[news] Prospective entrepreneurs contest / life in brief

[AnHai Doan <anhai@cs.washington.edu>]

Prospective entrepreneurs contest 

By Le Quang
HCMC


The decorations on the stage, a golden key with the word "Dynamic," a
big gate and a sketch of a modern city with many high-rises partly
characterized the meaning of the contest: dynamism is the golden key for
economics students to open the future gate and enter into the 21st
century in a rock-steady and successful way.

The "Students - Future Entrepreneurs" Contest (also called "Dynamic")
organized by the Student's Association of Economics College, addresses
the demand of students to prepare for the construction of the country in
the future.

This year's "Dynamic" contest was twice as large as "Dynamic" '96, with
the participation of 1,074 students from 26 colleges countrywide
("Dynamic" '96 was attended by 592 students from 15 colleges in the
South).

Twelve contestants in line for the final round held on May 17 had to
undergo two "challenging exams" in the true sense of the word. First,
they had to give answers to 100 questions within 90 minutes in various
areas such as basic and professional theory and knowledge on Vietnamese
socio-economic circumstances; later, they were required to write an
essay in English within 60 minutes and answer interview questions in
both Vietnamese and English about economics and deal with some real
situations. The strict examination gradually characterized the image of
potential entrepreneurs with a wide socio-economic knowledge. Contestant
Ngo The Trieu (College of Foreign Trade) produced three necessary
factors for domestic production development: product quality, an
encouraging legal system, preferential treatment for developing hi-tech
industries.

Not only expert at basic knowledge and academic theory, the contestants
turned out to be dynamic and flexible when dealing with real-life
situations. For example, to deal with the pressure of technological
innovation and reduction of workers, thought to be associated closely
with her "company", director Tran Thi Kim Chi decided to import new
technology after considering investment and the development of the
company in the future; explain to the workers about the necessity of
technological innovation, training and improvement of skilled workers;
and seek ways to re-train workers who will be made redundant from other
positions due to technological innovation.

It is the business morals of the future entrepreneurs that made
"Dynamic" '97 more meaningful than "Dynamic" '96. Talent and confidence
of each contestant was judged through questions and situations relating
to morality in doing business. The most interesting answer came from Le
Duc Tri (Economics College). He said contributing to society is
initially the responsibility of everyone and is also an occasion to win
others' confidence and that of society.

In this contest, everyone was a winner. As contestant Doan Nha Truc
(College of Foreign Trade) puts it, "The most important thing is that
today we are better people than yesterday."



Many puppetry shows to be staged on Children's Day

After a long absence due to repairs, Mang Non Theater of HCMC Puppetry
Troupe will resume operation on Children's Day (June 1) with a new show
entitled Trau vang Ho Tay (Golden Buffalo of West Lake). In addition,
the troupe has prepared some shows such as Banh chung banh day (Square
Sticky Rice Cake and Glutinous Rice Dumpling), Chi Hang va tho ngoc (The
Moon and the Rabbit), and Thach Sung (House Gecko) to perform every
Sunday morning.

On this occasion, on the Tiny World stage of the Institute for Cultural
Exchange with France (IDECAF), Nu Cuoi Puppetry Center will introduce a
new show entitled "The Adventure of Buratino" and Son Tinh, Thuy Tinh
(Mountain and Water Gods), together with a new, interesting variety
show. In mid-June, the second bilingual puppet show will be held with a
new show entitled Chu meo di hia (Puss in Boots) and a French-Vietnamese
children's musical program. 




Life in brief


v Twenty-three fires occur in Can Tho since the beginning of 1997

Despite many positive measures for forest protection, since the
beginning of this year, 23 fires have blazed in Can Tho Province,
causing damage of more than VND1 billion, most of these have occurred in
Can Tho City. Most of the fires have resulted from carelessness in
production, day-to-day activities or involved use of electricity.


v Phu Tho Bookstore to open today

Phu Tho Bookstore under management of the District 11 Culture Company
will be opened today, May 30. Investment for the construction of this
500-sq.m bookstore was about VND1 billion. Apart from cultural products,
foreign language and Vietnamese books, Phu Tho Bookstore will reserve an
area for children to choose and read books. In the first week of its
inauguration, the bookstore will offer a discount of 5% for all books on
sale.


v Mai Duc Chung: chief coach of Vietnam women's football team

The football section of the General Department of Sports has invited Mr.
Mai Duc Chung, who is currently chief coach of Duong Sat Viet Nam
football team, to train the Vietnam women's football team. He may "take
office" in mid-June. The Vietnam women's football team has been allowed
to take part in the coming SEA Games, scheduled to take place later this
year.  



Training centers for models in Hanoi

By Nhat Nam Vu
Hanoi

More and more beauty contests and fashion shows are organized in Vietnam
these days. Many young girls dream about becoming a super-model. To meet
this demand, some training centers for beautiful girls have come into
operation.

At the moment in Hanoi, there are two centers of this kind, one is
State-run and the other private. The State-run center is the "Model's
Baggage" Club organized by the Viet-Xo Cultural and Friendship Palace
and Thoi Trang Tre (Youth Fashion) newspaper. Since its establishment in
1994, the club has trained five classes of models. They are all
conferred certificates on "graduation." Many members of these classes
have made their name such as Tien Phong newspaper's runner-up Van Anh,
Miss Noel Quynh Nga, Bao Ngoc and Thanh Ha - first and second winners of
the first Vietnam Fashion Model's Contest, Mai Thanh Huyen - runner-up
of the National Youth-Elegance-Fashion Contest 1994, and Ngo Thu Trang -
Miss Camay (the Tien Phong newspaper's Beauty Contest). Many others such
as Thuy Hang, Hai Yen, Thuy Hanh and Thu Trang have become famous models
in the capital.

At the club, girls are trained in a wide range of subjects including
international dance, aerobics, fashion history, music, esthetic colors
in designs, hairdressing, makeup, and performing techniques. They are
trained for six months, and classes meet every Sunday at Viet-Xo Palace.
In order to be admitted to this club, girls must be 1.65 meters tall,
and men 1.75 meters. They must be good-looking as well.

The private center is run by Kim Lan, a journalist cum choreographer. He
runs night classes after work for beautiful girls wanting to become
models. He teaches two hours every night in a small room on Tran Nhat
Duat Street, each student pays him VND50,000 a night. Particularly
interested in his work, he is careful in showing his students knowledge
on stage light, stage settings and how to move on stage to make best use
of light, and proper movements with each kind of clothes. Many of his
students have become famous such as Miss Hanoi Thuy Linh and Tien Phong
newspaper's runner-up Minh Thuy. For Mr. Lan, it takes only one month to
train a girl to become a professional model. 

In recent years, beauty contests have started to concentrate on more
notable attributes than just looking good, such as public speaking
competitions. Beautiful girls have begun to pay attention to not only
their outside appearance but also social and general knowledge;
necessary conditions for a beautiful girl to make a name for herself.