in Development

Hanoi Breaks Ground on Sports Complex With World's 2nd-Largest Stadium

Hanoi is currently building the country’s largest sports complex that’s hoped to become Vietnam’s go-to location to host international events and tournaments.

in Development

Saigon Approves Plan to Extend Metro Line 1 to Long Thành International Airport

Plans for eventual metro access to the Long Thành International Airport are taking shape.

Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

A Brief History of Ngựa, a Non-Native Animal Vietnam Has Made Its Own

Are horses a Vietnamese animal?

in Architecture

In Đồng Nai, a Rustic Abode Emerges Under the Canopies of Cashew Trees

A clear directive was issued before construction of the home: all 26 cashew trees occupying the 100-square-meter plot must be preserved.

in Society

Meet Tâm, a Crossing ‘Guardian’ Protecting Saigon Traffic and Trains From Each Other

In a small kiosk overlooking the crowded Nguyễn Trọng Tuyển Street in Phú Nhuận, Nguyễn Thị Tâm routinely checks the clock and reviews the day’s train schedule meticulously. She’s repeated these tasks countless times, a crucial component of a job that she’s done for two decades as a train crossing attendant.

in Environment

Learning to Coexist in Peace Is the First Step to Protect Vietnam's Last Remaining Elephants

A trail of enormous footprints, criss-crossing slabs of cracked concrete, lead to a battered ranger station in Vietnam’s Pù Mát National Park. Park staff say the wild Asian elephant that left the tracks is as friendly as it is lonely.

in Sports

A Glimpse Into the Epic Underground Shows of Vietnam Pro Wrestling

Back in 2018, Saigon witnessed the birth of Vietnam Pro Wrestling (VPW), the first and only Pro Wrestlers in the whole of ...

in Development

HCMC Approves VinSpeed, VinGroup's Railway Arm, to Build Metro Line to Cần Giờ

A roughly 50-kilometer-long urban railway route will run from September 23 Park in downtown Saigon to VinGroup's Green Paradise project in Cần Giờ, beginning in 2028 at an estimated cost of VND102.43 trillion (nearly US$3.9 billion).

Back Society

Brian Letwin

in Tech

The Collapse of the Vietnamese Gaming Industry

“It’s becoming unbearable,” said VNG CEO, Le Hong Minh when discussing the current state of the Vietnamese gaming industry. Since the Ministry of Information and Communication stopped issuing license...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Saigon’s New Airport to Cost $4 – 5.6 Billion

Yesterday, the Transport Ministry held a seminar on the development plan for Long Thanh International Airport which is set to replace Tan Son Nhat by 2020, TuoiTre reports. With a total investment of ...

Brian Letwin

in Health

Beware of Fake Beer in Saigon

After words of caution from Oi Magazine about fake alcohol in Saigon, a Thanh Nien expose has revealed that beer is also being counterfeited as well. In an alley in Tan Binh district, a Thanh Nien re...

Brian Letwin

in Development

The Sad Story of Da Lat’s Disappearing Pine Trees

Known as “the city of a thousand pine trees,” unregulated deforestation and development have taken their toll on Da Lat’s forests and pine tree population. There was once a time when many of Da Lat’s...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Vietnam May Embrace Cars After All

Japanese companies, some of Vietnam’s largest investors, are playing an interesting game these days. For the most part, Japan has taken on the role of older brother to Vietnam, supporting the develop...

Brian Letwin

in Health

Chile to Assist Vietnam in Growing Quinoa

Rice has certainly cornered the market in Vietnam but a new pilot program conducted by Chile's Institute for Agricultural Research and Hanoi University of Agriculture hopes to add quinoa to the countr...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

Electronic Components Now Vietnam's #1 Export

As electronics companies look for cheaper labor, many are moving their production facilities to Vietnam. Electronics production has grown so quickly that in only 2 years, electronic component exports ...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

New iPhone Feature May Deter Thieves (But Probably Not)

Yesterday's WWDC saw some major product announcements, highlighted by an updated Macbook Air, re-designed Mac Pro and new versions of iOS and Mac OSX. Major changes aside, there was one element of the...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Hitachi Selected to Build Vietnam’s First Urban Railway

Japanese mega-corporation, Hitachi, has announced their winning bid to build Vietnam’s first urban railway in Saigon. The $381 million project is slated to begin operation in 2018. Under the contract...

Brian Letwin

in Health

Botched Penile Implants on the Rise

Well, we started this week with the story of a Quang Nam principal who had his penis inspected by local authorities to disprove rumors of an affair. And now, a spate of botched penile silicone implant...

Brian Letwin

in Health

Diabetes Rates Skyrocketing in Vietnam

As Vietnam continues its march to a free market economy, the country is not only importing new brands, but new health problems as well. Even as some begin to embrace organic produce, there are far mor...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

Da Nang to Get Free WIFI Network

In the works since 2003, Da Nang’s $2 million city-wide WIFI network is set to come online this September. The system will rely on 400 transmitters, allowing access so 10,000 users at any given time. ...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

E-commerce Sales to Hit $1.3 Billion by 2015

VECITA, the Vietnam E-Commerce and Information Technology Agency, released a report last week which revealed that Vietnam’s e-commerce sales will hit $700 million by the end of 2012 and $1.3 billion b...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Call for Submissions: Ho Chi Minh MEGA City

If you love Saigon, it’s time to grab your camera and take some shots of the city! The photo book, “TP. Ho Chi Minh MEGA City,” is currently being assembled and the authors are seeking submissions. C...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Saigon Announces Plan for Waterway Development

Well, Saigon is really trying to cover all the bases for its 2020 rebirth. Another massive project has been proposed to redevelop Saigon’s 1,000km of rivers and canals at a cost of more than $500 mill...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Vietnam to Invest $287 million in a Taller, Stronger Population

It seems like everyone wants to be a little bit taller (and a baller) these days. A recent report revealed that Vietnam’s neighbors are not only taller, but enjoy a faster growth speed amongst their p...

in Tech

Big Changes for Online Advertising in Vietnam

For Google staff, today should prove to be slightly more relaxing following a week of big announcements. For many of them, the week started with a cup of coffee at the annual I/O developer conference ...

Brian Letwin

in Development

City Center Overhaul to be "Harmonious"

For those skeptical about the recently announced changes to the city center, Nguyen Trong Hoa - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Development Studies and one of the plan’s authors – explai...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Airport for Mui Ne in the Works

Saigon might not be the only one who’s getting a shiny new airport - developers have submitted plans to the Phan Thiet central government to construct a $270 million regional airport. Russians, rejoic...

Brian Letwin

in Development

How Saigon Plans to Avoid the 'Car Age'

“A developed city is not one in which the poor get around by car but one in which the rich get around by public transit” - Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá. It seems like every time I’m stall...