Morning Links: Vietnam Battles with Poor Quality Education
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- Published on 30 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- FDI bottlenecks in Mekong Delta [VOV]
- Vietnam anticipates US$2,300 GDP per capita in 2015 [VOV]
- Bad debts fall from previous month [SGGP]
Bitexco Tapped to Develop Thu Thiem Urban Area
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- Published on 29 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
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 project.
How Much Does Vietnam's Prime Minister Make? Less Than You Might Think.
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- Published on 29 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
With the news that some state officials are making outrageous salaries, the Vietnamese press has started to probe a bit deeper into exactly how much the country’s officials make.
Morning Links: School Mulls Banning Female Teachers From Donning Short Skirts
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- Published on 29 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Dried shredded squid as elastic as plastic seized [Tuoi Tre]
- School mulls banning female teachers from donning short skirts [Tuoi Tre]
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Gánh Tàu Hủ (1926)
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- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
While I'm not the biggest fan of chè (Vietnamese sweet soup) in general, gánh tàu hủ (tofu with ginger, caramel and optional coconut milk) has a special place in my heart (even if it's not technically chè).
Working Multiple Jobs: A Trend for Foreigners in Saigon?
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- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Carlos Martin Bregon.
It’s been almost a year since I first arrived in Saigon. Now, when looking back on my search for jobs in the city, I think that my personal experiences carry some value and may come in handy for those who plan to live long-term in Saigon.
‘Flat-Chested’ People May Face Driving Ban
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- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Another week, another interesting law - a 2008 decision which proposed to ban drivers based on height, weight and chest size due to safety issues is gaining steam again.
Crazy Buffalo Up in Flames. Again.
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- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
For the second time in two years, Pham Ngu Lao hotspot, The Crazy Buffalo, saw its neon sign go up in flames.
At 4pm yesterday afternoon, passersby warned the restaurant that smoke was rising from their large neon sign.
Morning Links: The Last Farmers in Saigon
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- Published on 28 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Land subsidence creates hole that swallows bed, woman [Tuoi Tre]
- Abusing wage fund, directors pocket $123,000 as yearly salary [Tuoi Tre]
The Story of Tan Son Nhat Airport
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- Published on 27 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
As the plan for Saigon's massive Long Thanh Airport moves forward (despite some objections), we thought we'd take a minute to look back at the long history of old standby, Tan Son Nhat.
The Coolest House in Binh Thanh?
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- Published on 27 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
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.
The Coolest House in Binh Thanh? (2)
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- Published on 27 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
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.
Saigon's Old Bridges in Danger of Collapse
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- Published on 27 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Saigon is a city of bridges. They criss-cross the city's rivers and canals, allowing for the flow of goods and people.
But time, wars and poor maintenance have not been kind to many of the city's old bridges, some of which are over 100 years old.
Morning Links: English Teaching: Is White Right?
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- Published on 27 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Vietnam ministries pass the buck on controversial driving regulations [Thanh Nien]
- Phishing increasing in Vietnam [VietnamNet Bridge]
Saigon Players Are Back and Calling for New Cast Members
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- Published on 27 August 2013
“Saigon Players” will celebrate its 10th anniversary as a community theatre in Saigon. It is a non-profit theatrical group composed by amateurs and professional foreigners and Vietnamese who share the same passion for theatre. All its cast and crew are volunteers and the profits from the shows go to charities chosen by the members themselves.
Vietnam Enjoying Tourism Growth in 2013
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- Published on 26 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Vietnam has reeled in more than 677,000 foreign tourists in August, a 22% increase from last year.
Construction Restart at Lavenie Crown?
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- Published on 26 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
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, Kinh Do Corporation (yes, the bakery) pulled out, leaving the site to become a parking lot. But over the last few weeks, there has been a buzz of construction activity on the site. Has the project found a new investor?
Experts Reject Plan for New Saigon Airport
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- Published on 26 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
As plans move forward for Saigon’s new Long Thanh airport, a pair of former aviation officials are questioning the need for such an investment.
Associate Prof. Dr Nguyen Thien Tong, former chairman of the aviation engineering department of the HCMC University of Technology and Le Trong Sanh, former head of the management department at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport, favor upgrading Thanh Son Nhat as opposed to building a completely new airport. Tong compared the project to other, ambitious yet short-sighted infrastructure plans:
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 26 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Coffee bean price continues to plummet [SGGP]
- Taxis scheme offers hope for the handicapped [VietnamNet Bridge]
- Invaluable fossils in Vietnam [VietnamNet Bridge]
Vietnam Struggling to Keep Treasure Hunters in Check
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- Published on 23 August 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Since 1998, numerous ancient vessels have been found of the coast of Quang Ngai Province. The ships hold thousands of ancient artifacts, mainly ceramics as these waters were once part of the ‘Ceramic Road’ which linked East and West. Unfortunately, these sites are mismanaged and unprotected, leading to mass looting and the destruction of centuries-old artifacts:
