My Birthday in Vietnam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DgdKshXatM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY16KT-uPow

Guess who's first day at work ... observing another class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJx4aPm-xtM

Stocking Street

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2cMb3LCQuk

The Towers

I finished work last night and went back into the office. All the lights were out because everyone had gone home or to the pub. I switched on the lights and saw all the photocopy paper boxes on the other side of the desk. The guy who works across from me has been away so some of my colleagues have prepared a "Welcom Back" for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQcMcjucvao

Marching Baby, Banners & Parades

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq0Qp_DwIvI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TJhzCvUFyc

Vietnam - quaint but posionous

Lead contamination in Hanoi food
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Social-Isssues/210894/Lead-contamination-found-in-Ha-Noi-food.html


Dengue fever in Hai Ba Trung area
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Social-Isssues/210678/Hanoians-warned-about-dengue-fever-outbreaks.html


Deadly additives in foods that changes pork to taste like beef - used in restaurants around the Old Quarter (meat so I'm safe)
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Social-Isssues/210724/Health-agency-launches-hunt-for-deadly-%E2%80%98beef-extract-.html


"By the end of 2010, there were 33 million motorbikes and cars in Vietnam, including 1.4 million cars."

So, according to the above figures, Vietnam is host to 31.6 million motorbikes. on 331,698 square kilometres; so that's about 953 motorbikes for every square kilometre.
http://www.lookatvietnam.com/2011/03/air-pollution-alert.html


"Residents living along banks of canals in HCM City discharge waste directly into the canals from 15,000 toilets ... Canals Tham Luong-Ben Cat, Tan Hoa-Lo Gom, Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe and Go Dua have from 300 to 1,000 eggs of parasitic worms per gramme of canal-bed mud, according to the department."
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Social-Isssues/210440/Residents-continue-to-pollute-city-canals.html

"The Old Quarter has a big population, over 60,000 per square kilometre. Some places in the area have only about 2 square metres per person, which is far lower than the standard."
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Opinion/210661/Old-Quarter-relocation-plans-scrutinised.html

A stroll around Lake Hoan Kiem in the evening

People stroll around the lake every evening. It was quieter than usual this evening due to a 4 day public holiday. However, the lake has been decorated with extra baubles and lights to celebrate the holiday. It's a strange juxtaposition; an elegant lake which usually reflects beautiful jade greens and yellow ochres, tarted up with brightly coloured flashy trinkets to meet his visitors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TJhzCvUFyc

Đồng Xuân Market - a weird market in Hanoi

Dong Xuan Market is weird market at the top of Hang Dau - the night market street (note the street undergoes several changes through each block you pass through). I think it's wierd because the y people who work there seem as though they don't particularly like customers. One exception is a group of laughing women about my age sitting (and sometimes sleeping) among the fabrics down a small alleyway on the second floor in the rear building. They always stop to ask my age and compare ageing of hair, skin, etc. between Westerners and Vietnamese - I think I lose!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U9hRA4w0eI

FiviMart - a supermarket chain in Hanoi

Victor loves this supermarket; and a special treat for Helen in the middle.
As you can see, it's easily missed. I found it by accident during Tet when there was barely any traffic and no people were on the street.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tkX0fEj5Q4