La Petite Ecole’s French Curriculum Benefits Families Well Beyond Saigon’s French Community
“When you learn a language, you don’t just learn the language, you learn new attitudes, ways of thinking, culture and history,” explains Aline Nguyen, the Principal of La Petite Ecole Ho Chi Minh.
Pride Fest, Cambodia's Most Ambitious LGBT Event to Date, Is Coming This Week
On a steamy evening in downtown Phnom Penh, Rebecca Chan takes the stage. The crowd — mostly Cambodian millennials and Gen Z's — is riled up from previous performances, but Chan’s composure tames their energy. She prowls around the raised platform in knee-high boots. Her skin-thin dress flaunts the contours of her body. She circles calmly and seductively to tantalize the hushed audience below. They track her every move in anticipation of what’s to come.
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
The Simple Pleasures of Kite-Flying in Thủ Thiêm
One of the most elegant means to observe the textured heft and untethered strength of otherwise-invisible wind — there is plenty one could say about the poetry of flying kites.
Summer 2023 Is the Hottest on Record in Vietnam Due to El Niño
While the past weeks have felt like living in a sauna for Saigoneers, north-central Vietnam provinces experienced even hotter temperatures this summer.
On Finding Flavors of Home in Takadanobaba, Tokyo's 'Vietnam Town'
A bánh mì stand to the left, signs for Bích Karaoke above an alley across the street, an open shopfront lined with bottles of Chin-Su chili sauce and G7 coffee sachets, a laid back restaurant where waiters dish out steaming bowls of noodles to customers perched on plastic stools.
Plan to Put Canopy Over Treeless Lê Lợi Pavement Sparks Debate
Late last week, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Architecture unveiled a proposal to install canopies across Lê Lợi Boulevard’s pavement.
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.
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
Vignette: For Cafe 81 and the '404 Not Found' Places of Our Lives
We all have them.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Saigon Couples Encouraged to Make More Babies
Even though Vietnam’s population has been steadily growing the last few decades, a declining birth rate has prompted HCMC officials to encourage couples to have more than one child.
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam to Invest Over $300m in Cinema Industry
Good morning, Saigoneers! Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: - McDonald's faces challenges in late entry to Vietnam [CampaignAsia] - Police find 3 behind banker a...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
[Video] Dozens of Drivers Tripped Up by Pothole
Driving in Saigon becomes truly hazardous when it rains - flooded streets disguise potholes, and breaks are rendered ineffective at short distances. These are the elements that came into play last wee...
Brian Letwin in Stories
Fan Chases Arsenal Team Bus - Gets Invite to Come Aboard
Well, it looks like Arsenal wasn't able to avoid fans after all. After spending most of their trip in quarantine conditions, not meeting with fans or eating local food, the British football team allo...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Diabetes in Vietnam Surges
- Vietnam airports fill up fast [TTRWeekly] - Viet Nam Steel giant reports large losses in H1 [SteelGuru] - Traditional markets make Hanoi special, why eliminate them? [Tha...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
It’s Official – McDonald's Coming to Vietnam in 2014
The Big Mac cometh... After years of speculation and rumor, it appears that McDonald's, the world’s largest fast food chain, will open up its first location in Vietnam in 2014. McDonald's will join o...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: ‘Cow Bank' Project Assists Poor Farmers in Escape From Poverty
- ‘Cow Bank' project assists poor farmers in escape from poverty [Vietnam Net Bridge] - Japan leads in FDI projects in Vietnam [Saigon GP Daily] - Granny’s Gold Bars Are Key to Vietna...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
No Love for Fans or Vietnamese Food as Arsenal Arrives in Hanoi
Arsenal’s much published friendly with the Vietnam national team will take place at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium on July 17th. While the club’s first visit to Vietnam will bring premier football t...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 9 Stories You May Have Missed
- Vietnam's Economy to Grow 5.3 Percent in 2013 [Malaysia Sun] - Vietnam concerned over HIV donor funding cuts [IRIN] - VN firm wins management contract for Myanmar skyscraper [V...
Brian Letwin in Stories
Slideshow: When Capitalism Returned to Vietnam
When Vietnam opened it's doors to capitalism and the free market in the mid 90s, almost overnight, multinational corporations such as Coca-Cola, Visa, Kodak and Pepsi rushed to exploit the country's u...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Obama Invites Vietnam President for Rare Trip
- Bonus marks for Vietnam Heroic Mothers at university exams [Vietnam Net Bridge] - Italian communist leader on visit in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] - 7 arrested in Vietnam for fatal brawl ove...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: The Real Owner of Highlands Coffee
- China remains largest rice consumer of Vietnam [CRIEnglish] - The real owner of Highlands Coffee [Vietnam Net Bridge] - 576 undocumented people granted Vietnamese citizenship [Tuoi ...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Bigwig to be Charged in Fatal Drunk-Driving Accident
- New shrew discovered in Vietnam forest [Mongbay] - Vietnam bigwig to be charged for fatal drunk-driving accident [Thanh Nien] - Vietnam faces challenges of increasing work forc...
Brian Letwin in Stories
Chicken Smuggled From Vietnam to China Had Been in Storage Since 1967
If you’re eating, you’ll probably want to stop for a moment. Chinese authorities have raided a food storage facility in Nanning, China and found tons of substandard meat, imported from Vietnam. Oh, an...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Where Driver’s Licenses are Bought
- Vietnam losing shine in attracting FDI to regional rivals: Minister [Tuoi Tre] - Vietnam, Laos complete border demarcation [Saigon GP Daily] - Where driver’s licenses are...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- Vietnam’s 2nd Russian-made sub completes sea trials [Thanh Nien] - Southern hub embraces CNG bus fleet [VietnamNet Bridge] - ADB gives $500 mln loan to HCMC metro project&...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Police to Crack Down on Noisy Pham Ngu Lao Bars
We’re sure nothing will come of this (other than some hush money) but the District 1 People's Committee has set up a joint inspection team address the late night noise from Pham Ngu Lao’s bars.
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Vinh Gang Busted for Stealing 4,000 Cats Over 2 Years
Apparently dogs aren't the only pets you need to watch out for. Police in Vinh City have arrested 6 men for allegedly stealing and selling the meat of up to 4,000 felines. Picking up four to six cats...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
[Updated] Cops Bust Out Net Launchers to Stop Traffic Violators
Our strategy of avoiding eye contact with traffic police to evade tickets may soon be rendered useless. Authorities in Thanh Hoa Province are planning to mass produce fishnet launchers to catch those...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Sidewalk Nước Mía Sellers Earn $2,500/month
Vietnam cops accused of beating man with cerebral palsy [Thanh Nien] Street children inspire paintings [VietnamNet Bridge] Vietnam military deploys vehicles to help college applicants [Tuo...
