HANOI--A website seeking to advertise the humble grapefruit will not be permitted to register its name in Vietnamese because the word is spelt the same as penis, an official said Friday.

"We have to refuse the website name of www.buoi.com.vn because the word for grapefruit, buoi, without a proper tone marking can be misunderstood to mean penis," said Thai Huu Ly of the Vietnam Internet Network Information Center.

Vowels in written and printed Vietnamese incorporate elaborate markings indicating one of six pronunciation tones. But because website addresses carry no tone indications, confusion can arise.

"The word is very sensitive so we will definitely refuse," he said.

According to Vietnamese regulations, names of websites must not contain words that "violate the national interest or are not in accordance with social ethics, lifestyle and national culture."

[sorry, this was meant to be posted in News Clippings, not that its' really newsworthy )]

Edited February 10, 200620 yr by bonsaimax

Where does Thailand fit into this?