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Knibb and his father travelled to Hanoi, Sapa, and elsewhere around Vietnam while reconnecting. Their expedition was an immediate catalyst for Knibb, and when Waring and Gillow approached him to create the Oxford Collection for its showroom in Nha Be District near District 7, he knew he would design it with Vietnamese techniques in mind. He grew up in the colonial environs of Montego Bay, Jamaica as the grandson of award-winning florist Marion Cohen, who had him cultivating. His talent for colour, texture and composition ushered him into furniture design at Otis Parsons School of the Arts, where he landed a stint with furniture designer Carl Gilberg.

At age 23, Knibb launched his design business, Knibb Design, winning the commission of a high-profile English Tudor estate and a reputation that would precede him. Having designed gardens for celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez, Knibb has an aesthetic characterised by mixing traditional plants, such as roses and hydrangea, with modern assemblages of silver spear, succulents, or ornamental grasses.

An essential part of the design was incorporating traditional Vietnamese lacquer into the legs of the pieces, which are all made from walnut imported from North America. The original prototype of his coffee table featured green lacquered legs that alluded to the heritage and foliage of the countryside.

For the final prototype, however, Knibb selected a subtler Vietnamese lacquer in white and ivory. Having designed gardens for celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez, Knibb has an aesthetic characterised by mixing traditional plants with modern assemblages. While his Oxford Collection may be finished, Knibb has no intention of slowing down. He has plans to start designing a private residence in Vietnam later this year. But it is ultimately the Oxford Collection in Ho Chi Minh City, which enabled Knibb to spend time bonding with his father, that seems to have had the greatest impact on his work and career so far.

Now flies direct to Paris. Jetstar Pacific www. Check out Friday Fare Frenzy online promotion every Friday. Philippine Airlines 91 Pasteur, 2nd floor, Saigon Royal. Multiple daily flights are also operated from both to Phnom Penh and Phuket. Another 30 villas are available in the adjacent sister hotel, a renovated colonial-era administration building. Tours organized by hotel. 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. The morning before, a Dragon Dance will be held in front of the hotel. Contact 05 86 25 69 00 for more information. Book a minimum of two nights at Anantara Mui Ne Resort and Spa and enjoy 20 percent off throughout your stay and a.

Facilities include tennis court and sauna. On-premise bike rental, fitness centre, sauna and indoor heated pool. Onpremise facilities include restaurant, bar, beach-view swimming pool, tennis court and volleyball.

Organizes outdoor activities and tours. Offer runs until 31 Dec Located in the city centre, with gym, outdoor pool, tennis court, event space and Dynasty Chinese restaurant. Sheraton 88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: www. The mastery of traditional Vietnamese design meets modern architectural flair in this distinctive retreat within the dense rainforest of mythical Monkey Mountain.

Banyan Tree Lang Co Tel: 84 54 www. Boutique Hoi An Resort Tel: 84 51 03 93 91 11 www. The property has 82 rooms and villas, all with private balconies or ter-. Angsana Lang Co Tel: 84 54 www. Blessed with brilliant scenes of unspoiled natural beauty, Angsana Lang Co is a contemporary getaway featuring stylish suites from 52 sqm to sqm , of which come equipped with their own private pools.

All suites in every room category feature picturesque mountain, lagoon, or sea views, and incorporate local materials such as bamboo, along with traditional arts with a contemporary twist, lanterns and elegant framed calligraph.

La Residence 5 Le Loi Tel: www. La Parfum restaurant serves local and international dishes. Three restaurants, modern discotheque, conference centre, shopping centre, supermarket. Tel: www. The resort designed with a stylist harmony between the local traditional culture and a modern art concept with 27 villas, bungalows and 2 houseboats. The Square serves international cuisine in a dining room overlooking the bay.

Set on a beautiful beachfront in the middle of the Mui Ne strip, the villa combines modern tropical style and French country luxury. We strongly advise against diving with.

Offers a range of services. The first room tower of this development opened in July with its casino including 90 live tables and electronic game positions.

The second room tower is on track to open in Long happy hour half price by glass. Various shisha flavours. Drinks list is extensive and the food menu boasts French-style mains. It also has a western and Asian menu. Plenty of room to relax inside or out, plus a pool table on premise.

It also has a pool table, dart boards and TVs for watching sports. Good destination for both lunch and dinner. Relaxed environment with frequent live music. Offers Spanish and Cuban fare including paella and a tapas fiesta comprising three plates.

Open late daily. Hearty breakfast is available all day and specials are offered daily. Mogambos 50 Pasteur, D1 Tel: This restaurant has been around since the mids, which offers an insight into its enduring quality.

Specializes in American grain-fed steaks, hamburgers and salads served in a pleasant atmosphere. Qing Pasteur, D1 www. Variety of good wines by the glass or bottle. This, its international food menu and nightly live music makes it one of the liveliest bars around.

Outdoor seating on mutiple levels. Second floor sports lounge hosts DJs at the weekends. Open Monday to Saturday with live music on Fridays. Food menu by chef with over 10 years experience at La Camargue.

Also does excellent pizza. Also sells freshroasted coffee beans and tins of whole leaf tea. Good business coffee or lunch venue.

Popular with local makers and shakers, has a great open-plan upstairs area and two outdoor terraces. Regular live music and homemade ice cream. Award-winning chef prepares dishes including handmade noodles, dim sum and wok-fried items. Wide selection of live seafood. Five interactive kitchens. Au Manoir de Khai Dien Bien Phu, Q3 Tel: This top-end contemporary French restaurant is set in a picturesque colonial villa with a lush courtyard and a lavish interior.

Full of private rooms and opulent lounge areas, this unique eatery is the brainchild of Vietnamese fashion guru Hoang Khai of Khai Silk fame. Offers up dishes such as lobster consomme, pan-fried duck liver, salmon medallions with Moet and escalope de foie gras. Feast on roasted Pi Pa duck, giant grouper and steamed king prawns.

Be sure to check out monthly specials. Le Bouchon de Saigon 40 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: This French diner-style restaurant has an emphasis on hearty home cooking, courteous service and a relaxed 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. Cheese and pastries are available as well.

Shang Palace restaurant is offering an exciting mix of modern and traditional dishes to celebrate the Chinese new year from 15 Jan Feb. Yusheng, comprised of salmon and jelly fish, is paired with a selection of vegetables and sauces chosen to represent luck and abundance for the new year.

Reservations at reservation shangpalace. 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. Excellent cheap set lunches and reasonable prices all around. Will organize catering for events. Huge portions and tasty Australian ribs coupled with a good atmosphere and helpful staff.

Good lunch menu. The menu is relatively cheap, priced at VND , per menu. Offer Runs 31 Jan-5 Feb. Reservations at Satine for parties of more than 10 people should call in advance for details or special arrangements. Call 04 62 82 55 55, ext , or email hfb accor. Food enthusiasts and resident gourmands can learn from the best culinary maestros with a personalised cooking class in Square One restaurant. Guests will learn how to prepare authentic dishes Vietnamese style, such as different types of spring.

Dishes like leg of lamb and seafood are also on the menu. Open 11 am to 11 pm. Au Parc 23 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 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.

Expect great things here from international DJs and renowned mixologists Black Cat 13 Phan Van Dat, D1 Tel: Tiny but popular District 1 restaurant serving up an excellent selection of Western and Vietnamese fare and an extensive range of sandwiches and burgers. Serves remarkably fresh and inspired dishes made with choice local and imported ingredients—favourites include the sirloin burger and pan-fried fish and chips.

Boomarang Cresent Residence , No. Cafe Saigon Ground floor, Moevenpick Hotel. Class is VND 1,, per person. For reservations, email nguyen. The class is 18 Jan, 2. Cham Charm 3 Phan Van Chuong, Phu My Hung Tel: The highlight of this upscale, beautifully decorated Asian restaurant is a special seafood buffet that includes Portuguese oysters, Alaskan crab, lobsters, sushi, sashimi, Japanese-style seafood, Langoustine prawns, American Angus beef and much more.

Errazuriz wines are also included in the buffet. Part of the Khai Silk chain. There is still plenty of other options on the menu, in addition to an extensive wine list. Open from 4pm until late every day. Mixing the ingredients in baby. Well-designed, minimalist dining space and bar on the river are a serious draw. Open daily 7. Breakfast served all day. Also offers imported German draught beer. Organic vegetables, herbs and spices accompany meals.

Even the French fries are healthy. Centrally located on the ground floor of the Bitexco Financial tower. The legendary Prime Rib steaks are the centrpiece of the menu which also includes burgers, seafood and bar snacks.

Full range of drinks including Australian and French wines and good cocktails. Hosts monthly Spam Cham networking event. Two of the most popular are tannins and acidity. Tannins are a class of phenols, and are a byproduct of the seeds and skins of a grape. Red wine varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Nebbiolo are usually abundant in strong tannins, which, over time, tend to mellow out in an aged bottle of wine. The tannins are often described as being soft and mellow, medium and persistent, or firm, strong and tight.

But how does this affect you when looking for a great bottle of wine? Understanding tannins is as simple as understanding drinking your favourite blend of tea. There is a good reason teamakers have suggested brewing times on their labels; the longer the tea brews, the higher the tannin level.

Imagine the flavour of a cup of tea that has brewed for too long. It becomes unpleasant, bitter, and astringent. That harshness is similar to a really tannic wine. Is this necessarily bad? Just like pouring a little milk in your tea the protein and fat from the milk will camouflage the bitterness and soften the tannins , a nice juicy steak will pair nicely.

Generally speaking, because of the natural preservative feature of tannins, wines 52 asialife HCMC. When the right amount of tannins are present, the wine takes on a harmonic balance. Acidity can be equally challenging. Acid is an important element in wine. Too little acidity can make a wine seem dull, flat, and uninteresting; too much can be terribly unpleasant. Take a lemon, for example. Imagine squeezing lemon juice directly in your mouth.

Now, picture a perfectly made glass of lemonade. Much better, right? This is OK because in certain hot climates, when a grape ripens and increases its sugar content, it will decrease its acidity.

The Riesling grape is a good example of this. The ripe fruit flavours and balanced acidity is what makes these wines so amazing. Now that you have some basic knowledge about tannins and acidity, start to recognise these features on your palate and discover what you like best.

After all, it is your preference and your palate that matters the most. Darryl Bethea is group sales manager for Magnum Wine Cellars. He can be contacted at darryl magnumwinecellars.

Also known as prawn cakes, these deep-fried, muffin-shaped delights are filled with minced pork, lentils, rice or soy flour and, of course, plenty of shrimp, including head, tail and skin. The mixture is prepared and. The restaurant is split into three areas: the bar, an outside terrace overlooking the park, and a more formal upstairs dining room. Kita Coffee House 39 Nguyen Hue, D1, Tel: Four-level restaurant serving a wide menu of mains, pastas, salads, sandwiches, soups and appetizers for lunch and dinner, as well as a variety of coffee and fresh fruit juices.

Includes a bright ground floor cafe, sophisticated Old World second floor bar and rooftop dining. Set dinner everyday from 5pm.

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. The menu includes homemade breakfast specialties, and a wide selection of sandwiches and salads. One prawn cake runs VND 6, 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.

Popular for weekend brunches. Weekly specials and seafood flown in from Phu Quoc. Open every day until late. Specializes in certified U. Black Angus steak, and features a fully stocked wine cellar. Good service and excellent food presentation make this a pleasant alternative to the downtown scene. The exclusively Spanish wine list is extensive and Sangria is half price during happy hour from 5 pm to 7 pm and all day Wednesday.

Cuisine is light, modern European. The menu spans a price range to suit most budgets. Reflections Caravelle Hotel, 19 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 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. Riverside Cafe Renaissance Riverside, Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: International venue opening onto the bustling river sidewalk, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and particularly noted for its sumptuous buffet selection which combines Asian, Western and Vietnamese cuisine.

Run by American chef Scott Marquis, this small joint offers classic favourites that are consistently well prepared, making it a popular stop for expats and visitors. Food is stunningly presented, top-end European cuisine with Asian influences cooked by German chef Andreas Schimanski. A la carte or five-course set menu available. Serves tabouleh, falafel, couscous and kebab. Highly rated for its grilled meats, bread and dip combos, soups and pastas.

D1 Tel: Specializing in high-end Western and Vietnamese cuisine, Square One serves charcoal-grilled meats and seafood, as well as steamed and wok-cooked Vietnamese fare. Mezze and tapas are the main draw, but you can also puff on hookas post-meal. The space revolves around an island kitchen from. Internationally trained chefs work with the freshest and finest ingredients around to produce some superb dishes. Sleek but sparsely designed, the restaurant serves nouveau takes on Vietnamese cuisine.

Wood-fired pizza oven and a wide selection of Italian wines. Open daily 10 am until late. Specializes in thin-crust pizza, pasta and a range of Italian dishes. Good selection of Italian wines.

Main courses from , VND with daily specials on offer. Serves excellent pizza. 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 And recently I was lucky enough to do just that. Thien Nam is arguably one of the oldest continuous restaurants in the city centre, if not all of Saigon.

This family-run establishment has been going strong for three generations and remains largely unchanged since its opening in One older member of the family, decked out in old-school suspenders, told me its look, location and food has never changed. Entering the restaurant is like taking a trip into the past. The decor is European-Bavarian with white-cloth tables and French stained-glass windows. The walls are bare except for the chalkboard menu. Clad in bow ties, white shirts and black slacks, some of the waiters are as old as the restaurant itself.

Ours had worked there for more than 20 years. The western menu has options such as beefsteak, escargot, risotto and pasta. We ordered the crispy-skin chicken and deep-fried mantou Chinese steamed buns. Both were divine. The clams were literally floating in hot melted butter.

Calories be damned. The Vietnamese baguette served on the side was perfect for sopping up the last of the sauce. My friend ordered hu tieu to sip between dishes.

For my finale I decided on the pan-fried pork chop with pomme frittes. It was so tasty and tender I wondered how they had made it that way. Even I have a hard time getting pork chops that tender. They also have an array of sauces — soy sauce, plum sauce, sweet and sour, Dijon, and vinegar chilli — on the table to match every dish. Just when you think you know the city inside and out, a great surprise that has been under your nose for years reveals itself. A wide range of cooked dishes and monthly meal promotions are also available.

Sit at the sushi bar or in private rooms upstairs. Open until Winter and summer scene murals fill the walls of this dual level eatery. Large menu with favs like budae jjigae, a mix of chilli paste, Spam, hot dog and tofu, as well as super spicy duruchigi. Contemporary decor with a private, yet open feel. Broad menu including cooked and raw fish and traditional hot pot with fish eggs, rice and vegetables. An elegant restaurant tucked in an alleyway and decorated with artdeco furniture.

Authentic Thai cuisine prepared by two Thai chefs. Serves a range of dishes from the Philippines pictured on menu for those unfamiliar and draught San Miguel. Cosy bar serving non-alcoholic drinks, fruits and other sweets.

Also has a kids menu. The attractive dining room is suffused with natural light. Located within the walls of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. Offers a set lunch, set dinner, International breakfast is served from 6. Its menu offers everything from prawns, scallops and lobster to pork ribs and crab, all for rock-bottom prices.

Nam Phan 34 Vo Van Tan, Q3 Tel: Well known at its previous corner location on Le Thanh Ton, Nam Phan continues to serve modern Asian cuisine including asparagus and crab meat soup, stewed bellyfish in pineapple and grilled duck breast in orange sauce.

Set in a restored colonial villa, the interior is alive with reproductions of Cham-era bas-reliefs and is inspired by Euro-Zen. The chic design and ambience, as well as its rooftop garden, are designed to attract a more up-market clientele.

Supplies many restaurants but also sells wholesale. Temple Club 29 — 31 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: This high-end restaurant attached to an elegant lounge bar is a must-try for its art deco atmosphere as much as for its food. Mains go around 80, , Tous Les Jours 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.

See bar restaurant listings for more popular watering holes. Live DJ, great cocktails and desserts. Open 6pm till late. The Library provides a welcoming atmosphere for those in search of calm, comfort and personalized service. With experts on hand this is a great experience to experience wines at there best. To grasp the complicated causes and consequences of the Vietnam War, one must understand the extraordinary life of Ho Chi Minh, the man generally recognized as the father of modern Vietnam.

Duiker provides startling insights into Ho's true motivation, as well as into the Soviet and Chinese roles in the Vietnam War. Compatible with any devices.

Each report includes sections on government policies and programs, environmental issues, trade and production data, industry structure and ownership, commodity sector developments, infrastructure, and a summary outlook. American citizens, investors, commodity traders, business executives, and studnets pursuing coursework in statistics and comparative governments may be interested in this volume.

Ho Chi Minh explores the life of this globally important twentieth-century figure and offers new insights into his lengthy career, including his often-forgotten involvement with British intermediaries in —46 and with the United States in — Ho was the father of his nation, a major protagonist in the Cold War and anti-colonial struggle, and the promoter of a distinctive Vietnamese form of communism. This biography charts his life from his early years and education in Europe to his establishment of the revolutionary pro-communist movement, the Viet Minh, and his subsequent rise to power.

Placing important emphasis on his role as a military organizer while stressing his preference for diplomatic solutions, this book contains detailed analysis of the complex talks with France and failure to prevent the Franco-Viet Minh war in In addition to providing extensive coverage of the Geneva Conference, the rivalry between Ho and First Secretary Le Duan, and the Tet Offensive, Ho Chi Minh is also the first English-language biography of Ho to pay close attention to his attitude to women and their role within the communist party.

It is the perfect introduction for students of Vietnamese history and twentieth-century history more broadly. This reconfiguration is taking place amidst a host of deepening global predicaments, including climate change, migration, increasing inequalities of wealth and opportunity, that cannot be resolved by purely technical means or by seeking recourse in a liberalism that has of late proven to be less than effective.

The present work critically explores how the pan-Asian phenomenon of Confucianism offers alternative values and depths of ethical commitment that cross national and cultural boundaries to provide a new response to these challenges. As is now widely appreciated, Confucian culture celebrates the relational values of deference and interdependence—that is, relationally constituted persons are understood as embedded in and nurtured by unique, transactional patterns of relations.

This is a concept of person that contrasts starkly with the discrete, self-determining individual, an artifact of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Western European approaches to modernization that has become closely associated with liberal democracy.

On the one hand we tried to maintain an element of The Best of If you read the first section of the cover story, youll see that weve managed to do this. Yet we were also determined to get a voting system going, to get a real sense of what are the best. To do this we enlisted the help of 60 judges.

Our thanks goes out to every single one of them. The other issue was the time factor. By the time we received our judges responses, we only had a week to write everything up, source photos and lay everything out. That we achieved this was due to a quite phenomenal team effort. So on this front a. As ever, we hope you enjoy the issue.

And if two lots of Thanksgivings havent already destroyed your appetite for turkey, we hope you get your well-needed dose this Christmas. Happy Holidays! Nick Ross, Chief Editor. With Tet on the horizon, its also a chance to look ahead.

However, Tet arrives late this year. So we decided to take a retrospective approach and leave our crystal ball predictions to January. What started. Ive delayed writing this, as I enjoy your magazine. However, in the November issue of Word, you credited the wrong photographer on p.

What went wrong? Alisher Sharip is a professional photographer and I only sent his photo of me for publication on condition that he was credited. Instead, you credited David Harris.

This error came despite the fact that Id exchanged at least three emails with [your writer] Katie Jacobs about the photo, one of which was definitely forwarded to you.

These confirmed the photographers name was Alisher Sharip. Print Lives On I didnt realise how big you were getting. It gets better all the time. And you seem to have lots of adverts, too. I know the other mags are smaller, but they also seem to have a lot of ads. Maybe the internet isnt killing everything after all.

Whether its snakepits of despair youre looking for or that small-town feeling youve been missing, the expat groups of Facebook supply that little touch of connection that we all occasionally need.

For all of its faults and there are many , this social media superpower has become an indispensable part of life for billions of people around the world. Whether we like it or not, we live in the Age of Facebook. Terrible puns are only one consequence of its near-universal popularity. Personal opinions aside, its hard to argue that Facebook doesnt serve many useful purposes.

From the Arab Spring to the Hong Kong protests, it has given a voice to the voiceless and opened the worlds eyes to injustices that once might have gone unnoticed. Facebook helps charities raise money for worthy causes, keeps distant family members connected, and enables fledgling artists to reach new audiences.

Its also a convenient place to sell your motorbike. In general my experience has been positive. Yet I cant shake my primordial loathing of these forums; a sentiment also held by most of my friends and coworkers.

The mere mention of a group post is usually greeted by sympathetic moans, as if we were discussing war-torn Syria instead of cyberspace threads. If youve spent a decent amount of time in Vietnam, you probably have your own horror stories of boorish and moronic behavior online. Anecdotally it seems safe to say that expat Facebook forums are the refuge of the stupid and the mean-spirited.

But how much of this is selective memory? Are our assumptions based on facts or biases? I decided to investigate. Hanoi Massive Most Succulent Trollbait An entrepreneur offers to sell two cans of beer for VND15, or trade them for an iPhone 76 likes, 24 comments A man shares his terrible English lesson centred around a tired BDSM joke, comparative insults and euphemisms for fat people 34 likes, 20 comments.

There were few profanity-laced tirades or threats of physical violence. Vitriolic bigotry was almost nonexistent. Solicitations for advice were generally answered sincerely, instead of go f-ck yourself or if u dont like it go home!!!. The tolerance and apathy of the Massive was astounding a suggestive photo of a woman in cellulite-eliminating lingerie failed to inspire a single diatribe about sexist marketing or uppity feminists.

Instead, it was roundly ignored. Apparently everybody had something better to do, like painting or digging for snails. If the Illuminati were monitoring Hanoi Massive, which they most certainly are, they would find little to cause alarm. It reminded me of an idyllic small town online folks buying and selling, sharing recipes, looking for jobs and love. A couple of sourpusses moaning about the skateboards and the rap music, but what can you do?

There are grouches everywhere. Here was what group administrator, Samuel Faith, had to say about the piece. Not really agreeing with the premise of the article. Gutless much, WORD editors? Depending on the Kindness of Strangers. For expats in Vietnam, Facebook forums can be an invaluable resource. Need an English-speaking ophthalmologist? Ask Facebook. Interested in taking Vietnamese lessons? A horde of eager, moderately priced tutors await your reply. Want to know if that oozing wound on your foot is infected?

Skip the hospital; just share a picture and wait for the crowd-sourced diagnoses to pour in. Ive used expat Facebook forums to find apartments, plan romantic getaways, and to discover exciting social events. To determine which posts qualified as Trollbait, I followed the rigorous standards of Judge Potter Stewarts ruling on pornography: you know it when you see it.

Lets start in the north. Get outta here with your devil beers! I dont care about your bloody beer, I just wish someone could tell me where to buy some rice? Im sure I wont need to look far as youll be cowering in the corner behind your computer screen, abusing people on the Internet to satisfy your own insecurities.

Where exactly is that community of sluts? Ngoc, thank you. Im not interested in cosplay. Keeping in mind the limitations of small sample sizes and the unpredictable nature of viral trends a non-story at the time. Storms and Teacups Really glad you wrote that piece on Facebook Groups p. Got some real idiots posting on there. What would I give to meet a few them face to face and get them to say their comments out loud.

PQ The groups are useful, but some of the posters need to get the hell out of Vietnam. Top level jobs are being localized, work permits and visas are harder to obtain.

Some of the people on there add fuel to the fire, and given even more reason to get all us foreigners out of this country. Im determined to stay. But not everyones jumping for joy.

Not for a couple of days in honour of a meteoric cultural event, but for six months. Yes, people of Hanoi, thats what the Saigonese are suffering from at this very moment. A city centre split in two due to the closure of that thoroughfare, Nguyen Hue, as well as part of Le Loi, and part of Le Thanh Ton for good measure. Its chaos. Well, not exactly. But rush hours have become bit of a nightmare and crossing downtown from West to East or East to West can get a little unpleasant.

Okay, we know youre laughing. Them upstarts down south dont deserve nothing, right? But you see, oh people of Hanoi, the cause of all this is a good one. Unlike you unfortunate people who have to suffer four seasons and bone-chilling winters, Ho Chi Minh City is getting a metro system. But not just any old metro system. This one comes with underground shopping malls stretching from Saigons most famous landmark, Ben Thanh Market, to its other most famous landmark, The Opera House. Theres no messing about here this ones big.

As for you guys, up north, well if youre lucky youll get a skytrain. We hear its only in the discussion phase, so dont worry. We reckon youve got a few years yet. So while down south there is frustration and increased congestion, you guys can sit back and relax over a bia hoi or four and contemplate how wonderful the world is. Mumble and Grumble Even though Saigon knows the metro system can only be positive, this street closure thingumajig hasnt been taken too well, oh people of the north.

Yes, people are complaining. Businesses are shouting high murder, and residents, no longer the happy, happy people of yesteryear are grumbling over their caf sua da, their copies of Tuoi Tre and their phablets. Its become infectious. You see, for those unfortunate to be located on the closed off streets, business is down, very down. Even 70 percent. And of course, there was no forewarning. The streets were just blocked off and that was that.

The cleverer business owners, like our friends at Pendolasco, are using this as an excuse to refurbish. Yes, with business down, now is the time to freshen up for the reopening of the city centre. But these people are in the minority.

You see, what all those poor people down south just dont understand is that the metro. And during the construction phase, those hard-off Saigonese just have to grit their teeth and bear it. The last time them people of Ho Chi Minh City were told of a huge change to the city centre, the destruction of Eden Mall, there were protests and non-compliant residents, and banners and all sorts of obtrusive, unwelcome events.

The Vincom project to build a new Vincom, now called Union Square, got held up. It cost money. And then when they tried to clear the whole of Thu Thiem, that sinking swamp area in District 2 on the other side of the Saigon River, some of the residents just refused to let those bulldozers bulldoze their houses. It took years and even now, the odd house or two has remained.

So, this time, things are different. Yes, the roads will be open again for Apr. But there can be no delays. But to do this and to have that beloved metro system Ho Chi Minh City so desires, so it can ease congestion and become a member of the Im an important city because Ive got a metro system club, sacrifices just have to be made. To all you Hanoians out there, youll be next.

Its fun! We promise! Nick Ross. You could call them Cut Copy meets Kraftwerk a psychedelic Krautrock dance experience back-ended by some pouty, preppy instrumentalists. As electric as their sound is, theyre not well-known out here which is why Goethe-Institut is doing us a service in bringing them out.

For more info, go to goethe. Get your sing on this month at St Pauls Convent Chapel. On Dec. Entry is by donation, there will be a silent auction and all proceeds support childrens charities Loreto Vietnam-Australia and Dust of Life Poussires de Vie.

Artistic Director Brian Riedlinger will be pulling the heart strings. The concert starts at 7. There are no reservations, so seats are at a first-come, first-serve basis. To celebrate three years of not renting other peoples venues bringing live music and DJs to a venue they can call their own, CAMA is putting on a three-day extravaganza from Dec. For more info go to page 52 or click on camaatk. While the manga scene is longestablished, and there are two cosplay-inspired cafs in town, Spiderman and Catwoman wannabes are woefully underserved in Saigon.

Enter Saigons first comic con, the latest international trend to hit our fair shores and feed our taste for the new. Though the organisers are new to the scene, theyre pulling some powerful strings, and all the finest gamers, cosplay artists, freaks and geeks are expected to make it out. Doors open 10am and go to 8pm. See our feature on page 30, or go to facebook. Straight out of the Bronx in New York, and one of the pioneers of the disco mix, John Morales will be playing two gigs in Vietnam this month Dec.

A legend of the dance music scene, for more information go to pages 42 and So here is an official image instead. Yup, he is built like an upside-down triangle with perfect hair. When I found out, I was so excited. The guy used to play soccer for the Los Angeles Galaxy you dont see many celebrities like that in Saigon! He was having a party at Chill Sky Bar to promote his new booze.

I love booze! And I love parties, but I didnt think Id be able to attend this one. You needed a special ticket to get in, and you could only get a special ticket if you were important. Now, Im neither of those things, but my buddy Ed is. Hes an editor for a superimportant magazine this one!

Ed is so important, in fact, that he managed to get two tickets. One of which he gave to me! Party Time When we arrived at the bar, there were a lot of people waiting outside. They didnt have tickets, so they couldnt come in. The security guards were scowling at them. But when Ed and I showed up with our special tickets, the guards let us right in. VIPs, coming through!

We took an elevator up to the rooftop, because all the best parties are on rooftops. You could see the whole city from up there! We even spotted a homeless family begging for change at a street corner, but that was depressing so we decided to get some booze instead. Did I mention that the booze was free?

For Ed and me, anyway. We had these invisible stamps on our hands so we didnt have to pay for anything. Everybody was really nice to us when they saw our stamps! Other people had to pay for their drinks because they didnt have invisible stamps. But Ed and I got a whole bottle of the Beckham-endorsed booze for nothing, plus all the ice we wanted!

Only big shots with stamps got free ice. David Beckham showed up around 11pm. Hes a really handsome guy. You can see why Posh Spice married him. Hes built like an upside-down triangle with perfect hair.

Everybody was really excited to see him. Suddenly the room was filled with camera flashes and screaming ladies. I got so dizzy I almost fell over.

It was just like having a seizure, except fun! A mohawked Vietnamese mobster splattered scotch all over my suit. Excuse me sir, I think you spilled your drink, I said. Shut the f-ck up, he replied. I tried to say hello to Beckham, but one of his bodyguards got in my way. He looked like an ex-paratrooper, or maybe an MMA fighter.

Its okay, buddy, Ive got a stamp! The bodyguard didnt move. The music was pretty loud so he probably couldnt hear me. He did let some other people go by, though. Maybe they had better stamps. Then a Vietnamese pop starlet in white booty shorts did a dance performance. There were fireworks and lasers everywhere. She was super pretty! I wanted to say hello to her, too, but the security bros wouldnt let me onto the balcony.

Who do I look like, one of those stampless bums outside? I asked, but nobody was listening. At midnight, Beckham left the party. We all lined up to say goodbye. Everybody was feeling good one of his bodyguards even high-fived me on the way out! I was trying to take a picture at the time, which kind of stinks, but I understood where he was coming from.

You cant help but get excited around the stars! The Axis of Not Cricket On the launch of a new cricket season, all eyes stay on the prize their stance towards the game they simply reply, Not loving it.

Yet head to the subcontinent, and for half a billion Indians a good googly is like a good breakfast essential for a young mans development.

If that goes over your head and youre in a happy Vietnamese cocoon of a non-cricket situation, its fair to say that leather-on-willow just isnt your thing. Youll never understand the vagaries of the five-day test, nor ponder the value of an extra slip before tea. Youll remain apathetic about the T20 mercenary, and its likely that youll never enjoy a well-timed pull without an element of adolescent guilt. Leg before wicket?

Go back to jumping rope. Jon Aspin. Most of the world loves it, thats a fact, but there remains a recalcitrant minority. A report released by the Bureau of Accurate Information confirms the existence of rogue states still yet to adopt cricket as their national pastime.

Unafraid to name names, it further alleges that these anti-cricketers have organised themselves into what the bureau calls The Axis of Not Cricket, and when asked about.

For those of us of the opposite persuasion, start jumping for joy. Now in its 9th edition, and still being played on the best oval and only cricket wicket in Vietnam, the action has already gone tropical along with the heat. Now, in cricket as in life, there is no room for impartiality, modesty or balance when it comes to the facts.

But nice guys dont often win in this game, rather they get smashed for 27 off an over, bat down the order and end up ruing the day they ever got involved because the English Cricket Club ECC were one short. Nevertheless, it is these people that make the game great and one of them is John Patrick, or JP to his fans.

JP makes the game. Hes an American who thinks he might be Australian, which makes him a renegade. More importantly though, hes achieved something special before his teams even bowled a ball this year. The Florida native and self-confessed former volleyballer, science teacher and massive Gators fan has had a huge offseason by taking it upon himself to get the Australian teams crest tattooed on his upper-thigh.

Youre reading that correctly. Hes had what essentially amounts to the Aussie coat of arms tattooed permanently on his body, and its not small. Any American who will do this is alright with me, and any cricketer who will do it deserves a place in the hall of fame. Credit has to go to the Saigon Australia Cricket Club SACC administration, who immediately rewarded the act with a free lifetime membership at the club. Correct weight boys, youve earnt some respect back there.

The original idea was beer-fuelled, admits JP. We had just won the cup, sure, but it reminds me of a tough time and some great guys that got me through it. The fact that they gave me a life membership for as long as Im in town is a bonus. And that right there is why I still love cricket. A great leveller, a good clean way to spend your Sunday morning in Saigon and a game thats loved by all, a few recalcitrant minorities aside. The season runs from now until the end of May. Check facebook.

Nestled in this oasis lies one of the areas newest and best-kept secrets Fragrant Path Green Tea Gardens a nature retreat dedicated to rest, relaxation and restoration. A mere hours drive from downtown is all it takes for the noise to dissipate, the air to clear and a quiet calm to settle.

Fragrant Path is the latest offering from the Tet Lifestyle Collection, a boutique hospitality company with properties throughout the north of Vietnam.

A decade in the making, the company is finally opening the doors to this gem, offering Hanoians a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and connect with the areas natural surroundings. First purchased as a small plot back in the early s, the Tet Lifestyle team have. The property is a work in progress, a journey, says Pete Wilkes, co-founder of the Tet Lifestyle Collection.

Weve slowly been adding small things here and there. But everything is organic, everything is handmade, everything has a story. The result is a sprawling property dotted with gardens, artwork and 12 reconstructed houses relocated from around northern Vietnam and restored on site. The houses, the oldest of which is years, not only serve as dining and sleeping locations, but also retreats for art, reflection and yoga.

Linking the houses is a series of trails and hand-built stone walls leading guests past gardens and lotus ponds, along the ridge that encircles the area and into the hidden valley at the back of the property. A Return When we first bought the land we had no idea this valley even existed, says Pete. The forest was so thick that it wasnt until we started following the creek through the dense vegetation that we realised there was.

The discovery of the year-old tea plantation happened in much the same way. After cutting back the forest the team discovered rows upon rows of old tea bushes. Today, the plantation is once again harvested and visitors are invited to sample the fragrant green brew. Free YouTube Downloader. IObit Uninstaller. WinRAR bit. Internet Download Manager. VLC Media Player.

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