Bits and pieces

* It's a Happy birthday to the Hung kings who according to legend founded the first kingdom of Vietnam some 3,000 years ago today. I'm celebrating by riding around on a buffalo for the day.

* Heavens to Murgatroyd... what are they feeding these poor mothers?

"A 6.6-kg boy was delivered after a difficult caesarean section, said a doctor at the Ha Noi Obstetrics Hospital on Thursday."

* Putting a plug in it... (the shits that is).

"The local Department of Health on April 13 decided to close several restaurants in the two districts of Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung which don’t meet standards on food hygiene and safety.

* The Olympic torch is coming to Ho Chi Minh City...

"Vietnam also rarely tolerates street protests, and officials have pledged a trouble-free leg in Ho Chi Minh City."

* Decoding Pham Xuan An... -- the life and times of Vietnam's celebrated secret agent Part I. The following articles in the series are on the right of the linked page.