Your say

Your say (06-02-2008) We want to publish your experiences of the lunar new year. We know that the spring festival is the most important for Vietnamese. But what of expatriates and visitors? Is it a time to relax? Or perhaps, it’s a time of difficulty with shops closed, food scarce and a deep sense of isolation as Vietnamese friends and acquaintances devote themselves to their families? What do You Say? Mail your opinions or questions to: [email protected] fax: +8449332311 snail mail: The Editor, Viet Nam News, 11 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ha Noi. Your full name and a contact address would be appreciated. … [Read more...] about Your say (06-02-2008)

Your say (15-02-2008) The spring festival is the most important celebration of the year in Viet Nam. Expatriates and visitors share with Viet Nam News their Lunar New Year experiences. David Frogier, Germany This is the second time I have had the chance to celebrate Tet in Viet Nam. This year I was fortunate enough to be able to spend the holiday with a Vietnamese family – so I experienced Tet first hand. Although spending time with the family is central to the celebrations, I had the impression that for most Vietnamese families it’s not a relaxing time at all. From dawn till dusk they are taking care of visitors, serving them all kinds of food and drink. I was quite impressed with the way people had managed to buy enough food and drink to last the whole week. In Europe, Christmas celebrations only last three days, but that is enough to fill up people’s fridges. I’m very fond of the traditions surrounding Tet, such as the significance of the house altar and the … [Read more...] about Your say (15-02-2008)

Your say (10-03-2008) This week’s topic: The stock market crisis The seemingly endless fall of the VN Index has prompted the Finance Ministry to announce that the State Capital Investment Corporation could buy shares to halt the plunge. But what do you think has caused the collapse? Is it conditions peculiar to Viet Nam or the result of the global credit crunch or both? And should the Government’s response include the buying of shares to maintain their price? Mail your opinions to: [email protected] fax: 84 4 9332311 snail mail: The Editor, Viet Nam News, 11 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ha Noi Your full name, nationality, and a contact address would be appreciated. … [Read more...] about Your say (10-03-2008)

Your say (10-05-2008) Blame and solutions for rising food costs Sunil B., Indian tourist In India we still talk proudly about our Green Revolution. In the 1960s, India could scarcely feed itself. Then our farmers were given varieties of basic grains that had much higher yields, developed by international scientists, including the famous "Miracle Rice." India went from importing rice and wheat to being a major exporter, and the price of these staples kept dropping. Now India has the same jitters you’re talking about here – we imported wheat this year for the first time in decades. Prices are rising again, even, as you said, in places like Viet Nam where there are no shortages because we’re in a globalised economy. Also for that reason, the scale of the factors at work that you listed – population, less land, fuel costs, global warming – means that no amount of rice we grow will fix the problem, at least in Asia. The answer has to do with what we’re … [Read more...] about Your say

Your say (28-07-2008) This week: The Vietnamese Government has just decided to increase the petrol price by 30 per cent. This was the highest so far, which surprised many people. Many say that the Government should not have made the decision in such a sudden way and that the price should have been raised gradually. They complain that the unexpected oil and petrol price surge will lead to the increase of other commodities’ prices, which negatively affects their lives. Along with the decision, the Government also called on people to conserve fuel. What measures do you think should be taken to save on fuel? In what aspects could the increase have a positive effect on people’s lives? [email protected] fax: 84 4 9332311 post: The Editor, Viet Nam News, 11 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ha Noi, no later than the morning of Thursday, July 31. … [Read more...] about Your say (28-07-2008)