Vietnamese-Canadian bubble artist Fan Yang and his family will be touring China, Singapore and Vietnam this summer.

Bubble artist Fan Yang

Yang will perform at the Friendship Cultural Palace in Hanoi on May 27 and June 2, and in Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province from June 3-10.

Fan Yang is a famed bubble master who holds 16 bubble-related world records.

He is a Canadian citizen but was born in Vietnam in 1962. His father is Hungarian and his mother is Vietnamese, who still lives in the northern city of Hai Phong. He left Vietnam for the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with his father in 1964. He was introduced to the art of bubble blowing at six years of age, before he moved to Canada.

He has held many performances around the world since 1982.

Internationally known bubble artist Fan Yang donated VND500million (US$25,000) to Sai Gon Giai Phong charity programme “Nghia Tinh Truong Son” (Sentimental Attachment for Truong Son Road) on May 3 from proceeds of his performance at the Hoa Binh Theatre in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2011.

He showed a keen interest in the newspaper’s charity programme which helps war heroes, war invalids, martyrs’ families, youth volunteers and the poor ethnic people that live along the provinces of Truong Son road. During the resistance war against US invaders, the provinces along Truong Son road, often called the Ho Chi Minh trail,   suffered heavy human losses.

source from: saigon-gpdaily

The final round, which will finish on May 13 includes 32 teams. The winners will represent Vietnam at the Asian Broadcasting Union’s Robocon in Hong Kong in August later this year.

With the theme, Peng On Dai Gat (Peace and Prosperity), the metal competitors will have to climb a tower to pick up lucky dumplings.

The robots controller has to sit on and drive another robot at the same time. Then another robot has to take buns from the first and the second level and deposit them in a basket. After that the operator’s robot has to lift the other robot up, in order to put the buns in a second, higher basket.

At the same time, the 2012 Robocon Techshow will take place from May 7-13, to encourage students to manufacture high-tech products.

The Robocon qualifying rounds, which took place earlier this month in Da Nang , HCM City and Hanoi, attracted 235 teams.

The competition is organised by Toyota Motors Vietnam, which has sponsored the contest for the last 11 years.

source from: vir

“Dido and Aeneas,” one of the earliest operas by English baroque composer Henry Purcell, will hit Ho Chi Minh City for the first time tonight.

Originally based on Nahum Tate’s libretto “Brutus of Alba, or The Enchanted Lovers” in1678, the opera recounts the love story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan hero Aeneas, and her despair at his abandonment of her, in a prologue and three acts.

The show will include the participation of well-known South Korean soprano Cho Hae Ryong as Queen Dido, soloist Pham Trang as Aeneas, and artists from the HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Lars Notto Birkeland.

Tickets cost from VND250,000 to 500,000 for the general public and VND60,000 for students.

The opera, which will be performed in English, will start at 8pm at the HCMC Opera House at 7 Cong Truong Lam Son in District 1.

source from: tuoitrenews

Travel agent Saigontourist welcomed luxury cruise ship Costa Victoria carrying 2,300 passengers and crew in Ho Chi Minh City on May 7.

This is the first time Costa Victoria of Costa Crociere S.p.A. has visited Vietnam . The tourists, mostly from Italy , Spain , the UK and Germany , will see water puppets, go shopping in Ben Thanh market and explore Cu Chi tunnels.

During their five-day stay, they are expected to dock at Da Nang on May 9 to explore the central city, My Son sanctuary, the former imperial city of Hue and Hoi An ancient town. The ship will later visit Ha Long Bay in the north of the country.

source from: tuoitrenews

More than 100 officials and experts from the 21 member nations of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and airlines are attending the April 19-20 workshop which is focused on issues related to aviation security and ways to boost cooperation in the field.

Nguyen Ngoc Son, Assistant to the Vietnamese Foreign Minister, said the event is part of the implementation of important APEC cooperation orientations, including the new APEC growth strategy, the APEC Strategy on Counter-Terrorism and Secure Trade, and an action plan on facilitating the movement of people and goods.

As a member of ASEAN, APEC, and other regional organisations, Vietnam will take the initiative to participate in cooperation programs and join efforts to strengthen economic connectivity and create favourable conditions for trade and investment, Son said.

Muhamad Noor Yacob, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, reaffirmed that APEC has potential for fostering cooperation in aviation security, which will help strengthen economic connectivity.

The APEC Secretariat is willing to assist APEC members to implement cooperation programs and initiatives in this field, he said.

Delegates looked at important issues such as building policies and applying programs to maintain aviation security, technological solutions for air cargo security, as well as measures to boost cooperation within APEC and between APEC and related international organizations.

It is also scheduled to adopt a joint report with important proposals, which will be submitted to the Second Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM2) in Russia in May and the 24th APEC Foreign-Economic Ministerial Meeting in September.

source from: dtinews

Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta was in second place with 12 houses sold to foreigners.

Ba Ria Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Hai Phong, Dong Thap and other provinces have sold between 1-6 houses to foreigners/overseas Vietnamese so far.

Meanwhile, real estate in the capital city of Hanoi has not been chosen by many foreigners and overseas Vietnamese despite a reduction in prices, the VnEconomy reported.

Only three overseas Vietnamese and a person from the Czech Republic bought houses in Hanoi so far, of which three were in outer districts, including two in Me Linh and one in Gia Lam.

Information on the specific number of foreigners buying house in Vietnam is unavailable but the report said the proportion was small in comparison to the number of overseas Vietnamese buyers.

An official from the Land Registration and Statistics Department said the actual number of overseas Vietnamese buying houses in Vietnam may be higher, but many had asked their relatives in the country to register the ownership on their behalf.

source from: thanhniennews

The third APEC air cargo security workshop opened in Ho Chi Minh City on April 19, drawing the participation of over 100 delegates from 21 APEC economic members, international organizations and regional airlines.

The workshop, a follow-up of the last two workshops, in Thailand in 2008 and Singapore in 2010, aims to review issues for ensuring air cargo security and propose measures to further strengthen regional cooperation in the field.

Assistant to the Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Ngoc Son stressed that the workshop is one of the first steps in vital APEC cooperation adopted by senior leaders, including the new growth strategy, the strategy on trade safety and anti-terrorism and the action plan on facilitation of travel for passengers and cargo.

As a member of ASEAN, APEC and other regional mechanisms, Vietnam has continued to participate in cooperative programs, contributing to joint efforts to strengthen linkages and economic connectivity and create a safe and favorable environment for trade and investment, he said.

Ambassador Muhamad Noor Yacob, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, affirmed APEC’s potential to boost cooperation in aviation security, describing it as a significant step towards the promotion of economic development and increased linkages.

He stressed the APEC Secretariat’s readiness to support and work closely with members to implement specific cooperative programs and initiatives in the area.

Addressing the workshop, a representative from Vietnam National Civil Aviation Security Committee noted aviation security is a field of interest for Vietnam , adding that the country actively participates in international cooperation within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, including APEC, in order to ensure aviation security in the region.

At the workshop, APEC members discussed the creation of policies and application of programmes to ensure air cargo security, technological solutions and initiatives on air cargo security, plus measures to increase cooperation among APEC and between APEC and concerned international organizations.

The workshop’s common report with key recommendations is expected to be adopted at the end of the event on April 20. The report will be submitted to the second APEC senior officials’ meeting scheduled for next month in Russia and the 24 th APEC foreign and economic ministers’ meeting in Russia in September.

source from: tuoitrenews

On March 23, the Saigon Transport and Mechanics Company (Samco) began the ten-story project on Co Giang Street in District 1.

The amount of total investment has not been released but the company said the project will accommodate 500 cars.

The Investment Development for Underground Space Corporation (IUS) also said it will continue the US$100 million project on Le Van Tam Street this August so that it could be put in service in 2015. The project was started in 2010, but red tape has stalled its construction.

Another project on Cach Mang Thang Tam is also planned to break ground this year.

Two other ventures which have been approved are located at Hoa Lu Stadium at the corner of Dinh Tien Hoang and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Streets, and one at Tao Dan Park on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.

Since 2003, HCMC has been planning to develop high rise parking lots to solve the lack of space for vehicles in the city.

A couple of high-rise parking lots were built at luxury apartment buildings such as Thao Dien and Hai Van Nam but they exclusively serve cars associated with that building.

Many roads in the city are now used as parking lots for cars, only worsening traffic congestion.

VnExpress on Wednesday cited city statistics as saying that nearly 500,000 cars and more than five million motorbikes are registered in the city, in addition to more than a million vehicles from outsiders who commute into the city each day.

The investors say they will use automatic vehicle arrangement technology, in which drivers simply push a button upon entering the structure and their cars are then moved automatically.

The technology reduces carbon emissions as users do not have to drive around the structure in search of a parking spot.

The parking lots will be unmanned, thus casualties from potential fires or explosions will be limited, the investors said.

“We only need a very small area and simple iron frames,” said Vu Huy Thang, general director of Billco JSC which on March 22 proposed his own multi-story parking lot project.

Thang said such parking lots are useful for office and apartment buildings that draw a lot of cars but have little space to house them.

Nguyen Thi Bao Quynh, deputy general director of Dong Duong Corporation which invested in the parking lots at Hoa Lu and Cach Mang Thang Tam, said a multi-story parking lot has a capacity to hold 20 times more cars than normal ones.

Nguyen Dinh Hung, deputy director of HCMC Department of Architecture and Planning, said the city can attract individuals or private firms to invest in such projects by simplifying the procedures and establishing reasonable prices for parking once the structures are built.

source from: thanhniennews

The 62-year-old diva, who is popular for her impromptu performing style, said that she cannot wait for the show, where she plans to perform the pop and jazz hits which made her famous.

“50 years of singing is a great landmark. But my age and health cannot be counted in mere years. It’s time for me to have the live show, since I am healthy and ready to deliver my best possible performance for my beloved fans,” said Loan.

Loan said her April 5 appearance will be her first and last show solely dedicated to her.

“I usually perform at the Sax n’ Art cabaret from Thursday through Sunday, but I truly wanted a show of my own,” she explained.

“This show will be filmed and released in DVD as a lifetime gift to me, my friends and all jazz-lovers. I have not thought of retirement, but that day will come, sooner or later. My children want me to move to the US to stay with them, and I am considering it. Maybe I will leave Vietnam next year. But I will come back and forth between Vietnam and America. Otherwise, the nostalgia would kill me, for sure.”

Loan also revealed that the show will gather friends of hers, including noted musicians Tran Manh Tuan, Nguyen Tan Quoc, Thanh Tan, Ly Huynh Long and Phu Toan.

The show will take place at the We Lounge bar at 8 Le Quy Don Street in District 1.

source from: thanhniennews

Saigon Heat captain John Smith pressuring the Indonesia Warriors’ Mario Wuysang at Tan Binh Sports Stadium on March 17. PHOTO: NIKKI BISENIEKS

“This stands for victory, peace and Vietnam,” says head coach Jason Rabedeaux every time the Saigon Heat win, flashing the two-finger salute. Since taking over head coaching duties for Vietnam’s first professional basketball team, the previously 0-7 Heat have taken four of six from their rivals in the ASEAN Basketball Association (ABL).

The turnaround has been something to behold, as the team has transformed to mirror the spirited intensity of their coach. They weren’t that bad to begin with, but now, win or lose, the team’s play justifies the overwhelming support and loyalty their fans bestowed upon them from the outset their inaugural season.

With every game a near sellout, even before the losing streak ended, the energy at Tan Binh Stadium has been absolutely electric—to the point that if you didn’t know better, you’d think the screaming Heat fans were paid actors, highly-skilled and seasoned artists trained to chant ‘D-FENCE’ like their lives depend on it every single time the opposing team gains possession of the basketball. They bring wild homemade signs, spell out Saigon Heat on their chests and have an uncanny knack for sensing when their team needs them most, often cheering raucously after the Heat’s opponent has just scored several straight unanswered baskets.

Team owner Connor Nguyen presides over a show complete with all the bells and whistles: professional cheerleaders (The Saigon Hot Girls); a zealously partisan emcee of sorts (an amazing character who goes by ‘Rap Soul’); and troupes slinging t-shirts into the crowd and reigning over other forms of basketball related silliness.

It’s as if basketball has been Vietnam’s most popular sport for decades.

“My parents had never seen a basketball game in their lives, but now they know the difference between personal and team fouls,” said Huy Ngo, the Heat’s PR director, who knew nothing about basketball himself as recently as last October, but who now sounds like a Vietnamese Dick Vitale.

The sport’s kinetic characteristics fit present day Vietnam perfectly. The great John Wooden used to implore his players, “Be quick, but don’t hurry.” I can’t think of a better description of how HCMC residents go about their daily lives—frenetic, but not frantic. And though only one of the Heat’s Vietnamese players, Trieu Han Minh, plays significant minutes, the Saigon fans are right to embrace the team as their own. The ABL is dominated by “American Imports,” as they’re known within the league’s vernacular and the Heat are no different than their rivals based out of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. But a basketball team is only as good as its reserves, upon which the starting lineup depends to provide a challenge during practice, the only ground where improvement grows.

The basketball gods smile down upon hustle and unselfishness. And in this way Minh, though he hasn’t scored that many points thus far, is as emblematic of the Heat’s recent success as anyone. A “Vietnamese basketball legend,” Minh sacrificed his athlete’s ego in joining the Heat, becoming a bench player for the first time in his career. Expect him to have a breakout game before season’s end.

The first time I saw the Heat play was the last game in their season-opening slide and though the visiting Bangkok Cobras physically overmatched them, you could see being undersized and undermanned weren’t the only reasons the Heat had been losing. “They need more Cu Chi Tunnels!” exclaimed Warren, an expat from Los Angeles. Indeed, the Heat weren’t doing everything in their power to win and failed to match the oomph the crowd did its best to provide under the circumstances, which saw nary a Heat player dive onto the hardwood for a single loose ball.

One week later, the team’s personality had undergone a complete makeover. All the intangibles were there, the Heat’s defensive intensity alone indicating the team was ready to hustle its way out of the hole. It was immediately evident that Rabedeaux—an American basketball lifer with a Marine hairdo, pouring sweat as he stomped his big frame up and down the sidelines hollering instructions and encouragement constantly—had helped the Heat find its Cu Chi spirit.

When the Heat’s February 26 home encounter with the Slammers from Thailand was said and done, so was the team’s losing streak, but all anyone could talk about was the crowd. “All we’ve done is lose, and every game more people show up. Our fans are incredible,” said starting center Jonathan Jones.

The next time out the team won its first road game, highlighted by the spectacular debut of the Heat’s latest American import, Jahmar Thorpe.

The team’s American players have all endeared themselves to the Vietnamese fans with their skills, but none more so than team captain John Smith. Unlike Jones, who is 6’9 with long range shooting ability, or Thorpe, who can slash his way to the rim for earthshaking dunks, Smith is a pure scrapper. The starting point guard’s game is predicated on brains and heart. He’s not afraid to put his skinny body in harm’s way, to take a charge or dive for a loose ball. His smothering of opposing guards spearheads the Heat’s defense, which has become the team’s hallmark. Lately, Smith has taken to wearing a Vietnamese flag t-shirt during warm-ups, which he ceremoniously tosses into the crowd just before tipoff. When I asked him how he felt about playing professional basketball in Vietnam, he took a deep breath and exhaled. “Blessed,” he said, smiling broadly.

“I love it here,” added the new resident of District 11.

Filipino imports Noy Javier and Robert Saenz join Jones, Smith and Thorpe in the starting lineup. Javier is a knockdown shooter with one of the prettiest three-point strokes in the ABL; Saenz is a hardnosed forward with a knack for grabbing crucial offensive rebounds. The Vietnamese players, especially Minh, Nguyen Tien Duong, Nguyen Sanh Tan and Pham Thanh Tung, no longer look just happy to be there, but ready to start making bigger contributions to the stat sheet.

The coaching staff is rounded out by assistants Rob Newson, a British basketball guru who has learned Vietnamese and Truong Tuyet, who represented Vietnam, playing on the National Women’s basketball team. Women coaching men is rare in all sports and Tuyet’s presence on the bench is refreshing.

So while in America, basketball fans consume themselves with the NCAA Tournament and look forward to the NBA playoffs and a chance to boo Lebron James and the Miami Heat, grizzled basketball junkies and newly-formed addicts posted up in Vietnam are rediscovering or experiencing for the first time, the essence of the game.

In their most recent game, the Heat snuck past the San Miguel Beermen 66-63 in Manila. Minh connected on a tough driving layup and hit a three and the team played great down the stretch, Coach Rab skillfully keeping his sparse lineup rested by utilizing a zone defense. But after the game, all he could talk about was getting back to Vietnam.

“We have the best fans in the world,” he told the reporter from ESPN Star Sports.

And if there’s anyone qualified to make such a statement, it’s Coach Rab. After replacing the legendary Don Haskins at the University of Texas El Paso in 1999, Rab coached basketball in China, Japan and Bahrain before deciding to take his talents (as Lebron would say) to Vietnam.

The Heat are still in last place and need to win at least six of their remaining eight games to have any chance of making the ABL playoffs. I wouldn’t count them out. And if they keep their coach and core players in place, look for the Heat to rise to the top of the ABL next season.
source from: thanhniennews