AsiaLIFE Vietnam April 2016

AsiaLIFE Media Vol. 97

LIFE SAVING

HEM

CZECH-

MATE

CAMBODIA’S ABANDONED

VILLAS

PICKING UP

STEAM INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS PUBLISHING HOUSE

CAMBODIA // THAILAND // VIETNAM

APRIL 2016

VOLUME 97

This month's cover Photography: Vinh Dao Model: Ji Hae Yoon, Grade 12 Location: International School Ho Chi Minh City

for more news and events, features, restaurant reviews and video, visit:

38

www. A s i a L i f e M a g a z i n e .com For advertising and marketing enquiries please contact: +84 938 298 395 / +84 903 325 543 or adsales@asialifehcmc.com Director Jonny Edbrooke jonny@asialifemagazine.com Editorial Director Lorcan Lovett lorcan@asialifemagazine.com

Art Director

Deputy Editor

Thang Pham L.C. leo@asialifemagazine.com Photo Editor

Simon Stanley simon.stanley@asialifemagazine.com

Style Editor

Vinh Dao photoeditor@asialifemagazine.com

Ruben Luong ruben@asialifemagazine.com

Production Manager Hoa Nguyen nguyenhoa@asialifehcmc.com

Contributors Claudia Davaar Lambie Monica Majors

Commercial Director Nguyen Kim Hanh kimhanh@asialifehcmc.com

FRONT EVENTS ............................................................... 0 6 TOP 5: HISTORIC WALKS................................ 1 0 Q &A My Tam.................................................................. 1 4 BUSINESS VIEW.................................................. 1 6 DAY IN THE LIFE................................................ 1 8 TRENDING.......................................................... 1 9

C OV E R STO RY PICKING UP STEAM

An evolution in education................................ 2 0

F E AT U R E S

FOOD & DRINK FOOD NEWS

Savour ing the tastier side of Saigon............... 4 0

LOCAL EATS

The three oldest eater ies in town.................. 4 1

MALT

Amer ican-style bar with good beer. . .............. 4 2

SOMTUM DER

Ethnic Thai cuisine.............................................. 4 3

NAMO

Authentic Neapolitan pizza............................... 4 4

MON NGON VIETNAM

Royal Vietnamese dishes . . .................................. 4 5

STYLE & DESIGN

SAMARITAN ALLEY

AUTHENTIQUE LIVING

CALLING FOR HELP

FLIGHT OF FANCY

The hem where ever ything is free. . ................ 2 6 Saigon’s new emergency response.................. 2 8

EXTRA FUN

Meeting the background ar tists....................... 3 0

CZECH-MATE

An histor ic fr iendship........................................ 3 2

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Are hard beds really good for you?................ 3 4

T R AV E L 48 HOURS IN SINGAPORE

A guide to fun in the island city-state.. .......... 3 6

LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND

Kep’s dar k histor y and br ight future.............. 3 8 4 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Japanese inspired cer amics............................... 4 6 Thuy Design House............................................ 4 8

COLUMNS IMBIBE ............................................................................. 5 6 FITNESS .......................................................................... 5 8 EDUCATION HUB .................................................... 6 2 PERSONAL FINANCE ............................................. 6 4 PEOPLE MATTER ....................................................... 6 6 FASHION FIELD NOTES ........................................ 6 8 APP CHAT .................................................................... 7 2 SUB-TOPICAL HEAT ................................................ 7 6 NGO FOCUS ............................................................... 7 7 PUB QUIZ ..................................................................... 7 8

EVENTS Until 22 APR

9am - 12pm, Mon - Fri

All Month 7.30am - 10.30pm

The Big Street @L’Usine, Dong Khoi Entry: Free Thai artist and graphic designer Pariwat Anatachina (aka Big) makes his Vietnamese debut with a stunning collection of dynamic urban collages. lusinespace.com

9 APR 6am

Red Bull Champion Dash @Nguyen Luong Bang, D7 Entry: Registration Do you have what it takes to tackle this intense obstacle course? ticketbox.vn

6 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Vinspace: Spring Camp @Vinspace, D2 and D7 Entry: VND690,000 per day or VND3,105,000 per week Bring along your littleones for stacks of fun guaranteed to keep even the most stubborn holidaymaker occupied, from clay to digital artwork, arts and crafts and teambuilding activities. vin-space.com

9 APR 9pm - late

It Takes a Village @La Fenetre Soleil Entry: VND50,000 An evening of live hip-hop, dance, reggae, and free-style in aid of children’s charities SMILE and Fighting for Futures. fb.com/lafenetre.soleil.3

Do you want your children to realise their full potential?

The ABCIS offers an outstanding teaching and learning environment to help your child rise to the challenge of an ever-changing global community.

www.theabcis.com

EVENTS 10 APR 6.45am

Sunday Funday MTB Adventure Ride @The Bike Shop Entry: Free This moderate 50-60km mountain bike ride is a great chance to meet people, get some exercise, develop your off-road riding skills and, most importantly, have a great time. Limited rentals available for VND200,000.

Ride lasts approximately four hours. thebikeshopvn.com

13 APR

6pm - 10pm

Beer and Food Pairing Event @TnT BBQ Entry: TBC An evening dedicated to two of the finest things in life, in conjunction with Pasteur Street Brewing Company.

All you can eat / drink options available. Contact TnT or Pasteur Street for more information and tickets. fb.com/ tntbbqvietnam 8 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Vietnam Engineering Education Conference @Lotte Legend Hotel Saigon Entry: Registration The Vietnam Engineering Education Conference (VEEC) brings the academic, industry and government community together to experience two days of interactive plenary sessions, panel discussions, technical sessions and seminars.

14-15 APR All day

veec.heeap.org

Color Me Run @168 Truong Van Bang Street, D2 Entry: Registration Walk, jog or dance your way along the most colourful 5km event in Vietnam, to be followed by a world-class music concert. colormerun.vn

16 APR

12pm - 10pm

Get Wet: Songkran Water and Music Festival 2016 @Ho Chi Minh City Youth Culture House Entry: VND260,000 in advance / VND360,000 at door After flooding its banks last year, District 2’s Saigon Outcast has gone mobile to take its annual waterfight and music festival to District 1. ticketbox.vn

16 APR

12pm - 10pm

Cosmobeaute Vietnam @Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre Entry: Registration

21-23 APR 9am - 8pm

The most influential beauty trade exhibition in the Indochina region will once again be bringing in an extensive range of brands, products, technologies and services from the West. cosmobeauteasia.com

16-17 APR

Tai La Trophy @Tai La Longhouse, Nam Cat Tien Entry: Registration Teams of two race through combinations of running, cycling, mountain biking, swimming and kayaking challenges.

23 APR

talai-adventure.vn

3pm - late

Outcast Beer Fest @Outcast Entry: VND50,000 The popular D2 venue will host an extensive range of some of the region’s finest brews. saigonoutcast.com

9 AsiaLIFE HCMC

TOP5

HISTORIC WALKS Any meander through the pulsating streets of Saigon is enough to stir the numbest of senses. Adversely, this overload of the present also makes it easy to forget the city’s fascinating and, at times, tragic history. Historian Tim Doling’s book Exploring Ho Chi Minh City (2014) changes all that, with exhaustive insights into the attractions across the districts, even as far as Can Gio, 50 kilometres from downtown. Buy Doling’s work at bookshops throughout the city or visit historicvietnam.com. It lists plenty of routes, each taking about half a day. Remember: keep hydrated, take care crossing the roads and purchase the book for all the necessary maps and information.

Of the historic walks, Lorcan Lovett and Simon Stanley briefly stroll through their top five. Photos by Vinh Dao and Simon Stanley.

10 AsiaLIFE HCMC

1 City Centre 2 This tour starts and finishes at the Majestic Hotel (1 Dong Khoi). Yes, novelist Graham Greene did enjoy the odd cocktail here, as did Thomas Fowler, the anti-hero in Greene’s famous novel The Quiet American, but no more Greene references.

Head down Ham Nghi street, which in pre-colonial times was a waterway known as the Cau Sau (Crocodile Bridge) Canal, with the riverside end the site of Saigon’s first railway station.

The street also had the first Ben Thanh Market, which was destroyed by a fire in 1869. The second market (still bustling today) was moved further down, near Bitexco Tower, and became a renowned spot to purchase stolen American goods during the war.

For any astute history buffs, the marble bust of young Buddhist protester Quach Thi Trang at the square named after her was recently moved to the park opposite the HCMC Museum.

Pass ‘23-9 Park’, named in memory of those patriots who died while resisting British forces helping the French to take Saigon on 23 September 1945.

On your way back to the Majestic you can grab a snack from one of the plenty of food stalls on Truong Dinh or feast at TnT BBQ. Then stop off at Sri Mariamman Temple, admiring its beautiful tower, and Ben Thanh Market. You may have been here before, but have you climbed up the secret staircase at the main entrance to visit the hidden temple inside the clock tower?

2 Station to Station Until 1983, the ‘23-9 Park’ on Pham Ngu Lao Street was the location of Saigon’s second railway station (see ‘City Centre 2’ for the first). This walk begins and ends at the current Ga Saigon in District 3 and follows the path of the old line into the city. Highlights along the way include one of the surviving secret weapons cellars used during the Tet Offensive, and several stunning colonial-era villas. As your ghostly locomotive arrives at the former downtown terminus, the nearby backpacker area makes for an ideal halfway lunch stop to top-up the fuel tanks.

The return journey briefly follows another former train line - the first in Indochina and impossibly narrow - before cutting across to District 10 to take in another weapons cellar, the Quoc Tu Pagoda and the Museum of Traditional Medicine. Rest your feet in F-Time cafe, a trendy corner spot a few doors away from FITO, then make the short trek back to the station through the hems.

3 Cholon Central This tangled, thorough route through the heart of Chinatown starts and ends at Arc-en-Ciel Hotel in Tan Da. Swampland once separated the area from Saigon, with the two connecting paths built into tracks for steam tramways by the French.

These tracks have disappeared underneath the asphalt, though assembly halls built before the tram, in the 1800s, still survive.

Visit them for their atmosphere, forged by hanging coils of burning incense, and follow the book to reveal the mythical fables behind their shrines and rich decoration.

Take the walk on an empty stomach to try a range of delicious street food unlike anywhere else in Saigon. Look up to see intact colonial dwellings, like the one in Phu Dinh which was used for the film The Lover (1992).

Inhale the potent smell of traditional medicines on Luong Nhu Hoc Street and hear the sound of smashing metal on Tran Tuong Cong as craftsmen plough their trade.

On the way back, visit 5 Chau Van Liem. Before leaving for France, the young Nguyen Tat Thanh – later known to the world as Ho Chi Minh – stayed here. It’s open to visitors, as is the striking Franciso Xavier Church which played an important role in Vietnam’s recent history. Visit the church after wandering through nearby Binh Tay market.

12 AsiaLIFE HCMC

4 Around the Airport This walk is ideal for those looking to kill a morning before an afternoon flight, although one of its most interesting attractions, an abandoned Boeing 707 airliner, was dismantled for scrap material last year.

Start at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which, during the American War, was one of the busiest air bases in the world.

The US Military Assistance Command based at the junction of Truong Son and Hong Ha streets has now been replaced by CT Plaza; a great place to catch a film or go shopping.

Keep your eyes peeled for the patch of land that once hosted the abandoned plane further down Honh Ha street.

The aircraft served as a cafe in the 1990s after Vietnam Airlines decommissioned it in 1985.

Looping back to the airport, take in Phuoc Kien Temple, an old Chinese funeral home, and Vo Tanh Mausoleum, located down Hem 19 on Ho Van Hue street.

Set amid well-kept gardens, this is the tomb of Von Tanh, a military commander who chose self-immolation rather than surrender while enduring a siege by Tay Son forces on a Cham citadel in 1801.

The rest of the walk takes in another tomb - that of venerated scholar Phan Chau Trinh (1872-1926) - and the Air Force Museum, Southern Branch, which displays aircraft outside that served in the American War, the war in Cambodia and the Chinese border war of 1979.

5 Phu Nhuan While Saigon isn’t as easy to navigate on foot as other cities, it’s a pursuit with countless rewards. This tour begins and ends at the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, that large, ornate Buddhist temple you might have already seen - albeit briefly - through the window of a taxi during one of those bleary-eyed trips back from the airport. Offering ample parking and cool canalside breezes, it’s an impressive opener.

Catch the Nguyen Van Troi martyr memorial opposite (make sure you read the full history), before ambling briefly into District 1 for lunch. Pho Binh, an otherwise easy-to-miss pho joint, has a secret. The room upstairs was the clandestine nerve centre for the planning of the Tet Offensive. Ask for the tour before leaving.

Several pagodas and mausoleums line the route into Phu Nhuan District as we head towards the Phu Nhuan Communal House, a reminder of the 19th-century village that once stood here amid the marshland. Heading back towards our starting point, take a moment to absorb the sights of Nguyen Van Troi Street while you can. Finally, if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll tread carefully as you cross the Cong Ly Bridge.

Q&A

MY TAM

My Tam has been hailed as Vietnam’s number one pop star after selling out stadiums and releasing the highest selling album in Vietnamese recording history. The singer talks with Lorcan Lovett in time for the release of her new single. Photo by Tung Chu.

14 AsiaLIFE HCMC

You have been one of Vietnam’s top pop stars since bursting onto the scene in 1999. How have you managed to stay relevant and popular for so long?

I honestly have just one way to manage my career: everything I do today must be better than yesterday, and I have to motivate myself every single day.

How has the pop scene changed since you released your first album?

The pop scene has changed a lot; it’s much more diverse now. The easiest way to see the difference is that the lyrics are more (pointed) towards self-expression. Lyrics nowadays are taken more from spoken language than poetry.

Some of your best hits are also the most popular karaoke songs in Vietnam. How do you feel about people singing (sometimes, not very well) your songs on karaoke?

Only happy, despite how good or bad they are. They love and sing my songs and that makes me happy.

Your music styles have ranged from soft ballads to dancepop and R&B. Which is your favourite?

I love pop ballads and blues jazz.

Many young women constantly copy your ever-changing styles.

How do you feel about that?

Back in 2001, whenever I went to my regular hair salon, they told me customers that came would ask for the My Tam hairstyle. I feel very happy to hear that. It is still the same now. I changed my hair to kind of a darkgreen mixed with brown, and quite a few of the young people like it. I honestly don’t mind having people copying my style or singing my songs at all. It’s nice they choose to follow; it’s a positive sign.

Your third album Yesterday and Now is the most successful in your career and one of the best selling albums in Vietnamese musical history to

“I honestly have just one way to manage my career: everything I do today must be better than yesterday.” date. What made that album so successful?

I think it’s definitely because Yesterday and Now was released at the right time in the industry and my right moment. Moreover, it’s very close to the audiences, so got accepted quite comfortably.

In 2008, you started the charity My Tam (MT) Foundation which builds houses for the poor, and also provides scholarships for the underprivileged. Why did you decide to help this part of society?

I don’t know much about medication so I chose not to go for that direction.

I followed charity groups when I was much younger and always wanted to have my own foundation for a charitable purpose. I chose to give away scholarships because I believe children that love to study should have more support to continue studying for their future. However, we do also support the underprivileged older people by building community houses and bridges.

You often collaborate with Korean artists and producers. Is the Vietnamese music industry strong enough to support its own artists, or do you think it needs the help of Korea?

Vietnam does not yet have a strong (enough) music industry, so it will be hard to support. Whatever we do, we always need to be consistent and professional. If we appear as permissive and scruffy, with an attitude of ‘it’s worked out anyway’, then it will be hard to get support in the region.

Do you feel the music industry in Vietnam has an equal representation of women?

Vietnam’s music industry has always been fair for both sexes; even I see the female side is more dominating. I’m lucky to have a great team to support me, making sure that everything goes smoothly and carefully. My shows have always been selective with good content, so they are often sold out. I am so glad and feel thankful to all my great audiences.

As a judge on Vietnam Idol and The Voice of Vietnam, how good do you think reality TV competitions are at finding true talent?

I think they’re very good indeed.

Those reality TV competitions are best for those who are looking for chances to shine. To be straight, if they can prove themselves in those competitions, then they will have a good chance to be successful.

Your new single Blue Eyes has a scenic, fairytale theme. What was the inspiration behind the song and the video?

I’m glad to hear you like it. I was listening to some music when I was on the plane for my US tour. I suddenly thought, what if I go horse riding instead of taking the plane? - that’s my inspiration behind the song production. Regarding the lyrics, I wrote it from a relaxing afternoon of reading books and listening to music, and I wrote the lyrics quite fast. My inspiration comes and goes; it usually comes before I’m going to do something. Once I’m finished and that inspiration has gone, I then only feel enjoyment.

Editor’s note: this interview was translated from Vietnamese by AsiaLIFE Vietnam.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 15

Rounding up the latest business and economic news for Vietnam

DROUGHT COSTS OVER BILLION

THE worst drought the southern tip of the Mekong Delta has seen in recent years will cost over a billion US dollars in crop damage.

Vietnam’s prime fertile rice-growing region is enduring a dry spell that has been forecast to peak this month.

The Department of Crop Production had estimated that the drought would cost VND34 trillion (US$1.5 billion) to deal with the heavy damage caused by drought and saltwater intrusion.

Director of the department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ma Quang Trung, told local media that the level of inland saline intrusion was unprecedented, resulting in damage to some 180,000 hectares (444,780 acres) of paddy fields.

Trung said that 10 percent of the 1.5 million hectares of rice was sowed in the winter-spring crop in the delta and he estimated that one million tons of rice could be damaged by the saltwater intrusion.

Accompanied by a saline intrusion, the drought is reported to have affected over a million people who face water shortages in the region.

The situation has spurred China to dispense twice the amount of water from a hydropower station to aid the situation.

Officials blamed the drought on the El Nino weather phenomenon and excessive construction of hydropower dams on the upper stream of the river, the Associated Press reported.

PERSIAN PARTNER OFFERS NEW BUSINESS FRONTIER VIETNAM and Iran are targeting billions of US dollars in trade over the next few years following a visit from Vietnam’s President Truong Tan Sang to Tehran last month.

During the visit, the State Bank of Vietnam and Iran’s Central Bank signed a memorandum of understanding at a business forum, signifying one of many lucrative opportunities Tehran has had since sanctions were lifted in January.

Speaking at the forum, Iran’s Minister of Industries and Business, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, said Vietnam-Iran bilateral trade turnover is expected to grow to US$2 billion in five years in view of the recent abolition of trade embargoes on the Persian Gulf country.

“We will work closely with the representative bodies and authorities of the two countries to observe, study, and 16 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Image by Tuoi Tre

offer solutions and incentives to encourage cooperation among businesses, as well as increasing trade promotion activities,” Nematzadeh said.

Addressing business representatives at the event, President Sang underlined that for the time being, the two nations should focus on finding solutions to existing financial and banking issues, especially in the payment process, to assist businesses in forming trade partnerships.

Speaking with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper,

Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Nguyen Dong Tien, said: “Vietnam has joined the global transaction network, and Iran will do the same after the removal of embargoes on the country, which I believe will lay the foundation for future cooperation.

“We will encourage domestic commercial banks of Vietnam to invest in the Iranian market.”

The UN Security Council began imposing sanctions on Iran in 2006 after the nation refused to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

The sanctions negatively affected multiple sectors of Iran’s economy, until they were lifted in January this year, following the country’s agreement to limit its nuclear programmes.

TECH GIANT TARGETS VIETNAM APPLE is set to make its next move in the promising Vietnamese market by launching a US$1 billion data centre in Hanoi, according to local reports.

The US tech giant is “completing necessary investment procedures, and looking for a suitable location for the facility,” Dien Dan Doanh Nghiep (a business forum) said, citing its own source.

The forum is the media branch of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), one of Vietnam’s largest trade promotion agencies.

The reported data centre will serve Apple’s Asia operations and may also feature research and development (R&D) activities, although it is unclear when the project will begin.

Last year, Apple earmarked more than $8 billion, or 3 percent of its revenue for the fiscal year ending September 2015, for R&D, according to Dien Dan Doanh Nghiep.

The iPhone maker runs R&D centers in the UK, China, Taiwan, the US, and Israel and has begun construction of new facilities in Japan and India Many of Apple’s rivals in the fields of tech gadgets, such as Samsung and LG from South Korea, and US giant Microsoft, already have operations in Vietnam.

Apple opened a subsidiary company in the Southeast Asian nation last year – Apple Vietnam Limited Liability – which is based in Saigon.

The subsidiary conducts wholesale business for various products including its signature smartphones, and provides maintenance and advisory services.

Vietnam is proving an irresistible market for Apple after its sales there tripled in its fiscal first half of last year, a growth rate five times higher than in India.

NEWS

IN BRIEF FLYING THAI Thailand is now Vietnam’s 11th biggest foreign investor, with most of its investment channelled into the manufacturing and processing industry, the Vietnamese Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) said. As of last month, Thai investors had run 428 projects across Vietnam, with a total registered investment of around US$7.88 billion. There are 200 Thai-invested manufacturing and processing projects in Vietnam, together worth nearly $7 billion.

APP BOOST Investors have ploughed US$28 million into Vietnamese start up M_Service, the operator of mobile e-wallet MoMo. Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) invested $25 million, while Goldman Sachs, an existing shareholder and strategic investor, put in an additional $3 million on top of its initial $5.75 million investment in 2013. Smartphone app MoMo provides an e-wallet service, allowing the user to store multiple credit card and bank account numbers securely.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

BREWERS FROTHING AT TAX HIKE BREWERS in one of the largest beer markets in Asia are calling for a rethink on a new luxury tax policy that they say is pushing up prices and hurting sales.

Vietnam’s government introduced the special consumption tax rate on beer which was increased from 50 percent to 55 percent on 1 January, reported Thanh Nien news.

On top of that, new regulations changed how the tax is calculated. Brewers are now required to work out the average retail price

of a product, and then add 7 percent to that number to come up with the final taxable price.

The heads of Habeco and Sabeco – the country’s biggest beer makers – along with the chairman of the Vietnam Beer Alcohol Beverage Association, Nguyen Van Viet, have expressed their concerns.

Viet said that once local products become expensive, cheap products such as smuggled and counterfeit items might flood the market, according to the news site.

The brewers’ request was supported by the Vietnam Business Forum, a group of associations of foreign businesses such as the US and European commerce chambers.

The group has sent a proposal to Vietnam’s national legislature, asking it to revoke or suspend the new rules.

Companies that overcharge tourists in the north-central province of Quang Binh have been threatened with closure.

Authorities declared they will revoke business licences from firms that rip off vistitors during a meeting last month that attracted nearly 200 local tourist companies. The province is home to Phong Nha – Ke Bang, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

FREE WI-FI One thousand Mai Linh cabs in HCMC, Hanoi and Da Nang have begun providing free Wi-Fi as part of a pilot project. The taxi operator aims to make wireless broadband accessible to passengers and create additional revenue streams by offering more advertising channels to businesses. It will decide whether to install more Wi-Fi devices in its remaining cabs after assessing customer satisfaction at the end of May.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 17

Veterinarian.

DR NGUYEN VAN NGHIA

By Simon Stanley.

Photo by Vinh Dao.

39

-year-old Dr Nghia has dedicated his life to animal welfare, turning what began as a childhood hobby into a career. “When I was young,” he says, “I tried to help baby birds that had fallen from trees. They would often die, but now I recognise what I was doing wrong.”

After studying animal sciences at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry, he turned his attention towards small animal medicine, eventually receiving a scholarship to study at the prestigious University of Bristol’s school of clinical veterinary medicine in the UK. He returned to Vietnam in 2008 and established the Saigon Pet Clinic in Thao Dien.

Dr Nghia starts his day early. Waking at 5.30am, he tends to his nine cats before heading out for a jog with his dog, Lexus. Work begins at 6.30am when he arrives at the clinic and starts preparing for the day ahead. A staff meeting is held at 7am to discuss the day’s schedule and any special cases or procedures that will be taking place, and whether any emergency calls were taken overnight. He also receives an update on the condition of any animals in intensive care or those waiting to be re-housed in the adjoining Animal Rescue Centre (ARC).

For many pet owners, their once loveable bundles of fur can become a financial burden too great to bear as food and vet bills rack up. In the case of expats planning a relocation, the cost of shipping their creatures has, for Dr Nghia, become another excuse for people to abandon their pets, although he works closely with airlines and foreign authorities to try prevent this. “When you adopt an animal,” he says, “please adopt them. I don’t want them to suffer again. You have them for life.”

One of his proudest achievements was the rehoming of a husky named Sam. At just fourmonths-old, Sam was imported from Alaska by a wealthy Vietnamese family. Of course, Alaska and Saigon are two very different places and soon the tropical climate was beginning to cause severe skin conditions and infections. The dog’s first owners abandoned him at the clinic and although a second 18 AsiaLIFE HCMC

family later adopted him, the clinic’s treatments proved to be unsuccessful. “The real treatment was to send the dog back to Alaska,” says Dr Nghia.

With a Vietnamese stamp in Sam’s canine passport, US animal regulations wouldn’t allow him to return for fear of disease. With the help of a Canadian expat living in Saigon, along with a string of volunteers and donations, Sam was flown to Vancouver where his treatment could continue in a far more hospitable climate.

Dr Nghia’s devotion to animals has become well-known in his community; he points to a box of kittens that has been left on the clinic’s doorstep overnight. “It’s not right,” he says. “If I take a group of kittens, three months later, another group will come. You have to neuter the mother.”

A month’s hot topics from Vietnam and beyond

Kick-Ass Over 90,000 Facebook followers have been supporting the actions of a group of vigilantes who fight crime in HCMC. Members of two Facebook pages - ‘Stolen Property Report’ and ‘HCMC Thief Hunter’ - post information on theft cases they have solved as well as photos of detained offenders. The ‘street heroes’ were formed in 2010, solving over 200 cases of theft and robbery so far, but lawyers have advised them to strictly comply with the law. A local chief police, on the other hand, told them to learn how to gather evidence.

From King Kong to Miss Saigon?

“If Les Mis is a success then Miss Saigon will be made into a film,” said legendary West-End producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh shortly before Les Miserables’ stage-to-screen debut in 2012, which grossed over US$440 million, many have been speculating about the Miss Saigon movie ever since. There was fresh excitement last month as Danny Boyle, the British Oscar-winning director behind Slumdog Millionaire, was reported to be in negotiations to direct the adaptation. with Mackintosh apparently showing an interest in shooting onlocation in Saigon itself.

At 7.30am, consultations and the daily parade of sick and injured animals begin. If a surgical procedure is scheduled, Dr Nghia will focus all of his attention on the task. “I prefer to do surgery in the morning or the evening. At that time it’s very quiet,” he says, adding that he encourages owners to ask any questions the day before. “On the day of the procedure, I want to be mindful, to just concentrate on the animals.”

After lunch, consultations continue unless he has arranged a school or orphanage visit when he will take a few of ARC’s cats and dogs along to teach young children how to properly respect and care for them. “We need to educate the younger generations. That is one of our jobs at ARC. I don’t need to teach adults; they learn from their kids.”

At around 5.30pm he’ll head home to begin researching and studying, or preparing lectures and marking assignments as part of his ongoing role at the agricultural university. “People say I’m a crazy man, but I’m not sure. My whole day is for the animals.”

For more complex surgical procedures, he will return to the clinic at around 7.30pm when the building and the telephones are quiet. Depending on the rotation of his shifts, he’ll then either go home for some much-needed rest, or stay on-call in the clinic until the following morning to deal with emergencies and watch-over the dozens of cats and dogs housed in the ARC accommodation facility. The newly-arrived kittens, for example, will require handfeeding every three hours.

“There’s always something to do,” he says. “I’m busy but I’m a very happy man. I love my job very much. I just want to make things better for animals.”

Hitting 60

From 1 March, commuters all over Vietnam were able to enjoy an extra 30 seconds in bed each morning as many of the country’s speed limits rose by 10kph. The Hanoi highway, for example, was bumped to 70kph for cars and 60 for bikes. Ironically, just three days after the new regulations were introduced, a Lamborghini reportedly worth US$630,000 was seriously damaged as its driver lost control in District 9 on a road with a speed limit of 120kph. Fortunately no one was injured.

Four Dead in Hanoi Bomb Blast

The Ministry of Public Security has confirmed that traces of bomb debris were found at the scene of a deadly blast on 19 March in Hanoi that killed four people and injured 10. The explosion at a scrap metal business seriously damaged 36 houses, leaving a large crater in Van Phu residential area according to Thanh Nien News. Police have yet to confirm the exact cause of the blast although locals and police are speculating that an unexploded bomb from the American war was detonated when the shop owner tried to cut open the object with a blowtorch.

PICKING UP

STEAM

20 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Since the 1990s, advancing technologies and increasing globalisation have been changing the face of the modern-day workplace. Throughout the process, four specialisms emerged as vital components for success. But something was missing. By Simon Stanley and Lorcan Lovett. Photos by Vinh Dao.

A

t the turn of the millenium, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) were touted by many as the golden ticket to a future of successful, skilled workers – and a successful economy.

Like acronyms, times change: STEM has exposed its flaws and gained an A for Art (STEAM), while Asia has become the largest market for international education, partly driven by demand from middle-class Asian families who have benefited from the region’s booming economy.

The Time for Creativity

In his 2006 TED Talk entitled Do Schools Kill Creativity?, educationalist Sir Ken Robinson argued that the conventional model of public education was failing to meet the needs of the new millennium.

“Our education system has mined our minds in the way that we strip-mine the earth for a particular commodity.

“Creativity is now as important in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status,” he said, his speech now the most viewed TED Talk on YouTube.

John Maeda, then president of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), later moulded this standpoint into STEAM, calling for a holistic, real-world approach to education.

“The goal is to foster the true innovation that comes with combining the mind of a scientist or technologist with that of an artist or designer,” reads RISD’s website.

British film producer and educator Lord Puttnam describes the separation of STEM and the arts as “nonsense”.

“It is when (they) advance in harmony that you’ve got success,” he says. “I think that sooner or later, educationalists the world over will (realise) that we have spent far too many years creating bored generalists, (rather) than trying to find inspired geniuses.”

The majority of Vietnam’s 95 international schools have embraced the STEAM approach to education, which recognises the importance of creativity when aiming for success in technical fields.

This is a step away from the traditional model of rote learning combined with Confucian ethics of education and hard work that has come to define Vietnam’s national school system.

Despite any perceived shortcomings of the latter system, such as a redundancy in encouraging independent, critical thinking, it has still come a long way since the 1990s.

In 2012 an international assessment by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked Vietnam in 8th place for mathematics and science; the US lagged 20 places behind. Yet this has not stopped an intense, domestic demand for international education.

The appetite to be taught in English is slated to further increase – it’s the official language of the recently established ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) – but

students will be leaving with more than a new language.

Schools in HCMC such as ABC International School, the International School of HCMC, British International School and Saigon South International School are at the forefront of the STEAM movement, merging the five subjects like never before.

The International School of Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC)

Of course, creativity is an innate skill built into our genes from birth. But, as Robinson pointed out a decade ago, it’s a trait that relies on trial and error, the latter being something most of us quickly taught to fear and avoid.

“We’re now running national education systems where mistakes are the worst things you can make,” he said.

“We’re educating people out of their creative capacities.”

This is not the case at ISHCMC. From its pre-school classrooms, right up to the International Baccalaureate (IB), creative, imaginative and inspired thinking is encouraged in every subject, in every way.

“The traditional classroom is thrown right out of the window here,” says Frank Hua, the school’s IT integration specialist and middle-school design teacher. “We’re trying to teach the students that it’s okay to fail, to learn from what you did, then improve. It’s an ongoing cycle.”

The innovation at ISHCMC goes far beyond incorporating art into, say, a design and technology lesson - a rather AsiaLIFE HCMC 21

obvious leap. Instead, particularly in the earlier years, subjects appear to have no boundaries, with creativity and technology at the forefront in every class.

As students mature and begin to look towards university applications and higher education courses, some subjects are chosen over others, arts often taking second place alongside more traditionally ‘high-value’ disciplines.

Paul Gordon, ISHCMC’s college counsellor and careers and university advisor, says the school sees a lot of students strongly focused on mathematics and science.

“There is still a stereotype; this idea that universities will somehow value a student taking two sciences versus having an arts,” he says.

“We, as a school and as a counselling team, discourage that pretty strongly.”

Much of ISHCMC’s work concentrates on developing real-world knowledge, utilising industry-standard software suites, for example, and encouraging students to employ the range of skills one would require in the workplace.

“Employers are looking for students who can think creatively in a team setting a lot more than coming out with a degree in science and engineering,” says Gordon.

“At a university level they’re also encouraging that, redesigning their classrooms to encourage hands-on, interactive learning and teamwork - not just having a big auditorium with rows of seats.”

22 AsiaLIFE HCMC

British International School - A Nord Anglia Education School

AsiaLIFE meets Richard Harper, Head of Art, Catherine Sargent, Head of Drama, and Ian Alexander, Director of Music, to discuss the arts at BIS. AL: Do you still see a reluctancy among parents or students to embrace the arts?

RH: This is one of the biggest problems; this myth that the only careerpath is to become a famous artist.

CS: Or actor.

IA: Or musician.

RH: It’s been well documented that the creative industries in the UK are some of the fastest growing.

CS: According to the UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the creative industries made £71.4 billion (US$107.2 billion) for the British economy in 2012.

AL: So how does BIS put the ‘A’ into STEM? RH: Right now we’re in the middle of a Nord Anglia global challenge which focusses on the principles of STEAM. It’s a Rube Goldberg competition, to create a silly machine that is overly engineered but highly creative. We’ve done one in art, we’ve done one in drama where we used people; science have built one, PE… It’s highly collaborative.

CS: Also the Key-Stage

3 show next term will be all about STEAM. We’ll be showing mathematical equations through dance, for example, and explaining DNA and the stories of scientists’ lives through physical theatre.

AL: The BIS arts programme recently received a glowing review from the Juilliard School.

What makes a strong arts department?

IA: In music, I think it is the inclusivity, so everyone can get involved, whether you’re interested in chamber music or drumming. There are opportunities for everyone.

RH: In art we have the same kind of ideology.

We’re giving students the freedom to explore what they want to study.

CS: It’s about students taking ownership; being able to say ‘this is my idea’ and not, ‘my teacher has taught me this and now I’ve replicated it’.

AL: Is there a risk that the pursuit of creativity might overshadow fundamental knowledge?

RH: If you’re talking about learning facts by rote, it’s completely meaningless unless you know what to do with those facts.

If you’re just blindly absorbing what’s fed to you, then you’re not being educated. That’s not learning.

CS: It’s a much more skills-based education.

There’s the idea of ‘futureroofing’; the idea that there are industries that we don’t even know about yet, so in all of our subjects we’re

“THE MINUTE THEY’RE DOING MORE INTERESTING THINGS, THEY’RE MORE INTERESTED.” - SAM SHERRATT, PRIMARY YEARS IB COORDINATOR, ISHCMC.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 23

SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS OVER 800 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS, CATERING FOR OVER 300,000 STUDENTS.

24 AsiaLIFE HCMC

teaching students how to think for themselves, how to be independent, how to analyse and research things and ask questions.

RH: It doesn’t matter how well trained you are as an engineer, for example. If you really want to design the next amazing thing, you’ve got to think outside of the box, think beyond what has been developed already, and create something new. And you can only do that if you can think creatively.

Saigon South International School (SSIS)

“Computer screens have become a new easel,” says Alfredo Papaseit, the elementary school technology coach at SSIS. His words are supported by a recent World Economic Forum report that asked chief humanresources and strategy officers from leading global employers about what the current shifts in employment mean.

In the report’s top 10 skills, creativity ranked at 10 for 2015. By 2020, it’s forecast to be the third most essential skill, and with the current advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, this prediction is entwined with technology.

“What skills do you need when 15 percent of your

workforce are robots?” asks Robert Appino, the middle school’s technology coach. The answer is implied: imagination. “(Creativity) is something we have to nurture in schools,” he says. “Our kids are bombarded with all kinds of advertisements everyday. Part of being a critical thinker is being able to break down media.

So more than ever, when we’re looking at STEM or STEAM, it has to include that artistic element, it has to include the creativity end of things.”

Appino has seen firsthand how art can help students develop. He uses the example of a teenager in Grade 12 who he began teaching in Grade 6.

“She is a very introverted learner and communicator, but the way she can communicate through art - and with a bunch of different people - is very different to how she communicates verbally.

It gives kids access to another means of communication.”

Both Appino and Papaseit encourage the 955 students aged from three to 18 at SSIS to think more creatively and critically.

Papaseit says their main goal is to “get kids to believe they can be astronauts, engineers, computer scientists” and that this mindset “needs to start in elementary

school”.

A glance at the future of education demands that the typical childhood dream of becoming an astronaut will not be achieved without artistic thinking.

“In the past we tended to think about art as something more like expressing your feelings,” he says. “We’ve reached that point where art is actual real work, is real money.”

Papaseit sees students’ interaction with technology as an opportunity to create rather than consume.

Funding is becoming less of a problem for schools with fewer resources, he says, because the tools are becoming cheaper. For instance, a small computer called Raspberry Pi costs just $25.

“It’s really important we use tools like computers to help kids understand the concept behind STEAM,” adds Appino.

“But if you are a lowincome school, if you have got the right teachers and some cardboard, you could easily create a STEAM project that hits all those same levels.

“It would be a good starting point. Part of the thinking behind STEAM is to be able to rapidly produce different things and watch them fail.

You can do that with cardboard and have physical computing.”

AsiaLIFE HCMC 25

SAMARITAN MARITAN SA Alley ley Al Simon Stanley visits a corner of Saigon where those in need are given a helping hand. Photo by Vinh Dao.

26 AsiaLIFE HCMC

54

-year-old Do Van Ut, known as Viet, has lived on Hem 96, Phan Dinh Phung Street in Phu Nhuan district his whole life. For the past 30 years he has occupied a spot on the corner of the narrow alleyway offering roadside bike repairs and xe om rides.

Ten years ago, noticing how so many road accidents were occurring nearby, Viet decided to keep a small collection of medical supplies with his tools to assist those in need of urgent care. If it was a particularly bad crash, Viet and his xe om buddies would take people to the hospital in District 1. The price for all of this? Nothing - “mien phi”, as the Vietnamese goes - particularly for those who could not afford it. For Viet, it seemed natural to help those in need, even if at the time he could barely afford it himself.

As word of his idea spread, local residents were inspired by Viet’s generosity and began donating other types of medicines and medical supplies. People also collected funds for a small medicine cabinet as those less fortunate families came to rely on Viet’s offerings to help them with coughs, colds, headaches, sore throats and diarrhoea.

Ten years on and Viet is still there, the original medicine cabinet now joined by a much larger one with both bolted to the wall of the alleyway’s entrance and filled with pills, medicines, bandages and ointments all purchased with the community’s own money or with the funds kindly donated to them.

The alleyway’s charitable offerings have also stretched much further than free medicine. With the help of local and international donations, Viet and his neighbours are now able to volunteer a wide range of free services to the poor, the most popular of which appears to be the urn of iced tea parked out on the main road, with street vendors, road sweepers, scrap dealers and recycling collectors rolling up every few minutes to quench their thirst.

For those who cannot afford it, Viet also gives free motorbike repairs and xe om rides. “I want to help people because I know what it is like to be poor. I have been there myself,” he says, referring to a period in

his life when he too was without money, without a job and, for a time, without a home. “Also, I am Buddhist,” he adds, “so it is very important to me. For the lotteryticket vendors, they must sell 10 tickets to make just VND10,000 in profit. It’s so little. So when they need to repair their motorbikes, I don’t want to take anything from them.”

In Saigon’s baking heat, purchasing just one small bottle of water represents a massive outlay for someone who earns so little. Of course, there are those who take advantage of Hem 96’s generosity. “Yes, everyone drinks the tea,” admits Viet, “but I don’t mind. To me, it doesn’t matter who you are. Even if someone came and drank one or two litres, it’s fine.”

Hem 96, which has become known as ‘Samaritan Alley’ or ‘Free Alley’, has appeared in the Vietnamese press several times over the past year. As more and more come to know about the good work of this close-knit community, the number of donations continues to rise. Viet and his neighbours can now provide a twicemonthly free meal. “Everybody around here helps out,” says Viet, “either by donating a little bit of money or cooking a particular dish.”

In addition to medicines, iced tea, bike repairs, xe om rides and food, a local coffin maker completes the list of freebies, providing free coffins and funeral services when needed, something that frequently draws grieving families in from every corner of the city.

Although Hem 96 has become famous for the number of services it offers, all over Saigon, citizens are engaged in small everyday acts of charity. Despite recent reports that local authorities in Hanoi were banning the practice, urns of iced tea labelled ‘mien phi’ are ubiquitous all over Vietnam; a small, but in some cases, lifesaving gesture.

In September 2015 Thanh Nien news told the story of Nguyen Quoc Cuong, an 18-year-old street cobbler in HCMC who refuses to charge disabled people, lotteryticket vendors, cyclo drivers, street workers or those from disadvantaged families.

“There are many poor people who can’t even afford to have their shoes repaired. We just want to make life a bit easier for them,” he told the newspaper.

Further afield, a free bread and water cart quietly appeared in Hanoi recently, apparently wheeled out from a nearby shop each morning, with more than 100 banh mi rolls being made available throughout the day.

Like Viet, the people behind the bread cart have been extremely modest about their kindness. It seems to be the Vietnamese way; this natural and selfless propensity to help those in need.

Despite earning very little himself, Viet always refuses any personal donations, preferring instead to add everything to the pot for the next round of meals, or to resupply his medicine cabinet.

“It is good for my heart,” he says. “I don’t care so much about money.”

So if you ever find your self with a flat tyre near the Phan Dinh Phung / Hai Ba Trung bridge, look out for Viet and tip him well. Your money will be going to a good home.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 27

G N I L L R A O C F P L E H y nc is e g er rvice By m e e . ew nce s igon s. n a r A ula .

S b g to Majo Dao m a n ca nh i i mi co Mon by V oto Ph

28 AsiaLIFE HCMC

O

ne day I thought I was being smart by transiting on two feet instead of two wheels – until I was hit by four. The gory details of the incident aren’t important here, but as traffic continued unimpeded around the culprit-taxi and the red streak on the pavement, I was in need of medical assistance. Not only did I (apparently) not know how to successfully circumnavigate Saigon’s traffic, but I also did not know how or whom to call in an emergency (the official Vietnamese line for medical assistance is 115, by the way). The ever-soambitious taxi driver picked me up without consultation or approval and plopped me on the back seat of his vehicle. We then turned against traffic and zoomed toward an unknown destination – what I could only assume was either a dark hem or a hospital (50/50 at the time in my clouded mind).

“Benh vien - hospital,” I uttered, interrupting his agitated, but concerned, tirade. “Roi, roi, roi,” he finally answered and delivered me quickly and carefully to the International SOS Hospital in District 3. Fortunately, the rest of the story, and my recovery, end happily.

Based on my own experience, I spoke with locals, expatriates and tourists in HCMC regarding what to do in a medical emergency. Few were aware that there is a public system; less would call for assistance and even fewer expect an ambulance to arrive in time to be effective. Nearly all agreed that a taxi is the best option; some expats saying they’d rather call their embassy than the helpline. When asked if anyone has seen an ambulance in the city, most responded in question, “You mean that cryptic-looking van that sits in traffic like everyone else?” So where are we to turn?

My question led me to Family Medical Practice Vietnam (FMP), where there is a long and arduous process well underway to offer Vietnam’s first privatised emergency response system, *9999. Starting four years ago and overseen by FMP’s CEO Dr Rafi Kot, the aim is not only to bring medical care in Vietnam up to date with the major world players, but also to “rattle and shake the establishment”. Dr Kot has done that through a carefully orchestrated tier of checks and balances, starting first with the procurement of ProQA, the leading automated emergency dispatch system operating in 52 countries around the world (Vietnam is now the 53rd).

Saving Lives

Where used, ProQA decreases mortality by up to 33 percent. Fully automated, operators follow on-screen prompts based on the information received from the caller.

It effectively navigates operators through handling all medical queries, from itchy eyes and a running nose, to blood and ooze

and heart palpitations, or the unimaginable.

At the pre-ordained point of crisis, an ambulance is automatically dispatched while the operator continues to coach the caller through any helpful first-aid, or to collect more information. Two red flags here: qualified operators and effective ambulances. But Dr Kot’s taken care of that…

“I scouted and screened 1,100 candidates,” he says, “fluent in both Vietnamese and English.” Screening further for empathy and improvisation, Dr Kot narrowed it down to the team of nine that is now ready to take our calls. But before the operators were put in charge of fielding any sort of medical call, they went through a stringent programme designed to further humanise their approach.

“When patients call, they will likely feel uneasy, perhaps even panicked. They need to understand the instructions and feel that the operator on the end of the phone truly understands the urgency and details of the situation. The computer system

FMP’s emergency *9999 line will soon be available to all. For an annual fee, you receive the full coverage and guaranteed priority assistance. In an emergency, you’ll be taken to the nearest hospital or clinic as deemed appropriate by the attending physician. is spectacular, but we need that human connection. Communication is key,” Dr Kot continues. A drama teacher offered the team lessons on active listening and imparting confidence, while assistance from the British Council trained enunciation. The last step for the team was mastering ProQA, a surprisingly easy-to-follow software for how quintessential it is in saving lives. In addition, the system was translated and enriched into Vietnamese so as to ensure full usability.

According to FMP’s Head of Emergency Medicine, Dr Sergio Arellano, most accidents seen in the city are from motorbikes (as one would expect), and they normally happen at low speeds. Outside of such accidents there is a vast difference in the type of calls placed by locals and foreigners (including expats and tourists).

Local Vietnamese will seek medical assistance for any and all related upsets to their children, but will often forego even the most telling of symptoms in adults. Expats and tourists flock to, or call, emergency rooms often for stomach-related issues, heart palpitations and shortness of breath.

Dr Arellano was brought in to lead the emergency management system, including six state-of-the-art ambulances soon to be seen meticulously navigating Districts 1, 2, Binh Thanh and parts of 3. Imported from Canada and each identical in facade, power and equipment, they are the real deal, imposing in authority and capable of barrelling through median barriers and opposing traffic like a neon-orange lightsabre. All the necessary bells and whistles needed for triage, life support and transfer – including to as far away as Nha Trang are set in these mobile ICU’s. The one thing they’re missing: paramedics.

Expertise

The terminology for paramedics does not yet exist in Vietnam and as such is not a recognised occupation for work permit purposes. Instead, a physician and nurse make up the crew in each of the ambulances. Some of the nurses are actually certified paramedics from overseas, but are hired under the slightly less authoritative title. The rest are fully qualified and licensed nurses from around the world and Vietnam.

With a fully qualified call centre, unparalleled EMS software, modern ambulances and well-trained professionals, the *9999 system will be a welcome addition to a city growing as rapidly as Saigon. It’s clever too. Based on artificial intelligence within ProQA, each of the six ambulances will be positioned throughout the three districts based on the probability that an incident will happen in the immediate vicinity. This calculation dramatically shortens the response time, which in the United States is benchmarked at eight minutes from the time a call is received to aid arriving on the scene. Eight minutes.

Last I checked it took me that long to clear a single block on Pasteur Street. “There are two hurdles we still need to clear: the dogma that we are better off calling a taxi instead of a helpline, and the unrelenting traffic,” Dr Kot says with the confidence that his team can do so.

FMP’s emergency *9999 line will soon be available to everybody in the city. For an annual fee, you receive the full coverage and guaranteed priority assistance from professionals. In an emergency, you’ll be taken to the nearest hospital or clinic as deemed appropriate by the attending physician. Nothing in the system is haphazard; even the number was chosen after focus groups determined which number was easiest to remember. While the programme is privatised, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has already come through to examine the capabilities of the team and software, expressing a keen interest to advance the as yet untrusted public system. And for so many proven reasons, we’ll all be better off staying out of taxis with our bloodied elbows.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 29

EXTRA FUN

Foreign extras in Vietnam tell Lorcan Lovett about their experiences in the local film industry. Photo by Vinh Dao.

30 AsiaLIFE HCMC

W

hat Kong: Skull Island brought to Vietnam was bigger and more ferocious than anyone could have ever imagined.

During the recent shooting of the King Kong sequel in the country’s most dramatic landscapes, a beast was stirred within the expat community by agencies calling for stand-ins who resembled the Hollywood cast to help with the lighting and camera setup.

Ten tons of Facebook frenzy leapt from the screen as foreigners who thought they had the same skin tone, height and build as the actors responded to the chance of adventure and maybe a break into the heady industry.

But those foreign thespians seeking fame, fortune and a chance to perfect their method acting may feel a tad restrained in Vietnam.

English teacher-cum-actor and casting agent, Kris Wilkinson, 37, has bounced between playing businessmen, backpackers, and bad boyfriends for nine years.

“The bad boyfriend is a very fun role,” says the former history teacher from Oldham, England. “You know, at the start of the movie you have ‘boy meets girl’, but the girl has the bad boyfriend and they have to get over that hurdle. I’m like the hurdle.”

Playing a soldier is another common but more haphazard role for foreign men. Tales like ‘village hero kills French Colonialist/American GI’ go down nicely, as do ‘city boy signs contract with foreign businessman’.

War Games “They were taking us 10ft up on these helicopters,” remembers teacher and musician Todd J Frye, 54, from Oregon in the US, who was acting out a raid on a village with his make-believe US battalion at the time.

“These rotors are just spinning wild and I’m jumping out, like a soldier would, into what would be a swamp or a bog, and I’m falling on my face. It was a big workout.”

For Wilkinson, things got real when he was playing a sword-wielding French general circa 1800s. The director wanted him to run, scream, and then fall over on a certain spot as he joined his lackeys in a deathly clash with the villagers.

Wilkinson says he channeled the words of Michael Caine in the veteran’s book Acting in Film – apparently, a must-have for every TV actor – and asked the director to act out the stunt

first incase there were any surprises.

Unfortunately the director refused, pointing at the ground where Wilkinson was to fall.

“I’m hacking through the peasants, leading this charge,” he recalls. “I run with my sword out and get there and the whole ground just disappears.

“They built this huge trap about 8ft across into a proper man trap. I banged my head falling down into the mud and gunk. They could have put a mattress down there or something. It was 6ft deep.”

In preparation for the next scene, Wilkinson donned a prosthetic belt of bamboo spikes and dropped back into the pit.

“They got Vietnamese extras playing other dead people to lie on top of me and then they just filmed my face.”

- Kris Wilkinson, 37 “They got Vietnamese extras playing other dead people to lie on top of me and then they just filmed my face. This is why I get asked back. Just saying yes is a big part of it.”

Beautiful Ladies and Wealthy Men Being typecast as the ruthless invader has not deterred Frye.

“I know my personality creates a very sinister villain on film. I typically would go after parts that involved the character of the villain when, you know, I’m a schoolteacher,” he says, cracking into a near-sinister laugh.

Wilkinson’s break came in 2007 when his friends in the business said they were doing a show and, he says, “needed a white guy”.

It was a telenovela soap opera called Kieu Nu va Dai Gia (Beautiful Ladies and Wealthy Men) which has been repeated numerous times on Vietnamese television.

The plot, according to Wilkinson, was about “high quality escorts that come from the countryside,” and sells itself as “a sordid and moralistic tale about their unhappy lives in the city”.

Frye is fairly sure he was in the same series, starring as “a French gangster

pimping a girl that was married to a boy that owed me money”.

Casting Out Wilkinson, whose strong grasp on the Vietnamese language has landed him roles as a TV presenter, made connections during the soap opera and has since become the go-to casting man for companies that need foreign extras.

Vietnamese people in the streets occasionally recognise him from TV although he says they have a “more level-headed” approach to fame than Western culture.

His last job in March was an advert to be aired in Australia for a luxury travel company. He was asked to find “a fat French man”.

“Like a really big, fat French man,” he says. “I was told Thao Dien is a good place to find French people at night so I went to a bunch of the bars.”

Wilkinson found his man but the production company had second thoughts and changed its request to, in his description, “a hot, 10/10 blonde girl”, which inspired a visit to Saigon Soul Pool Party. Naturally, he wore a shirt and tie to keep it formal.

“I went around, talking to the girls in the bikinis,” he says. “None of them were keen to do it. I think they have had a lifetime of strange men coming up to them and asking them to do things.

They’re naturally weary.”

Wilkinson explains that ‘speaking talent’ can be paid anywhere from VND500,000 to over a million for each ‘scene set-up’ in which the crew arranges the cameras and lighting among other duties.

He has also spoken to website Vice about his job as a casting agent. The feature reported that he gets paid anything from US$50 to several grand for a blockbuster and, in turn, he pays extras depending on their attitude.

Enthusiasm gets you less, the story read, because it shows the extra is there for a “wacky experience” and not to pay the bills, plus the crew may take a liking to the person and poach Wilkinson’s job.

Wilkinson, however, told me that people who are reliable and have a good attitude get the call back for more work.

People don’t do it for the money, he says, but because it’s fun and exciting.

Anyone looking for some of that fun in Saigon can possibly join Wilkinson, who is currently looking for comedy actors – particularly those who like British comedy - to help with a new project that he plans to post on YouTube.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 31

tnam’s res Vie lo p x e ech y the Cz Stanle h n it o w im ip S sh o. relation inh Da V y historic b o t lic. Pho Repub

H C E Z

C

E T MA

32 AsiaLIFE HCMC

“W

hat’s that doing there?” many first-time visitors to Hoa Vien Brauhaus will ask. Hidden at the end of an otherwise sedate hem on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, this cavernous and immensely popular Czech beerhall and restaurant feels rather incongruous among the bun bo hue and ca phe sellers nearby.

Despite being 9,250 kilometres apart, the 65-year-old relationship between the Czech Republic and Vietnam is both a surprising and fascinating one.

In the political turbulence of post-war Europe, Czechoslovakia became a socialist state in 1948 following a Soviet-backed coup. Seeking support from other socialist nations, it established diplomatic relations with The Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1950 and started a programme of economic and industrial cooperation in 1955.

Throughout the American War, as well as supplying North Vietnam with technologies and machinery (in exchange for raw materials like rubber, bamboo and zinc), Czechoslovakia - a world leader in the production of weapons - became the main source of armaments for the North Vietnamese Army. Semtex was a particularly common import. Developed by the Czech chemist Stanislav Brebera in the late 50s, the plastic explosive went into mass-production principally to supply President Ho Chi Minh’s forces.

According to Ondra Slowik, a linguist who works closely with the Vietnamese community in today’s Czech Republic, North Vietnam’s new ally also offered its expertise and know-how to help develop domestic industry and infrastructure.

“Even today you can see the VietnameseCzechoslovak hospital in Hai Phong,” he says, “or the Vietnamese-Czechoslovak lock factory.”

Labour Exchange “In 1956, 100 Vietnamese children arrived at an orphanage in Chrastava, Bohemia,” Slowik continues, “a region in the north of today’s Czech Republic. They were not orphans but carefully selected children of Vietnamese government officials or war heroes. They went to learn the Czech language in order to work as interpreters for the governments in the future.”

This was the start of a long line of such programmes. In 1967 the first group of 2,100 skilled Vietnamese workers arrived in Czechoslovakia to be trained in fields such as heavy industry, construction, food processing and, interestingly, filmmaking.

In the late 70s, with Vietnam now facing a large war debt (and Czechoslovakia a shortage of labour), an agreement was signed under which 8,700 students and 32,000 workers from Vietnam would be shipped out to take advantage of university scholarships and vocational training.

Ngo Hong Chuyen was one of them. In 1983, aged 18, he left his family in Hanoi to

study as an electrical technician in Prague. economies, so the strategic partnership with “I was quite lucky to be able to go (there),” the Czech Republic is not so appealing. he says. “It was much better to be able to There is a sense of sentiment on the study something and see the world.”

Vietnamese side but not enough to provoke Chuyen and his comrades suddenly faced any major diplomatic action.” Slowik also a new and unfamiliar culture and a very points out that the Vietnamese President different climate, though few were overly visited Prague in 2015, so the situation is concerned, as he explains: “At that time, open to change.

Vietnam was in a critical condition. Life was hard. We were very lucky…

For the Vietnamese who chose not only because we could learn, not to return, many have gone but we had good food and on to own successful importgood living conditions. The export businesses, continuing By the mid 1980s, cold weather was nothing the flow of goods and Czechoslovakia was to us.” services between the two home to approximately old friends. In Czech cities, Chuyen finished his 28,000 Vietnamese studies and remained in the Vietnamese population the country, working for is becoming increasingly citizens. a further three years (as per integrated; Prague even the agreement), in order to has its own ‘Sapa Market’. In pay back his fees. As the Soviet recent years, Vietnamese food has Union collapsed, 1989’s Velvet Revolution experienced a boom too, offering new and brought about an end to communism in lucrative opportunities for the original Czechoslovakia and, in 1993, the Czech ‘settlers’ and their children. Today, around Republic emerged. Chuyen had returned to 60,000 Vietnamese nationals are living in Vietnam in 1990, though, as he explains, he the Czech Republic, making ‘Nguyen’ is was one of the few. “My family was here, the ninth most common surname in the but of course everyone had family. Many country. did not come back because they did not see As for Chuyen and his fellow former a future here.” expatriates, the Czech Republic and the The Velvet Revolution marked a turning warmth of its people will never be forgotten. point for the Vietnamese in Czechoslovakia.

“For the people who have been there, they Previously forbidden from working outside still love it,” he says. “They are always of the state-run factories, or sleeping looking to go back to visit but it is very hard outside of state-run dormitories, they were to get a visa.” now able to start their own businesses, Today, Chuyen is the most famous nonmake their own money and integrate more Czech Czech man in Saigon. As well as fully. being the head of the Hoa Vien empire, he’s C is for Capitalism the president of Club Praha (a Viet-Czech friendship group), an avid promoter of As a newly formed state, ties to Czech culture and products, and has been Vietnam loosened in the early 90s and the the Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic exclusive trade deals became redundant in Ho Chi Minh City for the past 15 years. (although diplomatic relations continued “There are not too many Czechs visiting uninterrupted). Chuyen was back in Vietnam now,” he says, “but every month Vietnam and struggling to find work. “In there is something to do: lost passports, 1993 I went to a restaurant on Dong Khoi health issues, accidents…whatever the that sold German draft beer,” he says, embassy want, I do.” referring to Gartenstadt, Saigon’s oldest It’s a Monday night at Hoa Vien and German restaurant. I said ‘why aren’t we the place is buzzing. As we empty our drinking Czech beer?’ (so) I contacted the one-litre steins of beer, Chuyen presents a Pilsner brewery and we began importing bottle of Hammerhead Single Malt Whisky.

Pilsner Urquell in 1995.”

“Czech whisky?” I ask. He nods. “It’s a very Meanwhile, Chuyen had opened his interesting story.” own restaurant. The name? Hoa Vien. Over Distilled just before the Velvet 20 years later and his empire now boasts Revolution by a state-owned company, it five locations across Vietnam. While he was placed into oak barrels and - as the still imports Pilsner Urquell by the barrel blurb goes - “the wall fell and the whisky - making Vietnam one of only a handful of was forgotten”. It lay undiscovered for 25 nations outside of the Czech Republic to years. “They only bottle it when you order offer the lager on tap - Hoa Vien also brews it,” he adds, pouring me a dram. Distilled its own beers (with 100 percent Czech in Czechoslovakia, bottled in the Czech ingredients, of course).

Republic and served in Vietnam - it’s history As Vietnam continues to open its doors in a glass. “Na zdraví!” to international markets, the attachments Ondra Slowik is a PhD student of phonetics at Charles to the Czech Republic have become more University, Prague, and is currently translating Vu of nostalgia than economic necessity.

Trong Phung’s 1936 novel So Do (‘Dumb Luck’) from “Vietnam is now a rapidly developing Vietnamese into Czech. country,” says Slowik, “representing a lucrative market for many major world AsiaLIFE HCMC 33

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

E R A D R HA

Simon Stanley asks the question.

Photo by Vinh Dao.

34 AsiaLIFE HCMC

S D BE LY L A RE D O GO R O F U O Y ?

A

t one point in history, everyone slept on the floor, or at least on a mammoth-skin thrown on the ground. As time marched on and people began to raise themselves up from the cold and the dirt, two distinct styles of bed emerged: hard and soft. As Europeans stuffed their beds with straw, leaves and hair (eventually giving us the sprung mattress we know today), many parts of Asia stuck with firmer surfaces. For those in poorer countries, of course, regardless of location, the floor was often the only choice.

As anyone who has travelled across Asia will tell you, the preference for hard beds remains, and indeed many Vietnamese will still take the floor over a soft mattress any day. For Westerners, however, the idea can be baffling - the softer the better, right?

Wrong.

“In general, the vast majority of people will have back problems develop much more readily on a soft bed than on a hard one,” explains Dr Wade Brackenbury, founder of HCMC’s American Chiropractic Clinic. “A soft bed tends to allow the body to sag which puts the spine into a slight ‘C’ curve. If you are sleeping on your side, this means that the top side of the spine will be compressed while the bottom of the spine, being on the outside of the curve, is stretched. This is often a problem caused by cheap, box-spring mattresses that have worn out.”

If you’ve ever spent the night on an old cheap mattress, you’ll know the feeling.

In the short-term, it might mean a crabby morning and a dozen hip circles in your PJs, but over time, poor quality sleep carries numerous health risks - not just back problems: anxiety, headaches, reduced cognitive ability; the list is long and scary.

Expert advice suggests that if you frequently wake up with back pain that can be stretched out within 15 to 30 minutes, your mattress may be harming your health.

overlook a few days of bruised shoulders and hips as your body adapts.

It is, however, only recommended for those who sleep on their back. In contrast to soft beds that have sunk in the middle, a sideways sleeping position on a hard surface can raise the pelvis above the head and shoulders, leading to an S-shaped curve in the spine.

So, are hard beds bad for you? In short, it seems that the answer is ‘not entirely’.

For Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, the question is not about how hard or soft a bed is, but how well made it is. Thuy is a director at Family Care Asia, the sole importer of global mattress brand Sealy Posturepedic in Vietnam.

“Sealy beds are famous for their special coil design system,” she explains. “It’s a linked system, not a pocket system like many cheaper beds, which are easily broken.”

Made with titanium, this interlinked arrangement is virtually indestructible and offers the best support for the spine regardless of which model you choose, she says.

“It just depends on how you feel. We don’t say that a hard mattress will be better or a soft mattress will be better, it’s based on your needs.

“Sealy coils react to the weight of your body, so the heaviest part - the hips and the waist - will sink more, so the position of your body will not change and the spine will remain straight.”

Sealy beds’ bombproof design and cloudlike comfort have made them the choice for high-end accommodation all over the globe, with the Caravelle, the Hotel des Arts and the Intercontinental among their long list of local clients.

“The Sealy warranty lasts for 10 years,” says Thuy. “After that time, many hotels will sell them on to other resorts. We checked with them and found that some beds had been in use for 18 years. It’s quite unbelievable that a bed will last that long in a hotel and is still in a good condition.”

Samuel Kettle patented the first coilsprung bed in 1865

Taking to the Floor

People all over the world, including many professional health advisors, boast about the benefits of sleeping on a solid surface; improved posture, better hip and shoulder alignment, and reduced back pain are all supposedly up for grabs if you’re willing to

particularly when spread over a decade or more.

For those looking for something a little cheaper, Dr Brackenbury suggests opting for a bed that is soft on the very top but firm deeper in. “This prevents sagging, and, therefore, pain, yet the bed still feels soft enough to be comfortable,” he says.

Though Sealy has had a retail presence in Vietnam since 2004 (mainly prompted by hotel guests wanting to purchase their own piece of five-star luxury), many older Vietnamese are still happy with the traditional option. “In Vietnamese culture, we don’t really care about our beds,” says Thuy. “We don’t really mind because we can sleep anywhere. People prefer to spend their money on things like TVs and airconditioning. But nowadays, young people are getting more educated, their quality of life is improving and they get to travel more. Also, work is getting more stressful and many are realising that sleep is very important, so they are paying more attention to their beds.”

While sprung mattresses may take a while to become commonplace in Vietnam, both Thuy and Dr Brackenbury point to South Korea as being the most hardcore nation when it comes to beds. “I spent several years there in the 1980s,” says Dr Brackenbury.

“At that time nearly all Koreans slept on hard, heated floors, often made of concrete with rice paper on top. When they travelled, they usually slept on the floor of the hotel, sometimes even finding the carpet to be disagreeably soft.”

The American Chiropractic Clinic is at 161 Hai Ba Trung, D3. Visit acc.vn for more information.

Let’s Talk Price

A Sealy mattress is not cheap - prices start at around VND42 million (US$1,880) - yet given that we spend around a third of our lives in bed, it’s not such a bad investment, AsiaLIFE HCMC 35

48

hours IN

SINGAPORE

W

hen you think of Singapore, you may think of the skyscrapers that dominate the skyline, or the picturesque Marina Bay area. The images may be conjured alongside the sheer expense of the visit and, let’s be honest, the word ‘sterile’ may appear in your mind.

Out of the 10 countries in the ASEAN region, Singapore has portrayed itself as the sensible, straight-laced one. The rules and regulations that are plastered everywhere help perpetuate this image but, if you allow yourself to, you will find fun here.

Tiger Airlines flies directly from Ho Chi Minh City (SGD$160 / VND2.6 million return). Check into the Robertson Quay Hotel (15 Merbau Rd) and, although it is $100 per night (VND1.6 million), it is basic, but right in the heart of a trendy suburb and only one kilometre to Chinatown.

Exploring Singapore on the sophisticated MRT train network is the cheapest and

36 AsiaLIFE HCMC

easiest way to access what the city has to offer.

Friday

1) Jalan Sultan | 10pm

With a show to catch we headed straight to Fresh! Bar (#02-01 The Sultan, 101 Jalan Sultan) in the Arab Street and Kampong Glam area. The 90s inspired bar, with its loud pop art graffiti, also hosts events throughout the month with generous drink deals.

Singapore’s famous Indian drag queen, Ra Ra Kumar, took centre stage that night.

Tickets for the stand-up comedy show were $55 (VND900,000), with free flow drinks from 10pm until midnight. Political correctness was thrown completely out of the window with Kumar’s outspoken but hilarious jokes.

After the show, walk less than 100 metres to where inexpensive delicious Chinese food is served up. Spicy beef with black pepper,

stir-fried chicken noodles and an assortment dumplings all for $12.50 (VND204,000) per person which makes a tasty late night snack.

Saturday

2) Robertson Quay | 11am

Recovery brunch was in order. Epicurious Café (#01-02 The Quay Side, 60 Robertson Quay) was a stone’s throw from the hotel.

With its hearty breakfasts and detoxifying smoothies on offer, the unpretentious menu boasts a variety of dishes. Both tourists and residents alike frequent the cafe; some with sorer heads than others.

The riverside Robertson Quay area is more relaxing that its sister neighbourhood, Clarke Quay, with some trendier bars and restaurants. A stroll along the riverbanks in the fresh air is a nice way to ease into the weekend. Stop off for lunch at one of the restaurants and find an array of different cuisines, from Spanish tapas and Chinese to Belgian and Vietnamese. The atmosphere

Claudia Davaar Lambie celebrates her birthday in the island city-state with a weekend of fun and food.

Photos by Vinh Dao.

around this area begins to pick up in the late afternoon and tables soon fill amid the buzzing echoes resonating along the riverfront.

3) Marina Bay Sands | 6pm

Walking around this iconic architectural masterpiece is a weekend getaway in itself.

Built in 2011, Marina Bay Sands was one of the most complex design projects in the world. The boat-shaped structure is home to an infinity pool that perches atop three 55-storey towers.

There are a plethora of high-end fashion outlets, bars, restaurants, a casino and a museum. There are even gondola rides along the make-shift river which runs through the centre of the shopping area. But all this luxury comes at a price; a cocktail in one of the bars can set you back $30, making it one of the priciest places in the city.

The harbour side is flanked by steel grey skyscrapers where by day, a flurry of business takes place. At night, the light show entertains passersby. The long promenade that stretches along the bay is lined with palm trees and it is common to see cyclists, roller-skaters and Segway riders whizzing by.

4) Show Time | 7.30pm

The Marina Bay Sands Theatre is home to a number of productions every month. The Cirque Eloize show iD is a must see. The two hour show cleverly blends circus art and urban dance. There are 15 performers, from contortionists and trapeze artists to bikers and jugglers. The show was reminiscent of a modern-day take on West Side Story, with each ‘gang’ trying to outdo one another with their perilous stunts.

Watching the show, you can hear gasps as

audience members shield their eyes, hoping that the performers make it safely back to the ground.

5) Bread Street Kitchen | 9.30pm

In June 2015, the world famous chef Gordon Ramsay opened the doors to one of his newest restaurants, right on the Marina Bay. Bread Street Kitchen is one of his more relaxed establishments, in a brasserie-style setting.

In true Ramsay fashion, there are some British classic dishes on the menu. The beef brisket with piccalilli as a starter was delicious. His signature beef wellington was a showstopper: tender meat encased in perfectly crusted pastry with generous helpings of buttery vegetables, smooth mash potato and Béarnaise sauce. The cheese cake mixed with a drizzle of Monkey Shoulder whiskey was a tribute to the chef’s Scottish roots.

Sunday

6) Orchard Road | 11am

There’s still time left to explore the city before returning to Saigon. On 68 Orchard Road, towards the Dhoby Ghaut area, you can find Plaza Singapura. This precinct is a gold mine of Asian cuisine eateries.

A must try is the Tim Ho Wan restaurant on the ground floor which serves astonishingly affordable Michelin star dim sum at around $5 (VND81,000) per dish.

Although there is always a queue to get in, it is worth the wait.

Time to head home. The number 36 bus from Orchard Road takes you straight to Changi Airport for just $2.50 (VND40,500).

Until next time, Singapore.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 37

O

ur tuk-tuk driver wears jeans, a Manchester City Football Club top, and a denim cap. Turning back to his passengers, he introduces himself as ‘Blue’.

I try to explain my destination, although I’m not sure of the exact location. Blue nods, returning the same cheerful acknowledgement we expressed on hearing his name, closely followed by a caution about the town of Kep. Exploring the abandoned villas of this small curve in the Cambodian coastline is getting harder by the day. Caretakers, in the handful of unoccupied houses that have been purchased, have replaced the squatters; in others, renovation has already been completed; some have been swallowed by nature and local police have moved into the more stable structures.

Whether it’s from the police or the families, Blue understandably doesn’t want any trouble for the sake of a couple of tourists, so he waits out of sight near the open gates of the ‘Queen’s Palace’.

38 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Venturing up the drive, we see a troop of macaques squabbling over some domestic dispute. I reach a battered outdoor pantry from which, looking out across the landscape, one can grasp how small the town’s stretch of beach is below.

Blue mentioned this building is around 80 years old. It’s a sprawling, hilltop bungalow with a bare flagpole that once waved something during its Gatsby-esque heyday.

Now, naked, it still stands, long after the after-party.

Referencing fiction rather than fact is easier in a place where recent history is dark beyond comprehension. Reports say all the local French speakers were taken to a nearby petrol station and burned alive when the Khmer Rouge came in 1975.

The town’s spiralling path was settled before that. Founded by the French as a colonial retreat in 1908, it began to flourish during the 1950s and ‘60s, serving as a playground for Cambodia’s wealthy elite.

Even royalty was drawn to the seaside attraction. King Norodom Sihanouk and

his associates enjoyed Kep and its nearby islands, and locals say he gifted ‘Queen’s Palace’ to his wife.

Sihanouk had his own stately residence where he entertained guests on the coastline. Then, in 1970, he was ousted in the Lon Nol coup and Cambodia became increasingly sucked into Vietnam’s war with the US, with the violence spilling across the border.

The holidaymakers moved out, the ghosts moved in, and the looting of Phnom Penh’s aristocrats’ luxury homes began. It took decades for Kep’s beautiful surroundings to allure tourists again, partly because of local militia based in the decaying villas after Vietnam ended Pol Pot’s regime.

Behind the bungalow, unseen dogs start barking and chattering voices amplify around the shattered bricks and glass. Realising this villa is definitely still inhabited, we pace out to avoid any confrontation.

After a short drive to Sihanouk’s former residence, a gardener politely shuts the

Remnants of luxury villas point towards Kep’s glamorous past on the coast of Cambodia, and, as the ruins fade away, the town’s beauty is taking hold again.

By Lorcan Lovett. Photos by Vinh Dao.

gates on us, but it’s for the best, says Blue, because the building’s structure, still peppered in bullet holes, is unsafe.

In the hills, Blue jumps from his tuk-tuk and climbs a dilapidated wall tagged by Dutch street-artist Amok Island, who spraypainted a centipede along its side last year.

Blue points to the art and utters his distaste for the biting insects, rubbing the skin of his arm.

Out of the Ruins We see more ruins on the winding route to the national park, which offers an 8km trek through the wilderness (US$1 entry) - the remnants of an iron gate, half a stone wall – yet it’s the views, the pagodas, the wildlife including snakes, squirrels and more monkeys, that grab my attention.

Unlike the symbiotic permanence of Angkor Wat’s temples, the jungle will be brief in consuming these architectural skeletons, but they bring a haunting salience that will unnerve this century’s visitors.

I feel a tinge of shame for coming here, seeking voyeuristic thrills to see the desolate echoes of lives that probably came to a premature, violent end. Blue, now in his late 40s, had shared his own story with us. He undoubtedly sees a brighter future for his daughter.

Perhaps it’s best to leave his story where we heard it. Maybe it’s better for visitors like me to acknowledge the history rather than seek it. We take a 30-minute boat ride ($9 return) to ‘Rabbit Island’ (or Koh Thonsay) from the town’s little port.

Our boat, with its turquoise wooden hull sharing the hue of the sea, brushes up onto the golden coast. Palm trees and deck chairs dapple the sand and, behind these, are huts for rent (from $8 per night), thick forest, and nothing else.

As the island’s chummy dogs rough out beds for themselves, we watch Kep swallow the sun and fall asleep with the knowledge that Cambodia’s present times will always draw us back.

Getting There

We travelled from Saigon to Ha Tien via a comfortable sleeper-bus ($12), then boarded a minibus to the Cambodian border five minutes away, paying $26 for a visa ($6 for greasing the agency’s hands, including a ‘health declaration’) and a curiously pricey $15 for the 40-minute ride from the border to Kep. All was pre-arranged with Viet Dream Travel on Bui Vien.

Those short on cash can cut out the middle man: visit bus company kumhosamco. com, which travels from Mien Tay bus station, buy an overnight or daytime ticket, then go directly to the porous (at least for locals) border via a motorbike or cab. Just be prepared to haggle for taxis on the other side.

This coastal route dodges Phnom Penh’s frantic transport hub. As well as saving time, it crosses bucolic scenes of white cows languidly grazing behind thatched huts, with the occasional temple-dotted hill rolling in the background.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 39

FOOD NEWS Savouring the tastier side of Saigon life

24-Hour Banh Mi at Banh Nam

After arriving in Binh Thanh District in January, Banh Nam has opened its second 24/7 branch, this time on Vo Van Kiet Street, D1. With the same five varieties as the original, prices start at just VND19,000. “Banh Nam is a grab-and-go Vietnamese street-food concept,” says co-founder Timen Swijtink, “with a focus on freshlymade banh mi along with a range of snacks, desserts, and drinks.

Banh Nam is not trying to reinvent the banh mi; it is just adding cleanliness, convenience, and consistency. But we are, and always will be authentically Vietnamese.”

151A Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Binh Thanh District - 24 Vo Van Kiet, D1.

Banhnam.vn

French Kebabs in Japan Town

From among the ramen shops and sushi counters of Le Thanh Ton’s alleyways comes Panam, a slang term for ‘Paris’, serving up a compact menu of homemade kebabs inspired by those found on the streets of the French metropolis. Having arrived at the end of 2015, Panam recently added a lunchtime delivery service within District 1 (minimum spend VND60,000), perfect for a touch of mid-week office-based food envy. While marinated chicken and lamb options are standard (starting at just VND30,000), with a falafel version on the way, the American Breakfast Kebab sounds like our kind of lunch (VND100,000).

15B/62 Le Thanh Ton, D1. FB: Panam Kebab

SaycheesE 12 April is officially Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day and there are plenty of places across town to get involved. Here are our top spots:

The Elbow Room Bistro & Diner - For the puritans, go for the thick multigrain sandwich loaded with Emmental, cheddar and brie. The smoked ham, cranberry and brie sarnie is also a perfectly acceptable method of celebration. Both VND200,000.

Con Bo Map - In addition to its burgers, Con Bo Map offers a range of cheese and breadbased concoctions to die for, from classic toasted sandwiches to panini and baguettes, stuffed with everything from cheddar and red onions to mozzarella and grilled peppers.

Pasteur Street Brewing Company - With a glass of Jasmine IPA in one hand and a gooey wedge of bread and cheddar in the other, what more could you need? They even throw in a homemade tomato soup.

VND125,000 +VAT (set lunch combo price, including a small beer).

cafeof themonth

Cutting the Ribbon on Thai Street

Forget the HCMC Metro; Thao Dien has just been linked to Bangkok’s BTS system. Find the curious-looking (and fake) Thai food-cart parked at 26 Thao Dien and head down the adjacent alley into Thai Street, with authentic signs, neon lights, and yes, a model BTS station. Boasting several (real) food-carts pumping out steam, flames and a variety of superb Thai dishes, it’s one of the most exciting restaurants we’ve seen in a long time. With double thumbsup from several local Thai-food junkies including our own photo editor and food blogger, Vinh Dao, and prices hovering around VND100,000 per dish, it’s an institution in-the-making.

26 Thao Dien, District 2. FB: Thai Street

Perfecting the Craft

The brewers featured in our craft beer cover story for February 2016, Hops and Dreams, are seeing their vision rapidly come to light, particularly in District 2, as Bier Ecke on Nguyen Ba Lan opened its doors in March. The decor feels a little familiar to the district’s original craft beer hub, Bia Craft, but with Pasteur Street, Platinum and a dark Gauden beer on tap, it’s not the end of the world. While other local brews are missing from the lineup, Ecke’s still worthy of a pin in the craft beer map.

Judging by a nearby venue under construction in March, Ecke may not be the last bar in town to follow the trend.

14 Nguyen Ba Lan, D2. FB: Bier Ecke

The December Co.

Collaborations between the Vietnam Coffee Republic, Pasteur Street Brewing Company and The Hair Club fashion line comprise the ‘coffee and clothes’ concept of The December Co. Its whiteout, minimalist theme, with neon accents vividly seen in their blue and orange cups, definitely makes the experience ‘Instagrammable’.

Plus, if you don’t fancy specialty coffee, you can chill on their balcony with a glass of craft beer.

Unit 4, 1st Floor, 42 Ly Tu Trong, D1

40 AsiaLIFE HCMC

LOCAL

EATS by

TRISTAN NGO

The Three Oldest Eateries in Town

Thien Nam Restaurant

53 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1 // 08 3822 3634 // 10am - 10.30pm Only a block away from The Elbow Room is Nha Hang Thien Nam. This familyrun establishment has been going strong for three generations and remains largely unchanged since opening in 1961.

Entering the restaurant is like taking a trip into the past. The decor is European-Bavarian with white-cloth tables and stained-glass windows. The walls are bare except for the chalkboard menu which offers a mix of Western cuisine such as beefsteak, escargot and pastas, and Vietnamese / Chinese favourites. Clad in bow ties, white shirts and black slacks, some of the waiters are as old as the restaurant itself.

We ordered the crispy-skin chicken and deep-fried mantou (Chinese steamed buns). Both were divine. Then came baked clams with Swiss cheese.

For the finale I decided on the pan-fried pork chop with pomme frites. It was so tasty and tender. Even I have a hard time getting pork chops that tender.

Chuyen Ky Restaurant

65-67 Ton That Dam, D1 // 08 3829 0150 // 9.30am - 9.30pm Since 1948, Tiem Com Tho Cho Cu Chuyen Ky has passed through three generations, from grandmother to mother and now daughter. The current owner, My, proudly told me that they are the oldest in the city (in truth, they are second).

The name literally means ‘potted rice place in the old market’, but to the locals it is simply known as Chuyen Ky. The signature rice with steamed ginger chicken, cooked in a little clay pot, is the popular choice. The ginger was powerful and made the dish outstanding. They’re also known for their doubleboiled black chicken soup (ga ac tiem). Flavoured with traditional Chinese herbs such as ginseng root, dried red dates and wolf berries, it’s invigorating and nutritious; a great hangover cure if you can get over the blackness of the chicken.

Tan Sanh Hoat Restaurant

322 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3 // 08 3834 0858 // 4am - 12pm Tan Sanh Hoat is a modest Cantonese establishment run by Mr Phuc and his wife. Mr Phuc’s father opened the restaurant in 1934 during the French colonialist era. This makes it the oldest continuously run eatery in town. For that reason alone, it demands a visit.

The inside is crowded but clean. Don’t expect tablecloths and fine china, but instead homemade dim sum served on mini-plates upon arrival. Menu items such as steamed buns, ha cao (steamed shrimp dumplings), xiu mai (pork dumplings) and chicken feet are not bad, but they are better-known for their old-style noodle soups. These include hu tieu (white flat noodles), mi (egg noodles), mi hoanh thanh (noodles with wontons), mi sui cao (noodles with prawn dumplings) and bun gao (stir-fried vermicelli). Whichever you choose, the broth is outstanding - probably the best I have had in Vietnam. It’s a popular place so visit during off-peak hours.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 41

8

CITY DRINKS

MALT 46 – 48 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 // FB: Malt // 4pm – 12am // 09 1848 4763

This American-style bar offers a casual setting, good beer, and, in a groundbreaking move for Saigon, shuffleboard. By Lorcan Lovett. Photos

by Vinh Dao. Continuing its endless embrace of Uncle Sam’s cultural pastimes, Saigon now has shuffleboard, which is like bowls but with discs.

King Henry VIII of England would have me hanged for saying that shuffleboard originated in the US. Supposedly, it’s from Europe, but this miniaturised American version of the game fits into Malt neatly.

It’s not the only reason to visit the District 1 bar. Go there for its casual ambience and warm atmosphere amid brickwork, Miller posters and wooden furnishings.

Just remember, if you need something new in your life, it has shuffleboard. Tournaments take place every Thursday, usually around 7pm. You play in pairs and you play to win because there’s two bottles of quality spirits for the champions.

Malt’s non-smoking so you can see your disc glide clearly along the smooth table while conveniently lowering your chances of contracting cancer.

It opened in December without much fuss and has steadily attracted a regular crowd through word-of-mouth, striking a good balance between tasty snacks in a relaxing hangout and somewhere you can visit to start a big night.

Happy hour is buy two, get one free, from 4pm to 7pm, except on craft beer and cocktails.

42 AsiaLIFE HCMC

On the independent brewery roster, Malt’s got bottled Belgian wheat beer Te Te (VND120,000), draft Fuzzy Logic (VND60,000) and Pasteur Street Brewery’s Jasmine IPA and Saigon Saison (both VND95,000).

Among the usual offerings, draft Tiger is VND45,000 and bottled Saigon Red VND35,000.

The menu is interesting enough for a second glance, with the pub grub options including Truffle Parmesan Garlic Fries (VND60,000) and Chicken Enchilada (VND120,000).

Revellers can order shared cocktail jugs or Malt’s signature cocktails like Mac Thi Buoi (a revolutionary who gave the street its name) which blends gin, sweet vermouth, lime, orange and cinnamon. Classic cocktails are VND120,000 and shots can be chased with a pickleback for an extra VND10,000.

Despite this, owner Thao Tran doesn’t want to give the impression that Malt’s a cocktail bar, and it’s not.

Flanked by fancy hotels and high-end bars, you can stumble in with crumbled shorts and a stained t-shirt and people won’t bat an eyelid.

Themed nights are in the pipeline so keep in the loop via its Facebook page. Drop in for a drink and enjoy the good part-US culture without that tangerine, reality TV chap with the funny hair who may actually destroy the world.

SOMTUM DER 136 Pasteur, D1 // 09 0294 2457 // somtumderhcmc.com // 11am – 2.30pm and 4.30pm – 10.30pm

Claudia Davaar Lambie samples spicy dishes at one of the hottest Thai restaurants in town. Photos by Vinh Dao.

Diners at Somtum Der are first greeted by paintings streaked in shades of red and yellow of Isan people native to the northeastern region of Thailand.

One of the owners, Tran Huy, 29, explains that the artwork merges traditional Isan figures in a Vietnamese propaganda style. These hybrid creations are also present in the Isan cuisine; a delightful mix of Thai, Laotian and Vietnamese fare.

The three-story restaurant opened in February 2016 after the success of its sister branches in Bangkok and New York, the latter boasting a Michelin Star.

Thanaruek Laoraowirodge launched the restaurant with the sole purpose of bringing traditional Isan cuisine to Vietnam. “The food is as

authentic as ever and we don’t compromise on the taste,” says Tran.

Isan cuisine is known for its abundant use of spices and chili.

The word ‘spicy’ appears as a prefix to most of the dishes on the menu yet anyone sensitive to that burning sensation shouldn’t be scared off. The spices are blended well, and are offset by the tang of pla ra - Thai for fermented fish sauce.

Tran says the dishes are meant to be shared “family-style” and recommends some key ones to try. Sontum, or green papaya salad (VND95,000), is the star of the menu. Served with pla ra, vermicelli noodles and pork crackling, it bursts with a freshness and fragrance that, if too fiery, could be doused with

a few swigs of the Thai Sabai cocktail, harbouring cooling hints of rum and Thai basil (VND110,000).

A coating of chili flakes runs deep in the Der-styled deep fried chicken wings (VND85,000), seeping through the skin and into the tender meat. For any wing connoisseurs out there, they taste similar to former District 2 haunt Baan Thai’s offerings.

The prawn sashimi (VND150,000) appears a little strange upon arrival. The de-shelled uncooked prawns remain whole and are cured in chili, ginger, lime juice and palm sugar. The result is tender zingy prawns but boy do they pack a punch. A hearty bowl of spicy catfish soup (VND85,000) was

up next. The fish is barbequed before it is added to the soup and the combination of spicy, sour and charcoaled flavours blend well together.

Der, or ‘warm invitation’ in the Isan language, reflects the casual and friendly ambience of the restaurant. Lights made from Isan wicker baskets hang from the walls while the baskets stowed on the shelves are also used for sticky rice. All of the decoration is imported from the region and some of the ingredients are imported from Thailand, adding authenticity to the food. As it’s time to leave, pla ra arrives by the box load. Tran enthusiastically waves me off.

He’s achieved his main aim of the day: for “customers to leave with happiness”.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 43

NAMO 74/6 Hai Ba Trung, D1 // 08 3822 7988 // namo.pizza // 11am - 11pm, 7 days

Simon Stanley visits the artisanal pizzeria everyone’s talking about. Photos by Vinh Dao.

“Why are your pizzas so ugly?” - Namo’s staff hear it all the time. For diners used to the mass-produced, perfectly round, photogenic pies churned out by those hangover-friendly pizza chains, the sight of a true Neapolitan pizza, it seems, can be quite a shock. Rustic?

Yes. Homemade? Definitely.

Artisanal? It’s in their tagline.

Thick, bubbling, delicately charred crusts infused with the sweet smoke of a wood-oven?

Mmm, yep. But ugly? No, no and no.

So, what makes an artisanal pizza?

“It’s the difference between a printed poster and a painted canvas,” says Julia Underwood, Namo’s marketing manager.

“The more conventional pizzas aim for visual perfection. We 44 AsiaLIFE HCMC

aim for perfection in terms of taste and ingredients.”

Indeed, after a three-month search across Italy for the perfect pizza, Namo’s owners brought back more than just notes. Let’s start with the 3.5 tonne, dome-topped woodoven sitting in the downstairs open-kitchen / bar area. Handmade in Naples, its bricks were forged from the volcanic soil of Mount Vesuvius itself. The flour, Caputa 00 - also imported from Naples - is one of the finest in existence and is widely considered to be a hallmark of genuine Neapolitan dough.

Throw in some of the best Italian chefs in the world, a pinch of salt, a touch of yeast and mineral water, and after just one bite you’ll understand why many are already hailing

Namo’s “ugly” offerings as the best in town.

Split into classics and specials, choices cover everything from a Margherita (VND170,000) up to the Pescatora (VND450,000), a seafood feast of fresh crab, Atlantic salmon, seaweed, and shrimp roe.

Namo’s relaxed, homely decor, spread over four unique floors and layered with natural tones, contrasting materials and Scandinavian-esque purity, provides a cosy setting for informal, sociable dining. For groups, the La Famiglia is ideal, offering a taste of six pizzas in a single, one-metre-long sharer (VND1.8 million / VND900,000 for the half-metre version).

Pastas are also receiving plenty of attention. The veal fet-

tuccine in particular is superb, consisting of handmade pasta, a touch of spice and a generous sprinkling of Parmigiano-Reggiano (VND270,000).

Italian wines start at a very reasonable VND120,000 per glass, and cocktails are all VND190,000, though the daily happy hour (5pm until 7pm) offers a 50 percent discount on everything (excluding bottles).

Proving that Italian cuisine goes far deeper than pizza and pasta, the enticing range of antipasti, salads, soups, grilled meat dishes and seafood is extremely hard for diners to overlook.

The truffle and pork sausagestuffed chicken roulade (VND330,000) sounds too good to miss… but those pizzas, that dough… wow. Life is tough.

MON NGON VIETNAM 72/1 Tran Quoc Toan, D3 // 08 3601 3022// monngonvietnam.vn // 7.30am - 10pm, 7 days

Monica Majors discovers some of Vietnam’s ancient royal cuisine. Photos by Vinh Dao.

“Not another Vietnamese restaurant with a menu as long as the Iliad,” you may be thinking. With heavy-hitters like Cuc Gach Quan, Chi Hoa and Nha Hang Ngon, what specialties could possibly be left uneaten? Well, have you ever tried authentic royal Vietnamese cuisine?

Mon Ngon Vietnam’s restaurant and cooking class sits tucked in District 3, its brightlycoloured sign trimmed with blooming flowers. The building is a modestly converted home, but here beautiful monochrome tiles and lotus drawings elevate the elegance. Natural light shines through the wrought-iron trimmed windows and bold splashes of turquoise pillows add just the right amount of colour to the intimate dining

room. The dark wood of the dining tables and chairs tie together the look and feel of an upscale home ready to serve some of the most delicious food in the country.

Director Vo Dinh Quoc created the restaurant’s menu with the intention of providing some of the nation’s most regal dishes to us poor peons. With experience of cooking for the Singaporean Prime Minister’s family on a visit to Vietnam years back, Chef Vo Quoc is well-known among locals; as the country’s first Vietnamese Culinary Culture Ambassador, as a Council Member of the 2013 World Street-food Congress (photographed on Facebook alongside number one Vietnamese food-fan Anthony Bourdain), and as a leading

TV personality on shows like Masterchef.

When I sat down with him and business director Trinh Tuong Van they told me their goal is to, “set up a home-style restaurant, like family dining.”

Van continued, translating for Vo Quoc, “We have a lot of Vietnamese restaurants in HCMC, but here we feature a little of all the regions, focussing on the authentic flavours of ancient Vietnamese royal cuisine.”

A beautifully presented spread of three salads (red grapefruit with crab, baby shrimp and flower, and coconut tree and scallops - VND139,000 to VND199,000) led the presentation, followed by stir-fried Vietnamese abalone with shredded vegetables

(VND119,000). My absolute favourite was the braised pork with orange (VND139,000), a simple, yet sumptuous dish that I refused to share with others.

Other dishes like the sautéed tuberose (VND159,000) are unavailable in other Vietnamese restaurants, and I have never had a sweet and sour soup (VND99,000) quite like the one here.

Drinks are no less tasty, and it’s rare that I can find cinnamon tea (VND49,000), let alone in iced form with such zest. Guests can also opt for the cooking class on the second floor, with either Chef Vo Quoc or other notables offering two hour classes at US$40 per person including a market tour to purchase the best ingredients. It all takes comfort food to the next level.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 45

E U Q I T N

E H T U A

G N I LIV

the vers d o c n u te mbie nely craf a L r . avaa ature in fi inh Dao D a i V n d Clau eauty of hotos by b P true ewares. hom

46 AsiaLIFE HCMC

A

fter living in the London rat race for three years, Vy Huynh, 29, moved back to Ho Chi Minh City. She wanted to move from her background in economics into a new field, one on the more creative side.

After a chance encounter with the owner, Doan Minh Phuong, Huynh took on the role as business development manager at Authentique, which sells ceramics, furniture and textiles.

Phuong founded the company in 1995. Her passion for homeware and interior design stemmed from seeing her grandfather work as a highly skilled carpenter in Hoi An. Authentique has three workshops located in the Thu Duc district of the city: Cam Kim carpentry, Cam Ha potteries and Cam Giang textiles, where there are around 50 artisans employed all together. Phuong’s brother Doan Thanh Nghia is the chief designer who focuses on the technical aspects of the business; namely furniture design and sculpting the clay in the kiln (a furnace designed to bake the clay).

The prospect of working with fine handcrafted homewares excited Huynh.

“I got carried away with Minh Phuong’s philosophy,” she says. For Phuong, her way of thinking in terms of the design process is simple.

Importantly, it is influenced by Japanese aesthetics called Wabi-Sabi. This particular philosophical mindset is based on the pureness of nature, in all of its wonderful forms. Wabi-Sabi seeps into the design of each product.

“When creating a product, we need to look at nature in the way that it is; its beauty and its imperfections,” explains Huynh, emphasising that this approach to creativity influenced the naming of the company. “You will never find the exact same design on any item here.”

Vietnam’s affinity with ceramics dates back to the 15th to the 17th centuries, Bat Trang Village in the Gia Lam district of Hanoi was the heart of ceramic production in Vietnam. It still operates today, doubling as a pottery village and a tourist attraction, however Huynh believes commercialisation has tamed its artistic spirit; something which, she says, Authentique has remedied.

“In tourist shops, the designs are very uniform, it’s the trap of handcrafts.”

Phuong may give the artisans a subject to inspire the designs; this season it was chrysanthemums. Upon first glance, the flowers on the vases, teapots and bowls appear to be the same on each product.

However, a closer inspection reveals that every chrysanthemum is different, be it a shadow catching the flower at a certain angle, the reflection of the sun, or even a wilted leaf. At work, the artisan meticulously copies the flower just as it moves in nature.

A variety of different types of wood are used such as oak, sandalwood and honeywood to make the furniture. A solid dining table with chairs and a bookcase feature on the first floor of the shop, which serves as the showroom. Cleverly, no nails are used in the production process of the group’s furniture. Instead, wood joints are crafted so that the pieces can lock in together tightly. Again, the Wabi-Sabi philosophy prevails. “If you use nails, it can damage and kill the wood grains. [The wood] needs to be able to age and breathe,” explains Huynh.

At Authentique, the clay is not bleached, the wood is not varnished and the textiles are made from natural fibres like wild cotton. The way that the Japanese treasure their objects in the home is admired by Phuong. The belief that any object in a house - a bowl, a chair or a tapestry - has a living soul which stands the test of time and is passed down through generations, makes Huynh smile. She picks up a vase and traces the daisy that has been carefully painted so it looks like an imprint. “Doan embraces and encourages this way of thinking and wants people to see, really see, what is around them,” she says.

- 71/1/ Mac Thi Buoi, District 1 08 3823 8811 - 113 Le Thanh Ton, District 1 08 3822 8052 - Workshop: 68 Linh Trung, Thu Duc District www.authentiquehome.com

AsiaLIFE HCMC 47

Luxury lands on the streets in Thuy Design House’s latest silk and embroidered Black Bird looks.

The designer, Thuy Nguyen, of Thuy Design House, is a rare bird. At the age of 22 she flew with her husband from Vietnam to the Ukraine and later raised a family of four children. But during that time she also mastered the art of clothing design, particularly in feminine brocades – woven, ornamental and embossed fabrics – and set up her eponymous shop on the streets of Vietnam in 2011.

Five years later, her latest lookbook Black Bird is a reflection that her creations are like rare birds too. Beguiling silk and floralembroidered ao dai, slip dresses and sleeveless pencil dresses in black retreat from their nest of luxury, earning some everyday street cred on model Hoang Oanh, who wanders through Saigon’s districts and storefronts. Although black is an admittedly unconventional colour for a springtime lookbook, it suggests that only the sky is the limit for Nguyen’s resplendent designs.

132-134 Dong Khoi, D1 thuydesignhouse.com

By Ruben Luong

FLIGHT OF FANCY 48 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Photos by Thong Hoang Model: Hoang Oanh Make-up: Bao Bao

AsiaLIFE HCMC 49

50 AsiaLIFE HCMC

AsiaLIFE HCMC 51

listings

hotel & travel CON DAO Con Dao Resort 8 Nguyen Duc Thuan Tel: 06 4830 939 www.condaoresort.com Modern hotel with 45 rooms and seven villas set on 2km of private beach. Onpremise facilities include restaurant, bar, beach-view swimming pool, tennis court and volleyball. Organizes outdoor activities and tours.

Six Senses Con Dao Dat Doc Beach, Con Dao Dist, Ba Ria Tel: 064 3831 222 www.sixsenses.com/SixSensesConDao The first 5 star resort with 50 villas stretch across a mile-long beach, each villas has its own infinity-edge pool facing the ocean and a stunning restaurant.

DALAT Ana Mandara Villas Resort & Spa Le Lai, Ward 5, Dalat Tel: 063 3555 888 www.anamandara-resort.com Luxury 35-acre resort encompasses 17 restored early 20th-century villas and 65 rooms set in the rural highlands. La Cochinchine Spa offers wide range of treatments. Le Petite Dalat Restaurant serves Vietnamese and fusion cuisine.

Heated swimming pool, art gallery and cooking classes in organic garden.

Dalat Edensee Lake Resort & Spa Tuyen Lam Lake, Zone VII.2, Dalat Tel: 063 383 1515 www.dalatedensee.com Nestled in the heart of the “Black Forest of Vietnam” and discretely hidden along the waterfront of Tuyen Lam Lake, this resort is a perfect launching point for exploring the Highland region. It has two fine-dining restaurants, a café and terrace, a cigar lounge, and golfing and tennis.

Sofitel Dalat Palace 12 Tran Phu, Dalat Tel: 063 3825 444 www.accorhotels-asia.com Stately lakeside hotel was built in 1920s and retains the period’s aesthetic. It encompasses 38 rooms, five suites, a gourmet restaurant, brasserie, piano bar and Larry’s Bar. Golf can be arranged, and there’s tennis, boules, snooker and billiards on premise.

HANOI

Intercontinental Westlake Hanoi 1A Nghi Tam, Tay Ho Tel: 04 6270 8888 www.intercontinental.com Located on the waterfront with contemporary Vietnamese design, restaurants, business services, fitness centre including exercise classes and pool.

Sheraton Hotel Hanoi K5 Nghi Tam, 11 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho Tel: 04 3719 9000 www.starwoodhotels.com

52 AsiaLIFE HCMC

“Resort within a city” boasts 299 spacious guest rooms with panoramic views, fitness centre, international restaurant and Hemisphere Vietnamese restaurant.

HO CHI MINH CITY

Caravelle Hotel 19 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 3823 4999 www.caravellehotel.com One of the city’s most prestigious venues. Features a casino, Reflections Restaurant and al fresco 9th-floor Saigon Saigon Bar. Equatorial 242 Tran Binh Trong, D5 Tel: 3839 7777 www.equatorial.com/hcm On the intersect of 4 districts, with 333 rooms, Orientica Seafood restaurant and bar, Chit Chat café, pool (swim-up bar), gym.

InterContinental Asiana Saigon Corner of Hai Ba Trung & Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3520 9999 saigon@interconti.com www.intercontinental.com/saigon 305 rooms/suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, five restaurants/bars, meeting/ banquet facilities, spa/health club and lounge with panoramic view.

New World Hotel 76 Le Lai, D1 / Tel: 3822 8888 www.newworldsaigon.com Located in the city centre, with gym, outdoor pool, tennis court, event space and Dynasty Chinese restaurant.

Sheraton 88 Dong Khoi, D1 / Tel: 3827 2828 www.sheraton.com/saigon Luxury downtown hotel: Level 23 bar, Mojo café, Li Bai Chinese restaurant, fine dining at The Signature on the 23rd floor.

Sofitel Saigon Plaza 17 Le Duan, D1 / Tel: 3824 1555 www.sofitel.com/2077 One of the city’s top hotels with in-room Wi-Fi, two restaurants with international cuisine, two bars, six conference rooms, outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre.

HUE, HOI AN & DANANG

Indochine Palace 105A Hung Vuong Street, Hue City Tel: 054 393 6666 www.indochinepalace.com Surrounded by the lush exotic garden, the hotel has is designed to appeal to the affluent, up-market leisure and business travellers with facilities offering for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort Bai Bac, Son Tra Peninsula Tel: 0511 393 8888 danang.intercontinental.com A world of poetic experiences and jungle-clad romance in a place that cloaks you with luxury. The mastery of traditional Vietnamese design meets modern architectural flair in this distinctive retreat within the dense rainforest of mythical Monkey Mountain.

Nam Hai Tel: 0510 3940 000 www.ghmhotels.com/en/namhai/ Luxury resort accommodation from single villas to sumptuous five-room dwellings with private pools. Facilities include 8 private spa villas; 3 beachfront swimming pools; library; and tennis, basketball and badminton courts.

NHA TRANG

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang Beachside, Tran Phu, Nha Trang Tel: 058 3522 222 www.sixsenses.com Beachside resort set in 26,000 square metres of tropical garden, with 74 guest villas, three restaurants, Six Senses Spa. InterContinental Nha Trang 32-34 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang Tel: +84 058 388 7777 www.Ihg.com A luxury beachfront retreat located in the heart of the city, the resort overlooks the stunning coastline. From there getting around the city is convenient as shopping, attractions, restaurants and bars are easily accessible within walking distance of the hotel.

Mia Resort Nha Trang Bai Dong, Cam Hai Dong, Cam Lam, Khanh Hoa / Tel: 58 398 9666 www.mianhatrang.com Ultimate luxury resort with 50 rooms, divided into villas and condos, catering by well-known restaurant Sandals and Mojito's bar.

PHAN THIET

Princess D’Ânnam

Premier Village Danang Resort

Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Ngu Hanh Son District, Danang City, Viet Nam Tel. (+84)511/3919999 Fax. (+84)511/3919998 Email: H9530-RE@accor.com Website: http://premier-village-danang.com

Situated on a private stretch of the picturesque My An Beach, Premier Village Danang Resort Managed by Accorhotels is the perfect beach retreat. The resort house 111 villas, divided in 3 room types to suit different tastes and budgets with two swimming pools, a spa and wellness center and a range of sport activities.

Resort and Spa Khu Hon Lan, Tan Thanh, Ham Thuan Nam, Binh Thuan.

Tel: 062 3682 222 www.princessannam.com Located on Ke Ga Bay with 57 exclusive villas, eight swimming pools, two restaurants and 1,800 square metres spa complex.

The Sailing Club 24 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet Tel: 062 3847 440 www.sailingclubvietnam.com Open bar overlooking the sea, spacious rooms, restaurant, swimming pool and day spa.

Victoria Phan Thiet Resort and Spa Mui Ne Beach Tel: 84 62 3813 000 Located on a private beach, 60 cosy bungalows, natural spa experiences among other great activities on offer at the resort.

SCUBA DIVING

Note: AsiaLIFE only lists dive centres recognized by international dive training programs, such as the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) and Scuba Schools International (SSI).

We strongly advise against diving with unaccredited dive centres in Vietnam.

Rainbow Divers 55 Nguyen Dang Giai, An Phu, D2 Tel: 0908 781 756 www.divevietnam.com Diving tours and career/instructor development offered by Vietnam’s first PADI centre. established in the mid-90s. Operates dive centres in Nha Trang, Whale Island, Hoi An and Phu Quoc.

Octopus Diving 62 Tran Phu, Nha Trang Tel: 058 826 528 www.divenhatrang.com PADI/SSI dive centre based in Nha Trang and affiliated with the Sailing Club Co. with additional centres in Mui Ne and Hoi An. Offers a range of services.

VUNG TAU

Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa Ho Tram Village, Xuyen Moc Tel: 06 4378 1525 www.hotramresort.com Located about 45km from Vung Tau in the Phuoc Buu Reserve Forest, Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa boasts uniquely designed bungalows and villas.

The Grand-Ho Tram Strip Phuoc Thuan Commune, Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria Vung Tau Tel: +84 64 3788 888 www.thegrandhotramstrip.com The Grand - Ho Tram Strip is Vietnam's first large scale integrated resort and ultimately will include an 1,100-room five-star hotel, a world-class casino, restaurants, high-tech meeting space, an exclusive VIP area, as well as a variety of beach-front recreation activities. The first 541-room tower of this development opened with its casino including 90 live tables and 614 electronic game positions. The Grand will be the initial component of The Ho Tram Strip, the largest integrated resort complex in Vietnam.

TRAVEL AGENTS

Exotissimo HCMC: 20 Hai Ba Trung St, D1 Tel: 3827 2911 infosgn@exotissimo.com HANOI: 26 Tran Nhat Duat St, Hoan Kiem Tel: 04 3828 2150 infohanoi@exotissimo.com www.exotissimo.com CHUDU24 hotel booking service 12th floor, 242 Cong Quynh St, D1 Tel: 1900 5454 40 www.en.chudu24.com Chudu24.com - the locally famous Vietnam hotel booking website now has an English version. The company is known for having the best local prices and reliable service. It has been the number 1 Vietnam hotel booking service for Vietnamese since 2008.

AIRLINES Air France 130 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3829 0981 Fax: 3822 0537 www.airfrance.com.vn An airline with a vast and effective global network. Now flies direct to Paris.

Vietnam Airlines Hanoi: 25 Trang Thi, Hoan Kiem Tel: 6270 0200 HCM City: 16th Floor, Sun Wah, 115 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3832 0320 www.vietnamairlines.com The domestic route map is extensive, with several flights daily between major and less touristed cities throughout Vietnam. Flies internationally throughout Asia and to Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Sydney, Melboure, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Ultimate luxury resort with 50 rooms, divided into villas and condos, catering by well-known restaurant Sandals and Mojito's bar.

PHAN THIET

Princess D’Ânnam Resort and Spa Khu Hon Lan, Tan Thanh, Ham Thuan Nam, Binh Thuan.

Tel: 062 3682 222 www.princessannam.com Located on Ke Ga Bay with 57 exclusive villas, eight swimming pools, two restaurants and 1,800 square metres spa complex.

The Sailing Club 24 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet Tel: 062 3847 440 www.sailingclubvietnam.com Open bar overlooking the sea, spacious rooms, restaurant, swimming pool and day spa.

Victoria Phan Thiet Resort and Spa Mui Ne Beach Tel: 84 62 3813 000 Located on a private beach, 60 cosy bungalows, natural spa experiences among other great activities on offer at the resort.

SCUBA DIVING

Note: AsiaLIFE only lists dive centres recognized by international dive training programs, such as the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) and Scuba Schools International (SSI).

We strongly advise against diving with unaccredited dive centres in Vietnam.

Rainbow Divers 55 Nguyen Dang Giai, An Phu, D2 Tel: 0908 781 756 www.divevietnam.com Diving tours and career/instructor development offered by Vietnam’s first PADI centre. established in the mid-90s.

Operates dive centres in Nha Trang, Whale Island, Hoi An and Phu Quoc.

Octopus Diving 62 Tran Phu, Nha Trang Tel: 058 826 528 www.divenhatrang.com PADI/SSI dive centre based in Nha Trang and affiliated with the Sailing Club Co. with additional centres in Mui Ne and Hoi An. Offers a range of services.

VUNG TAU

Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa Ho Tram Village, Xuyen Moc Tel: 06 4378 1525 www.hotramresort.com Located about 45km from Vung Tau

in the Phuoc Buu Reserve Forest, Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa boasts uniquely designed bungalows and villas.

The Grand-Ho Tram Strip Phuoc Thuan Commune, Xuyen Moc District, Ba Ria Vung Tau Tel: +84 64 3788 888 www.thegrandhotramstrip.com The Grand - Ho Tram Strip is Vietnam's first large scale integrated resort and ultimately will include an 1,100-room five-star hotel, a world-class casino, restaurants, high-tech meeting space, an exclusive VIP area, as well as a variety of beach-front recreation activities. The first 541-room tower of this development opened with its casino including 90 live tables and 614 electronic game positions. The Grand will be the initial component of The Ho Tram Strip, the largest integrated resort complex in Vietnam.

TRAVEL AGENTS

Exotissimo HCMC: 20 Hai Ba Trung St, D1 Tel: 3827 2911 infosgn@exotissimo.com HANOI: 26 Tran Nhat Duat St, Hoan Kiem Tel: 04 3828 2150 infohanoi@exotissimo.com www.exotissimo.com CHUDU24 hotel booking service 12th floor, 242 Cong Quynh St, D1 Tel: 1900 5454 40 www.en.chudu24.com Chudu24.com - the locally famous Vietnam hotel booking website now has an English version. The company is known for having the best local prices and reliable service. It has been the number 1 Vietnam hotel booking service for Vietnamese since 2008.

AIRLINES Air France 130 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3829 0981 Fax: 3822 0537 www.airfrance.com.vn An airline with a vast and effective global network. Now flies direct to Paris.

Vietnam Airlines Hanoi: 25 Trang Thi, Hoan Kiem Tel: 6270 0200 HCM City: 16th Floor, Sun Wah, 115 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3832 0320 www.vietnamairlines.com The domestic route map is extensive, with several flights daily between major and less touristed cities throughout Vietnam. Flies internationally throughout Asia and to Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Sydney, Melboure, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

ONLY5,000 VND99,000 PASTA ND8 IZZAV P

AsiaLIFE HCMC 53

into its enduring quality. Specializes in American grain-fed steaks, hamburgers and salads served in a pleasant atmosphere. 

listings

Phatty’s 46-48 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3821 0796 www.phattysbar.com Jaspa’s Steve Hardy and Ben Winspear’s sports bar has five widescreen TVs, a large drop-down screen and lots of pub grub and beer for fans looking to take in a game or two.

food & drink BAR RESTAURANTS

Dublin’s Gate D1 19 Thai Van Lung, D1 This authentic Irish pub in downtown Saigon has a large wine list, a wide selection of single malt whiskey and local and imported beers, including widgets of Guinness. It also has a western and Asian menu.

Buddha Bar

Shrine 64 Ton That Thiep Tel: 08 39 142 817 ShrineBarSaigon.com A sleek cocktail bar on a street full of beer and football, Shrine is a standout for its décor and drink menu. Shrine offers everything from wine to drinks and snacks to full-blown meals, its cocktails are the reason to visit.

The Tavern R2/24 Hung Gia 3, Bui Bang Doan, D7 Tel: 5410 3900 Boasts good international food, a pool table, dartboards and sports coverage on large screens. Outdoor seating on mutiple levels. Second floor sports lounge hosts DJs at the weekends.  Vasco’s Bar 74/7D Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3824 2888 Chic bar decked in deep reds that gets packed to capacity on weekends.

Open Monday to Saturday with live music on Fridays. Food menu by chef with over 10 years experience at La Camargue. Also does excellent pizza.



D2 7 Thao Dien, D2 // Tel: 3744 2080 An Phu institution serves up tasty meals and good drinks in a friendly, chilled environment. Plenty of room to relax inside or out, plus a pool table on premise.  Bia Craft 90 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 083 744 2588 A cozy bar serving beer­themed snacks and some of the best craft ales in Saigon. Constantly buzzing with the friendly chat of local expats in the area.

Chilli Pub 89 Ton That Dam, District 1 Tel: 098 376 33 72 Located in the heart of the nightlife area of District 1, Chilli pub is a cozy bar full of fun. Hosting regular events such as quiz night, darts, live music and live sports on the big screens.

Menu revolves around Chili dishes with chili dogs and of course big bowls of Chilli.

Corso Steakhouse & Bar Norfolk Hotel, 117 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Located in the chic Norfolk Hotel Corso Steakhouse & Bar is well known for its steak imported from the US and Australia.

D2 55­57 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 08 35 194 138 Stylish non­smoking sports bar offering all the latest action on a choice of widescreen TVs.Perfect for sports fans who are looking for a cold pint and big portions from a tempting pub grub menu. Mogambos 50 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3825 1311 This restaurant has been around since the mid-1990s, which offers an insight

54 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Game On Sport Pub 115 Ho Tung Mau, District 1 Tel: 08 62 51 98 98 www.gameonsaigon.com A great place to catch all the latest live games while enjoying some great food and a few drinks with friends. The two big screens showing the games via satellite means you will never miss a minute of the action, while the kitchen serves up some truly hearty pub grub.

CAFES

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 12-14 Thai Van Lung, D1 94 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3 Nowzone, 235 Nguyen Van Cu, D5 Metropolitan Bldng, 235 Dong Khoi, D1 International café chain with a wide variety of coffees and teas, as well as light snacks and food. Also sells freshroasted coffee beans and tins of whole leaf tea.  Guanabana 23 Ly Tu Trong, District 1 Tel: 09 09 82 48 30 Guanabana brings a California approach with its all-natural range of healthy smoothies. The smoothies are available in three varieties and are priced between VND 45,000 and VND 65,000.

Mojo 88 Dong Khoi, D1 www.sheratonsaigon.com A top-end café with an attractive interior, outdoor terrace at street level and comfortable lounges upstairs. Good business coffee or lunch venue.

CHINESE

Li Bai Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828 Imperial-styled restaurant named after a famous Chinese poet. Nightly à la carte menu with dishes going from 100k VND.

Lotus Court 1st floor, Moevenpick Hotel Saigon 253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Tel: 3844 9222 ext. 168 www.moevenpick-saigon.com Dim Sum and exciting Cantonese cuisine in a unique and elegant setting.

Ngan Dinh Chinese Restaurant Windsor Plaza Hotel, 18 An Duong Vuong, D5 Tel: 3833 6688 Beautiful wood paneling, colourful hanging lanterns and a sparkling mineral gallery make for a relaxing dining experience at the Windsor. Feast on roasted Pi Pa duck, giant grouper and steamed king prawns. Be sure to check out monthly specials.

Royal Pavilion Reverie Saigon Hotel, 4th Floor, 22 36 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 08 3823 6688 Located in the Reverie Saigon Hotel, the Royal Pavilion serves up classic Cantonese cuisine in fine dining style.

Featuring a menu of epic proportions, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Shang Palace Restaurant Norfolk Mansion, 17-19-21 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3823 2221 www.shangpalace.com.vn An upscale Chinese restaurant with a spacious and welcoming atmosphere. The menu boasts a wide range of Hong Kong Cantonese cuisine, including both dim sum, a la carte and set menus, regularly changed by the creative chefs.

Yu Chu InterContinental Asiana Saigon, corner of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3520 9099 dine@icasianasaigon.com Specializing in authentic Cantonese and Peking cuisine. Award-winning chef prepares dishes including handmade noodles, dim sum and wok-fried items. Wide selection of live seafood.

Five interactive kitchens.

FRENCH

Camargue 74/7D Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 08 35 20 48 88 One of the first western restaurants in Saigon, Camargue offers a great selection of French food and wine in a romantic, rustic French villa.

Le Bouchon de Saigon 40 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3829 9263 This French diner-style restaurant has an emphasis on hearty home cooking, courteous service and a relaxed atmosphere. Chef David Thai is a wellknown industry figure, and this venue can hold its own among the city`s many French restaurants.

INDIAN

events.



Malt 46 – 48 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 09 1848 4763 American-style bar that offers good beer, shuffleboard and an interesting pub grub menu in a casual setting.

INTERNATIONAL

Al Fresco’s 21 Mac Dinh Chi D1 Tel: 3823 8427 27 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3823 8424 D1-23 My Toan 3, D7 Tel: 5410 1093 www.alfrescosgroup.com Theme restaurant boasting a range of Tex-Mex, Italian and Australian-style BBQ dishes. Huge portions and tasty Australian ribs coupled with a good atmosphere and helpful staff. Good lunch menu.  Au Parc 23 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3829 2772 Lavishly decorated brasserie borrowing from Moroccan and French styles and popular during lunchtime with expats.

Specializes in Middle Eastern and North African food. The salad menu is a favourite, and a great range of lush smoothies and juices are on offer.  Bamboo Chic Le Meridien, 3C Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 086 263 6688 Slick, minimalistic restaurant boasting a stunning view of the Saigon River as well as a menu of high­quality cuisine that mixes Japanese and coastal Chinese styles. Worth a visit, even if it’s just for a cocktail.

Beets Salad Bar 111 Ham Nghi, District 1 Tel: 08 38 211 282 Arguably the city’s only salad bar, this fresh new spot provides healthy options for downtown diners by sticking to the basics.

BOC Barbeque 43 Nguyen Van Giai, D1.

Situated down a alleyway at the top of D1, this charming outdoor spot serves up quality American­style barbeque at astonishingly reasonable prices. There is also a good selection of seafood and pasta dishes as well as cheap beers and cocktails.

Con Bo Map 178/4B Pasteur, D1 Tel: 08 38 246 607 A small, modest space hidden down an alley off Pasteur serving some of the best burgers in town.

Black Cat 13 Phan Van Dat, D1 Tel: 3829 2055 Tiny but popular District 1 restaurant serving up an excellent selection of Western and Vietnamese fare and an extensive range of sandwiches and burgers. 

Saigon Indian 73 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3824 5671 Popular venue with an enormous menu. Serves both southern and northern Indian dishes like tandoori, biryani, dosa and idly snacks, plus a wide range of vegetarian dishes. Offers a set lunch menu. Cater service is available. 

BoatHouse 40 Lily Road, APSC Compound, 36 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6790 Riverside restaurant with umbrellashaded tables spread across outdoor deck and small indoor dining room.

With revamped menu which includes a mix of family-style meals with Mexican featuring predomominately, followed by Italian and Asian fare. 

Tandoor 39A-39B Ngo Duc Ke, D1 www.tandoorvietnam.com Part of a chain of restaurants covering Hanoi and Saigon, Tandoor features a large selection of standard northern Indian dishes, including a good vegetarian selection. Excellent cheap set lunches and reasonable prices all around. Will organize catering for

Jaspa’s 33 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3822 9926 www.alfrescosgroup.com Unpretentious brasserie-style restaurant specializes in Australian-influenced international fusion cuisine. Full range of drinks including Australian and French wines and good cocktails.

Hosts monthly Spam Cham networking

event.



Koto 3rd Floor Rooftop, Kumho Link Plaza, 39 Le Duan, Ben Nghe Ward, D1 Tel: (+84) 3822 9357 This is the Saigon arm of the renowned organisation that began in Hanoi a decade ago. Vietnamese food is prepared with innovative twist by young people Koto are helping get a start in the hospitality industry and on a path for a better life.

May Restaurant & Bar 19-21 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 6291 3686 may.restaurant19@gmail.com We have over 20 years experience in hospitality business in Vietnam with some famous Brand such as Shodow Bar & Café and MAY Restaurant & Bar. MAY- short for ‘Me and You’, it is all in one premium casual kitchen & bar downtown. Located centrally on the historic Dong Khoi street with a fusion of Western and Asian cuisine and pride themselves in their wine list and international standard of service.

Market 39 InterContinental Asiana Saigon Ground Floor, corner of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1 / Tel: 3520 9099 dine@icasianasaigon.com Seven interactive live kitchens offering French, Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cuisines, including a bakery, French patisseries, pancakes, tossed salads, grilled steak, seafood, wokfried items, noodles and pasta dishes.

Mekong Merchant 23 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 4713 Set in a courtyard, this rustic Australian-style brasserie has brought modern international cuisine to suburban An Phu. Popular for weekend brunches.

Weekly specials and seafood flown in from Phu Quoc.  OMG 15-17-19 Nguyen An Ninh, D1 Tel: 09 37 20 02 22 Perched on the ninth-floor rooftop of a hotel adjacent to Ben Thanh market, OMG has superb views over downtown Saigon and food to match. The menu is focused but includes enough choices to satisfy everyone across hot and cold starters, pasta and risotto, mains and dessert.

Quan Ut Ut 168 Vo Van Kiet, D1 Tel: 08 39 14 45 00 American-style barbecue meets Vietnam-style dining with big wooden tables and benches that are reminiscent of an open-air quan. Serving a wide range of smoked and barbecued meats.

Reflections Caravelle Hotel, 19 - 23 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 3823 4999 Contemporary fine dining that combines Asian flavors with classic Mediterranean cuisine in an ambiance of understated elegance and European style. Special culinary events include guest chefs from Michelin-star establishments around the world. Private rooms are available.

Relish and Sons 44 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 012 07 214 294 Facebook.com/RelishAndSons Burgers are the stars of the show in Relish & Sons, with six varieties, all composed of different but expertly combined ingredients.  Skewers 9A Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3822 4798

www.skewers-restaurant.com Rustic Mediterranean restaurant where subtle colours and exposed brickwork combine with jazzy tunes. Serves tabouleh, falafel, couscous and kebab.

Highly rated for its grilled meats, bread and dip combos, soups and pastas. Stoker Woodfired Grill & Bar 44 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 090 729 2725 District 1 venue with spacious bar downstairs and upstairs dining room.

Serving a full selection of home aged US and Australian beef complimented by a delicious sides.

The Deck 38 Nguyen U Di, D2 Tel: 3744 6632 Serves upmarket takes on regional specialties made with fresh local and imported products. Well-designed, minimalist dining space and bar on the river are a serious draw.

The Elbow Room 52 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3821 4327 elbowroom52@yahoo.com American-style bistro offering a wide range of appetisers, soups, salads, sandwiches, mains and desserts, plus an extensive wine menu. Open daily 7.30 am to 11 pm. Breakfast served all day.

The Refinery 74/7C Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3823 0509 Authentic bistro with cane furniture outside, informal indoor restaurant section and a bar area. Cuisine is light, modern European. The menu spans a price range to suit most budgets.

Urban Kitchen + Bar 18 Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: 08 62 506 363 UrbanKitchenBar.com Urban Kitchen takes a nuanced approach to Western cuisine, producing an eclectic compilation of regional North American dishes – whether it’s comfort food of the American south, Quebecois specialties or East Coast-inspired.

Viva Tapas Bar & Grill 90 Cao Trieu Phat, Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 08 54 106 721 Tucked away on a quiet street in Phu My Hung, Viva is colourful and welcoming and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Tapas make up the bulk of the menu and cover traditional dishes as well as a few house specialties that put a quirky twist on things.  Pop Fries 14M Quoc Huong, D2 Tel: 09 3875 4251 French fries topped with a range of fresh ingredients inspired by dishes across the world.

ITALIAN

Basilico InterContinental Asiana Saigon, Ground Floor, corner of Nguyen Du and Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3520 9099 dine@icasianasaigon.com Contemporary and casual trattoriastyle restaurant specializing in authentic Italian dishes and homemade desserts.

Wood-fired pizza oven and a wide selection of Italian wines.

Good Morning Vietnam 197 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3837 1894 Popular authentic Italian restaurant with additional outlets around the country.

Specializes in thin-crust pizza, pasta and a range of Italian dishes. Good selection of Italian wines.  LovEat 29 Hai Trieu, D1

AsiaLIFE HCMC 55

Tel: 08 62 602 727 Facebook.com/LovEatRestaurant Chic downtown bistro LovEat occupies a prime spot opposite the Bitexco Financial Tower, serving traditional Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian twist. The restaurant prides itself on organic local ingredients and offers full meals as well as coffee, drinks and Italian pastries. Open from 9am til late. 

By Richie Fawcett

IMBIBE

JAPANESE

ROLL OUT THE BARREL In a bar far far away, at a time long, long ago (2009 to be precise), the seeds of one of the greatest cocktail trends the most recent cocktail golden age has seen were sown. In 2015, the world production of miniature oak barrels could not keep up with demand.

The trend had spread its high-alcohol infection from North London in 2009 at a bar called, well, it doesn’t have a name.

The address is 69, Colebrook Row. The owner, Toni Conigliaro, was experimenting with aged Manhattans in glass jars. Visiting bartender from northwest USA, Jeffrey Morgenthaler, tried Toni’s aged concoctions. So impressed, he went back to his own bar, The Clyde Common, and did the same, but in oak barrels.

From there the trend spread from the Portland, Oregon, bar scene, reaching the West coast and East coast of the USA in the same year.

By late 2010, notable London bars were in on the act, from Mayfair to Hackney. Edinburgh, famed for its cocktail bar scene. wasn’t far behind. Then the migration of ideas and knowledge was rapid in today’s nanofast cocktail culture. Asia was exposed to the trend through Hong Kong bartenders Antonio Lai and Maxence Traverse. Max started with rum aged Negronis, Old Fashioneds and Sazeracs in 2012 at Honi Honi tiki bar Antonio in the same year with a six-month aged Manhattan at Quinary.

Manhattan bar in the Regent Hotel, Singapore, opened with a barrel aging programme that 56 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Romeo and Juliet Times Square Building, 57 – 69F Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 08 38 236 688 TheReverieSaigon.com Underground restaurant of the newlyopened Reverie Saigon, Romeo and Juliet is reinventing local dining to encourage the kind of slower, savourthe-moment experience that allows guests to enjoy the space’s ambiance, food and top-notch service.

features over 100 barrels, proving the trend has gone from little more than an experiment in a bar in North London to being the central feature on a serious fivestar hotel bar menus in little over five years.

Meanwhile in the sleepy cocktail backwater that is Vietnam, at last the waters are stirring...

Ratcha Room, Sorae, Shri and soon-to-open Qui all feature various forms of barrel-aged cocktails on their menus.

Ratcha Room, 2014 ‘Ratcha Nail’ by Greg Jacobs: Cutty Sark Whisky and Drambuie (aged two months) Sorae, Sept 2014 ‘Sumo Old Fashioned’ by Richie Fawcett: Bacon-washed Brugal rum, orange bitters and maple syrup (aged 30 days) Shri - Whisky Pop-up Bar, Nov 2015 ‘The Grandfather’ by Richie Fawcett: Macallan 12 yr and Amaretto (aged six to eight months) Qui, April 2016 ‘Boulevardier’ by Trang Tranh: Gin, Campari and Martini Rosso (aged 35 days)

Shri Restaurant and Lounge manager Richie Fawcett is a designer and artist who sits on Asia’s 50 best bars voting panel and is responsible for training many of Vietnam’s best bartenders.

Kissho 14 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3823 2223 Fax: 3823 3343 kissho.wmcvietnam.com Saigon’s newest Japanese restaurant boasts a multi-concept cuisine set in a cutting edge interior. Specialties include teppanyaki, yakiniku, sushi and sashimi crafted by expert chefs. The freshest imported meats and seafood round out the menu, accompanied by an extensive selection of fine wines and Japanese spirits. Open 11.30 am to 2 pm and 5.30 pm to 10 pm.

Manmaru 71 Mac Dinh Chi, D1 Japanese izakaya with a solid lineup of affordable beers, sakes and whiskies.

Whether you choose the casual, pub­like experience downstairs, or the formal dining terrace upstairs, expect excellent food and even better prices.

Nishimura Mövenpick Hotel Saigon, 253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Tel: 3844 9222 Exquisitely prepared sushi and sashimi from a globetrotting chef with three decades’ experience. A wide range of cooked dishes and monthly meal promotions are also available.

The Sushi Bar 2 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 8042 3A Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3911 8618 This brightly lit Japanese-style restaurant serves over 40 varieties of sushi at reasonable prices. Sit at the sushi bar or in private rooms upstairs. Open until 11.30 pm, delivery available on request. 

KOREAN

Kim Bab Chun Gook R4 42 Hung Phuoc 2, Phu My Hung Tel: 6296 9057 Korean boonshik/snack food eatery serving up a wide variety of light but substantial foods including dumplings, rameyon and fish cakes.

Kumdo 6A Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 Tel: 3824 3253 Korean beef barbecue served in small, welcoming dining rooms with barbecues built into tables. Large selection of raw meat specialties.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN

Lac Thai 71/2 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 7506 An elegant restaurant tucked in an alleyway, decorated with art-deco furniture. Authentic Thai cuisine prepared

by two Thai chefs. Food is tasty but less spicy than you’d find in Thailand.



The Racha Room 12-14 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 09 08 791 412 RachaRoom.com.vn With street and hawker specialties from Thailand prepared under one roof – and in one room – The Racha Room is a restaurant-cum-lounge fit for a king.

Tuk Tuk Thai Bistro 17/11 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 08 35 21 85 13 Tuktukthaibistro.com Tuk Tuk, a chic new modern Thai bistro. With three floors of seating, an open-air roof area and an array of Thai dishes to excite your palate.

VEGETARIAN

Hoa Dang 38 Huynh Khuong Ninh, D1 Swish vegetarian restaurant on a quiet street that serves up nutritious dishes, including meatless versions of bun bo, pho and steamboat. Cosy bar serving non-alcoholic drinks, fruits and other sweets.

Viet Chay 339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3 Tel: 3526 5862 Upscale vegetarian restaurant specializes in fake meat dishes. The attractive dining room is suffused with natural light. Located within the walls of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda.

VIETNAMESE

Cha Ca La Vong 3 Ho Xuan Huong, D3 Tel: 3930 5674 36 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3915 3343 Two HCM City ouposts of the legendary Hanoi original serve only one dish: the eponymous and delicious cha ca la vong, fish pan-fried at the table with turmeric and dill and served with cold noodles and peanuts.

Com Nieu 19 Tu Xuong, D3 Tel: 3932 6288 The house specialty, com nieu (smashed rice), comes with a shattered-crockery and flying-rice show at this well-known restaurant, prominently featured in Anthony Bourdain’s A Cook’s Tour. An extensive and tasty selection of southern Vietnamese cuisine rounds out the menu.

Circus Kitchen 232 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Outdoor barbeque covered by colorful awning, dishing out all­you­can­eat deals every Thursday plus a combination of grills and a la carte every day of the week in an ambient environment.

Hu Tieu Nam Vang Lien Hua 381 Vo Van Tan, D3 www.LienHua.com.vn Lien Hua has been serving Chinese­ Khmer noodle soup on this spot for over forty years. Pork and shrimp set hu tieu Nam Vang apart from your average pho while the house speciality dim sum selection is unmissable.

Mountain Retreat 36 Le Loi, D1 Tel: +84 90 719 45 57 A rustic restaurant perched above downtown offering a secluded getaway and tasty traditional food.

Quan Bui 17A Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: 08 38 29 15 15 From the team behind Quan Bui, the popular casual Vietnamese eatery on the north edge of District 1, is this

four-floor fine-dining restaurant in downtown Saigon. The chic design and ambience, as well as its rooftop garden, are designed to attract a more up-market clientele.

Saigon Lookout

Schneider’s Finest 27 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3829 1998 www.schneiders-finest.com Traditional German bakery bakes 45 different kinds of breads, rolls and baguettes and a wide range of danishes, pastries and cakes. Catering available.

37 bis Ky Con Tel 09 6688 4668

Tous Les Jours 180 Hai Ba Trung, D3 Part of the Korean bakery chain, Tous Le Jours stocks a superb range of freshly baked good from sugary treats like pain au chocolat to superior quality baguettes and loafs.

D1 Saigon's Lookout is one of Saigon's hidden gems where east meets west, with a menu of twisted Vietnamese cuisine complimented by funky oriental cocktails.

nightlife See bar restaurant listings for more popular watering holes.

The Library InterContinental Asiana Saigon, corner of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3520 9099 dine@icasianasaigon.com Unwind with a glass of wine or a cup of tea. The Library provides a welcoming atmosphere for those in search of calm, comfort and personalized service.

Purple Jade InterContinental Asiana Saigon, corner of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3520 9099 Chic lounge blends the stylistic influences of contemporary design and opium dens. Hosts live music and serves special drinks, including Shaoxing and Maotai rice wines and an exclusive selection of luxury spirits.

Saigon Saigon Bar Rooftop via 9th floor, Caravelle Saigon Hotel, 19 - 23 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 3823 4999 A great iconic bar to watch the sun go down over the city skyline, or dance the night away. The panoramic views of the city are spectacular, particularly in the evenings. Live entertainment nightly with Cuban band Q’vans except Tuesday from 9:00pm till late.

at home BAKERIES

Harvest Baking 30 Lam Son, Tan Binh Tel: 3547 0577 harvestbaking@yahoo.com This authentic bakery offers a range of specialty baked goods for delivery.

Offering bagels, scones, breads, desserts,cakes, tarts and more.

Chocolate fudge cake and cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing highly recommended.

Pat A Chou 65 Hai Ba Trung, D1 25 Thao Dien, D2 The home of the long and crusty baguette. Supplies many restaurants but also sells wholesale. The miniature patisseries such as crème brulée and cheesecake are worth a taste. Opens at 6.30 am.

Voelker 17 A7 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 7303 8799 39 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2 Tel: 6296 0066 Small bakery turns out sweet and salted pies and mousses in addition to baguettes and a range of Western sweets.

Le Padam – Saigon 230 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Tel: 090 704 6281 Cheese fanatics can indulge in delicious French imports amid a spacious, airy bistro that also serves wine and desserts. The homemade bread is crisp and soft, attracting many locals to buy baguettes daily.

DELIVERY

Food Panda www.foodpanda.vn Online delivery service with over 500 popular restaurants available. www.vietnammm.com A free website that allows users to order delivery from dozens of restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.

Simply provide your address and phone number and pay the delivery driver in cash when he arrives

GROCERIES

Annam Gourmet Market 16-18 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3822 9332 41A Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2630 www.annam-gourmet.com Boutique grocer with wide selection of foreign foods; Annam-brand coffee, tea and spices; and household products. Wine and premium beer, full deli counter, produce, dairy-frozen and baked goods on second floor.

Cosy café serves coffee, drinks and sandwiches.

Big C Floor B1, Cantavil An Phu Building, D2, Tel: 3740 7105 www.bigC.vn This ‘supercentre’ offers a clean, comfortable shopping environment with a wide assortment of goods, including fresh food and home accessories, available at reasonable prices.

Classic Fine Foods 17 Street 12, D2 Tel: 3740 7105 www.classicfinefoods.com Luxury food primarily imports for wholesale, but also takes orders for its range of dry goods, cheese, meat, poultry and seafood from private clients.

Meatworks Butchery 1, Street 2, Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 08 3744 2565 Imported meats from Australia, including top-quality beef and lamb, and locally sourced pork and chicken.. Proudly Australian owned and managed.

Our Australian beef is grass fed and selected from farms across Victoria.

We also have Australian lamb and locally sourced fine pork and chicken.

Proudly Australian owned and managed.

No. 1 Street. 2, Thao Dien Ward.

District 2. Ho Chi Minh City www.meatworksasia.com T:+84 8 37442565

AsiaLIFE HCMC 57

listings

By Phil Kelly

FITNESS Calories vs Chemicals (Part One) The calorie myth is a hard one to kill. My last few articles have discussed the math behind weight loss and calorie counting and the fact that trying to quantitate the process in numbers is impossible.

Calories are not the most important issue when striving for effortless fat loss and health. Every organism tries to maintain homeostasis (state of balance) automatically. It is a fundamental part of our being.

For example, if we drink a lot of water we urinate more and vice versa. If we don’t drink enough, our body redistributes what you do have to vital functions. However, the common misunderstanding is that when we consume more food we will automatically store more fat, but this is not the simple case. Our bodies try to regulate our weight just like they try to regulate hydration. This process is called the Homeostasis Regulatory System (HRS).

This system can be broken by the wrong quality of foods. These break the HRS and, once broken, it doesn’t matter how little you eat or how much you exercise, the system is broken and we need to fix it.

Diabetics, for example, are not told to eat less; they are generally told to not eat certain foods. The same is true for heart attack patients and most other ailments.

The importance of reading labels is essential for your health. Let’s take peanut butter for example.

What should the ingredient list be to make it? One item is all that is needed… peanuts! But we live in a society where advertising makes false promises. Food packages make amazing claims… Skippy reduced fat peanut butter promotes 25 percent less fat and boasts that 58 AsiaLIFE HCMC

their product “fuels the fun”. Must be healthy, right? Far from it. They list 22 items in the ingredient list, the majority of which are hazardous to your health!

All these chemicals build up in your body. Your internal system can only process and eliminate so much at a time, so the excess is pushed to and stored in body fat. If toxins and chemicals remain at higher levels than your body can process, you acquire more body fat. Our bodies can take a lot of punishment before we get into the red-zone.

Gaining health and effortlessly staying lean has a lot more to do with the quality of our food rather than the quantity. When was the last time you heard of someone getting fat and becoming sick from eating too many vegetables?

Nutrient-dense foods naturally have fewer calories than processed foods. Foods that are classified as empty calories (those that contain high calories but low vitamin and mineral content) throw our hormones out of balance, creating cravings, mood swings, and low energy levels. Whereas food high in nutrients do not cause imbalance.

Reducing your consumption of chemically-laden food is one of the easiest ways to lose fat. Next month I will discuss some local foods you need to watch out for and how to eliminate chemicals from your system.

Phil is a health practitioner and expert in body transformation.

His services are available at Star Fitness (starfitnesssaigon.com), online or at your home. Contact him through his website philkelly.com or facebook.com/ BodyExpertSystemsVietnam.

sports & leisure Sport Street Huyen Tran Cong Chua, D1 between Nguyen Du and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Services include mending and restringing broken tennis rackets. Products range from badminton birdies and rackets to basketball hoops, free weights, roller blades, scooters, soccer jerseys and all manner of balls.

CRICKET

Saigon Cricket Assocation Social cricket league plays 25 overs a side matches Sunday mornings at RMIT’s District 7 pitch. Season runs November through May, with friendly games throughout the pre-season. Practice on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons.

Australian Cricket Club Terry Gordon terrygordoninasia@yahoo.com.au saigonaustraliancricketclub@yahoo.com www.saigoncricket.com English Cricket Club Richard Carrington Richard.carrington@pivotalvietnam.com info@eccsaigon.com www.eccsaigon.com Indian Cricket Club Manish Sogani, manish@ambrij.com United Cricket Club Mr. Asif Ali, asif@promo-tex.net keshav.dayalani@rmit.edu.vn

DANCING

DanCenter 53 Nguyen Dang Giai, Thao Dien, District 2 Tel: 3840 6974 www.dancentervn.com Purpose built studio with foreign trained dance instructors. Classes in jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, yoga, zumba, belly, hula, capoiera and more. Kids can start from 4+ and adults of all ages and levels are welcome. Schedule and news on events available on-line.

Salsa Dancing at La Habana 6 Cao Ba Quat, D1 www.salsaigon.com salsaigon@gmail.com Salsa package for single persons and couple, run by Urko. Lessons every Tuesday (beginners L.A. style at 7.30 pm; intermediate L.A style at 8.30 pm).

Registration required.

FITNESS & YOGA

AIS Sports Centre 36 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2 Tel: 3744 6960, ext 126 sportscentre@aisvietnam.com www.aissportscentre.com Six-lane, 25-metre pool, basketball and netball courts, astroturf hockey/football area and outdoor gym equipment.

Available for party hire - BBQ included on request. Membership packages available. Kids swim club and adult masters programmes. Rainbow Divers offers scuba diving courses for children and adults. Free morning yoga.

California WOW Xperience Parkson Plaza, 126 Hung Vuong, D5 28/30-32 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 6291 5999 The world’s biggest fitness centre chain is one of Saigon’s most modern places to get your sweat on. Located in Hung Vuong Plaza, CWX offers a huge workout area and all kinds of classes including spinning, KickFit, yoga and more.

Caravelle Club Spa 19 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 3823 4999 Modern and stylish gym with lots of cardiovascular machines and free weights.

The swimming pool is a great place for a dip, and the massage parlour, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi are there for winding down.

Equinox Fitness & Leisure Centre Equatorial Hotel, 242 Tran Binh Trong, D5 Tel: 3839 7777 Decent-sized 3rd-floor gym with modern cardio and weights machines, sauna, steambath, jacuzzi, and large 4th floor pool great for swimming laps.

Hollywood Fitness World H3 Building, 384 Hoang Dieu, D4 Tel: 3826 4639 One of the latest & best workout environments in the city, suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Personal training is offered.

L’Apothiquaire Fitness Centre 64A Truong Dinh, D3 Tel: 3932 5181 www.lapothiquaire.com Internationally-certified teachers offer daily classes in Sivananda, Iyengar, Power, Yoga, Abdo-Pilates, Taebo and Aqua-Aerobics. Peaceful swimming pool, sauna and steam room.

La Cochinchine Rex Hotel, 146 Pastuer, D1 Tel: 3825 1812 (ext 7477) New and affordable fitness centre located in the heart of the city. This gym has a wide range of weight machines, as well as many cardio machines, including treadmills, cross-trainers and bikes. A good variety of classes are available, including yoga and aerobic dance.

NTFQ2 Spa 34 Nguyen Dang Giai, D2 Tel: 3744 6672 Therapeutic massage with a focus on sports massage to increase circulation, remove lactic acid build-up, restore flexibility and relieve back pain.

Sheraton Fitness Level 5, Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, 88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828 sheraton.saigon@sheraton.com www.sheraton.com/saigon Sheraton Fitness features a team of trained professionals and new Technogym equipment. Members have full use of leisure facilities and receive discounts at hotel bars and restaurants and Aqua Day Spa. Star Fitness Gym Manor Apartments, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 0255 This 1,600sqm gym is apparently the biggest in Vietnam. Has a good range of machines for any type of workout.

Membership involves one time entry fee plus monthly subscriptions and gives free access to regular fitness classes.

Saigon Yoga Tel: 090 835 2265 info@saigonyoga.com www.saigonyoga.com A yoga centre with highly qualified instructors offering hot yoga, Hatha Flow, restorative yoga, kids’ yoga, pre and postnatal yoga and injury rehabilitation.

Also does corporate team building and yoga teacher training as well as organising yoga retreats.

FOOTBALL & RUGBY

Australian Rules Football Tel: 093 768 3230 www.vietnamswans.com vietnamswans@gmail.com The Vietnam Swans play regular international footy matches around Asia. Training sessions are held weekly in HCM City (2.30 pm Saturday, RMIT D7) and Hanoi (midday, Saturday, UN International School, Ciputra). All skill levels and codes welcome.

RMIT Vietnam sports.recreation@rmit.edu.vn A new player on the SIFL scene with a team made up of students from the University. They have their own football ground on-site consisting of two brand new pitches. Contact Landon Carnie.

Saigon Raiders jon.hoff@saigonraiders.com Sociable football side who are always on the lookout for new talent for their weekly matches and training sessions. The team participates in the Saigon International Football League and also has regular fixtures against local teams in the outlying provinces and also participates in international tournaments.

Saigon Saints chris@saigonsaints.com www.saigonsaints.com Expat football club of all ages, which has been running since 1995 and plays in the SIFL. Regularly venture on international tours especially to Bangkok and Manila and play in other local and international tournaments. The players train weekly, and new players are encouraged to join.

GOLF

Dalat Palace Golf Club Phu Dong Thien Vuong, Dalat Tel: 063 3821 101 dpgc@vietnamgolfresorts.com The most beautiful course in Vietnam, combining the crisp mountain air with an environment of stately pine trees. Overlooking Xuan Huong lake, the 7,009-yard course is an enjoyable challenge for golfers of all levels.

Dong Nai Golf Resort Trang Bom Town, Trang Bom Tel: 061 3866 288 / 3677 590 www.dongnaigolf.com.vn Large golf resort with 27 holes, plus a villa complex, bar, sauna. jacuzzi and billiards. The resort sits on 160 hectares of land in Dong Nai Province, about 50 kilometres from the city.

Ocean Dunes Golf Club 1 Ton Duc Thang, Phan Thiet Tel: 062 3821 995 odgc@vietnamgolfresorts.com Designed by Nick Faldo, the 6,746-yard par-72 course winds through seaside dunes, with the variable coastal breezes changing its character each day. An enjoyable and eminently playable course and has become a favourite venue for expatriate tournaments.

Saigon South Golf Nguyen Van Linh, Tan Phu, D7 Tel: 5411 2001 sgs.golf@yahoo.com.vn Nine-hole mini golf course and driving range set amongst attractive gardens just behind FV Hospital. Club, shoe and umbrella hire is also available.

Song Be Golf Resort 77 Binh Duong Blvd, Thuan An Tel: 0650 3756 660 info@songbegolf.com www.songbegolf.com Located 22 kilometres from the city centre, the premier golf course in the area features an 18-hole, 6,384-metre course.

Also has tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a gymnasium.

Vietnam Golf and Country Club

Long Thanh My Village, D9 www.vietnamgolfcc.com This facility consists of two courses of 18 holes each, one of which is designed in a more traditional Asian style, and the other in international style. Has other attractions such as boating, tennis and a restaurant area.

LEISURE

Phun Runner info@phun-run.com Social running group that meets Saturdays at 7 am for a scenic run around Saigon before breakfast. Great way to explore the city, meet fellow runners and get fit for future events. Check website for rendezvous points.

Rangers Baseball Club Isao Shimokawaji isao.shimokawaji@sapporobeer.co.jp A baseball club always looking for additional players of any age, race or experience level. Plays Saturdays or Sundays, often against Korean or Vietnamese teams.

Saigon International Dart League www.thesidl.com A highly popular group in town, the darts club runs a competitive year-long league for 16 pub-based teams. There are some excellent players in this sociable and international group. See website for details of how to join and latest 180 scores.

Saigon International Softball League sisl@saigonsoftball.info www.saigonsoftball.info The league plays slo-pitch softball every Sunday (usually at the Taiwanese School in Phu My Hung) and always welcomes newcomers.

Saigon Pony Club Lane 42, Le Van Thinh, D2 Tel: 0913 733 360 A standout facility offering pony rides, riding lessons, horse clinics and pony rentals. Also hosts events and birthdays.

Squash The Landmark, 5B Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3822 2098 ext 176 www.thelandmarkvietnam.com One of three squash courts in town.

Membership is open to non-Landmark residents and drop-in players. Lessons and racquets are available for additional fees. Balls are provided. Book in advance or phone for further information.

Ultimate Frisbee RMIT, 702 Nguyen Van Linh, D7 www.saigon-ultimate.com Join in this exciting popular sport every Sunday afternoon from 3pm to 5pm in Saigon South. Pan-Asian competitions also organised for the more experienced.

Contact David Jensen at 0909458890 Vietwings Paragliding info@vietwings-hpg.com Promoted by a local advertising executive turned test pilot, paragliding, hanggliding, trike plane can be performed in several locations across southern Vietnam including Dalat, Phan Thiet, Tay Ninh. Call Loco on 0903 825607 for more information.

X-Rock Climbing Phan Dinh Phung Sport Centre 75 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3 Tel: 6278 5794 503A Nguyen Duy Trinh, D2 Tel: 2210 9192 www.xrockclimbing.com Offering safe and professional climbing for anyone aged 4 and up. Featuring mountain climbing routes rated from beginner to advanced, climbing and belay-safety courses and training, birthday parties, corporate team building.

Excellent facilities for children and annual membership for kids.

Call Us

listings

health & beauty ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

American Chiropractic Clinic 161 Hai Ba Trung, D3 Tel: 3939 3930 www.vietnamchiropractic.com A chiropractic, physiotherapy, foot care clinic staffed by American-trained chiropractors speaking French, English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. Treatsback pain, neck pain, knee pain, also specializing in sports injuries, manufacture of medical grade foot orthotics.

Ciro Gargiulo CARE1 Executive Health Care Center The Manor, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 0757 care1_reception@vietnammedicalpractice.com www.care1.com.vn A holistic approach is used by this acupuncturist and traditional medicine practitioner to rebalance the body’s energy fields. A wide range of ailments are treated including back pain, allergies and insomnia.

Institute of Traditional Medicine 273-275 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Dr. Le Hung is the man to see at this well-established traditional hospital & training centre. He speaks good English and provides excellent treatments in a clean environment. The Institute also provides acupuncture lessons.

DENTAL

Family Medical Practice HCMC Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3822 7848 95 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2000 www.vietnammedicalpractice.com Leading international primary healthcare provider, with a 24-hour state-of-the-art medical centre and highly-qualified multilingual foreign doctors. Extensive experience in worldwide medical evacuations with car and air ambulance on standby.

Also in Hanoi and Danang.

HANH PHUC, International Hospital Binh Duong boulevard, Thuan An, Binh Duong Tel: 0650 3636068 www.hanhphuchospital.com The 1st Singapore Standard Hospital in Vietnam. 260 –bedder, provide a comprehensive range of quality healthcare services: Obstertrics, Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Immunization, IVF, Health checkup, Parentcraft, Woman Cancer, Cosmetic Surgery… Just 20- minute driving from HCMC. HANH PHUC International Hospital Clinic 97 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 3925 9797 www.hanhphuchospital.com The 1st Singapore Standard Hospital in Vietnam. The clinic is located at the center of Dist. 1, provides a comprehensive range of services specializing in Obstertrics, Gynaecology, Peadiatrics, Immunization, General Practice and Emergency. Open hours: Weekdays: 8am to 5pm; Saturday: 8am to 12pm.

Accadent 39 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 08 6267 6666 A clinic that brings leading German dentistry to Vietnam. All dentists here were trained in Germany and all equipment comes from Germany to ensure proper hygiene and quality.

International SOS 167A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3 Tel: 3829 8424 www.internationalsos.com Globally-renowned provider of medical assistance and international healthcare.

Specializes in offering medical transport and evacuation both within and outside of Vietnam for urgent medical cases.

Starlight Dental Clinic Dr. Philippe Guettier & International Team of Dentists 24 Thao Dien, D2 2Bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, D1 Tel: 3822 6222 With 14 years’ experience providing dental treatment to expat and Vietnamese patients, this well-known dental surgery is staffed by both foreign & local practitioners. Au fait with the latest treatments and techniques, the surgery prides themselves on their high standard of equipment & sterilization.

Victoria Healthcare 135A Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Tel: 3910 4545 79 Dien Bien Phu, D1 Tel: 39104545 Well-regarded clinic offering general examinations and specializing in pediatrics, digestive diseases, cardiology and women's health. Offers a membership program and cooperates with most insurance companies in Vietnam and abroad. Open with doctors on call 24/7.

Minh Khai Dental Clinic 199 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 08 3925 3399 nhakhoaminhkhai@gmail.com www.nhakhoaminhkhai.com No.1 Dental Clinic 51 Ba Thang Hai, D10 Tel: 08 3929 0909 nhakhoano1@gmail.com www.nhakhoano1.com

MEDICAL Centre Medical International (CMI) 1 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3827 2366 www.cmi-vietnam.com Located downtown next to the cathedral,

60 AsiaLIFE HCMC

the centre provides a high standard of medical care from qualified French and Vietnamese physicians. Its range of services include general and tropical medicine, cardiology, gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, psychology, psychiatry, osteopathy, acupuncture and psychomotor therapy. .

SKINCARE The Body Shop 87 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 3683 www.thebodyshop.com International cosmetics retailer with strong commitment to environment sources natural ingredients from small communities for its line of more than 600 products.

The Face Shop 294 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3820 2325 Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 www.thefaceshop.com Local retailer for the South Korea-based international brand of natural body, bath and skincare products. The company offers hundreds of products for different skin types. Also has kiosks at in Phu My Hung, Diamond Plaza and Zen Plaza.

IVE . EAT . DR G .

K INK N I R .G .D IV AT

NEW ZEALAND

WINE

& FOOD FESTIVAL

HO CHI MINH CITY

E . EAT . DRINK .

GIV

E

AT E .

INK . GIVE . EAT R D . .

G I V E .

E

listings

family By Poppy NguyenEastwood

EDUCATION HUB Sir Ken Robinson’s ‘How to Escape Education’s Death Valley’ This month, I decided to write about another TED Talks. Sir Ken Robinson, the speaker, is a well-known British educator and author.

He discusses the imperfections of the American education system. He opens by raising awareness about the percentage of dropouts in the country and says that it is only the “tip of the iceberg’’. He shows that it is only a fraction of the many problems the US face which start with children being disengaged from school.

America is a rich country.

Money is not the issue, but it is the system that is flawed.

For him, real education gives way to all subjects.

Children prosper best when they are in a system that exploits all of their talents.

For instance, Robinson addresses the inequality between the sciences and the arts. Although the former is essential to education, it is often perceived as superior.

He states that, in fact, art is a stimulating factor for mathematics and also allows children to get in touch with the parts of themselves that other subjects cannot reach.

He says that children are natural learners and that curiosity could be seen as the engine of their achievements. To teach is a creative profession. Teachers aren’t just passing down their knowledge, they are meant to stimulate, mentor and engage their students. They are here to facilitate learning.

62 AsiaLIFE HCMC

However, exam results are the dominating factor. Robinson believes that tests should exist to help the students but not be the main priority.

Education should awaken the imagination and creativity, it should individualise teaching and learning and recognise students’ abilities. However, instead, it is developing into an industrial process reaching for ‘better data’.

To conclude, Robinson evokes a beautiful metaphor of Los Angeles’ Death Valley’ and education’s trap. He takes the example of a place that was barren and unwatered where nothing ever grew. The unheard of happened; it rained.

In the following spring, flowers appeared lush and healthy.

The valley wasn’t dead, but dormant. He compares this to the system. The seeds of possibility are just waiting to sprout and come to light (as long as they are watered).

To quote him, “If you change the conditions, give people a different sense of possibilities, a different set of expectations ... offer people the discretion to be creative and to innovate in what they do, schools that were once bereft, spring to life.”

Poppy Nguyen-Eastwood is a Grade 10 student at Lycée Français International Marguerite Duras.

Turn to page 20 for more on creativity in the classroom.

ACTIVITIES

Conservatory of Music 112 Nguyen Du, D1 The established training centre for professional musicians offers private piano and violin lessons to foreigners in the evenings.

DanCenter 53 Nguyen Dang Giai, Thao Dien, D 2 Tel: 3840 6974 www.dancentervn.com Children and teenagers from age 4+ can enjoy jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, acro dance and break dance classes at this professionally run, newly built dance studio. Schedule and news on events available on-line.

Saigon Pony Club Lane 42, Le Van Thinh, D2 Tel: 0913 733 360 Close to X-rock climbing centre, kids from three and upwards can ride one of the stable’s 16 ponies. Lessons with foriegn teachers last 45 minutes for kids from age six.

BABY EQUIPMENT

Maman Bebe L2-11, Vincom Quang Trung, Go Vap 3rd Flr Parkson Hung Vuong Plaza, D5 L2-11K, Vincom 72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 www.mamanbebe.com.vn Stocks an assortment of modern strollers and car seats. Also sells various utensils and practical baby products. Small selection of clothing for ages newborn to 14 years.

Me & Be 230 Vo Thi Sau, D3 52-54 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 191 Hoang Van Thu, Phu Nhuan S11-1 Sky Garden 1, Phu My Hung, D7 The closest thing to Mothercare the city has to offer. Stocks a substantial range of apparel for babies including bottles and sterilizers, cots (including travel cots), clothing, toys, safety equipment and more, all at reasonable prices.

CLOTHES

Albetta 32 Tran Ngoc Dien D2 58 Nguyen Duc Canh, Tan Phong, D7 Albetta is a British family owned company, with a factory in Saigon, which produces beautifully designed and handcrafted clothes, gifts, shoes and accessories for children. Their new Lucky Luca collection shown are available in Albetta shops now.

DLS Paris Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1 A superb range of unique and beautiful clothing for young children (from newborns to pre-school age) at high to midrange prices. The quality compensates for the price. Bedding, baby equipment and furniture and organic and natural supplies also kept in stock.

Little Anh – Em 41 Thao Dien, D2 A French brand made in Vietnam offering a wide selection of colourful, simply packaged and thoughtfully collated “sets” of garments for girls and boys

from newborn to 10 years old. Lifestyle pieces also available include sleeping bags, bedroom accessories and bags.

Ninh Khuong 42 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3824 7456 71B Dong Khoi, D1 22 Nguyen Trai, D1 344 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3 343 Hai Ba Trung, D1 27 Le Van Sy, Phu Nhuan www.ninhkhuong.vn Well-known hand-embroidered children’s clothing brand using 100% cotton. Newborn to 10 years old (girl) and fourteen years old (boy). Also stocking home linens. Prices are reasonable.

EDUCATION

ABC International School 2,1E Street, KDC Trung Son, Binh Hung, Binh Chanh Tel: 5431 1833/34/35/36 office@theabcis.com www.theabcis.com Judged “an outstanding school” by British Government Inspectors, the ABCIS is accredited by CIE, AQA and Education Development Trust and members of COBIS and FOBISIA. Serving 2-18 year olds in a caring environment, it delivers a globally valued curriculum based on best UK practice. This culminates in the award of IGCSEs and A levels from the Cambridge and AQA examination boards. These “gold standard certifications” afford entrance to the very best universities around the world.

American International School 220 Nguyen Van Tao, Nha Be, HCMC Tel: 08 3780 0909 www.ais.edu.vn info@ais.edu.vn Established since 2006, American International School is a private school serving students from Preschool through grade 12. Operate on 3 campuses, the school offers innovative American curriculum with true Vietnamese heritage.

All students are well prepared for academic success appropriate to their needs and aspirations in the US and around the world.

The Australian International School Xi Campus (Kindergarten) 190 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Tel: 35192727 Thao Dien Campus (Kindergarten & Primary School) 36 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6960 Thu Thiem Campus (Kindergarten, Primary, Middle & Senior School) 264 Mai Chi Tho (East-West Highway) An Phu ward, D2 Tel: 3742 4040 www.aisvietnam.com The Australian International School is an IB World School with 3 class campuses in District 2, HCMC, offering an international education from Kindergarten to Senior School with the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Cambridge Secondary Programe (including IGCSE) and IB Diploma Programme (DP).

British International School Primary Campus 43 - 45 Tu Xuong, D3 225 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Secondary Campus 246 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Tel: 3744 2335 www.bisvietnam.com BIS is the largest international school in Vietnam operating from three purpose built campuses in HCMC catering for students from pre-school to Year 13. The school operates within the framework of the National Curriculum for England and is staffed primarily by British qualified and trained teachers with recent UK experience. Students are prepared for both IGCSE & the IB Diploma

programmes. BIS is a member of FOBISSEA & is fully accredited by the Council of International schools EUROPEAN International School 730 F-G-K Le Van Mien, Thao Dien. Tel: 7300 7257 www.eishcmc.com jura.cullen@cantab.net The EUROPEAN International School Ho Chi Minh City (EIS) offers an international education from Early Years through Primary and Secondary School. EIS is committed to educating students to become creative critical thinkers and problem solvers. In small student centred classes, students are immersed in a multicultural learning environment which values multilingualism. The language of instruction throughout the School is English; the language program includes Spanish, German, French and Vietnamese.

International School HCMC 28 Vo Truong Toan, D2 Tel: 3898 9100 www.ishcmc.com One of 136 schools around the world to be accredited as an IB World School. Offers all three of the IB programmes from primary through to grade 12. The school is fully accredited by CIS and NEASC and has a strong focus on community spirit and fosters an awareness of other languages and cultures.

The International School HCMC American Academy 26 Vo Truong Toan, D2 Tel: 3898 9098 www.aavn.edu.vn The International School Ho Chi Minh City - American Academy is a worldclass middle and high school for children aged 11 to 18 years old. Offering a comprehensive academic program built upon the principles and standards of the American education system..

International School Saigon Pearl 92 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh District Tel: 2222 7788/99 www.issp.edu.vn The International School Saigon Pearl (ISSP) is a world-class Elementary School for children aged 18 months to 11 years old offering a full American school curriculum in Vietnam. With a custom built primary campus ISSP’s ethos is centered on building caring relationships with each child and family.

Montessori International School International Program 42/1 Ngo Quang Huy, D2 Tel: 3744 2639 Bilingual Program 28 Street 19, KP 5, An Phu, D2 Tel: 6281 7675 www.montessori.edu.vn Montessori utilizes an internationally recognized educational method which focuses on fostering the child’s natural desire to learn. The aim is to create an encouraging environment conducive to learning by developing a sense of self and individuality. A wide array of curriculum/extra-curricular activities are on offer including Bilingual programs.

Renaissance International School 74 Nguyen Thi Thap, D7 Tel: 3773 3171 www.rissaigon.edu.vn An International British school providing inclusive curriculum based upon the British curriculum complemented by the International Primary Curriculum and International Baccalaureate. The school has made a conscious decision to limit numbers and keep class sizes small to ensure each student is offered an educa-

tion tailored to meet his or her individual learning needs. It is a family school providing a stimulating and secure learning environment with first-class facilities including a 350-seat theatre, swimming pool, mini-pool, play-areas, gymnasium, IT labs, music and drama rooms, science labs and an all-weather pitch.

RMIT 702 Nguyen Van Linh, D7 Tel: 3776 1369 Australian university located in District 7, offers a highly regarded MBA and undergraduate courses in various fields.

SmartKids 1172 Thao Dien Compound, D2 Tel: 3744 6076 www.smartkidsinfo.com An international childcare centre that provides kindergarten and pre-school education for children aged between 18 months and 6 years. A fun and friendly environment, the school focuses on learning through play.

Saigon South International School Nguyen Van Linh Parkway, D7 Tel: 5413 0901 www.ssis.edu.vn An International school environment offering an American/international program in a large, spacious campus, to children from age 3 to grade 12. Great facilities, extra-curricular activities and internationally trained teachers giving unique opportunities to learn.

ENTERTAINMENT

Diamond Plaza 34 Le Duan, D1 The top floor arcade and bowling alley is bound to keep your little ones entertained for hours with an impressive array of video games. Some child-friendly dining options too, with Pizza Hut on hand, a KFC and a New Zealand Natural ice cream concession.

Gymboree Play & Music Somerset Chancellor Court 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 3827 7008 The Gymboree Play & Music offers children from newborn to 5 years old the opportunity to explore, learn and play in an innovative parent-child programmes.

PARTIES

Beatrice’s Party Shop 235 Le Thanh Ton, D1 A lovely little shop selling everything you need to throw your little ones a good party. A catalogue of entertainers showcases a number of party favourites such as magicians, circuses and more.

Nguyen Ngoc Diem Phuong 131C Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 A curious shop stocking a range of hand-made fancy dress costumes such as masks, superman outfits and much more. The stock changes seasonally, so this is a good place to stock up on Halloween, Christmas and other costumes.

Bibi Clown - Chu he Bibi Tel: 0933 131 012 bibiclown.blogspot.com Does exactly as his name suggests.Great service has earned him a reputation for turning up almost instantly with a superb selection of balloons and games in both English and Vietnamese.

The Balloon Man Mr Hoat 0903 837 326 Does exactly as his name suggests – balloons. He will come to your place for decoration but English not as good. Also provides helium balloons.

The Balloon Man Mr Hoat 0903 837 326 Does exactly as his name suggests – balloons. He will come to your place for decoration but English not as good. Also provides helium balloons.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 63

listings

living By Paul McLardie

PERSONAL FINANCE The name’s Bond, Bond Fund Last week, a client of mine asked me to breakdown into plain English what he had investments in through his original investment manager. He had just let the manager invest on his behalf, but he really didn’t understand what his portfolio was and how it worked.

After having a proportion sitting in cash (always a good idea), the rest was split between different types of mutual funds.

There are basically two different types of fund, but how these are used and funded differ immensely, and the client needed to understand this.

A fund is a type of investment that allows multiple people to join their money together to purchase into different securities such as equities, commodities, bonds or property. Each fund has a different aim and usage, whether it’s for growth or for income.

They can also be categorised by where in the world the underlying stocks or bonds are from.

These can again be split into two areas of actively managed and passively managed. Actively managed funds will have either an individual or a team picking and choosing what to buy to be placed in the basket of the fund.

Passively buys into an index or commodity, providing that investor with the same returns as the underlying market.

The client didn’t understand the bond provision as he said he didn’t want to have any

64 AsiaLIFE HCMC

borrowing in his portfolio. I had to explain that he was not actually borrowing money to feed his investments; it was the other way around.

Again, his bond holdings were in a fund, meaning he had exposure to a number of bonds. Bonds are at heart an ‘IOU’. Bond issuers can be either governments or companies and it is a way for them to raise money without having to borrow against a bank or offering a share release. You lend the issuer money and they say they will pay you back on a set date with regular interest paid throughout the term. The more chance of the bond not paying back, the higher the interest will be.

These again can be bought and sold by an investor, and for easy access for private investors, they are bundled into funds.

These can be classified at the lower end of the risk scale if picked properly and should be part of the client’s portfolio, as he is not using borrowed money (leveraged) to fund his plans.

If you are at the lower end of the risk spectrum, please have a look at bond mutual funds for a proportion of your investments.

Not all of it, just a proportion to keep it balanced.

Paul McLardie is a partner at Total Wealth Management.

Contact him at Paul.mclardie@t-wm.com.

BUSINESS GROUPS

AmCham New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1 Business Centre, Room 323 Tel: 3824 3562 www.amchamvietnam.com AusCham TV Building, Suite 1A, 31A Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1 Tel: 3911 0272 / 73 / 74 www.auschamvn.org British Business Group of Vietnam 25 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3829 8430 info@bbgv.org / www.bbgv.org CanCham New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1 Business Centre, Room 305 Tel: 3824 3754 www.canchamvietnam.org Citi Bank 115 Nguyen Hue St, D1 Tel: 3824 2118 Citibank Vietnam offers a wide range of banking services to both consumer and corpo-rate. Services include Corporate and Investment Banking, Global Transaction Services, and Consumer Banking.

In Vietnam for 15 years, Citibank has a presence in both HCMC and Hanoi.

Eurocham 257 Hoang Van Thu, Tan Binh Tel: 3845 5528 www.eurochamvn.org German Business Group 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 www.gba-vietnam.org Singapore Business Group Unit 1B2, 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 3823 3046 www.sbghcmc.org Swiss Business Association 42 Giang Van Minh, Anh Phu, D2 Tel: 3744 6996 Fax: 3744 6990 Email: sba@hcm.vnn.vn www.swissvietnam.com Hong Kong Business Association New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1 Business Centre, Room 322 Tel: 3824 3757 / 3822 8888 www.hkbav.com NordCham Bitexco Building, 19-25 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3821 5423 www.nordcham.com

CAMERAS

Hung Hai 75 Huynh Thuc Khang, D1 A good place to purchase hard-to-find gear and some rare equipment, mainly auto focus lenses.

Shop 46 46 Nguyen Hue, D1 Small shop run by photographer and collector. The owner’s more collectible pieces are pricey, but entry-level manual focus SLRs from the 70s and 80s are affordable.

COMPUTERS

Computer Street Luong Huu Khanh, D1 between Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Nguyen Trai This stretch of District 1 is literally wall to wall with small shops selling computers, printers, monitors and everything computer related, more so toward the NTMK end of the drag. iCenter 142A Vo Thi Sau, D3 Tel: 3820 3918 Professional, polished Apple retailer and repair centre with an attractive showroom featuring some of the latest in accessories and audio. English-speakers on staff.

Honours Apple service plans.

Future World 240 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3 Authorized reseller of Apple computers and products, as well as some off-brand items like headphones. Excellent service and English-speaking staff. Accepts credit cards.

Phong Vu Computer 264C Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 3933 0762 www.vitinhphongvu.com The biggest and busiest of the PC stores in town. Known for good, efficient service, in-house maintenance and aftersales repair on the second floor.

SYS Vi Tinh Saigon 96C Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1 www.vtsaigon.com A superb place with an excellent reputation for after-sales service with competent English speaking staff and a wide range of products and services.

Freeware and shareware also available on the store website.

CONSULTING

Concetti 33 Dinh Tien Hoang, D1 Tel: 3911 1480 www.concetti-vn.com Consulting and research company for technology transfer and investment.

Embers Asia Ltd. 4th floor, 04 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1 Tel: 3822 4728 www.embers-asia.com As the first team building provider established in Vietnam, Embers specializes in making teams better in globally competitive markets. Embers’ HR performance management services include: team building excursions, strategic planning retreats, conference facilitations and training workshops.

Ernst & Young Saigon Riverside Office Center, 2A-4A Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3824 5252 www.ey.com Professional service firm specializing in advisory, assurance, tax, transactions and strategic growth markets.

Le Duc 5B Huynh Tinh Cua, D3 A shop for all your professional accessory needs. From lighting equipment to tripods and reflectors, the shop offers the best equipment and service in HCM City.

Grant Thornton Saigon Trade Centre, 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 9100 www.gt.com.vn International business advisors specializing in auditing, management consulting, corporate finance, risk management and information technology.

Pham The 11 Le Cong Kieu, D1 An authorized service centre for Nikon camera that also specializes in repairing all camera makes. Measurement equipment and spare parts also available.

IF Consulting IBC Building, 3rd Floor 1A Me Linh Square, D1 4th Floor, 5 Ba Trieu Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Tel: 3827 7362 Fax: 3827 7361 Email: pascal@insuranceinvietnam.com Private insurance and finance.

Indochine Councel Han Nam Building, 65 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3823 9640 www.indochinecounsel.com Business law firm specializing in legal services to corporate clients in relation to their business and investment in Vietnam.

Inspired Image 42/2A Ho Hao Hon, D1 Tel: 091 635 2573 www.inspiredimage.co.uk Image consultant and personal stylist.

Previous clients include business leaders, TV presenters and busy professionals.

International Management Initiative for Vietnam (IMIV) info@imiv.org www.imiv.org The International Management Initiative for Vietnam (IMIV), a non-profit initiative within VinaCapital Foundation that promotes excellence in business leadership and management by bringing to Vietnam proven international executive education and professional development programmes.

Phuong Nguyen Consulting TPC Business Center, 92-96 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3829 2391 www.pnp-consulting.com Specializing in business facilitation, conferences, education counselling, market-entry research and IT/business consulting.

TMF Vietnam Company Limited Unit 501, 5th Floor, Saigon Trade Center 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 2262 ext. 113 Fax: 3910 0590 www.tmf-group.com With headquarters in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, TMF Vietnam specializes in accounting outsourcing and consulting.

Total Wealth Management 66/11 Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 Tel: 3820 0623 www.t-wm.com Specialists in selecting and arranging tax-efficient savings and pension plans for expatriates. Offers councel on private banking services, wealth protection in offshore jurisdictions, currency risks and hedging strategies.

Towers Watson Vietnam (formerly Watson Wyatt and SMART HR) Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue, Suite 808, D1 Tel: 3821 9488 Global HR consulting firm specializing in executive compensation, talent management, employee rewards and surveys, HR effectiveness and technology, data services and total rewards surveys.

DECOR Antique Street Le Cong Kieu Street, D1 between Nguyen Thai Binh and Pho Duc Chinh A variety of antiques and faux antiques from Thailand, China and Vietnam including silverware, compasses, lighters, brass knockers, urns, vases, abacuses, religious and pagan statues, candlestick holders, furniture and watches.

Aquarium Street Nguyen Thong Street, D3 between Vo Thi Sau and Ly Chinh Thang Dedicated street has everything one needs to display fish: tanks, decor, feed, filters and the fish themselves.

Budget Housewares Street Corner of Pasteur and Nguyen Dinh Chieu Stock up on shower heads, kitchen supplies (juicer, spatula, grater, etc.), coat racks, clothes hangers, pots, pans, champagne flutes, bowls, coolers, trash

bins, ironing boards, magazine racks and the like.

Chau Loan 213 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3825 7991 Gallery based in a colonial shophouse stocking mainly Vietnamese-themed oil paintings and images of Buddha. Also deals in better-known reproductions.

Decosy 112 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 6281 9917 Producer of a large selection of European styled furniture and interior fittings, specializing in wrought iron and patine (distressed) wood finishes. Also stocks a wide-range of decorative accessories, crockery and fixtures. Custom design services available upon request.

Dogma 175 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3836 0488 www.dogmavietnam.com Located upstairs from Saigon Kitsch, this art gallery deals in Vietnamese propaganda posters, apparel, accessories and random paraphernalia. Large prints are sold at USD $60 each and small prints cost $25.

Minh Boutique 15 Nguyen Thiep, D1 Lacquerware pieces, tea boxes, teapot warmers, ice buckets and sake drinking sets all handmade in Vietnam. Also sells a range of silverware, egg holders and ice tongs.

OUT-2 STUDIO L6 Fafilm annex 6 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3825 6056 STUDIO@OUT-2.com www.out-2.com Studio space for independent designers to showcas their wares, sell their work and meet with clients. Open Monday t Saturday 10 am to 6 pm.

Phuong Mai 213C Dong Khoi www.phuongmai-gallery.com Gallery specializing in original oils by Vietnamese artists. The works here are a mish-mash of styles but do contain some standouts, particularly well-known local artists La Hon, Quy Tam and Pham Trinh.

Sapa 125 Ho Tung Mau, D1 Offers a better selection of hill tribe handicrafts than most of its rivals.

Concentrates mainly on the hand-woven clothing of the indigenous tribespeople of the region. There is also a line in ladies’ shoes and the standard range of silk wraps and bags.

Unity 12 Dang Tran Con, D1 Tel: 3823 9375 info@unitycompany.com www.facebook.com/unitycompany Located opposite Galaxy cinema, Unity offers accessories that are designed to seamlessly blend in with your life. Familiar basics are given a contemporary update with the use of modern, alternative materials like silicone, rubber, and brushed aluminum. From orbital lamps and eggshell-white china, to wire-clasped water bottles, each individual piece complements the others in the collection to give your home a sense of Unity.

ELECTRONICS

Hi End Audio 84 Ho Tung Mau, D1 A standout that stocks the very latest and greatest in home entertainment.

Retails in everything from giant plasmascreen TVs to audio equipment. Most top brands are available. iDEAS Shopping Centre 133-141AB Cach Mang Thang Tam, D3 The largest of the electonics stores along the street, the three-storey iDEAS sells every type of electronic and home appliance imaginable. Offers proper warranties. Staff speaks some English.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 65

Future World 240 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3 Authorized reseller of Apple computers and products, as well as some off-brand items like headphones. Excellent service and English-speaking staff. Accepts credit cards.

By Gary Woollacott

PEOPLE MATTER On Reading Normally I tackle a subject that is related to human resources; this month I’m taking a slightly different tack. I was reflecting on how little people read for pleasure these days. There is a hard-core of literature lovers, but I suspect that most people read only for information: newspapers, magazines; tablets; or just on smartphones. And, to me, that’s a shame. I would venture that reading is not only a great way to relax, it’s also an unmatched way of exploring the imagination, letting go of what’s happening around us and immersing ourselves in someone else’s world.

Think of the Harry Potter series, how popular they are.

And what extraordinary stories those books tell. Or the James Bond books, or any other series – from Enid Blyton to Frederick Forsyth to Jackie Collins (if you like that kind of thing). My point is that reading is pleasurable as well as educational – if only more people would do it. I’ve recently read a couple of startling stories, both with – controversial to some – Nazi themes. The first, Reunion, tells the (short) story of a friendship between two teenage boys in the early part of the 20th century and what happens to them as a result of the changes in German politics and society in the 1930s. It also has the most staggering last sentence that I have ever read. Go get a copy (and don’t sneak a look at the last page).

The second was The Plot against America which imagines

66 AsiaLIFE HCMC

a Nazi-sympathising American president at the outset of the second world war. He does a deal with Nazi Germany to keep the US out of the war. Pearl Harbor doesn’t happen in 1941, and so on. A gripping tale as casual anti-Semitism takes hold in the US and of how people’s liberties are gradually, almost imperceptibly, taken away. It could never happen now, right?

Actually it’s worth reading it just to imagine if it could. There you are, I’ve come back to that word: imagine.

Imagination can be somewhat lacking in this part of the world (to make a massive generalisation).

So many just drift, living their lives, playing games on phones and tablets, going to work (and perhaps not getting any motivation at all from it), cruising shopping centres at the weekend – substituting one kind of boredom for another – and not living, yes, really living their lives. Imagination can help us to do that, to kick-start something that is away from the ordinary, the basic. Try it. Pick up a book and give it a go. Anything will do, just make a start somewhere.

As usual, let me know if you have any particular topic you would like to see covered here.

Gary Woollacott is an executive search consultant who works for Horton International in Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.

He can be reached at +84 8 3910 7682 or via woollacott@ hortoninternational.com.

Nguyen Kim Shopping Centre 63-65 Tran Hung Dao, D1 Tel: 3821 1211 www.nguyenkim.com Stocks DVD/CD players, cameras, TVs, hi-fis and more from Sony, Sanyo, Panasonic, Philips and other major manufacturers. Also a good place to pick up electronic kitchen supplies like coffee makers and rice cookers, as well as large and small appliances, from hot water heaters to regrigerators.

Phong Vu 125 Cach Mang Thang Tam, D1 Tel: 6290 8777 www.vitinphongvu.com Two-storey electronics store retails in international products conveniently grouped by brand. Carries computers, home audio, printers, hard drives and more, as well as a variety of mobile phones, handheld electronic devices and accessories.

Savico 117 Ho Tung Mau, D1 Tel: 3821 7993 One-stop electronics and home appliance superstore. All products have a one to three-year warranty.

Tech Street Huynh Thuc Khang Street between Ton That Dam and Nguyen Hue, D1 Sells compact discs, DVDs, electronic money counters, video games and systems, Discmans, mp3 players and portable DVD players.

FURNITURE

Appeal 41 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3821 5258 A small, upscale shop that offers modern accents for the sleek dining room. The colours of the over-sized vases and fruit bowls are either glistening red or lacquered black.

AustinHome 42 Nguyen Dang Giai, D2 Tel: 3519 0023 Outstanding quality and style for your home. The shop says its products are hand-picked by an American furniture expert from the best factories in Vietnam.

Upholstery, accessories, antiques and more.

Decosy 112 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 6281 9917 Producer of a large selection of European styled furniture and interior fittings, specializing in wrought iron and patine (distressed) wood finishes. Also stocks a wide-range of decorative accessories, crockery and fixtures. Custom design services available upon request.

Esthetic 11 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 7371/7372 Fax: 3514 7370 esthetic@vnn.vn www.estheticfurnishing.com.vn Design and manufacture as order with a mixture of antique and modern furniture.

Friendly staff speak excellent English.

Furniture Street Ngo Gia Tu, D10 between Ly Thai To and Nguyen Chi Thanh Very affordable furniture can be found on this stretch: couches, mattresses, desks, chairs, etc. It often takes some looking to find a gem. A connected sidestreet, Ba Hat, features woodworkers’ shops.

Gaya 6/39A Tran Nao Street 12, D2

Tel: 3740 6009 www.gayavietnam.com Gaya is re launching with new name at the new location featuring the work of foreign designers: furniture and lighting

by Quasar Khanh, laquerware decor by Michele De Albert and other home accessories and outdoor furniture .

Linh’s White 37 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 6281 9863 Furniture shop that focuses on solid wood furniture and decorative items ranging from pillows and lamps to bedding. Also offers kids’ furniture and custom pieces.

Mai Home 92 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 08 62 818 399 MaiHomeDecor.com Producer of fine lacquerware lamps and furniture, Mai Home combines modern design with the traditional art of Vietnamese lacquer to create tasteful and durable homewares. Also provides worldwide shipping and customisable designs.

The Lost Art 31 Nguyen Cong Tru, D1 Tel: 3829 0134 Extensive product range as well as comprehensive interior design service, from initial conceptualization to design, manufacture and installation of unique products.

LEGAL

Allens Arthur Robinson Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3822 1717 www.vietnamlaws.com Australian law firm for law translation services and legal advice on foreign investment and business in Vietnam.

Baker & McKenzie Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3829 5585 www.bakernet.com International law firm providing on-theground liaison and support services to clients interested in investigating, negotiating and implementing projects in Vietnam.

Frasers International Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3824 2733 www.frasersvn.com Full service commercial law firm providing international and Vietnamese legal advice to both foreign and local clients specializing in transactions in Vietnam.

Indochine Counsel Han Nam Building, 65 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3823 9640 www.indochinecounsel.com Business law practitioners specializing in mergers & acquistions, inward investment, and securities & capital markets.

Phillips Fox Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3822 1717 Full service law firm providing legal services in healthcare, education, crime, banking and hospitality among others.

Pricewaterhousecoopers Legal Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3823 0796 www.pwc.com/vn Part of a network of international legal and financial advisors, PWC gives both specialist and general legal advice with a focus on mutli-territory projects.

Rödl & Partner Somerset Chancellor Court 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 3824 4225 / www.roedl.com European legal firm assisting foreign investors with structuring/establishing companies, investment projects, and mergers & acquistions.

LIGHTING

Luxury Light 1483 My Toan 1, Nguyen Van Linh, Phu My Hung, D7 For those who really want to bring a touch of luxury to their homes, this place deals with Italian imported lighting from the ultra - modern to the traditional Murano style chandeliers.

Mosaique 98 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 One of the best and most diverse selections of lamps in town with everything from the ordinary decorative lotus silk lamp to more inventive and original designs in lacquer and silk.

MOTORBIKES

Bike City 480D Nguyen Thi Thap, D7 Luxury motorcycle shop carries a range of accessories, including apparel. Sells Vemar helmets, a brand that passes rigorous European Union standards.

Protec Helmets 18bis/3A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 248C Phan Dinh Phung, Phu Nhuan 417B Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3 American nonprofit manufacturer makes helmets with densely compressed polystyrene shell with ABS, PVC or fiberglass exterior, available with polycarbonate shatter-proof shield. Options for kids.

REAL ESTATE

CB Richard Ellis Me Linh Point Tower, 2 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3824 6125 www.cbre.com International property consultants and developers with both commercial and private properties for sale, lease and rent.

Diamond Plaza 34 Le Duan Street / Tel: 3822 1922 lntdung@diamondplaza.com.vn Located in the heart of District 1, connected to Diamond PLaza. Services 1- to 4-bedroom apartments with gym, swimming pool and panoramic views of the city.

InterContinental Asiana Saigon Residences Corner of Hai Ba Trung & Nguyen Du, D1 / Tel: 3520 8888 saigon@interconti.com www.intercontinental.com/saigonres Contemporary residential space in the heart of the major business and cultural area in District 1. There are 260 one, two or three-bedroom units plus health club and outdoor swimming pool.

Namhouse Corporation 48A Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien, D2 / Tel: 0989 007 700 www.namhouse.com.vn Provides rental properties, construction services and interior decorating.

Supports professional services and after-sales.

Thao Dien Village 195 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Tel. 3744 2222 A riverside complex of international-standard hospitality and F&B outlets with a boutique hotel, four restaurants featuring Italian, Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine, an event house, meeting rooms and a day spa with well-equipped health-club.

Diamond Island Luxury Residences No 01 – Street No.104-BTT, Quarter 3, Binh Trung Tay Ward, D2 T: (84) 968 293 388 / 3742 5678 F: (84-8) 3742 3232) www.the-ascott.com Diamond Island Luxury Residences offers 68 fully-furnished apartments, ranging

from two- to four-bedroom units with private balconies providing panoramic views of the stunning surroundings in one of the most spectacular sceneries in the city. Each lavish space features plush interiors, modern amenities, elegant furnishings and carefully chosen trimmings and fixtures, creating a luxurious harmony of comfort and sensorial tranquility that will have you relaxed and recharged, and functioning at peak performance.

Savills Viet Nam Level 18, Fideco Tower, 81-85 Ham Nghi, D1 Tel: 823 9205 www.savills.com.vn Savills Vietnam is a property service provider that has been established in Vietnam since 1995 offering research, advisory services, residential sales, commercial leasing, asset management, retail advisory, valuation, investment advisory and more.

Sherwood Residence 127 Pasteur St., D3 Tel: 3823 2288 Hotline: 0917470058 leasing@sherwoodresidence.com www.sherwoodresidence.com Sherwood Residence is a luxury serviced apartment property and the first property certified by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Modern living spaces meet prime location, comfort and class with 5-star facilities and service.

RECRUITMENT

First Alliances #609, Saigon Trade Center 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 2080 Fax: 3910 2079 www.firstalliances.net cv@firstalliances.net As Vietnam’s most established recruitment consultancy, First Alliances operates across all major industry sectors and at all levels of seniority. Also provid-

ing HR outsourcing solutions for staffing and payroll,overseas employment and education services.

HR2B / Talent Recruitment JSC Thien Son Building, 5 Nguyen Gia Thieu, D3 / Tel: 3930 8800 www.hr2b.com HR consulting advises businesses on how to improve employee productivity.

The search team specializes in matching senior level Vietnamese professionals and managers to top level opportunities in both major cities.

Horton International 5F, Vitic Building 6B Nguyen Thanh Y Street, D1 Tel 3910 7682-3 www.hortoninternational.com Established in HCMC in 2005, Horton International services local and multinational companies seeking to recruit high quality personnel. Horton International is one of the world’s leading executive search groups with 50 offices in 30 countries. For more information, contact vietnam@hortoninternational.com.

RELOCATION AGENTS

AGS Four Winds 5th Floor, Lafayette De Saigon, 8A Phung Khac Khoan, D1 Tel: +84 8 3521 0071, www.agsfourwinds.com ags-vietnam@agsfourwinds.com Global leader in international removals and relocations, with 128 offices in 78 countries.They can move customers to and/or from any location worldwide.

Crown Worldwide Movers 2ndFl 236/6 Dien Bien Phu, Binh Thanh Tel: 3823 4127 www.crownrelo.com hochiminhcity@crownrelo.com

Not just International or local moving and storage. Crown Relocations offer a wide range of services including orientations, immigration, home search, intercultural training through to pet relocation. Call the team on the above number and check out our website for more information.

made silk dresses and tops. Has a wide range of materials on the second floor.

UTS Saigon Van Intl’ Relocations 1st Fl, 214 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Tel: 3744 7102 MOVING!? www.saigonvan.com Full service relocating agency with ware! housing, handyman, insurance & claim, ! orientation an partner career support services also availble.

Laura V Signature 11 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 7304 4126 www.laurav.net Vintage designs aplenty with everything from jewellery and hair accessories to funky styled sunglasses, umbrellas and colourful maxi dresses.

!"#$%&&'(!)%*#)%&&'(!+),-.)%*#)%&&'/!

By Ruben Luong

FASHION FIELD NOTE Vietnamese Fashion Victories Mainstream fashion coverage is saturated with the successes of Western models and personalities like Kendall Jenner or Gigi Hadid.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

But I appreciate when relatively lesser-known models, designers and fashion photographers with interesting backgrounds and timelines are given credit where they deserve it.

As I serendipitously visited anyarena.com’s fashion vertical last month to catch up on Vietnamese fashion news, I was delighted to read about all the interesting Vietnamese models, designers and photographers who are enjoying important milestones in their fashion careers.

Last month, for example, Italian brand Gucci invited Vietnamese model-stylist-designer Kelbin Lei to create artwork for its Instagram art initiative #GucciGram. For the initiative, Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele curated a selection of online graphics by Asian artists who each reinterpreted Gucci’s Tian, a new spring print inspired by ancient Chinese bird and flower paintings from the 10th century.

Lei is the only Vietnamese artist to participate in any of the brand’s art initiatives, according to anyarena. com.

And in February, the Vietnamese, US-based photographer An Le shot renowned supermodel Naomi Campbell for the cover of Vogue Portugal. He is the first Vietnamese photographer to photograph her for the magazine, according to anyarena.com.

More of Le’s incredibly clean and professional work for industry publications like Harper’s Bazaar,

68 AsiaLIFE HCMC

WWD, i-D and Nylon can be seen at anlestudio.com. Viewing his high-quality work, he is definitely remarkable and one of my favourite fashion photographers.

In the same month, anyarena. com also praised a Vietnamese photographer based in Madrid, Viet Ha Tran, who had her work featured on Vogue Italia’s website PhotoVogue. Tran specialises in fine art photography. Her photographs are influenced by romanticism so the majority of her work captures the emotional and depicts traditionally feminine Asian women in soft, solemn and dreamy environments.

Model-wise, the revered Vietnam’s Next Top Model 2010 winner Trang Khieu was selected to walk in January’s very hip and athleisure-oriented Adidas Originals x White Mountaineering Fall/Winter ’16 show and presentation at the 89th Pitti Uomo (a menswear event in Florence, Italy). Khieu told anyarena.com that the collection was one of the biggest runway shows she has been a part of.

It seems like it’s been a very vogue year for Vietnamese in fashion so far. Happily, there is more good news about Vietnamese individuals working in fashion than I can fit in this column. I can’t wait to see what they all do next.

Ruben Luong is AsiaLIFE’s style editor. Contact him at ruben@ asialifemagazine.com.

0#1.!2#3-(!#4$-(!5%$,#.'/!! !6--7!8,#.%9-!/! :&%))+)9!,#!.-&#$%,-!;#.&7;+7-/! ! !"#$%&$''(")*'+,"-%,'.%*$#/*0'

!!!

<=>=?!@!AB!!A!!CDBB!DEFG!!!!H!!!!8%&-8I8%+9#)J%)K$#3! ! <%)#+?!@!AB!!B!!CDEA!LDEM!!!!H!!!!+)5#I8%+9#)J%)K$#3! www.saigonvan.com

Santa Fe Relocation Services 8th floor, Thien Son Building, 5 Nguyen Gia Thieu, D3 Tel: 3933 0065 www.santaferelo.com vietnam@santaferelo.com With over 150 offices around world, Santa Fe offers local & international moving, pet transportation, relocation services including home search, orientation, cultural training, immigration & records management.

STATIONERY

Fahasa 40 Nguyen Hue, D1 / Tel: 3822 5796 Bookstore chain carries an expansive stock of office and home stationary; a one-stop shop for basic needs.

Stationary and Printing Street Ly Thai To Street, D3 More than 25 stores providing photocopying & printing services.

listings

fashion ACCESSORIES

Accessorize Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 www.monsoon.co.uk/icat/accessorize Fashion-forward accessories including necklaces, handbags, wallets, flip-flops, sunglasses, hair accessories, belts and more.

Banana 128 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Women’s accessories and more, from bags, clutches and belts to clothes and jewellery, all at reasonable prices.

Coconut 100 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Bags of all shapes and sizes rule the roost in this small shop. Made of silk and embroidered to the brim, these unique bags start at about USD $30, and many are suitable for both day and night.

Creation 105 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3829 5429 A two-storey shop selling scarves, intricate handbags (from USD $30), tailor-

Ipa-Nima 71 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3824 3652 77 Dong Khoi, D1 Well-known Hanoi-based fashion brand.

Founder Christina Yu is a former lawyer turned designer who produces eclectic and eye-catching handbags. Also stocks costume jewellery and shoes.

Louis Vuitton Opera View, 161 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 6318 Designer brand name housing traditional craftsmanship of luxury leather goods for men and women. An array of bags, wallets, cuff links and watches are available.

Mai O Mai 4C Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3829 4007 A superb little place with beautiful jewellery and accessories to suit all budgets.

Silver necklaces, bracelets, rings and more in both classic and imaginative designs, as well as gorgeous handembroidered bags.

Mont Blanc Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Notable for fine writing instruments, Mont Blanc also houses cuff links and other male accessories Scorpion Vincom Center B1, 70 - 72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3993 9889 www.scorpionbag.com Selling high-end leather products for both men and women, including shoes, handbags, belts and other accessories.

Features a variety of leather in bright colors and styles.

Umbrella 35 Ly Tu Trong, D1 and 4 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 6276 2730 www.umbrella-fashion.com Sophisticated boutique showcasing a diverse range of imported women’s accessories. Also houses women’s garments from office wear to cocktail and party creations.

ACTIVE WEAR

TBS Sports Centre 102 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan This store stocks a range of good sports clothes and equipment from big name brands such as Puma, Adidas, Ecco, Nike and Converse.

Volcom Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1 Chic and funky ladies’ apparel brand from America. Lots of tank tops, minis and shorts for day tripping with girlfriends or lazing on the beach.

READY TO WEAR unisex

L’Usine 151/1 Dong Khoi, D1 Lifestyle store and cafe housed in a period building restored to evoke the aesthetic of an early 20th-century garment factory. Carries an exclusive, frequently refreshed line of imported men’s and women’s fashion, including T-shirts and footwear, and a range of unique accessories. Entrance via the street-level Art Arcade.

Runway Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3993 9988 runway.sg@global-fashion.vn Massive and minimalist design-led inte-

rior lets ultra high-end designer garments stand out. Carries men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, swimwear, shoes, accessories along with home décor. Brands include Chloe, Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Sergio Rossi and Eres.

Versace 26 Dong Khoi Designer brand in men’s formal wear.

Houses suit jackets and trousers, shirts as well as an array of men’s accessories.

Also stocks womens clothing and shoes.

men

Massimo Ferrari 42-A1 Tran Quoc Thao, D3 Tel: 3930 6212 Bespoke menswear shop also boasts its own brand of contemporary preppy attire tailored for the tropics. Carries a line of European-quality shoes, bags and accessories designed in-house, as well as exclusive Orobianco unisex bags, designer fragrances and eyewear.

Timberland Parkson Plaza, 39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Sells everything the brand is known for, from heavy-duty boots to tops and trousers that are both smart and casual.

Emphasises muted tones and unobtrusive logos.

women

BCBG MAXAZRIA Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 American brand sells women’s day dresses and tops, evening gowns and wear-to-work attire in many prints and colours. Also carries a small selection of accessories, sunglasses and watches.

Bon Mua Boutique Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3993 9888 www.itamoda.com.vn Luxury women’s clothing store with racks organized by designer. Carries small collection of unique pieces from designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Alberta Ferretti, Blumarine, Valentino, Philosophy and Brunello Cucinelli.

Corner Boutique 23 Ly Tu Trong, 1st floor Tel: 012 36 310 099 Corner.com.vn Hidden on the first floor of a downtown apartment building, Corner Boutique boasts an elegant, eclectic collection of womenswear, accessories, handbags, shoes and small trinkets. Open daily from 9am to 9pm.

ER-Couture Boutique 43 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2411 www. er-couture.com erolskov@er-couture.com Exclusive Scandinavian brand offering designer garments. Versatile fashion for women in European sizes 34-44. Each style is released in limited quantities and can be tailored to individual taste.

Mango 96 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3824 6624 Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1 Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 A favourite with fashion-conscious women, this mid-range store stocks clothes from simple tees and jeans to evening wear.

dresses, velvet corsets, chiffon shawls and a range of accessories, all designed in-house.

SHOES

Converse 186 Hai Ba Trung, D1 148 Nguyen Trai, D1 122 Ba Thang Hai, D10 Tel: 3827 5584 www.converse.com.vn Sells iconic Chuck Taylor, Jack Purcell and All-Star sneakers and Converse brand clothing and accessories. Also at department stores around HCMC. Dr. Marten’s 173 Hai Ba Trung, D3 Tel: 3822 4710 Air Wair sandals and shoes here feature the classic yellow stitching and chunky rubber soles. Also stocked with clothes and accessories by Replay and Kappa tracksuit tops.

Footwear Street Ho Xuan Huong Street, D3 between Cach Mang Thang Tam and Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Le Thi Hong Gam in D1 between Pho Duc Chinh and Calmette Selection ranges from leather loafers to plastic thongs and everything in between.

Nine West Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1 Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Stocks an extensive range of designer footwear for women. Handpicked by a global community of independent trendsetters and stylists.

Sergio Rossi 146AB Pasteur, D1 Rex Hotel, 141 Nguyen Hue, D1 World-renowned Italian brand stocks a diverse European-style collection of upmarket shoes and bags made of quality materials, from crocodile and python skin laterals to garnishings of Swarovski crystals and colourful beads.

Star Polo 97B Nguyen Trai, D1 Mix of imported shoes and locally made footwear crafted from Australian leather for men and women as well as imported ones. Sizes from 38 to 42 for men, and from 34 to 40 for women.

TAILORS

Dieu Thanh 140 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3824 5851 www.dieuthanh.com Experienced tailor shop specializes in swimwear and cotton clothing, as well as business suits, evening dresses, luxury fabrics and accessories.

Dzung 221 Le Thanh Ton, D1 One of the most reliable and respected men’s tailors in town with prices and production time to reflect the quality of the workmanship.

Fabric Street Hai Ba Trung, D1 across the street from Tan Dinh Market.

Spools upon spools of fabric manufatured locally and abroad, with more than ample variety of textures, colours and materials to choose from.

Marc Jacobs Rex Hotel, 155 Nguyen Hue , D1 Tel: 6291 3580 This spacious shop with high-ceilings carries up-market clothes, shoes and accessories from the internationally recognized designer brand.

Massimo Ferrari 42-A1 Tran Quoc Thao, D3 Tel: 3930 6212 Traditional Italian sartorial techniques are employed to offer a full wardrobing service and custom tailoring for men. Stocked with imported fabrics primarily from Italy.

Valenciani Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3821 2788 66-68 Nguyen Trai, D1 Tel: 7302 4688 valenciani.sg@gmail.com www.valenciani.com Homegrown luxury boutique carries silk

Uyen 13 Nguyen Thiep, D1 An excellent option with English-speaking staff and a good selection of fabrics (although the price takes a dip if you bring your own) and some off-the-rack staples to copy. Reasonable prices.

Marketing & Communications | PR Design | Video Production | Photography Web Solutions | Publications | Editorial Contact Tel: 0903325543 Mail: jonny@asialifemagazine.com

1 h in Ch an h

nh Di

PHU NHUAN Ng uye nV an

B

nD

yn Hu

inh

Ph u

ng

Tro i

Dieu Tran Quang

h Huynh Va n Ban

Ph a

hV an B

Ng

Na m

Tran Quang

T han g on g Qu y

Ly Ch inh g on Xu Tu

Ph u

n

Bi e

Ng uy en Th ien

en uy Ng

To

ity rs ral e v i tu es Un f Na nc o cie S

uo An D

g uon ng V

r che Tea ining a Tr ersity v Uni

Cu

n

DISTRICT 5

iet

Ha

iM Th

h in

K

nh Cha

Van

u Ph

nh

n uye Ng

ng Tro inh nB Tra

ng Pho

an To

an Tr

n So

en uy g N

Th ua t

mV Pha

ng uo gV n Hu

Di

V

Ba nC o

Ly Tha i

E

en Hi g on hu oi .T hu .C Ng

Qu ye n

en uy Ng

V C u M hu on ar o ke i t

Thanh

inh

V

Ca oT ha ng

District 11 2km

Tra nM

2

Do

D

en Di

Ng uy en Th o

DISTRICT 10 g han 3T

u Sa

en

Lan Ma n Sp Anh g Th ang Leis orts & Tam ure Clu b

ung

i Th Vo

Ky D

inh

Tru on gD inh

on g

Th

H Hoa

Tran M

Cac h

Van Dang

en uy Ng

C

n Tra

Sa inh Train igon Quy Sta en tion

Tan Binh 0.5km

h

nS y

n Dang Tran M

Ky K

Le V a

Dieu

Tran V a

Nh Tran

70 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Nguyen Du C4, D3, D4 Nguyen Hai Tu B4 Nguyen Hue D4, D5 Nguyen Huu Canh B2 Nguyen Huu Canh C5 Nguyen Huu Cau B3 Nguyen Khac Nhu E3 Nguyen Khoai F3 Nguyen Ngoc Phuong B5 Nguyen Phi Khanh B3 Nguyen Sieu C5, D5 Nguyen Son Ha D2 Nguyen Tat Thanh E5 Nguyen Thai Binh D4, E4 Nguyen Thai Hoc D3, E3, E4 Nguyen Thi Dieu D2, D3 Nguyen Thien Thuat D1, E1, E2 Nguyen Thong C1, C2, D2 Nguyen Thuong Hien D2 Nguyen Trai D3, E2 Nguyen Trung Ngan C5 Nguyen Trung Truc D4 Nguyen Truong To E4, E5 Nguyen Van Cu E2 Nguyen Van Hai B3 Nguyen Van Lac B5 Nguyen Van Thu B4, C3, C4 Nguyen Van Troi B1 Pasteur C2, C3, C4, D4 Pham Hong Thai D2, D3 Pham Ngoc Thach C3 Pham Ngu Lao D3, D4, E3 Pham Viet Chanh B5 Pham Viet Chanh E2 Phan Dinh Phung B2 Phan Ke Binh B4 Phan Van Han B4, B5 Pho Duc Chinh D4, E4 Phung Khac Khoan C3, C4 Suong Nguyet Anh D2, D3 Tan Vinh E4 Thach Thi Thanh B3 Thai Van Lung C5 Thi Sach C5 Thu Khoa Huan D4 Ton Duc Thang C5, D4, D5, E4 Ton That Dam D4 Ton That Thiep D4 Ton That Tung D2, D3 Tran Binh Trong E1 Tran Canh Chan E2 Tran Cao Van C4 Tran Dinh Xu E2, E3 Tran Hung Dao D4, E2, E3 Tran Khac Chan B3 Tran Khanh Du B2, B3 Tran Minh Quyen D1 Tran Minh Quyen C1 Tran Nhan Ton E1 Tran Nhat Duat B3 Tran Phu E1 Tran Quang Dieu B1, B2 Tran Quang Khai B3, B2 Tran Quoc Thao C2, C3 Tran Quoc Toan B2, B3, B2 Tran Van Dang C1, C2 Truong Chinh C3 Truong Dinh C2, D3 Tu Xuong C2, C3, D2 Vinh Khanh E4, E5 Vo Thi Sau B3, C2, C3 Vo Van Tan C3, D2, D3 Vuon Chuoi D2 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh B4, B5 Yersin E4

Airport 3km

ng Ho Le

3 Thang 2 D1 Alexandre de Rhodes C4 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan C1, C2, D2, D3 Ban Co D1 Ben Chuong Duong E4 Ben Van Don E4, E5 Bui Thi Xuan D3 Bui Vien E3 Cach Mang Thang Tam C1, D2, D3 Calmette E4 Cao Ba Nha E3 Cao Thang D1, D2, E2 Chu Manh Trinh C4, C5 Co Bac E3 Co Giang E3 De Tham E3 Dien Bien Phu B4, C3, C2, D1, D2 Dinh Cong Trang B3 Dinh Tien Hoang B3, B4, C4 Do Quang Dau E3 Do Thanh D1 Doan Nhu Hai E5 Doan Van Bo E4, E5 Dong Du D5 Dong Khoi C4, D4, D5 Hai Cua B5 Huynh Tinh Cua B2 Huynh Van Banh B1 Khanh Hoi E4 Ky Con B3, C3, C4, D5 Hai Trieu C5 Ham Nghi D4, C5 Han Thuyen C4 Ho Hao Hon E3 Ho Huan Nghiep D5 Ho Tung Mau D4, D5 Ho Xuan Huong C3, D2 Hoa Hung B1 Hoang Dieu E4, E5 Hung Vuong E1 Huyen Tran Cong Chua D3 Huynh Man Dat B5 Huynh Thuc Khang D4 Ky Dong C1, C2 Le Cong Kieu D4 Le Duan C4, C5 Le Hong Phong D1 Le Lai C3, C4, D3 Le Loi D4 Le Quoc Hung E4, E5 Le Quy Don C3 Le Thanh Ton C4, C5, D3, D4 Le Thi Hong Gam D4, E3, E4 Le Thi Rieng D3 Le Van Phuc B3 Le Van Sy C1, C2 Luong Huu Khanh D2, E2 Luu Van Lang D4 Ly Chinh Thang B2, C2 Ly Thai To E1 Ly Tu Trong C4, C5, D4, D5 Mac Dinh Chi B3, C4 Mac Thi Buoi D5 Mai Thi Luu B4 Mai Van Ngoc B1 Me Linh B5 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia B2, C2, C3, D4, E4 Ngo Duc Ke D5 Ngo Thoi Nhiem C2, D2 Ngo Van Nam C5 Nguyen Binh Khiem B4, B5, C5 Nguyen Cong Tru E4 Nguyen Cu Trinh E2, E3 Nguyen Dinh Chieu B4, C3, C4, D1, D2, D3 Nguyen Dinh Chinh B1

A

Di en

Street Guide

2

Trai yen Ngu

DISTR

3

4

5

Gia Dinh Hospital

N

Ng .H uu

Ca u

oc Toa n

iS Th Vo

Tr an

Ng hia

Tru on g

TranQu

Ph am

DISTRICT 3 Le Q

u Sa hu nP e i B

en B Di a

Ng

Hu ye n

ran

Tra i

u r ie iT Ha

HCM City Boat Quay (for Vung Tau) Thu Thiem Tunnel

Ben

Van

n Do

i u Ha n Nh Doa

uo cH un g

an Ho

ie gD

u

Vung Tau

h

uye n

e

n ha tT Ta en uy Ng

Nh u g ian G Co

Cat Lai Ferry 9km

ep

o Ng

To

Ho n

Kh

cK Du

g on Tru Ng

Tru ng Co .

Ng

h an Kh

c Ba Co

i uo

nh Vi

H.

Hu e

nh Ca

Na m

hi . Ng H.H

ac

u Hu

V

u g Tr Con

Le Q

am Th

Ng

h Bin

De

Ho

Ng

Ng.

te et lm Ca

n rsi Ye

ai Th en y u Ng Ky C on

iB Th

m

Saigon Bridge & Highway 1 3km

nh hi cC Du

c Ho

am Th

an Tr

ng Hu

Xu

o Ca

a Nh

on

gG

uy en

M

Du

hie

a

Le Cong Kieu o Ph

ai Th De

iH Th Le

Ham Nghi

S

am

Ngo

n To

ac h

ng

p hie tT g Ton Th a an Kh c u Th nh Huy

i Lo Le

h

Th a

Do

Ng

ng . La L.V

o Da Bus tion ta

an Th Le

i Lo Le

Le

n Be anh t e Th ark M

g

oi

To Tha

hK

en uy g N

iV an Lu at ng u Q ieu a S B o Ng Ca

l al H n n h To w n

nT ru ng Tru c

l

Bin

cT ha n ng

t Da

n ye

TRICT 1

Din h

Trinh

Ba

ng Hu

Kh

on Tr

u Ma

u Ng an Tr

u Da Q.

Tra n

inh

Pham Hong Thai

Do

Cu yen Ngu

nN nA uye

Pa ste ur

an hT rin h

Th iS

m Da

Ng

H

Do ng

g

ye n

en ga uy g N Ng un Tr

ng Tu

Tam

n g ua on iX ieng Su h T Le Thi R ui B i To a nT i Kh ha Tra h tT Lu in yen un u on M gH Ng g i uu Le La Kh an Lao h Ngu Pham Cao Than g Binh Vien hai t Bu i CoT Marke ng Qu yn h

h nT

en uy

Tu Ly

.

T. T

Tha ng

Tu Ly

ng Tro

M

Du

o & Ga Bo rd tan en ic s a

n Va an Ph

Cultural Park

Kh

Po Cen H st tra ai Of l Ba fic Tru e n

an Du Le

a gh H ia

Ch u

Ho

h An

Th u

es od Rh

Du en uy g N Ng uy e

Co ng Ch ua

inh

e

To n

Zo Ng u

an Du

Le

ur

t ye

Lac

a Na ex m Al Ky Kh oi N

eu

ang

te HT

Ho levi V an sion g

te Pas

u Ng

n

eD dr

Hu Re-unification ye Palace nT

Cac hM

ien

ur

V

Tru on gD

hT

DISTRICT 1

n ua

an nT Va o V

Di

Ng oc Th ac h

War n Remnants n Ta Museum o Va

Gi aT hi eu

H St oa Di adiu Lu n m

ieu Ch

nh Di en y u Ng Ma cD inh Ch i an V o a C an Tr

on

uo cT ha o

uy en

iem Nh ng Th uo i an hQ H ho T ye ua n T Ngo n ho an ng Xu o H hi nT ye u Ng ieu Ch nh Di en

uy D

Pa ste

hu nT Va

e Vi Xo

h in eT h g tN

h Cu

an

Tra nQ

en uy Ng

Qu ye n

oc To an

ho i

au

m Ta n Va ark Le P

Qu

g

D.

Ng u yen Van

Va n

Cu a

aT run

h Tin

Me Linh

iB

ng uo Ph oc

i nh

Ha

Ma iT Ph hi Lu an u Ke Bin h

Ng

N

Huy n

n

Ky K

hT

Van

Hoang S a

Ng HaiTu

Khai Tran Quang Ng. Phi Khanh L. V. Ph uc

Tha ch T hi T han g n h ra T C.

Cuu

e uy Ng

N g u yen

c Chan

Duat

Hu yn

ai .H .V

yen

Pham Van Han

Truon g Sa

Nguy en D u

Du

Ngu

BINH THANH

ha Tran K

h Tran Khan

Vo Huy Tan

Huynh Man Dat

o

Tha Ton D ng u Mu c seu m

La

at Tran Nh

yen gu

Cu

Dinh Tien Hoang

Phan Xich Long

Do

an Van B

o

o Da

DISTRICT 4

District 7 & Nha Be

Hudl Technique (Varies)|

Class Dojo (Free) |

R

eportedly used in half of all schools in the USA, this classroom management app is aimed at teachers, students and parents, encouraging and rewarding student skill, effort and good behaviour via a system of instant merits and demerits, alongside a direct and convenient line of communication between all parties. From any tablet or smartphone, behaviour data and feedback can be recorded, received and shared instantly, with additional functions such as language translation, photo-sharing, instant-messaging and group announcements, making this the ideal tool for any classroom. Each user creates a profile and younger kids will enjoy picking out their own crazy monster avatars.

T

argeted at sports and fitness coaches, PE teachers and athletes, this video recording app allows users to slow down, break down and analyse technique, form or position (in any given sport or exercise), in frame-by-frame slow-motion. Using video footage captured on any device (including smartphones and tablets) and with full HD support, users can overlay drawings, diagrams and commentary, or even synchronise two videos for side-by-side comparison. A library of pre-recorded videos and drills for various sports is also available to hone your technique, placing your feeble attempts for perfection alongside the pros. Additionally, Airplay and social media support allows for data and recordings to be instantly displayed to the world.

Inspiration Maps ($9.99) |

Math Bingo ($1.99) |

Zat Phonics (Free) |

Available for both iPhone and iPad, this brainstorming app provides an intuitive interface for capturing ideas, notes and inspiration in sprawling, fully customisable mind-maps. In the classroom, it can be used as another method of explaining ideas and concepts via colourful, annotated diagrams and flowcharts. Add icons, images, recorded narration and hyperlinks and share your creations instantly via Dropbox, Airdrop, iCloud and iTunes.

Aimed at ages six to eight, this colourful and engaging app encourages children to collect ‘Bingo Bugs’ by answering math problems.

With each correct answer, a bug is added to a bingo-style playing board and, of course, the aim is to get a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row of bugs. Points are awarded depending on the time it takes each answer to be correctly input, and incorrect answers attract penalties. High scores unlock bonus games such a ‘Bingo Bug Bungee’ and ‘Math Fling’.

Designed to support the UK’s Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, this app can also be picked up and used in any setting to help a child learning to read. Phonics is a widely-used method for teaching reading and writing in English by developing a child’s ability to hear and identify sounds and match them to the correct spelling patterns. Zat Phonics provides a range of phonics tests of differing levels and lengths and includes non-words, or ‘alien’ words, to provide a child the skills to decode almost any unfamiliar word.

72 AsiaLIFE HCMC

THE BOSS If comedies are up your street then this latest outing starring Melissa McCarthy should be top of the must-see list. Wealthy mogul Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) always comes out on top, until she gets busted for insider trading and sent to federal prison. After paying her debt to society, she emerges from jail broke, hated and homeless.

Luckily, she tracks down former assistant Claire (Kristen Bell), the only person who can help. While staying at Claire’s apartment, the ex-con devises a plan for a new business venture that involves girl scouts, brownies and a willingness to change her ruthless ways.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR Following on from the battle that is raging between Batman and Superman, more superheroes take each other on in this highlyanticipated film. Political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability when the actions of the Avengers lead to collateral damage. And this new status quo deeply divides members of the team.

Captain America (Chris Evans) believes superheroes should remain free to defend humanity without government interference, while Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) sharply disagrees and supports oversight. As the debate escalates into an all-out feud, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) must pick a side.

THE JUNGLE BOOK Rudyard Kipling’s book of the same name has been the inspiration for many a screen adaptation. This latest outing sees Walt Disney Pictures carry out a live-action remake of its classic 1967 animation film. Raised by a family of wolves since birth, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) must leave the only home he’s ever known when the fearsome tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) unleashes his mighty roar. Guided by a stern panther (Ben Kingsley) and a free-spirited bear (Bill Murray), the young boy meets an array of jungle animals, including a slithery python (Scarlett Johansson) and a smooth-talking ape. Along the way, Mowgli learns valuable life lessons as his epic journey of self-discovery leads to fun and adventure.

RATCHET AND CLANK Fans of the platform game of the same name have been eagerly awaiting the release of this animated action comedy, which reveals how the two characters met. Ratchet is the last of his kind, a foolhardy lombax who grew up without a family. Clank is a pint-sized robot with more brains than brawn. After stumbling upon a weapon that can destroy entire planets, they join forces with a team of do-gooders known as the Galactic Rangers. Together, they must stop the evil alien Chairman Drek from using this dangerous technology. Along the way, Ratchet and Clank learn valuable lessons about heroism, friendship and discovering their own identity.

74 AsiaLIFE HCMC

asialifera dio.co m THAILAND

FILM fix

THE BEAT

By Prim

Gig List

Coming up in March A sampling of Saigon's music scene

9

24

April, 1pm - 9pm T H E O U TS IDE R S

April, 9pm C OR A

13 April, 8pm

25 April, 7.30pm

@Saigon Ranger Metal fest

T HE A RT O F MIXOLOGY

@Snuffbox Electric Berlin sounds

@Broma House

FU NK Y SU E YOSHI @Saigon Ranger Japanese super-drumming

LET THE MUSIC TAKE YOU… Crazy rock n roll capers No.XXXXXIIIIVVIVI! ‘Looped, tied and taped forever in the etchings of modern civility lies the kingpin that acts pivot to celebration far and beyond the call of nature to complete understanding, but caters for a shared holler to cease animosities, thus paving the way for an analgesic smouldering of goodwill and merriment that generally forms its variable fold in a state of exotic connotations who limber the soul to a merry tune brought forth in the world’s music festival season.

Riding on the baseline of knowledge, knowing that you win some and you lose some, as Lemmy explained to me in a cafe before he went to the great gig in the sky, whilst ordering a side plate of pigs in blankets; ‘those little crispy succulent critters’ as he refers to them while mentioning how that gig he did in the Young Ones house was supposed to be recorded in a hot air balloon, ‘That’s the kismet, the karma, the kingpin my friend, that’s the Ace of Spades.’

But by the belching banality of Beelzebub’s breeches did scurry the wind of balderdash and tosh.

What in the wide, wide world of ghosts, ghouls, vampires and claptrap; is this nonsense that brims our cups of vanquished ideologies, for have we not sped through the ages of apocalyptic black fingernailed puppets of the macabre, who live the circus life of seemingly perpetual absurdness.

takes tea with the Queen, Iggy Pop stopped self mutilating to sell insurance on TV and Judas Priest designs golf courses somewhere in the British Midlands – not sure where, because when I went to look for him one summer I got the wrong address and when I asked someone if the owner, Judas himself, was around he looked at me kind of funny.

Nevertheless, one soul destroyer of conformatism and rebel rousers of irregularities was simply plain cuckoo in the belief that he actually thought he was Satan, until his wife told him he was probably just drunk and he’d be alright in the morning. A mere 146,000 mornings later did he take heed and realise he was just a bloke from Birmingham who had a rather large hit back in 1971, to which he pointed out to me the other day over tea and scones in a tuk tuk we shared home from the bingo. It was then his paranoia subsided and he realised he wasn’t in fact the devil he knew.

The Prodigy however, Firestarted in ‘96 and still donned in a psychojokers haircut parade the music festival fields of the world with six under their belt for the northern hemisphere season – it is with that impulse to be no-one but yourself we offer The Prodigy their Get It Off Your Chest Request… hussar!…

If you would like to send in your Get It Off Your Chest Request contact prim@asiliferadio.com.

Where are they now? Alice Cooper AsiaLIFE HCMC 75

In this world of political correctness, Bradley Green asks what people are getting so offended about.

76 AsiaLIFE HCMC

THIN SKIN

I

ronically, I get quite worked up by the easily offended; so much so, all I can think to do is be more offensive. You know, really rub salt in the wounds. Everyone with a similar mindset would react the same no doubt. Some what counter productive for the ‘victims’.

I’m certainly not saying I’d go out of my way to annoy and upset people (depends who) - I’m no sociopath. It seems the world is probably just too grotesque and X-rated these days to be so delicate about things that could upset: “Now dear are you wrapped up enough? Perhaps an extra layer or two of cotton wool will do?” I just don’t buy it, there’s bigger fish to fry. A very recent example comes to mind involving the filming of the new Top Gear series. There is a scene in which a car is performing doughnuts near a very well known war memorial in London, the Cenotaph. This caused outrage amongst some people, because of disrespect etc. I realise this a memorial for fallen soldiers in what were two atrocious wars, yet it’s also in

the centre of London on a busy street. It just seems a little hard to swallow in my opinion.

This may be a little bit biased, but I remember having a lovely time with a group of friends in a bar. We were drinking and being rather garrulous, no less than you would expect from said patrons. One of us then swore a common swear word, and a person turned around and said something along the lines of… “Can you not swear in front of my children?” Well, I was most perturbed and thus retorted with “Can you not bring your children into our pub?” Oh the offense that was taken! Yet were we wrong for being adults in which is most definitely an adult zone? My feelings are that they should have never brought the sprogs along in the first place, rather irresponsible I think, am I right?

I don’t rock up to the nursery and turn Peppa Pig off to put on Debbie does Dallas, nor do I turn up to village meetings in a village in which I have no business to tell the locals which coloured bunting to hang for this year’s parade. Leave me and my pub alone!

It seems to get more and more ridiculous with each passing year, not forgetting this isn’t the 1890s and Mrs Bombadier’s uncovered ankle isn’t news, nor does it matter.

This is the 21st century, and you can see just about as much as your stomach can handle with a click of a button or two. It is not an age of buttercups and liquorice sticks, it is an age of garbage television and celebrity nudes gone viral. Completely and utterly shameless nonsense.

Whether you like it or not, it is here to stay, perhaps a sorry state of affairs, but reality nonetheless. I don’t condone people being generally vile and despicable (and there is a limit) but for the most part people aren’t trying to offend and upset, they’re just trying to enjoy life. Don’t go flashing your private parts at Mrs Smith next door, however don’t look over your shoulder when you get to the glorious punch line of your joke. Life’s too short. I think I’ve offended myself, time for an angry nap.

The Library Project O

n a recent early Friday morning, a minibus rolled through the crowded streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Aboard were volunteers and staff for The Library Project, some bright blue bookshelves, assorted globes, maps, educational posters and 500 brand new books for kids.

The Library Project is an international non-governmental organisation that donates high quality books and literacy materials to primary schools in rural China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

On the morning in question, The Library Project team was headed deep into the Mekong Delta to donate two reading corners to Hieu Thanh B Primary School in Vinh Long province.

After leaving Ho Chi Minh City, the minibus navigated a series of increasingly smaller roads, eventually reaching a remote country lane so narrow that the driver exited the van several times to check that bridges more suitable for bicycles and motorbikes would safely hold the larger vehicle.

When the team reached the rustic tworoom school, the experienced volunteers jumped into action, assembling the shelves, stamping The Library Project’s logo into the front of the books, and keeping the kids entertained with activities while the reading corners were being made ready.

For the children, the break from the day’s routine was welcome, as was the presence of several guests. However, the real treat were the books – as soon as the corners were installed, each child was allowed to choose a book to read at his or her desk. After the buzzing excitement of a few minutes before,

the room was suddenly silent as the kids began to devour their reads.

For long-time members of The Library Project team, this is nothing new. In fact, since the organisation’s founding in 2006, similar scenes have played out in more than 1,700 schools and orphanages, giving nearly 600,000 children access to 1 million books.

“Our programs have stayed razor focused on rural literacy though the donation of local language libraries,” said Tom Stader, the organisation’s founder. “This is what we do. This is what we will always do.”

Stader and the rest of The Library Project team believe that literacy is the single best way to fight poverty and inequality.

While global literacy has seen great strides forward in recent decades, today 16 percent of the world’s population is illiterate.

The Library Project’s model is quite simple and very efficient. The in-country teams work with government officials and school districts to identify schools in need.

They perform a pre-assessment to determine what set up will work best - for larger schools with a room dedicated to a library, reading rooms with 1,000 books, tables, chairs and comfy, padded places to sit are a good option. For a smaller school, like the one in Vinh Long Province, a reading corner installed in the classroom is a better fit.

The Library Project has a vision to support 1 million children by 2019. If you’d like to help reach this goal, there are lots of ways to get involved: •Donate a reading room or reading corner. With The Library Project’s secure online giving tool, you can harness the power of your network to help raise money.

•Become a monthly donor. With recurring gifts, a small monthly gift makes a huge difference over the year.

•Make a one-time gift. Donating US$1 allows The Library Project to buy one book for a school. How many books would you like to buy? Visit library-project.org.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 77

- District 7’s Pitchers Bar and Grill presents -

Brainbuster trivia

1. Samite is a type of what ? a) Fabric b) Stone c) Dog

Sách quảng cáo Responsible for Publishing:

d) Cake

NGUYỄN THỊ THU HÀ Director - Editor in Chief

2. Vermillion is a shade of which colour? a) Green b) Blue c) Red d) Yellow 3. In summer 2010 what species produced offspring in the wild in the UK for the first time in around 400 years after reintroduction to Scotland ? a) Beaver b) Bear c) Wolf d) Reindeer 4. A caparison is an ornamental cloth used to cover a what? a) Alter b) Horse c) Bed d) Window 5. In which famous building are rooms named Vermeil, China, Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow Oval? a) Buckingham Palace b) The White House c) Palace of Versailles d) Westminster Abbey

Editors: Lê Đắc Quang - Bùi Thị Nga Designed by: ASIALIFE ADVERTISING LIMITED COMPANY Cover & content by: Asialife Advertising Limited Company Information and Communications Publishing House 9/90 Nguy Nhu Kon Tum - Thanh Xuan - Ha Noi Printed 2000 copies, size 20,5cm x 27cm, at ITAXA Company

Address: 126 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3 Publishing permit No: 315 - 2016 /CXBIPH/4-16/TTTT. Publication decision No: 53/QĐ - NXB TT&TT dated on 26, Feb, 2016.

Copy right deposit in 2016.

ISBN: 978-604-80-1653-1

6. Which 1920s film star’s third husband was Henri Le Bailly de la Falaise, Marquis de la Coudraye? a) Clara Bow b) Lillian Gish c) Mae West d) Gloria Swanson

AsiaLIFE Advertising Limited 2 Street 11, Thao Dien Ward, District 2 For advertising and marketing enquiries please contact: +84 938 298 395 or adsales@asialifehcmc.com

7. In anatomy, ‘plantar’ relates to which part of the human body? a) Foot b) Stomach c) Head d) Hand 8. Which English royal house held the throne between 1154 and 1485? a) Stewart b) Tudor c) Plantagenet d) Lancaster

For online advertising and video enquiries please contact: +84 903 325 543 or jonny@asialifemagazine.com Distribution: Super Long +84 937 633 283 (VN) +84 168 6830 250 (EN) AsiaLIFE is a registered trademark. No content may be reproduced in any form without prior authorisation of the owners. © AsiaLIFE Advertising Limited

9. Something annular is in the shape of a what? a) Leaf b) Ring c) Brick d) Pyramid 10. Sfumato is a technique in what? a) Painting b) Cooking c) Martial Arts

d) Meditaton

7 2

1

9

3

7

2

1

9 4

5

6 7

3 8

4 3

2

6

6

8

7

8

4 5

1

13. Who dueted with Harry Nilsson on the 1975 Phil Spectre song ‘A Love Like Yours (Don’t Come Knocking Every Day)’? a) Dusty Springfield b) Barbra Streisand c) Diana Ross d) Cher 14. If something coruscates, what does it do? a) Expands b) Fades c) Sparkles d) Shrinks

2

6

11. Sprinter Merlene Ottey, then aged 50, was a member of which nation’s 4 x 100 metres relay squad at the 2010 European Championships? a) Bermuda b) Slovenia c) Jamaica d) Bahraintion 12. If you dropped three solid steel spheres, weighing 1kg, 2kg and 3kg, at the same time from a height of ten metres, in what order would they hit the floor? a) 1kg 2kg 3kg b) 3kg 2kg 1kg c) All at the same time d) Some other order

Code: KK 02 Sm16.

2 9

1

4

1 7

8

2

15. Evo Morales became president of which country in 2006? a) Bolivia b) Argentina c) Ecuador d) Peru

1: A / 2: C / 3: A / 4: B / 5: B / 6: D / 7: A / 8: C / 9: B / 10: A / 11: B / 12: C / 13: D / 14: C / 15: A

Pub Quiz Answers

78 AsiaLIFE HCMC

1

st

World School IB for students 2 to 18 years old in Ho Chi Minh City

100% 3 IB 17 ACCEPTANCE

PROGRAMS

YEARS

universities

Middle Years &

Diploma candidates

rate to overseas

IB Primary Years,

Diploma Program

Discover more at

www.ishcmc.com | +84 (8) 3898 9100

New IB Secondary Campus Launching Soon!

of graduating IB

SÁCH KHÔNG BÁN