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 Asia

What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed

Powerful storm approaching Central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] CNN continues broadcast in Vietnam under new rule [Thanh Nien] New programmes in the pipeline for overseas residents [Vietnam Net]

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Fines Chinese Tourist $1,700 for Distributing Maps

Vietnam fines Chinese tourist $1,700 for distributing maps [Asia One] Vietnam’s film industry struggles to improve [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam Navy receives first of six amphibious aircraft from Ca...

in Vietnam

Vietnam’s Population to Hit 90 Million Tomorrow

Tomorrow at 12am, Vietnam’s population will reach 90 million according to the General Office of Population and Family Planning.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Construction of North - South Express Railway Re-Proposed

Construction of North - South express railway re-proposed [Vietnam Bridge] Vietnam climate change response reviewed [Eco-business] Vietnam cops suspended for drunkenly insulting reporters&...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Over 20,000 New Companies Open In HCM City In First Nine Months

Makers of fake veterinary medicine uncovered [Tuoi Tre] Over 20,000 New Companies Open In HCM City In First Nine Months [Bernama] Vietnam foreign investment up 66 percent [Thanh Nien]...

in Vietnam

Last Remaining Ancient Muong House Burned to the Ground by Moronic Tourists

Last week, a group of tourists had the bright idea to start a fire in an ancient Muong house to cook up some corn. Why not? Corn is delicious! Unfortunately, the house was made of wood and quickly wen...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Over 50 Children Hospitalized After Vaccination; Vaccine Use Continues

Over 50 children hospitalized after vaccination; vaccine use continues [Tuoi Tre] Economic slump hits Vietnam rural migrants hard [Thanh Nien] Restructuring: Does it really happen? [V...

in Asia

What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed

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]

in Stories

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Population Hits 90 Million

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...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Beauty Clinic Owner Arrested for Allegedly Killing Customer

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...

in Saigon

HCMC Street to be Named in Honor of Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap

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 de...

in Vietnam

After Police Chase, 49 Endangered Pangolins Found in Ambulance

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...

in Stories

Vietnam Airlines Flight Lands in Da Nang Missing a Front Wheel

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 exa...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Man Dies in Underground Hole While Committing Gambling Fraud

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 HC...

in Saigon

Yesterday's Flooding Breaks Record for HCMC. Today May be Even Worse.

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.

in Vietnam

What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed

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 ...

in Asia

Morning News Roundup: Vegetable Prices Jump After Storm Nari

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 ...

in Asia

Typhoon Nari Leaves Path of Death and Destruction Across SE Asia

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...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Video: Girl Causes Accident, Brushes it off Like a Boss

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 Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Want City, Airport, Avenue Named After Gen. Giap

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 c...