Saigon square for a rainy day

I'm wanting to have a make-over for myself. And I'm shopping piece by piece on weekend for new shoes, clothes, glasses. My biggest trouble is I don't know much about prices and am very bad at bargaining. So, I just a market place where prices are straightly acceptable with a variety of products to choose. After being taken to Saigon Square last week by a stylish friend, I really like the place.

It's right there in my city center, crowded with people from around the world, but I've never go shopping there before though passing by thousands of times. Prices are good to me even at no bargain. It seems like they have same prices for the whole market and I just pick up what I like. I saw some Asian female travelers tried for cheaper prices but reached not much. Usually the seller would say something at x50000 VND and then sell at x20000. For example, after trying several sunglasses, I chose a pair at 350000 VND, then I asked the seller "so, I'd buy this, how much am I gonna pay for it?". He sold it at 320000 VND. I think that's fine for true glasses, not plastic ones. Another example, I liked a collar shirt priced 250000 VND and got it with just 220000 VND. I knew if I bought several ones and had bargaining skill, I might have got it with 200000 VND ( or lower? I'm not sure). Most of the sellers are nice, letting visitors feel free to try and select products. That's enough for me to love this place.

When I got home, just showed my mom what I got and heard she said "nice price, why didn't you buy more?", I felt good!

PS: In fact, It was raining this afternoon while I was shopping inside Saigon Square.

100 things to watch in 2012

I found this on Slideshare.net, a report by JWT about trends of 2012.
http://www.slideshare.net/jwtintelligence/jwt-100-things-to-watch-in-2011-10669904

I think we could agree now that some of those have obviously emerged and are catching a lot of our attention.
My favorites are:

No. 1 - Acess everywhere

Go go market economy!

According to TuoiTre online, 87% of people think market economy is the most preeminent type of economy. 7% think planned economy is the most preeminent.

That is what they got from the survey Perceiving about the government and the market of Vietnam by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) for the first time, with the cooperation of World Bank.

There is one person of each 4 asked people believe that Vietnam is having a market economy while only 22% think it is still a planned economy.

44% think the current speed is Fast and Very Fast. 28% think it's Slow and Very Slow.
Most people who satisfy with the speed are from private companies and municipal committees and provincial departments. On the other hand, embassadors and international organizations assess it as a slow speed. People from government sector companies have more neutral answers.

"To those who had to queue up to buy vegetables from 5:00 a.m, the economy has changed formiably and has improved a lot."- said Ph.D Le Dang Doanh.

The survey was carried out among 1000 government sector's companies, FDI and private companies, 250 officers from governmental departments and organisations, the Communist Party and the Parliament, 100 people from medias, embassadors and international organisations.

source: TuoiTre Online

Kool the day off

Yup, it's started to get hot here.
I would cover up myself one more thin chemise to save my arm skin from being burned by sunlight when riding home for lunch. And at night, my mom just suggests turn on the air conditioner for easier breathing.
It's also very boring at work while projects are still warming up toward the middle of the year.

To kool these boring days off?

First, something quite academic but surely interesting to read:
How to write Content-Free urban planning report by Ann Forsyth

Second, spending sometime on Youtube for imaginative things, like:
Future City - New York

Finally, you want to get hot again ?
J.Lo !