Read it on Air France - Asiana Airlines - Cathay Pacific - Eva Airways - Singapore Airlines - United Airlines - Vietnam Airlines

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

No. 010

VND6,800

Property market up the creek, but topend houses with gold fittings continue to be snapped up

13
Cab grab
HCMC airport taxis continue to fleece unwary tourists 4-5

In his art of arts

Hanoi banker and art lover brings classical music to the streets 16-17

Not so seamy
For one resident expat, HCMCs backpacker area is sweet home 6

Curse in disguise
PHOTO: AFP

Vietnam realizes many foreign investors merely bring pollution

10

PHOTO: REUTERS

PHOTO: TUAN ANH

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

NATION

As Vietnam develops, things only getting worse for Mother Nature

Coal is killing Vietnam as wasteful, dirty energy production and lax law enforcement add salt to the countrys gaping environmental wounds
By AN DIEN

edan Vietnam is still a source of controversy almost two years a er the Taiwanese MSGmaker agreed to pay compensation to disgruntled farmers whose livelihoods were ruined by toxic waste illegally dumped by the company. Its not over yet. I will continue to appeal against the compensation rate set for me, Nguyen Lam Son, the only farmer in Dong Nai Province that sued Vedan for damages a er local authorities talked others into dropping lawsuits in July 2010, told Vietweek on Monday (March 19). The compensation for me is not fair, given the losses I have suered from Vedans discharging activities, Son said, adding that he had received only onethird of the VND180 million he lost due to the pollution. Like me, my uncle and a number of farmers in the province have also petitioned [the local government] for be er redress. In September 2008, government inspectors caught Vedan Vietnam dumping untreated wastewater into the Thi Vai River in the southern province of Dong Nai. The company had escaped detection by hiding pipes underground and in the river, and had been discharging toxic liquids through them for 14 years, massively polluting the surroundings. Facing erce pressure of a major public boyco , Vedan agreed in August 2010 to compensate aected farmers in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai and Ba RiaVung Tau provinces. While the compensation was considered a rare victory by some, the case also exposed the entrenched lack of enforcement of environmental rules at every level in Vietnam. Experts say the weakness has paved the way for unscrupulous companies to continue destroying the environment. According to a veyear report released last year by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, water pollution was

PHOTO: REUTERS

Workers walk near an excavator loading coal onto a truck at a coal port in Hanoi in February. As coal is projected to cover over 56 percent of all electricity production capacities by 2030, the worst of all fossil fuels in terms of production of greenhouse gas emissions and the worst contributor to climate change will cause considerable local air pollution, experts say.

blamed for an estimated six million cases of illness during the 20062010 period. Treatment costs were estimated at around VND400 billion (US$19.5 million), according to the report. The report also recorded a decline in water quality in the nations three major river basins: NhueDay and Cau in the north and Dong NaiSaigon in the south. Experts say that if Vietnam a denselypopulated country smaller than California with more than twice the number of people (the 13th largest population in the world) forges ahead along its current energybased growth trajectory, what is le of the countrys precious natural environment could soon be history. Surely, Vietnam needs a lot more energy in the future to maintain economic growth and poverty reduction: energy for households and for businesses, said Koos Nee es, the policy advisor on climate change for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam. But we have recently researched this and our research shows that Vietnams economy is energy inecient and carbon intensive by comparison with other middle income countries, meaning that it uses a lot of energy and produces comparative large amounts of greenhouse gas per unit of [gross domestic product], Nee es told Vietweek. The Environment Ministry report said Vietnam has spent between 1.5 and 3 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) mitigating

environmental pollution that has been rapidly increasing for years. According to the World Bank, those mitigation costs could rise to 5.5 percent of the nations total earnings due to worsening pollution. Unless the current ocial plans and policies regarding energy are changed, there will be considerably more pollution from energy compared to the past, Nee es said. If the government would cease to keep energy prices articially low and instead use the state revenue for productive, low carbon research and development as well as compensation for poor people, then it would be likely that the increase in energy use and in pollution would be considerably less, and Vietnam would start to move toward a greener future. Burning warning Under a government blueprint, by 2030 coal is projected to cover over 56 percent of all electricity production capacities in Vietnam, making the country an important coal importer. That will cause considerable local air pollution as coal is the worst of all fossil fuels in terms of production of greenhouse gas emissions and it is the worst contributor to climate change, Nee es said. Vietnam is among the top 10 countries with the worst air pollution, according to a study released during this years World Economic Forum in Davos. Vietnams Air (Eects on Human Health) ranking was 123rd among the 132 countries surveyed.

Vietnams environmental performance has been ranked 85th out of 163 countries by another World Bank report released last year, which argues that many natural resources are under threat in the developing nation as strong growth in industrial output has been one of the main factors driving Vietnams economy over the past years. Industrial output in February grew an estimated 22.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the General Statistics Oce. In the rst two months of this year, mining output, which accounts for around 9 percent of total industrial production value, grew 5 percent. The manufacturing sector, which makes up some 85 percent of total industrial production value, recorded growth of 2.4 percent. Environmental costs are frequently not borne by the large polluters such as the mining, construction and manufacturing sectors, which are the sectors that account for most of the growth, said John Sawdon, a senior environmental economist for the NGO International Center for Environmental Management (ICEM) in Hanoi. Pollution haven The Environment Ministry has repeatedly urged both foreign and local companies to go green by developing sustainable manufacturing. But a highprole pollution scandal involving a major state owned company last year threw into question the ministrys credibility

and legitimacy to speak about green business as it fails to do its job regulating industry, said Jake Brunner, the program coordinator for the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Vietnam. The Dong Nai provincial administration has asked the rm, the Sonadezi Long Thanh Jointstock Company, to compensate victims for damages incurred by its discharge of untreated toxic waste into a local canal between 2008 and 2011. The company, chaired by Do Thi Thu Hang, a legislator from Vietnams National Assembly (the countrys parliament), had polluted over 16 percent of the 682.8hectare canal, killing 100 percent of the local aquaculture, and aecting local poultry, investigators said. So far 271 farming households have led petitions demanding that the company pay a total of nearly VND19 billion ($913,000) in damages. Experts have pointed to domestic rms, particularly state owned heavy industry, as some of the most polluting. And lax enforcement of environmental protection regulations lets them get away with it. Both foreign and Vietnamese rms do violate pollution control laws, Sawdon said. They are able to pollute because environmental agencies have insucient capacity and resources to eectively monitor pollution and enforce control measures. Vietnam introduced its major environment protection laws in 2005 but the lack of government decrees guiding their implementation has puzzled concerned agencies. We are still baed on how to investigate, prosecute and try environmentrelated criminals, said Major General Nguyen Xuan Ly, director of the central Department of Environmental Crimes Prevention. Many conceptions in the laws have remained vague and too broad to interpret, Ly said. Steven Dimitriyadi, president of the Hong Kongbased Quartexx Holdings (which provides outsource services in Vietnam), is looking to move out of the country this June. His company specializes in dierent domains such as recycled scrap metal, mining or minerals, and nance. For Dimitriyadi, what is good about doing business in Vietnam is perhaps the noaccountability system. You dont need to be responsible for anything in Vietnam, Dimitriyadi said, adding it was of course not in reference to his rm. Big companies can come in to do what they want to do: pollute [and] walk away. So thats great about doing business in Vietnam. VW

NEWS

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

It is necessary to understand residents thoroughly and honor their tax payment, which can be considered their sweat drops. Nguyen Sinh Hung, National Assembly Chairman, told a parliament session on March 20 that discussed the dra amendment to the Tax Management Law. In punishing tax violations, a distinction should be made between those who deliberately avoid payment and those unable to pay on time because of dicult economic conditions, he said. A government ocial should resign a er two years of low credibility rating. Of course I would be ready to follow (abide by the same standard). Pham Quang Nghi, Chief of the Hanoi Party Unit at a conference discussing a Party Central Commi ee resolution on urgent issues for Party reform.

Dam cracks
By BAO CAM DIEU HIEN

design error has led to several leaks at Song Tranh 2 the biggest hydropower dam in the Vietnams central region, an official has said, adding that the problem was not serious enough to warrant lower water levels in its reservoir. Bui Trung Dung, deputy head of the agency for assessment of state construction projects under the Ministry of Construction, led a team to inspect the dam in Quang Nam Provinces Bac Tra My District on March 21. There is no pipe system to drain water from several chambers inside the dam. There are also no pressure washers in joints and as a result water has been leaking through, he said. At a meeting with Quang Nam authorities and the dam management, Dung said that these were normal cracks and it was unnecessary to lower the reservoir water level to fix them. According to a report the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the national power utility, sent to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant agencies on March 21, there were no cracks in the dam and water had leaked through slits between concrete blocks. It said the water had leaked through six of the dams total 30 slits that were designed to prevent concrete from developing cracks due to temperature changes. Water has been leaking at a speed of 30 liters per second at the dam, but it "does not affect the safety of the project", EVN said in a statement. Meanwhile, the central government has instructed relevant agencies to urgently inspect and find solutions to the leaks at the dam that has grabbed headlines over the past week and worried residents in the vicinity of the dam. Le Tri Tap, former chairman of the Quang Nam Peoples Committee and an experienced water resources engineer, said relevant agencies have attempted to conceal a possible disaster. The first forbidden issue in constructing a hydropower dam is not to allow

PHOTO: REUTERS

A man points to a leak as journalists take photos and shoot film at the Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant in the central province of Quang Nam on March 21

water to leak out from the reservoir. But the leaks actually flowed in streams, he said, adding that the current measures of pumping chemicals into the cracks was of no use. The most urgent thing is to lower the water level. They should take care of the residents lives. Should any accident happen, it would be a disaster. VW

The Party leaders who consider corruption as one of the threats to the survival of the [political] system should take really strong actions to remove this threat. Nguyen Minh Thuyet, former Chairman of the National Assemblys Commission for Culture, Education, Youth, Teenagers and Children, in an interview with the Lao Dong (Labor) newspaper.

Vietnam demands China release fishing boats unconditionally

By VAN MINH HIEN CU

Vietnamese foreign ministrys spokesman demanded Wednesday that China unconditionally release two shing boats with 21 sailors onboard that were detained o the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands earlier this month. According to spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi, a representative from the ministry has handed over to the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam a diplomatic note rearming Vietnams sovereignty over the archipelago and its determination to protect Vietnamese shermen. Previously, on Tuesday, authorities in the

central province of Quang Ngai announced that Chinese forces detained two boats from Ly Son District and asked each to pay 70,000 yuan (US$11,000) to be freed. The boats were seized on March 3, but China did not request ransom money or allow the shermen to contact their family to inform them of their detention until March 12, the Ly Son Districts Peoples Commi ee said. Le Thi Phuc, the wife of Tran Hien, captain of one of the seized boats, said her husband has called her three to four times over the past ten days, reminding her to send money to a bank account. There was one time a Chinese person called

her to urge her to pay ransom, Phuc said, adding that she then had to ask for help from a Chinesespeaking acquaintance. This was not the rst time Hiens boat was harassed by Chinese forces. Last year he was robbed twice, incurring total damages of nearly VND200 million ($9,500). Last month a shing boat with 11 onboard, also from Quang Ngai, was a acked by a Chinese vessel as it approached Hoang Sa seeking shelter from strong winds. Following the reports of shermen who were robbed and beaten, the foreign ministrys representative demanded China pay them compensation and cease with their a acks on Vietnamese vessels. Last week, Nghi also requested that China stop violating Vietnams sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, a er it was reported that the country had recently begun initiating business plans on and around the islands. VW

Trac police ocers found receiving only a few hundred thousand dong will be dismissed without considering the seriousness of the violation. Nguyen Ba Thanh, Chief of the Da Nang City Party Unit addressing central citys police force on March 19. Da Nang has oered trac police monthly emoluments of up to VND5 million (US$240) in addition to their monthly income in an eort to tackle corruption.

Hand, foot and mouth disease enters peak

HANOI Reported cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Vietnam have reached 1,7001,800 per week, the same number during last years peak. Nguyen Van Binh, chief of the Vietnam Administration of Preventive Medicine, said the cities and provinces with the most new HFMD cases include Hanoi and Hai Phong City in the north, Da Nang City, Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh and Quang Ngai provinces in the central region and Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Thap, An Giang and Binh Duong provinces in the south. Tran Thanh Duong, Binhs deputy, said the most important tasks were to raise public awareness about hygienic measures which can be taken to prevent the HFMD virus from spreading and to improve treatment of infections in order to minimize fatalities. Hospitals nationwide should store Gamma globulins injections which are usually given in an a empt to temporarily boost a patients immunity against disease to treat serious HFMD cases immediately, instead of transferring them to other hospitals due to a lack of the injections, he said. HFMD has claimed the lives of 11 children in Vietnam this year among more than 12,400 reported infections as of March 10. Health authorities have expressed serious concerns over the development as no fatalities were reported during the same period of 2011, when there were also only one seventh the infections 2012 has seen. So far this year, the disease has spread to 60 of Vietnams 63 cities and provinces. Tran Ngoc Huu, chief of the Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh City, said that last year HFMD was mainly caused by the EV71 C4 subtype, but the World Health Organization has said there is not enough evidence to prove the virulence of HFMD subtypes. Last year, the disease claimed 169 lives among 112,000 infections. VW

SPREADING THE WORD

This weeks most shared stories on Vietweek website www.thanhniennews.com 200 officials hire students to sit English exams South Korean star Bi Rain to perform in Vietnam Vietnam may take top rice exporter title from Thailand Ethnic minority community names kids after Korean TV stars, mobile phone makers Illegal marriage brokerage busted in Vietnam A bn ch that could wake the dead Economists fear gas price hike will fuel inflation in Vietnam

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

NATION

Malaysia extends visas for stranded Vietnamese workers

Vietnamese labor authorities downplay reports workers were starving and living in poor conditions
By THU HANG

they were working with relevant agencies to help them. Not so bad Following the media reports in Malaysia and local media, the Vietnamese Overseas Labor Management Department asked the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Aairs, Ministry of Human Resources and Ministry of Home Aairs asking for support in solving the problem. According to Dao Cong Hai, deputy director of the Overseas Labor Management Department, the situation was not so bad for the workers and they were not le starving in poor living conditions. He said the workers used to have stable income of between 1,2001,500 Ringgit (US$390487) per month. However, their employer did not extend their visa so that they could continue to work legally. A er the Malaysian Immigration Aairs Division on February 8 detained three of the workers for lack of relevant papers, they came to nd out that Asmana had not paid due taxes or extended the visa for the workers. Meanwhile, Faber Company the actual company that contracted with the hospitals to supply human resources ended the contract with Asmana in mid February for other procedural failures. Since then, Asmana had only paid part of the workers salary about 500 Ringgit and supplied them with accommodation. Binh, chairman of Vihatico, said the Malaysias Labor Management Division had requested Asmana six times between February 26 and March 7 to complete the procedures for the workers to either continue working or return home. The company promised to do so but took no action, he said. At a meeting with the Labor and Expert Management Board of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia on March 20, Pe Ravin, business development manager of the Medik Company, which also supplies hospitals with miscellaneous services, said his company would receive the Vietnamese workers who wanted to continue working in Malaysia. He said they would be able to do the same work, also at Penang hospitals, and with similar salaries that they received from Asmana. He also pledged to extend visas for Vietnamese workers and even extend their contract a er three years if they performed their jobs well. VW

or now, the ordeal of 69 Vietnamese workers stuck in Malaysia without papers is

over. Their employer had reportedly failed to pay due taxes or conduct visa extension procedures, and provided sparse accommodation and meager food rations. On March 19, a day a er the plight of 42 women was exposed by a Malaysian newspaper, the workers were sent to a shelter in Kuala Lumpur. At a meeting later, the Immigration Aairs Division and Foreign Workers Management Division under the Malaysian Ministry of Home Aairs agreed on carry out relevant procedures to extend visa for the workers to continue working or to return to Vietnam, depending on their wish. The information was conrmed on March 20 by the Overseas Labor Management Department an agency under Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Aairs that oversees the aairs of Vietnamese workers abroad as well as relevant human resource rms. The 69 Vietnamese workers were sent to work for Asmana a Malaysian company supplying cleaning and other services to hospitals in the northwest coastal state of Penang in June 2010. They were contracted to do so by Vietnamese rm Viet Ha Ha Tinh (Vihatico) through its Malaysian counterpart Houseproud Asia. Luu Quang Binh, Vihatico chairman, said they had contracted with Asmana to employ the workers for three years. However, Asmana had not registered the residence and relevant procedures for the workers to stay and work as contracted, he said. Surviving on rice The workers plight was first revealed by The Star in two reports on March 17 and 18 which said 42 women were living in poor condition and surviving mainly on rice for the past few months.

PHOTO: TRUONG HOA

Representatives from the labor firm Viet Ha Ha Tinh, meet with the parents (1-2, R) of Dang Thi Chau, among the workers stranded in Malaysia, at their house in Ha Tinh on March 20. They had been abandoned by their employer who had not extended their visas or paid due taxes.

A picture of Vietnamese workers carried last week in the Malaysian newspaper, The Star, shows them sobbing at their home in Penang, Malaysia

The womens plight came to light when their neighbors informed the authorities a er nding the noise made by the women, especially at night, intolerable. One of the women, known only as Hai, said most of them were jobless and could not send money back to their families, the paper said. When The Star reporters visited the house, they found three women that appeared sickly. Hai claimed that their agent would send 20kg of rice to them every three days that they would add

salt to their rice for avor. The women cried when relating their misfortune to Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai who visited them, the paper reported. It quoted Koay as saying 34 Nepalese and Vietnamese men, aged between 20 and 40, who are in the same situation as the 42 Vietnamese women, would also be sent to a shelter in Kuala Lumpur. Worried relatives According to Vihatico, the 69 Vietnamese workers mostly come from poor families in the north

central provinces of Ha Tinh and Nghe An. Their relatives were worried for them a er many Vietnamese newspapers published their stories, citing The Star. Nguyen Thi Phuong, whose daughter Dang Thi Chau was among the workers, said she was told that her daughter had been detained by Malaysian police. About ten days ago, Chau phoned me and complained that she lost her job and did not have money to send back. She was living on the help of relatives and friends there, Phuong told the Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper. She said Chau was married and had two young children. She used to work as a housemaid before borrowing VND20 million to pay the fees for ge ing work in Malaysia. We hope she can nd another job soon because her family has to rely on her earnings, she said, adding that her husband was also a daily laborer. In a nearby house, Dong Thuan Thong was worried about his wife Duong Thi Xuan because he had not been able to contact her lately. She had contracted to work for three years. But things became worse only a er one year, he said. On March 20, Vihatico representatives visited the families to inform that the workers situation was not dire and that

NATION

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Upcoming events
MARCH 23 (FRIDAY): EuroCham business luncheon with lecture cum discussion on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Vietnam-Key Findings and Implications for Businesses from the Latest PCI/FDI Survey will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sofitel Plaza Hanoi, 1 Thanh Nien Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. Fee: VND750,000 for members and VND1,050,000 for non members. Special guest speaker: Dr. Jim Winkler, Vice President of DAI, Project Director of USAIDs Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative. Register with EuroCham Hanoi by email linh@eurochamvn.org, or phone (04) 3715 2228. MARCH 23-24 (FRIDAY-SATURDAY): A concert titled Scandinavian Night with conductor Shinozaki Yasuo, violin Soloist Takagi Kazuhiro and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra will begin at 8 p.m. at the Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien Street. The artists will perform works of Carl Nielsen and Jean Siberius. Tickets, costing VND200,000 to 500,000, are available at the venue or can be booked at www.ticketvn.com or ticketvn@gmail.com. For free delivery, call 0913 489 858, 0983 067 996 or (04) 3 565 1806. MARCH 23-24 (FRIDAY-SATURDAY): Open Stage Vietnam hosts its monthly program in March with a workshop on performance dance from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Le Thanh Stage, 25 Phan Phu Tien Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. Admission fee: VND100,000. 15% discount for groups of five and above. For more information call 0122 892 6510 (Ms.Thanh Phuong), www.openstage.vn. THROUGH MARCH 27 (TUESDAY): A visual art exhibition titled The International Tuesdays by Plonk and Replonk group is open since earlier this month at the French Culture Center in Hanoi, or LEspace, at 24 Trang Tien Street. Admission is free. THROUGH MARCH 28 (WEDNESDAY): Human Opera - a solo exhibition by Japanese artist Meiro Koizumi is being held at San Art, 3 Me Linh Street, Binh Thanh District, HCMC. The month-long exhibition presents two video works titled Human Opera XXX (2005) and My Voice Would Reach You (2009). These works are emblematic of Merio Koizumis art where the human spirit and its mental dilemma in dealing with the complex contradictions of urban life are divulged and reflected. For more information visit San Art website at www.san-art.org. MARCH 28 (WEDNESDAY): AmCham Palooza Party the American Chamber of Commerces monthly networking event for young professionals will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel, 8-15 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1, HCMC. People from all age groups are welcome to attend. Entry fee: VND150,000 for members and non-members. Register at amchamvietnam.com/event/1531/register. MARCH 29 (THURSDAY): The 4th Exhibition & Conference on Investment & Trade Promotion between HCMC Union of Business Associations (HUBA) and the Foreign Business Associations in Ho Chi Minh City will take place from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at White Palace, 194 Hoang Van Thu Street, Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC. Attendance fee: VND300,000. For queries, contact Mr. Phuc on 0903 357 307 or email to phuc.huba@gmail.com.

By KHANH AN

ngrid Biraud had to pay ten times the normal fare for a taxi from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Ben Thanh Market during her visit to Ho Chi Minh City last month. When we arrived in the center, the counter read VND150,000 (US$7.2) but the driver said not enough money, said the French tourist. So we had to go to the bank. A er that, he said I have to pay him VND1.5 million. Earlier, the driver had asked her to pay VND100,000 as an airport taxi fee, but the real amount is only VND5,000. Many similar violations have been reported despite eorts by airport authorities to improve taxi service at the citys only airport. Biraud said she returned to report the incident to airport authorities on the same day and they easily identied the driver as Nguyen Van Loi of Phuong Trang Taxi. She said the driver had given her the companys business card that had his cab number on it (a compulsory for taxis at the airport), but he took it back soon a er leaving the airport. Loi admi ed to extorting the passenger over the airport fee but denied that he demanded a higher fare, saying he drove away a er receiving VND1.5 million because he thought the extra money was a tip. The driver was ned VND2.5 million and dismissed from the taxi rm. Do Xuan Toan, deputy director of the Tan Son Nhat Aviation Security Center (TASC), said passengers falling victim to dishonest taxi drivers should report to them like Biraud because they can easily identify any driver. If they report incidents, well be able to identify these drivers and improve

taxi services, he said. But many passengers were either reluctant or unaware of relevant agencies to ask for help. He said passengers could call the airports operation center at (08) 3 844 1740 to make such reports in English or Vietnamese. Unhappy visitors While recognizing certain improvements at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, many foreigners said there were still many persisting problems. I remember when I rst came to Vietnam eight years ago. I remember ge ing out of the airport and seeing 1520 taxi drivers shouting toward me, waving their hands, saying come in this taxi, come in this one, no no come in this one, said Alexander Simpson, a British expat in HCMC. It was a very awkward feeling for me to suddenly step o the plane and be bombarded with people. Lucky for me that time I was being picked up by a friend so I didnt have to take a taxi at that time, he told Vietweek. It was his rst trip outside of Europe. Simpson said he later had dicult experiences with taxi drivers in the city on subsequent visits. A few of the drivers took me on longer routes to get to my destination, he said. For example from the airport to my house on District 1s Tran Hung Dao Street cost me roughly VND220,000. At other times, Ive paid VND130,000, so its quite a shock. An American expat in HCMC said he was frustrated a er many negative experiences over the years with fraudulent taxi drivers he took from the airport. He called the situation a disaster. The most recent experience was on a return trip from Cambodia shortly a er Tet (Lunar New Year).

There were no Mai Linh taxis around so I was forced to take some brand Id never heard of. I took the usual precautions of not pu ing my luggage in the boot (where they can hold it hostage) and keeping an eye on the meter, which seemed accurate. When I arrived at my destination, I paid the fee on the meter. At this point the driver hands me a white piece of paper and starts shouting pay ticket pay ticket. What ticket? He then points to a sign on the dashboard which says that the customer is responsible for all tolls. So I give him another VND20,000 for the road toll but no, he wants VND100,000. He said he was well aware of the toll and just grabbed his bag and got out of the taxi a er refusing to pay the exorbitant fee. Imagine how tourists feel! The rst people they meet in Vietnam are the unsmiling immigration people a er which they have to deal with the taxi maa, he said, adding that a country hoping to develop tourism as a sustainable industry should manage to control its airport taxis. Scrutiny on paper Experts said there should be stricter actions and be er coordination among relevant agencies, including the city Transport Department, airport authorities and the police to end violations by taxi drivers that were tarnishing the citys image. Last year, TASC detected more than 2,000 violations by taxi rms at the airport, with the most typical violations being overcharging (drivers not turning on the meter but asking for a lump sum), picking up passengers in no stopping zones, refusing to carry passengers on short distances and resisting security ocers on duty. During an inspection last September, the

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

NATION

Foreign visitors taking a taxi at Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Experts have blamed lax management by transport authorities and taxi firms for dishonest taxi drivers at the airport.
PHOTO: KHANH AN

Transport Ministry banned three taxi rms Petrolimex, Festival and Happy from Tan Son Nhat International Airport due to various violations. The three rms were recently allowed to resume operation there a er the HCMC Transport Department conrmed they had not repeated their violations. Mai Linh Taxi, a popular brand for many foreigners in Vietnam, was also suspended from the airport for a month from February 5, a punishment issued by Tan Son Nhat Operation Center a er 45 of the companys drivers violated regulations during the rst three weeks in January. In 2011, Mai Linh was involved in 800 incidents that included violations while Vinasun was found culpable in 600 cases. TASC director Dang Tuan Tu said drivers have been caught breaching regulations only once they leave the airport. He said TASC couldnt do anything unless passengers report the incidents. Only TASC and the media have taken practical actions in ghting dishonest taxi drivers, he said, blaming the HCMC Taxi Association for not playing any role in solving the problem. Toan, TASC deputy director, said several regulations have been enforced, such as requiring drivers to provide passengers with a card stating the taxi number and the companys hotline. But he said it wasnt enough.

Da Nang targets improved airport taxi service

The Da Nang City administration has instructed taxi companies operating at its international airport to post notices about fares from the airport to popular tourist destinations both within the city and nearby provinces. Taxi fares will be announced from the airport to Ba Na and Marble Mountains in Da Nang, Hoi An and My Son in Quang Nam Province and Lang Co in Thua Thien-Hue Province. The hotline of the municipal Peoples Council, 0511 3 888 888 will be displayed in every taxi. Each taxi firm will have to provide customers with a card with the taxi number, the name of the driver and phone number of the firms director in case the passengers want to report any violation or problem created of the drivers. The taxi association will also cooperate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to open classes for their drivers in communication skills, English and the regions tourism destinations.

The possible violations include drivers refusing short distance trips or agreeing on a xed fare without using the meter, he said. He said the Southern Airport Corporation plans to issue a stricter set of taxi regulations by this years end. However, he said the most decisive actions must come from the city Transport Department and the HCMC Taxi Association. The transport department should tighten regulations for taxi operations. The taxi association should also ban drivers dismissed due to violations from applying for a job at another company. A shortage of taxi drivers has forced

several companies to recruit drivers without strict evaluation of their skills and ethics, he said. In a recent case, a passenger who wished to be known only as Tam said a driver from Saigon Dong Nai Taxi oered to carry him from the airport to District 1 for VND200,000. I know the fare should be lower for such a distance, he said, adding that he reported the case to the airport authority who ned the driver for the violation. I am a Vietnamese but was still targeted by dishonest taxi drivers at the airport. I am sure that more foreign visitors must have been preyed upon because they dont speak Vietnamese and are strangers here. VW

NATION

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

YOUR TWO CENTS

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 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. We reserve the right to edit your submissions for reasons of space and clarity.

Visions of Bui Vien

By JEREMIAH TWAIN

obody in Vietnam reacts well when I tell them Ive been living in Pham Ngu Lao for more than four months. Tourists cant believe it, expats sco and either subtly or overtly, local people tend to disapprove. Sooner or later Ill move into an apartment in District Whichever and Im sure Ill love it there too but its gonna be hard for me to bid my beloved Bui Vien farewell. When I leave, I will not miss the bad western music blaring from every direction, but I will miss calling the Vietnamese residents of Pham Ngu Lao my neighbors. Many of the Vietnamese families of Pham Ngu Lao have lived in their houses for generations. Now their foyers serve as hotel lobbies, makeshi bars and restaurants, snack shops or art galleries. Not long ago they were something else. Patronize a business twice and youre considered a regular; go four times and get treated like family. At dawn and dusk September 23 Park is full of young lovers, bohemians strumming guitars and skateboarding, families, schoolchildren and elderly Vietnamese, only a meager portion of whom nd themselves directly connected to the tourist trade, outside the fact that their closest local park happens to be in the heart of the tourist area. Across the hem from my hotel live a distinguished middleaged couple and their family. The patriarch is an exceptionally dapper silverhaired gentleman who radiates repose. He and his wife run a small shop, selling water, cigare es and cell phones out of their house. Though hes already put a son through business school and is saving to do the same for his daughter, he sells his wares for a bare minimum of prot. We talk nightly about the state of the world and the state of the neighborhood hes lived in all his life. Like so many Vietnamese here, he accepts the pain and pleasure of development with equal magnanimity. Amidst the insane blare of Bui Vien, Mr. Kien can be found tending shop with his nose buried in a book on Buddhism, philosophy, physics or all three. On Gregorian New Years, he pulled me aside and oered heartfelt prayers of good luck, health and prosperity to me and my girlfriend, and to our families in America, unlike any Ive ever received from anyone in my life. Across the street, in front of the

PHOTO: JEREMIAH TWAIN

Ms. Giau in front of her food cart where she has been serving locals and tourists breakfast for more than two decades

new MiniStop convenience shop, hang Mr. Xieu and his xe om crew, Sang, Dung and Duong. They all drive smooth as a rhapsodynot too fast, not too slow, avoiding every trac jam and pothole possible. Xieu is a highly respected man amongst the community and o en carries large sums of money for local people to and from banks and such. Like

many of my friends here, I found him several years ago. I never take for granted the indelible service he provides for me when I need it. He and his team not only memorize the schedules of innumerable expats, waiting for them, coordinating to ensure theyre picked up later, but they help tourists turned expats nd jobs and apartments, warn us of things

to look out for and greet us warmly umpteen times a day whether we need a ride or not. I eat breakfast everyday at a small food cart run by a 50 somethingyearold woman named GiauShop Giau has been operating near the corner of Bui Vien and De Tham streets for more than two decades now. Her menu has only a few items

dominated by fresh bague es and the citys best omelets, loaded with onions. Though Giau speaks as li le English as my girlfriend and I do Vietnamese (close to none), she treats us like we were her own children, reciprocating our customer loyalty with motherly doting. She now makes rice everyday for my girlfriend, whos allergic to gluten. Shes been frying up eggs at her tiny mobile food cart 364 days a year, for more than twenty years. This year she invited my girlfriend and I to accompany her to a pagoda for Tet on the lone day she takes o work. Shes a saint, but each week I watch several tourists verbally assault her over VND5,000 and shoot her disgusted looks for her inability to understand their Germanic accent. I bow my brow to the Giaus of Bui Vien, the mobile fruit shake ladies, the rail thin cyclo drivers, the men and women hawking incredible food, a million vendors eking a living as best they can assembling and dissembling entire restaurants and storefronts each day. Most of them already quasioutlaws the government would just as soon eliminate. But they represent the thin red line standing between Vietnam and the soulcrushing strip malls of American suburbia. The last time my girlfriend and I were here, she had to return to the US for health reasons. Vietnam probably had li le to do with her ailments, but our local friends all but took responsibility anyway. It was the street food, the weather, the pollution, they said. I stayed on Bui Vien for three months without her and not a day went by without a dozen local people inquiring about how she was feeling, genuinely worried and concerned. They were not asking in general, but inquiring for specic changes since the last time they asked, the day before. It was enough to make me want to hold local press conferences every time we talked on Skype. Cynicism doesnt get you far here, but if youre able or willing to simply behave like a human being, say please and thank you, youre treated like royalty. You dont even need to learn Vietnamese. Just learn to say no problem or how to order your tea and coffee in the local tongue, and people react as if youd just recited an entire Ho Chi Minh speech in perfect Vietnamese. Try telling somebody passing out flyers that you already have one, in Vietnamese, and see the reaction you get. VW

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

NATION

Home bittersweet home

By HOANG PHUONG

y all accounts, Daniel Jean Claude Buzit has had a sad life for most of his 53 years. The French Vietnamese citizens latest trip to his homeland, where he spent the rst 16 years of his life, seems to encapsulate the bad luck that seems to dog him wherever he goes. Residents of My Tho Towns Ward 5 in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang are still talking about him, having go en to know him be er during the several months he was penniless and homeless a er being kicked out of his temporary home by his half brother and sister people he had helped with occasional monetary contributions from France. On March 15, Daniel ew back to France a er spending more than four months in the town, profusely thanking a few My Tho natives, telling them he wished to see them again someday. Unforge able trip Daniel returned to Vietnam from France last October to visit his family in My Tho. Daniel is the son of a Frenchman, who served the French army during the war in Vietnam, and a Vietnamese woman. The couple had three children: Daniel, his elder sister and younger brother. A er the war ended in 1954 with the defeat of the French colonialists, his father worked for a beer company in My Tho for a few years before leaving Vietnam. The father went alone because his wife refused to accompany him with their children to France. Daniels mother remarried in Vietnam. In 1975, when Daniel turned 16, his father took him to France. Daniel found work as a painter at a factory. His hard work and limited salary did not allow him to visit his motherland frequently. He occasionally sent money he had saved to his brother and sister in Vietnam to help them restore their house. In 2005, Daniel married to a Vietnamese woman from the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh. However, a er arriving in France, the woman was disappointed to learn that he was not a rich man. Without his knowledge, she borrowed money from Daniels Vietnamese neighbors to buy an air ticket back to Vietnam. His arrival in Vietnam on October 3, 2011 was based on his doctors advice to take a vacation in a warmer climate, which is be er for the meningitis that he suers from. He stayed in the house of his brother and half brother in My Thos Ward 4.

Rejected by his family, penniless French Viet kieu finds succor from poor strangers

VND50,000 to VND100,000. One of the kindhearted natives was Chung Van Tu, Hungs friend. Tu works as a street lo ery vendor and lives in a rented apartment with his daughter. One day, he met Daniel at the shop while having his bike repaired. He then voluntarily drove Daniel on his old bike to the headquarters of Tien Giang Province Police Department to get his passport renewed. Daniel was asked to pay VND275,000 in renewal fees, but on emptying his pockets, he had just VND100,000. Tu gave Daniel the money. On February 21, Daniel decided to seek help from the oce of the Consulate General of France in Ho Chi Minh City. Tu voluntarily drove Daniel the 140 kilometers to HCMC. However, they were disappointed to hear from the consulates employees that there were no policies or funds to support French citizens in such situations. Daniel returned to Hungs house, upset and discouraged. Media intervention A faint light ashed at the end of the tunnel for Daniel a few days later when Quoc Viet, a reporter with local newspaper Ap Bac, spo ed him si ing sadly in a corner of the bike shop. He wrote a story with Daniels pictures, which was published in the newspaper on February 24. Thanks to the article, the Tien Giang Department of External Relations sent ocers to Hungs house to investigate the case. The department then helped him nish procedures to return to France. A er reading the article, Daniels sister felt remorseful. She oered him accommodation, but Daniel insisted on living with the poor My Tho residents who had given him shelter. The sister brought him food and said she would help him buy an air ticket to France with the 500 euros he had given her before. She bought him a ticket scheduled on March 14. Unfortunately, the ight was not from HCMC to Paris but to another country. Daniel did not realize the mistake until he arrived at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport. He had to return to My Tho. On the evening of March 14, his friends collected VND10 million for him to change the ticket for a straight ight to Paris. As he le his homeland on March 15, Daniel said: If I have spare time and enough money to buy an air ticket, I will return to My Tho to visit those who helped and cared for me during my hard times. I will never forget what they have done for me. VW

PHOTO: HOANG PHUONG

Daniel Jean Claude Buzit sits in front of the motorbike repair shop that belongs to Truong Van Hung, a My Tho native who gave the French Vietnamese man shelter and food after he was kicked out of his half brothers house

In early November, he lodged a complaint with the local police saying he had lost 2,000 euros and VND3 million in cash while sleeping on the evening of November 2, 2011. Suspecting his half brother, he said the thief had taken all the cash from his wallet but le his personal papers untouched. A er he led the complaint, his half brother kicked him out of the house. His sister also refused to let him stay in her house. Meanwhile, local police failed to nd the culprit. Daniel leased an apartment in My Thos Ward 6. The landlady asked him to pay VND6.2 million for rent and food in advance. A er spending three weeks in the apartment, he decided to leave

because of bad food and living conditions. He asked the landlady to pay him back VND4.5 million. The landlady gave him just VND1.5 million. He lodged a complaint once again with the local police, but they could not se le the case. They advised him to lodge a lawsuit with the provincial court. Homeless beggar Daniel had nowhere to stay and he was using up the li le money he had le on him. He wandered around the town like a homeless person and on some days he had to beg for food. In his wanderings, he met Truong Hue Minh, a poor My Tho resident. Minh, a single man, took Daniel to his house to live.

However, Minh could only provide accommodation for Daniel, so he sought help from his brother Truong Van Hung. Hung, the owner of a bike repair shop, sympathized with Daniels plight and invited him to live in their house in Ward 5. Daniel spent the Tet (Lunar New Year) with the couple. There, he had three meals a day. When he got sick, Hung bought him medicines. Every day, Daniel sat in the bike repair shop to watch Hung do his job and talk to him. People who visited the shop were at rst surprised to see a Western looking man in the shop all the time. A er hearing his story, they were all sympathetic. Many of them gave him money, from

EXPAT LIFE

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Ramblings and ruminations on all things Vietnam from a not-so-quiet American

By CALVIN GODFREY

veryone knows that, to some degree, bnh m (bague e) and c ph sa (coee, milk, ice) are relics of French colonial Vietnam. But few understand the extent to which Vietnam has contended with imperial cuisines for its entire history. Last November food historian Erica J. Peters published a book titled Appetites and Aspirations in Vietnam: Food and Drink in the Long 19th Century that paints a vivid portrait of how empires have a empted to shape and manipulate the cuisine we all know and love. Starting with Emperor Minh Mangs eorts to convince the disparate peoples of the southern territories to eat white rice with chopsticks at every meal and ending with a French colonial ad campaign designed to unload a surplus of sweetened condensed milk on the Annamites, the book describes how normal people resisted and absorbed eorts to control what they ate. The book is constructed through Peters careful decadelong review of colonial records, poetry, le ers, cookbooks and newspapers. She spoke to Vietweek:

The French and your food

expat community, particularly in hotels and restaurants. A new place just opened up named a er Paul Blanchys mustache. What was his story? His father was a wine merchant, exporting wine from Bordeaux. Paul went to Indochina to start a (heavily subsidized) coee plantation, but it failed miserably. He failed again when he tried to start a (heavily subsidized) pepper plantation. But he had great success with his second pepper plantation (again, heavily subsidized), and he became a wealthy man, and then mayor of Saigon from 1895 until his death in 1901. Today Vietnam is the largest producer and exporter of black pepper in the world. When did Western visitors to Vietnam rst begin to genuinely appreciate Vietnamese food? I think some Europeans got it from the very beginning, like Paul dEnjoy reveling in the crunch of a good fried palmtree worm. And some Europeans ate that way from necessity not all French people in Vietnam could aord to eat French food! But I dont think there was much widespread Western respect for Vietnamese food until tourists started coming in the 1990s. At what point did Vietnamese food come to France? The very rst time Vietnamese dishes came to France was during the Colonial Exposition in Marseilles in 1922, and then again in 1931 at the larger Paris Colonial Exposition. People could and did try delicacies such as birdsnest soup and shark n soup, and xenophobic jokes spread about the idea of eating sh sauce and dog meat. More and more immigrants came from Vietnam to France, starting in the 1950s during the French war in Vietnam, and the numbers kept growing. Many of those new immigrants opened restaurants, as a way to employ and feed their families. And so gradually more and more French people got a taste for Sino/Vietnamese cuisine. But it wasnt really until the 1990s that people in France started to appreciate ph. And then it took o so that in 2002, the French celebrity chef Didier Corlou declared ph the best soup in the world. Who was your favorite character in researching this book? The student Nguyen Van Nho, who was delighted when his mother switched him from traditional Chinese education to French school now he could eat fried chickens feet! Apparently people thought that fried chickens feet ruined your handwriting for Chinese calligraphy, but in French school handwriting wasnt as important.
VW

How important are white rice and chopsticks to the Vietnamese identity, 200 years a er Minh Mangs campaign? I think people in Vietnam have found a particularly Vietnamese balance between chopstickfood and handfood; between elaborate preparations (such as ph or bnh chng) and quick foods that depend on very fresh ingredients (such as ch c or bnh xo); between purity and elegance (which are associated with northern cuisine) and fun and individuality (which are associated with the south). Can you describe a few things that are thought of as forever and always Vietnamese that may have actually originated elsewhere? In my book, I talk about ph as a dish that people think of as representing an eternal Vietnam, even though it is really only 100 years old. It emerged from a moment when someone in Hanoi or Nam Dinh collected beef remnants le over from serving the French, made them into a rich stock, and produced a great alternative to the various soups sold on the street by Chinese soup vendors. Bnh m sandwiches and c ph sa are similar, in that they are denitely, organically Vietnamese but could not have been invented without the new ingredients (bague es, coee, sweetened condensed milk), which were only available in the early 20th century because of the French presence. How did the French colonial

Erica J. Peters, Ph.D., is the director of the Culinary Historians of Northern California and an independent food historian. She is the author of Appetites and Aspirations in Vietnam: Food and Drink in the Long Nineteenth Century.

administration change (and fail to change) sh sauce and rice wine? Before the French period, sh sauce and rice wine were available at dierent price levels, depending on the producers reputation. For sh sauce, that didnt change although the quality went down across the board when salt got too expensive (due to the badly run French salt monopoly). All the dierent kinds of sh sauce were still made by Vietnamese. But for rice alcohol, the French actually wouldnt let Vietnamese people make it any more. They had to buy a tasteless version produced in French factories, made from cheap materials. The French government created this monopoly to please a powerful French industrialist, and also to make it easier to collect taxes on sales of

rice alcohol. The Vietnamese worried that the same would happen to sh sauce and French policymakers did discuss [monopolizing its production], for food safety reasons. But having seen what happened to their rice alcohol, the Vietnamese moved heaven and earth to prevent [a monopoly]. The French had learned (from strong Vietnamese resistance to factory alcohol) that it was politically dangerous to change the taste of a beloved food product, so they abandoned their a empt to control and centralize sh sauce production. To what extent did bootlegging traditional rice wine become a nationalist enterprise? No one liked the taste of the factorymade rice wine. And

producers resented that their livelihood had been taken away. So the Vietnamese population was in agreement that this French policy was outrageous, and they found the issue important enough to protest about it for a decade, never le ing up. They used all the tools at their disposal, from bootlegging the product they loved, to ghting o inspectors with bamboo sticks, to writing le ers to newspapers (mocking the French for forcing people to drink this awful product), to staging theater productions about the terrible French alcohol. It was the rst widespread lobbying eort by the Vietnamese, and it worked. So, that was very educational for a whole generation of Vietnamese. An odd nostalgia for French colonialism survives in Vietnams

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

EXPAT LIFE

By TO VAN NGA

ecessity is the mother of invention, they say. It is also the mother of entrepreneurship. Naya EhrlichAdam, a Thai national married to an Austrian who works in the tourism industry, moved to Yangon, Myanmar nearly 10 years ago. We liked eating out very much, but there were few good international standard restaurants in Yangon then, she recalled. She and her husband also liked food from dierent countries in the region, including her own, but were nding it dicult to get them in Yangon. Thus, the idea for Monsoon Yangon, a multicuisine restaurant serving food from neighboring countries, was born. So we decided to open a restaurant serving food from Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. That happened seven years ago. The couple, who have travelled a lot, then moved to Ho Chi Minh City, four years ago. For the rst three years in Vietnam, Naya took care of her second child. Last year, she had the opportunity to join the international food and beverage fair in Vung Tau Town, where she put up a stall and had three chefs from Myanmar make Mohinga, a traditional Burmese sh soup. The response she received from Vietnamese patrons of the fare gave her the condence to open Monsoon Saigon last month. Monsoon Vietnam is probably the only restaurant in the country that serves food from the erstwhile Indochinese countries and its neighbors Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. It is very interesting to taste traditional food from ve Asian countries. Japanese food leans more toward sh, soy bean and freshness of main ingredients. While these foods (from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand) have many herb, spices and are also very fresh, said Chicaco, a Japanese customer. Naya said her idea was to create one place where she promotes a selection of foods that she herself loves. Talking to Vietweek about how she created the menu for Monsoon, Naya said: I visit the local markets and try the food from the street stalls. I collect cookbooks from the region and pick the dishes that I am interested in. Later, she has a sureproof way of testing her dishes. Let the people from that country taste your food, they can tell if it is good or not. Asked about the dierence between Monsoon Yangon and Monsoon Saigon, Naya said: Very similar. Monsoon Yangon has more Burmese dishes than Vietnamese dishes, but Monsoon Saigon has more Vietnamese dishes than Burmese dishes. Also,

Pick and choose

New restaurant presents signature dishes from five countries

Phu Quoc Island to host intl half marathon

HCMC A sport marketing agency from Hong Kong will launch an international running race in June to promote Phu Quoc, Vietnams preeminent southern resort island. Sporting Republic said in a Monday press release that the Phu Quoc Half Marathon has been scheduled for Sunday, June 17, and is expected to draw hundreds of local and overseas runners. The main race will be 21 kilometers, while options also include a shorter run of ten kilometers and a fun run of five kilometers, all of which finish at the famous Long Beach Resort. Participants will enjoy a scenic race along the southern end of the island with breathtaking views of the Gulf of Thailand. From beautiful beaches to world class resorts, Phu Quoc Island is a perfect place to race and run, said David Shin, director of Sporting Republic, which was established in 2010. Participation fees start at US$25 per person. Last October, Sporting Republic organized the Bitexco Vertical Run, Vietnams first and only stair climbing race, held at Ho Chi Minh Citys iconic Bitexco Financial Tower. VW

PHOTO: TO VAN NGA

Ground floor of Monsoon Saigon restaurant in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 1

When it comes to food, I like sincere, good food at an affordable price. I think it is too much to sell Asian food [at similar prices] like French food
NAYA EHRLICH-ADAM, MONSOON RESTAURANTS FOUNDER

Sco ish pro fosters golf in Vietnam

HCMC A former PGA pro and the Scottish director of south central Vietnams premier golf club is teaching golf classes in Ho Chi Minh City. Mark Henderson, the director of Ocean Dunes Golf Club in Binh Thuan Province, said the classes have so far been a success and will soon be meeting monthly. The 29 year old native of Troon, Scotland which is famous for Royal Troon golf course, one of the hosts of the Open Golf Championship said he saw an increased demand for gold in Ho Chi Minh City. Henderson and Ocean Dunes General Manager Glenn Cassells are also running the Ocean Dunes Golf Academy which offers a variety of instructional courses for all players. Henderson is also planning a golf training program in Binh Thuan that will include an 8-week course of lessons, two per week. Some special dates have been set for intensive coaching for junior golfers. Ocean Dunes hosts Faldo Series, Asias premier junior circuit, every August, attracting top Vietnamese talent from across the country. So this focus is consistent with the clubs long history of fostering junior golf, said Henderson. Henderson competed in national amateur events in the UK, including the European Challenge Tour as a professional. He arrived in Vietnam after stints at respected clubs in southern China, The Maldives, Wales and Poland. VW

Monsoon Saigon does not serve European dishes as Monsoon Yangon does. Naya said she found Vietnamese food very healthy and light. It is a challenge (to cook Vietnamese food for Vietnamese customers) but not a big one because we have a Vietnamese team here, she said. Authentic and aordable Naya likes the idea of authentic food in a contemporary atmosphere, she said. Monsoon Saigon has a menu with 70 national signature dishes such as cha gio (fried spring roll), Phat Thai Goong Sod (Thai fried rice noodles with prawn), Mohinga (Burmese rice noodles in rich sh soup) and Gaeng Juet (clear mushroom and pumpkin soup). When it comes to food, I like

sincere, good food at an aordable price. I think it is too much to sell Asian food (at similar prices) like French food. Prices on the Monsoon menu range from VND25,000 (US$1.20) for assorted Vietnamese desserts with coconut milk (che) and VND300,000 for steamed seabass in fresh lime and chilli. Monsoon oers authentic, not fusion food, Naya stressed. Monsoon is located on Cao Ba Nha Street in District 1. It has a small garden in front. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is laid back, and diners have a view of old houses on the opposite side of the street through glass doors and windows. In the late a ernoon, a vendor sells local snacks right in front of the restaurant.

Inside, photos and paintings featuring Asian culture adorn the walls. On the ground oor, opposite to a bar, stands a big, ancient style bed of dark wood with colorful cushions. Wall paintings of Buddha, wooden Buddhist statues and paintings depicting life in Saigon give the place the feel of an art gallery. At Nayas suggestion, I tried Mohinga, a Burmese dish with rice noodles in rich sh soup, served with boiled eggs, lime, gourd fri ers and coriander. It had a warm, strong avor of curry, onion, grilled sh and chilli powder. It was delicious. Everybody here knows Vietnamese dishes and Thai dishes. Many people know dishes from Laos and Cambodia as many of them travel there, but Myanmar is not wellknown. It is challenging to introduce Myanmar cuisine to the customers as it has a dierent taste than the rest of the dishes from several countries that we serve at Monsoon. The guests who are more adventurous nd it interesting and some just love it. Naya does not pay much a ention to advertising. She said she likes the fact that some customers discover the restaurant when passing by. And they feel at home and come o en, she said. Thats how I made friends in Yangon, Naya said, smiling. She is going to make a lot of friends in Ho Chi Minh City too. VW

10

ECONOMY - FINANCE

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Trade s but har

By BAO VAN

PHOTO: REUTERS

People work on the assembly line at a Piaggio scooter and motorcycle factory in the northern province of Vinh Phuc

Beware of foreign direct investment traps: experts

Need to be highly selective about foreign investment dawns on Vietnam
By ANH VU

er more than two decades, the hype about wonders wrought by foreign direct investment is being replaced, at least partially, by the sober reality of their actual impacts. Now, experts are saying that a strong inow of foreign direct investment (FDI) is not necessarily a blessing if the technological gains are not worth the environmental risks. Bui Tat Thang of the Development Strategy Institute in Hanoi said the biggest disappointment with FDI projects is the very li le technology transfer that has beneted Vietnam. Foreign investors tend to keep their technologies secret while local authorities are not fully aware of the importance of technology transfer and have not demanded it, he said at a conference in Hanoi last week. Thang also warned that not all foreign investors are nancially strong. Some of them actually disbursed only a small portion of their registered capital, trying to raise funds from the domestic market to cover the rest, he said, adding that such practices would

give a wrong impression about the contribution of their projects to the economy. The lack of technology transfer is a setback, but experts have been pointing out that the situation could actually be worse, that Vietnam becomes a dumping ground for outdated technologies. Nguyen Xuan Trung of the Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences said the country needs to be cautious with FDI projects that can have negative impacts on the environment. China late last year decided to eliminate thousands of companies using obsolete technologies with low eciency. Its likely that these companies, together with their equipment and production lines, will try to move to Vietnam, Trung said. There might be traps in FDI inows into the country, said Invest Consult Group General Director, Nguyen Tran Bat. Just as you may buy bad and fake goods at a market, you may a ract the wrong projects, he said. The decentralization has given cities and provinces too much authority in licensing new projects, but their assessment practices are not eective enough to prevent

lowquality projects, Bat said. He called for se ing up an agency for each region of the country to review FDI projects before licenses are granted. Over the past 25 years, FDI inows have continued to rise. Vietnam targets FDI of US$1516 billion this year, up from $11 billion in 2011. Pledges fell 54.5 percent in the rst two months from a year earlier, to $1.23 billion. More than 13,600 FDI projects have been licensed so far, and most of them are currently operational. Together they have created two million jobs, as well as several million indirect jobs. But not all the foreigninvested companies have good environmental track records. Several have been caught polluting over the last few years, including MSG makers Vedan Vietnam, Miwon Vietnam and hog farming company San Miguel Pure Foods. Meanwhile, the country has not been very successful in its eorts to a ract big companies with modern technologies, even though several top manufacturers in the world including Intel Corp., Samsung Electronics Co., Canon Inc., and Piaggio have established a presence here. Dau Tu, a newspaper published

by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, last week quoted experts as saying the main target for Vietnam should be large transnational corporations. Economist Nguyen Mai said the country has focused on a racting capital from small and medium investors, but the strategy needs to change. We still need FDI from small and mediumsized enterprises in supporting industries, but the priority should be FDI from countries with advanced technologies and top transnational corporations in the world, Mai said. To catch the a ention of these large investors, the government has to oer a ractive incentives and maintain stable policies, he said. Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh has said there will be breakthroughs in the FDI sector soon. The country will continue to welcome investors, but it will no longer try to a ract investment at all costs, he said. There will be lters and only investors in select sectors that the country plans to develop will be chosen, Vinh said, noting the goal is to a ain high technology. VW

rime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung recently approved a trade strategy for this decade focusing on switching exports from raw materials to valueadded products and balancing trade, but analysts are skeptical about achieving the objectives. The strategy envisages gradually reducing exports of raw materials and increasing those of manufactured goods, especially hightech and environmentally friendly ones. More specically, it aims at reducing the shipments of fuels and minerals to 4.4 percent of total exports from 11.2 percent in 2010. The proportion of processed and manufactured goods is sought to be raised to almost 63 percent from 40 percent. Export revenues are targeted to triple from $71.6 billion in 2010, or an annual rise of 1012 percent. But economist Le Dang Doanh is not sure if any of this can be achieved: It is a good idea, it is on the right track. But to implement it, we need to have detailed action plans and appropriate policies. I have not yet seen them. So it is dicult to achieve the targets. Five years a er joining the World Trade Organization, Vietnam may have seen an increase in exports but not a change in their structure, he says. The exports of footwear, garments and electronic products have risen sharply, but their value addition remains modest, he explains. Since garment and footwear exports are mainly in the form of subcontracting, value addition is only 2535 percent of export value.

Deposit
No other way to avoid monetary mayhem, experts say
By ANH VU

The central banks plan to remove the interest rate cap on dong deposits is an illadvised move, some experts say, stressing that the ceiling is the only tool that has proved eective in keeping the monetary market in check. Policy interest rates including the base rate, the renancing rate and

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

ECONOMY - FINANCE

11

trategy on right track d to achieve, say analysts

Vietnam has advantages in sectors such as garments, footwear, woodwork, technologybased items like mobile phones, so ware, and electronics, Nam says. We have to deal with capital and human resource issues too. But the most important thing is to have suitable policies. The funds allo ed for trade promotion are too low and the activity is thus ineective, he says. We o en export products only when customers order them. Our rms seldom nd foreign buyers. The export market is huge, but Vietnam is unable to take advantage of it, he says. Though the EU, the US, and Japan are our biggest markets, our exports to them are too small compared to their imports. Balancing trade The strategy also envisages gradually reducing the trade decit to below 10 percent by 2015, eliminating it by 2020, and achieving a trade surplus from 2021. Nam says the target is achievable since the trade decit has been falling since 2009, but it should rst be ensured that the reduction is stable. The decit was $9.5 billion last year. To narrow the trade gap in a stable manner, we have to increase exports, but we have not done it, Nam says. Some agricultural products like coee, rice, and seafood have seen export growth, but mainly in volume terms and not in value addition, he says. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien says production of feedstock and equipment will be stepped up to reduce the reliance on imports. The country will also put up more technical barriers in line with international commitments to limit the imports of lowquality products that could destroy the environment and aect peoples health, he said. VW

PHOTO: REUTERS

Laborers work at a yarn weaving plant of a textile company south of Hanoi. Vietnams export of textiles and garments last year jumped 25 percent from 2010 to US$14.03 billion, making it the biggest export item of the country, government statistics show.

In the case of electronic appliances, the percentage is much lower at around 15 percent he says. To boost export of hightech and valueadded products, Vietnam needs be er logistics, skilled workers and companies with greater capacity and famous brands, he says. We have not had any of the things. Our logistics services are too expensive.

Vietnamese exporters are not competitive. Nguyen Van Nam, former head of the Institute for Trade Research, agrees, saying though Vietnams export structure has been shi ing in the past 20 years from raw materials to valueadded products, the change has been very slow. He says this is because most local rms are small and do not

apply technology in production. The speed of change may increase, but it is still unlikely to be as fast as hoped for, he says. The shortcomings he lists in the strategy include failure to identify specic items whose exports need to be boosted and vague export promotion measures. For instance, he says, the government has for many years

sought the development of support industries for garment production, but has not spelled out which materials it needs, who will develop the industries, and which technologies should be used. Thus, the garment industry continues to depend on expensive imports, he says. The situation is mainly due to the irresponsible management.

interest rate cap should stay for now

the discount rate have failed to make any real impact in Vietnam since ination is still high and instability remains a problem for the economy, economist Vu Dinh Anh said. The base rate, for instance, has been in place for 10 years, but it doesnt really mean anything. Thats why there has to be an administrative tool, which is the rate cap, Anh said. What will the State Bank use to manage the market if the cap is removed? he asked. So for the time being, Im in favor of having the cap because it is the only thing that can keep deposit rates at a reasonable level to support the goal of cu ing lending rates. The State Bank of Vietnam last week reduced the maximum rate that commercial banks can pay for dong deposits to 13 percent from 14 percent. Nguyen Van Binh, the central bank governor, said the cap may be removed in one or two quarters. The deposit rate ceiling was introduced at the end of 2010, but was repeatedly breached by many lenders until last September when the central bank stepped up punishments for violators. Vu Viet Ngoan, chairman of the National Financial Supervisory Commi ee, said administrative measures to interfere in the market are likely lead to unwelcome consequences, especially if they are not taken seriously. But because liquidity of the banking system is not strong yet, its necessary to sustain the rate cap for some more time, he said. Nguyen Thi Mui, a banking expert, said if the limit is eliminated now, banks will start competing against each other again by raising deposit rates. It will be dicult to bring lending rates down then, she said. Other experts, however, have called for the removal of the cap over the past year, arguing that the limit is an antimarket tool. The International Monetary Fund said last October that the ceiling should be abolished. Lawyer Truong Thanh Duc of the Basico Law Firm in Hanoi told Vietweek that the cap has not been eective at all given that banks have tried dierent tactics to break it. So why not let the market adjust interest rates itself? The rate cap doesnt solve any problem, and it even stresses out commercial banks, he said. Le Xuan Nghia, vice chairman of the National Financial Supervisory Council, agreed that the cap should be removed. Local banks have been categorized and allocated with dierent credit growth limits, which means weak banks that tend to compete by oering high deposit rates are now under control, Nghia said. The risk of interest rates spiking is not high because credit will not expand at a fast pace, he said. Even if deposit rates surge to 20 percent a year a er the cap removal, rates are likely to fall down again, he said. Nghia also said apart from policy rates, the central bank still has another powerful tool in store that can be used to inuence money supply and interest rates the compulsory reserve ratio. The central bank has been requiring reserve levels of up to 3 percent for dong deposits. Nghia said the ratio in Vietnam is low, compared to around 20 percent in China. The requirement can be changed and applied to banks depending on their size, he said, adding that smaller banks should have smaller reserves. VW

12

ECONOMY - FINANCE

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

New housing fund plan met with skepticism

By THIEN BAO

Luxury apartmen
But market revival will be led by low-end housing, experts say
By NGAN ANH

The Ministry of Construction is confident that a new national fund will help solve the housing crisis for many citizens, but experts say the initiative may be just another castle in the sky. Under a plan recently approved by the government, the ministry will launch a housing fund to which all employees will have the option to contribute. After five years, fund contributors will be allowed to take out cheap loans to cover up to 50 percent of home purchases. Other sources for the fund will include revenues from land use taxes, national lottery proceeds and contributions from the state and provincial budgets. Deputy Construction Minister Nguyen Tran Nam told reporters on Tuesday that a 1-percent contribution from the monthly income of more than nine million employees currently on payroll would amount to no less than VND10 trillion per year for the national fund. While experts say that such a housing fund is necessary for the country, they expressed doubts that the one proposed by the Construction Ministry will accomplish its aim. Do Thi Loan, deputy chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association, said it is not practical to ask cities and provinces to contribute to the national fund since many of them are still seeking financial support from the state. Meanwhile, Tran Minh Hoang, chairman of Vinaland, said he is more concerned about how the fund will be managed. If transparency is not ensured, the fund will be misused, he added. Another executive of a real estate company said the fund aims to help low-income homebuyers, but the goal is unlikely to be achieved if home prices remain high. According to the plan, it would be five years before contributors to the fund become eligible to receive home loans, and there is a high chance that home prices will have surged by then, he said. With the average income of many locals as low as VND5 million a month, a 1-percent contribution means they will only have accumulated VND6 million in the fund after 10 years, the executive added. Despite preferential loans, there is still a large sum of money that needs to be covered as an average apartment now costs VND1 billion, he said. Earlier this year, the Vietnamese government ordered all cities and provinces to utilize their resources to solve the housing shortage. According to the Ministry of Construction, by 2020 the country will need a total area of 2.5 billion square meters to house a population which is projected to reach approximately 96 million. That means within this decade it has to add 100 million square meters of housing each year to meet the target. VW

midst the extended slump in the real estate market with many developers now struggling to nd buyers despite large discounts, highend apartments costing sevengure US dollar sums stand on top of the unsold pile. This is what one would think, but industry insiders say, think again. There are apparently not many signs of gloom in the highend property market in Vietnam. The developer of a luxury project in Hanoi that has apartments with real gold ings costing up to US$1.7 million each said 39 of 242 units were sold in early March. Customers, mainly businesspersons aged 3840, favored apartments, 120260 square meters in area, that had what the developer described as classical western designs. The VND4 trillion ($190.5 million) project, developed by the Tan Hoang Minh group, is set to be completed in 2014 a er about four years of construction. This is one of many luxury projects launched in a country where the annual per capita income is just $1,200. Late last year, real estate rm Phu My Hung started to sell its Chateau luxury villa project that has 35 independent villas and 12 associated villas of 510770 square meters each. In only two months a er they went on oer, more than a half of the 47 villas priced at VND3790 billion ($1.74.2 million) were sold. The Ho Chi Minh Citybased project includes a total of 103 villas which are expected to be nished in the rst quarter of 2013. The Caye Sereno Ha Long project, which was recently licensed, would sell seaside villas at more than $1 million per unit. Becamex Tokyu Ltd. has begun work on a new urban residential complex with an investment of VND25 trillion ($1.2 billion) in the southern province of Binh Duong early this month. Units are expected to be sold at $1.2 million each.

Ho Thi Bich Ngoc, vice chairwoman of Tan Hoang Minh, said: The highend property segment still has customers if it has special factors like location, design, quality of construction materials and equipment and a er sales service. Some investors said luxury property projects have good prospects because of the increase in the number of wello people in Vietnam. An expert said the segment may face diculties in the short term due to the impacts of the economic downturn, but it would continue to grow in Hanoi and HCMC in the medium and long term. Luxury housing is indispensable for many wello urban residents. A highend apartment will help them show o their taste and style, he said. While some industry insiders welcome continued capital ows into the highend segment, some analysts warn that the new projects will further inate supply in a market that is already reeling. Market leveling In other property segments, investors are now struggling to nd buyers despite large discounts. Marc Townsend, Vietnam Managing Director of property rm CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), said the past three years have seen rising prices in Hanoi, but residential prices in the capital city will start leveling o soon, following a trend already seen in the HCMC market. According to CBRE, some 22,000 apartments belonging to 60 projects will be launched in Hanoi this year. This will put more pressure on property developers

as trading volume is expected to stay low and the percentage of successful deals insignicant. Only 45 percent of the deals are successful now, much lower compared to over 80 percent some years ago, it said. The low sales, together with the credit tightening mandated by the central bank and high interest rates, have hindered several investors from developing their projects. Townsend said many investors were looking for merger and acquisition deals as the market has been stagnant for the past three years. Most property rms cannot raise enough capital to continue their projects. They have to sell some of their projects to fund others, he said. According to the Vietnam Construction Federation, up to 99 percent of real estate projects have been delayed. Many property investors are hundreds of billions of dong in tax arrears. To a ract buyers, many rms have oered big discounts or launched promotions. Land prices have dropped by 3050 percent in some districts of Hanoi, while many projects have seen apartment prices fall by 2030 percent since early last year. Real estate rm Hoang Anh Sai Gon is oering to subsidize interest rates for two years for customers of a project in HCMCs Tan Phu District. Le Thanh Company is allowing its apartment buyers to pay in installments over a period of ve years at an interest rate of 12 percent, much lower than the 20 percentplus oered by commercial banks. Townsend said the price reduction and big promotions

would continue to be seen in Vietnams property market for some time. However, many investors may shi from property to more a ractive investment channels, he said, adding that the stagnant market has made many foreign investors cautious about investing in the sector. Foreign direct investment in the property sector has fallen sharply compared to the last four or ve years, according to Phan Huu Thang, former head of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. A er a record $23 billion in 2008 it plummeted to $672.8 million during the downturn last year, according to the ministry. But in the rst two months of this year the sector received only one FDI project with investment of $100,000. Thang said not only local investors, but foreign ones were also facing capital shortage. They have to stop investment in new projects, or delay existing ones. Do Nhat Hoang, the current head of the agency, said the ministry would cancel licenses issued to foreign investors who failed to start or did not have the ability to continue doing business. Bright spot Real estate rm Knight Frank is optimistic about this years prospects, saying lower ination and interest rates will help kick start the mostly stagnant market. Due to a downturn in the market over the past two years, we believe there is a huge amount of pentup demand for real estate, it said. The number of international

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

ECONOMY - FINANCE

13

ts buck stagnant trend

Manager for Knight Frank Vietnam, commented: The diculty for most investors is timing, predicting the future trend of the market and knowing that they are not buying at the top of the cycle. As with any property investment anywhere in the world, the key is location and understanding the market. There is no question that Vietnam still oers huge upside for any investor over the medium to long term, he said. We are seeing strong demand for many of the investments, land and development sites that we are currently selling. With renewed optimism and a return of condence, 2012 is the time to start looking at investing in Vietnam. Dang Hung Vo, former deputy minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said the lowcost housing segment will see recovery rst, may be in mid 2012. Apartment prices were falling, so speculation would not bring big prots, he said. In the future, lowcost apartments will account for 80 percent of Vietnams housing market, he said. VW

PHOTO: REUTERS

A general view of Hanois skyline. Residential prices in the capital city will start leveling off soon, following a trend already seen in the Ho Chi Minh City market, a real estate company said.

investors contacting Knight Frank has risen dramatically over the past six months, the company said, adding that Vietnam, alongside

China and India, were on their radar. Investors will have an opportunity to purchase assets in

all sectors for prices considerably lower than two years ago and with a large number of developers with deep nancial burdens keen to o

load their assets, we anticipate 2012 will see increased activity, the rm said in a report. Stephen Wya , Country

Manulife Vietnam: Robust growth based on excellent customer service

ince its entry in 1999, Manulife Vietnam has grown into a leading life insurer in the market, providing high quality products and services to Vietnamese customers. Recently, it received the Golden Dragon Award for The Best Life Insurance Service in 2011 from Vietnam Economic Times, the countrys leading business magazine. Kim Fleming, Vice President, Chief Agency Officer of Manulife Vietnam, spoke about what the award means for his company and its customers. How does the award reflect Manulifes vision in Vietnam? Mr. Kim Fleming: The Golden Dragon Award 2011 once again recognizes our outstanding business performance, our tireless efforts for service excellence as well as our contribution to the development of Vietnams economy. It also reaffirms our strong commitment to ISO standards for quality management systems. So to us, the award truly reflects our vision to be the most professional life insurer in the market. What is the secret of Manulife Vietnams recent successes? First and foremost, it is the result of

diversifying our product portfolio, which goes well with our needbased selling strategy. We are proud that we actually have the most comprehensive and innovative range of products and services that meet the specific needs of the customers at different life stages. Third, we are strongly committed to service excellence. In accordance with our Grow with quality strategy, we have heavily invested in building a worldclass professional agency force in order to provide our customers with the best financial consultancy. Expanding by 34 percent in 2011, our network of nearly 12,000 professionally qualified agents is a crucial factor in our success. Can you elaborate on needbased selling? Many might think that customer service is merely frequently contact with customers. With Manulife, it is about creating lasting bonds with your customers at the very first moment, always understanding their needs, providing the best solutions and supporting them whenever they need help. We believe that the customer service begins with customers needs, which have to be studied carefully in advance. Based on that, agents

can create a comfort zone where customers openly share their difficulties and potential risks as well as their financial aspirations for the present and the future. In Vietnamese culture, people seem to hesitate to talk about personal risks, especially death. However, these concerns are the starting point for us to break the ice. What, in your opinion, attracts agents to Manulife? I believe people have been placing their trust in Manulife because we have successfully built a strong reputation as a top international nancial organization with 125 years of experience worldwide and 13 years of outstanding performance in Vietnam. A comprehensive and innovative range of products and services is our unique selling point since customers can always nd the right solutions to their changing needs. Moreover, we are a systembased company that ensures fairness. We select and retrain agents performing well. There are lots of opportunities for them to be recognized in domestic and international conferences. In brief, at Manulife, we are commi ed to guide, to train, to support our agents every step of their way and help them achieve a rewarding career.
Reported by MINH KHANH

Kim Fleming, Vice President, Chief Agency Officer of Manulife Vietnam

hard work by all of Manulife Vietnams agents and staff and their commitment to deliver the best quality products and services possible to customers. Second, as we always focus on product and service innovation, we differentiate ourselves by

14

MARKETS
We probably can expect external demand to get be er, Masamichi Adachi, senior economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Tokyo and a former BOJ ocial, said before the report. The yen rose 0.3 percent to 83.18 per dollar as of 8:55 a.m. in Tokyo from 83.45 before the release. Analysts median estimate was for a 120 billion yen trade decit. The Cabinet Oce said on March 21 that the worlds third biggest economy is picking up slowly a er the disaster that devastated northeastern regions in March last year. Extra import costs The import bill is being swelled by energy costs because of rising oil prices, a weaker yen and nuclear plant shutdowns that followed last years Fukushima reactor meltdowns. The yen has fallen from a post World War II high of 75.35 per dollar in October. The currency extended declines a er Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa and his board members expanded bond purchases by 10 trillion yen last month and set a 1 percent ination goal. The central bank held o from expanding asset purchases this month as it monitored improvements, with Ryuzo Miyao the sole dissenter on the policy board. In yesterdays report, the government said that private consumption is rm and capital spending is picking up. BLOOMBERG

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Japans higher-than-forecast exports trigger jump in yen

(Source: Bloomberg)

PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

Toyota Motor Corp. automobiles sit parked ahead of shipping at the port of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. Japan reported an unexpected trade surplus for February and higher-than-forecast exports, triggering a gain in the yen.

apan reported an unexpected trade surplus for February and higher thanforecast exports, triggering a gain in the yen. Shipments dropped 2.7 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Finance said Thursday in Tokyo. The median forecast of 28 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was for a 6.5 percent decrease. Imports rose 9.2 percent, leaving a surplus of 32.9 billion yen (US$395 million).

The yens decline of about 7 percent against the dollar since the Bank of Japan expanded monetary stimulus on February 14 is making exports more competitive for companies such as Sony Corp. Retail sales in the US rose the most in ve months in February in a sign that global demand is recovering, improving prospects for a Japanese economy struggling to recover from last years earthquake and tsunami.

(Source: Bloomberg)

44.5 44.3 44.1

million

Gold prices in VND per tael

(Mar 15 - Mar 21)

Stock Mar 21 Change close

(Mar 15 - Mar 21)

Stock Mar 21 Change close

TOP 100
SCD PTL VTO VCF TDH KMR MBB BTT CMT TV1 NVT PNC PXM TBC TTP SC5 VCB CYC VIS HTV HBC STG NBB SRC KDC HAX TDC GTT C47 DQC HU3 HRC BT6 MCG PHT VTB KDH HAS VES DVP PIT KHP SBT CLW EVE HAP SVI PVD CII IJC

Stock Mar 21 Change close

BOTTOM 100
CCI ASP PXT SJS TNA PPI ELC CLG HHS BVH DAG BMP LBM CDC TIC VNM DPR FPT SPM POM REE SSC SFI CTG KSB CNG ABT ACL ATA BIC CTI DHG DSN DTA DXG DXV FBT GMC HAI HSI HTI HVG ICF KHA KTB MHC NKG NVN PET PHR

Stock Mar 21 Change close

Stock Mar 21 Change close

TOP 100
HPB PVS APP TC6 SRB S91 KHL HDO API CTA PLC VDL SDJ L62 TXM DNP TCS QCC MNC VCS MCO VTC TIG HAT HAD TKC PVA BPC CTN DIH NVC SED PCG AAA SD1 KLS L18 SEL KTT SJM KMT KKC HBB TMC HLC LCD SIC SD7 PVG DCS

Stock Mar 21 Change close

Stock Mar 21 Change close

BOTTOM 100
ONE DAD VAT DC2 BHC PXA XMC AMV VE9 NHA ALV SCL SDP DTC NST S99 INN SSM PRC NVB VC1 DXP L43 NDN THB SDT NBP VC2 DHT VBH PVI BKC DZM EBS EFI EID HUT KSD LIG LM3 LUT MAC NLC PTI SD6 SDY SHC SKS SPP SSS

Stock Mar 21 Change close

43.9 43.7 43.5

One tael is equivalent to 1.21 ounces.Prices as of 8:39 a.m. on March 22. (Source: SJC)

QCG KSA LSS THG AGR PTC JVC TLH VNG TAC TNT SBS VNE RAL DIC IDI BSI KSH SVC MPC HCM NAV VSG SSI BCE BRC BAS KSS BGM DHC SMA PXL PVF TRC GIL MDG ITC PXS BMC VNS HT1 PVT ASM CTD DLG VPH VHG PAC STT VSI

12.10 10.00 30.70 10.80 8.40 8.40 28.30 6.60 5.40 32.40 6.40 5.80 5.80 36.30 9.40 8.90 6.70 9.30 14.40 25.80 19.90 6.90 2.00 20.40 9.70 9.80 1.10 8.90 7.90 9.50 6.10 5.00 12.60 43.80 33.50 5.60 9.90 10.00 47.70 27.00 4.50 4.60 23.70 36.60 22.60 6.50 5.00 18.40 6.70 8.50

19.80% 19.05% 18.99% 18.68% 18.31% 18.31% 17.92% 17.86% 17.39% 16.55% 16.36% 16.00% 16.00% 15.97% 14.63% 14.10% 13.56% 13.41% 13.39% 13.16% 11.80% 11.29% 11.11% 10.87% 10.23% 10.11% 10.00% 9.88% 9.72% 9.20% 8.93% 8.70% 8.62% 8.42% 8.41% 7.69% 7.61% 7.53% 7.19% 7.14% 7.14% 6.98% 6.76% 6.71% 6.60% 6.56% 6.38% 6.36% 6.35% 6.25%

12.00 5.20 5.20 123.00 15.90 3.60 16.20 19.90 7.30 7.30 3.70 5.70 5.70 11.40 36.10 17.80 29.80 2.00 14.10 10.20 27.90 24.00 42.20 8.90 40.30 4.50 11.30 6.90 9.40 14.10 14.10 42.80 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.70 20.60 5.20 2.60 39.00 7.80 7.90 15.90 10.70 27.00 5.50 20.00 40.30 28.90 11.80

6.19% 6.12% 6.12% 6.03% 6.00% 5.88% 5.88% 5.85% 5.80% 5.80% 5.71% 5.56% 5.56% 5.56% 5.56% 5.33% 5.30% 5.26% 5.22% 5.15% 4.89% 4.80% 4.71% 4.71% 4.68% 4.65% 4.63% 4.55% 4.44% 4.44% 4.44% 4.39% 4.17% 4.17% 4.17% 4.05% 4.04% 4.00% 4.00% 4.00% 4.00% 3.95% 3.92% 3.88% 3.85% 3.77% 3.63% 3.60% 3.58% 3.51%

KAC GSP NHW TIE SGT CAD VNL TMS AVF DCL SAV LHG LGC LGL PTB VLF NHS MCP NSC DTT SFC CCL ALP BTP LCG IMP FDC GMD DMC DTL ITD PNJ HLG SVT HMC APC PDR VFG MSN MTG OGC SBA VNI CIG CMX LM8 NTB UDC HAG TCO

13.30 -17.90% 9.40 -16.81% 12.30 -15.17% 9.80 -14.04% 4.50 -13.46% 0.80 -11.11% 11.30 -11.02% 23.40 10.00 12.10 12.10 16.10 14.10 5.70 12.00 13.50 24.70 16.00 42.00 6.90 18.50 7.60 7.80 4.10 11.20 38.30 26.00 24.90 30.50 14.40 8.70 38.60 10.60 7.20 10.90 14.70 14.70 36.90 115.00 3.90 11.80 4.20 4.50 4.60 4.60 9.50 4.80 4.80 29.10 10.00 -9.30% -9.09% -9.02% -8.33% -8.00% -7.24% -6.56% -6.25% -6.25% -6.08% -5.88% -5.62% -5.48% -5.13% -5.00% -4.88% -4.65% -4.27% -4.25% -3.70% -3.49% -3.48% -3.36% -3.33% -3.26% -2.75% -2.70% -2.68% -2.65% -2.65% -2.64% -2.54% -2.50% -2.48% -2.33% -2.17% -2.13% -2.13% -2.06% -2.04% -2.04% -2.02% -1.96%

10.10 5.10 5.40 30.70 18.50 6.40 26.60 13.40 34.50 69.50 7.10 43.40 7.40 7.90 8.70 91.50 55.00 58.50 36.80 12.60 13.60 27.90 15.70 25.70 27.90 28.80 35.60 18.00 6.50 7.50 14.40 63.00 30.00 4.30 8.90 5.20 5.90 17.00 17.00 7.90 7.50 25.30 5.10 10.20 9.30 2.70 11.70 7.20 13.70 27.50

-1.94% -1.92% -1.82% -1.60% -1.60% -1.54% -1.48% -1.47% -1.43% -1.42% -1.39% -1.36% -1.33% -1.25% -1.14% -1.08% -0.90% -0.85% -0.81% -0.79% -0.73% -0.71% -0.63% -0.39% -0.36% -0.35% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

LAS SDN ORS TAS CTM SVS VC9 VIX HBD PSI VHH HPC PHS PSG VCC WSS QHD DID APS TVD VIG LTC MIC SHS PPS VND PVL AVS TPH APG SAP CCM PVX BVS CTS TDN UNI BSC ASA HHC V11 SCR BLF VCG PFL THT CKV DHI B82 HEV

26.60 13.30 3.90 5.90 5.70 4.20 8.00 5.90 14.30 6.20 3.40 5.10 4.00 4.20 12.00 6.60 6.70 7.40 4.40 12.50 4.00 7.40 15.50 6.30 15.30 11.70 6.00 4.70 4.90 4.20 5.90 8.50 11.20 15.70 9.60 17.00 5.40 9.00 13.80 15.70 2.80 9.50 3.90 13.70 4.90 19.70 6.90 4.00 12.30 9.30

28.50% 26.67% 25.81% 25.53% 23.91% 23.53% 23.08% 22.92% 22.22% 21.57% 21.43% 21.43% 21.21% 20.00% 20.00% 20.00% 19.64% 19.35% 18.92% 17.92% 17.65% 17.46% 17.42% 16.67% 15.91% 15.84% 15.38% 14.63% 13.95% 13.51% 13.46% 13.33% 13.13% 12.95% 12.94% 12.58% 12.50% 12.50% 12.20% 12.14% 12.00% 11.76% 11.43% 11.38% 11.36% 11.30% 11.29% 11.11% 10.81% 10.71%

10.40 16.90 12.70 19.20 4.30 5.40 4.40 11.50 4.60 4.60 17.50 34.00 4.70 8.50 3.70 18.50 14.10 2.60 3.90 14.60 4.00 2.90 4.40 17.80 24.00 6.10 9.30 7.80 4.70 15.70 3.20 8.00 4.80 19.30 6.50 13.10 9.90 5.00 3.40 3.40 6.90 13.90 7.00 10.60 12.50 5.40 7.20 11.00 13.20 5.70

10.64% 10.46% 10.43% 10.34% 10.26% 10.20% 10.00% 9.52% 9.52% 9.52% 9.38% 9.32% 9.30% 8.97% 8.82% 8.82% 8.46% 8.33% 8.33% 8.15% 8.11% 7.41% 7.32% 7.23% 7.14% 7.02% 6.90% 6.85% 6.82% 6.80% 6.67% 6.67% 6.67% 6.63% 6.56% 6.50% 6.45% 6.38% 6.25% 6.25% 6.15% 6.11% 6.06% 6.00% 5.93% 5.88% 5.88% 5.77% 5.60% 5.56%

DST HPR SHN FLC S12 DNY YBC AMC SD5 HHG PHC VCV PGT DC4 CX8 LDP SD8 NGC DNM POT THV BTH TAG LO5 VNF SCC VMC HNM V12 HBE TH1 SRA S64 HDA LHC HHL SFN GGG PMC PHH L14 GMX HJS NAG PCT PDC LBE SDU SMT VSP

5.00 -21.88% 12.10 -16.55% 4.80 -12.73% 28.00 -11.39% 4.60 12.00 15.30 14.50 19.50 3.40 5.70 2.40 3.70 7.70 4.20 27.40 4.60 6.60 10.00 8.50 3.50 7.30 29.40 3.90 35.40 4.30 17.70 6.70 6.70 4.70 24.00 4.90 7.40 7.50 22.50 2.70 8.20 2.80 19.70 5.70 8.90 12.00 6.00 3.30 3.30 3.30 10.00 6.80 3.40 3.40 -9.80% -9.77% -9.47% -9.38% -8.88% -8.11% -8.06% -7.69% -7.50% -7.23% -6.67% -6.16% -6.12% -5.71% -5.66% -5.56% -5.41% -5.19% -5.16% -4.88% -4.58% -4.44% -4.32% -4.29% -4.29% -4.08% -4.00% -3.92% -3.90% -3.85% -3.85% -3.57% -3.53% -3.45% -3.43% -3.39% -3.26% -3.23% -3.23% -2.94% -2.94% -2.94% -2.91% -2.86% -2.86% -2.86%

7.00 7.10 3.60 7.50 4.20 4.20 8.40 4.30 9.40 4.90 5.10 5.20 5.30 10.70 11.00 5.70 14.50 7.30 7.50 8.00 16.00 24.10 8.20 9.40 12.00 12.50 14.00 14.50 34.80 17.80 18.70 9.00 11.60 6.00 6.30 7.50 9.70 4.60 9.20 3.50 7.90 3.90 13.90 9.80 8.60 2.90 4.00 8.50 19.00 4.10

-2.78% -2.74% -2.70% -2.60% -2.33% -2.33% -2.33% -2.27% -2.08% -2.00% -1.92% -1.89% -1.85% -1.83% -1.79% -1.72% -1.36% -1.35% -1.32% -1.23% -1.23% -1.23% -1.20% -1.05% -0.83% -0.79% -0.71% -0.68% -0.57% -0.56% -0.53% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
(Source: Bloomberg). Prices in VND1,000

BRENT CRUDE FUTURE MAY 2012

127 126 125 124 123 122
Prices as of 8:59 a.m. on March 22 (Source: Bloomberg)

USD/barrel

Index

Last on March 21

Net change Price/ Current year Next year Earnings Estimate Estimate

DOW JONES S&P 500 NASDAQ FTSE 100

13124.62 1402.89 3075.32 5891.95

-45.57 -2.63 1.17 0.54

13.51 14.51 25.58 11.12

12.59 13.45 16.45 10.56

(Source: Bloomberg)

11.34 11.93 13.86 9.54

FOREX RATES IN VND

USD EUR JPY SGD AUD HKD

Buying Transfer Selling 20,850 20,850 20,950 27,351 27,434 27,842 245.97 248.45 252.65 16,258 16,373 16,717 21,552 21,682 22,049 2,645 2,664 2,720

GOLD IN VND PER TAEL

Ho Chi Minh City Hanoi Da Nang Nha Trang Can Tho Buying 43,590,000 43,590,000 43,600,000 43,580,000 43,590,000

Selling 43,790,000 43,810,000 43,790,000 43,810,000 43,790,000

(Source: SJC)

(Source: Vietcombank) Prices as of 8:30 a.m. on March 22

One tael equals 1.21 ounces Prices as of 8:39 a.m. on March 22

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Q&A

15

Rice export target a tough ask this year

It is dicult for rice prices to increase now, as no sudden change in demand is foreseen and supply is abundant. We are preparing to harvest the winter spring crop with an estimated output of two to three million tons of rice in the Mekong Delta. Who are likely to be Vietnams main competitors in the coming months? Besides Thailand, the rivals include India, Pakistan and Myanmar. Early this year, Myanmar raised purchasing prices for farmers in a move to boost production. The country aims to become the worlds sixth biggest rice exporter. It has big rice export potential. Now it faces diculties in terms of infrastructure and transport, making its rice less competitive. However, it is still a future rival for Vietnam. India resumed rice exports last October a er a period of stopping shipments. Since then, the increased competition has caused diculties to Vietnamese exporters. Can we reach the target of exporting 6.57 million tons of rice this year? The situation this year is very dicult, as rice farmers are expected to harvest bumper crops. We can boost exports only when there are weather changes which aect rice outputs. Thus, it is dicult to reach the target. We could not have the market to do so if Thailand sells its reserves. Which are the markets that Vietnam could tap this year? For government contracts, the market will still be traditional ones like Cuba. For commercial contracts, Asia will be still the biggest market for Vietnamese rice. (Now, Asia accounts for up to 70 percent of Vietnamese rice exports). We are expanding exports to Africa. Shipments to African countries have helped oset partly the reduction in export to the Philippines in recent years. Rice exports to the Philippines, which used to be Vietnams biggest rice importer, has gone down as they are focusing more on food security and allowing private rms to import the grain. However, exports to Africa cannot replace those to Asia, and they are not going to rise sharply in 2012. Our rice export via border gates to China is also big. China is a potential market for Vietnamese rice, although the country is strengthening application of technology in agricultural production and increasing purchase prices oered to farmers to improve rice production. But when all is said and done, Asia will remain the main market for Vietnamese rice.
Reported by NGAN ANH

PHOTO: REUTERS

A farmer plants rice on a paddy field in front of a new urban compound on a foggy day in Hanoi

er a record export of seven million tons of rice in 2011, Vietnam saw a 43 percent yearonyear drop in shipments in the rst two months of the year. Trinh Van Tien of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development discussed with Vietweek why this year is going to be more dicult. Vietweek: Why are our rice exports down? Trinh Van Tien: International rice traders have a comprehensive view of the worlds rice supply and demand as countries have issued their rice output statistics. The worlds rice supply and demand are stable now. Thailand has some six million tons of rice in stock, while Vietnam has announced it will buy one million tons for reserves. With seven million tons of rice in stock, nobody has to worry about supply. Early last year, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Bank warned of the risk of a food crisis. Accordingly, many countries already increased their

rice purchases. These factors have combined to see rice exports plummet so far this year. But rice exports of India and Pakistan have risen sharply. Why is that? Their rice prices are lower than ours by some US$100 per ton. Their rice quality is not as good as ours. Only poor African countries import their rice. We are worried about our export as Thailand continues purchasing rice from its farmers for stockpile. Thailands program of purchasing rice from farmers for reserve to keep the products price high should have lasted from last October to February. However, the Thai government, in February, announced it would continue the program without a time limit. The Thai policy may make our rice exports face more diculties from now to the end of this year. With a big volume of rice in stock, traders will increase tapping lowprice rice channels. Following an increase in Thailands rice prices, we have

increased our export prices. Is it a wrong move? I dont think so. Rice price is decided by the world market. Vietnam cannot do anything to inuence the world price. Thailand, the worlds biggest exporter, cannot do it either. Earlier, we used to consider Thailands rice price the world price, but now that is no longer correct. Thailands price is not real, as the purchasing prices that Thai traders now oer to farmers are even higher than export prices. Our rice export prices are decided by the market. However, we increase the price to ensure that farmers can earn a prot of 30 percent under a prime ministers decree. Accordingly, the price of paddy cannot be below VND5,000 ($0.24) per kilogram, thus traders have to adjust their export prices to guarantee it. India and Pakistan are tapping the market segment of lowlevel rice. However, our price is much higher than theirs, hindering our exports. Should Vietnam shi to the higher level segment? In a long term, we have to improve our rice quality, which

helps increase the added value of our export. However, this cannot be done overnight. Of course, traders nd it easier and more protable to export high quality rice. However, we should plan increasing the volume of high quality rice for upcoming crops. Now, over half of our winter spring crop in the Mekong Delta (Vietnams rice basket) is IR50404, which is lowlevel rice. We also have a market for low level rice, but the supply now is bigger than the demand, so it is dicult to sell it. When the world situation is stable, there is no reason for importers to buy low quality rice at higher prices. Rice prices in India and Pakistan are much lower than ours because of lower production costs. Thus, it is a big challenge to Vietnamese rice exporters. Our price for 25 percent broken rice is higher by $70100 per ton. If we lower prices, we may suer losses. Rice prices o en come down at this time of a year before rising in April or May, when the crop situation of main rice producers and the consumption of importers become clearer.

16

ARTS - CULTURE

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Letting the world know

HCMC - Nguyen Le Chis expertise as a translator and her experience in working with copyright purchases for books in many countries gave her an idea to cut, as she put it, two trees with one saw. She saw an opportunity, while doing business with foreign publishers, to introduce some good Vietnamese books. Chi, known for her translation of Chinese novels, also heads Chibooks, which has now become the first private Vietnamese publishing firm to market Vietnamese works to foreign markets in Asia, America and Europe. Previously, an introduction or translation of Vietnamese literary works happened based on the writers personal relationship with a foreign publisher or foreign translator. Chibooks has taken care of the most important part of its nascent venture sign up the best writers. Bui Anh Tan, Phan Hon Nhien, Vu Dinh Giang and Duong Binh Nguyen are among the first twenty noted writers who last week made Chibooks their agent to sell their literary properties in a foreign market. The chosen authors in the first phase of the project are famous and they have been recognized by local experts. Their works will be the best depiction of our country, people, emotions and a slice of contemporary Vietnamese society for foreigners. However, Chi said it was not an easy project because it involved big investments and costs specific to export transactions, including market research, translating brochures, catalogues and having publicity material in foreign languages, travel and international communications. The good news is we will have less rivals, because there is no local publisher interested in this hard task at present. I think it will take at least one or two years for foreigners to get acquainted with translated Vietnamese literature. Writer Bui Anh Tan, who has 14 books involved in the new project, said that Chibookss plan would bridge the gap between Vietnamese writers and the world. I do not know how Chibooks will do the translation, marketing and publishing of my works. But their list of chosen writers really sets my mind at rest. Chibooks needs to be encouraged for embarking on this venture, he said. Writer Phan Hon Nhien said the Chibooks project meets a writers indispensable demand of showing his or her work to the world. Despite the doubts still being expressed and debates still going on about the projects feasibility, Chi said her company aims to introduce and sell copyrights at a book fair to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from April 25 to 28 and later, at the Beijing Book Fair in China from August 29 to September 2. The launch of Chibookss copyright marketing project also welcomes the seventh Ho Chi Minh City Book Fair 2012, which will end on March 25 at Le Van Tam Park with a stall presenting Chibookss latest publications. On the opening day on Monday, the fair attracted more than 80,000 book lovers. This year, those attending the book fair will have the opportunity to meet with authors and get autographed copies of bestsellers like Nguoc Chieu Vun Vut (Zigzagging in Traffic), the second book by 33-year-old Canadian Joe Ruelle, who has been living in Vietnam for a decade now. His latest book is a collection of more than 60 articles, most of which were published in newspapers and magazines, over the last four years. The book fair also presents the work of fiction Ai va Ky O Xu So Cua Nhung Con So Tang Hinh (Ai and Ky In The Land of Invisible Numbers) cowritten by famous Vietnamese mathematician Prof. Ngo Bao Chau and blogger Nguyen Phuong Van, Chaus friend. VW

Born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, banker and boutique owner begins to dabble in the arts, but it is not business as usual
By MAY + MAY *

Patron o with a pa

PHOTO: DONG DUONG

Writer Bui Anh Tan (L) and Nguyen Le Chi, head of Chibooks, at a ceremony held on March 16 to launch a project promoting Vietnamese literature in foreign markets. The ceremony also celebrated Chibookss third anniversary.

e is the only son of Do Tat Ngoc, former chairman of Agribank, one of Vietnams top banks. He is the soninlaw of Dao Hong Tuyen, one of the countrys richest men whose estimated worth is US$2 billion. He has two Masters Degrees in nance and economics from Australia. He is a senior executive with a Singapore banks branch in Vietnam and CEO of DX Fashion, which owns several luxury boutiques named Luala (silk) in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. He is handsome, husband to a beautiful woman, and a father to three cute, healthy boys. Do Ngoc Minh, as they say, has it all. Actually, he has more. He has a passion for art. It sounds clichd and hollow to say that I am an arts lover, but it is the truth. From when he was a schoolboy until about 10 years ago, he was an admiring audience of all things art, but then he realized that given his position, it was time he did something for the arts in an indirect way, hopefully to help both the artists and art lovers like me. He remembers asking his friend to introduce him to writer Ho Anh Thai, former chairman of the Hanoi Writers Association, a er reading one of his works when he was in high school. Given that entrepreneurship runs in his veins, Minh says, I dont know if someday my love for the art will become a business, but no ma er what I am doing, I would remain an art lover, someone whose qualities can complement what businessmen like me dont have, which are imagination, wild thoughts, adventure regardless of consequence. In 2010, Minh, who has a family where all members, whether working in nance or not, share an interest in making money from something, planned to open a ne art gallery with the help of writer cum gallery manager Phan Thi Vang Anh and other local artists. The project, however, was delayed due to changes in location of the gallery, though most of the process had been completed. In order not to waste time while

Do Ngoc Minh says he doesnt know if someday his love for the art will become a business, but no matte

looking a new space for the gallery, Minh and his crew founded an online gallery called Soi (www.soi.com.vn), to trade paintings and statues. Soi did not develop according to Minhs initial intention, rather, it is transformed into a leading website that provides free news and information on all art genres in Vietnam. What Soi is now is dierent from my expectation in the beginning, but its transformation is be er, elevated and romantic, Minh smiles, admi ing his failure, saying that though everything can become a business nowadays, Soi will retain its

inquiring and liberal view to play a role in the development of the local arts. In the future, if he is able to open a gallery, Soi will still go its own way, he asserts. If Soi lost its independence, I would no longer be interested in it. Luala Concerts Minhs wildest dream so far having an orchestra to play world classical works on Vietnams streets, came from his visits to European countries, where streets are crowded with people listening to outdoor concerts. He discussed the idea early last

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

ARTS - CULTURE

17

of the arts assion for it

PHOTO: NGO VUONG ANH

A Kim Lan villager scrutinizes artifacts at Vietnams first community archaeology museum on March 20

Japanese scholar helps Hanoian pottery lover build museum

The friendship between a 77-year-old Vietnamese and a Japanese archeologist has led to the construction of Vietnams first community archeology museum
By TRINH NGUYEN

PHOTO: NGOC THANG

Local artists perform at a Luala Concert show in Hanoi last year. The Luala Concert was selected as one of 10 outstanding music events of the year by the Vietnam Association of Musicians in 2011.

PHOTO: NGUYEN KHAC QUAN

r what he is doing, he would remain an art lover

year, with some local musicians including talented violinist Xuan Huy, to whom he had been introduced ve years ago by Hanoian artist couple Pho Duc Van and Trinh Thi An. It is always the best to enjoy classical music in opera theaters, however, not every one can aord a ticket to go there. So, if a certain street is ideal for such outdoor performances, more people will have opportunity to approach the art and the music itself can be freed from its ivory tower. Minhs street concert idea, however, was backed only by Xuan Huy initially, others were skeptical.

The two began working on the project, deciding to call it the Luala Concert. In addition to Huy as leading musician and manager of the orchestra, musician Tran Manh Hung signed on as music adviser. The trio were aware of the diculties ahead. Vietnams music market is dominated by pop and rock, and classical musicians themselves had other work, with many of them members of Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra and Ballet and Musical Theater. Then there were the questions of whether local artists would be interested in the project, and if they could overcome objective obstacles including the weather, noise, and so on. But they did it. The rst of the 30 shows project took place on November 11, 2011 in front of the Music Publishing House. The opening day of the Luala Concert series was also the 100th birthday of Hanoi Opera House, located nearby the concert site at 61 Ly Thai To Street, which faces one of Minhs Luala Fashion boutiques. Among the audience were those who have never been Luala Fashions customers, however, high quality music and fashion are now more familiar to the people. The music project aims not only to promote fashion, but oer a playground for the artists to freely

perform their favorite masterpieces in an open space, Minh said. The Luala Concert was selected as one of 10 outstanding music events of the year by the Vietnam Association of Musicians in 2011. Not only in Vietnam, but also in other countries, such high class musical genres need more support from the community, government and us, businessmen, who can engage their business with the arts, especially those that are unique and not very popular. Then both the arts and the business will benet. The Luala Concert series rst FallWinter show ended on January 15, 2012. Despite minor sound problems and rainy days, the concerts a racted a large number of locals, foreigners, local celebrities, foreign conductors and even mathematics professor Ngo Bao Chau. While preparing for the next Luala Concert at the end of this year, Minh is also planning to open an artistic space inside his house in the center of the capitals Old Quarter. The space will be a place for my friends to exhibit their artworks, and for me to display my painting collection. I want to present artistic works according to my taste, rather than my potential customers, he said. (THE THAO VAN HOA) * MAY + MAY is a pen name

The Kim Lan Village Community Archeology Museum, the result of a community archaeology project, was launched in Hanois Gia Lam District on March 20. The storys genesis dates back 16 years, when an old man named Hong retired from his post at a local po ery shop to dedicate his time to gleaning antique pieces of ceramics. He made his rst discovery along the riverbank near his home. Thirty years of working and making po ery enabled me to recognize authentic antique ceramics at rst glance, recalled Hong. The next step a er collecting po ery remnants was a empting to reassemble them. A er years of eort, Hong was able to reconstruct his rst full (20cm) plate, originally produced during the Ly Dynasty (10091225). Hong inspired local villagers and even his own son, to join a burgeoning group of collectors. More and more antiquities, most of them ceramic glaze, were uncovered. In 2000, Hong and his amateur colleagues wrote to the Archaeological Institute and Historical Museum announcing their achievements. The le er drew the a ention of groups of local scholars who began visiting Kim Lan Village. Their digs produced po ery with origins which ranged from the 7th to 17th centuries. At Kim Lan Village, we found evidence of residence and po ery manufacturing. Many ceramics from the Tran Dynasty (14th century) were found, especially the gom hoa lam (indigoblue ower glaze.) The discovery was a milestone, because it was the rst proof that premium gom hoa lam was produced (in Kim Lan) during the 14th century, said Bui Minh

Tri, head of the Royal Citadel Study Center. Hong said it was a mutual love for ceramic glaze that connected the villagers to Japanese PhD Nishimura Masanari. I met Nishi (as Hong calls him) in 2000, and we clearly shared the same interests of studying history and archaeology simultaneously. He was good with theory; I was accustomed to reality. We completed each other, intellectually, Hong explained. Hong provided much of the documentation for Masanaris doctoral thesis, 14th chapter of which was dedicated to Kim Lan Villages centurylong history of producing and trading pottery. Hong said it was Masanaris great appreciation for Kim Lan Village that inspired him to start a community archaeology project. Masanari helped broker funding from Japan to help the Kim Lan villagers build their museum, which exhibits the artifacts they have found over the years, along with items uncovered by professional archaeologists. Nguyen Giang Hai, deputy director of Archaeological Institute, said that the newborn public archaeology museum in Kim Lan Village had to overcome doubts that a community archaeology project would be possible in Vietnam. Many people claimed that it would be hard to run such a project successfully in Vietnam due to the low level of education and selfdiscipline of the people. However, the villagers of Kim Lan have shown that ordinary people can be an amazing resource for collecting material for research. Community archaeology links people who carry out academic projects that interest them. The youth, therefore, will be er understand and appreciate their local history and culture, said Hai. VW

18

ARTS - CULTURE

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

A pastime yields to prosperity

Ornamental fish breeding has been a popular Hanoian hobby for decades, but never has it been so expensive or rare
their house for a sh tank. It can be a small pot with just a few tiny cheap sh, or a huge tank containing extremely valuable varieties. People with big budgets have recently been buying arowana, popularly known as dragon sh or king sh, which cost from $1,000 up to $15,000 each. Like people in other Asian countries, Vietnamese people keep the sh in the hope it will bring them good luck and prosperity. Truong Duc Tai on Lo Duc Street has owned a couple of arowana for two years. Tai said he has been keeping sh for about ten years but had never been as interested in a sh as he now is in arowana. I have loved arowana since I rst saw the sh three years ago, he said. But at that time I couldnt aord them. A er a year trying to save money, I got this couple for nearly $6,000. This was the biggest sum of money I have ever spent on a hobby. But I will never regret it. Despite his busy work schedule, Tai still spares an hour or so every day for his sh. Even when I come back home late, I have never forget to spend some time with them. They help me to release the stress of the day, he said. Phan Ngoc on Hoang Hoa Tham Street is a famous Hanoi sh keeper. Due to his love for the sh, he has given up his work as a teacher to open a sh shop at home. I love keeping sh and I use my whole front yard for sh tanks, Ngoc said. This has become a regular place for my friends to come to watch the sh and exchange experiences. My friends encouraged me to open this sh shop. To meet the rising demand of sh lovers, Ngoc trades dierent subspecies of arowana from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. According to Ngoc, because of its high value, each dragon sh must have a certicate of origin in order to account for its breed and quality. Being renowned for ornamental sh trading in Hanoi, Ngoc has spent tens of thousands of US dollars on the hobby. Ngoc even considers arowana an eective treatment for depression. For me, this type of sh can help bring up thoughts of nature, relaxation and energy. VW Some of the ornamental fish shops in Hanoi: Son Yen, 655 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, tel: (04) 6 294 4356 Thai Hoa, 616-630 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, tel: (04) 6 683 0630 Arowana Shop at 42E Yen Phu Street, tel: 0913 043 703

PHOTO: PHONG LAN

A fish tank containing arowana fish valued at thousands of dollars each at a house in Hanoi
By PHONG LAN

ogether with growing bonsai trees and bird keeping, ornamental sh breeding is one of Hanoian mens favorite pastimes. The two villages of Nghi Tam and Yen Phu near West Lake have traditionally supplied the sh to other regions of Vietnam, and their breeders are considered the countrys experts. From a simple pastime According to Vu Van Quang, a 72yearold ornamental sh lover in Quan Nhan District, almost all families in these two villages bred ornamental sh just 50 years ago. Lying besides the vast West Lake, which provides an abundant source of fresh water and food for the sh, this area was an advantageous place to develop the trade, he said. During the 1960s, the villagers here mainly lived on raising ornamental sh.

Quang said he was once among their regular customers who came to look for new sh here o en. The most popular sh at that time were small and colorful goldsh and angelsh, he said. But the villagers also created many other kinds of sh by cross breeding. Though the trade used to bring in stable incomes for the villagers, it has gradually lost steam following the rapid urbanization of the capital. As Nghi Tam and Yen Phu villages became busy parts of Tay Ho District, locals began making more money building houses for rent. Thanks to their convenient location near the airy West Lake and city center, Nghi Tam and Yen Phu have become ideal places for foreign expatriates to live. As a result, sh are simply less important here now than they used to be. No sh can bring us US$4,000 5,000 a month, said Tran Xuan

Thanh in Yen Phu Village. Now there are only about ten families still following the trade, including us. The middleaged man the third generation of sh breeders in his family said that today he has turned to sh trading rather than breeding. As peoples living standards improve and they are open to world trends, our traditional sh varieties do not a ract modern customers anymore, Thanh explained. Moreover, our smallscale farms cannot compete with big ones in other neighboring countries like Thailand, Singapore or China, which are investing huge sums of money and employing high technology and modern methods to breed numerous kinds of beautiful sh. Another sh trader in the village, Quach Loi, added that there was not much land for them

to breed sh on now. Besides importing sh from foreign countries, we are sharing our experiences with breeders in neighboring localities like Hai Phong and Nam Dinh and then we buy baby sh from them, he said. Now we just trade sh and other accessories like sh food, tanks and aquatic plants. The most soughta er types now are ower horn and arowana, which weve mainly imported from China and Singapore. Feng shui While Hanoians of the past considered sh keeping a pastime like keeping birds or raising bonsai, younger generations now expect more from their sh. They believe in feng shui principles that say the aquatic animals play an important role in bringing them a be er life. As such, most families, small or large, tend to reserve a place in

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

ARTS - CULTURE

19

Horror films rise from the dead in Malaysia

won accolades abroad. Malaysian lmmakers suddenly realized there is a lot of money to be made in horror lms... so they jumped on the bandwagon, said Andrew Hock Soon Ng, a lm expert with the Malaysia campus of Australias Monash University. However modern we are, we are still very much regulated by our traditional belief systems, Ng said. Malays were animist before Islams 15th century arrival, but belief in the existence of spirits separable from physical forms and black magic still lurks under the Muslim veneer. A recurring Malaysian character is the orang minyak, or oily man, an elusive bogeyman smeared in black oil who hunts for virgins to rape. It was immortalized in 1958s Curse of the Oily Man by the late P. Ramlee, Malaysias most celebrated lmmaker, and reallife sightings remain common. In January, local media reported residents of a suburb of the capital Kuala Lumpur patrolling streets a er two orang minyak were spo ed. Meanwhile, reports of school classes being disrupted by suspected cases of possessed students are regular. In one publicized incident in 2008, when 35 students were gripped by hysteria in a school in eastern Pahang state, school authorities reportedly held special religious recitals and prayers and engaged a spiritual healer to cleanse the school. Ahmad Idham said two of his own crew became hysterical while lming one of his several fright lms, and a stuntman died in an accident on one of his sets crew blamed supernatural forces. He now takes precautions when shooting, such as praying to Allah and seeking guidance from his uncle, an Islamic spiritual healer. Mahathir, still an inuential voice, last year called such lms a bad inuence that stoked panic. The National Fatwa Council, which issues Islamic edicts, called them counterproductive to building a developed society. There has been no fatwa or any hint of a new ban, but like all Malaysian movies, horror lms are policed by the Film Censorship Board. It orders objectionable scenes cut and positive messages inserted, such as Islam winning out in the end over the supernatural. In Ghost Pillion Rider, for example, the reckless motorcycleracing protagonist repents, becoming more religious and responsible. Such pressure stunts a promising homegrown genre that faces competition from imported Hollywood and other foreign blockbusters, and shackles directors who need to think beyond the conventional to expand their art, said Ahmad Idham. Its quite dicult... to explore new things. As a lmmaker you have to think beyond. But when you start to think beyond, people cannot catch up, he said. AFP
PHOTO: AFP

This handout photo released by the Kroller Moller Museum and obtained on March 20, 2012 shows the painting "Still life with meadow flowers and roses" by Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh

Dutch museum discovers new Van Gogh

THE HAGUE - A still life depicting a bouquet of flowers painted by Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh in 1886 has been authenticated in a study which used a new x-ray technique, according to a Dutch museum spokeswoman. "With this new radiography, there was no more doubt," Kroller-Muller Museum spokeswoman Sylvia Gentenaar told AFP. "Still life with meadow flowers and roses" in Kroller-Muller's possession since 1974, was declared a genuine Van Gogh notably after some particular characteristics were identified within the pigments used in the painting. The new study also revealed Van Gogh painted the still life over two wrestlers, said Gentenaar of the painting which from Tuesday will be on display at the museum in Otterloo in the eastern Netherlands. The study, done by Delft and Antwerp Universities, the Van Gogh and Kroller-Muller museums and the DESY research center for particle physics in Hamburg, showed the wrestlers to be of a typical Van Gogh design. "The wrestlers are not completely naked, they wear some sort of pants which is characteristic of the Antwerp Academy, which Van Gogh attended in 1885-86, Gentenaar said. The painting was given "anonymous" status in 2003 after being considered for many years as a possible Van Gogh. Born in the Netherlands on March 30, 1853, Van Gogh settled in Paris in 1886, where he was influenced by the Impressionists. Van Gogh shot himself in a wheatfield at the age of 37 in Auvers, France, in July 1890. AFP
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PHOTO: AFP

A moviegoer walks past a film poster at a movie theater in downtown Kuala Lumpur on March 14, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR Haunted highways, an oilsmeared ghoul prowling villages for virgins, vampiress spirits thirsting for blood: Malaysia has an obsession with the supernatural rooted in ageold legends. Now that obsession is being increasingly projected upon the nations cinema screens as horror movies have quickly emerged as a force in a booming domestic lm industry. But it wasnt always so. Horror lms were eectively banned in the Muslimmajority country for three decades for celebrating the otherworldly in violation of Islamic teachings. But since premier Mahathir Mohamad retired in 2003 and popular culture was allowed to relax a bit they have risen from the dead. Three of Malaysias six topgrossing lms are fright icks made in the past two years, and the genre made up more than a third of domestic movies in 2011. This growth, along with popular action lms and comedies, has helped fuel a burgeoning industry. The number of local lms in cinemas grew from just eight in 2000 to 49 in 2011 and ticket sales have quintupled in the last six years. Last year local movies collected more than 100 million ringgit (US$32 million) in box oce sales.

Horror lms have struck a chord because they reect the countrys village culture and the traditional superstitions that trouble Malay hearts, says director Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nazri. Horror movies are the type that will be close to our culture, said the director of 2011 boxoce hit Ghost Pillion Rider, about a motorcycle speedster haunted by the spirit of a girl who died aboard his bike. Malaysias highest grossing horror movie ever and its third biggest overall Ghost Pillion Rider collected 8.53 million ringgit, around 3 million ringgit less than record se ing action lm KL Gangster from the same year. In any country, for you to understand the culture, where they come from, you watch horror movies, Ahmad Idham added. While diering religious views dierentiate Asian horror from that in the West, the region has contributed its own takes on familiar tropes, from Japans psychological frights to Hong Kongs horror comedies. A er a 30year lull in Malaysia censors stopped approving scary movies as Islamic sentiments rose in the 1970s Fragrant Night Vampire hit screens in 2004. The lm, about a pontianak, or vampiress spirit a recurring Malay legend and movie subject was a huge hit and even

20

ARTS - CULTURE

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

The Voice set to wow Vietnamese audiences

By KIM NGA

Auditions for the Vietnamese version of American TV reality show The Voice will be held from April to December, hosting four of the biggest names in local music industry. According to the local organizers, Vietnam is the second Asian country which has won the right to hold the show after South Korea. The Voice, launched last year in America, itself originated from Hollands singing contest The Voice of Holland. It is one of the most successful new television shows in years, averaging almost 13 million viewers. In Vietnam, pop sensations Ho Ngoc Ha, Dam Vinh Hung, Thu Minh and rocker Tran Lap will be the coaches of the TV reality show. The Vietnamese version will keep the originals three-step-format, which will start with the nationwide Blind Auditions, The Battle and finally, the Live Shows. The coaches will choose the most talented, unknown artists by listening to their voices without looking at their faces or performances. The selected contestants will, in turn, choose his or her coach for the competition. From the final four, one artist per coach only one will win and receive the grand prize and recording contract to develop his or her professional career. The show will be aired in 17 episodes. VW

PHOTO: KIM

Paintings of artist Nguyen Than are hung on the first floors lobby at Uy Phuongs house on Pham The Hien Street, District 8, HCMC

Famously chic violinist to perform in Vietnam

HCMC - Korean American classical violinist Sarah Chang will give her second performance in Vietnam at the 16th Hennessy Concert Series in Hanoi next month. In January 2010, Chang made her Vietnamese debut at the same event. Her performance charmed the audience, whose ardent applause provoked Chang to play two encores. The 32-year-old violinist is not only renowned for her musical talent but her good looks and appearances as a fashionista. Indeed, Changs elegant long gowns enchanted the Vietnamese audience at her show two years ago, as many local newspapers reported at the time. Chang was first recognized as a child prodigy. She started playing violin at the age of four and by the age of 10 she released her first album, Debut, which quickly climbed the Billboard charts, becoming a best-seller in the classical genre. VW

Home may be where the heart is, but to Uy Phuong, it is also the ideal venue for cutting edge art
By KIM

Art in the House

enjoyed fresh juice and snacks while touring the home turned art gallery. Than, 63, is not only renowned for his artistic depictions of women but also for being obstinate, gallant and loving to tell jokes despite a stammer. Before earning a fortune as an accomplished painter, he was a broke cyclo driver. The highlight of the festival was the onehour performance of artist Dao Anh Khanh from Hanoi. Khanh, one of the most famous Vietnamese performing artists, is known for organizing the annual Dao Xuan (Respring) event, an esoteric mixture of installation and eccentric visual arts. Khanh, born in 1959, has performed in art exhibitions all over the world, including England, France, the United States, and Hong Kong. The Hi5 Art Weekend marked his HCMC debut. Previously, Khanh was skeptical the southern metros potential as a hotbed for performance art and it was only due to his close friendship with Than that he agreed to perform. Dressed in the green and white outt with bandaids on his face and body, Khanh began his one man play by wriggling his body as if without volition, proceeding to romp round the garden stage screaming and roaring. His performance told a story of a human being who desired to nd and raise his own voice, discovering freedom and a way for his soul to shine. Each night, the show a racted hundreds of spectators, some of whom only came out of curiosity. English teacher Doan Trang was one of those. This was the rst time that I witnessed a performance art show in somebodys home. Although I did not understand it well, I really enjoyed it, said Trang, who added, I think I will spend more time learning about performance art. I really loved the venue, even though it was so far from my house. Sharing passion Uy Phuong, who recently returned to Vietnam a er living in Switzerland since 2004, said that she wanted to introduce this type of art festival to her native country. The project starts and culminates in a joyous and cozy atmosphere. The home space will cause interest among viewers through its comfort of a livedin

ast weekend, far from the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Uy Phuongs big house on an acre of land in District 8 hosted the rst ever Hi5 Art Weekend, featuring the music, paintings, installations and performance art of famous local artists. The event took place from March 16 to 18 and rocked the normally quiet neighborhood with a feast of at visitors who enjoyed the art for free. It all got underway with a saxophone solo by Uy Phuongs father, Nguyen Than, be er known for his painting. Collections of paintings by Than and two other HCMCbased artists Nguyen Tan Cuong and Nguyen Minh Phuong covered the inside, upstairs and downstairs walls of the home where guests

space. That is what I want to introduce to local audiences, said Phuong. Many of my friends tell me that city life in Vietnam lacks much in the way of ne art entertainment, so they go to clubs, bars or exhibitions held in urban galleries. That inspired me to host a live art project at my house, one which combined music, performance art and traditional paintings. Phuong also said that this kind of festival is very popular in foreign countries, where guests o en pay large sums of money to a end. She would like to host a similar event every three months, but has no plans to charge entry fees. I want to share my passion with as many art lovers as possible. I have not thought of selling tickets or earning prots from the show, she said. I think the more this kind of event is held in big cities like HCMC or Hanoi, the more the Vietnamese art market will thrive. Uy Phuong had good list of participatory artists, who have earned great achievements recognized by local and foreign experts, said poet and journalist Ly Doi.VW

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

HEALTH

21

Conscious breathing calms the mind, relieves stress

A
ccording to the tenants of qui gong, the quieting of ones thoughts is essential to maintaining peace of mind and eliminating useless worry, which leads to reduced stress and increased energy. Conscious breathing has three essential components: the silent counting of breaths, regulating the breath and monitoring the pace of the breath, said Associate Prof. Pham Thuc Hanh Ph.D., Head of the Qi Gong Therapeutics Dept. of Tue Tinh College of Traditional Medicine. Silent breathing The rst step in this process,

returning the mind to the breath. When this occurs, begin counting again as if nothing had happened. It is necessary to both breathe and count patiently and gently. There is no need to hurry. Regulating the breath The next step is to regulate the breath, which helps improve the performance of the nervous system and internal organs. As opposed to allowing thoughts to rule us, conscious breathing requires us to use our minds to regulate our breath to a particular pace, which will vary for each individual. The crucial thing is to breathe in and out evenly, without exerting excessive force, taking special note to ensure that the transition from inhale to exhale is smooth and natural. Monitoring the pace The nal step is observing and monitoring the quality of the breath. When the breath is well regulated and the mind is at peace, we may start to pay a ention to our feelings, without the need to impose judgments. Everything at this point should only enhance the state of relaxation, with full concentration on the air as it enters and then exits the nose. The eects of the oxygenation process should be palpable in the stomach and other internal organs. This practice is especially benecial for people with high blood pressure and those who suer from other symptoms typically associated with the stressful conditions inherent to many modern lifestyles. VW

ge ing the entire body to relax, is easier said than done. Taking deep breaths with the eyes closed, followed by tightening and then relaxing each body part is a good place to start. A er warming up the bodys relaxation reexes, the next step is to count each breath. There are innite ways to count, but here are some examples: Silent counting can be done upon inhalations (advisable for healthy people), exhalations (good for those with high blood pressure), or both (preferable for suerers of chronic ailments). Count from 1 to 10 three to ve times, pausing for a short rest before recommencing

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Practicing conscious breathing daily is especially beneficial for people with high blood pressure and those who suffer from stresses

the counting. Continue for as long as possible, or is comfortable. Other people may prefer to keep a running count. Of course, it is

exceedingly easy for the mind to wander, causing the practitioner to lose count. Perfection is not essential; the goal is to keep

Studies find an aspirin a day can keep cancer at bay

LONDON Three new studies published this week added to growing scientic evidence suggesting that taking a daily dose of aspirin can help prevent, and possibly treat, cancer. Previous studies have found that daily aspirin reduces the longterm risk of death due to cancer, but until now the shorter term eects have been less certain as has the medicines potential in patients already diagnosed with cancer. The new studies, led by Peter Rothwell of Britains Oxford University, found that aspirin also has a shortterm benet in preventing cancer, and that it reduces the likelihood that cancers will spread to other organs by about 40 to 50 percent. These ndings add to the case for use of aspirin to prevent cancer, particularly if people are at increased risk, Rothwell said. Perhaps more importantly, they also raise the distinct possibility that aspirin will be eective as an additional thousand per year, a factor which has fuelled an intense debate about whether doctors should advise patients to take it as regularly as every day. Last year, a study by British researchers questioned the wisdom of daily aspirin for reducing the risk of early death from a heart a ack or stroke because they said the increased risk of internal bleeding outweighed the potential benet. Other studies, including some by Rothwell in 2007, 2010 and 2011, found that an aspirin a day, even at a low dose of around 75 milligrams, reduces the longterm risk of developing some cancers, particularly bowel and oesophageal cancer, but the eects dont show until eight to 10 years a er the start of treatment. Rothwell, whose new studies were published in The Lancet and The Lancet Oncology journals on Wednesday, said this delay was because aspirin was preventing the very early development of cancers and there was a long time lag between this stage and a patient having clinical signs or symptoms of cancer. Rothwell and others said deeper research was now needed into aspirin as a potential treatment for cancer in patients whose disease has not yet spread. No drug has been shown before to prevent distant metastasis and so these ndings should focus future research on this crucial aspect of treatment, he said. Peter Johnson, chief clinician at the charity Cancer Research UK, said his group was already investigating the anticancer properties of aspirin. These ndings show were on the right track, he said. In a wri en commentary on the research in The Lancet, Andrew Chan and Nancy Cook of Harvard Medical School in the United States said it was impressive and moved health experts another step closer to broadening recommendations for aspirin use. REUTERS

PHOTO: REUTERS

An aerial view shows an administration building of the German Bayer AG chemical company in Leverkusen wrapped as giant "Aspirin" box on March 6, 2012

treatment for cancer to prevent distant spread of the disease. This was particularly important because it is the process of spread of cancer, or metastasis, which most o en kills people with the disease, he added. Aspirin, originally developed by Bayer, is a cheap overthe counter drug generally used to combat pain or reduce fever.

The drug reduces the risk of clots forming in blood vessels and can therefore protect against heart a acks and strokes, so it is o en prescribed for people who already suer with heart disease and have already had one or several a acks. Aspirin also increases the risk of bleeding in the stomach to around one patient in every

22

AROUND TOWN
Saturday 10:00 Desperado (Action) 17:00 True Justice (Action) 18:30 The One (Action) 20:00 127 Hours (Adventure) 21:35 The Detonator (Action) 23:10 Mars Needs Moms (Animation) Sunday 11:10 The Shepherd (Action) 15:30 Surfs Up (Animation) 16:55 Ice Age (Animation) 18:20 Hancock (Action) 19:55 Touch (Series) 21:45 500 Days of Summer (Comedy) 23:20 Secretariat (Drama) 09:35, 11:30, 13:25, 14:30, 15:20, 17:15, 19:10, 20:10, 21:05 Friday 13:00 Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open Day 2 (L) 18:30 Sportscenter Asia 2012 (L) Saturday 12:00 Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open Day 3 (L) 19:00 Atlanta 1996: Atlanta's Olympic Glory Sunday 12:00 Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open Day 4 (L) 17:00 ASEAN Basketball League 2012: Singapore Slingers vs. AirAsia Patriots (L) 21:00 Spirit of London

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Act of Valor
09:45, 11:55, 18:00, 21:50

MEGASTAR CINEPLEX
www.megastar.vn Level 5, Pico Mall, 229 Tay Son Street, Dong Da Dist. Tel: (04) 6 252 3333 (ext. 220) March 23-29

Friday 11:00 13:30 16:45 20:00 21:00 23:15

MEGASTAR CINEPLEX
www.megastar.vn 7th floor Hung Vuong Plaza, 126 Hung Vuong St., Ward 12, Dist. 5 Tel: (08) 2 222 0228 (ext.220) March 23-29

A Few Best Men

12:35, 16:00, 19:55

The Majestic (Drama) Born in East L.A. (Comedy) Green Card (Romance) Luck (Series) Robin Hood (Action) My Soul to Take (Thriller)

Chronicle
09:05, 10:50, 14:10, 18:10, 22:00

The Lorax (3D)

08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00

Ngoc Vien Dong (Pearls of the Far East)

16:20 * 246 Nguyen Hong Dao St., Ward 14, Tan Binh Dist. Tel: (08) 3 949 4567 March 23-29

Saturday 12:00 Boardwalk Empire (Series) 13:55 Robin Hood (Action) 17:30 Open Season 3 (Family) 19:00 Jaws (Suspense) 21:00 Grown Ups (Comedy) Sunday 08:00 Little Secrets (Family) 09:45 Die Another Day (Action) 12:00 Luck (Series) 13:00 Grown Ups (Comedy) 14:45 Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (Action) 16:30 Invictus (Drama) 18:45 The Talented Mr. Ripley (Action) 21:00 The Adjustment Bureau (Action) 22:45 True Grit (Action)

The Lorax
09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30

A Few Best Men

11:30, 15:20, 19:25, 21:20

The Lorax (3D)

09:30, 09:50, 11:20, 11:40, 13:10, 13:30, 15:00, 15:20, 16:50, 18:40, 19:40, 20:35, 21:30, 22:25

A Few Best Men

08:00, 10:10, 12:15, 14:20, 16:30, 18:40, 20:45, 22:50

The Lorax (3D)

09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 17:55, 19:00, 19:45, 21:00

Friday 07:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 19:00 22:00

Anderson Cooper 360 Quest Means Business World Report World Business Today News Stream The Brief

Friday 18:00 FA Cup 2011/12 Quarter Finals: Chelsea vs. Leicester City 20:30 Score Tonight 2012 (L) 22:30 FA Cup 2011/12 Highlights Saturday 14:50 FIA F1 World Championship - Qualifying (L) 17:00 ASEAN Basketball League 2012: San Miguel Beerman vs. Saigon Heat (L) 19:00 FIG World Cup Artistic Sunday 14:00 FIA F1 World Championship - Raceday (L) 16:45 FIA F1 World Championship - Chequered Flag (L) 17:55 Asian Olympic Qualifiers Final Rd Playoff (L)

Act of Valor
08:30, 09:40, 10:50, 12:10, 13:20, 14:30, 15:40, 16:50, 18:10, 19:20, 20:30, 21:40, 22:50

The Lorax
09:55, 14:20, 16:15, 18:10, 20:05

Act of Valor
09:15, 10:15, 12:25, 14:35, 17:15, 18:55, 21:35

A Few Best Men

10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00

Chronicle
09:10, 11:10, 13:10, 15:15, 17:10, 19:10, 21:10, 23:00

Saturday 07:00 Anderson Cooper 360 09:00 Quest Means Business 12:00 World Report 15:00 The Best of the Situation Room 19:00 Talk Asia 22:30 World Report This Week Sunday 07:00 CNN Marketplace Europe 09:00 CNN Newsroom 12:00 World Report 15:00 African Voices 19:00 Fareed Zakaria GPS 22:00 Global Exchange

Chronicle
09:30, 13:25, 16:45, 18:30, 20:20

Act of Valor
09:30, 11:40, 13:50, 16:00, 18:10, 20:20, 22:30

This Means War

08:45, 11:20, 13:30, 15:35, 17:40, 19:45, 21:50

John Carter
11:15, 13:45, 16:25, 21:05

Chronicle
09:40, 11:25, 13:10, 14:55, 16:40, 18:25, 20:10, 21:55

John Carter (3D)

08:00, 10:40, 13:20, 16:10, 18:50, 21:30

IDECAF (Institut dEchanges culturels avec la France)

www.idecaf.org.vn 28 Le Thanh Ton St., Dist. 1 Tel: (08) 3 829 5451

Friday 09:55 Ice Age (Animation) 12:50 Monster House (Animation) 14:20 Knight and Day (Action) 16:10 The Detonator (Action) 17:45 The Way Back (Adventure) 21:45 Sniper 2 (Action) 23:15 Sniper 3 (Action)

John Carter (3D)

17:10

GALAXY CINEMA
www.galaxycine.vn * 116 Nguyen Du St., Dist. 1 Tel: (08) 8 327 2980 March 23-29

Incendies
19:30 (March 26)

John Carter
11:50, 22:00

Under the Stars

19:30 (March 27)

This Means War

09:50, 11:50, 13:45, 15:40, 17:35, 19:30, 21:25

The Lorax (3D)

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 (no repeats).

Difficulty rating: Fiendish

Difficulty rating: Difficult

Across

(Visit www.thanhniennews.com for solutions)

Difficulty rating: Hard

7. Animal disease (4-3-5) 8. Burn (6) 9. Route (6) 10. Invigorating (7) 12. Shame (5)

15. Punctuations (5) 16. Ground (7) 18. Tail (6) 20. Friendly (6) 22. Children's author (5,7)

Down

1. Composition (8) 2. Move (4) 3. Delight (7) 4. Slap (5) 5. Vegetable (8) 6. So (4)

11. Humiliation (8) 13. Apt (8) 14. Native of Belgium (7) 17. Turn (5) 19. Cavity (4) 21. Standard (4)

Samurai sudoku puzzles consist of five overlapping sudoku grids. The standard sudoku rules apply to each 9 x 9 grid. Place digits from 1 to 9 in each empty cell. Every row, every column, and every 3 x 3 box should contain one of each digit. The puzzles on Samurai sudoku have one unique solution which can be found with pure logic, no guessing required.

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

TALK BACK

23

Bigger the vehicle, greater the guilt?

ocer with Hai Ba Trung Districts police division, ignoring the red trac light at an intersection and crashing into the car driven by 31 yearold Tran Xuan Long. A er the accident, Long ed the scene and did not turn himself in until two days later. Meanwhile, Lam was hospitalized with brain trauma and the loss of his right ear. Although Long is likely to face charge of ignoring and not helping people in danger, many netizens said the police ocer is the one responsible and that he should be charged with violating trac laws. But, the obvious question was: why did Long run if he was not at fault? Many people said he did so because in Vietnam whenever an accident happens, the bigger vehicle is mainly held responsible. One reader commented on the VnExpress website: It is lucky that the trac cameras were available, or the car driver would have been accused of commi ing many more violations. In fact, when camera footage is not available and it is dicult to tell which party was wrong in an accident, it is typically le to the involved parties to se le things on their own terms, and usually, the drivers of bigger vehicles would make concessions. It is time that this custom automatically assigning fault to bigger vehicles in an accident is stopped, because it can encourage careless driving by smaller vehicles, increasing the risk of an accident happening. For example, it is not uncommon in Vietnam that while all vehicles stop at a red light, a bicycle rider continues pedaling as though the stop sign does not apply to him or her. And as the bicycle passes an intersection, other vehicles that have the green light have to take care not to hit the violator. The only punishment the cyclist gets is the occasional glare or curse. It is the same when a collision happens between a pedestrian and a motorbike or a car. In July 2003, a trac accident made headlines when, for the rst time, a pedestrian was convicted of violating trac rules that led to the death of a motorbike rider in Ho Chi Minh City. According to the hearing, the pedestrian had illegally crossed a divider on the Ong Lanh Bridge, causing the rider to crash into him and fall, injuring his head. The court put the violator on a ninemonth probation and ordered him to pay the victims family VND7.5 million (US$362) in compensation. That case has not resulted in any visible change in pedestrians behavior. They can still be seen violating trac laws without being punished, causing diculties to vehicle riders. Of course, we also have the case of vehicle riders pu ing pedestrians at risk on streets and pavements. Since last year, Transport Minister Dinh La Thang has pledged many measures aimed at solving trac problems in the country, including restricting the use of personal vehicles. However, one should not forget that proper enforcement of laws also plays an important role in decreasing accidents. In the latest accident, thanks to the trac surveillance camera, the picture is clear, so what remains to be seen is how agencies will handle the case. But there are at least two things that can be done right away. Spread this clip widely to improve peoples awareness of the need to abide by trac laws. And nally, lay to rest, once and for all, the custom of blaming bigger vehicles in accidents irrespective of the facts. (SGTT)

PHOTO: REUTERS

A woman rides a bicycle on a crowded street in Hanoi. It is time that the custom automatically assigning fault to bigger vehicles in an accident is stopped, because it can encourage careless driving by smaller vehicles, increasing the risk of an accident happening.
By THANH VINH

leeing the scene of an accident you are involved in is a sure sign of guilt. So why ee the scene when you are not in the wrong? Because some outmoded notions still apply on Vietnamese streets when an accident happens. Collisions between motorbikes and cars are not uncommon,

unfortunately, but one that happened in Hanoi on March 13 has caused a stir on the Internet. This was not only because it was a rare case in which the full details of an accident were recorded by trac cameras, but it raised a debate among netizens about who should take the blame for what happened. The footage shows second lieutenant Nguyen Hai Lam, an

Letters to the Editor, with the writers name and address, should be emailed to letters@thanhniennews.com. Letters may be edited for reasons of space and clarity.

We were wrong and are at it again

Re: Decidedly multisided (Vietweek, Issue 007, March 28, 2012)
I rst visited the museum in February of 1988 with a group of American veterans and journalists. At that time it was called the War Crimes Museum. As a combat vet I had seen and experienced the war rsthand, but to me, the museum was still shocking. At rst I was angry and felt it unfair to show only one side of the war. But then I realized that I was the other side. I had enlisted in the Marine Corps right a er high school and thought that I was doing my patriotic duty. And for years a er the war I searched for the glory that I thought was supposed to be mine. Seeing the savage war machinery and the gruesome images and exhibits in the museum helped me to deal with all the confusion and contradictions of the war that lled

my mind. I could no longer defend or even rationalize Americas participation in the war. I accepted the reality that I was wrong and that my country was wrong. The fact that Americas military industrial complex continues to prosecute immoral and illegal wars all around the world shows that as a country, sadly, we have learned nothing. Hoa binh Greg

have the money to enjoy all the beautiful places and restaurants that you see advertised on television. Apart from this we have good wine that we cannot buy anymore and a salary that allows us to barely pay for the food, to live enough to continue to reimburse our debt. Thank you very much, France. I prefer Vietnam. Long live Vietnam. Europ Didac Come to Vietnam, get legal, get a driving license, get a work permit, and get a residence permit. Any other country wouldnt tolerate the level of lawlessness aunted by the hordes of expats living here illegally without any of the above paperwork. The arrogant a itude is: Vietnam needs me, but if they dont sort themselves out, theyll lose me! Too many small boys and girls are coming to Vietnam with absolutely no idea how to get work and set themselves up legally and comfortably. Ive stopped helping people here because at the end of the day I end up running all over the place to get

Viva Vietnam!
Re: Some things make no sense (Vietweek, Issue 006, February 24 March 1, 2012)
I am happy to live in Vietnam because I pay no tax and everything is cheap, given my salary. In France we pay tax for the house and tax for the land and the insurance that goes with it. We pay tax for the car, tax on the gas and insurance for driving the car. We pay a large amount of money taken from our salary to nance national insurance and education. We borrow money from banks to buy our houses and work till we die to reimburse it. We dont

forms, arrange meetings etc. They end up not lling in or returning the forms, and nd a way of not a ending appointments. The sooner Vietnam tightens up the be er. Working without a work permit is illegal. When you have a work permit, get a residence card. Everything requires work and a level of exibility. Where I come from its called life. Finally, for those who failed to notice: Vietnam is Vietnam! Agrownup

to be upset when someone makes a negative comment based on their experiences here, but why are there so many visitors who have the same complaints? Feeling wounded and ge ing upset wont change the problems a change in a itude and actual action will do much more to make Vietnam a wonderful destination. FIX THE PROBLEMS! They wont just go away by magic! Roy

Buying trouble
Re: Vietnam tourism yet to find the right charm (Vietweek, Issue 005, February 24-March 1, 2012)
If Vietnam wants people to visit then they have to ensure that they provide what the visitors need and want to make their stay here as SAFE & pleasant as possible. Otherwise the 95% who dont want to return, still wont want to return! Visitors arent going to pay repeatedly to be abused! Its easy

Slap on the wrist

Re: Air traffic controllers punished for fighting while on job (Vietweek, Issue 009, March 1622, 2012)
These jerks could have caused air trac accidents and they are not mentally t for the job. Fire them. Zorro21c Fined and demoted only?! This was a criminal act that could have caused accidents. Put them in jail for a few months! Sfs

24

IN VOGUE

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

The

Livins Easy
By TO VAN NGA

amous fashion house Ipa Nima has just released a new Spring Summer collection designed for optimistic and carefree young ladies ready to enjoy good weather. The collection promotes contrast with elegant, classical designs infused with exotic embroidery and beaded oral pa erns alongside modern geometric pa erns. This collection oers washedout but inspired colors like cloudy grey, ashes of roses, sandy beige, and rustic camel, all of which stand in contrast with bright hues of lipstick red, candy pink, turquoise and zesty lime.

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

TRAVEL

25

WEATHER FORECAST
Friday, March 23, 2012 HANOI 590-690F (150-210 C) Showers DA NANG 710-820F (220-280C) Sunny HCMC 770-920F (250-330C) Thunderstorms HANOI Cloudy Saturday, March 24, 2012 570-620F (140-170C)

DA NANG 690-720F (210-220C) Showers HCMC 770-920F (250-330C) Thunderstorms Sunday, March 25, 2012 HANOI 570-630F (140-170C) Cloudy DA NANG 690-740F (210-230C) Showers HCMC 770-900F (250-320C) Thunderstorms
The gate of Do Temple in the northern province of Bac Ninh
PHOTO: NGUYEN VAN MY

Do Temple marks a turning point in Vietnams history

By NGUYEN VAN MY (*)

Uniquely Vietnamese
The temple was built in 1010 by Ly Thai To, the founder of the dynasty, and restored by his son Ly Thai Tong in 1030. Its latest renovation happened in 1989, when the temple area was expanded to more than three hectares. Ly Thai To established the capital of his kingdom in Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh Province and then moved it to Thang Long, now Hanoi. But the temple was built in his birthplace, Dinh Bang Ward, Tu Son Commune. At the gate of Do Temple is the full version of the wri en proclamation to move the capital and the change of its name from Hoa Lu to Thang Long. Besides the main house that worships eight kings, there is one for their mothers, and two other houses for leading ocials of the dynasty. The worshipped are prominent gures in the history of Vietnam who made big contributions to the countrys stability. One of them is Ly Thuong Kiet, who in 1077 penned what is considered the rst Vietnamese declaration of independence a er Vietnams victory over Chinese invaders during the reign of Song Dynasty. Nam Quoc Son Ha, the declaration, and the proclamation about moving the capital of the country are kept in the temple library. At the back of Do Temple are a number of steles paying tribute to the contributions of the dynasty. The steles were built in 1604 by Phung Khac Khoan, a noted Vietnamese military strategist, politician, diplomat and poet during the Le Dynasty. The temple also has many parallel sentences and horizontal lacquered boards honoring the dynasty and telling its history. Some scholarly visitors to the temple have said there is enough material here to write a doctoral thesis. Do Temple is among the worshipping places in Vietnam that preserves a maximum number of the countrys traditions and rituals. One tradition is that of communal harmony, as every person in the ward joins in the temple festival. The annual festival lasts four days around the fullmoon of the third lunar month. People in charge of the festivals rituals are selected carefully, and great care is also taken in other aspects of the preparation including the collection of oerings and other items. Oerings usually include a roasted bull, sticky rice and traditional cakes made from the rice bnh chng and bnh dy, fruits, owers, incense sticks, rice wine, betel leaves and areca nuts. All the oerings have to be homemade or homegrown by local people. The festival starts in the evening of the 14th day of the lunar month with a parade to commemorate the mother of Ly Thai To. On the main day, the next morning, which this year falls on April 5, there is a colorful and impressive parade a ended by around 10,000 people. It is followed by a series of oerings made to the accom paniment of drums and gongs. An incense oering ritual is performed on the 16th day, when traditional games like wrestling,

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he Do Temple in Bac Ninh Province is a uniquely Vietnamese temple. Situated around 20 kilometers from Hanoi, it is the best known and most visited temple in the country by far, which is not really surprising, as even a cursory study of its history shows. The temple preserves most the traditions of Vietnam and also keeps almost everything people need to know about the Ly Dynasty (1009 1225), the rst Vietnamese ruling family able to hold onto power for more than several decades, allowing them to secure and expand the territory. Do means the capital city. It has as its deities eight kings of the Ly dynasty. The temples other names are Thai Mieu, Co Phap Dien and Ly Bat De. It is still not explained why or how the ninth and last ruler of the dynasty, Ly Chieu Hoang, the only female one, has been le out. Ly Chieu Hoang was enthroned when she was just eight and handed over the reins to her husband Tran Canh a er two years, eectively ending the Ly Dynasty. It has also been said that feudalism valued men more than women and that they were not to be worshiped equally.

cock ghting, cooking and poem reading contests take place. In 1994, the Do Temple Festival received a 31st generation descendent of Ly Thai To from South Korea. Lee Chang Kun came to acknowledge and pay homage to his ancestors almost 800 years a er the Ly family was sca ered. He wrote in a visitors book at the temples library: With unstoppable emotions, today I return and have felt the glory of my ancestors. I swear I will never do anything harmful to the noble souls of my ancestors. The separation dated back to 1226 when Ly Long Tuong, a prince of the Ly Dynasty, le Vietnam to avoid the massacre of family members ordered by Chancellor Tran Thu Do, who overthrew the Ly Dynasty a er arranging the marriage of the incumbent Empress Ly Chieu Hoang and his nephew Tran Canh. Ly Long Tuong served as a general in Korea, where he was known as Yi Yong Sang, helping the king there defeat the Mongol invasion of 1253. He was also allowed to establish his own village, where the Ly generations continued to grow and several Vietnamese traditions were maintained. The Ly family book, kept since Ly Long Tuong, proclaims on the cover: Born in Korea, soul in Vietnam. Lee Chang Kun has given the book to the Do Temple. He has se led in Vietnam and gained Vietnamese citizenship. * The writer is the director of Ho Chi Minh Citybased Lua Viet Tour Operator

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26

SPORTS

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Vietnamese rowers go missing in Australia

By LAN PHUONG HAI DANG

Two local rowing athletes training abroad, Luong Duc Toan and Nguyen Phuong Dong, have not been seen since they le their hotel in Sydney at 10 p.m. on the 10th of March. Dong, 22, and Toan, 20, are two of eight Vietnamese rowers who went to Australia for training from February 11 to March 11 to prepare for the London Olympics qualier in Asia. During the month of training in New South Wales, they both trained hard and their results were good, according to team sources. Nguyen Hai Duong, Head of the Rowing Department of the General Department of Physical Training and Sports, said, Regular reports to Vietnam made us very happy because Dong and Toan are talented athletes. They didnt show any unusual signs that made the managers suspicious. Suddenly, at 10 p.m. on the 10th of March, a er the managers and other athletes had gone to bed, the two le the hotel in sleeveless pullovers and shorts, leaving all their suitcases and even their passports at the hotel.

The two athletes have relatives who are factory owners in Australia. Coach Le Trong Hai has visited Dongs house in Tien Lang District of Hai Phong City and said, Dongs family is very poor, making their living on a farm. They do not have a phone, so we had to come to their house. Dongs parents were surprised to know that Dong had not returned to Vietnam and they asked us to help nd him. Hoang Quoc Vinh, Director of the International Aairs of the General Department of Physical Training and Sports, said, We, pursuant to the regulations set by the Ministry of Foreign Aairs, have sent a wri en report to the Vietnamese Consulate in Australia, Vietnam Immigration Department and the Overseas Vietnamese Consular Oce to work together to nd the two athletes as well as the reason [for their disappearance]. The coaching sta has informed the Australian authorities and police. Hai Duong has contacted the two athletes relatives in Australia but they said they didnt know where the two were. VW

swimming

Manaudou qualifies for Olympics backstroke

2004, clocked a winning time of 1min 00.16sec. The maximum qualifying time was 1:00.82. It was Manaudou's best time in the event since returning to competition in June 2011, just over a year after the birth of her child in April 2010 with fellow French swimming star Frederick Bousquet. It also means she will compete at her third Olympics, three years after retiring from the sport. AFP

football

Greek champions Olympiacos to tour Australia

PHOTO: AFP

French swimmer Laure Manaudou smiles after winning the final of the 100 m backstroke on March 20, 2012 in Dunkirk, northern France, during the French Swimming Championships

DUNKIRK - Former Olympic champion Laure Manaudou secured her ticket for the 2012 London Games Tuesday after claiming the French title in the 100 meters backstroke. Manaudou, the 400m freestyle champion in Athens in

MELBOURNE - Greek champions Olympiacos will play Melbourne Victory in Melbourne in May, the Australian A-League club said Wednesday. Olympiacos, the most successful club in Greek football, will make their first visit to Australia in 34 years to play Victory on May 19. Melbourne has the third-largest Greek-speaking population of any city in the world outside Athens and Thessaloniki, according to Australian government statistics. AFP

Jeremy Lin #17 of the New York Knicks drives around Spencer Hawes #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 21, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES/AFP

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

SPORTS

27

Jeremy Lin
draws Chinese Coke ads to Madison Square Garden C
ocaCola Co. is adding advertisements in Mandarin to its rotating courtside signs at Madison Square Garden, seeking to capitalize on what National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern called an unprecedented international frenzy over New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin. The rst Chinese or Taiwanese American to play in the NBA, Lin became a global icon a er joining the teams starting lineup on February 6, fueling merchandise and ticket sales and television ratings on the MSG Network. His emergence on the international stage has been a boon to the teams parent, Madison Square Garden Co. Buoyed by Lins popularity, it se led a carriagefee dispute with Time Warner Cable Inc., doubled advertising rates on MSG, hit a record stock price and elded inquiries from Asiabased companies seeking an aliation with the franchise. For us, those ads signify an openforbusiness sign, Sco ONeil, president of MSG Sports, said in an interview. Susan Stribling, a spokeswoman for Atlantabased Coke, the largest so drink maker, said in a telephone interview that an ocial at MSG approached the company with the Mandarinsign idea. Given that the NBA is a global association for our company and that we do a lot of crosscultural marketing around the NBA, we agreed, she said. We thought it was a great way to celebrate the things Jeremy Lin is doing for the Knicks. The courtside signs, which Stribling said should debut in a couple of weeks, will be seen by television viewers as well as spectators in the arena. Stribling said Coke might also change advertisements in the Gardens concourses. Jersey sales ONeil says Asian companies are taking notice of the Knicks and the Harvard Universityeducated Lin, who has sold more jerseys than any other player in the NBA since February 4, according to the league, which doesnt disclose sales gures. In that time span, Lin related products have accounted for half of online sales at the teams website and 32 percent of inarena sales, the Knicks said, declining to give specics. The undra ed Lin was cut by two teams before joining the Knicks, who since the birth of Linsanity, the term a ached to the hoopla surrounding the 23 yearold, signed sponsorship agreements with Taiwanbased Maxxis International, a tire manufacturer, and Acer Inc., the fourthlargest computer maker. The demand for Lin in Asia prompted broadcasters in China to alter their schedules, adding Knicks games whenever possible. Lin has become the No. 1 searched term on Baidu, Chinas version of Google. About 100 million people in China watched the March 6 KnicksDallas Mavericks game. Yaos example Former Houston Rockets Chief Executive Ocer George Postolos said Lin provides a fantastic opportunity for companies agile enough to take advantage. This couldnt have happened before the world became as connected as it is today, said Postolos, who presided over a Rockets team that included Chinese AllStar Yao Ming. Its like a gold rush. The Rockets have an arena namingrights agreement with Japanbased Toyota Motor Corp., which signed the contract when Yao was playing and his games were being broadcast in Asia. MSGs stock hit a record $33.43 on February 21 with the Knicks having won eight of their past 10 games. Laura Martin, an analyst at Needham & Co. who has a buy rating on MSG shares, which she doesnt own, says Lin helps the company in two main ways: larger television audiences, which mean higher ad rates, and a more diversied following. There is a screaming need in the fan base for an Ivy League educated player, Martin said. He has the same credentials as those on Wall Street. Ad rates The Knicks through 32 games on MSG Network averaged a 2.99 rating, up 99 percent from last season. The team is charging up to $25,000 for a regularseason commercial and $40,000 for playo spots, two to three times the previous amount. MSG this quarter will make about $25 million from carriage fees and $13 million from advertising, said David Joyce, a media analyst at Miller Tabak & Co. The Knicks made a coaching change on March 14 amid a six game losing streak, replacing Mike DAntoni with assistant Mike Woodson. New York has won four straight games since the shakeup, improving to 2224, and is ba ling the Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth and nal playo spot in the Eastern Conference. ONeil said hes sending some employees to China in the next few weeks and will make the trip himself in April or May to solicit new sponsorship and marketing agreements. Multiple appeal While winning is important, ONeil and John Brody of Wasserman Media Group said it isnt the sole consideration to those who consider themselves fans of Lin, whose Asian heritage, Harvard pedigree and underdog storyline has widespread and long lasting appeal. Companies crave the opportunity to get closer to a story that connects to the human element, said Brody, president of partnership and business development at Wasserman who brokered the stadium naming rights agreement between footballs New York Jets and Giants and MetLife Inc. Jeremy Lin is one of us if youre a basketball fan. Hes one of us if youre an Ivy Leaguer. Hes one of us if youve ever been le for dead in your career, whether postal worker or NBA player. Hes the 21st Century success story that proves the world is at. ONeil says hes most encouraged by his players presence among digital consumers and place in social media like Twi er, where, according to the NBA, Lin since February 4 has more mentions than twotime Most Valuable Player LeBron James. Users of new technology like the iPad tend to skew younger, which means Lin is helping the franchise a ract fans it otherwise wouldnt reach. BLOOMBERG

PHOTO: FILE

Vietnamese swimming ace Hoang Qui Phuoc has complained about arrangements made for his team to train in the US. Others have complained that the star has been unenthusiastic during training.

Vietnam swimming teams US training a disaster

By LAN PHUONG

The Vietnam national swimming team has been booted out of its Florida training facility in the US and players and coaches are now bickering among themselves, blaming each other and the facility for a worthless trip abroad. Speaking to Thanh Nien, Vietnams swimming ace Hoang Quy Phuoc, said the team was kicked out of the Bolles School training center because Vietnamese coach Dang Anh Tuan [head coach of the Vietnamese swimming team] interfered with the local American coachs training method and entered the pool when he wasnt supposed. Phuoc complained that the move to the new training center St. Augustine, also in Florida brought the quality of training down as he could only train with his Vietnamese coach Nguyen Tan Quang without an American coach. But in a report to the General Department of Physical Training and Sports (GDPTS) a few days ago, coach Dang Anh Tuan complained about both Phuoc and Quang. In the rst days of the training trip, the two [Phuoc and Quang] were o en late for the bus, so the team could not

wait for them because we were afraid of being late for the training sessions, Anh Tuan wrote. Phuoc has not practiced enthusiastically enough. He has showed poor consciousness, and doesnt seem to have a goal to make eorts for. O en he has not met the coaches requirements. Lam Quang Thanh, GDPTS Deputy Director, admi ed that the arrangements at Bolles School made by Vietnam Aquatic Sports Association (VASA) General Secretary Dinh Viet Hung were not good because he did not consider all the necessary technical requirements. For example, Vietnamese coaches are not allowed to go into the pool and swimmers can train with coaches for only six sessions a week. The facilities are very good, if not very modern; but the conditions to improve the Vietnamese swimmers performance are not as good as expected. This is a good lesson for Vietnamese ocers in charge of making arrangements, said Thanh. It is necessary to take into consideration all the details which are at rst thought to be trivial, but then turn out to have a bad eect on the training plan of the team. VW

28

AROUND TOWN

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Food and music Saigon turns to be more hilarious with delicacies and melodies from Mexico this month
By NGUYET ANH

Mexican party in southern hub

ustomers can get a taste of food and music from the Central American nation at the Viva Mexico promotion at the Hotel Nikko Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City this month. The promotion, from March 24 to 30, will feature a range of dishes at a dinner buet prepared and served skilfully by Mexican executive chef Arturo Cristiane and his team at the La Brasserie restaurant. Cristiane, who has many years experience as an executive chef in vestar hotels and restaurants in Mexico and other countries, said: We are excited to oer a Mexican food promotion at La Brasserie. Mexico is my homeland where I grew up and experienced all kinds of traditional food. Now I am very proud to introduce to HCMC people specialties and delicacies from my country. There will be a variety of fresh seafood such as lobster, scampi, crab, garoupa sh, calamari, smoked tuna, green mussels, sea

PHOTO: HOTEL NIKKO SAIGON

Mexican meals in restaurant La Brasserie

bass llet, scallops, a wide selection of sushi and shashimi, meat, handmade pastas, and cheese. A Latin band will play traditional Mexican music to entertain diners. Games and other activities will be on oer for

adults and children The restaurant, in District 1, has a contemporary and cozy ambiance, thanks to its simple, earthy gold, wood, and stone furniture and elegant lights. The Viva Mexico dinner buet is priced at VND720,000 (US$34)

per person, and comes with a free ow of tequila, margaritas, house wine, dra beer, and so drinks. Prices are subject to 5 percent service charge and 10 percent VAT fee. It is available from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. from March 24 to 30.

HOTEL NIKKO SAIGON

235 Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City For reservations, call (08) 3 929 5520 or email to dining@hotelnikkosaigon.com.vn.

with an additional flute of Taittinger Champagne.

Hawaiian Barbeque Caf Central Nguyen Hue Caravelle revives high tea tradition
19 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1 Tel: (08) 3 823 4999 Email: www.caravellehotel.com Lobby Lounge Ground Floor Open Daily 7 a.m. 12 p.m. Sun Wah Tower 115 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist.1 Tel: (08) 3 821 9303 Bring the whole family for a month full of barbeque deliciousness. Enjoy succulent chicken grilled to perfection and served with mouth-watering Hawaiian flavors. For dessert, try the frozen yogurt sundae, a perfect complement to any barbeque. Bring your Windsor VIPCard to receive a 10 percent discount. A popular destination for expats and locals working in the central business district, Caf Central Nguyen Hue was awarded the Certificate of Excellence by the Guide magazine last year. Recently redesigned, this stylish destination serves Western and Vietnamese dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the evening, enjoy alfresco seating along Nguyen Hue Blvd. with a cool aperitif or filling meal.

Add some sophistication to your afternoons by joining high tea at the Caravelle Hotel. From March 24, the Lobby Lounge is spicing up afternoons with two tempting high tea menus. The Traditional English High Tea presents 11 classic sweet and savoury bites, such as British chicken pie and berry scones with jam and whipped cream, on a three-tiered tea tray; while the Vietnamese High Tea treats come in wicker bowls and feature favourites such as mini Banh Mi, Po Pia rice paper rolls and steamed tapioca layer cake. Enjoy freshly brewed Ronnefeldt teas and Lavazza coffee with either menu, priced at VND 280,000 per person, or VND 380,000 per person

Minh Citys luxury riverfront five-star hotel will offer a holiday buffet on March 31 and a Holiday Getaway Package for Vietnamese and expatriates residing in Vietnam from March 30 to April 2. It is priced at VND2,012,000++ for single or double occupancy in a deluxe room. The holiday buffet will feature an array of fresh seafood and a lavish spread of gourmet dishes such as lobster, oyster, crab, crayfish, tiger king prawn, French duck liver pate, foie gras, US rib eye, pork spare rib, Canelloni al Forno, rolled tuna fillet in bacon with chefs special sauce and Villroy grilled lamb cutlet with brown butter. All will be complemented with a free flow of wines, beer, cocktails, fresh fruit juices, soft drinks, coffee and tea for brunch; and wines, beer, cocktails, soft drinks, coffee and tea for dinner. Free use of the swimming pool is available for brunch guests between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Hung Kings Day buffet brunch (from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) is priced at VND720,000++ and dinner (from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) VND800,000++. For children from 4 to 12, it is half price.

Pandanus Resort
KP5, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet Tel: (062) 3 849 849 Email: rsvn@pandanusresort.com Website: www.pandanusresort.com The Pandanus Resort is offering a gourmet getaway weekend promotion for only US$199.00++ per twin share (two people). The package includes two nights accommodation in a superior room (check-in either Friday or Saturday), a daily breakfast buffet, and a Saturday evening poolside barbecue buffet with an extensive selection of Vietnamese and international entres, a variety of salads, pastas, desserts and fresh barbecued seafood.

Hung Kings Holiday at Legend Hotel Saigon

2A-4A Ton Duc Thang St., Dist.1 Tel: (08) 3 823 3333 In celebration of the founders of the Vietnamese nation, Legend Hotel Saigon, Ho Chi

PendolascoItalian Garden Restaurant

87 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1 Tel: (08) 3 821 8181 Fax: (08) 3 914 4994 Website: www.pendolasco-restaurantvietnam.com The oldest Italian restaurant in HCMC has an Italian cook, a classic garden and traditional barbecue.

R&R Tavern
10 Tho Nhuom St., Hoan Kiem Dist. Website: rockandrolltavernhanoi.com/del_menu.html Email: randrhanoi@hn.vnn.vn Cold beer, good drinks, great food, and real music. A Hanoi institution since 1995. Follow us on Twitter at R and R Tavern for events, specials and promotions Weekly events: Tue: Hanoi Pub Quiz

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

AROUND TOWN

29

By PHONG LAN

Paintball brings battlefields back to Vietnam

Caravelle launches various promotions for sweet, holy April

HCMC Ho Chi Minh Citys luxurious Caravelle Hotel will offer sweet and religious treats this April, highlighted by a Liberation Day celebration and its monthly Carnival at the Saigon Saigon Bar. Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 8 will serve cooked-to-order dishes from a wide array of local and international specialties including seafood, barbequed and roasted meat, in addition to imported cheeses. The dishes will be complimented by a free flow of Margaritas, Martinis and Spanish and Argentinean house wines. Diners will be charged VND1,144,000++ (US$55) per person for the brunch at the Nineteen Restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel, 19 Lam Son Square, District 1. From April 18-24, the famous Pavlova cake will be available at the hotels Lobby Lounge, also located on the ground floor. The meringue-based dessert was named after the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova, whose visit to a hotel in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1926 inspired the hotels chef to create the dish, according to her biography. Each freshly baked cake costs VND118,000 ($6), including a choice of toppings which include cream patisserie, caramelized bananas, toffee, almonds, sliced kiwi, pistachio powder, white chocolate shavings and roasted hazelnuts. The hotels rooftop Saigon Saigon Bar on Saturday night, April 28, will bring back the Cuban-themed Carnival party with potent cocktails, samba dancers in costume and non-stop music from Cuban bands - Luna Negra and Warapo. Partygoers are encouraged to bring their masks and Carnival costumes. The month of promotions will wrap up with a buffet celebration for Vietnams Liberation Day on April 30. An exquisite spread of Eastern delicacies including cooked-toorder seafood and meats will be accompanied by premium coffee and tea among desserts. The buffet will be served at the Nineteen Restaurant for VND1,400,000++ ($67) a person. Caravelle also dedicated one entire week of the month, between April 20 and 26, to fresh lobster from central Vietnams resort town Nha Trang. The lobster will be served with Taittinger champagne at Reflections Restaurant on the third floor at a cost of VND720,000 ($35) per half lobster and VND1,450,000 for a whole lobster. VW

ham Thu Phuong, a 21 yearold student from Hanoi Foreign Trade University, didnt look like a ba lehardened veteran, but she was exhilarated by the thrill of the ght. Our ba le was really exciting, full of hunting, shooting and eeing, she said. For Phuong and her group of 10 warriors, paintball turned out to be the perfect way to unwind a er a long week of studying. And it helps train our reexes and is a way to practice discipline and organizational skills, she said. Nguyen Pham Gia, a 45year old Hanoian from Giang Vo Street, said paintball was his new favorite sport a er golf and tennis. I nd paintball really interesting, he said. In Vietnam our grandparents and parents were familiar with the ba leeld and now I want to experience it. Phuong and Gia were just two of dozens of customers crowding the Hanoi Paintball Club over the weekend. The club has been teeming ever since it opened last month as the rst paintball venue in northern Vietnam. Paintball became popular in the US during the 1980s, but did not come to Vietnam until a venue was opened in Can Tho, the de facto capital of the Mekong Delta, in 2009. The sport quickly a racted a large local following of young people and a second club was opened three months later at the Madagui Tourist Area in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. Last October, another paintball complex opened in Nha Trang. And now Hanoi has one as well. Occupying a total area of 1,200 square meters, the Hanoi Paintball Club grounds, located at Km.1 Thang Long Avenue, is divided into 8 ba leelds featuring fortications made out of bamboo walls, sandbags, and natural barriers like dirt mounds. According to the clubs manager Mr. Ha, the spaces largest elds meet international specications (70 meters in length and 30 meters in width) for competition and are large enough for two 20ghter groups. The plastic paintball guns weigh 1.52 kilograms and can shoot 200 to 250 meters. The

PHOTOS: PHONG LAN

Paintball players at the Hanoi Paintball Club

paintballs are made from a wheatbase and articial color, both of which are environmentalfriendly and easy to clean. Ha said that they have been receiving an increasing number of customers, especially youngsters. With a total of 50 guns and 8 playing elds, we cannot meet the increasing demand for paintball, Ha said. We are importing more equipment as well as upgrading our facilities to serve more customers. According to Mr. Nam, a referee at the club, each game is aorded one or two referees depending on the size of the group, but players can hire more referees if they wish.

The most popular games are Save the Hostage, Defuse the Bomb, Destroy the Enemys Base, and Capture the Flag. Players receive combat fatigues and all essential equipment necessary for the game, including guns, bullets, eye goggles, safety helmets, torches, and paint grenades, for the price of their ticket. All players get instructed on the clubs rules, safety measures and weapon usage. They are also taught tricks about the terrain, hand signals and each player is given a compass. Although this game is just for fun, it requires players to strictly follow the safety regulations, Nam said. We always carefully instruct the players on just how

To play at Hanoi Paintball Club, each player needs to pay VND50,000 for a gun and combat fatigues. Bullets are VND2,000 each. The ground is open from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. For booking, call 0902 529 588 or book online at: www.sungsonhanoi.vn.

to follow these regulations, such as no shooting within 2 meters, or no shooting at parts of the body like the head or neck. The new eld is exceedingly popular and has been almost completely booked since it opened just a few weeks ago. We had booked in advance for last Saturday a ernoon but then were unable to play because there were too many people here, said 23yearold Vu Thanh Thai from Doi Can Street. The guard there told us that they received a lot of bookings but serve those who arrive and pay rst. A security guard said the club was simply too popular to accommodate everyone, especially on weekends. We get a lot of bookings via phone and email, but only the early bird catches the worm, he said. We were full each day last weekend. VW

30

VIEWPOINTS

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

Jeffrey Sachs grab for the World Bank

By LAURA FLANDERS *

here may be worse candidates for the presidency of the World Bank than Jerey Sachs (Larry Summers, also a candidate, comes to mind), but Sachs is well worth raising an alarm about. He combines a new fangled prole as a progressive with policies that amount to full steam ahead for global growth. And hes running as the candidate of change clearly hoping no one looks too closely at his record as an economic hitman. In the US (if not in much of the rest of the world and certainly not CounterPuncht) Sachss closeness with the singer/crusader Bono bestows a liberal glow. He directs the Earth Institute at Columbia University, advises the UN and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and hes winning endorsements from among others, Congressman John Conyers and economist Mark Weisbrot. Hell a ract predictable opposition from the Right who bristle at any mention of foreign aid, but although his media pals like to forget it now, Sachs was once evangelist number one for exactly the heavyhanded yiny out development tactics that have made the world nancial institutions so passionately hated. Last week, John Cavanaugh of the Institute for Policy Studies and American University development professor Robin Broad laid out a ra of concerns to which Sachs responded thus: I would be the rst ever development practitioner and antipoverty professional to be World Bank President, just what is needed given the banks mission of a world free of poverty. In Europes postSoviet transition years, Sachss professional poverty expertise was mostly in increasing it. Russia, following Sachss callous shock therapy prescription, sold o state companies, suspended public subsidies and drove employment and life expectancy into the ground, with brutal longterm consequences, exacting the most savage costs in terms of death and suering since the Second World War and the results of the Sachs experiment in Poland, Estonia and Slovenia werent much be er. While a handful of global gamblers got rich of the disaster, former World Bank economist David Ellerman, said of Sachs Only the mixture of American triumphalism and the academic arrogance of neoclassical economics could produce such a lethal dose of gall. If Sachs could double suicide rates in Russia as a cocky young

PHOTO: AFP

US economist Jeffrey Sachs during a press conference at the ADB headquarters in Manila on January 7, 2009. Sachs, 57, is the director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University and a special adviser to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the Millennium Development Goals.

Harvard advisor, its hard to imagine what he could to the world as World Bank President. In recent years, Sachs has taken a few turns. He embraces debt forgiveness (some) and has some nasty things to say about world military spending in his book the End of Poverty. But the business of poverty reduction is a complex one. The World Banks calculations have been incisively discussed here by Adam Parsons. Suce to say, theres extreme poverty and theres just ge ing by. In the same way when it comes to development, theres total exclusion from the world economy and theres becoming a cog in it. Sachss vision of a world free of poverty has more cogs in more wheels, but its the same deadly

machine driving the planet to the same nasty brink. To cite one example. in his 2007 Reith lecture series Bursting at the Seams Sachs pushes new agricultural technology and commercial fertilizers to increase yields in lowlife expectancy countries. Africa can and must have a Green Revolution as India initiated nearly forty years ago. He celebrates increased yields and dismisses concerns about environmental damage and rising debt, claiming that Older techniques for replenishing soil nutrients, such as the rotation of farm lands, allowing the replenishment of nutrients on land le to fallow for 10 or 20 years, are no longer feasible. To top things o, theres a dose of population

control in Sachss mix. The evidence is overwhelming that its possible and necessary to have a rapid demographic transition on a voluntary basis to greatly reduce fertility rates in poor countries, said Sachs. Old arguments linking high population with high poverty are back in vogue in the context of contemporary planetpanic, but really, they miss the point. While growing population in poor countries has its environmental impacts, highlevel consumption lifestyles in rich countries are much more of an immediate threat. Listen to the small scale farmers of countries like Mali and Burkina Faso who gathered at the World Social Forum in Kenya a few years back and they

report that traditional farming techniques like fortifying soil with manure and mixing the crops grown on the same piece of land are rehabilitating degraded farms and farmers, both. Lying fallow for a generation doesnt come up. Its here that one sees the old Sachs in the new. To return to Ellerman the analysts of shock therapy have long go en it wrong, he writes in an essay, Lessons from Eastern Europes Voucher Privatization. In the postSoviet states, the crucial distinction wasnt so much between the fastshockers and the incrementalists, rather, Ellerman points out, Reform mongers, in their strategies and even more so in their rhetoric, could be divided into those who take an ideological, fundamental, and root andbranch approach versus those who take an incremental, piecemeal, homegrown, and adaptive approach. From what he says now about global agribusiness and it seems that not much has changed in Sachss approach to the adaptive, homegrown initiative even as the sane world is increasingly convinced that those are the only strategies with any chance of heading. The fact that hes campaigning for the World Bank job as the candidate of the new regime makes all this particularly hard to take. Since Paul Wolfowitz resigned under a cloud in 2007, new rules at the World Bank are nally permi ing countries other than the US and Europe to determine who heads the worlds nancial institutions (since world war two its been the World Bank for the US, and a European at the IMF). Europe nominated Christine Lagarde for IMF president last year. She won over other candidates. For the World Bank post, the US has quietly oated names like Susan Rice, John Kerry and Larry Summers to replace Robert Zoellick when he steps down on June 30. Predicting he wont be the USs ocial pick, Sachs has go en seven countries to endorse him, including Haiti, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia and Timor Leste. By March 23, well know how all this plays out. Meanwhile, according to the opensource website, WorldBankPresident.org which is tracking these developments, a slate of countries with new nancial capacity to compete with the US are taking steps to form a World Bank alternative. Quite possibly, at a meeting in India later this month, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa may set up their own development bank with the goal, they say, to escape the dollar and the euro hegemonies and, if Chinese plans go well, making the yuan a global currency. Well see what Sachs has to say about that adaptive initiative. * Laura Flanders is the host of The Laura Flanders Show coming to public television stations later this year. She was the host and founder of GRITtv.org. The opinions expressed are her own. ** Article reprinted with permission from counterpunch.com.

MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

WORLD

31

UN envoy says Afghan attacks could hit troop support

UNITED NATIONS - The UN envoy to Afghanistan has warned that attacks on international troops after the killing of 16 civilians and the burning of Muslim holy books risked undermining support for their presence in the conflictstricken country. The envoy, Jan Kubis, said the killing of international troops in Afghanistan to train local security forces was "unacceptable." "These malicious acts have potentially profound implications for these essential efforts, for public support for enduring commitment of the international community to assist Afghanistan and its people," Kubis told the UN Security Council. Hostility against US and other international forces has increased since the killing of 16 civilians by a US soldier. This has added to antagonism caused by US forces burning Korans and being filmed urinating on dead Taliban rebels. The attacks "do have an impact on thinking, on the psychological environment in the country," Kubis told reporters after the meeting on Wednesday. Afghanistan's UN envoy Zahir Tanin told the council that the killing of civilians and burning of Korans "could undermine our trust and cooperation." He said the incidents risked "inciting deep sorrow, anger and frustration among Afghan people. It is imperative that these incidents are ended immediately and the perpetrators be held accountable." "Our confidence needs to be deepened by real cooperation, trust and mutual respect between Afghanistan and the international community," Tanin told the Security Council. Controversy over the incidents have clouded the debate over the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan scheduled to be completed by 2014. A NATO summit in Chicago in May will discuss the troop drawdown and how to pay for the all-Afghan force that will take complete charge of security after 2014. Another donors conference will be held in Tokyo in July. AFP

PHOTO: AFP

French soldiers of the battle group Picardie keep watch during an operation in Usbeen village, in Surobi district of Kabul province on March 15

Distrust lingers from 'green on blue' Afghan murders

USBEEN BASE NATO insists that murders of foreign troops by their Afghan colleagues are isolated incidents. But on one French base near Kabul, private doubts linger. Nearly one in ve NATO soldiers killed this year have died at the hands of their supposed allies including six Americans killed during riots against the burning of Korans at a US base last month. On January 20, an Afghan soldier turned his weapon on his French trainers at Gwan base in the province of Kapisa, northeast of the capital Kabul, as they ended a sports session. None of the French was armed. Four were killed and 15 wounded. And for many of their comrades, the wounds are still raw. Distrust would be a strong word, Colonel Didier Gros told AFP following a twoday AfghanFrench operation in Usbeen valley near Kabul. There is a reality. Things have happened. Were not going to pretend as if nothing happened. Everyone has their own thoughts. Januarys incident was the second in Kapisa in a month a er two French soldiers were killed on December 29. As a result, France temporarily suspended training Afghan soldiers, who are due to take responsibility for national security by the end of 2014. Normal training has since resumed but security has been tightened. Afghan and French troops at Usbeen base have been more or less separated to limit risk since the Gwan incident, said Captain Frederic, who is only able to tell reporters his rst name under French military rules. A thick, high wall separates the French and Afghan areas, albeit one built before the January killings. Entrance to the French side is guarded by a barrier, barbed wire and armed soldiers. Few Afghans are able to cross. Afghans also have to check in their weapons once their duties are over and no longer come to our side, except if they need to see the doctor, said Frederic. In reality, that amounts to a maximum of ve visits a day. French and Afghan soldiers now do sport separately, even at the neighboring base in Surobi where there are only a handful of local translators. Joggers have to be accompanied by at least one other soldier and at least one of them has to carry a pistol. Colonel Gros insisted trust was slowly rebuilding. There was always separation, because each side has their habits and way of life. And protection was always there, he told AFP. But now the doors are opening. Meetings take place. Contacts take place. I see the (Afghan) ba alion head very o en, some of my men do as well. So there is no shuto. Not at all. Yet only several dozen trainers like those killed in January come into regular contact with local troops. Three of them told AFP that they were comfortable with their mission. We cant always look over our shoulders because we mix with the same people. Trust builds over time. Were starting to get to know them. Theyre really looking to us to protect them, said French Lieutenant Sebastien. An Afghan military intelligence ocer who gave his name only as Rostum said he was really sorry about what happened in Kapisa. My unit is doing everything possible to make sure it doesnt happen again. I cannot say there are no Taliban inltrators into our army, but in my unit, Im convinced of it, he said. Captain Alexandre said Afghan ocers were aware of the dangers and that they were also concerned about their own security within their ranks. The January 20 shootings did not come as a bolt from the blue. A classied report leaked to The New York Times earlier this year described such green on blue shootings as a systemic problem. The report put the killings down to a decade of contempt on each side, and profound illwill among both civilians and soldiers on both sides. But it downplayed the role of Taliban inltrators in such incidents. The distrust between Afghans and foreigners has only deepened since a US soldier went on a shooting rampage, killing 16 villagers, mostly women and children, this month. For French troops, rebuilding the trust a er the January shootings is not easy. Many were troubled by a rumor that the Afghan identied as carrying out the a ack, 21yearold Abdul Mansour, had time to reload his weapon while his Afghan colleagues stood idly by. Were told to say everythings going well, said one young recruit. But clearly some soldiers dont trust them any more. AFP

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MARCH 23 - 29, 2012

WORLD

32

North Korea blasts Seoul over upcoming summit

SEOUL North Korea has sharpened its criticism of an upcoming Seoul summit, saying any South Korean attempt to address the Norths nuclear program at the meeting would be seen as a declaration of war. The March 2627 nuclear security summit, to be a ended by US President Barack Obama and other world leaders, will focus on tackling nuclear terrorism. But the Norths atomic program and its widely condemned announcement of a planned rocket launch will be debated intensively on the sidelines. The US, Chinese and other leaders will discuss ways to press Pyongyang to scrap its launch when they meet next week, South Koreas President Lee Myung Bak said in interviews published Wednesday. The North has previously blasted the event the Souths biggestever diplomatic gathering as an unsavory burlesque intended to justify an atomic attack by South Korea and its US ally. It is a ridiculous a empt and an absolutely unpardonable criminal act for Lee Myung Bak, traitor for all ages, to bring someones nuclear issue up for discussion, its ocial news agency said Wednesday, adding the Norths deceased leaders made denuclearization their nal wish. Any provocative act would be considered as a declaration of war against us and its consequences would serve as great obstacles to talks on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. The Norths official media frequently refers to the likelihood of war breaking out. Its announcement of a rocket launch between April 1216 purportedly to put a satellite into orbit has jeopardized a nuclear freeze deal reached only weeks ago with the United States. The US and its allies see the plan as a pretext for a longrange missile test, which is banned under a UN Security Council resolution passed after the Norths missile and nuclear tests in 2009. Washington says any launch would also breach a bilateral deal which offered 240,000 tons of US food aid in return for a partial nuclear freeze and a suspension of missile tests. On Wednesday the US suspended a search for remains of American war dead in the North. When there are suggestions that they might launch ballistic missiles, when they make bellicose statements about South Korea and engage in actions that could be construed as provocative, we think that its not the right time to undertake this effort, Pentagon press secretary George Little told reporters.

A map showing North Korea's known nuclear sites

The US and North Korea had reached a deal in October to resume the search for thousands of war dead from the 195053 Korean war and previously US officials had not linked the recovery effort to disputes over Pyongyangs nuclear and missile programs. The North insists a peaceful satellite launch is not a missile test but even its close ally China has expressed concern. The Norths move to launch the socalled satellite has created a new topic of discussions at the summit, and its an urgent timing, Lee said in interviews with the International Herald Tribune and other media. The five nations share similar views on this, he said, referring

PHOTO: AFP

This photo taken on March 14, 2012 shows messages of hope for reunification on a military barbed wire fence at Imjingak peace park in Paju near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas

to the US, Japan, China, Russia and his own country. The best option is for the five nations to try to persuade North Korea to cancel the plan, Lee said. The blastoff is intended as part of celebrations for the 100th birth anniversary of national founder

Kim IlSung, whose son JongIl took over the North after his fathers death in 1994. Kim JongIl died last December. His young and untested son and successor Jong Un appears to be trying to bolster the nations status with the launch. AFP

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