The ISHCMC Advantage: Instilling Leadership, Academic Excellence, and Global Mindsets in Each Student
“These years of my life are very important, they shape the person I'm going to be in the future,” said Danko, a student who just finished Grade 9 at International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC).
The ISHCMC Advantage: Lifelong Learning Begins in Early Years
“Each morning, the gates open to the joyful rhythm of footsteps and confident smiles. Students independently stroll in, waving to friends and familiar adults, ready to begin the day. With great enthusiasm, they engage in conversations, unpack their bags, tuck away their belongings, and proudly ‘check in’ before eagerly venturing off to discover what learning awaits them. This sense of confidence, independence, and joy isn’t an accident; it’s the result of a thoughtfully designed environment and an intentional approach to learning that nurtures essential life skills through meaningful play.”
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
The Simple Pleasures of Having Your Hair Washed at the Hairdresser’s
I get my face shaved by sidewalk barbers; stop at every roving laminator I pass to have ticket stubs, photos, and doodles ...
Khôi Phạm in Saigon
Letter to the People I Met as We Hid From the Rain Under a Bridge Together
“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.”— Vladimir Nabokov.
Hanoi's Bát Tràng Ceramic Village Turns Historic Craft Into Global Fame
Bát Tràng has been producing ceramics for over 700 years, but it’s the recent decades that interest me most: a period in which this small village has mirrored Vietnam’s rapid economic growth.
Final Merging Plan Brings Vietnam's Locality Number From 63 to 34
After extended working sessions to gather insights from experts and locals, Vietnam’s state government has announced the final version of the country’s administrative map.
Múa Lân Is Officially Recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage
In Chợ Lớn, every Tết, amid the aroma of burning joss sticks and an onslaught of red-color decorations is the echoing beats of lion dance instruments. For generations of Saigoneer, the presence of múa lân, or lion dance, is a sign of festivity and celebration.
Uyên Đỗ in Saigon
How Saigon's Free Water Coolers Quench Thirst and Spread Kindness
In recent years, stories about climate change's impacts on the lives of Vietnamese people have been increasingly making the news.
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: For expats, cost of living in Hanoi higher than Saigon
Here's what's making news this morning: - Drunk Vietnamese official causes fatal car accident in Da Lat (Thanh Nien) - Coca Cola transfer pricing charges (VietnamNet Bridge) - Tata winning bidder i...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Vietnam Ponders Name Change
This October, the National Assembly is expected to make some major changes to Vietnam’s constitution for the first time since 1992. One of the biggest modifications that may take place is a sligh...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Saigon Pushes for One-Visa Policy
To better connect the tourism of SE Asian countries, Saigon authorities have pressed the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to adopt a one-visa policy with Thailand, Cambodia, Loas and Mynamar...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Losing $400 million per Year to Computer Viruses
Here's what's going on this morning in Saigon: - Thieves are getting technologically savvy (VietnamNet Bridge) - "Got to Dance" coming to Vietnam (VietnamNet Bridge) - Vietnamese Teloco to dep...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Considers Ban on Lip-synching and Skimpy Clothes on Stage
Here's what's making news this morning: - HCMC to address plethora of unsold apartments (Saigon GP Daily) - Many of Saigon and Ha Noi's Gas Stations are Unsafe (Tuoi Tre) - Cocodile exports set to ...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Nguyens Set to Conquer Australia's Cities
With over 4,000,000 Viet Kieu, it’s not surprising that Vietnamese culture has made its way across the globe. Vietnamese culinary heroes, such as Pho to Banh Mi, have been popularized from Sydney to N...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: New Council to Decide on Minimum Wage
- CocCoc trying to differentiate itself from Google (Tech in Asia) - Gambler siezed for trafficking elephant tusks (Tuoi Tre) - Experts say Vietnam should focus on improving the standard of living, ...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
VNA A330 Engine Catches Fire After Landing in Saigon
Yesterday at 3:55pm, a Vietnam Airlines Airbus A330, arriving from Melbourne, landed at Ton San Nhat International airport. Soon after, smoke was observed coming from its no. 2 engine.
Brian Letwin in Asia
Kowloon - City in Darkness
We’ve seen some of Hong Kong’s tightest living spaces in a previous post but nothing compares with the notorious Kowloon Walled City. From the 1940s to 1993, this fortress of darkness and poverty hous...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam's Mobile Ad Market is Booming
Here's what's making news this morning: - New updates on the bribe-for-visa scam are emerging (Tuoi Tre) - Teachers and students happy with graduation exam day (SaigonGP Daily) - Lack o...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Saigon Lifts Ban on Public Bus Advertising
Saigon’s 2002 ban on public advertising has been lifted, allowing for advertisements on public buses, taxis and trains. The move has been welcomed by advertisers, seeking to expand their reach, and th...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Quang Nam Principal to Defend his Honor with Genital Examination
Well, it’s Monday so let’s keep things light this morning. A Quang Nam school principal, rumored to have had an extramarital affair, has requested a genital inspection by “relevant agencies” ...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: How to Travel Across Vietnam Without Spending a Dong
Here's what's going on this morning: - PetroVietnam expects profits to increase by 29% in 2013 (Bloomberg) - New book explains how to travel across Vietnam with no money (Tuoi Tre)
Brian Letwin in Asia
Blackouts Across SE Asia Spark Conspiracy Theories
Last week’s blackout was one of many across SE Asia in recent weeks, with large-scale power outages in Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. While the blackouts in Vietnam and Cambodia have...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Hoi An Shipwreck Yields Thousands of Precious Artifacts
Once an international trading hub, ancient pottery from Hoi An has been found as far away as Africa. But a recent, local discovery has proved to be more impressive than the long distances some pieces ...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: France to Help Vietnam to Develop its Urban Railways
Good morning, Saigon. Here's a roundup of what's making headlines: - Vietnamese stocks at 5 year high (Bloomberg) - Authorities released 205,000 fish into newly cleaned Saigon canals...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Chinese Tourists Get a Bad Rep Abroad
It’s been a bad week for the reputation of Chinese tourists. It started with a Chinese vice-premier lamenting the behavior of his countrymen abroad and culminated with news that a Nanjing teenager had...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam is Ready for Mobile Banking
Here's what's making news this morning: - VietJet Air plans to open a Thai subsidiary (Bangkok Post) - Intel hesitant to expand in Vietnam due to power risks (Tuoi Tre) - The unemployment rate is g...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Why Vietnamese are Boycotting Coca-Cola
When Coca Cola announced a $300 million expansion plan for Vietnam last October, the company faced greater scrutiny of its local operations. Investigators found that by reporting losses since 2010, an...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Another Rare Plant Faces Extinction in Vietnam
Here's the latest and greatest Vietnam news: - Rich Vietnamese are into eating endangered species. (VietnamNetBridge) - According to a recent survey, energy security is a growing public concern...
