Thuy Linh ordered a Grab car to work from home that morning and was willing to pay VND180,000 ($7.38), twice the normal rate. But no driver accepted the eight-kilometer trip. After waiting half an hour she tried other services, such as Be and Gojek, but without success. Traditional taxi operators also told her that flooded roads were preventing drivers from moving. Ngoc Son, who works for a tech company in Cau Giay District, ordered food earlier than usual at 11 a.m., but no drivers were available. Phuong, a fruit seller in the same district, said that she had to delay shipments to customers until the evening because she could not find drivers during the day. "I couldn’t make any bookings on Grab or Ahamove," said Phuong. "Due to heavy rains and floods, drives decided to stay where they were." By 2 p.m., customers began reporting that motorbike services and prices had returned to normal on Be, Grab and Gojek. Car fares, however, were still 150% of the normal rate. … [Read more...] about Ride-hailing fares double during heavy Hanoi rains
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Ho Chi Minh City couple bring traditional lantern to global audience
At Khoi Dang Tac Khi, a lantern workshop where old-fashioned Mid-Autumn festival lanterns are crafted for and promoted to customers from around the globe, Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy, 31, and her husband are busy preparing for the upcoming holiday. When it all started Founded in 2022, Khoi Dang Tac Khi refers to the sound of a beating drum on a battlefield. Though the workshop was only launched last year, Thuy has been working with lanterns since 2018 when she came across photos of people hanging traditional lanterns on the streets of Hanoi in the 1920s to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated by many Asian countries including Vietnam, is due on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. It is a tradition for children to spend the holiday carrying lanterns, chanting traditional moon-welcoming songs, and playing traditional games. Seeing those pictures of the old days, Thuy was deeply impressed with the sophisticated and … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City couple bring traditional lantern to global audience
PM orders prompt measures to deal with flood consequences
A concrete road in Chau Hoi commune, Quy Chau district of Nghe An province has been destroyed by flash floods.(Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has sent a dispatch to ministries, agencies and localities affected by torrential rains and flooding , asking them to focus on responding to and dealing with flood consequences . The dispatch clarified that since September 25, due to the impact from a low depression, many northern and north-central localities have suffered torrential rains which were measured at 500mm in some places, causing floods and landslides , blocking streets and disrupting production and daily activities of locals, especially in Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh province. Torrential rains are forecast to continue in coming days, posing high risks of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas. In order to ensure safety for people’s life and property, PM Chinh asked the National Steering Committee on Natural … [Read more...] about PM orders prompt measures to deal with flood consequences