Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Vietnam drafting plan to control exhaust fumes

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Vietnam drafting plan to control exhaust fumes

Vietnam Registry Bureau is drafting a plan to control exhaust fumes by all kinds of motorcycles in five big cities, namely HCM City, Hanoi, Haiphong, Danang and Can Tho from 2009. The plan, with a target of controlling the increasing and alarming exhaust fumes emitted from motorcycles, will be submitted to the Government for approval by September this year. Trinh Ngoc Giao, director of the bureau, said it received technical support from the Swiss-Vietnamese Clean Air Program.Under the plan, exhaust fumes emitted from motorcycles that pollute the air in the five cities will be reduced by some 60%. All motorcycles will be subject to verification at least one time per year, and any motorcycle that misses the verification will be fined. The plan will later be applied in all the provinces and cities of the country after 2012.According to the bureau, there are 18 million motorcycles in big cities of the country, including some 3.8 million in HCM City and 1.7 million in Hanoi. About 57% of motorcycles in HCM City and 59% in Hanoi do not meet the standard on exhaust fumes. Its recent survey shows that the five cities lose some 0.6% of gross domestic products (GDP) annually due to air pollution caused by emission from vehicles. In Hanoi alone, the loss is said to be some VND1 billion per day.
more info->Vietnam this week

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.