Tieng Viet lovers club

[KangTuo]

Originally Posted by jackbl

Enjoy your trip to vn and hope to see u back soon and many sms fr your NEW galsssssssssss.....

Thanks. This will be a short and busy trip... anyway everytime i go vn i only enjoy having my girlfriend by my side.

Waiting for you to intro gals to me before i can post many sms here.

[jackbl]

Floral street welcomes spring to HCM City
============================

The Nguyen Hue avenue of Ho Chi Minh City is undergoing a major transformation to become a floral street to welcome the nation’s biggest festival – Tet (Lunar New Year), which will fall in late January this year.


One of five huge counterfeit watermelon fruit for the festival (Photo: TTO)
This year’s floral festival, lasting from 19h, Jan. 23 (the 28th day of the last month of the Rat Year) to 22h Jan. 28 (the third day of the new year), is the sixth ever so far hosted by the HCM City People’s Committee and financed by the city’s businesses. It has become the city’s most awaited festival every spring.

About 100,000 pots of flowers and bonsai will be brought in from different regions nationwide, not including fresh flowers supplied by flower growing centres in Da Lat central highlands city and the southwestern region, to decorate the 800m long road.

The one-way floral road will begin with a garden of 100 ancient trees of mai - apricot trees with yellow flowers, the traditional Tet flower in the southern region.

The road then will be divided into seven sections with different themes depicting Vietnam ’s countryside with stacks of yellow straw, green bamboo trees, rice fields, make-shift bridges crossing small canals.

The road will ends at the Bach Dang port with a field of green watermelon plants and a 5-m high artificial watermelon fruit.

In addition to various arts and music performances along the floral road, the festival also includes a 15-minute firework in the New Year’s eve.

Source: VNA

[jackbl]

My humble try:
From the day i come over to now, I just know about money money. You are the first person I think of in sgp, but you make my feeling lose, you know? You see your fren and my fren see each other, u angry me? I see your fren sms your fren bring my fren go beach, and u? That day I no go work wait for u whole day bring me go beach XXXX ..... U hv think of my feeling or not??

XXX is those that i dun understand.

Originally Posted by KangTuo

long sms from the gal:

E tu ngay qua day den gio chi biet tien tien a la nguoi dau tien e nghi den o sin nay. Nhung a da lam mat di cam nhan cua e a biet kg? A thay ban a va ban e cung thay vay a gion e kg? E thay ban a nt dien thoai ban a dua ban e di lam di bien con a thi sao. Hom do e kg di lam doi a ca ngay a dua e ra bien dua ngoi a lai doi ve. A co nghi den cam nhan e kg?

Care to interprete?

[Hurricane88]

Students’ laptops a curse in disguise?

Students play online games with their laptops at a Ho Chi Minh City dormitory. Many students say they don’t use the devices for studying.
Many university students convince their parents to buy them expensive laptops for school only to neglect their studies for pornography, online games and chat rooms.


A third-year business student at Ho Chi Minh City’s University of Economics, Le Duy T., convinced his mother to buy him a laptop by saying that he needed it for research.

“Without a laptop, I can’t study!” he told her.

But ever since his mother bought him the computer, T. has spent less time studying and more time chatting, listening to music and downloading and watching films. He stays up most nights until 3 or 4 a.m., glued to the screen without spending a minute on his school assignments.

Huynh Van Ph., a student at the Ho Chi Minh City Information Technology College told his parents he needed a computer for studying as well. “It’s useful to have a laptop,” he says.

“We can access sex websites for free anywhere there’s Wi-Fi,” he says without a hint of irony.

A student at HCMC’s Vocational College No.8, says he saves more than VND500,000 (US$29.58) per month playing games on his computer rather than paying heftier fees at Internet shops like he used to.

Another student at the college, Tuan A., says he plays games all day everyday.

Classmate Thanh T. says “We mainly use computers to play games,” adding that users often find Wi-Fi hotspots so they don’t have to worry about slow connections at Internet cafes.

Truong The S. from the University of Economics says he uses his laptop to “save” him when he runs out of money or loses a football bet.

“I’ve had the laptop for five months, but I’ve only used it a couple of times because it’s usually at the pawnshop,” he says.

Reported by Nguyen Thanh Nam

[jackbl]

I posted this news yesterd liao... u never read my previous postings hor ....

Originally Posted by Hurricane88

Students’ laptops a curse in disguise?

[jackbl]

Now then i know that their year end bonus is issued before NEW YEAR...

City firms to pay workers Tet bonus despite hardship
=====================================

Though many Ho Chi Minh City companies have suspended or cut back on production due to the economic downturn, they still plan to pay their workers Tet bonuses.


Apparel and footwear companies plan to pay a bonus of VND900,000 on average.

Phong Phu Textile Corporation has promised each worker VND6 million, with Nguyen Thi Lien, chairwoman of its labor union, saying: “The company gave each employee VND7 million in 2008. Though business has been very bad, it is still trying to pay the same amount.”

On average, State-owned companies plan to pay VND3-5 million, foreign firms will pay VND2.5-3 million, and domestic private firms, VND1.2-3 million.

Again, there are exceptions -- like Thep Viet Company which plans to pay VND8-25 million and Duc Phat Bakery Company which is considering an amount of VND15 million.

The Tan Binh District Labor Union said all enterprises in the district have vowed to pay 50-80 percent of workers’ January salary in advance.

All 156 firms in District 1, 57 of 67 firms in Cu Chi District, 151 of 273 firms in District 12, and 136 of 179 units in District 2 are set to pay Tet bonuses.

Many gave their workers leave of absence right from December for Tet due to a shortage of orders. Tet is on January 26 this year. But they still paid full salaries plus VND300,000 for transport.

Natural Choice Company, a pottery and porcelain producer in Cu Chi District, has not received any orders and so plans to relieve workers on January 17 after paying them December and January salaries plus a month’s bonus.

Though Tan Binh Company suffered losses, closing one factory and laying off 636 workers last year, it has promised to pay a month’s basic salary as a year-end bonus.

Some companies in Tan Binh District said they would subsidize half or the entire transport costs of their staff. Some have also promised gifts in addition to a Tet bonus.

Nguyen Van Xem, deputy chairman of the District 12 Labor Union, said the union would help 500 workers who cannot return home celebrate Lunar New Year in the city.

By Mai Huong – Translated by Hoang Yen

[jackbl]

Be careful of your belongings when u are walking on the streets!!!

Camera snatchers steal Kodak moments
============================

Photographer H.T. employs three security guards every time he takes a picture.


He began using them after his US$5,000 camera and 200 gigabyte memory card were stolen from around his neck on the street in front of the city’s Central Post last November.

A series of expensive camera robberies in Ho Chi Minh City have caused much anxiety for the area’s amateur and professional photographers.

Another photographer, who wished to be known only as H.V., told Thanh Nien two men on a motorbike snatched his camera along with his tripod last month when he was taking advertising pictures for a karaoke shop at the corner of Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street and Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in District 3.

On of the robbers even turned around and gave him a big smile, he said.

H.V. said the camera was worth thousands of dollars but the pictures saved on the memory card were irreplaceable.

He said he had seen more than 30 camera robberies near his shop on District 1’s Nguyen Hue Street last year.

A foreign tourist had his Nikon camera snatched there recently and had to be hospitalized after being pushed to the ground by the robbers, H.V. said, adding that “robberies happen almost every week here.”

Photojournalist T.L. said thieves grabbed his VND62 million ($3,400) camera from out of his hands on Dong Khoi Street.

Many photographers have begun using stronger camera straps or chaining their equipment to their bodies to prevent robberies.

A strong strap wrapped around his hand helped T.H. keep his VND100 million “treasure” on New Year’s Day when two thieves tried to grab it.

But not before they dragged him on the ground, T.H. said.

Reported by Le Anh Du

[jackbl]

U may take the opp to buy cheaper goods....

Busy times during pre-Tet rush
===================================

VietNamNet Bridge - With just over two weeks before Tet, home services and beauty salons and others have been bustling with shoppers eager to snap up promotions.

Gift and cake orders

Dong A (East Asia) Bank has tested a program for customers to send and receive remittances and gifts. The Bank will provide the service for free.

The Bank has also coordinated with Coop Mart, Sai Gon Supermarket and Nguyen Kim Electronic Appliance Center to help customers send gifts for their relatives, most are electrical appliances.

The ‘Big C’ system has established two warehouses in the southern and the northern regions to pack and transfer Tet gifts in order to prevent late deliveries and goods shortages during the Tet.

The system also gives customers more choice by preparing small gift baskets, fromVND49,000 -VND1 million ($2.75 - $56).

The number of customers ordering gifts has increased 10 percent from last year.

Food producers have been busy making regional specialties such as Tet cake, Soc Trang red rice, sausages, clam worm sauce and Buon Ma Thuot coffee amongst others.

Muoi Xiem Rice Pancake and Tu My restaurant has begun ordering services for Tét cake at VND32,000 - VND37,000 and glutinous rice cake at VND12,000.

Cakes can be ordered by phone and delivered to your house.

Decorating homes at knock-down prices

Most businesses specializing in maintaining, repairing, decorating or tidying houses have also been sending out marketing staff to entice customers with promotional deals. For example, customers can pay just VND40,000 per hour for air-conditioners to be cleaned or VND20,000 for their homes to be tidied.

Beauty salons have also been doing great business in hair extensions, hair dying, eyelashes, manicures and other such services at 10 - 20 percent discounts.

(Source: SGGP)

[jackbl]

Its afterall not cheap to buy medicine in vn nowsaday

Drug prices to rise in 2009
================================

VietNamNet Bridge - Drug Administration of Viet Nam director Truong Quoc Cuong warns that pharmaceutical products – especially domestic medicines made from imported materials – are likely to cost more this year.

And the Viet Nam Pharmaceutical and Manufacturing and Trading Association estimates that the rise could be between 4 and 10 per cent.

"The inflation and high Consumer Price Index of last year will limit pharmaceutical investment in 2009," the director said.

Higher costs for electricity and wages would add to the pressure to raise prices.

The drug administration director said that the prices of many drugs had already risen 5 to 10 per cent since November in Ha Noi’s pharmaceutical centres such as Ngoc Khanh, Lang Ha, Van Mieu, and Hai Ba Trung.

Tenders for the supply of medicines to hospitals and public health institutions would be made transparent and carefully monitored to mitigate the rises.

A national tender system would be piloted for commonly used medicines and changes to the drug reserve fund recommended to the Government, he said.

Authorised agencies would monitor drug prices and severely punish violations.

Expensive

Ha Noi pharmacy owner Nguyen Ngoc Trung said some imported medicines, including antibiotics and speciality drugs, had become more expensive.

The wholesale price of Zinnat 500mg has increased from VND207,000 to VND226,000 a box; Efferalgan from VND33,000 to VND37,500, and insulin from VND72,000 to VND88,000.

Several drug importers and distributors have put pharmacies and hospitals on notice that drug prices are set to rise.

Nguyen Thi Hoa, of Ha Noi, is among the many to have been affected by the higher prices.

"I bought the US-made digestive drug Lactylase for VND60,000, about US$4, in early 2007," she said.

"Now it costs VND78,000 – an increase of almost 30 per cent in 18 months.

"Sometimes when the world price of crude oil falls, you see lower prices for petrol and transport.

"But I’ve never heard of anything but higher prices for drugs, again and again," she said.

Health Ministry data shows a monopoly over the import and distribution of pharmaceutical drugs does not exist in Viet Nam.

Instead, there is fierce competition between 425 foreign-owned pharmaceutical distributors and 90 direct importers.

But Hau Giang Pharmaceutical Joint-stock Company general director Pham Thi Viet Nga said the continuing financial crisis would heavily impact the market.

The depreciation of the dong against the US dollar would affect Viet Nam’s makers of medicinal medicines already very reliant on imported pharmaceutical materials, she said.

"Obviously, there is pressure from the competition between drug companies in Viet Nam and prices might have to be adjusted," she added.

But any adjustments should be carefully considered so as to benefit both the companies and society."

Hau Giang is among Viet Nam’s major drug companies.

The company plans to maintain its revenue and start construction of a $8.5 million-factory that meets the WHO-GMP standard this year.

"We have an advantage in our nation-wide distribution and sales system," the general director said.

(Source: VNS)

[jackbl]

Phu Quoc still paradise
=================

VietNamNet Bridge - Previously Phu Quoc had been a secret. Anyone who visited at the turn of the century will recall a sleepy island with few tourist services and not much by the way of infrastructure.

And despite the talk of a construction boom, for many years nothing much changed. But there are now signs of a more mass-tourist friendly Phu Quoc emerging. The on-going construction of two main, long roads from Duong Dong town to Cua Can commune in the north and to An Thoi town in the south will make remote parts of the island more accessible than ever before. Construction on the new international airport broke ground recently, boosting the government’s dream to turn Phu Quoc into an international beach destination.

What is good news for the State’s coffers and investors might be bad news for those who came to Phu Quoc, because of the fact it was off the tourist map and free from tacky resorts. While infrastructure was limited, you could still jump on a motorbike and drive around the island; there’s nothing like turning down some random bumpy road only to discover a white sandy beach with turquoise waters at the end. You could sit back in a hammock, order fried squid from a local family and sip on a cool beer and smugly grin as though you had discovered a lost paradise.

It’s not like Phu Quoc has suddenly turned into Ko Samui, mind you. For the time being many of the beaches on the island remain untouched. Away from Duong Dong town at the end of the under-construction roads there’s still plenty of untouched paradise for those who need to get away from it all.
Flopping around on these beaches, you’ll find it hard to disagree with the travel website that recently voted Phu Quoc as one of top five hidden beaches in the world; although there is a certain irony to promoting a destination’s hidden quality

The island is also ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving. In the middle of the island you will find tropical forests on a low mountain range which makes for good trekking. The forest’s diversified fauna and flora makes it a conservationist’s dream. One of two famous springs on the island is Da Ban, just outside of Duong Dong by a large lake, which supplies fresh water for the islanders. The only way to reach the spring is to take a 10-minute trip on a sampan – it is $10 for a return trip. Large rocks form small ponds around the spring, which make for ideal baths.

Tourists sit in the sun, reading novels, munching on grilled shrimp. The only dilemma is whether to order a fruit juice or a cold beer. You can easily find a secluded spot should you wish to bathe au naturel. The setting is postcard perfect with majestic rock formations and pristine forests all around.

Later on in the evening, you may spot a few signs of what might be to come if tourism continues to grow on Phu Quoc. On the beach a number of new bars have opened catering for the young, sunburned and thirsty travellers. Among them, Ahoy is said to be the biggest. It features an underground bar. On one particular visit business is slow.

In fact, there are only three customers. Undeterred by the measly crowd a resident Filipino band plays a rousing set. But Phu Quoc is not for bars or late nights. The three customers all head off for an early night. Tomorrow morning paradise island awaits.

(Source: Timeout)

[jackbl]

Ha Long tourism in 2008
===================

Over 2.65 million visitors came to Ha Long Bay in 2008, an increase of 48.8 percent over 2007. Of those 1.71 million were foreign visitors, a 67.6 percent increase, the Bay’s management board has said.

The management board organized a vote to nominate Ha Long as of one the seven natural wonders of the world. The voting took place at Hoang Gia (royal) International Park and Bai Chay Tourist Wharf attracting over 18,000 votes.

The reduction of littering, throwing mud into the sea, begging, and using dynamite to catch fish have been a priority for local authorities.

Houseboats and ships operating on the sea were managed well to ensure security for tourists, the board said.

At present, there are 595 houseboats with 2,168 people on the bay, 90 percent of people have signed a pledge to protect Ha Long.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has officially announced the first ‘99 tours’ with 50 percent discounts for package tours on the morning of January 4.

These 99 tours focus on potential tourism markets such as China, France, western countries and Russia.

The promotional tours on the program to attract international tourists and stimulate domestic tourism in 2009 has brought the participation of 37 international travel companies, 61 hotels, many restaurants and transport firms.

Promotional tours for domestic tourists will be announced next week.

The same morning, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism also made the promotional website Impressive Vietnam! public.

By staff writers – Translated by H.Mien

[jackbl]

Students' money also wanted to bluff ...

Thousands of students swindled
=======================

VietNamNet Bridge – More than 1,000 students in HCM City paid nearly VND500 million ($29,400) to buy train tickets to return home this lunar New Year, but their money has “run away”.

Several months ago, a private company, Anh Tuan Trade – Service – Transport Co., Ltd. sent staff to universities and colleges in HCM City to market a super-cheap transport service for this Tet. It told students they could save up to 30%.

As the service was attractive, many universities helped their students to buy more than 1,000 tickets, valued at nearly VND500 million ($29,400).

On January 8, the company’s director Chau Gia Nguyen announced that his cashier had stolen the money and ran away so his company couldn’t hire coaches to serve students anymore.

Under pressure from schools, Nguyen said he would return money to students on January 10. It is suspected that this firm tried to break the contracts with students to avoid losses. However, as Tet is approaching, students say they can’t buy tickets to return home.

Hong Bang University invited a lawyer to look into the case and the Anh Tuan Company has agreed to provide services for this university’s students at a contracted price.

The Chairman of the HCM City Students’ Association, Le Quoc Phong, affirmed that the association will not let any student involved in this case have to stay in HCM City this Tet. The association is seeking alternative services for these students.

At the same time, the Saigon Railways Station said it will provide tickets at a half of normal fares for students.

PV

[jackbl]

Thieves move into higher leagues, residents urged greater caution
==============================================
High walls, barbed wire, bigger locks, and even the presence of guards are not deterring thieves in Ho Chi Minh City, who have become more sophisticated in planning and executing their operations, police say.


They are urging residents to be on the alert for more skillful thieves and take extra precautions.

The number of robberies in 2008 increased three percent year on year to 2,000, only 700 of which were busted and 866 people penalized, city police figures reveal.

More than VND10 billion (US$573,900) was lost to motorbike robberies as the police could only manage to retrieve 820 out of 2,229 motorbikes reported stolen. Motorbikes topped the list of stolen items.

For the past several months, thieves have succeeded in stealing dozens of motorbikes from outside offices, stores, hotels and restaurants by making a commotion nearby to distract security guards.

City police official Trinh Kim Son said that at least one guard must be assigned to stay and keep an eye on the vehicles, no matter what happens.

Housebreaking has also turned more professional, police said, noting that burglars are spending several million dong on tools like strings, ladders and pincers of all types.

In the middle of last year, a motorbike and other valuables were robbed from a four-storey house on District 1’s Tran Dinh Xu Street despite the house’s high, barbed wired wall.

The robbers had climbed to a terrace nearby and moved to the house’s roof, police found out later.

They removed the ceiling ventilating fan to enter the house, got the keys to unlock the four gates on the ground floor and left with their loot.

In November, a resident in Phu Nhuan District’s Ward 7 lost three motorbikes. She locked the door from the inside but the housebreakers used pincers to prise it open. They were aided by the fact that the door had an opening that gave the pincers a grip.

The same trick was used last Wednesday in a house in Go Vap District to steal VND500 million($28,700) worth of cash and jewelry.

Son said some residents were wrongly focusing on using bigger locks. He said they should take other precautions as well, including ensuring that there were no slits or holes in doors that the thieves could use.

Reported by Dam Huy

[jackbl]

BTW playing fireworks and crackers in vn is illegal hor


Tet fireworks to be set off in 58 localities
==============================

Fifty eight cities and provinces will set off fireworks on the eve to welcome the lunar New Year, which falls this year on January 26.


In Hanoi, a 15-minute display will take place at 16 spots in the inner city and suburbs, including Hoan Kiem, West lakes and the My Dinh Stadium.

In Ho Chi Minh City, artistic displays are scheduled at 12 sites as part of the city’s program to usher in Tet.

Localities around the country will also organize numerous cultural and arts events to mark the arrival of the New Year.

Source: VNA

[jackbl]

Bro KT, now i can understand what the wordings in RED means, i will try to give it a shot at it:
"If I ever smile again, that is only for consoling myself, still will be sad"

Originally Posted by jackbl

Gal: Cho du e co cuoi di nua. Thi do chi de tu an ui minh chu dau co het buon dau. 21 nay e ve en roi e chuc a o day that vui va hanh phuc ben gia dinh nha a yeu.