I Keep My Connection to My Family's Hanoi Tết Traditions in a Tiny Quất Tree
I am not a plant person. So when even I notice the abundance of vườn kiểng — a place selling a myriad of plants — it must mean that Saigoneers truly love buying plants. Some of my friends, who are also Hanoians, asked me one day to visit these vườn kiểng and look for Tết plants: “Let’s celebrate Tết the way northerners do, you know?” And somehow, being amongst the plants brought me right back to Quảng Bá Flower Market in Tây Hồ.
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
How to Curate the Best Playlist to Listen to While Riding the Saigon Metro
When you get a new toy, it's only reasonable to take it out to play with as often as possible.
Paul Christiansen in Vietnam
Đi Bão Is Vietnamese Culture at Its Most Jubilant, Raucous, and Fervent
Dustbins, tree branches, advertising stands and tarps, leftover Christmas decorations, whatever pot, pan, ladle or utensil left unattended in the family kitchen, and at least one street vendor’s bánh khọt mold: whatever wasn’t bolted down got caught up in the wave of đi bão that filled Saigon’s streets last night.
Life in Saigon's Old Tenements, the Remaining Vertical Villages of Past Decades
Is “out with the old, in with the new” the new motto when it comes to Saigon's real estate scene?
A Merry Memory of a Mid-2000s Middle-Class Christmas in Saigon
As my palm felt the glossy wrapping paper for my Secret Santa gift, I was transported to my early childhood Christmases — filled with warmth, wonder, and the bubbling discomfort of class insecurities.
Watching Snowfall in 'Home Alone' Is My Saigon Christmas Tradition
Christmas is so globally celebrated that even in Saigon, as the coldest time of the year approaches, you can hear Christmas hymms echoing from homes in the alley, and spot houses adorned with Christmas trees, Santas, snowmen, regardless of their cultural relevance to Vietnamese culture. For me, one of the activities that truly embodies this global spirit of Christmas is watching Home Alone (1990).
Paul Christiansen in Vietnam
‘Công tử Bạc Liêu’ Asks: ‘What Would You Do if You Won the Lottery?’
They say you don’t buy a lottery ticket because you think you’ll win; you buy one so that you can fantasize about winning.
For Hội An Residents, Learning to Live With Floods Is a Fact of Life
The water reached my shoulders, and when I stepped into the street I suddenly felt the current trying to pull me into its invisible grasp. A familiar feeling that set off an alarm inside my head: “Be careful! It looks like nothing, but don’t get caught in it.”
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: New Species of Toed Lizard Discovered in Tuy Hoa
Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today: - Vietnam to launch micro satellite [SpaceDaily] - Vietnam failing to combat coastal erosion [Vi...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Saigon Proposes Ban on Shisha
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 ...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Asia's Largest Underground Mall Opens in Hanoi
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 retai...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
Vietnam to have unmanned military aircraft [VietnamNet Bridge] Urban Apartheid in Vietnam [New York Times] Vietnam symphony orchestra to tour Japan [Thanh Nien]
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Big Changes Proposed for Driving Fines
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 m...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Gets Tough on State Firms in Economic Growth Push
- Vietnam gets tough on state firms in economic growth push [Thanh Nien] - New Vietnam Airlines route is good news for Asia explorers [Easier] - Vietnam Devalues Its Currenc...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Bigwig’s Son Arrested for Attacking Cop
- Vietnam Stocks Fall the Most in 4 Weeks as Inflation Accelerates [Bloomberg] - Another prostitution ring for foreigners busted in Vietnam hub [Thanh Nien] - Vietnamese football...
Brian Letwin in Asia
9 Taiwanese Face Charges for Anal Gold Smuggling
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 t...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Traffic Violator Seized After 4km Chase, Cops Criticized for Endangering Road Users
A struggling Vietnamese rock music industry in a booming economy [Astroawani] Vietcombank CEO named Vietnam central bank deputy governor [Thanh Nien] US federal agencies banned from buying Viet...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Cops Using Thugs for Protection?
- City moves to alleviate overcrowding in bus stations [VNS] - Overseas Vietnamese wins TV's Master Chef [VietnamNet Bridge] - Vietnam province opens world’s largest cave to tour...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
City Authorities to Demolish Hundreds of Illegal Homes
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...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- 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 busine...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Saigon Couples Encouraged to Make More Babies
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.
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam to Invest Over $300m in Cinema Industry
Good morning, Saigoneers! Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: - McDonald's faces challenges in late entry to Vietnam [CampaignAsia] - Police find 3 behind banker a...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
[Video] Dozens of Drivers Tripped Up by Pothole
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 wee...
Brian Letwin in Stories
Fan Chases Arsenal Team Bus - Gets Invite to Come Aboard
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 allo...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Diabetes in Vietnam Surges
- Vietnam airports fill up fast [TTRWeekly] - Viet Nam Steel giant reports large losses in H1 [SteelGuru] - Traditional markets make Hanoi special, why eliminate them? [Tha...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
It’s Official – McDonald's Coming to Vietnam in 2014
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 o...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: ‘Cow Bank' Project Assists Poor Farmers in Escape From Poverty
- ‘Cow Bank' project assists poor farmers in escape from poverty [Vietnam Net Bridge] - Japan leads in FDI projects in Vietnam [Saigon GP Daily] - Granny’s Gold Bars Are Key to Vietna...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
No Love for Fans or Vietnamese Food as Arsenal Arrives in Hanoi
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 t...
