An American citizen working as an English teacher in Hanoi has presented himself to information authorities after being summoned over offensive, law-violating remarks he had posted on Facebook. In the summons issued last Friday, Daniel Hauer was required to meet the authorities and explain why he had posted an offensive Facebook comment mentioning Vietnam’s late, well-respected general Vo Nguyen Giap last Thursday, as well as an allegedly insincere apology video afterwards. He fully complied with authorities’ requests at the meeting on Tuesday afternoon, according to Le Quang Tu Do, deputy head of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (ABEI). At the meeting, Hauer admitted that his Facebook comment was an unintentionally harmful joke and expressed deep remorse for having posted it. His Vietnamese wife was the first to criticize him upon seeing the comment, resulting in him immediately removing it and making the apology video. Regarding his other comments that seemed to imply the apology was insincere, Hauer claimed he was feeling irritated as many kept commenting on Facebook, calling and texting to insult and threaten him as well as his family. To make amends, Hauer asked to be allowed to visit General Giap’s house to light incense for the late general and personally apologize to his family. Additionally, he would issue a public apology on newspapers and provide free English lessons online. ABEI has agreed with Hauer’s proposed measures and instructed him to remove all the violating comments, as well as to promise not to repeat his violations…. [Read full story]
The only means of public transport currently available in Vietnam are buses, which are unpopular because they're often late, slow and uncomfortable. Official data shows Hanoi has 92 bus routes serving 15 percent of total travel demand. In Saigon, public transport currently meets just 9 percent of travel demand. And with increasing gridlock, most commuters opt for motorbikes, the fastest way to get you from A to B. The wealthier ones, on the other hand, would rather get stuck in traffic in a comfortable car, away from pollution and harsh tropical weather. This has, of course, made the traffic even worse.…... [read more]
Chaos erupted in Hanoi on Tuesday at the public apology of a man who had been wrongfully convicted of child rape and murder, with the victim's family staging a violent protest. Chaos erupted in Hanoi on Tuesday at the public apology of a man who had been wrongfully convicted of child rape and murder, with the victim's family staging a violent protest. A ceremony was held by the People's High Court of Hanoi to apologize to Han Duc Long, a man it had sentenced to death for the alleged rape and murder of a little girl. Long served 11 years…... [read more]
British experts shared their views on Public Private Partnership opportunities for Vietnam at a workshop titled "Public Private Partnership (PPP) - a British perspective on opportunities for Vietnam" held today in Hanoi by the British Embassy.It is an expression of the UK's interest in working as Vietnam's key partner in PPP delivery. According to Kate Harrisson, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy, PPP has been a cornerstone of the modernisation of the public service delivery in the UK with more than 900 projects, involving private finance of around $100 billion approved in the UK in the last 12…... [read more]
Book honours late General Nguyen Son (02-10-2008) HA NOI— The Vietnam News Agency Publishing House has printed a book about the late General Nguyen Son's life to commemorate his 100th birthday (1/10/1908-2008). General Son (or Vu Nguyen Bac, his real name) was born in Ha Noi. The General was appointed a major-general by both Viet Nam and China in 1948 and in 1955, respectively. Nguyen Son took part in revolution activities from the age of 17 when he was a student at the Buoi High School. In 1925, he secretly went to China to meet revolutionist Nguyen Ai Quoc who…... [read more]
The delegation was led by General Ngo Xuan Lich, member of the Politburo, Deputy Secretary of the CMC, Minister of National Defense. The minister was accompanied by Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong, member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CCCPV), permanent member of the CMC, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army; and members of the CCCPV: Senior Lieutenant General Be Xuan Truong, Deputy Minister of National Defense; Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Phuong Nam, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army; and Lieutenant General…... [read more]
