Hanoi's Rent-a-Santa Business Is Booming
- Details
- Published on 25 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

Worried about capturing the magic of Christmas for your little ones? Hanoi residents have the answer: hire a Santa.
Morning News Roundup: Da Nang Officials Fine 2 Stores That Refuse to Serve Vietnamese
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- Published on 25 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Triet Thai.

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Da Nang to dig its first river tunnel [Vietnam News]
Google sees Vietnam as key market [The Saigon Times]
Vietnam company denies fraud accusations after debarred by World Bank [Thanh Nien]
What Google CEO Sundar Pichai's Visit Means for Vietnamese Tech
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- Published on 24 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

If his recent visit is any indication, Sundar Pichai is alright in Vietnam's book.
Zelda Goes To The Gallery: Hope
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- Published on 24 December 2015
- Written by Zelda Rudzitsky.

From social critique and political satire to the celebration of human strength, Hope – the inaugural exhibition of Craig Thomas Gallery's new downtown location – is the most personal exhibition to date by Hanoi-based artist Pham Huy Thong.
[Video] Take a Tour of North Korea's Pyongyang From Above
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- Published on 24 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

To much of the world, North Korea is a mystery. Images of the super-secretive nation, headed by lube-loving Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, seldom reach international media, and many wonder what life inside the totalitarian state is like.
[Photos] Inside the Metro Station Beneath Saigon's Opera House
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- Published on 24 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

The further the Saigon Metro progresses – or doesn't progress – the more we hear about escalating costs, construction hiccups and the project's Japanese contractors seeking compensation for delays. But beyond the overhead metro track in District 2 and a whole lot of closed construction sites littering the downtown area, few of us have a visual understanding of Saigon's largest public transportation project to date.
Drivers Should Leave Headlights on at All Times: Traffic Officials
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- Published on 24 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

In an effort to decrease the number of lives lost to traffic accidents each year, the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) is proposing that motorists keep their headlights on at all times – both day and night – while driving.
Morning News Roundup: Man Summoned by Police Over Rumor of Mermaid Caught in Central Vietnam
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- Published on 24 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Triet Thai.

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Vietnam joins Interpol’s fight against fake medicine [Vietnam Net]
City to get tough on polluting factories [The Saigon Times]
Viet Nam to build tsunami warning system [Vietnam News]
Here's What Vietnam Googled This Year
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- Published on 23 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

Looking back on 2015, Vietnam's internet search history suggests we could all use a good cry and a hug.
Brangelina “Secretly” Visited Vietnam This Week
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- Published on 23 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

Since adopting their Saigon-born son Pax in 2007, Brangelina have become perhaps Vietnam’s most popular foreign celebrity couple.
Nguyen Hue Traded a Colonial Shophouse for a McDonald's
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- Published on 23 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Lee Starnes.

As Saigon's one and only motorbike-free, picnic-free, pet-free walking street protected by rollerblading police, Nguyen Hue is already a popular gathering spot. But starting today, the good people of Saigon now have another reason to visit the bustling downtown thoroughfare: Mickey D's.
Saigoneer’s Picks: 10 Places to Buy Artsy Gifts in Vietnam
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- Published on 23 December 2015
- Written by Zelda Rudzitsky.

From rich textile traditions to innovative contemporary art, ethnic minority handicrafts and dozens of local and international designers, there's far more to shopping in Vietnam than conical hats and coffee. With Christmas upon us and Tet just over a month away, here are 10 shops and designers which showcase the culture and creativity available in Vietnam, as well as the country's slow shift toward ethical business practices.
Vietnam Immune to 'Star Wars' Fever
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- Published on 23 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

Last weekend, moviegoers the world over collectively went insane over the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Fans of the franchise purchased tickets weeks in advance, the internet was abuzz with plot speculation and grown men proudly sported full Jedi regalia in public.
Vietnam Among Top Remittance-Receiving Countries in the World
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- Published on 23 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

Vietnam is among the top 15 remittance-receiving countries in the world, with overseas Vietnamese sending back US$12.5 billion to the country so far this year.
Morning News Roundup: New Cave Systems Close to Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay Unveiled
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- Published on 23 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Shing Chan.

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FTA kicks off aiming to double trade in five years [Nikkei Asian Review]
Officials Slow to Act on Fake Coffee Sold in Saigon, Buon Ma Thuot
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- Published on 22 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

Around the world, humans seem to have a strange fixation with coffee beans that have been pulled out of another animal's poop. But just because you like coffee that comes from shit doesn't mean that coffee should taste like shit.
[Video] Local Videographer Shows Why Sapa Is Awesome in Under 5 Minutes
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- Published on 22 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

Any good traveler will tell you that the best way to explore a place is by getting to know the locals.
29 Russian Tourists Saved From Sinking Ship in Nha Trang
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- Published on 22 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

After a long period of declining arrivals, Russian tourists have been returning to Vietnam en masse in recent months. Many have returned to the beachside city of Nha Trang, long a favorite destination for Russian travelers. However, last Thursday, 29 such tourists had an additional, unplanned experience: escaping from a sinking ship.
The Story Behind Hai Phong's Opera House
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- Published on 22 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

During the early 20th century, the French were really into building opera houses in Vietnam. Any city with a sizable European population was all but guaranteed to have a theater in its town center, along with a church and a few fancy colonial villas.
Google CEO Meets Vietnamese Startups in Hanoi Today
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- Published on 22 December 2015
- Written by Saigoneer.

Today, 300 people will gather in Hanoi to meet Google CEO Sundar Pichai, the first time a senior executive from the company has visited Vietnam.