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: Vietnam Says Chinese Tourist Number Up By 34%

Viettel proposes slashing mobile phone charges [Nhan Dan] Girl, 18, dies after 10 day self-starvation to lose weight [SGGP] Vietnam drugmaker DHG to expand as antibiotic curbs bite [T...

in Asia

Satellite Photos Of Japan’s Super Typhoon Neoguri Are What Nightmares Are Made Of

Super typhoon, Neoguri, the largest storm on earth is bearing down on Japan with 270kmph winds and generating 13m waves. These satellite images capture the vastness of the deadly storm.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Fire Badly Damages Millennium-Old Temple In Central Vietnam

Vietnam's economy forecast to grow 5.8% in 2014 [DTI News] Vietnam Grounds Helicopter Fleet After Crash [WSJ] Fire badly damages millennium-old temple in central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre]

in Vietnam

Starbucks To Open Its First Hanoi Location

After opening 6 stores in Saigon, American coffee giant, Starbucks, is gearing up to open its first store in the capital, according to VN Express.

in Vietnam

[Video] Death Toll Reaches 19 In Hanoi Helicopter Crash

According to reports from Tuoi Tre and Thanh Nien, the death toll in yesterday morning’s military helicopter crash has reached 19.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Three Consecutive Earthquakes Hit Quang Nam

Vietnam Stocks Set for Best Year Since 2009, VNDirect Says [Bloomberg] FDI to continue flowing into Vietnam, experts [SGGP] Renowned Vietnamese writer To Hoai dies at 94 [Tuoi Tre]

in Stories

Vietnam To Get Its First International Fashion Week

Vietnamese fashionistas rejoice! At a press conference and ceremony held by MultiMedia JSC and FIDe Fashion Week on July 6, it was announced that Saigon will host Vietnam’s very first international F...

in Vietnam

Respected Chef, Shane Brierly Killed In Road Accident

Longtime Vietnam expat chef, Shane Brierly, died last Thursday night in a traffic accident on Phu Quoc Island, shocking many of his friends, Twitter followers and those who knew him as a first-rate ch...

in Vietnam

16 Dead In Hanoi Helicopter Crash

According to VNExpress, early this morning, a helicopter crashed in Village 11, Thạch Hoà, Thạch Thất District, Hanoi, injuring many people.

in Asia

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam To Become Electronics Production Capital Of The World

Police detain 6 in $37.7mn gambling ring in central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam anxious as fate of China-detained fishermen remains unknown [Thanh Nien] Need for childcare in HCM City reach...

in Vietnam

80% Of Vietnam's Ad Agencies Now In Foreign Hands

According to a report by Thanh Nien, wholly Vietnamese advertising agencies will soon be a thing of the past as foreign companies are snatching them up in droves. Industry insiders say tht 80% of...

in Vietnam

25% Of Flights In Vietnam Have Been Delayed Or Canceled This Year

For frequent Vietnamese flyers, it probably comes as little surprise that 25% of the country’s flights have been either delayed or canceled this year, up from 16% from last year.

in Asia

[Photos] Abandoned Bangkok Mall Becomes Urban Koi Pond

In Bangkok, there is an abandoned mall that looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic future where nature has begun to slowly reclaim the world's urban jungles. Think I Am Legend without the diseased...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 241,400 People With A Degree Jobless In Vietnam

Rampant piracy eats up Vietnam's digital content market [Thanh Nien] 241,400 people with a degree jobless in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam preparing documents to sue China: premier [Tuoi...

in Vietnam

Foreign Teachers Distressed By New Work Permit Rules

Well, we saw this coming. Foreign teachers are facing problems securing the proper paperwork to teach in Vietnam now that Circular 03/2014 has gone into effect.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Farmer Shoots To Fame Thanks To Bizarre Song Covers

Hue greets visitor 1,000,000 this year [VNS] Vietnam farmer shoots to fame thanks to bizarre song covers [Tuoi Tre] One-fifth of university graduates unemployed [VietNamNet]

in Vietnam

[Photos] Heavy Rain Turns Hanoi Streets Into Rivers

The capital may be making preparations for impending super storms, but the rainy season is already wrecking havoc in Hanoi.

in Vietnam

Here's A Rundown Of The New Laws That Went Into Effect Yesterday

Yesterday a plethora of new laws dealing with everything from helmet standards to property administration went into effect.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Explosion Splits Vietnam Hub Road Into Parts In Heavy Rain

Vietnamese economy has yet to recover from difficulties [Nhan Dan] International tourists spend $102 per day in Vietnam: report [Tuoi Tre] Casino developers dream of capitalizing on Chines...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Flower Street To Be Relocated For 2015

To accommodate renovations to Nguyen Hue Street, Saigon’s popular “Flower Street” will be moved to Ham Nghi Street next year.