Looking Back at Graham Greene's Saigon
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- Published on 11 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Graham Greene’s The Quiet American is a must-read if one seeks to get a better picture of what Saigon was like in 50s or if you just enjoy a good novel (or both!). Saigoneer historian, Tim Doling recently reflected on Green’s bestseller and revisited some of the more significant landmarks in the book, some of which still exist today, on his blog, Historic Vietnam.
Video: Real Virtuality #1
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- Published on 10 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Richie.vn and friends just released a video with a bit of social commentary about the role of mobile devices in Saigon and what often happens when groups of friends get together (everyone just playing on their damn phones). From ordering food to miscommunications about sexual preference, the video shows the hazards and pitfalls of living in an ever-connected world in a hilarious way.
Press Roundup: McDonald's Opens in Saigon
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- Published on 10 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Since just about every major news agency has covered last Saturday’s McDonalds Saigon launch, we thought that, rather than rehashing the same story, we’d make a roundup of articles from the foreign press that reveal how the world views the opening. Most articles were copies/adaptations of this AFP article so we only included the original version:
Vietnam to Launch Urban Bike-Sharing Program in 2015
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- Published on 10 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Following the success of bike-sharing programs from New York to Beijing, Vietnam is planning to launch pilot programs for 5 cities in 2015.
We Hardly Knew Ye: Flappy Bird Developer Pulls Hit Game
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- Published on 10 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
While players of Flappy Bird spent the weekend trying for double digit scores and smashing their phones in frustration, the game’s maker shocked the world by announcing that he would be pulling the game.
Weekend News Roundup: Passengers Refuse to Disembark After Cruise Liner Skips Stop in Vietnam
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- Published on 10 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Exports will save Vietnam’s steel industry [Vietnam Net]
War on bear bile farms in Vietnam continues [Express.co.uk]
Vietnam manufacturing in best health in 33 months [Thanh Nien]
Vietnamese Developer who Made Flappy Bird Pulling in $50,000 Per Day
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- Published on 07 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
It’s unclear which is the hottest story trending in Vietnam right now – McDonalds opening in Saigon or the surprising success of Flappy Bird. What is clear is that the story of a Vietnamese programmer who spent a few nights creating a game that has shot to the top of the iTunes and Google Play charts over the past few weeks is more significant than the revelation that a fast food chain will have a pork sandwich.
Artist Spotlight: Kristopher Kotcher
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- Published on 07 February 2014
A child's imagination is pure, unpretentious, unique and unconcerned with other people's judgements or views. As we get older most of us tend to loose these qualities, often because there is an untold agreement that makes us associate growing-up with being serious and disciplined, all at the expense of playfulness, dreams and fantasy.
Infographic: The Most Popular Vietnamese Surnames
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- Published on 07 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
As Australia knows firsthand, the Nguyen surname is the most common among Vietnamese. But how does it stack up against others like Trấn, Lê and Phạm? One Vietnam put together a nifty infographic showing the distribution of Vietnamese last names and provided a bit of context as well:
Morning News Roundup: Business Back to Normal as Holiday Winds Down
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- Published on 07 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Business back to normal as holiday winds down [VNS]
Vietnam carrier poised to close $6.1 bln Airbus deal [Tuoi Tre]
Murder charges sought for brutal babysitter in southern Vietnam [Thanh Nien]
Vietnam Mulling Options to Improve Road Safety, Air Quality
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- Published on 06 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam’s worsening traffic and air quality and are no secrets and these problems are likely to get much worse before they get better. Faced with this reality, Vietnam is exploring ways to combat these serious public health challenges, but most solutions are unclear at best, according to Voice of America.
Resource: A List Violations and Fees for Motorcycle Drivers in Vietnam
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- Published on 06 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Considering most traffic violations in Saigon consist of a short conversation and ‘tip’ for your friendly neighborhood policeman, we were, admittedly, a bit unfamiliar with the full list of rules and fees when it comes to our motorbikes.
Luckily, Go Vietnam! was kind enough to translate and publish a full list so that we can be better informed drivers.
Old Saigon Building of the Week: Liên Thành Fish Sauce Company HQ
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- Published on 06 February 2014
- Written by Tim Doling.
Now one of the few surviving heritage buildings in District 4, the ornate colonial edifice at 243 Bến Vân Đồn was constructed in 1922 as the second
Morning News Roundup: Over 160 Die From Traffic Accidents During Tet Holidays
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- Published on 06 February 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Over 160 die from traffic accidents during Tet holidays [SGGP]
Foreign firms to show off GMO corn in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]
Czech botanists find new kind of vanilla in Vietnam [Prague Monitor]
Artist Spotlight: Yanneth Albornoz
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- Published on 29 January 2014
- Written by Zelda Rudzitsky. Photo by Ludovic Tran.
There are very few people that you encounter accidentally in your lifetime with whom you can strike a spontaneous four hour conversation as if you have known each other for a very long time. Usually when that happens, you are left with a sense of peacefulness, energy and a feeling of belonging because these people are letting you into their world, they are sharing their energies with you and, while most of us just pretend to be, they ‘simply are’.
Old Saigon Building of the Week: 141 Võ Văn Tần
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- Published on 29 January 2014
- Written by Tim Doling.
The colonial villa at 141 Võ Văn Tần, next door to the Estar office building, is the house where acclaimed French writer Marguerite Duras (1914-1996) spent her last year in Sài Gòn.
Facebook Gets Official in Vietnam
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- Published on 29 January 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
In a bid to increase its ad revenue, Facebook has partnered with a local advertising firm to make some money off of Vietnam’s 20 million Facebook users.
Morning News Roundup: Highway, Railway Traffic Paralyzed as Truck Plunges Off Mountain Pass
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- Published on 29 January 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Highway, railway traffic paralyzed as truck plunges off mountain pass [Tuoi Tre]
City invests over US$40 million in industrial zones [SGGP]
Vietnam city to examine visitors for new bird flu virus [Thanh Nien]
Vietnamese Dishes with French Origins
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- Published on 28 January 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Though the French occupiers are long gone, elements of their culture still exist in both Vietnamese language and society. One of the most obvious examples of this is Vietnamese cuisine which has a number of dishes that can be traced back to their French origins. Theculturetrip.com recently published a list of these dishes and provided a bit of background as well.
Artist Spotlight: Landon Nguyen
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- Published on 28 January 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
18-year-old Saigon native, Landon Nguyen is an aspiring artist living in California. Though he has been a creative-type all his life, it wasn’t till he moved to the US that he realized his artistic potential. Nguyen has ambitions to one day become a creative director of an international cultural magazine that, “engages in world affairs and bridges the gaps of global diversity” to inspire creativity and show the importance of art in daily life in Vietnam.
