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Music & Arts
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Lee Starnes

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Lee Starnes is a commercial and editorial photographer based in Ho Chi Minh City.

Stories by Lee Starnes

468 stories

Saigon Children's Shelter Struggles to Stay Open

Society

Saigon Children's Shelter Struggles to Stay Open

Everyday is a new challenge for the Green Bamboo Warm Shelter, a non-governmental organization which assists former street boys aged eight to 16.

ZZukhra TatybayevaMar 9, 2016

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Women Still Expected to Sacrifice Career for Family: Study

Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Women Still Expected to Sacrifice Career for Family: Study

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook . HCMC offers ‘instant’ business registration [Vietnam News] Cold spell to hit north again [DTI]

Independent stories about the people, places and ideas shaping Saigon and Vietnam.

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Mar 9, 2016

Drawing Saigon: How One Artist Is Preserving the Downtown Skyline

Arts & Culture

Drawing Saigon: How One Artist Is Preserving the Downtown Skyline

Tawny brown, a few inches thick and secured with a cord, the leather binder lands on the bar with a thud. Midday sun beams into the pop-up whisky library atop Centec Tower, a room that could pass for the set of a James Bond film, and a smartly dressed Richie Fawcett unpacks his collection of drawings.

Dana Filek-GibsonMar 8, 2016

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Woman Names Son Born Mid-Air After Captain

Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Woman Names Son Born Mid-Air After Captain

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook . Vietnam woman names son born mid-air after captain [Tuoi Tre] Businesses eager to learn trading partners’ information for integration [VOV]

SaigoneerMar 7, 2016

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Suffer 3-Year Road Excavation for Canal Cleanup

Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Suffer 3-Year Road Excavation for Canal Cleanup

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook . Google Play carrier billing comes to Vietnam and Kuwait [Android Police] HCMC to suffer 3-year road excavation for canal cleanup [Thanh Nien]

SaigoneerMar 4, 2016

[Photos] Vinhomes Central Park Rises From the Dust

Development

[Photos] Vinhomes Central Park Rises From the Dust

While some of the city's construction projects are lagging – see, for instance, the skeletal riverside tower at the end of Ton Duc Thang – Vinhomes Central Park has breezed ahead, rising by the day from a dusty construction site in Binh Thanh District. Though construction only began in late 2014 , the enormous development is beginning to take shape, living up to the hype of its renderings .

SaigoneerMar 2, 2016

Wowy Goes LIVE!: Saigon Rapper Aims to Raise 50k for New Show

Music & Arts

Wowy Goes LIVE!: Saigon Rapper Aims to Raise 50k for New Show

There are a few things you should know about Wowy.

SaigoneerFeb 27, 2016

Hẻm Gems: Heavenly Hủ Tiếu on Co Giang

Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Heavenly Hủ Tiếu on Co Giang

Many count Co Giang Street among their favorite Saigon street food corridors. Featuring a long stretch of stalls, which serve everything from chè and bún riêu to magical bowls of Chinese-style hủ tiếu , Co Giang is a veritable treasure trove of good eats. It’s a fat kid’s dream.

Lee StarnesFeb 26, 2016

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Now World’s 8th Largest Arms Importer

Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Now World’s 8th Largest Arms Importer

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook . Vietnamese student jailed for helping grow cannabis in Australia [Thanh Nien] Vietnam now world’s 8th largest arms importer [The Diplomat]

SaigoneerFeb 25, 2016

Morning News Roundup: World Bank Unveils Plan for Vietnam to Reach Upper Middle-Income Status by 2035

Stories

Morning News Roundup: World Bank Unveils Plan for Vietnam to Reach Upper Middle-Income Status by 2035

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook . HCMC enterprises need 26,000 recruits in March [Vietnam Plus] 4 key product groups gain over $1 billion export value [VOV]

SaigoneerFeb 24, 2016

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Open Bus Priority Routes

Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Open Bus Priority Routes

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook . Body of Hanoi giant turtle remains in cold storage as preservation plans undecided [Tuoi Tre] Drilling venture Vietsovpetro to cut 2,000 jobs as oil shock continues: report [Thanh Nien]

SaigoneerFeb 23, 2016

Vietnam Ranks 131 of 180 Countries on 2016 Environmental Protection Index

Environment

Vietnam Ranks 131 of 180 Countries on 2016 Environmental Protection Index

Every year, American university Yale releases its Environmental Protection Index (EPI), rating the ability of individual nations to protect both human health and the ecosystem. In 2016, the numbers don't look great for Vietnam.

SaigoneerFeb 19, 2016

[Photos] Preview: Nguyen Hue Flower Street

Culture

[Photos] Preview: Nguyen Hue Flower Street

Saigon’s celebrated flower street returns to Nguyen Hue Boulevard next week to ring in the Year of the Monkey.

Brian LetwinFeb 5, 2016

Hẻm Gems: District 1's Cơm Trưa Food Court

Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: District 1's Cơm Trưa Food Court

If you've ever driven along Ton Duc Thang during rush hour, there's a strong chance you've almost run over a street food tout just north of the Le Thanh Ton-Nguyen Huu Canh intersection. While I have, for years, considered these people a menace to local traffic, it turns out they were right all along: down the alley behind them, there is food worth dying for.

Dana Filek-GibsonFeb 5, 2016

Hẻm Gems: Cơm Tấm, Breakfast of Champions

Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Cơm Tấm, Breakfast of Champions

There are three kinds of people in this world: early birds, night owls and the perpetually tired. Try as I might to adapt, I am the third.

Dana Filek-GibsonJan 29, 2016

Hẻm Gems: Saigon's 100-Year-Old Vegetarian Quán

Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Saigon's 100-Year-Old Vegetarian Quán

A mellow hideaway amidst the hastening traffic near Ben Thanh Market, Tin Nghia vegetarian restaurant is a time capsule.

DDang BuiJan 22, 2016

Hẻm Gems: Dropping the Flavor Bomb With Vietnamese Comfort Food

Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Dropping the Flavor Bomb With Vietnamese Comfort Food

Given that most of the spots that show up in our Hẻm Gems series are full-on meals, we decided it was time to explore the vast world of small, snack-like Vietnamese dishes. There are plenty of great options in this category, but we knew exactly where to start: bánh đúc .

Brian LetwinJan 15, 2016

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Toughens Penalties for Street Food Safety Violations

Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Toughens Penalties for Street Food Safety Violations

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram , and like us on Facebook . Vietnam needs road map for ending 2G service [Hanoi Times] Vietnam to develop new environment monitoring network [Vietnam Plus] No Vietnamese killed or injured in Jakarta attacks [VoV]

SaigoneerJan 15, 2016

Hẻm Gems: Bun Thit Nuong in a Street Foodie's Paradise

Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Bun Thit Nuong in a Street Foodie's Paradise

For those who don't know, Co Giang is a rugged street located in the middle of District 1's well-groomed downtown neighborhood. Despite its extremely central location, the short, narrow road manages to preserve Saigon's essence in its bustling outdoor market, which sells fresh produce, meat and some killer roadside eats. Here, you can find street food in its truest form, served on the sidewalk, complete with plastic stools and dingy metal tables and a chaotic atmosphere. Let the stereotypes run wild.

NNam NúmJan 8, 2016

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Power Price to Go Up by VND21.4 Per kWh

Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Power Price to Go Up by VND21.4 Per kWh

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram , and like us on Facebook . Vietnam’s power price to go up by VND21.4 per kWh [SGGP] Walmart to meet local suppliers [Saigon Times]

SaigoneerJan 8, 2016

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Man Criminally Charged for Breaking $120 Wine Jar

Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Man Criminally Charged for Breaking $120 Wine Jar

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram , and like us on Facebook . Concern as high-rises pop up along Da Nang beaches [Thanh Nien] Hanoi's new chairman discloses development plans in 2016 [Hanoi Times] Diplomatic sector to increase support for economic ties expansion [DTI]

SaigoneerJan 5, 2016

Weekend News Roundup: Schools Remain Dangerous for LGBT Youth in Vietnam

Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Schools Remain Dangerous for LGBT Youth in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram , and like us on Facebook . Mobile police asked for absolute safety for major events [VOV] New bridge opened to traffic [The Saigon Times] VN coffee exporters suffer decline in global market share [Vietnam Net]

SaigoneerJan 4, 2016

Weekend News Roundup: Winter Shortens, Summer and Drought Lengthen in Vietnam: Meteorologists

Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Winter Shortens, Summer and Drought Lengthen in Vietnam: Meteorologists

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram , and like us on Facebook . Hanoi parents queue overnight for limited vaccines [DTI] Japanese culture festival comes to Ha Noi [Vietnam News] New hi-tech hospital inaugurated in HCMC [VOV]

SaigoneerDec 28, 2015

Nguyen Hue Traded a Colonial Shophouse for a McDonald's

Saigon

Nguyen Hue Traded a Colonial Shophouse for a McDonald's

As Saigon's one and only motorbike-free , picnic-free , pet-free walking street protected by rollerblading police , Nguyen Hue is already a popular gathering spot. But starting today, the good people of Saigon now have another reason to visit the bustling downtown thoroughfare: Mickey D's .

SaigoneerDec 23, 2015

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