Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Every Morning, I'm Grateful for My Carless Ride to Work on Hoàng Sa Street

In the decade-plus of Saigoneer’s existence, we’ve had six offices strewn across different parts of Districts 1 and 3. Over that period, my homes have been located in Bình Thạnh and Thảo Điền, requiring significant commuting time.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

The Nhiêu Lộc-Thị Nghè Canal's Comeback Story

Water has no hometown.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

Our Toxic Relationship With Saigon Traffic: A Diagnosis

There is no way to describe Saigon traffic literally and have it understood by someone who has not experienced it.

in Hanoi

Sweating for a Good Cause at the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation Walk in Hanoi

I learnt of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in my first year living in Hanoi, through friends that had worked for the fantastic organization, or that were regular donors supporting it. This year, I was super excited to see their “Blue Dragon Marathon Walk” annual fundraiser announced, with the main Hanoian event looping around Thống Nhất Park's lake. Embracing the opportunity to contribute, I put my hand up for a 10K walk and enticed friends and family from around the world to send donations to the wander-for-a-cause.

in Vietnam

In the Mekong Delta, Ferries Are Childhood Friends and Daily Companions

The Mekong Delta is called Đồng bằng Sông Cửu Long in Vietnamese — the Nine Dragons River, for the way the mighty Mekong splits into multiple strands as it nears its final destination, the East Sea.

in Hanoi

Glide Over Hanoi in the Calmness of the Cát Linh-Hà Đông Metro Line

In many countries, urban metros are a mundane convenience — so ordinary that their users often take them for granted. But until the birth of Hanoi’s Cát Linh-Hà Đông Metro Line, residents of Vietnam had enjoyed no such air-conditioned, traffic-immune method of transportation.

Back Stories

in Vietnam

[Photos] Plans To Build Vietnam’s Largest Museum Draw Criticism

Plans to build the biggest (and perhaps most expensive) museum in Vietnam have come under fire for its exorbitant costs.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Children’s Opinions To Be Taken Into Account In Policy Design

Seminar highlights copyright and related rights [VOV] Danang issues tourism code of conduct [DTI] Children’s opinions to be taken into account in policy design [VOV]

in Vietnam

Plan For US$66m Ho Chi Minh Statue In Son La Sparks Debate

Son La’s proposal to build a massive VND1,400 billion (US$66 million) Ho Chi Minh statue has put provincial authorities in the spotlight and caught the gaze of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung who has r...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: New Rule Allows Vietnam's Top Leaders To Have Any Car They Want After Retirement

New rule allows Vietnam's top leaders to have any car they want after retirement [Thanh Nien] Beach town blacklists seafood restaurant after rip-off complaint [Thanh Nien] Poultry, livestock industr...

in Saigon

[Video] Nguyen Hue Promenade Descends Into Chaos As Scheduled Street Fight Draws Hundreds

When city officials said they were looking for ways to enliven the Nguyen Hue pedestrian promenade, I don’t think this is what they had in mind.

in Saigon

Don’t Panic: The Phu My Bridge Is Not Falling Apart

A picture on Facebook showing a one-meter crack in Saigon’s largest cable-stayed Bridge has raised safety concerns among local residents even as city authorities say not to worry.

in Vietnam

Uber To Accept Cash In Vietnam, May Expand To Da Nang, Nha Trang

After a year of bumpy roads for Uber in Vietnam, the international taxi service seems to have righted the ship and is planning to expand to new Vietnamese markets in addition to offering a cash paymen...

in Asia

Cambodian Police to Keep 70% of Traffic Fines Under New Regulation

Starting next year, a new traffic law will be implemented in Cambodia that not only raises penalties five-fold, but also allows police to keep 70% of the fines they dole out.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Completes TPP Negotiations With All Parties

Vietnam Airlines’ first 787-9 arrives in Hanoi [Flight Global] Massive imports of Chinese trucks raise concerns [Vietnam Net] Educators say national-exam failure rate shows better discipline, l...

in Saigon

Saigon Bans Pets, Picnics on Nguyen Hue Promenade

Saigon authorities are clamping down on a number of activities that have been taking place on the city’s new pedestrian promenade.

in Vietnam

[Photos] Ha Long Bay Being Overrun By Toxic Slurry Following Heavy Flooding

Weeks of heavy flooding in northern Vietnam has not only resulted 17 deaths and the loss of millions of dollars in damages, but also besieged Ha Long Bay with toxic slurry from nearby coal mines.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Duo Arrested For Facebook Page That Tells Drivers How To Avoid Cops

Man City friendly sponsor declares big losses [DTI] Hundreds brave persistent rain at LGBT rally in Vietnam [Channel News Asia] VN tops ASEAN with number of new domains [Vietnam Plus]

in Vietnam

Da Nang’s Image Threatened By Rip-Offs, Thefts

Da Nang has long served as a poster child for a Vietnamese urban development. It is clean and modern (free WIFI!), sports beautiful beaches and offers great seafood. However, a growing number of touri...

in Vietnam

7-Eleven Is Officially Coming To Vietnam

Vietnam’s convenience store market is about to get a bit more competitive with 7-Eleven announcing that it will open its first location in the country by early 2018.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: VN Greenhouse Gas To Double By 2020

Vietnamese teens jailed for phone card fraud [Thanh Nien] Naval ship to rescue 1,500 tourists stranded on island near Ha Long Bay [Tuoi Tre] David Cameron becomes first serving British PM to vi...

in Asia

These Cutting-Edge Japanese Rice Cookers Cost Up To US$1,000

Not all rice is cooked equally, or so goes the thinking behind a slew of new rice cookers in Japan that can fetch prices of almost US$1,000.

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Celebrity Fined For Letting Her Child Urinate In Vomit Bag

You can add singer Le Quyen to the list of Vietnamese celebrities that have stirred controversy due to their in-air faux pas after she allowed her 4-year-old son to urinate in an airsic...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Around 0.057% Of Population Borrows Books From Public Libraries

Hanoi: 17,000 people have 30m2 of playgrounds [Vietnam Net] Vietnam pays heavy price for petrochemistry industry [Vietnam Net] Da Nang introduces speed limit on key bridge [Vietnam News]

in Vietnam

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Will Pay A Visit To Vietnam Next Week

The U.S. Department of State has announced that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will make a stop in Vietnam next week as part of a five-country trip to the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

in Vietnam

Hanoi Opera House To Be Repainted, Returned To Its Original Color

In what seems to be a repeat of the paint scandal that recently hit Saigon’s Central Post Office, Hanoi authorities have announced that the city’s 104-year-old opera house will soon return to its orig...