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

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Vietnam has More Than 300,000 Obese Children

- Nok Air has Vietnam in sights [Bangkok Post]  - Vietnam man arrested for car accident that drowned 5, including 2 kids [Thanh Nien] - HIV/AIDS transmission rate in Vi...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Gender Inequality in Vietnam at Alarming Rate: Official

- Economic growth at 5.14 percent in first nine months [SGGP]  - Vietnam's VietJet seen close to major Airbus order [Reuters] - Vietnam city to apply new English language te...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Traffic Cop Allegedly Shoots Colleagues in Vietnam

- Vietnam’s bad debt attractive to some investors, but regulations still unclear [Washington Post] - Typhoon Usagi kills 24 in Vietnam [IOL News] - Little good news as Vietn...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Exec Beats Caddy Unconscious. Keeps Golf Club Membership.

Even with its slow pace, golf can bring out your competitive side. A missed putt or journey to a sand trap can boil the blood of even the most patient player. But that’s no excuse to beat your caddy w...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Authorities to Crack Down on Illegitimate Diplomatic Cars

You know all those fancy diplomatic cars speeding around District 1? Well, as it turns out, chances are the occupants are not diplomatic officials, but rather locals who bought the car and never trans...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

VNA Flight Attendant Arrested for Smuggling 50 iPhone 5s

Vietnamese airline employees have been known to cause a stir from time to time. Earlier this year, actress Ly Nha Ky got a VietJet flight crew into hot water when she was invited into the cockpit...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Cops Accused of Torturing Suspects in Dog Thieves Murder Case

- 7 arrested for robbing Ukrainian in central Vietnam [Thanh Nien] - Vietnamese favor super-expensive mobile phones [Vietnam Net] - Vietnam intends to grant husbands paterni...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Hue's Refurbished Airport Reopens

As Saigon waits for its new, massive airport, some of Vietnam’s smaller cities are focusing on renovations rather than starting from scratch. Hue’s Phu Bai airport, which was reopened yesterday a...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Foreigner Dies After Jumping Off Roof of Ford Dealership

Last week an unidentified foreigner snuck into the Ford showroom on Cao Thang Street in District 1 and jumped to his death in what authorities are calling a suicide.

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

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

- Vietnam students give history a modern twist [Thanh Nien] - The most famous family run economic groups in Vietnam [VietnamNet] - Foreigner commits suicide by jumping off a...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Vietnam Achieves 2013 Foreign Investment Goal

- 5 missing after car swept away in Vietnam flash flood [Tuoi Tre] - Vietnam achieves 2013 foreign investment goal [Thanh Nien] - Vietnam’s 1st ao dai museum to open in HCMC...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Vinashin to Lay Off 14,000 Workers

- Mass evacuations ordered as storm nears [VoV] - Prehistoric traces found in Thai Nguyen [VNS] - Big names set to draw crowds at motor show [VNS] - 11 Vietnamese...

Brian Letwin

in Asia

Map: More Than Half of the World's Population Lives Within This Circle

It’s well-known that Asia is the world’s population center (thanks, China and India!) with 51% of the global population. But this fact is slightly mind-blowing when illustrated visually. Reddit user, ...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Police to Fine Parents Blocking Traffic Outside of Schools

Packs of parents, idling on motorbikes, waiting for their children to finish their school days, are a common sight in cities across Vietnam. Hundreds of parents jockey for position, yelling and waving...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Severe Power Shortage to Hit Next Dry Season

- Vietnam vehicle sales up 20% in August [Justauto]  - Forests destroyed to grow rubber [VietnamNet] - Authorities fail to tackle pollution woes [VietnamNet]

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

[Updated] Nha Trang Effectively Bans Motorbike Rentals for Foreigners

[Update Below] On August 21st, the Khanh Hoa Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a decision to ban tourist companies from renting motorbikes to foreigners who don’t have Vietname...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Hundreds Confess to Killing Dog Thieves in Bac Giang

In an act of solidarity with their fellow villagers, hundreds have signed a petition confessing to the murder of 2 suspected dog thieves who were caught and beaten to death on August 27 in the Hiep Ho...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: 1 Dead, 7 Missing at Ship Collision Offshore Vietnam

- Tax incentives likely for tech-savvy enterprises [VNS]  - Vietnam wants US contributions to Asian security, development [VoV]  - Japan investment in Vietnam metr...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

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

- Vietnam up in FIFA rankings [VietnamNet] - Vietnam's auto import continues to slide in August [East Day]  - Vietnam’s rice productivity may reduce 10% on climate chan...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Vietnam Airports to Cut Fees by Half to Attract Foreign Carriers

- Vietnam airports to cut fees by half to attract foreign carriers [Thanh Nien] - Deal between Tony Blair and Vietnam gov’t not yet finalized [Thanh Nien] - Hue specialties ...