“You forgot to say ‘Uno’!” Lang Giang cheerfully exclaims before covering her mouth in laughter. It’s the twelfth time she’s caught me this trip and blocked me from winning. By this point in our trek, day four of six, Giang feels more like a friend than my tour guide through Sapa.
Once the sun slips beneath the shimmering waves slathering the sky with soft pinks, reds and oranges, the green lamps of the squid boats strung across the horizon blink on and resemble a series of ellipses as if the ocean is trying to articulate the unsayable.
As the planet-wide dumpster fire that was 2018 comes to a close, we’d like to take a moment to look back at the year in Hẻm Gems through our first-ever Golden Plastic Stool Awards. These will honor some of our favorite local eateries from the past 12 months across four categories: Best Vietnamese Food, Best Non-Vietnamese Food, Best Ambiance and Best Cafe/Bar. We’ll also take a moment to honor our favorite Hẻm Gems that were shuttered this year.
Butcher MANZO & Craft Beer Bar’s signature are Dry-Aged Beef Steak and excellent chosen Craft Beer restaurant bar located along the heart of Le Thanh Ton Street.
In early 2018, H'Hen Nie became the choice to represent Vietnam in this year's Miss Universe 2018 competition. She also became the first Miss Vietnam from an ethnic minority.
The translucent balls one would normally identify as caviar held a secret.
While many individuals and businesses in Saigon are working to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics, Quyen Nguyen and Helly Tong decided to take action even further.
Firmly established as the international school of choice in Ho Chi Minh City, the British International School is a selective, independent and co-educational day school that provides a diverse international education measured by British standards.
The very definition of cool was established decades ago in Vietnam, and it was badass women in áo dài dashing on the street in slick sunglasses.
It’s no secret that Da Nang is one of Vietnam’s best destinations.
At the risk of appearing like a pretentious prig, I will begin this Hẻm Gem review with the introduction of a foreign word: the weirdly specific concept of smultronstället.
FMP’s Saigon International Mother & Baby Association (SIMBA) hopes you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year—and is delighted to announce that our SIMBA gatherings will be resumed this month!
![[Photos] A Wintry Japan Through the Lens of Photographer Yusuke Komatsu](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/17/yusuke0s.jpg "[Photos] A Wintry Japan Through the Lens of Photographer Yusuke Komatsu")
![[Illustrations] A Medley of 'Year of the Pig' Depictions From 35 Young Artists Across Vietnam](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/13/beheoce/Beheoce0s.jpg "[Illustrations] A Medley of 'Year of the Pig' Depictions From 35 Young Artists Across Vietnam")
![[Photos] Into the Backyard Rice Wine Distilleries of Long An](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Jan/21/ricewinephotoessay/46s.jpg "[Photos] Into the Backyard Rice Wine Distilleries of Long An")
![[Photos] A Communal House in Son La Inspired by Indigenous Headscarves](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/13/house/a1s.jpg "[Photos] A Communal House in Son La Inspired by Indigenous Headscarves")
![[Photos] Out and About on Nguyen Hue Boulevard in the Late 1960s](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/18/darryl-henley/Darryl8s.jpg "[Photos] Out and About on Nguyen Hue Boulevard in the Late 1960s")
![[Photos] 10 Remarkable Black-and-White Shots of Saigon in 1967](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/11/nguyen-thanh-tai/Saigon1967UPI_SGRs.jpg "[Photos] 10 Remarkable Black-and-White Shots of Saigon in 1967")
![[Photos] From Bach Dang to An Dong: 25 Photos of 1965 Saigon](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Jan/28/1965/Saigon1965-10s.jpg "[Photos] From Bach Dang to An Dong: 25 Photos of 1965 Saigon")
![[Photos] A Road Trip Across Vietnam's Barren Landscapes in the 1970s](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Jan/22/InspectorTVietnam1970_SGRs.jpg "[Photos] A Road Trip Across Vietnam's Barren Landscapes in the 1970s")
![[Photos] Walk Into Saigon's Rarely Seen Neighborhoods in 1966-1967](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Jan/14/allen-mckenzie/Allen1s.jpg "[Photos] Walk Into Saigon's Rarely Seen Neighborhoods in 1966-1967")
![[Photos] Vung Tau in 1970: Bars, Beaches and a Bustling Bazaar](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Jan/7/BarryConnorsP1-2s.jpg "[Photos] Vung Tau in 1970: Bars, Beaches and a Bustling Bazaar")
![[Photos] A Stroll on the Quaint Streets of 1920s Chau Doc](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/Dec26/chau-doc/ChauDoc0s.jpg "[Photos] A Stroll on the Quaint Streets of 1920s Chau Doc")
![[Photos] Take a Trip Back In Time To Ong Lanh Bridge](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/Dec17/cau-ong-lanh/CauOngLanh10s.jpg "[Photos] Take a Trip Back In Time To Ong Lanh Bridge")
Saigoneer's Weekend Event Picks
Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our favorite events happening around Saigon.
Japanese Brand Muji Will Open First Vietnam Store in Saigon in 2020
Japanese homeware company Ryohin Keikaku will bring its distinct collection of “no brand, quality goods” to Vietnam in t...
Morning Stories Roundup: Honda Acquires Massive Profit in Vietnam, Report Says
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook .
Each morning, we select some of the most impor...
As Measles Hits 43 Provinces in Vietnam, Officials Warn of Potential Outbreak
The number of measles patients is still on the rise, according to health authorities.
![[Photos] In Da Nang, a Symmetrical Twin House for Two Close Friends](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/20/duplex/0s.jpg)
[Photos] In Da Nang, a Symmetrical Twin House for Two Close Friends
Have you ever loved a friend so much that you build a house to cohabitate with him and his family?
![[Photos] The Costumes of This New Nguyen Dynasty Historical Web Series Will Make You Swoon](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/19/phuongkhau/a0s.jpg)
[Photos] The Costumes of This New Nguyen Dynasty Historical Web Series Will Make You Swoon
The web series is expected to be released in late 2019 on YouTube.
Hanoi Barber Offers Free Presidential Hairdos in Honor of Trump-Kim Summit
Tuan Duong Beauty Academy, a barbershop in Hanoi, is offering its patrons the iconic hairstyles of either leader in anti...
Upcoming Events
Today
16:00
Saigon Psych Fest 2019 (Night 2) @ Soma Art Lounge
17:00
How did Saigon become a modern city? by Phuc Tien Tran Huu @ Salon Saigon
18:00
Exhibition Opening: "Machine Is Nature" @ The Factory Contemporary Art Center
19:00
OACC: Moulin Rouge! @ The Hive Saigon
20:00
DJ Marri Ferrari @ ENVY Club
21:00
Jordan GCZ [Juju and Jordash, Rush Hour - USA] @ The Observatory
21:00
DJ Diogo @ Rogue Saigon
21:00
Goosebumps (FR) @ The Lighthouse
Tomorrow
12:00
Thao Dien Flea Market - Green Edition @ Saigon Outcast
17:00
The Usual Nexus - Talk and Experimental Performance @ The Factory Contemporary Art Center
18:00
Minimalism - The Hive Screenings x La Holista @ The Hive Saigon
20:30
Acoustic Saturday - Mark Bowyer @ The Old Compass Cafe
21:00
Fractured EP - Pink Room Records presents FLANK @ Piu Piu
21:00
El Barrio w/ Datodeo @ The Lighthouse
Soon
24/02
ZUZU Primeur / Sunday Organic Market @ ZUZU
Full Events Calendar
Arts & Culture
[Illustrations] Board Games 101: Saigoneer's Simple Guide on How to Destroy Relationships This Tet
![[Illustrations] Board Games 101: Saigoneer's Simple Guide on How to Destroy Relationships This Tet](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/tet-games/game1s.png)
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as beating all your siblings and cousins in a heated game of cờ cá ngựa .
Saigon Music Collective Launches Project to Introduce Classical Music to Youth
"Introduction to Classical Music" is initiated by Saigon Classical , a group of 30 musicians who share a love for classical music.
Vietnam Expands E-Visa Pilot Program to 35 More Countries, Territories
A pilot program granting tourists 30-day electronic visas has been expanded to include 35 additional nations and territories.
Eat & Drink
The Distinctly Da Lat Comfort of Bonding Over Coffee Beans
After a two-year stint as an English teacher in Saigon, Nick Melhuish decided that it was time to call it quits. He moved to Da Lat with his...
Hẻm Gems: While the Day Away Under the Green Canopy of Cỏ Cafe
Under a thick canopy of verdant vines and minuscule pink flowers, it’s easy to indulge in the cooling comfort of a glass of iced tamarind an...
Hẻm Gems: A Masterful Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki in Binh Thanh
An honest-to-god Japanese izakaya is a beautiful thing. Dark and smoky, often decked out in wood furnishings and yellowing travel posters, its...
Partner Content
Vietnam Welcomes State-of-the-Art Dental Technology
I can now state that I’ve seen my brain. I viewed a portion of its intricate folds and lobes, thanks to a trip to the dentist.
To Stay or Go: Why Families are Keeping Students in Vietnam for High School
Every parent wants what’s best for his or her child, but knowing what that actually means can be difficult.
Fresh Catch: Mediterranean “Boat-to-Table” Concept Breathes New Life into Modernist Villa
District 1’s Phan Ke Binh Street only spans two blocks, yet it contains an assortment of culinary gems. In an alley on the edge of Nguyen Di...
Exploring Juilliard’s Collaboration with the British International School
The students became water. Or rather, buried beneath blankets and waving sheets, flicking flashlights on and off, mouths shushing and hummin...
Shop Smarter, Sleep Deeper: Ru9’s Mission to Perfect the Place We Rest
If you’re a Vietnamese of a certain age, you might attribute your previous night’s poor sleep to some atmospheric disturbance.
An Exploration of the Saigon Port
Between 1989 and 1997, a massive 201-room floating hotel sat anchored in the Saigon River.
Butter-Aging: The Newest Trend in Steaks Hits Saigon
I won’t be able to eat another steak for at least two months; not until the taste of Level 23 Signature restaurant’s tenderloin fades from m...
Using Bamboo to Relieve Stress at In Balance Spa in Phu Quoc
Take a look around Vietnam and you’ll find majority of household items are made from bamboo: tables, chairs, chopsticks, bowls, doors.
Angsana Lang Co Sets Itself Apart with Sporting Activities, Community Initiatives and a Postcard-Worthy Location
Water buffalo saunter through lush rice paddies that reflect a clear blue sky while verdant mountains loom in the background: the views on t...
Stories
Saigon Aims to Have 75% of New Buses Run on Natural Gas by 2020
Compressed natural gas (CNG), which emits less pollution and is considered to be safer than gasoline or oil, was used by 428 buses in Saigon...
Morning Stories Roundup: Da Nang Horse Racing, Football Delay and New Samsung Phone
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook .
Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Sa...
As Toxic Smog Reaches Dangerous Levels, Bangkok Closes All Public Schools
All 437 city-run public schools will be closed through Friday because of dangerous air quality that has overtaken the city.
Old Saigon
Old Saigon Building of the Week: The Glitz and Glam of Tu Do Nightclub
While today’s Dong Khoi Street is peppered with tourist-centric shops and restaurants, just half a century ago, the downtown street was the ...
Street Cred: The Sins and Saving Grace of Dr. Albert Calmette
If you help save hundreds of thousands of lives via medical breakthroughs and establish one of the country’s first and most advanced researc...
A Brief History of Saigon's Now-Defunct Thu Thiem Ferry Service
While the Thu Thiem Bridge and Thu Thiem Tunnel allow easy access to the District 2 peninsula from nearby districts, for decades past Saigon...
Event Coverage
State of Raw @ Leinné
Jardin D'été and Couture Collection State of Raw presented in a cozy night party with champagne and passionate melodies, with original creat...
Society
[Photos] In Da Nang, a Symmetrical Twin House for Two Close Friends
Have you ever loved a friend so much that you build a house to cohabitate with him and his family?
Vietnamese Ride-Hailing App FastGo Plans Expansion to US, Brazil
FastGo, a Vietnamese tech company, plans to enter the ride-share markets in Brazil and the US this year thanks to investors hailing from tho...
As Measles Hits 43 Provinces in Vietnam, Officials Warn of Potential Outbreak
The number of measles patients is still on the rise, according to health authorities.
