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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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Roundups
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 Vietnamese garments [Juststyle]
Saigon
Canals used to serve as the Saigon's main commercial highway, connecting the city to the Saigon river and in turn the web of rivers that traverse Vietnam. Before the construction of large urban markets , trade was conducted on rivers and canals, allowing farmers and fisherman to easily offload and sell their wares.
Roundups
- 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 tourists [Thanh Nien]
Saigon
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 discovered hundreds of illegal homes had been built without construction licenses or on lands not zoned for housing. The demolitions have come quickly to dissuade residents from building illegally in the future.
Culture
Saigon Outcast is preparing for another great event, this time with the theme ‘Thrift Shop.’ So this Saturday from 10am – 10pm, be sure to stop by and update your wardrobe!
Saigon
As we've seen in our slideshows of old pictures, while Saigon is rapidly changing, some things and places stay the same. And what better way to illustrate this change than by overlaying the old with the new?
Culture
Over at Vietmeme , one of our favorite local blogs, Mai Huyen Chi takes a closer look at the recent scandal surrounding the bra-less Facebook sensation, Bà Tưng and how the web is shaping sexual discourse in Vietnam.
Vietnam
- 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 businesses “like” Vietnam most in ASEAN [Vietnam Net Bridge]
Culture
Ever wonder what it would look like if two foreigners undertook a 250 lap race around a Saigon traffic circle on 49hp mini bikes and full racing regalia? Do you have 14 minutes to spare? That's rhetorical, of course you do.
Environment
Well, better late than never, we suppose. While rhinos have completely disappeared in Vietnam due to poaching, many Vietnamese are still buying and consuming illegal rhino horn for supposed health benefits and its powder has become a status symbol for many of Vietnam’s elite.
Saigon
Before 1975, large advertisements were commonplace in Saigon. But after the American War and the fall of capitalism in the South, ads were considered a vestige of the old order and were heavily regulated.
Saigon
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.
Development
Vietnamese planners and their Russian counterparts are rushing to complete the first stages of Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant. While construction is scheduled to begin in 2014, slow land clearance, miscommunication and incomplete design are threatening the projects timetable.
![[Video] What Saigon's Streets Looked Like in 1993](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/EcYEXRNb.jpg)
Saigon
Last week we saw some pictures of Hanoi from the mid-90s . Today, we're treated with a video which shows Saigon street life in 1993 captured by Dung Hua. As with all the old Saigon pictures and videos, some things have changes but more has stayed the same.
Development
If your commute takes you over the Saigon Bridge, you may have noticed a massive concrete frame rising next to it. This is Saigon Bridge 2 which, when completed, will ease congestion on Highway 1.
Music & Arts
90 Countries, 325 Cities, 6 Continents, 1,700 screenings – Future Shorts is the world’s largest short film festival. This season’s short films explore the grief; the joy, and the memory of living and breaking with the familiar. Returning to Ho Chi Minh City, Future Shorts showcases electrifying short films from filmmakers around the world.On Sunday, July 28th, Future Shorts will screen at Snap Cafe following the monthly art showcase, Creative Shake.
Roundups
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 arrest rumor [Thanh Nien] - Climate change impacts on health and livelihoods require a private sector response [CSR Asia]
Tech
As some may have noticed, over the past two weeks, many Vietnamese news sites have been slow or inaccessible. Hacker Vietnam Online (HVA) has announced that they have found the source of the constant stream of denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
![[Video] Dozens of Drivers Tripped Up by Pothole](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/vJf158tb.jpg)
Saigon
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 week when the footage below was shot.
Stories
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 allowed one lucky local on their bus. Dubbed ‘Running Man,’ this unnamed Vietnamese super fan chased the Arsenal team bus for 5 km through the streets of Hanoi before being invited on board.
Roundups
- Vietnam airports fill up fast [TTRWeekly] - Viet Nam Steel giant reports large losses in H1 [SteelGuru] - Traditional markets make Hanoi special, why eliminate them? [Thanh Nien]
Vietnam
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 other American companies such as Burger King, Dominos and KFC, which have seen success in the Vietnamese market and are quickly expanding.
Music & Arts
The slideshow below features examples of tanbo, a ingenious Japanese style of rice paddy art, popularized by the village of Inakadate. The tradition began in 1993 when the villagers were looking for ways to boost their economy. The art also has a deep connection to rice harvesting which had taken place on their land for thousands of years.
Food Culture
At the rate yogurt is gaining popularity in Vietnam, it soon may be the preferred currency in the black market. According to VietnamNet , the Vietnamese yogurt market is expected to reach VND12.4 trillion in 2013, up from VND5.7 trillion in 2012. This two-fold increase has made yogurt the rising star of the Vietnamese dairy industry.