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 Drags Feet on Single Visa for Mekong Region

- Alarming rise in accidents by drunken drivers in HCMC [SaigonGP Daily]  - Vietnam drags feet on single visa for Mekong region [Thanh Nien] - Agency questioned after travelers left stranded in...

Brian Letwin

in Asia

Lost Cambodian City Found Using Frickin' Laser Beams

Apparently Ankgor Watt is a piece of a larger puzzle. Using frickin' areal lasers, archaeologists have identified a sprawling city around the 1,200 year old temple complex, revealing how the area’s ne...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: 701 Vietnamese Travelers Abandoned in Thailand

Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: - Prostitution ring targeting foreigners busted in Vietnam metro [Thanh Nien] - Gold Premiums in Vietnam Hit $217 Over Spot In Heavy Demand [Go...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: New Plan to Curb Drunk Driving Unpopular

Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: - Power outage at Tan Son Nhat airport affects 1,000 flyers [Tuoi Tre] - Vietnam Stocks Fall to Three-Week Low on Gasoline Price Increase [Bloo...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Friendly Between Arsenal and Vietnam in Jeopardy

The friendly between Arsenal and Vietnam is in a state of limbo after stadium owners raised fees for the match. Touted as the first Premier League team to visit Vietnam, Arsenal had planned to play t...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

New Ho Chi Minh Statue for Downtown

The iconic statue of Ho Chi Minh, which has made its home in front of the HCMC People’s Committee building, will soon be moved and replaced by a new bust of Vietnam’s most beloved national hero. The ...

Brian Letwin

in Asia

Vietnamese Man Dead After Slashing Himself Over Plane Ticket

Last Saturday, a Vietnamese man in Dagupan, Philippines killed himself when he was unable to borrow money for a plane ticket home. The man, identified as Nguyen Tan Lap, was found bleeding heavily in...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Dog Thief Beaten to Death by Angry Mob

Yesterday, residents of the north-central province of Nghe An brutally attacked 2 dog thieves, leaving one dead and another seriously injured.

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: For expats, cost of living in Hanoi higher than Saigon

Here's what's making news this morning: - Drunk Vietnamese official causes fatal car accident in Da Lat (Thanh Nien) - Coca Cola transfer pricing charges (VietnamNet Bridge) - Tata winning bidder i...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Vietnam Ponders Name Change

This October, the National Assembly is expected to make some major changes to Vietnam’s constitution for the first time since 1992. One of the biggest modifications that may take place is a sligh...

Brian Letwin

in Asia

Saigon Pushes for One-Visa Policy

To better connect the tourism of SE Asian countries, Saigon authorities have pressed the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to adopt a one-visa policy with Thailand, Cambodia, Loas and Mynamar...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Vietnam Losing $400 million per Year to Computer Viruses

Here's what's going on this morning in Saigon: - Thieves are getting technologically savvy (VietnamNet Bridge) - "Got to Dance" coming to Vietnam (VietnamNet Bridge) - Vietnamese Teloco to dep...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Vietnam Considers Ban on Lip-synching and Skimpy Clothes on Stage

Here's what's making news this morning: - HCMC to address plethora of unsold apartments (Saigon GP Daily) - Many of Saigon and Ha Noi's Gas Stations are Unsafe (Tuoi Tre) - Cocodile exports set to ...

Brian Letwin

in Asia

Nguyens Set to Conquer Australia's Cities

With over 4,000,000 Viet Kieu, it’s not surprising that Vietnamese culture has made its way across the globe. Vietnamese culinary heroes, such as Pho to Banh Mi, have been popularized from Sydney to N...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: New Council to Decide on Minimum Wage

- CocCoc trying to differentiate itself from Google (Tech in Asia) - Gambler siezed for trafficking elephant tusks (Tuoi Tre) - Experts say Vietnam should focus on improving the standard of living, ...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

VNA A330 Engine Catches Fire After Landing in Saigon

Yesterday at 3:55pm, a Vietnam Airlines Airbus A330, arriving from Melbourne, landed at Ton San Nhat International airport. Soon after, smoke was observed coming from its no. 2 engine.

Brian Letwin

in Asia

Kowloon - City in Darkness

We’ve seen some of Hong Kong’s tightest living spaces in a previous post but nothing compares with the notorious Kowloon Walled City. From the 1940s to 1993, this fortress of darkness and poverty hous...

Brian Letwin

in Roundups

Morning Links: Vietnam's Mobile Ad Market is Booming

Here's what's making news this morning: - New updates on the bribe-for-visa scam are emerging (Tuoi Tre)  - Teachers and students happy with graduation exam day (SaigonGP Daily)  - Lack o...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Saigon Lifts Ban on Public Bus Advertising

Saigon’s 2002 ban on public advertising has been lifted, allowing for advertisements on public buses, taxis and trains. The move has been welcomed by advertisers, seeking to expand their reach, and th...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Quang Nam Principal to Defend his Honor with Genital Examination

Well, it’s Monday so let’s keep things light this morning. A Quang Nam school principal, rumored to have had an extramarital affair, has requested a genital inspection by “relevant agencies” ...