What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 08 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Vietnam’s 2nd Russian-made sub completes sea trials [Thanh Nien]
- Southern hub embraces CNG bus fleet [VietnamNet Bridge]
- ADB gives $500 mln loan to HCMC metro project [Tuoi Tre]
Police to Crack Down on Noisy Pham Ngu Lao Bars
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- Published on 05 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
We’re sure nothing will come of this (other than some hush money) but the District 1 People's Committee has set up a joint inspection team address the late night noise from Pham Ngu Lao’s bars.
Vinh Gang Busted for Stealing 4,000 Cats Over 2 Years
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- Published on 05 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Apparently dogs aren't the only pets you need to watch out for. Police in Vinh City have arrested 6 men for allegedly stealing and selling the meat of up to 4,000 felines.
Picking up four to six cats per night, the crew used their profits (VND60,000/kg) to play online games according to police.
[Updated] Cops Bust Out Net Launchers to Stop Traffic Violators
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- Published on 05 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Our strategy of avoiding eye contact with traffic police to evade tickets may soon be rendered useless.
Authorities in Thanh Hoa Province are planning to mass produce fishnet launchers to catch those who don’t pull over when flagged down by police.
Dekotora: Japan's Truckin' Subculture
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- Published on 05 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The Japanese really know how to take shit to the next level. Next level brothel? Check! Next level hamburger? Check! Blinged-out transformer trucks? Double check! The pictures in the gallery below showcase Dekotora, the Japanese subculture of truck drivers adding as many lights and metallic objects as possible to their vehicles.
And the results are spectacular.
The Oldest House in Saigon
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- Published on 04 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
While Saigon houses many wonderful examples of colonial architecture, there are few buildings standing that predate the 1880s. After all, the city isn’t particularly old, having been a fishing village for much of its early history. So what is the oldest building in Saigon?
BarcampSaigon Returns on July 7th
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- Published on 03 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
BarcampSaigon, a great knowledge-sharing event returns to Saigon this Sunday at RMIT. Try to make it if you can! You can even register to speak on any topic of your choice (relating to tech in some way, of course).
Vinamilk Gets Approval to Export Dairy Products to US
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- Published on 03 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Vinamilk, Vietnam's favorite dairy brand, has been given the go-ahead by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin exporting products to the US – a first for the Vietnamese dairy industry.
Under the licensing agreement, the FDA can randomly inspect Vinamilk production facilities at any time.
Weapons Grade Uranium Removed from Da Lat
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- Published on 03 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
A joint American and Russian program has removed the last remaining, highly enriched uranium from Da Lat’s nuclear research facilities.
Over the last 6 years, the US and Russia have shipped out 35 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which officials feared could have fallen into the wrong hands and used as material for a nuclear weapon.
8 Old Pictures of Saigon's Canals
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- Published on 02 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Saigon has long been a city of canals; even Nguyen Hue Street used to be one.
But today, as the city's infrastructure continues to prioritize roads, many canals have ceased to function as commercial routes.
Let's look back at some pictures of the city's canals when they acted as highways for people and goods.
Latin Music With Soul
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- Published on 02 July 2013
- Written by Alfredo de la Casa.
With many options available, it seems that a large number of Vietnamese youth are getting more and more into Latin music - Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia and Reggaeton. From Salsa clubs like La Salsa and Xsalsa to live bands at the Caravelle, Hard Rock Café and other bars, Latin fever seems to be sweeping Saigon.
A Vietnamese View of Photography: Artsy vs Trendy
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- Published on 27 June 2013
- Written by Jas Huynh.
Over the past four years, young Vietnamese have been paying more attention to photography. They’re not only keen on the qualitative aspects but are also eager to learn how to create these images by themselves. As a result, they are buying photography equipment and are quickly finding out that it is a ‘luxury hobby.’
Japan Eases Visa Requirements for Vietnamese
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- Published on 27 June 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The struggles of Vietnamese applying for visas to European and North American countries are well documented and probably won’t be changing anytime soon. But it will soon be easier for Vietnamese to visit Japan as the island nation plans to ease its visa requirements for most ASEAN countries.
Yabai!
Emerging Vietnamese Artists at Craig Thomas Gallery
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- Published on 27 June 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
In celebration of Craig Thomas Gallery’s 4th anniversary, the works of 15 young Vietnamese emerging artists will be displayed from June 29 – July 21.
Among the artists are Ngo Van Sac, Bui Thanh Tam, Bui Tien Tuan, Nguyen The Hung, Tam Minh, Tran Quoc Tuan, La Huy, Lieu Nguyen Huong Duong, Le Kinh Tai, Bui Hai Son, Nguyen Thuy Hang, Mac Hoang Thuong, and Luong Luu Bien.
Amazing Motorbike Choreography by the Rome Police (1953)
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- Published on 26 June 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Think Saigon motorbike drivers are hardcore? You have no idea.
Check out the video below of a 1953 performance of the Rome motorbike police. If Saigon’s traffic is organized chaos, then this is, well, just organized.
Vietnam Airports Charging Premium Prices for Low-Quality Products
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- Published on 26 June 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
We’ve all been there – in the rush to get to the airport on time, you forgo a necessary meal. You arrive only to find that your (insert budget airline here) flight has been delayed 2 hours. Maybe there’s one or two American fast food outlets to choose from, but you don’t feel like a greasy burger before your flight.
8 Old Pictures of Cars in Saigon
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- Published on 26 June 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Bentleys, BMWs and Mercedes are all over Saigon these days. Though cars have been present in the country since the turn of the 20th century, decades of war (1941 – 1975) and an economic stagnation (1975 – 1986) drastically reduced the number of vintage automobiles in Vietnam. One will sometimes see an old Ford Mustang or VW Bug around town but they are very rare and often imported. For many, it’s hard to imagine sweet old Citroens and ’57 Chevys puttering about town. That’s why we’ve put together this awesome slideshow of Saigon’s vintage transportation methods!
Phở-Flavored Cocktail Makes Its Debut. Seriously.
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- Published on 25 June 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Pho is a universally adored dish (yes, even aliens love it), a melody of simple ingredients that yield abundantly complex flavors. Bottom line - it's goddamn delicious. So it's no surprise that people across the world have attempted to put their own spin on the traditional soup. There have been pho burgers, pho salads and now, a bar in Philadelphia, US, is serving up a pho cocktail.
Vietnamese Artists Mix Electronic, Hip Hop and Traditional Music
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- Published on 25 June 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
There are complaints that Vietnamese pop music is bland and lacks variety and musical ingenuity. Pop ballads, usually indistinguishable from one another, dominate Vietnamese TV and radio.
Fortunately, there are local musicians who are breaking the mould, such as DjGiang Nguyễn who partnered with blind Đàn Bầu (traditional monochord instrument) musician, Hà Chương and Mrt Beatboxer, to create a unique track that fuses contemporary electronic and hip hop with traditional Vietnamese music.
Beware of Fake Beer in Saigon
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- Published on 24 June 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
After words of caution from Oi Magazine about fake alcohol in Saigon, a Thanh Nien expose has revealed that beer is also being counterfeited as well.
In an alley in Tan Binh district, a Thanh Nien reporter found men sitting in a 20sq meter room, taking empty bottles of Heineken and Tiger, filling them half-way with the original product and the remainder with Saigon beer.
