The Story Of Saigon’s Soap Millionaire
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- Published on 16 July 2014
- Written by Dang Bui.
80 years ago, if you asked a Saigon resident to name a soap brand, you would get only one response - Cô Ba. The brand’s popularity extended throughout Indochina and its success made its owner, Trương Văn Bền (1883 – 1956), one of the wealthiest men in Saigon.
Apple Sets Its Sights On Vietnam
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- Published on 16 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
After basically ignoring the Vietnamese market for years, Apple is stepping up its game in the brand-obsessed country, partnering with FPT to distribute its products, reports Bloomberg.
Mekong River Region: Global Diversity Hotspot
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- Published on 16 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
With 367 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong Region over the past 2 years, the World Wildlife Foundation has proclaimed it to be a Global Diversity Hotspot.
Chinese Oil Rig Withdraws From Vietnamese Waters
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- Published on 16 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
After months of drama over the Chinese oil rig that had encroached on Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, Xinhua News Agency reports that the platform has finished its exploration and is on the move.
Morning News Roundup: Public Outcry Over Work Permits Granted To 2,100 Chinese
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- Published on 16 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam border guards shoot out tires to stop Lao drug traffickers [Thanh Nien]
No abnormalities found in Chinese mushrooms in Vietnam: official [Tuoi Tre]
Jet Airways to start flight to Vietnam [Business Standard]
Statues In Front Of Bến Thành Market To Be Permanently Removed
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- Published on 15 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
As the Trần Nguyên Hãn an Quách Thị Trang statues that sit in front of Bến Thành Market continue their slow deterioration, the HCMC People’s Committee has agreed to remove, repair and relocate the pieces, reports VTV.
[Video] Taiwan's Motorbike Waterfall
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- Published on 15 July 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
If you thought your morning motorbike commute was bad, check out what it’s like in Taiwan.
International Marathon To Take Place In Sa Pa
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- Published on 15 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
A marathon through the hills of Sa Pa is set to take place on September 20 and 21 with more than 450 athletes from 43 countries having already registered.
Vietnam Picked as One of the World’s 20 Most Beautiful Countries
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- Published on 15 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Last week, the users of International travel publication, Rough Guides, were called upon to vote on the world’s most beautiful counties. After tallying thousands of votes, Vietnam found itself in the top 20 (at #20 to be exact).
High-Speed Boats To Replace Hydrofoils Between HCMC – Vung Tau
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- Published on 15 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
A new fleet of tourist boats is set to replace the notorious, soviet-era hydrofoils that ran between HCMC and Vung Tau before being banned earlier this year after a series of breakdowns and fires.
5 of Saigon’s Oldest Buildings
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- Published on 15 July 2014
- Written by Lan Tran.
As the French began to heavily influence Vietnam, first indirectly with missionaries and later with full-scale colonization, large public buildings began to pop up in the country’s cities, no more so than in Saigon. Even as the city undergoes rapid development, some of these 18th and 19th century gems have survived.
Morning News Roundup: New Team To Monitor Airline Flight Delays And Cancellations
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- Published on 15 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietcombank earns VND2.7 trillion for first six months [Nhan Dan]
90,000 students join in 2014 Green Summer Campaign [SGGP]
UAE becomes fifth largest Vietnam export market [Gulf News]
Drunk Man, Likely Korean, Arrested For Stealing Mai Linh Taxi
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- Published on 14 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Binh Duong Province police are investigating a case wherein a drunken foreigner stole a Mai Linh taxi on July 12.
5 Unique Markets In The Mekong Delta
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- Published on 14 July 2014
- Written by Lan Tran.
While the cities of Vietnam become hooked into the global supply chain, their culinary tastes are becoming more homogenous. From pizza to shopping in supermarkets, our diets are slowly moving in line with the rest of the world. But this is not the case in the Mekong Delta where residents still rely on local sources for food and is home to markets that offer everything from scorpions to rats.
Survey: Hanoi Is More Expensive Than Saigon
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- Published on 14 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Based on a recent report by The Mercer Human Resource Consulting (UK), which ranks cities across the world based on cost of living, even without Starbucks or McDonald's, Hanoi is a pricier place to live than Saigon.
Conditions For Work Permits For Foreigners To Be Loosened
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- Published on 14 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
At a meeting at the end of June, officials decided to loosen the controversial conditions for foreigners to obtain work permits in Vietnam.
104-Year-Old Great-Great Grandmother Fights Off Robber
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- Published on 14 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Taking advantage of the elderly will inevitably result in some bad karma, a lesson a Dong Nai man quickly learned after attempting to rob Vo Thi Bai, a 104-year-old woman.
Weekend News Roundup: Air Traffic Controller Suspended For Near-Collision
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- Published on 14 July 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Authorities seek to control viral internet series [DTI News]
Hanoi water pipeline breaks 9th time [DTI News]
A Short History Of Vietnam And Palestine
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- Published on 12 July 2014
- Written by Joe Buckley.
Israel is (yet again) attempting to bomb Palestine back into the stone age. At the time of writing, the Palestinian death toll is at least 98 (the Israeli death toll is 0), which leads me to suspect that perhaps Netanyahu has turned Stalin’s purported observation that one death is a tragedy, but a million deaths is a statistic into actual Israeli policy. It is perhaps a good time, then, to briefly reflect on the history of relations between Vietnam and Palestine.
11 Photos of Vietnam’s Amazing Bac Son Valley
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- Published on 11 July 2014
- Written by Dang Bui.
Called Văn Lan during the reign of the Lýs, Bội Lan under the Minhs, Văn Quán under the Nguyễn’s and finally Bắc Sơn after 1945, this mountainous region in north Veitnam is the home to 6 of Vietnam’s ethnic groups including the Tày, Kinh, Dao, Nùng and H’Mông.
