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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.
712 stories
Saigon
We’re sure nothing will come of this (other than some hush money) but the District 1 People's Committee has set up a joint inspection team address the late night noise from Pham Ngu Lao’s bars.
Apparently dogs aren't the only pets you need to watch out for. Police in Vinh City have arrested 6 men for allegedly stealing and selling the meat of up to 4,000 felines. Picking up four to six cats per night, the crew used their profits (VND60,000/kg) to play online games according to police.
![[Updated] Cops Bust Out Net Launchers to Stop Traffic Violators](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/SL84ZXDb.jpg)
Vietnam
Our strategy of avoiding eye contact with traffic police to evade tickets may soon be rendered useless. Authorities in Thanh Hoa Province are planning to mass produce fishnet launchers to catch those who don’t pull over when flagged down by police.
Music & Arts
The Japanese really know how to take shit to the next level. Next level brothel ? Check! Next level hamburger ? Check! Blinged-out transformer trucks? Double check! The pictures in the gallery below showcase Dekotora, the Japanese subculture of truck drivers adding as many lights and metallic objects as possible to their vehicles. And the results are spectacular.
Roundups
Vietnam cops accused of beating man with cerebral palsy [Thanh Nien] Street children inspire paintings [VietnamNet Bridge] Vietnam military deploys vehicles to help college applicants [Tuoi Tre]
Saigon
While Saigon houses many wonderful examples of colonial architecture, there are few buildings standing that predate the 1880s. After all, the city isn’t particularly old, having been a fishing village for much of its early history. So what is the oldest building in Saigon?
Stories
BarcampSaigon, a great knowledge-sharing event returns to Saigon this Sunday at RMIT. Try to make it if you can! You can even register to speak on any topic of your choice (relating to tech in some way, of course).
Vietnam
Vinamilk, Vietnam's favorite dairy brand , has been given the go-ahead by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin exporting products to the US – a first for the Vietnamese dairy industry. Under the licensing agreement, the FDA can randomly inspect Vinamilk production facilities at any time.
Vietnam
A joint American and Russian program has removed the last remaining, highly enriched uranium from Da Lat’s nuclear research facilities. Over the last 6 years, the US and Russia have shipped out 35 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which officials feared could have fallen into the wrong hands and used as material for a nuclear weapon.
Roundups
- Foreign giants hunt for retail space in HCM City [VietnamNet Bridge] - Vietnam introduces digital textbooks at select schools [Thanh Nien] - US: Vietnam's weapons-grade uranium removed [ABC]
Saigon
Saigon has long been a city of canals; even Nguyen Hue Street used to be one. But today, as the city's infrastructure continues to prioritize roads, many canals have ceased to function as commercial routes. Let's look back at some pictures of the city's canals when they acted as highways for people and goods.
Vietnam
While you were busy this weekend checking out emerging Vietnamese artists and trying to stay dry, you may have missed this weekend’s news: - Vietnam Devalues Dong for First Time Since December 2011 [Bloomberg]
Roundups
- Two Africans expelled from Vietnam for conning locals [Thanh Nien] - Lethal injection “is still being prepared” [VietnamNet Bridge] - Vietnam Economic Growth Quickens as Investment Aids Exports [Bloomberg]
Travel
The struggles of Vietnamese applying for visas to European and North American countries are well documented and probably won’t be changing anytime soon. But it will soon be easier for Vietnamese to visit Japan as the island nation plans to ease its visa requirements for most ASEAN countries. Yabai!
Music & Arts
In celebration of Craig Thomas Gallery’s 4th anniversary, the works of 15 young Vietnamese emerging artists will be displayed from June 29 – July 21. Among the artists are Ngo Van Sac, Bui Thanh Tam, Bui Tien Tuan, Nguyen The Hung, Tam Minh, Tran Quoc Tuan, La Huy, Lieu Nguyen Huong Duong, Le Kinh Tai, Bui Hai Son, Nguyen Thuy Hang, Mac Hoang Thuong, and Luong Luu Bien.
Roundups
- US citizen caught at Vietnam airport with giant heroin haul [Thanh Nien] - Heineken ‘absolutely on top’ of fake beer threat after Vietnam gang bust [Beverage Daily] - Drunken man sleeps on highway, causes major accident in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]
Culture
Think Saigon motorbike drivers are hardcore? You have no idea. Check out the video below of a 1953 performance of the Rome motorbike police. If Saigon’s traffic is organized chaos, then this is, well, just organized.
Stories
We’ve all been there – in the rush to get to the airport on time, you forgo a necessary meal. You arrive only to find that your (insert budget airline here) flight has been delayed 2 hours. Maybe there’s one or two American fast food outlets to choose from, but you don’t feel like a greasy burger before your flight.
Saigon
Bentleys, BMWs and Mercedes are all over Saigon these days. 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 vintage automobiles in Vietnam. One will sometimes see an old Ford Mustang or VW Bug around town but they are very rare and often imported. For many, it’s hard to imagine sweet old Citroens and ’57 Chevys puttering about town. That’s why we’ve put together this awesome slideshow of Saigon’s vintage transportation methods!
Roundups
Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: - A look inside male brothels [Tuoi Tre] - Clean cafés emerge in city, outplay sidewalk rivals [Tuoi Tre] - HCM City: River “swallows” seven houses at midnight [Vietnam Net Bridge]
Food Culture
Pho is a universally adored dish (yes, even aliens love it), a melody of simple ingredients that yield abundantly complex flavors. Bottom line - it's goddamn delicious. So it's no surprise that people across the world have attempted to put their own spin on the traditional soup. There have been pho burgers , pho salads and now, a bar in Philadelphia, US, is serving up a pho cocktail.
Music & Arts
There are complaints that Vietnamese pop music is bland and lacks variety and musical ingenuity. Pop ballads, usually indistinguishable from one another, dominate Vietnamese TV and radio. Fortunately, there are local musicians who are breaking the mould, such as DjGiang Nguyễn who partnered with blind Đàn Bầu (traditional monochord instrument) musician, Hà Chương and Mrt Beatboxer, to create a unique track that fuses contemporary electronic and hip hop with traditional Vietnamese music.
Roundups
Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: - Vietnam cops to mass produce fishnet launchers to catch traffic violators [Thanh Nien] - Drug makers accused of collusion [Vietnam Net Bridge] - Party chief helps police catch thief at central Vietnam festival [Thanh Nien]
Health
After words of caution from Oi Magazine about fake alcohol in Saigon, a Thanh Nien expose has revealed that beer is also being counterfeited as well. In an alley in Tan Binh district, a Thanh Nien reporter found men sitting in a 20sq meter room, taking empty bottles of Heineken and Tiger, filling them half-way with the original product and the remainder with Saigon beer.