Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Every Morning, I'm Grateful for My Carless Ride to Work on Hoàng Sa Street

In the decade-plus of Saigoneer’s existence, we’ve had six offices strewn across different parts of Districts 1 and 3. Over that period, my homes have been located in Bình Thạnh and Thảo Điền, requiring significant commuting time.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

The Nhiêu Lộc-Thị Nghè Canal's Comeback Story

Water has no hometown.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

Our Toxic Relationship With Saigon Traffic: A Diagnosis

There is no way to describe Saigon traffic literally and have it understood by someone who has not experienced it.

in Hanoi

Sweating for a Good Cause at the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation Walk in Hanoi

I learnt of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in my first year living in Hanoi, through friends that had worked for the fantastic organization, or that were regular donors supporting it. This year, I was super excited to see their “Blue Dragon Marathon Walk” annual fundraiser announced, with the main Hanoian event looping around Thống Nhất Park's lake. Embracing the opportunity to contribute, I put my hand up for a 10K walk and enticed friends and family from around the world to send donations to the wander-for-a-cause.

in Vietnam

In the Mekong Delta, Ferries Are Childhood Friends and Daily Companions

The Mekong Delta is called Đồng bằng Sông Cửu Long in Vietnamese — the Nine Dragons River, for the way the mighty Mekong splits into multiple strands as it nears its final destination, the East Sea.

in Hanoi

Glide Over Hanoi in the Calmness of the Cát Linh-Hà Đông Metro Line

In many countries, urban metros are a mundane convenience — so ordinary that their users often take them for granted. But until the birth of Hanoi’s Cát Linh-Hà Đông Metro Line, residents of Vietnam had enjoyed no such air-conditioned, traffic-immune method of transportation.

Back Stories

in Vietnam

What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed

Kerry visits Vietnam, focus on trade, security, rights [Reuters] Drug ring gets death penalty in Vietnam [AlJazeera] App breaks record for largest speed dating event [ABS]

in Vietnam

Year’s Best Meteor Shower on Display in Vietnam TONIGHT!

Tonight is the best night of the year to catch a meteor shower according to Nguyen Duc Phuong, from the Vietnam Space Observatory Association.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Nationwide Hunt for Owner of Gucci-Milano Store in HCMC

Vietnamese, 2 Malaysians jailed for credit card fraud in HCMC [Thanh Nien] Nationwide hunt for owner of Gucci-Milano store in HCMC [SGGP] Internet business to earn VND100 trillion in 2018&...

in Saigon

Report: 7-Eleven Coming to Saigon in 2014

Like McDonalds, 7-Eleven has been eyeing the Vietnam market for years. Now that Circle K, Family Mart and Shop & Go have softened the market for convenience stores, the ubiquitous brand is set to ...

in Saigon

Airplanes Blamed for Damaged Roofs in Go Vap

There are many quality of life issues for residents living next to airports – pollution, noise and even increased blood pressure to name a few. But some residents in Go Vap District are encountering a...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: EVN Power Monopoly to be Short-Circuited

Kerry to tour typhoon-hit Philippines, Vietnam [Bangkok Post] Local authorities recall deadly spurious liquor [SGGP] Vietnam, UK share atomic energy experience [VoV]

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Banner Slamming Beer Looters Hung at Scene

No students, no money, many universities to be closed [Vietnam Net] Vietnam Tightens Land Seizure Law After Farmers Protest [Bloomberg] Vietnam's trade deficit to China surges to near $20 ...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Will Soon be Home to Asia’s Biggest Brewery

Czech firm, BTG Holdings, has announced plans to build Asia’s biggest brewery in Vietnam’s Hoa Binh Province. The brewery, with a total investment of US$116 million, should be completed by 2017 and p...

in Vietnam

What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed

Hundreds loot capsized beer truck [Tuoi Tre]  High global test scores don’t mean Vietnam’s schooling is OK [Thanh Nien] Per capita income in Vietnam reaches almost USD2,000 [Viet...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Flood-Tide to Reach Peak in 61 Years, Saigon to be Submerged Again

Flood-tide to reach peak in 61 years, Saigon to be submerged again [Vietnam Net] HCMC shows impressive economic growth [SGGP] Vietnam’s aging rate among fastest in the world [Tuoi Tre...

in Stories

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Reviews Human Rights Laws

Vietnam reviews human rights laws [Vietnam Net] Should sexy performances be banned? [VNS] Bag snatchers caught red-handed, recorded by car camera [Tuoi Tre]

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Parents Up in Arms About Finger-Chopping Math Problem

Mystery still surrounds claims of a math problem, purportedly asking first grade students how many fingers remain on their hand after chopping some off, as it goes viral on the internet and the educat...

in Saigon

Harley-Davidson's First Vietnam Dealership is Open for Business

World famous motorcycle maker, Harley-Davidson, opened its first showroom in Vietnam last weekend in District 7. The showroom, located in Phu My Hung, opened its doors a day before the government lif...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Condom Fashion Collection Earns Vietnam Guinness Record

Vietnam makes remarkable progress in HIV/AIDS control [SGGP] Customs did not check the shipment containing 230kg of heroin [Vietnam Net] Digital ad market booming in Vietnam [Thanh Ni...

in Stories

Morning News Roundup: Air Pollution Cause of Chronic Diseases in Big Cities in Vietnam

Vietnam ministry seeks gov’t approval to limit personal vehicles [Thanh Nien] Vagina massage services freely advertised in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] New Hemiphyllodactylus gecko species discovere...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Public Debt May Reach 95% of GDP

Diabetes goes boom in Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Poor transport holds Delta back [VNS] Vietnam Airplane lands on fuselage [Vietnam Net]

in Asia

Morning News Roundup: Bill Gates Foundation Brings Free Internet to Rural Vietnam

Gold prices hit record low [VoV] Vietnam probes 229 kg heroin case busted by Taiwan [Tuoi Tre] Racehorse owners scrambling since closure of Vietnam’s lone track [Thanh Nien]

in Vietnam

What the Phở Happened This Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed

US$36 billion funded for nationwide poverty reduction [Nhan Dan] Giant sinkhole found in Vietnam street [Thanh Nien] Sleeping with call girls earns $24-$237 fines: decree [Tuoi Tre]

in Vietnam

Number of Vietnamese Women Marrying Foreigners per Year? 100,000 and Rising.

At a recent conference in Hanoi, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Vietnam Women’s Union released figures showing that 100,000 Vietnamese women marry foreigners annually.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Thai Tourist Motorcycles Seized in Vietnam

New penalties on inappropriate public cultural behavior [SGGP] Thai tourist motorcycles seized in Vietnam [Vietnam Net] Hanoi approves massive transport project [Nhan Dan]