Floating Downstream

With Tet slowly peering around the corner, Vietnam’s waterways will soon be busier than ever The gentle ‘put-put’ of a single-cylinder Chinese diesel engine is the soundtrack to the waterways of Vietnam. While large, modern, metal-hulled freighters and sand barges have taken over much of the heavy lifting required for Vietnam’s rapid modernization and industrial … Read more

Not For Sale

Tackling human trafficking in Vietnam Vietnam’s rapid economic growth has masked long-standing problems of human trafficking, child labor and the illegal sex trade. Organizations such as Pacific Links Foundation are addressing these issues through education, training and the creation of a positive socio-economic narrative. Pacific Links was formed in 2001 by a group of Vietnamese-Americans … Read more

Take Me to the River

The gentle ‘put-put’ of a single- cylinder Chinese diesel engine is the soundtrack to the waterways of Vietnam. While large, modern, metal-hulled freighters and sand barges have taken over much of the heavy lifting required for Vietnam’s rapid modernization and industrial development, the more traditional wooden boats, skiffs, barges and coracles still ply their trade … Read more

Page One

No two persons ever read the same book While there is a wealth of street traders selling dog-eared copies of classics and shiny sensational paperbacks, many of these are poorly translated, missing pages, or badly printed. More solid bookstores in Saigon have improved, but demand for English language books is still low, and finding a … Read more

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Saigon’s streets are difficult to navigate whether on foot, two, three or four wheels, and a strong memory is a must in order to get from point A to B without getting lost. The Saigon Memory Game comes to the rescue with a variation on the familiar and simple matching pairs memory game. Creators Pauline … Read more

From Floor To Wall

Encaustic tile is nothing new. They’ve been around since medieval times, but they’re currently enjoying a bit of a moment. Whether in intricate curlicues or modern geometric patterns, they always have a certain ‘been here forever’ rustic charm. Quynh and her family certainly understand the tile’s ‘forever’ charm – they come from a long tradition … Read more