The Story of Saigon's Floating Hotel
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- Published on 07 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
There was a time, not too long ago, when Saigon wasn’t full of tourists and backpackers. In the late 1980s, Vietnam had just opened its doors to the west and was rushing to renovate its decrepit colonial-era hotels. With few local options available, international investors found an ingenious way to fill the need for 5 star accommodations in the city – a floating hotel.
Vietnam Announces Plan for 8 Line, $16 Billion Railway
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- Published on 07 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Taking the train in Vietnam is set to get faster and more convenient by 2020. Last Friday, the Vietnam Railways Administration (VRA) announced plans to change the face of rail in Vietnam with eight new railways, at a total estimated cost of VND341,261 billion (US$16.1billion). Most of the lines will focus on the country’s southern corridor with the central hub located in Saigon.
ANH House of Light and Wind
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- Published on 07 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Just past the Saigon Bridge in District 2 lies this lovely house built by Vietnamese architects Sanuki + Nishizawa. Built in the ‘tube-house’ style, the open design allows for fresh air and light to travel through its walls and floors.
Mayhem: The Age of the Thrift Shop Begins in Saigon
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- Published on 07 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
In Vietnam, the land of cheap clothes, western-style thrift shops have yet to take off. Mayhem, a new shop located just behind Ben Thanh Market is looking to change this, offering up stylish, imported used clothing from Japan.
"Stoker" - Screening @ Saigon Outcast
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- Published on 07 October 2013
Halloween is coming soon and Saigon Outcast is dedicating the entire October programme of their ‘Thursday outdoor cinema’ to horror and thriller films.
Vietnamese Hero, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Dead at 102
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- Published on 07 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
It's been all over the news this weekend but in case you missed it, General Vo Nguyen Giap, who ousted both the French and Americans from Vietnam died in Hanoi last Friday at the age of 102. Later in life, he advocated for closer economic ties with the west and warned about the environmental costs of industrialization.
"Oldboy" - Screening @ deciBel
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- Published on 07 October 2013
The image of Korean art in Vietnamese popular culture seems to revolve around K-Pop music, boyish looking pop stars and girl bands that seem to have come out of a giant cupcake.
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 07 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap dies [Tuoi Tre]
Efficiency Needs to Play a Bigger Role in Vietnam’s Fast-Growing Cities [GreenTechMedia]
Video: The Perfect Cafe Sữa Nóng?
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- Published on 04 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Yes, we know that Saigonese take their cafe sữa with đá (ice) and that the background music is from Thailand. Nonetheless, this playful video by food videographer, Eric Slatkin is well done and worth a watch.
Honestly, since we buy most of our coffee from street cafes, this was quite helpful in case there's ever a time we actually make a cup of our own.
Spain, Land of Churches, Castles and Wine - Part 1
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- Published on 04 October 2013
- Written by Alfredo de la Casa.
Although I grew up in Spain, it’s been nearly 20 years since I left the country to overseas, so this summer I decided to go back and visit family and friends while showing the country to my Vietnamese girlfriend.
Hydropower Plants Breaking Promises to Locals, Destroying Their Livelihoods
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- Published on 04 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
When investors approached locals in Quang Nam about building a large hydropower plant, they promised fair resettlement compensation, shared water rights/ownership, infrastructure improvements and environmental protections. But since the plant opened, residents say that managers and investors are not only ignoring these contractual responsibilities, but releasing vast amounts of water without warning, destroying homes and fields.
Vietnam to Remove Ban on Same Sex Marriage
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- Published on 03 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
A new government decree, set to go into effect on November 11, 2013, will remove the current fines associated with same-sex marriages in Vietnam. While an important step for LGBT rights in the country, the decree stops short of legalizing same-sex marriage.
Interview: Pierre Ogeron, Creator of the 'Saigon Sail' Time Lapse
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- Published on 03 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Yesterday, we posted Pierre Ogeron’s awesome time lapse film of Saigon which proved to be quite a hit.
We got in touch with Pierre who was kind enough to answer some of our questions about his motivation, production techniques and future plans.
Opening Exhibition - "Red Thread" by Bui Tien Tuan @ Craig Thomas Gallery
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- Published on 03 October 2013
Women in Vietnam are often depicted in art wearing the traditional Ao Dai and conical hats, or at least this is what misleading collective imagination and popular culture want us to believe.
This stereotype could not be overturned more easily than by the work of Saigon-based artist Bui Tien Tuan.
Profits and Contradictions: Inside SE Asia’s Dog Meat Trade
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- Published on 03 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Though eating dog has long been part of Vietnamese culture, the illicit dog meat trade in SE Asia has been growing rapidly over the past few years. Recently, cross-border smuggling of the animals has become so prevalent that Vietnam, along with 3 other ASEAN neighbors have been working on high-level agreements to stop the trade which is estimated at over 5 million dogs per year.
Morning Links: Vietnam’s Coffee Industry Rumored to be Collapsing
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- Published on 03 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Vietnam’s New Crop Coffee Premium Seen 58% Below 2012-13 Beans [Bloomberg]
Vietnam considers selling a bank to foreigners [Vietnam Net]
Vietnam state firm chief cops golfing ban for whacking caddy [Thanh Nien]
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Cho Lon Opium Den
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- Published on 02 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Have you ever been stuck in Saigon traffic and wished that you were on comfy couch in Cho Lon, chilling with some Chinese guys 'chasing the dragon' instead? Yeah, probably not (but for those who answered yes, stay awesome. Just kidding, drugs are bad).
New Campaign Seeks to Curb Drunk Driving in Vietnam
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- Published on 02 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Though drunk driving is a well-known problem in Vietnam, it is still prevalent, resulting in not only in the loss of life, but serious economic ramifications. To address this, the National Traffic Safety Committee has launched a three-month campaign to stop drunk drivers in their tracks.
What Will it Take for Green Building to Take Off in Vietnam?
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- Published on 02 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Though more and more green buildings have been sprouting up across Vietnam over the last few years, the practice is far established. Subsidized electricity, price gouging and low awareness are major obstacles that must be overcome before green building can be standardized in the country, according to a new piece in Ecology.
Vietnam’s Challenges with Educational Technology
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- Published on 02 October 2013
- Written by Peter Cornish.
In yet another example of keeping up appearances and style over substance, many schools around Saigon are calling on parents to fund their further forays into technology in the classroom. All this comes despite education laws firmly stipulating that students are required to pay tuition and enrollment fees only.
