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15 stories
Tech
Vietnam is fast-becoming part of the global apps market. While mobile games like ‘Flappy Bird’ have garnered the most press, more utilitarian apps are becoming popular, especially the taxi-hailing variety.
Culture
Late Saturday afternoon a quiet suburban area in Phu My Hung, District 7 was transformed into a rainbow of colour. An astounding 6,850 (aprox.) runners descended onto the outside arena near the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, gearing up for a 5km run or, more fittingly, for a stroll. The runners arrived around 3pm hydrating themselves with plenty of water and Bia 333.
Health
Farmers in Vietnam are using an increasing amount of pesticides to boost productivity and meet food security targets. As Vietnamese consumers become increasingly wary about the safety of produce in their local markets, some are turning to the internet to find safe alternatives, according to Voice of America .
Saigon
In late 2013, a complete stranger sold scrap vendor Huynh Thi Anh Hong an iron box for 100,000VND ($4.70). When Hong opened the to see if she could sell it, she found a staggering 5.2 million yen (US$50,830) inside the rusty box, reports Thanh Nien .
Culture
Vietnamese netizens have embraced internet memes which employ a mix of humour and satire to create a new lens with which to view everything from daily life to pop culture. In a recent interview, Vietmeme ’s Patrick Sharbugh spoke with two pioneering Vietnamese, An Khung An Tung (Duy An) and Minh Chanh who have helped usher in the era of meme culture in Vietnam.
![[Updated] Malaysia Airlines Flight en Route to Beijing Goes Missing](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/yfVQKEsb.jpg)
Asia
[Updates Below] A Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777, traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, is presumed to have crashed into waters near Phu Quoc Island in South Vietnam, according to a senior Navy official.
Asia
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has banned imports and sales of shisha tobacco and electronic cigarettes for fear they are having a negative impact on the youth, according to the Wall Street Journal . Consumption of shisha pipes and electronic cigarettes have increased, particularly in the capital city of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and beach resorts like Sihanoukville.
Music & Arts
Jack Clayton is an artist from East London who has spent the last four years travelling. His inspiration for his art work is drawn from his experiences around the world and a representation of his environment. He specialises in woodcut relief printmaking which is actually a traditional art form of Vietnam and of Asia in general. In addition to the woodcut, he also uses intricate pen and ink illistrations.
Vietnam
Foreign workers will be expected to produce even more paperwork to secure a job in Vietnam, reports Tuoi Tre . The document, Circular 03/2014 places emphasis on the Vietnam labour code on foreign workers. This report will help to guide the implementation of the proposed Government Decree 102/2013. What does this all mean?
Health
According to Thanh Nien , the government proposal to increase taxes on alcohol and cigarettes won’t stem their consumption. The proposal under the Ministry of Finance would take effect from July 1, 2015 if approved. This would see excise tax on beer and spirits increase from 50% to 65%. The tobacco rate would also be hiked up from 65% to 75% and to a further 85% in 2018.
Tech
According to The Atlantic , Vietnam could be home to the world’s next “tech hub.” The capital recently hosted the country’s first start-up fair, bringing together eager entrepreneurs in the hope of attracting the attention of business investors. Comparing the new project to Silicone Valley in the US, Vietnam aims to be a “key player in the global digital economy.”
Vietnam
The US Embassy in Vietnam has announced that some significant changes will take place with regards to US visa procedures. The US Embassy has said that this is part of the US Department of State’s continual effort to “streamline” the visa application process and provide a better, more accessible service.
Development
Female manual labourers in Vietnam are to be banned from employment in industries deemed too risky and arduous Thanh Thien reports. The new regulation, implemented in December 2013, saw 77 jobs categorised as too dangerous and unhealthy for women to carry out. Now that a few months have passed since the regulation took effect, some complain that they are losing their livelihoods.
Vietnam
Oh, Tuoi Tre , you sure know how to find the best stories. An 81-year-old Can Tho man hit a bum note when he was hospitalized after putting a squash up his anus to relieve his constipation, according to the newspaper.
Development
Vietnam’s plans to build its first nuclear power plant have been imminently delayed. The 2010 target of constructing 8 power plants by 2025 has seemingly now become a distant memory.