Life

He said: "This is horrible. I always leave the air conditioner on and limit heading out as much as possible." He added that the unbearable heat him makes him tired and causes headaches. Truong Thi Kieu Minh said it is the hottest she has experienced during her 15 years in New Delhi. "It is just the beginning of the summer, but it is already too hot for me to handle." She said the heat is already driving her "crazy" and feared it might get worse. She expects temperatures to rise to around 50 degrees in June and July. Vietnamese living in India are struggling to cope with the scorching temperatures as a record heatwave sweeps through the nation, forcing them to drastically change their daily routines. India recorded its third-hottest April in the past 122 years according to the meteorological department. The average maximum temperature was 35.3 degrees, just behind the 35.42 degrees Celsius in 2010 and 35.32 degrees Celsius in 2016, the Indian government said in a recent … [Read more...] about Sizzling weather disrupts life for Vietnamese living in India

Deputy Mayor Zong Ming, speaking at a daily online news conference, gave the clearest timetable yet for a return to normal for the city's 25 million people who have been frustrated by more than six weeks of lockdowns and inconsistent messaging as to when they can resume their lives. Shanghai officials declared the city's epidemic under control but they also said their goal until May 21 would be to prevent a rebound in infections, meaning many curbs will remain in place. Eliminating cases outside quarantine areas is a key condition for resuming normal life under China's strict zero-Covid policy. The city plans to gradually increase domestic flights and rail services, and from Monday will begin reopening supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies. Shanghai's lockdown, along with Covid curbs in numerous other Chinese cities, have battered the world's second-largest economy and disrupted global supply chains. … [Read more...] about Shanghai aims for return to normal life from June 1

Shanghai achieved on Tuesday the long-awaited milestone of three consecutive days with no new COVID-19 cases outside quarantine zones but most residents will have put up with confinement for a while longer before a return to more normal life. For other cities in China that have been under lockdown, a third day with no new cases in the community usually means "zero COVID" status and the beginning of the lifting of restrictions. The commercial hub of 25 million set out on Monday its clearest timetable yet for exiting a lockdown now in its seventh week, but the plan was met with scepticism by many residents who have seen isolation extended time and again. Shanghai plans to resume outdoor activities in stages, with some convenience stores and pharmacies reopening this week, but with most restrictions on movement remaining in place until May 21, after which public transport and other services will resume gradually. By June, the lockdown should be lifted, but residents will still be … [Read more...] about Shanghai achieves ‘zero COVID’ status but normal life is weeks away

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has hailed the U.S.’s policy to support a strong, independent and prosperous Vietnam and affirmed that the U.S. is one of leading partners of the Southeast Asian country. PM Chinh made the statement at his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, D.C on Friday on the sidelines of the ASEAN – U.S. Special Summit that took place on May 12 to 13. Chinh had earlier arrived in the U.S. on Wednesday for his weeklong trip to the country and attendance of the summit, at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden. The PM congratulated the U.S. on successfully responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and bringing life back to normal, as vividly illustrated by the hosting of the summit, in which the U.S. State Department as well as Secretary Blinken personally play a very important role. The Vietnamese government leader also extended his thanks to the U.S. government and people for offering Vietnam nearly 40 million doses of … [Read more...] about US among top important partners of Vietnam: PM Chinh

A pet memorial corner at Tề Đồng Vật Ngã Pagoda. VNS Photo Bảo Ngọc Bảo Ngọc Thousands of pets have been laid to rest in the burial ground of Tề Đồng Vật Ngã Pagoda. Founded 50 years ago, it is a peaceful place in downtown Hà Nội where animal lovers can pay their last respects to their beloved pets. Nguyễn Bảo Sinh, 84, owner of the pet cemetery, believes that pets have the right to be treated like humans. He said that it was one of the main reasons he built the pet cemetery. “I think pets have equal rights as human beings, and they should be treated and loved just like humans,” he said. “Buddhism teaches us to have love and kindness to all, including animals and plants. That is the compassion in Buddha’s teaching. My pagoda is built based on the principle of compassion in Buddhism." From a small ground, Sinh has developed this place into an unusual destination, with “life-to-death” services for pets such as hotels, healthcare, funeral, and cremation. “I used to have a … [Read more...] about An unusual cemetery where pets can be remembered

After a near-death swimming incident, Nguyễn Ngọc Khánh realised he didn't know how to swim in natural water and decided to impart the swimming skills to as many people as possible. The experience has helped him find his life's mission. SWIMMING SAVIOUR: Nguyễn Ngọc Khánh, 35, started a network to give free swimming lessons to kids living along the Red River. Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Ngọc Khánh Inner Sanctum: Can you tell us why you initiated this project to teach swimming to children? It came from my own experience. I have only known how to swim properly for the past three years. After a near-drowning incident, I realised I had to learn how to swim all over again. I want to spread this message to as many people as possible; it's an immense disadvantage when you can't swim. You risk your life on waterways or beaches. I see that in the West, swimming is a major skill taught at school, and everyone needs to know. Whereas in Việt Nam, a country with many rivers and a … [Read more...] about The freedom of wild swimming

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính spoke at the Harvard Kennedy School in Boston, Massachussets on May 14. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has delivered a presentation on building an independent economy associated with extensive, effective, and substantial international integration in Việt Nam during his visit to the Harvard Kennedy School in in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 14 (US time) as part of his working trip to the US. PM Chính stressed the importance of independence laid out in the US’ Declaration of Independence “All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” and the spirit of which had been echoed in Việt Nam’s own Declaration of Independence penned by the late President Hồ Chí Minh. The Vietnamese founding father since the very beginning of the modern Việt Nam expressed the desire to set up equal, comprehensive relations … [Read more...] about PM stressed commitment to independent, integrated economy in Harvard speech

SACRED JOURNEY: Sen Village has become a much-loved destination to visit during May. VNA/VNS Photo Tá Chuyên By Vân Trang and Tá Chuyên It has become a tradition during May every year, that people from across the country and further afield flock to Sen (Lotus) Village in the hometown of beloved President Hồ Chi Minh in Kim Liên Commune, the central province of Nghệ An. This month, the village has again become a hot spot, particularly due to a national celebration that will take place to mark President Hồ's 132nd birthday (May 19), and the country opening to tourism after two years of closure due to the pandemic. A team of friends and colleagues, both Vietnamese and foreigners from Finest Future, an international education group in Finland, chose Sen Village special national relic site for their first-holiday summer trip. They were among hundreds of thousands of visitors who have been and will visit the locality this month to pay tribute to President Hồ's noble … [Read more...] about Visiting President Hồ’s idyllic hometown

It is not uncommon for Vietnamese Americans to return to Vietnam to start a business in their twenties or thirties. For many, this return to the motherland is more than just a chance at a new career, it is a chance to find the true meaning in life. Tony Ngo and Don Le are known for founding Everest Education, an institute in Ho Chi Minh City which offers math and English enrichment courses, test preparation, college admissions consulting, and private tutoring to students from grades 1 to 12. Born and raised in California, with an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Stanford University, Tony’s first visit to Vietnam was in the summer of 2007 for an internship at TPG Capital. “After graduating, I had many questions about the culture, the market, and the transformation happening in Vietnam. I wondered if I could contribute anything,” Tony shared during a phone interview with Tuoi Tre News . “Seven years later, I decided that if I didn't do a summer internship in … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Americans find career, home, identity in motherland

An 18-year-old white gunman shot 10 people to death and wounded three on Saturday at a grocery store in a Black neighborhood of upstate New York, before surrendering after what authorities called an act of "racially motivated violent extremism." Authorities said the suspect, who was armed with an assault-style rifle and appeared to have acted alone, drove to Buffalo from his home several hours away to launch the afternoon attack that he broadcast in real time on social media platform Twitch, a live video service owned by Amazon.com. Eleven of the 13 people struck by gunfire were Black, officials said. The two others were white. The racial breakdown of the dead was not made clear. Court papers named the suspect as Payton Gendron of Conklin, a town of about 5,000 people in New York's Southern Tier region near the Pennsylvania border. He was arraigned hours after the shooting in state court on first-degree murder charges, which carry a maximum penalty of life in prison without … [Read more...] about Gunman kills 10 in live-streamed racial attack on New York state supermarket