Morning Links: Vietnamese and the “$1billion Business Ambition”
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- Published on 15 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Binh Chau shipwreck: discovery area to be expanded [Quanhnai]
- Price hike to ensure electricity supply [VEN]
- Violence, capitalism and dodgy cops... [Thanh Nien]
Massive Fire Drill at Diamond Plaza this Morning
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- Published on 14 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
If you're wondering why emergency crews, including 2 helicopters are running around Dimond Plaza this morning, fear not, for it's only a drill!
The city fire, police and health departments along with Military Zone 7 are participating in this simulation to prepare for high-rise fires.
Morning Links: Civilization Fails to Lure Vietnam Men From 40-year Jungle Home
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- Published on 14 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Thirty Russian Firms to take part in Tourism Expo in HCMC [SGGP]
- Vietnamese school children are 'years ahead' of Indian pupils [phys.org]
- Vietnam to cover costs of bridge delay [Japan Times]
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Saigon Railroad Building
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- Published on 13 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Not too long ago, the park across from Ben Thanh Market was the location of the city's main train station.
Even though the station moved to District 3 following the American War, remnants of the old station, such as the the former Vietnam Railways headquarters seen above, still remain.
Morning Links: ‘Ba Tung’ Closes Facebook Page After Nationwide Ban
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- Published on 13 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Can Vietnam become a gambling getaway? [Thanh Nien]
- Land for industrial parks lies abandoned in Mekong Delta [SGGP]
- Foreigners with over-3 month visas can buy houses in VN: Proposal [Tuoi Tre]
Vietnam Contemplates Opening Real Estate Market to Foreigners
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- Published on 12 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
To boost investment in the ailing real-estate sector, the Ministry of Construction has proposed that foreigners residing in Vietnam be given the opportunity to purchase property. Thanh Nien reports:
Proposed Plan Would Completely Reorganize Saigon’s Districts
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- Published on 12 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
A new urban administration plan proposed by the HCMC People’s Committee would completely reshape the city’s urban structure. Say goodbye to Districts 2 and 7!
According to city authorities, Saigon has outgrown its current administration model and needs to be re-organized to better serve its residents. Under the new plan, the city would contain 13 central districts, surrounded by 4 satellite cities.
Shanghai's Rapid Development Captured in a .Gif
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- Published on 12 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Prior to World War II, Shanghai, like Saigon, was a major trading port, controlled by foreign powers. Following communist victory in 1949, most international firms relocated to Hong Kong to protect their assets.
With China's move toward globalization in the early 90s, Shanghai returned to its former glory, reaping vast economic benefits.
South East Asian Portraits - A Documentary Series
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- Published on 12 August 2013
- Written by Zelda Rudzitsky.
Sunday 5 p.m - I have just finished work and I look outside the window like a child on Christmas morning, hoping that the rain has stopped. No luck. I prepare myself for yet another ride under the rain to District 2 to meet with filmmaker Mudfish aka Davide Domenici for a chat/informal interview.
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 12 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Vietnam can’t afford to switch to newer, safer vaccines: official [Thanh Nien]
- Vietnam authorities lax over hydrofoil safety [Thanh Nien]
- No further dong devaluation, Vietnam central bank assures [Thanh Nien]
Awkward Allies: North Korea and Vietnam
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- Published on 08 August 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
A recent article from NK News examines the slightly awkward relationship between North Korea and Vietnam since the beginning of the Cold War. Starting in the 1950s, Hanoi and Pyonyang became uneasy allies, united by their political ideologies. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the countries began on decidedly different paths: North Korea became completely reliant on Bejing, while Vietnam opened its doors to capitalism and, in turn, South Korean investors.
Creative Shakes - Where Art Comes to Life
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- Published on 07 August 2013
- Written by Zelda Rudzitsky. Photos by Pierre Espardeille.
Who defines art? Who can make art? Who is an artist? These questions have been explored, dealt with and talked about by artists and critics since the beginning of the 20th Century. The perception and relevance of the figure of the artist has also evolved over the centuries: it spans from the pre-Renaissance vision of a medium between God and the mere mortals, to the Andy Warhol “commercial-popular artist” and anything else that comes in between.
Casinos in Vietnam: Boom or Bust?
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- Published on 07 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
As Vietnam continues to hand out investment licenses for massive casino projects, some wonder whether they will help boost tax revenues as the government hopes or become development albatrosses, sitting empty like a Pyongyang 5-star hotel.
Street Signs: Trần Hưng Đạo, Warrior Poet (Part 1)
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- Published on 06 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Trần Hưng Đạo Street is a major thoroughfare, stretching from District 1 to District 5. Let’s take a closer look at the street’s namesake and see why he is one of Vietnam’s most famous historical characters. The picture above should give you a pretty good idea of his general badassery.
The Saigonese
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- Published on 06 August 2013
- Written by Jas Huynh.
When it comes to the city’s moniker, the people here prefer ‘Saigon’ to ‘Ho Chi Minh City’ since ‘Saigon’ evokes greater emotion and connection to the city’s history. As an introduction, may I take the liberty of quoting researcher and Professor Nguyen Dinh Dau’s statement that if there were no Saigon, the innovative and integrated Vietnam we know today wouldn’t exist.
Inspiring Green Building Planned for Da Nang
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- Published on 05 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
We love green design and Vietnam is a great place to put it into practice. While we’ve covered some awesome green residential designs in the past, a planned ABBANK building in Da Nang is taking a slightly different approach to bringing nature back to the city:
Insane Timelapse of Saigon Traffic
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- Published on 05 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
This insane time lapse video, created by Rob Whitworth, is a culmination of 10,000 RAW images and multiple shoots and perfectly captures the energy and spirit of our fair city.
The film won Best Experimental Film at Tiburon International Film Festival 2012 Official selection at: DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon 2012, Mudfest 2012 and ANIMAYO 2012.
Starbucks Opens Second Store in Saigon
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- Published on 05 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Last Thursday, Starbucks opened the doors to their second location in Saigon (and Vietnam), just 6 months after the company arrived in the Vietnamese market.
According to Patricia Marques, general manager of Coffee Concepts Viet Nam, a subsidiary of Hong Kong Maxim's Group which operates Starbucks in Vietnam:
Vietnamese Businessman Buys US Town with Plans to Create Coffee Empire
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- Published on 31 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
In April 2012, Pham Dinh Nguyen, a Vietnamese businessman, bought the town of Buford, Wyoming at auction for US$900,000. If you’re wondering why the sum is so small, 1) it’s in Wyoming and 2) the population of the town is 1. But the town’s non-existent population and middle-of-nowhere location aren’t stopping Nguyen from dreaming big.
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Art Deco
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- Published on 31 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
When the French occupied Vietnam, they brought many elements of their home country with them. Even today, from architecture to food, the colonial footprint can still be seen.
At the height of French influence in the first half of the 20th century, downtown Saigon exemplified this influence as seen in the picture above.
