tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-139695482012-01-26T09:27:57.757+07:00Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.comBlogger2841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-49106799634545955182012-01-26T09:27:00.000+07:002012-01-26T09:27:57.769+07:00

Free tickets ahoy! Saigon Sports Academy have (somehow) set up Saigon's first professional basketball team which compete in the ABL and I went with a few friends last night to the game against Singapore Slingers at the Tan Binh Sports and Cultural Centre. A decent crowd saw the match, with atmosphere enhanced by a team of drummers pounding away throughout the game and providing drum rolls during

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-58374264685680056182012-01-21T18:09:00.000+07:002012-01-21T18:09:16.638+07:00

Because I just watched another beautiful sunset. This is the best I could do with my Canon Powershot at full zoom... And other attempts which just consisted of leaving the camera on 'Auto' and zooming in and out taking as many pictures as possible whilst hoping they came out well. The sun set in about 30 seconds over the horizon so no time to mess around with exposure and all that. Happy

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-62479503833709551912011-12-15T09:47:00.001+07:002011-12-15T09:48:57.589+07:00

I drive over the bloody thing twice a day on my commute, and it's one of those things you take for granted; a sweeping vista stretching in one direction away to the south east where the Saigon River twists and empties into the Nha Be River. Cargo ships sail gently under the 150 meter high bridge leaving their lazy wakes in the dazzling early morning sunshine, occasionally the Vung Tau hydrofoil

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-37962993789034066912011-11-30T12:44:00.000+07:002011-11-30T12:44:28.321+07:00

Don't they grow up quick! It seems crazy but my little baby girl is a three year old now. She grows more fabulous and loving every day I see her, with her mad curly hair, inquisitive eyes and her insatiable sense of adventure and fun. Growing maturity is something so thrilling to see before your own eyes - all that hard work is paying off. Louisa had a party at her nursery and some friends over

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-58120036670497063902011-10-05T15:32:00.000+07:002011-10-05T15:32:12.106+07:00

My little girl Louisa is going to a French preschool and many people are confused when they find out. No, I don't speak French and neither does Chi. We both have small backgrounds in French but the days of study are long behind us. So, English from me, Vietnamese from mum and French at preschool. Why? Well...my question would be why not? I've heard all kinds of bizarre reactions like 'oh she'll

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-16020022837768590282011-09-28T13:15:00.000+07:002011-09-28T13:15:16.477+07:00

Last posted at the end of July! A near 2 month hiatus is not what you'll read in any blogging manual as a good idea. I've been too busy recovering from my 40km round trip to school everyday to post I think, considering that road has literally disintegrated. The Phu My bridge company, I discovered, were the first private company to have their loan guaranteed by the government. They are now nearly

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-22259530380693953832011-07-21T20:44:00.000+07:002011-07-21T20:44:37.869+07:00

We are coming towards the end of our summer trip now having been out of Vietnam since the 10th of June. We've around England and Italy a little bit and also visited Chi's brother and family once again (story relayed here and here). How is it doing all this travelling with a toddler you might ask. Well - the answer is - hard. BUT, as with all life's situations, you get on with it. Lou had already

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-57318217398136988962011-05-27T10:04:00.000+07:002011-05-27T10:04:07.198+07:00

Any green oasis in the 'city of dust' is a godsend, the tree lined avenues in parts of the city are a transportation into another place, a fantastic dream of cleaner, more beautified streets. It's no coincidence that green helps us feel relaxed, it has (apparently) more space in the visible spectrum than any other colour apart from blue. Psychologically, green  has a calming effect and

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-33496760548285522402011-05-16T10:45:00.000+07:002011-05-16T10:45:48.267+07:00

Here are some pics from land clearance going on in District 2 where the road from Thu Thiem highway to Cat Lai port is being widened to four lanes, which will certainly ease container traffic which can be an absolute nightmare. Probably won't ease the lives of the people's whose homes had to be knocked down to make way for it though... A small cemetery and group of banana trees revealed:

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-2925633099642218152011-04-21T10:45:00.000+07:002011-04-21T10:45:25.969+07:00

Many VN blogs have posted these videos already. This incident has led to a flurry of articles in the VN press. This article has many pictures of subsiding buildings. Anyone who has lived in HCMC for a while will you tell you there aren't many buildings that don't subside in one way or another, with cracks, paths/steps sinking, mysterious bumps appearing and so on.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-67703572678393215512011-04-11T09:10:00.003+07:002011-04-11T09:37:23.060+07:00

My daughter will be two and half in June and as with the many mixed couples in Saigon, she is growing up bilingual. In actual fact, she is growing up TRILINGUAL. I find the understanding of this issue to be a total paradox. On the one hand, we are constantly asked 'Can she speak English?' and are met with wide eyes of astonishment when the answer is yes or when she turns to me and starts speaking

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-89389673840014502152011-02-19T12:27:00.006+07:002011-02-19T13:14:49.716+07:00

Chi's family is enormous and it never fails to amaze and entertain (if that's the right word) as stories come out of the woodwork and I get more familiar with the countless aunties and uncles, most of whom reside in Cu Chi district. I want to relate one particular recent drama that is unfolding. Chi's mother is the eldest of twelve children, but the eldest two (Chi's mum and her sister) were

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-80170367189076936302011-02-06T16:28:00.003+07:002011-02-06T17:23:10.385+07:00

In typically British fashion I'll start off by making a quip about the weather - bloody stunning it has been over the past couple of weeks. As I remember TET 2010 being the same, steady sunshine and blue skies throughout the day, a perfect temperature reminiscent of a great July summers day back home, and usually a light breeze to go with it. Really couldn't be any better, and it just adds to the

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-35859085155606816722011-02-01T08:37:00.003+07:002011-02-01T10:57:35.371+07:00

Here are a few pics from Vung Tau for a long time reader...Front Beach at duskGiant crane thingy on a boatSun beating down on the Vung Tau promenade:

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-17681481259666935452011-01-28T13:35:00.003+07:002011-01-28T13:42:35.709+07:00

An article I wrote about TET. It took me some time to figure out exactly what TET holiday was about. At first I looked for a deeper meaning, a religious significance. When I first arrived in Vietnam it was all a big mystery and very exciting. I searched for some real genuine new year experiences, I joined the masses in District 1 to celebrate and marvelled at the atmosphere. Over the years I’ve

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-35415837231988999432011-01-14T09:30:00.003+07:002011-01-14T12:12:55.905+07:00

Plug in 'Mui Ne' and 'Ho Chi Minh City' to Google Maps 'get directions' and it shows a distance of 223km, with a modest estimate of 3 hours 50 minutes. I'm not sure if the Google Maps algorithm includes calculations for getting out of District 1 and over the Saigon Bridge, or passing through Bien Hoa. I have done the journey in 4 hours straight, door to door, Mui Ne to Phu My Hung. That's pretty

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-916100322450648072010-12-11T17:16:00.003+07:002010-12-13T11:02:55.416+07:00

Once again I had the sudden urge to drive around for three hours taking pictures of vacant plots of land and half-finished buildings. I have no idea what it is that holds my interest in development. Maybe its that back home, everything was already finished. Nothing new was ever built in my town. To see a city of millions of people literally exploding at the seems, the buildings spouting out of

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-82351956358626241332010-11-16T14:05:00.004+07:002010-11-16T14:53:34.640+07:00

The Bitexco tower, currently Vietnam's tallest building, is now finished. Take a look at this Panoramic View of the Helipad.Thanks to a fellow Saigon Raider, who was also the Project Manager of Bitexco Tower, for the following pictures...just click on the link and you should be able to see the pdf file!The observation deck is opening on the 1st of December. See you up there.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-54533075032989265682010-11-11T10:06:00.002+07:002010-11-11T10:15:24.386+07:00

So here's another one of my articles for Doanh Nhan Saigon Cuoi Tuan. Make of it what ye will...It is said that Vietnam’s tourism industry has a return rate of only 5% (claimed by an article in the Economist published last month) compared to Thailand which has a return rate of 50%. Vietnam has only been open to tourism for 25 years, Thailand was a hippie destination back in the 60s. Is it worth

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-55216115259097620022010-10-17T14:35:00.003+07:002010-10-17T15:00:27.423+07:00

Chi and I have had the displeasure recently of having to close our business. Connections was running strongly over the last 4 years and we were subcontracting for Exotissimo and Buffalo amongst others, our cooking class being especially popular. Exo are now working with some of our old staff to continue the concept. Thousands of delicious dishes have been prepared and customers satisfied. Not

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-53181422545715049942010-10-09T16:22:00.003+07:002010-10-09T17:00:55.981+07:00

Buying superfoods in Saigon is actually quite easy if you know where to look.I'll start with the obvious - nuts. Whether its almonds, cashew or pistachio, you can get em here for a price. I usually just pop into Ben Thanh market every couple of weeks to stock up.Very roughly, they are 20-30,000 per 100 grams depending on which type you buy.You can also buy Brazil nuts from Veggies, natures best

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-39412574940157637922010-09-19T09:21:00.002+07:002010-09-19T09:32:34.946+07:00

Here's my latest column in Doanh Nhan Saigon Cuoi Tuan.Get educated for nutrition I have a friend who works at a school in the city. Over dinner recently he told me some tales of the children he deals with, or more accurately, the parents. He told me of one little girl who weighs 25kg at age two. She can’t go out and play with the other children. I have a daughter nearly the same age, and she is

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-21518902178871859882010-09-08T13:21:00.002+07:002010-09-08T13:46:41.617+07:00

I love finding strangely quiet parts of the city that are obviously going to develop heavily in the future. My daily drive home from work takes me past the construction of Diamond Island on the edge of Thu Thiem and very near the TT highway, yet to be opened. The picture below shows Diamond Island. The Saigon River lies beyond and flows from here down under the Phu My bridge. The land in this

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-40920756293941532902010-08-26T20:16:00.000+07:002010-08-26T20:32:51.787+07:00

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-84863052056508540852010-08-14T10:51:00.004+07:002010-08-14T11:01:36.126+07:00

An old TEFL colleague of mine, Thomas Hutchings, recently recommended me to take over his column in the weekly magazine Doanh Nhan Saigon Cuoi Tuan (Saigon Business Weekly). The column is called 'Another View' and focuses on expat lives. I can write about anything* I want, socially or culturally speaking. My first attempt is called 'Nowhere to go'and focuses on the lack of public space in the

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-31934378587127602812010-08-06T20:42:00.003+07:002010-08-06T21:05:35.845+07:00

By the 'road to cau phu my' I don't mean some spiritual path of contemplation that somehow ends up by the Phu My bridge, I literally mean the actual road to cau Phu My. It's terrible. Now, the elevated stretch of highway on the Phu My Hung side which I mentioned before as being shoddy turns out to be shoddy. The road has already started to subside.That was taken in the morning on the way to work.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-56587597873253553322010-07-31T20:15:00.004+07:002010-07-31T21:09:52.645+07:00

My new computer lab at The American School of Vietnam, (TAS), which I was lucky enough to design, is awesome. On the ground floor of one of our 5 villas that comprise the secondary campus, it has over 30 computers. The room is huge, bright and airy, with a view out to the swimming pool and football pitch at the back of the school. Not as beautiful as the views from the primary campus of the

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-62510198804421410202010-07-31T06:54:00.003+07:002010-07-31T07:04:09.583+07:00

Possibly the best location in Saigon for kids is the swimming pool in Phu My Hung by the 9 hole golf course. It has a large sandy area where the water is only a couple of inches deep and another shallow area for the kids to play. In a city where options for the small kids are severely limited this place is an absolute god send.It's way pricier than other swimming pools in the city at 45,000 dong

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-36192152803211199622010-07-19T19:42:00.003+07:002010-07-19T20:05:44.448+07:00

We see all sorts in the park on our Sunday morning walks, me and Lou. We've seen dramas and soaps being shot, adverts, models posing for magazine photos and of course plenty of wedding couples - tripping over each other in fact. On this particular occasion it was the filming of a music video. I was amused by the fact that two guys were acting as a counter balance for the camera thingy..not sure

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-26287117689792649582010-07-16T18:12:00.005+07:002010-07-19T20:06:29.450+07:00

Connections Vietnam is coming to the end of an era - three of our greatest student guides ever who have been with us since the beginning are all graduating (or already graduated) and moving on to bigger things. They are: on the left, Bao Anh. Next to him is Thuy Van and at the back left is Minh Giang. Center right is Ms Nghia, one of our most popular chefs, it is also her house where a lot of

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-91560307595583123712010-07-10T07:45:00.005+07:002010-07-10T09:15:24.840+07:00

Having left Renaissance International School Saigon after one year I have started work at my new employer, The American School of Vietnam. TAS is in Thao Dien, the suburb of Ho Chi Minh City covered in sumptuous villas alongside the Saigon River - District 2. It's also the home to other International Schools such as BIS, ISHCMC and ACG. Our school is young, new and an exciting opportunity in my

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-4123280655977348712010-07-02T07:47:00.003+07:002010-07-02T16:09:13.073+07:00

After finishing my current job for the summer (and for good before changing schools) Chi, Louisa and I took an overnight train to Nha Trang. Presenting the Shinkansen of Vietnam.Nice cosy compartments with only two bunks, decent enough mattresses, curtains, small reading lights and wall paneling. Still slow but comfortable. Tickets cost between 400,000 - 500,000 dong. With the hours of slow

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-25967948197119147352010-05-29T08:47:00.005+07:002010-05-29T09:00:06.160+07:00

Last night saw the live final of the 'Vietnam Soccer Prince' reality TV show. The show's winner received a year at the Liverpool FC Academy in England, whilst two runners up will go to Sheffield United, a Championship side (meaning the second professional division in England). Liverpool Academy boys team came to Vietnam as a part of the show and played in a 5-5 draw with the Vietnam Soccer

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-25919727256642610792010-05-12T09:49:00.003+07:002010-05-12T12:56:00.975+07:00

I have written about Dalat before in this post when I last visited the town on a mission for Travelfish - and that post includes some of my favourite photos. On this occasion I was visiting for an old friends wedding, someone who had arrived in Vietnam around the same time as me, in the beginning of 2005. The reception was organised at the Ana Mandara Villas Dalat and this is where we stayed for

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-23594370048949016562010-04-26T09:15:00.004+07:002010-04-26T10:32:47.902+07:00

Phu My Hung is running out of places to build massive new apartment buildings, so the area is extending south wards along Nguyen Huu Tho and west along the section of Nguyen Van Linh that connects up to Quoc Lo 1A. Basically, if you were heading out of D4 over the Kinh Te Bridge, and down past Lotte Mart, you will reach the Nguyen Van Linh intersection where you can turn left into Phu My Hung or

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-68120922946574462702010-04-04T20:22:00.003+07:002010-04-04T20:34:44.262+07:00

The elevated roadway that links Nguyen Van Linh to the Phu My Bridge has now been open for a week or so.It's bumpy, the bike lane is too narrow, there's the dangerous exit point when joining up with the main bridge as you have to cut across the car lanes to join the next motorbike lane...it's Vietnamese. It does however scythe a path straight through the narrow streets of District 7 below and

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-40768674434794766592010-04-03T13:01:00.003+07:002010-04-03T13:21:49.066+07:00

Just looking back through my passports I count a total of 8 Vietnam visas, thats one A3 (one year), one C2 (one year) and 6 B3s. The B3 was the old 6 month multiple entry tourist visa, now 3 months valid. Hence my first 5 B3s were 6 months and the last one dated January 2010 was 3 months, expiring April 1st. I gave up on the idea of permanent residency talked about in the previous post I wrote -

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-30729127086553306152010-03-23T19:27:00.005+07:002010-03-27T21:16:45.705+07:00

Well, Mum moved in with us actually. The dreaded mother-in-law. Is it all that bad? Chi and I made the decision earlier this year to sell Mum's house in Binh Thanh and have her move in with us. Chi's mum can't see well and needs taking care of (see Chi's Story). There was only so long we could continue to let her live by herself (albeit with a maid visiting to cook and clean) in a crowded, dirty

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-26977730913097390062010-03-19T13:31:00.004+07:002010-03-19T15:27:28.230+07:00

Ahhh family.Or should that be: ARRRGGHHH! Family.Those of us bethrothed to a lady of another nationality have not only the Mars/Venus collision to deal with but also the at times stupendous cultural differences to hurdle and manage. Understanding women is the holy grail of any man's life. Cultural 'clashes' however are certianly not always down to the wife and the wife alone, the accompanying

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-60264276615692214102010-03-13T16:19:00.002+07:002010-03-13T16:26:36.707+07:00

The editor at the Asian Correspondent recently got in touch asking if I could write a city guide for Saigon. Here it is...Ho Chi Minh City - Guide Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest metropolis, is still affectionately known as Saigon by its native southern citizens. Historically the term Saigon refers to a central part of the city, District One, where habitation was begun by Vietnamese settlers

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-26284303177705965102010-03-06T14:26:00.003+07:002010-03-06T14:50:13.910+07:00

My passing interest in construction and development continues; I have been snapping the Bitexco Tower being built over the last months, and it is nearing completion. August 10th 2009August 29th 2009September 19th 2009November 14th 2009March 5th 2010Two fellow Saigon Raiders are working on this project, one being the manger of the entire thing. There is a helipad going on the 54th floor (I think

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-20335318092819635842010-02-22T09:35:00.002+07:002010-02-22T09:38:04.598+07:00

Have finally managed to move the blog to a simpler, less clumsy template. Now I can finally use labels to catagorise posts and provide easy navigation through the archives. Added the 'Link Within' widget which is a great little tool linking to similar posts after each entry.One thing, some of my pictures linekd from Flickr don't seem to be loading properly...if anyone knows how to fix it let me

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-78654077563779032172010-02-21T13:21:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:13:58.769+07:00

A few little notes from around, a few updates.Paragon, Feb 2007:Paragon, 2010:Saigon Pearl, Feb 2008:Saigon Pearl, August 2009Pearl is a real blot on the landscape, an ugly concrete monster. Manor 2 is rising next to it, and this is the site of the first underpass in the city (that I can think of).Riverside, Nguyen Luong Bang, August 2009:Riverside, Feb 2010Sunrise City, Feb 2010:February 2008:

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-70632343327607844912010-02-19T21:41:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:13:08.361+07:00

Celebrating the Year of The Tiger, the flower display on Nguyen Hue was well put together once again. We left it until the 4th day of the New Year to have a wander. Taking a break:Terrible picture of me but the Tigers are cool...

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-75710612013456797532010-02-15T16:18:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:13:28.687+07:00

As obliged, a little from this years TET. New Year's Eve was mum's house for lunch, I had thit kho trung. I took a few short videos of Lou and I enjoying the neighborhood atmosphere.A walk round the corner.Lou gets mugged by some neighbours.And again:New Year's Day and we visited grandma (or great-grandma for Lou) in County Cu Chi. I had thit kho trung.Here's Lou bantering with a young scallywag.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-14644142390145720842010-01-25T17:49:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:13:44.422+07:00

Chi and I are having to move to a bigger apartment - mother-in-law is coming to stay. More on that later. However, in the interests of us NOT losing our deposit, we need someone to move into our current apartment for the end of Feb/beginning of March.The details:My Vien (in Phu My Hung, near the Waterfront), 7th floor, about 90m2, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished (very good quality). Very

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-47271155052215061572010-01-17T16:54:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:14:41.095+07:00

Thi Nghe is an area within Binh Thanh district where Chi grew up and where her Mum still lives. Today we wondered through this part of the city, strolling back from a trip the zoo. Thi Nghe is just the other side of the bridge where NTMK becomes XVNT - sure you know what I mean.Market under the bridge.It's really the alleyways that never fail to fascinate me. The stillness of the air, the

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-47138452725406110212010-01-01T10:51:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:15:13.803+07:00

One of HCMC's largest motorbike parking lots (adjacent the Tax Center, Le Loi) has modified it's system, or lack of one - the little bits of paper that keep the stapling industry ticking over here are no longer. Now, one is issued with a small plastic card when entering. It says, amongst other things, that if lost if'll cost 25,000, if you find one and return it they'll give you 15,000.The fee

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-86629057209771614632009-12-30T11:35:00.007+07:002010-02-22T08:52:56.576+07:00

Christmas was spent on holiday with mum, dad, sister and of course Chi and Louisa here in Vietnam. To start, we visited Hoi An via Da Nang airport, Chi and I returning for the first time since our honeymoon back in November 2006, where I posted the pictures here (some of my favourites from Vietnam). The old town, as you'd expect, hasn't changed much.Even the restaurants seemed to be the same bar

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-38994516290867452842009-11-30T10:40:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:16:09.017+07:00

I now understand the following to be true:You are able to get a total of THREE multiple entry THREE MONTH visas (presuming the work permit application is underway) on top of what you already have, after which point you must have the work permit. Although what happens when nine months are up is anyone's guess...9 months is a long time in Vietnamese immigration policy. This may also just be an

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-46223774491742944872009-11-17T13:21:00.005+07:002010-02-21T23:16:21.706+07:00

Making photocopies, notorising and translating documents and badgering people in your home country to help you make photocopies, notorise and translate more documents. Welcome to Vietnam.I haven't read much online regarding the new visa crackdown, one which seems deadly serious this time around.Gone are the heady days of the 6 month business visa, which used to be available to any and all. When

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-58504818828720203082009-11-16T14:53:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:16:46.719+07:00

This caucasian guy has been turning a few heads, directing traffic in his shirt and tie. Anyone seen anything else like this being used in the city?

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-54101697192073719552009-10-25T08:44:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:17:18.103+07:00

A recent half-term, and a short trip to Phu Quoc, a third visit to the Island in Kien Giang Province.We stayed at the SeaStar resort, a place I stayed over New Year in 2005. Back then it was a little less developed and certainly less busy, and I seem to remember getting the bungalows on the beach for $30. One thing that hasn't changed is the road. Despite this beach (Long Beach) being the main

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-59167743811092687702009-10-09T11:32:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:17:36.557+07:00

Our flagship Saigon cooking class 'Cook' has become very popular and we currently are working with some of the biggest tour operators in Vietnam providing this service for them, as well as through our website, http://www.connectionsvietnam.com/.1)Chả giò(Spring rolls – mince pork/shrimp and Indian taro with garlic and onion in rice paper rolls, then deep fried in cooking oil, served with lettuce

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-20975613573824964812009-10-06T13:36:00.007+07:002010-02-21T23:17:53.203+07:00

Yoga is an incredibe way to stay fit and feel good physically and mentally. If I could I would be in the studio every evening after work, however parenthood and location precludes that.Many years ago, waiting in a bus queue at Bangkok airport, I got chatting to an Israeli guy. Turned out he was a conscientious objector and one of the many young Israelis who refuse to serve their time in the army.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-85631768649083108652009-10-02T10:45:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:18:05.373+07:00

This morning for the first time in a while the sky was blue and the sun was shining. The smog cloud hanging over the city was clearly visible, the first time I've ever seen it (or noticed it)...

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-89393744185180550472009-09-12T15:05:00.006+07:002010-02-21T23:18:21.623+07:00

How many other people get excited about new roads and bridges? Come on, hands up...Starting at the Camlette bridge in District One, one side of the East-West highway is now open, running into the city from Highway 1A, which enters from the South-West. Now instead of having to negotiate districts Binh Chanh, Seven and Four, traffic can cut up the new stretch of highway, through Q6, Q8, Q5, Q4 and

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-57868277587701369212009-09-06T11:51:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:18:36.570+07:00

Lou took a visit to meet her Great-Grandmother and various Aunts and Uncles in Cu Chi yesterday. Cu Chi is a pleasant county with plenty of paddies and greenery, and Chi and I have tentative plans to build a house there some time. Land will be betrothed by grandma but it needs to split between her seven daughters (the boys already have theirs), leaving around 500m2 each. Not really enough for the

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-29295691230673754462009-08-29T16:58:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:18:53.393+07:00

This morning I took a drive to town for a few things and stopped on the way to have a look around the site of the tunnel which makes up part of the east-west highway. One of the best vantage points is the Museum of Ho Chi Minh, one of my favourite places in Ho Chi Minh City. Not that you'll find me hanging around there very often, but there is something majestic about its location on the banks of

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-2129376854610536272009-08-26T21:34:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:19:11.575+07:00

A couple of shots of Louisa Vy at 9 months old. Her face is really looking like her mum's side of the family now despite people also saying she looks like me...

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-3148713288346900562009-08-25T19:40:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:19:24.112+07:00

Since returning I've been warned by friends that the police are much more likely to stop you and also refuse a friendly offer of wink-wink-nudge-nudge-put-that-in-your-pocket-and-we're-alright yeah? Although I've met some who say nothing much has changed in the 12 months I was away, some are the living evidence that it has changed (just a little). So, for the effort required to get a license, I

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-44998907781912544422009-08-24T19:35:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:19:37.193+07:00

At coop mart they are handing out useless surgical masks when you spend over 200,000 VND. Chi just refused to take one point blank. "Don't give that to me...", she said, ah that's my girl, not caught up in this non-existent pandemic.A man came to change the toners in our Xerox wearing a mask. Chi asked "Why are you wearing that mask, are you scared of the swine flu?". "No", he replied, "I am

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-41298490246191134462009-08-21T10:40:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:19:48.628+07:00

I'm sure many of you have seen this as it has been popping up in magazines and on blogs but I'll repost it because it is just so cool. Saigon using time lapse and time shift photography.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-63442722309177722642009-08-13T14:56:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:21:05.680+07:00

Dam Gio is the occasion in Vietnam's ancestor worshipping culture where family gather to remember those members of the family who have passed away. It was organised at my mother-in-law's house and was a relatively quiet affair with just Chi, her mum, her father, myself, one Aunt and Uncle and their daughter and two friends attending. In the past I imagine it was a much more sacred occasion. Some

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-77576024618921872582009-08-10T08:23:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:21:38.654+07:00

Having discovered Tuoi Tre's new English language website, Vietnews Online, I also discovered this story from Friday regarding a new 'decree' the government is 'mulling over' concerning retail fuel prices being set by the traders and being tagged to world crude prices. What really jumped out at me however was the following:Another modification in the draft decree relates to the area size of

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-41414793737809311552009-08-08T11:11:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:22:02.604+07:00

Langkawi is a short hop from the Thai border and a 1 hour flight from KLIA. Journeying from Ho Chi Minh City is very easy with Air Asia and having taken off from Tan Son Nhat at 9.00am we were in our beach-side accommodation by 4.00pm. After the two hour flight from HCM to KL we hopped off the plane and onto a domestic flight from the same terminal just two hours later..all worth considering for

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-6175674276449743052009-07-28T16:52:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:22:21.260+07:00

The boys in green (Phu My Hung Security, the largest private army outside of the Vatican's Swiss gaurds) strutted their stuff this morning in a fire safety exercise and just happened to do it in the apartment adjacent to us on the same floor. We had ringside seats for this dramatic exercise involving fake victims being rushed out on stretchers, a smoke machine, victims abseiling from the 7th

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-86187676904212742482009-07-27T08:36:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:22:51.640+07:00

Over the weekend we finally had the opportunity to sit and enjoy a bit of a sunset.Maybe I will start a photographic exhibit called 'Beautiful Phu My Hung'...;-)

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-21604842809207498632009-07-22T15:53:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:23:10.405+07:00

In the distance is Phu My Hung, in the foreground the upcoming Riverside Residence project, which as you can see, we will have a pretty good view of from now on."Phu My Hung is not a dirty word Blackadder. Crevice is a dirty word, but Phu My Hung isn't."Phu My Hung seems for some to have a stigma attached, as if moving there is a cop-out, a wimps option, giving up in a sense to a sterile

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-86022997334136195522009-07-17T08:44:00.007+07:002010-02-21T23:23:25.083+07:00

I'm sure we are all still recovering from yesterday's goat penis front page, or maybe today's frozen tiger story...can you imagine:A) Hey - the tail is sticking out of the boot - what should we do?B) Just shove it in, quick!A) I can't, it's frozen..B) Ok, let's just go...no one will notice. It's not like we'll be in Thanh Nien tomorrow...A) Yeah, haha.The first day we moved into our new apartment

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-744987473412723762009-07-11T18:18:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:23:57.017+07:00

We spent five nights in Happy Inn on Bui Vien next to Sozo cafe, and Chi said to me in the taxi from the airport 'I can't believe I am staying on Bui Vien'. I suppose it must be like someone from a district of Sydney coming back to Aus and going to stay in Kings Cross...but nice hotel overall.As usual with moving house Internet access has been hard to come by and I've not had the chance to snap

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-67742702198602496892009-07-04T15:03:00.003+07:002009-07-04T15:06:29.645+07:00

So so good to be back in town! Can't wait to get settled and back into the swing of things. Will be posting soon with pictures on things that have changed since last summer - initial impressions, pretty much the same but with a few new buildings going up and slightly worse traffic.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-45360080995212417042009-06-24T21:44:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:24:41.399+07:00

View Larger MapKefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands off the west coast of Greece. 90 kilometres from top to bottom, it is a stunning (and winning) combination of soaring rugged mountains that slope all the way to gorgeous beaches and picturesque villages that overlook coast and valley. With three other islands surrounding Kefalonia, the views given its own coastline as well are

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-31554108118904197912009-06-08T16:45:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:25:19.963+07:00

Well we were lucky enough to have some nice days recently and headed out to enjoy part of Dorset's Jurassic Coastline. Which is just a 30 minutes drive from Bournemouth. Here's the beautiful Lulworth Cove..Looking west along the Dorset coast...The beach at Durdle Door:Durdle Door itself:During the summer months in this part of the world the chances of spotting some wildlife increase

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-11050297280235864002009-05-15T00:09:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:25:44.608+07:00

If I ever meet an Albanian from now on, at least I can surprise them with the fact that I've been to a three day Albanian wedding extravaganza where dancing is the order of the day.Friday night : Cocktail partySaturday : What can only be described as a continuous banquet dispersed with bouts of dancing and music. 6 hours, 12-6pm.Sunday : Church wedding at 5pm, onto the Colloseum for pictures,

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-23796956258763142692009-05-03T03:28:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:26:05.708+07:00

We've had our best couple of months so far since starting up with Connections Vietnam, including a group of 20 (mostly teenagers) from Australia. This was our biggest group so far by some distance! They had a great time.They went to Chinatown:And they had lunch at one of our Chef's houses. Luckily she has an enormous kitchen and we managed to accommodate them all.Despite our absence from Vietnam

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-43504558075533297252009-05-02T02:57:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:28:23.210+07:00

For some reason video recorded on my camera makes a bloody awful noise. Anyway, who cares! 5 months and already gobbling porridge. Apparently she can't wait to try some Pho stock.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-4204054339169178992009-04-11T16:03:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:28:42.497+07:00

I remember when I was a kid we were included in our parents pass ports. Now even little babies need pass ports. So in five years time when Lousia is a walking talking little girl with long hair I'll be showing this picture of a 10 week old baby to grim faced immigration officials.Louisa says:"That's bloody stupid, but they must be making a fortune from all those extra passports."

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-71567342698964442402009-04-06T01:04:00.005+07:002010-02-21T23:28:59.731+07:00

Ready to go...A beautiful day down at the beach. Shame about all the bloody rules!Louisa with a messianic glow coming from her chair, not visible to the naked eye when the picture was taken.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-30090395820613147382009-03-21T15:36:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:29:21.301+07:00

I've shown summer, autumn, winter and now it's time for spring with Louisa, 4 months old now.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-33810612539625934952009-02-03T18:41:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:30:09.462+07:00

You may have seen the media circus regarding the snow over here in the UK. Well yes, it certianly is snowing, thankfully I have had the last two days off. Here's what it looks like our end..(wish you were here...and wish I was on a tropical beach in a hammock...)

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-35277636805664962472008-08-24T18:48:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:32:17.410+07:00

Driving. England. Vietnam.Let's look at the differences.I'm currently learning to drive, and before you can take any practical tests you have to pass a theoretical test, a multiple choice exam where you need to score 43/50. Also required is a 'hazard perception test' where you watch 14 video clips and have to click the mouse when you see a hazard developing. Points are scored based on your

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-17581947882865208712008-08-16T18:01:00.002+07:002010-02-21T23:32:37.732+07:00

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-26519559696253114852008-08-11T18:56:00.005+07:002010-02-21T23:33:06.284+07:00

A month in England is now gone, and I can't say that I am missing Saigon. Don't get me wrong, guaranteed sunshine and warm temperatures, cheap restaurants and bars, of course they are missed. But that is missing the lifestyle, not Saigon. Saigon to me is being stuck in a traffic jam in a shirt and tie at 7.30am already hot under the collar. It's reading reports of failing infrastructure,

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-57741783103436855482008-08-08T21:00:00.002+07:002008-08-08T21:14:19.608+07:00

Dear Readers,Connections Vietnam has relaunched its website -- still at the same address...www.connectionsvietnam.com.Yes, despite Chi and myself being out of the country right now, Connections is still going strong on the ground in Saigon. Let's call it a long distance relationship.Although a lot of people commented on how they liked the previous site, I was increasingly frustrated by its lack

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-68672054632628316902008-07-27T00:01:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:33:30.934+07:00

This was the moment it all happened...Chi's brother, Jean-Baptiste, wasn't shy or awkward at this emotional moment, rather dignified and mature. He held Chi as she greeted him. I am in the background, choking on the local pollution or something. Not sure. After the meeting it was five days of French style hospitality with Chi's brother's large family, meeting various Aunts and Uncles, culminating

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-40679211669785549802008-06-23T13:44:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:33:52.776+07:00

When my wife's brother was born, she was only nine years old. During the birth, Chi's mother had some complications (what exactly I can't gather) and her brain was starved of oxygen for a short time. Her recovery was long, spending a month in the HCMC woman's hospital before being moved to District 5's Cho Ray. Eventually she recovered to today being able to function normally, but was left

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-70881713982472727042008-06-16T22:37:00.002+07:002010-02-21T23:34:17.978+07:00

The weekend is over, a weekend which involved a long and emotional school closing ceremony. A weekend which preceded a long and emotional 5 days at school, where many goodbyes to students and fellow teachers were shared in the form of cards, gifts, photos, emails and probably to be broken promises. Sharing the same building with around 250 people for ten months straight can be an intense

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-86118376338490015082008-06-14T14:34:00.001+07:002010-02-21T23:34:39.742+07:00

Ahh, those of you who have haunted the streets of Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham, as most residents of HCMC have at some point, will recognise this corner. However, it is goodbye to Allez Boo which entertained pissed backpackers and English teachers for ten years. Although not a place I would go to often, it represented a multi-cultural part of the city in what is still a very homogeneous metropolis.

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-84496496983478375682008-06-04T21:24:00.001+07:002010-02-21T23:34:58.036+07:00

Today I happened to catch the BBC World News Business program, and they had a short but worrying analysis from the studios of the Asia Business Report program, also on the BBC. The fact that inflation up to 25% is no secret, but the report stated this was only matched or beaten in Asia by Sri Lanka and Burma...The report also suggested that Vietnam is in serious danger of having to revalue the

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-65882272206606349682008-05-30T22:22:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:35:15.572+07:00

As with every expat, the time to move on has arrived. It may not be forever, but from June 30th TFW will be on holiday. To return, I am sure. When, I am not so sure.What with all this baby stuff (by stuff I mean having one), it seems a good a time as any to head home, spend time with family and finally get certified as a teacher. I will start a PGCE in IT at Southampton University in September,

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-82028384666130728662008-05-21T19:39:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:35:43.399+07:00

Alas the trees. The only nice thing about the canal, that dirty, odious monstrosity that creeps around my apartment block, was the green grassy area shaded by trees adjacent to it. It was an oasis in the city, although barely three feet wide. I come home from work and they have been cut down in the prime of their oxygen giving life. Why I ask, why? No one seems to know why!The xe om drivers made

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-69757513115144217202008-05-19T18:09:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:36:02.421+07:00

Very interesting story today on Thanh Nien News today. This crazy ass kitschy fashion invading Hanoi, youths decorating their bikes :Teens have beautified small two-wheelers with glitter and plastic flowers, giant silk butterflies and teddy bears, Christmas tinsel and paper parasols and, yes, feather boas, in an anything-goes creative arms race. Youngsters have rigged blinking lights, MP3 players

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-81084358542291308882008-05-09T17:49:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:36:39.808+07:00

When informed that he had gotten a girlfriend pregnant, George pondered for a minute, looking shocked, and then screamed 'I did it! My boys can swim!' as he ran down the hall in celebration.Whilst not quite my reaction, Chi is pregnant (3 months) and before Christmas (last week of November) we'll have a baby added to the family. As the weeks go by, my anticipation builds. Brief flashes of what

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-48657757886775000352008-04-24T20:23:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:37:04.660+07:00

Here is a motorcycle car park from the center of town near the now infamous golden triangle that was recently auctioned off for 500 million dollars or something ridiculous (and that doesn't even buy the land, just the rights to use it...).This area of land adjacent to Pham Ngu Lao has been a 'hung' project since I arrived three and a half years ago...I just find it staggering considering the

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-7628418455672865412008-04-20T20:13:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:37:27.140+07:00

Never again will I forget my camera. I may be a little over excited, but after the interest shown in the yellow Lambo I snapped a few weeks earlier, I was absolutely kicking myself yesterday afternoon. A posse consisting myself and Chi, a photographer and helper, a yogi and a driver left HCMC for Anoasis Beach Resort, Long Hai. Here Connections plan to start running short yoga breaks as a

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-70384647805043187082008-04-14T12:44:00.000+07:002008-04-14T12:45:00.878+07:00

Kevin has pointed out his 'Linux Lab' over at AIS. My 'Windows Lab' as I suppose it would be is next door. Here I teach Grades 6-9 about using technology to express themselves creatively (whenever possible).I started the AIS school blog near the beginning of the year to showcase student blogs which I had them set up on blogger, and also showcase some of their work they did using Adobe

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-38512527598040562972008-03-29T15:48:00.001+07:002010-02-21T23:37:46.783+07:00

A while back a gent called Neil Fitzgerald wrote a piece in Thanh Nien called 'No Through Road'. The piece talked about solutions to HCMC's increasing traffic problems. I wanted to comment on his thoughts and add a few of my own, by no means written from any area of expertise, just my opinions. Sorry for the lack of pictures which I had intended to accompany this post. Maybe I will repost when I

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-77113943371797941162008-03-19T14:43:00.003+07:002010-02-21T23:38:06.940+07:00

Another day, more unabated madness.Reporting on Thanh Nien Online, Minh Duc's quote pretty much sums it up :"What the @#%&?!" said a foreigner unlucky enough to get stuck in a jam on Nam Ky Khoi Nghai Street in District 1, the city's main thoroughfare to the airport.Minh Duc is talking about everyone's favourite topic, the traffic."Around 150 cars and 1,300 motorbikes are newly registered in HCMC

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969548.post-30806077731080089322008-03-18T16:52:00.004+07:002010-02-21T23:38:30.447+07:00

Ok, some randomness here that has been captured on camera.First up, the yellow Ferrari. Spotted this baby around a few times. Saw an orange Porsche Boxter the other day on highway one.Next, a bizarre chunk of some part of the city floating down the canal.This is just plain odd. From Vung Tau.A quaint little picture also from Vung Tau.I missed photo opportunities of the garbage truck stuck on the

Jon Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15218703884601180050noreply@blogger.com12