Giving your holiday a purpose It used to be that everyone would dream of that once-in-a-lifetime vacation - a European cruise, a Hawaiian holiday, a week in Paris. But now that flights have gotten cheaper and people are traveling more, those bucket list holidays are prone to losing a bit of their magical luster. Luxury properties with similar amenities start merging together in… Read more »
Exploring the towns and beaches of the exotic island nation of Sri Lanka The teardrop – shaped island of Sri Lanka has a long, colorful history that is often overlooked in favor of its more popular neighbor, India. Think of Sri Lanka as ‘India light,’ the beauty and culture of India without the dire poverty, noise and uncleanliness. While the country… Read more »
She walks around all day with her head in the clouds Walking along the thronging streets of Saigon we are always assaulted by the myriad of sights, sounds and smells of street life. The social gatherings spilling out of cafes, wonderstruck tourists grouped to check maps or take photos, food vendors, shoppers, office workers, traffic police, shoe repairers and lottery ticket touts. As you… Read more »
My wife and I are both French citizens and we would like to adopt a Vietnamese baby, however, as my name is not Brad Pitt and as I am unfortunately not married to Angelina Jolie, I expect that the process for us may be quite complicated. Could you please give us some information about the conditions that we must fulfill and… Read more »
Breaking the cycle of poverty through small loans Charity work is not without its critics. The old proverb about teaching a man to fish puts its downside quite plainly – there’s only so much you can do for someone in need before you’re at risk of creating a dependency that could do more harm than good. That’s the concern, in… Read more »
Fill up your calendar with these exciting events December 5 What: Paint like Van Gogh Where: VinSpace Art Studio, 6 Le Van Mien, D2; 6:30pm – 9pm About: Travel back to the 19th century and feel like Vincent Van Gogh. His use of color, creative portraits and letters have made him one of the most famous painters… Read more »
My name is Huy. No surname. If you need one, make one up yourself. Have it whatever you like – Smith, Nguyen – whatever you folks fancy. My clients call me “Punch and Knead.” So it’s Huy Punch and Knead for them. I figure it’s as good a name as any. A couple of years ago, can’t remember how long, a… Read more »
How to start a basic wine collection As we edge towards the holidays, I’ve been pressed by more than a few private clients about what they should be stocking up on to imbibe during the festive season. This is an opportune time to stock up on a few party essentials, and wine is no exception. But the question I seem to… Read more »
A taste of Spanish home cooking with a twist in Phu My Hung As the blackboard menu at El Camino (137 SB-02 Nguyen Duc Canh, D7) says, these are tapas “just like mama used to make.” Francis Aliu has been serving Barcelona-style tapas from his new restaurant in District 7 for just two months, yet he is already drawing… Read more »
The weird and wacky world of Vietnamese desserts Coming up with a global definition for the whole spectrum of traditional Vietnamese desserts is certainly problematic. The collective term che (pronounced “jeah”) covers a broad range of what you might think of as sweet soups or porridges, served either warm or ice-cold. It’s the unexpected delicacy of the flavors that… Read more »
Mid century shapes are everywhere this season and the key is to go big. Voluminous skirts, layered cocktail dresses and fitted day dresses are all iconic looks of the time, and can be found all the way over here in Saigon. We have rounded up some of our favorite mid-century looks, designed here in Vietnam Dress | Ha Nhat… Read more »
We speak with Saigon Socialite founder LanVy Nguyen, who offers an insight into Vietnam’s lost craft of imperial and pagoda wood art and the difficulties of producing an ethical, designer brand… THERE IS AN endless array of homegrown fashion pieces in this city, from accessories to ready-to-wear to show stopping couture. But when it comes… Read more »
For kids to think creatively, parents must help change the education system here I would like to draw attention to an excerpt in a recent article in Vietnam News that caught my eye: “Prime Minister Dung calls for highly creative, brighter teachers. Vietnam should renew its attitude towards education and education management so it could train teachers with intellectual skills and creativity…. with… Read more »
