The Workout Couple

A husband and wife team combine love and fitness to open their own gym For most couples, living and working together is a bridge too far – blurring the boundaries between work and play, and bringing office stress home is something to be avoided at all costs. But for Sylvie and Joao, who have been working together since they met at … Read more

Magic Beans

Healthy and cheap, soy delights to please the palate Soybeans have long been touted as the latest super food, hailed for their ability to fight cancer, lower cholesterol and improve memory. And while they’re easy to grow and cheap to buy, it’s a wonder why we don’t eat more of them. Phung wants to change all that. Having loved … Read more

The Couture Cake Maker

Delicious art that’s edible from top to bottom Shirley started baking as a small kid growing up in the Philippines. Her parents ran a Spanish restaurant and so for Shirley, food has always had a starring role in her life. After leaving school, she did a brief stint at a bank but soon realized she was in the … Read more

Decadent Dumplings

Japan’s famous luxury sweet will satiate any sugar cravings In the space of two years, Mochi Sweets (77 Hai Ba Trung, D1) has not just arrived in Vietnam but is fast taking over the sweet snack scene with 14 stores already open and more on the way. Mochi is a type of traditional sweet Japanese cake made from mochigome, … Read more

Under the Needle

An expat recalls his experience with Botox injections in HCMC James, 33, splits his time between New York, London and Saigon. Having had Botox a couple of times in New York and been thrilled with the results – “I couldn’t stop looking in the mirror” – he found the expenditure a drain on the wallet. And so … Read more

Conflicts of Interest

French photojournalist Patrick Chauvel defines his life around photography, war and peace Text by Lottie Delamian Image by Quinn Ryan Mattingly Patrick Chauvel has pretty much seen it all. Arriving in Vietnam in 1968, aged just 18, he embarked on a photography career that has spanned nearly 50 years and taken him to the heart … Read more

Go East, Young Man

It used to be that the buzzword was “go west” to seek your fortune. But in the 21st century, it is Asia which attracts the young entrepreneurs While Western newspapers are awash with stories of unfettered immigration, overcrowded cities and increasingly fractious multi-cultural societies, what gets less air time, is the tide of emigration flowing … Read more

Happiness is Eating Chinese Food

There’s a Vietnamese saying that “happiness is eating Chinese food, having a Japanese wife and living in a Western house.” Our insider tips will start you on your journey to eternal bliss… IN CHO LON, the air is alive with the smell of suckling pig, steaming bowls of aromatic soups and chrysanthemum tea. Whether there … Read more