Brian Letwin in Development
Is Saigon Losing its Soul?
In a recent article for Metropolis Magazine, Carl Robinson reflects on the massive changes to Saigon’s urban character over the last 15 years. He found that the city’s colonial buildings, designed wit...
Brian Letwin in Development
First Phase of Metro Line No. 5 Fully Funded
With construction is already in full swing on Saigon’s first metro line, the city is close to reaching its funding goal for the first phase of line No. 5. Most of the funding will come from the Asia D...
Brian Letwin in Development
A Day in the Life of a Saigon Drainage Worker
As much of Saigon was built on swampland, drainage is vital to the city’s development and progress. Yet with each heavy rain, large swaths of the city become inundated and streets come to resemble sma...
Brian Letwin in Development
Minimalist Nest House in Binh Duong
The Nest house was designed for a middle-aged architecture writer. The house, located on the outskirts of the new city in Thuận An, Binh Duong Province, seeks to blend urbanism with a variety of archi...
Brian Letwin in Development
Vietnam Set to Become World’s Largest Motorbike Producer
Slowly but surely, Vietnam is becoming the favored location for large scale motorbike manufacturing. If the trend continues, analysts predict that within 10 years, Vietnam will become the global leade...
Brian Letwin in Development
Why Sustainable Development is Vital For Vietnam's Future
Green building is starting to take off in Vietnam. Over the past few months, we’ve seen a number of ‘green’ homes sprout up across Saigon, using open floor plans, sustainable materials and plants that...
Brian Letwin in Development
World Startup Report @ Saigon Hub
From the organizer: The World Startup Report is a social project to help understand and connect the different startup ecosystems in the world.
Brian Letwin in Development
H&P Completes Bamboo–Earth–Stone Pavilion
Local architects, H&P, have long focused on the use of environmentally-friendly materials for their designs. Earlier this year, they released a set of renderings of low-cost bamboo housing de...
Brian Letwin in Development
Bitexco Tapped to Develop Thu Thiem Urban Area
After years of land clearance delays, lack of investors and stagnation in the real estate market, the Thu Thiem new urban area project may gaining steam as Bitexco has been assigned to manage the proj...
Brian Letwin in Development
The Coolest House in Binh Thanh? (2)
Green building is slowly but surely gaining popularity in Vietnam. For Saigon in particular, the tropical climate provides many opportunities for design firms to implement efficient, green designs.
Brian Letwin in Development
The Coolest House in Binh Thanh?
Green building is slowly but surely gaining popularity in Vietnam. For Saigon in particular, the tropical climate provides many opportunities for design firms to implement efficient, green designs.
Brian Letwin in Development
Construction Restart at Lavenie Crown?
The Lavenie Crown was one of the many victims of Saigon’s real estate crunch. Slated to begin construction in 2012 on the site next to Diamond Plaza, the project came to a halt as the main investor, K...
Brian Letwin in Development
From French Villas to Slums, Da Lat's Lost Charm
Da Lat, once a sleepy French vacation town, full of ornate villas and majestic pine forests, is in danger of losing what charm still remains. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the city’s pine tr...
Brian Letwin in Development
Da Nang Taps IBM to Design Advanced Traffic System
Why is it that Da Nang keeps getting all the cool toys? As if free, city-wide WIFI weren’t enough, the city has signed a deal with IBM to install a high-tech traffic management system.
Brian Letwin in Development
[UPDATED]Plan to Move Saigon's Electrical Wires Underground Facing Major Delays
[Update Below] In an effort to clear Saigon’s skies, in 2009, city authorities signed off on a plan to move messy electrical wires underground. But the project, scheduled to be completed by 2015, is f...
Brian Letwin in Development
Vietnam's North-South Railway Set for Major Upgrade
Vietnam’s North-South Railway has been in need of a major upgrade for a long time. Beyond issues of speed and comfort, the system’s infrastructure is in poor condition, causing chronic delays and inef...
Brian Letwin in Development
Vietnam Contemplates Opening Real Estate Market to Foreigners
To boost investment in the ailing real-estate sector, the Ministry of Construction has proposed that foreigners residing in Vietnam be given the opportunity to purchase property. Thanh Nien reports:
Brian Letwin in Development
Proposed Plan Would Completely Reorganize Saigon’s Districts
A new urban administration plan proposed by the HCMC People’s Committee would completely reshape the city’s urban structure. Say goodbye to Districts 2 and 7! According to city authorities, Saigon ha...
Brian Letwin in Development
Inspiring Green Building Planned for Da Nang
We love green design and Vietnam is a great place to put it into practice. While we’ve covered some awesome green residential designs in the past, a planned ABBANK building in Da Nang is taking a slig...
Brian Letwin in Development
Webinar: How to Setup a Business in Vietnam
Viewed as the land of opportunity for those coming from countries with sagging economies, It's not uncommon to find foreigners who want to open a business in Vietnam. But with so many regulations and ...
