Details: Published on 28 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

One of Saigon’s most iconic landmarks of the early 2000s – Thuan Kieu Plaza – is receiving a makeover.

Vingroup to Invest $4.4bn in Hanoi Urban Railways

Details: Published on 28 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Vingroup, one of Vietnam's largest property developers, plans to invest US$4.4 billion in urban railway projects in Hanoi.

Morning News Roundup: UN to Assess Vietnam’s Readiness for Peace-Keeping Activities

Details: Published on 28 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Lee Starnes.

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UN team assesses Vietnam’s readiness for peacekeeping activities [DTI]

Developers illegally proceed with Son Tra development plans [DTI]

Starbucks Japan to Open in 100-Year-Old Kyoto Townhouse

Details: Published on 27 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Starbucks is attempting to merge its coffee culture with Japan's century-old traditions in the chain’s newest Kyoto location.

Vietnam's Sluggish Internet to Continue Until Mid-July

Details: Published on 27 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Image by Anh H.

It looks like Vietnam’s internet issues will persist for the next few weeks as local internet service providers scramble to fix a broken undersea cable.

[Video] Taiwan's Stinky Tofu Is Not a Dish for the Faint-Hearted

Details: Published on 27 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Like Southeast Asia’s slew of durian desserts, Taiwan’s stinky tofu dishes are an acquired taste.

World Bank Approves $300m Fund for Road Upgrades and Forest Protection in Vietnam

Details: Published on 27 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

The World Bank will provide a new fund worth US$300 million to aid communities in Vietnam's Central Highlands and a number of coastal areas.

Morning News Roundup: Japan Holds First National Vietnamese Language Exam

Details: Published on 27 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Alexander McMillan.

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Japan holds first national Vietnamese language exam [VnExpress]

Tax proposal offers airbag for Vietnamese automobile firms in face of overseas competition [VnExpress]

Hanoi's Traditional Chicken Feather Duster Vendors Feel Pain of Mass-Produced Competition

Details: Published on 26 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Cheap, mass-produced dusters are putting Hanoi's traditional chicken feather duster vendors under financial pressure.

Vietnamese Architects Clinch Awards for 'Most Friendly and Inclusive Designs'

Details: Published on 26 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

The International Union of Architects (UIA) announced the winners of the 2017 edition of the “Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards,” with Vietnamese firms Vo Trong Nghia Architects and H&P Architects each taking home an award.

Cyber Security Breach Exposes 66,000 Vietnamese Personal Accounts

Details: Published on 26 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Approximately 66,000 Vietnamese Facebook, Gmail and Yahoo accounts have been stolen in a newly discovered cyber heist, experts recently revealed.

[Photos] The Vibrant Past of Saigon's Quach Thi Trang Roundabout in the 1960s

Details: Published on 26 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

From the city’s early days until recently, Saigon’s Quach Thi Trang roundabout has always been a muse for traveling photographers.

Saigon's First River Bus Route to Open This August

Details: Published on 26 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

In an effort to ameliorate Saigon’s chronic congestion issues, city officials are debuting the metropolis’ first-ever river bus route soon.

Weekend News Roundup: 10,000 Vinasun Cabbies Seek Permission to Rally Against Uber, Grab

Details: Published on 26 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Lee Starnes.

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10,000 Vinasun cabbies seek permission for rally against Uber, Grab in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre]

Hanoi objects to glorification of S.Korean mercenaries engaging in war in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre]

[Photos] The Last Vestiges of Saigon's Natural Landscape in District 2

Details: Published on 24 June 2017; Written by Brian Letwin. Photos by Brian Letwin.

On the eastern edge of District 2’s An Phu lies one of the last vestiges of Saigon's wilderness, a shrinking area that is slowly being chipped away for new infrastructure projects and dense developments.

Saigoneer's Weekend Event Picks

Details: Published on 23 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our favorite events happening around Saigon.

Hẻm Gems: Co Huoi and Her West-of-the-Border Delights

Details: Published on 23 June 2017; Written by Dana Filek-Gibson. Photos by Brandon Coleman.

One of my favorite Saigon pastimes is wandering around strange neighborhoods. If you’re feeling lost or bored or lonely or just a little too comfortable, have someone drop you off in a district you don’t know and just walk around for a while. In this exercise, two things are guaranteed: 1) You will learn something new. 2) There will definitely be food.

Late-Night Fire Destroys D4 Warehouse, Alarms Nearby Residents

Details: Published on 23 June 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Last night, a large fire claimed parts of District 4’s riverside warehouse complex, creating alarm among local residents, who feared the blaze would spread to their homes.