Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, a propagandist of the anti-HIV/AIDS struggle of the Woman’s Union of Co Giang Ward in District 1, HCMC, who was a harlot 16 years ago, has been successful in overcoming many difficulties and bad situations in order to make a better life for herself.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh (L) propagandizes for people effective methods to lessen the rates sexual transmitted diseases and drug use. (Photo : Sggp)

She took the wrong path for several years, until being arrested and ending up in prison.

After being released prison, Hanh thought that her life was at an impasse with nowhere to go. But her mother gave her a hand raising her daughter. Members of the Woman’s Union of Co Giang Ward visited Hanh regularly and took her to social works, making an incessant effort to help her overcome the complexes and stigmas associated with prostitution, allowing her to fall in line with the community.

“I rebuild my life and my future day by day. Living is still very difficult but I am so joyful to make my mother happy,” Hanh said.

She provides free condoms and propagandizes for harlots and people effective methods to lessen the rates sexual transmitted diseases and drug use in parks 23/9 (September 23rd), Le Van Tam, Tao Dan and Le Duan, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets, Thi Nghe Bridge and Tu Du Maternity Hospital. She also takes prostitutes to preventive medicine centers for tests.

Hanh cannot remember how many women that she has helped out of life on the street.

Hanh has transferred her enthusiasm for social work to her daughter and son-in-law. The mother and married couple work in District 1’s Preventive Medicine Centers.

Hanh now lives with her son, 10, and paralyzed old mother in District 2. Although her living conditions are difficult, she always feels happy and optimistic.

“The work helps me recognize the truth of a significant and strong life. I am proud of telling my contributions to my little son. Love of my mother and sisters of the Woman’s Union of Co Giang Ward made revived me,” Hanh said.

Source:saigon-gpdaily

A health seminar on stomach conditions opened in Ho Chi Minh City on June 24, with doctors extolling the virtues of healthy eating and living, and arguing that unhealthy emotional and mental habits were to blame for many of our gastrointestinal ailments.

Many people participate in the seminar about unhealthy emotional and mental habits are blame for gastro-intestinal ailments on June 24

The seminar marked the half-way milestone of a comprehensive publicity campaign launched by United Pharma Vietnam’s Kremil-S, a brand of peptic ulcer medicine, spread awareness about stomach health among the public and pharmacists in order to help them recognize early symptoms of stomach diseases and know what should be done to prevent and treat the illnesses.

‘Stomach Conditions Associated with Today’s Lifestyles’ was jointly held by United Pharma Vietnam (UPI) and Ho Chi Minh City University Medical Center (UMC) at Kim Do Hotel in District 1.

Doctors from UMC have been providing expert consultancy to the project, which has launched severa mutli-media programs, including the ‘Your Doctor’ radio talk show (aired on Binh Duong Radio every Tuesday and Saturday at 2pm) and a series of syndicated ‘Health Guru’ articles in newspapers.

Dr. Bui Huu Hoang, Ph.D, Head of UMC’s Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, spoke at the seminar to sheds some light on key aspects of stomach problems known to be linked to modern unhealthy lifestyles. He also analyzed the potential risks and complications involved and discussed preventive measures and treatments.

Dr. Hoang said some 50% of over-50-year-old ulcer patients in developed countries are infected with Helicobater pylori bacteria (HP). The global contraction rate rises by 10% a year. HP is the cause of up to 80% of confirmed ulcer cases in developed world while the figure among Vietnamese adults has reached over 70%, said Dr. Hoang.

“One of the key targeted groups of the project is pharmacist audience as these people work closely with patients and are supposed to give out a great deal of advice on OTC medication. So once they are well outfitted with important knowledge, they will be able to help their customers reduce contraction risks and stay fit in peptic terms” said Ms. Thieu Thi Vy Vy, UPI’s Marketing Head of Illness Channel.

The doctor listed a number of factors that contribut to stomach problems: stress, eating disorders, smoking, alcoholic consumption.

But Hoang also said stomach problems had to do with our mental and emotional health as well. He said the best way to keep stomach issues at bay was to lead an optimistic life, full of small but healthy everyday practices. He also said concerned people should stay away from unclean eateries.

One of the main causes of peptic ulcers is hyperadicity, in which the stomach contains an abnormally high amount of acids, resulting in mucosal damage and ulcerations, said Dr. Hoang. Unhealthy lifestyles and conditions such as obesity, smoking, diets containing too much spicy, oily, or sour food, the abuse of alcoholic drinks and coffee, are often responsible for this, according to the doctor..

To learn more about stomach afflictions, send an emais to chuyengiadaday@yahoo.com or call the toll-free hotline - 1900 57 15 18 (extension 5). Experts on the line can give advice as to how to prevent and treat many stomach ailments.

Source:saigon-gpdaily

The pristine beauty of Quan Lan Beach has yet to be spoiled and is a mecca for tourists. The deep blue waters, strong waves and white sandy beaches span over several kilometres. Wild, green pines flank the beach, which adds charm to the pristine location.

Rockin': The beautiful landscape of Bai Tu Long Bay as seen from Quan Lan Island. — File Photos

All to yourself: Tourists are able to enjoy a pristine atmosphere that has yet to be overdeveloped at Quan Lan Beach.

The beach is on Quan Lan in Bai Tu Long Bay, which is 55km away from Ha Long City.

Stilted guest houses hide under the lush foliage of casuarinas. A brick-paved road leads tourists from their bungalows to Quan Lan Beach.

Among the network of inhabited islands, the beautiful isle of Quan Lan still remains largely unexplored. The undeveloped island and its gorgeous white sand beaches have been tagged by major investments that are aiming to expand its shaky tourist infrastructure.

The sand on Quan Lan Beach is stranger than the sand on other beaches I have visited. It's white, tiny, pure and smooth. The transparent water allows my eyes to gaze at the bottom of the sea where I can watch fish swim around colourful coral.

Visitors can stay in bungalows on the beach or with locals in a quiet village. In the future, tourists are bound to discover the gorgeous shores of this island paradise, and its unsullied beaches are likely not to stay isolated for too much longer.

Since the 11th century, Quan Lan had been a centre along the commercial route. In the 12th century, Quan Lan was the first trading port of Viet Nam built under Ly dynasty.

In 1149, King Ly Anh Tong took this place to set up Van Don town and Van Don trading port in order to speed up commercial relationships between Viet Nam and South East Asian countries. Relics of former trading port have been discovered with traces of ancient architecture, well, and grazed terra-cotta of meters thick to prove that this place used to be a crowded urban.

During the fifth and sixth lunar months, the area annually celebrates religious ceremonies to remember the area's former king, and residents also hold boat rowing festivals.

In 1288, the beach was also the site of the well-known defeat of invading Mongol troops, who were destroyed by General Tran Khanh Du's army. Tourists in Quan Lan can visit a temple dedicated to the General, where they can learn about the history of the region and the achievements of the commander. The temple's roof is hidden under pine canopies. Approximately 100 steps lead to the temple's entrance that is halfway up a mountain.

Because Quan Lan is a strategically important seaport, the French built a lighthouse on its shores in the 19th century in order to protect the beach and to signal to passing merchant ships.

For tourists resting on the beach in evening, the illuminations from the lighthouse look like a twinkling star.

The dearth of post-midnight electricity makes night life a wee bit difficult to sustain in this town. During the evening hours, locals and a few tourists stroll along the village's main street, where sugarcane juice vendors and a few cafes stay open. The only sounds that dare to disturb the island are the melodic vibrations of karaoke bursting from living rooms and local cafes.

Sa sung (kind of sea worm) is a speciality of the region. It's used in cooking soup, which helps provide a wonderful taste and adds nutritional sustenance to dishes. Fishing for sa sung with the locals is a popular activity for tourists.

"While men in the village go fishing in the sea, we catch sa sung and sell them to tourists and businesses on the main land as our secondary job," says a local woman.

There are no five-star hotels at Quan Lan Beach, but tourists are able to enjoy a pristine atmosphere that has yet to be overdeveloped.

Source:VNS

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told Da Nang authorities to temporarily close the casino ran by Silvershore Hoang Dat JV Company to address the firm’s violations.

The casino can only reopen once Silvershore Hoang Dat meets the conditions requested by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI).

Da Nang authorities were told to review management of Silvershore Hoang Dat and to closely work with relevant agencies to instruct and supervise this company to deal with violations previously defined by the MoPI.

The Ministries of Finance, Public Security, Labour-War Invalid-Social Affairs, Culture-Sports-Tourism and Foreign Affairs will cooperate with Da Nang to consider and solve the issues related to this casino and hotel.

The Silver Shores International Tourist Site was inaugurated on January 26, 2010 in Da Nang, consisting of a five-star hotel and Vietnam’s largest casino. This was also the largest foreign-invested project in Da Nang in 2006, at $86 million.

Previously, the MoPI asked Da Nang to inspect and supervise the Silver Shores project. According to MoPI, the firm’s license allowed it to have 8 card tables, but it had over 10. The investor also employed a large number of unskilled foreign workers, while Vietnamese law only permits use of foreign experts when the domestic labor market can’t provide workers.

Source:vietnamnet

Amid the mountains of official World Cup kit on sale, frustrated South Africans are snapping up "FEEFA 2.010 WHIRLD CUP" T-shirts as they ridicule FIFA's strict enforcement of its marketing rules.

Argentinean soccer memorabilia is for sale on a street during the South Africa 2010 World Cup match against South Korea in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, June 17, 2010. Argentina won the match 4-1. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

While giants images of Cristiano Ronaldo and Robinho clad in Nike sportswear dominate the Johannesburg skyline, FIFA's determination to stop smaller fish from associating themselves with the World Cup has rankled its hosts.

"South Africa is no longer ruled by the rule of law. South Africa at the moment is ruled by FIFA," said intellectual property rights lawyer Tim Burrell.

"They act very cowardly. They won't take on Nike because Nike is far more powerful financially that they are... They take on the small guys and go for them."

Burrell is defending a man who was placed in FIFA's crosshairs for making keychains depicting a football, a vuvuzela and 2010 -- without paying for the right to do so.

Others to land themselves in legal hot water include two Dutch women who were arrested for bringing into a stadium a group of women in orange mini-dresses, made by a brewery that was not an official sponsor.

They were forced to surrender their passports and pay 1,300 dollars (1,000 euros) bail, but FIFA withdrew the charges after the Dutch foreign ministry called the case "absurd".

A restaurant in southern Port Elizabeth was forced to take down a picture of a football painted on its window while a bar in Pretoria was forced to remove a banner deemed too closely linked to the tournament even before it began.

Generally the country feels grateful to FIFA for choosing South Africa to host the World Cup and for standing up for the nation when sceptics worried that the tournament would never get off the ground.

But FIFA's rules still sometimes grate, as the global body vigorously defends the rights of its official sponsors who have spent one billion dollars for their links to the tournament.

FIFA, which owns exclusive rights to the phrases "2010 World Cup", "World Cup in South Africa", has enjoyed record revenue of 3.2 billion dollars this year.

Still, the organisation says it prefers compromise over litigation, and says it has been more lenient with small businesses.

"FIFA is not preventing small local businesses benefitting from the increased activity during the event period," it said in an email to AFP.

"On the opposite, FIFA is much more lenient with (small businesses), always embarking on an educational and non-aggressive approach."

Nike, however, has never been bothered even though its advertisements around the World Cup have been so successful that many viewers believe the company is an official sponsor, according to a study by Nielsen group.

Others bristle at the commercial restrictions around stadiums and fan parks where only licensed products are allowed, with a preference toward the official sponsors.

"Why should I be forced to pay 30 rands for one reddish American beer when the pub opposite the road sells local quarts for 12 rands?" said investigative journalist Adriaan Basson on his website thoughtleader.co.za.

"FIFA: time for a coup?" he asks.

Source:AFP

Vietnamese and international artists are doing their best to get of the Pottery road recognised as the longest pottery picture in the world.

The 6km-long colourful mosaic covering the dike from Au Co Road through Nghi Tam, Yen Phu, Tran Nhat Duat and Tran Khanh Du roads is divided into 21.sections with various themes. It is just one of the projects to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long- Hanoi.

Source:VOV

Megan Fox and her fiancé Brian Austin Green have married in a small intimate ceremony in Hawaii according to reports in the U.S.

Couple in love: Brian Austin Green and Megan Fox reportedly married last week on the Big Island in Hawaii

The couple, who met on the set of Hope And Faith back in 2004, married last week at the Four Seasons Hotel on the Big Island.

According to American website TMZ the wedding was attended by only a half dozen people.

It's the first marriage for both, although Green has an eight-year-old son, Kassius, with actress Vanessa Marcil.

Lady in red: Megan Fox sizzled on the red carpet at the premiere of her last movie, Jonah Hex

Fox was just 18 when she met the ex-90210 actor, who was 30 at the time, and the pair have been on and off ever since.

They first got engaged in 2007 before Fox broke it off in February 2009.

Reports surfaced two weeks ago that Fox, 24 and Greeen, 36 had gottten engaged again.

US Weekly reported that Green proposed at The Four Seasons (where they subsequently wed) but Megan lost the ring in the sand.

'I saw her jumping up and down,' a source said. 'Later I saw a half dozen staff sifting through the sand.'

But the search was reportedly unsuccessful.

'Security and maintanence staff spent a couple of hours looking for it,' another source said. 'No one found it.'

Fox denied the story though, saying: 'We've been engaged for four years, so I don't know why the story is breaking now like it's new.

'But I'm happy to still be engaged and still be with him.'

Fox recently opened up about her marriage plans: 'I've been in this relationship so long and I love [Brian] so much,' she said. 'And of course [marrriage is] in the future somewhere.

'I'm not closed to that idea. I just think If you're going to [get married], if you're going to be with someone and make a commitment, it's good to tell the universe, to say I'm commiting to this person and making them my family.'

Source:dtinews

The stuffing of the nem ran is comprised of mince pork, sea crabs, eggs, minced Jew's ears, thin-top mushroom, dried onions, bean-sprouts, pepper, spiced salt, etc. The mixture is then rolled in flat rice cakes and fried in a pan until crispy.
Nem are eaten hot with a sauce that it is, at the same time, somewhat salty, sweet, acidic and scented (with the flavours of onion and pepper). Papaya and a few fresh scented vegetables are added.

Pho, a typical dish of Hanoi people, has been existing for a long-time.

Pho is prepared not only in a sophisticated manner but also in the technique which is required to have sweet but pure bouillon, soft but not crashed noodle, soft and sweet-smelling meat.
Only in cold days, having a hot and sweet-smelling bowl of Pho to enjoy, would make you experience the complete flavor of the special dish of Hanoi.