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Brian is the Co-Founder of Saigoneer and pasta enthusiast who likes to explore the hidden corners of Saigon's urban fabric.
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Culture
The Hue Monument Conservation Centre has just launched a poster exhibition that captures the long history of the imperial citadel at Hue. Due to its importance, the monument has been witness to many of the events that make up Vietnam’s modern history and is an icon of the country’s post-war resilience.
Vietnam
- Vietnam up in FIFA rankings [VietnamNet] - Vietnam's auto import continues to slide in August [East Day] - Vietnam’s rice productivity may reduce 10% on climate change [VietnamNet]
Music & Arts
Henry Saiz brought his rolling drums and electronic soundscapes to Cargo Bar last night and did not disappoint. Here are some of our favorite shots from the night:
Tech
Whether you’re a native English or Vietnamese speaker, chances are, you’ve used Google Translate at least once. The tech behemoth’s translation service, which relies on an algorithm, is notorious for hilarious mis-translations. But what if you actually need a correct one?
![[Updated] Vietnam Moves Closer to Joint Visas with Thailand, Cambodia, ASEAN](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/XxM4iBBb.jpg)
Travel
[Update Below] After years of discussion, Vietnamese, Thai and Cambodian foreign relations authorities are getting closer to a joint visa agreement.
Roundups
- Vietnam airports to cut fees by half to attract foreign carriers [Thanh Nien] - Deal between Tony Blair and Vietnam gov’t not yet finalized [Thanh Nien] - Hue specialties to come on foreign markets [VoV]
Development
With construction is already in full swing on Saigon’s first metro line, the city is close to reaching its funding goal for the first phase of line No. 5. Most of the funding will come from the Asia Development Bank, the European Investment bank and the Spanish government.
Culture
H&P Architects is proving to be one of Vietnam’s leading sustainable architecture firms. From airy, bamboo huts in the country’s rural heartland, to the recently completed, Bamboo–Earth–Stone Pavilion in Ha Tinh, the firm’s designs show a clear understanding that it’s better embrace and work within the context of one’s environment rather than destroy it. Now they’re bringing their creative designs to Milan for Expo 2015.
Culture
Meet, Lại Hương Thảo, Vietnam's representative to the 2013 Miss World competition. Thảo recently took to Youtube where she posted a video to showcase her "underestimated beauty, shape, fashion sense and even the ability to communicate in foreign languages."
Music & Arts
Check out this Video, Hanoi Hustle, featuring music from Touliver and LK with choreography by Oliver and performed by Handi crew. Nice to see more hip hop and less kpop!
Vietnam
American billionaire, Bill Gates, recently took to Facebook to express his concerns about rising electricity demands in developing countries. To illustrate this, he used a picture of tangled electrical wires on a Hanoi street, a common site across not only Vietnam, but much of the developing world.
Vietnam
Vietnam seems to be overhauling their immigration policies this week. In addition to yesterday’s news that foreigners working in Vietnam without a work permit will be deported , Tuoi Tre is reporting that foreigners planning to work in the country must secure a work permit prior to arrival.
Roundups
- Vietnam lifts radiation inspection on Japanese food imports [Global Post] - Vietnam’s farm produce exports remain precarious [VietnamNet] - Will threat to pull out of Vietnam give more power to corporate lobby? [Thanh Nien]
Asia
Vietnam might consume a lot of mooncakes during the mid-autumn festival, but it has nothing on China. The country of over one billion has more than 10,000 mooncake manufacturers which produce over 280,000 metric tons of the holiday staple annually, valued at $1.9 billion according to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. 2 million of the cakes end up in the garbage each year.
Saigon
Yesterday at 11:30, a battle royal occurred near Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat airport between a truck driver and gaggle (we’re pretty sure this is the technical term) of taxi drivers.
Vietnam
Following in the footsteps of other ASEAN nations like Malaysia , a new government decree, set to go into effect on November 1st, includes provisions for deporting foreign workers in Vietnam who don’t have a work permit. While it seems to be targeting unskilled laborers and medical practitioners, it also specifically calls out those working in education.
Vietnam
Vietnam may be the land of Nike but the company’s pricey shoes make them a prime target for thievery. Earlier this week, A Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced five men to up to 15 years in prison for stealing huge shipments of shoes on their way to international markets.
Roundups
- Shiseido Vietnam builds US$30 million plant in Dong Nai [VoV] - Bulgarians held for stealing money using fake ATM cards [Tuoi Tre] - PM flags off work on 2.9km cable-stayed bridge [VNS]
Development
As much of Saigon was built on swampland, drainage is vital to the city’s development and progress. Yet with each heavy rain, large swaths of the city become inundated and streets come to resemble small rivers. Though Saigon’s drainage system leaves much to be desired, there are those who toil underneath the streets, doing their best to keep the sewer clean while wadding thorough toxic waste and hypodermic needles.
Environment
Vietnam is slowly but surely understanding the need for sustainable development and a clean environment. We’ve recently seen the erection of green homes , establishment of green-focused youth clubs and a new fleet of CNG busses . But there’s a great deal of work to be done to reinforce these mentalities on a national scale.
Saigon
An American English teacher was hit by a truck and died this morning on Luu Trong Lu st. in District 7.
Tech
Digi-GPS , a local Vietnamese startup, seeks to apply high-technology to our decidedly analog motorbikes. The company has launched two security-minded products to help bike owners feel secure - SmartBike and the SmartLock.
Development
The Nest house was designed for a middle-aged architecture writer. The house, located on the outskirts of the new city in Thuận An, Binh Duong Province, seeks to blend urbanism with a variety of architecture styles that match its surroundings.
Food Culture
Banh mi has been an iconic Vietnamese staple since French colonization brought bread to the region in the 18th century. Though the French have come and gone (and come and gone again), the soft, airy baguettes remain one of the country’s most popular foods. With its lengthy history, it’s no surprise that there are a number of banh mi shops in Saigon that have endured the ages, some serving the same sandwiches for more than 50 years. Here are three of the city’s oldest shops, profiled by Vietnam Net .