A dynamite explosion was heard in Anh The jewelry shop in Nha Trang City yesterday, about a year and a haft after it lost 200 taels of gold in a 2010 robbery, local authorities reported.

The owner of the shop, Phung Thi Canh, her husband, and other members of her family managed to safely escape from the explosion.

At 1:30 am Thursday, while Canh and her relatives were sleeping on the seconf floor of the shop, they heard a loud explosion coming from the ground floor and then the sound of the alarm system that was activated by the explosion.

While black smokes and a burnt smell pervaded throughout the house, the family’s members forced the back door of the house open and escaped safely, she said.

They later found a 30 x 10 cm hole at the bottom of one side of the shop’s folding iron door, which was partly damaged by the explosion.

However, all of the gold displayed in the windows on the ground floor remained intact.

Local police were called to the scene for examination and investigation. They initially concluded that the explosive could have been placed outside the door.

Phung Thi Canh, the gold shop’s owner, told police that her family has no enemies (Photo: Tien Phong)

Canh told police that she and her husband have no enemies and they have a good relationship with their neighbors.

She also said she has been involved in the gold business for 20 years and has had no conflicts with any customers or partners.

Canh told police that on November 7, 2010, a robbery occurred in her shop and she lost 200 taels of gold, or 240 ounces, worth US$371,600, to thieves who broke into the house from the terrace.

The police are investigating the explosion to track down suspects.

source from: tuoitrenews

The Provincial People’s Committee has allowed Nomura Motors Ltd. Company, Zero4 Company in the central city of Danang, the Japanese Big End company and the Japan Drag Racing Drivers Association (JDDA) to organize the competition.

Originated in the US in the 1940s, drag racing is a contest where two or three specially prepared automobiles race side by side to be the first to cross a set finish line.

The race follows a straight course from a standing start over a standard distance of ¼ mile (or 402.33 metres). An electronic timing system is ordinarily used to determine the winner.

source from: qdnd

The 160-square-kilometer protected area, including 38 square kilometers of islands, the country’s first marine reserve, was created last year.

Netting or any kind of large-scale fishing is prohibited even for fishermen, while tourists can only watch.

It was first named Hon Mun Marine Reserve, after its major island, Mun, which is covered in black rocks.

Located 20 minutes away by speedboat from Nha Trang, the reserve has an explosion of marine fauna and flora, thanks to the meeting of warm and cold currents.

It includes 340 coral species out of around 2,000 found worldwide. They are strictly protected, and divers have to pay VND40,000 (US$2).

Boats have to anchor at marked spots and follow fixed routes to avoid disturbing the fish too much.

Many tourists prefer to watch the fishermen work their rods, saying the tranquil setting gives them a feeling of total relaxation.

They can also buy fish fresh from fishermen.

But the latter mostly sell their catch to restaurants.

I experienced one such leisurely day on a beautiful morning.

There was a lot of sunshine and the water was very calm.

The fishermen went out in wooden boats, sailing slowly instead of anchoring, with their fishing rods out.

If visitors want to buy, they have to scream out to the fishermen, “Have anything to sell?”

One fisherman that day, Bao, had caught 10 flower crabs.

Locals said fishing at the reserve is not a particularly lucrative job. Luck is a decisive factor and the fishermen usually earn just enough for a living.

They catch three to four fish a day on average, and sell each at VND100,000 ($5).

Sometimes they catch fewer, even nothing at all.
source from: thanhniennews

The new game which was designed and installed by Germany’s Wiegand company belongs to the project to upgrade and expand the amusement park. Joining in this game, visitors will slide in a couple vehicle with a brake lever to keep safe distance between vehicles on the rail. Especially, the Vinpearl Alpine Coaster is suitable for people at all ages. With a total of 50 vehicles, players will be picked up at a station at the mountain’s foot and will be lifted on a straight line of 540 meters to another station on the mountain which is 140 meters above sea level. From this height, tourists can contemplate the whole view of Nha Trang Bay. On the way down, people will slide on a 1,220 meter-long curling rail way.

Apart from the Alpine Coaster, Vinpearl will install other new games like Bungee which gives players a thrilling feeling to have acrobatics moves in the air or flying motorbike show to serve visitors in the summer holiday. New orchid garden and food stalls will be set up in the innovation project.

source from: thesaigontimes

A buffet dinner will cost VND420,000++ (US$20), and VND800,000++ with a free flow of wine.

A revitalization package is also available at the hotel throughout the month with two and a half hours of skin nourishment, massage, and herbal foot bath costing VND1.6 million ($77).

source from: thanhniennews

We hoped we weren’t going to get caught in the rain, but if we did, it would be no problem.

We took off on our motorbikes for Nam Son Quan, which local friends had told us serves incredible and authentic Nha Trang hometown cuisine.

Just pulling on to the road leading to the restaurant lets you know that you’re going somewhere special.

The road was very bumpy, narrow and sometimes muddy with large puddles of water forcing us to veer this way and that.

It was only 8pm, but local people were at home asleep early. The only noise that broke the darkness of village life was from our motorbikes.

After around 20 minutes, we reached a coconut garden on the bank of Cai river. In the middle of orchard was Nam Son, nestled among the trees.

Under the mysterious veil created by the rain and its fog, the river looked bigger and its sound endless. I was taken aback by the poetic landscape.

In the darkness, the fog hid the village on the opposite bank of the river and we could see the blue mountain ranges west of Nha Trang in the distance.

Nam Son Restaurant Nam Son restaurant
95 Ngoc Hiep road, Ngoc Hiep ward, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province.
The place reminded me of Ba Be Lake, one of Vietnam’s largest lakes, which sits in the high mountains near the northern border with China.

Nearby are lanterns over a small bridge across the river. The scene is reminiscent of Hoan Kiem lake and The Huc bridge. With the fresh rain comes the cold, and for a moment it is like winter in Hanoi.

The menu offers countryside dishes including seafood, river specialties, and local vegetables.

Ms. Thuy, the restaurant’s owner, said grilled frog with chili and salt, and Ca Ro (a river and green field fish) served with fish sauce mixed with tamarind, were two of Nam Son’s most special dishes.

She also said other river fish, snails and oyster dishes were favorites.

We were just in the mood to order something very light and tea. We had a vegetarian in our group, so we ordered a special soup for him with mushroom, tomato, pine apple, tofu and some other vegetable (VND120,000).

We also ordered Ca Keo (roasted Keo fish-VND75,000), morning glory stirred with garlic (VND35,000), and some steamed rice.

The roasted fish was good, especially in the cold and rainy weather. The vegetarian soup was fresh but very spicy.

Other great dishes included Ga nuong lu (chicken roasted in a big clay jar), and goi tom dat kieu Thai (Thai style shrimp salad).

source from: thanhniennews

However, local travel agencies say that this year, despite offers of so many promotional programmes, the numbers of tourists have not increased, causing much anxiety in the travel industry.

Travel agencies offer low-budget tours

Many people have put a lid on spending for the last two years, due to the economic downturn. Therefore many travel agencies have to design economy and low-budget tours to attract clients.

Visitors at Tam Coc tourist area in Ninh Binh Province (Photo:SGGP)

Travel firms have reported a sharp decline in the numbers of travellers. Though there are still many travellers booking tours for the April 30 holiday, the numbers are way below expectations. Many clients have enquired about the cost of tours but few have made bookings.

The numbers of tourists registering for tours for summer are quite modest, even though summer is a high tourist season. Saigontourist Travel Service Company is organising 300 domestic and international tours and expects to serve 16,000 travellers, an increase of 10-15 per cent over the same period last year.

This year, most visitors registered for short distance tours to the Central Highland region, Mekong Delta region, Dang Nang, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and Buon Ma Thuot cities and Phu Quoc Island.

Many travel agencies have not increased tour prices, except for Nha Trang and Da Lat City by 10 per cent.

A representative of Viet Travel said that their company ties up with hotels and restaurants to offer tour prices that are attractive and competitive. The company is offering a discount of VND2 million on its northern tours, VND600,000 to VND1 million on central region tours and VND500,000 on Phu Quoc and Nha Trang tours.

Slump in inbound tours

Pham Duc Hoa, deputy head of domestic tourism in Saigontourist, said that the company’s turnover in the first quarter of the year grew well, but its turnover is decreasing since beginning of April. People tend to travel by themselves or register through Free-Easy tour service, which operates within your tight budget, Hoa added.

Hoa said the tendency of cutting down spending can be seen clearly in the tourism sector. Most travellers from HCMC choose two to three day tours to Phan Thiet, Ninh Chu and Vung Tau to save money.

In previous summers, his travel firm received many orders from companies and institutions who wanted to take long tours to Hue City or Hanoi. But now many of the loyal clients have decided not to travel this year, or have chosen short tours to Phan Thiet or Vung Tau.

Meanwhile, many international tours are fully booked. Fiditour has sold 60 per cent of its international tour quota. Tours to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China that departed on April 27 were full.

One director of a travel firm believes that in general, the number of travellers this summer have not decreased as sharply as people think, but have chosen outbound tours instead of domestic tours.

People tend to travel abroad because outbound tours are getting cheaper.

source from: saigon-gpdaily

Ms. Sandra Therese Fagerberg and Mr. Thomas Harald Gronvoll have lived together for years and have two children, but they decided to hold their wedding during their spring vacation in Vietnam.

The wedding took place on the afternoon of March 17 on the beach of Nha Trang city, in central Vietnam.

“We met the first time nine years ago during a skiing trip. We love traveling around the world and tours have helped tighten our relationship. For that reason, we planned to get married during a tour,” Gronvoll said.

“My family loves tropical climate, blue sea and hospitality. We also want to taste delicious food and see friendly people with warm smiles and we always dreamt of a wedding on the sea. All of the wishes can become reality in Nha Trang,” Fagerberg added.

They have been in Vietnam for five weeks. On March 17, at the beach in front of the Sunrise Hotel, they became wife and husband.

Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the south central coast of Vietnam.

Nha Trang is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travellers on the Southeast Asia circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists.

Nha Trang Bay is widely considered as amongst the world’s most beautiful bays. Tourists are welcome to participate in the Sea Festival, held biennially. Nha Trang was the site of the Miss Universe 2008 Pageant and Miss Earth 2010. Besides, Nha Trang was also approved to host 2016 Asian Beach Games.

source from: vietnamnet

Seven Russian painters — Lydia Kozmina, Oleg Podskochin, Makeev Eugene, Eugene Pihtovnikov, Masha Kholmocorola, Olga Nickittchik and Marina Pihtovnikova — will share the art space with three Vietnamese artists — Le Van Duy, Bui Van Quang and Le Tri — who are working in Nha Trang.
source from: thanhniennews

There isn’t a day goes by that someone isn’t dealing with their Visa. The government’s policy seems to have changed so often and the desirable ease that one would like to have for remaining in an adopted country to which you contribute economically and take nothing away is just not there. For those of us who are married and eligible for the 5-year exemption, there are fewer problems but having to re-register in our ward and with Immigration every 90 days is a nuisance. I do realize that expats are a mixed bag but I’ve not known of many who have actually been a problem for the community and permitting extended time periods seems like a reasonable request. Perhaps there could be a policy to grant longer renewals to those who have been in the country for some period and who have not broken any laws or come to the unfavorable notice of the community?

There is also the issue of being able to buy an apartment or house in your own name. There have been a lot of men who have bought a house in the name of a wife or girlfriend and then been evicted by them. I’ve heard I could now have my name on our house as “an interested party” so my wife could not sell it without my signature but I’m not sure how (or if) it works. Fortunately, it is not something I need to worry about. But why not simplify things for expats making a commitment to living in Vietnam?

Many expatriates have written to Vietweek concurring that despite the problems they face in Vietnam, it is simply not acceptable that people direct their anger and slurs at all Vietnamese. This forum, “Your two cents”, opens the floor for you, the expats, to hold forth on the changes you see in Vietnam: what disappoints, what pleases and what you would like to see happen. Email your thoughts to editor@thanhniennews.com.

I do, on occasion, find myself commenting to someone who wanders into our group for a morning or two, full of complaints about the Vietnamese people, that they are speaking from a very limited exposure. I can’t speak for all of my friends but my own experience here with the Vietnamese people has been mostly positive. I have found the people to be warm, hospitable and honest. My complaints are more about how hard life is for so many of the poor among them.

There are probably a lot of things that tourists and single expats who spend their evenings in the tourist districts experience from Vietnamese who prey on strangers that I’ve never come into contact with but I would venture that similar things happen to tourists and expats who choose an active night life in any strange city. It just goes with the territory.

I am not resentful of any socio-economic changes but the high inflation in the face of stagnant wages and low inflation in other countries puzzles me. Who is benefiting from these price increases? The annual rate of inflation in New Zealand has averaged less than 3 percent since 2000. Why has the cream I buy that comes from there gone up 50 percent in the last 18 months? Makes no sense to me! Somebody is making a lot of money in this country. I see Bentleys and Maybachs and Mercedes Benz S series automobiles on the streets of Nha Trang. What must it be like in Saigon and Hanoi?!

Another aspect of the economic situation that concerns me is the completely unbridled real estate activity. Since my arrival in 2004, several thousand new hotel rooms in Nha Trang have come on the market. When I travel about the city in the evening I see mostly unlit windows in these hotels except for a handful that seem to do a better job of marketing. Of course, during Tet and a few other occasions, they are full. But I would estimate there are another thousand rooms under construction in Nha Trang, not to mention all of the resorts under construction from Cam Ranh Airport to the far north side of Nha Trang. Where is the business coming from to fill them if the government tourism authority and the industry do not improve their game?

We have had the abandoned resort, Rusalka, that the Russian’s and Turk’s were building when I came in 2004 standing on the far north beach area since work stopped in 2005. A fortune was invested in what has been completed and it will take another one to demolish it to clear the land for something else. Fortunately, this is outside the area most tourists see but I recall there was (and perhaps still is) a large and unusual looking building in the middle of a park in HCMC near the New World Saigon Hotel and Ben Thanh Market that had been an eyesore for years. You will not see this sort of thing if you travel in Singapore or China. I would hate to see a lot of deteriorating big hotels on Tran Phu Street in 10 years!

source from: thanhniennews