Ask any foreigner what their least favourite aspect of Vietnam is and the list will undoubtedly include Xe Om (motorbike taxi) drivers. They are annoying at best. Pushy, smelly, rude and downright dangerous at worst.

I walked out  my Hanoi Backpackers Hostel in the Hoan Kiem district  that morning and was promptly accosted by the xe-om drivers.  It was a sunny morning and I had no appointments that day. I pulled out my pocket a paper scrap listing American war monuments in the Hanoi lake districts.

Undoubtedly, the most pressing global issue today is the environment. No matter who you are, where you live, or what you do, you are affected by environmental pollution. Everyone is responsible for protecting the planet; after all, there is only one Earth and if it is ruined, we have nowhere else to go.

A new book, “My Quest for Yummy Banh Mi”, charts the culinary tour of a Vietnamese Canadian woman named Thu Nguyen, an avid traveler, photographer and "foodie without borders”, who backpacked through Vietnam searching for the country’s finest crusty bread rolls.

Most early birds in Vietnam start their day by going to parks to exercise. In Hanoi, they go to parks or near the lakes while in Danang they go to beach.  

Last weekend Vietnam held general elections for its National Assembly (NA) and all levels of People's Councils. Such elections are held every five years but this year's elections were particularly significant because it was the first time the NA and People's Councils were elected simultaneously.

I look forward to the biggest celebration in the Vietnamese lunar calendar as I enjoy the festive atmosphere buzzing during the weeks leading up to Tết. The air is vibrant and filled with excitement from the shopping and home preparations.

Moving on to Tet Nguyen Dan for 2011, most of the staff at International School, Vietnam National University, in Hanoi are looking forward to a trip home to their families, or a short holiday away, from the ever-increasing demand of work in Vietnam’s educational sector.