A Vietnamese grapefruit seller has been refused the domain name www.buoi.com.vn because "the word for grapefruit, buoi, without a proper tone marking can be misunderstood", as Thai Huu Ly, of the Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre, put it to AFP.

Depending on how it's pronounced, buoi can indeed mean grapefruit - but also penis - hence the authorities' reticence in the matter.

Vietnamese state TV reported on Friday that as well as a dislike for buoi, the powers that be also have little appetite for lon which, according to how you put it, means either "pigs" or "vagina".

Reuters adds that a "gender activist" who punted for sex.com.vn also met with failure, because pornography is banned in Vietnam. Whether said activist sports a buoi or a lon is not noted. ®

Related stories

• Vietnamese cops jailed for death row pregnancy ruse (15 November 2007)
• NSFW Aussie paints John Howard with John Thomas (5 May 2006)
• Dutch church bids for sex.eu (13 December 2005)
• Porn filters have a field day on Horniman Museum (8 October 2004)
• No nudes on .nu: official (1 July 2004)