A Fixed Focus

People coming together to share information, experience, and knowledge in all aspects of photography For Chien, the Vice President of the Senior Photography Club, photography is a life-long pursuit. As a teenager he tried to pursue it as a career but harsh conditions during the American War and family obligations forced him to abandon it for a more financially stable job. Now … Read more

The Myth: How does firefighting work here?

Is it true that you have to pay them first before they will put out the fire for you? If so, how much? There are lots of rumors on firefighting practices in Vietnam and whether or not firefighting is under the ‘money-first-service-later’ procedure that is an all too common practice here. I’ve actually never thought of it myself or what I would … Read more

Hogging the Streets

For those who are dedicated to riding Harleys The first American – made motorcycle, the iconic Harley-Davidson, was made popular in Saigon during the American War in the 1960s. Recently, the motorcycle has become a firm favorite on the city’s streets too. The Saigon HOG (Harley Owners Group) was formed in 2008 when Vietnam officially allowed large capacity motorcycles to be imported into … Read more

Saigon Mythbusters

The Myth: As all motorbike drivers are required to buy motorbike insurance, does the insurance actually protect you? According to Regulation No.126/2008/TT-BTC from the Ministry of Finance, all motorbike drivers are required to purchase civil liability insurance for their motorbikes. The mandatory civil liability insurance is priced at VND66,000 (inclusive of VAT) and is valid for one year. This is, however, not to … Read more

To While Away

Two cafes that are perfect for relaxing A suburb popular with expats in Ho Chi Minh City, District 2 is a perfect blend of modern lifestyle, with condominiums and international supermarkets, and ‘hidden charms’ including quaint coffee shops. I took a trip down to District 2 one day and after two hours of struggling with … Read more