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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
If the Ministry of Public Security has its way, there will be a lot less skin showing on Saigon’s streets. The ministry has introduced a draft decree that doubles fines for people appearing in "undergarments" or without clothes in public places.
Vietnam
Yesterday, residents of the north-central province of Nghe An brutally attacked 2 dog thieves, leaving one dead and another seriously injured.
Saigon
The Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee has launched a program aimed at preserving the city's architectural gems. Unfortunately, the focus is on the city's famous buildings rather than sites that are seriously threatened by unchecked development. The program, with the intent to list and preserve Saigon’s artistic, iconic and collective architectural items, will rank sites based on the results of the Cultural Heritage Law, expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Roundups
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 in huge power project ( Business Line )
Culture
The market research firm, Cimigo, just completed their most recent report on Vietnamese online and mobile trends. The numbers revealed that consumers are becoming increasingly engaged online. The study included 5,800 people and spanned across 12 cities. Here are some of the highlights:
Culture
Apparently Mercedes, BMWs and Bentleys aren’t enough for Vietnam’s growing upper class. But not to worry! Starting next year, British luxury carmaker, Rolls-Royce will set up shop in Vietnam. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars general director, Torsten Muller-Otvos, is confidant his company will successfully enter the Vietnamese and Nigerian markets in 2014: “I’m strongly confident to say we will open our agencies in Vietnam and Nigeria next year.”
Vietnam
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 slight change to the country’s official name.
Asia
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. This would allow tourists to travel between these countries without having to secure visas for each.
Roundups
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 deploy cloud computing ( Future Gov )
Health
Well, we started this week with the story of a Quang Nam principal who had his penis inspected by local authorities to disprove rumors of an affair. And now, a spate of botched penile silicone implants is making their rounds in the local press. Within the last week, five patients have been admitted to Saigon hospitals due to complications with the liquid silicone injections used in the attempt to enlarge their penis size.
Culture
B52 Stratofortress Taking Off. Source: US Government Remember that time Nixon gave orders to drop nukes on Moscow to end the war in Vietnam? No? Well neither did I until I came across this article written by University of Wisconsin History Professor, Jeremi Suri.
Health
As Vietnam continues its march to a free market economy, the country is not only importing new brands, but new health problems as well. Even as some begin to embrace organic produce , there are far more who prefer the arms of Colonel Sanders and his heart-clogging delights. But, as Vietnam’s healthcare system is quickly realizing, there is a high cost associated with the influx of fast food – diabetes.
Tech
In the works since 2003, Da Nang’s $2 million city-wide WIFI network is set to come online this September . The system will rely on 400 transmitters, allowing access so 10,000 users at any given time. Mr. Pham Kim Son, Director of the Da Nang Department of Information and Communication, said that the project was proposed in 2003 but has been slow to develop due to lack of capital.
Roundups
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 double (S aigon GP Daily )
Asia
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 New York. But there’s one Vietnamese export that’s taking Australia’s metropolitan areas by storm - Nguyens.
Culture
Ancient houses, beautiful beaches, great restaurants and plenty of places to take long strolls have given Hoi An a reputation for being one of Vietnam’s most charming destinations. But as the number of foreign tourists has exploded, there are some who remember the “old Hoi An” and want nothing to do with the new one. These were the feelings of Barbara, writer of the Dropout Dairies , who just published a post titled, “What the Hell Happened to Hoi An?” where she complains about the town's noise, tourists and commercialization. But Hoi An is a paradox - these complaints stem from the same root that has helped to preserve the old houses and culture. Simply put, the cultural heritage displayed in Hoi An has been carefully tailored to the tastes and nostalgias of foreigners.
Roundups
- 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, not height ( Thanh Nien )
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.
Asia
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 housed as many as 50,000 residents, making it one of, if not the most densely populated places on earth. On the occasion of the 20 year anniversary of Kowloon's demolition, lets take a quick look back at its history. Originally a military post, the British took control of the then open-air settlement after the 1889 Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory which gave Britain a 99 year lease on Hong Kong.
Tech
VECITA, the Vietnam E-Commerce and Information Technology Agency, released a report last week which revealed that Vietnam’s e-commerce sales will hit $700 million by the end of 2012 and $1.3 billion by 2015. Even as e-commerce becomes more popular, there is an interesting paradox wherein Vietnamese are comfortable buying products online, but uneasy about paying for them there, even though it’s the same platform - only 11.7% of e-commerce transactions are paid for via online payments as these services are still developing in Vietnam.
Music & Arts
Tonight, Art House Cinema will screen the 2008 film, “The Night James Brown Saved Boston.” The film covers a James Brown concert which took place after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and helped to quell a potentially volatile situation.
Roundups
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 of investment dashes plan for Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand tourist circuit ( TR Weekly )
Development
If you love Saigon, it’s time to grab your camera and take some shots of the city! The photo book, “TP. Ho Chi Minh MEGA City,” is currently being assembled and the authors are seeking submissions. Check out the information below to better understand the project and see how you can play a vital role in its creation:
Saigon
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 the city, which estimates that bus ads will fetch nearly $5 million in annual revenue.