Interview with HCMC MEGA City Organizer - Part 1
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- Published on 11 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.
Here is part 1 of the interview.
Beware: The Face-Kini May Come to Vietnam
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- Published on 11 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
While the Western World spends huge sums of money on tanning, in the East, things are reversed. Seemingly every cosmetic cream promises to whiten ones skin while many hibernate during the day to avoid bronzing their skin.
Why Vietnam is on Apple's Shit List
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- Published on 11 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Apple is arguably the most influential luxury brand in Vietnam. When it comes to status, having the Apple logo on the back of your phone can make or break you. The brand is also one of the most copied and diluted as thousands of stores – from cafes to computer shops – use it to legitimize their business. It’s the Vietnamese version of “put a bird on it.” But as Anh-Minh Do over at TechinAsia points out, this behavior may have landed Vietnam on Apple’s shit list.
Logging Into Facebook in Vietnam - The Elegant Solution
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- Published on 11 July 2013
- Written by Alberto Hùng
For many of us, words like DNS, proxy and VPN are familiar due to the difficulties of logging into Facebook from inside Vietnam.
At Saigoneer, we are aware of this problem and have found a few solutions to help you easily and consistently access Facebook no matter your ISP or location.
The Collapse of the Vietnamese Gaming Industry
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- Published on 10 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
“It’s becoming unbearable,” said VNG CEO, Le Hong Minh when discussing the current state of the Vietnamese gaming industry.
Since the Ministry of Information and Communication stopped issuing licenses for local gaming companies in 2010, they have seen a sharp decline in profits, only able to stay above water by distributing their software illegally.
Street Signs - Ton Duc Thang
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- Published on 10 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
In our last addition of “Street Signs,” we took a look at Nguyen Thi Minh Khia. Today, we’ll tackle the name of one of Saigon’s oldest streets, Ton Duc Thang.
Ton Duc Thang was born in 1888 in An Giang Province. During his formative years, he received tutoring in Chinese script, history and philosophy from an ardent, anti-colonialist tutor.
Saigon’s New Airport to Cost $4 – 5.6 Billion
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- Published on 09 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Yesterday, the Transport Ministry held a seminar on the development plan for Long Thanh International Airport which is set to replace Tan Son Nhat by 2020, TuoiTre reports. With a total investment of US$4 billion in its current design, the ministry warned that the cost could rise significantly if the project is expanded.
Famous Japanese Rockers to Play Saigon
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- Published on 09 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Looking to an alternative to the typical Saigon music scene? On Sunday, July 28th, the Onion Cellar will host a night of Japanese-dominated indie, progressive rock and electronic music ranging from single acts to group performances.
The Onion Cellar is a Vietnam-based independent organization that aims to promote alternative music and films to the local audience - and ultimately to inspire them to go on their own exciting adventures in sounds and visuals.
Chicken Smuggled From Vietnam to China Had Been in Storage Since 1967
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- Published on 09 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
If you’re eating, you’ll probably want to stop for a moment. Chinese authorities have raided a food storage facility in Nanning, China and found tons of substandard meat, imported from Vietnam. Oh, and some of the chicken feet in question date back to 1967. What the actual f*ck.
Video: What Traditional Vietnamese Music Would Sound Like in English
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- Published on 08 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
For many foreigners, Vietnamese is a tough language to master due to its many tones. As hard as it may be for them in daily conversation, understanding music lyrics is a herculean task.
So what would a traditional Vietnamese song sound like in English? Famous Vietnamese singer, Manh Quynh, took a crack at an English version of cai luong, traditional Vietnamese opera, in the hilarious video below.
Dutch Lady Versus Vinamilk - A Foreigner and a Local Battle it Out (But Not Really)
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- Published on 08 July 2013
- Written by Diana van Oort.
Humor doesn't require much knowledge of each other’s language, especially in Vietnam.
On a recent sweltering day, I went to a minimart to buy a Coca-Cola just as the store was being supplied. They didn't have a bottle in the fridge, so they had to get it from the back – a task which took some encouragement on my end.
11 Old Pictures of People in Saigon
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- Published on 08 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
We spend a lot of time writing about old buildings and changes to Saigon's skyline, but today, we take a closer look at the people of past Saigon.
The clothing and hair styles may seem a bit antiquated but it's clear that day-to-day life in the city has changed less than one may think.
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 08 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- Vietnam’s 2nd Russian-made sub completes sea trials [Thanh Nien]
- Southern hub embraces CNG bus fleet [VietnamNet Bridge]
- ADB gives $500 mln loan to HCMC metro project [Tuoi Tre]
Police to Crack Down on Noisy Pham Ngu Lao Bars
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- Published on 05 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
We’re sure nothing will come of this (other than some hush money) but the District 1 People's Committee has set up a joint inspection team address the late night noise from Pham Ngu Lao’s bars.
Vinh Gang Busted for Stealing 4,000 Cats Over 2 Years
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- Published on 05 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Apparently dogs aren't the only pets you need to watch out for. Police in Vinh City have arrested 6 men for allegedly stealing and selling the meat of up to 4,000 felines.
Picking up four to six cats per night, the crew used their profits (VND60,000/kg) to play online games according to police.
[Updated] Cops Bust Out Net Launchers to Stop Traffic Violators
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- Published on 05 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Our strategy of avoiding eye contact with traffic police to evade tickets may soon be rendered useless.
Authorities in Thanh Hoa Province are planning to mass produce fishnet launchers to catch those who don’t pull over when flagged down by police.
Dekotora: Japan's Truckin' Subculture
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- Published on 05 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The Japanese really know how to take shit to the next level. Next level brothel? Check! Next level hamburger? Check! Blinged-out transformer trucks? Double check! The pictures in the gallery below showcase Dekotora, the Japanese subculture of truck drivers adding as many lights and metallic objects as possible to their vehicles.
And the results are spectacular.
The Oldest House in Saigon
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- Published on 04 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
While Saigon houses many wonderful examples of colonial architecture, there are few buildings standing that predate the 1880s. After all, the city isn’t particularly old, having been a fishing village for much of its early history. So what is the oldest building in Saigon?
BarcampSaigon Returns on July 7th
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- Published on 03 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
BarcampSaigon, a great knowledge-sharing event returns to Saigon this Sunday at RMIT. Try to make it if you can! You can even register to speak on any topic of your choice (relating to tech in some way, of course).
Vinamilk Gets Approval to Export Dairy Products to US
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- Published on 03 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Vinamilk, Vietnam's favorite dairy brand, has been given the go-ahead by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin exporting products to the US – a first for the Vietnamese dairy industry.
Under the licensing agreement, the FDA can randomly inspect Vinamilk production facilities at any time.
