Reporting from: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam I spent Sunday night excitedly watching a discussion unfold on Facebook. The only thing missing was popcorn. (Microwaves aren't so...
Is “transparency” overrated? Is political corruption good?
Reporting from: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam There’s a notion in the western world that “transparency” - a word largely co-opted by western governments to prove their superiority to...
How I was robbed at the grocery store… by Vietnam currency
Reporting from: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam A lot of people I talk to ask about the struggles of handling everyday tasks in a foreign land, where a foreign language is spoken. How...
The free market, not government, created this recycling program
Reporting from: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam It was a long day of interviews, meeting new contacts, and visiting with expat entrepreneurs here in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday. After...
Banking in Vietnam Dong: Fiat Currency Russian Roulette
Reporting from: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam I became an instant millionaire the other day. It wasn’t a particularly momentous occasion. Nor can I remember exactly where I was when...
Keynesian economics would hate Vietnam’s savings rate
Reporting from: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, US President George W. Bush had a stroke of genius. No, it wasn't going in and bombing a...
Geoarbitrage and the ultimate productivity hacks
Reporting from: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Notorious American industrialist J. Paul Getty once said, "I would rather benefit from 1% of the efforts of 100 people that from 100% of...
Thank You for Smoking: A Vietnam Smoking Ban No One Follows
Reporting from: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam This past Saturday night, the scene was dizzying. The taxi driver here in Ho Chi Minh City didn’t know where the relaxed, chill “Skybar”...
How cheap is the cost of living in Vietnam for expats?
Reporting from: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam It must have been my lucky day. But I'm not a thief, so I left empty-handed. Walking down one of the main streets in Ho Chi Minh City's...
The Best Places in the World for Custom Suits
Last updated September 16, 2020 Dateline: Hoi An, Vietnam There are a few rules I try to live by. One of them is to be well-dressed and presentable, even if it has gone out of...
