Weekend News Roundup: Real Madrid to Hold Soccer Camp in HCM City
- Details
- Published on 26 May 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam Air offering part of push for foreign investment [Sydney Morning Herald]
Vietnam car imports soar in May: report [Thanh Nien]
Authorities: Woman Sets Herself on Fire in Front of Reunification Palace to Protest Chinese Oil Rig
- Details
- Published on 23 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
According to Le Hieu Truong Hai, District 1's Vice Chairman, a 67-year-old woman from Binh Thanh District set her self on fire in front of Reunification Palace at 6am this morning to protest the Chinese oil rig that has encroached on Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone in the East Sea.
Street Cred: Phan Xích Long
- Details
- Published on 23 May 2014
- Written by Vinh.
Like a page straight out of Bizzaro World, fast food franchises have a heightened social status here in Vietnam.
[Photos] The Mud Wrestlers of Yen Vien Village
- Details
- Published on 23 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
Every year between the 12th and 14th days of the fourth lunar month (May 10 - 12), the men of Yen Vien Village in Bac Giang Province partake in the a 3 hour “Ball Catching in Mud Festival.”
15 Unusual Maps That Compare Vietnam and Other Countries
- Details
- Published on 23 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
Maps are not only a great way to look back through time, but also to understand the world in its current state. Time-wasting site, Bored Panda, compiled a brilliant collection of maps that reveal some fun and interesting facts that show how Vietnam stacks up to the rest of the world when it comes to everything from rates of lactose intolerance to average penis size (sorry, Vietnam).
Old Saigon Building of the Week: Maison du Combattant
- Details
- Published on 23 May 2014
- Written by Tim Doling.
The project to create a Maison du Combattant (War Veterans Centre) was launched in 1929 by the Amicale Cochinchinoise des Anciens Combattants de la Grande Guerre (Cochinchina Friendly Association of Great War Veterans). Funded entirely from donations, subscriptions and the proceeds of various raffles, the attractive art deco building opened its doors at 23 boulevard Norodom (now 23 Lê Duẩn) in 1932.
Great Success! Tourist Celebrates After Crossing Saigon Street
- Details
- Published on 23 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
Tourists are notoriously freaked out by the prospect of crossing the street in Vietnam, with many comparing it to the 1980s video game “Frogger.”
Morning News Roundup: Firms Pay Fines for Violating Food Safety Rules
- Details
- Published on 23 May 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Ford pours more investment into Vietnam [Vietnam Plus]
ExxonMobil keen on Vietnam market [VoV]
The Mekong Delta: Home to 3 of Vietnam's Most Spectacular Mansions
- Details
- Published on 22 May 2014
- Written by Dang Bui.
While Hanoi, Hai Phong and Saigon are known for their beautiful colonial architecture, some of Vietnam’s best specimens can be found in the Mekong Delta. Here are 3 ornate buildings known for their mixture of Oriental and European architecture, that also are rich in history.
This Video Reminds Us Just How Beautiful Vietnam Really is
- Details
- Published on 22 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
It’s time to take a break from Saigon time lapse videos set to electronic music and enjoy this slow-paced short film, Somewhere in Vietnam which reminds us just how beautiful this country is.
“Pho” added to Merriam-Webster Dictionary
- Details
- Published on 22 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
Well, it’s about time. Our beloved “pho” has finally gotten the recognition it deserves, recently being added along with 150 other terms to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, according to CBS News.
The Cursed, Monk-less Phuc Quang Pagoda
- Details
- Published on 22 May 2014
- Written by Dang Bui.
Built in 1734 under the reign of King Long Duc III, Phuc Quang pagoda in Bac Giang Province has been mysteriously monk-less for nearly 300 years.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Science and Technology Day Declared
- Details
- Published on 22 May 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Denture clasp spent 20 years in Vietnamese lung [Thanh Nien]
Vietnam to play Thailand to secure World Cup berth [DTI News]
Vietnamese lecturer wins Australian prize for outstanding researchers [Tuoi Tre]
The Last Letter Writer of the Saigon Post Office
- Details
- Published on 21 May 2014
- Written by Dang Bui.
As I travel through life, meeting new people, I sometimes get the feeling that some have a story to tell. When I discover such a person, I secretly feel special and cool to be one of the few who perceives their uniqueness. But as it often happens, before long, I realize my cool stranger is actually known by quite a few tour guides, which makes me feel massively uncool.
Russian Tourists are Abandoning Mui Ne
- Details
- Published on 21 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
Mui Ne, long considered a haven for Russian tourists has been experiencing a drop in visitors from the Motherland as they seek out “easier accesses” destinations, reports Thanh Nien.
Very Superstitious: 3 Popular Vietnamese Superstitions
- Details
- Published on 21 May 2014
- Written by Dang Bui.
As is the case in many cultures, superstition plays an important role in our society. It can dictate when to take a vacation, how to do business and even cure bad luck. In this monthly column, we take a closer look at common Vietnamese superstitions, starting with fetus eggs, the first day of Tet and best business practices.
[Video] Physically-Challenged Mekong Woman Paints with Her Feet
- Details
- Published on 21 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
For those of us who possess little to no artistic talent, we know that creating anything more than a stick figure is a daunting task. That makes the work of 36-year-old Huynh Thi Xam incredibly impressive as, due to a birth defect, she creates beautiful art with her feet.
Morning News Roundup: MobiFone Offers New Data Services for Tourists
- Details
- Published on 21 May 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
TPP meeting fails to reach final agreement [Vietnam Plus]
HCM City officials pledge wastewater cleanup [VietNamNet]
No river in Hanoi found as unpolluted or slightly polluted [VietNamNet]
Vietnamese Students Win 2 Awards at Intel Science Competition
- Details
- Published on 20 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
2 Vietnamese high school students received awards for their projects at last week’s 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) held in Los Angeles, California held May 11-16, reports Vietnam Plus.
The Lost History of Germans in Saigon
- Details
- Published on 20 May 2014
- Written by Brian Letwin
Though it was a French colony, companies from all over Europe were engaged in trade and production in Indochina, especially in Saigon. Germans in particular played a major role in the city’s turn-of-the-twentieth-century economic growth. But as World War I engulfed the Continent, changing geopolitics spread to Saigon and the city’s German population was deported, almost overnight.
