Khôi Phạm in Vietnam
Cold War History With a Side of Nem Rán in Prague's Little Hanoi
Across English-speaking countries such as the US and Australia, the Vietnamese diaspora established close-knit “Little Saigon” towns whenever they settled down, founding large markets, starting financial services, and introducing southern fares like gỏi cuốn and bánh mì to the local population. Elsewhere in Europe, however, the Vietnamese community is often known as “Little Hanoi,” due to the regional makeup of the first wave of immigrants. Some, like Prague’s Little Hanoi, have flourished to the point of being a “city within a city,” boasting its own self-sufficient administrative services, schools, and housing.
Exploring the Power of an International Community at International School Ho Chi Minh City
Success at the International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) can be measured according to many metrics. From IB DP test ...
Saigon's Next Top 5 Congested Streets Are Announced. Here Are the Winners.
Local streets are buckling under the pressure of Saigon's ever-increasing population density, here are the city's most frequently jammed roads, according to the municipal Department of Transportation.
Paul Christiansen in Vietnam
How to Spot a Traveling Vietnamese at the Airport? Boxes With Sharpied Names.
“If you know, you know.”
Into Saigon's Charming Hidden Third Spaces in the Shade of Bridges
Third place (noun): A space outside of one's home and workplace, where people meet and interact socially.
Century-Old Historic Villa in Đồng Nai Faces Demolition Due to Road Project
It’s yet another case of new infrastructure versus old heritage building — one of Vietnam’s most common urban planning clashes in recent years.
Food, Art, Heritage and Everything of the Essence in My #SaigonSummer
“In summer, the song sings itself.”― William Carlos Williams
With Thriving Coffee Culture, Vietnam Has Half a Million Cafes, Data Shows
Taking into account global and national chains, small brands, independent cafes and street vendors, a recent report estimates that Vietnam is home to more than 500,000 coffee shops that generate US$1.46 billion in revenue in total.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Saigon Opens ‘Smile School’ for Traffic Police
Saigon’s traffic police just underwent rigorous training sessions to help them gain knowledge on "cultural behavior and moral behavior of traffic police officers" while on duty. The program, chai...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Korean Schoolgirls Blame Manga Comics After Destroying Classroom
Koreans sure love their video games and manga comics. They have penetrated the psyche of the country’s children to the point where kids are shipped off to video game addiction camps. Every now and the...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Hanoi Man Arrested with 53 King Cobras in His Car
While snakes are awesome, the idea of being with one in closed quarters is less than appealing. Well, one Hanoi man felt differently and was arrested transporting 53 of them in his car. Did we mention...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Saigon's New CNG Busses to be Produced in Vietnam
Locally-produced CNG (compressed natural gas) busses may be an increasingly common sight over the next 12 months. On April 18, Duong Hong Thanh, deputy director of the City Department of Transport, a...
Brian Letwin in Asia
A Look at Hong Kong's Cramped Apartments
There are plenty of small rooms here in Saigon, no doubt. But Hong Kong is notorious for it's cramped living quarters. These overhead photos were commissioned and released by The Society for Community...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
VietJetAir Expands Bangkok Service and Celebrates with Free Tickets
VietJetAir has just announced a new route from Hanoi to Bangkok, set to open on June 1, 2013. To celebrate and promote this new service, the company is offering free tickets if you book between April ...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
UPS Becomes Vietnam's First 100% Foreign Owned Shipping Company
UPS has officially become the first 100% foreign owned shipping company in Vietnam. Concidering the state of shipping serice in Vietnam, this may symbolize a big step forward.
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Fire-Breathing Dragon Bridge Opens in Da Nang
For all the importance placed on dragons in Vietnamese culture, I’m sure at one point, we’ve all wondered to ourselves, “Why hasn’t Vietnam built a badass fire-breathing dragon bridge?” Well, wonder n...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Silent Mics? Heavy Fines for Liquor in Karaoke Rooms
Ain't no liquor in the karaoke room. To the dismay of ballers across Saigon, a new decree from the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism will raise the fines for drinking liquor in karaoke rooms. So...
Brian Letwin in Asia
The War That Never Happened Continues in Laos
The Diplomat recently published the story of the Hmong, a Laotian ethnic minority group recruited by the CIA to counter the influence of communism in Laos. This compelling article chronicles not only ...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Trung Nguyen Coffee Eyeing the International Market
Vietnam is now one of the world's top coffee exporters. While some local companies shake in their boots as Starbucks gears up to enter the Vietnamese market, the country’s largest coffee grower, Trun...
