"vietnamese" news and stories

It's not that the Vietnamese government has anything against grapefruit per se. Rather the powers that be have banned the URL www.buoi.com.vn because of a confusion that arises from the Vietnamese language's use of markings to indicate one of six pronunciation tones, reports the BBC. Without the proper accent marks, buoi reads the same as the slang for penis. Unfortunately for the grapefruit wholesaler in Ha Tinh province who tried to register the name there is as yet no way to indicate such diacritical marks in Web site addresses.

There's nothing like a bowl of hot, steamy Vietnamese beef noodle soup, or pho, on a cold winter's day. It's my choice over chicken noodle soup or even my childhood fave, cream of tomato, when I'm sick. The spice clears the sinuses, the bean sprouts, Thai basil and mint brighten my palate, and the broth warms the cockles of my heart. This pho comes from the excellent Portland, Oregon Pho Hung.

[Photo Sarah Gilbert]