Here is everything you need to know about the multisports extravaganza - bigger than the Olympic Games in terms of number of participants: Location Hangzhou, a modern city of about 12 million people, lies 160 kilometers (100 miles) southwest of Shanghai, in Zhejiang province. It sits on the Qiantang River and is the southern terminus of the Grand Canal, the longest canal in the world, which runs 1,800 kilometres from Beijing and is regarded as the second ancient wonder of China after the Great Wall. Hangzhou is one of China's ancient capitals, known in the past as both Hangchew and Hangchow before settling for the current name in the year 589. Sports 40 sports, including 31 of the 32 Olympic sports that will be staged at the Paris 2024 Games with surfing the one missing from Hangzhou. The nine non-Olympic sports in Hangzhou includes eSports, which will be an Asian Games medal event for the first time after being a demonstration sport in 2018. There are also some … [Read more...] about At-a-glance guide to Hangzhou Asian Games
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Blockbuster movie scares Chinese tourists away from Thailand
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
P&G brings reforestation event to Dong Nai
The initiative was introduced earlier this year as a joint endeavor by P&G Vietnam, Central Retail Vietnam, and Gaia as a part of corporate efforts to address deforestation and forest preservation in Vietnam and to contribute to supporting the government’s international commitments on sustainability. Through the contribution from consumers when purchasing products of P&G brands at GO!, Big C, and Tops Market, 6,000 native trees of precious species in Xuan Lien and Ca Mau Nature Reserves were planted in just two weeks of the campaign. P&G Vietnam carries forward the Forests For Good initiative with a reforestation volunteering day at Dong Nai Nature Reserve. Photo courtesy of P&G Vietnam Through the diversity of participants, the event showcased a remarkable spirit of togetherness and a powerful message that positive change knows no boundaries. P&G Vietnam’s two brand ambassadors for Head & Shoulders and Pantene, singer Isaac and actress Kha … [Read more...] about P&G brings reforestation event to Dong Nai
Vietnamese-born filmmaker wins best director at Cannes
The movie is a lustrous homage to French cuisine that was loved by many international critics but seemed to leave most local pundits cold. He thanked his star Juliette Binoche, saying she was "quite extraordinary in the film." The prize for best first film went to "Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell" from Vietnamese writer/director Pham Thien An, which premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight sidebar. The picture is the only Vietnamese-language film at the festival this year. It tells the story of Thien, who takes responsibility of accompanying his sister-in-law’s body to their hometown after she dies in an accident, and taking care of his newly orphaned nephew. French director Justine Triet became only the third woman ever to win the festival's top prize with the icy tale "Anatomy of a Fall", led by a riveting performance from German actress Sandra Hueller. Triet used her acceptance speech to slam the government of President Emmanuel Macron for the "shocking" way it imposed a … [Read more...] about Vietnamese-born filmmaker wins best director at Cannes
Japanese and Vietnamese beauty queens showcase local designer’s creations
Wilson concluded Cong’s collection release, held on Tuesday in th e coastal province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau as part of the 2023 Miss Ocean Vietnam contest. The Japanese beauty queen’s outfit combines a scallop shell-inspired bra and a see-through skirt. Despite walking under the rain, Wilson maintained her calm and cold au ra. The show was held at Hamptons Pier, the longest pedestrian bridge with sea view in Southeast Asia with a length of 270 meters. Aligning with the contest’s theme of seas and oceans, Miss Beauty 2015 Hoai Sa’s outfit consists of a starfish-shaped bra . The beauty queen showed no hesitation walking under the rain. Named “Nang Tien Ca” (The Mermaid), Cong’s collection includes 20 modern-style designs inspired by the ocean and made from recycled materials including leftover fabrics, plastic, and used metal, aimed to raise people’s awareness about environmental … [Read more...] about Japanese and Vietnamese beauty queens showcase local designer’s creations
Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Day 2023 opens
All Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Day 2023 (AI4VN 2023) events take place at Riverside Palace in District 4 this year, including four main activities: the AI Summit, the AI Workshop, the AI Expo, and the CTO Summit 2023, which will select and honor the company with "the best technology environment in Vietnam." With the theme "Artificial Intelligence Empowering Life," the main session of the AI Summit 2023, which opens on Friday, has attracted thousands of registrations from AI-interested communities. Technology demonstration booths at Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Day 2023 (AI4VN 2023) opened on the afternoon of September 21, attracting droves of AI lovers. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The session will open at 8:30 a.m. and will be reported online by VnExpress . The event is expected to draw the participation of government leaders, ministries, large corporations, scientists, and members of the community interested in technology development and AI applications. … [Read more...] about Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Day 2023 opens
19 Vietnamese injured in Taiwan golf factory explosion
The explosion happened at the Mingyang International golf equipment factory in Taiwan’s Pingtung County. The injured Vietnamese have been taken to local hospitals for treatment, and some people have been discharged, the office said, adding that it would continue to monitor the situation and carry out necessary citizen protection measures. The fire at the factory was put under control early Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon, local authorities said at least six people died, while three went missing and over 100 people were injured. The cause of the incident is being investigated. Authorities however said the fire began in a warehouse, and firefighters had used water to put out the flames as they entered the area. Certain substances used in golf ball manufacturing strongly reacted with water, leading to an explosion which brought the whole building down. Among the deceased, four of them were firefighters. Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen on Saturday expressed her condolences to … [Read more...] about 19 Vietnamese injured in Taiwan golf factory explosion
Airport security allegedly swallows $300 from passenger wallet
Philippine airport authorities on Friday announced charges would be filed against the security officer, identified as Irency Morados, the Straits Times reported. The female screening officer stole the cash from the wallet of the passenger who handed over his shoulder bag to her before going through a security scanner. The passenger then noticed that his wallet was open and his money inside was missing. He questioned the security officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport screening area. Morados turned away and began swallowing the bills "to avoid getting caught," Philippines airport authorities said in a report. However, her act was captured by the security camera. Footage from a security camera showed her holding a bottle of water and trying to put a lump of bills in her mouth to swallow. Transportation Minister Jaime Bautista has ordered the Office of Transportation Security to file charges against Morados, according to Inquirer . This was the the third … [Read more...] about Airport security allegedly swallows $300 from passenger wallet
Beauty queen arrested in fake land sale scam
Pham Thi Minh Phi, who won the Miss Philanthropy title in the Miss Vietnam Business 2022 contest held in Da Nang, was arrested by Lam Dong police on Wednesday to be investigated for obtaining property by fraud. In October 2022, a man in Da Lat of Lam Dong called Phi, requesting her cooperation to raise capital together and do business. Phi, the general director of the Moc Hoa trade and service company, said she was negotiating to buy two land plots, spanning 1.7 ha in total, at VND22 billion. She said she had found a buyer, who was willing to buy the land plots at VND23.6 billion. This would mean profit of VND1.6 billion. Phi said she did not have the VND3 billion needed as a down payment to buy the land plots, so invited the man to raise the money with her. The man agreed to give Phi VND1.8 billion, without seeing the land plots first-hand or checking the legal information of the plots. On November 2, 2022, Phi signed a contract stating that she would borrow VND1.8 billion … [Read more...] about Beauty queen arrested in fake land sale scam
How a Vietnam War diary found its way home after 56 years
For Thien, the official visit to Vietnam by U.S. President Joe Biden earlier this month was not only an important event between Vietnam and the U.S., but a memorable milestone in his life. At the National Assembly Building on September 11, Thien received his war diary lost during a battle in Tay Ninh that borders HCMC in 1967, as witnessed by Biden and National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. "I couldn’t have imagined ever receiving my lost diary from the war around 60 years ago. It was truly surprising and moving. For me, it was an invaluable relic," said Thien, 75. Thien was born in northern Thai Binh Province and joined the army in 1965, at the age of 17. He brought with him a diary to recount what happened during his march into the southeastern Vietnam battlefield. "I want my descendants to know how their forefathers used to face dangers and hardship," he said. He would often sit down and write in his diary one or two days into the march, or when emotions ran … [Read more...] about How a Vietnam War diary found its way home after 56 years