Cao lau noodles are carefully made from local new rice not stocked one. Water used to soak rice must be taken from wells in the Ba Le Village; noodles thus will be soft, enduring and flavored with special sweet-smelling. In addition, meat used to prepare for Cao lau must be loin or trotter.

Dry pancakes used must be thick and have much sesame. Greasy coconut quintessence and bitter green cabbage are also indispensable. The so-called genuine Cao lau Hoi An must satisfy all above requirements.

Residents of Hanoi have been finding creative solutions to the problem of getting water into their homes, no matter how crazy it is.

The story is not a new one, as Hanoi is always short of water supply during its summer months, but for people who reside in old collective housing areas of the city, the problem is daily, whether it is in spring or autumn, winter or summer.

To deal with this shortage problem, residents in these places have resorted to setting up a tangled maze of water pipes which twist and turn, crossing over one another, and are a scattered mess. Some people described it as a unique display of artwork that can be rarely found any where else in the city.

Residents have extended their own pipes to pump water. The number of pipes equals the number of households that are currently sharing the same housing area.

Having been built since the 80's and 90's, when the infrastructure construction was low and limited for these housing areas, the water can now only be supplied through a common water tank located in the middle of the residential courtyard for everybody to use. It all depends on the ability and creativity of residents to find ways of pumping the water up for themselves.

Below are pictures of the maze-like network of water pipes in Hanoi captured by DTiNews:

Entrance to one residential area.

B4 Building is famous for its maze-like piping network.

Pipes jostling against each other trying to do the same job.

Water pumps on "a display" at a collective residential area on Le Phung Hieu Street.

These machines are set to pump water daily at 5pm.

Water piping network at a collective residential area located on Vong Ha Street.

Pipes hanging all over the place like a spider web.

Don't mistake these for electrical wires.

Source: dantri

South Korea progressed to the second round of the World Cup for only the second time in eight attempts after a 2-2 draw with Nigeria in their final Group B match here on Tuesday.

South Korea's defender Lee Jung-Soo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Group B first round 2010 World Cup football match between Nigeria and South Korea at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. (AFP/Javier Soriano)

The result saw the Asian giants, who opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Greece but then crashed 4-1 to Argentina, finish second in the group behind the South Americans, who beat Greece 2-0 to remain unbeaten.

Nigeria, who had lost 1-0 to Argentina and 2-1 to Greece, were eliminated from the World Cup along with the Greeks.

South Korea will face Uruguay for a quarter-final spot while Argentina, who saw off Greece 2-0 in their final group game, will tackle Mexico.

"I am very disappointed," said Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback. "I am convinced that we deserved better in the World Cup.

"When we were ahead we continued to battle and we equalised. But it wasn't good enough."

The Super Eagles, who have never beaten an Asian side at the World Cup, opened the scoring through Kalu Uche (12) before South Korea hit back in the 38th minute through Lee Jung-Soo.

In a free-flowing game, the Koreans took the lead in the 48th minute through a Park Chu-Young free-kick, but Yakubu Ayegbeni converted a penalty with 20 minutes to play.

The Everton striker, however, was guilty of missing two clear-cut chances, including one sitter, as the game ebbed and flowed from one end to another with attempts aplenty on goal.

South Korea started brightly and Lee Chung-Yong had an excellent chance in the first minute after capitalising on a woeful attempt at a clearance from Rabiu Afolabi.

Against the run of play in the opening quarter, Nigeria's Chidi Odiah made a determined run down the right flank and squared the ball which Uche tapped in after holding off a feeble defensive effort by Cha Du-Ri.

But South Korea hit back through Lee Jung-Soo, who got around the back of Rabiu Afolabi to scramble the ball past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama from a Ki Sung-Yeung free-kick.

Almeria midfielder Uche had almost doubled Nigeria's lead just before the Asian team's equaliser but his well-struck shot rebounded off the post with Jung well beaten in goal.

South Korea took the lead after Park Chu-Young curled a free-kick around the wall and past Enyeama into far side of the goal.

Some careless defending saw Ayegbeni gifted a chance but Lee Jung-Soo just managed to get back and steal the ball away, and then came the Everton player's horrendous miss as he failed to bury an inch-perfect Yussuf Ayila cross into the back of an empty net.

Another Nigerian attack did pay dividends, however, as Kim Nam-Il brought down Obasi in the box. Up stepped Ayegbeni to convert the penalty but Nigeria could muster no more attempts on target and the South Koreans went through.

Source: Vietnamnet

After requesting local lenders to submit outstanding dollar denominated loan reports, specific action is being taken to control possible risks.

Scores of firms have taken advantage of cheap US dollar loans

Last week, the State Bank announced tough measures to curb the growth of outstanding loans in foreign currencies at local banks, to restrain the country’s widening trade deficit and to stabilise the domestic monetary market.

“Commercial banks must keep total outstanding loans in foreign currencies lower than their mobilisation levels and tighten controls over greenback credit lines and lending durations to prevent any payment risks,” said a State Bank statement.

The order to restrict dollar credit will ensure local lenders can recall foreign currency debts from corporate customers who took out loans to boost production and business for exports.

“Surprising surges in dollar credits had stuck ‘fragile labels’ on the stability of the foreign exchange market since the beginning of 2010. Thus, this tightening is needed,” said Duong Thu Huong, general secretary of the Vietnam Banking Association.

On June 11, the State Bank asked local credit institutions, which are allowed to provide forex services, to submit weekly reports on selling and lending foreign currencies. Domestic enterprises have still preferred dollar-denominated loans, whose interest rates are much lower than dong ones.

This caused the local banking system’s dollar credit growth to surge by 25 per cent compared to a slight 2.45 per cent rise in dong loans over the first five months of the year.

Local banking experts are worried that rising dollar loans could cause the forex rate to soar later this year when corporate borrowers tried to repay their debts. They also raised concerns over the possibility that local firms would take out dollar loans to import non-essential goods, putting more pressure on the country’s trade deficit, which had widened to $5.53 billion in the first five months.

At the moment, dong lending rates stand at around 13-14 per cent per year, while dollar lending rates are around 4-6 per cent, per year.

The State Bank still confirmed that the domestic forex market had been stabilised since late March, with a profuse supply of greenbacks. Earlier this month, the World Bank predicted that Vietnam would end 2010 with a $2.6 billion surplus in its balance of payments, versus its deficit of $8.8 billion in 2009.

Nguyen Dai Lai, vice head of Credit Information Centre, said that the large lending rate gap had encouraged corporate borrowers to borrow in dollars then sell these amounts for dong. “On the other hand, local banks, under profit pressures, might want to keep the pace in extending dollar loans. Additional inspections, thus, are needed,” Lai added.

Source:dantri

The loud and raucous sound from fans blowing vuvuzela horns at football matches during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2010 has annoyed many people, but many football fans in HCM City are searching for vuvuzelas.

“I need to buy a vuvuzela which African people use. You many know it when you watch football. Let’s contact me if you have it.”

“I’m looking for a vuvuzela. I hope I can buy one from those who go to South Africa.”

“It is an urgent need for a vuvuzela! Who sell it?”

Such orders are showing up on many online forums in Vietnam.

Huy, a football fan in District 10, HCM City, said he is very curious about this blowing horn and he wishes to see one with his own eyes.

“I’ve looked for it everywhere. I’ve also post advertisements on many websites. I hope I can buy it very quickly,” Huy said.

Trong Hien, from District 3, HCM City, said: “I want to buy a vuvuzela because I like it. After the World Cup, I will take it to any football match at the Thong Nhat Stadium (HCM City)”.

While the demand for the vuvuzela is rising, sports equipment stores in HCM City have not imported this blowing horn yet.

“Many customers want to buy this blowing horn, but this type of blowing horn is only popular during this World Cup in South Africa so we don’t have much information about it. If the need for vuvuzela continues to rise, we will import it,” said Xuan Thuy, the owner of a sport equipment stall in An Dong Market.

After posting advertisements on the web, one football fan who went to South Africa for the World Cup contacted Huy to sell vuvuzelas at the price of $20 per horn.

Trong Hien said that his friend will bring one vuvuzela from South Africa for him in several days.

Hillary, who has come to Vietnam for two months from South Africa, said: “The vuvuzela is a symbol of my country. We are proud of it”.

Hillary’s friend, Joe, said: “Many people say that the sound of vuvuzela is annoying, but it is no problem if you hear its sound in the atmosphere of football in South Africa”.

Frank, a South African who has been living in HCM City for two years, said that the price for a vuvuzela in South Africa was around 200,000 dong ($25) two years ago. At present, it is very cheap in South Africa because it is the symbol of World Cup 2010.

According to Frank, during big football tournaments, football fans are often presented a vuvuzela when they join a football match. This blowing horn is also sold in China and Hong Kong.

At present, if anyone wants to own a vuvuzela, he can only order on the Internet, at the prices of $20-25 per horn.

The vuvuzela, also known as “lepatata” or “stadium horn,” is a typical 65 cm plastic horn that produces a loud, distinctive monotone note.

The vuvuzela is most used at football matches in South Africa. It has become a symbol of South African football as the stadiums are filled with its loud and raucous sound that reflects the exhilaration of supporters. The intensity of the sound caught the attention of the global football community during the 2009 Confederation Cup in anticipation of South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup, though its frequent usage during sporting events raised health and safety concerns.

The vuvuzela has been the subject of controversy. Its high sound pressure levels at close range can lead to permanent hearing loss for unprotected ears after extensive exposure. A study found the maximum sound output varied between 113 and 131 dB. In response to the controversy, a new model has a modified mouthpiece that reduces the volume by 20 dB. However, international commentators, players and audiences have called to ban vuvuzelas at football matches.

Source: Vietnamnet

Metfone Viettel, the Cambodia-based affiliate of Vietnamese military-owned mobile phone service provider Viettel, was named "the most promising service provider of the year" on June 10 by the global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, becoming the only representative of Indochina to be honoured in the category in the firm’s Asian Pacific ICT Awards this year.

gnition of Viettel’s role in the growth of Cambodia’s telecommunications industry. The industry could now be ranked at the same level with other countries in the region and world due to the contribution of the Metfone brand.

Metfone Viettel director Nguyen Duy Tho said the award was earned by Cambodia’s telecommunications industry over the past few years, of which Metfone was just a representative.

"Metfone is honoured to bring pride to the country," Tho said. "I would like to express the sincerest thanks to the Government, ministries and agencies, people, customers and other operators for their support so far."

Metfone quickly became the leading mobile phone service provider in Cambodia after its introduction in the country last year.

In the past year alone, mobile phone density in Cambodia has increased from 15 to 40 per cent, with 120 base transceiver stations (BTS) and 1,000km of optic cable for every million people. Internet broadband use also rose from 0.5 to 2 per cent.

Cable infrastructure could now satisfy the requirements of 3G technology and provide free internet for 10 per cent of Cambodia’s schools.

"The award recipients have demonstrated their great success despite the difficulties of the economic downturn," said Frost&Sullivan partner and Asia-Pacific managing director Manoj Menon, adding that the recipients were the leaders of the industry in the region.

Frost & Sullivan’s ICT Awards were presented annually to companies that demonstrated the best practices in their industry. Past awards have often honoured firms from Japan, South Korea, South Asia and China, Frost & Sullivan said in a press release. This year, representatives from emerging markets were recognised, including Telkomsel (Indonesia) and Axiata (Bangladesh) as well as Metfone.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

For the first time, Hue Festival has a stage resting 3cm underwater, where dancers performed with music and sparkling lamplight, which in turn brought about a special feeling for the audience on the evening of June 11.

A story about the visit to earth by a fairy was told last night on the underwater stage on Tinh Tam Lake inside the Hue royal citadel. The fairy met a man of the lower world and fell in love with him. For love, she forgot all about returning home.

Dan Tri captured the most beautiful scenes of the show:

The vapor on Tinh Tam lake.

The fairy appeared from the water.

She caught the moonlight…

… and played with water.

At the village communal houses, young girls played together.

Children chased dragonflies.

Girls in Vietnamese traditional brassiere…

… and non quai thao (flat palm hat with fringes)

Boys tried to show off for the beautiful girl.

The date.

Unicorn dance in the festival of love.

Bailing out water.

A dance with palm-leaf conical hats.

Pink lotus.

The fairy was absorbed in dancing.

She missed the journey back to heaven.

She stayed on Earth and married a man of the lower world. Their love story created the beautiful Tinh Tam Lake. Source: Vietnamnet