How Saigon Plans to Avoid the 'Car Age'
- Details
- Published on 14 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin. Photo by Galen Stolee.
“A developed city is not one in which the poor get around by car but one in which the rich get around by public transit” - Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá.
It seems like every time I’m stalled in traffic, cars and buses are to blame. Nimble motorbikes can easily navigate hectic traffic patterns (and drive on sidewalks) and buses get a pass since they’re the city’s only form of public transportation (and their numbers are fairly static). In a city designed without cars in mind, their increasing numbers are becoming a serious obstacle for the flow of traffic. But, while some curse cars, others are buying them at a record rate – the number of new cars sold in the first quarter of this year was higher than the total sold in 2012. Can Saigon complete its public transportation network fast enough to avoid “the age of the car”?
Vietnam Delays Introduction of 4G Service
- Details
- Published on 14 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Even as Vietnam becomes increasing connected by mobile devices, don’t expect 4G service any time soon. According to Vietnam News, the government wants to maximize the existing investments made by telecom companies.
Vietnamese Actress Gets Airline Crew into Hot Water
- Details
- Published on 13 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
As the rest of the country goes about its daily routine, Vietnamese celebrities continue to make headlines. This time, it’s actress, Ly Nha Ky, whose celebrity status served as a golden ticket to the cockpit on a recent Vietnam Airlines flight. While the pilots and flight attendants were happy to have the former tourism envoy up front, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) was less than thrilled about the incident and has finned the crew.
Asia's Social Media Boom
- Details
- Published on 13 May 2013
- Written by Victor Ramirez.
A macro-economic expert could view social media as a good economic development indicator. Social media fever is fading a bit in the US after the mini-bubble, encouraged by the highly criticized purchase of Involver by Oracle, and the unfortunately premature acquisition - according to WWP's CEO - of SalesForce by Buddy Media. But, on the other side of the Pacific, social media is booming in a way few could have predicted.
Massive Changes Approved for Saigon's City Center
- Details
- Published on 10 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Sometimes wishes do come true. The city government has approved a plan that will completely redefine the layout and borders of Saigon's city center. The highlight of the plan will see the conversion of some District 1 streets into pedestrian-only areas.
Under the new plan, the existing downtown area, covering Districts 1 and 3, will be expanded to five quarters, including an area along the Saigon River in District 4 and Binh Thanh District, the ports along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street and the Tau Hu-Ben Nghe canals. The new downtown ‘core’ will cover 930 hectares including wards where many streets including: Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi, the roundabout in front of Ben Thanh Market, and part of Huynh Thuc Khang Street will be converted to pedestrian-only areas.
Local Director Heading to Cannes Film Festival
- Details
- Published on 10 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Vietnamese director, Tran Dung Thanh Huy, will be showing his short film, 16:30, at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The film follows a group of street kids who sell lottery tickets in Saigon’s streets and alleys starting at 4:30pm every afternoon.
Following his five awards at YxineFF 2012, Huy was chosen to participate in Voyage A Cannes, a program that brings Vietnamese artists to the Cannes Film Festival.
As Thu Thiem Stalls, City Rushes to Lure Investors
- Details
- Published on 10 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Development of Thu Thiem was supposed to be the crown jewel of Saigon’s urban expansion. Since 1996, plans have been in place to turn this green swath of land, directly across from District 1, into the city’s new center. Although the city has cleared most of the land, a faltering economy, lack of infrastructure and high leasing fees have stalled the project.
Arsenal Confirms Vietnam Pre-Season Game
- Details
- Published on 09 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Arsenal Football Club has announced that it will become the first ever Premier League team to play a match in Vietnam, with the first-team squad visiting Hanoi in July as part of the Club’s pre-season Asia Tour 2013. According to their press release, the match against the Vietnam national team will take place at the 40,000 seat My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on Wednesday, July 17.
"Fucking Ugly" Websites Plague Vietnam
- Details
- Published on 09 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Design is subjective; ‘good’ design changes by region, city and individual. Design elements that may seem antiquated to one, may be fresh or reinvented by another so we try not to judge - except when it comes to websites that are “fucking ugly.” These were the words Techinasia editor, Anh Minh Do, used to appropriately describe the state of Vietnamese website design.
Rumors of Highlands Plant That Provides 100% Effective Birth Control
- Details
- Published on 09 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Put away the condoms and birth control pills. According to Tuoi Tre, there is an ethnic minority group (Van Kieu) in the central highlands that uses a special leaf, anăng, in place of typical contraceptives. That's right! Now you can eliminate the hassles of taking pills and putting on condoms. With anăng, simply put a leaf of it in your pocket (who's wearing pants?!?) or lie on it and you’ll stay baby-free! Well, that’s the story anyway.
Vietnamese Celebrities Flaunt Their Wealth
- Details
- Published on 08 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
It’s no secret that for most in Vietnam (and most of the world for that matter), success is measured by accumulation of wealth. For the country's celebrities who live in the spotlight, showing off their expensive cars and jewelry is a necessity for creating and maintain their image. But in a country where the average GDP per capita is $1407, these ostentatious displays of wealth are rubbing some people the wrong way.
Stunning Street Art in Saigon
- Details
- Published on 08 May 2013
- Written by Saigoneer.
French street artist, Julien Malland, AKA Seth Globepainter, travels the world using buildings as a canvas for his huge murals. Collaborating with local artists, he tries to learn new artistic techniques while creating pieces that are aesthetically and socially contextual. A graduate of the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris, Julien Malland has painted murals in Vietnam, India, China, Cambodia, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and many other countries.
A Brief Look at Catholic Funeral Rites in Saigon
- Details
- Published on 08 May 2013
- Written by Quinn Ryan Mattingly.
For me, as most of us non-nationals living here in Saigon, the word funeral only evokes ideas of dreadful sounds emanating from a tent set up halfway in the street and haltering the flow of traffic. They can be bad enough to drive by, god forbid having one posted outside your own window. Three days of disturbances can seem like an eternal punishment at times. There is, of course more to the story than just making noise, as it can tend to seem sometimes.
Budweiser to Set up Production Facilities in Vietnam
- Details
- Published on 07 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The past decade has seen a plethora of international brands enter Vietnam’s fertile consumer market. As Vietnam’s average income has risen, brands from Pizza Hut to Starbucks have taken advantage of the country’s brand-minded consumers. Following this trend, Budweiser, one of America’s most popular beers, is setting up production facilities in SE Asia’s top beer drinking country.
Saigon Opens ‘Smile School’ for Traffic Police
- Details
- Published on 06 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Saigon’s traffic police just underwent rigorous training sessions to help them gain knowledge on "cultural behavior and moral behavior of traffic police officers" while on duty. The program, chaired by Professor Dr. Vu Gia Hien, a social psychologist at the Ho Chi Minh City Education Psychology Association, took place from April 8-15.
Digital Media/Art Project Launching This Month
- Details
- Published on 06 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
If you’re a creative, digital-minded person who is passionate about Indochina, here’s a great project for you. Riverorchid Digital, an agency specializing in branding, PR and media, is embarking on a project to discover and celebrate Indochina through digital media and creativity. They want to find out what Indochina really means to a modern, digitally connected world by asking its people to share their views; creating a crowd-sourced integrated online and real world art event unlike anything seen before in this region.
For Foreigners, Eating in Vietnam not Always as Easy as it Looks
- Details
- Published on 04 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Vietnam is world renowned for its food, confirmed by the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsey who have dedicated entire TV specials to the country’s culinary soul. And for those of us who live here, we can wholeheartedly confirm this. But while street food is all around us, for foreigners, the intricacies of the local fare can sometimes be elusive. Matt Gross, a former English teacher in Saigon, just wrote a fantastic article for the New York Times detailing his obsession with Vietnamese food. In it, he muses about various street food no-nos such as eating pho for lunch and the linguistic and social barriers that sometimes curtailed his gastronomic exploration. Perhaps this sounds familiar?
Forget the Fockers, Meet the Nguyễns
- Details
- Published on 04 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Meeting the girlfriend’s parents is an intimidating experience in any culture. So what’s the best way to add even more awkwardness to an already awkward situation? Meeting the parents of a girl from a different culture, of course!
What to do Along the Mekong
- Details
- Published on 04 May 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin. Photo by Quinn Ryan Mattingly .
There are many things that set Saigon apart from other sprawling cities – the laid back lifestyle, the food, the people. But no matter how unique, the hustle and bustle of rush hour traffic and heat permeating from the concrete jungle are inescapable reminders that you are truly an urban dweller. Luckily, if one travels a few hours in any direction, they are likely to encounter one of Vietnam’s magical natural settings. One of these places is the Mekong Delta, only a stone’s throw from Saigon.
Home Has Shifted
- Details
- Published on 03 May 2013
- Written by Sean Boyle. Photo by Galen Stolee.
For just over a year now, I have been living on the edge of district one, on a street named Tran Khac Chan. It is an unremarkable street on the face of it, a typical bustling hive of activity, of which there are an uncountable amount of in Saigon. Only by living there can you start to unearth the hidden gems it holds and start to understand the lives of the people here.
