Vietnam’s Youth Environmental Movement Takes off
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- Published on 17 July 2013
- Written by Nguyen Van Nga.
At a ceremony to mark World Environment Day on June 5, Vietnam’s deputy prime minister, Nguyen Thien Nhan, added a sober warning that his country is facing grave environmental problems, and called on citizens and the government ministries to act.
Fan Chases Arsenal Team Bus - Gets Invite to Come Aboard
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- Published on 17 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Well, it looks like Arsenal wasn't able to avoid fans after all.
After spending most of their trip in quarantine conditions, not meeting with fans or eating local food, the British football team allowed one lucky local on their bus. Dubbed ‘Running Man,’ this unnamed Vietnamese super fan chased the Arsenal team bus for 5 km through the streets of Hanoi before being invited on board.
It’s Official – McDonald's Coming to Vietnam in 2014
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- Published on 16 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The Big Mac cometh...
After years of speculation and rumor, it appears that McDonald's, the world’s largest fast food chain, will open up its first location in Vietnam in 2014. McDonald's will join other American companies such as Burger King, Dominos and KFC, which have seen success in the Vietnamese market and are quickly expanding.
Beautiful Japanese Rice Paddy Art
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- Published on 16 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The slideshow below features examples of tanbo, a ingenious Japanese style of rice paddy art, popularized by the village of Inakadate.
The tradition began in 1993 when the villagers were looking for ways to boost their economy. The art also has a deep connection to rice harvesting which had taken place on their land for thousands of years.
Vietnam is Turning into a Country of Yogurt Addicts
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- Published on 16 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
At the rate yogurt is gaining popularity in Vietnam, it soon may be the preferred currency in the black market.
According to VietnamNet, the Vietnamese yogurt market is expected to reach VND12.4 trillion in 2013, up from VND5.7 trillion in 2012. This two-fold increase has made yogurt the rising star of the Vietnamese dairy industry.
No Love for Fans or Vietnamese Food as Arsenal Arrives in Hanoi
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- Published on 15 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Arsenal’s much published friendly with the Vietnam national team will take place at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium on July 17th. While the club’s first visit to Vietnam will bring premier football to the country, the team’s players are being shielded from both Vietnamese fans and local food.
Interview with HCMC MEGA City Organizer - Part 2
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- Published on 15 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Dr. Michael Waibel, along with Hilbert Henning, have launched the TP. Ho Chi Minh - MEGA City project to visually document Saigon’s rapid urban development. The project is currently being assembled and the authors are seeking submissions. For more information, click the link above.
We spoke with Michael about the motivation behind the project which has both personal and academic roots for its organizers.
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 9 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 15 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Vietnam's Economy to Grow 5.3 Percent in 2013 [Malaysia Sun]
- Vietnam concerned over HIV donor funding cuts [IRIN]
- VN firm wins management contract for Myanmar skyscraper [Vietnam Net Bridge]
Ministry Proposes Nonsensical Fines for Psychological Abuse
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- Published on 12 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Well this is…something.
The Ministry of Public Security is considering levying fines up to VND2 million for domestic psychological abuse.
Under the proposed legislation, acts of domestic psychological abuse are split into different categories of severity, each with a corresponding fine.
Good stuff, good stuff. The thing is there doesn’t seem to be much logic behind the ranking of various abuses.
Slideshow: When Capitalism Returned to Vietnam
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- Published on 12 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
When Vietnam opened it's doors to capitalism and the free market in the mid 90s, almost overnight, multinational corporations such as Coca-Cola, Visa, Kodak and Pepsi rushed to exploit the country's untapped market.
Driven to Distraction: New Motorbike First to Use iPhone as a Dashboard
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- Published on 12 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Japanese startup, Terra Motors, is releasing two new motorbikes to take advantage of Asia’s iPhone addiction. Oh, and they’re electric too so they’re good for the environment and stuff.
Poor Logistics Threaten Vietnamese Exports
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- Published on 11 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Even as Vietnam’s exports reached US$114.6 in 2012, a key factor in the country’s economic growth, high logistics costs are limiting the profits and development of the industry.
According to Thanh Nien, economists and experts such as Pham Minh Duc of the World Bank say that while the country has seen strong growth in exports over the past 20 years, they are “reaching their limit.” In other words, Vietnam must tackle inefficient logistics to continue this rate of growth.
Interview with HCMC MEGA City Organizer - Part 1
- Details
- Published on 11 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Dr. Michael Waibel, along with Hilbert Henning, have launched the TP. Ho Chi Minh - MEGA City project to visually document Saigon’s rapid urban development. The project is currently being assembled and the authors are seeking submissions. For more information, click the link above.
We spoke with Michael about the motivation behind the project which has both personal and academic roots for its organizers.
Here is part 1 of the interview.
Beware: The Face-Kini May Come to Vietnam
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- Published on 11 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
While the Western World spends huge sums of money on tanning, in the East, things are reversed. Seemingly every cosmetic cream promises to whiten ones skin while many hibernate during the day to avoid bronzing their skin.
Why Vietnam is on Apple's Shit List
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- Published on 11 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Apple is arguably the most influential luxury brand in Vietnam. When it comes to status, having the Apple logo on the back of your phone can make or break you. The brand is also one of the most copied and diluted as thousands of stores – from cafes to computer shops – use it to legitimize their business. It’s the Vietnamese version of “put a bird on it.” But as Anh-Minh Do over at TechinAsia points out, this behavior may have landed Vietnam on Apple’s shit list.
Logging Into Facebook in Vietnam - The Elegant Solution
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- Published on 11 July 2013
- Written by Alberto Hùng
For many of us, words like DNS, proxy and VPN are familiar due to the difficulties of logging into Facebook from inside Vietnam.
At Saigoneer, we are aware of this problem and have found a few solutions to help you easily and consistently access Facebook no matter your ISP or location.
The Collapse of the Vietnamese Gaming Industry
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- Published on 10 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
“It’s becoming unbearable,” said VNG CEO, Le Hong Minh when discussing the current state of the Vietnamese gaming industry.
Since the Ministry of Information and Communication stopped issuing licenses for local gaming companies in 2010, they have seen a sharp decline in profits, only able to stay above water by distributing their software illegally.
Street Signs - Ton Duc Thang
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- Published on 10 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
In our last addition of “Street Signs,” we took a look at Nguyen Thi Minh Khia. Today, we’ll tackle the name of one of Saigon’s oldest streets, Ton Duc Thang.
Ton Duc Thang was born in 1888 in An Giang Province. During his formative years, he received tutoring in Chinese script, history and philosophy from an ardent, anti-colonialist tutor.
Saigon’s New Airport to Cost $4 – 5.6 Billion
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- Published on 09 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Yesterday, the Transport Ministry held a seminar on the development plan for Long Thanh International Airport which is set to replace Tan Son Nhat by 2020, TuoiTre reports. With a total investment of US$4 billion in its current design, the ministry warned that the cost could rise significantly if the project is expanded.
Famous Japanese Rockers to Play Saigon
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- Published on 09 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Looking to an alternative to the typical Saigon music scene? On Sunday, July 28th, the Onion Cellar will host a night of Japanese-dominated indie, progressive rock and electronic music ranging from single acts to group performances.
The Onion Cellar is a Vietnam-based independent organization that aims to promote alternative music and films to the local audience - and ultimately to inspire them to go on their own exciting adventures in sounds and visuals.
