Dusk till dawn movie

But thanks to social media rumors and a blockbuster movie, the kingdom's image among many Chinese people is now one of dangerous illegality and seedy scam border compounds - leaving visitor numbers plummeting. Thailand is hugely reliant on tourism, particularly from China. The country welcomed more than 10 million Chinese visitors each year before the Covid-19 pandemic - numbers Bangkok is desperate to see return. But its struggling holiday industry has been hit by viral social media rumors claiming that tourists might be kidnapped and sent across the border to work in brutal scamming compounds in Myanmar or Cambodia. Chinese tourist Jia Xueqiong spent a week in Thailand with her husband and daughter, despite her parents' disapproval. "They felt it was not safe here, and tried to persuade us not to come," the 44-year-old nurse told AFP outside Bangkok's unusually quiet Grand Palace. "All my friends said 'You go first to explore, if it's ok we will follow'," she said. Her … [Read more...] about Blockbuster movie scares Chinese tourists away from Thailand

The recently released trailer for the science-fiction action thriller film directed by Gareth Edwards has taken Vietnamese fans by surprise with its thrilling scenes shot among Ha Long Bay's islets and blue waters. Edwards said the crew wanted to film rice paddies and terraces in Vietnam and limestone cliffs in the bay, Quang Ninh newspaper reported. The filming was done in 80 different locations, including in Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Japan, and Indonesia. Edwards said he had visited Ha Long Bay in the past and been impressed by its majestic beauty, which was why he chose it for "The Creator." The movie is about a battle between humans and artificial intelligence and scheduled to premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 26 before releasing in cinemas three days later. Ha Long has appeared in many foreign films such as "French – Indochina" (1992) directed by Resgis Wargnier, "Pan and Neverland" (2015) by Joe Wright and "Kong: Skull Island" (2017) by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. … [Read more...] about Ha Long Bay appears in trailer of Hollywood movie ‘The Creator’

Chinese thriller "No More Bets" tells the story of a computer programmer who is trafficked to an unnamed Southeast Asian country and forced to work as an online scammer for a syndicate. It does not mention Myanmar by name but its setting resembles the country's lawless northern reaches, where Beijing says its citizens are regularly lured or trafficked and forced to work scamming their compatriots online. The junta's consul-general in southwest China's Nanning raised the "tarnishing of Myanmar's image in the film... which was shot by China and released in China and around the world," according to state newspaper the Global New Light of Myanmar . "The storylines are related to Myanmar, and there are reports that Chinese nationals are worried about visiting Myanmar," he told government officials in Guangxi region earlier this week. Despite only being released in August, "No More Bets" has become the third-most-popular film in China this year, raking in 3.8 billion yuan (US$521 … [Read more...] about Myanmar junta angry at China over crime scam movie blockbuster ‘tarnishing’

Vietnamese-born director Tran Anh Hung at the closing ceremony of the cinema program "Gap Go Mua Thu" (Autumn Encounters) in Ho Chi Minh City in July, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung Set for release in France on November 8, the Vietnamese-born director’s film is a screen adaptation of the 1924 novel "La Vie et la passion de Dodin-Bouffant, Gourmet" (The Life Epicure) by Marcel Rouff. It tells the story of a chef named Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) and a gastronome named Dodin (Benoît Magimel), who have worked together for 20 years before finding they have emotions for each other. As Eugénie hesitates after receiving Dodin’s proposal, Dodin decides to cook for his beloved for the first time ever in his life. The picture has received positive acclaim from critics. "Hung resists overlaying the action with music," Guy Lodge wrote in his review in Variety . "All the better to focus on every pop and chop and sizzle of the cooking process, every soft grunt of bliss in the … [Read more...] about Vietnamese-born award-winning director’s film to compete at Oscars

Actress Ngo Thanh Van plays Kami in "The Creator movie. Photo from 20th Century Studios YouTube According to Van, she and Edwards had many discussions regarding the language Kami speaks in the film during the shooting process. She suggested Kami should have lines in Vietnamese. "Kami’s Vietnamese lines in the movie were added by me, with approval from the director," Van said. "Gareth always prioritizes actors’ creativity, so he lets us freely express our characters as long as our interpretations align with the characters." The movie’s production crew has not released Van’s Vietnamese lines in detail yet. Van said she took a lot of inspiration from the motto "Don’t let anybody tell you you’re ever past your prime," by Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, who co-starred with her in the 2016 movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny." "I realized that actors have no limits [thanks to the quote]," she explained. "The only things [that determine our successes] … [Read more...] about Vietnamese actress requests lines in local language in Hollywood film

Keep updated on the latest news about Vietnam. Vietnam moves up two places to 46th in Global Innovation Index 2023 According to WIPO, Vietnam is among the three lower-middle-income countries that have made the most progress in innovation over the past decade and one of the three record-holders by being an innovation outperformer for the 13th consecutive year. "Tro tan ruc ro" to be present at the 96th Academy Awards A poster of Tro tan ruc ro movie The Vietnamese film "Tro tan ruc ro" (Glorious Ashes) will represent Vietnam in the race for an Oscar at the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, 2024. The film tells the story of the love of southern women for their men. It was released in December 2022 after seven years of production and was directed by Bui Thac Chuyen. The film won the Best Feature Film category, and Chuyen was named the Best Director at Vietnam's 2023 Golden Kite Awards, the most prestigious film award for cine artists. Vietnam … [Read more...] about Vietnam news in brief – September 28

No matter how expensive it is, many Vietnamese families willingly pay for their children’s education in spite of their tight money situation. Vietnamese parents commonly seek the best education for their children while sacrificing their own needs, said Dr. Le Thi Mai Lien, head of the psychology faculty at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Cutting down on all expenditures but for children’s education As soon as her two children enter the new school year earlier this month, a 43-year-old woman named N.T.T., who resides in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, had to calculate her family’s expenditure to balance their spending and saving. After the COVID-19 pandemic, T. and her husband's total income decreased by more than VND20 million (approximately US$818) per month, so they have to tighten their belt to stabilize the investment in their children’s education. Years ago when their family was still financially solvent, they would frequently … [Read more...] about In Vietnam, parents spend big on children’s education despite economic woes

BLS International, an Indian company offering visa facilities, had earlier said the notice from theIndian mission in Canada cited "operational reasons" for suspension of visa services "till further notice." India's foreign ministry spokesperson did not respond to queries about the matter. Tensions between the two countries escalated earlier this week when Canada said that it was "actively pursuing credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia in June. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government categorically rejected Canada's suspicions that Indian agents had links to the alleged murder. With both nations expelling diplomats, analysts said India and Canada diplomatic ties have touched their lowest point. Canada is India's 17th largest foreign investor, pouring in more than $3.6 billion since 2000, while Canadian portfolio investors have invested billions of dollars in Indian stock and debt markets. Since … [Read more...] about Indian company removes notice about visa service suspension for Canadians

At the ceremony held on September 20 to announce first-ever Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival 2024 (HIFF 2024) (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The first-ever Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival 2024 (HIFF 2024) will be held on April 6-13 next year with a wide range of activities, according to the municipal Department of Culture and Sports. The event will draw the participation of some 200 filmmakers, actors and actresses from around the world. Along with screening nominations, there will be an exhibition on the film industry, workshops, and refresher courses, among others. Among the highlights of the festival, a cine show which features a series of music and fashion shows in movies will bring unique audio-visual experience to the visitors. The organisation of the show aims to honour Vietnamese and international cinematic works, as well as standout achievements of the fashion industry of HCM City and Vietnam. Deputy Director of the Department Nguyen Thi … [Read more...] about HCM City to hold first-ever int’l film festival

Large-scale downpours are forecast in southern Vietnam this weekend before spreading to other regions from next Monday, adding that around two tropical storms or depressions could hit the East Vietnam Sea and affect the country’s northern, central regions from now till October 20, the national weather center said on Friday. The southern, south-central, and Central Highlands regions will likely experience scattered showers and thunderstorms over the weekend, while moderate to heavy downpours may lash some areas in these regions in the evening. From Monday next week, the northern and north-central regions could mostly see night-time showers and thunderstorms, with torrential rains expected in such northern mountainous provinces as Lai Chau, Dien Bien, and Lao Cai. The national weather center noted that the southern and Central Highlands regions will likely have excessive rainfall between Monday and Wednesday next week. Moreover, the East Vietnam Sea is anticipated to brace for … [Read more...] about Southern Vietnam expected to see large-scale rains this weekend