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Couple caught in cinema sex romp

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CGV Cinemas Vietnam has vowed to follow local law in dealing with the recent spreading of private images and asked the audience to behave in the cinemas after the romping of a couple were recorded by the security camera.

The couple in the Sweetbox seat was caught having sex in the back of the theatre. The images of the romp were then spread around the internet by an employee at CGV. The case sparks a heated debate about behaviour at cinemas and customer privacy.

Many people criticised the couple for gross indecency in public while others expressed concerns over violations of privacy.

On July 31, CGV admitted that one of its employees had spread the images. He found out about the couple while going through the videos to find a missing bag of another cinema-goer. CGV said such an incident had never happened before at their chain of cinemas and that the employee had been reprimanded and suspended.

According to CGV, it has strict policies to ensure privacy. The cameras are used for security. Rules about cinema manners are always shown on the big screen before a films start. CGV announced that it will follow the regulations and need the public’s co-operation to maintain a healthy entertainment environment.

The staffs often patrol the cinema during certain hours so that the viewing experience will not be disrupted.

“We believe that most cinema-goers are well-behaved in public. CGV has always tried to provide the best experience to audiences,” CGV representative said.

Source: Dtinews

Gen Z: the future of global economy

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Spending VND13 trillion on food and drinks alone each month, the members of Z generation (Z Gen) in Vietnam are believed to be major consumers in the future.

Nguyen Minh Tri, born in 1997, recently met reporters at Royal, a bubble tea shop in district 3, HCMC.

Tri just graduated from RMIT University one year ago, but earns a lot from his 3D app designing.

“I just need to post my products on some websites of the designers’ community. If foreign firms like my products, they will contact me,” he explained.

“Sometimes they buy my products. In other cases, they hired me to develop projects together with them,” he said.

“As a freelancer, I don’t have to go to office. I don’t have to observe any rules set by businesses and I control my time. I like this lifestyle,” he said.

Minh Tri is a member of Z Gen, born in the digital technology era. These people, born in the mid1990s to mid 2000s, are entering the labor and consumer markets.

According to Epinion, Z Gen members don’t receive official salaries, but their average income is $112 a month.

Google started in 1996. Facebook made its debut in 2004, YouTube in 2005 and internet penetrated Vietnam in 1997. As such, the Vietnamese Z Gen witnessed the strong development of internet.

“Therefore, Z Gen can be called iGen, a new generation of users whose behaviors and lives are digitalized in all ways,” commented Nguyen Hai Trieu, CEO of YouNet Media.

Regarding Z Gen’s consumption behaviors, a report of Decision Lab, a market analysis firm, about HCMC market, showed that despite modest income and reliance on parents, Z Gen is still considered the group of customers who are setting new trends in the large cities of Vietnam.

More than 56 percent of individuals surveyed by Decision Lab don’t have an income or have modest income of less than VND3 million a month. Only 35.1 percent of individuals have the income of VND3-7.5 million. Their average expenditure on non-home food and drinks is VND892,443 a month.

Unlike millennials who like to have major meals at home, many Z Gen members prefer eating out at restaurants. They adapt to fast food quickly. As for drinks, they don’t especially like coffee or alcoholic drinks like the previous generations, but prefer bubble tea.

Belonging to the ‘generation of connections’, Z Gen individuals don’t think they need to go to shops. They prefer online purchases.

US$1=VND22,000

According to a report on Vietnamnet

Elinkgate – Vietnam’s startup invents solution for computer users

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ELINKGATE new technology is a comprehensive solution that serves as a platform for IT support services for both personal and institutional computer users.

Nguyen Van Hung, Vice Rector of College of Radio and Television II, praised ELINKGATE’s technology solution, which allows control of computers from a distance.

Hung said one of the biggest problem for IT supporters lies in communication with terminal users. Most individual users don’t have deep knowledge about IT, therefore, IT supporters find it difficult to help them fix computer problems from a distance.

Despite the explanations which last hours, IT supporters and terminal users cannot understand each other.

The solution introduced by ELINKGATE brings convenience to both IT supporters and clients.

There are many remote computer access software products available in the market, including Team Viewer and LogMeIn. However, as the software all run on operating systems, they cannot fix the errors of the operating systems or other systems.

Nguyen Van Hoang and his co-worker at ELINKGATE have developed a remote-control technology which allows access to computers and hi-tech devices, and makes interventions to fix problems in the devices.

The outstanding feature of the solution introduced by Hoang is that it can be applied in all cases, even if there is no operating system.

With the technology, terminal users can easily communicate with IT supporters who can fix errors from a distance. As such, users can receive support 24/7.

When computers meet troubles, users just need to connect USB ELINK device with their computers to receive support. Even farmers and housewives who don’t have deep understanding about technology can also use this method.

IT supporters will make operations to fix errors from a distance while there is no need to install connection software. ELINK solution also works if computers don’t have operating systems and run under BIOS mode.

Users can choose specific files and folders to remain inaccessible during the support process.

The solution allows supporters to install operating systems and fix commonly seen errors with just one mouse click. They don’t have to keep watch over computers for and do step by step make operations.

ELINK not only helps provide IT supporting services, but also can serve as a platform for ecosystems in other fields. A person in a remote area can connect leading experts to receive advice on healthcare.

Adults can make friends, and communicate and update information without their children’s support.

According a report on Vietnamnet

Saigon: Not yet a tourism hub

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Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it’s affectionately known by locals and expats alike, is Vietnam’s commercial hub, a home to 13 million people and 7.3 million motorbikes as of March 2017. This statistic is the reason why the sounds of bike engines and honks make up the ubiquitous soundscape of the city.

Compared to other cities in Southeast Asia, tourism isn’t its strongest selling point. Bangkok has its shopping, nightlife and the reason why it’s known as the sex capital of the world. Singapore is known for its stunning high-rise structures and cheap electronic products.

Saigon is usually the city most travellers stop by for a day or two before heading to other nearby tourist spots in the south of Vietnam such as Da Lat and Mui Ne.

The Event Draw

However, efforts have been made to change this mindset. Over the years, the city has invested in organising cultural and pop events attracting masses from all over the world. Locally-produced electronic music festivals like Ravolution for example, held their 2018 edition at the walking boulevard along Nguyen Hue with renowned international artists like Nervo and Ferry Corsten playing to a crowd that did not even have to pay a ticket fee.

International franchise events such as the Color Me Run also had an edition in Saigon, attracting participants from all over the world.

Domestically, there has been a surge in promoters and organisers independently working towards a very diverse nightlife scene in Saigon. From underground techno events like Heart Beat to regular bass music shows with Bass Republic and even new specialised entertainment venues popping up across the city like Arcan, Saigon is starting to attract a younger demographic to a country that already has one of the youngest populations in the world.

However, beyond the flashy lights and the relatively low cost of living, Saigon has its fair share of problems that affect tourism, especially returning tourists.

From Rain to Robbery

From May to November each year, residents in Saigon are well aware of the importance of umbrellas and ponchos. However, not all tourists come into the city wearing or packing waterproof boots, and the perennial flooding situation during these months is something that has yet to be addressed.

Due to the city’s drainage and sewage system’s inability to keep up with the intensity of the monsoon rains, certain parts of the city turn into a mess of brown water that could even reach levels so high, you’d mistake your own backyard for a wading pool.

Other issues that are often brought up are the overcharging of services to foreigners, aggressive vendors demanding to provide a service such as shoe shining and often intimidating tourists enough for them to end up forking out close to a million dong just to get their shoes shined, fake taxi operators that prey on unsuspecting customers and charge them over 10 times the correct amount, snatch theft and even robbery. Typically, issues that will stick in the memories of those who have been here and have decided not to come back, thus hurting the tourism industry in Vietnam.

From Sidewalks to Sidesteps

Steps have been taken recently by the authorities, such as clearing up the sidewalks of food stalls, motorbikes and other assorted items that should not even be there in the first place. This still remains one of Saigon’s most enthralling drama series to date.

The operation headed by Mr. Doan Ngoc Hai, vice-chairman of District 1 People’s Committee started off brightly, earning polarised reactions from residents and amused tourists alike that eventually resulted in him earning the nickname, Captain Sidewalk. However, the operation didn’t last as long as one would expect, and then the food stalls and motorbikes reappeared and pedestrians were once again relegated back to the roads, sidestepping other pedestrians and motorbikes going against the flow of traffic.

Although not as dramatic, other steps taken include enforcing a higher degree of food safety regulations on street food vendors. With the establishment of Saigon Street Food Market located near Ben Thanh Market, vendors are now congregated under one roof, much like the hawker center model in Singapore, making it easier for authorities to monitor them. Another move that’s currently ongoing is the conversion of selected zones of the city with heavy tourist traffic to walking streets over the weekends. The ever-popular Bui Vien Street is one example of this scheme. As things stand, there is still a lot more work to do to turn Saigon into a tourism capital of the region.

E-Visas Increase Numbers But Will They Stay Up?

In the first five months of this year, an estimated 3.2 million people have visited the city with a notable 10 percent increase by Canadian citizens.

Vietnam’s new e-visa policy targeted to North American citizens has also started to gain traction and the city is expected to welcome an increasing number of tourists from the continent.

This new policy has also been extended to European citizens with a three year extension of visa exemptions, leading to an increase in arrivals from European nations like France and Belgium.

The upward trend here, of course, is also dependent on how soon these common problems get fixed, and whether the plans to expand the city’s international airport goes according to schedule.

According to a report on Citypassguide

Go-Jek kicks off Southeast Asia expansion with Vietnam launch

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Go-Jek, the Indonesia-based ride-sharing company valued at $5 billion, has begun its ambitious plan to increase its rivalry with Grab by expanding into three new markets after it opened shop in Vietnam.

According to a report on Techcrunch, the service — which is known as Go-Viet — covers an initial 12 districts in Ho Chi Minh City with a motorbike on-demand service. Rival Grab is in five cities in Vietnam and its services include motorbikes, taxis, private cars and food delivery.

The August 1 Vietnam launch as TechCrunch reported in June. The plan is to then expand into Thailand in September, and the Philippines before the end of this year. Singapore remains a market that Go-Jek would like to enter — it has held partnership talks with taxi operator ComfortDelGro — but it remains unclear whether, and when, that might happen.

Go-Jek expansion plan will put some heat on Grab, which has occupied a near-dominant position across Southeast Asia since it acquired Uber’s local business back in March.

Unlike Grab, though, Go-Jek is taking a very local approach to each market. Not only will it use a local name in each country — in Thailand it will be called “Get” — it has hired local ‘founder’ teams who will be responsible for service offerings and other local business aspects. It isn’t clear how closely they will work with the core Go-Jek team in Indonesia.

That may mean anyone traveling between countries will need to download local Go-Jek apps, which is in contrast to Grab, which offers a single app for eight countries in Southeast Asia.

Valued at $10 billion, Grab has raised over $5 billion from investors, including its most recent $1 billion investment from Toyota. Go-Jek has pulled in just over $2 billion. Tencent, Google, Meituan and others participated in its most recent (estimated) $1.4 billion raise which closed earlier this year.

In the hands of the gods: Vietnam’s Golden Bridge goes viral

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Nestled in the forested hills of central Vietnam two giant concrete hands emerge from the trees, holding up a glimmering golden bridge crowded with gleeful visitors taking selfies at the country’s latest eccentric tourist draw.

Designed to make visitors feel like they’re taking a stroll on a shimmering thread stretching across the hands of gods, the “Golden Bridge” has attracted hordes of guests since it opened in the Ba Na Hills near Danang in June – Dtinews reports.

Images of the bridge have gone viral on social media, much to the surprise of the architect who had no idea it would attract so much attention

“We’re proud that our product has been shared by people all over the world,” principal designer and founder of TA Landscape Architecture, Vu Viet Anh, told AFP.

At 150 metres long (490 feet), the bridge snakes through the forest high up in mountains first developed by French colonists as a hill station in 1919.

Today the area is a major tourist attraction, boasting a cable car, replica French medieval village — including faux castle and cathedral — manicured gardens and a wax museum featuring statues of Lady Gaga and Michael Jordan.

The only remnants of the original French occupants are the crumbling remains of their holiday homes that can still be spotted from the cable car.

But visitors are mostly interested in the newly built Cau Vang, which means “Golden Bridge” in Vietnamese.

“The bridge is beautiful with an amazing architectural style, from here we can see Danang City, it’s so nice,” Nguyen Trung Phuc told AFP.

Another visitor, Nguyen Hien Trang, said: “I have travelled quite a lot but I’ve never seen any bridges as beautiful as this one.”

The Ba Na Hills project was built by Sun Group, which has divided opinion with audacious projects elsewhere in Vietnam.

In 2016 it opened a cable car on Vietnam’s tallest mountain Fansipan in the tourist hotpot Sapa, prompting complaints from locals who felt it spoiled the landscape and took business away from trekking guides.

Vietnam is no stranger to off-the-wall attractions.

A “crystal cloud” installation of 58,000 shimmering Swarovski beads in the rice-terraced hills of northern Vietnam opened earlier this year, while the surreal “Crazy House” hotel in central Da Lat, designed to look a trippy treehouse, has long attracted legions of curious visitors.

The communist country has long sought to boost visitor numbers and position itself as a must-see destination in Southeast Asia.

It clocked 13 million foreign visitors last year, mostly from China — a far cry from the 35 million international visitors to Thailand in 2017.

Golden Bridge designer Anh said he already has another project in the works: a silver bridge made to look like a god’s strand of hair that will connect to his existing structure in the Ba Na Hills.

HCM City: New cryptocurrency scam hits Vietnam as miner leaves for US

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More than 300 investors reported a suspected cryptocurrency scam to Vietnamese authorities on Tuesday after the head of a bitcoin mining startup disappeared along with $35 million in client money – Reported by Nikkei.

Le Minh Tam, director of Sky Mining, reportedly absconded to the U.S. a few days ago.

The case comes three months after Vietnam saw the biggest racket in cryptocurrency history, where investors said they were robbed of as much as $660 million in initial coin offerings, including Singapore’s iFan and Dubai’s Pincoin. No further developments in that case have been reported since April.

Mining and using cryptocurrencies remains illegal in Vietnam, according to the central bank, but investors here continue to be drawn by the promise of rich returns. Tens of thousands have reportedly lost money in scams or crashes in coin prices just this year.

In the new heist, Sky Mining investors said they were persuaded to invest in cryptocurrency mining machines — computers that perform the complex calculations needed to create new bitcoins — with a promised 300% annual return, plus extra interest for drawing in new buyers.

The operation was premised on the view that the price of bitcoin will reach $16,000 this year, up from about $7,700 now. Sky Mining promoted itself as the wholesale partner of Bitmain, China’s biggest bitcoin miner.

Around 5,000 individual investors across Vietnam, as well as foreigners including Nigerian and Japanese citizens, are reported to have joined the Sky Mining network, with the investments ranging from $500 to more than $20,000. Cryptocurrency mining remains illegal in Vietnam, according to the central bank.

Sky Mining registered in Ho Chi Minh City this January as an information technology dealer. Since March, the company has organized conferences and workshops to recruit investors in coin-mining farms, with the goal of spreading the network across Vietnam in 2019. The company website shows 18 active farms, as well as an office in Japan.

More than a week ago, Le Minh Tam posted a message on the site asking forgiveness from investors for an “unpredictable” drop in the bitcoin price that had undercut returns. He invited investors to come to the head office to collect their machines and a refund.

But one group of investors found the company’s mining facility and office empty when they went to pick up their mining machines last Friday. Le Minh Tam could not be reached. Sky Mining deputy director Le Minh Hieu said the chief had stolen all the money and fled to the U.S., a local newspaper reported.

The case was reported to the authorities after a 44-second video was posted Sunday on Facebook in which the vanished director said he had gone to the U.S. for medical treatment. He said that more than 100 agencies and individuals in Vietnam had collected the machines to keep them mining while he is away. “I am not hiding or running away, and will be back as soon as possible,” said the man in the video.

Investors, however, said Le Minh Tam was trying to buy time to escape from Vietnam with the money. Some lawyers described Sky Mining’s business model as a “Ponzi scheme.”

Cryptocurrencies arrived in Vietnam a few years ago when some services in Ho Chi Minh City began taking payment in bitcoin. Bitcoin ATMs have been installed in the country, allowing users to withdraw cash and buy the cryptocurrency.

FPT, Vietnam’s biggest IT company, also considered a pilot program to let students at its education arm pay their tuition in bitcoin. The central bank has told investors and cryptocurrency users to wait for the authorities to work out a legal framework for managing virtual currencies.

Meanwhile, similar coin-mining farms in Vietnam, including Eco mining and Asama mining, are still attracting investors with promises of high yields.

Vietnamese are among the most active users of cryptocurrencies, especially bitcoin, along with Japanese and South Koreans. Figures from SimilarWeb in 2017 showed that Vietnamese investors ranked at the top on cryptocurrency exchange Remitano, and second on CoinMarketCap.com and the Bittrex platform.

Continue reading “HCM City: New cryptocurrency scam hits Vietnam as miner leaves for US”

New look for Hanoi 10 years after expansion

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After ten years of merging and administrative-boundary expansion, Hanoi has changed dramatically in its economic growth, appearance and infrastructure. A new Hanoi, with open spaces, has created conditions for the city to plan space in the direction of sustainable development.

Over the past ten years, the city has mobilised all of its resources to carry out planning and investment in building technical infrastructure in order to expand the urban space and create a flourishing appearance for the city, towards making Hanoi a great capital city in the region and the world.

Many important transport infrastructures have been invested in such as Lang – Hoa Lac Highway, National Road 32, and Ring Road 3.

Le Van Luong Route, one of the important transport roads connecting the western region with the centre of Hanoi.

Urban space has been expanded in many directions, with the construction of modern, synchronous and complete social and technical infrastructures, such as Van Quan, My Dinh, Mo Lao and An Khanh in western city.

The Viet Hung and Vinhome Riverside urban areas in the eastern part of the city, and Linh Dam, Gamuda in the southern part of the city.

A series of new bridges are being built to connect suburban areas such as Nhat Tan Bridge, Thanh Tri Bridge, and Vinh Tuy Bridge.

Cat Linh – Ha Dong urban railway is gradually completed.

Hoa Binh (Peace) Park was built to create a “green lung” for the city.

Da Nang: Hand of the gods hold Vietnam’s Golden Bridge

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Images of the bridge have gone viral on social media, much to the surprise of the architect who had no idea it would attract so much attention.

“We’re proud that our product has been shared by people all over the world,” principal designer and founder of TA Landscape Architecture, Vu Viet Anh, told AFP.

At 150 metres long (490 feet), the bridge snakes through the forest high up in mountains first developed by French colonists as a hill station in 1919.

The only remnants of the original French occupants are the crumbling remains of their holiday homes that can still be spotted from the cable car.

But visitors are mostly interested in the newly built Cau Vang, which means “Golden Bridge” in Vietnamese.

“The bridge is beautiful with an amazing architectural style, from here we can see Danang City, it’s so nice,” Nguyen Trung Phuc told AFP.

Another visitor, Nguyen Hien Trang, said: “I have travelled quite a lot but I’ve never seen any bridges as beautiful as this one.”

The Ba Na Hills project was built by Sun Group, which has divided opinion with audacious projects elsewhere in Vietnam.

Vietnam is no stranger to off-the-wall attractions.

The communist country has long sought to boost visitor numbers and position itself as a must-see destination in Southeast Asia.

It clocked 13 million foreign visitors last year, mostly from China — a far cry from the 35 million international visitors to Thailand in 2017.

Nguyen Kim numbers under wraps

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The post-merger and acquisition business efficiency of Nguyen Kim Trading JSC remains uncertain, as more than three years after it engaged in an M&A deal with leading Thai retailer Central Group, it declines to share information about its business performance with the public.

The deal might have sunk into oblivion if the name of Nguyen Kim had not recently appeared in local media, after the home appliance retailer was forced to pay tax arrears and administrative sanctions totalling more than VND148 billion ($6.5 million) to the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department.

The professional circle took the occasion to scrutinise the company’s M&A deal, which took the media by storm at the time, as well its business performance since coming under the control of Thai billionaire family Chirathivat.

Since teaming up with Central Group, Nguyen Kim’s business performance was kept from the public, with the information related to new store launches or business indexes remaining unpublicised. Meanwhile, its listed rival The Gioi Di Dong has made all business information available to the public to prove how far it has left behind its business competitors.

More than one year after Nguyen Kim engaged in the M&A deal, The Gioi Di Dong’s 2016 annual report presented home appliance market share figures showing that the company’s store chain Dien May Xanh ranked second, with about 8 per cent of market share, reaching VND4.4 trillion ($194.6 million) in revenue. Nguyen Kim remained in the top position, retaining a 12-per-cent market share, while Dien May Cho Lon was in the third position with 7.5 per cent.

Although Nguyen Kim did not announce its business revenue, outsiders estimate the company’s revenue at about VND6.6 trillion ($292 million) for the 2015 fiscal year. Compared to the company’s revenue in 2013, which amounted to VND8.4 trillion ($371.6 million), it seems Nguyen Kim took a hit after shaking hands with the Thai business partner.

The figures saw major changes in 2017. The Dien May Xanh chain seized up to 30 per cent of market share, whereas Nguyen Kim and several other brands held a total of 30 per cent. As of now, Nguyen Kim is operating 56 stores across the country, while the figure for Dien May Cho Lon is 60, and Dien May Xanh with a whopping 695.

“Nguyen Kim now operates 56 stores, but its revenue is almost the same as when it had only 21 stores at the time it was aquired by Central Group. Central Group might have had ambitious plans when it acquired Nguyen Kim, but the targets proved hard to reach, especially after a change in the company’s top management,” said a senior retail expert.

When The Gioi Di Dong bought store chain Tran Anh, there were also changes to the latter’s management positions, but the implications were viewed in a different light to Nguyen Kim’s.

“The Gioi Di Dong itself did not need the Tran Anh brand. What they really needed were Tran Anh’s great locations, which they lacked. Besides, the human resources and internal system of The Gioi Di Dong were better than Tran Anh’s,” the expert said.

A representative from Nguyen Kim said that there are several reasons for the company’s revenue going up and down in the post-M&A period, but human resources seem not to be a reason.

“Dien May Xanh has been opening massive amounts of stores, but Nguyen Kim’s revenue per store is better than Dien May Xanh’s. It proves more costly for Dien May Xanh to maintain the whole system,” said the representative. “Each company’s business strategy has its advantages and disadvantages. Nguyen Kim is confident to keep its market niche in the medium -range and high-end customer segment. Dien May Xanh could not sell as many TV sets above 65 inches as we did. They sell a majority with lower profits.” The information that Nguyen Kim was bought by a Thai retailer first became public when Thai securities firm Bualuang enacted an analyst report about the performance of Robinson Department Store, a member of Thailand’s leading retailer Central Group.

According to the report, Power Buy, a leading Thai home appliance system in which Robinson Department Store holds 40 per cent, bought a 49-per-cent stake of NKT New Solution and Technology Development Investment JSC, which, in turn, owned 100 per cent of Nguyen Kim. NKT came into being on October 8, 2014 with VND800 billion ($35.3 million) in charter capital, equal to that of Nguyen Kim.

In early 2015, Nguyen Kim officially fell into the hands of the Thai partner after the company changed its business registration certificate due to changes to the general director position and legal representatives. The new CEO was 48-year-old Jariya Chirathivat, a graduate of Clark University in the US and a member of the Chirathivat family, the founders and current managers of Central Group.

The scenario of Thai entrepreneurs acquiring Nguyen Kim seemed to repeat itself with the case of leading Vietnamese brewer Sabeco being bought out by Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, chairman of Thailand’s largest brewer Thai Beverage or ThaiBev. Recently, Sabeco’s top management positions, including the chairman and sales and financial directors, were taken over by Thai people. The deal happened last year, when Vietnam Beverage Ltd. spent $4.8 billion to acquire a 53.59-per-cent stake in Sabeco. Vietnam Beverage had reportedly acted as a cover for ThaiBev to acquire Sabeco.

Vietnam Beverage also reported changes to its leadership positions on December 21, 2017, only three days after Sabeco’s initial public offering. ThaiBev senior vice president Vaewmanee Soponpinij became Sabeco’s director as well as its legal representative.

Anh Hoa report on VIR

7 Things to Do in Hanoi When it Rains

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Rainy day in Hanoi Photo by Danielle Mussman

At first glance, an unexpected rain shower may put a dampener on your holiday, but there are plenty of indoor activities in Hanoi. The city enjoys a mild, tropical climate typical of northern Vietnam, with the monsoon season falling between May and October. However, occasional downpours are common at any time of the year, so it’s best to be prepared by packing a raincoat.

Related topic: Best Time To Visit Vietnam

Cultural performances, art galleries and museums are great for learning about Vietnam’s rich history while luxurious spas (both standalone and hotel-owned), quaint cafés and vibrant bars offer visitors a chance to unwind until the sun comes out. Check out Vietnam travel’s guide on the best things to do in Hanoi when it rains.

1. Visit a museum

There are plenty of museums in Hanoi where you get to learn more about the Vietnam’s rich culture and turbulent history while escaping daytime downpours during your holiday. Home to unique artefacts and photographs, detailed (and often harrowing) stories and local artworks, must-visits include the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Vietnam Women’s Museum. Tickets are priced between VND 10,000 and VND 25,000 per person, depending on which museum you choose to visit.

2. Explore the local art scene

Hanoi has no shortage of art galleries and handicrafts centres, most of which are conveniently located along Trang Tien Street in Old Quarter. A popular art gallery in this city is Thanh Binh Gallery, which houses artwork by some of Vietnam’s most respected modern artists as well as an extensive range of lacquerware painting. Alternatively, grab an umbrella or raincoat and explore Hang Bac Street, where you can find decades-old shops selling silver jewellery, such as rings, necklaces and bracelets

3. Watch a puppet theatre

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is considered to be one of the cultural highlights of Northern Vietnam, dating back to a tradition that first started in the Red River Delta. Shows at this modern theatre are performed in a pool of water as the stage for the puppets, which are controlled by puppeteers hiding behind a bamboo screen. Held daily at 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30 and 20:00, tickets are priced at VND 100,000 for an hour-long performance

4. Enjoy the local coffee or beer

Hanoi’s ever-thriving café culture means that you’re never too far away from a strong jolt of caffeine. Introduced by the French, the city is teeming with modern and traditional coffee shops serving a wide range of Vietnamese coffee such as ca phe bac xiu (iced coffee with condensed milk), ca phe trung (egg coffee), sua chua ca phe (yoghurt coffee) and weasel coffee. Alternatively, there are plenty of bars and pubs that open as early as 08:00, where you can enjoy alcoholic beverages at a fraction of what you’d pay back home

5. Catch a performance at Hanoi Opera House

The Hanoi Opera House is the largest theatre in Vietnam, and is regarded as an important historical and cultural landmark of Vietnam under French rule. Built in 1911 and modelled after the Paris Opera House, this historical building exudes Parisian charm from its ivory-toned columns, ornate balustrades and Gothic domes. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of events, including local Vietnamese opera, traditional folk music, ballets and international concerts, with tickets starting at VND 100,000

6. Spend the day at a shopping mall

Open daily, shopping malls in Hanoi are great options for when you need to escape the downpours (or afternoon heat), catch the latest Hollywood films and shop for internationally-renowned brands. While narrow shophouses, outdoor markets and handicrafts outlets are plentiful in downtown Hanoi, contemporary shopping malls are gaining massive popularity among affluent locals and tourists for offering a wide array of dining, shopping and entertainment options under one roof.

7. Go for a spa session

With plenty of five-star hotels with onsite spa centres, as well as standalone outlets found within the city, a spa treatment is just the right remedy after a long day of exploring Hanoi. Catering to almost any budget and preference, Hanoi spas offer Vietnamese, Thai and Swedish-style body massages and reflexology, in addition to the usual offerings of facials, body wraps and scrubs. Some of the most popular hotel spas in Hanoi include Evian Spa, Sante Spa, and Le Spa du Metropole

Alcohol-related harm equivalent to 1.3-3.3% of GDP

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The cost of the harm done to society by alcohol consumption in Vietnam is valued at 1.3-3.3% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), the World Health Organization (WHO) reported at a recent group meeting of the Ministry of Health in Hanoi.

A WHO report revealed that wine and beer consumption by the Vietnamese is high. A Vietnamese person over 15 years old consumes 8.3 liters of pure alcohol on average in 2016, equivalent to that in Thailand, but much higher than in other regional countries, such as Mongolia (7.4 liters), China (7.2 liters), Cambodia (6.7 liters), the Philippines (6.6 liters) and Singapore (2 liters).

WHO data also showed that alcohol was the cause of up to 79,000 deaths in Vietnam in 2016. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of people were hospitalized for alcohol-related diseases.

With serious damage caused by the heavy consumption of alcohol, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien was quoted by VietnamPlus as saying, at a meeting for consultation on the draft law on prevention and control of alcohol-related harm, that it is crucial to solve such damages and reduce the burden on the healthcare sector, which works with limited resources.

At the meeting, the WHO presented some specific solutions to reduce alcohol consumption.

As shared by WHO Representative in Vietnam Dr. Kidong Park, evidence has pointed out that alcohol price hikes could help reduce consumption at hazardous levels for drinkers in general, and young people in particular.

The rate of deaths caused by alcohol consumption would then decline.

Another solution is restricting easy access and the accessibility of wine and beer on the market by introducing rules to reduce the number of stores selling alcohol, restricting the selling hours and minimum ages of buyers and consumers, as well as putting in place a strict licensing mechanism.

The WHO representative also mentioned the need for regulations concerning the advertising of alcohol products.

Many studies found that young people with frequent exposure to alcohol advertisements tend to start drinking earlier, or drink more often. Therefore, a restriction or ban on alcohol advertisements can cause alcohol use to decline, particularly among young consumers.

Also, attempts to prevent the damage caused by alcohol use will bring significant benefits to the nation. As the WHO estimated this year, every U.S. dollar spent on preventing the damage caused by alcohol consumption will gain benefits equivalent to US$9.13, according to Dr. Kidong Park.

Another report issued by the WHO early this year showed that at least 40% of the victims of traffic accidents involve drivers violating drinking and driving laws.

According to Nguyen Van Viet, chairman of the Vietnam Beer Alcohol Beverage Association, homemade wine has caused losses of VND800 billion to the budget, which is as much as the sector’s budget contribution. Thus a draft law should clearly set out the responsibilities of local authorities.

Source: Saigontimes

Can cosmetics manufacturers make money in Vietnam?

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For new cosmetic brands which remain little known, it is not easy to make money.

However, according to one businesswoman, the Vietnamese market is ‘easy in terms of customers’.

At the Mekong Beauty Show, an exhibition on make-up, beauty care and spas held recently, TVR, a foreign invested cosmetics and food manufacturer, introduced a new biological skin-care mask, made of Ben Tre coconut extract.

The product attracted the attention of many visitors. However, analysts say it’s early too say if the product can sell well in Vietnam, where more and more organic beauty-care products have appeared.

A survey by Nielsen found that the demand for make-up made of natural materials or organic products in Vietnam is 40 percent higher than in other regional countries. The market analysis firm believes that the products made of chemicals are not the cosmetics Vietnamese are looking for.

Commenting about Vietnam’s market, Bui Ngoc Quynh Giao, branding director of Ilahui Vietnam, said doing business in Vietnam is not easy.

Explaining this, Giao said the average income of people is on the rise, leading to an increase in spending on cosmetics. Vietnamese favor foreign made products, but not all of them can go abroad to buy cosmetics or buy foreign products here.

Meanwhile, each product fits a certain market. Therefore, buying cosmetics in Vietnam with consultancy from Vietnamese officers is still a prevailing trend.

Also according to Giao, it is difficult for businesses to implement regulations. As Vietnam-made products are not favored by customers, enterprises want to import products for domestic sale. However, it takes time and money to obtain documents proving the quality of import products.

However, Claudia Bonfiglioli from Informa Beauty commented that the Vietnamese market is full of potential, with extremely high demand for natural and organic products.

More and more world famous brands are available in the market.

The problem is that the market still lacks connections between distributors and manufacturers.

Meanwhile, customers tend to be choosier. Therefore, transparency is the factor that cosmetics manufacturers need to observe.

According to Huynh Bich Tran from Nielsen Vietnam, 43 percent of Asians will pay for high-end products, but 60-72 percent of customers seek products made of natural materials.

The market segment of high-end products with natural materials in Vietnam is still large enough for manufacturers and distributors to exploit.

Asia Plus in September 2016 announced the results of its survey, reporting that 44 percent of surveyed people spent at least VND200,000 a month on cosmetics and 80 percent of women aged below 29 spent VND300,000.

Kim Chi report on VNN

Why do rains cause traffic jams in Hanoi without fail?

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Traffic jams does not happen in every city. But in Hanoi, Vietnam there will be a slower pace of traffic, which is for obvious reasons. If you are in Hanoi today, you would see traffic jam happened due to rain. Whichever the reasons are, see the photos below for your references.

Don’t worry at all if your time in Hanoi is almost covered with rain.

Traffic on the street will be crazy after a heavy rain as usual

If you visited Hanoi for the first time, you will have more chances to see this scene

Sometimes you don’t know people riding on the street or river?

If you cannot move, stop anywhere to relax

Or using the social networks while waiting for the rain to stop

For some people, walking better than riding a motorbike as water may damage the engine (or already damaged)

This lady is trying to stop water from getting into her house

This is not motorcycle washing. I guess the water made it fallout

Photos credited: Ngoc Thang, Hoang Oanh @Tri Thuc Tre

HCM City Spiderman fined

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A popular internet clip has shown a man being detained and later fined for wearing a Spiderman costume on HCM City’s Nguyen Hue pedestrian street.
According to the clip, the young man in Spiderman costume was detained by security officers on Nguyen Hue Street.

Many people said that this kind of activity did not harm the street and just made the street more colourful.

“The Spiderman image is quite well known, particularly to children, so, it should be encouraged,” said Vo Kim Hung from HCM City’s District 5.

However, according to authorities of Ben Nghe Ward, business activities are banned on Nguyen Hue Street. Many people wear Spiderman or Mickey Mouse costumes to earn money from taking photos.

After taking photos, people are invited to buy sweets. As a result, the man in the video was fined VND150,000 (USD6.81).

Earlier this year, a man was also fined because for wearing a Spiderman costume for the same purpose on Nguyen Hue Street.

Source: Dtinews