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Tech
The notoriously fragile, 20,000km, Asia American Gateway cable - SE Asia’s main internet connection to the West - will undergo maintenance next week so expect “shaky connections” through March 9, reports Thanh Nien .
Development
Construction of the $1.3 billion, 20 kilometer Metro Line 2 , is expected to go into full swing this year, starting with an underground maintenance and metro station in District 12. To “improve accessibility of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 2 line in from Ben Thanh to Tham Luong stations,” the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a fresh $60 million loan .
Saigon
On Monday morning, a 50-year-old Australian man fell to his death from the 20th story of the Sheraton Hotel. According to VietNamNet , hotel guests panicked when they saw the unidentified man fall from the roof.
Vietnam
Doctors blame vaccination neglect as measles makes a comeback [Thanh Nien] Vietnam may set barriers to prevent waste imports [Vietnam Net] EuroCham: Vietnam’s business climate improving [Vietnam Plus]
Vietnam
According to a recent Nielsen consumer confidence survey, Vietnamese are the most economical in SE Asia, reported Vietnam Net . If you have Vietnamese family, this probably doesn't come as a surprise.
Saigon
Though cars have been present in the country since the turn of the 20th century, decades of war (1941 – 1975) and an economic stagnation (1975 – 1986) drastically reduced the number of automobiles in Vietnam. One will sometimes see an old Ford Mustang or VW Bug around town but they are very rare and sometimes imported.
Development
Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book which was formally released on February 19. The book, edited by Michael Waibel and Henning Hilbert, was produced with the support of the Goethe Institut , and funding from Audi. It is split into 8 chapters, each covering a major theme related to HCMC's rapid urban development. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos. Today we’ll start with the first chapter: The Mega City from Above.
Vietnam
Starting next month, all Hoi An government officials will ride their bikes to work, reported Tuoi Tre . The program, organized by the Hoi An City Party Committee’s secretary Nguyen Su, seeks to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.
Tech
Bitcoin may be grabbing headlines across the globe , but the controversial digital currency won’t be making a foothold in Vietnam anytime soon as the State Bank of Vietnam, along with the Government, have said they don’t recognize it as a legitimate payment method, according to the Authority of Foreign Information Service (AFIS):
Vietnam
Vietnam pushes for reform in science, tech sectors [Eetasia] Woman drowns at Bo Cap Vang eco-tourist site [Tuoi Tre] Japanese companies lobby against Vietnam's plan to restrict motorcycles [AJW]
Development
Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City Photo Book. On Sunday, February 23, there will be launch event for the book at Highland's Coffee on Phạm Ngọc Thạch Street. You can hear more about this book from interviews we've done with the book's creators here and here .
Food Culture
Like other Vietnamese staples, finding the best of any one dish in a nearly impossible task. Even if one is able to find what they deem to be the best, others will surely disagree. Even so, in a recent post on the Wall Street Journal , street food expert, Robyn Eckhardt, tapped Saigon-born food writer and banh mi expert, Andrea Nguyen, to seek out Saigon’s best banh mi.
Saigon
City authorities have identified 1,294 households across 62 locations that are particularly susceptible to natural disasters such as floods and landslides. To ensure that the 5,075 people in these high-risk areas are removed from harm’s way, they will be “urgently” relocated, according to Vietnam Net .
![[Slideshow] The Story of the Hanoi Defense Motorcycle Club](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/wH0bhQfb.jpg)
Vietnam
Before the American War was in full swing, the Hanoi Department of Defense founded the Hanoi Defense Motorcycle Club, a collection of young men and women who were trained to do various tricks and “fly” on their motorcycles. Performing at many national events, the team served to boost morale and provide entertainment to Northern masses, accoding to VN Express .
![[Updated] H5N1 Bird Flu Spreading Rapidly in Vietnam](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/RHVLv46b.jpg)
Health
[ Update Below ] H5N1, the avian influenza, has been making its way across Vietnam with reported outbreaks in 10 localities across the country. According to Tuoi Tre , thousands of animals have been infected and at least 2 people have died from the virus.
Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City plans to attract US$550 million to industrial parks [Nhan Dan] Snow falls in Sa Pa again [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam seaside tourism projects left to rust, locals have no sea access [Thanh Nien]
Saigon
Saigon has been without an urban railway since the last streetcars were removed from its streets in 1957. With explosive population growth over the past 20 years, city planners commissioned a US$154 billion rail system , parts of which are already under construction. But you may be surprised to learn that 50 years ago, there was a plan to build a monorail system through the heart of Saigon.
![[Infographic] Key Statistics on Vietnam's Internet Population](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/aVi6MNnb.jpg)
Tech
TechinAsia has been on a roll with infogrpahics lately. Entitled, “Numbers Every Vietnamese Tech Founder Should Know,” this infographic, created with the help of BTIC , illustrates telling behaviors of Vietnam’s internet users, all 36+ million of them.
Vietnam
Work to begin on $2.5b thermal plant [VNS] 11 arrested for pickpocketing foreigners in southern Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Mexico, Vietnam join Patrick's Day festival list [RTE]
![[Infographic] The Growth of Vietnam’s Online Advertising Market](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/T0rH2K8b.jpg)
Tech
This fantastic infographic shows the growth of Vietnam’s online advertising market. Created by Itracker.vn , a digital marketing tracking service, it reveals the top sectors and websites where online advertisers are spending their money.
Food Culture
Cultures around the world have included protein-rich insects as part of their diets for thousands of years. While the practice has almost disappeared in the West, insects are still as popular as ever in other parts of the globe, including right here in our fair Vietnam.
Vietnam
Vietnam to ease restrictions on overseas Vietnamese buying property [Thanh Nien] Vietnam to send 90,000 workers abroad in 2014 [Shanghai Daily] Pickpockets who targeted foreigners in HCMC seized [Tuoi Tre]
Vietnam
You may have noticed an elderly British man begging for money at the intersection of Ly Tu Trong and Pham Hong Thai in District 1 over the last few months. According to multiple reports, he has overstayed his welcome due to his habit of throwing away small denomination bank notes and getting angry with those donating small sums of money. Oh, and his visa expired last December .
Culture
From 1914 - 1917 Leon Busy (1874-1950), a French officer serving in Indochina, was assigned by the Albert Kahn Museum in France to capture the lives of the people in northern Vietnam.