Uncovering Hanoi’s hidden charms. Hanoi’s landscape seems to sprawl endlessly into an inconceivable labyrinth of concrete roads, rivers, bridges, buildings and houses, and at its center is a mass of higgledy-piggledy streets and alleyways. The Old Quarter has been the heart of commerce in Hanoi since its founding by Ly Thai To in 1010, with… Read more »
Inside an all-inclusive resort. “Are you sure this is free?” my mother asks for the third time in disbelief, as the waitress brings her a Piña Colada, swiftly followed by a Miami Vice (pina colada/ daiquiri mix). It’s 10 in the morning and we’re ensconced under thatched huts on a gorgeous beach in Akumal, on… Read more »
Dear Phnom Penh, I love you even when people tell me I shouldn’t. You were my first foreign love and throughout our ten year affair (my longest adult relationship ever), you grew on me and helped shape my views on what it meant to be an expatriate. Admittedly, we didn’t hit it off immediately. In fact… Read more »
Dear Hadrien, I am an American citizen living and working in Ho Chi Minh City. I want to know what I should do if the unthinkable happened to me… How can I create a will to ensure that if I die here, the savings that I have in my Vietnamese bank account will go to… Read more »
10 startups in Vietnam that have reached over one million users There currently is a healthy and growing “middle class” app economy. Mobile analytics firm Flurry reports seeing 357 percent growth over the past 18 months from independently owned apps that have a worldwide audience of over 20 million monthly active users, and 121 percent growth from those with an audience… Read more »
Promotions and news in HCMC and beyond… Treat Your Loved One Sandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort in Danang is offering a honeymoon package at VND5,900,000, valid from March 1 to December 14, 2014. It includes round trip airport-resort transfer, three days/two nights accommodation in a Bungalow Garden View, breakfast in room or daily buffet breakfast… Read more »
A day in the life of Oi’s Managing Editor I read recently that there are over 200 million blogs on the internet. Add to that online publications, news outlets and specialty websites and it’s obvious that there is no lack of reading material available at the click of a mouse or the swipe of a… Read more »
An eclectic combination of German food with Japanese sushi. Fusion food is all the rage these days, with many combinations of cuisines tempting the taste buds of diners the world over. Ho Chi Minh City is no different – and the newest entrant into the fusion category is a small, homely restaurant and cafe called… Read more »
The simple elegance of Basilico. We visit Basilico (corner of Nguyen Du and Le Van Huu, D1) on a cold, overcast Sunday night, floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on whipping raincoats and pounding rain. Inside, though, the mood is decidedly warm, fueled by a roaring wood-burning pizza oven set into a rough stone feature wall. Managed… Read more »
A new restaurant stirs up the dining scene with the unexpected Enter Saffron, Tony Fox’s new Mediterranean style restaurant on 51 Hai Ba Trung, D1, and the first thing that strikes you is the terracotta pots. There are 450 of them – all mounted upside down at different angles on the ceiling as if pouring out warmth, intimacy and romance on… Read more »
Travel gear is all about enhancing your travel experiences. With the wrong gear, your entire trip could be jeopardized. On the other hand, the right gear can take your travels to the next level 1. Stashing the Cash Keep your secret stash of bills safe from pickpocket with the Travelon money belt (Nylon USD15, Leather USD60). I’ve worn this while… Read more »
Like many indie shops of its kind, Yim Bader, named after its owner, remains an unknown outside of its avid customer base. Inside of that circle however, it’s something of a cult brand and has been featured twice in a local newspaper and a Japanese interest publication. Yim started making jewelry from wooden beads, stones and metal wires as a… Read more »
“The ‘differentness’ of boys is not inherently bad but it does present a challenge to teachers, to the school culture and to boys themselves.” Excerpt from Raising Cain by Dan Kindlom and Michael Thompson. Since the 90s, evidence has been mounting showing that boys are struggling in school far more than their fathers ever did…. Read more »
