71 episodes
The Bureau Asia Podcast The Bureau Asia
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- Society & Culture
Think news, gossip, drive-time radio and mates bantering at the front bar of the pub but without the fights, and you'll have the essence of TBP. Each week or so join Matt and Mel who have a combined total of almost 30 years of lived experience in Ho Chi Minh City as they chat, debate and laugh about what's new in Vietnam's biggest city and beyond. If you’re a foodie, traveller, history buff or just want to be educated and entertained about Vietnam and Southeast Asia, then The Bureau Asia Podcast is for you!
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The Korea in Vietnam Special!
In this "Korea Special", Matt interviews two long-term resident South Koreans who have called Saigon home for more than 14 years and gets an insight into the topsy-turvy life of Koreans in Vietnam. To wrap up, he reveals the best Korean restaurants in Saigon as voted by Bureau Followers!
The Best Korean Restaurants in “K-Town” as voted by Bureau Followers
Meat & Meet 1 Đ Tôn Dật Tiên, Khu đô thị Phú Mỹ Hưng, Quận 7
Matchandeul 49 Cao Triều Phát, Tân Phong, Quận 7
Perilla 161 Đ Tôn Dật Tiên, Tân Phong, Quận 7
Plan K Chung Cư Mỹ Phúc, 66 Lý Long Tường, Tân Phong, Quận 7
Ilmirak 222-224 Khu Phố Mỹ Hoàng, Khu đô thị Phú Mỹ Hưng, Quận 7
SoFung Chung Cư SKY GARDEN 3, Phú Mỹ Hưng, Khu đô thị Phú Mỹ Hưng, Quận 7
Tram Nam-Korean Century 36 Đường số 6, Tân Phong, Quận 7
Myeong Dong Quan 5 Bùi Bằng Đoàn, Tân Phong, Quận 7
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YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@TheBureauAsia/videos -
What bugs me about Vietnam!
In this must-not-miss episode, Matt's good mate Nam joins him for a bitch session about life in Vietnam. Matt tells Nam – a Saigon native – what bugs him about Vietnamese culture, while Nam counters with things that bug him about foreigners in Vietnam! Then the episode wraps up with Matt introducing you to one of the best streets for food in Saigon!
Nam's Website:
https://www.thehighball.vn
Nam's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thehighball.vn
Nam's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehighball.vn
Hanoi's Weather Dude:
https://www.facebook.com/theweatherdudeinhanoi
Vietnam Coracle:
https://www.vietnamcoracle.com
Where to eat in District 7:
Quán Phở Linh Trang Anh (for phở gà)
185 Đường số 79, Tân Quy, Quận 7
Cơm Tấm 169 (for pork chops & rice)
169 Đường số 79, Tân Quy, Quận 7
Bún Chả Hà Nội Xưa (for bún chả)
144 Đường số 79, Tân Quy, Quận 7
The Bureau Asia Website
https://thebureauasia.com
The Bureau Asia Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thebureauasia
The Bureau Asia Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebureauasiagroup -
The HORROR coming to Vietnam's cinemas!
First up Matt breaks down Ho Chi Minh City's 4th place ranking in Time Out Magazine's recently released list of The World's 20 Best Cities for Food Right Now! Did they get it right? After that, Matt interviews acclaimed Vietnamese director Lê Thanh Sơn on the eve of the premiere of his latest film Móng Vuốt (Claws), a horror set in the highlands of Vietnam. To wrap things up, Matt introduces foodies to 3 top notch places in HCMC to eat and drink coffee that mustn't be missed on any visit to Vietnam's best city!
The World's 20 Best Cities for Food Right Now List:
https://www.timeout.com/travel/worlds-best-cities-for-food
Móng Vuốt Trailer:
https://youtu.be/ce_ZquTeDaw?si=BP02p0cLz1j0MW2o
Lê Thanh Sơn profile:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3734165/
Bánh Mì Thịt Nướng Cẩm Hường:
118b Nguyễn Thần Hiến, Phường 16, Quận 4
Epic Coffee Roaster:
49 Ngô Thời Nhiệm, Phường 6, Quận 3
The Elbow Room Bistro:
52 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, Quận 1
Follow The Bureau Asia on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thebureauasia
Watch The Bureau Asia on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheBureauAsia/videos
Keep up-to-date on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebureauasiagroup -
Then & Now - Saigon 20 years on
In this episode, Matt introduces you to a newly-published book documenting the research and observations of an expatriate who has just celebrated 20 years living in Vietnam. You'll find out the results of The Bureau Asia's poll on what causes food poisoning in Vietnam and then Matt rediscovers the city's first American-style BBQ joint more than a decade after it opened in what turns out to be quite a historical neighbourhood.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebureauasia
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebureauasiagroup
Website: https://thebureauasia.com
Vietnam Uninterrupted: A 20 year journey:
https://www.cimigo.com/en/research-reports/vietnam-uninterrupted-a-20-year-journey/ -
Could this be Saigon's Best Pizza?
In this long-awaited return to the airwaves, Matt reveals he's been battling away trying to learn the language, he visits an "old friend" for lunch and stumbles upon what might just be Saigon's best goddamn pizza! That and more!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebureauasia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebureauasiagroup -
Vietnamese Craft Beer, Poisonous Banh Mi & Saigon's Fire Traps
We've heard it all before. Vietnam's cheap. The beer's cheap. The food's cheap. And the people are so nice! BUT is everything in Vietnam really as good as everyone says it is? In this episode I give you The Good, The Bad & The Phởgly provide an example of each so that you can plan better and hopefully your Vietnam trip WON'T. GET. RUINED!
Big thanks to Ollie Woods for taking time out to chat to me! Check out all the craft beer stuff he's associated with:
Brew Asia https://www.brew-asia.com
Asia Brewers Network https://asiabrewersnetwork.com
Beer Asia https://beerasia.net
My favourite craft breweries & pubs you can't miss in Ho Chi Minh City:
1. Heart of Darkness Craft Brewery 31D Lý Tự Trọng St., District 1
2. East West Brewing Co. 181-185 Lý Tự Trọng St., District 1
3. Pasteur Street Brewing Co. Cnr. Lý Tự Trọng & Thủ Khoa Huân Sts., District 1
4. 7 Bridges Brewing Co. 15B/12 Lê Thánh Tôn St., District 1
5. Malt 46-48 Mạc Thị Bưởi St., District 1
6. Rehab Station 27/6 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm St., District 1
7. BiaCraft 1 Lê Ngô Cát St., District 3
8. Belgo 29 - 31 Tôn Thất Thiệp St., District 1
9. Saigon Craft 68 Lý Long Tường St., District 7
10. MixTape Drinks 40 Đặng Thị Nhu St., District 1
11. Rooster Beers 40 Bùi Viện St., Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1
12. Mr Craft 24 Cao Triều Phát St., District 7
If you find yourself in District 7 some day around lunch time, be sure to give Cơm Tấm 169 a go at No.169 Street 79, Tân Quy, District 7
Wanna sleep in the capsule featured in this episode? Knock yourself out at The Arrivals Hotel 302 Võ Văn Kiệt Street, District 1
Got lucky and need a short-time hotel for a roll around? Try these two out (I've personally inspected them)!
Cupid Hotel 2 Bis Nam Quốc Cang St., Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1
Bonita Grand Hotel 118 Bùi Thị Xuân St., Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1
Got ca$hola to splurge? Stay at The Reverie 22-36 Nguyễn Huệ St., District 1