Buzz
This year's Halloween wasn't marked by any particularly frightening or extravagant costumes, but rather by a young girl who captured the online community's attention by dressing up as No-Face from the renowned Japanese animated film *Spirited Away*. The two-year-old Momo Lu from Taiwan became the center of attention when her kindergarten hosted a Halloween costume event on October 28th. Her No-Face costume left a significant impression, even scaring some children into tears. Momo's cuteness and her costume gained a lot of praise, leading to her photos being shared widely across social media. Popular Vietnamese entertainment fanpages on Facebook posted her pictures, and even created memes of Momo with a crying friend, sparking a new viral trend ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
On October 24th, during the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship quarterfinals, Vietnam's U-19 team, under coach Hoang Anh Tuan, won 1-0 against the host team Bahrain. This victory secured them a spot in the 2017 U-20 World Cup in South Korea. The moment the final whistle blew, fans and netizens erupted in joy as the long-awaited dream of attending the World Cup became a reality. While Vietnam's U-19 team was later defeated by Japan in the semifinals, the focus remained on the World Cup, a milestone that allowed millions of Vietnamese to proudly follow their team in the upcoming international tournament.
On October 18th, Vietnam News Agency, VTV, and several other outlets reported that the Vietnam Consumer Protection Association (Vinatas) had tested and found that 101 out of 150 fish sauce samples exceeded the legal arsenic levels. All of the tested samples were traditional fish sauces, and given the concerns over food safety in the country, this news created widespread panic among Vietnamese consumers. Just two days later, Nam Ngư fish sauce, a brand owned by the Masan Group, released an ad claiming that their product was safe and contained arsenic levels within permissible limits. Nam Ngư is a mass-produced fish sauce made with synthetic chemicals to mimic the taste of traditional fish sauce. The tension between industrial and traditional fish sauce manufacturers has been mounting in Vietnam. The quick release of this ad raised suspicions in the community that Masan had anticipated the news and was prepared with a response. In the aftermath, industry professionals pointed out that the arsenic in traditional fish sauce is organic arsenic, which occurs naturally in fish, and poses no harm. The Ministry of Health later confirmed that the inorganic arsenic levels in the 247 fish sauce samples they tested were within safe limits. Authorities also criticized Vinatas for not adhering to proper testing procedures, and some suggested that Vinatas may have collaborated with Masan to spread misleading information, damaging the traditional fish sauce industry and benefiting Nam Ngư's sales. This controversy sparked a widespread boycott of Masan and industrial fish sauces across social media.
On Vietnam Women's Day, October 20th, an outrage spread across social media as a video surfaced showing two men brutally attacking a female flight attendant. The incident took place on October 18th at Noi Bai Airport, involving Nguyen Le Quynh Anh, a deputy team leader at Vietnam Airlines' aviation service division. Trần Dương Tùng (32) and Đào Vịnh Thuấn (37) had a dispute over flight procedures, and when Quỳnh Anh intervened to report the incident by recording with her phone, the two men viciously assaulted her. Thankfully, two anonymous passengers stepped in to help her. It was later revealed that Đào Vịnh Thuấn was an official from the Hanoi Department of Transport, and he was dismissed after the event. The fact that the video went viral on October 20th added to the public's fury.
Amid the catastrophic flooding in Central Vietnam caused by severe storms, MC Phan Anh took the initiative to launch a charity drive to assist the affected communities. As a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, his actions were widely praised for their generosity, although some criticized him for allegedly seeking to boost his profile or even engage in money laundering. Despite these negative allegations, Phan Anh successfully raised over 8 billion VND on the first day of the campaign, with contributions from various philanthropists, including his personal donation. Additionally, he covered all logistical costs like travel, accommodation, and third-party auditing out of his own pocket. As the campaign continued, the total raised exceeded 20 billion VND, and any surplus would be reserved for future charitable activities.
In mid-October, as stormy weather persisted, many hydropower plants, including Hố Hô Hydropower, opened their floodgates, worsening the already dire flooding situation in Central Vietnam. On October 14th, the release of water from Hố Hô Hydropower impacted thousands of residents in the villages of Lộc Yên, Hương Trạch, Phương Mỹ, Hà Linh, Hương Thủy, and Hương Giang. Local residents expressed their frustration over the late and poorly-timed flood warnings, which left them unprepared. This incident was not the first of its kind, but with the people already suffering from the ongoing floods, the situation prompted intense public backlash and expressions of solidarity with the affected communities.
Every year, during the peak months of August, September, and October, Vietnam experiences a season of intense storms and flooding. This year alone, at least three major storms hit the mainland consecutively. The Central region faced severe flooding and transportation gridlock, while even Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) was not spared from the havoc. Torrential rains and high tides caused widespread disruption, with streets flooded, traffic jams, and buildings like Bitexco Tower being inundated. The city's residents, already dealing with the heavy rain, were further distressed by the prolonged chaos. On social media, particularly among young people in Saigon, the hashtag 'Saigon falls' emerged, humorously echoing the movie title 'White House Down' as they shared their experiences of this waterlogged urban disaster.
On November 8th, the United States held its highly anticipated presidential election, with two main candidates: Hillary Clinton representing the Democratic Party and Donald Trump representing the Republican Party. The election was a hotly debated topic worldwide, sparking discussions not only on social media but also in the mainstream media. Before the vote, many polls predicted Hillary Clinton would win, but Donald Trump, a 70-year-old billionaire with controversial statements, defied expectations. Throughout the voting process, Trump consistently led Clinton. In the end, Donald Trump was officially declared the 45th president of the United States, surprising both the media and public opinion. The election was broadcast live by major news outlets like CNN and BBC, with continuous updates from Vietnamese newspapers such as Vnexpress. According to Vietnam's time zone, the election coverage spanned from the afternoon of November 8th to noon on November 9th. During those two days, posts and comments about Trump and the election dominated social media, and even now, days after the event, Trump remains a hot topic online.
On November 1st, Karaoke 68, a karaoke bar located on Tran Thai Tong street in Hanoi's Cau Giay district, suddenly caught fire. The fire quickly spread to three neighboring eight-story buildings and raged for seven hours, despite the firefighting efforts. Tragically, 13 people lost their lives in the blaze. Most of the victims were students from the National Academy of Politics, undergoing training for senior government positions. Among the victims was also an official from Hanoi. Investigations revealed that the fire started when a welder working on the first floor dropped sparks, which ignited the wall. Additionally, the karaoke bar was found to lack proper fire safety measures and was operating without a business license. Due to the seriousness of the incident, the local authorities have ordered the closure of all karaoke bars in the district.
At 8 p.m. on October 31, 2016, veteran artist Pham Bang passed away at the age of 85. Pham Bang was a member of the Central Drama Troupe, famous for his comedic roles in the program "Gặp nhau cuối tuần" (Weekend Encounter) and his participation in the show "Táo quân về trời" (The Gods Return to Heaven), also known as "Gặp nhau cuối năm" (Year-End Encounter), along with many other programs and skits. He was honored with the title of "Meritorious Artist" in 1993. Following the news of his passing, numerous public figures and their fan pages expressed their sorrow and condolences. Many major news websites and fan pages paid tribute to him. The online community, particularly those who grew up with his iconic role as "Mr. Boss" in "Gặp nhau cuối tuần," also mourned the loss of this respected artist. His passing is considered one of the saddest events in recent times.
On the evening of October 31, 2016, Pham Bang, a beloved artist, passed away at the age of 85. Known for his work with the Central Drama Troupe, Pham Bang became famous for his comedic roles, especially in the programs "Gặp nhau cuối tuần" (Weekend Encounter) and "Táo quân về trời" (The Gods Return to Heaven), also known as "Gặp nhau cuối năm" (Year-End Encounter). He had also participated in numerous skits and theatrical works. In 1993, he was awarded the prestigious title of Meritorious Artist. Upon his passing, many public figures, as well as various news outlets, expressed their sadness. Fans, particularly those who enjoyed his performances in "Gặp nhau cuối tuần" as the lovable "Mr. Boss," shared heartfelt tributes. Pham Bang's death is undoubtedly one of the most sorrowful events in recent memory.
