Loading creator
10018 stories
Vietnam
Over 400 Vietnam state-owned firms dissolved or bankrupt in 2013 [Jakarta Post] Vietnam upholds life sentence for Malaysian woman for drug smuggling [Thanh Nien] Minister urges preventive measures against forest fires [VNS]
Saigon
The Nguyễn Văn Hảo building is perhaps Saigon's best example of art deco flatirons. Standing just across from Ben Thanh market, many of us pass it each day with no knowledge of its history. We've again enlisted the help of historian, Tim Doling, to give us some background on this beautiful building.
Development
In what can only be described as exciting news, city authorities have launched a pilot program to add ‘5-star’ public toilets to the busy streets of Saigon.
Vietnam
Vietnam's disgraced Vinalines boss says senior gov't official tipped him off to arrest [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam Raises Foreign Bank Ownership Caps to Aid System [Bloomberg] Vietnam develops “wi-fi cities” [Vietnam Net]
Development
Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Jetstar have all placed ambitious orders for hundreds of new planes to upgrade and expand their aging fleets. But with the expansion of Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat still years away, some wonder exactly where the airlines plan to park their planes.
Culture
From the organizer: We’re a collection of aspiring comedians who are dedicated to making you piss yourself...figuratively speaking of course. So, the million Dong question is are you ready to laugh?
Culture
Thrillist , using crowd-sourced data from cost of living site, Numbeo , just published a list of the countries with the world’s cheapest beer. Somewhat surprisingly, our fair Vietnam took the crown with the average beer priced at $0.76. But things make a bit more sense when you realize that notoriously cheap bia hoi is included in the math.
Vietnam
Chinese tourists caught parading illegal map through Vietnam [Thanh Nien] $188 mln swindle case by bank staff now on trial [Tuoi Tre] First Hospital Opens In HCM City Hi-Tech Medical Complex [Bernama]
Vietnam
Here’s another good reason to stay away from methamphetamines – they may lead you to cut off a family member’s limb. Hanoi police arrested Tran Thanh Duy last week for severing the leg of his sister, Tran Thi Dung with a fruit knife as she suffered a seizure.
Development
It looks like Saigon won’t be able to avoid the 'car age' after all. Under new import rules for 2014, autos produced by ASEAN neighbors will receive a 50 – 60% tax reduction and many fear that Vietnam’s cities will be filled with cars before major public transportation projects are complete.
Music & Arts
From the organizer: You are invited to the NEW YEAR GALA CONCERT with the participation of violinist Nguyen Huu Khoi Nam, who is considered the pride of Vietnam in France. The program is choreographed and directed by South Korean maestro Park Ji Young who has achieved success in France and Europe. The audience would have chance to enjoy 2 famous works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky, 2 outstanding representatives of Classical and Romantic periods respectively.
Travel
Starting March 10, international travelers to Phu Quoc will enjoy a 30-day visa exemption. The visa waiver is part of decision No. 80 signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on December 27 with the purpose of “support[ing] local authorities’ plan to transfer the island into an economic zone.”
Vietnam
Peddling banned but still prevalent in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese man finds 1,000-year-old coins buried in garden [Thanh Nien] Vietnam receives first Russian-made submarine [Zeenews] HCMC earmarks VND7 trillion to reduce poverty households [SGGP]
Development
Da Lat, the flower growing center of Vietnam, is about to get a huge financial boost. The municipal government recently approved a VND4 trillion (US$190 million) credit package in effort to turn flower cultivation into a high-tech industry.
Vietnam
Twins in Hanoi born from deceased dad's frozen sperm [Tuoi Tre] Bus owners hold schools ransom over subsidies [SGGP] Hanoi kilo submarine to enter operation on January 3 [VoV]
Vietnam
1. Vietnamese Architects Unveil Awesome Modular Bamboo Home Design H&P has produced a demo of their long-promised bamboo houses which are designed to endure flooding and powerful storms. And the kicker? It can be assembled in 25 days at a base cost of $2,500. 2. 46 Incredible Color Photos of 1915 Vietnam Considering how rare turn of the 20th-century Vietnam photos are, we were especially excited to come across this Flickr album of 46 colorized photos from 1915. The photos were taken by Leon Busy (1874-1950), a French officer serving in Indochina who was also an avid photographer.
Music & Arts
Petites Planètes compiled a wonderful sampling of traditional Vietnamese music, from funeral songs to those played in Hue's Imperial Citadel, and put the playlist online.
Vietnam
Vietnam PM wants property market open to foreigners [Thanh Nien] HCM City: seven students die in beach accident [SGGP] Vietnam eyes improvements to labour force [Vietnam Net] Cities ready to welcome 2014 [Tuoi Tre]
Vietnam
It's like any other sunny afternoon - you're out driving your car, listening to the radio when, all of a sudden, a dubious pair steals your side mirror and speeds off on their motorbike. What do you do? A local driver, recently faced with this decision, took the path that many of us would be tempted to take but would quickly abandon - ramming the bastards.
Saigon
Sapa isn’t the only part of Vietnam dealing with record breaking cold weather . Over the past few days, morning and night time temperatures in Saigon dropped to their lowest points in a decade.
Culture
From the organizer: Are you ready for fun night of live music, dancing, drinking and dressing up as your favourite Sci-Fi characters? Join us for the biggest Sci-Fi party… ever in Vietnam! Project Sci-Fi will celebrate its Awards Party here in HCMC, and it promises to be a night of surprise, entertainment and fun!
![[Updated] Slow Internet? Broken Cable Might Not Be Fixed Until February](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/ek1sWHeb.jpg)
Vietnam
[Update Below] If you've been experiencing internet problems since Friday evening, you're not the only one. The $560 million Asia America Gate Way cable, Vietnam's international internet connection, has been severed and might not be fixed until February.
Vietnam
Vietnam's biggest telcos scam users by embedding services, concealing fees [Thanh Nien] Lexus makes its Vietnamese debut [Vietnam Net] Russia backs Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant [VoV] Nation pays heavy price for industrial gains [VNS]
Vietnam
A new decree that goes into effect tomorrow will raise fines for a number of ‘social evils’ already on the books while adding a few new ones.