“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] Rebranding Tết Candied Fruits Using Elements From Vietnamese Mythology](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Jan/31/nha/NhaProject0s.jpg "[Illustrations] Rebranding Tết Candied Fruits Using Elements From Vietnamese Mythology")
![[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] An Architect Recreates Childhood Memories With His Brother in This D9 House](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Jan/29/neighbor/NeighborHouseNarchitects_SGRs.jpg "[Photos] An Architect Recreates Childhood Memories With His Brother in This D9 House")
![[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")
![[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 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 partner Brianna and his dog Sausage to open a bed & breakfast and roastery called the London Saigon Coffee Company.
![[Photos] A Wintry Japan Through the Lens of Photographer Yusuke Komatsu](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/17/yusuke0l.jpg)
Vietnam to Build First-Ever Undersea Tunnel Beneath Ha Long Bay
The project has already attracted three investors including Nippon Koei, FECON and Transport Engineering Design Inc.&nbs...
HCMC Pedagogy University Faces Online Backlash Over New Height Requirements for Teachers
Are you tall enough to be a teacher?
Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC Pilots Automatic Bus Fare Payment
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook .
Each morning, we select some of the most impor...
![[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
Inspired by the headscarves worn by ethnic minority women in the area, the Son La Province structure appears to be drift...
![[Video] Two Railway Flagwomen Save Elderly Woman Seconds Before the Train Comes](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/13/Railcrossings_SGRs.jpg)
[Video] Two Railway Flagwomen Save Elderly Woman Seconds Before the Train Comes
The incident happened on Nguyen Thanh Phuong Road in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province.
![[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
May your Year of the Pig turn out as plump and sleek as the swine icons featured in the Beheoce project.
Upcoming Events
Today
17:00Happy Hour - Unlimited drinks @ Le Meridien
Tomorrow
17:00Holiday Photos & Free Giveaway @ East West
19:00Tuesday Painting Workshops by Paint & Wine @ Saigon Outcast
19:00Restorative Sound Bath @ Mandala
20:00“Pierrot Lumière” - A Multimedia Sound Performance by Mam.Manufaktur Für Aktuelle @ HCMC Conservatory of Music
21:00Afro-Latin Social Dance Party @ La Danza Saigon
Soon
20/02Ladies First @ 2 Lam Son
20/02Mid-Week Crisis with ELISA ELISA @ Piu Piu
20/02Bam Bam Pop-up: Jess Connelly & alextbh @ Hyde
20/02Hyde in Heels - Every Wednesday @ Hyde
21/02The Macallan Whisky Tasting @ Below
21/02Thursday Live Music @ Au Parc Saigon
24/02ZUZU Primeur / Sunday Organic Market @ ZUZU
24/02Sunday Chill @ La Habana
25/02Happy Hour - Unlimited drinks @ Le Meridien
Full Events CalendarArts & 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 .
[Illustrations] A Medley of 'Year of the Pig' Depictions From 35 Young Artists Across Vietnam
May your Year of the Pig turn out as plump and sleek as the swine icons featured in the Beheoce project.
[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Dak Lak and an Abundance of Central Highlands Charm
![[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Dak Lak and an Abundance of Central Highlands Charm](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Feb/12/DakLak/DSC05482s.jpg)
For many, Tet is a time to reunite with family they haven't seen in months. For those like me without relatives in Vietnam, it's the perfect...
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: Lost in the Half-Childlike, Half-Adult World of 'The Little Prince'
Remember the tale about a little boy who travels planet to planet on a quest to discover and retrieve lessons about the adult world? This ca...
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
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 - and was once home to Decibel (RIP)....
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...
Savoring Phu Quoc’s Beauty with a High-Tech Cocktail in Hand
The translucent balls one would normally identify as caviar held a secret.
A Stellar Sunset Complemented by Design and Entertainment at the InterContinental Phu Quoc
Once the sun slips beneath the shimmering waves slathering the sky with soft pinks, reds and oranges, the green lamps of the squid boats str...
Stories
Saigon Launches Competition to Redesign September 23 Park
Due to 23/9 Park’s dilapidated state, a competition to redesign the space was recently approved by city authorities.
Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC Plans to Sell 7,000 Resettlement Apartments
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
Vietnam to Build First-Ever Undersea Tunnel Beneath Ha Long Bay
The project has already attracted three investors including Nippon Koei, FECON and Transport Engineering Design Inc.
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...
In Vietnam's First Awake Brain Surgery, a Patient Is Conscious and Singing
The patient, a 36-year-old businessman, was awake for two of the surgery's six hours, during which he sang and conversed with doctors to ass...
