In season five of Bojack Horseman, an animated show that follows a self-loathing humanoid horse and 90s TV star BoJack, the producers devote an episode to Vietnam.
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.
Fight or flight: to ball fists, rally rag-tag villagers clutching canes, shovels, sampan oars and bamboo staffs to ward off the bayonet-wielding officers invading your home intending to ransack your cabinets and storerooms, aiming to whisk you off to prison based on the scantest of evidence; or, to scoop up your ceramic pot of illegal alcohol, slip out the back door and flee far into the rice fields, where you hide for hours until the rising moon signals a safe passage home, hunched deep in the cold muck, shaded by growing stalks and comforted by cricket song.
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.
After news broke that supermarket chain Co.opmart will shut down its Dinh Tien Hoang outlet, Saigon’s cybersphere witnessed an outpouring of grief and nostalgia over the impending closure.
Last Wednesday, the couple talked about their declaration of love during a live stream Facebook interview with the reality show centered around straight relationships.
Forever at the top of the “Best Bars in Saigon” lists, Chill Skybar is a modern club that offers both entertainment nightlife and event venue.
Tucked just below the Mekong's main aquiferous arteries, Bac Lieu Province serves as an interesting case study of how humans can thrive in swampy, steamy surroundings.
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.
![[Illustrations] Vietnam's Childhood Toys Through the Harrowing Lens of Adulthood](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct17/areyouready/CaoLeDieuPhucIllust2_SGRs.jpg "[Illustrations] Vietnam's Childhood Toys Through the Harrowing Lens of Adulthood")
![[Photos] In Guangxi, Life Goes on as if Urbanization Never Happened](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct15/gz/gz11s.jpg "[Photos] In Guangxi, Life Goes on as if Urbanization Never Happened")
![[Illustrations] A Series of Colorful Depictions of Quy Nhon's Charismatic Coastal Cuisine](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct12/QuyNhon0s.png "[Illustrations] A Series of Colorful Depictions of Quy Nhon's Charismatic Coastal Cuisine")
![[Photos] 27 Snapshots of Saigon in 1970 by Carl Nielsen](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct15/carl-nielsen/Saigon1970-CarlNielsen-19s.jpg "[Photos] 27 Snapshots of Saigon in 1970 by Carl Nielsen")
![[Photos] A Visual Excursion to Past Bac Lieu, Home of Cải Lương Master Cao Van Lau](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct4/BacLieu_SGRs.jpg "[Photos] A Visual Excursion to Past Bac Lieu, Home of Cải Lương Master Cao Van Lau")
![[Photos] On the Sidewalks of 1979 Saigon: Books, Knick-Knacks and a Multitude of Bicycles](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/09/Sep25/Saigon1979/Saigon1979-5s.jpg "[Photos] On the Sidewalks of 1979 Saigon: Books, Knick-Knacks and a Multitude of Bicycles")
![[Photos] 20 Black-and-White Snapshots of 1920 Saigon by Ludovic Crespin](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/09/Sep17/Saigon1920BW_SGRs.jpg "[Photos] 20 Black-and-White Snapshots of 1920 Saigon by Ludovic Crespin")
![[Photos] Walk the Streets of 1965 Da Nang](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/09/Sep12/old/16s.jpg "[Photos] Walk the Streets of 1965 Da Nang")
![[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Rue Catinat, Tu Do and Dong Khoi Street](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/08/Aug31/thennow/4s.png "[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Rue Catinat, Tu Do and Dong Khoi Street")
![[Photos] 20 Snapshots of Saigon in 1969 by George Lane](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/08/Aug29/georgelane/GeorgeLane-3s.jpg "[Photos] 20 Snapshots of Saigon in 1969 by George Lane")
![[Photos] On the Road to Nha Trang in the 1960s, a Medley of Spartan Fields](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/08/Aug21/phan-rang/PhanRang-30s.jpg "[Photos] On the Road to Nha Trang in the 1960s, a Medley of Spartan Fields")
![Heart Beat Presents Zadig/ Construct Reform, Tresor [FRA] @ The Observatory](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/xplr-images/event-iistings/2018/11/43753402_2108074552544650_6139511262637195264_os.jpg "Heart Beat Presents Zadig/ Construct Reform, Tresor [FRA] @ The Observatory")
Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Targets 6.6-6.8% GDP Growth in 2019
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.
![[Photos] Relish this Rare 1894 Edition of 'Truyen Kieu' Through World Digital Library](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct23/KieuNom_SGRl.jpg)
![[Photos] An Oddly Shaped Lot Presents a Creative Challenge for Local Architects](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct23/KhuonStudio_SGRl.jpg)
Residents Living Inside Hue Imperial City to Be Relocated Next Year
When finished, the relocation will be the biggest migration in the history of the Hue Imperial City.
Vietnam to Launch Another Homemade Satellite This December
The satellites will help monitor environmental conditions related to climate change and allow for emergency disaster war...
Saigoneer Podcast: Coworking Spaces and Vietnam's Four Mythological Creatures
The Saigoneer Podcast is back after taking a couple of weeks off!
From November, Vietnam to Ban Gratuitous Smoking in Movies, Stage Productions
Starting from November, filmmakers will need to carefully deliberate over their decision to include smoking in their wor...
Weekend Stories Roundup: Fine Arts Museum Lighting Upgrades and Award for 'Goldren Bridge'
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook .
Each morning, we select some of the most impor...
Vietnam Airlines Launches In-Town Check-In Service in Hanoi, Da Nang
In-town check-in service allows passengers to drop off their luggage before heading to the airport.
Upcoming Events
Today
18:00La Manufacture Wine Dinner @ InterContinental Saigon
19:004-week Singing workshop by Josefina Fuentes @ Soma Art Cafe
19:00Asia Premiere of TAWAI a film from Bruce Parry + Q&A @ The Hive Saigon
19:00The Monkey Shoulder Guest Shift @ Drinking & Healing
21:00SOHY Gentlemen Night @ SOHY Sky Lounge & Dining
21:00Saigon Sound Series Vol.9 @ Heart of Darkness
21:00Valkyrie @ Arcan
Tomorrow
17:30SOHY Couple Night @ SOHY Sky Lounge & Dining
18:00King Crab Thursday Night @ Market 39
18:00Vinoteca The Spanish Night @ InterContinental Saigon
18:00Cape Mentelle Wine Dinner @ Caravelle Saigon
20:00Kin & Datodeo @ The Observatory
21:00Thursday DJ Sessions @ The Observatory
21:00Jazzy on the rooftop @ Broma
Soon
26/10BBQ Fest @ Le Meridien
Full Events CalendarArts & Culture
[Photos] Relish this Rare 1894 Edition of 'Truyen Kieu' Through World Digital Library
![[Photos] Relish this Rare 1894 Edition of 'Truyen Kieu' Through World Digital Library](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct23/KieuNom_SGRs.jpg)
The World Digital Library allows people around the world to see high-resolution scans of the 1894 edition of The Tale of Kieu , ann...
[Video] With Minimalist Music Video, Ca Hoi Hoang Tells Story of Post-Breakup Longing
![[Video] With Minimalist Music Video, Ca Hoi Hoang Tells Story of Post-Breakup Longing](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct6/4s_1s.jpg)
In the latest music video, local indie band Ca Hoi Hoang attempts to answer the age-old question: After a relationship was severed, what to ...
Ha Long Bay Will Open New Harbor to Welcome Luxury Cruise Ships This Month
Hon Gai International Harbour will allow the world's largest cruise ships to dock in the UNESCO heritage site.
Eat & Drink
A Saigon Pop-Up Fuses Mexican and Vietnamese Fares, One Pun at a Time
More romantic than the season's first snow dusting a trampled field of post-harvest corn husks; more inspiring than stars strewn across a cl...
Hẻm Gems: On the Road to Ruin, From Budapest to Binh Thanh
The southern edge of Binh Thanh is one of Saigon’s most fascinating areas. More cosmopolitan than the district would have you believe, its m...
Hẻm Gems: At Madam Oyster, Two Brothers Prove that Taiwanese Food Is More Than Just Milk Tea
Arguably one of the most underrated cuisines in Asia, Taiwanese fare has remained under the radar in Saigon for a long time, even though Tai...
Partner Content
Defining “Vietnamese Fusion” at Eleven
A thick plume of wood-succulent smoke engulfs the table as the server removes the lid from a clay pot of hot stone beef. Ensconced in the ea...
From Ciao to Xin Chao: An Italian Gastronomic Experience with a Touch of Phu Quoc at Casa Italiana Restaurant
Because the waters surrounding Phu Quoc teem with exotic life, many visitors to the island look forward to indulging in a vast array of seaf...
Novotel Blends Work and Pleasure with Sun and Sand on Phu Quoc
As the sun drifts down towards the horizon streaking clouds with a dazzling dappling of pink, purple, orange and red, the pristine beach is ...
From Cans to Collaboration: How Winking Seal Beer Co. Sets Itself Apart
Saigon slips away in the rearview mirror and streetside stores become increasingly humble as we approach a vast industrial park in Long An P...
Pasteur Street Brewing Company Tells Its Story Through Art
There is no shortage of colorful walls in Saigon. Countless photo essay and Instagram posts have depicted these facades, some weather-worn a...
East West Brewing Changes the Saigon Brunch Game with Kegs N Eggs
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...
Same as it Never Was: Di Mai Offers an Old Saigon Vibe and Modern Takes on Classic Dishes
Like a bundle of bamboo rising out of a patch of grass, Landmark 81 towers triumphantly above Saigon’s skyline.
With Fashion App Phleek as Showcase, Conceptual Studio Aims to Empower Vietnamese Startups
Despite being only 20 years old, when Nghi Dao Kinh took the stage at Vietnam’s Shark Tank, she made an instant impression.
Saigon’s Modernist Apartment Units Get Sleek Makeovers
Through a dark alley off Pasteur Street, a set of scuffed stairs leads up a cramped corridor, past a restaurant's food-strewn kitchen and th...
Stories
Inebriated Saigon Driver Rams BMW Into Motorbikes, Killing One and Injuring 7 Others
While most Saigoneers were sound asleep on Sunday night, a tragic accident occurred near the Hang Xanh Intersection in Binh Thanh District, ...
Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Targets 6.6-6.8% GDP Growth in 2019
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...
Better Pay, Lower Costs in Vietnam Entice Taiwanese Workers Away From Home
Destinations such as Vietnam and India are enticing Taiwanese companies and workers to settle down.
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 ...
[Photos] Tet Trung Thu Celebrations in Old Hanoi
![[Photos] Tet Trung Thu Celebrations in Old Hanoi](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/A7lN3g0s.jpg)
As this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, more than a few Saigoneers have shown a renewed interest in the holiday’s traditions.
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
BBQ & Beer On The Lawn @ Q.itchen
Beer & BBQ on the lawn, a one-of-a-kind outdoor party featuring same of the best craft beers in Saigon and BBQ food created by Q.itchen Fact...
2nd Anniversary @ Envy
Envy celebrates their 2nd anniversary with a bang and a massive weekend planned for all the fans!
Society
[Photos] An Oddly Shaped Lot Presents a Creative Challenge for Local Architects
![[Photos] An Oddly Shaped Lot Presents a Creative Challenge for Local Architects](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2018/10/Oct23/KhuonStudio_SGRs.jpg)
The house, named Hoa House, rests on an irregular parcel of land formed by two square lots unevenly placed next to each other.
Vietnam to Launch Another Homemade Satellite This December
The satellites will help monitor environmental conditions related to climate change and allow for emergency disaster warnings.
Vietnam Launches Mobile Bus With Free Breast Cancer Screening for 8,000 Women Nationwide
A positive note to kickstart the Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the anniversary of the Vietnam's Women Union.
