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Vietnam Airports Charging Premium Prices for Low-Quality Products

Details: Published on 26 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

We’ve all been there – in the rush to get to the airport on time, you forgo a necessary meal. You arrive only to find that your (insert budget airline here) flight has been delayed 2 hours. Maybe there’s one or two American fast food outlets to choose from, but you don’t feel like a greasy burger before your flight.

8 Old Pictures of Cars in Saigon

Details: Published on 26 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Bentleys, BMWs and Mercedes are all over Saigon these days. Though cars have been present in the country since the turn of the 20th century, decades of war (1941 – 1975) and an economic stagnation (1975 – 1986) drastically reduced the number of vintage automobiles in Vietnam. One will sometimes see an old Ford Mustang or VW Bug around town but they are very rare and often imported. For many, it’s hard to imagine sweet old Citroens and ’57 Chevys puttering about town. That’s why we’ve put together this awesome slideshow of Saigon’s vintage transportation methods!

Phở-Flavored Cocktail Makes Its Debut. Seriously.

Details: Published on 25 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Pho is a universally adored dish (yes, even aliens love it), a melody of simple ingredients that yield abundantly complex flavors. Bottom line - it's goddamn delicious. So it's no surprise that people across the world have attempted to put their own spin on the traditional soup. There have been pho burgers, pho salads and now, a bar in Philadelphia, US, is serving up a pho cocktail.

Vietnamese Artists Mix Electronic, Hip Hop and Traditional Music

Details: Published on 25 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

There are complaints that Vietnamese pop music is bland and lacks variety and musical ingenuity. Pop ballads, usually indistinguishable from one another, dominate Vietnamese TV and radio.

Fortunately, there are local musicians who are breaking the mould, such as DjGiang Nguyễn who partnered with blind Đàn Bầu (traditional monochord instrument) musician, Hà Chương and Mrt Beatboxer, to create a unique track that fuses contemporary electronic and hip hop with traditional Vietnamese music.

Beware of Fake Beer in Saigon

Details: Published on 24 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

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 reporter found men sitting in a 20sq meter room, taking empty bottles of Heineken and Tiger, filling them half-way with the original product and the remainder with Saigon beer.

Ode To Saigon

Details: Published on 24 June 2013; Written by Mark Batchelor.

When Mark Batchelor found himself in an all-to-familiar power outage, he was left with no internet and decided to spontaneously pick up a pen a paper and whip together a poem/rhyme about his first impressions of living in Saigon.

Weapons Workshop Uncovered in Hai Phong

Details: Published on 21 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

If there's a will, there's a way. When you own a workshop and are a drug addict, this could lead you to running a gun-making operation as in the case of Duong Minh Nhat.

The 38-year-old and his wife were arrested on Tuesday when authorities stormed his workshop and found numerous pen guns and ammunition. The couple sold the guns to local gangsters and used the proceeds to feed their drug addiction.

Event: Green Drinks Returns on June 25

Details: Published on 21 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

With a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business, it's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organising network.

Don't Panic: SuperMoon is on Its Way

Details: Published on 21 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

It’s about that time again. On June 23, the year’s largest supermoon will be visible above the Saigon skies.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon lines up with the Earth and the sun at a specific point in its orbit, called the lunar perigee. That's the point at which the moon is nearest to Earth as it traces its elliptical path around our planet.

7 Old Pictures of Saigon Street Vendors

Details: Published on 20 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

The buildings and streets of Saigon can change in the blink of an eye. Gone are the streetcars, French street names and ox-drawn carts. As the economy continues to develop, the old Saigon is being replaced by skyscrapers, metros and Burger Kings. However, there are elements of the city that have barely changed over the last century, one of these are street vendors.

Thai Monks Traveling on Private Jet Cause Uproar

Details: Published on 20 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Three Thai monks have landed in hot water after footage of the trio flying on a private jet, wearing sunglasses and earphones and carrying Louis Vuitton bags emerged on YouTube.

The video has caused backlash in Thailand as the images in the video are completely at odds with the clergy’s principles - high on that list is living without possessions (save for a few robes).

Lost Cambodian City Found Using Frickin' Laser Beams

Details: Published on 19 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Apparently Ankgor Watt is a piece of a larger puzzle. Using frickin' areal lasers, archaeologists have identified a sprawling city around the 1,200 year old temple complex, revealing how the area’s network of temples were once connected.

The Sad Story of Da Lat’s Disappearing Pine Trees

Details: Published on 19 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

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 thoroughfares were lined with tall, majestic pine trees.

Downed US Plane in Binh Phuoc

Details: Published on 19 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin. Photo by Quinn Ryan Mattingly .

Earlier this year, Quinn Ryan Mattingly made his way through Binh Phuoc Province. Eventually reaching Phuoc Long, he stumbled upon some interesting history, a downed US plane, slowly decomposing in the center of town.

There wasn't much information available about the plane, but after a little digging around, it’s likely that it was a casualty of the Battle of Phuoc Long.

Amazing Vietnamese Origami

Details: Published on 18 June 2013; Written by Saigoneer.

This is the work of Hanoi-based artist Nguyen Hung Cuong who creates his beautiful pieces with paper called Do.

Nguyen Hung Cuong has been making origami since the age of six when he received his first book - Prehistoric Origami and is currently an active member of Vietnam Origami Group (VOG), a community of origami enthusiasts in Vietnam.

Call for Submissions - Ho Chi Minh MEGA City

Details: Published on 18 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

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.

Check out the information below to better understand the project and see how you can play a vital role in its creation:

Vietnam May Embrace Cars After All

Details: Published on 17 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

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 development of the country’s major infrastructure (bridges and tunnels) and transportation (subways and urban rail networks) projects.

Friendly Between Arsenal and Vietnam in Jeopardy

Details: Published on 17 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

The friendly between Arsenal and Vietnam is in a state of limbo after stadium owners raised fees for the match.

Touted as the first Premier League team to visit Vietnam, Arsenal had planned to play the Vietnam national team at the 40,000 seat My Dinh stadium in Hanoi on July 17.

Chile to Assist Vietnam in Growing Quinoa

Details: Published on 14 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

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 country’s diet.

Saigon Graffiti - Part 1

Details: Published on 14 June 2013; Written by Brian Letwin

Saigon has quite a bit of graffiti but not much of it is of particularly high quality.

These refreshing pieces by local bombers such as Tom, KD, Ares, Mur, K Dee, YCP are a few years old but show a high level of skill.

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