India is famous for its rich culture and diversity. A wedding in the southern part of the country was an amalgamation of the Communist Party.

Among the wedding guests of this unique wedding were Marx, Lenin, and Ho Chi Minh. Their friend Engels was tying the knot.

However, none of them are from Germany, Russia, or Vietnam as people would generally assume upon hearing those names.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/socialism-weds-mamata-banerjee-with-communism-leninism-and-marxism-as-special-guests-390813">Socialism weds Mamata Banerjee, with Communism, Leninism, and Marxism as special guests</a>

&nbsp;

As per the newspaper Mathrubhumi, while Engels and Lenin are brothers, Marx and Ho Chi Minh are the sons of a local party activist.

What they have in common is that they all are active members of the Communist Party.

A similar incident had taken place in June when Socialism married off in front of brothers Communism, Leninism, and Marxism.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-set-to-seal-3-billion-predator-drone-deal-with-us-by-current-fiscal-429862" hreflang="en">India set to seal $3 billion Predator drone deal with US by current fiscal</a>

The bride, called P. Mamata Banerjee, is also named after a female politician in the state of Western Bengal.

Interestingly, she is responsible for ending decades of communist rule in the state back in 2011.

Revolutionary names like Stalin and Trotsky popular are extremely popular in Southern India.

In the last six decades, the hammer and the sickle have ruled in the state of Kerala. This inclination towards the Soviet Union began during the Cold War.

(With inputs from agencies)

India is famous for its rich culture and diversity. A wedding in the southern part of the country was an amalgamation of the Communist Party. Among the wedding guests of this unique wedding were Marx, Lenin, and Ho Chi Minh.

India is famous for its rich culture and diversity. A wedding in the southern part of the country was an amalgamation of the Communist Party. Among the wedding guests of this unique wedding were Marx, Lenin, and Ho Chi Minh. Their friend Engels was tying the knot. However, none of them are from Germany, Russia, or Vietnam as people would generally assume upon hearing those names. Also read | Socialism weds Mamata Banerjee, with Communism, Leninism, and Marxism as special guests As per the newspaper Mathrubhumi, while Engels and Lenin are brothers, Marx and Ho Chi Minh are the sons of a local party activist. What they have in common is that they all are active members of the Communist Party. A similar incident had taken place in June when Socialism married off in front of brothers Communism, Leninism, and Marxism. Also read | India set to seal $3 billion Predator drone deal with US by current fiscal The bride, called P. Mamata Banerjee, is also named after a female politician in the state of Western Bengal. Interestingly, she is responsible for ending decades of communist rule in the state back in 2011. Revolutionary names like Stalin and Trotsky popular are extremely popular in Southern India. In the last six decades, the hammer and the sickle have ruled in the state of Kerala. This inclination towards the Soviet Union began during the Cold War. (With inputs from agencies)

This unique wedding in India had Marx and Lenin as guests

Vietnam, a key producer&nbsp;of robusta, which is used in some espresso blends and instant coffee,&nbsp;is in lockdown, causing global coffee supply concerns.&nbsp;

As a result of a spike in Delta variant cases, strict travel restrictions have been imposed in Ho Chi Minh, a major exporting hub that operates from China to Europe.&nbsp;

The result is that exporters are having difficulty transporting commodities around the world.&nbsp;

Several trade organisations, including the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association, are calling on the government to relax the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> regulations, so as to prevent further delays to shipments and to reduce related costs.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/drinking-coffee-reduces-risk-of-contracting-coronavirus-study-397490">Drinking coffee reduces risk of contracting coronavirus: Study</a>

However, it is unclear how long the Vietnamese government will impose such a tight lockdown on Ho Chi Minh.&nbsp;

The disruption of shipments from such a major producer country as Vietnam follows the loss of Brazil's coffee crop, which&nbsp;is now hitting coffee supplies.

Brazil, the world's biggest producer of coffee, is bracing for coffee losses as it continues to monitor its crops but is expecting significant damage to them.&nbsp;

Alos read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drinking-coffee-regularly-decreases-chances-of-chronic-liver-diseases-study-393155">Drinking coffee regularly decreases chances of chronic liver diseases: Study</a>

Due to recent droughts and frosts that have severely harmed Brazil's coffee-growing regions, future prices also look set to spike.&nbsp;Reports claim that many farmers face replanting their trees because of the harsh frosts, which will set back their production by several years.&nbsp;

In light of all this, it is predicted that the price of imported coffee beans will rise, which will affect the cost to the consumer.&nbsp;

Vietnam, a key producer of robusta, which is used in some espresso blends and instant coffee, is in lockdown, causing global coffee supply concerns. As a result of a spike in Delta variant cases, strict travel restrictions have been imposed in Ho Chi Minh, a major exporting hub that operates from China to Europe.

Vietnam, a key producer of robusta, which is used in some espresso blends and instant coffee, is in lockdown, causing global coffee supply concerns. As a result of a spike in Delta variant cases, strict travel restrictions have been imposed in Ho Chi Minh, a major exporting hub that operates from China to Europe. The result is that exporters are having difficulty transporting commodities around the world. Several trade organisations, including the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association, are calling on the government to relax the COVID-19 regulations, so as to prevent further delays to shipments and to reduce related costs. Also read | Drinking coffee reduces risk of contracting coronavirus: Study However, it is unclear how long the Vietnamese government will impose such a tight lockdown on Ho Chi Minh. The disruption of shipments from such a major producer country as Vietnam follows the loss of Brazil's coffee crop, which is now hitting coffee supplies. Brazil, the world's biggest producer of coffee, is bracing for coffee losses as it continues to monitor its crops but is expecting significant damage to them. Alos read | Drinking coffee regularly decreases chances of chronic liver diseases: Study Due to recent droughts and frosts that have severely harmed Brazil's coffee-growing regions, future prices also look set to spike. Reports claim that many farmers face replanting their trees because of the harsh frosts, which will set back their production by several years. In light of all this, it is predicted that the price of imported coffee beans will rise, which will affect the cost to the consumer.

Vietnam lockdown threatens global coffee supplies, may affect your Java costs

New York was called New Amsterdam, Ho Chi Minh City was Saigon. Cities have been named and renamed to suit colonisers and politics. South Africa is now renaming cities. Which other countries have done the same recently? Palki Sharma has a report.

Gravitas: South Africa renames Port Elizabeth

Chinese phone giant Huawei said Sunday it was ready to roll out 5G infrastructure across Southeast Asia, dismissing US warnings its tech could be used to hoover up data for Beijing.

The firm has emerged as a key protagonist in the wider US-China trade war that has seen tit-for-tat tariffs imposed on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods.

President Donald Trump's administration has warned Huawei's equipment could allow China to spy on other countries and has effectively blocked American companies from selling US technology to the firm.

But the company has repeatedly denied the accusations, saying it is the victim of tech envy.

Thailand and the Philippines have shrugged off the cybersecurity warnings in a rush to exploit the ultra-fast 5G network promised by China's biggest smartphone maker, while Vietnam has edged away from Huawei.

"China and the US now is in the trade war and also there is some kind of technology war (which) Huawei is very focused on at the moment," said Huawei vice-president Edward Zhou at the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) summit on Sunday.

"We are here to support the ASEAN (in) the development for the 5G."

Encompassing hundreds of millions of people, the 10-member bloc wants the next-level technology to help businesses, infrastructure and transport compete globally.

Host country Thailand has welcomed Huawei with open arms, allowing it to set up a testbed at a major university near the Thai capital.

A Huawei spokesperson previously told AFP it had invested $5 billion in the trials and has been invited to conduct similar tests in other Southeast Asian markets.

Elsewhere the Philippines' Globe Telecom said this summer it was launching Southeast Asia's first 5G broadband service using Huawei technology.&nbsp;

Both Thailand and the Philippines are historic US allies and some see the tangle over 5G as a challenge of influence between the two powers.

But not all countries have been eager to sign up.

Vietnam has quietly sided with the US on the issue, shunning the Chinese firm in favour of alternative providers for 5G technology, including Ericsson and Nokia.&nbsp;

The country's military-owned telecoms giant Viettel hopes to be the first to roll out 5G in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and has said it plans to do so without Huawei, citing security concerns. &nbsp;

Zhou reiterated past statements by the company brushing aside the US claims.

"There is not any cybersecurity issues for us. There is no evidence for the US to say that," he said.

Chinese phone giant Huawei said Sunday it was ready to roll out 5G infrastructure across Southeast Asia, dismissing US warnings its tech could be used to hoover up data for Beijing.

Chinese phone giant Huawei said Sunday it was ready to roll out 5G infrastructure across Southeast Asia, dismissing US warnings its tech could be used to hoover up data for Beijing. The firm has emerged as a key protagonist in the wider US-China trade war that has seen tit-for-tat tariffs imposed on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods. President Donald Trump's administration has warned Huawei's equipment could allow China to spy on other countries and has effectively blocked American companies from selling US technology to the firm. But the company has repeatedly denied the accusations, saying it is the victim of tech envy. Thailand and the Philippines have shrugged off the cybersecurity warnings in a rush to exploit the ultra-fast 5G network promised by China's biggest smartphone maker, while Vietnam has edged away from Huawei. "China and the US now is in the trade war and also there is some kind of technology war (which) Huawei is very focused on at the moment," said Huawei vice-president Edward Zhou at the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) summit on Sunday. "We are here to support the ASEAN (in) the development for the 5G." Encompassing hundreds of millions of people, the 10-member bloc wants the next-level technology to help businesses, infrastructure and transport compete globally. Host country Thailand has welcomed Huawei with open arms, allowing it to set up a testbed at a major university near the Thai capital. A Huawei spokesperson previously told AFP it had invested $5 billion in the trials and has been invited to conduct similar tests in other Southeast Asian markets. Elsewhere the Philippines' Globe Telecom said this summer it was launching Southeast Asia's first 5G broadband service using Huawei technology. Both Thailand and the Philippines are historic US allies and some see the tangle over 5G as a challenge of influence between the two powers. But not all countries have been eager to sign up. Vietnam has quietly sided with the US on the issue, shunning the Chinese firm in favour of alternative providers for 5G technology, including Ericsson and Nokia. The country's military-owned telecoms giant Viettel hopes to be the first to roll out 5G in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and has said it plans to do so without Huawei, citing security concerns. Zhou reiterated past statements by the company brushing aside the US claims. "There is not any cybersecurity issues for us. There is no evidence for the US to say that," he said.

Huawei pushes 5G in Southeast Asia, brushing off 'tech war' with US

The US launched on Saturday a $183 million clean-up at a former Vietnam storage site for Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant used in their bitter war which years later is still blamed for severe birth defects, cancers and disabilities.

Located outside Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Hoa airbase -- the latest site scheduled for rehabilitation after Danang airbase's clean-up last year -- was one of the main storage grounds for Agent Orange and only hastily cleared by soldiers near the war's end more than four decades ago.

US forces sprayed 80 million litres&nbsp;of Agent Orange over South Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 in a desperate bid to flush out Viet Cong communist guerrillas by depriving them of tree cover and food.

The spillover from the clearing operation is believed to have seeped beyond the base and into groundwater and rivers and is linked to severe mental and physical disabilities across generations of Vietnamese -- from enlarged heads to deformed limbs.

At Bien Hoa, more than 500,000 cubic metres of dioxin had contaminated the soil and sediment, making it the "largest remaining hotspot" in Vietnam, said a statement from the US development agency USAID, which kicked off a 10-year remediation effort on Saturday.&nbsp;

The dioxin amounts in Bien Hoa are four times more than the volume cleaned up at Danang airport, a six-year $110 million effort which was completed in November.

"The fact that two former foes are now partnering on such a complex task is nothing short of historic," said the US ambassador to Vietnam, Daniel Kritenbrink, at Saturday morning's launch attended by Vietnamese military officials and US senators.&nbsp;

Hanoi says up to three million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange, and that one million suffer grave health repercussions today -- including at least 150,000 children with birth defects.

An attempt by Vietnamese victims to obtain compensation from the United States has met with little success. The US Supreme Court in 2009 declined to take up the case while neither the US government nor the manufacturers of the chemical have ever admitted liability.

While US officials have never admitted direct links between Agent Orange and birth defects, USAID on Saturday also issued a "memorandum of intent" to work with government agencies to improve the lives of people with disabilities in seven Vietnamese provinces.&nbsp;

The US launched on Saturday a $183 million clean-up at a former Vietnam storage site for Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant used in their bitter war which years later is still blamed for severe birth defects, cancers and disabilities.

The US launched on Saturday a $183 million clean-up at a former Vietnam storage site for Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant used in their bitter war which years later is still blamed for severe birth defects, cancers and disabilities. Located outside Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Hoa airbase -- the latest site scheduled for rehabilitation after Danang airbase's clean-up last year -- was one of the main storage grounds for Agent Orange and only hastily cleared by soldiers near the war's end more than four decades ago. US forces sprayed 80 million litres of Agent Orange over South Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 in a desperate bid to flush out Viet Cong communist guerrillas by depriving them of tree cover and food. The spillover from the clearing operation is believed to have seeped beyond the base and into groundwater and rivers and is linked to severe mental and physical disabilities across generations of Vietnamese -- from enlarged heads to deformed limbs. At Bien Hoa, more than 500,000 cubic metres of dioxin had contaminated the soil and sediment, making it the "largest remaining hotspot" in Vietnam, said a statement from the US development agency USAID, which kicked off a 10-year remediation effort on Saturday. The dioxin amounts in Bien Hoa are four times more than the volume cleaned up at Danang airport, a six-year $110 million effort which was completed in November. "The fact that two former foes are now partnering on such a complex task is nothing short of historic," said the US ambassador to Vietnam, Daniel Kritenbrink, at Saturday morning's launch attended by Vietnamese military officials and US senators. Hanoi says up to three million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange, and that one million suffer grave health repercussions today -- including at least 150,000 children with birth defects. An attempt by Vietnamese victims to obtain compensation from the United States has met with little success. The US Supreme Court in 2009 declined to take up the case while neither the US government nor the manufacturers of the chemical have ever admitted liability. While US officials have never admitted direct links between Agent Orange and birth defects, USAID on Saturday also issued a "memorandum of intent" to work with government agencies to improve the lives of people with disabilities in seven Vietnamese provinces.

USAID launches latest clean-up for Vietnam War-era Agent Orange site

The leader of North Korea left the Vietnamese capital on Saturday for Pyongyang by train, after concluding a two-day state visit, following his failed summit with the President of the United States earlier in the week.

Before leaving for his country, he had visited the mausoleum of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-pays-tribute-to-ho-chi-minh-on-vietnam-visit-200677">Vietnamese national hero Ho Chi Minh</a>, with whom his grandfather Kim Il-Sung met in Hanoi in 1964, which had marked the last official visit by a North Korean leader to Vietnam.

After the shortstop, he travelled by car the 170 kilometres (106 miles) that separate Hanoi from Dong Dang station on the border with China.

He arrived at the station after 12.30 pm and boarded a high-security train to return to his country.

A crowd waving Vietnamese and North Korean flags to the beats of the national orchestra had gathered at the gates of the railway station to bid farewell to the leader of North Korea.

Kim waved to the gathered crowd with a broad smile and boarded the train, flanked by his security personnel.

On Friday, Hanoi had hosted a grand dinner for Kim, that was attended by top officials of the country.

Earlier in the day, he had met Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong.

During the meeting, both leaders had pledged to reinforce ties between the two countries that share historical and ideological affinities owing to the communist root of their regimes.

In recent months, North Korea has shown an interest in the economic transition undertaken by Vietnam since the mid-1980s.

Vietnam had successfully moved from orthodox communism to a state-protected market economy without the Communist Party losing its political hegemony.

Kim had arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday to participate in his second summit with US President Donald Trump, which ended ahead of schedule on Thursday after the two sides failed to agree on the denuclearization of North Korea and the lifting of sanctions.

The two countries had presented different versions of the meet, after it concluded, leading to confusion over its outcome.

However, on Friday, the negotiating teams of both the countries underlined the progress achieved during the talks and made an appeal to continue with the talks and hoped to reach an agreement at a forthcoming summit.

Meanwhile, Kim will be travelling 60 hours to cover 4,500 kilometres that separate the Vietnamese border from the North Korean capital.

The leader of North Korea left the Vietnamese capital on Saturday for Pyongyang by train, after concluding a two-day state visit, following his failed summit with the President of the United States earlier in the week.

The leader of North Korea left the Vietnamese capital on Saturday for Pyongyang by train, after concluding a two-day state visit, following his failed summit with the President of the United States earlier in the week. Before leaving for his country, he had visited the mausoleum of Vietnamese national hero Ho Chi Minh, with whom his grandfather Kim Il-Sung met in Hanoi in 1964, which had marked the last official visit by a North Korean leader to Vietnam. After the shortstop, he travelled by car the 170 kilometres (106 miles) that separate Hanoi from Dong Dang station on the border with China. He arrived at the station after 12.30 pm and boarded a high-security train to return to his country. A crowd waving Vietnamese and North Korean flags to the beats of the national orchestra had gathered at the gates of the railway station to bid farewell to the leader of North Korea. Kim waved to the gathered crowd with a broad smile and boarded the train, flanked by his security personnel. On Friday, Hanoi had hosted a grand dinner for Kim, that was attended by top officials of the country. Earlier in the day, he had met Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong. During the meeting, both leaders had pledged to reinforce ties between the two countries that share historical and ideological affinities owing to the communist root of their regimes. In recent months, North Korea has shown an interest in the economic transition undertaken by Vietnam since the mid-1980s. Vietnam had successfully moved from orthodox communism to a state-protected market economy without the Communist Party losing its political hegemony. Kim had arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday to participate in his second summit with US President Donald Trump, which ended ahead of schedule on Thursday after the two sides failed to agree on the denuclearization of North Korea and the lifting of sanctions. The two countries had presented different versions of the meet, after it concluded, leading to confusion over its outcome. However, on Friday, the negotiating teams of both the countries underlined the progress achieved during the talks and made an appeal to continue with the talks and hoped to reach an agreement at a forthcoming summit. Meanwhile, Kim will be travelling 60 hours to cover 4,500 kilometres that separate the Vietnamese border from the North Korean capital.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un leaves for Pyongyang after Vietnamese state visit

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid tribute to Vietnam's late revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh on Saturday before starting his long journey home through China, after his Hanoi summit with US President Donald Trump ended without a nuclear deal.

Kim boarded his olive green armoured train at the Dong Dang border station in Vietnam before it rolled northward toward China en route to Pyongyang, kicking off a marathon 4,000-kilometre (2,500-mile) journey expected to take two and a half days.&nbsp;

Earlier Kim made a highly unusual stop at the stark concrete monument where the body of Vietnam's independence hero is on display.

On historic North Korean anniversaries, Kim regularly pays tribute -- with the "humblest reverence", according to the official KCNA news agency -- to his predecessors, his father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung, at the sprawling memorial palace on the outskirts of Pyongyang where their preserved remains lie in state.

But he is not known to have previously done anything similar for a foreign leader.

The North Korean adjusted the ribbons on a large wreath emblazoned with his name and the message "Cherishing the memory of President Ho Chi Minh" before bowing his head for no less than 48 seconds.

Kim has visited China, the North's key diplomatic protector and main provider of trade and aid, four times but there have been no reports in either country's state media of him going to Mao Zedong's mausoleum in Beijing.

But Kim's grandfather was a close friend of Ho Chi Minh and supplied him with fighter pilots and psychological warfare specialists during his war against the US-backed regime in South Vietnam.&nbsp;

Pictures of the two together are displayed on the noticeboard outside the Vietnamese embassy in Pyongyang.

Single-string guitar

Kim's trip to Vietnam was the first by a North Korean leader since 1964, when Kim Il Sung also travelled by rail for his journey to the southeast Asian nation.

Kim boarded his own train Saturday and headed towards China, though his route was not known and it was not clear whether he would be stopping to meet President Xi Jinping along the journey.

A smiling Kim waved to crowds at the station and clasped his hands in the air as he was seen off by white-uniformed soldiers and Vietnamese officials.

"I really admire Chairman Kim Jong Un and I see him as a friendly person," said local resident Nguyen Thuy Chi at the station.&nbsp;

On Friday Kim met Vietnam's top leaders and reportedly tried his hand at playing a dan bau -- a traditional single-string guitar.&nbsp;

Pictures in the Vietnamese press showed the grinning leader with the instrument as a crowd of Vietnamese guests -- including President Nguyen Phu Trong -- cheered him on. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Kim and Trump's much-hyped second summit finished abruptly with a signing ceremony scrapped after the pair failed to reach an agreement on walking back North Korea's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Both sides said they were open to further talks, though a third summit has not been scheduled.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid tribute to Vietnam's late revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh on Saturday before starting his long journey home through China, after his Hanoi summit with US President Donald Trump ended without a nuclear deal.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid tribute to Vietnam's late revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh on Saturday before starting his long journey home through China, after his Hanoi summit with US President Donald Trump ended without a nuclear deal. Kim boarded his olive green armoured train at the Dong Dang border station in Vietnam before it rolled northward toward China en route to Pyongyang, kicking off a marathon 4,000-kilometre (2,500-mile) journey expected to take two and a half days. Earlier Kim made a highly unusual stop at the stark concrete monument where the body of Vietnam's independence hero is on display. On historic North Korean anniversaries, Kim regularly pays tribute -- with the "humblest reverence", according to the official KCNA news agency -- to his predecessors, his father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung, at the sprawling memorial palace on the outskirts of Pyongyang where their preserved remains lie in state. But he is not known to have previously done anything similar for a foreign leader. The North Korean adjusted the ribbons on a large wreath emblazoned with his name and the message "Cherishing the memory of President Ho Chi Minh" before bowing his head for no less than 48 seconds. Kim has visited China, the North's key diplomatic protector and main provider of trade and aid, four times but there have been no reports in either country's state media of him going to Mao Zedong's mausoleum in Beijing. But Kim's grandfather was a close friend of Ho Chi Minh and supplied him with fighter pilots and psychological warfare specialists during his war against the US-backed regime in South Vietnam. Pictures of the two together are displayed on the noticeboard outside the Vietnamese embassy in Pyongyang. Single-string guitar Kim's trip to Vietnam was the first by a North Korean leader since 1964, when Kim Il Sung also travelled by rail for his journey to the southeast Asian nation. Kim boarded his own train Saturday and headed towards China, though his route was not known and it was not clear whether he would be stopping to meet President Xi Jinping along the journey. A smiling Kim waved to crowds at the station and clasped his hands in the air as he was seen off by white-uniformed soldiers and Vietnamese officials. "I really admire Chairman Kim Jong Un and I see him as a friendly person," said local resident Nguyen Thuy Chi at the station. On Friday Kim met Vietnam's top leaders and reportedly tried his hand at playing a dan bau -- a traditional single-string guitar. Pictures in the Vietnamese press showed the grinning leader with the instrument as a crowd of Vietnamese guests -- including President Nguyen Phu Trong -- cheered him on. Kim and Trump's much-hyped second summit finished abruptly with a signing ceremony scrapped after the pair failed to reach an agreement on walking back North Korea's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Both sides said they were open to further talks, though a third summit has not been scheduled.

North Korea's Kim pays tribute to Ho Chi Minh on Vietnam visit

Former Vietnamese premier Phan Van Khai, who helped strengthen ties with the US and drive market reforms that ignited the communist country's economy, died on Saturday at the age 85, the government said.

A Soviet-trained economist from southern Vietnam, Khai held office for nine years starting in 1997, a period of reform that saw Vietnam transform into one of Southeast Asia's fastest growing economies.

Khai also made history as the country's first post-war leader to visit Washington in 2005, a landmark trip that helped cement ties between the former wartime foes.

A government statement announcing the former premier's death in the early hours of Saturday hailed his "spirit of innovation".

He "brought into play the capabilities of the whole economic sector, especially the private sector, in parallel with the opening up and international integration (of the country)," the statement said.&nbsp

It did not detail the cause of Khai's death, though his health has reportedly been ailing for several weeks.&nbsp

While the former premier helped open the communist country's economy and launch it onto a world stage, his administration made no departure from Vietnam's repressive one-party rule at home, where independent media is banned and critics are routinely jailed.

His government was also plagued by corruption.&nbsp

Born on December 25, 1933, in Ho Chi Minh City's suburban Cu Chi district, Khai became a political activist at 14 by joining a children's revolutionary movement against the French colonial regime.

He later joined the communist party at age 26, shortly before being sent to study in Moscow from 1960 to 1965.

He became the mayor of Ho Chi Minh city in 1985, and six years later entered Vietnam's top decision-making body, the politburo.

Before taking office as prime minister, Khai was deputy premier to his patron and mentor Vo Van Kiet from 1991-97.

Former Vietnamese premier Phan Van Khai, who helped strengthen ties with the US and drive market reforms that ignited the communist country's economy, died on Saturday at the age 85

Former Vietnamese premier Phan Van Khai, who helped strengthen ties with the US and drive market reforms that ignited the communist country's economy, died on Saturday at the age 85, the government said. A Soviet-trained economist from southern Vietnam, Khai held office for nine years starting in 1997, a period of reform that saw Vietnam transform into one of Southeast Asia's fastest growing economies. Khai also made history as the country's first post-war leader to visit Washington in 2005, a landmark trip that helped cement ties between the former wartime foes. A government statement announcing the former premier's death in the early hours of Saturday hailed his "spirit of innovation". He "brought into play the capabilities of the whole economic sector, especially the private sector, in parallel with the opening up and international integration (of the country)," the statement said. It did not detail the cause of Khai's death, though his health has reportedly been ailing for several weeks. While the former premier helped open the communist country's economy and launch it onto a world stage, his administration made no departure from Vietnam's repressive one-party rule at home, where independent media is banned and critics are routinely jailed. His government was also plagued by corruption. Born on December 25, 1933, in Ho Chi Minh City's suburban Cu Chi district, Khai became a political activist at 14 by joining a children's revolutionary movement against the French colonial regime. He later joined the communist party at age 26, shortly before being sent to study in Moscow from 1960 to 1965. He became the mayor of Ho Chi Minh city in 1985, and six years later entered Vietnam's top decision-making body, the politburo. Before taking office as prime minister, Khai was deputy premier to his patron and mentor Vo Van Kiet from 1991-97.

Vietnam's reformist ex-Prime Minister Phan Van Khai dies at age 85

Five-time world champion M C Mary Kom won her fifth gold medal at the Asian Boxing Championships at Ho Chi Minh. She defeated&nbsp;North Korea&rsquo;s Hyang Mi Kim in the 48 kg category to clinch gold.

Mary Kom found Hyang Mi as one of the most aggressive opponents so far in the tournament, however she was determined for the gold.&nbsp;

Unlike her previous bouts, in which the opening three minutes were invariably spent measuring up the rival, both the boxers were lunging at each other within seconds of the bell going off.

Matched quite evenly in speed and precision, Mary Kom scored for her ringcraft, which included some fine footwork to outpace Hyang Mi at crucial junctures.

This was her first international gold medal in five years, since her win in the 2014 Asian Games.&nbsp;

In Tuesday&#39;s semi-final, the champion defeted Japan&#39;s Tsubasa Komura, which was also in a unanimous 5-0 verdict to make the final for the fifth time out of the six times she had participated.&nbsp;

The 35-year-old Rajya Sabha MP, who is also a former Olympic bronze-medallist, returned to her preferred weight category after five years of competing in 51kg, which was made an Olympic category in 2012.

Five-time world champion M C Mary Kom won her fifth gold medal by beating North Korea?s Hyang Mi Kim at the Asian Boxing Championships at Ho Chi Minh.

Five-time world champion M C Mary Kom won her fifth gold medal at the Asian Boxing Championships at Ho Chi Minh. She defeated North Korea’s Hyang Mi Kim in the 48 kg category to clinch gold. Mary Kom found Hyang Mi as one of the most aggressive opponents so far in the tournament, however she was determined for the gold. Unlike her previous bouts, in which the opening three minutes were invariably spent measuring up the rival, both the boxers were lunging at each other within seconds of the bell going off. Matched quite evenly in speed and precision, Mary Kom scored for her ringcraft, which included some fine footwork to outpace Hyang Mi at crucial junctures. This was her first international gold medal in five years, since her win in the 2014 Asian Games. In Tuesday's semi-final, the champion defeted Japan's Tsubasa Komura, which was also in a unanimous 5-0 verdict to make the final for the fifth time out of the six times she had participated. The 35-year-old Rajya Sabha MP, who is also a former Olympic bronze-medallist, returned to her preferred weight category after five years of competing in 51kg, which was made an Olympic category in 2012.

Mary Kom wins gold, her fifth, in Asian boxing championship

ho-chi-minh

Ho Chi Minh, News on Ho Chi Minh, stories on Ho Chi Minh, articles on Ho Chi Minh, Ho Chi Minh stories at Wion, Ho Chi Minh news, Ho Chi Minh latest news

ho chi-minh