Editor’s note: Nguyen Van Cong explains how a fear of ‘losing face’ by people in northern and central Vietnam leads them to buy more food than needed, only to throw away leftovers – a stark contrast to their southern peers. As in several Asian countries, the importance of ‘ saving face’ – behaving in a way that projects a certain reputation – is paramount in Vietnam. Cong, who lives and works in the south, introduces himself as being born to a northern Vietnamese mother and a central Vietnamese father, an upbringing which allowed him to closely observe and experience the culture of ‘saving face’ in all three regions. He says that people in northern and central Vietnam “pay too much attention to etiquette and sometimes make things overcomplicated” when inviting guests to a meal at their houses, especially when compared to those in the southern region. From his observation and experience, Cong has drawn three main conclusions about the issue in this piece sent to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. 1. People in the south: simple eating, no showing-off The menu for a party in the south, particularly in Saigon or the Mekong Delta, usually consists of fewer dishes compared to that for a bash in the north and central regions. The party hosts will make it simple and quick, large ceremonial parties excluded. Whenever guests drop by for a meal, southerners prepare quick, simple dishes while still focusing on creating a cozy, respectful welcoming atmosphere. For instance, a hotpot, which can… [Read full story]
The Communist Party Unit of the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau has asked the state-owned Agribank to dismiss a vice director of its branch there for using a fake diploma and degree. Nguyen Ngoc Khai, who is also the acting director of the Agribank branch in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, was expelled from the Party unit as part of the same decision Friday. The provincial Party Unit committee said Khai, 52, used a fake high school diploma, a fake college degree and a fake English certificate as credentials for his job. Khai has denied any wrongdoing, according…... [read more]
The People’s Court in the southern province of Binh Duong gave Do Xuan Loi, 34, hailing from the north-central province of Thua Thien- Hue, the death penalty at the conclusion of his trial on August 15.Loi was the leader of a drug ring that operated across provinces from northern to southern Vietnam. He was charged with the sale and storage of drugs and the storage of military weapons.Three other members of the ring, namely Truong Ngoc Huan, Loi’s brother in-law, Tran Hung Tam, and Tran Manh Hung, all received life sentences for the sale of drugs.Four other members were given…... [read more]
Police in southern Vietnam have suggested local prosecutors press charges against two officials of a construction company for their "lack of responsibility" leading to the death of a teenage girl in January. According to investigation findings, on January 16, Vu Van Truong, 41, chief of execution team, and Thai Dinh Vu, 26, in charge of construction safety of the Licogi 9.2 Joint-stock Company, didn't properly clear the site after paving asphalt on part of the National Way 51 that was being expanded in Dong Nai Province. At around 5.30 a.m. next day Vu Thi Dung, 49, drove her daughter, 17-year-old…... [read more]
There is no rain in the forecast for the Central Highland and southern provinces in the next few days, except for isolated light showers, the weather office said Thursday. The southern region will see scorching weather, with temps to reach 35-36 degrees Celsius in provinces east of Ho Chi Minh City and 34-35 degrees Celsius in the city itself, the Southern Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center forecast. The heat, however, will be less severe in southwestern provinces such as Can Tho and Ca Mau. Coastal areas in southern provinces and HCMC may see slight rains in the evening. The cold front which…... [read more]
Floods in Vietnam's central region and the Mekong River delta have claimed 67 lives, causing damages totaling at hundreds of billions of Vietnam dong. Three central provinces Binh Dinh, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai reported a total of 14 fatalities. The death toll was higher in the Mekong Delta, including 29 in An Giang province, 11 in Dong Thap province, and 13 in Long An province. Rising water levels have also submerged over 3,560 houses in Long An province and over 3,200 houses in Binh Dinh province. In Binh Dinh, torrential rains damaged more than 12,000 hectares of crop and…... [read more]
