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 Saigon

Facebook Threatens To Sue HCMC Restaurant For Using Its Name

In a rare example of intellectual property protection in Vietnam, Facebook has threatened to sue a HCMC restaurant for using the social network’s name in their slogan.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: BMW Recalls Nearly 1,200 Cars In Vietnam

Vietnam footballer gets 30 months for betting on own Asian game [Tuoi Tre] First Vietnamese wins Innovators Under 35 Award [Vietnam Net] BMW recalls nearly 1,200 cars in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]

in Vietnam

Study: Divorce Is Up Significantly In Vietnam

The arrival of Starbucks and McDonald's aren’t the only signs that Vietnam is starting to look more like a developed country. According to a new survey, the country’s divorce rate has skyrocketed over...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: McDonald’s To Open Third Restaurant In HCMC

Ho Chi Minh City sappers collect war-era bomb shells [Thanh Nien] Cloud computing services becoming more popular in VN [Vietnam Net] Quang Ngai wishes to be removed from high-income list [DTI]

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Hanoi To Build New Bridge Instead Of Tearing Down Long Biên

Described by one writer as “a misshapen but essential component of Hà Nội’s heritage,” the Long Biên Bridge commands such affection that recent government proposals to relocate or rebuild it had to be...

in Saigon

Heineken Launches Bottles Exclusively Designed For HCMC

For years Heineken has been stepping up its marketing game in Vietnam to take advantage of the country’s love affair with beer. While it’s already made major inroads into the local market, the Dutch c...

in Asia

[Photos] "Marlboro Boys" Captures The Disturbing Trend Of Underage Smoking In Indonesia

Smoking may be a major public health issue in Vietnam, but in Indonesia, the deadly habit has been taken up by the country’s youth, some of who are taking their first drags at the age of 4.

in Saigon

Starting Next Year, HCMC Bikers May Be Required To Pay Road Fees

Following in the steps of most other Vietnamese provinces and cities, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has recommended that the city start collecting road maintenance fees from its 5.8 mil...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Urban Tap Water Seriously Polluted

Vietnam's urban tap water seriously polluted: health ministry [Thanh Nien] Vietnam team wins Robocon [DTI] Hanoi needs VND3.5 trillion to treat solid waste by 2020 [DTI]

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnamese Businesses Seek Honest, Uneducated Workers: Survey

In Vietnam, residents have used underground water from cemetery for 20 years [Tuoi Tre] Boeing, Microsoft want to foster cooperation with Vietnam: Embassy [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese businesses seek hones...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Radioactive Card Shark Arrested In Northern Vietnam

Radioactive card shark arrested in northern Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s top dairy producer wins global food industry award [Tuoi Tre] Teachers oppose assessment method using comments instead...

in Asia

[Photos] Incredible Views of Hong Kong's Skyscapers

Hong Kong-based photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrѐze likes to look up. In his recent book Vertical Horizons, he explores an often under appreciated perspective of the city’s skyline.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Laws The Most Complex In The World

Vietnamese laws the most complex in the world, lawyers say [Vietnam Net] Bkav launches nationwide security network contest [Nhan Dan]  State employment still favored by most Vietnamese job seek...

in Saigon

New Admin. Center Behind People’s Committee To Include Heliport, Underground Passageways

The massive re-development of downtown Saigon (goodbye Tax Center and old trees, hello new metro station) will also include a new administration center in the area around the historic People’s Committ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 2 Nigerians With Flu-Like Symptoms Arrive At Tân Sơn Nhất

Vietnam to buy 10,000 Ebola protective clothing [Vietnam Net] Poorly dressed customers not welcomed at luxury shops [Vietnam Net]

in Saigon

Tân Sơn Nhất Airport Ramping Up Procedures For Ebola Detection, Quarantine

After issuing guidelines for preventative health centers in HCMC to take precautionary measures to combat an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in early August, The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Heal...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Grants Licenses To Monsanto, Others To Grow Genetically Modified Corn

The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has granted licenses to 2 companies, Syngenta Vietnam Co., Ltd and Monsanto’s Dekalb Vietnam Co., Ltd to grow genetically modified c...

in Saigon

Metro Line Construction Forcing Nearby Businesses To Downsize, Close

Construction on the underground portion of Saigon’s first metro line may have just started, but businesses in the surrounding area are starting to feel the pinch, complaining that sales are down as mu...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Cuts Petrol Prices for Third Time in 3 Weeks

U.S. CDC supports Vietnam’s emergency center over Ebola outbreak [Tuoi Tre] Two provincial educators in Vietnam dismissed for shaking down test takers [Thanh Nien] Vietnam looks for ways to regulate...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Say Goodbye to Saigon's Tax Center

Another one of Saigon’s most iconic buildings is set to bite the dust. This time it’s District 1’s 90-year-old Tax Center that will be demolished later this year to make way for a 43-story tower.