Thought for quite some time about what I should write for the 1st post of 2010 and then came out with this idea of sharing about Vietnam720 and the ‘boy’ behind it 
About Vietnam720.com:
This website, Vietnam720.com, is all about Vietnam. The main feature will have to be the virtual tours which allow you to ‘feel’ Vietnam without leaving your house. The ’720′ behind the name came about because my virtual tours show not only 360 degrees horizontally but another 360 degrees vertically. So, 360 degrees (horizontal) plus 360 degrees (vertical) give you 720 degrees view of Vietnam and hence ‘Vietnam720′. Cool? The red and yellow color used for the logo is modeled after the Vietnamese flag.
About Ben:
The ‘boy’ behind Vietnam720 is actually a 35 years old Singaporean who was born and raised in Singapore. After 12 years in the Singapore Navy as a diving instructor, I freelanced as a videographer for a year. It was during this time as my own boss that I began to backpack quite a bit. Vietnam was the first destination and I fell in love with her so much that I returned like 4 times within a year. Woke up one day deciding that I’d like to bum around Vietnam for a long time and here I am today.
(I had always wanted to shave my head bald at least for once and got that chance when I did my 10 weeks solo backpacking trip to India)
For 2010, I’m looking forward to bringing more of Vietnam to you. Of priority will be those places yet to be covered here in Vietnam720. That will be Phu Quoc, Mui Ne and Danang. I’ll also for sure revisit Hoi An, Hanoi and Sapa to showcase more and new places of these beautiful Vietnam attractions.
To those of you who have been a fan of Vietnam720, I appreciate your support very much! And to our new friends, have fun learning all about Vietnam here at Vietnam720.com!
Please consider sharing Vietnam720.com with all your friends. It is appreciated
Cool, thanks for the inside look. How do you make those cool images? A special camera or software? Happy New Year
Hello David, thank you for dropping by!
Happy New Year to you too.
Fyi, I’ll a regular visitor to your site. Love your insights on ‘living in Saigon’
Those panoramic images are a combination of special hardware plus a few softwares.
Dude, Your website rocks!
Thank you Eric for your very kind comment.
How did you find us?
30 yrs ago, I was a refugee and got to stay in Singapore for 4 months. The UN, at that time, had a place somewhere in between Marc Siling and Sambewang for us. As a matter of fact, I was in Sing again last Dec but time was limited, 2.5 days. My stay was short but I’ve always think of Singapore fondly. Glad to be in Singapore again, as a tourist this time…
Hey Paul, so u’re in S’pore right now?
I recommend taking a train going from one end to the other
Not right now, I was in Sing last December. Maybe next time we’ll stay longer
You should
Next time, check out the Universal Park on the high end side and then do the long whole island train ride as I’ve recommended earlier
Hey 720 !!
next week i will flying to Vietnam, exact place is Saigon..
your web more inspire me to go more explore about vietnam.. thanks for the shooting of the unique Photo & info about it.. but just want to ask you to drop email to my email , because i want to ask you something before i go.. thanks > Keep the good Job Man. Marlin (indonesia)
Hi Marlina,
Thank you for your lovely comment. I’ve sent an email to you already. Let me know how I can help.
Hey.
good information about Ho Chi Minh. I intend to visit the city on 18 – 20 October, 2010 with my husband. I am searching for a reliable tour agent on a muslim package and an economy trip, accommodation at 3 star hotel. Can you advise me. This is my first trip to the city and I hope it is going to be a memorable one. Alternatively, is it possible without going through tour agent. TQ. (Malaysia)
Alo Kalsom, thank you for dropping by.
Vietnam on a whole is VERY EASY to DIY. I suggest that you do that.
If it’s food you’re concern about, there are quite a bit of Halal restaurants here, especially in HCMC. ‘Halal Saigon’ which is opposite the Sheraton Hotel gets lots of good review.
If u do wanna stick to a tour agent, try Sinh Cafe for the lower end (mixed reviews) or ComeAndGoVietnam (good reviews) which is from the higher end. U can find both of them on this site.
Hi hi hi.. researching for my trip to hcmc this coming october, I have looked into many webs .. inarguably this is by far, the best representation of the real place. Safe to say, I don’t need any other websites, just keep coming back to this one! Five stars for you!
bonvic
Thank you Bonvic. Very kind compliment there. Appreciate it
If u are into nightlife, I’ve recommended 2 sites here on Vietnam720 to check out the listings and events. Just thought i should let you know coz I can’t agree that u don’t need other websites
But thank u lots again for your comment.
Yup, I have the two places you recommended on my list. Thanks again!
Btw, I have requests to bring back silk shawls. I thought Thailand is the place to get silk shawls but I was told the Vietnamese silk are also very good ..is it true? Could you recommend a good place to shop for it? Could it be found in one of the markets? Binh Tay / Ben Thanh?
cheers, bonvic
Hi Bonvic,
Yes, Vietnam is also known to have good silk. Up in the north, there’s a whole village dedicated to just making silk. Hoi An (central Vietnam) is also a good location to grab them.
In HCMC, u can get them both at Binh Tay and Ben Thanh Market although I’m not sure about the quality and thus have no shops to recommend.
Hey there! your website is really awesome, great job for the effort put in
& thanks alot for the many detailed information! Will check those places that youve recommended when I get there tomorrow! 
Cheeers.
Thank you Felicia for your compliments
You have a BLAST in Vietnam!
Hi,
Just wanted to drop you a line and say thanks for the great website. We just spent an awesome eight days in Saigon with our three children and relied on your website for a lot of our pre trip research. Its a fantastic resource for travellers.
Thanks again,
PJ
Dear PJ,
I appreciate your comments LOTS! Thank you! Moments like this pushes me to write more
Glad I had helped a little.
Thanks again PJ!
cool! interesting. pursuing where your heart goes.
Thank u Esther
Great site – we’re planning a trip to Vietnam, your site is the best so far we’ve found for “real, on-the-ground” info – keep on truckin’
Thank you Andres!
OMG! I thought that you are Vietnamese as reading some of your Vietnamese tweet, your Vietnamese is very good
Shame on me while reading your site, even I am Vietnamese but I don’t know many place in Viet Nam like you. Your site is really useful for people who wants to visit Viet Nam. Special thank for your good job for Viet Nam
Thank you Christine
What’s your Tweeter ID?
Hey fellow Singaporean!
Your site has been most helpful in my trip planning : D
Alo Kay, and fellow Singaporean! Thanks for dropping a comment here
Do help me spread the word in Temasek eh?
[...] http://vietnam720.com/. It’s loaded with tips and information on getting around Vietnam (plus the author is always kind in answering your queries). The museum skeds alone is a huge help so you can plan [...]
Hi Vietnam720, I admire you that you are not Vietnamese but making the website is all about Vietnam.
So nice of you about Vietnam. I live in Saigon. I love your Singapore very much. Im planning to travel to Singapore end of this year.
Btw, I am wonderring how do you make the Vietnamese version? Do you have some Vietnamese guys to help you or you do it yourself. Dont make me so suprised eh
Alo Tigon, thank you for your kind words.
Singapore is a lot of fun and great for shopping. You’ll love it there. Plus going at the end of the year means you’ll see all the pretty Christmas lights.
I’ve got a friend who helped me to translate these articles
Hi…you!
Haven’t known your real name yet. I must say that your website is so cool, and I love it. I searched for Vietnamese food videos on Youtube; one of the clips led me to the site. Since then, I’ve lost in here, don’t want to find a way out, for I wanna explore every corner of Vietnam720. Seems to me that you love Vietnam even more than I do (In fact, I am Vietnamese). I’ve downloaded all Sapa videos here (I’m a fan of Sapa). Have you taken a Fansipan trekking tour before? I did it once and I plan to do it again in 2011.
Thank you so much for the website.
Thank you Trang! Help me tell your local friends about Vietnam720, ok?
Yet to do the Fanispan but it’s one of my goal.
Thanks again Trang for your compliment
hi there..
is ben than market and surrounding area flooded..?
planning to go there by end of this month…
thanks
Hey Dude, no flood. Come
thanks man..its hanoi the one flooded rite..hey where can i can get good quality outdoor shoe?..like hiking shoe..
thanks again
Central area is where flooding is the worst.
Try Vincom Center for your outfoor shoes.
hi mate..
may i know where can i find good fishing equipment shop..thanks
Sorry mate, no idea. But my guess is you probably can’t find quality fishing equipment here in Vietnam.
Kudos from one Singaporean to another.
It’s brilliant what you are doing there. *clap* *clap* Unfortunately, I’m stuck to my kinda life and I don’t have the luxury to do what you do.
I love Vietnam as well and I do make several trips a year too, but mainly confined to HCM.
As you can see from my website, I’m doing up a very small project at the moment as my way of saying how much I love Vietnam and what it has to offer. Who knows? Maybe we could work together some day.
Till then. Great stuff! Really
Dear Sean, thank you thank you for being so generous with your praises
All the best with your site
I must hand it to U. U’r like The Concierge of Saigon or Tho^? Dia. in Vietnamese. U no everything, where to buy/eat, places to go. SG needs more people like U!
Stay dry..
Hehe, thank u Paul!
But no, I don’t know everything. Vietnam’s too big and diverse to take in all within a few years
Hi. Ben
Here is good website for Vietnam information.
But i also found u don’t have many articles about
North or Central Vietnam . But for South Vietnam
thank you i got some information i need.
Hello Michell, thank you.
I’m based in Saigon and this explains the many articles compare to the central and Hanoi. Hope a make a trip sometime this year to write more.
Hi,
I’m going to Ho Chi Mihn this March, what is the exchange rate Singapore Dollars to Vietnam Dong? Is the bag in Bagvina better quality than the one at Bin Thanh Market?
Thanks
Hi Zaiton, use Sacombank.com for exchange rates.
Bagvina’s bags are certainly in better quality.