hanoi

The Transformation from the Old to the New Continues Unabated in Hanoi

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This is a building that I've kept an eye on ever since I moved to Hanoi over 16 years ago. It was a pharmacy back in the day. It also happens to be located in the Hoan Kiem District, a short walk from the lake, one of the most expensive areas of the city. Don't … Continue reading The Transformation from the Old to the New Continues Unabated in Hanoi

The latest chapter in Vietnam’s valiant battle against the Delta variant

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The good news is that most Vietnamese and expats are beginning to bask in the light at the end of tunnel. Hanoians getting exercise after the COVID-related restrictions were lifted in September 2021. Photo: Khanh Huy/ The Hanoi Times A revised and updated version of this article, originally published on 28.10.21 by CounterPunch, appeared in … Continue reading The latest chapter in Vietnam’s valiant battle against the Delta variant

VinWonders Vinpearl Safari: Fantasy or Reality?

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Location of proposed VinWonders Vinpearl Safari on the outskirts of Hanoi. Here's what's behind Door #3, dear readers, as alluded to in a previous post. This is an example of things that go bump in the night in broad daylight, assuming this Frankensteinian project gets the green light. There are plans to build a VinWonders … Continue reading VinWonders Vinpearl Safari: Fantasy or Reality?

Parental Love Also Means Freedom From…

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Caution! As seen in Hanoi traffic recently. A negative role model, i.e., what NOT to allow your children to do. Here are two possible consequences of this boy's "fun": 1) Inhaling polluted air, including carbon monoxide; and 2) Risk of injury or death in the event of a sudden stop or collision. Memo to Mommy … Continue reading Parental Love Also Means Freedom From…

Hà Nội in the Fourth Wave: A Heartfelt Wish & a Hopeful Prediction

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Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the heart of Hà Nội during the lockdown. My hopeful prediction came true! Earlier this week, the lockdown ended, barricades were removed, and people were out and about. Like flipping a switch, Hanoi was back in business! We've returned to the crazy traffic that is the old normal. This capital city … Continue reading Hà Nội in the Fourth Wave: A Heartfelt Wish & a Hopeful Prediction

Of Things That Go Bump in the Night & High-Priced Real Estate in Hanoi

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Note the mango tree to the right. Photos by MAA Once upon a time, there was an ugly old building in a prime location that had been left unoccupied for as long as anyone could remember. It’s a property that I’ve driven and walked by countless times. The architecture, heavy on concrete and light on … Continue reading Of Things That Go Bump in the Night & High-Priced Real Estate in Hanoi

Vinhomes Ocean Park (Re)Visited

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A glance through the VinUniversity main gate. (All photos by MAA.) This is the second in a trilogy of posts about various Vingroup projects. This one is a more detailed look at VinUniversity and the Vinhomes community in which it is embedded. (Here's a related post from 17.8.20.) Before the fourth wave of COVID-19 reared … Continue reading Vinhomes Ocean Park (Re)Visited

“Kamala Harris pays tribute to late John McCain in Hanoi”

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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pays tribute to late Senator John McCain at the McCain Memorial at Hanoi's Truc Bach Lake, August 25, 2021. Photo by AFP Imagine if the deputy PM in Japan visited Pearl Harbor, then laid down flowers for all the Japanese pilots died in 1941. (Juliet Huang) I can't help feeling … Continue reading “Kamala Harris pays tribute to late John McCain in Hanoi”

Ecopark & Higher Education Investment

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An idyllic scene near the Ecopark campus of British University Vietnam (BUV) Photos by MAA Ecopark is an urban township development on the outskirts of Hanoi on the other side of the Red River in Hung Yen Province. By the time it's finished, it will cover 500 hectares (1236 acres) with investment capital of over … Continue reading Ecopark & Higher Education Investment

The Origins of Viet Nam’s Stock Market

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Michael Coghlan from Adelaide, Australia - Hanoi Stock Exchange The HSE is located across the street from the ironic Opera House and right around the corner from my old office. Sometimes, I feel a little like Forrest Gump. Maybe it's because I've been around so long. In another incarnation, I helped organize two study tour programs for Vietnamese … Continue reading The Origins of Viet Nam’s Stock Market