Last February, petrol prices in Vietnam were increased by 11% and diesel prices were increased by 36%. It is hard to believe but today the price for one liter of 92-Octane petrol (which I used for my motorbike) was increased from 14,500 VND yesterday to an amazing 19,000 VND (USD 1.10) today. This is a 31% increase. Diesel was raised with 14.3% to 15,950 VND.
Vietnam is trying to catch up with fuel prices in other countries but this sudden increase was not known by many people and comes as a shock. Fifteen years ago I used to work at a petrol station in Holland and if prices were going up by just 1 cent, Dutch people would start to panic already. Can you imagine what would happened if petrol prices in Holland increase by 31% overnight?
Of course, those who are living in Europe will argue that petrol is cheap in Vietnam but compared to salary levels petrol prices are expensive. This increase will push the inflation for July and August 2008 even further up.
Petrol prices in Vietnam are lower than those of their neighbors and therefore traders smuggle a lot of petrol
Today morning, Monday 14 July 2008, Miss Venezuela may call herself Miss Universe. Eighty beauties attended the in Vietnam hosted Miss Universe Pageant. Millions of people around the globe witnessed that Dayana Mendoza, 22 and an aspiring interior designer, won the Miss Universe pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
It was an odd time for Vietnam to organize the event as it would have been much better if it was held on Saturday or Sunday instead of a Monday morning 8AM when all Vietnamese people are at work. Some people in Saigon were lucky as there were full day power outages in Tan Binh and other locations so that employees let their staff go home.
The strange time was chosen so that it coincides with prime-time Sunday evening TV slot in the USA, home of Donald Trump Read the rest of this entry »
I was watching the TV two days ago and was surprised how late the show was held as it is uncommon in Vietnam to organise events until late in the evening.
The amphi theatre of the Vinpearl Resort was loaded with 81 beauties that were competing in the mini competition, the bikini show (or swim wear show…..whatever you want to call it).
Elisa Najera, 21, was the winner in the mini competition, the bikini show, for the Mis Universe 2008 pageant.The earier mini competitions were the traditional costume presentation and the Vietnamese traditional dress, the Ao Dai, Fashion Show.
Last night the Event Hall of Vinpearl Land in Nha Trang was completely full. Singer/Actress Nguyen Thuy Lam, 21, was the winner of the Miss Universe Vietnam 2008 election. Thuy Lam who is only 1.70m tall, speaks German, English and Vietnamese. She bursted into tears after she heard that she had won. See it on youtube:
The Miss Universe 2008 beauty pageant will be held in the Crown Convention centre on 14 June 2008 in the beautiful coastal city Nha Trang.
Miss Vietnam Universe
Vietnam has to elect their own national beauty (won’t be easy with so many beauties!). Vietnamese woman aged 18 to 26 and who are at least 1.62m tall can apply. Details can be found on the Miss Universe 2008 website: www.missuniverse2008.com. The grand final will be held on Vinpearl Land Resort on the 31st of may 2008.
Nha Trang & Vinpearl There is a cable car system, the longest in the world, linking the mainland of Nha Trang to the five-star resort and theme park on Vinpearl Land Resort.The Miss Universe event is a great Read the rest of this entry »
