Vietnam Deel 2
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FredVN
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Too often, too much: wives on problems of living with alcoholic husbands
Nguyen Thi Hoa of Hanoi's Bac Tu Liem District has to ride her motorbike to a beer place her husband frequents to pick him up in an inebriated state.
For over 10 years the 40-year-old has gotten used to her husband going out to drink late at night and not being able to return home by himself.
When she first fell in love with him, she says she did notice that he drank a lot but she thought nothing about it, believing he was just having fun in his youth.
But the drinking persisted even after their marriage.
Duong, her husband, often does not eat dinner at home, claiming he needs to go out to drink with clients to maintain relationships, which will aid in negotiating contracts.
She has realized there is no cure for her husband's drinking problem.
During the birth to their first child eight years ago she had an appointment with the doctor for a surgery. She had told her husband to return home soon that night so that he could take her to the hospital early next morning.
But he did not return home at all, and Hoa could not reach him since his phone was turned off. She then contacted a friend who frequently drank with him and he told her that Duong was drunk and lying on the floor of the pub.
Though they now have a second child, she still has to wake up in the middle of the night to bring him home. Duong tells her the name of the beer place before leaving, and no matter how late it is she goes to ensure he is safe.
"Sometimes I feel tired and lonely," she says. "I feel like I am carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders".
Two men drink beer with a group of friends at a restaurant in Hanoi's Nam Tu Liem District on March 24, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Hien
Duong is just one of many Vietnamese men who consider drinking an essential part of their life and leave their wives and girlfriends physically and emotionally drained.
Hai Yen of northern Bac Ninh Province always wonders what "magical" powers alcohol has to have her husband hooked so thoroughly.
"One time when I was ill and could not pick my child up from school I asked my husband to do it. But he ended up forgetting and leaving our child waiting in front of the school gate for hours.
"When our family goes to the countryside to celebrate the Lunar New Year, he spends the entire holidays drinking and dealing with hangovers the next morning.
"Once his wallet was stolen at the pub, but he was too intoxicated that he had no idea what happened..." Yen’s litany of drinking woes is long.
He only gives his wife a few million dong from his monthly salary of more than VND10 million (US$438) for household expenses, and keeps the rest for his "personal expenses" and "doing important tasks".
Sometimes, unable to manage, when she asks him for money, his routine reply is he is "out of money".
He crashed into a traffic divider while driving drunk six months ago, puncturing his abdomen and requiring the removal of a third of his stomach.
"I thought that after that incident he would quit for good. But he started drinking again after half a year".
According to the General Statistics Office, alcohol consumption in the country rose from 0.9 liters per person per month in 2018 to 1.3 liters in 2020.
A 2019 study by Lancet, a British medical journal, found Vietnam among the world's top beer-consuming countries and a 90.2 percent rise in drinking per capita between 2010 and 2017.
In 2017 Vietnam consumed 8.9 liters of pure alcohol per person, higher than Japan (7.9 liters), China (7.4 liters) and India (5.9 liters).
A 2015 World Health Organization study found 44 percent of people in Vietnam consume alcohol to "excessive and dangerous" levels.
A study on alcohol use done by the Health Strategy and Policy Institute found 63 percent of consumers are men, with the highly educated demographic accounting for the highest rate.
Men drink beer at a roadside restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Reuters
"In Vietnam, once you sit at the table, you must drink as hard as you can or you will be perceived as looking down on your friends and not worthy of being a man," Hoang Anh Tu, a writer and psychologist, explains.
This gender stereotype causes men to suffer, he says.
According to 2019 data from the GSO, the medical cost of treating six common types of cancers caused by alcohol abuse was around VND26 trillion (over $1.13 billion), while the cost of dealing with the consequences of alcohol-related traffic accidents was around VND50 trillion.
Alcoholism also has a huge bearing on families.
The Department of Preventive Medicine published a study in 2018 that found alcohol drinkers responsible for 34 percent of incidents of domestic violence.
When Yen's husband gets drunk, he transforms into a different person and smashes things at home despite her efforts to stop him. She has had to call a neighbor for help several times.
In the early years of their marriage, when Duong went out to drink and Hoa kept calling to check up on him and picked him up in the middle of the night, he was apologetic at first.
But over time he grew accustomed to it, and now even views it as her responsibility.
She tried to be tough and even stopped sleeping with him, hoping that would change him. One time she locked him out of the house to teach him a lesson. But nothing worked, and on the latter occasion he simply rented a room at a motel to sleep.
She grew tired and stopped caring, realizing her husband will never quit drinking regardless of what she. He still lives in the house, but Hoa considers him an invisible presence.
Tu says husbands are aware of the dangers and consequences of binge drinking but are unable to stop.
He says wives should talk to their husbands to make them understand they will lose something if they continue drinking.
"When a husband returns after drinking, his wife berates him briefly and forgives him if he expresses contrition. It is difficult to change them if they are not held accountable for their actions".
According to psychologist Trinh Trung Hoa, a woman entering marriage should not fail to tell her husband to share family responsibilities. To protect herself and her children from her husband's problematic drinking habit, the wife must not only give advice but also spell out the consequences, he says.
Rather than staying up all night waiting for her husband, she should prioritize her own health and spend time with her children, he says.
She should take a firm stance against drinking, and if it does not work, she should focus on saving herself, she says.
Hoa says: "The man is forced to think differently when a woman has the courage to decide her own life and stop following him".
Recently Duong found a divorce petition with a letter on his desk. In it she said how disgusting it was every time she smelled alcohol on him.
"I despise seeing a disheveled person being dragged drunkenly into the house from the street. Now that we have liberated each other, you will be able to live your life however you want".
Duong realized he was about to lose his family when he saw them, apologized to her and pleaded with her to give him another chance to make amends.
She agreed.
Though Duong has not stopped drinking completely, he only drinks once or twice a month and comes before 11 p.m.
"I have not lost any valuable deal or friendship since I stopped drinking," he admits.
Bron: Too often, too much: wives on problems of living with alcoholic husbands - VnExpress International
"In Vietnam, once you sit at the table, you must drink as hard as you can or you will be perceived as looking down on your friends and not worthy of being a man,"
Jawel, het is echt zo erg.
Bij veel huizen in de omgeving staan buiten tafeltjes en stoeltjes om wat bij te verdienen. En ongeacht het tijdstip dat je langsrijdt zitten er mannen met een fles bier in de hand.
Ik ben ook vaak genoeg tijdens mijn ochtend-fietstochtjes (zo tussen 9:00 en 11:00) uitgenodigd om een fles bier mee te drinken. Aangezien ik niet van bier hou zal ik ook wel niet als man worden gezien.
Nguyen Thi Hoa of Hanoi's Bac Tu Liem District has to ride her motorbike to a beer place her husband frequents to pick him up in an inebriated state.
For over 10 years the 40-year-old has gotten used to her husband going out to drink late at night and not being able to return home by himself.
When she first fell in love with him, she says she did notice that he drank a lot but she thought nothing about it, believing he was just having fun in his youth.
But the drinking persisted even after their marriage.
Duong, her husband, often does not eat dinner at home, claiming he needs to go out to drink with clients to maintain relationships, which will aid in negotiating contracts.
She has realized there is no cure for her husband's drinking problem.
During the birth to their first child eight years ago she had an appointment with the doctor for a surgery. She had told her husband to return home soon that night so that he could take her to the hospital early next morning.
But he did not return home at all, and Hoa could not reach him since his phone was turned off. She then contacted a friend who frequently drank with him and he told her that Duong was drunk and lying on the floor of the pub.
Though they now have a second child, she still has to wake up in the middle of the night to bring him home. Duong tells her the name of the beer place before leaving, and no matter how late it is she goes to ensure he is safe.
"Sometimes I feel tired and lonely," she says. "I feel like I am carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders".
Two men drink beer with a group of friends at a restaurant in Hanoi's Nam Tu Liem District on March 24, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Hien
Duong is just one of many Vietnamese men who consider drinking an essential part of their life and leave their wives and girlfriends physically and emotionally drained.
Hai Yen of northern Bac Ninh Province always wonders what "magical" powers alcohol has to have her husband hooked so thoroughly.
"One time when I was ill and could not pick my child up from school I asked my husband to do it. But he ended up forgetting and leaving our child waiting in front of the school gate for hours.
"When our family goes to the countryside to celebrate the Lunar New Year, he spends the entire holidays drinking and dealing with hangovers the next morning.
"Once his wallet was stolen at the pub, but he was too intoxicated that he had no idea what happened..." Yen’s litany of drinking woes is long.
He only gives his wife a few million dong from his monthly salary of more than VND10 million (US$438) for household expenses, and keeps the rest for his "personal expenses" and "doing important tasks".
Sometimes, unable to manage, when she asks him for money, his routine reply is he is "out of money".
He crashed into a traffic divider while driving drunk six months ago, puncturing his abdomen and requiring the removal of a third of his stomach.
"I thought that after that incident he would quit for good. But he started drinking again after half a year".
According to the General Statistics Office, alcohol consumption in the country rose from 0.9 liters per person per month in 2018 to 1.3 liters in 2020.
A 2019 study by Lancet, a British medical journal, found Vietnam among the world's top beer-consuming countries and a 90.2 percent rise in drinking per capita between 2010 and 2017.
In 2017 Vietnam consumed 8.9 liters of pure alcohol per person, higher than Japan (7.9 liters), China (7.4 liters) and India (5.9 liters).
A 2015 World Health Organization study found 44 percent of people in Vietnam consume alcohol to "excessive and dangerous" levels.
A study on alcohol use done by the Health Strategy and Policy Institute found 63 percent of consumers are men, with the highly educated demographic accounting for the highest rate.
Men drink beer at a roadside restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Reuters
"In Vietnam, once you sit at the table, you must drink as hard as you can or you will be perceived as looking down on your friends and not worthy of being a man," Hoang Anh Tu, a writer and psychologist, explains.
This gender stereotype causes men to suffer, he says.
According to 2019 data from the GSO, the medical cost of treating six common types of cancers caused by alcohol abuse was around VND26 trillion (over $1.13 billion), while the cost of dealing with the consequences of alcohol-related traffic accidents was around VND50 trillion.
Alcoholism also has a huge bearing on families.
The Department of Preventive Medicine published a study in 2018 that found alcohol drinkers responsible for 34 percent of incidents of domestic violence.
When Yen's husband gets drunk, he transforms into a different person and smashes things at home despite her efforts to stop him. She has had to call a neighbor for help several times.
In the early years of their marriage, when Duong went out to drink and Hoa kept calling to check up on him and picked him up in the middle of the night, he was apologetic at first.
But over time he grew accustomed to it, and now even views it as her responsibility.
She tried to be tough and even stopped sleeping with him, hoping that would change him. One time she locked him out of the house to teach him a lesson. But nothing worked, and on the latter occasion he simply rented a room at a motel to sleep.
She grew tired and stopped caring, realizing her husband will never quit drinking regardless of what she. He still lives in the house, but Hoa considers him an invisible presence.
Tu says husbands are aware of the dangers and consequences of binge drinking but are unable to stop.
He says wives should talk to their husbands to make them understand they will lose something if they continue drinking.
"When a husband returns after drinking, his wife berates him briefly and forgives him if he expresses contrition. It is difficult to change them if they are not held accountable for their actions".
According to psychologist Trinh Trung Hoa, a woman entering marriage should not fail to tell her husband to share family responsibilities. To protect herself and her children from her husband's problematic drinking habit, the wife must not only give advice but also spell out the consequences, he says.
Rather than staying up all night waiting for her husband, she should prioritize her own health and spend time with her children, he says.
She should take a firm stance against drinking, and if it does not work, she should focus on saving herself, she says.
Hoa says: "The man is forced to think differently when a woman has the courage to decide her own life and stop following him".
Recently Duong found a divorce petition with a letter on his desk. In it she said how disgusting it was every time she smelled alcohol on him.
"I despise seeing a disheveled person being dragged drunkenly into the house from the street. Now that we have liberated each other, you will be able to live your life however you want".
Duong realized he was about to lose his family when he saw them, apologized to her and pleaded with her to give him another chance to make amends.
She agreed.
Though Duong has not stopped drinking completely, he only drinks once or twice a month and comes before 11 p.m.
"I have not lost any valuable deal or friendship since I stopped drinking," he admits.
Bron: Too often, too much: wives on problems of living with alcoholic husbands - VnExpress International
"In Vietnam, once you sit at the table, you must drink as hard as you can or you will be perceived as looking down on your friends and not worthy of being a man,"
Jawel, het is echt zo erg.
Bij veel huizen in de omgeving staan buiten tafeltjes en stoeltjes om wat bij te verdienen. En ongeacht het tijdstip dat je langsrijdt zitten er mannen met een fles bier in de hand.
Ik ben ook vaak genoeg tijdens mijn ochtend-fietstochtjes (zo tussen 9:00 en 11:00) uitgenodigd om een fles bier mee te drinken. Aangezien ik niet van bier hou zal ik ook wel niet als man worden gezien.
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.678
HELIOS
Breaking news met voornamelijk foto’s.
Music in the air as Hanoi karaoke parlors get spruced up - VnExpress International
Hanoians flood karaoke parlors on first day of reopening - VnExpress International
En als extraatje uit de categorie “open deuren”:
Workplace accidents highest in labor intensive industry grouping - VnExpress International
Breaking news met voornamelijk foto’s.
Music in the air as Hanoi karaoke parlors get spruced up - VnExpress International
Hanoians flood karaoke parlors on first day of reopening - VnExpress International
En als extraatje uit de categorie “open deuren”:
Workplace accidents highest in labor intensive industry grouping - VnExpress International
jaap43
MF veteraan
En maar niet hopen op een windvlaag 
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.681
Dan hebben ze meestal optie 1 nog. En anders kunnen ze bij Vietnam Deel 2 altijd nog iets met zakken kopen.
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.682
Saigon 100 years ago through a French photographer’s lens (1)
A photo book by a French doctor, J. C. Baurac, sheds light on the architecture and life of people in southern Vietnam in the late 19th century.
A photo of Go Vap Market at the end of the 19th century in 'Nam Ky Va Cu Dan: Cac Tinh Mien Dong' (La Cochinchine et Ses Habitants: Provinces de l'Ouest or Cochinchina and Its Inhabitants: Eastern Provinces) by the doctor who came to Vietnam earlier that century.
Built in 1897, Go Vap Market is one of the four oldest markets in Saigon - Gia Dinh (a former province in South Vietnam). According to the historical document on Go Vap District's website, the market got its name because it was located on a hilly slope covered with trees.
The book is part of Baurac's two-part series, the East and the South West. The photos in the book were both taken by Baurac and obtained from other photographers.
Cha Ca was originally a 2,000-square-meter mausoleum built to worship Bishop Ba Da Loc, who was called Cha Ca.
A French Catholic priest born in 1741 as Pierre Pigneaux, he came to Vietnam as a missionary and assisted Nguyen Anh (later Emperor Gia Long) with establishing the Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1945).
The tomb was built in the traditional Vietnamese architectural style, mimicking the shape of a communal house and with a harem and place for worship. In the 20th century the area around Cha Ca Mausoleum gradually developed with houses coming up, and the downtown area of Saigon expanded its periphery. In 1975 the mausoleum was demolished for widening the road and building the roundabout near Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The remains of Ba Da Loc were handed over to the consul general of France and taken back to his homeland.
The Tax Administration Building at the end of the 19th century is one of the most prominent urban structures in the southern region. This building has now become the headquarters of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, located on Ham Nghi Street in District 1.
Ships passing through Saigon Port with cargo.
"At the entrance to the city, at the junction of the Saigon River and Ben Nghe canal was the berth for the passenger ship Messageries Maritimes, connected to Saigon by a giant iron bridge over the Ben Nghe canal," Baurac wrote in the book.
The Palais de Justice was designed by Cochinchina’s first chief architect Marie-Alfred Foulhoux and architect Jules Bourard. It was built in 1885.
In 1898 the building was designated the Saigon Criminal Court and Indochina High Court. It is currently the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court and located on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in District 1. It retains all the features of a 140-year-old building.
The deer park in Saigon Zoo, now the Zoo and Botanical Garden, the eighth oldest in the world.
It was built by Admiral De La Grandière in 1864. He expanded 12 hectares of wasteland along the Thi Nghe canal to create a place to house animals and grow plants. In the beginning it comprised of barns but had 509 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and others.
A photo book by a French doctor, J. C. Baurac, sheds light on the architecture and life of people in southern Vietnam in the late 19th century.
A photo of Go Vap Market at the end of the 19th century in 'Nam Ky Va Cu Dan: Cac Tinh Mien Dong' (La Cochinchine et Ses Habitants: Provinces de l'Ouest or Cochinchina and Its Inhabitants: Eastern Provinces) by the doctor who came to Vietnam earlier that century.
Built in 1897, Go Vap Market is one of the four oldest markets in Saigon - Gia Dinh (a former province in South Vietnam). According to the historical document on Go Vap District's website, the market got its name because it was located on a hilly slope covered with trees.
The book is part of Baurac's two-part series, the East and the South West. The photos in the book were both taken by Baurac and obtained from other photographers.
Cha Ca was originally a 2,000-square-meter mausoleum built to worship Bishop Ba Da Loc, who was called Cha Ca.
A French Catholic priest born in 1741 as Pierre Pigneaux, he came to Vietnam as a missionary and assisted Nguyen Anh (later Emperor Gia Long) with establishing the Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1945).
The tomb was built in the traditional Vietnamese architectural style, mimicking the shape of a communal house and with a harem and place for worship. In the 20th century the area around Cha Ca Mausoleum gradually developed with houses coming up, and the downtown area of Saigon expanded its periphery. In 1975 the mausoleum was demolished for widening the road and building the roundabout near Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The remains of Ba Da Loc were handed over to the consul general of France and taken back to his homeland.
The Tax Administration Building at the end of the 19th century is one of the most prominent urban structures in the southern region. This building has now become the headquarters of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, located on Ham Nghi Street in District 1.
Ships passing through Saigon Port with cargo.
"At the entrance to the city, at the junction of the Saigon River and Ben Nghe canal was the berth for the passenger ship Messageries Maritimes, connected to Saigon by a giant iron bridge over the Ben Nghe canal," Baurac wrote in the book.
The Palais de Justice was designed by Cochinchina’s first chief architect Marie-Alfred Foulhoux and architect Jules Bourard. It was built in 1885.
In 1898 the building was designated the Saigon Criminal Court and Indochina High Court. It is currently the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court and located on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in District 1. It retains all the features of a 140-year-old building.
The deer park in Saigon Zoo, now the Zoo and Botanical Garden, the eighth oldest in the world.
It was built by Admiral De La Grandière in 1864. He expanded 12 hectares of wasteland along the Thi Nghe canal to create a place to house animals and grow plants. In the beginning it comprised of barns but had 509 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and others.
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.683
Bekend verschijnsel hier: als het kalf zo goed als verdronken is…
Hanoi Party chief orders suspension of old French-style building demolition
Ach, waarom zou je ook die ouwe troep laten staan als je er een mooi, nieuw, geld opbrengend pand neer kunt plempen. Toch?
Hanoi Party chief orders suspension of old French-style building demolition
Ach, waarom zou je ook die ouwe troep laten staan als je er een mooi, nieuw, geld opbrengend pand neer kunt plempen. Toch?
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.684
Saigon 100 years ago through a French photographer’s lens (2)
The Military Hospital (Hôpital militaire in French) was built in 1862 when the French army invaded Cochinchina. All the buildings were built with prefabricated steel and a stone foundation. All the materials were brought from France. In 1978 it was renamed Children's Hospital 2.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon. Baurac described the church as the most beautiful structure in Saigon at the time.
The cathedral did not have two bell towers when built in 1880. They were added in 1985 to include a total of six large bronze bells and two crosses at the top, 60.5 m above ground.
It used to the tallest building in the city for a long time.
"Cochinchina is one of the best territories to live in, but it's very expensive...All in all, life is fun here, but in a very short time people get tired of the endless variety of dishes being served. Soon people go to eateries, then return to hotels and so on. The rent and meals are about 150 to 160 francs a month".
The book also has portraits of people who lived in Saigon - Gia Dinh.
The ao dai ngu than (five-part dress) was popular in the 19th century. The dress consists of two pieces of fabric sewn together to form the front body in a discreet style. Four parts represent the parents of the couple, and the fifth represents the wearer. It always has five buttons, representing the morality of being human - humaneness, justice, rite, knowledge, and faithfulness.
A woman dressed in the funeral attire of the southern region
The covers of the two books, when placed side by side, form a map of the southern region during the 19th century.
Ange Eugene Nicolai, deputy governor of Cochinchina in 1897-98, once said he read this book many times, and complimented it for paying close attention to detail and containing lots of informative descriptions.
Bron: Saigon 100 years ago through a French photographer’s lens - VnExpress International
The Military Hospital (Hôpital militaire in French) was built in 1862 when the French army invaded Cochinchina. All the buildings were built with prefabricated steel and a stone foundation. All the materials were brought from France. In 1978 it was renamed Children's Hospital 2.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon. Baurac described the church as the most beautiful structure in Saigon at the time.
The cathedral did not have two bell towers when built in 1880. They were added in 1985 to include a total of six large bronze bells and two crosses at the top, 60.5 m above ground.
It used to the tallest building in the city for a long time.
"Cochinchina is one of the best territories to live in, but it's very expensive...All in all, life is fun here, but in a very short time people get tired of the endless variety of dishes being served. Soon people go to eateries, then return to hotels and so on. The rent and meals are about 150 to 160 francs a month".
The book also has portraits of people who lived in Saigon - Gia Dinh.
The ao dai ngu than (five-part dress) was popular in the 19th century. The dress consists of two pieces of fabric sewn together to form the front body in a discreet style. Four parts represent the parents of the couple, and the fifth represents the wearer. It always has five buttons, representing the morality of being human - humaneness, justice, rite, knowledge, and faithfulness.
A woman dressed in the funeral attire of the southern region
The covers of the two books, when placed side by side, form a map of the southern region during the 19th century.
Ange Eugene Nicolai, deputy governor of Cochinchina in 1897-98, once said he read this book many times, and complimented it for paying close attention to detail and containing lots of informative descriptions.
Bron: Saigon 100 years ago through a French photographer’s lens - VnExpress International
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.685
Thief snatches reporter's camera in less than a second
Zie de video hoe het gebeurt op
Thief snatches reporter's camera in less than a second - VnExpress International
Zie de video hoe het gebeurt op
Thief snatches reporter's camera in less than a second - VnExpress International
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.686
Wet(teloos)?
“Iedereen wordt geacht de wet te kennen. Dit bijna tot Nederlands spreekwoord uitgegroeide gezegde is zelf geen wet of algemene regel, maar een rechtsbeginsel. Dit beginsel zegt dat een burger zich niet kan beroepen op zijn of haar onkunde of gebrek aan kennis, wanneer hij/zij aan het sociale verkeer deelneemt. [Bron: internet]”
Een uitstekend beginsel. Alleen loopt Nederland hiermee natuurlijk mijlenver achter op de intellectuele grootmacht die Vietnam nu eenmaal is. Want in NL wordt iedereen geacht de wet te kennen, hier kent iedereen de wet!
Vraag aan een willekeurige Vietnamees –geslacht, leeftijd, opleiding, functie, rang, soort werk, werkgever en andere achtergronden volstrekt onbelangrijk- over wetten, die karaoke regelen en je krijgt onmiddellijk en zonder enige aarzeling wat de wet hierover zegt.
Klein maar verder onbelangrijk detail hierbij is, dat als je dit bij 10 andere Vietnamezen herhaalt, je dus 11 verschillende antwoorden hebt.
Waarom onbelangrijk detail? Simpel: gewoon de cultuur hier.
Zoals iemand een jaartje geleden aan de lijve ondervond. Hij stond voor een moeilijke zakelijke beslissing en vroeg juridisch advies aan uiteindelijk drie advocaten. En jawel, hij kreeg drie totaal verschillende antwoorden.
Ander voorbeeld? Ik vertelde mijn Chinese dokter, zeker niet dom, dat er vrij dicht bij mijn huis een birdnest-fabriek was gekomen, waar op dak een luidsprekerinstallatie de hele dag artificieel vogelgekrijs uitbraakt. Volgens hem mag zoiets niet binnen 200 m. van woningen worden gebouwd. Ik heb dit keer zelfs niet de moeite genomen om iets met dit argument te doen. Maar voor alle zekerheid heeft Minh nog uitgebreid gezocht maar niets kunnen vinden. Goh, merkwaaaaardig…
Laatste voorbeeld. We zijn een keer bij een advocaat geweest om te zien of er iets aan een geleverde wanprestatie kon worden gedaan. Met argumenten waar je als westerling moedeloos je hoofd over schudt werd ons verteld dat we geen poot hadden om op te staan. L
Ik heb ooit gehoord, dat een behoorlijk hoog geplaatste persoon in de partij de geluidsoverlast van buren voor de rechter heeft gebracht. Hij verloor.
Kortom: wegwezen...
“Iedereen wordt geacht de wet te kennen. Dit bijna tot Nederlands spreekwoord uitgegroeide gezegde is zelf geen wet of algemene regel, maar een rechtsbeginsel. Dit beginsel zegt dat een burger zich niet kan beroepen op zijn of haar onkunde of gebrek aan kennis, wanneer hij/zij aan het sociale verkeer deelneemt. [Bron: internet]”
Een uitstekend beginsel. Alleen loopt Nederland hiermee natuurlijk mijlenver achter op de intellectuele grootmacht die Vietnam nu eenmaal is. Want in NL wordt iedereen geacht de wet te kennen, hier kent iedereen de wet!
Vraag aan een willekeurige Vietnamees –geslacht, leeftijd, opleiding, functie, rang, soort werk, werkgever en andere achtergronden volstrekt onbelangrijk- over wetten, die karaoke regelen en je krijgt onmiddellijk en zonder enige aarzeling wat de wet hierover zegt.
Klein maar verder onbelangrijk detail hierbij is, dat als je dit bij 10 andere Vietnamezen herhaalt, je dus 11 verschillende antwoorden hebt.
Waarom onbelangrijk detail? Simpel: gewoon de cultuur hier.
Zoals iemand een jaartje geleden aan de lijve ondervond. Hij stond voor een moeilijke zakelijke beslissing en vroeg juridisch advies aan uiteindelijk drie advocaten. En jawel, hij kreeg drie totaal verschillende antwoorden.
Ander voorbeeld? Ik vertelde mijn Chinese dokter, zeker niet dom, dat er vrij dicht bij mijn huis een birdnest-fabriek was gekomen, waar op dak een luidsprekerinstallatie de hele dag artificieel vogelgekrijs uitbraakt. Volgens hem mag zoiets niet binnen 200 m. van woningen worden gebouwd. Ik heb dit keer zelfs niet de moeite genomen om iets met dit argument te doen. Maar voor alle zekerheid heeft Minh nog uitgebreid gezocht maar niets kunnen vinden. Goh, merkwaaaaardig…
Laatste voorbeeld. We zijn een keer bij een advocaat geweest om te zien of er iets aan een geleverde wanprestatie kon worden gedaan. Met argumenten waar je als westerling moedeloos je hoofd over schudt werd ons verteld dat we geen poot hadden om op te staan. L
Ik heb ooit gehoord, dat een behoorlijk hoog geplaatste persoon in de partij de geluidsoverlast van buren voor de rechter heeft gebracht. Hij verloor.
Kortom: wegwezen...
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.689
Dutch-built barge collects garbage in Can Tho River
A barge built by the Dutch organization The Ocean Cleanup to collect garbage on the Can Tho River during its trial run in 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Cuu Long
A barge that automatically collects garbage from the water made by a Dutch environmental organization was put into operation in the Can Tho River in the Mekong Delta Friday.
It scoops up trash and offloads it into six dumpsters and transports them to shore.
The 25m vessel built by The Ocean Cleanup operates on solar power and can collect more than 10 tons of garbage a month.
Interceptor 003 costs VND19.8 billion (US$866,000), of which VND14.6 billion was provided by the Dutch organization. Of the remaining VND5.2 billion, VND2 billion came from private contributors.
It was trialed for four months when it collected more than 43 tons of mostly plastic trash and water hyacinth.
# # #
Video
# # #
A barge built by The Ocean Cleanup organization collects garbage in Can Tho River. Video by The Ocean Cleanup
The Can Tho River flows 16km through the districts of O Mon, Phong Dien, Cai Rang, Ninh Kieu before meeting the Hau River, a branch of the Mekong.
It is one of 15 rivers around the world chosen by the Dutch organization for a project to prevent plastic pollution in oceans.
Duong Tan Hien, deputy chairman of Can Tho, said the cleanup, besides tackling pollution, would also help promote river tourism.
According to data released last year by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, plastic waste accounts for 7 percent of the solid waste discharged every day in Vietnam, on nearly 2,500 tons.
Vietnam discharges 0.28-0.73 million tons of plastic waste into the ocean every year.
Bron: Dutch-built barge collects garbage in Can Tho River - VnExpress International
Het grote broertje van Vietnam Deel 2
Voor een video zie de bron.
A barge built by the Dutch organization The Ocean Cleanup to collect garbage on the Can Tho River during its trial run in 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Cuu Long
A barge that automatically collects garbage from the water made by a Dutch environmental organization was put into operation in the Can Tho River in the Mekong Delta Friday.
It scoops up trash and offloads it into six dumpsters and transports them to shore.
The 25m vessel built by The Ocean Cleanup operates on solar power and can collect more than 10 tons of garbage a month.
Interceptor 003 costs VND19.8 billion (US$866,000), of which VND14.6 billion was provided by the Dutch organization. Of the remaining VND5.2 billion, VND2 billion came from private contributors.
It was trialed for four months when it collected more than 43 tons of mostly plastic trash and water hyacinth.
# # #
Video
# # #
A barge built by The Ocean Cleanup organization collects garbage in Can Tho River. Video by The Ocean Cleanup
The Can Tho River flows 16km through the districts of O Mon, Phong Dien, Cai Rang, Ninh Kieu before meeting the Hau River, a branch of the Mekong.
It is one of 15 rivers around the world chosen by the Dutch organization for a project to prevent plastic pollution in oceans.
Duong Tan Hien, deputy chairman of Can Tho, said the cleanup, besides tackling pollution, would also help promote river tourism.
According to data released last year by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, plastic waste accounts for 7 percent of the solid waste discharged every day in Vietnam, on nearly 2,500 tons.
Vietnam discharges 0.28-0.73 million tons of plastic waste into the ocean every year.
Bron: Dutch-built barge collects garbage in Can Tho River - VnExpress International
Het grote broertje van Vietnam Deel 2
Voor een video zie de bron.
FredVN
MF veteraan
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.691
A great burden to be a 'true man' in Vietnam
A couple sits next to their son in their happy home. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre
"As a man, you must prove that you are worthy of being a man," this traditional norm has caused many problems for many male generations in Vietnam.
It is no surprise to hear the opinion of Dr. Khuat Thu Hong, director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), who said that the stereotype of being a true man has put a lot of pressure on Vietnamese masculinity for years.
Self-imposed and socially imposed standards
Dr. Hong pointed out that in a recent ISDS study based on a sample size of 2,567 men aged 18 to 64, the most preferred stereotype of a man included 23 criteria, including a stable career, a high level of education, a skillful profession, a high position in a government agency, a leadership or a decision-making post, a healthy body, the ability to take risks and challenges, and a strong sexual ability.
In addition, there are some popular standards for a 'true man' in Vietnamese society, such as the ability to support a family, earn enough money to raise his wife and children, and bear the responsibility of ancestor worship.
"These standards are too strict and get many men into trouble when it comes to meeting them," Hong said.
These demanding criteria stem from a widely held notion of men's role as the mainstay of Vietnamese families and society for thousands of years, she explained.
"This norm can be maintained as long as the man has always held a position endowed with more privileges and rights than those of the other genders," she added.
Dr. Hong revealed that in an earlier ISDS study of 8,424 people, including both men and women, it was found that men enjoy many more privileges than women, including better opportunities to gain experience, work, own assets, and take on duties in society.
The poor 'pillar'
The more expectations are imposed on men, the more pressure is placed on them, especially those whose abilities cannot meet these criteria.
"In our survey, nearly a quarter of them admitted that they face tremendous pressure in life," Hong said.
"More than 80 percent and nearly 70 percent of men feel overwhelmed by financial and professional burdens, respectively."
She is aware that many men are obsessed with the arduous responsibilities of both raising a family and trying to secure a social position.
The more competitive their lives become, the more stressed they feel, especially if they often compare themselves to others, the ISDS director said.
Given these strains, it is understandable that men, many of whom are young and living in urban cities, tend to suffer from negative emotions and feelings.
A growing number of urban men feel so lonely and disappointed that they sometimes resort to risky actions, Dr. Hong said.
"We found in our survey that three in one hundred men have suicidal intentions, which is three times more than women; more than 67 percent smoke regularly; and above 58 percent get drunk frequently," she elaborated.
In recent years, more than 80 percent of accidents were caused by men, with alcohol abuse being the main reason, she added.
Faced with this gender pressure, many men treat their wives badly to distract themselves from their psychological distress.
Dr. Khuat Thu Hong, director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS)
How to break away from the norms?
"In order to relieve men from onuses, I think we need to raise awareness of this problem through communication and education, both in families and in society," Hong suggested.
"Above all, we should adopt policies that enable women to share responsibilities with their husbands."
Hong said researchers like her are glad that their surveys show that many young men living in cities do not suffer from such pressures.
"They have been influenced by globalization through the Internet, travel experiences, and working in international environments, which makes their way of thinking freer and more comfortable from old norms," the gender equality expert explained.
She hopes that it is the group of 'non-norm men' who would set new and proper examples of the roles of women and men in today's fast-paced society.
Let us educate girls and boys the same way!
To make a difference, Dr. Khuat Thu Hong recommends that Vietnamese parents do their part by creating new norms or 'new stereotypes' in their own families.
"You should raise your children in the same way, promote their positive values, and teach them the necessary life skills with which they can grow up confident and lead meaningful lives," she advised.
Bron: A great burden to be a 'true man' in Vietnam
“…the most preferred stereotype of a man included 23 criteria, including a stable career, a high level of education, a skillful profession, a high position in a government agency, a leadership or a decision-making post, a healthy body, the ability to take risks and challenges, and a strong sexual ability.”
A couple sits next to their son in their happy home. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre
"As a man, you must prove that you are worthy of being a man," this traditional norm has caused many problems for many male generations in Vietnam.
It is no surprise to hear the opinion of Dr. Khuat Thu Hong, director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), who said that the stereotype of being a true man has put a lot of pressure on Vietnamese masculinity for years.
Self-imposed and socially imposed standards
Dr. Hong pointed out that in a recent ISDS study based on a sample size of 2,567 men aged 18 to 64, the most preferred stereotype of a man included 23 criteria, including a stable career, a high level of education, a skillful profession, a high position in a government agency, a leadership or a decision-making post, a healthy body, the ability to take risks and challenges, and a strong sexual ability.
In addition, there are some popular standards for a 'true man' in Vietnamese society, such as the ability to support a family, earn enough money to raise his wife and children, and bear the responsibility of ancestor worship.
"These standards are too strict and get many men into trouble when it comes to meeting them," Hong said.
These demanding criteria stem from a widely held notion of men's role as the mainstay of Vietnamese families and society for thousands of years, she explained.
"This norm can be maintained as long as the man has always held a position endowed with more privileges and rights than those of the other genders," she added.
Dr. Hong revealed that in an earlier ISDS study of 8,424 people, including both men and women, it was found that men enjoy many more privileges than women, including better opportunities to gain experience, work, own assets, and take on duties in society.
The poor 'pillar'
The more expectations are imposed on men, the more pressure is placed on them, especially those whose abilities cannot meet these criteria.
"In our survey, nearly a quarter of them admitted that they face tremendous pressure in life," Hong said.
"More than 80 percent and nearly 70 percent of men feel overwhelmed by financial and professional burdens, respectively."
She is aware that many men are obsessed with the arduous responsibilities of both raising a family and trying to secure a social position.
The more competitive their lives become, the more stressed they feel, especially if they often compare themselves to others, the ISDS director said.
Given these strains, it is understandable that men, many of whom are young and living in urban cities, tend to suffer from negative emotions and feelings.
A growing number of urban men feel so lonely and disappointed that they sometimes resort to risky actions, Dr. Hong said.
"We found in our survey that three in one hundred men have suicidal intentions, which is three times more than women; more than 67 percent smoke regularly; and above 58 percent get drunk frequently," she elaborated.
In recent years, more than 80 percent of accidents were caused by men, with alcohol abuse being the main reason, she added.
Faced with this gender pressure, many men treat their wives badly to distract themselves from their psychological distress.
Dr. Khuat Thu Hong, director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS)
How to break away from the norms?
"In order to relieve men from onuses, I think we need to raise awareness of this problem through communication and education, both in families and in society," Hong suggested.
"Above all, we should adopt policies that enable women to share responsibilities with their husbands."
Hong said researchers like her are glad that their surveys show that many young men living in cities do not suffer from such pressures.
"They have been influenced by globalization through the Internet, travel experiences, and working in international environments, which makes their way of thinking freer and more comfortable from old norms," the gender equality expert explained.
She hopes that it is the group of 'non-norm men' who would set new and proper examples of the roles of women and men in today's fast-paced society.
Let us educate girls and boys the same way!
To make a difference, Dr. Khuat Thu Hong recommends that Vietnamese parents do their part by creating new norms or 'new stereotypes' in their own families.
"You should raise your children in the same way, promote their positive values, and teach them the necessary life skills with which they can grow up confident and lead meaningful lives," she advised.
Bron: A great burden to be a 'true man' in Vietnam
“…the most preferred stereotype of a man included 23 criteria, including a stable career, a high level of education, a skillful profession, a high position in a government agency, a leadership or a decision-making post, a healthy body, the ability to take risks and challenges, and a strong sexual ability.”
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.692
Whatever it takes to succeed in Vietnam
My most recent update was a comforting whine about the lack of motivation often displayed by university students and young grads embarking on their working careers here in Vietnam.
The upshot of the above article was how nearly all interactions I have with that age group focus on me doing their English homework and mentoring them in their pursuit of ‘get rich quick’ shortcut schemes.
I just don’t get it.
How they could possibly be demotivated, unable to see the plethora of opportunities right under our noses?
A quick glance into the future is plenty; the median age in Vietnam is just over 30, and they’re out earning and spending like there’s no tomorrow. They start families, buy houses, vehicles, and fall in love with all the gadgets that will keep fluffing up that GDP for a very long time to come.
All this sets the stage for any young person who wants to succeed, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel.
Oddly, only a handful of students I’ve bumped into in recent years have grasped that success is well within reach for those who want to work for it.
Each has that proverbial twinkle in their eye that can’t be quantified, but we sense it when we meet, feel their positive energy, and know they’re going somewhere in this world.
Enter Miss Chi, manager of the apartment building in which I live, who also runs a mid-sized hotel for the same owner.
I was looking for a place, contacted Chi, and arranged a meeting after a couple of short exchanges on social media. The building is well located and appointed, so it’s always in demand, even in the pandemic era.
When I showed up it was as though our transaction had been scripted, as if she knew me and had been awaiting my arrival on the scene. Chi had all answers, and, even better, had anticipated all questions.
Me: “It’s exactly what I want. Can I move in a couple of days from now?”
Chi: “Sure, that would be just fine.”
Me: “Are the tenants quiet?”
Chi: “As mice.”
Me: “I’ve never paid a deposit in Vietnam. I swear on a stack of bibles I’ll leave the place as I found it or better. Can we skip the deposit?”
Chi: “Sure we can. How long will you stay?”
Me: “Forever. I’ll come back tomorrow and pay the first month’s rent.”
Chi: “Welcome, I hope you enjoy your stay.”
No sooner had we sealed the deal than a pneumatic drill was fired up next door, shaking the building, rattling our teeth, and making cups dance in the cupboard, as if an earthquake had struck.
I thought: “Oh crap, here we go with the Vietnamese Construction Nightmare,” which consists of building, demolishing, rebuilding, and renovating until the owner’s cash or ideas are exhausted, or the work crew retires and moves back to their hometowns, whichever comes first.
I inched sideways along the wall toward the door, but Chi nailed me right in my tracks: “I’ll give you a large discount off the first month’s rent because of the noise.”
I really liked the place but have lived through enough construction nightmares to last a lifetime, so I would have bolted, had Chi not made the difference.
Vaccine against the dreaded pandemic rolled around a few months later.
Chi organized everything perfectly, asking me to be ready downstairs the next morning where I was greeted by not one, but two bodyguards – employees from the hotel she’d organized to chauffeur me.
It turned out to be a good idea because everyone we asked along the way kept sending us to the wrong location although they were very helpful.
As I found out much later and quite by accident, Chi doesn’t have any holes in her shoes, so to speak. Instead of living a privileged lifestyle, she holds a busy full-time job, tutors several students in the evenings, sells gadgets and clothes online, and probably has another gig or two I don’t know about.
Then there’s the neighborhood star, Funny Boy Quy, a point man in a dingy, dimly lit produce shop that’s such a mess you’d think there had been a burglary overnight.
As you can deduce from the moniker I assigned him (within minutes of meeting him, I might add), he is hilarious – it’s the only way to retain his sanity.
Sidekick Fruit Babe Giang with Funny Boy Quy
Customers bitch about the prices and freshness of goods, and, as he once confided in me, his workmates blame him for whatever goes wrong in the shop. That’s bizarre because he’s clearly the star of the show.
Quy’s life has not been easy – forced to quit school prematurely and move far away from all he knows to help support his widowed mother and siblings.
He spends much of his time negotiating with sharp little old ladies who try to beat the prices down, tallying up long lists of purchases in his head, and navigating the numerous obstacles strewn around:
Funny Boy: “That’ll be VND24,000 [US$1], madam.”
Slick Old Lady: “Have you lost your mind, boy?”
Funny Boy: Sheepish grin comes over his face.
Slick Old Lady: “Gangster! The only thing you’re missing is a gun.”
Funny Boy: Flashes his charming smile.
Slick Old Lady: “I only have VND22,000.” (Probably she has VND22 million.)
Funny Boy: “No problem, madam.”
And so it goes, always that little smile, even when the customers are getting on his nerves.
I translate all the numbers he quotes me, and he scurries over to a cheat sheet stuck on the wall to meticulously note them in English, looking forward to the day when he can serve his foreign customers more efficiently.
Quy pairs up perfectly with his neighbor and partner in crime, Miss Giang, who runs the fruit shop next door. I doubt there is any fiscal connection between the two businesses, but they work in unison, taking over each other’s turf during short absences and helping to unpack deliveries.
He even knows the inner workings of my twisted mind as a consumer, a miracle in itself. Quy reminds me of items he thinks I may have missed, not to flog them off, rather to help me get what I need.
He knows I’ll return soon enough either way, for no reason other than to play with the dog and yell at the staff for not wearing their surgical masks.
Funny Boy knows service. He gets it, and will go a long way in this world.
Last stop is the neighborhood supermarket, a family affair, managed by the daughter, Miss Bao, who is also quite the fireball.
When I first started frequenting the place a few years ago, it was also a holy mess, products strewn everywhere, shelves in disarray, and old appliances and other forgotten things lying around because (according to ancient custom in Vietnam) nothing can ever be discarded.
My career as a customer got off to a somewhat inauspicious start because an employee followed me around, lurking in the aisles and thinking I was a shoplifter.
I approached the young lady in charge, Miss Bao, who speaks English better than I, and asked her to call off the hounds, explaining that I had my own money and would gladly pay for all purchases.
Bao laughed, sorted it out, and that’s how I became a regular. Here’s how my visits typically unfold:
Me: “Hi Bao, how’s it going?”
(Phone ringing, laptop dinging, customers hollering, she ignores them all.)
Bao: “Great thanks. Have you seen the new spices?”
She leads me to a new display rack packed with goodies, then spots a bag of frozen green peas I bought elsewhere, whips out her phone, and takes a snap.
Bao: “I’ll have them in stock next time you come.”
Bit by bit, Bao has spruced up the shop so it is clean, organized, with goods well displayed, and a never-ending stream of slick new products.
End of story? It’s actually just part one, as Bao recently opened a spiffy new gourmet version of that supermarket in a new location.
She stated triumphantly: “Finally I can organize my own mess instead of taking on someone else’s!”
I popped in for the grand opening, inviting Chi to accompany me, and the new shop is absolutely world class, featuring a blend of local and imported goods.
What do all Chi, Funny Boy Quy, and Bao have in common?
They have unbridled motivation, the one quality that trumps all other attributes for success in business and in life. Give them something to do and they rip it out of your hands and run off to get it done.
If I could lock them in a remote cabin for a month, I’m quite certain they’d come out with a cure for cancer, the ultimate remedy for global climate change, and the world’s best lasagna recipe.
They’ll do whatever it takes to succeed.
Bron: Whatever it takes to succeed in Vietnam
My most recent update was a comforting whine about the lack of motivation often displayed by university students and young grads embarking on their working careers here in Vietnam.
The upshot of the above article was how nearly all interactions I have with that age group focus on me doing their English homework and mentoring them in their pursuit of ‘get rich quick’ shortcut schemes.
I just don’t get it.
How they could possibly be demotivated, unable to see the plethora of opportunities right under our noses?
A quick glance into the future is plenty; the median age in Vietnam is just over 30, and they’re out earning and spending like there’s no tomorrow. They start families, buy houses, vehicles, and fall in love with all the gadgets that will keep fluffing up that GDP for a very long time to come.
All this sets the stage for any young person who wants to succeed, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel.
Oddly, only a handful of students I’ve bumped into in recent years have grasped that success is well within reach for those who want to work for it.
Each has that proverbial twinkle in their eye that can’t be quantified, but we sense it when we meet, feel their positive energy, and know they’re going somewhere in this world.
Enter Miss Chi, manager of the apartment building in which I live, who also runs a mid-sized hotel for the same owner.
I was looking for a place, contacted Chi, and arranged a meeting after a couple of short exchanges on social media. The building is well located and appointed, so it’s always in demand, even in the pandemic era.
When I showed up it was as though our transaction had been scripted, as if she knew me and had been awaiting my arrival on the scene. Chi had all answers, and, even better, had anticipated all questions.
Me: “It’s exactly what I want. Can I move in a couple of days from now?”
Chi: “Sure, that would be just fine.”
Me: “Are the tenants quiet?”
Chi: “As mice.”
Me: “I’ve never paid a deposit in Vietnam. I swear on a stack of bibles I’ll leave the place as I found it or better. Can we skip the deposit?”
Chi: “Sure we can. How long will you stay?”
Me: “Forever. I’ll come back tomorrow and pay the first month’s rent.”
Chi: “Welcome, I hope you enjoy your stay.”
No sooner had we sealed the deal than a pneumatic drill was fired up next door, shaking the building, rattling our teeth, and making cups dance in the cupboard, as if an earthquake had struck.
I thought: “Oh crap, here we go with the Vietnamese Construction Nightmare,” which consists of building, demolishing, rebuilding, and renovating until the owner’s cash or ideas are exhausted, or the work crew retires and moves back to their hometowns, whichever comes first.
I inched sideways along the wall toward the door, but Chi nailed me right in my tracks: “I’ll give you a large discount off the first month’s rent because of the noise.”
I really liked the place but have lived through enough construction nightmares to last a lifetime, so I would have bolted, had Chi not made the difference.
Vaccine against the dreaded pandemic rolled around a few months later.
Chi organized everything perfectly, asking me to be ready downstairs the next morning where I was greeted by not one, but two bodyguards – employees from the hotel she’d organized to chauffeur me.
It turned out to be a good idea because everyone we asked along the way kept sending us to the wrong location although they were very helpful.
As I found out much later and quite by accident, Chi doesn’t have any holes in her shoes, so to speak. Instead of living a privileged lifestyle, she holds a busy full-time job, tutors several students in the evenings, sells gadgets and clothes online, and probably has another gig or two I don’t know about.
Then there’s the neighborhood star, Funny Boy Quy, a point man in a dingy, dimly lit produce shop that’s such a mess you’d think there had been a burglary overnight.
As you can deduce from the moniker I assigned him (within minutes of meeting him, I might add), he is hilarious – it’s the only way to retain his sanity.
Sidekick Fruit Babe Giang with Funny Boy Quy
Customers bitch about the prices and freshness of goods, and, as he once confided in me, his workmates blame him for whatever goes wrong in the shop. That’s bizarre because he’s clearly the star of the show.
Quy’s life has not been easy – forced to quit school prematurely and move far away from all he knows to help support his widowed mother and siblings.
He spends much of his time negotiating with sharp little old ladies who try to beat the prices down, tallying up long lists of purchases in his head, and navigating the numerous obstacles strewn around:
Funny Boy: “That’ll be VND24,000 [US$1], madam.”
Slick Old Lady: “Have you lost your mind, boy?”
Funny Boy: Sheepish grin comes over his face.
Slick Old Lady: “Gangster! The only thing you’re missing is a gun.”
Funny Boy: Flashes his charming smile.
Slick Old Lady: “I only have VND22,000.” (Probably she has VND22 million.)
Funny Boy: “No problem, madam.”
And so it goes, always that little smile, even when the customers are getting on his nerves.
I translate all the numbers he quotes me, and he scurries over to a cheat sheet stuck on the wall to meticulously note them in English, looking forward to the day when he can serve his foreign customers more efficiently.
Quy pairs up perfectly with his neighbor and partner in crime, Miss Giang, who runs the fruit shop next door. I doubt there is any fiscal connection between the two businesses, but they work in unison, taking over each other’s turf during short absences and helping to unpack deliveries.
He even knows the inner workings of my twisted mind as a consumer, a miracle in itself. Quy reminds me of items he thinks I may have missed, not to flog them off, rather to help me get what I need.
He knows I’ll return soon enough either way, for no reason other than to play with the dog and yell at the staff for not wearing their surgical masks.
Funny Boy knows service. He gets it, and will go a long way in this world.
Last stop is the neighborhood supermarket, a family affair, managed by the daughter, Miss Bao, who is also quite the fireball.
When I first started frequenting the place a few years ago, it was also a holy mess, products strewn everywhere, shelves in disarray, and old appliances and other forgotten things lying around because (according to ancient custom in Vietnam) nothing can ever be discarded.
My career as a customer got off to a somewhat inauspicious start because an employee followed me around, lurking in the aisles and thinking I was a shoplifter.
I approached the young lady in charge, Miss Bao, who speaks English better than I, and asked her to call off the hounds, explaining that I had my own money and would gladly pay for all purchases.
Bao laughed, sorted it out, and that’s how I became a regular. Here’s how my visits typically unfold:
Me: “Hi Bao, how’s it going?”
(Phone ringing, laptop dinging, customers hollering, she ignores them all.)
Bao: “Great thanks. Have you seen the new spices?”
She leads me to a new display rack packed with goodies, then spots a bag of frozen green peas I bought elsewhere, whips out her phone, and takes a snap.
Bao: “I’ll have them in stock next time you come.”
Bit by bit, Bao has spruced up the shop so it is clean, organized, with goods well displayed, and a never-ending stream of slick new products.
End of story? It’s actually just part one, as Bao recently opened a spiffy new gourmet version of that supermarket in a new location.
She stated triumphantly: “Finally I can organize my own mess instead of taking on someone else’s!”
I popped in for the grand opening, inviting Chi to accompany me, and the new shop is absolutely world class, featuring a blend of local and imported goods.
What do all Chi, Funny Boy Quy, and Bao have in common?
They have unbridled motivation, the one quality that trumps all other attributes for success in business and in life. Give them something to do and they rip it out of your hands and run off to get it done.
If I could lock them in a remote cabin for a month, I’m quite certain they’d come out with a cure for cancer, the ultimate remedy for global climate change, and the world’s best lasagna recipe.
They’ll do whatever it takes to succeed.
Bron: Whatever it takes to succeed in Vietnam
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.693
Trapleer
Al jaren gebruik ik een simpele oude bureaustoel zonder armleuningen als garagekruk. Gemakkelijk laag te zetten en tijdens sleutelen indien nodig wat heen en weer rijden. Maar inmiddels hadden twee van de vijf zwenkwieltjes de geest gegeven. Dus onderstel met de wieltjes verwisseld met een bureaustoel die weinig hoeft te rollen. Een Vietnamese klapstoel gesloopt voor de zitting. En weer een goed rollend resultaat.
Dit project was nog niet eens helemaal klaar toen op het Astroforum een post werd geplaatst van de (waarneem)trapleer met een beugel. En laat die nu nog als gesloopte klapstoel wat apart staan te wachten.
Hij bleek wat te breed dus een stuk er tussenuit gehaald en door de vader van één van Minh’s studenten (Hai was weg) weer tot één geheel laten lassen. Wat gaten boren en …
Grote knoppen om de beugel na omklappen vast te zetten zijn hier als zoveel materiaal moeilijk te vinden. Dus met een slangentuit voor aan een kraan en een paar bouten zelf maar weer wat gemaakt.
Over de afwerking denk ik nog even na, evenals een mogelijke toepassing voor het zijstuk bovenin. Weghalen kan altijd nog.
Geloof me, voor Vietnamese begrippen is deze trapleer ook zonder beugel al behoorlijk geavanceerd. Je kunt hem helemaal open klappen en dan heb je een ladder van 5 m..
Wat je regelmatig ziet is, dat ze van vierkante pijp 2x2 een frame lassen met op minstens 50 cm. van elkaar een paar tussenstukken. En dan heb je een ladder.
Twee van die frames bovenaan met twee scharnieren aan elkaar verbinden, touwtje aan twee treden en voila, een trapleer.
Al jaren gebruik ik een simpele oude bureaustoel zonder armleuningen als garagekruk. Gemakkelijk laag te zetten en tijdens sleutelen indien nodig wat heen en weer rijden. Maar inmiddels hadden twee van de vijf zwenkwieltjes de geest gegeven. Dus onderstel met de wieltjes verwisseld met een bureaustoel die weinig hoeft te rollen. Een Vietnamese klapstoel gesloopt voor de zitting. En weer een goed rollend resultaat.
Dit project was nog niet eens helemaal klaar toen op het Astroforum een post werd geplaatst van de (waarneem)trapleer met een beugel. En laat die nu nog als gesloopte klapstoel wat apart staan te wachten.
Hij bleek wat te breed dus een stuk er tussenuit gehaald en door de vader van één van Minh’s studenten (Hai was weg) weer tot één geheel laten lassen. Wat gaten boren en …
Grote knoppen om de beugel na omklappen vast te zetten zijn hier als zoveel materiaal moeilijk te vinden. Dus met een slangentuit voor aan een kraan en een paar bouten zelf maar weer wat gemaakt.
Over de afwerking denk ik nog even na, evenals een mogelijke toepassing voor het zijstuk bovenin. Weghalen kan altijd nog.
Geloof me, voor Vietnamese begrippen is deze trapleer ook zonder beugel al behoorlijk geavanceerd. Je kunt hem helemaal open klappen en dan heb je een ladder van 5 m..
Wat je regelmatig ziet is, dat ze van vierkante pijp 2x2 een frame lassen met op minstens 50 cm. van elkaar een paar tussenstukken. En dan heb je een ladder.
Twee van die frames bovenaan met twee scharnieren aan elkaar verbinden, touwtje aan twee treden en voila, een trapleer.
FredVN
MF veteraan
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.695
HCMC needs infrastructure, training to become digital hub
A person views their vaccination status on a smartphone at a movie theater in Ho Chi Minh City in December 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Thuc
With HCMC seeking to become a digital powerhouse by 2030, experts say more investment is needed in infrastructure and training to improve its ability to adopt technology.
City chairman Phan Van Mai said the aim is to become a smart city with modern services and industries by 2025, and a leader in the areas of digital economy, digital society and digital government by 2030.
The digital economy will account for 25 percent of the economy by 2025 and 40 percent by 2030, more ambitious targets than the country’s.
HCMC is also the first locality to announce a digital transformation target.
The digital economy accounted for approximately 14.4 percent of the city’s GDP last year, according to the HCMC Institute For Development Studies.
HCMC has many pre-requisites to realize its goals, experts have pointed out.
Its economy is large, and it is a hub for international integration, innovation, and technological development, Nguyen Xuan Thang, director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said.
It also has the largest rate of Internet and smartphone users in the country, he said.
"It is timely now after the pandemic to start considering digital transformation as a growth driver".
Truong Gia Binh, head of the Private Sector Development Committee and chairman of tech giant FPT, said HCMC needs to be a "green pearl" in digital transformation as it has the largest information technology workforce.
It also has the best digital transformation database and leads in smart transportation and smart healthcare, he said.
"I propose that HCMC spends at least 2 percent of its annual budget on digital transformation".
To achieve the target, World Bank country director for Vietnam, Carolyn Turk, said the city needs to set up cost-effective digital infrastructure and provide sustainable digital services.
Despite having a high ratio of people with Internet access, Vietnam still ranks low regionally in readiness to migrate to cloud computing, and needs more investment in 5G and data handling, she said.
Though 50 percent of Vietnam’s public financial services have been integrated online, only 15 percent is actually done online, which means there is still a long way to go, she pointed out.
More reforms are needed in areas like digitization regulations and data access, she added.
Alfonso Garcia Mora, the International Finance Corporation’s regional vice president for the Asia Pacific, said public-private partnerships should be created for infrastructure development, and having policies that foster international standards would help attract foreign investment.
Nguyen Thanh Phong, deputy head of the Central Economic Committee’s standing committee, said things the city could do right away include setting up the digital transformation hub DXCenter and the Academy for Advanced Technology and Innovation.
Digital infrastructure should first be set up for healthcare, education, finance, tourism, transportation, and the environment, he said.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung said the city should strive to make digital public services as easy as sending an email or using social media.
A digital society is where people can just grab their phones to complete administrative procedures.
Philipp Rösler, former vice chancellor of Germany and consultant to VinaCapital Ventures, said the city needs to increase technological job training with public-private partnerships.
Binh said artificial intelligence, Internet of things and metaverse should be taught in schools.
FPT University would import courses on games from India and the U.S. to make HCMC a ‘Hollywood of Games,’ he added.
Bron: HCMC needs infrastructure, training to become digital hub - VnExpress International
2030. Hm, wissel op de toekomst?
A person views their vaccination status on a smartphone at a movie theater in Ho Chi Minh City in December 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Thuc
With HCMC seeking to become a digital powerhouse by 2030, experts say more investment is needed in infrastructure and training to improve its ability to adopt technology.
City chairman Phan Van Mai said the aim is to become a smart city with modern services and industries by 2025, and a leader in the areas of digital economy, digital society and digital government by 2030.
The digital economy will account for 25 percent of the economy by 2025 and 40 percent by 2030, more ambitious targets than the country’s.
HCMC is also the first locality to announce a digital transformation target.
The digital economy accounted for approximately 14.4 percent of the city’s GDP last year, according to the HCMC Institute For Development Studies.
HCMC has many pre-requisites to realize its goals, experts have pointed out.
Its economy is large, and it is a hub for international integration, innovation, and technological development, Nguyen Xuan Thang, director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said.
It also has the largest rate of Internet and smartphone users in the country, he said.
"It is timely now after the pandemic to start considering digital transformation as a growth driver".
Truong Gia Binh, head of the Private Sector Development Committee and chairman of tech giant FPT, said HCMC needs to be a "green pearl" in digital transformation as it has the largest information technology workforce.
It also has the best digital transformation database and leads in smart transportation and smart healthcare, he said.
"I propose that HCMC spends at least 2 percent of its annual budget on digital transformation".
To achieve the target, World Bank country director for Vietnam, Carolyn Turk, said the city needs to set up cost-effective digital infrastructure and provide sustainable digital services.
Despite having a high ratio of people with Internet access, Vietnam still ranks low regionally in readiness to migrate to cloud computing, and needs more investment in 5G and data handling, she said.
Though 50 percent of Vietnam’s public financial services have been integrated online, only 15 percent is actually done online, which means there is still a long way to go, she pointed out.
More reforms are needed in areas like digitization regulations and data access, she added.
Alfonso Garcia Mora, the International Finance Corporation’s regional vice president for the Asia Pacific, said public-private partnerships should be created for infrastructure development, and having policies that foster international standards would help attract foreign investment.
Nguyen Thanh Phong, deputy head of the Central Economic Committee’s standing committee, said things the city could do right away include setting up the digital transformation hub DXCenter and the Academy for Advanced Technology and Innovation.
Digital infrastructure should first be set up for healthcare, education, finance, tourism, transportation, and the environment, he said.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung said the city should strive to make digital public services as easy as sending an email or using social media.
A digital society is where people can just grab their phones to complete administrative procedures.
Philipp Rösler, former vice chancellor of Germany and consultant to VinaCapital Ventures, said the city needs to increase technological job training with public-private partnerships.
Binh said artificial intelligence, Internet of things and metaverse should be taught in schools.
FPT University would import courses on games from India and the U.S. to make HCMC a ‘Hollywood of Games,’ he added.
Bron: HCMC needs infrastructure, training to become digital hub - VnExpress International
2030. Hm, wissel op de toekomst?
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.696
Hanoi transforms old military base into pedestrian space (1)
Hanoi authorities are transforming the former military base of Son Tay Citadel into a new picturesque pedestrian zone that will open next month.
The starting point of the pedestrian zone in the outlying district of Son Tay, 40 kilometers from downtown Hanoi, will be the old gate of the Son Tay Town People's Committee office on Pho Duc Chinh Street.
It will cover the four streets of Nguyen Thai Hoc, Phan Chu Trinh, Le Loi and Pho Duc Chinh.
The road in front of the Son Tay Culture and Sports Center complex will be used to organize cultural events, entertainment and street art performances.
The Son Tay fortress was a military base built in 1822 by King Minh Mang, second emperor of Nguyen Dynasty, to protect the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The dynasty was Vietnam's last feudal ruler.
The space in front of a sports stadium will accommodate 50-70 food stalls.
The Cua Tien Bridge at the intersection of Quang Trung - Nguyen Thai Hoc Street will mark the ending point of the pedestrian space, which will have four parking lots in different spots.
Son Tay Town has renovated its roads and sidewalks, giving the pedestrian area a vastly improved landscape. Local authorities have installed information signs and signposts around the ancient fortress.
Hanoi authorities are transforming the former military base of Son Tay Citadel into a new picturesque pedestrian zone that will open next month.
The starting point of the pedestrian zone in the outlying district of Son Tay, 40 kilometers from downtown Hanoi, will be the old gate of the Son Tay Town People's Committee office on Pho Duc Chinh Street.
It will cover the four streets of Nguyen Thai Hoc, Phan Chu Trinh, Le Loi and Pho Duc Chinh.
The road in front of the Son Tay Culture and Sports Center complex will be used to organize cultural events, entertainment and street art performances.
The Son Tay fortress was a military base built in 1822 by King Minh Mang, second emperor of Nguyen Dynasty, to protect the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The dynasty was Vietnam's last feudal ruler.
The space in front of a sports stadium will accommodate 50-70 food stalls.
The Cua Tien Bridge at the intersection of Quang Trung - Nguyen Thai Hoc Street will mark the ending point of the pedestrian space, which will have four parking lots in different spots.
Son Tay Town has renovated its roads and sidewalks, giving the pedestrian area a vastly improved landscape. Local authorities have installed information signs and signposts around the ancient fortress.
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.697
Hanoi transforms old military base into pedestrian space (2)
In the future, there will be more welcome gates and decorative lights, the authorities say.
The pedestrian zone, covering an area of 34,550 square meters, is scheduled to open from 7 p.m. Saturday until noon Sunday with contemporary art performances, street music, folk dances, portrait painting, sketching, calligraphy, boat racing, fishing and water puppetry.
The area inside the fortress has also been renovated with new roads and lighting systems that will make the place more attractive to visitors.
New public toilets have been installed inside and outside the fortress area.
In the coming days, koi fish and pigeons will be released around an ancient pond inside the fortress, local authorities say.
The Urban Management Department of Son Tay Town says work on pedestrian zone is 80 percent complete and everything will be completed in time before its official opening on April 30.
The new pedestrian zone will be the fourth such space in Hanoi. The other three are around the Hoan Kiem (Turtle) Lake; the Old Quarter and Trinh Cong Son Street near the West Lake.
Hanoi transforms old military base into pedestrian space
In the future, there will be more welcome gates and decorative lights, the authorities say.
The pedestrian zone, covering an area of 34,550 square meters, is scheduled to open from 7 p.m. Saturday until noon Sunday with contemporary art performances, street music, folk dances, portrait painting, sketching, calligraphy, boat racing, fishing and water puppetry.
The area inside the fortress has also been renovated with new roads and lighting systems that will make the place more attractive to visitors.
New public toilets have been installed inside and outside the fortress area.
In the coming days, koi fish and pigeons will be released around an ancient pond inside the fortress, local authorities say.
The Urban Management Department of Son Tay Town says work on pedestrian zone is 80 percent complete and everything will be completed in time before its official opening on April 30.
The new pedestrian zone will be the fourth such space in Hanoi. The other three are around the Hoan Kiem (Turtle) Lake; the Old Quarter and Trinh Cong Son Street near the West Lake.
Hanoi transforms old military base into pedestrian space
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.699
Nee hoor.
“…is scheduled to open from 7 p.m. Saturday until noon Sunday with contemporary art performances, street music, folk dances,…”
Ofwel je kunt de hele nacht door gillen, krijsen, Sint. Vitus-dansen etc.
“En we gillen en we krijsen, en we jammeren zo fijn, tot we misselijk van het zuipen en de karaoke zijn”
Vrij naar: Antenne Rotterdam - Af en toe gaan pa en moe...... (ja het loopt gelijk met de oorspronkelijke muziek. )
Maar gelukkig:
“New public toilets have been installed inside and outside the fortress area.”
“In the coming days, koi fish and pigeons will be released around an ancient pond…”
Dit deed me onmiddellijk denken aan de keer, dat ik mensen met vishengels in de dierentuin van HCM zag lopen.
“…is scheduled to open from 7 p.m. Saturday until noon Sunday with contemporary art performances, street music, folk dances,…”
Ofwel je kunt de hele nacht door gillen, krijsen, Sint. Vitus-dansen etc.
“En we gillen en we krijsen, en we jammeren zo fijn, tot we misselijk van het zuipen en de karaoke zijn”
Vrij naar: Antenne Rotterdam - Af en toe gaan pa en moe...... (ja het loopt gelijk met de oorspronkelijke muziek.
)Maar gelukkig:
“New public toilets have been installed inside and outside the fortress area.”
“In the coming days, koi fish and pigeons will be released around an ancient pond…”
Dit deed me onmiddellijk denken aan de keer, dat ik mensen met vishengels in de dierentuin van HCM zag lopen.
FredVN
MF veteraan
- Onderwerp starter
- #3.700
Camping for the night at 24-hour cafes becomes new routine for young people
It is 9 p.m. and Nguyen Van Nam walks into the cafe, chooses a spot from where he can observe people, takes out a laptop and begins working.
For this 27-year-old sitting and working all night in 24-hour cafes in HCMC has become a habit in the last two years.
Besides his laptop and papers, he also has a thin blanket in case it gets cold in the coffee shop.
He says the silence and cramped space in his rented room inhibits his flow of ideas. He works in the media and creativity is a crucial element for people like him.
Besides, working alone in his room makes him feel like time is standing still while he is racing to get work done.
"I go to a coffee shop when I want to be productive. The sounds of people chatting, coffee grinders, people typing, and traffic on the street reassure me that everything around me is also moving quickly".
Nam, who is still single, enjoys coffee shops also because he feels less lonely there amid all the people around him.
"Everyone else here also rushes to complete their work, which helps me forget that I'm working late at night. I no longer have a feeling of being misplaced since it feels like everyone who comes here to work is in the same boat as me".
Normally he enters the cafe at 9 p.m. and leaves at around 6 o’clock the next morning after finishing his work.
People work through the night at a 24-hour coffee shop in HCMC's District 1 on April 5, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nga
The 24-hour coffee shop model first appeared in HCMC around 2012 and became popular two years ago. These are the first choice for young Saigonese when they need to work, study or simply spend the night.
Ngo Van Thanh, manager of a cafe in District 1, says each cafe normally has four or five branches, mostly in central districts or near universities. They typically have a capacity of 40-50 guests and begin to bustle around 9 p.m though some smaller shops manage by letting customers sit on the sidewalk outside, he says.
Though guests are from a variety of backgrounds and age groups, the majority are students and office workers, he says.
"Sometimes the coffee shop becomes a place for husbands who fought with their wives to spend the night.
"On average, there are three to four customers staying the entire night".
Nguyen Thuy, 24, plonks her feet on the chair opposite in a 24-hour coffee shop in Binh Thanh District and says, "I come here almost every day to work, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends".
She has been "addicted" to sitting in cafes since she was a student, and does not have a favorite place since she prefers to regularly change the vibe. She likes 24-hour places with a large number of customers coming in to work at night.
In March 2012 a team of scientists from the University of Illinois in the U.S. published a study in the Journal of Consumer Research, an academic journal covering research on the psychological aspects of consumer behavior, that said moderate ambient noise levels of 50-70 decibels at places such as cafes boost one's productivity and creativity.
Dr Kobe Desender of Germany's University of Hamburg stated in a study that seeing many people working actively in a public setting such as a coffee shop makes a person more productive.
Customers at a 24-hour coffee shop in HCMC's Binh Thanh District on April 5, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nga
Thuy goes to cafes every day of the week because relaxing in a cool place and sipping coffee and working in a crowded place motivates her to do her "best work". Gradually working from coffee shop has become an indispensable aspect of her life.
These cafes are also typically packed with students in the exam season.
Nguyen Tue Nhu, a sophomore at Ton Duc Thang University, says she sits in a cafe four to five nights a week and studies in groups during midterm and final weeks.
"When studying at home, it is easy to become bored and fall asleep since there is no one else to study with. When I go out to a coffee shop, where the atmosphere here is lively, and review materials with my friends I feel happier and less lonely. I also find that studying like this is much more effective".
As young people’s demand for places to work and study grows, so do the number of 24-hour cafes.
"Many 24-hour coffee shops have nine or 10 venues in various locations," Thanh says. "It has now become a temporary resting place for night owls."
Nguyen Van Dung, 29, of the southern Kien Giang Province, has become a frequent customer at Thuc (Wake), one such cafe in District 1.
He is a shipper who often has to make delivery late at night and often comes here to spend the nights. He says though it can get crowded, it is still quiet and safe enough for him to rest.
"Sometimes when I am tired of working, I think of going home. But it is too boring and lonely and so I stay here".
Bron: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/trend/...mes-new-routine-for-young-people-4449239.html
Kennen we dit fenomeen in Holland? Ik heb er zelf nooit van gehoord. Hier ook niet trouwens. Dit is de eerste keer.
It is 9 p.m. and Nguyen Van Nam walks into the cafe, chooses a spot from where he can observe people, takes out a laptop and begins working.
For this 27-year-old sitting and working all night in 24-hour cafes in HCMC has become a habit in the last two years.
Besides his laptop and papers, he also has a thin blanket in case it gets cold in the coffee shop.
He says the silence and cramped space in his rented room inhibits his flow of ideas. He works in the media and creativity is a crucial element for people like him.
Besides, working alone in his room makes him feel like time is standing still while he is racing to get work done.
"I go to a coffee shop when I want to be productive. The sounds of people chatting, coffee grinders, people typing, and traffic on the street reassure me that everything around me is also moving quickly".
Nam, who is still single, enjoys coffee shops also because he feels less lonely there amid all the people around him.
"Everyone else here also rushes to complete their work, which helps me forget that I'm working late at night. I no longer have a feeling of being misplaced since it feels like everyone who comes here to work is in the same boat as me".
Normally he enters the cafe at 9 p.m. and leaves at around 6 o’clock the next morning after finishing his work.
People work through the night at a 24-hour coffee shop in HCMC's District 1 on April 5, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nga
The 24-hour coffee shop model first appeared in HCMC around 2012 and became popular two years ago. These are the first choice for young Saigonese when they need to work, study or simply spend the night.
Ngo Van Thanh, manager of a cafe in District 1, says each cafe normally has four or five branches, mostly in central districts or near universities. They typically have a capacity of 40-50 guests and begin to bustle around 9 p.m though some smaller shops manage by letting customers sit on the sidewalk outside, he says.
Though guests are from a variety of backgrounds and age groups, the majority are students and office workers, he says.
"Sometimes the coffee shop becomes a place for husbands who fought with their wives to spend the night.
"On average, there are three to four customers staying the entire night".
Nguyen Thuy, 24, plonks her feet on the chair opposite in a 24-hour coffee shop in Binh Thanh District and says, "I come here almost every day to work, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends".
She has been "addicted" to sitting in cafes since she was a student, and does not have a favorite place since she prefers to regularly change the vibe. She likes 24-hour places with a large number of customers coming in to work at night.
In March 2012 a team of scientists from the University of Illinois in the U.S. published a study in the Journal of Consumer Research, an academic journal covering research on the psychological aspects of consumer behavior, that said moderate ambient noise levels of 50-70 decibels at places such as cafes boost one's productivity and creativity.
Dr Kobe Desender of Germany's University of Hamburg stated in a study that seeing many people working actively in a public setting such as a coffee shop makes a person more productive.
Customers at a 24-hour coffee shop in HCMC's Binh Thanh District on April 5, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nga
Thuy goes to cafes every day of the week because relaxing in a cool place and sipping coffee and working in a crowded place motivates her to do her "best work". Gradually working from coffee shop has become an indispensable aspect of her life.
These cafes are also typically packed with students in the exam season.
Nguyen Tue Nhu, a sophomore at Ton Duc Thang University, says she sits in a cafe four to five nights a week and studies in groups during midterm and final weeks.
"When studying at home, it is easy to become bored and fall asleep since there is no one else to study with. When I go out to a coffee shop, where the atmosphere here is lively, and review materials with my friends I feel happier and less lonely. I also find that studying like this is much more effective".
As young people’s demand for places to work and study grows, so do the number of 24-hour cafes.
"Many 24-hour coffee shops have nine or 10 venues in various locations," Thanh says. "It has now become a temporary resting place for night owls."
Nguyen Van Dung, 29, of the southern Kien Giang Province, has become a frequent customer at Thuc (Wake), one such cafe in District 1.
He is a shipper who often has to make delivery late at night and often comes here to spend the nights. He says though it can get crowded, it is still quiet and safe enough for him to rest.
"Sometimes when I am tired of working, I think of going home. But it is too boring and lonely and so I stay here".
Bron: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/trend/...mes-new-routine-for-young-people-4449239.html
Kennen we dit fenomeen in Holland? Ik heb er zelf nooit van gehoord. Hier ook niet trouwens. Dit is de eerste keer.
