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![[Slideshow] 13 Old Pictures of Cholon](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/RINdQfCb.jpg)
Heritage
Cholon is one of Saigon’s oldest and most interesting neighborhoods. Spanning much of Districts 5 and 6, this predominantly ethnic Chinese area has been an integral part of Saigon’s economy since its establishment in 1778.
Development
This is Part 2 in our series, “Saigon’s Airport Dilemma.” To read Part 1, click here . There are 2 competing solution to Saigon’s airport dilemma – build Long Thanh or expand Tan Son Nhat, with each proposal enjoying strong support.
Development
There are plenty of issues facing Vietnam’s economy – bad debt , over-reliance on FDI and weak consumer demand . But according to the Wall Street Journal , Vietnamese exports are enjoying tremendous growth, as its SE Asian neighbors lag behind.
![[Video] In the Ruins of a Hue Temple](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/kvJCNbrb.jpg)
Culture
From 1802 – 1945, Hue was the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. Buildings from this period have become popular tourist attractions and many, such as the city’s famous citadel , have been painstakingly restored. But for each building that’s been given a new lease on life, there is another that has been left to decay, such as this unknown temple captured in the video from Rusty Compass below.
Vietnam
The nuclear power plan beyond Vietnam’s ability, Russian specialist [VietNamNet] Vietnam zoo tiger delivers five cubs [Thanh Nien] Vietnam Airlines’ flight attendant arrested in Japan [Tuoi Tre]
Tech
He’s probably sitting in his room, cursing them for it, but Dong Nguyen of ‘Flappy Bird’ fame has made Business Insider ’s list of “the world’s 11 most influential people working in apps.”
Development
Downtown Saigon is riddled with empty lots where plans for massive developments have stalled in the wake of the downturn in Vietnam’s property market. In addition to new construction, plans for "upgrades" to existing builds have been put on the back burner, such as the expansion of the Hotel Majestic.
Development
Tan Son Nhat began its life as a French military landing strip in the early 1930s. Since its construction, Saigon’s main airport has evolved from a buzzing military base (during the American War) to Vietnam’s busiest civilian airport. As the country’s airlines plan massive expansions to meet the demand of a fast-growing tourism industry, a new airport in Dong Nai Province has been in the works for 11 years. However, since many have opined that building a costly new airport is unnecessary, it leaves one wondering whether it will ever be built.
Vietnam
Unknown future for market trains in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] First quarter GDP hits three-year record high [SGGP] A budding alliance: Vietnam and the Philippines confront China [Business Mirror]
![[Slideshow] 14 Old Pictures of Taxis in Saigon](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/v9cEuzZb.jpg)
Saigon
In Saigon, taxis have long played an important role in getting people where they need to go. They first took the form of rickshaws and then cyclos before giving way to the 4-wheeled motorized variety (though cyclos still serve their original purpose to some extent).
Vietnam
Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap have arrested a local teacher for allegedly throwing acid on 4 co-workers, leaving them with serious burns, according to Thanh Nien .
Environment
As Vietnam struggles to curtail the import of illegal wildlife products, officials with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development say they are considering “crushing” confiscated rhino horn, elephant ivory and tiger bone, reports Live Science .
Vietnam
Meet Vietnamese, 24, who can speak 8 foreign languages [Tuoi Tre] Breaking bad: Vietnam's female rap stars [AFP] HCM City Steps Up Poverty Reduction Drive [Bernama]
Saigon
You’ve probably passed the pair of colonial buildings at intersection of Dien Tien Hoang and Le Duan hundreds of times. What you may not be aware of, however, is that these two buildings are the last physical remnants of Saigon’s royal citadels.
Saigon
Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline, will close its Frankfurt-HCMC route after 23 years, reports the Saigon Times .
Development
The TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book examines major themes relating to HCMC's rapid urban development. We sat down with one of the book's editors, Michael Waibel, and asked about how his team accessed unique locations such as the Bitexco Tower's helicopter pad, plans to create a similar publication for Hanoi and changes to the city's urban fabric he's observed over the last 20 years ago.
Vietnam
Given the huge stocks of instant noodles in the aisles of Vietnamese supermarkets and corner stores, this probably won’t come as much of a surprise: a recent report found that Vietnam is now the world’s 4th largest consumer of instant noodles with 5.4 billion packs bought per year, according to Bernama .
Stories
One more vaccine-related death triggers worries in Vietnam [Global Times] Saigon woman wants to marry a death row prisoner [VietNamNet] Vietnam calls for aviation expansion [TTR Weekly]
![[Slideshow] 12 Old Pictures of the Notre Dame Cathedral](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/udBorUEb.jpg)
Saigon
The Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of Saigon’s oldest and most iconic buildings. Built with imported materials from France, it was constructed between 1863 and 1880 in an effort to promote Catholicism in Vietnam. Due to its long history, it has been a centerpiece of Saigon’s urban narrative for over 150 years and an enduring reminder of the city’s colonial heritage.
![[Video] Saigon Is Happy](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/i0nRfPLb.jpg)
Music & Arts
You've probably seen the video for the hit song Anh Không Đòi Quà where a women is stripped (literally) of the gifts given to her by her ex-boyfriend. While there have been dozens of remakes of this video, apparently it has hit its cultural expiration date if the introduction to this Vietnamese remake of Pharrell's "Happy" is any indication. We guarantee you'll smile at least once.
Vietnam
Not allowed to board, passenger threatens to rocket Jetstar Pacific’s plane [VietNamNet] Vietnam expressways get Japan tech [Bangkok Post] Vietnam, Russia to construct $500 mln atomic energy center [Tuoi Tre]
![[Slideshow] A Morning on the Bitexco Tower's Helipad](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/gSLw83bb.jpg)
Development
Since it’s rarely (if ever) used for helicopters, the Bitexco Tower’s notoriously underutilized helicopter landing pad has become something of an urban legend. Last month, the editors of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book were granted access to the helipad and made use of its position as one of the city's highest open-air locations to snap some stunning photos.
Development
As Vietnamese authorities continue to debate reducing gambling restrictions on locals, the long-stalled $4 billion casino project appears to be back on track with a US investor recently taking over the project, according to Thanh Nien .
Vietnam
After a month of captivity, a Vietnamese businessman and his interpreter, being held for a $323,000 ransom, were rescued by Chinese police last week, reports Tuoi Tre .