Slideshow: 12 Old Pictures of Advertisements in Saigon
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- Published on 19 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Before 1975, large advertisements were commonplace in Saigon. But after the American War and the fall of capitalism in the South, ads were considered a vestige of the old order and were heavily regulated.
Saigon Couples Encouraged to Make More Babies
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- Published on 19 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Even though Vietnam’s population has been steadily growing the last few decades, a declining birth rate has prompted HCMC officials to encourage couples to have more than one child.
Slow Going for Vietnam’s First Nuclear Plant
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- Published on 18 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Vietnamese planners and their Russian counterparts are rushing to complete the first stages of Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant. While construction is scheduled to begin in 2014, slow land clearance, miscommunication and incomplete design are threatening the projects timetable.
[Video] What Saigon's Streets Looked Like in 1993
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- Published on 18 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Last week we saw some pictures of Hanoi from the mid-90s. Today, we're treated with a video which shows Saigon street life in 1993 captured by Dung Hua.
As with all the old Saigon pictures and videos, some things have changes but more has stayed the same.
Saigon Bridge 2 Set to Open in November
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- Published on 18 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
If your commute takes you over the Saigon Bridge, you may have noticed a massive concrete frame rising next to it. This is Saigon Bridge 2 which, when completed, will ease congestion on Highway 1.
Future Shorts Returns with 2 Screenings
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- Published on 18 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
90 Countries, 325 Cities, 6 Continents, 1,700 screenings – Future Shorts is the world’s largest short film festival. This season’s short films explore the grief; the joy, and the memory of living and breaking with the familiar.
Returning to Ho Chi Minh City, Future Shorts showcases electrifying short films from filmmakers around the world.On Sunday, July 28th, Future Shorts will screen at Snap Cafe following the monthly art showcase, Creative Shake.
Vietnamese News Sites Targeted by Hackers
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- Published on 17 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
As some may have noticed, over the past two weeks, many Vietnamese news sites have been slow or inaccessible. Hacker Vietnam Online (HVA) has announced that they have found the source of the constant stream of denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
[Video] Dozens of Drivers Tripped Up by Pothole
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- Published on 17 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Driving in Saigon becomes truly hazardous when it rains - flooded streets disguise potholes, and breaks are rendered ineffective at short distances. These are the elements that came into play last week when the footage below was shot.
Vietnam’s Youth Environmental Movement Takes off
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- Published on 17 July 2013
- Written by Nguyen Van Nga.
At a ceremony to mark World Environment Day on June 5, Vietnam’s deputy prime minister, Nguyen Thien Nhan, added a sober warning that his country is facing grave environmental problems, and called on citizens and the government ministries to act.
Fan Chases Arsenal Team Bus - Gets Invite to Come Aboard
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- Published on 17 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Well, it looks like Arsenal wasn't able to avoid fans after all.
After spending most of their trip in quarantine conditions, not meeting with fans or eating local food, the British football team allowed one lucky local on their bus. Dubbed ‘Running Man,’ this unnamed Vietnamese super fan chased the Arsenal team bus for 5 km through the streets of Hanoi before being invited on board.
It’s Official – McDonald's Coming to Vietnam in 2014
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- Published on 16 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The Big Mac cometh...
After years of speculation and rumor, it appears that McDonald's, the world’s largest fast food chain, will open up its first location in Vietnam in 2014. McDonald's will join other American companies such as Burger King, Dominos and KFC, which have seen success in the Vietnamese market and are quickly expanding.
Beautiful Japanese Rice Paddy Art
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- Published on 16 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The slideshow below features examples of tanbo, a ingenious Japanese style of rice paddy art, popularized by the village of Inakadate.
The tradition began in 1993 when the villagers were looking for ways to boost their economy. The art also has a deep connection to rice harvesting which had taken place on their land for thousands of years.
Vietnam is Turning into a Country of Yogurt Addicts
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- Published on 16 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
At the rate yogurt is gaining popularity in Vietnam, it soon may be the preferred currency in the black market.
According to VietnamNet, the Vietnamese yogurt market is expected to reach VND12.4 trillion in 2013, up from VND5.7 trillion in 2012. This two-fold increase has made yogurt the rising star of the Vietnamese dairy industry.
No Love for Fans or Vietnamese Food as Arsenal Arrives in Hanoi
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- Published on 15 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Arsenal’s much published friendly with the Vietnam national team will take place at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium on July 17th. While the club’s first visit to Vietnam will bring premier football to the country, the team’s players are being shielded from both Vietnamese fans and local food.
Interview with HCMC MEGA City Organizer - Part 2
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- Published on 15 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Dr. Michael Waibel, along with Hilbert Henning, have launched the TP. Ho Chi Minh - MEGA City project to visually document Saigon’s rapid urban development. The project is currently being assembled and the authors are seeking submissions. For more information, click the link above.
We spoke with Michael about the motivation behind the project which has both personal and academic roots for its organizers.
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 9 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 15 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Vietnam's Economy to Grow 5.3 Percent in 2013 [Malaysia Sun]
- Vietnam concerned over HIV donor funding cuts [IRIN]
- VN firm wins management contract for Myanmar skyscraper [Vietnam Net Bridge]
Ministry Proposes Nonsensical Fines for Psychological Abuse
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- Published on 12 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Well this is…something.
The Ministry of Public Security is considering levying fines up to VND2 million for domestic psychological abuse.
Under the proposed legislation, acts of domestic psychological abuse are split into different categories of severity, each with a corresponding fine.
Good stuff, good stuff. The thing is there doesn’t seem to be much logic behind the ranking of various abuses.
Slideshow: When Capitalism Returned to Vietnam
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- Published on 12 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
When Vietnam opened it's doors to capitalism and the free market in the mid 90s, almost overnight, multinational corporations such as Coca-Cola, Visa, Kodak and Pepsi rushed to exploit the country's untapped market.
Driven to Distraction: New Motorbike First to Use iPhone as a Dashboard
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- Published on 12 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Japanese startup, Terra Motors, is releasing two new motorbikes to take advantage of Asia’s iPhone addiction. Oh, and they’re electric too so they’re good for the environment and stuff.
Poor Logistics Threaten Vietnamese Exports
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- Published on 11 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Even as Vietnam’s exports reached US$114.6 in 2012, a key factor in the country’s economic growth, high logistics costs are limiting the profits and development of the industry.
According to Thanh Nien, economists and experts such as Pham Minh Duc of the World Bank say that while the country has seen strong growth in exports over the past 20 years, they are “reaching their limit.” In other words, Vietnam must tackle inefficient logistics to continue this rate of growth.
