Grace Lewis - AsiaLIFE Magazine

AsiaLIFE volume 37 

22 

front 

on the cover 

06 News & Events 

10 Dispatches 

13 Street Smart: An Duong 

Vuong 

16 Q&A with Dr Le Van Duc 

18 Life Down the Lanes 

22 Keeping Silent is Dying: 

Talking About Domestic 

Violence in Vietnam 

food 

style & design 

40 Sterling's Saigon 

41 La Villa 

42 El Gaucho 

43 Cuc Gach Quan 

44 Behind the Design: 

CJ Bikes 

46 Canvassing the City 

48 BIS Art Show 

50 My Future's So Bright 

storyboard 

getaways 

28 Madames of the Metropole 

30 A Restaurant is Born 

34 Social Climber 

36 The Starman 

38 Turning Asian Stereotypes 

Upside Down 

back 

54 The List 

94 Spotlight 

96 Street Guide 

106 Pub Quiz 

st 

30 38 

Cover 

Art Direction 

Johnny Murphy 

Photography 

Fred Wissink 

Model 

Hanh Trinh Nguyen 

asialife HCMC 3

note from the editor 

Brett Davis 

Domestic violence is an issue that 

defies cultures and geographic 

borders. Like countries the world 

over, it is something Vietnam is 

grappling with. 

There are cultural and social 

aspects to Vietnamese society 

that keep domestic violence 

a hidden issue, and one that 

lawmakers see as a family matter 

rather than a legal one. In recent 

years this has begun to change 

with the adoption in 2007 of 

the Law on Domestic Violence 

Prevention and Control, and the 

2006 Law on Gender Equality. 

There are also initiatives by 

Vietnam Government departments, 

United Nations agencies, 

NGOs and local non-profit groups 

to provide material and counselling 

support for domestic violence 

victims, and education and 

awareness raising campaigns 

across the broader community. 

In our cover story this month 

we take a look at some of the 

steps being taken to address 

the issue, beginning with the 

first major survey into domestic 

violence against women in Vietnam 

conducted by the General 

Statistics Office and the World 

Health Organisation. 

This is a very sensitive topic, 

and I would like to thank all those 

people who assisted AsiaLIFE 

with this month’s cover story. 

I would like to make particular 

mention of Duong Thi Qui, who 

bravely shared her story of the 

violence she endured, and eventually 

escaped from. 

Elsewhere this month we meet 

two other fascinating individuals. 

First, we profile a young Chilean 

man who has taken on a lifetime 

of adventure and challenges in 

his 21 years. On top of studying 

at RMIT University Vietnam, Paul 

Massad has turned his love of 

climbing into a business by opening 

his own climbing gym. 

In an extract from her memoir 

and cookbook, well-known Hoi 

An chef, restaurateur and cooking 

school proprietor Trinh Diem Vy 

describes the determination and 

hard work that was necessary to 

fulfill her dream of opening her 

own restaurant. 

Finally, a small correction to 

part of last month’s cover story 

on parenting in Saigon. It was 

reported Allyson Keane’s daughter 

Baillee was six years old when 

she is in fact four. Although if you 

ask me she doesn’t look a day 

over three. 

Citibank PremierMiles Card 

Grace Lewis 

After spending five years wearing navy 

polyester to support her travel habits, 

Grace Lewis traded her flight attendant 

wings for a wedding ring and a new set of 

adventures. Her background is in music, 

but she prefers to entertain with tales of 

travel and real life mishaps. The Atlanta 

native specialises in international hair 

disasters, and, thanks to Saigon’s heat, is 

learning as much as she can about white 

wines. 

Next time you're across the border, 

check out the latest issue of AsiaLIFE 

Cambodia or download it from 

www.asialifeguide.com. 

Cambodia 

The guide to life in the Kingdom 

042011 

ISSUE52 

Jade Bilowol 

After working as a journalist and PR 

practitioner for a decade in Australia, Jade 

Bilowol jettisoned corporate life Down Under 

for HCM City's cheap street-side eats and 

scooters. Despite her intentions to work 

less and take pleasure from the simple 

things, she soon found herself again working 

full-time and then some. She now lectures 

with RMIT University Vietnam's Professional 

Communication Program. A stint in hospital 

suspended her relationship with street food 

but she's slowly getting back on that wagon. 

www.asialifeguide.com 

Find AsiaLIFE articles on 

4 asialife HCMC

NEWS 

EVENTS 

Operation Smile’s Auction 

and Dinner 

Park Hyatt will host Operation 

Smile’s art auction and gala 

dinner on Saturday, May 21. 

There will be a silent auction, live 

auction, and a raffle. Tickets are 

US $100 per person (each table 

will fit 10 people) and include a 

cocktail reception, gala dinner, 

free-flow drinks, and live music. 

For more details contact Julie on 

0913 966131 or Dung on 0908 

783 293. 

Mozart & Vivaldi at The 

Conservatory of Music 

The International Choir and 

Orchestra of HCM City will 

perform Mozart and Vivaldi 

classics from 7.30 pm on Friday, 

May 27 and Saturday, May 28 

at the Conservatory of Music in 

District 1. Proceeds will benefit 

needy children in Vietnam 

through Loreto Vietnam Australia 

Program and Poussieres de Vie 

(Dust of Life). Advanced group 

bookings are being taken now. 

Tickets are 300,000 to 450,000 

VND, with a limited number of 

balcony tickets for 100,000 VND, 

and will be available from the 

Conservatory at 112 Nguyen 

Du, District 1, and at Mekong 

Merchant at 23 Thao Dien, An 

Phu. You can also order online 

at hcmcchoir.com or via email at 

tickets@hcmcchoir.com. 

ANZAC Friendship 

Weekend 

Aussie Rules football team 

the Vietnam Swans will host 

their annual ANZAC Friendship 

Weekend in Vung Tau from April 

23 to 25 to honour lives lost in 

war. The weekend includes an 

orphanage visit, the Vietnam 

Swans verses Hong Kong 

Dragons match, and gala dinner 

as well as battlefield tours to 

Long Hai Hills, Long Tan Cross, 

Nui Dat (Australian logistics base) 

and the Long Phuc Tunnels. 

There will be an ANZAC dawn 

service, and a live telecast of the 

Collingwood verses Essendon 

ANZAC match. 

Celebrate Trish Franklin of 

Loreto’s 60th Birthday 

Trish Franklin of the Loreto 

Vietnam Australia Programme will 

celebrate her 60th birthday on 

Saturday, April 23 from 6 to 10 

pm. The party will be held at the 

Australian International School 

campus on Pham Ngoc Thach, 

District 3. Call 0913 803 517 or 

0903 735 799 if you’re interested 

in attending. 

Swing to Swim Charity 

Golf Day 

On May 14 in Hoi An, the 

Royal Life Saving Society of 

Australia will host the Swing 

to Swim Charity Golf Day at 

Montgomerie Links. The golf day 

immediately follows the three-day 

world conference on drowning 

prevention in Hoi An. More 

children die from drowning than 

road accidents. For details email 

jon.tomlinson@montgomerielinks. 

com. 

KITCHEN Delivers 

Orders can now be placed for 

frozen ready meals and homemade 

sausages with KITCHEN/ 

Jonty’s Bangers by phone on 

0974 444 001. Orders can be 

placed from 9 am 5 pm, daily, 

and will be delivered within four 

hours. The special offers and 

discounts on kitchen.net.vn only 

apply to online orders, though. 

Bazaar at The Deck 

On Saturday, April 23 from 9 am 

to 4 pm, The Deck will host a 

bazaar where local manufacturers 

will display accessories, children’s 

clothes, cards, silk, jewellery and 

more. Some of the proceeds 

will go to IMMF and The Love 

Team Vietnam. The last bazaar in 

KOTO Founder Honoured as Global Leader 

The World Economic Forum has named Jimmy Pham, founder 

and CEO of KOTO (Know One, Teach One), as a Young 

Global Leader for the work he has done in lifting Vietnamese 

youth from poverty. KOTO, a not-for-profit hospitality training 

organisation, has trained more than 300 disadvantaged 

Vietnamese youth in its Hanoi and HCM City training centres. 

Besides hospitality training, the 24-month program provides 

accommodation, food, medical care, and English and life skills 

training—all free of charge. At KOTO’s restaurant in Hanoi, 

trainees work to gain practical experience and all profits 

support the program. KOTO will open a restaurant in HCM City 

this year. 

6 asialife HCMC

They’ll be safe 

in our hands 

Expat Community Raise Money for New 

Zealand Relief Effort 

HCM City’s expat community have banded together 

to raise money to support the relief effort in 

Christchurch. About US $64,000 was raised at a 

charity auction and raffle held at the Caravelle Hotel 

attended by 500 supporters. Close to $33,000 

was also raised at the 12th Annual New Zealand Wine & Food 

Festival last month. 

November raised more than US 

$1200. A jazz band will play in the 

afternoon and there will be special 

prices on food and drinks. Admission 

is free. For details contact 

bazaar.at.mm@gmail.com. 

Best of Asia Short Film 

Screening 

On April 7 from 7 pm the 48 

Hour Film Festival will host the 

“Best of Asia” 2010 Short Film 

Screening in HCM City. Fifteen 

specially selected films by Asian 

filmmakers will be screened. The 

venue is yet to be determined. 

Call 0903 151 874 or visit 

48hourfilm.com or facebook. 

com/48hourfilmVN for details. 

Night at the Moulin Rouge 

On May 14 from 6.30 pm, the 

Vietnam Charity Fund and FV 

Hospital will host a Moulin 

Rouge themed charity ball. At 

this year’s ball dinner and cocktails 

will be served and there will 

be live entertainment. The fundraiser 

aims to bring together 

Saigon's philanthropic support- 

ers with medical and corporate 

leaders to support the Children 

of Vietnam's mission of providing 

highly specialised surgeries 

to underprivileged children 

with birth defects or congenital 

diseases. 

Sponsorship opportunities 

are available starting at 

US $4,000 for gold level and 

$7,000 for platinum level. Contact 

Ms Kim at 0903 035 030 

for details. 

Red Cross Vietnam 

Raises Funds for Japan 

Through April 15, Vietnam Red 

Cross will coordinate a fundraising 

campaign to mobilise resources 

to assist those affected 

Dylan plays HCM City 

by the quake and tsunami in Japan. 

In HCM City, contributions 

can be made at 201 Nguyen Thi 

Minh Khai, District 1. For details 

call 3839 1271. 

Family Medical Practice to 

Welcome Obstetrics and 

Gynecology Specialist 

Back 

Family Medical Practice is 

pleased to announce that Dr 

Robert Riche, specialist in obstetrics 

and gynecology, will be 

returning to Vietnam and 

will practice from early this 

month. To make an appointment 

or for further information 

please contact Family Medical 

Practice at 3822 7848. 

Our smallest patients - respecting their 

needs is our biggest concern 

Great Deals at Muse Boutique 

Our three Full-time Pediatric Specialists are 

on hand for all your childrens medical needs 

• Primary pediatric emergency responses 

• Routine childhood development assessment 

• Post natal examinations 

• Immunisation advice 

• Vaccination 

• Nutritional counselling 

• New mother support 

• Pre-school check-ups 

Family Medical Practice HCMC 

Diamond Plaza: 34 Le Duan Street, District 1, HCMC 

For appointments and emergency care 24 hours: 

(84 8) 3822 7848 

www.vietnammedicalpractice.com 

Your health. Our care. 

• Emergency Medicine • Medical Evacuations • General Practice • Internal Medicine • Pediatrics 

• Obstetrics & Gynecology • Orthopedic & Trauma Surgery • Cardiology • ENT • Tropical Medicine 

• Radiology • Imaging • Ambulance Service • In-house Laboratory • Acupuncture • First Aid Training 

• Child Birth Education • Saigon International Mother Baby Association • Medical Check-ups 

Muse Boutique is a multi-label boutique, stocking internationally 

well-known casual brands for men and women. Now, 

Muse is offering gift vouchers worth 300,000 VND for the first 

20 customers who bring this news clipping into the store on 

level 1 of the Saigon Center at 65 Le Loi, District 1. 

The legendary American troubadour will play his first ever 

Vietnam show at the campus of RMIT University Vietnam on 

Sunday, April 10. 

Local promoter Saigon Sound System General Manager 

Rod Quinton said he expected all of the 8000-plus tickets for 

the show to sell out. 

“We have had a very enthusiastic response from both 

the expatriate and local Vietnamese communities since we 

announced the show. 

“This is a landmark event in the development of the live 

music industry in Vietnam, and I believe it will help pave the 

way for more major international acts to visit these shores,” 

Quinton said. 

Dylan’s Asian tour will also include his first shows in 

mainland China, as well as stops in Hong Kong, Taiwan, 

Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. 

General admission tickets are available at 900,000 VND and 

a VIP package for 2,500,000 VND. Tickets can be purchased 

via saigonsoundsystem.com or in HCM City at Juice (49 

Mac Thi Buoi, District 1), The Boathouse (40 Lily Rd, APSC 

Compound, 36 Thao Dien, District 2) and Boomarang (The 

Crescent, Phu My Hung, District 7). Corporate bookings can 

be made by calling 0907 539 239. 

For details on getting to and from the show, along with all 

the other information concert-goers should be aware of, visit 

saigonsoundsystem.com.

dispatches 

Travel news from around the region and beyond 

Phnom Penh Events & Openings 

Download the latest issue of AsiaLIFE Cambodia at www.asialifeguide.com. 

Eat, Pray, Love 

Do as Elizabeth Gilbert does in her popular book-turned-film 

Eat, Pray, Love and take to Bali for a spiritual adventure. 

The package includes a visit with Ketut Liyer, the medicine 

man Elizabeth befriended as well as accommodation in 

a four-star hotel in mystical Ubud. And instead of travelling 

to an Indian ashram, yoga and meditation practice will be offered 

each morning. Likewise, there will be a dinner at a local 

Italian restaurant, to satisfy the “Eat” section of the book. 

The tour runs June 20 to 27 and costs just under US $2000 

based on double occupancy. Visit spiritquesttours.com/balispirit2/ 

for details. 

Boppin’ in Borneo 

Borneo Jazz is set to take place May 12 to 15 from 6 pm till 

midnight at Miri Resort City, Sarawak. The annual event, until 

this year known as Miri International Jazz Festival, attracts 

performers from across the world, including France, the US, 

Brazil and China. 

The organisers say the outdoor event will go on rain, hail 

or shine so bring a blanket to sit on and a raincoat in case of 

unpleasant weather. 

A one-night pass costs 60 RM (US $20) for adults and 30 RM 

for kids ($10) and can be purchased at ticketcharge.com.my. 

A Charitable Trail 

Gather a group of four and head to Japan from May 13 to 15 

to compete in the annual Oxfam Trailwalker. The 100 km trek 

between Odawara City and Lake Yamanaka must be completed 

within 48 hours and requires an extremely high level 

of fitness. To qualify, teammates must start together, stick 

together and finish the grueling course together. 

To register, teams must raise at least 120,000 JPY (about US 

$1,500) to support Oxfam’s work in overcoming poverty and 

injustice. In previous years the donations have been used to 

implement projects in the world’s poorest regions and provide 

vital relief following natural disasters and conflict. 

For details visit trailwalker.jp/en/. 

Tribute to the Cambodian 

Masters 

One of Cambodia’s most 

spectacular music events to 

date, the BosbaPANH Tribute 

to the Masters Concert took 

place in Siem Reap on February 

25 and 26. With Bayon Temple 

illuminated in the background, 

local and international musicians 

paid tribute to the great masters 

of Cambodian music, spanning 

the past 900 years. Centred on 

13-year old soprano sensation, 

BosbaPANH, the musical 

extravaganza featured a broad 

range of songs from composers 

such as Sin Sisamouth, Ung Chinary 

and King Father Norodom 

Sihanouk. Classical and modern 

dances were also part of the 

three-hour programme. Guests 

included Khuon Sethisak, a 

Cambodian tenor, Sarah O’Brien, 

a leading Hollywood studio 

composer and cellist, and Em 

Theay, a master of Cambodian 

classical dance, the last surviving 

dancer of the pre-war Royal 

Court. Cambodian-American 

Laura Mam and her band, the 

Like Me’s, joined BosbaPANH for 

“Refugee”, a moving song about 

the rift between Cambodians in 

exile and those living in the country. 

The show closer presented 

BosbaPANH performing “Nine 

Million Bicycles”, singing while 

simultaneously riding a bicycle 

through the audience. The splendour 

of Bayon and the talents 

of the performers left a lasting 

impression for all who attended. 

Rainforest Under Threat 

Illegal logging is threatening 

Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains, 

home of one of Southeast 

Asia’s most well preserved 

rainforests. According to Wildlife 

Alliance, a DC-based non-profit 

focused on rainforest and wildlife 

protection, loggers are ravaging 

the Southern Cardamom Mountains 

for Thailand Rosewood, a 

timber coveted for luxury furniture 

which can sell for US $7,000 per 

cubic metre in Cambodia and 

around $25,000 per cubic metre 

in China. Using portable saws 

and working at night, loggers are 

part of a powerful, international 

network able to source 

and smuggle across borders. In 

2010, rangers seized 302 cubic 

metres of illegally logged timber, 

of which 85 percent was Thailand 

Rosewood. For more information 

about Wildlife Alliance and efforts 

to combat illegal logging in Cambodia, 

visit wildlifealliance.org. 

Fly with Greater Ease 

Remembering to bring enough 

cash to pay the departure fee 

has been an annoyance to many 

a flier in Cambodia. As of the first 

of April, the Passenger Service 

Charge will be included in international 

air tickets for passengers 

departing from Phnom Penh, 

Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, 

announced the Société Concessionnaire 

des Aéroports. The 

rates will remain the same, at 

US $25 for adults and $13 for 

children under age 12. The 

inclusive charge is effective for 

tickets purchased after January 

21 for travel starting in April. The 

travelling process just became 

one step easier. 

Turn Up the Toones 

On March 5, Tiny Toones released 

their premier album with a 

launch party at Meta House. The 

event celebrated the release of 

Generation Z, a collection of 17 

songs from students and staff in 

Tiny Toones’ music department. 

A local NGO, Tiny Toones is a 

drop-in centre for disadvantaged 

youth in Phnom Penh. In addition 

to free education in Khmer, 

English, computer studies, and 

hygiene, sex and drug awareness, 

the centre also offers free 

hip hop music, dancing and art 

classes. The music department 

focus includes DJing, lyric writing, 

rapping, singing and music 

production. Learning how to tell 

stories through music is seen as 

a positive form of expression for 

students who have been traumatised 

from a difficult upbringing, 

spurring a process of healing. 

The new album is entirely composed, 

performed and produced 

by Tiny Toones, with all proceeds 

benefiting the running of Tiny 

Toones and those involved in the 

album. 

10 asialife HCMC

Street Smart 

an duong vuong 

district 5 

Grace Lewis heads down District 5’s An 

Duong Vuong and finds quirky cafés, the 

mother of all sewing machine shops and 

mechanics galore. Photos by Eunji Chung. 

Nhan 

394 An Duong Vuong 

This might not be the prettiest 

place on the street, but it 

is clearly the one-stop shop 

for all your sewing machine 

needs. The family has been 

doing business here for 30 years 

selling and repairing machines 

of all types. Their machines 

range from those designed for 

personal use to embroidery 

and specialty types for retail 

use. Most are imported from 

Australia, Taiwan, and Korea. 

All repairs are done here, and 

they can also order any parts 

you may need. 

Ngoc Hanh 


The first thing to catch your eye 

when you pass Ngoc Hanh is all 

the beautiful precious stones— 

quartz, jade, and amethyst, to 

name a few. Inside, the walls 

are lined with tasteful carvings 

and statues in the Chinese style, 

including dragons, lions, pigs, 

horses, and Buddhas. The goods 

run the gamut from goodluck 

trinkets to show-stopping 

sculpture. Or, if you love plants, 

but can’t keep them alive, Ngoc 

Hanh has the perfect solution: 

the leaves of their bonsai trees 

are made of gems. Necklaces 

and bracelets range from 

200,000 to 1 million VND. 

Tram Anh Tea and Coffee 


Tram Anh has been providing 

HCM City with Dalat-grown 

coffee since 1988, offering whole 

beans and ground coffee, filters, 

and condensed milk. They also 

carry a wide variety of loose 

and bagged teas only sold 

through Tram Anh, including lotus, 

bitter melon, artichoke, jasmine, 

chrysanthemum, balsam, 

apple, oolong, and cloranthus. 

A wooden tea chest with eight 

flavours can be purchased for 

300,000 VND. Come into shop 

or lounge at one of their tables 

for a cup. 

Handmade Café 


If you aren’t careful, you might 

miss the narrow, brick walkway 

lined with hanging orchids that 

leads back to this interesting 

café. And missing it would be a 

shame. Newly opened, the café 

has a soothing feel, and, as you 

might guess from the name, all 

of the décor is handmade—from 

pottery and ceramics to artwork 

made of wine and beer bottles. 

Hand-woven pictures from 

northern Vietnam decorate the 

cream coloured walls. By offering 

origami and other folding 

paper games, Handmade Café 

hopes to be a place people will 

12 asialife HCMC asialife HCMC 13

Van Cu to the Tran Phu roundabout 

have everything from 

high-end auto salons to shops 

carrying bumpers and seat 

covers, tires and rims. Whatever 

your car or motorbike may 

need, it can surely be found on 

this street. 

Co Do Restaurant 


On a busy street like An Duong 

Vuong, stepping inside Co 

Do Restaurant is like being 

transported far away from 

HCM city's chaos. The interior 

is simple and elegant with tray 

ceilings, hanging lamps made 

of iron and canvas, and artwork 

in the Imperial style. The owner 

and chef are both from Hue, and 

have been providing authentic 

food from the region for more 

than a year. With four floors, 

Co Do Restaurant can accommodate 

private dinners and 

meetings for up to 50 people. All 

entrees are under 135,000 VND. 

They are open 10 am to 10 pm 

and also have a restaurant in 

District 1. Visit nhahangcodo. 

vn 

think of not just to have a drink, 

but to gather with friends to 

create. 

Mot Bon Mot 


At first glance, Mot Bon Mot 

may seem like a regular convenience 

store, but it can only be 

described as a fruit/gift basket 

superstore. When you first walk 

in, a staff member will greet 

you with a bag. They are there 

to carry the fruit you select, 

and then wrap them in the 

basket you choose. Grapes the 

size of ping-pong balls, perfect 

Washington and Gala apples, 

oranges, and mangoes are just 

a few examples of the fruit 

available. If you’re looking for 

something a little less healthy, 

you can choose from toffees, 

butter cookies, chocolates, wine 

and spirits. Not in the mood to 

decide? Pre-made baskets are 

available. You can order over 

the phone and have them delivered. 

Empty baskets are also 

available from 40,000 to 90,000 

VND. Visit 141freshfruits.com 

Nghi Khang My 


In a city where it can be difficult 

to find suitable bedding, Nghi 

Khang My offers high-quality, 

stylish options. Imported from 

Taiwan, the bedding sets start at 

2 million VND. Choose between 

attractive floral prints—bold 

reds, pinks, and purples, or 

simple yellows and white—or 

more masculine patterns in 

blues, browns and greys. 

NGHIA Beauty Supply 


If you are looking for salon 

quality products for your own 

home, NGHIA Beauty Supply 

has just about everything 

you could need to stay wellgroomed. 

They sell professional 

grade manicure equipment, 

hundreds of nail polish colours 

and brands (including OPI), foot 

smoothers, and callous scrapers 

and there is someone to sharpen 

all your tools on the spot. 

Blow dryers, curling and flat 

irons, bleaches, false eyelashes, 

professional hair scissors, and 

tweezers are also on offer. 

Everything Auto 

East end of An Duong Vuong, 

between Tran Phu and Nguyen 

Van Cu 

Whether you have a motorbike 

or a car or are looking to buy 

one, An Duong Vuong has all 

that you are looking for. The 

four long blocks on the eastern 

end of the street from Nguyen 


The much-loved Dr Le Van Duc has helped bring thousands of 

babies into the world, in some cases delivering the children of two 

generations of the same family. Photo by Fred Wissink. 

Dr Le Van Duc 

Why did you decide to 

specialise in gynecology and 

obstetrics? 

After graduating from university 

in 1988, I wanted to work 

in neurosurgery at Cho Ray 

Hospital, but I was told I had to 

wait three months. During this 

time, I worked for Hung Vuong 

Hospital. There I found it was 

easy to work in obstetrics and 

gynecology. 

Actually, I think it makes me 

very happy when I can see the 

newborn babies every day. 

How many children do you 

think you have delivered during 

your career? 

There are many people asking 

me this question but I can’t 

remember. I think I have 

delivered about 10,000 babies 

altogether up to now. 

Do you stay in contact with the 

families of children you have 

helped deliver? 

Many of the families that I have 

helped deliver children keep 

in touch with me. They usually 

come to visit me and my family 

on Doctors’ Day (February 27) 

or New Year’s Day. 

Some families, about four or 

five, I’ve helped deliver two 

generations. Firstly, I helped 

deliver the baby of a couple and 

then many years later I help 

deliver that child’s baby. 

Your wife is a midwife; what 

is it like to work with your 

spouse? 

My wife is a midwife with 25 

years experience in this field. 

Currently, she works with me 

at Hanh Phuc Hospital. With 

her experience, she plays a very 

important role whenever I need 

help. For instance, she can work 

fast and deal with anything that 

happens in the delivery room. 

Some of my friends and 

colleagues think we shouldn’t 

work with each other. But as 

for me, I think it is so easy to 

work with her. She understands 

me and everything I do, and 

she knows everything I need to 

prepare before every birth. 

You have children of your 

own? How old are they and 

what are they doing currently? 

I have two children, a 22-yearold 

girl and 16-year-old boy. 

My daughter is studying at the 

Language University and my 

son is in the tenth grade. 

I don’t think my son wants to 

be a doctor. He told me that my 

job always keeps me busy, that 

I have to do operations all night 

and then I get back home for 

only 10 minutes before I have 

to go back again to the hospital. 

It’s not good at all when I have 

no time for my family. Actually 

my son wants to be an architect. 

What is your philosophy 

on parenting and what are 

some of the principles you 

have tried to instill in your 

children? 

In my hometown and in my 

time, parents didn’t ask their 

children what they wanted 

to do in the future. Parents 

just made their children do 

whatever they thought was best 

for them. My parents wanted 

me to pursue a medical career 

because at that time in Hue, 

being a doctor or teacher were 

the best jobs everyone wanted 

their children to have. I thought 

I would like working in agriculture, 

but I needed to obey 

my parents. Fortunately, when 

I decided to study medicine, I 

found I naturally fitted in. 

As for my son, I will never 

force him to do anything. I just 

guide him and help him to pursue 

whatever he likes. I think 

it’s better for him. 

Your job must keep you very 

busy, but what are some of the 

things you enjoy doing when 

not at work? 

Working full-time for Hanh 

Phuc Hospital, it can be difficult 

for me to have time for 

my family. But at the weekend, 

when I have time, I take my 

children to go shopping, drink 

coffee or play tennis and swim. 

Sometimes we go to the beach 

at Vung Tau or Phan Thiet. In 

the summer holiday, we travel 

abroad to America and Southeast 

Asian countries, or go to 

visit my parents in Australia. 

You now work at the new 

Hanh Phuc Women's and 

Children's Hospital. What sets 

this hospital apart from other 

medical institutions in HCM 

City? 

I consider Hanh Phuc Hospital 

as my family because I feel very 

comfortable here. I have many 

chances to discuss everything 

with my superiors or the CEO 

on how to get better care for the 

patients. 

I’m proud of working in 

Hanh Phuc, which is the first 

Singaporean-standard hospital 

in Vietnam. It is well-equipped 

with modern facilities and 

offers a comprehensive range 

of high-quality health care for 

women and children. 


Freek Drent is a Dutch visual 

artist who studied at the Willem 

De Kooning Academy in 

Rotterdam. In the more-than 

two decades since then he 

has worked around the world 

producing collages, installations, 

video productions and 

digital art. After finishing an 

artist’s residency in Beijing 

in 2008 he moved to Vietnam 

where he now lives. His current 

focus is on photography where 

he records scenes of daily life 

in the city’s hidden, gloomy alleyways. 

Photos from this series 

will form part of an exhibition 

running from July 9 to August 

19 in the Der Aa-Kerk, Groningen, 

the Netherlands. More 

of his work can be viewed at 

freekdrent.nl. 



Keeping silent is dying: 

Talking about domestic violence in Vietnam 

Text by Beth Young and Brett Davis. Photos by Fred Wissink. 

“I think women who suffered from 

violence should raise their voice 

and ask for help or counselling. 

It can vary case by case, but we 

should not keep silent. Keeping 

silent is dying.” 

This from a Hanoi woman interviewed as 

part of last year’s National Study on Domestic 

Violence Against Women in Vietnam. One 

in three women reported they had suffered 

physical or sexual violence at the hands of 

their husband some time in their life. This 

number rose to 58 percent when taking into 

account psychological abuse. 

The research team interviewed almost 

5,000 women between 18 and 60 years of 

age. The study was conducted by Vietnam's 

General Statistics Office and the World Health 

Organisation. 

WHO Health System Team Leader Dr 

Graham Harrison said Vietnam was not alone 

amongst nations grappling with the issue of 

domestic violence. 

"While there are cultural elements that 

make addressing the issue a challenge, steps 

are being taken. 

“Domestic violence is a problem but it is 

basically a silent problem. Because of community 

attitudes it can be difficult for victims to 

speak up or get the help they need,” he said. 

Harrison said the survey would help formally 

address the issue of domestic violence, 

raise awareness in the public consciousness 

and determine what services were needed. 

“A lot of the women interviewed provided 

an opening, some light, into a hidden aspect 

of their lives. Often they had never spoken of 

these things before they were interviewed.” 

In the north much is being done to raise 

awareness of domestic violence. For example, 

in Ninh Binh Province the Swiss Cooperation 

Office is working with the local People’s Committee 

and Women’s Union to conduct focus 

groups with both victims and their abusers. 

The goal is to facilitate discussion about 

the root cause of the violence and to educate 

both men and women on what their rights 

are. The first phase began in 2003, and the 


Photo by Eunji Chung 

A Victim’s Account: 

DUONG THI QUI’S STORY 

I got married when I was 28, now I’m 53. 

The happy times ended quickly, when my 

husband began to drink heavily. We would 

fight a lot when he was drunk. Sometimes he 

would hit me. He would beat our five children, 

too. Other times he chased me with a knife 

and once he threw a knife at me. Luckily it 

missed. 

Things got really bad in 2004. He would 

beat me every day, again and again. One 

day I was boiling water at the stove. He was 

drunk and he picked up the pot and threw the 

water over me. My eldest son was standing 

nearby and the water also burnt his leg. My 

husband tried to run away and even though 

my son was hurt he held him back with the 

help of our neighbours. 

I was taken to hospital and my husband 

was sent to the police station where he was 

given an official warning. They also made him 

sign a document promising that he wouldn’t 

hurt me anymore. Because my injuries were 

so severe, he had to go to court. While he 

was waiting to go on trial we still lived together 

but he continued to beat me. 

When the case went to trial in 2005, I 

was granted a divorce and my husband was 

sentenced to nine months in jail. I haven’t 

seen him since and he has nothing to do with 

our children. 

It was a tough decision to divorce, but I 

had to. I couldn’t stand him anymore and I 

had to think of my children. My family stood 

behind me, especially my mother. My neighbours 

were really supportive, too, as they’d 

seen how badly my husband treated me for 

so many years. 

More can be done to prevent domestic 

violence in HCM City but the government 

tries its best. My ward’s People’s Committee 

helped to raise about 18 million VND to help 

me buy a new house after I left my husband. 

second, which started in 2007 will finish this 

summer. So far, these sessions have proved 

successful. 

Hanoi also has an official shelter for battered 

women. The whereabouts of the Peace 

House is kept secret to ensure the residents’ 

safety. It has a kindergarten for young children 

and the women are taught skills to help them 

find employment and become self-sufficient 

in the future. 

Rather than just providing respite from an 

abusive environment, the Peace House gives 

women options. They can decide if they want 

to return to their husbands or build a life on 

their own. 

According to the HCM City Women’s 

Union, Peace Houses will be built around the 

city sometime this year. For the time being, 

Buddhist pagodas like Tin Cay Cong Dong 

in Tan Phu District provide women and their 

children with shelter. 

These are rather ad hoc setups. Head 

nun Tung Tinh said when a victim seeks help 

from the pagoda the police aren’t called and 

they aren't taken to a doctor or hospital. The 

women generally stay until the husband decides 

he’s ready to apologise for his actions. 

Tinh will question him and if she deems his 

apology to be sincere she will allow the wife to 

return home. 

Tinh downplayed the severity of the 

violence that these women are subjected to, 

saying she had never seen any injuries worse 

than a bruise. However, a group of elderly 

nuns who live behind the pagoda were more 

forthcoming. One revealed they had recently 

cared for a woman whose husband had 

broken both her legs. He apparently beat her 

after finding out she was having an affair. 

The Law on Domestic Violence Prevention 

and Control that was enacted in 2007 has 

forced local government to seriously address 

the issue. 

Duong Thi Nguyet is vice president of the 

Ward 14 Women’s Union in District 11. She 

is in charge of the ward’s efforts to address 

domestic violence. She said that each ward’s 

People’s Committee has a similar department 

to address women’s issues. 

Currently, Nguyet provides victims with 

shelter in her own home, however she said 

this was only a temporary measure. The 

People’s Committee have purchased a block 

of land where a proper shelter will be built, 

but more money is needed to complete the 

project. In the meantime, she does what she 

can, providing financial help to women who’ve 

left their husbands until they can get back on 

their feet. 

Le Trang is also a passionate advocate for 

domestic violence prevention. She is behind 

the Soul Nation Project—an initiative that 

seeks to change behaviour in young people 

through music, dance and other art forms. 

Popular Vietnamese celebrities act as the 

project’s spokespeople at concerts like the 

one hosted at Thu Duc University at the end 

of last year. The message is simple: men and 

women are equal and gender-based violence 

is wrong. 

“Education plays an important role and this 

is where Soul Nation comes into the picture,” 

Trang said. 

An advertising campaign was also developed 

by the Grey Group, for a consortium of 

partners including UN agencies, Vietnamese 

Government departments and NGOs, aimed 

at the perpetrators of domestic violence. The 

television spot featured a woman removing 

the doors and window shutters from her 


A Professional’s Recommendations 

house so neighbours could see what was 

happening inside. 

Grey Group Associate Creative Director 

Rajib Gupta said they tried to communicate 

the message that if it was not alright to 

engage in this behaviour in public, then why 

think it is OK at home. 

“We tried to find something different, and 

a big issue in Asian countries particularly is 

loss of face. People may not see you but 

if a woman goes out in public with bruises 

on her face, people know where they came 

from. It is not her that is losing face, it is 

you.” 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and 

Crime also conducts awareness raising 

campaigns in the community. These efforts 

include assisting to produce a national TV 

series on domestic violence called Breaking 

the Silence, and holding a writing competition 

for members of the news media to 

encourage more reporting on the issue. 

“The review committee judging the competition 

was overwhelmed by the response 

with over 1000 entries received,” UNODC 

Country Manager Zhuldyz Akisheva said. 

The UNODC has also been working on 

training local law enforcement officers to 

better equip them to respond to domestic 

violence cases. Akisheva said the agency 

had worked with 186 police officers since 

2008 in ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions. 

“The aim is to create a pool of trained, 

competent law enforcement officers who 

can in turn train their peers,” she said. 

“Our experience is they don’t know how 

to apply the law, identify if it is an administrative 

or criminal offence, gather evidence or 

talk to the victims.” 

Akisheva said the general mindset of 

police was that domestic violence was not a 

public issue but rather a family issue. 

Nguyet of the Women’s Union was of a 

different opinion. “If you are suffering violence, 

you need to fight against it, not keep 

quiet like the old days. 

“We need to show the men that they can’t 

beat their wives. It’s not their right.” 

Martin Donnelly is a practising counsellor 

with more than 20 years experience. He has 

worked with both victims and perpetrators of 

domestic violence in the United States. 

Though he has only lived in HCM City for 

a year, he believes that the general attitude 

towards domestic violence is similar to that 

held in the US about 60 years ago. 

“It was very much accepted that it was OK 

for a man to hit his wife,” he said. “It wasn’t 

seen as abuse. 

“I’m pretty sure that something similar is 

operating in Vietnam. From what I’ve seen 

there is a very strong sense of male privilege 

here.” 

In Donnelly’s opinion, for real change to 

occur this attitude needs to shift. And to really 

effect change, boys and men need to be 

educated. 

This is especially important since last year’s 

National Study on Domestic Violence Against 

Women in Vietnam found that boys who 

saw their fathers abuse their mothers were 

far more likely to beat their own partners in 

adulthood. 

Donnelly believes young men need to be 

taught how to control their responses. They 

need to learn to recognise when they’re 

about to lose it and walk away before it’s too 

late. 

To really curb domestic violence, though, 

he suggests using the media. While the 

government has teamed with various NGOs 

and creative agencies to develop advertising 

campaigns and even a 10-episode television 

show aired in 2009 called Breaking the 

Silence, Donnelly suggests a more long-term 

approach. 

He cites one example that has worked 

well in South Africa—the long-running and 

very popular soap opera Soul City, which 

broaches deeply sensitive social issues like 

HIV and AIDS in a dramatic yet entertaining 

fashion. 

“That’s where I’d put my money,” Donnelly 

said, “in producing a well-written soap opera 

with characters that viewers can relate to. 

"This is a problem that can only be addressed 

on a societal level and that’s where I would 

start." 


Best friends and colleagues for more than half their lives, Le Thi Bao Ha and 

Nguyen Kim Nhung call the Hotel Metropole Hanoi their second home. 

By Beth Young. Photos by Fred Wissink. 

Madame Ha flicks through 

the journal that houses the 

keepsakes she’s gathered since 

beginning work at the Hotel 

Metropole in 1978. In one photograph, 

dated 1995, she poses 

with George Bush Senior and 

his wife Barbara. A secret service 

agent loiters suspiciously in 

the background. The first lady 

has even left a note. “Thank you 

for your superb hospitality,” it 

reads. 

Over her shoulder, Madame 

Nhung, Ha’s best friend and 

colleague of more than three 

decades, watches on. The pair 

shriek with laughter while reminiscing 

and the slightly-moreserious 

Nhung firmly sets the 

record straight when Ha adds a 

little extra colour to her stories. 

Ha begrudgingly lets her. After 

all, they’re practically sisters. 

Their relationship began in 

1976 as students at a tourism 

school in Hanoi. Ha was 

18, Nhung just 16. “I was the 

youngest,” she says. “Everybody 

called me em be—the 

baby.” Now, as manager of 

the Metropole’s Vietnamese 

restaurant Spices Garden, her 

employees call her mother. “All 

the hotel staff they call me and 

Madame Ha me,” she laughs at 

the irony. 

Once they’d finished their 

studies, the girls were assigned 

to work at the Metropole. Then 

it was known as the Thong Nhat 

or Reunification Hotel, the name 

it assumed when French colonial 

rule was put to an end. 

When they started in 

1978—Nhung as a waitress at 

French restaurant Le Beaulieu 

and Ha as a tour organiser— 

times were tough. The American 

War was still a vivid memory 

and with the new government 

much had changed. The hotel 

was also in a state of disrepair, 

a far cry from the splendour 

Ha (left) and Nhung have been 

friends for more than 30 years. 

the Metropole had come to be 

renowned for since it opened 

in 1901. 

Ha recalls rats running across 

the grounds and inside Le Beaulieu. 

Police were stationed all 

over the hotel, as well. “There 

were policemen everywhere, 

watching everyone. We had to 

control ourselves when they 

were around,” Nhung remembers. 

Following the war, the majority 

of the Metropole’s guests 

were Vietnamese government 

officials or diplomats from Communist 

countries. And many 

foreign embassies worked out of 

the hotel since their headquarters 

had been destroyed in the 

conflict. 

Ha remembers these VIPs 

well, especially one who drank 

three quarters of a bottle of wine 

before telling the sommelier it 

wasn’t to his liking, and another 

who would steal magazines 

from the lobby. She relishes 

retelling how she put those very 

important people in their place. 

Over the years Nhung and 

Ha have witnessed firsthand 

the Metropole’s transformation 

from post-war dilapidation to 

modern-day grandeur. They 

have undergone significant 

The Madames on Nhung's 

wedding day. 

changes themselves. While 

Nhung now runs Spices Garden 

and Ha is the room service 

manager, they’ve worked in 

every part of the hotel, even in 

security. 

When Accor took over in 1992 

and began the renovations that 

would restore the Metropole to 

its former glory, Ha was made 

the hotel’s first Vietnamese 

manager. It’s an honour she is 

still proud of. 

Since Accor’s accession, the 

hotel has changed yet again. 

Not only has a new, more 

modern wing been added to the 

historic original building, the 

atmosphere is decidedly different, 

too. 

Nhung and Ha say tourists 

have replaced diplomats and 

more Vietnamese guests are 

coming to stay in the hotel and 

dine in its restaurants. Service 

is better, as well. “Staff attitude 

has improved,” Nhung says. 

The Madames’ friendship 

has evolved, too. Though they 

began as classmates and went 

on to become co-workers, they 

now consider each other family. 

Ha puts it best. “We’ve been 

together for more than half our 

lives,” she says with Nhung’s 

hand clasped in hers. 

Though Denis Groison was 

raised above the pastry 

shop his parents owned, 

he desperately wanted to 

pursue a different line of 

work. He chose biochemistry. 

After four years of 

study, he decided instead 

to learn the science behind 

authentic French cooking. 

He moved to Hanoi a 

year ago with his Vietnamese 

wife. The couple 

met in France, where she’d 

been living for a decade. 

Prior to taking on the chef 

de cuisine position at Le 

Beaulieu—Vietnam’s oldest 

and most prestigious 

French restaurant—Denis 

worked in Singapore at 

Raffles Hotel. 

Since arriving, he’s 

shaken up Le Beaulieu’s 

fine dining experience 

and made it much less 

formal. He says eating was 

traditionally a shared experience 

in France, similar 

to the way Vietnamese 

families still enjoy meals 

together. So he’s fused simple 

French cooking with 

fresh local produce and 

more communal dishes to 

encourage a return to those 

times. And, he adds, to 

embrace the local culture. 

“We are in Vietnam, and 

the traditional Vietnamese 

style of eating is to share,” 

he says. 

What’s important to 

Denis is retaining the spirit 

of classic French gastronomy. 

Fusion’s not his game, 

but he’s happy to substitute 

authentic ingredients 

with what’s available 

locally in a pinch. One 

dish he prepares demonstrate 

this best: homemade 

mushroom ravioli encased 

in wonton skin and topped 

with a tiny quail egg. Voila. 


Vy (centre) with her family. 

After my wedding in 1990, I 

continued to work at the tailors 

who had given me an apprenticeship 

the previous year. This 

was a decent way for me to 

earn money and contribute to 

my new family. The workshop 

was also in close proximity to 

my parents’ restaurant, which 

meant I could continue to help 

them out during lunchtime 

hours. 

At this time doi moi had been 

in effect for four years. While 

my parents’ restaurant had been 

busy at first, their business was 

suffering by 1990. While the 

government encouraged private 

enterprise, times were hard and 

most people didn’t have the 

capital to start new businesses. 

Also, small towns like Hoi 

An couldn’t compete with the 

larger cities when it came to 

production and distribution. 

As a result, many young people 

moved to Saigon in search of 

work. Hoi An became quieter 

Renowned Hoi An restaurateur and cooking school owner 

Trinh Diem Vy risked everything to pursue her dream of 

owning a restaurant. In this excerpt from her new memoir and 

cookbook Taste Vietnam she reminisces about the early days. 

and trade in the market was 

slower so people had to watch 

their spending. 

My parents’ restaurant was 

the only one in town but people 

could no longer afford to buy 

daily lunches. My parents had 

grown weary with work and no 

longer had the energy or saw a 

future in the business, so they 

made the decision to close the 

restaurant. This affected me 

profoundly. 

I asked Father if he thought I 

should stay in Hoi An. He was 

wise in giving his advice and 

reflected on all the times we 

considered leaving Hoi An or 

had even attempted to escape 

and yet remained here. He 

believed there was a reason for 

this and that I should wait to see 

what direction the town would 

take under doi moi. Father told 

me I should follow my heart, 

that there was potential in the 

town and if I decided to start 

my own restaurant business, I 

would have his and Mother’s 

support. 

After my talk with Father, 

I started looking for a venue 

that would be suitable for my 

own restaurant. I didn’t want 

to take over my parents' space 

as the location wasn’t so easy 

for people to find. I saw the 

old police station garage on the 

main street of Tran Phu was being 

renovated and would soon 

be made available for rent. This 

was perfect! Its central position 

would guarantee passing trade 

as well as regular business from 

the market. I knew that if I 

acquired the building, my business 

would be a success. 

When the building went to 

auction, there were numerous 

bidders and the price rose 

quickly. I had taken part in the 

first round but eased off for a 

few rounds, thinking if there 

were fewer bids the price might 

stabilise. Then it dawned on me 

that I may never find a location 

like this again. I felt in my heart 

that it was the right place. I also 

knew that if I couldn’t get a 

location near to the market then 

I would lose all my old, loyal 

customers and if I wasn’t on the 

main street, I would not be visible 

to new clients. I had to have 

this building! Suddenly, to my 

surprise—and everyone else’s— 

I put in a bid that would close 

the deal. As soon as the words 

exited my mouth, I panicked, 

thinking, “Oh my goodness, 

how am I going to pay the deposit? 

I have no money!” On the 

outside, however, I remained 

calm and told the auctioneer 

that I would return soon with 

the money. 

Straight after the auction, I 

went to see my parents. They 

asked if I had succeeded in 

getting the site. I replied quietly 

that I had. They knew something 

was wrong but I told them 

everything was fine, that I was 

sorting it out. At that time I was 

literally wringing my hands 

with worry—it was then that 

I also noticed the shiny new 

wedding ring on my finger. Its 

worth in gold would be enough 

for the deposit. I made the decision 

to pawn my wedding ring 

so I could open the restaurant. 

My instincts told me this was 

the right choice to support my 

family. After paying the initial 

rent, I had 5,000 VND (back 

I was literally wringing my hands with 

worry—it was then that I also noticed the 

shiny new wedding ring on my finger. 

then this was US $0.50) leftover, 

which wasn’t enough to buy a 

day’s worth of food for a family, 

let alone an entire restaurant 

of people. But I wasn’t worried 

about getting supplies, I knew 

that I would be able to get food 

from the market vendors as 

they all knew and respected my 

parents. I focused on getting the 

restaurant ready for launch. 

I went to the fortune-teller 

who told me that the next 

auspicious day for opening was 

in three days. While renovations 

were almost complete, 

the workers said it would be 

another week before everything 

was finished. I pleaded 

with them to finish it on time. 

Fortunately, in the Vietnamese 

culture, we place great value on 

the astrological charts and so the 

workers promised to get it done. 

Meanwhile, my brother and 

my parents helped to paint 

the interior and we placed 

bamboo mats up against the 

walls. All the equipment from 

my parents' restaurant was also 

brought over to the new space. 

On the opening day, I went to 

the market early and placed a 

food order with all the vendors, 

requesting that they allow me to 

pay them at the end of the day. 

Since I had worked in the marketplace 

all my life and they had 

supplied my parents for years, 

they accepted the arrangement 

in good faith. At 10 am, Mother 

placed an offering in front of 

the restaurant doors and we lit 

firecrackers for good luck. It 

was April of 1992 and I had a 

restaurant. This was my dream: 

the one I believed would help 

resolve my family’s struggles. 

The day before opening I 

had also cycled around town, 

visiting factories and businesses 

and letting old customers know 

about the new restaurant. This 

proved to be a very good move 

as on my launch day there were 

many familiar faces inside. Even 

though it was the first day of 

business, the restaurant was 

nearly as busy as my parents' 

restaurant had been during its 

peak period. I still feel so much 

gratitude for the people who 

turned up that day and showed 

me their support. 

After the launch, business 

seemed to improve each day 

with a mixture of old and new 

customers. Suddenly it was the 

winter of 1992—six months had 

gone by in a flash! I remember 

this time vividly because I went 

to check my money belt to see 

what the situation was with 

the accounts. I was astonished 

to see I had made the equivalent 

of $100 profit. This was a 

lot of money back then! I was 

sure I had made a mistake and 

counted again. It was correct. 

My first instinct was to walk 

to my parents' house. On the 

way I kept thinking about how 

Father had agonised about 

asking for a loan from a relative 


in the United States to help pay 

for my wedding. He had been 

tormented by the need to make 

the request and it had kept him 

awake at night. When he did 

receive the reply, I could see 

from the disappointment in his 

face that they couldn’t help. 

This added to his embarrassment. 

I wish I had made this 

money back then to save him 

from all the unnecessary stress 

and shame he felt. 

It was dark and so I was using 

a flashlight. When I arrived, 

Mother called out in concern. 

As I entered, I almost knocked 

her over in excitement. When I 

showed her the money she reacted 

in disbelief, asking whose 

money it was. Then she checked 

my accounts book to see which 

suppliers I owed money to and 

also came to the same realisation. 

A smile crept over her face 

and I found myself beaming 

back at her. I had accomplished 

what I had set out to do. This 

money would be more than 

enough to pay for my brother’s 

and sisters’ schooling and 

would help both sides of my 

family with the bills. I felt both 

a sense of relief and of pride. 

I had been right to trust my 

instincts and start the restaurant 

business. 

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visit restaurant-hoian.com. 

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HCM City’s newest rock climbing guru is a fast-talking 

Renaissance man. By Frances McInnis. Photos by Fred Wissink. 

His compact body slides up the 

wall and across the ceiling with 

impossibly smooth movements. 

An arm extends, a knee bends 

and, somehow, he propels himself 

up to his goal: an electric 

blue rock climbing hold in the 

shape of a telephone. Hanging 

upside down like a fly on the 

ceiling, he pretends to make 

a call, laughs, and then drops 

lightly down to the mats below. 

Meet Paul Massad, the 

21-year-old owner of Push 

Climbing. Push is Vietnam’s 

first gym dedicated to bouldering, 

a style of rock climbing 

done over crash pads without 

ropes or harnesses. Massad, 

who punctuates his speech with 

quick grins, swear words and 

sips of strong, black iced coffee, 

says he and other bouldering 

enthusiasts are the most 

laid-back segment of the rock 

climbing community. “It’s easy. 

You go out and you do it. A mat 

and two people, that’s all you 

need. No ropes, no anchors,” he 

says. “I’m lazy.” 

Well, not quite. Opening a 

business in Vietnam as a foreigner 

requires quite a bit more 

than a few mats, and older, 

more experienced entrepreneurs 

have been stymied by licensing 

snafus and language barriers. 

Massad tackles those challenges 

the same way he climbs: with 

unbending tenacity and a bit 

of grace. “It’s all patience,” 

he explains. “You’ve got to be 

willing to wait, to sit down and 

wait for the licenses, to bargain 

the prices.” 

Making the feat yet more 

impressive, Massad opened the 

gym in less than six months, 

all while taking a full academic 

load in the Public Relations 

department at RMIT. He barely 

slept for months before Push 

opened in December. 

But that punishing pace is 

routine for Massad. He seems to 

have more energy than normal 

humans, and, having barely 

begun his 20s, has already done 

more than most octogenarians. 

He has worked as a candy salesman, 

a motorcycle mechanic, a 

helicopter tour salesman and 

an office drone. He’s been a 

supermarket bagger, a commercial 

fisherman and a kebab shop 

owner. He’s been an ESL teacher 

and a dive instructor, and has 

lived on four continents. 

Massad attributes his willingness 

to take risks and try new 

experiences to a childhood 

in Chiloe Island, in southern 

Chile. Living in a community of 

only 300 people, his American 

father and Chilean mother let 

him set his limits. “You could 

go anywhere and it was safe. 

My parents always gave me 

the liberty to do as I pleased: to 

roll on the ground, climb trees, 

eat anything, come back with 

scratches and bruises.” 

The family moved to Alaska 

when Massad was 15, and it 

was there that he started rock 

climbing. At first it was stress 

release—he was only sleeping 

two hours a night back then too, 

bagging groceries at a supermarket 

chain called Alaska 

and Proud, starting a kebab 

restaurant and attending school. 

Soon, he was a fixture at a local 

climbing gym, heading out 

to local mountains with other 

regulars whenever he could. 

After the family moved to 

Nha Trang last year, Massad 

missed rock climbing. (“My 

hands went soft,” he says 

shaking his head mournfully.) 

He planned a trip to Japan to 

satisfy the craving, and trained 

to climb Mount Fuji solo at 

dawn. Alone with a bottle of 

Jack Daniels at the summit, he 

watched the sun go up. “I was 

breathless. It was an epiphany 

moment,” he says with uncharacteristic 

solemnity. Then he 

grins and adds, “It was just like 

The Lion King.” 

He hit several bouldering 

gyms in Japan, and was gratified 

to find they were packed, 

with experts and amateurs. 

“Everyone having a good time, 

fat, short, skinny, tall. It didn’t 

matter at all if you’re good or 

bad. Then I clicked. This might 

work in Vietnam.” 

Indeed, Vietnam’s karst limestone 

formations produce the 

stalactites, caves and pockets 

that make for exciting climbing 

and the sport has exploded here 

in the last few years. Tourists 

and expats flock to Halong 

Bay and Dalat, HCM City now 

boasts two vertical climbing 

walls, and teams from across 

Southeast Asia converged on 

a peak in Phu Yen province in 

late March for the country’s 

first international rock climbing 

competition. 

But local residents have 

been slower to embrace the 

adventure sport, says Massad, 

and this is where his ambitions 

lie—to bring Vietnamese into 

the global climbing community. 

“Climbing is a means to 

communication where you 

don’t need words. It’s a feeling 

that you’re part of community. 

Climbing here, or in Japan or in 

the US, it’s all the same.” 

“Still, it’s not easy to have 

people try a new thing, especially 

where they are committed to 

their own culture and traditions,” 

he says. “It’s going [to 

be] a lot of work.” 

Somehow, I think he’s up to 

the challenge. 


An astronomical tour of the galaxy is not normally on the menu at even the most 

upscale resorts. However, there is one man whose job it is to break down the 

mysteries of the heavens to even the most uninformed guests, such as Brett Davis. 

Dr Parag Mahajani looks like I 

imagine an astronomer should 

look. He is wiry and bespectacled, 

and possessed of a natural 

intelligence. He also has the 

enviable role of travelling the 

world to enlighten the guests 

of the Six Senses resort group 

on matters astronomical and 

astrological. 

He was recently at the group’s 

Ninh Van Bay resort, near Nha 

Trang, to give a series of lectures 

and host a special dinner with 

a menu themed on the four elements 

of the zodiac. 

His lecturing style is entertaining 

and informative, weaving 

in equal part of zodiac lore 

with hard astronomical science 

in order to keep both the skeptic 

and the believer intrigued. But 

make no mistake where this man 

of science stands on the issue. 

“I personally don’t believe 

in astrology, but it is fun, you 

know.” He compares it to watching 

a film, “I don’t believe the 

movie is real, but I can still enjoy 

watching it". 

Mumbai educated, Dr Parag 

continues to write books and 

articles, and gives lectures 

around the world. Inspired to 

study astronomy after seeing 

Hayley’s Comet in his last year 

of high school, the drudgery of 

pure academic research was not 

for him. 

“I found academic life boring. 

I don’t want to sit in front of a 

computer all day, I like being 

out, talking to people. 

“There is a huge gap between 

researchers and the common 

people. I want to be the link 

between researchers and nonastronomers.” 

By all accounts, guests have 

responded enthusiastically 

whenever Dr Parag has conducted 

lectures. “People really love 

it,” he says of the astronomy sessions. 

“It is intellectual luxury.” 

It is this combination of learning 

while enjoying premium 

hospitality that makes for such a 

unique and enjoyable experience. 

Dr Parag spent three 

months in consultation with the 

resort’s head chef to design the 

menu for the zodiac dinner. 

Each course of the dinner had 

to represent one of the four elements 

of the zodiac: fire, water, 

air and earth. For example, the 

water signs of Cancer, Scorpio 

and Pisces were represented by 

a crayfish tortellini, while the 

earth signs of Taurus, Virgo and 

Capricorn took the form of Black 

Angus Beef with a potato puree 

and braised morning glory. 

The following evening, guests 

were invited to gather on a jetty 

protruding from the rocky beach 

to study the moon and stars under 

the doctor’s guidance, while 

tasting a selection of organic 

wines from Europe, Australia 

and South America. Intellectual 

luxury seems a very appropriate 

term for it. 

Guests at the Six Senses 

group’s resorts must appreciate 

the pairing of refined surroundings 

and child-like wonder you 

get from looking through a telescope 

at the stars. In addition to 

Dr Parag’s lectures and trusty 

telescope, the two flagship 

resorts in the portfolio—Soneva 

Fushi in Maldives and Soneva 

Kiri in Thailand— have their 

own permanent, fully-functioning 

observatories. 

Like all of the Six Senses 

properties, Ninh Van Bay is 

designed to blend in with the 

environment by using natural 

materials for construction and 

maintaining a focus on sustainability. 

This includes making 

their own drinking water to 

reduce the need for plastic 

bottles, to growing much of 

their own fresh produce on the 

island. 

General Manager of Six 

Senses Ninh Van Bay Wayne 

Lunt says the company aims to 

be "de-carbonising", or being a 

negative emitter of carbon, by 

2020. “It is difficult to do as a 

resort, but that is why we have 

started forests in Thailand to 

offset our carbon footprint.” 

Lunt says adhering to the resort’s 

values of complementing 

the natural environment is not 

always the cheapest way to do 

things, but that it is something 

people appreciate in this day 

and age. 

The resort's villas are barely 

visible, scattered amongst 

the trees and perched over 

rocks along the crescent-moon 

shaped bay. Each has its 

own infinity–edged pool and 

spacious living area with an 

enormous day bed. Inside your 

own private oasis it is nearly 

impossible to see your neighbours 

and certainly creates the 

impression you have this tropical 

paradise all to yourself. 

Six Senses has what it calls 

its ‘SLOW LIFE’ philosophy: 

Sustainable – Local – Organic – 

Wholesome Learning – Inspiring 

– Fun – Experiences. With 

activities like studying the stars 

in idyllic surrounds, while 

enjoying wonderful food and 

wine, it is a philosophy they are 

very successfully putting in to 

practice. 


The long and 

winding road 

to El Nido 

There’s more to the ramshackle beach town of El Nido, 

on Palawan Island in The Philippines, than a sweeping 

seascape of limestone islands and hidden beaches, as 

Jade Bilowol discovers. Photos by Landon Carnie. 

Flanked by two thick slabs of 

timber joined at a 90-degree 

angle before her, diminutive 

Filipino bartender Anjelyn leans 

towards us and blurts out, “Not 

many foreigners can speak English!” 

To emphasise her point— 

and confirm she’s speaking 

about her white customers—she 

rests her eyes on a Muscovite 

she only minutes ago poured a 

San Mig for. 

This moment encapsulates 

what makes The Philippines 

pleasantly surprising. The country 

takes Asian stereotypes and 

turns them upside down. The 

Philippines is in Asia but if you 

speak English you’ll find you’ll 

be greeted with polite, warm 

responses in lieu of blank stares. 

After all, this is the world’s third 

largest English speaking nation, 

stemming from 45 years of 

United States rule. 

Anjelyn is one of the countless 

smiling, happy-go-lucky 

Filipinos who make this country 

so inviting. While it was an obscenely 

large crab that initially 

attracted my travel companion 

Landon and I to the ‘Balay 

Tubay’ restaurant, Anjelyn and 

her friendly co-workers’ infectious 

personalities lured us back. 

After a second consecutive night 

of fresh seafood and good wine 

Anjelyn invites us to El Nido’s 

main Balay Tubay—a live music 

venue. El Nido is located near 

the northern tip of Palawan. It’s 

a small yet thriving beach town, 

most of which is sandwiched 

between towering, jagged 

limestone cliffs mottled with 

vegetation. 

There are two Balay Tubays 

in town, both owned by the 

same person, who cheekily 

introduces himself as “Bong”. 

Filipinos love to come up with 

quirky names for themselves. 

For example, Jejomar is derived 

from JEsus, JOseph and MARy 

(The Philippines is a devoutly 

Catholic country). 

Bong explains his ancestor 

Sabas “Tubas” Robles erected 

Balay Tubay in 1931, before 

it became a secret meeting 

place for the guerilla resistance 

against Japanese occupation 

forces in 1943. It was demolished 

in 2004, before reincarnating 

at its current locations, the 

larger of which showcases local 

musicians who play a mixed 

bag of rock, reggae and local 

numbers seven nights a week. 

We eventually pull ourselves 

away from the live music at 

2.45 am, mounting our hired 

scooter for the short ride to our 

beach shack tucked away from 

El Nido’s main beachfront. As 

we retire for the night, we look 

out at the silver sheet of water, 

shimmering under the moon’s 

glow. Beyond are the dark 

silhouettes of limestone islands, 

in a horizon almost identical 

to that of Halong Bay, yet even 

more pristine. 

Scuba-diving and snorkeling 

are very popular in these parts 

with a range of boat tours on 

offer to take you to isolated bays 

and golden beaches. Further 

north at Busuanga Island, there’s 

said to be some of the best wreck 

diving in the world. Dozens of 

Japanese Navy ships sunk by 

the United States during WWII 

sit on the ocean floor just waiting 

for divers to explore. 

If you’re prone to get seasick 

in a bath tub like me, never 

fear. Just make sure you are 

equipped with some cash as El 

Nido, while tourist-orientated 

in so many other ways, has 

no ATM. The closest ATM is 

located eight hours’ drive south 

in Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s 

capital. Cash permitting there 

are plenty of wonderful places 

to eat, drink and relax, or treat 

yourself to a massage or natural 

facial. Obviously you can enjoy 

El Nido’s beaches for free and 

meander through its streets or 

embark on hiking and climbing 

trips. 

In our final hour in El Nido 

we wander down the beach to 

the Greenview Resort for breakfast. 

The owner Paul reckons 

almost all the people who come 

to Southeast Asia and visit the 

Philippines leave it until last on 

their itinerary. “Once they’re 

here, they wish they had put it 

at the top and allowed for more 

time”. I’m not sure about the 

accuracy of his figures but I get 

his point. It’s definitely a country 

that catches you unawares 

and disarms you. 

We farewell the dogs, cats, 

bearcat and large native pig, 

which also call the Greenview 

Resort home before jumping on 

our Honda XRM for the long 

ride back to Puerto Princesa. I 

am good at vowing to return 

to impressive holiday spots 

but with El Nido, I know I’ll be 

back. 

The night is pitch-black yet I cannot 

remove my sunglasses as they are 

obstructing a relentless torrent of bugs 

flying into my face. We’re cursing the 

dusty, rutted road our scooter is bouncing 

along, and we’re cursing ourselves 

for not starting this ride earlier in the 

day. 

Departing Puerto Princesa at 12.30 

pm north to El Nido proves not to be 

our brightest move. But in our defense 

we’d been advised the trip would total 

five hours on a road, “that’s fine”. 

The first two hours are smooth and 

scenic. When we stop for fuel at Roxas, 

some locals encouragingly tell us we’re 

“halfway” there. But soon we hit dirt 

and after a few hours it dawns upon 

us this halfway mark is definitely in 

regards to kilometres. 

“I wish they weren’t so friendly and 

would stop saying hello so I don’t have 

an accident,” Landon, the driver of the 

bike, remarks as yet another enthusiastic 

“hello” rings out from yet another 

gorgeous child. But the friendly people 

and electric-green countryside become 

increasingly blotted out in clouds of 

dust as the road further deteriorates. 

The longer we ride, the seemingly 

shorter the gaps between oncoming vehicles 

that leave a massive dust-cloud 

in their wake. The trip goes on and on. 

Things start to feel bleak. I’m tired and 

I want to be in El Nido. Now. 

My backside aches so much the rest 

of my body has grown numb. We 

ambitiously saddled a lot of baggage 

on our motorbike and the bones in my 

arms, after hours of clinging on to several 

bags, feel brittle. It takes another 

two hours after darkness descends to 

reach El Nido. And due to the Lunar 

New Year it’s high season here, so 

we’re in for another fight trying to find 

accommodation. 

Eventually we’re settled on a 

wooden balcony overlooking a secluded 

beach away from the main part 

of Barcuit Bay. An Aussie couple starts 

up a conversation with us and we soon 

establish we all reached El Nido via 

motorbike. “There would be people 

who would underestimate the time 

it takes to get here and have to drive 

at night—that would be so bad,” one 

of them says. We begin to explain our 

7.5-hour ride… 


Lucky Beef Parts 

In 1999 a restaurant opened at 

31 Ly Tu Trong in District 1. Its 

proper name was Quan Luong 

Son. But expats and tourists 

alike called it Bo Tung Xeo, after 

its signature dish. It's a bit like 

Korean barbeque. Although 

instead of a gas fire built into 

the table, Bo Tung Xeo features 

a charcoal brazier brought to 

the table, upon which you grill 

your own beef and veg. It's 

hot and smokey but, hey, it's 

also festive and delicious. Of 

course you walk out with your 

clothes and hair smelling like 

grilled meat, and some people 

think that's a bad thing, but I 

am not among their number. 

Same-same with garlic. When 

it comes to either garlic or barbeque, 

too much is not enough! 

Well, so say I. But to my tale. 

Quan Luong Son, or Bo 

Tung Xeo if you must, was a 

beer-gardeny sort of joint. Big, 

rambling, part of it in a patio 

open to the tropical sky. (So 

what if you get a little rain?) 

Fish tanks full of fresh seafood 

waiting to leap into your mouth 

lined one wall. And happiness 

and hubbub and bubble and 

bustle floated on the air along 

with the pungent, beefy smoke 

and shouts of recognition and 

bursts of laughter and squeals 

of kids on a night out with the 

folks. It was a favourite and perennial 

of my former publisher, 

Lonely Planet. Indeed, the LP 

Vietnam entry was blown up to 

about 100 times true size and 

plastered to the eastern wall. 

But I digress. 

And then, in 2008, for reasons 

best not delved in to on this 

page, the venerable haunt 

suddenly ceased. The smoke 

cleared, the shouts echoed 

away, the sizzle ceased, and the 

mirthful place was no more. But 

hallelujah! The Smokey Lady 

has returned! And she is at her 

old place and just as seductive 

as ever. 

She's in an old colonial 

structure across the street from 

what was originally a French 

hospital. Indeed, the restaurant 

was actually an annex to it 

back in the Gaullic days. The 

moulded, butter-yellow walls 

have aged well, and reflect a 

golden light, giving the scene 

what we can call a cool warmth. 

It looks warm, but feels cool. 

The atmo is the same, the menu 

is the same. It's as though she 

just took a long nap. 

So let me tell you a little 

about the menu. In addition to 

the smokey meat and the swimmingly 

fresh fish and the crisp 

vegetables, the tasty treats include: 

fried scorpions (the sauce 

is piquant without being overpowering); 

the crocodile is one 

of my faves (and is guaranteed 

not to have killed or devoured 

any humans, at least none of 

my acquaintance); the crickets 

are crunchy (low in cholesterol, 

high in protein); the snakehead 

is rather pedestrian (but some 

people like it); the nearest 

competitors have got nuttin' on 

the mutton; and the penis and 

ball might be an acquired taste, 

but give it a try. Hey, don't be a 

wus. Be bold! 

And one last thing, about 

the Bo Tung Xeo. The term 

translates loosely as “lucky 

beef parts”. And such they are. 

They are small, tender and juicy 

parts of bovine, and you are 

lucky if you eat them. But the 

term “bo tung xeo” also refers 

to something else. Something 

a bit darker than the starlit sky 

above the open patio. It refers 

to an ancient form of torture. 

Bo Tung Xeo. The term translates 

loosely as “lucky beef parts”. And 

such they are. They are small, tender 

and juicy parts of bovine, and you are 

lucky if you eat them. 

A torture in which the victim, 

be he rich man, poor man, 

beggar man or thief; spy, rebel 

or assassin, was strapped to a 

butcher's table. Then slowly, 

inch by inch, little parts of his 

body were sliced off and fed 

to the baying hounds. Perhaps 

a slice an hour, perhaps a slice 

a day. It would depend on the 

torturer's agenda. If all that was 

required of him was a confession, 

then the miscreant might 

leave minus a steak or a couple 

of chops, maybe a little bacon. 

But otherwise, it was Death by 

a Thousand Cuts. Muhuhahahaha! 

Bon appetite, and hope to see 

you there. 

La Villa 

La Villa’s high-ceilinged dining 

room, complete with majestic 

timber staircase, is all elegance. 

A vase of fresh-cut flowers in 

the centre of the space offsets 

the all-white walls, as do 

antique-style chairs and a black 

Eiffel Tower print. 

The real treat is outside, 

though: a lush garden filled 

with tropical ginger and lantana, 

shaded beneath a huge 

mango tree. A young grey 

parrot called Lila perches on 

the lowest branch, welcoming 

customers to the restaurant that 

doubles as her owners’ home. 

Chef Thierry Mounon and his 

wife Tina live on the top floor 

of the two-storey pale pink villa 

A French fine dining experience in An Phu. 

Photos by Fred Wissink. 

just off Thao Dien. Thierry grew 

up in the south of France and 

says his vision was to recreate 

an opulent villa like those he 

used to admire along the French 

Riviera. 

Likewise, the compact 

menu he’s created brings other 

memories to life. One appetizer, 

the caillette (US $12), is a special 

recipe his great grandmother 

passed on to his grandfather. 

Pork, liver and sage are 

combined to make a fist-sized 

meatball, which sits in a rich 

tomato sauce. When sliced in 

half, a hunk of goat’s cheese 

oozes from its core. 

Another starter is Fine de 

Claire oysters ($10) served on ice 

with green caviar and shallot 

vinaigrette. This particular oyster 

was initially imported from 

France and is now farmed in 

Nha Trang. Slightly saltier than 

the average Vietnamese variety, 

the texture is also decidedly less 

chewy. 

The mains take a little time 

but they’re worth the wait. One 

dish, a traditional fish stew 

or bouillabaisse ($40 including 

French cheeses and dessert) 

must be ordered one day in advance. 

The Australian rack lamb 

with orange sauce ($30) and the 

cobia fish cooked in crab bisque 

with mushroom, cheese and 

truffle oil-infused mash ($20) 

come a little quicker. 

For dessert, Thierry has a 

secret weapon in the kitchen. 

His pastry-chef godfather 

has travelled especially from 

France to create treats like the 

flaky custard-filled millefeuille 

($10) and the doughnut-y peche 

briochee ($9). 

After spending time with 

Thierry it’s no surprise to find 

an extended family member 

working in the restaurant. After 

all, a trip to La Villa is also a 

trip to Thierry’s home. 

14 Ngo Quang Huy, Thao Dien 

Ward, District 2. 

Tel: 3898 2082 

Open Wednesday to Monday noon till 

1.30 pm; 7 pm till late 


El Gaucho 

An 

Argentinean steakhouse with plenty of 

meat on the menu. Photos by Fred Wissink. 

Cuc Gach Quan 

Family-style 

Vietnamese food served in artful 

surroundings. Photos by Eunji Chung. 

Specialising in great-quality 

steaks and hearty and filling Argentinean 

comfort food, it’s best 

to visit the newest restaurant in 

the El Gaucho chain on an empty 

stomach. 

With 45 outlets preceding it, 

the Saigon establishment follows 

the same formula as its counterparts. 

The menu is mostly the 

same except for some additions 

to cater to local tastes, and the 

décor has the same rustic feel 

that can be found worldwide. 

In HCM City, though, the 

design seems very fresh. The 

downstairs is small and cosy and 

backed by the gleaming stainless 

steel kitchen. The upstairs is 

bright and airy with a fantastic 

heavy-wood bar and outside terrace 

that overlooks leafy Nguyen 

Sieu. 

The food is just as impressive. 

To start, crusty white bread is 

served with a side of slightlyspicy 

chimichuri (40,000 VND). 

Similar to salsa, the zesty sauce 

is made from diced capsicum, 

onion, parsley and olive oil. Next 

out is the very substantial Argentinean 

beef soup (65,000 VND). 

Almost like a stew, the broth is 

thick and rich with chunks of 

tender beef and potato, and butter 

beans. 

Homemade chorizo (120,000 

VND) and a spicier sausage 

called salchicha (120,000 VND) 

are available, too. Both are 

savoury and fragrant. The beef 

empanada (95,000 VND) is also 

homemade. Minced beef is 

encased in fried pastry to make a 

parcel resembling a pasty, albeit 

of a more exotic variety. 

It’s during the main course 

that El Gaucho’s emphasis 

on deluxe cuts of premium 

imported beef becomes clear. 

Cooked medium rare, the 

prime Black Angus rib eye 

(550,000 VND/250g or 750,000 

VND/350g) is unbelievably tender 

and flavoursome. The side 

of macaroni cheese, rough-cut 

chips and sautéed mushrooms 

are tasty, too. 

The hamburger (250,000 VND) 

again showcases a commitment 

to top-quality meat. The 350- 

gram patty, also medium rare, is 

thick and juicy and complemented 

by a generous stack of tomato, 

lettuce, onion and mayonnaise. 

One thing seems almost 

certain: a trip to El Gaucho is 

sure to satisfy HCM City’s most 

carnivorous residents. And with 

another location set to open at 

The Crescent in Phu My Hung 

on June 1, and perhaps more 

in the near future, El Gaucho 

certainly has Saigon covered. 

5D/104 Nguyen Sieu, District 1 

Tel: 3825 1879. 

Open daily for breakfast 8 am to 11 

am, lunch 11 am to 2.30 pm, dinner 

3 pm till late 

Go to Cuc Gach Quan and 

you’ll wish you lived there. 

Tucked behind a half-open gate 

on Dang Tat, the restaurant is a 

series of nooks filled with deep, 

leather chairs, salvaged-wood 

tables and armoires stacked 

with blue-and-white china 

bowls. Head up the ladder-like 

staircase to find a bedroominspired 

second floor, featuring 

a canopied bed for lounging 

and a spectacular terracotta tile 

ceiling. 

“The main idea was to recreate 

a home,” says owner Thai 

Tu-Tho who bought the colonial 

mansion with her partner, architect 

Tran Binh, to supplement 

their first restaurant on Thach 

Thi Thanh. (Incidentally, Tran’s 

assiduous redesign—and the 

fact that his architecture firm 

occupies the top two floors—is 

responsible for the restaurant’s 

nickname of “Architect’s 

House” among HCM City’s 

expats.) “The two of us live far 

from our families, and we’re not 

the only ones in Saigon away 

from home. This is for people 

who miss the taste and simplicity 

of family-style food.” 

Even those who didn’t grow 

up in Vietnamese homes will 

appreciate the Southern dishes 

cooked with care by chef duo 

Co Diep (vegetables and salads) 

and Chi Bay (meat and stir 

fries). Sipping on fresh fruit 

juices that arrive in glass bottles 

with whimsical rolled-leaf stoppers 

(55,000 VND), we sample 

cuon diep or lettuce rolls with 

prawn (60,000 VND), each bearing 

an orange prawn trussed on 

the top. 

The homemade tofu also 

impresses—we marvel a 

deep-fried version topped with 

crispy chilli-fried lemongrass 

(65,000 VND). As good as it 

is, though, it’s forgotten as the 

thit kho trung—stewed pork in 

clay pot—arrives at the table 

(75,000 VND). Pieces of pork 

and a hardboiled egg bathe in 

a rich, brown salty sauce and 

conversation stalls apart from 

an occasional grunt of delight. 

Unlike the set menu on offer 

at the Thach Thi Thanh location, 

the menu here is extensive 

to the point of bewildering; if 

you’re feeling overwhelmed, 

the staff will happily provide 

recommendations or even 

choose your entire meal. All 

you need to do is grab a pair 

of chopsticks out of the can at 

the end of the table and make 

yourself at home. 

10 Dang Tat, District 1 

Tel: 3848 0144 

Open daily 9 am till midnight 


Behind the Design: 

CJ BIKES 

Two guys with a passion for motorbikes are helping people unleash 

their inner Easy Rider. By Brett Davis. Photos by Fred Wissink. 

Saigon is a motorbike town. 

Even if you arrive here with 

minimal or even no previous 

experience, it doesn’t take long 

to get caught up in the excitement 

and feeling of freedom 

that comes with riding a 

motorbike. 

Once you are at that point, it 

is a short step to casting admiring 

glances at some of the cool 

rides you see around town, be 

it a tricked-out retro scooter, 

a restored vintage classic or a 

mean chopper. 

Canadian Jason Steiner and 

business partner Chuong Tran 

are helping make some of those 

two-wheel dreams come true 

through their custom motorcycle 

business CJ Bikes. The 

pair and their team of mechanics 

and painters have turned 

out about 35 custom built and 

restored bikes in the company’s 

18 months of existence. 

The enterprise came about 

when Steiner was looking for 

someone to help him restore an 

old bike, and found the small 

workshop on Nguyen Van Cu 

on the border of District 1 and 

5. “Chuong and his guys did a 

spectacular job,” Steiner says, 

and the idea for the business 

was born. 

Still operating out of that 

same workshop and with a 

sales office at 114 Bui Vien, the 

guys keep some bikes in stock 

but usually start from scratch 

with each customer. “People 

can come to us with an idea or a 

picture, whatever they want really 

we can do it,” Steiner says. 

The bikes are stripped down 

to the frame and rebuilt. From 

there you are really only limited 

by your imagination and your 

budget. 

Gas tanks, exhausts, tires, 

fenders, handlebars, tail and 

shocks can all be tinkered with. 

At present they must build off 

existing frames, but are looking 

for welders with the necessary 

expertise to enable them to 

build frames from scratch. 

Often the raw materials they 

begin with are bikes like the 

Honda CD, Magna or Daelim. 

The latter are good for rebuilding 

into roadsters, which are 

the most popular type of bike 

the shop is producing. 

Steiner’s own bike was 

purchased as more or less a 

complete wreck after it had 

been involved in a crash. The 

engine was in good order but 

the rest was completely rebuilt 

at the shop. 

“A lot of people want 

something different and we can 

do that for them. We are also 

seeing a lot of people who are 

just tired of scooters and want 

to move up to a real bike.” 

About 60 percent of the 

shop’s customers are foreigners, 

but the local market is growing. 

Steiner says as young Vietnamese 

guys begin to earn more 

money, they want a bike that 

sets them apart from the crowd. 

“They maybe don’t have the 

ability to buy a big-money bike 

direct from the factory but they 

can spend a few thousand dollars 

and we can make something 

spectacular for them.” 

You can get a good custom 

bike for around US $3000, 

although the guys have done 

bikes up to about $9000. Steiner 

says all their bikes have a 

one-year service warranty 

on engines, and they pride 

themselves on their after-sale 

service. 

“We will go out to customers’ 

homes to help them out 

with problems, even something 

as small as not knowing how 

to use the choke or getting the 

bike started using the kick start. 

“A lot of people come here 

not knowing much about bikes 

but they really get into it.” 

For more information visit 

c-jbikes.tumblr.com 


Abstract artist Nguyen Trung 

observes Saigon with a keen eye, 

taking in every nuance, then reflecting 

the city’s essence back through his 

paintings. Beth Young visits his 

studio. Photos by Huynh Ho Quang. 

In 1959, Nguyen Trung, then 19, created his 

first artwork. It was a figurative painting 

that depicted Saigon. A touch over five 

decades later, the city still features heavily 

in his art and in particular served as the 

inspiration for his latest body of work 

“Grey White Black”. Using only the three 

colours, Trung sought to translate his personal 

observations of Saigon on to canvas 

plus a sense of nostalgia for another city he 

loves—Paris. 

While the darker shades represent HCM 

City and what Trung calls its “graffiti”—the 

marks and scratches etched into the walls 

of old buildings and weathered alleyways, 

the white symbolises the snow he first 

saw in France. “It left a great impression 

on me,” he says, adding that the memory 

was triggered when a friend from the US 

sent a photograph of an American winter 

wonderland. 

This image was the impetus for “Grey 

White Black” and also signalled the end of 

a six-year absence from the public sphere 

since his last exhibition “Blackboard”. The 

reason for the break: a complete lack of 

inspiration. But with a whisper of the past 

Trung’s passion was restored and the city 

again became his muse. 

To communicate its frantic energy Trung 

uses atypical tools. Paintbrushes the size 

of small brooms line a patch of wall in his 

crowded studio along with a selection of 

rollers. A plastic container of rusty nails 

and an antique porcelain bowl filled with 

corks lie among the countless tubes of 

acrylic paint. According to Trung, they can 

“Using my hands to paint gives 

me freedom to express myself.” 

all be used to create art. Still, his favourite 

tools are his hands. When elbow-deep in a 

project he says he can best express himself. 

With a career spanning half a century 

and punctuated by French colonial rule 

and the American War, Trung has become 

one of Vietnam’s most well-known and collectable 

artists. His style has evolved over 

the years, but the use of a subdued palette 

has remained fairly constant. While he has 

plans to use even less colour in the near future, 

he predicts that one day he may inject 

his work with shocks of red or yellow. 

He does make one promise, though: 

there will be no repeats. His work may 

continue to tell a story of Saigon but that 

tale will be reworked, taking on a totally 

different aesthetic each time. 


Kirsty Josephine Proud 

Vandalism 

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Mac Hoang Cuc Phuong 

The Harmony 


Kyoung Eun Park 

Not It 

Watercolour and coloured pencil on paper 

Tran Kieu Tu Minh 

Natural Beauty: Glamour 

Lino print & mono print on paper 

Pham Ngoc Minh Khanh 

Bend & Shift 

Oil paint on canvas 

Bui Thanh Truc 

Tempting 

Digital painting printed on board 

Da Eun Oh 

Road to the City 


Nguyen Phan Tu Bao 

In My Eyes 

Oil pastel on paper 

At the end of April some final 

year students at the British 

International School will be 

showcasing artwork undertaken 

as part of the International 

Baccalaureate Diploma. 

The students were able to 

work in any visual medium 

and used techniques such as oil 

and acrylic paints on canvas, 

linoprinting, monoprinting and 

etching. Other students produced 

sculpture, installations 

and digital art. 

The school’s Head of Art and 

Design Richard Harper said the 

students had to develop their 

own thematic approach and 

ideas for their work. 

“I was there to guide them 

but they really had to undertake 

some personal investigation 

to come up with their 

ideas.” 

An exhibition for students 

and parents will be held at the 

British International School 

later this month. Following this 

some selected works will be 

displayed at the restaurant and 

gallery space FLOW in District 

1 from Friday April 29 to Sunday 

May 1. 


Nike 

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MY 

Givenchy 

5,900,000 VND 

FUTURE'S 

Timberland 

3,600,000 VND 

SO 

BRIGHT 

I GOTTA WEAR SHADES 

Ermenegildo 

Zegna 

5,900,000 VND 

Styling by Hanh Edbrooke and Anthony Thong Nguyen 

Photos by Fred Wissink 

Eyewear Plaza: 33 Nguyen Du, D1 

Jess Luxury Eyewear: Vincom, Parkson, Diamond 

Eyewear Hut: 1 Truong Dinh, D1, 15-17 Truong Dinh, D1, 169-171 Duong 3/2, D10, 

101-103 Nguyen Trai, D1, Vincom, Tax Plaza, Diamond 


Charriol 

4,830,000 VND 

Zegna 

5,270,000 VND 

Escada 

4,250,000 VND 

Ray-Ban 

4,000,000 VND 

Dior 

5,550,000 VND 

Levi's 

1,900,000 VND 

Dior 

5,000,000 VND 

Tom Ford 

8,500,000 VND 


listings 

hotel & 

travel 

AIRLINES 

Air Asia 

254 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3838 9810 

www.airasia.com 

Asia’s largest low-cost airline operates 

one daily flight between HCM City-Hanoi, 

as well as international flights to Bangkok, 

Phuket, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. 

Air France 

130 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3829 0981 

ext. 82 

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. 

Fares start at about $300. 

Jetstar Pacific 

www.jetstar.com 

Budget branch of Australian Qantas 

flies into Can Tho, Danang, Hanoi, Hai 

Phong, HCM City, Hue, Nha Trang and 

Vinh and operates cheap flights from 

HCM City to Siem Reap and Bangkok. 

Check out Friday Fare Frenzy online 

promotion from 2 to 5 pm every Friday. 

Malaysia Airlines 

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. 

Philippine Airways 

229 Dong Khoi, D3 Tel: 3822 2241 

www.philippineairlines.com 

Operates daily service from HCM City to 

Manila, offering fare options through the 

PAL Econo Light Class. 

Royal Brunei 

Level 4, 129A Nguyen Hue, D1 

Tel: 3914 6868 

www.bruneiair.com 

Royal Brunei provides scheduled service 

across Asia, the Middle East, United 

Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. 

Thai Airways 

65 Nguyen Du, Tel: 3829 2810 

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. 

Vietnam Airlines 

Hanoi: 94 Tran Quoc Toan 

Tel: 942 0848 

HCM City: 116 Nguyen Hue, D1 

Tel: 3832 0320 

www.vietnamair.com.vn 

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. 

CON DAO 

Con Dao Resort 

8 Nguyen Duc Thuan Tel: 06 4830 949 

www.condaoresort.com 

Modern hotel with 45 rooms and seven 

villas set on 2km of private beach. 

On-premise facilities include restaurant, 

bar, beach-view swimming pool, tennis 

court and volleyball. Organizes outdoor 

activities and tours. 

Saigon Con Dao Resort 

18-24 Ton Duc Thang Tel: 06 4830 155 

www.saigoncondaoresort.com 

Opened in summer 2009, Saigon Tourist’s 

82-room hotel has a restaurant, 

swimming pool, tennis court and health 

club with sauna. Another 30 villas are 

available in the adjacent sister hotel, a 

renovated colonial-era administration 

building. Tours organized by hotel. 

Six senses Con Dao 

Dat Doc Beach, Con Dao District, Ba 

Ria - Vung Tau Province, Vietnam Tel: 

06 43831 222, Fax : +84 64 3831 456 

www.saigoncondaoresort.com 

The first five-star resort in this unspoilt 

archipelago, Six Senses Con Dao's 50 

villas sit along a mile of sandy beach, 

sheltered by green forested hills behind 

and with stunning vistas of the sea Each 

villa also has its own infinity-edged 

swimming pool. 

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. 

Mercure Dalat 

7 Tran Phu, Dalat Tel: 063 3825 777 

www.mercure.com 

Built in 1932 as the Hotel Du Parc, this 

144-room resort pairs French colonial architecture 

with modern amenities. Cafe 

De Le Poste serves French home-style, 

international and Vietnamese cuisine. 

Facilities include tennis court and sauna 

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. 

activities 

Phat Tire Ventures 

73 Truong Cong Dinh Tel: 63 3829 422 

www.phattireventures.com 

Runs guided trips for hiking/trekking, 

mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking 

and canyoning in the highlands surrounding 

Dalat. Also operates mixed trip 

adventure packages and ropes course 

set among pine forest with 100+ metre 

Flying Fox zip line. 

Dalat Easy Rider Tours 

70 Phan Dinh Phung 

dalateasyriders@yahoo.com 

www.dalat-easyrider.com 

Ride pillion with English-, French- or 

German-speaking tour guides on motorbike 

adventures that start in Dalat and 

snake through mountains, jungles and 

deltas, lasting anywhere from three to 21 

days. Trips terminate in Nha Trang, Hoi 

An, Hanoi, Mui Ne or HCM City. All hotels 

and entrance fees included. 

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. 

Hanoi Hilton Opera 

1 Le Thanh Tong, Hoan Kiem 

Tel: 04 3933 0500 

www.hilton.com 

Housed in a colonial-style building 

that complements the adjacent Opera 

House, this luxury hotel features modern 

escape take flight with travel promotions around the region 

La Residence Hotel & Spa, Hue 

To celebrate Easter, La Residence Hotel & 

Spa will include a 60-minute aromatherapy 

massage for two, welcome fruit 

basket, chocolate bunny and daily buffet 

breakfast with rooms for US $98 ++ per 

person (based on double occupancy). 

Valid until May 30. Call 54 3837 475, 

email resa@la-residence-hue.com or visit 

la-residence-hue.com. 

InterContinental 

Through May 8, Spa InterContinental will 

offer a rejuvenating facial treatment for 

1,650,000 VND ++ per treatment. First, 

pure rosemary concentrate is applied 

to deep clean and purify the skin. Then, 

rosewood oil and neroli oil is applied. Fifty 

percent discount for second person. Call 

3520 9999. 

Vedana Lagoon 

Until September 30, the Vedana Lagoon 

will offer a special opening promotion: 

two nights for the price of one, or three 

nights for the price of two plus one 

60-minute body treatment per person 

at Vedana Wellness. The 27-hectare 

property, located on the edge of a lagoon 

between Hue and Hoi An, combines contemporary 

high-end living with traditional 

and modern therapies like meditation, 

Reiki, tai chi and yoga. Visit vedanalagoon.com. 

Saigon Park Hyatt 

Xuan Spa is now offering its signature Absolute 

Sanctuary package for 2,080,000 

VND ++ per person. The package 

includes a 25-minute orange scrub, 

45-minute aroma massage, 40-minute 

facial and a healthy smoothie. Call 3824 

1234 or email saigon.park@hyatt.com. 

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay 

Join yoga instructor Michelle Lloyd and 

massage therapist Sarah Martin for a 

three-day wellness retreat from May 20 

to 23. Single occupancy in a hilltop/ 

spa suite villa starts at US $1,290 ++ 

and includes three nights accommodation, 

airport transfers, daily vinyasa flow 

yoga and relaxation sessions, a massage 

therapy session with Sarah and three 

organic meals per day (a interactive raw 

cooking class is included, too.) Guests 

can choose from a daily 60-minute signature 

massage or body scrub, as well. For 

bookings, email reservations-ninhvan@ 

sixsenses.com. 

Hotel Equatorial HCM City 

The Hotel Equatorial is now offering 

guests “cash back” incentives. The hotel 

will give guests US $40 credit that can 

be spent at the bar, in the restaurants, 

on internet, treats from the mini bar or a 

massage at the spa. Half of the unspent 

credit will be paid back to guests. The 

promotion applies to rooms starting from 

US $138++ per night. Call 3839 7777 

ext. 8086. 

54 asialife HCMC

amenities, business services, outdoor 

pool and fitness centre. Vietnamese specialties 

are served at Ba Mien, and Chez 

Manon does Japanese and pan-Asian. 

Melia Hanoi Hotel 

44B Ly Thuong Kiet Tel: 04 3934 3343 

www.meliahanoi.com 

Located in the city centre with 306 comfortable 

guestrooms elegantly decorated, 

complete with a host of modern amenities. 

Dining includes Asian cuisine at El 

Patio and El Oriental, snacks at Cava 

Lounge and tapas at Latino Bar. 

Mercure Hanoi La Gare 

94 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem 

Tel: 04 3944 7766 

www.accorhotels.com 

Situated in the Old Quarter with 102 

bright, spacious and modern rooms, 

Brasserie Le Pavillion restaurant serves 

Vietnamese and international cuisine. 

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 

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 cafe, pool (swim-up 

bar), gym. 

InterContinental Asiana Saigon 

Corner of Hai Ba Trung & Le Duan, D1 

Tel: 3520 9999 

saigon@interconti.com 

www.intercontinental.com/saigon 

305 rooms/suites with floor-to-ceiling 

windows, five restaurants/bars, meeting/ 

banquet facilities, spa/health club and 

lounge with panoramic view. 

Möevenpick Hotel Saigon 

253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan 

Tel: 3844 9222 

www.moevenpick-saigon.com 

Has 278 well-appointed rooms/suites, 

five restaurants/bars, meeting/banquet 

facilities and a shopping arcade as well 

as a popular e-gaming centre. 

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. 

Park Hyatt 


www.saigon.park.hyatt.com 

Luxury colonial-style hotel includes 21 

suites, lobby lounge with live music, 

Xuan Spa, pool, gym, international dining 

at Square One. 

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 with Level 23 

bar, Mojo cafe, 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. Four 

restaurants, modern discotheque, 

conference centre, casino, health club, 

shopping centre, supermarket, Chinese 

restaurant. 

activities 

Saigon Scooter Centre 

25/7 Cuu Long, Tan Binh District 

Tel: 4848 7816 

www.saigonscootercentre.com 

One-stop rental service with a wide selection 

of scooters/motorbikes available 

for around town travel or long trips 

Vietnam Vespa Adventures 

169 De Tham, D1, Pham Ngu Lao 

Tel: 3920 3897 

www.vietnamvespaadventures.com 

Headquaters located in Cafe Zoom. 

Offers 3-day trips to Mui Ne, 8-days to 

Nha Trang or half-day tours of HCMC 

on classic Vespas. 

HOI AN & DANANG 

Life Resort Hoi An 

1 Pham Hong Thai, Hoi An 

Tel: 0510 3914 555 

www.life-resorts.com 

Within walking distance of Hoi An. 

Rooms are chic and minimalist, offering 

all the mod cons. Two restaurants, two 

bars and an outdoor pool. 

Nam Hai 

Tel: 0510 3940 000 

www.ghmhotel.com 

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. 

Palm Garden Resort Hoi An 

Lac Long Quan Street, Cua Dai Beach, 

Hoi An 

Tel: 0510 3 927 927 

www.palmgardenresort.com.vn 

Set on 5 hectares of landscaped 

tropical garden in an enviable beach 

location, the Palm Garden Resort offers 

an exceptional green environment with 

over 400 species of palm trees and 

plants along the famous Cua Dai Beach 

in the UNESCO-recognized world heritage 

site of Hoi An Ancient City. 

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa 

Cua Dai Beach Tel: 0510 3927 040 

www.victoriahotels-asia.com 

Set on its own stretch of beach with 

105 rooms spread through a traditional 

fishing village design of small “streets” 

and ponds. 

activities 

Hoi An Motorbike Adventures 

Tel: 0918 230 653 

www.motorbiketours-hoian.com 

Two-wheeled tours of the Central 

Highlands, Ho Chi Minh Trail, Monkey 

Mountain and more on a fleet of Minsk 

dirt bikes and fully and semi-automatic 

motorbikes. Customers can drive or be 

driven on half- to five-day trips. 

Phat Tire Ventures 

619 Hai Ba Trung Tel: 0510 391 1700 

www.phattireventures.com 

Offers rappelling and rock climbing at 

Marble Mountains, as well as walking 

and mountain biking excursions, from 

two-hour countryside trips to two-day 

cycling trips to Hue. Also does cultural 

and historical tours and car trips to My 

Son Holy Land. 

Vietnam Sailing 

88 Nguyen Thai Hoc Tel: 0918 255 521 

www.vietnamsailing.com 

Foreign-operated company operates 

chartered coach or private tours to 

Cham Islands aboard a Corsair Sprint 

750 Trimaran. One-day cruises or twoday 

excursions with beach camping by 

campfire are available. 

HUE 

Celadon Palace Hue 

105A Hung Vuong Tel: 054 3936 666 

www.celadonpalacehue.com 

Grand building inspired by Indochine 

Nobel House with panoramic views, international 

restaurant, lounge/bars, pool, 

ballroom and wedding planning. 

Imperial Hue 

57 Dang Dung Tel: 054 3522 478 

www.imperial-hotel.com.vn 

Opulent high-rise hotel with panoramic 

views of the city and Ngu Binh Mountain. 

Facilities include swimming pool, gym, 

Royal spa, Prince Club casino and business 

centre. 

La Residence 

5 Le Loi Tel: 054 3837 475 

www.la-residence-hue.com 

Former governor’s residence on the 

banks of the Perfume River is now home 

to a boutique resort where art deco 

meets Indochine. La Parfum restaurant 

serves local and international dishes. 

Facilitiesa include spa, saltwater pool, 

tennis court and fleet of bicycles. 

Mercure Hue Gerbera 

38 Le Loi Tel: 054 3946 688 

www.mercure.com 

Overlooking the Perfume River, this 

centrally located hotel has 110 contemporary 

rooms. Local Hue cuisine and 

international fare served at Le Bordeaux, 

and drinks served up top at Sky Bar or in 

the ground-floor Lobby Bar. 

Pilgrimage Village Resort & Spa 

130 Minh Mang Tel: 054 3885 461 

www.pilgrimagevillage.com 

Boutique resort with hut, bungalow and 

villa accommodation draws on natural 

environment and local culture. Features 

Vedana spa, two restaurants serving 

Vietnamese & Western food and imported 

wines and three bar/lounges. 

NHA TRANG 

Evason Hideaway at Ana Mandara 

Ninh Van Bay, Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa 

Tel: 058 3728 222 

www.sixsenses.com/hideawayanamandara 

An island hideaway accessible only by 

boat, 58 private pool villas, international 

and local restaurants, wedding services, 

water sports and scuba diving. 

Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang 

Beachside, Tran Phu, Nha Trang 

Tel: 058 3522 222 

www.sixsenses.com/evasonanamandara 

Beachside resort set in 26,000 square 

metres of tropical garden, with 74 guest 

villas, three restaurants, Six Senses Spa. 

Hon Tam Resort Representative 

Office 

Level 1, 68 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3822 0632 

sales@hontamresort.vn 

A boutique eco-resort set on Hon Tam 

Island, located off Nha Trang. 

Novotel Nha Trang 

50 Tran Phu Tel: 058 625 6900 

www.novotel-nhatrang.com 

Each of the 154 rooms has a terrace with 

seaviews in this modern hotel located 

in the city centre. The Square serves 

international cuisine in a dining room 

overlooking the bay. 

Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa 

26 - 28 Tran Phu, Nha Trang, Khanh 

Hoa Tel: 58 388 0000 

www.sheraton.com/nhatrang 

Luxury hotel with 284 ocean view rooms, 

six restaurants and bars, club lounge, 

infinity edge swimming pool, spa, yoga 

studio, cooking school, Sheraton Adventure 

Club and (connected at) Link@ 

Sheraton. 

Sunrise Beach Resort 

12-14 Tran Phu, Nha Trang 

Tel: 058 3820 999 

www.sunrisehotelvietnam.com 

Private beach resort equipped with gym, 

fitness centre, outdoor pool and water 

sports. 

PHAN THIET 

Full Moon 

98A Nguyen Dinh Chieu 

Tel: 062 3847 008 

fullmoon@windsurf-vietnam.com 

Resort set in a private garden with 

lovingly decorated bedrooms and 

terracotta-tiled bathrooms. The grounds 

include a good Vietnamese restaurant, 

pool and kitesurfing school. 

L’Anmien Beach Resort 

Mui Ne Beach, Km10, Ham Tien Ward 

Tel: 062 3741 888 

www.lanmienresort.com 

Beachfront resort with 90 fully equipped 

rooms, business centre, spa, fitness 

centre and outdoor pool. 

Princess D’Annam 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. 

Romana Resort 

KM8, Mui Ne, Phan Thiet 

Tel: 062 3741 289 

www.romanaresort.com.vn 

10 beachfront villas and 18 hill villas 

with private pools and all the mod cons. 

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. 

activities 

C2Sky Kitesurfing 

Sunny Beach, 64-66 Nguyen Dinh 

Chieu Tel: 0916655241 

www.c2skykitecenter.com 

Operates two schools roughly 500m 

apart, staffed by IKO-certified instructors. 

Offers a half dozen course types, 

as well as instructor training. Equipment 

rental and repair. 

Jibes Beach Club 

84-90 Nguyen Dinh Chieu 

Tel: 062 3847 008 

www.windsurf-vietnam.com 

IKO-licensed kitesurfing centre offers 

highly structured kitesurfing classes 

taught by experienced watersportsmen. 

Also offer windsurfing lessons and retails 

in watersports equipment (bodyboards, 

kayaks, surfboards, windsurfs). 

Mui Ne Cooking School 

Sunshine Beach Resort, 84 Tuyen 

Quang Tel: 062 383 0755 

Al fresco classes begin with a trip to 

Rang Market and focus on the provincial 

cuisine of Binh Thuan, like banh xeo 

(crepes with beef or seafood) and goi 

hai san (seafood salad). 

Surfpoint 

217 Nguyen Dinh Chieu 

www.surfpoint-vietnam.com 

Offers private and group kiteboarding 

courses and equipment rental (from 

$40-50/hr). Also runs group and private 

surfing lessons, as well as kayaking trips 

to Song Quao Lake. 

WindChimes School 

Saigon Mui Ne Resort, 56 Nguyen Dinh 

Chieu 

www.kiteboarding-vietnam.com 

Surf school situated on 235m of beach 

offers kiteboarding, windsurfing and 

surfing classes in multiple languages 

taught by IKO-certified instructors. 

Equipment rented and trips organised. 

Satellite school at Bamboo Village 

Resort. 

PHU QUOC 

La Veranda 

Ward 1, Duong Dong Beach 

Tel: 077 3982 888 

www.laverandaresort.com 

Set amid tropical gardens along a 

beach. Features a highly-rated spa, 

beach grill, Vietnamese, Asian and European 

cuisine. 

Mango Bay 

Ong Lang Beach, Phu Quoc 

Tel: 0903 382 207 

www.mangobayphuquoc.com 

Low-cost seaside resort with ecological 

outlook promotes nature activities, forest 

walks, snorkelling, open-air seafood 

restaurant. No TV or telephone. 

SAPA 

Chau Long Hotel 

24 Dong Loi Tel: 020 3871 245 

www.chaulonghotel.com 

Mid-range hotel with wraparound 

construction offering panoramic views. 

Rooms in the newer wing are more attractive, 

with dark wood furnishings and 

polished hardwood floors. 

Topas Eco Lodge 

24 Muong Hoa Tel: 020 3871 331 

www.topasecolodge.com 

Overlooking the Hoang Lien Mountains, 

Topas is comprised of 25 white granite 

and golden hardwood lodges powered 

by solar energy. Premises include 

restaurant in traditional Tay stilt house, 

and Topas offers a range of outdoor 

activities, including mountain biking and 

trekking. 

Victoria Sapa Resort 

Sapa District, Lao Cai Province 

Tel: 020 0871 522 


Mountain chalet perched over the village 

wth cosy but modern guestrooms 

overlooking the lawn and garden. Ta Van 

restaurant overlooks Mount Fansipan 

and Ta Fin bar has a stone hearth 

fireplace. Connection from Hanoi by 

private train. 

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: 3744 6825 

www.divevietnam.com 

Diving tours and career/instructor 

development offered by Vietnam’s first 

PADI centre. established in the mid- 

90s. All courses can be started at the 

state-of-the-art dive centre in An Phu, 

from beginner pool work and theory to 

divemaster and instructor certification. 

Operates dive centres in Nha Trang, 

Whale Island, Hoi An and Phu Quoc. 

Octopus Diving 

62 Tran Phu, Nha Trang 

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, 

including children’s Bubblemaker classes, 

courses in specialised techniques 

and divemaster certification. 

VUNG TAU 

Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa 

Ho Tram Village, Xuyen Moc 

Tel: 06 4378 1525 

www.hotramresort.com 

Located about 45km from Vung Tau in 

the Phuoc Buu Reserve Forest, Ho Tram 

Beach Resort & Spa boasts uniquely 

designed bungalows and villas. 

River Ray Resort 

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. 

TRAVEL AGENTS 

Buffalo Tours 

Suite 601, Satra House, 58 Dong Khoi 

D1 Tel: 3827 9170 

www.buffalotours.com 

Tailor-made itineraries, communitybased 

tourism, cultural tours, adventure 

trips, golfing and premium trips offered 

by locally run and well-respected travel 

agent. 

Exotissimo 

HCMC: 20 Hai Ba Trung St, D1 

Tel: 3827 2911 

infosgn@exotissimo.com 

SD5-2 Grand View, Nguyen Duc Canh, 

Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 5412 2761/62 

pmh@exotissimo.com 

HANOI: 26 Tran Nhat Duat St, 

Hoan Kiem Tel: 04 3828 2150 

infohanoi@exotissimo.com 

www.exotissimo.com 

French-owned agency specializing in 

flight bookings, package holidays and a 

range of well-run cultural and historical 

tours of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. 

USD 225 net/ Mandarin Suite/ Night. 

Validity: From Validity: 10 Jan until 2011; 30 except November 30 Apr 2010 - 2 May 2011. 

Rate is valid for Local Residents and Vietnamese 

living oversea visiting Vietnam. 

Terms & Conditions Apply. 

For minimum 10 rooms paid will get 1 FOC room with breakfast 

Please ask for Weekday Special Offers. 

58 asialife HCMC

listings 

food & 

drink 

BAR RESTAURANTS 

Ala Mezon 

10 Chu Manh Trinh, D1 Tel: 6291 0447 

www.alamezon.vn 

Colourful four-storey venue serves fusion 

French-Japanese cuisine, as well as 

cocktails and wine by the glass. Space 

spans a restaurant, lounge and main 

bar and spacious, airy rooftop. Open 5 

pm to late. 

Alibi 

5A Nguyen Sieu, D1 Tel: 3822 3240 

Hip without being showy, this versatile 

venue has a pleasant front porch, stand 

up bar and comfortable lounge seating 

with bright, warm décor and great tunes. 

Drinks list is extensive and the food 

menu boasts French-style mains. 

Bread & Butter 

40/26 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3836 8452 

Lunch menu of American classics 

(California burritos, po boy sandwiches), 

Brit pub dinner (bangers & mash, fish & 

chips) and Sunday evening roast. Serves 

Huda Beer from Hue. Closed 2:30 pm to 

5 pm and Mondays. 

Bernie's Bar & Grill 

19 Thai Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3822 2684 

Serves a solid menu of certified Angus 

and imported Aussie steaks, fresh 

pasta, thin crust pizza, sandwiches and 

mains in an old school steak house 

setting. Drink menu includes smoothies, 

cocktails, premium wines and spirits and 

Saigon's largest martini. 

Buddha Bar 

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. 

Cafe Latin 

17 Dong Du, D1 

In its third location, this expat favourite 

continues to deliver good food, an 

extensive drink list and a comfortable 

atmosphere. Two levels to watch sport 

on or simply unwind. Said to serve the 

best chicken parmigiana in Vietnam. 

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. 

Good destination for both lunch 

and dinner. 

K Cafe 

28 Do Quang Dau, D1 Tel: 3913 4673 

www.kcafevietnam.com 

This down-to-earth bistro-bar is a haven 

for French-speaking emigrés looking for 

an alternative in the backpackers’ area. 

Prop up the bar with a beer or Ricard, 

or tuck into the tasty Gallic fare. Good 

atmosphere for conversation. 

La Habana 

6 Cao Ba Quat, D1 Tel: 3829 5180 

www.lahabana-saigon.com 

This charming little place has seating 

indoors and outdoors, upstairs and 

downstairs to fit your dining pleasure. 

Relaxed environment with frequent live 

music. Offers Spanish and Cuban fare 

including paella and a tapas fiesta comprising 

three plates. Open late daily. 

Le Pub 

175/ 22 Pham Ngu Lao, D1 

www.lepub.org 

One of Pham Ngu Lao’s favourite 

watering holes, Le Pub also has a good 

menu of well-executed pub grub and 

international favourites. Hearty breakfast 

is available all day and specials are offered 

daily. 

Mogambos 

50 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3825 1311 

This restaurant has been around since 

the mid-1990s, which offers an insight 

into its enduring quality. Specializes in 

American grain-fed steaks, hamburgers 

and salads served in a pleasant 

atmosphere. 

feast broaden your palate with promotions around town 

Yu Chu 

InterContinental Asiana Saigon’s signature 

Chinese restaurant Yu Chu is 

offering a special all-you-can-eat dim 

sum promotion for 300,000 VND ++ per 

person including iced or hot tea. The 

deal is available noon to 2.30 pm daily. 

Call 3520 9999. 

Basilico 

Every Friday night, starting March 11, 

Basilico will prepare a meat or seafood 

barbeque platter for two for 999,000 

VND. The platter includes a rack of lamb, 

beef skewers, cutlets and tenderloin or a 

selection of lobster, salmon, tiger prawn 

and squid. A mixed platter is also on offer. 

Call 3520 9099. 

O’Brien’s 

74/A2 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3829 3198 

A large Celtic-style pub popular with 

media types that has an interior done in 

brickwork and wood, and an upstairs 

dining area. Draught beer is happy 

hour between 3 pm and 7 pm. Great 

pizzas. 

Pasha Bar & Restaurant 

25 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 08 629 136 77 

www.pasha.com.vn 

Turkish–Mediterranean restaurant located 

in heart of HCMC serves halal and high 

quality food with ingredients imported 

from Turkey, Spain, Singapore, Egypt, 

New Zealand, Japan and France. Long 

happy hour half price by glass. Various 

shisha flavours. 

Peaches: The Curry Pub 

Sky Garden 2, S57-1, Phu My Hung, D7 

Tel: 5410 0999 

Serves up dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, 

Malaysia, China, Japan, Singapore 

and Indonesia with a focus on healthy 

preparation and fresh produce. 

Phatty’s 

46-48 Ton That Thiep, D1 

Tel: 3821 0705 

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. 

Qing 

110 Pasteur, D1 

www.qing.com.vn 

Sophisticated downtown bar just off Le 

Loi specializes in Asian tapas, Asian/ 

South American fusion dishes and a few 

delectable deserts. Variety of good wines 

by the glass or bottle. 

Sheridan’s Irish House 

17/13 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 0793 

www.sheridansbarvn.com 

Cosy Irish pub with authentic Irish decor, 

a pleasant atmosphere and regular live 

music. Wide range of classic pub grub, 

East Asian dishes and a fantastic breakfast 

fry-up available from 8 am. 

Storm P Bar & Restaurant 

5B Nguyen Sieu, D1 Tel: 3827 4738 

www.stormp.vn 

This friendly hangout is a favourite with 

Nineteen Restaurant 

On Sunday, April 24, Caravelle Hotel’s 

Nineteen Restaurant will host an Easter 

brunch. For 1,144,000 VND ++ per person, 

the brunch includes a salad bar, barbeque 

station, choice of soups, appetizers and a 

range of traditional main courses like roast 

turkey, duck and rabbit. Call 3823 4999 or 

visit caravellehotel.com. 

The Deck 

The Deck has launched its new lunch menu, 

Tall Orders. Available everyday from 11 am 

until 4 pm, different set menus including 

options like Asian fusion dim sum, yakatori 

chicken leek skewers and Peking duck 

fillet pancake roll are offered starting from 

190,000 VND ++ including a pot of tea. 

both the Scandinavian community and 

English-speaking expats. Offers Danish 

cuisine to go with the drinks. 

The Tavern 

R2/24 Hung Gia 3, Bui Bang Doan, D7 

Tel: 5410 3900 

Boasts good international food, a pool 

table, dartboards and sports coverage 

on large screens. Outdoor seating on 

mutiple levels. Second floor sports 

lounge hosts DJs at the weekends. 

Vasco’s Bar 

74/7D Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3824 2888 

Chic bar decked in deep reds that gets 

packed to capacity on weekends. Open 

Monday to Saturday with live music on 

Fridays. Food menu by chef with over 10 

years experience at La Camargue. Also 

does excellent pizza. 

ZanZBar 


Funky, modern interiors and varied 

international breakfast, lunch and dinner 

cuisine. Imported beers, cocktails, 

gourmet espresso coffee, and happy 

hours make ZanZBar a great after-work 

spot. Open late. 

CAFES 

Annam Cafe 

16-18 Hai Ba Trung 

Cosy corner cafe with free Wi-Fi overlooking 

Hai Ba Trung. Serves a slate of 

gourmet sandwiches, coffee and wine. 

Bobby Brewer’s 

45 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3920 4090 

70 Nguyen Cong Tru, D1 Tel: 3821 8100 

86 Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 Tel: 6299 

1990 

www.bobbybrewers.com 

This is an attractive fast-food style coffee 

shop with friendly staff and good lattes. 

All the coffee is roasted on the premises 

and there are comfortable couches and 

travellers aplenty making it a chilled place 

to hang out. 

Cafe Terrace 

Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, D1 

This funky café is frequented by trendy 

types attracted by the leather lounges, 

outdoor terrace and 52 non-alcoholic 

fruit concotions. 

Cay Da Cafe 

Ground floor, Moevenpick Hotel Saigon 


Tel: 3844 9222 ext. 118 


Stocks the Moevenpick’s chef’s most 

delicious cakes, pastries, ice cream and 

sandwiches. 

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. 

Illy Café 

111A Pasteur, D1 Tel: 2220 2388 

Fax: 2220 2389 

Grand View Shop SA1-1, SB2-1 

Nguyen Duc Canh, D7 Tel: 5412 3292 

Fax: 5412 3293 

An Italian-style coffee bar that serves 

Illy—a world-renowned espresso blend. 

Makes classic coffees like the cappuccino 

as well as innovative alcoholic and 

non-alcoholic cocktails. Also serve light 

Italian cuisine and desserts. 

Jubarcalypse 

35 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 7930 

Jubarcalypse has an interesting underground 

design. Playing jazz music, it’s 

the perfect place to re-energize with 

a refreshing selection of juices and 

snacks. 

Loaves and Fishes 

5 Street 11, Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 3547 0577 

Coffee house on a side street near 

Riverside Apartments serves up drinks 

and serves the full line of Western-style 

baked goods from Harvest Baking. 

Mojo 

88 Dong Khoi, D1 

www.sheratonsaigon.com 

A top-end cafe with an attractive interior, 

outdoor terrace at street level and comfortable 

lounges upstairs. Good business 

coffee or lunch venue. 

Paris Deli 



Tel: 3821 6127 

Grand View Building, Nguyen Duc 

Canh, Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 412 2179 

Petite boulangerie/cafe decked out with 

French-style furnishings. Offering tasty 

French and international dishes with a 

range of lunchtime specials at reasonable 

prices. 

That’s Café 

Rivergarden, 170 Nguyen Van Huong, 

D2 

The Crescent, 103 Ton Dat Tien, Phu 

My Hung, D7 

Hailing from the U.S., That’s Café is 

a new Khai Silk initiative. Claiming to 

provide the best coffee in town in a 

comfortable and friendly atmosphere, it’s 

a great place to hold a business meeting 

or catch up with friends. 

Une Journee A Paris 

234 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3827 7723 

15B Ngo Quang Huy, An Phu, D2 

Tel: 0128 608 9551 

A Parisian-style café that serve French 

cuisine, coffee and pastries like fondant 

chocolat, baba au rhum and tropezienne. 

Free Wi-Fi. Open Monday to Saturday 

from 7 am to 7 pm. 

X Cafe 

58 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3914 2142 

212 A2 Nguyen Trai, D1 Tel: 3925 9307 

Bright, spacious foreign-run cafe 

decorated in the style of an Alpine chalet. 

Popular with local makers and shakers, 

has a great open-plan upstairs area and 

two outdoor terraces. Regular live music 

and homemade ice cream. Nguyen Trai 

location includes children’s playground. 

Catering available. 

Zenta 

41 Mac Dinh Chi, D3 

A large, extravagant, kitsch cafe with 

several rooms resembling airport departure 

lounges. Customers, though, tend to 

gravitate to the more attractive outdoor 

terrace with its pond and waterfall-style 

water features. 

CHINESE 

Dragon Court 

11-13 Lam Son Square, D1 

Tel: 3827 2566 

Open until 2am, this vast, no-frills eatery 

gets packed with hungry locals who 

savour generous portions of tasty dim 

sum. All the Chinese staples are here. 

Expect a good feed for under 100,000 

VND per person. 

Dynasty Restaurant 

New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1 

Tel: 3822 8888 

Fine Chinese dining in an opulent restaurant 

reminiscent of the Middle Kingdom’s 

imperial days. Delicacies clock in at 

500,000 VND, but most dishes fall 

between 80,000 to 180,000 VND. 

Huy Long Vien 

99 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3823 7799 

www.huylongvien.com 

A magnificent Chinese restaurant with 

a leafy slate-tiled courtyard, Chinese 

lanterns and a labyrinth of water works. 

Lunchtime dim sum is 120,000 VND, 

while the a la carte menu runs higher 

with Chinese specialties such as Peking 

duck for 400,000 VND. 

Kabin 

Renaissance Riverside Hotel, 8-15 Ton 

Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3822 0033 

Elegant dining space with beautiful decor 

and great views over the river offers 

extensive lunch and dinner menus featuring 

authentic gourmet Cantonese and 

Szechuan dishes and an assortment of 

dim sum at lunchtime. 

Li Bai 

Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi, D1 

Tel: 3827 2828 

Imperial-styled restaurant named after 

a famous Chinese poet. Excellent lunch 

time dim sum buffet for USD $17.00. 

Nightly à la carte menu with dishes going 

from 100,000 VND. 

Lotus Court 

1st floor, Moevenpick Hotel Saigon 


Tel: 3844 9222 ext. 168 


Dim Sum and exciting Cantonese cuisine 

in a unique and elegant setting. 

Ming Dynasty 

23 Nguyen Khac Vien, Phu My Hung 

Tel: 5411 5555 

Decorated in Ming Dynasty-style; offers 

100 dim sum varieties and 300 dishes 

prepared by a chef from Hong Kong. The 

restaurant’s Imperial Buffet costs USD 

$39 per person and includes free flow 

of wine. 

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. 

Ocean Palace 

2 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3911 8822 

Both traditional and trendy Chinese 

dishes are prepared by chef from Hong 


imbibe 

Kiwi Quenchers 

By Grace Lewis 

Everyone who likes white wine 

knows that New Zealand’s 

Marlborough region produces 

some of the world’s best 

specimens. But, if you’re looking 

to branch out, you might 

consider trying something 

from Ohau Vineyards, says 

Billy Dela of Bacchus Corner. 

The vineyard is the first 

in what will surely be New 

Zealand’s newest wine growing 

region in the lower North 

Island. The Ohau River has 

been depositing gravel for 

centuries producing the stony 

yet fertile soil that grapes 

need. 

All three of Ohau’s wines— 

Ohau Gravels Sauvignon 

Blanc, Pinot Gris and Woven 

Stone Sauvignon Blanc—are 

already award winners, having 

been recognised at the 2009 

New Zealand International 

Wine Show, the 2009 Romeo 

Bragato Awards, and the 

2009 Air New Zealand Wine 

awards. 

If you are already a white 

wine lover, Dela says Ohau 

Vineyards' sauvignon blancs 

share the same passionfruit 

and citrus flavours that the 

Marlborough region is known 

for. For a heavier white, try 

Ohau Gravels Pinot Gris. It 

pairs well with fruits, cream, 

and chocolate. 

Ohau even has a HCM City 

connection: Peter Healy, the 

vineyard’s marketing manager, 

lived in Vietnam for many 

years as the former New 

Zealand Consul General. 

Still, white wine in Vietnam 

can be a tough sell. Historically, 

HCM City’s Vietnamese 

population prefers heavy, red 

French wines. Bacchus Corner 

took a big risk recently by 

offering a wine tasting dinner 

to foreigners and locals solely 

featuring white wine. Dela and 

his colleagues knew the decision 

was potentially a dicey 

one, but, with the seafood 

pairings, guests responded 

with enthusiasm. 

Another way Bacchus Corner 

is encouraging locals to 

step out of their wine comfort 

zone is with their single tasting 

machine, which allows potential 

buyers to try wines instore. 

The devaluation of the 

dong has caused wine prices 

to climb, putting the range 

of New Zealand whites from 

370,000 to 860,000 VND. For 

a beginner white wine drinker, 

spending 580,000 VND for a 

bottle of Ohau’s Woven Stone 

Sauvignon Blanc or 680,000 

VND for Ohau Gravels may 

seem like a big commitment. 

But, when you are able to 

have a glass of an entry level 

wine and then compare it to a 

mid-range wine like Ohau, the 

difference in quality is evident. 

So, the timing is right; Bacchus 

Corner is introducing 

Ohau Vineyards to Vietnam 

just as locals are realising the 

attraction of white wine. After 

all, nothing beats the heat like 

a cool white wine. 

Banh Tai Yen 

Kong and served in an opulent 280-seat 

dining room in this restaurant opposite 

the zoo. Intimate private rooms and larger 

party rooms available for booking. 

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. 

Thao Li Restaurant 

Grand View C, Nguyen Duc Canh, Phu 

My Hung Tel: 5412 5999 

Daily Dim Sum Buffet costs USD $9.90 

per person, starting from 11 am. The daily 

A La Carte Dinner Buffet costs $14.90 per 

person; includes more than 55 dishes. 

Truyen Ky 

261B Dao Duy Tu, D10 

Small homestyle Chinese restaurant 

specializing in the salty Hakka cuisine of 

southeastern China, including tofu and 

chilis stuffed with fish paste. 

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. 

DESSERT PARLOURS 

Bo Gia (The Godfather) 

29 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 

street gourmet 

Banh tai yen is a subtly 

sweet cake that is made 

completely from rice flour 

and quickly deep-fried in 

hot oil until it has turned 

dark brown and puffs up 

around the edges. Tai yen 

translates to "swallow’s 

nest", which the treat, with 

its curled-up sides and 

soft middle, resembles. 

Banh tai yen is a favourite 

snack for locals and can 

be found all over the city 

for about 5,000 VND. 

Stephy Thai 

20 Ho Huan Nghiep, D1 

299 Nguyen Van Troi, Tan Binh 

Does brisk lunchtime trade with its selection 

of more than 25 ice cream favours 

and Vietnamese noodle and rice dishes. 

Ciao Cafe 


With a number of branches downtown 

(21 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and 26 Tran 

Cao Van, among others), this popular 

cafe offers a mixture of food, drinks 

and books. Boasts about 20 ice cream 

specials and serves crepes, sodas and 

shakes. 

Fanny Ice Cream 

29-31 Ton That Thiep, D1 

Tel: 3821 1633 

Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, 

D1 

www.fanny.com.vn 

Tranquil open-terraced heaven for icecream 

lovers. Menu contains fresh fruit, 

ice cream, sherbets and sorbets (coconut, 

caramel and Bailey’s ice-cream and 

mango sorbet are standouts). All you can 

eat first Friday of the month. 

Ministry of Food 

30 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3827 7898 


D1 

Two-floor dessert house specializing in 

Italian and Japanese treats serving a 

wide array of ice cream flavours using 

milk from Japan’s dairy capital. Also 

serves sandwiches and bento boxes. 

New Zealand Natural 

3rd Floor, Parkson Department Store 

39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

4th Floor, Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan 

1st Floor, Saigon Superbowl, 843 

Truong Son, Tan Binh 

www.newzealandnatural.com 

Serves flavours ranging from chocolate 

ecstasy, fruits of the forest and boysenberry 

dream by the scoop. 

Yogen Fruz 



Vincom Center, 70/72 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

Panorama Apartments, Ton Dat Tien, 

Phu My Hung, D7 

www.yogenfruz.com 

Frozen yoghurt parlour is decked in 

mod-meets-IKEA decor and serves 

no-fat, and low-fat fro-yo blended with 

fresh fruits, as well as soft serve and 

smoothies. 

FRENCH 

Agapéstro 

River Garden, 170 Nguyen Van Huong, 

Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 0903 669 252 

Serves fine French cuisine originating 

from all over France—particularly 

seafood and dishes prepared from foie 

gras. 

Annamite French Restaurant 

21 Tu Xuong, Ward 7 D3 

Tel: 6277 8332 

annamite-restaurant.com 

The new VN restaurant area of D3 

opens a classic French dinning option, 

led by ex Caprice chef. Snug atmosphere 

with a classic touch . French 

favourites such as escargot in garlic 

butter, Pan fried goose froie gras, duck 

in port wine, poached river sole with saffron 

sauce and classic flambé crepes. 

Au Manoir de Khai 

251 Dien Bien Phu, Q3 Tel: 3930 3394 

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. 

Cote D'Azur 

12T3 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Da Kao. 

D1 Tel: 3911 5473 

www.cotedazur.vn 

Authentic French cuisine in delightful 

surroundings, the brasserie's menu 

offers delectable dishes. Cote d'Azur's 

ambience gives it a homely feel and it 

also offers catering services. 

La Camargue 

191 Hai Ba Trung, D3 Tel: 3520 4888 

Boasts a reputation for excellence in 

fine dining for more than 10 years. 

Modern French and Italian cuisine is 

served in a colonial-style alfresco dining 

space. An extensive wine list allows 

diners to choose the perfect pairing. 

La Fourchette 

9 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3829 8143 

Rustic downtown restaurant, with 

a good longstanding reputation for 

serving good traditional French fare at 

reasonable prices. Open 12 am to 2 pm 

and from 7 pm to 10 pm. 

La Nicoise 

42 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3822 8613 

Small French-style bistro, with pretty 

mosaic tiled bar and tables. Offers 

a good range of teas, coffees and 

espresso-based drinks. Lunch menu 

changes daily, but always encompasses 

traditional French food. Open 

until 10 pm. 

Le Jardin 


This delightful restaurant in a picturesque 

garden setting is open for lunch 

and dinner and serves excellent French 

food at reasonable prices. Main courses 

cost about 60,000 VND and a carafe of 

house wine costs 50,000 VND. 

L’en Tête 

139 Nguyen Thai Binh, D1 

Tel: 3821 4049, 0903 188 091 

This stylish bistro and gallery serves up 

a large selection of French fare representing 

an excellent selection of classic 

French fish and meat dishes, as well 

as international cuisine. Live music on 

Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 

starting at 8 pm. 

INDIAN 

Ganesh 

15 - B4 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

Tel: 3822 3017 

Casual dining with takeaway available, 

Ganesh serves up both North and 

South Indian culinary traditions. Very 

reasonably priced, with vegetarian 

curries from 40,000 VND and chicken 

dishes from 64,000 VND. 

Indus Indian 

2G Thi Sach, D1 Tel: 3521 0326 

A003 KP Hung Vuong 1, Phu My Hung 

D7 Tel: 5410 0947 

indusindian-saigon@gmail.com 

Wide range of Indian special across 

the board from North to South: Dosas, 

Idly, Vadai, Tandoories, veg & non veg 

curries... Catering and home delivery is 

also available. 

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. 

Tandoor 

74/6 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3930 4839 

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. 

INTERNATIONAL 

Al Fresco’s 

21 Mac Dinh Chi D1 Tel: 3823 8427 

27 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3822 7317 

D1-23 My Toan 3, D7 Tel: 5410 1093 

400 Nguyen Trai, D5 Tel: 3838 3840 

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. 

Amigo Grill 

55 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3829 0437 

Outstanding steaks made with Australian, 

U.S. and Argentine beef, served in 

a cosy, family-friendly environment with 

large tables and banquette seating. 

Dishes like leg of lamb and seafood 

are also on the menu. Open 11 am to 

11 pm. 

Au Lac Do Brazil 

238 Pasteur, D3 Tel: 3820 7157 

36/19-21 Pham Van Nghi-Bac, D7 

Tel: 5410 5566 

www.aulacdobrazil.com 

A Brazilian barbecue restaurant that 

takes meat seriously. The mixed grills 

and rodizio are fantastic and served 

in generous portions. No meat-eater 

should miss the churrasco: 12 cuts of 

meat carved at your table, plus unlimited 

salad. 

Au Parc 

23 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3829 2772 


Out of stock, 

out of excuses 

If we don’t take tuna off the menu, 

it will be off the menu forever 

• Overfishing, intensified by pollution and climate change, is the main cause of 

our oceans' degradation with tuna at the forefront of destruction. 

• Tuna, specifically bluefin, are close to extinction, on a par with pandas, rhinos 

and tigers. 

• Although one of the fastest animals on the planet, reaching speeds of up to 

90km/hour in long distance oceanic migration, they cannot escape the weapons 

of mass destruction - trawlers, commercial long line fishing 

vessels - and man's voracious appetite for sashimi and steaks. 

• A third of their population is depleted annually along with significant by-catches 

of sharks, dolphins, turtles and rays. Their spawning age is 8 to 9 years 

and conservation is prevented by a lack of protected spawning grounds, 

inappropriate management, poaching, corruption, rising market values and short 

term benefits to relatively few people. 

• As bluefin stocks drop, greater pressure is put on albacore, bigeye and yellowfin 

species. All tuna are warm blooded and their meat spoils easily while albacore 

tuna has relatively high levels of mercury. 

Join the worldwide campaign to take bluefin tuna off all 

menus and let them grow to breed and avoid extinction 

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. 

Black Cat 

13 Phan Van Dat, D1 Tel: 3829 2055 

628 An Binh, An Phu, D2 

Tel: 3898 9837 

Tiny but popular District 1 restaurant 

serving up an excellent selection of 

Western and Vietnamese fare and an 

extensive range of sandwiches and burgers. 

The District 2 location also features 

a slate of sushi and Mexican food, and 

the District 7 outpost has a full barbecue 

menu. 

BoatHouse 

40 Lily Road, APSC Compound, 

36 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6790 

Riverside restaurant with umbrella-shaded 

tables spread across outdoor deck 

and small indoor dining room. Serves 

remarkably fresh and inspired dishes 

made with choice local and imported 

ingredients—favourites include the sirloin 

burger and pan-fried fish and chips. 

BoatHouse Cafe 

37 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 6281 9182 

BoatHouse’s sister eatery for take-away 

and delivery service. Offers coffee, 

breakfast sandwiches, juices, smoothies, 

pre-packaged salads, sandwiches, burgers 

and fish and chips. 

Byblos Restaurant & Shisha Lounge 

11 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3825 7781 

www.byblos.com.vn 

Downtown restaurant serves a menu 

of Lebanese starters, salads and mains 

served in a casual dining room. Catering 

available. Events and weekly belly dance 

show hosted. 

Cafe Evita 

230 Nguyen Van Huong, An Phu, D2 

Tel: 3512 3888 

Academic-themed menu at this outlet 

near the British International School 

includes meals like The Principal, a 

triple-decker club with fries and salad 

and burgers that range from First to 

Fourth Grade. Also has a wood-fired 

pizza oven. 

Cafe Saigon 

Ground floor, Moevenpick Hotel Saigon 


Tel: 3844 9222 ext. 234 


An international buffet with unique food 

concepts that is perfect for gathering 

family and friends. 

Casablanca 

58/9 Thanh Thai, D10 

Tel: 3862 8859 

Moroccan cuisine from merguez to 

pastilla served in an intimate, attractive 

dining room. Owner/chef trained at 

Morocco's finest hotels and caters 

to guests' every need. Reservations 

required. 

Cepage 

Lancaster Building 22 Le Thanh Ton, 

D1 Tel: 3823 8321, 3823 8733 

www.cepage.biz 

One of the city’s premier venues, Cepage 

delivers an up-market bar, wine lounge 

and restaurant in one sleek package. 

Sells several wines by the glass with 

several hundred bottles to choose from. 

Mixes some of the city’s best cocktails. 

Cham Charm 

3 Phan Van Chuong, Phu My Hung 

Tel: 5410 9999 

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. 

The Deck 

38 Nguyen U Di, D2 Tel: 3744 6632 

Serves upmarket takes on regional 

specialties made with fresh local and 

imported products. Well-designed, 

minimalist dining space and bar on the 

river are a serious draw. 

The Elbow Room 

52 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3821 4327 

elbowroom52@yahoo.com 

American-style bistro offering a wide 

range of appetisers, soups, salads, 

sandwiches, mains and desserts, plus 

an extensive wine menu. Open daily 7.30 

am to 11 pm. Breakfast served all day. 

Gartenstadt 

34 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3822 3623 

Opened in 1992, it’s the first venue in 

town to offer German food with specialities 

such as pork knuckle and authentic 

German sausages prepared fresh each 

day. Also offers imported German 

draught beer. 

Good Eats 

NTFQ2, 34 Nguyen Dang Giai 

Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6672 

Easteran and Western dishes are low in 

saturated fat and made from all-natural 

ingredients. Organic vegetables, herbs 

and spices accompany meals. Even the 

French fries are healthy. 

Halal@Saigon 

31 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3824 5823 

www.halalsaigon.com 

Serving up a range of Vietnamese and 

Malaysian dishes prepared according to 

halal guidelines including ban xeo, pho 

and roti chennai and seafood favourites 

such as shrimp, squid and mussels. 

Hideaway Cafe 

41/1 Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 

Tel: 3822 4222 

www.hideawaycafe-saigon.com 

Stylishly decorated and relaxing restaurant 

and cafe serving an eclectic range of 

tasty European-style food. Dine al fresco 

in the charming courtyard. 

Jaspa’s 

33 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3822 9926 

www.alfrescosgroup.com 

Unpretentious brasserie-style restaurant 

specializes in Australian-influenced 

international fusion cuisine. Full range of 

drinks including Australian and French 

wines and good cocktails. Hosts monthly 

Spam Cham networking event. 

Juice 


Bright and stylish deli-style restaurant 

serving salads, sandwiches, quiches and 

meat pies with French fries and potato 

salad. Also has daily lunch and dinner 

menu. Excellent smoothies and juices, 

as well as novelty drinks like wheatgrass 

shooter and Cannonball cocktail. 

Kita Coffee House 

39 Nguyen Hue, D1, Tel: 3821 5300 

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. 

Market 39 


Ground Floor, Corner Hai Ba Trung and 

Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3520 9099 


Seven interactive live kitchens offering 

French, Vietnamese and Southeast Asian 

asialife HCMC 65

ecipes 

Smoked Salmon with 

Scrambled Eggs 

serves 2 | prep time: 5 minutes 

Smoked salmon for breakfast will give you a jolt of 

Omega-3 fatty acids first thing in the morning. With 

fluffy scrambled eggs, it’s a breakfast of champions. 

4 slices smoked salmon 

3 eggs 

1⁄4 cup milk 

2 tbs cream 

A pinch of salt 

1 tsp butter 

ONE 

Beat all ingredients in a bowl except for salmon. 

TWO 

Place frying pan on low-medium heat and pour in egg mixture. Stir 

continuously to fluff up eggs. 

THREE 

Remove eggs from heat when the sides are medium cooked. This 

ensures smooth and soft scrambled eggs. 

FOUR 

Lay smoked salmon on toast or bagel and lay scrambled eggs on top. 

TIPS 

A good way to ensure your eggs are cooked just the way you like is to 

add a bit of cold milk once you have desired consistency. The jolt of cold 

milk will stop the eggs from cooking further. 

TRY THIS 

Replace the cream with 2 tbs evaporated milk. This makes richer and 

creamier scrambled eggs. 

For more information contact Elizabeth Png-Reade at 

elizabeth.png-reade@electrolux.com 

Recipes provided by 

cuisines, including a bakery, French 

patisseries, pancakes, tossed salads, 

grilled steak, seafood, wok-fried items, 

noodles and pasta dishes. 

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. 

New York Dessert Cafe (nydc) 

Restaurant and Cafe 

NOWZONE 235 Nguyen Van Cu, D1 

Metropolitan 235 Dong Khoi, D1 

Parkson Flemington 184 Le Dai Hanh, 

D11 


The Crescent. Phu My Hung, 107 Ton 

Dat Tien, D7 

New York themed menu offering a wide 

selection of Western dishes and desserts, 

including a variety of cheesecakes. 

New York Steakhouse & Winery 

25-27 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1 

Tel: 3823 7373 

New-york@steakhouse.com.vn 

www.steakhouse.com.vn 

Chic dining venue designed in a classic 

New York City Art Deco. Open every day 

until late. Specializes in certified U.S. 

Black Angus steak, and features a fully 

stocked wine cellar. Guests are invited to 

bring their own wine on BYOB Mondays. 

Orientica 

Hotel Equatorial, 242 Tran Binh Trong, 

D5 Tel: 3839 7777 

www.equatorial.com/hcm 

Top-end seafood and grill restaurant 

boasting modern decor. Good service 

and excellent food presentation make 

this a pleasant alternative to the downtown 

scene. 

Pacharan Tapas and Bodega 


This tapas restaurant and bar serves up 

superb Spanish fare crafted from authentic 

imported ingredients. 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. 

Pizza Hut 

(For delivery)Tel: 3838 8388 

www.pizzahut.vn 

The world's largest pizza retaurant chain 

has 10 dine-in locations around HCM 

City serving up pizza, pasta, chicken 

wings and much more in a family-friendly 

environment. Delivery is also available 

through the PHD service which has 

the same Pizza Hut 30-minute delivery 

policy or your next pizza is free. 

The Refinery 

74/7C Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3823 0509 

Authentic bistro with cane furniture outside, 

informal indoor restaurant section 

and a bar area. Cuisine is light, modern 

European. The menu spans a price range 

to suit most budgets. 

Reflections 

Caravelle Hotel, 19 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. 

Riverside Cafe 

Renaissance Riverside, 8-15 Ton Duc 

Thang, D1 Tel: 3822 0033 

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. 

Sandals 

93 Hai Ba Trung, D1 

www.sailingclubvietnam.com 

Casual dining in evocative 3-floor space 

with blonde wood accents and cosy 

seating throughout. Kitchen turns out 

elegant and inspired fare at surprising 

value for money: meal-sized salads; filling 

burgers, wraps and sandwiches. 

Signature Restaurant 

Level 23, Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong 

Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828 

Fine dining with panoramic views over 

central HCM City. 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. 

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. 

Square One 

Park Hyatt Saigon, 2 Lam Son Square, 

D1 Tel: 3520 2359 

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. 

Texas BarBQ 

15/1 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

The flavour and feel of the Wild Wild 

West is evoked by both the food and 

décor at this perennially popular eatery. 

Quarter rack ribs are a mainstay. 

VillaFB 

79 Suong Nguyet Anh, D1 

Tel: 3823 3822 

www.villafb.com 

Refurbished villa with a spacious designled 

indoor dining room and an elegant 

enclosed courtyard. Serves bun noodle 

dishes for breakfast and lunch before 

switching to a menu of Eastern and 

Western fine dining for dinner. 

Warda 

71/7 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 3822 

Chic, middle-eastern themed eatery 

swathed in oranges and reds serving 

Lebanese cuisine prepared by Damascan 

chef, Nouman. Mezze and tapas are 

the main draw, but you can also puff on 

hookas post-meal. 

Xu Saigon 

71-75 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3824 8468 

www.xusaigon.com 

Inspired restaurant with an F&B director 

with a passion for mixing Vietnamese 

cooking with flavours and styles from 

around the world. Sleek but sparsely 

designed, the restaurant serves nouveau 

takes on Vietnamese cuisine. 

ITALIAN 

Baby Spoon Cafe & Restaurant 

Head Office: 47 Phan Chu Trinh, D1 

Tel: 3822 3356 Fax: 3822 3357 

SB 2-1 Parkview, Phu My Hung, D7 

Tel: 5412 0145 

Level 3, Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, 

D1 

While Baby Spoon is primarily Italian, 

a vast selection of international cuisine 

is served in this Japanese-inspired 

restaurant. 

Basilico 

InterContinental Asiana Saigon, 

Ground Floor, Corner Nguyen Du and 

Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3520 9099 


Contemporary and casual trattoria-style 

restaurant specializing in authentic Italian 

dishes and homemade desserts. Woodfired 

pizza oven and a wide selection of 

Italian wines. 

Centro Caffe & Ristorante 

11-13 Lam Son Square, D1 


6 Thai Van Lung, D1 

This is home of Illy coffee in Vietnam. Offers 

modern and traditional Italian cuisine 

in three central locations with lunchtime 

set menus and regular wine tasting 

evenings. Good spot for business coffee 

meetings. 

Da Vinci’s Pizza 

001B Hoang Dieu, H1, D4 

Tel: 3943 4982 

Wide variety of brick oven pizza, calzones, 

spaghetti, subs and sandwiches. 

Pizzas come in medium and large sizes 

and pay homage to Italy with names like 

Verrochio, Pompeii and Assisi. 

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. 

La Hostaria 

17B Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 1080 

Rustic eatery specializing in top-end 

traditional cuisine from various regions 

in Italy. Main courses from 130,000 VND 

with daily specials on offer. Serves excellent 

pizza. 

Opera 

Ground floor Park Hyatt Hotel, 2 Lam 

Son Square, D1 Tel: 3824 1234 

Slick, contemporary eatery with exposed 

brick and glass. The space revolves 

around an island kitchen from which 

chefs produce gourmet Italian fare. 

Internationally trained chefs work with the 

freshest and finest ingredients around to 

produce some superb dishes. 

Pendalasco 

87 Nguyen Hue, D1, Tel: 3821 8181 

One of the city’s oldest Western restaurants, 

Pendalaso serves a wide range if 

Italian favourites, as well as remarkably 

authentic crispy, thin-crust pizza. 

Pepperoni’s 

111 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3920 4989 

Attractive pizza and pasta restaurant from 

the same chain as Al Fresco’s. Good 

cheap buffet lunches on weekdays and 

all-round large and tasty portions. 

Pomodoro 


A family-oriented Italian restaurant serving 

traditional fare are surprisingly reasonable 

prices. Offers daily lunchtime specials 

and has an extensive wine list. 

Sarpino’s 

125 Ho Tung Mau, D1 Tel: 3821 7788 

Tasty American-style pan pizza in a 

pleasant and fresh Italian-themed 

environment. Four sizes available, from 

personal to extra large, with a large range 

of toppings. Also serves pasta, soups, 

wings and salads. 

Scoozi 


Italian pizza restaurant affiliated with 

Centro Caffe serving tasty gourmet pizzas 

prepared in a wood-fired oven. The delicious 

creations restore one’s faith in HCM 

City’s ability to turn out a quality pie. 

Villa Romaine 

Thao Dien Village 195 Nguyen Van 

Huong D2 Tel: 3744 6857 

Set on the banks of the Saigon River, Villa 

Romaine offers traditional Italian pizzas 

and pastas in an alfresco setting with 

an excellent wine list. Open till midnight 

Sunday to Thursday and till 1 am Friday 

and Saturday. 

JAPANESE 

Chiisana Hashi 

River Garden, 170 Nguyen Van Huong, 

Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 6683 5308 0903 669 252 

Serves authentic Japanese cuisuine 

including sashimi, sushi, tempura, 

sukiyaki and shabu shabu. 

Dragon Hot Pot 

122-124 Ho Tung Mau, D1 

Tel: 3915 1001 

info@dragonhotpot.vn 

Japanese hot pot restaurant serving 

motsu nabe, Japanese barbeque and 

lots of sake and shoju. 

Iki 

Ground floor, Moevenpick Hotel 

Saigon 


Tel: 3844 9222 ext. 127 


A Japanese restaurant that turns the 

notion of the common hotel sushi eatery 

on its head thanks to an affordable 

menu and a fun atmosphere. 

K Cafe 

74 A4 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3824 

5355 

Small, cosy and cheery, this café is 

noteworthy for its cracking hand rolls. 

Salmon skin rolls are also a treat. The 

assorted sushi and sashimi, tasty and 

beautifully presented, costs around 

USD $8. Leave some room for homemade 

yoghurt. 

MOF – Japanese Sweets & Coffee 

Level B3-17A, Vincom Centre, 70-72 

Le Thanh Ton, D1 

30 Le Loi, D1 

Refined Japanese café specializing in 

unique desserts and food. Focusing 

on use of organic products, this casual 

eatery has a comprehensive Japanese 

dining menu along with a wonderful 

selection of sweets and offers possibly 

the most divine and delectable gelato 

in HCM City. 

Nishimura 

Mövenpick Hotel Saigon, 253 Nguyen 

Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Tel: 3844 9222 

Exquisitely prepared sushi and sashimi 

from a globetrotting chef with three 

decades’ experience. A wide range of 

cooked dishes and monthly meal promotions 

are also available. Set lunches 

cost about USD $15. 

Okinawa Yamaneko 


www.yamaneko-vn.com 

Part restaurant, part Japanese pub 

serving up a variety of Okinawa 

favourites like sashimi with sea grapes, 

namakari and goya champuru plus 

sushi and soba. 

Sakae Sushi 

Nowzone @ Royal Centre, Level 4 

235 Nguyen Van Cu, D1 Tel: 3504 

0054 

Healthy, affordable and quick service 

kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi makes 

for a fun dining experience. Extensive 

menu also includes beef, chicken and 

vegetarian options. 

The Sushi Bar 


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. 

Popular with expats and locals alike. 

Tama-Gawa 


Huong D2 Tel: 08 37446857 

Anh Phu’s only Japanese restaurant, 

Tama-Gawa serves fresh sushi and 


Where the game’s always on! 

28/4 Bui Vien Str. Pham Ngu Lao Ward, Dist 1. 

Phone: (08) 665 663 38 - (08) 665 663 28 

OPEN 

24/7 

NFL, College Football, NHL, Football, Rugby and More. 

Takeout and Free Delivery. 

other delicacies. Set lunches begin at 

120,000 VND. 

Zen 


Located amid the sea of Japanese restaurants 

on Le Thanh Ton Street, Zen 

offers a wide range of Japanese dishes. 

The yakitori station grills up fantastic 

steak and quail’s eggs, and the chilled 

udon noodles are also a standout. 

KOREAN 

25 Si 

8A/6D Thai Van Lung, D1 

Tel: 3824 6921 

Traditional Yasik-style drinking restaurant. 

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. 

Hana 

8 Cao Ba Quat, D1 Tel: 3829 5588 

Japanese-Korean fusion in the heart 

of District 1. 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. 

Kim Bab Chun Gook 

R4 42 Hung Phuoc 2, Phu My Hung 

Tel: 6296 9057 

Korean boonshik/snack food eatery 

serving up a wide variety of light but 

substantial foods including dumplings, 

rameyon and fish cakes. 

Kumdo 

6A Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 

Tel: 3824 3253 

Korean beef barbecue served in small, 

welcoming dining rooms with barbecues 

built into tables. Large selection of 

raw meat specialties. 

SOUTHEAST ASIAN 

Chaba Thai 


Huong D2 Tel: 3744 6857 

Cosy restaurant nestled in the middle of 

Thao Dien Village offering authentic Thai 

food. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 

Lac Thai 

71/2 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 Tel: 3823 7506 

An elegant restaurant tucked in an 

alleyway and 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. 

Little Manila 

S2-1 Hung Vuong 2, Phu My Hung, D7 

Tel: 5410 0812 

Small, no -frills eatery with outdoor and 

indoor seating located on a quiet street. 

Serves a range of dishes from the 

Philippines (pictured on menu for those 

unfamiliar) and draught San Miguel. 

Thai Village Sharksfin Restaurant 

38 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3825 6706 

Restaurant serving authentic Thai-Theochew 

cuisine including their specialty: 

whole braised shark’s fin in clay pot. 

The Red Dot 

21 Tu Xuong, D3 Tel: 3932 5123 

Aptly titled, this Singaporean restaurant 

serves decent chicken rice, char kway 

teow, chili crab, and a handful of Malaysian 

specialties. 

Satay House 

35 Mac Dinh Chi, D1 Tel: 3822 1727 

Bright and rustic, this Malaysian-run 

place specializes in Halal food. Chicken 

and asam fish curries are must-tries. Its 

famous satays are equally delicious. 

Thai Express 

8A Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 6299 1338 

www.thaiexpress.com.vn 

Modern restaurant with a massive menu 

of Thai specialties served in moderate 

proportions. The menu inludes chef’s 

recommendations and background on 

Thai cuisine. Warning: some dishes will 

test your tongue’s threshold. 

VEGETARIAN 

An Lac Chay 

175/4 Pham Ngu Lao, D1 

Tel: 3837 0760 

Apropos of the backpacker district, 

this little restaurant offers no frills and 

a vast menu. Though meat dishes are 

available, it specializes in vegetarian 

Vietnamese and quirky “backpacker 

favourites.” 

Hoa Dang 

38 Huynh Khuong Ninh, D1 

Swish vegetarian restaurant on a quiet 

street that serves up nutritious dishes, 

including meatless versions of bun bo, 

pho and steamboat. Cosy bar serving 

non-alcoholic drinks, fruits and other 

sweets. 

Saigon Vegan 

378/3 Vo Van Tan, D3 Tel: 3834 4473 

Rustic vegan restaurant with extensive 

menu of healthy food at moderate 

prices. Lots of tofu dishes and soya 

chicken/beef, soups, banh bao and 

more. Also has a kids menu. 

Tib Chay 

11 Tran Nhat Duat, D1 Tel: 3843 6460 

Intimate spot with a big menu of Vietnamese 

vegetarian appetisers, salads, 

soups, rice/noodle mains and desserts 

Viet Chay 

339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3 

Chao Muc 

street gourmet 

Chao muc or squid 

porridge is a savoury 

delicacy. Shredded dried 

squid, which has been 

soaked in water and a 

little white wine bulks up 

the dish. In addition to 

the squid and coagulated 

blood clots (huyet), the 

Tel: 3526 5862 

Upscale vegetarian restaurant specializes 

in fake meat dishes. The attractive 

dining room is suffused with natural 

light. Located within the walls of Vinh 

Nghiem Pagoda. 

VIETNAMESE 

Cha Ca La Vong 

3 Ho Xuan Huong, D3 Tel: 3930 5674 

36 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3915 

3343 

dish contains finely sliced 

pigskin, dried shrimp 

and finger-shaped soufflé 

batter (chao quay). Egg 

yolk, bean sprouts and 

shredded ginger are also 

added. A bowl goes 

for about 30,000 VND. 

Stephy Thai 

Two HCM City ouposts of the legendary 

Hanoi original serve only one dish: 

the eponymous and delicious cha ca 

la vong, fish pan-fried at the table with 

turmeric and dill and served with cold 

noodles and peanuts. 

Cha Ca Viet Nam 

River Garden, 170 Nguyen Van 

Huong, Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 6683 5308 0903 669 252 

Serves Hanoi specialty Cha Ca—turmeric 

grilled fish with noodles and dill. 

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. 

Hoa Tuc 


This comfortable high-end restaurant 

serves traditional Vietnamese fare with 

a contemporary, classy twist. Expect to 

find your local favourites as you’ve never 

experienced them before. Beautifully 

plated, this is Vietnamese cuisine at 

its best. 

Lang Nuong Nam Bo 

285/C145 Cach Mang Thang Tam, D10 

Tel: 3862 2569 

Warehouse-sized quan well-regarded 

among locals serves everything from 

beef, chicken and fish to porcupine, 

weasel and field mouse. Great destination 

for intrepid gastronomes. Has 

standard hot pot, rice and noodle 

dishes too. 

Mandarine Restaurant 

11A Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: 3822 9783 

Fine dining Vietnamese-style courtesy 

of two sumptuously decorated colonial 

villas, an antique wooden stair and a 

menu spanning all regions of Vietnam. 

Traditional music performances are 

available for dinner. 

Nam Phan 

34 Vo Van Tan, Q3 Tel: 3933 3636 

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. 

Nghi Xuan 

5/9 Nguyen Sieu, D1 Tel: 3823 0699 

Located down an alley just past Hai 

Ba Trung, featuring an attractive open 

first-floor and upstairs dining rooms 

with dark wood furniture and carved 

woodwork. Serving Hue staples, crab 

and prawn spreads and an impressive 

array of wines and cocktails. 

Ngon Vietnamese 


Huong D2 Tel: 3744 6857 

Located at the picturesque Thao Dien 

Village, Ngon offers authentic Vietnamese 

cuisine including alfresco cooking 

and dinning with traditional music on 

Thursday nights and traditional water 

puppet show on Saturday nights. 

Ngon Restaurant 


The long lunchtime queues tell the 

story: good food at low prices. More 

a food court than a restaurant, this 

has become a major favourite for its 

airy decor combined with cheap and 

tasty noodle, rice and other standard 

dishes. 

Papaya 

68 Pham Viet Chanh, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 6258 1508 

www.chi-nghia.com 

Hanoian classics mingle with new 

interpretations created by Chi Nghia, 

whose experience and dedication to 

clean, fresh ingredients set Papaya's 

menu apart. 10 am to 11 pm, 7 days. 

Temple Club 

29 – 31 Ton That Thiep, D1 

Tel: 3829 9244 

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 from around 

VND80,000 to VND150,000. 

Tib 


100 Nguyen Luong Bang, Phu My 

Hung, D7 Tel: 5413 6868 

www.tibrestaurant.com.vn 

Popular up-market dining spot serving 

Hue cuisine in an attactive dining room 

that draws on traditional architecture. 

Call for reservations. 

Wrap & Roll 


SA1–1, My Khanh 1, 

Nguyen Van Linh, D7 

Attractive downtown venue that brings 

street-style food into air-conditioned 

and uncluttered comfort. Choose prewrapped 

appetisers such as the cha 

gio (spring rolls) or roll-it-yourself mains 

with ingredients like pickled shrimps, 

beef on sugar cane, fish, grilled eel 

and pork. 


Italian & French Chefs 

Free Delivery 

11 Le Thanh Ton, D1, HCMC 

Tel. 08.38247446 

Italian Chef 

Wood-fired Pizza Oven 

Free Home Delivery 

86 Le Loi, D1, HCMC 

Tel: 08.382.44286 

nightlife 

LOUISIANE 

BREWHOUSE 

BARS & LOUNGES 

See bar restaurant listings for more 

popular watering holes. 

Amber Room 

59 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 6291 3686 

info@theamberoom.com 

A true London meets New York lounge, 

with chilled out tunes during the day 

and more funky vibes at night. A pleasant 

meeting place for drinks and a bite 

to eat. 

Bar's bar 

47 Phan Chu Trinh, D1 

Tel: 3822 3352 

Up stair and same entrance with Baby 

Spoon Restaurant, opposite Benthanh 

Market. This cozy bar serve it's customer 

with Jazz music and great drinks. 

Japanese Sake also available. Open 

from 6pm till late. 

Boston Sports Bar 

28/4 Bui Vien, D1 

Tel: 6656 6338/6656 6328 

Sports bar featuring North American 

food. Satellite TV, free pool and darts. 

Catering services and private room 

available for parties. Takeout and free 

delivery. Open 24 hours. 

Cloud 9 

2bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, D3, HCMC 

(Corner of Turtle Lake Roundabout & 

Tran Cao Van), Tel: 0948 445544 

Recently opened with beautiful déco, 

this rooftop lounge bar has its stunning 

views at night. Live DJ, great cocktails 

and desserts. Open 6pm till late. 

Level 23 

23rd Floor, Sheraton Hotel 

88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828 

One of the best views of the city from 

this upmarket terrace bar and lounge. 

Excellent cocktails don’t come cheap 

but the atmosphere is great with live 

music throughout the week and a live 

DJ every Monday. 

The Library 



Tel: 3520 9099 


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. 

M52 Bar 

52 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3821 6726 

Sparsely-appointed venue with reasonably 

priced drinks noted for packing a 

punch. Owners Annie and Ms. Van are 

Beachside Nha Trang 

Asian & Western Cuisine 

Swimming Pool & Private Beach 

never too busy to check on their patrons, 

and the busy bartenders are quick with 

a smile. 

Park Lounge 

Park Hyatt Hotel 


Elegant lounge bar, with classic songs 

played every night by international musicians. 

The salubrious surroundings are 

matched by the range of the drinks, with 

vintage wines from USD $6 to $10 per 

glass. Tiger is $4.50 a bottle. 

Purple Jade 



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. 

Q Bar 

Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, D1 

With low ceilings, intimate cubbyholes, 

colonial arches, gold paint, ultraviolet 

lighting and clubhouse beats, this is a 

bar that has a reputation for being a 

place to be seen. Great outdoor terrace 

and late-night indoor opening. 

QD Bar & Lounge 

138 Ton That Dam, D1, Tel: 3821 5338 

Sophisticated lounge with New and 

Old World wines served by the bottle or 

glass, modern decor and floor-to-ceiling 

windows overlooking Ton That Thiep. 

Saigon Saigon Bar 

9th floor, Caravelle Hotel, 19 Lam Son 

Square, D1 Tel: 3823 4999 

Popular bar usually packed out with 

tourists and business travellers searching 

for some delicious cocktails and a great 

view of the city skyline. Cuban band 

Warapo plays every night except Monday 

from 8.30 pm until late. 

Samsara Club 


A laid-back cosmopolitan drinking and 

dance venue with comfy lounge chairs 

around low-lying tables and an island bar 

bedecked in extravagant white-feather 

decorations. Pink neon gives the joint a 

contemporary edge. 

Voodoo Lounge 

92 Ho Tung Mau, D1 

Voodoo paintings adorn the white walls 

at this small, attractive bar south of Sunwah 

Tower. A daily happy hour, plenty 

of stool space and a pair of dartboards 

make it a good place to grab a drink. 

BREWHOUSES 

Alderbrau 

98 Nguyen Du, D1 

Small brewhouse decorated with antique 

www.louisianebrewhouse.com.vn 

brewing miscellanea, with an enclosed 

garden for outdoor swilling the small 

range of house brews and bottled imports. 

The kitchen dishes up sausages, 

German fare, and Vietnamese dishes. 

Gammer Czech Beer 

107 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3824 8619 

www.biatuoitiepvn.com 

Attractive, multi-story Czech beer hall 

furnished with heavy wood and outfitted 

with a few flat screen TVs tuned in to 

sports. Dark and blonde beers are available, 

as well as a full menu of Vietnamese 

food from mussels to rabbit. 

Hoa Vien 

28bis Mac Dinh Chi, D1 Tel: 3829 0585 

www.hoavien.vn 

Expansive beer hall serves up pilsner 

beer crafted from malt, hops and yeast 

from the Czech Republic. There’s also 

a large food menu and imported Pilsner 

Urquell. 

Lion Brewery 

11C Lam Son Square, D1 

Tel: 3823 8514 

Microbrewery featuring traditional German 

brew technology and German fare 

like pork knuckle and wurst. Good spot 

to meet friends and enjoy a hearty meal 

and a whole lot of beer. 

NIGHTCLUBS 

Fuse Bar 

3A Ton Duc Thang, D1 

A popular bar that plays primarily hiphop 

music. Every Tuesday Fuse hosts a ladies 

night where women drink for free and 

two bottles of wine can be purchased for 

2 million VND. 

Lush 


A large and lavishly decorated bar and 

club popular on weekends. Good DJs 

playing the latest in beat-based music 

and the city’s beautiful people add to 

the sights and sounds. It’s on-par with 

Western clubs in both ambience and 

drinks prices. 

Velvet Bar 

26 Ho Huan Nghiep, D1 

Hip-hop and Viet trance club with both 

bottle service and bottle beer that isn’t 

prohibitively expensive. Circular center 

bar is ringed with tables, and VIP areas 

and sofa seating line the walls. 

at home 

BAKERIES 

Crumbs 

54 Truong Dinh, D1 Tel: 3825 7199 

www.crumbs.com.vn 

info@crumbs.com.vn 

Eat-in bakery offering a wide range of 

muffins, whole-grain breads and pastries. 

Many of the breads are dairy-free, baked 

fresh daily with unbleached white flower, 

no added sugar. 

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 


25 Thao Dien, D2 

The home of the long and crusty 

baguette. Supplies many restaurants 

but also sells wholesale. The miniature 

patisseries such as crème brulée and 

cheesecake are worth a taste. Opens at 

6.30 am. 

Schneider’s Finest 

27 Han Thuyen, D1 

Tel: 3829 1998 

www.schneiders-finest.com 

Traditional German bakery bakes 45 different 

kinds of breads, rolls and baguettes 

and a wide range of danishes, pastries 

and cakes. Catering available. 

Tous Les Jours 


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 

17 A7 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

Tel: 7303 8799 

39 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2 

Tel: 6296 0066 

Small bakery turns out sweet and salted 

pies and mousses in addition to baguettes 

and a range of Western sweets. 

CATERING 

Au Parc Catering Services 

23 Han Thuyen, D1 Tel: 3829 2772 

Catering services available every day of 

the year for birthday cakes, dinner parties, 

wine tastings and corporate events. 

For a custom-made quotation e-mail 

auparc@hcm.vnn.vn or call Quynh on 

0908 196261. 

Saigon Catering 

84 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 6281 8388 

Provide services of catering, banquets, 

event planning, BBQ’s, daily deliveries 

and cocktail parties. For a custom-made 

quotation e-mail SaigonGG@gmail.com or 

call Huong on 0913 981128. 

The Caterers 

46D Vuon Lai, Tan Phu 

Tel: 3816 2901 

sales@thecaterersvietnam.com.vn 

www.thecaterersvietnam.com.vn 

Catering company offering extensive 

services from location sourcing, décor designing 

and food catering. All functions can 

be catered for, from low-key barbeques at 

home to full-blown weddings and parties. 

Xu Catering 

71-75 Hai Ba Trung, D1 

Tel: 3824 8468 

www.xusaigon.com 

From the brains behind Xu Restaurant 

and Lounge comes this new catering 

service, promising the highest standards in 

service. Everything from the menu to the 

comprehensive bar service and the staff is 

tailor-made to your specifications. 

COOKERY CLASSES 

Caravelle Hotel Cooking Classes 

Caravelle Hotel, 19 Lam Son Square, D1 

Tel: 3823 4999 

Full-day Vietnamese cooking classes for 

groups of up to 20 people. The classes 

include a visit to the market with the 

sous chef. Costs USD $45++ each for a 

minimum 10 people. 

Saigon Cooking Class by Hoa Tuc 

The Courtyard, 74/7 Hai Ba Trung, D1 

Tel: 3825 8485 

i.briosca@saigoncookingclass.com 

contact@saigoncookingclass.com 

Cooking classes available from Tuesday 

to Sunday 10 am-1 pm/2 pm-5 pm. Students 

make an entire meal that includes 

traditional dishes like pho and cha gio, as 

well as more creative fare. Conducted by 

Vietnamese chef in English, Japanese or 

French on request. Cost is $45. Market 

visit with the chef on request. 

Vietnam Cookery Centre 

362/8 Ung Van Khiem, Binh Thanh 


47 Phan Chu Trinh St. 

Ben Thanh Ward D1 HCM City 

www.babyspoonvn.com 

Tel: 3512 1491 

Well-known Vietnamese cooking 

classes with half-day and more in-depth 

eight-day courses. Students work in a 

comfortable kitchen area with their own 

stove and workspace. Eight-day course 

costs USD $160. 

GROCERIES 

Annam Gourmet Market 

16-18 Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3822 

9332 

41A Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2630 

SB2-1 My Khanh 4, Nguyen Duc Canh, 

D7 Tel: 5412 3263 / 64 

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. 

Classic Fine Foods 

17 Street 12, D2, Tel: 3740 7105 

www.classicfinefoods.com 

Luxury food primarily imports for wholesale, 

but also takes orders for its range 

of dry goods, cheese, meat, poultry and 

seafood from private clients. 

Gastro Home Delicatessen 

100 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 6281 9830 

Deli filled with fresh French-inspired 

delights ranging from salads to fish and 

vegetarian, meat and poultry dishes. 

Open 7 days from 9.30 am to 9 pm. 

Kim Hai Butchery 


Tel: 3821 6057 or 3914 4376 

Excellent chilled imported beef, lamb, 

veal and other meats sold at reasonable 

prices. 

Le Cochon D’Or 

32 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3829 3856 

French-style charcuterie selling quality 

cold cuts, smoked sausage and a range 

of cheeses at very reasonable prices. 

La Dorée 

216 Ly Tu Trong, D1 

65 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3822 1718 

Reminiscent of a luxurious Parisian 

bakery, La Dorée prepares and serves 

a variety of colourful breads baked with 

green, beige and brown buckwheat 

seeds plus baguettes, fougasse, le 

dieppois sandwiches and le montagnard. 

Must-try desserts include tiramisu, 

chocolate mousse and Monté Carlo. 

Metro 

An Phu, D2 Tel: 3740 6677 

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 all-natural 

products such as cereal, soymilk and 

tea. Operates a retail shop in An Phu. 

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 huge 

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. 

LIQUOR & WINE 

Bacchus Corner 

158D Pasteur, D1 

Reliable wine and liquor store owned 

by Tan Khoa Wines with a good range 

of spirits, whiskies, wines and more all 

at decent prices. English-speaking staff 

can help with selections. 

Connoisseur 


A decent range of wines from both old 

and new world vineyards lines the walls 

in this intimate store. Monthly offers on 

new arrivals are often a good deal. The 

staff are helpful, but little English. 

The Warehouse 

178 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3825 8826 

924 Tran Hung Dao, D5 Tel: 6261 

1525 

www.warehouse-asia.com 

One of the city’s premier wine distributors, 

The Warehouse is an aptly named, 

stylish wine store that stocks a full range 

of both New and Old World wines, 

sparkling wines, Champagne, spirits, 

imported beers and accessories. 

VINE Cellar Door 


Tel: 3822 2284 

A popular wine stockist with a very 

wide selection of labels from around the 

world for those who are serious about 

their vino. A range of fine cigars also 

available. 

listings 

culture 

CLASSES 

AngelsBrush by Vin 

Tel: 0983377710 

Shyevin@mac.com 

Oil painting course gives learners the 

opportunity to work from the different 

objects; explore different mediums, 

materials and techniques; and interpret 

line, tone and colour. Instructor works 

with students on individual basis. 

Helen Kling Oil Painting 

189/C1 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, 

D2 Tel: 0903 955 780 

hk.painter@gmail.com/helenkling@ 

yahoo.com 

www.helenkling.com 

Helene is a French painter who teaches 

beginners (children and adults) various 

techniques and the art of working with 

different mediums. She is also a fantastic 

tool for advanced artists who are looking 

to increase their creativity. Both day and 

night courses are available. Helene has a 

permanent exhibition at FLOW, located 

88 Ho Tung Mau, D1. 

Printmaking 

alphagallery@bluemail.ch 

Classes are held at Alpha Gallery taught 

by the gallery owner Bernadette Gruber, 

who offers the chance to learn monotype, 

intaglio and etching techniques. 

CINEMAS 

Bobby Brewer’s Movie Lounge 

45 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3610 2220 

86 Pham Ngoc Thach 

info@bobbybrewers.com 

Popular top-floor home cinema showing 

movies five times a day on a large 

screen. Email for the latest schedule. 

Cinebox 

212 Ly Chinh Thang, D3 Tel: 3935 

0610 

240 3 Thang 2, D10 Tel: 3862 2425 

Cinebox cinemas show both original 

language films with Vietnamese subtitles 

and the dubbed versions. 

Future Shorts 

futureshortsvietnam@gmail.com 

www.futureshorts.com/vn 

Vietnam branch of the international 

network screens foreign and local short 

films around town. Events often incorporate 

other media and elements, including 

live music, performances, installations 

and discussion. Submissions accepted. 

Galaxy Cinema 

116 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3822 8533 


www.galaxycine.vn 

Large, modern cinema that shows the 

latest foreign releases in English (with 

Vietnamese subtitles). 

IDECAF 


French cultural centre and cinema 

theatre. Showcases French movies with 

English and Vietnamese subtitles. Also 

hosts movies and documentaries from a 

number of overseas film festivals. 

Lotte Cinema 

Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, D1 

Tel: 3822 7897 

LotteMart, 469 Nguyen Huu Tho, D7 

Tel: 3775 2520 

www.lottecinemavn.com 

Modern cinema with four-way sound system. 

D7 location houses luxury theatre 

Charlotte with 32 seats and eight sofas. 

me phim 

HCM City-based film initiative that 

provides support to local filmmakers and 

hosts regular film screenings/discussions. 

Email dduukk@gmail.com for information 

or join the Facebook group. 

Megastar 

Hung Vuong Plaza, 126 Hung Vuong, 

D5 Tel: 08 2222 0388 

CT Plaza, 60A Truong Son, Tan Binh 

Tel: 6297 1981 

www.megastarmedia.net 

State-of-the-art cinema complex screening 

the lastest blockbusters with plush, 

reclining seats. All movies shown in original 

language with Vietnamese subtitles. 

GALLERIES 

a little blah blah 

OUT-2 STUDIO, L6 FAFILM Annex 

6 Thai Van Lung, D1 

albbsaigon-2010.blogspot.com 

Operates as an engine for contemporary 

art by organizing projects, exhibitions, 

screenings and talks. Runs one major 

art project each year and a reading room 

with more than 1,000 texts on art, design 

and creative culture. Free for everyone 

and open Tue to Sat 10 am to 6 pm. 

Blue Space Contemporary Arts 

Center 

97A Pho Duc Chinh, D1 

Tel: 3821 3695 

bluespaceart@hcm.jpt.vn 

www.bluespacegallery.com 

Busy, working gallery with easels 

propped up outside situated in the 

grounds of the beautiful Fine Arts 

Museum. Holds regular exhibitions by 

local artists. 

Duc Minh Gallery 

31C Le Quy Don, D3 Tel: 3933 0498 

Housed in an opulent colonial mansion, 

private museum and art gallery showcases 

the private art collection of Vietnamese 

business tycoon Bui Quoc Chi. 

Containing more than 1,000 pieces that 

range from traditional to contemporary. 

Galerie Quynh 

65 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3836 8019 

www.galeriequynh.com 

The city’s only international standard 

gallery, housed in a modern, two-floor 

space. Organizes regular exhibitions 

featuring established, emerging local/ 

international contemporary artists, publishes 

original catalogs in both English 

and Vietnamese. 

Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum 

97A Pho Duc Chinh, D1 Tel: 3829 4441 

btmthcm@hotmail.com 

Institution housing contemporary/traditional 

works by Vietnamese and foreign 

artists. Pieces date from as early as 

the 7th century. Includes Vietnamese 

antiques, art crafted by the Cham and 

Funan peoples. 

San Art Independent Artist Space 

3 Me Linh, Binh Thanh Tel: 3840 0898 

hoa@san-art.org 

www.san-art.org 

Artist-run, non-profit exhibition space 

featuring contemporary work by young 

Vietnamese artists. San Art hosts guest 

lecturers and curators. A reading room 

of art books and magazines is open to 

the public. 

TuDo Gallery 


www.tudogallery.com 

Hosting permanent exhibitions of works 

by the city’s artists, Tu Do deals in oils, 

silk paintings and lacquerware. More 

than 1,000 pieces on show. 

72 asialife HCMC

listings 

sports & 

leisure 

Sport Street 

Huyen Tran Cong Chua, D1 between 

Nguyen Du and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 

Services include mending and restringing 

broken tennis rackets. Products range 

from badminton birdies and rackets to 

basketball hoops, free weights, roller 

blades, scooters, soccer jerseys and all 

manner of balls. 

Trophies & Custom Signage Street 

Le Lai, D1 between Truong Dinh and 

Nguyen Thai Hoc 

Offers custom engraving on trophies and 

plaques made of plastic, wood, metal 

and glass. 

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 

46/2 Nguyen Cuu Van, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 3840 6974 

www.dancentervn.com 

Modern, centrally located studio with 

foreign trained dance instructors. 

Classes for kids age 5+ in jazz, ballet, hip 

hop and tap dance. Classes for adults in 

yoga, jazz, hip hop, salsa, belly, tap and 

capoeira. 

Salsa Dancing at La Habana 

6 Cao Ba Quat, D1 

www.salsaigon.com 

salsaigon@gmail.com 

Six-week salsa package at 350,000 

VND for single persons and 550,000 for 

a 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 

Features six-lane, 25-metre pool, 

basketball and netball courts, astroturf 

hockey/football area and outdoor gym 

equipment. Available for party hire, with 

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. 

Curves 

15 Trinh Van Can, D1 Tel: 3821 0319 

www.curvesvietnam.com 

Curves is a women’s only fitness 

franchise with over 10,000 locations and 

four million members. The centre offers 

a famous 30-minute total body workout 

that they say will burn up to 500 calories. 

Features training on ‘double positive’ 

resistance equipment. 

Daphne Chua 

Tel: 012 6662 6467 

yogadaphne@gmail.com 

www.daphnechua.com 

Classes taught by a Yoga Alliance 

certified teacher from Singapore that 

focus on breathing and body awareness, 

combined with fluid movements to 

perfectly balance body and mind. Hatha, 

Restorative and Vinyasa classes are offered 

in group and private sessions. 

Diamond Way Buddhism Meditation 

Group 

Tel: 093 804 3753 

Email: SaigonGompa@gmail.com 

www.diamondway-teachings.org 

Meditation group using methods of 

Tibetan Buddhism. Diamond Way or 

Vajrayana Buddhism guides practitioners 

to experience the nature of their own 

mind to reach Enlightenment. 

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. 

Erick Tony Varin, Fitness and Swimming 

Instructor 

Tel: 0939 026 540 

Erickforcearca@hotmail.com 

French instructor offers individual 

adapted programmes at home or at 

your gym, including weight loss, muscle 

gain, athletic training and post-traumatic 

treatment. Swimming and aqua aerobics 

classes for groups or individuals are also 

offered. 

K1 Fitness and Fight Factory 

346 Ben Van Don, D4 

Tel: 0918 337 111 

www.teamminetti.com 

Fitness centre teaching English and 

Thai boxing, karate, Vietnamese martial 

arts, judo, fencing, grappling, and mixed 

martial arts with classes for both adults 

and children. All training conducted by a 

professional foreign instructor. 

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. 

Legend Hotel Fitness Centre 

2A-4A Ton Duc Thang, D1 

One of the best hotel fitness centres. 

Very well-equipped gym with cardiovascular 

and weight machines, along with 

a circular swimming pool and massage 

parlour. A three-month membership 

costs USD $400++. 

Nutrifort 

2B1 Chu Manh Trinh, D1 

Tel: 3825 8560 

news@nutrifort.com/www.nutrifort.com 

Comprehensive health and fitness centre 

offering customized exercise, nutritional 

counseling to members. Specializing in 

weight loss programs, core/body alignment 

training with Pilates equipment. 

Healthy snacks available. 

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. 

Park Hyatt Fitness Centre 


Luxury health centre with the full range of 

facilities including swimming pool, steam 

room, jacuzzi and fitness centre. Threemonth 

peak membership costs USD 

$810++ and off-peak is $450++. 

Renaissance Hotel Health Club 


Tel: 3822 0033 

Stylish health club with gym, swimming 

pool, steam room, massage parlour, 

pool-side bar and an outstanding view 

of the city. Costs USD $140 a month, or 

$10 a day. 

Saigon Fitness Club 


Tel: 3822 8888 

The modern Nautilus-equipped gym is 

staffed by highly-qualified instructors to 

cater for your fitness needs. Features a 

swimming pool, floodlit tennis court, golf 

driving range, jogging track, sauna, and 

massage rooms. 

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. 

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. 

Soham Yoga Studio & Boutique 

84T/4 Tran Dinh Xu, D1 Tel: 3920 5813 

Soham offers Vinyasa Flow, Sivananda 

and Power yoga all taught by Yoga 

Alliance certified instructors. Soham's 

boutique stocks high-quality yoga products 

from Manduka and Jade as well 

as locally made yoga accessories and 

international yoga publications. 

Sofitel Saigon Plaza Fitness Centre 

17 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3824 1555 

Small but well-equipped gym with helpful 

staff and quality equipment. Membership 

costs USD $700++ for six months and 

$1,300++ for a year. Also runs a number 

of fitness classes including yoga. 

Yoga & Meditation Centre 

335 Dien Bien Phu, D3 

Tel: 3929 1706 

www.ymc.org 

Professional team of Western and local 

teachers show you how to practice a 

combination of yoga and meditation with 

a range of classes such as Hatha, Yin, 

Vikram, Ashtanga yoga and Pilates. 

Yoga Living 


Tel: 098 880 4598 

info@yogaliving.com.vn 

www.yogaliving.com.vn 

Yoga studio offering hatha, vinyasa, 

power and ashtanga yoga. Schedule can 

be self-made by members. 

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. 

Les Gaulois de Saigon 

www.gauloisdesaigon.com 

info@gauloisdesaigon.com 

A new team of French footballers, the 

side invites players and their families to 

come and join in their friendly training 

sessions, where everyone can get together 

and enjoy the sport while making 

new friends. Contact Sebastien on 0919 

691785 or Romain on 0908 060139. 

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 Rugby Club 

Tel: 0903 735 799 

www.saigonrfc.org 

saigonrugbyfootballclub@yahoo.com 

Social, mixed touch rugby played 

every Saturday afternoon for adults at 

RMIT from 4 pm until 6 pm. Regularly 

welcomes visiting teams and tours the 

region for men’s contact and women’s 

touch rugby tournaments. Beginners 

welcome. 

Saigon Saints 

chris@saigonsaints.com 

www.saigonsaints.com 

Expat football club of all ages, which has 

been running since 1995 and plays in the 

SIFL. Regularly venture on international 

tours especially to Bangkok and Manila 

and play in other local and international 

tournaments. The players train weekly, 

and new players are encouraged to join. 

GOLF 

Dalat Palace Golf Club 

Phu Dong Thien Vuong, Dalat 

Tel: 063 3821 101 

dpgc@vietnamgolfresorts.com 

The most beautiful course in Vietnam, 

combining the crisp mountain air with 

an environment of stately pine trees. 

Overlooking Xuan Huong lake, the 

7,009-yard course is an enjoyable challenge 

for golfers of all levels. 

Dong Nai Golf Resort 

Trang Bom Town, Trang Bom 

Tel: 061 3866 288 / 3677 590 

www.dongnaigolf.com.vn 

Large golf resort with 27 holes, plus 

a villa complex, bar, sauna. jacuzzi 

and billiards. The resort sits on 160 

hectares of land in Dong Nai Province, 

about 50 kilometres from the city. 

Membership starts at USD $2,000 a 

year. 

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. Membership 

starts from USD $700 for 6 months. 

Visitors’ greens fees for a round of golf 

are around USD $16 before 5 pm and 

$19 after. Club, shoe and umbrella hire 

is also available. 

SaigonSports Academy League 

Tel: 093 215 3502 

greg@saigonsportsacademy.com 

www.saigonsportsacademy.com 

12-week, 5 a side community football 

league with Adult, U18, U14, U10 and 

U7 divisions. Matches held at Thao 

Dan Stadium in District 1. Corporate, 

local and expat teams compete in adult 

division with cash prize for champions. 

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 

Hash House Harriers 

www.saigonh3.com 

Running club that meets every Sunday 

at 2 pm at the Caravelle Hotel to go on 

a run in different locations out of town 

with their traditional balance of exercise 

and beer. 

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. 

Senior Expat ChitChat 

Weekly “Coffee Talk” meetings among 

seniors at the Palace Hotel Café (56 – 66 

Nguyen Hue, D1) each Tuesday from 10 

to 11.30 am. The informal group is for 

local expatriates and English-speaking 

foreign travellers who meet to share 

experiences and make new friends. Call 

club organizer Sheldon Pruss at 0932 

031 837. 

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 

Vietnam Hobby Brewers 

hobbybrewer.vietnam@gmail.com 

www.hobbybrewer-vietnam.de.tl 

Small group of beer enthusiasts gather 

bi-monthly at microbrewery to talk beer, 

share brewing tips and sample homemade 

suds. The group is keen on taking 

on new members with an interest in 

learning how to brew. 

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. 

Certified by ISO 9001:2000 

GERMAN 

HIGH-TECH DENTAL CLINIC 

ACCADENT DENTAL CLINIC 

161 Dong Khoi 15 Le Loi St, Dist. 1 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 

Phone: +848 38 22 88 00 

Fax: +848 38 22 35 22 

email: info@accadent.com 

www.accadent.com 

O P E R A V I E W B U I L D I N G S A I G O N 


questions for the coiffeur 

By Lloyd Morgan 

Q. Do clothing designers 

have much impact on the 

hair industry? 

A. I’ve always thought that 

fashion and hair complement 

each other. No great 

dress is complete without a 

great hair style. I’m sure hair 

stylists and fashion designers 

are influenced by each other 

to a point, and by working 

together they can come up 

with a complete look. 

A great deal depends on 

who’s wearing your creations, 

be it hair or clothing—a statement 

is made when people of 

importance start wearing your 

designs. And that includes a 

great do. 

Q. If you’re pregnant is it 

OK to chemically straighten 

your hair? 

A. Absolutely not. Ammoniabased 

chemicals are used 

in the straightening process 

and they must be left on the 

hair for an extended period 

of time—far too long to be 

considered safe during 

pregnancy. Inhalation of these 

vapours is potentially very 

dangerous. 

As for colouring, there’s no 

medical proof it is dangerous 

during pregnancy. I 

have given pregnant women 

highlights and colours, but err 

on the side of caution by staying 

a couple of centimetres 

away from the roots. If you’re 

worried though, I would steer 

clear of chemicals all together 

while pregnant. 

Q. I had a dark colour put 

over my lightened hair and 

it seems to be going red. 

Why? 

A. It depends on how light 

you were before the darker 

colour was put over the light 

colour and if the colourist 

used any red-toned colour 

to warm up the dark-toned 

colour. 

Maybe the colour was not 

strong enough, lacking the 

required depth. If the peroxide 

was too strong, this could 

result in red tones coming 

through, as well. (It should 

be between three and six 

percent.) 

A consultation with a good 

colourist is advisable before 

you jump in for a complete 

colour overhaul. 

Lloyd Morgan runs the Lloyd 

Morgan International Hair 

Studio at 234 Nguyen Van 

Huong, Thao Dien, D2. Contact 

him at 0908 422 007 or 

lloydskate@hotmail.com. 

listings 

health & 

beauty 

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 

American Chiropractic Clinic 

8 Truong Dinh, D3 Tel: 3930 6667 

www.vietnamchiropractic.com 

A chiropractic, physiotherapy, foot 

care clinic staffed by American-trained 

chiropractors speaking French, English, 

Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. Treats 

back pain, neck pain, knee pain, also 

specializing in sports injuries, manufacture 

of medical grade foot orthotics. 

Ciro Gargiulo 

CARE1 Executive Health Care Center 

The Manor, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh, 

Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 0757 

care1_reception@vietnammedicalpractice.com 

www.care1.com.vn 

A holistic approach is used by this 

acupuncturist and traditional medicine 

practitioner to rebalance the body’s 

energy fields. A wide range of ailments 

are treated including back pain, allergies 

and insomnia. 

Institute of Traditional Medicine 

273-275 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan 

Dr. Le Hung is the man to see at this 

well-established traditional hospital & 

training centre. He speaks good English 

and provides excellent treatments in a 

clean environment. The Institute also 

provides acupuncture lessons at USD 

$30 per day. 

Osteopathic Medicine/Physiotherapy 

– David Truong Tan 

Tel: 0903 09 81 24 

www.osteopathy-vietnam.com 

French-trained osteopath and physiotherapist 

specializing in the treatment of 

back pain and muscular, ligament and 

joint problems using a holistic approach 

and gentle manipulative techniques. 

Consultations available at International 

SOS in District 3 and Nutrifort in Districts 

1 and 2. 

Theta Healing 

– Jodie Eastwood 

Tel: 091 859 1933 

www.thetahealing.com 

A unique energy healing technique for 

mind, body and spirit. Jodie is a UK 

qualified practitioner based in HCM City. 

Traditional Medicine Hospital 


Friendly staff speak little to no English 

at this well-known ad spotlessly clean 

hospital offering treatments that combine 

traditional Chinese medicine with modern 

knowledge and expertise. 

COSMETIC TREATMENT 

Cao Thang Lasik & Aesthetic Clinic 

135-135B Tran Binh Trong, D5 

Tel: 3923 4419 

A modern clinic offering a comprehensive 

range of optical services. Specializes in 

LASIK correctional procedures, costing 

from USD $700 to $1,100 for both eyes. 

English spoken. Open seven days a 

week. 

FV Hospital Cosmetic Surgery 

45 Vo Thi Sau, D1 Tel: 6290 6167 

6 Nguyen Luong Bang, D7 

Tel: 5411 3366 

www.fvhospital.com 

International-standard cosmetic procedures 

from simple dermabrasion and 

chemical peels to collagen injections, 

nose and eye shaping, liposuction, and 

breast enhancement. Procedures carried 

out by French and Vietnamese doctors 

using the latest equipment. 

Parkway Shenton International Clinic 

Suite 213-214, 37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 

Owned by the Singapore-based 

healthcare giant Parkway Holdings, this 

aesthetics clinic offers a range of both 

surgical and non-surgical treatments 

including dental reconstruction. 

DENTAL 

European Dental Clinic 

17 - 17A Le Van Mien, Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 0918 749 204/08 3744 9744 

Expat English and French-speaking 

dentist. Performs full range of dental 

treatment including whitening, aesthetic 

fillings, porcelain crowns, full ceramics, 

veneer and orthodontic treatment. 24- 

hour emergency line: 0909 551 916 or 

0916 352940. 

Koseikai Dental Clinic 

3rd floor, 21 Nguyen Trung Ngan, D1 

Tel: 3910 6255 

info@koseikai.com.vn 

www.koseikaidentist.com 

A member of Dental Clinic Vietnam, 

provide full range of dental services 

with the latest in technology, delivery of 

laboratory work and new technologies 

now available. 

Starlight Dental Clinic 

Dr. Philippe Guettier & International 

Team of Dentists 

2Bis Cong Truong Quoc Te, D1 

Tel: 3822 6222 

doe.linh@gmail.com 

With 14 years’ experience providing 

dental treatment to expat and 

Vietnamese patients, this well-known 

dental surgery is staffed by both foreign & 

local practitioners. Au fait with the latest 

treatments and techniques, the surgery 

prides themselves on their high standard 

of equipment & sterilization. 

Tu Xuong Dental Clinic 

51A Tu Xuong, D3 

Tel: 3932 2049/050 

drhung01@yahoo.com 

www.nhakhoatuxuong.com 

Provides general and cosmetic dental 

services at reasonable prices. Specialises 

in implants, orthodontic treatments and 

making crowns and bridges. Staff are 

professional and speak English. 

Westcoast International Dental Clinic 

Ben Thanh Clinic, 27 Nguyen Trung 

Truc, D1. Tel: 3825 6777 

The Practice: Level 1, 71-79 Dong Khoi, 

D1. Tel: 3825 6999 

info@westcoastinternational.com 

www.westcoastinternational.com 

Westcoast International Dental Clinic 

provides quality dental work, combining 

state-of-the-art techniques, a talented 

and highly skilled team and affordable 

prices. 

See Medical listings for hospitals with 

dental services. 

HAIR & SALON 

Anthony George for London Hair & 

Beauty 

FIDECO Riverview Building 

14 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 6475 

www.aglondonsalon.com.vn 

Top British stylist George brings his 

unique flair to hair in District 2. The modern, 

stylish and professional salon is host 

to a staff of professionally trained beauty 

therapists. Uses Dermalogica, Schwarzkopf 

and L’Oreal products. Shampoo, 

cut and blow-dry starts at USD $26; mini 

facials from $12. 

Jasmine 


jasminespa@hcm.vnn.vn 

Friendly and efficient staff offers haircuts 

and a wide range of services including 

waxing, manicures, pedicures and other 

beauty treatments. Skin renewal facial, 

salt or rice body scrub & deep tissue 

massage costs USD $98 

Le Brian Salon 

201 Calmette, D1 

195 Nguyen Van Hoang, D2 

Vietnamese-American hairstylist with 

dual locations, offering a full range of hair 

services, as well as professional make-up 

application. 

Lloyd Morgan International Hair 

Studio 

234 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 090 8422 007 

International stylist Lloyd Morgan is one 

of the best in town. He’s been in the 

business for over 30 years and brings his 

expertise to this established, top-notch 

salon. 

Qi Spa 


Tel: 3844 1719 

Caravelle Hotel Tel: 3824 7150 

Mövenpick Hotel Saigon, 

Tel: 3997 5437 

High-end salon and spa offers the 

standard range of services in a calming 

atmosphere with good service. Waxing, 

nail services, hair dressing as well as 

luxurious facial and massage treatments 

on offer. 

Souche 

2nd Floor, Saigon Trade Centre 

37 Ton Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 0372 

A top-end beauty salon using the 

Dermatologica line of skincare products. 

Specialises in personalized facial care 

treatments from USD $30 and medicated 

acne treatments from $40. Waxing and 

other aesthetic services are also available 

in a pleasant atmosphere with excellent 

service. 

Sunji Matsuo Hair Studio 

Saigon Paragon, 3 Nguyen Luong Bang, 

D7 Tel: 5416 0378 

Celebrity hairstylist Sunji Matsuo’s Singapore-based 

hair salon has a variety of 

hair services including scalp treatments, 

rebonding and hair extensions. 

The Salon 


Tel: 3822 9660 

65 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3821 6394 

Reliable haircuts from well-trained stylists 

at this local salon with multiple locations. 

A haircut starts at USD $28 for women 

and $22 for men. 

MEDICAL 

Australian Clinic & Pathology 

Diagnostics (ACPD) 

273-275 Ly Thai To, D10 

Tel: 3834 9941 

www.australianclinic.com.vn 

Services include general outpatient 

healthcare, corporate / visa healthchecks, 

X-ray, full laboratory and in-house 

pharmacy including specialist medical 

services covering cardiology, paediatrics, 

obstetrics, gynecology, orthopedic and 

dermatology. 

CARE1 Executive Health Care Center 

The Manor, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh, 

Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 0757 

care1_reception@vietnammedicalpractice.com 

www.care1.com.vn 

Sister clinic of Family Medical Practice, 

CARE1 is an executive health care centre 

offering comprehensive preventative-care 

checkups in a modern and professional 

setting. State-of-the-art technology provides 

fast and accurate diagnoses. 

Centre Medical International (CMI) 


Tel: 3827 2366 

www.cmi-vietnam.com 

Located downtown next to the cathedral, 

the centre provides a high standard of 

medical care from qualified French and 

Vietnamese physicians. Its range of services 

include general and tropical medicine, 

cardiology, gynaecology, osteopathy, 

pediatrics, psychiatry, speech therapy and 

traditional Eastern medicine. 

Columbia Asia Saigon Clinic 

8 Alexandre de Rhodes, D1 

Tel: 3823 8888 

Respected multi-specialty clinic with 

foreign and local physicians. Doctors on 

call 24 hours a day. Standard check-ups 

cost between 400,000 VND and 800,000 

VND. 

Family Medical Practice HCMC 


Tel: 3822 7848 

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. 

FV Hospital 

6 Nguyen Luong Bang, D7 

Tel: 5411 3333 

www.fvhospital.com 

A foreign-owned international-standard 

hospital with a mixture of French and 

Vietnamese physicians. Offers quality 

services, comprehensive patient care 

and is particularly well regarded for 

its maternity care. Full array of dental 

services from examination, cleaning and 

whitening to fillings, cosmetic procedures 

and implants. 24-hour emergency line: 

3411 3500. 

Hanh Phuc International Women & 

Children Hospital 

Binh Duong Boulevard, Thuan An, Binh 

Duong 

Tel: 650 363 6068 

www.hanhphuchospital.com 

Managed by Thomson Medical Singapore, 

Hanh Phuc hospital provides a 

comprehensive range of facilities and 

service for primary to tertiary healthcare, 

focus in Obstestrics & Gyneacology and 

Paediatric. Soft opening was on the 3rd 

January 2011. 

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. Foreign 

and Vietnamese dentists. Has multilingual 

staff. 

Victoria Healthcare International 

Clinic 

135A Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan 

Tel: 3997 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. 

New Pet Hospital 

53 Dang Dung St, D1 

Tel: 6269 3939 

This veterinary hospital is equipped with 

the state-of-the-art equipment including 

digital X-ray machine, color-ultrasound 

machine, inhalation anesthetic system 

and blood analyzer. It also provides 

boarding and grooming services. 

Saigon Pet 

33 Street 41, Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 0909 063267 

A veterinary clinic run by a UK-trained vet. 

The clinic provides diagnostic surgical 

and laboratory services as well as per 

grooming. Saigon Pet is affiliated with 

A.R.C Vietnam, a volunteer organisation 

dedicated to preventing animal cruelty, 

which also rehabilitates and finds homes 

for abandoned animals. 

NAILS 

Nghia Beauty 

20 Phan Boi Chau, D1 

Tel: 3829 2688 


MONTESSORI 

Early Childhood Program 

International & Bilingual 

(English and Vietnamese/ 

French/or Mandarin) 

Infant & Toddler program: for children aged 6 to 17 months 

Kindergarten program: for children aged 1.5 to 6 years 

Half day and full day 

Outstanding indoor & outdoor facilities. 

After school activities for children 3-10 yrs: Music, PE, Art & 

language classes (English, French, Mandarin Chinese). 

www.montessori.edu.vn 

info@montessori.edu.vn 

Thao Dien Campus: 

42/1 Ngo Quang Huy, Dist.2, 

HCMC 

An Phu Campus: 

Ground floor, Block B, An 

Khang/Intresco Apartment 

(Behind Metro supermarket 

Dist.2, HCMC) 

Tel: 37442639 - 38783164 

0903 858659 

Montessori 

International School 

of Vietnam 

Located next to the Ben Thanh Market, 

clean efficient and friendly staff service 

your hands and feet with a range of treatments 

while you relax in a comfortable 

atmosphere. 

Nail P.KH 

51 Nguyen Huu Cau, D1 

A well-known local place with a number 

of manicure stations and an extensive 

range of services. A mani-pedi with polish 

starts at 40,000 VND. 

OPI 


International brand of nail care offering a 

variety of treatments from standard manicures 

at 50,000 VND to the whole host 

nail services such as acrylics, powder gell, 

cuticle treatments and French polishing. 

Quang Qui’s Nails 

146 Le Thanh Ton, D1 


Locally popular spots with low prices and 

good service, offering anything you could 

possibly want for your nails. 

SKINCARE 

Avon 

186A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3 

Tel: 3930 4018 

www.vn.avon.com 

HCMC branch of the world’s largest direct 

seller of cosmetics occupies the ground 

floor of District 3 villa, selling brand names 

like Anew, Skin-So-Soft and Avon Natural. 

The Body Shop 


31 Nguyen Trai, D1 

www.thebodyshop.com 

Internatioanl cosmetics retailer with strong 

commitment to environment sources 

natural ingredients from small communities 

for its line of more than 600 products. 

Dermalogica 

Saigon Trade Center, 37 Ton Duc Thang, 

D1 Tel: 3910 0372 

www.dermalogica.com 

U.S. brand of cleansers popular among 

skin care professionals. The line of toners, 

exfoliants, moisturizers and masques are 

engineered by skin therapists to be free 

of common irritants, and the company is 

categorically opposed to animal testing. 

The Face Shop 


598B Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3 

Tel: 3832 2095 



www.thefaceshop.com 

Local retailer for the South Korea-based 

international brand of natural body, bath 

and skincare products. The company 

pairs variety with value, offering hundreds 

of products for different skin types. Also 

has kiosks at Co.op Mart in Phu My 

Hung, Diamond Plaza and Zen Plaza. 

L’Apothiquaire 

100 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 

Parkson Saigon Tourist Plaza 

Parkson Hung Vuong Plaza 

The Crescent, 103 Ton Dat Tien, D7 

64A Truong Dinh, D3 


Tel: 3932 5181/3932 5082 


info@lapothiquaire.com 

French-made natural products for all 

types of skin. Also offers exclusive 

natural Italian skin, body and hair care 

from Erbario Toscano. Available at all 

L’Apothiquaire outlets. 

L’Occitane en Provence 


French cosmetics company with a 30- 

year history offering a range of bath and 

massage oils, essential oils, body and 

hand care products are especially well 

known. Also has outlets in all the major 

downtown shopping malls. 

Marianna Medical Laser Skincare 

149A Truong Dinh, D3 Tel:3526 4635 

www.en.marianna.com.vn 

Professional Laser Clinic in Ho Chi Minh 

City, Marianna owns the excellent experts 

in Aesthetic Medicine and the modern 

technologies such as Laser, Botox, Filler 

and all solutions can help you more 

beautiful and younger day by day. 

Sian Skincare Laser Clinic 

71–77 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel:3827 6999 

info@sianclinic.com 

www.sianclinic.com 

Skincare laser clinic offering the latest 

in non-surgical esthetic treatments 

including Botox, laser, acne treatments, 

hair loss regrowth, hair removal, skin 

rejuvenation and anti-aging treatments. 

Led by Dr. Tran Ngoc Si, a leading 

esthetic dermatologist from the hospital 

of Dermatology of HCMC. 

Yves Rocher 

16-18 Hai Ba Trung Tel: 3824 8782 

www.yves-rocher.com 

Small centrally located boutique retailing 

in French brand of botanical fragrances, 

face and body care, cosmetics and antiaging 

solutions. 

SPAS 

Aqua Day Spa 

Sheraton Saigon, 88 Dong Khoi, D1 

Tel: 3827 2828 

Recently revamped luxury eight-room 

spa with a holistic approach to treatment, 

using natural Harnn products plus hot 

stone therapy and seaweed treatments. 

Belissima Spa 

3rd Floor Saigon Center, 65 Le Loi, D1 

Tel: 3272 8682 

Well known in Hanoi and now available 

in HCMC, Belissima offers range of facial 

treatments, body therapies, and hand 

and foot treatments as well as special 

packages such as Coffee and Chocolate 

Body Toning Treatment. 

Jasmine Spa 

45 Ton That Thiep, D1 

Tel: 3827 2737 

jasminespa@hcm.vnn.vn 

Friendly and efficient staff offer haircuts 

and a wide range of services including 

waxing, manicures, pedicures and other 

beauty treatments. Skin renewal facials, 

salt or rice body scrub & deep tissue 

massages from USD $79. 

La Maison de L’Apothiquaire 

64A Truong Dinh, D3 

Tel: 3932 5181/3932 5082 

info@lapothiquaire.com 


Traditional French day spa in colonial villa 

with professional therapists and state-ofthe-art 

treatments. Complimentary use of 

swimming pool, sauna and steam bath. 

Has fitness centre and organic garden 

restaurant and offers gentlemen’s care. 

Winner of Guide Award 2005-2009. Also 

offers exclusive natural Italian skin, body 

and hair care from ErbarioToscano. 

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. Also offering 

Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage to reduce 

tension and reiki treatments. 

Renaissance Riverside Spa 


Tel: 3822 0033 

No-frills Vietnamese, shiatsu and aromatherapy 

massages from USD $22 plus 

a room dedicated to foot massages from 

$18 at the atrium level. Also has sizable 

steam and sauna rooms at the club 

Xuan Spa 

Park Hyatt, 2 Lam Son Square, D1 

Tel: 3824 1234 

Beautiful spa with highly rated Swedish 

massage and water therapy including 

the unique 60 minutes Vichy shower to 

soften and smooth skin or the Indian Shirodhara 

with special oil for 45 minutes. 

Spa packages aimed at rejuvenation, 

calming, and hydrating are also available. 

78 asialife HCMC

ask auntie emily 

Meddling In-Laws 

By Emily Huckson 

Dear Auntie Em: 

My husband and I always 

look forward to visits from our 

parents. My in-laws visited us 

for a month and they get along 

with our three-year-old like a 

‘house on fire’. To him, they 

are the best toys in the house! 

It is wonderful for my son to 

have such a great relationship 

with his grandparents while 

living so far away. However, 

my mother-in-law is causing a 

problem. Although I appreciate 

her time and love that my son 

feels so connected to her, I 

don’t appreciate her contradicting 

me on discipline. When 

I give him a ‘time out’, she 

takes his side and asks me 

to give him a second chance, 

even when she’s witnessed 

bad behaviour that she knows 

I will not tolerate. 

- In-Law Interference 

Dear ILI: This is oh-so delicate, 

since you don’t want to offend 

her. Still, I can guess you 

have already talked about 

your ideas of child rearing 

as you say she knows about 

behaviour you will and will not 

tolerate, so you do need to 

address it. Talk to your spouse 

about what you have in mind 

and then either together, or on 

your own, find a moment to 

discuss it with your mother-inlaw. 

You might say, “When you 

step in and take the kids’ side, 

I feel as though my authority is 

being questioned. And I think 

it’s confusing for our son. If 

you feel I’m not being fair with 

him, I’d prefer to talk about it 

privately with you. Can we try 

that?” 

In general, when it comes 

to friends and relatives with 

whom you spend a lot of 

family time, it’s good to share 

your beliefs about discipline 

do's and don’ts and, together, 

come up with an approach 

both sides can live with. 

And if you feel your in-laws 

understand and accept your 

methods, you can trust and 

respect the way they might 

discipline your children. You 

may even give her permission 

to discipline your kids when 

you’re right there in the room. 

For parents-in-law from 

either side, though, you are 

perfectly correct in standing 

your ground and saying, “You 

already raised your son, now 

let me raise mine!” 

Email your questions about 

childhood development to 

auntie-em@asialifehcmc.com 

listings 

family 

ACTIVITIES 

Alpha Gallery 

10 Chu Manh Trinh, D1 

Printmaking classes for both adults and 

children run by Swiss artist Bernadette 

Gruber. Six-week courses start with the 

basics and swiftly move students towards 

producing proofs and final prints from 

copper plates they have created. Freedom 

of expression is encouraged and other 

mediums are also explored. 

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. 

Helene Kling Painting 

helene_kling@yahoo.com 

Offers classes in oil painting to both 

children and adults for 150,000 VND and 

300,000 VND respectively. Classes are 

paced to suit each student. 

Rubba Duckies Swim School 

rubbaduckiesswim@hotmail.com 

Parent and infant water familiarisation 

classes in a group environment from six to 

48 months. Classes take place at Somerset 

Apts., D1; Riverside, D2; APSC, D2 or 

AI D2 and D3. Email for schedule. 

Saigon Movement 

An Phu Tel: 098 702 7722 

saigonmovement@gmail.com 

Sports and creative movement classes for 

kids 2 to 11. Classes improve children’s 

total body awareness through a variety of 

games and sports-based activities. Phu 

My Hung schedule starts in September. 

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 and cost 

350,000 VND for kids from age six. 

SaigonSports Academy 

An Phu and Phu My Hung 

Tel: 0862 819 790 

info@saigonsportsacademy.com 

Sports academy founded by pro tennis 

coach currently offering tennis, football, 

basketball and swimming training to kids 

4 to 18. Professional coaches integrate 

international concepts and systems to 

draw out athletes’ natural abilities. Also 

operates a youth football league. 

The Performing Arts Academy 

19A Ngo Quang Huy, D2 

Tel: 090 339 0675 

info@paa.com.vn 

www.paa.com.vn 

Enrolling aspiring learners 6 and up for 

instruction in guitar, singing, piano, flute, 

clarinet, saxophone and drums. ABRSM 

qualified. Group dance and drama 

session also available. Offering Tiny Tots 

music enrichment & dance program for 

ages 3-5. 

Tae Kwondo 

BP Compound, 720 Thao Dien, D2 and 

Riverside Villa Compound, Vo Truong 

Toan, D2 

phucteacherkd@yahoo.com 

Private and group classes are run after 

school three times a week by the friendly 

Mr. Phuc. Anyone over the age of five is 

welcome to join in the course, which costs 

USD $50 for 12 classes/month with a $25 

fee for non-members. Contact Mr. Phuc 

directly on 0903 918 149. 

BABY EQUIPMENT 

Babyland 


Quality products including car seats, 

buggies, prams and travel cots and a 

good selection of baby toys. Carries Avent 

bottles and sterilizer sets, and a small 

range of educational books. Prices are 

higher than the other places, but so is 

the quality. 

Maman Bebe 


Tel: 3825 8724 

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 

40 Ton That Tung, D1 

141D Phan Dang Luu, Phu Nhuan 


101-103 Khanh Hoi, D4 

287A Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan 

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. 

Me Oi 

1B Ton That Tung, D1 

A small shop adjacent to the maternity 

hospital bursting at the seams with everything 

you need for your baby. Clothing, 

footwear, bottles, nappies, nappy bags 

and toys all at reasonable prices. 

New Parent Street 

Nguyen Thong Street, D3 between 

Ly Chinh Thang and Ky Dong Street. 

An interesting array of baby formula and 

hard liquor. A one stop shopping cluster 

for first time parents. 

EDUCATION 

ABC International School 

2,1E Street, KDC Trung Son, Binh Hung, 

Binh Chanh Tel: 5431 1833 

abcintschoolss@vnn.vn 

www.theabcis.com 

UK standards-based curriculum awards 

diploma with IGCSE’s & A Levels certified 

by Cambridge Universit examinations 

board. From playgroup to pre-university 

matriculation. Served by 80+ British teachers. 

Good facilities and extra-curricular 

activities. 

ACG International School 

East West Highway, An Phu, D2 

Tel: 3747 1234 

www.acgedu.com 

Part of the Academic Colleges Group’s 

international network of schools, ACG 

offers comprehensive education from 

kindergarten to senior high school and a 

range of extracurricular activities. International 

curricula (IB PYP and Cambridge 

International Examinations). 

Australian International School 

Early Childhood - Primary Campus 

Cherry Blossom 1 & Lotus 1, APSC 

Compound, 36 Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 3744 6960 

Middle & Senior Campus 

East - West Highway, D2 

Tel: 3822 4992 

enrolment@aisvietnam.com 

www.aisvietnam.com 

A leading co-educational day school 

with dedicated Early Childhood, Primary, 

Middle & Senior School campuses. IB 

World School, students follow the PYP 

and MYP Curriculum. Senior students follow 

the IGCSE – Cambridge A Levels. AIS 

is the only School in Vietnam authorised to 

deliver the University of New South Wales 

Foundation Studies GRADE 12 Curriculum 

(UNSW). Focus on academic excellence, 

international student body, superb facilities 

in quiet residential settings, qualified expatriate 

staff, range of co-curricular sport, 

creative, academic and musical activities 

and languages. Scholarships available. 

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 

With campuses all over the city and 

expansion underway, BIS offers a mixture 

of both English and International curriculabased 

education alongside excellent 

facilities and extra-curricular activities. 

Senior students follow the IGCSE and IB 

programmes. 

Canadian International School 

SC 39, Panorama Building, Nguyen Duc 

Canh, Phu My Hung, D7 

Tel: 5412 1549 

Residential Quarter 13C, Nguyen Van 

Linh, Phong Phu Commune, Binh Chanh 

www.cis.edu.vn 

cis@cis.edu.vn 

The first Canadian international school in 

Vietnam offers classes from kindergarten 

to grade 9 for local and foreign students. 

Teaches core Ontario curriculum and 

awards Ontario Secondary School Diploma 

(OSSD), recognized by universities 

worldwide. Vietnamese programme taught 

by local teachers. 

German International School 

257 Hoang Van Thu , Tan Binh 

Tel: 7300 7257 

info@giss.vn / www.giss.vn 

A bilingual school with native German and 

English teachers. The language program 

is followed in both German and English, 

alongside the German curriculum. Extra 

curricular activities are available for all 

primary school students. 

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. 

International School Saigon Pearl 

92 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh 

District Tel: 2220 1788/89 

www.issp.edu.vn 

Opening in August, 2011, the single 

purpose-built campus will cater for nursery 

through grade five. In the second year, 

sixth grade will be added. ISSP’s longterm 

strategic plan includes complete 

middle and high schools. In the spring of 

2011 ISSP will host the Western Association 

of Schools and Colleges (the largest 

American accreditation agency in Asia). 

Accreditation will allow children to easily 

transfer to schools abroad. 

The Little Genius International Kindergarten 

102 My Kim, Phu My Hung, D7 

Tel: 5421 1052 

Kindergarten with U.S.-accredited curriculum, 

modern facilities and 

attractive school grounds. 

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 


27th June ~ 29th July 

Kindergarten Crèche / Primary / Secondary 

IELTS Preparation Programme 

Enrolments are open now (08) 3747 1234 

Please contact Reception for more information 

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 

IB World school, one of Vietnam’s international 

schools operating within the framework 

of the British system. RISS provide a 

high quality English medium education in 

a stimulating, challenging and supportive 

environment. The purpose built, modern 

campus has excellent facilities. 

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. 

Saigon Kids Centre 

104A Tran Quoc Toan, D3 

Tel: 3932 5579 

saigonkidscentre@yahoo.com 

An international childcare centre for children 

aged between two and six years old. 

Offers a homely and warm environment for 

children to play and learn. 

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. 

Saigon Star International School 

Residential Area No. 5, Thanh My Loi 

Ward, D2 

Tel: 3742 STAR Fax: 3742 3222 

enroll@saigonstarschool.edu.vn 

www.saigonstarschool.edu.vn 

Offers a British primary curriculum approved 

by Cambridge University and integrated 

Montessori programme for nursery 

and kindergarten. Qualified, experienced 

teachers and small class sizes cater to 

individual needs and abilities. 

Singapore International School (SIS) 

No.29, Road No.3, Trung Son Residential 

Area, Hamlet 4, Binh Hung Ward, Binh 

Chanh District 

Tel: 5431 7477 

44 Truong Dinh, D3 

Tel: 3932 2807 

Ground floor, Somerset Chancellor 

Court, 21 - 23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, 

D1. Tel: 3827 2464 

The Manor, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh 

Thanh. Tel: 3514 3036 

www.kinderworld.net 

Students play and learn in an environment 

where the best of Western and Eastern 

cultures amalgamate to prepare Kinder- 

World’s students for today’s challenging 

world drawn from both the Singapore and 

Australian curriculum. The school offers 

International Certifications such as the 

iPSLE, IGCSE and GAC. 

SmartKids 

1172 Thao Dien Compound, D2 

Tel: 3744 6076 

26 Street 10, D2 

Tel: 3898 9816 

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. 

Stamford Grammar 


Tel: 3930 7343 

4Bis Phung Khac Khoan, D1 

Tel: 3822 3339 

www.stamfordgrammar.com 

enquiry@stamfordgrammar.com 

International kindergarten following a 

www.acgedu.com 

East - West Highway, An Phu Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 

Tel: (08) 3747 1234. Fax: (08) 3747 1235. Email: acgvn@acgedu.com 

asialife HCMC 83

Singapore curriculum for children from 

18 months to 6 years of age. Taught by 

Vietnamese and native English-speaking 

teachers. Outdoor play areas, swimming 

pool, music and art & craft rooms where 

students can play and learn in a safe 

environment. 

The American School 

172 - 180 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 

Tel: 3519 2223 

info@tasvietnam.edu.vn 

An independent and private collage preparatory 

school with a highly individualized 

and personalized program, The American 

School of Vietnam offers a strong, US 

based curriculum for Kindergarten through 

Grade 12. 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Diamond Plaza 

34 Le Duan, D1 

The top floor arcade and bowling alley is 

bound to keep your little ones entertained 

for hours with an impressive array of video 

games. Some child-friendly dining options 

too, with Pizza Hut on hand, a KFC 

and a New Zealand Natural ice cream 

concession. 

Gymboree Play & Music 

Somerset Chancellor Court 


Tel: 3827 7008 

www.gymboreeclasses.com.vn 

The Gymboree Play & Music offers 

children from newborn to 5 years old the 

opportunity to explore, learn and play in an 

innovative parent-child programmes. 

Parkson Plaza 

39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

Arcade game after arcade game line the 

top floor here with a bowling alley and a 

decent food court thrown in on the floor 

below. A good place to take the kids after 

trawling through Parkson’s numerous 

concession stands. 

Vincom Center 


A six-storey shopping centre that houses 

the world’s most famous luxury brands 

plus more than 250 fashion retailers and 

various restaurants. Each level has a coffee 

corner to help weary shoppers recoup 

while looking over the city. Open daily from 

9 am to 10 pm. 

Vinpearl Games 


Features fun and games for a wide range 

of ages. Air hockey, sports games and 

traditional arcade video games and a small 

children’s play place. 

PARTIES 

A2 


Well-known toy shop that also does a 

substantial line in fancy dress costumes 

and partywear. Also has a concession at 

An Phu Supermarket. 

Beatrice’s Party Shop 


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 handmade 

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 holiday-specific party 

costumes. Prices are also on the cheap. 

The Balloon Man 

Tel: 3990 3560 

Does exactly as his name suggests – balloons. 

Great service has earned this chap 

a reputation around town for turning up 

almost instantly with a superb selection of 

balloons. Also provides helium balloons. 

listings 

living 

BUSINESS GROUPS 

AmCham 


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 

execmgr@bbgv.org 

www.bbgv.org 

Citibank 

Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue 

Boulevard, D1, HCMC 

Tel: 3824 2118 

International Center, 17 Ngo Quyen, 

Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi 

Tel: 3825 1950 

Citibank Vietnam offers a wide range 

of banking services to both consumer 

and corporate clients. 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 


www.gba-vietnam.org 

Singapore Business Group 

Unit 1B2, 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, 

D1 Tel: 3823 3046 

www.sbghcmc.org 

CAMERAS 

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. 

finance 

The 6300 Percent Miracle 

By Paul McLardie 

From a low point of under US 

$0.50 a share to its recent 

price near $30, US company 

Human Genome Sciences 

(Nasdaq HGSI) rose a very 

impressive 6300 percent in 

the past two years. To find 

out what you could have 

done to be on that train you 

first need to find out how this 

meteoric rise took place. 

Human Genome Sciences 

made a Lupus drug called 

Benlysta. Many people did 

not give it a chance. The naysayers 

doubted that the drug 

would test well or be passed 

by the Food and Drug Association. 

It did both. 

This is not a case of, “If 

only I had bought Google 

or Casio when I had the 

chance”, of things looking 

clearer with hindsight. In fact, 

the possibilities of individual 

investors having shares in 

HGSI are slim.These will have 

been taken by large institutional 

investors and specialist 

speculators. 

Moreover, the share price 

will not stay that high, as 

there have already been 

concerns about the usage of 

the drug for certain people, 

and other large Biotech companies 

such as AstraZeneca 

are already at stage two of 

development of drugs that 

will compete with Benlysta. 

So what do you do as the 

personal investor? Get on the 

next band wagon? First of 

all, you need to understand 

the first rule of this type of 

high-risk speculation: You will 

lose. Only use money that 

you can afford to lose. It is 

much better to leave this type 

of dealing to the large institutions 

that have the backing 

of billions of dollars or to 

specialist investors that know 

a specific part of one industry 

inside out. 

Take it on the chin. The 

vast majority of people will 

never be able to take this 

much risk. It is much better 

to congratulate people who 

have. It is the same as winning 

the lottery. We all know 

people that play the lottery, 

and some people have won 

small prizes. But do you 

know anyone that has hit the 

jackpot? 

Paul McLardie is a partner 

at Total Wealth Management. 

Contact him at Paul. 

mclardie@t-wm.com 

Future World 


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. 

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. 

Level 9, Nam Giao Building, 80-8 Phan 

Xich Long, Phu Nhuan Tel: 3995 9163 

www.embers-asia.com 

With a focus on experiential learning, 

Embers-Asia has been creating and 

delivering high-performance training and 

development solutions for 

corporations, embassies, international 

schools and NGOs throughout Southeast 

Asia since 2002. 

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 specializing 

in auditing, management consulting, 

corporate finance, risk management and 

information technology. 

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. 

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. 

Prism Information Technology 

Services 

Level 4, YOCO Building, 41 Nguyen Thi 

Minh Khai, D1 Tel: 3829 6416 

info@prism.com.vn 

A foreign-owned information and communications 

technology company that 

offers value-added IT solutions. Enables 

local businesses to attain and maintain 

international IT standards to be more 

competitive in the marketplace. 

Rouse & Co. International 

Abacus Tower, 58 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, 

D1 Tel: 3823 6770 

www.iprights.com 

Global intellectual property firm providing 

a full range of IP services including patent 

and trade mark agency services. 

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 

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. 

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. 

Vietnam-Quilts 

64 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3914 2119 

www.mekong-quilts.org 

NGO enterprise specializes in quilts and 

sells a range of appealing handmade 

products created by underprivileged 

women in Binh Thuan Province. 

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. 

Nguyen Kim Shopping Centre 

63-65 Tran Hung Dao, D1 

Tel: 3821 1211 

www.nguyenkim.com 

Stocks DVD/CD players, cameras, 

TVs, hi-fis and more from Sony, Sanyo, 

Panasonic, Philips and other major 

manufacturers. Also a good place to 

pick up electronic kitchen supplies like 

coffee makers and rice cookers, as well 

as large and small appliances, from hot 

water heaters to regrigerators. 

Savico 


One-stop electronics and home appliance 

superstore. All products have a 

one to three-year warranty. 

Under new ownership 

& management 


people matter 

Staff and the Big Picture 

By Gary Woollacott 

Recently I was meeting a 

friend for lunch at a five-star 

hotel. He wanted to make 

sure he was in the right place 

and asked the receptionist to 

call me. The phone rang as I 

was approaching reception, 

so I said, “Don't worry, I’m 

right behind you. Hang up”. 

We were about to leave 

when the receptionist asked 

for $1.75. “Don't worry,” I 

said, “we are eating here”. 

She insisted we pay, even 

though I argued about the 

cost of the call to them, and 

that we planned to spend 

money. My friend told me to 

stop complaining; he would 

pay. I was annoyed, so when 

he paid (and got a receipt!) I 

said we could eat anywhere in 

the city but not at that hotel. 

I was still steaming later, 

so I called the expat GM, 

thinking that he could use it 

as a training opportunity. The 

$1.75 they received led to 

them losing out on us spending 

around $100, plus all 

my other visits in the normal 

course of a month or three— 

including a corporate visitor 

for two nights. Small stuff in 

the scheme of things, yes, but 

there's a principle involved. 

The GM (I know him well) 

was in a meeting and his PA 

took my message: a complaint 

and a training opportunity. 

He didn’t call back, and 

that was three months ago. 

I haven’t been there since 

then. And I’m telling everyone 

this story. We all know 

that not every message gets 

delivered; the PA may have 

lost it, or forgot. I called again 

and was told the message 

had been passed to the HR 

director. She rang back a few 

days later, and they have also 

very kindly sent me a lunch 

voucher for two. 

My point—and it’s taking 

a while to make—is that 

it’s important to train staff, 

to empower them to make 

decisions based on the 

overall benefit to you and your 

business. Don't train them to 

follow a procedures manual 

that ends up alienating your 

customers. This isn’t an easy 

thing to do, but if your business 

is to succeed then you 

have to. 

As usual, let me know if 

you have any particular topic 

you would like to see covered 

here. 

Gary Woollacott is the Chief 

Representative for Opus 

executive search in Vietnam 

and Thailand. He can 

be reached at +84 8 3827 

8209 or via gary@opusasia. 

net. Opus is an associate of 

Horton International. 

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 


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 

20 Thao Dien, 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. 

Gaya 

1 Nguyen Van Trang, D1 

Tel: 3925 1495 

www.gayavietnam.com 

Four-floor store featuring the work of 

foreign designers: home accessories 

and outdoor furniture by Lawson Johnston, 

linens by Corinne Leveilley-Dadda, 

furniture and lighting by Quasar Khanh, 

laquerware decor by Michele De Albert 

and furniture and decor by vivekkevin. 

Linh’s White 

37 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 6281 9863 

Furniture shop that focuses on solid 

wood furniture and decorative items 

ranging from pillows and lamps to 

bedding. Also offers kids’ furniture and 

custom pieces. 

Tran Duc Homes 


Tel: 7300 0777 

Level 5, Wonderbuy Center, 27b 

Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1 

Tel: 6291 8485 

B2-25, Vincom Center, 70-72 Le 

Thanh Ton, D1 

Tel: 3993 9700 

Wood solutions partner for high-end 

residential and resort projects. Experienced 

in manufacturing and installing 

wooden modular housing, interior 

fittings and contemporary indoor and 

outdoor furniture. 

LEGAL 

Frasers International 

Unit 1501, 15th Floor, The Metropolitan, 


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. 

Limcharoen, Hughes and Glanville 

Havana Tower, 132 Ham Nghi, D1 

Tel: 6291 7000 

www.limcharoen.com 

Full service international law firm with 

head office in Thailand. Main focus on 

real estate in Asia. 

Phillips Fox 

Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 

Tel: 3822 1717 

Full service law firm providing legal 

services in healthcare, education, crime, 

banking and hospitality among others. 

Pricewaterhousecoopers Legal 

Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 

Tel: 3823 0796 

www.pwc.com/vn 

Part of a network of international legal 

and financial advisors, PWC gives both 

specialist and general legal advice with a 

focus on mutli-territory projects. 

Rödl & Partner 

Somerset Chancellor Court 


Tel: 3824 4225 

www.roedl.com 

European legal firm assisting foreign 

investors with structuring/establishing 

companies, investment projects, and 

mergers & acquistions. 

LIGHTING 

Light House 


Tel: 3914 2662 


D1 

Small retail shop is packed with ceiling 

and wall light fixtures, and a good 

selection of desk and ceiling lamps. 

Most of the stock is decidedlly modern 

and sleak. 

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. Extremely 

expensive reflecting the quality of the 

design and workmanship. 

Mosaique 


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 

Automotive Street 

Ly Thai To Street, D10 starting at Dien 

Bien Phu and running southeast 

Services include mending motorbike 

seats and sound system installation. 

Products range from zebra print motorbike 

seat covers to car and motorbike 

tyres, hubcaps, rims, subwoofers and 

sound systems by Xplode. 

Bike City 

480D Nguyen Thi Thap, D7 

Luxury motorcycle shop carries a range 

of accessories, including apparel. Sells 

Vemar helmets, a brand that passes 

rigorous European Union standards. 

Protec Helmets 

18bis/3A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 

248C Phan Dinh Phung, Phu Nhuan 

417B Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3 

American nonprofit manufacturer makes 

helmets with densely compressed polystyrene 

shell with ABS, PVC or fiberglass 

exterior, available with polycarbonate 

shatter-proof shield. Lots of options for 

kids. 

REAL ESTATE 

CB Richard Ellis 

Me Linh Point Tower, 2 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 

Tel: 3824 6125 

www.cbre.com 

International property consultants and 

developers with both commercial and 

private properties for sale, lease and 

rent. 

86 asialife HCMC


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 

24 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 0989 007 700, 0989 115 511 

11 Nguyen Huu Canh, Ward 19, Binh Thanh Dist, HCMC 

Website: www.estheticfurnishing.com - Email: esthetic@vnn.vn 

www.namhouse.com.vn 

Provides rental properties, construction 

services and interior decorating. 

Supports professional services and 

after-sales. 

Savills Viet Nam 

Level 18, Fideco Tower, 81-85 Ham 

Nghi, D1 Tel: 823 9205 

www.savills.com.vn 

Savills Viet Nam is a property service 

provider that has been established in 

Vietnam since 1995 offering research, 

advisory services, residential sales, commercial 

leasing, asset management, retail 

advisory, valuation, investment advisory 

and more. 

Sherwood Residence 

127 Pasteur St., D3 

Tel: 3823 2288 

Fax: 3823 9880 

Hotline: 0917470058 

leasing@sherwoodresidence.com 

www.sherwoodresidence.com 

Sherwood Residence is a luxury serviced 

apartment property and the first property 

certified by the Vietnam National Administration 

of Tourism. Modern living spaces 

meet prime location, comfort and class 

with 5-star facilities and service. 

Snap 

Tel: 0989 816 676 

www.snap.com.vn 

Online Real Estate service providing 

information on rental properties exclusively 

in District 2. Full listings online. 

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. 

Navigos Group 


Tel: 3825 5000 

www.navigosgroup.com 

Recruitment agency offering a complete 

portfolio of HR services including 

executive search, HR advisory, training, 

online recruitment, and print recruitment 

advertising. 

Opus Vietnam 

2A Rolanno Offices, 128 Nguyen Phi 

Khanh, D1 Tel: 3827 8209 

www.opusasia.net 

Established since 2001 

Established in HCMC in 2005, Opus services 

local and multinational companies 

seeking to recruit high quality personnel. 

An Associate of Horton International, one 

of the world’s leading search groups with 

over 30 offices worldwide. For more info 

contact info@opusasia.net. 

Vietnamworks.com 


Tel: 5404 1373 

www.vietnamworks.com 

Excellent section on advice for jobseekers 

focusing on topics such as resume 

writing, cover letters, interview technique 

and more. 

RELOCATION AGENTS 

Allied Pickfords 

Satra Building, Room 202, 58 Dong 

Khoi, D1 Tel: 3823 3454 

kevin.hamilton@alliedpickfords.com.vn  

www.alliedpickfords.com 

With more than 800 offices in 45 countries, 

Allied Pickfords is one of the leaders 

in worldwide removal services. In Vietnam 

services include overseas relocation, 

domestic and office moves and storage. 

Crown Worldwide Movers 

48A Huynh Man Dat, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 3823 4127 

www.crownrelo.com 

International moving company serving 

diplomats and private customers, employees 

and expats, providing domestic and 

iternational transportation of household, 

office and industrial goods. 

Santa Fe Relocation Services 

Thien Son Building, 5 Nguyen Gia Thieu, 

D3 Tel: 3933 0065 

www.santaferelo.com 

Provides a range of services including 

home/school search, language/cultural 

training, tenancy management and immigration/visa 

support. 

STATIONERY 

Custom Signage Street 

Le Lai, D1 between Truong Dinh and 


Offers custom-designed signs and custom 

engraving on trophies and plaques 

made of plastic, wood, metal and glass. 

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. 

Design, Interior/External Decorations of High Quality Wood Products 

Manufacturing for Export, Construction Projects, Retails,... 

Copy-Antique Productions, Modern Designs and Made to order 

More than 10 years experience 

Devoted premium services/after sales services, every time, every where 

Tel: (84 8) 3514 7371/7372 - Fax: (84 8) 3514 7370 - Hotline: Ms Nhat Thu (Director) 0903 849 232 

listings 

fashion 

ACCESSORIES 

Accessorize 

48 Dong Du, D1, Tel: 3822 1081 


www.monsoon.co.uk/icat/accessorize 

Fashion-forward accessories including 

necklaces, handbags, wallets, flip-flops, 

sunglasses, hair accessories, belts and 

more. 

Alfred Dunhill 


A timeless style in male luxury providing 

formal and casual mens accesories 

tailored for the discerning man. Also 

stocking handcrafted leather goods. 

Anupa Boutique 


anupaboutiquevietnam@anupa.net 

The ever-changing boutique retails in 

the elegant design of anupa accessories 

made from high-quality leather. Collections 

available range from men, women, 

executive, travel, spa, yoga, board 

games, boxes and semi-precious stone 

jewellery. Collection changes on weekly 

basis. Also carries childrens wear, toys, 

furniture and homewares. 

Bally 

Rex Hotel, 141 Nguyen Hue, D1 


www.experience.bally.com 

Flagship store in the Rex Hotel providing 

luxury Italian-made accessories for men. 

Among these are shoes, belts, wallets 

and a collection of male jewellery. 

Banana 

128 Ly Tu Trong, D1 

Women’s accessories and more, from 

bags, clutches and belts to clothes and 

jewellery, all at reasonable prices. 

Cartier 

Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan 

This well-known designer brand displays 

a wide range of accessories for men. Famous 

for its watches, Cartier also stocks 

pens, key rings, belts and sunglasses. 

Cincinati 

177P Dong Khoi, D1 

www.cincinati.vn 

info@cincinati.vn 

Vietnamese brand of genuine leather 

bags, shoes, accessories and personal 

goods for men and women such as 

notebooks for a classic vagabond look. 

Quality leather from crocodile, horse, 

snake and fish made with excellent local 

craftsmanship. 

Cleo-Pearls 

30 Nguyen Dang Giai, An Phu, D2 

Tel: 091 3587 690 

Jewellery designer Birgit Maier operates 

Cleo-Pearls from her home, specializing 

in necklaces, bracelets, earrings, key 

holders and bag accessories. All pieces 

created with gemstones, fresh water 

pearls and beads. 

Coconut 


Bags of all shapes and sizes rule the 

roost in this small shop. Made of silk and 

embroidered to the brim, these unique 

bags start at about USD $30, and many 

are suitable for both day and night. 

Creation 

105 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3829 5429 

A two-storey shop selling scarves, 

intricate handbags (from USD $30), tailormade 

silk dresses and tops. Has a wide 

range of materials on the second floor. 

Prices start from $65 for an ao dai with 

simple embroidery. 

Gucci 

88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 6688 

Located on the main shopping street in 

HCMC, this flagship store brings Florentine 

fashion to an array of luxury leather 

goods such as briefcases, luggage and 

a selection of men’s shoes for office or 

more casual occasions. 

Ipa-Nima 

85 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3824 3652 

New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai 

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. 

J. Silver 

803 Nguyen Van Linh Parkway, D7 

Tel: 5411 1188 

Make a statement without being ostentatious 

with handcrafted silver jewellery 

from the boutique store. Expect big, 

interesting pieces that are simple yet 

glamorous. 

Laura V Signature 


Tel: 7304 4126 

www.laurav.net 

Vintage designs aplenty with everything 

from jewellery and hair accessories to 

funky styled sunglasses, umbrellas and 

colourful maxi dresses. 

Louis Vuitton 

Opera View, corner of Dong Khoi and Le 

Loi Tel: 3827 6318 

Designer brand name housing traditional 

craftsmanship of luxury leather goods for 

men and women. An array of bags, wallets, 

cuff links and watches are available. 

Mai O Mai 

4C Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3829 4007 

A superb little place with beautiful jewellery 

and accessories to suit all budgets. 

Silver necklaces, bracelets, rings and 

more in both classic and imaginative 

designs, as well as gorgeous handembroidered 

bags. 

Mont Blanc 

Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan 

Notable for fine writing instruments, Mont 

Blanc also houses cuff links and other 

male accessories 

Scorpion 

Vincom Center B1, 70 - 72 Le Thanh 

Ton, D1 Tel: 3993 9889 

www.scorpionbag.com 

Selling high-end leather products for 

both men and women, including shoes, 

handbags, belts and other accessories. 

Features a variety of leather in bright 

colors and styles. 

Tic Tac Watch Shop 

72 Dong Khoi Tel: 0838 293519 

www.tictacwatch.com 

Elegant show room displaying some 

of the world’s most recognized Swiss 

brands such as Rolex, Tag Huer, Baume 

& Marcer, Omega and Hirsch. On-site 

watch repair service and complementary 

watch evaluation available. Also carries a 

small collection of vintage Rolexes. 

Tombo 


Of all the embroidered and sequined 

bags, shoes and tidbits (or “Zakka” 

shops) that can be found in Dong Khoi, 

this shop’s has products that are prettier 

than most. Shoes can be custom-made 

and the sales staff is friendly. 

Tumi 

Rex Hotel, 151 Nguyen Hue 

88 asialife HCMC

femme fashion 

Summer Style 

By Adrian Nguyen 

Summer is here again; you 

know it when you hear Fantasia 

singing her summertime 

hit on the radio repeatedly. 

And for a fashionista, another 

season means another update 

for the wardrobe. I don’t 

know about you, but I’m loving 

the trends this season and 

can’t wait to rock them. 

Cocktail 

Not your regular strawberry 

mojito, darling. This season, 

designers are bringing all 

kinds of flower and fruit prints 

into the world. Fashion never 

looked so delicious! At the top 

of my list are the citrus prints 

from Stella McCartney and 

Moschino, and the cactus 

prints from Jean Paul Gautier. 

Colour clash 

No more dark and wintery 

colors for this time of the year, 

so get out there and find the 

brightest, most in-your-face 

colours and mix them all up 

together in one outfit. Clash 

them to the max, and don't 

be afraid to go crazy. You 

can’t do this all the time, so 

you might as well go for it 

while you can. In fact, we love 

this trend so much that we’ve 

made a whole collection out 

of it. So, you can come to 

our store and go crazy mixing 

and matching there—while 

stocks lasts of course. These 

coloured babies are flying off 

the shelves. 

Like a virgin 

Colour is not your thing and 

afraid you can’t pull it off? 

You’re in luck this season 

because white is still so very 

in, too. Top-to-toe white, offwhite, 

lace, cotton, silk, short, 

long, corset, bikini—anything 

goes. Put them together with 

some silver accessories and, 

out of nowhere, you’re the 

trendiest person in Mekong 

Merchant for Sunday brunch. 

Even though I have to say it’s 

not so hard to be the trendiest 

person there on any given 

day. If you don't know what 

I’m talking about, check out 

Dolce & Gabbana—they have 

an all white collection this 

time around. 

Visual effects 

I know, you’re thinking, “White 

is boring”. Well, rock this 

season’s stripy trend then. 

Unlike last year’s navy-onwhite 

stripe, this year it’s all 

about mixing things up: big 

with small, thick with thin, and 

even vertical with horizontal. 

Prada, Sonia Rykiel and 

Celine are my favourites, so 

check them out for reference. 

Made in Asia 

Now you must feel like you’re 

in heaven, living in Asia while 

“all things Asia” is one of the 

major trends. Louis Vuitton 

was heavily injected with an 

Asian feel, while John Galliano 

and Philosophie have some 

of the best Chinese collar 

dresses around. 

There are more things to 

say but my space here is limited, 

so go get a copy of Elle 

Vietnam this month; they have 

a wonderful extra book filled 

with local designers’ takes on 

trends as well as addresses 

for you to go wild for the 

weeks to come. 

Adrian Nguyen is a designer 

and the owner of the 

Valenciani brand. Email your 

fashion questions to adrian. 

ngn@gmail.com 

www.intl.tumi.com 

Tumi houses an opulent selection of 

Italian-made luggage geared towards 

men. Briefcases, messenger bags and 

backpacks are among those on display. 

Umbrella 

35 Ly Tu Trong, D1 and 4 Le Loi, D1 

Tel: 6276 2730 

www.umbrella-fashion.com 

Sophisticated boutique showcasing 

a diverse range of imported women’s 

accessories. Also houses women’s garments 

from office wear to cocktail and 

party creations. 

Luggage Street 

Le Lai Street, D1 between Ben Thanh 

Market and Truong Dinh. 

Duffle bags, backpacks, messenger bags 

and carry-on suitcases are all available on 

this stretch of District 1. 

ACTIVE WEAR 

China Beach Surf Club 


Stocks famous surf and surf-inspired 

brands like Reef, Rip Curl and men’s wear 

from Volcom. It has everything you’d need 

for a visit to the beach and more. There 

are string bikinis, tees, board shorts, caps 

and thongs, just to name a few. 

Pinko 

Rex Hotel, 146-148-150 Pasteur, D1 

Tel: 3827 2240 

Spacious and simple store displaying 

women’s sportswear imported from 

Hong Kong and China. Body lotion and 

perfume imported from America. 

Roxy and Quiksilver 

Parkson Plaza, 39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

The original active living and extreme 

sports brands, Roxy and Quiksilver products 

combine form and function. Choose 

from outdoor gear to cool indoor clothes. 

TBS Sports Centre 


This store stocks a range of good sports 

clothes and equipment from big name 

brands such as Puma, Adidas, Ecco, 

Nike and Converse. 

Volcom 


Chic and funky ladies’ apparel brand from 

America. Lots of tank tops, minis and 

shorts for day tripping with girlfriends or 

lazing on the beach. 

READY TO WEAR 

unisex 

2bling 

246 Huynh Van Banh, Phu Nhuan 

Specializes in urban streetwear, with 

a range of t-shirts, sneakers, baseball 

caps, hoodies and more. Tees are both 

imported from around Asia and designed 

in-house. 

BAM Skate Shop 

174 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 0903 641 826 

In addition to a range of decks, wheels 

and trucks, this small shop is stocked 

with bookbags, skate sneakers, track 

jackets and t-shirts emblazoned with your 

skateboard company of choice. 

Bo Sua Local Streetwear 


Tel: 3993 9599 

www.bosua.vn 

An offshoot of the Boo street-style skater 

fashion brand made popular in Hanoi, this 

brand translated as “Cow Milk” features 

fun colourful t-shirts, women’s casual 

wear and sneakers that celebrate the 

quirky street life of Vietnam. 

“ello 


This tiny little shop on Phu Nhuan’s hipster 

fashion strip is stocked with some of 

the coolest trend items in HCMC. Carries 

a frequently refreshed selection of T-shirts, 

skinny pants and women’s tops. 

FCUK 





Tel: 3914 7740 

www.frenchconnection.com 

Trendy UK brand with a selection of 

fashion-forward dresses for women and 

smart workwear and funky casual wear 

for men, all at middle-market prices. 

Levi’s Flagship Store 

19–21 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3500 1501 

The 320-square-metre retail space 

spread over three levels offers the city’s 

largest and most exclusive collection of 

Levi’s bottoms, tops and accessories. 

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. 

Lu.Xu.Bu 


Well known among the HCMC hipsterati, 

this trendy shop is mostly given over to 

T-shirts (many by young, Bangkok-based 

designers), but also carries jeans, button 

shirts and more. 

Orange 


Funky little boutique carries unique accessory 

pieces a good selection of T-shirts 

with quirky, unique graphics for very 

reasonable prices. A smaller outpost is 

located at the corner of Pasteur and Le 

Thanh Ton in District 1. 

Rok Factory 


www.rokexchange.com 

Small shop founded by local artist/ 

photographer carries streetwear for the 

rock-oriented lifestyle, including T-shirts, 

hoodies, socks and accessories. 

Replay 




Tel: 3925 0252 

Wide variety of shoes, clothing, denim 

for teens and university-age men and 

women. Carries boots, sandals, pumps 

and sneakers at mid-range prices. 

Runway 


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. 

Versace 

26 Dong Khoi 

Designer brand in men’s formal wear. 

Houses suit jackets and trousers, shirts 

as well as an array of men’s accessories. 

Also stocks womens clothing and shoes. 

VOV 



www.vovietchung.com 

Retail base for Vo Viet Chung, one of 

Vietnam’s best-known designers. VOV is 

known for blending traditional form with 

contemporary cuts, colours and textures. 

men 

Lucas 

69A Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3827 9670 

Fashion store housing contemporary 

designs in casual, office and evening 

wear imported from Hong Kong. 

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. 

Mattre 


This local men’s clothes shop has some 

funky tops and jeans for more fashionforward 

males. Apparel in sizes that fit 

the typical Western man’s frame are often 

available. Another store is located on Hai 

Ba Trung and Ly Tu Trong 

Milano 

Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi 

www.milanogoods.com 

A conjoining shop with D&G offering a 

selection of men’s shoes and accessories 

with a sideline in women’s clothing. 

D&G provides a collection of menswear, 

from casual jeans and T-shirts to uniquely 

designed suit jackets. 

Mizada 


mizada07@yahoo.com 

An A-to-Z collection of men’s clothing 

with an influx of new fashion arriving on 

the racks regularly. Carries smart, casual 

shirts, trousers, jeans and jackets, as well 

as bags and scarves. 

New Urban Male 


www.newurbanmale.com 

Caters to a wide range of consumer 

tastes from beach duds to streetwear. 

The goods include international men’s 

brands such as Havaianas, C-IN2, Jabs 

Waterboys, Rebel Jeans and aussieBum. 

Also carries men’s grooming products. 

Timberland 

Parkson Plaza, 39-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

Sells everything the brand is known 

for, from heavy-duty boots to tops and 

trousers that are both smart and casual. 

The emphasis is on muted tones and 

unobtrusive logos for men who don’t like 

to show off. 

women 

Axara 

Vincom Center B1, 70 - 72 Le Thanh 

Ton, D1 



Tel: 3993 9399 

www.axara.com 

Carries women’s clothing suitable for 

work, weekends or evening. Luxurious 

fabrics and simple cuts and styles all at 

reasonable prices. Also carries handbags 

and accessories. 

Balenciaga 

Rex Hotel, 155 Nguyen Hue 

Tel: 6291 3572 

Sporting modern shapes and elegant 

items crafted from natural, raw and 

artificial materials. 

BCBGMAXAZRIA 


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. 

Bebe 

Saigon Center, 65 Le Loi, D1 

Tel: 3914 4011 

www.bebe.com 

An international brand that specializes 

in contemporary, modern tees and sexy, 

elegant dresse, tops and party attire. 

Bon Mua Boutique 


Tel: 3993 9888 

www.itamoda.com.vn 

Luxury women’s clothing store with racks 

organized by designer. Carries small 

collection of unique pieces from designers 

such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Alberta 

Ferretti, Blumarine, Valentino, Philosophy 

and Brunello Cucinelli. 

Caro 

Zen Plaza, 54-56 Nguyen Trai, D1 

Local designs and tailoring of elegant 

tops and dresses with a distinctly Eastern 

influence. Provides a range of attire 

for both the office and a night out. The 

friendly staff is eager to help find an outfit 

for any occassion. 

Chloe 


Tel: 6291 3582 

Parisian-influenced fashion house 

specializes in simple, traditional designs 

with a feminine and fashionable twist. 

Jeans, satin dresses and a wide array of 

accessories are on display. 

Dieu Thanh 


140 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3824 5851 

www.dieuthanh.com 

Experienced tailor shop also carries its 

own line of clothing. Once specialized in 

swimwear and cotton clothing but has 

expanded to sell business suits, evening 

dresses, luxury fabrics and accessories. 

ER-Couture Boutique 

43 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 2411 www. 

er-couture.com 

erolskov@er-couture.com 

Exclusive Scandinavian brand offering 

designer garments. Versatile fashion for 

women in European sizes 34-44. Each 

style is released in limited quantities and 

can be tailored to individual taste. 

Esprit 


Outpost for the international brand of 

colourful, preppy men’s and women’s 

casual wear. 

Etam 


Famous all over the world for their French 

style. There’s a large range of shirts, 

T-shirts, dresses and more. Also available 

in Zen Plaza and Diamond Plaza. 

Gaya 

1 Nguyen Van Trang, D1 Tel: 3925 1495 

Carries a range of couture and pret-aporter 

garments and silk and organza 

dresses in vibrant colours created by 

Cambodia-based designer Romyda 

Keth. 

Geisha Boutique 

85 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3829 4004 

This Australian fashion label offers a 

contemporary range of casual and 

evening wear, with an exotic Asian 

influence. Styles, using natural fabrics, 

include printed t-shirts, singlets, scarves, 

silk camisoles and maxi dresses.More 

than just a clothing store...upstairs is a 

quaint café with comfy sofas and more. 

Open 8am – 10pm daily. 

Kookai 

Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi 

French brand stocking classic, feminine, 

styles with a twist. Gypsy day dresses 

and classic little black dresses at mid- to 

high-range prices are perfect for twentyand 

thirty-something women. 

La Senza 

47B–47C Nguyen Trai, D1 

Tel: 3925 1700 

65 Le Loi, Saigon Centre, D1 

Tel: 3914 4328 

www.lasenza.com 

Mekong Creations specialises in unique locally produced household and gift 

items, including papier mache, silk, bamboo, and water hyacinth products. 

Mekong Creations also produces items for luxury French brand Terre d’Oc 

and has permission to sell these designs locally. 

Mekong Creations is a project of parent NGO Mekong Plus, that supports 

community development programmes in remote villiages in Vietnam and 

Cambodia. The key objective is to generate employment for 

women. All profits from products sold are returned to the 

villages. Mekong Creations focus is to provide rewarding 

employment, increase family incomes and improve 

conditions for children in these remote communities. 

Our producers are trained in production techniques 

for their field and supported in design and marketing 

by Mekong Plus. All products are made in the villages 

allowing more time to be spent with families. 


Houses & Villas 

For rent in Dist.2, HCM: An Phu, 

Thao Dien, & Tran Nao 

Save time: 

See all pictures 

& details online. 

Updated daily. 

www.snap.com.vn 

Boutique carrying a wide range of bras, 

panties, pyjamas, accessories and lounge 

wear. 

Labella 


This three-storey shop will take care of all 

your wardrobe needs: affordable clothes, 

shoes, bags and lingerie, all well made 

and fashionable. 

Le Samedi 


Boutique retailing in clothes imported 

mainly from Italy and France, from cocktail 

dresses to chiffon skirts. 

Lulu Lacy 

www.lululacy.com 

Boutique label featuring retro designs in 

high-quality fabrics. Website frequently 

refreshed with latest offerings, including 

maxi-dresses, tailored blouses and shorts. 

Shop online or request a party at your 

house. 

Mai Lam 

132-134 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2733 

www.mailam.com.vn 

Boutique store housing an eclectic mix of 

vintage designer clothes and accessories 

made in Vietnam. Specializing in handsewn, 

multi-dimensional embroidery, the 

re-design of the traditional ao dai and an 

army vintage collection. 

Mango 




A favourite with fashion-conscious 

women, this mid-range store stocks 

clothes from simple tees and jeans to 

evening wear. 

Marc Jacobs 

Rex Hotel, 155 Nguyen Hue , D1 

Tel: 6291 3580 

This spacious shop with high-ceilings carries 

up-market clothes, shoes and accessories 

from the internationally recognized 

designer brand. 

Muse Boutique 


Boutique store carries well-known international 

brands like Miss Sixty, BCBG, Rock 

Republic, True Religion, Tbags and Killah. 

Nang Boutique 

181 Dong Khoi, Room 209, D1 

iheartnang@gmail.com 

Houses an assortment of mix-and-match 

skirts, floral dresses, chiffon lace-trimmed 

gowns and accessories, such as hats, 

shoes, bags, scarves and jewellery. 

Nino Max 

189B Hai Ba Trung, D1 

A local popular brand of active-casualwear 

t-shirts, jeans and khakis. Local pricing. 

You can also find their other outlets in 

Zen Plaza and Diamond Plaza. 

Peacock 

35 Ton That Thiep Tel: 3829 7045 

Moulin Rouge-themed boutique housing 

an interesting selection of women’s clothes 

designed and produced in Vietnam, 

including dresses, shirts and t-shirts, as 

well as jewellery. 

Rana Abodeely 

Villa Anupa, 17/27 Le Thanh Ton, District 

1, Tel:3825 7307 

Luxury resort wear in soft, feminine styles. 

Made with 100% Vietnamese silk with 

signature glass bead detailing. Comfort, 

ease and elegance are the main forms of 

the collection. 

Shae 

101-103 Nguyen Trai, D1 

www.shaeny.com 

New York brand housing streetwear 

such as cardigans, dresses, shorts and 

accessories. 

Song 


76D Le Thanh Ton 

Offers women’s fashion designs by Valerie 

Gregori McKenzie, including evening 

dress, tops and hats. 

Valenciani 


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. 

CHILDREN 

Debenhams 

Vincom Center, 70 - 72 Le Thanh Ton, 

District 1 

A superb range of unique and beautiful 

clothing for young children (from newborns 

to 12 years old) imported brand from UK. 

High to mid-range prices. 

DLS Paris 

17/5 Le Thanh Ton, D1 




A superb range of unique and beautiful 

clothing for young children (from newborns 

to pre-school age) at high to mid-range 

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 

44 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 3824 7456 

83 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 9079 

220 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3920 3224 


Tel: 3930 9183 

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. 

REVE 

Villa Anupa, 17/27 Le Thanh Ton, 

District 1, Tel: 3825 7307 

High-end cashmere, lace, and cotton 

clothes designed by a French mother/ 

daughter team. All pieces are handmade 

and tailored for infants to kids 2 years 

of age. 

Small is Beautiful 


Tel: 38 23 87 54 

contact@smallisb.com 

www.smallisb.com 

This newly opened boutique aims to be 

the chic shop for kids in the city. There 

is a selection of brand name clothing, 

accessories and creative toys. Clothing 

comes from international designers such 

as Baby Dior, Sonia Rykiel and DKNY. 

Tuti Bella 

Vincom Center, 70 - 72 Le Thanh Ton, 

District 1 


49A Nguyen Trai, D1 

Tel: 3993 9088 

www.tutibella.net 

Self-described as a “chic and trendy 

children boutique.” Carries high-end 

causal clothes, formal wear, shoes and 

accessories for ages 1 to 12 years. 

SHOES 

Catwalk 

80 Pham Hong Thai 

Tel: 3829 6819 

www.catwalkshoes.com 

Carries a unique range of Spanish shoes 

and bags. 

Charles & Keith 

10 Mac Thi Buoi, 18-20 Nguyen Trai 

Tel: 3925 1132 


D1 

www.charleskeith.com 

Singapore brand housing youthful and 

trendy shoes of a contemporary, high 

fashion design. 

Converse 



122 Ba Thang Hai, D10 

Tel: 3827 5584 

www.converse.com.vn 

Sells iconic Chuck Taylor, Jack Purcell 

and All-Star sneakers and Converse 

brand clothing and accessories. Also at 

department stores around HCMC. 

Dr. Marten’s 


Air Wair sandals and shoes here feature 

the classic yellow stitching and chunky 

rubber soles. Also stocked with clothes 

and accessories by Replay and Kappa 

tracksuit tops. 

Nine West 



Stocks an extensive range of designer 

footwear for women. Handpicked by a 

global community of independent trendsetters 

and stylists. 

Sergio Rossi 

146AB Pasteur, D1 


World-renowned Italian brand stocks a 

diverse European-style collection of upmarket 

shoes and bags made of quality 

materials, from crocodile and python 

skin laterals to garnishings of Swarovski 

crystals and colourful beads. 

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 


One of the most reliable and respected 

men’s tailors in town with prices and 

production time to reflect the quality of the 

workmanship. Shirts start from US $30. 

Fair Fahion 

69/20 Duong D2, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 3899 4198 

www.fairfashionvn.org 

A non-profit retail store offering ready-towear 

and custom-made fashion. Dresses 

and formal gowns for women, suits and 

shirts for men, made by highly skilled 

former sex trade workers trained to haute 

couture sewing levels. 

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. 

In-office and workplace fittings available. 

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. 

LINH‘S WHITE 

PLEASANT LIVING MINIMALISM 

112 Xuan Thuy 

Ward Thao Dien 

District 2 

Ho Chi Minh City 

37 THAO DIEN 

(OPPOSITE AN PHU SUPERMARKET) 

67 XUAN THUY - DISTRICT 2 

PHONE: (84) - 62819863 

- 62818488 

Tel/Fax. (+84) 8 62.819.917 

shop-hcm@decosy.biz E : linhnguyen@hbdecor.com.vn - www.linhfurniture.com 


Battle of the Bands 

365 days communications' 

Sixth Anniversary Party 

Photos by Fred Wissink. 


Street Guide 

3 Thang 2 D1 

Alexandre de Rhodes 

C4 

Ba Huyen Thanh Quan C1, C2, D2, D3 

Ban Co 

D1 

Ben Chuong Duong 

E4 

Ben Van Don 

E4, E5 

Bui Thi Xuan 

D3 

Bui Vien 

E3 

Cach Mang Thang Tam C1, D2, D3 

Calmette 

E4 

Cao Ba Nha 

E3 

Cao Thang 

D1, D2, E2 

Chu Manh Trinh 

C4, C5 

Co Bac 

E3 

Co Giang 

E3 

De Tham 

E3 

Dien Bien Phu B4, C3, C2, D1, D2 

Dinh Cong Trang 

B3 

Dinh Tien Hoang 

B3, B4, C4 

Do Quang Dau 

E3 

Do Thanh 

D1 

Doan Nhu Hai 

E5 

Doan Van Bo 

E4, E5 

Dong Du 

D5 

Dong Khoi 

C4, D4, D5 

Hai Cua 

B5 

Huynh Tinh Cua 

B2 

Huynh Van Banh 

B1 

Khanh Hoi 

E4 

Ky Con 

B3, C3, C4, D5 

Hai Trieu 

C5 

Ham Nghi 

D4, C5 

Han Thuyen 

C4 

Ho Hao Hon 

E3 

Ho Huan Nghiep 

D5 

Ho Tung Mau 

D4, D5 

Ho Xuan Huong 

C3, D2 

Hoa Hung 

B1 

Hoang Dieu 

E4, E5 

Hung Vuong 

E1 

Huyen Tran Cong Chua 

D3 

Huynh Man Dat 

B5 

Huynh Thuc Khang 

D4 

Ky Dong 

C1, C2 

Le Cong Kieu 

D4 

Le Duan 

C4, C5 

Le Hong Phong 

D1 

Le Lai 

C3, C4, D3 

Le Loi 

D4 

Le Quoc Hung 

E4, E5 

Le Quy Don 

C3 

Le Thanh Ton C4, C5, D3, D4 

Le Thi Hong Gam D4, E3, E4 

Le Thi Rieng 

D3 

Le Van Phuc 

B3 

Le Van Sy 

C1, C2 

Luong Huu Khanh 

D2, E2 

Luu Van Lang 

D4 

Ly Chinh Thang 

B2, C2 

Ly Thai To 

E1 

Ly Tu Trong C4, C5, D4, D5 

Mac Dinh Chi 

B3, C4 

Mac Thi Buoi 

D5 

Mai Thi Luu 

B4 

Mai Van Ngoc 

B1 

Me Linh 

B5 

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia B2, C2, C3, D4, E4 

Ngo Duc Ke 

D5 

Ngo Thoi Nhiem 

C2, D2 

Ngo Van Nam 

C5 

Nguyen Binh Khiem B4, B5, C5 

Nguyen Cong Tru 

E4 

Nguyen Cu Trinh 

E2, E3 

Nguyen Dinh Chieu B4, C3, C4, D1, D2, D3 

Nguyen Dinh Chinh 

B1 

Nguyen Du 

Nguyen Hai Tu 

Nguyen Hue 

Nguyen Huu Canh 


Nguyen Huu Cau 

Nguyen Khac Nhu 

Nguyen Khoai 

Nguyen Ngoc Phuong 

Nguyen Phi Khanh 

Nguyen Sieu 

Nguyen Son Ha 

Nguyen Tat Thanh 

Nguyen Thai Binh 


Nguyen Thi Dieu 

Nguyen Thien Thuat 

Nguyen Thong 

Nguyen Thuong Hien 

Nguyen Trai 

Nguyen Trung Ngan 

Nguyen Trung Truc 

Nguyen Truong To 

Nguyen Van Cu 

Nguyen Van Hai 

Nguyen Van Lac 

Nguyen Van Thu 

Nguyen Van Troi 

Pasteur 

Pham Hong Thai 

Pham Ngoc Thach 

Pham Ngu Lao 

Pham Viet Chanh 


Phan Dinh Phung 

Phan Ke Binh 

Phan Van Han 

Pho Duc Chinh 

Phung Khac Khoan 

Suong Nguyet Anh 

Tan Vinh 

Thach Thi Thanh 

Thai Van Lung 

Thi Sach 

Thu Khoa Huan 

Ton Duc Thang 

Ton That Dam 

Ton That Thiep 

Ton That Tung 

Tran Binh Trong 

Tran Canh Chan 

Tran Cao Van 

Tran Dinh Xu 

Tran Hung Dao 

Tran Khac Chan 

Tran Khanh Du 

Tran Minh Quyen 


Tran Nhan Ton 

Tran Nhat Duat 

Tran Phu 

Tran Quang Dieu 

Tran Quang Khai 

Tran Quoc Thao 

Tran Quoc Toan 

Tran Van Dang 

Truong Chinh 

Truong Dinh 

Tu Xuong 

Vinh Khanh 

Vo Thi Sau 

Vo Van Tan 

Vuon Chuoi 

Xo Viet Nghe Tinh 

Yersin 

C4, D3, D4 

B4 

D4, D5 

B2 

C5 

B3 

E3 

F3 

B5 

B3 

C5, D5 

D2 

E5 

D4, E4 

D3, E3, E4 

D2, D3 

D1, E1, E2 

C1, C2, D2 

D2 

D3, E2 

C5 

D4 

E4, E5 

E2 

B3 

B5 

B4, C3, C4 

B1 

C2, C3, C4, D4 

D2, D3 

C3 

D3, D4, E3 

B5 

E2 

B2 

B4 

B4, B5 

D4, E4 

C3, C4 

D2, D3 

E4 

B3 

C5 

C5 

D4 

C5, D4, D5, E4 

D4 

D4 

D2, D3 

E1 

E2 

C4 

E2, E3 

D4, E2, E3 

B3 

B2, B3 

D1 

C1 

E1 

B3 

E1 

B1, B2 

B3, B2 

C2, C3 

B2, B3, B2 

C1, C2 

C3 

C2, D3 

C2, C3, D2 

E4, E5 

B3, C2, C3 

C3, D2, D3 

D2 

B4, B5 

E4 

AA 

Airport Airport 

3km 3km 

BB 

Tran 

Tran 

Van Dang 

Van Dang 

CC 

Tan Binh Tan Binh 

0.5km 0.5km 

Huynh Huynh Van Banh 

Van Banh 

District District 11 11 

2km 2km 



Tran Nhan Ton 

Le Hong Phong 

Saigon 

Saigon Train Station 

Train Station 



Hoa Hung 

Hoa Hung 

Lan Anh 

Lan Anh Sports & 

Sports Leisure & Club 

Leisure Club 

Dien Bien Phu 

Dien Bien Phu 

11 



Ly Thai 

Ly 

To 

Thai To 

Hung Vuong 

Hung Vuong 



Th Nguyen 

Th Nguyen 

ong 

ong 

Cach Mang Thang Tam 


3 Thang 2 

3 Thang 2 

Ban Co 

Ban Co 




Ng Dinh Chinh 

Ng Dinh Chinh 

PHU NHUAN 

Le Van Sy 

Le Van Sy 

Quyen 

Quyen 

Tran 

Tran 

Minh 

Minh 

DISTRICT 10 10 

DD 

EE 

Tran Nhan Ton 

Le Hong Phong 



Tran Phu 

Tran Phu 

Dang 

Dang 

Van Van 

Tran 

Tran 

Do Thanh 

Cao Thang 

Cao Thang 

Huyn h Van Banh 

Nguyen Van Cu 

University 

of Natural 

University 

Sciences 

of Natural 

Sciences 

Vuon 

Chuoi 

Vuon Market 

Chuoi 

Market 

Teacher 

Training Teacher 

University Training 

University 

Re-unification 

Palace Palace 

96 asialife HCMC asialife HCMC 97 

An Duong Vuong 

An Duong Vuong 

Ky Dong 

DISTRICT 5 5 


Do Thanh 

Huyn h Van Banh 

Ky Dong 

V 

Ng. Thuong 

. Chuoi 

Ly Chinh T hang 

Hien 

Nguyen Trai 

Nguyen Trai 

22 



V 

Truong Dinh 

Truong Dinh 

Ng. Thuong 

. Chuoi 

Nguyen Van Cu 

Ly Chinh T hang 

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

Thai Binh 

Market 

Thai Binh 

Market 

War War 

Remnants Remnants 

Museum Museum 

Cultural Cultural Park Park 



Le Van Tam 

Le Park Van Tam 

Park 

Vo Thi Sau Vo Thi Sau 

Vo Thi Sau Vo Thi Sau 

Tu Xuong 

Tu Xuong 

Hien 

Dien Bien Phu 

Dien Bien Phu 

Nguyen Thong 

Nguyen Thong 

Nguyen Son Ha 

Nguyen Son Ha 

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 



Tran 

Tran Khanh Tran Khanh Du Du 



Ba Huyen Thanh Quan 

Ba Huyen Thanh Quan 

Nguyen Dinh Chieu 






Nguyen Trai 

N. V. Hai 

N. V. Hai 

Quoc ToanTran Quoc Toan 

Tran 







Ton That Tung 

Ton That Tung 

Cong Quynh 

Cong Quynh 

Tran Dinh Xu 

Tran Dinh Xu 

Rieng Rieng 

Le Thi 

Le Thi 

Cao Ba Nha 

Ng. Huu Cau 

Nguyen Trai 

Nguyen Trai 

Do Q. Dau 



D. C. Trang 

D. C. Trang 

Truong Quyen 

Truong Quyen 

Le Lai 

Le Lai 

Bui Vien 

Bui Vien 



De Tham 

Pham Ngu Lao 

Pham Ngu Lao 

Tran Quang Tran Quang Khai Khai 



Ng Kh Nhu 

Ng Kh Nhu 

Co Bac 

Co Bac 

L. V. Phuc 

L. V. Phuc 

Vo Van Tan Vo Van Tan 

Vo Van Tan Vo Van Tan 

Cao Thang 

Cao Thang 

Cu Lao 

Cu Lao 


Ho Xuan Huong 

Ho Xuan Huong 

DISTRICT 1 1 

Ngu yen Huu Canh 

Nguyen Gia Thieu 

Nguyen Gia Thieu 

Bui Thi Xuan 

Bui Thi Xuan 


Hai Ba Trung 

Hai Ba Trung 

DISTRICT 3 3 

Nguyen Trai 

4th Floor ONG&ONG Building 

159 Phan Xich Long St 

Ward 7, Phu Nhuan District 

Ngu yen Huu Canh 

Quoc ToanTran Quoc Toan 


Le Quy Don 

Le Quy Don 



Ho H. Hon 

Ho H. Hon 

33 

Phan Xich Phan Long Xich Long 

Cao Ba Nha 


Ng. Huu Cau 

Do Q. Dau 

Truong Dinh 

Truong Dinh 

Vo Huy Vo Tan Huy Tan 

Ng. Phi Ng. Khanh Phi Khanh 



Co Giang 

Co Giang 



Huan 

Huan 

Thu Kh 

Thu Kh 

Pham Pham Hong Hong Thai Thai 

De Tham 

Ly Tu Trong 

Ly Tu Trong 

Tran Hung Dao Tran Hung Dao 

Tran Hung Dao Tran Hung Dao 

Pasteur 

Pasteur 

De Tham 


De Tham 

Gia Dinh Gia Dinh 

Hospital Hospital 


Tu 

Tu 

Ng Hai Ng Hai 

Mac Dinh Chi 

Mac Dinh Chi 



Alexandre De Rhodes 

Alexandre De Rhodes 

Ben 

Thanh 

Ben 

Market 

Thanh 

Market 

Central 

Central Post Office 

Post Office 

Bus 

Station Bus 

Station 

Nguyen Binh Khiem 


Le Loi 

Le Loi 

Hoa Lu 

Hoa Stadium Lu 

Stadium 



Hai Ba Trung 

Hai Ba Trung 

Town Hall 

HTV 

HTV television 

television 

Le Duan Le Duan 

Le Duan Le Duan 

Pasteur 

Pasteur 



Nguyen Du 

Nguyen Du 

Nguyen An Ninh 

Nguyen An Ninh 

Ky Con 

Ky Con 

Le Thi Hong Gam 

Le Thi Hong Gam 

Yersin 

Mai Thi Luu 

Mai Thi Luu 

Phan Ke Binh 

Phan Ke Binh 

Tran Cao Van 

Tran Cao Van 

Han Thuyen 

Han Thuyen 

L. V. Lang 

L. V. Lang 



44 

Dong Khoi 

Dong Khoi 

Pho Duc Chinh 

Calmette 

Ng. Cong Tru 

Ng. Cong Tru 

BINH THANH 

Nguyen Du 

Hoang 

Hoang 

Sa 

Sa 

Ham Ham Nghi Nghi 



Le Loi 

Le Loi 

Ton Duc Thang 

Ton Duc Thang 



Nguyen Hue 

Nguyen Hue 

Ton ThTon Th 

at Thiep 

at Thiep 

T. T. Dam 

Ly Tu Trong 

Ly Tu Trong 

Thi Sach 

Thi Sach 

Le Quoc Hung 

Le Quoc Hung 

Pham Van Pham Han Van Han 

Mac 

Mac 

Ngo 

Ngo 

Zoo & Botanical 

Zoo & Botanical Gardens 

Gardens 



Thai Van Lung 

Thai Van Lung 

Ng Sieu 

Ng Sieu 

Cao Ba Quat 

Cao Ba Quat 

Le Thanh Ton Le Thanh Ton 

Pasteur 

Le Cong Le Kieu Cong Kieu 

Don 

Don 

Ben Van 

Ben Van 

Sa 

Sa 

Truong Truong 

DISTRICT 1 1 

Yersin 

Pho Duc Chinh 

Calmette 

Nguyen Du 

Town Hall 

Ho Tung Mau 

Huynh Thuc 

Huynh Thuc 

Khang 

Khang 

Vinh Khanh 

Hoang Dieu 

Hoang Dieu 

T. T. Dam 

Ng. Cong Tru 

Ng. Cong Tru 

Ng Truong To 

Nguyen 

Trung Ngan 

Nguyen 

Trung Ngan 

Le Thanh Ton Le Thanh Ton 

Pasteur 

Vinh Khanh 

Ho Tung Mau 

Dong Du 

Dong Du 

Phan Van Dat 

Thi Buoi 

Thi Buoi 

H.H.Nghiep 

H.H.Nghiep 

Duc Ke 

Duc Ke 

Hai Trieu 

Hai Trieu 

Ng Truong To 

Ngo V 

Ngo V 

an 

an 

Nam 

Nam 

Ton Duc 

Thang Museum 

Ton Duc 

Thang Museum 


Doan Nhu Hai 

Doan Nhu Hai 

Doan Van Bo 

Doan Van Bo 

DISTRICT 4 4 

55 

Nguyen Cuu Van 

Nguyen Cuu Van 

Phan Van Dat 



Huynh Man Dat 

Thu Thiem Thu Thiem 

Ferry Ferry Port Port 

(for District (for District 2) 2) 



Saigon Saigon Bridge Bridge 

& Highway & Highway 1 1 

3km 3km 



HCM HCM City City 

Boat Quay Boat Quay 

(for Vung (for Vung Tau) Tau) 



Huynh Man Dat 

Me Linh 

Cat Lai Cat Ferry Lai Ferry 

9km 9km 

Vung Vung Tau Tau 

District District 7 7 

& Nha & Be Nha Be 


Me Linh

oxoffice 

bookshelf 

Blood, Bones 

and Butter 

Gabrielle Hamilton 

Random House 

Moonwalking 

with Einstein 

Joshua Foer 

The Penguin Press HC 

Rio (3D) 

If the voices behind a movie 

are enough to ensure a hit, this 

movie can’t be missed. From 

the makers of Ice Age comes a 

comedy adventure about taking 

a walk on the wild side. Blu 

(Jesse Eisenberg), a domesticated 

Macaw living in Minnesota, 

is believed to be the last of his 

kind. But, when scientists learn 

of a female macaw, they send 

him to Rio de Janeiro to meet 

her. Here he confronts his fear 

of flying in order to win Jewel’s 

(Anne Hathaway) heart. Blu 

and Jewel survive a kidnapping 

with the help of a group 

of wise-cracking city animals 

(George Lopez, Tracy Morgan, 

will.i.am, Wanda Sykes, and 

Jamie Foxx.) 

Source Code 

Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) 

wakes up on a train, not 

knowing whose body he’s in 

or why he’s there. He suspects 

foul play and panics, just as a 

bomb goes off, killing Stevens 

and everyone on board. When 

he wakes up, he learns he's part 

of a government experiment 

that enables him to cross over 

into another man's identity in 

the last eight minutes of his life. 

Colter re-lives the incident over 

and over again, gathering clues 

each time, until he discovers 

who is behind the bombs to 

prevent the next attack. Filled 

with mind-boggling twists 

and heart-pounding suspense, 

Source Code is a smart actionthriller 

directed by Duncan 

Jones. 

Hop 

From the makers of Despicable 

Me comes Hop, a comedy about 

EB (British comedian Russell 

Brand), the teenage son of the 

Easter Bunny. Instead of taking 

over the family business, EB 

leaves for Hollywood to pursue 

his dream of becoming a drummer 

in a rock band. He encounters 

Fred (James Marsden), an 

out-of-work slacker with his 

own lofty goals, who accidentally 

hits EB with his car. Feigning 

injury, EB manipulates Fred 

into providing him with a place 

to live. As Fred struggles with 

the world’s worst houseguest, 

both will learn what it takes to 

finally grow up. 

The Roommate 

For anyone who has been to 

college and gone through the 

random roommate selection 

process, this movie might hit 

a little close to the dorm—or 

home. Initially, though they 

may not have a lot in common, 

it seems that Sara (Minka 

Kelly) and her new roommate 

Rebecca (Leighton Meester) 

could be best friends. That is, 

until Rebecca begins to overstep 

all social boundaries. She 

develops an eerie attachment to 

Sara— wearing her dead sister’s 

necklace and impersonating her 

to alienate Sara’s friends and 

professors. Throw in some crazy 

frat parties and some blood, and 

this thriller might make you 

think twice next time you are 

looking for a new roommate. 

Combining a lifetime of experience in kitchens with an MFA 

in creative writing, Gabrielle Hamilton offers us Blood, Bones, 

and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef, 

a gritty and passionate memoir that has Anthony Bourdain 

swooning. She recalls the comfort of her parents’ kitchen as 

a child and lets us follow as her family dissolves and she ends 

up in New York using drugs and eating ketchup to stave off 

hunger. Her years wandering, often aimlessly, through kitchens 

across the world, culminate in the opening of Prune, her 

acclaimed restaurant in New York’s East Side. 

The Millionaire 

Messenger 

Brendon Burchard 

Morgan James Publishing 

Do you have a bad memory? Feel like there isn’t a chance for 

improvement? Joshua Foer, a scientific journalist, set out to 

cover the US Memory Championship, and then, after a year of 

training under some of the world’s best memorisers, returned 

as a competitor. He studies the mind of a man who can 

memorise 1,528 random numbers in a row, and that of a man 

who can’t remember his last thought. In a time when books, 

smartphones, and computers have all but made our memories 

obsolete, he learns methods, like connecting absurd 

visual imagery (Einstein moonwalking) to lists and numbers, 

that give the rest of us hope. 

The Paris Wife 

Paula McLain 

Ballantine Books 

Opening Dates 

CINEMAS 

G: Galaxy 

www.galaxycine.vn 

The Roommate (April 8) 

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (April 22) 

The information on this page was 

correct at the time of printing. Check 

cinema websites for screenings. 

We may not realise it, but our life stories and experiences are 

socially and financially valuable. Though there are hundreds 

of books out there about making money, Brendon Burchard, 

founder of Experts Academy, takes a different approach, showing 

us in ten practical steps how to use the lessons learned and 

expertise gained, in any area of life, to serve others and have 

a fulfilling career. In this quick read, you choose your topic and 

Burchard will teach you how to share it with the world through 

websites, books, speeches, seminars, coaching, consulting, 

and online programs. 

Paula McLain sorts through the love letters between Ernest 

Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson, to deliver an 

enchanting tale of one of history’s greatest romances. Until she 

meets Ernest, Hadley, at 28, is practically a spinster who has all 

but given up on love. Like so many of us, she falls for his charm 

and passionate sincerity and moves with him to Paris where 

they live through the intoxicating Jazz Age with the likes of 

Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. 

In his memoir, A Moveable Feast, Hemingway writes of Hadley, 

“I wished I had died before I ever loved anyone but her”. 

M: Megastar 

www.megastarmedia.net 

Rio (3D) (April 8) 

Source Code (April 29) 

T: Thang Long 

www.giaitrithanglong.com/cinema 

Hop (April 1) 

Rio (3D) (April 8) 


soundfix 

album review 

Lykke Li 

Wounded Rhymes 

When Buraka Som Sistema 

remixed Lykke Li’s 2008 single, 

“Dance, Dance, Dance”, we got 

our first hint of how her bubblegum 

voice could fare when 

paired with some tribal beats. 

With “Get Some”, the addictive 

lead single off her second 

album, Wounded Rhymes, that’s 

just the sound she captures— 

this time on her own. “I’m your 

prostitute/You gon’ get some” 

she announces with some sass. 

The slight Swedish blonde can 

charm listeners with an edgy 

side just as much as she did 

with her innocent act. Throughout 

this album, Lykke Li proves 

she is unafraid to experiment— 

with the retro-sounding “I 

Follow Rivers”, she lets her 

voice drop sultrily, with “Love 

Out of Lost”, she’s earnest and 

ethereal, and with “Love is 

Unrequited”, she even channels 

Loretta Lynn. Arrangements 

from her first album are barely 

memorable, yet the additions 

of sonic flourishes and vocal effects 

make for more exhilirating 

trimmings this time. 

The Strokes 

Angles 

“I’ve been out around this 

town/Everybody’s singing the 

same song for 10 years”, croons 

Julian Casablancas on “Under 

the Cover of Darkness”, the lead 

single from Angles. If anyone 

would know, it’s this band; nearly 

10 years have passed since 

they released Is This It, spawning 

untold numbers of shaggy 

haired, skinny jean-wearing, 

guitar-wielding wannabes. Time 

doesn’t wait for anyone and so 

the question music fans have 

been left wondering is, are The 

Strokes still relevant? There is 

plenty on Angles to leave listeners 

answering that in affirmative, 

from the ‘80s reggae-synth 

“Machu Piccu” to the bopping 

“Gratisfaction”. While the heart 

of The Strokes remains intact, 

it’s clear that this is a band grappling 

with the question themselves 

(for the first time, they 

split up writing duties, rather 

than give Casablancas complete 

creative control). Rather than 

make us think about where 

they’ve been, Angles gives you 

a reason to focus on where The 

Strokes are going. 

Generationals 

Actor-Caster 

Neither heartbreak nor empty 

bank accounts can keep Generationals 

down. On the New 

Orleans duo’s sophomore album, 

Actor-Caster, they plow through 

laments on modern-day afflictions 

with jaunty guitar lines and 

plucky piano notes, despite lines 

like, “It won’t get better until 

you leave me alone” and “I give 

you one more chance to make 

it better/But you don’t seem 

to care”. For a band that’s been 

together for just three years and 

two albums, Generationals are 

remarkably talented; they write 

effortlessly catchy indie rock 

songs like they’ve been doing it 

for a lifetime. It helps that Ted 

Joyner and Grant Widmer (who 

share both singing and instrument 

duties) have known each 

other since they were 13—as 

does their knack for taking 

inspiration from bands as varied 

as the Smiths, Vampire Weekend 

and the New Pornographers, and 

making it all fit into one surprisingly 

cohesive album. 

by Mai Lynn Miller Nguyen 

Those Darlins 

Screws Get Loose 

In the four years since Those 

Darlins first started playing 

twangy garage rock, they’ve 

popped pills, met boys, and lost 

their minds—at least, they do on 

their sophomore release, Screws 

Get Loose. “I should have took 

my meds, man/All these dirty 

kids, man/Pushing each other 

around,” drawls lead singer 

Jessi Darlin on the album’s 

opener and title track. The 

album spins out from there, tapping 

everything from the honky 

tonks to dirty dive bars for sonic 

inspiration, but the sentiment 

never changes: Rock’n’roll isn’t 

for the weak of heart. But that 

doesn’t mean this Tennessee 

four-piece (comprised of the 

three Darlins—Jessi, Nikki, and 

Kelley—and drummer Linwood 

Regensburg) is an unhappy lot. 

In fact, they seem quite content 

with all the mayhem, noting 

during the chorus to “Screws 

Get Loose”, “Can’t blame me 

for what I choose/Screws get 

loose/Can’t change me after all 

these years”. 

Official xoneFM Vietnam Top 10 

this last title artist 

week week 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

1 

New 

2 

8 

9 

5 

6 

10 

Reentry 

7 

Born This Way 

21st Century Girl 

What The Hell 

Price Tag 

Rocketeer 

Grenade 

Need You 

Last Dance 

I’m In Here 

Kidz 

US Top 10 


week week 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

1 

2 

8 

3 

5 

4 

6 

9 

20 

7 

Born This Way 

F**k You (Forget You) 

E.T. 

S&M 

On The Floor 

F**kin' Perfect 

Grenade 

Tonight (I'm Lovin' 

You) 

Till The World Ends 

Blow 

Australia Top 10 


week week 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

xoneFM top ten 

New 

1 

New 

2 

3 

5 

4 

9 

11 

New 

Don't Hold Your 

Breath 

Someone Like You 

Gold Forever 

Price Tag 

S&M 

Black And Yellow 

Born This Way 

Rolling In The Deep 

I Need A Doctor 

Louder 

Lady Gaga 

Willow Smith 

Avril Lavigne 

Jessie J feat. BOB 

Fareast Movement feat. 

Ryan Tedder 

Bruno Mars 

Travis McCoy 

Clare Maguire 

Sia 

Take That 

Lady Gaga 

Cee Lo Green 

Katy Perry feat. Kanye 

West 

Rihanna 

Jennifer Lopez feat. 

Pitbull 

P!nk 

Bruno Mars 

Enrique Iglesias feat. 

Ludacris & DJ Frank E 

Britney Spears 

Ke$ha 

Nicole Scherzinger 

Adele 

Wanted 

Jessie J feat. Bob 

Rihanna 

Wiz Khalifa 

Lady Gaga 

Adele 

Dr Dre feat. Eminem & 

Skylar Grey 

Parade 

endorsed 

Burma VJ 

By Nora Lindstrom 

Academy Award Nominee for 

Best Documentary Feature, 

Burma VJ packs a punch. 

It’s one of those films that 

may make you question what 

you’re doing with your life, 

and whether you shouldn’t 

be doing something more 

worthwhile. 

Very current in the aftermath 

of the November 7 mock-elections, 

the film follows 27-yearold 

“Joshua”, an undercover 

video journalist who, together 

with a group of others, documents 

the reality of life in the 

junta-led country. 

Shooting at great personal 

risk using handheld video 

cameras, the VJs cover events 

in the streets of Yangon, 

producing footage which is 

then smuggled out of the 

country and broadcast back 

into Myanmar via satellite. 

The material is also offered to 

international media, making 

it some of the only real news 

coming out of the police state. 

The documentary, made by 

filmmaker Anders Ostergaard, 

strings together footage by 

Joshua and his friends with 

a focus on the historical and 

dramatic days of September 

2007, when the Buddhist 

monks started marching. 

Hiding amongst the crowds 

and doing their best to evade 

the police and state intelligence, 

the VJs document the 

uprising. Without their tireless 

efforts, this show of defiance 

against their despotic rulers 

may have gone largely unnoticed. 

This, without question, is 

important journalism. 

Burma VJ is not without its 

parallels in Cambodia. Recent 

crackdowns on the freedom 

of speech, including the 

imprisonment of journalists on 

charges of disinformation, raise 

concerns about the future of 

the freedom of expression in 

Myanmar’s neighbour, too. 

Yet, at the same time, Cambodian 

VJs are making their 

debut. Students are embracing 

social media and film, while 

monks and ordinary villagers 

are using video cameras 

to document human rights 

abuses taking place around 

the country. Screened almost 

every month at Meta House, 

Burma VJ could be a source of 

inspiration for more Cambodians 

to start exercising their 

freedom of speech. 

The documentary is, however, 

also a reminder that, in 

dictatorships, freedom often 

comes at a cost. At least five 

VJs and individual activists 

who took part in the film are 

currently incarcerated for their 

roles in the Saffron Revolution. 

In the film itself, Joshua has to 

flee the country and the VJs’ 

office is raided. 

Nevertheless, their inspirational 

work continues. The 

outlet for the Burmese VJs’ 

footage, the Democratic Voice 

of Burma, covered the recent 

elections, providing a vital 

window into the country at a 

time when international observers 

and foreign journalists were 

banned by the junta. We can 

only hope these brave freedom 

fighters have the courage to 

continue. 


adar 

The Art of Idling 

idler.co.uk 

The Idler campaigns wholeheartedly against the work ethic and asks for dignity 

to be returned to the art of loafing. A hardcopy is published annually, but the 

website provides a comprehensive overview of how to best live an idle lifestyle. 

One article even gives a step-by-step guide to being made redundant (Tips: act 

depressed and be incompetent). 

And the just-opened London-based Idler Academy will help would-bemoochers 

perfect their craft. The bookshop/coffeehouse and school offers 

seemingly useless courses in Latin, embroidery and ukulele playing; for there’s 

nothing wrong with indulging idle pleasures. 

Metal Charted 

mapofmetal.com 

Map of Metal takes users on an interactive musical journey. The genre is 

broken down across a denim-clad background into sub-categories like avantgarde 

metal, industrial metal, folk metal, melodic power metal and traditional 

doom metal. It would seem metal is surprisingly complex. 

An explanation is then given, which describes in detail the era that particular 

style of metal was popular, what it signified and the artists who made it famous. 

A selection of songs that match the style can be chosen from an adjacent 

playlist—so metal enthusiasts can listen while they learn. 

Packing Light 

onebag.com 

Go-Light guru Doug Dyment began One Bag more than a decade ago to share 

the travel tips he’d garnered from years of business trips. He asserts that a 

lighter load equals less hassle and a far more enjoyable journey, whatever the 

purpose. 

He’s uploaded his own packing list, which can be adapted for personal use 

and cautions, “If it’s not on your list, it shouldn’t be in your bag”. Packing techniques 

are also outlined, including advice on how to avoid wrinkled clothing. 

Adhere to the instructions and Doug says all you’ll ever need to travel anywhere 

is a single carry-on-sized bag. 

102 asialife HCMC

Matt 

I was working in Singapore and 

got a call from someone who 

said they had heard I was smart 

enough to run an agency and 

dumb enough to move to Vietnam. 

So I came here in 2004 and 

recently started my own agency. 

Laurent and I met about six 

years ago through a work friend. 

It was actually when we used 

to sneak into the old District 1 

RMIT campus to play basketball 

on a Sunday afternoon. 

There was more of a community 

of us back then. A bunch 

of people trying to figure out a 

place that made no sense at all. 

Things sort of changed about 

three years ago, a lot of friends 

left. 

Laurent has come and gone 

from Vietnam a few times since 

then. He has a going away party 

every time he crosses the street. 

But he is one of the few people 

I know who can be witty in a 

THE TWO OF US 

Public relations consultant Matt Underwood and music producer Laurent 

Jaccoux have mastered the fine art of banter over the last six years. 

They tell the story of their friendship to Brett Davis. Photo by Fred Wissink. 

second language. 

He’s very good at making 

things up and having people 

believe them. He recently told 

a girl his job was to dig lakes, 

focusing particularly on the key 

markets of Europe and Dalat. He 

doesn’t do it in a mean way, but 

just to amuse himself. 

Once we were at a place called 

the Berlin Bar and we met this 

girl. When she said she studied 

music, Laurent told her he was a 

music producer and had studied 

the dan bau for 11 years. And that 

he was a racecar driver, but only 

in Europe, and that he was an 

astronaut and was the first man 

to play the dan bau on the moon. 

I think she believed him up until 

the bit about playing the dan bau 

on the moon. 

I do like to wind him up a bit. 

He always feels compelled to defend 

France. He’s like Napoleon, 

only taller. 

Laurent 

I came to Saigon for the first time 

in September 2004 with a Danish 

guy who wanted me to work at 

a studio he had set up here. The 

guy owned a furniture business 

here so he wanted to work in 

Vietnam but it could just as well 

have been South Africa or anywhere, 

I would have gone there. 

So it was just coincidence I came 

here and Matt and I met. 

Originally I only planned to 

stay here for six months. I have 

been back to France about maybe 

10 times since then but I’m very 

comfortable here. For going out 

it is a very good town. Basketball 

doesn’t really bring people 

together like drinking does. 

I’m not really living in Saigon 

at the moment so I am crashing 

at Matt’s house. So he is forced to 

see me every day. Even though 

I’m not living here anymore, it 

doesn’t change things. 

When you are first here there 

is more that feeling of excitement 

and you are more willing to meet 

people, tell them your story. As 

time goes on that feeling fades 

and you focus on a core group of 

friends. 

You meet a lot of people here 

but the ones you want to keep in 

touch with you could count on 

two hands. 

Why are Matt and me friends? 

It’s hard to say. Sometimes you 

just click with people. It is also 

going through the same period 

of life in the same place. You see 

with the same eyes and have 

the same experiences. Here in 

Vietnam it is very much like your 

friends become your family. 

I moved back to Paris last 

summer, but we keep in touch 

and get on very well. The French 

are also sarcastic and have a 

very dry sense of humour. So we 

have the same humour, the same 

bullshit. 

Photo by Jennifer Watson. 

Dearest Saigon, 

It’s been just over a year now 

since we went our separate 

ways. I think of you often, but I 

do believe our split was for the 

best. It wasn’t you. It was me. I 

just needed more time before we 

settled down for good. 

It was great. I still love you, 

very much. It was timing. Yes, 

the timing. The timing was off. 

I’ve got a new city now: 

London. He’s got some similar 

characteristics to you; he’s big, 

he’s noisy, he’s great for travel, 

he’s bustling and boisterous and 

he’s fun to be around. We share 

so many of the same interests. 

He’s full of art and design, film, 

theatre, music and fashion. I fell 

head over heels with London 

and we’re still going steady. 

But, it goes without saying, 

London isn’t you. 

I miss how you cooked for 

me. Every single day, without 

fail, there’d be something fresh 

and exotic waiting for me at 

midday and in the evening. 

The freshest vegetables, herbs 

and seasonings. Smells wafting 

down alleyways, from little 

carts trundling down the street, 

from your pop-up, plastic take 

on al fresco. And you never, 

ever tried to charge me too 

much. 

London offered me bun thit 

nuong in Shoreditch last week, 

but it just wasn’t the same. The 

Saigon beer, brewed in France, 

came in tiny, clean bottles from 

a dainty wee fridge, not a dirty, 

green crate. The vegetable salad 

and herb flavours were great, 

but just didn’t seem as fresh or 

satisfying. The nuoc cham wasn’t 

nearly as amazing or authentic 

tasting. And then the price was 

ridiculous. You would shudder 

if you knew. 

I miss all the pampering you 

did for me. You were really 

good at that. I was treated like 

a queen. I got so used to the 

weekly massages, the regular 

pedicures and manicures, the 

facials and the hair treatments. 

I radiated when I was with 

you. Now my hair is dark and 

lifeless, my skin is dull, my toes 

aren’t pretty and my fingernails 

look sad. 

I miss your smile. You always 

had one on every street corner, 

in every market stall, on every 

motorbike. You were always so 

friendly and welcoming to me; 

you took me in, you looked after 

me and we had some amazing 

experiences. Sure, we had a bad 

patch here and there, everyone 

does, but, oh, your smile. It was 

always there to cheer me up and 

make my day. London is full of 

grumpy frowns and furrowed 

brows, pushy commuters and 

slow-moving queues. 

I guess what it all really 

comes down to is this: I just 

miss you. London and I talked 

about it, and thought it best to 

write and let you know. 

I’m hoping our paths may 

cross again soon and we can 

pick up where we left off. Stay 

beautiful, Saigon. 

Love you long time. 

Laurent Jaccoux (left) and Matt Underwood. 


pub quiz 

Drink Origins 

1) Which country produces Stella 

Artois? 

2) Madeira wine is a product of 

which country? 

3) Where is the home of Red 

Stripe lager beer? 

4) What started being produced 

in Amsterdam in 1864? 

5) Where does Kahlúa, the 

coffee-flavoured liqueur, call 

home? 

Spices 

6) Which spice gives curry its 

colour? 

7) With which spice is Hungarian 

Goulash traditionally 

flavoured? 

8) What is the most traded spice 

globally, with Vietnam currently 

the largest producer? 

9) What spice is derived from the 

pods of a climbing orchid? 

10) How many spices are mixed 

in allspice? 

Grand! 

11) The river which forms part 

of the border between Texas 

and Mexico is called the Rio 

Grande by the Americans; 

what do the Mexicans call it? 

12) Which fruit gives the drink 

Grand Marnier its distinctive 

flavour? 

13) In which year was the 

running of the Grand National 

declared void after Esha Ness 

was first past the post? 

14) How many pedals does a 

concert grand piano have? 

15) Who is Queen Elizabeth II's 

eldest grandchild? 

Around The World 

16) Which Italian city, famous for 

its art and architecture, is the 

capital of Tuscany? 

17) Which city, 2500ft above sea 

level, is the largest in area in 

the Southern Hemisphere? 

18) Which area of France is 

known for the breeding of 

white horses and black bulls? 

19) Which European country 

has four official languages: 

German, Italian, French and 

Romansch? 

20) Which is the largest island in 

the West Indies? 

Way Out West 

21) What is the most westerly point 

of England? 

22) Which rifle was nicknamed 

"The Gun That Won The West"? 

106 asialife HCMC 

23) In mainland Europe which 

country contains the most 

westerly point? 

24) Which landmark stands 

at the western end of the 

Champs Elysees in Paris? 

25) "Go West" is a song by the 

Village People. The song 

eventually found greater 

success when it was covered 

in 1993 by which group? 

26) 

27) 

28) 

29) 

30) 

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In xong vaø noäp löu chieåu thaùng 04/ 2010 

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1) Belgium 2) Portugal 3) Jamaica 4) Heineken 5) Mexico 6) Turmeric 7) Paprika 

8) (Black) Pepper 9) Vanilla 10) None are mixed - it's a single spice 11) Rio 

Bravo 12) Orange 13) 1993 14) Three15) Peter Phillips (b. 1977) 16) Florence 

17) Sao Paulo 18) The Carmargue 19) Switzerland 20) Cuba 21) Land's End 

22) Winchester 23) Portugal 24) The Arc De Triomphe 25) The Pet Shop Boys 

26) Sean Connery 27) Danny Devito 28) Gary Coleman 29) Anthony Hopkins 

30) Leonardo Di Caprio 

Pub Quiz Answers 

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Grace Lewis - AsiaLIFE Magazine

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