Catinat Street, the original name of Dong Khoi in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, was a unique fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese and French influences around a century ago. The street, which was later renamed Tu Do (Liberty) and Dong Khoi (General Uprising) Street, is located in the center of the country’s largest economic hub. Today’s Dong Khoi Street, considered by enthusiasts of the city’s 318-year history to be one of the most typical in Ho Chi Minh City, has been heavily frequented by foreigners over the past several years. The street thrives in having a ‘double life,’ featuring both the hectic pace of a high street shopping precinct while retaining historical, nostalgic value. Day and night it teems with life and commotion, with painting, souvenir shops, and silk boutiques acting as a draw to foreign tourists. Some of the shops on the street are a little over one meter in width, but even these limited dimensions cannot stop traders from doing … [Read more...] about The tale of a street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City
Vien dong hotel ho chi minh city
First walking street seen as a misstep for Ho Chi Minh City
As Ho Chi Minh City hurries to make final preparations for its first pedestrian-only street, some experts start to wonder if Nguyen Hue is really the right place for it. With only a few more days to go before the grand opening of the walkway on April 20, what they say now probably won't matter much, but it indicates the city could have gone with more pleasing options. Architect Ngo Viet Son said the city authorities might have been too hasty in launching a walking street to celebrate the upcoming April 30 Reunification Day and did not think carefully about long-term issues. "At first glance Nguyen Hue is similar to a walking street in Shanghai, but it's actually very different. The Nanjing street in Shanghai is specialized in trading and services, while Nguyen Hue has mostly office towers and hotels." Several other experts concurred that the city should have chosen Bui Vien -- a famous street in the city’s backpacker area -- for a walking street. According to Son, Nguyen Hue … [Read more...] about First walking street seen as a misstep for Ho Chi Minh City
HCM City police bust internet gambling ring
Police bust internet gambling ring The police have arrested seven offenders who operated a large-scale online gambling website in HCM City, with accounts worth hundreds of billions of VND. After a long investigation into the gambling website 188bet the police from the Department of High-tech Crime Prevention, Criminal Police Department and the Ministry of Public Security conducted raids at a number of locations in District 1, District 11 and Tan Binh District. At the headquarters of Vien Tin International JSC, in District 11, Vuong Chan Thanh and his wife, Dam Kim Khuyen, were arrested for playing important roles in the operation of the website. The police also seized evidence, including money transfer forms and computers from their homes and offices. According to an official from the Ministry of Public Security, 188bet was the biggest online gambling website in Vietnam to date, and its servers are in the Philippines. It allegedly employed agents in various countries. The … [Read more...] about HCM City police bust internet gambling ring
Festooned streets set the mood in Vietnamese cities
Expats prepare to celebrate the difference on Christmas Eve. Tourists pose for a picture in District 1 … [Read more...] about Festooned streets set the mood in Vietnamese cities
Taxi scams in Ho Chi Minh City, P1: The long haul
In this series, Tuoi Tre investigative journalists probed both illegal and legal (licensed) taxis in Ho Chi Minh City and their scams to rip off tourists, especially foreign ones, by taking longer routes, using a secret electronic device to inflate meter rates, and other tricks. ‘Ripoff taxis’ in Ho Chi Minh City include both licensed and unlicensed cabs. … [Read more...] about Taxi scams in Ho Chi Minh City, P1: The long haul