Nguyen Hue Street (1871)
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- Published on 02 January 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
Nguyen Hue Street, one of Saigon’s oldest thoroughfares, has undergone numerous transformations over its history. With the craziness of the holidays and accompanying sea of motorbikes, it's hard to imagine Saigon as a sleepy colonial backwater. But this image of Nguyen Hue Street, taken around 1871, less than 10 years after the French formally occupied the city, paints the 'city' as a calm and sparsely populated area.
Morning News Roundup: Twins in Hanoi Born From Deceased Dad's Frozen Sperm
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- Published on 02 January 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Twins in Hanoi born from deceased dad's frozen sperm [Tuoi Tre]
Bus owners hold schools ransom over subsidies [SGGP]
Saigoneer's Top 20 Stories of 2013
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- Published on 31 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
1. Vietnamese Architects Unveil Awesome Modular Bamboo Home Design
H&P has produced a demo of their long-promised bamboo houses which are designed to endure flooding and powerful storms. And the kicker? It can be assembled in 25 days at a base cost of $2,500.
2. 46 Incredible Color Photos of 1915 Vietnam
Considering how rare turn of the 20th-century Vietnam photos are, we were especially excited to come across this Flickr album of 46 colorized photos from 1915. The photos were taken by Leon Busy (1874-1950), a French officer serving in Indochina who was also an avid photographer.
10 Awesome Traditional Vietnamese Songs
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- Published on 31 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Petites Planètes compiled a wonderful sampling of traditional Vietnamese music, from funeral songs to those played in Hue's Imperial Citadel, and put the playlist online.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Middle Class Set to Double
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- Published on 31 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam PM wants property market open to foreigners [Thanh Nien]
HCM City: seven students die in beach accident [SGGP]
Vietnam eyes improvements to labour force [Vietnam Net]
Cities ready to welcome 2014 [Tuoi Tre]
Video: Driver Rams Thieves who Stole Side Mirror
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- Published on 30 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
It's like any other sunny afternoon - you're out driving your car, listening to the radio when, all of a sudden, a dubious pair steals your side mirror and speeds off on their motorbike. What do you do?
A local driver, recently faced with this decision, took the path that many of us would be tempted to take but would quickly abandon - ramming the bastards.
Saigon Experiencing Coldest Weather in 10 Years
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- Published on 30 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Sapa isn’t the only part of Vietnam dealing with record breaking cold weather. Over the past few days, morning and night time temperatures in Saigon dropped to their lowest points in a decade.
Sci-Fi Cosplay Party @ Cargo
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- Published on 30 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
From the organizer:
Are you ready for fun night of live music, dancing, drinking and dressing up as your favourite Sci-Fi characters?
Join us for the biggest Sci-Fi party… ever in Vietnam! Project Sci-Fi will celebrate its Awards Party here in HCMC, and it promises to be a night of surprise, entertainment and fun!
[Updated] Slow Internet? Broken Cable Might Not Be Fixed Until February
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- Published on 30 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
[Update Below] If you've been experiencing internet problems since Friday evening, you're not the only one. The $560 million Asia America Gate Way cable, Vietnam's international internet connection, has been severed and might not be fixed until February.
Morning News Roundup: Seven Camping Students Missing at Sea
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- Published on 30 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam's biggest telcos scam users by embedding services, concealing fees [Thanh Nien]
Lexus makes its Vietnamese debut [Vietnam Net]
Russia backs Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant [VoV]
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Cyclo Drivers
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- Published on 26 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Even though Saigon has gone through many changes over the last century, there are certain characteristics of the city that have endured.
Before the age of the motorbike, cyclos were one of the most common modes of transportation for locals and foreigners alike.
Video: Words of a Generation Vietnam
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- Published on 24 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
After centuries of social instability due to colonial occupation and war, Vietnam's younger generation (those born between 1975 and 1986) is finding its voice. But how does this group view themselves in the context of their country's development, both socially and economically?
$1 Billion High-Tech Park Proposed for HCMC
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- Published on 24 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
As part of the continuing effort to modernize Vietnam’s workforce, authorities are reviewing a proposal for a massive science and technology park in HCMC.
The Observatory: Bringing Fresh Art and Music to Saigon's Masses
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- Published on 23 December 2013
If you are thinking “another bar in town,” think again. Last month, The Observatory officially celebrated its opening, with the photographic exhibition of Mai Huyen Chi and an incredible line up of music and visuals, including a mix between electronic and traditional Vietnamese music.
Video: Now This How to Count in Vietnamese
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- Published on 23 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
A bit rusty when it comes to Vietnamese numbers? No worries, this guy will show you how it's done.
Vietnam's First McDonald's to Open in HCMC After Tet
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- Published on 23 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Last Friday, international burger giant, McDonald’s confirmed what has been predicted for years – its opening its first store in Vietnam, just after Tet.
Businesses Raise Alarm Over New Foreign Labor Rules
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- Published on 20 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
A November decree on foreign labor in Vietnam has businesses seriously concerned about their ability to fill vacancies for skilled workers. Numerous changes, including the diminished length of work permits, increased minimum experience thresholds and required approval by local governments, will make it significantly more difficult for both employers and workers to contribute to the Vietnamese economy.
Sunday Garage Sale @ Saigon Outcast
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- Published on 20 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
From the organizer:
Remember the jumble sale and garage sale that Saigon outcast did last year? Where they collected a lot of toothbrushes and some other necessities for the orphanage in bien hoa?
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam, US Sign Agreement for Clearing War-era Ordnance
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- Published on 20 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
EU offers €114 million to Vietnam’s health sector [Tuoi Tre]
Fund for natural disaster prevention to be established [Vietnam Net]
Middle and Affluent Class in Vietnam and Myanmar Will Double in Size by 2020 [Digital Journal]
The History of Saigon's Streetcars
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- Published on 19 December 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
We’ve posted images of Saigon’s old streetcars in the past but were unable to find much information written about them. Thankfully, Saigon historian, Tim Doling, recently published a piece about their history on his blog, Historic Vietnam.
