The running movement spread throughout Vietnam in 2017, as Vietnamese runners set records that could not have been imagined in earlier times. Runners made their marks not only on local routes, but also on well-known tracks throughout the world. Phạm Duy Cường Last May, the Vietnam national flag was hoisted on Everest peak when Phạm Duy Cường finished the 42,195km race at the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon. Cường, 35, from Hanoi, finished the race with a time of 7hr 47.07min and ranked No 71 out of 202 competitors. This is an annual tournament which is considered as the world’s highest marathon. It is an international high altitude adventure sports event held from the Mt. Everest Base Camp, crisscrossing through the high sherpa trails in Khumbu Valley on May 29 every year. Cường has become more famous due to the marathon. He has since established the “Chạy Vì Mình – Run For Self” club, where runners can exchange their experiences in running and organising events. Five months after Everest, Cường opened a non-profit sport event company called Big Prizes, which focuses on organising running tournaments which, according to him, provide the best prize of all, good health for all its participants. Despite being a new company, Big Prizes holds event every week for fans of running in Hanoi. Cường was pleased with what he has done to promote running in the capital city, as well as in Vietnam, in general. Within a short time, some 30 running events have been created and… [Read full story]
He is most impressed with the northern mountainous region, particularly Ha Giang province. He visited Ha Giang last year and was overwhelmed by its imposing scenery and cultural identities. He also understood difficulties that people in one of the country’s poorest provinces are facing. Last week, together with his wife and son, he paid an on-site visit to five out of the total 13 projects implemented in Ha Giang province and experienced a homestay in Lung Cu commune, Meo Vac district. The ambassador said for him, Ha Giang is the most attractive place in Vietnam. Everyone should visit Ha Giang…... [read more]
Work on the listing of people standing for the People's Councils at the three levels (the 2004 - 2009 term) has been completed with over 484,000 candidates. At the provincial level, there are 6,052 candidates contending for 3,871 seats. Of the candidates, 32.4 percent are women, 20.98 percent are aged under 35, 24.37 percent are not members of the Communist Party and 20.17 percent are of ethnic minority groups. Seventy-seven people, or 1.27 percent, are independent candidates in 22 cities and provinces. At the district level, 36,281 candidates will compete for 23,554 seats. Of them, 137 people are independent candidates…... [read more]
The list of candidates for the seventh tenure of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council was finalised last week with 22 candidates being entrepreneurs out of a total 154. The Ho Chi Minh city Fatherland Front announced the list after the third consultation meeting last week. The 54 candidates will stand for the municipal People's Council election on April 25, said Ho Chi Minh city Fatherland Front Committee vice chairwoman Vo Thi Dung. Ninety-five candidates will be elected for the seventh tenure, which will last from 2004 to 2009. The 22 business executives are short-listed from the 26 entrepreneurs…... [read more]
On April 22 thousands of young Hanoians gathered for the third annual Color Me Run-a Vietnam’s most amazing and colorful race at at Vinhomes Riverside Ecological Urban Area. Also known as the Happiest 5k on the Planet, ‘Color Me Run’ is a unique paint race that celebrates health, happiness and individuality in which runners were showered with color powder at the checkpoints along the route. The event attracts a large number of children and young people. Top 15 reality television show The Face An Nguy also joins the race. The brightly colored powders used in the event are safe, non-toxic,…... [read more]
Viet Nam News by Lê Hương An old story about the starfish has inspired Austrian investment bankers to set up a foundation to build schools for needy children in Việt Nam. The story says an elderly man saw a young man picking up starfish one by one and tossing each gently back into the ocean to prevent them from dying of exposure to the sun. The elderly man wondered why the young man spent so much time saving the starfish as there were thousands of starfish along miles of beach. "You can't possibly make a difference" the elderly man said.…... [read more]
