Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao in 44th place on this year’s list, headed by Angela Merkel.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, President and CEO of Vietjet Air, has been listed among the World’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes. She is the only representative of Vietnam and is listed at 44th, up eleven spots against last year.
Forbes estimated the self-made billionaire’s assets at around $2.6 billion, higher than last year’s $1.98 billion.
Ms. Thao is Chairwoman of Sovico Holdings, President and CEO of Vietjet, and Standing Vice Chairwoman of HDBank. She holds a Ph.D in Economic Cybernetics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Credit-Finance.
She successfully listed Vietjet and HDBank on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) in 2017 and 2018. The combined market capitalization of the two companies stands in the billions of dollars and she is now the second richest person on Vietnam’s stock market.
Topping the Forbes list was German Chancellor Angela Merkel, followed by UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, and CEO of General Motors Mary Barra. The first female president of the New York Stock Exchange since it opened in 1792, Ms. Stacey Cunningham, was 27th.
This is Forbes’ 15th annual Top 100 list of the most powerful women in the world, including women in business, finance, media, politics, social / philanthropic / NGOs, and technology.
The annual rankings are based on multiple categories such as asset quality, media exposure, segment, and international influence. According to Executive Vice President Moira Forbes, the women on the list have a wide and direct influence on more than 3 billion people worldwide, with activities in various fields.
Head coach Park Hang-seo lauded and thanked both players and fans as Vietnam convincingly advanced to AFF Cup final. “So after 10 years, we are in the AFF Cup final again. It is a well-deserved reward for the fans, who supported us all the way. And for the players, I want to thank them. They have given their best in this game,” Park Hang-seo said at post-match conference.
Vietnam repeated their first leg score in the second leg semifinal against the Philippines Thursday night in Hanoi, entering the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 with a robust 4-2 aggregate.
Park also stressed the need to remain focused and not get carried away.
“Although we beat Malaysia 2-0 in the group stage, they showed that they have many dangerous attackers. We have to prepare for this carefully. Everyone has to stay focused,” he said.
On the other side, Philippines head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said Vietnam deserved to win this match and had a good chance to win the cup.
“Congratulations to Vietnam because they played too well today. The final between Vietnam and Malaysia will be a great match. Good luck to Vietnam in the final. Your team is the top contender for this year’s AFF Cup,” Eriksson said.
Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, who tapped the first goal in for Vietnam, said he was already looking forward to the final.
“What a great game! We dedicate this victory to the fans. Now we need to rest, eat well and prepare for the final,” Hai said.
Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, who tapped the first goal in for Vietnam, said he was already looking forward to the final.
“What a great game! We dedicate this victory to the fans. Now we need to rest, eat well and prepare for the final,” Hai said.
Hai was named man of the match by Fox Sports, who gave his performance a nine out of ten.
“Another day, another brilliant performance from Nguyen Quang Hai. The midfield maestro has been one of the best performers of the AFF Cup and it showed today. He controlled the midfield and even provided with an attacking outlet at times,” the site gushed.
Vietnam will clash with Malaysia again in the final’s first leg on December 11 at Malaysia’s Bukit Jalil Stadium. The second leg will take place at the My Dinh National Stadium four days later.
Check out stunning photos of the top seven beaches in Vietnam, including Mui Ne in the south and An Bang on the central coast, which named by CNN Travel.
Con Son Island, Con Dao archipelago: A one-hour airplane hop from the southeastern tip of Vietnam, the Con Dao islands sit in turquoise water and offers some of Vietnam’s best diving.| @ From Six Senses Con DaoAmanoi, Vinh Hy: Amanoi, a luxurious off-the-grid Aman resort, offers heart-stopping clifftop views of Vinh Hy Bay and a private sheltered cove of soft sand. | @ Courtesy Amanoi/Aman ResortsAmanoi Beach Club: Six Senses Con Dao, the sole five-star resort on Con Son, boasts one of the most dramatic and exclusive beaches at the foot of a mountain. | @ Courtesy Amanoi/Aman ResortsLong Beach, Phu Quoc Island: Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Long Beach stretches over 12 miles with clear water, soft beige sand and beachfront accommodation that unfurls against a backdrop of languid palms and jungle-cloaked mountains. | @ ShutterstockLong Beach, Phu Quoc Island: Long Beach is actually two beaches — north and south. The latter is home to a few small pearl farms and fishing villages, ideal for solitude-seekers. Party goers should head north. | @ Ralf Tooten/JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & SpaAn Bang, Hoi An: Three miles from the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An, An Bang is surprisingly unpretentious for a beach so close to a major tourist attraction. | @ Hoang Dinh Nam/afp/getty imagesAn Bang, Hoi An: The optimal time to hang out is dry season from March to September, when An Bang’s calm waters are the remedy to blistering Central Coast temperatures. | @ DALE DE LA REY/AFP/AFP/Getty ImagesNha Trang: Perhaps the most famous beach in Vietnam, Nha Trang — in the city of the same name — is four miles of sand, palms and warm water, all of it free and accessible to the public. | @ AFP/Getty ImagesMui Ne: Consistent cross-onshore winds and affordable hotels have turned Mui Ne into the kitesurfing mecca of Southeast Asia. Nearby gigantic red and white sand dunes are great spots outside the tourist strip to catch the sunset. | @ AFP/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Le Diep Kieu Trang will stop working as director of Facebook’s operations in Vietnam from January 1 next year.
On her own Facebook page, Trang, 38, cited “family reasons” for her decision.
Trang, also known as Christy Le, surprised the business community in March when becoming the country director of Facebook in Vietnam.
She told local media back then that she wants to experience a “challenging position.”
She has been in charge of the social network’s business development in Vietnam from its office in Singapore.
Kenneth Bishop, managing director of Facebook in Southeast Asia, said in March that with more than 60 million people using Facebook in Vietnam each month, Facebook is investing in human resources to support the business community and its partners in Vietnam.
With her professional experience, Trang would be able to support companies in Vietnam, he said.
Trang comes from a family with a long business tradition.
Her father, Le Van Tri, is former deputy CEO of The Southern Rubber Industry Joint Stock Company (Casumina), Vietnam’s leading rubber manufacturer, while her brother, Le Tri Thong, is former deputy CEO of Dong A Bank and is currently deputy chairman of Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint-Stock Company (PNJ).
Trang won scholarships to study at Oxford University in England and then Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S.
She previously worked for global management consulting firm McKinsey in the U.S. before joining her husband to found Misfit Wearables, a startup specializing in keeping track of human health and physical activities that attracted investment from John Sculley, former CEO of Apple, and Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing.
Misfit was acquired by Fossil Group for $260 million in 2015, but Trang continued to work as CEO of Fossil Vietnam until early March this year.
In June, Vietnam passed the Cybersecurity Law that enforces tougher conditions on tech businesses like Facebook and Google.
The law says local and foreign digital and tech businesses will have to open a representative office in Vietnam and store users’ data.
Facebook has just lost its throne as a top-rated employer, based on Glassdoor’s 2019 list of the “Best Places to Work.”
After ranking top last year, Facebook now ranks seventh, dropping from a 4.6 to 4.5 award score out of 5.
Glassdoor bases its ranking on eight different of factors, including work/life balance, senior management and compensation and benefits.
On employee satisfaction alone, Facebook has seen a decline from a 4.6 rating in the first quarter to a 4.3 in the last quarter, Glassdoor Community Expert Scott Dobroski told CNBC.
Six former Facebook employees told CNBC they have been receiving increasingly more messages from current Facebook employees looking for a way out.
The European police agency says Spanish authorities have arrested 37 people suspected of belonging to a Vietnamese people-smuggling ring that has earned an estimated 13 million euros ($14.8 million).
Europol said in a statement Thursday the gang charged each Vietnamese migrant 18,000 euros ($20,500) and smuggled them into the European Union via South America.
According to a report by The Associated Press, each group of up to 12 migrants was guided by an English-speaking smuggler who facilitated their travel.
Spanish police conducted searches of 10 houses and more than 100 beauty salons across the country after learning that the smuggling operation was largely based in Barcelona.
The gang also furnished the migrants with counterfeit residency documents.
Philippines visited Hanoi knowing that nothing short of a miracle would take them to the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup. However, on the day, they were outclassed both defensively and offensively and were knocked out of the competition. We take a look where the match was won and lost.
Impenetrable Vietnam
Vietnam have forged a reputation, during their remarkable cup run, of being the toughest side defensively. The Golden Dragons had conceded just once before their semi-final second leg match against the Philippines, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
Fox Sport Asia reports, in the first leg of the semifinal, Vietnam went to Bacolod and recorded a 2-1 victory against the Philippines. In doing so, they gained a massive advantage rendered by the two away goals.
However, the beauty of knockout football is in its uncertainty. And so, they knew that anything less than 100 per cent today would land them into trouble. But the Golden Dragons were impeccable on the night and didn’t allow their opponents any space to work with.
Vietnam’s 5-3-2 formation kept the Philippines attackers at bay, while the two wingbacks raced up and down the wings to stretch the play. Furthermore, the three central midfielders provided solid defensive cover and made it even harder for their opponents to go close to the goal.
It was yet another defensive masterclass from Park Hang-Seo’s side, who are slowly turning into a force to be reckoned with.
Ineffective Philippines
As much as the result depended upon Vietnam’s defensive solidity, one can only wonder what could’ve been had Philippines been better in attack. The Azkals boasted one of the strongest sides going into the AFF Suzuki Cup and were deemed favourites by many.
However, for much of the competition, the Phil Younghusband-led side looked lacklustre and was often toothless in attack. Indeed, throughout both the legs of the semifinals, Philippines never looked to really pose a threat to Vietnam and ultimately paid the price.
Nevertheless, Philippines did have an ‘ace in the pack’ in Stephan Schock, who had been their best performer so far. Schrock was the one making things tick on the field. However, he didn’t receive adequate support from his teammates and was often left isolated.
Apart from Schrock, nobody in the Philippines side looked to threaten the opposing defence from open play. The Azkals did win a lot of set pieces on the night which could’ve made life harder for their opponents, but their inefficiency from the dead ball situations didn’t help their cause either.
As a result, it was smooth sailing for Vietnam, who made easy work of their opponents and reached the Final.
AirAsia , the largest low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia, said that it has agreed with its partner in Vietnam to launch a domestic airline next year, to gain a footprint in the fastest growing air travel market in the region.
According to a report on Nikkei, the Malaysia-based carrier and Thien Minh Group, a Hanoi-based tourism business, agreed on Thursday to invest in aircraft to form a fleet for the new airline. TMG CEO Tran Trong Kien said that the fleet will mainly consist of Airbus A320s and A321s, both short- to medium-range, narrow-body aircraft.
“We expect to enhance our contribution to Vietnam’s aviation and increase locals in one of the most promising markets in the region,” AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes said before signing agreement on Thursday in Hanoi.
The move comes as Vietnamese take to the skies in the Southeast Asian nation booms. AirAsia aims to counter Vietjet Aviation, the Vietnamese budget airline that is rising on strong passenger growth at home.
Kien said, “We aspire to reap the huge potential of the fast-growing air travel business via the partnership” with AirAsia.
TMG offers high-end tourism using its seaplanes connecting Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, as well as cruises traveling the Mekong Delta. The private company operates a chain of hotels and resorts in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia that host more than 200,000 guests annually, with plans to add two facilities each year.
Official statistics show 79.28 million air passengers for the first nine months of 2018, up 12% on the year.
AirAsia owns 30% of the new venture, the maximum allowed for foreign ownership of an airline under Vietnamese law, though Hanoi is considering lifting the limit to 49%.
AirAsia expects the venture to focus on underserved routes connecting key cities including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, while also flying to Southeast Asia, China, South Korea and Japan from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Danang.
Vietnam’s aviation market has averaged 17.4% growth over the past decade, far higher than the 7.9% rate for the Asia-Pacific region, the International Air Transport Association said. AirAsia has been seeking a local partner for more than 10 years. The Malaysian airline once agreed to team with now-rival Vietjet, but the deal collapsed in 2010 without a maiden flight.
But analysts see possible headwinds for AirAsia’s entry into Vietnam. Vietjet holds roughly half the market, and the country’s first private airline stands better placed to deal with local authorities.
Yet the low number of flights per capita compared with other countries leaves room for more players, said Le Dang Doanh, director of the Central Institute for Economic Management in Vietnam.
New players could operate well at destinations beyond main routes connecting big cities. Bamboo Airways, a local airline owned by golf resort operator FLC Group, received its license and has scheduled its first flight for the last week of December. Another local airline also awaits approval.
AirAsia’s shares declined on Thursday by 1.29% to 3.07 Malaysian ringgit while Vietjet increased 0.7% to 132,300 dong in the morning session.
GlobalData’s ‘Strategic Market Intelligence: Reinsurance in Vietnam-Key Trends and Opportunities to 2021′ report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Vietnamese reinsurance segment, and a comparison of the Vietnamese reinsurance with its regional counterparts.
It provides values for key performance indicators such as premium accepted, premium ceded, cession rates, and total investment income during the review period (2012-2016) and forecast period (2016-2021).
The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Vietnamese economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.
The report brings together GlobalData’s research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving reinsurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of reinsurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.
This report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Vietnamese reinsurance segment. Key insights and dynamics of the Vietnamese reinsurance industry. Comparison of Vietnamese reinsurance segment with regional counterparts, along with premium accepted trends.
A comprehensive overview of the Vietnamese economy, government initiatives, FDI, country risk, investment opportunities and enterprise structure. Vietnamese insurance regulatory framework’s evolution, key facts, taxation regime, licensing and capital requirements.
Vietnamese reinsurance industry’s market structure giving details of premium accepted and premium ceded along with cession rates. Distribution channels deployed by the Vietnamese reinsurers. Details of the competitive landscape, M&A and competitors’ profiles.
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the reinsurance segment in Vietnam. It provides historical values for the Vietnamese reinsurance segment for the report’s 2012-2016 review period, and projected figures for the 2016-2021 forecast period. It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Vietnamese reinsurance segment, and market forecasts to 2021.
It provides a comparison of the Vietnamese reinsurance segment with its regional counterparts. It provides an overview of the various distribution channels for reinsurance products in Vietnam. It profiles the top reinsurance companies in Vietnam, and outlines the key regulations affecting them.
Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Vietnamese reinsurance segment, and each category within it. Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Vietnamese reinsurance segment. Assess the competitive dynamics in the reinsurance segment. Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories. Gain insights into key regulations governing the Vietnamese insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry’s future.
Despite an air of caution, domestic investor psychology was stronger on December 6 than previously and the market fluctuated slightly within a narrow margin.
Large caps such as VHM, MSN, TCB and VJC supported the VN-Index.
Negative signs around Asia saw the local market struggle early on but cash flow then poured in quickly and reversed any declines.
At 10am, the VN-Index was up 1.4 points (0.15 per cent) to 958.54 points and the HNX-Index and UPCoM-Index recovered to near their reference levels.
According to a report by Hai Van on VNEconomictimes, market liquidity was quite good, with a matching order value of over VND1 trillion ($42.9 million). Foreigners were net buyers, but by just VND7 billion ($300,380).
The market was affected by Asian stock markets, with the Hang Seng Index, the Shanghai Composite Index, the Nikkei225, and the Kospi all falling.
The VN-Index finished the morning down 2.8 points (0.29 per cent) to 954.34 points, the HNX-Index 0.38 points (0.35 per cent) to 107.36 points, and the UPCoM-Index 0.18 points (0.34 per cent) to 53.19 points. Liquidity was a handy VND2.3 trillion ($98.6 million) in total.
Foreign investors net bought by more than VND22 billion ($944,060).
Bluechips such as VHM, PNJ, VJC, MSN, SAB, and EIB did well and were pillars curbing any steep declines. Cash flow was quite strong real estate, which spread to other stocks
Rising investment of the private sector, especially of foreign firms, into Vietnam’s infrastructure projects has helped the country make its debut as a top-five country for private participation in infrastructure (PPI) in the first half of this year.
According to a World Bank (WB) report released this week, thirty-four countries received PPI investments in the first half of 2018, with the top five countries – China, Turkey, India, Vietnam and Brazil – accounting for 66 percent of the global total, 10 percent higher than in 2017. Anh Hong reports on Hanoitimes.
The top five countries attracted US$28.9 billion of PPI investment capital in H1 2018, of which China lured US$11.6 billion across 37 projects; Turkey with US$7.2 billion across eight projects; India with US$3.8 billion across 24 projects; Vietnam with US$3.4 billion across 10 projects; and Brazil with US$3.0 billion across 11 projects.
Regionally, East Asia & Pacific received the highest level of PPI investment in the period, at US$17.3 billion. This marked a 27 percent increase from H1 2017 and was led by China and Vietnam.
China by itself accounted for more than a quarter (27 percent) of global investment commitments, which was mostly due to a surge of road projects in the country.
Meanwhile, Vietnam accounted for 8 percent of global investment commitments, with a total of US$3.4 billion across 10 projects. All the projects were electricity-generation projects—nine of them used renewable energy sources, and one was a US$1.9 billion coal megaproject.
The WB’s report also showed that Vietnam was the leader in attracting new electricity-generation projects in H1 2018, with 10 projects worth a total investment capital of US$3.4 billion in H1 2018.
The most dominant form of technology in H1 2018 was solar, accounting for almost one-third of total investments in the sector across 49 projects. Solar-energy projects were recorded in 23 countries. Of the total, India led with six projects, while Brazil, Ukraine and Vietnam tied for second place with five projects each.
Priority sector
According to WB analysts, Vietnam’s commitment to reducing its reliance on coal-fired power and to dealing with environmental issues has resulted in an increased focus on investment in the renewable-energy sector.
Under a government master plan, the total designed capacity of solar power generation must amount to 850MW in 2020 and 4,000MW by 2025. Meanwhile, the total capacity of solar and wind power set for 2030 is 12,000MW and 6,000MW, respectively.
To encourage private investment in the sector, the government regulates that the FIT for solar power is set at 9.35 cents per kWh while the rates for onshore and offshore wind power projects are 8.5 US cents and 9.8 US cents per kWh, respectively. With such prices, renewable power projects will be profitable as the power retail price currently averages at only 7.54 US cents.
The government also plans to continue encouraging foreign investors to pour cash into the renewable energy as it is among priority industries put under the country’s FDI attraction strategy in the next decade.
However, to attract the inflow, Vu Chi Mai, senior project officer of the ‘Support to the Up-Scaling of Wind Power in Vietnam’ project under the GIZ Energy Support Program, said that the government should issue a more holistic and longer-term development plan for the industry.
According to Mai, the biggest challenge for the industry is the grid connection issue. Investors, while putting a considerable amount of investment into the project, want to get a clear confirmed grid connection agreement.
Besides, clear and transparent policies on wind and renewable energy will maintain investors’ trust and motivation, Mai suggested, adding in the long run, to achieve the government’s goals on renewable energy development, adjustments to the power purchase agreement should be considered to meet the requirements of international financial institutions.
Vietnamese authorities on December 05, 2018 conducted drills to prevent the spread of African swine fever should there be an outbreak of the disease in the country, as the risks of transmission from neighboring China increase.
According to a report by Mai Nguyen on Reuters, The highly contagious fever has killed around a million pigs worldwide and recently spread rapidly across China, which has reported 80 cases since early August.
In footage shown on state-run Vietnam Television (VTV), officials covered from head to toe in protective clothing were seen taking samples from dead pigs and spraying corpses before burying them in a large pit in the ground.
“The fever is only 150 kilometers away from our border, so it’s necessary to understand the risk and danger…if it reaches our 27 millions pigs,” said Tong Xuan Chinh, vice head of the agriculture ministry’s livestock department.
Vietnam has more than 27 millions pigs, most of which are consumed domestically, with pork accounting for three quarters of total meat consumption in the Southeast Asian nation of 95 million people, Chinh said.
“If this fever infects our pigs, it will be a major hit to the economy, society, environment and food security,” Chinh said. He added that authorities were tightly controlling the transportation of pigs and pork products from China and had banned pork products from other infected countries such as Poland and Hungary.
Last month, China reported outbreaks of African swine fever in several provinces, including Yunnan, a border province with Vietnam.
There is also a danger of the disease spreading into Vietnam through smuggled pigs of unknown origin. Smuggling is a regular occurrence, especially in the northern border provinces with China, the agriculture ministry said last week.
Authorities in Vietnam have destroyed 324 pigs and nearly 17 tonnes of pork products that have been smuggled or which do not have clear origins in 63 cases since August, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
Good people, good food, and a good time; what more could I ask for?
Vietnam is a country full of beautiful cultures, a deep history, friendly people, and delicious foods. On our first day in Vietnam, my friends and I decided to do a walking tour through Ho Chi Minh City to better understand the traditional foods common in the area. Plus, I mean, who doesn’t love some quality food?
We began at a restaurant where we were taught step by step how to make spring rolls. It’s definitely not as easy as it looks, but we had a blast trying, and failing, to make them into a perfect rolls. But, thankfully our guides, local women from Ho Chi Minh City, were more than eager to share and teach the process to all of us. These ladies were some of the kindest and funniest people I have ever met, and I enjoyed our various conversations throughout the day.
We continued to one of the oldest coffee shops in the city, where were able to not only try the coffee and food but also see the back kitchen to learn about how the owners brewed their famous coffee. They were more than accommodating of my vegetarian diet and ordered us all various traditional sandwiches there. It was one of the best dishes I’ve ever had, and even though I was a bit hesitant to try all of these different foods, I was delighted by the new flavors.
Though the owner of the coffee shop spoke no English, we were able to pass the language barrier through music. She turned on her tiny radio and as a group we began to dance with her, instantly filling the restaurant with smiles and laughter from everyone present. At that moment, we were not Americans and she was not Vietnamese, we were just people in a coffee shop enjoying our night together. Eventually, our time there died down and we made our way to our last destination.
Very full and very sleepy, we made it to our final restaurant, where we were given a traditional meal of pho and some kind of rice cake for dessert. Though I learned so much about the country through the exposure to their foods and traditions, it was incomparable to what I learned from the people themselves.
We sat around the table asking questions about the way the country worked, the lives of the people, the language, and countless other topics. We saw temples and worship areas as we walked from place to place and were able to learn about their religion and beliefs. It was fascinating to see the topics I had been learning in my philosophy class in front of me. I am more than thankful that we decided to try something new and attempt a food tour because it ended up being so much more than that.
Food was a small part of what I learned that day. Friendships, understanding, and a broadened perspective were much more prominent parts of the day, which in my opinion, are priceless.
Based on its bare-bones exterior, the restaurant at number 14 Cha Ca Street doesn’t look like much.
But the line out the door indicates we’re in the right place.
This is Cha Ca La Vong – one of the oldest eateries in Hanoi, Vietnam, and the first to set up shop on Cha Ca Street, over a century ago.
According to a report by Justin Solomon, Kate Springer on CNN, along the busy road, where spiderwebs of exposed electric wires hang overhead, dozens of specialists compete to sell the best cha ca – crispy turmeric-marinated fish that’s fried tableside in a pan with herbs.
The dish’s universal appeal has made the namesake street in the Old Quarter a popular stop among travelers and residents alike.
“When I walk down Cha Ca Street, it brings me back to my childhood,” Nguyen My Giang Huong (a.k.a Tin), chef-owner of Green Tangerine restaurant in Hanoi, tells CNN Travel.
“People in Hanoi take food very seriously — whatever is on the table it is important. (Enjoying cha ca) is a great moment that brings the family together.”
Hanoi’s most famous dish
Cha ca dates back more than 130 years. It was first invented by the local Doan family, who served the special dish to troops during French colonial rule.
“When troops came to Hanoi, the family used to make them this one dish,” says Tin. “Since they made it so well, everyone encouraged them to open a restaurant.”
And that restaurant was Cha Ca La Vong.
Following the restaurant’s wild success, dozens of cha ca specialists emerged along the same road — some even mimic the name — like Cha Ca La Song — in hopes of baiting travelers.
Eventually, Hang Son (Paint Street) was officially renamed Cha Ca Street in honor of the world-famous dish.
A DIY experience
There’s a street in Hanoi that’s entirely dedicated to chả cá — a vermicelli noodle dish with turmeric-spiced catfish that diners grill themselves. @ Dan Tham
Usually made with snakehead, a freshwater fish found across Vietnam, cha ca is considered one of Hanoi’s signature dishes.
The marinade — a mix of turmeric, garlic, shallots, galangal (similar to ginger root), salt, sugar and fish sauce — is the most important step.
After marinating the fish for at least an hour, it’s usually grilled in advance, then fried in oil when it’s ready to consume.
In a traditional cha ca restaurant, it’s a DIY experience.
“You come in, sit down, give your order — just choose one portion or two,” says Tin.
A searing hot pan with marinated fish will arrive at the table, alongside a basket of accoutrements — think vermicelli, fresh herbs (like dill, basil and spring onion), roasted peanuts, chili, and mam nem (a fermented shrimp paste) with a distinct musky aroma.
As the fish and herbs grill in front of your eyes, the turmeric marinade turns the fillet a glorious golden shade while a grassy aroma of dill fills the air.
Once it’s sizzling, enjoy bite-sized slices of fish with some salty peanuts, herbs and vermicelli.
New interpretations
As Hanoi’s restaurant scene continues to evolve, cha ca is no longer contained to its namesake street.
Modern interpretations of the beloved fish dish can be found at contemporary restaurants around Hanoi, including cha ca-style tacos at MAD Society, a refined iteration at T-Art and wine pairing suggestions at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s Spices Garden restaurant.
At Green Tangerine, for example, Tin whips up his own variation.
He uses premium ingredients, such as crushed saffron, fermented rice, spring onion and lemongrass. It’s served alongside a bed of risotto, rather than vermicelli noodles.
“The smell of fermented rice really makes the marinade stand out,” says Tin. “This is my version of cha ca.”
Four security officers at an airport in the north-central Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa have been fined following an incident where a group of men attacked a female airline employee at the facility in late November.
Trinh Hong Quan, Vu Quoc Hoi, Trinh Ngoc Hoan, and Dao Van Dung, who are members of the security unit of Tho Xuan Airport, were fined VND4 million (US$171) each for failing to follow protocols, affecting civil aviation operations at the airdrome.
The fining is in accordance with Government Decree No. 147, which dictates that such an error should subject one to a VND3 million ($128) to VND5 million ($213) penalty.
The incident took place at around 2:20 pm on November 23, when a group of three men, namely Le Van Nhi, 41, Le Trung Dung, 34, and Pham Huu An, 28, took their friend to the airdrome.
The friend was scheduled to board a flight to Ho Chi Minh City at 3:05 pm.
Nhi, Dung, and An then asked Le Thi Giang, a ground service staff of budget carrier Vietjet, to take a photo of them, before continuing to ask her to join them for a group selfie.
Giang refused the second request, just to be verbally abused by the three men.
An and Nhi later slapped the woman and hit her head with a phone.
Le Thi Hien, a representative of the airline, attempted to interfere and received a slap on her face and a kick to her abdomen from Nhi.
Dung also hit two airport security officers.
The attackers were eventually arrested when airport security was reinforced by police from Tho Xuan District.
The incident was caught on CCTV and the footage later went viral on social media.
Many viewers believed that the security officers at the scene were rather slow and passive as they were unable to prevent the violence from escalating.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam previously announced they had imposed a 12-month flight ban upon the three men.
The police unit in Tho Xuan confirmed on November 25 they had initiated legal proceedings against the men for “disturbing public order.”
Phuong Bac Infrastructure Company proposed November 8 to transform the heavily-polluted To Lich River in Hanoi.
The company chairman Dam Van Long confirmed in the written proposal that they wouldn’t collect fees and introduced Vingroup as the project’s investor. They suggested using both build-transfer and build-operate-transfer (BOT) models for this project.
For packages that use BOT model, investors can open tourism services on To Lich River for a period of time. The company also suggested setting up a comprehensive system for tourism include inland waterway transportation and floating cafes.
Another proposal is to make it a public-private-partnership project in which investors can open services on To Lich River for a period of time with preferential treatments. They want to turn To Lich into a pleasant urban feature.
The drainage system must be changed so that only rainwater will be discharged into the river and the wastewater will be directed into another route. Investors must plant trees, dredge and clean the river. To Lich River could be connected with the Red River and other existing rivers.
In the future, other polluted rivers such as Kim Nguu and Nhue can be renovated to improve the drainage system in the capital.
However, Pham Thanh Tung, chief office of the Vietnam Association of Architects, opposed the project. According to Tung, the rivers have been turned into open sewers as wastewater and rubbish are dumped into the water.
“Projects to revive the polluted rivers are necessary but they should not be taken advantages of to do businesses,” he said. “It will be a mistake in urban planning.”
