigenous dishes from the province often bear the sweetness and flavor of its specialty such as coconut candy, coconut leave cake, coconut sweet soup, steamed fish with coconut water and fried mushroom with coconut.

One of the specialties that must be mentioned is coconut rice served with fried shrimp with coconut water.

To make the coconut rice is simple. Peel off the cover and extract the water. After washing the rice through, put it together with coconut water, then cook it until the rice is done.

Fresh shrimps bought from the market must be cleaned; their heads and tails cut off and then put in a pot with coconut extract, put it on a small fire and add main spices. The dish will be done when the shrimps turn red and the flavor overwhelms the kitchen.

source from: tuoitrenews

 

Director of IDS Pham Dinh Nguyen, who has won the bid to buy Buford town to become the new mayor of the land, said that he still does not have any concrete business idea with the newly bought assets. However, he would use the town as a springboard to expand his business in the US.

Also according to Nguyen, of the amount of 900,000 dollars he has to pay for the town, he has just deposited 100,000 dollars he borrowed from the relatives in the US. The remaining sum of 800,000 dollars needs to be paid within the next 30 days.

However, it’s still unclear how Nguyen would arrange money to make payment. It would be difficult for Nguyen to remit money from Vietnam abroad, no matter Nguyen buys the assets for himself or for his company.

Lawyer Chu Khang from the Hanoi Law Office said that in case Nguyen buys the land to serve the company’s business plan, he would have to submit the investment project to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and seek the approval from the ministry. After that, he needs to obtain permission from the State Bank of Vietnam to allow Nguyen to transfer money abroad to implement the project.

The money remittance must be carried out via banks to ensure the respect to the Vietnamese and US laws.

However, a source from the Ministry of Planning and Investment has affirmed that the ministry has not received any applications relating to the investment in Buford town in the US.

The source said that if Nguyen, after obtaining the right to buy the town, his enterprise shows documents to the state management agencies and follow necessary procedures on making an outward investment, he would not violate the laws.

However, the source said, if Nguyen only has 30 days to make payment, while he still has not drawn up the investment project, the appraisal and licensing procedures would be complicated.

In fact, the fact that Vietnamese citizens possess foreign lands is not a surprise at all. A lot of Vietnamese people are now the owners of the properties in the US. However, the Vietnamese buyers have always been facing problems in money transfer for making payment.

Lawyer Khang said that Vietnamese laws now only allow individuals to transfer money abroad to serve their study, healthcare, business trips, tourism, to assist relatives, or transfer inherited assets. Even in these cases, the sums of money they can remit abroad would be limited. Especially, they have to submit all necessary documents to prove their legal purposes.

However, to date, there has been no regulation on the money remittance for the investments in the real estate sector.

In Vietnam, people have become familiar to another remittance channel, an unofficial way, with which remitters have to pay high fees of 3-4 percent of the total values. However, analysts believe that this would not be a good choice, because the US agencies always keep strict supervision on the sources of money remittance to fight against the money laundering.

If Nguyen makes payment with the money of the relatives in the US, he would not have to go through the complicated procedures for the money remittance, the source from the Ministry of Planning and Investment said.

Alan Phan, an economist, believes that buying US land is a good choice now, when the properties in the US now have very attractive prices.

source from: vietnamnet

Kate Moss in the photo shoot entitled “Good morning Vietnam” on Vogue 1996.

Kate Moss and a Vietnamese old man.

She took photos with a conical hat, cyclo, bicycle,
hammock, etc. which are very “Vietnamese.”

Kate Moss with Vietnamese primary students.

Kate Moss on a motorbike with Vietnamese model Ngo My Uyen.

She was very young, at the age of 21.

She traveled on Saigon streets by cyclo.

Playing with kids.

Taking a picture in front of posters advertising Vietnamese movies.

She wore a conical hat and sat on a mother-of-pearl inlaid chair.

In an old house.

source from: vietnamnet

Thanh Hang, a well-known local model, has stirred a public debate after she smoked during a recent catwalk performance.

At the Elle Spring Summer 2012 Fashion Show last week at the Ho Chi Minh City Zoo, Hang, who walked as the leading model for the collection by designer Do Manh Cuong, stunned audiences watching the show by smoking during her time on the stage.

In explaining the act, designer Do Manh Cuong said Hang’s smoking was an expression for the collection’s concept of the lonely and desperate mood of a young girl who broke up with her boyfriend.

“It was just an e-cigarette, not a real one. It was only a tool to transfer the artistic concept of the collection to audiences,” Cuong added.

Though many audience members agreed that the smoking made the catwalk more fanciful, the incident has still raised eyebrows among the public.

Vo Van Nam, vice director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism said that at the rehearsal before the show, Hang did not smoke. The managing agency only learned of the incident after news about it was posted.

He added that the cigarette was not a real one, though the audience was nonetheless shocked by the image of a model smoking on a catwalk.

He also expressed the concern that the incident could be a precedent for bringing banned goods into art performances.

According to Nam, although tobacco products are on the list of goods banned from advertising, the department has been confused by the case, since it needs time to consider if smoking on a catwalk is advertising.

Artists should be aware of how their actions affect the community, Nam said. “If they violate the law, for example by showing their body on a catwalk, they will be fined.”

In March, the culture department fined local model Thai Ha VND5 million for exposing most of her breasts in a skimpy outfit at an advertising event.

Earlier, Quang Binh Province’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism announced a VND3.5 million fine against the organizer of the “Night of Beauties” charity music show, in which many performers were criticized for donning skimpy costumes last August.

source from: tuoitrenews

A National Assembly deputy of Long An Province, Dang Thi Hoang Yen, is under investigation about her record since she has not included in her profile any information about her husband, Jimmy Tran, a Vietnamese-American who is wanted by police for fraud.

Nguyen Thi Nuong, head of the NA’s Committee for Deputies’ Affairs, told Tuoi Tre that “some issues related to Yen are being examined, and we have yet to reach a final conclusion, which will depend on the results of the investigation by concerned agencies.”

“The progress of the investigation is slow, and I personally feel anxious for the results,” Nuong said.

An official from the committee who wished to remain anonymous said, “At the second session of the NA, we reported the results of an investigation of some of the issues related to Yen, and we are examining the remaining issues as well as new ones recently raised by the media. I hope that every issue will be clarified at the upcoming NA session.”

Last year, at a press conference held on November 26, Nguyen Hanh Phuc, chairman of the NA Office, said that the results from an investigation of certain issues related to the accusations against Yen showed that “there were no problems”, and that the office requested that concerned agencies worked to clarify the remaining issues.

Vo Le Tuan, chairman of the Long An Province Fatherland Front Committee, said that when the agency took part in consultative meetings related to Yen’s candidacy for the NA election that was held in May 2011 it did not know that Yen had a husband who was wanted by the police.

“Little information about her husband and children was included in her profile. It is likely that the provincial Interior Department had verified her personal details and then concluded that she was eligible to be a NA candidate,” Tuan told Tuoi Tre.

Sources show that Yen only declared in her profile that her husband was Nguyen Tri Hai, who died in 1989, and did not mention her current husband, Jimmy Tran, from whom she sought a divorce by filing a petition to the Long An Province’ People’s Court in July 2010. She recently withdrew the petition after the court’s verdict on the divorce case was cancelled.

Lawyer Bui Quang Nghiem, deputy chairman of the HCMC Bar, said, “As a rule, every NA candidate must undergo a process of close scrutiny about their personal details and personality before they can be recognized as qualified candicates.

Therefore, the fact that someone could say that they did not clearly know about Yen’s profile, even when they took part in consultative meetings, means that agencies in charge of verification of NA candidates have not fulfilled their duties and responsibilities.”

Dang Thi Hoang Yen speaks at a meeting with voters in Duc Hue District, Long An Province in late 2011 (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

Complicated divorce case

Several days ago in the latest development in a prolonged and complicated divorce case, Yen, 53, chairwoman of the Management Board of the Tan Tao Investment and Industry Corporation, withdrew her application for divorce with Jimmy Tran, 57.

Yen filed a divorce petition to the Long An Province People’s Court in early July 2010, and while the divorce case was being processed, Jimmy left Vietnam for the US on July 5, 2010.

On September 16, the Ministry of Public Security prosecuted Jimmy for “abusing trust to appropriate assets” when he was general director of Vietnam Urban Development Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Land), located in the Tan Duc Industrial park in Long An Province.

On October 6, 2010, in Jimmy’s absence Judge Le Van Lam presided over the divorce case and announced that all the assets listed in the agreement belonged to Yen, except US$50,000 in cash that would be given to the husband.

Lam later issued a 9-page verdict for the case but a short time later, at Yen’s request, he issued another one, which is one page longer, to include additional comments from the court about the case.

On January 20, 2011, the provincial Procuracy protested both verdicts, proposing that the Supreme People’s Court cancel the two verdicts and return the case file to the Long An court for a re-trial.

Yen later appealed the protest to the Supreme People’s Procuracy, which later directed the provincial prosecutor’s office to revoke its protest in February 2011. However, the Supreme People’s Court decided to cancel the two verdicts in late 2011.

Regarding its protest, the provincial Procuary told Tuoi Tre that it was due to the fact that the local court had seriously violated civil procedures in hearing and issuing such verdicts for the divorce case.

When asked why the prosecutor’s office later revoked the protest, Dinh Van Sang, head of the Procuracy, said the move was made under the direction of the Supreme People’s Procuracy. He emphasized that his agency has until now affirmed that the protest is correct.

With such developments related to the divorce case, Yen and Jimmy are judicially still in a martial relationship and all the assets created by them remain under the ownership of both, said lawyer Nghiem.

source from: tuoitrenews

“There have been many questions (about the ban), but this is stated in the law. Only investors who accept it can be let in,” he said.

Vinh said casinos can help attract more foreign tourists and boost economic growth, but they have to be managed well to make sure locals do not participate in gambling.

Chairman Sheldon Adelson of Las Vegas Sands, the operator of a casino in Singapore, has told local media that the company is interested in exploring opportunities in Vietnam.

The northern province of Quang Ninh last month announced that it was seeking investment for a US$4 billion casino and resort complex.
Vinh said the project proposal is being reviewed by several ministries and a final decision has not been made. However, he said many officials were in favor of the project.
source from: thanhniennews

With his Cameroonian striker Christian Nsi out through suspension, Saigon FC coach Lu Dinh Tuan played midfielder Geoffrey Kizito but the Ugandan did not play very well with the result that strikers Huynh Alves Kesley and Antonio Carlos got few good balls.

Saigon now have 19 points while their home win lifted Ninh Binh (15) by three places to sixth.

Mekong Delta team Dong Thap fought to achieve a goalless draw at home at the Cao Lanh Stadium with 2003-04 champs Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Dong Thap slid one place to 11th while Hoang Anh Gia Lai remained in fifth.

Earlier, on Saturday, 2010 champs Hanoi T&T drew 1-1 away with Khanh Hoa at Nha Trang Stadium to remain in second but with the same 19 points as the leaders. Khanh Hoa slid to eighth place.

Thanh Hoa and hosts Kien Giang finished scoreless and remained in 12th and 13th places in the 14-team league.

Hai Phong are stuck at the bottom with six points after a 0-1 home defeat to 2007-08 champions Binh Duong, who climbed one place to third with 17 points.

On Friday Navibank Saigon jumped two places to ninth after a 3-1 home win at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City over the 2009 champs Da Nang, who slid to fourth with 16 points.

Hanoi FC and reigning champs Song Lam Nghe An both slid one place to 10th and seventh after a scoreless draw at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium.
source from: thanhniennews