Calling all musicians and lovers of music, come hang out and jam out at the Jameson Jam, an acoustic open mic for all.

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 Sunday side-up is the best way to fully enjoy your Sunday whatever the generation you represent. Bring your family and friends, let us share delicious BBQ and Hoegaarden while we run a round bare footed, getting dirty, chicken chasing, boardskating, meeting new friends and get amazed by the three resident DJs Cheezy Gangztaz + Nick Simon founder of The Magic Pinions ready to rock with some deep, surprising and bababoom tracks!

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The only weekly Reggae & Dub Sound System Party. 14th of April : Special Dance Battle Edition

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 Calling all musicians and lovers of music, come hang out and jam out at the Jameson Jam, an acoustic open mic for all.

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 This week, 2 of The Observatory's DJs resident will rock the dancefloor at Optimist Club Saigon.

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 Something new at Saigon Outcast!! Join us in an evening of Life Drawing every Tuesday. Whether you are an artist who wants to have some practice or someone who has never drawn before wanting to try something new, this class suits everyone. Spend the evening drawing and drinking beer in the outdoors!

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 Pride (UK 2014) (7.8/10·IMDb - 93%·Rotten Tomatoes). A group of gay activists in London and a South Welsh miners’ community are the “odd couple” in Pride.

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 Tonight only from 8.30pm! Chefs Adeline, Augustin & Etienne will cook "Dad's Dinner" : marinated chicken skewers with sweet mash potatoes.

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 AHOY! Our Sunday resident EL CAPITAN plays a large spectrum of groovy tunes that he likes to call MARITIME MUSIC.

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Upcoming classes for kids yoga in June via hotline 0969 841 079 or inbox on Facebook.

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This week’s acoustic artist, Ciarán Calnan aka "Rawney", is a big name on the Irish music circuit with his band Setmaker and one of the country’s most fascinating solo artists.

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From the organizer: MONDAY JAZZ PROJECT created for Jazz lover in Saigon. Those who are interested in Jazz, enjoy listening live music and bring the Jazz level higher here in Saigon.

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Feeling peckish during the late hours? Ladies and gentlemen, OCTO at your service!

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The idea of “going green” is gaining popularity in our fair Vietnam, and while the government talks about it on a national level, there are plenty of good examples of individual applications of the concept.

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ABOUT US

Saigoneer is an English-language online lifestyle magazine which covers topics related to food, society, development, history, culture and the arts in Saigon. We strive to provide both foreign residents and English-speaking Vietnamese in Saigon with engaging content which informs and entertains. Whether providing context to local affairs, showcasing the best of Saigon's arts and culture scene, discovering the story behind a decades-old street food stall or delving into the city's fast-paced development, Saigoneer prides itself on producing well-researched, informative and up-to-date content for local and international readers alike.

WHAT WE DO

As a digital media outlet, Saigoneer believes in using the internet to harness the power of storytelling. Whether through words, photos, videos or graphics, we aim to bring readers the best content in the best possible medium.

WRITE FOR US!

Freelancers interested in writing for Saigoneer should fill out and email this pitch form to contribute@saigoneer.com, along with a writing sample. On-spec pieces will not be accepted. Please label the subject line 'Freelance Pitch.' We accept feature stories ranging from 800-1,200 words, though exceptions for shorter or longer pieces can be made if warranted. Photo essays include about 200 words of intro text and captions accompanying around 15 images. We pay competitively and on time. Before you pitch, be sure to look through our site to make sure your angle hasn't been covered recently. We look forward to seeing your ideas!

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This is the first article in our series “Power Players” which examines the different paths Vietnam is pursuing to feed its power-thirsty cities and industrial centers.

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If you love old Vietnam photos as much as we do, you’ll get a kick out of these which contrast the present and past of some of Vietnam’s most famous sites.

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Vietnam's first truly international port, Hoi An was developed by Chinese and Japanese merchants who believed that the "heart of Asia" lay beneath the small town. While that has yet to be proven, there's no doubt that Hoi An is a unique place - one of those rare instances when beautiful architecture, delicious food and floating lanterns can render you almost blind to the hoards of tourists.

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Parts of central District 2 are currently a mish-mash of leveled neighborhoods where all that remain are the skeletons of old buildings.

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When looking at old pictures of big cities, what usually strikes us is how different yet similar things are today. Back in the 50s, Time Magazine ran some great pictures of Saigon, capturing its initial rise as “Pearl of the Orient”.

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We're not huge fans of Americanization but there are some rare exceptions.

Concidering the current state of Vietnamese pop music, it's hard to believe there was a time when it was, to put it bluntly, good. A time before K-pop and obnoxious electronic music (you know, where every song has the same baseline).

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Check out this track from some of our brothers and sisters up north: Đi uống - Always.

Frankly, we're always down to watch a video where the band performs on a motorcyle and sidecar.

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Nuoc mam, or fish sauce, is a staple condiment in Asia where it has been used for hundreds of years. Its flavor-enhancing characteristics make it akin to ketchup in its ability to instantly elevate a dish. But what if I told you ketchup is the great-grandson of fish sauce? That’s right - America’s favorite condiment came right out of Asia’s cook book. Don’t believe me? Check out this article from Slate.

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While we dream about subway systems in Saigon and Hanoi, another major project is on the minds of engineers and urban planners – high speed rail. Already the standard in Japan, China and Europe, there are two projects in the works that could bring the technology to Vietnam. But before we look at the future, let’s take a look at the history and present state of Vietnam’s railway system to see why so many are pushing for a complete overhaul.

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Over the past decade, Saigon has outgrown its traditional boundaries, forcing development not only vertically but horizontally. As the sky above District 1 becomes increasingly crowded and land scarce, city planners have been looking for ways to expand Saigon’s business center.

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Get ready for a major addition to the Saigon skyline – the Eximbank Tower. On December 17th, Eximbank announced the 40 story project, led by Turner and Nikken Sekkei design consultants.

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Get ready for a major addition to the Saigon skyline – the Eximbank Tower. On December 17th, Eximbank announced the 40 story project, led by Turner and Nikken Sekkei design consultants.

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We’re kicking off our Street Figures series with one of the city’s busiest streets which spans Districts 1 and 3 – Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.

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It’s no secret that Saigon aspires to be the commercial and tourist hub of Southeast Asia. Even as the economy has slowed, tourism in Vietnam is growing at a pace of 11% annually. Government officials expect the economy to bounce back and for growth in the tourism sector to continue. To accommodate the rising number of visitors, plans for additional International airports across Vietnam are in the works.

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Organic produce has gained massive popularity in the West over the last few decades. Given the importance of agriculture in Vietnam – both from economic and health standpoints – there are those who are working to improve the country’s diet and overall health by focusing on cultivating organic fruits and vegetables.

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While some local companies shake in their boots as Starbucks gears up to enter the Vietnamese market, the country’s largest coffee grower, Trung Nguyen, is taking the offensive and setting its sights on the international coffee market.

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While we don’t get to travel much, many local bloggers do and frequently post articles about their recent adventures. Photographer Jon Sanwell recently returned from Hong Kong and posted some great pictures and information on his blog, Without an H.

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The Diplomat recently published the story of the Hmong, a Laotian ethnic minority group recruited by the CIA to counter the influence of communism in Laos. This compelling article chronicles not only the role of the Hmong during the American War but their current struggle for survival in the dense jungles of northern Laos.

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To the dismay of ballers across Saigon, a new decree from the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism will raise the fines for drinking liquor in karaoke rooms. So if you’re downing bottles of Hennessey whilst belting out Billy Jean, you’re looking at a VND3 million fine.

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Vietnam is producing high-quality films faster than ever before. While the country is not known for its cinematic pedigree, the film industry in Vietnam has been active for over 100 years. With growing budgets and influence from the Viet Kieu community, Vietnam could be entering a Golden Age of film. 

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On a typical day in Cai Lay District, about 90 KM outside Ho Chi Minh City, farmers toil in the field tending to their rice paddies. But today is special, and like any special day in Vietnam it will end with rice wine and feasting. It begins, however, with bugs and flowers.

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The concrete skeleton  at the corner of Tran Hung Dao and Nguyen Cu Trinh topped out just before Tet and is set to open later this year.

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For all the importance placed on dragons in Vietnamese culture, I’m sure at one point, we’ve all wondered to ourselves, “Why hasn’t Vietnam built a badass fire-breathing dragon bridge?” Well, wonder no longer because the world’s largest dragon-themed bridge has just opened in Da Nang.

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UPS has officially become the first 100% foreign owned shipping company in Vietnam. Concidering the state of shipping serice in Vietnam, this may symbolize a big step forward.

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VietJetAir has just announced a new route from Hanoi to Bangkok, set to open on June 1, 2013. To celebrate and promote this new service, the company is offering free tickets if you book between April 10 and April 20 for travel between April 15 and December 20.

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There are plenty of small rooms here in Saigon, no doubt. But Hong Kong is notorious for it's cramped living quarters. These overhead photos were commissioned and released by The Society for Community Organization (SoCO).

The goal of this project is to highlight the ongoing housing problems in one of the richest cities in the world. For the most part, the residents in these urban slums are low-income families, elderly and unemployed.

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We’ve heard a lot over the last few years about proposed improvements to Saigon’s transportation infrastructure. These include the new Long Thanh International Airport and expanding the city center into District 2.

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In a recent VietnamNet op-ed, Lao Dong takes a deeper look into the increasing eroticism of Vietnamese cinema.

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When it comes to construction in Vietnam - from one-story shops to luxury office towers - one will find bricks on every site. For more than a century, these unassuming orange squares have literally laid the foundation for Vietnam’s cities, factories and commercial hubs. But local architecture firm, H&P, has released a new bamboo-based housing design that will address the multitude of housing challenges facing communities in flood-prone areas.

Bricks are the obvious choice for construction in Vietnam and in many countries around the globe. According to greenbuildingelements.com:

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There’s no doubt that Google is the global leader in search engines, owning a 67.5% global market share. But if the tech behemoth has one 'chink in the armor', it’s the inability to effectively handle non-English language searches. Russian national, Victor Lavrenko, identified this weakness and saw an opportunity to pick up the slack where Google would/could not. Enter startup CocCoc which plans to invest $100 million in the next 10 years to master the art of search in Vietnam.

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Stumbling upon old buildings is one of the best things about living in Saigon. While many are in a state of disrepair, some have retained their original character. Photo blog, Old Saigon, highlights some of the best remaining colonial architecture in the city like the photo above.

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Vietnam is on the path to becoming the first Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage. This week, in Hanoi, Deputy Health Minister, Nguyen Viet Tien, told the press:

“[A]s human beings, homosexuals have the same rights as everyone else to live, eat, love and be loved. As citizens, they have the right to work, study, receive health care, register births and deaths, marry and discharge their duties to the state and the society.”

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Locally-produced CNG (compressed natural gas) busses may be an increasingly common sight over the next 12 months.

On April 18, Duong Hong Thanh, deputy director of the City Department of Transport, announced his recommendation to add another 300 Samco-built CNG busses within a year.

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As we’ve written about before, there are big plans to re-develop Thu Thiem into Saigon’s new business and finance center. For the last few years, the city has demolished entire neighborhoods to clear the site, turning part of District 2 into a ghost town. While the grand re-development is at a standstill, there are those who live in its shadows, amidst the rubble and half-standing houses.

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According to sources in a China Business report, Apple has returned up to 8 million iPhones to manufacturer, Foxconn, on the grounds that they were not fit or sale. The gaffe could not only result in lower supply, but delay the release of the next iPhone which is scheduled for later this year.

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While snakes are awesome, the idea of being with one in closed quarters is less than appealing. Well, one Hanoi man felt differently and was arrested transporting 53 of them in his car. Did we mention they were king cobras?

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Dropbox has long been the biggest player in the cloud storage game, but this may soon change. Local startup, Kleii, has just secured its first round of seed funding and has its eyes on the international stage.

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Iron Man 3 hit theaters last week grossing a whopping $195.3 million internationally. With numbers like that, there’s no doubt that the film will be one of the most illegally copied of all time. But pirated copies are not the only bi-product of the blockbuster.

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No matter where you’re from, smoking cigarettes is a killer. While Vietnam has started to feel the effects of this long-ignored but serious public health issue, perhaps a recent report from the Ho Chi Minh City Health Education and Communication Center will shake things up a bit.

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Koreans sure love their video games and manga comics. They have penetrated the psyche of the country’s children to the point where kids are shipped off to video game addiction camps. Every now and then, these fantasy worlds get a bit too real. Like when students cause $5000 worth of damage to their school after taking a cue from a manga comic book.

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For just over a year now, I have been living on the edge of district one, on a street named Tran Khac Chan. It is an unremarkable street on the face of it, a typical bustling hive of activity, of which there are an uncountable amount of in Saigon. Only by living there can you start to unearth the hidden gems it holds and start to understand the lives of the people here.

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There are many things that set Saigon apart from other sprawling cities – the laid back lifestyle, the food, the people. But no matter how unique, the hustle and bustle of rush hour traffic and heat permeating from the concrete jungle are inescapable reminders that you are truly an urban dweller. Luckily, if one travels a few hours in any direction, they are likely to encounter one of Vietnam’s magical natural settings. One of these places is the Mekong Delta, only a stone’s throw from Saigon.

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Meeting the girlfriend’s parents is an intimidating experience in any culture. So what’s the best way to add even more awkwardness to an already awkward situation? Meeting the parents of a girl from a different culture, of course!

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Vietnam is world renowned for its food, confirmed by the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsey who have dedicated entire TV specials to the country’s culinary soul. And for those of us who live here, we can wholeheartedly confirm this. But while street food is all around us, for foreigners, the intricacies of the local fare can sometimes be elusive. Matt Gross, a former English teacher in Saigon, just wrote a fantastic article for the New York Times detailing his obsession with Vietnamese food. In it, he muses about various street food no-nos such as eating pho for lunch and the linguistic and social barriers that sometimes curtailed his gastronomic exploration. Perhaps this sounds familiar?

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If you’re a creative, digital-minded person who is passionate about Indochina, here’s a great project for you. Riverorchid Digital, an agency specializing in branding, PR and media, is embarking on a project to discover and celebrate Indochina through digital media and creativity. They want to find out what Indochina really means to a modern, digitally connected world by asking its people to share their views; creating a crowd-sourced integrated online and real world art event unlike anything seen before in this region.

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Saigon’s traffic police just underwent rigorous training sessions to help them gain knowledge on "cultural behavior and moral behavior of traffic police officers" while on duty. The program, chaired by Professor Dr. Vu Gia Hien, a social psychologist at the Ho Chi Minh City Education Psychology Association, took place from April 8-15.

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The past decade has seen a plethora of international brands enter Vietnam’s fertile consumer market. As Vietnam’s average income has risen, brands from Pizza Hut to Starbucks have taken advantage of the country’s brand-minded consumers. Following this trend, Budweiser, one of America’s most popular beers, is setting up production facilities in SE Asia’s top beer drinking country.

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For me, as most of us non-nationals living here in Saigon, the word funeral only evokes ideas of dreadful sounds emanating from a tent set up halfway in the street and haltering the flow of traffic. They can be bad enough to drive by, god forbid having one posted outside your own window. Three days of disturbances can seem like an eternal punishment at times. There is, of course more to the story than just making noise, as it can tend to seem sometimes.

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French street artist, Julien Malland, AKA Seth Globepainter, travels the world using buildings as a canvas for his huge murals. Collaborating with local artists, he tries to learn new artistic techniques while creating pieces that are aesthetically and socially contextual. A graduate of the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris, Julien Malland has painted murals in Vietnam, India, China, Cambodia, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and many other countries.

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It’s no secret that for most in Vietnam (and most of the world for that matter), success is measured by accumulation of wealth. For the country's celebrities who live in the spotlight, showing off their expensive cars and jewelry is a necessity for creating and maintain their image. But in a country where the average GDP per capita is $1407, these ostentatious displays of wealth are rubbing some people the wrong way.

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Put away the condoms and birth control pills. According to Tuoi Tre, there is an ethnic minority group (Van Kieu) in the central highlands that uses a special leaf, anăng, in place of typical contraceptives. That's right! Now you can eliminate the hassles of taking pills and putting on condoms. With anăng, simply put a leaf of it in your pocket (who's wearing pants?!?) or lie on it and you’ll stay baby-free! Well, that’s the story anyway.

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Design is subjective; ‘good’ design changes by region, city and individual. Design elements that may seem antiquated to one, may be fresh or reinvented by another so we try not to judge - except when it comes to websites that are “fucking ugly.” These were the words Techinasia editor, Anh Minh Do, used to appropriately describe the state of Vietnamese website design.

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Arsenal Football Club has announced that it will become the first ever Premier League team to play a match in Vietnam, with the first-team squad visiting Hanoi in July as part of the Club’s pre-season Asia Tour 2013. According to their press release, the match against the Vietnam national team will take place at the 40,000 seat My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on Wednesday, July 17.

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Development of Thu Thiem was supposed to be the crown jewel of Saigon’s urban expansion. Since 1996, plans have been in place to turn this green swath of land, directly across from District 1, into the city’s new center. Although the city has cleared most of the land, a faltering economy, lack of infrastructure and high leasing fees have stalled the project.

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Vietnamese director, Tran Dung Thanh Huy, will be showing his short film, 16:30, at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The film follows a group of street kids who sell lottery tickets in Saigon’s streets and alleys starting at 4:30pm every afternoon.

Following his five awards at YxineFF 2012, Huy was chosen to participate in Voyage A Cannes, a program that brings Vietnamese artists to the Cannes Film Festival.

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Sometimes wishes do come true. The city government has approved a plan that will completely redefine the layout and borders of Saigon's city center. The highlight of the plan will see the conversion of some District 1 streets into pedestrian-only areas.

Under the new plan, the existing downtown area, covering Districts 1 and 3, will be expanded to five quarters, including an area along the Saigon River in District 4 and Binh Thanh District, the ports along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street and the Tau Hu-Ben Nghe canals. The new downtown ‘core’ will cover 930 hectares including wards where many streets including: Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi, the roundabout in front of Ben Thanh Market, and part of Huynh Thuc Khang Street will be converted to pedestrian-only areas.

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A macro-economic expert could view social media as a good economic development indicator. Social media fever is fading a bit in the US after the mini-bubble, encouraged by the highly criticized purchase of Involver by Oracle, and the unfortunately premature acquisition - according to WWP's CEO - of SalesForce by Buddy Media. But, on the other side of the Pacific, social media is booming in a way few could have predicted.

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As the rest of the country goes about its daily routine, Vietnamese celebrities continue to make headlines. This time, it’s actress, Ly Nha Ky, whose celebrity status served as a golden ticket to the cockpit on a recent Vietnam Airlines flight. While the pilots and flight attendants were happy to have the former tourism envoy up front, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) was less than thrilled about the incident and has finned the crew.

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Even as Vietnam becomes increasing connected by mobile devices, don’t expect 4G service any time soon. According to Vietnam News, the government wants to maximize the existing investments made by telecom companies.

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“A developed city is not one in which the poor get around by car but one in which the rich get around by public transit” - Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá.

It seems like every time I’m stalled in traffic, cars and buses are to blame. Nimble motorbikes can easily navigate hectic traffic patterns (and drive on sidewalks) and buses get a pass since they’re the city’s only form of public transportation (and their numbers are fairly static). In a city designed without cars in mind, their increasing numbers are becoming a serious obstacle for the flow of traffic. But, while some curse cars, others are buying them at a record rate – the number of new cars sold in the first quarter of this year was higher than the total sold in 2012. Can Saigon complete its public transportation network fast enough to avoid “the age of the car”?

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Here’s another gem from the Tumblr blog, Old Saigon:

"This house is located on Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street, District 5. It is used as a sports and gymnastics center in District 5 for all kinds of popular Vietnamese and Chinese sports, such as badminton, table tennis, sepatakraw and lion dancing (a traditional Chinese ritual performed to bring good luck, especially during the Lunar New Year, in which two men dance while wearing a large ornamental lion head and body)."

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Saigon might not be the only one who’s getting a shiny new airport - developers have submitted plans to the Phan Thiet central government to construct a $270 million regional airport. Russians, rejoice!

The airport, scheduled to open in 2017, will span around 500 hectares and will be located in Thien Nghiep – a coastal area near Mui Ne Beach. According to Vietnam Airlines Corporation (VNA), the airport is part of the grander picture of connectivity between Saigon and Nha Trang:

“The development of Phan Thiet airport should be considered in the context that there are also many other transport methods to the area, including road, sea, railway, and high-speed railway between Saigon and Nha trang.”  

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Lotteria, the Korean version of McDonalds (in Vietnam at least), has joined the likes to Taco Bell and KFC in offering a dish that certainly qualifies as ‘thinking outside of the box.’

Here’s a breakdown of the ramen burger from Kotaku’s Brian Ashcraft:

The noodles are lightly fried into a ramen patty, which is placed between two burger buns along with tender pork cutlet and mayonnaise. The burger is also served with "katsuo dashi" (a type of Japanese broth) soup.”

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For those whom frequent movie theatres, it’s probably not a surprise to learn that 2012 was a record year for ticket sales in Vietnam. The country has seen massive growth in this industry with a 514% increase between 2008 and 2012. And, of course, this doesn’t include the enormously popular Iron Man 3.

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Vietnam realized long ago that its ancient villages and towns would be big hits with foreign tourists. Over the last 15 years, the country has rushed to protect its historical heritage by anointing some locales as national relics and others as UNESCO world heritage sites. With these titles come tight restrictions on land use, building and repairs which can make things a nightmare for locals who don’t have the funds to work within these constraints.

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Walk through any urban public space in Europe, South America or the US and chances are you’ll encounter a young couple doing…couple’s things. Public spaces are an escape from the oversight of family and parents, who, no doubt, would disapprove of their shenanigans. But, in Vietnam, public displays of affection are generally taboo. So where do couples (and cheating husbands) go to spend alone time?

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For those skeptical about the recently announced changes to the city center, Nguyen Trong Hoa - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Development Studies and one of the plan’s authors – explains that unlike previously overambitious plans, the new one is measured and harmonious. Take this with a grain of salt, of course, but at least the city is aware of why previous plans failed and are taking a more cautious approach this time around.

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In the final days of French occupation, the struggle for power in Vietnam, and Saigon in particular, was a free-for-all. As French control waned and the influence of Communism was identified as the “state’s” biggest enemy, private militias and warlords jockeyed for position, hoping to take advantage of the instability. While downtown Saigon was relatively quiet, just south was the Wild West – gangs, kidnapping, piracy, murder and gambling. At the center of Nha Be’s illicit prosperity was the Binh Xuyen, a powerful gang that directly influenced Vietnam’s post-colonial history, especially in the South.

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As “Gangnam Style” continues to pulsate from speakers all over the world, controversy surrounding Hwang Min-woo, or “little PSY,” has engulfed the Vietnamese and Korean online communities. Woo, seen performing the “horse dance” alongside the Korean megastar at the start of the music video, is half Vietnamese and half Korean. Derogatory comments stemming from Woo’s Vietnamese roots have flooded Star Zone Entertainment's website and have caught the attention of the Gangnam Police Department (no, they don’t dance. Yes, Gangnam is a neighborhood in Seoul).

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As Saigon eagerly awaits its first metro line, we look back at the city's original rail-based transportation - streetcars.

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Tuoi Tre is reporting that a section of the 500 KV wire that connects the power grid between north and south, “fell apart,” cutting power to 22 provinces in southern Vietnam. While power has returned to much, if not all of Saigon, state energy company, EVN is still investigating the cause:

“According to Nguyen Anh Vu, an official at the national power supply corporation Vietnam Electricity (EVN). Vu said this is force majeure and EVN is trying its best to fix the situation as soon as it can. His firm is still examining the cause of the breakdown, the official said.

Huynh Minh Hai, director of EVN’s branch in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, said that this was the first time such a huge incident had occurred in Vietnam over the last 100 years."

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You know when you go to the café, and the barista draws a fancy leaf or heart in the foam of your cappuccino and you’re all like, “wow, that’s artistic!”? Well, after viewing the slideshow below, that might never happen again. Unless you go to Japan.

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Just as in Saigon, Hanoi is a dense city where, outside of downtown, little attention was paid to details like infrastructure planning. This can result in some impactful visuals such as this video of a train traveling through a narrow alley.

The train makes its way through the tight path every day at 4pm and 7pm, barely clearing houses and motorbikes. As there have been accidents in the past, residents seclude themselves in their homes as the train passes by.

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The Chinese economy may be slowing down, but that’s not stopping Hunan developers from breaking ground on the tallest building in the world – Sky City. The project will not only be taller than the Burj Khalifa, but will be completed 5 years faster.

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On the heels of a successful launch in Vietnam, Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, announced that the American coffee chain will open hundreds of stores in the country.

Before opening its 2-story flagship store on Le Lai St., many thought that Starbucks would face serious challenges due to Vietnam’s long and rich love affair with coffee.

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For history nerds like us, there's little better than an old map of Saigon. So here's an old map of Saigon, French street names and all. We're guessing it's from the late 1940s.

View the full size version here.

Nguyen Phan Chanh’s painting, entitled “La Marchand de Riz,” set a new record for Vietnamese art at Christie’s International in Hong Kong this past Saturday.

Originally valued at $75 due to a case of misidentification – a trainee labeled the piece as an unsigned Chinese work before experts identified Chanh’s signature – the winning bid was a record $390,000.

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Whether it's building the world's tallest building or shadily acquiring a Russian aircraft carrier, the Chinese government, while facing many shortcomings, dreams big. But what about its people? Surely, in a nation of a billion people, there must be those who use ingenuity to address pressing issues or shortcoming in their day-to-day lives. An article in The Atlantic earlier this month, took a look at some of China's craziest/most brilliant DIY projects. We put our favourites in the slideshow below:

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Here are your morning links:

- Current business environment uninviting for foreign graduates (Vietnamnetbridge)

- Criticism and confusion over recently announced TV laws (ThanhNien)

- Vietnam to review its Visa exemption policies (ThanhNien)

- Banks are starting to increase their loan rates (Straigtstimes)

- Vietnam and Italy strengthen trade ties (businesstimes)

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It seems like everyone wants to be a little bit taller (and a baller) these days. A recent report revealed that Vietnam’s neighbors are not only taller, but enjoy a faster growth speed amongst their populations. To win the ‘war on short’, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced a $287 million plan to raise Vietnam’s average height by 4cm.

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Two words: Real estate.

Citing an unnamed report, VietnamNetBridge found that nearly 30% of Vietnamese millionaires made their money from real estate investments and development.

As living standards began to raise in the early 1990’s, the first wave of local businessmen, who made money abroad, began investing in local properties. With Vietnam’s economic boom, real estate values skyrocketed.

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Here's the latest and greatest Vietnam news:

- Rich Vietnamese are into eating endangered species. (VietnamNetBridge)

- According to a recent survey, energy security is a growing public concern. (Viet Nam News)

- The investigation into the bribe-for-visa scandal has started. (Tuoi Tre)

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When Coca Cola announced a $300 million expansion plan for Vietnam last October, the company faced greater scrutiny of its local operations. Investigators found that by reporting losses since 2010, and questionable loan practices, Coke has avoided paying corporate income tax. The structure of the company’s loans and accusations that the company is taking advantage of transfer pricing has sparked outrage among Vietnamese with many calling for a boycott of the world’s most popular soda.

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Large markets have been the cornerstone of many Vietnamese neighborhoods for over a century. When Saigon was still a collection of small towns, central markets acted as vital commerce centers where locals sold everything from tomatoes to blankets. While the dynamics of shopping in Vietnam have changed a great deal over the last 20 years, these markets still serve as important commercial arteries, especially outside of District 1. In this series, we’ll take a closer look at the history of these important buildings starting with the big boy, Ben Thanh Market.

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Here's what's making news this morning:

- VietJet Air plans to open a Thai subsidiary (Bangkok Post)

- Intel hesitant to expand in Vietnam due to power risks (Tuoi Tre)

- The unemployment rate is growing in urban areas (SaigonGP Daily)

- “Little PSY” welcomed back to HCMC (Tuoi Tre)

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Well, Saigon is really trying to cover all the bases for its 2020 rebirth. Another massive project has been proposed to redevelop Saigon’s 1,000km of rivers and canals at a cost of more than $500 million. The city hopes that this will boost tourism, and that its waterways will become Saigon’s main attraction.

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It’s been a bad week for the reputation of Chinese tourists. It started with a Chinese vice-premier lamenting the behavior of his countrymen abroad and culminated with news that a Nanjing teenager had defaced an ancient Egyptian temple.

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Good morning, Saigon. Here's a roundup of what's making headlines: 

- Vietnamese stocks at 5 year high (Bloomberg)

- Authorities released 205,000 fish into newly cleaned Saigon canals (Tuoi Tre)

- Vietnam's sea tourism has yet to be developed (VietnamNet Bridge) 

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Once an international trading hub, ancient pottery from Hoi An has been found as far away as Africa. But a recent, local discovery has proved to be more impressive than the long distances some pieces have travelled. This week, a salvage company announced that they have successfully excavated a 15th century trading vessel containing 16,000, highly-prized artifacts.

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Last week’s blackout was one of many across SE Asia in recent weeks, with large-scale power outages in Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. While the blackouts in Vietnam and Cambodia have been attributed to a crane accident, the circumstances in Thailand and the Philippines were less clear, causing some to suggest that they were politically motivated.

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About the Contest

We are now accepting submissions for the Vietnamese Language Garden photo contest.

Use your creative eye to shoot photos that capture nature in Saigon - tree-lined streets, a day in the park, overgrown weeds swallowing the skeletons of abandoned houses in Thu Thiem.

The winner will receive free, personalized Vietnamese classes at Vietnamese Language Garden and have their photo featured on Saigoneer.com.

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 Here's what's going on this morning:

- PetroVietnam expects profits to increase by 29% in 2013 (Bloomberg)

- New book explains how to travel across Vietnam with no money (Tuoi Tre)

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Well, it’s Monday so let’s keep things light this morning. A Quang Nam school principal, rumored to have had an extramarital affair, has requested a genital inspection by “relevant agencies” to prove his innocence.

The principal, identified only as H, has been accused of engaging in an affair with a subordinate whose husband, in a fit of jealousy, cut H’s penis. He says these rumors have seriously damaged his relationship and reputation:

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Saigon’s 2002 ban on public advertising has been lifted, allowing for advertisements on public buses, taxis and trains. The move has been welcomed by advertisers, seeking to expand their reach, and the city, which estimates that bus ads will fetch nearly $5 million in annual revenue.

Read More...

If you love Saigon, it’s time to grab your camera and take some shots of the city! The photo book, “TP. Ho Chi Minh MEGA City,” is currently being assembled and the authors are seeking submissions.

Check out the information below to better understand the project and see how you can play a vital role in its creation:

Read More...

Here's what's making news this morning:

- New updates on the bribe-for-visa scam are emerging (Tuoi Tre) 

- Teachers and students happy with graduation exam day (SaigonGP Daily) 

- Lack of investment dashes plan for Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand tourist circuit (TR Weekly)

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Tonight, Art House Cinema will screen the 2008 film, “The Night James Brown Saved Boston.” The film covers a James Brown concert which took place after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and helped to quell a potentially volatile situation.

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VECITA, the Vietnam E-Commerce and Information Technology Agency, released a report last week which revealed that Vietnam’s e-commerce sales will hit $700 million by the end of 2012 and $1.3 billion by 2015.

Even as e-commerce becomes more popular, there is an interesting paradox wherein Vietnamese are comfortable buying products online, but uneasy about paying for them there, even though it’s the same platform - only 11.7% of e-commerce transactions are paid for via online payments as these services are still developing in Vietnam. 

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We’ve seen some of Hong Kong’s tightest living spaces in a previous post but nothing compares with the notorious Kowloon Walled City. From the 1940s to 1993, this fortress of darkness and poverty housed as many as 50,000 residents, making it one of, if not the most densely populated places on earth. On the occasion of the 20 year anniversary of Kowloon's demolition, lets take a quick look back at its history. 

Originally a military post, the British took control of the then open-air settlement after the 1889 Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory which gave Britain a 99 year lease on Hong Kong.

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Yesterday at 3:55pm, a Vietnam Airlines Airbus A330, arriving from Melbourne, landed at Ton San Nhat International airport. Soon after, smoke was observed coming from its no. 2 engine.

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- CocCoc trying to differentiate itself from Google (Tech in Asia)

- Gambler siezed for trafficking elephant tusks (Tuoi Tre)

- Experts say Vietnam should focus on improving the standard of living, not height (Thanh Nien)

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Ancient houses, beautiful beaches, great restaurants and plenty of places to take long strolls have given Hoi An a reputation for being one of Vietnam’s most charming destinations. But as the number of foreign tourists has exploded, there are some who remember the “old Hoi An” and want nothing to do with the new one. These were the feelings of Barbara, writer of the Dropout Dairies, who just published a post titled, “What the Hell Happened to Hoi An?” where she complains about the town's noise, tourists and commercialization. But Hoi An is a paradox - these complaints stem from the same root that has helped to preserve the old houses and culture. Simply put, the cultural heritage displayed in Hoi An has been carefully tailored to the tastes and nostalgias of foreigners.

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With over 4,000,000 Viet Kieu, it’s not surprising that Vietnamese culture has made its way across the globe. Vietnamese culinary heroes, such as Pho to Banh Mi, have been popularized from Sydney to New York. But there’s one Vietnamese export that’s taking Australia’s metropolitan areas by storm - Nguyens.

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Remember that time Nixon gave orders to drop nukes on Moscow to end the war in Vietnam? No? Well neither did I until I came across this article written by University of Wisconsin History Professor, Jeremi Suri.

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Here's what's making news this morning:

- HCMC to address plethora of unsold apartments (Saigon GP Daily)

- Many of Saigon and Ha Noi's Gas Stations are Unsafe (Tuoi Tre)

- Cocodile exports set to double (Saigon GP Daily) 

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In the works since 2003, Da Nang’s $2 million city-wide WIFI network is set to come online this September. The system will rely on 400 transmitters, allowing access so 10,000 users at any given time.

Mr. Pham Kim Son, Director of the Da Nang Department of Information and Communication, said that the project was proposed in 2003 but has been slow to develop due to lack of capital.

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As Vietnam continues its march to a free market economy, the country is not only importing new brands, but new health problems as well. Even as some begin to embrace organic produce, there are far more who prefer the arms of Colonel Sanders and his heart-clogging delights. But, as Vietnam’s healthcare system is quickly realizing, there is a high cost associated with the influx of fast food – diabetes.

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Well, we started this week with the story of a Quang Nam principal who had his penis inspected by local authorities to disprove rumors of an affair. And now, a spate of botched penile silicone implants is making their rounds in the local press. Within the last week, five patients have been admitted to Saigon hospitals due to complications with the liquid silicone injections used in the attempt to enlarge their penis size.

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Here's what's going on this morning in Saigon:

- Thieves are getting technologically savvy (VietnamNet Bridge)

- "Got to Dance" coming to Vietnam (VietnamNet Bridge)

- Vietnamese Teloco to deploy cloud computing (Future Gov)

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To better connect the tourism of SE Asian countries, Saigon authorities have pressed the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to adopt a one-visa policy with Thailand, Cambodia, Loas and Mynamar. This would allow tourists to travel between these countries without having to secure visas for each.

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Hue was neither the first nor only Vietnamese city to house a citadel. Built in the late 18th century, a few years before its counterpart in Hue, the citadel in Saigon proved to be the key to Vietnamese hegemony over all of Vietnam and the establishment of the Nguyen Dynasty.

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This October, the National Assembly is expected to make some major changes to Vietnam’s constitution for the first time since 1992. One of the biggest modifications that may take place is a slight change to the country’s official name.

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Apparently Mercedes, BMWs and Bentleys aren’t enough for Vietnam’s growing upper class. But not to worry! Starting next year, British luxury carmaker, Rolls-Royce will set up shop in Vietnam.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars general director, Torsten Muller-Otvos, is confidant his company will successfully enter the Vietnamese and Nigerian markets in 2014: “I’m strongly confident to say we will open our agencies in Vietnam and Nigeria next year.”

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The market research firm, Cimigo, just completed their most recent report on Vietnamese online and mobile trends. The numbers revealed that consumers are becoming increasingly engaged online.

The study included 5,800 people and spanned across 12 cities. Here are some of the highlights:

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Here's what's making news this morning:

- Drunk Vietnamese official causes fatal car accident in Da Lat (Thanh Nien)

- Coca Cola transfer pricing charges (VietnamNet Bridge)

- Tata winning bidder in huge power project (Business Line)

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The Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee has launched a program aimed at preserving the city's architectural gems. Unfortunately, the focus is on the city's famous buildings rather than sites that are seriously threatened by unchecked development.

The program, with the intent to list and preserve Saigon’s artistic, iconic and collective architectural items, will rank sites based on the results of the Cultural Heritage Law, expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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Yesterday, residents of the north-central province of Nghe An brutally attacked 2 dog thieves, leaving one dead and another seriously injured.

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If the Ministry of Public Security has its way, there will be a lot less skin showing on Saigon’s streets. The ministry has introduced a draft decree that doubles fines for people appearing in "undergarments" or without clothes in public places.

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Japanese mega-corporation, Hitachi, has announced their winning bid to build Vietnam’s first urban railway in Saigon. The $381 million project is slated to begin operation in 2018.

Under the contract, Hitachi will provide trains, ticketing machines, communications and signaling systems in addition to a 5-year maintenance contract after the line is operational.

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Yesterday's WWDC saw some major product announcements, highlighted by an updated Macbook Air, re-designed Mac Pro and new versions of iOS and Mac OSX. Major changes aside, there was one element of the new iOS which is of some relevance here in Vietnam – Activation lock.

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Last Saturday, a Vietnamese man in Dagupan, Philippines killed himself when he was unable to borrow money for a plane ticket home.

The man, identified as Nguyen Tan Lap, was found bleeding heavily in front of the West Central Elementary School at 9:30 a.m.

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As electronics companies look for cheaper labor, many are moving their production facilities to Vietnam. Electronics production has grown so quickly that in only 2 years, electronic component exports now surpass all others including textiles, oil and footwear. And this is just the beginning.

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The iconic statue of Ho Chi Minh, which has made its home in front of the HCMC People’s Committee building, will soon be moved and replaced by a new bust of Vietnam’s most beloved national hero.

The new statue is set to be completed by April 30, 2015, to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the American War. It will stand 6.3 meters tall with a 1.8-meter base, nearly double the size of the current one and will cost VND30 billion ($1.4 million).

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Saigon has quite a bit of graffiti but not much of it is of particularly high quality.

These refreshing pieces by local bombers such as Tom, KD, Ares, Mur, K Dee, YCP are a few years old but show a high level of skill.

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Rice has certainly cornered the market in Vietnam but a new pilot program conducted by Chile's Institute for Agricultural Research and Hanoi University of Agriculture hopes to add quinoa to the country’s diet.

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Believe it or not, buses are a great way to zip around Saigon. They're cheap, reasonably fast (unless it's rush-hour) and service nearly every corner of the city. But for non-Vietnamese speakers, taking the bus can be slightly intimidating as there are not always bus maps and timetables at bus stops.

Luckily, one of our readers tipped us off to an online interactive bus map!

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The friendly between Arsenal and Vietnam is in a state of limbo after stadium owners raised fees for the match.

Touted as the first Premier League team to visit Vietnam, Arsenal had planned to play the Vietnam national team at the 40,000 seat My Dinh stadium in Hanoi on July 17.

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Japanese companies, some of Vietnam’s largest investors, are playing an interesting game these days.

For the most part, Japan has taken on the role of older brother to Vietnam, supporting the development of the country’s major infrastructure (bridges and tunnels) and transportation (subways and urban rail networks) projects.

Read More...

Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning:

- Power outage at Tan Son Nhat airport affects 1,000 flyers [Tuoi Tre]

- Vietnam Stocks Fall to Three-Week Low on Gasoline Price Increase [Bloomberg]

- Vietnam new plan to curb drunk driving far from popular [Thanh Nien]

Read More...

If you love Saigon, it’s time to grab your camera and take some shots of the city! The photo book, “TP. Ho Chi Minh MEGA City,” is currently being assembled and the authors are seeking submissions.

Check out the information below to better understand the project and see how you can play a vital role in its creation:

Read More...

This is the work of Hanoi-based artist Nguyen Hung Cuong who creates his beautiful pieces with paper called Do.

Nguyen Hung Cuong has been making origami since the age of six when he received his first book - Prehistoric Origami and is currently an active member of Vietnam Origami Group (VOG), a community of origami enthusiasts in Vietnam.

Read More...

Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning:

- Prostitution ring targeting foreigners busted in Vietnam metro [Thanh Nien]

- Gold Premiums in Vietnam Hit $217 Over Spot In Heavy Demand [Goldseek]

Read More...

Earlier this year, Quinn Ryan Mattingly made his way through Binh Phuoc Province. Eventually reaching Phuoc Long, he stumbled upon some interesting history, a downed US plane, slowly decomposing in the center of town.

There wasn't much information available about the plane, but after a little digging around, it’s likely that it was a casualty of the Battle of Phuoc Long.

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Known as “the city of a thousand pine trees,” unregulated deforestation and development have taken their toll on Da Lat’s forests and pine tree population.

There was once a time when many of Da Lat’s thoroughfares were lined with tall, majestic pine trees.

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Apparently Ankgor Watt is a piece of a larger puzzle. Using frickin' areal lasers, archaeologists have identified a sprawling city around the 1,200 year old temple complex, revealing how the area’s network of temples were once connected.

Read More...

- Alarming rise in accidents by drunken drivers in HCMC [SaigonGP Daily] 

- Vietnam drags feet on single visa for Mekong region [Thanh Nien]

- Agency questioned after travelers left stranded in Thailand [SaigonGP Daily]

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Three Thai monks have landed in hot water after footage of the trio flying on a private jet, wearing sunglasses and earphones and carrying Louis Vuitton bags emerged on YouTube.

The video has caused backlash in Thailand as the images in the video are completely at odds with the clergy’s principles - high on that list is living without possessions (save for a few robes).

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The buildings and streets of Saigon can change in the blink of an eye. Gone are the streetcars, French street names and ox-drawn carts. As the economy continues to develop, the old Saigon is being replaced by skyscrapers, metros and Burger Kings. However, there are elements of the city that have barely changed over the last century, one of these are street vendors.

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- Vietnam to reduce corporate income tax rate to help businesses [Bloomberg] 

- Vietnam planning new north-south air route [Thanh Nien] 

- UNESCO vows help for Vietnam’s sustainable development [Nhan Dan]

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It’s about that time again. On June 23, the year’s largest supermoon will be visible above the Saigon skies.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon lines up with the Earth and the sun at a specific point in its orbit, called the lunar perigee. That's the point at which the moon is nearest to Earth as it traces its elliptical path around our planet.

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Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

With a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business, it's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organising network.

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If there's a will, there's a way. When you own a workshop and are a drug addict, this could lead you to running a gun-making operation as in the case of Duong Minh Nhat.

The 38-year-old and his wife were arrested on Tuesday when authorities stormed his workshop and found numerous pen guns and ammunition. The couple sold the guns to local gangsters and used the proceeds to feed their drug addiction.

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While you were busy this weekend checking out the Indochina Project and waiting for the SuperMoon to appear, you may have missed this weekend’s news:

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When Mark Batchelor found himself in an all-to-familiar power outage, he was left with no internet and decided to spontaneously pick up a pen a paper and whip together a poem/rhyme about his first impressions of living in Saigon.

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After words of caution from Oi Magazine about fake alcohol in Saigon, a Thanh Nien expose has revealed that beer is also being counterfeited as well.

In an alley in Tan Binh district, a Thanh Nien reporter found men sitting in a 20sq meter room, taking empty bottles of Heineken and Tiger, filling them half-way with the original product and the remainder with Saigon beer.

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Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning:

-Vietnam cops to mass produce fishnet launchers to catch traffic violators [Thanh Nien]

-Drug makers accused of collusion [Vietnam Net Bridge]

-Party chief helps police catch thief at central Vietnam festival [Thanh Nien]

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There are complaints that Vietnamese pop music is bland and lacks variety and musical ingenuity. Pop ballads, usually indistinguishable from one another, dominate Vietnamese TV and radio.

Fortunately, there are local musicians who are breaking the mould, such as DjGiang Nguyễn who partnered with blind Đàn Bầu (traditional monochord instrument) musician, Hà Chương and Mrt Beatboxer, to create a unique track that fuses contemporary electronic and hip hop with traditional Vietnamese music.

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Pho is a universally adored dish (yes, even aliens love it), a melody of simple ingredients that yield abundantly complex flavors. Bottom line - it's goddamn delicious. So it's no surprise that people across the world have attempted to put their own spin on the traditional soup. There have been pho burgers, pho salads and now, a bar in Philadelphia, US, is serving up a pho cocktail.

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Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning:

-A look inside male brothels [Tuoi Tre]

-Clean cafés emerge in city, outplay sidewalk rivals [Tuoi Tre]

-HCM City: River “swallows” seven houses at midnight [Vietnam Net Bridge]

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Bentleys, BMWs and Mercedes are all over Saigon these days. Though cars have been present in the country since the turn of the 20th century, decades of war (1941 – 1975) and an economic stagnation (1975 – 1986) drastically reduced the number of vintage automobiles in Vietnam. One will sometimes see an old Ford Mustang or VW Bug around town but they are very rare and often imported. For many, it’s hard to imagine sweet old Citroens and ’57 Chevys puttering about town. That’s why we’ve put together this awesome slideshow of Saigon’s vintage transportation methods!

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We’ve all been there – in the rush to get to the airport on time, you forgo a necessary meal. You arrive only to find that your (insert budget airline here) flight has been delayed 2 hours. Maybe there’s one or two American fast food outlets to choose from, but you don’t feel like a greasy burger before your flight.

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Think Saigon motorbike drivers are hardcore? You have no idea.

Check out the video below of a 1953 performance of the Rome motorbike police. If Saigon’s traffic is organized chaos, then this is, well, just organized.

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-US citizen caught at Vietnam airport with giant heroin haul [Thanh Nien]

-Heineken ‘absolutely on top’ of fake beer threat after Vietnam gang bust [Beverage Daily]

-Drunken man sleeps on highway, causes major accident in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]

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In celebration of Craig Thomas Gallery’s 4th anniversary, the works of 15 young Vietnamese emerging artists will be displayed from June 29 – July 21.

Among the artists are Ngo Van Sac, Bui Thanh Tam, Bui Tien Tuan, Nguyen The Hung, Tam Minh, Tran Quoc Tuan, La Huy, Lieu Nguyen Huong Duong, Le Kinh Tai, Bui Hai Son, Nguyen Thuy Hang, Mac Hoang Thuong, and Luong Luu Bien.

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The struggles of Vietnamese applying for visas to European and North American countries are well documented and probably won’t be changing anytime soon. But it will soon be easier for Vietnamese to visit Japan as the island nation plans to ease its visa requirements for most ASEAN countries.

Yabai!

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Over the past four years, young Vietnamese have been paying more attention to photography. They’re not only keen on the qualitative aspects but are also eager to learn how to create these images by themselves. As a result, they are buying photography equipment and are quickly finding out that it is a ‘luxury hobby.’

Read More...

- Two Africans expelled from Vietnam for conning locals [Thanh Nien]

- Lethal injection “is still being prepared” [VietnamNet Bridge] 

- Vietnam Economic Growth Quickens as Investment Aids Exports [Bloomberg]

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While you were busy this weekend checking out emerging Vietnamese artists and trying to stay dry, you may have missed this weekend’s news:

- Vietnam Devalues Dong for First Time Since December 2011 [Bloomberg]

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With many options available, it seems that a large number of Vietnamese youth are getting more and more into Latin music - Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia and Reggaeton. From Salsa clubs like La Salsa and Xsalsa to live bands at the Caravelle, Hard Rock Café and other bars, Latin fever seems to be sweeping Saigon.

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Saigon has long been a city of canals; even Nguyen Hue Street used to be one. 

But today, as the city's infrastructure continues to prioritize roads, many canals have ceased to function as commercial routes. 

Let's look back at some pictures of the city's canals when they acted as highways for people and goods.

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- Foreign giants hunt for retail space in HCM City [VietnamNet Bridge]

- Vietnam introduces digital textbooks at select schools [Thanh Nien]

- US: Vietnam's weapons-grade uranium removed [ABC]

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A joint American and Russian program has removed the last remaining, highly enriched uranium from Da Lat’s nuclear research facilities.

Over the last 6 years, the US and Russia have shipped out 35 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which officials feared could have fallen into the wrong hands and used as material for a nuclear weapon.

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Vinamilk, Vietnam's favorite dairy brand, has been given the go-ahead by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin exporting products to the US – a first for the Vietnamese dairy industry.

Under the licensing agreement, the FDA can randomly inspect Vinamilk production facilities at any time.

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BarcampSaigon, a great knowledge-sharing event returns to Saigon this Sunday at RMIT. Try to make it if you can! You can even register to speak on any topic of your choice (relating to tech in some way, of course). 

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While Saigon houses many wonderful examples of colonial architecture, there are few buildings standing that predate the 1880s. After all, the city isn’t particularly old, having been a fishing village for much of its early history. So what is the oldest building in Saigon?

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Vietnam cops accused of beating man with cerebral palsy [Thanh Nien]

Street children inspire paintings [VietnamNet Bridge]

Vietnam military deploys vehicles to help college applicants [Tuoi Tre]

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The Japanese really know how to take shit to the next level. Next level brothel? Check! Next level hamburger? Check! Blinged-out transformer trucks? Double check! The pictures in the gallery below showcase Dekotora, the Japanese subculture of truck drivers adding as many lights and metallic objects as possible to their vehicles.

And the results are spectacular.

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Our strategy of avoiding eye contact with traffic police to evade tickets may soon be rendered useless.

Authorities in Thanh Hoa Province are planning to mass produce fishnet launchers to catch those who don’t pull over when flagged down by police.

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Apparently dogs aren't the only pets you need to watch out for. Police in Vinh City have arrested 6 men for allegedly stealing and selling the meat of up to 4,000 felines.

Picking up four to six cats per night, the crew used their profits (VND60,000/kg) to play online games according to police.

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We’re sure nothing will come of this (other than some hush money) but the District 1 People's Committee has set up a joint inspection team address the late night noise from Pham Ngu Lao’s bars.

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- Vietnam’s 2nd Russian-made sub completes sea trials [Thanh Nien]

- Southern hub embraces CNG bus fleet [VietnamNet Bridge]

- ADB gives $500 mln loan to HCMC metro project [Tuoi Tre]

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We spend a lot of time writing about old buildings and changes to Saigon's skyline, but today, we take a closer look at the people of past Saigon.

The clothing and hair styles may seem a bit antiquated but it's clear that day-to-day life in the city has changed less than one may think.

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Humor doesn't require much knowledge of each other’s language, especially in Vietnam.

On a recent sweltering day, I went to a minimart to buy a Coca-Cola just as the store was being supplied. They didn't have a bottle in the fridge, so they had to get it from the back – a task which took some encouragement on my end. 

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For many foreigners, Vietnamese is a tough language to master due to its many tones. As hard as it may be for them in daily conversation, understanding music lyrics is a herculean task.

So what would a traditional Vietnamese song sound like in English? Famous Vietnamese singer, Manh Quynh, took a crack at an English version of cai luong, traditional Vietnamese opera, in the hilarious video below.

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- Vietnam losing shine in attracting FDI to regional rivals: Minister [Tuoi Tre]

- Vietnam, Laos complete border demarcation [Saigon GP Daily] 

- Where driver’s licenses are bought [Tuoi Tre] 

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If you’re eating, you’ll probably want to stop for a moment. Chinese authorities have raided a food storage facility in Nanning, China and found tons of substandard meat, imported from Vietnam. Oh, and some of the chicken feet in question date back to 1967. What the actual f*ck. 

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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.

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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.

Read More...

- New shrew discovered in Vietnam forest [Mongbay]

- Vietnam bigwig to be charged for fatal drunk-driving accident [Thanh Nien]

- Vietnam faces challenges of increasing work force [Saigon GP Daily] 

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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.

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“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.

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- China remains largest rice consumer of Vietnam [CRIEnglish]

- The real owner of Highlands Coffee [Vietnam Net Bridge]

- 576 undocumented people granted Vietnamese citizenship [Tuoi Tre]

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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- Bonus marks for Vietnam Heroic Mothers at university exams [Vietnam Net Bridge]

- Italian communist leader on visit in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre]

- 7 arrested in Vietnam for fatal brawl over clam fishing between 2 communes [Thanh Nien]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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- 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]

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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.

Read More...

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.

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- ‘Cow Bank' project assists poor farmers in escape from poverty [Vietnam Net Bridge]

- Japan leads in FDI projects in Vietnam [Saigon GP Daily]

- Granny’s Gold Bars Are Key to Vietnam Dong Plan: Southeast Asia [Bloomberg]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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- Vietnam airports fill up fast [TTRWeekly] 

- Viet Nam Steel giant reports large losses in H1 [SteelGuru]

- Traditional markets make Hanoi special, why eliminate them? [Thanh Nien]

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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.

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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.

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Driving in Saigon becomes truly hazardous when it rains - flooded streets disguise potholes, and breaks are rendered ineffective at short distances. These are the elements that came into play last week when the footage below was shot.

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As some may have noticed, over the past two weeks, many Vietnamese news sites have been slow or inaccessible. Hacker Vietnam Online (HVA) has announced that they have found the source of the constant stream of denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

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Good morning, Saigoneers! Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: 

- McDonald's faces challenges in late entry to Vietnam [CampaignAsia]

- Police find 3 behind banker arrest rumor [Thanh Nien] 

- Climate change impacts on health and livelihoods require a private sector response [CSR Asia]

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90 Countries, 325 Cities, 6 Continents, 1,700 screenings – Future Shorts is the world’s largest short film festival. This season’s short films explore the grief; the joy, and the memory of living and breaking with the familiar.

Returning to Ho Chi Minh City, Future Shorts showcases electrifying short films from filmmakers around the world.On Sunday, July 28th, Future Shorts will screen at Snap Cafe following the monthly art showcase, Creative Shake.

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If your commute takes you over the Saigon Bridge, you may have noticed a massive concrete frame rising next to it. This is Saigon Bridge 2 which, when completed, will ease congestion on Highway 1.

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Last week we saw some pictures of Hanoi from the mid-90s. Today, we're treated with a video which shows Saigon street life in 1993 captured by Dung Hua.

As with all the old Saigon pictures and videos, some things have changes but more has stayed the same.

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Vietnamese planners and their Russian counterparts are rushing to complete the first stages of Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant. While construction is scheduled to begin in 2014, slow land clearance, miscommunication and incomplete design are threatening the projects timetable.

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Even though Vietnam’s population has been steadily growing the last few decades, a declining birth rate has prompted HCMC officials to encourage couples to have more than one child.

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Before 1975, large advertisements were commonplace in Saigon. But after the American War and the fall of capitalism in the South, ads were considered a vestige of the old order and were heavily regulated.

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Well, better late than never, we suppose. 

While rhinos have completely disappeared in Vietnam due to poaching, many Vietnamese are still buying and consuming illegal rhino horn for supposed health benefits and its powder has become a status symbol for many of Vietnam’s elite.

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Ever wonder what it would look like if two foreigners undertook a 250 lap race around a Saigon traffic circle on 49hp mini bikes and full racing regalia?

Do you have 14 minutes to spare? That's rhetorical, of course you do.

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- HCM City: Explosion at U.S. Consulate General store kills one [Vietnam Net Bridge] 

- Vietnam 'Running Man' says he was invited by Arsenal to UK [Global Post]

- American businesses “like” Vietnam most in ASEAN [Vietnam Net Bridge]

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Over at Vietmeme, one of our favorite local blogs, Mai Huyen Chi takes a closer look at the recent scandal surrounding the bra-less Facebook sensation, Bà Tưng and how the web is shaping sexual discourse in Vietnam.

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As we've seen in our slideshows of old pictures, while Saigon is rapidly changing, some things and places stay the same. And what better way to illustrate this change than by overlaying the old with the new?

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Saigon Outcast is preparing for another great event, this time with the theme ‘Thrift Shop.’ So this Saturday from 10am – 10pm, be sure to stop by and update your wardrobe!

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Over the next three weeks, city authorities will demolish 500 illegally-built houses in Binh Chanh, Thu Duc, Binh Tan, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Go Vap and Tan Phu Districts.

A few weeks ago, city authorities discovered hundreds of illegal homes had been built without construction licenses or on lands not zoned for housing. The demolitions have come quickly to dissuade residents from building illegally in the future.

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- City moves to alleviate overcrowding in bus stations [VNS]

- Overseas Vietnamese wins TV's Master Chef [VietnamNet Bridge]

- Vietnam province opens world’s largest cave to tourists [Thanh Nien]

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Canals used to serve as the Saigon's main commercial highway, connecting the city to the Saigon river and in turn the web of rivers that traverse Vietnam.

Before the construction of large urban markets, trade was conducted on rivers and canals, allowing farmers and fisherman to easily offload and sell their wares.

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A struggling Vietnamese rock music industry in a booming economy [Astroawani]

Vietcombank CEO named Vietnam central bank deputy governor [Thanh Nien]

US federal agencies banned from buying Vietnamese garments [Juststyle]

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Transit authorities recently conducted feasibility studies for the Saigon’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and hope to complete the project by 2017.

Duong Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of the City Department of Transport, told Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper that the first of 8 proposed routes will provide service from Ben Thanh Market to An Suong Bus Station in District 12.

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Thanh Nien recently published a very well-written and well-researched article about the state of higher education in Vietnam. From numerous interviews with education professionals, it’s abundantly clear that the system is inefficient at best.

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Well, this is impressive. South Korean customs officials have announced that they have broken up a gold smuggling ring. The kicker? The mules would bring in the gold through their anuses.

According to reports from China and Japan, mules were recruited in Taiwan and offered free travel and accommodation in Seoul. Once arriving in the South Korean capital, they would meet their handlers in a subway station where the gold would be…unloaded.

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- Vietnam Stocks Fall the Most in 4 Weeks as Inflation Accelerates [Bloomberg]

- Another prostitution ring for foreigners busted in Vietnam hub [Thanh Nien]

- Vietnamese footballer to play for Japanese club [Business Standard]

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Viewed as the land of opportunity for those coming from countries with sagging economies, It's not uncommon to find foreigners who want to open a business in Vietnam. But with so many regulations and red tape, it's not always clear how to accomplish this.

To this end, we've stumbled upon a webinar hosted by Alberto Vettoretti, Managing Partner at Dezan Shira & Associates, an expert on best business practices in Asia.

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- Vietnam gets tough on state firms in economic growth push [Thanh Nien]

- New Vietnam Airlines route is good news for Asia explorers [Easier]

- Vietnam Devalues Its Currency, the Dong, to Aid Economy [WSJ]

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From the organizer:

‘PAEONIA DREAM: LE HOANG BICH PHUONG’ is the inaugural exhibition launching ‘San Art Productions x Phuong My’ in Ho Chi Minh City – connecting the local cultural community through fashion and contemporary art.

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When news broke that new regulations would fine those driving vehicles not registered in their name, many were confused and unhappy. For Vietnamese, motorbikes are often shared among numerous family members and foreigners sometimes rent their bikes and are lucky to have any paperwork for their bikes. Public outcry has forced the Ministry of Transport to abandon these fines as revealed in the latest draft of the decree.

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Vietnamese pop music in the 60s and 70s was awesome. Inspired by folk, country and rock & roll, scores of local singers created their own, Vietnamese take on these genres with fantastic results.

While obvious events ended this era of Western-influenced music, many albums are still around and can bring us back the the era when Vietnamese pop music was...good!

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My grandfather, like George Costanza, used to boast that, given a location in New York City, he could tell you where to find the nearest public restroom. With the emergence of smartphones, numerous developers have released apps to aid those looking for a toilet in an unfamiliar place. Now this concept has been applied to Saigon with the app – Toilet Finder.

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Vietnam to have unmanned military aircraft [VietnamNet Bridge]

Urban Apartheid in Vietnam [New York Times] 

Vietnam symphony orchestra to tour Japan [Thanh Nien]

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On July 26, Owner of Vinagroup, Pham Nhat Vuong, opened the doors to Asia’s largest underground mall, Royal City.

The new megamall, covering 230,000 square meters, has already filled 95% of its retail space (600 shops). In addition to an ice rink, water park and theatres, the mall features a food street with around 200 restaurants.

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Fake coffee isn’t the only think you need to worry about when having a drink at a street café in Saigon. A joint report released by Healthplus in collaboration with the Center for Evaluation and Conformation found that nearly all unbolted beverages contain high levels of bacteria, heavy metals and fungi.

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The Ho Chi Minh City government has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health that shisha be banned from businesses to protect the public’s health.

Shisa, a water-based tobacco pipe, traces its roots back to the Persian aristocracies of the 16th century. The practice of smoking shisha has made its way to nearly every corner of the globe and has become popular in bars and cafes across SE Asia.

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 Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today:

- Vietnam to launch micro satellite [SpaceDaily] 

- Vietnam failing to combat coastal erosion [VietnamNet Bridge]

- Forest police to be set up [VNS]

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[UPDATE BELOW] On the heels of yesterday’s news that nearly every street drink contains high levels of bacteria and heavy metals, a new report has found that 80% of rice noodles tested contained a banned, cancer-causing chemical.

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Don's miss out on Future Shorts, tonight at Decibel. Our Arts & Culture contributer, Zelda Rudzitsky, caught the first showing last weekend at Snap Cafe. Here's what she though of this month's lineup:  

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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.

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It has been 6 years since party Reborn, the last Graffiti battle at Saigon. Since then, Graffiti Saigon has been going strong but the competition amongst writers and groups has ceased. Graffiti, at its root, is a competitive art, it is beautiful only when there are fighting and battle by which writers can express their strong personality, their unique character in their graffiti pieces.

In order to revive the competition amongst the writers and to refresh the graffiti picture at Saigon, The Saigon Projects is proudly present the First annual contest "POW". This will play as a major playground for young writers in Saigon and nearby cities.

“POW” is the first annual graffiti competition in Saigon and Vietnam as well. The objective of the project is to draw a clearer picture of graffiti scene here, to know what is going on, who is writing and how they are writing.

Therefore we hope that “POW” will be an opportunity for writers so that they can meet, compete and have fun together from which they will know more about their skills, their styles or even tags. Besides, we will bring some local DJs, Rapper, Dancers to make it more engaging and exciting. 

Schedule

8am - 10am : Start 1st Elimination round (16 writers). Djs will play during the event (Jase, Jin, Demon Slayer,..)

11am - 1pm : 2nd Elimination round (16 writers). Sketch battle.

1pm - 2pm : Break-time

2pm - 4pm : Final round for 8 writers who win Elimination round

4pm - 6pm : Tag - Throw up round. Live music (RapSoul, Dat Maniac, Tofu,…)

6pm – 7pm : Djs (Jase, Demon Slayer, Jin ...). Prepare for announcement

7pm : Winner announcement

Brought to you by The Saigon Projects and Saigon Outcast 

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.

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 Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today:

- Bank lay-offs in Vietnam could continue for two years [Thanh Nien]

- City Museum ranked among most attractive museums in Asia [SGGP]

- Buses report fake passenger numbers to get subsidy [Tuoi Tre]

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Check out this dope cut, Resurrection Cypher Pt.1, from DC, YunoSk, V-Soul, BlackMurder and Pain.

The flow is definitely there but our Vietnamese isn't quite good enough to catch the lyrics. If anyone wants to provide a translation, feel free! 

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Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today:

- The 50 Vietnamese most effective businesses in 2013 [VietnamNet Bridge]

- ECF Asks Vietnam to Look Into Coffee Tax Dodge Before Next Crop [Bloomberg] 

- Vietnam's Manufacturing Activity Contracts In July [RTT]

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Good morning, Saigon. Here are some of the top stories you may have missed this weekend:

- Vietnam man almost choked to death by live fish [Thanh Nien]

- One dead, 8 missing in Vietnam boat accident [Thenews]

- Vietnamese LGBT Advocates to Celebrate Benchmark Year [Voice of America]

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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:

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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.

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There's little to be found in English about the development of Saigon's outer districts. Like much of the city's colonial urban history, if records do exist, they're likely buried in some Parisian archives.

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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:

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Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today:

- American doctor frees many Vietnamese from tumors in short visit [Thanh Nien]

- Lam Dong scam facilities make tea from ‘buffalo dung’ [Tuoi Tre]

- New contemporary art centre opens [VietnamNet Brdige]

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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.

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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.  

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Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today:

- Special team to investigate fatal accident [VNS]

- Foreign investment shifting to new locales in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]

- Vietnam, a promise land for luxury products [Tuoi Tre] 

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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.

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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.

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The Majestic Hotel has occupied its current location along the Saigon river since 1925.

Commissioned by Chinese businessman Hui Bon Hoa, the hotel has undergone a number of major renovations over the years and will undoubtedly see more (In July 2011, Saigon Tourist, the hotel's current operator, announced a massive expansion project including 2 20+ story towers).

The picture above captures the hotel in it's original glory.

Over the last decade, the tourism industry has been learning how to better leverage the internet to provide unique services for customers. First came online reviews and bookings, allowing us to gather information and search for the best available deals. Recently, a number of websites have taken things a step further, throwing traditional models by the wayside, instead relying on locals to guide tours. This not only allows for a more personal experience but ensures that profits go directly to your guide instead of a large company. One such site is WithLocals.com which just recently launched and offers tours across SE Asia.

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PechaKucha is exactly the kind of event Saigon needs - a place for forward thinkers to meet other like-minded indiviguals, share expierences and network.

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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.

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Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today:

- Vietnam's auto industry faces crossroads ahead of Asean trade pact [JakartaPost]

- Emerging Vietnam: The Big Challenge Regarding Business Education [ValueWalk] 

- Vietnam's hotspot hotels going for the gold online [Thanh Nien]

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From the Organizer

For the 4th installment of Loud Minority, the Saigon based club night will host acclaimed Canadian rock-duo, Japandroids at Cargo Bar.

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- 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]

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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.

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Whether you travel for business or pleasure, we all hope for a trouble-free experience either to be able to relax or conduct business as planned. However, experience has taught me that in general, and in Vietnam in particular, this is not usually the case! With very few exceptions, I have had nothing but horror stories when making bookings through Vietnamese travel agencies or even directly through Vietnam-based airlines.

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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.

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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.

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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:

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This old school nước mía cart looks pretty sleek...

- 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]

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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.

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- 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]

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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.

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While many wish that Google Street View were available everywhere, a Village in northern Thailand does not share this opinion. Yesterday morning, A Google Maps car, mounted camera and all, was stopped in Phrae, a small village in northern Thailand.

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In the time before Ducatis and Yamaha FZ16s were the hottest things on two wheels in Saigon, the Honda Cub 67 reigned supreme with local cool kids.

Even though many of the old 67's are still around, the guy in this image not only perfected today's hipster look but made some badass improvements to the bike itself.

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- Binh Chau shipwreck: discovery area to be expanded [Quanhnai]

- Price hike to ensure electricity supply [VEN] 

- Violence, capitalism and dodgy cops... [Thanh Nien] 

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Vietnam’s North-South Railway has been in need of a major upgrade for a long time. Beyond issues of speed and comfort, the system’s infrastructure is in poor condition, causing chronic delays and inefficiencies. While Vietnam recently put plans for a high-speed rail system on the backburner due to massive costs, the Ministry of Transport has released a blueprint to overhaul the system’s main line.

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This is part 2 of our series on Saigon's citadel. You can read part 1 here.

Nguyen Anh (AKA Gia Long) would never use his citadel for military action as hostilities only resumed after his death in 1831. Shortly before he expired, Anh selected Minh Mang, his youngest son, as heir to the throne rather than his older son, Prince Canh.

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Over USD6 billion suggested for five PPP projects [dangcongsan]

Vietnamese forest devastated by Agent Orange restored to health [ajw.asahi]

Vietnam bid to stop traffic police bribes [Bangkok Post]

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[Update Below] In an effort to clear Saigon’s skies, in 2009, city authorities signed off on a plan to move messy electrical wires underground. But the project, scheduled to be completed by 2015, is facing a plethora of technical and financial obstacles.

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Why is it that Da Nang keeps getting all the cool toys? As if free, city-wide WIFI weren’t enough, the city has signed a deal with IBM to install a high-tech traffic management system.

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A few times per year, VietJetAir offers insanely low ticket prices and one of these promotions is fast approaching.

From August 21 – September 19, the budget airline is offering VND3,000 (US$.14) tickets for travel between September 5, 2013 and December 31, 2014.

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From the organizer:

Time to dress up again! Ladies and gentleman get ready for the sexiest and funnest pajama party ever.

Join us for an amazing evening as Mr. Jolly and the Pajama Jam Sexy Dancers will rock the house all night long.

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With each passing day, Saigon's future becomes a bit more clear, and its past a bit more distant.

But fear not, for we've assembled a slideshow of colorized images from Saigon's colonial past.

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An evening of music and cinema.

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The BBC will be televising a number of stories relating to Vietnam starting August 24.

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- Reporter charged for taking bribe from bar owner [Tuoi Tre]

- VN pearls have the world as their oyster [VNS]

- Vietnam cops arrested for receiving bribes from criminal [Thanh Nien]

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[Update Below] You may have heard the stories of Japanese troops, hiding on on small, secluded Pacific islands, unaware that World War II had ended. A similar situation played out this month in Quang Ngai where 2 men, scared by war, fled to the vast depths of the province’s remote jungles.

Earlier this month, villagers in Tay Tra District observed two men deep in the forest. Surprised by their behavior and dress, locals reported the sighting to authorities who set up a search team and found the pair five hours later.

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You know how much we love to post old photos of Vietnam. But every now and then it's nice to switch up the medium a bit, so today, we present some beautiful, turn-of-the 20th century water color paintings from French artist, Marius Hubert-Robert.

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As Vietnamese tech startups gain popularity and increased funding, the potential for growth in this market is massive.

TechinAsia, our favorite source for tech-related content in Vietnam, does an excellent job keeping us updated on the local startup scene.

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For a country with a motorbike obsession, this counts as huge news - iconic American motorcycle maker, Harley-Davidson, is finally opening a showroom in Vietnam according to a set of job postings on Vietnamworks (hat tip to Vietnam 720 for finding them).

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- Ministry backs new airport plan [VNS]

- Viet Nam's first female film director dies [VNS] 

- Overseas students’ series on life in US stirs Internet [Tuoi Tre]

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We know we’re a few weeks late, but here’s a list of films being released in Vietnam this month. Descriptions from IMDB.

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Although there are many reasons to visit Spain, including good weather, history and food, wine tourism has become one of the latest trends with foreigners and locals alike. You may enjoy drinking wine, but the next step is visiting the cellars.

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Many of you have probably enjoyed a meal in the courtyard at 74 Hai Ba Trung, which currently houses a number of high-end restaurants such as Vasco’s, Hanayuki, Annz and The Refinery; the latter being the most noteworthy as its name connects to the original use of this area – an opium refinery.

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- Vietnam Sends Plan for Relaxing Foreign Ownership Limits to Dung [Bloomberg]

- Vietnam court sentences Nigerian man to death for drug trafficking [Thanh Nien]

- Vietnam tourism to grant labor cross-ASEAN work certificates [Thanh Nien]

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“Encounter” kicks off this Wednesday with a lecture by renowned mathematician Professor Ngo Bao Chau. He is the fourth Asian to be awarded the Fields Medal (2010), the highest honour in mathematics, and the Simons Foundation recipient (2013).

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Ever wonder what you're worth?

The recently released 2013 Robert Walters Global Salary Survey shows moderate growth in salaries for workers in the financial, supply chain, engineering, HR, IT, sales and marketing industries in Saigon.

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Free chat apps such as Viber, Wechat, Whatsapp and Line have become extremely popular in Vietnam. Providing free chat and calls, domestically and internationally, these tools appear on the majority of smartphones in the country. But there’s one group that isn’t particularly happy about this trend – state-owned telecommunication companies.

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You may recall hearing the story of Omar Borkan Al Gala, a Saudi man deported from his home country for being too handsome.

Well, luckily this is no crime in Vietnam and the exiled, really, really ridiculously good looking artist announced he would be traveling to our fair country this month.

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If you're wondering why the Buddha flags are out and why all your Buddhist friends are eating vegetarian today, that's because it's one of Vietnam's coolest holidays - Vulan.

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- Vietnam police deny recent memo banning people from filming cops [Thanh Nien]

- Bus carrying Vietnamese robbed in Moscow [Tuoi Tre] 

- Century-old temple inside bodhi tree slowly collapsing [Tuoi Tre]

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As inefficient state-owned business drag down Vietnam’s economy with bad debt, other sectors must pick up the slack. In times of economic stagnation, the country has one fallback - agriculture.

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McDonalds might not have opened its first Saigon outlet yet, but growing youth obesity rates are already a major public health issue. To combat the epidemic, HCMC schools are instituting standard lunches to ensure students are receiving adequate nutrition.

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A massive, 300kg bomb was discovered by a resident of Dak Ru Commune, Dak R'lap District in the central highlands province of Dak Nong.

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A new web series, Employed Identity, explores the phenomenon of the Vietnamese diaspora returning to the country of their parents’ birth, to find both themselves and successful careers. Directed by Bao Minh Nguyen, it is one of three webseries funded by CAAM’s Web Innovation Fund.

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Da Lat, once a sleepy French vacation town, full of ornate villas and majestic pine forests, is in danger of losing what charm still remains. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the city’s pine trees are disappearing at an alarming rate and now, according to Thanh Nien, its colonial villas are facing a similar fate.

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- Banks warned not to hide debt [VNS]

- Tears at Smile restaurant [VietnamNet Bridge]

- Many famous discotheques in Saigon raided [VietnamNet Bridge]

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Before the age of motorbikes, Saigon's streets were characterized by ox-drawn carts and horse-drawn carriages.

And, just like motorbikes, everyday wear and tear would take their toll, requiering small repairs here and there to keep them going.

Who would play the role of hero when your carriage broke down?

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Tomorrow, August 24th VietPride - "share the pride" will arrive in Saigon for the very first time.

The LGBT community has prepared a series of activities and events to raise awareness about sexual diversity and LGBT issues as well as to create an open dialogue about equal opportunities and sexual minorities in Vietnam.

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Have you ever been in front of a painting, a photograph, a video installation or any other form of artistic creation, for that matter, and asked yourself “What was the artist/author thinking?”, “What is he trying to say?”?

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Following last year’s passage of the Vietnamese Advertisement law which requires that advertising content, spoken or written must be in Vietnamese, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently told cultural departments nationwide to exercise greater control over the many shop signs featuring only foreign languages, or signs where Vietnamese is not the focus. Shops that have only or predominantly foreign-language signs will face fines up between VND1 – 5 million.

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Since 1998, numerous ancient vessels have been found of the coast of Quang Ngai Province. The ships hold thousands of ancient artifacts, mainly ceramics as these waters were once part of the ‘Ceramic Road’ which linked East and West. Unfortunately, these sites are mismanaged and unprotected, leading to mass looting and the destruction of centuries-old artifacts:

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- Coffee bean price continues to plummet [SGGP] 

- Taxis scheme offers hope for the handicapped [VietnamNet Bridge]

- Invaluable fossils in Vietnam [VietnamNet Bridge]

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As plans move forward for Saigon’s new Long Thanh airport, a pair of former aviation officials are questioning the need for such an investment.

Associate Prof. Dr Nguyen Thien Tong, former chairman of the aviation engineering department of the HCMC University of Technology and Le Trong Sanh, former head of the management department at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport, favor upgrading Thanh Son Nhat as opposed to building a completely new airport. Tong compared the project to other, ambitious yet short-sighted infrastructure plans:

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The Lavenie Crown was one of the many victims of Saigon’s real estate crunch. Slated to begin construction in 2012 on the site next to Diamond Plaza, the project came to a halt as the main investor, Kinh Do Corporation (yes, the bakery) pulled out, leaving the site to become a parking lot. But over the last few weeks, there has been a buzz of construction activity on the site. Has the project found a new investor?

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Over at Bodegapop, Gary has assembled a dope mix of Vietnamese hip hop tracks.

Gary, always on the hunt for unique international music, was driven to find some Vietnamese hip hop at his local Vietnamese media store in Chicago.

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According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Vietnam has reeled in more than 677,000 foreign tourists in August, a 22% increase from last year.

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"They called her The Big Girl, sometimes The Lost Girl, but among themselves The Strange Girl. In her own world she was a little girl. But she stopped being little when she went travelling and decided to stay for a while in another world?"

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“Saigon Players” will celebrate its 10th anniversary as a community theatre in Saigon. It is a non-profit theatrical group composed by amateurs and professional foreigners and Vietnamese who share the same passion for theatre. All its cast and crew are volunteers and the profits from the shows go to charities chosen by the members themselves.

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- Vietnam ministries pass the buck on controversial driving regulations [Thanh Nien] 

- Phishing increasing in Vietnam [VietnamNet Bridge]

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Saigon is a city of bridges. They criss-cross the city's rivers and canals, allowing for the flow of goods and people.

But time, wars and poor maintenance have not been kind to many of the city's old bridges, some of which are over 100 years old.

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Green building is slowly but surely gaining popularity in Vietnam. For Saigon in particular, the tropical climate provides many opportunities for design firms to implement efficient, green designs.

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Green building is slowly but surely gaining popularity in Vietnam. For Saigon in particular, the tropical climate provides many opportunities for design firms to implement efficient, green designs.

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As the plan for Saigon's massive Long Thanh Airport moves forward (despite some objections), we thought we'd take a minute to look back at the long history of old standby, Tan Son Nhat. 

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- Land subsidence creates hole that swallows bed, woman [Tuoi Tre]

- Abusing wage fund, directors pocket $123,000 as yearly salary [Tuoi Tre]

- Japanese investors eye Vietnam’s real estate market [VOV]

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For the second time in two years, Pham Ngu Lao hotspot, The Crazy Buffalo, saw its neon sign go up in flames.

At 4pm yesterday afternoon, passersby warned the restaurant that smoke was rising from their large neon sign.

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Another week, another interesting law - a 2008 decision which proposed to ban drivers based on height, weight and chest size due to safety issues is gaining steam again.

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It’s been almost a year since I first arrived in Saigon. Now, when looking back on my search for jobs in the city, I think that my personal experiences carry some value and may come in handy for those who plan to live long-term in Saigon.

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While I'm not the biggest fan of chè (Vietnamese sweet soup) in general, gánh tàu hủ (tofu with ginger, caramel and optional coconut milk) has a special place in my heart (even if it's not technically chè).

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- Dried shredded squid as elastic as plastic seized [Tuoi Tre]

- School mulls banning female teachers from donning short skirts [Tuoi Tre]

- Promoting e-government model in Vietnam [VOV]

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With the news that some state officials are making outrageous salaries, the Vietnamese press has started to probe a bit deeper into exactly how much the country’s officials make.

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After years of land clearance delays, lack of investors and stagnation in the real estate market, the Thu Thiem new urban area project may gaining steam as Bitexco has been assigned to manage the project.

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- FDI bottlenecks in Mekong Delta [VOV]

- Vietnam anticipates US$2,300 GDP per capita in 2015 [VOV]

- Bad debts fall from previous month [SGGP]

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Hip hop has a special place in our hearts so when we see the style gaining popularity in Vietnam, we get pretty excited.

We just stumbled upon this extremely entertaining and well-produced hip hop video "Beautiful Saigon Project" which includes two of hip hop's main elements - the MC and b-boys/b-girls, while capturing the city's personality.

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The Atlantic recently published a piece on Vietnam’s increasing development and westernization. Instead of looking at economic statistics and trends, they chose to examine this through the lens of one of the country’s most popular TV shows, Iron Chef.

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Taking advantage of the Vietnamese love of food and photos, Tran Quang Vinh, a former fashion designer, has released iOS app - Foodshot.

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Local architects, H&P, have long focused on the use of environmentally-friendly materials for their designs. Earlier this year, they released a set of renderings of low-cost bamboo housing designs that looked pretty amazing. To increase awareness about sustainable buildings, the firm built the BES (Bamboo–Earth–Stone) pavilion with focuses on bringing art and culture closer to the inhabitants of Ha Tinh.

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Over the past month, the news has been full of reports about chemically-laced bun noodles.

Though recent tests have shown a decrease in the cancer-causing additives, the issue is still top-of-mind for many. Saigon Tiep Thi recently visited a bun plant that claims its products are chemical-free.

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- The secrets of Saigon’s night clubs [VietnamNet Bridge] 

- Vietnam urged to boost retirement age to save pension fund [Thanh Nien]

- Vietnam Says New Internet Decree Good for Business [VOA] 

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In a bid to increase the ridership on Saigon’s 270 bus routes, the city will implement free WIFI for passengers.

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From the organizer:

The World Startup Report is a social project to help understand and connect the different startup ecosystems in the world.

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Le Minh Khai, a researcher of SE Asian history, found that there was a lot of misinformation on the interwebs relating to the origin of Vietnam’s name, especially in English sources. Khai jumped into a plethora of historical documents to set the record straight.

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You wonder through the deserted landscape…it’s not a dream, not a nightmare, your mind is empty of memories as if you have always been here, since the beginning of time...you are afraid of yourself, you just know you have to keep walking, keep walking. Try to lose yourself follow my voice.

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Chợ Bà Chiểu, located on Bach Dang St., has been the central market for Binh Thanh District since 1942.

While it's been upgraded and expanded numerous times, most recently in 1987, you can still feel the history when walking through the market.

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- Cambodian import turns a Saigon staple [Thanh Nien] 

- Journalist jailed for fatal road accident [Thanh Nien]

- Vietnam Stocks to Climb 12% by Year-End on Valuations, PXP Says [Bloomberg]

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Green building is starting to take off in Vietnam. Over the past few months, we’ve seen a number of ‘green’ homes sprout up across Saigon, using open floor plans, sustainable materials and plants that accommodate the city’s tropical climate. As buildings represent one the largest consumers of energy in the country, it’s vital that green building practices are adopted on a large scale, especially since Vietnam faces massive energy deficits in the coming decades. But Saigon’s skyline continues to develop in an increasingly ‘international style,’ where sleek design trumps sustainability.

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After a decade of breakneck development, Da Nang’s luster is starting to wear off. Overly reliant on a once-booming real estate sector, the city’s coffers are drying up as investments slow and large-scale development projects stall.

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- Vietnam expects 6 pct GDP growth in two years [xinhuanet] 

- Foreign firms in Vietnam complain about deteriorating business climate, consider quitting [Thanh Nien]

- More Vietnamese men using silicone to enlarge their penises [Thanh Nien]

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Well this is a sad story. Yesterday morning, six employees of the IDI Fisheries Factory in Binh Thanh Commun, Dong Thap Province suffocated from catfish oil fumes while taking samples.

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Everyone's A DJ presents 'Shimmy Shimmy Coco Pop' - a 50s/60s rock'n'roll/motown dance party!

From the organisers:

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According to AmCham Vietnam, 98% of Nike footwear is produced in Asia with Vietnam leading the pack followed by China and Indonesia.

In the 2013 fiscal year, Vietnam, which houses at least 10 Nike factories, accounts for 42% of total footwear manufacturing while China and Indonesia account for 30% and 26% respectively.

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Photographer Gian Thanh Son is completing a book and preparing a special exhibition, "Discovering Saigon from the air."

With the help of special forces helicopter Regiment 917 (Air Division 370), Son was able to capture his home city from the air, a dream of his for many years:

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Sky Lantern is Saigon Hotpot club’s most famous annual charity event, whose mission is to help underprivileged children by bettering their living and studying conditions. We would like to cordially invite you to the Auction Day – a charity event of Sky Lantern 2013 that is aimed to raise fund for supporting disadvantaged children studying in Tan Cang Primary School, Tan Cang Hamlet, Phuoc Tan Commune, Long Thanh District, Dong Nai Province. The auction products are souvenirs around the world that hold the countries’ cultural traits.

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Slowly but surely, Vietnam is becoming the favored location for large scale motorbike manufacturing. If the trend continues, analysts predict that within 10 years, Vietnam will become the global leader in the industry.

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When we posted an article featuring Vietnamese album art from the 60s and 70s a few months back, we found the singers’ hair styles to be some of the more intriguing details.

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At a recent meeting in Hanoi, the four governments agreed in principle on a strategy to end the trafficking of dogs between Vietnam and its neighbors, which is estimated at 5 million animals annually.

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A slower mode of transportation for a slower time.

- State firms pay highest wages [VietnamNet]

- Tony Blair strikes new deals to advise Vietnam and Peru [The Telegraph] 

- Authorities revoke license of clinic with Chinese 'doctors’ [Tuoi Tre]

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These days, you’d be hard pressed to find Vietnamese coins as with a maximum value of VND5,000, inflation has rendered them virtually useless. However, even though banknotes have existed in Vietnam since the 14th century, coins were the country’s preferred currency until 1947. 

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Banh mi has been an iconic Vietnamese staple since French colonization brought bread to the region in the 18th century. Though the French have come and gone (and come and gone again), the soft, airy baguettes remain one of the country’s most popular foods. With its lengthy history, it’s no surprise that there are a number of banh mi shops in Saigon that have endured the ages, some serving the same sandwiches for more than 50 years. Here are three of the city’s oldest shops, profiled by Vietnam Net.

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The Nest house was designed for a middle-aged architecture writer. The house, located on the outskirts of the new city in Thuận An, Binh Duong Province, seeks to blend urbanism with a variety of architecture styles that match its surroundings.

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Digi-GPS, a local Vietnamese startup, seeks to apply high-technology to our decidedly analog motorbikes. The company has launched two security-minded products to help bike owners feel secure - SmartBike and the SmartLock.

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An American English teacher was hit by a truck and died this morning on Luu Trong Lu st. in District 7.

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Vietnam is slowly but surely understanding the need for sustainable development and a clean environment. We’ve recently seen the erection of green homes, establishment of green-focused youth clubs and a new fleet of CNG busses. But there’s a great deal of work to be done to reinforce these mentalities on a national scale.

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This Thursday, Saigon Outcast continues to offer us high quality world cinema. This time is Pedro Almodovar's turn with 'Volver" (2006). 

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Mutli-talented Japanese director, Takeshi Kitano (also known as Beat Takeshi) has truly done everything that could be done in showbiz and in the world of culture: film director, film editor, poet, actor, singer, screenwriter and much more. However, outside of his native country Japan, he is mostly known for his films.

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As much of Saigon was built on swampland, drainage is vital to the city’s development and progress. Yet with each heavy rain, large swaths of the city become inundated and streets come to resemble small rivers. Though Saigon’s drainage system leaves much to be desired, there are those who toil underneath the streets, doing their best to keep the sewer clean while wadding thorough toxic waste and hypodermic needles.

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- Shiseido Vietnam builds US$30 million plant in Dong Nai [VoV]

- Bulgarians held for stealing money using fake ATM cards [Tuoi Tre] 

- PM flags off work on 2.9km cable-stayed bridge [VNS] 

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Vietnam may be the land of Nike but the company’s pricey shoes make them a prime target for thievery. Earlier this week, A Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced five men to up to 15 years in prison for stealing huge shipments of shoes on their way to international markets.

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Following in the footsteps of other ASEAN nations like Malaysia, a new government decree, set to go into effect on November 1st, includes provisions for deporting foreign workers in Vietnam who don’t have a work permit. While it seems to be targeting unskilled laborers and medical practitioners, it also specifically calls out those working in education.

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Yesterday at 11:30, a battle royal occurred near Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat airport between a truck driver and gaggle (we’re pretty sure this is the technical term) of taxi drivers.

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Vietnam might consume a lot of mooncakes during the mid-autumn festival, but it has nothing on China.

The country of over one billion has more than 10,000 mooncake manufacturers which produce over 280,000 metric tons of the holiday staple annually, valued at $1.9 billion according to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. 2 million of the cakes end up in the garbage each year.

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- Vietnam lifts radiation inspection on Japanese food imports [Global Post]

- Vietnam’s farm produce exports remain precarious [VietnamNet]

- Will threat to pull out of Vietnam give more power to corporate lobby? [Thanh Nien]

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Vietnam seems to be overhauling their immigration policies this week. In addition to yesterday’s news that foreigners working in Vietnam without a work permit will be deported, Tuoi Tre is reporting that foreigners planning to work in the country must secure a work permit prior to arrival.

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American billionaire, Bill Gates, recently took to Facebook to express his concerns about rising electricity demands in developing countries. To illustrate this, he used a picture of tangled electrical wires on a Hanoi street, a common site across not only Vietnam, but much of the developing world.

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Check out this Video, Hanoi Hustle, featuring music from Touliver and LK with choreography by Oliver and performed by Handi crew.

Nice to see more hip hop and less kpop!

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Meet, Lại Hương Thảo, Vietnam's representative to the 2013 Miss World competition. Thảo recently took to Youtube where she posted a video to showcase her "underestimated beauty, shape, fashion sense and even the ability to communicate in foreign languages."

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H&P Architects is proving to be one of Vietnam’s leading sustainable architecture firms. From airy, bamboo huts in the country’s rural heartland, to the recently completed, Bamboo–Earth–Stone Pavilion in Ha Tinh, the firm’s designs show a clear understanding that it’s better embrace and work within the context of one’s environment rather than destroy it. Now they’re bringing their creative designs to Milan for Expo 2015.

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With construction is already in full swing on Saigon’s first metro line, the city is close to reaching its funding goal for the first phase of line No. 5. Most of the funding will come from the Asia Development Bank, the European Investment bank and the Spanish government.

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- Vietnam airports to cut fees by half to attract foreign carriers [Thanh Nien]

- Deal between Tony Blair and Vietnam gov’t not yet finalized [Thanh Nien]

- Hue specialties to come on foreign markets [VoV]

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[Update Below] After years of discussion, Vietnamese, Thai and Cambodian foreign relations authorities are getting closer to a joint visa agreement.

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Whether you’re a native English or Vietnamese speaker, chances are, you’ve used Google Translate at least once. The tech behemoth’s translation service, which relies on an algorithm, is notorious for hilarious mis-translations. But what if you actually need a correct one?

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Henry Saiz brought his rolling drums and electronic soundscapes to Cargo Bar last night and did not disappoint.

Here are some of our favorite shots from the night:

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- Vietnam up in FIFA rankings [VietnamNet]

- Vietnam's auto import continues to slide in August [East Day] 

- Vietnam’s rice productivity may reduce 10% on climate change [VietnamNet] 

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This year the Goethe Institut brings some of the most interesting German films of the year to silver screen enthusiasts in Vietnam; both by famous directors and young, new filmmakers. And it's free!

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The Hue Monument Conservation Centre has just launched a poster exhibition that captures the long history of the imperial citadel at Hue. Due to its importance, the monument has been witness to many of the events that make up Vietnam’s modern history and is an icon of the country’s post-war resilience.

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Just as it is today, Dong Khoi St. (formerly Rue Cantinat under the French and Tu Do from 1954 - 1975) has long been of Saigon's busiest and most important boulevards.

Due to it's history, the street provides us with some of the city's best examples of colonial architecture as seen in the picture above (along with a bunch of wonderful classic cars and art deco neighbors).

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During the typhoon season, the women of the West River hunt for bounty in the wildlife-filled swampland. For most of us urban dwellers, the idea of eating scorpion, rats and snakes probably isn’t on the top of our to-eat list (we would try anything once though!).

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- Tax incentives likely for tech-savvy enterprises [VNS] 

- Vietnam wants US contributions to Asian security, development [VoV] 

- Japan investment in Vietnam metro climbs to $1.27 bln [Thanh Nien]

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In an act of solidarity with their fellow villagers, hundreds have signed a petition confessing to the murder of 2 suspected dog thieves who were caught and beaten to death on August 27 in the Hiep Hoa District of Bac Giang province.

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[Update Below] On August 21st, the Khanh Hoa Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a decision to ban tourist companies from renting motorbikes to foreigners who don’t have Vietnamese licenses.

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On September 21, artists Nguyen Hong Ngoc (Hanoi) and Phan Thao Nguyen (Saigon) will open their studio to the public one more time before their final exhibition in November. Thao and Ngoc are two young artists selected by San Art for its residency programme - San Art Laboratory - which aims at supporting upcoming Vietnamese artists as well as funding projects that otherwise would not be brought to life.

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- Vietnam vehicle sales up 20% in August [Justauto] 

- Forests destroyed to grow rubber [VietnamNet]

- Authorities fail to tackle pollution woes [VietnamNet]

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Packs of parents, idling on motorbikes, waiting for their children to finish their school days, are a common sight in cities across Vietnam. Hundreds of parents jockey for position, yelling and waving to their children, often blocking the sidewalk and street. To make matters worse, the end of the school day often coincides with rush hour, creating traffic jams. To address this problem, HCMC authorities will begin to fine parents as opposed to giving ineffective warnings.

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From the organizer:

Join Pecha Kucha Nights HCMC for Vol. 5 and also Pecha Kucha Global Night!

Not only will you hear awesome presentations as usual, but we will also be joining a GoogleHangout room with the original creators of PechaKucha, who will be in Tokyo, and other PK Nights from around the world!

If you’d like more information on what all is going on during Global Night, visit Pecha Kucha.

Tickets will be 100,000VND at the door, which includes finger foods and the first drink! 

It’s well-known that Asia is the world’s population center (thanks, China and India!) with 51% of the global population. But this fact is slightly mind-blowing when illustrated visually. Reddit user, valeriepieris, created the image above which shows just how little space this huge number of people occupies.

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As the US government claims to be worried about the use of chemical weapons all over the world, one question is still waiting for an answer in this country. Although the major issues causing tension between US and Vietnam governments have been resolved over the last few decades, there is still one unresolved issue: the legacy of Agent Orange.

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In the days before indoor plumbing and bottled water were the norm, like most of the world, Saigonese relied on wells to provide water (and in many areas still do).

During the early 20th century, water made its way around the city by hand, wherein people would fill up their buckets at their local well and deliver it to business and wealthy residents as seen in the picture above.

- Mass evacuations ordered as storm nears [VoV]

- Prehistoric traces found in Thai Nguyen [VNS]

- Big names set to draw crowds at motor show [VNS]

- 11 Vietnamese trained in aerospace technology in Japan [VietnamNet] 

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Shop 100% is a great new shop that just opened in D2. It prides itself on being able to trace the sources of its produce to ensure that they are 100% organic. In addition, they are supporting Vietnamese artists by highlighting their work at their shop. The first such event will take place this evening.

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Even as the illicit rhino horn market gets more and more negative press, it’s not stopping status-seeking Vietnamese from consuming the horn’s powder. In a recent piece in Times Live, a New Zealand-based newspaper, Schalk Mouton interviewed users of the horn and found little remorse, even with the knowledge that an endangered animal was slaughtered for it.

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The Nhabeo House, located in Saigon was designed by Trinhvieta Architects with interior design by Quach The Vinh. The house was designed to connect with the outside environment and utilizing the space as efficiently as possible by employing “intermediate space.”

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Hien Pham, a 29 year-old Vietnamese woman still wants to cry whenever she remembers Gina, a pomerian dog kidnapped one year ago.

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- 5 missing after car swept away in Vietnam flash flood [Tuoi Tre]

- Vietnam achieves 2013 foreign investment goal [Thanh Nien]

- Vietnam’s 1st ao dai museum to open in HCMC [Thanh Nien]

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Break out the facemasks. A new report has found that lead dust pollution is on the rise in Vietnam’s cities and is currently 2 – 4 times higher than accepted levels.

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We've seen some cool time lapse videos of Saigon in the past, many of which focus on the city's chaotic traffic.

This video, produced by Jan Niederhumer, takes the high road, setting up his camera to overlook the Saigon river.

Turns out boat traffic is just as mesmerizing as bike traffic!

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Hey Saigoneers! Just a head’s up that we’ll be at the Saigon Flea Market this Sunday at the Crescent in Phu My Hung.

If you’d like to pick up one of our super cool t-shirts, you can find us outside, near the entrance from 1 – 3pm.

Or just stop by to say hello!

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- Vietnam students give history a modern twist [Thanh Nien]

- The most famous family run economic groups in Vietnam [VietnamNet]

- Foreigner commits suicide by jumping off auto salon building in Vietnam metro [Thanh Nien]

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Last week an unidentified foreigner snuck into the Ford showroom on Cao Thang Street in District 1 and jumped to his death in what authorities are calling a suicide.

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As Saigon waits for its new, massive airport, some of Vietnam’s smaller cities are focusing on renovations rather than starting from scratch. Hue’s Phu Bai airport, which was reopened yesterday after 6 months of repairs and upgrades, falls into this category.

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Heart Beat Saigon is taking over all three floors of Blanchy's Tash on Monday, October 14.

From the organizer:

"Breaking Blanchy’s"

This time presenting UK Techno legend Oliver Ho aka Raudive. With support from Saigonites Nic Ford // Deep Booth records and Chris Wolter // Heart Beat Saigon, with deep & minimal Techno taking over the Main Floor. (Level 2)

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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.

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- 7 arrested for robbing Ukrainian in central Vietnam [Thanh Nien]

- Vietnamese favor super-expensive mobile phones [Vietnam Net]

- Vietnam intends to grant husbands paternity leave [Tuoi Tre]

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From the organizers:

‘Frida’ is a 2002 Miramax/Ventanarosa biopic which depicts the professional and private life of the surrealist Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

It stars Salma Hayek in her Academy Award nominated portrayal as Kahlo and Alfred Molina as her husband, Diego Rivera.

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Vietnamese airline employees have been known to cause a stir from time to time. Earlier this year, actress Ly Nha Ky got a VietJet flight crew into hot water when she was invited into the cockpit mid-flight. Now, it’s Vietnam’s national carrier, Vietnam Airlines that is enduring a bit of controversy after a flight attendant was caught brining 50 iPhone 5s into Vietnam without declaring them.

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You know all those fancy diplomatic cars speeding around District 1? Well, as it turns out, chances are the occupants are not diplomatic officials, but rather locals who bought the car and never transferred ownership to their name. Apparently, this is common enough that authorities are planning to crack down on the practice by seizing and auctioning off incorrectly registered cars.

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Even with its slow pace, golf can bring out your competitive side. A missed putt or journey to a sand trap can boil the blood of even the most patient player. But that’s no excuse to beat your caddy with a golf club, people! Nguyen Duc Son, director of a state-owned housing company did just that earlier this month in the northern province of Vinh Phuc.

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From Cho Lon to Ben Thanh Market, streetcars were once a common sight on Saigon's main thoroughfares.

While their tracks have long disappeared, their memory lives on in old photographs like the one above.

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- Vietnam’s bad debt attractive to some investors, but regulations still unclear [Washington Post]

- Typhoon Usagi kills 24 in Vietnam [IOL News]

- Little good news as Vietnam reviews economic growth [Tuoi Tre]

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In a recent article for Metropolis Magazine, Carl Robinson reflects on the massive changes to Saigon’s urban character over the last 15 years. He found that the city’s colonial buildings, designed with the area’s tropical climate in mind, are being torn down in favor of shiny new office towers. Saigon’s rich architectural history is being erased and replaced with characterless structures that ignore the city’s natural environment.

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Sharing is in the air in Saigon and I like it, especially if the sharing in question is about food. 

The crew at Saigon Outcast invites you on Sunday to a free BBQ (limited, first come first served) for any drink purchased. You are also welcome to bring their own dish and share it with other people.

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A few years ago, it was not always an easy task to log into Facebook in Vietnam. Changing DNS settings, installing HotSpotShield or using a VPN were your best bet to log onto the site. My, how times have changed. A recent Socal Backers report shows that Vietnam currently enjoys the greatest Facebook growth rate in the world having added 14 million users in the past year.

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Think it's inconvenient having a car in present-day Saigon?

As many of the French living in Saigon during the first half of the last century were fairly well off, they often brought with them the comforts of their home country.

But sometimes, their beloved imports didn't exactly match the realities of their new environment.

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From the organisers:

Mê phim - passionate about films and Sàn Art Laboratory are pleased to present a film event this time at Déjà Vu Cafe Two short films by two film makers one in Vietnam, one from Australia who bring two stories from two different geographical locations, but showing the same concerns about family life of Vietnamese.

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- Economic growth at 5.14 percent in first nine months [SGGP] 

- Vietnam's VietJet seen close to major Airbus order [Reuters]

- Vietnam city to apply new English language testing system [Thanh Nien]

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It may be hard to comprehend how a company can trademark a word as generic as ‘Pho.’ Apparently the British Intellectual Property Office disagrees as 6 years ago, they allowed a glitzy London chain, ‘Pho,’ to do just that.

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Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine took a trip to Vietnam last year and brought along with some pretty sweet filming equipment.

After editing what was presumably hours of footage, the duo condensed their 2 week trip into a three and a half minute video that does an excellent job of capturing Vietnam's character from Hanoi to Hoi An.

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It’s long been known that Vietnam is lagging behind its ASEAN neighbors when it comes to the quality of tourism workers. With the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreement on mutual recognition of tourism professionals set to begin in 2015, government officials fear the country isn’t ready to compete in a shared tourism labor market.

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- Nok Air has Vietnam in sights [Bangkok Post] 

- Vietnam man arrested for car accident that drowned 5, including 2 kids [Thanh Nien]

- HIV/AIDS transmission rate in Vietnam kept under 0.3 pct [xinhuanet]

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Gordon Ramsay has made it clear that Vietnamese cuisine is on the top of his list. His love was on full display in the most recent season of Master Chef US, where he tasked the final 5 contestants to prepare a bowl of Hủ Tiếu (they did surprisingly well). So where did chef Ramsay's passion for Vietnamese food come from?

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If it were up to us, the majority of America's $700 billion annual military budget would be funneled to NASA (Neil Degrasse Tyson would likely agree). While this may be a pipe dream due to America's self-proclaimed role as the global leader in freedom and democracy exports, at least NASA's budget allows for some pretty sweet pictures like the one above.

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So, apparently smoking on flights is a thing in Vietnam.

Vietnamese airlines are struggling with flagrant abuses of standard, in-flight safety regulations as customers have been found smoking in bathrooms and talking on mobile phones. When caught in the act, flight attendants say they are offered ludicrous excuses.

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Vietnam’s economy may be slowly recovering but for the country’s rich, things are better than ever. 

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The tradition of covering your wedding car with flowers and regalia is not new in Vietnam.

Today, most couples who can afford it, opt for a middle-of-the-line Toyota or Kia while those with deep pockets enjoy the luxury of a BMW or Mercedes.

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I grew up surrounded by teenagers wearing T-shirts with ‘Che’ Guevara face stamped on them. It is undeniable that he is one of the most iconic ‘political’ figures of our time, so much so that I often had the feeling that the people walking around with the ‘Che’ face on their torsos might have not truly known who he was. He has become (unfortunately) a logo, an icon out of context.

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- Hanoi hosts first street performance festival [Nhan Dan]

- 40 years on: When Fidel Castro came to town [VNS]

- “White gold” plants encroach on forest’s territory [Vietnam Net]

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The HCMC Traffic Works Management and Construction Board has just announced plans for six Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRT) to meet growing demand. The first line, which will run from District 6 to District 2 should be up and running by 2018.

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As many of us struggle with motivation on Mondays (or any weekday for that matter), it’s not always easy to get yourself going. Sometimes, it takes a dose of external inspiration, like the video below, to push us along.

My Journey to Work, created by Paul Zetter for Reach.org.vn follows Mai, a Vietnamese woman who has overcome both physical and social challenges to become a successful graphic designer.

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It’s back! ‘Melting Pot Art Festival 3’ will be at Saigon Outcast this coming Saturday and Sunday, and as always it will bring to Saigoneers a wide range of art and entertainment including poetry, henna tattoos, paintings, photo booths, dancers, live bands and DJs.

It is all for a good cause since the festival will raise money to help Tephan School (physically impaired children) in D.3 and Thien An School (visually impaired children) build their dance programmes and facilities.

Te full schedule of the festival as written by the organizers:

- ACTIVITIES -

PHOTO BOOTH, HENNA ARTIST, FACE/STONE PAINTING AND HALLOWEEN CRAFT TABLE

- ART EXHIBITION (all weekend) -

Amanda Wotring (handmade jewelery)

Oji Valencia (digital illustrations)

Vy Hoang (key chains, wooden picture , bags and scarves)

Nareun Kim (photography)

Huynh Tan Phat Foundation (Miryokarpa Handicrafts)

Henry Nguyen (paintings)

Kane Nugent (wood cut prints, illustrations)

Jack Clayton  (wood cut prints, illustrations)

Tariq Kinani (wood cut prints, illustrations)

Sammy Eastwood and Amy Pons (lamp shades)

Hong Dinh (handmade posters, drawings, ceramics and bracelets)

Freddy and Martha - Peril Apparel (clothing, graphic design)

Stefanie Gendera (live art sessions)

David Dredge (photography & photo booth)

AQ Art (graphic t-shirts, badges)

- LIVE MUSIC - [SATURDAY]

13:00 - 14:30 THE 67'S

1430 - 16:00 cRime coAch w/ Third Wife + baylinbeats feat blecBlec

16:00 - 17:30 DJ JOEY T (VINYL SET)

17:30 - 18:30 POETRY BY HENRY DANCE PERFORMANCES FEATURING ALL THE WAY LIVE VIETNAM AND EMILY NAVARRA LIVE PERFORMANCE ART AUCTION WILL FOLLOW DANCE

18:30 - 20:00 THE MARMALADES

20:00 - 21:30 UGWAE

[SUNDAY]

13:00 - 14:30 FUTUREPROOF

14:30 - 16:00 DAN LO

16:00 - 17:30 FRECKLED GYPSYS

17:30 - 19:00 WHITE NOIZ

19:00 - 20:30 TASTES LIKE CHICKEN

20:30 - 22:00 SPACE PANTHER

Superstorm Wutip, currently around 200km off Vietnam’s central coast, is expected to make landfall at 4pm this afternoon.

With maximum winds of 149kph, local authorities in Ha Tinh are in the process of evacuating 22,000 residents from vulnerable areas and converting schools into shelters.

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‘Art house cinema’ by ‘Me phim – passionate about films’ will screen the documentary ‘Pussy riot: a punk prayer’ this Tuesday at Snap Café.

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According to online retailer, Amazon.com, vinyl is its “fastest growing music medium.” With a 745% increase in sales since 2008, many are proclaiming the comeback of our favorite analog audio (sorry 8 tracks). Now, some Vietnamese artists are looking to vinyl to increase “musical sophistication” in the local market.

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It all started innocently enough. It was about 6 months ago when the deciBel guys and a group of friends, after complaining that it was often too complicated to match working schedules to arrange a dinner all together, decided to combine work and pleasure AKA every week friends would take turns to cook a meal at deciBel for the others.

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Tropical storm Wutip brings rain and winds to Vietnamese coast, leaves 75 fishermen missing [Washington Post] 

Vietnam ranks 7th worldwide for economic growth potential [Thanh Nien]

Vietnam’s inflation rate may exceed the 8% threshold in 2013 [Vietnam Net]

Vietnam's agriculture under threat from climate change [China Post] 

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Earlier this year, Graphic designer, Nhat Le created a book depicting the many cultural differences between Hanoi and Saigon.

Now, the Pho Team has taken the regional battle a step further with the hilarious video below.

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In what seems to be a worrying trend, another foreigner has died in Saigon, this time a Japanese lecturer on her way home from school. The 50-year-old victim was a teacher of Oriental Studies at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

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It looks like Vietnam’s rich may be using some of their rhino horn money to obtain the world’s newest status symbol, the iPhone 5s. Prices of the phones are skyrocketing in Vietnam with the coveted gold version fetching up to VND33 million.

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Vietnam builds first power plant fueled by rice husks [Vietnam Net]

Vietnam reports 124 mln USD trade deficit in 9 months [Global Times]

Big test for ageing economic system [Vietnam Net]

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We've seen a number of great Saigon time lapse videos recently. With the city's streams of constant movement, it's a natural location for this cinematic technique.

A new time lapse by Pierre Ogeron goes a step further than some of the other videos, filming in dozens of locations around the city over a 4 month period.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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]

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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.

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The recently opened Palpitation Cafe will host their first art event this Sunday.

Organised by ‘Unlimited letters', the exhibition involves 35 artists from different backgrounds, who will express their individual creativity around the letters of the alphabet.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap dies [Tuoi Tre]

Efficiency Needs to Play a Bigger Role in Vietnam’s Fast-Growing Cities [GreenTechMedia]

MetLife Expands Asian Growth Ambitions To Vietnam [Nasdaq]

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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.

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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.

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Halloween is coming soon and Saigon Outcast is dedicating the entire October programme of their ‘Thursday outdoor cinema’ to horror and thriller films.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Vietnam, Myanmar agree upon visa exemption [VoV]

Vietnam workers indifferent to minimum wage hike, employers fret [Thanh Nien]

Thousands pay respects to Vietnam's General Giap [France24]

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In what's becoming a seemingly weekly occurrence, another foreign national has died in Saigon. Korean Kim Tea Sik was found dead in his HCMC apartment yesterday morning.

Sik's naked body was discovered by relatives who told police they visited his apartment after attempts to reach him by phone had failed.

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"Am Muu Giay Got Nhon" ("How to Fight in Six Inch Heels") is an upcoming, fashion-focused romantic comedy directed by Viet Kieu filmmaker, Ham Tran, his first in Vietnam. Saigoneer sat down with Ham do get the lowdown on his new film.

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1945 was a tumultuous year for Vietnam. After the Japanese were defeated by the Allies in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese independence from France, unaware that Allied leaders had agreed at the Potsdam Conference to divide the the former French colony at the 17th parallel. Under the agreement, the British occupied the south and the Chinese nationalists the north until French colonial authority could be reestablished.

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Vietnam Government Clarifies its 'Buy-Local' Policy [FutureGov]

Toxic waste continues to flood into Viet Nam [Vietnam Net]

Refinery investment to double [VNS]

City prepares supply of commodities for Tet holiday season [SGGP]

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[Update Below] Well, we may be a step behind North Korea but Vietnam has just released its first, domestically produced smartphone fittingly named the Lotus.

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98-year-old Tran Van Tiep of Ho Chi Minh City has been given permission to continue his hunt for Japanese treasure he believes is buried at Tau Mountain in Binh Thuan Province.

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If you enjoy making short films and have a place in your heart for Vietnamese street food, a new competition, "Vietnamese street cuisine" should be right up your alley. Oh, and the winning films will fetch VND20 million in prize money.

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Though we can't pinpoint the exact date for this map, we're sure it's from before 1954. This was the year when the French ceded control of Saigon and south Vietnam in accordance with the Geneva Accords. When Diem's government took office, they switched out the French names for Vietnamese ones.

Whatever its date, it's a pretty sweet map.

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General Vo Nguyen Giap to be laid to rest at Dragon Cap [SGGP] 

A new phase of poverty reduction [VoV]

Two hospitals violate regulations, suffer great losses [Tuoi Tre]

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Quality is always something to be aware of when living in Vietnam. From motorbike helmets to pho noodles, shoddy products can profoundly affect your wellbeing. Now you can add doctors to this list – people are buying and borrowing medical practice certificates, allowing them to administer medical treatment without proper training.

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Last week Vietnam announced plans for a US$16 billion, 8 line railway that will provide modern rail service to the south and central regions of the country. There is of course, the current, century old railway - the Reunification Express - that runs from Saigon to Hanoi. The trip from the country's capital to its commercial hub takes about 2 days. While many shy away from this trip due to its length, it takes passengers on a journey through jungles, along pristine coastlines and over verdant ridges.

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Add the US to the list of nations helping Vietnam secure a nuclear future. The country joins Japan, Russia and South Korea as advisers and suppliers for Vietnam's planned nuclear power plants.

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Just a beautiful picture captured on Saigon's streets in 1966. 

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Railway planned to link Vietnam metro with new airport [Thanh Nien]

Vietnam-Japan trade turnover at US$16.3 billion in first 8 months [SGGP] 

Foreign banks lend $100 mln to Vingroup [Reuters]

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Crime is on the rise in HCMC. The city may be installing video cameras and increasing the number of security personnel, but these won't solve the problem on their own. Thieves are conniving and thrive on their ability to identify easy targets.

This video should serve as a reminder to be aware of your surroundings when using expensive electronics.

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Even though sex toys and unregistered aphrodisiacs are awesome illegal in HCMC, many sex shops stock these items and are seeing their profits soar. After all, it’s hard to run a business selling condoms and lube. To boost sales, owners have added everything from dragon-headed dildos to over-priced Viagra.

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Should art be luxurious or cool? Should it be for the masses or limited only to the educated elite? Should it be displayed only by established galleries or be exhibited in various venues around the city?

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From the organizer: 

a dOSe of ESCAPE – Summer Dance Music Festival in June 2013 at Diamond Island was considered a great music Festival with more than 10,000 participants, and it has created a big interesting event for young Saigoneers. In this coming back, Escape Halloween- Enchangting Circus will be held at Phu My Hung on 26th October 2013, from 3 p.m, promising an effervescent, sparkling, and fascinating festival that you will be deeply impressed.

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At Least 21 Dead in Vietnam Firework Factory Blast [Farsnews] 

Japan slow to realize nuclear plant export to Vietnam [Global Post]

High cholesterol might become top killer in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]

General Giap rests in peace in hometown [VoV]

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[Update Below] After only 17 months of construction, Saigon Bridge 2 was completed yesterday and will open to traffic in early November.

The new, VND1.5 trillion (US$70.75 million) bridge, 987.3 meters long and 23.5 meters wide, will have 4 lanes for cars and 2 for motorbikes, running parallel to the original.

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[Update Below] Vietnamese telecommunication companies are awaiting a decision by the Ministry of Information and Communication that would double 3G fees in the country.

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Gordon Ramsay isn't the only celebrity chef obsessed with Vietnam. But unlike Ramsay, New York chef, Anthony Bourdain, has a surprisingly close connection to Vietnam, cultivated over many visits since 2000.

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In this edition of “Street Signs,” we take a closer look at Nguyen Hue, one of Vietnam’s most prominent folk heroes and successful military commanders. While he died before his vision for Vietnam was realized, his conquests ushered in a century of Vietnamese unification.

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Vietnam Vows to Boost Political Trust With China During Li Visit [Business Week]

Sustainable tourism in Vietnam inspires film [ABC]

Killer drunk drivers stalk Vietnam roads [Thanh Nien]

Mass evacuations in Vietnam for typhoon Nari [Economic Times]

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Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds and North by NorthWest are usually the first titles to burst out of people’s mouth when mentioning the name Alfred Hitchcock.

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Vietnam is a melting pot for Asian culture and loves to imitate the trends of its neighbors. From economics (China/South Korea) to music (South Korea/Japan) Vietnamese are truly masters of emulation, for better or for worse. One trend that has been gaining popularity is Japanese-inspired manga comics which have cult following across the world.

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After wreaking havoc on the Philippines where it killed 13 people, Typhoon Nari made landfall this morning in central Vietnam, causing massive flooding, power outages and destruction of property.

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This is part 2 of Spain, Land of Churches, Castles and Wine. Click here for part 1.

Of the many Rioja wineries that have opened their doors to wine lovers, we visited one of the best known in in the region: Bodegas Eguren Ugarte. The winery and vines are placed in a premium location: a flat area in between two mountain peaks, providing amazing views and a particular climate ideal for wine making. Their wines have won top international prizes and are delicious, though unfortunately, not yet available in Vietnam.

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Vietnam Vows Dong and Interest-Rate Stability for Growth [Bloomberg]

US alliance says Vietnam software piracy decreasing [Thanh Nien]

Dogs in Vietnam: Not just for dinner anymore [Reuters]

Paris Orchestra to perform in HCMC [Tuoi Tre]

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Renowned for their love of sleepy-sleepy time and the obligatory after lunch snoozes, Vietnamese parents are once again up in arms at the hours of a normal school day.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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]

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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] 

The Green Scene in Ho Chi Minh [WSJ]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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]

Mobile users resent huge 3G fee hike [SGGP]

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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Have you seen a giant wheel falling from the sky?

When a Vietnam Airlines flight landed in Da Nang yesterday afternoon, everything seemed to be normal. But after technicians carried out a routine examination, they found that the plane’s front wheel was missing. And nobody knows where it went.

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Troy Nguyen runs a YouTube channel dedicated to Vietnam. While most of his videos focus on his travels and interesting aspects of Vietnamese culture, every now and then, he sets out to help the people of Saigon in small but meaningful ways. Last week, to celebrate 5,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel, Troy took to the streets around Ben Thanh Central Bus Station to give away free ice cream to commuters languishing under the hot, tropical sun.

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In yet another case of shady wildlife smuggling in Vietnam, after a brief chase, traffic police in the northern province of Phu Yen pulled over a suspicious ambulance and found 49 endangered pangolins.

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Like many other countries, Vietnam uses street names to honor fallen national heroes. As such, it should come as no surprise that both HCMC and Hanoi are planning to name streets after the recently deceased General Vo Nguyen Giap.

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Even before the French formally occupied Saigon in 1859, they were active players in Vietnamese politics as early as the 17th century. Their influence can be seen in this 1790 map in the form of the massive citadel commissioned by Nguyen Anh.

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Get in the holiday spirit this Friday with a little dress up, great entertainment, and exciting new art!

GoGo City presents GLAM, an event that celebrates art and self-expression in its many forms. The aim is to engage current and potential lovers of art through different mediums and to inspire creativity and exploration.

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Vietnam beauty clinic owner arrested for allegedly killing customer [Thanh Nien]

Vietnam: a nation of online gamers dominated by Chinese and Korean games [DW]

Saigonese artists featured in book series [Tuoi Tre]

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Vietnammm, one of Vietnam’s most popular online delivery sites, has been acquired by Takeaway.com, a global leader in the industry. The move signals the Dutch company’s first move outside of Europe where they process over 1 million orders per month.

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Don’t you love it when, almost by accident, you discover cosy, out of the way music venues? Even more so if the music in question is jazz, a rarity in Saigon.

Jazz musician and painter Zan (Truong Giang) took over Um Kafe four months ago with the intent to preserve this originally decorated cafe, and to offer an intimate venue for jazz musicians to perform and experiment.

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According to the Vietnam Tobacco Association, the country consumed 4.174 billion packs of cigarettes in 2012. With a population around 90 million, that’s good for an average of over 46 packs a year per person. Yikes…

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Saigoneer has partnered with Venus Café to raise money and collect goods to help the victims of last week's Typhoon Nari which devastated central Vietnam.

To help families rebuild their lives and get food (prices have skyrocketed since the Typhoon), you can stop by the café to donate cash or non-perishable goods.

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Vietnam health official apologizes for death involving cosmetic surgeon [Thanh Nien]

Vietnam Motor Show opens in Ho Chi Minh City [SGGP]

“Wall Streets” in Saigon [Tuoi Tre]

Vietnam’s population hits 90 million [Vietnam Net]

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Whether we like it or not (for the record, we don’t) cars are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam.

To showcase their newest models, 15 auto brands have set up shop at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in District 7.

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The buildings and streets of Saigon can change in the blink of an eye. Gone are the streetcars, French street names and ox-drawn carts. As the economy continues to develop, the old Saigon is being replaced by skyscrapers, metros and Burger Kings.

However, there are elements of the city that have barely changed over the last century, one of these are street vendors. Check out the slideshow below of Saigon street vendors taken between 1900 and 1975.

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Earlier this year, the government announced plans to overhaul Vietnam’s film industry. Looking to copy the success of Korea and Japan, officials are planning to invest over US$300 million of the state budget in new theatres and production facilities by 2020.

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Last night saw the first installment of GoGo City’s GLAM, a new art and music party, at Q4.

Live artistic expression was the name of the game - guests joined artist Yanneth Albornoz to paint huge murals while rocking out to the tunes of live DJs and Minh Kien.

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Rice farmers losing out on production profits [Vietnam Net]

7 dead, 40 injured in north Vietnam bus accident [Thanh Nien]

Vietnam Plugs into Renewable Energy Sources [Prensa Latina]

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