Kids to receive free eye surgery (12-12-2006) Doctors conduct free eye surgery at the Central Eye Hospital. — VNA/VNS Photo Huu Oai HCM CITY — Several-hundred poor children with eye diseases will be provided with funds for eye surgery this Christmas thanks to a donation from Western Union. The See The Bright Future Project, initially launched seven years ago by HCM City's Sponsoring Association of Poor Patients (SAPP), has received US$50,000 from Western Union Viet Nam to provide eye surgery and treatment funds for visually impaired children in remote areas. SAPP has helped more than 232,000 blind people over the last eight years, including 30,000 children, most of whom live in isolated provinces. See the Bright Future benefits children in HCM City's rural districts as well as those in remote provinces. Bringing light Two years ago, Nguyen Thi Mai gave birth to a baby with serious eye problems in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang. Mai said that her baby did … [Read more...] about Kids to receive free eye surgery
Western eye hospital
Thousands of Vietnamese children to receive eye care
PANO - About 10,000 primary and secondary students will receive vision screenings with those in need receiving quality eyeglasses under an extended, US-supported activity launched on September 10 in Quoc Oai, Hanoi. Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through a grant provided to Advancing and Partners Communities/JSI and implemented by Helen Keller International (HKI)-Vietnam, the project will run through June 2014. "We are pleased to extend our support for school children to Hanoi," said USAID Mission Director Joakim Parker. "It is our hope that through screening, children will receive the assistance they need to see, succeed in the classroom, and contribute even more to the development of Vietnam as they mature." In addition to improving the vision of school children with screening for vision difficulties for 10,000 students in 16 primary and secondary schools, project staff will also train provincial, district and commune health personnel in vision … [Read more...] about Thousands of Vietnamese children to receive eye care
Thailand eyes free individual travelers from Vietnam
Thailand eyes free individual travelers from Vietnam By Mong Binh - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC - The HCMC office of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is developing plans to attract free individual travelers and tourist groups from Vietnam. Pichai Raktasinha, the office's director, told the Daily on Wednesday that while customers who purchased group packages were important, the office wanted to tap the growing free individual travelers (FIT) market. He added that many Vietnamese people regularly traveled to Thailand and other nations. Now though, it is time for them to plan their own tours, he said. "I believe Thailand is one of their choices, especially for repeat travelers." Pichai added that more flights between Vietnam and Thailand had made it easier for them to travel between the two nations. He said the number of young Vietnamese people who had flown with Thai AirAsia to Phuket since the low-cost carrier launched its daily service between HCMC and the tourist destination last … [Read more...] about Thailand eyes free individual travelers from Vietnam
Western guests in Phu Yen province
Nowadays, Phu Yen province not only welcomes foreigners to travel but also those who work and live here, which is a good sign of the "good land for birds". Phu Yen on the way opening and integrating into the international stages. Michael Schnoor (Australian citizen), coming to Tuy Hoa several times for visiting and volunteering, commented that, "10 years ago, it's hard to see a foreigner on the streets in Tuy Hoa city, but now it's easy to see Western guests walking, cycling and riding motorcycles on the street ...". Indeed, though not as large as other tourism cities in Vietnam, somewhere on the path of Tuy Hoa city, Western people are also seen to live with the local people. Now, Phu Yen is not only a friendly and attractive destination to visit but also the "good land for birds" for many foreigners to work and live. Among them is the Dutch man, Mr. Marius Holdrinet, aged 67. He is married to a Vietnamese teacher and sees Phu Yen province as his second homeland. Loving his wife's … [Read more...] about Western guests in Phu Yen province
Vietnam through a young expat’s eyes
Having lived in Vietnam for three years and cycled from Hanoi to Saigon in just one month, a young Canadian girl wants to learn even more about Vietnam and its people. The lucky girl is 25-year-old Dana Filek Gibson. Her friends in Saigon gave her the nickname Little Na because she is petite. She speaks Vietnamese well, enjoys driving a motorcycle, and loves Vietnamese street food. The more I travel, the more I love VN Dana has to work every day from 7am to midnight to meet her March deadline. She acts as a tourist to collect information about hotels and restaurants in popular tourist destinations, recording the details as she goes. Dana takes time to find information before travelling to a certain city or province. She says it is much easier to find information about tourist attractions in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi by doing research on the Internet or asking experienced tour-guides. For attractions in rural areas and the countryside, she asks local people or … [Read more...] about Vietnam through a young expat’s eyes