Shows
The Vietnam Weekly Podcast2025 & Vietnam's 'Era of National Rise'Today’s guest is Nguyen Khac Giang, a Visiting Fellow at the Vietnam Studies Programme of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. He’s a repeat guest as well and joined me for a similar year-end conversation in 2024.We covered the administrative restructuring and its broad impacts, increasing private sector involvement in the economy and infrastructure, General Secretary Tô Lâm’s foreign policy and the move away from ‘bamboo diplomacy,’ the rise of the military and police in business, and the upcoming National Party Congress.Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here.Support the podcast...
2025-12-1447 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastResponding to Vietnam's Historic FloodsToday’s guest is Chris Tran, a content creator, a Vietnamese language educator, and more. We discussed the storm relief fundraising campaign he is a part of, how such campaigns are perceived, the resilience of people here, his work with The Ba Lô Project supporting Vietnamese deported by the Trump administration, the importance of preserving the Vietnamese language, and more. Donate to typhoon relief efforts here. Learn more about The Ba Lô Project here.Follow Chris on Instagram to see more about his community work.Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here.
2025-11-2432 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastCrafting 'Vietnam: The Cookbook'Today’s guest is Anaïs Ca Dao van Manen, author of ‘Vietnam: The Cookbook,’ which features 445 recipes from across Vietnam, including dishes from ethnic minority groups. Phaidon is releasing the book this Wednesday, October 22. She’s also the founder of Yeshi, the casual Taiwanese restaurant with two locations in HCMC that some listeners are likely familiar with.We talked about Anaïs’s culinary background, how she came to work on the cookbook, learning over 400 recipes while traveling across Vietnam to access the country’s incredibly diverse cuisine, splitting time between working on the book and running a rest...
2025-10-2030 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastDocumenting Vietnamese New WaveToday’s guest is Elizabeth Ai, writer and director of the documentary New Wave. We discussed the deeply personal nature of the project; how New Wave music provided a safe space for young people who didn’t consider themselves fully Vietnamese, but also weren’t fully accepted by America; the rewarding challenges of producing the movie through the pandemic and having her first child; and more.Follow New Wave on Instagram for updates on screenings and streaming availability.The Curious Subculture of Vietnamese New Wave (Saigoneer)Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here.Supp...
2025-10-0635 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastEnsuring Education for Disadvantaged GirlsToday’s guest is Vân Vương, Saigon Children’s Head of Fundraising & Communication and a key organizer of the upcoming U-GO Far: Vietnam - Cambodia Cycle 2025. The first edition of the ride, held last December in partnership with U-GO and ISF Cambodia, raised over US$50,000 for female students in Cambodia in Vietnam.We discussed the U-Go program and Saigon Children’s involvement, the first U Go Far charity ride last year and Van’s experience as both an organizer and participant, meeting scholarship recipients along the way, ensuring transparency during a fundraising campaign, goals for the second...
2025-09-0830 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Art of Vietnam Guidebook WritingToday’s guest is Joshua Zukas, a travel writer who has been based in Vietnam for over a decade, writing guidebooks, creating audio tours, and contributing stories to publications like The Economist. His latest Vietnam guidebook, for Bradt Guides, will be published later this month.We discussed the process of writing a comprehensive guidebook on such a fast-changing country; unique aspects of the book, such as its focus on Vietnamese myths; the risks of overtourism in places like Hoi An and Sa Pa; favorite lesser-known spots to visit; and more.Join the waitlist for Joshua’s gu...
2025-08-1848 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Ties That Bind Vietnam & The NetherlandsToday’s guest is Daniël Stork, the outgoing Consul General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City.We discussed the tight economic relationship between Vietnam and the Netherlands, the EU’s largest foreign investor here; the shared water-related challenges the countries face thanks to their river deltas; major takeaways from his four years in the country; reflections on the art and LGBTQ communities; and more.Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here.Support the podcast by Buying Me a Coffee. Get full access to Vietnam Weekly at thevietnamweekly.substack.com/s...
2025-08-1137 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastImproving Women's Health in ManufacturingToday’s guest is Celine Ventalon, CEO and founder of Émer, the menstrual underwear company based in Ho Chi Minh City.We discussed what menstrual underwear is and how it can benefit both women and sustainability efforts, the reasons why she created Émer, social and workplace stigmas that her team is working to address, how they approach the owners of factories with majority female workforces, women’s health awareness-raising efforts at schools, and more.Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here.Support the podcast by Buying Me a Coffee. Get full access...
2025-06-3023 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's Big Bet On Its FutureToday’s guest is Rich McClellan, Founder & Principal of RMAC Advisory and former country director of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in Vietnam. He’s an expert in public policy, investment, and economic reform across emerging markets.We covered The Economist’s much-discussed recent cover story on Vietnam, the country’s international finance center ambitions, Resolution 68 and its focus on the domestic private sector, the ongoing government restructuring and provincial merger, semiconductor ambitions, and the genuinely exciting place that Vietnam finds itself in at the moment.Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here.Suppor...
2025-06-0939 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastCrafting Vietnam's First Independent Whisky DistilleryToday’s guest is Michael Rosen, the principal founder of Vietnam’s first independent whisky distillery, Về Để Đi.We discussed Về Để Đi’s background and why he pursued making whisky, what single malt means, the response to building a Vietnamese whisky brand and the growing prominence of brands from other non-traditional markets like Taiwan, the biggest surprises - good and bad - so far, the process of using local ingredients such as Vietnam’s first barley, their win at the recent World Whiskies Awards, and more.Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here.Support the podcast by Buyin...
2025-06-0231 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastA Revised Look at EnergyToday’s guests are Thomas Jakobsen, Managing Director at Indochina Energy Partners; and Angus McEwin, Managing Director at Monsoon Carbon. We discussed the key points of revised PDP; progress on transmission and the national grid; LNG development; current issues and opportunities around solar and onshore wind; Renewable Energy Certificates and voluntary carbon credits and their place in Vietnam’s energy market; Vietnam’s efforts to launch a domestic carbon trading system; the revival and formalization of nuclear energy plans; and what to look out for in the coming years. Related link:Vietnam’s Energy P...
2025-05-2636 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastReflection, Reconciliation, and ReunificationToday’s guests are Dr. Nguyễn Thùy An, Historian and Labor Education Professional at the University of Maine, specializing in the history of U.S. foreign relations and Vietnamese history; and Dr. Sean Fear, Lecturer in International History at the University of Leeds, whose research focuses on the Republic of Vietnam. We discussed progress on reconciliation between Vietnam and the U.S., which took something of a hit following reporting that American diplomats have been told to avoid events related to reunification; how the teaching of the war in Vietnam has evolved; perspectives on the Repub...
2025-04-2856 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastSocialist Realism & Dogma CollectionToday’s guest is Minh Nguyễn, curator at Dogma Collection in Ho Chi Minh City. We discussed what Dogma Collection is, the socioeconomic context of socialist realism propaganda created from 1945 to the mid-1980s, the use of digitally rendered versions of this art for the upcoming reunification anniversary, the state of the contemporary art scene in HCMC and Vietnam more broadly, the exhibition ‘A Radial System’ and its presentation of war imagery from different viewpoints, and more. Follow Dogma Collection on InstagramReframing War Memories via the Western-Vietnamese Photographic Perspectives (Saigoneer)Subscr...
2025-04-2337 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastPartnering for Climate SolutionsToday’s guest is Robyn McGuckin, Executive Director of P4G, who joined from Hanoi, where the 2025 P4G Vietnam Summit begins this morning.We discussed P4G’s goals and approach, the hurdles faced by many climate tech startups and the so-called ‘valley of death,’ the interface between climate tech startups and government, P4G’s national platforms, their nine partner countries, P4G’s success stories in Vietnam such as Stride and Alterno, how P4G connects with and assesses startups, climate tech funding challenges unique to Vietnam, the significant of the 2025 P4G Vietnam Summit, and...
2025-04-1430 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastEmergency Pod: The Trump TariffsFollowing the announcement of President Donald Trump’s shocking 46% reciprocal tariff rate on Vietnam, I wanted to get a quick initial reaction from return guest Kyle Freeman, a Partner at Dezan Shira & Associates who leads the International Business Advisory team and the firm's North American client services desk in Asia.Kyle was on the show in January when the trade situation between Vietnam and the U.S. appeared to be much warmer. With the caveat that this is a very fluid situation, we discussed the tariff announcement, why Vietnam got hit so hard, and what we might ex...
2025-04-0314 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's Foreign Policy Amid Global UncertaintyToday’s guest is Khang Vu, a visiting scholar at Boston College with a Ph.D. in International Relations with a focus on East Asian Security from Boston College. Vietnamese foreign policy is one of his key areas of expertise.We discussed Vietnam’s success in avoiding Trump tariffs thus far, the planned China-backed Lao Cai-Hai Phong railway, Vietnam’s history of dealing with territorial disputes with China and potential lessons for other Southeast Asian countries, the government’s ongoing spree of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership upgrades, the importance of Cambodia and Laos to Vietnam’s strategic security, the ‘era o...
2025-03-3139 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastSupporting Disadvantaged Youths Through Social EnterpriseNeal Bermas is founder and chairperson of STREETS International, a social enterprise based in Hoi An that offers a fully-supported 14-month culinary and hospitality training program to disadvantaged and vulnerable youth living in povertyWe discussed STREET’s focus on the hospitality sector, its functioning as a social enterprise, the demographics of the young people who receive support and the challenges they face, how the pandemic somewhat diminished the appeal of working in the hospitality sector, STREET’s success in placing program graduates in a job, and a digression into Vietnam’s tourism sector more broadly.Subs...
2025-03-2330 min
The South East Asia Travel ShowIs Vietnam On Track for a Record Tourism Year in 2025?, with Mike Tatarski, Vietnam WeeklyVietnam has one of ASEAN's most complex and compelling visitor economies, and has started 2025 at high-octane pace. It received more than 2 million visitors in January for the first time - and has set a goal of 23 million arrivals in 2025. That would smash the previous record of 18 million in 2019. Aligned with a vibrant domestic travel economy - Vietnam is one of the few countries with a population of over 100 million - the opportunities and challenges will multiply. To assess the outlook for 2025 and beyond, Gary and Hannah welcome back Mike Tatarski, Founder of Vietnam Weekly. We discuss the key inbound...
2025-02-2032 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam and Trump's TariffsToday’s guest is Kyle Freeman, a Partner at Dezan Shira & Associates who leads the International Business Advisory team and the firm's North American client services desk in Asia.We discussed the latest tariff threats coming from President-Elect Donald Trump, how Vietnam benefited from U.S. trade policy during his first administration, Vietnam’s exposure to potential trade remedies given its huge surplus and growing Chinese manufacturing investment, how export-focused companies are preparing for another Trump presidency, and more.Related Links:US trade deficit with Vietnam soars beyond $110 billion, as weak dong boosts expo...
2025-01-1231 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastExploring Vietnamese CinemaToday’s guest is Nguyên Lê, an entertainment writer, copy editor, translator, and occasional screenwriter. He’s written for publications including /Film, The Houston Chronicle, Film Threat, and Paste Magazine. He’s also a member of both the Houston Film Critics Society and the Hollywood Critics Association - one of the few Asian members in their ranks.We discussed how Nguyên got into movies, the evolution of Vietnamese cinema over time, censorship, steps the industry could take to improve its standing both here and internationally, and his current screenplay work.Nguyên’s recommendati...
2025-01-0543 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's 'Productive Frictions'Today’s guest is Huê-Tâm Jamme, an assistant professor at Arizona State University’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning.Huê-Tâm explores the effects of new technologies on space and society, especially on how people move, work, shop, and socialize in cities - and she has extensive research experience in Vietnam.We discussed her theory of ‘productive frictions’ in urban areas; the impact of mass transit on daily life; misguided discussions of motorbike bans in urban centers; and how Ho Chi Minh City should harness its unique nature to present itself as a...
2024-12-2938 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Year in Vietnamese PoliticsToday’s returning guest is Nguyen Khac Giang, a Visiting Fellow at the Vietnam Studies Programme under the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. He was on the show in March for a conversation about the anti-corruption campaign, and he’s one of my go-to voices for insight into Vietnamese politics.We discussed the legacy of arguably the most consequential political year in modern Vietnamese history, Tô Lâm ’s strong performance as General Secretary so far, the dramatic streamlining of both government and Party being planned for 2025, what this could mean for the National Congress in early 2026...
2024-12-1547 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastCommunity Development, Forest Preservation, and Vietnamese GinToday’s guest is Daniel Nguyen, the founder of Sông Cái Distillery.We discussed his background in community development in the United States and rural Vietnam; Sông Cái’s mission as a case study for adding value to agriculture unique to Vietnam; the relationship between ethnobotany, land value, and forest preservation; creating value for smallholder farmers through grains and botanicals not previously desired on the market; Sông Cái’s focus on averting land degradation and biodiversity loss; building relationships with ethnic minority communities, and more.Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here...
2024-12-0831 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastRice's Role in Vietnam's Greenhouse Gas EmissionsToday’s guest is Katie Nelson, a climate change researcher at the International Rice Research Institute - or IRRI - in Hanoi.We discussed the role of agriculture - and particularly rice farming - in Vietnam’s greenhouse gas emissions, the importance of reducing methane emissions to reach international climate change goals, efforts to mitigate methane production in the country’s rice sector, the alternate wetting and drying farming method, and more.Related Links:In Vietnam, farmers reduce methane emissions by changing how they grow riceHow to stop rice fields produc...
2024-12-0129 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastChina's Influence on Fashion-Making in Southeast AsiaToday’s guest is Wessie Ling, a Professor of Transcultural Arts and Design at London Metropolitan University and Director of The Centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement, or CREATURE.We discussed China’s influence on fashion-making in Southeast Asia, from the fabric supply chain through design and sales; how fashion designers in the region feel about this influence and how these sentiments vary by country; steps Vietnamese designers are taking to highlight Vietnamese characteristics in fashion; and much more.Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here. Support the podcast by Buying Me a Coffe...
2024-11-0334 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's Climate Tech EcosystemToday’s guest is Jason Lusk, Managing Partner at Clickable Impact and co-author of the recently released Vietnam Climate Tech Funding Ecosystem Report 2024.We discussed why Clickable Impact and New Energy Nexus created this first-of-its-kind report, what ‘climate tech’ means in the Vietnam context and why funding for it has lagged behind the country’s other tech sectors, areas of climate tech poised for expansion, and what stakeholders in this space can do to ensure further growth. Download the Vietnam Climate Tech Funding Ecosystem Report 2024 here.Subscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here. Support...
2024-10-0724 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastWhat's Going on in the East Sea?Today’s guest is Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program and the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. He’s also the author of the 2022 book ‘On Dangerous Ground: America's Century in the South China Sea.’We discussed the current situation in the East Sea, which tensions between China and the Philippines have dominated; Vietnam’s ongoing effort to significantly expand the islands it controls and China’s silence on the issue; the current U.S. position in the vital waterway; and the state of rela...
2024-09-3034 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastMaking Vietnamese History AccessibleToday’s guests are Yen Vu, Assistant Professor and Major Coordinator in Literature at Fulbright University Vietnam, and Kevin Pham, Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the University of Amsterdam. Yen and Kevin also host the excellent Nam Phong Dialogues, “a podcast with the purpose of making history (especially about Vietnam) accessible.”We discussed the creation of Nam Phong Dialogues and why they chose to pursue a podcast, the inspiration behind the name, the importance of making Vietnamese history accessible, how they choose topics to discuss, current focal points within global Vietnamese studies, their thoughts on the...
2024-09-2350 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastBuilding Vietnam's Sustainability CommunityToday’s guest is Kelly Vo, Founder & CEO of Dear Our Community and co-founder of Map Me - both of which you’ll hear about in this episode. I’ve known Kelly for a while and she’s a vital part of the sustainability community here in Vietnam - it took a while to schedule this discussion, a testament to how busy Kelly is with her various endeavors, but I’m very glad it happened. We discussed her work with Dear Our Community, getting young people engaged in sustainability, the importance of businesses communicating with young generations on sustaina...
2024-09-1637 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastSpecial Episode: Responding to Typhoon YagiToday’s guest is Skye Maconachie, co-CEO of Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. I sat down with Skye at Blue Dragon’s busy office in Hanoi to discuss the organization’s ongoing response to Typhoon Yagi, which killed at least 262 people; the needs of flood-hit communities in the capital; the difficult situation in mountainous areas ravaged by deadly landslides; the importance of long-term support; and the resilience of the people of Vietnam.This episode was recorded on a phone, so the audio quality isn’t as strong as a regular show. Donate to Blue Drago...
2024-09-1424 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastWorking to Save Vietnam's WildlifeToday’s guest is Trường Trần, Captive Manager of the Cúc Phương Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program for Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, or SVW. He’s been with SVW since 2017 and is deeply involved in their conservation work, particularly their pangolin and Owston’s civet captive breeding programs.We discussed these breeding programs, SVW’s anti-poaching work, research and monitoring of endangered species, the prominence of pangolins in the illegal wildlife trade, the biggest threats to Vietnam’s biodiversity, national efforts to preserve wildlife, how SVW rehabilitates and releases rescued animals, and where he hopes to see Viet...
2024-09-0931 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastChina's Place Across the 'Global South'Today’s guest is Eric Olander, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the China-Global South Project. Eric and his team cover China’s presence across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America, a vast expanse of countries that provides a refreshing alternative to the dominant (though important, of course)‘China vs. the West’ narrative.Eric also hosts The China-Global South Podcast, which is required listening for anyone interested in global geopolitics. We discussed General Secretary Tô Lâm’s visit to China; the deeply nuanced ties between Vietnam and China more broadly; how Vietnam’s ‘bamboo diplomacy...
2024-08-2644 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastWashington State Senator Joe NguyễnToday’s guest is Washington State Senator Joe Nguyễn, whose district covers West Seattle and neighboring areas. Senator Nguyễn is Chair of the state senate’s Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, and one of the few Vietnamese-Americans in a state-level elected office. We discussed the state trade mission to Vietnam he joined in April and his takeaways on renewable energy and other issues, his approach to the relationship between Washington State and Vietnam given his Vietnamese background, investment opportunities for American companies, carbon markets, and how Vietnamese officials view him plus the amusing phrase domestic media used to...
2024-08-1925 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastInside Vietnam's Largest Public Opinion SurveyToday’s guests are Eddy Malesky, Professor of Political Economy at Duke University, and Paul Schuler, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Arizona. They are two of the five co-authors of the 2023 Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index, or PAPI.PAPI is “the country’s largest, annual, citizen-centric and nationwide policy monitoring tool.”Eddy was previously a guest on the episode about the Provincial Competitiveness Index, which I recommend checking out if you haven’t already.We discussed the origins of the PAPI and the need to assess public views on p...
2024-08-0554 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's Foreign Investment Pitfalls and PotentialToday’s guest is Jack Nguyen, CEO of InCorp Vietnam, a corporate services firm that helps foreign businesses set up and operate in compliance with local regulations.We discussed Vietnam potentially losing out on major investments due to uncompetitive tax incentives; the main concerns of companies considering entering the Vietnamese market; Vietnam’s strengths in attracting investment; the ongoing increase in Chinese investment; whether exporters should be concerned about future tariffs or political shifts in major markets like the U.S.; and the policy changes that would allow Vietnam to harness its investment potential fully. This...
2024-07-2933 min
Reformasi DispatchTrong's Wake and Vietnam's Next Course (with Mike Tatarski)The passing of the Communist Party's general secretary has the makings of a watershed for modern Vietnam - yet the public domain is distinctly unruffled. To talk through the reactions and implications of the unfolding transition, we reach out to the writer and podcaster of Vietnam Weekly, Mike Tatarski. Spoiler: unknowns abound. And in Indonesia: Erin and Kevin consider a bevy of Prabowo-oriented appointments, the military's yen for business and the pitfalls of zoomorphic forms in palace architecture.For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.infoRead Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mul...
2024-07-271h 04
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe State of Tech Funding in VietnamToday’s guest is Eddie Thai, co-founder & general partner of Ascend Ventures Vietnam, or AVV. Few people in Vietnam have more tech funding experience than Eddie, and he’s been a great source of insight over the years. We discussed tech here in the context of the global ‘funding winter,’ the country’s tech strengths and weaknesses, what Eddie looks for when deciding to invest, Vietnam’s nascent AI industry and the rising importance of ‘sovereign’ AI, his wish to see Vietnamese founders aim bigger and understand the hypercompetitive nature of their field, and his outlook for the sector...
2024-07-2233 min
The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen363 - Mike Tatarski - Journalism in Vietnam TodayMichael Tatarski is an American journalist based in Vietnam. Tatarski is the writer of Vietnam Weekly, and served as Editor-in-Chief of Saigoneer, a Ho Chi Minh City-based English news publication, from 2018 to 2022.Tatarski's reporting has covered Vietnamese culture, politics, and international relations, including the 2019 Trump-Kim Summit in Hanoi and the COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam.Tatarski has reported on conservation efforts and climate change in Vietnam, particularly on the country's wildlife trafficking trade and the imprisonment of environmental activists. His reporting has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Vice, The Diplomat, and The Telegraph.Mike Tatarski...
2024-07-181h 00
The Vietnam Weekly Podcast30 Years of Eliminating Poverty in Vietnam & CambodiaToday’s guest is Bernard Kervyn, founder of the NGO Mekong Plus. We discussed how the organization’s work has evolved given Vietnam’s rapid economic growth over the last 30 years, shifting their focus to people who live on less than US$1 per day, offering microfinance while avoiding its well-documented risks, the different ways communities support each other in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the broader goal of eliminating - not alleviating - poverty.You can support Mekong Plus’s work here. Get full access to Vietnam Weekly at thevietn...
2024-07-1539 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastSocial Insurance & Renewable Energy UpdatesDue to scheduling issues, there isn’t a new guest today, so I’m taking this opportunity to revisit two previous episodes in the context of a pair of recently passed regulations.The first is the amended Law on Social Insurance, which goes into effect on July 1, 2025. I discussed Vietnam’s social insurance system with Tu Phuong Nguyen, a lecturer of Asian Studies at the University of Melbourne, in February.Today, I’m sharing the context she provided on previous social insurance reform efforts, options the government was considering earlier this year, and what needs to be do...
2024-07-0821 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastBuilding Vietnam's Circular EconomyToday’s guest is Kim Le, founder and CEO of CL2B - short for Closed Loop to Balance - a consulting boutique that facilitates decision-making across sectors and stakeholders to accelerate the circular economy transition in Southeast Asia.We discussed what ‘circular economy’ means in the Vietnam context, how the informal economy already embraces circular principles like reuse and repair in contrast to developed markets, the need to understand the different circularity contexts between the global north and global south, the opportunities of recycling in both the pre-consumer and post-consumer spaces, Vietnam’s role in the global c...
2024-06-2432 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastRanking the Competitiveness of Vietnam's ProvincesToday’s guest is Eddy Malesky, a Professor of Political Economy at Duke University who focuses on Vietnam. Eddy is also the primary author and lead researcher of the annual Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI). He played an instrumental role in the creation of the PCI in 2005 and remains heavily involved, offering great insight and nuance on the relationship between sub-national government actions and local business communities. We discussed the concept of ‘fencebreaking,’ the PCI’s background and the desire to create a tool that provincial officials can use to benchmark against other locations and identify best pra...
2024-06-1750 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Sad State of Phú QuốcToday’s guest is Stuart McDonald, co-founder of Travelfish and author of the excellent Couchfish newsletter. Stuart has been traveling around and writing about Southeast Asia for about three decades and is also working on a Master’s in Responsible Tourism Management. He’s written previously about sustainable tourism in Vietnam as well.Stuart recently visited Phú Quốc for the first time in a while and I wanted to get his thoughts on the place through a sustainable lens. If you’re expecting a rose-tinted view of the island, this episode is not for you. We cover some...
2024-06-1051 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's Sustainable Tourism ChallengeToday’s guest is Nuno Ribeiro, Senior Lecturer of Tourism and Hospitality Management at RMIT University Vietnam.We discussed the importance of sustainable tourism development, the need for a qualified tourism workforce and Vietnam’s shortage in this area, frequent comparisons to Thailand from domestic media, factors driving the country’s dismal visitor return rate, and the understated economic impact of tourism.Related Links:Phú Quốc's Rapid Decline (Vietnam Weekly)Vietnam posts nearly 11 billion USD in tourism revenue (Vietnam+)Tens of thousands protest against Canary Islands’ ‘unsustainable’ tourism model (Th...
2024-06-0335 min
The Bangkok PodcastRegional Podcast Pals: Mike Tatarski on Producing the Vietnam Weekly from Ho Chi Minh CityGreg interviews Mike Tatarski of the Vietnam Weekly podcast. Mike begins by explaining the podcast originated out of his Substack newsletter of the same name. After taking a course in 'entrepreneurial journalism,' he got motivated to fire up the podcast, and the rest is history. He manages to produce a show per week as a one man band operation but has reached a substantial audience. Greg and Mike then go on to talk about similarities and differences between his show and the Bangkok Podcast. On the one hand, both are in English and therefore have a l...
2024-05-2846 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's Energy Plans & RealityToday’s guest is Giles Cooper, a Partner at the international law firm Allens based in Hanoi who specializes in issues around energy policies and regulations. We discussed the pending decree on direct power purchase agreements and how this will impact major manufacturers, the dramatic change this will bring to Vietnam’s electricity market, Power Development Plan 8’s LNG and offshore wind targets, and where all of these issues may go over the next few years.Related Links:Draft decree on DPPA completed and under review (Viet Nam News)Exclusive: Apple suppli...
2024-05-2734 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastTracing Vietnam's Coffee SupplyToday’s guest is Timen Swijtink, founder of both CoffeeTrace and Lacàph Coffees of Việt Nam. The first half of our conversation covers CoffeeTrace, a new project aimed at providing a coffee farmer-centric EUDR data collection and traceability solution to both farmers and traders. We discuss the challenges farmers in Vietnam and other countries that export agricultural goods to the EU face in meeting new rules and what can be done to help, as well as the current turmoil in the international coffee bean market.Then, we talk about Lacàph’s approach to workin...
2024-05-2034 min
The Vietnam Weekly Podcast25 Years of Clearing UXO in Central VietnamToday’s guest is Sarah Goring, Country Director for the Mines Advisory Group, or MAG. The organization is marking 25 years of operations in Vietnam, entirely in Quảng Bình and Quảng Trị.They have disposed of over 390,000 explosive items since 1999, ranging from small cluster bomblets to huge 500-pound bombs like one that was cleared in Đồng Hới in early April.We talked about the evolution of MAG’s work in Vietnam over time; the importance of risk education; the cross-cutting impacts of UXO across agriculture, education, healthcare, and other sectors; how UXO is disposed of a...
2024-05-1333 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastCan Vietnamese Crickets Help Sustainably Feed the World?Today’s guest is Bicky Nguyen, co-founder and business development director of Cricket One, a startup aiming to create sustainable, healthy food products sourced from crickets.We discussed the company’s background and why Vietnam is the perfect base for farming insects on a large scale, the European Union’s approval of Cricket One’s products as a Novel Food and the bizarre backlash this generated, their ongoing push into Singapore, and where Bicky sees the business going as we face the need to shift our diets in response to climate change and growing populations.Related...
2024-05-0634 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's 'Bamboo Diplomacy' Amid Great Power RivalryToday’s guest is Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran, author of the excellent ASEAN Wonk newsletter, a fellow at the Wilson Center, a senior columnist at The Diplomat, and an instructor at institutions including the State Department and the Department of Defense.He has a deeply nuanced view of defense, economic, and diplomatic issues across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.We discussed Vietnam’s ‘bamboo diplomacy’ and deft balancing of China and the U.S.; its role in broader Southeast Asia as countries like the Philippines confront China while those such as Cambodia draw closer; the delicate dance of terri...
2024-04-2248 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's Global ConnectionsAccording to The World Bank, trade was worth 186% of Vietnam’s GDP in 2022, one of the highest rates in the world - this means the value of the country’s traded goods is worth far more than the national GDP, currently just over $400 billion.Global logistics and shipping, therefore, are vital to continued economic growth.Today’s guest is Dr. Majo George, a senior lecturer at RMIT University Vietnam’s business school focusing on global logistics and supply chain management.We talked about how international events are impacting Vietnam’s trade links, possible alternativ...
2024-04-1539 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Growing Role of ESG in VietnamToday’s guests are Mimi Vu and Van Ly, partners at Raise Partners, a collaborative partnership sharing expertise with organizations that contribute to the betterment of humanity.We discussed their diverse professional backgrounds, especially in fundraising, and how this brought them into the ESG space; criticisms of ESG from some corners; the importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation in addressing environmental, social, and governance issues; how Vietnam’s challenges present huge investment opportunities; and the upcoming second annual ESG Investor Conference in Ho Chi Minh City. Related links:Beware Europe’s New Green Colonialism...
2024-04-0840 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastFinancing Vietnam's Energy TransitionToday’s guest is Trang Nguyen, Southeast Asia Lead at the Climateworks Centre in Melbourne. Her background as an economist spans the public, private, and development sectors - including the UK in Vietnam, KPMG, and GIZ - giving her unique insight into energy investment and financing.We discussed the opportunities and challenges of Vietnam’s net-zero commitment, the Just Energy Transition Partnership and its potential role in catalyzing clean energy financing, the importance of project bankability and currency-based investment risks, and the prospect of Vietnam becoming a clean energy manufacturing hub.Furt...
2024-04-0133 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastBuilding Resilience in VietnamToday’s guest is Mai Nguyen, a civil engineer by training who has studied and worked around the world and is currently based in Vietnam.Mai is, in her own words, an entrepreneur, a sustainability/ESG/climate resilience advisor, an occasional investor, and a work-in-progress creator. I first came across her thanks to a recent Mekong Eye article about Vietnamese architects designing climate-friendly homes for the local context.Her diverse interests are evident through our conversation, which covers the importance of generational local knowledge to resilience, the opportunities and challenges of inclusive urban planning, Vietnam’s st...
2024-03-2433 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Impact of the Anti-Corruption CampaignToday’s guest is Nguyen Khac Giang, a Visiting Fellow at the Vietnam Studies Programme under the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute and one of the sharpest Vietnamese analysts out there.We discussed the historical context of the ‘blazing furnace,’ the unprecedented centralization and institutionalization of power that is driving the campaign, how a 2018 regulation opened the private sector up to corruption investigations, the impact on performance-based legitimacy, and the possibility of a ‘Đổi Mới 2.0.’Follow Giang on Twitter @khacgiangCheck out further analysis on his websiteSubscribe to the Vietnam Weekly here
2024-03-1739 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Fate of the Mighty MekongToday’s guest is Brian Eyler, Southeast Asia Program Director at the Washington D.C.-Based Stimson Center, project lead of the Mekong Dam Monitor, and author of the 2019 book Last Days of the Mighty Mekong.This wide-ranging conversation covers the proposed Funan Techo Canal in Cambodia (2:45), how the Mekong Dam Monitor is doing a job regional governments should be doing (20:40), a new dam that China has not announced the completion of (25:20), the role of Laos in the river’s declining health (29:34), and what can be done to ensure that these are not the Mekong’s last days o...
2024-03-1042 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Evolution of Charity Work in VietnamToday’s guests are Truong Thuy Ngan, Communications Lead at Saigon Children’s Charity; and Damien Roberts, the organization’s Executive Director.We discussed how the longstanding charity - now in its 32nd year - has evolved over time, including:* Campaigns to inspire future generations of female leaders in Vietnam* Efforts to raise awareness of mental health while supporting families with neurodivergent children* How international economic conditions and new regulations have impacted fundraising There are multiple ways to support them:* Sponsor a scholarship for an individual student: https...
2024-03-0333 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVietnam's Social Insurance DilemmaToday’s guest is Tu Phuong Nguyen, a lecturer of Asian Studies at the University of Melbourne. Tu’s research focuses on labor in Vietnam, particularly the country’s social insurance system. We discussed the precarious nature of factory work, even in the vaunted tech manufacturing sector, the challenges facing social insurance after 2023’s mass layoffs in the garment and footwear industries, and the government’s troubled efforts to reform this system.Keeping these issues in mind is vital in the context of the overall positive news regarding Vietnam’s FDI and manufacturing growth. For more o...
2024-02-2528 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Rise of Scam Compounds in Southeast AsiaToday’s guest is Michael Brosowski, Founder & Strategic Director of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. Blue Dragon works to rescue Vietnamese people from slavery, homelessness, and extreme poverty and then works with them in the long term so they can heal from trauma, injustice, and disadvantage.We discussed how the organization’s work has evolved over the last two years, the rise of scam compounds across Southeast Asia and how they are driving new forms of human trafficking, the impact of the ongoing civil war in Myanmar on trafficking networks, and more.This conversation covers...
2024-02-1832 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastRelaunching The Vietnam Weekly PodcastI’m thrilled to announce the relaunch of The Vietnam Weekly Podcast, which ran for seven episodes way back in 2021. The first new episode will be released next Monday, February 19.Every two weeks, I’ll talk to people doing fascinating work in - or about - Vietnam. Initial topics include the anti-corruption campaign, scam compounds across Southeast Asia, the quest to write a comprehensive Vietnamese recipe book, efforts to fight dengue by using mosquitoes against themselves, and the environmental challenges facing the Mekong Delta.You can listen to the podcast on Substack, or via Spotify, Appl...
2024-02-1101 minThe South East Asia Travel ShowThe Outlook for Travel & Tourism in Vietnam, with Mike Tatarski, Vietnam WeeklyBoosted by a population surpassing 100 million, Vietnam counts one of the region’s fastest growing travel and aviation markets. To assess the outlook for tourism in 2024, Gary and Hannah welcome back Ho Chi Minh City-based Mike Tatarski, founder of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter. We begin by recapping the 2023 recovery for inbound, outbound and domestic travel, and dissect the top visitor markets. We discuss the challenges for the air market, particularly with high prices irking domestic passengers and the financial struggles of Bamboo Airways. Transport infrastructure remains a hot topic. We assess the progress of new airport developments in Ho Ch...
2024-01-1834 min
Mongabay NewscastMongabay Reports: Can bugs take a bite out of climate change?Cricket One is one of the world's largest cricket farms, and it's serving up an impressive palette of insect protein. Vietnam-based reporter Mike Tatarski reports on companies cashing in on the insect protein wave: coupled with the fact that insects (like crickets) use far less feed than cattle, and produce no methane, there is potential for the industry to replace animal-based protein sources. Could delicacies such as the scorpion skewers served at Bugs Cafe in Cambodia make their way to the West? This episode of Mongabay Reports features the popular 2020 story as read by Mike...
2022-08-1614 minMongabay NewscastMongabay Reports: Can bugs take a bite out of climate change?Cricket One is one of the world's largest cricket farms, and it's serving up an impressive palette of insect protein. Vietnam-based reporter Mike Tatarski reports on companies cashing in on the insect protein wave: coupled with the fact that insects (like crickets) use far less feed than cattle, and produce no methane, there is potential for the industry to replace animal-based protein sources. Could delicacies such as the scorpion skewers served at Bugs Cafe in Cambodia make their way to the West? This episode of Mongabay Reports features the popular 2020 story as read by Mike...
2022-08-1614 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastFostering Sustainable Social Impact with Thao LamMy guest on the latest Vietnam Weekly Podcast episode is Thao Lam, Executive Director of the LIN Center for Community Development. Thao has deep experience with NGOs and grassroots organizations, and we talked about how this sector has responded to the end of lockdown in southern Vietnam, as well as the challenges it still faces. For example, it is easy to raise funding and get community involvement in the midst of a severe crisis, but creating sustainable action on long-term issues is more difficult.If you’d like to learn more about Thao’s wo...
2021-12-0829 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastVaccines, Boosters & Covid Treatment with Dr. Leigh JonesThe Vietnam Weekly Podcast is back after some delay with guest Dr. Leigh Jones, Head of Training at the Oxford Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Ho Chi Minh City. Leigh has a PhD in Immunology and is one of my go-to sources for information related to COVID-19 vaccines and other scientific issues related to the pandemic.We discussed the different types of Covid vaccines and how they work; the significance of the timing between your first and second doses; the global debate over the need for boosters; research on the use of vaccines in children; and what...
2021-09-1736 min
ComebaCKComebaCK INTERVIEW #157 - Mike Tatarski - Journalism in Vietnam/ SaigoneerMike Tatarski is a journalist, and editor in chief of ‘Saigoneer’, having lived in Saigon, Vietnam since 2010, focusing on lifestyle and happenings in the city. He has also written for Al Jazeera, The Atlantic, The Guardian and the Washington Post.
We discuss his journalism career so far, challenges faced from reporting in Vietnam, the mass transformation of Saigon that has happened in a decade, and more. Pleasure, Mike! You can find out more about Mike at @miketatarski on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and more about ComebaCK at @thecomebackwithck on Instagram (Website coming soon!)
2021-08-1827 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastCooking Vietnamese Food with Andrea NguyenIf you’re anything like me, you are really missing Vietnamese food during lockdown. I’m a decent home cook, but with all street food shut down, I have been craving my favorites, particularly cơm tấm and bún thịt nướng.With no end in sight to social distancing regulations, I talked to cookbook author Andrea Nguyen of Viet World Kitchen to get some pointers on making Vietnamese food at home.We covered the basic ingredients you’ll need in your kitchen (4:30) before discussing a range of dishes, including cơm tấm (8:25), canh...
2021-08-1031 min
Saigoneer PodcastTourist Attractions & Who They're For; The Debate Over 'Essential' GoodsWe begin this week (1:59) by looking at tourist attractions which have made headlines in recent years, such as the Zodiac animal statues with human genitalia in Hai Phong and the deformed Statue of Liberty in Sa Pa. These can be easy to mock, but they do also have fans, and highlight some of the aspirations of people who might be traveling for the very first time.Then (16:48), we discuss the debate over what constitutes an 'essential' good. Amid widespread lockdowns and transport restrictions, items such as a fridge and sanitary pads have been deemed "not essential" by police...
2021-08-0943 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastThe Realities of Conservation on Cat BaI’m pleased to present the fourth Vietnam Weekly Podcast episode, which is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts are found. My guest is Neagha Leonard, project director of the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project. He has lived on Cat Ba since 2014 and is a leading expert on the island, its biodiversity, and the numerous issues facing both human residents and flora and fauna. I strongly recommend following the organization’s Facebook page, linked above, which provides very detailed updates on their work.We covered a wide range of topics, including the proj...
2021-07-3046 minSaigoneer PodcastVietnam's Massive Outbreak; Acts of Lockdown KindnessAfter a much longer break than we expected, we are back with a new, remotely recorded episode discussing a topic that is impossible to escape: Vietnam's severe COVID-19 outbreak, which has the country in by far its worst position of the entire pandemic. How did we get here, and what impact are lockdowns having on daily life? (1:20)Then, amid the doom and gloom, many people are coming together to help those in need - we each share some uplifting stories that have given us a break from the terrible headlines (23:49).As always, we end with Bán...
2021-07-2650 min
The South East Asia Travel Show2021: The Year So Far in Vietnam, with Mike TatarskiTwo-thirds through July, South East Asia's travel recovery has yet to occur - and is receding into the distance. With the Delta variant spreading fast across ASEAN, nations that were COVID-safe earlier in the year are now under strict lockdown. So today’s show kicks off the “2021: The Year So Far” series, which will feature local experts and analysts in each market. The journey begins in Vietnam, as Gary and Hannah welcome Ho Chi Minh City-based Mike Tatarski, who is Editor-in-Chief of Saigoneer and founder of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter. We track back to the start of the year, when domest...
2021-07-2131 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastHelping the Disadvantaged During LockdownAs discussed in the Vietnam Weekly on Monday, Ho Chi Minh City’s hard lockdown is creating economic pain for many, particularly those on the margins of society who rely on daily income to survive - whether from selling lottery tickets, running a food cart outside a factory, working as a non-contract day laborer, or something similar.With this work now impossible as the city fights a huge COVID-19 outbreak, many people are in a fairly desperate situation: no income, family support networks stretched thin, cramped living spaces, higher food prices, and heavy restrictions on outdoor movement. ...
2021-07-1549 min
Mongabay NewscastReforestation done right, from Haiti to Honduras and Ho Chi Minh CityOften called a panacea, 'tree planting' is a hot topic but it can fail when too little thought goes into it, so the guests on this episode reframe the practice, saying that 'tree growing' ought to be the focus of reforestation programs. 'Right tree, right place, right community" is the approach taken by Trees for Climate Health that guest Erin Axelrod directs, whose approach ensures that the dozens of projects it is implementing currently (and its overall goal to grow over 10 million trees by 2025) are appropriate to the areas, likely to succeed and survive, and benefit local...
2021-07-1458 minMongabay NewscastReforestation done right, from Haiti to Honduras and Ho Chi Minh CityOften called a panacea, 'tree planting' is a hot topic but it can fail when too little thought goes into it, so the guests on this episode reframe the practice, saying that 'tree growing' ought to be the focus of reforestation programs. 'Right tree, right place, right community" is the approach taken by Trees for Climate Health that guest Erin Axelrod directs, whose approach ensures that the dozens of projects it is implementing currently (and its overall goal to grow over 10 million trees by 2025) are appropriate to the areas, likely to succeed and survive, and benefit local...
2021-07-1458 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastChanging the Doctor/Patient Relationship in VietnamOn the second episode of the Vietnam Weekly podcast, I spoke with Beth Lopez, the co-founder and CEO of Docosan. This website/app connects prospective patients with hundreds of doctors in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang, and allows people to book appointments without going through the process of dealing with a hospital or clinic admin team.I’ve used Docosan several times and it is hugely helpful for foreigners, who often go to the expensive international-focused clinics simply out of perceived convenience - but it also helped many Vietnamese people, especially those looking for he...
2021-07-0215 min
The Vietnam Weekly PodcastA Conversation About Human TraffickingGood morning, and welcome to the first episode of the Vietnam Weekly Podcast, a new addition to this project. Twice a month, I will interview people from a broad spectrum of industry and society, either working in Vietnam, or with a focus on the country from overseas. If you are already a newsletter subscriber, you’ll receive new episodes in your inbox just like the weekly updates, and this will also be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast platforms soon. If you aren’t a subscriber, you can sign up below - I plan to even...
2021-06-1734 minSaigoneer PodcastVietnamese Brands Abroad; TV Show PitchesWe begin this week (1:12) by sharing our thoughts on the types of products Vietnamese companies should take to foreign markets. Domestic brands have struggled to make an impact overseas, with VinSmart being the latest casualty, but what uniquely Vietnamese goods could have an impact abroad?Then (17:04), we pitch ideas for new Vietnamese TV shows, from an adaptation of 'Kitchen Nightmares' and 'Wet Market Sweep' to our very own 'Real Housewives of the Hẻm.'As always, we end with Bánh Mì Banter (29:30).
2021-05-2440 minSaigoneer PodcastRecreation; Sustainable Trends in Hanoi & SaigonThis week, we are joined by the new editor of Urbanist Hanoi (1:23) to chat about sports and outdoor activities available in the capital, as well as down here in Saigon. From rock climbing and roller derby to stand-up paddle boarding, there's a lot to do if you know where to look.Then (15:50), we look at the latest trends in sustainability in both cities, from the spread of non-plastic straws to an app that allows you to see where informal recycling workers are. As always, we close with Bánh Mì Banter (30:20).
2021-05-1040 minSaigoneer Podcast'Things We Lost to the Water' Author Eric NguyenEric Nguyen, editor-in-chief of DiaCritics and author of the new novel 'Things We Lost to the Water,' joins us today. 'Things We Lost to the Water' tells the story of a family who escapes Vietnam after the war and ends up settling in New Orleans, spanning a time period from the late 1970s to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.We discussed why he set the story in New Orleans, why the theme of water is so important to the book, what he wants readers to take away from it, his work at DiaCritics...
2021-05-0429 minSaigoneer PodcastVietnam's Contemporary Coffee Culture & A Street Food UpdateIn recent years, coffee producers in Vietnam have switched from focusing almost entirely on mass-market, low-quality products to more specialized beans aimed at discerning consumers. What does this mean for both coffee producers and coffee drinkers? (1:04)Then (20:36), we share some of our favorite recent street food finds, including pork belly in District 11 and affordable, authentic Thai near the canal.As always, we end with Bánh Mì Banter (31:25).
2021-04-2638 minSaigoneer PodcastDomestic Tourism Amid the Pandemic with Urbanist Travel's Chau NguyenThis week we're joined by Chau Nguyen (0:54), the founder of Urbanist Travel, to discuss how she shifted from a focus on international tourists to the domestic market amid pandemic flight restrictions, what the tourism industry should do to prepare for the eventual return of foreign visitors, and more. As always, we close with Bánh Mì Banter (27:08).
2021-04-1935 minSaigoneer PodcastSaigon's Modernist Architecture with Phạm Phú VinhThis week, we return to one of our favorite topics: Vietnamese modernist architecture. Phạm Phú Vinh, an architecture student and expert on this style, joined us (1:16) to talk about the prevalence of mid-century modernist buildings in southern Vietnam, why this home-grown style is so overlooked by the public, what he thinks about Saigon's current architectural trends, and more.We also chatted about Vinh's new book, 'Poetic Significance, Sài Gòn Mid-Century Modernist Architecture,' which is available on Amazon, Book Depository, and other e-commerce sites.As always, we end with Bánh Mì Ba...
2021-04-0551 minSaigoneer PodcastLevi Oi on Her DJ Career & Saigon's War on KaraokeOn this week's show, Levi Doan, known as Levi Oi, joins us (1:00) to talk about her move from Berlin to Saigon, how she became a sought-after DJ in Vietnam, and the opportunities present in the country's creative community. Check out her SoundCloud page here: https://soundcloud.com/levioiWe also talked with Levi about the new campaign by Saigon officials to crack down on noise pollution (22:44), especially outdoor karaoke and bars that blast music onto the sidewalk.As always, we end with Bánh Mì Banter (35:49).
2021-03-2246 minSaigoneer PodcastCOVID-19 Vaccinations Begin; Vietnam's Most Controversial DishesOn this week's show, we begin (1:12) by discussing Vietnam's COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which began last week with an initial focus on medical workers. What do we think of the vaccine priority list, which places solders above the elderly, and how might vaccinations impact the country this year?Then (16:10), we debate some of Vietnam's most controversial dishes, from hột vịt lộn and field rats to dog meat.As always, we end with Bánh Mì Banter (28:48).
2021-03-1537 minSaigoneer Podcast100th Episode Roundtable!We're back from a longer-than-anticipated break with our 100th episode! To celebrate, we did a roundtable chat (1:49) on questions such as:"If you could add one tradition to Tet, what would it be?""Which is better, Hanoi phở or Saigon phở?""What is the best convenience store chain?"And much more. As always, we end with Bánh Mì Banter (30:15).
2021-03-0137 minSaigoneer PodcastOur Favorite Non-Pandemic Stories of 2020It's our last episode of the year, and we're taking the chance to share some stories that may have gotten overlooked during the last 12 months ̣(1:03), from Facebook groups dedicated to acts of kindness and a stowaway raccoon, there was much more to 2020 than just the (admittedly very important) pandemic.As always, we end with Bánh Mì Banter (35:22).Happy holidays, and see you in 2021!
2020-12-2145 minSaigoneer PodcastVietnamese Christmas Movies & Author Debby NguyenWith Christmas approaching, we had some fun this week and shared our ideas for festive movies that could take place in Vietnam (1:52). 'Home Alone' set in an old Saigon villa? A female-led 'Die Hard' sequel that takes over the Bitexco Financial Tower?Our interview guest (24:38) is Debby Nguyen, a student at Northeastern University and author of the new book 'Pills, Teas, and Songs: Stories of Medicine Around the World.' We talked about her family's background in traditional Vietnamese medicine and the practice's role in the modern world. As always, we end with Bánh Mì Ba...
2020-12-1458 minSaigoneer PodcastSaigon's COVID-19 Cluster; Video Games in VietnamThis week, we begin (1:14) by discussing Vietnam's first known community transmission of the novel coronavirus in 88 days. How has this small outbreak in Saigon been handled, and what has the public reaction been?Then (17:55), we look at the popularity of video games in Vietnam, domestic development and production of games, and how smartphones have helped local companies get games out into the world.As always, we end with Bánh Mì Banter (31:41).
2020-12-0741 minSaigoneer PodcastStreet Art in Vietnam; Puppetry Artist Linh Valerie PhamOn this week's show, we welcome our colleague Elise down from Hanoi for a wide-ranging discussion (1:10) about street/public art in Vietnam. What's out there that we like, what don't we like, and what could be done to foster a community of talent street artists?Our interview guest (24:34) is Linh Valerie Pham, a theater and puppetry artist based in Hanoi. We had a discussion about experimental theater in Vietnam, the art of storytelling, and the different alleys one artist can take.As always, we end with Bánh Mì Banter (1:05:29).
2020-11-161h 16
The Arts of TravelWhy aren't we Talking About Vietnam's Success w. Covid-19? Guests: Mike Tatarski of Saigoneer & Academic Mai TruongTo better understand Vietnam's stunning success in managing Covid-19, I spoke to Vietnam-based Journalist Mike Tatarski, and Academic Mai Truong of the University of Arizona.
Mike's interview is the first half. We discuss the timeline of Covid-19 in Vietnam, the measures the government put into place and his impressions as an American abroad of Vietnam's competency, compared to the disastrous response of the United States.
Mai's interview is the second half. We discuss Vietnam's political system. How it gained citizenship participation and trust in its handling of Covid-19, and the complicated ways the country handles protest when citizens disagree with...
2020-04-271h 16
Podlovers Asia: All about Asian PodcastingSaigoneer's Mike Tatarski covers Vietnamese culture, content curation and the Vietnamese podcasting sceneIn this episode, I had a lovely chat with Saigoneer's Editor-in-Chief, Mike Tatarski!Saigoneer is a publication covering the city of Saigon, and Vietnam in general. They cover quite a number of topics ranging from culture, society, food and drinks, to serious issues too! Their podcast is a roundtable of the Saigoneer team talking about the latest happenings in Vietnam. Pretty fascinating!We talked about:Transitioning into Vietnamese cultureThe Saigoneer's mission to cover everything in SaigonHow the team curates its contentAn overview of the Vietnamese podcasting sceneDo we have plenty of English-language podcasts? How about...
2020-03-0532 min
Saigoneer PodcastQueer Representation in Vietnamese Pop Culture, Street Food Update and Marou Chocolate On this week's show, in honor of Pride Month, we begin (1:20) with a discussion on queer representation in Vietnamese pop culture. Vietnam's literature has a long history of queer characters, while modern portrayals can be problematic at times. What does this say about the country's perception of its queer community?
Then (14:41), we dig into our latest round of street food recommendations, including a light soup from Phu Yen Province and a collection of ice cream spots.
Our interview segment (23:37) features Sam Maruta, a co-founder of Marou Chocolate. We talked about the company's spontaneous beginning, as well as their efforts to...
2018-06-2544 min
Saigoneer PodcastWriting in a Second Language, Saigon's Japan Town and Artist Jacqueline Hoang Nguyen On episode 17 of the Saigoneer Podcast we begin (1:28) with a discussion of some of the challenges involved in writing in Vietnam, both overall and when writing in a second language such as English.
Then (15:09), we wander into Saigon's unofficial Japan Town, at the start of District 1's Le Thanh Ton Street. We talk about the area's unique history, and share some recommendations of our favorite restaurants in the area.
Our interview segment (23:09) features French-Canadian artist Jacqueline Hoang Nguyen. She shares her story, as well as her process when it comes to creating her multi-faceted work.
As always, we end with...
2018-06-1142 min
Saigoneer PodcastVietnamese Folk Tales and Artist Quynh Lam This week's show features a super-sized segment on Vietnamese folk tales (1:09), in which we share some of our favorite legends and stories.
Our interview segment (22:24) features Quynh Lam, the contemporary artist known for her works which highlight the issue of being a woman in Vietnam. Find examples of her work here: www.quynhsequoia.com/.
As always, we close with Banh Mi Banter (33:17). Once you've finished, watch this puzzling video which we discuss during the segment: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYuAt9_tsI&t=5s.
2018-05-2839 min
Saigoneer PodcastFakes in Vietnam, Kick-ass Millenials and a Deep Dive on Thu Thiem This week we begin (1:22) with a look at the prevalence of fake goods and businesses in Vietnam, and whether or not they're a bad thing. This follows allegations that Mumuso and Minigood are actually Chinese companies, despite their Korean branding.
Then (11:36) we chat about some uber-successful Vietnamese millenials who are beating the stereotype that young people are lazy and lack business drive.
Our interview discussion (19:51) features Erik Harms, an associate professor of anthropology and Southeast Asia studies at Yale. He wrote the 2016 book 'Luxury and Rubble: Civility and Dispossession in the New Saigon,' which looks at two of the...
2018-05-2156 min
Saigoneer PodcastAn Argument for Vietnamese Movies; Unique Digital Sub-cultures; and One Journalist's View of Vietnam This week we begin (1:23) with a look at the strides Vietnamese cinema has taken in recent years, both in terms of production quality and screenwriting. We also discuss why you should see local movies over foreign imports.
Then (13:02), we dive into some of the digital sub-cultures that have spawned in Vietnam thanks to the ubiquity of social media, including country-specific memes and confession pages.
Our interview segment (23:28) features Benjamin Bathke, a German journalist who recently spent three months in Vietnam interviewing business owners, entrepreneurs, academics and more. He shares a few stories from the road.
As always, we end with...
2018-05-1549 min
Saigoneer PodcastStreet Food Roundup, #MeToo in Vietnam and Dr. Phuong Mai Nguyen We begin (1:37) with a roundup of some of our favorite recent Saigon street food escapades, as listeners have asked for more food coverage. How does banh mi dim sum or a seafood feast sound to you?
Then (10:20) we examine Vietnam's potential #MeToo moment, which began with a sexual assault allegation at Tuoi Tre, one of the country's largest newspapers.
Our interview segment (21:33) is with Dr. Phuong Mai Nguyen, a Hanoi native who is now a university professor in Amsterdam, as well as a popular author and researcher.
As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (34:14).
2018-05-0738 min
Saigoneer PodcastFruit Fight, Urbanist Hanoi Launch and Saigon Duo Our first segment (1:28) evolved from a recent office conversation about which fruit deserves to be the national fruit of Vietnam. That debate revealed some rather controversial fruit-based opinions among our staff, so we've taken the argument to the airwaves to debate our favorites, from bottom to top tier.
Then (12:55), we call up our editor in Hanoi to discuss last week's launch of Urbanist Hanoi. What does our sister site hope to achieve, and what can we look forward to reading from the capital?
This week's interview segment (22:10) features Saigon Duo, who we mentioned in our conversation about contemporary Vietnamese literature...
2018-04-1651 min
Saigoneer PodcastGhost Stories, Vietnam's Super-Rich and Cambodian Rock & Roll In honor of Friday the 13th, we begin (1:36) with a chat about our favorite local urban legends and ghost stories, including a Shakespearean tale of separated lovers in Da Lat and the mysteries surrounding Saigon's Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School.
Then (11:03), we dig into a series of recent articles claiming that an 'anti-rich' sentiment is holding Vietnam's most successful businesspeople back. The country is home to some of the world's fastest wealth growth rates, in addition to four Forbes-listed billionaires. How has Vietnam traditionally viewed the rich, and is there anything to this theory?
Our extended interview segment (21:32) features...
2018-04-0955 min
Saigoneer PodcastDeadly Fires, Grab Beats Uber and Building 'Green' in Vietnam We start with a conversation about local fire safety in the wake of last week's deadly apartment building fire in District 8, as well as a string of smaller blazes in recent days.
Then, we discuss Grab's acquisition of Uber's Southeast Asian operations. How might this impact everyday users?
Our interview segment features Melissa Merryweather, the director of Green Consult-Asia and chair of the Vietnam Green Building Council. She shares insight on what it takes to build 'green' in Vietnam, as well as some of the problems she has with Saigon's new high-rise residential projects.
As always, we end with Banh...
2018-03-3039 min