Brian Letwin

Saigon

Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Crossroads

Brian LetwinAug 1, 2013

Music & Arts

Video: A Little Vietnamese Hip Hop For Your Thursday Morning

Check out this dope cut, Resurrection Cypher Pt.1, from DC, YunoSk, V-Soul, BlackMurder and Pain. The flow is definitely there but our Vietnamese isn't quite good enough to catch the lyrics. If anyone wants to provide a translation, feel free!

Brian LetwinAug 1, 2013

Roundups

Morning Links: Vietnam’s Power Price Goes up by 5%

Good morning, Saigon! Here's what's making news around Vietnam today: - Bank lay-offs in Vietnam could continue for two years [Thanh Nien] - City Museum ranked among most attractive museums in Asia [SGGP] - Buses report fake passenger numbers to get subsidy [Tuoi Tre]

Brian LetwinAug 1, 2013

Vietnam

Vietnamese Businessman Buys US Town with Plans to Create Coffee Empire

In April 2012, Pham Dinh Nguyen, a Vietnamese businessman, bought the town of Buford, Wyoming at auction for US$900,000. If you’re wondering why the sum is so small, 1) it’s in Wyoming and 2) the population of the town is 1. But the town’s non-existent population and middle-of-nowhere location aren’t stopping Nguyen from dreaming big.

Brian LetwinJul 31, 2013

Saigon

Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Art Deco

When the French occupied Vietnam, they brought many elements of their home country with them. Even today, from architecture to food, the colonial footprint can still be seen. At the height of French influence in the first half of the 20th century, downtown Saigon exemplified this influence as seen in the picture above.

Brian LetwinJul 31, 2013

Health

[Updated] 75% of Pho Noodles in Saigon Found to Contain Cancer-Causing Chemicals

[UPDATE BELOW] On the heels of yesterday’s news that nearly every street drink contains high levels of bacteria and heavy metals , a new report has found that 80% of rice noodles tested contained a banned, cancer-causing chemical.

Brian LetwinJul 31, 2013

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 [VietnamNet Bridge] - Forest police to be set up [VNS]

Brian LetwinJul 31, 2013

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 roots back to the Persian aristocracies of the 16th century. The practice of smoking shisha has made its way to nearly every corner of the globe and has become popular in bars and cafes across SE Asia.

Brian LetwinJul 30, 2013

Saigon

Old Saigon Picture of the Day

When Saigon was the city of bikes.

Brian LetwinJul 30, 2013

Health

Study: Majority of Street Drinks Contain Harmful Bacteria and Heavy Metals

Fake coffee isn’t the only think you need to worry about when having a drink at a street café in Saigon. A joint report released by Healthplus in collaboration with the Center for Evaluation and Conformation found that nearly all unbolted beverages contain high levels of bacteria, heavy metals and fungi.

Brian LetwinJul 29, 2013

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 retail space (600 shops). In addition to an ice rink, water park and theatres, the mall features a food street with around 200 restaurants.

Brian LetwinJul 29, 2013

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 LetwinJul 29, 2013

Tech

Looking for a Toilet? There's an App for That!

My grandfather, like George Costanza , used to boast that, given a location in New York City, he could tell you where to find the nearest public restroom. With the emergence of smartphones, numerous developers have released apps to aid those looking for a toilet in an unfamiliar place. Now this concept has been applied to Saigon with the app – Toilet Finder.

Brian LetwinJul 26, 2013

Music & Arts

Old Songs and Album Covers from Vietnam's Musical 'Golden Era'

Vietnamese pop music in the 60s and 70s was awesome. Inspired by folk, country and rock & roll, scores of local singers created their own, Vietnamese take on these genres with fantastic results . While obvious events ended this era of Western-influenced music, many albums are still around and can bring us back the the era when Vietnamese pop music was...good!

Brian LetwinJul 26, 2013

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 members and foreigners sometimes rent their bikes and are lucky to have any paperwork for their bikes. Public outcry has forced the Ministry of Transport to abandon these fines as revealed in the latest draft of the decree.

Brian LetwinJul 26, 2013

Music & Arts

Silk Painting Exhibition at Phương My

From the organizer: ‘PAEONIA DREAM: LE HOANG BICH PHUONG’ is the inaugural exhibition launching ‘San Art Productions x Phuong My’ in Ho Chi Minh City – connecting the local cultural community through fashion and contemporary art.

Brian LetwinJul 26, 2013

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 Currency, the Dong, to Aid Economy [WSJ]

Brian LetwinJul 26, 2013

Development

Webinar: How to Setup a Business in Vietnam

Viewed as the land of opportunity for those coming from countries with sagging economies, It's not uncommon to find foreigners who want to open a business in Vietnam. But with so many regulations and red tape, it's not always clear how to accomplish this. To this end, we've stumbled upon a webinar hosted by Alberto Vettoretti , Managing Partner at Dezan Shira & Associates, an expert on best business practices in Asia.

Brian LetwinJul 25, 2013

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 footballer to play for Japanese club [Business Standard]

Brian LetwinJul 25, 2013

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 to reports from China and Japan, mules were recruited in Taiwan and offered free travel and accommodation in Seoul. Once arriving in the South Korean capital, they would meet their handlers in a subway station where the gold would be…unloaded.

Brian LetwinJul 24, 2013

Development

Serious Flaws Plague Vietnam’s Higher Education System

Thanh Nien recently published a very well-written and well-researched article about the state of higher education in Vietnam . From numerous interviews with education professionals, it’s abundantly clear that the system is inefficient at best.

Brian LetwinJul 24, 2013

Development

Saigon to Implement Bus Rapid Transit System

Transit authorities recently conducted feasibility studies for the Saigon’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and hope to complete the project by 2017. Duong Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of the City Department of Transport, told Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper that the first of 8 proposed routes will provide service from Ben Thanh Market to An Suong Bus Station in District 12.

Brian LetwinJul 24, 2013