Why isn't Ho Chi Minh/Hanoi as developed as Bangkok?

Several decades lost to war and devastation. Thailand politic is of course, not the shining example of stability either. read more

While Ho Chi Minh City also has a developed arts scene, its polished shows and market-oriented artists contrast sharply with Hanoi’s more experimental brand of creativity. “Saigon people tend to prefer pretty-looking, easy-to-digest art,” said Ho Chi Minh City-based artist Thao Nguyen. read more

Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City are two of the largest cities in Southeast Asia (the largest being Jakarta). It was recently reported that Saigon now has up to 13 million people living in the city. No one really knows the exact amount, but it was thought that there were 8 million, with the city hitting 10 million by 2025. read more