At around 3:15 a.m. that day, heavy rain caused water to enter rental room No. 84/6 in Alley 84 on Street 11, Quarter 32, Thu Duc Ward. After noticing the flooding, Nguyen Thanh Gian and Nguyen Le Ngan Ai woke up to move their belongings and clean up.

While Gian was pushing his motorbike outside to a safe place, Ai went up to the loft to spread a plastic sheet in preparation for moving their belongings to higher ground.

While she was on the loft, Ai heard Gian calling for help. Looking down, she saw him standing in the water, his left hand tightly gripping an electrical wire while being electrocuted.

Ai immediately switched off the circuit breaker on the loft, but the section of wire was still carrying electricity. Hearing the calls for help, other residents in the neighborhood rushed over and switched off the main circuit breaker serving the row of rental rooms.

When people entered the room, Gian had collapsed in the water, with his hand still stuck to the electrical wire.

The victim was quickly taken to Thu Duc Regional General Hospital for emergency treatment but could not be saved.

After receiving the report, Thu Duc Ward Police coordinated with the PC01 Division, the Criminal Technical Division of Ho Chi Minh City Police and the Regional People’s Procuracy No. 2 to cordon off and examine the scene.

At an electrical outlet above the washing machine beneath the staircase, authorities collected a 48-centimeter section of red twin-core electrical wire. Its plastic insulation had peeled away in several places, exposing the copper core.

According to the initial assessment, Gian may have slipped while moving the belongings and grabbed the damaged wire, which was leaking electricity. Emergency medical records from the hospital also confirmed that Gian died from electrocution.

Following the incident, the Thu Duc Ward People’s Committee directed relevant agencies to coordinate support for the victim’s family in making funeral arrangements.

Source: laodong.vn 

Source: Vietnam Insider

According to his account, over 1,000 dolphins alongside several blue whales surfaced during their year-end seasonal migration. As a lifelong coastal native, he confessed he had never witnessed such an immense pod since childhood.

The shared footage swiftly went viral on social media. What captivated viewers was not just the sheer estimated headcount, but also the astonishing proximity between the marine mammals and the moving vessel.

The dolphins surfaced continuously, swam parallel alongside the boat’s hull, and launched themselves into the air, creating a vibrant spectacle amidst cheers from those on board.

Local mariners noted that marine mammals occasionally visit Phu Quy waters toward year-end or early spring when sea conditions remain calm. Observers suggest developing responsible dolphin- and whale-watching tours could turn these seasonal migrations into a standout eco-tourism draw.

(Source: kenh14.vn)

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider

These newly ordered trains belong to Alstom’s latest Metropolis five-car generation. Therefore, they deliver notable advances in design, operational efficiency, and transit safety.

Each carriage body utilizes lightweight aluminum alloy. As a result, this material lowers axle loads and cuts power consumption. It also minimizes long-term track wear. Furthermore, the wide-body design expands interior capacity to accommodate heavy commuter volumes comfortably.

Notably, the trainsets feature full GoA4 automated operations. This represents the highest tier of driverless train control. Meanwhile, the braking system blends regenerative braking with disc brakes. This setup ensures passenger safety. Moreover, it actively recovers kinetic energy during deceleration.

Alstom will build the first 83 trainsets at its Valenciennes Petite-Forêt plant in France. This site serves as one of Alstom’s premier global metro hubs.

Vingroup and global rail technology leader Alstom sign the trainset supply and technology transfer agreement.

For the remaining 117 trainsets, Alstom will supply specialized engineering expertise. The company will also provide essential tooling and critical components. Consequently, Vingroup can manufacture and assemble the trains independently in Vietnam.

According to Vingroup, the contract establishes a bedrock for domestic rail autonomy. Moreover, it modernizes Vietnam’s wider industrial railway ecosystem. The deal also opens long-term industrial partnerships. Therefore, it gradually integrates Vietnamese firms into the global supply chain.

Martin Sion, Chief Executive Officer of Alstom, praised the milestone. He called the agreement a turning point for Vietnam’s urban railway development. Specifically, combining Alstom’s global expertise with Vingroup’s industrial execution creates a powerful alliance. Thus, it sets the stage for large-scale transit development across Southeast Asia.

On behalf of Vingroup, Vice Chairman and CEO Nguyen Viet Quang outlined the corporate roadmap. He emphasized that high-speed rail, urban metros, bridges, and ports form the group’s Infrastructure pillar.

Mr. Quang explained that Vingroup connects global expertise with domestic execution power. Through this strategy, the group builds enduring infrastructure assets for Hanoi and the entire country.

Vingroup currently acts as the general contractor for Hanoi’s urban rail lines via Vinhomes. Therefore, partnering with Alstom ensures a steady supply of high-tech trains. Furthermore, it fosters domestic technical self-reliance for long-term metro expansion.

Under Hanoi’s Master Plan toward 2045, the capital’s metro grid will span 979 kilometers. The plan includes 18 distinct transit lines. Consequently, urban rail will serve as the backbone of public transportation.

Covering nearly 1,000 kilometers, this transit network will curb traffic congestion effectively. Furthermore, it will slash vehicle emissions and enhance urban living standards across Hanoi.

Alstom operates globally as a premier rail mobility specialist. Its solutions span high-speed rail, regional trains, metros, monorails, and light rail. In addition, Alstom delivers signaling systems, lifecycle maintenance, and digital transit services.

Currently, the company employs approximately 87,800 staff members across 61 countries worldwide.

(Source: kenh14.vn)

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider

Born weighing under one kilogram each, the babies faced severe clinical vulnerabilities involving vision, respiration, and brain development. Following three months of comprehensive neonatal treatment, each boy now weighs nearly four kilograms, exhibiting completely normal physiological milestones.

Recounting the arduous journey, Nhung explained that she struggled with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), prompting the couple to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF). Physicians initially confirmed a twin gestation. However, at seven weeks, symptoms of a threatened miscarriage prompted urgent hospitalization. An ultrasound then delivered an astonishing revelation: she was carrying triplets featuring three distinct amniotic sacs and two placentas.

Their celebration proved brief. Barely a week later, the couple entered a perilous medical journey defined by high-risk obstetric complications inherent to high-order multiple pregnancies.

At 27 weeks of gestation, severe uterine distension induced frequent, persistent contractions that required immediate hospitalization. After five days of rigorous monitoring, the amniotic sac linked to the solitary placenta ruptured.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Sim, Vice General Director and Director of the Fetal Medicine Center at Phenikaa University Hospital, noted: “To avoid an extremely premature delivery of all three infants at once, our team conducted an emergency consultation. The critical question was no longer simply whether to deliver, but whether we could safely delay the birth of the remaining two fetuses.”

Dr. Nguyen Thi Sim recounts the decisive 36 hours that produced the medical breakthrough.

Under normal circumstances, once one fetus is delivered, the uterus continues vigorous contractions to expel the remaining contents. Confronting this narrow biological window, the medical team pursued an unprecedented course in modern Vietnamese obstetrics: performing a delayed-interval delivery to retain the remaining two fetuses in the womb.

“Delayed-interval delivery is an intervention absent from standard local obstetric textbooks, and our senior specialists, with decades of collective experience, had never encountered a comparable clinical case domestically. Relying on team agility, we initiated the protocol with extreme vigilance, recognizing that a split-second error could derail the outcome,” Dr. Sim explained.

In extreme prematurity, additional gestational days in utero provide immense developmental value. The added time enables vital organs to mature and allows antenatal therapies—such as neuroprotective and lung-maturation regimens—to achieve maximal therapeutic effect.

On the morning of June 11, the first baby boy arrived safely via vaginal delivery, weighing 900 grams. Immediately afterward, obstetricians administered tocolytic medications to suppress contractions, keeping the remaining two infants in the uterus under continuous surveillance.

According to Dr. Sim, prolonging the pregnancy carried formidable hazards for both mother and babies, including maternal-fetal sepsis, fetal distress, and precipitous labor.

After 36 hours of uterine retention, the remaining two amniotic sacs ruptured on the following night amid an unfavorable fetal presentation. Clinicians convened an emergency consultation. Four interdisciplinary teams coordinated simultaneously to execute an urgent overnight cesarean delivery.

The surgical intervention succeeded completely, delivering the remaining two boys safely at 950 grams and 1,000 grams.

Pham Thi Hong Nhung and her family share their emotional reflections during the October 2 hospital gathering.

All three extremely preterm infants developed respiratory distress syndrome and were transferred immediately to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Clinicians placed them on mechanical ventilation within an incubator ecosystem meticulously controlled for thermal stability, nutrition, noise, and light to simulate the intrauterine environment.

After two months of specialized care, all three infants were weaned off ventilators and achieved independent respiration. On September 14, the hospital officially discharged the triplets following three months of neonatal intensive care, with their weights ranging from 3.57 to 3.70 kilograms. To the relief of both parents and physicians, the infants demonstrated strong suckling reflexes, sound neonatal responses, and healthy motor development.

During the reunion on the morning of October 2, medical staff commended the mother’s mental fortitude and the dedicated support of her family throughout the high-risk delivery. Overcome with emotion, Nhung and her husband expressed gratitude to the clinical teams for their 200-day journey, which culminated in the health of their three thriving boys.

The milestone highlights the clinical capabilities of modern fetal medicine and neonatal care in Vietnam, delivering a safe outcome for a high-risk pregnancy.

(Source: cand.vn)

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider

The premises operated as a food and beverage restaurant, designed with exterior facades built heavily from wooden materials. Flames initially flared from the rooftop terrace on the third floor and expanded with alarming speed. Eyewitnesses reported that patrons and staff inside scrambled urgently to flee the building.

Multiple loud explosions echoed from the scene as the fire consumed the structure.

Firefighters strive to bring the roaring blaze under control. 

Five fire engines were deployed to the fire scene. 

Police officers direct high-pressure water hoses to suppress the flames. 

The fire-ravaged area was completely gutted by the blaze. 

Upon receiving the emergency call, Fire and Rescue Teams from Regional Units 7 and 9 mobilized swiftly to the location, deploying tactical containment measures.

By approximately 5:00 PM, emergency responders brought the blaze under control. Preliminary reports confirmed that all individuals inside the restaurant evacuated in time, preventing casualties.

Authorities are actively investigating the root cause of the blaze.

(Source: tuoitre.vn)

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider

Some lucky commuters exhaled in relief after spending 90 minutes battling traffic to reach a warm family meal. Meanwhile, others sat on stalled motorbikes replying to Threads comments while waiting for dark street waters to recede.

“Scrolling social media makes me realize I am not alone, even if I might not reach my doorstep until 10 PM,” one netizen posted. Another user quipped: “Anyone who clocked out and made it home on time tonight deserves an Employee of the Year trophy.” A relieved commuter shared: “My engine sputtered out in the flood, but a kind stranger pushed my bike through. His timely assistance imparted a profound sense of relief, and thanks to him, I got home safely after an hour.”

The rain-drenched evening commute for many city residents. Photo: 20.hmt

Flooded grounds inside a university campus. Photo: Itsme_Nhu.Y

Exhausting Hours Stranded in Knee-Deep Waters

Speaking about his ordeal, Long, an office worker in the city, said he clocked out at 6:00 PM to begin his homeward trip. However, by 9:00 PM, he remained stranded on Phan Huy Ich Street in An Hoi Tay Ward. Rising floodwaters slowed motorcycle traffic to a complete standstill, forcing him to pull over and wait for the water to subside.

The neighborhood where Long stood was deeply submerged under floodwaters. Photo: Provided by subject

For Long, waiting by the curbside felt like the only sensible choice to protect his vehicle and ensure personal safety, rather than recklessly braving deep currents.

Huynh Mai left her workplace around 5:30 PM, traveling from the intersection of Song Hanh and Nguyen Anh Thu streets in Trung My Tay Ward. Her residence lies roughly 9 kilometers from her office. On ordinary days, the young professional completes the ride in 30 minutes.

During the downpour, deep street ponds caused her motorcycle engine to stall halfway home. Mai had to push the waterlogged vehicle toward a major thoroughfare before she could restart her ride. After an exhausting 90-minute struggle, she finally reached home safely.

Huynh Mai’s flooded path home on the evening of September 30. Photo: Provided by subject

Mai expressed immense gratitude and relief upon stepping through her front door. She extended heartfelt wishes that everyone still stranded in the dark would return home safely.

Stalled Engines and Collective Solidarity in the Deluge

Across town, Quang encountered severe urban flooding while riding home from his workplace near Tan Son Nhat International Airport. As he navigated Truong Chinh Street in Tan Son Ward, deep pools forced him to drop his speed to a crawl. After crawling forward for an hour, his motorcycle suddenly stalled in mid-traffic.

Quang’s commute stalled alongside dozens of other stranded vehicles. Photo: Provided by subject

While waiting for roadside assistance, Quang observed scores of motorists around him struggling through waterlogged passages or pulling over to avoid drowned intersections. In a sprawling metropolis where thousands shared the same journey, patient waiting and mutual maneuvering imparted a shared spirit of camaraderie throughout the difficult night.

The sudden cloudbursts trapped casual residents returning from evening gym sessions as well.

Anh Thu shared that around 6:20 PM, while returning from her workout, she hit deep water near a local street market. Her scooter engine died instantly in the water. Fortunately, she managed to kick-start it again and made a U-turn to locate an alternative route.

However, after riding barely 200 meters, the engine stalled a second time and died completely. Stranded without transport, Thu pushed her scooter into a nearby supermarket lot to seek shelter. Her father rushed to the location to help push the disabled vehicle, eventually getting her home safely.

Motorists maneuvering through heavily inundated streets. Photo: Provided by subject

The evening inundation followed a chaotic morning rush hour. Persistent downpours snared traffic across Ho Chi Minh City from the early morning, causing widespread tardiness for workers and students alike. Major bottlenecks formed along Nguyen Huu Tho Street approaching the Kenh Te Bridge and across the central intersection of Le Loi and Pasteur streets, as dense commuter volumes collided with blinding rains.

(Source: kenh14.vn)

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider

Workers erected the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica in 1880, mirroring Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. During construction, builders shipped every single material directly from France across the seas. Over more than a century, the cathedral has preserved its defining architectural lines. Meanwhile, Ben Thanh Market retained its undulating roofline, four-faced clock tower, and pointed eaves. Beyond meeting the shopping needs of local residents, the market now welcomes millions of international visitors every year.

Roughly 70 kilometers northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels extend nearly 250 kilometers. In fact, this complex served as a vital base for the Saigon-Gia Dinh Party Committee and Regional Military Command. These underground passages interlace like a massive subterranean spiderweb. Many narrow sections forced fighters to crawl on their bellies, creating an intricate underground labyrinth. Furthermore, hidden hatches concealed the underground quarters on the surface, offering safe spaces for sheltering troops, conducting secret meetings, and caching weapons.

Quiet Highlands and Coastal Havens of 1992

In a series of rare frames shot in 1992, Da Lat appears remarkably peaceful and untouched. Nestled between modern buildings and red-tiled French colonial villas, tall pine groves rose gracefully into the highland mist. Local builders opened the central Da Lat Market in 1929. Consequently, it served as both a bustling trade venue and an essential historical landmark of the mountain town.

When Hans-Peter Grumpe arrived in Nha Trang in 1992, the coastal town hosted virtually no foreign tourists or modern hotels. Golden beaches lay completely empty of vacationers, attracting almost exclusively local residents. Therefore, Grumpe fondly recalled Nha Trang back then as an exceptionally gentle, peaceful seaside enclave.

Similarly, My Khe Beach in Da Nang throughout 1991 and 1992 remained completely free of commercial tourism. It maintained an untamed shoreline where only local children from neighboring fishing villages played in the surf. At daybreak, fishermen bustled across the sands, mending nets and sorting coastal catches. Beachgoers found no sun umbrellas or loungers along the shore, seeing only modest stalls that poured hot green tea. Decades later, however, My Khe earned regular spots on international travel rankings. Most notably, Tripadvisor ranked My Khe sixth among Asia’s top ten beaches in a 2024 global survey.

Untouched Heritage Along the Central Coast

Three decades ago, Hoi An saw almost no tourists, even though official tourism maps first recognized the town in 1985. The ancient quarters held no boutique hotels, fine-dining restaurants, cocktail bars, or souvenir stalls. Instead, rows of timber shophouses kept their original weathered structures, showing no signs of mass restoration or the uniform yellow paint that visitors see today. Furthermore, residents moved along the quiet lanes entirely on bicycles and pedicabs.

In 1991, the Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu) had not yet undergone large-scale public renovations, concrete embankments, or modern city planning. Green moss carpeted the historic wooden span, while decades of monsoon rains darkened its overlapping yin-yang roof tiles. Back then, locals simply sat before the bridge to rest and chat during warm afternoons. At night, the bridge slipped into deep silence beneath dim yellow streetlamps.

During his travels, Hans-Peter Grumpe took nearly 100 photographs in Hue, devoting dozens of frames to the Hue Imperial Citadel. Emperor Gia Long broke ground on the citadel in 1804 after selecting Hue as the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. In 1991, the compound showed visible scars from decades of wartime destruction and harsh weather. Heavy humidity weathered large sections of the masonry, while thick moss clung to the boundary walls. Today, the complex forms the crown jewel of the Complex of Hue Monuments, which UNESCO honors as a World Cultural Heritage site.

Northern Landmarks on the Cusp of Transition

In Grumpe’s memory, Hanoi possessed a distinct character, moving at a slower, quieter pace than Ho Chi Minh City. French colonial buildings lined the city avenues, so every evening stroll became an unforgettable journey into the past. In particular, Trang Tiến Street led straight toward the neoclassical pediments of the iconic Hanoi Opera House.

The German photographer visited Ha Long Bay in 1991 and returned again in 1993. Over those two short years, the coastal landscape changed visibly. In 1991, the bay featured only a single state-run hotel and a handful of government dining rooms. Soon after, private enterprise gained ground, which quickly sparked the rise of private hotels and family-run restaurants. As a result, domestic tourism began its rapid growth across the bay.

In Ninh Binh, Grumpe hired a traditional wooden sampan to explore Tam Coc. While drifting through scenic limestone waterways, he documented dramatic karst towers alongside local farmers tending low-lying paddy fields.

According to his travel journals, Sa Pa three decades ago bore little resemblance to today’s bustling resort hub. When he arrived in 1992, international guidebooks had barely mentioned the remote mountain outpost. Yet within a single year, changes accelerated dramatically. Starting in 1993, authorities allowed independent travelers to visit without special security permits. Consequently, the earliest tour groups arrived, setting off a swift economic transformation across the misty mountain valley.

In July 1993, Grumpe undertook an overland journey from Hanoi to Cao Bang aboard a rugged Soviet UAZ jeep. At the time, Ban Gioc Waterfall had not yet appeared on commercial tourist routes. Therefore, the site featured no ticket booths, guesthouses, or food stalls. Pristine primary forests framed the roaring cascades, dotted with sparse ethnic minority settlements. Because he visited during the peak July monsoon, the torrential river ran heavy with red silt, creating a thunderous rush of water that he described as breathtakingly grand. Today, Ban Gioc Waterfall in Dam Thuy Commune, Cao Bang Province, stands proudly as the largest natural waterfall in Southeast Asia and the fourth-largest border waterfall on Earth.

(Source: zingnews.vn)

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider

Berg uploaded a video documenting the encounter in late August, drawing more than 3.2 million views. Many international viewers commended the woman for her kindness and hospitality.

While walking along Pham The Hien Street in Chanh Hung Ward, Berg stopped by a small drink stall hoping to buy an unsweetened iced black coffee. However, all beverages were pre-mixed. He had previously searched the neighborhood but found few coffee spots.

Noticing his disappointed look and limited Vietnamese, a local woman approached him in English. Berg initially thought she was only helping him order. Unexpectedly, she offered to ride him to a nearby cafe.

The Swedish traveler was surprised by the gesture. Sensing her sincerity, he hopped onto the back of her motorbike. The ride spanned just a few hundred meters, providing enough time for a friendly conversation in English.

The local resident used her motorbike to ferry the Swedish traveler to a neighborhood cafe. Photo: Robert Berg

A Spontaneous Act of Everyday Kindness

Upon arriving at the shop, the woman taught Berg how to pronounce “cà phê không đường” (black coffee without sugar) in Vietnamese. She paid for the drink, smiled, said, “Welcome to Vietnam,” and quickly departed without leaving any contact information.

“In Sweden, people tend to keep to themselves. I am not used to receiving help from someone I just met, as people rarely spend their time on strangers,” Berg shared. “I told my friends back home that for just 17,000 VND (about 70 US cents), she proved that Vietnamese people are truly as kind as travelers say.”

Throughout his two-week trip, Berg focused on exploring Ho Chi Minh City to understand its culture. He walked through traditional open-air markets, toured famous architectural landmarks, and wandered down small residential alleys.

Having traveled extensively across major Asian metropolises, Berg found Ho Chi Minh City uniquely distinct. The city moves with dynamic energy without feeling rushed, allowing residents to enjoy their own daily routines. Modern, tourist-heavy quarters sit alongside quiet residential quarters. Berg felt this contrast gave the city its charm.

The traveler explored districts across Ho Chi Minh City and plans to return on his next trip to Vietnam. Photo: Robert Berg

Cuisine formed an essential part of his itinerary. The Swedish traveler sampled crispy pancakes (bánh xèo), broken rice (cơm tấm), Hue-style spicy beef noodles (bún bò Huế), and steamed rolled rice sheets (bánh cuốn). He enjoyed most dishes, naming bánh xèo and cơm tấm his favorites. He also praised Vietnamese coffee for its deep, memorable aroma.

Above all else, the warmth of the people made Berg eager to return. He shared fond memories of interactions with total strangers. Cyclo riders or ride-hailing motorbike drivers waiting at red lights readily struck up casual conversations with him.

“On my next journey to Vietnam, I will visit Hanoi to see how it compares with Ho Chi Minh City,” Berg said.

Growing Inbound Tourism and Local Goodwill

Berg is not alone in receiving spontaneous warmth from Vietnamese locals. In July, Joe Brady, a 28-year-old traveler from Britain, was touched when a female scrap collector in Ho Chi Minh City went out of her way to retrieve a pair of shoes he had accidentally left behind, firmly refusing any monetary reward.

In May, staff at Dac Kim Bun Cha in Hanoi attended to a foreign guest showing signs of heat exhaustion, providing temple massages and medicated oil until she recovered.

International visitors gathered at Ben Thanh Market in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. 

Berg’s experience unfolds amid a steady expansion in international arrivals across Vietnam.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, international visitors to the city over the first nine months of the year reached an estimated 8.5 million visits. This marks a 34.5% year-on-year increase, achieving 77.4% of the municipal target. Domestic traveler volume reached an estimated 39.5 million visits, fulfilling 79.1% of the annual projection.

Total tourism receipts reached an estimated 282.696 trillion VND, climbing 43.4% year-on-year and completing 85.7% of the annual goal. The city targets 11 million international visitors, 50 million domestic travelers, and 330 trillion VND in total tourism revenues in 2026.

(Source: zingnews.vn)

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider

That brief encounter echoed the opening line of the very first video Pham Duc Nam, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Van Commune in Tuyen Quang Province, shared online. The modest clip swiftly captured widespread attention from viewers across Vietnam.

Mr. Pham Duc Nam, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Van Commune, rides his old motorbike through remote hamlets across the rocky plateau. 

The Village-Roving Chairman

At 8:00 AM on Saturday, Nam kicks his trusty vintage Honda Dream into gear, setting out on another weekend route into the highlands.

From the commune center, he winds along sheer mountain passes with the poise of an experienced backpacker. The terrain shifts constantly. Broad asphalt sections give way to dizzying vertical climbs. Narrow concrete ribbons barely fit a single set of wheels, while unpaved dirt trails quickly turn into slick mud after rain.

On every trip into the villages, Nam packs bags of cookies and candies for local children. 

In Dong Van, ethnic minority families cluster in small hamlets tucked deep into the mountains. Each village is separated by jagged peaks and nearly ten kilometers of mountain passes, completely isolated from administrative centers.

Nam has lived and worked in Dong Van for 35 years across various public posts. Regardless of his title, he has kept the habit of riding into hamlets to speak directly with residents.

“Only by setting foot in the village can one truly understand the hardships people endure,” Nam explained.

Recently, alongside visiting locals and surveying the area, Nam took on a new mission: standing before the lens to tell stories of the highland people and their land. 

Over the past two weeks, his weekend visits gained an extra dimension. Every ride became an opportunity to document daily life across the karst plateau.

He explores how Hmong villagers assemble dry-stone walls without mortar, details traditional hemp weaving, and documents folk crafts alongside casual domestic conversations. Touring from morning until midday, he eats wherever he finds himself. Some days he shares lunch with a local family; other days he stops at a modest roadside stall.

Mr. Nam joins local villagers in planting buckwheat flowers.

On social media, Nam appears in an everyday collared shirt and trousers, paired with cheap honeycomb rubber sandals and a green pith helmet. His signature opening never changes: “Hello everyone, I am Pham Duc Nam, Chairman of Dong Van Commune.”

Following that greeting, familiar scenes of Dong Van unfold, narrated with unvarnished pride and a deep love for the plateau.

Nam stops to chat with everyone he meets, frequently staying in the villages from morning until dusk. 

Starting from zero followers, his debut upload drew immediate responses from people across the country.

“During each village trip, I film spontaneous moments. I record the voiceover, and our young team edits the clips before publishing,” Nam shared with a smile. “People told me it would take 10 to 15 clips to go viral. Yet viewers and travelers from 34 provinces waved back, leaving greetings and thoughtful comments from the very start.”

The Commune Chairman and villagers introduce Dong Van’s beauty through the traditional art of building dry-stone walls. 

Practical Relief Beyond the Camera Lens

For Nam, life across Dong Van remains filled with hardship. Beyond filming promotional clips, each excursion sparks practical ideas to improve rural livelihoods.

“After returning from the villages, I meet with our collective leadership to discuss crop and livestock restructuring,” Nam explained. “We are working to transition farmers from low-yield maize to ginger, yacon roots, and fruit orchards. I have personally contacted lowland companies to establish off-take agreements. Each ride also reveals scenic vantage points to develop community ecotourism, helping villagers earn additional income.”

In the villages, many young people recognize the Commune Chairman they frequently see on social media.

Navigating steep, degraded paths remains the most grueling challenge, yet tackling those trails highlights the isolation local families endure.

Alongside state budget allocations, communal authorities mobilize community co-financing to build rural roads. Smooth roads stimulate commerce and ease everyday commutes.

Though he once turned down press interviews out of modesty, Nam now steps comfortably in front of the smartphone lens. For him, anything that serves the public good is worth the effort.

His digital presence also puts him at the forefront of implementing Politburo Resolution 57 on science, technology, and digital transformation.

“Through these short clips, I hope more domestic and international travelers discover Dong Van,” Nam said. “I want them to witness our raw landscapes and rich ethnic traditions, helping Dong Van flourish as the heart of the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark.”

Joining villagers to prepare “mèn mén”, a traditional steamed cornmeal staple. 

Along the road, a companion’s motorbike tire was punctured by sharp rocks, forcing the group to push the bike to a repair shop. 

According to Nam, Dong Van still holds countless pristine landscapes waiting for travelers to explore. 

(Source: tuoitre.vn)

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider

For digital creators, the Mid-Autumn Festival serves as a vibrant canvas to narrate cultural traditions and spread festive cheer through dynamic short video. Audiences were treated to a diverse visual feast: glittering landmarks dressed up in holiday decor, time-honored heritage crafts like handmade lanterns, and creative seasonal culinary recipes.

Through the campaign, Zalo Video aims to provide both uplifting entertainment and meaningful insights, enriching viewers’ appreciation of one of Vietnam’s most cherished traditional holidays.

Thu Huyen, a 27-year-old office professional in Ho Chi Minh City who watches Zalo Video during her lunch breaks, shared: “I love baking and cooking, so I really enjoy following mooncake tutorials on Zalo Video. This season, I tried making traditional baked mooncakes based on these guides and brought them to the office. My colleagues loved them.”

Passionate about traditional heritage, content creator Ton Lon Ton (Nguyen Toan) paid a special visit to Phu Binh lantern village in Ho Chi Minh City. There, he documented the craft of shaping shimmering cellophane lanterns into fish, boats, and rabbits—nostalgic toys that have found their way into the hands of generations of southern children.

Creator Ton Lon Ton visiting Phu Binh lantern village in Ho Chi Minh City during the Mid-Autumn season.

His cultural heritage videos attracted tens of thousands of views on the platform. “Zalo Video makes folklore and heritage feel vivid and relatable to the younger generation,” he explained. “I hope each frame and story rekindles treasured childhood memories and strengthens family bonds during this harvest moon.”

Focusing on culinary lifestyle, the creator behind Bep Ben Suon Doi captivated audiences with a mesmerizing tutorial on thousand-layer mooncakes, earning hundreds of thousands of views. Crafted with meticulous framing and accessible instructions, the video blended time-tested Vietnamese tastes with fresh, contemporary flair.

The mooncake-making clip on Bep Ben Suon Doi embodies the festive spirit of Mid-Autumn.

“I hope to share the richness of our culinary heritage through Zalo Video. Beyond offering a space for connection, the platform’s team actively encourages and champions creators,” the creator of Bep Ben Suon Doi noted, adding his personal wish for a peaceful season for his central Vietnam homeland.

The “Mid-Autumn Moments” initiative extends a growing lineup of positive, practical lifestyle content on Zalo Video. Users can follow diverse topical series during major milestones such as National Day, Lunar New Year, the Vu Lan filial piety festival, and Vietnamese Women’s Day. These campaigns foster an inspiring playground for digital storytellers while celebrating the culture, landscapes, and people of Vietnam.

Related

Source: Vietnam Insider