Inside the Covid Memorial Park at 1 Lý Thái Tổ, Saigon's Brand-New Green Space
As part of Saigon’s latest initiative to increase green space coverage in the city, a number of abandoned land plots were converted into public parks, including a Covid Memorial Park that’s become a beloved destination for Saigoneers seeking a space to jog, reflect, or just simply touch grass.
Uyên Đỗ in Saigon
All Aboard Bus 146, Home of Plushies, Rubber Chickens and a Side of Humanity
“Cute” doesn’t seem like a fitting descriptor for any mode of public transport, but a bus in Saigon is driving straight into the heart of Saigoneers for being the quintessence of “smotheringly adorable.”
Saigon Set to Make Bus Service Free for All to Cut Congestion, Air Pollution
Saigoneers without private vehicles might be happy to hear that the city is planning to make the municipal bus system free to ride in the near future.
Bạc Liêu-94, Cà Mau-69: In Saigon, a Surprising Reminder of Home Lives on License Plates
Once in a while, I bump into a little sliver of my hometown on a random license plate on the street.
Pristine Blue Sky and Memorial Park: Ruminating on What the Covid-19 Pandemic Left Us
Recently, I visited Saigon’s newly inaugurated COVID-19 memorial park . Located at 1 Lý Thái Tổ, Vườn Lài Ward, the park o...
HCMC's Đồng Khởi Among World's Top 20 Most Expensive Retail Streets, Report Says
Saigon’s very own Đồng Khởi has once again made the list of world’s commercial streets with the highest annual rents.
Xuân Phương in Hanoi
Every Bánh Chưng Season, Vietnam’s Lá Dong Capital Comes Alive With Harvest Frenzy
On the patches of sandy soil by the river in Kim An Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, there’s a tiny village named Tràng Cát, where dong leaves have been embedded in local history, memory, and economy for centuries. Right in local courtyard, these broad green leaves were transformed into bánh chưng, ready for Tết feasts across the country.
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
Loneliness Too Waits for the Bus
We are all in this, but not together.
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- Coffee bean price continues to plummet [SGGP] - Taxis scheme offers hope for the handicapped [VietnamNet Bridge] - Invaluable fossils in Vietnam [VietnamNet Bri...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Ministry: Shops Must Use Vietnamese Signs
Following last year’s passage of the Vietnamese Advertisement law which requires that advertising content, spoken or written must be in Vietnamese, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Plastic Food Wrappers Found Contaminated with Toxic Substances
- Banks warned not to hide debt [VNS] - Tears at Smile restaurant [VietnamNet Bridge] - Many famous discotheques in Saigon raided [VietnamNet Bridge]
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Large Bomb Uncovered in Dak Ru
A massive, 300kg bomb was discovered by a resident of Dak Ru Commune, Dak R'lap District in the central highlands province of Dak Nong.
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Plans Over 110 Television Channels by 2015
- Vietnam police deny recent memo banning people from filming cops [Thanh Nien] - Bus carrying Vietnamese robbed in Moscow [Tuoi Tre] - Century-old temple inside bodhi...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
How Much Do You Make? New Report Finds Growing Salaries in HCMC
Ever wonder what you're worth? The recently released 2013 Robert Walters Global Salary Survey shows moderate growth in salaries for workers in the financial, supply chain, engineering, HR, IT, s...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Fire Rages Next to HCMC Backpackers’ Quarter
- Vietnam Sends Plan for Relaxing Foreign Ownership Limits to Dung [Bloomberg] - Vietnam court sentences Nigerian man to death for drug trafficking [Thanh Nien] - Vietnam to...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Casinos to be Fined up to $10,000 if Serving Vietnamese Players
- Ministry backs new airport plan [VNS] - Viet Nam's first female film director dies [VNS] - Overseas students’ series on life in US stirs Internet [Tuoi Tre]
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Harley-Davidson Finally Opening Shop in Saigon?
For a country with a motorbike obsession, this counts as huge news - iconic American motorcycle maker, Harley-Davidson, is finally opening a showroom in Vietnam according to a set of job postings on V...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
[Updated] 2 ‘Jungle Men’ Found Living in Vietnam Forest for 40 Years
[Update Below] You may have heard the stories of Japanese troops, hiding on on small, secluded Pacific islands, unaware that World War II had ended. A similar situation played out this month in Quang ...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- Reporter charged for taking bribe from bar owner [Tuoi Tre] - VN pearls have the world as their oyster [VNS] - Vietnam cops arrested for receiving bribes from criminal [Thanh N...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnamese Man Pays Russian Boy $12,000 for Smashing Teeth with Golf Club
Over USD6 billion suggested for five PPP projects [dangcongsan] Vietnamese forest devastated by Agent Orange restored to health [ajw.asahi] Vietnam bid to stop traffic police bribes [Bangk...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Thai Villagers Detain Google Maps Car Believing Driver is a Spy
While many wish that Google Street View were available everywhere, a Village in northern Thailand does not share this opinion. Yesterday morning, A Google Maps car, mounted camera and all, was stopped...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnamese and the “$1billion Business Ambition”
- Binh Chau shipwreck: discovery area to be expanded [Quanhnai] - Price hike to ensure electricity supply [VEN] - Violence, capitalism and dodgy cops... [Thanh Ni...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Massive Fire Drill at Diamond Plaza this Morning
If you're wondering why emergency crews, including 2 helicopters are running around Dimond Plaza this morning, fear not, for it's only a drill! The city fire, police and health departments along with...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Civilization Fails to Lure Vietnam Men From 40-year Jungle Home
- Thirty Russian Firms to take part in Tourism Expo in HCMC [SGGP] - Vietnamese school children are 'years ahead' of Indian pupils [phys.org] - Vietnam to cover costs of bri...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: ‘Ba Tung’ Closes Facebook Page After Nationwide Ban
- Can Vietnam become a gambling getaway? [Thanh Nien] - Land for industrial parks lies abandoned in Mekong Delta [SGGP] - Foreigners with over-3 month visas can buy houses i...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- Vietnam can’t afford to switch to newer, safer vaccines: official [Thanh Nien] - Vietnam authorities lax over hydrofoil safety [Thanh Nien] - No further dong devaluation, ...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Downtown HCMC Statue on Brink of Collapse
Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today: - Vietnam's auto industry faces crossroads ahead of Asean trade pact [JakartaPost] - Emerging Vietnam: The Big Ch...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Unable to Flirt with 10-year-old Girl, Man Sprays Acid on 5
Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today: - Special team to investigate fatal accident [VNS] - Foreign investment shifting to new locales in Vietnam [...
