Expat Interest

Snooze mobiles: how vibrations in cars make drivers sleepyThe Saigon Times Daily Associate Professor Mohammad Fard (R) and Professor Stephen Robinson, chief investigators of the research team - PHOTO: COURTESY OF RMIT UNIVERSITY HCMC - New research has found the natural vibrations of cars make people sleepier, affecting concentration and alertness levels just 15 minutes after drivers get behind the wheel. With about 20% of fatal road crashes involving driver fatigue, RMIT University researchers hope their findings can be used by manufacturers to improve car seat designs to help keep drivers awake. Professor Stephen Robinson said the effects of physical vibration on drivers were not well understood, despite growing evidence that vibration contributes to feelings of sleepiness. “We know one in five Australians have fallen asleep at the wheel and we know that drowsy driving is a significant issue for road safety. When you’re tired, it doesn’t take much to start … [Read more...] about Snooze mobiles: how vibrations in cars make drivers sleepy

Japanese puppets demonstrated in HCMC By Bradley Winterton A half life-size Japanese puppet bunraku - PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ORGANIZER HCMC - I’ve had an intense affection for the Japanese puppets known as bunraku ever since I first saw them in Tokyo almost 20 years ago. On Thursday here they were in HCMC, at the San Khau Tre Gioi Theater on Cong Quynh Street, District 1. The half life-size dolls are manipulated by three puppeteers all-but concealed in black robes. Their heads nod and turn, their eyes roll, and their strikingly prominent eyebrows can be raised in anger or astonishment. What we saw on Thursday afternoon, however, was only a fragment of the full-scale plays these puppets can be made to enact, anything up to two or three hours in length. What we first saw were the narrator and the musician, playing his three-stringed instrument known as a shamisen. A hard-working translator gave us Vietnamese versions of what this narrator said as he demonstrated how he … [Read more...] about Japanese puppets demonstrated in HCMC

Synescape live performance to be held in HanoiThe Saigon Times Daily Synescape live audiovisual performance merging digital with analogue components will take place at Tinh Dau art space in Hanoi this Saturday. The show features special collaborator Linh Ha For Now, who will adapt her mesmerizing vocal arrangements in a totally innovative way: her voice will be activated as she comes into contact with the installations in the center of the space. Accompanying this element will be live sound design and a video sequence, both of which will be guided by Linh Ha’s movements. Tinh Dau is a new art space founded within Hanoi 60s Complex of old traditional buildings. With crumbling, egg-yolk facades, wooden shutters and creaking floors, this is a unique space – much warmer than a white-walled gallery. Synescape live audiovisual performance introduces “synescape: please touch” project, which will be on view from August 23 to 25 at Tinh Dau. “Synescape: please … [Read more...] about Synescape live performance to be held in Hanoi

Vietnamese kids shine at Football for Friendship program in Russia The Saigon Times Daily Pham Nguyen Quoc Trung (R), who acts as the young journalist for F4F program, poses with other young journalists at the International Press Center in Moscow - PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ORGANIZER Nguyen Trong Tuan and Pham Nguyen Quoc Trung, Vietnamese representatives at the sixth season of the Football for Friendship (F4F) program in Russia, have successfully fulfilled their role as the young footballer and young journalist respectively. The program, which was held from June 8 to 15, 2018 by Gazprom, the official partner of FIFA and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, brought together young football players and young journalists aged 12 years from 211 countries and territories. The young footballers were grouped in 32 International Teams of Friendship, and were accompanied by young journalists who were selected to report on the F4F events. Tuan was a part of the Three-Toed Sloth team, along with his … [Read more...] about Vietnamese kids shine at Football for Friendship program in Russia

Hundreds of people practice yoga in HCMCBy Thanh Hoa HCMC – Hundreds of people from HCMC gathered on the early morning of June 23 at Ho Xuan Huong Sports Club in HCMC’s District 3 to present a yoga performance, hosted by an Indian yoga master on the occasion of the Fourth International Yoga Day. Hundreds of municipal residents practice yoga, led by an Indian yoga master on the morning of June 23 Consul General of India in HCMC Dr. K. Srikar Reddy attended the performance A few years ago, the performance was held on Nguyen Hue Street, in which all participants practice yoga in unison, which was different from this year’s performance, which was given by small groups due to the club’s limited room Yoga harmonizes mind and body, as well as thought and action, and it improves one’s health and well-being The number of people practicing yoga in Vietnam has risen sharply This year’s International Yoga Day is expected to … [Read more...] about Hundreds of people practice yoga in HCMC