Binh Tay Market, I need to go back soon

Binh Tay Market (Vietnamese: Chợ Bình Tây or Chợ Lớn or Chợ Lớn Mới) is the Central Market of Cho Lon in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Local Vietnamese refer to it as Chợ Lớn, while local Vietnamese-Chinese refer it as 堤岸 - 新街市 "The New Market of Chợ Lớn", and the Chinese other than those living in Vietnam known it only as 堤岸 (Dī'àn, or literally, "embankment"). Read More at Wikipedia

Front of market area

Goodies for sale

Wondering the small aisles of the market

Bamboo and other goodies for sale

Dried Fruits

Fresh produce

Everything for the alter

Lunch is ready

Statues and light

Need a bowl?

Ceramic bowls

Eggs and eggs and eggs..............

Red hot

Kitchen goodies

Selection of hats

Temple inside the markets

Xe Om (moto taxi's) waiting for a fare

Road at the front of the market

Entrance to Binh Tay Market

Street Vendor

Guess who

fruit sellers

Fruit Seller in front of Market

Fan Si Pan, Vietnam's highest mountain

Sa Pa District is located in Lao Cai Province, north-west Vietnam, and 350 km north-west of Hanoi, close to the border with China. The Hoang Lien Son range of mountains dominates the district, which is at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas. This range includes Vietnam's highest mountain, Fan Si Pan, at a height of 3142m above sea level. The town of Sa Pa lies at an altitude of about 1600 m. The climate is moderate and rainy in summer (May—August), and foggy and cold with occasional snowfalls in winter

Sapa Rice Fields II

   Images by Chuck Kuhn

Thanh Nien Daily | Suspect diabetes drug still sold in Vietnam

Last updated: 11/19/2010 13:35

Mediator tables, banned in several European countries on health concerns, are still widely sold in the country

The diabetes and weight loss drug Mediator, recently linked to 500 deaths worldwide, and banned in some Europe countries is still being sold widely in Vietnam.

The French Health Minister had recently warned any users of the drug — the brand name for benflourex in France — between 2006 and 2009 to see their doctor and get tested immediately for heart valve damage.

It followed a warning by France’s drug safety body l’Afssaps on Mediator’s active ingredient benfluorex. Since its launch in 1976, “analyses by expert epidemiologists estimate that about 500 deaths could be attributable to benfluorex,” it said.

The drug, produced by France-based pharmaceutical giant Servier, has been banned in France, the United States, Spain and Italy.

The European Medicines Agency pulled benflourex from the market November last year, saying it had little effect on diabetes and might lead to a dangerous thickening of heart valves.

Meanwhile Vietnam Drug Administration at the Health Ministry issued a statement on August 30 this year calling for the withdrawal of the drug's registration, only after requested by Servier.

Local health agencies and hospitals only received the order about withdrawing the registration two weeks after that.

And the administration still allows the batches that are produced before August 30 to be sold until they expire.

A pharmacist named M. in Ho Chi Minh City said according to the administration, many Mediator batches will still be on the market for three to four years from now.

The pharmacist said the administration might be helping importers to sell all the drugs they have bought. “Then what about people’s health?”

Several pharmacies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City said they haven't received any notice from the authorities, but were only informed in recent months by Mediator distributors that they would stop supplying the drug.

Most users were not updated about possible dangers of the drug but only know that it is no longer sold overseas. Thus many drug stores in HCMC have been charging more for the tablets.

Mediator has been sold on Vietnam market for around 20 years. It has been used by around 5 million people worldwide since 1976.

Reported by Thanh Tung - Lien Chau

Turkey countdown

Turkey countdown

Last updated: 11/19/2010 10:00

Turkey is a traditional dish on Thanksgiving Day, which falls on November 25 this year

Only two weeks until Thanksgiving… do you know where your turkey is?
Thanksgiving Day has become America’s day to eat.
Every year, right around this time, US newspapers abound with pie recipes and methods for staving off Turkey-induced comas.
The holiday allegedly dates back to the 17th century when a group of Native Americans made the mistake of giving food to a starving group of European settlers.
(They’re like raccoons, if you feed them, you’ll only attract more!)
In 1863, after a great number of America’s gracious Indians had been displaced, killed or relocated, the United States declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Every year afterward, on the fourth Thursday of every November, Americans have gathered together to give thanks. Most families gather to eat a tremendous feast and express feelings of thankfulness and gratitude to their family, friends and neighbors.
The more likely scenario, however, is that everyone gets together and drinks and eats too much.
Here in Ho Chi Minh City, famous chefs in five-star restaurants are amassing intricate menus and rolling up their sleeves to prepare a nice and meaningful dinner for their customers on Thanksgiving Day.
The kitchen staff at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel are busily crafting a buffet for Thanksgiving Day at the Café Rivoli Restaurant.
The restaurant, bedecked in elegant and modern décor will stock a full buffet featuring fresh roasted turkey and all the traditional trimmings.
The dessert menu is slated to feature cheesecake, traditional apple pie and fresh fruit accompanied by free drink.

WHERE TO GO

Customers can go to the following restaurants in HCMC to enjoy a Thanksgiving Day dinner: Café Rivoli Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel 17 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1 Tel: (08) 3 824 1555 Email: fb@sofitelsaigon.com.vn Nineteen Ground Floor Caravelle Hotel 19 Lam Son Square, District 1 Tel: (08) 3 823 4999 Email: fbd@caravellehotel.vnn.vn Atrium Café Legend Hotel Saigon 2A-4A Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1 Tel: (08) 3 823 3333

The Thanksgiving Day party will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on November 25. Admission will cost VND750,000++ for an adult, VND375,000++ for a child from six to 12 and free for kids under five years old.
For those interested in eating their Thanksgiving meal in a homier atmosphere (or tricking their in-laws into believing that they can cook) the five-star hotel will be selling turkey and other Thanksgiving essentials at their Gourmand shop in the lobby.
A kilogram of a roast turkey and condiments will sell for VND495,000++.
The hotel has already begun taking orders for whole birds (cooked, of course). Orders must be placed at least one day prior to your pick-up date.
If you do attempt to cook an entire Thanksgiving meal and fail, consider Nineteen Restaurant, located in the luxurious downtown Caravelle Hotel.
The hotel staff is gearing up to carve whole roasted turkeys and serve out traditional condiments – stuffing, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce.
The traditionally terrestrial menu will be accompanied by a bountiful seafood selection of oysters, salmon fillets, marinated sea-bass, king prawns, and flower crabs, cooked to order and accompanied by a host of delicious sauces.
Caviar and fish roe stations will offer sea grapes, salmon roe, lumpfish (black and red).
The main selections will be accompanied by appetizers, soup, cheese plates, roasted meats and desserts. The buffet will cost VND938,000++ per person.
Customers can also pass by Legend Hotel Saigon to enjoy a buffet at Atrium Café Restaurant.
The buffet lunch will cost VND420,000++ for an adult and entire Thanksgiving meal and fail, consider Nineteen Restaurant, located in the luxurious downtown Caravelle Hotel.
The hotel staff is gearing up to carve whole roasted turkeys and serve out traditional condiments – stuffing, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce.
The traditionally terrestrial menu will be accompanied by a bountiful seafood selection of oysters, salmon fillets, marinated sea-bass, king prawns, and flower crabs, cooked to order and accompanied by a host of delicious sauces.
Caviar and fish roe stations will offer sea grapes, salmon roe, lumpfish (black and red).
The main selections will be accompanied by appetizers, soup, cheese plates, roasted meats and desserts. The buffet will cost VND938,000++ per person.
Customers can also pass by Legend Hotel Saigon to enjoy a buffet at Atrium Café Restaurant.
The buffet lunch will cost VND420,000++ for an adult and VND210,000++ for a child, including soft drinks, tea and coffee.
The buffet supper costs VND760,000++ for an adult and VND380,000++ for a child, including wine, tea, soft drinks, beer and coffee.

Reported by Nguyet Anh

Vietnam latest news| Turkey countdown

Turkey countdown

Last updated: 11/19/2010 10:00

Turkey is a traditional dish on Thanksgiving Day, which falls on November 25 this year

Only two weeks until Thanksgiving… do you know where your turkey is?

Thanksgiving Day has become America’s day to eat.

Every year, right around this time, US newspapers abound with pie recipes and methods for staving off Turkey-induced comas.

The holiday allegedly dates back to the 17th century when a group of Native Americans made the mistake of giving food to a starving group of European settlers.

(They’re like raccoons, if you feed them, you’ll only attract more!)

In 1863, after a great number of America’s gracious Indians had been displaced, killed or relocated, the United States declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Every year afterward, on the fourth Thursday of every November, Americans have gathered together to give thanks. Most families gather to eat a tremendous feast and express feelings of thankfulness and gratitude to their family, friends and neighbors.

The more likely scenario, however, is that everyone gets together and drinks and eats too much.

Here in Ho Chi Minh City, famous chefs in five-star restaurants are amassing intricate menus and rolling up their sleeves to prepare a nice and meaningful dinner for their customers on Thanksgiving Day.

The kitchen staff at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel are busily crafting a buffet for Thanksgiving Day at the Café Rivoli Restaurant.

The restaurant, bedecked in elegant and modern décor will stock a full buffet featuring fresh roasted turkey and all the traditional trimmings.

The dessert menu is slated to feature cheesecake, traditional apple pie and fresh fruit accompanied by free drink.

WHERE TO GO

Customers can go to the following restaurants in HCMC to enjoy a Thanksgiving Day dinner: Café Rivoli Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel 17 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1 Tel: (08) 3 824 1555 Email: fb@sofitelsaigon.com.vn Nineteen Ground Floor Caravelle Hotel 19 Lam Son Square, District 1 Tel: (08) 3 823 4999 Email: fbd@caravellehotel.vnn.vn Atrium Café Legend Hotel Saigon 2A-4A Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1 Tel: (08) 3 823 3333

The Thanksgiving Day party will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on November 25. Admission will cost VND750,000++ for an adult, VND375,000++ for a child from six to 12 and free for kids under five years old.

For those interested in eating their Thanksgiving meal in a homier atmosphere (or tricking their in-laws into believing that they can cook) the five-star hotel will be selling turkey and other Thanksgiving essentials at their Gourmand shop in the lobby.

A kilogram of a roast turkey and condiments will sell for VND495,000++.

The hotel has already begun taking orders for whole birds (cooked, of course). Orders must be placed at least one day prior to your pick-up date.

If you do attempt to cook an entire Thanksgiving meal and fail, consider Nineteen Restaurant, located in the luxurious downtown Caravelle Hotel.

The hotel staff is gearing up to carve whole roasted turkeys and serve out traditional condiments – stuffing, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce.

The traditionally terrestrial menu will be accompanied by a bountiful seafood selection of oysters, salmon fillets, marinated sea-bass, king prawns, and flower crabs, cooked to order and accompanied by a host of delicious sauces.

Caviar and fish roe stations will offer sea grapes, salmon roe, lumpfish (black and red).

The main selections will be accompanied by appetizers, soup, cheese plates, roasted meats and desserts. The buffet will cost VND938,000++ per person.

Customers can also pass by Legend Hotel Saigon to enjoy a buffet at Atrium Café Restaurant.

The buffet lunch will cost VND420,000++ for an adult and entire Thanksgiving meal and fail, consider Nineteen Restaurant, located in the luxurious downtown Caravelle Hotel.

The hotel staff is gearing up to carve whole roasted turkeys and serve out traditional condiments – stuffing, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce.

The traditionally terrestrial menu will be accompanied by a bountiful seafood selection of oysters, salmon fillets, marinated sea-bass, king prawns, and flower crabs, cooked to order and accompanied by a host of delicious sauces.

Caviar and fish roe stations will offer sea grapes, salmon roe, lumpfish (black and red).

The main selections will be accompanied by appetizers, soup, cheese plates, roasted meats and desserts. The buffet will cost VND938,000++ per person.

Customers can also pass by Legend Hotel Saigon to enjoy a buffet at Atrium Café Restaurant.

The buffet lunch will cost VND420,000++ for an adult and VND210,000++ for a child, including soft drinks, tea and coffee.

The buffet supper costs VND760,000++ for an adult and VND380,000++ for a child, including wine, tea, soft drinks, beer and coffee.

Reported by Nguyet Anh

VietNamNet - Discovering one of oddest houses in the world | Discovering one of oddest houses in the world

Discovering one of oddest houses in the world

VietNamNet Bridge – Coming to the resort city of Da Lat in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, visitors should not forget to call at a very special house named Crazy House.

This unique architectural work has been selected by People’s Daily as one of the ten strangest houses in the world.

The house was built in 1990 on a plot of land of nearly 2000 square meters at 3 Huynh Thuc Khang road, by architect, Dr. Dang Viet Nga.

The house was initially called the Hang Nga villa (villa of the moon) and then Crazy House.

Below are some pictures of the house:

Source: Dan Tri

Discovering one of oddest houses in the world | Discovering one of oddest houses in the world

Discovering one of oddest houses in the world

VietNamNet Bridge – Coming to the resort city of Da Lat in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, visitors should not forget to call at a very special house named Crazy House.

This unique architectural work has been selected by People’s Daily as one of the ten strangest houses in the world.

The house was built in 1990 on a plot of land of nearly 2000 square meters at 3 Huynh Thuc Khang road, by architect, Dr. Dang Viet Nga.

The house was initially called the Hang Nga villa (villa of the moon) and then Crazy House.

Below are some pictures of the house:

Source: Dan Tri