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A Brief History Of The Áo Dài

Every country has its national attire. China’s has the cheongsam, Japan the kimono, Korea the hanbok, America denim and Vietnam has its áo dài. Like the country from which it originated, the áo dài ha...

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[Photos] “Cemetery” For Tanks, Planes And Pretty Much Everything Else In Bac Ninh

In the village of Quan Do, Bac Ninh Province lies a massive cemetery of old military and civilian equipment. 

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An Interview With 2 Vietnamese Dog Thieves

Dog theft has become a major issue over the years in Vietnam, especially as the country develops and people form deeper bonds with their pets. Any local dog owner lives with the knowledge that there a...

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The Little-Known Hero’s Tomb Next To Bà Chiểu Market

Located at the intersection of two bustling streets in Bình Thạnh District – Phan Đình Phùng and Đinh Tiên Hoàng – and a few steps from the crowded Bà Chiểu market, is a temple dating back to the city...

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An Ode To Saigon’s Rain Showers

Despite the inconveniences that unpredictable rain showers bring to Saigon, they are an essential part of the city’s character.

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[Photos] Honda Chalys That Have Undergone Extreme Makeovers

Though they’re becoming increasingly rare on Vietnam’s roads, Honda Chalys remain a favorite for local mechanics who out their own spin on the diminutive motorbikes.

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[Video] Saigon Hustlers

For many in Saigon, life is a hustle. From street vendors to motorbike ice delivery boys, everyone is trying to eek out a living. This video, made by Luke Penders, does a great job of capturing those ...

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3 Thrilling Vietnamese Games To Play During The Month Of Ghosts

Small trays of colorful cakes are popular offerings for superstitious Buddhists during the Month of Ghosts. But Vietnamese children have a number of other ways to make contact with spirits, including ...

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Masters Of Recycling: Saigon Technicians Turn Old Computer Screens Into TV Sets

If you needed anymore proof that Vietnamese are the masters of recycling and reuse, here it is. At District 10’s Nhật Tảo Market, technicians spend their day stripping down old computer monitors to cr...

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The Fixie Fad Takes Off In Saigon

Well, it was only a matter of time. After confirming earlier this month that the hipster subculture is alive and well in Saigon (in addition to flying whales, apparently), it looks like one of its def...

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4 Unique Saigon Markets

Saigon is full of markets, with each having its own characteristics. Together, they form a kind of community, comprised of everything from the aesthetically pleasing but overpriced Bến Thành to the ub...

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The 90-Year-Old Lumberjack Of Hanoi

Though nearly a century old, 90-year-old Hanoi man, Lê Văn Sâm still amazes people with his incredible health and work ethic. Every day for over 70 years, Sâm has cut and transported large trees to ma...

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[Video] Professional Vietnamese Tennis Players Trade In Rackets For Stools, Wine Bottles

Having mastered the tennis racket, a group of players in Saigon have decided to replace their normal frames with wine bottles, wooden chairs and even pieces of pattern tile.

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[Photos] Architecture Student Builds Sweet Custom Bike

This badass custom, motorcycle-scooter hybrid was not built by a professional mechanic, but rather a student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture.

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August: The Month Of Damned Spirits

The 7th lunar month, which usually falls in mid-August, is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world as the Month of Ghosts. Known as Vu Lan month in Vietnam, it is marked by large religious celebrat...

Brian Letwin

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[Video] Beware Of The Tobacco Bong (Điếu Cày)

The tobacco bong (điếu cày) is a popular companion for everyone from café-goers to parking attendants in Vietnam who are looking for a greater high than normal cigarettes provide, or simply a strong d...

Brian Letwin

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[Video] This Is What Happens When Tourists Are Asked To Speak Vietnamese

A hard a time as expats in Vietnam have pronouncing the local language, after a while, most of us are able to learn the basics. But as we see in this video from Nguyen McHung, the language was not des...

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CreativeDrinks #2 @ 3A Station

From the organizer: "Sure, everyone knows what a brand is. Coke, Pepsi, McDonald’s. But that buzzword is getting thrown around a whole lot in career and job search conversations these days, too. And y...

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[Photos] Wealthy Yen Bai Man Builds Extravagant Mountain Tomb

Taking a page out of the book of the Egyptian Pharaohs, a Yen Bai man is constructing a massive, VND15 billion tomb on the side of a mountain.

Brian Letwin

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[Video] A Day in the Life of a Saigon Street Masseur

You’ve no doubt heard ringing bottle caps, the calling card of Saigon’s street masseurs, outside your door in the evening hours. These men ride around the city till the morning light, hoping to put a ...