How Soy Milk Symbolizes an Imagined Vietnam of My Childhood in France
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- Published on 29 April 2026
- Written by Tom Phạm. Graphic by Khanh Mai.
I still remember vividly the anticipation running through my veins, when I saw a waiter bringing me a glass of sữa đậu nành, every time my family took me to one of the many Vietnamese restaurants of the 13th arrondissement of Paris, the city’s renowned Chinatown. It was a neighborhood I was bound to get dragged to as a French kid with a Vietnamese parent, whether I wanted to or not. For me, this glass represented the quintessence of typical Vietnamese drinks during a good meal: one of the rare glimpses into the daily customs of my ancestors’ culture.
From the Ground up Into the Air: The Evolution of Bitexco in 25 Photos
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- Published on 29 April 2026
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos by Frederik Wissink.
Between Thủ Thiêm's ambitious new skyscrapers, the planned transformation of Thanh Đa Peninsula and a LEED-standard apartment complex that looks like Marina Bay Sands, Saigon's skyline seems to change every other day.
Into the Earthy, Quirky World of Kramahan's Accessories and Clothing
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- Published on 29 April 2026
- Written by Mầm. Graphic by Mai Khanh.
We paid Nhật, the founder of Kramahan.Clothing, a visit on a windy day in Saigon. This room in the heart of the city has many functions: a living space, a working studio, and also a showroom displaying a huge collection of colorful knick-knacks. If you’re in search of uniquely made little things, this place might be an exciting stop to drop by.
Hẻm Gems: At Sara Ethiopian Restaurant, a Chicken Stew for the Soul
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- Published on 28 April 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Before the existence of Sara Ethiopian Restaurant in Saigon, my knowledge about the African country could fit squarely in a child’s palm: its capital, Addis Ababa; the tragic Ethiopian Airlines crash in March; and its national dish, injera.
The Global Waste Trade Fuels the Rise of Waste Colonialism in Southeast Asia
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- Published on 28 April 2026
- Written by Isa Lim. Top photo by Vincent Thian.
In August 2025, Malaysian campaigner Wong Pui Yi stood outside the UN headquarters in Geneva and made an appeal to Global North nations: “Stop treating the Global South as the rubbish bin for plastic waste you cannot handle.”
From WWI Monument to Ancestor Temple: The Story of Saigon's Hùng King Temple
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- Published on 24 April 2026
- Written by Tim Doling. Top photo by Jimmy Art Devier.
The Hùng King Temple at 2 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm was originally built in 1927–1929 under the name Temple du Souvenir Annamite (Annamite Temple of remembrance), primarily to honor the memory of Vietnamese soldiers who died while fighting in World War I.
Pedaling for a Purpose: The Coastal Cycling Challenge Bringing Homes to Quảng Ngãi
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- Published on 24 April 2026
- Written by Tim Bishop.
During February and March, a group of volunteers from Saigon spent five days cycling up the coast, starting in Thảo Điền and ending up in the mountainous district of Trà Bông, nestled deep in Quảng Ngãi Province.
ACV Proposes Moving 90% of Saigon's Overseas Flights to Long Thành
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- Published on 23 April 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has proposed plans to transfer flight operations in Hồ Chí Minh City from Tân Sơn Nhất Airport to Long Thành International Airport in Đồng Nai Province. The plan aims to transfer 90% of HCMC’s international flight operations to Long Thành by 2027.
US Presidents, Russian Mascot, and Tintin: The Surprising History Behind Vietnam's Dog Names
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- Published on 22 April 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Illustration by Dương Trương.
As Vietnamese society progresses, dogs and cats’ role in our families have gradually elevated to worthy life companions instead of mere animal help in previous generations. While the archive of pet names today seems endless and every day you can easily bump into pets bearing hilariously human names, tasty food dishes, or glorious adjectives, the naming conventions of Vietnamese domestic animals in the past had recurring themes that directly correspond to the cultural and historical atmosphere of when they were coined.
5 Quixotic Books About Vietnam for When You're Craving a Little Quirky Read
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- Published on 21 April 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Graphic by Ngàn Mai.
There are too many good Vietnamese books to recommend, let alone read.
Voọc Cát Bà: The Endangered Primate of Karst Land
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- Published on 20 April 2026
- Written by Michael Tatarski.
Imagine being born one color, and growing up into a very differently hued adult.
Far From Vietnam: A 1967 French Anti-War Film Grapples With Its Own Contradictions
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- Published on 18 April 2026
- Written by Tom Phạm. Top graphic by Khanh Mai.
French cinema experienced a creative renaissance in the 1960s with arguably the most influential movement in its history, the French New Wave. Intellectuals within this movement strived for new techniques to tell stories in ways never seen before. Most of them were socialists who were against the American war in Vietnam.
How Saigon's Free Water Coolers Quench Thirst and Spread Kindness
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- Published on 17 April 2026
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Top image by Cao Nhân.
In recent years, stories about climate change's impacts on the lives of Vietnamese people have been increasingly making the news.
An Homage to Mỳ Quảng and Its Branching Family Tree Across Vietnam
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- Published on 16 April 2026
- Written by Thu Hà. Illustrations by Dương Trương.
Mỳ Quảng’s reputation has spread across Vietnam and even abroad, yet few are well-informed about its origin story and the land it hailed from.
A Brief History of the Saigon-Mỹ Tho Line, Indochina’s First Railway
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- Published on 13 April 2026
- Written by Tim Doling.
Inaugurated on July 20, 1885, the Saigon–Mỹ Tho line was the first railway line in French Indochina.
Hẻm Gems: At Bún Thang 50, Unexpected Hanoi Flavors in a Phú Nhuận Corner
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- Published on 12 April 2026
- Written by Elyse Phạm. Photos by Cao Nhân.
When I was growing up in California, every couple of months, plastic containers of sliced fried egg, chicken, and chả lụa would line the kitchen counter. This medley of ingredients would usually mean bún thang for dinner — which, in turn, signaled that the dinner was a special occasion.
'Making a Whore' Is Both Less and More Revealing Than Its Reputation Suggests
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- Published on 12 April 2026
- Written by San Kwon. Graphic by Ngàn Mai.
For the first time, Vũ Trọng Phụng’s novel Làm đĩ is available in English. Originally published in 1936, the novel has been translated by Đinh Ngọc Mai under the title Making a Whore and was released last year by Major Books, an independent publishing house dedicated to making Vietnamese literature more available for the English-speaking world.
The Surprisingly Global History of Monobloc, the Chair Vietnam Loves and the West Despises
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- Published on 09 April 2026
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Graphics by Dương Trương
In 2024, The New York Times published a list of the 25 most iconic pieces of furniture from the past century, selected by a panel of designers, artists, and curators from the world's leading museums. Unexpectedly, the Monobloc, a plastic chair found in almost every corner of Vietnam and across the globe, had somehow secured a seat.
Inside the Covid Memorial Park at 1 Lý Thái Tổ, Saigon's Brand-New Green Space
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- Published on 08 April 2026
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
As part of Saigon’s latest initiative to increase green space coverage in the city, a number of abandoned land plots were converted into public parks, including a Covid Memorial Park that’s become a beloved destination for Saigoneers seeking a space to jog, reflect, or just simply touch grass.
Vietnamese Indie Studio Skrollcat Announces 'Hoa 2,' Sequel of 2021 Award-Winning Game
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- Published on 07 April 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
In 2021, the first Hoa title came out just in time to soothe our pandemic anxiety. Five years later, will Hoa 2 be up for the job in this new era of fuel crisis and global instability?
