BackStories » Vietnam

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 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 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 Vietnam

Vietnamese Painting Fetches Record Price at Christie’s

Nguyen Phan Chanh’s painting, entitled “La Marchand de Riz,” set a new record for Vietnamese art at Christie’s International in Hong Kong this past Saturday. Originally valued at $75 due to a case of...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

[UPDATE] Broken Wire Leaves Southern Vietnam Powerless

Tuoi Tre is reporting that a section of the 500 KV wire that connects the power grid between north and south, “fell apart,” cutting power to 22 provinces in southern Vietnam. While power has returned ...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Actress Gets Airline Crew into Hot Water

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 ...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Arsenal Confirms Vietnam Pre-Season Game

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...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Rumors of Highlands Plant That Provides 100% Effective Birth Control

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 contrace...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Budweiser to Set up Production Facilities in Vietnam

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 t...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Hanoi Man Arrested with 53 King Cobras in His Car

While snakes are awesome, the idea of being with one in closed quarters is less than appealing. Well, one Hanoi man felt differently and was arrested transporting 53 of them in his car. Did we mention...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

VietJetAir Expands Bangkok Service and Celebrates with Free Tickets

VietJetAir has just announced a new route from Hanoi to Bangkok, set to open on June 1, 2013. To celebrate and promote this new service, the company is offering free tickets if you book between April ...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

UPS Becomes Vietnam's First 100% Foreign Owned Shipping Company

UPS has officially become the first 100% foreign owned shipping company in Vietnam. Concidering the state of shipping serice in Vietnam, this may symbolize a big step forward.

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Fire-Breathing Dragon Bridge Opens in Da Nang

For all the importance placed on dragons in Vietnamese culture, I’m sure at one point, we’ve all wondered to ourselves, “Why hasn’t Vietnam built a badass fire-breathing dragon bridge?” Well, wonder n...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

Trung Nguyen Coffee Eyeing the International Market

Vietnam is now one of the world's top coffee exporters. While some local companies shake in their boots as Starbucks gears up to enter the Vietnamese market, the country’s largest coffee grower, Trun...