More than 550 people registered and participated in the fifth Barcamp Saigon [1] last week in RMIT International University, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The attendance surpassed the record number of participants in the last Barcamp Saigon which was held just five months ago.
[2]Barcamp registration. Photo from @Vietnam720
Preetam of Singapore lists the highlights of the event [3]
The highlight this year was 1.seeing more Vietnamese leading sessions, both in English and in Vietnamese language, 2.the participants moving away from presentations to running discussions and 3.meeting such active participants. The Saigon barcamp is a good venue to get the pulse of VN technology and popular culture scene. Thanks to the #barcampsaigon organizing team and volunteers. I am eagerly waiting for the next one.
[3]Barcamp in session. Photo from Preetam
Some of the topics [4] discussed were technopreneurship, designing mobile apps, internet governance, startup fundraising, and future of web programming. The presentation on internet governance was already uploaded on Slideshare [5]
Saigonist writes about the idea [8] of Barcamps
1. BarCampSaigon should be the genesis of the next BarCampSaigon, and also BarCamps in other Vietnamese cities – BarCampCanTho, BarCampDaNang, BarCampDaLat. People should understand what a BarCamp is enough to organize simple ones in their hometowns, and do it without worrying about significant funding or caring how many people will show up. Clothing and caffeination optional.
2. Things should start at BarCamp. Ideas should be formed and relationships forged out of discussions among people who should have been meeting more regularly but hadn't. It shouldn't be a place to launch or announce your finished product, although if you started from a previous BarCamp that would be thrilling news. Sessions should not just lead to greater understanding, but cause new questions and avenues of inquiry to be developed.
[3]One of the sessions in Barcamp Saigon. Photo from Preetam
Photos of the event [9] are available on Flickr [10]. Here are some reactions made through the hashtag #barcampsaigon [11]
@tomosaigon [12] In hindsight, my favorite part of #BarCampSaigon was hundreds of people QUEUEING to register
@jodiehuynh [13] first session will start at 10:30am, due to long lines at registration, more people this time. Yeah!
@tvthinh91 [14] I think Barcamp Saigon should have 2,3 computers in front of the hall to vote for topics from everybody