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Ode To Saigon

Details: Published on 24 June 2013; Written by Mark Batchelor.

When Mark Batchelor found himself in an all-to-familiar power outage, he was left with no internet and decided to spontaneously pick up a pen a paper and whip together a poem/rhyme about his first impressions of living in Saigon.

Weapons Workshop Uncovered in Hai Phong

Details: Published on 21 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

If there's a will, there's a way. When you own a workshop and are a drug addict, this could lead you to running a gun-making operation as in the case of Duong Minh Nhat.

The 38-year-old and his wife were arrested on Tuesday when authorities stormed his workshop and found numerous pen guns and ammunition. The couple sold the guns to local gangsters and used the proceeds to feed their drug addiction.

Event: Green Drinks Returns on June 25

Details: Published on 21 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

With a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business, it's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organising network.

Don't Panic: SuperMoon is on Its Way

Details: Published on 21 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

It’s about that time again. On June 23, the year’s largest supermoon will be visible above the Saigon skies.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon lines up with the Earth and the sun at a specific point in its orbit, called the lunar perigee. That's the point at which the moon is nearest to Earth as it traces its elliptical path around our planet.

7 Old Pictures of Saigon Street Vendors

Details: Published on 20 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

The buildings and streets of Saigon can change in the blink of an eye. Gone are the streetcars, French street names and ox-drawn carts. As the economy continues to develop, the old Saigon is being replaced by skyscrapers, metros and Burger Kings. However, there are elements of the city that have barely changed over the last century, one of these are street vendors.

Thai Monks Traveling on Private Jet Cause Uproar

Details: Published on 20 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Three Thai monks have landed in hot water after footage of the trio flying on a private jet, wearing sunglasses and earphones and carrying Louis Vuitton bags emerged on YouTube.

The video has caused backlash in Thailand as the images in the video are completely at odds with the clergy’s principles - high on that list is living without possessions (save for a few robes).

Lost Cambodian City Found Using Frickin' Laser Beams

Details: Published on 19 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Apparently Ankgor Watt is a piece of a larger puzzle. Using frickin' areal lasers, archaeologists have identified a sprawling city around the 1,200 year old temple complex, revealing how the area’s network of temples were once connected.

The Sad Story of Da Lat’s Disappearing Pine Trees

Details: Published on 19 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Known as “the city of a thousand pine trees,” unregulated deforestation and development have taken their toll on Da Lat’s forests and pine tree population.

There was once a time when many of Da Lat’s thoroughfares were lined with tall, majestic pine trees.

Downed US Plane in Binh Phuoc

Details: Published on 19 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin. Photo by Quinn Ryan Mattingly .

Earlier this year, Quinn Ryan Mattingly made his way through Binh Phuoc Province. Eventually reaching Phuoc Long, he stumbled upon some interesting history, a downed US plane, slowly decomposing in the center of town.

There wasn't much information available about the plane, but after a little digging around, it’s likely that it was a casualty of the Battle of Phuoc Long.

Amazing Vietnamese Origami

Details: Published on 18 June 2013; Written by Saigoneer.

This is the work of Hanoi-based artist Nguyen Hung Cuong who creates his beautiful pieces with paper called Do.

Nguyen Hung Cuong has been making origami since the age of six when he received his first book - Prehistoric Origami and is currently an active member of Vietnam Origami Group (VOG), a community of origami enthusiasts in Vietnam.

Call for Submissions - Ho Chi Minh MEGA City

Details: Published on 18 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

If you love Saigon, it’s time to grab your camera and take some shots of the city! The photo book, “TP. Ho Chi Minh MEGA City,” is currently being assembled and the authors are seeking submissions.

Check out the information below to better understand the project and see how you can play a vital role in its creation:

Vietnam May Embrace Cars After All

Details: Published on 17 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Japanese companies, some of Vietnam’s largest investors, are playing an interesting game these days.

For the most part, Japan has taken on the role of older brother to Vietnam, supporting the development of the country’s major infrastructure (bridges and tunnels) and transportation (subways and urban rail networks) projects.

Friendly Between Arsenal and Vietnam in Jeopardy

Details: Published on 17 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

The friendly between Arsenal and Vietnam is in a state of limbo after stadium owners raised fees for the match.

Touted as the first Premier League team to visit Vietnam, Arsenal had planned to play the Vietnam national team at the 40,000 seat My Dinh stadium in Hanoi on July 17.

Chile to Assist Vietnam in Growing Quinoa

Details: Published on 14 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Rice has certainly cornered the market in Vietnam but a new pilot program conducted by Chile's Institute for Agricultural Research and Hanoi University of Agriculture hopes to add quinoa to the country’s diet.

Saigon Graffiti - Part 1

Details: Published on 14 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Saigon has quite a bit of graffiti but not much of it is of particularly high quality.

These refreshing pieces by local bombers such as Tom, KD, Ares, Mur, K Dee, YCP are a few years old but show a high level of skill.

New Ho Chi Minh Statue for Downtown

Details: Published on 14 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

The iconic statue of Ho Chi Minh, which has made its home in front of the HCMC People’s Committee building, will soon be moved and replaced by a new bust of Vietnam’s most beloved national hero.

The new statue is set to be completed by April 30, 2015, to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the American War. It will stand 6.3 meters tall with a 1.8-meter base, nearly double the size of the current one and will cost VND30 billion ($1.4 million).

Electronic Components Now Vietnam's #1 Export

Details: Published on 13 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

As electronics companies look for cheaper labor, many are moving their production facilities to Vietnam. Electronics production has grown so quickly that in only 2 years, electronic component exports now surpass all others including textiles, oil and footwear. And this is just the beginning.

Vietnamese Man Dead After Slashing Himself Over Plane Ticket

Details: Published on 12 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Last Saturday, a Vietnamese man in Dagupan, Philippines killed himself when he was unable to borrow money for a plane ticket home.

The man, identified as Nguyen Tan Lap, was found bleeding heavily in front of the West Central Elementary School at 9:30 a.m.

New iPhone Feature May Deter Thieves (But Probably Not)

Details: Published on 12 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Yesterday's WWDC saw some major product announcements, highlighted by an updated Macbook Air, re-designed Mac Pro and new versions of iOS and Mac OSX. Major changes aside, there was one element of the new iOS which is of some relevance here in Vietnam – Activation lock.

Hitachi Selected to Build Vietnam’s First Urban Railway

Details: Published on 12 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Japanese mega-corporation, Hitachi, has announced their winning bid to build Vietnam’s first urban railway in Saigon. The $381 million project is slated to begin operation in 2018.

Under the contract, Hitachi will provide trains, ticketing machines, communications and signaling systems in addition to a 5-year maintenance contract after the line is operational.

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