A Brief Look at Catholic Funeral Rites in Saigon
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- Published on 08 May 2013
- Written by Quinn Ryan Mattingly.
For me, as most of us non-nationals living here in Saigon, the word funeral only evokes ideas of dreadful sounds emanating from a tent set up halfway in the street and haltering the flow of traffic. They can be bad enough to drive by, god forbid having one posted outside your own window. Three days of disturbances can seem like an eternal punishment at times. There is, of course more to the story than just making noise, as it can tend to seem sometimes.
Budweiser to Set up Production Facilities in Vietnam
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- Published on 07 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The past decade has seen a plethora of international brands enter Vietnam’s fertile consumer market. As Vietnam’s average income has risen, brands from Pizza Hut to Starbucks have taken advantage of the country’s brand-minded consumers. Following this trend, Budweiser, one of America’s most popular beers, is setting up production facilities in SE Asia’s top beer drinking country.
Saigon Opens ‘Smile School’ for Traffic Police
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- Published on 06 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Saigon’s traffic police just underwent rigorous training sessions to help them gain knowledge on "cultural behavior and moral behavior of traffic police officers" while on duty. The program, chaired by Professor Dr. Vu Gia Hien, a social psychologist at the Ho Chi Minh City Education Psychology Association, took place from April 8-15.
Digital Media/Art Project Launching This Month
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- Published on 06 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
If you’re a creative, digital-minded person who is passionate about Indochina, here’s a great project for you. Riverorchid Digital, an agency specializing in branding, PR and media, is embarking on a project to discover and celebrate Indochina through digital media and creativity. They want to find out what Indochina really means to a modern, digitally connected world by asking its people to share their views; creating a crowd-sourced integrated online and real world art event unlike anything seen before in this region.
For Foreigners, Eating in Vietnam not Always as Easy as it Looks
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- Published on 04 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Vietnam is world renowned for its food, confirmed by the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsey who have dedicated entire TV specials to the country’s culinary soul. And for those of us who live here, we can wholeheartedly confirm this. But while street food is all around us, for foreigners, the intricacies of the local fare can sometimes be elusive. Matt Gross, a former English teacher in Saigon, just wrote a fantastic article for the New York Times detailing his obsession with Vietnamese food. In it, he muses about various street food no-nos such as eating pho for lunch and the linguistic and social barriers that sometimes curtailed his gastronomic exploration. Perhaps this sounds familiar?
Forget the Fockers, Meet the Nguyễns
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- Published on 04 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Meeting the girlfriend’s parents is an intimidating experience in any culture. So what’s the best way to add even more awkwardness to an already awkward situation? Meeting the parents of a girl from a different culture, of course!
What to do Along the Mekong
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- Published on 04 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin. Photo by Quinn Ryan Mattingly .
There are many things that set Saigon apart from other sprawling cities – the laid back lifestyle, the food, the people. But no matter how unique, the hustle and bustle of rush hour traffic and heat permeating from the concrete jungle are inescapable reminders that you are truly an urban dweller. Luckily, if one travels a few hours in any direction, they are likely to encounter one of Vietnam’s magical natural settings. One of these places is the Mekong Delta, only a stone’s throw from Saigon.
Home Has Shifted
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- Published on 03 May 2013
- Written by Sean Boyle. Photo by Galen Stolee.
For just over a year now, I have been living on the edge of district one, on a street named Tran Khac Chan. It is an unremarkable street on the face of it, a typical bustling hive of activity, of which there are an uncountable amount of in Saigon. Only by living there can you start to unearth the hidden gems it holds and start to understand the lives of the people here.
Korean Schoolgirls Blame Manga Comics After Destroying Classroom
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- Published on 03 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Koreans sure love their video games and manga comics. They have penetrated the psyche of the country’s children to the point where kids are shipped off to video game addiction camps. Every now and then, these fantasy worlds get a bit too real. Like when students cause $5000 worth of damage to their school after taking a cue from a manga comic book.
Forget Motorbikes. Smoking is Vietnam's #1 Killer
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- Published on 02 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
No matter where you’re from, smoking cigarettes is a killer. While Vietnam has started to feel the effects of this long-ignored but serious public health issue, perhaps a recent report from the Ho Chi Minh City Health Education and Communication Center will shake things up a bit.
Incredible Thai Version of the Iron Man 3 Trailer
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- Published on 29 April 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Iron Man 3 hit theaters last week grossing a whopping $195.3 million internationally. With numbers like that, there’s no doubt that the film will be one of the most illegally copied of all time. But pirated copies are not the only bi-product of the blockbuster.
Could This Vietnamese Startup Overtake Dropbox?
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- Published on 27 April 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Dropbox has long been the biggest player in the cloud storage game, but this may soon change. Local startup, Kleii, has just secured its first round of seed funding and has its eyes on the international stage.
Hanoi Man Arrested with 53 King Cobras in His Car
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- Published on 24 April 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
While snakes are awesome, the idea of being with one in closed quarters is less than appealing. Well, one Hanoi man felt differently and was arrested transporting 53 of them in his car. Did we mention they were king cobras?
The Ghost Town of Thu Thiem
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- Published on 22 April 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
As we’ve written about before, there are big plans to re-develop Thu Thiem into Saigon’s new business and finance center. For the last few years, the city has demolished entire neighborhoods to clear the site, turning part of District 2 into a ghost town. While the grand re-development is at a standstill, there are those who live in its shadows, amidst the rubble and half-standing houses.
Saigon's New CNG Busses to be Produced in Vietnam
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- Published on 21 April 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Locally-produced CNG (compressed natural gas) busses may be an increasingly common sight over the next 12 months.
On April 18, Duong Hong Thanh, deputy director of the City Department of Transport, announced his recommendation to add another 300 Samco-built CNG busses within a year.
Another Step Forward for Gay Marriage in Vietnam
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- Published on 19 April 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam is on the path to becoming the first Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage. This week, in Hanoi, Deputy Health Minister, Nguyen Viet Tien, told the press:
“[A]s human beings, homosexuals have the same rights as everyone else to live, eat, love and be loved. As citizens, they have the right to work, study, receive health care, register births and deaths, marry and discharge their duties to the state and the society.”
District 8: Architectural Treasure Chest
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- Published on 18 April 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Stumbling upon old buildings is one of the best things about living in Saigon. While many are in a state of disrepair, some have retained their original character. Photo blog, Old Saigon, highlights some of the best remaining colonial architecture in the city like the photo above.
H&P Unveils Low-Cost Bamboo Home Design
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- Published on 15 April 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
When it comes to construction in Vietnam - from one-story shops to luxury office towers - one will find bricks on every site. For more than a century, these unassuming orange squares have literally laid the foundation for Vietnam’s cities, factories and commercial hubs. But local architecture firm, H&P, has released a new bamboo-based housing design that will address the multitude of housing challenges facing communities in flood-prone areas.
Bricks are the obvious choice for construction in Vietnam and in many countries around the globe. According to greenbuildingelements.com:
Massive Transportation Plan for Saigon Revealed
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- Published on 12 April 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
We’ve heard a lot over the last few years about proposed improvements to Saigon’s transportation infrastructure. These include the new Long Thanh International Airport and expanding the city center into District 2.
A Look at Hong Kong's Cramped Apartments
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- Published on 12 April 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
There are plenty of small rooms here in Saigon, no doubt. But Hong Kong is notorious for it's cramped living quarters. These overhead photos were commissioned and released by The Society for Community Organization (SoCO).
The goal of this project is to highlight the ongoing housing problems in one of the richest cities in the world. For the most part, the residents in these urban slums are low-income families, elderly and unemployed.
