AsiaLIFE Vietnam April 2018

AsiaLIFE Media Vol. 121

SONGKRAN IN SAIGON SIMRAN THE BAKER BATTLE OF KHE SANH 50TH ANNIVERSARY

REDUCE RECYCLE REPURPOSE

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS PUBLISHING HOUSE

Taste of Australia

April 2018

Now in its third year, Taste of Australia is back bigger and better than ever in 2018! The annual celebration of Australian produce, cuisine, culture and lifestyle in Vietnam has even more exciting events to experience this year as Australia and Vietnam celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations, including:

C

M

• Taste of Australia Perfect Pairings (3 April, HCMC) • Taste of Australia NOSH Dinners (7 & 14 April, HCMC) • Taste of Australia Epic Brunch (8 April, HCMC)

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

• Taste of Australia Food and Wine Journey (14 April, HCMC) • Taste of Australia Family Barbecue (22 April, Danang) • Taste of Australia culinary competitions (nationwide; open to current culinary students) • and many restaurant, retail and hotel events and promotions nationwide throughout April.

For information about all these delicious events and more please see the website and facebook page:

K

www.bisvietnam.com

BIS TOPIC

We encourage our students to be ambitious everyday, to try new things, take risks and learn from their experiences.

CHECK FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE

SUCCESS STORIES

Haeon Yoon

Graduated in the top 1% worldwide

Haeon started at the British International School, (BIS HCMC), as a Year 2 student who barely knew any English. Twelve years later, Haeon graduated with an incredible 44 points in her IB Diploma, placing her in the top 1% of students worldwide.

During her time at the school she was appointed Head Girl, awarded the IB Learner Profile Award for ‘Being a Communicator’ and had active participation in a number of extra-curricular activities. These experiences alongside the IB diploma programme have shaped her decision to study Liberal Arts (Political Science) at Williams College, USA with the ambition of one day contributing in some way to social justice.

Haeon describes her time at BIS HCMC as “one that was full of warmth and limitless opportunities.”

Start your #BISHCMC Story

HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

STILL TO COME...

▶ Appointed Head Girl

Swimming for Vietnam

▶ Prefect Team

Musician of the Year

▶ Represented school at several Model United Nation conferences

Josh Kazzi’s IB success story

▶ IB Learner Profile Award for ‘Being a Communicator’

▶ Travelled to Texas to compete at the F1 in Schools competition

Year 6 Published Writer

CAMBODIA // THAILAND // VIETNAM

APRIL 2018

VOLUME 121 This month's cover

AsiaLIFE Media Vol. 121

|APRIL 2018

Photography: Romain Garrigue SONGKRAN IN SAIGON SIMRAN THE BAKER BATTLE OF KHE SANH 50TH ANNIVERSARY

REDUCE RECYCLE REPURPOSE

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS PUBLISHING HOUSE

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

16

www. AsiaLIFEmagazine.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 Barbara Adam barbara.adam@asialifemagazine.com

Art Director

Peter Cornish peter.cornish@asialifemagazine.com

Photo Editor

Nguyen Kim Hanh kimhanh@asialifehcmc.com

Production Manager

Romain Garrigue rgarrigue.contact@gmail.com

Hoa Nguyen nguyenhoa@asialifehcmc.com

Contributors Lauren Cameron Tristan Ngo Reem Mehanna Shannon Brown Tuan Phan

FOOD & DRINK

FRONT EVENTS ...............................................................

ASIALIFE’S PICKS: DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS ...................

Q & A Jenni Tr ang Le

WHAT’S NEW IN SAIGON.............................

BUSINESS VIEW..................................................

SAIGON PROFILES.. ...........................................

TRENDING..........................................................

Commercial Director

Editor

Thang Pham L.C. leo@asialifemagazine.com

04 06 10 12 13 14 15

C OV E R STO RY ZERO WASTE

The growing movement to reduce r ubbish . . . 16

F E AT U R E S SONGKRAN: THAI NEW YEAR

How Saigon’s Thai community celebrates . . .... 2 2

THE YORKSHIRE BLADE

Basic skills & plating........................................... 3 6

LOCAL EATS

Com chay (vegetar ian food) ........................... 3 7

BELOW (WHISKEY DEN)

Under the r adar cocktails................................. 3 8

QUINCE

Decadent dining in Distr ict 1 . . ......................... 3 9

GREEN AROUND THE CORNER

Eco-cafe and shop.............................................. 4 0

DON PATACON SAIGON

A taste of Colomia............................................. 4 1

STYLE & DESIGN MR NINES

Mindful fashion.................................................... 4 2

ELLA HENRY DESIGN

Made in Saigon swimwear and kaftans........... 4 4

KHE SANH: 50TH ANNIVERSARY

A look at tourism in the DMZ......................... 2 4

POP THE BALLOON

App-based map and mar keting fun . . .............. 2 6

SAVE THE PANGOLIN

Preser ving an endangered species ................. 2 8

HEALTH & WELLNESS - Infr ared ther apy..... 3 0

T R AV E L INDULGE YOURSELF IN LEI YUE MUN

Hong Kong’s seafood village............................. 3 2

NIGHT MARKETS IN TAIWAN

What to eat when you visit . . ............................ 3 4

4 AsiaLIFE HCMC

COLUMNS IMBIBE ............................................................................. 5 4 FITNESS .......................................................................... 5 6 EDUCATION HUB .................................................... 6 0 PERSONAL FINANCE ............................................. 6 1 PEOPLE MATTER ....................................................... 6 2 CRAFT SAIGON ........................................................ 6 3 TECH AND THE CITY ............................................. 6 4 FILMFIX ........................................................................... 6 6 TALES OF A GECKOPHOBE ................................ 6 7 HANCOCK IN SE ASIA .......................................... 6 8 COMMUNITY FOCUS ............................................ 6 9 PUB QUIZ ..................................................................... 7 0

EVENTS

8 APR

22 APR

Noon - 3pm Taste of Australia Epic Aussie Brunch @Social Club Saigon, Hotel des Arts Saigon Entry: VND2,188,000 ++ Brunch with a magical hint of Australia, part of the Vietnam-wide Taste of Australia festival of Australian food, beverages and culinary culture. fb.com/events/1722418401114087.

Earth Day clean ups @various locations in Ho Chi Minh City Entry: Free Help keep Vietnam clean and green by joining one of the many clean ups organised around the city by Viet Nam Sach va Xanh and Clean Up Vietnam. Visit their Facebook pages for more details and a clean up near you. fb.com/vnsvx fb.com/cleanupvietnam fb.com/events/1953048521376719

Hi-5 Supers @Nha Hat Ben Thanh Entry: from VND400,000 Popular kids entertainment troup Hi-5 will make their debut in Vietnam with a new show, a superhero adventure full of action and laughter. fb.com/events/600146083710840/?event_time_ id=600146107044171.

24 - 26 APR

Small Change launch @Grain, 71-75 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Entry: VND1.9 million The launch event for Small Change, an exciting new social business leveraging community networks and resources to create sustainable social impact. Enjoy wine and a four course meal prepared by four of the city’s top chefs. Hosted by Oi and AsiaLIFE.

28 APR

Tickets booked at info@ smallchangevietnam.com.

5 AsiaLIFE HCMC

6 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Established 1997 The weather here in Ho Chi Minh City is pretty much always like the dog days of summer. It’s hot, it’s humid and it also happens to be the year of the dog. So let’s paws for a moment and consider five great dog-friendly restaurants that will treat your four-legged friend right.

C

M

Y

SSC is the official Vietnam distributor for Vogmask - the first stylish, high efficiency, well-fitting, comfortable face mask in the world with n99 filtration and carbon filter.

Always in stock an extensive range of quality imported helmets in all styles and sizes including Vemar, Project, Roof, Vega USA, TDC and more

CM

SAiGON

MY

SCOOTER CENTRE

CY

CMY

K

BOOMERANG SAIGON Boomerang throws a lot of Antipodean dog-friendliness out in District 7, and it usually comes back in the form of wellbehaved canines.

This large and popular bistro on the scenic promenade of Phu My Hung welcomes dogs in their outside section for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, as long as the pooches are on a leash to ensure the happiness of other diners.

When people arrive with a dog, the canine customer gets a water bowl with some fresh water. There are also plans being hatched for homemade dog treats for pups.

“We love dogs here and realise they are part of your family and welcome them with open arms,” manager Tony Cappello told AsiaLIFE.

RENTALS

NEW

• We now offer long term discounted scooter rentals.

• New stock includes a wide range of models including 50cc.

• No license needed - 16 years and older for 50cc scooters • Full service package included , delivery option available.

• We also specialise in Saigon to Hanoi rentals with 1 way drop off.

For more info - rentals@saigonscootercentre.com

The Crescent Residence 2, CR2 3-4, 107 Ton Dat Tien, Phu My Hung, District 7 fb.com/boomerangsaigon.

Vietnam’s only 100% foreign owned and fully licenced 1-stop scooter shop 151 Luong Dinh Cua , Phuong Binh An , District 2 , HCM City..

Open every day 9.00am until 8.30pm. Tel : 0903013690 AsiaLIFE HCMC 7 www.saigonscootercentre.com For more info - info@saigonscootercentre.com

HEART OF DARKNESS BREWERY Dogs are welcome in the garden bar at the Heart of Darkness Brewery in District 1.

Like all customers, dogs are expected to be polite to the brewery’s staff, furniture and other customers.

There is plenty of shade for the dogs and their human companions in the outdoor section. Human customers can order food and drinks, while the pooches are provided with free bowls of water.

For people who arrive without their dogs, or don’t want to hang out with other people’s pets, there are plenty of other eating and drinking and areas inside.

AsiaLIFE recommends pairing a drinking-withdogs session with a Chicago hotdog (of course) and a few glasses of Primeval Forest Pilsner (because dogs love trees).

31D Ly Tu Trong, District 1 fb.com/heartofdarknessbrewery.

THE REFINERY Despite the high-brow name of this French bistro, you don’t need to have a superior breed of dog to bring it along to The Refinery.

Hounds of all descriptions can hang out in in the outdoor patio section, no matter whether their owners are stopping by for a coffee, a glass of wine or a meal.

Well-behaved dogs are always welcome, as are parakeets, according to Refinery’s owner Noelle CarrEllison. Every dog customer is given a bowl of water on arrival.

The Refinery is also a place to ponder that eternal question -- to share or not to share ... when you order a shared platter. Consulting with your canine friend may bring enlightenment in this case.

The Refinery’s sister restaurants, La Chola, Au Parc, Propaganda and Rico Taco, are equally dogfriendly, Noelle told AsiaLIFE. 74 Hai Ba Trung, District 1 www.therefinerysaigon.com fb.com/refinery.saigon.

8 AsiaLIFE HCMC

SANCHO’S CRAFT BEER + MEXICAN KITCHEN Sancho’s dog policy is quite simple, according to owner Calvin Bui: “All dogs are welcome. The end.”

It’s this kind of simplicity and friendliness that makes Sancho’s what it is, a great place to hang out with friends -- old, new and four-legged -- while tucking into great Mexi-Cali fare and some Rooster craft beer above the table, and free water under the table.

Sancho’s is also a place where people are happy to have a bit of fun.

So while all dogs are welcome, and they don’t even need to be on a lead, Mexican dogs are especially welcome. In fact, if anyone ever brings a Xoloitzcuintli to Sanchos, Calvin will spring for a free pitcher of Margarita. (To claim, Sancho’s management needs to be informed a day ahead of the visit.)

For those who don’t know, Xoloitzcuintli, also known as a Mexican hairless dog, are believed to be descended from the pre-Columbian Xoloitzcuintle dog, and they come in three sizes: toy, miniature, and standard.

207 Bui Vien, District 1 fb.com/sanchocantina.

SAIGON OUTCAST Saigon Outcast calls itself “the place where you come to be you”, and if you’re a dog-person, Saigon Outcast is definitely for you.

Dogs are welcome in this bohemian almost-anything-goes home-away-from-home in District 2’s Thao Dien. Most days you’ll find a dog or two wandering around, lounging or just generally chilling, while their two-legged friends chat, enjoy a few cold beers, snack, skateboard or climb.

Fur-babies are welcome at all of Saigon Outcast’s events, from weekend markets and movie nights to live music and after-work wind-downs.

188/1 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, District 2 fb.com/saigonoutcast.

9 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Q&A

ACTRESS, PRODUCER AND POET

10 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Tuan Phan talks to actress, producer and poet Jenni Trang Le about film and life in Ho Chi Minh City. Jenni’s most recent project was as producer of the film Loi Bao, released in. Photo by Romain Garrigue.

You’re Viet Kieu, but were you born here in Vietnam and returned, or were you in the States and came back?

I’m nguoi My goc Viet, an American with deep Vietnamese roots. So I was born in Houston, Texas and didn’t come back for the first time until 2004.

I was an assistant producer for a feature film called Holly which shot in Cambodia.

I was there for nearly three months, so I decided to go to Vietnam for the first time ever, since I was soooo close. At that time I only knew one person in Saigon, director Tuan Andrew Nguyen, who was the first Viet Kieu to move back that I knew of. I call him my Saigon staple, aka Patient Zero.

How have you found living and working in the city? What has been most frustrating? What has been most illuminating or most rewarding?

I freakin’ love living and working in Saigon. I’ve been here for nine years and it still surprises me. The energy of this city invigorates me and because I’m a very extroverted person I love being able to have human interactions everywhere I go. Most frustrating would probably be finding love.

As a woman in Vietnam you have to be very strong. As an American woman, I feel like you have to have even thicker skin to survive. Random people call you fat, dark, pimply, etc and you just gotta suck it up and not take it to heart. The old adage of “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” doesn’t apply here. So I am definitely a strong woman and to be honest, finding a man who loves strong women is hard here. Can’t compete with the “bánh beos” .... those girls who are delicious but with no nutritional value -- you know the

type!

But at the same time… everybody being up in my business is also what is illuminating. That it really is a community and everyone notices everyone. I can’t tell you how many times Grab bike drivers have said, oh I picked you up the other day. Or even pre-Grab bike days where it was just normal xe om drivers (I don’t drive here).... sometimes a driver would recognise me three years later!

One of the biggest charms of Vietnam is that people make time for you. There’s great importance placed upon face to face interaction. If I was on the phone talking with someone for more than five minutes, that person will say, “hey you wanna meet for coffee or something?” There’s always time for coffee. Before I moved here I wouldn’t make any plans. I would just land, put my SIM card in and say, hey! I’m back. Next thing you know, I had three people coming for coffee in 20 minutes and ten others ready to grab dinner. It’s beautiful like that. People are busy here, but they make time.

Most rewarding is for sure improving my Vietnamese and getting close to my family. I actually only have some family in Hanoi but otherwise in Saigon it’s just me here.

I freakin’ love living and working in Saigon Can you tell us about your current projects? Were there particular projects that were especially fun, exasperating, or ridiculous?

My latest feature film, Loi Bao, came out on December 22 last year. It’s directed by Victor Vu. Victor is a very good friend of mine since 1999 and while I’ve been an assistant director to him, this is my first film as his producer. What a crazy project. Shooting in Dalat is beautiful and the weather is

amazingly cold. Unfortunately we were hit with four tropical storms, which made us cancel five shooting days at a huge cost. We went way over budget.

I have many film set stories. One was when shooting Bi, Don’t Be Afraid!, an art house feature in Hanoi. Interestingly this was the first film crew I’ve been on where I was the only “foreigner”. The whole crew was mostly from Hanoi. We had a nhau (drinking) scene and my director, Phan Dang Di, wanted everything to be as real as possible.

He wanted the actors’ “sweaty faces to turn red and the veins pop out of their necks”... so we gave them real beer.

We basically shot the scene until they got so drunk they couldn’t remember their lines.

And you know what? It was probably the best nhau scene in the history of Vietnamese cinema.

Have you felt the city, and country, to be invigorating or frustrating -- or both -- for people with creative ideas and projects?

Obviously we should talk a little about censorship. I think the bottom line is a concern that the general population is very influenced by cinema. For me, I’m so used to it (censorship) that instead of being frustrated with it, I find creative ways around it. If you want to make a ghost story but can’t have a real ghost, then maybe the ghost was all in the mind. So now we’re doing a film surrounding mental health issues. It’s a new topic. A whole new direction. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

You gotta go with the flow and find solutions. That’s essentially what a producer does.

What’s to come in the future for Jenni Trang Le in Saigon?

I love producing and working on projects that mean something for me. But my origins were in writing and poetry. I want to write my screenplays finally. I’d like to put time to do my stories - centred around strong women and women themes. I feel the film industry (worldwide, not just Vietnam) is still so male oriented and we need to change that. So there are a handful projects I would like to write and direct.

And I’m also getting old, so if i could fall in love in the near future and start popping out babies that would be swell. If I don’t fall in love before my geriatric eggs stop working, then I will adopt. After nine years of failed dating in Vietnam, I’ve realized I need to import.

Jenni’s latest project Chang Vo Cua Em (My Mr Wife) will be in theatres in August.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 11

POKE FRESH

CRACKPOTS EXCELLENT PORK SCRATCHINGS Air-fried pork scratchings in three deliciously decadent flavours -- smoky barbecue, five spice and ready salted. Order online for home delivery (for a small fee). www.crackpotsfoodco.com fb.com/crackpotsfoodco.

HAWAIIAN POKE A fun poke (po-kay) place in the new Bloq development in Thao Dien. Poke is a Hawaiian dish of sushi-grade fish combined with toppings and sauces to create a healthy and flavourful meal, available eat-in or delivery.

Bloq, 19 Tran Ngoc Dien, District 2 fb.com/pokefreshvn.

KEBAB STATION

THE WINE EMBASSY BOTTLE SHOP Wine Embassy, from worldwide best-sellers to hidden gems, has a new boutique at The Snap Cafe. Snap customers can purchase a bottle directly from the shop, and enjoy it while dining-in for a symbolic corkage fee (no fee on Thursdays).

32 Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien, District 2 fb.com/WineEmbassyThaoDien.

CHEF-STYLE SUSHI Chef Shinji Murata from the famed Hiko Sushi in Los Angeles has relocated to Saigon to introduce his very own omakase (chef’s choice) style of sushi, as well as some international bites. Open for lunch and dinner.

12 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Kebabs kept simple: chicken, beef or a mix of both. With French fries if you’re extra ravenous. Halal food in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s backpacker district.

207 Bui Vien, District 1 fb.com/kebabstationhalalvn.

CROSSFIT THAO DIEN

KASEN

101 Le Thi Rieng, District 1 fb.com/KasenVN.

HALAL KEBABS

GYM-BASED FITNESS PROGRAMME Only the third crossfit gym in Vietnam, this new place is all about inclusive community-based exercise. Learn new skills, challenge yourself and have fun.

3 Le Van Mien, Thao Dien, District 2 www.crossfitthaodien.com.

BUSINESS VIEW NEWS

IN BRIEF VIETNAMESE DOCTOR WINS GLOBAL AWARD Paediatric surgeon Nguyen Thanh Liem was last month named the first Vietnamese citizen to win the Nikkei Asia Prize for achievements in science, technology and innovation.

Professor Liem, the former director of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, was involved in several surgeries to separate conjoined twins, and is also credited with pioneering nine surgical procedures, including paediatric endoscopic techniques.

He will travel to Japan in June to receive his award.

HIGH-SPEED RAIL FOR MEKONG DELTA CONSTRUCTION of a high-speed rail line connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho is expected to begin by the end of this year, according to a Tuoi Tre News report.

The rail line will be funded by Canada’s MorFund Financial Inc. and Phuong Nam Science and Technology Institute (PNSTI) in a public-private partnership (PPP).

MorFund will invest US$5 billion in the 139 km rail line, which will reduce the travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho to 45 minutes. Traveling by road from Ho

Chi Minh City to Can Tho at present takes roughly three and a half hours.

Stops along the new route are planned in the Mekong Delta provinces of Long An, Tien Giang and Vinh Long. New urban areas will be developed at each stop, with industrial parks, residential neighbourhoods, schools, hospitals and supermarkets.

The high-speed rail project will be presented to the Ministry of Transport, the prime minister and the National Assembly later this year.

TALLEST TOWER TOPPED A topping out ceremony for Vietnam’s tallest building, Landmark 81, was held last month, 46 days ahead of schedule.

Landmark 81, in the Vinhomes Central Park urban area in Ho Chi Minh City, will be one of the world’s top 10 tallest buildings when it’s complete, as well as the tallest in Vietnam.

Coteccons Chairman Nguyen Ba Duong said he was incredibly proud of his construction company, which had completed nearly nine million hours of safe work on the site, with an average construction speed of two to three floors completed each day.

VIETNAM WINS TRANSGENDER PAGEANT Vietnamese transgender singer Nguyen Huong Giang won the Miss International Queen Pageant 2018 in Thailand last month, beating 27 contestants from around the world.

The 26-year-old was the first Vietnamese to enter the competition, which has been held annually in Thailand since 2004.

After being crowned, Giang promised to fight for equality for transgender people in Vietnam.

“We all want to be treated like everyone else,” she said.

NEW AIRLINE PLANNED HANOI-BASED property developer FLC Group has taken a major step towards launching a new airline, announcing it will buy 24 Airbus A321neo aircraft in a deal worth up to $3 billion.

The new airline, Bamboo Airways, will become Vietnam’s fifth airline, alongside flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, budget operator Jetstar Pacific Airlines, budget carrier Vietjet Aviation and Vietnam Air Services Co. FLC Group has previously said Bamboo

Airways will fly to destinations where FLC’s resorts and golf courses are located.

The proposed new airline is yet to be granted an airline licence by the Vietnamese government.

Vietnam’s airport capacity has been reaching its limits as more people in the nation of 90 million take flights and as the economy grows at among the fastest rates in Asia, prompting the government to be more hesitant in handing out airline licences.

CELEBRITY CHEF NAMED AIRLINE AMBASSADOR Vietnamese-Australian celebrity chef Luke Nguyen will become the culinary ambassador of Vietnam’s national carrier Vietnam Airlines.

The 39-year-old chef will be responsible for eight signature dishes typical for the northern, central, and southern Vietnam, to be served on Vietnam Airlines flights, Tuoi Tre News reported.

Nguyen will also provide consultancy for 50 inflight menus for business class passengers.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 13

SIMRAN THE BAKER

By Barbara Adam.

Photo by Romain Garrigue.

S

imran Rajpal stepped off the plane in Vietnam with a cake in each hand, a loving Indian wife worried about her husband Jeetan’s welfare in a new country not known for its baking.

As Simran tells it, in her business class Indian family, a wife finds her way to her husband’s heart through his stomach. And Jeetan has been alone in Vietnam for several weeks without Simran’s home cooking, so she arrived prepared.

The quietly-spoken Simran said she had no idea she would end up building a baking empire in a new country. When she arrived in Vietnam 13 years ago, she was a stay-athome mother-of-one. Now she’s a working mother-of-two, with 10 staff churning out Saigon’s best cakes, cheesecakes and savoury snacks from her workshop in District 7.

Since Simran opened her workshop in 2011, she has become the go-to person in Ho Chi Minh City for any type of celebratory cakes from birthdays, anniversaries to national days.

And it all started by chance.

Like many trailing spouses in Ho Chi Minh City, Simran found herself at home with young children and quite a bit of time on her hands.

She spent this time baking for her family, and

14 AsiaLIFE HCMC

her new circle of friends.

After a while, her new Saigon friends started demanding she bake more. “`You have to bake for us,’ they would say.

And so I did.”

But Simran’s husband thought she was being a bit extravagant pursuing her hobby, so he asked her to try to be “more judicious” with her passion for baking. She decided to hold some cake-tasting events of offset the costs she was incurring.

One of the first people through the door at Simran’s inaugural cake-tasting was the thenCEO of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf franchise in Vietnam. On the spot, he asked Simran to supply his cafes.

A few months later Simran received an inquiry from Haagen-Dazs, which was preparing to enter the Vietnamese market.

She’s been supplying the ice cream cafe chain ever since.

In fact, as famous as Simrans cakes are among families, consulates and office workers in Ho Chi Minh City, the bulk of her business comes from business-to-business sales, supplying cakes, sandwiches and snacks to cafe chains such as The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, as well as 7-Eleven, CaffeBene, and B’smart.

Part of the reason for her success, Simran says, is her dedication to quality. All Simrans’ products are preservative-free, made with high quality imported ingredients, and overseen personally by Simran.

“The recipes take a long time to perfect,” she said. “Once a recipe is approved by a corporate customer, I teach my staff how to do it. But I’m always there to control the quality.”

Simran said she began baking as a young adult in New Delhi. She honed her culinary skills with a chef from the Taj hotels group. She built her repertoire further with professional baking classes when she moved to Singapore to marry Jeetan.

Simran and Jeetan’s two kids, now 17 and 13, have caught their mum’s cooking bug too.

“My kids love to cook, they love to bake,” Simran said. “ We have mini Master Chef competitions at home. I’m the judge. Papa gives them a budget and they go shop for ingredients.”

On a bigger scale, Simran is also one of the judges at the annual Saigon Enterprise Challenge, held across six international schools in Ho Chi Minh City. In this competition, groups of year 12 students come up with a business idea, create a business plan, build a trade stall and then trade over an eight-week period.

“I enjoy being with kids and love to teach,” she said.

Simran is also famous around town for her home-cooked chicken curry, the main event at any dinner party at her home. But that’s not earmarked for commercial production. Not yet, anyway.

At present Simran is kept busy tackling the intellectual and artistic challenge of meeting customers’ requests for customised items.

“God has been kind to us,” she says regularly as she talks about her business.

The day AsiaLIFE visited her workshop, Simran was overseeing the packing of boxes of adorable Alice in Wonderland-themed cupcakes for a primary school class. The designs were instantly recognisable from the book, and her workshop smelled divinely of baking, of chocolate cookies, icing and all things nice.

Like many in the food and beverage sector in Vietnam, Simran often encounters supply problems, especially when a customer requests a new item.

Simran said her dear husband often returns from business trips from Singapore with suitcases stuffed full of ingredients.

Sometimes Simran herself flies to Singapore for a day to shop for supplies, for things that have suddenly become unavailable here, such as the cherry pie filling she uses in her black forest cakes, or the edible bamboo charcoal powder she needs to make waffle mix for Haagen-Dazs.

“They do have charcoal powder that they sell here in Vietnam,” Simran said. “But it’s for cosmetics. They say it’s edible, but ... I get mine from Singapore.”

Simran’s business is also keeping up with the latest technology. She’s invested in an edible ink printer to make logo and photo cakes. She’s also moving into the catering field, supplying snacks and meals for corporate events, conferences and workshops, including the Vietnam Tech Conference 2017, which required catering for 450 people over at seven events over three days.

Simran is not one to back away from a challenge. She worked out how to supply a 50 kg cake for 700 people to mark the amalgamation of two big international schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

And she also believes to giving back to the community, an important part of her Sikh faith. Every year, at Christmas time, her family donates to Gia Dinh Special School in Binh Thanh District.

“I enjoy it,” Simran says simply, of the baking that’s the key to her business success. “You need to enjoy it to be good at it.” www.simrans.sg fb/cakes.simrans.

VIETJET PLANS BRISBANE FLIGHTS Budget airline VietJet plans to begin non-stop flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane, Australia’s third most populous city, next year, the Vietnam Economic Times reported. Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnessed the signing of an agreement between the airline and Brisbane Airport Corporation in Sydney last month.

Vietjet has a fleet of 55 aircraft and operates 385 flights each day on 82 routes in Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia. Last month, the airline announced it would purchase five more Airbus A321s.

COWORKING PARTNERSHIP FOR HOTELS A new partnership will see Toong co-working spaces located in a new hotel chain that will be rolled out in Southeast Asia, the Vietnam Economic Times reported.

Wink Hotels is the brainchild of Indochina Vanguard, a hospitality joint venture between Indochina Capital and Vanguard Hotels.

Indochina Vanguard plans to open 20 Wink Hotels in Vietnam and neighbouring countries over the next five years, with the first scheduled for Ho Chi Minh City in late 2019.

Toong opened its first international coworking space earlier this year in Vientiane in Laos.

FIRST LUNG TRANSPLANT A SUCCESS The first successful lung transplant in Vietnam was conducted at the 108 Military Central Hospital in Hanoi in February.

A team of 60 medical experts and doctors, led by hospital director Professor Mai Hong Bang, Director of the military hospital, performed the double lung transplant on 52-year-old Tran Ngoc Hanh, who had severe respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Mr Hanh, from northern Nam Dinh province, was reported to be in a good condition a month after the surgery.

IMPORT TARIFFS SLASHED Tariffs on motor vehicles imported from Japan to Vietnam will be reduced to zero from 2029 at the earliest, VN Express reported. Industrial products will no longer be subject to trade tariffs between those countries as part of the pact.

Vietnam will eliminate tariffs for cars with an engine capacity of over 3000cc 10 years after the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership comes into effect, and after another three years, all vehicle tariffs will be cut, said Luong Hoang Thai, director general of the Department of Multilateral Relations at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 15

16 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Peter Cornish takes a look at the growing zero waste movement in Ho Chi Minh City, and some of the people and organisations doing their part to make the city a cleaner and greener place to live.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 17

Five trillion plastic bags are used per year. That’s

160,000 a second.

www.oceanwatch.org.au/latest-n ews/blog/ number-of-plastic-bags-produced-worldwidethis-year.

18 AsiaLIFE HCMC

A

s Earth Day approaches we see a flurry of activity by environmental groups around the country, preparing for annual clean ups. Groups like Vietnam Clean and Green and Clean Up Vietnam help organise and support multiple clean up events nationwide, encouraging volunteers to put their gloves on and put trash away in what at times seems like a futile attempt in tackling the country’s litter problem.

There are those who argue that there is little point in these clean ups as what’s collected today is replaced by new mounds of trash tomorrow. And in many cases, they are right. It can seem like an endless battle against the never-ending tide of litter, and one that will never be won. But the clean up groups have had an impact, and change is happening.

A new movement is slowing gaining momentum, one that looks beyond cleaning up the mess we make to examining ways we can reduce what we throw away in the first place. The zero waste movement is taking hold, slowly but surely, as more and more individuals and businesses are looking at the waste they produce, and actively taking steps to minimise it.

Zero Waste Saigon Facebook page (facebook.com/zerowastesaigon) appeared just a few short months ago. Within weeks it had reached 1,000 members, and at time of writing was close to double that. We caught up with Julia Mesner Burdge and her husband Michael Burdge to ask their motivations for starting the group, and what they hope to achieve.

Julia explained her seminal moment came during a visit to a temple during a trip to Ho Tram. She was struck by the amount of trash surrounding the holy place, and worse still, that baby monkeys were eating plastic bags and other trash. As the mother of a young child, Julia explained felt compelled to act on what she had seen so created her Facebook page, hoping to connect similarly minded people.

Snowballing Interest

The uptake was fast, and was quickly followed by weekly meetings, looking at the waste issues that concerned people and sharing what they were doing about them. High on the agenda was single use plastic, especially plastic straws, the impact they have on the environment and what alternatives were available. Believing that the priority is to act rather than talk, Julia has given away hundreds of bamboo straws already popular with Ho Chi Minh City bars such as The Old Compass and LuBu, and encouraged plenty more to ditch plastic and look for sustainable alternatives.

Other restaurants around Ho Chi Minh City are taking further steps to reduce their waste, both in their outlets and for delivery items. Popular vegan restaurant, Organik House (facebook.com/ theorganikhousegoeco), has taken the leap

and started importing biodegradable food packaging and accessories. Their product range includes items made from sugar cane, bamboo and palm for use in restaurants or for food delivery.

Although perhaps not a viable business opportunity yet, due to high prices and low margins compared to other less eco-friendly options, taking this initiative has further spurred restaurant owners to look at waste reduction and minimising use of plastics.

It’s not only the food and beverage sector that’s starting to look at waste reduction more earnestly. The hospitality and tourism industry has been instrumental in pushing the clean up movement, appreciating the importance of maintaining a clean, litter free environment for their guests. Groups like Keep Mui Ne Nice have been active in the clean up community since its inception and are actively working with local authorities to improve their regions for both locals and visitors.

Sustainable Tourism

Locally based Destination Management Companies Khiri Travel and Exo Travel are the first to become Travel Life certified in Vietnam. Travel Life, a Dutch accreditation scheme, works within the travel industry to develop sustainability policies and waste reduction programmes through their supply chain, products and packages and inhouse initiatives for the locations they operate in.

To increase adoption of the scheme’s aims, Khiri and Exo Travel have founded IMPACT Vietnam (facebook.com/groups/ IMPACTVietnam), a resource and network sharing group for the country’s tourism sector.

We met with Nick Wade of Khiri Travel who told us the group is working towards several of their own goals, in particular the establishment of industry standards and best practices in relation to waste management and sustainability.

Nick explained that by standardising requirements of both partners and supplies, they hope to simplify processes and establish industry benchmarks.

The group is also hoping to impact real change through two direct action initiatives, both of which tackle plastic waste. The first looks at opportunities to reduce single use plastic in the tourism sector through the introduction of bottle refill stations at partner bars, restaurants and hotels nationwide.

Similar to the Refill My Bottle programme in Bali, the initiative would use a geo-app showing nearby locations where water bottles could be refilled. With more than 50 locations already committed, the project is well on its way.

Upcycling

The second initiative focuses on reuse or upcycling of plastic waste from package tours and excursions. Partnering with groups such as Precious Plastic and local

universities, IMPACT Vietnam hope to place recycling machines in under-developed yet tourist heavy locations around the country and encourage local communities to see plastic waste as a valuable commodity that can be turned into products for resale.

Like the Go Eco initiative from Organik House, other companies are also introducing products that offer an alternative to traditional plastic. One such company is WAVE (facebook.com/wave.ecosolutions), founded by Roberto Guzman and Malou Claessens, who produce a cassava-based plastic bag alternative which contain zero actual plastic and are made from cassava starch using a proprietary process.

Roberto explained that the motivation for his business came from time spent snorkelling in different locations around the world, and constantly seeing plastic bags in the waters where he swam. Spurred to action, he assembled a team of scientists and researchers and produced a bio-polymer that had similar properties to plastic.

Together with his partner Malou, Roberto worked with factories to modify their manufacturing processes and now produces his eco-friendly bags in Mexico and Indonesia, distributing throughout Asia, Australia and the Americas.

Looking and feeling like plastic, the bags are strong and durable and can be used in many different shapes and forms, making them ideal for F&B, retail or personal use.

Fully customisable, they are ready for personal branding for companies wanting to show their green credentials.

Being 100% bio-based, the cassava bags compost naturally in soil or landfills within three to six months, without leaving harmful traces, and produce a non-toxic ash when burnt. The zero plastic bags also dissolve in water in about three months, leaving a 100% natural liquid, and the natural material can be safely consumed (although we don’t recommend it!) by animals, fish and humans.

Changing The Mindset

One of the greatest challenges facing the zero waste, no plastic movement is changing consumer behaviour. In a country known for its excessive over use of packaging, encouraging people to turn their backs on single use plastics is a daunting and arduous task.

Stepping up to the challenge is local NGO ChangeVN (facebook.com/CHANGEvn), the Centre of Hands-On Action and Networking for Growth and Environment (CHANGE).

Working to promote and encourage the care and preservation of the environment through education and innovative communications that change habits and inspire community action, Change recently ran a successful campaign tackling the use of rhino horn in Vietnam. They are now turning their attention to reduction of plastic use with a 21 Day No Plastic Challenge.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 19

Thu Nguyen, Development Manager at Change, explained that as part of a continuing iCHANGE campaign dedicated to changing anti-social behaviours, they will launch their initiative on Earth Day, April 22. The campaign will run a series of programmes designed to encourage behavioural change in areas that impact negatively on the environment, such as use of transportation, energy and plastic.

On June 15, Change will launch their first programme that challenges people to reduce their use of plastic over a 21-day period. It is believed that this three-week period is the time needed to break a habit or form a new one. Aimed at a widespread audience, they will work with schools, businesses and individuals through a series of daily challenges to showcase how they are reducing their plastic use.

Participants in the 21-day challenge are invited to buy an iChange kit to help them.

Included in the kit are items such as a bamboo straw, a glass water bottle, a canvas bag, non-plastic food container and ecofriendly cutlery.

Other kits will be donated to disadvantaged groups around the country.

Throughout the challenge, people who have completed a series of tasks, such as posting

photos or videos on the Change Facebook page, will be eligible to win prizes.

Clean Up

While new groups are working hard to reduce the amount of litter we produce, others are increasing activity to clean up the waste we discard. We met with Tue Phan, General Manager of Viet Nam Sach Va Xanh (facebook.com/vnsvx), one of the largest anti-litter groups in the country, to find out more about their work.

Tue explained that while their ultimate goal is to keep Vietnam clean and green, the clean up movement is a first step in working towards plastic reduction, and then towards zero waste. He also believes it’s better to reduce rather than re-use, and while bamboo straws are a step in the right direction, do we really need a straw at all?

Viet Nam Sach Va Xanh launched in 2013 with a green ribbon campaign at RMIT University. The ribbons showed people’s commitment to a cleaner environment and were tied to backpacks or motorbike mirrors by students. The simple, cost effective idea spread rapidly and they distributed more than 66,000 ribbons to 15 universities throughout the country.

Recognition of the campaign came when

WANT TO WORK TOWARDS ZERO WASTE?

they won the Asia Development Bank International Youth 4 Asia award in 2015, something that founder Nhan Nguyen is very proud of.

Working closely with other clean up groups such as Clean Up Vietnam, Tue’s group has been holding regular community clean ups since 2015. Partnering with Clean Up Vietnam again this year, they will be organising multiple community clean ups around HCMC and Vietnam on Earth Day. Visit their Facebook page if you would like to play a part in keeping your community clean.

More recent campaigns include an education-based initiative called the Green Turtle Army, or more accurately biet doi rua xanh, the green turtle special forces. Inspired

by Woodsy Owl, an anti-litter mascot from America in the 1970s, the character is based on the turtle dragon of Vietnamese mythology.

Again, working with students from RMIT, they have developed a gaming app that targets young children to complete a series of anti-litter tasks. Piloted in international schools in HCMC, kids learn about the importance of keeping their environment clean and trying to reduce their waste.

PRACTICAL TIPS TO GET YOU

BẠN MUỐN BƯỚC VÀO CUỘC SỐNG ZERO WASTE - LỐI SỐNG XANH? ĐÂY LÀ MỘT VÀI LỜI KHUYÊN ĐỂ GIÚP BẠN BẮT ĐẦU CUỘC SỐNG TRONG LÀNH ĐÓ

1. When ordering drinks, say “no plastic straw”.

2. Trade plastic bags for a reusable shopping tote and take reusable bags shopping for fruit and veggies.

3. Swap single-use water bottles for reusable ones.

4. Pick up a set of reusable utensils to take with when you’re on the go.

5. Buy compostable, sustainable toothbrushes instead of plastic ones.

6. Wash clothes when they are actually dirty, instead of after only one wear.

7. Buy food without packaging or with minimal packaging.

8. Use bar soap instead of liquid soap, it tends to come with less packaging.

9. Avoid ordering delivery from restaurants unless they use biodegradable packaging.

10. Follow the advice of zero waste blogger Bea Johnson: Refuse what you do not need. Reduce what you do need. Reuse by using reusables.

Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse.

Rot (compost) the rest.

1. Đừng sử dụng ống hút nhựa khi gọi bất kì một món nước nào.

2. Đổi túi nilông bằng túi tote có thể tái sử dụng và mang theo chúng khi đi mua trái cây và rau củ.

3. Dùng chai inox để đựng nước thay cho chai sử dụng một lần.

4. Mang theo bộ dụng cụ ăn uống có thể tái sử dụng trong mỗi chuyến đi xa.

5. Sử dụng những bàn chải đánh răng chắc chắn và có thể phân hủy thay cho bàn chải nhựa.

6. Tránh giặt quần áo chỉ mặc một lần, chỉ giặt khi chúng đã thật sự dơ.

7. Mua thức ăn không có đóng gói, hoặc chỉ đóng gói nhỏ gọn.

8. Dùng xà bông cục thay cho xà phòng nước, vì xà bông cục sẽ đóng gói nhỏ gọn hơn.

9. Tránh gọi món giao hang từ nhà hàng, trừ khi đóng gói của họ có thể phân hủy sinh học.

10. Ghi nhớ những lời khuyên của ông Bea Johnson, một blogger về lối sống zero waste: Lượt bỏ những gì chúng ta không cần. Giảm thiểu những gì chúng ta cần. Dùng những vật liệu tái sử dụng. Tái chế những gì chúng ta không thể lượt bỏ, giảm thiểu hoặc tái sử dụng. Phân rã nhóm còn lại.

STARTED

20 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Worldwide consumption of disposable and single-use food and drink containers is estimated at more than

430,000,000,000 units per year, or about

140,000 each second. www.earthdistributors.com

AsiaLIFE HCMC 21

Lauren Cameron gets the lowdown on how Saigon’s Thai community will celebrate.

F

or those lucky enough to have visited Thailand during the country’s biggest and most festive annual holiday, Songkran, you will no doubt associate the celebration with the riotous throwing of water onto strangers, street parties and complete mayhem.

Everyone is a target during Songkran, regardless of one’s nationality, gender or age. When walking the streets of Thailand during the festive period it is impossible to remain dry: a combination of water pistols, hoses and ice-cold buckets of water thrown by mischievous locals lurking behind trees or doorways ensure no one is excluded from the celebrations. I speak from experience.

But Songkran is not just one big pool party – though I must say the throwing of water forms a major part of the event.

Songkran is the official celebration of Thailand’s New Year period and the water is said to clean people of their sins and misfortunes, enabling a wholesome start to the new year.

Transformation

Coming from the Sanskrit word samkranti, literally meaning “astrological passage”, transformation or change, Songkran is represented by a different mythological goddess each year to give the Thai people a rough idea of the weather forecast for harvests in the year ahead. This year’s goddess is Mahothorn Devi, which means there will be plenty of rice, fish and other food in the year ahead but less water for agriculture, according to recent Thailand government announcements. Thai New Year’s Day is held officially on the 13th of April every year, but the Songkran holiday period carries on until the 15th April, allowing Thai families from all over the country – and overseas – to return to their family home for the celebrations.

Kirana Kanyawut, known by her friends as Nok, is one Thai citizen who will be celebrating Songkran from afar, in Ho Chi Minh City, this year. Born in a small village of just 200 families in north-east Thailand, Nok has lived in Thao Dien with her husband and eight-year-old son for four-and-a-half years and is now used to the

22 AsiaLIFE HCMC

idea of being away from her family for the holiday period.

“I always call home on the day, of course, and get to speak to all my extended family, but it’s not quite the same as being there,” she admitted. “For us, Songkran is like Christmas or New Year is for everyone else.

It’s the most important day of the year. The partying is obviously lots of fun, but what matters most is being with our families.”

Thai Meetups

Typically, Nok and her friend Paphada Pornsiripiyakool (Pu) head to the Thai Consulate to celebrate Songkran in Ho Chi Minh City, though they have also attended events at The Vista An Phu and Riverside Apartments Thao Dien in the past.

“Although the Thai Consulate usually shuts down out of respect for three days during Songkran, once it reopens they hold a family fun day, with Thai food, lucky draws, water fights, DJs… It’s always lots of fun for the kids,” Pu said.

This year, the Royal Thai ConsulateGeneral of Ho Chi Minh City has organised a football match and Songkran Festival Family Day for the Thai community on the 22nd of April. There will be stalls selling Thai products, food, games and entertainment. Saigon Outcast, in District 2, will also be hosting a special event to celebrate Songkran from 12pm on April 14.

The Songkran party will feature a slippery obstacle course, live DJs, water guns and a bouncing castle.

VND100,000 will get you entrance into the event plus a water or Saigon Red, although the traditional beer of Thailand, Chang Beer, will of course be available.

These parties have been hugely popular in the past – so much that in 2015 more than 3,500 people tried to buy tickets at the door, meaning the 1,000-person capacity venue had to turn away thousands of disappointed revelers.

Thai Street will also be marking the occasion with a weeklong promotion from April 9 to 15 at both its District 2 and District 1 venues. Guests will be welcomed in the traditional fashion with a Thai water blessing, and will receive white jasmine

flower garlands on arrival. Parties of three or more will also receive a discount on their total bill.

Across the city, the Thai community will be celebrating from home as best as they know how: by cooking traditional Songkran dishes and sharing them with family, loved ones and neighbours.

“If I lived in a bigger house I would invite everyone around, cook Thai food, have a pool party and have fun all day,” Pu laughs. “But unfortunately, I live in an apartment!”

Back home in Thailand, their Songkran festivities are steeped in tradition.

“Usually, Thai people hire a bus between colleagues to travel back to their family village, since usually they work with their families in restaurants or offices in Bangkok,” Nok explained.

Village-wide Celebrations

“Everyone contributes money to a communal envelope and this is then used to fund local sch ools or temples in one’s home village. People are always so excited, we play music and drink beer on the bus and when we eventually arrive in our hometown, our parents are always waiting on the highway for us.”

In Nok’s village, home-comers are typically welcomed back to their village with a parade and dancing in the streets before meeting in the village temple to prepare breakfast.

A long line of villagers winds its way through the temple and the entire group eat together on the floor. In the afternoon, the “wet” celebrations begin. The long line of people forms once again inside the local temple, and Buddha’s and bowls of water are brought out too.

“A long pipe with holes is filled with water and held above everyone in the line until they are covered in water. Then we all go crazy,” Nok explains. Three days of water fights, food, fun and games ensue.

“Songkran really is the most wonderful festival – and represents a new start. After you are splashed with water for three days straight your life is fresh and pure once more,” Nok said.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 23

K

he Sanh is a village near the border of Laos, just south of the area known during the American War as the demilitarised zone (DMZ). It is the capital of the Huong Hoa district in Quang Tri province.

In 1962, the U.S. military established an Army Special Forces camp near the village, and in 1966, the marines built a base adjacent to the camp. The base featured an airstrip and sat on top of a plateau in the shadow of Dong Tri Mountain.

The base’s location was important, as it lay directly in path of Highway 9 and was meant to cut off Vietnamese movement to the north. In January 1968, roughly 20,000 troops from the People’s Army of Vietnam surrounded the 5,500 Marines at the base and the battle began.

The battle of Khe Sanh was marked by 24 AsiaLIFE HCMC

constant shellfire, depleted rations, hand-tohand combat, muddy barracks and trenches, and bodies piling up. It was a complicated and bloody ordeal which lasted 77 days and claimed at least 6,500 lives.

Many casualties were the result of intense bombardment from the skies - 24,000 airstrikes dropped more than 100,000 tons of bombs on the area. Both sides claimed victory, with the Americans maintaining that they had suffered fewer casualties, and the People’s Army of Vietnam celebrating the abandonment of the base in July 1968 as a strategic victory.

Today, the Khe Sanh combat base is marked with a small museum, a metal surfaced airstrip, and some military hardware.

The museum has an emotional display of photos and artifacts from soldiers on both sides. Though most tourists skip the DMZ,

there are some tour companies that pride themselves on providing itineraries in this significant region.

Shi Jang is a cyclist, adventurer, and avid traveller who founded Oriental Sky Travel in 2011. He specializes in personalised tours throughout Vietnam and has a particular passion for the DMZ. Shi told me that it’s important to remember and talk about Khe Sanh. “It was one of the biggest battlefields in the American War. There are pieces of history here, and the Americans thought that Khe Sanh could be the second Dien Bien Phu.” The American president at the time, Lyndon B. Johnson, demanded a guarantee that the base would be held at all costs. In his memoirs, General Westmoreland wrote that Khe Sanh was vital to hold for several reasons.

It not only blocked filtration from Laos

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Khe Sanh. Shannon Brown talks to Shi Jang from Oriental Sky Travel to discuss the importance of tourism in the demilitarised zone (DMZ).

and served as an airstrip to survey the Ho Chi Minh Trail, but was the western anchor for defenses south of the DMZ. Other historians claim that Westmoreland wanted to engage the Vietnamese army in a remote area far from populated civilian areas. The Americans did not want a repeat of the 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu, where the French were expelled after a century of occupation.

“When people visit the DMZ, they learn more about a special time in my country’s history. In July 1954, the country was divided and families and friends were separated. In this area, tourists can see the famous 17th parallel, learn more about the ‘underground city’ that is the Vinh Moc tunnel, meet veterans, and perhaps see how to love peace, not war.”

Shi also says that it’s important for Vietnamese citizens to visit these sites and learn about their history. “Many Vietnamese

people have relatives and friends who died in this area and many of their names are still unknown. Traditionally, this makes it a good place to pay respect and pray for peace. The DMZ is a symbol of hope - although the country was divided for nearly 20 years, peace was established. It also serves as a place to remember the Vietnamese people who moved abroad during this difficult period and haven’t come back. The 17th parallel has become the bookmark of a generation.”

Many of the tourists who visit the area are veterans. Shi says he is lucky to have had the chance to tour with many vets in his last 12 years as a tour guide; Americans, Vietnamese, Australians, and Kiwis. He stated that the visits are always memorable.

“They almost always feel better after visiting the sites and meeting former ‘enemies’ who very quickly turn into good

friends. There are hugs, handshakes, and rice wine (or green tea). And they stay in touch and keep up the relationship.”

If you decide to visit the DMZ this year, Shi recommends first stopping in Dong Ha city for a visit to Project RENEW, a local NGO that works to save people from unexploded mines and bombs. From there, move onto the Hien Luong Bridge on the Ben Hai River, and the exhibition house next to it.

You must see the Vinh Moc tunnels, the Truong Son National War Cemetery, the Khe Sanh Museum and Takon Airport, and the Dakrong Bridge. Tours can be organised by Jeep, motorbike, private sedan, or bicycle if the season is right.

Find out more information about Project RENEW at: landmines.org.vn.

Find Shi at: www.orientalskytravel.com.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 25

26 AsiaLIFE HCMC

“I

Peter Cornish discovers app-based balloon marketing fun with Shutta.

Photo by Romain Garrigue.

n the beginning there were photo missions,” I was told as I sat down with Barbara Ximenez Bruidegom and her partner, James Shimell, founders of Ho Chi Minh City based video app Shutta, to learn more about their newly launched app, Just Pop The Balloon.

Their original product, Shutta, was launched as a photo-from-video app allowing users to pull still photos from a video clip, making it easy to capture action shots. It quickly gained popularity through a series of in-app photo missions, setting users tasks and quests, and developed into a valuable social channel that enabled brands to leverage user generated content as part of their marketing campaigns.

As developers of the app, James and Barbara had made the conscious decision not to charge for use of the app, nor to cover it with advertising messages from the brand clients they work with. Adverts become annoying and detract from user experience, so often the return is not worth the money invested.

So, faced with the question of how to generate revenue from a popular app without charging their users, they needed to find options that would continue to engage while providing client brands with a return on their marketing spend without being intrusive to the user. The answer, it seems, is with these photo missions, whatever they may be.

Location Missions

It turns out these photo missions are in fact an exciting new development to the existing app that introduces improved features and expands on functionality. Referred to as Shutta Location Missions, this innovative, updated version of the original app will both continue to entertain and engage their 2.5 million users, while giving their expanded client base the ‘holy grail’ of elusive marketing KPIs: measurable onlineto-off line return on investment.

Barbara explained more. “We realised, from a marketing perspective, that contests worked well to build engagement with our audiences and for introducing our clients’ products and services.” As they were able to organise photo contests with the original app, they discovered that user-generated

content builds credibility and performs well on social media.

By leveraging posts from micro influencers they noted that key content had a high “stickiness” factor, meaning that people were able to recall it over a long period of time. From here they realised that this same process could be applied to branded marketing, and instead of running photo contests pushed out for users, they could ask users to find and collect content that matched a particular brand’s vision.

When Domino’s Pizza wanted to run a campaign that connected eating pizza with having a party, Shutta ran a mission that encouraged users to post photos of them partying, with or without pizza. “We were then able to leverage this content over social media to funnel traffic from the Shutta app social media channels to Domino’s social media,” Barbara explained.

Impressive Reach

Through effectively generating highly qualified traffic for their client brands, Shutta have now run more than 70 campaigns achieving an impressive 35% click-through rate, a staggering 3,249% more than the global average. Of course, this is highly attractive to their clients. In some cases, they have experienced a 55% click-through rate on their social media, but traffic flow to their client’s social media has resulted in 88% engagement.

This means that they are reaching the right people with the right content in the right context to encourage them to interact and engage with the client brand. But while this is effective for online activation to conversion, consumer behaviour, in Asia especially, happens in the real world.

“People might research a product online, but they want to go to a shop, touch the product, ask questions and use traditional payment methods,” James explained.

The new Shutta Location Missions create a buzz online that has a measurable offline conversion, the ‘holy grail’ performance indicator for marketers, all through the popping of balloons.

What could be more fun! The updated functionalities of the Shutta app are now only available to users in HCMC who are able to access close to three hundred ‘balloons’ in the apps geo-location map.

Launched on February 28 at 3pm, the mission map guides users around the city to locations where balloons are stationed.

Popping a balloon triggers a challenge and releases new digital swag, such as video effects or animations, or wins the user a prize or discount from participating companies or establishments. The app contains treasure hunts, polls and quizzes, photo challenges and mini games that users can take part in in order to win their prizes.

Users also get access to unique video effects that can only be unlocked at specific locations. Some balloons are time sensitive, meaning that the app can be used to promote individual events, such as festivals and concerts. For client brands, the app offers almost unlimited promotional potential. For users, it offers an ongoing opportunity to win prizes.

Early Adaptors

Platinum Premium Beers, Buddha Bar & Grill, and Tomatito Tapas Bar are amongst the first brands and establishments to engage their audience through Shutta Balloons, with more outlets lined up to come on board in the coming months. From their perspective, this is a way of bringing people to their business locations in a manner that is both entertaining and, from a marketing perspective, measurable.

Platinum is launching their campaign with 21 balloons at locations around the city, including a treasure hunt round six secret locations where people must complete a challenge at the first location before the second is revealed.

The premium beer company is offering some great prizes for participants, including plenty of beer, merchandise and the chance to win a private Platinum party for you and your friends.

As more companies come on board to take advantage of the marketing insights that Shutta Balloons offers, there will be more Shutta Location Missions rolled out in the city and around the region. More missions mean more fun and prizes.

Whether you’re a brand that wants to get on board, or a user that wants to win some great prizes around the city, this is an app that’s destined to make impact. Download it today.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 27

Under threat from extinction, huge efforts are being carried out to boost the pangolin population. Adolfo PerezGarcon finds out more.

28 AsiaLIFE HCMC

T

his is the story of a little-known animal with quite a funny name. Perhaps the most widely-known fact about it is that it is on the verge of extinction.

Meet the pangolin, a fascinating, delicate and rare type of anteater found throughout Southeast Asia and parts of Africa.

There are eight species of pangolin, ranging from the giant pangolin found in the vast African savanna to the Sunda pangolin, who inhabits parts of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, as well as Southern China.

The Sunda pangolin is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered.

It’s also the unsuspecting owner of the blood-curdling title of the world’s most traded animal, according to an Oxford University study in 2014.

Since 2000, when zero annual export quotas were established for this species, the IUCN estimates tens of thousands of Sunda pangolins have been poached in Southeast Asia and sold illegally to buyers in East Asia, mostly China, where they are considered a delicacy and their scales are believed to have healing properties.

The same agency estimates pangolin populations have declined by 80% globally in the last 21 years and will continue to dwindle by an additional 80% in the next 21.

Yet, that figure fails to give the complete picture of the urgency of the situation as accurate population statistics do not exist.

Numbers Unknown

“Unfortunately, nobody has any estimates on population size,” says Madelon Rusman, animal manager at Save Vietnam's Wildlife, an organisation based in Northern Vietnam responsible for saving more than 400 pangolins last year alone.

“The Sunda pangolin is extremely hard to monitor in the wild and all across the region researchers, including ourselves, are still trying to find the best way to do this,” Rusman explains.

Shy, solitary and nocturnal, much of the habits of the pangolin remain a mystery to biologists. Yet, as researchers struggle to find answers, conservationists are winning a significant battle in a different front: bringing the animal into the collective consciousness.

A milestone in this regard was the inclusion of the pangolin last year into the strictest category of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) treaty, Appendix 1, which affords the highest level of protection and bans all forms of international trade.

“It brings attention to the conservation of the species,” says Naven Hon, Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park, program manager at Conservation International. “It will help organisations attract more funding, and conduct more research on the species. The animal will appear on the media much more often.”

Besides raising the profile of the animal, the CITES accord makes it harder to move pangolins across borders

by empowering customs officials to enforce the law and fine traffickers. This makes it harder for zoos to import the animal, experts say.

Cambodian Example

In neighbouring Cambodia, pangolin conservation efforts are spearheaded by Wildlife Alliance, an non-governmental organisation that rescues more than 1,000 wildlife specimens each month from snares, poachers and unlicensed owners.

The organisation operates out of Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, and in Koh Kong, through its rescue and breeding station and community-based ecotourism site, Chi Phat.

On average, it rescues between three and five pangolins a year, which are generally brought to the station in Koh Kong and released back into the wild as soon as possible.

“Pangolins are very sensitive to the climate,” says Wildlife Alliance coordinator, Nicole Leroux. “We bring them to Koh Kong because it has the same exact climate they would naturally inhabit.”

In 2013, Wildlife Alliance’s rescue team brought a pangolin to Phnom Tamao that had been severely injured in a snare. With serious wounds in two of her limbs – a front and a rear leg – her chances of survival weren’t good.

In an attempt to contain the infection, the organisations’ vets decided to amputate the wounded limbs.

Missing two appendages, her physical condition presented a serious challenge to her survival options in the wild, so the team at Wildlife Alliance decided to keep her under their watch. She was named Lucy.

“She is actually not that inhibited,” says Leroux. “Lucy can move around on her stumps and can even hunt termites by herself when we put termite mounds in her enclosure for her.”

“But it’s enough of a disability that her chances of survival are smaller. She spends more energy, just because of the way she walks. It’s better if we are feeding her here.”

Legal Protection

The next step to further conservation efforts and ensure the species’ survival is, according to Rusman, to strengthen law enforcement. “In my opinion, what would help is heavier punishment and stricter law enforcement,” she says, pointing to the example set by Vietnam, which increased the penalties for pangolin smuggling to include jail time.

Meanwhile, the rescue work of organisations including Cambodia’s Wildlife Alliance and Save Vietnam’s Wildlife is pivotal. With very few specimens left in the wild by all estimates, every single pangolin counts.

Lucy, for example, continues to thrive despite her severed limbs. A few months after her arrival at Phnom Tamao, she was transferred to the release and breeding station in Koh Kong, where she continues to thrive.

She has had three babies while in the care of Wildlife Alliance. And all three have been successfully released into the wild.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 29

HEALTH & WELLNESS

30 AsiaLIFE HCMC

I

Jonny Edbrooke test-drives a new spa treatment that’s becoming popular with the men of Ho Chi Minh City.

’m not a fan of saunas.

If I want to get hot and sweaty in Saigon, all I have to do is walk to the shop down the road. No need for a fancy spa session with a fancy price tag.

The very idea of sitting in a hot and steamy room, unable to read a book or use electronics, holds no appeal.

With my anti-spa sentiments, I’m probably not the ideal candidate to try Aura & Co. Infrared Wellness Studio in the numbered streets of Thao Dien, near the British School of Ho Chi Minh City.

Before I visited, I did a bit of research, just to calm my fears about being nuked with infrared rays.

I discovered infrared therapy involves light waves that don’t heat up the room, but the body that’s in it.

There are a raft of claims about the benefits of infrared therapy, with proponents saying it can aid weight loss, turn back the hands of time, detoxify the body, improve circulation, reduce pain, repair joints and muscles, and aid cardiovascular healing.

When it comes to things that sound too good to be true, I am a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic. While the anecdotal evidence of the benefits of infrared therapy abound, I couldn’t find much scientific research to support the claims.

It was time for this grumpy anti-saunite

to find out for myself. I toddled off to Aura, located in a fairly normal Thao Dien villa in a hem off a hem.

It’s a simple place, neatly laid out and pristinely clean. I was met by Aura Director Oanh Nguyen, who directed me to change into sauna sandals and guided me upstairs to my clean and airy private room, with rows of towels to wear and a small one to soak up the sweat.

The saunas themselves look pretty much like your normal home sauna, a paneled box with a bench to sit on, set in a private room. But unlike a steam-filled sauna, Aura’s infrared sauna has an interactive screen with Netflix and Facebook. I give extra points for this, as I don’t really know how to do nothing.

Stepping into the sauna from the airconditioned room is odd because it’s not hot.

Wrapped in a towel, I settled in for my first 45-minute session. I chose to re-watch Mad Max Fury Road, thinking that a bit of mindless violence would take the edge off the soothing elements of having a sauna.

After a few minutes I started start to feel the heat. For my first session my internal temperature was raised three degrees, which was enough to give me a good sweat-on.

Within 15 minutes I started to feel my neck and shoulders relaxing. From a

working life hunched over a computer, I always have upper back and neck pain. But the heat made the everyday tightness ease a bit.

I was pretty sweaty by now, and I followed the advice to pop out of the sauna a few times to hydrate with electrolyteenhanced water. Obviously nipping into the aircon was nice. But the weird thing is that when you go back into the sauna, it’s not hot.

So now I have done three sessions. For my second and third visits, I did a bit of forward-planning and chose Netflix shows that lasted 45 minutes. (Shameless, season 1, to be precise).

At the end of three sessions, my body feels a lot less stressed. My shoulders and neck definitely feel more relaxed than usual.

These symptoms could be psychosomatic, but, frankly, I don’t care.

Something is working, and so I’ll be going back for a bit more infrared and tellywatching.

Aura has an introductory price of VND1.5 million for three 45-minute infrared sessions, as well as a number of long-term packages if you, like me, get hooked.

Aura & Co. Infrared Wellness Studio 21/1 Duong 46, Thao Dien, District 2 www.auraandco.com.vn.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 31

A

tranquil fishing village is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Hong Kong. But Lei Yue Mun is exactly that. The small seafood paradise is located just a few steps out of the bustling city, which makes it the perfect place to escape for a day.

Lei Yue Mun, Chinese for ‘Carp Gate’, is one of Hong Kong’s most famous eating areas. It hosts a vibrant seafood market and plenty of restaurants with distant views of the spectacular skyline. It’s the ideal location to enjoy a great meal while being immersed in peaceful nature.

A Brief History

Life in Lei Yue Mun didn’t always revolve around seafood. Until the late 1960s, many of the villagers worked in one of the nearby mines. The former quarry building near the village, one of the many along the coastline, is a reminder of what once was an important local industry.

At the time, the local granite was in high demand and widely used for the 32 AsiaLIFE HCMC

construction of buildings; in Hong Kong, but also in other cities like Guangzhou.

The mining industry collapsed when the government regulated the use of explosives, following a large number of accidents. In 1968, most of the quarries were closed and many locals were left jobless.

Relief came from the fishermen of Shu Kei Wan, a neighborhood in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island, just across the canal. The fishers had been selling their catch in Lei Yue Mun’s harbor for years, then the former miners joined them and opened up seafood restaurants on the shore.

Things started to run well in the 1970s, when China’s growing economy boosted the industrial zone right next to the village.

The fresh local food and the peaceful surroundings made Lei Yue Mun the go-to place for local businessmen who wanted to impress their foreign partners. The village was definitely put on the map in 2002, with the opening of a nearby MTR station.

The once remote mining village is now a

proper, but not packed, tourist destination.

How Much Is The Fish?

When you’ve made it to Lei Yue Mun, there are a few things you should know before you can dig in. Ordering your seafood dish is a rather exceptional process. First, you stroll along the narrow market streets to see what has been caught today. There is always plenty of choice: fish, crabs, fresh oysters, tiger prawns, mantis shrimps, geoducks and so much more.

You then buy the seafood, while it’s still alive, from one of the stalls (don’t forget to bargain!) and take it to a nearby restaurant.

If you wish, the vendor will recommend a restaurant and help you to carry your catch there. If you’d rather not see your meal while it’s still wriggling, you can directly go to one of the restaurants and choose from their set menu.

At the restaurant, the waiter wants to know how to prepare your food. Any manner is possible: BBQ with salt and pepper; garlic and chili; or baked with cheese. The restaurant will often suggest a

cooking style that brings out the best taste.

They charge you for cooking the food, any additional dishes (meat/vegetables/ rice) and drinks. Altogether, a meal for four people costs around HK$300 depending on what you order. It might not be the cheapest meal you’ll have in Hong Kong, but definitely a memorable one.

The Best View

An hour before sunset, there’s another crowd populating the narrow markets streets of Lei Yue Mun: photography enthusiasts. For them, it’s less about the market stalls and fresh fish. Instead they rush to find the best spots on the lighthouse beach located just past the covered market seafood area. The Lei Yue Mun Lighthouse offers a wonderful view on the sun setting behind Hong Kong’s skyline. A must-see, even if you just want to capture the scene with your eyes.

Avoiding The Crowd

The convenient location, amazing seafood and fresher air make Lei Yue Mun a

popular hangout for busy locals who want to escape the city. Not surprisingly, the fishing village tends to get a little crowded in the evenings and at weekends.

If you plan to visit Lei Yue Mun for the calm atmosphere, it’s best to go late afternoon. Not only will you avoid the masses but you will be rewarded with stunning views of the sunset.

Reaching the fisherman’s village is fairly easy. Just a 30-minute metro ride from downtown Kowloon, then 10 to 15-minute walk from MTR Yau Tong Station. For a more scenic journey, you can take the Sai Wan Ho ferry from the village pier.

And There’s More

When locals talk about the seafood village, they refer to it as ‘Lei Yue Mun’. Officially, however, that name refers to a much bigger area, including a short channel at the east end of Victoria Harbor and the adjacent pieces of land. The seafood village, a little inlet that is part of the Kowloon mainland, is actually called ‘Sam Ka’.

The Hong Kong Island side of Lei Yue

Mun was once used as a strategic point for the British military. The fascinating Museum of Coastal Defence is only a short ferry ride away from the seafood bazaar.

Both sights can easily be combined in a one-day trip.

Getting There

Vietnam Airlines, Cathay Pacific and VietJet all operate daily services between Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong. The flight takes a little less than three hours and prices start at $180.

The fastest way to go from the airport to the city center is the Airport Express. This train leaves every ten minutes and takes you to Kowloon Station in only 20 minutes (around $12). Taxis often take longer and are more expensive if you’re travelling with less than three people (around $34). The bus is your cheapest option, but - needless to say - also the slowest. To Kowloon, it’ll take you around 50 minutes and set you back $4.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 33

Yendy Tsang explores some surprising street food in Taiwan. Photos by Diep Vu Quyen.

T

he Taiwanese say if you haven’t eaten at the country’s night markets, you haven’t been to Taiwan.

Night markets are the perfect opportunity for visitors to Taiwan to try local cuisine, which is influenced by China, Japan, and the West.

Here’s a rundown of three great night markets to visit, with some suggestions for which dishes to try.

Taipei – Shilin Night Market

Taipei is a priority when it comes to the food and culture of Taiwan. It’s the island’s most energetic city, with many amazing night markets.

We choose Shilin Night Market, one of the largest and most popular. To get here, take the MRT to Jiantian Station and walk five minutes to the market. Trust me, this maze of alleyways full of souvenir and food stalls will captivate you completely.

If you’re in the mood for a filling meal, check out the western edge of the market and the underground Shilin Night Market Food Court, which has many tiny but tidy restaurants selling fried rice, fried noodle and soup. If you’re more in the mood for a great street food experiences, stay on the surface and try unique flavours such as bubble tea, grilled mushroom, fried chicken steak, or fried buns.

In case you have no idea what to try first, here’s our suggestions: danzai, a traditional egg noodle soup, flavoured with black 34 AsiaLIFE HCMC

vinegar and sour garlic and often served with pork offal; and grilled mushroom with dark soy sauce. I can confidently say that you’ll be impressed by the texture and flavour of these super-huge mushrooms.

Sweet tooths will enjoy round egg cake with a selection of fillings, such as organic strawberries, green bean puree with Oreos, or cereal mixed with marshmallow. Wash the cake down with Jenjudan ginger pearl fresh milk tea. (Taiwan has many bubble tea flavours, but we recommend this one for its fresh taste.)

Taichung – Fengjia Night Market

In Xitun District of Taichung city, Fengjia is considered Taiwan’s original night market.

To get here, take city bus 33 to Fengjia University then follow the signs to the market. Fengjia Night Market has 191 stalls, which is sure to satisfy your passion for street food. Keep an eye out for its famous “cheap and big” dishes, including “little sausage in big sausage”, stinky tofu, octopus balls, and barbecued squid on a stick. The only dilemma is which one to choose to start your incredible culinary journey.

I suggest starting with the succulent takoyaki (octopus balls), which are seasoned with salt and a special sauce. This dish impresses not only with its even taste but also its attractive appearance -- half of the meatball is covered by flour while the octopus legs are exposed in the other half side. The “little sausage in big sausage” is

also worth a try. It’s kind of like a hotdog, with the smaller sausage nestled into the big sausage, which is split like a hotdog bun.

For dessert, you can try the traditional hot douhua (soft tofu pudding), served with sweet ginger syrup or coconut milk, or the famous chocolate-covered banana, “choconana” ice-cream with candy or crushed peanuts on top.

Tainan – Liuhe Night Market

For your final night market, you can slow down to the countryside pace in Tainan.

To get to the Liuhe Night Market, take the MRT Red Line to the Formosan Station. In operation for more than 12 years, Liuhe Night Market is famous for its friendly local people as well as its seafood.

Unlike the Shilin and Fengjia markets, Liuhe Night Market focuses on some small restaurants called dai pai tong. You can find places to sit and enjoy fresh-cooked food.

The market has many seafood stalls, as well as fruit juice stalls.

Try fresh steamed clams with salt, grilled lobster with cheese, or deep-fried squid with black sauce. For drinks, try some creamy papaya milk, kiwi juice, carrot juice or even sugar cane juice.

Street food lovers are sure to fall in love with these three night markets in Taiwan.

Once you try the local food here, your heart and stomach will belong to Taiwan.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 35

BASIC SKILLS & PLATING

BY THE YORKSHIRE

C

ooking at home should be an enjoyable experience, whether you are feeding loved ones or having the prospective in-laws or employers coming around for lunch or dinner.

The sure-fire way of being confident that the results are enjoyable is to become proficient in the skills required throughout the prepping and cooking process, and understanding the basic principles of presentation.

You don’t have to be a reluctant chef, just take some time every day to practice the basic skills listed below and you should be on your way; 1. Make gravy with substance, shiny and smooth. I won’t add making stock to this list as it is now so easy to buy good stock (don’t waste eight hours of your time unless you really want to).

2. Learn how to slice and dice an onion. Once you can do this with ease, you can transfer it to so many other veggies and it will open up a new world of dishes.

3. Learn how to cook pasta, both dried and fresh. For the time being forget about al dente because it only really applies to pasta that is being cooked twice.

4. Learn how to cook rice properly, not just sticky rice.

5. Teach yourself how to make sauces such as hollandaise, passata (which can be made with many vegetables, not just tomatoes), bearnaise, red wine, brandy and pepper.

6. Knowing how to make batter is a win-win situation, as batter is required for Yorkshire puddings, blinis, pancakes, and crepes.

7. Pastry: shortcrust, rough puff and choux are enough to start off 36 AsiaLIFE HCMC

BLADE

with, especially in the climate of southern Vietnam.

8. Omelettes. Need I say more? Learn about the fillings and cheeses and this will lead you to frittatas, tortilla Espanola, egg foo yung, tamagoyaki, and khai chiao. Take your diners on a world tour!

9. Stuffing. It’s not just for turkey, you can practically stuff anything, but you need to learn which stuffings go with which meats, the consistency and moisture levels. A good stuffing can turn the cheapest cut into an absolute delight.

10. Bread. Start off with a simple cob loaf to get the hang of kneading. Learn about proving, too. Fresh bread is one of life’s true delights and will always impress.

11. Learn to taste and distinguish ingredients. This is a skill that can be learned and doesn’t really take much time or effort.

12. Seasoning. Make it the first and last thing you do for every dish.

13. Plating. Keep it clean, simple and uncluttered. Invest in a few different shapes and coloured plates. Plating in odd numbers works best, in my opinion.

See the photo above (ignore the raspberry caviar, that’s just me showing off).

Notice there’s one cup, three raspberry chocolate truffles and five poached pear balls. Take your time with presentation, it will be worth it.

14. Finally, knife skills. If you are not comfortable then things do become a chore. Always remember that being able to sharpen your knife on a stone is not only the best way to do it, but your knives will last longer.

COM CHAY

VEGETARIAN REVISITED

BY TRISTAN NGO PHOTO BY ROMAIN GARRIGUE

T

Chef, patron and owner of Skewers Restaurant The Elbow Room and Cafe Sweet Street.

he first vegetarian experiences I can remember were in the early eighties, at a Buddhist temple in Los Angeles and a date at one of the posh vegetarian restaurants in Santa Monica.

They weren’t good experiences, to say the least. The food wasn’t very tasty so I can understand why vegetarianism wasn’t so popular back then.

When most food writers talk about Vietnamese cuisine they most often mention the usual suspects - noodles, meat and rice dishes -but not much about vegetarian cuisine, or com chay. (Com means rice and chay is vegetarian.)

However, thanks to Saigon’s large Buddhist population, you can find vegetarian eateries pretty much everywhere in the city. Due to an increase in popularity and improvements in food quality in recent years, you can find vegetarian restaurants open throughout the year. Practicing Buddhist monks are vegetarian and most often dine at their temples every day.

Most Buddhists are vegetarian a couple of days a month, especially on Buddhist holidays. One cannot eat in the same place on a daily basis so many Buddhists and monks often venture out to dine at various vegetarian restaurants around the city.

So why try vegetarian? For one it is a cuisine that locals Vietnamese know how to prepare healthily and well. Despite not being a vegetarian, I find that vegetarian food is actually quite good in order to compete against the thousands of other restaurants in the city. Also being a vegetarian is not a big deal in Vietnam, unlike many places in the west.

Here are some of my favorite vegetarian restaurants in Saigon:

2. Loving Hut Hoa Dang is one of the most popular vegetarian restaurants in the city. Spacious by Vietnamese standards, bright, clean and always busy. The menu is quite extensive, and my recommendations are the pandan and hoa thien ly (Tonkin jasmine) fried rice, along with braised gluten with coconut juice, okra with roasted garlic and deep-fried oyster mushrooms.

1. An Nhien Quan: A friendly, clean and cosy bistro on a quiet street in District 1. Soybean, tofu, green beans and various vegetables dominate the menu. Their banh beo (water fern or steamed rice cake), and lotus fried rice is nice, and the banana flower salad, mushroom spring rolls and hotpot is flavourful and definitely worth a try.

94 Nguyen Van Thu, District 1, 9:30am to 10pm, +84 283910 1129

5. Hum Vegetarian, Lounge & Restaurant: Hum has three restaurants in Saigon and all are very popular with expats and locals alike.

2 Thi Sach Street, District 1, +84 283823 8920 32 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, +84 283930 3819 32 D10 Street, Thao Dien, +84 283519 0109.

38 Huynh Khuong Ninh, Ward DaKao, District 1, 9:30am to 2pm, 4:30pm to 9pm, +84 283820 9702 3. Buddha Chay Vegetarian Restaurant is owned by Phi Nhung a famous Viet Kieu singer. It’s small and cozy, with tightly-packed tables and warm service.

This place does some amazing vegetarian dishes, including lau tim thuoc bac (sweet herbal soup hotpot), with sides of vermicelli, tofu, mushrooms and vegetable.

31 Dang Tat Street, Ward Tan Dinh, District 1, 11am to 9pm, +84 283526 5138 4. Buffet Co Noi Restaurant: Located inside Bong Sen 2 Hotel, the buffet includes around 40 different vegetarian items for lunch and dinner. Everything tastes good, the service is friendly and a meal costs between VND160,000 and VND200,000, so definitely worth a try.

61-63 Hai Ba Trung Street, 8th Floor, District 1, Open lunch 11am to 2pm, Dinner 6pm to 10pm, +84 283823 5815

AsiaLIFE HCMC 37

8

CITY DRINKS

Below (Whiskey Den) 41 Nguyen Hue, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh www.facebook.com/below.whiskyden

Peter Cornish checks out a chilled new whiskey joint on Nguyen Hue Street.

Photos by Romain Garrigue.

Just below rooftop bar Broma is an aptly-named lounge bar, or den as it is referred to. This stylishly bar serves up probably the best whiskey cocktails in town.

Like lounges of bygone eras, Below is small and cosy with subdued colourings and a distinctly Art Deco vibe.

The long copper-clad bar pays tribute to the hand-crafted copper stills used in whiskey distillation.

The walls are half-lined in wood panelling, representing barrels used in the aging process, and the couch tucked away in a side alcove offers the sophistication of a traditional whiskey tasting room.

Chandeliers add to the yesteryear atmosphere, and a display of liquid filled bottles track the aging process of a fine malt whiskey, moving from a clear transparent liquid to a rich, caramel-brown as it leaches flavours from its cask. Below is managed by experienced mixologist, Kata Simon, who learned her skills in London.

“Working with whiskey is a huge challenge, but a great opportunity to be creative. We wanted to create a comfortable atmosphere whiskey bar with great cocktails, combining European and Vietnamese styles,” Kata explained.

The well-stocked bar carries an impressive selection of single malt whiskeys, mainly Scottish, but with Japan, Taiwan and India getting some shelf space.

Speyside, the Highlands and Lowlands, and Islay are all well represented, with many of 38 AsiaLIFE HCMC

the bottles being hand-carried from Europe and unavailable elsewhere in Vietnam.

A bottle of Bruichladdich Port Charlotte will set you back VND5,190,000. More affordable for many, a Speyside Singleton 12 comes in at VND2,400,000. A pour of Aberlour 12 is priced at a reasonable VND285,000.

Bottles of home-made syrups, tinctures and infusions also line the bar. Kata uses these to create the interesting flavours of her diverse selection of cocktails (VND200,000), all named after Scottish rivers.

First up was the Deveron, a deliciously fruity sweet and sour mix of Glenfiddich, bay leaf-infused red wine, Frangelico, juniper berry seed, mulberry jam, mandarin, pomegranate syrup and lime juice. Raring to go, next up was the Ochy -- Glenfiddich with guava, pomegranate and parsley puree, Vietnamese black pepper tea, pink peppercorn soda, calamansi, celery, lime juice and egg white.

Glenfiddich is also the base for the Tweed, which blends home-made carrot wine with pickled mango, apricot syrup, lemon drops, Campari, Coca Cola and cooked baby carrot.

Our final cocktail was the Clyde, an eclectic mix of Luxardo Fenet, Dolin Sweet, chili mushroom Luxardo Maraschino, black walnut bitters and Hungarian sweet paprika powder. If you’re struggling to believe the ingredients of these cocktails, head down to Below and try them for yourself!

QUINCE 37bis Ky Con, District 1 www.facebook.com/quincesaigon

Barbara Adam dives into decadent dining at Quince.

Photos by Jonny Edbrooke.

Ky Con Street is named after a Vietnamese revolutionary, so it seems appropriate that a revolution is taking place in this not-very-trendy area full of cramped shops and budget hotels. It’s a food revolution, and it’s happening in quite an elegant style, overseen by chef Julien Perraudin, who works in plain view in Quince Saigon’s open kitchen.

Chef Julien was educated in the culinary arts in Europe, in the top kitchens of France and London, and then in Melbourne. The result: a Melbournised menu based on fresh local produce.

“It’s just about really good food,” Julien says, as he slides perfectly-cooked Sapa rainbow trout off its bones at our table.

(Side note: Chef Julien is so tall he was surely called Tiny when he worked in Australia.)

Quince Saigon is the sister restaurant to Quince Eatery and Bar in Bangkok, which was included in the first Michelin Guide Thailand, published last year. Quince Saigon’s decor, in a palate of warm browns, is conducive to conversation and long leisurely multi-course meals of shared plates, selected from the four menu sections: To Start; Green; Main; Cheese; and To End. Our meal started with the simply-named crab and cucumber (VND210,000), an explosion of apple, crab and cucumber flavours smoothed by segments of yoghurt mozzarella.

Throughout the evening we’re repeatedly blown away by the intensity of the flavours, including the roast cauliflower with Compte cream and herb crumb (VND140,000), which would have to be the world’s

most decadent cauliflower cheese. Our feast, accompanied

by Soave D.o.c. Colli Scaligeri (VND170,000 per glass), included hommus and merguez with pickled chilli dukkah and naan bread (VND140,000). The fragrant warm naan bread came in handy to soak up some of the eminently drinkable sauce from the cauliflower dish.

The main event, whole Sapa rainbow trout with beurre rosette dressing and five spices (VND890,000), was a showstopper, the delicate fish complimented perfectly by the sauce.

The side dish that arrived at the same time, burnt fennel with stracciatella cheese and pomelo (VND190,000), worked well with the fish. The fennel was slightly pickled, which reduced the liquorice flavour of the vegetable and gave it an

interesting texture.

Quince’s menu relies heavily on the giant woodfired oven in the corner of the kitchen, which is used to bake and roast all kinds of fresh local produce.

The one and only cheese dish on the menu doesn’t escape the flames, either. The baked camembert with coffee blossom honey and nut granola (VND360,000), was the perfect finish to a indulgent evening full of flavour surprises.

Oh, except we weren’t finished. Chef Julien sent us one more dish, coffee and cherries (VND190,000), a simple name for a complex and delicious combination of coffee crema, drunken cherries, coffee jelly, Anzac crumb and cherry sorbet.

We’ll be back at Quince soon to eat our way through the rest of the menu.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 39

GREEN AROUND THE CORNER 23 Street 61, Thao Dien, HCMC www.facebook.com/greenaroundthecorner

Peter Cornish, AsiaLIFE’s resident vegetarian, checks out a new vegan cafe hidden just around the corner in the hems of Thao Dien. Photos by Romain Garrigue.

Tucked away just around the corner, among the warren of small roads at the top end of Thao Dien peninsular, sits a small café in the shadow of Tropic Garden tower block.

Walk through the front door and you are welcomed to an oasis of calm tranquillity, in what is as much a shop as it is a cafe.

High ceilings and white washed walls create an open, airy space divided by a large archway, separating the café area from the shop. Pass through a large glass door at the back of the café to a small courtyard, dominated by a central tree casting shadows over the walled seating as the sun moves through the sky.

Hanging from the ceiling are potted plants in coconut shells suspended from a lattice of wires, while more potted 40 AsiaLIFE HCMC

plants sit throughout the room, adding to the ambience of calm.

An eclectic mix of second-hand chairs and tables, wooden desks and vintage cabinets add a rustic feel to the place, complimenting the modern shelving that houses much of the shops wares.

Owner Su Meletzki created GATC as an homage to Vietnam, as a space to encourage mindful awareness of the environment around us, and as a place to display her work as a designer and potter. Earthenware and ceramics covered in traditional Vietnamese designs adorn the shop’s shelves.

Limited edition clothing by Pilgrim, made from leftover fabrics, hang next to a small changing room in a corner.

Colourful soaps by Vietnamese duo Le Mai,

notebooks by Reborn, a local upcycling project, and gift cards colourfully capturing local scenes by a Sri Lankan illustrator sit next to large glass jars full of bamboo straws, eco-friendly cutlery and purple soaps made from natural ingredients.

The food fits with the interior; healthy, homely, fresh and refreshing.

The plant-based vegan menu is not big, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in taste and healthiness. We were first presented with a green smoothie bowl (VND95,000) blending pineapple, banana, and kale or baby spinach, depending on what is available on the day.

Mixed with this were frozen berries, home-made granola and Vietnamese hot e, Vietnamese chia seeds.

A deliciously healthy start to the day!

Next up was the cold platter (VND195,000) served up with thick slices of home-made vegan bread, smoked cashew nut cheese, herb and garlic cashew cheese, mango chutney from Sri Lanka, tomatoes and a halved passionfruit.

Accompanying this were an ice coffee and coconut (VND35,000), orange juice with lemon grass (VND65,000) and a coconut, hot e and mango juice (VND75,000), all unique and mouth-wateringly refreshing.

Green Around The Corner has limited seating and is the sort of place you want to keep to yourself to make sure there’s somewhere to sit when you pop by. As word spreads its popularity will increase so be sure you visit soon!

DON PATACON SAIGON 33/29 Quoc Huong, Thao Dien, District 2 www.facebook.com/donpataconsaigon

Barbara Adam takes a quick trip to South America for everyday Colombian food.

Photos by Romain Garrigue.

Oscar Fernando Ruiz learned to cook at the elbow of his abuela in her kitchen in Nieva in central Colombia.

Young Oscar learned the art of arepas, unleaven grilled corn “bread”, tamale, steamed balls of corn dough, and empanada, stuffed corn pastries.

Fast forward a decade or so and not-so-young Oscar is in Vietnam, noticing a lot of similarities between Colombian and Vietnamese cuisine, as well as the culture.

Colombia is famous for its sabrosura, a word with no direct translation into English, which means the soul, the swing and the smiles of Colombia.

Oscar began sharing a little bit of sabrosura and Colombian cuisine in Saigon with a business selling frozen Colombian cuisine and imported meat. Now he’s

expanded into a bricks-andmortar restaurant in a quiet little alley in District 2’s Thao Dien.

“I’m not a chef,” Oscar said. “I’m a cook from the countryside.”

Don Patacon definitely captures that “for the people” vibe, with the hearty and tasty home-cooked Colombian dishes Oscar grew up with, including homemade quesillo cheese and patacon (deep-fried plantain).

We started our tour of Colombian cuisine with an arepa stuffed with shredded chicken, spiced beef and a slice of quesillo (VND50,000). It was like a crumbly grilled corn pita bread, served with a side of pink sauce.

Next up was a patacon burger (VND130,000, including a drink), with a fresh, tender beef

pattie slathered with pink sauce and topped with bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomato. The “bun” of this burger was two thin, crispy shards of fried green plantain. On the side were dishes of pink sauce and frijoles, a kind of black bean salsa.

Suddenly, a dish arrived that looked and smelled distinctly Vietnamese. It was a parcel of steaming banana leaves, which were unwrapped to reveal a mush of rice, corn, marinated chicken, egg, beans, vegetables and a Creole salsa.

This is a traditional tamale (VND100,000), which could be passed off as a version of the Vietnamese xoi ga hap la sen (sticky rice steamed in lotus leaf).

Rounding off our Colombian feast were platters of empanada de pollo (chicken empanadas) and empanada de carne (beef

empanadas), both served with a guacamole and Creole chilli salsa sauce, which should be spooned into each golden fried parcels (VND160,000 for a plate of 12) after it’s opened by the first bite.

Our Colombian lunch was washed down with a few glasses of cold Tiger draft, and finished with a shot of Colombian coffee.

We definitely need to go back to try every dish on the compact menu, including the patacon con todo, which come with a choice of six different toppings, and the fiambre, a feast for four that includes chorizo, sausages, beef, pork and chicken, served with a platter of empanadas, patacones, arepas, guacamole and salsa.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 41

42 AsiaLIFE HCMC

D

ressed to the nines – fashion gets mindful.

Studying fashion communications in Singapore then working for top global fashion brands, Jean Pham has seen first-hand what waste and pollution the industry is capable of. She knew she had to do something to change this aspect of the fashion industry.

Believing passionately that we should wear our value, Jean returned to Vietnam in December 2016 to found Mr Nines, a socially and environmentally conscious menswear fashion label that’s part of the growing mindful “slow fashion” movement.

Mr Nines’ designs for men are classic and timeless, placing form and function over unnecessary frills and proving that less really can be more. Bridging seasonal trends and uniting style and versatility, Jean’s shirts and jackets are wardrobe essentials, complimenting the latest fashions while providing timeless signature pieces that

that will be worn until they can be worn no more.

As part of her mission to reduce waste and work towards long-term sustainability, Jean sources her fabrics from leftover deadstock that would otherwise end up on the factory floor to be burned or dumped in landfill. Getting her materials from local manufacturers, she up-cycles high-quality fabric waste from Vietnam’s many massproduction factories, turning them in to beautiful garments.

Jean believes that creating fashion and saving resources should go hand-inhand. By avoiding use of raw and virgin materials, her up-cycling contributes to waste reduction, in turn leading to water and energy savings and minimising the environmental impact normally associated to clothes production.

Her small production house instead works towards zero waste and no plastic.

Jean minimises the cutting process of her

fabrics to prevent discarded off-cuts, and what does end up on the floor is used for other products.

Garments are packaged in recycled carboard boxes, non-toxic inks are used for labelling which is stamped rather than printed, and accessories such as buttons and tags are made from natural products instead of plastic.

Mr Nines collections are crafted in Vietnam, with precise and careful attention to detail. Each garment created is hand-made and hand-finished to ensure individuality and precision. The close-knit relationship formed between design and production results in beautiful, classic, long-lasting garments that will hold pride of place in your wardrobe as well as remind you of the mindful choice you made in purchasing Jean’s classic designs. fb.com/MrNinesStore www.mrnines.com.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 43

B

ritish fashion designer Ella Henry is best known for her flowing silk kaftans and flattering and colourful swimwear, all designed and manufactured here in Saigon.

Ella designs every stage of each piece, from hand-painting the designs for the fabrics to overseeing the tailoring.

Her boho-chic range includes one and two-piece swimsuits, kaftans, dresses and yoga and exercise-wear, starting at US$60 for a swimwear set.

View her range online, at Ella’s studio in District 2 or at one of the regular markets held in Ho Chi Minh City.

Photos by Romain Garrigue.

Model: Dianne Sunshine Cromwell. www.facebook.com/ellahenrydesign http://ella-henry.com.

44 AsiaLIFE HCMC

AsiaLIFE HCMC 45

46 AsiaLIFE HCMC

AsiaLIFE HCMC 47

listings

hotel & travel CON DAO Con Dao Resort 8 Nguyen Duc Thuan Tel: 0254 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: 0254 3831 222 www.sixsenses.com/SixSensesConDao The first 5 star resort with 50 villas stretch across a mile-long beach, each villa 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: 0263 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: 0263 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: 0263 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: 024 6270 8888 www.intercontinental.com Located on the waterfront with contemporary Vietnamese design, restaurants, business services, fitness centre including exercise classes and pool.

Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi 83A Ly Thuong Kiet Tel: 024 3822 2800 www.moevenpick-hotels.com Conveniently located in the heart of Hanoi’s business district, a 40-minute drive from Noi Bai International Airport

48 AsiaLIFE HCMC

and only 5 minutes from the city centre, Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi is the latest five-star hotel in town, tailored to meet the needs of discerning guests and especially corporate travellers.

Sheraton Hotel Hanoi K5 Nghi Tam, 11 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho Tel: 024 3719 9000 www.starwoodhotels.com “Resort within a city” boasts 299 spacious guest rooms with panoramic views, fitness centre, international restaurant and Hemisphere Vietnamese restaurant.

Sofitel Metropole 15 Ngo Quyen, Hoan Kiem Tel: 024 3826 6919 www.sofitel.com Located downtown. colonial-style hotel with well-regarded restaurants/bars serving French & Vietnamese cuisine, plus Italian steak house.

HO CHI MINH CITY

Caravelle Hotel 19 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 3822 8888 www.newworldsaigon.com Located in the city centre, with gym, outdoor pool, tennis court, event space and Dynasty Chinese restaurant.

Renaissance Riverside 8-15 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 028 3822 0033 www.renaissancehotels.com 349 rooms/suites with panoramic views over Saigon River. Conference/banquet facilities, rooftop pool, gym, two restaurants.

Sheraton 88 Dong Khoi, D1 / Tel: 028 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: 028 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.

Windsor Plaza 18 An Duong Vuong, D5 Tel: 028 3833 6688 services@windsorplazahotel.com www.windsorplazahotel.com Located in a main shopping hub. Three restaurants, modern discotheque, conference centre, shopping centre, supermarket.

HUE, HOI AN & DANANG Boutique Hoi An Resort Tel: 0235 03 93 91 11 www.boutiquehoianresort.com

This resort is located on Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An, just five minutes from the Old Town and 30 minutes from the Da Nang airport. The property has 82 rooms and villas, all with private balconies or terraces facing the ocean, a swimming pool and a wide range of cuisine from around the world.

Indochine Palace 105A Hung Vuong Street, Hue City Tel: 0234 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: 0236 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: 0235 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: 0258 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: 0258 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: 0258 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 Anatara Beach Resort Mui Ne Beach, KM10, Ham Tien Ward Tel: 0252 3741 888 www.anatara.com Beachfront resort with 90 fully equipped rooms, business centre, spa, fitness centre and outdoor pool.

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

Tel: 0252 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: 0252 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: 0252 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: 0258 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

The Imperial Hotel 159-163 Thuy Van Tel: 0254 362 8888 www.imperialhotelvietnam.com Victorian-style hotel with 152 rooms, outdoor pool, shopping mall and fully serviced gym.

Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa Ho Tram Village, Xuyen Moc Tel: 0254 378 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: 0254 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

Buffalo Tours Agency HCMC: Level 8 157 Pasteur, D3 Tel: 3827 9170 Hanoi: 94 Ma May, Hoan Kiem District Tel: 024 3828 0702 www.buffalotours.com Tailor-made itineraries, community-based tourism, cultural tours, adventure trips, golfing and premium trips offered by locally run and well-respected travel agent.

EXO Travel HCMC: 41, Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 028 3519 4111

saigonagency@exotravel.com HANOI: 3rd Fl, 66A, Tran Hung Dao Hoan Kiem Tel: 024 3828 2150 hanoiagency@exotravel.com www.traveltrade.exotravel.com iViVu www.ivivu.com Offering the traditional services of a travel agent – airline tickets, tours, packages and hotels - as well as tips and up-todate travel news on Vietnam.

Terraverde 12/20 Nguyen Canh Di, Tan Binh Tel: 028 3948 4754/56 info@terraverdetravel.com www.terraverdetravel.com German-owned travel agency specializing in tailor-made tours combining nature experiences; site visits; cultural encounters; biking, boating and trekking expeditions.

AIRLINES Air France 130 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 028 3829 0981 www.airfrance.com.vn An airline with a vast and effective global network. Now flies direct to Paris.

Cathay Pacific 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3 Tel: 028 3822 3203 www.cathaypacific.com Hong Kong-based airline makes three flights daily to HCM City and two flights daily to Hong Kong’s international airport.

Jetstar Pacific www.jetstar.com Budget branch flies into Can Tho, Danang, Hanoi, Hai Phong, HCM City, Hue, Nha Trang and Vinh and operates

cheap flights from HCM City to Siem Reap and Bangkok.

Malaysia Airlines Unit G8 Ground floor, SG Trade Center 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 028 3824 6663 www.malaysiaairlines.com Offers daily flights from Hanoi and HCM City to Kuala Lumpur for about $200 round trip, with four economy class fare levels: low, basic, smart and flex.

Thai Airways Ground Floor Suite 101 29 Le Duan, D1 www.thaiair.com Bangkok-based airline connects twice daily between the Thai capital and HCM City and Hanoi. Multiple daily flights are also operated from both to Phnom Penh and Phuket.

Turkish Airlines 8th floor, AB Tower 76A Le Lai, D1 Tel: 028 3936 0360 www.turkishairlines.com Awarded as the Best Airline in Europe offers the brand new Comfort Class to Economy class: 46inch leg room, personalised entertainment screen and globally awarded cuisine on-board.

Vietnam Airlines Hanoi: 25 Trang Thi, Hoan Kiem Tel: 024 6270 0200 HCM City: 16th Floor, Sun Wah, 115 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 028 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.

listings

food & drink DISTRICT 1 Al Fresco’s 21 Mac Dinh Chi D1 Tel: 028 3823 8427 27 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 028 3823 8424 D1-23 My Toan 3, D7 Tel: 028 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.  Anan Saigon 89 Ton That Dam, District 1 Serves up some incredible modern Vietnamese food thanks to chef and owner Peter Coung Franklin. The restaurant and rooftop bar’s name means ‘eat-eat’, and that’s certainly what the menus encourage you to do.

Au Parc 23 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 028 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: 028 6263 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.

Basilico InterContinental Asiana Saigon, Ground Floor, corner of Nguyen Du and Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 028 3520 9099 dine@icasianasaigon.com Contemporary and casual trattoria-style restaurant specializing in authentic Italian dishes and homemade desserts.

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

Bep Me In 136/9 Let Thanh Ton, D1 Home-cooked Vietnamese dishes from all regions of Vietnam, with no MSG, just like you’d be served at a family party in the countryside.

Boulevard Grill Bar Leman Luxury Apartments, 22 Truong Dinh, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City boulevardgrill.com.vn Boulevard might look a little like a cafe in a shopping centre, but the two Vietnamese chefs in the kitchen send out fine dining-style dishes. The comprehensive menu carries a wide array of excellent steaks, salads, pastas and other grilled items.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 12-14 Thai Van Lung, D1

50 AsiaLIFE HCMC

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. 

T: +84 28 3822 9357 E: rese.hcm@koto.com.au 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.

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.

Kissho 14 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 028 3823 2223 kissho.wmcvietnam.com Kissho 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.

Fork Saigon 15 Dong Du, District 1 Tel: 028 3823 3597 www.forksaigon.com An eclectic tapas-style restaurant that draws inspiration from all over the world, rather than just Spain. Tasty small plates to share, great set lunch deals and fantastic happy hour drink specials.

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.

Heart of Darkness Craft Brewery 31D Ly Tu Trong, D 1 while Heart of Darkness remains the brewery it always was and always will be, it’s now gaining a well-earned reputation as a place to chow down on some pretty decent grub.

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.

In Saigong Rooftop Bar 27-29 Huynh Thuc Khang, D1 Tel: 028 9934 4350 The city’s only Wollongong-themed bar, this rooftop bar is a relaxing place to undwind with local and craft beers, cocktails and a varied menu.

Jake’s BBQ 50 Pasteur Street, D1 Tel: 028 3825 1311 Genuine, warm service from Chef Jake himself sets this American Barbeque joint apart. A true slice of Americana in Vietnam. Large portions, smoked meats, and the only ‘Jucy Lucy’ burger in town!  Jaspa’s 33 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 028 3822 9926 74/7 Hai Ba Trung, Dist 1, HCMC Tel: 028 3827 0931 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. The Dong Khoi branch has recently beed enovated with new menu and decor.



Kay’s Vegan Bistro Hem 84 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1 090 395 81 69 Homemade vegan delights from all over Southeast Asia and beyond. With daily specials and ingredients available to take home, it’s a hit with the locals.

Koto 19 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Da Kao Ward, Di1

La Brasserie 2nd Floor, Hotel Nikko Saigon 235 Nguyen Van Cu, D1 Tel: 028 3925 7777 Offers wide international buffet stations for breakfast and dinner. Nightly live music performance.

La Chola de Lima 74 Hai Ba Trung, D 1 www.lacholadelima.com Tel: 028 3823 8793 The long-awaited newcomer to the food-centric courtyard at 74 Hai Ba Trung, the diversity of Peruvian cuisine is celebrated with a fusion menu showcasing Creole, Japanese and Chinese flavours.

Lac Thai 71/2 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 028 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.  Li Bai Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 028 3827 2828 Imperial-styled restaurant named after a famous Chinese poet. Nightly à la carte menu with dishes going from 100k VND. Mad Cow Wine and Grill Level 30, Pulman Hotel, 148 Tran Hung Dao Street, D 1 Tel: 028 3838 8639 Casual, almost a homely style of cuisine, and sourced primarily from Australia. “We pride ourselves on great steaks and seafood, with a grass-fed orientated menu” according to Danny Grimshaw, chef and butcher at Mad Cow. 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.

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.

Service is friendly and efficient and always welcoming.

May Restaurant & Bar 19-21 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 028 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: 028 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, wok-fried items, noodles and pasta dishes.

Ming Court 3rd Floor, Hotel Nikko Saigon 235 Nguyen Van Cu, D1 Tel: 028 3925 7777 Featuring authentic Chinese cuisine and a wide selection of delectable All-youcan-eat Dim Sum. 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.

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

NAMO Tuscan Grill 146-148 Pasteur, D 1 Tel; 08 3822 1431 Focussing on rustic Italian fare coming off of their custom-built wood-fired grill. The layout is open and relaxed, reflecting the colour and energy of Florence and the Tuscany region.

Old Compass Cafe 3rd Floor 63/11 Pasteur St, D1 (next to Liberty Citypoint Hotel) Tel: +848 3827 2878 The Old Compass Café has managed to position itself as a quiet oasis of calm amidst the city’s chaos. The menu is simple and offers a choice of breakfast, lunch dinner, gourmet sandwiches, pastries and desserts.

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.

Quan Bui Add 1: 17A Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: 028 38 29 15 15 Add 2: 55 Ngo Quang Huy, D2 From the team behind Quan Bui, the popular casual Vietnamese eatery on the north edge of District 1, is this fourfloor 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.

Quan Ut Ut 168 Vo Van Kiet, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Quince 37bis Ky Con, D1

Tel: 2838 21 8661 Sister restaurant to Quince Bangkok, serving high-end cuisene developed by chef Julien Perraund working from the open kitchen. A short simple menu based on fresh local produce.

Reflections Caravelle Hotel, 19 - 23 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 028 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 07 214 294 105-107 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 90 900 4294 Facebook.com/RelishAndSons Burgers are the stars of the show in Relish & Sons, with six varieties, all composed of different but expertly combined ingredients.  Romeo and Juliet Times Square Building, 57 – 69F Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Royal Pavilion Reverie Saigon Hotel, 4th Floor, 22 36 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Saigon Indian 73 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 028 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.  Shang Palace Restaurant Norfolk Mansion, 17-19-21 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Sancho’s Craft Beer and Mexican Kitchen 207 Bui Vien, D1 090 126 82 26 Real Mexi-Cali food with passion, served with a selection of crafts beers.

Skewers 9A Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Tomatito 171 Calmette, D1 Tomatito is all about the sexy, from the bold and colourful Spanish-themed interior showcasing El Willy’s unique personality, to the hot Latin passion in his interpretation of traditional Spanish tapas.

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 events.  The Elbow Room 52 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 028 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 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.

The Refinery 74/7C Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Tuk Tuk Thai Bistro 17/11 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Union Jack’s Fish and Chips Upper Deck, 130 Ton That Dam, D1 Jack’s Fish & Chips is a tribute to this traditional British fare that harks back to the childhood of owner Matt Ryan, who grew up on the A30 road from London.

Urban Kitchen + Bar 18 Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Yu Chu InterContinental Asiana Saigon, corner of Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1 Tel: 028 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.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 51

DISTRICT 2

26 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 08 6654 9525 Authentic Thai menu in a casual garden setting.

Buddha Bar

D2 By Richie Fawcett

IMBIBE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING…EVERY DAY ( PART 2 OF 3 ) I’ve lost count of the number of young, enthusiastic bartenders that I’ve trained since I arrived in Vietnam.

The early days were very difficult as I needed an interpreter to translate sentence by sentence.

I can now speak a few words of Vietnamese but I strongly believe that the best training is on-thejob training, using a lot of patience and some humour.

It’s great to have everyone’s attention for an hour or two.

Any more than that and eyes start to close, especially if you’re talking quickly and not allowing anyone to interpret the point step by step.

I found over the years, that the method that works well here in Vietnam is to write a course…step by step, day by day, and give everyone the material at the beginning of the course.

Explain clearly the journey you’re going to take everyone on, and let them read the material at home.

Over the last seven years in Vietnam, and training all over the country from five star boutique resort to rooftop city cocktail lounges, I developed an eight-day comprehensive bartender bootcamp-style course, called back to basics. It covers everything from basic equipment, glassware care, techniques, principles of physics, taste, flavour, balance, classic cocktail history, bar etiquette,

blind taste tests, speed tests, creative cocktailmaking and menu planning.

From top to bottom.

Sometimes I need to condense this course into three or four days but the follow-up is always where the real results come through.

There really is no better feeling than to start with a rooky team of bartenders and, years later, see them as bar managers and country brand ambassadors.

My training material is all translated into Vietnamese, and illustrated with handdrawn sketches.

This kind of material doesn’t just get published overnight.

It requires the knowledge, the sort of knowledge you acquire in five years in a busy bar in London, New York, Sydney or Buenos Aires, Singapore or Hong Kong.

Then you have to bring it all together.

Now in Vietnam, in contrast to nearly a decade ago, professional bartending is among one of the most desirable careers in the country for young and passionate individuals to want to get into it.

Programmes like KOTO (Know One Teach One) are pioneers in giving the disadvantaged a chance to learn hospitality from the grass roots up, and that’s all down to training and sharing the know;ledge with this next generation.

Shri Restaurant and Lounge manager Richie Fawcett is an artist, bartender and restaurateur.

52 AsiaLIFE HCMC

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. 

BoatHouse 40 Lily Road, APSC Compound, 36 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 028 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.  Bia Craft 90 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 028 3744 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.

Chocolat Frea 68 Truc Duong, Thao Dien, D2 Tucked down a small hem off Thao Dien, up by Meatworks Butchery, is a tiny cafe offering some sweet chocolate delights that would not look or taste out of place in Paris.

District Federal 84 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien, D2 Serving only the very best Mexican (not Tex-Mex) food, Mexican chef Luis Reyes creates the menu. Luis’s menu focuses on homemade and authentic Mexican food.

Ebisu 66 Song Hanh, D2 028 6276 8787 The city’s soba noodle specialists bring authenticity and professional service to the Japanese table. Sushi and grilled skewers are also specialities, DTwo Sports Bar 55­57 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 028 3519 4138 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. Mad House 6/1/2 Nguyen U Di, Thao Dien, D2 Founded in 2015 by a couple of dedicated foodies from Denmark, Mad House has become known for its northern European style of honest, unpretentious comfort food as much as its homely yet stylish environment.

Mekong Merchant 23 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 028 3744 4713 Set in a courtyard, this rustic Australianstyle brasserie has brought modern international cuisine to suburban An Phu. Popular for weekend brunches.

Weekly specials and seafood flown in from Phu Quoc.  Thai Street

Quan Bui Garden 55 Ngo Quang Huy, Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 028 3898 9088 From the team behind Quan Bui, this D2 spot has all the chic design and ambience, with a gorgeous garden setting designed to attract a more upmarket clientele.

The Deck 38 Nguyen U Di, D2 Tel: 028 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.

DISTRICT 3 Boulevard Bar and Grill Leman Luxury Apartments, 22 Truong Dinh, D3 Cha Ca La Vong 3 Ho Xuan Huong, D3 Tel: 028 3930 5674 36 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 028 3915 3343 Two HCM City outposts 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: 028 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.

DISTRICT 5 Ngan Dinh Chinese Restaurant Windsor Plaza Hotel, 18 An Duong Vuong, D5 Tel: 028 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.

DISTRICT 7 Kim Bab Chun Gook R4 42 Hung Phuoc 2, Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 028 6296 9057 Korean boonshik/snack food eatery serving up a wide variety of light but substantial foods including dumplings, rameyon and fish cakes.

Speakeasy S35-1 Le Van Thiem, Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 093 722 11 03 The Tavern R2/24 Hung Gia 3, Bui Bang Doan, D7 Tel: 028 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.  Q.itchen Factory 2nd floor, Lot DVTM-9, Road 7, Tan

Thuan Export Processing Zone, D7.

Viva Tapas Bar & Grill 90 Cao Trieu Phat, Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 028 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. 

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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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.

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 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.

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.

Voelker 39 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2 Tel: 028 6296 0066 Small bakery turns out sweet and salted pies and mousses in addition to baguettes and a range of Western sweets.

at home DELIVERY

Patty’s Kitchen www.facebook.com/ homecookhealthyfood Home-made meals for pick-up or delivery. 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: 028 3822 9332 41A Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 028 3744 2630 Takashimaya Saigon Center 65 Le Loi, D1 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.

Kim Hai Butchery 46 Nguyen Thai Binh, D1 Tel: 028 3914 4376 This town is definitely big enough for two Australian butchers. Reasonably priced imported beef, fish, chicken, and more at this original neighbourhood fixture.

Meatworks Butchery 1, Street 2, Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 028 3744 2565 Imported meats from Australia, including top-quality beef and lamb, and locally sourced pork and chicken..

Proudly Australian owned and managed.

MegaMart An Phu, D2 Tel: 028 3740 6677 Tan Thoi Hiep, D12 Tel: 028 3717 2979 www.metro.com.vn Warehouse wholesaler located just off the Hanoi Highway in D2 between the Saigon Bridge and the tollbooths. Sells bulk food, fresh fruit and vegetables and meat, as well as paper products, cleaning supplies, housewares-basically everything.

Organik 11A Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 090 273 3841 arlene@organikvn.com www.organikvn.com Online grocer based out of Dalat selling a range of organic vegetables and groceries, as well as imported allnatural products.

Phuong Ha 58 Ham Nghi, D1 Tel: 028 3914 1318 A mini-supermarket that sells an extensive assortment of imported packaged food, cheese, meat, fresh fruit, vegetables and fine wines.

Veggy’s 14 Pham Hong Thai, D1 Tel: 028 3823 8526 Sky Garden Pham Van Nghi, Bac Khu Pho, D7 Popular expat market with a walk-in fridge area stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products and a range of meats. Imported canned and dried foods, wines, beers, soft drinks, spirits and snacks also available.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 53

listings By Phil Kelly

FITNESS SUPERFOOD: CELESTIAL CELERY I am not a vegetarian but I love vegetables. Green vegetables are at the top of my health list and they make up the majority of my meals, and they should be the stars of everyone’s diet.

Diets composed of more green vegetables can reduce the risk of chronic disease and other health ailments. Vegetables are the main source of vitamins, minerals, (phytochemicals and antioxidants) and fibre that are vital for proper health development and maintenance.

One of my favourite veggies, yet largely overlooked, is celery. I love celery for my morning shakes and find it exceptionally convenient and delicious, with a good nut butter, for snacks. Aside from being a source of good food, it is also used as alternative medicine. Its leaves, seeds, roots. and stems are used to treat urinal retention, kidney disease, hypertension, and even certain sexual disorders.

Celery is an excellent source of vitamin C that is essential for promoting a healthy immune system. Vitamin C inhibits free radical damage that may trigger inflammatory conditions like asthma and arthritis. This vitamin is also beneficial in promoting a healthy cardiovascular system.

Medical research shows that celery contains active compounds called pthalide that are essential in reducing blood pressure. Pthalide works by relaxing the muscles of the arteries that regulates blood pressures, which allows the blood vessels to constrict.

Healthy blood vessels may help prevent stroke, heart attack, and other heart ailments. The benefits of celery in reducing blood pressure is also attributed to its high contents of potassium,

magnesium, and calcium. High consumption of these minerals have been associated with reduced blood pressure. These are also great nutrients that help in the performance and recovery from exercise.

A food regimen which contains celery may help prevent cancer.

This vegetable contains coumarin, which is essential in the prevention of free radicals from degenerating the cells that are a leading cause of cancer. Coumarins may also enhance the activity of white blood cells; these cells defend the immune system and eliminate harmful cells, including cancer cells. Celery also contains acetylenics that have been shown in some scientific studies to stop the development of tumour cells.

In addition to these health benefits, celery contains many active ingredients that has made this vegetable a very important plant when it comes to promoting good health due to it’s balanced content of minerals, vitamins, and other necessary nutrients.

Celery also contains important concentrations of plant hormones and other essential oils that may regulate the nervous system and promote a sense of relaxation.

Some studies also claim that celery may also promote positive effects on the sexual system.

Celery is great tasting and easy to add to any meal, as I mentioned I use it regularly in my morning shakes and for snacks. Because of the many health benefits of celery, many nutritionists and other health experts encourage regular consumption of this vegetable… readily available in Vietnam and you don’t even need to cook it. Enjoy it and the health it will provide.

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: 028 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

Phil Kelly is a health practitioner and expert in body transformation. His services are available at Star Fitness (starfitnesssaigon.com).

54 AsiaLIFE HCMC

AIS Sports Centre 36 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2 Tel: 028 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 avail-

able. 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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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

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: 0263 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 7,009yard course is an enjoyable challenge for golfers of all levels.

Dong Nai Golf Resort Trang Bom Town, Trang Bom Tel: 0251 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.

The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip Phuoc Thuan, Xuyen Moc, Ba Ria Vung Tau Tel: 064 378 8666 http://thebluffshotram.com/ info@thebluffshotram.com Designed by Greg Norman, The Bluffs is a 50-hectare 18 hole links-style golf course associated with The Grand Ho Tram Strip integrated resort, about a 2.5 hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City.

Saigon South Golf Nguyen Van Linh, Tan Phu, D7 Tel: 028 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: 0274 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: 028 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.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 55

OUR SPECIALTIES General and tropical medicine

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.

Cardiology Obstetrics/gynecology Psychology Osteopathic medicine Pediatrics

Raffles Medical Clinic 167A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3 Tel: 028 3845 4218 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.

Psychiatry Speech and language therapy CENTRE MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL 1 Han Thuyen, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel: (84.28) 3827 23 66/67 Fax: (84.28) 3827 23 65 Email: info@cmi-vietnam.com

Traditional oriental medicine Psychomotor therapy Childbirth education classes Home nurse service

www.cmi-vietnam.com

listings

health & beauty ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

American Chiropractic Clinic 161 Hai Ba Trung, D3 Tel: 028 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.

CARE1 Executive Health Care Center The Manor, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh Tel: 028 3514 0757 care1_reception@vietnammedicalpractice.com www.care1.com.vn Care 1 Executive Health Care Center in the Manor is the main facility for health screening and wellness check-ups.

To fit into your busy life, Care 1 offers one stop service - modern, comprehensive healthcare services and state-of the-art facilities all in one place.

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.

56 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Victoria Healthcare 135A Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Tel: 028 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.

SKINCARE DENTAL

Accadent 39 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Starlight Dental Clinic Dr. Philippe Guettier & International Team of Dentists 24 Thao Dien, D2 2Bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, D1 Tel: 028 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. With the latest treatments and techniques, the surgery prides themselves on their high standard of equipment & sterilization.

Minh Khai Dental Clinic 199 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 028 3925 3399 nhakhoaminhkhai@gmail.com www.nhakhoaminhkhai.com No.1 Dental Clinic 51 Ba Thang Hai, D10 Tel: 028 3929 0909 nhakhoano1@gmail.com www.nhakhoano1.com Located in District 10, No.1 offers general dentistry services include fillings, checkups and teeth cleaning and specialist dental care that includes dental implants, orthodontics (braces), endodontics (root canals), prosthodontics (false teeth, including dentures, crowns and veneers) and cosmetic dentistry, such as laser teeth whitening.

West Coast Dental Clinic 27 Nguyen Ba Lan, D2 Tel: 028 3519 1777 www.westcoastinternational.com

MEDICAL Centre Medical International (CMI) 1 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 028 3827 2366 www.cmi-vietnam.com Located downtown next to the cathedral, 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. .

Family Medical Practice HCMC Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 028 3822 7848 95 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 028 3744 2000 www.vietnammedicalpractice.com Leading international primary healthcare provider, with a 24-hour state-of-theart 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: 028 3925 9797 www.hanhphuchospital.com

The Body Shop 216 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 028 3820 5845 87 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 028 3823 3683119 Nguyen Trai, D5 Tel: 028 3923 2918 Parkson CT Plaza, Tan Binh Tel: 028 6297 2095 Parkson Cantavil, D2 Tel: 028 6296 0265 Diamond Plaza, D1 Tel: 028 3822 1887 check out more outlet via website 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 81 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 028 3829 3058 Diamond Plaza 34 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 028 3507 0800 Vincom 70-72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 028 3936 9308 Parkson Cantavil, D2 Tel: 028 37407180 check out more outlet via website www.thefaceshop.com.vn Stamford Skin Centre 99 Suong Nguyet Anh, D1 Tel: 028 3925 1990 www.stamfordskin.com The Stamford Skin Centre has grown to include qualified specialists who treat general diseases of the skin such as acne, eczema and other forms of dermatitis, rosacea, psoriasis, skin cancers.

Offering treatments for simple blemishes and outbreaks on a person’s face, a long standing melasma, acne scars, wrinkles or sagging skin that if treated, removed, or substantially improved.

listings

family 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: 028 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: 028 5431 33/34/35/36 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: 028 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 2 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: 028 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: 028 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 www.bisvietnam.com Early Years and Infant Campus 101, Thao Dien Street, District 2.

Junior Campus 225 Nguyen Van Huong Street, District 2.

Secondary Campus 246 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Tel: 028 3744 2335 BIS HCMC is the largest international school in Vietnam and operates from

AsiaLIFE HCMC 57

three purpose-built campuses in the residential area of District 2, catering for students from pre-school to 18 years of age. The school provides a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum to within the framework of the National Curriculum for England. Staffed primarily by British qualified teachers with a minimum of 3 years’ experience. Students are prepared for both IGCSE & the IB Diploma programmes. BIS is a member of FOBISIA & fully accredited by the Council of International Schools.

By Shannon Brown

EDUCATION HUB WHAT ROCK CLIMBING TEACHES KIDS Before the dry season ends, harness your kids energy (literally) by introducing them to rock climbing.

Physically, climbing is a super sport. It combines flexibility, strength, and endurance, and teaches hand, foot, and eye coordination. It’s also a great way to reinforce children’s understanding of left and right, which can be applied in every sport.

Climbing comes naturally to most children, and the earlier they start, the quicker they can progress. There are now many climbing competitions held around the world for children and young adults.

Climbing is not only physical exercise, but works the mind as well. Climbing a rock wall is like solving a life-size puzzle - each move takes patience, planning, and focus.

And there’s no one telling you the answers: you are problem-solving on your own and learning through trial and error. As education experts point out, children’s attention spans are seemingly getting shorter each year. Climbing is a natural way to sharpen their concentration.

Rock climbing teaches children safety and communication skills.

Climbers are required to check themselves and their equipment before each climb - harness, shoes, rope, belay, and sometimes a helmet are all utilised. Kids quickly learn to look out for other climbers, and to call out verbal cues to the people assisting them. Rock climbers take turns and cheer on others, which is an amazing example

for children to see. It also teaches perseverance: so much of climbing is falling, falling, falling, and then choosing to get back up again. Conquering the wall or finishing a tricky route usually earns high praise and boosts children’s self esteem.

This isn’t a sport for the faint of heart. In my experience, rock climbing teaches bravery and overcoming obstacles better than almost any other activity designed for children. It also shows children the lifetime benefits of healthy living; to be a great climber, you have to eat well, drink a lot of water, and build muscles. There are excellent male and female role models in the climbing world, and the sport is not as tainted by celebrity scandals as many others.

Climbing can be especially beneficial to children with disabilities like autism. Autistic children often have more sensory needs and enjoy the tangible results of climbing. As it is a solo sport, there is less anxiety regarding teammates, although it’s always important to pay attention to a possible fear of heights. Some gyms have special equipment for climbers in wheelchairs or for those who have physical challenges.

Last but not least, it’s not an expensive hobby to start.

Equipment lasts a long time if you take care of it, and most climbing gyms have affordable membership options for little ones or families. Try it out on a family Sunday at Outcast’s Push Climbing and see how they do!

Shannon Brown works in international education in Ho Chi Minh City and has a background in social work, public heath, and early childhood education.

58 AsiaLIFE HCMC

EUROPEAN International School 730 F-G-K Le Van Mien, Thao Dien.Tel: 028 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 Primary Campus 28 Vo Truong Toan St.,D2 Secondary Campus 01 Xuan Thuy St., D2 +84 (28) 3898 9100 admissions@ishcmc.edu.vn 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. With two campus; Primary and Secondary.

The International School HCMC American Academy 26 Vo Truong Toan, D2 Tel: 028 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: 028 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: 028 3744 2639 Bilingual Program 28 Street 19, KP 5, An Phu, D2 Tel: 028 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: 028 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 education 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: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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.

Gymboree Play & Music Somerset Chancellor Court 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 028 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.

listings

living By Paul McLardie

PERSONAL FINANCE PENSION PITFALLS (PART 1) You can spend hours on the treadmill and hold fast to a diet of flaxseed, tofu, and vividly coloured vegetables.

But being physically fit, like so many worthwhile goals in life, revolves as much around avoiding the obvious mistakes, such as curling up on the couch with three hours of reality TV and a bowl of ice cream every night, as it does on taking the right proactive steps.

So it goes with investing, especially during retirement.

If you can avoid the key pitfalls, you’re more than halfway there. This is the first of a two-part series about five common pension traps.

1. Not having a sustainable withdrawal rate Those who came of age in the Depression era of the 1930s and 1940s are notorious for living well below their means.

But financial planners confide that many of today’s crop of new retirees are doing just the opposite, spending well more than their nest eggs can support. Conventional financial-planning wisdom holds that a 4% annual withdrawal rate, coupled with an annual inflation adjustment, is sustainable for most retirees.

Yet some retirees are pulling double that amount or more from their portfolios. When you factor in increasing longevity rates it’s easy to see how the maths behind such lofty withdrawals can get very ugly,

very fast.

Ideally, investors should consider their in-retirement withdrawal rates well before they’re retired, while they still have time to adjust their lifestyles and kick up their savings rates. The 4%-plusinflation-adjustment rule is a good, one-size-fits-all starting point, but you need to stress test your own portfolio, consider taxes, and ensure your asset-class return expectations are realistic.]\ 2. Not being realistic about income needs during retirement In a related vein, retirees who are stress-testing their projected withdrawal rates might not be taking a realistic view about how much they need for their lifestyle. You often read about all the money you’ll save when you’re no longer working; on dry-cleaning, commuting, lunches out, and not having to save so much for retirement anymore. Given that cavalcade of savings, it’s not surprising that so many retirees fall back on the conventional wisdom that they’ll only need to replace 80% of their income during their working years when they actually retire.

In reality, that 80% rule is at best a rule of thumb; some retirees actually spend more than they did while they were working, while others spend much less. Think healthcare costs.

Paul McLardie is a partner at Total Wealth Management. Contact him at Paul.mclardie@t-wm.com.

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

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: 028 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.

Unit 2404, 24th Floor Pearl Plaza Office Tower, 561A Dien Bien Phu BUSINESS GROUPS Street, Ward 25, Binh Thanh District Direct: 84 8 3840 4237 AmCham http://www.crownworldwide.com New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1 Business Centre, Room 323 Want to 3562 avoid making mistakes??

Tel: 3824 To learn how contact Crown for all www.amchamvietnam.com your relocations needs. We provide services Internationally, locally and AusCham as well provide storTVcommercially Building, Suite 1A, as 31A Nguyen Dinh age solutions long and short Chieu, D1 Tel: 3911 0272 / 73term. / 74 www.auschamvn.org British Business Group of Vietnam 25 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 028 3829 8430 info@bbgv.org / www.bbgv.org CanCham New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1 Business Centre, Room 305 Tel: 028 3824 3754 www.canchamvietnam.org Eurocham 257 Hoang Van Thu, Tan Binh Tel: 028 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: 028 3823 3046 www.sbghcmc.org Swiss Business Association 42 Giang Van Minh, Anh Phu, D2 Tel: 028 3744 6996 Email: sba@hcm.vnn.vn www.swissvietnam.com Hong Kong Business Association New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1 Business Centre, Room 322 Tel: 028 3824 3757 / 3822 8888 www.hkbav.com NordCham Bitexco Building, 19-25 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 028 3821 5423 www.nordcham.com

CAMERAS

Kiet Camera Ground Floor, Lucky Plaza, 69 Dong Khoi, D1 Ver reliable shop with large range of kit and very good prices. If he hasn’t got in stock, Kiet can quickly find it.

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.

Shop 46 46 Nguyen Hue, D1

Thuan My 32 Cach Mang Thang 8, D3 2 Thao Dien, D2 Apple Authorized reseller and Premium Service Provider of Apple computers and products. Excellent service and Englishspeaking staff.

CONSULTING

Concetti 33 Dinh Tien Hoang, D1 Tel: 028 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: 028 3822 4728 www.embers-asia.com As the first team-building provider established in Vietnam, Embers specialises in making teams better in globally competitive markets. 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: 028 3824 5252 www.ey.com Professional service firm specializing in advisory, assurance, tax, transactions and strategic growth markets.

Grant Thornton Saigon Trade Centre, 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 028 3910 9100 www.gt.com.vn International business advisors specialising in auditing, management consulting, corporate finance, risk management and IT IF Consulting IBC Building, 3rd Floor 1A Me Linh Square, D1 4th Floor, 5 Ba Trieu Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi Tel: 028 3827 7362 Email: pascal@insuranceinvietnam.com Private insurance and finance.

Indochine Councel Han Nam Building, 65 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 028 3823 9640 www.indochinecounsel.com Business law firm specializing in legal services to corporate clients in relation to their business and investment in Vietnam.

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

AsiaLIFE HCMC 59

education and professional development programmes.

Phuong Nguyen Consulting TPC Business Center, 92-96 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 028 3829 2391 www.pnp-consulting.com Specializing in business facilitation, conferences, education counselling, market-entry research and IT/business consulting.

By Gary Woollacott

PEOPLE MATTER IS GOOD ENOUGH GOOD ENOUGH? Living in Southeast Asia is exciting, and there’s a new challenge every day.

Things that are easy back home (wherever that is) seem to take a long time here. I’m thinking banking, the post office, renewing a driving licence, for example.

Conversely, things get done here in lightning time – getting furniture or a suit made, or redecorating your home or office – whereas back home it might take weeks. I know each country has its benefits and drawbacks but there’s one theme that keeps recurring around these parts: good enough is good enough.

We can see it everywhere: a lack of pride in the job, and a lack of interest in doing what people are paid to do.

A general feeling that if they do just enough to get by, then that’s good enough for now.

Why bother to do more? It certainly isn’t confined to the public sector; there are plenty of private companies that exhibit this behaviour. It’s a wonder how they keep their customers. Perhaps they don’t, and they have a stream of onetime customers who never go back after that sole experience.

Hardly a sustainable business model, but somehow they hold on.

This got me thinking: where does that attitude come from? Why are some people so uninterested in doing a good job? What is it about their workplace that completely fails to spark any

semblance of pride, or wanting to do something better?

The more I think about it, the more I realise that it falls on management to fix that.

If managers are constantly changing (think government ministers, or a company that is always reorganising) and it is never really clear what the organisation’s mission is, no wonder people drift.

And the same thing happens in the private sector if top management is unstable, the company may lose its moral compass. Then all kinds of behaviours that are not normally tolerated become more common and, before you know it, the company is on the front pages of the newspapers for this or that scandal.

But, these days, good enough is not good enough.

If your organisation has that attitude then it is probably doomed to disappear (unless it’s a government monopoly, then we can feel sorry for the luckless people who have to use it). Business has changed so much – and will continue to change in ways we can’t imagine – that any company standing still is just slowly dying. I don’t have any prescriptions for success here, apart from to urge you to recognise the feeling – and fight it – when you’re tempted to say to yourself “well, it’s good enough”.

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.

60 AsiaLIFE HCMC

TMF Vietnam Company Limited Unit 501, 5th Floor, Saigon Trade Center 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 028 3910 2262 ext. 113 Fax: 028 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: 028 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: 028 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.

ELECTRONICS

Nguyen Kim Shopping Centre 63-65 Tran Hung Dao, D1 Tel: 028 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 refrigerators.

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 AustinHome 42 Nguyen Dang Giai, D2 Tel: 028 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: 028 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.

Gaya 6/39A Tran Nao Street 12, D2 Tel: 028 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 67 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 028 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.

CO-WORKING SPACES

Dreamplex Level 9 – 10 – 11 21 Nguyen Trung Ngan, District 1 Tel: 028 7306-6880 dreamplex.co A coworking space for startup entrepreneurs, creatives, consultants and investors to work collaboratively or privately. There’s a meeting hub to connect enterprises with domestic and global investors, as well as assist with recruitment.

The Hive Saigon 94 Xuan Thuy, District 2 Tel: 028 3620 3481 thehive.com.vn Open spaces and private offices in a three-storey building for creatives and entrepreneurs. Part of a network of coworking spaces throughout Asia.

PepperHouse 19 Hoang Sa, District 1 Tel: 028 3910-2028 pepperhouse.asia PepperHouse provides a space to stay and work in Ho Chi Minh City. Bright, open, and the perfect place to hunker down to get some work done and network.

Saigon Coworking 101 Cu Lao, Phu Nhuan District Tel: 0965 100 244 and 0902 740 106 saigoncoworking.com One of the first coworking spaces in Saigon, Saigon Coworking was founded for startups and networking for young foreign entrepreneurs. The space partners with local professionals to help with legal, financial and IT consulting. Has an onsite kitchen and green rooftop garden.

Start Saigon 18bis/14 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 1 Tel: 028 6682-8580 start-saigon.com Start Saigon is a 24/7 co-working space dedicated to information technology start-ups and entrepreneurs. With a rooftop garden, pool, fast optical-fibre internet, and a meeting room, they also host after work parties and barbecues.

Workyos Viettel Complex, Tower A 12th Floor, 285 Cach Mang Thang Tam, District 10 Tel: 028 6288-2882 workyos.com Drop in and work in one of the open spaces, or rent a desk or private office longer-term. Branding consultation available from the experienced staff. Also available are meeting and event rooms, a bar and a “relax” room.

RECRUITMENT

First Alliances #609, Saigon Trade Center 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 028 3910 2080 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 providing 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: 028 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.

By AsiaLIFE

CRAFT SAIGON

RELOCATION AGENTS

SAIGON SPRING The tree of life is a well-known symbol that dates back to ancient times.

It represents the connections of all forms of creation.

The roots of the tree dig deeply into the soil while branches and leaves reach for the sky, symbolising a fresh start on life, positive energy, good health and a bright future.

For jeweller Trang Pham, the tree of life is also the signature symbol of her Saigon Spring line of handmade jewellery.

The tree of life pendants are made from semi-precious stones, wrapped in copper wire.

Each stone, and therefore each pendant, is unique.

Trang uses bloodstone, lapis lazuli, labradorite and amazonite for her tree of life pendants, which are hung on a double leather string or a copper chain.

She also has a line of buffalo horn jewellery: rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

“I love using natural materials to make one-of-a-kind jewellery,” Trang told AsiaLIFE. “In addition to eco-friendly buffalo horn, I

Horton International 5F, Vitic Building 6B Nguyen Thanh Y Street, D1 Tel 028 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.

choose semi-precious stones to work with because I was attracted to their unique shape, colour, and textures,” she said.

“You will never find the same stone twice. Plus each stone carries a meaning, and that’s quite interesting to know. The more I work with them, the more I love to learn about stones.”

Saigon Spring designs are available in Trang’s new shop at 2A Le Van Mien in Thao Dien in District 2, and also through Etsy and Facebook.

Saigon Spring is a relatively new enterprise. Tran quit her corporate job in 2015 to pursue her love of her craft.

“Starting from a big zero, Saigon Spring was birthed out of that initial leap and my continuing passion for jewellery,” she said.

“I love creating unique, handcrafted jewellery to flatter every woman and complement each person’s individual style. www.facebook.com/ saigonspringjewelry ssjewelryshop.com.

UTS Saigon Van Intl’ Relocations 1st Fl, 214 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Tel: 028 3744 7102 MOVING!? www.saigonvan.com Full service relocating agency with ware! housing, handyman, insurance & claim, ! orientation an partner career support services also availble. !"#$%&&'(!)%*#)%&&'(!+),-.)%*#)%&&'/!

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: 028 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.

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.

Ipa-Nima 71 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Craft Saigon is a monthly column to highlight new small businesses in the city, if your business wishes to be featured please email craftsaigon@asialifemagazine.com.

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.

Retro KID 345/3 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3 Tel: 0909 168 350 Featured Street wear imported from Thailand and US as well as local designmen’s and women’s fashion, including T-shirts and footwear, and a range of accessories.

Runway Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 028 3993 9988 runway.sg@global-fashion.vn Massive and minimalist design-led interior 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.

men

Massimo Ferrari 42-A1 Tran Quoc Thao, D3 Tel: 028 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.

women

ER-Couture Boutique 36 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 028 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.

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 dresses, velvet corsets, chiffon shawls and a range of accessories, all designed in-house.

TAILORS

Dieu Thanh 140 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 028 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.

Massimo Ferrari 42-A1 Tran Quoc Thao, D3 Tel: 028 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.

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.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 61

WIRELESS CHARGING

X

in chao all! In February, AsiaLIFE did a Q&A piece with me and I’ve now been invited back to write a monthly tech column. I am so excited about getting to geek out with AsiaLIFE on a regular basis!

With tech being ever-present in our lives, everyone can always use a good dose of tech-iness. With this column, I’ll be covering a wide range of tech topics.

Everything from news in technology, EdTech, tech tips, tech events, tech in Vietnam, tech life hacks - basically if there’s something interesting happening in tech, we’ll talk about it. Topics will be relevant to the continuous changes and advances in today’s tech-driven world.

There will be something for everyone, from the tech-enthusiasts to the not-sotechy, giving people a better understanding of technology and how we can make our tech work for us, as opposed to us working frustratedly on our tech.

As the owner of a tech shop, I am constantly asked questions about current ongoings in the tech world. Recently, more and more inquiries have been coming in regarding wireless charging, so I thought I’d start this column with a breakdown of wireless charging technology.

The Basics Of Wireless Charging Also known as inductive charging, wireless charging was initially demonstrated in the 19th century, when electricity-guru Nikola Tesla established that electricity can be transmitted through the air by creating a magnetic field between two electrical circuits. The concept was further developed and placed into practical application by Michael Faraday (credited in ‘Faraday’s Law’) in the 1830’s.

Basically, in most of today’s wireless chargers, a copper coil is used to create an oscillating magnetic field, known as the transmitter. When an electrical charge is added to the transmitter, a magnetic 62 AsiaLIFE HCMC

flux passes the current through the air, transmitting it to a readily accepting receiver antenna, in which an electric current is induced in another coil to power or charge a battery. This is known as resonant inductive charging or magnetic resonance.

The strength of the magnetic field generated by the coil determines how far and how much energy travels wirelessly.

The bigger the coil, the further the distance and more power is transferred.

In most wireless chargers in the market, the coils are only a few centimeters in diameter which limits the proximity of power transfer.

What Devices Support Wireless Charging?

Wireless charging continues to become more and more prominent. Most notably, we see wireless charging in toothbrushes, smart watches, phones, tablets and even some laptops.

Certain furniture companies, such as Ikea, have begun to embed wireless charging transmitters in their furniture, Starbucks are looking to have built-in wireless chargers into their countertops, London Heathrow and Philadelphia international airports have wireless charging stations and over 80 car models (Audi, Toyota, Chevrolet, Kia, Hyundai, BMW) offer Qi-based charging in their cabins.

Will Wireless Charging Eventually Take Over?

Although Samsung did it two years earlier than Apple, Apple adoption of wireless charging in their new flagship phones in 2017 has driven the popularity of wireless chargers and the market has grown astoundingly.

The debate on whether or not to charge wirelessly has since been discussed in length. This is what we found:

Pros

1) Enhanced durability. It reduces wear and tear on your device as it eliminates the need to continuously plug a cable in and out. This means less strain on your ports, dock connectors and cables. Wireless charging also lessens the risk of electrical shorts caused by frequent plugging and unplugging.

2) Convenience. This is arguably the biggest advantage to wireless charging.

Plop it on a pad and voila, off you go.

3) Aesthetics. Let’s face it - pesky cables are an eyesore.

4) Multiple devices charged simultaneously. The bigger the pad, the more devices you can charge at the same time!

Cons

1) Slower charging.

2) Excess heat. Heat is a lithium-ion battery’s kryptonite. Exposing the battery to higher temperatures speeds up the degradation of a battery.

3) Price point. Wireless chargers typically cost more than cables.

4) Immobility. In order for a device to charge wirelessly, it has to stay on the wireless charger, which makes it a bit harder to use the device properly as movement is restricted.

So what’s the verdict? Is wireless charging changing the game? This looks to be the case. In comparing wireless charging and cable charging, we find advantages and disadvantage in both.

However, it’s only a matter of time until advances in technology continue to create better batteries and wireless chargers to deal with the current nuances of inductive charging. In our world, convenience and practicality in the application of technology tends to determine its success.

In this case, this will eventually be the reason of the uptake of wireless charging technology.

SHERLOCK GNOMES When Gnomeo and Juliet first arrive in the city with their friends and family, their biggest concern is getting their new garden ready for spring. However, they soon discover that someone is kidnapping garden gnomes across London.

When Gnomeo and Juliet return home to find everyone in their garden is missing there’s only one gnome to call, Sherlock Gnomes. The mystery leads to a rollicking adventure.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR The latest Marvel outing sees Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet – the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six infinity stones, Thanos plans to use the artefacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment.

BLOCKERS This comedy follows high school seniors, Julie, Kayla and Sam, who make a pact to lose their virginity on prom night.

Lisa, Mitchell and Hunter are three super-overprotective parents who flip out when they find out about their daughters’ plans. They soon join forces for a wild and chaotic quest to stop the girls from sealing the deal – no matter what the cost. A laugh-a-minute movie.

7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE In July 1976, four terrorists hijack an Air France flight from Tel-Aviv to Paris and force the flight crew to land in Entebbe, Uganda. There, the Jewish passengers are held hostage with their safety contingent on the release of dozens of terrorists jailed in Israel, Germany and Sweden.

After considerable debate, the Israeli government employs the Israeli Defense Forces, to execute a daring rescue.

64 AsiaLIFE HCMC

phobia pho•bi•a (fō’bē-ə) n. A persistent, abnormal, or irrational fear of a specific thing.

T

he Year of the Rooster was good to me. I had my perfectly happy and healthy new girl, nothing tops that. Of course, sleepless nights make this beautiful truth a little fuzzy but still, I am truly grateful.

All the mythology that accompany Tet and the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac made me wonder if there is any mythology regarding geckos, and I started reading.

Almost universally, geckos are a good omen and a sign of good luck especially in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, they think that the number of gecko barks can predict the future; also the more a gecko barks, especially at night, the luckier the homeowner. It’s also believed that geckos can guide searches for objects of heritage in the woods! In Japan, it is believed that geckos are an incarnation of the imperial dragon and they are included in most religious rituals.

In China, dried skins of geckos are used to treat ailments such as diabetes, asthma, cancer and skin diseases. They consider geckos a pillar of future medicinal breakthroughs and appreciate their existence in their houses.

Not everybody is infatuated by geckos.

In Portugal, geckos are associated with uncleanliness and skin disease. In SubSaharan Africa tribes, if a gecko moves in, a house must be abandoned and burned

down. In Nigeria, geckos are the sign of bad luck. In Egypt, geckos are believed to cause leprosy, even their name is a derivative of the name of the disease.

I guess I know now that my phobia is rooted folklore!

I found nothing written on the web regarding the reason why Vietnamese people love geckos so much, but I heard stories. Narrated tales say that there were back in the days a prince and a princess fell in love. yet in a Shakespearean twist, they couldn’t be together as they came from rival families.

They were killed by grief, yet their souls were transformed into geckos, a male and female, roaming the world looking for each other while making the sound of a kiss “tsk-tsk”. Even this tragic romance didn’t make my heart beat for geckos. Sorry, but not sorry.

Like most of my Vietnamese friends, I went home for Tet. Just like a local, I celebrated the year of the dog with my family and friend ... in Cairo. It was good to be home for so many reasons which made the extra-long flight with a cranky baby worth it.

One of the advantages of being in Cairo, was being off guard for few days knowing that no geckos would pop up anywhere. I saw none. They are there, yet not as many or as diverse as the ones I

live with in Ho Chi Minh City.

Like all vacations, it was too short. We arrived back at Ho Chi Minh to stay at our newly-rented apartment. New year, new house, and a crisp fresh start with fewer geckos than at our old place, which had much more greenery.

Also, my therapist has helped me think more rationally about the real danger that a gecko presents. Or not. The bottom line was that I felt like I had things pretty much under control.

But on my third day back in Ho Chi Minh, I took up the air-conditioner remote control from its socket on the wall, and tiny gecko jumped out, landed on the dining table and disappeared in a split-second. My illusion of safety was shattered. I was scared and disappointed.

Many thoughts were running through my head as I fled the scene. Sure the small size of the gecko means it has parents nearby. It’s a whole family of geckos. It’s a colony!

The Nnxt day, my husband texted me from work: “I found the gecko and killed it”. That was the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

I do feel sad it was killed. I hate this vicious circle. Theoretically, we can coexist, but can we have separate lives?

Please? I am pretty sure this is the only humane solution.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 65

hancock in se asia

FIVE YEARS ON

T

his month marks the fifth anniversary of my arrival in Ho Chi Minh City after five years in Thailand and Cambodia. I came here almost by accident.

I was offered a couple of months work writing for a travel company and intended Vietnam to be simply a two-month working holiday.

I loved it as soon as I arrived and pretty quickly decided to make it home. I like Vietnam, a lot. I really like Saigon although it has seen incredible change since the day I arrived here.

At first I lived in Phu Nhuan and then District 1 before settling in District 2. Thao Dien has seen remarkable change since those early days.

Xuan Thuy has gone from being a simple cut through road to a very busy street, with new eateries seemingly opening up every few days. There is barely an unoccupied unit today.

The biggest difference, though, is the traffic. It has gone from being a motorbike paradise to an extremely gridlocked city at peak times.

Two new International school campuses opening last month have not helped. Whilst they are trying to encourage the children to walk or cycle to school there seems to be a huge reluctance to prise themselves out of

66 AsiaLIFE HCMC

their Chelsea tractors.

Ho Chi Minh City is though still a very green looking place. There are more parks and certainly more trees than in Bangkok.

Although some are being cut to make way for new roads or simply for safety reasons, plenty are being planted.

The highway into town, towards the tunnel, being a case in point.

Most of the new business that are opening in Thao Dien seem to be more Western than local, I do hope that enough of the old stuff sticks around.

I like the advantage of having Western diners and cafes but I do like the local shops and cafes as well. It’s a pretty good balance and I hope it remains like this.

The time has gone incredibly quickly, five years in the blink of an eye. I suppose that speaks volumes for my enjoyment of the place.

Owning a motorbike is a blessing and something that I never would have dreamed of doing in Thailand.

For all the chaos out here, traffic moves at a generally slow pace and it is nowhere near as scary as it first appears.

Family members back in England think I’ve lost the plot.

The smog is a bit of a drag to be honest, I have had a cough for about six months and I just cannot seem to shake

it. However the advantage of living here is that golden beaches and gorgeous countryside are never far away.

I’m off to Thailand for a short break soon.

I’ll be swapping my daily cafe/offices for the beach. Ho Chi Minh City is a terrific hub from which to explore all that Southeast Asia has got to offer.

I’m still enjoying my time here, here’s to the next five years.

Following a successful 25-year career as a singer/ songwriter/musician, Keith pulled out of the rat race and moved to Southeast Asia in 2008. First living in Thailand, then Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City since 2013. www.inseasia.com

MAKE A SMALL DIFFERENCE

C

hild poverty in Vietnam is still a real concern for many. Step outside the rapidly developing urban areas and rural life is full of challenges, often in areas that are difficult to access. Basic infrastructure is all too often non-existent, and what many of us take for granted, healthcare, education, clean drinking water and protection are needs that some struggle to meet.

Make A Small Difference (MASD) was founded three years ago by Ann Maasbol, a Danish citizen currently based in Vietnam. The goal of Ann and her family was simple â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to raise money where every penny goes directly to support the specially selected charity groups and programmes they work with.

Every year the board decides on which

groups to support, ensuring the funds are used to benefit as wide a range of causes as possible. One of the first groups that MASD supported was Little Rose Warm Shelter in Ho Chi Minh City, a centre that provides a much-needed safe space for vulnerable young girls.

Working to ensure that the girls remain in the education system for as long as possible, Ann and her colleagues have provided essential funding for scholarships, buying supplies and other relevant items for the girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studies.

Ann explained that more recently, MASD has worked on a project in Tra Vinh with a remarkable Vietnamese woman named Ms Thien who runs a shelter for impoverished local children. Although not orphans, many

of the children come from families struggling daily to make ends meet.

Ms Thien provides the children with a day shelter, regular meals, and protection from those who might seek to exploit them. Ann and the team from MASD make monthly visits to the shelter to provide food, first aid and other essentials.

The shelter currently lacks running water and electricity and uses collected rain water for cooking and drinking. To help ensure the children receive a healthy, nutritional diet, MASD will be rebuilding their kitchen and installing a water filter with funds raised from a recent tennis tournament they hosted. Money raised from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events has been used to build a new roof for the shelter.

The weekly cost for each child staying with Ms Thien is just VND30,000 but even this is too much for many the local families.

Undaunted and funding much of the work herself, Ms Thien collects and sells coconuts at the local market. MASD now considers this one of the ongoing projects they will support and are raising funds to provide a better future for the children in her care.

MASD raises funds through events, donations and products that they sell. A recent partnership with Hanoi based initiative, Not Just Bamboo, has seen them launch a bamboo water bottle, offering a great alternative to single use plastic bottles.

Priced at just USD$39, these attractive, eco-friendly water bottles are helping provide disadvantaged children in the Mekong with the hope of a brighter future. Contact MASD via their website for further info or visit them at the MASD Bazaar on May 19 from 2 to 6pm in BP Compound at the Club House in Thao Dien. www.make-a-small-difference.com.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 67

In SaiGong Pub Quiz Advertising Publication / Sách Chuyên Quảng Cáo

Responsible for Publishing & Contents: TRẦN CHÍ ĐẠT - Director & Editor in Chief

Editor: Bùi Thị Nga Designed by: ASIALIFE ADVERTISING LIMITED COMPANY Cover & content by: Asialife Advertising Limited Company Information and Communications Publishing House 6th Floor 115 Tran Duy Hung - Cau Giay - Ha Noi Printed 2000 copies, size 20,5cm x 27cm, at ITAXA Company

Address: 126 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3 Publishing permit No: 55 - 2018/CXBIPH/15 - 02/TTTT Publication decision No: 29/QĐ - NXB TTTT dated on 01st Mar, 2018.

Copy right deposit in 2018.

18. Which Australian soap opera did Ed Sheeran appear in?

19. Which movie did Ed Sheeran appear as himself in?

20. Ed Sheeran was the most streamed Spotify artist of 2017. How many streams did he receive?

21. Which Ex Manchester United player recently signed to play for Ho Chi Minh City?

22. What is the name of Vietnams ASEAN basketball league team?

23. Who scored Vietnam Under-23s goal in the AFC U23 Final?

24. The song There’s Only One Bui Tien Dung doesn’t apply to the Vietnamese goalkeeper – why?

25. In which sport did Vietnam win its first ever Olympic medal?

26. Which country has won the most World Cups?

27. Why did India (allegedly) withdraw from the 1950 World Cup? 28. How many countries are eligible to qualify for the World Cup ?

29. Which country has made the most World Cup finals without winning one?

30. How many countries have competed in at least one World Cup final?

Brought to you by: In SaiGong Rooftop Bar 27 – 29 Huynh Thuc Khang St , District 1 68 AsiaLIFE HCMC

AsiaLIFE Advertising Limited 2 Street 11, Thao Dien Ward, District 2 For advertising and marketing enquiries please contact: +84 163 5077 530 or adsales@asialifehcmc.com 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

1

8

4 1

8

4

8 9

7

5

1 4

3

2

7

2

5

4

6

1

5

4

6

3

8

5

7

9

9

8

6

6

1. The Lev 2. 6 3. USD 4. The Zloty 5. 8 6. Mongolia 7. Maldives 8. Timor Lest 9. Myanmar 10. North Korea 11. Nghe An 12. Danang 13. Bao Dai 14. China, Laos, Cambodia 15. Tien Quan Ca (Song of Advancing Soldiers) 16. True 17. Little Things 18. Home and Away 19.

Bridget Jones Baby 20. 6.3 Billion 21. Rodrigo Possebon 22. Saigon Heat 23. Nguyen Quang Hai 24. The U23 team has 3 Bui Tien Dung’s 25. Taekwondo 26. Brazil 27. FIFA wouldn’t let them play in bare feet 28. 210 29. The Netherlands 30. 79.

1. What is the official currency of Bulgaria?

2. How many countries use the Central African franc as their official currency?

3. If you are in Ecuador what currency would you be using?

4. What is the official currency of Poland?

5. How many countries use the East Carribean dollar as their official currency ?

6. Ulaanbaatar is the capital of which Asian country?

7. Male is the capital of which Asian country?

8. Dili is the capital of which Asian nation?

9. Naypyidaw is the capital of which Asian nation?

10. Pyongyang is the capital of which Asian nation?

11. What is the name of the largest province in Vietnam?

12. What is Vietnams third largest city?

13. Who was the last monarch of Vietnam?

14. Which countries border Vietnam?

15. What is the name of the Vietnamese national anthem?

16. True of false: Ed Sheeran co-wrote Love Yourself for Justin Bieber?

17. Which One Direction song did Ed Sheeran co-write?

Code: KK13 Hm18.

ISBN: 978-604-80-2913-5

NOT FOR SALE