Stories about Vietnam from December, 2008
Southeast Asia: Controversies and tragedies of 2008
In the previous post (Southeast Asia: Newsmakers of 2008), I wrote about the major events that took place in Southeast Asia. In this article, I will highlight other stories which became controversial as well.
Saigon Beer vs Angkor Beer
Vuthasuf compares beer products of Vietnam and Cambodia.
Southeast Asia: Newsmakers of 2008
For Southeast Asia, 2008 was a year of terrible disasters, both natural and man-made. Rice consumption was reduced, milk products were contaminated with melamine, jobs were lost, bloggers were arrested, and homes were destroyed. But the situation is not hopeless.
Vietnam: Blogging to be regulated
Vietnam has introduced some new restrictions on blogging. Blog posts which undermine national security, incite violence or crime, and disclose state secrets are banned. Internet companies are also ordered to issue reports to the government every six months.
Vietnam: Extreme street cables
oobject posts pictures of extreme street wiring in Vietnam cities.
Vietnam: Numerology
Ned gets to learn the lucky and unlucky numbers in Vietnam. For example, the numbers 4 and 2 are unlucky in Vietnam.
Museum of Ethnology of Vietnam
Jerome posts a picture of Hanoi's Museum of Ethnology of Vietnam which features the numerous ethnic minorities in the country.
First Vietnamese-American in US Congress
Charvey writes about the recent electoral victory of Joseph Cao who is now the representative of Louisiana's Second Congressional District in the United States.
Vietnam: Christmas invasion
CitizeMekong uploads a video about the “Christmas invasion” in communist Vietnam. David in Ho Chi Minh notes that Christmas in Vietnam is “strictly the commercial free-for-all” with no mention of the birth of Jesus or much of a Christian theme.
Vietnam: New regulations on blogging
Vietnam authorities want to impose new regulations on internet use and blogging in Vietnam. The ministry officials said “The law will not interfere with bloggers’ privacy, but will help in the healthy development of the Web-log environment.”
Vietnam: Activist blogger faces tax fraud charges
Vietnamese activist Nguyen Hoang Hai, better known by the blogging name of Dieu Cay, is facing tax fraud cases. But he claims these are trumped up charges. According to his supporters, the government wants him jailed for being a founding member of Free Vietnamese Journalists Club.
Taiwan: Newspaper for the Immigrants
Bao Bon Phuong, a unique immigrant-focussing Vietnamese newspaper celebrates its second year from its first issue in Dec. 2006. On its blog(zh), the editor 張正 Zhang Zheng writes : “Everyday, the editorial team receives dozens of letters written in Vietnamese. Each letter contains different state of mind: to thank somebody,...
