Những lời chúc hay bằng tiếng Anh

1. Mọi thứ lại bắt đầu khi năm mới đang đến. Chúc bạn năm mới đầy hạnh phúc và những tháng đầy triển vọng và hạnh phúc nhất.
Everything starts a new with the New Year coming. May your new year be filled with the happiest things and your days with the bring test promise.
2. Hy vọng tấm thiệp này sẽ chuyển đến những lời chúc chân thành của tôi đến với bạn. Bạn sẽ tràn đầy hạnh phúc trong tương lai.
Hoping this card bring your my sincere greetings. You will be blessed through the coming year in fullest measure.
3. Anh là huấn luyện viên em yêu quý nhất. Em gửi anh lời chúc mừng nhân ngày "Lễ Tình Nhân".
You one my favorite instructor. I send you a Valentine greeting.
4. Chúc bạn năm mới vui vẻ và phát tài.
Have a happy and profitable year.
5. Gửi đến bạn những lời chúc hạnh phúc trong ngày lễ Giáng Sinh và năm mới.
Bringing your good wishes of happiness this Christmas and on the coming year.
6. Mọi việc lại bắt đầu tốt đẹp. Chúc bạn thành công trong năm mới. Những lời chúc chân thành của tôi đến với cuộc sống huy hoàng của bạn.
This is another good beginning. May you be richly blessed with a successfully new year? May my sincere blessing surround splendid travel of your life!
7. Nồng nhiệt chúc mừng thành công lớn của bạn là đã hoàn thành khoá nghiên cứu sinh và đạt được bằng Thạc Sĩ.
Hearty felicitations on you’re completing the post-graduate course acquiring the degree of Master of Sense.
8. Chúng tôi chúc mừng hai bạn nhân ngày đính hôn của các bạn. Hy vọng rằng các bạn đạt được những gì hằng mong muốn trong cuộc sống chung.
Best wishes from us both on your engagement. We hope you will have everything you wish for in life together.
9. Lời chúc mừng tận đáy lòng nhân dịp lễ thành hôn của bạn.
Sincere congratulations from the bottom of my heart on your marriage.
10. Gởi đến bạn món qùa này với cả tấm lòng và một lời chúc bạn sẽ hạnh phúc tràn đầy. Những điều hạnh phúc nhất luôn đến với bạn.
Sending you this present with my heart and with that you'll be happy in fullest measure. May the happiest things always happen to you!
11. Cho phép tôi chúc mừng bạn nhân dịp năm mới đến và xin gửi đến bạn những lời chúc tốt đẹp: dồi dào sức khỏe và thịnh vượng.
Allow me to congratulation you on arrival of the New Year and to extend to you all my good wishes for your perfect health and lasting prosperity.
12. Tôi nhiệt thành chúc mừng hạnh phúc cuộc hôn nhân của bạn. Mong rằng sự kết hợp này sẽ mang lại hạnh phúc mãi mãi cho gia đình mới của bạn.
I congratulation you wholeheartedly on your blissful marriage. May the significant bond fruit everlasting felicity on your new family.
13. Cho tôi gửi lời chúc mừng chân thành nhất của tôi nhân dịp bạn có thêm một cậu con trai. Có thể tượng tưởng cậu bé em lại niềm vui cho bạn và gia đình bạn biết bao.
Let me offer you my sincerest congratulation upon the arrival of your son. I can well imagine the joy which it must afford yourself and your family.
14. Tôi tin tưởng rằng cuộc hôn nhân của bạn sẽ là nguồn vui và hạnh phúc cho cả hai người. Hãy nhận món qùa nhỏ này với lời chúc mừng của tôi trong lễ cưới đầu hạnh phúc cuả bạn.
I trust that your marriage will be a source of blessing and happiness of your both, please accept this little present with my congratulations upon your happy wedding.
15. Trong đời chúng ta gặp nhau để rồi cuối cùng nói hai tiếng "chia tay". Chúc tình bạn của chúng ta mãi mãi vượt qua thời gian và không gian.
We met get together to know each other but say "good-bye" at last in such a crowded world. May our friendship grow dearer in spite of time and space!
16. Gửi người thân nhất trong ngày lễ Giáng Sinh vui vẻ này.
To my dearest love on this joyous Christmas.
17. Anh không nghĩ rằng anh có thể có hạnh phúc thực sự cho đến ngày anh gặp em. Chúc em "Ngày Tình Nhân" hạnh phúc.
I didn't think that I could ever trust happiness then I met you. Happy Valentine's Day.
18. Chúc em: Ngày “Tình Nhân” hạnh phúc. Hãy theo đuổi công việc tốt đẹp của em!
Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day. Keep up the good work!
19. Trong "Ngày Tình Yêu" này cũng như mọi ngày khác, tất cả những gì tôi có là tinh yêu dành cho em.
On this Valentine's Day, just like every day, all I have is love for you.
20. Mong rằng năm mới sẽ mang sự bình yên và phát đạt đến cho bạn.
I hope that the coming year bring you peace and prosperity.
21. Dù không gian có phân cách chúng ta và thời gian có trôi đi mỗi ngày, tôi vẫn giữ trong tim sự quan tâm và những lời chúc tốt đẹp cho em.
Though distance separates us and time keeps us going on our own way, through each and every day I will hold in my heart the caring and blessing for you and never let you go.
22. Gửi đến em những lời chúc tốt đẹp nhất, ngọt ngào như những bông hoa này, vì em đã cùng anh đi đến tận cùng thế giới. Chúc sinh nhật hạnh phúc.
Send you my beautiful blessing that is as sweet as a flower to be your companion till the end of the world. Happy birthday to you.
23. Trong ngày sinh nhật tốt đẹp này, chúc bạn những ngày thực sự hạnh phúc ở trong tầm tay của bạn. Và những ước mơ rực rỡ nhất đều có thể thực hiện được.
On such a day like your birthday, may you be in arm with a truly happy day bringing fulfillment of your favorite hope your brightest promise.
24. Hãy để những lời chúc sâu lắng của tôi luôn ở bên cạnh cuộc sống tuyệt vời của bạn. Tôi hy vọng trong năm tới bạn luôn khỏe mạnh và thuận buồm xuôi gió trong công việc.
Let my deep blessing always. Surround magnificent travel of your life. I hope in years to come you will have a good health and plain sailing.
25. Tôi chúc bạn tìng yêu và hạnh phúc nhân dịp sinh nhật của bạn.
I want to wish you love and happiness on your birthday.
26. Ước gì em có thể bày tỏ lòng biết ơn của em đối với thầy, thầy kính mến của em, nhưng thật khó nói nên lời. Em mong rằng tấm thiệp này sẽ bày tỏ phần nào sự biết ơn sâu sắc từ đáy lòng em.
I wish I knew some way to let you know the gratitude. I fell for you my dear teacher but just can't say. So I hope this little card will show, at least, in part the warmest appreciation that is come from the bottom of my heart.
27. Chúng ta quen nhau đã lâu. Tấm thiệp này để biết rằng em luôn ở trong suy nghĩ của tôi.
It's been so long since we have gotten together. Here is a little card to let you know that you're in our thoughts often.
28. Càng ở xa em càng nghĩ nhiều về thầy. Những lời thầy dạy bảo và sự biết ơn của em là vô cùng. Chúc thầy mạnh khỏe, bình an và hạnh phúc.
The further I am away from you the more I am thinking of you. There is no end to your instruction. There is no end to my gratitude. Wish you health, peaceful and happy.
29. Bạn mến,
Một Giáng Sinh vui vẻ và năm mới hạnh phúc đến với bạn. Tôi và gia đình tôi xin gửi lời chúc tốt đẹp đến gia đình bạn. Cầu mong gia đình bạn khỏe mạnh trong mùa nghĩ lễ. Và mong mỗi năm tình thân của chúng ta càng gắn bó.
Dear,
A Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you! Allow me to offer you Season's Greeting on the advent of what will surely be bring and prosperous New Year, I trust that you and your family are enjoying this holiday Season in excellent health. My family, who are well and happy, join me my good wishes. May every year unite our hearts more closely!
30. Mẹ yêu dấu,
Con xin gởi những lời chúc tốt đẹp nhân sinh nhật của mẹ. Con ước gì mình có thể có mặt ở đấy chia vui cùng mẹ nhưng con không thể. Con gởi cùng món qùa nhỏ này là tình yêu và lòng thành kính mến của con. Con hy vọng mẹ sẽ thích món qùa đó. hãy giữ gìn sức khoẻ. Con trai của mẹ.
Dear Mom,
Warm wishes on your birthday, I wish that I could be there to celebrate it with you, but that is impossible. I send along my love and affection. I'm also sending a little gift. I hope you like it. Take care!
Your son.
31. Cuộc hứa hôn của cháu là một tin trong đại! Cô và chú lẩm cẩm này xin gởi đến cho cả hai cháu những lời chúc tốt đẹp nhất. Chúc cho cả hai cháu được hưởng mọi hạnh phúc và thành đạt trong cuộc sống chung đôi.
What great news about your engagement! Best wishes to you both from a doting aunt and uncle. May you enjoy every happiness and success in your life together!
32. Xin chúc mừng hai bạn nhân lễ kỷ niệm hai mươi lăm năm ngày hai bạn kết hôn. Hai bạn đã hưởng nhiều năm tuyệt vời như thế bên nhau. Tôi chỉ có thể chúc bạn hưởng thêm nhiều năm tương tự trong thời gian tới. Chúc ngày kỉ niệm hạnh phúc.
Congratulation on your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary! You have had so many wonderful years’ together. I can only wish you more of same ahead. Happy anniversary.
33. Cầu cho sự Giáng Sinh của đấng Cứu Thế trong thời gian này đem lại cho các bạn hạnh phúc và sức khỏe trong suốt năm tới.
May this time of our savior's birth bring you joy good health throughout the coming year.
34. Đây chỉ là lá thư ngắn để tôi chúc hai bạn một lễ Hanukkah cực kỳ vui vẻ và một năm hạnh phúc, an khang, thịnh vựơng. Chúng ta đang chờ đón những thời kỳ tốt đẹp hơn. Cầu cho năm sắp tời đây là năm đẹp nhất từ trước tới nay.
Just a note to say I wish you both a very Happy Hanukkah and a happy healthy, prosperous New Year. We are looking forward to better times. May this coming year be the best one ever.
35. Trong khi năm 2009 đang nhanh chóng đến gần, chúng tôi chúc cho hai bạn những điều tốt đẹp nhất và một năm mới cực kỳ hạnh phúc.Cầu mong cho năm nay mang lại sức khỏe, thịnh vượng, và an bình cho tất cả chúng ta.
With 2009 fast approaching, we wish you both all the best and a very Happy New Year. May this year bring health, prosperity, and peace to us all!
36. Mình viết thư này chúc mừng ngày kỉ niệm đám cưới bạc của hai bạn. Mình chúc hai bạn thật nhiều, thật nhiều năm hạnh phúc.
I write to congratulate you on your silver wedding anniversary. I wish you many, many more years of wedded bliss.
37. Chúc bạn khỏe và hạnh phúc trong năm mới.
Wishing you health and happiness in the year to come.
38. Chúc cho con đường anh đi luôn rộng thênh thang. Anh có đầy niềm tin và nghị lực để có điều mình mong muốn.
Wishing your path is very spacious, you will have full energy and confident to get desirable things.
39. Mẹ yêu! Sinh nhật của mẹ con chúc mẹ mạnh khỏe và những may mắn, hạnh phúc nhất sẽ đến với mẹ trong cuộc đời.
Mum! On occasion of your birthday, wishing you a good health and lucky, the most happiness will come to mum your life.
40. Anh yêu! Sinh nhật anh em chúc anh gặt hái nhiều thành công. Mong anh mãi yêu em như ngày đầu và luôn ở bên em.
Darling! On occasion of you birthday, wishing you success more. Hoping that you will love me forever same as the first time and you are always besides me.
41. Mừng sinh nhật cô chúng em chúc cô luôn tươi trẻ mạnh khỏe và hạnh phúc. Mãi mãi là người chúng em yêu quý.
Congratulation your birthday, we wish you young and nice forever and happiness. You are teacher that we love and respect.
42. Nhân dịp sinh nhật lần thứ 20 của em, chúc em luôn tươi khỏe, trẻ đẹp. Cầu mong những gì may mắn nhất, tốt đẹp nhất và hạnh phúc nhất sẽ đến với em trong tuổi mới.
On occasion of your 20th birthday, wishing you happy and beautiful, younger. The best wishes to you with the luckiest, the best and most happiness will come to you in new age.
43. Nhân dịp năm mới em xin chúc gia đình anh chị một năm mới thật hạnh phúc, vạn sự như ý!
On occasion of New Year, wishing your family the most happiness in New Year and everything is the best!
44. Chúc em một sinh nhật xa nhà nhưng vẫn hạnh phúc. Hãy cố gắng hướng tới tương lai.
Wishing you birthday far from house but still happy. Try to see to future.
45. Nhân ngày Chúa ra đời anh chúc em và gia đình tận hưởng một mùa Giáng sinh vui vẻ.
On occasion God's birthday, I wish you and your family a Merry and happy Christmas.
46. Nhân dịp năm mới ! Em xin chúc anh chị một năm mới thật hạnh phúc. An khang thịnh vượng.
On occasion of New Year, wishing your family the most happiness in New Year. Everything is OK.
47. Chúc em một sinh nhật thật nhiều ý nghĩa và hạnh phúc. Cầu mong mọi điều may mắn sẽ đến với em.
Wishing you a happy birthday. Praying you luckily.
48. Tặng phẩm này riêng nó chẳng có ý nghĩa gì cả, nhưng mà kỉ niệm ở đây là anh gởi cho em tất cả những tình cảm tha thiết nhất. Sinh nhật vui vẻ.
This present is not valuable itself, but it is a souvenir hereto, it brings all most my warm sentiment. Happy birthday to you.
49. Nhà nghèo, em chỉ tặng các thầy cô đ dẫn dắt em đi con đường đúng đắn hai móm quà nhỏ nhưng ý nghĩa lớn: thật nhiều điểm 10 đỏ chói, tấm thiệp đơn sơ cùng lời chúc các thầy cô mạnh khỏe, gặt hái đợc nhiều thành công. Em hy vọng các thầy cô sẽ hài lòng với hai món quà em dâng tặng với ấm lòng thành kính.
Because of poor, I only present teachers who have instructed me step on proper way. Two present have great mean: more brilliant score 10, simple card with you healthy, get more achievement. I hope that you will pleasant for two presents which I present to you my respectful.
50. Thầy ơi! Không phải chỉ có ngày 20-11 con mới nhớ đến thầy. Mà đối với con, ngày nào cũng đều là 20-11.Con kính chúc thầy mãi vui tươi hạnh phúc và hãnh diện bên những học sinh luôn là con ngoan trò giỏi của mình.
Teachers! It is not November 20 I remember you. To me, every day is November 20. I wish you always happy forever and you are proud of with your students who are always your good and excellence children.
51. Xin cảm tạ thầy cô - là thầy cô của chúng em, đã cho chúng em một lời nói, hình ảnh ý tưởng để chúng em xây đắp cuộc đời.
Thanksgiving: You are teachers of us; you give us voice images, thought so that we build to our life.
52. Ngày lành, năm mới, cháu yêu quý! bằng tất cả tấm lòng mình cô chúc cháu được tăng tiến trong tình thương, trong lẽ phải và nhiều sức khỏe. Đó là tài sản quý giá nhất.
Nice day, New Year, my dears! By all my heart, I wish you will improve in love, in common sense and more healthy. May be these are most valuable properties.
53. Nhân ngày nhà giáo Việt Nam 20-11. Kính chúc thầy cô và gia đình được dồi dào sức khỏe, hạnh phúc luôn thành đạt trong cuộc sống.
On occasion of Vietnam Teacher's Day. Wishing you and your family a good health, happiness and success in your life.
54. Kính chúc cho ông bà một ngày lễ tạ ơn vui vẻ. Cháu chỉ mong là cháu có mặt ở đó với hao ông bà. Cháu nhớ rất nhiều đến những thời gian hạnh phúc tại nhà của ông bà vào ngày tạ ơn.
Cháu gởi lời chào đến tất cả họ hàng và xin ông bà ôm hôn giúp cháu đứa cháu gái mới nhất của cháu. Mong mọi người có một ngày tuyẽt vời.
Wishing Grandfather a merry on Thanksgiving Day. I only hope that will be herewith grandfathered. I memory very much about happy time at grandfather's house on Thanksgiving Day. I send greeting to allmy relatives and hope that Grandfather will embrace and kiss my newest niece. Have a wonderful Day.
55. Nhân dịp năm mới tôi chúc các ngài gặp được nhiều sự may mắn và hạnh phúc.
On occasion of New Year, wishing you happiness and lucky.
56. Nhân dịp năm mới tôi kính chúc toàn thể gia đình bạn một năm mới gặp được nhiều may mắn và hạnh phúc.
On occasion of New Year, wishing all your family happiness and lucky.

Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced.

Obama was awarded the prize for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people," news reports from Oslo quoted the committee as saying.

Born in August 1961, Obama is the 44th president of the United States.

U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement on the economy and the awarding of the 2016 Olympic Games to Rio de Janeiro in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, October 2, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)

A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, he served three terms in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004 and as a U.S. senator from 2005 to 2008.

Obama won the presidential election in November 2008 and was inaugurated in January 2009.

The winners of Nobel Prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry and literature have been announced in the previous days and the economic prize will be announced next Monday.

The Nobel prizes have been awarded annually since 1901 to those who "conferred the greatest benefit on mankind during the preceding year."

The prizes are usually announced in October and are handed out on Dec. 10, the death anniversary of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite.

Each prize consists of a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of 10 million Swedish kronor (about 1.4 million U.S. dollars).

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet

Make A Wish - Vic Zhou (周渝民)

Dang lei si liu xing
Hua guo shou xin, wo bu jin
Bie shang xin, bu yao jin
Zhe ge shi jie hao nian qing
(wo men de meng hai nian qing)

Ai mei you chi bang
Ye neng fei xing dao ni xin
Bie hai pa, bie dan xin
Nan dao ni mei gan ying
Zhe ai qing hao jian ding

Will you make a wish
Make a wish
Bi shang yan jing yuan wang shi kou jing
Make a wish make a wish
Ni hui ting jian zhen cheng de hui yin

Rang wo men
Make a wish make a wish
Yi qi yue ding kan zui mei feng jing
Zhe yi qie dou bu hui shi meng jing

Zhi yao ni quan xin quan yi
Xiang xin

The letter of credit - LC

The letter of credit is the most widely used instrument of international banking. It has facilitated international trade for a very long time, especially during times of economic and political uncertainly.
The letter of credit is the bank instrument that assures the person selling merchandise of payment if he makes the agree-upon shipment. On the other hand, it also assures the buyer that he is not requires to pay until the seller ships the goods. It is thus a catalyst that provides the buyer and the seller with mutual protection in dealing with each other.
An international trading transaction begins when a buyer and a seller sign a contract that records all the elements of the transaction: the merchandise, price, method of payment, delivery date, and method of shipment, as well as specifics, the buyer and seller must arrange payment. The buyer will want possession before paying, and the seller will want payment before making delivery. Since each party often has incomplete knowledge of the other, there is a certain caution to their dealings.
To be safe, the buyer and seller use the letter of credit. The buyer requests his bank to issue a letter of credit in favor of the seller. Assuming that the credit risk is acceptable to the bank, it issues its letter of credit. Basically, the letter says to the seller: we, the bank promise that we will pay you when you have made the agree-upon shipment. The bank thus substitutes its credit for that of the buyer, which might also be good but probably is not as well known. The letter of credit also protects the buyer, for he knows that he will not be called upon for payment by his bank until the evidence shows that the shipment has actually been made.

Vietnamese Rice Exports

In the mid - 1980s, Vietnam had to import rice and request international food aid several times during the decade to prevent famine. By 1989, it had become the third leading exporter of rice, following the United States and Thailand. Rice trade changed from imports of 280,000 tons in 1988 to exports of nearly 1.5 million tons in 1989. Rice export earnings represent one-third of total hard currency exports.
How did Vietnam have such great success? The main cause was not a change in the weather, but rather a series of policy reforms that transformed Vietnam from an importer to an exporter of rice. During 1988 and 1989, agriculture was decollectivized and rice returned to family-farm production. Price controls were eliminated and a large real devaluation of the currency in 1989 strengthened financial incentives to export. Finally trade organizations were reorganized to eliminate states monopolies in imports and exports, which introduced competition among the big state-owned trading companies.

What is international economics?

International economics deals with the economic interdependence among nations. It analyzes the flow of goods, services, and payments between a nation and the rest of the world, the policies directed at regulating this flow and their effect on the nation's welfare. This economic interdependence among nations is affected by, and in turn influences, the political, social, cultural and military relations among nations. Specifically, international economics deals with the pure theory of trade, the theory of commercial policy, foreign exchange markets and the balance of payments and adjustment in the balance of payments. The pure theory of trade analyzes the basis for and the gains from trade. The theory of commercial policy or protectionism examines the reasons for and the effects of trade restrictions. Foreign exchange markets are the framework for the exchange of one national currency for another while the balance of payments measures a nation's total receipts and the total payments to the rest of the world. Finally, adjustment in the balance of payments disequilibria under international monetary systems and the effects of these adjustments on a nation's welfare.

Computer Terms: Ever Google Someone?

Hackers, bloggers and spam -- what does it all mean? Transcript of radio broadcast: 24 November 2007

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Now, the VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

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Computer technology has become a major part of people’s lives. This technology has its own special words. One example is the word mouse. A computer mouse is not a small animal that lives in buildings and open fields. It is a small device that you move around on a flat surface in front of a computer. The mouse moves the pointer, or cursor, on the computer screen.

Computer expert Douglas Engelbart developed the idea for the mouse in the early nineteen sixties. The first computer mouse was a carved block of wood with two metal wheels. It was called a mouse because it had a tail at one end. The tail was the wire that connected it to the computer.

Using a computer takes some training. People who are experts are sometimes called hackers. A hacker is usually a person who writes software programs in a special computer language. But the word hacker is also used to describe a person who tries to steal information from computer systems.

Another well known computer word is Google, spelled g-o-o-g-l-e. It is the name of a popular search engine for the Internet. People use the search engine to find information about almost any subject on the Internet. The people who started the company named it Google because in mathematics, googol, spelled g-o-o-g-o-l, is an extremely large number. It is the number one followed by one hundred zeros.

When you Google a subject, you can get a large amount of information about it. Some people like to Google their friends or themselves to see how many times their name appears on the Internet.

If you Google someone, you might find that person’s name on a blog. A blog is the shortened name for a Web log. A blog is a personal Web page. It may contain stories, comments, pictures and links to other Web sites. Some people add information to their blogs every day. People who have blogs are called bloggers.

Blogs are not the same as spam. Spam is unwanted sales messages sent to your electronic mailbox. The name is based on a funny joke many years ago on a British television show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Some friends are at an eating place that only serves a processed meat product from the United States called SPAM. Every time the friends try to speak, another group of people starts singing the word SPAM very loudly. This interferes with the friends’ discussion – just as unwanted sales messages interfere with communication over the Internet.

(MUSIC)

This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Jill Moss. I'm Faith Lapidus.

Source: http://voanews.com

Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations

Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations

A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease. It’s not as hard as you may think! Remember, it's the overall pattern of your choices that counts.

Make the simple steps below part of your life for long-term benefits to your health and your heart.

Use up at least as many calories as you take in.

Start by knowing how many calories you should be eating and drinking to maintain your weight. Don’t eat more calories than you know you can burn up every day. Increase the amount and intensity of your physical activity to match the number of calories you take in. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week or — best of all — at least 30 minutes every day. Regular physical activity can help you maintain your weight, keep off weight that you lose and help you reach physical and cardiovascular fitness. If you can’t do at least 30 minutes at one time, you can add up 10-minute sessions throughout the day.

Eat a variety of nutritious foods from all the food groups.

You may be eating plenty of food, but your body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to be healthy. Nutrient-rich foods have vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients but are lower in calories. To get the nutrients you need, choose foods like vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products and fat-free or low-fat dairy products most often.

• Vegetables and fruits are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber — and they’re low in calories. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables may help you control your weight and your blood pressure.
• Unrefined whole-grain foods contain fiber that can help lower your blood cholesterol and help you feel full, which may help you manage your weight.
• Eat fish at least twice a week. Recent research shows that eating oily fish containing omega-3 fatty acids (for example, salmon, trout, and herring) may help lower your risk of death from coronary artery disease.

Eat less of the nutrient-poor foods.

The right number of calories to eat each day is based on your age and physical activity level and whether you're trying to gain, lose or maintain your weight. You could use your daily allotment of calories on a few high-calorie foods and beverages, but you probably wouldn’t get the nutrients your body needs to be healthy. Limit foods and beverages high in calories but low in nutrients, and limit how much saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium. Read labels carefully — the Nutrition Facts panel will tell you how much of those nutrients each food or beverage contains.

As you make daily food choices, base your eating pattern on these recommendations:

• Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without added saturated and trans fat.
• Select fat-free, 1 percent fat, and low-fat dairy products.
• Cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet.
• Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol. Aim to eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol each day.
• Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars.
• Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt. Aim to eat less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.
• If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. That means one drink per day if you’re a woman and two drinks per day if you’re a man.
• Follow the American Heart Association recommendations when you eat out, and keep an eye on your portion sizes.

Also, don’t smoke tobacco — and stay away from tobacco smoke

Source: http://www.americanheart.org

Banking in 2009: challenges in the offing

Banks which did not aim at hot credit growth, but focused on restructuring loaning and trying to reduce bad debts in 2008, will meet less difficulties in 2009, experts say.

Credit not the biggest earner

According to the State Bank of Vietnam, total outstanding loans in 2008 only rose by 21-22% over the end of 2007, while the allowed level was 30%. Only small banks relied on credit, while bigger banks have been seeking income from diversified sources.

When the capital mobilisation cost soared, a lot of banks incurred losses from loaning. As exporters could not borrow money from banks in US$, banks had to rack their brains to find ways to boost credit. Eximbank then announced it would lend to businesses in VND at the interest rates applied for US$ loans, if exporters committed to sell dollars to the bank at negotiated prices.

Many banks reaped big profit from foreign exchange trading in the market. The interbank exchange rate increased by 5.4%, and the commercial banks’ transaction exchange rate rose by 8-9% in comparison with the end of 2007.

According to HSC Securities Company, the income from foreign currency trading activities of Asia Commercial Bank in 2008 brought in 40% of total income.

As for the Military Bank, the income from foreign currency trading in the first half of 2008 alone was four times higher than that of 2007 as a whole.

The capital of VND7,610bil pumped by foreign strategic partners in May-July helped the input capital cost of Eximbank become more competitive than other rivals. According to Dao Hong Chau, Deputy General Director of Eximbank, the bank’s main sources of income came from foreign currency trading and foreign currency loaning.

The bond market brought a considerable sum of income to banks. The banks which bought cheap bonds in May could earn the profit of up to 30-40%.

Regarding other services, despite big efforts, banks could not make big changes in diversifying services with income from services accounting for only 5-7% of total income. Even East Asia Bank (EAB), a well known overseas remittance and card service provider, only saw fees accounting for 10% of total income.

Challenges on the horizon in 2009

With the sharp falls of the real estate market, the bad debt of the banking sector had reached VND43,500bil by the end of the year, or 3.5% of total outstanding loans.

Analysts say that an increase of bad debt ratio in 2009 is possible.

They say that banks will still face a lot of difficulties in 2009 caused by the adjustments in the monetary policies of the State Bank of Vietnam which aim to push up production and business, and prevent economic slowdown.

The central bank is believed will control credit quality more strictly making it difficult for credit to become as hot as it was in 2007.

In the immediate time, the interest rates are expected to go down as per instruction of the Prime Minister. This will make bank interest rates become less attractive in the eyes of investors in comparison with stock and gold investments. Therefore, banks will have to seek solutions to retain clients.

In 2009, domestic banks will have to officially enter into fierce competition with 100% foreign-owned banks, which will force them to expand their networks, improve technology, diversify services.

Therefore, analysts have every reason to believe that 2009 will be the year that ‘filters’ banks.

Source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn

500 biggest companies honoured in Hanoi

he ceremony to announce the top 500 Vietnamese companies in 2008 and the VNR500 forum ‘Big enterprises and the economic prospects in Vietnam in 2009’ took place on January 2, 2009 at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi.

VietNamNet's Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Anh Tuan delivered the opening speech

The ceremony attracted the participation of former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, Professor Robert Kaplan from Harvard Business School, Dr Dinh Van An, Head of the Central Institute of Economic Management (CIEM), Nguyen Dinh Cung, MA, also from CIEM, and representatives of hundreds of enterprises.

This is the second consecutive year VietNamNet newspaper and VietNam Report Company have joined forces to announce the top 500 Vietnamese companies: The leading businesses in Vietnam in terms of turnover and operation scale.

Speaking at the conference, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet, stressed that despite having to face a lot of difficulties in 2008, Vietnamese enterprises still recorded encouraging achievements. Tuan said that the difficulties have urged businesses to improve themselves to become stronger and more adaptable in the process of global integration.

Professor Kaplan with his presentation

Professor Kaplan gave a presentation about the Balanced Scorecard model, of which he is the father. The Balanced Scorecard is considered one of the most effective business administration models in the 20^th century, and has been widely used by the world’s leading groups.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan said at the conference that honouring businesses is a good way to encourage them. “I find VND500 very necessary and significant,” Khoan said.

When asked if naming 500 enterprises was too much for a national economy in which small- and medium-size enterprises were the majority, Khoan said that naming 500 from among 360,000 operational businesses was not ‘too many’. However, Khoan said that the criteria for hounouring businesses should focus more on quality than scale.

Dinh Van An, Head of CIEM, while talking about difficulties Vietnamese businesses will face in 2009, identified six favourable conditions which he believes will help businesses overcome the difficulties.

An said that the macroeconomic management capability of the government has improved considerably. In 2008, the government several times made suitable adjustments of economic growth targets and launched suitable policies to help the economy overcome difficulties.

However, as Nguyen Dinh Cung pointed out, in order to survive the difficulties and become stronger, enterprises need to improve their corporate governance skills. Cung said that bad corporate governance is the main factor hindering the development of big enterprises in Vietnam.

Source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

President Nguyen Minh Triet's New Year greetings.

Hanoi: Splendid flower street

A street of flowers is being built on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, along the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi’s centre, to celebrate the New Year through photos.

Workers and craftsmen are working on the last phase to have a flower road.

Dozens of flower varieties will show off their beauty in the centre of Hanoi.

The flower road will feature cultural identity of the North, the South and the Central Region: A northern-style bridge in the photo.

Fishing boat of the central region.

The symbol for southern canals and fishing.

Tu Cau flower comes from the Central Highlands city of Da Lat.

Hundreds of wind bells used to decorate the flower street.

The symbol of Dong Son bronze drum.

The giant flower gate, which will be recognized as a national record.

Many bamboo frames will be displayed with flowers.

An artisan is busy with his work.

Thousands of pieces of grass to cover the flower street.

Thousands of pieces of grass to cover the flower street.

Source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn

Sleepless night for football fans

ousands of people rushed to Hanoi and HCM City’s downtowns, with flags and cheers, after the winning match of the national squad last night.

Hoan Kiem Lake last night.

Hanoi: A forest of flags around Hoan Kiem Lake

At 10:00 pm, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake were completely red with thousands of people holding flags and flowers, shouting “champion Vietnam.” Hundreds of motorbikes, carrying young people with flags, flowers, and banners, ran slowly through the major streets, to the cheers of thousands of people.

Many people lifted “Vietnam-Thailand: 2-0” boards, showing their hope that Vietnam would defeat Thailand for 2-0 in the final match of AFF Cup 2008.

On the bank of Hoan Kiem Lake, a ten-member group, called ATW of the “Art Football” forum, performed football techniques to the sound of popular football songs, like “I love football” and “Italian Summer.” Many foreign visitors shared their happiness with Vietnamese fans.

By 12:00 pm, traffic and mobile police patrolled major streets to ensure order and prevent motorbike races. “It is easy to understand why people flocked to the markets. However, we have to prevent any bad circumstances. I hope tonight everybody will celebrate the national squad’s victory in safety,” said Lieutenant colonel Vu Van Ngoan, Hanoi Police.

ATW group performed football techniques to the sound of popular football songs.

Around the Hoan Kiem Lake

HCM City: also sleepless

The Youth Cultural House and Turtle Lake were the destinations of football fans in HCM City. This area was also covered with flags, banners and flowers.

The Ben Thanh market area was a sea of people and motorbikes. They drove through major streets, like Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Cach Mang Thang Ta, Dong Khoi and Tran Hung Dao, to cheer and celebrate the national team’s victory.

Many traffic police officers were present to maintain traffic order.

On Dong Khoi and Pham Ngu Lao roads, hundreds of foreign tourists were surprised about the special atmosphere.

VietNamNet’s correspondents captured the moment of joyfulness in Hanoi and HCM City.

Source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn