Saigoneer Exclusive: Interview with the Director of 'Saigon is Happy'
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- Published on 10 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Saigon is Happy became an instant viral hit when it was posted on YouTube last month, racking up over 100,000 views. We sat down with director, Thành Đạt Phan, to see what inspired the video, how he recruited dancers and other nifty projects his studio is working on.
Harvard Prof: Vietnam Could See 13.6% GDP Growth by 2025
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- Published on 10 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
In what would only be described as a dream come true for Vietnamese economists and politicians, a Harvard professor, speaking at a conference in Hanoi last week, said that the country could experience 13.6% (!) GDP growth by 2025 thanks to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement.
Saigoneer Dispatches: How a Phnom Penh Youth Center is Using Hip Hop to Empower Street Kids
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- Published on 10 April 2014
- Written by Lee Starnes.
Through an unassuming alley in a slum of Phnom Penh, the deep beat of a bass line rings. One and two and three and four echoes off its dusty walls. Kids are dancing. Breakdancing.
After 5 Years, Boy Finally Has Battery Removed from Nose
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- Published on 10 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Doctors in central Vietnam treated a 10-year-old boy in Tam Tri Da Nang General Hospital earlier this week for emitting “unpleasant odors” from his nose, according to Tuoi Tre.
This Singapore Tourism Commercial is One of the Worst We’ve Ever Seen
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- Published on 10 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
We hope this cringeworthy Singapore tourism promotion video is an ingenious viral marketing effort because it’s just that bad (shout out to Malaysia’s “Malaysia Truly Asia” campaign which is slightly less horrible).
Can Vietnam Inspire a New Generation of Mobile Games?
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- Published on 10 April 2014
- Written by Leigh Ann Chow.
Recently, Vietnam’s mobile gaming industry was in the global spotlight thanks to Flappy Bird which had over 50 million downloads before being taken down by its creator, Dong Nguyen. Flappy Bird highlighted Vietnam’s potential to create world-class games and products. Now the question is: can Vietnamese developers take their game (pun intended) to the next level?
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Students to Compete at Global Energy Contest in France
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- Published on 10 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam hospital lab awarded international accreditation [Tuoi Tre]
Vietnam Eximbank deploys fingerprint authentication for POS, ATM transactions [Bio Metric Update]
Vietnam ponders on decision to host Asian Games [VietNamNet]
Saigon’s Hung Vuong Temple
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- Published on 09 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Every year on the 10th day of the Hung Vuong Celebration (which just happens to be today), thousands of Vietnamese gather at the Hung Temple in Phu Tho Province to honor the country’s ancient and revered leaders of the Hong Bang period. But did you know that Saigon has it’s own Hung Vuong temple?
Morning News Roundup: Brewing Storm Bringing Rain to Vietnam
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- Published on 09 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Bus slips over on central Vietnam muddy road, 13 hurt [Thanh Nien]
Education sector incorporates an anti-corruption program in curriculum [SGGP]
Govt official says Vietnam needs to compromise for trade deals [Thanh Nien]
Sweet Typographic Map of Vietnam and Its Food
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- Published on 08 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
In 2008, Jodi left her job as a lawyer to pursue goal of traveling (and eating) her way across the globe. After arriving in Vietnam, she became particularly enamored with the country’s diverse culinary offerings which she’s documented on her blog, Legal Nomads. Recently, her love of food and fonts collided with these beautiful t-shirts, graced with a hand-drawn, typographic map of Vietnam and its food.
[Slideshow] Rooftop Views from Saigon Pearl's Ruby Tower
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- Published on 08 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Since you folks seem to love pictures taken from high vantage points in Saigon (so do we!) Michael Waibel, editor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book, supplied us with a fresh set, captured from the top of the Ruby Tower of the Saigon Pearl Apartments.
HCMC to Build 30 Lakes to Prevent Flooding
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- Published on 08 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
As the realities of HCMC’s vulnerability to climate change are becoming increasingly apparent, the city is finally taking serious steps to address chronic (and worsening) flooding.
Binh Thanh House Wins ArchDaily's 'House of the Year' Award
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- Published on 08 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Green and sustainable buildings are still in their infancy in Vietnam. However the trend is becoming more popular and slowly but surely, Vietnamese architects are entering this arena with great success. Local sustainable architecture pioneers, Vo Trong Nghia Architects, are responsible for some of the country’s most beautiful green buildings and their Binh Thanh House project has just won Archdaily’s ‘House of the Year Award’.
Morning News Roundup: Asking for Directions in Saigon Now Costs VND5,000
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- Published on 08 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Asking for directions in Saigon now costs VND5,000 [Tuoi Tre]
Vietnam PM could pull plug on Asian Games [Thanh Nien]
U.S.-Vietnam Naval Exercises Begin Amid SE Asian Tension [Bloomberg]
Hoang Oanh: Vietnam’s Original Pop Star
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- Published on 07 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
The crate diggers over at music blog, Bodega pop have put together a collection of songs from Hoang Oanh, the “Saigon Siren,” produced between 1960 and 1975, the Golden Era of Vietnamese pop.
Vietnam Airlines (Finally) Announces IPO Date
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- Published on 07 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Well, that only took 7 years. According to Vietnam Investment Review, Vietnam Airlines has finally announced its official IPO for this September.
How to Draw Buddha, the Right Way
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- Published on 07 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
During the Golden Age of Tibetan Gupta rule, strict guidelines were created for how one should draw Buddha. And they’re insanely specific.
“Củ Chi Lite” – The Secret Tunnels of Phú Thọ Hòa
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- Published on 07 April 2014
- Written by Tim Doling.
Very few foreign tourists ever set foot there and it seems that only those living in the area know of their existence. But the pioneering Phú Thọ Hòa Tunnels in Hồ Chí Minh City’s Tân Phú District played an important role during the First Indochina War and served as the prototype for their
more more
famous counterpart at Củ Chi.
300 Motorbikes Destroyed in HCMC Parking Lot Fire
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- Published on 07 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
A fire roared through a District 8 parking lot on Saturday afternoon destroying hundreds of motorbikes, leaving a scene that resembled a warzone with hundreds of burnt out bike frames littering the scene.
Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Releases 450000 Fish Into Recovering Canals
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- Published on 07 April 2014
- Written by Saigoneer.
Ho Chi Minh City releases 450,000 fingerlings to nature [Vietnam Plus]
Saigon Hub co-working space shuts down, unclear if it will be able to reopen [TechinAsia]
