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

With the lunar new year just days away, everyone is scrambling to complete their last-minute Tet preparations, from getting a haircut to re-painting the house to stocking up on those ever-important lì xì envelopes.

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC’s Downtown Flower Show Ready for Opening

Details: Published on 23 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Brandon Coleman.

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Ho Chi Minh City’s downtown flower show ready for opening [Tuoi Tre]

Hanoi will not ask churches, temples to ring out to mark Tet: official [VnExpress]

Vietnam Eyes $35bn in Tourism Revenue by 2020

Details: Published on 22 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Vietnam is aiming to rake in US$35 billion in revenue from the tourism industry in 2020.

[Video] Vietnamese Workers Take Center Stage in Japan Government Video

Details: Published on 22 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

The lives and work of Vietnamese health professionals in Japan were recently highlighted in a video feature from the Japanese government.

[Photos] Here Are 7 Southeast Asian Birds You Might Never See Again

Details: Published on 21 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

We’ve written at length about the bleak future of the Mekong River, which is suffering major environmental degradation due to human activity. But it isn’t only the animals living in the waters of the Mekong that face the threat of extinction as a result: those that fly high above the mighty waterway are also at risk.

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

Details: Published on 21 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

From a poetic Da Lat sky to a shrine on Con Dao Island, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

Saigoneer's Weekend Event Picks

Details: Published on 20 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

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

The Story of Ông Táo, the Kitchen God Who Rides a Carp to Heaven

Details: Published on 20 January 2017; Written by Dana Filek-Gibson. Illustration by Henry Chi-Hieu Nguyen.

This evening, as Saigoneers continue their many Tet preparations and young revellers head out for a night on the town, Ong Tao is packing his bags for his annual trip to heaven.

Hẻm Gems: Loriekot’s Filipino Fare in the Heart of Saigon

Details: Published on 20 January 2017; Written by Dana Filek-Gibson. Photos by Brandon Coleman.

In Saigon, there are plenty of places you don’t see when you’re breezing by on a motorbike. If you are (hopefully) focused on the road ahead, the narrow shopfronts and modest quán lining most Saigon streets start to run together, blurring into a mess of awnings and neon signs, plastic furniture and noisy, fearless touts.

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Biggest Network Operators to Waive Roaming Fee

Details: Published on 20 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Brandon Coleman.

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Vietnam’s biggest network operators plan to waive roaming fees [VietnamNet]

Vietnam airport operator misses out on retail business opportunities [VnExpress]

Nha Trang Fire Destroys Neighborhood, Leaves 40 Families Homeless

Details: Published on 19 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Barely a month into 2017, Vietnam has already experienced its first calamity, as a massive fire in Nha Trang reduced an entire neighborhood to ashes.

Jetstar Holds Massive Ticket Sale to Celebrate Australia-Vietnam Direct Flights

Details: Published on 19 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

As Vietnam’s aviation market heats up, Saigoneers are not the only beneficiaries of a steady stream of additional routes and cheap flights. Case in point: earlier this afternoon (at 12 noon to be exact), Jetstar Pacific launched a ticket sale to promote the upcoming launch of their new direct routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney and Melbourne, starting at US$159.

Quang Binh Officials Deny Plans for Son Doong Cable Car

Details: Published on 19 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

After a petition against the construction of a cable to Son Doong, the world's largest cave, went viral earlier this week, provincial officials in Quang Binh have denied rumors that such a construction project is slated to take place.

[Photos] Linh Quy Phap An: Vietnam's Temple in the Sky

Details: Published on 19 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Linh Quy Phap An, an elusive temple nestled high in the hills of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is drawing attention from tourists all over the country thanks to a new pop music video.

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Parents Shocked Over Adult Content in YouTube Videos for Children

Details: Published on 19 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Brandon Coleman.

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Vietnamese parents shocked over adult content in YouTube videos for children [VnExpress]

Bac Ninh: Ho chickens get collective brand name [VietnamNet]

How Mekong Review Aims to Connect Southeast Asia Through Literature

Details: Published on 18 January 2017; Written by Michael Tatarski. Photos by Brandon Coleman.

First published in late 2015, The Mekong Review has quickly garnered a sterling reputation in a region short on quality print publications. Minh Bui Jones, its founder and editor, talks to Saigoneer about what went into its creation, and how he envisions its future.

Philippines President Lifts Ban on Contraceptives

Details: Published on 18 January 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s government recently repealed a ban on contraception – a rather surprising move in the predominantly Catholic Philippines – in an effort to reduce poverty and boost economic development.