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.

Back Stories

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Bill Gates Posts Picture of Vietnam Wires on Facebook, Sparks Fly

American billionaire, Bill Gates, recently took to Facebook to express his concerns about rising electricity demands in developing countries. To illustrate this, he used a picture of tangled electrica...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Bill: Job-Seeking Foreigners Must Have Work Permit Before Entering Vietnam

Vietnam seems to be overhauling their immigration policies this week. In addition to yesterday’s news that foreigners working in Vietnam without a work permit will be deported, Tuoi Tre is reporting t...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Crime on the Rise in HCMC

- Vietnam lifts radiation inspection on Japanese food imports [Global Post] - Vietnam’s farm produce exports remain precarious [VietnamNet] - Will threat to pull out of Viet...

Brian Letwin

in Asia

China's $1.9 Billion Mooncake Industry

Vietnam might consume a lot of mooncakes during the mid-autumn festival, but it has nothing on China. The country of over one billion has more than 10,000 mooncake manufacturers which produce over 28...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Slideshow: Gang of Taxi Drivers Destroys Truck Driver After Accident Near Tan Son Nhat

Yesterday at 11:30, a battle royal occurred near Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat airport between a truck driver and gaggle (we’re pretty sure this is the technical term) of taxi drivers.

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Decree: Foreign Workers Without Work Permits to be Deported

Following in the footsteps of other ASEAN nations like Malaysia, a new government decree, set to go into effect on November 1st, includes provisions for deporting foreign workers in Vietnam who d...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

5 Arrested in Massive Saigon Nike Theft

Vietnam may be the land of Nike but the company’s pricey shoes make them a prime target for thievery. Earlier this week, A Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced five men to up to 15 years in prison for ste...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Unfinished Billion Dollar Casino Projects

- Shiseido Vietnam builds US$30 million plant in Dong Nai [VoV] - Bulgarians held for stealing money using fake ATM cards [Tuoi Tre]  - PM flags off work on 2.9km cable...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

American Teacher Killed by Truck in District 7

An American English teacher was hit by a truck and died this morning on Luu Trong Lu st. in District 7.

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

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

- State firms pay highest wages [VietnamNet] - Tony Blair strikes new deals to advise Vietnam and Peru [The Telegraph]  - Authorities revoke license of clinic with Chin...

Brian Letwin

in Asia

Vietnam, Neighbors Pledge to End Dog Meat Trade

At a recent meeting in Hanoi, the four governments agreed in principle on a strategy to end the trafficking of dogs between Vietnam and its neighbors, which is estimated at 5 million animals annually....

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Saigon From Above

Photographer Gian Thanh Son is completing a book and preparing a special exhibition, "Discovering Saigon from the air." With the help of special forces helicopter Regiment 917 (Air Division 370), Son...

Brian Letwin

in Asia

Vietnam: The Land of Nike

According to AmCham Vietnam, 98% of Nike footwear is produced in Asia with Vietnam leading the pack followed by China and Indonesia. In the 2013 fiscal year, Vietnam, which houses at least 10 Nike fa...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Six Suffocate in Fish Oil Tank

Well this is a sad story. Yesterday morning, six employees of the IDI Fisheries Factory in Binh Thanh Commun, Dong Thap Province suffocated from catfish oil fumes while taking samples.

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Two Drunken Foreigners to be Expelled for Disturbing Acts

- Vietnam expects 6 pct GDP growth in two years [xinhuanet]  - Foreign firms in Vietnam complain about deteriorating business climate, consider quitting [Thanh Nien] - ...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Has Da Nang’s Bubble Burst?

After a decade of breakneck development, Da Nang’s luster is starting to wear off. Overly reliant on a once-booming real estate sector, the city’s coffers are drying up as investments slow and large-s...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: $2 Million Weasel Coffee Farm in Da Lat

- Cambodian import turns a Saigon staple [Thanh Nien]  - Journalist jailed for fatal road accident [Thanh Nien] - Vietnam Stocks to Climb 12% by Year-End on Valuations,...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

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

- The secrets of Saigon’s night clubs [VietnamNet Bridge]  - Vietnam urged to boost retirement age to save pension fund [Thanh Nien] - Vietnam Says New Internet Decree Good ...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Vietnam Battles with Poor Quality Education

- FDI bottlenecks in Mekong Delta [VOV] - Vietnam anticipates US$2,300 GDP per capita in 2015 [VOV] - Bad debts fall from previous month [SGGP]

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

How Much Does Vietnam's Prime Minister Make? Less Than You Might Think.

With the news that some state officials are making outrageous salaries, the Vietnamese press has started to probe a bit deeper into exactly how much the country’s officials make.