Brian Letwin

in Culture

[Interactive Chart] How Vietnamese Consume Media

We can assume a lot about Vietnamese media habits based on our daily observations. Cafés are packed smartphone and tablets users and when walking down a hem at night, nearly every family seems to be s...

Brian Letwin

in Culture

[Video] Things Vietnamese Moms Do

YouTuber, Richie Le, makes videos about the Vietnamese community in California. In one of his more recent videos, he takes on stereotypes of Vietnamese mothers. While it takes place in the US, the vid...

in Culture

American School of Vietnam Teacher Gets a $6,000 Haircut

In a refreshing alternative to stories about crazy things wealthy Vietnamese spend their money on, Michael Barrs, a teacher at The American School of Vietnam, promised his students that if they raised...

in Culture

Neighbors - Celebrate Lesbians @ La Fenetre Soleil

From the organizer: Neighbors is a series of events with the purpose to help strengthen the bond and understanding in the LGBT community. Besides, Neighbors aims to transfer the accurate information a...

in Culture

Saigon Urban Legends: Haunted Tao Dan Park

Listed in UK travel guidebook Rough Guides as one of the most haunted places in the world, District 1’s Tao Dan Park is said to the home of young man's ghost.

in Culture

4 Traditional Trades That Are Quickly Disappearing in Hanoi

Last week we heard the story of the Saigon Post Office’s last letter writer, a trade that is unlikely to last much longer. But letter writing isn’t the only traditional occupation endangered by Vietna...

Brian Letwin

in Culture

[Photos] The Mud Wrestlers of Yen Vien Village

Every year between the 12th and 14th days of the fourth lunar month (May 10 - 12), the men of Yen Vien Village in Bac Giang Province partake in the a 3 hour “Ball Catching in Mud Festival.”

Brian Letwin

in Culture

15 Unusual Maps That Compare Vietnam and Other Countries

Maps are not only a great way to look back through time, but also to understand the world in its current state. Time-wasting site, Bored Panda, compiled a brilliant collection of maps that reveal some...

Brian Letwin

in Culture

Great Success! Tourist Celebrates After Crossing Saigon Street

Tourists are notoriously freaked out by the prospect of crossing the street in Vietnam, with many comparing it to the 1980s video game “Frogger.”

in Culture

The Cursed, Monk-less Phuc Quang Pagoda

Built in 1734 under the reign of King Long Duc III, Phuc Quang pagoda in Bac Giang Province has been mysteriously monk-less for nearly 300 years.

in Culture

The Last Letter Writer of the Saigon Post Office

As I travel through life, meeting new people, I sometimes get the feeling that some have a story to tell. When I discover such a person, I secretly feel special and cool to be one of the few who perce...

in Culture

Very Superstitious: 3 Popular Vietnamese Superstitions

As is the case in many cultures, superstition plays an important role in our society. It can dictate when to take a vacation, how to do business and even cure bad luck. In this monthly column, we take...

in Culture

Saigon Urban Legends: Spirits, Curses and Sunken Ships at Thuan Kieu Plaza

Located in the heart of Saigon’s busy Chinatown, the three-unit, 33-story tower complex known as Thuan Kieu Plaza was an icon of prosperity when it was completed in 1990. During the day, it looks no d...

Brian Letwin

in Culture

4 US States are Dominated by Vietnamese Speakers (Kind of)

While the Nguyens might be taking over Australia, the US claims a sizable Vietnamese population as well. Using census data, Slate created a revealing state-by-state map showing the most commonly used ...

in Culture

Pictionary Battle Night! @ deciBel

From the organizer: A night of networking and gaming where illustrators and creatives of Saigon can come together to battle it out for Pictionary glory!

Brian Letwin

in Culture

[Photos] Vietnamese Motorbikes and the Things They Carry

With more than 37 million of them, Vietnam is truly the land of the motorbike (for now). As we see on a daily basis, they’re not only the preferred method of transportation for people, but also for th...

Brian Letwin

in Culture

Ancient Village Regulations Uncovered in Hoi An

A 19th century draft of village rules and regulations has been discovered by a Vietnamese historian in Hoi An, the first of its kind, reports Vietnam News.

Brian Letwin

in Culture

[Video] Teaser: The Banditas of Hoi An

To avoid a dark complexion, many Vietnamese women wear body-encompassing garb when out about town. Some call them ‘ninjas’ and others ‘mummies.’ Sydney-based filmmaker, Kearon de Clouet, recently trav...

in Culture

Vietnam's Fading Black Smile

Contrasting black and white is not a modern aesthetic. For a long time, it was a standard of grace for Vietnamese women for whom traditional beauty was judged by “white skin, black teeth.”

Brian Letwin

in Culture

Made in Vietnam: Electric Chopper Bicycles

Looking to step up your bicycle game? Two mechanics in Nam Dinh Province have made their own electric chopper bicycle and the final product could only be described as baller.