Saigon Approves Plan to Extend Metro Line 1 to Long Thành International Airport
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- Published on 26 February 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
Plans for eventual metro access to the Long Thành International Airport are taking shape.
A Rare Album by Photographer Bruno Barbey Brings Us Back to Tết in 1994 Hanoi
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- Published on 25 February 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
What do you remember most about the 1990s? Do you remember the fashion, the old-timey technology, or the lack of traffic? And if you were just a wee child, do these memories stay with you?
Review: 'New Wave' Documentary Is a Surprisingly Personal Dissection of 1980s Nostalgia
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- Published on 23 February 2026
- Written by San Kwon. Top graphic by Ngọc Tạ.
Melodic synth-lines and steady electronic drums. Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated. During its high point during the 1980s, however, new wave was hailed as music of the future.
Every Bánh Chưng Season, Vietnam’s Lá Dong Capital Comes Alive With Harvest Frenzy
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- Published on 13 February 2026
- Written by Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.
On the patches of sandy soil by the river in Kim An Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, there’s a tiny village named Tràng Cát, where dong leaves have been embedded in local history, memory, and economy for centuries. Right in local courtyard, these broad green leaves were transformed into bánh chưng, ready for Tết feasts across the country.
On the Cusp of a Modern New Year, Reflections on a Simpler Tết Past
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- Published on 13 February 2026
- Written by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai. Graphic by Hannah Hoàng.
Every year, as the pages from my block calendar peel off, bringing me towards another Vietnamese New Year, my mind once again fills with nostalgia about an old Tết. Tết in my memory begins with my childhood in a small house nestled under a coconut grove on the outskirts of Bạc Liêu in the Mekong Delta. Those were days of hardship, yet my parents worked hard so that Tết could bloom magnificently for all of us.
A Damaged Masterpiece Reveals How Much We Take Our Cultural Heritage for Granted
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- Published on 12 February 2026
- Written by An Trần. Photos by An Trần.
A once-damaged national treasure remains on view as if nothing had happened, while other works are displayed with little context — what does this tell us about how art museums preserve Vietnam's cultural heritage and shape our art history narratives today?
In 'Đêm Giao Thừa' EP, a Đàn Tranh Artist Offers Novel Twists on Nostalgic Tết Sounds
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- Published on 10 February 2026
- Written by Saigoneer. Top image by Hannah Hoàng.
Indie đàn tranh artist Brian Bùi has just released Đêm Giao Thừa, an EP containing energetic covers of three classic Tết songs and an original track that pays homage to styles from the 1960s and 1970s.
This Tết, Learn to Wrap Bánh Chưng in One of Hanoi's Oldest Villages
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- Published on 09 February 2026
- Written by Linh Phạm. Photos by Linh Phạm.
Much like the peach blossom or the lucky money envelope, bánh chưng is a staple part of Tết.
A Brief History of Ngựa, a Non-Native Animal Vietnam Has Made Its Own
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- Published on 08 February 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top image by Dương Trương.
Are horses a Vietnamese animal?
Unraveling the Mystery Behind the 'Mùi Việt Kiều' of My Childhood
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- Published on 08 February 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Graphic by Ngọc Tạ.
My favorite candy used to be Hershey’s Kisses. Wrapped in colorful, sparkling foil, these little nubs of decadence made me feel special as a child, not just because of their sugary sweetness, but also because, for much of Vietnam’s contemporary history, you could only enjoy them if you have relatives abroad.
Hẻm Gems: In Đà Nẵng, Góc Nhà Tụi Mình Is Where Tea Time Feels Like Home
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- Published on 06 February 2026
- Written by Như Quỳnh. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
As a Đà Nẵng native, I often get asked where and what to eat and drink by friends who are in town. The tried-and-true list of places in my mind always includes Góc Nhà Tụi Mình, which I’ve frequented nearly constantly for the past six years.
Bánh Thuẫn Anchors Central Vietnam Kids' Tết Anticipation and Childhood Joy
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- Published on 05 February 2026
- Written by Thu Hà. Illustration by Ngọc Tạ.
Bánh chưng and bánh tét are the two reigning monarchs of Tết food, representing the north and south of Vietnam. Still, not many know that in Central Vietnam, there are a plethora of Tết treats that are just as iconic, such as bánh thuẫn. To celebrate the new year, central families display a plate of bánh thuẫn in the living room to honor ancestors, entice visitors, and reward kids for their good behaviors.
The First Asian in Space Was Vietnamese. He’s Still Alive Today.
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- Published on 03 February 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
Most Vietnamese schoolkids grew up learning about Phạm Tuân as the first Vietnamese in space, but few know that he was also the first Asian person to clinch the honor.
When Lịch Bloc Is Gone, What Will Vietnam Use to Keep Discarded Fish Bones?
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- Published on 02 February 2026
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
I have never bought a lịch bloc, or tear-off calendar, for personal use, because every new year, I'm bound to be gifted a brand-new one. In Vietnam, a calendar is often something one purchases as a present for others.
The Year of the Horse Gallops into The Grand Ho Tram
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- Published on 02 February 2026
- Written by Grand Ho Tram. Photos by Grand Ho Tram.
Inspired by the spirit of the horse, The Grand Ho Tram encourages you to have a year of success, confidence, and new horizons. Traditional Tết performances and activities alongside special feasts and opportunities for revelry will usher in a year of remarkable achievements and memorable moments.
Hẻm Gems: Beloved in Korea, Dwaeji-Gukbap Is a Hearty Soup for Saigon's Cold Days
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- Published on 01 February 2026
- Written by San Kwon. Photos by Jimmy Art Devier.
When the owner of a popular restaurant in South Korea specializing in dwaeji-gukbap, a dish widely beloved in Korea but little known outside, visited Vietnam for vacation for the first time around a decade ago, he saw a real possibility of bringing and introducing this special Korean dish to Vietnam. Fast forward to today, his vision has materialized into the quite remarkable scene of a restaurant in Thảo Điền bustling with Vietnamese customers who come to enjoy the humble dish.
The Vibrancy of Vietnam's Mundane Depicted by Illustrator Chan-Nhu Le
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- Published on 01 February 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Illustrations by Chan-Nu Le.
“I miss that. When I was young, on the motorbike with my friends, it was like ’hey, you have 15 minutes?’ and we just met up [...], had some street food and did literally nothing; just street watching. It was fun,” Chan-Nhu Le shared with Saigoneer about the inspiration for her illustrations.
In Đồng Nai, a Rustic Abode Emerges Under the Canopies of Cashew Trees
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- Published on 30 January 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
A clear directive was issued before construction of the home: all 26 cashew trees occupying the 100-square-meter plot must be preserved.
The Unquenchable Spirit of Artist Lê Triều Điển
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- Published on 29 January 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto and Nguyên Lê.
“Điển is like a flower; there is no question of growing or not growing.”
Meet Tâm, a Crossing ‘Guardian’ Protecting Saigon Traffic and Trains From Each Other
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- Published on 28 January 2026
- Written by Như Quỳnh. Photos by Jimmy Art Devier.
In a small kiosk overlooking the crowded Nguyễn Trọng Tuyển Street in Phú Nhuận, Nguyễn Thị Tâm routinely checks the clock and reviews the day’s train schedule meticulously. She’s repeated these tasks countless times, a crucial component of a job that she’s done for two decades as a train crossing attendant.
