Nestled above inpages in Thao Dien, a new print studio is offering artists and other creatives a new way to express their ideas and visions.
When Chef Matt Venzke was growing up near downtown Los Angeles, his mom would often take him to a neighborhood café on her way to work. “She was a nurse director, and when she threw me into this little café the first thing that popped into my head was chilaquiles,” Venzke tells Saigoneer in the kitchen of East West Brewing.
At the northernmost end of Saigon’s bustling District 1, the end of Hai Ba Trung Street leading to Phu Nhuan District is known best for heavy rush hour traffic. But a curious textbook case of an Asian phenomenon is underway around the corner on neighboring Tran Quang Khai Street: a noodle shop with red shirt-wearing staff just moved in...five meters away from a noodle shop with yellow shirt-wearing staff.
As the sun drifts down towards the horizon streaking clouds with a dazzling dappling of pink, purple, orange and red, the pristine beach is a frenzy of activity.
Saigon slips away in the rearview mirror and streetside stores become increasingly humble as we approach a vast industrial park in Long An Province. Tucked between light industrial factories that manufacture everything from eyeglasses to essential oils, the impressive Winking Seal Beer Co. brewery is in full swing. The facility is a creative playground where the team concocts new recipes, collaborates with local partners and cans a wide variety of styles.
Vietnamese-American activist Diep Vuong, who used to be a refugee in the US, recently won the prestigious award for her work to stop human trafficking.
The year is 2013. Linh lies awake in the attic bedroom of her cozy childhood home in Saigon. Tomorrow is her first day at primary school, and sleep doesn’t come easily with the all butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She’s worried, but mom assured her that she would be okay, because she is special.
Vietnamese residents have enjoyed greater access to health care in recent years, but eye health and preventable blindness is still an issue.
If you help save hundreds of thousands of lives via medical breakthroughs and establish one of the country’s first and most advanced research institutes, but also assist in the colonial regime’s brutal oppression of natives via a draconian alcohol monopoly, do you get a street named in your honor? If you’re Albert Calmette, you do.
Before modern roads and bridges connected the Mekong Delta with Saigon, its tangled network of rivers, canals and swamps isolated it from the rest of Vietnam and a vibrant cuisine reliant on the area’s bountiful seafood, fruit and vegetables arose.
The southern edge of Binh Thanh is one of Saigon’s most fascinating areas. More cosmopolitan than the district would have you believe, its maze-like streets hold a heady mix of different influences. Wet market stalls and quiet cafés, tucked-away Japanese eateries and quaint low-rise apartment blocks.
Offering fresh, traditional Vietnamese fare since September 2015, Ngoc Chau Garden ( 116 Ho Tung Mau, D1) is centrally located in District 1 just off Nguyen Hue.
![[Photos] Local Photographer Creates Hilarious Tetraptychs of Hanoi's Common Traffic Offenses](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/Dec5/PhamThanhLong/PhamThanhLong0s.jpg "[Photos] Local Photographer Creates Hilarious Tetraptychs of Hanoi's Common Traffic Offenses")
![[Photos] A Quiet Saturday at Saigon's Greenest Tomb, Lang Ong Ba Chieu](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/Dec4/lang-ong/LangOng0s.jpg "[Photos] A Quiet Saturday at Saigon's Greenest Tomb, Lang Ong Ba Chieu")
![[Photos] A Visual Tour of Late 1960s Saigon by Brian Wickham](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/Dec4/brian-wickham/BrianWickham-Part1-3s.jpg "[Photos] A Visual Tour of Late 1960s Saigon by Brian Wickham")
![[Photos] 30 Black-and-White Photos of 1947 Vietnam's Landscapes by Michel Huet](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/11/Nov28/michel-huet/Vietnam1947Michel_SGRs.jpg "[Photos] 30 Black-and-White Photos of 1947 Vietnam's Landscapes by Michel Huet")
![[Photos] An Exploration Into Vietnam's History Through Black-and-White Portraiture](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/11/Nov21/Vietnam1947BW_SGRs.jpg "[Photos] An Exploration Into Vietnam's History Through Black-and-White Portraiture")
![[Photos] In 1995 Vietnam, a Paradise for Honda Cubs and Xích Lô](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/11/Nov14/andy-tarica/Vietnam1995-0s.jpg "[Photos] In 1995 Vietnam, a Paradise for Honda Cubs and Xích Lô")
![[Photos] 18 Rare Photos of Northern and Central Vietnam in the Late 19th Century](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/11/Nov1/tonkin-annam/Tonkin7s.jpg "[Photos] 18 Rare Photos of Northern and Central Vietnam in the Late 19th Century")
Morning Stories Roundup: First Japan TV Channel, Illegal Logging and Honored Academic
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook .
Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them into short, accessible links so you can easily keep up with current affairs.
![[Illustrations] An Ode to Sữa Ông Thọ and the Games of Our Saigon Childhood](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/Dec13/sua-ong-tho/SuaOngTho_SGRl.jpg)
Have the Same Name as a Football Player? This Station Will Give You Free Gas.
What does Christmas even matter when football season is in full drive?
Vietnam Wants to Create Homegrown Alternative to Facebook
A Vietnamese social media network would have a tough time breaking into the country which boasts the world's seventh-lar...
![[Photos] Vietnam's 1969 Street Fashion Story as Told Through Honda Cubs](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/dec12/nha-trang/NhaTrang1s.jpg)
[Photos] Vietnam's 1969 Street Fashion Story as Told Through Honda Cubs
The very definition of cool was established decades ago in Vietnam, and it was badass women in áo dài dashing on the stree...
Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Held to 2-2 Draw by Malaysia in AFF Final
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook .
Each morning, we select some of the most impor...
Hẻm Gems: At Thương Library, a Shrine to Leonard Cohen and How the Light Gets In
At the risk of appearing like a pretentious prig, I will begin this Hẻm Gem review with the introduction of a foreign wo...
![[Photos] VTN Architects Transform Nghe An Rooftop Cafe With Impressive Swirling Bamboo Dome](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/dec11/Nonenco/Nocenco_cafe_Lowres_14s.jpg)
[Photos] VTN Architects Transform Nghe An Rooftop Cafe With Impressive Swirling Bamboo Dome
Nonenco Cafe, located on Quang Trung Street in Vinh city, Nghe An Province, was designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects st...
Upcoming Events
Today
19:00Open Air Cinema Club: Elf @ The Hive Saigon
20:00La Vie en Rose: The Allure of the Tango @ Soul Live Project Complex
Tomorrow
10:00Ladan Holiday Pop-Up @ L'Usine Dong Khoi
10:00FEEL It - Street Culture Festival @ Q.itchen Factory
10:00Christmas Creator's Market @ WeWork
17:00Holiday Photos & Free Giveaway @ East West
18:00Noche de Ecasa 2 - Conecta Cultura @ Ecasa
18:00Aqua man Movie Night Fundraiser @ CGV Vivo City
19:00AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 Finals @ East West
20:30DJ Matt Payne @ ANAN Saigon
Soon
16/12Sunday Brunch @ Market 39
16/12Christmas Kid Activities @ Le Meridien
16/12Wild Cherry Night @ Sky XX - Garden & Lounge
17/12Happy Hour "Sunset Taste" @ Sky XX - Garden & Lounge
18/12Rooftop Yoga @ The Hive
Full Events CalendarArts & Culture
[Illustrations] An Ode to Sữa Ông Thọ and the Games of Our Saigon Childhood
![[Illustrations] An Ode to Sữa Ông Thọ and the Games of Our Saigon Childhood](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/Dec13/sua-ong-tho/SuaOngTho_SGRs.jpg)
To assess how important condensed milk is in Vietnamese culture, think of cà phê sữa đá , Vietnam’s national drink that wouldn’t exist without...
[Video] In 'Công,' Suboi Delivers Full-Throated Anthem for Young Vietnamese Women
![[Video] In 'Công,' Suboi Delivers Full-Throated Anthem for Young Vietnamese Women](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/12/Dec7/Suboi_Cong_SGRs.jpg)
After the great success of 'N-Sao?' in August, Vietnamese rap queen Suboi has returned and riled up her audience once again with her brand n...
Saigoneer Getaways: Off the Beaten Path in Hong Kong's Old-School Side
There was once a time when Saigon and Hong Kong were rivals in the exotic east, both jostling for the cultural title of “Pearl of the Orient...
Eat & Drink
What We Talk About When We Talk About Bánh Mì
Bánh mì is without a doubt a Vietnamese staple. Versatile, convenient and affordable, the sandwich has gotten so popular in recent years in V...
Hẻm Gems: At Thương Library, a Shrine to Leonard Cohen and How the Light Gets In
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 spec...
Hẻm Gems: Hear Us Out, Coconut Milk and Fish Sauce Are Actually Great Together
There are few problems and little mediocrity that can’t be improved with an unctuous ladle of coconut milk.
Partner Content
Devaux Beverages Stands Above the Crowd of Saigon’s Cafes
In recent years, Saigon’s food and beverage scene has grown in leaps and bounds. It’s never been easier for city residents to take a global ...
On Top for 7 Years: The Past and Future of Chill Skybar – Dining
The construction cranes had just departed and the first lights flashed on atop the Bitexco Tower when Chill Skybar – Dining originally opene...
Remi: How a Group of Audiophile Friends Built a Premier Place to Promote Live Music
The saxophonist's fingers run up and down the keys like the shiver sashaying a spine when one a cold breeze brushes across bare skin.
Sheraton Grand Danang Resort Lets Visitors Explore Central Vietnam at Their Leisure
It’s no secret that Da Nang is one of Vietnam’s best destinations .
Vietnam’s Emergence as a Global Leader in Dental Tourism
Nearly 100,000 international tourists visited Vietnam last year for dental procedures, bringing in over US$150 million.
Meet The Eye Health Team Behind Some of the Best Technology and Techniques in Saigon
Vietnamese residents have enjoyed greater access to health care in recent years, but eye health and preventable blindness is still an issue....
At Gastown 1960's, International Cooking Artfully Highlights Local Ingredients
This is the wow moment: a perfectly coiled octopus tentacle buttressed by a charcoal crisp with strawberry onion sauce atop a perfectly frie...
Chanh Bistro Aims for New Heights on New Rooftop
As light jazz harmonizes with the morning sunlight, a soft breeze sweeps across the rooftop, tussling the leaves of planted trees.
More than Just a Great View: Air 360 Sky Lounge’s Thrilling Events
Against Saigon’s neon skyline, five men hopped atop Air 360 Sky Lounge's outdoor rooftop bar in District 1 began to gyrate in tune with the ...
Stories
Saigon to Remove Tan Son Nhat Golf Course to Make Room for Airport Expansion
The Tan Son Nhat Airport golf course will close to make room for a planned hangar and terminal expansion while a District 2 course has becom...
Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC, Hanoi, Ha Long Enter Top 100 City Destinations in 2018
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...
Thousands of Myanmar Women Are Trafficked for Forced Marriage in China: Report
The report was conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT).
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
Chill 7th Anniversary @ Chill Skybar
Chill Skybar celebrates 7 years in the nightlife scene in Saigon.
Ladies Night @ Lush
Haven't had enough from your weekend? Come to Lush for Ladies Night every Tuesday.
Society
[Photos] VTN Architects Transform Nghe An Rooftop Cafe With Impressive Swirling Bamboo Dome
Nonenco Cafe, located on Quang Trung Street in Vinh city, Nghe An Province, was designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects studio.
Vietnam Wants to Create Homegrown Alternative to Facebook
A Vietnamese social media network would have a tough time breaking into the country which boasts the world's seventh-largest Facebook user b...
Why a New Grass-Roots Anti-Abortion Campaign Is Generating Hate Online
The campaign, titled "Mẹ Ơi Đừng Giết Con" (Mama! Don't Kill Me), was established early this December by two men, Le Hoang Thach and Le Ha.
