The 57-year-old’s dramatic makeover — achieved for a fraction of Australian prices — is now dominating TikTok and spotlighting Vietnam’s fast-rising status as a global cosmetic-surgery destination.

An Australian delivery worker who spent two decades hiding from cameras is suddenly one of the most talked-about faces on TikTok after traveling to Vietnam for a full facial transformation. Jason Harrigan, 57, from Queensland’s Gold Coast, has become an unexpected social-media sensation in Australia after posting a series of videos documenting his cosmetic-surgery journey in Hanoi.

Each clip begins the same way: “Hello, I’m Jason from Australia.” What follows, however, has baffled — and fascinated — millions online. Harrigan appears next to a different Vietnamese doctor in every video, with each medical professional confirming their role in reshaping his appearance. The unusual format, designed to promote the unnamed clinic where he underwent the procedures, sparked confusion as viewers noticed his “before” photos looked different in each post.

But the strangeness only fueled the virality. The clips have amassed tens of millions of views across TikTok and other platforms, making Harrigan one of the most discussed personalities on Australian social media this week.

Harrigan says he is thrilled with the results. After years of feeling insecure about his looks, he discovered a Vietnamese cosmetic surgeon on TikTok and followed the account for months before gathering the courage to book a flight to Vietnam in August. The decision, he says, was driven by cost differences so extreme they sound unbelievable even to industry insiders: a procedure priced at USD 37,000 in Australia cost him roughly USD 1,500 in Vietnam.

Upon landing in Hanoi, he was immediately consulted, prepared, and brought into surgery. The seven-hour operation included removing around 6.5 centimeters of excess forehead skin, tightening sagging eyelids, reducing eye bags, and lifting the entire neck and lower face — a comprehensive transformation usually associated with high-end cosmetic centers in Seoul or Los Angeles.

Harrigan’s story is now fueling intense debate: some viewers praise his confidence and celebrate Vietnam’s medical talent, while others question the ethics of aggressive promotional content and the safety of ultra-cheap cosmetic surgery.

What’s clear is that global medical tourism is shifting. Vietnam — long known for street food and UNESCO sites — is rapidly emerging as a new hotspot for affordable aesthetic procedures, attracting patients from Australia, the U.S., Europe, and beyond.

As his videos continue to dominate feeds across Oceania, a wider question is emerging: is Vietnam on track to become the next global capital for cosmetic makeovers — and how will its booming budget-surgery industry reshape medical tourism in Asia?

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On March 13 (local time), the first launch of the Kairos rocket of Space One (Japan) ended in an explosion just a few seconds after takeoff, according to Reuters. The launch was broadcast live by local media on the Kii Peninsula in western Japan. The rocket exploded causing a large cloud of smoke, fire, and debris. Space One stated that the rocket launch is highly automated and requires more than 10 employees at the ground control center. They are currently investigating the cause of the explosion.

The Kairos rocket is 18 meters long and has 4 stages. It was carrying an experimental satellite of the Japanese Government that can temporarily replace intelligence satellites in orbit if they become inoperative. Space One had planned to launch the rocket on March 9, but they had to postpone it when a ship entered nearby waters. They are trying to become the first Japanese company to launch a satellite into orbit.

Although Japan is not a major player in the space race, rocket developers in the country are trying to create cheaper vehicles to meet demand. Satellite launches are booming, both from the Japanese government and global customers. Working with the United States, Japan is seeking to revitalize its domestic aerospace industry to cope with technological and military competition from China and Russia.

In 2023, the Japanese government promised to fully support startups related to the space industry with technology important to national security. Japan is also working to build satellite constellations to enhance intelligence capabilities.

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Hanoi Train Street stands as an iconic must-do for tourists exploring the historic Old Quarter of Hanoi.

This unique attraction is in a constant state of flux, underscoring the importance of thorough research before your visit to ensure a gratifying experience.

To begin with, Train Street is deeply intertwined with Hanoi’s rich history, a topic we’ll delve into later in this post. This locale offers a delightful and exciting opportunity for city explorers. Despite its modest size, the narrow alley exudes a lively ambiance, teeming with activity.

Furthermore, if you find yourself in Hanoi, don’t miss the chance to prioritize this attraction as it unequivocally ranks as the city’s premier tourist draw.

Foreign tourists at Hanoi train street

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On October 31st at noon, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, a 43-year-old resident of Hoa Khanh Dong commune in Duc Hoa district, Long An, reported an incident involving two foreign customers who came to his beer dealership to exchange US dollars for Vietnamese currency.

One of the customers walked up to the counter with a $100 bill and requested to exchange it for Vietnamese currency. The female accountant in charge of the transaction immediately pulled out several stacks of money to facilitate the exchange. While the customer was counting the money and speaking in a foreign language, he quickly snatched one of the stacks and ran away. The other customer quickly followed suit, and they both drove off in their 7-seat car.

After the incident, Mr. Vinh and his staff found a wallet containing a 100 USD bill, many 1 USD bills, and foreign currency of different denominations that the customer had dropped while running away.

The amount of money lost in the incident was approximately 3 million VND, and the two notes exchanged were not promptly retrieved. However, the foreign customer dropped an amount of money worth twice as much as the loss, so there was no loss of capital for the store.

Mr. Vinh and his staff reported the incident to the police to raise awareness and caution people about dealing with foreign customers.

@vtv.vn

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RACING TOWARDS KNOWLEDGE 2023 | OFFICIAL TRAILER

Embodying immense internal energy and an all-encompassing sphere of influence, the Digital Vortex stands as the quintessential symbol representing the very essence of the Race for Knowledge 2023.

In sync with the Digital Vortex’s rapid and dynamic transformation, the journey of EXPERIENCE – TRANSFORM – PERFECT has now been set into motion.

With the innate acumen of a digital native in this era, are you prepared to revolutionize the racing track and seize the prestigious title of Wave Pacer?

Track: Worlds Collide
Artists: Worlds 2015 – League of Legends (feat. Nicki Taylor)
Provided by Riot Games

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The group gave a hearty music party with a variety of hit songs, exceeding the fans’ expectations. The four girls, Lisa, Rosé, Jennie, and Jisoo, delivered wonderful performances as well as fiery dances that had the crowd on its feet. The group’s notable songs, such as “Lovesick Girl”, “Don’t Know What to Do”, and “Kill This Love”, were performed in turn.

The members of BlachPink greeted the audience after the opening performance. Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa each said: “Xin Chào” (Hello) before introducing themselves.

Even though the members only spoke broken Vietnamese, it was enough to wow fans in My Dinh Stadium.

After that, Jennie and Jisoo danced to the “See Tình” challenge. Jisoo is still shy since she doesn’t know the dance moves yet. Then, Jennie taught the group to do the challenge. Many people in Korea and China have covered Hoang Thuy Linh’s song “See Tình” in recent years.

BlackPink came to a break after dancing to “See Tình” and started to interact with the crowd. They say things like, “Nice to meet you”, “Do you guys have fun?”, “Scream, you guys!”, and “I love you” in Vietnamese.

The girls were wearing Nón Lá

The group wearing Nón Lá (conical hats) then sang and danced with the dancing troupe to conclude the first night’s performance.

The show ended at about 22:00, and the four members continued shouting love and thank you to the crowd. Thousands of people remained in the grandstand, watching the fireworks that the organizers had let off to say goodbye.

@thanhnien.vn

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He lifted the old guy, his bicycle, and his stuff from the tracks. Just a few seconds later, the train passed at a high pace, and several people went to find out about what was happening.

Nguyen Duy Tan (30, born in Khanh Hoa) is the man who saved the elderly man in the video above. The occurrence occurred not long ago in Kanagawa (Japan).

“When I ran out, I felt obliged to get him out as soon as possible. The old man was between the ages of 70 and 75. I observed him getting crushed by a bicycle at the moment, attempting but unable to escape. I just lifted the bike and took him out, believing that the elderly man’s safety came first. In that situation, everyone would do the same thing as me, nothing special,” Mr. Tan recalled.

Mr. Tan was praised and rewarded by the company after taking action to save live

@thanhnien.vn

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Azimuth Airlines, a Russian carrier, experienced an incident involving one of its Sukhoi SuperJet 100 aircraft during a recent flight to Yerevan.

The flight proceeded as scheduled from Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV) in Stavropol, Russia, bound for Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan, Armenia. However, shortly after take-off, the left engine cowl of the SSJ100 began to disintegrate, causing alarm among passengers as they could visibly see exposed engine parts during the flight. The detached cowling was later found near the airport premises.

Despite the mid-flight scare, the aircraft managed to land safely at its destination in Yerevan, and fortunately, there were no reported injuries. The engine cowls are crucial for providing aerodynamics and some protection for the two PowerJet SaM146 engines on the aircraft. The original Sukhoi SSJ100s were equipped with turbofans manufactured through a joint venture between France’s Snecma and Russia’s NPO Saturn.

Azimuth Airlines Sukhoi Superjet loses its engine cowling during takeoff from Mineralnye Vody Airport in Russia. The aircraft returned safely moments later. pic.twitter.com/gGvP20fL1j

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 21, 2023

The incident raises concerns about the airworthiness of partially Western-built SSJ100s, especially considering the strict sanctions imposed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Efforts have been made to replace the Western parts with an all-Russian SSJ-New aircraft, but in the meantime, used engines are being utilized on the existing SSJ100s that are awaiting powerplants.

The ongoing war and sanctions have significantly impacted aviation in the region, with Russia and the West shutting their airspace to each other’s airlines. This has led to longer travel times and the elimination of numerous flight routes. Russia’s access to modern aircraft has been severely restricted, prompting a reliance on older and domestically produced designs like the Superjet SSJ100. However, the lack of access to Western technology has caused delays in projects like the MC-21-300.

Western carriers have also been affected, as the absence of the Siberian corridor forces longer flight times from Europe and North America to Asia, resulting in increased fuel consumption and extended routes. As the conflict continues, the aviation industry faces ongoing challenges and uncertainties as it strives to return to a sense of normalcy after years of disruption.

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In the widely shared video clip, two foreign tourists, one male and one female, are seen embracing each other and performing multiple somersaults as they jump from the top of Du Già waterfall. It is known that the height of the jump from the water’s surface is approximately 8 meters.

Recently, a short video clip appeared on social media, capturing the image of a foreign couple, embracing each other and performing acrobatic jumps from the top of a waterfall.

The video clip quickly attracted the attention of the community, sparking two main streams of opinions and causing controversy. Some believe that jumping from such a high position is extremely dangerous, while others argue that the tourists’ jumping technique shows experience and that they must have performed the move multiple times before, suggesting that the issue should not be taken too seriously.

According to research by Vietnam Insider, the location of the waterfall in the photos is Du Già waterfall (located in Du Già commune, Yên Minh district, Hà Giang province). The waterfall originates from the deep flowing water in the rocky crevices, with a height of about 6 meters (8 meters from the jumping position on the rock ledge), and a width of about 2 meters.

According to a local tour guide, this waterfall is a highly popular destination for international tourists.

“Du Già waterfall has clear, cool water and it remains relatively untouched, with minimal human impact. Every time I guide foreign tourists, they express their desire to come here to swim and experience the waterfall,” the tour guide said.

During the peak hot season, from May to August every year, Du Già waterfall attracts hundreds of people who come to swim at the same time, mainly foreign tourists. Due to their adventurous nature, they often encourage each other to jump from the top of the waterfall into the water below.

However, currently, the Du Già waterfall area does not have its own management unit and is still a free destination. Tourists engaging in these high-adrenaline activities without proper supervision can be dangerous and set a bad precedent for other inexperienced tourists to follow.

The local authorities of Du Già commune have acknowledged that there have been many cases of tourists jumping from high positions at the waterfall, similar to what was captured in the short video clip.

“Since the beginning of May, we have put up warning signs prohibiting sliding and jumping from the top of the waterfall. However, due to the lack of personnel to monitor the area, the local authorities are facing difficulties in managing the situation,” the Chairman of Du Già commune told reporters.

Regarding the controversial short video clip on social media, the Chairman of Du Già commune stated that they would verify the information and confirm whether the location in the clip is indeed Du Già waterfall, as well as the timing of the tourists’ jump, whether it was before or after the warning signs were put up.

Du Già is located about 70km from Hà Giang city and is a relatively new tourist destination on the province’s tourism map.

Nevertheless, this place particularly attracts a large number of foreign tourists. Currently, the local authorities are also developing effective tourism strategies for Du Già waterfall.

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1. The architecture of the prison

The prison is built in the shape of a closed rectangular block with stone walls encircling it. The two rows of houses on either side are mostly cells and cells; the horizontal rows of houses create two courtyards in the middle to serve the activities of inmates when they leave their cells. At the end of the corridors were three rows of cells and a sprinkler system that was used for torture. When permitted to sunbathe in the yard, inmates were only permitted to move inside the little squares marked in the yard adjacent to each cell’s door.

Recreate the scenario of tortured prisoners in the stone dungeon.

The prison includes eight cells separated into two sections: the male prison has six rooms and the female prison has two. Each room is around 30 m2 in size and normally holds 60-70 prisoners; however, some rooms may contain almost 100 prisoners during peak times. The two cell rooms are separated by a passageway and contain rows of solitary cells for rebellious troops. There is a stone dungeon buried below the cell corridor that has no roof and only a heavy barbed wire mesh above for the enemy to punish prisoners by dew-drying and sun-drying them.

2. Protest against the flag salute

The regulation is that the flag salute will be conducted; if the flag salute is observed, the prison will provide clothing; otherwise, they will be tortured. The prisoners did not surrender, however, by refusing to salute the flag or sing the national song, and even ripping the flag (the flag of the Saigon government).

Children prisoners at Da Lat Youth Prison 50 years ago

On November 21, 1971, the youth organization dispatched 5 comrades to carry out the plan to slash open abdomen in the flag salute yard to protest the enemy’s suppression. Three comrades were able to conduct disembowel and two colleagues were found and controlled by the enemy because they did not have time to act.

3. Attack on Warden

The attack on warden Nguyen Cuong – Source: Addicted to Vietnam

On the evening of January 23, 1973, at the Da Lat Youth Prison, the children’s prisoners conspired to kill the warden, Nguyen Cuong, an enemy henchman. This warden frequently tortured inmates in cruel ways, such as stomping shoes and nails on the head, beating individuals with whips attached to little iron hooks, stripping garments, burning light bulbs on people’s flesh, and so on.

When a 5mm long steel rod was discovered on the cafeteria’s gutter rim, the convicts decided to utilize it as a weapon, covertly grinding a small amount every day and then ripping their garments to construct a grip. When Nguyen Cuong came on the night of January 23, 1973, the convicts repeatedly attacked him with iron rods. He was still alive, but he was injured 60% of his health and had to be hospitalized for three months.

[Child Prisoners during Vietnam War in Dalat Youth Prison – Video: Addicted to Vietnam]

4. Prisoner punishments in Youth Prison

Prisoners being cuffed together

Cross-cuffs, whips, barbed wire, scout sticks, and other forms of torture were used on the inmates. Furthermore, soldiers splashed cold water on inmates held in solitary confinement in cells during the winter, when the night temperature may drop below 15°C (59°F). As punishment, children who were trapped in a stone cellar were subjected to dew and sun exposure.

Guards beat three times a day, in the morning, noon, and evening, with five strokes of the whip each. They throw cold water on each individual between 9 and 10 p.m. when the temperature is at its lowest during the day.

5. The title that Da Lat Youth Prison received

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism designated Da Lat Youth Prison as a national revolutionary historical relic on June 22, 2009. In addition, the President has bestowed the noble title Hero of the People’s Armed Forces on a group of former political prisoners from the Youth Prison and three persons (Dang Bao Xy, Ngo Tung Chinh, and Mai Thanh Minh).

The relic of Da Lat Youth Prison is eloquent testimony of Vietnamese youth’s courageous and unbreakable revolutionary tradition. The work’s inauguration and usage have made an essential contribution to the teaching of patriotic traditions for today’s young generation, as well as better serving the demands of citizens and tourists who come to Da Lat to visit and study.

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