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Google Maps Gets Route Correct

Maps Guides Phuc My on the Perfect Grab Car Journey

Hanoi, Vietnam—Google Maps has finally pinpointed the optimal route for Phuc My’s Grab Car ride through the bustling streets of Vietnam’s capital. Eyewitness reports confirm that for the first time ever, Google’s navigation app led My on the most efficient path imaginable, devoid of detours, stray dogs, and improvisational pop-up beverage stands.

At precisely 3:15 PM on a Tuesday, Phuc My tapped his phone screen and summoned a Grab Car, optimism glimmering in his eyes. As fate would have it, the ride would not only be a mundane affair; it would go down in history as a GPS triumph. “I thought it was a joke,” Phuc recounted, still in shock. “I mean, we didn’t stop for coconut water, and there were no incidents involving a wayward old lady selling sausages or a leisurely family of ducks waddling across the road!”

The journey, charted by Google Maps, took Phuc straight from his office in Cau Giay to Hoan Kiem Lake—a route that ordinarily resembles a labyrinth constructed by a toddler on a caffeine high. Instead of enduring the usual chaotic zigzags of motorbikes, vendor stalls, and cinematic near-scrapes with oblivious pedestrians, Phuc found himself cruising down a straight, uninterrupted path—made all the more surreal by the scenic views of Hanoi’s shimmering skyline.

“Our algorithm finally reflects the real world,” said a Google spokesperson, attempting to downplay the groundbreaking achievement. “We ran thousands of simulations with untested mapping data from the ‘Black Mirror’ universe and concluded it was indeed possible to navigate efficiently when the sun reaches its zenith and all stray animals have taken their obligatory afternoon naps.”

The Grab driver, Dong “No Detours” Nguyen, revealed his own surprise at the efficiency. “I’ve been driving for years, and I always assumed … Read more

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Banh Mi Bloodbath

Day-Old Bread Used For Series of Stabbings

Saigon, Vietnam — The peaceful streets of Saigon have become the backdrop for a series of notorious “banh mi stabbings,” in disputes over money.

The alarming trend reportedly began at a family reunion last weekend when the Nguyens were divided over a modest inheritance that included a peculiar stash of day-old banh mi. Ms. Nguyen, who only partially uttered this while clutching a loaf of bread. “It was supposed to be a peaceful gathering.”

While economics experts attribute the rise in tensions to the current inflation rate, local chefs argue it’s all about the bread. “Stale banh mi breeds resentment,” states renowned chef M. Phan, who recently opened a trendy café called Co Ba Ma, specializing in fresh bread.

By the end of the last incident, the “Banh Mi Massacre,” the Nguyen family is now down two members with sliced and diced relationships – and a few emergency room visits. “I couldn’t believe it,” said neighbor Minh Tran. “One minute, they were arguing about who borrowed money from whom, and the next, there we stabbing each other with rock hard baguettes.”

As news spreads, local residents are rushing to their kitchen cupboards to stock up on fresh loaves instead of negotiating marital property agreements. “I think I’ll just keep my bread in the sun from now on,” says Tran. “Day-old? No thank you! I am the breadwinner and sole provider in the family.”

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Vietnam Proposes 10% Tax On Soda

Tuoi Tre News

The rate of overweight and obesity among Vietnamese children aged 5-19 surged to 19% in 2020, up from 8.5% a decade earlier. In response, the draft Law on Excise Tax proposes a 10% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to combat this issue.

This topic was discussed during a recent workshop in Hanoi organized by UNICEF Vietnam and the National Assembly Committee for Culture and Education. Experts highlighted that Vietnam’s obesity rate surpasses those of neighboring countries, with projections indicating that nearly two million children could be classified as overweight or obese by 2030 if SSB consumption continues unchecked.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Tuyet Mai from the National Institute of Nutrition cautioned against the health risks associated with prolonged SSB consumption, which can lead to obesity and other serious conditions. Studies indicate that frequent SSB consumption in children raises body mass index (BMI) significantly and increases the risk of obesity by age five.

Dr. Mai recommended stringent limits on sugar intake for children: none for those under two years old and for ages 2-18, no more than 25 grams of sugar or 235ml of SSBs weekly. Despite soft drink consumption in Vietnam rising drastically from 1.59 billion liters in 2009 to 6.67 billion liters in 2023, experts stressed the necessity of an excise tax to reduce both obesity rates and related healthcare costs.

Participants at the workshop largely supported the tax, though some raised questions about the threshold for sugar content included in the tax. Dr. Nguyen Huy Quang noted that while the excise tax proposal was previously stalled due to insufficient evidence, the current data warrants immediate action to protect public health. Currently, 104 countries worldwide impose such taxes on SSBs, including six in ASEAN.

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Burden Of Billions: Vietnamese Tycoons Share Their Struggles

by Joe Fotalattee

In a heartwarming display of camaraderie, Vietnam’s billionaires have recently taken to state-owned media to share the emotional toll of their immense wealth, particularly in the realm of labor exploitation via private investment schools. “It’s not as easy being a tycoon as you might think,” sighed Tran Van Phú, a prominent billionaire and owner of a conglomerate of private schools, as he deftly twirled a golden pen inscribed with the phrase “Hard Work Pays Off” inlaid with diamonds.

“It’s exhausting being this successful. While I’m enjoying my third mansion in LA, I often find myself reflecting on the burden of our success.”

Phú, alongside fellow magnates, addressed the nation about their struggles to balance profit margins with the emotional turmoil of exploiting labor. “Our schools offer ‘educational opportunities’ for underprivileged children, but have you heard about the emotional stress that comes from not providing teachers the basics like paid vacation? It haunts me. I can’t even find time to lobby for another tax break,” he lamented.

An even heavier weight: family members borrowing minuscule sums from them. “I have a niece who owes me 500,000 VND,” he continued, eyes brimming with unshed tears. “How could she do this to me?”

Nguyen Thi Mi, another billionaire who revolutionized fast fashion through sweatshop labor, chimed in. “Just last week, my cousin asked me for a small loan of 1 million VND for a school trip. I mean, can you imagine? It’s shameful! Now I have to compute interest rates based on a debt that could barely buy a pair of silk socks. How do you navigate those kinds of family dynamics while also trying to maintain a pristine real estate portfolio handed down from my grandparents?”

Luxury in a Lonely World

As they continued their confessions, it became apparent … Read more

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Insurrectionists Breaking English Teaching Contracts

This article was published in coordination with presidentlardass.com, Propublica did not contribute to this article and will not return our calls.

By Joe Fotalatte

Hanoi, Vietnam –- January 6 insurrectionists who previously fled the U.S. to teach English abroad find themselves re-evaluating life decisions following rumors of a forthcoming presidential pardon. “Teaching here was supposed to be my safe harbor,” lamented Todd Flake who was photographed in Nancy Pelosi’s office with a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag wrapped around his neck. “But now, it feels like breaking my contract is harder than breaking into her office to take a dump on her desk!”

Flake’s English teaching gig had been smooth sailing at first, until he heard whispers of Trump’s plans to pardon those charged in the January 6 Capitol riot. “I thought I’d be hiding out here for a while,” he sighed. “But the idea of being pardoned feels like a chance to make a run for it back to the U.S. I might as well bring a jackhammer to my contract because, much like the Department of Education, it’s going to get obliterated!”

In a bustling café just off Hoan Kiem Lake, former rioter Mike “The Patriot” Johnson said that he never intended to leave his beloved NFL fantasy football league, yet here he was: an English teacher in Vietnam, desperately longing for touchdown updates. “I punched a cop for menacing my freedoms, and boom! Now, I’m teaching second graders about past tense verbs instead of discussing why the refs are blind as bats,” he grumbled. “I traded in my flag for a chalkboard, and the only thing I miss more than the gridiron is a good American cheese! You know, real cheese. Not that weird Happy Cow pasteurized stuff they sell here.”

Johnson reminisced about the heavenly … Read more

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We’re Back: Alex Jones Saves The Beat!

by Joe Fotalatte

It’s been a year and a half since we collectively decided that the universe would run just fine without our analytical input. Hunkered down in our homes, we attempted what we can only describe as a “transformative experience”—and if by transformative if you mean drinking 12 beers every night until you pass out and eating spoonfuls of peanut butter in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, the world outside remained astoundingly unchanged. That’s right; for 18 months, we’ve confirmed: absolutely nothing was broken. Only the café on our corner in Saigon changed names three times. Like The Beat, perhaps this new modern redesign will finally make it profitable.

In light of our grand hiatus, we considered ourselves somewhat in a news blackout. After all, why report on the mundane when you can pursue the almost nonexistent? Much like reality TV, the stagnation of the news cycle led us to explore hobbies like extreme origami. Folding paper into bamboo shoots turned into a competitive adventure that involved long walks, breathing techniques, and some questionable glue-sniffing. Competitive Vegetable Sculpting led us to discover we didn’t like our Broccoli Barack once it started judging us.

After all these adventures in nothingness, we have returned to our roots with huge developments, including a new ownership of The Beat site. Hold on to your toupees! The guru of sensationalism himself, the Infowars guy, has swooped in using a secret coupon code from a coupon site, he managed to get a 30% discount and obtained our old domain—after only seven unsuccessful code attempts.

“We cannot be silenced!” he exclaimed, “The country of Vietnam will be a safe haven for our business, and it was already the source for most of our fake boner pills.”

The new ownership does not change The Beat’s mission … Read more

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Lost In Smoke

By Ngyuen Ayi

A new generation is taking steps towards shorter lifespans and lifelong health problems

The prevalence of addiction among Vietnamese youth is a growing concern in society, particularly when it comes to vaping and marijuana use. The harmful effects of these substances can have detrimental impacts on the overall health and well-being of young individuals.

1: Vaping and marijuana use pose risks to the youth.

As with any addictive substance, quitting vaping and marijuana is a common desire among young individuals. It is important to note that these habits negatively impact various aspects of their health, including their heart. In fact, a significant number of heart disease-related deaths in Vietnam can be attributed to smoking tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke.

When attempting to transition away from traditional cigarettes or marijuana use, it is not uncommon for Vietnamese youth to turn to vaping or electronic cigarettes as potential alternatives. However, it is essential to consider whether these options are indeed healthier and if they can aid in completely quitting smoking or marijuana.

2: Vaping and marijuana use can have adverse effects on heart and lung health.

Both vaping and marijuana contain harmful substances that can harm the heart and lungs. While there may be fewer toxic substances in vaping compared to smoking traditional cigarettes, the surge in lung injuries and deaths associated with vaping is a cause for concern. In Vietnam, there have been cases of severe lung injuries and deaths related to the use of vaping devices, especially those that have been modified or contain THC, a component of marijuana.

Research conducted by universities has uncovered various chemical ingredients in vape products, some of which are potentially harmful. Furthermore, the long-term impacts of vaping on physical health, especially heart and lung health, remain uncertain.

3: Vaping and Read more