Losing Weight With Fruits

Along with a proper regime and physical exercise, regular intake of some fruits can help lose unexpected weight

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), called da chut in the north and da leo in the south, can be eaten fresh or used for pickling. The cucumber has abundant vitamins A, B, C and D, which can help prevent tumors and cure obesity. Intake of cucumber can help purify the blood and dilute uric acid and urate crystals in the blood, which can prevent and treat gout. Eating the fruit, either fresh or cooked, or drinking its juice, is recommended to relieve fever and sore throat, detoxify the body and facilitate urination.

Củ ấu, or water chestnut, is either of the two species: Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis. The water chestnut is a diuretic with rich dietary fiber. It is an ideal food for those who want to lose their extra weight, because regular intake of water chestnuts can help lengthen the feeling of full, thus preventing one from eating snacks or fast food between the major meals. In addition, the nut’s rich vitamins B1, B2 and C can help beautify the skin.

Dragon fruit, called thanh long (literally means “blue dragon”) in Vietnamese, is widely grown in Binh Thuan Province in south-central Vietnam. The ripe, red fruit often has white flesh, but now a strain bearing fruits with red flesh has been successfully developed by many dragon fruit growers in the province. With high contents of water and dietary fiber and a low concentration of sugar, dragon fruit is highly recommended for those with obesity. Its rich vitamin C can also help beautify the skin and lower the blood sugar.

Pomelo (Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis), called bi in Vietnamese, is a popular fruit in southern Vietnam. Its pulp is rich in vitamins A, B1 and C. Vitamin C can help intensify the immune system. Its juice has a high content of antioxidants, which can help lower the cholesterol level in the blood. Intake of half a pomelo fruit every day before meals can help reduce the intake of other foods and therefore can help lose extra weight. The fruit pulp can be prepared into delicious salads or sweet soups.

C sn, also known as c u (Pachyrhizus erosus) contains 2.4-4.5% of glucose, 86-90% of water and 1.46% of protein. It is rich in carbohydrates in the form of dietary fiber, thus, this tuberous root is a food of choice for those who want to lose extra weight. The tuber can be consumed fresh as a fruit with a little salt and dried chili, or as an ingredient for many fried dishes or soups.

Pear (Pyrus communis) is very rich in dietary fiber, which can help those with obesity feel full and not want to eat more. Intake of three pears a day can help lose extra weight efficiently. Intake of the fruit can also help prevent constipation and certain cancer, and lower the cholesterol level in the blood.

Táo ta (literally means “our jujube” – Ziziphus mauritiana) has abundant pectin, which can help relieve the hunger quickly and eliminate the extra amount of fats in the body. Intake of this plum can also supply the body with vitamin C, which intensifies blood vessel wall and the resistance of the body. It is advised to eat the fruit with its rind because the rind contains dietary fiber.

 

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Vietnam singers steal ideas from foreign stars?

Building a personal image has been considered as a good way to promote Vietnamese artists but as more local singers have been caught copying styles from international celebrities, the situation is really alarming.  

After causing scandals with her first novel “Chain” about the sex life of a newly-wedded couple, singer and actress Le Kieu Nhu has recently been criticized for her album titled “Lac Tien” (Paradise), which is eerily the same as a poster from a well-known Chinese model’s online game.

Nhu admitted that the album, shot by photographer Coban, is her very idea and told the media the resemblance is only accidental.

Le Kieu Nhu

A famous Chinese model

Meanwhile, more and more local teen stars have rushed to copycat foreign celebrities’ styles and posture in posing for promotion photos.

Singers Truong Quynh Anh and Baggio copied Korean movie stars Bi Rain and Song Hye Kyo in their poster from the famous Korean TV series “Full House”.

Other singers Cong Khanh, Nam Cuong, Tim, Uyen Thao and Wanbi tried to look exactly the same like the five characters from Korean TV series “Boys over Flower”.

Too unnerving, too accidental!

A photo featuring teen stars Dong Nhi and Khong Tu Quynh is thought to copy the idea from a Disney Channel’s movie Princess Protection Program.

Dong Nhi is the splitting image of Selena Gomez. Wow.

A semi-nude photo of star footballer Cong Vinh and his girlfriend Thuy Tien - a celebrated singer - is criticized as imitating Calvin Klein underwear ad.

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Traders making a killing on small banknotes

Photo: http://www.fast-autos.net

The unofficial market of money exchange is currently enjoying a brisk trade because banks cannot meet the seasonal demand for newly minted small-denomination banknotes for use during Vietnamese Tet holidays, or the Lunar New Year, that falls in early February this year.

During the Tet period, Vietnamese usually put small-denomination notes in red envelopes and present them as lì xì (lucky money) to relatives, especially children, together with all their best wishes.

Despite their claims of adequate supply of small-denomination notes, most of the banks just give them to their loyal, corporate, and VIP clients. The underground market is therefore cashing in on this once-upon-a-year opportunity to charge exorbitant fees for the service.

For the 5,000 dong, 10,000 dong, and 20,000 dong notes, they charge a 20 percent commission. The smaller the note is, the higher the commission will be.

Online money exchanging also springs up this year. Service charges vary and can be as high as 45 percent.

One website quotes their fees as follows: 45 percent for the 200 dong note, 25 percent for the 500 dong note, 12 percent for the 1,000 dong and 2,000 dong notes, and 1-9 percent for notes of 5,000 to 100,000 dong denominational value.

Traders are also selling one-dollar and two-dollar bills at the moment. Depending on the uniqueness and serial numbers of the notes, those can be exchanged at various prices. For example, one trader sells a 1 dollar bill at VND25,000 and a 2 dollar bill at VND49,000 or 50,000.

The official exchange rate at present is VND19,500 to the dollar.

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Culture, sport need specialists

HCM CITY — The culture, sports, and tourism sector is unable to find enough quality personnel, according to officials.

Nguyen Thanh Rum, director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism blamed it on a lack of incentives for specialists and talented people.

A severe shortage of skilled specialists who can train the next generations is also to blame, he said.

As a result, most fresh graduates fail to meet the job market's requirements, Ngo Quang Vinh, director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said.

"Schools fail to factor the needs of employers into their training programmes," he told a conference held in HCM City this week to gather suggestions for drafting regulations to develop the workforce in this decade.

The poor teaching methods and low investment in infrastructure and equipment are also causes for the poor education quality, he said.

Amending regulations and policies will be a major breakthrough in developing the workforce, he said, adding that the draft should spell out incentives to attract talent.

Together, sports, culture, and tourism sector employ around 1.62 million people of whom doctoral and master's degree-holders account for just 0.2 and 2.07 per cent, respectively, Nguyen Van Luu, deputy director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Training Department, said.

Graduates accounted for 36.58 per cent and vocational training graduates for 26.23 per cent, he said.

Some 435 schools and 1,000 vocational training centres around the country offer courses in culture, sports, and tourism that are attended by 26,000-30,500 students every year, he said.

But only 26.5 per cent of the 3,112 lecturers and teachers at these establishments have master's degrees, while 4.6 per cent have doctoral degrees.

Up to 30 per cent of all graduates fail to find suitable jobs or are unemployed, he added.

The ministry hopes to add 30 doctorates to the teaching staff every year through 2015, and 50 during 2016-20. — VNS

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HCMC to host book road fest during Tet

Ho Chi Minh City will organize the first-ever Book Road Festival to celebrate the New Year of the Cat from January 31 to February 3, according to the city’s Department of Information and Communications.

Visitors could view a wide range of books on display along the Mac Thi Buoi Street, near the Nguyen Hue flower road in district 1.

Exhibitions featuring new and bestselling books, calligraphy demonstration, and Q&A session with the authors will be organized.

The organizers including local publishing houses, book distribution companies and private bookstores will also showcase a special display area dedicated to children books.

Festival-goers will have a chance to witness antique, valuable and rare books like “Technique du peuple Annamite, “Hoang Trieu Ngoc Diep”, “Hoang Tu Pho”, “Hoang nu pho”, “Hoang Trieu Ton Pho tien bien”, and “Gia Dinh bao”.

The fest is expected to encourage a reading culture and promote the city’s tourism to local and international visitors.

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Longest Tet break creates the perfect holiday season

by Ha Nguyen

Pristine beach: Hon Thom on Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang attracts thousands of tourists a year. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vu. Spring season: Visitors enjoy colourful flowers on a bank of Xuan Huong Lake in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Ha

Viet Nam's first eight day Tet ( Lunar New Year) holiday has created favourable conditions for local and overseas Vietnamese to enjoy the longest Tet, starting on February 3.

An increasing number of well-off Vietnamese have chosen to celebrate Tet abroad. That trend is expected to continue this Lunar New Year.

Popular destinations abroad at this time of year when the weather is cool or cold in much of the country are Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Hong Kong – where the weather is more inviting. Meanwhile, those with relations abroad often take the opportunity afforded by the long annual holiday to visit family and friends in the US, Australia and Europe.

My Hanh, who works for a foreign firm in Viet Nam, said her four-member family plans to enjoy Tet in Thailand.

"My two daughters and I are shopping addicts so we are very much looking forward to going to Thailand. We plan to spend all day and night shopping during our four days in the country," Hanh said, adding that celebrating Tet abroad offers a welcome escape from domestic chores.

Hanh said that when she celebrates Tet here in Ha Noi she has to spend days shopping for food in overcrowded markets.

"I have to work very hard and it's exhausting. This Tet will be different. Apart from being able to shop for clothes, I will have time to relax and read books, which I adore doing," she said.

She said "I've already asked my mother-in-law to help me prepare traditional dishes to worship our ancestors for the last evening of the old lunar year and the first day of the new year," Hanh said.

Meanwhile, Hoang Quan, who lives in Ha Noi's Tu Liem District, has booked a holiday in Japan where his daughter is studying.

"I had to book a five-day tour to Tokyo at the start of this month to be sure of being able to get tickets in the run-up to Tet," Quan said.

"My wife is a pagoda goer so it's a good chance for her to explore and see how things differ in Japan," Quan said.

Despite being relatively well off, he still worries about hefty shopping bills.

"It doesn't matter. We will spend our time shopping at the Japanese yen 100-per-item shops."

Duong Quang Phong and his family from Los Angeles plan to return to Viet Nam for Tet.

Phong said he had already booked a seven-day tour to Phu Quoc Island beginning on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

"Our six-member family will celebrate Tet on the island by ordering banh chung (square sticky rice cake) and many other traditional specialities such as nem ran (fried meat roll), dua hanh (pickled welsh onion) and canh mang (bamboo shoots cooked with pig's trotters). We've rarely tasted these dishes since we settled in the US in the 80s.

"Spring tours over Tet will be more comfortable and interesting because tourism sites will not be as crowded as during the peak season in summer. The cool weather in the south will make our tour more enjoyable. We are looking forward to exploring the island's natural beauty, as well as relaxing," Phong said.

Like Phong, other overseas Vietnamese plan to return to Viet Nam for the holiday. Most have booked tours to popular destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa, Ninh Binh, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Hue, and Hoi An, said Nguyen Cong Hoan, deputy director of Ha Noi Redtour.

"Despite the fact that prices are 5-10 per cent more this Tet compared with last year, almost of our tours have been fully booked," he said.

To meet increasing Tet demand, Viettravel, Fiditour and Ben Thanh Tourist have put on extra tours from the 28th and 29th of the 12th lunar month until the 4th of Lunar New Year.

Saigontourist is expecting 15,000 visitors, an increase of 15 per cent compared with last year, a company manager said.

But Hoan warned that holiday-makers should be wary of unlicensed tour operators. He said they were typically 20-25 per cent cheaper than those offered by mainstream operators, but that standards were suspect.

"Some of them have even tried to ‘resell' their customers to other tour operators for a profit," Hoan said.

Last year, the country's tourism sector welcomed 5 million foreign travellers and 28 million local guests. — VNS

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Porcelain maker shows off

by Le Hung Vong

Rhymes with gauze: Porcelian vases by Minh Long No 1 are displayed at the HCM City showroom. — VNS Photo Ngoc Hai.

HCM CITY—Viet Nam's leading fine porcelain maker Minh Long No 1 yesterday opened a new showroom in HCM City that displays exclusive products it has made over the last five years.
The 600sq.m showroom at the Minh Long Tower Building on 17 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street in HCM City's District 3 displays more than 2,000 porcelain wares includings bowls, dishes, teapots, jewellery, artworks and souvenirs.

The showroom also showcases national souvenirs chosen as gifts to foreign heads of State by the Vietnamese Government.

Also on display are exquisite and exclusive artistic works of which there are fewer than five copies each.

Ly Ngoc Minh, general director of the Binh Duong Province-based porcelain producer, said at the opening ceremony that each artisan was able to make only one to three copies of these works per year.

While porcelain industries in other countries bake their coloured works at 850OC, Minh Long No 1 employs a technique that does it at 1,250OC, he said.

"This high temperature helps to keep the colour on porcelain unchanged and renders details of the painting," said Minh.

Minh Long has produced fewer than 200 porcelain works of this type in the past five years, with fewer than 10 copies of each work. Some of them were single pieces.

The works cost between VND40 million (US$2,000) and 300 million ($15,000) a piece, Minh said.

"We're not targeting any profit from this series of Minh Long products. We want to show that we can do, and do even better, what other porcelain makers around the world produce," he added.

As an indication of the care that is taken in making these products, the company has been unable to fulfil orders submitted for these works during a three-day promotion more than two years ago.

"These artistic works are the pride of not only Minh Long No 1, but also of Binh Duong Province's porcelain industry as well," he said.

Family tradition

Minh Long No 1 was founded in 1970 by Minh, whose family had been involved with the ceramic trade for generations.

Combining his passion for porcelain with the knowledge and experience of his ancestors, Minh dedicated his life to studying firing techniques and composition and spending time designing a unique style for Minh Long's products.

The company, which has a 120,000sq.m factory in Binh Duong's Thuan An District, is the first company in the country's porcelain industry to use a gas-fueled kiln for its production lines.

Minh Long's porcelain products, which have won over many connoisseurs and discriminating buyers, have been exported to the US, Europe and other Asian countries. — VNS

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