The Best Pho in Vietnam?
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- Published on 22 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
With thousands of pho shops across Vietnam, determining the best in the country seems like an impossible task. In fact, for any Vietnamese food, we would hesitate to crown a restaurant 'best of' since the zenith of any given dish could lie deep a winding alley. But this didn’t stop food writer, Joe Ray, from trying to nail down the best pho in Saigon and Hanoi in a recent piece for the Wall Street Journal.
The Saigon Players Present: Rocky Horror Halloween Madness!
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- Published on 22 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
The Saigon Players are a non-profit community theater group who aim to uphold the arts while giving to charity. All the proceeds from their performances go towards a charity that the members personally choose.
This November, they are celebrating their 10th Anniversary and are presenting two shows: a Rocky Horror Picture Show Madness Screening and a cabaret-style presentation of comedy sketches called, “The Life Cycle of Saigon.”
Saigon Blog Spotlight: SoJournaling Vietnam
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- Published on 22 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Wanting to reconnect with his ancestral homeland, Kyle, a 23-year-old Viet Kieu from California, packed his bags and moved to Vietnam a few years ago. He has been traversing the country ever since and documents both his travels and experiences on his blog, SoJournaling Vietnam. Supplemented by his popular YouTube channel, he injects a bit of humor into the mundane via witty commentary and observational humor. Basically, the things we think, he says. And sometimes in a funny voice.
Morning News Roundup: Man Dies in Underground Hole While Committing Gambling Fraud
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- Published on 22 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam airlines plan fleet boom as roads and rail fail [WTAQ]
Vietnam city police to probe utilities for paying excessive salaries [Thanh Nien]
Student keen on conserving ancient HCMC wharf [Tuoi Tre]
Yesterday's Flooding Breaks Record for HCMC. Today May be Even Worse.
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- Published on 21 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
If you were caught in waist-deep water yesterday, you weren’t the only one. The floodwaters reached 1.64 meters, breaking the previous record. But the worst might not yet be over.
Master Chef - Gastronomy Competition @ Mc Sorley's
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- Published on 21 October 2013
Food lovers and amateurs chefs with a passion for sharing their favourite food and recipes should not miss Mc Sorley's event “Master Chef.”
It is a gastronomy competition, where teams of 4 members maximum, cook a dish on the spot.
Errors Abound in Vietnamese Textbooks
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- Published on 21 October 2013
- Written by Peter Cornish.
Vietnamese parents are once again up in arms about their children’s education in what looks like yet another example of inconsistency and lack of attention to detail that so many have sadly come to expect.
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 21 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Chinese woman caught with 2.2 kg of drugs at airport [Tuoi Tre]
Vietnam gives green light to genetically modified crops [Vietnam Net]
Vietnam's economy regaining growth momentum [SGGP]
Event Rewind: Saigon Artbook Party
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- Published on 19 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Last Thursday's Saigon Artbook Party was a hit. From 6 – 11, La Brasserie de Saigon, on the corner of Hai Ba Trung and Dong Du was packed with both locals and foreigners who turned out to support this new, artistic concept.
Ben Thanh is One of the World's Best Food Markets: USA Today
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- Published on 18 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
American newspaper, USA Today, just published their list of the "Best food markets around the world" in which Saigon's own Ben Thanh Market ranked 15th. Along with fake DVDs and tourist nik naks, the market has some pretty awesome (and hot) food stands at its center. We've eaten at a few of them and yeah, they're delicious.
Words: Loaned by the French, Borrowed by the Vietnamese
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- Published on 18 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
From pho and banh mi to motorbike culture, elements of French influence can still be found throughout Vietnamese society. The Vietnamese language also contains dozens of French 'loan words' that, while often spelled and pronounced a bit differently, serve as a reminder of the country's colonial past. And, unless you have a grasp on both French and Vietnamese, many of them don't seem particularly obvious.
Wine for Cats now Available in Japan (Yes, Really)
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- Published on 18 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with our Japanese neighbors who always seem to be one-upping the world when it comes to whacky products. We present to you – cat wine.
Morning News Roundup: Vegetable Prices Jump After Storm Nari
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- Published on 18 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Government decrees support for atomic energy studies [Nhan Dan]
Oil refinery projects erected all across Vietnam [Tuoi Tre]
Vietnam cyber crime rising in 2013 - Vietnam Economic Times [Reuters]
4 Vietnamese among dead in Laos air crash [Thanh Nien]
Celeb. Chef, Bobby Chinn's Crusade for Safer Food in Vietnam
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- Published on 17 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam may have some of the best food in the world but the country has recently struggled with food safety issues. Over the past few months, stories about tainted noodles and street drinks have been popping up in the local media, raising concerns among the public. A recent article from VOA News profiles celebrity chef, Bobby Chinn, who is trying to raise awareness about both food safety and sustainable fishing in Vietnam.
Typhoon Nari Leaves Path of Death and Destruction Across SE Asia
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- Published on 17 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
As Typhoon Nari swept through SE Asia this week, it left a path of death and destruction from the Philippines to Laos. Thousands of homes were destroyed, dozens of lives were lost and it may have even been responsible for yesterday's fatal plane crash in Loas.
Video: Girl Causes Accident, Brushes it off Like a Boss
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- Published on 17 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Even though drivers in Vietnam seem to have mastered driving the wrong way on one way streets, this tactic can still result in accidents. Especially when the offender drives in the middle of the road.
In the video below, a female biker causes a motorbike pileup and brushes it off like nothing happened, even with drivers yelling at her. Props for staying cool as a cucumber but still a dick move if you ask us.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Want City, Airport, Avenue Named After Gen. Giap
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- Published on 17 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
Half of Vietnam’s industrial sewage dumped into rivers untreated [Thanh Nien]
Vietnamese want city, airport, avenue named after Gen. Giap [Tuoi Tre]
Vinalines former head guilty of corruption [Seashipnews]
Vietnam's Tea Industry Needs to Become More Sustainable [Teanewsdirect]
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Looking Up (1966)
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- Published on 16 October 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
This striking image was taken from above Saigon's streets in 1966.
It's images like this that make one wonder where their subjects are today.
How Saigon's Largest Canal Cleaned up Its Act
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- Published on 16 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
You’ve likely observed groups of men fishing along the banks of Saigon’s Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal and wondered how fish could survive in its waters. Apparently it’s a bit cleaner than we may think. While the waters are still not pristine, a recent piece in Bloomberg outlined the canal's transition from smelly eyesore to public space.
Slideshow: On the Red Carpet of "Am Muu Giay Got Nhon"
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- Published on 16 October 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
On Monday, Saigoneer attended the premier of the highly anticipated film, "Am Muu Giay Got Nhon" ("How to Fight in Six Inch Heels").
Since the movie was directed and produced by Viet Kieu and focuses on fashion, the premier attracted Vietnam's film and fashion A-listers.
With camera bulbs flashing, music blasting and celebrities striking glamorous poses, we were more attracted by the spectacle of it all than the overwhelming star power.
