Say Hi to Saigon

Are you aware that 500 million plastic straws are being used per day and then… disposed? Yes, you can recycle plastic straws, but many waste management systems are stretched to their limits. Luckily, straws made from plants are available, and you can find them in Saigon! Introducing: Grass and bamboo straws! Grass straws are made from stalks that have been hollowed out by a dedicated group in Long An Province. These natural straws are 100% handmade. Each straw costs 600 VND (about 2.50 USD per 10 straws). You could purchase them here . If you are a frequent drinker, you might want something reusable. Unlike grass straws, bamboo straws can be used for up to 6 months if washed after each use. Bamboo straws require more handiwork than grass straws, so they cost bit more: 5.50 USD per 10 straws. You could purchase them here . Why do we care? Plastic straws are the things we use every day, maybe even many times a day and all of our plastic use adds up: ●   ...

After poking around on Facebook, I found this made-up conversation between the “districts” of Saigon. I thought it would be great to share this creative work with non-Vietnamese speakers so you can know more about the city and our sense of humor.   District 8: Don’t call my name! One fact you should know is that District 8 (D8) and Binh Chanh District are very close to each other. Also, Binh Chanh District is a suburb of Ho Chi Minh City, so the bright city lights are low and it can be quite boring. Here is a translated version of the conversation: D8: U proud to be independent, and yet you tell shippers that you are near me? Binh Chanh: How else would I get my stuff shipped, Dog? Shipper: Saying “I’m near D8” doesn’t make my trip shorter. Viettel Post: You’re stupid @Shipper, tell him to get it into storage. (There is a huge Viettel warehouse in Dong Nai, very far from Binh Chanh District) Binh Chanh: @Viettel Post you have life insurance yet? District 9: Noti...

After poking around on Facebook, I found this made-up conversation between the “districts” of Saigon. I thought it would be great to share this creative work with non-Vietnamese speakers so you can know more about the city and our sense of humor. District 1: The Envious One The conversation above depicts how District 1 (D1) -- the historic city center -- is envious of District 2 (D2) and District 7 (D7) because they are getting more modern and “rich.” This is what the picture says: D1: Y’all got no respect for me right D2 and D7? You wannabes are trying to be me? Nha Be: I gave birth to them and they treat me like nothing. (D2 and D7 were separated from Nha Be District) D7: Haters gonna hate @D2 D2: Don’t tag me man I’m counting money. District 5: The “Drowning” One This puts a smile on my face as it is so true. For your information, District 5 (D5) isn’t a great place to stay. Why? Because when the rainy season comes, the place floods! D5: “Rain gets bigge...

Since the emergence of mobile ride-hailing services like Grab and Uber, taxis in Vietnam have fallen out of fashion. And they just got more unpopular following a recent taxi driver protest. Rivals are born On December 27, 2014 people in Vietnam started to travel differently. Instead of flagging down a taxi, they could simply order a car, motorbike or taxi from their mobile phones using the Grab application. Grab was the first mobile ride-hailing service in Vietnam with Uber close on its heels (four months later). Why people prefer Grab and Uber People in Vietnam love Grab and Uber for the same reasons many people around the world have downloaded these applications: They’re faster and cheaper than traditional taxis. They also eliminate the need to carry cash. Vietnamese particularly like these services because taxi drivers in this part of the world tend to overcharge customers by manipulating meters and taking long detours. Traditional taxi services have lost a lot of...