Pham Van Be has been running his black soldier fly farm for five years in Duc Hoa District, Long An Province, which borders Saigon to the west. After working as a teacher for more than two decades, he shifted to farming pigeons and snakes before settling on the black soldier flies. The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, is a species widely cultivated in many countries. Their larvae are nutrient-rich food for pigs, poultry and seafood. The insect is also used to treat waste in agriculture and craft villages. "From my previous experience in pigeon rearing, I learnt that birds which feed on larvae grow faster. I looked up more information to find that black solider flies are not harmful to the environment and they grow well, so I reared some as an experiment. It was difficult at first because this species is quite hard to find in nature," said 50-year-old entrepreneur. The farm covers an area of 500 square meters that houses 32 enclosures or cages. Be invested more than VND100 … [Read more...] about Flies become a cash cow for Mekong Delta farmer
Mekong delta band
American teacher unveils One Direction cover that highlights Vietnam’s Mekong Delta
An American singer/teacher, who is known for his alluring performances of Vietnamese songs, launched on Sunday a cover of a British-Irish pop boy band’s hit song against the background of the Mekong Delta’s rustic scenery. [/caption] … [Read more...] about American teacher unveils One Direction cover that highlights Vietnam’s Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta’s one-armed, durian growing virtuoso
After losing his arm in the Vietnam War, a master guitarist continued to pursue his passion one-handed. Like most residents of Tien Giang Province's Ngu Hiep communie, Thai Van Hai -- better known as Hai Cut (Hai the cripple) -- earns his living growing durian. In his leisure time, the 65 year-old plays don ca tai tu - southern Vietnam's traditional music - on his guitar, a common pastime throughout the Mekong Delta. What sets Hai apart is that he performs flawlessly, using just one hand. Hai's neighbor Nguyen Van Thuong, 42, said a number of people in Ngu Hiep Commune can play the ghi ta phim lom - a Vietnamese electric guitar distinguished by its scooped out fingerboards -- but no one can match Hai for his skills. … [Read more...] about The Mekong Delta’s one-armed, durian growing virtuoso
Female ‘Đờn ca tài tử’ band helps fight French colonialists
Under the disguise of performing 'Đờn ca tài tử', a traditional musical art of southern Vietnam, members of the all-female band 'Đồng Nữ Ban' (All Female Band) provided support for the Vietnamese revolutionary movement against French colonialism in the early 20th century. The band was founded by Ms. Tran Ngoc Dien, the aunt of famed Vietnamese musicologist Tran Van Khe, in 1927, and was broken up two years later after the French colonialists detained and tortured some of the band's members. The group was actually led by the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth League, the forerunner of the Vietnam Communist Party. Performing 'cải lương' to serve revolution Professor Tran Van Khe recalled the debut of the band was a big surprise because all of its members were female. The main target of the band was to excite a sense of patriotism among locals. After deducting expenses, all of the profits earned by the band were contributed to a revolutionary fund. Dien was skillful at playing the … [Read more...] about Female ‘Đờn ca tài tử’ band helps fight French colonialists
Taiwan’s top metal band ready to thrash Vietnamese audience
Four artists enjoy 'Four Seasons' Twenty-five lacquer works by Tran Thi Thu Ha, Duong Tuan Kiet, Vo Xuan Huy and Nguyen Xuan Anh are being exhibited at Tu Do Gallery in downtown HCMC. The artists use traditional material to depict contemporary issues. If Ha shows off her profound feelings for love with images of the Garden of Eden, moonlight and spring atmosphere, Kiet is stuck in romance with portraits of ladies and peaceful scenery in Hoi An and Hanoi. Huy takes advantage of surface effects to create abstract works. Rough cut layers on the paintings' surfaces functions his obsessions over sunset, home or lotus. Anh diversifies his characters in his paintings, from buildings in the city to streets in the countryside, from mountains to rice fields, from sunlight to moonlight. The show lasts until the end of the month at the gallery, 53 Ho Tung Mau Street in District 1. UK music party in town Free outdoor music parties named 'Siestes Électroniques' will be held in HCMC and … [Read more...] about Taiwan’s top metal band ready to thrash Vietnamese audience