AsiaLIFE Vietnam November 2016

AsiaLIFE Media Vol. 104

HALONG HUB one-stop party shop Dependable progress

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS PUBLISHING HOUSE

25. JUL. 2011.

CAMBODIA // THAILAND // VIETNAM

NOVEMBER 2016

VOLUME 104

AsiaLIFE Media Vol. 104

| NOVEMBER 2016

This month's cover Photography: Vinh Dao

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INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS PUBLISHING HOUSE

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

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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 Elijah Ferrian elijah@asialifemagazine.com

Art Director

Deputy Editor

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

Peter Cornish peter.cornish@asialifemagazine.com

Commercial Director Nguyen Kim Hanh kimhanh@asialifehcmc.com

Contributors Tran Huynh Cam Tu Monica Majors

Production Manager

Vinh Dao photoeditor@asialifemagazine.com

Hoa Nguyen nguyenhoa@asialifehcmc.com

FRONT

FOOD & DRINK

EVENTS ............................................................... 06 TOP 5 AL FRESCO DINING ........................... 10 Q &A Family Medical Emer gency Doctor . . ................ 14 BUSINESS VIEW.................................................. 16 DAY IN THE LIFE................................................ 18 TRENDING.......................................................... 19

FOOD NEWS

C OV E R STO RY

Vietnamese vegetar ian fare.............................. 44

EM OI!

Romano pizzer ia cafe. . ....................................... 45

High Expectations & Misunder standings........ 20

F E AT U R E S HALONG HUB

New tr avel site . . .................................................. 26

Savour ing the tastier side of Saigon life........ 40

LOCAL EATS

Bun Cha................................................................ 41

WHISKEY & WARES

Quality Bui Vien newcomer.............................. 42

WINDY CITY DINER

Chicago-themed comfor t food........................ 43

PI VEGETARIAN BISTRO OLIVER’S PIZZA

STYLE & DESIGN REEVE’S FURNITURE

Reeves Design..................................................... 46

UMBRELLA

ONE-STOP PARTY SHOP

Tur n To Nature.................................................... 48

SAIGON STORYTELLING THROUGH COCKTAIL Richie Fawcett’s new book............................... 3 0 DEPENDABLE PROGRESS A company empower ing women..................... 32

COLUMNS

Par ty supplies store............................................ 2 8

T R AV E L IN SEARCH OF ORGANIC

Explor ing or ganics in Vietnam. . ........................ 36

AMSTERDAM

Beyond The Coffee Shop.................................. 38 4 AsiaLIFE HCMC

IMBIBE ............................................................................. 56 FITNESS .......................................................................... 58 EDUCATION HUB .................................................... 62 PERSONAL FINANCE ............................................. 64 PEOPLE MATTER ....................................................... 66 ARTS AND CRAFTS JOURNAL .......................... 68 APP CHAT .................................................................... 72 SUB-TOPICAL HEAT ................................................ 76 COMMUNITY FOCUS ............................................ 77 PUB QUIZ ..................................................................... 78

Admission Open for School Year 2016 - 2017 PreK - Grade 12

HIGH SCHOOL

FREE shuttle buses from all city districts to Nha Be Campus, from August 2016

AmericanInternationalSchoolvietnam

www.ais.edu.vn

info@ais.edu.vn

3-5 NOV 9am - 5pm

Vietnam Summit 2016 @ Intercontinental Asiana Saigon Entry: Register

Indian Light Festival @GEM Centre Entry: TBD Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, will take place at GEM Centre in Ho Chi Minh City. The event, one of India’s largest festivals, will be jointly held by the Indian Embassy in Vietnam, and the Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam (INCHAM) with the aim of bettering the Vietnamese people and foreign friends’ understanding of India and its culture. All the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to charity.

5 NOV

11am - 2pm

The Vietnam Summit 2016 will bring together leading voices from government, business and finance, civil society and academia for a forthright discussion about the opportunities and challenges facing Vietnam. The list of imminent guest speakers include Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam, as the keynote speaker and Mr.Le Hong Minh, chief executive officer of VNG Corporation.

Cult ft. Maxim Xerox @Last Call Entry: Free

Hip Hop Night @Blanchy’s Tash Entry: Free

8 NOV

8pm - 10pm

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Every Tuesday night at Blanchy’s Tash, DJ headliner Ken C will be on hand for exclusive sets of Hip Hop. Catching him grinning ear to ear as the crowd suddenly notice the strange place his selection has taken them.

Supported by DJ Bee. Don’t miss on their weekly premium offer: selected bottles of high-quality spirits are just 1,000,000 VND all night long.

No doubt about it every Thursday should not to be missed.

Two of Saigon’s finest underground DJs will be at Last Call spining electric Electro hits and mega mash ups to get your body grooving all night long.

10 NOV

10pm - 3am

Tel: (84.8.) 5431 8050

University

Destinations

Class of 2016 Adam Chiang

Jaslyn Wang

Physics with Philosophy

Business Management

University of Manchester, UK

Singapore Management University

Alessandra Zavagno

Mathangi Kumar

French and Drama

Medicine

University of Kent, UK

University College Cork, Ireland

Amy Lieu

Thanh Nhan Nguyen Tran Engineering

University of Sydney, Australia

Imperial College London, UK

Bao Vi Dao

Nhina Inagaki

Business and Economics

Hospitality

UCLA, USA

Vatel University, Vietnam

Bum Jin Joo Hanyang University, Korea

Chirag Kamdar

Tuan Phong Le

Bachelor of Commerce

Business Management

University of Sydney, Australia

RMIT, Vietnam

David Belmonte

Phuc Phan Bachelor of Commerce

Ateneo de Manila, Phillipines

University of Melbourne, Australia

Do Khoi Le Nguyen

Sarah Ngo

Economics

Bachelor of Design

Fordham University, USA

RMIT, Vietnam

Gwang Hyeon Kwon

Tuan Vy Truong

Biochemical Engineering

Biomedical Science

In Kan Fung

Vincent Yu Liberal Arts

Lancaster University, UK

Janet Ngo John Molson School of Business, Canada

Muhlenberg College, USA

The ABCIS is recognised by the UK Department for Education as an Outstanding British School Overseas. www.theabcis.com

10 NOV 9pm

BarCamp Saigon 2016 @ RMIT University Entry: Free Vietnam’s biggest annual open space unconference covering topics from technology to entrepreneurship to social media and anything the participants want to hear about.

13 NOV 8am - 5pm

Ladies and Gentleman - DJ Kyto from Paris @Sorae Entry: Free All the ladies & gentlemen in town, put your party shoes on! You don’t have to wait until the weekend to go out and chill. Mark every Thursday to get loose, get pampered and enjoy the list of Sorae’s amazing drinks: for every drink the man orders, his lady gets a free one. From 9PM, DJ Kyto from Paris will bring carefullyselected quality deep and future house tracks.

Exhibition: ‘Flat Sunlight’ by Lena Bui @The Factory Entry: Free ‘Flat Sunlight’ is an exhibition that attempts to change our perception and relationship to the natural world we intrinsically rely and belong. Danang-based artist Lena Bui emerges in the language of art as a poetic medium. Having consistently worked with scientists since 2011, between Vietnam and Nepal, her art attempts to visually chart human behavior and perception as it traverses the tension between traditional and industrialized means of survival.

15 NOV

10am - 7pm

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Groove Riders @Broma Entry: Free

18 NOV

8pm - 11pm

DJ Yujin (RU) & G Nomad (FR), members of the Danang-based Groove Riders collective, are bringing their exclusive remixes and lively mashups to Broma. Come enjoy the city’s stunning view and groove along to the duo’s epic debut in Saigon.

Don’t miss their epic debut in Saigon’s music scene.

19 NOV

10am - 3pm

Sneaker Fest Saigon @51b Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Entry: VND180,000 The best Sneaker celebration in all of Ho Chi Minh City. They will be featuring all the top purveyors of the finest shoes from all over Saigon. The Collectors, Saigon Sneaker Store, KQ Customs, and more. There will be a drawing for prizes and vouchers for deals given at the door.

23 NOV

ISHCMC Festive Bazaar @International School Ho Chi Minh City Entry: Free ISHCMC is hosting their first annual Festive Bazaar, a fun-filled day with activities for children, Santa’s Grotto photo opportunity, festive food from D2 restaurants, live entertainment and, of course, holiday shopping. This is a free event that will be open to the public and they expect a high turnout.

8am - 9pm

30 NOV

Black Friday Sale 2016 @55b Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Entry: Free

9pm

The Box Market in collaboration with Saigon Station is throwing an art fair and huge Black Friday Sale.

There will be food and a lot of fashion focussed events happening. Over two-hundred artists, designers and fashion booths for you to explore. Carefully selected, handmade items and home decor all on sale for the entire weekend.

25 - 27 NOV 11am to 7pm

The Lost Art @Broma Entry: Free ‘The Lost Art’ is a 4-piece band built of one Vietnamese bass player, two English guitar blokes, and one American drummer. The band has been consistently playing in the Saigon live music circle for five years. ‘The Sans Dans’ are a Vietnamese/US/UK trio bringing a melting pot of classic Rock and Roll, 60’s and 70’s chart-toppers and west-coast funk and jazz to the proceedings.

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Everyone loves to eat outside. It’s a definite part of the culture here in Vietnam, and people all over the world share the passion for enjoying home cooked meals in the great outdoors with friends and family. Vietnam obviously has plenty of rain, but there are many ways around that, and here we highlight some of the best places in town to enjoy the sunlight, share some plates, and talk over drinks. By Elijah Ferrian.

PATIO - THAO DIEN Sleek architecture and a quiet, tucked away vibe make this the perfect place to dine outside and enjoy some drinks with friends. The clientele is always well dressed and relaxed, and the staff attentive and accommodating. Patio sports a full bar, coffee, and a wide selection of wine from all over the world.

Patio just opened a month ago. They feature Mediterranean food, and all their meat and fish is done on their open air barbeque. They don’t offer the same type of food as other places in Thao Dien, and they’re the only completely outdoor garden restaurant in the area. Thatched roof awnings protect from sudden showers. The menu is awesome, and filled with barbeque options that can’t be matched really anywhere else in Thao Dien. The owner wants to provide an escape for people in this bustling metropolis. Frog’s legs, chicken liver salad, slow simmered New Zealand lamb shank, and a virtual smorgasbord of grilled meats on their open-air barbeque are just a little slice of what this place has to offer. At night it really shines. Fun oldies emanate out over the white linen table cloths. Patio really helps to set a vibe that feels like the perfect mix of an elegant eatery set in a laid back environment. It’s sure to become a favorite for anyone looking to dine al fresco.

52 Ngo Quang Huy, Thao Dien

QUAN UT UT BACONTAINER This location on Truong Sa is bigger, completely open air and more relaxed than the flagship location in Binh Thanh. There are never any lines to get in and gorge yourself on perfectly done American barbeque.

Quan Ut Ut sports a ton of beer choices: 14 taps and a good number of bottles can keep any beer nerd happy. The space is huge and designed with large, repurposed shipping containers. The best feature is the awesome walk-up bar that straddles the street. It’s an amazing place to have a drink and just watch the neighbourhood run around next to the river. The main portion of the restaurant has perfect string lighting during the evenings, and retractable rain covers for when the downpours attempt to drown your sorrows for you It’s a two-floor monster of barbeque and beer. The giant, custom built smoker is the centerpiece, and it creates the finest aromas to draw on a working appetite. This has got to be one of the best places in town to plop down at a picnic table with friends and enjoy a warm Saigon evening, or afternoon.

60 Truong Sa Street, Binh Thanh

THE REFINERY This beautiful, historic bistro and wine bar is set at the site of Saigon’s oldest opium manufacturing space. It’s a unique blend of local decoration and custom made furniture, with a Parisian bistro style that really helps guests to do a little time traveling.

Tucked away in a secluded courtyard, The Refinery hosts one of the most gorgeous patios and al fresco dining experiences in Ho Chi Minh City.

The location is phenomenal, and the restaurant itself was doing European bistro cuisine since before it caught on in popularity. Their outdoor dining area allows one to sit in the heart of the city without being caught up in the intensity of it. They boast a diverse menu with an extensive wine list, including 17 Old and New World wines by the glass. Set lunches are available on weekdays and brunch is served from 11am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Brunch at The Refinery is very popular – the complimentary chocolate fountain and the kids’ corner with its dedicated babysitter is a welcome plus for Saturday and Sunday morning parents – and reservations are highly recommended.

74 Hai Ba Trung, D1

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BARBEQUE GARDEN

BUNKER BED BREAKFAST BAR This is hands-down one of the best places to get an American diner-style breakfast. This place is small, but full of life and energy. Tucked into an up-and-coming neighbourhood that’s just as easily accessible from District 2 as District 1, this is the spot to get pancakes and bacon with breeze flowing through your dehydrated, hungover body.

Inspired by Los Angeles and its unique, neighborhood specific eateries, Bunker Bed Breakfast Bar teleports guests to Southern California with a fun food menu focussed on diner favourites. It’s located in the super chilled out Da Kao neighbourhood that seems to be sprouting new, interesting businesses and restaurants every week. Bunker is the only place in the city I have been where there are people playing Chinese chess, 90’s golden era hip hop floating out of the kitchen, and fried breakfast burritos being devoured with bonafide rooster sauce. It’s located down a sleek alley and underneath a retractable awning. The staff here are really awesome and open to teaching you how to play chess, or just shoot the breeze with them. There isn’t a ton of seating, in true diner fashion, so if you’re worried, call ahead for larger parties. There is a lemon cold press on the menu that is dangerous.

Now if we were to take the first two selections for this Top 5, add more Vietnamese style, and throw it in one of the most bustling areas of Saigon, we would have Barbeque Garden.

This place is like a quan nestled in a garden, and it’s perfect for someone visiting to have a uniquely Vietnamese al fresco experience.

Located in Ben Nghe right off of Le Thanh Ton street, Barbeque Garden possesses some beautiful real estate. The entire restaurant is a lush, greenery-laden food wonderland that really sets a tone for eating outside. There’s a definite feeling when you eat here that you are out in the countryside, away from the honking and fumes, and just sitting around a table with friends new and old, enjoying life and food in true Vietnamese fashion. You can grill at your table together, and keep the beers rolling in while adoring the strings of lights and plant life surrounding you. They offer barbeque recipes from around the world, and a retractable roof for the inevitable rain. If you’ve got kids, they have a sweet kids corner that can keep everyone happy and enjoying the break from the bustle.

135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ben Nghe

79/2/1 Phan Ke Binh, Da Kao

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Q&A

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Peter Cornish goes back and forth with an emergency doctor from Family Medical Practice Saigon.

Photo by Vinh Dao. Doctor Thinh has recently returned from America, where he undertook an extensive emergency medical response training programme designed for 911 first-responders. We caught up with him at Family Medical Practice, where he is one of the doctors accompanying ambulances on their emergency calls, to ask his opinion about Vietnam’s emergency services.

Tell us about FMP’s 24-hour emergency and evacuation service.

FMP has recently imported state-of-theart ambulances, which are on standby 24 hours a day to respond to emergency situations. This is not a new service but one we’ve recently upgraded to bring in line with emergency services throughout the world.

As well as new ambulances, a critical difference in the service we now provide is the use of ProQA, which is the premier emergency response software used by 911 throughout America and in emergency centers in virtually every OECD nation, worldwide. With this system, we can now start giving medical advice to a patient or instruct a bystander in how to provide treatment within the first one or two minutes, a significant improvement.

When a call is placed to our team, the ProQA software helps our emergency crew to understand the situation and manage the patient’s emergency before an ambulance even arrives, if one is necessary.

When a *9999 call comes in, what are the procedures?

Previously, emergency victims had to wait for ambulances to arrive at the scene before they could be assessed by the doctor on board. In many cases, people opted to make their own way to their preferred medical facility in private transportation, such as by taxi. This process took time, and there was no immediate medical response available.

With our new system, the response can be immediate. Using the ProQA software, fully-trained emergency medical dispatch operators are able to provide prompt, life-saving medical advice following internationally-proven guidelines. From the second a call to *9999 is answered, the Q&A protocols kick into action, providing the fastest response to any given emergency.

Once an ambulance is dispatched and en route to the emergency, constant communication and updates are being transmitted to the ambulance crew so they can provide essential treatment once they arrive. After pick-up, the patient’s condition

will be transmitted from the ambulance to the medical center in ‘real time’ via 3G from anywhere in Vietnam.

Who rides in the ambulance - a doctor, nurse or paramedic?

Vietnam is unlike many countries as doctors ride in ambulances, as well as a support nurse and driver. In most other countries, doctors are replaced by paramedics trained to deal with emergency situations.

I Would Like To See Vietnam Recognise The Value Of Paramedics In Emergency Situations And Establish A Training School To Meet The Current Need.

What are their roles in the emergency response process?

Nurses in Vietnam are considered as assistants to the doctor and not decision makers. They are unable to provide extensive treatment, and that is why doctors ride with ambulances in Vietnam.

At present, Vietnamese law requires the presence of a doctor in ambulances to treat victims. This can be a problem – Vietnam has a shortage of doctors compared to some neighboring countries, with about 7.8 doctors per 10,000 people. Other countries have as many as 20 doctors for that population size. Having doctors out on ambulance calls is quite inefficient.

What is the difference in roles and responsibilities between a doctor and a paramedic?

Paramedics are trained specifically to respond in emergency situations and are good in this environment. A doctor is trained to cover many aspects of medical treatment, but often lacks the specialised skills and experience needed for emergency first response.

Do paramedics exist in Vietnam?

No, Vietnam does not recognize the training and skills required for paramedics and does not include them as part of their medical service providers.

Is having a doctor in ambulances a waste of resources?

Yes, certainly. In order to respond to an emergency, doctors are frequently pulled

away from patients they are treating, and from where their specialized skills are in constant demand. When we also consider the amount of training doctors go through, it is clearly a waste of resources for them to accompany ambulances in comparison to paramedics.

What are the implications of this?

The well-being of patients at hospitals or clinics is potentially put at risk as a result of doctors being called away on emergencies.

Appointments are frequently cancelled, which disrupts treatments and can create more work for support staff. If ambulances were staffed by paramedics, it would speed up processes and create greater efficiency and patient care.

In addition to the use of ProQA, what can be done to improve emergency response units in Vietnam?

I would like to see Vietnam recognise the value of paramedics in emergency situations and establish a training school to meet the current need. In the meantime, paramedics recruited from outside Vietnam would have an immediate and obvious impact on the country’s population. The first barrier we face is a job description for paramedics, as the Ministry of Health does not currently recognise the role. We need changes in the law to recognise that doctors are not needed in ambulances and that well-trained paramedics are more than sufficient. This will save the health system considerable money as well as providing a more efficient service.

Is there anything you would like to add?

People sometimes complain about the number of questions asked by our Emergency Medical Dispatchers. I would like people to understand that every piece of information provided is recorded into the ProQA system to help the calltaker and ambulance crew to manage the emergency, prepare the correct equipment, and be ready before reaching the scene of the emergency.

This is essential to the well-being of the victim. If you call, be calm, answer the questions, and if you don’t know the correct answer to a question, just say that you don’t know.

I should also encourage people to subscribe to the service if they want for themselves and their family members to be protected for ambulance and emergency response under the ProQA system. The number for registration is 093 277 6971, and the fee is VND575,000/person/year. It’s very important if you want to have access to that immediate medical response if something happens without warning.

For more information about EMR *9999, see www.star9999.vn.

Read More AsiaLIFE HCMC 15

B USINESS VIEW

Sales of State beer companies

VIETNAM’S favourite beverage is definitely beer. The fermented beverage is Vietnam’s drink of choice and the government is now planning on drawing on the nation’s penchant for ales and lagers to raise billions of dollars by selling stakes in stateowned brewers.

The unprecedented divestments in two state crown jewels, the makers of the much-glugged Saigon and Hanoi beers, are expected to net as much as US$2.2 billion.

The sale comes as part of longpromised reforms to privatise bloated state firms, which official figures show

contributed about one third of the country’s GDP last year. It is hoped the reforms will set the communist country back on track to meet its ambitious economic targets and jumpstart growth which has slowed this year.

For Vietnam’s government, beer is a logical place to start. With a population of 93 million people, the country is one of Asia’s leading swillers of beer.

Vietnamese consumed more than three billion litres of the cold stuff last year, according to Euromonitor marketing firm.

That thirst has piqued interest from foreign brewers, eager to tap growth

markets at a time when sales in many developed markets in Asia are forecast to plateau.

The government said this month the two companies, Habeco and Sabeco, would be listed in the first three months of 2017 and would be open to local or foreign bidders.

For the Vietnamese who crowd into the open-air bia hoi markets during lunch, dinner and for some, in between, privatisation promises to keep the good times rolling -- as long as the buyouts don’t mess with flavour.

Vietnam to be global processor of seafood ACCORDING to General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Truong Dinh Hoe, while many world leading seafood processors are shifting their factories from Europe and China to Vietnam, domestic businesses have increased imports of raw materials for processing for export.

Vietnam has spent nearly 800 million USD importing aquatic materials, mainly shrimp, tuna, cuttlefish, for processing and re-exporting, he said, stressing this shows that the country plays increasingly vital role in the global seafood supply chain.

Vietnam’s seafood enterprises have constantly improved their production capacity by investing in modern technologies, thus increasing the proportion of products with high added value to 50 percent of the total production, with nearly 1,000 kinds.

A number of new products like instant food and pharmaceutical and cosmetic products made of aquatic materials have 16 AsiaLIFE HCMC

met the demand of the market.

Thanks to the adoption of new technologies, Vietnam has recorded strong growth of seafood export in both value and volume in recent years. Its products have been shipped to 150 countries and territories worldwide, with key markets being the US, the European Union, Japan, China and the Republic of Korea.

Not only processing traditional aquatic products such as shrimp and tra fish, many enterprises have invested in processing new ones, such as Alaskan fish for export to high-end markets. Vietnam is expected to ship about 60,000 tonnes of Alaska fish by 2018.

The country earned 5 billion USD from selling seafood abroad in the last three quarters, a year-on-year increase of 6.1 percent.

Under a strategy to restructure the aquatic sector to 2020, Vietnam will reduce facilities turning out semiprocessed products, while encouraging

the application of modern technologies to improve product quality.

The strategy also aims to increase the proportion of instant and high added value products to between 60-70 percent, towards meeting demands of various markets.

NEWS

IN BRIEF New Commodity Exchanges

New greenhouse gas mitigation pledge to come

VIETNAM will successfully implement commitments in greenhouse gas emission reduction and climate change mitigation.

As a country severely affected by climate change, Vietnam has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GGE) by 8 per cent a year by 2030 and mitigate the effects of climate change. The meeting provided support for stakeholders to prepare and implement climate change mitigation policies, including carbonpricing instruments, in order to scale up greenhouse gas mitigation.

The Paris Agreement on climate change, which will come into effect in November this year, is an important milestone ahead of the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) in Morocco.

From now until 2020, Vietnam will

continue to implement the mitigation of GGEs in the action plan to respond to climate change and promote green growth. The country will also research policies to formulate a domestic carbon market and apply carbon-pricing instruments to suitable sectors in pilot.

New modelling analysis undertaken for the State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2016 report shows that increased international carbon trading could enable large-scale emission reductions at a much lower cost than at present, based on the carbon mitigation goals spelled out in countries’ national climate plans under the Paris Agreement - the Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs. By the middle of the century, an international market has the potential to reduce global mitigation costs by more than 50 per cent.

The Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG), the Vietnam National Coffee Corporation (Vinacafe), the Vietnam Commodity Exchange (VNX) and Straits Financial from Singapore have recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the cooperation to operate commodity trading floors in Vietnam. Under the MOU, VNX will be mainly responsible for creating the regulations for the operation of the rubber & coffee trading floor, expected to become operational in November.

Top Companies $1.25 billion in 2015

The companies contributed 35.3% to the total revenue of the software and digital content sector and are employing more than 30,500 workers, equivalent to nearly one fifth of the sector’s workforce. The 50 companies include 20 in business process outsourcing, IT outsourcing and knowledge process outsourcing; 26 in software, IT solutions and services and four in digital content, mobile applications and solutions.

Vietnam U19 Qualify for Cup in 2017

Illegal ivory seized in major bust CUSTOMS in Ho Chi Minh City caught more than VND20 billion (US$892,857) worth of ivory hidden in two timber containers imported from Africa to the city’s Cat Lai International Port.

Officers of Cat Lat Port in Ho Chi Minh City checked two containers from Africa and found a large amount of illegally imported ivory and pangolin scales.

The ivory was covered in a special kind of glue and hidden inside the wooden trunks, according to customs officers.

With those trunks placed randomly among normal ones, the consignments managed to pass detection by scanners.

However, the seasoned customs officers cast suspicion on the shipment

and decided to check the containers manually.

After searching a quarter of one container they found 50 kg of ivory.

Officers estimated that there must be some 500kg of illegal ivory, whose market value is approximately VND20 billion, hidden in the two containers.

The consignee of the shipment is Ho Chi Minh City-based Dao Gia Co. Besides the ivory, officers also found numerous bags of pangolin scales concealed inside the wooden trunks.

Cat Lai port customs officers are currently working with other responsible agencies to further investigate all aspects of the case.

Vietnam U19 secured a ticket in the semi-finals of Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) U19 Championship, thereby qualifying for FIFA U20 World Cup 2017 for the first time in history.

The team beat Bahrain 1-0 in AFC quarterfinals in Manama City on Sunday. A crowd of 10,610 watched as the hosts took on the last remaining Southeast Asian teams on a warm evening at Bahrain National Stadium and won after a splendid goal from Tran Thanh in the 72nd minute.

Myanmar President to visit

President U Htin Kyaw and First Lady Daw Su Su Lwin are set to make an official state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang. According to a statement released by the President’s Office, U Htin Kyaw will attend a number of meetings with regional partners while in Vietnam. This will mark the first time that U Htin Kyaw has visited Vietnam since assuming office in April.

According to official data, Vietnam has invested US$693 million in Myanmar, making it the 10thlargest foreign direct investor.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 17

D AY IN THE LIFE

Mobile Applications Startup Ton Tam & Pham Gabriel

By Elijah Ferrian. Photo by Vinh Dao.

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E

verybody has a startup it seems. For Ton Tam and Pham Gabriel, they never quite imagined that they would be heading a mobile applications development company. The duo behind APPS Cyclone is always busy, always improving and always working.

Ton grew up wanting to be a master chef, and Pham grew up wanting to be a pianist.

They were both encouraged by their fathers to pursue information technology, and that’s the field they find themselves in today. However, they both maintain a healthy love of cooking, and they both tap on keys, only they’re plastic and attached to a laptop instead of a piano.

They have developed the groceries ordering application honestbee, the kid managment tool for parents StrayHat and are currently working on a new application GoodJob that is a digital yellow pages for sharing trusted contacts among friends and colleagues.

Ton Tam, mobile team manager, oversees the development of applications and games, specifically managing all the processes and training within the mobile department.

Pham Gabriel, operations manager and mobile developer, is in charge of product development, but also works directly with all clients and oversees the big picture. He’s the one researching and studying all of the stuff nobody imagined that they would have to know before starting their own business.

Both Ton and Pham wake up early in the morning and check their emails, because clients from Australia and the US are just finishing up their work day when APPS Cyclone is waking up.

The globalisation of the tech economy is creating more and more opportunity for working with clients from around the world.

Great for business, yet funny that with this boom comes a sneaky, seemingly twenty-four hour workday.

“I like to joke,” Pham says. “I tell people that I am the CSO. ‘Chief Servant Officer’.”

Pham has a Skype call with his partner in Kuala Lumpur every morning at 8am. They never miss this meeting, as it’s integral to developing a disciplined, structured narrative about the high commitment that they have for the process of developing products.

“We had a problem with resourcing in Kuala Lumpur, Pham explains, “So, we’re here in Vietnam. We are impressed with the speed of growth in the IT sector here. Even though we are Vietnamese, we are still impressed by the growth.”

Once the two have answered emails, and planned the strategy for the day, they head on over to their office in Tan Binh district to begin the workday. Ton starts his workday with the staff daily meeting for all of the projects. They operate a ‘scrum’ development process, which is a subset of an agile software development framework.

Basically, scrum is a malleable product development strategy that allows a development team to work as a cohesive unit. It enables teams to self-organise by encouraging physical co-location, or close online collaboration, of all team members, as well as daily face-to-face communication among all team members and disciplines involved.

Scrum adopts an evidence-based empirical

approach, and the inclusion of all departments and parties involved in a project allows for quick adaptation to unforeseen challenges, and proper reaction to constantly changing markets and technology.

“Everyone starts off by doing their specific tasks,” Ton says. “We have a checking tool for managing all the processes. Each project has a project manager who will input the tasks into the checking tool, and then as each task is completed it aggregates into the system.

This is useful for many reasons, but mostly because if we have a similar project in the future, now we have a trail of history. It allows for more comprehensive and comparative advantages.”

If you aren’t involved in coding, or otherwise developing tech, think of a Trello board, the widely used application that allows visual streamlining of tasks, but much more complex and detailed. Pham begins his morning in the office by checking all of the timelines for each project.

“I’m in charge of the money, so the customer is always asking about what’s happening,” Pham says. “I check any new proposals. We get a lot of new proposals.

I get streams of e-mails telling me about a new idea someone wants to develop, and asking for a quote and timeline. If the inquiry is lacking information I have to ignore it, or reply requesting more information.”

“We are very excited with new technology, and the capabilities of our staff are high, but occasionally some customers want to do 3D games [which are very expensive], or develop projects out of our specialty. Our reputation is always on the line. We don’t have a sales or marketing staff. We are all by word of mouth, and if we can’t deliver, that hurts us.”

After fielding questions, daily conflicts and issues, and usually stopping for a quick lunch, Pham and Ton really like to focus on keeping their staff operating at a high level.

They accomplish this by having a phenomenal training regimen.

“Because I’m a mobile manager, the most difficult thing to deal with is turnover,” Ton explains. “People leaving is always an issue.

In six months I’ve had half of my staff leave.

Mobile development is very hot today, and because of this it’s like a revolving door. People leave people come in. Our strategy is and always has been: we will recruit the internship for training, train them extremely well, and if they stay, it is meant to be.”

Pham explains how they really give their trainees usable skills whether they stay with APPS Cyclone, or not. A lot of IT graduates come out of school with a lot of theory, but not a lot of practical, applicable skills.

The training programme they receive while interning for APPS Cyclone provides them with invaluable hands-on experience. They’re not just sitting around making coffee for the management.

Both Ton and Pham usually leave the office around 4pm. They both go to pick up their daughters, arrive home to feed them, let them play with their toys, and then continue working, although now it is time to handle business with the West.

At night before bed, they review the results for the whole day, and plan their strategy for the next morning.

Prince William Visiting Vietnam The British prince is coming to Vietnam to help to protect wildlife, and spread his message across Southeast Asia. His scheduled trip follows Princess Kate’s solo trip to Holland, where she campaigned about mental health awareness.

William will embark on his own solo tour to Hanoi on November 16 and 17 to attend the third International Wildlife Trade Conference and meet with locals. Clamping down on the demand for ivory and rhino horn by appealing to populations in Asia to stop buying the wildlife parts, is the goal.

Cruising on Vietnam’s Red River

For those people that want to explore different parts of Northern Vietnam, look no further than the Red River. Most foreigners and travelers usually just head up to the North for Hanoi and Halong Bay, and forget, or just aren’t aware that there are awesome trips to be taken on the river and its tributaries. Sailing deep into the Red River and then down the little known Da River is an expedition that many are unaware of, and should think about taking.

Fish Sauce Safe for Health The Vietnam Food Administration under the Ministry of Health yesterday announced that the arsenic content of the 247 samples of traditional and industrial fish sauce taken from producers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the south-central provinces is within the safe range ruled by the Ministry. All fish sauces on the market are safe for human consumption. Competent ministries should make official announcements on the quality of fish sauce to allay public concerns and fish sauce associations’ outrage.

Vietnam has a rising star

Southeast Asia may have a new football star, and he is from Vietnam. A super-talented midfielder from Vietnam is set to rival the likes of Safiq Rahim and Chanathip Songkrasin.

One area where Southeast Asia is blessed is midfield.

There is Safiq Rahim in Malaysia, Singapore’s Hariss Harun, Chanathip Songkrasin in Thailand. There could soon be a new name to add to that mix: Luong Xuan Truong of Vietnam. The 21 year-old was the man of the match in the impressive 5-2 win over North Korea earlier this month.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 19

Elijah Ferrian explores the apparent stereotype that Vietnam hosts bad service, and speaks with foreigners and locals to attempt to understand the root cause, and potential solutions in a nation growing quickly, with lofty expectations.

Photos by Vinh Dao.

P

eople love to complain all over the world. We complain about the weather, our jobs, significant others, and anything that happens to be grating on our wellbeing. One complaint in Ho Chi Minh City that seems to come up in expat conversation, and especially so online, is the apparent poor state of hospitality in Vietnam.

I come from a hospitality background.

I spent over six years in the food and beverage industry in the United States.

I’ve worked at establishments that will remain buried deep in my personal shame corner of memory, all the way up to fine, superbly run restaurants accruing James Beard award wins (an American institution rewarding culinary excellence) and visits from President Obama himself. I’ve directly experienced and been a part of a service culture that defines itself by an attention to serious customer care.

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It seems to me, and many other folks involved in hospitality industries all over Saigon, that the droning complaints about lack of service here in Vietnam are generally unfounded, and usually predicated on misinformation, or a lack of cultural understanding.

Does Vietnam suffer from bad service?

Or are people from all over the world projecting their culture and expectations onto their waitresses, baristas, and hotel concierges?

The Facts of the Matter

Martijn Vermaire is co-owner of Cafe Restaurant Ho Chi Minh City. He has a degree from Maastricht in Holland in Hospitality and Hotel Management, and is invested just as much as anyone in experiencing and doing his best to provide high-level service in this city.

When I asked him why I continue to read and hear about the complaints of low-level service in Saigon, he had a lot to say.

“I think people like to focus on negatives because it’s easier than focussing on the good,” Vermaire says. “If you look around and compare Vietnam on a global scale, the world’s best hotel is in Hanoi, and of course that’s debatable, but If all those travellers seem to think so, then what does that tell you? Asia’s best resort is the Intercontinental in Danang. I worked there. Even if you’re just looking at hotels, Vietnam is really catching up. This country is a leader in Asia for service.”

He’s correct in his assessment. The Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort was named by the World Travel Awards as Asia’s leading luxury resort in 2016. They have won the award for three years in a row.

In TripAdvisor’s list of the “Top 25 Hotels

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Peruse the popular expat community groups on Facebook and review aggregates like Foodie, FourSquare, and TripAdvisor and you’ll find a lot of mudslinging.

22 AsiaLIFE HCMC

- World” category, the Hanoi La Siesta Hotel and Spa is listed at number four.

TripAdvisor is hands-down the most used service review site in Vietnam. The feedback received on respective business’ pages can make or break them. This is a pretty glowing statement from the aggregate site.

It’s not just hotels and resorts that are leading the charge in great service, either.

According to Vermaire: “If you’re here often, you notice a lot of things that travellers don’t get to see. With the right training the service can be the best here. Look at what Noir is doing. They have a phenomenal programme, training blind people for an exceptional service experience, and they are one of the top restaurants right now. Nobody can beat them. It’s impressive.”

Vermaire continues, “The guys who started Quan Ut Ut, and Biacraft - great service. Workshop has one of the best coffees in Asia. Go to Quan Bui, a Vietnamese owned brand, and he has some of the best service. He even manages to keep it homey.”

If everything is going so well for servicebased industries in Vietnam, then what exactly is the issue?

Complaints

Peruse the popular expat community groups on Facebook and review aggregates like Foodie, FourSquare, and TripAdvisor and you’ll find a lot of mudslinging.

There’s the guy complaining about being brought the wrong item from his server after clearly requesting the item on the English language menu. The Facebook trolls blaming everything about their bad day on “vinalogic”. Scathing reviews on Vietnammm about how inconvenienced someone was by a late delivery, seemingly ignorant at the convenience afforded to foreigners here having to literally never leave their apartment and have all goods delivered to them on the cheap. There are countless more examples that range from petty, to embarrassing.

These online groups and review sites quickly turn into negativity dens for people to slag off staff, prices, cultural differences, and general lack of expectations being met.

Are these all cases of people being overly critical and entitled? Or are there some truths to be dug out?

For most of the people I have discussed this issue with, it seems to be a lopsided portion of both. One thing is always brought up, however.

Language and assimilation to Vietnamese culture.

Richie Fawcett is the bar manager of Shri Restaurant and Lounge, and he has been working hands-on with Vietnamese staff in hospitality for the past five years.

“At the end of the day, the Vietnamese are naturally hospitable people,” Richie says. “With the natural hospitality comes the warm welcome. When it comes down to particularly language lost in translation, there’s the preconception on the side of the foreigner, going to an ‘international establishment’, that one’s cultural expectations should be as high as if you were in your own country. When mistakes are made we are quick to fault the operator, or the people they hired.”

Is that the right way to go about it?

Should we be taking into account more how we foreigners generally don’t know more than a few helpful phrases in Vietnamese?

That when you bellow out “em oi!” at the older gentleman serving up noodle soup on the sidewalk that other Vietnamese people are cringing, wishing that you knew enough of their culture to be able to address him with the appropriate “chu”, depending on the circumstances? Believe you me, there are so many circumstantial factors affecting the right or wrong way to handle oneself within Vietnamese customs and language it can be confusing.

But is that an adequate excuse?

Everyone has their opinion, but a lot of the conflicts concerning the concept of receiving poor service in Vietnam compared to other countries seems to be frequently based in cultural differences, and a lack of understanding.

Locals Weighing In

Globalisation is changing everything rapidly. The Saigon of old is barely recognisable from just a few years ago amongst the breakneck speed of development. This isn’t only measured in cranes and bulldozers toiling away day in and out, but also in the exposure the local population now has to cultures from all over the world.

Luu Hy Thanh, or by his western name “Jerry”, is a restaurant manager at Stoker on Mac Thi Buoi. He has a phenomenal way with guests, and seems to deal with every travelling culture imaginable. He’s familiar with the hang-ups that are front-and-center when doing service work in Saigon.

“I’ve been working hospitality for seven years. I know all of the tricky situations,

At the end of the day, the Vietnamese are naturally hospitable people.

- Richie Fawcett, manager of Shri Restaurant and Lounge.

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We love Western style, and we love learning about the way an American, or Australian wants the staff to make their favorite cocktail. It’s exciting, but people have to remember that we have our culture too.

- Luu Hy Thanh “Jerry”, restaurant manager at Stoker.

and I don’t want to make a problem for guests. My job is to help people enjoy their experience.”

Thanh continues. “In Saigon, just like New York, London, many people are coming over here. We are a young city. Only around 50 years old, and this new stage we are in is even younger. We love Western style, and we love learning about the way an American, or Australian wants the staff to make their favorite cocktail. It’s exciting, but people have to remember that we have our culture too.”

Many local Vietnamese feel that they are looked down upon by travellers and expats, especially when working in service jobs. Not only is there the stigma that comes with being defined as a wait staff in a busy restaurant, but this is exacerbated when a language barrier is keeping two parties in a semi-state of confusion when trying to communicate. This causes stress on both sides. Often this stress gets taken out on the closest person with any accountability.

For some reason, because of this barrier, it seems that people think it’s okay to deal with difficult situations in a manner in which they probably wouldn’t in their home nation, where equal footing in language and cultural sensitivity usually leads to respectful conflict resolution.

With thousands of young Vietnamese studying and traveling abroad, and the internet in the palm of most everyone’s hand, cultural differences are not what they once were.

For Nam Tran, brand ambassador for The Macallan whisky, the language and cultural barriers have always been the primary source of contention when it comes to hospitality.

“I worked for Hyatt for three years,” Nam says. “Based on my experience, I have 24 AsiaLIFE HCMC

traveled to many other countries, and in Saigon you get a better welcome than most anywhere. We offer very good service, smiling, warm eyes. I think that many foreigners [tend to] get away with asking more than what is standard in their own country. Whenever you come to Vietnam you can compare the price point, and most of the time service here exceeds the price point. We are just as good at hospitality, and serve the same product at a cheaper price.”

Richie Fawcett bolsters this idea: “People need to eat. The servers are eating to live.

The foodies are living to eat. The gulf between the workers and the clientele here is so huge.

When you’re at the Park Hyatt eating steak, you’re probably getting served by a kid from the countryside providing money for his whole family back home. You have to think of this aspect.”

The entitlement us Westerners tend to have often shrouds us in our own little bubble of ignorance, and in the worst cases, arrogance. There aren’t many other places other than Saigon where there’s such a contrast between the center of the city, and just 20 kilometers away from it. The countryside comes in with droves of young hopefuls looking to make a better life for themselves, but the urban culture never really escapes the city’s limits.

“More often than not guests are caught misbehaving, not the staff,” Fawcett says.

“They start to think that they can behave however they want. Sure, staff can be caught staring at their phones or talking when they shouldn’t be, but they’re usually young and learning the ins and outs of what good service looks like to a Westerner. We are a guest in their country, and with the privilege that many of us come from in our home nations, what is our excuse for our

bad behaviour?”

What is the solution to expecting the finest service from a young working class, but expecting to mostly, if not only, interact in an English linguistic arena? Perhaps a study up on local customs and language is in order.

Small Steps to Big Solutions

Perhaps hospitality, and the expectation of a high level of service, is but a microcosm running within a much larger thread weaving through today’s globalised society.

Two friends I met at Thu Vien library, Tran Thao, a freelance writer, and Le Dung, a freelance YouTuber producing content on his culturally-focussed channel Saigon Jam, are two locals that have a no-brainer solution to these conflicts.

“Tell people where you come from,” Dung and Tran say together. “Then we have the opportunity, based on our experiences with people from around the world, to know exactly how to treat you based on your culture. If you can use some Vietnamese while communicating, that goes a long way. People respect that. You may be surprised how far a simple “xin chao” or “lam on” can get you with locals.”

The next time there’s a misunderstanding at your favourite restaurant, or you have a bad experience with your nightly delivery driver, try to put things into perspective, and speak your mind respectfully. Proper communication can usually solve any problem.

A bit of goofy pantomiming and broken English back-and-forth can be a much more valuable learning experience for both parties involved, rather than a passive aggressive rant on the internet. We’re all in this together, and we reap what we sow.

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Elijah Ferrian learns about the new Halong Bay travel site, and peers into what the future of booking travel may look like in Vietnam.

R

eaders may remember meeting DK Long back in July when we ran a piece about his digital marketing and web design company, Dagiac.

Well, now the young tech maven is back with a new project, Halong Hub, and he’s really excited about sharing it with the world.

Halong Hub, founded in June of 2016, is a different kind of online booking site, and it’s unique in that it focusses solely on cruise line travel in Halong Bay, the surrounding area, and sports a couple of features that are pretty cool for a travel site.

DK wasn’t always so keen on involving travel in his life, as he illustrates to me when we sit down to discuss the unveiling of his new website.

“One of the things that I love to do now is travel around my country,” DK says.

“In the past I was never really interested

26 AsiaLIFE HCMC

in traveling. I thought I didn’t have time, because I was working constantly. I really never got out to see everything Vietnam has to offer. I’m kind of embarrassed to say this, but I used to think that Sapa was in the central part of the country!”

A few things fell into place, and DK was introduced to a client from up in Hanoi that ended up becoming a business partner. With that connection came a professional reason to travel: he needed to develop websites and marketing campaigns centered around travel in Vietnam, yet, he’d never been outside of Saigon.

The ‘no-nonsense’ version of DK Long thought it beneficial for him to actually get out there to experience what Vietnam has to offer for travelers.

“I’m an IT guy,” DK laughs. “I’ve been working in computers and technology since I was a teenager. I’m self taught, and by the

time I started my own web development company, Dagiac, I had never really travelled. After the change over to more digital marketing work, I started exploring more of Vietnam, and became a cofounder of Halong Hub. Traveling just got me out there, meeting new friends, having great experiences, and I really started enjoying it.”

Long was receiving first hand experience in not only the beauty of his country, but in the process of traveling in Vietnam. Trying to look at taking a short trip to Dalat, or a relaxing cruise in Halong Bay from both eyes of a traveler from abroad, and a local trying to get away from the city.

“After getting experience of what it is like to travel in this country, both the positives and negatives, I decided I really wanted to be a part of building up the tourism industry in Vietnam,” DK says. “There is so much potential, and not just for foreigners,

but for all of us that call Vietnam home as well.”

While there were plenty of good times to be had exploring different regions of this great country, the bottom line is that all good has a negative counterpart.

“We started Halong Hub because there is so much to see, but it can be difficult to get the experience that you dream of.”

DK tells me while I peruse the website.

“Especially if you don’t speak the language, and don’t have any contacts in Vietnam.

People get overcharged, or the services they were promised end up not being exactly as advertised. We’re here to change all of that, and we’re starting with Halong Bay cruises.”

Basically, Halong Hub compiles the best cruise ship tours of Halong Bay, cuts out the middlemen that drive prices up, and keeps the consumer updated on price changes,

and special offers. They have dedicated customer support, and they plan on running sweepstakes and contests regularly. A handful of winners have already gotten a free cruise through Halong Hub’s contests.

They have developed an intuitive, easyto-use platform that guarantees users will get the best room offer as soon as humanly possible, at the most competitive price, because they work for guests directly.

They utilise ‘live room’ availability that’s updated daily, and with offices in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, you can call them or live chat through the website at any time.

“Nothing really exists that is as specific as Halong Hub,” Long says. “We’re unique because we are a local company that works with all of the cruise owners directly, because we have real relationships with them. I am friends with a lot of these people.”

-Wait. What’s this about free cruises?

“Orchid Cruise is the first 5-star cruise line that goes to Lan Ha Bay, which was previously off-limits to tourists”, DK says.

“The rooms have a private balcony, and we give away one Suite Balcony Room for two days and one night for two people.”

DK Long looks to expand this concept to other parts of Vietnam in the future, and he seems to think that this is the next step in the technological evolution of travel.

“There’s a lot of travel agencies here, but we’re creating a new kind of service online that is going to streamline exploration of Vietnam, and we’re proud of that.”

Check out halonghub.com and their facebook page: facebook.com/halonghub to stay connected on future updates and promotions.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 27

Everybody enjoys a good party. A new, onestop shop for all your party-throwing needs has opened its doors in D1, and Elijah Ferrian dresses up to get the stress down. Photo by Vinh Dao.

I

like to go into things with no expectations, not only are experiences more fun that way, but they tend to be more rewarding. When I walked into Charlie Page and My An Hoang’s new store on Tran Hung Dao, Party Inc., I was greeted warmly by the staff members immediately. I had no idea what exactly we were going to do, so I wandered around the shop checking out the wares.

As soon as you enter this store, it’s bright, colourful, and attempting to summon something from deep within. Fun. Silliness.

A relaxing theme of ‘get over yourself and goof off’. The first level sports everything from special occasion cards, homemade paper Vietnamese goods, party plasticware, cups and plates, whistles, candles, and everything you could imagine with a certain lovable kitten printed on it. The second level hosts a formidable selection of balloons and costumes.

Charlie arrives and tries to figure out what to do with the front display they have set up, nearing one of the busiest occasions for a party supplies store, Halloween.

“Vampires really say ‘Halloween’. Pirates kind of say ‘party’.” Page chuckles and shows me around the store.

“Party Inc. was established by friends who enjoy hosting parties and want to 28 AsiaLIFE HCMC

make party organizing easy and fun for everyone,” Page tells me while we eye costumes upstairs. “We source supplies not easily accessible in Vietnam to help create magical parties for children, elegant celebrations for special occasions, and cheerful office or home gatherings.”

I picked out my seashell bra, long black wavy wig, Cowboy hat, and a cool attitude.

Charlie flip flops between Jesus and Obi Wan Kenobi. He chooses wisely.

“We’ve been open a year and a half, but we moved to this new location, and it’s our biggest store yet.” Page says. “It’s not just your typical party stuff, either. We have some fun things for ladies to wear that would be fit for a ball.”

Charlie and his partner My An believe in ‘one-stop shopping’ to reduce the stress of traveling all over town looking for disposable tableware, bargaining on prices with different vendors, having to design and print your own banners, or not being able to find that something special for your party.

After many years of experiencing these difficulties, desperately dashing around Saigon for individual items, they decided to make available to fellow party hosts the latest themed tableware, decorations, games and costumes.

I was specifically impressed by the

enthusiasm the staff showed in helping folks have a good time in their store. There were a handful of customers milling about while we checked out the shop, and they were all cheerfully assisted individually by an employee. It’s almost as if each employee actually wants you to have a mini party while shopping for your party…

Their inventory is always growing, and Charlie guarantees that if they don’t carry what you need, they are more than willing to take some input and add whatever it is you’d like to their list of orders, so that you can grab it for your next party.

You can browse through their website, or come into the store yourself. They make planning and purchasing goods for your great party idea simple, and actually fun.

Party Inc. are a bright group of people with a good, healthy energy that really sets things off in the right direction as soon as you step into the shop.

Next time I’m feeling the stress of daily life in Saigon, I may just pop in to Party Inc. and escape reality with a ridiculous costume. I know that they’ll understand.

Party Inc. is open Tuesday - Saturday 9am to 8pm, and Sunday and Monday 10am to 6pm.

Check out their website at: partyinc.co. Address: 385 Tran Hung Dao, D1.

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Elijah Ferrian talks with Richie Fawcett about his new book Cocktail Art of Saigon, and gets a tour of the most storied streets and corners of Ho Chi Minh City from a comfy seat at the bar. Photos by Vinh Dao.

30 AsiaLIFE HCMC

I

f you have just arrived in Saigon, and have never been here before, you might as well head straight to Shri Restaurant and Lounge to grab a copy of Richie Fawcett’s new book. You’ll end up having one of the most creative history lessons you could possibly experience here.

His new book Cocktail Art of Saigon is a grand-tour of the city . No need for hopping on a motorbike, and best of all, you get to sip a drink for your troubles. Grab a seat on the rooftop and peer out over Ho Chi Minh City.

Fawcett’s work is a cocktail menu for Shri in the form of an illustrated book outlining the cultural history of Ho Chi Minh City.

If someone would have told me about this idea before I experienced it, I admit I would have been skeptical. Cocktail Art of Saigon speaks for itself, and it does so fabulously.

“So, what we’ve got is the areas of the city in cocktail bottle form, premixed with smallbatch-made, natural ingredients,” Fawcett says. “For instance, lychee and ginger forms the taste profile for Ben Thanh, because they sell these items around that area. It’s a lively drink, based on a shrub, a vinegar based, acidulated beverage commonly used in batched cocktails in lieu of fruit juice acids.”

The drinks come neatly packed in mini soda bottle form, and are presented in a metal carrying case with the book as the visual guide to their stories. The whole sixbottle-set is priced at VND320,000, and it’s just simply fun and engaging.

The six cocktails are based on the areas of Ba Son (peach and vanilla), Ben Thanh (lychee and ginger). Thao Cam Vien (cucumber and elderflower), Dinh Doc Lap, District 1 (almond and cherry), and the all-encompassing city of Saigon (smoked barbeque).

The drinks are well-balanced, and scale from fruity and easy drinking, to complex, vegetal, and hearty. Now, the cocktails are great and all, but the real star of the show is this book and the immense amount of effort and time cast into it.

“This book is basically five years in the making,” Fawcett beams. “I’ve always wanted to develop a concept that would be attractive to tourists. A launchpad for tourist experience. I was here a year before I started figuring out what to do with the drinks and such. This was a personal challenge to make a statement, and admittedly, kind of intense putting my art and my love of drink all into one neat little package.”

Richie’s drawings are fantastic. When he told me he really only started illustrating around five years ago, I couldn’t believe it. He has developed impeccably detailed renditions of some of the most iconic alcoves of Saigon, all wrapped up in a style that is very much his own.

There’s so much thought put into every detail. There’s a repeating illustration

throughout each cocktail page that shows what each drink is going to taste like. Little doodles and inside jokes for the wandering eye. Historic lessons and anecdotes peppered through every page.

Fawcett offers up each recipe for the cocktails, and the featured bottles are only the beginning. The entirety of the book is packed with 41 cocktails, paying homage to 41 years of peace after the war. Each drink is served like a story.

One of the aspects of the whole premise that really shows how cool this concept is, centers around how the historic and cultural lessons outlined by the menu offer the staff an opportunity to connect with their guests in a deeper sense.

Not only is it fun to be served a freshly shaken Nguyen Trai cocktail out of a fauxdesigner handbag with smoke billowing out of the top, but Vietnamese servers and bartenders are also able to share their nation’s proud history while doing their job.

“The future of cocktails is being identified with the people that drink them, and these days people are worldly, and they are asking for an emotion attached to a narrative for each drink,” Fawcett explains.

“I realised this quite a few years ago. To connect storytelling and narrative with this medium. Giving the staff a story of their own country.”

“Our staff can talk to the guest about the story of Vietnam. In many cases they are learning their history still as well.

The foreigners may not care, but the local Vietnamese find it so interesting. For them to get involved in their own culture is just a great effect of this whole process.”

Each time a drink is set down in front of me, I watch while the bartender glows and gets to explain not just what the drink is, but why it is being served nestled on the back of a turtle with a plastic sword rising high over the glass.

Cocktail Art of Saigon performs as combination art book, restaurant menu, and slice of Vietnamese history seamlessly. It’s honestly a phenomenal work, and Fawcett seems to have enough material from wandering the streets and alleys of Saigon, drawing what he sees, to publish two or three more of the works.

“We’re trying to do something more. It’s cocktail, people, and story development,” Fawcett says. “Bars and restaurants are the modern day campfire. Stories are told and dramas are played out under the glow of neon and candle.”

Cocktail Art of Saigon will be opened by Shri Restaurant and Lounge for VND500,000.

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Peter Cornish illuminates a new kind of company that takes an initiative to empower women, and provide high-end service with a heart. Photo by Vinh Dao.

F

ounded in 2012 by Gabriel Meranze Levitt and Nguyen Thao Dan, Dependable Progress (DP) was born from a desire to support women in the community who struggled to support themselves and their families. With a background in NGO work, Gabriel had already spent a number of years working with PACT in Hanoi to improve the lives of poor and marginalised in Vietnam.

Shortly after finishing his work with PACT, Gabriel’s partner, Dan, also made the decision to move to Ho Chi Minh City to start a social enterprise.

Unsure at first what route to take, they knew they wanted to create an initiative that empowered women and helped alleviate poverty. They reasoned the best way to achieve this was by providing skills that could be tied to work that is well paid.

After a brief consultation period with local NGOs, businesses and expats, they identified a gap in the market for high-end domestic services, and decided to start Dependable Progress.

Together they developed their first training programme with the help of REACH, a local NGO in Hanoi that focused on providing vocational training. REACH’s participation was invaluable as it provided a strong foundation for building up DP, pulling on years of valuable experience as they created their first training systems.

REACH also proved an essential part of funding for the first seven trainings.

Despite this support, the initial runs were challenging, and they went through tremendous learning curves. The traineegroup dynamic proved complicated, and the management and content of the training programmes needed further refinement.

After the second training, DP put in place a programme that would lead them to the success they possess today.

‘Training’ Done Differently

Dependable Progress starts each training cycle by consulting with a local NGO and additional social organisations in order to identify potential beneficiaries of the process, and for taking part in the training provided. Other sources of referral are also 32 AsiaLIFE HCMC

used to identify women aged between 18 and 34 who have not completed university, or vocational training and earn less than 2 million VND per month prior to joining Dependable Progress’ team.

Trainees often have complications in their lives that make formal employment difficult to sustain. After successfully completing an initial interview and home visit, trainees are accepted into the programme which lasts four to five weeks. During the trainings they acquire skills related to cleaning, child care, as well as soft skills taught by DP’s partner, WeLink. They teach English language skills, and cover the minutiae of Dependable Progress’ internal policies.

Women who complete the training with a minimum of 90% attendance and successfully pass three practice sessions are able to graduate and begin work with Dependable Progress collaborators. Since its founding, Dependable Progress has graduated approximately 90 women and maintained an 80% pass rate on all courses, although some graduate and then seek employment elsewhere with their new skills.

Dependable Progress differs from others who provide cleaning services, as they focus on skills that are missing or in need of improvement for each individual, and continue to work with them during and after the initial training to ensure continuous improvements. In addition to skill development, DP offers support to trainees in dealing with personal issues, such as abusive husbands and divorces.

Going A Bit Beyond

The story of Sang is typical. She came to Dependable Progress with a positive attitude, but no skills. She graduated successfully, and went on to build strong relationships with her collaborators. She recently went through a tough divorce from an abusive husband. After a visit to the hospital, Dependable Progress brought her to social workers from E&D, an international NGO that regularly refers beneficiaries to DP. They worked closely with local authorities to ensure Sang was able to retrieve her belongings from her ex-

husband’s house. They also assisted with the filing of her divorce documents, and acted to prevent her from further physical harm.

Dependable Progress also called on collaborators to donate household items and help Sang set up her new home independently. The custody battle for her child is ongoing, but at least now she is away from an abusive relationship and able to earn a predictably high monthly salary with DP’s ongoing support.

Dependable Progress has created stability in the lives of women who would otherwise be earning small salaries, and working long hours in potentially unsafe work conditions.

From the outset, their goal has been to create a system which would empower women and address issues of poverty by providing skills and a stable work environment.

By achieving this, DP has seen trainees funnel their new economic resources into assisting their children so that they are equipped for a life with better skills than their parents had. Trainees’ children invariably receive better schooling than was possible previously, and trainees are no longer dependent on abusive, or otherwise toxic relationships to provide the money needed for survival. Also, as many DP trainees have special needs children, the salaries these families can now count on every month are essential to empowering children who might otherwise not be able to study in a typical school.

Trainees have a high level of trust in this company, and know that through hard work they are able to earn high salaries and plan for their futures. Looking forward, DP has plans to expand operations and incorporate more trainees into managerial positions as the social enterprise continues to grow.

The first five years of Dependable Progress’ social initiative has not always been smooth sailing, but it has achieved a place in expats’ minds as an option that delivers on promises and is always accountable. They have managed to change the lives of disadvantaged women and their children all through an honest day’s work, and a genuine showing of care.

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34 AsiaLIFE HCMC

International School Ho Chi Minh City has been developing a mindfulness program for their students, staff, and parents for the past three years, Elijah Ferrian gets to the bottom of this progressive look at education. Photos by Vinh Dao.

M

indfulness is defined as a mental state achieved by focussing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) is teaching this practice to it’s students in order to empower them to really take charge of not only their education, but their future.

“The idea emerged from the research that was started in 2013 for the re-missioning of ISHCMC,” head of school, Adrian Watts says. “The idea was that mindfulness would be introduced and an become an integral part of the empowerment of students. It also emerged from [conducting] teacher surveys and committee work regarding improving the wellbeing of ISHCMC staff and students From the beginning, this was a whole school initiative that was designed to underpin the move towards becoming a Positive Education school.”

Positive education, or Pos Ed, is a model of education for both traditional skills and for happiness. The high prevalence worldwide of depression among young people, the small rise in life satisfaction, and the synergy between learning and positive emotion all argue that the skills for happiness should be taught in school.

Alicia McKeogh, resident Lower Primary music teacher and the Leader of the Mindfulness program at ISHCMC, has been absolutely ecstatic about the program since its inception.

“I am a music teacher, and this new position is my dream job,” Alicia says.

“I give as much as I can to develop mindfulness programs. The teachers were trained first, then the students and parents as well, to help to learn how to peer teach these concepts. It’s about positive education, a flow mentality and mindfulness. Pos Ed swirls around the spine of mindfulness, and the flow and passion of teachers and students is facilitating a lot of this. ISHCMC

is changing education from the inside out.

We are holding wellness and wellbeing in equal standing with academic achievement.

We’re developing complete people here, not just great students.”

The Positive Education programme invites students to take a unique survey that outlines a list of 24 personal character strengths. Traits like appreciation of beauty, honesty and humour. They recently held an afternoon where the secondary students designed a T-shirt listing their top five signature character strengths. Then they were tasked with finding another student with the same exact five character traits as their own. Students were surprised when they found it impossible to find another person that was exactly like them.

The idea behind this and other activities is that if a student is not aware of and using these strengths, then there’s something wrong. If students aren’t securing their most prized parts of their identity, and subsequently not being able to nourish them, then the struggles of education and life itself tend to magnify. Like someone with a strong penchant for creativity sitting in a stale office, never utilising this strength doing some drab job. The deck is stacked against your mental, emotional and physical health.

“All ISHCMC students do ten minutes [of mindfulness practice] every morning lead by either their advisory teacher, or a group of students called ‘masters of mindfulness’,” Watts says. “There are many different mindfulness activities that are pursued by the students ranging from meditation to mindful drawing. Students have also tried mindful eating and mindful walking.”

But, why mindfulness practice for students? And why now?

“We are facing a crisis with adolescent health statistics, so it would be egalitarian of me to wish the best for all students in HCMC,” Watts explains. “That means having other schools follow the example set by ISHCMC. Mindfulness can have an amazing effect upon student calmness.

By bringing students into the present and focusing on the right side of the brain, students can reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Having the skill to bring oneself into the present and stop worrying about the past, which you can’t change, and the future, which you don’t know, has to be a good skill to be taught and become proficient at using.”

When asked about a research component to the programme, and a way in which the school may be able to measure the net effect of mindfulness in schools to help other schools take on such a progressive undertaking, Watts explained that they’re working on it.

“We have not collected data on mindfulness because we don’t know what tools would be most effective. However, we will be working with the Institute for Positive Education to ensure that we can measure the difference that this makes to ISHCMC.” Not only are the students reaping the benefits of a more mindful way of life - they are bringing it home to their parents.

“Parents have been very supportive of the programme,” Watts claims. “Many students have introduced their parents to mindfulness as a skill that they could use.

Some students now meditate each day with their parents in the evening. Each day parents can attend a mindfulness class organized by Alicia, who with the help of some parents, facilitates a mini-mindfulness workshop each week. ISHCMC has run 8 week courses for parents to learn about mindfulness and introduce them to its practices. These have been very popular with the ISHCMC parents.”

Mindfulness programmes like the one currently being led at ISHCMC seem to be bringing in a new age of positive education for students, faculty, and parents alike.

When students are encouraged to explore themselves, as well as the academic pursuits great schools provide, there seems to be all the makings for a unique recipe of success.

Both in the classroom, and in daily life.

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36 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Dalat is known for producing Vietnam’s organic produce.

Monica Majors goes garden gallivanting to check it out.

B

ecoming certified organic is riddled with bureaucratic processes and requires dropping money along every step of the way, no matter what part of the world we’re talking about.

But in Vietnam, where certifications are viewed as more of a hassle than a stamp of confidence, are they really necessary? For my investigation, I made a trip to Dalat. On a spectacularly sunny spring afternoon there, I came upon what is known as “Plastic City”; an expanse of greenhouses as far as the eye can see, rivalling the agricultural behemoths of central California or the farmlands of Holland. Growing inside are millions of hectares of tomatoes, salad greens, artichokes, strawberries, flowers and tea and coffee.

It’s impressive, but there’s a looming haze over the entire region. It was a combination of the dust, heat and something else: pesticides.

The vapour-like substance seemed to ooze out of many of the greenhouses and I wanted to run into the green hills. So I did, and I soon found my way walking through Golden Garden Produce.

Family owned, Bob Allen and his wife Hue have run their five hectare farmland for about 23 years. They sell their organic and hydroponic produce to resorts and restaurants in Hanoi, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, Danang and Saigon.

You may be familiar with the taste of their cut, as they own Veggy’s supermarket in D1. They grow sustainably, buying their land from 20 families, now encircled by what seems to be another 20. It was an impressive set up, using bore wells for water and growing on raised or hydroponic beds. However, they are not certified organic. Is that important? Not normally, but in a land where consumers are wary of believing Vietnamese testament, it may be important to have that extra seal of approval.

Here in Vietnam there are four certifications available: two from the EU, EC 834/2007 and EC 889/2008; one from USA, National Organic Program (NOP); and Vietnam’s own PGS. The first two must be certified by a third

party agency, such as SGS, a world-leading inspection company, while the third is a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) certification committee. There is not, unfortunately, a centralised database of all of Vietnam’s certified organic farms.

With no shortage of access to domestic produce, you may ask why I go through all the trouble to find and buy certified organic?

Again, it’s not the necessity of a certification.

When eating local it is, however, a necessity to eat produce which you know was grown organically. Plenty of small farmers (such as K’Ho Coffee) are raising their crops as such without certification. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay also raises several hectares of fruits and vegetables for their guests using traditional companion planting and chilli oil spray to keep pests at bay.

As we (should) remember from remedial Biology, plants not only absorb water and toxins through their leaves, but also through their roots. So even if a farm claims not to use pesticides, it’s important they also use raised beds with imported soil or manure. Pediatrician Dr. Jonathan Halevy at Family Medical Practice cited a 2015 study in which “All [109 surveyed Vietnamese] children had high blood lead levels.

Heavy metals in the soil are of concern here. (By the way, the accepted level of lead in the system is basically zero.) We focus more on this because we can’t necessarily test for exposure to toxins. Bloodwork would only show accumulation, so we can’t associate that to pesticide poisoning,” Dr. Halevy continued.

What does this all mean? Consider spinach, which in some parts of the world, is grown to clear lead and other hazardous material from soil which must then be disposed of as hazardous waste. Here in Vietnam, it is one of the most cultivated greens. If you want to treat your body as the temple that it is, do yourself a favour and ensure you know how your produce is grown.

Better yet, buy a bag of organic coco peat and grow your own.

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I

Popular weekend and short break destination for hens, stags and stoners, Amsterdam is much more than a place to get wasted. By Mark Bibby Jackson.

38 AsiaLIFE HCMC

never used to get Amsterdam. Not being a smoker, I didn’t understand the draw of the city. Why not just roll a reefer in the comfort of your own home if all you want to do is get stoned for a weekend?

Then I ventured to the Dutch city myself to discover one of Europe’s most interesting and culturally diverse metropolises.

The first thing about Amsterdam is its size. A population of less than a million people makes it one of the smallest of Europe’s major cities. This means it’s easy to get around. You can join the thousands of locals riding their bikes around town, jump on one of the myriad of boats ploughing the canals, or simply walk.

Whichever you choose, the relatively vehicle-free roads are a pleasure to journey around; just remember to listen out for the sound of the bicycle bell and avoid the omnipresent bike lanes, unless you want to end up spread across someone’s handle bars.

I opted for the I, Amsterdam

city card, which you can purchase from within the airport or across from Central Station.

In addition to free transport on the Metro and trams, it gives you access to most of the city’s museums. Unfortunately the big three – Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum – are not included. It also includes a free trip along the canals. The great advantage of this is that you can pop into a museum to give it a go, and if it doesn’t appeal then you can walk out without worrying about whether you’ve got your money’s worth.

The Amsterdam Museum provides a great overview of the city’s development, while the Stedelijk Museum, next to the Van Gogh Museum has an interesting collection of contemporary art and design.

The outstanding piece was The Beanery by American artist Edward Kienholz, a replica bar created in 1965, which could conceivably have been the inspiration for the bar in the original Star Wars movie.

But Amsterdam on a sunny weekend in August is not a place to spend stuck inside a museum, nor a coffee shop for that matter. The city was awash with festivals from classical music to house parties, techno and folk – it was literally impossible to take everything in.

After dining at the Stilveren Spiegel restaurant set in an old building that dates back to 1614, I headed for the city’s streets. Opting against the Jordaan Festival, a celebration of Dutch folk music over three days, I hit the bars. Lellebel was a quaint drag show bar where the ageless performers crooned to a mixture of Latin and disco classics while intoxicated patrons drunk in the intimate atmosphere. Fun as it was, it could have been Bangkok as much as Amsterdam.

Entering Café Krom on Utrechtsestraat was like going back in time to an era before the hordes of weekend partygoers had descended upon the town.

The bar has changed little over the years, unfortunately something that can not be said of many others in the centre that are slowly being transformed into homogenised outlets. A jukebox with nothing more recent than the 70s eclectically entertained me for hours as Dylan morphed into Armstrong and the Stones, and I sat at the thick wooden counter smiling vacantly at the locals.

The following day I headed for VOLTT, a techno and house music festival a short ferry trip across the Ij from Central Station. Running for 18 years, the festival is very much an Amsterdam-based affair, with most of the audience coming either from the capital or elsewhere in Holland.

With around 20,000 punters crammed into a former industrial shipyard, the venue has the feel of a post-Apocalyptic industrial wasteland, but with five stages there is an intimacy that you don’t encounter on bigger sites – also there’s no threat of becoming swamped in Glastonbury mud.

Given the country’s traditional laissez-faire attitude towards narcotics, the friendly nature of the audience came as no surprise. This was a place where mood was more important than content, although with Ben Klock, Adam Beyer and Makam headlining, there was something here for both techno and house aficionados.

I soon discovered that the party never stops in Amsterdam’s long summer nights. Upon returning to my hotel the Volkshotel – the perfect place to meet fellow travellers – in the early hours the music I found DJs playing in the downstairs bar. Other revellers had taken to the rooftop to watch Amsterdam’s nightlife flicker on the horizon. Showing my age, I opted for bed.

The following day I decided to change the pace, and headed for the Museumplein, where the Uit Markt was taking place. This festival really acts as an open house for the city’s repertoire of music, art, theatre, dance, opera, literature and cabaret.

As my guide Ben Gosman of Free Style Events explained, “This is Culture with a capital C” as opposed to the lower case option of the previous day.

Taking place over three days, Uit Markt marks the official launch of the cultural season with 2,000 performers taking to almost 30 Amsterdam venues, entertaining 500,000 visitors throughout the weekend.

However, it also portends the end of the summer as Amsterdam’s festival goers start thinking of indoor ventures.

As I waited for the bus – not included on my city card – to take me back to the airport, I realised that Amsterdam really is whatever you wish it to be. And in this increasingly consumerdriven, sanitised world, that really is something that should be celebrated – perhaps with another festival.

For more information about festivals and events in Amsterdam, visit iamsterdam. com/en.

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FOOD NEWS Savouring the tastier side of Saigon life

BREWS FOR AUTUMN

Platinum Premium Beers has launched a new pair of ales to help expats commemorate that all but lost season of fall. The brewers were excited to collaborate on one of the brews with Phat Rooster Ales. The collaboration is a pumpkin spiced ale, to throw a nod at that Western favourite: good ‘ol pumpkin pie. The other beer is an autumnal ale utilising fresh imported hops from the US. A new delivery service in Thao Dien, Piggin’ Out, offers a really varied menu. Philly cheesesteak, a sweet Thai chilli chicken sandwich, an awesomely diverse selection of topped baked potatoes, salads, sides, and a kid’s menu to boot. They’re open from 4:00pm to 10:00pm, and only deliver to the Thao Dien area as of right now, but keep your eyes peeled for changes.

NEW EATERY COMING FOR DONG KHOI

Layla Eatery and Bar is an upcoming venue that is a collaboration between passionate food and cocktail lovers that were looking to create a place to enjoy being a foodie, and quaff a good tipple that is unlike anywhere else in Ho Chi Minh City. Layla will be going out of their way to source the finest seasonal ingredients from suppliers along with alcohol from all nooks and crannies across the world.

Ah, the beauty of egg-battered, thick slices of one of the finest savoury-sweet breakfast items in the history of the planet. French toast, otherwise known as eggy bread and poor knight’s pudding, has graced the breakfast table since the 4th or 5th century, the earliest known reference to French toast residing in the Apicius, a collection of Latin recipes from that period. Although, that early recipe mentions soaking bread in milk, but doesn’t mention egg, and gives the dish no special moniker, just aliter dulcia, or “another sweet dish”. The dish was widely known in medieval Europe, in a form more recognizable to what you may order from a diner, sans maple syrup.

French toast was often served with game birds and meats. The usual French name is pain perdu “lost bread”, as it is a way to reclaim stale or otherwise “lost” bread.

It may also be called pain doré “golden bread”. 28 November is a celebration of French Toast. Buy your breads. Grab your eggs. Celebrate breakfast with one of the classics.

They’ll be opening mid-November.

Housed on the second floor overlooking Dong Khoi in what used to be an apartment, it lies tucked away from all of the hustle and bustle of Saigon. It features a beautiful wooden contemporary garden courtyard. The 11-meter-long bar will be filled with fresh botanicals, hippest cocktail tools and accessories, and the artful shake from some of the top mixologists in Saigon. There will be comfy couches galore for after work relaxation drinks, and specialty booths for people to escape into their own personal world of enjoying the finer things in life.

They’ll be opening mid-November.

OH.. WAIT.. MORE BEER.

Latchkey kids of District 7, fear not! LAC Brewing’s District 7 tap room is nearing completion. It’s looking like it will shape up to be more of a tasting room than a full on bar, but who knows what will happen. If you’ve spent much time in D7, you will know that there seems to be somewhat of a “LAC” of places to try new brews out at. Stay tuned for their opening date announcement. They’ll be featuring Devil’s Lake, Summer IPA and four exciting new beers. facebook.com/lacbrewing.

Maison Marou

This place could not smell better. If you are looking to get some work done, be consumed in the aroma of fine cacao and coffee beans, and grab perhaps one of the finest desserts in all of Saigon, you have found your dream cafe. The design is impeccable. The coffee is done exquisitely, with a concise selection of drinks that allow the bean to be showcased. There’s a ton of outlets for getting work done on your laptop or tablet, and you can buy a bar of Marou chocolate on your way out.

Must try: Cafe mocha. They have created one of the most complex, savoury mochas we’ve had the pleasure of trying.

167 Calmette, District 1.

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LOCAL

EATS

BUN CHA

Kebab rice noodles

BY TRISTAN NGO

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

O

nce in awhile someone runs into me and asks how I come up with what to write for Local Eats every month. As a chef, I rarely cook for myself, and to be honest, I dine out quite a bit with family and friends. Trust me, it is nice to be on the receiving end. But to answer the question, I have nothing pre-arranged. Sometimes I have an occasional request, but the rest of the time I pretty much go with the flow.

One recent request was to review a local favorite from Hanoi.

My first reaction was: “Well, I’m in HCMC, so how am I going to do this?” After a brief moment of being brain dead, I realized just because I live in HCMC doesn’t mean I cannot write about dishes from other regions of Vietnam.

This month I have decided to write on one of my favorite Hanoian dishes called bun cha.

The first time I had bun cha was years ago in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. It was a very popular and busy place. Nothing fancy. It was amazing. Though I could not find it here in HCMC, perhaps that is why it never occurred to me to feature it in this column. If it’s good enough for Chef Anthony Bourdain and President Barack Obama, then it is good enough for me as well.

Bun cha originated from Hanoi and is a dish comprised of grilled pork, meatballs and white rice noodles. This very popular dish is served with sliced grilled fatty pork, pork meatballs, pickled papaya and or carrots, a side of various herbs and nuoc cham (fish sauce condiment). The herbs or rau thom are comprised of red perilla (tia to), Thai basil (hung que) and lettuce.

The nuoc cham is made of vinegar, sugar and fish sauce. The fatty

pork is similar to Galbi Korean marinated BBQ, grilled over charcoal and then served in the nuoc cham.

If you’re not familiar with how to eat bun cha, it is quite simple.

Add the rice noodles and herbs to the nuoc cham with the pork and enjoy. When I was in Hanoi some years back, bun cha was strictly a daytime food, but I am sure it has now changed and especially in HCMC these restaurants are open all day. For the die hard fan in HCMC, here are some notable places to get your bun cha fix:

1. Bun Cha Anh Hong

140B Ly Chinh Thang // District 3, HCMC // Open 6:30am to 8:30pm Anh Hong is a long-standing eatery, with a nice open space and long captain’s metal tables so you’ll likely share with other guests when it’s busy and delicious. A must try is their banh tom (deep fried shrimps and sweet potato fritter).

2. Bun Cha Ho Guom

135 Vo Van Tan // District 3, HCMC // Open 7am to 9pm Make sure to order their nem ran tom cua bien (crispy seafoods spring rolls) as an added side to the bun cha, it is amazing.

3. Bun Cha Ha Noi 26

8A/6D2 Thai Van Lung Street // District 1, HCMC // Open 6am to 8pm This place just happens to be in Japan Town alley (formerly known as the expat ghetto) across from Skewers Restaurant. Besides bun cha, their spring rolls and shrimp cakes are divine.

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8

CITY DRINKS

Whiskey and Wares 196 De Tham, D1 // 4:30pm to 1am Closed Mondays // 0163 279 4179

Elijah Ferrian finds solace in a fresh and bright bar concept that is bucking the trend in the frantic jungle that is Bui Vien.

Photos by Vinh Dao. If it’s in Bui Vien, smells like Bui Vien, it must be just another backpacker bar, right? Wrong.

Whiskey and Wares is like an alcohol and handcrafted goods oasis from the insanity that is the tourist-focussed areas of downtown Saigon.

Director Wan Winters and head bartender Derek Jay are the cofounders of this new whiskey and craft beer focussed watering hole wedged right on the periphery of the most popular drinking destinations with travelers and locals alike.

The pair met when Jay first moved to Ho Chi Minh City, and they’ve been close friends ever since.

The concept is partly based on the whole process every expat is familiar with after they have lived in Saigon for a while: showing visiting friends that are traveling Southeast Asia on a shoestring budget the ‘best’ and most exciting spots the city has to offer, yet having a place to go that they can enjoy after being exposed to some of the finer things on offer..

Arguably, most folks tire of the Bui Vien drinking scene after being here for an extended period of time, but you definitely have to drag your friends into the fray if they are keen on partying a bit.

Enter Whiskey and Wares. A rotating selection of craft brew, featuring Fuzzy Logic, Phat Rooster, Te Te, Pasteur Street Brewing, and a rotating keg of some of the newcomers to the scene: East West Brewing,

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Winking Seal, Heart of Darkness, among others.

Whiskey. A bunch of it. They pour Knob Creek bourbon for VND85,000. Yes, you read that correctly. Irish whiskey, bourbon, single malts, and a solid selection of cocktails are all available. Jay mixes up a fine off-menu old fashioned (all cocktails are VND140,000), manhattan, bloody mary and ginger-lemongrass julep.

The ‘wares’ portion of the name shows up in the handmade Vietnamese products that they feature on the wall as you walk in. Artisanal soap (VND140,000), T-shirts (VND240,000), foodie postcards (VND22,000), and nifty wooden and pipe-fitted lamps (from VND325,000).

Everything you can purchase in this bar, with the exception of the spirits, is made in Vietnam.

If they could source all of the spirits locally, they’d surely do so.

They set the tone of the space with a jazzy, downtempo hip hop playlist on the first level, and a ‘choose your own adventure’ musical set up on the couch-lounge upper level. The space is tight, but they can seat 50 in the entire joint, and there’s a little smoking patio upstairs.

Twenty-percent off cocktails and buy 2 get 1 beers on Sunday make this a good spot for teachers looking for an escape pod from the intensity that is the surrounding area. They plan on a comfy, compact bar food menu in the future.

WINDY CITY DINER 88 So 23, Tan Quy, D7 // 11am to 10pm, Everyday // 0122 319 1629

Elijah Ferrian hits up the newest project from Gabe Boyer nestled into a low-key alcove in District 7. Boyer brings much needed American comfort food to the area, with a focus on delivery. Photos by Vinh Dao.

From the man that brought Saigon the ‘worst burger’ in town comes an unexpected, but absolutely welcome Chicagothemed neighbourhood joint packed to the gills with meaty sandwiches, dogs, and all things Chi-Town.

“When I took my wife to Chicago she loved all the food here.” Boyer says. “My wife is native Saigonese, and we saw this property [in District 7] and thought that with the current delivery market booming that not only would foreigners definitely love it, but that Vietnamese locals would love it as well. We saw this space and it had a total patio vibe to it, a lot like Chicago. Restaurants in the midwest put a premium on patio service.”

The space was formerly Moto

Saigon bar. It was definitely a neighbourhood watering hole at the time, but now it is a fullservice diner style restaurant.

Its opening has been quiet, but Boyer has already had plenty of repeat business, and he really emphasised wanting it to be a place where folks that feel homesick for a nice chili dog, or Italian ice, can go to wrap themselves into a comfortable food-hug of familiarity.

Chicago-Style shaved Italian roast beef sandwich (VND150,000). Just order the “Italian beef”. This is the crown jewel of Windy City. Shaved Italian roast beef, house-made spicy giardiniera, sweet sautéed bell peppers, spicy Italian beef jus, served on French bread. For those that don’t know what the garnish of the gods, giardiniera,

is - pickled vegetables mixed with oil and spice. Think the Italian version of the pickled veggies on a banh mi.

A perfect Philly cheesesteak (VND175,000), a Chicago dog (VND100,000) packed with relish, onions, sport peppers, and no ketchup (as it should be, but you can always add it yourself). A slew of appetisers all hovering under VND100,000, and vegetarians, don’t be shy.

Windy City Diner has plenty of options for you. Grilled cheese on white or rye (VND100,000), mac and cheese fritters (VND85,000) and a handful of salads that can be made to order vegetarian.

Boyer features cocktails at VND100,000 and a spirits list, but focusses on providing draught craft beer at a killer

price: VND40,000 a glass. Fuzzy Logic, Phat Rooster, and others will continue to rotate their kegs in. Oh, and everyday from 4 to 7pm there’s all you can drink Tiger for VND120,000.

“This is the place to come when you have that hankering for ‘back home’ American food.” Boyer smiles. “This is the place to come to show people that aren’t from America what ‘comfort food’ is. We make our own corned beef. Our own condiments. Our own pickles.

Everything is made from scratch. Put off your flight for a month and hang out here. This is the hankering place. You want a Philly cheese steak? I’m your pusher man.”

Windy City Diner delivers on marketoi.com.

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PI VEGETARIAN BISTRO 1st Floor, 19 Vo Van Tan, District 3 // pivegetariansaigon.com 10am - 3pm, 5pm - 9.30pm, 7 days // 09 1641 4133

From the owners of Prem Bistro comes another healthy-yet-delicious dining experience, for vegetarians, vegans, and even carnivores like Simon Stanley. Photos by Vinh Dao.

As a lifelong meat-eater, vegetarian food, let alone veganism, was never on my radar until I made the move from the UK to Vietnam.

Avoiding meat sounded like a flavourless journey into persistent hunger. How wrong I was. Having dabbled in veganism recently for health reasons, I was immediately struck not only by how much better I felt, how much more energised and alert, but also how good Saigon’s vegetarian and vegan restaurants are.

One such establishment, Prem, the District 3 vegetarian/ vegan enclave, is now joined by Pi, opened in June of this year by the same owners. Offering a new concept and a new and spacious first-floor restaurant across the street from the War Remnants Museum, its semihidden location makes for a 44 AsiaLIFE HCMC

welcome retreat from the city.

Atop a hidden staircase (look for the Pasteur Street Brewery sign), find cosy booths, large communal tables, a breezy outdoor terrace strung with golden lights, and a warm and friendly vibe.

“I think a lot of our customers are non-vegetarian, but they just want something new, something different,” says Pi’s co-owner Thanh Bui. “I think it’s growing. Not in the way that more people are becoming vegetarian, but that people are becoming more open-minded to it.”

Pi dedicates itself to Vietnamese and Asian cuisine, with everything on the menu suitable for vegetarians, and what looks to be around 95 percent vegan-friendly too.

For starters, we try the fresh avocado with

honey lemongrass sauce (VND105,000). It’s an explosion of colour and freshness, perfectly ripe, with a sweetness that makes it almost as addictive as a bag of naughty naughty candy.

The pumpkin curry (VND100,000) takes its influences from India. Loaded with cubes of pumpkin within a rich flavoursome sauce, plus black beans, chickpeas, tofu and capsicum, it’s hearty, nourishing and a great demonstration of the quality of ingredients being used here, all of which come from safe and reputable sources.

The green mango salad (VND80,000) arrives next, heaped with a rainbow of carrots, red cabbage, mint leaves, lime leaves and mushroom tempura. The flavours are big and bold, the

dressing hitting all the right notes, and the mango just on that perfect razor-edge between sweet and sharp.

Then it’s Pi’s fried tofu with choo chee sauce (VND95,000), a vegan red curry masterpiece that even stubborn carnivores would be pushed to fault.

Finally we try the ‘Bowl of Pi’ (VND150,000) a shareable colour wheel salad of vegetables and chickpeas that’s far too pretty to eat, but eat you must.

Drinks are just as healthy, rolling from smoothies and cold-pressed juices (from VND55,000), to nourishing blends of fruits, vegetables, nuts and coconut water (all VND75,000). For just a hint of sin, alcohol is also available remember the Pasteur Street sign downstairs? The perfect balance.

OLIVER’S PIZZA 80/5 Mac Dinh Chi, Dakao, District 1 // 11am - 10pm, Monday - Saturday fb.com/oliverspizzasaigon // 09 3350 2638

Simon Stanley gets acquainted with a unique pizza recipe at this casual cafe-diner.

Photos by Vinh Dao.

We’ve got Chicago-style, we’ve got Neapolitan, we’ve got New York slices and we’ve got Dominoes, but Oliver’s Pizza, a compact eatery in a snug alleyway close to Dien Bien Phu, is pitching a whole new ball game when it comes to pizza in Saigon. For starters, the pies here aren’t even round.

Having originated in the Italian capital, Romana pizzas are typically rectangular in shape and consist of a medium-thick dough that has been matured for between 24 and 72 hours at temperatures just above freezing, giving it a hearty yet light and aerated finish, with richer, fuller flavours. Without getting too scientific, it’s also more digestible.

“Eighty percent of the success of this pizza is in the bread,” says founder Olivier Fichera, “the rest is in the quality of the toppings.”

And yes, his real name is Olivier.

“Oliver is easier for people to pronounce,” he adds.

Born in the South of France to Sicilian parents, Fichera opened his (almost) namesake restaurant in June 2016 having learnt the secrets of this time consuming dough recipe from an old pizza master. His approach was to create a space that was midway between a coffee shop and a restaurant, offering a quick turnaround for those who want to ‘grab and go’, and a cosy, comfortable environment for those who want to hang around.

And he has hit it just right.

Oliver’s semi-baked pizzas are sliced and lined up in a super-chilled cabinet ready to be heated to order in a matter of minutes. Romana dough, says Fichera, is particularly well suited to this approach: that one last blast of heat acting as

the final finishing touch in the flavour-building process. It’s a secret they’ve known in Italy for decades. “In Rome you have many small shops selling pizza like this by the slice,” he says.

A favourite with many of Oliver’s regulars is the Vantricina (VND50,000 per slice), topped with mozzarella, parsley, and a generous layer of spicy Italian salami. Pair that with a glass (or carafe) of carefully selected house red (VND60,000) and life doesn’t get much better.

As their slogan goes, these really are ‘slices of happiness’.

The crust, of course, is quite special. For the toppings, Fichera make sure that each is of the highest quality. Even the deceptively simple Margherita (VND40,000) soars above some of the more complex combinations being thrown together elsewhere.

The other styles on offer are nicely varied, from the tunatopped Del Mare (VND45,000), or the mushroom-packed Funghi (VND45,000), to the cured ham and rocket Coppa (VND55,000). For big groups, parties or corporate events, whole and half trays can also be purchased. The choice of made-to-order salads is a nice touch too, starting at VND30,000 and rising to VND110,000 for the decadent Romana, a traditional accompaniment that’s big enough to share between two.

In addition to red, white and rosé wines, there’s also beers and some seriously good Italian coffee, so whether you want a quick bite or a long, leisurely evening of grazing, Oliver’s should do the trick. Feeling lazy?

They even deliver. Just drop them a line on WhatsApp or visit Vietnammm or MarketOi. AsiaLIFE HCMC 45

Peter Cornish gets into furniture, adventurous design, and the ups and downs of starting your own business with British multi-talent, John Reeves. Photo by Vinh Dao.

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here’s something curious, yet reassuringly comfortable about the designs of John Reeves. They are as well placed in a modern penthouse as they are next to Granny’s coffee table.

Each piece with its own identity and voice, covering multi-layered generations of design and innovation.

Once known simply as the ‘24-year-old award winning British designer’, John Reeves was jettisoned into furniture design prominence at a young age. Graduating from Northumbria University with a degree in 3D design, he took his inspirational interpretations of furniture to exhibitions around Europe, where he received acclaim from the press, but struggled to turn his designs into a viable business proposition.

Early attempts at turning design concepts into saleable products met with frustrations.

Despite no shortage of interest in his work, to start manufacturing required a minimum order of 100 pieces. Undaunted, and with the remains of a student loan and a small inheritance, Reeves made a run of tables which caught the eyes of buyers at Habitat, Conran’s and Heal’s of London.

After initial success, a chance encounter with the PA of Julian Chichester was then to

shape Reeves’ future direction. Impressed by his creativity and drive, Chichester’s personal assistant encouraged Reeves to meet with the London based designer, known and respected for his classically inspired contemporary furniture.

Seizing the opportunity to showcase his talent, Reeves hoped to be offered some work experience in London but instead was presented with a job opportunity in Vietnam. Encouraged to explore his own creativity, and excited to learn new manufacturing and production techniques, Reeves accepted the job on the spot.

Based in Vietnam he continued to work on his own designs and captured the attention of Andrea Warden, who asked to include his work in Heal’s Discovery, a collection that promotes the innovative work of new designers. Heal’s Discovery changes annually, but Reeves’ designs remained a fixture for a number of years.

He was then asked to develop further collections for Heal’s and his furniture captured the zeitgeist of the publics’ mood.

Following Reeves’ success at Heal’s, his work was entered for 3 prestigious design awards. He won two, came runner up in the third, and his iconic ‘turned leg split simply

into quarters’ was placed in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London as recognition of the design’s importance. Inspired by a request from his Aunt to create a coffee table that sat comfortably with the traditional furniture of her eclectic house, the split leg remains symbolic of Reeves’ design identity.

Playing with the traditional and blending shades of contemporary design won him yet more acclaim and continued interest in his work. But there remained doubts about the production quality achievable in local factories in Vietnam. To solve this concern, Reeves stepped up to manage production driectly, strengthening his ties with local craftsmen, building relationships with manufacturers and developing new designs in-house.

Despite having little experience in international business, his designs proved increasingly popular and led to continued requests for innovative furniture produced exclusively for clients. As few designers were working with similar mediums, and having control over the design conversation from concept to delivery, his furniture moved from simple design statements to an established brand – Reeves Design.

Reeves’ approach to design flows from

aesthetics to product, putting the identity back in to contemporary furniture with an ever present eye on longevity over trend.

Whatever the process, from design, to factory floor, to end user, Reeves creates a story behind what is being done.

Each story he tells helps bring his furniture to life, triggering a sense of emotion he believes prioritises form over functionality. By adding a sense of soul or poetry to his furniture, he takes his creations beyond the simple use for which they are created. Designing with a nod to the past, whilst understanding the importance of creativity and innovation, he develops designs that are modern yet sit comfortably alongside traditional pieces.

Every design he produces goes through a process of value assessment – is this a design that buyers will purchase – and asks whether you can truly be responsible for a design unless you have played a role in every aspect of its production. Investing in the complete design process, from concept to production, allows him to act fast and understand the little decisions that can affect whether a design is ready for this season or next.

Reeves’ latest collection is an all-weather

range of outside furniture. Known as the Cast Collection, it melds aluminum with zinc plating to provide an organic, bare bone structure that keeps the memory of molten liquid in its finished form. Initially just comprised of a stool and chair, the collection now offers a complete range of iconic, instantly recognisable outdoor furniture.

By constantly re-investing in his business, Reeves constantly exposes himself to risk.

He has worked hard to build a viable micro community of local craftsmen, taking him from design, to workshop, to production, and surrounded himself with people who commit their lives to bringing his designs to life.

Through carefully considering every aspect of the design, materials and production process, and by understanding that the choices you make at the beginning influence every aspect of the finished product, Reeves has conquered the risk he faces and established himself as contemporary designer.

Remaining passionate and curious about everything he does, and doing it to the best of his ability, Reeves has shown the world that he is much more than the Brit who once won an award.

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The Turn to Nature collection, brought to you by Umbrella, uses traditional premium materials in addition to a young, open style.

Each product has been emphasised with hand-embroidered floral and wild animal designs to add to the signature mysterious look.

The collection has been tailored for all women of various ages.

Address: 35 Ly Tu Trong/ Saigon Centre/ Parkson Saigon Tourist/ Parkson Hung Vuong Shop online: www.umbrella-online.com Photos provided by Umbrella.

R

ETRO KID started with owner Nam Quan’s hobby of visiting secondhand markets in his spare time, searching each weekend for clothes and accsories that matched his unique fashion style. From there he began selling his finds on Facebook and, more recently, through his own storefront in District 3. “My products are focussed in street wear,” he says, “from Thailand and the US, but I especially try to support local brands whenever possible.”

Address: 345/3 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, P5, Q3 - Mobile 0909 168 350.

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listings

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

Six Senses Con Dao Dat Doc Beach, Con Dao Dist, Ba Ria Tel: 064 3831 222 www.sixsenses.com/SixSensesConDao The first 5 star resort with 50 villas stretch across a mile-long beach, each 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: 063 3555 888 www.anamandara-resort.com Luxury 35-acre resort encompasses 17 restored early 20th-century villas and 65 rooms set in the rural highlands. La Cochinchine Spa offers wide range of treatments. Le Petite Dalat Restaurant serves Vietnamese and fusion cuisine.

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

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

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

HANOI

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

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

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drive from Noi Bai International Airport 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: 04 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: 04 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: 3823 4999 www.caravellehotel.com One of the city’s most prestigious venues. Features a casino, Reflections Restaurant and al fresco 9th-floor Saigon Saigon Bar. Equatorial 242 Tran Binh Trong, D5 Tel: 3839 7777 www.equatorial.com/hcm On the intersect of 4 districts, with 333 rooms, Orientica Seafood restaurant and bar, Chit Chat café, pool (swim-up bar), gym.

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: 054 393 6666 www.indochinepalace.com Surrounded by the lush exotic garden, the hotel has is designed to appeal to the affluent, up-market leisure and business travellers with facilities offering for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

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

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

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

NHA TRANG

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

InterContinental Nha Trang 32-34 Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang Tel: +84 058 388 7777 www.Ihg.com A luxury beachfront retreat located in the heart of the city, the resort overlooks the stunning coastline. From there getting around the city is convenient as shopping, attractions, restaurants and bars are easily accessible within walking distance of the hotel.

Renaissance Riverside 8-15 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 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: 3827 2828 www.sheraton.com/saigon Luxury downtown hotel: Level 23 bar, Mojo café, Li Bai Chinese restaurant, fine dining at The Signature on the 23rd floor.

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

Windsor Plaza 18 An Duong Vuong, D5 Tel: 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: 84 51 03 93 91 11

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang Beachside, Tran Phu, Nha Trang Tel: 058 3522 222 www.sixsenses.com Beachside resort set in 26,000 square metres of tropical garden, with 74 guest villas, three restaurants, Six Senses Spa.

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

PHAN THIET Anatara Beach Resort Mui Ne Beach, KM10, Ham Tien Ward Tel: 062 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: 062 3682 222 www.princessannam.com Located on Ke Ga Bay with 57 exclusive villas, eight swimming pools, two restaurants and 1,800 square metres spa complex.

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

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

SCUBA DIVING

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

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

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

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

VUNG TAU

The Imperial Hotel 159-163 Thuy Van Tel: 06 4362 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: 06 4378 1525 www.hotramresort.com Located about 45km from Vung Tau in the Phuoc Buu Reserve Forest, Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa boasts uniquely designed bungalows and villas.

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

TRAVEL AGENTS

Buffalo Tours Agency HCMC: Level 8 157 Pasteur, D3 Tel: 3827 9170 Hanoi: 94 Ma May, Hoan Kiem District Tel: 04 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: 3519 4111 saigonagency@exotravel.com HANOI: 3rd Fl, 66A, Tran Hung Dao Hoan Kiem Tel: 04 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: 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: 3829 0981 Fax: 3822 0537 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: 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, Dan-

ang, 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: 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: 3936 03600 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: 6270 0200 HCM City: 16th Floor, Sun Wah, 115 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3832 0320 www.vietnamairlines.com The domestic route map is extensive, with several flights daily between major and less touristed cities throughout Vietnam. Flies internationally throughout Asia and to Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Sydney, Melboure, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

listings

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

Buddha Bar D2 7 Thao Dien, D2 // Tel: 3744 2080 An Phu institution serves up tasty meals and good drinks in a friendly, chilled environment. Plenty of room to relax inside or out, plus a pool table on premise. 

DISTRICT 1 Al Fresco’s 21 Mac Dinh Chi D1 Tel: 3823 8427 27 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3823 8424 D1-23 My Toan 3, D7 Tel: 5410 1093 www.alfrescosgroup.com Theme restaurant boasting a range of Tex-Mex, Italian and Australian-style BBQ dishes. Huge portions and tasty Australian ribs coupled with a good atmosphere and helpful staff. Good lunch menu.  Au Parc 23 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3829 2772 Lavishly decorated brasserie borrowing from Moroccan and French styles and popular during lunchtime with expats.

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

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

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Italian dishes and homemade desserts.

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

pho and steamboat. Cosy bar serving non-alcoholic drinks, fruits and other sweets.

excellent food and even better prices.

Service is friendly and efficient and always welcoming.

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

Jake’s BBQ 50 Pasteur Street, D1 Tel: 08 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! 

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

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

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

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 12-14 Thai Van Lung, D1 94 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3 Nowzone, 235 Nguyen Van Cu, D5 Metropolitan Bldng, 235 Dong Khoi, D1 International café chain with a wide variety of coffees and teas, as well as light snacks and food. Also sells freshroasted coffee beans and tins of whole leaf tea.  Com Nha 151/6 Dong Khoi, D1 Home-cooked Vietnamese dishes straight from the countryside. Owner and head-chef, Ngoc Anh, takes pride in everything she does, and it shows.

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

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.

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

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

Specializes in thin-crust pizza, pasta and a range of Italian dishes. Good selection of Italian wines.  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.

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,

Jaspa’s 33 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3822 9926 www.alfrescosgroup.com Unpretentious brasserie-style restaurant specializes in Australianinfluenced international fusion cuisine.

Full range of drinks including Australian and French wines and good cocktails.

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

Kissho 14 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3823 2223 Fax: 3823 3343 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.

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

Lac Thai 71/2 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 7506 An elegant restaurant tucked in an alleyway, decorated with art-deco furniture. Authentic Thai cuisine prepared by two Thai chefs. Food is tasty but less spicy than you’d find in Thailand.  Li Bai Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828 Imperial-styled restaurant named after a famous Chinese poet. Nightly à la carte menu with dishes going from 100k VND. 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

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

Ming Court 3rd Floor, Hotel Nikko Saigon 235 Nguyen Van Cu, D1 Tel: 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: +84 90 719 45 57 A rustic restaurant perched above downtown offering a secluded getaway and tasty traditional food.

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

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: 08 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: 08 39 14 45 00 American-style barbecue meets Vietnam-style dining with big wooden tables and benches that are reminiscent of an open-air quan. Serving a wide range of smoked and barbecued meats.

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

Relish and Sons 44 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 012 07 214 294 105-107 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: 08 38 236 688 TheReverieSaigon.com Underground restaurant of the newlyopened Reverie Saigon, Romeo and Juliet is reinventing local dining to encourage the kind of slower, savourthe-moment experience that allows guests to enjoy the space’s ambiance, food and top-notch service.

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

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

Saigon Indian 73 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3824 5671 Popular venue with an enormous menu.

Serves both southern and northern Indian dishes like tandoori, biryani, dosa and idly snacks, plus a wide range of vegetarian dishes. Offers a set lunch menu. Cater service is available.  Saigon’s Lookout 37bis, Ky Con, D1 Tel: 0966 884 668 Saigon’s Lookout is one of Saigon’s hidden gems where east meets west, with a menu of twisted Vietnamese cuisine complimented by funky oriented cocktails.

Shang Palace Restaurant Norfolk Mansion, 17-19-21 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3823 2221 www.shangpalace.com.vn An upscale Chinese restaurant with a spacious and welcoming atmosphere.

The menu boasts a wide range of Hong Kong Cantonese cuisine, including both dim sum, a la carte and set menus, regularly changed by the creative chefs.

Skewers 9A Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3822 4798 www.skewers-restaurant.com Rustic Mediterranean restaurant where subtle colours and exposed brickwork combine with jazzy tunes. Serves tabouleh, falafel, couscous and kebab.

Highly rated for its grilled meats, bread and dip combos, soups and pastas. Shrine 64 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 08 39 142 817 ShrineBarSaigon.com A sleek cocktail bar on a street full of beer and football, Shrine is a standout for its décor and drink menu. Shrine

offers everything from wine to drinks and snacks to full-blown meals, its cocktails are the reason to visit.

section and a bar area. Cuisine is light, modern European. The menu spans a price range to suit most budgets.

Stoker Woodfired Grill & Bar 44 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 090 729 2725 District 1 venue with spacious bar downstairs and upstairs dining room.

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

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

Open until 11.30 pm, delivery available on request. 

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: 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: 3823 0509 Authentic bistro with cane furniture outside, informal indoor restaurant

Tuk Tuk Thai Bistro 17/11 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 08 35 21 85 13 Tuktukthaibistro.com Tuk Tuk, a chic new modern Thai bistro.

With three floors of seating, an open-air roof area and an array of Thai dishes to excite your palate.

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

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

Wide selection of live seafood. Five interactive kitchens.

DISTRICT 2 BoatHouse 40 Lily Road, APSC Compound, 36 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6790 Riverside restaurant with umbrellashaded tables spread across outdoor deck and small indoor dining room.

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

By Richie Fawcett

IMBIBE URBAN BAR DIY – (PART 1) HOW TO SET UP YOUR HOME BAR Every proper home should have a proper bar – however small, even if you don’t drink, you should always have something on hand to offer for your guests.

First things first, I will guide you where you are going to put your bar. Then how to arrange it.

Then I’ll explain your must-have essentials, including glassware, mixers, garnishes, and cocktail bar tools.

So let’s start.

Where are you going to put the bar ?

THE BAR CART - Let’s face it, if you have room for a bar cart at home then you should definitely have one! Unquestionably one of the hottest pieces of home furniture ever designed, the bar cart provides an approachable dedicated space for making a drink.

Keep lesser used items in a cupboard, so it doesn’t look messy. On the top layer should be a cutting board, knife, spoon, bottle opener, spirit bottles, garnishes and ice bucket with ice tongs. Below can be kept the glassware.

THE CONSOLE TABLE - Transform the little used sideboard into the bar you’ve always wanted. Add the tray described at the beginning of this piece to the top. If you have more room then add another for bitters, and mixers, again storing the essential bar tools in a decorative container easily at hand. The glassware can go in cupboards below.

THE BOOKCASE - Bookcases are great for setting up a home bar with pigeon hole bookcases being the ultimate. You can use the waist level shelves for the drink making, using the other pigeon holes for each category, one for bar tools, one for glassware, one for spirits and even one for cocktail books!

THE BUILT IN DRY BAR - This is the most common set up for the home bar (meaning they don’t have a sink) with go-to bottles easily accessible with specifically built shelves and cabinet to store glassware and bar tools. Usually all that needs to be added here is fresh ice and it good to go. A wet bar has the luxury of a sink, also, if very well designed then a built in ice well with drain would be the Rolls Royce of home bars.

ESSENTIAL GLASSWARE I’ve really cut it down to the four pillars of basic glassware here.

With just these four glass styles you can cover most of the drinks you will ever make.

Old Fashioned - short tumbler-style glass, used for neat spirits on ice.

Highball - longer style glass, used for refreshing, longer cocktails.

Martini Coup / Champagne coups - dual purpose.

Wine Glasses.

Shri Restaurant and Lounge manager Richie Fawcett is an artist who sits on Asia’s 50 best bars voting panel.

56 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Bia Craft 90 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 083 744 2588 A cozy bar serving beer­themed snacks and some of the best craft ales in Saigon. Constantly buzzing with the friendly chat of local expats in the area.

Ebisu 66 Song Hanh, D2 08 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: 08 35 194 138 Stylish non­smoking sports bar offering all the latest action on a choice of widescreen TVs. Perfect for sports fans who are looking for a cold pint and big portions from a tempting pub grub menu. Mekong Merchant 23 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 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.  Pop Fries 14M Quoc Huong, D2 Tel: 09 3875 4251 French fries topped with a range of fresh ingredients inspired by dishes across the world.

Quan Bui Garden 55 Ngo Quang Huy, Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 08 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: 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 Cha Ca La Vong 3 Ho Xuan Huong, D3 Tel: 3930 5674 36 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 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: 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.

Hu Tieu Nam Vang Lien Hua 381 Vo Van Tan, D3 www.LienHua.com.vn Lien Hua has been serving Chinese­ Khmer noodle soup on this spot for over forty years. Pork and shrimp set hu tieu Nam Vang apart from your average pho while the house speciality dim sum selection is unmissable Kumdo 6A Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 Tel: 3824 3253 Korean beef barbecue served in small, welcoming dining rooms with barbecues built into tables. Large selection of raw meat specialties.

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

DISTRICT 5 Ngan Dinh Chinese Restaurant Windsor Plaza Hotel, 18 An Duong Vuong, D5 Tel: 3833 6688 Beautiful wood paneling, colourful hanging lanterns and a sparkling mineral gallery make for a relaxing dining experience at the Windsor. Feast on roasted Pi Pa duck, giant grouper and steamed king prawns. Be sure to check out monthly specials.

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

The Tavern R2/24 Hung Gia 3, Bui Bang Doan, D7 Tel: 5410 3900 Boasts good international food, a pool table, dartboards and sports coverage on large screens. Outdoor seating on mutiple levels. Second floor sports lounge hosts DJs at the weekends.  Viva Tapas Bar & Grill 90 Cao Trieu Phat, Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 08 54 106 721 Tucked away on a quiet street in Phu My Hung, Viva is colourful and welcoming and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Tapas make up the bulk of the menu and cover traditional dishes as well as a few house specialties that put a quirky twist on things. 

PHU NHUAN Iki Ground Floor, Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon 253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Tel: 3844 9222 Saigon’s trendiest Japanese restaurant turns the notion of the common hotel sushi eatery on its head, with a wide yet very affordable menu from Bento boxes, yummy tempura or fresh madeto-oder sushi and sashimi.

Tung Garden 1st floor, Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon 253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Tel: 3844 9222 www.eastinhotelsresidences.com Invites you to indulge in a unique and unforgettable fine dining experience with more than 130 seats & 4 private rooms. The restaurant features enticing Chinese cuisine and Dim Sum along with a full lunch and dinner menu.

nightlife See bar restaurant listings for more popular watering holes.

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

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

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

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: 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

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

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

GROCERIES

Annam Gourmet Market 16-18 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3822 9332 41A Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2630 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 73 Le Thi Hong Gam, D1 Tel: 08 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: 08 3744 2565 Imported meats from Australia, including top-quality beef and lamb, and locally sourced pork and chicken..

Proudly Australian owned and managed.

Metro An Phu, D2 Tel: 3740 6677 2E/10 Binh Phu, D6 Tel: 3876 9719 Tan Thoi Hiep, D12 Tel: 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: 3914 1318 A mini-supermarket that sells an extensive assortment of imported packaged food, cheese, meat, fresh fruit, vegetables and fine wines.

Veggy’s 29A Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 8526 Sky Garden Pham Van Nghi, Bac Khu Pho, D7 Riverside Apartments 53 Vo Truong Toan, Thao Dien, D2 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 57

listings

By Phil Kelly

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.

FITNESS Killer Abs There is no truer saying than “abs are made in the kitchen”.

Visible abs is all about reducing your subcutaneous fat levels.

Subcutaneous fat is the layer of fat under the skin, lying on top or over the muscle. No matter how many abdominal exercises you do or how developed or strong your abdominals become… if they are covered by fat you will never see them! It is undeniable that nutrition has the biggest influence on fat loss. Furthermore, when is comes to striping fat from around the midsection there are essential lifestyle and nutrition factors to focus on. Here are a few most don’t know about: -Fibre, Cortisol & Insulin: high cortisol is closely linked to belly fat. Reducing stress and getting enough quality sleep are the usual recommendations but most people don’t understand the relationship between cortisol and insulin. Carbs that lack fiber can lead to elevated cortisol because they are rapidly digested, leading to a greater insulin response, which is followed by cortisol release once blood sugar plummets. Cortisol kicks in to try and balance energy levels but it also causes fat storage in the abdominal region. Plus low fiber diets tend to lead to poor gastrointestinal function and inflammation that alters cortisol balance. Opt for green leafy vegetables for your main source of carbohydrates -Fats to avoid: cutting fat from your diet is a bad mistake. Good fats make you burn fat but you should avoid fats such as canola, corn, soy and sunflower. These oils are quite often toxic and contain high levels of Omega-6.

Omega-6 oil creates inflammation and therefore stress and elevates cortisol. Choose butter (read the label for trans fats), olive oil (cold only – do not cook with) and coconut oil (great cold or for cooking) -Limit fructose: Research shows that getting a large portion of carbohydrates from fructose results in belly fat gain, reduced insulin sensitivity, more bad cholesterol, less fat burning, and a lower metabolic rate. Unlike glucose intake that results in the body releasing insulin to regulate it, fructose is processed in the liver and when you have too much of it, the liver turns it into fats that are sent out into the blood stream where they are commonly stored in the abdominal region Diet is key but there are some very specific training methods that absolutely enhance the burning of fat from your midsection. Guess what… none of them are sit-ups or crunches: Up Your Intensity: Burn more belly fat with sprint intervals. A large number of convincing studies show that high-intensity interval training is the best for losing belly fat.

Raise the Resistance: Resistance exercise requires the muscles to become more sensitive to insulin (which will lower the cortisol response). In addition, strength training resets the part of the brain that is involved in releasing hormones so that cortisol balance improves.

Resistance training promotes the release of fat burning hormones testosterone, human growth hormone, adrenaline and lactic acid.

Phil is a health practitioner and expert in body transformation. His services are available at Star Fitness (starfitnesssaigon.com), online or at your home. Contact him through his website phil-kelly.com or facebook.com/ BodyExpertSystemsVietnam.

58 AsiaLIFE HCMC

sports & leisure

CRICKET

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

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

DANCING

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

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

Registration required.

FITNESS & YOGA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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FOOTBALL & RUGBY

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

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

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

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

GOLF

Dalat Palace Golf Club Phu Dong Thien Vuong, Dalat Tel: 063 3821 101 dpgc@vietnamgolfresorts.com

60 AsiaLIFE HCMC

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

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

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

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

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

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

LEISURE

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

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

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

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

Saigon Pony Club Lane 42, Le Van Thinh, D2 Tel: 0913 733 360

A standout facility offering pony rides, riding lessons, horse clinics and pony rentals. Also hosts events and birthdays.

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

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

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

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

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

Excellent facilities for children and annual membership for kids.

listings

health & beauty ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

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

CARE1 Executive Health Care Center The Manor, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh Tel: 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.

DENTAL

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

Also in Hanoi and Danang.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AsiaLIFE HCMC 61

listings

family By Shannon Brown

EDUCATION HUB Keeping Expat Kids Connected to Culture In the preschool where I teach, there are several cultures represented: Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Singaporean, Hungarian, Russian, Ukrainian, Algerian, Venezuelan, British, Malawian, German, Portuguese, Lebanese, and American. There are many more cultures represented within the vast network of international schools in Ho Chi Minh City, and all of these cultures are vibrant, distinct, and important to maintain. While our curriculum is based on British standards, and conducted completely in English, the parents and teachers I work with are all taking steps to maintain their children’s’ connections to the culture they were born into.

Language is a definitive link to a country and region.

Without it, children will not be able to communicate with their extended family members, or be able to integrate back into their parent’s native society. Children must be fluent in a language before they can understand humour in that language, and understanding a culture’s sense of humour has been identified as a key component to successful repatriation.

Many expat parents here try to communicate regularly in their first language with other families in Ho Chi Minh City from the same country. When this option is unavailable, parents turn to social media and internet calls to encourage their children’s native tongue.

Teachers can also encourage a strong cultural identity by including a yearly unit on students’ countries of origin.

Even the youngest students know where they come from and understand that they speak another language at home and eat food that might be different than what is served at school.

Instead of brushing these differences aside, it is possible to highlight them in positive ways. It is highly rewarding to see children of all ages learn about their heritage and become culturally competent early on.

Teachers can easily create opportunities for young students to teach others about their culture. Holidays provide a great chance to discuss traditions, food, and beliefs. Art projects provide an outlet to show and to tell - creating a country flag, making paper dolls in traditional clothing, or pasting together a collage of food from around the world - all are enlightening and engaging activities.

For expat kids, celebrating culture can keep one foot rooted in the home country while the other is free to participate in whichever place they find themselves. It is important to childhood identity to have a solid sense of belonging, and both parents and teachers can work together to foster and praise cultural awareness.

Shannon Brown is a head teacher at Little Genius International Kindergarten with a Master’s in Public Health. She cultivates healthy living by practicing yoga and rock climbing and has been living and teaching in Ho Chi Minh City since 2014.

62 AsiaLIFE HCMC

ACTIVITIES

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

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

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

BABY EQUIPMENT

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

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

CLOTHES

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

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

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

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

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

EDUCATION

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

American International School 220 Nguyen Van Tao, Nha Be, HCMC Tel: 08 3780 0909 www.ais.edu.vn info@ais.edu.vn Established since 2006, American International School is a private school serving students from Preschool through grade 12. Operate on 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: 35192727 Thao Dien Campus (Kindergarten & Primary School) 36 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6960 Thu Thiem Campus (Kindergarten, Primary, Middle & Senior School) 264 Mai Chi Tho (East-West Highway) An Phu ward, D2 Tel: 3742 4040 www.aisvietnam.com The Australian International School is an IB World School with 3 class campuses in District 2, HCMC, offering an international education from Kindergarten to Senior School with the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Cambridge Secondary Programe (including IGCSE) and IB Diploma Programme (DP).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ENTERTAINMENT

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

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

PARTIES

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

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

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

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

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

listings

living By Paul McLardie

PERSONAL FINANCE Liquidity One of the biggest conversations within the fund management community at the moment is the subject of liquidity and the importance of it to individuals rather that institutional investors.

To individual investors, it can be vital and is one of the major factors we look at before investing into anything. If you are looking at investing in anything, liquidity should be one of your primary concerns. In normal terms, liquidity is how quickly a fund manager can sell your portion off, providing you with cash. In the worst case scenario, if there is no secondary market (someone to buy your percentage) you will not be sent your money straight away, and it may take some time for it to happen.

All mutual funds should have a proportion of moneys kept in cash to allow for a certain amount of surrenders to happen within a normal trading environment. Nearly all funds in most sectors are able to liquidate up to twenty-percent of their assets in less than a day. One area that SCM Direct found some “mismatch” was with UK Smaller Company Funds where they found that it will take an average of up to five days to free up to twenty percent of their assets. Even though most of these are claimed to be on a daily traded basis, it is clear that in reality, they are not able to do redemptions in the same time scale.

This is not just UK smaller company class funds. If there is no secondary market and the fund gets redemption requests

totalling up to fifty percent, the natural thing to do is to suspend trading in the fund and no one will get paid out.

There are many reasons why a fund may have a redemption issue. Not just because they are an Allan Stanford fraud but most likely, smaller funds may have only a few large institutional investors. If these institutional investors (central banks, pensions, banks and insurance companies) realign their portfolios and drop the fund you are in, it will not just alter the price of your investment, but also, the ease to switch or sell out of it in the future.

When you are buying into a fund such as a mutual or superannuation fund, or any other type of security don’t just look at the returns that it has been making. The secondary market can be just as important.

It really doesn’t matter how much your investment is worth, if you can’t realise that money when you need it. Ask for a breakdown of institutional versus private investor’s holdings and a level of redemption payouts with their average time if you are looking at funds. If you are looking at a smaller on off boutique investment, be aware if it isn’t going that well, you may be well down the pecking order for getting your cash. Make sure anything that you do, fits well within your strategy and your risk profile.

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

64 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Crown Worldwide Movers 2ndFl 236/6 Dien Bien Phu, Binh Thanh Not just International or local moving and storage. Crown Relocations offer a wide range of services including orientations, immigration, home search, intercultural training through to pet relocation. Call the team on the above number and check out our website for more information.

BUSINESS GROUPS

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

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

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

NordCham Bitexco Building, 19-25 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3821 5423 www.nordcham.com

CAMERAS

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.

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

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

COMPUTERS

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

Honours Apple service plans.

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

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

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

Freeware and shareware also available on the store website.

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: 3911 1480 www.concetti-vn.com Consulting and research company for technology transfer and investment.

Embers Asia Ltd. 4th floor, 04 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1

Tel: 3822 4728 www.embers-asia.com As the first team-building provider established in Vietnam, Embers 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: 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: 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: 3827 7362 Fax: 3827 7361 Email: pascal@insuranceinvietnam.com Private insurance and finance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Towers Watson Vietnam (formerly Watson Wyatt and SMART HR) Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue, Suite

808, D1 Tel: 3821 9488 Global HR consulting firm specializing in executive compensation, talent management, employee rewards and surveys, HR effectiveness and technology, data services and total rewards surveys.

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

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

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

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

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

Dogma 175 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3836 0488 www.dogmavietnam.com Located upstairs from Saigon Kitsch, this art gallery deals in Vietnamese propaganda posters, apparel, accessories and random paraphernalia. Large prints are sold at USD $60 each and small prints cost $25.

Minh Boutique 15 Nguyen Thiep, D1 Lacquerware pieces, tea boxes, teapot warmers, ice buckets and sake drinking sets all handmade in Vietnam. Also sells a range of silverware, egg holders and ice tongs.

OUT-2 STUDIO L6 Fafilm annex 6 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3825 6056 STUDIO@OUT-2.com www.out-2.com Studio space for independent designers to showcase their wares, sell their work and meet with clients. Open Monday t Saturday 10 am to 6 pm.

Phuong Mai 213C Dong Khoi www.phuongmai-gallery.com Gallery specializing in original oils by Vietnamese artists. The works here are a mish-mash of styles but do contain some standouts, particularly well-known local artists La Hon, Quy Tam and Pham Trinh.

Sapa 125 Ho Tung Mau, D1 Offers a better selection of hill tribe handicrafts than most of its rivals.

Concentrates mainly on the hand-woven clothing of the indigenous tribespeople of the region. There is also a line in ladies’ shoes and the standard range of silk wraps and bags.

AsiaLIFE HCMC 65

ELECTRONICS

Hi End Audio 84 Ho Tung Mau, D1 A standout that stocks the very latest and greatest in home entertainment.

Retails in everything from giant plasmascreen TVs to audio equipment. Most top brands are available.

By Gary Woollacott

PEOPLE MATTER Bouncing Back We’ve had a couple of disappointments in some recent searches for our clients: one of them hired the perfect candidate (and very senior) who then failed to turn up at work as agreed – and promptly resigned; and the other where we have undertaken an exhaustive search across the country, interviewing dozens of candidates, but where the final shortlisted candidate still wasn’t up to the client’s expectations.

In both cases we are back to square one, and starting the searches again.

After having spent at least two months on each search this is a major blow for us and just one question is, how do we keep motivated to continue? Well, it helps that we are being paid for it – one benefit of being a retained search firm. Another aspect is that we certainly now have a very clear idea of what our clients expect and we just have to go and find (more) ideal candidates. But what if those people aren’t out there? How do we keep on searching, talking to people, assessing their suitability and then presenting them to the client, knowing what we know?

Part of our responsibility to our clients is to give them market knowledge and feedback, to counsel them in decisions that we want to result in finding the ideal person. We also see it as our duty to bring an unbiased market view to the client, to show them what the outside world thinks of them and their opportunities.

Sometimes we have difficult news

to tell our clients; sensible ones welcome this feedback.

I’ve talked in this column before how some companies – mercifully NOT our clients – can get carried away with their own importance and believe that everyone outside must be begging to work there. Well, news flash: they aren’t.

But in recruitment there is no time to be precious. We have a job to do and we get on and do it. It’s difficult and it’s time-consuming but the end result makes it all worthwhile: a happy client with a superb new employee, and a happy person who we’ve helped to find themselves a great career move with a super new employer (and usually getting paid more too).

Oh, and we get paid for all of that too, so that’s the cherry on our cake.

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.

66 AsiaLIFE HCMC

iDEAS Shopping Centre 133-141AB Cach Mang Thang Tam, D3 The largest of the electonics stores along the street, the three-storey iDEAS sells every type of electronic and home appliance imaginable. Offers proper warranties. Staff speaks some English.

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.

Nguyen Kim Shopping Centre 63-65 Tran Hung Dao, D1 Tel: 3821 1211 www.nguyenkim.com Stocks DVD/CD players, cameras, TVs, hi-fis and more from Sony, Sanyo, Panasonic, Philips and other major manufacturers. Also a good place to pick up electronic kitchen supplies like coffee makers and rice cookers, as well as large and small appliances, from hot water heaters to refrigerators.

Phong Vu 125 Cach Mang Thang Tam, D1 Tel: 6290 8777 www.vitinphongvu.com Two-storey electronics store retails in international products conveniently grouped by brand. Carries computers, home audio, printers, hard drives and more, as well as a variety of mobile phones, handheld electronic devices and accessories.

Savico 117 Ho Tung Mau, D1 Tel: 3821 7993 One-stop electronics and home appliance superstore. All products have a one to three-year warranty.

Tech Street Huynh Thuc Khang Street between Ton That Dam and Nguyen Hue, D1 Sells compact discs, DVDs, electronic money counters, video games and systems, Discmans, mp3 players and portable DVD players.

FURNITURE

Appeal 41 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3821 5258 A small, upscale shop that offers modern accents for the sleek dining room. The colours of the over-sized vases and fruit bowls are either glistening red or lacquered black.

AustinHome 42 Nguyen Dang Giai, D2 Tel: 3519 0023 Outstanding quality and style for your home. The shop says its products are hand-picked by an American furniture expert from the best factories in Vietnam.

Upholstery, accessories, antiques and more.

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

Esthetic 11 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 7371/7372 Fax: 3514 7370 esthetic@vnn.vn www.estheticfurnishing.com.vn Design and manufacture as order with a mixture of antique and modern furniture.

Friendly staff speak excellent English.

Furniture Street Ngo Gia Tu, D10 between Ly Thai To and Nguyen Chi Thanh Very affordable furniture can be found on this stretch: couches, mattresses, desks, chairs, etc. It often takes some looking to find a gem. A connected sidestreet, Ba Hat, features woodworkers’ shops.

Gaya 6/39A Tran Nao Street 12, D2 Tel: 3740 6009 www.gayavietnam.com Gaya is re launching with new name at the new location featuring the work of foreign designers: furniture and lighting

by Quasar Khanh, laquerware decor by Michele De Albert and other home accessories and outdoor furniture .

Linh’s White 67 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 6281 9863 Furniture shop that focuses on solid wood furniture and decorative items ranging from pillows and lamps to bedding. Also offers kids’ furniture and custom pieces.

Mai Home 92 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 08 62 818 399 MaiHomeDecor.com Producer of fine lacquerware lamps and furniture, Mai Home combines modern design with the traditional art of Vietnamese lacquer to create tasteful and durable homewares. Also provides worldwide shipping and customisable designs.

The Lost Art 31 Nguyen Cong Tru, D1 Tel: 3829 0134 Extensive product range as well as comprehensive interior design service, from initial conceptualization to design, manufacture and installation of unique products.

LEGAL

Allens Arthur Robinson Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3822 1717 www.vietnamlaws.com Australian law firm for law translation services and legal advice on foreign investment and business in Vietnam.

Baker & McKenzie Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3829 5585 www.bakernet.com International law firm providing on-theground liaison and support services to clients interested in investigating, negotiating and implementing projects in Vietnam.

Frasers International Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3824 2733 www.frasersvn.com Full service commercial law firm providing international and Vietnamese legal advice to both foreign and local clients specializing in transactions in Vietnam.

Indochine Counsel Han Nam Building, 65 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3823 9640 www.indochinecounsel.com Business law practitioners specializing in mergers & acquistions, inward investment, and securities & capital markets.

Phillips Fox Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3822 1717 Full service law firm providing legal services in healthcare, education, crime, banking and hospitality among others.

Pricewaterhousecoopers Legal Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3823 0796 www.pwc.com/vn Part of a network of international legal and financial advisors, PWC gives both specialist and general legal advice with a focus on mutli-territory projects.

of accessories, including apparel. Sells Vemar helmets, a brand that passes rigorous European Union standards.

Protec Helmets 18bis/3A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 248C Phan Dinh Phung, Phu Nhuan 417B Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3 American nonprofit manufacturer makes helmets with densely compressed polystyrene shell with ABS, PVC or fiberglass exterior, available with polycarbonate shatter-proof shield. Options for kids.

REAL ESTATE

Rödl & Partner Somerset Chancellor Court 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 3824 4225 / www.roedl.com European legal firms assisting foreign investors with structuring/establishing companies, investment projects, and mergers & acquistions.

CB Richard Ellis Me Linh Point Tower, 2 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3824 6125 www.cbre.com International property consultants and developers with both commercial and private properties for sale, lease and rent.

LIGHTING

Diamond Plaza 34 Le Duan Street / Tel: 3822 1922 lntdung@diamondplaza.com.vn Located in the heart of District 1, connected to Diamond PLaza. Services 1- to 4-bedroom apartments with gym, swimming pool and panoramic views of the city.

Luxury Light 1483 My Toan 1, Nguyen Van Linh, Phu My Hung, D7 For those who really want to bring a touch of luxury to their homes, this place deals with Italian imported lighting from the ultra - modern to the traditional Murano style chandeliers.

Mosaique 98 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 One of the best and most diverse selections of lamps in town with everything from the ordinary decorative lotus silk lamp to more inventive and original designs in lacquer and silk.

MOTORBIKES

Bike City 480D Nguyen Thi Thap, D7 Luxury motorcycle shop carries a range

InterContinental Asiana Saigon Residences Corner of Hai Ba Trung & Nguyen Du, D1 / Tel: 3520 8888 saigon@interconti.com www.intercontinental.com/saigonres Contemporary residential space in the heart of the major business and cultural area in District 1. There are 260 one, two or three-bedroom units plus health club and outdoor swimming pool.

Namhouse Corporation 48A Tran Ngoc Dien, D2 Tel: 0989 007 700

www.namhouse.com.vn Provides rental properties, construction services and interior decorating.

Supports professional services and after-sales.

Thao Dien Village 195 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 Tel. 3744 2222 A riverside complex of international-standard hospitality and F&B outlets with a boutique hotel, four restaurants featuring Italian, Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine, an event house, meeting rooms and a day spa with well-equipped health-club.

Diamond Island Luxury Residences No 01 – Street No.104-BTT, Quarter 3, Binh Trung Tay Ward, D2 T: (84) 968 293 388 / 3742 5678 www.the-ascott.com Diamond Island Luxury Residences offers 68 fully-furnished apartments, ranging from two- to four-bedroom units with private balconies providing panoramic views of the stunning surroundings in one of the most spectacular sceneries in the city. Each lavish space features plush interiors, modern amenities, elegant furnishings and carefully chosen trimmings and fixtures, creating a luxurious harmony of comfort and sensorial tranquility that will have you relaxed and recharged, and functioning at peak performance.

Savills Viet Nam Level 18, Fideco Tower, 81-85 Ham Nghi, D1 Tel: 823 9205 www.savills.com.vn Savills Vietnam is a property service provider that has been established in Vietnam since 1995 offering research, advisory services, residential sales, commercial leasing, asset management, retail advisory, valuation, investment advisory and more.

RECRUITMENT

First Alliances #609, Saigon Trade Center 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 2080 Fax: 3910 2079 www.firstalliances.net cv@firstalliances.net As Vietnam’s most established recruitment consultancy, First Alliances operates across all major industry sectors and at all levels of seniority. Also 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: 3930 8800 www.hr2b.com HR consulting advises businesses on how to improve employee productivity.

The search team specializes in matching senior level Vietnamese professionals and managers to top level opportunities in both major cities.

Horton International 5F, Vitic Building 6B Nguyen Thanh Y Street, D1 Tel 3910 7682-3 www.hortoninternational.com Established in HCMC in 2005, Horton International services local and multinational companies seeking to recruit high quality personnel. Horton International is one of the world’s leading executive search groups with 50 offices in 30 countries. For more information, contact vietnam@hortoninternational.com.

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

0#1.!2#3-(!#4$-(!5%$,#.'/!! !6--7!8,#.%9-!/! :&%))+)9!,#!.-&#$%,-!;#.&7;+7-/! ! !"#$%&$''(")*'+,"-%,'.%*$#/*0'

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By Adina Weinand

ARTS & CRAFTS JOURNAL

Artist Alley Restaurant - Dalat As an artist and a foodie, any space that combines the two is especially exciting. Situated down a tiny, colorful alley that zigzags between old colonial archways and plant-filled terraces, Artist Alley Restaurant is the perfect balance between both art and food. This longstanding restaurant moved and changed names in August 2015, but the great service and cozy ambience still remains.

As if the clean, cool air and lush green rolling hills of Dalat weren’t enough to hit your refresh button, this hidden gem does just the trick.

Stepping into the small cafe, one is surrounded by splashes of color along the walls, eclectic decor, and hanging plants adorning the cosy space.. The owners, with their sweet and humble energy, greet us with a warm smile and ushered us upstairs, where soft guitar music played in the background.

Warm sunlight peeked through the large front windows, illuminating the paintings hanging on the walls. Being an artist himself, the owner proudly displays his work like a jigsaw on the walls, with dramatic drops of neverending color layering over one another. If you’re lucky, you may walk in on a night of live painting and guitar music, a sure way to lift any mood. A small balcony opening off the dining area is home to additional hanging plants, and the perfect little seat for reading or enjoying the sunshine with a coffee and snack.

Offering a decent selection of very affordable Western and Vietnamese food, the menu varies

from vegetarian to non-vegetarian, with various coffees and deserts, but we found it deliciously unique compared to what the rest of Dalat has to offer. The caramelized pork clay pot and curry is a popular dish, as well as their delicious homemade juices.

If you’re looking for a warm and calming atmosphere, an artistic space, good food, live music, this is your spot in Dalat.

Artist Alley is located at 86 Truong Cong Dinh. T: (063) 351 0089.

Adina Weinand is an arts educator. Check her classes at: facebook.com/saigonleatherworkshop.

68 AsiaLIFE HCMC

Santa Fe Relocation Services 8th floor, Thien Son Building, 5 Nguyen Gia Thieu, D3 Tel: 3933 0065 www.santaferelo.com vietnam@santaferelo.com With over 150 offices around world, Santa Fe offers local & international moving, pet transportation, relocation services including home search, orientation, cultural training, immigration & records management.

STATIONERY

Fahasa 40 Nguyen Hue, D1 / Tel: 3822 5796 Bookstore chain carries an expansive stock of office and home stationary; a one-stop shop for basic needs.

Stationary and Printing Street Ly Thai To Street, D3 More than 25 stores providing photocopying & printing services.

listings

fashion ACCESSORIES

Accessorize Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 www.monsoon.co.uk/icat/accessorize Fashion-forward accessories including necklaces, handbags, wallets, flip-flops, sunglasses, hair accessories, belts and more.

Ipa-Nima 71 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3824 3652 77 Dong Khoi, D1 Well-known Hanoi-based fashion brand.

Founder Christina Yu is a former lawyer turned designer who produces eclectic and eye-catching handbags. Also stocks costume jewellery and shoes.

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: 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: 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

BCBG MAXAZRIA Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 American brand sells women’s day dresses and tops, evening gowns and wear-to-work attire in many prints and colours. Also carries a small selection of accessories, sunglasses and watches.

ER-Couture Boutique 36 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2411 www. er-couture.com erolskov@er-couture.com Exclusive Scandinavian brand offering designer garments. Versatile fashion for women in European sizes 34-44. Each style is released in limited quantities and can be tailored to individual taste.

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: 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: 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.

BIS PTG

Saturday rd 3 Dec

Santa Claus Christmas Carol by BIS students Raffle draw Assortment of vendors Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities Delicious food and drinks

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MEDITATION APPS

We all could use a little more mindfulness in our lives, so why not let our technological enslavement devices help us out even more than they already do. This select group of apps can take you from zero to zen with just a little discipline and practice. Meditation applications can help anyone start taking on their own emotional and spiritual health, so no more excuses.

Stop, Breathe & Think (Free) | This app is a perfect introduction to the basics of meditation, featuring a wide range of exercises.

Mindfulness meditation, loving-kindness meditation, the body scan practice, it’s pretty ideal for short practices at work and even longer sessions at home.

The non-profit Tools for Peace originally created the app for students and staff in their kindness and compassion programmes, but the app’s popularity in the apple store has taken SBT to a more mainstream crowd. The look and feel of the app is very accessible, with plain-English explanations of what meditation is and how to do it, and with a bit of humor weaved into the whole project. When you’re browsing the app, the practices don’t feel like homework so much as a nice foray into something a little different.

Yoga tools from Sadhguru (Free) | This is a set of seven 5 minute Upa-Yoga practices.

Designed by Sadhguru, these practices are based on the science of Upa-Yoga, which is oriented towards physical and psychological benefits.

Just five minutes a day can transform your life!

Whether you’re seeking health and joy or peace and love, whether it’s success in the world or inner exploration you’re striving for, these simple practices are designed to help you cut through the struggle and walk through life with ease. This application really balances bodywork yoga practice with breathwork and meditation techniques. It is an ideal way to start your day, and people of all ages can get into it.

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Calm (Free) | Calm evolved out of Calm.com, a free web app where users could select background scenery and sounds (sunny seaside with crashing waves is one selection), set a timer, and chill out for a few minutes.

Now, in app form, Calm consists of a “7 Steps to Calm” guide as well as its seaside offerings. The “7 Steps to Calm” was a bit too long, and instructions were vague at times. For instance, the step about posture veers into an impromptu discussion on how “we’re so busy doing that we forget about being” that you’re not really learning about posture anymore. If you listen to all 7 steps at once, repetitious language becomes annoying (The phrase “Feel the tension melt away” came up more than once). Calm is not ideal for learning meditation, but it is good for catching a few blissful moments to do absolutely nothing.

Mindfulness Training App (Free) | Created by Sounds True, a major publisher of meditation books, audio and other media, this app gives you a taste of teachings from key mindfulness instructors, including Jon KabatZinn, the pioneer of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, and others. If you’re new to meditation, this app is a great opportunity to get a more intimate understanding of what it’s all about. Seasoned practitioners might be drawn to the extra talks available on the app concerning the science of mindfulness, varying definitions surrounding the practice, neuroplasticity, and happiness.

First ever legally recognized Social Enterprise in Vietnam.

Transforming lives of at-risk and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam through holistic hospitality training since 1999.

For more information, please visit our new website at www.knowoneteachone.com

A STREET CAT NAMED BOB Homeless and a recovering drug addict, James Bowen (Luke Treadaway) is running low on luck. He’s given a last chance to turn his life around by his support worker Val (Joanne Froggatt), who helps him to finally get his own bedsit to live in. As James attempts to build a life by busking in Covent Garden, he struggles to gain any traction as the London crowd passes him by. Returning home one day, he finds a ginger cat outside his door. Thinking it belongs to a neighbour, he ignores it but during the next few days, the cat continues to linger outside. James discovers an infected wound on the animal’s leg and takes the cat to be treated by the RSPCA. From then, the two lives become entwined. The film is based on the book of the same name by James Bowen.

FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM When the Harry Potter series wrapped up, Hogwart fans were left with a gaping hole in their hearts that JK Rowling just had to fill, and here it is. Set as a prequel to Harry Potter film series, the year is 1926, and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident, were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them is the first in a series of five instalments.

The question on everyone’s lips is, will it be as good as its predecessor?

TROLLS I can just about remember the troll trend as a tweenager. They were everywhere.

Their tufts of brightly coloured hair on necklaces, fashionable dummies – yes, they were a thing – and the ends of pens and pencils. They were huge. However, as with all fads, the troll trend seemed to die down... until now. Two decades after the Trolls escaped from the Bergens, who eat Trolls, Princess Poppy throws a party that attracts the attention of banished Bergen Chef, who captures Biggie, DJ Suki, Satin and Chenille, Cooper, Guy Diamond and Creek. Feeling responsible, Poppy enlists disgruntled survivalist Branch to help save Troll Town’s population from the Bergens. Their prince, Gristle, plans to serve the Trolls to his kingdom, oblivious to the romantic infatuation of his scullery maid Bridget.

MAX STEEL Based on the eponymous toy line by Mattel, Max Steel chronicles the adventures of teenager Max McGrath and alien companion Steel, who harness and combine their tremendous powers to evolve into the turbo charged superhero Max Steel.

McGrath (Ben Winchell) discovers that his body can generate the most powerful energy in the universe. Steel (Josh Brener) is a funny, slightly rebellious, technoorganic extraterrestrial who wants to utilise Max’s skills. When the two meet, they combine together to become Max Steel, a superhero with unmatched strength on Earth. They soon learn to rely on each other when Max Steel must square off against an unstoppable enemy from another galaxy. It is directed by Stewart Hendler and written by Christopher Yost.

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Trang Phan Ngoc Minh, 26, Senior Account Executive Listening to: Bossa Nova and deep house music. I listen to these genres when I feel stressed.

What I like about night life in Saigon: Countless interesting places from inexpensive food stands to the chic and modern style rooftop spots. I love hanging around with my besties, where depends on the mood of the day, enjoying a movie or a cup of coffee. But most of all, I love to spend my time sitting back with a cocktail, soaking up the stunning view of Ho Chi Minh City and gossiping with my friends at Sorae Lounge.

Simon Stanley, 33, Freelance Writer Listening to: Sound of Saigon by local singer-songwriter Claire Cameron. It’s a truly epic love song to the city. I got a sneak preview but she just released it this month on iTunes and Amazon etc.

What I like about night life in Saigon: I like how it’s not all about how drunk you can get, even if karaoke’s on the agenda. Good food with good friends, maybe an iced coffee afterwards… there’s just a really friendly vibe wherever you go.

Tuan Hang Duy, 21, Education Consultant

Tran Nguyen Tan, 26, Casting Director

Listening to: Pop ballad is my cup of tea in music. I love listening to many songs by female artists such as My Tam and Ho Ngoc Ha.

Listening to: Rap music, funk and R&B. My favourite artists are Vietnamese rappers Wowy, Nah and LD from Southgangz.

What I like about night life in Saigon: The city by night is stunning with colourful lighting buildings which I’d like to take some Instagram photos of. Last but not least, Fang Pub is my favourite gathering spot where you truly have a great time with many live hits and mashup songs.

What I like about night life in Saigon: The effervescence of the city. At night, I usually hang out with my friends around Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Bui Vien area and Thu Thiem Bridge.

Jody Ayers, 35, President of Elite Education Consultants Co. Ltd. Listening to: Run The Jewels, and Roc Marciano whenever it is raining. I mostly listen to golden era hip hop and soul.

What I like about night life in Saigon: Saigon is pretty much a 24 hour city and there is always somewhere I can eat and drink with my friends.

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Bradley Green talks about overdoing things.

How fickle an enamoured perception of something can be, and how swiftly we can grow to hate what we love.

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D

o you remember as a kid when you used to watch, and rewatch, and then watch again your favourite film? I remember doing this several times. After school I’d run home and put on whatever it was that I was obsessively watching that particular month. There was the original animated Transformers, Lion King, and even the godawful late 90s Godzilla film.

Needless to say, I wore them out pretty quickly. Slung in a box under the bed never to be seen again.

That’s right, I’m talking about overkill. That thing we do when we like something so much we end up almost despising it, or at the minimum grow tiresome of. I mentioned my old habit of watching things to death, now I don’t do that anymore but am certainly still an a overkill aficionado. Only, as an adult, I should be wiser to it, and know how to stop myself before I ruin things. It seems that I haven’t figured that out yet.

As I write this I’m sitting in one of my regularly visited cafes which I haven’t yet gotten tired of, and I hope I don’t as I’m friends with the owners.

It would be a bit tricky telling them “It’s not your cafe, it’s me. I’m sorry I must leave now.

Please, just let me go.” Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. That would be awkward, and a bit odd.

Of course, one can grow weary of just about anything one can think of. I get bored of my own face, so I have to take a few days off of grooming so as not to look in the mirror.

Extreme, but necessary. I once had a period where I couldn’t stand a certain soup which in the past I adored, consuming it to the point of revulsion. You’ll be pleased to know that the soup and I are now once again on slurping terms, but sadly, not as we were before.

How about those old couples that have been going to the same sterile resort in Tenerife for the past 20 years? It may have the best Elvis impersonator in the Mediterranean, but you know even the resort next door might have some cracking entertainment. Let alone say.. a different country!

It’s not all silly small things though. I had a pal who I hung out with too much, and eventually we grew a bit tired of one another. We didn’t fall out, but we most certainly stopped hanging out like we had been.

It was all a bit sad really.

However, not as sad as what I

believe to be one of the bigger outcomes of the ‘overkill’ style - divorce. That’s right. Although a rather crude way of looking at marriage, and having not been wed myself, I could most definitely get sick and tired of the old ball and chain. Probably the wee kids too. It would seem many people feel the same, judging by the amount of divorces that occur throughout the world. I can’t necessarily see it as bad thing, either.

A line I fondly remember from a Bukowski novel goes: “that’s what kills a man, lack of change.” I suspect it is true, because variety is the spice of life. Without variety, life becomes boredom, and with boredom comes death. Well, at least the death of inspiration.

A good thing is a good thing, but try and keep it in small doses, as you wouldn’t want to despise something delightful.

Evergreen Labs

E

vergreen Labs (EGL) was founded in March 2016, by former German investment banker, Jan Zellmann and recent American molecular biology PhD, Kasia Weina. After working in their specific fields for some time, they decided to do something meaningful, with a sustainable positive impact.

As described by the co-founder, Dr. Kasia Weina, “We were ready to not only do something we are passionate about, but something that makes a real difference.” EGL is a Danang-based project developer and company builder focused on implementation, scaling and multiplication of existing positive impact solutions in the social and environmental sectors.

EGL is divided into three branches: co-start, co-learn and co-share to ensure a fast and sustainable spread of their vision. The co-start branch develops its own projects and supports external teams and co-founders. EGL supports startups from the earliest stage, hoping to inspire the development of positive impact ideas, all

the way to incorporation, implementation and growth.

Jan Zellmann, co-founder of EGL explains, “Evergreen Labs takes on the role of a catalyst between passionate entrepreneurs and the professional startupand investor community. We bridge the gap through a hands on approach and one-stop-shop service provider for local startups to ensure that projects become investable.”

Currently, seven projects are supported in the EGL portfolio, with a diverse range in terms of focus and development stage. The scope includes everything from hydroponics to community-based tourism, recycling & material science as well as several projects in the clean food space.

The second branch of EGL is colearn, which is dedicated to education and spreading knowledge about entrepreneurship, innovation, social & environmental causes and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurial minds in Vietnam. EGL is currently developing an

entrepreneurial programme and promotes innovation in central Vietnam.

The final branch of EGL is co-share which is committed to giving back. EGL is supporting several organisations and additionally initiates its own co-share programmes to spread social change and protect the environment, including the Healthy Living Vietnam and Danang Cleanup.

After only being in operation for 7 short months, EGL is starting to leave a positive mark in Danang. To date, they have mentored over 25 startup teams, invested in 6 startups, participated or co-organised 10 events relating to startup and entrepreneurship and successfully supported 4 charity organisations.

Additionally, their co-share program, Danang Cleanup, has hosted 4 cleanup events and so far, has brought over 870 participants together to collect 4.5 tons of trash.

EGL plans to continue to grow over the next 12 months and their work will continue to focus on creating sustainable positive impact businesses with highly scalable impact. After the launch of the Evergreen Entrepreneur club, they hope to build a stronger, more educated entrepreneur force in central Vietnam.

In addition, they will focus on creating impactful corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities for local companies. EGL aims to establish a successful business model in Vietnam before spreading this model throughout South-East Asia. For more information, please visit their website and Facebook site: www.evergreenlabs.org.

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15. Which British sitcom was set at the fictional Bayview Retirement Home?

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16. On which continent is the State of Eritrea?

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18. Which English king was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley?

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19. Sir Dave Brailsford is a famous British coach of which sport?

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Icelandic króna 8. Marcus Mumford 9. Cheek/side of head 10. Wood 11. Daily Mirror 12. Zanussi 13. Ribble 14. July 14th 15. Waiting for God 16. Africa 17. Nick Hornby 18. James I19. Cycling 20. Graham McPherson.

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