NPD Khanh, Author at Oi - Page 12 of 12

Why is Turtle Lake roundabout called that?

October 12, 2015May 29, 2013 by NPD Khanh

Did turtles really use to live in the water there? THERE WERE NEVER live turtles in Turtle Lake. That’s not even its official name, but rather, the folk name for the artificial pond built between 1965 and 1967 at the junction of Vo Van Tan, Pham Ngoc Thach, and Tran Cao Van in D1. The … Read more

Point & Shoot

May 27, 2013 by NPD Khanh

As an ‘instant photographer,’ Moi tells us how the digital revolution is phasing out his job… MOI WALKS THE street every day taking pictures of tourists and the occasional Vietnamese couple who can’t afford a camera. For each successful picture delivered on time, he’s paid VND15,000. He is an ‘instant photographer,’ and his kind is … Read more

A Brief History of Chợ Lớn

October 12, 2015May 23, 2013 by NPD Khanh

With a past dating back over 200 years, find out how Cho Lon came to be… WHAT MOST PEOPLE don’t know is that ‘cho lon’ literally means ‘big market’ and originally doesn’t actually have anything to do with District 5. But what most people don’t know, however, is that Cho Lon, with its large population … Read more

This is Half-True

October 12, 2015May 16, 2013 by NPD Khanh

THE MYTH: I’ve lived here for some odd years and have never once seen a helicopter anywhere close to the helicopter pad at Bitexco financial Tower. I was told that helicopters are banned from the skies over downtown HCMC. If this is true, why did Bitexco financial Tower outfit its flagship building with a helicopter pad … Read more

The Journey Home

October 12, 2015May 13, 2013 by NPD Khanh

Faced with a sudden death, a son navigates a labyrinth of paperwork to repatriate his mother’s body back to New Zealand.. Six months ago, new Zealand and Vietnamese news carriers covered a tragic accident that took the life of a new Zealand woman and sent her four-day-old grandson into critical condition. Julie Ferne, who had … Read more

The Mourning After

April 25, 2013April 23, 2013 by NPD Khanh

Granted special access to attend a Vietnamese funeral, Oi was able to gain insight into the traditions and customs that have long mystified expatriates. The funeral rite of Dominico Le Van Thuong, father of four, grandfather of 10, and great grandfather of many more, started with the first rite on Tuesday, March 10, 2013, at … Read more

Self Service

October 12, 2015April 19, 2013 by NPD Khanh

When it comes to customer service here, you’re on your own… THE 21ST CENTURY has brought waves of tourists to Vietnam, attracted by the nation’s undeniable charm, delicious food, cheap souvenirs and natural beauty. According to the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city welcomed some 365,000 international tourists in November 2012, up … Read more