Wednesday, August 31, 2011

World's largest Solar Powered Ship

World’s largest solar-powered ship visits Vietnam

September 1, 2011 about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - MS Turanor PlanetSolar, the world’s largest solar-powered boat arrived at Vietnam’s Nha Trang Bay on August 28, during its around-the-world tour.

In the boat’s logbook, sailors wrote that the conditions in the East Sea were wonderful, except for the high temperature. The temperature inside the boat reached 43oC and 41oC outside.
The ship will stay in Vietnam for several days. It will welcome Vietnamese visitors on September 1.
Before coming to Vietnam, the boat landed in Hong Kong. After leaving Nha Trang, it will go to Singapore.
With a Swiss flag, the boat was built in Germany at the coast of $17 million. The Turanor began its around-the-globe campaign on September 27th, 2010, sailing from Monaco and travelling 37,000 kilometers so far, using only energy generated from the sun.

The ship’s scheduled journey.

The 95-ton vessel is covered by 530 square meters of solar panels that provide up to 95 kilowatts. It is exclusively powered by 38,000 solar cells. Raphael Domjan, PlanetSolar’s founder and co-skipper of Turanor, said his vision was to show the world that technology could help solve such problems as climate change and rising energy costs.
Mr. Domjan said he was confident that the cost of renewable energy would eventually go down. “One day, the cost of having solar power plants at your home will be cheaper than buying electricity from nuclear or oil-powered plants,” he said.
It is scheduled to complete the expedition by late April or early May 2012.
The ship during its around-the-world tour:

At Hong Kong Port on August 19.
In Miami on November 27, 2010.

In Cancun on December 7, 2010.

At Panama canal on January 19, 2011.

At the port of Marquesas Islands on March 5, 2010.

In Tahiti on March 25, 2011.

New Caledonia on May 12, 2011.

Australia on June 18, 2011.

Manila on July 27, 2011.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Vietnamese brands unknown

Vietnamese goods flooding world markets, but Vietnamese brands unknown

August 29, 2011 about Uncategorized

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has been well-known as a
big exporter and Vietnamese goods have been consumed all over the world.
However, very few consumers can cite specific trademarks of Vietnam.

Dr Nguyen Quoc Thinh from
the Brand Center
of the University of Trade, said that when he attended an exhibition
organized recently in the US,
he and the colleagues asked 127 US consumers about the perception of the
Vietnamese brands.

Only 12 of the polled people
said they know Vietnamese goods in the US, and only three could name three
Vietnamese brands: Pho 24 (noodle soup), Vinacafe (coffee) and Tosy (toy).

The above mentioned example
shows that though Vietnam
keeps exporting goods to the world and plays a certain role in the world
market, Vietnamese enterprises still do not succeed in building up strong
brands to make Vietnamese products better known to the world’s consumers.

Thinh has also talked about
Vietnamese tra and basa fish, which have become more famous after the lawsuit
raised by the US catfish farmers’ association against Vietnamese seafood
processing companies.

Though Vietnam is leading the world in terms of the
output and export turnover of catfish, Vietnamese tra and basa fish products,
which have been present in 125 markets, still bear the brands of importers when
they enter the US
market. This explains why few US
consumers know that these are the products of Vietnam.

Of course, the fact that
Vietnamese products cannot bear Vietnamese brands has led to the loss of
multi-billion dollars to Vietnamese enterprises. Though Vietnam has been well aware of the
importance of the branding strategy, it still does not succeed in building up
strong brands.

Vietnam, like Columbia, is a
big coffee exporter, but Columbia’s
coffee has been well known in the world. Dr Tran Le Hong from the National
Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP), said that a federation of Columbian
coffee growers was established in 1927, which then rapidly opened marketing
offices in New York and London. In 1960, the organization hired a New
York-based company to build a strategy on doing the marketing in the US
market, and then organized marketing activities continuously from 1960s to
1980s in the market.

As a result, Columbian
coffee has been well known among US consumers and become one of the five
leading brands recognized by consumers.

The good branding strategy
has helped Columbia export 10-12 million bags of coffee a year, though Columbia
only has 527,000 growers, while Uganda, which has 1.25 million growers, can
only export three million bags a year. Especially, Columbian coffee is even
more expensive than Brazilian products.

Experts and government
agencies have urged enterprises to draw up detailed strategies to develop their
brands in long term. Nguyen Thanh Bien, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade,
said that as Vietnam
has become the biggest or the second biggest exporter of many kinds of
products, especially pepper, rice, coffee and cashew nuts, and it needs to pay
more attention to build up brands which allow obtaining high added values and
sustainable export growth.

Thinh has urged government
agencies and enterprises to take full advantage of the lawsuit raised by the US
against Vietnamese tra fish, which has made Vietnamese tra fish more famous, to
build a tra fish collective brand.

However, the experts and
government agencies have admitted that this would be really a difficult task;
therefore, Vietnamese enterprises need the support from the State. The Vietnam
Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade has revealed
that the national branding development program is cooperating with business
associations, to consider applying the model on collective brand development.
Besides, the agency will also help enterprises in protecting the intellectual
property of Vietnamese products in order to increase the recognition of foreign
consumers about Vietnamese products.

C. V

Friday, August 26, 2011

Look at Vietnam-Beauty of Life

Beauty of life in central Vietnam

August 26, 2011 about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - Old temples, towers, young couples, young girls in ao daiâ€¦ are beautiful moments captured by photographers which are introduced at the Photo Exhibition of the Central and Central Highland Regions.

Young girls and spring by Nguyen Dong from Khanh Hoa province. The photo wins the
gold medal of the 16th Photo Festival of the Central and Central Highland Regions,
which opened in Quang Ngai on August 24.

A photo by Le Minh The from Quang Ngai province, which won the silver medal.

“Twin Tower Festival” by Pham Van Chai from Binh Dinh province.

“Crossing Waves” by Dang Ke Duc from Quang Nam province.

“Happiness” by Nguyen Quang from Da Nang City.

“Go Gang palm-leaf conical hat market” by Vo Chi Ha from Binh Dinh province.

“Happiness in new wind” by Tran Vinh Nghia.

“The rhythm in sedge field” by Le Chau Dao from Phu Yen province.

“My hometown” by Dieu Chinh from Kon Tum province.

The photo festival selects 150 photos by 80 authors out of 1,375 submissions by
211 photographers for display.

General Vo Nguyen Giap photos by Tran Tuan

The man who took photos of General Giap for 35 years

August 25, 2011 about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - “I take photos of General Vo Nguyen Giap, as a son takes photos of his father,” says journalist, photographer Tran Tuan.

Journalist Tran Tuan and General Vo Nguyen Giap.

2011 is a very special year for Tran Tuan, a correspondent of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA). On the occasion of the 100th birthday of General Vo Nguyen Giap, he has completed a photo book entitled “101 moments about General Vo Nguyen Giap”. By early August, he organized photo exhibitions of General Vo Nguyen Giap in five provinces. Most of the photos in the photo book and photo exhibitions are made public for the first time.
Tuan said that he met with the legendary general the first time in Hue city in 1976. At that time he was a correspondent of the VNA at the Hue branch. Since then, he followed the general to the southern battlefield.
“The first time I took photo of the General, besides my admiration and my love to him, I knew that it was the destiny between me and him. I knew that I would take photos of his daily moments and preserve them,” Tuan said.
After a long trip to the southern battlefield with the General in 1976, he returned to Hanoi and had chance to see the General often. He will never forget the General’s statement when Tuan paid a visit to the General in Hanoi: “I appreciate Mr. Tuan. Wherever I go, I ask the office (his office) to inform Mr. Tuan so he can follow me.”
That statement opened Tuan’s period of 35 years following the General, with many valuable memories.
As the only correspondent escorting the General during many business trips, Tuan had opportunity to record unique moments of the general.
Tuan said that to pursue his passion of taking daily moments of the legendary general, he ignored many opportunities of promotion. He has taken thousands of photos of General Vo Nguyen Giap, which he has not made public yet.
“Besides my assignments, I followed the General to take photos of him for myself only. I spent my salary in purchasing films because it is my personal job,” he said.
“Some people commented that I took photos of the General as a son takes photos of his father. It is true!”
With thousands of photos about the legendary general, Tuan wished to open an exhibition and publish a photo book but until late 2010, he got the General’s permission.
“I asked for his permission many times, but he said it was unnecessary and I should open photo exhibitions of soldiers, war invalids and martyrs who have sacrificed for the country,” Tuan said.
Unique moments of General Vo Nguyen Giap:

One year after the country’s unification (1975), General Vo Nguyen Giap paid a visit to the
military command of Thua Thien-Hue province. In this photo Major general Le Nam
Khanh introduced officials of the military command of Thua Thien-Hue province to the General.

This picture was taken in 1976 at Thien My pagoda, in Hue city. Senior monk Thich
Don Hau, Chairman of the Committee for Peace, Unification and Democracy of the
National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam talks with Party Secretary General,
Le Duan (first from the right) and General, Commander-in-chief Vo Nguyen Giap.

General Vo Nguyen Giap visited the tea shop of Tran Thi Tinh, an artist of the
art troupe of Ha Tuyen province in 1990.

Senior lieutenant colonel–war-invalid painter, Le Duy Ung, portraited the
General in 1993. The work was completed within one hour. According
to Tran Tuan, this is one of the most beautiful portraits of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

General Vo Nguyen Giap received former US Secretary of Defense, Mc
Namara at the Government Guest House in June 1997.

The General paid a visit to an oil and gas work in Vung Tau city in 1996.

He listened to Dr. Nguyen Sy Hung (first from the right), Chairman of the Management
Board of Vietnam Airlines introduced a new aircraft model in 2004.

50 years after the Dien Bien Phu Victory, he told Senior Lieutenant General,
Tran Sam: “It is very good to see each others here!”

At the meeting to celebrate the 50th Dien Bien Phu Victory, the General could not
hold his tears when he talked about martyrs.

The General listened to the story of Nam Duoc, former Chairman of the War of Resistance
Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province in 1946-1952, about the hard fight during the war
of resistance against the French. General Vo Nguyen Giap took a siesta in Cu Chi, HCM City.
Journalist, photographer Tran Tuan and General Vo Nguyen Giap.

VNE

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

China losing in Asia

China losing Asian popularity contest

August 24, 2011 about News, Politics

Though China purses a “good neighbor policy” in Asia, it faces increasing criticism from regional officials, media and populations. It seems the time is ripe for Beijing to review and improve its Asia strategy.

The latest challenge came from Japan. On August 10, chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano said Japan would dispatch its Self-Defense Forces should a foreign country invade the (disputed) Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu islands by China). “If other countries invade the islands, [Japan will] invoke the right of self-defense and remove them by making any sacrifice,” Edano said in Tokyo, apparently referring to China’s naval activities in the region.
Edano made the remarks after the publication of the 2011 Japan Defense White Paper, which had been approved by Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s cabinet a week earlier. That paper described China’s stance in its maritime territorial disputes with its neighbors as “assertive”.
“Given the modernization of China’s naval and air forces in recent years, its sphere of influence is likely to grow beyond its neighboring waters â€¦ It is expected that China will try to keep expanding the area of activities, and to make naval activities a routine practice in waters surrounding Japan including the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, as well as in the South China Sea (East Sea).” China described the paper as “irresponsible”, rejecting the suggestion that its ongoing military modernization would impact on its regional neighbors.
Before the Japanese paper, the Philippines dispatched five congressmen and some military officials to Pagasa Island on June 20. As these officials landed on the island - some singing the national anthem with Filipino residents - China’s foreign minister was at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum in Bali, Indonesia, seeking ways to ease tensions in the East Sea.
Earlier, Vietnam and the Philippines strongly protested Chinese ships’ harassment of their ships in the East Sea.
Criticism has even come from Singapore, which has no territorial disputes with China and is considered to have a friendlier stance in Southeast Asia. Earlier this year, senior statesman Lee Kuan Yew said he would like the United States rather than China as a hegemon in Asia, because he saw the US as more benevolent.
Around the region, anti-Chinese rhetoric can often be found in government officials’ speeches and media commentaries.
No other big power like the US, the European Union or even India is subject to so many unfriendly or hostile accusations from its neighbors. Such remarks don’t reflect well on China’s efforts to build and enhance friendly relations with its neighbors under its “good neighbor policy” policy.
The diplomatic policy is based on four strategic principles: big powers are key partners, neighboring countries are primary partners, developing countries are the foundation of China’s diplomacy and multilateral institutions are important platforms.
In order to implement the strategy of making neighboring countries primary partners, Beijing adheres to the principles of “dealing with neighboring countries as partners and treating them with goodwill” and of “building an amicable, tranquil and prosperous neighborhood”.
In April at the Bo’ao Asia Forum, a regional platform for economic integration, Chinese President Hu Jintao said that to build a harmonious Asia, countries needed to respect the diversity of civilizations and promote neighborly relations.
“We need to transform the development pattern and promote all-round development … We need to share development opportunities and meet challenges together … We need to seek common ground while shelving difference and enhancing common security … We need to champion mutual benefit and deepen regional cooperation,” said Hu.
Under its “good neighbors policy”, Beijing naturally considers improving relations with ASEAN an important strategic task. China has built up a strategic partnership with the 10-member ASEAN since 2003, and also with some of its members, one after another.
Despite all China’s efforts to improve relations with its neighbors, especially those in Southeast Asia, it seems many mistrust a smiling Middle Kingdom. And it seems likely that as China expands its influence due to its growing economic and military strength, these neighboring countries will dislike China even more.
So why is China failing to win these countries over? There are several reasons: some may be traced to concerned neighbors, others derive from within China itself.
Firstly, there are historical reasons. Throughout ancient history, some Asian countries under the influence of Confucian civilization would pay tribute to China’s imperial courts, including in today’s Vietnam, Korea and Japan. Some other non-Confucianized Southeast Asian countries (including today’s Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand) also have a record of paying tributes to China as required by its emperors.
Some Southeast Asia countries were under the threat of China’s “export of revolution” in the 1950s and 1960s, and there was a border war between China and Vietnam in 1979.
Perhaps the biggest factor damaging mutual-trust and undermining efforts to build partnerships are bilateral disputes over territorial sovereignty. China has water and/or island territorial disputes in the East Sea or East China Sea with Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Japan.
For many East and Southeast Asian countries, China’s growing economic, military and political influence in Asia reminds them of the China-centered tributary system in history, in which vassals around the Middle Kingdom had to acknowledge China’s dominance in the region. Fears about the return of a new China-centered tributary system perhaps remain a psychological barrier for some countries when it comes to believing in Beijing’s good neighbor policy.
Poor relations between China and its neighbors also partially result from China’s domestic conditions. While China has long given up the “export of revolution”, it has yet to clarify its strategic intent of military modernization. For many neighboring countries, for such a big power to lack a clearly defined global strategy is dangerous.
Naturally, given China’s size and population, as well as its deep cultural influence, strong economic muscle and military power, any relatively smaller and weaker country in Asia is suspicious and frightened over what move the big dragon will take.
To address this, in addition to making verbal pledges, China has to make real efforts to show it will contribute to the benefit and stability of the region when needed. For instance, in the aftermath of the ongoing global financial crisis, China should have taken the lead to jointly build a sound regional financial system that stabilized the regional financial market.
China should honor its commitment to a peaceful rise with concrete measures to help safeguard regional security and ensure peace in the region.
As in China, nationalistic sentiments are growing across Asia, with economic reasons encouraging governments - backed by the US - to take more adventurous policy steps and challenge China.
Needless to say, Asia’s current political tensions, arms races, hostility and long-lasting disputes are not the ideal choice for the region. Because of the complex state of relations, China and its neighbors must devote more time and effort to building genuine partnerships.
China should act as a responsible actor that consistently adheres to shared principles; it should have a clear-cut, operational and pragmatic Asia strategy.
Under this policy, Beijing should function as a stabilizing economic power. This would require China to be more innovative in international finance areas, and more courageous in initiating reforms of existing financial systems.
China should help ensure regional public security with its growing military capability. Beijing should be broader-minded than its neighbors in regard to the use of its military to maintain regional stability by fighting piracy, terrorism and other international crimes in the Pacific Ocean. Instead of flexing its military muscle in territorial disputes, China should encourage political, economic and cultural integration in East and Southeast Asia.
All in all, China should reshape its Asia strategy with an aim to functioning as a stabilizing force, while maintaining its strategy to keep a balance with the influence of the US in this region.
China must show its goodwill and sincerity with words and deeds in carrying out these policies to the letter. Only in this way can it rise peacefully without causing alarm and be considered as a friend by its Asian neighbors.
China’s Asia strategy should go beyond only seeking mutual economic benefits and encompass the responsibility to help maintain financial, maritime and political stability.
Dr Jian Junbo/atimes
Dr. Jian Junbo is an assistant professor of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai, China, is currently an academic visitor at London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Quiet pains of lesbians August 21, 2011 about Uncategorized LookAtVietnam - Holding her husband’s hand at the wedding ceremony, but Thi was very sad. Her efforts to love a man seemed to nearly break into tears but she could not cry because this is the right thing to do. The wedding day is the happiest day for any girl but for Thi, 31, in Dong Da district, Hanoi is opposite. That day is the full stop for her aspiration to live with her self – a lesbian. As a schoolgirl, Thi knew that she only liked girls. Growing up, she had a girlfriend though many guys paid court to her. But Thi did not dare to tell her parents about her absurd love affair. Thi’s parents have three children. The eldest daughter – Thi’s elder sister – is over 40 years old but she does not want to get married. The youngest son returned home after several years working far from home, with a daughter. Thi, therefore, became the only hope of her parents. After Thi’s girlfriend said goodbye after four years to get married, Thi thought that the right direction for her was to be a woman to please her parents and to be normal as others. After having affairs with three men, Thi decided to marry, though she did not love him. She forced herself to show her love for him to progress to marriage. But finally, the marriage broke up because she could not leave that way. Like Thi, under family’s pressure, Duong, 25 in An Giang province, tried to deny herself as a lesbian to get married. But it turns out that it is a wrong decision. The new life is a torture. She never feels wretched like that. Duong’s husband doesn’t harass or neglect her, but he is very kind and pampers his wife. Duong, thus, feels guilty and is frightened. “If he was cold to me, I would have felt more comfortable. Whenever the night comes, I’m very scared because I have to sleep with him. I want to seek reasons to divorce but he is so kind,” Duong said. Duong sees her husband as a friend. Her heart directs to another girl. Nguyen Quynh Trang, an official from the Institute for Social, Economic and Environment Research, says that many lesbians have the same choice like Duong and Thi. They choose it for themselves and for their parents. They are frightened to live differently from others. The Institute for Social, Economic and Environment Research recently conducted a survey on lesbians in Hanoi, with the participation of 40 lesbians, aging from 19 to 30. Most of them are single but some of them tried to have relationships with men or plan to get married to be normal. “I’m independent but I’m not sure whether I can live this way – getting married or simply living together with a girl. I understand what I want but I know my responsibility to my family,” said Van, 25. But Van still wonders whether she can overcome her own barrier to have relations with men or not. Many parents think simply that if their daughters, who are lesbians, have boyfriends and get married, their problem is solved. But it is not so simple like this. “Trying to be heterosexuals, many lesbians have tried to have boyfriends and get married but they could not love the men. Once they do things that are contrary to their wishes or love, they cannot feel peaceful or happy,” Trang said. “Some parents think that forcing their daughters to change their sexual trend to be heterosexuals is to help them become ‘normal’. But homosexuality is normal for homosexuals in general and lesbians in particular. Forcing them to change their sexual trend makes them become abnormal,” she added. Knowing his daughter falling in love with a girl, the father cheated his daughter to take sleeping pills and sleep with a man. The father hoped that his daughter would have to accept the man that way. But when the girl woke up, she went mad. “Whenever I closed my eyes at night, I see my daughter gradually dieing in whirl pool. She called me to help but I turned my back to herâ€¦,” said Mr. Tan in Hanoi, the father in this story. A member of the survey group, Nguyen Thi Thu Nam, said that some people accept their daughters as lesbians but they are influenced by people around them. “My parents used to sympathize with me but whenever they saw someone on the street and they asked my parents about me, such as how is your daughter? Has she got married?… they returned home very angry and scolded me,” a 21-year-old lesbian told the survey group. Nam said that the community should be sympathetic with homosexuals and their families. Supportive services for homosexuals and their parents are also needed to assist them to cope with social problems. Nguyen Van Anh, a senior official from the Centre for Gender Research and Scientific Application, said that preconception against gays has become more gentle, but it is still very heavy against lesbians. PV

Quiet pains of lesbians

August 21, 2011 about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - Holding her husband’s hand at the
wedding ceremony, but Thi was very sad. Her efforts to love a man seemed to
nearly break into tears but she could not cry because this is the right thing to
do.

The wedding day is the happiest day for any girl but for
Thi, 31, in Dong Da district, Hanoi is opposite. That day is the full stop for
her aspiration to live with her self – a lesbian.

As a schoolgirl, Thi knew that she only liked girls.
Growing up, she had a girlfriend though many guys paid court to her. But Thi did
not dare to tell her parents about her absurd love affair.

Thi’s parents have three children. The eldest daughter –
Thi’s elder sister – is over 40 years old but she does not want to get married.
The youngest son returned home after several years working far from home, with a
daughter. Thi, therefore, became the only hope of her parents.

After Thi’s girlfriend said goodbye after four years to get
married, Thi thought that the right direction for her was to be a woman to
please her parents and to be normal as others.

After having affairs with three men, Thi decided to marry,
though she did not love him. She forced herself to show her love for him to
progress to marriage. But finally, the marriage broke up because she could not
leave that way.

Like Thi, under family’s pressure, Duong, 25 in An Giang
province, tried to deny herself as a lesbian to get married. But it turns out
that it is a wrong decision. The new life is a torture. She never feels wretched
like that.

Duong’s husband doesn’t harass or neglect her, but he is
very kind and pampers his wife. Duong, thus, feels guilty and is frightened. “If
he was cold to me, I would have felt more comfortable. Whenever the night comes,
I’m very scared because I have to sleep with him. I want to seek reasons to
divorce but he is so kind,” Duong said.

Duong sees her husband as a friend. Her heart directs to
another girl.

Nguyen Quynh Trang, an official from the Institute for
Social, Economic and Environment Research, says that many lesbians have the same
choice like Duong and Thi. They choose it for themselves and for their parents.
They are frightened to live differently from others.

The Institute for Social, Economic and Environment Research
recently conducted a survey on lesbians in Hanoi, with the participation of 40
lesbians, aging from 19 to 30. Most of them are single but some of them tried to
have relationships with men or plan to get married to be normal.

“I’m independent but I’m not sure whether I can live this
way – getting married or simply living together with a girl. I understand what I
want but I know my responsibility to my family,” said Van, 25.

But Van still wonders whether she can overcome her own
barrier to have relations with men or not.

Many parents think simply that if their daughters, who are
lesbians, have boyfriends and get married, their problem is solved. But it is
not so simple like this.

“Trying to be heterosexuals, many lesbians have tried to
have boyfriends and get married but they could not love the men. Once they do
things that are contrary to their wishes or love, they cannot feel peaceful or
happy,” Trang said.

“Some parents think that forcing their daughters to change
their sexual trend to be heterosexuals is to help them become ‘normal’. But
homosexuality is normal for homosexuals in general and lesbians in particular.
Forcing them to change their sexual trend makes them become abnormal,” she
added.

Knowing his daughter falling in love with a girl, the
father cheated his daughter to take sleeping pills and sleep with a man. The
father hoped that his daughter would have to accept the man that way. But when
the girl woke up, she went mad.

“Whenever I closed my eyes at night, I see my daughter
gradually dieing in whirl pool. She called me to help but I turned my back to
herâ€¦,” said Mr. Tan in Hanoi, the father in this story.

A member of the survey group, Nguyen Thi Thu Nam, said that
some people accept their daughters as lesbians but they are influenced by people
around them.

“My parents used to sympathize with me but whenever they
saw someone on the street and they asked my parents about me, such as how is
your daughter? Has she got married?… they returned home very angry and scolded
me,” a 21-year-old lesbian told the survey group.

Nam said that the community should be sympathetic with
homosexuals and their families. Supportive services for homosexuals and their
parents are also needed to assist them to cope with social problems.

Nguyen Van Anh, a senior official from the Centre for
Gender Research and Scientific Application, said that