A Musical Journey with Henry Saiz
- Details
- Published on 03 September 2013
You wonder through the deserted landscape…it’s not a dream, not a nightmare, your mind is empty of memories as if you have always been here, since the beginning of time...you are afraid of yourself, you just know you have to keep walking, keep walking. Try to lose yourself follow my voice.
How Vietnam Got its Name
- Details
- Published on 03 September 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Le Minh Khai, a researcher of SE Asian history, found that there was a lot of misinformation on the interwebs relating to the origin of Vietnam’s name, especially in English sources. Khai jumped into a plethora of historical documents to set the record straight.
Free WIFI Coming to Saigon Buses
- Details
- Published on 03 September 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
In a bid to increase the ridership on Saigon’s 270 bus routes, the city will implement free WIFI for passengers.
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- Details
- Published on 03 September 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- The secrets of Saigon’s night clubs [VietnamNet Bridge]
- Vietnam urged to boost retirement age to save pension fund [Thanh Nien]
A Look Inside a Saigon Rice Noodle Plant
- Details
- Published on 30 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Over the past month, the news has been full of reports about chemically-laced bun noodles.
Though recent tests have shown a decrease in the cancer-causing additives, the issue is still top-of-mind for many. Saigon Tiep Thi recently visited a bun plant that claims its products are chemical-free.
H&P Completes Bamboo–Earth–Stone Pavilion
- Details
- Published on 30 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Local architects, H&P, have long focused on the use of environmentally-friendly materials for their designs. Earlier this year, they released a set of renderings of low-cost bamboo housing designs that looked pretty amazing. To increase awareness about sustainable buildings, the firm built the BES (Bamboo–Earth–Stone) pavilion with focuses on bringing art and culture closer to the inhabitants of Ha Tinh.
New Vietnamese Food App Delivers Instant Gratification
- Details
- Published on 30 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Taking advantage of the Vietnamese love of food and photos, Tran Quang Vinh, a former fashion designer, has released iOS app - Foodshot.
Vietnam’s Development Through the Lens of Iron Chef
- Details
- Published on 30 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The Atlantic recently published a piece on Vietnam’s increasing development and westernization. Instead of looking at economic statistics and trends, they chose to examine this through the lens of one of the country’s most popular TV shows, Iron Chef.
'Beautiful Saigon Project' Explores Saigon Through HipHop
- Details
- Published on 30 August 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Hip hop has a special place in our hearts so when we see the style gaining popularity in Vietnam, we get pretty excited.
We just stumbled upon this extremely entertaining and well-produced hip hop video "Beautiful Saigon Project" which includes two of hip hop's main elements - the MC and b-boys/b-girls, while capturing the city's personality.
Morning Links: Vietnam Battles with Poor Quality Education
- Details
- Published on 30 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- FDI bottlenecks in Mekong Delta [VOV]
- Vietnam anticipates US$2,300 GDP per capita in 2015 [VOV]
- Bad debts fall from previous month [SGGP]
Bitexco Tapped to Develop Thu Thiem Urban Area
- Details
- Published on 29 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
After years of land clearance delays, lack of investors and stagnation in the real estate market, the Thu Thiem new urban area project may gaining steam as Bitexco has been assigned to manage the project.
How Much Does Vietnam's Prime Minister Make? Less Than You Might Think.
- Details
- Published on 29 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
With the news that some state officials are making outrageous salaries, the Vietnamese press has started to probe a bit deeper into exactly how much the country’s officials make.
Morning Links: School Mulls Banning Female Teachers From Donning Short Skirts
- Details
- Published on 29 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Dried shredded squid as elastic as plastic seized [Tuoi Tre]
- School mulls banning female teachers from donning short skirts [Tuoi Tre]
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Gánh Tàu Hủ (1926)
- Details
- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
While I'm not the biggest fan of chè (Vietnamese sweet soup) in general, gánh tàu hủ (tofu with ginger, caramel and optional coconut milk) has a special place in my heart (even if it's not technically chè).
Working Multiple Jobs: A Trend for Foreigners in Saigon?
- Details
- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Carlos Martin Bregon.
It’s been almost a year since I first arrived in Saigon. Now, when looking back on my search for jobs in the city, I think that my personal experiences carry some value and may come in handy for those who plan to live long-term in Saigon.
‘Flat-Chested’ People May Face Driving Ban
- Details
- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Another week, another interesting law - a 2008 decision which proposed to ban drivers based on height, weight and chest size due to safety issues is gaining steam again.
Crazy Buffalo Up in Flames. Again.
- Details
- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
For the second time in two years, Pham Ngu Lao hotspot, The Crazy Buffalo, saw its neon sign go up in flames.
At 4pm yesterday afternoon, passersby warned the restaurant that smoke was rising from their large neon sign.
Morning Links: The Last Farmers in Saigon
- Details
- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Land subsidence creates hole that swallows bed, woman [Tuoi Tre]
- Abusing wage fund, directors pocket $123,000 as yearly salary [Tuoi Tre]
The Story of Tan Son Nhat Airport
- Details
- Published on 27 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
As the plan for Saigon's massive Long Thanh Airport moves forward (despite some objections), we thought we'd take a minute to look back at the long history of old standby, Tan Son Nhat.
The Coolest House in Binh Thanh?
- Details
- Published on 27 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Green building is slowly but surely gaining popularity in Vietnam. For Saigon in particular, the tropical climate provides many opportunities for design firms to implement efficient, green designs.
