One woman's battle against AO continues Helping hand: Ha Minh Hue, Deputy General Director of the VietnamNews Agency, visits Phuong at her home in Binh Thuan. — VNS Photo (10-08-2008) Throughout her life, Dao Thi Cuc Phuong has fought against the lingering effects of Agent Orange and the discrimination that often accompanies it. Tan Hung reports. Never has Dao Thi Cuc Phuong felt well. Though her illness usually manifests itself as a general weakness and chronic pain, it recently took the form of dizziness and a severe headache that resulted in a blackout in the middle of traffic. Yet only a few days later, and despite her lingering symptoms, she was smiling. She's used to it—having lived with the effects of Agent Orange for over 32 years. Phuong's father, Dao Duy Thanh, was a soldier in the American War and her mother, Ngo Thi Kim Phung, lived in northern Ham Thuan Province during the war. When their daughter, Phuong, was born in 1976, they were … [Read more...] about One woman’s battle against AO continues
Agent orange strain
Social Headlines December 13
Exchanging money for profit to be prohibited A document issued on Monday by the Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Public Security to work together to discover violators of the currency regulation. A study by the State Bank revealed that many residents used small denomination notes at temples and during festivals. Only a small amount of these small denominations are used as entrance payments, as the main amount is spent when worshipping objects in pagodas and festivals. This comes from old-school thoughts that worshippers need to "give" money to the dead or Buddhists if they want to pray for good health or good business. Thus, they need to exchange large notes for smaller denominations, while many individuals have taken the change to earn profits from this service. The money, then, remains unaccountable and, spread throughout pagodas, affects the solemn historical sites and the image of Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Social Headlines December 13
Social Highlights for November 28
2kg of meth seized at international airport The suspect and the confiscated drugs were handed over to the city's Drug-related Crime Investigation Unit (PC47). The Tan Son Nhat Airport Customs Department has so far this year uncovered 10 drug trafficking cases, detaining 14 suspects and seizing 25.6kg of drugs worth nearly VND85 billion (US$4 million). Second baby dies, doctor suspended A 16-month-old baby died after receiving injections for pneumonia from doctor Pham Anh Son, head of Ha Noi's Thuong Tin General Hospital's Paediatrics Department, at an unlicensed private clinic he ran from his home. Son received a 15-day suspension from working at the hospital while police continued with their investigation into the death after the child reacted fatally to the serums Ceftriaxone 1g and Solu-Medrol 40mg. Speaking at a conference held yesterday, Nguyen Huu Luan, head of Thuong Tin District's Health Office, said that according to Son's report, he administered the injections to the … [Read more...] about Social Highlights for November 28
Her father’s daughter
Left unable to walk by an Agent Orange-related affliction, a young woman is succeeding thanks to her father's support. A father carries his daughter down the stairs to their motorbike. He places her on the old bike and helps her put on her jacket, helmet and sunglasses. … [Read more...] about Her father’s daughter
The Agent Orange story you didn’t read in the Times
The New York Times is pictured center left (with backpack). Photo: AFP … [Read more...] about The Agent Orange story you didn’t read in the Times