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L’Usine Journal is a round-up of what’s happening at L’Usine and in town, published every other month.
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aug-sep
journal ISSUE #2
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chaging saigon I
t’s that time of year again, the seasons are shifting, kids are going back to schools and change is in the air. And its not just the weather – Saigon is undergoing dramatic transformation – street corners and major thoroughfares, iconic landmarks and symbols of eras past are disappearing and shape-shifting before our eyes. To give us the low down on the building projects that will change our cityscape forever, our friends at Saigoneer are back with an architectural round up Saigon’s biggest building projects. If all this interseasonal-dressing is giving you a headache, the fashion team at RMIT have pulled together a couple of looks to ensure you’re prepared whatever the weather. We’ve also got an interview with man-abouttown Dan Nguyen, who has provided us with a photo of one of his city-famous murals for this edition’s poster . Plus the scoop on our new fave watch brand Daniel Wellington and a breakdown of what we eat, drink and consume at L’Usine each week.
my saigon
An interview with Dan Nguyen
brand profile
+
Daniel Wellington
Recipe Boost Juice
old saigon
m any more inside
Projects that will change Saigon forever
L’USINE JOURNAL - August 2015
@mabellebox
@soludos
@thythuandmiuday
@publishbrand
New beauty box delivery service - a box of beauty treats delivered to your desk every month.
Soludos has taken the humble espadrille and elevated it to new heights and we’re thrilled to have them in store
Our two new fave fashion bloggers are keeping us up to date with what’s going on at Paris Fashion Week
Addicted to two super slick account from the guys at streetwear label Publish - landing in store this month
MY SAIGON most popular dishes of the week
A
enough to fill
DAN NGUYEN
2 bath tubs
rtist, DJ, composer, art director and all round man about town, California born and raised Dan Nguyen is our featured Saigonite this month. We checked in with him to get the scoop on his fave spots in town, what he does on his (very few) days off, and his go-to destinations for sneakers, street food and more. What’s the first thing you do when you arrive in Saigon? I just returned from Beijing, where I was performing at a big music event. The first thing I did when I arrived in Saigon was go to L’Usine for lunch, no joke. Other things I do when I first get to Saigon are: get a classic cafe sua da and just sit amongst the locals. It’s nice to re-absorb and assimilate into the city again. What’s your favourite street in Saigon? I have a lot of fave streets in Saigon, but right now I’m currently feeling Thao Dien in D2. Its has a “neighborhood” type of vibe, like Silverlake in LA or Williamsburg in NY. What’s the best kept secret about Saigon? There are a lot of small yet flourishing scenes / subcultures here that many non-locals aren’t familiar with, such as aquascaping, cosplay, graffiti and grindcore / metal music. Where do you go for comfort food? Pho Anh on Ky Dong, Ngoc Tho Vegetarian in Pham Ngu Lao, Ganesh in D7, Quan Ut Ut in D1 or any small family owned restaurant. What’s the best place for a date? Depends on who my date is haha. Every girl is different, and I like to tailor our activities / experiences to her personal interests and our unique connection. What’s the best meal you’ve had in Saigon? There is SO MUCH good food in Saigon. Some faves are cơm tấm, hủ tiếu Nam Vang, kebabs
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and bánh tráng trộn. Where do you go to relax? I relax at home a lot. Otherwise I like to find small hidden cafes deep in the city. Some current cafes I like are ID Cafe in D3, the Fig and Cafe Tram in Phu Nuan. What’s the perfect night out in Saigon? Friends, laughter, cool weather, fresh music, delicious food, and an occasional sunrise. Riding the empty streets at night can also be pretty thrilling. Where do you shop in Saigon? For vintage clothing and gear I go to Cho Ba Chieu. For new stuff I frequent the boutiques on Le Van Sy / Tran Quang Dieu, KENJI and L’Usine. Dope sneaker shops are popping up everywhere as well, like G-Lab and Sole Station. What’s your earliest memory of Saigon? I first came to Saigon when I was 11 years old, with my parents. During that short visit, I remember feeling overwhelmed with excitement, bewilderness and love...I still feel the same way about this epic city.
cupcakes enough to cover a bed
equivalent to one of our waiters
T
he changing seasons mean changing looks for your wardrobe. In a city where the weather can turn from one season to the next in a matter of hours, you need a wardrobe that can keep up. Victoria Eskdale from RMIT’s Design school, gives us this season’s edits.
it with some nude sandals and a Baggu trendy bag, and you’re hot to trot in any weather
For the guys, this Marshal Artist mustard lightweight jacket will add a welcome pop of colour to a cloudy day and is perfect for layering when the temperatures drop. Simple Tinwell & For the ladies, pairing an on-trend skirt with verBismark shorts and a button-down shirt teamed with a classic Herschel backpack and some satile layers is a fail-safe combo. This fitted pastel geometric skirt from Sita Raiter works wonderful- snappy Clae tennis shoes give the preppy look a ly with the unstructured Pop Birdy chiffon - match modern-day update
FEATURED ARTIST
You can contact Dan at Mail@dan-nguyen.com and check out his works on
demonslayer__
TREND SPOTTING
yoDanNguyen
demon-slayer
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INSTA CRUSH @wanderjournals
A sneak peak behind our fave instagram accounts this month
Boring lunches - new weekly specials menu on the board!
Mid-week drinking L’Usine’s new cocktail menu is leading us astray
Our lastest photography fix is up and coming South East Asia travel blog Wander Journals
Dong Khoi St’s last remaining apartment block - next in line for demolition
DANIEL WELINGTON
Autumn Festival sweet treats especially Sweet & Sour ‘s moon cupcakes
Using your phone as a watch - all new Komono & Daniel Wellington watches are in stores
Paris - fresh from a buying trip to the French capital, we’re getting ready for Fashion week
T
he go-to watch brand of the moment, Daniel Wellington has clocked up legions of fans around the world, thanks to its unpretentious, preppy style and clean classic design.
British navy, where divers would wear a strong nylon strap over their wetsuits, to avoid rust. Not such a necessity on the streets of Saigon, but an essential piece of kit nonetheless. Come and find your modern-day classic in stores today.
BOOST JUICE
Inspired by a man of the same name, founder Fillip Tysander met Mr Wellington on a trip to the UK. His intrinsic sense of style, laid back-glamour and easy manner became the cornerstone of the brand identity. The brand has become recognized, not just for the clean classic design of the watch itself, but their NATO straps which can be mixed and matched to suit your mood. The NATO strap originates from the
ingredients Apple: 55gr Orange : 100gr Strawberry: 75gr Banana: 45gr Ice: 100gr
Honey: 40ml Spinach: 700gr Yoghurt: 50gr Fresh milk: 280ml
Simply put all ingredients in the blender + Blitz Voila! Home made boost juice.
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L’ U S I N E L A D D E R
L’USINE JOURNAL - June 2015
projects that will change saigon forever
T
he area between Bến Thành Market and the Saigon Opera House is undeniably the epicenter of changes to the city’s urban fabric, with the construction of pedestrian promenades, subway stations, a new administrative center and office towers underway. But downtown Saigon isn’t the only area that may look unrecognizable in 10 years. Here are some of the outstanding projects in varying phases of development that will change the face of the city forever.
Masteri Thao Dien
THU THIEM Financial Center
brought to you by
DAI QUANG MINH Urban Area
Address: Thủ Thiêm Urban Area, District 2 Status: In the planning stage Estimated completion date: Unknown
Address: National Route 1A, District 2 Status: In Progress Estimated completion date: January 2016
Address: Thủ Thiêm, District 2 Status: In progress. Estimated completion date: January 2016
Perhaps the most ambitious project on this list, the Thủ Thiêm Financial Center is the crown jewel of the Thủ Thiêm Urban Area which. The work of British design firm, Foster and Partners, there’s still a long way to go before any of the sleek renderings become a reality.
The Masteri is a sprawling mixed-use development that will be integrated with Thao Dien’s above ground station. The 8-hectare project that will include 4 towers, each 40 – 43 stories, a 120,000m2 Vincom Mega Center Mall, lakes, parks and a modern school.
The first major urban construction in Thủ Thiêm, this 128-hectare, eco-friendly development consists of a mix of high-rise apartment buildings, villas, schools, shopping centers, cinemas, sports centers, restaurants and a marina that will be integrated into the surrounding wetlands.
thu thiem marina
Central Park
Address: National Route 1A, District 2 Status: In progress Estimated completion date: January 2016
Address: Thủ Thiêm Urban Area, District 2 Status: In the planning stage Estimated completion date: Unknown
Address: Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh Street, Bình Thạnh District Status: In progress Estimated completion date: 2017
While there’s still a long ways to go before the Thủ Thiêm is completed, there are plans to build Saigon’s first marina on the southeast side of the new urban area. The marina will be able to accommodate hundreds of boats and will include a hotel, entertainment venues, cruise terminal, park, piers, a maintenance area, petrol stations and parking.
If things go according to plan, by 2017, a massive, dense urban area will rise out of the area between Saigon and Thu Thiem bridgThe VND30 trillion project ($1.41 billion).The 43-hectare development will include a complex of luxury villas, apartments, offices, shopping malls and other services, but the highlight of this project is the 81-story Landmark tower which would surpass Hanoi’s Keangnam Tower as the country’s tallest.
The 45-story Saigon Centre Phase 2 was designed by New York-based NBBJ architects and will offer 50,000m2 of retail space in addition to 40,000m2 of office and 200 serviced apartments.
FRIENDS EAT
SLEEP
Cuc Gach Quan - VN resto Classic Vietnamese home-style food, set in charming traditional Vietnamese house (+84)8 3848 0144 www.cucgach.com.vn 10 Đặng Tất, Tân Định Ward, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Villa Song - Luxury hotel Set on a stretch of the atmospheric Saigon River, Villa Song is one of Saigon’s top boutique hotels (+84)8 3744 6090 www.villasong.com | info@ villasong.com 197/2 Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Lubu - Mediterranean resto Excellent Mediterranean in the leafy suburbs of District 2 (+84)8 6281 8371 www.luburestaurant.com 97 Thảo Điền, An Phú, Distrct 2, Hồ Chí Minh Tib - VN resto Excellent Vietnamese serving specialities from the former imperial capital Hue. (+84)8 3829 7242 www.tibrestaurant.com.vn 187 Hai Bà Trưng, Ward 6, District 3, Hồ Chí Minh
Alcove Hotel - Boutique hotel Off-the beaten track boutique hotel, for culture lovers www.alcovehotel.com.vn | alcove@alcovehotel.com.vn (+84)8 6256 9966 / 9977 Hotline: +84. 938 979 000 133A Nguyễn Đình Chính, Ward 8, Phú Nhuận District, Ho Chi Minh Hotel Des Arts - Boutique hotel New boutique hotel on the block, the Hotel Des Arts, is super chic, right in the centre of town, and has
OF
Saigon Centre Phase 2
a killer rooftop bar (+84) 8 3989 8888 | h9231@ accor.com 76 78 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai St District 3
PAMPER The Hair Bar - Blow-dry bar For a little last minute pampering stop by Hair Bar for a pre-party blow dry and a glass of fizz 18001108 www.hairbar.vn | lienhe@hairbar.vn 68 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh City
EXPLORE Les Rives - Boat Tour agency See Saigon in style, on one of Les Rives glam speedboat tours, or book the yacht for sundowners on the river (+84 ) 128 592 0018 http://lesrivesexperience.com bookings@lesrivesexperience.com
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L’USINE
10 Tôn Đức Thắng, Bến Nghé, 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam Detoured Asia - Alternative tour agency To see a side of Saigon the guidebooks won’t tell you about, get in touch with Detoured Asia. (+84)168 597 6136 http://detouredasia.com/ detouredasia@gmail.com
PARTY Glow - Rooftop bar Killer roof-top views, mean cocktails and a club called Play, downstairs to continue the party. (+84)9388 74569 www.glowsaigon.vn President Palace, Floor 13, 93 Nguyen Du, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Observatory - Club If there’s a new act in town or cool kid on the block, the Observatory will know about it
(+84) 8 3925 9415 www.theobservatory-hcmc.com 5 Nguyễn Tất Thành, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City
SHOP District Eight - Furniture store An iconic modern industrial furniture store and factory in a restored colonical townhouse in District 8. (+84) 8 39 516 467 www.districteightdesign.com | info@districteightdesign.com 343 - 345 Ben Binh Dong Street, Ward 11, District 8, Hồ Chí Minh Saigon Art Book - Art shop and Gallery Gallery and shop showcasing Saigon’s most exciting up-andcoming artists and illustrators (+84)8 3502 1559 www.saigonartbook.com | info@ saigonartbook.com 43 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
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Looking into the horizon and seeing the future, eternally progressing forward on her journey. Armed with a Docedahedron and an Ouroboros, writing her own story, manifesting her destiny through her fingertips. We ALL have the ability to navigate our own path, let this image be a reminder, a symbol of this great freedom.