Nam Ky Khoi Nghia - Asialife HCMC

Residential Quarter 13C Nguyen Van Linh Street., 

Phong Phu Commune, Binh Chanh District, HCMC 

Admission Oce: SC39 – SD40, Panorama Area, 

Nguyen Duc Canh Street, Phu My Hung, District 7, HCMC 

Telephone: (08) 54 123 456 - (08) 54 121 549 Fax: (08) 54 121 934 

Email: enquiry@cis.edu.vn Website: www.cis.edu.vn 

Foster personal ethics and scoial 

responsibility via the Character 

Education Program of the 

Ontario Ministry of Education 

(Canada) 

Maintain a healthy and active 

lifestyle. 

Cultivate life skills, leadership 

and other skills via a multifaceted 

training program. 

Offer French as a second 

language for students. 

Celebrate cultural diversity by 

teaching the traditional values of 

global citizenship. 

•100% Canadian certified teachers directly 

recuited by the District School Board of 

Niagara (Ontario Province - Canada). 

• Curriculum provided by the District School 

Board of Niagara and Ontario Secondary 

School Diploma. 

• Curriculum appraised and approved by the 

Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam. 

• Education quality annually monitored and 

inspected by the District School Board of 

Niagara under the direct management of 

HCMC Department of Education and Training. 

• State-of-the-art culture & sports centre 

outfitted with modern equipment designed 

for students. 

• Seperate boarding areas for male and 

female students with the best academic and 

extra-curricular programs, facilities and 

management. 

• An international environment with students 

from over 20 countries. 

Exclusive privilege policies in 2010-2011 

Appropriate and stable tuition fee up to 2013 

AsiaLIFE volume 25 

18 

24 

30 

40 

48 

50 

4 Editorial 

6 News & Events 

12 Q & A with Tata Young 

14 Streetsmart: Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

18 Photo Essay: Christian Berg 

24 Work in Progress 

30 Destination Wellington 

34 Off Rod in Mai Chau 

38 Perfect Pairs 

40 Tex Mex Quest 

42 Primates on the Rebound 

44 A Life on the Road Less Travelled 

48 The Seoul of Rock 

50 Style and Design 

56 The List 

96 Map 

98 The Back

editorial 

tom dichristopher 

Happy birthday to us. It’s 

been two years since AsiaLIFE 

relaunched in April 2008, and to 

mark this milestone, we’ve taken 

the next step in our evolution. 

Some of the book will remain 

familiar. Our front section still 

contains Street Smart and 

other regulars, but we’ve cleared 

room for photo essays, which 

appeared for many months in 

the back of the book. Our focus 

on strong, research-intensive 

features remains, and Getaways 

and City Bites remain where 

they’ve always been. 

You’ll find the biggest change 

in the following pages. Gone is 

the Culture section (The entire 

shebang is a lifestyle and culture 

publication, right?), and so too have the Sports & Leisure, Health 

& Beauty and Family sections given up the ghost. Rest assured 

that you’ll continue to see stories that fall under these categories in 

AsiaLIFE, but the new format allows us to bring you a more diverse 

range of stories. 

The Fashion and Living sections have also been replaced by Style 

& Design, again, to allow us to cover a wider spectrum of subjects. 

Look for expansion in these pages in the coming months. We think 

you’ll be excited about what we’ve got on tap. 

Looking back for a moment, we’d like to acknowledge the 

tremendous amount of feedback we received on Brendan Wenzel’s 

illustrations that appeared on last month’s cover and in the feature 

section. We’ve literally been inundated with praise for the work. 

If you’d like to see more from Brendan, check out his website at 

www.brendanwenzel.com. 

Back to the present. We hope you enjoy the new format, and we 

look forward to bringing you a better publication month after month. 

See you in 30 days. 

Correction: The credits for last month’s fashion shoot, “Colour 

Contrast” were mistakenly omitted. The credits should have read 

as follows: Sean Martin, photographer; Nathan Lee, art director; 

Trang Tan, model; Crazy Nhok, hair and makeup. Our apologies to 

Nathan, Trang and Nhok for the omission. 

Find AsiaLIFE articles on Vietnewsonline.vn 

4 asialife HCMC 

Art Direction - Johnny Murphy 

Photography - Nam Quan 

cover 

john 

thornton 

John Thornton is a freelance music writer from Nottingham, 

U.K. Before moving to HCM City five months 

ago, John spent time working in London as a press 

officer for Oasis and Muse and regularly volunteered 

at Glastonbury Music & Performing Arts Festival as a 

correspondent for onsite radio station Worthy FM. John 

also freelances as an editor/proofreader at CBRE and 

regularly contributes to The Word HCMC, supporting 

the city’s live music scene. 

fred 

wissink 

Starting with AsiaLIFE in 2006, Fred Wissink has 

worked with the publication from very early on. His 

presence at events around town, camera in hand, has 

become a staple of the HCMC scene. Fred is always 

trying to develop and adopt new styles of photography 

in order to help push the creative envelope at AsiaLIFE.

NEWS 

Victoria Healthcare News 

Throughout April, Victoria 

Healthcare is offering a men’s 

healthcare promotion that 

includes a 35-percent discount 

on customized cardiology and 

urology packages. Specialists 

at both of Victoria’s international 

standard facilities deliver the 

care. For more information or to 

schedule an appointment, call 

3910 4545 (D1) or 3997 4545 

(Phu Nhuan). 

Anupa News 

The bijoux Lily ring collection for 

spring is now available, featuring 

New at Villa FB 

natural semi-precious stones, 

obsidian, amethyst, rutile quartz 

and topaz set in a fine silver/ 

gold setting. Matching earrings, 

pendants and bracelets can also 

be ordered. Prices range from 

3,000,000 VND to 6,000,000. 

New signature saaya bags are 

available in black, brown and 

gold leather in three sizes. Prices 

range from 5,000,000 VND to 

9,000,000 VND. Rana Abodeely’s 

Selwa T is now available in 

five colors. Prices range from 

1,5000,000 VND to 1,750,000 

VND. For more information call 

3825 7307. 

Villa FB is now serving breakfast, including favourites bun 

thang (chicken noodle soup), bun bo Hue (Hue beef soup 

noodle) and bun thit bo xao (stir-fried beef noodle). A range 

of new bun is also on tap including bun cua la chanh (noodle 

in crab soup cooked with lemon leaf), bun tom chua cay (sour 

and spicy shrimp noodle) and the special bun den (black 

noodle) dishes made from raw rice and seaweed. Prices 

range from 60,000 to 80,000 VND. Villa FB is located at 79 

Suong Nguyet Anh, District 1. Visit www.villafb.com for more 

information. 

Bud 6V6 Tournament Update 

A record 128 six-man teams—including three from Vietnam— 

have been selected to compete in the 2010 Budweiser 

International Cup 6V6 in Pretoria, South Africa. Teams will 

compete for an all-expense-paid trip to South Africa to participate 

in a 10-nation world final and watch two FIFA World 

Cup Round-of-16 matches in person. 

"This year's instalment is especially significant because 

the grassroots nature of the event couldn't be more evident," 

says Walter Blocker, CEO of The GANNON Group. "Last year, 

it was only open to teams in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. Now, 

the best in Danang and Nha Trang have a chance.” 

Last January, the VFF, Vietnam Football Development JSC 

(VFD) and Budweiser launched the search for the finest sixplayer 

footballing squad in Vietnam. 

Bud 6v6 is a global event that gives Vietnamese athletes 

18 years of age and up a chance to play on the same turf 

as some of this year's FIFA World Cup qualifying teams and 

attend a pair of World Cup matches. Team Vietnam will face 

off July 1 in South Africa against representatives from nine 

other countries including China, Brazil and Germany for 

the World 6V6 Champions title. For more information visit 

www.budweiser.com.vn. 

Orobianco Golf Bag 

Massimo Ferrari Bespoke is 

offering a Giacomo Valentini of 

Orobianco handcrafted, one-ofa-kind, 

limited edition golf bag. 

Made in Italy with Limonta nylon 

and nappa leather and suede, it 

also features Italian stitch-work. 

The bag comes in a variety of 

colours and is available by custom 

order at the Massimo Ferrari 

Studio. The retail price is USD 

$1,600. For more information, 

visit the Massimo Ferrari boutique 

at 42A1 Tran Quoc Thao, District 

3 or call 3930 6212. 

Muse Boutique Sale 

From April 2, Muse Boutique 

is offering a 50- to 70-percent 

discount on BCBGMaxAzria 

clothing. Visit the boutique at 

Saigon Center, 65 Le Loi. 

SIAN News 

To celebrate its one-year anniversary, 

SIAN Skincare Laser Clinic 

is offering a buy two, get one free 

pro-whitening facial therapy treatment. 

SIAN is now using a new 

technology called the Thermage 

CPT System, a non-invasive 

Cyclo Challenge Wrap-Up 

On March 13th, Saigon Children’s Charity’s 

10th Anniversary Cyclo Challenge took place 

at the Taipei School. Thousands showed 

their support for education programmes for 

disadvantaged children by cheering on more 

than 50 cyclo riding teams. 

FV Hospital won first prize and Jardines 3 

and the Caravelle Hotel finished second and 

third, respectively. 

Saigon Children’s Charity will allocate the 

funds across their various educational projects 

that includes the provision of monthly 

school scholarships to more than 3,000 

children, as well as the construction of kin- 

78 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Mui Ne, Binh Thuan Province 

T: +84 (0) 62 374 1122/ 3 

www.sankaravietnam.com 

dergartens and classrooms in rural areas. 

Paul Finnis, director of Saigon Children's 

Charity was pleased with the outcome: “We 

are incredibly fortunate to have so many 

individual and corporate supporters here in 

Vietnam and around the world who share 

our vision and are completely committed 

to helping fulfill our aims and objectives," 

he said. "The success of this day will not 

only be measured by the smiles you have 

seen around you but by our increased ability 

to help get more disadvantaged children 

into school.” For more information visit 

www.saigonchildren.com. 

6 asialife HCMC asialife HCMC 7

Montgomerie Links News and Accolades 

Montgomerie Links, the first 

full-service, 18-hole course 

in the Central Coast region 

has a lot to be proud of 

since opening in August 

2009. 

The course was recently 

ranked seventh among the 

top 20 courses in Thailand, 

Cambodia and Vietnam, as 

reported in a recent survey 

by Southeast Asia GLOBE. 

Montgomerie Links was also 

the survey's second-highest 

rated course in Vietnam 

behind Dalat Palace Golf 

Club. This accolade follows 

Vietnam Golf naming 

Montgomerie Links as the 

country's best new course 

and its 12th hole as the best 

par 5 last December. 

"The recognition is, of 

course, most welcome 

in and of itself," said Jon 

Tomlinson, general manager 

of Montgomerie Links, "But 

it's also great to be known 

by the company we keep. 

And it's an indication of how 

quickly we've come along 

that the only course in Vietnam 

ranked higher than we 

are is the country's oldest 

layout, Dalat Palace, while 

we've had 18 holes open 

only for seven months," he 

says. 

Last month, the course 

hosted 2,000 participants for 

the second annual Terry Fox 

Run, about 500 more than 

last year's inaugural event. 

Estimated to have generated 

more than 100,000,000 VND 

for cancer research in Vietnam, 

the event is named for 

the Canadian humanitarian, 

athlete and cancer treatment 

activist who died in 1981 following 

a four-year battle with 

osteosarcoma. 

Additionally, non-stop 

service from Kansai, Japan 

to Danang began in March, 

marked by a visit from 161 

tourists and 17 travel agents. 

The familiarization tour is 

part of a wave of announcements 

of new and improved 

airline service, that includes 

the addition of flights to and 

from Singapore on Silk Air 

that is helping transform Danang 

into Vietnam's first true 

golf-and-beach destination. 

For more information visit 

www.montgomerielinks.com. 

method to deliver radio frequency 

energy to contour and tighten 

skin. For more information visit 

www.sianclinic.com. 

Saigon Players’ Loreto 

Fundraiser Total 

Last month The Saigon Improv 

group held a fundraiser to 

benefit Loreto Foundation’s 

Swim With a Vision programme. 

The Players performed a onehour 

adult comedy cabaret 

in HCM City and Mui Ne and 

raised 35,000,000 VND for the 

programme, to be used for new 

water safety gear and equipment 

for the kids. 

Voelkers Opens at Riverside 

Apartments 

Voelkers’ pastries and baked 

goods are now available in the 

Riverside complex, District 2, 

adjacent to Veggy's. For more 

information, please visit www. 

riverside-apartments.com. 

La Brasserie Opening 

Last month French restaurant 

Vietnam Plus Launches Papier Mache Project 

Vietnam Plus, the parent NGO of Vietnam Quilts, recently 

launched a papier mache project to generate income for 

women from poor regions. 

Women from Long My in the Mekong Delta and Rumdoul 

in Svay Rieng province in Cambodia participated in the training 

provided by Thao Duong, a papier mache artist based in 

Hong Kong. 

“It’s fantastic to see this initial interest” commented Bernard 

Kervyn, director of Vietnam Plus. “With all profits going back 

to the women and their communities, we hope that we can 

continue to develop products that will appeal to both residents 

and tourists,” he said. 

The product line includes candy bowls and hand and wall 

mirrors and is available at OUT-2 STUDIO and Vietnam Quilts 

in HCM City, Vietnam Quilts in Hanoi and Mekong Quilts in 

Phnom Penh. Visit www.vietnam-quilts.com for contacts. 

and wine bar, La Brasserie, 

opened at 61 Hung Gia 2 in Phu 

My Hung. The contemporary, 

dual level restaurant boasts a full 

bar, outdoor seating and a climate-controlled 

wine cellar with 

more than 650 wines, primarily 

from France. The menu features 

classic French fare like sliced 

raw beef Carpaccio with Parmesan 

cheese, olive oil and lemon 

and grilled beef fillet served 

with French fries and vegetable 

gratin. Vietnamese selections are 

also offered and several confit 

dishes are expected to appear 

on the menu this month. La 

Brasserie is open for breakfast 

from 7 to 10am, lunch from 12 

to 2pm and dinner from 5:30 to 

10pm. Call 5410 4317. 

Sale at ER-Couture 

Through April 15, ER-Couture 

Boutique is offering up to 50 

percent off select women’s clothing 

and accessories. For details, 

visit www.er-couture.com or stop 

by the store at 43 Thao Dien on 

the second floor of the An Phu 

Supermarket building, District 2. 

Rubba Duckies News 

Infant water familiarisation 

classes for little ones from 6 

months to 3 years and Learn to 

Swim classes for children 4 and 

up start in late April at Somerset 

in District 1 and AIS, APSC and 

Parklands in District 2. For enrolment 

information and additional 

enquiries, email rubbaduckiesswim@hotmail.com. 

Greg Norman Tours Danang Golf Club 

World Golf Hall of Famer and golf course architect Greg 

Norman recently visited Danang Golf Club for a ceremonial 

contract signing on behalf of Southern Cross Developments, 

his company's real estate division. Norman also toured all 18 

holes of the Dunes Course layout in order to advise the accompanying 

design and construction team members. 

"We're right where we should be," said Norman, regarding 

the scheduled April 30 opening. "Ongoing adjustments on a 

project this size are inevitable, but the holes fit into the landscape 

as we had envisioned they would, so the big picture is 

right." 

The first hole, a 407-yard par 4 tees to a landing area 

flanked right by a mammoth, two-tiered bunker cut into the 

dunes. It evokes an experience found in seaside courses in 

the British Isles and southeastern Australia. 

Another notable characteristic is an old French pillbox 

between the 16th green and 17th tee box—a historical feature 

the club plans to restore and convert into a refreshment 

stand. 

The course will eventually include a 3,800-square-metre 

clubhouse, a comprehensive, technologically sophisticated 

golf academy, four-and five-star hotels and multiple residential 

enclaves totaling up to 300 luxury residences. For more 

information visit www.dananggolfclub.com. 

They’ll be safe 

in our hands 

Our smallest patients - respecting their 

needs is our biggest concern 

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 

8 asialife HCMC • Radiology • Imaging • Ambulance Service • In-house Laboratory • asialife Acupuncture HCMC • First 9Aid 

Training 

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

EVENTS 

APE One-Year Anniversary 

Party 

On April 24 from 3pm to 12am, 

APE will host its one-year anniversary 

house music pool party 

at Dragon’s Nest in An Phu. DJ 

Florian Herrmann from Frankfurt 

will spin, as well as APE organizers 

and DJs Mario Heinrich 

and Nic Ford. Buy one get one 

free drinks and free finger food 

will be offered from 3 to 4pm. 

Admission is free. APE is a collective 

that that merges DJs and 

multimedia art at monthly parties 

around town and in Mui Ne. For 

more information call Mario on 

093 339 9500 or Nic on 093 314 

6532. 

Hoi An Yoga-Surf Camp 

On May 1 and 2 from 8:30am 

to 12pm, La Plage will host two 

mornings of deep breathing, 

stretching and paddling at a 

yoga/surf camp at La Plage in 

Hoi An. The cost for the half-day 

is USD $50 for adults and $30 

for kids from 12 to 18 years old 

and includes yoga, a surf lesson, 

board rental and breakfast. For 

more information email Sam at 

sammiller99@gmail.com or visit 

www.laplagehoian.com. 

Beerfest Saigon 

April at Bui Gallery 

Through April 24, the Bui Gallery 

presents “Not Memory,” an exhibition 

of contemporary paintings 

by Hanoi artist Ha Manh Thang. 

Highlighting a maturation of the 

artist’s earlier work, the exhibit 

reinterprets and collages old photographs 

of Vietnam, motifs from 

Japanese, Chinese and Western 

artistic traditions and logos of 

well-known brands and images 

from daily life with stark, bright 

colours on large canvases using 

stencils, drips, flat planes and 

figurative renderings as mediums. 

Ha Manh Thang has been compared 

to Chinese artist Yue Minjun 

for his bold style and Wang 

Guanguyi for turning his carefully 

critical eye on society as a whole. 

Some of the artist’s works are 

part of the Singapore Art Museum's 

permanent collection. For 

more information contact gillian@ 

thebuigallery.com. 

Senior Expat ChitChat 

Group 

On April 13 from 10 to 11:30am, 

seniors can take place in a 

conversation and discussion 

group at the Palace Hotel Café, 

56-66 Nguyen Hue, District 

From May 6 to 9 the second annual Beerfest Saigon will take 

place at the Windsor Plaza Hotel. The event will feature local 

and international beer as well as food, live music, games and 

lucky draws. The festival runs from 6pm to late on Thursday 

and Friday and from 3pm to late on Saturday and Sunday. 

Admission costs 400,000 VND and includes a commemorative 

mug to use for one free sample of beer from each booth. 

Tickets are available at the Windsor Plaza Hotel in District 5 

as well as Cafe Central Nguyen Hue, 115 Nguyen Hue; Gartenstadt, 

34 Dong Khoi; and Amigo Grill 57 Nguyen Hue, in 

District 1. For more information visit www.beerfestsaigon.com. 

Galerie Quynh Exhibition 

Through April 24, Galerie Quynh will present Static Motion, a 

two-person exhibition of new work by Nguyen Thanh Truc and 

George Papadimas. Static Motion explores the complex and 

enigmatic nature of art making through the examination of two 

artists whose works are created by very disparate processes. 

For more information on the exhibition and Galerie Quynh, visit 

www.galeriequynh.com. 

1. Organized by 82-year-old 

American expat Sheldon Pruss, 

the group provides an informal 

venue to meet new people. 

Monthly get-togethers take place 

at various coffee shops around 

town. If interested, show up and 

ask for Sheldon Pruss or call 093 

203 1837. 

Cooking Class at Sofitel 

Saigon Plaza 

On April 4 at 10am Chef Nicolas 

Isnard, head chef of one-Michelin 

star restaurant L’Auberge de 

la Charme in Burgundy will 

teach a cooking class at Olivier 

restaurant (500,000++ VND per 

person including a 3-course set 

menu). Book ahead, as class 

size is limited to eight people. 

For more information email fb@ 

sofitelsaigon.com.vn. 

Guest Chef at Sheraton 

From April 20 to 25, Signature 

Restaurant at the Sheraton 

welcomes French seafood 

specialist Chef Pascal Proyart. 

The executive head chef of Oneon-One 

Restaurant at Sheraton 

Park Tower, Luxury Collection in 

London will be preparing contemporary 

cuisine that incorporates 

exotic ingredients from around 

the world. Please book in advance. 

Call 3827 2828, ext. 409. 

ACG In Action 

On April 29 from 8:30 to 11am, 

ACG International School in District 

2 will host The Open Day— 

ACG in Action, an event that 

gives visitors the opportunity to 

watch students and teachers 

in action and get to know the 

school's culture. Primary and 

secondary information sessions 

and guided tours will also be 

held throughout the morning. 

For more information call 3747 

1234 or visit www.acgedu.com. 

DanCenter Event 

On May 28 and 29 the Dan- 

Center show, Dance for ALL: 

ClassicALL, TraditionALL, 

MusicALL, RevivALL will take 

place at Thanh Nien Theatre at 

4 Pham Ngoc Thach in District 

1. The event will showcase 

DanCenter students—kids, 

teens and adults—and introduce 

the professional dance agency, 

Urban Dance Group. On May 

29, DanCenter will also host Sal- 

Saigon, Saigon Swing and Capoeira 

Saigon, who will perform 

alongside students to show the 

many dance styles that can be 

learned. Tickets will go on sale 

mid-May and will be available at 

DanCenter, Juice and Mekong 

Merchant. For more information 

visit www.dancentervn.com. 

easter Sunday April 4 2010 

Olivier 

Through April 4 Chef Nicolas 

Isnard, head chef of one-Michelin 

Star restaurant L’Auberge de la 

Charme in Burgundy, France will 

be preparing egg low temperature 

with asparagus and morels 

comte cheese, egg in crusted 

spices with grand Marnier 

sabayon and choc orange and 

lamb rack served pink with 

vegetables and blanquettestyle 

cappuccino. Lunch will 

be served from 11:30am to 

2:30pm and dinner from 6:30 

to 10:30pm (three-course Menu 

Emotion/500,000++ VND per 

person and five-course Menu 

Magnifique/1,100,000++VND 

per person, both excluding wine). 

Call 3824 1555. 

Parkview 

Parkview’s buffet includes rosemary 

and garlic roasted legs of 

lamb, balsamic and honey glazed 

ham, homemade pizza, grilled 

fish and steak, lobster, snails, 

shrimp, clams, chocolate orange 

Easter egg truffles, a chocolate 

fountain and more. Lunch will be 

served from 11:45am to 2:30pm 

and dinner from 6 to 10pm 

(USD $45++ per person including 

sparkling and house wine, 

draught beer and soft drinks). 

Email ays@newworldsaigon.com. 

Café Central An Dong 

Café Central An Dong will host 

a brunch buffet, Easter egg hunt 

and egg decorating contest. The 

buffet is available from 11.30am 

to 2:30pm (199,000++ VND) 

Children from 3 to10 years are 

half price. Email cafecentral@ 

windsorplazahotel.com. 

Opera 

Opera will offer a buffet from 

11:30am to 2:30pm that includes 

seafood on ice, antipasti, asparagus 

ravioli, Australian lamb, 

pasqualina cake, traditional hot 

cross buns, Neapolitan pastiera 

cake and a chocolate Easter 

bunny for the kids (800,000++ 

VND for adults including free-flow 

of Prosecco, 400,000++ VND for 

children 6 to 12, children under 

6 eat free). Email opera.saiph@ 

hyatt.com. 

Saigon Cafe 

Saigon Café is featuring roasted 

lamb leg, hot cross buns, braided 

Easter bread, baked sturgeon, 

pork belly, a king crab seafood 

bar, chocolate buffet and more 

(1,050,000 VND). There will be 

an activity room for children. Call 

3827 2828. 

Restaurant Nineteen 

Restaurant Nineteen’s brunch 

buffet includes roasts, local 

liberation and labour day 

Saigon Cafe 

Saigon Café is serving a buffet 

that features baby lobster, 

Alaskan king crab, oysters, 

oven- roasted U.S. prime rib, 

baked sturgeon and foie gras 

(935,000 VND). Call 3827 2828 

or email promotion.saigon@ 

sheraton.com. 

Restaurant Nineteen 

Restaurant Nineteen is offering 

a range of seafood including 

lobster; river, king and tiger 

prawns; crabs; oysters; and a 

praline soufflé with bourbon vanilla 

bean sauce and marinated 

and international dishes, a Grey 

Goose Vodka oyster bar, Nha 

Trang lobster, desserts, Mumm 

Champagne, cocktails, wines, 

Lavazza coffee and more (USD 

$48++ per person). Call 3823 

4999. 

Café Rivoli 

Brunch will feature international 

dishes, Vietnamese and Chinese 

specialties and a carving station 

and dessert buffet, served 

from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm 

(710,000++ VND per person 

and free for children under 6 

years old). Email fb@sofitel 

saigon.com.vn. 

cherries (USD $48++ per person 

including free flow of Mumm 

Champagne, Italian and Chilean 

house wines). Call 3823 4999. 

Café Central An Dong 

On April 30 Café Central An 

Dong will host a Liberation Day 

lunch and dinner that features 

roasted lamb leg and stir-fried 

prawns. Lunch will be served 

from 11:30am to 2:30pm 

(199,000++ VND) and dinner 

from 6pm to 10pm (315,000++ 

VND). Children 10 years and 

under are half price. Email cafecentral@windsorplazahotel.com. 


WITH Tata Young 

Pop sensation Tata Young burst onto the Thai music scene in 1995 at the tender age of 15 with 

her massively popular debut album Amita Tata Young. Since then, the international performer’s 

life has been a whirlwind of record deals, concerts, acting and modeling gigs. Ginny Becker 

caught up with Young last month at The Hi-Fi, where she was promoting her latest Englishlanguage 

album, Ready for Love. Photo By Fred Wissink 

What brings you to Vietnam? 

Actually, I was invited for the 

show tonight at The Hi-Fi, but 

I had never visited this country 

before and I always wanted to. 

It’s the weirdest thing, because 

my mother told me that this is 

a country I would love to visit 

because it’s so beautiful. She 

was right. She passed away a 

couple of years ago, but she said 

this is one country where you 

come and you’re gonna feel like, 

“That building is European,” 

and then you walk past two 

more buildings and say, “That 

building is Chinese.” It’s a lot of 

countries oriented into one. 

This being your first time in 

Vietnam, you’ve already got 

quite a few fans here. 

I’m very surprised, actually. I’m 

really surprised with how much 

attention I have here and I really 

appreciate it. I mean, I’ve heard 

a lot from my friends who go to 

Vietnam and then tell me, “You 

know a lot of Vietnamese people 

talk about you when we tell 

them we come from Thailand.” 

There is a lot of attention on me 

and I like it! 

You’ve said you learned your 

big voice techniques from 

people like Aretha Franklin 

and Jennifer Hudson for your 

single, “Ready for Love.” What 

made you move in that direction? 

I’ve always liked soul artists but 

it’s not that I wanted to move 

into that genre particularly. It’s 

quite a good technique singingwise. 

When you learn how to 

sing R&B or when you sing 

more soulfully, it’s much easier 

on your voice professionally. So 

that’s one thing I found about 

this album. A lot of people actually 

said I completely changed 

from pop to a big band kind of 

thing with “Ready for Love” but 

it’s the only song on the album 

that sounds like that. The rest is 

still very much European dance 

music with pop influences. 

Last year you acted in the 

movie, Bitter/Sweet. What was 

that like? 

I got to act with James Brolin— 

Barbara Streisand’s husband! I 

did, as you say in Hollywood, 

“a couple of lines” as myself 

with James Brolin. And he looks 

awesome; he’s a great person. 

Sometimes it’s not about how 

much exposure you get but 

the person you meet. For me, 

I said yes to the movie for one 

reason, which was James. We 

sat and talked for hours and it 

was great. He taught me a lot of 

things. He was like, “Try saying 

that line in this way.” So just the 

experience of being with James 

for a couple of hours made the 

whole thing for me. 

Has it opened doors for other 

opportunities? 

I really don’t know because I 

haven’t been focused on the 

movie-making part of my career. 

I think that would be a better 

question to ask my manager. 

I would love to be in a Hollywood 

movie but at the moment 

Ready for Love has taken over my 

life and I want to promote it. It’s 

a really good album and I don’t 

want to let it off the hook. 

American gossip blogger Perez 

Hilton has been writing about 

how much he likes your music. 

Do you have your sights set on 

the U.S.? 

I love him too! I have an international 

website and I’m trying 

to get hold of him personally 

to send him CDs and all my 

stuff because he’s been writing 

so many good things about 

me. So yeah, I’m very excited 

about Perez. Actually I found 

out about it through Facebook. 

My friends were like, “You’re 

on Perez Hilton,” and I said, 

“Impossible, he wouldn’t wanna 

write about me.” 

I’ve read that you’re quite the 

watch collector? Any truth to 

that? 

Yeah, I am. But I’m not wearing 

one today. How sad! [laughs] I 

had one on but it didn’t really 

suit this outfit so I had to take 

it off. 

You know a lot about me. 

We do our homework. 

How did you know I’m a watch 

collector? 

The Internet tells all! 

Everything! Freaky! It’s actually 

how a guy would know 

about you. He’d say, “Hey I 

heard you like watches. I got 

you a watch.” [laughing] 

I know. It is creepy, but this 

is strictly professional, I 

promise! Back to your career, 

though. You were thrust into 

the limelight at 15 years old. 

Do you feel the need to reinvent 

yourself as time goes on? 

That’s the toughest thing. 

Yeah, you have to reinvent 

yourself a lot because people 

get bored of you. They always 

want to see something 

fresh and new. I mean, you 

wouldn’t want to see an artist 

who still looks the same 15 

years later. People see me 

with the same hair for three 

weeks, so then I’ll change it. I 

just cut it and my hair person 

said, “Are you going to leave 

us any hair to work on?” And 

sometimes my friends say, 

“I can’t even remember you 

now.” 

Do you find differences in 

each country in how the 

crowd responds to your performance? 

Absolutely. Once you get the 

Japanese people standing, 

they don’t sit down anymore, 

which is great. Once you get 

the Thai people dancing, it’s 

hard not to get them to dance 

anymore. Or to listen to you 

[laughs] because then they’re 

having so much fun. But in 

some countries people are 

very shy. Recently I performed 

in Indonesia and they were 

telling me how difficult it was 

gonna be to get the crowd 

dancing, and it really was. But 

once they were up and going 

they were just having fun. 

Have you ever had a crowd 

that stayed in their seats for 

the entire concert? 

I have, actually, and I’m OK 

with that. I’m very adjustable. 

I’m like a chameleon. I 

go on stage and I adapt to the 

people. I’m there to perform 

for them, not for them to perform 

for me. 


Street Smart: 

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

Many Saigonites traverse this inner-city 

thoroughfare daily, but few take the time to 

explore it. Beth Young takes a slow ride down 

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia to see what it has to offer. 

Photos by Nam Quan. 

Cutting through the city, Nam 

Ky Khoi Nghia facilitates transport 

from points A to B for many 

HCM City residents. However, 

the long street, which stretches 

between Districts 1 and 3 and 

almost to Phu Nhuan, is home 

to countless attractions—beside 

the well-known Reunification 

Palace of course—including 

two different styles of Buddhist 

temples, funky retailers and 

restaurants to suit all tastes. 

Subramaniam Swamy Temple 

98 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

Worshippers at this temple 

practice Indian Buddhism, 

made obvious by the Hindistyle 

artwork hung on the walls 

and a penchant for flashing 

red neon lights. The space is 

cavernous, except for a small 

prayer room located at its core. 

Inside, white flower garlands 

interspersed with handwritten 

notes are hung around bright, 

detailed paintings of deities. 

Many offerings have been presented 

to Buddha here; bananas, 

coconut, rice and the lingering 

scent of incense are omnipresent. 

Surprisingly, it is not the 

only Indian Buddhist temple in 

the city. There’s another close by 

on Pasteur. 

Le Fenetre Soleil 

2nd floor, 135 Le Thanh Ton (entrance 

on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia) 

A dingy winding staircase 

leads to this hole-in-thewall, 

Parisian-inspired cafe 

where fusion is at its best. The 

Japanese owner-slash-handbag 

designer (his handbags are 

sold at the cafe) created the 

French Colonial-style restaurant 

in the 60s-era building. The 

space is adorned with kitschy 

mismatched furniture—cushy 

lounges and a love bed beneath 

thick, purple drapes—and 

complemented with sturdy 

antique wooden dining tables. 

Wide French doors that frame 

the streetscape allow light to 

enter, illuminating the crystal 

chandeliers that hang from 

the ceiling. The cafe opened in 

2001 and is a popular place for 

trendy, young Vietnamese to 

gather. Meals go for between 

35,000 and 110,000 VND. 

Sandwich 


Funky candy-striped walls 

encase a hoard of clothes and 

accessories for the fashion conscious. 

A cartoonish candelabra 

and mirror have been painted 

on one wall and a colourful 

retro bicycle takes pride of 

place in the window. A range of 

clothes are available; however 

the bright t-shirts emblazoned 

with cheeky statements like 

“Don’t look me, don’t touch 

me, don’t take me” or “Last 

night, Last Virgin” are winners. 

A men’s polo shirt printed with 

the slogan “Root Guys” would 

have an entirely different conno- 

tation in Australia, though. It’s 

also a one-stop shop for lensless 

rhinestone framed novelty 

glasses, black vinyl jackets and 

denim slip-on shoes. 

BBQ Garden 

135A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

If you’re new to HCM City and 

haven’t yet hit grill-it-yourself 

joint BBQ Garden for a birthday 

or farewell party, you surely 

will someday. The restaurant 

occupies a huge open space 

shaded by leafy trees that are 

lit with countless fairy lights 

come dark. At night, it is literally 

packed to bursting point 

with diners grilling up obligatory 

staples like succulent beef 

rolled with onion and cheese 

and tasty salmon and bacon 

skewers. Similar to 3T on Ton 

That Thiep, the BBQ Garden 

provides the same cuisine in a 

decidedly less frantic atmosphere. 

HCM City Museum 

65 Ly Tu Trong (entrance on Nam 

Ky Khoi Nghia) 

This huge colonial-style building 

is set among a lush garden 

that is home to American 

War-era relics. Rusted antiaircraft 

artillery, an F5 fighter 

that bombed the Independence 

Palace (now Reunification 

Palace) and a massive tank sit 

alongside a collection of classic 

cars that were used in the war 

effort. A Renault on display 

transported wounded soldiers 

from Go Vap to Cu Chi in the 

1968 Tet General Offensive. It is 

also said that a secret underground 

tunnel runs between the 

museum and the Reunification 

Palace and various other key 

sites in HCM City. There’s no 

burrowing anymore though. 

This alternative exit is safely 

gated and under lock and key. 

HCM City Court 


Perched atop this imposing 

mustard-coloured, French-built 

structure is a statue of the God 

of Justice. On either side of 

him sits a traditionally dressed 

Vietnamese couple, a woman in 

an ao dai and a man wearing a 

conical hat. From the building’s 

precipice, a pointed metal rod 

shoots skywards. It’s a lightning 

conductor that’s meant to 

signify the god’s ability to dole 

out justice through the court 

system. 

Y Ngoc Gallery 


Famous Vietnamese ao dai 

designer Si Hoang displays his 

elaborate creations at his twostorey 

gallery, right next to the 

Reunification Palace. Hoang has 

been designing ao dai for more 

than 20 years, and it shows. The 

ornately designed traditional 

dresses are spun from highquality 

silks, cottons and regal 

velvets. Many are embellished 

with glittering beads and 

jewels, and others are painstakingly 

hand painted. At USD 

$700 a pop, Hoang’s creations 

are wearable artworks. 

Oriental Medical Clinic 


This Korean-run clinic specialises 

in traditional Chinese 


medicine, acupuncture and 

an Asian-style chiropractic 

technique. Owner Dr Kim 

Sung Soo studied in China 

and Korea before opening in 

Vietnam four years ago. His 

patients generally hail from 

various Western countries and 

his native Korea. 

NK Educational Toys 


This treasure trove was 

spawned when owner Hoa 

began looking for educational 

toys for her son, now 3 years 

old. While cheap plastic 

Chinese toys were available 

everywhere, there was nothing 

that promoted learning. Hoa 

now imports products from the 

States, Belgium and the Netherlands 

through NK Educational 

Toys. The store is stocked 

with popular brands like Smart 

Game and VTech, and there’s 

something for all budgets. A 

portable Chinese checkers set 

costs just 80,000 VND while 

an Eco Power Station is higher 

end at about 900,000 VND. 

Tapiocup 

151A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

Yet another bubble tea joint, 

Tapiocup serves up sweet 

drinkable treats. Pearl milk 

tea (the most popular style) 

sells for 20,000 VND, while a 

yoghurt shake will set customers 

back an extra 5,000 dong 

note. The menu has all the old 

favourites—strawberry, orange 

and mango—but also has some 

more interesting flavours like 

honeydew and mint. 

Nam Son 


Meals are prepared super 

quick at this bit tek restaurant, 

a Vietnamese fast food 

equivalent. Classic beef steak 

with egg cooked sunny side 

up (bo bit tek trung) is served 

on a sizzling hot cast iron plate 

for 40,000 VND. This meal has 

inspired a special Vietnamese 

saying: “avoiding the beef”—a 

handy tip as the piping hot meat 

spits boiling oil. Nam Son’s 

speciality is the mash-up meal 

thap cam. Just add a tasty herbed 

pork meatball and a side of pate 

for an extra five grand. All meals 

come with do chua, a pickled 

Vietnamese-style cucumber 

salad. 

The 35,000 Dong Shop 


Everything in this Japanese 

chain (there is a smaller version 

in Phu My Hung, too) costs 

35,000 VND, whether it’s an 

extendable bamboo backscratcher 

or a portable ashtray. 

It has endless gag gift options 

and absolutely everything from 

hair and beauty accessories to 

gardening tools and an entire 

aisle named “aroma.” Window 

shopping is near impossible in 

this bargain barn. 

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda 


Just before the bridge to Phu 

Nhuan en route to the airport is 

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, a massive 

Buddhist temple known for 

pioneering the pairing of modern 

concrete construction with 

traditional Buddhist architecture 

in Vietnam. Inside the main 

hall, monks cloaked in saffroncoloured 

robes lead worshippers 

in a hypnotic chant that gradually 

reaches a crescendo. A walk 

around the grounds is a must. 

Large frangipani trees provide 

shade, and turtles and fish swim 

in a man-made pond. Out back 

is the pagoda’s crematorium. 

Here, Buddhists’ ashes are kept 

in ornate, porcelain jars with 

the deceased’s picture imposed 

on the front. The four-storey 

structure houses about 22,660 

people’s remains, which are 

protected by Dia Tang Bo Tac, a 

female deity who helps the dead 

realize the value of life. 

radar 

The End of MoochiNG 

Everyone has that friend who “conveniently” forgets his 

or her wallet when you’re out to dinner. You know, the one 

who jumps out of the cab, leaving you to pay the fare. 

However, with PayPal 2.0 for iPhone, moochers have no 

more excuses. The app is integrated with Bump Technologies 

to let two users transfer money to one another 

simply by tapping their iPhones together. For outstanding 

debts, you can also send bills to people who owe you 

cash. There’s even a split check feature that calculates 

who owes a larger portion of the bill and how the tax and 

tip should split. The app has 16 different currencies, making 

it easy for cheapskates around the world to pay up. 

Download PayPal 2.0 at www.paypal.com or through the 

iTunes App Store. 

The FUN in DysFUNctional 

www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com 

Childhood friends Mike Bender and Doug Chernack started 

their blog after discussing the universality of awkwardness 

in families, which is often captured best in photos. 

For most people though, awkward means being dressed 

up in matching sweaters and khakis and getting dragged 

to the local department store for the annual family photo. 

The photos collected on www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com 

are a whole different story. All-too-intimate pregnancy 

shots, the bizarre inclusion of exotic pets and that creepy 

uncle’s peculiar pose at the family reunion are sure to 

have you keeling over in laughter. The creators hope their 

site provides catharsis for people who submit their photos 

by allowing them to poke fun at the madness that is family. 

Their mission will become all the easier this May when 

the website is reprinted in book format. 

16 asialife HCMC asialife HCMC 17 

Allison Grant 

Logan Brown 

Facebook Confidential 

Ever wish there was a “Dislike” button on Facebook? 

Two websites provide a means for users to do one better 

and mock their Facebook friends’ missteps in a very 

public forum. Lamebook.com and Failbooking.com allow 

users to contribute videos, wall posts, messages and 

photos that illustrate poor choices and online indiscretions. 

The posts include status messages that offer TMI, 

photos that people should keep to themselves, public 

lovers spats and much more. The good news about 

Lamebook.com is that you can remove any content 

if you notice you’ve become a victim. But beware; 

Failbooking.com makes no such concessions. If you’re 

foolish enough to air your dirty laundry on Facebook, 

you might just get called out for it. 

Allison Grant

A View of Tra Vinh 

Christian Berg 

www.christianbergphoto.com 

christianberg79@web.de 

The late afternoon sun broke 

through the far treetops and coated 

everything in a mysterious golden 

light. This was the perfect moment 

to take a couple of shots in this area 

in the backwaters of rural Vietnam. 

Only a few hours by motorbike 

from HCM City, Vietnam's Tra Vinh 

Province in the heart of the Mekong 

Delta hosts one of the largest 

populations of ethnic Khmer in 

the country. 

The province has more than 

140 temples and pagodas. 

The Buddhists here follow the 

Theravada way, so you can 

easily mistake it for Thailand 

or Cambodia when you see the 

monks’ yellow and orange robes. 



OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE CONTEMPORARY ART SCENE IN HCM CITY 

HAS QUIETLY FLOURISHED. BUT LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE, A LACK 

OF FUNDING AND THE ENDURING CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITHIN 

THE CONFINES OF STATE OVERSIGHT HAVE PRESENTED OBSTACLES 

TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO ARTISTS AND ATTRACTING COLLECTORS. 

ASIALIFE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCENE AND A VIEW INTO SOME 

OF THE WORK BEING CREATED AND EXHIBITED IN THE THANH PHO. 

PHOTOS BY NAM QUAN 


In a building at the end of a small street in 

Binh Thanh District, a crowd threatens to 

spill out onto the road on a Friday evening. 

Inside the white-washed exterior wall, the 

mood is jovial and cans of beer are being 

plucked from a cooler and passed around. 

It is at first difficult to reach the doorway and 

pierce the threshold of the ground floor. 

The scene is typical of a weekend at a 

new restaurant or a performance by an international 

band at a local watering hole. But 

the crowd is gathered out of appreciation for 

another of life’s pleasures: art. 

The venue is the nonprofit art space Sán 

Art, and the exhibit opening tonight is Syntax 

+ Diction, a group show that features the 

work of seven local Vietnamese and Viet 

Kieu artists. One of those artists is Sán Art 

co-founder Dinh Q. Le. In June, New York’s 

Museum of Modern Art will premiere Le’s 

video installation, The Farmers and the 

Helicopters (2006), the first major installation 

by a Vietnamese artist ever purchased by 

the MoMa. 

Given the turnout and Le’s celebrity in 

the art world, it is perhaps difficult for those 

from countries with thriving contemporary art 

scenes to understand why spaces like Sán 

Art are constantly in peril of closing down. 

Tammy Nguyen 

Born: San Francisco 

Untitled Altar Box, 2010 

black thread, silk 

While contemporary art—not just art being 

produced today, but art that demonstrates 

an awareness of art history and advances 

the practice of art—has thrived in small 

pockets of HCM City, a number of factors 

to do with education, culture, politics and 

history have kept the infrastructure from 

growing, leaving it to a small group of individuals 

and initiatives to keep contemporary 

art practice afloat. 

Ready for Contemporary Art? 

To some, importing contemporary art practices 

into Vietnam might at first seem like a 

form of cultural imperialism, but according to 

Zoe Butt, who joined Sán Art as curator and 

director of programmes and development 

last year, it was enquiries from artists working 

in Vietnam that brought her to HCM City. 

“The feedback I was getting from artists 

was there were no spaces in Saigon particularly 

for artists to experiment and to exhibit 

and have a dialogue about what contemporary 

art is,” says Butt, “And there was no 

experienced curator who understood how to 

talk about art and could help artists actually 

find themselves capable of talking to international 

art workers.” 

In any corner of the art world the role of 

“One of the 

things about 

the support for 

contemporary 

arts in Vietnam 

is there’s 

confusion as to 

what contemporary 

art is” 

- Zoe Butt 

the curator is integral, but for Vietnamese 

artists who are earnest about developing 

their practice, it is doubly important given 

the state of arts education. The curriculum 

in Vietnam still focuses almost exclusively 

on traditional forms—drawing, sculpture, 

painting—and bypasses critical theory, the 

foundation of contemporary art practice. 

This is not lost on those who set the arts 

management curriculum. In early 2008 while 

she was still based in Beijing, Butt was 

invited to speak to the Center for Development 

of Research of Culture. At the time, 

the Center was looking at China as a model, 

which had developed a lucrative tourist trade 

around its thriving art scene. What was perhaps 

not apparent was exactly how difficult 

it would be to replicate that success. 

“One of the things about the support 

for contemporary arts in Vietnam is there’s 

confusion as to what contemporary art is,” 

explains Butt. 

Much of Butt’s presentation focused on 

the ways in which art works are assigned 

value in developed art markets. Since collectors 

and auction houses largely follow what’s 

being exhibited and purchased by public 

spaces, she explained that it was necessary 

to know how museum curators assess a 

work of art, and what they’re often assessing 

is how the artist interprets the society in 

which he or she is working. 

This view of art’s relevance is, at least on 

the surface, at odds with the opinion of the 

Ministry of Culture, the body responsible 

for granting permission to exhibitions. As 

recently as last year, the ministry reasserted 

that its priorities are “to raise the cultural and 

spiritual life of the people, promote traditional 

and cultural values and teach the tradition of 

patriotism to build a better country.” 

The state is not the only sector that finds 

this concept of art problematic. Having 

been founded by four Viet Kieu artists, Sán 

Art sometimes suffers from the perception 

among local Vietnamese that it is just for Viet 

Kieu. While Butt says reaching out to Vietnamese 

who may not have the opportunity 

to travel is a concern, she acknowledges 

that many are intimidated by more conceptual 

forms of art for which they seldom 

have any reference point. More worrisome, 

though, is the perception held by some local 

Vietnamese artists. 

In at least one case, an artist expressed to 

Butt that he believes work that does not depict 

subjects familiar to Vietnamese people 

is not Vietnamese, an opinion that is out 

of sync with the zeitgeist of an increasingly 

transnational art world and a market that 

takes into consideration an artist’s foreign 

residencies and international exhibits when 

pricing art. 

Whatever the root of opinions such as 

this, they threaten to fracture HCM City’s 

art scene and undermine the support that 

young artists who are embracing more contemporary 

practice might otherwise receive 

from their peers. 

Market Pressure 

Since the market liberalization of doi moi 

in 1986, what constitutes Vietnamese art 

has also been complicated by the influence 

of commerce. As Professor Nora A. Taylor 

explains in her seminal book, Painters in 

Hanoi: An Ethnography of Vietnamese Art, 

the shift from state patronage of the arts to 

a free market model, as well as the influx of 

Western tourists led to an art boom in the 

mid-90s that would have far-reaching effects 

on contemporary art production. 

“In the decade between 1990 and 2000,” 

Taylor writes, “art became such a lucrative 

source of income that, understandably, 

everyone wants their share of the profits 

… This has meant that artists have gone 

from being reclusive, potentially politically 

sensitive, educated but economically poor 

individuals to wealthy, socially desirable 

personae.” 

This transformation, explains Taylor, 

contributed to a situation in which commercial 

interests began to compromise artistic 

integrity. Since Westerners were often more 

Tiffany Chung 

Born: Danang 

Co-founder of San Art 

Sugarcane Kumquat Mixed 

Juice, 2007 

Polyethylene foam, pompoms, 

MDF, wood, wire, thermoplastic 

adhesive 

below: Enokiberry Creators in 

the lab, 2008 

Digital c-print 

150 x 100 cm 


Sandrine Lloquet 

Born: Montpelier, France 

Founder of the arts collective 

Wonderful District 

Untitled, 2008 

Plexiglass, steel and acrylic 

85 x 75 x 30 cm 

below: Untitled, 2005 

Marker pen and enamel on 

Plexiglas 

31 x 21 cm 

concerned with the art’s representation of a 

certain “Vietnameseness” than the process 

of the artist, it became relatively easy for 

galleries—which operated more like tourist 

shops—to cater to their tastes, which 

tended towards pastoral scenes and Oriental 

urban landscapes. 

As more shops opened and demand 

increased, the pressure to produce became 

tremendous. One artist reported to Taylor 

that he was turning out completed paintings 

within hours. Eventually, successful work 

began to be copied, sometimes with the 

permission of the artist himself. As it became 

more difficult to distinguish genuine work, 

the reputation of Vietnamese art eroded. 

While Hanoi was at the heart of the mid- 

90s art boom, there’s evidence of its legacy 

in HCM City in the many art shops displaying 

paintings from floor to ceiling. These remain 

tremendously popular with foreigners, but 

they do not attract important international 

curators and collectors. 

The reason, says Quynh Pham of Galerie 

Quynh, is simple. “Most galleries, it’s just 

about promoting the work, selling it. It’s 

not really about pushing these artists and 

being a mentor to them, as well,” she says. 

“Most galleries, 

it’s just about 

promoting the 

work, selling it. 

It’s not really 

about pushing 

these artists and 

being a mentor to 

them" - Quynh 

Pham 

“They’re taking the mediocre work and 

they’re promoting that as really strong work 

coming from this Vietnamese artist. And 

they’re also they’re encouraging that artist 

to continue making that mediocre work 

because they’re able to sell it.” 

Galerie Quynh began as an online art 

resource in 2000 and moved into a physical 

space in 2003. It originally promoted several 

important abstract painters, but in recent 

years has focused on showing a more diverse 

range of work by artists working locally 

and hosting international artists. 

While it functions as a commercial operation, 

Galerie Quynh has contributed to 

contemporary art infrastructure by holding its 

artists to the standards of the international 

art market, and in doing so, teaching them 

how to build a significant body of work. 

“[Many artists] don’t realize that the price 

for the artwork—how we establish the 

price—it’s very much rooted. It’s grounded in 

the fact that these artists have had certain 

shows, they are in certain collections. 

They’re of a certain age so you can see the 

history, that they are steady. They have been 

practicing regularly.” 

Sán Art is, in some ways, a response to 

the prevailing scene of art shops, as well. It’s 

primary occupation is exhibiting contemporary 

art—a valuable educational tool in 

itself—but the organization also provides a 

reading room and exhibition programming. 

The goal is not only to mentor Vietnamese 

artists on how the international system of 

exhibition and acquisition works, but also 

to increase the knowledge of international 

contemporary art practice. 

“One thing Sán Art is trying to do is educate 

the artist on the importance of considering 

how you give value to your work, not 

only in the market, but also culturally,” says 

Butt. “You can’t just go and say ‘I’ve created 

Erin O’Brien 

Born: Alexandria, Virgina, USA. 

2009 Fulbright Fellow in Viertnam 

GEO Home, 2009 

conceptual performance 

photo by Phunam Thuc Ha 

one series of work and I give that series to 

a particular dealer.’ And then you can’t just 

go and copy it and give it to somebody else. 

There’s a responsibility on the part of the 

artist to keep the integrity of what you’ve 

done whole.” 

Both Pham and Butt acknowledge that 

they alone cannot support contemporary art 

development. In the absence of more curators 

and arts management professionals, 

HCM City’s artists have begun to entertain 

novel solutions and models used by artists 

who have faced barriers in other countries. 

Agile Spaces 

If you speak to anyone from HCM City’s art 

scene about recent history, the subject of 

the failed inaugural biennale Saigon Open 

City (SOC) will likely come up. 

First organized in mid-2004 and set to 

open at the end of 2006, SOC was slated 

to draw in curators and artists from around 

the world over the course of three themed 

installments. But it was felled to varying 

degrees, depending on who you ask, by 

mismanagement and bureaucratic wrangling 

that delayed the first installment well beyond 

its official opening date and doomed the 

second two to non-existence. 

There have been many assessments of 

what went wrong, but according to Richard 

Streitmatter-Tran, a Viet Kieu artist who 

moved to Vietnam in 2003 and has since 

conducted arts research throughout the Mekong 

sub-region, it’s worth considering what 

that failure yielded. Before SOC, he says, 

exposing contemporary art in so ambitious 

a manner had been viewed by many as too 

problematic for the cultural climate. 

“It was sort of like being in a nuclear 

shelter—‘It’s still radioactive up there. We’re 

not going to check. Just wait a couple of 

years’—and never actually sticking your 

head up to see that there was never war in 

the first place. So finally Saigon Open City 

was sticking your head above the ground. 

And yes, it was pretty bad, but at least you 

knew it was bad.” 

Knowing the terrain, says Streitmatter- 

Tran, may have informed the strategies that 

artists developed in the years following SOC. 

“We all kind of suffered from that. It was 

traumatic for the community here,” he says. 

“In some ways that kind of trauma gives 

us what we have today. We don’t have the 

Contemporary Arts Centre of Saigon. We 

have little spaces that are agile.” 

In the midst of SOC’s planning phase, the 

Richard Streitmatter-Tran 

Born: Bien Hoa, Vietnam 

Lao Tzu Dreams of the LHC, 2009 

stainless steal, copper, brass 

artist-run initiative a little blah blah began 

its series of talks, workshops and presentations. 

Today, co-founder Sue Hadju runs 

a reading room and organizes one major 

project per year (a window until the rains 

come: albb Open Studio program is on 

through May 2 at Pi-Channel). Himiko Visual 

Saloon, an independent exhibition space 

and popular hangout among artists, also 

opened in 2005. Sán Art opened its doors 

in October 2007. 

Another initiative that embraced agility at 

the time was Wonderful District. Inspired to 

move to HCM City after hearing about the 

burgeoning art scene, artists Sandrine Llou- 


“If we think of art as responding to some sort 

of problem or an issue, well, those are eternal. 

There isn’t really actually a remedy. There will 

never be" - Richard Streitmatter-Tran 

quet and Bertrand Peret sought to open a 

contemporary arts centre in HCM City. However, 

when this proved unfeasible they took 

another route; each week for six months in 

2006 they hosted exhibitions and art talks in 

their home, literally transforming the space 

from week to week. The consistency allowed 

them to develop close relationships with attendees, 

including Vietnamese art students. 

“Some of the students who were coming 

at this time were very interested, even if they 

really didn’t know at all about contemporary 

art,” says Llouquet. 

What the project provided was an 

alternative to the gallery scene, which can 

be intimidating to young students, some of 

whom would return throughout the week to 

read through their library or talk more. It also 

provided an example of how artists collectives 

can advance the scene when few other 

avenues exist to develop contemporary art. 

“To be independent to me is what’s most 

important,” says Peret. “What we wanted to 

show in the way we’ve done the [Wonderful 

District] projects was really more than the 

content—it’s the way we do it.” 

Wonderful District has continued its 

programming in various forms since then, 

Tuan Andrew Nguyen 

Born: Ho Chi Minh City 

Co-founder of San Art 

Sugar-Coated Karma, 2010 

Plastic buddha, acrylic nail paint 

but Peret does admit some exhaustion and a 

desire to focus more on his painting. Moreso 

though, he expresses disappointment that so 

few artist initiatives exist in HCM City today. 

Evolving Responses 

In a studio space in the suburbs of District 

7, Streitmatter-Tran has recently established 

another of these agile spaces. While it 

primarily functions as his personal studio, it 

also serves as the home for Dia Projects, an 

initiative that will allow Streitmatter-Tran to 

draw on his considerable network to invite 

artists and curators to Vietnam and facilitate 

meetings that could enable the right people 

to plan future projects. 

When asked if he sees Dia Projects as a 

remedy for arts infrastructure in HCM City, 

he instead answers a different question: 

“If we think of art as responding to some 

sort of problem or an issue, well, those are 

eternal. They’re always coming around. So if 

art is a kind of evolving response to different 

types of things then there isn’t really actually 

a remedy. There will never be. So I think this 

space is a part of that response.” 

With the prospect of an arts education 

overhaul or major changes in civil society 

unlikely in the short term, it seems that 

those involved in HCM City’s contemporary 

art scene will have to continue to respond 

to the current climate. Fortunately, some 

pieces seem to be falling into place. 

The Dinh Q. Le show at the MoMa, which 

will last six months, will certainly raise inter- 

Hoang Duong Cam 

Born: Hanoi, Vietnam 

He doesn't feel angry or sad, 2007 

Acrylic on canvas 

115 x 115 cm 

est abroad, but according to Zoe Butt, it 

could help matters on the local level, as well. 

“What we’re hoping is that this showcase 

of Vietnamese culture at this level brings 

people to mind that the contemporary 

cultural identity of Vietnam is something that 

people are very interested in,” says Butt, 

adding that it could convince investors of 

the value in supporting Sán Art. 

Also of note, Galerie Quynh has been 

invited to the Hong Kong International Art 

Fair in May. The timing is opportune. Despite 

a rough year in 2009 due to the global 

financial crisis, Quynh Pham says she’s seen 

a lot of interest from international curators in 

Vietnam in the last three years. Just recently, 

Sun Jun Kim, the commissioner for the 

Korean pavilion at the 2005 Venice Biennale 

made an extended visit to HCM City. 

“She wasn’t here specifically to source 

artists for a particular project. She was just 

coming to research what was happening,” 

says Pham. “Meeting high profile curators 

like that is phenomenal. They're definitely 

coming. There’s increased interest.” 

If things don’t turn around immediately, 

that is not a bad sign, says Pham, who 

warns of the dangers of speculators and art 

market bubbles. “I’m all about the steady 

growth. In an ideal art market it’s about people 

really doing their research.” The time it 

has taken to build what infrastructure exists 

has perhaps given curators and collectors 

enough time to rethink Vietnam since the 

mid-90s and approach it with fresh eyes. 

Khanh Cong Bui 

Born: Danang 

Juice of the Past, 2009 

Acrylic on canvas 

50 x 40 cm 


Destination: 

Wellington 

A vibrant and gusty city on the sea, 

Wellington, New Zealand offers a little 

something for everyone. Hold on to your hat 

and get a taste of Welly. Ginny Becker reports. 

Photos courtesy of WellingtonNZ.com 

Located at the southern tip of 

New Zealand’s North Island, 

Wellington is a tiny city on the 

Tasman Sea with a population 

of 180,000 people. Often compared 

to San Francisco, the two 

destinations share some striking 

similarities: coastal locales, hilly 

streets, wood bungalows and 

bohemian cafes. Add to that 

year-round moderate climates, 

a slew of cable cars (although 

most of Welly’s are private) 

and locations on fault lines and 

you’ve got a case for true sister 

cities, indeed. 

Many visitors are pleasantly 

surprised to discover just how 

welcoming Welly can be. There 

is a laid-back vibe not often seen 

in other cities, evidenced by 

warm smiles from its residents, 

an instant “How can I help?” 

to the lost traveler and an overwhelming 

enthusiasm among 

Wellingtonians to share their 

city with you. While some visitors 

see Wellington merely as a 

quick stop-off on their way to/ 

from the country’s natural wonders, 

there’s more to this city 

than meets the eye. Following is 

a roundup of must-dos that just 

may inspire you to stick around 

for a while. 

Bungee Extreme 

Corner Courtenay Place and 

Taranaki Street 

Embrace Wellington with a 

heart-pumping reverse bungee 

jump. This adrenalin rush isn’t 

for the meek. Up to three people 

are strapped in an open capsule 

attached to two bungee cords 

connected to two 40-metre high 

towers. The capsule is propelled 

55 metres straight up at 

a speed of l60 kilometres in less 

than two seconds. The folks at 

Bungee Extreme claim that riders 

will experience 5gs as they 

get their first wide-angle view 

of Welly, so take it in quickly 

before the freefall begins. And 

don’t make the mistake your 

writer did; eat breakfast after 

the jump, not before. 

The Wellington Rings Tour 

www.wellingtonsights.co.nz 

Lord of the Rings fans unite! This 

three-hour tour is a less extreme 

way to start your visit to Wellington, 

but just as fun. Check 

out the city’s greenbelt and see 

where iconic LOR Shire and 

Buckland Forest scenes were 

filmed, like the hobbits’ flight 

from the Black Riders and their 

escape on the Buckleberry ferry. 

Visit Weta Cave for a special effects 

presentation that includes 

a look into other blockbuster 

films with Welly connections 

including Avatar, King Kong and 

District 9. The tour also includes 

a visit to scenic and wildly 

windy Mt. Victoria, boasting 

gorgeous views of the city and 

harbour and wind speeds up to 

140 kilometres per hour. 

Ernesto 

132 Cuba Street 

www.ernesto.co.nz 

Photos of 1950s Cuba hang on 

the faux-weathered green walls 

of this hip cafe and restaurant, 

transporting patrons straight 

to Havana. Jazz plays in the 

background and large picture 

windows encourage hours of 

people watching on bustling 

Cuba Street. A mix of breakfast, 

lunch and dinner is served up 

daily, as well as lots of coffee. 

Standouts include the breakfast 

burrito, made with scrambled 

eggs, cheese and black bean 

chilli, topped with sour cream 

and red pepper salsa and a 

pickled chilli and oregano quesadilla 

with blackened tomato 

salsa. Open daily from 7:30am 

until late. 

Cuba Street 

www.cuba.co.nz 

Named after the Cuba, an 

English settler ship that arrived 

in New Zealand in 1840, Cuba 

Street in downtown Welly has 

nothing to do with the country, 

despite its share of Havanathemed 

restaurants, bars and 

cafes. The pedestrian mall 

emits a hippie-like vibe and has 

more than 200 stores selling a 

large variety of clothing, books 

and music. Quirky sculptures 

line the street, including the 

infamous bucket fountain with 

vertical red, blue and yellow 

swinging buckets that noisily 

pass water downward, splashing 

anyone who stands too 

close. Tattooists are easy to find 

in these parts, and eccentric 

street performers don’t disappoint—look 

for the Aussie fire, 

knife and hatchet juggler who 

sports a cowboy hat. Folk singers 

and a host of performance 

artists too wacky for words are 

also found throughout. 

Te Papa Tongarewa 

Cable Street 

www.tepapa.govt.nz 

New Zealand’s national museum, 

Te Papa, features collections 

in five areas: art, history, 

the Pacific, Maori culture and 

the natural environment. While 

the staff recommends spending 

three full days to get the most 

from the exhibits, they realize 

that people have limited time. 

Thankfully, they’ve created a 

guilt-free plan B for the rest 

of us. The Our Space exhibit 

allows visitors to explore New 

Zealand’s cultural identity 

on two simulator rides. Mana 

Whenua examines the Maori 

culture, while Awesome Forces 

features an earthquake house 

that demonstrates how geographical 

forces formed New 

Zealand’s landscape. Still not 

sure? Check out a 60-minute 

introduction tour to Te Papa so 

you can better customize your 

itinerary. There are also timelimited 

exhibitions, the most 

recent featuring Anne Frank 

and the last days of Pompeii. 

Admission is free, but donations 

are suggested. Open daily from 

10am to 6pm and Thursdays 

until 9pm. 

Mojo Coffee 

www.mojocoffee.co.nz 

A visit to Welly wouldn’t be 

complete without a java or two 

from Mojo. Even though 12 of 


Jess Silk

Sarah Hunter Aaron Burgess 

Mojo’s outlets are in Wellington 

and the city is known for a wide 

range of independent coffee 

houses, don’t be put off. Mojo 

is enjoying such huge success 

because they offer great coffee 

from around the world. Dr. 

Mojo’s Feel Good is a blend of 

Ethiopian and Peruvian coffee; 

The Raj mixes three coffees from 

India and single origins hail 

from Panama, Kenya, Honduras, 

El Salvador and Guatemala. 

Friendly staff and comfy seating 

seal the deal. Mojo is open from 

8am to 4pm Monday through 

Friday and 10am to 2pm on 

Saturdays. 

Botanic Garden and Carter Observatory 

and Planetarium 

www.wellington.govt.nz 

Need a serenity fix? Make your 

way to the Wellington Botanic 

Garden, located on 25 hectares 

of protected native forest, for 

some respite. Ponder life on 

the serene walking trails as you 

take in conifer plantings, exotic 

trees, seasonal blooms and na- 

tive bush. From November to 

May, more than 25,000 tulip 

bulbs come into bloom and the 

Lady Norwood Rose Garden 

boasts 106 rose beds. The setting 

is extremely soothing—one 

Wellingtonian says she spends 

many lunch hours here to keep 

work stress in check. The Carter 

Observatory and Planetarium, 

sculpture trail and kids playground 

are also worth a gander. 

The garden is open daily from 

sunrise to sunset. To get there, 

take the historic Wellington 

cable car from nearby Lambton 

Quay (www.wellingtoncablecar. 

co.nz). 

Wellington Waterfront 

Wellingtonians make the most 

of their breathtaking waterfront 

and promenade with harbour 

cruises, swimming, rollerblading 

and rock climbing activities. 

Throughout the summer, numerous 

cultural festivals embrace 

New Zealand’s island cultures, 

as well as cultures from around 

the world. It’s a great place to 

enjoy a coffee or gelato while 

taking in the surrounding blue 

waters and cityscape. On Sundays, 

you’ll find a weekly food 

and wine market that features 

tastings and demonstrations and 

a farmers market. Visit www. 

wellingtonnz.com for details. 

Matterhorn 

106 Cuba Street 

www.matterhorn.co.nz 

While Matterhorn may look like 

just another trendy restaurant, 

this eatery has staying power. Its 

history dates back to 1963 when 

two Swiss brothers started the 

establishment, which in those 

days featured waitresses in full 

Swiss garb serving up lots of 

fondue. Ownership changed 

hands a few times and in 1996 

Matterhorn was converted into a 

boutique cocktail bar, attracting 

both Kiwi and international 

celebs and hipsters. The menu 

is creative, the food is spot on, 

the atmosphere is ultra-cool 

without being pretentious and 

the service is accommodating. 

There’s also live music on Saturday 

nights. 

Kura 

19 Allen Street 

www.kuragallery.co.nz 

Contemporary, handcrafted 

Maori and New Zealand pieces 

by Kiwi artists are the star attraction 

at Kura, located near 

Te Papa. While prices get a bit 

steep—some pieces cost one 

thousand NZ dollars (about 

USD $700) and upwards—moderately 

priced items are also offered. 

Kura has a large selection 

of traditional Maori carvings, ceramics, 

glass, furniture, wall art, 

jewellery, paintings, prints and 

sculpture and features regular 

exhibitions of its artists’ work. 

And international shipping 

takes the worry out of damaging 

your treasures as you hike the 

Franz Josef Glacier. 

Thanks to Rebecca Mitchell from 

Positively Wellington Tourism for 

her assistance in this article and 

amazing Kiwi hospitality. 


The Mai Chau Valley is best known for cultural 

tourism, but with more outdoor activities now on 

tap, it could soon become the domain of adventure-seekers. 

Words and photos by Dave Lemke. 

Located 135km southwest of Hanoi, 

the Mai Chau Valley is fast 

becoming a favourite weekend 

getaway amongst Hanoians. 

The quaint villages and sublime 

landscapes are immediately 

captivating, but scratch beneath 

this quaint exterior and you will 

discover a hotspot for adventure 

activities, including mountain 

and valley trekking, kayaking 

on the Da River, off-road cycling 

and caving. 

Most who stay in Mai Chau 

choose to make their base at the 

homestays at Pom Coong or Lac 

villages. There are also many 

of backpacker guesthouses, but 

for those who wish to relax in a 

bit more comfort, the Mai Chau 

Lodge offers luxury accommodation, 

as well as adventure 

tours throughout the area. After 

a succession of visits to the area, 

I have experienced the many 

facets of Mai Chau, the latest 

being kayaking on the Son Da 

Reservoir. 

Kayaking 

Kayaking on the Son La, which 

happens to be the largest 

reservoir in Vietnam, is quite 

an experience. It took about 30 

minutes to make the 15km trip 

from the town centre, and the 

going was a little rough in spots 

along the newly laid mountain 

track. The final kilometre, however, 

entailed a pleasant forest 

walk through a small village on 

a mountain outcrop. Descending 

to the water’s edge, we reached 

a single homestay by the lake, 

a magical spot with numerous 

wild-growing fruit trees and a 

commanding view of the surrounding 

area. 

Much like sea kayaking, the 

difficulty can range from easy to 

hard, so it is up to you to decide 

what sort of trip you want. If 

you simply paddle out into the 

vast expanse of blue, among the 

rolling hills and mountains that 

ring the lake, you quickly lose 

all sense of direction, as worldly 

worries drift away. Along the 

banks, there are small villages 

and fjords to check out. You can 

also visit small islands, but this 

requires a few hours out on the 

water and a lot of paddling. 

Caving 

On dry land there are a number 

of famous caves to investigate, 

although getting to most of 

them requires a bit of a hike. 

However, within Pu Kha Mountain, 

Soldier Cave (Mo Luong) 

lies right off of the main road 

that runs through the town, 

conveniently located across the 

street from the Mai Chau Lodge. 

Soldier Cave has quite a 

colourful history; it served as 

the storage space for more than 

1,000 tonnes of explosives during 

the American War. The cave 

is made up of four caverns and 

requires a minimum of 40 minutes 

to get from the entrance 

to the subterranean river at the 

end. Recently the Mai Chau 

Lodge has made the cave more 

accessible to visitors by stringing 

up lights (which thankfully 

adds to the experience as opposed 

to making it tacky.) 

Do not believe for a second 

that it’s an easy trek though— 

quite the opposite. We had 

to essentially crawl through 

some passages, and navigating 

the myriad of stalagmites 

(some have become flattened 

footstools) became an adventure 

in itself. Clothes you don't mind 

getting very dirty and proper 

footwear are a must if you 

wish to explore the cave in its 

entirety. 

Cycling 

If you enjoy getting a little muddy, 

then Mai Chau is almost 

a haven for off-road cycling. 

Away from the main thoroughfares, 

we cruised through dusty 

little villages, cycled between 

lush green rice paddy fields, 

crisscrossed rickety old suspension 

bridges and splashed our 

way through some fairly epic 

puddles. A short distance away 

from Lac village, we even came 

across a natural mountain bike 

obstacle course, complete with 

lips, jumps and small drops. 

On the way to Lac, make the 

first left before the village starts 

proper, then just stay left until 

you see the course lying beside 

a mountain outcropping on the 

right. Just be aware of “uncle,” 

a wiry Vietnamese man in his 

70s who has tennis balls for 

biceps. He owns this part of the 

land and loves watching cyclists 

perform tricks; it may be a little 

difficult to leave once he gets 

your attention. 

The biking is probably my 

favourite activity in Mai Chau. 

It allows you to get off the 

beaten path and have some truly 

authentic moments. Zooming 

along dirt tracks, around bends, 

over boulders and by ethnic minority 

children screaming, “Hello!” 

is just wonderful. When the 

sun comes out, the colours of the 

valley are set ablaze—a veritable 

neon pastiche. This, more than 

anything, gives Vietnam that 

postcard feel. 

So although it is the beauty 

that entices most people to visit 

this part of the country, if you 

are looking for a little more excitement 

in your life, know that 

you have more than your fair 

share of choices in Mai Chau. 

Information: 

Various homestays in the area and tour operators in Hanoi offer 

trekking and cycling adventures. To see Soldier Cave and for 

kayaking, the Mai Chau Lodge can be contacted in Hanoi at 

their office: 9B Hang Muoi, Hoan Kiem District, 04 3926 3125. 


dispatches 

-.. .. ... .--. .- - -.-. .... . ... 

Travel news from around the region and beyond 

Travel Deal: 

Ko Samui, Thailand 

The Deal: From June 1 through October 31, Amari Palm Reef 

Resort on Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand is offering an 

Early Bird package. The deal includes five nights in a Superior 

Room including roundtrip airport transfers, discounted body 

massage, a welcome set dinner, free room upgrade and free 

laundry service (from USD $755). 

The Setting: Amari Resort is nestled in a secluded part of 

north Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui's most popular sunning location. 

The resort has everything needed for a relaxing holiday 

including Sivari Spa therapists, babysitter, WiFi, fitness centre, 

and PADI dive masters. Guests can feast at Merante Seaside 

restaurant or contemporary Prego Italian restaurant, then head 

to the poolside bar or BarC to watch the sun go down over 

drinks. 

The Verdict: Book early and reap the benefits of this relaxing 

escape, as well as extra nights at 10-percent discount on Internet 

rates. Visit www.amari.com for more information. 

Kristen Avis 

Bocelli Performance in Hong Kong 

While Southeast Asia offers oodles of culture, a night at the opera doesn’t 

usually top the list. But fans of Andrea Bocelli can get a fix of the Tuscan 

tenor on May 4 when the multi-talented vocalist performs in Hong Kong as 

part of his 2010 World Tour. Bocelli has eight operas under his belt, including 

La Boheme, Madame Butterfly and most recently, Carmen, but is perhaps better 

known for his achievements in pop and classical music. His duet with Sarah 

Brightman, “Time to Say Goodbye,” and his collaboration with Celine Dion 

on “The Prayer” quickly gained international recognition. Dion once said, “If 

God would have a singing voice, he would sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli.” 

Other stops on the tour in Asia include Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei. Tickets can 

be purchased online at www.hkticketing.com. 

Logan Brown 

World Gourmet Summit in Singapore 

Craving a gastronomic getaway? Foodies seeking relief 

need only head to Singapore for the Annual World Gourmet 

Summit, an epicurean celebration happening from 

April 11 to 25. Brace yourself for a culinary adventure that 

will feature several world-renowned Michelin-star chefs 

including Bruno Menard, Ferran Adrià and Andrea Breton; 

vintage wines from Spain, France, Germany, Italy and 

Australia; and a variety of culinary workshops, tastings, 

demonstrations and dinners at local hotels and restaurants. 

And for golfers, April 20 brings a fun-filled day of 

18-hole play, canapés and wine and gourmet buffet dinner 

at the Gourmet Golf Experience. For more details, visit 

www.worldgourmetsummit.com. 

Allison Grant 


Pairing wine and Asian food is a challenge for even the most experienced 

connoisseur. Thomas Maresca tries to find the right match. 

Photo by Nam Quan. 

While both wine and Asian 

cuisines have long and refined 

histories, they’ve evolved along 

separate paths. Trying to find 

balance and harmony between 

wine and Asian food is still a 

relatively new endeavour, and 

often a difficult one. The delicacy 

of Cantonese, the spiciness 

of Southeast Asian, or unusual 

flavour combinations such as 

hot and sweet would seem 

to defy most traditional wine 

pairings. 

It’s a challenge but far from 

impossible, according to Brian 

Walsh, director of winemaking 

at Yalumba, Australia’s oldest 

family-owned winery. “In a 

general sense, I never cease 

to be amazed at how versatile 

wine and food matching can 

be,” he says. “In my dining and 

drinking experience, unless a 

dish is especially hot, you can 

find a wine to match.” 

As a general rule of thumb, 

Walsh advises that plainer foods 

are best suited to bolder wines, 

such as Cabernet Sauvignon 

and Shiraz. As a dish becomes 

more complex, more fragrant 

and savoury wines such as 

Grenache and Tempranillo 

meld better. A Pinot Grigio can 

go well with delicate flavours. 

Seafood dishes often match well 

with crispy and zesty whites 

such as Sauvignon Blanc. 

Jeremie Courivault, sales and 

marketing manager of wine 

supplier The Warehouse, says 

that while in Western dishes, the 

emphasis is on matching the ingredients, 

often Asian food and 

wine must be paired according 

to cooking style—steamed, 

stir-fried, grilled. “You are not 

matching the ingredients,” he 

says. “You are matching the 

dish.” 

Experts agree that hot chillis 

present the biggest challenge to 

pairing. “Strong chilli will kill 

most wines,” says Walsh. “In 

my opinion, sometimes it’s best 

to have the wine after dinner.” 

Generally, tannic reds are the 

worst match with spice, enhancing 

the burn and the alcoholic, 

astringent taste of the wine. 

Sweet whites such as Riesling 

or Gewurztraminer can work 

with spicy dishes as a contrast, 

according to Courivault. 

The conventions for Asian 

food and wine pairings are 

still clearly evolving. A recent 

competition held in Hong Kong 

by Cathay Pacific to pair wines 

with Chinese food delivered 

several surprises. A sparkling 

rosé won best match for braised 

abalone, instead of what had 

been considered the more traditional 

pairing, red Bordeaux. 

Likewise, a Malbec won for 

best pairing with Peking duck, 

beating the expected Pinot Noir. 

And a sweet Muscat won best 

pairing for the very spicy Kung 

Pao Chicken. 

Walsh says that pairing is 

more art than science: “One 

shouldn’t have too many firm 

rules. If you only stick to the 

script, you might miss some 

interesting combinations. Life 

and wine are both about experiences. 

We encourage people to 

have a go and experiment.” 

Here in HCM City, Yalumba, 

The Warehouse, and Yu Chu 

Restautant at the Intercontinental 

Asiana Hotel held a 

wine and Asian food dinner on 

March 23rd. The following were 

the pairings. All wines were 

supplied by Yalumba. 

The Pair: 

Pinot Grigio & Dim Sum 

Why It Works: 

Sometimes scorned by wine 

snobs, pinot grigio is light and 

easy to drink. This works well 

with something like dim sum, 

as it won’t overpower the 

delicate flavors. Crispy with 

a hint of fruit, pinot grigio 

works well with steamed 

seafood and in this case it also 

enhances the smoky flavours 

of sesame oil and soy sauce. 

It could even be paired with 

a dish like Peking duck, suggests 

Courivault. 

The Pair: 

Wild Ferment Chardonnay & 

Steamed Lobster with Garlic 

Sauce 

Why It Works: 

Lobster is one of the fattiest 

seafoods and needs a more 

powerful wine to go along 

with it. Chardonnay is a rich 

white; the bottle selected 

here is not overpowering on 

the nose, and has strength, 

persistence and creaminess 

on the palette. It’s also able to 

stand up to the garlic, which 

would overwhelm a lighter 

white. 

The Pair: 

Bush Vine Grenache & 

Wok-grilled Filet of Chicken 

with Fresh Mushroom in 

Melon Ring and Brown Sauce 

Why it Works: 

This Grenache is soft and 

gentle, fragrant with very little 

oak flavour. Greanache is more 

about character and mouthfeel 

than strong flavours. It has a savoury 

length on the palette that 

enhances the appetite and goes 

well with a dish such as grilled 

chicken. Too much spice could 

overpower it, however. 

The Pair: 

Barossa Shiraz-Viognier & 

Hand-pulled Noodles with 

Barbecued Pork 

Why it Works: 

Blending the Shiraz with 

a small amount of white 

Viognier grapes creates a more 

medium-bodied, floral red, 

which matches well with the 

smoky-sweet glaze of Chinese 

barbecued pork. Tannic reds 

such as a Cabernet Sauvignon 

or straight shiraz would likely 

leave a harsher, alcohol aftertaste. 

The light soy sauce broth 

of this dish also blends well. 

The Pair: 

Old Vine Shiraz & 

Beef with Black Pepper Sauce 

Why it Works: 

About as classic a pairing as 

you’ll find. A powerful, fullbodied 

red is the perfect accompaniment 

to red meat. In this 

case, the slight peppery notes 

in the shiraz compliment the 

black pepper sauce perfectly. 


One young Texan brings the tastes of 

his childhood to Vietnam at the new 

Mexico Lindo. Thomas Maresca reports. 

Photos by Fred Wissink. 

The 26 year-old racing between 

the open kitchen and the tables 

of the just-opened Mexico Lindo 

doesn’t a) look Mexican or b) 

look old enough to be running 

his own restaurant. And then 

there’s his name: Arthur Wentworth, 

about as Mexican-sounding 

as a cucumber sandwich. 

But in this case both looks 

and moniker turn out to be deceiving. 

It only takes a handful 

of homemade tortilla chips to 

get the idea that authentic Tex- 

Mex food may be on the menu 

in HCM City. 

Wentworth, it turns out, is 

actually half Mexican and grew 

up in Houston not only eating 

his mom’s home cooking but 

feasting on the thriving Mexican 

food scene of his hometown. 

Texas’s largest city is more 

than 1/3 Hispanic and home to 

countless food vans and small 

storefronts offering some of the 

country’s best tacos, quesadillas 

and tamales. 

“I didn’t appreciate it until 

I left,” says Wentworth, who 

moved to HCM City five years 

ago, first to work in an immigration 

law office, and later 

as an operations manager for a 

garment company. 

It was a transfer to Haiphong, 

a city with decidedly fewer distractions, 

that launched Wentworth’s 

burrito dreams. “I was 

bored and hungry and started 

cooking a lot,” says Wentworth 

of his five-month stint in the 

sleepy northern town. 

He began by making tortas 

(Mexican sandwiches) for himself 

and his friends, calling his 

mom back home for her recipes 

and making do with what local 

ingredients he could find. 

By the time of his return to 

HCM City, Wentworth was 

hooked. Positive feedback from 

friends encouraged thoughts 

of opening his own Mexican 

restaurant. But he knew he 

wasn’t ready. 

Wentworth came up with a 

novel solution. Friendly with 

Annie and Van, the owners 

of a local watering hole 

with a kitchen, Moon Bar, he 

launched Chico’s, an invite-only 

Facebook group that offered 

delivery from a simple menu of 

Mexican food. 

It was a time of trial and 

error (What’s wrong with my 

tortillas? Wentworth says he 

often found himself pondering). 

As always, mom was on 

the phone to help with recipes. 

He also was able to hire kitchen 

staff from the recently closed 

Mexican restaurant Cantina 

Central, and had local friends 

to help navigate the markets. 

Getting the recipes right was 

one thing. But the challenges 

of running a restaurant kitchen 

were unexpectedly daunting. 

“Logistics in the kitchen 

are mind-boggling,” Wentworth 

says. After four months, 

Wentworth felt he was ready to 

take the next step. He drafted a 

business plan, found investors 

via Annie & Van, and Mexico 

Lindo was opened. Before its 

official launch on March 26th, 

Wentworth brought a couple of 

experienced helpers on board. 

A professional chef from Holland, 

Thys DeBlok, moved here 

with his girlfriend three months 

ago and was introduced to 

Wentworth through a mutual 

friend. He’s now running the 

show in the kitchen. 

Richard Sutcliffe, a British 

expat with 40 years in the restaurant 

business has also come 

on board as an advisor. He’s 

refined the menu and stressed 

everything from portion control 

to an obsessive need for consistency. 

“Quality and continuity,” 

he says. “They’re married to 

one another.” 

The two-story restaurant has 

the classic Mexican look and 

feel, a faded colonial haciendastyle 

with wrought iron accents, 

paintings of Mexican women 

with traditional flouncy blouses 

and potted cactus plants. 

The menu for now is also 

staying close to the classics, 

with a heavy Tex-Mex bent: 

beef and chicken burritos, 

enchiladas, chimichangas, 

quesadillas, chili con carne. The 

time and effort Wentworth has 

put in is apparent in the simple 

but solid dishes; he's sourced as 

many authentic ingredients as 

possible, including maseca (corn 

flour) from Mexico. 

Beyond the Tex-Mex stalwarts, 

Wentworth plans to 

bring introduce some more 

traditionally Mexican dishes, 

such as chiles rellenos, to the 

menu as weekly specials. 

Wentworth says the feedback 

has already been positive, 

especially from visitors from 

California and Texas, where 

Mexican food is a way of life. 

“‘I miss real chips,’ is one of the 

first things I heard,” he says. 

However, the most discriminating 

customer is yet to 

come; Wentworth’s mother is 

expected to visit in the summer. 

“If she doesn’t see some 

authentic Mexican dishes on the 

menu she’s going to kick my 

[butt]” he says. 

Mexico Lindo 

149 Ton That Dam, D1 

Tel: 3915 3149 


On a small island in Cat Tien National Park, a group of conservationists has big 

plans to counter the trade in endangered primates through rehabilitation, research 

and education. By Tom DiChristopher. 

It is a big day at the Dao Tien 

Endangered Primate Species 

Centre. Two visiting veterinarians 

are preparing to conduct 

health checks and DNA tests 

on the preserve’s newest 

residents, Hoa and Binh, a pair 

of golden-cheeked gibbons— 

and sisters—who have been in 

quarantine since their arrival. 

Afterwards, the vets will fit four 

pygmy lorises with radio collars 

in preparation for their release 

into the wild. And some time in 

the middle of it all, Dao Tien’s 

first Vietnamese research intern 

will arrive. 

The excitement, however, has 

made Binh uneasy. 

Unlike her sister, Binh is 

refusing to cooperate. As she 

becomes more agitated, the 

expression on primate specialist 

Lee Butler’s face begins to 

sour. It’s becoming clear to him 

that Binh will not go quietly. He 

will have to enter the enclosure 

with head keeper Nguyen 

Trung Thanh, capture Binh with 

a net and then administer the 

sedative. 

Everyone is feeling sorry 

for Binh, but Dao Tien director 

Marina Kenyon, PhD sees the 

bright side. “That standoffishness 

will make her great in the 

forest one day,” she says. 

This small island just beyond 

the entrance to Cat Tien Na- 

tional Park is where Binh will 

take her first step towards that 

goal. Established in 2008, Dao 

Tien is the first project of the 

Endangered Asian Species Trust 

(EAST), a charity established by 

the Monkey World Ape Rescue 

Centre in Dorset, England, the 

sanctuary featured for more 

than a decade in the documentary 

series Monkey Business and 

Monkey Life. The mission of 

EAST is to abate the wildlife 

trade in Asia through rescue, 

rehabilitation, research and 

education. 

It is a natural extension of the 

work that has been carried out 

since 1987 at Monkey World, 

where hundreds of primates 

from Europe and Asia have 

found refuge. Whereas Monkey 

World provides a permanent 

home for rescued primates, 

Dao Tien seeks to re-establish 

wild populations and conduct 

conservation studies that protect 

them against future threats. 

Plight of the Primates 

Currently, Dao Tien is home to 

27 gibbons, eight lorises and 

two black- shanked doucs. The 

trade in all three primates is illegal 

in Vietnam, but black market 

channels continue to circumvent 

overtaxed authorities and feed 

the demand for primate pets. 

“It’s not hard to get a pet gibbon 

if you ask the right people,” 

says Kenyon. “Even if you 

know nothing, you could soon 

ask a pet shop or find the right 

place, and if you wave enough 

“To keep a social primate on its own is 

just cruel. They don’t domesticate. They’ll 

never be a pet” – Marina Kenyon 

money around—about five, six 

hundred dollars—you’ll have a 

pet gibbon in a week.” 

The figurative price of securing 

a gibbon is far higher. To 

capture a baby gibbon, hunters 

shoot its parents and adolescent 

siblings. The slaughtered gibbons 

can then be sold as bushmeat 

or for use in traditional 

medicine. The orphaned babies 

find their way to tourist centres 

or into the hands of affluent 

individuals. (The exchange of 

exotic pets remains part of the 

lavish gift-giving culture among 

the rich despite its illegality.) 

Sadly, pet gibbons essentially 

have a shelf life of less than a 

decade for the same reason that 

their parents and siblings are 

useless to pet traders. When a 

gibbon reaches 7 or 8 years of 

age, it will begin to bite and 

attack its owner as part of its 

natural play. When this happens, 

they’re often abandoned 

or killed. 

“To keep a social primate on 

its own is just cruel,” says Kenyon. 

“They don’t domesticate. 

They’ll never be a pet.” 

Dao Tien gets that message 

out by working with local 

international schools to educate 

children of affluent families, 

some of whom may own pet 

primates. The goal is to sensitize 

them to the animals, and it 

seems to be working; a recent 

colouring activity turned up 

pictures of gibbons outfitted 

with defensive claws, stones to 

throw at hunters and pouches to 

protect their young. 

Healing Wounds 

It would be a mistake, however, 

to view the demand end of the 

pet trade as symptomatic of 

regional culture. Many of the 

primates at Monkey World have 

been confiscated from European 

owners, and the United States 

registers as the second most 

profitable market for wildlife 

products after China. The Dao 

Tien team has seen evidence 

that this is not just an Asian 

Photo provided by Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre 

problem, as well. 

One of the gibbons currently 

being prepped for release, Lucy, 

was rescued from an expatriate 

American couple, who Kenyon 

describes as “bright, intelligent 

business people.” However, 

Lucy’s condition suggested 

that her owners had done little 

to educate themselves on her 

needs. When she arrived at Dao 

Tien, she was half the size a gibbon 

her age should be. 

“They fed her only banana. 

They gave her no water,” says 

Kenyon. “They said, ‘If she 

wants to go get some water, she 

can go to the toilet.’” 

More difficult to remedy than 

physical ailments is the mental 

toll isolation takes on primates. 

Deprived of mental stimulation 

and interaction with their kind, 

gibbons often develop what Lee 

Butler calls “stereotypic behaviour,” 

such as wrapping their 

legs around their necks. 

“Boredom brings it on and it 

becomes a habit,” says Butler. 

“Generally, when you get them 

with their own it goes to the 

background, but it’s always 

there.” 

Butler says the problem is 

that owners don’t realize the 

damage they’re doing. “Basically, 

what we’re trying to do is 

give back what they’ve taken 

away,” he says. 

Two Heads Better Than One? 

While rehabilitation is a critical 

step, Dao Tien is not meant to be 

a long-term home. The ultimate 

hope for every primate is release 

into the wild. Conventional 

wisdom says gibbons that are 

rehabilitated together should be 

released together, but Kenyon 

believes there’s little scientific 

basis to back existing release 

guidelines and plans to test 

prevailing assumptions. 

Kenyon’s theory is that a 

single gibbon released at the 

age it would normally leave its 

family could potentially thrive 

better in the wild. The challenge 

of following a mate through 

unfamiliar territory, she says, 

might actually increase stress 

and potentially make it more 

difficult to find a mate. 

“If you’re a pair released 

… you’re no use to anyone 

because you’re your own unit,” 

explains Kenyon. “But if you’re 

a female released, all the males 

are going to quite like you. If 

you’re a male released, all the 

females gibbons are receptive to 

transient males.” 

To test her theory, Kenyon 

plans to release three pairs, 

three single females and three 

single males. Whether or not it 

checks out—Kenyon admits it 

may not—the experiment will 

yield a worthwhile result. Dao 

Tien researchers will use information 

gathered while tracking 

the gibbons to write procedures 

for release in Vietnam. Often, 

animals are released without 

being screened for diseases 

or DNA-tested to determine 

whether they are native. The 

hope is that smarter releases 

will translate into higher survival 

rates. 

Dao Tien’s research has 

already turned up unexpected 

results. After releasing two lorises 

in the wet season, the staff 

were surprised to find they had 

dashed all over the island, venturing 

as far as 800 metres from 

their sleep sites. Little is known 

about the wild pygmy loris, so 

information like this stands to 

shed light on these nocturnal 

primates. 

“The process here is slow, 

but at the end of it, we can have 

guidelines about how to release 

each animal,” says Kenyon. 

With the wildlife trade still 

thriving, and given primates’ 

relatively long maturation period, 

it’s clear why boosting the 

survival rates of wild releases 

is a priority. Armed with sound 

release procedures, Vietnam’s 

Forest Protection Department 

and other organizations can give 

primates a fighting chance. 

For more information about EAST 

or to schedule a visit or make a 

donation, visit www.go-east.org. 


American chiropractor Wade Brackenbury has traversed the globe’s least 

explored regions—guerrilla-occupied Guatemalan jungles, the inner 

mountains of Tibet, the Congo’s depths—all in a quest to find meaning. 

Beth Young speaks to Brackenbury about his extraordinary journeys. 

A conversation with American 

expatriate Dr Wade Brackenbury 

is peppered with exciting 

anecdotes about his vast travels—from 

an encounter with 

an angry Melanesian giant in 

Papua New Guinea, to a search 

for archaeological treasures 

in Central America aboard a 

handmade raft. 

The chiropractor-cumadventurer, 

it would seem, is 

as comfortable in the outdoors 

as he is adjusting a problem 

back or administering Korean 

acupuncture. 

What’s most unique about 

Brackenbury though is his 

inability to give up. While his 

expeditions have been far from 

easy, this atypical traveller sees 

his plans out from beginning 

to end—regardless of what 

obstacles may arise. 

Early Adventures 

Brackenbury’s wanderlust began 

as a teenager. Growing up 

in a small country town with a 

population of just 400 spurred 

him to see the world, and living 

close to the earth—his parents 

owned a ranch—piqued his 

interest in societies that rely 

totally on nature. 

His first trip was a plan 

hatched with a close high 

school friend. The two fledgling 

explorers had just watched an 

Indiana Jones film and were 

inspired by the archaeologist’s 

exploits. Though they knew 

little about the country, they 

decided to walk across Australia. 

It was a feat they quickly 

realized would be difficult. 

“We got this map out of Australia 

and both said ‘Oh look at 

all that desert. That might be 

tough!’ But we decided to go 

anyway,” he laughs. 

The pair amended their 

itinerary, but only slightly. They 

hitchhiked across New Zealand 

and Australia for three months, 

before Brackenbury travelled 

alone to Papua New Guinea. 

There, he spent four months 

hiking to the tip of the highlands 

that separate the country 

from Indonesia Papua. 

Even this first trip was anything 

but smooth. Brackenbury 

flew a mail plane into the country’s 

interior and directly into 

a feudal war—a hiccup that 

didn’t faze him in the slightest. 

What finally sent him home 

was a run in with a drunken 

local man that left Brackenbury 

and his female companion 

beaten to a pulp. 

He still had the travel bug 

though. Back in America he 

studied for a few years before 

setting off on another journey, 

this time to Guatemala. 

His companion was a young 

woman who was studying Mayan 

culture. Together they rode 

a motorbike from Mexico City 

to Guatemala, then all the way 

to the head of the Pasion River, 

where a group of Mennonite 

missionaries helped them build 

a raft. 

They floated the raft for a 

month looking for undiscovered 

ruins. “We were hoping 

to find some Mayan gold. We 

had some amazing adventures 

instead,” says Brackenbury. 

At the time, the country was 

embroiled in a civil war, and at 

night when the pair stopped to 

camp in the jungle, Guatemalan 

guerrillas would often stop by 

to investigate. “It was worrisome, 

but nothing bad ever 

happened,” says Brackenbury. 

Next Stop 

Brackenbury’s later voyages 

were more purposeful. His 

skills as a kayaker and mountaineer 

made him an invaluable 

asset for an anthropological 

trek through Western Africa 

in 1997, and he was hired as a 

paramedic. 

The expedition’s goal was 

to gauge how Eboli outbreaks 

in the region had affected the 

local people. However, the tour 

leader had a nervous breakdown 

and abandoned the expedition 

early on. Everyone was 

expected to return home, but 

Brackenbury stayed on. “We 

didn’t want to go home and 

fail. There was a lot of pressure 

to quit though,” he says. 

A 17-year-old American boy 

also remained, and the two 

travelled through the Nadoki 

Swamp across the Congo, 

where they lived with a pygmy 

tribe for two months. Brackenbury 

admired the pygmies’ 

respect for nature and their 

gratitude to the Earth. As such, 

Brackenbury and his companion 

emulated the pygmies. “I’d 

read one book and then I’d give 

it to him to read. When he was 

finished he’d cut the pages out 

to build a fire.” 

A trip to innermost Tibet is 

Brackenbury’s most memorable 

and meaningful adventure 

though—perhaps because it 


was so difficult. He first went 

to China to attempt to reach 

the summit of a mountain that 

had never been climbed before. 

Though he didn’t quite make 

it to the top he met a precocious 

French photojournalist 

named Pascal who shared with 

Brackenbury his goal: to find 

the Drung people. 

The Drung are a dwindling 

minority that, at the time, 

hadn’t seen Westerners since 

the British discovered them 

before the turn of the century. 

The Chinese government and 

soaring 20,000 foot mountains 

had kept them a secret ever 

since that first contact. 

For the time being, the 

Drung would remain a secret. 

“We didn’t make it within 

hundreds of miles of the area 

that we were trying to reach,” 

says Brackenbury. “We were 

arrested and kicked out.” 

They tried again two years 

later, this time with Sophi, 

a Chinese-French translator. 

When repeated setbacks proved 

too much, Sophi flew home to 

France and Pascal ventured to 

Vietnam. Brackenbury, however, 

kept going until he found 

the Drung people. 

Though Pascal had dreamt of 

a tribe untouched by modernity, 

Brackenbury discovered a 

society where Chinese and Taiwanese 

pop music blared from 

radios and tape players. Most 

men sported watches, flashlights 

and rifles. The Drung had 

been effectively “Chinafied.” 

Brackenbury stayed only one 

night before he ran the gauntlet 

back to mainstream China, but 

he was the first Westerner the 

Drung had seen in a century. 

Epilogue to Adventure 

Since then, Brackenbury has 

settled down considerably, but 

he still seeks out challenges. 

He and his wife LG had a 

thriving chiropractic practice 

in Malaysia for seven years 

and then another in Hong 

Kong for 12 months. Though 

they were making great 

money, he felt it was too easy: 

“Hong Kong especially was 

fantastic. It was so well serviced, 

but I didn’t feel like we 

were doing anything purposeful 

there.” 

Four years ago, Brackenbury 

travelled to HCM City on a 

whim and decided to establish 

a new practice here. A few 

weeks later, the family—2year-old 

daughter included— 

packed up and moved to 

Vietnam, where Brackenbury 

felt he could make a difference. 

“I feel good about what we’re 

doing here" he says. "Our life 

has meaning.” 


B 

y the end of my interview 

with Korean rock band Biuret, 

there is only one question left 

to ask: How did lead guitarist 

Happy Jackson get his name? 

Laughter erupts throughout 

the hotel room, and drummer 

DR buries his head in his hands 

as Happy begins to excitedly tell 

his story. 

“An underground religious 

cult wanted to charge me money 

to change my name to Happy 

Mandela, as it would bring me 

luck,” he explains. “I’m a big 

Michael Jackson fan, though, 

so I thought that if I swapped 

Mandela for Jackson, it would 

bring me even more luck!” 

Happy is evidently very 

satisfied with the results. As 

Biuret enters 2010, they have the 

same steam train momentum 

behind them that fueled their 

rise to prominence during the 

second half of 2009, placing 

them among the likes of China’s 

P.K. 14 and Japan’s Toe as bands 

garnering acceptance from the 

West and forming the genesis of 

a pan-Asian rock explosion. 

Local Acclaim 

Formed in the Hongdae area 

of Seoul, Biuret consists of the 

stunning Hye Won Moon (lead 

vocalist, chief songwriter and 

guitar), Jai Hyun Ahn (bass), 

Happy Jackson (lead guitar) 

and DR (drums). Back in 2002 

the four were either in school or 

doing the rounds on the barfly 

circuit as musicians for hire. 

With the music scene in Hongdae 

being particularly small, it 

wasn’t long before the quartet 

ended up jamming together. 

Recognizing their undeniable 

personal chemistry and their 

shared love for the early 90s Seattle 

grunge scene and the more 

theatrical rock of Muse, Biuret 

officially formed. 

When asked what it’s like 

being a rock band in Asia, Hye 

appears slightly embarrassed 

and addresses the question with 

humility. “It’s hard for us to say 

what it’s like to be a rock band 

in Asia as we haven’t performed 

everywhere yet. As far as being 

a rock band in South Korea, it’s 

definitely not easy because it’s 

not mainstream. 80 percent of 

the time is hardship and only 20 

percent is fun. You really need 

to endure to get to a certain 

level.” 

This modesty is typical of 

Asian rock bands, but in Biuret’s 

case, it betrays the scope of their 

achievements. Their debut EP, 

released in 2005, was met with 

acclaim and sold out within 

months. This local success led to 

an opening gig for British indie 

legends Oasis in Seoul, “a great 

experience” according to Happy 

Jackson, as Biuret had grown up 

listening to them. 

Two years later their first 

album, Be Full of Spirit – Beautiful 

Violet, and its 2009 follow-up 

Dreams Come True established 

Biuret as South Korea’s most 

popular rock band since Cherry 

Filter. 

The Next Level 

Demonstrating a remarkable 

understanding of the dynamics 

of melodic punk rock with 

South Korea is widely recognized 

as a pop music powerhouse, but 

Seoul-based band Biuret aims to 

show that the country can rock. 

John Thornton speaks to the band 

at their first show in Vietnam. 

Photo by Fred Wissink. 

The Seoul 

of Rock 

a dark twist over the course 

of two full-length albums, the 

band experienced a decisive 

turning point in their career 

last year when they entered 

and won the international talent 

spotting contest Sutasi—no 

mean feat considering Sutasi 

takes in contestants from all 

over Asia. 

“We really had no clue what 

Sutasi was, as there had never 

been anything like it before,” 

says Hye. “We looked at it as 

more of a trip for us to take.” 

However, the band soon 

realized the seriousness of the 

event when they met the panel 

of music industry experts, who 

had worked with the likes of 

Steve Wonder and acts from as 

far and wide as India. 

“We watched other artists 

perform and were completely 

in awe of them,” recounts Hye. 

“After that we went straight 

back to our hotel room and 

practiced all night long.” 

The practice paid off in 

more ways than one. Happy 

Jackson reveals that winning 

gave the band a newfound 

confidence in what they do. He 

says they’re now able to get 

out of their comfort zone and 

step up their game in front of 

any crowd. 

Bassist Jai elaborates: “A 

lot has changed since winning 

Sutasi. It’s opened up the 

scope of our music and our 

way of thinking. The thought 

of branching out had never 

occurred to us before. Now we 

have more gigs and hopefully 

more longevity as a band.” 

Around the World 

Indeed, the opportunities 

post-Sutasi have been arriving 

thick and fast. Biuret was 

invited to perform at Perth’s 

One Movement For Music industry 

showcase last summer, 

whereupon they struck up a 

friendship with fellow HCM 

City headliners, Melodramas. 

This in turn led to Biuret 

supporting Melodramas at a 

gig in the U.K. after wowing 

more industry experts at the 

International Live Music Conference 

in London last month. 

Their recent debut in Vietnam 

at The Hi-Fi was met by an 

enthusiastic crowd of local 

Vietnamese. 

An English-language album 

targeted at the international 

market is also in the works, 

proving Biuret’s intent on 

becoming as big as possible. 

The band has yet to enter the 

studio to record the album, 

so pinning down its sound is 

difficult. However, they insist 

that only moderate changes 

will be made in order to maintain 

the essence of previous 

releases. 

The album will be followed 

by an extensive tour, taking in 

Asia, Australia and the 25th 

anniversary of the Independence 

Rock festival in India 

and jaunts to the United States 

and Europe in early 2011. 

With Biuret knocking on the 

door of the West, alongside 

P.K. 14 and Toe, the predicted 

Asian rock explosion may just 

be a little louder than first 

anticipated. 

“A lot has changed since winning 

Sutasi. It’s opened up the scope 

of our music and our way of 

thinking” – Jae Hyun 


Fashion Scrapbook 

by Donia Medina 

photos by Fred Wissink 

I love his extravagance 

with the accessories, 

especially his big military 

bag. He’s an artist. He 

doesn’t have a proper 

job. He makes his own 

clothes and accessories, buys 

everything in a secondhand 

market every Sunday 

morning. 

The stripes, navy style, 

are very trendy this 

summer. I like the 

strapless dress with 

short hair. I would 

recommend adding a 

hat to that outfit. 


The big volume hairstyle! Louis Vuitton started it during their 

summer fashion show and now everybody follows! So although I’m sure 

he doesn’t know it, he is sporting the biggest trend of the season. 

Volume, volume and more volume! 

She's mixing two big 

trends: go very short and 

go denim. Plus, I love her 

tattoo on her ankle. 


Metallic! Also a big trend for the 

summer season. She just looks stunning in 

this gold dress. Note: Don’t be bashful. Go 

for silver and gold. 


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. 

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 the 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 5pm 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. 

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. 

VaSCO 

Vietnam Airlines office, 116 Nguyen 

Hue, D1 

Tel: 3842 2790 

www.vasco.com.vn 

Though it’s primary business is cargo 

shipment, Vietnam Air Service Company 

(VASCO) flies daily from HCM City to 

Con Dao and makes connections to 

lesser-known cities like Ca Mau, Tuy 

Hoa and Chu Lai. Buy tickets at the 

Vietnam Airlines office. 

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 

aTC Hotel 

16B Ton Duc Thang Tel: 06 4830 666 

Rustic little 4-room, family-run guesthouse 

in converted French administration 

building. Rooms are simple, with 

exposed rafters inside and balconies 

outside. Bungalow accommodation is 

also available. 

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. Onpremise 

facilities include restaurant, bar, 

beach-view swimming pool, tennis court 

and volleyball. Organises 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 

escape take flight with travel promotions around the region 

Starwood Hotels 

Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ Great 

Resort Deals promotion gives travellers 

a USD $50 daily credit or one night free 

when they book three or four nights at a 

participating Starwood Resort Asia Pacific, 

including Fiji, Bali, Guam, Hainan 

Island, Langkawi and the Maldives. This 

offer is valid through May 31. Email 

www.starwoodhotels.com/greatresortdealsasia. 

Ho Tram Hideaway 

Through June 30, Ho Tram Hideaway 

in Vung Tau is offering accommodation 

in a garden view room, one dinner for 

two at Gecko restaurant, one 60-minute 

body treatment for two at Aurora Spa, 

daily breakfast, gym, complimentary 

use of the tennis court during the day 

and a welcome drink for USD $104 per 

couple per night. There is a two-night 

minimum stay, excluding public holidays. 

Call 064 378 1525. 

Novotel Nha Trang 

Guests who book two consecutive 

nights at Novotel Nha Trang through 

December 20 will receive one international 

dinner buffet at Square 

restaurant, complimentary use of the 

sauna and steam bath, welcome drink 

and complimentary Internet access. 

The offer is applicable for online and 

individual bookings only. Email rsvn@ 

novotel-nhatrang.com. 

Caravelle Hotel 

Through April 6 the Caravelle is offering 

a 10-percent room discount that 

includes complimentary in-room Internet 

access. Through July 31, receive 

a 20-percent discount on a two-night 

consecutive stay that includes free 

daily buffet breakfast for two. Email 

rsvn@caravellehotel.vnn.vn. 

Ana Mandara Villas Dalat 

Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Getaway 

package features one night accommodation 

in a villa room, daily breakfast 

and fruit basket, set lunch or dinner at 

Le Petit Dalat restaurant, 10-percent 

discount on food, beverages and spa, 

available in adjacent sister hotel, a 

renovated colonial-era administration 

building. Tours organised by hotel. 

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. 

Blue Moon Resort & Spa 

4 Phan Boi Chau Tel: 06 3578 888 

www.bluemoonhotel.com.vn 

An attractive 65-room, country-style 

resort with extensive gardens for strolling 

or al fresco dining, as well as restaurant 

serving local Dalat dishes. On-premise 

bike rental, fitness centre, sauna and 

indoor heated pool. 

Mercure Dalat 

7 Tran Phu, Dalat Tel: 063 3825 777 

www.mercure.com 

Built in 1932 as the Hotel Du Parc, this 

144-room 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 

airport transfers and use of the heated 

swimming pool, gym, steam and sauna. 

This offer is valid until April 29. Email 

reservation-dalat@anamandara-resort. 

com. 

Sofitel Saigon Plaza 

Sofitel Saigon Plaza is offering an 

Escapade to Saigon promotion that 

includes a weekend stay in a superior 

room (Fridays thru Sundays), buffet 

breakfast for two, 4pm checkout, free 

broadband and wireless Internet and 

welcome drink (USD $299 per stay/ 

two nights/two people) through April 

30. The Seasonal Break promotion 

includes a complimentary fourth night 

of accommodation in a superior room 

with L’Occitane toiletries, a chocolate 

gift, 4pm checkout and complimentary 

broadband and wireless Internet 

through May 15. Email reservations@ 

sofitelsaigon.com.vn. 

Victoria Can Tho 

Through September 30, Victoria Can 

Tho is offering a one-night stay in a 

deluxe room, daily buffet breakfast for 

two persons and a complimentary boat 

tour to Cai Rang Floating Market for 

USD $153++ per night (twin sharing) 

and $65 (third person sharing). Email 

reservation@victoriahotels.asia. 

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+ meters 

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 

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. 

Mau Chau, see page 34 

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. 

Nikko Hotel 

84 Tran Nhan Tong Tel: 04 3822 3535 

www.hotelnikkohanoi.com.vn 

Luxury hotel offering spacious rooms, 

elegant furnishings, international fine dining 

from Europe, China and Japan. 

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 panormaic 

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, Asian Reflections 

Restaurant and al fresco 9th-floor Saigon 

Saigon Bar. 

Duxton Hotel 

63 Nguyen Hue D1 Tel: 3822 2999 

www.duxtonhotels.com 

Located in downtown Saigon. Facilities 

include spa, beauty salon, Zanadu Health 

Club, gym, outdoor swimming and main 

restaurant, The Grill. 

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. 

legend Hotel 

2A-4A Ton Duc Thang, D1 

Tel: 3823 3333 

www.legendsaigon.com 

Located by the river with fitness centre, 

outdoor pool, kids play centre, Crystal 

Jade Chinese restaurant and jazz bar. 

Mövenpick Hotel Saigon 

253 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan 

Tel: 3844 9222 

www.moevenpick-saigon.com 

251-room Swiss chain hotel with 

Nishimura Japanese and Lotus Court 

Chinese restaurant, Sundeck poolside 

bar, Qi Spa, conference/banquet facilities 

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 

dininig 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 


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 HCMC’s top hotels with in-room 

Wi-Fi, two restaurants with international 

cuisine, two bars, six conference rooms, 

outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre. 

Villa Hotel at Thao Dien 

195 Nguyen Van Huong, D2 

Tel: 3744 2222 

www.thaodienvillage.com 

Colonial-style boutique hotel and spa 

with fine dining on the banks of the 

Saigon River in expat enclave. 

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 

Cua Dai Hotel 

544 Cua Dai Tel: 0510 3862 231 

www.cuadaihotel-hoian.com 

Open and airy rooms are tastefully decorated 

and overlook the garden and pool. 

Located roughly between Old Town and 

Cua Dai Beach. Bicycle rental arranged. 

Green field Hotel 

423 Cua Dai, Hoi An Tel: 0510 863 

484 

www.greenfieldhotel.com 

Mid-range hotel with simple but spacious 

rooms overlooking the garden 

and pool. Rates start below US $20 per 

night. Located 400 metres from the Old 

Town. 

le Domaine de Tam Hai Resort 

Tel: 0510 3545105 

www.domainedetamhai.com 

Occupying an island close to Hoi An, 

the resort features 12 villas, a private 

beach, and two restaurants serving 

French and Vietnamese cuisine. 

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. 

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. 

Vinh Hung Hotel 

143 Tran Phu Tel: 0510 3910 393 

www.vinhhunghotels.com.vn 

Evocative wood carving, antique furniture 

and Oriental rugs fill this intimate 

guesthouse just down the street from 

the Japanese Bridge. Construction 

dates back more than a century. 

Matterhorn, Wellington NZ 

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. 

Mango Cruise 

info@mangorooms.com 

Chef Duc from the celebrated Mango 

Rooms restaurant and his wife Ly offer a 

cruise down the Thu Bon River, complete 

with a meal from a menu created by Duc 

himself. 

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 two-day 

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. 

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. 

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 terracottatiled 

bathrooms. The grounds include a 

good Vietnamese restaurant, pool and 

kite-surfing 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. 

Shades apartment 

Khu 1, Ham Tien Tel: 062 3743 237 

www.shadesmuine.com 

Design-led boutique hotel that uses 

minimal materials and draws on natural 

textures to achieve a sense of timelessness. 

Serviced apartments are soundproof 

with blackout curtains. Pool and 

beachside veranda outside. 

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 

amongst 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. 

forester Spa & Mini Golf 

65 Nguyen Dinh Chieu 

Tel: 062 3743 447 

www.forestrestaurant.com 

Terraced nine-hole miniature golf course 

with distinctly Vietnamese terrain: rice 

paddies, palm trees, stilt homes and a 

fish pond. 

Jibes Beach Club 

84-90 Nguyen Dinh Chieu 

Tel: 062 3847 008 

www.windsurf-vietnam.com 

IKO-licensed kite-surfing 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 Beach.net 

www.muinebeach.net 

Informative website run by local writer 

Adam Bray covering news, events, community/environmental 

issues and more 

in Mui Ne and Phan Thiet. Also issues 

safety advisories regarding crime and 

tour bus accidents. 

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 

Chenla Resort & Spa 

Bai Xep, Ong Lang Beach 

Tel: 077 3995 895 

www.chenla-resort.com 

sales-hcmc@chenla-resort.com 

Resort on a bay offers 36 luxury bungalows/villas 

with ocean views, swimming 

pool, water sports, diving centre, spa 

and Mediterannean restaurants. 

freedomland 

Ong Long Beach Tel: 077 3994 891 

freedomlandphuquoc.com 

Secluded lodging in six different bungalow 

types built from natural materials 

sourced from the island. Private or 

shared bathrooms, no air-conditioning or 

hot water. Boat trips and scooter tours. 

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 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 an 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 stone hearth fireplace. 

Connection from Hanoi by private train. 

SCUBA DIVING 

Note: AsiaLIFE only lists dive centres 

recognised 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 Giai Dang, 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-ofthe-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 

The imperial Hotel 

159-163 Thuy Van Tel: 06 4362 8888 

www.imperialhotelvietnam.com 

Victorian-style hotel with 152 rooms, 

outdoor pool, shopping mall and fully 

serviced gym. 

TRAVEL AGENTS 

Budget Car Rentals 

198 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3 

Tel: 3930 2929 

Tan Son Nhat Airport Tel: 3930 2929 

International rental agency offers 

chauffeur-driven cars to destinations 

throughout Vietnam. Drivers are proficient 

in English and trained in defensive 

driving. Airport/resort transfers, daily 

rentals and corporate fleets available. 

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 specialising in 

flight bookings, package holidays and a 

range of well-run cultural and historical 

tours of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. 

iTravel 

175/22 Pham Ngu Lao, D1 

Tel: 0836 4876 

www.itravel-online.com 

trung@itravel-online.com 

Operated out of Le Pub (Hanoi/HCMC) 

offering a wide range of tour and accomodation 

options throughout Vietnam, 

as well as custom-made tours tailored 

to customer specifications. 

iViVu 

www.ivivu.com 

Offering the traditional services of a 

travel agent – airline tickets, tours, packages 

and hotels - as well as tips and 

up-to-date travel news on Vietnam. 

Terraverde 

91/10 Tran Quoc Hoan, Tan Binh 

Tel: 3948 4754/56 

info@terraverdetravel.com 

www.terraverdetravel.com 

German-owned travel agency specialising 

in tailor-made tours combining 

nature experiences; site visits; cultural 

encounters; biking, boating and trekking 

expeditions. Mixes cultural experience 

with light adventure tourism. 

Trails of indochina 

10/8 Phan Dinh Giot, Tan Binh 

Tel: 3844 1005 

www.trailsofindochina.com 

Specialists in custom-made tours 

offering cultural and adventurous experiences 

throughout the region. Exclusive 

resources and locations.

listings 

food & 

drink 

BAR RESTAURANTS 

alibi 

11 Thai Van Lung, 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 

40/24 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3836 8452 

Small eatery with a lunch menu of 

American classics (California burritos, po 

boy sandwiches, etc.) and a Brit-centric 

dinner selection of bangers & mash, fish 

& chips and more. Good veggie burger. 

Serves Huda Beer from Hue. 

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. 

K Cafe 

28 Do Quang Dau, D1 Tel: 3913 4673 

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 

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. 

feast broaden your palette with promotions around town 

Café Central Nguyen Hue 

For the month of April, Café Central 

Nguyen Hue is featuring a pulled pork 

burger covered in BBQ sauce, cheddar 

cheese and served with French fries 

and pineapple coleslaw (65,000++ VND) 

and a cherry tart for only 40, 000 VND 

Call 3.821.9303. 

Corso Steakhouse & Bar 

Throughout April, Corso Steakhouse 

& Bar is offering an a la carte Italian 

promotion 

that includes shrimp scampi, Italian 

tossed salad, Italian chicken pizza, fillet 

fiorentina, fettuccine Alfredo and vanilla 

panacotta. Call 3829 5386 Ext. 6614. 

Gardenstadt 

Throughout April, Gartenstadt is offering 

Austrian striploin steak in onion 

sauce served with homemade German 

noodles and vegetables and Montepulciano 

Rosso DOC red wine (225,000++ 

VND). Call 3822 3623. 

le Pub 

175/ 22 Pham Ngu Lao, D1 

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. Specialises in 

American grain-fed steaks, hamburgers 

and salads served in a pleasant 

atmosphere. 

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 3pm and 7pm. Great pizzas. 

Peaches: The Curry Pub 

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

D7 

Tel: 5410 0999 

Serves up dishes from Thailand, Viet- 

Saigon Café 

On Mondays from 6 to 10 pm, Spanish 

night returns, featuring tapas, paella 

Valencia, regional cheese and cured 

Spanish ham (725,000++ VND includes 

a free flow of Sangria). Call 3827 2828. 

Gia Dining Room 

Throughout April, Gia Dining Room 

is featuring a set four-course yellow 

fin tuna dinner and a two-hour free 

flow of wine. Dishes include yellow fin 

tuna salad with egg, French beans, 

tomato and olive; fresh yellow fin tuna 

marinated with herbs, yogurt and 

olive oil; grilled yellow fin tuna served 

with pan-fried French scallops with 

nam, 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 

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 

Sophisticated downtown bar just off Le 

Loi specialises in Asian tapas, Asian/ 

South American fusion dishes and a few 

delectable deserts. Variety of good wines 

by the glass or bottle. 

Rockit Bar & Grille 

Lucky Plaza, 69 Dong Khoi, D1 

rockitsaigon@gmail.com 

British/American sports bar meets bistro 

serving local draught beers and pubstyle 

food, as well as signature dishes 

like stuffed chicken wings and gourmet 

wagyu burgers. Pool table, darts and live 

sports telecast. 

cognac and fried yellow fin tuna with 

tomato sauce, steamed vegetables 

and steamed rice (USD $35.00++ per 

person). Call 3827 9399/3825 6257. 

Yu Chu Chinese Restaurant 

Dim sum brunch at Yu Chu happens on 

Sundays from 11.30am to 2.30pm. The 

menu features a variety of barbecued 

appetizers, cold dishes and hand 

pulled noodles and features steamed 

scallop and coriander dumplings, 

Beijing pot stickers, baked apple barbequed 

pork puffs and more (550,000 

VND per person or 730,000 VND per 

person with free flow of Trivento 

white and red wine, tiger draught, soft 

drinks, Illy coffee and Chinese tea. 

Email dine@icasianasaigon.com. 

Caravelle Lobby Lounge 

From April 12 to 25 the Lobby Lounge 

will feature a selection of five cupcakes 

that include sweet bitter 

chocolate, tanguy lime sensation, 

Iranian pistachio, Swiss carrot and 

Asian lotus, served with Ronnefeldt tea 

or Lavazza coffee (114,000 VND per 

person). Call 3823 4999. 

Olivier 

Through April 4, Chef Nicolas Isnard, 

head chef of one-Michelin Star 

Burgundy restaurant L’Auberge de la 

Charme will be preparing his specialties 

at Olivier including an avocado tart 

with seashell, quinoa tart, tuna ceviche 

and raspberry mille-feuille (threecourse 

Menu Emotion/500,000++ 

VND per person and five course Menu 

Magnifique/1,100,000++ VND per 

person, wine not included). Lunch is 

served from 11.30am to 2.30pm and 

dinner from 6.30 to 10.30 pm. Email 

fb@sofitelsaigon.com.vn. 

Sheridan’s irish House 

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

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 8am. 

Storm P Bar & Restaurant 

5B Nguyen Sieu, D1 Tel: 2240 7477 

This friendly hangout is a favourite with 

both the Scandinavian community and 

English-speaking expats. Offers Danish 

cuisine to go with the drinks. 

Tam Tam Bar 

24-26 Ho Tung Mao, D1 

Multi-level exposed brick space encompassing 

a first-floor lounge that hosts 

live music, a spacious second floor with 

an expansive bar and billiards table and 

rooftop barbecue restaurant serving a 

range of tasty dishes served at the table. 

The Tavern 

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 

41 Dong Du, D1 

41 Vo Truong Toan, D2 

Funky, modern interiors are a dominant 

feature of both ZanZBar locations, and 

both offer varied international breakfast, 

lunch and dinner cuisine. Imported beers, 

cocktails, gourmet espresso coffee, and 

happy hours make them great after-work 

spots but are also 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. 

Bull’s Cafe 

113C Bui Vien Street, D1 

Tel: 3836 1925 

www.bullcafe.com.vn 

MotoGP-themed lounge serving up coffee, 

smoothies and cafe house special, 

fruit cocktail. 

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. 

Coffee Bean & Tea leaf 

12-14 Thai Van Lung, D1 

94 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D3 

Nowzone, 235 Nguyen Van Cu, D5 

Metropolitan Building, 235 Dong Khoi, D1 

International café chain with a wide variety 

of coffees and teas, as well as light 

snacks and food. Also sells fresh-roasted 

coffee beans and tins of whole leaf tea. 

Jubarcalypse 


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. 

Kita Coffee House 

39 Nguyen Hue, D1, Tel: 3821 5300 

Small cafe with a clean and pleasant 

atmosphere. Serving quiches, wraps, 

vegetables, bread with humus and other 

dippings and a variety of coffee and fresh 

fruit juices. 

la fenetre Soleil 

135 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

Tel: 3822 5209 

A Parisian style shabby chic hideaway. It 

is a perfect spot to chill out over coffee, 

juice or snacks like muffins and cakes. 

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 

A top-end cafe pulling in a mix of tourists 

and upper-class Saigonese. Boasts an 

attractive interior, outdoor terrace at street 

level and comfortable lounges upstairs. 

Good business coffee or lunch venue. 

Nirvana 

14Bis Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1 

Tel: 3910 0745 

Pleasant retro-styled cafe with outdoor 

water features and welcome modern 

touches like free Wi-Fi. Live music at 

night. 

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. 

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 

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 VND100,000 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 VND500,000, but most dishes fall 

between VND80,000 to VND180,000 


imbibe 

Changing Tastes 

By Ginny Becker 

If the slightest weather fluctuation 

can affect a grape yield 

and ultimately, the wine we 

drink, what is the impact of a 

larger trend such as climate 

change? 

By definition, the term 

climate change refers to alternations 

in a regional climate’s 

temperature, humidity, rainfall, 

wind and storms. As the world 

experiences more and more 

significant and often devastating 

weather events, it stands 

to reason that the wine we 

know and love may also be 

changing. 

“Warmer weather is contributing 

to spiking alcohol levels,” 

writes winemaker and author 

Paul Dolan. “Drought is drying 

out and threatening vineyards. 

Warmer springs produce 

early bud breaks, increasing 

the chance that a frost will 

damage vines. Rain patterns 

are increasingly shifting from 

seasonal cycles to random, 

unexpected storms that bring 

rot and mold.” Dolan adds 

that measurable change has 

already occurred in recent 

decades. 

Nicolas Delion, business 

development manager at Red 

Apron Wine & Spirits agrees, 

but adds that weather isn’t the 

only factor involved. 

“Over the past 50 years, the 

average temperature has risen 

one and a half to two degrees 

Celsius,” he says. “And if the 

temperature goes up another 

two degrees over the next 50 

years, the taste will change 

again. But the grape proportions, 

length of ageing and 

even using wood or stainless 

barrels will also impact the 

taste.” 

Champagne producers are 

feeling the heat, as well. A 

cool environment and a high 

acidity level are essential to 

producing quality Champagne, 

but both are fleeting. The taste 

of bubbly is already different 

than it was 50 years ago. 

Many producers are struggling 

to manage increasing alcohol 

content and decreasing acidity, 

both of which result in less 

aging potential and a lowerquality 

product. To counteract 

the effects, some French winemakers 

have even considered 

planting vineyards in cooler 

climates, but because of appellation 

restrictions, their bubbly 

could no longer be called 

Champagne if they grow it 

outside of the region. 

However, the situation may 

all be in how you look at it. 

Many winemakers are remaining 

positive and embracing 

the opportunity to produce 

younger vintages and thereby, 

new branding opportunities. 

Delion welcomes the challenge: 

“It’s good to provide a 

wide range of products. The 

more wines you have, the 

more they can be modified to 

create different tastes. There is 

nothing you can do about the 

climate’s effect on grapes. You 

just have to go with it.” 

banh gai 

street gourmet 

The saying, “Don’t judge a 

book by its cover” was made 

for ban gai. At first glance it’s 

not the most enticing piece 

of street food, but look closer 

and you’ll find that this treat is 

all about the inside. Unwrap 

the several layers of neatly 

wrapped banana leaf that 

surround it and you’ll see 

what we mean. The prize is a 

Huy long Vien 

99 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3823 7799 

A magnificent Chinese restaurant with 

a leafy slate-tiled courtyard, Chinese 

lanterns and a labyrinth of water works. 

Lunchtime dim sum is 120,000VND, 

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 US$17.00. 

Nightly à la carte menu with dishes going 

from VND100,000. 

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 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. 

small, square cake made from 

shredded coconut encased in 

a sticky, blackish-coloured leaf. 

The taste is mildly sweet and 

the texture is slightly chewy. 

Ban gai originated in the Red 

River Delta but can easily be 

found in residential neighbourhoods 

around town. A piece 

will run you approximately 

3,000 VND. 

Shang Palace Restaurant 

Norfolk Mansion, 17-19-21 Ly Tu Trong, 

D1 Tel: 3823 2221 

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. 

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 

Specialising 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 

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 

Tranquil open-terraced heaven for 

ice-cream 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 

Two-floor dessert house specialising 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 

118 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3914 1188 


Tel: 3500 1852 

Panorama Apartments, Ton Dat Tien, 

Phu My Hung, D7 Tel: 5413 6394 

www.yogenfruz.com 

Frozen yoghurt parlour is decked in modmeets-IKEA 

decor and serves no-fat, and 

low-fat fro-yo blended with fresh fruits, 

as well as soft serve and smoothies. 

District 7 parlour located just past SSIS in 

Panorama complex. 

FRENCH 

annamite french Restaurant 

21 Tu Xuong, Ward 7 D3 

Tel: 6277 8332 

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. 

Jardin Delice 

4 Thao Dien, D2 Tel: 3744 4722 

Located in a beautiful French villa with a 

swimming pool and spa open to diners, 

Jardin Delice specialises in high-end 

French cuisine. Hip setting provides a 

mish-mash of colourful glass plates, 

chairs and massive paintings. 

la Bordeaux 

F7-F8, D2 Road, P25, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 3899 9831 

French fine dining in an elegant, intimate 

loft space with dark wood and linendraped 

tables. Expect simple, classic 

dishes prepared to perfection. Rotating 

seasonal menu. 

la Brasserie 

61 Hung Gia 2, Phu My Hung, D7 

Tel: 5410 4317 

Contemporary French restaurant and 

wine bar with outdoor seating and wine 

cellar stocked with more than 650 wines. 

Features classic French fare like sliced 

raw beef Carpaccio with Parmesan 

cheese and grilled beef fillet served with 

French fries and vegetable gratin. 

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 12am to 2 pm and from 

7pm to 10pm. 

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 espressobased 

drinks. Lunch menu changes 

daily, but always encompasses traditional 

French food. Open until 10pm. 

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 VND60,000 and a carafe of house 

wine costs VND50,000. 

l’en Tête 

139 Nguyen Thai Binh, D1 

Tel: 3821 4049 

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. 

Olivier Restaurant 

Level 2, Sofitel Saigon Plaza, 

17 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3824 1555 

Imaginative French cuisine cooked up 

in a blend of classic and contemporary. 

Executive Chef Martin Becquart prepares 

a solid but creative selection of French 

favourites with an extensive range of fish 

and meat dishes. 

Sesame 

153 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 0989 765 472 

A self-styled hospitality school for disadvantaged 

children, Sesame gives practical 

experience to its students through its 

operational restaurant. Serving a mixture 

of French and Vietnamese cuisine. 

Ty Coz 

178/4 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3822 2457 

Homely and attractive venue specialises 

in classic French cuisine. Does excellent 

three-course business set meals for and 

sells carefully selected seafood. 

INDIAN 

ashoka 

17/10 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 

1372 

33 Tong Huu Dinh, D2 Tel: 744 4144 

S9-1 lo R13 - KP Hung Vuong 2, D7 

Tel: 5410 1989 

Ashoka is one of the city’s most popular 

and enduring Indian restaurants with a 

reputation for good food and service at a 

reasonable price. 

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 

VND40,000 and chicken dishes from 

VND64,000. 

Mumtaz 

226 Bui Vien, D1 Tel: 3837 1767 

Reasonably priced north and south Indian 

fare in a clean, light and spacious 

setting. Vegetarian curries go for around 

VND30,000 while meat dishes cost between 

VND45,000 and VND55,000 each. 

Excellent kebabs. 

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 

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 

organise catering for events. 

INTERNATIONAL 

al fresco’s 

21 Mac Dinh Chi D1 

27 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3822 7317 

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 11am to 11pm. 

au lac Do Brazil 

238 Pasteur, D3 Tel: 3820 7157 

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

Tel: 5410 5566 

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 

Lavishly decorated brasserie borrowing 

from Moroccan and French styles and 

To find us, walk through the arch at 

74 Hai Ba Trung and discover our 

beautiful secluded courtyard. 

popular during lunchtime with expats. 

Specialises 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 

480D Nguyen Thi Thap, D7 

Tel: 2241 9100 

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 Khe, 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. 

Telephone 

3823 0509 

Open 7 Days 

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 tripledecker 

club with fries and salad and burgers 

that range from First to Fourth Grade. 

Also has a wood-fired pizza oven. 

Cepage 

Lancaster Building 22 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

Tel: 3823 8321 

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. 

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. 

Dragon’s Nest 


Tel: 6271 2072/3 

Exquisitely designed restaurant tucked 

into luxurious spa complex with indoor 

and outdoor seating. Serves an array of 

fine contemporary German, European 

and Vietnamese mains. Also serves and 

delivers pizza. 

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 7.30am 

to 11pm. Breakfast served all day. 

Gartenstadt 


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. 

Gia Dining Room 

5A Nguyen Sieu, D1 Tel: 3827 9399 

www.giadiningroom.com 

Serves a mid-range slate of mainly grilled 

Western mains, single-entree Asian 

dishes and wide range of soups, salads, 

appetisers. Three intimate dining spaces 

pair modern design with Indochina-era 

sophistication. Extensive list of Old and 

New World wines. 

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. 

Halel@Saigon 

31 Dong Du, D1 Tel: 3824 5823 

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. 

Hard Rock Cafe 

InterContinental Asiana Saigon, corner of 

Hai Ba Trung and Le Duan, D1 

Tel: 3520 9099 

Popular theme restaurant/live music 

venue serves large portions of pub fare 

including salads, fajitas and burgers. Rock 

‘n’ roll memorabilia adorns the walls in 

classic Hard Rock-style and the rock shop 

sells themed shot glasses, t-shirts and 

jewellery. 

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 


Unpretentious brasserie-style restaurant 

specialises 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. 

Market 39 

InterContinental Asiana Saigon 

Ground Floor, Corner Hai Ba Trung and 

Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3520 9099 


Seven interactive live kitchens offering 

French, Vietnamese and Southeast Asian 

cuisines, including a bakery, French patisseries, 

pancakes, tossed salads, grilled 

steak, seafood, wok-fried items, noodles 

and pasta dishes. 

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. 

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 5pm 

to 7pm and all day Wednesday. 

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 

Fine dining restaurant with European-style 

decor serves Pacific Rim cuisine created 

by Executive Chef Timo Alfred Fritz Reuss. 

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 

Specialising 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. . 

Typhoon 

Riverside Apartments, 53 Vo Truong 

Toan, D2 Tel: 3744 4111, Ext. 706/707 

Family-friendly restaurant serving a varied 

slate influenced by the gulf cuisines of 

Southeast and East Asia and Central 

America. New and Old World wines, 

imported beers and tropical cocktails 

served inside or poolside. Accessible 

from downtown by Riverside boat 

shuttle. 

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 

Basilico 

InterContinental Asiana Saigon, 

Ground Floor, Corner Nguyen Du and 

Hai Ba Trung, D1 Tel: 3520 9099 


Contemporary and casual trattoria-style 

restaurant specialising 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 

cuisines 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, cal- 

zones, 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. 

Specialises 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 specialising in top-end 

traditional cuisine from various regions 

in Italy. Main courses from VND130,000 

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. 

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. 

JAPANESE 

Dragon Hot Pot 

122-124 Ho Tung Mao, D1 

Tel: 3915 1001 

info@dragonhotpot.vn 

Japanese hot pot restaurant serving 

motsu nabe, Japanese barbeque and 

lots of sake and shoju. 

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 US$8. Leave 

some room for homemade yoghurt. 

Kuru Kuru Sushi 

129 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3824 3566 

Sushi restaurant with colour-coded menu 

items served from a rotating conveyor 

belt. Helpful place mats in both English 

and Vietnamese break down prices and 

explain how to choose your food. Very 

affordable prices. 

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 US$15. 

Okinawa Yamaneko 

13/1 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 8433 

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 

Healthful, 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 

2 Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3823 8042 

3A Ton Duc Thang, D1, Tel: 3911 8618 

This brightly lit Japanese-style restaurant 

serves over 40 varieties of sushi at 

reasonable prices. Sit at the sushi bar 

or in private rooms upstairs. Open until 

11.30pm, delivery available on request. 

Popular with expats and locals alike. 

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 

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 hotpot 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 

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. 

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. 

Sawasdee Saigon 

102 - 104 Le Lai, D1 Tel: 3925 7777 

Authentic Thai cuisine in a warm, friendly 

atmosphere. 

Satay House 

35 Mac Dinh Chi, D1 Tel: 3822 1727 

Bright and rustic, this Malaysian-run 

place specialises 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 specialises 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. 

LOUISIANE 

BREWHOUSE 

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 


Tel: 3526 5862 

Upscale vegetarian restaurant specialises 

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 Hung, D3 Tel: 3930 5674 

This HCM City oupost of the legendary 

Hanoi original serves only one dish: 

the eponymous and delicious cha ca 

la vong, fish pan-fried at the table with 

turmeric and dill and served with cold 

noodles and peanuts. 

Com Nieu 

19 Tu Xuong, D3 Tel: 3932 6288 

The house specialty, com nieu (smashed 

rice), comes with a shattered-crockery 

and flying-rice show at this well-known 

restaurant, prominently featured in 

Anthony Bourdain’s A Cook’s Tour. An 

extensive and tasty selection of southern 

Vietnamese cuisine rounds out the menu. 

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. 

Hoi an 


Fine dining Vietnamese-style courtesy 

of two sumptuously decorated colonial 

villas, a bamboo-clad walled courtyard 

and a menu spanning the three main 

regions of Vietnam. Specialities include 

abalone soup and a raw fish salad. Four 

VIP rooms. 

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. 

Beachside Nha Trang 

Asian & Western Cuisine 

Swimming Pool & Private Beach 

Miami 

23 Ton Dan, D4 Tel: 083 941 5433 

Lively, interactive restaurant serving 

primarily Vietnamese seafood dishes like 

hotpot using choice ingredients. Guests 

can choose from market-style selection 

and watch as chefs prepare their meals. 

Frequent food promotions on offer. 

Nam Kha 

46-48-50 Dong Khoi, D1 

Tel: 3823 8309 

A swish restaurant from the Khai Silk 

family with aquatic décor, massive vases 

and a large staff eager to cater to your 

every whim. Set and a la carte menus 

available. Upstairs is the upmarket 

Dragon lounge bar. 

Nghi Xuan 

5/9 Nguyen Sieu, D1 Tel: 3823 0699 

Located down an alley just past Hai Ba 

Trung, featuring an attractive open firstfloor 

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. 

Quan an Ngon 


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. 

Quan Nuong 

29 Ton That Thiep, D1 

A favourite with both locals and expats, 

this rooftop restaurant above the Temple 

Club offers an extensive menu of meat, 

seafood and vegetarian dishes. Try the 

beef wrapped around tasty melting 

cheese or deliciously fresh skewered 

prawns. 

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. 

Tib express 

162 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3 

Tel: 3822 5038 

Serves a large selection of Tib’s Huefood 

menu in a more casual dining 

www.louisianebrewhouse.com.vn 

Banh day could be the Western 

equivalent of bologna on 

white bread, but thankfully, 

it’s a bit more flavourful than 

the classic American sandwich 

of yesteryear. Eaten 

primarily for breakfast, banh 

day is made with two small, 

round gelatinous pieces of 

sticky rice that sandwich a 

piece of slightly spicy pork 

sausage. Although banh day 

is sold year-round by bicycleriding 

vendors, during the Tet 

holiday it goes by the name 

banh chung. But regardless 

of when you eat it and 

what you call it, there’s no 

debating that at 8,000 VND 

a fix, banh day is a delicious 

mini-meal and economical 

way to fill your stomach. 


banh day 

street gourmet 

rooom and at significantly lower prices. 

Specialises in bun bo Hue. 

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. 

nightlife 

BARS & LOUNGES 

See bar restaurant listings for more popular 

watering holes 

acoustic Bar 

6E1 Ngo Thoi Nhiem, D3 

Tel: 3930 2239 

A Volkswagen Bug tries to scale the wall 

outside this well-priced music venue 

popular with college-age Vietnamese and 

the occasional expat. 

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. 

Ciao lounge 

2nd Floor, 74-76 Nguyen Hue, D1 

Trendy and attractive lounge bar with a 

mixture of retro and modern decor and 

a pleasant atmosphere to boot. A great 

escape from central Saigon but quite 

touristy. 

Cranberry Café & Pub 

45 Ton That Thiep, D1 Tel: 3914 0991 

Upmarket,quiet lounge great for private 

parties. Brickwork and cranberry-red 

chairs speak to the bar’s name, with a 

cocktail range and Tigers in blissfully 

frosted mugs. 

level 23 

23rd Floor, Sheraton Hotel 


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 personalised service. 

long Phi 

325 Pham Ngu Lao Tel: 3920 3805 

Popular late night spot for those who 

prefer to spend their after hours over a 

cheap beer rather than at a nightclub. 

Live music, a fooseball table and a tasty 

burger-and-fries plate contribute to the 

laid-back vibe. 

M52 Bar 


Sparsely-appointed venue with reasonably 

priced drinks noted for packing 

a punch. Owners Annie and Ms. Van 

are never too busy to check on their 

patrons, and the busy bartenders are 

quick with a smile. 

Number five Bar 

44 Pasteur, D1 Tel: 3825 6300 

Number Five Bar is older than it looks, 

having formerly been located at 5 Ly Tu

Trong. The bar attracts a regular clientele 

of established expats. 

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 US$6 to US$10 per 

glass. Tiger is US$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 

8.30pm 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. 

The Hi-Fi 

Lucky Plaza, 69 Dong Khoi, D1 

hifisaigon@gmail.com 

Dedicated live-music venue with full bar 

located in the heart of Saigon. Regularly 

hosts both local and international artists. 

T&R Tavern 

57 Do Quang Dau, D1 

Classic ex-pat dive bar with pool table, 

darts and comfortable yet simple decor. 

Daily happy hour and sportsfans can 

catch games on the big screen. 

Vibe Billiards & lounge 

102 Suong Nguyet Anh, D1 

Tel: 3925 2599 

Sleek bi-level lounge with Scandinavian 

design, Bansky-esque murals and 

top-notch billiards and snooker tables, 

paid for by the hour. Hosts league play, 

half-price Mondays, ladies’ nights and 

DJ events. 

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. 

Yoko 

22A Nguyen Thi Dieu, D3 

Tel: 3825 1901 

Compact and popular joint with nightly 

live music boasts a refreshingly eclectic 

range of Western styles, with most songs 

sung in English. 

BREWHOUSES 

alderbrau 

98 Nguyen Du, D1 

Small brewhouse decorated with antique 

brewing miscellanea, with an enclosed 

garden for outdoor swilling its small 

range of house brews and bottled imports. 

The kitchen dishes up sausages, 

German fare, and Vietnamese dishes. 

Bia Tuoi Tiep 

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 

bounce 

Parkson Plaza 

35bis-45 Le Thanh Ton, D1 

High-end hip-hop venue with bottle service, 

the club regularly brings in big name 

DJs, including Ministry of Sound. 

Cage 

3A Ton Duc Thang, D1 

Tucked away on a small road just off 

of Ton Duc Thang, this popular club is 

beautifully decorated with purple drapery 

and the odd cage, this bar offers a good 

mix of lounging and dancing. Often has 

live music and DJ’s. 

lush 

2 Ly Tu Trong, D1 Tel: 3824 2496 

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. 

Nhu lan 

64-68 Ham Nghi, D1 

365-367 Hai Ba Trung, D3 

The doyenne of bread shops, Nhu Lan 

is spread over several buildings and sells 

solid baguette-style bread and basic 

sandwiches. 

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 

6.30am. 

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. 

Sesame Bakery 

153 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 3518 0897 

Located in the premise of the Hospitality 

School of HCMC, Sesame Bakery provides 

practical experience to its students. 

Wide variety of French pastries, loaves, 

baguettes, cookies at very competitive 

prices. Special order & delivery 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. 

Une Journee a Paris 


French bakery offering a variety of cakes, 

croissants and breads. 

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 


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 

Newly established 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 

RESTAURANT - LOU NGE - FASHION 

Fashionable, sophisticated and a 

wonderfully unique concept, 

Villa FB merges fashion and 

food, providing a space where 

artistic talent and sensitive palates 

can be enjoyed in harmony. 

79 SUONG NGUYET ANH ST., DIST. 1, HCMC 

T: +84 8 6290 6571 - F: +84 8 6290 6572 

INFO@VILLAFB.COM 

WWW. VILLAFB.COM 

Present 

this to your 

server and receive 

a 10% discount 


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 US$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 Monday 

to Saturday 10am-1pm/2pm-5pm. 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. 

Vietnam Cookery Centre 

362/8 Ung Van Khiem, Binh Thanh 

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 US$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. 

au Parc 


A fine deli counter displaying a wide 

selection of cheeses, roasted vegetables, 

dips and some tempting sweets. The 

shelves along the side wall also showcase 

a solid selection of dried goods and 

some imported condiments. 

Classic fine foods 

100 Xuan Thuy, D2, Tel: 3744 2717 

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. 

future Sense 

284/9 Nguyen Trong Tuyen, Phu Nhuan 

Tel: 3844 6099 

Ice cream home delivery service featuring 

banana-on a stick, Ola premium 

ice cream and frozen yoghurt and I’sa 

ice cream, all produced with European 

technology and imported ingredients. 

Grand-Place Chocolate 

1A Me Linh Square, Room C4, D1 

Tel: 3823 4068 

www.grandplacechocolate.com 

delivery@grandplacechocolate.com 

Belgian chocolate manufacturer offering 

high quality chocolate for professionals 

and chocolate lovers. Chocolate available 

in 1 kg blocks or 2.5 kg buttons. 

Free delivery. 

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. 

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 vegatables 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. 

Red apron 

22 Chu Manh Trinh, D1 Tel: 3823 0021 

Large wine and spirits wholesaler, with 

90,000 bottles stored in its five locations 

around the country. Sells wine from all 

around the world, particularly France, 

Chile, Italy and Australia. Exclusive 

distributor of such fine brands as Taittinger 

Champagne. 

Tapas Wine 

2/3A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 

Tel: 2201 0909 

www.tapaswines.com 

Home delivery service that specialises in 

Spanish wines. Check out the website 

for a full catalog of their wines, as well as 

reviews by brand. 

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. Provides 

advice and delivery service. 


gym optional 

healthy alfresco dining 

serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 

delivery in anphu, and catering for events 

open 7am to 9pm weekdays 

7am to 8pm weekends 

free wifi 

34 nguyen dang giai, q2 

tel: 3744 6672 

email: ntfq2@nutrifort.com 

web: www.nutrifort.com 

listings 

culture 

CLASSES 

Creative Writing Classes 

Tel: 090 448 2957 

kate_orson@hotmail.com 

Writer Kate Orson teaches creative writing 

courses for fiction, non-fiction and 

travel writing. Beginners and experienced 

writers are welcome. 

Helene Kling Painting 

513 An Binh, Street 12, D2 

helene_kling@yahoo.com 

French painter Helene holds classes 

in oil painting at her beautiful river-side 

home on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday’s 

between 8am and 1pm for adults and 

Monday and Friday afternoons between 

3pm and 6pm for children. 

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. 

The Performing arts academy 

19A Ngo Quang Huy, D2 

Tel: 090 339 0675 

info@performingartsacademyhcmc.com 

www.performingartsacademyhcmc.com 

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. 

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. 

Galaxy Cinema 

116 Nguyen Du, D1 Tel: 3822 8533 

230 Nguyen Trai, D1 Tel: 3920 6688 

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. 

Megastar 

Hung Vuong Plaza, 126 Hung Vuong, 

D5 Tel: 08 2222 0388 

Saigon Paragon, 3 Nguyen Luong Bang, 

D7 Tel: 5416 0099 

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 organising 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 10am 

to 6pm. 

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. 

future Shorts 

futureshortsvietnam@gmail.com 

www.futureshorts.com/vn 

The Vietnam branch of the international 

short film network doesn’t have a permanent 

space, but it does host semi-regular 

film events and workshops around 

town. Paricipation gives filmmakers the 

potential to have their work screened 

internationally at Future Short events. 

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. Organises 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 

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. 

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 

Mr. 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 fenetre Soleil 


Tel: 0909 365 525 

Every Thursday from 8pm with Urko and 

Fred, with a total beginners workshop 

starting at 8:30pm (minimum 10 people 

required; 50,000 VND with a cocktail). 

Followed by social dancing until 

midnight. 

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 7:30pm; 

intermediate L.A style at 8:30pm). Registration 

required. 

Swing Dancing at la fenetre Soleil 


www.saigonswing.com 

Free swing dance nights held every 

Wednesday from 8pm to 9pm, followed 

by a DJ so you can practice your new 

moves. Regular classes are held every 

six weeks in East Coast Swing and Lindy 

Hop. 

FITNESS & 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. 

Christophe Guillemin 

Tel: 0909 365525 

azia_shop@yahoo.fr 

www.azia-shop.com 

French fitness instructor offers his training 

assistance both at home or in your 

gym to help with everything from weight 

loss to muscle building. Also does cardio 

training sessions at An Phu swimming 

pool on Saturday at 11am. 

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. 

Diamond Plaza 


The city’s largest department store has 

a well-equipped gym with steam room, 

jacuzzi, massage parlour and swimming 

pool. The gym costs from US$90 per 

month. 

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. 

John Huy Tran, fitness instructor 

Tel: 0983 789 318 

jht_fitness@hotmail.com 

Canadian fitness professional certified 

trainer with over 10 years’ experience in 

the fitness industry, dance and sports. 

Can provide training tailored to individual 

needs. 

K1 fitness and fight factory 

346 Ben Van Don, D4 

Tel: 0918 337 111 

www.teamminetti.com 


listings

Reasons to be happy 

7 days a week 

Daily promotions on a wide range of 

signature beverages, as well as 

complimentary after-work canapés. 

Drop in to experience the new 

Happy Hour for yourself. 

Please visit the ZanZBar Facebook Group to learn more about the latest 

Please visit the ZanZBar Facebook Group to learn more about the latest 

Happy Hour promotions - Group name: ZanZBar (Downtown) 


Tel: (08) 3822 7375 

Email: zzb.saigon@gmail.com 

nutrifort health feed 

Seven Steps Towards Lower Cholesterol 

By Nutrifort’s Nicole Hankins 

Most people know that 

cholesterol is a type of fat 

that circulates in our blood 

and plays a major role in 

the heart’s health. But what 

fewer people know is that 

their daily eating habits and 

lifestyle choices may put 

them at risk of developing 

high cholesterol. 

While genetics in part 

dictate your cholesterol levels, 

the amount of physical 

activity you engage in and 

your food choices are more 

significant factors. If you are 

prone to heart disease because 

your body produces 

more cholesterol than it 

needs, medication may be 

the only way to control it. In 

other cases, however, there 

are ways to lower cholesterol 

without medication. 

1) Replace white foods such 

as sugar, white rice and flour 

with whole grains like brown 

rice and whole wheat flour. 

2) Choose a diet high in 

fruit, vegetables, beans and 

whole grains and low in 

animal fat. 

3) Avoid hydrogenated oils, 

saturated fats and trans fats, 

which have a higher melting 

point and longer shelf life 

because they are solid rather 

than liquid. The best oils are 

made from olive, sunflower, 

peanut, soybean, corn and 

sesame. 

4) Don't count calories. 

Instead, monitor fats and 

sugars that cause heart 

problems. Eat a high-fiber 

and low-fat diet. 

5) Take three grams of fish 

oil supplements daily. Rich 

in omega-3 fatty acids, fish 

oil can help reduce sudden 

cardiac death by 50 to 80 

percent and help decrease 

breast and prostate cancer. 

6) Quit smoking. Smoking 

puts you at much great risk 

of developing heart disease. 

If you have high cholesterol 

and smoke, you quadruple 

your risk. 

7) Get regular exercise. Physical 

activity increases HDL 

levels and lowers your risk of 

heart disease. Aerobic activity 

like brisk walking, biking or 

swimming at moderate-tovigorous 

intensity is the best 

way to condition your heart. 

Aim for a minimum of 45 minutes, 

three times per week. 

The goal is to get your total 

cholesterol under 150 milligrams 

per deciliter of blood 

(mg/dL). The LDL (low-density 

lipoprotein) or the “bad” cholesterol 

needs to be under 95 

mg/dL and the HDL (highdensity 

lipoprotein) or “good” 

cholesterol level should be 

greater than 40 mg/dL. 

If your total cholesterol 

levels fall between 200 to 239 

mg/dL, they are borderline 

high. If they exceed 240 mg/ 

dL, you have high blood cholesterol. 

When this happens, 

it’s time to take a look at your 

lifestyle and assess whether 

you need to take one or 

more of these seven steps. 

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 US$400++. 

Michelle lloyd Yoga 

Tel: 090 964 8193 

michelleglloyd@gmail.com 

www.michellelloyd.com 

Certified yoga instructor offering Vinyasa 

yoga classes at various locations around 

the city. Private and corporate yoga 

programmes available. Contact Michelle 

for information on her current schedule 

and special events. 

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 

34 Nguyen Dang Giai, D2 

Tel: 3744 6672 

ntfq2@nutrifort.com/www.nutrifort.com 

First boutique, purpose-built fitness 

and wellness centre in Vietnam. Offers 

personal training, small group classes, 

specialised treatment and healthy dining 

at on-site restaurant Good Eats. 

Park Hyatt fitness Centre 


Luxury health centre with the full range 

of facilities including swimming pool, 

steam room, jacuzzi and fitness centre. 

Three-month peak membership costs 

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

Patricia Romero, eRYT200 

Phu My Hung, An Phu 

Tel: 090 387 2832 

saigonease@yahoo.com 

Alignment-based yoga classes that 

infuse elements from the Ashtanga and 

Iyengar traditions. Group and private 

classes. Also specialising in therapeutics 

and restorative yoga. Patricia has been 

teaching yoga in Saigon since 2002. 

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 US$140 a month, or 

US$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 

Somerset Apartments 

8A Nguyen Binh Khiem, D1 

Tel: 090 835 2265 

www.saigonyoga.com 

info@saigonyoga.com 

Yoga and pre-natal yoga classes held 

downtown and in D3. Taught by experienced, 

certified instructrs from the US. 

Class size limited to 12 students. Reservation 

is requested to ensure a space. 

Private group and pre-natal classes of 

up to 8 by appointment. 

Sheraton fitness 

Level 5, Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, 


sheraton.saigon@sheraton.com 

www.sheraton.com/saigon 

Sheraton Fitness features a team of 

trained professionals and new Technogym 

equipment. Members have full use 

of leisure facilities and receive discounts 

at hotel bars and restaurants and Aqua 

Day Spa. 

Star fitness Gym 

Manor Apartments, 91 Nguyen Huu 

Canh, Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 0255 

This 1,600sq.m gym is apparently the 

biggest in Vietnam. Has a good range 

of machines for any type of workout. 

Membership involves one time entry fee 

plus monthly subscriptions and gives 

free access to regular fitness classes. 

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 US$700++ for six 

months and US$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 

Profesional 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 (2.30pm 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 4pm until 6pm. 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 US$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 US$700 for 6 months. Visitors’ 

greens fees for a round of golf are 

around US$16 before 5pm and US$19 

after. Club, shoe and umbrella hire is 


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 


Danang Golf Club 

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 2pm at the Caravelle Hotel to go on 

a run in different locations out of town 

with their traditional balance of exercise 

and beer. 

Phun Runners 

www.phun-run.com 

info@phun-run.com 

Running group that meets Sundays at 

7am 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. 

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 Pony Club 

Lane 42, Le Van Thinh, D2 

Tel: 09 1373 3360 

A standout facility offering pony rides, 

riding lessons, horse clinics and pony 

rentals. Also hosts events and birthdays. 

Squash 

The Landmark, 5B Ton Duc Thang, D1 

Tel: 3822 2098 ext 176 


www.thelandmarkvietnam.com 

One of three squash courts in town. 

Membership is open to non-Landmark 

residents and drop-in players. Lessons 

and racquets are available for additional 

fees. Balls are provided. Book in advance 

or phone for further information. 

Ultimate frisbee 

RMIT, 702 Nguyen Van Linh, D7 

www.saigon-ultimate.com 

Join in this exciting popular sport every 

Sunday afternoon from 3pm to 5pm in 

Saigon South. Pan-Asian competitions 

also organised for the more experienced. 

Contact David Jensen at 0909458890 

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 


Tel: 6278 5794 

503A Nguyen Duy Trinh, D2 

Tel: 2210 9192 

www.xrockclimbing.com 

Offering safe and professional climbing 

for anyone aged 4 and up. Featuring 

mountain climbing routes rated from 

beginner to advanced, climbing and 

belay-safety courses and training, 

birthday parties, corporate team building. 

Excellent facilities for children and annual 

membership for kids. 

listings 

health & 

beauty 

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 

american Chiropractic Clinic 

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 ad Korean. Treat 

back pain, neck pain, knee pain, also 

specialising 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 US$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. 

Traditional Medicine Hospital 


Friendly staff speak little to no English 

at this well-known and 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. Specialises in 

LASIK correctional procedures, costing 

from US$700 to US$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 

127 Dien Bien Phu, Dakao, D1 

Tel: 3823 8680 

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 551916 or 

0918 749204. 

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 & Associates 


doc.linh@gmail.com 

With 10 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. 

Westcoast international Dental Clinic 

27 Nguyen Trung Truc, D1 

Tel: 3825 6999 

71-79 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3825 6777 

info@westcoastinternational.com 

www.westcoastinternational.com 

Canadian-run dental clinic staffed by 

French, Japanese, English and Vietnamese 

speaking dental professionals. 

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 profess ional 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 US $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 US$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 

Dragon’s Nest, 186 Nguyen Van Huong, 

D2 Tel: 6273 2078 

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 

all go for upwards. 

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 personalised facial care 

treatments from US$30 and medicated 

acne treatments from US$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 US $28 for 

women and US $22 for men. 

Venus 

41 Nguyen Trung Ngan, D1 

Tel: 3829 6298 

French Vietnamese stylist Sandrine 

Nguyen trained with worldwide academics 

Toni & Guy and Vidal Sassoon. With 

asialife HCMC 77

140 Hoa Lan, Phu Nhuan District 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 

t: 083 517 2037 / 083 517 2208 

f: 083 517 8532 

more than eight years experience, she 

offers haircuts for men from US$10 and 

US$20 for women. Special services are 

colouring and highlights. 

YKC Beauty & Hair Studio 


Tel: 3829 2791/3827 5194 

www.ykcspa.com 

Popular amongst the expat community, 

the salon is run by Toronto trained 

mother and son duo of Cindy (owner) 

and Ky The Guy (hair stylist). Offers a full 

range of spa and hair services and has 

a second hair salon located in the Park 

Hyatt Hotel. 

YKC esthetics & Hair Spa 


Tel: 3829 2791 

An excellent salon with a following 

of expat regulars. A Toronto-trained 

mother-and-son team manage YKC’s 

staff and offer the full range of services 

from facials, body therapy, waxing, nails 

to cut, color and highlights. 

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) 

1 Han Thuyen, D1 

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 checkups 

cost between VND400,000 and 

VND800,000. 

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. 

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 

79 Dien Bien Phu, D1 Tel: 3910 4545 

www.victoriavn.com 

Well-regarded clinic offering general examinations, 

and specialising in women’s 

health, paediatrics, digestive diseases 

and internal medicine. Offers a membership 

programme. Open seven days a 

week. Doctors on call 24 hours. 

NAILS 

Nghia Beauty 

20 Phan Boi Chau, D1 

Tel: 3829 2688 

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 VND40,000. 

OPI 


International brand of nail care offering 

a variety of treatments from standard 

manicures at VND50,000 to the whole 

host nail services such as acrylics, powder 

gell, cuticle treatments and French 

polishing. 

Quang Qui’s Nails 



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. 

aZial and rendez-vous 

Eden Mall, 106 Nguyen Hue, D1 

Tel: 3824 3579 

www.azial.com 

www.naturalrdv.com 

All-natural skin and body care products 

free from synthetic ingredients. Made 

with freshly extracted Aloe Vera gel 

and enhanced with therapeutic-grade 

essential oils. Found in many of the bestknown 

spas in Vietnam. 

The Body Shop 


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 



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 30year 

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. 

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 

Ho Chi Minh City, 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. 

Dragon’s Nest 


Tel: 6271 2076 

Exquisite interior and outdoor design in 

remodeled villa. An extensive range of 

pampering options are available as well 

as a restaurant, hair salon, pool and 

terrace bar. 

Glow Spa 

Eden Mall, Mezzanine Level 


spa@glowsaigon.com 

www.glowsaigon.com 

Decorated in mandarin orange, this 

urban spa boasts four single rooms, two 

couples suites with private shower, and 

a VIP suite, complete with a hydro bath. 

Uses Italian products, Comfort Zone. 

Henni Biscoe 

NTFQ2 


Tel: 0126 874 9596 

henni.biscoe@gmail.com 

Physical therapist from the U.K. offers 

personal training and therapeutic massage, 

including deep tissue/sports and 

pregnancy massage. 

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 US$79. 

la Maison de l’apothiquaire 

61-63 Le Thanh Ton, D3 Tel: 3822 1218 


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 


Tel: 3744 6672 

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Heart Disease is a leading cause of 

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We can show you your risk of heart 

disease. 

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 US$22 plus 

a room dedicated to foot massages from 

US$18 at the atrium level. Also has sizable 

steam and sauna rooms at the club 

Spa authentic at Thao Dien 


Tel: 3744 6453 

Located on the banks of the Saigon 

River, offering day spa and fitness facilities 

with a riverside pool. 

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 


YKC Spa & Hair Studio 


Tel: 3829 2791/3827 5194 

www.ykcspa.com 

Frequented by expats, Canadian owner 

Cindy offers a full range of spa services 

including waxing, facials and hand, 

foot and body treatments in a relaxed 

setting. 

MEN’S HEALTH PROMOTION 

*35% DISCOUNT OFF OUR LOW EVERYDAY PRICES* 

Cardiology Packages offered: 

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Urology Package: 

Prostate Cancer Screening 

General Men's Check Up 


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healthy hair 

Questions for the Coiffeur 

By lloyd Morgan 

Q: I have fine hair. Should I 

consider extensions to add 

volume? 

A. Many people have wised up 

about the damaging effects of 

hair extensions, but chances 

are, fine hair will fare worse 

than thicker hair. If you decide 

that extensions are the way to 

go, keep the following in mind: 

1) In Vietnam, super glue is 

often used to fasten hair extensions, 

so be sure that your 

stylist uses a silicone rubberbased 

glue made specifically 

for use on hair. 

2) The extensions must be 

applied in a brick-like manner, 

one above the other. 

3) The hair must be layered so 

that it blends with the extensions. 

4) Each extension must be 

exactly the same wave and 

colour as the natural hair. 

5) Sleeping on a satin pillowcase 

will help avoid breakage 

by allowing the extensions 

to slide. A cotton pillowcase 

will encourage breakage by 

constraining the hair. 

Q. Is it true that hair 

should be dirty before it is 

coloured? 

A. This is a bit of an old wives 

tale, as colour can’t fully 

penetrate dirty or product-filled 

hair. To get the most from 

your colouring, shampoo your 

locks the night before your 

appointment, but don’t use a 

conditioner. 

Q. I’m a vegetarian and 

would like to find a natu- 

ral shampoo that doesn’t 

have a silicone base. Can I 

find this type of product in 

Vietnam? 

A. Azial is a 100-percent 

natural shampoo that can be 

purchased in HCM City. Natural 

shampoo doesn’t lather like 

commercial shampoo, but it 

will effectively clean your locks. 

Many advertisers will lead you 

to believe that a product must 

lather to work, but this isn’t 

the case. 

Q. I’m Asian and trying to 

go blonde, but the result 

is always yellow. How can 

I achieve a more natural 

colour? 

A. Only a very experienced 

colourist can do this, as it is 

difficult to lighten Asian hair. 

Here’s my secret: 

1) Use a 12-percent peroxide 

and bleach and process until a 

lighter yellow is achieved. 

2) Wipe the bleach off the foil 

carefully. Do not use water. 

3) Re-apply the same mixture 

onto the foil, wrap and check 

regularly. 

4) When the colour reaches 

the desired shade, spray the 

hair. Remember, bleach is like 

acid and will keep working 

until rinsed. In some cases a 

toner can be added, but only 

on healthy, undamaged hair. 

Lloyd Morgan runs the Lloyd 

Morgan International Hair Studio 

at Dragon’s Nest, District 

2. Contact him at 090 842 

2007 or lloydskate@hotmail. 

com. 

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 


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 150,000VND and 

300,000VND 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 

350,000VND 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. 

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 US$50 for 12 classes/months with 

a US$25 fee for non-members. Contact 

Mr. Phuc directly on 0903 918149. 

BABY EQUIPMENT 

Baby 

66B Cach Mang Thang Tam, D10 

A large store stocking a good range of 


listings 

baby needs, including toys, buggies, 

cots and bottles. Prices are reasonable. 

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. 

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 

1 Cherry Blossom & Lotus 1, APSC 

Compound, 36 Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 3744 2549 

21 Pham Ngoc Thach, D3 

Tel: 3822 4992 

www.aisvietnam.com 

A highly selective school currently offering 

an international curiculum as a 

PYP school and Cambridge A Levels. 

For children from pre school and primary 

through to year 12. Has an excellent 

range of extra-curricular activities and 

aims to foster cultural awareness. Campuses 

District 2 and 3. 

British international School 

An Phu Secondary Campus 


Tel: 3744 2335 

www.bisvietnam.com 

With campuses all over the city and 

expansion underway, BIS offers a 

mixture of both English and International 

curricula-based 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

• download the latest issues 

• advertising information 

• editorial enquiries 

editorial blog 

asialife.wordpress.com. 

over 1,500 downloads a month 

ask auntie emily 

Answering Those Difficult Questions 

Dear Auntie Em: My 5-year-old 

daughter asked, “Mom, what’s 

a pimp?” I nearly choked on 

my bowl of pho! When I asked 

her where she heard that 

word, she told me that Jamie, 

one of the boys in her class, 

used it in a poem on the playground. 

I stuttered, “It’s a man 

who is not very nice…and we 

would never say it out loud.” 

-Where Do I Start? 

Dear WDIS: 

It’s not unlikely that young 

children have at least one 

classmate who is allowed to 

listen to music, watch movies 

or play video games that are 

not age-appropriate. (Might he 

have he been rhyming something 

about the Pimp My Ride 

TV show?) Or perhaps there’s 

a child whose conversation or 

knowledge about sex or other 

sensitive subjects seems way 

beyond his years. 

This is a common concern 

for parents. On one hand, 

we can be amazed at how 

much kids know—at how 

adult they seem to be. On the 

other hand, it’s sad because 

sometimes they get too much 

information before they’re 

ready to process it. While you 

try hard to create an age-appropriate 

environment for your 

kids, you can’t be with them 

24/7. Recognize that children 

are curious about adult things, 

forbidden things. If we don’t 

talk to our kids about what’s 

on their minds, someone else 

will and we run the risk that 

they will be misled. 

Posing a question in 

response to the question was 

a good idea. Sometimes kids 

are seeking answers, but they 

may also be seeking reassurance. 

Asking, “Where did 

you hear that?” is good, but 

enquiring, “Why do you ask?” 

is more specific. This question 

promotes the sharing of 

information that helps you to 

understand why they want to 

know and to better prepare 

your answer. 

A good example comes 

from a doctor friend. Her 

6-year-old daughter asked, 

“Where do I come from?” My 

friend went into a complicated 

explanation but her daughter 

interrupted and added, 

“Because Lu Li comes from 

China, and Sarah comes from 

Canada…” 

Don’t stonewall by saying, 

“I’ll tell you about that when 

you’re ready.” Do your best to 

answer the question. Resist 

the urge to rush to judgment: 

“Jamie has no business talking 

about those things and you 

certainly shouldn’t be repeating 

them.” If children ask a 

question—no matter how 

taken aback you are—they 

deserve an honest answer. 

Email your questions about 

early childhood development 

to auntie-em@asialifehcmc. 

com. 


If we don't take 

tuna off the menu, 

it will be off the 

menu forever 

The resources of the oceans contribute an estimated 12 trillion dollars to the global 

economy each year, so there are huge economic benefits from a healthy ocean. Overfishing 

is the main cause of the ocean’s destruction intensified by pollution and climate 

change with tuna at the frontline of destruction in 5% of the world catch. 

• Tuna, specifically bluefin are close to extinction, 

on 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 

with significant by-catch of sharks, 

dolphins, turtles and rays. Their spawning 

age is 8-9 years and conservation prevented 

by a lack of protected spawning grounds, a 

lack of appropriate management, organized 

crime, corruption, rising market value and 

short term benefits to a relatively few people. 

• Collective action is needed to stop eating the 

bluefin tuna and let tuna grow and multiply. 

N.B. As bluefin stocks drop, greater pressure is on albacore, bigeye and yellowfin species. All 

tuna are warm blooded and their meat spoils easily plus Albacore tuna has relatively high 

levels of mercury. 

tuna off the menu at refinery 

To find us, walk through the arch at 

74 Hai Ba Trung and discover our 

beautiful secluded courtyard. 

Telephone 

3823 0509 

Open 7 Days 

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), recognised by universities 

worldwide. Vietnamese programme 

taught by local teachers. 

international School HCMC 


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. 

Montessori international School 

42/1 Ngo Quang Huy, D2 

Tel: 3744 2639 

www.montessori.edu.vn 

Montessori utilises an internationally 

recognised educational method which 

focuses on fostering the child’s natural 

desire to learn. The aim is to create an 

encouraging environment conducive to 

learning by developing a sense of self and 

individuality. A wide array of curriculum/ 

extra-curricular activities are on offer 

including Bilingual programs. 

Renaissance international School 

74 Nguyen Thi Thap, D7 

Tel: 3773 3171 

www.rissaigon.edu.vn 

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 an unique 

opportunities to learn. 

Saigon Star international School 

172 Nguyen Van Thu, D1 

Tel: 3822 0341 

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 

www.kinderworld.net 

Students play and learn in an environment 

where the best of Western and 

Eastern cultures amalgamate to prepare 

KinderWorld’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, Thao Dien 

Ward, D2 Tel: 3744 6076 

www.smartkidsinfo.com 

International child care center offers day 

care and pre-school to children from eighteen 

months to six years old. Fun and 

friendly environment 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 

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. 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Diamond Plaza 


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. 

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. 

Childcare for children 

from 18 months to 6 years old 

Flexible programs available 

enrolment possible at any moment of the year 

1172 Thao Dien Compound, District 2, HCMC (Thao Dien) 

26 Street 10, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, HCMC (Riverside/ ISHCMC area) 

Tel: +84 (0) 8 3744 6076 or 0903 957 316 (Ms. Yoko) 

Email: enquiry@smartkidsinfo.com 

Web: www.smartkidsinfo.com 


finance 

Living Your Life 

By Paul Mclardie 

The vast majority of people 

working in Vietnam have 

health insurance through their 

employer. However, what 

happens if you fall ill and can’t 

return to work? Do you know 

how long your sick benefits 

will last? 

Paying for your children’s 

education, rent and day-today 

life will start to eat away 

at your savings and soon 

enough, you may find yourself 

on a plane back home, even 

if you want to stay here. 

So, what can you do? 

There are two alternatives: 

either live off your savings or 

consider purchasing disability 

insurance. 

Living off of your savings 

will only last as long as you 

can make it last. Think about 

how much you earn. Add 

to that the things that your 

employer may already pay 

for—your rent, car, flight allowances 

and the children’s 

school fees. Next, look at the 

value of your savings. If you 

wish to continue leading the 

life you have at the moment, 

your savings may quickly 

diminish. 

You could take a regular 

income from your savings, 

leaving the pot untouched 

and living off the interest. But 

how much will you actu- 

ally need to replace the lost 

income? For example, for you 

to have an income from your 

savings at 5 percent of USD 

$40,000, you would need to 

have a savings in excess of 

$700,000. Not many people 

have that. 

The second option is to 

have separate critical illness 

or income protection insurance. 

These are plans that 

you can pay into monthly. 

Like automobile or house 

insurance, you only get paid 

if something happens to 

you. The price of these plans 

varies depending on factors 

such as your age, occupation 

and general health. 

You wouldn’t think twice 

about taking auto or home 

insurance, so why not insure 

yourself? 

Please make sure that 

your health insurance is up to 

date and the level of cover is 

more than what you think you 

require, but also have a look 

at income protection insurance. 

The first may save your 

life; the latter will let you lead 

it how you want. 

Contributed by Paul 

McLardie, Partner at Total 

Wealth Management. Paul. 

mclardie@t-wm.com, www.twm.com. 

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 

CanCham 



Tel: 3824 3754 

www.canchamvietnam.org 

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 

Hong Kong Business association 



Tel: 3824 3757 / 3822 8888 

www.hkbav.com 

NordCham 

Bitexco Building, 19-25 Nguyen Hue, D1 

Tel: 3821 5423 

www.nordcham.com 

CAMERAS 

Hung Hai 

75 Huynh Thuc Khang, D1 

A good place to purchase hard-to-find 

gear and some rare equipment, mainly 

auto focus lenses. 

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 center for Nikon 

camera that also specialises in repairing all 

camera makes. Measurement equipment 

and spare parts also available. 

Shop 46 

46 Nguyen Hue, D1 

Small shop run by photographer and collector. 

The owner’s more collectible pieces 

are pricey, but entry-level manual focus 

SLRs from the 70s and 80s are affordable. 

COMPUTERS 

Computer Street 

Luong Huu Khanh, D1 between Nguyen 

Thi Minh Khai and Nguyen Trai 

This stretch of District 1 is literally wall to 

wall with small shops selling computers, 

printers, monitors and everything computer 

related, more so toward the NTMK 

end of the drag. 

iCenter 

142A Vo Thi Sau, D3 

Tel: 3820 3918 

Professional, polished Apple retailer and 

repair centre with an attractive showroom 

featuring some of the latest in accessories 

and audio. English-speakers on staff. Honours 

Apple service plans. 

future World 


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 after-sales 

repair on the second floor. 

SYS Vi Tinh Saigon 

96C Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1 

www.vtsaigon.com 

A superb place with an excellent reputation 

for after-sales service with competent 

English speaking staff and a wide range 

of products and services. Freeware and 

shareware also available on the store 

website. 

CONSULTING 

Concetti 

33 Dinh Tien Hoang, D1 Tel: 3911 1480 

www.concetti-vn.com 

Consulting and research company for 

technology transfer and investment. 

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. 

flamingo Corporate Services 

Indochina Park Tower, Room 606, 


Tel: 2217 1662 

www.flamingovn.com 

Provide optimised immigration solutions 

and services such as visas, work permits, 

resident permits, police clearances, 

authentication, certification and apostille in 

Vietnam and worldwide. 

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. 

inspired image 

42/2A Ho Hao Hon, D1 

Tel: 091 635 2573 

www.inspiredimage.co.uk 

Image consultant and personal stylist. 

Previous clients include business leaders, 

TV presenters and busy professionals. 

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, marketentry 

research and IT/business consulting. 

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. 

Star Management limited 

92-96 Nguyen Hue, D1 Tel: 3897 2765 

www.starlimited.com 

Business advisory services for companies 

investing in Vietnam, business/project 

advancement and a range of business 

development services. 

Towers Watson Vietnam (formerly 

Watson Wyatt and SMaRT HR) 

Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue, Suite 

808, D1 

Tel: 3821 9488 

Global HR consulting firm specializing in 

executive compensation, talent management, 

employee rewards and surveys, 

HR effectiveness and technology, data 

services and total rewards surveys. 

DECOR 

Antique Street 

Le Cong Kieu Street, D1 between Nguyen 

Thai Binh and Pho Duc Chinh 

A Variety of antiquesand faux antiques 

from Thailand, China and Vietnam 

including silverware, compasses, lighters, 

brass knockers, urns, vases, abacuses, 

religious and pagan statues, candlestick 

holders, furniture and watches. 

anupa Boutique 

84 Pho Duc Chinh, D1 Tel: 3915 1473 

Retails in unique and affordable range of 

consol and coffee tables, trays, mirrors 

and lamps in a range of different textures 

such as leather resin, bamboo and 

walnut. 

asian fish 

34 Mac Thi Buoi, D1 

Boutique-style arts and crafts store selling 

locally made gifts and souvenirs, all designed 

by the Japanese owner. Products 

include clothing, bags, crockery, sandals, 

chopsticks and jewellery. 

Aquarium Street 

Nguyen Thong Street, D3 between Vo 

Thi Sau and Ly Chinh Thang 

Dedicated street has everything one 

needs to display fish: tanks, decor, feed, 

filters and the fish themselves. 

Budget Housewares Street 

Corner of Pasteur and Nguyen Dinh 

Chieu 

Stock up on shower heads, kitchen 

supplies (juicer, spatula, grater, etc.), 

coat racks, clothes hangers, pots, pans, 

champagne flutes, bowls, coolers, trash 

bins, ironing boards, magazine racks and 

the like. 

Chau loan 


Gallery based in a colonial shophouse 

stocking mainly Vietnamese-themed oil 

paintings and images of Buddha. Also 

deals in better-known reproductions. 

Decosy 

112 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 6281 9917 

Producer of a large selection of European 

styled furniture and interior fittings, 

specializing in wrought iron and patine 

(distressed) wood finishes. Also stocks a 

wide- range of decorative accessories, 

crockery and fixtures. Custom design 

services available upon request. 

Dogma 

175 De Tham, D1 Tel: 3836 0488 

www.dogmavietnam.com 

Located upstairs from Saigon Kitsch, 

this art gallery deals in Vietnamese propaganda 

posters, apparel, accessories 

and random paraphernalia. Large prints 

are sold at US$60 each and small prints 

cost US$25. 

Minh Boutique 

15 Nguyen Thiep, D1 

Lacquerware pieces, tea boxes, teapot 

warmers, ice buckets and sake drinking 

sets all handmade in Vietnam. Also sells 

a range of silverware, egg holders and 

ice tongs. 

OUT-2 STUDiO 

L6 Fafilm annex 


STUDIO@OUT-2.com 

www.out-2.com 

Studio space for independent designers 

to showcas their wares, sell their work 

and meet with clients. Open Monday t 

Saturday 10am to 6pm. 

Phuong Mai 

213C Dong Khoi 

www.phuongmai-gallery.com 

Gallery specialising in original oils by 

Vietnamese artists. The works here are a 

mish-mash of styles but do contain some 

standouts, particularly well-known local 

artists La Hon, Quy Tam and Pham Trinh. 

Sapa 


Offers a better selection of hill tribe 

handicrafts than most of its rivals. 

Concentrates mainly on the hand-woven 

clothing of the indigenous tribespeople of 

the region. There is also a line in ladies’ 

shoes and the standard range of silk 

wraps and bags. 

Son & Then Photogallery 

94 Mac Dinh Chi, D1 

Adorning the walls of this gallery-cumcafé 

are a number of photographs by 

local photographers mostly focusing on 

tasteful female nudes. Smaller prints start 

at US$20 while larger works can reach 

US$500. Framing, consulting and delivery 

services are also available. 

Vietnam-Quilts 

64 Ngo Duc Ke, D1 Tel: 3914 2119 

www.mekong-quilts.org 

NGO enterprise specialises in quilts and 

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 

E : linhnguyen@hbdecor.com.vn - www.linhfurniture.com 


sells a range of appealing handmade 

products created by underprivileged 

women in Binh Thuan Province. 

ELECTRONICS 

Hi end audio 


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. 

iDeaS Shopping Centre 

133-141AB Cach Mang Thang Tam, D3 

The largest of the electonics stores along 

the street, the three-storey iDEAS sells 

every type of electronic and home appliance 

imaginable. Offers proper warranties. 

Staff speaks some English. 

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. 

Phong Vu 

125 Cach Mang Thang Tam, D1 

Tel: 6290 8777 

www.vitinphongvu.com 

Two-storey electronics store retails in 

international products conveniently 

grouped by brand. Carries computers, 

home audio, printers, hard drives and 

more, as well as a variety of mobile 

phones, handheld electronic devices and 

accessories. 

Savico 


One-stop electronics and home appliance 

superstore. All products have a one 

to three-year warranty. 

Tech Street 

Huyen 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. 

Catherine Denoual 

15C Thi Sach, D1 Tel: 3823 9394 

Beautiful showroom with clean lines and 

a sumptuous array of bedroom products 

including bedside lamps, linens, pillowcases 

and duvet covers. 

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. 

el Gallery 


Traditional decor with a modern twist. 

Offers a variety of mid- to high-range 

furniture, rugs, lighting, art and accessories 

from around the world, plus interior 

design services. Also imports furniture 

to Vietnam for export to Europe and the 

United States. 

esthetic 

2B Ngo Van Nam, D1 Tel: 3910 1996/7 

Design and manufacture as order with a 

mixture of antique and modern furniture. 

Friendly staff speak excellent English. 

furniture Outlet 

3A Ton Duc Thang, D1 

Tel: 2243 7955/3911 0104 

Wide selection of well-crafted and carefully 

constructed pine wood pieces at 

good prices, aimed at customers craving 

a taste of Europe. 

furniture Street 

Ngo Gia Tu, D10 between Ly Thai To and 

Nguyen Chi Thanh 

Very affordable furniture can be found on 

this stretch: couches, mattresses, desks, 

chairs, etc. It often takes some looking to 

find a gem. A connected sidestreet, Ba 

Hat, features woodworkers’ shops. 

Gaya 

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. 

Mantra 

84 Pho Duc Chinh, D1 

Tel: 3915 1473 

www.mantravietnam.com 

Tables, photo frames, trays, stools are 

just some of the elegant vivekkevin items 

you will find at Mantra. If you’re looking 

for items that use Vietnamese materials 

but have a modern contemporary feel, 

Mantra is it. New items received daily. 

Mekong Merchant Boutique 


Tel: 3744 4713 

Small rustic boutique attached to the 

popular restaurant sells hybrid furniture, 

accessories, candles and handicrafts. 

Also hosts sem-regular bazaars in support 

of the Indochina Media Memorial 

Foundation. 

Rare Decor 


137/1 Nguyen Huu Canh, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 3840 6304/5 

Leading home furnishings company in 

Vietnam, supplying high quality, unique 

products. Also offer custom made 

furniture, accessories and lighting for 

commercial projects and home use. 

Remix Deco 


Tel: 3930 4190 

www.remixdeco.com 

Boutique furniture store in sprawling 

white with modern furniture including 

sofas, tables and seating from around 

the world. Featured designers include 

Le Corbusier, Ray & Charles Eames, 

Philippe Starck and Ludwig Mies Van 

der Rhode. 

Shop 63 

63 Xuan Thuy, D2 Tel: 3898 2821 

Large, serene antique shop specializing 

in furniture in French colonial, Asian and 

art deco styles, as well as lamps, vases 

and other home décor from around the 

world. Also carries small collection of 

original paintings, fashion and jewellery. 

The lost art 

31 Nguyen Cong Tru, D1 

Tel: 3829 0134 

Extensive product range as well as 

comprehensive interior design service, 

from initial conceptualization to design, 

manufacture and installation of unique 

products. 

The Sixty Three 

63 Xuan Thuy Ward, Thao DIen, D2 

Tel: 0938 485 211 

www.let-us-do.com 

New show room concept store of architectural 

and interior design collective ‘Let 

Us Do’. Specialises in unique and original 

furnitures, interior decoration, lamps and 

women’s fashion and jewellery. 

Thien an furniture 

90A Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1 

Tel: 3910 5650 

A range of beautiful furniture with a 

distinct traditional flavor from colourful 

silk lampshades, wooden carved beds, 

screens, chests and more. 

LEGAL 

allens arthur Robinson 

Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, D1 

Tel: 3822 1717 

www.vietnamlaws.com 

Australian law firm for law translation 

services and legal advice on foreign 

investment and business in Vietnam. 

Baker & McKenzie 


Tel: 3829 5585 

www.bakernet.com 

International law firm providing on-theground 

liaison and support services 

to clients interested in investigating, 

negotiating and implementing projects 

in Vietnam. 

frasers international 


Tel: 3824 2733 

www.frasersvn.com 

Full service commercial law firm providing 

international and Vietnamese legal advice 

to both foreign and local clients specializing 

in transactions in Vietnam. 

indochine Counsel 

Han Nam Building, 65 Nguyen Du, D1 

Tel: 3823 9640 

www.indochinecounsel.com 

Business law practitioners specializing 

in mergers & acquistions, inward investment, 

and securities & capital markets. 

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. 

lucy Wayne & associates 

17 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3824 4395 

www.lwavietnam.com 

Law firm providing legal services across 

the board from entertainment and 

environmental law to health care and 

real estate. 

Phillips fox 


Tel: 3822 1717 

Full service law firm providing legal 

services in healthcare, education, crime, 

banking and hospitality among others. 

Pricewaterhousecoopers legal 


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 

Caodong Design Boutique 

37bis Mac Dinh Chi, D1 

207L Vo Thi Sau, D3 


Spanking new store with a range of 

beautiful items ranging from interesting 

lighting with decorative table lamps with 

hand-painted paper shades and some 

lovely leather boxes and gift ideas. 

light House 


Tel: 3914 2662 

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. 

Treasure light 

18A Bis Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, D1 

Tel: 3822 4315 

www.treasure-light.com 

High-end lighting shop specialising in fine 

lacquered lamps. Designs are sophisticated 

and minimilast. Wide selection of 

table lamps, wall lamps, floor lamps and 

ceiling lamps. 

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. 

Zeus Helmets 

Founded in Taiwan to manufacture cool, 

comfortable helmets that meet worldwide 

safety standards. Basic models feature 

thermo-injected shells constructed from 

lightweight ABS composite with interiors 

lined with moisture-absorbant brushed 

nylon. Shops selling authentic Zeus 

helmets are located on Pham Hong Thai 

near Ben Thanh Market. 

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. 

Chamber Property Consultants 

Tel: 0168 349 9991 

www.chamberproperty.com 

Chamber Property Consultancy has more 

than 100 houses and flats available for 

rent in HCMC. Contact them today for 

more information. 

Diamond Plaza 

34 Le Duan Street 

Tel: 3822 1922 

lntdung@diamondplaza.com.vn 

Located in the heart of District 1, connected 

to Diamond PLaza. Services 

1- to 4-bedroom apartments with gym, 

swimming pool and panoramic views of 

the city 

interContinental asiana Saigon 

Residences 

Corner of Hai Ba Trung & Nguyen Du, D1 

Tel: 3520 8888 

saigon@interconti.com 

www.intercontinental.com/saigonres 

Contemporary residential space in the 

heart of the major business and cultural 

area in District 1. There are 260 one, two 

or three-bedroom units plus health club 

and outdoor swimming pool. 

Namhouse Corporation 

24 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien, D2 

Tel: 0989 007 700, 0989 115 511 

www.namhouse.com.vn 

Provides rental properties, construction 

services and interior decorating. Supports 

professional services and after-sales. 

The Nest 

Tel: 090 319 8901 (Laurence) 

Tel: 090 793 3000 (Thuong) 

laurence@thenest-vietnam.com 

thuong@thenest-vietnam.com 

www.thenest-vietnam.com 

Real estate agent maintains a wellorganized 

and frequently updated website 

listing apartments, villas, townhouses 

condos and offices. Renters/buyers can 

receive regular updates via email. 

Nguyen Du Park Villas 


Tel: 3822 0788 

www.ndparkvillas.com.vn 

Boutique residence of fully-serviced, 

luxury downtown apartments designed 

to combine the atmosphere of a villa with 

ranges in size from one-bedroom apartments 

to four-bedroom duplex units. 

Platinum1 

Star Building, 33 Mac Dinh Chi, D1 

Tel: 3911 8193 

www.platinum1corp.com 

Your one-stop agency for housing and 

office space in the city with pre-viewing 

selection before the visit and full support 

throughout your lease. 

Riverside apartments 


Tel: 3744 4111 

www.riverside-apartments.com 

One of the first luxury serviced apartments 

in town located next to the Saigon 

River set in lush tropical gardens. 

Saigon Village 

523 To Hien Thanh, D10 

Tel: 3865 7249 

www.saigonvillage.vnn.vn 

Fully furnished villas and apartments in 

a tranquil, leafy complex cordonned off 

from the pressures of Ho Chi Minh City. 

Snap 

Tel: 0989 816 676 

www.snap.com.vn 

Online Real Estate service providing infor- 


people matter 

Transparency: Is it Important? 

By Gary Woollacott 

At a recent networking event 

I was pleased to receive 

feedback on this column. The 

best bit was that it wasn’t 

unqualified praise, but rather 

constructive criticism. So, 

DW—you know who you 

are—this column is dedicated 

to you. Thanks for sharing 

your views. 

It was suggested that 

a suitable topic would be 

transparency, defined as the 

importance of being clear in 

our dealings with colleagues, 

clients and acquaintances. 

How many times have we 

suspected that others have 

a hidden agenda? Have you 

had the feeling that someone 

just isn’t playing it straight? 

Why can't people be truthful? 

After all, you are, so why 

aren't they? 

That's not to say that one 

has to be totally open about 

everything—we all have our 

commercial and personal 

secrets—but it is important 

to create a sense of trust, 

and displaying an honest and 

open attitude in your dealings 

can be a good way to foment 

that. 

Being transparent projects 

self-confidence and a feeling 

that one is reliable and can be 

trusted. In my business, we 

have found this to be invaluable. 

To be able to talk openly 

with clients about the market, 

candidates and the likelihood 

of achieving their business 

goals has paid dividends. 

They come to believe that 

we know the market and we 

know what we are doing. 

Fostering trust, understanding 

our experience and our 

readiness to share knowledge 

are essential elements of our 

consulting services; without it 

we would simply be a provider 

of CVs. 

This hasn’t come about by 

accident, of course, and we 

have had some pretty heated 

arguments in our office about 

the wisdom of being so open. 

My own feeling is that yes, 

there are people out there 

who will take advantage, but 

the benefits of displaying trust 

and integrity far outweigh the 

occasional disappointment 

(even though it hurts). 

Think about it: What might 

you gain by being more transparent? 

There’s certainly some 

risk, but being truthful on a 

regular basis easily trumps 

being selective with the truth 

and then spending productive 

effort trying to remember 

to whom you told what and 

when. This is wasting precious 

energy that could be spent 

building your business or your 

career. 

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 3827 8209 or via gary@ 

opusasia.net. Opus is an 

associate of Horton International. 

mation on rental properties exclusively in 

district two. 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 specialises in matching 

senior level Vietnamese professionals 

and managers to top level opportunities 

in both major cities. 

Mekong emerald Talent Recruitment 


Tel: 0938 001 509 

www.mekongem.com 

Offers comprehensive manpower 

services including executive search and 

selection, employment outsourcing and 

HR management in a wide variety of 

industries. 

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 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. 

Smart HR 

Capital Place Building, Suite 601, 6 Thai 

Van Lung, D1 Tel: 3823 5828 

www.smarthrvietnam.com 

Human resource consultants specialising 

in job search and selection, and human 

resource management. 

TMf Vietnam 

Saigon Trade Center, Unit 2811, 37 Ton 

Duc Thang, D1 Tel: 3910 9229 / 9222 

hang.bui@tmf-group.com 

www.tmf-group.com 

With more than 3,300 professionals 

working out of 86 offices in 65 countries, 

TMF provides independent accounting 

and corporate secretarial services to 

companies worldwide. 

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: 0122 5141 848 

aurelien.jouve@alliedpickfords.com.vn 

http://vn.alliedpickfords.com 

Moving and relocating services company 

specialising in business and office 

moves. Overseas and specialist movers 


asian Tigers Transpo international 

Room 201 and 202, 216 Nguyen Thi 

Minh Khai, D3 Tel: 3930 9484 

Tel: 3945 0891 

matt.king@asiantigers-vietnam.com 

www.asiantigersgroup.com 

International moving agency, homesearch, 

orientation, settling in programs 

and work permit assistance. 

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. 

UTS Saigon Van intl’ Relocations 

HUD Buillding, Unit 1303, 159 Dien Bien 

Phu, Binh Thanh Tel: 3840 3629 

www.saigonvan.com 

Full service relocating agency with warehousing, 

handyman, insurance & claim, 

orientation an partner career support 

services also availble. 

JVK international Movers 

Saigon Port Building, 3 Nguyen Tat 

Thanh, D4 Tel: 3826 7655/6 

chris.honour@jvkasia.com 

www.jvk.com 

International agengy with a full range of 

services including sea/air freight services 

and worldwide transit coverage. 

Mekong emerald (MeK) Relocation 


Tel: 09800 1509 

www.mekongem.com 

Full range of services including pet move/ 

care, car rental, pre-move consultation, 

cross-cultural training and visa/immigration 

support. 

Resident Vietnam 

187/9/1 Bach Dang Street, Tan Binh 

Tel: 3848 8443 / 3848 8285 

www.residentvietnam.com 

Specialises in immigration management, 

destination services and cross-cultural 

training and car leasing assistance. 

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. 

UniGroup Worldwide UTS Vietnam 

440/26A Tran Hung Dao, D5 

Tel: 3836 3002 

www.unigroupworldwide.com 

Global mobility company offering international 

corporate relocations, settling-in 

assistance and cross-cultural training. 

STATIONARY 

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 


Bookstore chain carries an expansive 

stock of office and home stationary; a 

one-stop shop for basic needs. 

Pi-Channel 

45B Le Thanh Ton, D1 Tel: 3822 0253 

www.pi-channel.com 

Boutique shop carries up-market collections 

of pens and notepads, as well as 

desktop organisers, clocks, calendars 

and frames. Corporate services offered. 

Stationary and Printing Street 

Ly Thai To Street, D3 starting at Dien 

Bien Phu and running southeast 

More than 25 stores providing photocopying 

services, from business cards to 

flyers and colour prints to invitations. 

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 


84 Pho Duc Chinh, D1 Tel: 3915 1473 

anupaboutiquevietnam@anupa.net 

Two locations feature an ever-changing 

range of elegant accessories made from 

high-quality leather. as well as a collection 

of semi-precious jewellery. Collections 

available for men and women, with a line 

children’s wear. Stock updated weekly. 

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 US $30, and many 

are suitable for both day and night. 

Creation 


A two-storey shop selling scarves, intricate 

handbags (from US $30), tailor-made 

silk dresses and tops. Has a wide range 

of materials on the second floor. Prices 

start from US $65 for an ao dai with 

simple embroidery. 

Deanh Jewellery 

Eden Mall, 106 Nguyen Hue, D1 

Tel: 3827 6039 

Gorgeous selection of gold accessories 

imported from Turkey and Italy. Also has 

a selection of simple ring designs to set 

your precious stones in. 

Gallery vivekkevin 

FAFILM Building, 6 Thai Van Lung, D1 

Tel: 6291 3709 

info@vivekkevin.com 

www.galeryvivekkevin.com 

Handcrafted pendants, necklaces, rings 

and bracelets. The gallery’s focus is on 

design, craftsmanship and finish, as well 

as educating clients on the intricacies of 

each piece. 

Gucci 


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 ostenta- 


listings 

112 Xuan Thuy 

Ward Thao Dien 

District 2 

Ho Chi Minh City 

Tel/Fax. (+84) 8 62.819.917 

shop-hcm@decosy.biz

sartorial conundrums 

A Man’s Pocket-sized Style Guide 

By luis antonio Torres 

A fashionable and stylish 

man is pleasing to the eye 

because he has taken the 

trouble to ensure his style 

choices suit his age, size and 

personality. Equally, a man 

who has no sense of style 

can look like a disaster area 

with a clothing and grooming 

style that is anything but 

fashionable. 

When new fashion trends 

emerge, they can either help 

or hurt a man's appearance. 

What looks stunning on 

one man may look awful on 

another, so there are clearly 

some pros and cons in the 

fashion stakes for men. 

Hairstyle: A modern trend 

for men who are losing their 

hair is to shave their entire 

head, like me. For many, this 

can be stylish and appropriate 

when their head and face 

shape complements their 

choice of clothing. Other men 

simply must avoid this trend 

if they have a very small head 

and thin features. For those 

who still have their hair, their 

chosen style can have either 

a positive or negative effect 

on their overall appearance. 

The trend is moving back 

toward long hair and it is ideal 

for those with good, luxurious 

hair but not so good for 

men who have limp, fine hair. 

Hairstyles say a lot about a 

man and choosing the right 

one will determine whether he 

is stylish or not. 

Clothing: Clothing styles 

can make or break a man 

in the fashion stakes. Some 

modern styles are created 

for the younger man and 

are often favoured by older 

men making an effort to stay 

young. Sometimes it works, 

sometimes not. Age is 

obviously a factor in men's 

fashion but this doesn't have 

to preclude looking stylish. 

The key is choosing the right 

look for you as an individual 

without giving a "pig wearing 

a silk hat" impression. Style 

and fashion are not the sole 

domain of young men. 

An important feature of 

style is having garments that 

fit properly. When men try to 

squeeze into sizes that are 

too small for them, it detracts 

from the overall impression 

and can be as bad as clothing 

that is too large. The variety of 

clothing on offer in the fashion 

world means there is no 

excuse for a man not to dress 

with style. When it comes to 

fashion, making the distinction 

between dos and don'ts 

is crucial in selecting the look 

and style that suits you as a 

person. 

Luis Antonio Torres is a designer 

and the creative director 

of Massimo Ferrari. 

tious 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. 

lovely lien Jewellery 

20 Le Loi, D1 

A small and unassuming jewellery store 

with beautiful and reasonably-priced 

necklaces, bracelets and earrings. You 

can also bring your own precious stones 

or ask the designers to make something 

unique for you. 

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 

Therese Jewellery 

Sheraton Hotel, 88F Dong Khoi, D1 

www.theresejewelry.com 

Small, glitzy retail outlet. Sells everything 

from diamond earrings to gold and silver 

wedding rings. Of special note is the 

selection of jade Buddhas in varying sizes, 

with the larger ones costing US$250. The 

friendly staff speak excellent English. 

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 

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 

airwaves 

23 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2 

One-stop surf shop selling its own brand 

of surfware. Also specializes in suncare 

products, ladies and mens swimwear, 

surfboards, skateboards and watches. 

Also with an outlet at Saigon Kitsch at 43 

Ton That Thiep in District 1. 

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. 

“ello 


Ths tiny little shop on Phu Nhuan’s hipster 

fashion strip is stocked with some of the 

coolest trend items in HCM City. 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. 

Hagattini 

1A Pham Ngoc Thach, D1 

Tel: 2244 8105 

www.hagattini.com 

Vietnamese brand housing clothing for all 

occasions. Normal to office wear, casual 

to party outfits using materials imported 

from Hong Kong and designed and made 

in Vietnam. 

Konheo 

32 Dinh Tien Hoang, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 6653 4187 

info@konheo.com 

www.konheo.com 

Founded and run by a group of local 

Vietnamese guys, this T-shirt store flaunts 

simple-cut T-shirts with playful prints and 

humorous printed texts. Also does custom 

made t-shirts for VND160,000. 

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. 

Carres 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. 

Miss Sixty & energie 


Local outlet of the Miss Sixty brand hugely 

favoured by Hollywood’s young starlets. 

Also stocks clothes from its men’s label, 

Energie. 

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. 

See By Harajuku 


Tel: 090 986 8622 

Small, friendly store stocking both men’s 

and women’s streetwear, channelling Japanese 

and Korean fashion trends. Bright 

and funky t-shirts and maxi dresses, as 

well as accessories and footwear. New 

stock every month. 

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. 

menswear 

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 

Traditional Italian sartorial techniques are 

employed to offer a full wardrobing service 

and custom tailoring for men. Carries a 

line of European-quality shoes, bags and 

accessories designed in-house, as well as 

exclusive Orobianco unisex bags. 

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 


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. 

womanswear 

Balenciaga 

Rex Hotel, 155 Nguyen Hue 

Tel: 6291 3572 

Sporting modern shapes and elegant 

items crafted from natural, raw and 

artificial materials. 

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. 

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. 

Contraband 


Ready-to-wear brand for hip, modern 

women. Range includes office wear to 

evening wear. The collection is updated 

each month with new international trends. 


femme fashion 

Cruise Control 

By adrian Nguyen 

April is here and it’s the perfect 

time to hit the beautiful 

beaches. It would be mean 

to let you go on vacation with 

your regular Bermuda shorts. 

Plus, two long weekends this 

month are the perfect reason 

to fab up for the Cruise 

season. 

Stripes 

It should be the biggest trend 

yet again, but stripes are no 

longer a trend—they’re 

more like a fashion staple. 

They come back every 

Cruise season, so invest in 

some nice pieces and you’ll 

be good to go for a long 

time. Sonia Rykiel has the 

best stripes in the world if 

you have the cash. Alternatively, 

you can opt for the 

high-street brands for more 

reasonable prices—from 

mini to maxi, figure-hugging 

dresses to blazers and even 

playsuits. 

Micro Mini 

You’re going to need a pair 

of lean straight legs to keep 

up with the trend this season. 

Designers have cut their 

hemlines shorter than short 

and the mini is this season’s 

silhouette. And there’s no 

better occasion to rock this 

trend than going down to 

the beach: slinky shorts, hot 

pants, mini-dresses… go 

for it! And while you’re at it, 

throw on a fake tan if you 

haven’t gotten your real one. 

Monokini 

This season is about statement 

swimwear. Check out 

Emilio Pucci and Diane 

Von Furstenberg for supergorgeous 

printed bikinis and 

one-piece suits. But 

the one shoulder and cutout 

monokinis are what you 

should be wearing this 

summer. Team them up with 

some fierce colorful bangles, 

metallic heels and 

a lychee martini and you’re 

ready to make a splash 

poolside. 

Kaftan 

For the moment, the hippest 

frock to be wearing beside 

that monokini is the 

kaftan. It's a great way to 

look fabulous in your swimwear 

without necessarily having 

to bear all. Cinch a sheer 

multi-coloured flower or animal 

print with a self-tie waist 

belt over your swimwear, or 

pair it with those short-shorts 

and some embellished flats 

for a glamorous after-sunset 

drink session. Roberto Cavalli 

and Moschino Cheap & Chic 

have some show-stopping 

pieces this season. 

Glow 

No, not that international 

success, fresh-sexy-clean 

perfume “Glow” by Jennifer 

Lopez; it’s your personal 

glow. This is a never-outof-trend 

thing, so always 

try to achieve it for yourself. 

Make sure you have a goodie 

drawer wherever you go and 

always remember to use it! 

Adrian Nguyen is a designer 

and owner of the Valenciani 

brand. Email your fashion 

questions to adrian.ngn@ 

gmail.com. 

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 


enquiry@geishaclothing.com 

Facebook: Geisha Boutique 

Australian fashion label offering a contemporary 

range of casual and evening 

wear with an Asian influence. Printed tees, 

singlets, shorts, skirts, jeans, summer 

scarves, dresses, silk camisoles and satin 

maxi dresses. 

Kiwi 

74/1 Hai Ba Trung 

Tel: 3822 1191 

Small and intimate shop with a modern 

collection of fashion items geared towards 

the young and active urban female. The 

showroom has a wide collection, from 

casual clothing to office wear. 

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 highrange 

prices are perfect for twenty- and 

thirty-something women. 

labella 

85-87 Pasteur, D1 

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. 

la Senza 

47B–47C Nguyen Trai, D1 

Tel: 3925 1700 

65 Le Loi, Saigon Centre, D1 

Tel: 3914 4328 

www.lasenza.com 

Boutique carrying a wide range of bras, 

panties, pyjamas, accessories and lounge 

wear. 

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. 

Minh Hanh 

24 Dong Khoi, D1 and 114B Nguyen 

Hue Tel: 3824 5774 

www.mhminhhanh.com 

Hand- and machine-embroidered fashion 

made from natural fabrics and materials 

wed traditional Vietnamese elements with 

modern trends. Local celebrities frequent 

this shop. 

Muse Boutique 


Boutique store carries well-known international 

brands like Miss Sixty, BCBG, Rock 

Republic, 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. 

Ngan 

23 Ly Tu Trong, D1 

The Ngan collection includes high-quality 

evening gowns and swimwear made 

locally. Also stocks a new line of men’s 

casual wear. 

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. 

Shae 

101-103 Nguyen Trai, D1 

www.shaeny.com 

New York brand housing streetwear 

such as cardigans, dresses, shorts and 

accessories. 

Signature Boutique 


Houses some of the world’s most 

recognized luxury fashion brands: Roberto 

Cavalli, Versace, D&G and Missoni. 

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 

Be Happier 

181 Nguyen Van Troi, Phu Nhuan Dist 

A small outlet providing children’s clothes 

from 1 to 6 years old, using only cotton. 

Mid to high-range prices for quality 

apparel. 

Children Planet 

90 Vo Thi Sau, D1 

Mid to high-range prices for quality apparel, 

imported material from Singapore. 

Offering from the age of 5 to 14 years old 

boys and girls. 

Dabs Kids fashion 


A good selection of both casual and 

formal clothing for kids aged five to ten. 

Party dresses, simple T-shirts, trousers 

and more are all good quality and very 

reasonably priced. Backpacks and other 

accessories are also on sale. 

DlS Paris 





A superb range of unique and beautiful 

clothing for young children (from newborns 

to pre-school age) at high to midrange 

prices. The quality compensates 

for the price. Bedding, baby equipment 

and furniture and organic and natural 

supplies also kept in stock. 

Kiko 


Wide range of Japanese imported elastic 

cotton for children, newborns to 14 

years old. Kiko also has an outlet on the 

second floor of Parkson Plaza. 

la Maison 


On the second floor of this upscale 

furniture store is a lovely range of pretty 

dresses and other cotton apparel for 

kids, from babies to pre-school age. 

Prices are reasonable. 

little anh – em 


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 


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. 

Peekaboo 



Locally designed apparel for girls, ages 1 

to 10. Materials include cotton, wool and 

satin. High to mid-range prices. 

Saigon Centre 

1st floor, 65 Le Loi, D1 

An array of clothing and other assorted 

bits and bobs for children with some 

notable offerings such as Kangaroo, 

a small store stocking cotton clothing 

such as dresses, shirts and party attire, 

as well as clothing for expectant 

mothers. 

SHOES 

aldo 


Offering a wide selection of affordable 

footwear from mid- to high-range prices. 

Carries office-appropriate and partyready 

heels and flats, as well as a range 

of accessories and bags. 

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 Buoy, 18-20 Nguyen Trai 

Tel: 3925 1132 

www.charleskeith.com 

Singapore brand housing youthful and 

trendy shoes of a contemporary, high 

fashion design. 

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. 

footwear Street 

Ho Xuan Huong Street, D3 between 

Cach Mang Thang Tam and Ba Huyen 

Thanh Quan 

Le Thi Hong Gam in D1 between Pho 

Duc Chinh and Calmette 

Selection ranges from leather loafers 

to plastic thongs and everything in 

between. 

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. 

Star Polo 

97B Nguyen Trai, D1 

Mix of imported shoes and locally made 

footwear crafted from Australian leather 

for men and women as well as imported 

ones. Sizes from 38 to 42 for men, and 

from 34 to 40 for women. 

TAILORS 

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. 

fabric Street 

Hai Ba Trung, D1 across the street from 

Tan Dinh Market. 

Spools upon spools of fabric manufatured 

locally and abroad, with more than 

ample variety of textures, colours and 

materials to choose from. 

fair fahion 

69/20 Duong D2, Binh Thanh 

Tel: 3899 4198 

•Moving Services 

•Orientation 

•Pet Relocation 

•Work Permits 

HCMC: +84 8 3933 0065 

HANOI: +84 4 3941 0805 

sales@santaferelo.com.vn 

www.santaferelo.com 


Quality 

Assured 

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. 

Thuy Nga Design 

7 Lam Son Square, D1 

Conveniently located at the Opera House, 

this local boutique is a one-stop shop 

for both men and women. The range 

includes clothes, men’s and women’s 

accessories and costume jewellery. 

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. 

Environmental 

Assured

Ho Chi Minh 

City Map 

3 Thang 2 C1 

Alexandre de Rhodes B4 

Ba Huyen Thanh Quan B1, B2, C2, C3 

Ban Co C1 

Ben Chuong Duong D4 

Ben Van Don D4, D5 

Bui Thi Xuan C3 

Bui Vien D3 

Cach Mang Thang Tam B1, C2, C3 

Calmette D4 

Cao Ba Nha D3 

Cao Thang C1, C2, D2 

Chu Manh Trinh B4, B5 

Co Bac D3 

Co Giang D3 

De Tham D3 

Dien Bien Phu A4, B3, B2, C1, C2 

Dinh Cong Trang A3 

Dinh Tien Hoang A3, A4, B4 

Do Quang Dau D3 

Do Thanh C1 

Doan Nhu Hai D5 

Doan Van Bo D4, D5 

Dong Du C5 

Dong Khoi B4, C4, C5 

Hai Cua A5 

Huynh Tinh Cua A2 

Huynh Van Banh A1 

Khanh Hoi D4 

Ky Con A3, B3, B4, C5 

Hai Trieu C5 

Ham Nghi C4, C5 

Han Thuyen B4 

Ho Hao Hon D3 

Ho Huan Nghiep C5 

Ho Tung Mau C4, C5 

Ho Xuan Huong B3, C2 

Hoa Hung B1 

Hoang Dieu D4, D5 

Hung Vuong D1 

Huyen Tran Cong Chua C3 

Huynh Man Dat A5 

Huynh Thuc Khang C4 

Ky Dong B1, B2 

Le Cong Kieu C4 

Le Duan B4, B5 

Le Hong Phong D1 

Le Lai C3, C4, D3 

Le Loi C4 

Le Quoc Hung D4, D5 

Le Quy Don B3 

Le Thanh Ton B4, B5, C3, C4 

Le Thi Hong Gam C4, D3, D4 

Le Thi Rieng C3 

Le Van Phuc A3 

Le Van Sy B1, B2 

Luong Huu Khanh C2, D2 

Luu Van Lang C4 

Ly Chinh Thang A2, B2 

Ly Thai To D1 

Ly Tu Trong B4, B5, C4, C5 

Mac Dinh Chi A3, B4 

Mac Thi Buoi C5 

Mai Thi Luu A4 

Mai Van Ngoc A1 

Me Linh A5 

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia A2, B2, B3, C4, D4 

Ngo Duc Ke C5 

Ngo Thoi Nhiem B2, C2 

Ngo Van Nam B5 

Nguyen Binh Khiem A4, A5, B5 

Nguyen Cong Tru D4 

Nguyen Cu Trinh D2, D3 

Nguyen Dinh Chieu A4, B3, B4, C1, C2, C3 

Nguyen Dinh Chinh A1 

Nguyen Du B4, C3, C4 

Nguyen Hai Tu A4 

Nguyen Hue C4, C5 

Nguyen Huu Canh A2 

Nguyen Huu Canh B5 

Nguyen Huu Cau A3 

Nguyen Khac Nhu D3 

Nguyen Khoai E3 

Nguyen Ngoc Phuong A5 

Nguyen Phi Khanh A3 

Nguyen Sieu B5, C5 

Nguyen Son Ha C2 

Nguyen Tat Thanh D5 

Nguyen Thai Binh C4, D4 

Nguyen Thai Hoc C3, D3, D4 

Nguyen Thi Dieu C2, C3 

Nguyen Thien Thuat C1, D1, D2 

Nguyen Thong B1, B2, C2 

Nguyen Thuong Hien C2 

Nguyen Trai C3, D2 

Nguyen Trung Ngan B5 

Nguyen Trung Truc C4 

Nguyen Truong To D4, D5 

Nguyen Van Cu D2 

Nguyen Van Hai A3 

Nguyen Van Lac A5 

Nguyen Van Thu A4, B3, B4 

Nguyen Van Troi A1 

Pasteur B2, B3, B4, C4 

Pham Hong Thai C2, C3 

Pham Ngoc Thach B3 

Pham Ngu Lao C3, C4, D3 

Pham Viet Chanh A5 

Pham Viet Chanh D2 

Phan Dinh Phung A2 

Phan Ke Binh A4 

Phan Van Han A4, A5 

Pho Duc Chinh C4, D4 

Phung Khac Khoan B3, B4 

Suong Nguyet Anh C2, C3 

Tan Vinh D4 

Thach Thi Thanh A3 

Thai Van Lung B5 

Thi Sach B5 

Thu Khoa Huan C4 

Ton Duc Thang B5, C4, C5, D4 

Ton That Dam C4 

Ton That Thiep C4 

Ton That Tung C2, C3 

Tran Binh Trong D1 

Tran Canh Chan D2 

Tran Cao Van B4 

Tran Dinh Xu D2, D3 

Tran Hung Dao C4, D2, D3 

Tran Khac Chan A3 

Tran Khanh Du A2, A3 

Tran Minh Quyen C1 

Tran Minh Quyen B1 

Tran Nhan Ton D1 

Tran Nhat Duat A3 

Tran Phu D1 

Tran Quang Dieu A1, A2 

Tran Quang Khai A3, A2 

Tran Quoc Thao B2, B3 

Tran Quoc Toan A2, A3, B2 

Tran Van Dang B1, B2 

Truong Chinh B3 

Truong Dinh B2, C3 

Tu Xuong B2, B3, C2 

Vinh Khanh D4, D5 

Vo Thi Sau A3, B2, B3 

Vo Van Tan B3, C2, C3 

Vuon Chuoi C2 

Xo Viet Nghe Tinh A4, A5 

Yersin D4 

Mai Van 

AA 

B 

Airport Airport 

3km 3km 

Tran 

Tran Van 

Van 

Dang 

Dang 

Tan Binh Tan Binh 

0.5km 0.5km 

C 

District District 11 11 

2km 2km 

Tran Minh Quyen 


Le Hong Phong 

D 

Cho Cho Lon Lon 

Market Market 

EE 

Ngoc 

Ngoc 

Chinh 

Chinh Dinh 

Dinh 

Ng gg 

Ng gg 

Huynh Huynh Van Banh 

Van Banh 

11 22 33 44 55 

PHU U U NHUAN 

NHUAN 

NHUAN 

Mai Van 

Saigon 

Saigon Train Station 

Train Station 



Hoa Hung 

Hoa Hung 

Lan Anh 

Lan 

Sports 

Anh 

& 

Sports 

Leisure 

& 

Club 

Leisure Club 

Dien Bien Phu 

Dien Bien Phu 

Tran Nhan TonHuynh Man Dat 

Tran Quang Dieu 

Ly Thai 

Ly Thai 

To 

To 

Hung Vuong 

Hung Vuong 

Nguyen Van Troi 

Nguyen Van Troi 


Nguyen Th ong 

Cach Mang Thang Tam 


3 Thang 2 

3 Thang 2 

Ban Co 

Ban Co 

Nguyen Thien Thuat 

Nguyen Thien Thuat 

Tran Binh Trong 

Ng Dinh Chinh 

Ng Dinh Chinh 

Le Van Sy 

Le Van Sy 

Quyen 

Quyen 

Tran 

Tran 

Minh 

Minh 

DISTRICT 10 10 

Tran Nhan TonHuynh Man Dat 

Le Hong Phong 

Tran Phu 

Tran Phu 

Do Thanh 

Cao Thang 

Cao Thang 

DISTRICT D DISTRICT D TRI TRTRI TIC RCT IC CT 5 5 




An Duong Vuong 

An Duong Vuong 

Tran 

Tran 

Hung 

Hung 

Dao 

Dao 

Huyn h Van Banh 

Dang 

Dang 

Van Van 

Tran 

Tran 

Nguyen Th ong 

Do Thanh 


Huyn h Van Banh 

Ky Dong 

Ng. Thuong 

V. Chuoi 

University 

of Natural University 

Sciences of Natural 

Sciences 

Teacher 

Training Teacher 

University Training 

University 

Nguyen Trai 

Nguyen Trai 


Ky Dong 

Ly Chinh T hang 

Ng. Thuong 

V. Chuoi 

Hien 

Vuon 

Chuoi 

Vuon 

Market 

Chuoi 

Market 

Nguyen Van Cu 

Phan Dinh Phung 

Phan Dinh Phung 

Truong Dinh 

Truong Dinh 

Hai Ba Trung 

Hai Ba Trung 

Thai Binh 

Thai Binh 

Market 

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 

Dien Bien Phu 

Dien Bien Phu 

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 

Gia Dinh Gia Dinh 

Hospital Hospital 

1.5km 1.5km 

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 

Tu Xuong 

Tu Xuong 

Nguyen Thong 

Nguyen Thong 

Nguyen Son Ha 

Nguyen Son Ha 

Pham Viet Chanh 

Pham Viet Chanh 

Nguyen Bieu 

Ly Chinh T hang 

Hien 

Tran Quoc Toan Tran Quoc Toan 

Canh 

Huu 

Tran Khanh Tran Khanh Du Du 

Huynh Tinh Cua 


Ba Huyen Thanh Quan 

Ba Huyen Thanh Quan 

Nguyen Dinh Chieu 


Ngo Thoi Nhiem 

Ngo Thoi Nhiem 

Luong Huu Khanh 

Luong Huu Khanh 

Nguyen Trai 

Ngu yen 

Tran 

Tran 

N. V. Hai 

N. V. Hai 

Chua Phat An 

Chua Phat An 

Tran Quoc Thao 

Tran Quoc Thao 

Nguyen Thi Dieu 

Nguyen Thi Dieu 

Suong Nguyet Anh 

Suong Nguyet Anh 

Ton That Tung 

Ton That Tung 

Cong Quynh 

Cong Quynh 

Tran Dinh Xu 

Tran Dinh Xu 

Cao Ba Nha 

Nguyen Trai 

Nguyen Trai 

Do Q. Dau 

Le Lai 

Le Lai 

Bui Vien 

Bui Vien 


De Tham 

Pham Ngu Lao 

Pham Ngu Lao 

Ng Kh Nhu 

Ng Kh Nhu 

Co Bac 

Co Bac 

Dinh Tien Hoang 

Re-unication Re-unication 

Palace Palace 

Pham Pham Hong Hong Thai Thai 

Tran Hung Dao Tran Hung Dao 

Tran Hung Dao Tran Hung Dao 

Canh Chan 

Canh Chan 

Ng. Huu Cau 

Rieng Rieng 

Le Thi 

Le Thi 

Thach Thi Thanh 

Thach Thi Thanh 

D. C. Trang 

D. C. Trang 

Truong Chinh 

Truong Chinh 

Vo Van Tan Vo Van Tan 

Cao Thang 

Cao Thang 

Tran Nhat Duat 

Nguyen Gia Thieu 

Ho Xuan Huong 

Ho Xuan Huong 

Bui Thi Xuan 

Bui Thi Xuan 

Nguyen Cu Trinh 

Nguyen Cu Trinh 

DISTRICT ST ST 1 1 

Nguyen Van Cu 

Nguyen Bieu 

Tran Quoc Toan Tran Quoc Toan 

Canh 

Huu 

Tran Khac Chan 

DISTRICT DIST DISTRICT DSTR SIST 

STR SRICT 

ICT RICT ICT3 

3 

Nguyen Trai 

Ngu yen 

Tran Nhat Duat 

Le Quy Don 

Le Quy Don 

Nguyen Gia Thieu 

Cao Ba Nha 

Tran Khac Chan 

Ng. Huu Cau 

Do Q. Dau 

Ho H. Hon 

Ho H. Hon 

Chuong Duong 

Chuong Duong 

Ben 

Ben 

Tran Quang Tran Quang Khai Khai 

L. V. Phuc 

L. V. Phuc 

Ng. Phi Ng. Khanh Phi Khanh 

Pham Ngoc Thach 

Pham Ngoc Thach 

Pasteur 

Pasteur 

Truong Dinh 

Truong Dinh 

Vo Van Tan Vo Van Tan 

Huyen Tran Cong Chua 

Huyen Tran Cong Chua 

Co Giang 

Co Giang 

Nguyen Khoai 


De Tham 

Nguyen Khoai 

De Tham 


Tu 

Tu 

Ng Hai Ng Hai 

Phung Khac Khoan 

Phung Khac Khoan 

Nguyen Van Thu 

Nguyen Van Thu 

Huan 

Huan 

Thu Kh 

Thu Kh 

Ly Tu Trong 

Ly Tu Trong 

De Tham 

Hoang Dieu 

Hoang Dieu 

Mac Dinh Chi 

Mac Dinh Chi 



Alexandre De Rhodes 

Alexandre De Rhodes 

Ben 

Thanh Ben 

Market Thanh 

Market 

Bus 

Station Bus 

Station 

Nguyen Binh Khiem 


Central 

Central Post Ofce 

Post Ofce 

Le Loi 

Le Loi 

Hoa Lu 

Hoa Stadium Lu 

Stadium 

Nguyen NNNggg Thi Minh Khai 

Nguyen NNNggg Thi Minh Khai 

Hai Ba Trung 

Hai Ba Trung 

Town Hall 

Town Hall 

Saigon Saigon South South 

4km 4km 

Dien Bien Phu 

Dien Bien Phu 



HTV 

HTV television 

television 

Le Duan Le Duan 

Le Duan Le Duan 

Pasteur 

Pasteur 

Nguyen Trung Truc 

Nguyen Trung Truc 

Nguyen Du 

Nguyen Du 

Nguyen An Ninh 

Nguyen An Ninh 

Le Thi Hong Gam 

Le Thi Hong Gam 

Phan Ke Binh 

Phan Ke Binh 

Tran Cao Van 

Tran Cao Van 

Han Thuyen 

Han Thuyen 

Ky Con 

Ky Con 

Mai Thi Luu 

Mai Thi Luu 

Dong Khoi 

Dong Khoi 

Pho Duc Chinh 

Pho Duc Chinh 

Nguyen Thai Binh 

Nguyen Thai Binh 

Yersin 

L. V. Lang 

L. V. Lang 

Khanh Hoi 

Hoang Hoang Sa Sa 

Ham Ham Nghi Nghi 

Xo Viet Nghe Tinh 

Xo Viet Nghe Tinh 

Le Loi 

Le Loi 

Ton Duc Thang 

Ton Duc Thang 

Chu Manh Trinh 

Chu Manh Trinh 

Nguyen Hue 

Nguyen Hue 

Ton ThTon Th at Thiep 

at Thiep 

T. T. Dam 

Pham PPPPhhhaaammmmmmmmmmm Pham PPPPhhhaaammmmmmmmmmm VVV Van nnn Han VVV Van nnn nnn Han nnn 

Thi Sach 

Thi Sach 

Mac 

Mac 

Ngo 

Ngo 

Ton Duc Thang 

Ton Duc Thang 

Le Quoc Hung 

Le Quoc Hung 

Zoo & Botanical 

Zoo & Gardens Botanical 

Gardens 



Thai Van Lung 

Thai Van Lung 

Ng Sieu 

Ng Sieu 

Cao Ba Quat 

Cao Ba Quat 

Dong Du 

Dong Du 

Thi Buoi 

Thi Buoi 

Duc Ke 

Duc Ke 

Hai Trieu 

Hai Trieu 

Ton Duc 

Thang Museum 

Ton Duc 

Thang Museum 

Nghiep 

Nghiep 

H.H. 

H.H. 

Van 

Van 

Ngo 

Ngo Nam Nam 

Nguyen Huu Canh 

Nguyen Huu Canh 

Thu Thiem Thu Thiem 

Ferry Ferry Port Port 

(for District (for District 2) 2) 

HCM HCM City City 

Boat Boat Quay Quay 

(for Vung (for Vung Tau) Tau) 

Nguyen Tat Thanh 

Nhu Hai 

Nhu Hai 

DonDoan 

DonDoan 

Ben Van 

Ben Van 

Calmette 

Ng. Cong Tru 

Ng. Cong Tru 

Ben Chuong 

Ben Chuong 

Duong 

Duong 

Tan Vinh 

Nguyen Du 

Ly Tu Trong 

Ly Tu Trong 

Le Thanh Ton Le Thanh Ton 

Pasteur 

Le Cong Le Cong Kieu Kieu 

Don 

Don 

Ben Van 

Ben Van 

Truong Truong Sa 

Sa 

DISTRICT D DISTRICT D RICT CT CT1 

1 1 

Yersin 

Khanh Hoi 

Calmette 

Tan Vinh 

Nguyen Du 

Ho Tung Mau 

Huynh Thuc 

Huynh Thuc 

Khang 

Khang 

Vinh Khanh 

BINH B BINH BNH NH THANH TH THANH TH 

Hoang Dieu 

Hoang Dieu 

Ng. Cong Tru 

Ng. Cong Tru 

Ng Truong To 

Nguyen 

Trung Ngan 

Nguyen 

Trung Ngan 

Le Thanh Ton Le Thanh Ton 

Pasteur 

Vinh Khanh 

Doan Van Bo 

Doan Van Bo 

Ton Dan 

Nguyen Ngoc Phuong 

Vinh Hoi Vinh Hoi Vinh Hoi Vinh Hoi 

T. T. Dam 

Ho Tung Mau 

Ng Truong To 

Phan Van Dat 

Phan Van Dat 

DISTRICT DI DISTRICT DI TR TR 4 4 

Nguyen Tat Thanh 

Ton Dan 

Nguyen Ngoc Phuong 

Huynh Man Dat 

asialife HCMC 97 



Me Linh 

Saigon Saigon Bridge Bridge 

& Highway & Highway 1 1 

3km 3km 

Cat Lai Cat Ferry Lai Ferry 

9km 9km 

Vung Vung Tau Tau 

District District 7 7 

& Nha & Be Nha Be 

Xom Chieu 

Nguyen Van Lac 

Huynh Man Dat 

Xom Chieu 

Nguyen Van Lac 

Me Linh

Photos by Nam Quan 

& Fred Wissink 

mexican lindo opening 

escada spring-summer 2010 launch at la cantine 

biuret at the hi-fi 

cage

oxoffice 

This month, Vietnam gets a 

double dose of 3D adventure, as 

well as an offering of action and 

comedy. 

In a remake of classic monster 

flick The Wolfman, traveling 

actor Lawrence Talbot (Benicio 

del Toro) returns to his home 

after his brother’s mauled body 

is found. While investigating the 

murder, Lawrence stumbles into 

a werewolf attack and is bitten in 

the fray. After transforming into a 

werewolf himself, he must get to 

the bottom of his brother’s death 

while battling his inner beast. 

In Cop Out, Bruce Willis and 

Tracy Morgan star as Jimmy and 

Paul, long-time partners who get 

suspended from the police force 

after a failed drug sting. Their 

bad luck continues when a thief 

(Sean William Scott) steals Paul’s 

favourite gun and the vintage 

baseball card Jimmy wants to sell 

to pay for his daughter’s wedding. 

opening dates 

CINEMAS 

C: Cinebox 

www.cinebox212.com.vn 

G: Galaxy 

www.galaxycine.vn 

L: Lottecinema 

www.lottecinemavn.com 

M: Megastar 

www.megastarmedia.net 

T: Thang Long 

www.giaitrithanglong.com/cinema 

In pursuit of their possessions, 

Jimmy and Paul face a series of 

comical obstacles. 

Originally set for February 

release, Martin Scorsese’s Shutter 

Island follows U.S. Marshals 

Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and 

Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), who 

are dispatched to Shutter Island, 

where a patient of the island’s 

hospital for the criminally insane 

has escaped. When a clue sparks 

tension between the investigators 

and the hospital staff, a conspiracy 

begins to unravel and Teddy 

starts to lose his grip on his sanity. 

Also pushed back, Did You 

Hear About the Morgans? features 

a wealthy New York couple 

in a deteriorating marriage. Paul 

(Hugh Grant) and Meryl (Sarah 

Jessica Parker) are sent to a small 

town in Wyoming for protection 

after they witness a murder. Starting 

a new life in an utterly different 

world, they are forced to sort out 

The Wolfman 

March 25 

COP OUT 

April 2 

SHUTTER ISLAND 

April 2 

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE 

MORGANS? 

April 2 

their rocky marriage. 

Vietnam gets another dose of 

3D with Clash of the Titans. This 

remake of the 1981 cult classic 

stars Sam Worthington as the 

hero of Greek myth, Perseus, 

who leads humanity’s campaign 

against Hades (Ralph Fiennes) 

after the god of hell strikes down 

his family. Throughout his voyage, 

Perseus employs his power as 

a demi-god to face off against a 

series of gruesome beasts. 

Also in the fantasy genre is 

Daybreakers, a vampire story set 

in the not-too-distant future. With 

humanity on the brink of extinction, 

vampires must find a blood 

substitute or face transformation 

into bat-like beasts. When 

hematologist Edward Dalton 

(Ethan Hawke) comes across a 

group of humans trying to rebuild 

their race, they reveal something 

amazing: Elvis (Willem Dafoe), a 

man cured of his vampirism. 

THE CLASH OF THE TITANS 

April 9 

DAYBREAKERS 

April 16 

DE MAI TINH 

April 23 

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 

April 24 

On the local front, Dustin 

Nguyen and Kathy Uyen co-star 

in new romantic comedy De Mai 

Tinh (Deal With It Tomorrow) directed 

by Charlie Nguyen. Dustin 

Nguyen plays Dung, a 5-star hotel 

employee who quits his job and 

devotes himself to winning over 

lounge singer Mai (Uyen). 

There’s more 3D adventure 

with How to Train Your Dragon, 

a film adaptation of the children’s 

book that follows Hiccup (Jay 

Baruchel), the black sheep of 

a Viking community famed for 

slaying dragons. When Hiccup 

comes of age, he hopes to earn 

the respect of the community and 

his father (Gerard Butler) by proving 

his skill in fighting dragons. 

But that proves unlikely when he 

befriends his first capture, who he 

names Toothless. Inspired by his 

friendship with Toothless, Hiccup 

seeks to end violence against 

dragons. 

The information on this page was 

correct at the time of printing. Check 

cinema websites for screening. 

Occupied City 

David Pease 

Knopf 

In January 1948, a man claiming to be a doctor entered the 

Teikoku Bank in occupied Tokyo. He told employees he had been 

sent to immunize the bank’s workers against dysentery, and 

proceeded to administer a “vaccine.” He actually poisoned 16 

people, killing 12, in one of the most notorious criminal cases in 

Japanese history. Pease’s novel, the second in a planned trilogy 

about Tokyo, takes this real-life event as its basis, weaving a 

highly stylized, Rashomon-like tale of differing voices and perspectives 

including newspaper articles and police reports. One 

observer, a U.S. army doctor named Murray Thompson, believes 

the poisoning is evidence of Japanese bioweapons experimentation, 

a theory which was attached to the incident at the time but 

never proven. 

Still Life: Adventures 

in Taxidermy 

Melissa Milgrom 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

Far from its heyday during the Victorian-era natural sciences 

boom, taxidermy has long come to seem dated, kitschy, creepy 

and outright morbid. (Stuffing animals was the favorite hobby 

of Norman Bates in Psycho, after all.) But for journalist Melissa 

Milgrom, it was a subject she had grown interested in since a 

chance encounter with the last chief taxidermist at the American 

Museum of Natural History. Still Life traces the colourful history 

of taxidermy from the days when British naturalists composed 

painstaking dioramas of port-drinking squirrels to a hands-on 

account of contemporary practice. Milgrom attempts to stuff a 

squirrel herself and takes a trip to the ultra-competitive World 

Taxidermy Championships. Along the way, a more nuanced and 

human picture emerges of a practice that is equal parts science 

and art. 

bookshelf 

The Ask: A Novel 

Sam Lipsyte 

Farrar, Straus and Giroux 

In a pair of novels and a short story collection, Sam Lipsyte has 

tapped mind-numbing boredom, crushing failure and the banality 

of consumer culture as material for his darkly comic vision. His 

latest hero, Milo Burke, follows in the same vein. He’s a washedup 

painter living in Astoria, Queens with a wife who doesn’t 

want to be touched by him and their young son. Milo works as 

a fundraiser for a mediocre university, which he is—you guessed 

it—also failing at. He is fired, but then given a shot at salvation, 

of sorts: a rich and aristocratic old college acquaintance, Purdy 

Stewart, may be willing to make a large endowment, and wants 

Milo to act as the intermediary with the university. This arrangement, 

however, is not what it seems (of course). 

The Big Short: 

Inside the 

Doomsday Machine 

Michael Lewis 

W. W. Norton & Company 

In looking to make sense of what exactly drove Wall Street 

and the U.S. economy over the cliff, there’s no better guide 

than Michael Lewis. The author of Liar’s Poker and Moneyball 

takes readers on a ride through the toxic wasteland of complex 

financial instruments, where Wall Street firms were able “to hide 

the risk by complicating it.” Lewis focuses on a few individuals 

who were smart enough to see the looming real-estate mortgage 

disaster and make a fortune by betting on its collapse in the 

bonds market. These include a doctor with Asperger’s syndrome 

and a pair of friends who started a “garage band hedge fund” in 

a backyard shed. It’s a character-driven, storytelling account of 

one of the world’s great financial messes. 


soundfix 

album review 

FabricLive 50 

DBridge & Instra: 

Mental Present 

Autonomic 

Inspired by their series of 

celebrated Autonomic podcasts 

in 2009, DBridge & 

Instra:Mental continue the fine 

lineage of FabricLive mixes with 

their experimental and minimal 

brand of down-tempo electronic 

dance music. Encompassing a 

multitude of subgenres (drum n’ 

bass, electro, dubstep, techno 

& ambient) and styles from 

the 1980s through to present 

day, the deftest of mixing skills 

and cutting edge production 

techniques take the listener to 

mysterious and dark realms 

where a panorama of broken 

synths and brooding bass-driven 

collages reveal themselves over 

31 tracks. This is a post-club 

chill-out album to come down 

to at home in the heady twilight 

between fleeting dusk and the 

emerging dawn. Memorable 

moments include Riya’s “Seems 

Like,” a robotic yet soulful glide 

with post-garage urban vocals; 

the lulling ambience and jazzy 

inflections of Stray’s “Pushed”; 

and one of the standout tunes of 

2009 in Instra:Mental’s “Watching 

You.” The only thing missing 

is DBridge’s superb “Wonder 

Where.” 

Pavement 

Quarantine The 

Past 

This career-spanning retrospective 

compilation of concert 

staples, fan favourites and oddballs 

is the perfect introduction 

to anyone looking to belatedly 

discover the lo-fi indie-rock of 

early 90s underground band 

Pavement. With their fractured 

narratives, occasional blasts of 

feedback and off-kilter melodies, 

Pavement was highly influential 

to numerous American and 

British underground bands yet 

too strange for the mainstream. 

Their loud-quiet-loud-quiet 

dynamic is reminiscent of the 

Pixies and Sonic Youth, and 

tracks such as “Gold Soundz,” 

“Stereo,” “Here” and “The Mouth 

In The Desert” provided the 

sonic blueprint for revered mid- 

90s bands such as Weezer and 

Modest Mouse. Like all compilations, 

Quarantine The Past is 

sure to evoke many arguments 

regarding track selection among 

fans, but pretty much everything 

on here is excellent and serves 

as a decent primer for their 

upcoming world tour. 

Gorillaz 

Plastic Beach 

The world’s biggest cartoon 

band (in reality headed up by 

Blur’s Damon Albarn and illustrator 

Jamie Hewlett) is back with 

an important message. Along 

with a roster of collaborators 

that reads like the guest list to 

the weirdest after-party ever 

(Lou Reed, Snoop Dog, Bobby 

Womack and Mark E. Smith 

to name but a few), Gorillaz 

provide a dejected social commentary 

on the current state 

of the world’s environment. 

Others along for the ride include 

Sinfonia ViVA, The Lebanese 

National Orchestra for Oriental 

and Arabic Music and Hypnotic 

Brass Ensemble. The end result 

is one of the smartest, most 

intriguing and forward-thinking 

pop records recorded. Funk, 

hip-hop, alt. rock, electro-pop 

and world music are successfully 

melded together as each 

vocalist stamps their own idiosyncratic 

style on this progressive 

concept album. There’s no 

big single, no “Clint Eastwood” 

or “Feel Good Inc.”, but that’s 

exactly the point. Plastic Beach 

is a body of work designed to be 

digested as a whole. 

by John Thornton 

Goldfrapp 

Head First 

This fifth LP sees Goldfrapp 

departing from the folk-inspired 

sound of 2008’s Seventh Tree 

and diving head first into pure, 

unadulterated 1980s Italodisco. 

Stomping glitter beats; 

fizzing synths and glossy pop 

that shines brighter than Marty 

McFly’s DeLorean is the order 

of the day. Initially, the radical 

change of direction is quite hard 

to take as it’s quickly established 

that Head First is Goldfrapp’s 

most overtly commercial album 

to date. It’s so authentically 

1980s-tastic it could be a Kylie 

Minogue album—something 

sure to polarize Goldfrapp fans 

the world over. The opening 

quartet of “Rocket,” “Believer,” 

“Alive” and “Dreaming” will have 

ELO, Abba and New Order fans 

furiously searching for their old, 

ripped Van Halen t-shirt, dusting 

off that Jane Fonda aerobics 

VHS and punching the sky in 

sweaty abandon. Others may 

see Head First as that secretive 

guilty pleasure you know 

you shouldn’t like but listen to 

repeatedly on your headphones. 

Either way, to paraphrase 1980s 

pop bible Smash Hits: Goldfrapp 

are BACK! BACK! BACK! 

xoneFM 

top ten 

Official XONe fM Vietnam Top 10 

this 

week 

title artist 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Automatic 

Telephone (feat. 

Beyonce) 

Sorry Sorry Answer 

Lang Tham 

Mua Roi Lang Tham 

Let Me Hear Your 

Voice 

What Do You Want 

From Me 

Mau Xanh Tinh Yeu 

Lot Xac 

Ring Ding Dong 

Tokio Hotel 

Lady GaGa 

Super Junior 

Noo Phuoc Thinh 

M4U 

Big Bang 

Adam Lambert 

australia Top 10 

this 

week 

title artist 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Angus & Julia 

The Fame Monster 

Plastic Beach 

Sigh No More 

Jason Derulo 

Recollection 

I Dreamed A Dream 

Valleys Of Neptune 

One Love 

Crazy Love 

US Top 10 

this 

week 

title artist 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Rude Boy 

Nothin' On You (feat. 

Bruno Mars) 

Telephone (feat. 

Beyonce) 

Need You Now 

Break Your Heart (feat. 

Ludacris) 

Imma Be 

Hey, Soul Sister 

BedRock (feat.Lloyd) 

TiK ToK 

Baby (feat. Ludacris) 

US top 10 courtesy of www.billboard.com 

Mai Khoi 

Nguyen Hai Phong 

Shinee 

Angus & Julia Stone 

Lady Gaga 

Gorillaz 

Mumford & Sons 

Jason Derulo 

k.d. lang 

Susan Boyle 

Jemi Hendrix 

David Guetta 

Micheal Bolton 

Rihanna 

B.o.B 

Lady Gaga 

Lady Antebellum 

Taio Cruz 

The Black Eyed Peas 

Train 

Young Money 

Ke$ha 

Jusin Bieber 

endorsed 

iTunes LPs 

By John Thornton 

Since the advent of the mp3, 

music purists have complained 

that the digital music 

format is inferior to its physical 

counterpart. In many respects, 

this claim is not unfounded. 

Compressed sound quality, 

lack of artwork and sleeve 

innards and the inability to 

physically touch the product 

are major disadvantages. 

The feeling that comes with 

purchasing, holding, opening 

and playing a brand new 

record, be it on vinyl or CD, 

is one that totally outweighs 

the numbness that associated 

with pressing “Buy” in the 

iTunes online store. 

Take Be Here Now by 

Oasis, released in 1997 to 

such colossal anticipation 

that thousands of fans literally 

queued outside HMVs 

across the UK for hours just to 

purchase a copy. At that time 

Be Here Now became the 

fastest-selling album in British 

history. We’ve yet to witness 

a similar level of dedication 

or hysteria with a digital-only 

release. 

Remember how it felt 

to admire and analyze the 

artwork and sleeve notes, 

discovering little facts, insights 

and designs that completely 

enhanced your overall experience? 

Remember the warm 

crackle of freshly played vinyl 

or the clinical, crystal clear 

dynamics of a CD? 

Radiohead’s Special Collectors 

Edition release of 

2001’s Amnesiac is regularly 

touted as the perfect example 

of the advantages of buying 

into the physical format. The 

beautifully hand-crafted red 

hardback library book not only 

contained the CD inside the 

book cover but also authenticlooking 

library slips and date 

stamps. This wonderfully 

creative spin on the physical 

album format won Thom 

Yorke and his collaborator a 

Grammy award for Best Recording 

Package in 2002. 

Realizing that such fundamental 

disadvantages needed 

to be rectified in order to 

recapture a critical market, 

Apple struck back with their 

own highly creative and 

impressive spin on the digital 

music format: the iTunes LP. 

This particular format has 

been designed to reincorporate 

the visual aspect of the 

record album, with a host of 

special features, including 

expanded cover art, lyrics, 

videos, animation and even 

interactive games. 

The iTunes LP versions 

of albums by Muse, Massive 

Attack and Gorillaz have 

reenergized the previously dull 

format by giving fans more 

bang for their buck. Instead of 

purchasing several individual 

tracks from an album, now 

you’ll want to buy the whole 

package and experience all 

those features you’ve been 

missing since swapping your 

CD player for an iPod. 

You still might not be able 

to touch an iTunes LP but it’s 

as close as we’re going to get 

to the good old days.

do luddites have a facebook group? 

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Jason Page On a break from social-networking, 

Jason Page learns to enjoy the simpler things in life. 

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Write something... 

RECENT ACTIVITY 

You like this. 

A few months ago, when 

Facebook experienced its first 

“hiccups” in Vietnam, I quickly 

learned to live without the 

social-networking service. I’ve 

been made aware of the many 

solutions available to me, but 

for one reason or another, I 

can’t seem to muster the motivation 

to put any of them to 

use. I’ve always been slow to 

jump aboard the tech train—I 

didn’t own a cell phone until 

2004—and it would seem I’m 

just as slow to get back on 

board once I’ve fallen off. 

But more recently, my selfimposed 

exile from Facebook 

has become something of a social 

experiment. I’m experiencing 

echoes of my days without 

a mobile phone (How am I 

supposed to reach you, man?). My 

precipitous drop in Wall activity 

has sometimes led to concern 

(u ok? where u been?) and other 

times paranoia (haven’t heard 

from you. we all right?). In fact, 

quitting Facebook has done 

wonders for my self-esteem. I 

have never felt so important. 

I then did something even 

more drastic than staying off 

the Facebook grid. I started to 

ask friends to email me. I’m not 

talking about my work email. 

I’m talking about my personal 

email, that graveyard of 

subscription news blasts about 

a city I no longer live in. But 

what was worse was asking 

friends for their personal email 

addresses. I came to expect the 

dumbfounded wonder, as if 

I had just requested that they 

recite the Book of Kells in pig 

Latin. Well that’s, uh, that’s the 

darndest thing. It’s slipped my 

mind. There’s an ampersand in 

there somewhere. 

It would seem that in an era 

of hyper-connectivity, people 

are beginning to phase the old 

modes of communication out 

of their lives. I however, am just 

rediscovering them. And you 

know what? I want more. 

When I had cable and 

Internet installed in my apartment, 

the technician insisted 

on putting a landline telephone 

in, despite my insistence that I 

didn’t need one. I haven’t had a 

landline telephone in close to a 

decade, but I think I’m going to 

start using mine. 

A friend who is roughly 15 

years my senior once told me 

that he used to talk to friends 

for hours on his landline 

phone, but he just couldn’t do 

the same on a cell phone. And 

he’s right. I picked up the receiver 

the other day, and it felt 

strangely alien. There’s a heft 

to a receiver that a cell phone 

just can’t stand up to. It’s like 

placing a stylus on a record versus 

thumbing through an iPod 

playlist. 

How far can I take it? I don’t 

know. There has to be a line 

that shouldn’t be crossed. I’m 

guessing it falls somewhere 

between using an abacus and 

clipping a beeper to my belt. 

I don’t want to be seen to be 

striving for irony, here. 

In reality, I know I’ll 

eventually go back to socialnetworking. 

That's the genius 

of Facebook. It knows where 

to find you. Among all the 

junk email and subscriptions, 

messages keep reaching me 

from Facebook, tempting me 

back. No, I didn’t know it was 

Julie’s birthday in three days. Yes, 

I would like to poke Aurora back. 

At the end of the day, I would 

rather flip up my laptop screen 

and see a string of messages 

and photos from friends than 

open my inbox to adverts 

from a store I never shop at 

and Jetstar updates written in 

Vietnamese. That’s just no way 

to live. 

this month in history 

Oscar Wilde Arrested, Arafat Plane Crash, Molly Brown Entertains and more 

April 1, 1984 

Marvin Gaye Shooting 

R&B singer Marvin Gaye is shot 

and killed by his father during a 

family dispute. Authorities drop 

first-degree murder charges 

against Marvin Sr. after they 

discover that Gaye beat his 

father just prior to the shooting. 

Marvin Sr. pleads no contest to 

voluntary manslaughter and is 

sentenced to five years probation. 

Gaye was known for the 

popular hits, “How Sweet It Is 

To Be Loved By You,” “I Heard 

It Through the Grapevine,” and 

“Mercy Mercy Me.” He dies one 

day before his 45th birthday. 

April 2, 1902 

First U.S. Movie Theatre Opens 

The Electric Theater, the first 

dedicated U.S. movie theatre, 

opens in a circus tent in Los 

Angeles, California. A ticket 

costs just 10 cents for a onehour 

show. Movies became 

increasingly popular after a 1901 

vaudeville strike forced owners 

to find alternate sources of entertainment 

for their venues. The 

strike also laid the groundwork 

for the arrival of nickelodeons, 

tiny storefront theatres that 

played silent films accompanied 

by a live pianist for 5 cents. 

April 6, 1895 

Oscar Wilde Arrest 

Author Oscar Wilde is arrested 

after losing a libel case against 

the Marquess of Queensberry. 

The royal publicly accused Wilde 

of being homosexual after he 

discovered that his son was Wilde’s 

lover. Wilde, also a husband 

and father, is sentenced to two 

years of hard labour. He dies in 

1900 of meningitis and although 

unproven, some believe the 

cause is syphilis. The Oxford 

educated writer is best known 

for the play, The Importance 

of Being Ernest (1895) and the 

novel, The Picture of Dorian 

Gray (1890). 

April 8, 1992 

Arafat Plane Crash 

Palestine Liberation Organization 

(PLO) chairman Yasser 

Arafat’s plane crashes during a 

sandstorm in the Libyan Desert. 

Three crew members perish, but 

Arafat and the other passengers 

survive, sustaining only minor 

injuries. The 62-year-old Arafat 

was returning from a meeting 

at a Palestinian guerrilla desert 

camp in Libya, following visits to 

the Sudan and Yemen. Throughout 

his life, the controversial 

leader served as President of the 

Palestinian National Authority 

(PNA), founder and leader of 

the Fatah political party and a 

Nobel Prize laureate. Speculation 

surrounds his 2004 death, 

but medical records show that 

Arafat died from a stroke caused 

by a bleeding disorder. 

April 12, 1633 

Galileo Trial 

The Catholic Church’s Inquisition 

puts physicist and astronomer 

Galileo Galilei on trial for his conviction 

that the Earth orbits the 

sun. The church considers the 

reverse to be true and deems 

Galileo’s claims heresy, even 

though science had disproved 

their belief centuries earlier. 

Galileo is sentenced to a threeyear 

prison term and ordered 

to recite the seven Penitential 

Psalms once per week, but is 

instead put under house arrest 

when he agrees to renounce 

his beliefs. More than 300 years 

later, the church admits that 

Galileo was indeed correct and 

clears his name. 

April 15, 1912 

Molly Brown Entertains Titanic 

Survivors 

Titanic passenger Margaret 

Brown escapes certain death 

and jumps into a lifeboat after 

the doomed luxury liner hits an 

iceberg 400 miles south of Newfoundland, 

Canada. The socialite 

helps in the rescue efforts and 

entertains shell-shocked survivors 

with vivid accounts of life 

during Colorado’s gold rush. The 

media applauds Brown’s heroic 

actions and nicknames her 

“the unsinkable Mrs. Brown.” 

Brown’s money eventually 

dwindles and she lives a modest 

life until her death in 1932. 

Almost 50 years later, her fame 

is revived when the musical, The 

Unsinkable Molly Brown debuts 

on Broadway in 1960, starring 

Tammy Grimes. 


pub quiz 

general knowledge 

1) What is traded on the forex 

market? 

2) The “maiden” or “virgin” 

denotes which astrological 

sign? 

3) What is the first element 

listed on the Periodic Table of 

Elements? 

4) What type of seafarer would 

fly a jolly roger? 

5) Juniper berries give what spirit 

its predominant flavour? 

world history 

6) The Battle of the Somme (WWI) 

took place in what nation? 

7) What exiled Soviet leader was 

assassinated in Mexico in 

1940? 

8) What two European nations 

fought with Israel against 

Egypt during the Suez Crisis? 

9) With what other South African 

did Nelson Mandela share the 

1993 Nobel Peace Prize? 

10) Corazon Aquino became the 

first elected female president 

of what Asian nation in 1986? 

sports 

11) How many teams compete 

in the final FIFA World Cup 

tournament? 

12) What American diver 

revealed in 1995 that he’d 

competed in the 1988 

Olympics without disclosing he 

was HIV-positive? 

13) What two boxing greats 

faced off in the 1975 Thrilla in 

Manila? 

14) How many players per side 

compete in rugby union games? 

15) The AMA Motocross 

Championship is held in what 

country? 


Arts & Entertainment 

16) The Globe Theatre 

was associated with what 

playwright? 

17) Oceania, Eurasia and 

Eastasia are the last three 

remaining states in 

what 1949 novel? 

18) Roy Lichtenstein and 

Tom Wesselmann are 

associated with what 1960s 

art movement? 

19) Giacomo Puccini’s La 

boheme was the template for 

what 90s rock opera? 

20) What British actor 

portrayed Dr. Fritz 

Fassbender, Dr. Fu Manchu 

and Dr. Strangelove? 

geography 

21) Silicon Valley is located in 

what U.S. state? 

22) Sophia is the capital of 

what Eastern European nation? 

23) The Bay of Bengal forms 

part of what ocean? 

24) What is the southernmost 

country in Central America? 

25) Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia and 

what other nation form the 

Horn of Africa? 

Culinary Arts 

26) What is added to a hot pan 

to flambé its contents? 

27) What are the two main 

ingredients in meringue? 

28) What is the title of a head 

chef’s second in command? 

29) The cylindrical clay oven 

used in Central Asian and 

Middle Eastern cooking is 

called what? 

30) What dessert derives its 

name from the French for “to 

inflate” or “puff up”? 

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