[Updated] 75% of Pho Noodles in Saigon Found to Contain Cancer-Causing Chemicals
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- Published on 31 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
[UPDATE BELOW] On the heels of yesterday’s news that nearly every street drink contains high levels of bacteria and heavy metals, a new report has found that 80% of rice noodles tested contained a banned, cancer-causing chemical.
Saigon Proposes Ban on Shisha
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- Published on 30 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
The Ho Chi Minh City government has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health that shisha be banned from businesses to protect the public’s health.
Shisa, a water-based tobacco pipe, traces its roots back to the Persian aristocracies of the 16th century. The practice of smoking shisha has made its way to nearly every corner of the globe and has become popular in bars and cafes across SE Asia.
Old Saigon Picture of the Day
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- Published on 30 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Study: Majority of Street Drinks Contain Harmful Bacteria and Heavy Metals
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- Published on 29 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Fake coffee isn’t the only think you need to worry about when having a drink at a street café in Saigon. A joint report released by Healthplus in collaboration with the Center for Evaluation and Conformation found that nearly all unbolted beverages contain high levels of bacteria, heavy metals and fungi.
Asia's Largest Underground Mall Opens in Hanoi
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- Published on 29 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
On July 26, Owner of Vinagroup, Pham Nhat Vuong, opened the doors to Asia’s largest underground mall, Royal City.
The new megamall, covering 230,000 square meters, has already filled 95% of its retail space (600 shops). In addition to an ice rink, water park and theatres, the mall features a food street with around 200 restaurants.
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 29 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Vietnam to have unmanned military aircraft [VietnamNet Bridge]
Urban Apartheid in Vietnam [New York Times]
Vietnam symphony orchestra to tour Japan [Thanh Nien]
Looking for a Toilet? There's an App for That!
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- Published on 26 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
My grandfather, like George Costanza, used to boast that, given a location in New York City, he could tell you where to find the nearest public restroom. With the emergence of smartphones, numerous developers have released apps to aid those looking for a toilet in an unfamiliar place. Now this concept has been applied to Saigon with the app – Toilet Finder.
Old Songs and Album Covers from Vietnam's Musical 'Golden Era'
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- Published on 26 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Vietnamese pop music in the 60s and 70s was awesome. Inspired by folk, country and rock & roll, scores of local singers created their own, Vietnamese take on these genres with fantastic results.
While obvious events ended this era of Western-influenced music, many albums are still around and can bring us back the the era when Vietnamese pop music was...good!
Big Changes Proposed for Driving Fines
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- Published on 26 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
When news broke that new regulations would fine those driving vehicles not registered in their name, many were confused and unhappy. For Vietnamese, motorbikes are often shared among numerous family members and foreigners sometimes rent their bikes and are lucky to have any paperwork for their bikes. Public outcry has forced the Ministry of Transport to abandon these fines as revealed in the latest draft of the decree.
Silk Painting Exhibition at Phương My
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- Published on 26 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
From the organizer:
‘PAEONIA DREAM: LE HOANG BICH PHUONG’ is the inaugural exhibition launching ‘San Art Productions x Phuong My’ in Ho Chi Minh City – connecting the local cultural community through fashion and contemporary art.
Webinar: How to Setup a Business in Vietnam
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- Published on 25 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Viewed as the land of opportunity for those coming from countries with sagging economies, It's not uncommon to find foreigners who want to open a business in Vietnam. But with so many regulations and red tape, it's not always clear how to accomplish this.
To this end, we've stumbled upon a webinar hosted by Alberto Vettoretti, Managing Partner at Dezan Shira & Associates, an expert on best business practices in Asia.
9 Taiwanese Face Charges for Anal Gold Smuggling
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- Published on 24 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Well, this is impressive. South Korean customs officials have announced that they have broken up a gold smuggling ring. The kicker? The mules would bring in the gold through their anuses.
According to reports from China and Japan, mules were recruited in Taiwan and offered free travel and accommodation in Seoul. Once arriving in the South Korean capital, they would meet their handlers in a subway station where the gold would be…unloaded.
Serious Flaws Plague Vietnam’s Higher Education System
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- Published on 24 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Thanh Nien recently published a very well-written and well-researched article about the state of higher education in Vietnam. From numerous interviews with education professionals, it’s abundantly clear that the system is inefficient at best.
Saigon to Implement Bus Rapid Transit System
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- Published on 24 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Transit authorities recently conducted feasibility studies for the Saigon’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and hope to complete the project by 2017.
Duong Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of the City Department of Transport, told Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper that the first of 8 proposed routes will provide service from Ben Thanh Market to An Suong Bus Station in District 12.
12 Old Pictures of Saigon Canals
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- Published on 23 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Canals used to serve as the Saigon's main commercial highway, connecting the city to the Saigon river and in turn the web of rivers that traverse Vietnam.
Before the construction of large urban markets, trade was conducted on rivers and canals, allowing farmers and fisherman to easily offload and sell their wares.
City Authorities to Demolish Hundreds of Illegal Homes
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- Published on 22 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Over the next three weeks, city authorities will demolish 500 illegally-built houses in Binh Chanh, Thu Duc, Binh Tan, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Go Vap and Tan Phu Districts.
A few weeks ago, city authorities discovered hundreds of illegal homes had been built without construction licenses or on lands not zoned for housing. The demolitions have come quickly to dissuade residents from building illegally in the future.
Event: Thrift Shop @ Saigon Outcast
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- Published on 22 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Saigon Outcast is preparing for another great event, this time with the theme ‘Thrift Shop.’ So this Saturday from 10am – 10pm, be sure to stop by and update your wardrobe!
Slideshow: Saigon Past and Present in a Single Image
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- Published on 22 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
As we've seen in our slideshows of old pictures, while Saigon is rapidly changing, some things and places stay the same. And what better way to illustrate this change than by overlaying the old with the new?
Is the Internet Changing Vietnam’s Perception of Sexuality?
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- Published on 22 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
Over at Vietmeme, one of our favorite local blogs, Mai Huyen Chi takes a closer look at the recent scandal surrounding the bra-less Facebook sensation, Bà Tưng and how the web is shaping sexual discourse in Vietnam.
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
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- Published on 22 July 2013
- Written by Brian Letwin
- HCM City: Explosion at U.S. Consulate General store kills one [Vietnam Net Bridge]
- Vietnam 'Running Man' says he was invited by Arsenal to UK [Global Post]
- American businesses “like” Vietnam most in ASEAN [Vietnam Net Bridge]
