TOTALLY WIRED

TOTALLY
WIRED
AsiaLIFE volume 27
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15
18
22
47
56
61
4 Editorial
6 News & Events
12 Q & A with Dinh Q. Le
15 Streetsmart: Vo Thi Sau
18 Photo Essay: Jade de Brito Lopes
22 Plugged in to Pop Culture
38 Hiking Hong Kong
40 A French Foodie's Return
43 Sterling's Saigon
44 'Tis the Season for Fruit
48 Leonard Cohen Comes to Cambodia
50 Bamboo Business
52 Chasing Qi
54 Introducing the Dentist
56 Quasar Khanh: A Retrospective
61 Delightful Doppelgangers
66 The List
110 The Map
112 The Back
ALL THE COMFORTS
OF HOME. ALL THE
EXPERTISE OF
INTERCONTINENTAL.
editorial
tom dichristopher
There are always concerns when
we dedicate a feature section
to a topic that is firmly rooted
in Vietnamese experience and
outside the realm of much of our
readership’s knowledge. Will the
features engage people? Will
they fall flat?
This month was one of those
months. For sure, most people
bypass the 40 or so Vietnamese
television channels in pursuit
of some after-work entertainment, and it’s the odd foreigner
whose iPod playlist contains
local music. But once the copy
was in, we put our concerns
to bed. Even if you’ve never
watched a Vietnamese television show or film, never listened
to a local pop track or attempted to decipher a blog written in the
native tongue, we think you’ll find the Pop Culture Issue one of our
most entertaining. As is often the case when writing about a country
whose culture is foreign to us, context is everything. Understanding
why Vietnamese audiences are buying tickets for a certain movie or
divining which blog is attracting major traffic helps us understand our
adopted country.
More change is afoot in the pages of AsiaLIFE this month. Our
revamped food section now features the monthly gastronomical
musings of James Beard Award-winning writer Richard Sterling,
as well as contributions from foodie Alexandra Karina. We’ve also
overhauled our new restaurant articles, bringing you a few new and
notable restaurants, cafes or bars every 30 days.
AsiaLIFE also bid a fond farewell to Ginny Becker, who has served
as deputy editor since January 2009. Ginny’s sunny disposition and
unflagging dedication to the job will be missed in the office.
A big thank you to our freelancers, who have been producing
some of the best material in our pages over the last few months.
Since revamping our format earlier this year, we’ve been flooded with
pitches and introductions from writers. Keep em’ coming. These
contributions have lent more variety to AsiaLIFE, and we hope to
keep delivering diverse content to our readership.
Corrections: In last month’s travel article “Hotel Story” Fusion Maia
Danang appeared as Fusion Maya Danang later in the article. The
former is correct. Also M2Boutique should have appeared as M2
Boutique.
In “The Curriculum Question” AsiaLIFE reported that the Australian
Consulate recommends British International School’s curriculum as
the closest match to the Australian national system. The Australian
Consulate contacted AsiaLIFE to clarify that it does not endorse one
school over another.
Find AsiaLIFE articles on Vietnewsonline.vn
4 asialife HCMC
cover
Art Direction - 365 Creative Studio
Photography - Fred Wissink
Model - Chris Newell
Richard
Sterling
Richard Sterling is the author of more than 15 books
and scores of articles on food and travel. The New York
Times book page dubbed him “Indiana Jones of Gastronomy” for his willingness to go anywhere and court
any danger for a good meal and good story. He has
been honoured by the James Beard Foundation and
International Gourmand Society for food writing, and
holds the Lowell Thomas Award and two ForeWord
Awards for travel literature.
Seeks Editor
AsiaLIFE is seeking a deputy editor to
join our editorial department. The deputy
editor will contribute stories and copy
writing and assist with copy editing and
proofreading each month. Some experience in journalism, copy writing, editing
and/or proofreading is necessary. Please
send a cover letter, resume and clips (if
available) to tom@asialifehcmc.com.
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icasr.com
volume 27
NEWS
Performing Arts Academy
Summer Camp
The Performing Arts Academy
of HCMC will be hosting its 2nd
Annual Summer Arts Camp
from July 5 to 30. Participants
will learn music fundamentals
through games and activities,
play songs on the keyboard, do
arts and crafts, perform plays,
participate in instrumental workshops, dance, sing and much
more. Session one for kids 3 to
5 years old takes place mornings
from 8 to 11am, while kids 6 to
10 years old can enrol for session
two afternoons from 12 to 3pm.
Email info@paa.com.vn or call
6281 9679 for more information
or to sign up now. Early registrations qualify for discounts.
Saigon Saints’ AFL Grand
Final Brunch
The Saigon Saints have announced that tickets will soon go
on sale for the club’s massively
popular annual AFL Grand Final
Brunch at HCM City’s Sheraton
Hotel, which will take place this
year on Saturday September 25
from 9:30am to 3:30pm. A live
showing of the AFL Grand Final,
a five-star brunch, beer, wine
and an auction of authentic AFL
memorabilia are all included.
Tables of 10 are USD $600.
All proceeds go to the Loreto
Vietnam Australia programme.
Sponsorship packages are also
available. Call Darren on 091 380
3517.
Massimo Ferrari Work
Shirt Sale
Bespoke menswear boutique
Massimo Ferrari is offering a promotion on custom-made shirts
through June 15. The promotion
is geared towards refreshing
customers’ work shirt stock, with
three price scales available. The
Ambassador package offers 12
pieces in any style and colour
in the pre-selected fabrics by
Massimo Ferrari (USD $720),
while The Executive includes six
shirts ($450) and The Apprentice
includes three shirts ($255).
Call Massimo Ferrari Bespoke
at 3930 6212 to arrange an
appointment for an in-office fitting at your office or an in-store
consultation at 42A1 Tran Quoc
Thao, D3.
Dunes Course at Danang
Golf Club
Opens for Play
The Danang Golf Club recently
revealed its new minimalist 18-
hole Dunes Course The course
features a links-style layout that
weaves its way through rugged
sand dunes that trundle down to
Danang Golf Club. Set amid 260
hectares of tropical linksland,
Greg Norman Golf Course
Design (GNGCD) crafted the
Dunes Course in the spirit of the
world’s most recognizable links,
including the Moonah Course
at The National in Australia and
Doonbeg in Ireland, GNGCD designs that have raked in awards
for their creativity, quality and
environmental harmony.
The course’s signature hole—
the par-3 16th—backs right up
against a stretch of beach that
West Coast Dental
Forbes magazine voted one of
the world’s 10 most luxurious in
2005. Also of note is the par-5
10th, which snakes between
some of the highest dunes on
the course and is angled toward
the iconic Marble Mountains.
The Dunes Course gives the
region two tracks, including the
Colin Montgomerie-designed
Montgomerie Links next door.
A third layout, by three-time
Masters champion Nick Faldo,
will soon break ground next to
a bay less than an hour north of
Danang. When complete, Danang Golf Club will also feature a
3,800-square-metre clubhouse by renowned Australian
architecture firm HASSELL; a
comprehensive, technologically
sophisticated golf academy;
four- and five-star hotels; and
multiple residential enclaves
totaling up to 300 luxury homes.
For more information visit
www.dananggolfclub.com.
Hanoi Dragons Take
Indochine Rugby Cup
The Hanoi Dragons have won
this year’s annual Indochine
Rugby Cup for the first time in
more than 10 years. On May 8
at Ha Dong Stadium in Hanoi,
the team won the contact
tournament, beating the Saigon
Geckos in the first game of the
day 5-0. Overall, Hanoi had
three wins and one loss, coming
in their second match against
Saigon—a 12-14 defeat. There
was also a touch tournament,
won by the Bangkok Southerners.
D’Light Opens Its Doors
D’Light, a new bar, restaurant
and lounge has opened at 5E
Nguyen Sieu between Hai Ba
Trung and Thi Sach in District
1. Open daily from 4pm until
late, this venue offers Western
and Asian food, including grilled
steak, pasta and pizza, with
prices ranging from USD $2 to
$6. Happy Hour specials are
offered from 4 to 7pm every day
with a free bar snack included.
Bar Lounge Ala Mezon
Opens
New bar lounge Ala Mezon
opened for business last month
at 10 Chu Manh Trinh between
Nguyen Du and Ly Tu Trong.
Located just behind the Sofitel
Plaza, Ala Mezon features a wine
bar, lounge, private rooms and a
rooftop terrace. It offers a large
selection of wines by the glass,
sake, sochu and a cocktail list,
as well as French and Japanese
influenced finger foods. Open
from 5pm until late.
ALL Brand Launches in Vietnam
Chop Chop Chinese Delivery Opens
Western-style Chinese food—complete with the fortune cookie
and to-go box—is now just a phone call away with the arrival
of Chop Chop. The new delivery-only service brings the old
Chinese favourites to HCM City: General Tso’s chicken, orange
beef, moo shu pork, Szechuan-style wontons in peanut sauce
and about a dozen other dishes. SMS orders to 093 836 3030,
or phone them in to Chop Chop at 3826 9135. For menus and
more information, visit www.chopchopvietnam.com.
6 asialife HCMC
Westcoast International Dental Clinic has revealed the winners
of the 2010 International Smiles Art Contest. The overall country
winner is Hoang Diep, who is 6 years old and goes to Stamford
Grammer School. In second place is Sylvie Allen, age 6, Hanoi
International Kindergarten, Hanoi. Seo Yeon Kwak who is 10
years old and goes to ABC International school scored third
place.
Westcoast thanks all schools and students who participated
in the contest. We received more than 1000 entries, and it was
extremely hard to choose the winners. Westcoast is looking
forward to next year’s art competition and urges even more
schools and children to get involved.
Last month designers Stephanie Ralu and Anne Laurence
launched ALL, their new brand of women’s fashion, at L’Usine
in District 1. Inspired by Joan Jett-era 80s touches like high
waists, marked shoulders and androgynous elements, Ralu
says the collection’s audience is “the working woman who
stayed in touch with her adolescent side.”
Ralu and Laurence have concocted the collection with many
occasions in mind. ALL encompasses work wear in tailored
fabrics with modern cuts like carrot pants and tuxedo jackets,
as well as more casual shirts, jackets and cotton shorts. ALL’s
evening wear includes many items in silk with discrete details
such as sequins, nail heads and embroidery. “We like to say it’s
for a woman who is able to go to work, to a rock concert and
to the opera in the same week, dressed in ALL and comfortable
in her clothing,” says Ralu.
asialife HCMC 7
class on Saturday, June 19 starting at 10am for 500,000++ per
person. Call 3824 1555 or email
fb@sofitelsaigon.com.vn.
EVENTS
International Food Festival in Vung Tau
Vietnam’s southern coastal city of
Vung Tau will host an International Food Festival from Wednesday
July 21 to Sunday July 25. All 63
Vietnamese provinces will feature
local specialties in markets and
food stalls, and more than 80
countries will present a diverse
array of international cuisines.
The ambitious festival will stretch
three kilometers along Thuy Van
Beach and aims to set a Guinness World record as the world’s
lengthiest food event. In addition
to indulging in the gastronomic
delights, visitors can also enjoy
food-eating contests, displays
of culinary and bartending prowess, carnival parades, circus
performances, Vietnamese folk
games and fireworks. Vung Tau
expects to welcome thousands
of domestic tourists and international visitors and hopes that
a successful inaugural year will
signal the beginning of an annual
tradition. For more information,
visit www.worldfoodfestival.vn.
Pedagogic Sports Day
Fun and sport is on offer for the
whole family at the Pedagogic
Sports Day at District 2’s Parkland Country Club on Sunday
June 13 from 9am until 3pm.
Activities include an initiation
to scuba diving, soccer, water
games, fitness training, relaxation
and salsa dancing. Dr. Michel
Guillaume will host a conference
about the worldwide obesity
epidemic, and an organic snack,
beverage and dietetic lunch will
also be provided. Tickets cost
8 asialife HCMC
490,000 VND for adults and
290,000 VND for children (discounted for Parklands members).
Please book and register one
week in advance. Call 3898 9000
or email pcc@parklandvn.com.
Dumpling Festival at Ocean Palace
To mark International Children’s
Day on June 1, Café Central
An Dong will host a fair for
youngsters including games
with prizes. Take a photo with a
costumed pig and clown, and
enjoy a buffet filled with sweet
desserts, ice-cream and more.
Call 3833 6688, email services@
windsorplazahotel.com or visit
www.windsorplazahotel.com.
Royal Wedding Fair
The Royal Wedding Fair will be
held at the Jade Ballroom at
HCM City’s Windsor Plaza Hotel
from July 2 to 4 from 11am until
9pm each day. Wedding dresses
by international and local designers, professional photographers,
jewellery, fresh flower bouquets,
wedding cakes, honeymoon
packages and more will be
exhibited. The fair will include a
fashion show featuring attire for
brides, grooms and the entire
wedding party, and giveaways
including hundreds of vouchers.
Every guest who books their
wedding at the Windsor Plaza
Hotel will receive 10 per cent off.
Call 3833 6688, email services@
windsorplazahotel.com or visit
weddingfair.windsorplazahotel.
com.
Children’s Fair at Windsor
Plaza
Travel Writing Workshop
To celebrate Dumpling Festival, or Duan Wu Jie, set on the 5th
day of the 5th month of the lunar year, Ocean Palace is hosting
its Gourmet Dumpling Festival from June 7 to 16. Three kinds of
dumplings will be made, including glutinous rice dumpling with
meat and salty egg yolk, granary dumpling and glutinous rice
dumpling with red bean paste, costing 50,000 to 80,000 VND per
dumpling. Ocean Palace is located at 2 Le Duan, D1, opposite
the zoo and Petro Vietnam Tower.
Kate Orson will host a travel
writing workshop at the BoatHouse from 9am to 11:30am on
Saturday June 19 and Monday
June 21. Students will learn how
to write about their travels and
get tips on editing and rewriting
ideas. The cost of the class is
USD $25, and advance booking
is essential. Beginners and experienced writers welcome. Email
kate_orson@hotmail.com or call
012 8608 7921.
World Cup Sundays and
BYOB Mondays at NYSW
To celebrate the 2010 World
Cup in South Africa, New York
Steakhouse and Winery is offering 50 percent off U.S. Black
Angus steak before and after
Sunday football matches on June
13, 20 and 27 and July 4 and
11. A special South African wine
selection will also be offered at a
special price to accompany the
meal. Offer applies to parties of
10 or fewer.
Hue Festival 2010
Blossoming Series
Guest Chef at Olivier
One-Michelin-star chef JeanJacques Noguier will be a guest
chef at Olivier Restaurant, at
the Sofitel Saigon Plaza, from
June 20 to 26. Chef Noguier will
prepare a range of dishes, such
as pan-fried goose liver with
apricot and almond chutney citrus jus and roasted lamb saddle
with eggplant caviar, shiitake
mushrooms and Moroccan tajine
jus. Prices range from 310,000 to
540,000++ VND per dish. Chef
Noguier will also hold a cooking
A clever series of seven rings designed by artist Nutre is currently
on show at Gallery ViveKKevin at 35 Dong Khoi, District 1. Each
ring demonstrates a different stage in the lifetime of a blossoming
flower, until the flower has wilted and died. The collection has
been chosen to be part of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum’s permanent collection. Call 6291 8162 or visit
www.galleryvivekkevin.com.
From June 5 to 13, Vietnam’s largest international art, cultural
and tourism festival returns to Hue for its sixth year. Inaugurated
in 2000, the Hue Festival has been held every two years and
this year features two new major events: the Xa Tac Rite featuring 700 performers reenacting the Imperial procession and
“The Breath of Water,” an ambitious performance featuring folk
songs and traditional poetry performed on a submerged stage
beneath the surface of Tinh Tam Lake.
The heart of the Hue Festival is the Citadel, where outdoor
stages and a number of theatres showcase performances by
musicians and art troupes from Vietnam and abroad, including
Mexico, Poland, France, Haiti, Israel, Japan and South Korea.
In addition to the traditional royal rites and reenactments,
fringe events have been organized around this year’s program,
including the Hue Poetry Festival; exhibits featuring female Vietnamese artists, Ly Dynasty artifacts and lacquer painting; and
recreational activities from martial arts to Sampan racing on the
Perfume River. Hundreds of Hue’s established painters and art
students will also participate in a city-wide exhibition of street
and performance art.
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit
www.huefestival.com.
asialife HCMC 9
FATHER'S DAY June 20, 2010
NYSW is also instituting BYOB
Mondays. Every Monday night,
NYSW allows diners to stroll in
for a steak with their own bottle
of wine in tow, with no extra
corkage fee. To make sure the
wine is at its optimal temperature,
guests can also drop the bottle
off earlier in the day and chill it
before dinner.
For more information, email
New-york@steakhouse.com.
vn, call 3823 7373 or visit www.
steakhouse.com.vn.
Summer Bazaar
District 2’s The Deck will host
a Summer Bazaar on Saturday
June 5 from 9am until 4pm. Vendors will be selling gifts, jewellery,
handicrafts and other items. Part
of the proceeds will be donated
to the Indochina Media Memorial
Foundation, a nonprofit organization promoting the education of
journalists in Southeast Asia, and
Heartbeat Vietnam, which funds
10 asialife HCMC
life-saving heart surgery for disadvantaged Vietnamese children.
For more information, email jenny.
gregory@thedecksaigon.com.
Children’s Day Promo at
Small is Beautiful
From May 29 to June 6, chic
shop for kids Small is Beautiful
will celebrate
Children’s Day with 10 days of
special promotions for kids at its
District 1 shop. The promotion includes up to ten-percent
discount on a selection of Small
is Beautiful exclusive clothing and
toys brands, including Baby Dior,
Sonia Rykiel Enfant, Antik Batik,
DKNY, Petit Bateau and Kiwi.
With each purchase made during
this period, customers will be
invited to participate in the Small
Is Beautiful Children’s Day lucky
draw, with prizes such as a fully
furnished Playmobil Suburban
House playset, a Baby Dior t-shirt
and an Antik Batik-brand kurta.
Café Central An Dong
Dad can indulge in a dinner
buffet including beef Wellington
with wine sauce, a rack of lamb,
buttered prawns and more on
Father’s Day at the Windsor Plaza
Hotel. The regular dinner buffet
runs from 6 to 10pm, costing
295,000++ VND on weekdays
and 325,000++ VND on weekends and holidays. Children 10
years and under are half price.
Call 3833 6688, email services@
windsorplazahotel.com or visit
www.windsorplazahotel.com.
TOTT Bar and Restaurant
Top of the Town Bar and Restaurant is offering a set menu on
Father’s Day featuring a scallops
ceviche with fennel and mango
salad, double boiled pigeon consommé and your choice of savory
yabbies and salmon or smoked
rack of lamb. The entire set menu
is available for 380,000++ VND.
Call 3833 6688 ext 2626 or email
tott@windsorplazahotel.com.
Caravelle Hotel’s
Restaurant Nineteen
Caravelle Hotel’s Restaurant
Nineteen is hosting a Sunday
brunch buffet to celebrate
Father’s Day for 888,000++
VND or USD $48++ per person.
The buffet features Asian and
Western cuisines, including fresh
seafood, roasts and desserts.
Diners receive a glass of Mumm
Champagne, and unlimited
margaritas, martinis and house
wines. All fathers receive a
complimentary voucher for one
day at Caravelle Fitness Centre.
Call 3823 4999 or visit www.
caravelle.com.
Mekong Merchant
Mekong Merchant in District 2 is
offering a late breakfast or lunch
for the family on Father’s Day.
Between 4 and 7pm, fathers
who come to the restaurant with
their family receive one free beer.
Call 3744 4713 or email info@
mekongmerchant.com.
asialife HCMC 11
DINH Q. LE
Your installation, The Farmers
and the Helicopters, includes
a three-channel video and a
full-size helicopter built by an
engineer in Tay Ninh Province. How did this all come
together?
I read in the newspaper about
how Tran Quoc Hai built the helicopter, and the way he talked
about it was really interesting.
The helicopter is such an iconic
object during the [American
War], but when Tran Quoc Hai
talked about the helicopter,
he was saying that he wanted
to build the helicopter to help
people—to help in emergency
evacuations, to help with farming. So in a way, he’s changing
this idea of the helicopter from
Hai developed.
We only had a little blurb that
says he’s in Suoi Day, Tay Ninh.
We have no idea where it is,
because Suoi Day is an hour
away from Tay Ninh, so nobody
knows where it is. So we were
like, let’s just rent a car, and we
go there and we basically ask
all the xe om drivers, “Where
is this?” [laughs] So eventually we found him, and he was
really open about this idea. His
helicopter had always been seen
as a machine, and now I come
and ask to look at it from an artistic perspective, and he loved
that idea … We also invited his
neighbours to be part of the film
because we wanted their ideas,
their memories of the helicop-
I’m sort of a combination of the
two—the West and the East, the local
and the international
Since the early 90s, Dinh Q. Le has been one of the art world’s most recognized
Viet Kieu artists. At the end of this month, his new three-channel installation,
The Farmers and the Helicopters, will be the subject of a six-month solo exhibition
at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Tom DiChristopher speaks to Dinh
about the upcoming show and the genesis of his more recent work. Photo by
Richard Harper.
a war machine as we know it
when we think of the helicopter
related to Vietnam.
What was more interesting
was how the general public
wrote in to the newspaper in
support of his idea, of his desire
to build this machine. In a way
it’s like Vietnam was trying to
move forward—creating new
memories—changing the idea of
a war machine to a new idea of
what this machine could be. In
a way, this helicopter is kind of
a marking of a transitional point
in Vietnam.
Originally I wanted to bring
his helicopter to a show that I
was asked to do at Asia Society
in New York. The problem was
the gallery ceiling was too low,
so I couldn’t bring the helicopter
… I came back [to HCM City]
a little bit disappointed, so I
decided to do a video. [Content
development and production
company] Propeller Group
here in Saigon run by Tuan
Andrew Nguyen are very good
friends of mine … so we started
working together to make this
three-channel video happen.
The Asia Pacific Triennial in
2006 commissioned the work, so
we got some funding to create
the video.
I’m curious about how your
relationship with Tran Quoc
ters during the war. Everybody
was just very open.
Some of your early work
dealt in part with your own
memories of the war and how,
as a Viet Kieu, they were partly
informed by American film and
media. Do you view this as an
extension of that work?
My interest in the [American
War] has always been about
how that history has been
mostly written by the West. I’ve
always been trying to—maybe
not completely undermine
it—but at least insert a different
point of view into that narrative.
And I think this work in a way
is probably my most successful work. Even though a lot of
footage comes from Hollywood
and documentaries that were
taken by Westerners during the
[American War], the only voices
you hear are from the Vietnamese, so in a way I silenced the
voices from the West. So this
is the first piece of work that,
primarily, the voice only comes
from the Vietnamese perspective. I think in a way it’s marking a change in my work also.
For Signs and Signals from
the Periphery (2009), you also
used ready-made objects like
the tyres used by merchants to
advertise street-side shops.
I’ve always been a great admirer
of the people, the resilience and
the inventiveness of the people.
Again, it goes back to the war
because you constantly have to
move because the war might
come at any time. You have to
be able to pack up and leave
and settle down wherever you
are and be able to survive right
away. It’s kind of interesting,
this mentality. You can see it still
happening in Vietnam.
So you see the poor people
surrounding themselves with
whatever they can get their
hands on to attract your attention to what they are selling.
Some of them are the most wonderful things. I’ve been looking
at them for years, but I think I
was a little bit too obsessed with
the [American War] to really
think about this work. Going
back to The Farmers and the Helicopters, I think that work really
freed me to think about Vietnam
today. And so I was thinking,
“Where is Vietnam today? What
is happening in Vietnam?”
Some parts of Vietnam are still
trying to deal with this history
of the [American War]. But I
think there’s also another part
that has been forced to move
on because of the necessity of
survival. I wanted to look at that
part of Vietnam, as well.
If you look at the objects
they’ve created, they’re completely abstract. If you don’t
know how to read the signs,
they’re a kind of a puzzle, a
kind of abstraction. It’s so close
to the language of contemporary
art of today that all you have
to do is switch the environment they’re in. Very simply, I
just took them from the street
and put them in the white cube
of a gallery and it completely
changed the meaning and the
context.
You exhibited one of these
works, a bicycle stocked
with Vietnamese flags, at
HCM City’s San Art recently.
Did you consider how that
might be interpreted by local
Vietnamese for whom it’s an
everyday sight?
That was one of the pieces I had
in mind right away, because
the local audience, they see this
work all the time—this bicycle
with the flags. They see it on
the street every day, but after a
while, they don’t pay attention.
It’s sort of taken for granted. So
I wanted people to look at this
work in a different context. It
was sort of a gamble. I thought
a lot of people were going to
dismiss it; “Oh, he’s just taking
something off the street.” But
I think something wonderful
happened. Here in the gallery
context, [the audience] really
looked at it for the first time.
People don’t look at things,
and I think that’s the problem.
We’re so busy with our daily
lives. I want people to think
about what it is on the street
that they’re seeing and yet
not seeing—when it’s in the
gallery context, force them to
really think about their idea
of everything they see on the
street. I think that’s what the
goal is, and I think it was very
successful. It was in all the
newspapers. [Laughs]
That body of work contains
a neon-lit tyre that you said
reminds you of Dan Flavin’s
light installations, as well as
a piece entitled Fountain for
B.N. [Bruce Nauman]. Is there
a conscious effort there to
bring Vietnamese imagery into
the contemporary art dialogue?
It wasn’t a conscious effort but I
think because this is part of the
history, part of the vocabulary
that I’m part of—contemporary
art—I’m always seeing things in
relation to that history. It wasn’t
conscious, it was just very
effortless. It was probably one
of the easiest bodies of work
I’ve ever done. [laughs] I guess
because I’d been thinking about
them for so long that when the
ideas all clicked together, it just
flowed so effortlessly.
And I think maybe that’s
the thing about who I am—I
was born in Vietnam, raised in
America, educated in the West
and educated in the language
of Western contemporary art.
Now coming back, this is where
the two meet within me. I’m
sort of a combination of the
two—the West and the East, the
local and the international. That
body of work is really about
who I am in a way, how I see
the world.
For an extended interview with
Dinh Q. Le, visit asialife.wordpress.com.
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Sleep is Death
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This long, one-way street cuts through the heart of District 3 and
holds a cornucopia of urban delights. Thomas Maresca
checks out the action. Photos by Fred Wissink.
You could call Sleep is Death a computer game, but it has also been referred
to as a comic creator, online improvisational theatre and tandem storytelling.
The buzz among gamers, however, is that it’s genius. The two-person game
goes like this: the host serves as the director, controlling everything from the
scene setting to what the other player—the actor—can hear and interact
with. The actor is only able to move its character and control its own actions
and speech. The host and actor are given 30-second intervals to make
moves and contribute to the ever-evolving narrative. When players end the
game they can flip through a virtual comic book of the story.
The latest indie creation by gaming personality Jason Rohrer, Sleep is
Death features simple retro pixel art, but the interface is a bit more complicated. Luckily, the website provides video tutorials, and a separate site, sidtube.
com, is dedicated solely to the rapidly growing user community. With some
imagination, the possibilities are endless (and often hilarious). The game can
be purchased for $14 at sleepisdeath.net.
Logan Brown
Mr. Fix It
All of us have resorted to duct tape to fix minor holes or tears, but for
those who have a more “creative” outlook to problem solving, the website
thereIfixedit.com allows clever Mr. Fix Its to upload pictures of their latest
inventions and solutions. It’s clear that the average users aren’t carpenters or
mechanics, given the abundance of zip ties, velcro, bubble gum and staples
involved in the featured repairs, but the originality is certainly not lacking.
Some of the fixes are pretty simple—like using a webcam as a shaving mirror
or half of a gallon milk jug as a makeshift lampshade—but others are downright genius. One user upholstered a wall with velcro and adhered miscellaneous spice jars to it for easy access. If you’re in need of a quick solution,
you might find it on thereIfixedit.com, or if you think you’ve got a brilliant
idea of your own, it could end up next to the rubber band-binder clip-pencil
crossbow.
Allison Grant
Diadiem.com: Duong Di?
Long before Google Maps launched in Vietnam, www.diadiem.com was holding down online mapping. With Google now on the scene, the homegrown
website has recently added new features, the most practical of which is the
directions function. By clicking on the Duong Di (Directions) tab and entering
your point A and point B, you can find out how to reach your destination
without scanning the map for one-way streets and dead ends. Need to find
your way around Binh Duong? No problem. Diadiem now covers 13 cities in
Vietnam and allows users to create a snapshot of maps for easy imbedding
to emails or blogs. Also expanded since AsiaLIFE first reported on diadiem.
com is the now expansive business directory, with everything from restaurants serving canine meat to x-ray facilities—although English listings remain
unavailable.
Tom DiChristopher
14 asialife HCMC
A major, one-way boulevard
running between Dien Tien
Hoang Street and the traffic
circle on Cach Mang Thang
Tam, Vo Thi Sau encompasses
a wide range of modern HCM
City life. One of the biggest
parks in town, some hip clothing stores, clusters of bicycle
sellers, oversize cafes and tiny
restaurants share the street
with a nice selection of French
colonial buildings (most of
which have been transformed
into imposing government-run
facilities.)
Le Van Tam Park
Vo Thi Sau between Hai Ba
Trung and Phan Liem
A pleasant green space with a
macabre backstory: Le Van Tam
Park used to be Mac Dinh Chi
cemetery, which originated as
a burial ground for the French
killed in their 1859 battle to take
Saigon. Among those interred
were former South Vietnamese
president Ngo Dinh Diem. In
the early 1980’s, the government abolished the cemetery as
a reminder of the past and built
the park which stands there
today. Rumor has it that some
ghost-fearing older Vietnamese
still avoid the place.
Its history hasn’t scared away
large crowds, however, who
use the open spaces for power
walking, hip rotating, arm
swinging and playing badminton. The park is dominated by a
plaza featuring a heroic Sovietstyle sculpture, while densely
shaded paths offer convenient
spot for canoodlers when the
sun goes down. On Sunday
mornings a group of university
students have create a free,
open-air library housed in a
gazebo, a successful addition to
a book-starved town.
In an interesting twist on
its past use, Le Van Tam will
soon house HCM City’s first
underground parking garage,
a five-level structure that will
accommodate over 2,000 motorbikes and 1,000 cars.
Habitat for Humanity
96/11 Vo Thi Sau
A small building in an alley
is the headquarters for the
Vietnamese chapter of this U.S.based mission that has built
over 350,000 houses around the
world for poor families. In Vietnam, the group began operations in 2002 and has projects in
several provinces, serving some
1,500 families in the last year. In
July 2009, a high-profile project
with former U.S. president
Jimmy Carter built houses in
northern Dong Xa, near Hanoi.
asialife HCMC 15
Chan Nguyen Natural Food /
Macrobiotic Restaurant
96H Vo Thi Sau
Sick of white rice? This healthfood shop and restaurant tucked
down an alley stays clear of
anything bleached, processed
or otherwise refined. Offering
a macrobiotic menu heavy on
brown rice, vegetables such as
pumpkin and turnips, seaweed,
beans and miso paste, Chan
Nguyen is a decided change of
pace. In the downstairs shop,
rice, grains and flour are available as well as a wide selection of literature on Buddhist
practice and the macrobiotic
diet, particularly the teachings
of Japanese dietician George
Ohsawa, who coined the term
"macrobiotic."
Danny High Fashion Mannequins
98 Vo Thi Sau
If you’re looking for some
mannequins, or just enjoy being
in a store filled with naked,
life-sized men and women
staring ahead with lifeless eyes,
then this is the place to be.
Aside from its Hitchcock-esque
charms, this mannequin shop
is well located, as this stretch
of Vo Thi Sau across the street
from the park is crowded with
a variety of boutiques and clothing stores.
Rock Shop
53 Vo Thi Sau
Down the street from more
upscale boutiques is Rock Shop,
a repository for Metallica tshirts, hip/funny/ironic prints,
skinny jeans and more. One of
the wider and better selections
16 asialife HCMC
of items for today’s youth, at
reasonable prices—t-shirts are
generally 180,000 VND, while
jeans go for around 350,000
VND. Other rockin’ items
include trucker hats, plastic
bangles, and accessories such as
skull-print driving masks.
Russian Shop (Thuc Pham
Nga)
73 Vo Thi Sau
This odd little shop specializes
in imported Russian foods such
as smoked fish, sausages and
string cheese, as well as kitschy
knickknacks. There are tea
samovars, Soviet-era pins and
badges, and a wide selection of
matryoshka, those wooden dollin-doll figurines. Many feature
traditional folk-style figures, but
several also take their inspiration from U.S. culture, with Bill
Clinton, George W. Bush and
Marilyn Monroe dolls among
the collection.
iCenter
142A Vo Thi Sau
It can be disorienting to enter
a shop where all the merchandise on display is the real thing
Ho Chi Minh City, but iCenter
is a licensed premium Apple
reseller. Set in clean, Steve Jobsinspired décor, the shop offers
the latest iPods, MacBooks, and
iMacs—even the new iPad—as
well as software and accessories
like the Magic Mouse.
Bicycle Shops
Vo Thi Sau between Hai Ba
Trung and Pasteur
Bicycle hunters in HCM City
know where to go to get their
two-wheelers. This stretch
of Vo Thi Sau is packed with
shops selling bikes from simple
one-speed cruisers to high-end
road bikes. This is also a good
place to check out a selection of
electric bikes and scooters. One
large showcase is the Martin 107
shop, at 97B Vo Thi Sau, which
sells the Vietnamese-brand
Martin bikes favored by students all over town. The Martin
brands sell for 1.6 million VND;
imported Asana bikes from
Taiwan and Japan sell for 3.8
million VND.
An Nam Coffee
52 Truong Dinh
A garden-café in the standard
HCM City style, An Nam was
one of the first and is still one of
the most popular spots in town
among locals for a weekend coffee or evening drink. The menu
is standard fare, but the setting
is lush and attractive. Live music is offered on the weekends
and evenings.
Glass Bottles and Jars
Vo Thi Sau near Truong Dinh
A unique and visually arresting
addition to Vo Thi Sau, several
streetfront shops offer bottles
and jars in a wide variety of sizes and shapes—from reclaimed
liquor bottles to decanters with
glass stoppers to oversized jugs.
They seem perfect for making tra da, storing preserves or
distilling your own moonshine.
A simple 5-litre glass jug with
an airtight lid sells for 120,000
VND.
Nam Bo Woman’s Museum
202 Vo Thi Sau
Located on a street named for
a female war hero (see “Meet
Your Street”), this museum
is dedicated to the women of
southern Vietnam, with more
than a little military focus.
Among the collections of traditional clothing and decoration
are photos, letters and keepsakes of the women who were
revolutionary fighters. Also on
display is documentation of
political female prisoners, detailing “the struggle of women
in jails managed by Americans and their puppets.” The
museum is a popular space for
weddings, which is a strangely
empowering notion. Admission
is free.
Vigor Juice Bar
203A Vo Thi Sau
A bizarre combo gift shop and
juice bar, this well-known spot
makes for a decent stop after a
long day in the hot sun. Pretty
much every fruit under the sun
is represented, including a few
we haven’t seen in Vietnam
very often (e.g. cranberry), at
good prices.
Meet Your Street
Vo Thi Sau
Vo Thi Sau was a teenage
revolutionary during the
French occupation and is one
of the most revered and famous
women in Vietnamese history.
She was imprisoned in the infamous tiger cages on Con Dao
island, and was executed by
firing squad in 1952, at age 17.
Her last words were reportedly
“Long Live President Ho Chi
Minh.” Sau was the first Vietnamese female to be sentenced
to death. Her tomb on Con Dao
island is a pilgrimage site and
shrine.
asialife HCMC 17
CAMERA TALES
....................................................
Jade de Brito Lopes
Student, Colette School. Selections from the Recent Exhibit.
....................................................
Photography for me was at
first a hobby. Since the first
day I got my first camera, I got
in the habit of always taking
it with me wherever I went,
looking for people and places
to capture. It quickly became
a passion, as I became more
and more aware of things that
surrounded me. As me and
my mom travelled I thought
“This is really what I want to
do.” This is was my first (and
hopefully not the last!) exhibition. I wanted to show Vietnam
and Cambodia, two places that
18 asialife HCMC
mean so much to me, for its
place but mostly, for its people.
Mainly, through these photos,
I wanted to show what I love
about these countries and what
I've experienced, living almost
10 years in Southeast Asia. It
was an amazing vernissage and
I have so many people to thank
for it, starting from my mom, to
Helen Savory, Jimmy Geeraerts
and all of the people who came
and supported me. Photography is now an important part of
my life, and hopefully I will get
to do this for a long time.
asialife HCMC 19
20 asialife HCMC
asialife HCMC 21
PLUGGED IN TO
CULTURE
All photos by Fred Wissink. Model Chris Newell.
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22 asialife HCMC
asialife HCMC 23
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Local audiences remain critical of Vietnamese television,
but it’s hard to deny the demand for homegrown content.
Tom DiChristopher speaks to industry insiders about
delivering better programming in Vietnam.
The house is a typical residence in a young
hamlet of District 7. The façade is a mix
of local tastes and provincial European
flourishes—Chateau Vietnam. Behind the
exterior wall a tangle of motorbikes occupies
the courtyard. The street on which it is located
is too new to have been named.
Inside, however, the scene is anything
but typical. Crew members dart around
the ground floor, carrying film equipment. A
makeup artist touches up Dai Nghia, who
portrays the husband of the household, for
his next scene. On the next level, one of the
two bedrooms off the hallway is flooded with
set lighting, while the other serves as a control
room, presided over by young Vietnamese
director Nguyen Manh Ha.
This is not a home at all, but the set of a
new television series called May Rau Lam Vo
(Mr. Housewife).
It’s immediately clear that Ha is busy these
days. He excuses himself intermittently during
the interview to issue directions into a walkie
talkie, and his gaze never strays far from the
pair of monitors on which the scene across
the hallway unfolds.
Across town in a far-flung neighborhood of
Tan Binh District, the atmosphere is similar on
the set of Vu Dieu Tinh Yeu (Love Romance),
the latest serial drama by veteran director
Dang Luu Viet Bao. On any given day, Bao will
wake up at 7am, shoot until the evening and
afterwards edit the footage shot the previous
day. Then it’s back home to work on scripts
or prepare a new project before turning in at
about 2am.
This is the life of a Vietnamese television di24 asialife HCMC
rector. Until recently, Ha and his crew worked
about 14 hours per day, seven days a week.
Ha lobbied the project’s investors for a six-day
work week, and they eventually relented. With
a slight smile that betrays irony, he says, “I
won.”
A Love Affair with Foreign Content?
One could be forgiven for overestimating the
national taste for foreign television programming; surfing through the 65 channels now
commonly available, movies and soap operas
from China, Korea and the United States in
particular still occupy the airwaves much of
the day.
“The general perception is that the Vietnamese love foreign-made products and we
don’t really appreciate our country,” says Tran
Thi Thanh Mai, managing director of media
studies firm Kantar Media.
As evidence against this assumption,
Thanh Mai points to the success of SCTV7,
a relatively new channel that focuses on
programming steeped in Vietnamese culture,
including cai luong, or traditional opera. According to the People Meter system, which
Kantar has used to track viewership in HCM
City since 2008, SCTV7 has consistently
occupied the top spot this year. In total, five
of SCTV’s channels have cracked the top 20,
and other Vietnamese channels like Vietnam
Television (VTV) and Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) are also dominating.
“Like in any other country, the local people
prefer to watch in the local language,” says
Mai. “The movies on Star Movies, HBO and
Cinemax are quite good but of course they’re
in a foreign language with subtitles,” says
Thanh Mai, explaining that audiences don’t
always grasp everything they’re watching in
English.
Othello Khanh of production house Crea
TV says the influence of Korean and Chinese
programming is also waning. “People used
to love it, but [that was] because there was
no Vietnamese programming,” says Khanh.
“The Vietnamese decided to create Vietnamese programming … and now people want
more as they discover that you can do local
content.”
Like many aspects of Vietnamese society,
the television industry is both underdeveloped
and growing rapidly. For nearly 30 years following reunification, only a handful of channels
were available to Vietnamese viewers, but
in the last decade, the number of channels
has grown at a clip. Cable television, once
primarily consumed by foreign diplomats and
expatriates due to its prohibitive cost, was
significantly reduced in price in 2005, giving
local viewers even more options.
Concerned with the ratio of Vietnamese to
foreign content, the Ministry of Culture issued
a decree in 2007 recommending that 30 percent of programming be made up of original
Vietnamese serial dramas and comedies.
Consequently, directors like Ha and Bao are
in demand.
Ha, a relatively young director at 34, has
studied in workshops at the University of
South California and in Europe, and has
experience in the better-developed Thai film
industry. After shooting wraps on his current
project, he’ll fly to Singapore to get the ball
asialife HCMC 25
rolling on a documentary he’ll direct for the
Discovery Channel. When asked how many
Vietnamese television directors have comparable experience, Ha says, “At my age, not so
many. Maybe four or five.”
they’re making.”
Achieving high production quality in Vietnam
has been a defining struggle for Jennifer Ravolet, creative director for Yan TV. Launched last
year, the local music channel has been able
to set itself apart by investing in professional
Coming up to Speed
production and drawing on foreign expertise.
Still, Vietnamese viewers aren’t ready to give
“When everything is grey, nothing looks
television producers a free pass. A recent
great,” says Ravolet, referring to the drab
article on VietNamNet reported that the nacolour in locally produced shows. “It’s a matter
tional penchant for puns had been applied to
of production, how you set up your lights, your
a few flagging shows: We Are In Love, Really?
set. It’s a matter of colour grading in post.”
was rechristened We Turn Off TV, Really? and
The premium placed on production quality
Sorry for Love has become known as Sorry
is in part what led Ta Thuy Minh, an entertainthe Audience.
ment journalist turned talk show host, to Yan
One of the biggest obstacles to quality
TV. Her current VTV talk show, IME ("I am
programming, says Ha, is local knowledge of
me"), was inspired by Western-style formats
like The Ellen DeGeneres Show,
and she has become known for
“Nowadays, films are made quickly to
challenging her celebrity guests
more than is common on
be broadcast in time. Many directors
Vietnamese talk shows. When
don’t even have enough time to review she began developing a lifestyle
show, Yan TV was a natural fit.
the editing”
“I love it when they try to
Dang Luu Viet Bao
bring the audience something
beautiful, something nice,
something well-designed,” says
production practices, particularly at the of preThuy Minh. “I like that about Yan TV. Television
and post-production stages. “In Vietnam, we
needs that.”
do not have a professional film industry,” says
To achieve better quality, Bao points out
Ha. “I have to fight with people in Vietnam.
another asset that would help: time.
They ask, ‘Why do I have to do it like this?’
“Nowadays, films are made quickly to be
They don’t think [pre- and post-production
broadcast in time. We have a rather short
are] important.”
time for post-production. Many directors don’t
Bao also emphasizes the importance of
even have enough time to review the editing,”
professionalism on his sets, pointing to the
says Bao. “Editing in every shot needs to be
fact that his crew is able to carry on while he is checked carefully by the director. Especially in
being interviewed. “In order to do that, it takes
films in which sound is recorded directly, it’s
a long time to prepare in pre-production,”
very important to edit every sound and noise.”
he says. “The script must be edited carefully
Currently, that’s a luxury that few directors
and even small props must also be prepared
have, and until they do, says Ha, Vietnamese
sufficiently. Each member of the crew needs
television won’t be as good as it could be.
to thoroughly understand the idea of the film
"The film producers in Vietnam know how to
26 asialife HCMC
improve post-production while making their
films, but it's hard to do that by themselves,"
says Ha. "You can only improve the quality
of film if you have a healthy and professional
filming environment. We have to build up the
market. If you want to keep fish, you must
have a fish tank and clean water first."
Making Ends Meet
The time constraints placed on directors
have much to do with the current funding structure behind most productions. In
Vietnam, television stations do not finance
programming, so production houses must
turn to outside investors and then present
the finished series to networks. Compounding the problem is that payment is made
upon broadcast—often one year after filming
wraps—so production houses can quickly
run into cash flow problems.
Today, there are about 60 production
houses, big and small, in Vietnam, but television station expansion has outpaced their
ability to create homegrown content.
“The government is asking the TV stations
to fill up 30 percent of Vietnamese content,
but it’s impossible to fill it up now because
we don’t have enough resources,” says
Chanh Tran of Crea TV.
Although Crea TV has the capacity and
skill to provide production work for clients
such as The Amazing Race Asia and MTV’s
Road Rules, they’re not immune to the
travails of the Vietnamese television industry.
They’ve produced about 150 hours of television over three years, but the goal is to produce at least 120 to 150 hours of programming per year, spread out over three or more
series so there’s always money coming in for
the next project. That might not seem like
much content, but according to Chanh, the
maximum any production house in Vietnam
is turning out is about 250 hours per year.
To keep money rolling in, filmmakers have
to keep investors happy, which can affect
everything from casting to production schedules. For example, investors prefer for wellknown singers and models to be involved,
reasoning that popularity in one medium
will transfer to another. For directors, this
often means coaching amateur actors and
actresses, as well as contending with their
overlapping commitments to the stage and
runway. When scheduling conflicts arise,
budget problems follow.
Currently, says Chanh, the average
amount spent on an hour of television
programming is USD $10,000, which he
estimates is half the average in Thailand and
one percent of the cost in the United States,
where one hour of production easily reaches
the $1 million mark. Those budgets in part
explain why most television series are slated
for about 30 to 40 episodes.
“You cannot get the commitment of all
the actors,” says Othello Khanh. “You get a
contract for, like, three months to shoot the
series. You don’t have the financial power to
lock everybody in for five years.”
Under good conditions, where the cast is
able to commit fully, Bao and Ha both report
that they can shoot one episode in two days,
with an additional two days on either end for
pre- and post-production.
“If the film is just about the lives of the
members of one or two families, it’s finished
rather quickly, within about two months,”
says Bao. “But if the film is staged in the
countryside, all the crew have to spend time
moving, so it’ll take a longer time, maybe
three months.”
Not an ideal situation, but for now it’s the
status quo.
Finding (and Keeping) an Audience
Few expect change to come overnight, but
everyone surveyed believes it will come. The
last five years have been evidence of that. At
the dawn of the second decade of television
in Vietnam, signs point towards a shift from
a one-size-fits-all approach to strategies
rooted in identifying market segments. That,
“We have different accents,
cultural habits. So no one
is really confident that
they’re going to cover all of
the market in Vietnam”
Ta Thuy Minh
however, will be a challenge for culturally
diverse Vietnam.
“We have different accents, cultural
habits,” says Thuy Minh. “So no one is really
confident that they’re going to cover all of
the market in Vietnam.”
There’s also a line between older viewers,
who tend to consume traditional programming, and teenage audiences, who have
grown up with international-standard programming and Internet content. Since teens
will be tomorrow’s audiences, it’s no wonder
they’ve become prime targets.
Yan TV is one of the channels trying to attract their attention. In lieu of qualified music
video directors, they’ve turned to creative
director Jennifer Ravolet to direct videos and
devised an agreement that benefits both Yan
and the artist: low-cost, high-quality production in exchange for rights to the video.
“Producing music videos is not a core
business of a television channel,” says Do
Quoc Hiep, CEO of Yan TV. “But then what
happens is you see there are not so many
good quality music videos out there, and
we happen to have someone like Jen in the
company, so we do the job of the pioneer.
We open another way for people to look at
how you produce a music video.”
Hiep acknowledges that being a pioneer
in Vietnam can lead to a slippery slope. In
pushing the boundaries, Yan TV must be
careful not to venture so far beyond them
that their content loses its relevance.
“The challenge is really remarkable,” says
Hiep. “At first we had long arguments. Do we
set a high standard and make the audience
reach us, understand us? Or do we produce
the content that they will accept? We came
to a point where we said, ‘OK, the creative
people like Jen, they are used to a high standard, but then you have to make your story
understandable to local tastes.’”
As difficult as it can be to resolve foreign
and local sensibilities, Bao believes that
international involvement is essential to the
future of television. As a lecturer at the Ho
Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Cinema, he says looking beyond Vietnam presents opportunities to supplement the young
industry. “[The University] should invite some
lecturers from other countries that have successful movie industries to come and share
their practical working experience, as well as
to teach several periods,” says Bao, adding
that there’s currently a shortage of lecturers
and few internship opportunities.
Ha agrees that bringing today's students
up to speed will make for better films tomorrow. "If workflow isn't good, it will also affect
the next generation of filmmakers," he says.
"Nothing carries over like mistakes."
While help may come from outside
Vietnam, real change will come from within.
Bao and Ha both stress the importance of
source material. You can throw all the money
in the world at a production, but without a
solid script that speaks to local audiences, a
television show will fail.
It boils down to a simple maxim, Bao
says: co bot moi got nen ho. No flour, no
paste.
asialife HCMC 27
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Rapsoul
The popular music scene has long been
dominated by karaoke-ready saccharine
pop. However, R&B and hiphop artists
and producers are starting to bring the
noise. Thomas Maresca plugs in.
On a recent night at Fuse, a new, upscale
nightclub, HCM City’s burgeoning hiphop
community was out in force.
Kids in flat-billed baseball caps, oversized
t-shirts and baggy jeans packed the room as
some of the best known rappers in town—
baby-faced 26-year-old Rapsoul and female
MC Suboi—performed, rhyming in both
English and Vietnamese. DJs spun in the
background, while breakdancers from the
Big South Crew worked the stage before the
enthusiastic crowd.
In cities around the world, this would be
a perfectly ordinary scene. But in Vietnam, a
party like this is still relatively rare, particularly
in such a mainstream setting.
Long dominated by syrupy ballads designed to be warbled along to on karaoke
machines, Vietnamese contemporary music is
getting a remix. Plugged-in urban youth and
overseas Vietnamese are finding influences
from California to Korea, and the speakers,
studios and clubs of Vietnam are starting to
hum with some new sounds.
Follow the Money
Tellingly, the other faces in the crowd at Fuse
on this night are executives from music channel YanTV, on hand to launch an imported
MTV series America’s Best Dance Crew,
and investment firm IDG Ventures. There’s a
clear sense of which direction the market is
heading.
“If you want to put money into the local
market, put it into hiphop and R&B,” says
Duc Tri, founder of Music Faces, a record
label and production company, which is
releasing albums by both Rapsoul and Suboi
in the upcoming months.
Tri has been involved in the evolution of the
Vietnamese music industry for almost two
28 asialife HCMC
decades. A graduate of the HCM City Conservatory of Music, he was a musician in the
90s, and then left to study music production
at Berklee College in Boston. He returned in
2004 and started Music Faces.
Even back then, influences from the West
and Asian countries such as Korea were
coming in, but Vietnamese audiences weren’t
ready to accept it from their own singers. Tri’s
first client, supermodel-turned-chanteuse Ho
Ngoc Ha, had already tried to record some
R&B-tinged material as far back as 2003, but
it flopped.
“We brought her back doing very cheesy
pop ballads, very easy listening pop,” says
Tri. “That was the music that people were
listening to. My theory is, don’t do something
new in this market. You have to go back and
do what they are doing, and start from there.
And then move forward.”
The learning curve existed not just for audiences, but artists and producers as well.
“It’s one thing to listen to something and
like it, and another to incorporate it into
what you’re doing,” says Laurent Jaccoux, a
French producer who has worked in Vietnam.
The gap between traditional Vietnamese
pop and a style like R&B is particularly vast.
“Everything is different,” says Jaccoux. “The
structure, the melody.”
Even the way audiences listened to music
was radically different. While R&B and hiphop
are beat-oriented, in Vietnamese pop songs,
music is kept in the background. “In typical
Vietnamese pop songs, the music is mixed
way in the back,” says Jaccoux. “Here, they
just listen to the vocals and the lyrics.”
Lost in Translation
Language is another barrier. Hiphop, for instance, in the United States or other countries
has been built on generations of slang, but
to find a Vietnamese voice in hiphop meant
starting from scratch.
Rapsoul, one of the country’s hiphop
pioneers, only heard his first rap song eight
years ago, on a mixtape given to him by a
foreign friend. “We don’t have hiphop slang,”
says Rapsoul. “We don’t have gangsta rap
like in the U.S. Vietnamese culture is different.
The lyrics of the song must be clean. No bad
words.”
Rapsoul’s upcoming album, Soul (Sounds
of Urban Life), features songs about “driving a
bike around the city, about the love of music,
about listening to music, about clubs,” says
the MC.
Getting Vietnamese to fit into R&B also
presents an obstacle. The tones in the
language are often at odds with the melodies
and phrasing in a typical R&B song.
“Writing Vietnamese lyrics for my melodies
is always a challenge,” says Duong Khac
Linh, a Dutch-born producer who has written
a string of R&B and urban pop hits for Vietnamese artists under the moniker GremLinh.
“I write English lyrics and translate. It’s
very different. Very Westernized, but also
Vietnamese. So it brings a new dimension
to Vietnamese music and it’s starting to give
Vietnamese R&B its own sound.”
Rising Star
Linh is clearly the producer of the moment in
contemporary Vietnamese music. He moved
to Vietnam from his native Holland in 2008
and began producing for Music Faces artists
such as Ho Ngoc Ha and Phuong Vy, the
2007 Vietnam Idol winner.
His songs quickly became some of the
most successful and international-sounding
hits in the Vietnamese market, including the
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Thanh Bui
Duong Khac Linh
SES
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Watch
Thao Trang
biggest single of last year: Ho Ngoc Ha’s “My
Apology / Xin Hay Thu Ha.” Its groove, slick
production and extremely catchy hook were
very different for Vietnam.
Ha even performed the song at the Asian
Song Festival in Korea last September to a
positive reception, one of the first times a
Vietnamese musician has made an impact
on the international stage.
At the beginning of 2010, Linh left and
started his own company, Early Risers
Media, where his touch has stayed golden.
In addition to music, the company coproduced the hit Dustin Nguyen film De Mai
Tinh and has used the soundtrack to nurture
and develop its music portfolio.
One of the artists to join Early Risers is
Thao Trang. A Vietnam Idol Top 5 finalist
in 2007, Trang was well known but didn’t
fit into the cookie-cutter mold of a typical
Vietnamese pop star. Pixie-ish, with a quirky
style, she found it difficult to build on her
Idol success. After live touring and a selfreleased first album, her prospects dried up.
Early Risers invited her to record a song
for the De Mai Tinh soundtrack. Trang ended
up providing the vocals for all of the female
lead’s songs, and walked away with a deal
to release a new album.
“This project is bringing me back,” she
says. “I was kind of dead for a while after
the first album. I couldn’t find anything that
fit.”
30 asialife HCMC
Albums by Art
Duc Tri
Her album The New Me is set for release
this month. Of its 10 tracks, five are in English and five in Vietnamese, with a blend of
ballads, R&B, urban pop and even a couple
of club tracks.
“This album is kind of like research…to
see what [audiences] like the most, what
style—urban pop, R&B? And then I’m going
to do that.”
Viet Kieu Influence
Another artist who appeared on the De Mai
Tinh soundtrack is Australian-born Thanh
Bui, who was a Top 8 finalist on Australian
Idol in 2008. He was contacted by Linh, and
agreed to record a Vietnamese rework of his
own song, “Forbidden,” which became “Lang
Tham Mot Tinh Yeu,” a duet with Ho Ngoc
Ha.
Thanh says he was “blown away” by the
quality of the music Linh sent him. “I never
knew Vietnamese music had progressed this
much,” he says.
The 25-year-old is in the midst of working
on an international album alongside some of
the biggest global producers in the business,
but he’s also decided to record an album for
Vietnam.
It will be targeted for a July release, with
primarily Vietnamese-language songs. Like
his fellow Viet Kieu, Linh, Bui is helping to
bring another sound to Vietnam. “We want to
do some progressive soul. V-pop, Japanese
and Korean pop…it can be so sweet. I want
my music to say something, to keep it as real
as possible.”
Million-Dollar Question
While the Vietnamese music industry is expanding its horizons, it’s also facing the same
question plaguing the music business around
the world: How do you make money in a
digitized world, when so much of the content
can be had for free?
The issue is particularly acute in Vietnam,
where piracy is a way of life and official CD
sales are almost negligible. A blockbuster hit
will sell perhaps a few thousand copies.
For performers, the main source of revenue
remains live shows. Other means of making
money include ringtones and endorsements
or sponsorship deals.
There is no easy solution for producers.
For Duc Tri, the trend is worrying. “We make
money, but not enough to cover the burn
rate to maintain the quality we’re trying to
get,” he says. “We’re trying to do first class,
high-quality music locally. But somehow the
income, the payback…we’re not there.”
Early Risers is getting set to launch its own
website, where they will sell their own artists’
songs on MP3, and ultimately become what
Linh hopes will be a hub for independent
labels around Asia.
Despite the attention among urban youth,
and the occasional chart-topping hits,
Vietnamese R&B and hiphop remains a niche
market. “My music is actually for a very small
population of Vietnamese,” says Linh. “There
are 90 million people here. I serve maybe a
few percent.”
The biggest stars in Vietnam remain
saccharine pop singers such as Dam Vinh
Hung. His songs don’t get much attention on
the charts but his concerts sell out, and he
commands huge concert fees. There are no
truly reliable music charts or album tracking
systems in place yet in Vietnam.
“The only tracking system for me is what
an artist gets paid for a performance,” says
Linh. “It’s easy to determine who’s really
wanted by the public or not. You can ask
for $5,000 for a gig but if nobody pays you,
you’re not worth it. Dam Van Hung could
easily ask for $10,000 and it’s sold out right
away. That shows me who is number one in
Vietnam.”
As if to underscore the point, back at
Fuse, once the rap performances are done,
the young hiphop crowd is quickly muscled
away from the VIP tables. The club’s wellheeled regular patrons arrive, ready to order
exorbitantly priced bottles of Hennesy and
Johnnie Walker. Loud, generic thumping
techno replaces the hiphop sounds. It’s a
familiar scene to anyone who’s ever been to
a Vietnamese nightclub.
“Step by step,” says Tri. “Vietnamese
music won’t change overnight.”
ists to
Rapsoul
Soul (Sounds of Urban Living)
June / Music Faces
Mot Tinh Yeu,” a duet with Ho
Ngoc Ha from the De Mai Tinh
soundtrack.
The king of HCM City hiphop has
a debut release out this month.
Antoneus Maximus
July / Early Risers
Thao Trang
The New Me
June / Early Risers
An experienced rapper/producer
from California, Antoneus Maximus provided songs for the De
Mai Tinh soundtrack, and is working on this full-length release.
Vietnam Idol finalist had several
tracks on the De Mai Tinh soundtrack. This is the second album for
the quirky, versatile pop singer.
Suboi
July / Music Faces
Debut album from one of the bestknown young rappers in Vietnam.
She appeared on Ho Ngoc Ha’s
hit singles “My Apology” and
“Ladies’ Night.”
Thanh Bui
July / Early Risers
Debut Vietnamese-language
album from Australian Idol finalist.
His first single was “Lang Tham
Kim
August / Early Risers
Kim, a 19-year-old MC and singer
from Hanoi, is one of the most
buzzed-about and promising
performers in Vietnamese music.
Great style and ability.
Ho Ngoc Ha
September-October / Early Risers
Vietnam’s most popular female
star is back in the studio with
Duong Khac Linh, the producer of
some of her biggest hits.
*Dates are tentative
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Traditionally Vietnam has been on the B-list
when it comes to moviemaking. Yet, as Jade
Bilowol reports, a film industry is taking
shape and Vietnamese audiences are lining
up at the box office.
It’s a Sunday night at Diamond Plaza’s Lotte
Cinema in downtown HCM City. Flashlight in
hand, the usher leads us to seats in the front
row. Cinema 3 is almost filled to capacity. The
rustle of popcorn and snap of a seal being
broken on a drink bottle are heard.
The lights then fade out completely for
the main feature, but it’s not a Hollywood
blockbuster. Nor is it from one of Asia’s film
powerhouses. The crowd has turned out for
homegrown flick De Mai Tinh (Fool for Love),
a romantic comedy starring veteran Vietnamese American actor Dustin Nguyen alongside
Kathy Uyen and Thai Hoa. The audience
is immediately engrossed, laughing relentlessly as the one-liners come thick and fast.
In this fickle business, many movies are in
32 asialife HCMC
the throes of death after a couple of weeks
at the cinema. Yet Fool for Love is pulling
strong numbers well into its third week.
Nguyen’s character Dung, a hotel attendant, emerges as the underdog in a two-way
tussle for aspiring singer Mai’s (Uyen) affections. Things are further complicated when
flamboyantly gay Hoi (Hoa) bursts onto the
scene, trying to win Dung over. The audience is backing the underdog, whether it’s
Dung, Hoi, Fool For Love or good Vietnamese films generally.
Let’s Rewind
Eight months earlier, Choi Voi (Adrift) debuts
at The Venice Film Festival. The drama
piece comes out of nowhere to clinch the
international critics’ Fipresci Prize. This is
huge. Adrift joins the international film festival
circuit, screening in Toronto, Vancouver, London, Fukuoka and Bangkok before opening
to the Vietnamese public in mid-November
last year.
Adrift is a far cry from Vietnam’s censored,
government-produced films of the past.
Infused with marital infidelity and lesbianism,
the film explores modern life in Vietnam with
haunting results. Adrift scriptwriter Phan
Dang Di is not new to the Venice Film Festival. Nor is he shy about sinking his teeth into
controversial issues. His short film When I
am 20 (Khi Toi 20)—about a young prostitute
who supports her grandmother—was shown
at the festival in 2008.
According to Adrift director Bui Thac
Chuyen, Vietnamese films are improving
thanks to private sector funding. At the
time of Adrift’s Venice premiere, he told
international media that Vietnamese cinema
audiences, particularly in large cities, are
growing, and although the industry needs
more funding, films are proving to be commercially viable.
David versus Goliath
Locally-made action flick Bay Rong (Clash)
hits the big screen on December 18—the
same day as James Cameron’s epic Avatar,
the biggest film of all time. Despite fierce
competition, it holds its ground, generating
almost 20 billion VND (more than USD $1
asialife HCMC 33
“Here a movie reaches an alltime high and breaks records,
then it’s topped by a movie
next year. That’s a sign the
market’s expanding”
Charlie Nguyen
“cinematic dream.”
“There are so many opportunities, so
many stories untold,” he muses. “The
culture, the conflict, diversity and depth—it’s
full of contrast. There’s a beautiful building
next to a trashy place and when you put a
camera up to the scenery, it all looks very
interesting.”
Johnny admits this relatively new filmmaking arena throws up challenges. “It’s
not settled or well developed—everything is
alien,” he says. “It’s a little unstable, a little
unorganized. Nothing’s really written in paper. There aren’t enough professionals, you
have to struggle and really work. Every film
you make’s a journey to be discovered.”
Johnny Tri Nguyen and Ngo Thanh Van, stars of Clash
million) after six weeks.
Vietnamese American actor and stunt
double Johnny Tri Nguyen, who co-wrote
and stars in Clash, says the film was slated
to stay in the cinemas for three weeks. “It
ended up staying for seven to eight weeks,”
he says. “Average films last for about two
weeks because there aren’t enough theatres, so the cycle is really short.”
So why did audiences champion Clash?
“They don’t get bored out of their minds with
the culture stuff and there’s something for
everybody with drama, romance and action,”
Johnny says.
Producer Tawny Nguyen of Chang
Phuong Films, the production company
behind Clash, says Vietnamese audiences
will support homegrown efforts “if we try to
make quality films they can feel proud of and
identify with.”
“I think Clash’s writers (Johnny, Le Thanh
34 asialife HCMC
Son and Ho Quang Hung) did a great job
contributing to, and fine-tuning, the balance
between Western factors Vietnamese audiences enjoy and the Vietnamese cultural
mentality they can relate to,” Tawny says.
Like Adrift, Clash is reaching a global audience on the film festival trail, screening at
acting legend Robert de Niro’s 2010 Tribeca
Film Festival in New York. Tawny says Chang
Phuong Films is promoting Clash internationally thanks to support from investors and
strong returns that allowed the company to
recoup its budget at Vietnam’s cinemas.
Johnny says while non-action Vietnamese
films cost about $400,000 to make, Clash
was double because “comedies don’t have
things exploding and are quicker to shoot.”
He reckons in other parts of the world, Clash
would’ve cost more than $10 million.
Filmmaking at a cheaper price isn’t the
only drawcard. Johnny likens Vietnam to a
It’s Tet Time of Year
Traditionally, Vietnam has one season during which people flock to the cinemas, the
Tet holiday season. In February, a clutch of
films— Nhung Nu Hon Ruc Ro (Glamorous
Kisses), Khi Yeu Dung Quay Dau Lai (Don’t
Turn Around When In Love) and Nhat Ky
Bach Tuyet (Snow White’s Diary)—vie for a
share of the influx.
Glamorous Kisses, a musical directed by
Nguyen Quang Dung, whose last two movies broke the country’s box office records,
generated the highest income of the three.
Megastar Media Company chairman Brian
Hall says that together the movies enjoyed
a “reasonable to strong box office” at
Megastar Cinemas, screening for four to six
weeks. “These films are fairly light and easy
to watch … and are generally aimed at a
mass audience,” he says.
Brian says box office sales for Vietnamese
films at Megastar cinemas have been mushrooming. The total box office for 2007 was
up by a staggering 1600 percent on 2006.
From there, the figures further skyrocket
annually. Brian says the first four months of
2010 have already usurped all of 2009 by
another 125 percent. “It is possible in five to
10 years for the local Vietnamese film market
to be 10 times bigger than today—in terms
of revenue generation at least—if it follows
these trends,” he says.
Since Megastar opened its first multiplex
cinema in Hanoi in 2006, the annual box office has ballooned from $2 million annually to
a projected $20 million-plus for 2010. Brian
says this phenomenal growth largely results
from films being released in Vietnam much
closer to their release dates in the United
States and other key markets. After all,
there’s more demand for fresh films with an
early start on the scourge of DVD piracy.
There’s no sign demand will wane any
time soon, unlike in other parts of the world,
where cinemas are closing down. According to Brian, Vietnam is one of the most
“under-screened” countries in the world,
with Megastar looking for new locations to
open cinemas.
Lights, Camera …
When it’s time to shoot Fool For Love, a
crisis erupts.
“Virtually everything that could go wrong
on set did go wrong,” Charlie says with a
bemused smile.
The crew was informed that by the start
of shooting, the Sheraton Hotel in Nha
Trang would be completely constructed. But
when they rock up, it’s concrete and metal.
“All we have is one room and a hallway,”
Charlie says. “In the script, there’s a lobby,
pool, spa, club and bar. We get there and
think: ‘Shit, we’re dead.'”
No other locations are available in Nha
Trang so they come up with a stopgap
solution: shooting in Hanoi as well. “There’s
not one location that can accommodate the
story so we shoot at three different other
hotels too,” says Charlie. “It’s a nightmare
because of the different architecture,
colours and furniture.”
From a moviemaking viewpoint, Charlie
likens Vietnam to the “wild, wild East.”
“An industry is slowly starting to take
shape,” he says. “Here a movie reaches an
all-time-high and breaks records, then it’s
topped by a movie next year. That’s a sign
the market’s expanding.” However, he says
investors are only willing to allocate a limited
amount of money into films, so that they can
safely recoup their funds. “It’s not a case
of ‘Here, we’ve got the money. Can we do
this?’ Rather, it’s ‘We really need it. Please
help us? Can we shoot at 1am?’”
In Vietnam, Charlie says there are ways
to overcome hurdles. For a chase scene
in Fool For Love, a request to close down
one of Nha Trang’s main roads was denied.
“After much begging and knocking on the
right doors, we got the street,” Charlie says.
“It’s all about getting on people’s good side.
In the States, when they say no, it means
no. But here, between a yes and no, there’s
a ‘do I like you enough?’”
While Charlie’s a fan of following Hollywood’s footsteps in many filmmaking aspects, such as script structure and technical
competency, he acknowledges industry
development here may be a double-edged
sword. “We get to shoot at all the different
locations for free,” Charlie says. “Maybe in
20 years time we won’t be able to do this
because everyone will want money.”
Cue Fool for Love
Fool For Love’s release date is fast approaching and Dustin, who also co-wrote
and co-produced the film, can’t help feeling
nervous.
“When it comes to comedy, it’s very
scary,” says Los Angeles-based Dustin,
who has acted alongside the likes of Johnny
Depp in 21 Jump Street and Cate Blanchett
in Little Fish. “Before screening it for the first
time, you’re not sure if it’s going to be effective or not.”
Despite his strong acting performance,
Hoa’s gay character also worries them.
“Our team was quite concerned this might
backfire,” Dustin says. “You don’t know at
the end of the day. This is still a relatively
conservative society.”
These worries dissolve the moment Fool
For Love hits the big screen. In the first
three days of its release, it sells 45,000
tickets. “It’s a shock to the industry. This is
the same as the biggest Tet movie gets,”
Charlie says. “We are happy not just for
the film, but to break tradition by screening
outside Tet. If you make a good film, people
will go.”
Dustin says financially, the film “will do all
right in the end.”
“I don’t believe any independent filmmakers have ever gotten rich,” he says. “That’s
why it’s called ‘independent’ and I consider
Vietnamese filmmakers to be ‘independent
filmmakers.’”
Fool For Love will make its presence felt
in the United States in August this year.
“This little itty bitty subtitled Vietnamese
film’s getting released in America,” says
Dustin. “It’s a small release in 10 to 12 cities, however, relatively speaking, it’s quite
an accomplishment when you consider how
many other foreign films are vying to get on
the screens.”
Returning to Cinema 3, Fool For Love’s
car chase scene is unfolding at a terrific
speed and the audience is in hysterics.
When the cinema’s lights come back on,
it’s clear the punters are impressed. Thai
Kim Jen, a student studying foreign and
international trade, says this is the second
time she’s seen Fool For Love. But there
was a time when she didn’t think much of
Vietnamese films. “Over the past three or so
years, they keep getting better,” she says.
“People are training in foreign countries,
coming back with better skills and helping
the industry here.”
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The wave of Vietnamese films being made shows no sign of
abating. At the time of writing, the Cannes International Film
Festival was treated to a sneak preview of Canh Dong Bat Tan
(Floating Lives), based on a short story by Nguyen Ngoc Tu
and set in the Mekong Delta. It was previewed during a party
to publicize the inaugural Vietnamese International Film Festival
to be held in Hanoi on October 17 to 21. Dustin Nguyen, who
stars in the film, says: “I think it’s going to be a very important
Vietnamese film.”
Dustin is reportedly set to make his directorial debut with upcoming action film Monk on Fire–described as “an Asian western with bikes instead of horses, swords instead of guns and
super powered monks.” The production company responsible
for Fool for Love, Early Risers Media Group, is developing other
projects. “Early Risers is really a bunch of friends with a desire
to make films … we would like to see coming from Vietnam,”
Dustin says. “We have a couple of small Vietnamese-language
films in development, as well as a couple of English-language
films for the international market.”
Meanwhile, Vietnamese American actor and kickboxer
Cung Le is lined up to star in English-language martial arts film
Breaking Point, of which Chang Phuong Films is an execu-
tive producer. Principal photography for the film is scheduled
to begin in late 2010. Le acted alongside Dennis Quaid in
Pandorum.
Tawny Nguyen says Chang Phuong Films is also working on
Saigon Electric, a film about Vietnamese youth who express
themselves through hiphop. It’s in pre-production and Stephane Gauger, who directed Vietnamese film Cu va chim se se
(Owl and the Sparrow), is signed on to direct the film. “We try
to develop as many projects as we can with different filmmakers,” says Tawny. “I think there are many local talents yet to be
discovered. Once they have the right supports and opportunity,
they will contribute many fresh and unique visions and stories
that will help shape the industry and further push Vietnamese
films beyond the local boundary–just like what happened in the
past for Hong Kong, Thailand and most recently Korea. I truly
believe Vietnam can be next.”
To mark Hanoi’s 1000-year celebrations, an historical epic
about Hanoi is reportedly in pre-production.
Johnny Tri Nguyen is also currently writing an action fantasy,
which he hopes to start shooting later this year. “It takes
place in the modern day with some characters from the past,”
Johnny says.
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VI E
A brief history of the curious
lifespan and rebirth of Vietnamese
blogs. By Chi Huyen Mai.
The Rise
Once upon a time, five or six years ago, a
neologism introduced a whole new way of
life to Vietnamese who were embracing the
cyber world. That word was “blog.”
“For the first time, my opinions counted,
and I was listened to,” recalls Tu Nguyen, a
20-year-old blogger.
For many like Tu, blogging presented
the chance to voice one’s mind and heart
in a culture that traditionally approves of
communal consensus and disapproves of
individual expression. Blogging was a new
sort of freedom.
From behind their keyboards, bloggers
could reflect on life, their peers, fashion,
music, pets—anything that interested them.
That freedom extended to social, economic
and even political subjects, which had
hardly ever been discussed on any public
platform before the arrival of blogs.
Trung Tran was in his early twenties when
the blogosphere exploded. “It was the only
space where I could speak my thoughts at
length about my generation, society and all
that surrounded me,” says Tran.
“It was a whole new horizon in which one
had a chance to parade her personality,”
says Van Nguyen, who would become a
blogger for Asia Scout Network, a research
initiative that monitors emerging youth culture within Asia-Pacific.
As blogging grew in popularity, the world
beyond the computer screen took notice.
Starting from a personal wish to express
themselves, some bloggers rose above the
crowd, making up a trendsetting group that
Vietnamese media at the time dubbed “The
Hot Bloggers.”
“Hot Bloggers are those who had a
strong personality. That’s the numero uno
standard,” says Robbey Le, a well-known,
long-time blogger.
Robbey has been blogging since 2006.
He writes about pop culture, from music
to movies to the world of celebrities, “with
no attempts to stir up faux scandals,” he
says, referring to the many Vietnamese blog
pages that attract enormous traffic by posting gossip, eyebrow-raising news and plenty
of boob shots.
Many other bloggers also rose above the
lowest common denominator. At its peak,
Vietnam’s blogosphere saw the rise of Co
Gai Do Long, a journalist by trade who reported behind-the-scenes stories of celebrities. It also witnessed the increasing fame of
Bo Cu Hung, a reporter who offered insights
into more serious topics such as politics and
journalistic practices. Then there was Cuong
Oz with independent multi-series research
and features on the underground youth culture of alcohol and drugs. The list goes on.
The Fall
Much of the boom was built on Yahoo 360,
a social networking and blogging platform
that was the first to enter the Vietnamese
market. But while Yahoo 360 caught on in
Vietnam, it was radically eclipsed in the rest
of the world by other services such as Myspace and Facebook. By July 2009, Yahoo
decided to close the service. It was little
noticed elsewhere, but the decision had a
dramatic impact on the blogging community
in Vietnam.
The death of Yahoo 360 spawned the
annihilation of millions of online journals and
“For the first time, my
opinions counted, and I was
listened to”
Tu Nguyen, blogger
a scattered exodus to a plethora of other
sites, from Wordpress, Multiply, my.opera,
Tumblr, Blogspot and Yahoo Plus (successor of Yahoo 360) to locally-supplied Zing,
Yume, tamtay and others.
In 2009, the number of Internet users visiting blogs dropped from 46 to 41
percent, and blog writers declined from 27
to 20 percent, according to market research
agency Cimigo.
Some bloggers continued. Robbey Le,
Co Gai Do Long and others have survived
and retained their loyal fans, but other pop
culture bloggers either completely gave
up or slowed down after moving to other
hosting sites. “There was no point to invest
feelings and thoughts in prose just to see
everything suddenly vanish one day,” says
Trang Tran.
“Things’ve changed so much. There is no
concentration of blogging culture anymore,”
says Joe Ruelle, the most acclaimed—and
only—Western blogging star in Vietnam.
Joe, known by Vietnamese people as
“Dau Tay” (a pun on his name that translates
to “Western Berry”), became a phenomenon through his blog, which was written in
uncannily fluent Vietnamese with adept observations about Vietnam’s life and culture.
“It’s natural,” he says about the fall of the
Yahoo 360 blogging community. “Vietnam
is very receptive to fads. Everything can
quickly come into fashion and quickly fade
away.”
From Robbey Le’s viewpoint as one
of the most talked-about blogging stars,
“Vietnam’s online world still lacks strong per-
sonalities. Even in commenting, people fear
backlash unless they keep their real identity
in the closet and stay behind a mask.”
The Renaissance
Despite the fall of Yahoo 360, the online
world has continued to evolve.
In the present online world of Vietnam, sex
and scandals are flooding popular websites.
Quachdaica.info, a notorious site overflowing with sexual clips, provocative photos
and scandals has become a model for other
blogs and amateur entertainment sites. Contagious online “journals” of “hot boys” and
“hot girls” (the words, remaining in English,
were invented by Vietnam’s online community) are passed along via whispers and
mischievous winks, primarily among younger
cyber citizens.
On a lower key, the literary, social and
political enthusiasts gather in esoteric sites
of their own. Online literature has been an
emerging trend; Trang Ha and some other
writer-bloggers initiated a website vanhocmang.net (online literature) as a new cyber
turf for more serious writers.
Teenagers have also joined the party and
concocted a communication style for themselves. Translating the incomprehensible
passages on her friends’ blogs, my 18-yearold sister explains: “We now write ‘p’ for ‘b’,
‘j’ for ‘i’, ‘w’ for ‘qu’ and ‘k’ for ‘c.’” Though
it looks like code, there’s no discernible function; the substitutions are simply in fashion.
For some, blogging has turned into opportunities in other media. Joe’s online fame
led him into a career as TV show host and
film star, as well as the publication of his
blog entries as a book. Recently he again
picked up the craft as a blogger for Dan Tri,
a respected local news website.
Other bloggers have also ventured beyond
the cyberworld. Ha Kin signed a book deal
for New York Love Story, a compilation of
her blog entries under the same title. And
Trang Ha, who at first translated a Chinese
fiction translated as “Sorry you are just a
slut” on her blog, later signed a book deal
which was followed by a stage adaptation
offer in 2010.
Still, the heyday of the blogging craze is
over, perhaps never to return. “It used to be
a communal, eclectic house where I could
learn from different blog pages. Somewhat
like an information buffet,” says Trang Phạm,
a PR executive. “Now I don’t know where
I can find the prose to my taste. I have no
clue where my favourite bloggers have gone.
It’s all a big muddle.”
asialife HCMC 37
The Greener Side of Hong Kong
The rain started coming down
in waves. It was the type
of ocean storm that rolls in
unexpectedly, soaking you to
the core. Any rational person
would have run for cover—but
an overhang or building were
nowhere in sight.
I was hiking in Hong Kong's
New Territories in the midst of
green islands set along an undulating coast. Behind a veil of
fog was the soundless steel-grey
sea. What a strange feeling—to
be in one of the world’s biggest
cities and not have any shelter.
Who knew such an enormous,
futuristic place could accommodate such untamed, wild
terrain?
The Hong Kong we know
and love is a place of size, urban
density and scale. Vertigoinducing skyscrapers and
crushes of pedestrians are the
first images that spring to mind.
But Hong Kong's municipal
government is quietly working
to change this perception. Since
the 1970s, more than 20 country
parks have opened across Hong
Kong, a city of 1,100 sqkm with
a population of seven million.
Collectively these reserves
cover more than 40 percent
38 asialife HCMC
of the territory and harbour a
wealth of natural species (1900
species of flower alone), plenty
of unexpected discoveries and
numerous activities.
Hong Kong’s country parks
manage to balance accessibility
with remoteness and adventure.
The trails are paved in many
sections, and mobile phones
have coverage if hikers hit a
trouble spot. Hikers can choose
to explore these spaces on their
own or with tour companies like
Walk Hong Kong. Whichever
option you choose, you’re sure
to see sparsely populated fishing villages, deserted beaches
and hilly, coastal landscapes.
To offset the typical itinerary of shopping, drinking and
overindulging in the city, I set
out to find a natural version of
Hong Kong during a week-long
visit. Famous hikes like the trail
along Shek O Country Park’s
“Dragon’s Back,” with views of
the scenic seaside town of Stanley, are popular with visitors
and residents alike. However,
it was the dramatic terrain of
Sai Kung East Country Park,
located in Hong Kong’s New
Territories—so named when
the British took more land from
China in 1898—that caught my
eye. Just 20 km from the overcrowded region of Kowloon,
it was easy to access by public
transit yet had the remoteness
I craved.
My hike at Sai Kung began at
the edge of the park’s reservoir,
an enormous freshwater lake
that provides much of Hong
Kong’s drinking water. A ceiling
of smoky-grey clouds hung
low in the sky. Flushed with a
murky, aquamarine hue, the
reservoir mirrored the heavens.
Rolling hills surrounding the
lake were covered in bristlygreen plant life.
I started hiking slowly, letting
my footsteps and breathing
find a comfortable rhythm. The
trail snaked its way along the
winding coast, looking out over
the ocean. As I found myself
removed from the shrill horns
and blinking lightshow of the
urban grid, the city’s claustrophobia melted away. In its place
were crisp sea breezes and the
crunch of gravel beneath my
hiking shoes. Even the sudden
rainstorm that rolled in couldn’t
dampen my spirits. It was all
part of the experience.
About an hour into my hike, I
ascended a ridge above a small
wedge of beach below, home to
a tiny fishing village. The ragtag
collection of structures along the
rest of the hiking path weren’t
been much to look at—just a
few crumbling buildings lining
the street. A jumble of fishing
nets dangled from a nearby
fence before the town’s lone restaurant. But the view was more
than enough.
I was tired and ready for a
lunch break. I sat at a beachfront plastic patio table at an
eatery overlooked a sheltered
bay enclosed by craggy rocks.
As I chewed a heaped plate of
Cantonese-style noodles, a pack
of dogs wrestled and yelped in
the sand. They made the only
sounds, save for my chewing and the crashing of waves
against the beach. Not a neon
sign in sight.
Hong Kong Hiking Information
www.afcd.gov.hk
www.hiking-hong-kong.com
Guided Hikes
www.walkhongkong.com
The hillside Hong Kong Park is a fusion of artifice and
nature. It features a soaring aviary surrounded by a twisting,
elevated walkway from which visitors can spot exotic birds
perched in the rain forest canopy. The park also has a visual
arts centre, tai chi garden, game hall, playground and viewing tower. Both the Peak Tram and Botanical and Zoological
Gardens are up the street.
Kowloon Park between Canton and Nathan roads is best
visited during early mornings, when locals can be seen exercising to a soundtrack of chirping birds and Cantopop. Everywhere you look, from the Chinese Garden to the Loggia, the
whitewashed Islamic Centre to the Sculpture Park—even in
the hedge maze—locals are stretching and jogging. Reward
yourself for waking early with cheap, tasty dim sum at Very
Good across from the Islamic Centre.
Hop on the KCR East Railway to the Ten Thousand
Buddhas Monastery in the northern New Territories. The
400-stair ascent is lined with life-size gold statues of the Buddha’s disciples, and leads to an ornate courtyard. The soaring
walls of the main temple are lined with miniature sitting
Buddhas—hence the name. Watch out for mischievous macaques lingering near the douhua (tofu in sugar syrup) booth
and along the descent.
Kowloon Walled City Park in New Kowloon was once a
crime-ridden slum, but the local government appropriated
the land and turned it into a walled park dotted with Eastern
staples: banzai trees, sculpted hedges, lunar year statuary
and traditional buildings linked by paths and promenades.
The park is a short trip from the centre by bus or MTR (mass
transit railway).
For a more complete view of Victoria Peak, take the tourist tram to the top, but hop bus 15 on the way down. The
open-air, double decker swerves along the 552-metre descent,
making hairpin turns on a tightrope artery that offers great
views of luxurious residences, little streets and cemeteries
tucked into the mountainside. At the base, bus 15 continues
into Soho and Central.
Or if you really want to explore the Peak, you can hike the
Peak Circuit Trail and/or the Pok Fu Lam Country Park
Trail from the top. The trailhead is located near the Peak
Tower and Galleria.
Tom DiChristopher
asialife HCMC 39
Patricia Wells, one of the foremost teachers and commentators on the art of French cuisine,
has found a new love: Vietnamese food. Thomas Maresca visited the intrepid gastronome on
her return to Hoi An. Photos By Fred Wissink.
At the stunning Nam Hai Resort
in Hoi An, Patricia Wells—for
three decades synonymous with
French cuisine, author of classic
cookbooks such as Bistro Cooking
and Simply French—stands in
front of a group of students, giving instructions on how to make
… spring rolls?
If more evidence were needed
that Vietnamese cuisine is
finding its way onto the world
culinary stage, this could be
it. Wells has become the latest,
and one of the most high-profile
advocates of our local eats.
The American-born Wells has
lived in Paris for the past three
decades with her husband, Walter, the former executive editor
of the International Herald Tribune. Patricia was the restaurant
critic for the Tribune, as well
as L’Express, and has written 11
books. Today, she offers some of
the most exclusive, in-demand
40 asialife HCMC
cooking courses in the world in
Paris and Provence.
But last month, from May 9
to 14, Wells replaced the pot au
feu with pho and left her home
kitchens behind for the realm of
clay pots, rice paper and lemongrass in order to teach a class of
14 students, primarily from the
United States.
This affair with Vietnamese
cuisine is no fling, but a committed relationship. Wells first
visited Vietnam in March 2009
to take a culinary tour of the
country. (See “We’ll Always
Have Dalat,” AsiaLIFE issue 13.)
Over 10 days, Wells and Walter made their way from HCM
City to Hanoi, along the way
eating, learning about ingredients and talking to chefs and
local growers.
Wells was hooked. When she
got back to France, she began
preparations for her class. “The
first thing I did was go to the
Vietnamese market in Paris.
There was one market, a 10-minute walk from my apartment,
that had everything. Everything.
I mean every herb, fresh ginger,
the Asian eggplant. I just started
cooking, cooking, cooking,”
says Wells.
Some things about Vietnamese cuisine were remarkably
similar to the kind of cooking Wells already specialized
in. Many of the same basic
concepts—the daily trips to the
market, the freshness of the
ingredients, the extensive use of
herbs—are staples of the kind
of approach that Wells has long
advocated.
On the other hand, there are
obvious differences. One is the
more easygoing approach many
Vietnamese take to recipes.
“In a funny way it’s such
a contrast to French cuisine,
which has so many rules,” Wells
says. “”Vietnamese cuisine
has very few rules, just kind of
parameters. In France, you’d
say ‘You would never put this
with lentils.’ Whereas here, if
you don’t have green papaya,
use something else. If you have
mint, put mint in. If you have
basil, put basil in. It’s not like
this real dictatorship of herbs.”
Vietnamese cuisine is also
cooking stripped down to the
basics. There are only a few
cooking techniques—grilling,
sautéing, deep frying, stir
frying—and a relatively limited
range of ingredients. “I joke
that it’s like a language with ten
words,” Wells says, “but the nuances are extraordinary.”
After a year’s worth of cooking, and trial and error, Wells
was ready to return with a stack
of recipes. Her students were
taken through a greatest hits of
Vietnamese classics, from banh
mi to banh xeo to cha ca la vong,
as well as a turn through some
repurposed French recipes. For
instance, Wells took a velouté
soup recipe she often made with
langoustines back home, and
adapted it with kaffir lime dust
and local shrimp.
Wells also brought in guest
teachers from Hoi An’s Red
Bridge Cooking School as well
as chef Duc Tran from Mango
Mango (whose Latin-infused
Vietnamese dishes were a
highlight).
Vietnamese cuisine, while
simple, proved deceptively
hard to master, even for such an
experienced chef. Most of Wells'
Vietnamese tasters and helpers
had an opinion, and at times,
she says it was a humbling
experience.
The valet in Wells’ villa at the
Nam Hai, for example, was a
tough critic. Her shrimp wasn’t
crispy enough. The shallots that
Walter was cutting were too
thin.
The chef at the Nam Hai also
dumped out a dipping sauce
she had prepared for the class,
saying it was too bitter.
“Incredible. It’s a total education,” she says. “I’m learning
something here every day.”
The influences are a twoway street for Wells. While she
brought her French techniques
to bear on some Vietnamese
dishes, she plans to bring Vietnam back to her French cuisine.
“I’ve got so many inspirations for things I’m going to do
with my French food when I
get home,” she says. “Like the
mango salad—I’m going to do it
with melon, and put a lot of basil and mint into it, and tomato
and avocado. I think it will be
really delicious.”
Wells is also bringing ingredients back to France, such as
sawtooth coriander (“my new
obsession,” she calls it) and
green, unprocessed rice.
Ultimately, the French food
expert would like to expand her
published repertoire.
“I’d love to do a Vietnamese
cookbook,” Wells says. “If my
editor said yes, I’d do it tomorrow. I just don’t know how
much market there will be, because I’m not seen as an Asian
author. It’s like a whole new bag
of tricks. But it would just be a
fun thing to do.”
Pairing Wine with
Vietnamese Food
Wells brought her gastronomic
experience to the question of
pairing wine with Vietnamese
food, in an accompanying
handout to her class and at a
wine-tasting event.
“Contrary to what most of
us have been taught, wine is
better with Vietnamese food
than beer,” she writes. While
the intense spiciness of some
Asian foods are a difficult
match with wine, Vietnamese
flavours are milder, derived
more from herbs such as
coriander, lemongrass, mint,
ginger and lime, rather than
hot peppers.
Softer, less tannic reds such
as Pinot Noirs can work well
with Vietnamese dishes, but
Wells advises to look first to
whites when choosing a wine.
German Rieslings are a
good choice, with high acidity,
low alcohol and a balanced
sweetness. A flinty Sauvignon
Blanc can go well with rolls or
deep-fried dishes, and a more
complex Chardonnay from a
mineral-laden terroir such as
Chablis, would be a match for
lighter, noodle-based entrees.
Wines with floral notes such
as Gewurztraminers, make a
good complement to lemongrass.
If all else fails, Wells recommends to “think pink” and
look at rosés. A fruity, refreshing young wine can blend well
and add a festive air to a meal.
Tavel rosé from Mordorée is
her favourite.
asialife HCMC 41
After their weeklong cooking class, Wells’
students voted on their favourite dishes. These
light, flavourful meals were the highest votegetters, and are two of Wells’ own favourites.
In the first of his ongoing contributions to
AsiaLIFE, Richard Sterling introduces us
to a stalwart of old Saigon: the Pho Lady
of the Casbah.
Pork with Green Beans, Ginger and Fresh Coriander
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 plump clove garlic, peeled, halved, green germ removed, and minced
5 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon minced lemongrass
6 ounces lean minced pork
2 teaspoons Vietnamese chile sauce (or to taste)
4 tablespoons garlic chile sauce (or to taste)
6 thin spring onions or scallions, white part only, sliced into 3/4-inch pieces
1/2 pound thin green beans, trimmed at both ends, blanched, refreshed and cut into small pieces, 1/2 to 3/4 inches
1 tablespoon fish sauce, preferably Phu Quoc brand
Grilled Lemongrass Prawns
1 pound raw, shelled shrimp
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup fish sauce, preferably Phu Quoc brand
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed, outer leaves removed, sliced paper thin
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and fish sauce
until the sugar is completely dissolved. Stir in the oil and lemongrass. Add the shrimp and toss to evenly coat the shellfish.
Cover securely and refrigerate for 2 hours, tossing every 30
minutes or so.
2. Prepare charcoal or wood for a medium-sized fire in a
barbecue. Let it burn until the coals glow red and are covered
with ash. Thoroughly oil the grill, using a paper towel dipped
in vegetable oil. Set the grill in place. (Alternatively, preheat
a gas or electric grill.) Grill the prawns until cooked through
and pink, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Variation:
The squid version is equally as delicious. Substitute 1 pound
whole squid, skinned and cleaned, for the prawns. In step 3,
marinate for 1 hour, and in step 4, grill for 1-2 minutes per
squid.
4 to 6 servings
Note: The ingredients can be prepared in advance but do not
marinate for more than 2 hours or flavors may dull and salt
will penetrate the shrimp.
Note: If a grill is not available, sear the shrimp in a wok for
several minutes, until pink and thoroughly cooked.
© Patricia Wells
42 asialife HCMC
For the garnish:
1 tablespoon sesame seeds or 2 tablespoons chopped pan- roasted peanuts
De-stemmed fresh herbs (coriander, and/or coarsely chopped mint or Chinese basil)
1. In a dry skillet at room temperature, combine the oil, garlic, lemongrass and ginger. Stir to coat all ingredients and cook
over medium heat until fragrant and lightly golden, about 5
minutes. Add the pork and cook until the meat separates into
pieces and just cooks through, about 3 minutes.
2. Reduce the heat to low, add the chile and garlic sauces,
spring onions, green beans and fish sauce, and carefully mix
until well combined. Taste for seasoning. Cook until all the flavours have blended together, 1 or 2 minutes more. Serve with
rice, garnished with a lot of fresh herbs.
4 to 6 servings
© Patricia Wells
Pan-Roasted Peanuts
8 ounces raw shelled peanuts
2 tablespoons peanut oil or other mild, unflavored oil
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
In a dry wok, combine all the ingredients. Pan-roast over medium heat until the nuts are fragrant and cooked a light golden
brown, tossing regularly, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate to
cool. (Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up
to 1 week.)
© Patricia Wells
When I first came to Saigon
in the early 1990s, I found a
charming and slow-moving
little low-rise city whose tallest
building was the then 10-storey
Caravelle Hotel. Clerks in the
then few banks spoke French
and closed up shop from noon
to two for “le dejeuner.” But
soon the leisurely lady bestirred
herself and began to rise. Office
and hotel towers shot up like
bamboo and sugar cane, seemingly overnight. In a twinkling
of history's eye the sleepy town
of a thousand charms transformed herself into a city of
big shoulders and pounding
energies. Urban canyons began
to muscle out the leafy villas
and the quiet cul-de-sacs. And
the acres and acres of sidewalk
eateries, the clusters of bistros
and bakeries, improvised coms
and phos, and mobile sinh to
stands served their last, tipped
their caps and then succumbed
to urban progress. No doubt the
populace is materially better off.
But where went the city's
charm? Especially its edible and
drinkable charm? Watch this
space. I'll be tracking it for you.
The city's gastronomic charm is
still to be found, in places high
and low, old and new. It's available for anything from a few
coins to a gold card. One place
to find the old city's charm is in
the hems, those tangles of dark
and narrow alleyways that in
every neighbourhood conspire
to form a mini Casbah.
Delve into one of these urban
cave complexes. Choose any
one, wherever you see a shadowy portal quietly beckoning.
Perhaps the ensuing lane is so
narrow that opposing balconies
on the second floors are close
enough that neighbours can
shake hands or borrow a cup of
sugar. You may see little shops,
little hotels, little cafes, little
dwellings, little everything. For
here, despite the city's staggering increase, the human scale is
maintained. In these living grottoes you may hear the clatter of
mahjong tiles, kids shouting in
their play, the music of caged
song birds and the clanging and
banging of cookery. You may
smell the urgency of garlic, the
sting of chilli, the insistence
of durian and the flower of
coriander. Here is where intimate dining takes place. Here
is where little knots of alfresco
diners gather as families, friends
or couples to commune at a
tiny table with tiny chairs at the
tiniest restaurants in the world.
Yes, here in the little nooks and
crannies of the big city there is
always something good to eat,
and a good and welcoming
place to eat it.
The Pham has a Casbah that
you can easily find. It snakes
through the blocks from Cong
Quynh to Nguyen Thai Hoc.
Most of it is between Do Quang
Dao and De Tham, but a few
paces east of De Tham is “Mini
Hotel Alley.” If you know Asian
Kitchen or Bread and Butter (or
the back side of Le Pub) you
know the alley. At the southwest corner of the alley, where
it spills out onto Bui Vien, you'll
find Miss Ba, the Pho Lady of
the Pham.
In the daytime this is just an
empty spot on the shoulder of
the road. But for 20 years, about
sundown most days, Miss Ba
has wheeled her battered old
charcoal burning push-cart
kitchen into place here. If you
come in or out of the alley here
of an evening and the breeze is
with you, you can catch a whiff
of what might be the best pho in
town. It's redolent of star anise
and good beef bones, suggestive of cinnamon and assertive
of the care of a good cook who
worries over it for hours before
offering it to you.
I like to take a battered
little stool next to a battered
little table and lean against the
adjacent building for a bit of
back support. She sells nothing
but pho, but she'll nip round
the corner for a beer or soda if
I wish. On a recent night I sat
watching her at her timeless
task. A brand new shiny BMW
was double parked next to her
ancient humble cart. How will
that thing look in 20 years? And
will it bring as many people
as much pleasure? Across the
narrows of Bui Vien a new,
bright and tall boutique with
big picture windows looked
down its lofty modern nose at
her anachronism. She will still
be here when the boutique is
yet another souvenir shop or
art gallery or Indian restaurant.
The neon flashed at GO2 and
the music thundered at Crazy
Buffalo. I remember when the
former was a spring roll shop
and the latter was a little restaurant that killed its chickens to
order. In view of the diner. And
Miss Ba was here.
How she and the Casbah
have survived the radical and
ongoing transformation of the
Pham I don't know, and I do
care. I want her to bottle the
secret and sell it.
Richard Sterling
asialife HCMC 43
'TIS THE SEASON
FOR FRUIT
Rambais (dau da)
44 asialife HCMC
Langsats (bon bon/lon bon)
Rambutans (chom chom)
Mangosteens (mang cut)
Custard Apples (mang cau/na)
Durian (sau rieng)
Guavas (oi)
Juicy Plums (man)
Avocados (bo)
The fruit season is here and market crates everywhere are
brimming with exotic offerings. Alexandra Karina visits the
local market to sample the stands. Photos by Fred Wissink.
Stroll by the market this month
and you’re sure to be greeted
by an array of vibrant colours
and intoxicatingly sweet aromas
beckoning to your senses—and
your appetite. While Vietnam’s
fruit season starts in May, it is
in June that the offerings are at
their prime, ripe and ready for
the noshing. With the markets
overflowing with an abundance
of juicy gems, there’s simply no
better time for a bit of tastetesting.
Among the lesser known
of Southeast Asian fruits are
rambais (dau da) and langsats
(bon bon/lon bon). While the
two look similar enough to be
mistaken for siblings within
the same fruit family, they are
actually unrelated. Both fruits
are oval globes the size of large
grapes, with translucent white
segments of sweet-tart goodness. However, the yellowish
beige skin of langsats is coarser
and darker than that of rambais,
and their flesh is usually not
as sweet. To eat: Nick the nose
of the fruit and either gently
squeeze to pop the fruit open
or peel away the skin. Take care
not to bite into any seeds before
spitting them out, as they can be
quite bitter.
Rambutans (chom chom)
get their name from the Malay
word for hair, “rambut,” and the
“hairy cherries” are indeed covered with soft, fleshy hairs. Each
globe is about 3 cm in diameter
and encases a single seed. When
ripe, the hairy shell turns a
bright red. The translucent pulp
is firm, sweet-tart and slightly
grapelike. To eat: Locate the
groove running the circumference of the shell. Press the shell
perpendicularly to the seam to
pop the fruit open, and enjoy.
Mangosteens (mang cut)
are considered to be among
the most delightful of fruits.
The exterior of a mangosteen
resembles a fist-sized purple
pomegranate with thick, leathery skin. The juicy gems are ripe
and ready for eating when the
skin attains a deep purple hue.
The fruit is segmented, and the
number of lobes on the bottom
of the fruit indicates the number
of segments found within. Larger segments contain seeds that
are firmly attached to the meaty,
snowy-white flesh, which is
bursting with the perfect balance of sweet and acidic, with a
hint of pineapple. To eat: Use a
knife to cut through the pliable
skin at the equator and remove
the bottom half of the skin. The
segments will stay attached to
the stem end. Wrestle the flesh
from the seeds.
Vietnamese custard apples
(mang cau/na) are heart-shaped
with bumpy, green skin. From
afar, one might actually mistake
the fruit for an artichoke. The
sweet, creamy white sections
protect up to 80 glossy seeds.
While that might make the custard apple sound like a troublesome treat, the fruit is actually
quite easy to consume, since the
seeds separate from the sections
effortlessly. To eat: Either scrape
the skin off with a knife and dig
in or halve the fruit and scoop
the flesh out with a spoon, spitting out the seeds as you go.
With its pungent odour and
formidable shell of thorns, the
durian (sau rieng, or “one’s own
sorrows”) is truly a love-it-orhate-it fruit. The smell can be
so offensive that durians are
banned from many airports
and major hotels. The fruit’s
thorny armour protects large
sections of buttery yellow pulp
reminiscent of rich, creamy custard flavoured with a touch of
almonds—the decadent reward
for those who can stomach its
strong scent. To eat: Have a
vendor or a brave soul pry open
the shell and remove the pulpy
sections.
Guavas (oi) are orbs usually 4
to 12 cm in circumference, with
a somewhat lemony scent and
green skin that may turn yellow
or maroon as the fruit ripens,
depending on the variety.
There are two varieties sold in
Vietnam. The flesh of a ripened
red-flesh guava (oi ruot do) is
vibrant pink, whereas the more
popular variety, known simply
as ai, remains white. Some say
picking oi ruot do takes a bit of
luck; you may be rewarded with
unbelievably sweet, fragrant
flesh, or end up with a bland
hunk of fruit. The white-fleshed
oi is more consistent overall,
with texture and taste not unlike
an apple’s: crisp and sweet,
but subtler with a more floral
scent. To eat: Slice the fruit into
wedges. Carve out the centre
and discard the seeds. Munch
away, or do as the locals often
do and dip the wedges in fish
sauce seasoned with salt, sugar
and chilli peppers.
For anyone looking for treats
that are perhaps a bit less exotic,
juicy plums (man) and buttery
avocados (bo) are also in season.
Regardless of your preferences, the season’s offerings
are sure to have something to
delight your senses. Earlier this
year, the first national Fruit
Festival was held in the Mekong
Delta to hail the coming fruit
season. Now that the season’s
in full swing, why not invite
some fruit-loving buddies out
on a market excursion and have
a mini-fruit festival of your
own?
asialife HCMC 45
La Brasserie
Saigon South inherits HCM
City’s French culinary legacy.
The suburbs of Phu My Hung
have a few quality-of-life advantages over the city centre—
wide boulevards, comparatively clean air, front lawns—but
when it comes to dining, there’s
been one conspicuous disadvantage for too long: an absence
of French fare.
That recently changed with
the opening of La Brasserie. Located down a small, tree-lined
street adjacent to Sky Garden
3, the restaurant occupies a sizable space, and for good reason.
As the only French restaurant
south of District 1, the owners
have covered all their bases,
offering table service in the dining room and adjacent garden,
a menu tailor-made for takeout
and a dedicated wine bar—
another first for D7.
At the core of La Brasserie is
a mission to bring HCM City
diners a traditional, authentic
dining experience familiar
throughout France. “A brasserie
in France, in fact, is a mixture of traditional foods from
France and a steakhouse,” says
Philippe Bouveret, one of La
Brasserie’s four partners.
The a la carte menu is in
keeping with that tradition.
A meal might begin with a
port-flavoured chicken terrine
served with hot, fresh bread
and progress to beef steak with
frites and salad, a brasserie
classic, or salmon paired with
sea bass filet and a gratin of potatoes and cauliflower. Dessert
is concocted largely from local
ingredients and ranges from
passion fruit sorbet to whipped
banana dumplings in straw46 asialife HCMC
berry coulis.
La Brasserie also offers a set
menu determined day to day
by visits to the market. A recent
menu featured iced cucumber
soup, salmon filet with leak
and apple tart (entrée-main or
main-dessert, 195,000 VND).
A regular set menu of smoked
salmon, steak filet with mushroom sauce and dessert is also
available (250,000 VND).
Next door the take-out
kitchen is being prepped to
begin serving up a selection of
salads, pastas, mains and breakfast items, including French and
English breakfasts, crepes and
fromage blanc. While the offerings are diverse, one thing they
all share in common, says Bouveret, is that they travel well
from La Brasserie’s kitchen to
the customer’s door; the takeout menu was carefully devised
to assure this was the case.
The wine bar, under construction when AsiaLIFE visited, will
be serviced by a 1,500-bottle
wine cellar—yes, a real
cellar—that’s kept at 18 degrees
Celsius, “the exact temperature
you have in a French cellar,”
says Bouveret.
The operation may seem ambitious for the sleepy suburbs
of Phu My Hung, but Bouverie says the goal is to make La
Brasserie a destination not just
for the District 7 set, but the
whole of HCM City, as well.
61 Hung Gia 2, Phu My Hung,
D7
Tel: 5410 4317
Open from 8am to 2pm, 6pm to
10pm
Bernie’s Bar
and Grill
Tuck into an imported steak
and grilled fare at this new
dining venue.
Tender, juicy steak is the specialty at District 1 venue Bernie’s
Bar and Grill, which recently
opened it doors among a strip of
restaurants and bars at 19 Thai
Van Lung.
“We’re a bar and grill—a bit
of a steakhouse—specialising in
imported, certified steaks,” says
owner Bernie McCune. These include the grilled Australian Rib
Eye (249,000 VND) and grilled
certified American Angus Rib
Eye (550,000 VND).
While steak is the speciality,
it’s only the beginning. Guests
can enjoy fish and chips in a private dining room or duck pate
with a glass of red at the bar;
this three-storey establishment
aims to pique everyone’s interest
by somehow being casual and
upscale.
On entering, guests are
greeted by a chilled café setting
complete with a large espresso
machine behind the front
window. This gives way to a
long, marble-top bar, a glasswalled wine cellar and a clean
and uncluttered dining area. A
water feature beside the staircase
cascades down the entire three
floors of the restaurant. The dining area extends to both upper
floors, with the first floor fronted
by a deck overlooking the street.
Restaurateur Geoffrey Deetz
has been at the controls of the
food and beverage menus.
Starters include gourmet nibbles
like homemade duck pate with
hazelnuts“and things” (75,000
VND), while the menu’s pannini
and sandwich section features
the Norwegian Club Sandwich
with cream cheese on wheat
and rye marbled bread (120,000
VND). Seafood dishes change
weekly depending on what’s
available from the Nha Trang
fish farm owned by Bernie’s
in-laws. Pasta plates made with
cooked-to-order angel hair and
fettucine, thin crust pizzas and
pastries and cakes, including
twice-baked biscotti (45,000
VND), boost the selection.
Two burgers, both served
on homemade black sesame
seed buns, acknowledge owners Bernie and Kiki McCune’s
Australian and Japanese origins.
There’s the classic Aussie Bernie
Burger, with house-grilled
Australian beef topped with
beetroot, fried egg, lettuce, tomato and onion (125,000 VND).
Meanwhile, the Teriyaki Kiki
Burger features grilled poultry
with a teriyaki glaze topped
with grilled pineapple and
onion, micro-greens and wasabi
mayonnaise (120,000 VND).
“You have to have fun with
your food to bring a personality
to your restaurant,” says Deetz.
“Money can buy a beautiful bar,
but it can’t produce soul.”
Deetz has applied that approach to the drinks menu,
as well. It features smoothies,
cocktails, premium wines, liquor
and arguably Vietnam’s largest
cosmopolitan, aptly named “The
Titanic” (450,000 VND). “With
half a bottle of Stoli, 300ml of
cranberry juice and 75ml of
triple sec, it will sink you if you
dare have it alone—better to
share this one,” Bernie says with
a smile.
19 Thai Van Lung, District 1
Tel: 3822 2684
Open from 7.30am to midnight
asialife HCMC 47
Leonard Cohen
Comes to
Cambodia
Seldom has a musician of Leonard
Cohen's stature performed in Phnom
Penh. Mark Bibby Jackson of
AsiaLIFE Guide Phnom Penh talks to
the men responsible for bringing the
groundbreaking concert to Cambodia.
Photos courtesy of AEG Live.
Legendary musician and songwriter Leonard Cohen will play
Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium
on November. 27. In what promoters AEG Live call a "landmark concert" Cohen has agreed
to perform the only Southeast
Asian gig on his current world
tour in the Cambodian capital.
Chris Minko, founder of The
Mekong Sessions Concert Series,
claims the concert heralds the
renaissance of the Cambodia of
the 1960s, where Phnom Penh
was seen as the Pearl of Southeast Asia.
"This concert demonstrates
that Cambodia has successfully
emerged from the tragic events
of civil conflict in the recent
past and re-ignites its wellestablished tradition of cultural
excellence," he says.
Cohen’s concert is the first in
a series of Mekong Sessions that
will, says Minko, bring more
48 asialife HCMC
rock greats to Phnom Penh.
He claims the Sessions will
play a large part in stimulating
Cambodia’s tourism industry,
which has suffered in recent
years from the global recession
and unrest just across the border
in Thailand.
"Mekong Sessions is long
term," says Minko. "It has
the biggest tourism potential
that the country has seen in
decades."
With a large regional
expat market targeted for the
5,000-seater stadium, the knockon social-economic benefits
for the country are clear; many
concert-goers will also visit
Angkor Wat.
AEG Live’s president Rob
Hallett is keen to emphasize the
significance of Prime Minister
Samdech Hun Sen and his
wife Lok Chumteav Bun Rany,
president of the Cambodian Red
Cross, supporting the concert.
Proceeds from the concert will
be donated to the Cambodian
Red Cross and Cambodian
landmine survivors.
At first the choice of Cohen
may seem a strange one to start
the renaissance of Phnom Penh.
Dubbed "the poet laureate of
pessimism" and “the godfather of gloom,” Cohen’s style
is more often associated with
sombre reflection than rebirth.
However, the career of the poet,
songwriter and performer who
was born shortly before Elvis
Presley in 1934 has intriguing
parallels with Cambodia’s own
rock industry.
Already a successful poet in
his native Canada, Cohen was
a late starter as a musician. His
first album Songs of Leonard
Cohen was only released in 1967.
This was the year the 19-yearold Ros Sereysothea released
her first song "Stung Khieu" in
Phnom Penh. The "Golden Voice
of the Royal Capital, together
with Sinn Sisamouth," was to
lead the Cambodian rock scene
of the late 1960s and early 1970s,
creating a distinctive psychedelic rock sound. Like Sinn
Sinamouth, Ros Sereysothea
disappeared during the Khmer
Rouge period, which destroyed
the country’s nascent music
scene.
Despite attaining cult rock
status in the 1980s, Cohen went
into voluntary exile in the 1990s.
Ordained as a Buddhist monk
in 1996, he spent five years in
Mount Baldy Zen Centre near
Los Angeles. The low-point of
his 40-year career was surely the
civil case he took out against his
former manager, Kelley Lynch,
in 2005. Lynch misappropriated
more than USD $5 million from
Cohen’s retirement fund, report-
edly leaving the artist with only
$150,000. Cohen won the case
but has yet to see the money.
What was Cohen’s loss has
been his fans’ gain.
In 2008 Cohen started his first
tour in 15 years with a concert
in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
The tour has included acclaimed
performances at festivals
around the world, including
The Big Chill, the Montreal Jazz
Festival and the Pyramid Stage
at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival.
His Glastonbury performance
was hailed by many as the
highlight of the festival. The
performance of his anthemic
"Hallelujah" received a rapturous reception.
The Dominion Post’s Simon
Sweetman described Cohen’s
Wellington concert as "the best
show I have ever seen."
His Dublin concert sold out in
a matter of minutes after being
put on the website. And sources
close to the management group
say that the Phnom Penh concert will also be a sell-out with
many advance sales.
So why has the musician, who
is a member of the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, has received
a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and will on June 17
be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, decided to
perform in Phnom Penh?
Despite the problems with
his former manager, it most
certainly is not for the money.
Minko confirms that Cohen
has dropped his normal fee
significantly in order to make
this concert happen.
You sense that the management team is genuine when they
state: "This is not just another
concert; this is a historic cultural
event." Cohen’s manager Robert
Kory even stresses the cultural
significance of the venue.
"In keeping with the groundbreaking nature of this event,
the concert will be held indoors
at the Olympic Stadium, a rare
example of the work of famous
Khmer architect Vann Molyvann,” he says. “His buildings
are a living reminder of the
days of Phnom Penh’s former
cultural stature.”
The artist who once said: "I
really do feel the enormous luck
I’ve had in being able to make
a living, and to never have had
to have written one word that I
didn’t want to write,” will now
be bringing his words to Phnom
Penh.
When asked by Clash magazine this past March what he
considered his greatest career
achievement, Hallett, who
helped launch the careers of
such acts as Duran Duran,
said: "There have been so many
proud moments… but most
of all bringing Leonard Cohen
back to the stage in order that
a whole new generation can
truly understand the meaning of
sublime."
Minko, who as secretary
general of CNVLD has brought
two volleyball world cups to
the capital, sees the concert as
the crowning achievement for
all the hard work done by the
organisation.
"Fifteen years of work leads
to Leonard Cohen," he says.
Whether it's a crowning
achievement or a renaissance
only history will tell. But one
thing is for sure: it will be a
damn good gig.
Details of how tickets can be
bought will be released on July. 1.
AsiaLIFE Guide Phnom Penh will
be giving away two tickets for the
concert – details of how to apply
will be released next month.
asialife HCMC 49
Bamboo Business
Can bamboo provide an answer to poverty? Lolita Guevarra examines
how one NGO is taking unusual measures to create a high-value
market for disadvantaged farmers.
Dr. John Marsh is banking on
bamboo. The grass—it’s not
a tree, contrary to popular
belief—grows quickly and
abundantly. And unlike trees,
farmers don’t need to replant
bamboo; if harvested correctly,
a bamboo stalk can grow back
from its original root. Nor
do bamboo crops need to be
rotated to mature, which takes
three to four years, as opposed
to two or more decades for
trees. In addition to providing
a strong construction material,
bamboo is also used to create
kitchenware and clothing, and
its shoots can be eaten.
That’s why Dr. Marsh, in his
role as executive director of
NGO Prosperity Initiative, is
leading a team of economists
and social workers to further
implement the Mekong Bamboo
Project of Oxfam Hong Kong,
a venture that focused on the
bamboo sector as a tool in poverty reduction.
Headquartered in Hanoi
and funded by grants from the
International Finance Corporation and the UK’s Sustainable
Development Commission,
Prosperity Initiative operates
under the stewardship of economists, whose methods might
seem atypical of your average
NGO’s approach. Rather than
partnering with one or two
villages, they aim to strengthen
the bamboo sector as a whole. It
might at first seem like a purely
entrepreneurial pursuit, but
there’s a purpose behind the
approach. By working behind
the scenes to increase demand
in the market for high-value,
aged bamboo, Prosperity Initiative influences bamboo prices in
favour of farmers.
"You can't help the poor farmers by just helping them at their
level," says Dr. Marsh. "You
need to provide a high-demand
market because that will allow
the farmers to raise their prices."
50 asialife HCMC
Luong bamboo flourishes in
northern and central Vietnam,
providing an ideal source of
long-term income for impoverished communities. However,
the market is currently driven
by sales of raw material, with
prices being set based on weight
rather than age. Consequently,
farmers tend to wait only one
year before cultivating culms,
the hollow stems of bamboo
plants. Prosperity Initiative
promotes aged culms to current
and potential distributors so
that farmers need only plug into
the market.
A market for aged culms also
encourages farmers to harvest
bamboo at a sustainable pace.
Prematurely cutting culms
prevents proper reproduction, a
dangerous precursor to clearing
more land for bamboo clusters.
"If you use harvested culms
that are three to four years old,
it's more sustainable," explains
Dr. Marsh.
Farmers often overlook the
impact of harvesting young
culms, particilarly those who
face hunger daily. Vietnam already suffers from a thriving illegal timber trade and excessive
paper milling, and it could face
further degradation if land is
cleared for bamboo plantations
to meet rising market demands.
"[Farmers] need to be taught
how to grow [bamboo plants]
and harvest them correctly,"
says Vy Van Dzung, a botanist
currently working as a consultant for various local and international organizations. “[They]
need technique, funding and
regulation for bamboo sustainability."
Another problem, says Vy, is
that the main species harvested in northwest Vietnam
is the luong bamboo, which
grows in clusters in the same
area because its seeds do not
spread vastly. According to Vy,
Vietnam’s northern neigh-
bour China is a role model in
conducting in-depth research on
bamboo breeds.
"China pays attention to the
different species," says Prof. Vy.
"[China] employs specialists to
properly understand the species
and how to harvest them for
optimal benefits."
Currently, China leads the
bamboo market, with private
firms operating in the country
earning tens of millions of euros
a year according to listings on
Germany’s Frankfurt Stock
Exchange. Acknowledging this
success, Prosperity Initiative
has aligned itself with China’s
Anji Bamboo business association. The Anji region possesses
the country’s largest bamboo
growth area and contains a
research base that hosts scholars
from the International Network
for Bamboo and Rattan to promote bamboo development in
China and abroad.
Although Prosperity Initiative
is primarily focused on poverty
reduction, Dr. Marsh and Vy
agree that proper bamboo
cultivation has the potential
to alleviate deforestation and
provide a stable and profitable
market for ethnic minorities.
In the first two years since its
inception, Prosperity Initiative
has elevated 21,000 individuals
out of poverty and continues to
expand its mission in Laos and
Cambodia. The NGO has also
partnered with various national
agencies in participating countries, incorporating strategic
planning in hopes of empowering locals to manage the sector
themselves and eliminate poverty across the board.
By employing a vast array of
foreign and national experts,
Prosperity Initiative is demonstrating to the Vietnamese that
money doesn’t grow on trees,
but it can be made from smart,
sustainable bamboo production.
Ginny Becker learns about the 4,000-year-old healing art of
qigong and how receiving energy can improve health and
well-being. Photo by Fred Wissink.
When HCM City resident Nongluck Noomprasith, who goes by
the nickname Yui, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in
October 2009, she followed her
doctor’s advice and underwent
chemotherapy and stomach
removal surgery. She also turned
to an herbalist, who prescribed
Thai remedies. But as the cancer
progressed, Yui became desperate for relief from the constant
pain and exhaustion.
Friends suggested Yui try
Mahamudra qigong, an ancient
she began executing yoga poses
that Eckhart is convinced she
wouldn’t have had the strength
to perform had she not taken up
qigong. “They weren’t done as
elegantly as someone who practices regularly, but her body was
somehow forming the poses. It
was amazing.”
More About Qigong
To better understand the couple’s experience, it is important
to clear up a common misconception. Qigong is not synony-
“It’s about learning how to listen
to your own body as it already is
and how it reacts to your focus”
Dennis Haney
Buddhist system of energy
medicine that relies on breathing techniques, movement and
meditation to cleanse, strengthen, circulate and eventually
receive the body’s life energy,
or qi. The following week, Yui
and her husband, Eckhart Dutz,
attended a two-week qigong
course affiliated with the Phu
Nhuan District Association of
Traditional Medicine, taught by
Tran Nguyen Ha, a head trainer
of Mahamudra qigong.
Since then, they have been
amazed at what has transpired.
Eckhart recalls a morning
when Yui was especially weak,
but nonetheless attempted to
practice qigong. As Yui progressed through the movements,
mous with the popular healing
art of tai chi, which is also said to
circulate energy.
“Tai chi is a collection of fixed
poses that are taught,” explains
Nguyen Quyet Thang of the
Phu Nhuan District Association
of Traditional Medicine. “After
five or 10 years of practice,
the student will finally reach
the same energy level as the
teacher. But in qigong, that same
energy is transmitted anywhere
between three and 10 days of
practicing for one hour per day.
It’s a major shortcut to receiving
the energy.”
Thang says that when a
person receives qi, they know
it. “The energy in your body is
like electricity, just like when
you turn on a lamp, you receive
light,” he says. Qi awakens the
body, explains Thang, often
causing people to feel hot and
see light through closed eyes.
Some even smell perfumes,
although most typically, qi is
experienced as a physical force
that moves through the hands.
The effects of qigong haven’t
gone unnoticed in the research
world. According to the U.S.
based Qigong Research and
Practice Center, thousands
of qigong studies have been
conducted in China and more
recently in the West. Research
has reported positive effects on
the cardiovascular, respiratory,
musculoskeletal, circulatory and
immune systems, as well as improvement in mental health and
lessening of chronic pain.
Go With The Flow
To many who practice qigong,
Yui’s apparently mysterious
ability to execute yoga poses is
not actually a mystery, but an
example of the power of qi to
direct the body.
Fellow HCM City practitioner
Dennis Haney says he too has
experienced positive results
since taking up qigong in a bid
to alleviate chronic back pain.
“It’s about learning how to listen
to your own body as it already is
and how it reacts to your focus,”
he says. In Haney’s experience,
you don’t tell your muscles
to move when you receive qi.
Instead, the muscles move on
their own.
That said, don’t expect that
time spent learning this art will
make you a yoga master. Thang
points out that a person’s health
and energy level, physical disposition and mood, as well as the
outward environment are what
elicit movements and poses.
To facilitate this process, instructors teach students to open
themselves to a stimulation process that promotes relaxation,
concentration and visualization,
all independent from verbal
communication. For this reason,
the student does not need
to share a language with the
teacher. Eckhart says that even
though their first classes were
conducted in Vietnamese, he
and Yui both felt they received
energy simply by focusing
and following the instructor’s
movements. He compares the relationship between student and
teacher to that of a magnet and
iron, with the magnet attracting
the iron.
“It’s amazing that in a group
of 100 people practicing qigong
together, most are able to follow,
and if you look at the people
who attend, some have serious
diseases,” Eckhart says. “I’ve
found qigong to be an amazing
way that everyone can improve
physically, mentally and spiritually.”
While qigong hasn’t improved Yui’s overall condition,
she reports having more energy
and feeling peaceful during
and after her sessions. For that,
Eckhart is thankful.
For more information on qigong
and upcoming public classes, call
Thang on 012 8535 2288 or email
Eckhart Dutz at eckartdutz@mac.
com.
For children, the first trip to the dentist can be fraught with fear. Amanda
Peatey from Westcoast International Clinic offers tips to acquaint your kids with
healthy dental habits. Photo by Fred Wissink. Model Simon Tailyour.
The most frequently asked
question we hear from parents
is, “At what age
should I start to
take my child to the dentist?”
The simple answer: It is far
more effective to be proactive
rather than reactive when it
comes to the health of our little
family members' mouths. First
visits should not occur after
children have fallen down
and cracked a tooth, nor when
they are in need of multiple
fillings. If you wait to take your
children to the dentist until
there’s a problem, they will
associate pain and fear with the
dental experience.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Dentistry has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. The
focus is now on
providing quality preventative dental care, as
well as an environment and services that support your family’s
well-being and make everyone
involved feel comfortable. Begin
by bringing your children along
to
your appointment. This way,
they become used to the sights,
sounds and smells of a
dental
clinic. Remember to be brave
and positive.
For the first dental appointment, early mornings are always
good. Wake up, have breakfast
and come right in. This way
your child will not have all day
to think about it. Also, let firsttimers know that you’ve made
an appointment, and inform
54 asialife HCMC
them of the day and time.
If questions arise, calmly
explain that it is a special
privilege to be able to see a
dentist. Going to the dentist can
be portrayed as fun; the dentist
counts your teeth for you and
lets you sit in the special chair.
If you can’t embellish a little
and believe it yourself, elect another family member
who can.
Children read us better than we
think.
Whatever you do, do not
begin the conversation with
bribery (i.e., "If you are good
at the dentist, I will get you the
toy truck you wanted.”) This
is another sure way of instilling negative feelings about the
dentist; clearly if you need to
entice kids to go somewhere, it’s
nowhere they want to be.
When you arrive on the big
day, make sure you mention to
the reception desk that this is
your child’s first time. If the office has toys, television or Internet, show up a bit early and let
them play before their appointment. When it comes time to
see the dentist, be positive: “It's
our turn to
go in now!”
Accompany your child into
the examination room and let
him or her climb into the chair.
If your little patient refuses, try
not to fuss. Even if you prepare
for the visit to the best of your
ability, some children just refuse
to sit down and open wide. Do
not force your child, as this will
only heighten the anxiety that
he or she is surely feeling. Be
patient and understanding. In
tough cases, have a big brother
or sister model getting into the
chair and letting the dentist
have a look—or do so yourself.
After the examination, have
a chat with the dentist and ask
for
some advice on how your
child should look after his or
her teeth. This helps youngsters
get used to a dental environment. With these tips, your
child should leave the dentist
office with a bright, healthy
smile.
Dr. Leanne Holland
and Dr.
Claire Kervyn, dentists in the area
of children’s dentistry at Westcoast
International Clinic in HCM City,
contributed insight and information to this article.
asialife HCMC 55
ETROSPECTIVE
The CEO
Jamie & Owen
Rossall
Gaynor
Stogdale &
Eleni Pistolas
62 asialife HCMC
asialife HCMC 63
The Jonny
PUNK
& Tom
Lâm Edbrooke
The Entrepreneur
Jonathan &
Simon Tailyour
64 asialife HCMC
asialife HCMC 65
listings
Jetstar Pacific
www.jetstar.com
Budget branch of Australian Qantas
flies into Can Tho, Danang, Hanoi, Hai
Phong, HCM City, Hue, Nha Trang and
Vinh and operates cheap flights from
HCM City to Siem Reap and Bangkok.
Check out Friday Fare Frenzy online
promotion from 2 to 5pm every Friday.
hotel &
travel
Malaysia Airlines
www.malaysiaairlines.com
Offers daily flights from Hanoi and HCM
City to Kuala Lumpur for about $200
round trip, with four economy class fare
levels: low, basic, smart and flex.
AIRLINES
Air Asia
254 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3838 9810
www.airasia.com
Asia’s largest low-cost airline operates
one daily flight between HCM City-Hanoi,
as well as international flights to Bangkok, Phuket, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.
Cathay Pacific
72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3
Tel: 3822 3203
www.cathaypacific.com
Hong Kong-based airline makes three
flights daily to HCM City and two flights
daily to the Hong Kong’s international
airport. Fares start at about $300.
escape
Philippine Airways
229 Dong Khoi, D3 Tel: 3822 2241
www.philippineairlines.com
Operates daily service from HCM City to
Manila, offering fare options through the
PAL Econo Light Class.
Thai Airways
65 Nguyen Du, Tel: 3829 2810
29 Le Duan, D1
www.thaiair.com
Bangkok-based airline connects twice
daily between the Thai capital and HCM
City and Hanoi. Multiple daily flights are
also operated from both to Phnom Penh
and Phuket.
VASCO
Vietnam Airlines office, 116 Nguyen
Hue, D1
Tel: 3842 2790
www.vasco.com.vn
Though it’s primary business is cargo
shipment, Vietnam Air Service Company
(VASCO) flies daily from HCM City to
Con Dao and makes connections to
lesser-known cities like Ca Mau, Tuy Hoa
and Chu Lai. Buy tickets at the Vietnam
Airlines office.
Vietnam Airlines
Hanoi: 94 Tran Quoc Toan
Tel: 942 0848
HCM City: 116 Nguyen Hue, D1
Tel: 3832 0320
www.vietnamair.com.vn
The domestic route map is extensive,
with several flights daily between major
and less touristed cities throughout
Vietnam. Flies internationally throughout
Asia and to Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow,
Sydney, Melboure, Los Angeles and San
Francisco.
CON DAO
ATC Hotel
16B Ton Duc Thang Tel: 06 4830 666
Rustic little 4-room, family-run guesthouse in converted French administra-
Saigon Con Dao Resort
18-24 Ton Duc Thang Tel: 06 4830 155
www.saigoncondaoresort.com
Opened in summer 2009, Saigon Tourist’s 82-room hotel has a restaurant,
swimming pool, tennis court and health
club with sauna. Another 30 villas are
available in adjacent sister hotel, a
renovated colonial-era administration
building. Tours organised by hotel.
DALAT
Ana Mandara Villas Resort & Spa
Le Lai, Ward 5, Dalat Tel: 063 3555 888
www.anamandara-resort.com
Luxury 35-acre resort encompasses 17
restored early 20th-century villas and
65 rooms set in the rural highlands. La
take flight with travel promotions around the region
The Ocean Dunes Golf Club and Novotel
Phan Thiet have launched stay-andplay packages valid until October 3 this
year. Ocean Dunes is one of Vietnam’s
most acclaimed golf courses, designed
four resorts: Blue Ocean Resort at Mui
Ne, Life Wellness Resort Quy Nhon, Life
Heritage Resort Hoi An and the newlyopened Life Resort Danang. Starting
from USD $199, the package includes
two-nights accommodation in a superior
room for two people, breakfast, a $30
food and beverage voucher, 30-minute
treatment at Life Spa and complimentary airport transfer. Visit www.life-resorts.
com.
Windsor Plaza Hotel
Until June 30 this year, HCM City’s
Windsor Plaza Hotel has a Super Savings package. Stay in an Executive
Room and receive a buffet dinner, foot
massages, daily breakfast, broadband Internet, meeting room use, late
checkout and more for 1,850,000++
VND (about $100) per night (minimum
three nights stay). Terms and conditions
apply. Call 3833 6688, email services@
windsorplazahotel.com or visit www.
windsorplazahotel.com.
by former British Open and Masters
Champion Nick Faldo. Packages start
from USD $89 per person, based on
two-person occupancy, and include one
night in a golf-view room, a round of golf
for each guest and full American buffet
breakfast. Call 06 2382 2393 or email
info@phanthietresorts.com.
Through October 15, Life Resorts is
offering a Discover Life package at its
66 asialife HCMC
Con Dao Resort
8 Nguyen Duc Thuan Tel: 06 4830 949
www.condaoresort.com
Modern hotel with 45 rooms and seven
villas set on 2km of private beach. Onpremise facilities include restaurant, bar,
beach-view swimming pool, tennis court
and volleyball. Organises outdoor activities and tours.
Cochinchine Spa offers wide range of
treatments. Le Petite Dalat Restaurant
serves Vietnamese and fusion cuisine.
Heated swimming pool, art gallery and
cooking classes in organic garden.
www.accorhotels.com
Situated in the Old Quarter with 102
bright, spacious and modern rooms,
Brasserie Le Pavillion restaurant serves
Vietnamese and international cuisine.
Blue Moon Resort & Spa
4 Phan Boi Chau Tel: 06 3578 888
www.bluemoonhotel.com.vn
An attractive 65-room, country-style
resort with extensive gardens for strolling
or al fresco dining, as well as restaurant
serving local Dalat dishes. On-premise
bike rental, fitness centre, sauna and
indoor heated pool.
Nikko Hotel
84 Tran Nhan Tong Tel: 04 3822 3535
www.hotelnikkohanoi.com.vn
Luxury hotel offering spacious rooms, elegant furnishings, international fine dining
from Europe, China and Japan.
Mercure Dalat
7 Tran Phu, Dalat Tel: 063 3825 777
www.mercure.com
Built in 1932 as the Hotel Du Parc, this
144-room pairs French colonial architecture with modern amenities. Cafe De Le
Poste serves French home-style, international and Vietnamese cuisine. Facilities
include tennis court and sauna
Sofitel Dalat Palace
12 Tran Phu, Dalat Tel: 063 3825 444
www.accorhotels-asia.com
Stately lakeside hotel was built in 1920s
and retains the period’s aesthetic. It
encompasses 38 rooms, five suites, a
gourmet restaurant, brasserie, piano bar
and Larry’s Bar. Golf can be arranged,
and there’s tennis, boules, snooker and
billiards on premise.
activities
Novotel and Ocean Dunes Golf Club
Life Resorts
tion building. Rooms are simple, with
exposed rafters inside and balconies
outside. Bungalow accommodation is
also available.
Wild Beach Resort
Running throughout 2010, the Family
Getaway package offers two-nights accommodation in a Beach Pool Bungalow (two-bedrooms, two-bathrooms with
kitchen and private pool). The total cost
is 8,500,000 VND (about $450), inclusive
of roundtrip transfer from Nha Trang and
Cam Ranh airports, daily breakfast, two
set lunches and dinners and a trekking
tour to local mountains. For booking or
further information, call 5 8362 6945 or
email info@wildbeachresort.com.
Mangosteen Resort & Spa
Through July 31, Golden Tulip Mangosteen Resort & Spa in Phuket is
offering special introductory rates from
THB 2,200 (or USD $70) per night to
Residents of Vietnam. The package is
inclusive of free upgrade to next room
category, daily breakfast, late check-out
until 4pm and 15-percent discount on
food and beverage (conditions apply).
The package continues through August
and September for THB 2,500 ($80). For
bookings and more information, contact
reservations@goldentulipmangosteen.
com or www.goldentulipmangosteen.
com.
Sheraton Nha Trang
From June 1 until August 15, Sheraton
Nha Trang’s Summer School Holiday
promotion gives guests who book at
least two nights a special Deluxe Ocean
View room rate of VND 2,010,000 ++
(approximately $110, excluding tax and
service charge) per night. The package
also includes daily breakfast for two,
free breakfast for two children under 12
years old sharing a room with their parents, 15 percent off food and beverage
in the hotel’s bars and restaurants and
15 percent off select Shine Spa services.
For more information or to make a
reservation, visit www.starwoodhotels.
com.
Phat Tire Ventures
73 Truong Cong Dinh Tel: 63 3829 422
www.phattireventures.com
Runs guided trips for hiking/trekking,
mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking
and canyoning in the highlands surrounding Dalat. Also operates mixed trip
adventure packages and ropes course
set among pine forest with 100+ meters
Flying Fox zip line.
Dalat Easy Rider Tours
70 Phan Dinh Phung
dalateasyriders@yahoo.com
www.dalat-easyrider.com
Ride pillion with English-, French- or
German-speaking tour guides on motorbike adventures that start in Dalat and
snake through mountains, jungles and
deltas, lasting anywhere from three to 21
days. Trips terminate in Nha Trang, Hoi
An, Hanoi, Mui Ne or HCM City. All hotels
and entrance fees included.
HANOI
Intercontinental Westlake Hanoi
1A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho Tel: 04 6270 8888
www.intercontinental.com
Located on the waterfront with contemporary Vietnamese design, restaurants,
business services, fitness centre including
exercise classes and pool.
Hanoi Hilton Opera
1 Le Thanh Tong, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 04 3933 0500
www.hilton.com
Housed in a colonial-style building that
complements the adjacent Opera House,
this luxury hotel features modern amenities, business services, outdoor pool and
fitness centre. Vietnamese specialties are
served at Ba Mien, and Chez Manon does
Japanese and pan-Asian.
Melia Hanoi Hotel
44B Ly Thuong Kiet Tel: 04 3934 3343
www.meliahanoi.com
Located in the city centre with 306
comfortable guestrooms elegantly decorated, complete with a host of modern
amenities. Dining includes Asian cuisine
at El Patio and El Oriental, snacks at Cava
Lounge and tapas at Latino Bar.
Mercure Hanoi La Gare
94 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 04 3944 7766
Sheraton Hotel Hanoi
K5 Nghi Tam, 11 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho
Tel: 04 3719 9000
www.starwoodhotels.com
“Resort within a city” boasts 299 spacious
guest rooms with panormaic views, fitness centre, international restaurant and
Hemisphere Vietnamese restaurant.
Sofitel Metropole
15 Ngo Quyen, Hoan Kiem
Tel: 04 3826 6919
www.sofitel.com
Located downtown. Colonial-style hotel
with well-regarded restaurants/bars serving French & Vietnamese cuisine, plus
Italian steak house.
HO CHI MINH CITY
Caravelle Hotel
19 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 3823 4999
www.caravellehotel.com
One of the city’s most prestigious venues.
Features a casino, Reflections Restaurant
and al fresco 9th-floor Saigon Saigon Bar.
Duxton Hotel
63 Nguyen Hue D1 Tel: 3822 2999
www.duxtonhotels.com
Located in downtown Saigon. Facilities
include spa, beauty salon, Zanadu Health
Club, gym, outdoor swimming and main
restaurant, The Grill.
Equatorial
242 Tran Binh Trong D5 Tel: 3839 7777
www.equatorial.com/hcm
On the intersect of 4 districts, with 333
rooms, Orientica Seafood restaurant and
bar, Chit Chat cafe, pool (swim-up bar),
gym.
InterContinental Asiana Saigon
Corner of Hai Ba Trung & Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3520 9999
saigon@interconti.com
www.intercontinental.com/saigon
305 rooms/suites with floor-to-ceiling
windows, five restaurants/bars, meeting/
banquet facilities, spa/health club and
lounge with panoramic view.
Legend Hotel
2A-4A Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tel: 3823 3333
www.legendsaigon.com
Located by the river with fitness centre,
outdoor pool, kids play centre, Crystal
Jade Chinese restaurant and jazz bar.
Mövenpick Hotel Saigon
253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan
Tel: 3844 9222
www.moevenpick-saigon.com
251-room Swiss chain hotel with Nishimura Japanese and Lotus Court Chinese
restaurant, Sundeck poolside bar, Qi Spa,
conference/banquet facilities
New World Hotel
76 Le Lai, D1 Tel: 3822 8888
www.newworldsaigon.com
Located in the city centre, with gym,
outdoor pool, tennis court, event space
and Dynasty Chinese restaurant
Park Hyatt
2 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 3824 1234
www.saigon.park.hyatt.com
Luxury colonial-style hotel includes 21
suites, lobby lounge with live music, Xuan
Spa, pool, gym, international dininig at
Square One.
asialife HCMC 67
dispatches
Travel news from around the region and beyond
Travel Deal: Yoga Retreats at Como Bhutan
The Deal: Como Hotel and Resort in Bhutan is offering four-day yoga and cultural retreats starting at the end of June and continuing throughout year.
The Setting: Como Bhutan is nestled in the Paro Valley, providing panoramic
views of the surrounding forests and mountains. The main building, formerly
home to a Bhutanese nobleman, provides a peaceful setting for the retreat.
Guests also explore nearby monasteries in the surrounding areas while aiming to
improve their practice with active Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga, Pranayama breathing
and silent meditation.
The Verdict: Rates start at $2,552 for a single and $5,025 for a double. The stay includes accommodation for four nights, daily breakfast and lunch, a welcome and
farewell dinner, yoga and meditation instruction, cultural excursions in Bhutan
and airport transfers. For more information on dates throughout 2010 and yoga
retreat options, visit www.uma.paro.como.bz/wellbeing/retreats.
Allison Grant
Sheraton
88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828
www.sheraton.com/saigon
Luxury downtown hotel with Level 23 bar,
Mojo cafe, Li Bai Chinese restaurant, fine
dining at The Signature on the 23rd floor.
Sofitel Saigon Plaza
17 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3824 1555
www.sofitel.com/2077
One of HCMC’s top hotels with in-room
Wi-Fi, two restaurants with international
cuisine, two bars, six conference rooms,
outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre.
Villa Hotel at Thao Dien
195 Nguyen Van Huong, D2
Tel: 3744 2222
www.thaodienvillage.com
Colonial-style boutique hotel and spa
with fine dining on the banks of the
Saigon River in expat enclave.
Windsor Plaza
18 An Duong Vuong, D5
Tel: 3833 6688
services@windsorplazahotel.com
www.windsorplazahotel.com
Located in a main shopping hub. Four
restaurants, modern discotheque,
conference centre, casino, health club,
shopping centre, supermarket, Chinese
restaurant.
activities
Shanghai World Expo 2010
Londoners showed off their new industrial and economic powers at the 1851 World's
Fair, and The Space Needle was constructed for Seattle’s fair in 1962. These pasts
events, however, seem small in scale compared to The World Expo in Shanghai, China
this year. The most expensive expo in history cost the Chinese even more than the 2008
Beijing Olympics. China predicts 70 million people will attend the expo, which runs
until October 31.
The exhibition's theme, “Better City, Better Life,” focuses on sustainable urban
development, and has attracted more than 240 nations and organizations from around
the globe. France’s exhibit features the art of huge names like Cezanne, Van Gogh,
Gauguin and Rodin, while Japan’s hi-tech architectural creature nicknamed “Purple
Silk Worm Island” includes violinist robots. Great Britain’s “Seed Cathedral” is made
of 60,000 transparent rods that quiver in the wind and glow in the dark.
With numerous parades and interactive performances galore, this lively event of
cultural exchange promises something for everyone. For more information, ticket
prices and availability visit en.expo2010.cn.
Logan Brown
24th Annual Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon
Anyone interested in participating in the 24th Annual Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon will need to set their treadmills to maximum.
Dubbed “the World’s Toughest Mountain Race,” the Climbathon
was founded to recruit rangers for Malaysia’s rapid rescue squad,
but has since developed into an intense competition. It's the only
race of its kind held outside of Europe. While it takes the average
climber two days to finish the 21-kilometre (13-mile) trek, many
Climbathon participants make it up and down in less than three
hours. Still interested? Registration for the event is now open,
with the race for women and veteran men to be held on October
23 and the men’s open race on October 24. Best of all, there are
cash prizes for the top 15 finishers. For more information check
out climbathon.sabahtourism.com/2010.
Allison Grant
68 asialife HCMC
Renaissance Riverside
8-15 Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tel: 3822 0033
www.renaissancehotels.com
349 rooms/suites with panoramic views
over Saigon River. Conference/banquet facilities, rooftop pool, gym, two
restaurants.
Saigon Scooter Centre
25/7 Cuu Long, Tan Binh District
Tel: 4848 7816
www.saigonscootercentre.com
One-stop rental service with a wide selection of scooters/motorbikes available
for around town travel or long trips
Vietnam Vespa Adventures
169 De Tham, D1, Pham Ngu Lao
Tel: 3920 3897
www.vietnamvespaadventures.com
Headquaters located in Cafe Zoom.
Offers 3-day trips to Mui Ne, 8-days to
Nha Trang or half-day tours of HCMC on
classic Vespas.
HOI AN & DANANG
Cua Dai Hotel
544 Cua Dai Tel: 0510 3862 231
www.cuadaihotel-hoian.com
Open and airy rooms are tastefully decorated and overlook the garden and pool.
Located roughly between Old Town and
Cua Dai Beach. Bicycle rental arranged.
Green Field Hotel
423 Cua Dai, Hoi An Tel: 0510 863 484
www.greenfieldhotel.com
Mid-range hotel with simple but spacious
rooms overlooking the garden and pool.
Rates start below US $20 per night.
Located 400 metres from the Old Town.
all the mod cons. Two restaurants, two
bars and an outdoor pool.
with a meal from a menu created by Duc
himself.
Nam Hai
Tel: 0510 3940 000
www.ghmhotel.com
Luxury resort accommodation from
single villas to sumptuous five-room
dwellings with private pools. Facilities
include 8 private spa villas; 3 beachfront
swimming pools; library; and tennis,
basketball and badminton courts.
Phat Tire Ventures
619 Hai Ba Trung Tel: 0510 391 1700
www.phattireventures.com
Offers rappelling and rock climbing at
Marble Mountains, as well as walking
and mountain biking excursions, from
two-hour countryside trips to two-day
cycling trips to Hue. Also does cultural
and historical tours and car trips to My
Son Holy Land.
Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa
Cua Dai Beach Tel: 0510 3927 040
www.victoriahotels-asia.com
Set on its own stretch of beach with
105 rooms spread through a traditional
fishing village design of small “streets”
and ponds.
Vinh Hung Hotel
143 Tran Phu Tel: 0510 3910 393
www.vinhhunghotels.com.vn
Evocative wood carving, antique furniture and Oriental rugs fill this intimate
guesthouse just down the street from
the Japanese Bridge. Construction dates
back more than a century.
activities
Le Domaine de Tam Hai Resort
Tel: 0510 3545105
www.domainedetamhai.com
Occupying an island close to Hoi An, the
resort features 12 villas, a private beach,
and two restaurants serving French and
Vietnamese cuisine.
Hoi An Motorbike Adventures
Tel: 0918 230 653
www.motorbiketours-hoian.com
Two-wheeled tours of the Central
Highlands, Ho Chi Minh Trail, Monkey
Mountain and more on a fleet of Minsk
dirt bikes and fully and semi-automatic
motorbikes. Customers can drive or be
driven on half- to five-day trips.
Life Resort Hoi An
1 Pham Hong Thai, Hoi An
Tel: 0510 3914 555
www.life-resorts.com
Within walking distance of Hoi An.
Rooms are chic and minimalist, offering
Mango Cruise
info@mangorooms.com
Chef Duc from the celebrated Mango
Rooms restaurant and his wife Ly offer a
cruise down the Thu Bon River, complete
Vietnam Sailing
88 Nguyen Thai Hoc Tel: 0918 255 521
www.vietnamsailing.com
Foreign-operated company operates
chartered coach or private tours to
Cham Islands aboard a Corsair Sprint
750 Trimaran. One-day cruises or twoday excursions with beach camping by
campfire are available.
HUE
Celadon Palace Hue
105A Hung Vuong Tel: 054 3936 666
www.celadonpalacehue.com
Grand building inspired by Indochine
Nobel House with panoramic views, international restaurant, lounge/bars, pool,
ballroom and wedding planning.
Imperial Hue
57 Dang Dung Tel: 054 3522 478
www.imperial-hotel.com.vn
Opulent high-rise hotel with panoramic
views of the city and Ngu Binh Mountain.
Facilities include swimming pool, gym,
Royal spa, Prince Club casino and business centre.
La Residence
5 Le Loi Tel: 054 3837 475
www.la-residence-hue.com
Former governor’s residence on the
Summer School
Holidays Promotion
Enjoy some quality time with your family!
Domestic Summer School Holidays rate
at VND2,010,000++/room/night that includes:
• Daily buffet breakfast up to 2 persons per room
• Free breakfast for children below
12 years old sharing room with parents
(maximum of 2 children per room)
• 15% discount on food & beverage
• 15% discount on Shine Spa body treatments
* Applicable to Vietnamese nationals and
Expats working in Vietnam (proof of residence/
work permit required upon check-in).
* Minimum 2 nights stay required.
* Valid from 1 Jun 2010 until 15 Aug 2010.
For reservations please call 84 58 388 0000
Or email reservations.nhatrang@sheraton.com
©2009 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved. Sheraton and its logo are the trademarks of
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.
asialife HCMC 69
banks of the Perfume River is now home
to a boutique resort where art deco
meets Indochine. La Parfum restaurant
serves local and international dishes.
Facilitiesa include spa, saltwater pool,
tennis court and fleet of bicycles.
Mercure Hue Gerbera
38 Le Loi Tel: 054 3946 688
www.mercure.com
Overlooking the Perfume River, this
centrally located hotel has 110 contemporary rooms. Local Hue cuisine and
international fare served at Le Bordeaux,
and drinks served up top at Sky Bar or in
the ground-floor Lobby Bar.
Pilgrimage Village Resort & Spa
130 Minh Mang Tel: 054 3885 461
www.pilgrimagevillage.com
Boutique resort with hut, bungalow and
villa accommodation draws on natural
environment and local culture. Features
Vedana spa, two restaurants serving
Vietnamese & Western food and imported wines and three bar/lounges.
NHA TRANG
Evason Hideaway at Ana Mandara
Ninh Van Bay, Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa
Tel: 058 3728 222
www.sixsenses.com/hideawayanamandara
An island hideaway accessible only by
boat, 58 private pool villas, international
and local restaurants, wedding services,
water sports and scuba diving.
Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang
Beachside, Tran Phu, Nha Trang
Tel: 058 3522 222
www.sixsenses.com/evasonanamandara
Beachside resort set in 26,000 square
metres of tropical garden, with 74 guest
villas, three restaurants, Six Senses Spa.
Novotel Nha Trang
50 Tran Phu Tel: 058 625 6900
www.novotel-nhatrang.com
Each of the 154 rooms has a terrace
with seaviews in this modern hotel
located in the city centre. The Square
serves international cuisine in a dining
room overlooking the bay.
Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa
26 - 28 Tran Phu, Nha Trang, Khanh
Hoa
Tel: 58 388 0000
www.sheraton.com/nhatrang
Luxury hotel with 284 ocean view rooms,
six restaurants and bars, club lounge,
infinity edge swimming pool, spa, yoga
studio, cooking school, Sheraton Adventure Club and (connected at) Link@
Sheraton.
Sunrise Beach Resort
12-14 Tran Phu, Nha Trang
Tel: 058 3820 999
www.sunrisehotelvietnam.com
Private beach resort equipped with gym,
fitness centre, outdoor pool and water
sports.
PHAN THIET
Full Moon
98A Nguyen Dinh Chieu
Tel: 062 3847 008
fullmoon@windsurf-vietnam.com
Resort set in a private garden with
lovingly decorated bedrooms and
terracotta-tiled bathrooms. The grounds
include a good Vietnamese restaurant,
pool and kite-surfing school.
L’Anmien Beach Resort
Mui Ne Beach, KM10, Ham Tien Ward
Tel: 062 3741 888
www.lanmienresort.com
Beachfront resort with 90 fully equipped
rooms, business centre, spa, fitness
centre and outdoor pool.
Princess D’Annam Resort and Spa
Khu Hon Lan, Tan Thanh, Ham Thuan
70 asialife HCMC
Nam, Binh Thuan
Tel: 062 3682 222
www.princessannam.com
Located on Ke Ga Bay with 57 exclusive
villas, eight swimming pools, two restaurants and 1,800 square metres spa
complex.
Romana Resort
KM8, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet
Tel: 062 3741 289
www.romanaresort.com.vn
10 beachfront villas and 18 hill villas with
private pools and all the mod cons.
WindChimes School
Saigon Mui Ne Resort, 56 Nguyen Dinh
Chieu
www.kiteboarding-vietnam.com
Surf school situated on 235m of beach
offers kiteboarding, windsurfing and surfing classes in multiple languages taught
by IKO-certified instructors. Equipment
rented and trips organised. Satellite
school at Bamboo Village Resort.
PHU QUOC
The Sailing Club
24 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Mui Ne,
Phan Thiet Tel: 062 3847 440
www.sailingclubvietnam.com
Open bar overlooking the sea, spacious
rooms, restaurant, swimming pool and
day spa.
Chenla Resort & Spa
Bai Xep, Ong Lang Beach
Tel: 077 3995 895
www.chenla-resort.com
sales-hcmc@chenla-resort.com
Resort on a bay offers 36 luxury bungalows/villas with ocean views, swimming
pool, water sports, diving centre, spa
and Mediterannean restaurants.
Shades Apartment
Khu 1, Ham Tien Tel: 062 3743 237
www.shadesmuine.com
Design-led boutique hotel that uses
minimal materials and draws on natural
textures to achieve a sense of timelessness. Serviced apartments are soundproof with blackout curtains. Pool and
beachside veranda outside.
Freedomland
Ong Long Beach Tel: 077 3994 891
freedomlandphuquoc.com
Secluded lodging in six different bungalow types built from natural materials
sourced from the island. Private or
shared bathrooms, no air-conditioning or
hot water. Boat trips and scooter tours.
Victoria Phan Thiet Resort and Spa
Mui Ne Beach Tel: 84 62 3813 000
www.victoriahotels-asia.com
Located on a private beach, 60 cosy
bungalows, natural spa experiences
amongst other great activities on offer at
the resort.
La Veranda
Ward 1, Duong Dong Beach
Tel: 077 3982 888
www.laverandaresort.com
Set amid tropical gardens along a beach.
Features a highly-rated spa, beach
grill, Vietnamese, Asian and European
cuisine.
C2Sky Kitesurfing
Sunny Beach, 64-66 Nguyen Dinh
Chieu Tel: 0916655241
www.c2skykitecenter.com
Operates two schools roughly 500m
apart, staffed by IKO-certified instructors.
Offers a half dozen course types, as well
as instructor training. Equipment rental
and repair.
Mango Bay
Ong Lang Beach, Phu Quoc
Tel: 0903 382 207
www.mangobayphuquoc.com
Low-cost seaside resort with ecological
outlook promotes nature activities, forest
walks, snorkelling, open-air seafood
restaurant. No TV or telephone.
activities
Forester Spa & Mini Golf
65 Nguyen Dinh Chieu
Tel: 062 3743 447
www.forestrestaurant.com
Terraced nine-hole miniature golf course
with distinctly Vietnamese terrain: rice
paddies, palm trees, stilt homes and a
fish pond.
Jibes Beach Club
84-90 Nguyen Dinh Chieu
Tel: 062 3847 008
www.windsurf-vietnam.com
IKO-licensed kite-surfing centre offers
highly structured kitesurfing classes
taught by experienced watersportsmen.
Also offer windsurfing lessons and retails
in watersports equipment (bodyboards,
kayaks, surfboards, windsurfs).
Mui Ne Beach.net
www.muinebeach.net
Informative website run by local writer
Adam Bray covering news, events, community/environmental issues and more
in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. Also issues
safety advisories regarding crime and
tour bus accidents.
Mui Ne Cooking School
Sunshine Beach Resort, 84 Tuyen
Quang Tel: 062 383 0755
Al fresco classes begin with a trip to
Rang Market and focus on the provincial
cuisine of Binh Thuan, like banh xeo
(crepes with beef or seafood) and goi hai
san (seafood salad).
Surfpoint
217 Nguyen Dinh Chieu
www.surfpoint-vietnam.com
Offers private and group kiteboarding
courses and equipment rental (from
$40-50/hr). Also runs group and private
surfing lessons, as well as kayaking trips
to Song Quao Lake.
SAPA
Chau Long Hotel
24 Dong Loi Tel: 020 3871 245
www.chaulonghotel.com
Mid-range hotel with wraparound
construction offering panoramic views.
Rooms in newer wing are more attractive, with dark wood furnishings and
polished hardwood floors.
Topas Eco Lodge
24 Muong Hoa Tel: 020 3871 331
www.topasecolodge.com
Overlooking the Hoang Lien Mountains,
Topas is comprised of 25 white granite
and golden hardwood lodges powered
by solar energy. Premises include restaurant in traditional Tay stilt house, and
Topas offers a range of outdoor activities,
including mountain biking an trekking.
Victoria Sapa Resort
Sapa District, Lao Cai Province
Tel: 020 0871 522
www.victoriahotels-asia.com
Mountain chalet perched over the village wth cosy but modern guestrooms
overlooking the lawn and garden. Ta Van
restaurant overlooks Mount Fansipan
and Ta Fin bar has stone hearth fireplace.
Connection from Hanoi by private train.
SCUBA DIVING
Note: AsiaLIFE only lists dive centres
recognised by international dive training programs, such as the Professional
Association of Dive Instructors (PADI)
and Scuba Schools International (SSI).
We strongly advise against diving with
unaccredited dive centres in Vietnam.
Rainbow Divers
55 Nguyen Giai Dang, An Phu, D2
Tel: 3744 6825
www.divevietnam.com
Diving tours and career/instructor
development offered by Vietnam’s first
PADI centre. established in the mid90s. All courses can be started at the
state-of-the-art dive centre in An Phu,
from beginner pool work and theory to
divemaster and instructor certification.
Operates dive centres in Nha Trang,
Whale Island, Hoi An and Phu Quoc.
Octopus Diving
62 Tran Phu, Nha Trang
058 826 528
www.divenhatrang.com
PADI/SSI dive centre based in Nha Trang
and affiliated with the Sailing Club Co.,
with additional centres in Mui Ne and Hoi
An. Offers a range of services, including
children’s Bubblemaker classes, courses
in specialised techniques and divemaster
certification.
TRAVEL AGENTS
Budget Car Rentals
198 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3
Tel: 3930 2929
Tan Son Nhat Airport Tel: 3930 2929
International rental agency offers
chauffeur-driven cars to destinations
throughout Vietnam. Drivers are proficient in English and trained in defensive
driving. Airport/resort transfers, daily
rentals and corporate fleets available.
Buffalo Tours
Suite 601, Satra House, 58 Dong Khoi
D1 Tel: 3827 9170
www.buffalotours.com
Tailor-made itineraries, community-based
tourism, cultural tours, adventure trips,
golfing and premium trips offered by locally run and well-respected travel agent.
Exotissimo
HCMC: 20 Hai Ba Trung St, D1
Tel: 3827 2911
infosgn@exotissimo.com
SD5-2 Grand View, Nguyen Duc Canh,
Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 5412 2761/62
pmh@exotissimo.com
HANOI: 26 Tran Nhat Duat St,
Hoan Kiem Tel: 04 3828 2150
infohanoi@exotissimo.com
www.exotissimo.com
French-owned agency specialising in
flight bookings, package holidays and a
range of well-run cultural and historical
tours of Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
iTravel
175/22 Pham Ngu Lao, D1
Tel: 0836 4876
www.itravel-online.com
trung@itravel-online.com
Operated out of Le Pub (Hanoi/HCMC)
offering a wide range of tour and accomodation options throughout Vietnam,
as well as custom-made tours tailored to
customer specifications.
iViVu
www.ivivu.com
Offering the traditional services of a travel
agent – airline tickets, tours, packages
and hotels - as well as tips and up-todate travel news on Vietnam.
Terraverde
91/10 Tran Quoc Hoan, Tan Binh
Tel: 3948 4754/56
info@terraverdetravel.com
www.terraverdetravel.com
German-owned travel agency specialising in tailor-made tours combining
nature experiences; site visits; cultural
encounters; biking, boating and trekking
expeditions. Mixes cultural experience
with light adventure tourism.
Trails of Indochina
10/8 Phan Dinh Giot, Tan Binh
Tel: 3844 1005
www.trailsofindochina.com
Specialists in custom-made tours offering cultural and adventurous experiences throughout the region. Exclusive
resources and locations.
asialife HCMC 71
Small eatery with a lunch menu of
American classics (California burritos, po
boy sandwiches, etc.) and a Brit-centric
dinner selection of bangers & mash, fish
& chips and more. Good veggie burger.
Serves Huda Beer from Hue.
listings
food &
drink
Bernie's Bar & Grill
19 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3822 2684
Serves a solid menu of certified Angus
and imported Aussie steaks, fresh pasta,
thin crust pizza, sandwiches and mains in
an old school steak house setting. Drink
menu includes smoothies, cocktails,
premium wines and spirits and Saigon's
largest martini.
BAR RESTAURANTS
Alibi
11 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3822 3240
Hip without being showy, this versatile
venue has a pleasant front porch, stand
up bar and comfortable lounge seating
with bright, warm décor and great tunes.
Drinks list is extensive and the food menu
boasts French-style mains.
Bread & Butter
40/24 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3836 8452
feast
Boston Pizza – Sports Bar
28/2 - 28/4 Bui Vien, D1
Tel: 6656 6338/6656 6328
Sports bar featuring North American
food. Satellite TV, free pool and darts.
Catering services and private room available for parties. Open 24 hours.
Buddha Bar
7 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2080
An Phu institution serves up tasty meals
and good drinks in a friendly, chilled environment. Plenty of room to relax inside or
From June 7 to 20, the Caravelle Hotel’s Restaurant Nineteen has Japanese Highlights for 808,000 VND++
per person. Along with fresh sushi and
sashimi, a range of dishes will appear
on a rotating basis, including tonkatsu
(deep-fried pork cutlets), gyoza (dumplings) and many more. Email fbd@
caravellehotel.vnn.vn.
Gia Dining Room
Gia Dining Room is serving a threecourse set lunch for $8.50++ per
person. A four-course set dinner with
poultry specials and wine is $25++ per
person. Poultry dishes on offer at the
restaurant include shredded chicken
meat, sweet corn and quail egg soup;
duck breast salad mixed with fresh
herbs, onion, cabbage, peanut and
sweet and sour fish sauce; roasted
quail salad with herbs served with
butter sauce; and stewed duck leg
with red wine served with pasta. For
reservations, call 3825 6257, email
dining@giadiningroom.vn or visit www.
giadiningroom.vn.
Opera at Park Hyatt Saigon is serving
up pasta al forno and gelato al forno
from June 4 to 13. Six different kinds
of pasta are on offer, including baked
seafood/shell fish lasagna with fava
beans and asparagus. Prices range
from 250,000 to 350,000++ VND for
pasta and 100,000 to 150,000++ VND
for gelato. Call 3520 2357 or email
opera.saiph@hyatt.com.
72 asialife HCMC
K Cafe
28 Do Quang Dau, D1 Tel: 3913 4673
This down-to-earth bistro-bar is a haven
for French-speaking emigrés looking for
an alternative in the backpackers’ area.
Prop up the bar with a beer or Ricard,
or tuck into the tasty Gallic fare. Good
atmosphere for conversation.
La Habana
6 Cao Ba Quat, D1 Tel: 3829 5180
This charming little place has seating indoors and outdoors, upstairs and downstairs to fit your dining pleasure.Relaxed
environment with frequent live music.
Offers Spanish and Cuban fare including
paella and a tapas fiesta comprising three
plates. Open late daily.
Le Pub
175/ 22 Pham Ngu Lao, D1
One of Pham Ngu Lao’s favourite
watering holes, Le Pub also has a good
menu of well-executed pub grub and
international favourites. Hearty breakfast
is available all day and specials are offered daily.
Mogambos
50 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3825 1311
This restaurant has been around since
the mid-1990s, which offers an insight
into its enduring quality. Specialises in
American grain-fed steaks, hamburgers and salads served in a pleasant
atmosphere.
O’Brien’s
74/A2 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3829 3198
A large Celtic-style pub popular with
media types that has an interior done in
brickwork and wood, and an upstairs
dining area. Draught beer is happy hour
between 3pm and 7pm. Great pizzas.
Peaches: The Curry Pub
Sky Garden 2, S57-1, Phu My Hung, D7
Tel: 5410 0999
Serves up dishes from Thailand, Vietnam,
Malaysia, China, Japan, Singapore and
Indonesia with a focus on healthy preparation and fresh produce.
Phatty’s
46-48 Ton That Thiep, D1
Tel: 3821 0705
Jaspa’s Steve Hardy and Ben Winspear’s
sports bar has five widescreen TVs, a
broaden your palate with promotions around town
Restaurant Nineteen
Opera
out, plus a pool table on premise. 
Café Central An Dong
Café Central An Dong at the Windsor Plaza Hotel is hosting an Italian
Cuisine Tour throughout June, with
dishes representing various Italian
regions, including oven-roasted venison, Roman-style roasted chicken and
hat-shaped pasta. Also, book one of
the Windsor Plaza Hotel’s conference
rooms and enjoy a lunch buffet at Café
Central An Dong for 200,000++ VND
per person as part of the hotel’s Meet
and Eat promotion valid until July 31
this year. Terms and conditions apply.
Call 3833 6688 or email services@
windsorplazahotel.com or visit www.
windsorplazahotel.com.
Caravelle Lobby Lounge
including poached wild trout with
verdicchio wine sauce and vegetable
lasagna with a dash of basil oil for
290,000++ VND. Call 3833 6688 or
email services@windsorplazahotel.com
or visit www.windsorplazahotel.com.
Café Central
Café Central adopts a healthy theme
this June, serving up dishes including
salad with sesame seed crusted and
grilled tuna filet, crispy fried wontons
and a sweet sesame vinaigrette for
80,000++ VND. Phone 3821 9303 or
email ccnh@vtpinvestment.com.
Gartenstadt
During June, Gartenstadt German
Restaurant on Dong Khoi is serving
imported veal cordon bleu stuffed with
cheese and served with home fries
and a mix of vegetables for 220,000++
VND or 280,000++ VND with a bottle
of Schneider Weisse imported wheat
beer. Phone 3822 3623 or email gartenstadt@vtpinvestment.com.
Amigo Grill
The hotel’s Lobby Lounge is serving
cherries jubilee dessert and champagne for 380,000++ VND from 5 to
10pm from June 14 to 27. Call 3823
4999 or visit www.caravellehotel.com.
Top of the Town
Top Of The Town Bar and Restaurant
is offering specialties from the Italian
region of Piedmont during June,
The focus is on imported Australian
oysters and steaks this month at
Amigo Grill. For 350,000++ VND, main
courses include stir-fried beef and
fresh oysters with garlic served with
sun-dried tomatoes and asparagus, or
a carpetbagger steak, a meaty 200g
cut filled with oysters, grilled and
served with black pepper sauce. All
mains are accompanied by an antipasto and salad bar. Call 3824 1248 or
email amigo@vtpinvestment.com.
large drop-down screen and lots of pub
grub and beer for fans looking to take in
a game or two.
Qing
110 Pasteur, D1
Sophisticated downtown bar just off Le
Loi specialises in Asian tapas, Asian/
South American fusion dishes and a few
delectable deserts. Variety of good wines
by the glass or bottle.
The Loft
Lucky Plaza, 69 Dong Khoi, D1
thelofthcmc@gmail.com
Spacious dining room serving a frequently refreshed set menu all day and a
la carte dinner of French/Mediterranean
fare. Happy hour on Wednesday features
drink specials and tapas.
Sheridan’s Irish House
17/13 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 0793
Cosy Irish pub with authentic Irish decor,
a pleasant atmosphere and regular live
music. Wide range of classic pub grub,
East Asian dishes and a fantastic breakfast fry-up available from 8am.
outdoor terrace and 52 non-alcoholic
fruit concotions.
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
12-14 Thai Van Lung, D1
94 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3
Nowzone, 235 Nguyen Van Cu, D5
Metropolitan Building, 235 Dong Khoi,
D1
International café chain with a wide variety of coffees and teas, as well as light
snacks and food. Also sells fresh-roasted
coffee beans and tins of whole leaf tea.
Jubarcalypse
35 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 7930
Jubarcalypse has an interesting underground design. Playing jazz music, it’s
the perfect place to re-energize with a
refreshing selection of juices and snacks.
La Fenetre Soleil
135 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Tel: 3822 5209
A Parisian style shabby chic hideaway. It
is a perfect spot to chill out over coffee,
juice or snacks like muffins and cakes.
Storm P Bar & Restaurant
5B Nguyen Sieu, D1 Tel: 2240 7477
This friendly hangout is a favourite with
both the Scandinavian community and
English-speaking expats. Offers Danish
cuisine to go with the drinks.
Loaves and Fishes
5 Street 11, Thao Dien, D2
Tel: 3547 0577
Coffee house on a side street near Riverside Apartments serves up drinks and
serves the full line of Western-style baked
goods from Harvest Baking.
The Tavern
24 Hung Gia 3, Bui Bang Doan, D7
Tel: 5410 3900
Boasts good international food, a pool
table, dartboards and sports coverage
on large screens. Outdoor seating on
mutiple levels. Second floor sports
lounge hosts DJs at the weekends. 
Mojo
88 Dong Khoi, D1
A top-end cafe pulling in a mix of tourists
and upper-class Saigonese. Boasts an
attractive interior, outdoor terrace at
street level and comfortable lounges
upstairs. Good business coffee or lunch
venue.
Vasco’s Bar
74/7D Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3824 2888
Chic bar decked in deep reds that gets
packed to capacity on weekends. Open
Monday to Saturday with live music on
Fridays. Food menu by chef with over 10
years experience at La Camargue. Also
does excellent pizza. 
Nirvana
14Bis Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1
Tel: 3910 0745
Pleasant retro-styled cafe with outdoor
water features and welcome modern
touches like free Wi-Fi. Live music at
night.
ZanZBar
41 Dong Du, D1
Funky, modern interiors and varied
international breakfast, lunch and dinner cuisine. Imported beers, cocktails,
gourmet espresso coffee, and happy
hours make ZanZBar a great after-work
spot. Open late.
CAFES
Annam Cafe
16-18 Hai Ba Trung
Cosy corner cafe with free Wi-Fi overlooking Hai Ba Trung. Serves a slate of
gourmet sandwiches, coffee and wine.
Bobby Brewer’s
45 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3920 4090
70 Nguyen Cong Tru, D1 Tel: 3821 8100
86 Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 Tel: 6299
1990
www.bobbybrewers.com
This is an attractive fast-food style coffee
shop with friendly staff and good lattes.
All the coffee is roasted on the premises
and there are comfortable couches and
travellers aplenty making it a chilled place
to hang out. 
Bull’s Cafe
113C Bui Vien Street, D1
Tel: 3836 1925
www.bullcafe.com.vn
MotoGP-themed lounge serving up coffee, smoothies and cafe house special,
fruit cocktail.
Cafe Terrace
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
This funky café is frequented by trendy
types attracted by the leather lounges,
Paris Deli
35 Dong Khoi, D1
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
Tel: 3821 6127
Grand View Building, Nguyen Duc
Canh, Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 412 2179
Petite boulangerie/cafe decked out with
French-style furnishings. Offering tasty
French and international dishes with a
range of lunchtime specials at reasonable
prices.
X Cafe
58 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3914 2142
212 A2 Nguyen Trai, D1 Tel: 3925 9307
Bright, spacious foreign-run cafe
decorated in the style of an Alpine chalet.
Popular with local makers and shakers,
has a great open-plan upstairs area and
two outdoor terraces. Regular live music
and homemade ice cream. Nguyen Trai
location includes children’s playground.
Catering available.
Zenta
41 Mac Dinh Chi, D3
A large, extravagant, kitsch cafe with
several rooms resembling airport departure lounges. Customers, though, tend to
gravitate to the more attractive outdoor
terrace with its pond and waterfall-style
water features.
CHINESE
Dragon Court
11-13 Lam Son Square, D1
Open until 2am, this vast, no-frills eatery
gets packed with hungry locals who savour generous portions of tasty dim sum.
All the Chinese staples are here. Expect
a good feed for under VND100,000 per
person.
asialife HCMC 73
imbibe
street gourmet
20 Ho Huan Nghiep, D1
299 Nguyen Van Troi, Tan Binh
Does brisk lunchtime trade with its selection of more than 25 ice cream favours
and Vietnamese noodle and rice dishes.
Ciao Cafe
40 Ngo Duc Ke, D1
With a number of branches downtown
(21 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and 26 Tran
Cao Van, among others), this popular
cafe offers a mixture of food, drinks
and books. Boasts about 20 ice cream
specials and serves crepes, sodas and
shakes.
The Dirt on Rhone Valley Reds
By Beth Young
The Rhone Valley in the South
of France has two distinct
zones. Only a 48-kilometre
gap exists between the northern vineyard, stretching from
Vienne to Valence, and its
southern counterpart, claiming
Montelimar to Avignon. Yet the
neighbouring regions produce
starkly different wines.
What each terroir (a group
of vineyards from a specific
area with the same terrain
and weather conditions) does
share though is the tendency
to create red vino–especially
M. Chapoutier drops that
draw their unique flavour from
the earth in which the vines
are planted.
Top winemaker Michel
Chapoutier took over the
family business in 1977, after
it had been operating in the
Rhone Valley since 1808. It’s
his belief that great wine is
made in the vineyard, not in
the cellar, and as such, great
lengths are taken to promote
biodynamics in both the valley’s upper and lower reaches.
JB Baudron, sales and operations manager at premium
wine stockist The Warehouse,
says to do this several factors
must be considered.
“Everything is organic; no
chemicals are used, the yields
are much lower and more
selective and the lunar cycle
is followed,” he says, adding
that the focus really is on the
“taste of the soil”.
As 19th century French
author Sidonie-Gabrielle Collette famously extolled, “To
taste the earth you must drink
wine.”And it’s true.
According to Baudron,
74 asialife HCMC
northern reds like Crozes
Ermitage, Saint Joseph and
Cote Rotie take on a heady,
full-bodied “minerality.” This
stems from the steep, granite
cliffs the Shiraz grapes (Sirah
in French)—from which the
northern reds are brewed—
are grown on.
Similarly, the north’s
southern cousins—delicately
fruity Grenache and Shiraz
blends like Cotes du Rhone,
Gigondas and Chateauneuf
du Pape—rely on nature to
shape their composition, too,
developing a characteristic
sweetness thanks to the
region’s Mediterranean heat.
When asked to pick a favourite, Baudron sits safely on
the fence between north and
south. “I cannot say...they are
different. I love them both.”
Of course, he points out
that some vino complements
certain foods better than
others.
The spicy yet elegant
northern creations suit wild
boar and venison, while the
feminine concoctions from
the valley’s lower section are
an ideal match for veal, bird
game and chocolate.
Serving methods also vary
between the varieties. Shiraz
needs to be “shaken up” after
opening, especially when it’s
young. Baudron suggests decanting more than once up to
three hours before indulging.
Grenache, however must
be opened and served straight
away, or decanted only once.
And as for the Rhone
Valley’s whites, according to
Baudron, “that’s a story for
another day!”
Fanny Ice Cream
29-31 Ton That Thiep, D1
Tel: 3821 1633
Tranquil open-terraced heaven for
ice-cream lovers. Menu contains fresh
fruit, ice cream, sherbets and sorbets
(coconut, caramel and Bailey’s ice-cream
and mango sorbet are standouts). All you
can eat first Friday of the month.
Banh Tieu
The Vietnamese may not
have gotten the hang of
making American doughnuts
just yet, but the local banh
tieu will certainly win over the
hearts of Western cholesterol
bomb lovers. Considered the
Vietnamese equivalent of the
doughnut, banh tieu is a puffy
flat round of deep-fried dough
about as wide as a hamburger bun. The pastry has
a golden-brown exterior and
Dynasty Restaurant
New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1
Tel: 3822 8888
Fine Chinese dining in an opulent restaurant reminiscent of the Middle Kingdom’s
imperial days. Delicacies clock in at
VND500,000, but most dishes fall between VND80,000 to VND180,000
Huy Long Vien
99 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3823 7799
A magnificent Chinese restaurant with
a leafy slate-tiled courtyard, Chinese
lanterns and a labyrinth of water works.
Lunchtime dim sum is 120,000VND,
while the a la carte menu runs higher
with Chinese specialties such as Peking
duck for 400,000 VND.
Kabin
Renaissance Riverside Hotel, 8-15 Ton
Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3822 0033
Elegant dining space with beautiful decor
and great views over the river offers
extensive lunch and dinner menus featuring authentic gourmet Cantonese and
Szechuan dishes and an assortment of
dim sum at lunchtime.
Li Bai
Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi, D1
Tel: 3827 2828
Imperial-styled restaurant named after
a famous Chinese poet. Excellent lunch
time dim sum buffet for US$17.00.
Nightly à la carte menu with dishes going
from VND100,000.
Ngan Dinh Chinese Restaurant
Windsor Plaza Hotel, 18 An Duong
Vuong, D5 Tel: 3833 6688
Beautiful wood paneling, colourful hanging lanterns and a sparkling mineral gallery make for a relaxing dining experience
at the Windsor. Feast on roasted Pi Pa
white sesame seeds flecked
on top. A bite into the crispychewy fried treat reveals a
hollow centre and a whole lot
of greasy, subtly sweet goodness. Street vendors often
sell chewy steamed sweet
rice cakes (banh bo) alongside banh tieu. For an extraspecial treat, have a vendor
cut open a banh tieu and stuff
the hollow with banh bo. One
banh costs 3,000 VND.
duck, giant grouper and steamed king
prawns. Be sure to check out monthly
specials.
Ocean Palace
2 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3911 8822
Both traditional and trendy Chinese dishes are prepared by chef from Hong Kong
and served in an opulent 280-seat dining
room in this restaurant opposite the zoo.
Intimate private rooms and larger party
rooms available for booking.
Shang Palace Restaurant
Norfolk Mansion, 17-19-21 Ly Tu Trong,
D1 Tel: 3823 2221
An upscale Chinese restaurant with a
spacious and welcoming atmosphere.
The menu boasts a wide range of Hong
Kong Cantonese cuisine, including both
dim sum, a la carte and set menus, regularly changed by the creative chefs.
Truyen Ky
261B Dao Duy Tu, D10
Small homestyle Chinese restaurant
specializing in the salty Hakka cuisine of
southeastern China, including tofu and
chilis stuffed with fish paste.
Yu Chu
InterContinental Asiana Saigon, corner
of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3520 9099
dine@icasianasaigon.com
Specialising in authentic Cantonese
and Peking cuisine. Award-winning chef
prepares dishes including handmade
noodles, dim sum and wok-fried items.
Wide selection of live seafood. Five
interactive kitchens.
DESSERT PARLOURS
Bo Gia (The Godfather)
29 Ngo Duc Ke, D1
Ministry of Food
30 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3827 7898
Two-floor dessert house specialising in
Italian and Japanese treats serving a
wide array of ice cream flavours using
milk from Japan’s dairy capital. Also
serves sandwiches and bento boxes.
New Zealand Natural
3rd Floor, Parkson Department Store
39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1
4th Floor, Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan
1st Floor, Saigon Superbowl, 843
Truong Son, Tan Binh
www.newzealandnatural.com
Serves flavours ranging from chocolate
ecstasy, fruits of the forest and boysenberry dream by the scoop.
Yogen Fruz
118 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3914 1188
106 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1
Tel: 3500 1852
Panorama Apartments, Ton Dat Tien,
Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 5413 6394
www.yogenfruz.com
Frozen yoghurt parlour is decked in
mod-meets-IKEA decor and serves
no-fat, and low-fat fro-yo blended with
fresh fruits, as well as soft serve and
smoothies. District 7 parlour located just
past SSIS in Panorama complex.
FRENCH
Annamite French Restaurant
21 Tu Xuong, Ward 7 D3
Tel: 6277 8332
The new VN restaurant area of D3 opens
a classic French dinning option, led by ex
Caprice chef. Snug atmosphere with a
classic touch . French favourites such as
escargot in garlic butter, Pan fried goose
froie gras, duck in port wine, poached
river sole with saffron sauce and classic
flambé crepes.
Jardin Delice
4 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 4722
Located in a beautiful French villa with a
swimming pool and spa open to diners,
Jardin Delice specialises in high-end
French cuisine. Hip setting provides a
mish-mash of colourful glass plates,
chairs and massive paintings.
La Bordeaux
F7-F8, D2 Road, P25, Binh Thanh
Tel: 3899 9831
French fine dining in an elegant, intimate
loft space with dark wood and linendraped tables. Expect simple, classic
dishes prepared to perfection. Rotating
seasonal menu.
La Brasserie
61 Hung Gia 2, Phu My Hung, D7
Tel: 5410 4317
Contemporary French restaurant and
wine bar with outdoor seating and wine
cellar stocked with more than 650 wines.
Features classic French fare like sliced
raw beef Carpaccio with Parmesan
cheese and grilled beef fillet served with
French fries and vegetable gratin.
La Camargue
191 Hai Ba Trung, D3 Tel: 3520 4888
Boasts a reputation for excellence in fine
dining for more than 10 years. Modern
French and Italian cuisine is served in
a colonial-style alfresco dining space.
An extensive wine list allows diners to
choose the perfect pairing.
La Fourchette
9 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3829 8143
Rustic downtown restaurant, with a good
longstanding reputation for serving good
traditional French fare at reasonable
prices. Open 12am to 2 pm and from
7pm to 10pm.
La Nicoise
42 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3822 8613
Small French-style bistro, with pretty mosaic tiled bar and tables. Offers a good
range of teas, coffees and espressobased drinks. Lunch menu changes
daily, but always encompasses traditional
French food. Open until 10pm.
Le Jardin
31 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3825 8465
This delightful restaurant in a picturesque
garden setting is open for lunch and
dinner and serves excellent French food
at reasonable prices. Main courses cost
about VND60,000 and a carafe of house
wine costs VND50,000.
L’en Tête
139 Nguyen Thai Binh, D1
Tel: 3821 4049
This stylish bistro and gallery serves up a
large selection of French fare representing an excellent selection of classic
French fish and meat dishes, as well
as international cuisine. Live music on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
starting at 8 pm.
Olivier Restaurant
Level 2, Sofitel Saigon Plaza,
17 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3824 1555
Imaginative French cuisine cooked up
in a blend of classic and contemporary.
Executive Chef Martin Becquart prepares
a solid but creative selection of French
favourites with an extensive range of fish
and meat dishes.
Sesame
153 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Binh Thanh
Tel: 0989 765 472
A self-styled hospitality school for disadvantaged children, Sesame gives practical experience to its students through its
operational restaurant. Serving a mixture
of French and Vietnamese cuisine.
Ty Coz
178/4 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3822 2457
Homely and attractive venue specialises
in classic French cuisine. Does excellent
three-course business set meals for and
sells carefully selected seafood.
INDIAN
Ashoka
17/10 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 1372
33 Tong Huu Dinh, D2 Tel: 744 4144
S9-1 lo R13 - KP Hung Vuong 2, D7
Tel: 5410 1989
Ashoka is one of the city’s most popular
and enduring Indian restaurants with a
reputation for good food and service at a
reasonable price.
Ganesh
15 - B4 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Tel: 3822 3017
Casual dining with takeaway available,
Ganesh serves up both North and South
Indian culinary traditions. Very reasonably
priced, with vegetarian curries from
VND40,000 and chicken dishes from
asialife HCMC 75
VND64,000. 
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HO CHI MINH CITY
Al Fresco’s
Au Parc
Bernie’s Bar & Grill
Black Cat
Boat House
Bobby Brewers
Buddha Bar
Jaspa’s
Juice
Kim Hai
Le Pub
Mekong Merchant
Mogambo
Mojo café
Pacharan
Peaches
Phattys
Refinery
Sheridan’s
The Coffee
Bean & Tea Leaf
The Deck
The Tavern
Tourist Information
Center
ZanZBar 1
HANOI
Ipanima
La Restaurant
Le Pub
R&R Tavern
NHA TRANG
Rainbow Divers
Sailing club
Zeno Designs
PHAN THIET
Joe’s The Art Cafe
Princess D’Annam
76 asialife HCMC
Sailing Club
Mumtaz
226 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3837 1767
Reasonably priced north and south
Indian fare in a clean, light and spacious
setting. Vegetarian curries go for around
VND30,000 while meat dishes cost
between VND45,000 and VND55,000
each. Excellent kebabs. 
Saigon Indian
73 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3824 5671
Popular venue with an enormous menu.
Serves both southern and northern
Indian dishes like tandoori, biryani, dosa
and idly snacks, plus a wide range of
vegetarian dishes. Offers a set lunch
menu. Cater service is available. 
Tandoor
74/6 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3930 4839
Part of a chain of restaurants covering
Hanoi and Saigon, Tandoor features a
large selection of standard northern Indian dishes, including a good vegetarian
selection. Excellent cheap set lunches
and reasonable prices all around. Will
organise catering for events. 
INTERNATIONAL
Al Fresco’s
21 Mac Dinh Chi D1
27 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3822 7317
Theme restaurant boasting a range of
Tex-Mex, Italian and Australian-style BBQ
dishes. Huge portions and tasty Australian ribs coupled with a good atmosphere
and helpful staff. Good lunch menu. 
Amigo Grill
55 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3829 0437
Outstanding steaks made with Australian, U.S. and Argentine beef, served
in a cosy, family-friendly environment
with large tables and banquette seating.
Dishes like leg of lamb and seafood are
also on the menu. Open 11am to 11pm.
Au Lac Do Brazil
238 Pasteur, D3 Tel: 3820 7157
36/19-21 Pham Van Nghi-Bac, D7
Tel: 5410 5566
A Brazilian barbecue restaurant that
takes meat seriously. The mixed grills and
rodizio are fantastic and served in generous portions. No meat-eater should miss
the churrasco: 12 cuts of meat carved at
your table, plus unlimited salad.
Au Parc
23 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3829 2772
Lavishly decorated brasserie borrowing
from Moroccan and French styles and
popular during lunchtime with expats.
Specialises in Middle Eastern and North
African food. The salad menu is a favourite, and a great range of lush smoothies
and juices are on offer. 
Black Cat
13 Phan Van Dat, D1 Tel: 3829 2055
628 An Binh, An Phu, D2
Tel: 3898 9837
480D Nguyen Thi Thap, D7
Tel: 2241 9100
Tiny but popular District 1 restaurant
serving up an excellent selection of
Western and Vietnamese fare and an
extensive range of sandwiches and burgers. The District 2 location also features
a slate of sushi and Mexican food, and
the District 7 outpost has a full barbecue
menu. 
BoatHouse
40 Lily Road, APSC Compound,
36 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6790
Riverside restaurant with umbrella-shaded tables spread across outdoor deck
and small indoor dining room. Serves
remarkably fresh and inspired dishes
made with choice local and imported
ingredients—favourites include the sirloin
burger and pan-fried fish and chips.
BoatHouse Cafe
37 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 6281 9182
BoatHouse’s sister eatery for take-away
and delivery service. Offers coffee,
breakfast sandwiches, juices, smoothies,
pre-packaged salads, sandwiches, burgers and fish and chips. 
Byblos Restaurant & Shisha Lounge
11 Ngo Duc Khe, D1 Tel: 3825 7781
www.byblos.com.vn
Downtown restaurant serves a menu
of Lebanese starters, salads and mains
served in a casual dining room. Catering
available. Events and weekly belly dance
show hosted. 
Cafe Evita
230 Nguyen Van Huong, An Phu, D2
Tel: 3512 3888
Academic-themed menu at this outlet
near the British International School
includes meals like The Principal, a tripledecker club with fries and salad and
burgers that range from First to Fourth
Grade. Also has a wood-fired pizza oven.
Cepage
Lancaster Building 22 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Tel: 3823 8321
One of the city’s premier venues, Cepage
delivers an up-market bar, wine lounge
and restaurant in one sleek package.
Sells several wines by the glass with
several hundred bottles to choose from.
Mixes some of the city’s best cocktails.
The Deck
38 Nguyen U Di, D2 Tel: 3744 6632
Serves upmarket takes on regional
specialties made with fresh local and
imported products. Well-designed,
minimalist dining space and bar on the
river are a serious draw.
Dragon’s Nest
186 Nguyen Van Huong, D2
Tel: 6271 2072/3
Exquisitely designed restaurant tucked
into luxurious spa complex with indoor
and outdoor seating. Serves an array of
fine contemporary German, European
and Vietnamese mains. Also serves and
delivers pizza. 
The Elbow Room
52 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3821 4327
elbowroom52@yahoo.com
American-style bistro offering a wide
range of appetisers, soups, salads,
sandwiches, mains and desserts, plus an
extensive wine menu. Open daily 7.30am
to 11pm. Breakfast served all day.
Gartenstadt
34 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3822 3623
Opened in 1992, it’s the first venue in
town to offer German food with specialities such as pork knuckle and authentic
German sausages prepared fresh each
day. Also offers imported German
draught beer.
Gia Dining Room
5A Nguyen Sieu, D1 Tel: 3827 9399
www.giadiningroom.com
Serves a mid-range slate of mainly grilled
Western mains, single-entree Asian
dishes and wide range of soups, salads,
appetisers. Three intimate dining spaces
pair modern design with Indochina-era
sophistication. Extensive list of Old and
New World wines.
Serving up a range of Vietnamese and
Malaysian dishes prepared according to
halal guidelines including ban xeo, pho
and roti chennai and seafood favourites
such as shrimp, squid and mussels.
Hard Rock Cafe
InterContinental Asiana Saigon, corner
of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3520 9099
Popular theme restaurant/live music
venue serves large portions of pub fare
including salads, fajitas and burgers.
Rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia adorns the
walls in classic Hard Rock-style and the
rock shop sells themed shot glasses,
t-shirts and jewellery.
Hideaway Cafe
41/1 Pham Ngoc Thach, D3
Tel: 3822 4222
www.hideawaycafe-saigon.com
Stylishly decorated and relaxing restaurant and cafe serving an eclectic range of
tasty European-style food. Dine al fresco
in the charming courtyard. 
Jaspa’s
33 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3822 9926
Unpretentious brasserie-style restaurant
specialises in Australian-influenced
international fusion cuisine. Full range of
drinks including Australian and French
wines and good cocktails. Hosts monthly
Spam Cham networking event. 
Juice
49 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3829 6900
Bright and stylish deli-style restaurant
serving salads, sandwiches, quiches and
meat pies with French fries and potato
salad. Also has daily lunch and dinner
menu. Excellent smoothies and juices,
as well as novelty drinks like wheatgrass
shooter and Cannonball cocktail. 
Kita Coffee House
39 Nguyen Hue, D1, Tel: 3821 5300
Four-level restaurant serving a wide
menu of mains, pastas, salads,
sandwiches, soups and appetizers for
lunch and dinner, as well as a variety of
coffee and fresh fruit juices. Includes a
bright ground floor cafe, sophisticated
Old World second floor bar and rooftop
dining. 
Market 39
InterContinental Asiana Saigon
Ground Floor, Corner Hai Ba Trung and
Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3520 9099
dine@icasianasaigon.com
Seven interactive live kitchens offering
French, Vietnamese and Southeast Asian
cuisines, including a bakery, French
patisseries, pancakes, tossed salads,
grilled steak, seafood, wok-fried items,
noodles and pasta dishes.
Mekong Merchant
23 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 4713
Set in a courtyard, this rustic Australianstyle brasserie has brought modern
international cuisine to suburban An Phu.
Popular for weekend brunches. Weekly
specials and seafood flown in from Phu
Quoc. 
Good Eats
NTFQ2, 34 Nguyen Dang Giai
Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6672
Easteran and Western dishes are low in
saturated fat and made from all-natural
ingredients. Organic vegetables, herbs
and spices accompany meals. Even the
French fries are healthy. 
New York Dessert Cafe (nydc) Restaurant and Cafe
NOWZONE 235 Nguyen Van Cu, D1
Tel: 3833 6933
Metropolitan 235 Dong Khoi, D1, Tel:
3822 7955
Parkson Flemington 184 Le Dai Hanh,
D11, Tel: 08 39651427
Vincom Tower 70-72 Le Thanh Ton, D1,
Unit B3-01
The Crescent Phu My Hung, 107 Ton
Dat Tien D7, Unit CR2-05
New York themed menu offering a wide
selection of Western dishes and desserts, including a variety of cheesecakes.
Halel@Saigon
31 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3824 5823
New-York Steakhouse & Winery
25-27 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1
Tel: 3823 7373
New-york@steakhouse.com.vn
www.steakhouse.com.vn
Chic dining venue designed in a classic
New York City Art Deco. Open every day
until late. Specializes in certified U.S.
Black Angus steak, and features a fully
stocked wine cellar. Guests are invited to
bring their own wine on BYOB Mondays.
Orientica
Hotel Equatorial, 242 Tran Binh Trong,
D5 Tel: 3839 7777
www.equatorial.com/hcm
Top-end seafood and grill restaurant
boasting modern decor. Good service
and excellent food presentation make
this a pleasant alternative to the downtown scene.
Pacharan Tapas and Bodega
97 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3825 6024
This tapas restaurant and bar serves up
superb Spanish fare crafted from authentic imported ingredients. The exclusively
Spanish wine list is extensive and Sangria
is half price during happy hour from 5pm
to 7pm and all day Wednesday.
The Refinery
74/7C Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3823 0509
Authentic bistro with cane furniture outside, informal indoor restaurant section
and a bar area. Cuisine is light, modern
European. The menu spans a price range
to suit most budgets.
Reflections
Caravelle Hotel, 19 Lam Son Square,
D1 Tel: 3823 4999
Contemporary fine dining that combines
Asian flavors with classic Mediterranean
cuisine in an ambiance of understated
elegance and European style. Special
culinary events include guest chefs from
Michelin-star establishments around the
world. Private rooms are available.
Riverside Cafe
Renaissance Riverside, 8-15 Ton Duc
Thang, D1 Tel: 3822 0033
International venue opening onto the
bustling river sidewalk, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and particularly
noted for its sumptuous buffet selection
which combines Asian, Western and
Vietnamese cuisine.
Sandals
93 Hai Ba Trung, D1
www.sailingclubvietnam.com
Casual dining in evocative 3-floor space
with blonde wood accents and cosy
seating throughout. Kitchen turns out
elegant and inspired fare at surprising
value for money: meal-sized salads; filling
burgers, wraps and sandwiches.
Signature Restaurant
Level 23, Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong
Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828
Fine dining with panoramic views over
central HCM City. Food is stunningly
presented, top-end European cuisine
with Asian influences cooked by German
chef Andreas Schimanski. A la carte or
five-course set menu available.
Skewers
9A Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3822 4798
www.skewers-restaurant.com
Rustic Mediterranean restaurant where
subtle colours and exposed brickwork
combine with jazzy tunes. Serves tabouleh, falafel, couscous and kebab. Highly
rated for its grilled meats, bread and dip
combos, soups and pastas. 
Square One
Park Hyatt Saigon, 2 Lam Son Square,
D1 Tel: 3520 2359
Specialising in high-end Western and
Vietnamese cuisine, Square One serves
charcoal-grilled meats and seafood,
as well as steamed and wok-cooked
Vietnamese fare.
asialife HCMC 77
OPEN
24/7
Where the game’s always on!
28/4 Bui Vien Str. Pham Ngu Lao Ward, Dist 1.
Phone: (08) 665 663 38 - (08) 665 663 28
Texas BarBQ
15/1 Le Thanh Ton, D1
The flavour and feel of the Wild Wild
West is evoked by both the food and
décor at this perennially popular eatery.
Quarter rack ribs are a mainstay. . 
VillaFB
79 Suong Nguyet Anh, D1
Tel: 3823 3822
www.villafb.com
Refurbished villa with a spacious designled indoor dining room and an elegant
enclosed courtyard. Serves bun noodle
dishes for breakfast and lunch before
switching to a menu of Eastern and
Western fine dining for dinner.
Warda
71/7 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 3822
Chic, middle-eastern themed eatery
swathed in oranges and reds serving
Lebanese cuisine prepared by Damascan chef, Nouman. Mezze and tapas are
the main draw, but you can also puff on
hookas post-meal.
Xu Saigon
71-75 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3824 8468
www.xusaigon.com
Inspired restaurant with an F&B director
with a passion for mixing Vietnamese
cooking with flavours and styles from
around the world. Sleek but sparsely
designed, the restaurant serves nouveau
takes on Vietnamese cuisine.
Popular authentic Italian restaurant with
additional outlets around the country.
Specialises in thin-crust pizza, pasta and
a range of Italian dishes. Good selection
of Italian wines. 
Opera
Ground floor Park Hyatt Hotel, 2 Lam
Son Square, D1 Tel: 3824 1234
Slick, contemporary eatery with exposed
brick and glass. The space revolves
around an island kitchen from which
chefs produce gourmet Italian fare.
Internationally trained chefs work with the
freshest and finest ingredients around to
produce some superb dishes.
Pendalasco
87 Nguyen Hue, D1, Tel: 3821 8181
One of the city’s oldest Western restaurants, Pendalaso serves a wide range if
Italian favourites, as well as remarkably
authentic crispy, thin-crust pizza. 
Pepperoni’s
111 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3920 4989
Attractive pizza and pasta restaurant
from the same chain as Al Fresco’s.
Good cheap buffet lunches on weekdays
and all-round large and tasty portions.

ITALIAN
Basilico
InterContinental Asiana Saigon,
Ground Floor, Corner Nguyen Du and
Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3520 9099
dine@icasianasaigon.com
Contemporary and casual trattoria-style
restaurant specialising in authentic Italian
dishes and homemade desserts. Woodfired pizza oven and a wide selection of
Italian wines.
Centro Caffe & Ristorante
11-13 Lam Son Square, D1
31 Ngo Duc Ke, D1
6 Thai Van Lung, D1
This is home of Illy coffee in Vietnam.
Offers modern and traditional Italian
cuisines in three central locations with
lunchtime set menus and regular wine
tasting evenings. Good spot for business
coffee meetings.
Da Vinci’s Pizza
001B Hoang Dieu, H1, D4
Tel: 3943 4982
Wide variety of brick oven pizza, calzones, spaghetti, subs and sandwiches.
Pizzas come in medium and large sizes
and pay homage to Italy with names like
Verrochio, Pompeii and Assisi. 
Good Morning Vietnam
197 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3837 1894
Sarpino’s
125 Ho Tung Mau, D1 Tel: 3821 7788
Tasty American-style pan pizza in a
pleasant and fresh Italian-themed
environment. Four sizes available, from
personal to extra large, with a large
range of toppings. Also serves pasta,
soups, wings and salads. 
Scoozi
6 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3823 5795
Italian pizza restaurant affiliated with
Centro Caffe serving tasty gourmet pizzas prepared in a wood-fired oven. The
delicious creations restore one’s faith in
HCM City’s ability to turn out a quality
pie. 
JAPANESE
Dragon Hot Pot
122-124 Ho Tung Mao, D1
Tel: 3915 1001
info@dragonhotpot.vn
Japanese hot pot restaurant serving
motsu nabe, Japanese barbeque and
lots of sake and shoju.
K Cafe
74 A4 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3824 5355
Small, cosy and cheery, this café is noteworthy for its cracking hand rolls. Salmon
skin rolls are also a treat. The assorted
Banh Cuon
A northern Vietnamese dish,
banh cuon is comprised of
delicate rolls of steamed
rice sheets filled with ground
pork, minced wood ear
mushrooms and bean thread
noodles. The rolls are sprinkled with crispy, caramelized shallots (hanh phi) and
served with bean sprouts,
lime wedges, a medley of
herbs, slices of silky pork
sausage (cha lua/gio lua)
sushi and sashimi, tasty and beautifully
presented, costs around US$8. Leave
some room for homemade yoghurt.
Kuru Kuru Sushi
129 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3824 3566
Sushi restaurant with colour-coded menu
items served from a rotating conveyor
belt. Helpful place mats in both English
and Vietnamese break down prices and
explain how to choose your food. Very
affordable prices.
Nishimura
Mövenpick Hotel Saigon, 253 Nguyen
Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Tel: 3844 9222
Exquisitely prepared sushi and sashimi
from a globetrotting chef with three
decades’ experience. A wide range of
cooked dishes and monthly meal promotions are also available. Set lunches cost
about US$15.
Okinawa Yamaneko
13/1 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 8433
www.yamaneko-vn.com
Part restaurant, part Japanese pub serving up a variety of Okinawa favourites like
sashimi with sea grapes, namakari and
goya champuru plus sushi and soba.
LOUISIANE
BREWHOUSE
Beachside Nha Trang
Asian & Western Cuisine
Swimming Pool & Private Beach
www.louisianebrewhouse.com.vn
78 asialife HCMC
street gourmet
La Hostaria
17B Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 1080
Rustic eatery specialising in top-end
traditional cuisine from various regions
in Italy. Main courses from VND130,000
with daily specials on offer. Serves excellent pizza. 
and “dipping” fish sauce
(nuoc cham), which diners
pour over their banh cuon. A
light meal, banh cuon is typically eaten for breakfast or a
midday snack. One serving
costs 5,000 VND. Order up
some fried shrimp cakes
(banh tom, 5,000 VND each)
to kick things up a notch.
If you forget to bring gum,
chew on a few mint leaves to
freshen up afterwards.
11.30pm, delivery available on request.
Popular with expats and locals alike. 
Zen
20 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3825 0782
Located amid the sea of Japanese
restaurants on Le Thanh Ton Street, Zen
offers a wide range of Japanese dishes.
The yakitori station grills up fantastic steak
and quail’s eggs, and the chilled udon
noodles are also a standout.
KOREAN
25 Si
8A/6D Thai Van Lung, D1
Tel: 3824 6921
Traditional Yasik-style drinking restaurant.
Winter and summer scene murals fill the
walls of this dual level eatery. Large menu
with favs like budae jjigae, a mix of chilli
paste, Spam, hot dog and tofu, as well
super spicy duruchigi.
Hana
8 Cao Ba Quat, D1 Tel: 3829 5588
Japanese-Korean fusion in the heart of
District 1. Contemporary decor with a
private, yet open feel. Broad menu including cooked and raw fish and traditional
hotpot with fish eggs, rice and vegetables.
Sakae Sushi
Nowzone @ Royal Centre, Level 4
235 Nguyen Van Cu, D1 Tel: 3504 0054
Healthful, affordable and quick service
kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi makes for a
fun dining experience. Extensive menu
also includes beef, chicken and vegetarian options.
Kim Bab Chun Gook
R4 42 Hung Phuoc 2, Phu My Hung
Tel: 6296 9057
Korean boonshik/snack food eatery
serving up a wide variety of light but
substantial foods including dumplings,
rameyon and fish cakes.
The Sushi Bar
2 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 8042
3A Ton Duc Thang, D1, Tel: 3911 8618
This brightly lit Japanese-style restaurant
serves over 40 varieties of sushi at
reasonable prices. Sit at the sushi bar
or in private rooms upstairs. Open until
Kumdo
6A Pham Ngoc Thach, D3
Tel: 3824 3253
Korean beef barbecue served in small,
welcoming dining rooms with barbecues
built into tables. Large selection of raw
meat specialties.
asialife HCMC 79
SOUTHEAST ASIAN
Lac Thai
71/2 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 7506
An elegant restaurant tucked in an
alleyway and decorated with art-deco
furniture. Authentic Thai cuisine prepared
by two Thai chefs. Food is tasty but less
spicy than you’d find in Thailand. 
Little Manila
S2-1 Hung Vuong 2, Phu My Hung, D7
Tel: 5410 0812
Small, no -frills eatery with outdoor
and indoor seating located on a quiet
street. Serves a range of dishes from the
Philippines (pictured on menu for those
unfamiliar) and draught San Miguel.
The Red Dot
21 Tu Xuong, D3 Tel: 3932 5123
Aptly titled, this Singaporean restaurant
serves decent chicken rice, char kway
teow, chili crab, and a handful of Malaysian specialties. 
Sawasdee Saigon
102 - 104 Le Lai, D1 Tel: 3925 7777
Authentic Thai cuisine in a warm, friendly
atmosphere. 
Satay House
35 Mac Dinh Chi, D1 Tel: 3822 1727
Bright and rustic, this Malaysian-run
place specialises in Halal food. Chicken
and asam fish curries are must-tries. Its
famous satays are equally delicious. 
Thai Express
8A Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 6299 1338
www.thaiexpress.com.vn
Modern restaurant with a massive menu
of Thai specialties served in moderate
proportions. The menu inludes chef’s
recommendations and background on
Thai cuisine. Warning: some dishes will
test your tongue’s threshold.
VEGETARIAN
An Lac Chay
175/4 Pham Ngu Lao, D1
Tel: 3837 0760
Apropos of the backpacker district, this
little restaurant offers no frills and a vast
menu. Though meat dishes are available,
it specialises in vegetarian Vietnamese
and quirky “backpacker favourites.” 
Hoa Dang
38 Huynh Khuong Ninh, D1
Swish vegetarian restaurant on a quiet
street that serves up nutritious dishes,
including meatless versions of bun bo,
pho and steamboat. Cosy bar serving
non-alcoholic drinks, fruits and other
sweets.
Saigon Vegan
378/3 Vo Van Tan, D3 Tel: 3834 4473
Rustic vegan restaurant with extensive
menu of healthy food at moderate prices.
Lots of tofu dishes and soya chicken/
beef, soups, banh bao and more. Also
has a kids menu.
Com Nieu
19 Tu Xuong, D3 Tel: 3932 6288
The house specialty, com nieu (smashed
rice), comes with a shattered-crockery
and flying-rice show at this well-known
restaurant, prominently featured in
Anthony Bourdain’s A Cook’s Tour. An
extensive and tasty selection of southern
Vietnamese cuisine rounds out the menu.
Hoa Tuc
74 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3825 1676
This comfortable high-end restaurant
serves traditional Vietnamese fare with
a contemporary, classy twist. Expect to
find your local favourites as you’ve never
experienced them before. Beautifully
plated, this is Vietnamese cuisine at its
best.
Hoi An
11 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 7694
Fine dining Vietnamese-style courtesy
of two sumptuously decorated colonial
villas, a bamboo-clad walled courtyard
and a menu spanning the three main
regions of Vietnam. Specialities include
abalone soup and a raw fish salad. Four
VIP rooms.
Mandarine Restaurant
11A Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: 3822 9783
Fine dining Vietnamese-style courtesy
of two sumptuously decorated colonial
villas, an antique wooden stair and a
menu spanning all regions of Vietnam.
Traditional music performances are available for dinner.
Nam Kha
46-48-50 Dong Khoi, D1
Tel: 3823 8309
A swish restaurant from the Khai Silk
family with aquatic décor, massive vases
and a large staff eager to cater to your
every whim. Set and a la carte menus
available. Upstairs is the upmarket
Dragon lounge bar.
Nghi Xuan
5/9 Nguyen Sieu, D1 Tel: 3823 0699
Located down an alley just past Hai Ba
Trung, featuring an attractive open firstfloor and upstairs dining rooms with dark
wood furniture and carved woodwork.
Serving Hue staples, crab and prawn
spreads and an impressive array of wines
and cocktails.
Quan An Ngon
160 Pasteur, D1
The long lunchtime queues tell the story:
good food at low prices. More a food
court than a restaurant, this has become
a major favourite for its airy decor combined with cheap and tasty noodle, rice
and other standard dishes.
Tib Chay
11 Tran Nhat Duat, D1 Tel: 3843 6460
Intimate spot with a big menu of Vietnamese vegetarian appetisers, salads,
soups, rice/noodle mains and desserts
Quan Nuong
29 Ton That Thiep, D1
A favourite with both locals and expats,
this rooftop restaurant above the Temple
Club offers an extensive menu of meat,
seafood and vegetarian dishes. Try the
beef wrapped around tasty melting
cheese or deliciously fresh skewered
prawns.
Viet Chay
339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3
Tel: 3526 5862
Upscale vegetarian restaurant specialises
in fake meat dishes. The attractive dining room is suffused with natural light.
Located within the walls of Vinh Nghiem
Pagoda.
Temple Club
29 – 31 Ton That Thiep, D1
Tel: 3829 9244
This high-end restaurant attached to an
elegant lounge bar is a must-try for its
art deco atmosphere as much as for its
food. Mains go from around VND80,000
to VND150,000.
VIETNAMESE
Tib
187 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3829 7242
100 Nguyen Luong Bang, Phu My
Hung, D7 Tel: 5413 6868
www.tibrestaurant.com.vn
Popular up-market dining spot serving
Hue cuisine in an attactive dining room
Cha Ca La Vong
3 Ho Xuan Hung, D3 Tel: 3930 5674
This HCM City oupost of the legendary Hanoi original serves only one dish:
the eponymous and delicious cha ca
80 asialife HCMC
la vong, fish pan-fried at the table with
turmeric and dill and served with cold
noodles and peanuts.
asialife HCMC 81
RESTAURANT - LOUNGE - FASHION
that draws on traditional architecture.
Call for reservations.
Tib Express
162 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3
Tel: 3822 5038
Serves a large selection of Tib’s Huefood menu in a more casual dining
rooom and at significantly lower prices.
Specialises in bun bo Hue. 
Wrap & Roll
62 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3823 4030
SA1–1, My Khanh 1,
Nguyen Van Linh, D7
Attractive downtown venue that brings
street-style food into air-conditioned
and uncluttered comfort. Choose prewrapped appetisers such as the cha gio
(spring rolls) or roll-it-yourself mains with
ingredients like pickled shrimps, beef on
sugar cane, fish, grilled eel and pork. 
nightlife
BARS & LOUNGES
See bar restaurant listings for more
popular watering holes
Acoustic Bar
6E1 Ngo Thoi Nhiem, D3
Tel: 3930 2239
A Volkswagen Bug tries to scale the wall
outside this well-priced music venue
popular with college-age Vietnamese and
the occasional expat.
Amber Room
59 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 6291 3686
info@theamberoom.com
A true London meets New York lounge,
with chilled out tunes during the day and
more funky vibes at night. A pleasant
meeting place for drinks and a bite to
eat.
Maotai rice wines and an exclusive selection of luxury spirits.
Ciao Lounge
2nd Floor, 74-76 Nguyen Hue, D1
Trendy and attractive lounge bar with a
mixture of retro and modern decor and
a pleasant atmosphere to boot. A great
escape from central Saigon but quite
touristy.
Q Bar
Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, D1
With low ceilings, intimate cubbyholes,
colonial arches, gold paint, ultraviolet
lighting and clubhouse beats, this is a
bar that has a reputation for being a
place to be seen. Great outdoor terrace
and late-night indoor opening.
Cranberry Café & Pub
45 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3914 0991
Upmarket,quiet lounge great for private
parties. Brickwork and cranberry-red
chairs speak to the bar’s name, with a
cocktail range and Tigers in blissfully
frosted mugs.
Level 23
23rd Floor, Sheraton Hotel
88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828
One of the best views of the city from
this upmarket terrace bar and lounge.
Excellent cocktails don’t come cheap but
the atmosphere is great with live music
throughout the week and a live DJ every
Monday.
Saigon Saigon Bar
9th floor, Caravelle Hotel, 19 Lam Son
Square, D1 Tel: 3823 4999
Popular bar usually packed out with
tourists and business travellers searching
for some delicious cocktails and a great
view of the city skyline. Cuban band
Warapo plays every night except Monday
from 8.30pm until late.
The Library
InterContinental Asiana Saigon, corner
of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3520 9099
dine@icasianasaigon.com
Unwind with a glass of wine or a cup of
tea. The Library provides a welcoming
atmosphere for those in search of calm,
comfort and personalised service.
Samsara Club
131 Dong Khoi, D1
A laid-back cosmopolitan drinking and
dance venue with comfy lounge chairs
around low-lying tables and an island bar
bedecked in extravagant white-feather
decorations. Pink neon gives the joint a
contemporary edge.
M52 Bar
52 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3821 6726
Sparsely-appointed venue with reasonably priced drinks noted for packing a
punch. Owners Annie and Ms. Van are
never too busy to check on their patrons,
and the busy bartenders are quick with
a smile.
Number Five Bar
44 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3825 6300
Number Five Bar is older than it looks,
having formerly been located at 5 Ly Tu
Trong. The bar attracts a regular clientele
of established expats.
Park Lounge
Park Hyatt Hotel
2 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 3824 1234
Elegant lounge bar, with classic songs
played every night by international musicians. The salubrious surroundings are
matched by the range of the drinks, with
vintage wines from US$6 to US$10 per
glass. Tiger is US$4.50 a bottle.
To find us, walk through the arch at
74 Hai Ba Trung and discover our
beautiful secluded courtyard.
Telephone
3823 0509
Open 7 Days
QD Bar & Lounge
138 Ton That Dam, D1, Tel: 3821 5338
Sophisticated lounge with New and
Old World wines served by the bottle or
glass, modern decor and floor-to-ceiling
windows overlooking Ton That Thiep.
Purple Jade
InterContinental Asiana Saigon, corner
of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3520 9099
Chic lounge blends the stylistic influences of contemporary design and
opium dens. Hosts live music and serves
special drinks, including Shaoxing and
The Hi-Fi
Lucky Plaza, 69 Dong Khoi, D1
hifisaigon@gmail.com
Dedicated live-music venue with full bar
located in the heart of Saigon. Regularly
hosts both local and international artists.
T&R Tavern
57 Do Quang Dau, D1
Classic ex-pat dive bar with pool table,
darts and comfortable yet simple decor.
Daily happy hour and sportsfans can
catch games on the big screen.
Vibe Billiards & Lounge
102 Suong Nguyet Anh, D1
Tel: 3925 2599
Sleek bi-level lounge with Scandinavian
design, Bansky-esque murals and
top-notch billiards and snooker tables,
paid for by the hour. Hosts league play,
half-price Mondays, ladies’ nights and
DJ events.
Voodoo Lounge
92 Ho Tung Mau, D1
Voodoo paintings adorn the white walls
at this small, attractive bar south of Sunwah Tower. A daily happy hour, plenty
of stool space and a pair of dartboards
make it a good place to grab a drink.
Fashionable, sophisticated and a
wonderfully unique concept,
Villa FB merges fashion and
food, providing a space where
artistic talent and sensitive palates
can be enjoyed in harmony.
Yoko
22A Nguyen Thi Dieu, D3
Tel: 3825 1901
79 SUONG NGUYET ANH ST., DIST. 1, HCMC
T: +84 8 6290 6571 - F: +84 8 6290 6572
INFO@VILLAFB.COM
WWW. VILLAFB.COM
asialife HCMC 83
✂
82 asialife HCMC
Present
this to your
server and receive
discount
10%
a
Compact and popular joint with nightly
live music boasts a refreshingly eclectic
range of Western styles, with most songs
sung in English.
BREWHOUSES
Alderbrau
98 Nguyen Du, D1
Small brewhouse decorated with antique
brewing miscellanea, with an enclosed
garden for outdoor swilling the small
range of house brews and bottled imports. The kitchen dishes up sausages,
German fare, and Vietnamese dishes.
Gammer Czech Beer
107 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3824 8619
www.biatuoitiepvn.com
Attractive, multi-story Czech beer hall
furnished with heavy wood and outfitted
with a few flat screen TVs tuned in to
sports. Dark and blonde beers are available, as well as a full menu of Vietnamese food from mussels to rabbit.
2010 FIFA
WORLD CUP
South Africa
11th june - 11th July
Every game at 6:30 and 9:00 pm live at Dragons Nest
the first 30min of every game
free flow of beer!
DRAGON’S NEST
an Huon
nV
g
uye
Ng
Thao Dien Village
Dragon’s Nest
British Int.
School
British Int.
School
R E S TA U R A N T & S PA
REsERvatioNs aRE REcommENDED
Sai Gon bridge
Ha Noi highway
Dragon‘s Nest Restaurant, spa & Events 186 Nguyen van Huong, thao Dien Ward
District 2, Hcmc Phone: +84 8 6271 2072 Email: info@dragonsnest.com.vn
84 asialife HCMC
Hoa Vien
28bis Mac Dinh Chi, D1 Tel: 3829 0585
www.hoavien.vn
Expansive beer hall serves up pilsner
beer crafted from malt, hops and yeast
from the Czech Republic. There’s also
a large food menu and imported Pilsner
Urquell.
Lion Brewery
11C Lam Son Square, D1
Tel: 3823 8514
Microbrewery featuring traditional German brew technology and German fare
like pork knuckle and wurst. Good spot
to meet friends and enjoy a hearty meal
and a whole lot of beer.
NIGHTCLUBS
bounce
Parkson Plaza
35bis-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1
High-end hip-hop venue with bottle service, the club regularly brings in big name
DJs, including Ministry of Sound.
Cage
3A Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tucked away on a small road just off
of Ton Duc Thang, this popular club is
beautifully decorated with purple drapery
and the odd cage, this bar offers a good
mix of lounging and dancing. Often has
live music and DJ’s.
Lush
2 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3824 2496
A large and lavishly decorated bar and
club popular on weekends. Good DJs
playing the latest in beat-based music
and the city’s beautiful people add to
the sights and sounds. It’s on-par with
Western clubs in both ambience and
drinks prices.
Velvet Bar
26 Ho Huan Nghiep, D1
Hip-hop and Viet trance club with both
bottle service and bottle beer that isn’t
prohibitively expensive. Circular center
bar is ringed with tables, and VIP areas
and sofa seating line the walls.
at home
BAKERIES
Crumbs
54 Truong Dinh, D1 Tel: 3825 7199
www.crumbs.com.vn
info@crumbs.com.vn
Eat-in bakery offering a wide range of
muffins, whole-grain breads and pastries.
Many of the breads are dairy-free, baked
fresh daily with unbleached white flower,
no added sugar.
Harvest Baking
30 Lam Son, Tan Binh Tel: 3547 0577
harvestbaking@yahoo.com
This authentic bakery offers a range
of specialty baked goods for delivery.
Offering bagels, scones, breads,
desserts,cakes, tarts and more.
Chocolate fudge cake and cinnamon
rolls with cream cheese icing highly
recommended.
Pat A Chou
65 Hai Ba Trung, D1
188 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3
25 Thao Dien, D2
The home of the long and crusty
baguette. Supplies many restaurants
but also sells wholesale. The miniature
patisseries such as crème brulée and
cheesecake are worth a taste. Opens
at 6.30am.
Schneider’s Finest
27 Han Thuyen, D1
Tel: 3829 1998
www.schneiders-finest.com
Traditional German bakery bakes 45
different kinds of breads, rolls and
baguettes and a wide range of danishes,
pastries and cakes. Catering available.
Sesame Bakery
153 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Binh Thanh
Tel: 3518 0897
Located in the premise of the Hospitality
School of HCMC, Sesame Bakery provides practical experience to its students.
Wide variety of French pastries, loaves,
baguettes, cookies at very competitive
prices. Special order & delivery available.
Tous Les Jours
180 Hai Ba Trung, D3
Part of the Korean bakery chain, Tous Le
Jours stocks a superb range of freshly
baked good from sugary treats like pain
au chocolat to superior quality baguettes
and loafs.
Une Journee A Paris
234 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3827 7723
French bakery offering a variety of cakes,
croissants and breads.
Voelker
17 A7 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Tel: 7303 8799
39 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2
Tel: 6296 0066
Small bakery turns out sweet and salted
pies and mousses in addition to baguettes and a range of Western sweets.
CATERING
Au Parc Catering Services
23 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3829 2772
Catering services available every day of
the year for birthday cakes, dinner parties, wine tastings and corporate events.
For a custom-made quotation e-mail
auparc@hcm.vnn.vn or call Quynh on
0908 196261.
Saigon Catering
84 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 6281 8388
Provide services of catering, banquets,
event planning, BBQ’s, daily deliveries
and cocktail parties. For a custom-made
quotation e-mail SaigonGG@gmail.com
or call Huong on 0913 981128.
The Caterers
46D Vuon Lai, Tan Phu
Tel: 3816 2901
sales@thecaterersvietnam.com.vn
www.thecaterersvietnam.com.vn
Newly established catering company
offering extensive services from location
sourcing, décor designing and food
catering. All functions can be catered
for, from low-key barbeques at home to
full-blown weddings and parties.
Xu Catering
71-75 Hai Ba Trung, D1
Tel: 3824 8468
www.xusaigon.com
From the brains behind Xu Restaurant
and Lounge comes this new catering
service, promising the highest standards
in service. Everything from the menu to
asialife HCMC 85
the comprehensive bar service and the
staff is tailor-made to your specifications.
COOKERY CLASSES
Caravelle Hotel Cooking Classes
Caravelle Hotel, 19 Lam Son Square,
D1 Tel: 3823 4999
Full-day Vietnamese cooking classes for
groups of up to 20 people. The classes
include a visit to the market with the
sous chef. Costs US$45++ each for a
minimum 10 people.
Saigon Cooking Class by Hoa Tuc
The Courtyard, 74/7 Hai Ba Trung, D1
Tel: 3825 8485
i.briosca@saigoncookingclass.com
contact@saigoncookingclass.com
Cooking classes available from Tuesday
to Sunday 10am-1pm/2pm-5pm. Students make an entire meal that includes
traditional dishes like pho and cha gio, as
well as more creative fare. Conducted by
Vietnamese chef in English, Japanese or
French on request. Cost is $45. Market
visit with the chef on request.
Vietnam Cookery Centre
362/8 Ung Van Khiem, Binh Thanh
Tel: 3512 1491
Well-known Vietnamese cooking
classes with half-day and more in-depth
eight-day courses. Students work in a
comfortable kitchen area with their own
stove and workspace. Eight-day course
costs US$160.
GROCERIES
Annam Gourmet Market
16-18 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3822 9332
41A Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2630
SB2-1 My Khanh 4, Nguyen Duc Canh,
D7 Tel: 5412 3263 / 64
www.annam-gourmet.com
Boutique grocer with wide selection of
foreign foods; Annam-brand coffee, tea
and spices; and household products.
Wine and premium beer, full deli counter,
produce, dairy-frozen and baked goods
on second floor. Cosy café serves coffee,
drinks and sandwiches.
Au Parc
23 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3829 2772
A fine deli counter displaying a wide
selection of cheeses, roasted vegetables,
dips and some tempting sweets. The
shelves along the side wall also showcase a solid selection of dried goods and
some imported condiments.
Classic Fine Foods
100 Xuan Thuy, D2, Tel: 3744 2717
www.classicfinefoods.com
Luxury food primarily imports for wholesale, but also takes orders for its range
of dry goods, cheese, meat, poultry and
seafood from private clients.
Future Sense
284/9 Nguyen Trong Tuyen, Phu Nhuan
Tel: 3844 6099
Ice cream home delivery service featuring
banana-on a stick, Ola premium ice
cream and frozen yoghurt and I’sa ice
cream, all produced with European technology and imported ingredients.
Grand-Place Chocolate
1A Me Linh Square, Room C4, D1
Tel: 3823 4068
www.grandplacechocolate.com
delivery@grandplacechocolate.com
Belgian chocolate manufacturer offering
high quality chocolate for professionals
and chocolate lovers. Chocolate available in 1 kg blocks or 2.5 kg buttons.
Free delivery.
Kim Hai Butchery
41 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1
Tel: 3821 6057 or 3914 4376
Excellent chilled imported beef, lamb,
veal and other meats sold at reasonable
prices.
86 asialife HCMC
Le Cochon D’Or
32 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3829 3856
French-style charcuterie selling quality
cold cuts, smoked sausage and a range
of cheeses at very reasonable prices.
Metro
An Phu, D2 Tel: 3740 6677
www.metro.com.vn
Warehouse wholesaler located just off
the Hanoi Highway in D2 between the
Saigon Bridge and the tollbooths. Sells
bulk food, fresh fruit and vegatables
and meat, as well as paper products,
cleaning supplies, housewares--basically
everything.
Organik
11A Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 090 273 3841
arlene@organikvn.com
www.organikvn.com
Online grocer based out of Dalat selling
a range of organic vegetables and
groceries, as well as imported all-natural
products such as cereal, soymilk and
tea. Operates a retail shop in An Phu.
Phuong Ha
58 Ham Nghi, D1 Tel: 3914 1318
A mini-supermarket that sells an
extensive assortment of imported packaged food, cheese, meat, fresh fruit,
vegetables and fine wines.
Veggy’s
29A Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 8526
Sky Garden
Pham Van Nghi, Bac Khu Pho, D7
Riverside Apartments
53 Vo Truong Toan, Thao Dien, D2
Popular expat market with a huge walkin fridge area stocked with fresh fruit and
vegetables, dairy products and a range
of meats. Imported canned and dried
foods, wines, beers, soft drinks, spirits
and snacks also available.
LIQUOR & WINE
Bacchus Corner
158D Pasteur, D1
Reliable wine and liquor store owned by
Tan Khoa Wines with a good range of
spirits, whiskies, wines and more all at
decent prices. English-speaking staff can
help with selections.
Connoisseur
7 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 224 6324
A decent range of wines from both old
and new world vineyards lines the walls
in this intimate store. Monthly offers on
new arrivals are often a good deal. The
staff are helpful, but little English.
Red Apron
22 Chu Manh Trinh, D1 Tel: 3823 0021
Large wine and spirits wholesaler, with
90,000 bottles stored in its five locations
around the country. Sells wine from all
around the world, particularly France,
Chile, Italy and Australia. Exclusive distributor of such fine brands as Taittinger
Champagne.
Tapas Wine
2/3A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1
Tel: 2201 0909
www.tapaswines.com
Home delivery service that specialises in
Spanish wines. Check out the website
for a full catalog of their wines, as well as
reviews by brand.
The Warehouse
178 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3825 8826
924 Tran Hung Dao, D5 Tel: 6261 1525
www.warehouse-asia.com
One of the city’s premier wine distributors, The Warehouse is an aptly named,
stylish wine store that stocks a full range
of both New and Old World wines,
sparkling wines, Champagne, spirits, imported beers and accessories. Provides
advice and delivery service.
listings
culture
CLASSES
AngelsBrush by Vin
Tel: 0983377710
Shyevin@mac.com
Oil painting course gives learners the
opportunity to work from the different
objects; explore different mediums,
materials and techniques; and interpret
line, tone and colour. Instructor works
with students on individual basis.
Creative Writing Classes
Tel: 090 448 2957
kate_orson@hotmail.com
Writer Kate Orson teaches creative writing courses for fiction, non-fiction and
travel writing. Beginners and experienced
writers are welcome.
Helene Kling Painting
513 An Binh, Street 12, D2
helene_kling@yahoo.com
French painter Helene holds classes
in oil painting at her beautiful river-side
home on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday’s
between 8am and 1pm for adults and
Monday and Friday afternoons between
3pm and 6pm for children.
Printmaking
alphagallery@bluemail.ch
Classes are held at Alpha Gallery taught
by the gallery owner Bernadette Gruber,
who offers the chance to learn monotype, intaglio and etching techniques.
CINEMAS
Bobby Brewer’s Movie Lounge
45 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3610 2220
86 Pham Ngoc Thach
info@bobbybrewers.com
Popular top-floor home cinema showing movies five times a day on a large
screen. Email for the latest schedule.
Cinebox
212 Ly Chinh Thang, D3 Tel: 3935 0610
240 3 Thang 2, D10 Tel: 3862 2425
Cinebox cinemas show both original
language films with Vietnamese subtitles
and the dubbed versions.
Future Shorts
futureshortsvietnam@gmail.com
www.futureshorts.com/vn
Vietnam branch of the international
network screens international and local
short films around town. Events often
incorporate other media and elements,
including live music, performances,
installations and discussion. Submissions
accepted.
Galaxy Cinema
116 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3822 8533
230 Nguyen Trai, D1 Tel: 3920 6688
www.galaxycine.vn
Large, modern cinema that shows the
latest foreign releases in English (with
Vietnamese subtitles).
IDECAF
31 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3829 5451
French cultural centre and cinema
theatre. Showcases French movies with
English and Vietnamese subtitles. Also
hosts movies and documentaries from a
number of overseas film festivals.
Lotte Cinema
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3822 7897
LotteMart, 469 Nguyen Huu Tho, D7
Tel: 3775 2520
www.lottecinemavn.com
Modern cinema with four-way sound system. D7 location houses luxury theatre
Charlotte with 32 seats and eight sofas.
me phim
HCM City-based film initiative that
provides support to local filmmakers and
hosts regular film screenings/discussions. Email dduukk@gmail.com for information or join the Facebook group.
Megastar
Hung Vuong Plaza, 126 Hung Vuong,
D5 Tel: 08 2222 0388
CT Plaza, 60A Truong Son, Tan Binh
Tel: 6297 1981
www.megastarmedia.net
State-of-the-art cinema complex screening the lastest blockbusters with plush,
reclining seats. All movies shown in original language with Vietnamese subtitles.
GALLERIES
a little blah blah
OUT-2 STUDIO, L6 FAFILM Annex
6 Thai Van Lung, D1
albbsaigon-2010.blogspot.com
Operates as an engine for contemporary
art by organising projects, exhibitions,
screenings and talks. Runs one major
art project each year and a reading room
with more than 1,000 texts on art, design
and creative culture. Free for everyone
and open Tue to Sat 10am to 6pm.
Blue Space Contemporary Arts
Center
97A Pho Duc Chinh, D1
Tel: 3821 3695
bluespaceart@hcm.jpt.vn
www.bluespacegallery.com
Busy, working gallery with easels
propped up outside situated in the
grounds of the beautiful Fine Arts
Museum. Holds regular exhibitions by
local artists.
Duc Minh Gallery
31C Le Quy Don, D3 Tel: 3933 0498
Housed in an opulent colonial mansion,
private museum and art gallery showcases the private art collection of Vietnamese business tycoon Bui Quoc Chi.
Containing more than 1,000 pieces that
range from traditional to contemporary.
Galerie Quynh
65 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3836 8019
www.galeriequynh.com
The city’s only international standard
gallery, housed in a modern, two-floor
space. Organises regular exhibitions
featuring established, emerging local/
international contemporary artists, publishes original catalogs in both English
and Vietnamese.
Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum
97A Pho Duc Chinh, D1 Tel: 3829 4441
btmthcm@hotmail.com
Institution housing contemporary/traditional works by Vietnamese and foreign
artists. Pieces date from as early as
the 7th century. Includes Vietnamese
antiques, art crafted by the Cham and
Funan peoples.
San Art Independent Artist Space
3 Me Linh, Binh Thanh Tel: 3840 0898
hoa@san-art.org
www.san-art.org
Artist-run, non-profit exhibition space
featuring contemporary work by young
Vietnamese artists. San Art hosts guest
lecturers and curators. A reading room
of art books and magazines is open to
the public.
TuDo Gallery
53 Ho Tung Mau, D1 Tel: 3821 0966
www.tudogallery.com
Hosting permanent exhibitions of works
by the city’s artists, Tu Do deals in oils,
silk paintings and lacquerware. More
than 1,000 pieces on show.
asialife HCMC 87
listings
sports &
leisure
Sport Street
Huyen Tran Cong Chua, D1 between
Nguyen Du and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai
Services include mending and restringing
broken tennis rackets. Products range
from badminton birdies and rackets to
basketball hoops, free weights, roller
blades, scooters, soccer jerseys and all
manner of balls.
Trophies & Custom Signage Street
Le Lai, D1 between Truong Dinh and
Nguyen Thai Hoc
Offers custom engraving on trophies and
plaques made of plastic, wood, metal
and glass.
CRICKET
Saigon Cricket Assocation
Social cricket league plays 25 overs
a side matches Sunday mornings at
RMIT’s District 7 pitch. Season runs November through May, with friendly games
throughout the pre-season. Practice on
Saturdays and Sunday afternoons.
Australian Cricket Club
Mr. Terry Gordon
terrygordoninasia@yahoo.com.au
saigonaustraliancricketclub@yahoo.com
www.saigoncricket.com
English Cricket Club
Richard Carrington
Richard.carrington@pivotalvietnam.com
info@eccsaigon.com
www.eccsaigon.com
Indian Cricket Club
Manish Sogani, manish@ambrij.com
United Cricket Club
Mr. Asif Ali, asif@promo-tex.net
keshav.dayalani@rmit.edu.vn
DANCING
DanCenter
46/2 Nguyen Cuu Van, Binh Thanh
Tel: 3840 6974
www.dancentervn.com
Modern, centrally located studio with
foreign trained dance instructors.
Classes for kids age 5+ in jazz, ballet, hip
hop and tap dance. Classes for adults in
yoga, jazz, hip hop, salsa, belly, tap and
capoeira.
Salsa Dancing at La Fenetre Soleil
135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1
Tel: 0909 365 525
Every Thursday from 8pm with Urko and
Fred, with a total beginners workshop
starting at 8:30pm (minimum 10 people
required; 50,000 VND with a cocktail). Followed by social dancing until
midnight.
Salsa Dancing at La Habana
6 Cao Ba Quat, D1
www.salsaigon.com
salsaigon@gmail.com
Six-week salsa package at 350,000
VND for single persons and 550,000 for
a couple, run by Urko. Lessons every
Tuesday (beginners L.A. style at 7:30pm;
intermediate L.A style at 8:30pm). Registration required.
Swing Dancing at La Fenetre Soleil
135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1
www.saigonswing.com
88 asialife HCMC
Free swing dance nights held every
Wednesday from 8pm to 9pm, followed
by a DJ so you can practice your new
moves. Regular classes are held every
six weeks in East Coast Swing and Lindy
Hop.
FITNESS & YOGA
AIS Sports Centre
36 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2
Tel: 3744 6960, ext 126
sportscentre@aisvietnam.com
www.aissportscentre.com
Features six-lane, 25-metre pool,
basketball and netball courts, astroturf
hockey/football area and outdoor gym
equipment. Available for party hire, with
BBQ included on request. Membership
packages available. Kids swim club and
adult masters programmes. Rainbow
Divers offers scuba diving courses for
children and adults. Free morning yoga.
California WOW Xperience
Parkson Plaza, 126 Hung Vuong, D5
28/30-32 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 6291 5999
The world’s biggest fitness centre chain
is one of Saigon’s most modern places
to get your sweat on. Located in Hung
Vuong Plaza, CWX offers a huge workout area and all kinds of classes including
spinning, KickFit, yoga and more.
Caravelle Club Spa
19 Lam Son Square, D1
Tel: 3823 4999
Modern and stylish gym with lots of cardiovascular machines and free weights.
The swimming pool is a great place for
a dip, and the massage parlour, sauna,
steam room and jacuzzi are there for
winding down.
Christophe Guillemin
Tel: 0909 365525
azia_shop@yahoo.fr
www.azia-shop.com
French fitness instructor offers his training assistance both at home or in your
gym to help with everything from weight
loss to muscle building. Also does cardio
training sessions at An Phu swimming
pool on Saturday at 11am.
Curves
15 Trinh Van Can, D1 Tel: 3821 0319
www.curvesvietnam.com
Curves is a women’s only fitness
franchise with over 10,000 locations and
four million members. The centre offers
a famous 30-minute total body workout
that they say will burn up to 500 calories.
Features training on ‘double positive’
resistance equipment.
Diamond Plaza
34 Le Duan, D1
The city’s largest department store has
a well-equipped gym with steam room,
jacuzzi, massage parlour and swimming
pool. The gym costs from US$90 per
month.
Diamond Way Buddhism Meditation
Group
Tel: 093 804 3753
Email: SaigonGompa@gmail.com
www.diamondway-teachings.org
Meditation group using methods of
Tibetan Buddhism. Diamond Way or
Vajrayana
Buddhism guides practitioners to experience the nature of their own mind to
reach Enlightenment.
ments in the city, suitable for all ages and
fitness levels. Personal training is offered.
Erick Tony Varin, Fitness and
Swimming Instructor
Tel: 0939 026 540
Erickforcearca@hotmail.com
French instructor offers individual
adapted programmes at home or at
your gym, including weight loss, muscle
gain, athletic training and post-traumatic
treatment. Swimming and aqua aerobics
classes for groups or individuals are also
offered.
steam room, jacuzzi and fitness centre.
Three-month peak membership costs
US$810++ and off-peak is US$450++.
Patricia Romero, ERYT200
Phu My Hung, An Phu
Tel: 090 387 2832
saigonease@yahoo.com
Alignment-based yoga classes that
infuse elements from the Ashtanga and
Iyengar traditions. Group and private
classes. Also specialising in therapeutics
and restorative yoga. Patricia has been
teaching yoga in Saigon since 2002.
John Huy Tran, Fitness Instructor
Tel: 0983 789 318
jht_fitness@hotmail.com
Canadian fitness professional certified
trainer with over 10 years’ experience in
the fitness industry, dance and sports.
Can provide training tailored to individual
needs.
Renaissance Hotel Health Club
8-15 Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tel: 3822 0033
Stylish health club with gym, swimming
pool, steam room, massage parlour,
pool-side bar and an outstanding view
of the city. Costs US$140 a month, or
US$10 a day.
K1 Fitness and Fight Factory
346 Ben Van Don, D4
Tel: 0918 337 111
www.teamminetti.com
Fitness centre teaching English and
Thai boxing, karate, Vietnamese martial
arts, judo, fencing, grappling, and mixed
martial arts with classes for both adults
and children. All training conducted by a
professional foreign instructor.
Saigon Fitness Club
New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1
Tel: 3822 8888
The modern Nautilus-equipped gym is
staffed by highly-qualified instructors to
cater for your fitness needs. Features a
swimming pool, floodlit tennis court, golf
driving range, jogging track, sauna, and
massage rooms.
L’Apothiquaire Fitness Centre
64A Truong Dinh, D3 Tel: 3932 5181
www.lapothiquaire.com
Internationally-certified teachers offer
daily classes in Sivananda, Iyengar,
Power, Yoga, Abdo-Pilates, Taebo and
Aqua-Aerobics. Peaceful swimming pool,
sauna and steam room.
La Cochinchine
Rex Hotel, 146 Pastuer, D1
Tel: 3825 1812 (ext 7477)
New and affordable fitness centre
located in the heart of the city. This gym
has a wide range of weight machines, as
well as many cardio machines, including
treadmills, cross-trainers and bikes. A
good variety of classes are available,
including yoga and aerobic dance.
Legend Hotel Fitness Centre
2A-4A Ton Duc Thang, D1
One of the best hotel fitness centres.
Very well-equipped gym with cardiovascular and weight machines, along with
a circular swimming pool and massage
parlour. A three-month membership
costs US$400++.
Michelle Lloyd Yoga
Tel: 090 964 8193
michelleglloyd@gmail.com
www.michellelloyd.com
Certified yoga instructor offering Vinyasa
yoga classes at various locations around
the city. Private and corporate yoga
programmes available. Contact Michelle
for information on her current schedule
and special events.
Nutrifort
2B1 Chu Manh Trinh, D1
Tel: 3825 8560
news@nutrifort.com/www.nutrifort.com
Comprehensive health and fitness centre
offering customized exercise, nutritional
counseling to members. Specializing in
weight loss programs, core/body alignment training with Pilates equipment.
Healthy snacks available.
Equinox Fitness & Leisure Centre
Equatorial Hotel, 242 Tran Binh Trong,
D5 Tel: 3839 7777
Decent-sized 3rd-floor gym with modern
cardio and weights machines, sauna,
steambath, jacuzzi, and large 4th floor
pool great for swimming laps.
NTFQ2
34 Nguyen Dang Giai, D2
Tel: 3744 6672
ntfq2@nutrifort.com/www.nutrifort.com
First boutique, purpose-built fitness
and wellness centre in Vietnam. Offers
personal training, small group classes,
specialised treatment and healthy dining
at on-site restaurant Good Eats.
Hollywood Fitness World
H3 Building, 384 Hoang Dieu, D4
Tel: 3826 4639
One of the latest & best workout environ-
Park Hyatt Fitness Centre
2 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 3824 1234
Luxury health centre with the full range
of facilities including swimming pool,
Saigon Yoga
Somerset Apartments
8A Nguyen Binh Khiem, D1
Tel: 090 835 2265
www.saigonyoga.com
info@saigonyoga.com
Yoga and pre-natal yoga classes held
downtown and in D3. Taught by experienced, certified instructrs from the US.
Class size limited to 12 students. Reservation is requested to ensure a space.
Private group and pre-natal classes of up
to 8 by appointment.
Sheraton Fitness
Level 5, Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, 88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828
sheraton.saigon@sheraton.com
www.sheraton.com/saigon
Sheraton Fitness features a team of
trained professionals and new Technogym equipment. Members have full use
of leisure facilities and receive discounts
at hotel bars and restaurants and Aqua
Day Spa.
Star Fitness Gym
Manor Apartments, 91 Nguyen Huu
Canh, Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 0255
This 1,600sq.m gym is apparently the
biggest in Vietnam. Has a good range
of machines for any type of workout.
Membership involves one time entry fee
plus monthly subscriptions and gives free
access to regular fitness classes.
Sofitel Saigon Plaza Fitness Centre
17 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3824 1555
Small but well-equipped gym with helpful
staff and quality equipment. Membership
costs US$700++ for six months and
US$1,300++ for a year. Also runs a number of fitness classes including yoga.
Yoga & Meditation Centre
335 Dien Bien Phu, D3
Tel: 3929 1706
www.ymc.org
Profesional team of Western and local
teachers show you how to practice a
combination of yoga and meditation with
a range of classes such as Hatha, Yin,
Vikram, Ashtanga yoga and Pilates.
Yoga Living
95 Pasteur, D1
Tel: 098 880 4598
info@yogaliving.com.vn
www.yogaliving.com.vn
Yoga studio offering hatha, vinyasa,
power and ashtanga yoga. Schedule can
be self-made by members.
FOOTBALL & RUGBY
Australian Rules Football
Tel: 093 768 3230
www.vietnamswans.com
vietnamswans@gmail.com
The Vietnam Swans play regular international footy matches around Asia. Training sessions are held weekly in HCM City
(2.30pm Saturday, RMIT D7) and Hanoi
(midday, Saturday, UN International
School, Ciputra). All skill levels and codes
welcome.
Les Gaulois de Saigon
www.gauloisdesaigon.com
info@gauloisdesaigon.com
A new team of French footballers, the
side invites players and their families to
come and join in their friendly training
sessions, where everyone can get together and enjoy the sport while making
new friends. Contact Sebastien on 0919
691785 or Romain on 0908 060139.
RMIT Vietnam
sports.recreation@rmit.edu.vn
A new player on the SIFL scene with
a team made up of students from the
University. They have their own football
ground on-site consisting of two brand
new pitches. Contact Landon Carnie.
Saigon Raiders
jon.hoff@saigonraiders.com
Sociable football side who are always on
the lookout for new talent for their weekly
matches and training sessions. The team
participates in the Saigon International
Football League and also has regular
fixtures against local teams in the outlying provinces and also participates in
international tournaments.
Saigon Rugby Club
Tel: 0903 735 799
www.saigonrfc.org
saigonrugbyfootballclub@yahoo.com
Social, mixed touch rugby played every
Saturday afternoon for adults at RMIT
from 4pm until 6pm. Regularly welcomes
visiting teams and tours the region for
men’s contact and women’s touch rugby
tournaments. Beginners welcome.
Saigon Saints
chris@saigonsaints.com
www.saigonsaints.com
Expat football club of all ages which has
been running since 1995 and plays in the
SIFL. Regularly venture on international
tours especially to Bangkok and Manila
and play in other local and international
tournaments. The players train weekly,
and new players are encouraged to join.
GOLF
sgs.golf@yahoo.com.vn
Nine-hole mini golf course and driving
range set amongst attractive gardens
just behind FV Hospital. Membership
starts from US$700 for 6 months. Visitors’ greens fees for a round of golf are
around US$16 before 5pm and US$19
after. Club, shoe and umbrella hire is also
available.
Song Be Golf Resort
77 Binh Duong Blvd, Thuan An
Tel: 0650 3756 660
info@songbegolf.com
www.songbegolf.com
Located 22 kilometres from the city centre, the premier golf course in the area
features an 18-hole, 6,384-metre course.
Also has tennis courts, a swimming pool,
and a gymnasium.
Vietnam Golf and Country Club
Long Thanh My Village, D9
www.vietnamgolfcc.com
This facility consists of two courses of
18 holes each, one of which is designed
in a more traditional Asian style, and the
other in international style. Has other
attractions such as boating, tennis and a
restaurant area.
LEISURE
Hash House Harriers
www.saigonh3.com
Running club that meets every Sunday
at 2pm at the Caravelle Hotel to go on
a run in different locations out of town
with their traditional balance of exercise
and beer.
Phun Runners
www.phun-run.com
info@phun-run.com
Running group that meets Sundays at
7am for a scenic run around Saigon
before breakfast. Great way to explore
the city, meet fellow runners and get
fit for future events. Check website for
rendezvous points.
Saigon International Dart League
www.thesidl.com
A highly popular group in town, the darts
club runs a competitive year-long league
for 16 pub-based teams. There are some
excellent players in this sociable and international group. See website for details
of how to join and latest 180 scores.
Saigon Pony Club
Lane 42, Le Van Thinh, D2
Tel: 09 1373 3360
A standout facility offering pony rides,
riding lessons, horse clinics and pony
rentals. Also hosts events and birthdays.
Dalat Palace Golf Club
Phu Dong Thien Vuong, Dalat
Tel: 063 3821 101
dpgc@vietnamgolfresorts.com
The most beautiful course in Vietnam,
combining the crisp mountain air with
an environment of stately pine trees.
Overlooking Xuan Huong lake, the 7,009yard course is an enjoyable challenge for
golfers of all levels.
Senior Expat ChitChat
Weekly “Coffee Talk” meetings among
seniors at the Palace Hotel Café (56 – 66
Nguyen Hue, D1) each Tuesday from 10
to 11:30am. The informal group is for
local expatriates and English-speaking
foreign travellers who meet to share
experiences and make new friends. Call
club organizer Sheldon Pruss at 093
203 1837.
Dong Nai Golf Resort
Trang Bom Town, Trang Bom
Tel: 061 3866 288 / 3677 590
www.dongnaigolf.com.vn
Large golf resort with 27 holes, plus a
villa complex, bar, sauna. jacuzzi and
billiards. The resort sits on 160 hectares
of land in Dong Nai Province, about 50
kilometres from the city. Membership
starts at US$2,000 a year.
Vietnam Hobby Brewers
hobbybrewer.vietnam@gmail.com
www.hobbybrewer-vietnam.de.tl
Small group of beer enthusiasts gather
bi-monthly at microbrewery to talk beer,
share brewing tips and sample homemade suds. The group is keen on taking
on new members with an interest in
learning how to brew.
Ocean Dunes Golf Club
1 Ton Duc Thang, Phan Thiet
Tel: 062 3821 995
odgc@vietnamgolfresorts.com
Designed by Nick Faldo, the 6,746-yard
par-72 course winds through seaside
dunes, with the variable coastal breezes
changing its character each day. An
enjoyable and eminently playable course
and has become a favourite venue for
expatriate tournaments.
Saigon South Golf
Nguyen Van Linh, Tan Phu, D7
Tel: 5411 2001
X-Rock Climbing
Phan Dinh Phung Sport Centre
75 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3
Tel: 6278 5794
503A Nguyen Duy Trinh, D2
Tel: 2210 9192
www.xrockclimbing.com
Offering safe and professional climbing
for anyone aged 4 and up. Featuring
mountain climbing routes rated from
beginner to advanced, climbing and
belay-safety courses and training,
birthday parties, corporate team building.
Excellent facilities for children and annual
membership for kids.
asialife HCMC 89
listings
health &
beauty
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
American Chiropractic Clinic
8 Truong Dinh, D3 Tel: 3930 6667
www.vietnamchiropractic.com
A chiropractic, physiotherapy, foot
care clinic staffed by american-trained
chiropractors speaking French, English,
Chinese, Vietnamese ad Korean. Treat
back pain, neck pain, knee pain, also
specialising in sports injuries, manufacture of medical grade foot orthotics.
Ciro Gargiulo
CARE1 Executive Health Care Center
The Manor, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh,
Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 0757
care1_reception@vietnammedicalpractice.com
www.care1.com.vn
A holistic approach is used by this
acupuncturist and traditional medicine
practitioner to rebalance the body’s
energy fields. A wide range of ailments
are treated including back pain, allergies
and insomnia.
Institute of Traditional Medicine
273-275 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan
Dr. Le Hung is the man to see at this
well-established traditional hospital &
training centre. He speaks good English
and provides excellent treatments in a
clean environment. The Institute also
provides acupuncture lessons at US$30
per day.
Osteopathic Medicine/Physiotherapy
– David Truong Tan
Tel: 0903 09 81 24
www.osteopathy-vietnam.com
French-trained osteopath and physiotherapist specializing in the treatment of
back pain and muscular, ligament and
joint problems using a holistic approach
and gentle manipulative techniques.
Consultations available at International
SOS in District 3 and Nutrifort in Districts
1 and 2.
Traditional Medicine Hospital
197 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3
Friendly staff speak little to no English
at this well-known and spotlessly clean
hospital offering treatments that combine
traditional Chinese medicine with modern
knowledge and expertise.
COSMETIC TREATMENT
Cao Thang Lasik & Aesthetic Clinic
135-135B Tran Binh Trong, D5
Tel: 3923 4419
A modern clinic offering a comprehensive
range of optical services. Specialises in
LASIK correctional procedures, costing
from US$700 to US$1,100 for both
eyes. English spoken. Open seven days
a week.
FV Hospital Cosmetic Surgery
45 Vo Thi Sau, D1 Tel: 6290 6167
6 Nguyen Luong Bang, D7
Tel: 5411 3366
www.fvhospital.com
International-standard cosmetic procedures from simple dermabrasion and
chemical peels to collagen injections,
nose and eye shaping, liposuction, and
breast enhancement. Procedures carried
out by French and Vietnamese doctors
using the latest equipment.
Parkway Shenton International Clinic
Suite 213-214, 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1
Owned by the Singapore-based
healthcare giant Parkway Holdings, this
aesthetics clinic offers a range of both
surgical and non-surgical treatments
including dental reconstruction.
DENTAL
European Dental Clinic
127 Dien Bien Phu, Dakao, D1
Tel: 3823 8680
Expat English and French-speaking
dentist. Performs full range of dental
treatment including whitening, aesthetic
fillings, porcelain crowns, full ceramics, veneer and orthodontic treatment.
24-hour emergency line: 0909 551916 or
0918 749204.
Koseikai Dental Clinic
3rd floor, 21 Nguyen Trung Ngan, D1
Tel: 3910 6255
info@koseikai.com.vn
www.koseikaidentist.com
A member of Dental Clinic Vietnam,
provide full range of dental services
with the latest in technology, delivery of
laboratory work and new technologies
now available.
Starlight Dental Clinic
Dr. Philippe Guettier & Associates
3 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3822 6222
doc.linh@gmail.com
With 10 years’ experience providing
dental treatment to expat and Vietnamese patients, this well-known dental
surgery is staffed by both foreign &
local practitioners. Au fait with the latest
treatments and techniques, the surgery
prides themselves on their high standard
of equipment & sterilization.
Westcoast International Dental Clinic
27 Nguyen Trung Truc, D1
Tel: 3825 6999
71-79 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3825 6777
info@westcoastinternational.com
www.westcoastinternational.com
Canadian-run dental clinic staffed by
French, Japanese, English and Vietnamese speaking dental professionals.
See Medical listings for hospitals with
dental services
HAIR & SALON
Anthony George for London Hair &
Beauty
FIDECO Riverview Building
14 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6475
www.aglondonsalon.com.vn
Top British stylist George brings his
unique flair to hair in District 2. The
modern, stylish and profess ional salon
is host to a staff of professionally trained
beauty therapists. Uses Dermalogica,
Schwarzkopf and L’Oreal products.
Shampoo, cut and blow-dry starts at US
$26; mini facials from $12.
Jasmine
45 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3827 2737
jasminespa@hcm.vnn.vn
Friendly and efficient staff offers haircuts
and a wide range of services including
waxing, manicures, pedicures and other
beauty treatments. Skin renewal facial,
salt or rice body scrub & deep tissue
massage costs US$98
Le Brian Salon
201 Calmette, D1
195 Nguyen Van Hoang, D2
Vietnamese-American hairstylist with
dual locations, offering a full range of hair
services, as well as professional make-up
application.
Lloyd Morgan International Hair
Studio
Dragon’s Nest, 186 Nguyen Van Huong,
D2 Tel: 6273 2078
International stylist Lloyd Morgan is one
of the best in town. He’s been in the
business for over 30 years and brings his
expertise to this established, top-notch
salon.
Qi Spa
151 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan
Tel: 3844 1719
Caravelle Hotel Tel: 3824 7150
Mövenpick Hotel Saigon,
Tel: 3997 5437
High-end salon and spa offers the
standard range of services in a calming
atmosphere with good service. Waxing,
nail services, hair dressing as well as
luxurious facial and massage treatments
all go for upwards.
Centre Medical International (CMI)
1 Han Thuyen, D1
Tel: 3827 2366
www.cmi-vietnam.com
Located downtown next to the cathedral,
the centre provides a high standard
of medical care from qualified French
and Vietnamese physicians. Its range
of services include general and tropical
medicine, cardiology, gynaecology, osteopathy, pediatrics, psychiatry, speech
therapy and traditional Eastern medicine.
Souche
2nd Floor, Saigon Trade Centre
37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 0372
A top-end beauty salon using the
Dermatologica line of skincare products.
Specialises in personalised facial care
treatments from US$30 and medicated
acne treatments from US$40. Waxing
and other aesthetic services are also
available in a pleasant atmosphere with
excellent service.
Columbia Asia Saigon Clinic
8 Alexandre de Rhodes, D1
Tel: 3823 8888
Respected multi-specialty clinic with
foreign and local physicians. Doctors on
call 24 hours a day. Standard checkups cost between VND400,000 and
VND800,000.
Sunji Matsuo Hair Studio
Saigon Paragon, 3 Nguyen Luong
Bang, D7 Tel: 5416 0378
Celebrity hairstylist Sunji Matsuo’s Singapore-based hair salon has a variety of
hair services including scalp treatments,
rebonding and hair extensions.
The Salon
21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1
Tel: 3822 9660
65 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3821 6394
Reliable haircuts from well-trained stylists
at this local salon with multiple locations.
A haircut starts at US $28 for women
and US $22 for men.
Venus
41 Nguyen Trung Ngan, D1
Tel: 3829 6298
French Vietnamese stylist Sandrine
Nguyen trained with worldwide academics Toni & Guy and Vidal Sassoon. With
more than eight years experience, she
offers haircuts for men from US$10 and
US$20 for women. Special services are
colouring and highlights.
YKC Beauty & Hair Studio
219 Dien Bien Phu, D3
Tel: 3829 2791/3827 5194
www.ykcspa.com
Popular amongst the expat community, the salon is run by Toronto trained
mother and son duo of Cindy (owner)
and Ky The Guy (hair stylist). Offers a full
range of spa and hair services and has
a second hair salon located in the Park
Hyatt Hotel.
YKC Esthetics & Hair Spa
219 Dien Bien Phu, D3
Tel: 3829 2791
An excellent salon with a following of
expat regulars. A Toronto-trained motherand-son team manage YKC’s staff and
offer the full range of services from
facials, body therapy, waxing, nails to
cut, color and highlights.
MEDICAL
Australian Clinic & Pathology
Diagnostics (ACPD)
273-275 Ly Thai To, D10
Tel: 3834 9941
www.australianclinic.com.vn
Services include general outpatient
healthcare, corporate / visa healthchecks, X-ray, full laboratory and
in-house pharmacy including specialist
medical services covering cardiology,
paediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology,
orthopedic and dermatology.
CARE1 Executive Health Care Center
The Manor, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh,
Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 0757
care1_reception@vietnammedicalpractice.com
www.care1.com.vn
Sister clinic of Family Medical Practice,
CARE1 is an executive health care centre
offering comprehensive preventative-care
checkups in a modern and professional
setting. State-of-the-art technology provides fast and accurate diagnoses.
90 asialife HCMC
Family Medical Practice HCMC
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3822 7848
www.vietnammedicalpractice.com
Leading international primary healthcare
provider, with a 24-hour state-of-the-art
medical centre and highly-qualified multilingual foreign doctors. Extensive experience in worldwide medical evacuations
with car and air ambulance on standby.
Also in Hanoi and Danang.
FV Hospital
6 Nguyen Luong Bang, D7
Tel: 5411 3333
www.fvhospital.com
A foreign-owned international-standard
hospital with a mixture of French and
Vietnamese physicians. Offers quality
services, comprehensive patient care
and is particularly well regarded for
its maternity care. Full array of dental
services from examination, cleaning and
whitening to fillings, cosmetic procedures
and implants. 24-hour emergency line:
3411 3500.
International SOS
167A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3
Tel: 3829 8424
www.internationalsos.com
Globally-renowned provider of medical
assistance and international healthcare.
Specializes in offering medical transport
and evacuation both within and outside
of Vietnam for urgent medical cases.
Foreign and Vietnamese dentists. Has
multilingual staff.
Victoria Healthcare International
Clinic
79 Dien Bien Phu, D1 Tel: 3910 4545
www.victoriavn.com
Well-regarded clinic offering general examinations, and specialising in women’s
health, paediatrics, digestive diseases
and internal medicine. Offers a membership programme. Open seven days a
week. Doctors on call 24 hours.
NAILS
Nghia Beauty
20 Phan Boi Chau, D1
Tel: 3829 2688
Located next to the Ben Thanh Market,
clean efficient and friendly staff service
your hands and feet with a range of
treatments while you relax in a comfortable atmosphere.
Nail P.KH
51 Nguyen Huu Cau, D1
A well-known local place with a number
of manicure stations and an extensive
range of services. A mani-pedi with polish starts at VND40,000.
OPI
253 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3
International brand of nail care offering a
variety of treatments from standard manicures at VND50,000 to the whole host
nail services such as acrylics, powder
gell, cuticle treatments and French
polishing.
Quang Qui’s Nails
146 Le Thanh Ton, D1
242 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Locally popular spots with low prices and
good service, offering anything you could
asialife HCMC 91
possibly want for your nails.
SKINCARE
AZIAL and rendez-vous
Eden Mall, 106 Nguyen Hue, D1
Tel: 3824 3579
www.azial.com
www.naturalrdv.com
All-natural skin and body care products
free from synthetic ingredients. Made
with freshly extracted Aloe Vera gel
and enhanced with therapeutic-grade
essential oils. Found in many of the bestknown spas in Vietnam.
The Body Shop
87 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 3683
www.thebodyshop.com
Internatioanl cosmetics retailer with
strong commitment to environment
sources natural ingredients from small
communities for its line of more than 600
products.
Dermalogica
Saigon Trade Center, 37 Ton Duc
Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 0372
www.dermalogica.com
U.S. brand of cleansers popular among
skin care professionals. The line of toners, exfoliants, moisturizers and masques
are engineered by skin therapists to
be free of common irritants, and the
company is categorically opposed to
animal testing.
The Face Shop
294 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3820 2325
598B Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3
Tel: 3832 2095
94 Nguyen Trai, D5 Tel: 3923 9868
www.thefaceshop.com
Local retailer for the South Korea-based
international brand of natural body, bath
and skincare products. The company
pairs variety with value, offering hundreds
of products for different skin types. Also
has kiosks at Co.op Mart in Phu My
Hung, Diamond Plaza and Zen Plaza.
L’Apothiquaire
64A Truong Dinh, D3 Tel: 3932 5181
www.lapothiquaire.com
info@lapothiquaire.com
French-made natural products for all
types of skin. Also offers exclusive
natural Italian skin, body and hair care
from Erbario Toscano. Available at all
L’Apothiquaire outlets.
L’Occitane en Provence
New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1
French cosmetics company with a 30year history offering a range of bath and
massage oils, essential oils, body and
hand care products are especially well
known. Also has outlets in all the major
downtown shopping malls.
Sian Skincare Laser Clinic
71–77 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel:3827 6999
info@sianclinic.com
www.sianclinic.com
Skincare laser clinic offering the latest
in non-surgical esthetic treatments
including Botox, laser, acne treatments,
hair loss regrowth, hair removal, skin
rejuvenation and anti-aging treatments.
Led by Dr. Tran Ngoc Si, a leading
esthetic dermatologist from the hospital
of Dermatology of HCMC.
SPAS
Aqua Day Spa
Sheraton Saigon, 88 Dong Khoi, D1
Tel: 3827 2828
Recently revamped luxury eight-room
spa with a holistic approach to treatment,
using natural Harnn products plus hot
stone therapy and seaweed treatments.
Belissima Spa
3rd Floor Saigon Center, 65 Le Loi, D1
Tel: 3272 8682
Well known in Hanoi and now available in
Ho Chi Minh City, Belissima offers range
of facial treatments, body therapies,
and hand and foot treatments as well as
special packages such as Coffee and
Chocolate Body Toning Treatment.
92 asialife HCMC
Dragon’s Nest
186 Nguyen Van Huong, D2
Tel: 6271 2076
Exquisite interior and outdoor design in
remodeled villa. An extensive range of
pampering options are available as well
as a restaurant, hair salon, pool and
terrace bar.
healthy hair
listings
family
Glow Spa
Eden Mall, Mezzanine Level
106 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3823 8368
spa@glowsaigon.com
www.glowsaigon.com
Decorated in mandarin orange, this
urban spa boasts four single rooms, two
couples suites with private shower, and
a VIP suite, complete with a hydro bath.
Uses Italian products, Comfort Zone.
ACTIVITIES
Henni Biscoe
NTFQ2
34 Nguyen Dang Giai, D2
Tel: 0126 874 9596
henni.biscoe@gmail.com
Physical therapist from the U.K. offers
personal training and therapeutic massage, including deep tissue/sports and
pregnancy massage.
Alpha Gallery
10 Chu Manh Trinh, D1
Printmaking classes for both adults and
children run by Swiss artist Bernadette
Gruber. Six-week courses start with the
basics and swiftly move students towards
producing proofs and final prints from
copper plates they have created. Freedom of expression is encouraged and
other mediums are also explored.
Jasmine Spa
45 Ton That Thiep, D1
Tel: 3827 2737
jasminespa@hcm.vnn.vn
Friendly and efficient staff offer haircuts
and a wide range of services including
waxing, manicures, pedicures and other
beauty treatments.Skin renewal facials,
salt or rice body scrub & deep tissue
massages from US$79.
Conservatory of Music
112 Nguyen Du, D1
The established training centre for professional musicians offers private piano
and violin lessons to foreigners in the
evenings.
La Maison de L’Apothiquaire
61-63 Le Thanh Ton, D3 Tel: 3822 1218
64A Truong Dinh, D3 Tel: 3932 5181
info@lapothiquaire.com
www.lapothiquaire.com
Traditional French day spa in colonial villa
with professional therapists and state-ofthe-art treatments. Complimentary use of
swimming pool, sauna and steam bath.
Has fitness centre and organic garden
restaurant and offers gentlemen’s care.
Winner of Guide Award 2005-2009. Also
offers exclusive natural Italian skin, body
and hair care from ErbarioToscano.
NTFQ2 Spa
34 Nguyen Dang Giai, D2
Tel: 3744 6672
Therapeutic massage with a focus on
sports massage to increase circulation,
remove lactic acid build-up, restore flexibility and relieve back pain. Also offering
Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage to reduce
tension and reiki treatments.
Renaissance Riverside Spa
8-15 Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tel: 3822 0033
No-frills Vietnamese, shiatsu and aromatherapy massages from US$22 plus
a room dedicated to foot massages from
US$18 at the atrium level. Also has sizable steam and sauna rooms at the club
Spa Authentic at Thao Dien
195 Nguyen Van Huong, D2
Tel: 3744 6453
Located on the banks of the Saigon
River, offering day spa and fitness facilities with a riverside pool.
Xuan Spa
Park Hyatt, 2 Lam Son Square, D1
Tel: 3824 1234
Beautiful spa with highly rated Swedish
massage and water therapy including
the unique 60 minutes Vichy shower to
soften and smooth skin or the Indian Shirodhara with special oil for 45 minutes.
Spa packages aimed at rejuvenation,
calming, and hydrating are also available.
YKC Spa & Hair Studio
219 Dien Bien Phu, D3
Tel: 3829 2791/3827 5194
www.ykcspa.com
Frequented by expats, Canadian owner
Cindy offers a full range of spa services
including waxing, facials and hand, foot
and body treatments in a relaxed setting.
Questions for the Coiffeur
By Lloyd Morgan
Q. My stylist back in Australia always properly coloured
my grey hair. Why doesn’t
my Vietnamese stylist ever
totally disguise this tell-tale
sign of ageing?
A. To be honest, you get
what you pay for. There are
great stylists in Australia and
New Zealand because they
are thoroughly trained. The
foundation of good colouring
is the correct use of peroxides. Tell your stylist to use a
nine percent peroxide solution
to cover your grey hair. I presume your stylist is only using
six percent peroxide, which
will not do the job. On the
other hand, 12 percent may
be too strong and compromise the colour. I suggest you
go to another stylist with the
experience necessary to get
what you want.
Q. I had my curly hair
straightened. I now regret
it, as my hair is growing
out and looks crazy. What
should I do?
A. Firstly, your stylist should’ve
told you what would happen when your natural hair
grew back. I never straighten
hair unless the person is fully
aware of the problems associated with this procedure. You
can get away with wavy hair
growing back, but tight curls
look disastrous. You could
straighten your hair again but
the stress of repeatedly doing
this damages your hair. Alternatively, you could perm your
hair to hide the straight bits.
You’re between a rock and a
hard place.
Q. I hear you’re a fan of aloe
vera. Why is it good for your
hair?
A. Aloe vera is a plant consisting of many vitamins, trace
elements and amino acids.
It has many benefits, and
is used to treat intestinal
problems and skin irritations. When regularly used, it
strengthens your hair follicles.
It’s especially good for fine
hair as it gives it body. Put the
plant’s gel in a blender, then
apply it to your hair and leave
it in for an hour. Aloe vera can
be taken as a drink or rubbed
onto your skin. I drink it daily.
My recipe involves taking the
green skin off half an aloe vera
leaf, and putting the gel in
the blender with orange juice
and a tablespoon of honey. If
you have more than one drink
daily you’ll notice you don’t
feel hungry because your
body receives a large dose of
nutrients.
Lloyd Morgan runs the Lloyd
Morgan International Hair Studio at Dragon’s Nest, District
2. Contact him at 090 842
2007 or lloydskate@hotmail.
com.
Helene Kling Painting
helene_kling@yahoo.com
Offers classes in oil painting to both
children and adults for 150,000VND and
300,000VND respectively. Classes are
paced to suit each student.
Rubba Duckies Swim School
rubbaduckiesswim@hotmail.com
Parent and infant water familiarisation
classes in a group environment from
six to 48 months. Classes take place
at Somerset Apts., D1; Riverside, D2;
APSC, D2 or AI D2 and D3. Email for
schedule.
Saigon Movement
An Phu Tel: 098 702 7722
saigonmovement@gmail.com
Sports and creative movement classes for
kids 2 to 11. Classes improve children’s
total body awareness through a variety of
games and sports-based activities. Phu
My Hung schedule starts in September.
Saigon Pony Club
Lane 42, Le Van Thinh, D2
Tel: 0913 733 360
Close to X-rock climbing centre, kids
from three and upwards can ride one
of the stable’s 16 ponies. Lessons with
foriegn teachers last 45 minutes and cost
350,000VND for kids from age six.
SaigonSports Academy
An Phu and Phu My Hung
Tel: 0862 819 790
info@saigonsportsacademy.com
Sports academy founded by Pro tennis
coach currently offering tennis, football,
basketball and swimming training to kids
4 to 18. Professional coaches integrate
international concepts and systems to
draw out athletes’ natural abilities. Also
operates a youth football league.
The Performing Arts Academy
19A Ngo Quang Huy, D2
Tel: 090 339 0675
info@paa.com.vn
www.paa.com.vn
Enrolling aspiring learners 6 and up for
instruction in guitar, singing, piano, flute,
clarinet, saxophone and drums. ABRSM
qualified. Group dance and drama
session also available. Offering Tiny Tots
music enrichment & dance program for
ages 3-5.
Tae Kwondo
BP Compound, 720 Thao Dien, D2 and
Riverside Villa Compound, Vo Truong
Toan, D2
phucteacherkd@yahoo.com
Private and group classes are run after
school three times a week by the friendly
Mr. Phuc. Anyone over the age of five
is welcome to join in the course, which
costs US$50 for 12 classes/months with
a US$25 fee for non-members. Contact
Mr. Phuc directly on 0903 918149.
BABY EQUIPMENT
Baby
66B Cach Mang Thang Tam, D10
A large store stocking a good range of
baby needs, including toys, buggies, cots
and bottles. Prices are reasonable.
Babyland
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
Quality products including car seats,
buggies, prams and travel cots and a
good selection of baby toys. Carries
Avent bottles and sterilizer sets, and a
small range of educational books. Prices
are higher than the other places, but so
is the quality.
Me & Be
230 Vo Thi Sau, D3
40 Ton That Tung, D1
141D Phan Dang Luu, Phu Nhuan
246 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3
101-103 Khanh Hoi, D4
287A Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan
The closest thing to Mothercare the city
has to offer. Stocks a substantial range
of apparel for babies including bottles
and sterilizers, cots (including travel cots),
clothing, toys, safety equipment and
more, all at reasonable prices.
Me Oi
1B Ton That Tung, D1
A small shop adjacent to the maternity
hospital bursting at the seams with everything you need for your baby. Clothing,
footwear, bottles, nappies, nappy bags
and toys all at reasonable prices.
New Parent Street
Nguyen Thong Street, D3 between
Ly Chinh Thang and Ky Dong Street.
An interesting array of baby formula and
hard liquor. A one stop shopping cluster
for first time parents.
EDUCATION
ABC International School
2,1E street, KDC Trung Son, Binh Hung,
Binh Chanh Tel: 5431 1833
abcintschoolss@vnn.vn
www.theabcis.com
UK standards-based curriculum awards
diploma with IGCSE’s & A Levels certified
by Cambridge Universit examinations
board. From playgroup to pre-university
matriculation. Served by 80+ British
teachers. Good facilities and extra-curricular activities.
ACG International School
East West Highway, An Phu, D2
Tel: 3747 1234
www.acgedu.com
Part of the Academic Colleges Group’s
international network of schools, ACG
offers comprehensive education from
kindergarten to senior high school and a
range of extracurricular activities. International curricula (IB PYP and Cambridge
International Examinations).
The Australian International School
Saigon
Cherry Blossom 1 & Lotus 1, APSC
Compound, 36 Thao Dien, D2
Tel: 3744 6960
enrolment@aisvietnam.com
www.aisvietnam.com
An international curricula and PYP/MYP
candidate school. Senior students follow
IGCSE and Cambridge A levels. Only
school in Vietnam authorized to deliver
University of New South Wales Foundation Studies grade 12 curriculum. Wellresourced classrooms, highly trained and
experienced expatriate teachers, outfitted
for academic, sport, creative activities.
British International School
An Phu Secondary Campus
246 Nguyen Van Huong, D2
Tel: 3744 2335
www.bisvietnam.com
asialife HCMC 93
With campuses all over the city and expansion underway, BIS offers a mixture of
both English and International curriculabased education alongside excellent
facilities and extra-curricular activities.
Senior students follow the IGCSE and IB
programmes.
Canadian International School
SC 39, Panorama Building, Nguyen Duc
Canh, Phu My Hung, D7
Tel: 5412 1549
www.cis.edu.vn
cis@cis.edu.vn
The first Canadian international school in
Vietnam offers classes from kindergarten
to grade 9 for local and foreign students.
Teaches core Ontario curriculum and
awards Ontario Secondary School
Diploma (OSSD), recognised by universities worldwide. Vietnamese programme
taught by local teachers.
International School HCMC
28 Vo Truong Toan, D2
Tel: 3898 9100
www.ishcmc.com
One of 136 schools around the world to
be accredited as an IB World School. Offers all three of the IB programmes from
primary through to grade 12. The school
is fully accredited by CIS and NEASC
and has a strong focus on community
spirit and fosters an awareness of other
languages and cultures.
International School Saigon Pearl
(ISSP)
92 Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Ward 22,
Binh Thanh District, HCMC
Tel: 2220 1788/89
www.issp.edu.vn
Located five minutes from District 1, ISSP
offers an American-curriculum taught
by certified North American teachers for
nursery to grade 4 (grade 5 to be added
in 2011). All passport holders, including
Vietnamese, are welcome. Includes Mandarin, golf, home languages and an active
extra-curricular programme.
Montessori International School
42/1 Ngo Quang Huy, D2
Tel: 3744 2639
www.montessori.edu.vn
Montessori utilises an internationally
recognised educational method which
focuses on fostering the child’s natural
desire to learn. The aim is to create an
encouraging environment conducive to
learning by developing a sense of self and
individuality. A wide array of curriculum/
extra-curricular activities are on offer
including Bilingual programs.
Renaissance International School
74 Nguyen Thi Thap, D7
Tel: 3773 3171
www.rissaigon.edu.vn
IB World school, one of Vietnam’s
international schools operating within the
framework of the British system. RISS
provide a high quality English medium
education in a stimulating, challenging
and supportive environment. The purpose
built, modern campus has excellent
facilities.
RMIT
702 Nguyen Van Linh, D7
Tel: 3776 1369
Australian university located in District 7,
offers a highly regarded MBA and undergraduate courses in various fields.
Saigon Kids Centre
104A Tran Quoc Toan, D3
Tel: 3932 5579
saigonkidscentre@yahoo.com
An international childcare centre for
children aged between two and six years
old. Offers a homely and warm environment for children to play and learn.
Saigon South International School
Nguyen Van Linh Parkway, D7
Tel: 5413 0901
www.ssis.edu.vn
An International school environment offering an American/international program
in a large, spacious campus, to children
from age 3 to grade 12. Great facilities,
extra-curricular activities and internation-
94 asialife HCMC
ally trained teachers giving an unique
opportunities to learn.
Saigon Star International School
172 Nguyen Van Thu, D1
Tel: 3822 0341
www.saigonstarschool.edu.vn
Offers a British primary curriculum approved by Cambridge University and integrated Montessori programme for nursery
and kindergarten. Qualified, experienced
teachers and small class sizes cater to
individual needs and abilities.
Singapore International School (SIS)
No.29, Road No.3, Trung Son Residential Area, Hamlet 4, Binh Hung Ward,
Binh Chanh District
Tel: 5431 7477
www.kinderworld.net
Students play and learn in an environment where the best of Western and
Eastern cultures amalgamate to prepare
KinderWorld’s students for today’s
challenging world drawn from both the
Singapore and Australian curriculum. The
school offers International Certifications
such as the iPSLE, IGCSE and GAC.
Smartkids
1172 Thao Dien Compound, Thao Dien
Ward, D2 Tel: 3744 6076
www.smartkidsinfo.com
International child care center offers day
care and pre-school to children from
eighteen months to six years old. Fun and
friendly environment focuses on learning
through play.
Stamford Grammar
214 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3
Tel: 3930 7343
4Bis Phung Khac Khoan, D1
Tel: 3822 3339
www.stamfordgrammar.com
enquiry@stamfordgrammar.com
International kindergarten following a
Singapore curriculum for children from
18 months to 6 years of age. Taught by
Vietnamese and native English-speaking
teachers. Outdoor play areas, swimming
pool, music and art & craft rooms where
students can play and learn in a safe
environment.
ENTERTAINMENT
Diamond Plaza
34 Le Duan, D1
The top floor arcade and bowling alley is
bound to keep your little ones entertained
for hours with an impressive array of
video games. Some child-friendly dining
options too, with Pizza Hut on hand,
a KFC and a New Zealand Natural ice
cream concession.
Gymboree Play & Music
Somerset Chancellor Court
21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1
Tel: 3827 7008
www.gymboreeclasses.com.vn
The Gymboree Play & Music offers
children from newborn to 5 years old the
opportunity to explore, learn and play in
an innovative parent-child programmes.
Parkson Plaza
39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Arcade game after arcade game line the
top floor here with a bowling alley and a
decent food court thrown in on the floor
below. A good place to take the kids after
trawling through Parkson’s numerous
concession stands.
PARTIES
A2
196 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3
Well-known toy shop that also does a
substantial line in fancy dress costumes
and partywear. Also has a concession at
An Phu Supermarket.
Beatrice’s Party Shop
235 Le Thanh Ton, D1
A lovely little shop selling everything you
need to throw your little ones a good
party. A catalogue of entertainers showcases a number of party favourites such
as magicians, circuses and more.
asialife HCMC 95
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BUSINESS GROUPS
AmCham
New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1
Business Centre, Room 323
Tel: 3824 3562
www.amchamvietnam.com
Dear WKC:
96 asialife HCMC
AusCham
TV Building, Suite 1A, 31A Nguyen Dinh
Chieu, D1 Tel: 3911 0272 / 73 / 74
www.auschamvn.org
Clash of the Kiddies
Dear Auntie Em: Our best
friends have two children
who do NOT get along with
our 5-year-old son. He is
somewhat shy and enjoys his
own company, doing puzzles,
reading or playing computer
games. The two girls (ages
4 and 6) are very outgoing
and fun-loving. The adults get
along like a house on fire, but
whenever we plan joint travel
or an outing, our son asks,
“Can’t I just stay with my own
friends?” We are planning a
trip this coming school holiday.
Any ideas on how we can all
enjoy it?
- When Kids Clash
1172 Thao Dien Compound, District 2, HCMC (Thao Dien)
26 Street 10, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, HCMC (Riverside/ ISHCMC area)
Tel: +84 (0) 8 3744 6076 or 0903 957 316 (Ms. Yoko)
Email: enquiry@smartkidsinfo.com
Web: www.smartkidsinfo.com
listings
We often expect our kids will
get along with our friends’ kids,
but it doesn’t always work out
that way. In your case, two
very outgoing girls with one
introspective boy is a mix that
doesn’t match. Some suggestions:
Don't force it. Don’t insist
that the kids play together.
During the early school-age
years, children are beginning
to become more discriminating about their friends, tending
to choose buddies who have
similar temperaments and
interests, and they may show
a preference for peers of the
same gender. It’s important to
respect and acknowledge your
children’s choices regarding
playmates.
Be honest. Talk honestly
with your friends. I am sure
they are just as aware of the
situation as you are. Say
something like, “My son is
at the age where I shouldn’t
choose his friends. So it’s a
little awkward when we all get
together because, let’s face it,
my son loves basketball and
your girls like to dress up.” If
your friends are good friends,
they’ll understand and will appreciate your honesty.
Find what works for you.
Plan your trip to include
enough “alone” time for the
children to do things they enjoy, but also let them know that
there will be some “together”
time. Parents can also take
the long view, recognizing that
there are important lessons
in such experiences for kids
to learn. It’s a fact of life that
you’re not going to become
great pals with everyone you
meet—but with support,
kids can learn to treat people
they’re not that keen on with
respect and kindness.
Try an activity that adults
and children can play together—a round of Pictionary or a
badminton match. Bring along
an activity to share with the
other children. For example,
you might bring ingredients
for the children to make a nice
dessert together, costumes
for them to prepare their own
little show or treasure hunting
games that allow them all to
complete the task in their own
time.
Combine these with time for
the children to do their own
thing, which gives the adults
a chance to socialize. It’s your
vacation, too!
Email your questions about
childhood development to
auntie-em@asialifehcmc.
com.
British Business Group of Vietnam
25 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3829 8430
execmgr@bbgv.org
www.bbgv.org
CanCham
New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1
Business Centre, Room 305
Tel: 3824 3754
www.canchamvietnam.org
Eurocham
257 Hoang Van Thu, Tan Binh
Tel: 3845 5528
www.eurochamvn.org
German Business Group
21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1
www.gba-vietnam.org
Singapore Business Group
Unit 1B2, 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai,
D1 Tel: 3823 3046
www.sbghcmc.org
Hong Kong Business Association
New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1
Business Centre, Room 322
Tel: 3824 3757 / 3822 8888
www.hkbav.com
NordCham
Bitexco Building, 19-25 Nguyen Hue,
D1 Tel: 3821 5423
www.nordcham.com
CAMERAS
Hung Hai
75 Huynh Thuc Khang, D1
A good place to purchase hard-to-find
gear and some rare equipment, mainly
auto focus lenses.
Le Duc
5B Huynh Tinh Cua, D3
A shop for all your professional accessory needs. From lighting equipment to
tripods and reflectors, the shop offers the
best equipment and service in HCM City.
Pham The
11 Le Cong Kieu, D1
An authorized service center for Nikon
camera that also specialises in repairing
all camera makes. Measurement equipment and spare parts also available.
Shop 46
46 Nguyen Hue, D1
Small shop run by photographer and
collector. The owner’s more collectible
pieces are pricey, but entry-level manual
focus SLRs from the 70s and 80s are
affordable.
COMPUTERS
Computer Street
Luong Huu Khanh, D1 between Nguyen
Thi Minh Khai and Nguyen Trai
This stretch of District 1 is literally wall to
wall with small shops selling computers,
printers, monitors and everything computer related, more so toward the NTMK
end of the drag.
iCenter
142A Vo Thi Sau, D3
Tel: 3820 3918
Professional, polished Apple retailer and
repair centre with an attractive showroom
featuring some of the latest in accessories and audio. English-speakers on staff.
Honours Apple service plans.
Future World
240 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3
Authorized reseller of Apple computers
and products, as well as some off-brand
items like headphones. Excellent service
and English-speaking staff. Accepts
credit cards.
Phong Vu Computer
264C Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1
Tel: 3933 0762
www.vitinhphongvu.com
The biggest and busiest of the PC
stores in town. Known for good, efficient
service, in-house maintenance and aftersales repair on the second floor.
SYS Vi Tinh Saigon
96C Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1
www.vtsaigon.com
A superb place with an excellent reputation for after-sales service with competent
English speaking staff and a wide range
of products and services. Freeware and
shareware also available on the store
website.
CONSULTING
Concetti
33 Dinh Tien Hoang, D1 Tel: 3911 1480
www.concetti-vn.com
Consulting and research company for
technology transfer and investment.
Ernst & Young
Saigon Riverside Office Center, 2A-4A
Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3824 5252
www.ey.com
Professional service firm specializing in
advisory, assurance, tax, transactions
and strategic growth markets.
Flamingo Corporate Services
Indochina Park Tower, Room 606,
4 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1
Tel: 2217 1662
www.flamingovn.com
Provide optimised immigration solutions
and services such as visas, work permits,
resident permits, police clearances,
authentication, certification and apostille
in Vietnam and worldwide.
Grant Thornton
Saigon Trade Centre, 37 Ton Duc
Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 9100
www.gt.com.vn
International business advisors specializing in auditing, management consulting,
corporate finance, risk management and
information technology.
IF Consulting
IBC Building, 3rd Floor
1A Me Linh Square, D1
4th Floor, 5 Ba Trieu
Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Tel: 3827 7362
Fax: 3827 7361
Email: pascal@insuranceinvietnam.com
Private Insurance and Finance.
Inspired Image
42/2A Ho Hao Hon, D1
Tel: 091 635 2573
www.inspiredimage.co.uk
Image consultant and personal stylist.
Previous clients include business leaders,
TV presenters and busy professionals.
Phuong Nguyen Consulting
TPC Business Center, 92-96 Nguyen
Hue, D1 Tel: 3829 2391
asialife HCMC 97
people matter
www.pnp-consulting.com
Specializing in business facilitation,
conferences, education counselling,
market-entry research and IT/business
consulting.
Rouse & Co. International
Abacus Tower, 58 Nguyen Dinh Chieu,
D1 Tel: 3823 6770
www.iprights.com
Global intellectual property firm providing
a full range of IP services including patent
and trade mark agency services.
Star Management Limited
92-96 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3897 2765
www.starlimited.com
Business advisory services for companies investing in Vietnam, business/
project advancement and a range of
business development services.
Towers Watson Vietnam (formerly
Watson Wyatt and SMART HR)
Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue, Suite
808, D1
Tel: 3821 9488
Global HR consulting firm specializing in
executive compensation, talent management, employee rewards and surveys,
HR effectiveness and technology, data
services and total rewards surveys.
Recruitment Absurdities
By Gary Woollacott
I have seen thousands of CVs
over the years - most of them
dull and forgettable. Yet occasionally a CV comes along
that brings a bemused smile
to my face.
Some candidates think it’s
important to provide pointless
personal information such as
the names of their parents
and other relatives, their
weight, state of health, and
their blood group. Others,
often unwittingly, make hilarious statements. People have
proudly noted their hobbies
include sleeping, eating,
fasting, drinking alcohol and
even “petting.” One woman
talked up being a member of
a frequent flier programme.
On the other hand, some
companies make ridiculous
demands when it comes to
recruiting staff. One client
insisted its new chief financial
officer (CFO) must have been
born in 1963. A superstitious
chief executive officer (CEO)
had consulted his Feng Shui
master, who determined only
people born in 1963 were
going to be suitable for the
role. While we initially tried to
fulfill his request, we struggled
immensely and eventually told
him it was one of the most
absurd requests we had ever
received. He wasn’t pleased
to hear that and started calling around other headhunters,
who all told him the same
98 asialife HCMC
thing. We eventually managed to persuade the CEO
to see sense and relent. We
then continued the search—to
find the best CFO, and not
someone who matched an
illogical profile.
Another problem is when
a manager wants to recruit
someone to suit his or her
personal needs instead of
those of the company. We
encountered this when a general manager (GM) rejected
every candidate for spurious
reasons: too old or young,
hair too short or long (you
get the idea). It was clear the
GM wanted someone to carry
out her will rather than do
the right thing by the client, a
multinational corporation. We
notified the regional office and
the GM was quickly overruled. They hired an excellent
candidate, who stood up to
the GM and within six months
she was no longer working for
them—a good result for transparency and for our client.
As usual, let me know if
you wish me to cover any
particular topic.
Gary Woollacott is the Chief
Representative for Opus executive search in Vietnam and
Thailand. He can be reached
at +84 8 3827 8209 or via
gary@opusasia.net. Opus is
an associate of Horton International.
DECOR
Located upstairs from Saigon Kitsch,
this art gallery deals in Vietnamese propaganda posters, apparel, accessories
and random paraphernalia. Large prints
are sold at US$60 each and small prints
cost US$25.
Minh Boutique
15 Nguyen Thiep, D1
Lacquerware pieces, tea boxes, teapot
warmers, ice buckets and sake drinking
sets all handmade in Vietnam. Also sells
a range of silverware, egg holders and
ice tongs.
OUT-2 STUDIO
L6 Fafilm annex
6 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3825 6056
STUDIO@OUT-2.com
www.out-2.com
Studio space for independent designers
to showcas their wares, sell their work
and meet with clients. Open Monday t
Saturday 10am to 6pm.
Phuong Mai
213C Dong Khoi
www.phuongmai-gallery.com
Gallery specialising in original oils by
Vietnamese artists. The works here are a
mish-mash of styles but do contain some
standouts, particularly well-known local
artists La Hon, Quy Tam and Pham Trinh.
Antique Street
Le Cong Kieu Street, D1 between
Nguyen Thai Binh and Pho Duc Chinh
A Variety of antiquesand faux antiques
from Thailand, China and Vietnam
including silverware, compasses, lighters,
brass knockers, urns, vases, abacuses,
religious and pagan statues, candlestick
holders, furniture and watches.
Sapa
125 Ho Tung Mau, D1
Offers a better selection of hill tribe
handicrafts than most of its rivals.
Concentrates mainly on the hand-woven
clothing of the indigenous tribespeople of
the region. There is also a line in ladies’
shoes and the standard range of silk
wraps and bags.
Anupa Boutique
84 Pho Duc Chinh, D1 Tel: 3915 1473
Retails in unique and affordable range of
consol and coffee tables, trays, mirrors
and lamps in a range of different textures
such as leather resin, bamboo and
walnut.
Son & Then Photogallery
94 Mac Dinh Chi, D1
Adorning the walls of this gallery-cumcafé are a number of photographs by
local photographers mostly focusing
on tasteful female nudes. Smaller prints
start at US$20 while larger works can
reach US$500. Framing, consulting and
delivery services are also available.
Asian Fish
34 Mac Thi Buoi, D1
Boutique-style arts and crafts store selling locally made gifts and souvenirs, all
designed by the Japanese owner. Products include clothing, bags, crockery,
sandals, chopsticks and jewellery.
Aquarium Street
Nguyen Thong Street, D3 between Vo
Thi Sau and Ly Chinh Thang
Dedicated street has everything one
needs to display fish: tanks, decor, feed,
filters and the fish themselves.
Budget Housewares Street
Corner of Pasteur and Nguyen Dinh
Chieu
Stock up on shower heads, kitchen
supplies (juicer, spatula, grater, etc.),
coat racks, clothes hangers, pots, pans,
champagne flutes, bowls, coolers, trash
bins, ironing boards, magazine racks and
the like.
Chau Loan
213 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3825 7991
Gallery based in a colonial shophouse
stocking mainly Vietnamese-themed oil
paintings and images of Buddha. Also
deals in better-known reproductions.
Decosy
112 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 6281 9917
Producer of a large selection of European
styled furniture and interior fittings,
specializing in wrought iron and patine
(distressed) wood finishes. Also stocks a
wide- range of decorative accessories,
crockery and fixtures. Custom design
services available upon request.
Dogma
175 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3836 0488
www.dogmavietnam.com
Vietnam-Quilts
64 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3914 2119
www.mekong-quilts.org
NGO enterprise specialises in quilts and
sells a range of appealing handmade
products created by underprivileged
women in Binh Thuan Province.
Two-storey electronics store retails in
international products conveniently
grouped by brand. Carries computers,
home audio, printers, hard drives and
more, as well as a variety of mobile
phones, handheld electronic devices
and accessories.
Savico
117 Ho Tung Mau, D1 Tel: 3821 7993
One-stop electronics and home appliance superstore. All products have a
one to three-year warranty.
Tech Street
Huyen Thuc Khang Street between
Ton That Dam and Nguyen Hue, D1
Sells compact discs, DVDs, electronic
money counters, video games and
systems, Discmans, mp3 players and
portable DVD players.
FURNITURE
Appeal
41 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3821 5258
A small, upscale shop that offers modern accents for the sleek dining room.
The colours of the over-sized vases and
fruit bowls are either glistening red or
lacquered black.
AustinHome
20 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3519 0023
Outstanding quality and style for your
home. The shop says its products are
hand-picked by an American furniture
expert from the best factories in Vietnam. Upholstery, accessories, antiques
and more.
Catherine Denoual
15C Thi Sach, D1 Tel: 3823 9394
Beautiful showroom with clean lines and
a sumptuous array of bedroom products
including bedside lamps, linens, pillowcases and duvet covers.
Decosy
112 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 6281 9917
Producer of a large selection of European styled furniture and interior fittings,
specializing in wrought iron and patine
(distressed) wood finishes. Also stocks a
wide- range of decorative accessories,
crockery and fixtures. Custom design
services available upon request.
El Gallery
23 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3824 8306
Traditional decor with a modern twist.
Offers a variety of mid- to high-range
furniture, rugs, lighting, art and accessories from around the world, plus interior
design services. Also imports furniture
to Vietnam for export to Europe and the
United States.
Esthetic
2B Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: 3910
1996/7
Design and manufacture as order with a
mixture of antique and modern furniture.
Friendly staff speak excellent English.
Furniture Outlet
3A Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tel: 2243 7955/3911 0104
Wide selection of well-crafted and
carefully constructed pine wood pieces
at good prices, aimed at customers
craving a taste of Europe.
Furniture Street
Ngo Gia Tu, D10 between Ly Thai To
and Nguyen Chi Thanh
Very affordable furniture can be found
on this stretch: couches, mattresses,
desks, chairs, etc. It often takes some
looking to find a gem. A connected
sidestreet, Ba Hat, features woodworkers’ shops.
Gaya
1 Nguyen Van Trang, D1 Tel: 3925
1495
www.gayavietnam.com
Four-floor store featuring the work of foreign designers: home accessories and
outdoor furniture by Lawson Johnston,
linens by Corinne Leveilley-Dadda,
furniture and lighting by Quasar Khanh,
laquerware decor by Michele De Albert
and furniture and decor by vivekkevin.
Linh’s White
37 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 6281 9863
Furniture shop that focuses on solid
wood furniture and decorative items
ranging from pillows and lamps to
bedding. Also offers kids’ furniture and
custom pieces.
Mantra
84 Pho Duc Chinh, D1
Tel: 3915 1473
www.mantravietnam.com
Tables, photo frames, trays, stools are
just some of the elegant vivekkevin
items you will find at Mantra. If you’re
looking for items that use Vietnamese
materials but have a modern contemporary feel, Mantra is it. New items
received daily.
Quasar Khanh Aluminium Cast
Furniture, Gaya
ELECTRONICS
Hi End Audio
84 Ho Tung Mau, D1
A standout that stocks the very latest
and greatest in home entertainment.
Retails in everything from giant plasmascreen TVs to audio equipment. Most
top brands are available.
iDEAS Shopping Centre
133-141AB Cach Mang Thang Tam, D3
The largest of the electonics stores
along the street, the three-storey iDEAS
sells every type of electronic and home
appliance imaginable. Offers proper warranties. Staff speaks some English.
Nguyen Kim Shopping Centre
63-65 Tran Hung Dao, D1
Tel: 3821 1211
www.nguyenkim.com
Stocks DVD/CD players, cameras,
TVs, hi-fis and more from Sony, Sanyo,
Panasonic, Philips and other major
manufacturers. Also a good place to pick
up electronic kitchen supplies like coffee
makers and rice cookers, as well as large
and small appliances, from hot water
heaters to regrigerators.
Phong Vu
125 Cach Mang Thang Tam, D1
Tel: 6290 8777
www.vitinphongvu.com
– Established since 2001
– Design, Interior/External Decorations of High Quality Wood Products – Manufacturing for Export, Construction Projects, Retails,...
– Copy-Antique Productions, Modern Designs and Made to order
– More than 10 years experience – Devoted premium services/after sales services, every time, every where
2B Ngo Van Nam, Dist.1, HCMC (Near the Mandarine restaurant)
Tel: (84 8) 3910 1996 / 97 – Fax: (84 8) 3910 1995
Hot line: Ms. Tran Nhat Thu - Director. Mobile: 0903 849 232
Website: www.estheticfurnishing.com.vn – Email: esthetic@vnn.vn
asialife HCMC 99
Mekong Merchant Boutique
23 Thao Dien, D2
Tel: 3744 4713
Small rustic boutique attached to the
popular restaurant sells hybrid furniture,
accessories, candles and handicrafts.
Also hosts sem-regular bazaars in support of the Indochina Media Memorial
Foundation.
Rare Decor
41 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3822 2284
137/1 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh
Tel: 3840 6304/5
Leading home furnishings company in
Vietnam, supplying high quality, unique
products. Also offer custom made
furniture, accessories and lighting for
commercial projects and home use.
Remix Deco
222 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3
Tel: 3930 4190
www.remixdeco.com
Boutique furniture store in sprawling
white with modern furniture including
sofas, tables and seating from around
the world. Featured designers include
Le Corbusier, Ray & Charles Eames,
Philippe Starck and Ludwig Mies Van
der Rhode.
Shop 63
63 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 3898 2821
Large, serene antique shop specializing
in furniture in French colonial, Asian and
art deco styles, as well as lamps, vases
and other home décor from around the
world. Also carries small collection of
original paintings, fashion and jewellery.
The Furniture Warehouse
3B Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tel: 6657 0788
namtran121@yahoo.com, ttpnam@
webtnl.com
Offers a range of reasonably priced
Italian, European and French colonial
sofas, indoor/outdoor wooden furniture,
lighting and interior décor, as well as
custom designs based on clients’
specifications. All at international quality
export.
The Lost Art
31 Nguyen Cong Tru, D1
Tel: 3829 0134
Extensive product range as well as
comprehensive interior design service,
from initial conceptualization to design,
manufacture and installation of unique
products.
Houses & Villas
For rent in Dist.2, HCM: An Phu,
Thao Dien, & Tran Nao
Save time:
See all pictures
& details online.
Updated daily.
www.snap.com.vn
100 asialife HCMC
The Sixty Three
63 Xuan Thuy Ward, Thao DIen, D2
Tel: 0938 485 211
www.let-us-do.com
New show room concept store of architectural and interior design collective
‘Let Us Do’. Specialises in unique and
original furnitures, interior decoration, lamps and women’s fashion and
jewellery.
Thien An Furniture
90A Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1
Tel: 3910 5650
A range of beautiful furniture with a
distinct traditional flavor from colourful
silk lampshades, wooden carved beds,
screens, chests and more.
LEGAL
Allens Arthur Robinson
Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3822 1717
www.vietnamlaws.com
Australian law firm for law translation
services and legal advice on foreign
investment and business in Vietnam.
Baker & McKenzie
Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3829 5585
www.bakernet.com
International law firm providing on-the-
ground liaison and support services
to clients interested in investigating,
negotiating and implementing projects
in Vietnam.
Frasers International
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
Tel: 3824 2733
www.frasersvn.com
Full service commercial law firm providing international and Vietnamese legal
advice to both foreign and local clients
specializing in transactions in Vietnam.
Indochine Counsel
Han Nam Building, 65 Nguyen Du, D1
Tel: 3823 9640
www.indochinecounsel.com
Business law practitioners specializing
in mergers & acquistions, inward investment, and securities & capital markets.
Limcharoen, Hughes and Glanville
Havana Tower, 132 Ham Nghi, D1
Tel: 6291 7000
www.limcharoen.com
Full service international law firm with
head office in Thailand. Main focus on
real estate in Asia.
Lucy Wayne & Associates
17 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3824 4395
www.lwavietnam.com
Law firm providing legal services across
the board from entertainment and
environmental law to health care and
real estate.
Phillips Fox
Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3822 1717
Full service law firm providing legal
services in healthcare, education, crime,
banking and hospitality among others.
Pricewaterhousecoopers Legal
Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1
Tel: 3823 0796
www.pwc.com/vn
Part of a network of international legal
and financial advisors, PWC gives both
specialist and general legal advice with
a focus on mutli-territory projects.
Rödl & Partner
Somerset Chancellor Court
21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1
Tel: 3824 4225
www.roedl.com
European legal firm assisting foreign
investors with structuring/establishing
companies, investment projects, and
mergers & acquistions.
LIGHTING
Caodong Design Boutique
37bis Mac Dinh Chi, D1
207L Vo Thi Sau, D3
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
Spanking new store with a range of
beautiful items ranging from interesting
lighting with decorative table lamps with
hand-painted paper shades and some
lovely leather boxes and gift ideas.
Light House
92 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1
Tel: 3914 2662
Small retail shop is packed with ceiling
and wall light fixtures, and a good
selection of desk and ceiling lamps.
Most of the stock is decidedlly modern
and sleak.
Luxury Light
1483 My Toan 1, Nguyen Van Linh,
Phu My Hung, D7
For those who really want to bring a
touch of luxury to their homes, this
place deals with Italian imported lighting
from the ultra - modern to the traditional
Murano style chandeliers. Extremely
expensive reflecting the quality of the
design and workmanship.
Mosaique
98 Mac Thi Buoi, D1
One of the best and most diverse selections of lamps in town with everything
from the ordinary decorative lotus silk
lamp to more inventive and original
designs in lacquer and silk.
Treasure Light
18A Bis Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1
Tel: 3822 4315
www.treasure-light.com
High-end lighting shop specialising
in fine lacquered lamps. Designs are
sophisticated and minimilast. Wide
selection of table lamps, wall lamps, floor
lamps and ceiling lamps.
MOTORBIKES
Automotive Street
Ly Thai To Street, D10 starting at Dien
Bien Phu and running southeast
Services include mending motorbike
seats and sound system installation.
Products range from zebra print motorbike seat covers to car and motorbike
tyres, hubcaps, rims, subwoofers and
sound systems by Xplode.
Bike City
480D Nguyen Thi Thap, D7
Luxury motorcycle shop carries a range
of accessories, including apparel. Sells
Vemar helmets, a brand that passes
rigorous European Union standards.
Protec Helmets
18bis/3A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1
248C Phan Dinh Phung, Phu Nhuan
417B Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3
American nonprofit manufacturer makes
helmets with densely compressed polystyrene shell with ABS, PVC or fiberglass
exterior, available with polycarbonate
shatter-proof shield. Lots of options for
kids.
Zeus Helmets
Founded in Taiwan to manufacture cool,
comfortable helmets that meet worldwide safety standards. Basic models feature thermo-injected shells constructed
from lightweight ABS composite with
interiors lined with moisture-absorbant
brushed nylon. Shops selling authentic
Zeus helmets are located on Pham Hong
Thai near Ben Thanh Market.
REAL ESTATE
www.chamberproperty.com
Chamber Property Consultancy has
more than 100 houses and flats available
for rent in HCMC. Contact them today
for more information.
Tel: 3744 4111
www.riverside-apartments.com
One of the first luxury serviced apartments in town located next to the Saigon
River set in lush tropical gardens.
Diamond Plaza
34 Le Duan Street
Tel: 3822 1922
lntdung@diamondplaza.com.vn
Located in the heart of District 1, connected to Diamond PLaza. Services
1- to 4-bedroom apartments with gym,
swimming pool and panoramic views
of the city
Saigon Village
523 To Hien Thanh, D10
Tel: 3865 7249
www.saigonvillage.vnn.vn
Fully furnished villas and apartments in
a tranquil, leafy complex cordonned off
from the pressures of Ho Chi Minh City.
InterContinental Asiana Saigon
Residences
Corner of Hai Ba Trung & Nguyen Du,
D1 Tel: 3520 8888
saigon@interconti.com
www.intercontinental.com/saigonres
Contemporary residential space in the
heart of the major business and cultural
area in District 1. There are 260 one,
two or three-bedroom units plus health
club and outdoor swimming pool.
Sherwood Residence
127 Pasteur St., D3
Tel: 3823 2288
Fax: 3823 9880
Hotline: 0917470058
leasing@sherwoodresidence.com
www.sherwoodresidencecom
Sherwood Residence is a luxury serviced
apartment property and the first property certified by the Vietnam National
Administration of Tourism. Modern living
spaces meet prime location, comfort and
class with 5-star facilities and service.
Snap
Tel: 0989 816 676
www.snap.com.vn
Online Real Estate service providing information on rental properties exclusively
in district two. Full listings online.
RECRUITMENT
First Alliances
#609, Saigon Trade Center
37 Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tel: 3910 2080 Fax: 3910 2079
www.firstalliances.net
Namhouse Corporation
24 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien, D2
Tel: 0989 007 700, 0989 115 511
www.namhouse.com.vn
Provides rental properties, construction services and interior decorating.
Supports professional services and
after-sales.
The Nest
Tel: 090 319 8901 (Laurence)
Tel: 090 793 3000 (Thuong)
laurence@thenest-vietnam.com
thuong@thenest-vietnam.com
www.thenest-vietnam.com
Real estate agent maintains a well-organized and frequently updated website
listing apartments, villas, townhouses
condos and offices. Renters/buyers can
receive regular updates via email.
Nguyen Du Park Villas
111 Nguyen Du, D1
Tel: 3822 0788
www.ndparkvillas.com.vn
Boutique residence of fully-serviced,
luxury downtown apartments designed
to combine the atmosphere of a villa
with ranges in size from one-bedroom
apartments to four-bedroom duplex
units.
CB Richard Ellis
Me Linh Point Tower, 2 Ngo Duc Ke, D1
Tel: 3824 6125
www.cbre.com
International property consultants and
developers with both commercial and
private properties for sale, lease and
rent.
Platinum1
Star Building, 33 Mac Dinh Chi, D1
Tel: 3911 8193
www.platinum1corp.com
Your one-stop agency for housing and
office space in the city with pre-viewing
selection before the visit and full support
throughout your lease.
Chamber Property Consultants
Tel: 0168 349 9991
Riverside Apartments
53 Vo Truong Toan, D2
LINH‘S WHITE
PLEASANT LIVING MINIMALISM
37 THAO DIEN
(OPPOSITE AN PHU SUPERMARKET)
67 XUAN THUY - DISTRICT 2
PHONE: (84) - 62819863
- 62818488
E : linhnguyen@hbdecor.com.vn
- www.linhfurniture.com
asialife HCMC 101
cv@firstalliances.net
As Vietnam’s most established recruitment consultancy, First Alliances operates across all major industry sectors
and at all levels of seniority. Also providing HR outsourcing solutions for staffing
and payroll,overseas employment and
education services.
finance
HR2B / Talent Recruitment JSC
Thien Son Building, 5 Nguyen Gia
Thieu, D3 Tel: 3930 8800
www.hr2b.com
HR consulting advises businesses on
how to improve employee productivity.
The search team specialises in matching
senior level Vietnamese professionals
and managers to top level opportunities
in both major cities.
Mekong Emerald Talent Recruitment
68 Huynh Khuong Ninh, D1
Tel: 0938 001 509
www.mekongem.com
Offers comprehensive manpower
services including executive search and
selection, employment outsourcing and
HR management in a wide variety of
industries.
The Long and Short of it
By Paul McLardie
My mother always told me
not to sell myself short. Her
point was I shouldn't underestimate myself.
However, sometimes it
pays to short sell shares.
Generally when you buy a
stock, you're taking what's
called a long position. You
hope its price will rise so you
can sell it for a profit. But if
you take a short position,
you’re thinking the exact
opposite. You want the stock
to go down so you can profit
from the decline.
This “upside-down” version
of investing in shares—selling
stock short—involves borrowing the stock from another
investor. You're obligated to
replace those shares in the
future, but you hope to buy
them at a lower price. So
you sell the borrowed shares
now, believing the stock will
decline. If the stock's price
does fall, you buy it back at
the deflated price, return the
borrowed shares, and profit.
Here's an example. You
think BP’s stock is overpriced at £5.80 per share,
so you decide to “short it.”
On your behalf, your broker
borrows 1,000 shares of BP
from another investor and
then sells the stock, netting
you about £5,800. Let's say
you are right about it being
102 asialife HCMC
a poor investment, and the
stock falls to £2.90 per share.
Now you can buy 1,000
shares for just £2,900 and
return them to your broker.
You pocket £2,900—£5,800
minus the £2900 purchase,
less whatever the broker's
services cost. Not bad. And
you thought stocks had to
go up to make money in the
market.
Say you take a long position, and buy 1000 shares
of BP for £5.80 per share. If
the company goes bankrupt, you would lose your
original investment of £5,800.
However, imagine the stock
soars from £5.80 per share
to £15. You have to buy
back the shares, costing you
£15,000. In the end, you’ve
lost £9,200. There's no limit
on how high stock can climb
and, theoretically, on the
extent of your losses either.
Given how risky selling
stock short can be, perhaps
my mother was right all along.
Finding real value by investing
for the long term is the safest
way for normal investors to
profit from shares.
Contributed by Paul
McLardie, Partner of Total
Wealth Management. Paul.
mclardie@t-wm.com, www.twm.com
Navigos Group
130 Suong Nguyet Anh, D1
Tel: 3825 5000
www.navigosgroup.com
Recruitment agency offering a complete
portfolio of HR services including
executive search, HR advisory, training,
online recruitment, and print recruitment
advertising.
Opus Vietnam
2A Rolanno Offices, 128 Nguyen Phi
Khanh, D1 Tel: 3827 8209
www.opusasia.net
Established in HCMC in 2005, Opus services local and multinational companies
seeking to recruit high quality personnel.
An Associate of Horton International, one
of the world’s leading search groups with
over 30 offices worldwide. For more info
contact info@opusasia.net.
Smart HR
Capital Place Building, Suite 601, 6
Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3823 5828
www.smarthrvietnam.com
Human resource consultants specialising
in job search and selection, and human
resource management.
TMF Vietnam
Saigon Trade Center, Unit 2811, 37 Ton
Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 9229 / 9222
hang.bui@tmf-group.com
www.tmf-group.com
With more than 3,300 professionals
working out of 86 offices in 65 countries,
TMF provides independent accounting
and corporate secretarial services to
companies worldwide.
Vietnamworks.com
130 Suong Nguyet Anh, D1
Tel: 5404 1373
www.vietnamworks.com
Excellent section on advice for jobseekers focusing on topics such as resume
writing, cover letters, interview technique
and more.
RELOCATION AGENTS
Allied Pickfords
Satra Building, Room 202, 58 Dong
Khoi, D1 Tel: 0122 5141 848
aurelien.jouve@alliedpickfords.com.vn
http://vn.alliedpickfords.com
Moving and relocating services company specialising in business and office
moves. Overseas and specialist movers
also available.
Asian Tigers Transpo International
Room 201 and 202, 216 Nguyen Thi
Minh Khai, D3 Tel: 3930 9484
Tel: 3945 0891
matt.king@asiantigers-vietnam.com
www.asiantigersgroup.com
International moving agency, homesearch, orientation, settling in programs
and work permit assistance.
Crown Worldwide Movers
48A Huynh Man Dat, Binh Thanh
Tel: 3823 4127
www.crownrelo.com
International moving company serving
diplomats and private customers, employees and expats, providing domestic
and iternational transportation of household, office and industrial goods.
UTS Saigon Van Intl’ Relocations
HUD Buillding, Unit 1303, 159 Dien
Bien Phu, Binh Thanh Tel: 3840 3629
www.saigonvan.com
Full service relocating agency with warehousing, handyman, insurance & claim,
orientation an partner career support
services also availble.
JVK International Movers
Saigon Port Building, 3 Nguyen Tat
Thanh, D4 Tel: 3826 7655/6
chris.honour@jvkasia.com
www.jvk.com
International agengy with a full range of
services including sea/air freight services
and worldwide transit coverage.
Mekong Emerald (MEK) Relocation
68 Huynh Khuong Ninh, D1
Tel: 09800 1509
www.mekongem.com
Full range of services including pet move/
care, car rental, pre-move consultation,
cross-cultural training and visa/immigration support.
Resident Vietnam
187/9/1 Bach Dang Street, Tan Binh
Tel: 3848 8443 / 3848 8285
www.residentvietnam.com
Specialises in immigration management,
destination services and cross-cultural
training and car leasing assistance.
Santa Fe Relocation Services
Thien Son Building, 5 Nguyen Gia
Thieu, D3 Tel: 3933 0065
www.santaferelo.com
Provides a range of services including
home/school search, language/cultural
training, tenancy management and immigration/visa support.
UniGroup Worldwide UTS Vietnam
440/26A Tran Hung Dao, D5
Tel: 3836 3002
www.unigroupworldwide.com
Global mobility company offering international corporate relocations, settling-in
assistance and cross-cultural training.
STATIONARY
Custom Signage Street
Le Lai, D1 between Truong Dinh and
Nguyen Thai Hoc
Offers custom-designed signs and custom engraving on trophies and plaques
made of plastic, wood, metal and glass.
listings
fashion
ACCESSORIES
Accessorize
48 Dong Du, D1, Tel: 3822 1081
www.monsoon.co.uk/icat/accessorize
Fashion-forward accessories including
necklaces, handbags, wallets, flip-flops,
sunglasses, hair accessories, belts and
more.
Alfred Dunhill
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1
A timeless style in male luxury providing
formal and casual mens accesories
tailored for the discerning man. Also
stocking handcrafted leather goods.
Anupa Boutique
17/27 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3825 7307
anupaboutiquevietnam@anupa.net
The ever-changing boutique retails in
the elegant design of anupa accessories
made from high-quality leather. Collections available range from men, women,
executive, travel, spa, yoga, board
games, boxes and semi-precious stone
jewellery. Collection changes on weekly
basis. Also carries childrens wear, toys,
furniture and homewares.
Bally
Rex Hotel, 141 Nguyen Hue, D1
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1
www.experience.bally.com
Flagship store in the Rex Hotel providing
luxury Italian-made accessories for men.
Among these are shoes, belts, wallets
and a collection of male jewellery.
Banana
128 Ly Tu Trong, D1
Women’s accessories and more, from
bags, clutches and belts to clothes and
jewellery, all at reasonable prices.
Cartier
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan
This well-known designer brand displays
a wide range of accessories for men. Famous for its watches, Cartier also stocks
pens, key rings, belts and sunglasses.
Cincinati
177P Dong Khoi, D1
www.cincinati.vn
info@cincinati.vn
Vietnamese brand of genuine leather
bags, shoes, accessories and personal
goods for men and women such as
notebooks for a classic vagabond look.
Quality leather from crocodile, horse,
snake and fish made with excellent local
craftsmanship.
Cleo-Pearls
30 Nguyen Dang Giai, An Phu, D2
Tel: 091 3587 690
Jewellery designer Birgit Maier operates
Cleo-Pearls from her home, specializing
in necklaces, bracelets, earrings, key
holders and bag accessories. All pieces
created with gemstones, fresh water
pearls and beads.
Coconut
100 Mac Thi Buoi, D1
Bags of all shapes and sizes rule the
roost in this small shop. Made of silk
and embroidered to the brim, these
unique bags start at about US $30,
and many are suitable for both day and
night.
J. Silver
803 Nguyen Van Linh Parkway, D7
Tel: 5411 1188
Make a statement without being ostentatious with handcrafted silver jewellery
from the boutique store. Expect big,
interesting pieces that are simple yet
glamorous.
Laura V Signature
11 Dong Du, D1
Tel: 7304 4126
www.laurav.net
Vintage designs aplenty with everything
from jewellery and hair accessories to
funky styled sunglasses, umbrellas and
colourful maxi dresses.
Lovely Lien Jewellery
20 Le Loi, D1
A small and unassuming jewellery store
with beautiful and reasonably-priced
necklaces, bracelets and earrings. You
can also bring your own precious stones
or ask the designers to make something
unique for you.
Louis Vuitton
Opera View, corner of Dong Khoi and
Le Loi Tel: 3827 6318
Designer brand name housing traditional
craftsmanship of luxury leather goods for
men and women. An array of bags, wallets, cuff links and watches are available.
Mai O Mai
4C Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3829 4007
A superb little place with beautiful jewellery and accessories to suit all budgets.
Silver necklaces, bracelets, rings and
more in both classic and imaginative
designs, as well as gorgeous hand-
Creation
105 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3829 5429
A two-storey shop selling scarves,
intricate handbags (from US $30), tailormade silk dresses and tops. Has a wide
range of materials on the second floor.
Prices start from US $65 for an ao dai
with simple embroidery.
Deanh Jewellery
Eden Mall, 106 Nguyen Hue, D1
Tel: 3827 6039
Gorgeous selection of gold accessories
imported from Turkey and Italy. Also has
a selection of simple ring designs to set
your precious stones in.
Gallery vivekkevin
FAFILM Building, 6 Thai Van Lung, D1
Tel: 6291 3709
info@vivekkevin.com
www.galeryvivekkevin.com
Handcrafted pendants, necklaces, rings
and bracelets. The gallery’s focus is on
design, craftsmanship and finish, as well
as educating clients on the intricacies of
each piece.
Gucci
88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 6688
Located on the main shopping street in
HCMC, this flagship store brings Florentine fashion to an array of luxury leather
goods such as briefcases, luggage and
a selection of men’s shoes for office or
more casual occasions.
Ipa-Nima
85 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3824 3652
New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai
Well-known Hanoi-based fashion brand.
Founder Christina Yu is a former lawyer
turned designer who produces eclectic
and eye-catching handbags. Also stocks
costume jewellery and shoes.
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Fahasa
40 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3822 5796
Bookstore chain carries an expansive
stock of office and home stationary; a
one-stop shop for basic needs.
Pi-Channel
45B Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3822 0253
www.pi-channel.com
Boutique shop carries up-market collections of pens and notepads, as well as
desktop organisers, clocks, calendars
and frames. Corporate services offered.
Stationary and Printing Street
Ly Thai To Street, D3 starting at Dien
Bien Phu and running southeast
More than 25 stores providing photocopying services, from business cards to
flyers and colour prints to invitations.
112 Xuan Thuy
Ward Thao Dien
District 2
Ho Chi Minh City
Tel/Fax. (+84) 8 62.819.917
shop-hcm@decosy.biz
asialife HCMC 103
embroidered bags.
Mont Blanc
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan
Notable for fine writing instruments, Mont
Blanc also houses cuff links and other
male accessories
•Moving Services
•Orientation
•Pet Relocation
•Work Permits
HCMC: +84 8 3933 0065
HANOI: +84 4 3941 0805
sales@santaferelo.com.vn
www.santaferelo.com
Quality
Assured
Environmental
Assured
Therese Jewellery
Sheraton Hotel, 88F Dong Khoi, D1
www.theresejewelry.com
Small, glitzy retail outlet. Sells everything
from diamond earrings to gold and silver
wedding rings. Of special note is the selection of jade Buddhas in varying sizes,
with the larger ones costing US$250.
The friendly staff speak excellent English.
Volcom
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1
Chic and funky ladies’ apparel brand
from America. Lots of tank tops, minis
and shorts for day tripping with girlfriends
or lazing on the beach.
Tic Tac Watch Shop
72 Dong Khoi Tel: 0838 293519
www.tictacwatch.com
Elegant show room displaying some
of the world’s most recognized Swiss
brands such as Rolex, Tag Huer, Baume
& Marcer, Omega and Hirsch. On-site
watch repair service and complementary
watch evaluation available. Also carries a
small collection of vintage Rolexes.
2bling
246 Huynh Van Banh, Phu Nhuan
Specializes in urban streetwear, with
a range of t-shirts, sneakers, baseball
caps, hoodies and more. Tees are both
imported from around Asia and designed
in-house.
Tombo
145 Dong Khoi, D1
Of all the embroidered and sequined
bags, shoes and tidbits (or “Zakka”
shops) that can be found in Dong Khoi,
this shop’s has products that are prettier
than most. Shoes can be custom-made
and the sales staff is friendly.
Tumi
Rex Hotel, 151 Nguyen Hue
www.intl.tumi.com
Tumi houses an opulent selection of
Italian-made luggage geared towards
men. Briefcases, messenger bags and
backpacks are among those on display.
Umbrella
35 Ly Tu Trong, D1 and 4 Le Loi, D1
Tel: 6276 2730
www.umbrella-fashion.com
Sophisticated boutique showcasing
a diverse range of imported women’s
accessories. Also houses women’s garments from office wear to cocktail and
party creations.
Luggage Street
Le Lai Street, D1 between Ben Thanh
Market and Truong Dinh.
Duffle bags, backpacks, messenger
bags and carry-on suitcases are all available on this stretch of District 1.
ACTIVE WEAR
Airwaves
23 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2
One-stop surf shop selling its own brand
of surfware. Also specializes in suncare
products, ladies and mens swimwear,
surfboards, skateboards and watches.
Also with an outlet at Saigon Kitsch at 43
Ton That Thiep in District 1.
China Beach Surf Club
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1
Stocks famous surf and surf-inspired
brands like Reef, Rip Curl and men’s
wear from Volcom. It has everything
you’d need for a visit to the beach and
more. There are string bikinis, tees,
board shorts, caps and thongs, just to
name a few.
Pinko
Rex Hotel, 146-148-150 Pasteur, D1
Tel: 3827 2240
Spacious and simple store displaying
women’s sportswear imported from
Hong Kong and China. Body lotion and
perfume imported from America.
Roxy and Quiksilver
Parkson Plaza, 39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1
The original active living and extreme
sports brands, Roxy and Quiksilver
products combine form and function.
Choose from outdoor gear to cool indoor
clothes.
104 asialife HCMC
TBS Sports Centre
102 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan
This store stocks a range of good sports
clothes and equipment from big name
brands such as Puma, Adidas, Ecco,
Nike and Converse.
READY TO WEAR
unisex
BAM Skate Shop
174 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 0903 641 826
In addition to a range of decks, wheels
and trucks, this small shop is stocked
with bookbags, skate sneakers, track
jackets and t-shirts emblazoned with
your skateboard company of choice.
“ello
263 Huynh Van Banh, Phu Nhuan
Ths tiny little shop on Phu Nhuan’s hipster fashion strip is stocked with some
of the coolest trend items in HCM City.
Carries a frequently refreshed selection of
t-shirts, skinny pants and women’s tops.
FCUK
127 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
Tel: 3914 7740
www.frenchconnection.com
Trendy UK brand with a selection of
fashion-forward dresses for women and
smart workwear and funky casual wear
for men, all at middle-market prices.
Hagattini
1A Pham Ngoc Thach, D1
Tel: 2244 8105
www.hagattini.com
Vietnamese brand housing clothing for all
occasions. Normal to office wear, casual
to party outfits using materials imported
from Hong Kong and designed and
made in Vietnam.
designers), but also carries jeans, button
shirts and more.
Miss Sixty & Energie
13 Ngo Duc Ke, D1
Local outlet of the Miss Sixty brand
hugely favoured by Hollywood’s young
starlets. Also stocks clothes from its
men’s label, Energie.
Orange
238 Pasteur, D3
Funky little boutique carries unique
accessory pieces a good selection of
t-shirts with quirky, unique graphics for
very reasonable prices. A smaller outpost
is located at the corner of Pasteur and
Le Thanh Ton in District 1.
Rok Factory
382 Huynh Van Banh, Phu Nhuan
www.rokexchange.com
Small shop founded by local artist/
photographer carries streetwear for the
rock-oriented lifestyle, including t-shirts,
hoodies, socks and accessories.
See By Harajuku
130 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3
Tel: 090 986 8622
Small, friendly store stocking both men’s
and women’s streetwear, channelling
Japanese and Korean fashion trends.
Bright and funky t-shirts and maxi
dresses, as well as accessories and
footwear. New stock every month.
Versace
26 Dong Khoi
Designer brand in men’s formal wear.
Houses suit jackets and trousers, shirts
as well as an array of men’s accessories.
Also stocks womens clothing and shoes.
VOV
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
403 Huynh Van Banh, Phu Nhuan
www.vovietchung.com
Retail base for Vo Viet Chung, one of
Vietnam’s best-known designers. VOV is
known for blending traditional form with
contemporary cuts, colours and textures.
menswear
Lucas
69A Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3827 9670
Fashion store housing contemporary
designs in casual, office and evening
wear imported from Hong Kong.
Massimo Ferrari
42-A1 Tran Quoc Thao, D3
Tel: 3930 6212
Traditional Italian sartorial techniques are
employed to offer a full wardrobing service and custom tailoring for men. Carries
a line of European-quality shoes, bags
and accessories designed in-house, as
well as exclusive Orobianco unisex bags.
Mattre
19 Nguyen Trai, D1 Tel: 3925 3412
This local men’s clothes shop has some
funky tops and jeans for more fashionforward males. Apparel in sizes that fit
the typical Western man’s frame are
often available. Another store is located
on Hai Ba Trung and Ly Tu Trong
Milano
Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi
www.milanogoods.com
A conjoining shop with D&G offering a
selection of men’s shoes and accessories with a sideline in women’s clothing.
D&G provides a collection of menswear,
from casual jeans and t-shirts to uniquely
designed suit jackets.
Mizada
150 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3822 2508
mizada07@yahoo.com
An A-to-Z collection of men’s clothing
with an influx of new fashion arriving on
the racks regularly. Carries smart, casual
shirts, trousers, jeans and jackets, as
well as bags and scarves.
New Urban Male
226 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3824 4416
www.newurbanmale.com
Caters to a wide range of consumer
tastes from beach duds to streetwear.
The goods include international men’s
brands such as Havaianas, C-IN2, Jabs
Waterboys, Rebel Jeans and aussieBum.
Also carries men’s grooming products.
Timberland
Parkson Plaza, 39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Sells everything the brand is known
for, from heavy-duty boots to tops and
trousers that are both smart and casual.
The emphasis is on muted tones and
unobtrusive logos for men who don’t like
to show off.
womanswear
Balenciaga
Rex Hotel, 155 Nguyen Hue
Tel: 6291 3572
Sporting modern shapes and elegant
items crafted from natural, raw and
artificial materials.
Bebe
Saigon Center, 65 Le Loi, D1
Tel: 3914 4011
www.bebe.com
An international brand that specializes
in contemporary, modern tees and sexy,
elegant dresse, tops and party attire.
Caro
Zen Plaza, 54-56 Nguyen Trai, D1
Local designs and tailoring of elegant
tops and dresses with a distinctly Eastern influence. Provides a range of attire
for both the office and a night out. The
friendly staff is eager to help find an outfit
for any occassion.
Chloe
Rex Hotel, 155 Nguyen Hue, D1
Tel: 6291 3582
Parisian-influenced fashion house
specializes in simple, traditional designs
with a feminine and fashionable twist.
Jeans, satin dresses and a wide array of
accessories are on display.
Contraband
Parkson Plaza, 39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Ready-to-wear brand for hip, modern
women. Range includes office wear to
evening wear. The collection is updated
each month with new international
trends.
ER-Couture Boutique
43 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2411 www.
er-couture.com
erolskov@er-couture.com
Exclusive Scandinavian brand offering
designer garments. Versatile fashion for
women in European sizes 34-44. Each
style is released in limited quantities and
can be tailored to individual taste.
Esprit
58 Dong Khoi, D1
Konheo
32 Dinh Tien Hoang, Binh Thanh
Tel: 6653 4187
info@konheo.com
www.konheo.com
Founded and run by a group of local Vietnamese guys, this T-shirt store flaunts
simple-cut T-shirts with playful prints
and humorous printed texts. Also does
custom made t-shirts for VND160,000.
Levi’s Flagship Store
19–21 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3500 1501
The 320-square-metre retail space
spread over three levels offers the city’s
largest and most exclusive collection of
Levi’s bottoms, tops and accessories.
L’Usine
151/1 Dong Khoi, D1
Lifestyle store and cafe housed in a
period building restored to evoke the
aesthetic of an early 20th-century
garment factory. Carres an exclusive, frequently refreshed line of imported men’s
and women’s fashion, including t-shirts
and footwear, and a range of unique
accessories. Entrance via the street-level
Art Arcade.
Lu.Xu.Bu
320 Huynh Van Banh, Phu Nhuan
Well known among the HCMC hipsterati,
this trendy shop is mostly given over to
t-shirts (many by young, Bangkok-based
Candid Style Caught in HCMC,
Photo by Fred Wissink
asialife HCMC 105
femme fashion
Outpost for the international brand of
colourful, preppy men’s and women’s
casual wear.
Etam
188 Hai Ba Trung, D1
Famous all over the world for their French
style. There’s a large range of shirts,
t-shirts, dresses and more. Also available
in Zen Plaza and Diamond Plaza.
Gaya
1 Nguyen Van Trang, D1 Tel: 3925 1495
Carries a range of couture and pret-aporter garments and silk and organza
dresses in vibrant colours created by
Cambodia-based designer Romyda
Keth.
Geisha Boutique
43 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3821 8272
enquiry@geishaclothing.com
Facebook: Geisha Boutique
Australian fashion label offering a contemporary range of casual and evening
wear with an Asian influence. Printed
tees, singlets, shorts, skirts, jeans, summer scarves, dresses, silk camisoles and
satin maxi dresses.
Bag It Up
By Adrian Nguyen
A statement bag transforms
your wardrobe and is the key
to every fashionista’s new
season look. I could talk about
this for eight pages but I will
restrain myself, and stick to the
confines of this column. Here’s
the juice for the season’s “it
bags” so you can run out and
get yourself a bag or three.
Satchel: It’s THE trend this
summer; the right one could
take you straight into autumn
and could be slung around
your shoulder for a few more
seasons to come. It’s easy
to wear and goes with almost
everything. It guarantees style,
comfort and convenience.
Sounds like a good deal!
Alexa: The hottest satchel
would be the Alexa from Mulberry. Inspired by Alexa Chung,
London’s uber-fashionista, this
carryall epitomizes the capital's
understated coolness. I’ve already got mine in brown, while
still eyeing the yellow. So get
yours before they’ve all flown
off the shelves.
Fresh colors: Summer bags
are about colors—think azure,
lemon, turquoise. Either go
for “ton sur ton”—French
for "tone on tone" with two
shades of the same color used
together—or contrast it with
your outfit, doesn’t matter. It’s
sunny out, so be bold with your
choices. Proenza Schouler
and Marni have awesome eyecatching colors in stores now.
Quilted: It’s timeless, that’s
why all designers do it again
and again. It’s screaming
106 asialife HCMC
chic without you having to do
anything. This summer, chose
the chain-trimmed one in
lighter tones like pale rose or
sand and wear it across your
body. And nobody does quilt
better than Chanel; it’s a great
investment.
Animal instinct: It’s the perfect
time to release the animal in
you. Python skin, leopard,
zebra—the more exotic the
better. Dolce & Gabanna and
Roberto Cavalli are experts
when it comes to skins. Be
fierce when you carry this look
but remember one animal print
per outfit is good enough (unless you’re Naomi Campbell).
You don’t wanna be a roving
zoo, and watch out for those
PETA enthusiasts.
Tough love: Every girl has her
dark side and it doesn’t hurt
to bring it out once in a while.
Think black, heavily studded,
or chained and riveted. Wear
it with your skinniest skin and
highest platform pumps for a
night out. Alexander Wang has
the best duffel and Balmain
has the best clutches I’ve seen
yet.
No woman should ever leave
the house without a beautiful
bag in her hand. It’s a makeor-break-the-outfit accessory
so be wise with your choices,
because once you’ve decided
to buy a bag, an intimate relationship should ensue.
Adrian Nguyen is a designer
and owner of the Valenciani
brand. Email your fashion
questions to Adrian.ngn@
gmail.com
Kiwi
74/1 Hai Ba Trung
Tel: 3822 1191
Small and intimate shop with a modern
collection of fashion items geared
towards the young and active urban female. The showroom has a wide collection, from casual clothing to office wear.
Kookai
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi
French brand stocking classic, feminine,
styles with a twist. Gypsy day dresses
and classic little black dresses at mid- to
high-range prices are perfect for twentyand thirty-something women.
Labella
85-87 Pasteur, D1
This three-storey shop will take care of all
your wardrobe needs: affordable clothes,
shoes, bags and lingerie, all well made
and fashionable.
Le Samedi
21 Nguyen Trai, D1 Tel: 3925 5013
Boutique retailing in clothes imported
mainly from Italy and France, from cocktail dresses to chiffon skirts.
La Senza
47B–47C Nguyen Trai, D1
Tel: 3925 1700
65 Le Loi, Saigon Centre, D1
Tel: 3914 4328
www.lasenza.com
Boutique carrying a wide range of bras,
panties, pyjamas, accessories and
lounge wear.
Mai Lam
132-134 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2733
www.mailam.com.vn
Boutique store housing an eclectic mix of
vintage designer clothes and accessories
made in Vietnam. Specializing in handsewn, multi-dimensional embroidery, the
re-design of the traditional ao dai and an
army vintage collection.
Mango
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
96 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3824 6624
A favourite with fashion-conscious
women, this mid-range store stocks
clothes from simple tees and jeans to
evening wear.
Marc Jacobs
Rex Hotel, 155 Nguyen Hue , D1
Tel: 6291 3580
This spacious shop with high-ceilings
carries up-market clothes, shoes and
accessories from the internationally
recognized designer brand.
Minh Hanh
24 Dong Khoi, D1 and 114B Nguyen
Hue Tel: 3824 5774
www.mhminhhanh.com
Hand- and machine-embroidered fashion
made from natural fabrics and materials
wed traditional Vietnamese elements with
modern trends. Local celebrities frequent
this shop.
Muse Boutique
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
Boutique store carries well-known international brands like Miss Sixty, BCBG,
Rock Republic, Tbags and Killah.
Nang Boutique
181 Dong Khoi, Room 209, D1
iheartnang@gmail.com
Houses an assortment of mix-and-match
skirts, floral dresses, chiffon lace-trimmed
gowns and accessories, such as hats,
shoes, bags, scarves and jewellery.
Ngan
23 Ly Tu Trong, D1
The Ngan collection includes high-quality
evening gowns and swimwear made
locally. Also stocks a new line of men’s
casual wear.
Nino Max
189B Hai Ba Trung, D1
A local popular brand of active-casualwear t-shirts, jeans and khakis. Local
pricing. You can also find their other
outlets in Zen Plaza and Diamond Plaza.
Peacock
35 Ton That Thiep Tel: 3829 7045
Moulin Rouge-themed boutique housing
an interesting selection of women’s
clothes designed and produced in
Vietnam, including dresses, shirts and
t-shirts, as well as jewellery.
Rana Abodeely
Villa Anupa, 17/27 Le Thanh Ton,
District 1, Tel:3825 7307
Luxury resort wear in soft, feminine
styles. Made with 100% Vietnamese
silk with signature glass bead detailing.
Comfort, ease and elegance are the main
forms of the collection.
Shae
101-103 Nguyen Trai, D1
www.shaeny.com
New York brand housing streetwear
such as cardigans, dresses, shorts and
accessories.
Signature Boutique
154 Dong Khoi, D1
Houses some of the world’s most recognized luxury fashion brands: Roberto
Cavalli, Versace, D&G and Missoni.
Song
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
76D Le Thanh Ton
Offers women’s fashion designs by
Valerie Gregori McKenzie, including
evening dress, tops and hats.
Valenciani
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
Tel: 3821 2788
66-68 Nguyen Trai, D1 Tel: 7302 4688
valenciani.sg@gmail.com
www.valenciani.com
Homegrown luxury boutique carries silk
dresses, velvet corsets, chiffon shawls
and a range of accessories, all designed
in-house.
CHILDREN
Be Happier
181 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Dist
A small outlet providing children’s clothes
from 1 to 6 years old, using only cotton.
Mid to high-range prices for quality
apparel.
Children Planet
90 Vo Thi Sau, D1
Mid to high-range prices for quality apparel, imported material from Singapore.
Offering from the age of 5 to 14 years old
boys and girls.
Dabs Kids Fashion
222 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3
A good selection of both casual and
formal clothing for kids aged five to ten.
Party dresses, simple T-shirts, trousers
and more are all good quality and very
reasonably priced. Backpacks and other
accessories are also on sale.
DLS Paris
17/5 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1
Parkson Plaza, 39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
A superb range of unique and beautiful
clothing for young children (from newborns to pre-school age) at high to midrange prices. The quality compensates
for the price. Bedding, baby equipment
and furniture and organic and natural
supplies also kept in stock.
Kiko
262 Hai Ba Trung, D1
Wide range of Japanese imported elastic
cotton for children, newborns to 14
years old. Kiko also has an outlet on the
second floor of Parkson Plaza.
La Maison
226 Nguyen Van Huong, D2
On the second floor of this upscale
furniture store is a lovely range of pretty
dresses and other cotton apparel for
kids, from babies to pre-school age.
Prices are reasonable.
Little Anh – Em
41 Thao Dien, D2
A French brand made in Vietnam offering
a wide selection of colourful, simply
packaged and thoughtfully collated
“sets” of garments for girls and boys from
newborn to 10 years old. Lifestyle pieces
also available include sleeping bags,
bedroom accessories and bags.
Ninh Khuong
44 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3824 7456
83 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 9079
220 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3920 3224
222 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3
Tel: 3930 9183
www.ninhkhuong.vn
Well-known hand-embroidered children’s
clothing brand using 100% cotton. Newborn to 10 years old (girl) and fourteen
years old (boy). Also stocking home
linens. Prices are reasonable.
Peekaboo
173 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3612 8329
263 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1
Locally designed apparel for girls, ages 1
to 10. Materials include cotton, wool and
satin. High to mid-range prices.
REVE
Villa Anupa, 17/27 Le Thanh Ton,
District 1, Tel: 3825 7307
High-end cashmere, lace, and cotton
clothes designed by a French mother/
daughter team. All pieces are handmade
and tailored for infants to kids 2 years
of age.
Small is Beautiful
227 Le Thanh Ton, D1
Tel: 38 23 87 54
contact@smallisb.com
www.smallisb.com
This newly opened boutique aims to be
the chic shop for kids in the city. There
is a selection of brand name clothing,
accessories and creative toys. Clothing
comes from international designers such
as Baby Dior, Sonia Rykiel and DKNY.
SHOES
Aldo
157 Dong Khoi, D1
Offering a wide selection of affordable
footwear from mid- to high-range prices.
Carries office-appropriate and partyready heels and flats, as well as a range
of accessories and bags.
Catwalk
80 Pham Hong Thai
Tel: 3829 6819
www.catwalkshoes.com
Carries a unique range of Spanish shoes
and bags.
Charles & Keith
10 Mac Thi Buoy, 18-20 Nguyen Trai
Tel: 3925 1132
www.charleskeith.com
Singapore brand housing youthful and
trendy shoes of a contemporary, high
fashion design.
Dr. Marten’s
173 Hai Ba Trung, D3 Tel: 3822 4710
Air Wair sandals and shoes here feature
the classic yellow stitching and chunky
rubber soles. Also stocked with clothes
and accessories by Replay and Kappa
tracksuit tops.
Footwear Street
Ho Xuan Huong Street, D3 between
Cach Mang Thang Tam and Ba Huyen
Thanh Quan
Le Thi Hong Gam in D1 between Pho
Duc Chinh and Calmette
Selection ranges from leather loafers to
plastic thongs and everything in between.
Nine West
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1
Stocks an extensive range of designer
footwear for women. Handpicked by a
global community of independent trendsetters and stylists.
Sergio Rossi
146AB Pasteur, D1
Rex Hotel, 141 Nguyen Hue, D1
World-renowned Italian brand stocks a
diverse European-style collection of upmarket shoes and bags made of quality
materials, from crocodile and python
skin laterals to garnishings of Swarovski
crystals and colourful beads.
Star Polo
97B Nguyen Trai, D1
Mix of imported shoes and locally made
footwear crafted from Australian leather
for men and women as well as imported
ones. Sizes from 38 to 42 for men, and
from 34 to 40 for women.
TAILORS
Dzung
221 Le Thanh Ton, D1
One of the most reliable and respected
men’s tailors in town with prices and production time to reflect the quality of the
workmanship. Shirts start from US $30.
Fabric Street
Hai Ba Trung, D1 across the street from
Tan Dinh Market.
Spools upon spools of fabric manufatured locally and abroad, with more than
ample variety of textures, colours and
materials to choose from.
Fair Fahion
69/20 Duong D2, Binh Thanh
Tel: 3899 4198
www.fairfashionvn.org
A non-profit retail store offering ready-towear and custom-made fashion. Dresses
and formal gowns for women, suits and
shirts for men, made by highly skilled
former sex trade workers trained to haute
couture sewing levels.
Thuy Nga Design
7 Lam Son Square, D1
Conveniently located at the Opera House,
this local boutique is a one-stop shop
for both men and women. The range
includes clothes, men’s and women’s
accessories and costume jewellery.
Uyen
13 Nguyen Thiep, D1
An excellent option with English-speaking
staff and a good selection of fabrics (although the price takes a dip if you bring
your own) and some off-the-rack staples
to copy. Reasonable prices.
Massimo Ferrari Bespoke
Bespoke Footwear, Bespoke Suits, Pret A Porte & Luxury Leather Bags and Accessories
Address: 42A1 Tran Quoc Thao Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City / Ring: 3930.6212
asialife HCMC 107
Spotlight
Beerfest
Camara Tales
Up Dharma Down
ViveKKevin New Line
Pedro Launch @ Vincom Tower
FCUK Store Opening @ Vincom Tower
108 asialife HCMC
asialife HCMC 109
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C4, C5
Ho Xuan Huong
B3, C2
Hoa Hung
B1
Hoang Dieu
D4, D5
Hung Vuong
D1
Huyen Tran Cong Chua
C3
Huynh Man Dat
A5
Huynh Thuc Khang
C4
Ky Dong
B1, B2
Le Cong Kieu
C4
Le Duan
B4, B5
Le Hong Phong
D1
Le Lai
C3, C4, D3
Le Loi
C4
Le Quoc Hung
D4, D5
Le Quy Don
B3
Le Thanh Ton
B4, B5, C3, C4
Le Thi Hong Gam
C4, D3, D4
Le Thi Rieng
C3
Le Van Phuc
A3
Le Van Sy
B1, B2
Luong Huu Khanh
C2, D2
Luu Van Lang
C4
Ly Chinh Thang
A2, B2
Ly Thai To
D1
Ly Tu Trong
B4, B5, C4, C5
Mac Dinh Chi
A3, B4
Mac Thi Buoi
C5
Mai Thi Luu
A4
Mai Van Ngoc
A1
Me Linh
A5
Nam Ky Khoi Nghia A2, B2, B3, C4, D4
Ngo Duc Ke
C5
Ngo Thoi Nhiem
B2, C2
Ngo Van Nam
B5
Nguyen Binh Khiem
A4, A5, B5
Nguyen Cong Tru
D4
Nguyen Cu Trinh
D2, D3
NguyenDinhChieu A4,B3,B4,C1,C2,C3
Nguyen Dinh Chinh
A1
Du
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Huynh Va n Ban
h
Tran Khan
ha
Tran K
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Ph
an
Din
hP
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Tro
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PHU
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NHUAN
HUAN
Ma
2
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Tran Quang
Ho Chi Minh
City Map
Ng
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Di
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Airport Dinh Ch
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3km
Saigon South
4km
Vinh Hoi
Vinh Hoi
boxoffice
Matt Damon returns to the mystery-thriller genre this month in
The Green Zone, starring as Roy
Miller, an army officer searching
for weapons of mass destruction
in Iraq. With the help of a veteran
CIA operative and a Wall Street
journalist, Miller realizes there are
no WMDs and goes searching for
the person who tasked him with
the hunt—the elusive Magellan.
In the process, Miller finds himself
in the crosshairs of a group
determined to cover up what he’s
learned.
Popular video game Prince of
Persia: Sands of Time makes
the jump from PC to the big
screen. Jake Gyllenhal stars as
Dastan, a prince who, with the
help of a beautiful rival princess,
fights to save his kingdom and the
world from evil forces bent on using the Dagger of Time to control
the world by turning back time
and enslaving all of humankind.
Beloved comic strip Marmaduke is also adapted for
bookshelf
the cinema in a story that sees
the endearing Great Dane and
his family, the Wilsons, move
from Kansas to Orange County,
California. Marmaduke, voiced by
Owen Wilson, is in for a culture
shock as he adapts to his new
posh surroundings and navigates
humorous disasters with his cat
sidekick, Carlos (George Lopez).
For those who were addicted
to the television show and wanted
more after the first movie, the
entire original cast returns in Sex
and the City 2. In this sequel, the
girls are all a little older and wiser,
but nevertheless, they’re still living
their crazy, glamorous lives.
Also sourcing from the small
screen, Joe Carnahan and the
Scott Brothers bring action fans
a 2010 version of the 1983
television series The A-Team.
The film features Bradley Cooper,
Liam Neeson and Jessica Biel as
special forces soldiers framed for
a war crime they didn’t commit.
After escaping a military prison,
they strike back as mercenaries.
Who says women over 50
don’t date? Meryl Streep gets
around in the romantic comedy
It’s Complicated. Streep’s character, Jane, is an aging divorcée
with no romantic prospects until
she meets Adam (Steve Martin).
Next thing you know, her exhusband (Alec Baldwin) comes
crawling back to her after his
second marriage starts to collapse. Pretty soon Jane is juggling
both men.
In a new take on the 80s classic The Karate Kid, Jaden Smith
steps into Ralf Macchio’s gi, playing the role of Dre Parker. After
moving to Beijing, Dre is bullied
at school until a kindly custodian,
Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), helps him
master martial arts and fight back.
A hunky Ken doll, stuffed
strawberry and a now Spanishspeaking Buzz Lightyear are great
companions to old favourites in
Toy Story 3. In this latest installment, Andy prepares to go to
June 4
Green Zone
Prince of Persia
June 18
It’s Complicated
The A-Team
The Karate Kid
college and Woody and company
find themselves abandoned at
Sunnyside Daycare Centre.
Hong Kong film aficionados
take note: This month Vietnam
screens Just Another Pandora’s
Box, a comedy-adventure that
takes place in the same universe
portrayed in director Jeffrey
Lau’s 1994 classic, A Chinese
Odyssey. The film follows the
time-traveling exploits of lovelorn
immortal Rose (Betty Sun) and
an imposter posing as legendary
general Zhao Yun (Ronald Cheng)
and features a jumble of HK and
Hollywood film references.
British fight film The Tournament explores a top-secret killing
contest that takes place every
seven years. Competitors are the
world’s finest assassins, special
military forces and serial killers,
and the stakes are high. Outfitted
with tracking devices, participants
hunt and kill each other in a bid
for the cash prize of £10,000,000
and ultimate glory.
opening dates
CINEMAS
C: Cinebox
www.cinebox212.com.vn
G: Galaxy
www.galaxycine.vn
L: Lottecinema
www.lottecinemavn.com
M: Megastar
www.megastarmedia.net
T: Thang Long
www.giaitrithanglong.com/cinema
112 asialife HCMC
June 11
Marmaduke
Sex and The City 2
June 25
Toy Story 3
Just Another Pandora’s Box
The Tournament
The information on this page was
correct at the time of printing. Check
cinema websites for screenings.
In the Place of Justice:
A Story of Punishment
and Deliverance
The Bedwetter:
Stories of Courage,
Redemption, and Pee
Wilbert Rideau
Sarah Silverman
Knopf
HarperCollins
Growing up with no father figure and a mother on welfare, life
was never going to be easy for Wilbert Rideau. At age 19, he
was involved in a bungled robbery that resulted in a fatal stabbing. Subsequently Rideau was sentenced to death row at the
notorious Angola prison in Louisiana. In his harrowing memoir In
the Place of Justice, Rideau recounts 44 years of incarceration
with brutal honesty. While on the inside, he transforms himself
into an exemplary prisoner and becomes the editor of the prison’s
magazine, The Angolite. Rideau publishes candid articles — including an exposé on a malfunctioning electric chair — and wins
a George Polk award, one of American journalism’s most coveted
prizes. The memoir culminates in Rideau’s bittersweet release
from Angola and his adjustment to a dramatically changed
society.
Sarah Silverman is known for poking fun at everything from
poop to Jesus to genocide. Nothing is too taboo for this female
comic. After success in the film, television and music industries,
Silverman has turned to the written word. Her memoir The Bed
Wetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee — for which
HarperCollins reportedly paid her $2.5 million — is shrewd and
crude from cover to cover. The humour begins with a warning
that readers may not enjoy the book if they’re offended by public
nudity, and doesn’t let up until the end of an afterword written by
"God.” Silverman steers readers through tough times in her life,
in chapters such as "My Nana Was Great But Now She’s Dead."
Satirising society with a breathtaking amount of inappropriateness is sure to further cement her reputation as an iconoclastic
comic.
The Imperfectionists
The Lonely Polygamist
Tom Rachman
Brady Udall
The Dial Press
W.W. Norton & Company
Former globe-trotting journalist Tom Rachman’s debut novel
brings together an assortment of odd-ball characters in, not surprisingly, a newspaper office. The novel follows the Rome-based
newspaper’s staff, including a washed up Paris correspondent
desperate for a byline and a dejected obituary columnist whose
life is transformed by tragedy. A clueless publisher infatuated with
his dog, and the mother of the Italian press officer who is obsessed with reading every issue of the paper ever published also
add to the dysfunctional bunch. The Imperfectionists is full of
unexpected twists and almost reads like a series of short stories,
with Rachman dedicating each chapter to one character. As the
novel progresses the future of the paper becomes increasingly
uncertain. This humourous yet poignant novel is receiving rave
reviews.
The Lonely Polygamist is the latest novel from Brady Udall,
whose debut novel, The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint, was well
received and earned him accolades and comparison to the likes
of John Irving and Charles Dickens. Udall’s Mormon upbringing
has provided inspiration for much of his writing, which has been
called wise, hilarious and moving. This dark comedy's protagonist/polygamist Golden Richards has four wives and 28 children
but can’t seem to escape a desperate sense of isolation. His
construction business is floundering and to make things worse,
he tells his wives he is building a senior centre, which is actually
a brothel. Critics have reported that, despite his countless flaws,
Richard somehow remains endearing and readers will fly through
this book to learn the fate of this knotty modern Mormon family.
asialife HCMC 113
soundfix
USA Top 10
by John Thornton
album review
this
last
title
artist
1
2
2
NEW
OMG
California Gurls
3
5
Airplanes
4
3
Nothin' On You
5
4
Break Your Heart
1
8
NEW
6
7
Not Afraid
Your Love Is My Drug
Alejandro
Rude Boy"Giay Phut
Mong Manh
Usher Featuring will.i.am
Katy Perry Featuring
Snoop Dogg
B.o.B Featuring Hayley
Williams
B.o.B Featuring Bruno
Mars
Taio Cruz Featuring
Ludacris
Eminem
Ke$ha
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Hoang Back
week week
6
7
8
9
10
U.N.K.L.E.
WHERE DID THE
NIGHT FALL
Poor James Lavelle. You have
to applaud his persistence to
carry on creating music when
it’s clear that his best and
most epochal days are firmly
behind him. U.N.K.L.E.’s fourth
album features The Heritage
Orchestra, whose strings and
percussion imbue the largely
lacklustre record with a depth
and cinematic scale that allows
an all-star cast of alt.rock collaborators to run riot. “Follow Me
Down” is a moody swirl woven
around Sleepy Sun’s wailing.
drone band The Black Angels
bring urgent rock to “Natural Selection.” “The Answer”
(featuring Baltimore’s Big In
Japan) rides the crest of an
ambient guitar wave as it builds
towards a choir-led chorus crescendo. U.N.K.L.E.’s trademark
electronic brush strokes and
evocative atmospherics bind the
album together, but it’s never
quite enough to distract you
from the fact that James Lavelle
has devolved from an innovative
and experimental hip hop pioneer into a gloomy nether region
post-rock underachiever.
114 asialife HCMC
65daysofstatic
WE WERE
EXPLODING
ANYWAY
We Were Exploding Anyway may
not be one of the most consistent records you’ll hear this
year, but it’s certainly one of the
most expressive and passionate.
Sheffield’s own 65daysofstatic
are everybody’s favourite underdogs. The band has amassed a
sizeable and dedicated following
with its previous three albums,
and the fourth offering sees the
glitchy post-rock instrumental
band embrace its (until now)
suppressed techno-rave side.
Off-kilter drum thuds, arpeggiated synthesizers, walloping
walls of bass and all manners of
sonic conflict adorn the record
from head to toe as tracks like
“Go Complex,” “Dance Dance
Dance” and “Crash Tactics”
erupt into unrelenting industrial
dance-punk frenzies. The Cure’s
Robert Smith pops up to lend
vocals on album centerpiece
“Come To Me,” a melancholic
yet no less powerful number
with Smith’s mournful and sullen
cries (“All you have to do is
close your eyes and come to
me”) adding a melodic and even
indie-ish layer to proceedings.
Clinical, heavy, pounding and
thumping, 65daysofstatic are exploding before your very ears.
endorsed
top ten
SAGE FRANCIS
LI(F)E
After bursting onto the independent hip hop scene in 2002
with the emotionally intense
and autobiographical Personal
Journals, Sage Francis’ highly
anticipated follow-up, A Healthy
Distrust, catapulted him to the
forefront of the underground hip
hop movement and established
Sage as a poetic tour de force
and generational spokesman.
However, Sage soon got stale.
2007’s Human The Death Dance
felt old-hat. Over-familiarity was
the problem: the same producers making the same beats for
Sage to rap about the same
played-out social and personal
issues. Li(f)e sees Sage Francis
turn (re)inventor, as leftfield
hip hop beats are exchanged
wholesale for an indie-rock
soundtrack. Featuring musicians
from Sparklehorse, Death Cab
for Cutie and Grandaddy, it’s a
giant departure from his earlier
work. Sage himself is primarily the same though: cynical as
hell and righteously judgmental.
However, his raps now possess
wistful, more empathetic and
reflective qualities, signs that
the angry, young generational
spokesman of 2002 is beginning
to embrace his role as alt. hip
hop’s wise elder statesman.
RATATAT
LP4
Having rocked HCM City to its
core at Loretofest last November, it seemed appropriate to
feature Ratatat’s upcoming
record in this month’s Sound
fix. Firstly, a word of warning
to those expecting something
different to LP3: LP4 is a record
very much cut from the same
cloth. If you’re new to the music
of Ratatat then LP4 acts as a
perfect introduction to this most
colourful and creative of bands.
Immaculately produced preprogrammed electronic beats
are layered sweetly between
Evan Mast’s and Mike Stroud’s
full-bodied live percussion and
sonically manipulated soaring
guitar lines, giving birth to a
strange and wonderfully odd
musical creature. The songwriting is playful and laid-back with
heavy emphasis on the grooves.
“Drugs” shuffles and squirms
and makes like a slowed-down
Daft Punk, while “Mahalo”
displays the duo’s knack for
crafting fragile, ethereal ballads.
The bleeps and smoothly syncopated rhythms of “Mandy” is
perfect to cruise the abandoned
late-night HCMC streets to.
UK Top 10
this
last
title
artist
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
NEW
2
1
8
4
3
5
6
7
NEW
Nothin' On You
Ridin' Solo
Good Times
All Night Long
Stereo Love
OMG
Candy
She Said
She's Always A Woman
Leeds Leeds Leeds
B.o.B
Jason Derulo
Roll Deep
Alexandra BurkeDavid
Edward Maya
Usher Featuring will.i.am
Aggro Santos
Plan B
Fyfe Dangerfield
Leeds United Team &
Supporters
week week
MTV Top 10
this
last
title
artist
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
4
2
3
7
6
5
10
8
Erase
Anka
Eenie Meenie
Your Love Is My Drug
I'm Single
Find Your Love
Thug Story
OMG
I'm SO Hood
Baby
10
9
Not Myself Tonight
Ride
Anka
Justin Bieber Sean
Kingston
Ke$ha
Lil' Wayne
Drake
Taylor Swift T-Pain
Usher ft. will.i.am
DJ Khaled
Justin Bieber ft.
Ludicris
Christina Agullera
Ciara ft. Ludacris
week week
Shane Meadows
By John Thornton
Shane Meadows is a cornerstone of contemporary
independent British filmmaking. His startling and often
tragic, yet humorous tales of
disaffected, working-class lives
have been critically and commercially celebrated like few
other modern day British filmmaker. Recalling the kitchen
sink realism of filmmakers Ken
Loach and Mike Leigh, each
of Shane Meadows’ films are
rooted in the nature and failure
of masculinity.
Informed by his own upbringing in the modest East
Midlands area of Uttoxeter,
East Staffordshire, his directorial style is notoriously relaxed,
with little emphasis placed on
the actual script, but with a basic premise that is developed
through improvisation by the
actors. Meadows combines
this unorthodox approach with
a curious production preference—working on a shoestring
budget with an amateur and
recurring cast—in order to
heighten the sense of realism
in his films.
Thematically, Meadows’
canon centres on workingclass, adolescent British
males. Devoid of positive
male role models, they are led
astray by enigmatic older men
who are flawed by their own
lives and inevitably succumb
to their own self-destructive
tendencies.
Twentyfourseven depicts
Bob Hoskins as the lonely
and broken-down Alan Darcy,
a middle-aged man disenchanted by the apathetic and
ill-mannered nature of his
impoverished community’s
youth. As such, he forms a
boxing club to get the kids
off the street. However, his
motivation to do good is driven
by a selfish desire to redeem
past failures and continually
thwarted by his inability to
overcome his alcoholism.
A Room For Romeo Brass
tells the story of two teenage boys’ friendship being
manipulated and pulled apart
by the sinister loner Morell
(played by the excellent Paddy
Considine). As Morell’s true
intentions towards Romeo’s
sister are revealed, Romeo’s
absentee father is called upon
in a violent climax.
Dead Man’s Shoes and
This Is England are undoubtedly Meadow’s cinematic
masterpieces, and arguably
his most shocking and brutal
portrayals of what can happen
when vulnerable youths are
abandoned by their male role
models. Paddy Considine stars
as Richard in the devastating
Dead Man’s Shoes, exacting
revenge on a local gang after
discovering that his mentally
disabled brother has been
the subject of physical and
psychological abuse in his
absence.
In This is England Meadows
draws directly from his own experiences as a skinhead in the
1980s. The film focuses on the
fatherless 12-year-old Shaun
and his ethnically diverse
band of ska and reggae-loving
skinhead friends, who are divided by the right-wing, racist
ideologies of the ultra-violent
Combo, an older skinhead.
Watch any one of these
films to experience authentic
snapshots of British life on the
wrong side of the tracks.
asialife HCMC 115
this month in history
Saigon Status Symbols
I’m not sure what colour my
retail aura glows, but it must
be code for “sucker”
TWA Hijacking, Rocky Horror Premieres, Sonny & Cher Divorce and more
Planning a move back to his home country, Jason Page ponders
whether he’s earned the title of Saigonite. Photo by fred wissink
It was about three years ago
when my friend’s fiancé,
Stephanie, moved into the South
Harlem apartment that I shared
with my sister, Kate. At the time,
I had lived in New York City for
a year, and Kate was approaching her third anniversary. Like
good roommates, Kate and I
committed ourselves to expediting Stephanie’s acclimation to
the city.
I enjoyed imparting what
modicum of knowledge I could
on my Pennsylvania-bred cohabitant. As an ingénue myself, it
was nice to be hashing out advice
for once. In Stephanie we had a
positive and cheerful protege, eager to learn and always up for an
educational stroll, so I was happy
to play Lewis to her Clark.
And then it happened. I don’t
recall what caused it—whether
it was a sudden bout of culture
shock or Steph had just had a
bad day at work—but while
crossing Columbus Circle one
afternoon, she sighed dramatically and exclaimed, “I feel like
it’s going to take me months to
become a New Yorker!”
116 asialife HCMC
If you know anything about
New York, you understand just
how optimistic Stephanie’s projection was. According to some,
becoming a New Yorker is a 10year process—minimum. Indeed,
one of the hardest things about
leaving New York for HCM City
was relinquishing my investment
in the title.
Now that I’m planning my
move back to the States, it’s got
me thinking about cashing in my
Saigonite stock. For sure, fewer
people in HCM City agonize
over being accepted into some
collective, city-wide fold than
do New York newcomers, but
I think there’s some criteria we
could agree upon.
For one, there’s the heat, or
more specifically, your ability
to contend with it. When I first
stepped outside of Tan Son
Nhat International Airport, all
my psychological preparation
evaporated, condensing into one
thought: “I’m never going to
make it.” Today, I’m holding up
much better, but whenever the
rainy season approaches and the
city swells with humidity, I’m
tempted to don my tourist shorts
and return to my three-showersper-day routine.
On the other hand, I’ve
worked out a nearly flawless
rainy season preparation plan.
With a cloth-lined poncho and a
pair of thongs stashed under my
motorbike seat, I can navigate
just about any afternoon downpour or flooded street. They say
the proof is in the pudding; I say
it’s in dry socks.
I suppose I could just take
cabs, but embracing motorbike
traffic is another sign of turning
Saigonese. In matters of road
safety, I remain fairly priggish,
but I have adopted certain local
road customs—pavement/
sidewalk equals traffic decongestion lane, for example. In other
cases, I compromise; I manage
mid-traffic phone conversations
by tucking my Nokia into my
helmet. I call it my Vietnamese
Bluetooth.
On language, I’ve made just
about as much progress as the
guy who recites Vietnamese
phrases in the audio lessons that
I downloaded prior to my arrival
and relegated to my desktop’s
garbage bin after hearing what
Vietnamese really sounds like.
However, I think if I can isolate
demonstrations of my proficiency to Vietnamese restaurant
outings, my failure to grasp the
native tongue after more than
two years won’t seem quite so
epic.
Another skill that has eluded
me is haggling at the market. I’m
not sure what colour my retail
aura glows, but it must be code
for “sucker.” Vendors halve the
price for my girlfriend at the
slightest sign that her interest
is waning, but I’m lucky to get
away with a 200-percent markup.
To be fair, my girlfriend has
been living in HCM City on
and off since 2003. The fact that
people usually assume she’s
Vietnamese when I talk about her
might suggest that one can claim
Saigonite status in about five to
seven years. If you can make it
through traffic unmaimed, wrap
your tongue around diacritic
marks and weather the seasonal
extremes, then that’s not a bad
deal.
June 8,1949
1984 Published
George Orwell’s futuristic novel,
1984 is published. Narrated by
civil servant Winston Smith, the
plot revolves around the totalitarian state of Oceania, a society
run by “Big Brother” that controls
its citizens by banning books,
guarding information and using
surveillance systems. Smith
eventually rebels and is imprisoned until he accepts the notion
that 2+2=5. The book’s success popularizes the terms Big
Brother, Orwellian, thought police
and doublethink as ways to describe a government-controlled
society. Orwell never gets to
appreciate the impact that 1984
has on the masses—he dies one
year later from tuberculosis at the
age of 46.
June 10, 1935
Alcoholics Anonymous Founded
Recovering alcoholics Bill W., a
stockbroker from New York, and
Dr. Bob., a surgeon from Ohio,
form Alcoholics Anonymous. Also
referred to as the Twelve Step
Program, AA adopts a tiered
approach to recovery. Group
support, confessions and reliance on a “higher power” to stop
drinking become integral parts
of the programme, but the only
requirement for membership is a
desire to get sober. AA estimates
that there are currently more than
117,000 groups and two million
members worldwide.
June 14 1985
TWA Flight Hijacked
TWA Flight 847 is hijacked by
two Shiite Hezbollah terrorists
en route to Rome from Athens.
Crew members are ordered to
identify Jewish passengers, but
a U.S. delegation is targeted
instead, and a Navy diver is
killed. The plane lands in Beirut,
Lebanon where all but five
passengers are released and
additional terrorists wait. The
hostages are imprisoned for two
weeks before negotiators secure
their release. Only two of the terrorists are ever brought to justice.
Mohammed Ali Hamadi, armed
with explosives, is arrested at the
airport in Frankfurt, Germany in
2007, and Imad Mughniyah is
killed by a car bomb in Damascus, Syria in 2008.
June 16, 1920
Black Like Me Author Born
American writer and photographer John Howard Griffin is
born in Dallas, Texas. Griffin will
become famous in 1961 when
he pens the book, Black Like
Me, which documents the severe
racism he encounters while posing as a black man in America’s
Deep South. Griffin is especially
struck by the different treatment
he receives from the same people
as he switches between his black
and white identities. The book
becomes a bestseller, but death
threats force the author and his
family to relocate to Mexico.
June 19, 1973
Rocky Horror Debuts
Musical The Rocky Horror Show
premieres at the Royal Court Upstairs in London. When stranded
straight-laced lovers Brad and
Janet’s car breaks down, they
knock on mad scientist Dr.
Frank N. Furter’s door and get
pulled into a strange world of
Transylvanians, transvestites and
Furter’s own crew, including Riff
Raff, Magenta, Rocky and Eddie.
In 1975, a movie version of the
show starring Tim Curry, Susan
Sarandon and Barry Bostwick
is released. It soon becomes a
cult classic, with fans dressing
in character, reenacting scenes,
shouting out lines and interacting
with the movie screen during latenight screenings.
June 27, 1975
Sonny & Cher File for Divorce
Musical duo Salvatore “Sonny”
Bono and Cherilyn “Cher”
Sarkisian LaPierre file for divorce.
The split makes big news in the
tabloids when both sides claim
infidelity. The actual length of
their marriage is disputed; some
sources claim they exchanged
rings in 1964 in Tijuana, Mexico,
while others say the union wasn’t
official until somewhere between
1969 and 1971. Cher goes on
to win an Academy Award and
Golden Globe for her role in
Moonstruck, as well as numerous other nominations and
awards in film and music. Sonny
enters public office as mayor of
Palm Springs, California in 1994,
but his term is cut short in 1998
when he dies in a skiing accident
at the age of 63.
asialife HCMC 117
pub quiz
Thoâng tin du lòch vaø vaên hoaù ôû Vieät Nam ASIALIFE HCMC
Chòu traùch nhieäm xuaát baûn: Nguyeãn Thò Thanh Höông
Bieân taäp: Nguyeãn Vónh Trung
Söûa baûn in: Löu Thuûy
Trình baøy: Coâng ty TNHH QC TM DV Ba traêm saùu möôi laêm ngaøy
Bìa: Coâng ty TNHH QC TM DV Ba traêm saùu möôi laêm ngaøy
Nhaø XuaáT baûn toång hôïp
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world history
6) What U.S. president was said to have “lifted himself from a wheelchair to lift the nation from its knees”?
7) Robert Mugabe began three decades of rule over what nation in 1980?
8) What Southeast Asian nation was known as the Dutch East Indies until the late 1940s?
9) The Qing, backed by Chinese farmers and workers, fought seven Western powers and Japan during what 1899-1900 conflict?
10) The fall of Prussia was brought about by what major world event?
sports
11) The Los Angeles Xtreme were the only champions of what short-lived professional American sports league?
12) What tennis pros faced off three years in a row from 2006 to 2008 at Wimbledon?
13) Woodsball, speedball and scenarioball are types of what sport?
14) What French footballer gained notoriety for kicking a spectator during a 1995 Manchester United/Crystal Palace game?
15) What Australian swimmer became the first woman to break 60 seconds in the 100m freestyle in 1956?
118 asialife HCMC
16) What is the name of Tom Petty’s longtime backing
band?
17) Robbie Williams was a member of what boy group from 1990 to 1995?
18) What jazz legend got his nickname from shortening “satchel mouth”?
19) Who fronted The Stooges from 1968 to 1975?
20) What Detroit-born pop star wrote Sinead O’Connor’s 1990 hit Nothing Compares 2 U?
geography
21) The International Dateline is roughly located on what line of longitude?
22) Belgrade is the capital of what country?
23) Bahrain is an island nation located on what body
of water?
24) The Irrawaddy Delta is located in what Southeast Asian country?
25) A visitor to what city might climb Sugarloaf Mountain, marvel at Christ the Redeemer and sunbathe on Copacabana Beach?
politics
26) Who co-wrote The Communist Manifesto with Karl Marx in 1848?
27) What Spanish word meaning “committee” is often applied to military-led dictatorships?
28) What 17th century political philosopher articulated the social contract in Leviathan?
29) In what nation is Sinn Fein a longstanding political party?
30) In what seminal ancient work by Plato did Socrates articulate the nature of justice and the ideal city-state?
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Pub Quiz Answers
1) What common Latin phrase means “blank slate.”
2) Half-hitch, Turks head and overhand are types of what?
3) What astrological symbol is denoted by fish?
4) The shekel is the official currency of what nation?
5) What wide-brimmed hat brand, worn by police and
golfer Greg Norman, is a national icon in Australia?
pop music
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7) Zimbabwe 8) Indonesia 9) Boxer Rebellion 10) WWII 11) XFL (Extreme
Football League) 12) Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal 13) paintball 14) Eric
Cantona 15) Dawn Fraser 16) The Heartbreakers 17) Take That 18) Louis
Armstrong 19) Iggy Pop 20) Prince 21) 180 degrees 22) Serbia 23) Persian
Gulf 24) Myanmar (Burma) 25) Rio de Janeiro 26) Friedrich Engels 27) junta
28) Thomas Hobbes 29) Ireland 30) The Republic
general knowledge
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Ngaøy 08/02/2010
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In xong vaø noäp löu chieåu thaùng 06/ 2010
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