Scooter-turned-fire engine battles blazes

Making use of his passion for machines and engineering, Nguyễn Cao Thượng, a 51-year-old from the southern province of Kiên Giang, transformed his Vespa scooter into a firefighting vehicle. Thượng has battled a total of 14 blazes since the scooter was put into use in 2010.

Police porridge warms up poor patients

On top of their regular charity work, police officers from the district of Mỹ Tú, in the southern province of Sóc Trăng, have added an extra duty to their daily routine: cooking up a hot meal for patients at the local hospital. Phương Hà reports.

VN, Korean artists break down boundaries

Eight Vietnamese and Korean artists who were invited to display their works at the exhibition entitled Undefined Boundary which is being held at the Korean Cultural Centre in Việt Nam.

The struggle to replace aging coffee trees

A shortage of capital and lack of technical assistance for farmers in the Central Highlands region are hampering efforts to replace old, unproductive trees on coffee farms. Bồ Xuân Hiệp reports.

Making a living, saving lives: par for the day

An auto mechanic working on a mountain pass is very proactive about assisting accident victims, leaving his number on the roadside as a hotline that people can call, Văn Phương reports

Cool Cats jazz club hits all the right notes

Louis Armstrong once said “if you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” Luckily for Hanoians, they now have a chance to find out, without causing too much offence to Satchmo.

Roving reporter broadcasts from his bike

If one was to visit the commune of Dan Luc, and ask for Pham Ngoc Chieng, every local would have something to say about the 65-year-old veteran who drives around on his motorbike playing his own radio news. Thuy Linh reports.

A meditating getaway back to nature

Brunei was not on my list until this year, when I was offered the opportunity to be a delegate for the Young South East Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) programme on Eco-Entrepreneurship last month. It was a pleasant, and very green, getaway.

Delta takes urgent steps to prevent drought

Last year’s historic drought devastated crops and caused serious losses for farmers in the Mekong Delta. This year, authorities are restructuring crops, building dykes and erecting sluices in anticipation of continued weather changes. 

A thread of love for Việt Nam

Artisan Nguyễn Văn Công has dedicated his life to preserving the ancient craft of embroidery, and has made a name for himself as a master of painting with thread. Trung Hiếreports.

Đà Nẵng IT whiz makes app for travellers

Nguyễn Văn Chương is a 34-year-old software engineer from Đà Nẵng, who has transformed his love for his home into an application to help tourists navigate the city.

Where you can stop and smell the roses

It is not an ideal place for cultivating the delicate flowers, but a few passionate horticulturists have found ways to make the capital city a rose garden
destination worthy of note, reports Song Hương.

Ultrasound helps the blind ’see’ better

The blind now can identify their surrounding obstacles more easily thanks to a smart stick that has recently been created by three former students of Gia Định Information Technology University in HCM City.

Artist gets serious about theatre with a comedy

Trần Lực returned to a very different Việt Nam after studying in Bulgaria for several years, and made his mark as an actor, a TV film producer and a teacher. It was only 30 years into his career that he brought out the deep passion he has for theatre, with a trail-blazing, award-winning comedy, reports Nguyễn Thúy Bình

The Northwest preens its colourful feathers

Việt Nam’s northwest stays stunningly beautiful and colourful even in the harshest weather conditions; as such it is tailor-made for tourism all year long, report Lục Hương Thu and Nguyễn Mỹ Hà.

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