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

Morning News Roundup: Central Bank To Impose Immediate Fine On Banks With Out-Of-Cash ATMs

Bachelor’s degrees lose value because of poor training quality [Vietnam Net] Ho Chi Minh City leads nation in export revenue [Nhan Dan] Employers must pay interest rate for late wage payment [SGGP]

in Asia

[NSFW] Naked Europeans Deported From Cambodia for 'Violating Country's Beautiful Customs and Culture'

Earlier this month, local police arrested three European tourists for riding naked through the Cambodian countryside.

in Stories

Free WIFI Coming To Downtown Saigon During Tết

The Saigon Postal Corporation (SPT) will install hot spots providing free WIFI all along Hàm Nghi Street for the Tết holiday this year.

in Vietnam

26,000 Old Quarter Residents To Be Relocated In 2017

Hanoi authorities have set a 2017 moving date for 26,000 Old Quarter residents who will be relocated to a new residential area in Long Bien District which lies just across the Red River.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Cops Seize A Ton Of Marijuana Growing In Southern Vietnam

Robotic engineering course launched in primary schools [SGGP] Vietnamese tea industry sees recovery brewing [Nhan Dan] Deforestation continues to deplete nation's wealth [Vietnam Net]

in Saigon

Temperatures In Saigon Reach 21-Year Low?

If you’re a Hanoi native, you’ve probably felt right at home on your commute to work in recent days.

in Asia

Japan Announces Plans to Build Mind-Blowing Underwater City

A Japanese architecture firm, Shimizu, has revealed its plans to build an underwater city that could be finished as early as 2035. The spherical underwater structure, dubbed the Ocean Spiral, is slate...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Auto Manufacturers Worried About HCMC’s Proposed Restrictions On Cars

WB keeps Vietnam’s GDP growth at 5.6% in 2015 [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam airliner makes emergency landing as Chinese baby develops convulsions [Tuoi Tre] Schools ordered to check students' medical hist...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Separate Jails Proposed For Transgender, Gay Prisoners

Vietnam plans for transport restructuring by 2020 [Vietnam Net] Investigation team on collapsed tunnel in Lam Dong set up [Vietnam Plus] Power group continues proposing power price increase [SG...

in Asia

Hong Kong Man Detained After Strapping 94 iPhones To His Body

In the grand scheme of things, smuggling electronics is a less risky proposition than say, drugs, but that doesn’t mean it’s an act without consequences as one Hong Kong man learned the hard way.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Airlines Attempts To Bar Striking Pilots From Working For Other Carriers

Changes to area code, digital prefixes to happen in phases [Vietnam Plus] Ha Noi air traffic control centre begins operations [Vietnam News] Samsung requests $15.5 mil tax break to start HCMC factor...

in Vietnam

Restaurateur Arrested for Buying Stolen Dogs in Southern Vietnam

Police in Binh Duong Province, just outside of Saigon, arrested a man last Thursday when he was pulled over with 10 dead dogs stacked on the back of his motorbike.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC To Offer Downtown Electric Bus Tour For $1

Rough waves destroy homes in central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam’s Got Talent contestant drinks acid by mistake [DTI News] HCM City to add more 23 CNG buses [SGGP]

in Vietnam

$14 Million Approved For Restoration Of Hanoi’s 112-Year-Old Long Biên Bridge

The fate of one of Vietnam’s most beloved and storied structures took another positive turn last week when the government approved a $14 million restoration package for Long Biên Bridge.

in Saigon

Saigon Post Office To Be Repainted Yet Again Following Complaints

Following public outcry and criticism from street vendors, historians, artists and tourists, Saigon Central Post Office officials have announced that they will repaint the iconic building after consul...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC's Underground Parking Lot Plan Appears To Implode

Foreign banks look local for CEOs [Vietnam Net] MobiFone to offer 2 million new 10-digit numbers [Vietnam Plus] Unemployment rate projected to rise in HCM City [Vietnam Plus]

in Saigon

HCMC Seeks To Set Limits On Cars, Motorbikes

To combat the mind-numbingly horrible gridlock and worsening pollution in the city, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transportation is seeking the government’s approval to limit the flow of personal...

in Vietnam

Repair Date Set For Vietnam’s Undersea Internet Cable

The operator of the Asia America Gateway cable has announced that repairs will be completed on January 23.

in Vietnam

Major Changes Announced For Vietnamese Phone Numbers

On March 1, Vietnam will change up the area codes of 59 provinces and restrict mobile phone numbers to 10 digits.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Cabbie Returns $11,600 Vertu Phone To Passenger

Vietnam upholds life sentence in largest-ever white collar case [Thanh Nien] Vietnamese-American wins $46,700 claim against eye hospital [Tuoi Tre] Cabbie in Vietnam metropolis returns $11,600 Vertu...