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in Eat & Drink

Snow Falls in Zion Sky Lounge & Dining While Partiers Redefine Holiday Traditions

Have you ever wanted to establish a new Holiday tradition?

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: An Alternative Cơm Tấm From Long Xuyên for Thịt Kho Trứng Fans

When it comes to cơm tấm, most people are familiar with cơm tấm Sài Gòn, featuring grilled pork ribs as the vedette topping. But since the dish’s creation, and as it gained popularity across the Mekon...

Khôi Phạm

in Natural Selection

A Case for the Sweet-and-Sour Tamarind as Saigon's Official Municipal Tree

What is the municipal tree of Saigon? In popular culture, Hanoi is perhaps intricately linked with the paralyzing but often romanticized aroma of hoa sữa, while just over a hundred kilometers to the e...

in Vietnam

For Hội An Residents, Learning to Live With Floods Is a Fact of Life

The water reached my shoulders, and when I stepped into the street I suddenly felt the current trying to pull me into its invisible grasp. A familiar feeling that set off an alarm inside my head: “Be ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Amid Saigon's Heat, a Wintry Ambiance in Xocoati's Cozy Cocoa Drinks

Amidst Saigon’s year-round scorching heat, I crave coziness — a feeling that often comes with snuggling under heavy blankets in my Hanoian winter. I was searching for some comfort and “winter vibe” sp...

in Environment

Requiem for a Bàng Tree That Was Cut Down in Front of My Home

Curiosity drove me downstairs into the downpour. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the municipal workers — clad in orange-and-green uniforms, their clothes soaked — gathering around a crane. Thei...

in Saigon

The Calming Quietude of an Early Morning Stroll Through D1

As a city that is perpetually either sweltering hot or halfway under water, Saigon weather rarely includes cool breezes or overcast mornings. And yet, over the past few weeks, the city has experienced...

in Hotels

Feast, Celebrate, and Indulge During the Season of Togetherness with Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel’s Festive Offerings

Every holiday season aims to be a period of special indulgence to celebrate and treat yourself and those you love. For the last twenty years, the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel has been a popular p...

in Culture

What Will Become of Chợ Quê in the Era of Widespread Online Shopping?

Firmly taking root in everyday life, our hometown markets — chợ quê — are not simply a place to trade, but also puzzle pieces that make up childhood memories, holiday excitement, and even tales of har...

in Resorts

Festive Season Arrives with Time-Traveling Themes at Sheraton Grand Danang

The festive season in Vietnam may not include quaint snowy villages or homes covered in lights, but you can still embrace the magical charms of Christmas and New Year's here while enjoying splendorous...

in Resorts

The Grand Ho Tram Invites Families and MICE Guests for a Radiant Festive Season

The winter holidays can be difficult in Vietnam. Work and school routines combined with a dearth of decoration around every corner threaten to dampen the spirit of the special time. However, an easy d...

in Film & TV

From Cheap Flicks to Local Identity: A Brief History of Vietnamese Horror Films

Horror films have been a part of Vietnamese cinema for a long time, since the heyday of the country’s film industry. But the genre's journey has been challenging. For one, its track record includes ma...

in Music & Arts

Resilience, Resistance Reflected in Propaganda Art Exhibition ‘Crafting a Message’

How did daily life on the battlefield look from the perspective of first-generation Vietnamese photojournalists? Why did colorful stamps and propaganda posters play such a significant role in the war ...

in Saigon

With Unchecked Destruction, Saigon's Heritage Shophouse Architecture Is in Danger

The colonial shophouse, one of Saigon’s most iconic forms of architecture, is in imminent danger of extinction.

Paul Christiansen

in Loạt Soạt

Examining the Role of Shame in Building a National Identity via Vietnam's Thinkers

“Shame, rather than pride, can be the basis for national identity… individuals may be motivated to move their country in a desirable direction when national shame outweighs pride.”

in Quãng 8

Synths, Dreams, and French Culture: Inside Vietnamese Duo Coïncidence's 1st EP

“When we finally finished the project, I was just like ‘Yay, we’re done!’ Then I went to sleep to go to work tomorrow. I guess life just goes by like that,” recalled Thông, a member of Coïncidence, re...

in Music & Arts

Group Exhibition ‘In Absence, Presence’ Awakens Multi-Sensory Experience

Looking upward, downward, left and right, we follow an invisible yet powerful flow of energy in the dark, then carefully gaze at the artworks as if they are living entities. To enjoy this multi-sensor...

in Natural Selection

Is Dã Tràng Vietnam's Cutest Sand Artist or a Folk Symbol of Fruitless Pursuits?

Strolling along Vietnam’s beaches when the tides are low, one might encounter a number of whimsical patterns created by countless sand pellets. These are the works of a tiny species of crustacean call...

Khôi Phạm

in Food Culture

From Kuy Teav to Hủ Tiếu: How a Phnom Penh Classic Became Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang

Originally from Cambodia, made popular by Chinese vendors and enjoyed by local diners, hủ tiếu Nam Vang captures the essence of Vietnamese history in one hearty bowl of noodles.

in Parks & Rec

I Know Where the Caged Bird Sings: The Joy of Saigon's Birdsong Competition

One by one, motorbikes arrived, carrying the tell-tale cages covered with cloth and parked in the gravel lot beside the coffee shop where Saigoneer sat listening to the caged birds suspended above a p...

in Eat & Drink

IN Dining Ushers in a Transformative Era for Au Lac Do Brazil

Many Saigon restaurants come and go though some endure and evolve. Au Lac Do Brazil has been long known to Saigoneers as the first Brazilian-style Churrasqueira barbecue restaurant in Vietnam with a v...

in Snack Attack

Tracing the Roots of Bến Tre's Coconut Candy via My Grandma's Family Tales

Hometown treats encapsulate within them the flavors of memories, reminding us of a land we haven’t visited for a long time. I open the jar of coconut candies from my mother and my hometown, and immedi...

in Saigon

Reminiscing About the Last Days of Downtown Saigon’s Pigeon Coop

The first time I pay a visit to the Pasteur pigeon coop, Lê Văn Âu assures me the place is probably not going anywhere.

in Dishcovery

The Unbearable Lightness of An Giang's Bánh Bò Thốt Nốt Chảo

Some simple delights can capture the flavor of an entire region.

in Saigon

Food, Art, Heritage and Everything of the Essence in My #SaigonSummer

“In summer, the song sings itself.”― William Carlos Williams

in Society

Diving (Literally) Into Hoàng Hoa Thám's Mountains of Secondhand Clothes

In a hẻm, clothing sprawled out on platforms lined with the plastic sacks the clothing came in, overspilling onto the tarmac road. This was just a glimpse of the thrifting scene in Vietnam.

in Music & Arts

On Grappling With the Problematic Legacy of 'Miss Saigon' in 2024

Having been abroad for more than a year, I was excited at the mere mention of Vietnam anywhere, so I was even more delighted when I learned of the popular musical Miss Saigon. Posters of it were plast...

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: An Alternative Cao Lầu in Saigon for Full-Topping Eaters

If I have to use one word to describe the food philosophy of Saigoneers, it would be maximalist. Those who have had the gluttonous joy of hunkering down on a plastic chair on the sidewalk and demolish...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Long-Anticipated Bowl of D10's Pre-Eminent Mì Vịt Tiềm

Rarely have I gone into a meal with such anticipation.

in Environment

Vietnam, Southeast Asian Nations Burst Into the Solar Energy Landscape

Sunny Southeast Asia has made significant strides in solar energy, with solar farm capacity exceeding 20GW across ASEAN countries. Despite this rapid growth and ambitious renewable goals, nations in t...

in Resorts

From Intimate Weddings to Prestigious Company Events, The Grand Ho Tram Offers Something for Everyone

Most people have a ready list of dream vacation destinations and go-to weekend getaways but have spent less time pondering where their ideal meeting locale is. Similarly, engaged couples  are oft...

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon

Letter to the People I Met as We Hid From the Rain Under a Bridge Together

“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.”— Vladimir Nabokov.

in Service

The Brand Promise: The Future of Work is Life

Everything about running a company is difficult, particularly one started from scratch. Doing so requires the forging of the brand’s character and values, as clearly communicated to its team and clien...

in Service

SODÅ: Maverick Startup Aims to Set New Hospitality Norms

in 2014, Alvaro Moreno was still in the early stages of his hospitality career. His professional journey had taken him to a major hotel in Đà Nẵng where he was helping to build out an operations team ...

in Music & Arts

In 'Vietnam Retropunk,' a Young Illustrator Dreams of a Cyberpunk Hanoi

To Đặng Thái Tuấn, the talent behind illustration project “Vietnam Retropunk,” whimsical depictions of robots and animatronics sprouting out from everyday objects and activities embody the space in be...

in Saigoneer Getaways

Abundant Nature, Small-Town Charms and Unexpected Luxury in Phú Yên

With a total population hardly larger than some Saigon districts and limited tourism development, Phú Yên province doesn’t get much consideration when people are planning their next vacation.

Paul Christiansen

in Vietnam

Revisiting the Coats of Arms of Vietnam's Major Cities Under French Rule

Did you know that several Vietnamese cities have coats of arms?

in Resorts

Live Music, Sports, Art and Activities Fill District VUI with Summer Fun

Vietnam’s south-central coast is blessed with warm sunshine, cool waves, and relaxed vibes all year round, creating a perpetual vacation atmosphere. With school breaks and summer holidays, there is no...

Khôi Phạm

in Natural Selection

10 Species of Lesser-Known Fruits to Get to Know Vietnam's Biodiversity

In the Vietnamese language, the suffix “cỏ” — meaning “grass” in the literal sense — is often used to signify that something is locally grown, no frills, and charmingly rustic; grassroots, if you will...

in Eat & Drink

Singaporean Street Food In The Sky at Sedona Suites

Saigon foodies may be surprised to learn that some of the best Singapore hawker-style street food can be found 28 floors above the city with spectacular views of the skyline. After refining its B...

in Service

Hospitality: It's the Personal Touch by Wings Academy

Artificial Intelligence and other technologies are disrupting nearly every industry including banking, F&B, hospitality and retail. Business owners and employees in these fields are understandabl...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: At Sakaba Sasuke Izakaya, Happiness Is Wrapped in Pork Belly and Grilled

It took a few visits before I noticed that the music at Sakaba Sasuke was always the same.

in Food Culture

From Won to Đồng, Bánh Đồng Xu Offers a Slice of Nostalgia in the Digital Age

There was a time when I substituted meals with bánh đồng xu.

in Eat & Drink

Le Méridien Saigon’s ‘Pause + Savour’ Chef Series Kicks-Off with a Bang

During last week of April the much-anticipated culinary program Pause + Savour debuted at at Le Méridien Saigon.

in Ẽplain

A Brief Primer Into the History of K-Pop Chế in Vietnam

My middle school memories are often peppered with the honking voices of adolescents chanting some silly chorus about household cleaning.

in Resorts

A Case for Visiting Đà Nẵng in the Summertime

Summer is almost here, bringing with it a plentitude of reasons to travel within Vietnam.

Khôi Phạm

in Food Culture

What to See, Taste, and Do on a Late-Afternoon Walk in Phú Mỹ Hưng

There are probably Saigoneers who will grow old without ever setting foot in Phú Mỹ Hưng, just like how several of my relatives living in District 8 have never visited Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street. Havin...

in Resorts

La Veranda Resort – MGallery: A Canvas for Unforgettable Summer Moments

With the summer season quickly approaching, Saigoneers are spoilt for choice, particularly when it comes to beach destinations. For those looking to indulge in the serenity of island life, La Veranda ...

in Saigon

Hidden in the Heart of D5, an Architectural Vestige of 1970s Vietnam-Korea History

For years now, the verdant pine green pavilion in the heart of Hòa Bình Park in District 5 has been a familiar landmark for denizens of Chợ Lớn.

in Eat & Drink

“Pause + Savour” Dining Event Launches at Le Méridien Saigon

Pause + Savour is a new series of Chefs' Table events that will celebrate the diverse international cuisine that Saigoneers crave via collaborations with premier international chefs visiting Le M...

in In Plain Sight

Hanoi's Largest Indoor Aquarium Is Surprisingly Impressive for a Mall Attraction

I am a champion of the public aquarium. For many people, the aquarium is the only place where they can meet marine life outside of perhaps a wet market or seafood restaurant. Some research suggests th...

in Music & Arts

Galuocad's Artworks Create a Universe of Very-Vietnamese Whimsy

Staying in one place for an extended period can lead to what's known as the "boiled frog effect."

in Environment

Preserving Cambodia's Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins: Community-Based Ecotourism and Nature-Based Solutions in the Mekong Flooded Forest Landscape

At dawn, the blunt foreheads of Irrawaddy dolphins breach the calm surface of the Mekong River the way an epiphany enters one’s mind; unexpected, graceful and profoundly welcome.

in Film & TV

'Madame Pirate,' Film Project Based on Asia's Greatest Female Pirate, Sets Sail Again

Zheng Yi Zao “started as a prostitute, resisted the authority of the Qing emperor, kicked everyone’s bottom, and then got away with it... also she has been ignored by history,” explains Vietnam-b...

in Environment

WWF-Laos’ Efforts to Preserve Unique Ecosystems and Traditional Ways of Life in the 4,000 Islands

As it flows down through Laos towards the border with Cambodia, the Mekong River frays and unspools into separate threads of current that weave around islands and rocky outcroppings and tumble over As...

in Resorts

Tết by the Sea: Celebrate Loved Ones at Wyndham Grand Phu Quoc this Year

In Vietnam, once a year, offices close and schools empty so everyone can savor the most important holiday. For many, Tết is the only opportunity to untether from the toil of their busy lives and creat...

in Saigon

Portrait of a Jubilant Saigon on the Precipice of Tết in 1992

Tết in 1992 was an especially fortuitous time to be a foreign arrival to Saigon. 

in Vietnam

In 1992 Vietnam, the Streets Were Brimming With Love and Life

How has your life been transformed in the past 30 years? Changes might materialize overnight, but some tend to creep up on you at a glacial pace. Through this collection of images from 1992, mull over...

in Film & TV

From Trash to Treasure: How Sở Thú Studio Crafts Animated Stories From Scraps

From old newspapers, coffee grounds, used styrofoam boxes, sticks, and more, Sở thú Studio, a collective of young creatives, has created many fascinating animation projects.

in Resorts

Family Vacation Takes on New Meaning with Tết Traditions at Sheraton Grand Danang Resort & Convention Center

Families may spend many hours in close proximity, but between work, school and other activities, it’s difficult to attain real quality time and be truly present in the moment. For many in Vietnam, Tết...

in Dishcovery

Sparkling Oysters: Champagne Meets Caviar at Social Club Restaurant

Caviar, oysters and Veuve Clicquot champagne are all special on their own, but imagine them combined in one luxurious mouthful.

in Resorts

Culinary Innovation at Phú Quốc: La Veranda Resort Unveils Gourmet Xin Chao

La Veranda Resort Phú Quốc - MGallery, a sanctuary of elegance on Vietnam's tranquil island, proudly unveils Gourmet Xin Chao, an epicurean event popular with food lovers. Available from November 2023...

in Environment

On the 12th Day of Christmas Saigoneer Gave to Me: 12 Birdcalls From Across Vietnam

Almost everywhere we go in the world, birdsong abounds.

in In Plain Sight

Meet the Saigon Man Whose Home Is an Archive of Traditional Musical Instruments

“These instruments serve our everyday life, or even our spiritual life. For example, they mark the transitions of life. When a baby is born or a person passes away, people play these instruments to we...

in Music & Arts

Saigon, East of New Orleans: The Surprising Global Roots of Vietnam's Funeral Kèn Tây

Of all the forms of music one hears on the streets of modern-day Saigon, the sounds of the marching bands accompanying funeral processions stand out as absolutely unique.

in Resorts

Embracing 'Quận Vui': The Grand Ho Tram's Journey Into a New Era of Joyful Living

A subtle yet exciting transformation is underway at The Grand Ho Tram with Quận Vui — a district where dynamism, freedom, and unbridled fun converge to redefine guests’ understanding of leisure.

in Culture

In Remembrance of Saigon Street Calls Past

Drowned out by the noises of modernization, sounds that once served as the background to a simpler time have begun to shrink, and eventually become lost in the wheel of progress. Tiếng rao, or street ...

Paul Christiansen

in Music & Arts

The Haunting Beauty in Một Mét Studio's Vintage Photography Experiments

“With the wet collodion process, when you get your portrait shot, it really cannot lie; it really reveals the story of your life on your face. You will see through your make-up, through the tattoos; t...

in Resorts

Celebrate the Festive Season in the Tropics at La Veranda Phú Quốc – MGallery

While half of the world is starting to bundle up against the backdrop of falling leaves and even-faster falling temperatures, La Veranda Phú Quốc - MGallery is gearing up for another balmy, tropical f...

in Hanoi

Sweating for a Good Cause at the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation Walk in Hanoi

I learnt of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in my first year living in Hanoi, through friends that had worked for the fantastic organization, or that were regular donors supporting it. This year...

in Music & Arts

Bodies of Work Shred, Re-Shaped at 'White Noise' Exhibition

A dystopian setting where the human body appears scattered, its parts eerily dismembered, its desires and beliefs examined by the hands of a machine is fictionalized in the “White Noise” exhibition, n...

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Trip to Bàn Cờ for Lạng Sơn’s Sweet and Sour Dry Phở

There’s not much you can say about phở that hasn't already been said. From its complicated origin to its deliciousness to its ubiquity on Saigon’s streets, the subject has been covered ...

in Dishcovery

Beautiful Jade Tiger Abalone Arrive at Hotel des Arts Saigon for a Good Cause

Jade Tiger Abalone is amongst the world’s most prized kinds of seafood. Requiring several years to grow exclusively in Australia’s frigid, nutrient-rich waters without the use of any hormones, antibio...

Paul Christiansen

in Film & TV

Meet DeeDee, the Studio Behind Netflix Docuseries 'How to Become a Cult Leader'

With a frantic, rabid fury flickering in his eyes, Charles Manson swerves through technicolor 1960s Hollywood streets, the passengers in his convertible terrified by the crazed maneuvering of a man wh...

Brian Letwin

in Heritage

Tàu Cánh Ngầm: The Curious Case of Saigon’s Lost Soviet Hydrofoils

Not long ago, hulking “creatures” glided atop the waters between Saigon and Vũng Tàu. Like the dinosaurs that came before them, they slowly disappeared, until all that was left were their skeletons.

in Sports

Saigon Heat Wins Intracity Rivalry Over HCMC Wings, Closing Out VBA Regular Season

Families of fans filed into the “Fire Pan” on September 3, wearing red, white, and black jerseys. The atmosphere hums with anticipation.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: The Quiet Intimacy of Tree Bar, Where Strangers Become Fast Friends

A group of patrons gossip in thick, fast Japanese. They might all know each other or they might just speak to anyone at the bar as if they already know them. The wizened “master” joins in from his per...

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Nourishment for the Soul at Canh Bún Nguyễn Siêu

Eating canh bún is akin to going for a walk on a clear day as sunset melts over the city; it costs almost nothing yet nourishes the soul.

in Ănthology

In Massachusetts' Cicada Cafe, a Marriage Between New England and Vietnamese Flavors

“I don’t like the term ‘fusion,’” Vinh Lê, the chef of Cicada Coffee Bar, tells me. “You need to adapt. You need to adapt to the new environment, new life, when you move from Vietnam to the US. And to...

in Saigon

The Tumultuous Tale of Three Ga Sài Gòn Locations, From 1885 Until Now

Travelers arriving by train in Hồ Chí Minh City sometimes express surprise that the main Saigon Railway Station is located in Hòa Hưng, some distance from the central business district. In fact, this ...

in Saigon

A Brief History of the Vietnam Railways Building Before Its 110th Birthday

The iconic Bến Thành Market is not the only Saigon landmark that has endured for more than a century. The Vietnam Railways building at 138 Hàm Nghi, given its inauguration in 1914, is pushing the 110-...

Khôi Phạm

in Rewind

1735 Km, the 2005 Road Trip Romcom That Could Have Been

In 2005, I was in middle school. I had never had a cellphone nor known what the internet was — our home didn’t have ADSL until ninth grade. Life as a fledgling pupil in Saigon revolved around homework...

in Eat & Drink

Private Poolside BBQs Served in the Heart of District One at Sedona Suites

Saigon’s dining scene has a lot going for it. Restaurants that offer creative takes on all varieties of cuisines, trendy decors and cutting-edge concepts seem to open every week. What’s more rare, how...

in Environment

Learning to Coexist in Peace Is the First Step to Protect Vietnam's Last Remaining Elephants

A trail of enormous footprints, criss-crossing slabs of cracked concrete, lead to a battered ranger station in Vietnam’s Pù Mát National Park. Park staff say the wild Asian elephant that left the trac...

in Ads

SaladStop! Celebrates Convenient New District 7 Location

Nestled in a converted house in a quiet and spacious District 7 residential neighborhood, SaladStop!’s newest venue has begun preparing fresh and healthy meals for dine-in and delivery.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Tender Bar Is an Introvert's Haven, Except on Tuesdays

“Just read it and forget it. Then you can write anything you like about Tender Bar. Thank you.”

in Literature

'The Shard, the Tissue, an Affair': A Short Story by Andrew Lam

This short story is featured in Volume 2 of In My Ear, Your Voice Still Flickering // Bên tai tôi, giọng người vẫn chờn vờn, a three-part, bilingual collection of works by more than 20 Vietnamese arti...

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The 40-Year-Old Phở Gà in Kỳ Đồng, Now Michelin-Approved

If you’re ever lost in District 3, Kỳ Đồng’s famous phở gà place will be the oasis you need in those trying times.

in Vietnam

A Brake Failure and 200 Victims: Remembering Vietnam's Deadliest Rail Accident

About 55 kilometers from Saigon, in the small commune of Tây Hoà rests the 17/03/1982 Railway Cemetery. It currently houses 85 unidentified graves of victims of the Train 183 Disaster, the deadli...

in Asia

Pride Fest, Cambodia's Most Ambitious LGBT Event to Date, Is Coming This Week

On a steamy evening in downtown Phnom Penh, Rebecca Chan takes the stage. The crowd — mostly Cambodian millennials and Gen Z's — is riled up from previous performances, but Chan’s composure tames thei...

Khôi Phạm

in Natural Selection

The Rise and Fall of Phượng Vĩ, the Summer Icon of Our Teenage Dreams

I was a teenage cliché. No matter how much I try to rack my brain to find any other personal connection to the incandescently red tree that is phượng vĩ, I keep going back to my middle school crush an...

in Saigon

A Brief History of Cung Văn Hóa Lao Động and Saigon's First Swimming Pool

Once a fashionable rendezvous for the elite of colonial society, the Labour Culture Palace (Cung Văn hoá Lao động) at 55B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai is today one of Hồ Chí Minh City’s most popular spor...

in In Plain Sight

As Science Advances and Stigma Fades, Quy Hòa Leprosy Village Seems Frozen in Place

Many of the images conjured by the word leprosy (bệnh phong) can be unsettling to some. Yet, the misunderstood disease exposes the capacity for human care and empathy. Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà lep...

in Culture

In Phú Nhuận's Communal House, a Kỳ Yên Festival Right by the Train Track

The Kỳ Yên festival is the biggest annual event held at the Phú Nhuận communal house from the 16th to the 18th of the first lunar month.

in Hanoi

The Rich History Behind One of Hanoi's 2 Remaining Chinese Guild Halls

With the changing gears of history, at times even the oldest layers of a thousand-year-old town must evolve to house new meanings.

in Vietnam

The History of Hanoi's Lost Tramway Network

When they first drew up plans for a citywide tramway network in 1894, it seemed as though the Hanoi authorities would follow Saigon’s example by opting for steam traction. Yet, by the time government ...

in Culture

At Phước Hải's Lễ Hội Nghinh Ông, Everything Every Whale All at Once

Phước Hải is a fishing township in the south of Vietnam, a short ride away from Vũng Tàu.

in Music & Arts

Bamboo Dance, Folk Tunes, and Fiery Guitar: The Spectable Behind Dzung's New Live EP

Following his critically acclaimed latest album "Dzanca," progressive metal guitarist Dzung is gearing up for the release of a special EP that chronicles his full live set at HOZO music festival takin...

in Environment

I Saw the World's Most Handsome Bird Right in Vietnam's Hidden Backyard

Everywhere I go in Vietnam, I keep my eyes peeled for the incredible birds that call this country home. Sometimes I don’t even realize that I’m doing it. I scan the horizon above low hills for migrato...

in Culture

I Grew up Among Ducks in the Mekong Delta. They Always Remind Me of Home.

On a recent ritual walk around my suburb, I was held up by the sight of a middle-aged man with his “fur kid.” I introduced myself and when he heard the word “Vietnam,” his eyes lit up and with a smile...

in Saigon

Tân Định Market, D1's Nearly 100-Year-Old Trading Hub

Originally known as the marché de Phu-Hoa, Tân Định Market at 1 Nguyễn Hữu Cầu in District 1 is one of the city’s most historic markets, but it was the opening of the stylish French market building of...

in Saigon

How Nhà Thờ Tân Định, Saigon's Iconic Pink Church, Came to Be

You just have to mention the “pink church” and everyone knows which one you mean. But few are aware that the building in question — Tân Định Church — is one of Saigon’s oldest and most important Roman...

in Saigon

Ở đó ở đây Sài Gòn — A Love-Hate Letter to the Maze of Paradoxes

Editor's note: Adrien Jean is a Saigon-based photographer and a frequent contributor to Saigoneer's Darkroom series. His photos often depict the precise moments in time when the visual elements of our...

in Saigon

The Story of Quách Đàm, the Man Who Shaped Modern Chợ Lớn — Part 2

By the 1920s, the old Bình Tây Market and much of the surrounding land had belonged to Quách Đàm, so he proposed to the colonial authorities the demolition of the existing building and the constructio...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Tiệm Cơm Ninh Giang, a 'Secret' Hakka Feast Only for Those in the Know

I first heard about Tiệm Cơm Ninh Giang 寧江客家飯店  from some Hoa friends in the city.

in Saigon

The Story of Quách Đàm, the Man Who Shaped Modern Chợ Lớn — Part 1

Hải Thượng Lãn Ông Boulevard (the former quai Gaudot) in central Chợ Lớn preserves several elegant old colonial shophouse buildings, but perhaps the most interesting of all is the one at No. 45, once ...

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: From a Historic D5 Shophouse, An Duyên Serves up Tasty Chợ Lớn Classics

An Duyên Chợ Lớn transcends Chợ Lớn quán stereotypes of rustic mom-and-pops with rickety amenities to provide a comfortable dining experience, made memorable thanks to aesthetically pleasing décor and...

in Vietnam

A Visual Homage to the Water Buffalo's Practical and Symbolic Importance in Vietnam

The second animal sign in the 12-year cycle of the Vietnamese zodiac, trâu, has symbolic and practical importance in Vietnam.

in Music & Arts

On Its 12th Birthday, a Brief History of Hanoi Rock City, a Bastion of the Indie Spirit

Hanoi Rock City (HRC) is even more than a household name for the youth of Hanoi, especially anyone who’s fond of the “Rock n Roll” culture. Twelve years after its founding, HRC has become a special cu...

in Music & Arts

New Board Game Set Puts an Aesthetic Feline Touch on Bầu Cua Tôm Cá

In two weeks’ time, we can temporarily put down our laptops, shut away documents, and set up holiday auto-replies to slip into a bánh chưng-induced coma for a week.

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Bún Bò Đà Nẵng Will Change How You Feel About Bún Bò in Saigon

Have you ever wondered who named our food? Oftentimes I do, and I daydream of traveling back in time to those monumental moments in the past when a famous dish or ingredient earned its title to slap s...

in Ănthology

A Singaporean-Vietnamese Couple Refreshes Hakka Offal Soup With Trứng Cuộn

When my mother, a native of Singapore’s oft-visited Chinatown, described a pork offal soup stall with meatballs that “tasted suspiciously like that vermicelli dish we had in Huế back in 2013,” I knew ...

in Music & Arts

Vintage Music Compilation 'Saigon Supersound' Releases 3rd and Final Volume

Since Saigon Supersound presented its first volume back in 2017, the anthology of vintage Vietnamese music has become a household name for fans, both in and out of Vietnam, with a penchant for tunes f...

Linh Phạm

in In Plain Sight

Hanoi's Literature Museum Is Not Neglected, but It's Not Thriving Either

From the side road of Âu Cơ Street, I turned into ngõ 275.

in Hanoi

Once Home to Hanoi's Greatest Tailors, Làng Cựu Is Fading Into History

Làng Cựu, a village about 40 kilometers south of Hanoi, houses nearly 50 mansions that showcase the best of French and Sino-Vietnamese architecture from the turn of the century. It was built with the ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Cafe-Snack Bar Hybrid in Bình Thạnh Offers Portals to Japanese Nostalgia

Bình Thạnh’s Ward 19 is snuggled between Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh and Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, creating a surprisingly quiet area just across from District 1. As a neighborhood, it offers an eclectic mix of local an...

in Culture

In Ninh Thuận's Chăm Community, a Joyous Celebration of Katê, the Year's Most Important Festival

The Katê festival is the oldest and most unique festival of the Chăm ethnic minority and has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tou...

in Music & Arts

The Hanoian Artisan Carving Intricate Reliefs From Leather to Make Book Covers

The enduring pages in our history deserve book covers that match their significance.

in Music & Arts

'Đông Nam Bộ' Project Invites 14 Young Artists to Draw the History of Their Hometowns

“Đông Nam Bộ” is a collection of illustrations reflecting the culture, history and local charms of provinces in the Southeast Region of Vietnam. The artworks were all created by artists who live or gr...

Linh Phạm

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Bud'mo, a Ukrainian Welcome as Warm as a Shot of Nastoyka

“O sultan, Turkish devil and damned devil’s kith and kin, secretary to Lucifer himself…You will not, you son of a bitch, make subjects of Christian sons; we've no fear of your army, by land and by sea...

in Culture

Vietnam's Cultural Diversity via 3 Versions of Sọ Dừa in Kinh, Chăm, Raglai Folklore

On Sọ Dừa’s birth certificate, how should one fill in the “ethnic group” field?

Linh Phạm

in Hanoi

Be Gay, Do Pride: Hanoi Pride Week Ends on Cheery Notes Last Sunday

Last Sunday, Hanoi Pride Week 2022 came to a conclusion with thousands of people joining in the festivities.

in Saigon

A Saigon Restaurant Poisoned Dozens of Stray Cats. What Happened to Those That Survived?

Almost 10 months ago, my life was turned upside down as our household welcomed a new feline member.

in Literature

Guilt, Mortality, and Hope in 'Khát Vọng Cho Con' by Poet Du Tử Lê

“We are like fruits forcefully ripened, a generation of premature adults, a generation of misery.”— Du Tử Lê.

in Tech

From the Lab of Forever Wheelchair, Hope for Vietnam's Handicapped Animals

The ability to roam and frolic around is essential for our canine and feline companions' well-being, but too often, it can become a privilege for cats and dogs living with disability and immobility fr...

in Music & Arts

A Mosaic of Vietnam's Landscapes Through the Windows of the North-South Train

Traveling on the Reunification Express from Saigon to Hanoi feels like a ride through history and time.

in Hanoi

The Legends of Thăng Long Tứ Trấn, the 4 Guardian Temples Protecting Hanoi

In the edict to move Vietnam’s capital to Hanoi, Emperor Lý Thái Tổ described this land as the middle of heaven and earth, the center of the four directions. Such a place would bring peace and prosper...

in Culture

From Oral Lore to a Mini Encyclopedia of Folk Demons, Ghosts, and Restless Spirits

River entities hiding the bodies of drowned victims, spectral ma lai whose head and guts hover in the air, ma trành spirits luring unassuming victims into the path of tigers, or the ghosts of a family...

in Vietnam

Slices of Life in Saigon, Huế, Hanoi in 1989 on Film

What is it about coming across old photos that tugs on our heartstrings so much, even when they depict a time when some of us weren’t alive yet?

Linh Pham

in Culture

Banana Island Is a Peaceful Oasis Amid Hanoi, but for How Much Longer?

As the xe ôm is about to reach the halfway point of Long Biên Bridge, I tell him to stop.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Cafe Yên, Where the Line Between Coffee Shop and Alley Blurs

Yên (adj): quiet, unmoved.

in Saigon

At Saigon's Oldest Ornamental Fish Market, Fish Are Friends, Not Food

It is a street, not a river, that comes to mind when people talk about vibrant fish in Saigon. Located in District 5, Lưu Xuân Tín Street is only approximately 500 meters long, but it is home to ...

in Travel

A Merry Morning Over the Fish Markets and Salt Fields of Phan Rang

I live in Đà Lạt, so the most direct route to the coast brings me to Phan Rang, which is where I often go for the beach and seafood.   

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Thai Feast on a Hẻm Pavement, With Vietnamese Fusion Twists

While Thailand and Vietnam have long been perpetual rivals in the football arena, at this streetside Hẻm Gem, the two cultures forge a harmonious relationship.

in Environment

In Đà Lạt, Greenhouses Revolutionize Farming, but at What Environmental Cost?

Plastic greenhouses in the city of Đà Lạt may protect farmers from the impacts of erratic weather, but the environmental toll of agri-plastics is building in the agriculture-dependent region.

in Vietnam

Mang Thít, Vĩnh Long's 'Kingdom of Brick Kilns,' Is on Its Last Legs

Along the rivers and canals of Mang Thít, clouds of smoke from the Mekong Delta’s last brick kilns languidly stream into the air.

in Natural Selection

Đom Đóm: Why the Light Is Going Out for Fireflies in Vietnam

Much like their brief existence on Earth, once-common fireflies are quickly disappearing from Vietnam’s natural and oral histories.

in Environment

In Ninh Thuận, a Bamboo Scientist Builds the 'Great Green Wall' to Protect the Soil

In Ninh Thuận Province, not far from the South-Central Coast, Dr. Diệp Thị Mỹ Hạnh, a botanist, is growing a "wall" of bamboo.

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: 60 Years of Guangdong-Style Chinese Food at Chợ Cũ's Chuyên Ký

Besides being the “it” place to obtain imported goods, Saigon’s chợ cũ, or Old Market, is also a treasure trove of hidden eateries.

in Film & TV

From Commercial Releases to Heartfelt Docs: A Brief History of Vietnam's Notable Queer Films

Personally honest, socially important and commercially sexy, modern movies about gay and transgender people are among the better works of contemporary Vietnamese cinema.

in Sports

Here's What a Night of Post-Football Đi Bão Looks Like in Saigon and Hanoi

In Vietnam, the dynamic between football and đi bão is not much different from monsoon rain and garden mushrooms.

in Snack Attack

Just a Love Letter to Saigon's Tropical Fruits

How lovely to have taste buds and to have tasty things to eat.

in Environment

Searching for the World's Largest Woodpecker Species in Yok Đôn National Park

You first know she’s approaching by the sound of her wings; her broad shadow flashing across the forest floor. Even from far below, her body looks enormous. At half a meter long, she is roughly five t...

Michael Tatarski

in Natural Selection

Mangroves: The Everyday Superheroes Protecting Vietnam Against Climate Change

When you think of ways to combat the inevitable ravages of climate change and sea level rise, what comes to mind?

in Travel

Vọng Cảnh, the Picturesque Hill in Huế That Even Emperors Cherished

The poetic Hương River flows calmly, the fresh air and breeze whisper through the lush pine forest, a coming sunset colors the peaceful natural spectacle. All of this can be experienced during a late-...

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Dream of the 2010s Is Alive at Pacey Cupcakes

Pick your favorite cupcake flavor; perhaps a pitcher of hot fragrant tea too. Ascend the dizzyingly steep flight of stairs. Mind your head. Tread gently on the wooden attic floor. There your friends a...

in Culture

Handbook Project Empowers Local Communities to Write Their Own Cultural Narratives

“No one could sing our song but ourselves.” — Inrasra, Chăm poet and anthropologist.

in Music & Arts

Photography Exhibition Spotlights the Beauty and Perils of Vietnam's Mangrove Forests

Transcending the boundaries of a conventional art exhibition, “Midnight in the Mangroves - Đêm Trong Rừng Ngập Mặn” tackles the beauty and important environmental role of mangrove forests via the lang...

in Food Culture

Pack a Basket, Fill up Your Water Bottle, It's Sugarcane Harvest Season in Đắk Lắk

In March, at early dawn in M'Drắk, long baskets follow farmers to sugarcane farms to bring back wealth. The people here were in the midst of a sweaty and sweet season.

in Travel

The Charm of Hòn Yến, Where Coral-Watching Doesn't Involve Diving

Every year, from May to August, when the water reaches its lowest levels at Hòn Yến, a “jungle” of vibrant coral reefs and other marine creatures rises to the surface.

in Tech

Ride-Hailing Changed How We Commute. Can Ve Chai-Hailing Change How We Recycle?

Mentions of ve chai might evoke images of uncles and aunties pushing around their cart or perched on bicycles, ferrying a host of plastic bags and scrap metal, and occasionally calling out: “Đồng nát ...

in Development

After Years of Delay, Operating Company of Saigon's 1st Metro Line Is Broke

Years of delay, which has been further compounded by the extended pandemic, have depleted the funding for Saigon Metro's operator.

in Quãng 8

Meet KURROCK, the First Vietnamese Rock Band in Japan

In KURROCK’s songs, one can appreciate a pronounced fusion of two seemingly detached music scenes that are 4,000 kilometers apart.

in Literature

How Indie Book Publisher Bar De Force Marries Art, Literature and Translation

“A collision of literature and art on the pages” is the descriptor that Bar De Force, a Vietnamese independent press, gives itself.

in Architecture

Vĩnh Long's Rich Architectural Heritage Tells Stories of Taste, Time, and Turbulence

Vĩnh Long is a land of rich historical values located in the Mekong Delta. Here, generations of residents from diverse cultural backgrounds have been living, working, and interacting across key milest...

in Health

From Silicone and Clay, a Hanoi Duo Craft Intricate Cosmetic Prostheses

“The products we make are fake arms, legs, noses, ears…from silicone. The value we create is emotional healing, giving our customers confidence in themselves and their lives — the things they lack aft...

Khoi Pham

in Natural Selection

A Eulogy for the Last Wild Cọp of Vietnam

The story of Vietnam and cọp is not one where we will come out looking good.

in Hanoi

For Hanoi's Đào Vendors, Sleeping in Tents Outside Is Part of the Job

Some kumquat and peach blossom sellers on the streets of Hanoi have resorted to sleeping in tents to guard their trees.

in Ănthology

A Tale of Two Rượus

The first time I bought rượu, it was from Lang Giang, my tour guide in Sa Pa. We were staying in a Red Dao village known for its rice liquor production, and that night I received three water bottles, ...

in Music & Arts

The Graceful Rhythms of Áo Dài Through the Lens of Chiron Duong

Dương Quang Đạt, better known as Chiron Duong, is a Vietnamese fine art photographer. One day, his foreign friends asked him about áo dài, and he realized that he hadn’t worked much with this national...

in Music & Arts

Indie Meets Classical in a New Rendition of 'Tôi và Em' by Pink Frog

In the company of three violins, a cello, and a double bass, Pink Frog delivers a version of ‘Tôi và Em’ that is even sweeter than the original.

in Music & Arts

On Its 100th Birthday, a Brief History of Hanoi's Theater Scene

Hanoi is home to many kinds of art forms, but to me, theater is the most special — an art that blends charisma, brilliance, and elegance. When I was growing up in Hanoi, my father used to take me to t...

in Loạt Soạt

Heartfelt, Queer and Wickedly Witty: How Poetry Collection 'Come Clean' Sparks Joy

Joshua Nguyen lists himself as many things on his Instagram bio — a writer, a PhD student, a boba snob. He received his MFA from the University of Mississippi, where he is currently studying for ...

in Music & Arts

On an Eerie Night Tour Through Hell at 'Hù: Quả Báo' Art Exhibition

Have you ever wondered how those who steal designs or borrow without returning would repent for their sins in hell?

in Music & Arts

A Typographic Tribute to Áo Dài in This Elegant New Typeface

Đạt Đỗ, a graphic designer based in Ho Chi Minh City, is embracing local culture through the release of a brand-new typeface, Vén.

in Travel

All Aboard the Languorous Train From Hanoi to Saigon

The train connecting Vietnam’s largest cities takes 35 hours. Yet even after the first time I finished the trip, I was already coming up with excuses for why I needed to do it again. For me, the journ...

in Music & Arts

Year of the Tiger Through Tết Artworks by Vietnamese Illustrators

“Lịch Con Hổ” (The Tiger Calendar) is an initiative to raise funds for Hanoi-based NGO Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. The creative project was brought to life thanks to a young artist collective a...

in Parks & Rec

In a Schoolyard, a Close-Knit Community Spearheads Saigon's Archery Scene

Laser-focused gazes, shiny bows, colorful targets, and looking cool as hell: these are the components of a picture-perfect post one might find on the Instagram of any budding archer. But social media ...

in Vietnam

After Each Flood, Hoi An Picks Itself up, Just Like It Has Always Done

Every year, Vietnam braces for dozens of tropical storms coming from the East Sea. Localities along the coast in central Vietnam have to bear devastating destruction caused by Mother Earth whenever se...

in Quãng 8

Vũ Thanh Vân Makes Staying at Home Seem Effortlessly Cool

Vũ Thanh Vân is not a new name among indie music lovers, as she's well-known for her soothing voice in past singles like ‘Tori,’ ‘Hát Ru’ or ‘Lấy Chồng.’ When I finally meet Vân, I feel her quiet pres...

in Music & Arts

In 'Hà Nội Bị Say Cà Phê,' a Tribute to the House Dancers of Lenin Park

Although house dance has its origin in nightclubs, the members of House Dance Hanoi (HDH) community don’t necessarily need to go to clubs to dance.

in Health

Into the Storm: Saigon's Outbreak Through the Eyes of a Frontline Volunteer

“The best way to overcome fear is to face it,” 33-year-old Hương Nguyễn thought when she decided to volunteer as a frontline worker during Saigon’s most deadly weeks of the pandemic.

Chris Humphrey

in Society

Q&A: Blue Dragon Co-CEO Skye Maconachie on How the Pandemic Affects Vietnam's Most Vulnerable

Saigoneer talks to Skye Maconachie, Co-CEO of Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, a respected, Hanoi-based NGO known for rescuing victims of human trafficking and supporting street kids in the capital....

in Saigon

Saigon Restaurants, Cafes Resume In-Person Dining at 50% Capacity

What's the first restaurant on your list?

in Society

Two People, 54 Ethnic Groups, One Photo at a Time

Through their photography project, Vietnam the People, Alden Anderson and Nguyễn Thị Yến Trinh have documented most of the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Paul Christiansen

in Snack Attack

What's the Deal With Cơm Tấm-Flavored Potato Chips?

A quirky legend surrounds the invention of the potato chip, and its identity has only gotten odder over the years.

in Culture

How to Make a Bamboo Basket Boat, as Demonstrated by Phú Yên Artisans

As part of the sweltering south-central coast, Phu Yen Province has cultivated strong roots in the arts of gathering and rearing seafood.

in Saigon

What Happened to the Saigon Tax Center's Moroccan Mosaic Staircase?

Exactly five years ago this week, construction workers began tearing apart the Saigon Tax Center building to make way for a new development project.

in Society

In Lockdown, Saigoneers Draw Strength From an Unexpected Wealth of Support: Each Other

They largely didn't know each other, except for their flatmates. Then the COVID-19 outbreak began, and they got closer. They are now more accommodating, caring and loving.

in Music & Arts

'Thần Đồng Đất Việt' Author Lê Linh: 'I Will Never Stop Working With History'

For Vietnamese comic fans of the past two decades, the names Lê Linh and Thần Đồng Đất Việt will most definitely ring a bell.

in Music & Arts

In Artist Tú Na's Alternate Universe, Hanoi Is Home to Steampunk Adventures

Nguyễn Anh Tú, known by his pen name Tú Na, likes to draw characters and make up stories. He graduated from the Hanoi University of Industrial Art, and has been drawing for over a decade. In 2020...

in Culture

Basket Boats: A Key Part of Everyday Life in Coastal Vietnam

Vietnam’s narrow tube houses come from the feudal era and the tax policy in effect at the time. The feudal state charged a fee based on the width of the street-facing facade to collect taxes, pushing ...

in Quãng 8

Built on Rock, Raditori's Music Shines Thanks to Whimsy and Unpredictability

With the release of their ambitious debut album "Những Con Người," Raditori is making a name for themselves in the local rock scene.

in Society

Without Ride-Hailing, Public Buses, Saigon's Taxis Are Thrust Into the Frontline

Through the windows of a taxi cab making its way through deserted Ho Chi Minh City, the once-bustling Vietnamese metropolis is almost unrecognizable as empty street after empty street rolls by.

Paul Christiansen

in Music & Arts

Born Into Traditional Craft, a Young Sculptor Finds Joy in Carving Pop Culture

“Even though they know deeply that it’s beautiful, they cannot feel it because it’s not familiar to them,” Duy Trần says of younger generations that gaze upon the traditional wood sculptures in his fa...

in Health

How One Group Is Working to Keep Children Mentally Stimulated During Lockdown

During Vietnam’s first COVID-19 wave, the charity organization Saigon Children worked to make sure vulnerable households had access to necessities like food, medicine and drinking water.

in Society

Life on the Last Remaining Ferries in Hoi An

These ferry boat trips may no longer be seen in Hoi An in the future, but they have been reliable partners in daily life and work for years.

in Music & Arts

The World at Your Fingertips: How Vietnamese Studios Lead the Art of Artisan Keycaps

Although custom keycaps are somewhat of a recent development in Vietnam, some local artisan studios have become key players in making these tech-art fusions that bring the world to your fingertips.

in Environment

24 Live Tigers Rescued From Wildlife Trade in Nghe An This Week

Shocking news from Nghe An Province.

in Music & Arts

Vietnam's Art Spaces Find Silver Linings in Moving Online Amid Pandemic

When in February 2020, Đỗ Tường Linh’s exhibition "Foliage III," a celebration of Global South-led art, wrapped up at the Vincom Centre for Contemporary Art, so did most other events in Vietnam’s art ...

in Music & Arts

What Happens When Artists Turn a Fishing Village Into Their Canvas?

Imagine if your home village was suddently transformed into a giant canvas for murals.

in Music & Arts

On the Idea of Home: Reflections From Another Covid-19 Summer

I’m writing this to remember another Covid summer. Today, Saigon continues the second round of social distancing.

in Vietnam

Chợ Âm Phủ and the Embattled History Behind Hanoi's Book Street

19/12 Street was once a mass burial ground for those who died in the National Resistance against France in 1946. The event shaped the history of the city and the relationship that thrived for 71 years...

in Travel

A Day in the Life of Madame Xuân, Hoi An's 85-Year-Old Vegetable Vendor

She is not famous but has silently become a part of Hoi An’s cultural beauty for years.

in Culture

For Vietnam's Millennials, Sneakers Reflect American Ideals, Self-Expression and Nostalgia

My memories of sneakers date back to when I was halfway through 7th grade, when a pair of Chuck Taylor All Star 70’s was given to me by my parents to commemorate my good end-of-semester results. The s...

in Saigon

After Series of Shocking Pet Poisonings, Owners Push for Stricter Animal Welfare Laws

About two hours after her morning walk in the Lang Bao Chi area of Thao Dien one recent Sunday, Nguyễn Hoàng Thanh Cao’s two-year-old beagle, Peanut, began vomiting and convulsing uncontrollably.

in Culture

Sài Gòn Ơi, Let's Meet for Cà Phê Once the Pandemic Is Over

For various reasons, some city activities that I’ve long shunned are now replaying in my mind like footage of an old home video during these days of working from home.

in Travel

With Summer Comes a Glorious Lotus Harvest Season in Hoi An

The farmers we met in these fields near Hoi An have been working their lotus farms since the end of the 1970s. The area has been a hub of lotus production in the decades since.

in Film & TV

Q&A: In Conversation With 'The Future Cries Beneath Our Soil' Director Phạm Thu Hằng

Do communities inherit the sorrows of war? Is trauma re-experienced by the sons and daughters of those who suffered? How does life prevail amidst the normalization of loss? Pham Thu Hang’s debut film,...

in Saigon

D1 Proposes VND32.5bn Revamp Project of Me Linh Square Park

The VND32.5 billion (US$1.4 million) effort will focus on repairing the T​rần Hưng Đạo Statue, planting ornamental trees and performing road repairs.  

in Culture

Find Literary Divination in This Special Deck of 'Tale of Kiều' Tarot

In the world of tarot, each of the 78 cards represents a metaphysical inquiry into life and the human psyche. Meanwhile, in Nguyễn Du’s epic poem, each of the 3,254 verses offers a philosophical explo...

Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

Mèo: A Complicated Love Affair

Of all the Asian and Southeast Asian countries that use the animal zodiac, only Vietnam has a cat in place of the rabbit. One theory for why is that while Chinese has a word for rabbit, it also has a ...

in Music & Arts

Đỗ Trọng Quý's Art Playfully Tells Viewers to 'Get the Hell out of This Place'

Đỗ Trọng Quý’s first solo show in Hanoi at Mo Art Space (136 Hang Trong), “One Endless Summer,” presents 26 of his most recent works during the past year.

in Travel

How Quy Nhon's Old Cemetery Slowly Expands up Vung Chua Mountain

​You might miss it if you were driving past, but once you walk down a small hẻm off Quy Nhon’s main Tay Son Street, the massive cemetery sprawls in all directions. 

in Parks & Rec

Saigon's Only Bonsai School Grooms Budding Artisans on a Century-Old Craft

Bonsai has often been regarded as an activity for the elderly, but the local bonsai community is experiencing an unprecedented renewal thanks to the participation of an unexpected demographic: young p...

in Travel

Could Phong Nha Be One of Vietnam's Top Sustainable Travel Destinations?

A recent trip to Phong Nha — before this most recent COVID-19 wave — left me wondering whether I had just visited one of Vietnam’s more sustainable travel destinations. Of all the places I have been s...

in Saigon

Saigon Approves Removal of 178 Trees for Bach Dang Wharf Renovation Project

They were nice while they lasted.

in Literature

Q&A: Shades of Hanoi, a Diary of Many Authors Writing Their Own Version of the City

For Long, Sơn and the young millennials penning Shades of Hanoi, writing is a brave act of self-reflection.

in Architecture

The Aesthetic Yet Functional Role of Shade in the Genome of Vietnam's Modernist Architecture

Since the mid-twentieth century, Vietnamese architecture has started to be made from industrial materials such as concrete, steel, glass, et.. This resulted in Vietnamese modernism, a branch of global...

Michael Tatarski

in Parks & Rec

Emerging From Complete Obscurity, Saigon Roller Derby Storms the Rink

It’s a Tuesday night in Binh Quoi, and a group is lacing up their skates at a skating rink next to a football pitch.

in Film & TV

Saigon's Young Voice Actors Learn There's More to Dubbing Than Pretty Voices

Voice actors are rarely given enough attention, for they are always working behind closed curtains, giving the movie its "life." Nonetheless, many young people continue to be drawn to this nascent car...

Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

Cầy Mực: A Critter With Popcorn Pee

I won’t bury the lede. If you are wandering Vietnam’s jungles and suddenly get a whiff of an odor that transports you to the entrance of a CineStar movie theatre, don’t ready yourself for another clic...

in Quãng 8

The Marriage of Electronic and Folk Instruments in DJ Teddy Chilla's Music

DJ and producer Teddy Chilla is among a few artists in the current music scene who are known to experiment with Vietnamese traditional music in their electronic works.

in Architecture

How Saigon's V.A.R Building Epitomizes Vietnam's Architectural Autonomy

Completed in 1973, the V.A.R building at 9 Ho Tung Mau Street in Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, is a prominent example of Vietnamese mid-20th-century modernist architecture designed by architect L...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Xôi Khâu Nhục, the Cantonese Breakfast for Pork Belly Lovers

I first found out about khâu nhục where I find all my Saigon information: Facebook.

in Music & Arts

Ahead of the Hanoi Return of 'Les Misérables,' a Talk With Director Trần Ly Ly

Directing the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet with a tender iron fist since 2018, Tran Ly Ly pushes her artists and the company towards a daring new image by revisiting classic works and promot...

in Travel

The Vietnamese Filmmaker Turning Travelogues Into Cinematic Spectacles

Kop Dinh is a professional travel videographer whose YouTube channel has become a trusted online platform among young viewers thanks to carefully crafted videos showcasing Vietnam’s famed places of in...

Paul Christiansen

in Music & Arts

The Unquenchable Spirit of Artist Lê Triều Điển

“Điển is like a flower; there is no question of growing or not growing.”

in Vietnam Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Nha Trang's 22-Year-Old Bánh Canh Cá Sings the Praises of the Sea

Traveling in Nha Trang wouldn't be complete without tasting this delicious bowl of bánh canh which makes you enjoy eating almost every part of the fish, from its meat to its organs.

in Film & TV

After Decades Under the Bed, a 1974 Vietnamese Film Finds an Audience Online

It's 2009 and I'm running a workshop for a large group of unemployed jobseekers in Sydney, Australia.

in Travel

On the Gentle Train Ride in a Myanmar From Another Era

Since the shocking coup d’état in Myanmar on February 1 and the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, the world has watched helplessly while the military junta brutally cracks down on peaceful protesters try...

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: From Ohio to D7, the Serendipitous Story of Saigon's Lamb Phở

A highlight of my last visit to Phở Lạc Việt was a special moment when I reached out and the tips of my fingers touched a warm bowl inside the heating cabinet.

in Health

Dầu Gió, a Poignant Link Between My Family Legacy and Traditional Medicine

This is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of the book Pills, Teas, and Songs: Stories of Medicine Around the World by Debby Nguyen, republished with permission. Debby's family of pharmacists and doc...

in Society

Three Nha Trang Residents on How Covid-19 Affected Their Livelihood

Normally, Nha Trang is one of Vietnam’s most famous tourism destinations.

in Music & Arts

Phởq Sessions Reinvents a DJ’s Habitat in a Mystical Mai Chau Cave

Flexing the creative mind amid idle times.

in Music & Arts

The Wildlife Artist Who Paints the Beauty of Vietnam’s Endangered Nature

Dao Van Hoang, a self-taught painter, welcomed us into his studio at Le Petit Musée in Thao Dien. Surrounded by watercolors of exotic plants and paintings of wild animals, he shared with us his life s...

in Literature

Short Story: 'Left-Eared' by Trần Thị NgH

'Left-Eared' (Người Thuận Tai Trái) is a short work of fiction originally written in Vietnamese by author Trần Thị NgH and translated with her assistance for Saigoneer.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: How 2 Brothers From Punjab Spread Their Love for Indian Food

Some names that immediately come to mind when the topic of Indian food is raised are the old favorites, such as Namaste on Tho Nhuom Street or Foodshop 45 in Truc Bach. But have you heard of a small r...

in Literature

Her Schedule on Saturday

Imagine that on the weekend a splinter flies into your eye and you have to see the doctor.

in Vietnam

Lowy Institute Ranks Vietnam's Pandemic Response Second-Best Globally

As Vietnam confronts a fresh COVID-19 outbreak, it has scored exceptionally well in a new global analysis of pandemic responses.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Xóm Hà Hồi's Dill-icious Golden Grilled Cá Lăng

With Hanoi deep in winter’s chill, our bellies crave hearty delights, and there is nothing like frying your own chả cá in the cozy little hamlet of Hà Hồi to ward off the season’s bite.

in Culture

[Video] A Dynamic Visual Ode to Hanoi, a City of Paradoxes

Cái Gốc (The Origin) is the latest release from music producer and video director Robin Marty and his collaborator Jakub Zajac.

in Culture

[Video] How Has Vietnamese Fashion Changed in a Millennium of History?

The most fascinating factoid about the video project is that black teeth had such enduring appeal across centuries and dynasties.

Linh Pham

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Quán Nhạc Cầm Nurtures the Soul Like a Love Song

Albeit ostensibly a coffee shop, Cầm’s specialty is actually old Vietnamese music.

in Music & Arts

Crate-Digging for Audio Gold at the Second Hanoi Records Day

In September of this year, Quan Cam played host to VOC Record’s second Hanoi Records Day. Saigoneer met with the organizers and collectors to learn more about Vietnam’s growing culture of crate digger...

in Ton-sur-Ton

Tarp, but Make It Fashion: A Saigon Trio Upcycles Canopies Into Backpacks

With a love for the environment and ample creativity, Kiều Anh, Trang, and Tú Quân have built a unique fashion brand named Dòng Dòng Sài Gòn. The line of bags and other items created from recycled tar...

in Music & Arts

Vietnam's Art Fondling Epidemic and the Online Vigilante Policing It

There are many clumsy shoe prints beyond the foot-high metal boundary, next to a small sign that screams out in all caps: "PLEASE, DON’T TOUCH THE ARTWORK."

in Sports

In Saigon, a Movie Studio Becomes the New Home for Vietnam's Basketball 'Bubble'

A tight game heading towards halftime in Ho Chi Minh City. The crowd bashing thundersticks to egg on the competitors. And then a chant breaks out: “Let’s go Hanoi.”

in Culture

[Photos] Get Set, Row: The Aquatic Exuberance of Soc Trang's Ooc Om Bok Festival

Also called the Moon Worship festival, Ooc Om Bok is one of the liveliest festivals in the Khmer calendar.

in Music & Arts

Citizen Earth Program Returns to Hanoi With Art, Culture, Science, and More

Citizen Earth is a Six Space project exploring art, culture, and education through a community lens. The year-long program brings together artists and researchers from various fields such as history, ...

in Music & Arts

Q&A: A History of Fading Colors — An Interview With Artist Quynh Lam

Nguyễn Đức Diễm Quỳnh (otherwise known as Quynh Lam) is a Vietnamese contemporary artist. She was trained early as a painter and was influenced by her family's traditional photography practices which ...

in Food Culture

When Life Gives You Flavorful Vietnamese Cashews, Make Vegan Cheese

“Firstly, I had to find my calling, but in the end, it all came down to creating something and then seeing others enjoy it."

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Sipping Cocktails on Plastic Stools Is a Special Saigon Street Treat

Is there anything more synonymous with Saigon than the humble street cart? With stalls citywide on every corner, it’s our version of the public house — places where people come together and connect, a...

in Travel

[Photos] Fancy a Drink, Scarf or Even a New Cow? Head to Meo Vac’s Sunday Market.

Meo Vac is a small town located in the extreme north of Vietnam, close to the Chinese border that stretches out as far as the eye can see behind the massive limestone mountains surrounding the region....

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Increase Fines for Not Wearing Masks 10-Fold in November

The penalty for not wearing facemasks in public places will soon increase by a factor of 10.

in Travel

[Photos] The Neon-Lit World in the Mist of Sapa

Is there a more atmospheric place in Vietnam than Sapa on a misty night?

in Ton-sur-Ton

How a Vietnamese Ethiopian Designer Built Her Fashion 'Dynasty'

“I’m young so I still have big dreams,” Kim Berhanu begins our chat on an early September day. At the tender age of 23, Berhanu is already the CEO and creative director of the fashion brand Dynasty th...

Michael Tatarski

in Environment

Vietnam's New Nature Reserve, Khe Nuoc Trong, Is a Sign of Hope for Biodiversity

In a move wildlife conservationists are hailing as a victory, Vietnam has established a new nature reserve encompassing critical habitat for numerous species, several of them threatened globally with ...

in Music & Arts

On the Road With One of Vietnam's Last Traveling Cải Lương Troupes

Most Saigoneers know cải lương as a form of television entertainment usually enjoyed by their parents or grandparents, but not many are aware of the art form’s important role in the nightlife of resid...

in Music & Arts

This Ghost Month, an Other-Worldly Exhibition Not for the Faint-Hearted

The topic can be summed up in one word — “ghosts” — but it was enough inspiration for illustrators to create a plethora of artworks as part of the Hù project spearheaded by Khô Mực Studio.

in Music & Arts

Review: Red Balloons, a Fresh Musical Take on Vintage Vietnamese Cartoons

At 6:30pm on July 5, Red Balloons: Music for 20th Century Vietnamese Animation took place at the Institut français de Hanoi-L'Espace. It was organized by The Onion Cellar and The Centre for Assis...

in Travel

[Photos] Inside the Dust-Covered World of Ninh Van's Traditional Stone Carvers

It's a rare treat to see generations of skill in person.

in Film & TV

Envisioning the Mekong's Future Through the Eyes of 5 Regional Filmmakers

The future of the Mekong Delta is uncertain. The river and the people that rely on it are facing the impact of climate change, extreme weather conditions, rising sea levels, saline intrusion, hydropow...

in Tech

New Decree Imposes up to VND100m Penalty on Spam Texts, Calls

Will this stop the barrage of real estate and online game solicitations attacking our inboxes?

in Travel

[Photos] A Sweltering Day on a Ninh Thuan Salt Field

Ever wonder where your salt comes from?

in Culture

[Photos] From Bamboo to Altar: The Life of an Incense Stick in Vietnam

Vietnamese see the process of burning incense as a sacred ritual said to provide a bridge between the visible life of human beings and the spiritual world of gods.

in Environment

Bring Your Own Containers, We're Going Grocery Shopping

Above a peaceful coffee shop on the quiet road of Nguyễn Khắc Nhu lies a small zero-waste refill shop trying to advocate change.

in Vietnam

Is Vietnam Ready for Its New Place Among the World's Fastest-Ageing Societies?

Vietnam is among the world’s most rapidly changing countries, by virtually every metric.

in Travel

[Photos] Visions of a Dynamic Vietnam Through My Deaf Eyes

Vietnam inspired me to take photographs of places, people, cultures and landscapes that I've never seen before.

in Sports

As Epidemic Subsides in Vietnam, Return of VBA Not an ‘If,’ but a 'When’

Rebooting professional basketball during a global pandemic is no slam dunk.

in Film & TV

Cine-Concert Refreshes Vintage Vietnamese Cartoons With Soundtracks by Current Musicians

This July brings to Hanoi a unique cine-concert experience combining live music and Vietnamese animation archives. Red Balloons: Music For 20th-century Vietnamese Animation, organized by The Onion Cel...

in Music & Arts

In an Ever-Changing Saigon, Street Artisans Hold Fast to Dying Crafts

We delve into the lives of Saigon’s artisans — an animal coconut leaf folder, a woodcarver embracing modern influences, an accomplished street corner calligrapher, and an itinerant craftsman to see wh...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

In Search of Charming Cafes Along Saigon's Train Alleys

Compared to Hanoi’s now-restricted Phung Hung “Train Street,” the neighborhoods bordering the railway in Saigon have neither the romanticism nor goosebumps-inducing adrenaline rush that turned the for...

in Environment

Phu Yen Partners With WWF to Reduce Plastic Waste by 30% in 5 Years

The plan is the result of a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) aimed at reducing non-biodegradable waste.

in Food Culture

Remembering Anthony Bourdain and His Passion for Southeast Asian Food

Anthony Bourdain meant many things to many people. 

in Vietnam

Morning Stories Roundup: IT Demand, New Hospital, and SIM Cards Restriction

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...

in Health

Drug-Resistant Bacteria Flourish in Southeast Asia's Antibiotic-Filled Sewage

The fetid vapors of a sewer canal may be unpleasant, but what lurks beneath the surface can be a killer.

in Hanoi

The City as Text: Chợ Trời and the Representation of an Invisible Hanoi

Despite being the largest marketplace in the city since the 1950s, and still the oldest temporary market in town, Troi Market (chợ Trời) doesn't appear in delightful pieces of literature or art like t...

in Vietnam

Bars, Cinemas, Sports Get Green Light, Karaoke and Clubs Remain Closed

Vietnam residents can now knock back a few cold ones at their local watering hole, but they'll have to leave their karaoke dreams at home.

in Vietnam

Vauban Architecture: The Foundation of Central and Northern Vietnam's Citadels

Let's get historical. 

in Health

66% of Covid-19 Cases in Hanoi Are Asymptomatic, Health Officials Say

Hanoi officials have warned of increased risk of Covid-19 outbreaks, as it was reported that 66.6% of confirmed cases in the capital were found to be asymptomatic.

in Music & Arts

A Slovak-Vietnamese Photographer Explores Her Own Hybridity Through Food

A feeble limb of cucumber supports a plastic cup filled with mango pulp. Enoki strands grow out of the orange mush, hoisting up a sheet of bánh tráng. The translucent rice paper bends, as if wilting, ...

in Food Culture

Afro Mini Mart: What's Inside Vietnam’s First African Grocery Store?

At first glance, it looks just like any other convenience store. The same strings of Oishi shrimp snacks and revolving wire rack of Orion Marine Boys adorn either side of its entrance, just as they do...

Khoi Pham

in Music & Arts

A Local Artist's Vision of Vietnam, Rendered in the Dreamlike Nature of Anime

In 2016, Toho released the Japanese romantic fantasy Your Name. worldwide to rapturous reception. The feature, written and directed by Makoto Shinkai, went on to become the most financially successful...

in Travel

[Photos] In Yangon's Forsaken Amusement Park, Nature Finds Home in Decrepit Artifacts

Yangon Amusement Park was built in 1997 by the former military junta as a flashy distraction from their violent dictatorship.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Moves up 11 Places in UN World Happiness Report

Are you feeling happy today?

in Health

Coronavirus Update: 57 Cases, Compulsory Masks and Saigon's Nightlife Closures

Despite tightening restrictions on movement and air travel, Vietnam’s number of Covid-19 cases jumped from 39 last Thursday to 57 by the end of Sunday.

in Health

Coronavirus Update: Vietnam’s Cases Rise to 39; Patients' Health Improves

Nine new coronavirus cases in Vietnam have been confirmed within the last three days.

in Travel

[Photos] For Vietnam's H’Mong Communities, Life Tilts on a Precipice

On a small goat path beneath the high peaks of the Ma Pi Leng Pass, a group of H'Mong ladies walked uphill with more than 10 kilograms of wood and grass on their backs.

in Music & Arts

An Artist’s Role in Debate at Vo Tran Chau’s Solo Exhibition on Heritage

Located at The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre in District 2, “Leaf Picking in the Ancient Forest” is artist Vo Tran Chau’s largest solo exhibition to date, and is currently on view from February 14 ...

in Health

Coronavirus Update: 30 Cases in Total; 13 New Cases Linked to London–Hanoi Flight

It was a grim weekend for Vietnam as, after three weeks with no new Covid-19 cases and 100% recovery rate, the number of patients who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus ballooned to 30.

in Travel

[Photos] Immersing in a Lonely Japan Outside the Urban Crowds

Japan's cities are known for their dense urbanity and crowded subways, but they can also be isolating.

in Saigon

Saigon Extends School Shutdown by 1 Week for Grade 12, 2 Weeks for Others

Saigon authorities recently announced that students in public schools in the city will continue to stay at home for the first weeks of March.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Is Among Countries With Lowest Online Civility, Microsoft Report Shows

Microsoft has found an increase in online incivility globally, with Vietnam ranking as one of the least digitally civil.

in Vietnam

Unearthed: Tracing the Past Citadels of Southern Vietnam

Although the forces of modernization encourage constant progress and leaving behind the pre-modern past, the trails of yesterday never fail to leave our presence.

Khoi Pham

in Music & Arts

In 'Tình Tính Tang,' a Progressive Metal Take on Vietnam's Folk Melodies

‘Trong Com’ is unassuming; ‘Trong Com’ is simple and easy to memorize; much like its namesake — a small drum played during traditional ceremonies, the song evokes an idealized image of Vietnam, one th...

in Culture

[Photos] Life in the Time of the Masks and Coronavirus

These are strange times we're all living in.

in Film & TV

Parasite's Historic Oscars Win and What It Means for Asian Cinema

With a beguiling mix of style and substance, South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s class thriller Parasite cuts through societal divides and sends a vital message to “world cinema.”

in Music & Arts

In Tình Đầu Exhibition Space, a Home for Hanoi's Bohemian Young Artists

Nestled deep within labyrinthine alleyways in Hanoi’s Ba Đình District, Tình Đầu (first love), a studio-gallery run by a collective of Vietnamese artists, is growing a reputation as a home for the cap...

in Hanoi

Part of Historic Building, Meant to Be Preserved, Destroyed After Miscommunication

Part of a historic building, meant to be saved from demolition and recognized as a heritage site, has been bulldozed thanks to a miscommunication. 

in Travel

[Photos] On the North-South Railway, Open Windows Frame Portraits of Everyday Life

Traveling on the Reunification Express from Saigon to Hanoi feels like a ride through history and time.

in Culture

An Artist's Intimate Portraits of Genderfunk's Collective Energy

The collective of drag artists and performers known as Genderfunk has been creating safe spaces for local queer creatives and blowing the minds of Saigon’s denizens for nearly two years, and they are ...

in Health

Being Human: Facing the Black Mirror of Technology Addiction

The second edition of ‘Being Human,’ our new series dedicated to mental health, focuses on the growing issue of technology addiction.

in Hanoi

Should Hanoi Release Doves on Hoan Kiem Lake’s Walking Streets?

The suggestion is Hanoi’s latest attempt to introduce wildlife to the Hoan Kiem Lake area.

in Development

Historic Building Saved From Demolition Following Community Response

In the southern reaches of the Vietnamese capital, a French villa that was expected to be demolished within months has been spared following community support for the structure.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Rice Dumplings With Bean Paste, Grated Coconut and Fiery Ginger Syrup

Bánh trôi tàu are elongated rice dumplings filled with mung bean paste, black sesame paste or grated coconut and served in a hot ginger syrup that warms one’s belly during cold winter months.

in Culture

From Strip Clubs to Fitness Clubs: How Millenials Made Pole Dancing Great Again

He is floating; Le Anh knows how to twist with grace, as if any of the 650 muscles of his body weren’t absolutely contorted around a cold, long metal tube.

Khoi Pham

in Music & Arts

A Young Hanoi Orchestra Brings Symphonic Disney Nights to Saigon

Growing up with the touching stories of Walt Disney Studios, many Saigoneers have formed a personal connection with the cheery tunes of songs like The Little Mermaid’s ‘Under the Sea’ or the icon...

in Culture

[Photos] The Evolution of Saigon Residents in an Ad, Ad, Ad World

Exploring Saigon’s streets through my lens has helped me to understand the city in a deeper way and to be a witness of its development. 

Chris Humphrey

in Culture

[Photos] The Naked Truth Behind Hanoi's 'Banana Island' Nudists

Hanoi is a conservative capital where young couples rarely kiss in public, yet along the banks of the Red River, a men's nudist club thrives. 

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Home-Cooked Taiwanese Comfort Food for a Cold Saigon Day

District 5, Saigon’s Chinatown, is full of delicious eateries serving Cantonese food. For something new, try Va Thanh, an unassuming restaurant with top-notch Taiwanese home-style cooking.

in Music & Arts

Đen, Mỹ Tâm, Vũ. Are the Most-Streamed Vietnamese Artists of 2019 on Spotify

As 2019 draws to a close, music streaming platform Spotify has released its year-end statistics.

in Environment

PM Releases Highly Ambitious Plan to Reduce Coastal Plastic Waste

A highly ambitious new plan aims to dramatically cut down on plastic waste in tourist areas and coastal environments.

in Society

An Evening With the Grass-Roots Volunteer Group Helping Saigon's Homeless

The group meets at the Saigon Central Post Office in District 1 at 10:30pm. Although it is late in the evening, there are still tourists loitering around the building, one of the city's primary attrac...

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: A Steaming Bowl of Mỳ Vằn Thắn to Ward off Winter’s Chill

The Old Quarter’s labyrinthine streets contain so many eateries that newcomers can easily feel overwhelmed.

in Food Culture

Cơm Tấm Crisis: Price of Pork Dishes Increases as Pork Shortage Hits Saigon

Back in July, it was predicted that Vietnam's recent African swine fever outbreak might cause a pork shortage that could last until 2020.

Chris Humphrey

in Music & Arts

Rooftop Concerts: Limebócx – 'Yêu Nhau (Qua Cầu Gió Bay)

Rooftop Concerts, Saigoneer's live music video series, is finally back; this time featuring electronic duo Limebócx, one of the most promising new acts in the capital's underground music scene. 

in Development

Saigon Authorities Cut $147m From Metro Line 1’s Cost

Work on the first metro line is 75% complete.

Chris Humphrey

in Environment

The Campaign Aiming to End Vietnam's Gruesome Buffalo Fights

Sharpened horns, gashed eyes and slashed skin are hallmarks of buffalo fighting festivals that animal rights organizations are trying to close down.

in Saigon

Site Clearance for Saigon Metro Line 2 Expected to Finish in June 2020

While progress on Saigon’s first metro line is somewhat nearing the finish line, the city’s second line is undergoing site clearance.

in Environment

Being Human: How Can We Cope With Climate Change Grief?

Saigoneer is proud to announce ‘Being Human,’ our new series dedicated to mental health.

Michael Tatarski

in Music & Arts

District 105 Leads Saigon's Metal Scene Into a Bright, Loud Future

"You don't listen to music like this usually, right?" Huynh Hoang Huy asks before he and his bandmates rip into another hard-driving song from their catalogue.

in Vietnam

Morning Stories Roundup: Storm Matmo Causes Widespread Blackout in Central Region

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...

in Vietnam

From January 2020, New Alcohol Law Will Make Coercing Others to Drink Illegal

Be gone, peer-pressured drinking.

in Music & Arts

Re-Mixing DJ Gender Ratios: How Maggie Tra Gets Women on the Decks

In Hanoi’s male-dominated music industry, Maggie Tra offers an oasis for females.

in Stories

Weekend News Roundup: Hanoi, HCM City Build Smoke-Free Environments in Public Areas

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from the capital, the rest of Vietn...

Chris Humphrey

in Travel

Is This Really the End of the Line for Hanoi’s ‘Train Street’?

Hanoi officials shut down the celebrated stretch of railway last weekend, citing safety concerns as the main reason.

in Food Culture

Vietnam Crowned Asia's Leading Culinary, Cultural Destination at World Travel Awards

Vietnam’s rising position in the global tourism arena was recently recognized by scores of accolades at the World Travel Awards.

in Sports

In Its 2nd Edition, Coupe de Hue Features Bach Ma Mountain Trail, World-Famous Cyclist

Vietnam is opening itself up as a destination for international-standard competitive cycling events. But can the momentum last? 

in Vietnam

68% of Vietnamese Insist on Driving Themselves Home After Drinking Sessions

More than two-thirds of people who drink at a nhậu session or restaurant admit to driving afterwards, contributing significantly to traffic accidents. 

in Hanoi

Hanoi Pondering Plan to Ban Vehicles Around Hoan Kiem Lake

Officials in Hanoi are considering a radical move to make the city more pedestrian-friendly.

in Environment

Hanoi's Climate Gathering Calls for Change After AQI Once Again World's Highest

Last Friday, mere days after millions marched in cities around the world demanding action against climate change, a group of 20 passionate Hanoians gathered from 5:30pm to 7pm in front of Sa...

in Tech

HCMC Becomes First Locality in Vietnam to Run 5G Trial Program

Saigon has become the first place in Vietnam to have 5G coverage.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Japanese-American Time-Warp on Binh Thanh’s Backstreets

Imagine a world where the 1950s never ended. Where Daddy-O’s race muscle cars all day and Peggy Sue’s dance the night away. Where it’s all one big small town of neon-lit diners and all-night gas stati...

in Culture

Hanoi Pride 2019 to Kick Off Next Week

Hanoi Pride 2019 will take place throughout next week, with numerous events planned as the celebration enters its eighth year. 

Michael Tatarski

in Arts & Culture

Street Photographer Group to Host Saigon Photo Exhibition

The first edition of the Saigon Photo Walk (SPW) exhibition features eight photographers, showing eight different points of view and eight ways of looking at the same city.

Paul Christiansen

in Sports

On Dreaming of a Time When Vietnam Loves Basketball as Much as Football

How lucrative is being a professional basketball player in Vietnam? To help make ends meet, “some work at fast-food restaurants,” admits Ho Chi Minh City Wings small forward Nguyen Ky Quan.

in Hanoi

Date With the Wrecking Ball: The Last Transmission From Dai La

In the southern reaches of the Vietnamese capital, a French villa will be demolished in the coming months following a decision by the Hanoi People’s Committee to construct a new ring road. The elegant...

in Environment

Who's Really To Blame for Southeast Asia's Ocean Plastic Crisis?

Our oceans are littered with plastics. Indeed, we are regularly exposed to images and stories of whales and sea turtles choking to death on plastic trash. Ocean plastic is clearly a problem, but what ...

in Literature

[Short Story] 'Deviate' by Tran Thi NgH

The interplay between lust and creativity, origins of capricious desires and the relationship between art and artist: 'Deviate,' by Vietnamese-writer Tran Thi NgH explores a multitude of themes a...

in Literature

'Deviate' by Tran Thi NgH

The interplay between lust and creativity, origins of capricious desires and the relationship between art and artist: 'Deviate,' by Vietnamese-writer Tran Thi NgH explores a multitude of themes a...

in Society

The Transformation of Saigon Through the Eyes of Ride-Hailing App Drivers

Saigon is well-accustomed to change. Having once been part of the ancient Cham empire, ruled by the Nguyen Lords and occupied by the French, Saigon is a city with a rich, compelling history. These var...

in Environment

The Delicate Process of Helping Bears Recover From Trauma

Bear bile farms, which exist in some Asian countries like Vietnam and China, are a terrible reality for Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus).

Michael Tatarski

in Arts & Culture

'Reinvent Saigon' Asks Visitors to Reimagine the City and Themselves

Through tomorrow, the week-long Reinvent Saigon festival is taking place at five locations across the city.

in Development

How Place Identity Helps Preserve Hanoi's Last Traditional Silk Village

The identity of luxury goods firms is often anchored in the creativity and skill of the artisans behind the objects. A case in point is Hermès, where workers spend years learning to work with precious...

in Literature

Turn Over a New Page in Hanoi's Hidden Libraries

I focused my attention on an amplifier lying on the shelf behind Hieu, the founder of Go West Library. He left his seat to retrieve a cable, and after returning he plugged his phone into the machine, ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: It's a Pagoda, It's a Restaurant, It's Superb Vegetarian Food

The revered 92-year-old Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sums up his teachings on food and the first meal of the day like this: “I asked some children, 'What is the purpose of eating breakfast...

in Travel

[Photos] From Rain-Soaked Nightscapes to a Serene Hanoian Dawn

Hanoi is known for its frenetic traffic and streets, which during my initial years in the capital led me to dream of escape.

in Asia

Hong Kong: How China's ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Model Is Being Reshaped

Protest organizers in Hong Kong claim that nearly two million people, most clad in black and many carrying white flowers as a symbol of mourning, took to the streets on June 16 as demonstrations ...

in Vietnam

Pork Shortage Caused by African Swine Fever Might Last Until 2020

As of June 28, African swine fever had spread to 60 provinces and cities and resulted in the culling of three million pigs, or 10% of the total number of pigs in Vietnam.

in Travel

[Photos] Tractors and Cabbages: A Different Da Lat Away From Urban Chaos

Not looking for a fancy destination, I sought out Da Lat for a different perspective that’s comfier, simpler and quieter.

in Saigon

Saigon's Built Heritage Is Under Threat. How Do We Protect What's Left?

In an exclusive excerpt from his latest book, Exploring Saigon-Chợ Lớn: Vanishing Heritage of Hồ Chí Minh City, historian Tim Doling discusses the city's threatened heritage architecture and what the ...

in Film & TV

Immersive Documentary Storytelling Workshop to Be Held in Hanoi

The School of Slow Media is hosting REMIX Hanoi, an intensive media lab, from June 14 to 16.

Michael Tatarski

in Music & Arts

On Connecting With a City Through Urban Sketching

Louis Barnard, who is originally from South Africa and has lived in Seoul, Hanoi and now Saigon, uses art as a way to connect with the cities he calls home.

in Music & Arts

5 International Artists of Vietnamese Descent to Add to Your Playlist Now

Although both V-pop and Vietnam's independent scene are on the rise, leading to many interesting conversations about where Vietnamese music is heading, on this playlist we want to instead focus on som...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Comfort of Slurping Vegetarian Noodles on the Pavement

Tien, who’s been up since 4am, stops for a moment, lets out a small sigh of satisfaction and wipes the sweat from her brow with the well-used towel around her neck. It’s now 7:45am on another hot, hum...

in Culture

[Photos] How Vietnam's Muslims Celebrate Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr in Chau Doc

Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, yet Vietnamese Muslims represent as little as 0.01% of the country’s population. Most are ethnic Cham, while a few are foreigners and a few converts...

in Food Culture

Each Vietnamese Consumes 3kg of Beef, 20l of Milk Annually, Minister Says

Despite the country’s rising wealth, Vietnam still consumes a modest amount of beef compared with the world average.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Come for the Coffee, Stay for the Aesthetic

Apparently, the owners of Chon want people to find their café. However, you wouldn’t assume as much when attempting to navigate the narrow, snaking alleyways that lead to their joint. You’ll find a do...

in Music & Arts

The Punk Badassery of Antiantiart, Hanoi's Underground Fashion Rebels

In 2014, a group of restless young Vietnamese set up Nirvana, Hanoi’s first-ever punk streetwear store. In a city known for politics, and where the thickness of history constantly reminds us of t...

in Hanoi

Hanoi Signs 5-Year, $3.4m Tourism Promotion Partnership With CNN

Following a two-year, US$2 milllion deal signed in 2017, Hanoi authorities have now signed a new five-year deal with American media giants CNN, worth US$3.4 million.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Coconut Coffee and Banana Bread in a Quiet Corner of Thao Dien

Thao Dien is known to some as a quiet neighborhood, despite its ongoing development projects. Upscale restaurants and fancy cafes are plentiful, serving a range of gourmet food and drinks. Yet, in bet...

in Society

'Void' Event to Raise Funds for New Mental Health Hotline

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and tomorrow brings an event to Hanoi aiming to raise funds for a new mental health hotline for Hanoi and Vietnam.

Michael Tatarski

in Environment

The Fight to Save Cat Ba's Langurs and Unique Ecosystems

While approaching Hai Phong, a major city on Vietnam’s northeast coast, it is impossible to miss signs of the country’s fast-growing economic might. GDP growth hit just over 7% in 2018, and forei...

in Environment

Why Vietnamese Demand for Rhino Horn Is Unlikely to Decrease Anytime Soon

Vietnam is one of the world’s largest consumers of rhino horn, contributing to the continued poaching of rhinos in the wild. Last year in Africa 1,100 rhinos were killed by poacher...

in Music & Arts

German, Vietnamese Sound Artists to Hold Workshops, Perform in Hanoi

Starting this weekend and continuing through next week, Hanoians will have the opportunity to attend a combination of workshops and live performances from both German and Vietnamese sound artists.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Finding Your Path at a Downtown Vegan Buffet

Peaceful music that chimes with joy, monks that greet you with smiles, and a delectable donation-based vegan buffet — it's a little heaven on earth. Well, heaven underneath a derelict building on Ton ...

in Travel

[Photos] Born in California, a Vietnamese-American Returns to Traverse Vietnam

My parents are originally from Vietnam and came to the United States as refugees after the war. I was born in Orange County, California, where many Vietnamese people who came to America made their new...

Michael Tatarski

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Krossing Over Arts Festival Wraps up a Striking Week of Performances

The third edition of the Krossing Over Arts Festival ended in Saigon on Thursday, capping a week of exciting workshops, artist talks and contemporary dance performances.

in Culture

On Reconciling With One's Vietnamese Half as an American

My mother is Vietnamese and my father is American, yet I’ve always felt as though I was a tea bag submerged solely in American water. I was born and raised in Minnesota, I speak only English, and I kn...

Michael Tatarski

in Music & Arts

Here's a Thiên Long Ballpoint Pen, Now Make Art With It

Nomer Adona has lived in Vietnam since 1994, a 25-year journey (so far) that has taken him from working as an architect with the Malaysian government to the halls of international schools.

in Travel

Born in California, a Vietnamese-American Returned to Vietnam. This Is What She Saw.

My parents are originally from Vietnam and came to the United States as refugees after the war. I was born in Orange County, California, where many Vietnamese people who came to America made their new...

in Culture

The Pink, Minimalist Aesthetic Enticing Hanoi's Millennials

At the intersection between Hang Bong and Phung Hung streets, there is a bakery whose lavender armchairs look as if they are made from giant ladyfingers. It’s called Baked by Julie and, since ope...

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Immerse Yourself in the Traditional Architecture of Cafe Nha San

Nestled deep in a dead-end street reached through a warren of alleyways from an almost impossible-to-see entrance is an ancient-looking building. This stunning traditional Vietnamese stilt-house is on...

in Saigon

Financial Woes Haunt Saigon Public Transport as Bus Ads Attract Zero Interest

Advertising on buses is falling out of favor in the eyes of Saigon’s advertisers.

in Literature

'Your Shirt Button' and 'I Wander Alone' by Nguyen Quang Than

"You told me not to look at you, it’s silly / Yet I want to gnaw you the way I gnaw bread ... the pack of ravenous dogs looked at me with night sea eyes / I wish they could gnaw me piece by piece."

in Travel

Struggling With Trash From Tourists, Con Dao Decides to Charge Entrance Fee

Con Dao District is currently dealing with 70,000 tons of garbage.

in Hanoi

Hanoi Has Second-Worst Air Quality in Southeast Asia: Report

Vietnam's capital didn't fare well in a new global air quality study.

in Food Culture

The Familial Vietnamese Ritual of Making Spring Rolls

“Nem rán (fried spring rolls), or just nem for short, has been a part of life in Hanoi since forever. Whenever I think of this dish, I think of my mother. That is because only nem made at home by my m...

Michael Tatarski

in Film & TV

[Video] Short Film 'Sigh Gone' Depicts Love Lost, With a Twist

Have you ever felt completely at sea, hopelessly lost? A new Saigon-set short video from Vietnamese-American director Jeannie Nguyen depicts a day in the life of a young woman facing this situation.

in Saigon

Saigon Will Not Ban Motorbikes, Only Impose Restrictions: Official

Motorbike use will only be restricted, and only after proper public transportation infrastructure is set in place. 

in Development

Cash-Strapped Saigon Metro Project Requests $1.68m From City to Pay Staff

The management team of Saigon's ongoing metro project has requested advance funds from the city to pay employees who have only received partial salaries since January.

Chris Humphrey

in Music & Arts

[Video] Paying Tribute to Quán Cầm, 60 Square With Những Đứa Trẻ

Earlier this month, Hanoians were left heartbroken when waving farewell to much-loved art quarter Sixty Square, which closed for good on February 15. We're releasing this music video of ...

Khoi Pham

in Music & Arts

A Playful Project Uses Pigs to Showcase Vietnam Iconography Through History

Year of the pig is a gift that keeps on giving.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Vintage Sound Systems and Birds of Prey Coexist in Café Nhac Xua

A quaint melody drifts out of Nhac Xua and over to one side of West Lake, where café owner Nguyen Duy Binh and I sit. The calming, classical, Vietnamese-style guitar-driven music, is soothing.

in Asia

Thailand's Illegal Wildlife Trade is Open 'For All to See' on Facebook

Facebook is once again in the spotlight, this time for the rampant illegal wildlife trade being facilitated through its groups in Thailand.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Masterful Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki in Binh Thanh

An honest-to-god Japanese izakaya is a beautiful thing. Dark and smoky, often decked out in wood furnishings and yellowing travel posters, its flawless blend of bar and restaurant often involves nothi...

in Culture

International Photographer Captures Spirit of Đạo Mẫu in Vibrant Photo Book

Tewfic El-Sawy’s introduction to Đạo Mẫu, also known as the Mother Goddess religion, began with music.

in Environment

Climate Change Is Forcing People Out of the Mekong Delta

The Vietnamese Mekong Delta is one of Earth’s most agriculturally productive regions and is of global importance for its exports of rice, shrimp, and fruit. The 18m inhabitants of this low-lying river...

in Culture

Once Invisible, Saigon's Underground Scene Emerges Into Light

In just a few short decades, underground hip-hop and youth culture has gained a massive following, not only within Saigon and Vietnam, but all around the globe.

in Environment

Vietnamese Bile Farms Are Collapsing, Yet Bears Continue to Face Neglect

Consumer interest in farmed bear bile seems to be declining in Vietnam, according to a new study. But this isn’t necessarily good news, researchers say, because it raises concerns for both captive and...

in Music & Arts

New Art Exchange Project to Connect Sound Artists in Germany, Vietnam

This year will see a new collaborative opportunity for Vietnamese sound artists, which will culminate in performances, sound installations and live acts where the audience takes part in an audiovisual...

in Travel

How Hemingway Inspired a Cyclist to Scale the Heights of Northern Vietnam

Former Saigon resident Dale Nottingham has conquered Vietnam’s extreme northern highlands by bicycle, climbing 22,587 meters over 1,306 kilometers during an epic 12-day ride that started in Bac Kan Pr...

in Vietnam

Storm Pabuk Missed Vietnam, but Its Rain Damaged Mekong Delta Flower Farms

Typhoon Pabuk hit Thailand last Friday, January 4, wreaking havoc on local life.

in Society

Robot Combat Show Brings Metallic Carnage to Primetime in Vietnam

While many enjoy watching robots like Transformers do battle on the big screen, some Vietnamese audiences have developed an appetite for real steel.

in Food Culture

The First Annual Saigoneer Golden Plastic Stool Awards for Best Hẻm Gems

As the planet-wide dumpster fire that was 2018 comes to a close, we’d like to take a moment to look back at the year in Hẻm Gems through our first-ever Golden Plastic Stool Awards. These will honor so...

in Culture

[Illustrations] Four Festive Cards for a Very Saigoneer Christmas

While there is no chance of Saigon experiencing a white Christmas, we'd still like to take this opportunity to spread a bit of holiday cheer.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Take a Ride on Ha Dong’s Hipster Bus Café

When you initially spot the café, it’s hard to tell exactly what it is — it isn’t hurtling towards you at 50 miles per hour and doesn’t have helmet shrapnel from its previous victims stuck to its...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Mexican Simplicity and Zen-Like Tacos in D3

Tacos, and the many meat-and-tortilla variations we often categorize as ‘Mexican cuisine,’ are having a bit of a renaissance in Saigon.

in Environment

The Growing Trash Mountains Threatening Phu Quoc's Way of Life

Phu Quoc is facing a growing pollution issue that’s threatening its burgeoning tourism sector, lush environment and local communities. With verdant jungles and aqua blue seas, the island is one of Vie...

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Cu Xa, the Cafe That Awakens Your Childhood Self

“Where is home?” is a question that at some point has probably nagged everyone who feels caught between worlds. To the owner of a retro cafe in Hanoi’s southern Dong Da District, it’s Cu Xa.

in Travel

Saigoneer Getaways: Off the Beaten Path in Hong Kong's Old-School Side

There was once a time when Saigon and Hong Kong were rivals in the exotic east, both jostling for the cultural title of “Pearl of the Orient”. With British colonialism on one side and French on the ot...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gem: In D5, Spicy Phá Lấu Skewers Worth Suffering Traffic For

Saigon has a wonderful tropical climate with two seasons: dry and wet. As the cold weather approaches, chasing the blazing heat away, we all crave for some hot and steamy dishes to keep warm.

in Saigon

Saigon Heat Overcome Early Butterflies, Outduel Knights in Season Debut

A tight game knotted 80-80, seemingly headed for overtime. The Saigon crowd is biting their nails as their two top scorers have just fouled out. And Vietnamese-American star Justin Young launches a fi...

in Tech

Vietnam to Test 5G Technology Next Year for 2020 Launch

The fifth generation of cellular mobile technology promises superior speed, higher bandwidth and better responsiveness.

Chris Humphrey

in Music & Arts

The Children: Earnestness, Heartbreak and Acceptance on Debut Album ‘Con Duong’

On their debut album, Con Đường, the much loved Hanoi outfit bring a darker yet more mature sound that speaks as much about the depths of heartbreak and loss as it does hope.

in Saigon

Busy Bookaholics, Behold Saigon's First-Ever Book Vending Machine

The vending machine is located at Sense Market underneath September 23 Park.

in Music & Arts

10 Songs That Exemplify the Rise of Vietnam's Contemporary R&B/Soul Movement

In an industry where singers don’t stick to only one genre, Vietnamese R&B/Soul is often overlooked and sadly underdeveloped. While veteran artists like Mỹ Linh and Hà Anh Tuấn have occasionally profe...

in Hanoi

Hanoi’s Booming Population Has Already Exceeded 2030 Target

According to a new report released by the National Assembly, Hanoi’s booming population has already surpassed the predicted figures for 2030.

in Film & TV

The Bachelor's Happy Queer Romance Is the Positive Representation That Vietnam's LGBT Community Needs

Last Wednesday, the couple talked about their declaration of love during a live stream Facebook interview with the reality show centered around straight relationships.

in Saigon

After a Two-Year Renovation Project, Binh Tay Market Will Reopen Next Month

After months of operating in sub-optimal conditions, vendors and customers of Binh Tay Market are finally allowed to move back in.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

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 maze-like streets hold a heady mix of different influences. W...

in Society

[Photos] Former Street Kid Reveals the Reality of Hanoi’s Homeless Youth

I grew up in a very poor family in Nam Dinh Province. When I was 14, I traveled to Hanoi to shine shoes, in the hope that I could earn money and support my family. But after a year and a half working ...

Khoi Pham

in Music & Arts

In Saigon Supersound Vol. 2, an Unabashed Celebration of Saigon's Retro Tunes

In less than a year and a half between the releases of the first and second volumes of Saigon Supersound, the highly celebrated compilation’s unique sound hasn’t changed, but the city it celebrates ha...

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: At Tropical Forest, Coworkers and Plants Thrive in a Unique Ecosystem

Tropical Forest isn’t one of those adorable coffee shops you find hidden away in one of Hanoi’s many pokey alleyways. In fact, it’s quite the opposite – its large glass presence resembles a giant terr...

in Sports

No Turnbuckles, No Ropes, No Problem for Saigon's Pro Wrestlers

Damien Wolfe rained down blow after blow on spindly Phong Tran (not pictured above), with onlookers jeering and questioning his humanity. Then, out of the blue, Phong sprang to life and leapt into the...

in Saigon

Saigoneers Prefer Vietnam's Paper Lanterns Over Chinese Ones. Artisans Can Barely Keep Up.

In recent years, locally produced paper lanterns have slowly taken back the mid-autumn market from their Chinese counterparts.

in Society

Vietnam's First Gran Fondo Cycling Event a Hit in Hue

For cycling addicts and ‘casuals’ alike, there’s a new event in Vietnam to start training for.

Khoi Pham

in Culture

How Dép Tổ Ong Goes From Timeless Family Keepsake to Millennial Icon

Back in 2014, amid the weekly cycle of news, a particular image was more striking than most: Doctor and Professor Ngo Bao Chau stood in the middle of a makeshift classroom in a rural village in Thai N...

in Saigon

[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Rue Catinat, Tu Do and Dong Khoi Street

While some of Saigon's most extreme changes over the years have occurred in suburban areas like District 7 or Binh Thanh, central District 1 is obviously no stranger to transformations either.

Chris Humphrey

in Music & Arts

Interactive Art Installation ‘Synescape: Please Touch’ Enthralls the Senses

Anita Wilczęga sits on a stool in Tinh Dau art studio, trying to explain the final project she’ll curate in Vietnam before departing for Italy. Behind her, ten white boxes hang from the rafters, swayi...

Paul Christiansen

in Postcards

Saigon Postcard No. 9: The City's Traffic Shoals

The city's motorbikes move with an effortless grace governed by rules reserved for groups of fish.

in Music & Arts

[Illustrations] Preserving Hanoi's Old-School Cool in Digital Stamps

When was the last time you sent a letter or used a stamp?

in Hanoi

Hanoi, Saigon Among Most-Improved Cities in Liveability: Economist

The country's two largest cities were among the most improved in the world on the Global Liveability Index.

Chris Humphrey

in Travel

[Photos] An Urbexer’s Paradise: Inside the Rides of Hanoi’s Abandoned Water Park

Almost everyone has, by now, heard of Hue’s apocalyptic abandoned waterpark – a place so eerie it feels like entering a Jurassic World sequel. Who knew there was another park right here in Hanoi?

Paul Christiansen

in Food Culture

The Wild, Wondrous History of Lychee

Treacherous rebels were amassing support in the outskirts while licentious interlopers lounged in teahouses and corruption lurked in every alleyway and courtyard in the capital. The 8th-century Tang E...

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Steamed Hai Phong Rice Cakes at Banh Beo Cho Do

That the most delicious food in Vietnam is usually found on top of shabby plastic tables is an incontrovertible truth. So much so that modernity has done something strange: we feel skeptical when seei...

in Society

[Video] Raising a New Generation of Bamboo Lovers

Bamboo is booming. All over the world, people are rediscovering the plant’s massive potential and technological innovation has enabled its use in pretty much any product you can think of. But how woul...

in Music & Arts

World Press Photo Exhibition in Hanoi this Weekend for First Time in 15 Years

The event will run for 4 weeks, giving Hanoians the chance to peruse works by some of the world’s most celebrated press photographers.

in Food Culture

Opinion: Anthony Bourdain Made Me Proud to Be Vietnamese-American

I landed Friday night in Saigon just in time for the news of Anthony Bourdain’s passing lighting up my phone in a jumble of tweets, texts and news alerts. As details emerged about the chef-turned-trav...

in Culture

In Bắc Giang, 'Mudball' Is a Centuries-Old Festive Sport

Held once every four years, the mud wrestling festival in Vân Village in Bắc Giang Province is one of the most dramatic and unique festivals in all of Vietnam.

in Sports

What to Expect From the 3rd Season of the Vietnam Basketball Association

From back-flipping dancers to some new faces in new places, the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) press conference, held Wednesday afternoon in Binh Thanh District, had a bit of everything.

in Music & Arts

Hanoi’s Rising Techno Scene: Local Artists Strive to Bring Underground Music to Wider Audiences

Underground music in Hanoi is flourishing, and Vietnamese artists are at the forefront. After years brewing at venues like Hanoi Rock City (HRC) and Cama ATK, the city now enjoys huge house and techno...

in Society

Opinion: The Virtues of Riding the Saigon Bus

On a brutally hot day back in January, I was riding Saigon bus No. 65 out to District 10 when I made an amateur’s mistake.

in Hanoi

Hanoi to Trial New Pedestrianized Street in Tay Ho Starting This Weekend

Following the success of the pedestrianized area around Hoan Kiem Lake, Tay Ho District will see its first traffic-free street open this weekend.

Michael Tatarski

in Music & Arts

[Illustrations] Mariano di Guglielmo's Vivid Watercolors of Saigon Street Scenes

For Mariano di Guglielmo, an English teacher who has lived in Saigon for about four months, every street is a potential canvas.

Khoi Pham

in Food Culture

A Food Folk Tale: Vietnam’s Unexpected Watermelon Tycoon

If you’ve been around a traditional Vietnamese household during Tet, you have probably noticed the presence of gargantuan, child-sized, dark green watermelons on the altar. These behemoths are both in...

in Saigon

Date With the Wrecking Ball: The Former Secretariat du Gouvernement Building, 59-61 Ly Tu Trong

The project to build a new City Administration Centre behind the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee involves the destruction of several heritage buildings. The art deco office and apartment block at ...

in Stories

Holiday Links Roundup: Vietnamese Police Rescue 6 Trafficked Cambodian Women En Route to China

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam police rescue 6 trafficked Cambodian women en-route to China [VnExpress] ...

in Culture

[Video] The Drag Queens Firing Up Hanoi's Nightlife

For over two months, a tantalizing new event has been firing up Hanoi's nightlife: drag queens in burlesque outfits death dropping on stage.

in Music & Arts

Q&A: Over a Hundred Street Artists Visit Hue for Annual Meeting of Styles Event

Since 2002, a collective known as Meeting of Styles has been organizing street art events around the world. According to its website, it is “an international network of graffiti artists and aficionado...

in Music & Arts

[Photos] The New, Illusory Trompe-l'œil Murals on Hanoi's Railway Arches

On one end of Long Bien Bridge, so far from the often-photographed main structure that it's considered by many to be a separate attraction in its own right, a massive art project fills the sealed arch...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Wants to Limit Alcohol Sale Hours to Combat Social, Health Issues

The plan is the latest in an effort to address issues arising from late-night drinking. 

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Parkour Meets Fire Spinning in Abandoned Lideco Neighborhood

Back in 2007, construction began on Lideco, which was supposed to become a paradise for Hanoi's super-rich. Like Ciputra or Royal City, it was intended to be an all-inclusive development, with housing...

in Arts & Culture

[Video] Finding Zen in the Art of Bottle Balancing

The level of talent involved will make you feel self-conscious about your past failures at Jenga.

in Society

The Unseen Layers of Donkey Bakery

I almost missed the entrance to the bakery as its sign was partly obscured by a leafy tree. I skidded to a stop and hurried in to my appointment. Behind the counter, a manager was speaking in hushed, ...

in Travel

[Photos] Exploring Hanoi's Eerie 'Skeleton Cave'

Halfway between Hanoi and Ba Vi National Park lies Thay Pagoda, a Buddhist temple technically within the city limits. It’s a beautiful building in its own right, but what’s more fascinating is Ca...

in Saigon

HCMC Archbishop Impersonated by Scammers in Notre Dame Donation Fraud

The archdiocese at the Notre Dame Cathedral emphasizes that there is only one official call for donation to the cathedral’s renovation fund made by Father Bui Van Doc.

in Saigon

Saigon Starts Seeking Investors for Metro Line 5

While Saigon’s first metro line is still very much under construction, municipal authorities are hoping to get the ball rolling on the city’s Metro Line 5.

Paul Christiansen

in Asia

Celebrity Endorsements Might Be the Key to Combating Poaching in Asia, Campaign Shows

International conservation organization WildAid is teaming up with the world’s largest outdoor advertising company, JCDecaux, to help save some of the planet’s most endangered species.

in Travel

A Pilgrimage to the Grave of Vo Thi Sau on Con Dao Island

“Every time they had a chance to go by the grave, they would put a stone on it, burn an incense stick or stick a flower they had picked up from the roadside on the grave to show their respect and ador...

Thi Nguyen

in Music & Arts

[Video] This Music Video Is a Quirky Homage to Go Lim Frontwoman Nga Nhi

For those familiar with Hanoi's independent music scene, the name Go Lim should ring a bell. During their fleeting single-year existence between 2011 and 2012, Go Lim was a breath of fresh air among t...

in Travel

Saigoneer Getaways: Indulging Your Inner Castaway on Con Dao

Knowing the time of the tides is important here. The shallow waters around the 16 islands which make up the Con Dao Archipelago some 240 kilometers south of Saigon make for impressive golden beaches a...

Michael Tatarski

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A No-Name Chợ Cũ Food Collective to Satisfy All Your Snack Cravings

Some street eateries in Saigon are so good they don't need a name.

in Arts & Culture

In Vietnam's Contemporary Horror Flicks Lives a Specter of Past Hauntings

About half-way through The Housemaid (Co Hau Gai) I felt an odd sensation. It wasn’t from the gore and panic on display in this horror film but from the fact that not once had there been an overt ment...

Michael Tatarski

in Travel

[Photos] A Pre-Tet Trip to Sa Dec, the Mekong Delta's Flower Capital

Sa Dec, a small Mekong Delta city four hours away from Saigon, turns into a vibrant flower kingdom in the weeks leading up to Tet.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Seeks Visa Waiver Extension to Boost Tourism

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnamese books introduced at India’s international book fair [SGGP] ▪ HCM ...

in Arts & Culture

Other Intimacies: Photography Display Highlights Reflections on Living With Autism

For one week in late January, the group exhibition “Encounters: Reflections into the spaces surrounding families living with autism" transformed the top floor of the Vietnamese Women's Museum in Hanoi...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Chu Se's 65 Years of Hủ Tiếu Mì by the Calmette Bridge

Saigon is home to a number of street food eateries that span generations, from a 100-year old vegetarian joint to a 70-year-old hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho restaurant right in the heart of District 1.

in Literature

Almost Noble: A Review of 'Punji Trap'

The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Nguyen’s breakthrough 2015 novel, is a fictional tale of a North Vietnamese spy working inside the South Vietnamese army during the last legs of the American War. Duality a...

Michael Tatarski

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Fine Dining at a Budget Price in Binh Thanh's Mai Sen Bistro

When it comes to dining in Binh Thanh District, most Saigoneers probably think of street food, or perhaps the strip of Japanese establishments on Pham Viet Chanh Street.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Photochemical Smog Threatens Public Health in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam's deputy PM takes to the streets to celebrate U23 Asian Cup semifinal victory&n...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam to Face Uzbekistan in AFC U-23 Final on Saturday

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam to play against Uzbekistan in AFC U23 champs final [VietnamNet] ▪ ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: UNESCO Discusses New Approach to Study Vietnam’s Heritage

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ UNESCO discusses new approach to study Vietnam’s heritage [DTI] ▪ Vietnam in...

Chris Humphrey

in Music & Arts

An Unexpected Makeover of Hanoi's Old Quarter

In the spring of 2017, Scott Matt became a celebrity in Vietnam overnight. Known as ông Tây râu xồm (the Bearded Westerner), he appeared in news outlets and on various TV channels, all because he...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Considers Increasing Retirement Age in 2021

In a recent draft bill, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs proposed raising Vietnam’s retirement age to 60 for female workers and 62 for male workers, starting from 2021.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Death Toll From Air Pollution 4 Times Higher Than Traffic Accidents

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Death toll from air pollution four times higher than traffic accidents [VietnamNet...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam PM Asks Banking Sector to Cut Interest Rates to Spur Economic Growth

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Ministries disagree on plan to raise taxes [VietnamNet] ▪ Vietnamese PM asks...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC to Call on Investors in Anti-Flooding, Wastewater Treatment

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ HCMC to call on investors in anti-flooding, wastewater treatment [SGGP] ▪ Gr...

Thi Nguyen

in Literature

On Reading Thi Bui's Illustrated Memoir 'The Best We Could Do' in Saigon

One of my favorite pastimes during summer holidays was reading through the textbooks for my next school year. History textbooks were the most interesting and fun to read: they were like the Harry Pott...

Khoi Pham

in Food Culture

Cơm Âm Phủ: Hue’s ‘Purgatory Rice’ That Tastes Like Heaven

Throughout the Vietnam’s decades of development from a war-torn nation to one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies, rags-to-riches stories are a dime a dozen. This is especially true in the country’s c...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Spends $2.1bn Importing 94,000 Cars in 2017

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam transport ministry shelves plan to build airport in Mekong Delta province ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Uber Files Lawsuit Against HCMC’s $2.3m Tax Demand

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Hanoi to spend VND2.5bn to repair the ceramic mural [DTI] ▪ Uber files lawsu...

in Society

Saigon, Dawn of the City of the Digital Nomads

Every profession has its own grind. For those of us who sit behind a desk, the day-to-day routine can quickly turn monotonous: you drive to work, sit at your desk, scroll through emails, make phone ca...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Toyota Vietnam Recalls Another 8,000 Cars Over Airbag Fault

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Hanoi, Da Nang among world’s top trending destinations in 2018: Airbnb [VnExpress]...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 13m Foreigners Spend Holidays in Vietnam in 2017

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ 13 million foreigners spend holidays in Vietnam in 2017 [DTI] ▪ Vietnamese i...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Banking Sector Expects 44% Surge in Profits in 2017

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam escapes damage after typhoon takes heavy toll in Philippines [Reuters] ▪&...

in Society

[Photos] Catholic Neighborhoods in Saigon Celebrate Christmas With Elaborate Nativity Scenes

Unlike most of the western world, Saigoneers see Christmas as less of a time for cozy gatherings at home with family and friends but more as an oppotunity to take to the street to bask in the festive ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Experts Warn Vietnamese Investors of Bitcoin Bubble

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Experts warn Vietnamese investors of bitcoin bubble [DTI] ▪ Tourism sector u...

in Society

[Video] In Saigon, the Christmas Spirit Lives in Tuan's Garbage Cart

Is this Saigon’s most festive garbage cart?

in Podcast

The Saigoneer Podcast Is Here!

Just in time for Christmas, Saigoneer is excited to announce the launch of the Saigoneer Podcast!

in Food Culture

Tracing the Lineage of Da Lat's Delicious Bánh Mì Xíu Mại

Every morning, the corner of Da Lat’s Hoang Dieu and Tran Nhat Duat streets is a mess of plastic tables and rubbish bins, bánh mì crumbs and bodies hunched over small bowls. This particular patch of s...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Launches School of Aerospace Engineering

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Deadly Tropical Storm Kai-tak to threaten southern Vietnam, Malay Peninsula with heavy ...

in Vietnam

[Photos] The Iconic La Dalat, Vietnam’s First Domestic Vehicle

Though production only lasted five years, the La Dalat has earned a place in Saigon history as Vietnam’s first locally manufactured commercial car.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Cocktails and Conversation at Saigon’s Classiest Sidewalk Spot

Editor's note: This review from 2017 was of City Beer Station's first location on Pham Ngoc Thach Street, which has since closed. Over the past years, the cocktail bar has moved numerous times. Recent...

in Asia

North Korean Defector Given Free Lifetime Supply of Choco Pies

South Korean confectionery giant Orion has announced that it will bestow a lifetime supply of Choco Pies to a North Korean soldier who recently defected.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Economy to Reach $300bn by 2020

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam’s economy to reach 300 billion USD by 2020 [DTI] ▪ Inspectors find n...

in Society

On the Vietnamese Language’s ‘Cuk Cak’ Conundrum

Is there room for improvement in the way we write Vietnamese? According to a project by a local academic, the Vietnamese language might be due for a major overhaul.

Khoi Pham

in Culture

Doraemon and 25 Years of Fostering Friendship in Vietnam

To a generation of young Saigoneers, there are many things that might conjure up fond memories of childhood. Those remnants of past decades could take the form of once-popular TV series about time-tra...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Saigon Woman Finally Granted Visa to See Dying Father in US

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Saigon woman finally granted visa to see dying father in US [VnExpress] ▪ Ho...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

From the Bottom of the Barrel to the Top of the Heap: The Rise of Cơm Tấm

Swing by chị Hien’s street cart for dinner on any given day and you’ll find a cross-section of Saigon that covers all demographics: middle-class residents from the apartment blocks up the street,...

in Vietnam

UN Gives Vietnam $4.21m to Rebuild Typhoon-Battered Provinces

The Vietnamese government recently pledged VND1 trillion (US$44 million) in disaster aid after the United Nations (UN) approved US$4.21 million to provide additional assistance to those affected by Ty...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: McDonald's Opens First Store in Hanoi

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ McDonald's opens first store in Hanoi  [Tuoi Tre] ▪ Global giants see Vietna...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: In Hẻm 284, O Thu Brings a Touch of Hue to Saigon With Cơm Hến

As the sun went down and Saigon’s throngs of workers ventured out of their office nests to fill local streets, I was perched on a red plastic stool in a hẻm in District 3 weeping and snorting like an ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Kindergarten Owner Arrested for Child Abuse

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ 145 options proposed for greenhouse gas mitigation [DTI] ▪ HCM City nursery ...

in Travel

Mai Chau: A Delicate Balance of Mass Tourism and Independent Travel

With an expected 13 million international visitors this year, not to mention an ever-increasing number of domestic tourists, Vietnam’s tourism industry is growing at a rapid pace. Across the country, ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Ministry Plans Free Education for Primary, Secondary School Students

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Ministry plans free education for primary and secondary pupils [DTI] ▪ Six-y...

in Food Culture

Sủi Dìn’s Journey From Imperial China to the Streets of Hai Phong

The first time I stumbled upon cô Ut’s nightly sidewalk ritual, the performance was already well under way. Perched on the low steps of what serves as a VietinBank branch by day, the young woman sat r...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Programmer Hints at 'Flappy Bird' Return

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam Stocks Electrified as Deals Prompt ‘Re-Rating’ of Market [Bloomberg] ▪&nb...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Approves Bill Letting Banks Be Declared Bankrupt

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam approves bill letting banks be declared bankrupt [Reuters] ▪ Senior ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnamese Pilot Among 4 Dead in UK Air Crash

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnamese pilot among four dead in UK air crash [VnExpress] ▪ ​Ho Chi Minh ...

Khoi Pham

in Tech

A Brief History of the Internet in Vietnam on Its 20th Birthday

My first memory of the internet in Vietnam occurred in an internet café on Tran Hung Dao Street. It was the early 2000s: Walkman players were still a thing, MTV actually played music, and Britney Spea...

in Saigon

Saigon Leader Slams Sidewalk-Clearing Campaign for Being 'Inhumane'

Saigon's controversial sidewalk-clearing campaign came in for criticism from the city's leader earlier this week.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Chinese-Malaysian Noodles and Saigon's New Generation of Street Food

When it comes to Saigon’s culinary landscape, the southern hub is pretty progressive. In addition to an array of Vietnamese dishes from every corner of the country, the city has also acquired a cosmop...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: ASEAN Sends Aid to Typhoon Victims in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Global coal price hike could cost Vietnam $1.27 billion per year: report [VnExpres...

Khoi Pham

in Film & TV

Short Film 'The Old Ways' Reminds Us Why We Love Vietnam's Northwest

Travelogues are a special genre of video. For those who have set foot in the actual locations featured, perhaps nothing could compare with being able to immerse oneself in the local landscape and cult...

in Saigon

Amid Line 1 Delays, Saigon Plans to Start Building Metro Line 3A

While progress on Saigon’s Metro Line 1 and Line 2 is lagging behind due to delays in funding reimbursement and land clearance, city officials have recently finished a formal plan to commence construc...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Ryan Giggs to Become Director of Football at Vietnam Academy

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Ryan Giggs to take director of football job at Vietnamese academy [Tuoi Tre]

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: During Hanoi Visit, Trump Offers to 'Mediate' in East Sea Dispute

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ ​Trump in Hanoi offers to 'mediate' on East Vietnam Sea dispute [Tuoi Tre] ▪ ...

in Arts & Culture

A Very Saigon Collaboration: Hey Camel Ceramics and Linda Mai Phung’s Workwear Collection

Saigon breeds unusual collaborations. Take a walk around most neighborhoods and you’ll spot the odd storefront that sells both cơm chiên and motorbike parts, or an entrepreneurial spirit who’s managed...

in Food Culture

A Food Folk Tale: How a Poor Farmer Traded Starfruit for Gold

In Vietnam, fruits, especially those of the oddly shaped variety, come with a story. From pineapple to watermelon, there’s not a snack in this country that doesn’t come with a lesson attached. The jui...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Launches Bilingual Tourism Magazine

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ HCM City launches bilingual tourism magazine [DTI] ▪ Trump and Putin set to ...

in Music & Arts

Exploring the Human Condition Through a Fusion of the Familiar and the Strange

In his most recent exhibition, "Paradise Lost", Hoi An-based artist Hoang Thanh Vinh Phong offers a menacing interpretation of day-to-day life. In a selection of seven works of art spanning multiple m...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 3 Moon Bears Freed After Nearly 20 years Behind Bars in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ 3 moon bears freed after nearly 20 years behind bars in Vietnam [VnExpress] ▪&nbs...

in Vietnam

Typhoon Damrey: 44 Dead, 22 Missing, 40,000 Houses Damaged

Vietnam’s coastal provinces were battered by devastating Typhoon Damrey during the weekend.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: McDonald's to Open First Restaurant in Hanoi

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ McDonald's Vietnam to open first restaurant in Hanoi [DTI] ▪ Vietnam to join...

in Arts & Culture

For Saigon's Circus Performers, Money Is a Problem. But the Lack of Viewers Hurts the Most.

Nestled in a corner of Phu Nhuan District’s Gia Dinh Park, the Phuong Nam Circus is hidden under a canopy of towering trees. The main facility is an old, patched-up canvas that’s seen better days, whi...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Ingenuity of 24-Way Grilled Oysters in D4

Innovation is important. With a healthy imagination and a bit of gusto, humans have the ability to create everything from DIY submarines to all-terrain wheelchairs to helmets specifically for married ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Over 1,000 Khaisilk Products Confiscated in HCMC Amid Mislabeling Crisis

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Over 1,000 Khaisilk products confiscated in Ho Chi Minh City amid mislabeling crisis&nb...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Da Nang Schools, Agencies to Have Days off During APEC Week

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Da Nang schools, agencies to be given days off during APEC week [Tuoi Tre] ▪ ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Spends $9.4bn on Debts This Year

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vinamilk tops list of prestigious food – beverage firms in 2017 [SGGP] ▪ Vie...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Tourist Arrivals up 28% Compared to Last Year

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam’s inflation edges closer to annual limit in October [VnExpress] ▪ To...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Photographer Wins International Environmental Photo Prize

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Grab, Uber benefit from ‘unfair competition’: Vietnamese ministries [VnExpress] ▪...

in Society

New Saigon Heat Coach Shakes up Team Roster Ahead of Next Season

Not many professional basketball coaches guide their team to a league title and then bolt to lead a new franchise on the other side of the planet.

Khoi Pham

in Food Culture

A Food Folk Tale: The Savage Clapback That Turned a Girl Into a Pineapple

Growing up in Vietnam, it seems that everything – from common household objects to fruits – has an origin story. Some of these local folk tales have a decidedly romantic angle, but others – like the l...

in Travel

[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Laos' 50 Shades of Green

The first thing you notice when you arrive in Laos is the green: it’s everywhere. It’s not the buildings that catch your eye but the landscapes: untouched wilderness, valleys, trees, fields, all of it...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Made-in-Vietnam Chemotherapeutic Drug Reduces Treatment Cost by 60%

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Foreign ownership in Techcombank officially at 0% [VnExpress] ▪ Vietnamese c...

in Society

Readers’ Choice: What Are Saigon’s Best Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods?

As Saigon continues to grow and develop by the day, the city's transformation is more visible in some neighborhoods than others. Earlier this month, we asked Saigoneer readers to let us know which nei...

in Development

Japan's Aid Agency Voices Concerns Over Vietnam's Handling of ODA Loans for Metro Projects

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is not happy about how the Vietnamese government manages its official development assistance (ODA) loans.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Wants to Ban Jeans, T-Shirts in Public Offices

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Ho Chi Minh City wants to ban jeans and T-shirts in public offices [VnExpress] ▪&...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Green Delight of Phu Yen's Bánh Canh Hẹ

In the age of the internet, we go back and forth about everything, including whether or not the most important meal of the day is, in fact, important. While members of the medical profession continue ...

in Stories

VietJet Air, Qatar Airways Sign Interline Partnership

VietJet has signed an interline partnership with Qatar Airways in an effort to create more options and convenience for passengers.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Typhoon Khanun Weakens Into Tropical Depression

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Typhoon Khanun weakens into tropical depression [SGGP] ▪ Vietnam’s ‘Glorious...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Floods Kills 83, More Rain on the Way

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam floods killed 83 and more rain on the way [VnExpress] ▪ Provinces re...

in Food Culture

Viet Nam Mien Ngon: A Journey in Watercolor Through Vietnam's Diverse Cuisine

Vietnam has long been an enthralling destination for foodies near and far – just ask Anthony Bourdain, the globetrotting New York chef who has repeatedly professed his love for the Southeast Asian cou...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vingroup's Retail Unit Launches up to $713m IPO, Vietnam's Largest

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vingroup's retail unit launches up to $713 million IPO, Vietnam's largest [VnExpre...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Named Asia-Pacific’s Best Golf Destination in 2017

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam named Asia-Pacific’s best golf destination in 2017 [VietnamNet] Uber Vietn...

in Food Culture

Watch out for These 5 Vietnamese Food-Related Superstitions

Every culture has its own customs, superstitions and traditions, some of which are so time-honored that even their strictest followers aren’t really clear on where the etiquette comes from. Vietnam ce...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Withdraws Run for UNESCO Director General

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam withdraws run for UNESCO Director General position [VietnamNet] Vietnam’s ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Launches 3rd Pair of Locally-Made Guided Missile Corvettes

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam launches third pair of locally-made guided missile corvettes [Tuoi Tre] Ho...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Binh Dinh Company Director Detained for Huge Forest Destruction Crime

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Director detained for huge forest destruction crime [DTI] ​Industrial park develop...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Puts Forward Candidate as UNESCO Seeks New Leader to Revive Fortunes

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam puts forward candidate as UNESCO seeks new leader to revive fortunes [VnExpress...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Sumptuous Street Snacks of Ha Cao Ban Co

Whether we’re talking about the packaged foods aisle at Circle K or the lady whipping up bánh tráng trộn on the street corner, snack foods often meet two distinct criteria: they are both delicious and...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Tourism Firm Fined for Encroaching on Nha Trang Bay

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Tourism firm fined for encroaching on Nha Trang Bay [DTI] ​Ho Chi Minh City buildi...

in Culture

[Photos] Color and Lights: Tet Trung Thu on D5's Lantern Street

Every fall, District 5’s Luong Nhu Hoc Street becomes a melee of lanterns, kids’ toys and dragon dance paraphernalia ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Accused Women Plead Not Guilty in Kim Jong Nam Poisoning Trial

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Kim Jong-nam poisoning trial: accused women plead not guilty [The Guardian] Ho Chi...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Chinese Tourists Top List of Foreign Visitors to Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. South Korean appointed national football team coach [DTI] Chinese tourists top lis...

in Arts & Culture

Board Game Van Tich Turns Vietnamese Legends Into Action Figures

Step into Nguyen Huu Tu’s office, and it’s pretty clear from the get-go how he feels about action figures. Running along one side of the room are several display cases, each housing an array of superh...

Khoi Pham

in Food Culture

Bánh Cuốn, Chee Cheong Fun and Pork Intestine Rice Rolls: A Sprawling Family Tree

One of Vietnam’s most common breakfast foods, bánh cuốn, might not save a life – not in the way that a bowl of hearty phở can – but the silky rice rolls sure do make living easier.

in Health

Vietnam's Abortion Rates Remain Highest in Asia Due to Lack of Awareness

The frequency of unplanned pregnancies and abortions among young Vietnamese remains high despite government efforts to raise awareness on effective contraception.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Internet Cables to Be Completely Fixed This Weekend

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Repairs to Vietnam's submarine internet cables set for completion this weekend [VnExpre...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Official Says Giving Students English Name 'Not Good for Traditional Education'

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Giving students English names ‘not good for traditional education’: Vietnam official [T...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: 3 New Caves to Open to Tourists at Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam rice paper artisans roll with tradition [Jakarta Post] Three new caves to ...

in Society

Urban Rewilding: The Ins and Outs of Organic Food in Vietnam

Navigating the intricacies of a healthy, organic lifestyle can be complicated, ever under the best of circumstances. Today, as awareness surrounding organic produce grows both here and abroad, the cou...

in Tech

Vietnam to Allow Switching Mobile Carrier While Retaining Phone Number This December

If you’ve been thinking about switching to another service provider but are reluctant to change your phone number, there’s some good news.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: An Evening of Bánh Xèo Phan Rang and People-Watching by the Canal

There are certain foods in life that take time to love. Mắm tôm, for instance, or mắm chưng. Any of the mắms, really. Durian, I’m told, is a wonderful fruit on the fourth or fifth try. And while some ...

in Vietnam

Draft Law Limits Foreign Property Ownership in Special Economic Zones to 30%

A new draft regulation would limit foreign ownership of real estate in future special economic zones in Vietnam to 30% of any project.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Starts ASEAN Para Games With Gold Haul

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam starts ASEAN Para Games with gold haul [Tuoi Tre] ​Da Nang chairman faces ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Da Nang Authorities Encourage Locals to Smile More

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi hospital opens weekly ‘cinema’ for children with cancer [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam’s...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam to Produce Own Bird Flu Vaccine From 2018

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam to produce own avian influenza vaccine from 2018 [DTI] 70 percent of Vietn...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Spends $11.8m Preparing for Dioxin Removal Near Former US Military Airbase

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam spends $11.8mn preparing for dioxin removal near former US military airbase [Tu...

Khoi Pham

in Food Culture

A Food Folk Tale: Mai An Tiêm, CEO of Vietnam’s First Watermelon Startup

If you’ve been around a traditional Vietnamese household during Tet, you have probably noticed the presence of gargantuan, child-sized, dark green watermelons on the altar. 

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Northern Central Region Braces for Storm Doksuri

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Northern central region braces for Storm Doksuri [DTI] Vietnamese film Father and ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Nearly 80,000 Vietnamese Working Overseas in First 8 Months

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Nearly 80,000 Vietnamese working overseas in first 8M [DTI] Vietnamese troll fined...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Copyright Watchdog to Start Charging Local Hotels From October

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s copyright watchdog to start charging local hotels from October [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Kong Director Hospitalized After Alleged Bar Fight in Saigon

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Kong director hospitalized after alleged bar fight in Saigon: reports [VnExpress] ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Hanoi to Axe More Trees to Make Room for Metro

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. More trees face chop for Hanoi metro [DTI] Vietnam Airlines retains four-star stat...

in Saigon

Vietnam PM Supports Plan to Give Saigon More Policy Autonomy

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed to a proposal which would give Saigon more leeway to set policies separate from the central government, though details of the plan remain vague.

Michael Tatarski

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Quick, Delicious, No-Nonsense Lunch at Quan Com Ga Hai Nam

Now that I'm on my fourth chicken-centric Hẻm Gem, I guess I might as well start carrying out these assignments dressed as a chicken.

in Arts & Culture

[Video] Coi: A Creative Plea for Less Horn-Honking on Saigon’s Streets

Vietnamese traffic has a bad reputation among both local and foreign drivers for its chaotic nature. From sidewalk driving to texting behind the wheel and creative interpretations of local street sign...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Tech Outfit Bkav Invests $22m in Smartphone

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese engineers aspire to make strides in farming technology [Tuoi Tre] Bkav ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam in Talks to Acquire Rights to Finland's Education Program

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HED [VnExpress] Ho Chi Minh City water park found raising leopards, Asian golden c...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam PM Endorses Son Doong Cable Car Plan

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s PM endorses cable car plan to world famous cave system [VnExpress] Repai...

in Vietnam

Central Government Plans to Legalize Cryptocurrencies in Vietnam by 2019

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved the establishment of a legal body that will manage cryptocurrencies and digital assets in Vietnam.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam’s Track-and-Field Team Ends Thai Dominance at SEA Games

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s track-and-field team ends Thai dominance at SEA Games [Tuoi Tre] East Vi...

in Food Culture

Saigon’s Craft Beer Scene Strikes a Balance Between Foreign Brews and Vietnamese Tastes

“It’s bitter,” says De, a resident of Go Vap District, after taking a sip of a locally brewed India Pale Ale at Quan Ut Ut. “I’m not sure I’m ready for it,” he adds sincerely.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Saigon’s First Designated Food Street to Open on Monday

Earlier this year, as District 1 People’s Committee Vice Chairman Doan Ngoc Hai ramped up his sidewalk-clearing campaign, Saigoneers wondered about the fate of the city’s street food vendors. Now, jus...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Sủi Cảo and Handmade Noodles, a Match Made in Food Heaven

Is this the best mì sủi cảo in Saigon? I don’t know, but it’s pretty goddamn delicious.

in Travel

[Photos] On the Early Morning Trail in Da Lat, Romance and Halcyon in the Mist

Vietnam is a country that rises early. Before the sun comes up, you’ll find street vendors hauling out their wares, elderly people exercising in the park and kids shuffling off to school.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Company Director Sparks Outrage After Slapping Female Doctor in Central Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Company director sparks outrage after slapping female doctor in central Vietnam [Tuoi T...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Polluting Factories Still Remain in Hanoi's Residential Quarters

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Polluting factories still remain in Hanoi's residential quarters [VietnamNet] Prof...

in Travel

Tourism Businesses Are Trying to Clean up Vietnam

The sun already threatens to sap our energy even though it’s barely mid-morning on Thanh Da Island. Devoid of the tall buildings and claustrophobic blocks found downtown, this small patch of greenery ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Battles Dengue Outbreaks With 42% More Cases

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam battles dengue outbreaks with 42% more cases [Business Mirror] Vietnamese ...

in Vietnam

Amid Issues With Da Nang Authorities, Uber Announces Fare Hike in Saigon, Hanoi

Getting around Vietnam’s big metropolises will be more expensive in the future as Uber has increased its fares.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Phieu Ky’s Fantastic Phở Sa Tế

While Pho Phieu Ky’s white walls and fluorescent lighting are nothing special, the hideaway shop in District 5 makes up for its bland color scheme by pasting neon characters – Roman and Chinese – acro...

in Saigon

Work on Overpass Near Tan Son Nhat Delayed Due to Safety Concerns

Saigon officials have decided to suspend construction work on an overpass near Tan Son Nhat International Airport, extending traffic woes for residents and commuters near the congestion hotspot.

in Arts & Culture

[Illustrations] A Colorful Collection of Saigon Landmarks

From its earliest days, Saigon has played a pivotal role in Vietnam’s history, the stories of which live on in its most iconic landmarks.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Dengue Fever Death Toll Rises to 24 as Outbreak Spreads Across Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Dengue fever death toll rises to 24 as outbreak spreads across Vietnam [VnExpress] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: ​Jetstar Launches Direct Flights Between Quang Binh, Chiang Mai

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ​Jetstar launches direct flights between Quang Binh and Chiang Mai [Tuoi Tre] In s...

in Vietnam

Street Cred: Trinh Cong Son, the Voice of a Generation

Earlier this week, Hanoi officials announced the conversion of the capital’s narrow Trinh Cong Son Street into a pedestrian zone featuring artistic performances as well as snacks and souvenirs.

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Cô Nhi and Chú Den's Humble Nui Xào Bò Cart

At this point in our Hẻm Gem journey, I’ve stopped thinking of us – a two-person team consisting of me and my photographer colleague Brandon – as mere food reviewers, but rather food hunters from hunt...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Bkav Unveils Next-Gen Homemade Bphone

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s Bkav unveils next-gen homemade Bphone [Tuoi Tre] Life as a VIP motorbike...

in Arts & Culture

The Renovation Generation: Exploring What It Means to Be Young and Vietnamese

In the years after 1986, Vietnam’s Doi Moi economic reforms transformed one of the world’s poorest countries into a dynamic, fast-growing nation, shaping a generation of young Vietnamese into bright, ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Woman Caught With Cocaine as 'Gifts' for Nigerian Boyfriend

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese woman caught carrying cocaine at Ho Chi Minh City airport  [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Journalist Arrested for Extorting Businesses in Mekong Delta

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese reporter arrested for extorting businesses in Mekong Delta [Tuoi Tre] 1...

in Music & Arts

Art Photographer Explores Vietnam's Spirituality Through Muted Conversations

In his latest exhibition, Muted Conversations, Vu Tien Dat invites his audience to explore the unspoken in Vietnam’s spirituality and superstitions.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: VietJet Named Asia’s Best Employer Brand

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietjet named Asia’s Best Employer Brand [SGGP] Hanoi eyes standard color scheme f...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Forecasts Record Foreign Investment of $16bn

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam forecasts record foreign investment of $16b [Deal Street Asia] Visa-free t...

in Society

Between 2 Worlds: The Dilemma of Vietnam's Foreign-Educated Grads

Every six months, Thuy* leaves Vietnam for Sydney to spend time with her two children, Ha* and Quang*. Far from the bustle of Saigon, Thuy enjoys Australia’s pristine environment and the time spent wi...

in Food Culture

A Brief History of Curry in Vietnam

It is well documented that southern Vietnam’s cuisine has been influenced by the French, but it is also undeniable that the fare has been influenced by another of France’s former colonial hubs: the po...

Michael Tatarski

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Praise Be to Cheap, Tender, Delicious Chicken by the Mosque

Thanks to central Saigon's blistering pace of development and the short-lived sidewalk-clearing campaign of 2017's early months, the downtown area can be something of a street food desert.

in Society

[Photos] Vietnam's Best-Looking Bridges

Bridges have always been an indispensable part of Vietnam’s infrastructure, as rivers and streams spread across the country’s geographic formations.

in Society

[Photos] Wander Through Ton That Dam's Chợ Cũ at Twilight

Downtown Saigon is in flux these days, as old buildings come down and new structures rise from the rubble. While the past few years have brought major changes to District 1, this year has been particu...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Have 1,000 New Buses by 2020

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCM City to have 1,000 new buses by 2020 [SGGP] Vietnam’s most wanted runaway bigw...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon

Street Cred: The Ill-Fated Power Couple of Vietnam's Literary Scene in the 1980s

It’s been almost three decades since that fateful day in 1988 when, in a blink of an eye, Vietnam’s literary scene was robbed off two most beloved talents. Luu Quang Vu and Xuan Quynh’s death was some...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Chef Badeh Brings Syrian Cuisine to Saigon

In the small covered area outside the front door, Chef Badeh brings together two of my favorite things: bread and fire.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Venues for Street Vendors to Open in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Venues for street vendors to open in HCM City [DTI] Vietnam hotel sector starts to...

in Music & Arts

With Ariana Grande, International Pop Culture Comes to Vietnam

When Ariana Grande takes the stage at Saigon’s Quan Khu 7 Stadium on August 23, it will be one of the many nights she’s done so during her Dangerous Woman tour. The American pop star will sing her cha...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam May Relax Flying Rules to Assist Travelers Who Lose Passports

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam may relax rules to assist foreign flyers who lose passports [Tuoi Tre] Vio...

in Arts & Culture

Saigon Spaces: Reuse, Recycle and Reinvent

In a slightly tired traditional tenement block in District 1 is Huong Nguyen’s latest renovation project, a studio apartment overlooking Nguyen Du. Shaded by an old tamarind tree, the building was ori...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Says Indonesian Navy Shot Its Fishermen in Disputed Water

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam says Indonesian navy shot its fishermen in disputed water [VnExpress] Auth...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Kickin' It at Kim Thao's Hột Vịt Lộn Hangout

In the thick of rainy season, afternoon snack spots are hard to come by. Street vendors make do with cement-weighted umbrellas and heavily used tarpaulin, carving out (relatively) dry patches on the s...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Airport Crippled by 5-Hour Traffic Jam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCM City airport crippled by five-hour traffic jam [DTI] Illegal beauty clinic acc...

in Travel

Is Over-Tourism Threatening Sapa?

Heading back from So’s village, there is only one way into Sapa, and one way out.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Host International Traffic Safety Conference

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCM City to host international traffic safety conference [DTI] Another luxury trai...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Globetrotters Name Hoi An Among 15 Best Cities in the World

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Globetrotters name Vietnam's Hoi An among the 15 best cities in the world [VnExpress] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 13 Vietnam Banks Named in World’s Top 1,000

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 13 Vietnamese banks named in world’s top 1,000 [VnExpress] HCM City okays expanded...

in Society

At Hanoi’s Fury Room, Young Vietnamese Relieve Stress Through Destruction

Next time you’re in the capital and looking to unwind, you could opt for the standard walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and an ice-cold bia hơi. Or you could break something.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Tropical Storm Talas Batters Central Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Tropical storm Talas bearing down on central Vietnam [VnExpress] Soc Trang-Con Dao...

in Saigon

[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Chợ Cũ

In today's Saigon, Chợ Cũ on Ton That Dam Street might appear like a derelict wet market, but in its heyday, the street used to be home to a bustling commercial area where merchants from all over...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Among the Most Sedentary Countries on Earth: Study

According to a new study by Stanford University researchers, Vietnam is among the most sedentary countries in the world.

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: In Search of Saigon's Best Home-Cooked Char Kway Teow

Saigon’s street vendors are a special bunch. They come in various shapes, sizes and backgrounds, but all have one raison d'être: creating the most enticing and memorable dishes that leave patrons year...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Reports Outbreak of H5N1 Bird Flu in North

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam reports outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in north [VnExpress] Patients pay high p...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Can Tho Ex-Traffic Inspectors Get Jail Terms, Life Sentence for Extortion

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Can Tho ex-traffic inspectors get jail terms, life sentence for extortion [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Human Remains, Artifacts Found at Airport Excavation in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Human remains, artifacts found at airport excavation in Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Society

Saigon's Tattoo Culture Flourishes Thanks to Changing Attitudes

Danis Nguyen remembers the first time he saw a tattoo. It was on TV, in a world far away from his childhood home in Nha Trang: a world of rebellion, electric guitars and round sunglasses. At 18, ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Ranks Among Best Cities for Solo Travelers

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City ranks among best cities for solo travellers [DTI] Personal traine...

in Health

In Vietnam, Taboo and Tradition Hinder Contraception Awareness

With many urban Vietnamese waiting longer to get married, the country’s younger generations are recognizing the need to open up about sex education in the conservative country.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam to Auction ‘Lucky’ Vehicle License Plates

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam to auction ‘lucky’ vehicle license plates [Tuoi Tre] High-rise developer M...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam to Receive $100m Loan From South Korea for Bridge Projects

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. South Korea to lend $100mn for bridge projects [DTI] Nat Geo rates Topas Ecolodge ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 24 Exposed to HIV After Helping Road Crash Victims in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 24 exposed to HIV after helping road crash victims in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] China rem...

Michael Tatarski

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The D5 Beefsteak Joint That Means Business

There is no shortage of restaurants slinging beef-based dishes in Saigon, but every now and then one comes along and stands out from the pack.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Locals Team Up Against Sand Thieves in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Locals team up against sand thieves in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta [Tuoi Tre] Men taser...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Employers, Unions Fight Again Over Wage Increase

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese men arrested for attacking American in Hanoi [VnExpress] Vietnam’s empl...

in Music & Arts

Urban Art Flourishes in Cambodia Despite Challenges

Cambodia’s Urban Arts Festival has had its fair share of controversy in only two years, however that hasn’t stopped the festival’s founders and aspiring artists from inspiring the next generation of K...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Japan Holds First National Vietnamese Language Exam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Japan holds first national Vietnamese language exam [VnExpress] Tax proposal offer...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

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

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 do...

in Arts & Culture

Saigon Spaces: Huy Nguyen's Home for Repurposed Vintage Treasures

Huy Nguyen’s lovingly restored colonial-era bolt-hole, tucked away above a hẻm off Nguyen Hue, is a masterclass in making the best use of small spaces. As the owner of Mountain Retreat restaurant, Ngu...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Shaky Internet Connections in Vietnam as New Undersea Cable Breaks

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Shaky internet connections in Vietnam as new undersea cable breaks [VnExpress] Ove...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Experts Warn of More Deadly Heat Waves for Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Experts warn of more deadly heat waves for Vietnam [VnExpress] Vietnam police susp...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi’s Notorious Water Pipe Breaks Again

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi’s notorious water pipe breaks again [VnExpress] Five Vietnamese companies in...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Downtown Saigon Streets Re-Routed for Metro Construction

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Downtown Saigon streets re-routed for metro construction [Tuoi Tre] Ho Chi Minh Ci...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Life-Changing Beauty of Bánh Cuốn Trứng

If I have to drive eight kilometers across the city to get breakfast, it’d better be damn good.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: VNA Targets Nearly $4bn in Revenue for 2017

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Airlines targets nearly $4 bln in revenue for 2017 [VnExpress] Vietnam, Ch...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Local Man Stabs Self, Posts Video on Facebook

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam man stabs self, posting video on Facebook [Tuoi Tre] Children forced into ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Exporters Hunt for Robusta Coffee as Supplies Dwindle

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam's exporters hunt for robusta coffee as supplies dwindle [VnExpress] Saigon...

in Society

Out and About in Binh Thanh's Budding Japan Town

Only a ten-minute ride away from Saigon's established Little Tokyo, another Japanese neighborhood is in the making in Binh Thanh District — and it's a whole world apart.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Toxic Spill Feared as Chemical Tanker Stranded in Vietnam Waters

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Toxic spill feared as chemical tanker stranded in Vietnam waters [VnExpress] Austr...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Saigon Water Park Apologizes for Sensual Dance in Kids’ Presence

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Saigon water park management apologizes for sensual dance in kids’ presence [Tuoi Tre] ...

Michael Tatarski

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Pasteur Street's Well-Hidden Cơm Trưa Mother Lode

Every once in a while, you come across a simple Vietnamese restaurant that absolutely blows you away.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Extends Visa Waiver for 5 European Countries

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam extends visa waiver for five European countries [Tuoi Tre] Inside the golf...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Asia Continues Battle as Vietnam Declares Free of Bird Flu

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Asia continues battle as Vietnam declares free of bird flu [VnExpress] Police deta...

in Saigon

Sections of New Overpasses Near Tan Son Nhat to Open This Month

Sections of two new overpasses near Tan Son Nhat International Airport are expected to open later this month.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Hanoi Revives Plan to Ban Motorbikes in Uphill Battle Against Congestion

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi revives plan to ban motorbikes in uphill battle against congestion [VnExpress] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: VietJet Signs $4.7bn in Trade Deals in the US

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. VietJet signs US$4.7 billion in trade deals in the US [DTI] World Bank helps Vietn...

in Development

Historic Maison du Combattant to Be Replaced by Mixed-Used Complex

Two years after the real estate giant Tan Hoang Minh won the bid for Saigon's "gold land" property at 23 Le Duan, the former Maison du Combattant will finally meet the bulldozer this fall.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: American Injured in Car Accident Inside Saigon Zoo

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. American injured in car accident inside Saigon Zoo [DTI] Vietnam Airlines not affe...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 7 Die While Undergoing Dialysis at Northern Vietnam Hospital

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 7 die while undergoing hemodialysis at northern Vietnam hospital [VnExpress] Saigo...

in Development

[Photos] The State of Saigon's Metro: 2017 Progress

Last year you had a chance to marvel at Hanoi’s first metro line from above, now get ready for a glimpse into Saigon’s future Metro Line 1.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Jails 6 Dog Thieves for Combined 30 Years

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam jails six dog thieves for combined 30 years [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam says Google...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: D5's Bò Xào Sa Tế, a Feast for All the Senses

Saigon is changing at a dizzying rate, and so is its food scene: forget about your favorite café or restaurant for a few months and you can come back one day to find it replaced by a convenience store...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Set to Approve Coal-Fired Power Plants Worth $7.5bn

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam set to approve coal-fired power plants worth $7.5 bln [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam m...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Me Linh Square

The square known today as Quảng Trường Mê Linh has been home to five different monuments since its inception in the 1860s.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Jetstar Bans In-Flight Use of Power Banks

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Indonesia, Vietnam to probe reported skirmish in disputed waters [Reuters] Vietnam...

in Music & Arts

A Present Retrospective: Fusing Past, Present and Propaganda

Work Room Four’s current exhibition, A Present Retrospective, connects past and present in the iconic work of Cuban graphic artist René Mederos and the responses of five contemporary Vietnamese artist...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Coast Guard Receives 6 US Patrol Boats

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam's Coast Guard receives six US patrol boats [VnExpress] Vietnam’s 2015 budg...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Pepper Faces Difficulties Because of India’s Ban

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s pepper faces difficulties because of India’s ban [VietnamNet] Vietnam’s ...

in Vietnam

Street Cred: The Brothers From Tay Son

Flip through the history books and you’ll find a recurring character trait in many national heroes. From the Trung sisters to Ngo Quyen to Vo Thi Sau, Vietnamese history is full of badasses. While sev...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Quan 249’s Wondrous Cơm Chiên Emporium

It’s 6pm on a Thursday, and I’m up to my eyeballs in cơm chiên. Page after page, Quan 249’s excessively handled menu features a laundry list of fried rice combinations, some you’ve heard of, some you ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Expat Children in Vietnam Thrive Culturally, Survey Says

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. State-owned hospitals still ignore local medicines [VietnamNet] Vietnamese busines...

in Architecture

Opinion: Saigon’s Architecture Should Express Our Times Today, Not the Past

Based upon its fascinating history, modern-day Saigon displays a rich character all its own, with buildings across the city representing each era of its storied past. However, several faux colonial bu...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi's Water Supply Forecast to Run Dry During Hot Summer

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi's water supply forecast to run dry during hot summer [VnExpress] Hanoi, Beij...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Ca Mau Loses Nearly 450ha of Coastal Land Each Year

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ca Mau loses nearly 450ha of coastal land each year [DTI] Vietnamese-American man ...

in Music & Arts

French Hip-Hop Meets Viet Rap in New Piu Piu Collaboration

As Vietnam’s underground hip-hop scene begins to emerge into the spotlight, one of its rising stars joins forces with an up-and-coming foreign artist to create a track for worldwide release.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: To Chan's Noodle Soup Offers Comfort in a Bowl

If you turn up to a hủ tiếu spot anywhere in this city and there is not a hand-painted, wooden noodle cart taking up one corner of the venue, you may want to think twice about sitting down.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Promote Tourism at Cannes Film Festival

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC to promote tourism at Cannes Film Festival [VietnamNet] Ca Mau bird garden ca...

in Asia

Asia's Rapidly Aging Population Is a Threat to Regional and Global Economy: IMF

Asia’s population is aging so fast that in just a few decades, the region might stop being the top contributor to the global workforce.

in Development

Saigon's Metro Line 1 Might Extend Into Binh Duong and Dong Nai: Study

The governments of both Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces are studying the feasibility of extending Saigon's Metro Line 1 into their areas.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Facebook Crash Sends Vietnam, Asia Into Frenzy

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Facebook crash sends Vietnam, Asia into frenzy [VnExpress] Vietnam cuts size limit...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Announces Player Lineup for U20 World Cup

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam announces players for World Cup [VietnamNet] ‘Made in Vietnam’ explosive r...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: 4 Months After Launch, Hanoi BRT Hit by Poor Occupancy

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi BRT line hit by poor occupancy, four months after launch [Tuoi Tre] Hanoi re...

Michael Tatarski

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: D5's Glorious Com Tam Is the Perfect Drunk Food

Saigon is a city of a million cơm tấm carts, meaning it is easy to pick one at random and chow down. But some stand out from the crowd.

in Saigon

[Photos] Saigon Is Going Green With These Smart Trashcans

If you’ve been hanging out on Nguyen Hue Boulevard recently, you probably noticed the presence of Saigon’s new “smart trashcans”.

in Arts & Culture

Hoa Van Dai Viet: A Very Vietnam Take on Adult Coloring Books

As globalization transforms Vietnam’s cultural landscape, a group of young history aficionados have taken it upon themselves to keep old traditions alive.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Secretariat Turns Down HCMC Proposal on Fireworks for Reunification Day

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Secretariat turns down Ho Chi Minh City proposal on fireworks for Reunification Day [Tu...

in Saigon

Saigon's Metro Construction May Be Delayed Due to Financial Setbacks

Two of Saigon’s largest infrastructure projects – including the high-profile Metro Line 1 and an environmental facility – might be delayed in the near future due to insufficient funds.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hoi An Seeks to Control Tourism Boom on Protected Islands

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hoi An seeks to control tourism boom on protected islands [VnExpress] Nature gets ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Car Market Has 2nd-Fastest Growth in World

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam's car market has second-fastest growth in world [VietnamNet] Vietnam’s pla...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Drivers Bemoan Confusing Toll Booth Rules in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Drivers bemoan confusing toll booth rules in Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] Activists...

in Vietnam

Street Cred: Duy Tan, The 8-Year-Old Emperor

When the French first enthroned Duy Tan, the youngest emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, their expectation was that a boy, at the ripe age of eight, would not take much interest in imperial rule.

Michael Tatarski

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Anh Tư's Dreamy Grilled Chicken in Binh Thanh

Around the Saigoneer office I've become the go-to scribe when it comes to chicken-related Hẻm Gems. Therefore, when a friend described a Binh Thanh-based restaurant with dozens of chickens hanging abo...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Wants Homegrown Social Networks to Replace Facebook

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese government wants homegrown social networks to replace Facebook [VnExpress] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Military-Run Viettel Becomes Vietnam’s First 4G Provider

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Military-run Viettel becomes Vietnam’s first 4G provider [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese pol...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Government, Ministries, Bankers and Businesses Cooperate to Breed Shrimp

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. VIB interested in buying ANZ’s retail operations in Vietnam [Deal Street Asia] Gov...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Up to 15 Storms, Depressions Forecast to Enter East Sea in 2017

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Up to 15 storms, depressions forecast to enter East Vietnam Sea in 2017 [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: An Excursion to Tan Dinh's Secret Bún Hideout

Life is slow in the jungle of hẻms that branches out from Dinh Cong Trang Street. Here, a bún establishment offers noodles of northern heritage using recipes handed down through generations of family....

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Rice Price Out of Sync With Rest of World

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s rice price out of sync with rest of world [VietnamNet] Frequent inspecti...

in Saigon

Hong Kong Lions Roar to Semifinal Sweep of Saigon Heat

David vs. Goliath. Frodo vs. Sauron. The Saigon Heat vs. the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions.

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Balanced Beauty of Bacon and Fried Rice

Our dining experience at A Lung was remarkably simple: there was no turning back when we saw bacon on the menu.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Quang Ninh Lifts Ban on Ha Long Kayaking After 1 Week

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Super-rich in Vietnam on sharp rise, public debt nears ceiling [VietnamNet] At lea...

in Tech

Vietnam to Get Nationwide 4G Coverage by End of April

Under the central government’s ambitious plan to bring Vietnam up to speed with the region's internet standards, local mobile carriers are extending their fourth-generation (4G) high-speed network.

Michael Tatarski

in Society

Chasing Pavements: In Defense of Saigon's Sidewalk Economy

As Doan Ngoc Hai, the leader of Saigon’s most aggressive sidewalk-clearing campaign in recent memory, takes a brief hiatus, headlines about towed cars and demolished buildings often obscure the r...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Under Water Following ‘Unprecedented’ Unseasonal Rain

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City under water following ‘unprecedented’ unseasonal rain [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Travel

[Video] A Mesmerizing Timelapse of Mui Ne From Above

It’s safe to say that Rufus Blackwell has a soft spot for Vietnam.

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Chicken Noodles in Phu Nhuan's Flower Neighborhood

Located deep in the heart of Phu Nhuan District’s “flower” neighborhood, Mi Ga Lua Hong offers up a solid addition to Saigon’s host of chicken-centric dishes: a fried chicken drumstick with dry, green...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Da Nang Orders Removal of Illegally Built Constructions on Son Tra Peninsula

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Da Nang orders removal of illegally built constructions on Son Tra Peninsula [Tuoi Tre]...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Proposes Giant Golden Turtle Statue for Hoan Kiem Lake

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ten-ton golden turtle statue proposed for iconic Hanoi lake [Tuoi Tre] HCMC to ope...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Ranks 2nd Best Place in the World to Teach English

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam ranks second best place in the world to teach English [VnExpress] Four san...

Brian Letwin

in Food Culture

In-N-Out Burger Pop-Up Hits Saigon for One Day

A few lucky Saigoneers were able to enjoy some coveted In-N-Out munchies this afternoon as the American regional burger chain opened a pop-up shop in District 1.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Revives Idea of Banning Private Vehicles in Downtown

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC revives idea of banning private vehicles in downtown [VietnamNet] 9-year-old ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Hanoi and HCMC Top Global Office Yield Index

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi and HCMC top global office yield index [VnExpress] Chinese tourist influx to...

in Arts & Culture

Art for You Returns to Saigon

In Vietnam and around the world, Art with a capital "A" can be an intimidating subject. The pressure to "get" abstract or contemporary artwork has a way of deterring some from becoming museum goers or...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Plans Vendor-Friendly Sidewalks

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City plans vendor-friendly sidewalks [Tuoi Tre] British government war...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Films to Screen at Cannes Film Festival 2017

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese films to screen at Cannes Film Festival 2017 [VietnamNet] Vietnam doubl...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Drunk Men Open Water Reservoir, Flood 2 Communes in Central Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Drunk men open water reservoir, flood 2 communes in central Vietnam [VnExpress] Vi...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: An Expedition to D2's Hole-in-the-Wall Mexican Joint

On the modest patio in front of Simple Place, a charming little hole-in-the-wall in District 2, my Spanish coworker Victor launches into a stirring speech about tacos.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Noi Bai Ranked Among World's Top 100 Best Airports

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Noi Bai ranked among world's top 100 best airports [VietnamNet] 65% of Vietnam ent...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Targets YouTube Ads in Campaign Against Dissent

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City in dire need of parking spaces [Tuoi Tre] Developer remain...

in Saigon

D1 to Organize Street Vendor Areas Amid Sidewalk Clearing Effort

Saigon officials are planning to organize designated street food areas for vendors impacted by the city's ongoing sidewalk-clearing campaign.

in Society

Vietnam Is Aging Faster Than Its Welfare System Can Handle

Ever since the country opened its doors to foreign investments and free market policies a couple of decades ago, Vietnam has enjoyed an enviable rate of economic growth. However, one of the biggest dr...

in Food Culture

Vietnam in World's Top 3 Fastest-Growing Coffee Markets

Vietnam is currently among the top three fastest-growing coffee markets in the world.

Michael Tatarski

in Society

The Rise of Saigon’s Stand-Up Scene

Ahead of Saigon’s first major international comedy festival later this month, Saigoneer talks to members of the local stand-up community, from veterans to relative newcomers, to find out where the jok...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Bún Bò Breakfast in D3

Tucked away in a narrow storefront along District 3’s Nguyen Thien Thuat is a mean bowl of breakfast bún bò Huế.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Airports Seek $1.4bn for Infrastructure Upgrade

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam's airports seek $1.4bn for infrastructure upgrade [VnExpress] Hanoi vows t...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s February Car Sales Rise 50%

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s February car sales rise 50% [VnExpress] Female workers have short career...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Da Nang Considers Blocking Uber, Grab

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Da Nang considers blocking Uber, Grab [VnExpress] Authorities search for bootleg a...

in Vietnam

Hanoi Woman Fined $260 for Littering

Last week, a woman in Hanoi was fined VND6 million for littering under a new regulation.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnamese Justice Official Causes Uproar for Vandalizing Da Lat Cherry Tree

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam says Kim murder suspect thought it was a prank [Reuters] Vietnam's top swi...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Cô Khanh's Vegetarian Banquet and a Trip Down Memory Lane

On days when the thought of biting into a slab of greasy fried pork fills your gut with mild disgust, Saigon’s scores of vegetarian eateries are exactly what you need to cleanse your palate.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Mass Fight Breaks Out at Samsung Plant in Northern Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Algal bloom paints red streak in Vung Ang economic zone [DTI] Vietnamese lawyers o...

in Arts & Culture

3A Station Is Closing in 2 Months

After three years, 3A Station is closing.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Students’ High Scores at PISA Tests Remain Mystery to Experts

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Students’ high scores at PISA tests remain mystery to experts [VietnamNet] Vietnam...

in Saigon

Inside Saigon Official’s Controversial Sidewalk-Clearing Campaign

As a new week begins, Vice Chairman Doan Ngoc Hai of the District 1 People’s Committee has made it clear he plans to continue his sidewalk-clearing campaign.

in Tech

Vietnam Aims to Bring Internet Access to 80-90% of Population

Vietnamese IT officials are hoping to bring internet access to as much as 90% of the local population.

in Saigon

Saigon to Evict Shops and Cafes From 42 Nguyen Hue

You might need to sit down for this: in the next few months, Saigon’s most popular cafe apartment building at 42 Nguyen Hue Boulevard will be stripped of its businesses.

Michael Tatarski

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Grilled Chicken With a Side of Jet Fuel

In the pantheon of great street food locations in Saigon, many of my favorite places to chow down can barely even be considered restaurants. Is there really a need for four walls and real furniture wh...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Kim Jong-Nam Was Killed by VX Nerve Agent, Malaysians Say

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Kim Jong-Nam Was Killed by VX Nerve Agent, Malaysians Say [The New York Times] Tra...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 2 Killed, 12 Injured in Bus Explosion in Northern Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Two killed, 12 injured in passenger bus explosion in northern Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] I...

in Sports

Vietnamese Athletes Head to the Start Line in First-Ever Asian Winter Games

This week, even during Saigon’s cool, dry season mornings, people across the city will face 34-degree heat on their morning commute, many of them heading toward air-conditioned offices and shaded pati...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Raises Border Alert Following Cambodia Bird Flu Outbreak

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam raises border alert following Cambodia bird flu outbreak [VnExpress] V...

in Saigon

Saigoneers Should Walk More to Reduce Pollution, Traffic Congestion: City Official

After unveiling a plan for river bus services, Saigon officials are encouraging the southern hub’s residents to ease traffic congestion by walking to school or work if their destination is within thre...

in Food Culture

70% of D1's Street Food Vendors Don't Meet Food Safety Standards: Report

The majority of District 1’s street vendors do not comply with health standards, according to a recent report, but the situation has improved since 2015.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Aims to Halve Traffic Congestion Spots by Year-End

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City aims to halve traffic congestion spots by year-end [Tuoi Tre] Vie...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Beef and Booze at Lau Bo Co Thao

The alley where cô Thao has set up shop isn’t worth remembering. A high concrete wall runs down one side, reflecting the sun that’s sapping our energy on this hot, dusty Friday afternoon, while the ot...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: India in Talks With Vietnam for First Missile Sale

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. India says in talks with Vietnam for first missile sale [Tuoi Tre] 'Miss Saigo...

in Saigon

Saigon Metro Construction to Demolish Ben Thanh Roundabout, Bus Station

Saigon’s historic Quach Thi Trang roundabout in front of Ben Thanh Market will soon be no more.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: New US Visa Policy Worries Vietnamese Travelers

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. New US visa policy worries Vietnamese travelers [VietnamNet] Methanol poisoning su...

in Culture

At Tết Nguyên Tiêu, a Celebration of the Lunar Year's First Full Moon

Last Saturday, on the first full moon of the first lunar month, members of Saigon’s ethnic Chinese community celebrated Tet Nguyen Tieu, or the Lantern Festival.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: VietJet Air to List at End of February

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. VietJet Air to list at end of February [Nikkei Asian Review] HCM City offers onlin...

in Saigon

Street Cred: Nguyen Du, Father of Vietnamese Literature

Even if you’re in need of a refresher on Vietnamese history, chances are you know the name Nguyen Du. The 19th-century statesman and poet is often known as the father of Vietnamese literature, and his...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Refreshing Chè at Hiển Khánh, a 60-Year-Old Retro Hangout

Relishing a bowl of assorted chè at Thach Che Hien Khanh is more than just an afternoon spent shooting the breeze with friends, it’s also a trip down memory lane and an exploration into Saigon’s herit...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Can Tho to Pilot Public Bicycle Rental Services

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Can Tho to pilot public bicycle rental services [DTI] Casinos report losses while ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Air Carriers Warned They May Lose in Home Market

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Scientists warn of dangers in using old plastic bottles with EDC [VietnamNet] Viet...

in Saigon

[Video] Hop on Saigon's Shiny New Electric Bus

Tourists in Saigon are now able to enjoy the city’s scenery on four eco-friendly electric buses. 

in Tech

Facebook Is Vietnam's Favorite Way to Shop: Surveys

While Vietnam’s goal of becoming a cashless society by 2020 seems like a lofty one to say the least, some Vietnamese are well on their way toward embracing technology for shopping, according to three ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Welcomes First E-Visa Visitor

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam welcomes first e-visa visitor [Tuoi Tre] Binh Thuan okays floating power p...

in Environment

Southeast Asia's Air Pollution Deaths Could Triple by 2030

A new Harvard-backed report is predicting the future of Southeast Asia’s air quality, and it does not look good.

in Vietnam

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

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City’s downtown flower show ready for opening [Tuoi Tre] Hanoi will no...

in Culture

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

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.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

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

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 s...

in Vietnam

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

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s biggest network operators plan to waive roaming fees [VietnamNet] Vietna...

in Vietnam

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

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese parents shocked over adult content in YouTube videos for children [VnExpress...

Michael Tatarski

in Literature

How Mekong Review Aims to Connect Southeast Asia Through Literature

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 a...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Traffic Congestion in Hanoi Worse Than in Saigon

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Traffic congestion in Hanoi worse than in Saigon [VietnamNet] Will golf courses at...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Perfect Plate of Cơm Trưa by the River

In Saigon, cơm trưa is more than just a meal: it’s also a cultural trait, a community and, at times, a serious business, all wrapped up in a plate of freshly cooked rice and perfectly caramelized chun...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong Visits China to Deepen Ties This Month

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong visits China to deepen ties this month [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam’s Longest Sea Bridge to Open to Traffic This May

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s longest sea bridge to open to traffic this May [VnExpress] HCMC to pilot...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Lunch Hour Gone Rogue at Oc Thao

In the vast and complex world of Saigon street food, ốc is generally classified as a staple of the fourth meal: nhậu. Its various forms, whether doused in garlic, drizzled with mỡ hành or swimming in ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Among Most Optimistic Countries on Economic Prosperity

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam among most optimistic countries on economic prosperity [VOV] Vietnam healt...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Scissors Pulled From Vietnam Man's Stomach 18 Years After Surgery

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Scissors pulled from Vietnam man's stomach 18 years after surgery [Daily Mail] Vie...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Become Second Largest Expat Group in South Korea

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese become second largest expat group in South Korea [VnExpress] Nutritioni...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hundreds Run for Clean Toilets in Southern Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hundreds run for clean toilets in southern Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Dog theft gang buste...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Welcomes Five-Millionth International Visitor in 2016

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City welcomes five-millionth int’l visitor in 2016 [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: 2017 to Be Good Year for Vietnam Economy

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 2017 to be good year for Vietnam economy: analysts [VietnamNet] Vietnam claims hau...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Woman Suffers Blindness, Stroke After Nose Job

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam woman suffers blindness, stroke after nose job [Tuoi Tre] Crocodiles in Vi...

Michael Tatarski

in Environment

Coffee Production in Vietnam Faces Dark Future Under Climate Change

Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns may cost Vietnam 50% of its current Robusta coffee production areas by 2050. Experts agree the situation looks dire, but there is hope that the count...

in Arts & Culture

Wonderfilled Magazine Explores Saigon’s Sustainable Leather Goods

Ahead of their Saigon issue, Saigoneer presents an exclusive excerpt from Wonderfilled Magazine. Now in its sixth volume, the travel magazine tells stories about creativity around the world. Each issu...

in Food Culture

Bottoms Up: Alcohol Consumption Exploding in Vietnam

While this may come as no surprise to anyone who has driven past one of Saigon's many raucous beer clubs, Vietnam is home to one of the fastest-growing alcohol markets in the world.

in Travel

Riding the Rails in Yangon and Beyond

“Hmmm…very interesting,” our new Myanmar friend muttered to herself, eyebrows arched, as she reached out to stroke Matt’s hirsute American arm.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Cô Hong’s Killer Late-Night Cơm Tấm

In the 16 years she’s spent selling cơm tấm on the District 4 side of the Calmette Bridge, cô Hong has seen some things.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Donald Trump Speaks to Vietnam PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Hopes to Strengthen Ties

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Donald Trump speaks to Vietnam PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, hopes to strengthen ties [Internati...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 10 Districts in Hanoi to Have 5-6 Star Hotels

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 10 districts in Hanoi to have 5-6 star hotels [VietnamNet] Hanoi police propose br...

in Arts & Culture

[Illustrations] Animals, Explained: 6 Unusual Vietnamese-to-English Translations

When it comes to the gap between Vietnamese and English, there are a lot of things that get lost in translation.

Brian Letwin

in Food Culture

[Photos] Rita Cafe, a Lush Oasis Under Saigon Bridge

Before it was added to Google Maps a few months back, Cafe Rita was nothing more, it seemed, than a green smudge along the District 2 side of the Saigon Bridge.

in Vietnam

Uber Still at Odds With Government After Paying Taxes

Uber Vietnam has once again gotten into trouble with local authorities for – wait for it – dodging taxes.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Hospital Becomes Country’s First to Offer Robot-Assisted Surgery

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City hospital becomes country’s first to offer robot-assisted surgery [Tuoi...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Phu Nhuan's Beef Inferno

It might take more than a few Hẻm Gem reviews to chronicle all the things I have gone through for good food in Saigon.

in Saigon

City Approves Project to Build Underground Parking Lot Beneath Saigon Zoo

In an effort to tackle some of the city’s parking woes, municipal officials have agreed to build an underground parking lot beneath the Saigon Zoo.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: In Vietnam, High-Pollution Industries Enjoy Relaxed Environmental Standards

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. In Vietnam, high-pollution industries enjoy relaxed environmental standards  [Tuoi Tre]...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Saigon’s Plan to Draw Tourists With Weekly Fireworks Shows Raises Eyebrows

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Saigon’s plan to draw tourists with weekly fireworks shows raises eyebrows [VnExpress] ...

in Saigon

A Throwback to Saigon's Original Tramway Network

As ever-increasing levels of traffic congestion and air pollution turn many of Ho Chi Minh City’s road junctions into choking bottlenecks, many hopes are pinned on plans to construct a new urban railw...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Striking a Balance With D10's Chè

If life is all about balance so, too, is food.

in Saigon

Saigon to Expand Its Bus Advertising Scheme

After a successful trial run, Saigon will expand its bus advertising program to include all 136 routes around the city.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Many Vietnamese Women Believe Spousal Abuse Can Be Justified

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Northern Vietnam city’s ex-Party chiefs jailed for abusing powers [Tuoi Tre] Many ...

in Heritage

The Legacy of Hui Bon Hoa

It’s fairly common knowledge that the city’s Fine Arts Museum was once home to old Saigon’s wealthiest family, however few people know that much of the sprawling Hui Bon Hoa complex was not actually b...

in Development

[Photos] MEGA City: The Soul of Saigon

Saigoneer is a proud media sponsor of the third edition of TP. Ho Chi Minh: MEGA City, released last month. The compact and concise photo book explores urban development, landscapes and people in Viet...

Brian Letwin

in Development

[Photos] Future Saigon: City Garden Phase 2

Binh Thanh District’s skyline is set to get a bit more crowded as one of the area’s largest residential developments, City Garden, is sprouting a couple of new towers.

in Arts & Culture

In His Second Feature, Viet Max Leans on Hip-Hop Roots, Unconventional Style

Viet Max is a man of many talents. At 37, the Hanoi native has managed to parlay his eclectic skill set into a breakdancing career, a street fashion brand and, more recently, work as a feature film di...

in Music & Arts

From Vandals to Vanguards: Saigon’s Graffiti Artists Take on Fine Art Venues

This weekend, as Saigon’s street artists converge upon The Factory Contemporary Arts Center for a two-day showcase of rap, hip-hop, breakdancing and graffiti, SubyOne has something to prove.

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: D1's Rainy-Day Cháo Mực

“A cháo a day keeps the cold at bay.” – Saigoneer proverb

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam to Deactivate 12 Million Unregistered SIM Cards

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam to deactivate 12 million unregistered SIM cards [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese stud...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Airlines Adds Nearly 900 Flights During Tet Holiday

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Airlines adds nearly 900 flights during Tet holiday [DTI] Social network f...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 5 Million Vietnamese Lack Standard Toilets

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 5 million Vietnamese lack standard toilets [VnExpress] Cold spell to hit northern ...

Brian Letwin

in Architecture

[Photos] Saigon Architect Combines Past and Present at 4Ps Ben Thanh

In its new space near Ben Thanh Market, Saigon's most popular Japanese pizza joint, Pizza 4Ps, has managed to combine the southern hub's unique sense of place with innovative contemporary architecture...

in Society

Take a Tour of D10’s 64-Year-Old Mosque

The gate to Masjid Niamatul Islamiyah does its best to hide the shaded, green garden behind it from street view. On the outside, you’re more likely to notice the motorbike repair shop next door spilli...

in Travel

Earn a Free Stay in Da Lat by Planting a Tree

In Da Lat, the cozy Nha Gio Countryside guesthouse opens its doors to travelers who are willing to plant a tree as payment for a night’s stay.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: An Old-School Nhậu on D10's Bia Hơi Block

Any self-respecting Saigoneer has a certain reverence for the art of nhậu.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi to Spend Over $312,000 to Support Startup Community

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi to spend over $312,000 to support start-up community [DTI] Parents pay for b...

in Saigon

Saigon Needs $7.6bn for Infrastructure Projects by 2020: Official

In the wake of budget cuts, Saigon’s municipal government is projecting a required investment of US$7.6 billion to implement the city’s planned infrastructure projects by 2020.

in Travel

Saigon-Vung Tau Hydrofoil Service to End in December

By the end of this year, Saigoneers will no longer be able to take a hydrofoil to Vung Tau.

in Development

[Photos] Saigoneers Tell the Story of a City Undergoing Drastic Change

Saigoneer is a proud media sponsor of the third edition of TP. Ho Chi Minh: MEGA City, released earlier this month. The compact and concise photo book explores urban development, landscapes and people...

in Vietnam

In Hanoi, UberX Is Now 50% More Expensive

In a controversial move, Uber recently announced that it is increasing its fares in Hanoi.

in Vietnam

Morning News Round: Officials Punished for Illegal Logging in Quang Nam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Officials punished for illegal logging in Quang Nam [VNS] How Malaysia allows chil...

in Development

Tan Son Nhat Is One Step Closer to Getting a Metro Line

Preparations are moving forward on a two-kilometer extension connecting Saigon Metro’s planned Line 5 with Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Brian Letwin

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Crab Curry Fit for a King

At a glance, this week’s District 4 Hẻm Gem might appear like any typical ốc restaurant in Saigon. Quan Oc 63’s laminated menu offers up no less than 40 dishes within its sticky plastic pages. However...

in Travel

Vietnam Launches New National Tourism Website

On Tuesday, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) launched its new and improved tourism website in an effort to boost the quality of the country’s tourism information and services.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Protesters Block Traffic in Hanoi After Requests for Street Overpass Remain Unanswered

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Protesters block traffic in Hanoi after requests for street overpass remain unanswered ...

in Heritage

Lost and Found: A Trip to Saigon’s Antique Market

The second he sees me, rolling down the crumbling concrete path on a dented bicycle, Chien perks up and heads in my direction.

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Nguyen Thuong Hien's Quaint Corner Juice Heaven

In Saigon, when life gives you grapefruits, you create a thriving business to sell its juice to health-conscious locals.

in Tech

Vietnamese Design Startup Earns Over $27,000 in First 3 Days

Fresh off a win at the Vietnam Creative Business Cup, Hanoi-based startup DesignBold raked in over US$27,000 in the first three days of its beta phase, a promising sign for the young venture.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Truck Catches Fire, Looted by Mobs in Central Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Truck catches fire, looted by mobs in central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam PM orders...

in Society

Taiwan Is on the Brink of Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage

Tens of thousands of people recently descended upon Taipei to celebrate Taiwan’s 14th annual Pride weekend with a renewed hope: as early as next year, the small island nation could become the first in...

in Arts & Culture

International Photographer Captures Spirit of Đạo Mẫu in Vibrant New Photo Book

Tewfic El-Sawy’s introduction to Đạo Mẫu, also known as the Mother Goddess religion, began with music.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Prisons to Allow Inmates Private Time With Spouse

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam prisons to allow inmates private time with spouse [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam confi...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: D1's Bún Mọc Assembly Line

We leave our office in search of District 1’s famed phở áp chảo only to find bún mọc in a hopeless place.

in Society

Vietnam's Fast-Growing Middle Class a Juicy Target for Foreign Brands

Due to rapid economic growth and prolonged political stability, urban Vietnamese have become richer in a short amount of time. This boost in purchasing power among the local middle class has created a...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Restoration Begins on 88-Year-Old Market in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Restoration begins on 88-year-old market in Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] Hanoi man ...

in Development

Saigon Seeks Approval for First Phase of $1.84bn Metro Line 5

After much delay, Ho Chi Minh City officials are seeking approval from the National Assembly for the construction of the first phase of Metro Line 5.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Google Maps Turns Green Light on Traffic Updates in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Village officials take relief aid from flood-stricken villagers in central Vietnam [Tuo...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Now Has 65% Fewer Traffic Jams Than Last Year: Ministry of Transport

A recent report by the Ministry of Transport revealed that the number of serious traffic jams in Vietnam dropped by 65% during the first nine months of 2016 compared to last year.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Abducted Vietnamese Sailors Finally Home After 4-Year Ordeal With Somali Pirates

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Abducted Vietnamese sailors finally home after four-year ordeal with Somali pirates [Vn...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Fires Transport Inspector for Attacking Vietnam Airlines Employee

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi fires transport inspector for attacking Vietnam Airlines employee [VnExpress] ...

in Eat & Drink

International Pop-Up Restaurant to Open This Week in Saigon

When James Sharman starts talking about the last three weeks, he gets a little wide-eyed. His hands animate each story, hovering above the table. Between sips of coffee, he launches into tales of squi...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Nguyen Tri Phuong's Chicken Rice Paradise

We promise this will be the last Nguyen Tri Phuong-based Hẻm Gem…for now.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Survey Finds 76% of Vietnam's Security Cameras Hackable

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Survey finds 76% of Vietnam's security cameras hackable [VnExpress] HCMC declares ...

in Development

Slimmer New MEGA City Book Highlights Rapid Change in Saigon

For many downtown Saigon residents, it’s hard to remember a time when the Nguyen Hue walking street didn’t exist, despite the fact it’s not even two years old. Such is life in the southern hub: i...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Jetstar Pacific to Open New Routes to Northeast Asian Countries

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Jetstar Pacific to open new routes to Northeast Asian countries [DTI] US, Vietnam ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Weighs Record-Long Lunar New Year Break

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. National Assembly Standing Committee suggests increasing basic salary [VietnamNet] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 30,000 People Die in Vietnam Every Year Because of Air Pollution

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 30,000 people die in Vietnam every year because of air pollution [VietnamNet] Magn...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: 2 More Zika Cases Confirmed in Ho Chi Minh City

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC to build $4,500 apartments for low-income workers [VnExpress] Two more Zika c...

in Saigon

[Photos] One Last Look at Ben Thanh Roundabout, Le Loi and 23-9 Park

On Saturday, city workers began closing off portions of Le Loi Street and Ben Thanh Market’s Quach Thi Trang Roundabout as well as uprooting trees from nearby 23-9 Park.

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Conquering the Giant Bánh Canh Ghẹ Muối Ớt Xanh of D10

My uncle used to say that you haven't had real crab until you have to cook and dismantle one. For this week’s Hẻm Gem, Saigoneer takes you on a trip to do just that, relishing real crabs by break...

in Saigon

Demolition of Saigon Tax Center Officially Starts Today

As you’re reading this, Saigon’s iconic Tax Center is meeting its ultimate demise, making room for a new, 40-story skyscraper.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Disaster Alert and Watch System to Be Built in 13 Coastal Localities

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Disaster alert and watch system to be built in 13 coastal localities [DTI] Vietnam...

in Arts & Culture

Youth Culture Library Finds Niche in Saigon Cafe

The Youth Culture Library sets out to become an outlet of self-expression for young people and non-commercial artists through the ultimate form of alternative culture: zines.   

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Saigon's Original Bò 7 Món

Going to dinner at Au Pagolac is like going to dinner with family. That is, of course, provided your family spans several generations and also serves its meals in crisp, white button-ups and the occas...

in Film & TV

[Video] Mini-Documentary Weaves Visual Portrait of Ta Oi Artisan

As urban Vietnam charges into the future, connecting to the global economy during its modern development, the traditions of rural Vietnam stay alive through a handful of artisans.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Yuan’s Global Popularity Will Impact Vietnam Economy

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Yuan’s global popularity will impact Vietnam economy [DTI] Lung transplants coming...

in Saigon

Date With the Wrecking Ball: The Cercle Sportif Saigonnais

Local conservation groups have expressed concern about a plan approved by the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Culture Palace to demolish the much-loved 1925 Cercle Sportif Saigonnais and replace it with a stat...

in Saigon

Le Loi, Ben Thanh Roundabout Will Close to Traffic for Metro Construction

From October 15 onward, District 1's Le Loi Street and the roundabout in front of Ben Thanh Market will be fenced off due to metro construction.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Cuppa in Saigon's Oldest Cafe

One of the first things Co Suong does when we sit down in the back of her tiny District 3 cafe is bring out the newspaper clippings.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Getting Lost in D3’s Soup Bermuda Triangle

During a busy Thursday lunch hour, my coworker and I commit a soup drive-by.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Saigoneer Reaches 40,000 Facebook Likes

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. YSEALI announces academic fellowship program for members from ASEAN countries [Tuoi Tre...

in Development

Saigon's Old Villas Fall to Demolition Epidemic

Due to the delay in creating a classification system for old mansions in Saigon, the city’s many old buildings are being knocked down at an alarming rate.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Microsoft Partners With Vietnam Silicon Valley to Support Startups

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Expert proposes imposing gradual ban on cars to curb congestion in Vietnamese cities [T...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Rank in E-Government Index Moves Up

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Power-hungry Vietnam may now look to disastrous Lao dam projects [VNExpress] Ho Ch...

in Music & Arts

After Curatorial Shift, Saigon Artbook Delivers Best Exhibition to Date

Founder Dang Thanh Long and curator Shyevin S’ng talk about the work behind Saigon Artbook’s sixth edition and what the future holds for the local nonprofit art initiative.

in Saigon

The Story Behind Cho Ba Chieu

Ba Chieu is an old, bustling local market with nostalgic charm. Built in 1942 in what is today’s Binh Thanh District, Ba Chieu Market has remained largely the same despite Saigon's rapid urbanization ...

in Culture

[Photos] Inside Saigon's Vibrant Lantern Artisan Communities

In Saigon’s Chinese quarter, “lantern streets” have always been one of the most popular spots in the city come mid-autumn.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Scientists Win 4 More US Research Grants

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese mobile start-up ‘Shark Journey’ snaps up $40,000 from Facebook [VNExpress] ...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Lão Hương Thân, One of Saigon's Oldest Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ Restaurants

Is there anything quite as glorious as beautifully done fried chicken?

in Tech

Uber Dodging Taxes on VND1bn in Daily Profits: Official

Vietnam’s battle of the taxi apps has taken another interesting turn: one of the country’s biggest players, Uber, is being called out again for allegedly evading tax payments.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Allocate Area for Street Vendors

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. France to support Vietnam’s sovereignty over waters, airspace: Hollande [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Society

Saigon's Parking Woes: What to Do When a Parking Lot Loses Your Bike

Saigon’s traffic issues are an extremely tough nut to crack for local authorities. In recent years, the government has come up with a slew of solutions in an attempt to ease traffic woes, with va...

in Heritage

[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: The Diem Coup (1963)

In September 1963, reporters and journalists began to hear rumblings about a coup that would ultimately topple the increasingly unpopular Ngo Dinh Diem regime.

in Vietnam

You Can Now Travel From Saigon to Phan Thiet in a New Luxury Passenger Car

On September 2, Saigon Railways unveiled a newly renovated car on the SPT8 train running from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet, right on time for the country’s national day celebration and the 80th...

in Food Culture

The Evolution of Bánh Xèo: A Street Food History

While phở, bánh mì and now, occasionally, bún chả hog the spotlight in Vietnamese cuisine, everyone in Vietnam is familiar, to some degree, with bánh xèo. On street corners and in tiny, mode...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Woman Killed in Pokemon Go-Related Accident in Japan

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Disturbing smell enshrouds southern Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] Heineken buys a br...

in Vietnam

80 Years of Vietnam’s North-South Railway Line

September 2, 2016 is an auspicious day in the history of Vietnam's railways, marking the 80th anniversary of the completion of the “Transindochinois” or North-South railway line.

in Saigon

Street Cred: Hai Thuong Lan Ong, the Father of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

Hai Thuong Lan Ong is one of the most influential figures in the history of traditional Vietnamese medicine.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Bún Sứa Serves Up a Jellyfish Medley Without the Sting

The menu at Bun Sua Co Hanh is geared towards diners with a hankering for seafood, and not just your regular fish and company. They serve something out of the ordinary at this slightly drab river...

in Music & Arts

Saigon Skill and the Rise of Alternative Art Projects

Saigon Skill’s first art group show was a vibrant and uplifting display of Saigon’s unheralded talents. Hopes are high that this new project will expose the untapped creatives in the city.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoians Go Fishing in the Streets After Typhoon Dianmu

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC to set up emergency aid stations, train paramedics [Thanh Nien] 6.6 kilos of ...

Khoi Pham

in Society

Catching 'Em All in Saigon: Pokemon GO Brings More Than Old School Nostalgia to Vietnam

One of my colleagues threatened to ban Pokemon GO in the Saigoneer office after he saw me catching a Pidgey, a bird-type Pokemon, at our desk.

in Vietnam

How a French Adventurer Became King of the Central Highlands

Many will have heard of Englishman James Brooke, the so-called “White Rajah” who in the 1840s established the Kingdom of Sarawak, or indeed of French lawyer Orélie-Antoine de Tounens, who in 1860 foun...

in Development

Saigon’s Traffic Nightmare: Challenges and Potential Solutions

On one particularly horrific Monday evening last summer, I wound up in a traffic jam. Bounding over the bridge between District 1 and Phu Nhuan, my jaw dropped as I found a sea of vehicles on the othe...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Slurping Mì Ốc Hến in District 4 With Công 'the Enforcer'

Shuffling along in flip-flops and a pair of baggy shorts, Công the Enforcer arrives at our table.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Boy Burns $1,500 Worth of Bills Using Hairdryer

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese boy burns $1,500 worth of bills using hairdryer [Tuoi Tre] Northern Vie...

in Food Culture

Chowing Down on Crickets: Vietnam’s First Mass-Market Edible Insect Business

Crickets look a lot different when they’re fried and doused in seasoning.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Saigon Proposes Fines for People Wearing Fake Helmets

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Airlines plane makes emergency landing after hitting bird [Thanh Nien] Chi...

in Society

The Strict Stipulations Behind Takashimaya's Top-Notch Service

Along with a slew of foreign brands and mouthwatering Japanese pastries, Saigon’s new Takashimaya department store has also brought its unique brand of hospitality to the southern hub in hopes of wowi...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Responds to Chinese Defense Chief's Call for Maritime War Preparation

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam responds to Chinese defense chief's call for maritime war preparation [Tuoi Tre...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnamese Contestant Eliminated From National Pageant for Having Fake Teeth

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese contestant eliminated from national pageant for having fake teeth [Tuoi Tre]...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Entertainer Pleads Guilty to US Child Molestation Charges

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Sponge left inside woman after surgery in Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Vietnamese entertai...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Octogenarian Spends 43 Years Clearing His Name of False Murder Charge

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese octogenarian spends 43 years clearing his name of false murder charge [Tuoi ...

in Literature

Meet Inrasara, the Poet Keeping Cham Culture Alive

Born in the oldest Cham village in Vietnam, poet and literary critic Inrasara has been keeping Cham literature alive for over 30 years. From textbooks to poetry, literary criticism to publishing, the ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Michelin Star a Double-Edged Sword for Hawkers

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Michelin star a double-edged sword for hawkers [TODAY Online] Lost and found pregn...

in Saigon

[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Ben Thanh Market

The southern hub has seen its fair share of transformations over the years. From French colonialism to the swinging 60s, the early days of Đổi Mới to 21st-century Vietnam, Saigon’s urban lan...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC to Sacrifice More Trees for Subway

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC to sacrifice more trees for subway [Thanh Nien] 63 civets saved from cruel fa...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 'Unprecedented' Corrosive Chemical Leak at Vietnam Alumina Refinery

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 'Unprecedented' corrosive chemical leak at Vietnam alumina refinery [VnExpress] 2 ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Man Fined for Killing 3 Monkeys in Central Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Man fined for killing 3 monkeys in central Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Third Zika infecti...

in Development

For Japanese Retailers, Saigon Center Opening a Sign of Good Things to Come

Across the street from a colorful, decades-old Hindu temple, motorbikes pour into the parking garage of the newly opened Saigon Center. Spiraling five floors below ground, the downtown shopping m...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Woman Faces Murder Rap After Crushing Husband's Testicles

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese woman faces murder rap after crushing husband's testicles [VnExpress] 8...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: After Steel Complex, Formosa to Develop Oil Refinery

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. After steel complex, Formosa to develop oil refinery [VietnamNet] Heineken fizz fa...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From frenetic traffic to historic cathedrals, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Vietnam

Street Cred: Princess Huyen Tran's Historic Hanky Panky

Arguably Vietnam’s most famous princess, Huyen Tran was born in 1287 to King Tran Nhan Tong and Queen Thien Cam, rulers of the Dai Viet kingdom. Throughout her childhood, Huyen Tran was your standard,...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Saigon’s Original Bánh Mì Breakfast

I am a lifetime supporter of the sandwich.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Traffic Cop Filmed Punching Driver in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Traffic cop filmed punching driver in HCMC [Thanh Nien] 1 killed, tourists strande...

Michael Tatarski

in Food Culture

Crossing the DMZ: A Visit to Saigon’s North Korean Restaurant

UPDATE: We're sad to announce that as of October 2017, Ryu Gyong has been shuttered permanently, along with a few other North Korean restaurants in Da Nang, Hanoi, and Saigon.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Seizes Thai Vessel Carrying 260,000 Liters of Illegal Gasoline

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam seizes Thai vessel carrying 260,000 liters of illegal gasoline [VnExpress] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Da Nang Slaughterhouse Coats Chickens With Carcinogenic Dye

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Da Nang slaughterhouse coats chickens with carcinogenic dye [Thanh Nien] HCMC publ...

in Eat & Drink

Spice up Your Morning Phở With These Herbs

In the wonderful world of Vietnamese soups, everyone has their preferred set of spices.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Hanoi 'Kicking Cop' Will Not Face Suspension: Boss

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi 'kicking cop' will not face suspension: boss [Tuoi Tre] 2 confirmed dead aft...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From epic storms to street corner motorbike repairs, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Dessert Happy Hour at Quynh Hoa

Just as rush hour traffic starts to pick up around me, motorbikes zipping back and forth down the wide alley, I send a message to my coworker.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Surgeons at Major Vietnamese Hospital Operate on Patient's Wrong Leg

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. My left foot: Surgeons at major Vietnamese hospital operate on patient’s wrong leg [VnE...

in Music & Arts

Dislocate: Artist Bui Cong Khanh Deconstructs Vietnamese Identity

A beautiful large-scale recreation of a fortress, a photographic essay and a documentary video feature in Bui Cong Khanh’s latest exhibition, Dislocate, an impactful reminder of Vietnam’s heritage and...

in Food Culture

30% of Coffee in Vietnam Has No Caffeine: Survey

If you've been seeking out cà phê sữa đá from street carts for a super-caffeinated start to your workday, you might want to look elsewhere, as there’s a chance you've been drinking coffee-flavore...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Coast Guard Builds Muscle With New Vessels

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Coast Guard builds muscle with new vessels [VnExpress] American man found ...

in Music & Arts

[Videos] Hanoian Rappers Take Center Stage on Pan-Asian Music Platform

Staring straight into the camera, Emcee L addresses his viewers with confidence.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Province Authorities Want to Shoot Feral Buffaloes That Attack People

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam province authorities want to shoot feral buffaloes that attack people [Thanh Ni...

in Music & Arts

Quach Phong’s Monumental Take on Vietnamese History

An ambitious and essential art project, Sketching Vietnamese History – the first major solo exhibition by established artist Quach Phong – is a tribute to Vietnam’s history and its people. It is a wor...

in Vietnam

New Decree Could Regulate Vietnamese Facebook Users’ Photos

By mid-August, Vietnamese Facebook users could be subjected to a controversial new regulation that would require users to apply for permission before uploading photographs online.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Good Bánh Bèo Comes to Those Who Wait

The most memorable eating experiences are the ones that take time. Of all the meals Saigon’s sidewalks can offer, the best require a pilgrimage to some faraway district and a series of trial-and-error...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Buys 8,000 New Motorbikes, 750 Cars a Day

There is an automotive epidemic in Vietnam as domestic sales of motorbikes and cars have increased 8% and 31%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Parents Sleep at Kindergarten Gates to Submit Applications

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi battles deadly brain virus outbreak [VnExpress] Cut cable hits Vietnam’s int...

in Development

Ministry of Transport Needs $10.58bn to Build Cross-Country Highway

Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport is seeking VND235.95 trillion (US$10.58 billion) for the completion of a cross-country highway that would run from Hanoi to Can Tho.

in Heritage

[Photos] Then & Now: Images From Old and New Saigon

The southern hub has seen its fair share of transformations over the years. From French colonialism to the swinging 60s, the early days of Doi Moi to 21st-century Vietnam, Saigon’s urban landscape has...

in Arts & Culture

When WRONG Is Right: Vietnamese Tradition Meets Contemporary Fashion

There’s an hour to go before Fashion4Freedom unveils its latest collection and LanVy Nguyen is buzzing about, all smiles, in sneakers and a black-and-white embroidered áo dài.

Khoi Pham

in Tech

Busted: A 3D Printing Adventure in Saigon

My journey with 3D printing begins with me mishearing “bust” as “butt.”

in Music & Arts

Gender Behavior: An Artistic and Interactive Social Experiment

Gender Behavior brings to Saigon’s The Factory a research-based photography, dance, film and performance show which discusses the notion of gender in Vietnamese society. 

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

[Video] Hẻm Gems: Fish Balls, Curry and Noodle Soup, a Perfect Storm

Some may say that good things in life come when you least expect them, and from my encounter with this week’s Hem Gem – curry fish balls and noodles – you can count me in as a firm believer in this pa...

in Saigon

City Officials Consider Private Vehicle Ban Downtown to Reduce Traffic Congestion

On the heels of Hanoi's plan to ban motorbikes by 2025, Saigon is exploring the possibility of limiting private vehicles downtown to reduce traffic congestion.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Mike Tyson Heads to Vietnam to Join Cast of Asian Movie

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hilton to operate 4th hotel in Vietnam [DTI] Wild baby elephant found dead in high...

in Arts & Culture

Sophie Hughes: Drawing Links Between Vietnamese History and Contemporary Art

Art is not the first thing on people’s minds when they come to Saigon, and yet the independently organized Sophie’s Art Tour has managed to become one of the southern hub's top attractions.

Khoi Pham

in Vietnam

Street Cred: Han Mac Tu

Vietnam’s literary scene is filled with colorful characters and mystifying urban legends, but no other poet has received as much fanfare – or as much scrutiny – as Han Mac Tu, one of the country's mos...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From decaying ships to street life in the Delta, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Chinese Tour Guide Distorts Vietnamese History

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Thailand's PTT delays $20bn Vietnam refinery and petrochemical complex [Reuters] V...

in Food Culture

The Saga of the Bánh Mì

While Hanoi gets all the credit for phở, touting itself as the birthplace of Vietnam's national dish, Saigon holds the distinct honor of inventing the modern-day bánh mì.

in Film & TV

[Video] Filmmaker Explores the Fading Tradition of Vietnamese Funeral Singers

Trapped among Vietnam's fast-fading cultural markers is its funereal music. Passed down for generations, these slow, melancholy songs are a mainstay at Vietnamese funerals, ushering the dead comfortab...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Starts Biggest Ever Anti-Flood Construction

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ghenh Bridge opens to traffic, resumes North-South railway [SGGP] Protecting Vietn...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From Saigon market vendors to sunsets on the shores of Con Dao, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: For Good Phở in Saigon, a Dollar Is All You Need

You can really stretch a dollar in this country. That's two cà phê sữa đá or two bánh mì, a couple liters of bia hơi, a xe ôm ride, a well-bargained souvenir, enough snacks to constitute a meal or a s...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Audit Finds Giant Holes in Vietnam's Local Budgets

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Tourism firm may be shut down after Chinese client burns Vietnamese money [Thanh Nien] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Offers Dead Fighter Pilot’s Wife a Teaching Job

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese woman denied lottery money after losing tickets [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam send...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Using Obama's Image for Ads, Does Habeco Violate the Law?

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Cyclones thrash hundreds of houses in southern Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Da Nang lays pat...

in Saigon

Gateway to Nowhere: The Yellow 'Gia Dinh Gate,' 1913

It’s claimed by several tourism websites that a gateway from one of the ancient Gia Dinh citadels has survived and may be viewed on the Dinh Tien Hoang-Phan Dang Luu intersection in Binh Thanh Distric...

in Music & Arts

OXYMORON: An Exploration of Sound, Dance and Light

If it were possible to condense the creative output of Saigon’s urban dance and music scene into one show, OXYMORONmight be it. Creative directors Lai Tran and Chieu Tori – a DJ duo also known as Chee...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Best Bún Chả in Hanoi…in Saigon

The weather was truly Hanoian earlier this week. Outside, rain fell in sheets, flooding the pockmarked alley outside our office door. The sun had disappeared. Though a few particularly photo-obsessed ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Crystal Meth Kits Openly Sold in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Crystal meth kits openly sold in HCMC [Tuoi Tre] Altai Technologies and ETN Singap...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Tourists Banned From Sightseeing on Deck

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam tops productivity growth in ASEAN [VOV] Da Nang to commence key projects&n...

in Saigon

Saigon's Earliest Museums

One of the last museums to be set up in French Indochina, the Vietnam History Museum in Ho Chi Minh City was over 60 years in the making.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Legend of Baby African

You'll have to clear an afternoon to get to Baby African.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Government Plans to Borrow Over $20bn This Year

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. General schools rush to apply bilingual textbooks [VietnamNet] Vietnam government...

in Music & Arts

[Video] Rapper Wowy Preserves a Piece of Saigon History in Music Video 'Do Tao Lam'

Late last month, Saigon rapper Wowy debuted his “Do Tao Lam” music video, the first clip from his most recent album, Lao Dai.

in Heritage

How Lăng Cha Cả Went From Mausoleum to Roundabout

If you’re just off the plane and heading west into the city, it’s hard to avoid the busy six-way Lăng Cha Cả intersection south of Ho Chi Minh City’s Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport. But it’s even ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Flight Delayed Due to Bee Swarm

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam still needs ODA for infrastructure development: economists [VietnamNet] Ca...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

[Video] Hẻm Gems: The Long but Worthwhile Wait for Xôi Chiên

They say the best things in life are worth waiting for. In the case of the elusive xôi chiên, they're right.

in Vietnam

Take a Ride on the Langbian Cog Railway, Circa 1927

The Langbian Cog Railway was opened in stages between 1919 and 1932. The first 40 kilometers of the line from Tourcham (Tháp Chàm) to Krông Pha travelled through relatively flat terrain and required o...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Didn't Accept American Choppers and Snipers During Obama’s Trip

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Katy Perry teams up with UNICEF in trip to Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Speedier investiga...

in Vietnam

Ministry of Health Recalls More Bottled Teas From Philippine Manufacturer

The Ministry of Health has recalled a fourth batch of bottled tea produced by Philippine manufacturer URC Vietnam after tests confirmed elevated lead levels in the drinks.

in Food Culture

An Abridged History of Phở

Phở is serious business.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Binh Thanh's Delectable Bánh Căn

Located on a busy street in Binh Thanh District, Hai Ton Quan is a small, family-run restaurant that serves up Phan Rang-style cuisine, that glorious mixture of tasty, golden-brown rice cakes and fres...

in Stories

Morning News Roundup: Who Wins When the US Sells Deadly Weapons to Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. $50,000 to save elephants in Dak Lak [VOV] Coast preferred by 70% of foreign visi...

in Vietnam

Truong Van Ben and the Story of Co Ba Soap

Once one of Saigon-Chợ Lớn’s most recognizable local brand names, Cô Ba soap was the crowning achievement of Trương Văn Bền’s long and successful business career.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: 70,000 Teachers in Vietnam to Be Jobless by 2020

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. U.S. President Obama to visit century-old pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] Th...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

[Video] Hẻm Gems: D5’s Glorious Goat Curry

One of the benefits or writing this column is that it allows us to sample some of Saigon’s best local eateries. We may be well versed in the ways of street noshing, but once in a blue moon, we come ac...

in Development

The State of the Metro: An Update on Saigon's Subway Construction

Now entering its fourth year, construction of the Saigon Metro system is chugging along. With several lines in development and plenty of work still to go, Saigoneer takes a closer look at the pro...

in Music & Arts

Unlocking the Potential of Vietnam's Art Market

As one of Vietnam’s most prolific art organizations reduces its cultural and residency programs, we look at the state of national contemporary art in the global market and its economic impact on Vietn...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Repairs to HCMC Walking Street Start

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC sets to clear pollution hotspot [SGGP] Vietnam rejects UNHCR’s unverified inf...

in Vietnam

The Lost Railway That Once Connected Da Nang and Hoi An

One hundred years ago, visitors to Tourane (Đa Nẵng) could alight from their train right outside the Hàn Market and, after crossing the Hàn River by ferry, take a steam train all the way to Hội An.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Saigon's Sủi Cảo Street

Saigon is, in essence, a giant food court. From District 1 to Binh Chanh, the city streets are pretty much a macro version of the cooked food section at your local market, spread out over miles of une...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Says US Lifting of Arms Ban Would Reflect Trust: Report

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Environmental group bashes $1.1bn plan for Vietnam's Red River [Thanh Nien] Panama...

in Music & Arts

Livinwondr: A People’s Art Project

The first installation of new community project Livinwondrexpresses the stories and creative ideas of the public through transformative media art.

in Vietnam

White House Confirms Obama’s Vietnam Dates

Air Force 1 will soon be making stops in Saigon and Hanoi as the White House has confirmed that US President Barack Obama will make his first trip to Vietnam on May 21.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: A Year on, HCMC Walking Street Already Shows Signs of Deterioration

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. A year on, HCMC walking street already shows signs of deterioration [Thanh Nien] V...

in Saigon

Date With the Wrecking Ball: Ernst Thälmann Secondary School

In the wake of last week’s announcement in Thanh Nien newspaper that Korean construction company Jimiro will build three 55-story office buildings, a 30-story five-star hotel and a 10-story commercial...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Divers Find Little Presence of Life Underwater off Vietnam Central Coast

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Popular in Vietnam, Thai fruits, vegetables fail toxic test at home [Thanh Nien] H...

in Arts & Culture

Paying Homage to the Hand-Painted Signs of Cho Lon

French photographer Brice Coutagne settled in Saigon several years ago. With an interest in unusual lettering, the expat found himself mesmerized by the city's hand-painted signs. Camera in hand, Cout...

in Development

Korean Company to Develop Tran Hung Dao's 'Golden Triangle'

Along with the dozens of other iconic locations scattered across downtown Saigon, that three-pointed sliver of land bordered by Pham Ngu Lao, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Tran Hung Dao Streets will be getting ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Heavy Metal Levels Found in Fish Samples in Central Vietnam ‘Safe’

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC urged to raise houses [Vietnam News] Ministry releases list of safe food outl...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Airport Denies Claims That Foreign Passengers Were Beaten During Delay

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. After 10 years, each Vietnamese burdened with additional $1,200 public debt [VietnamNet...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

[Video] Hẻm Gems: D5's Drop-Dead Delicious Xôi Mặn

Saigon street food tastes best when the whole experience feels like a secret. Head to some of the city's most successful street carts and there are no place names or proper business hours, no phone nu...

in Culture

The Renovation Generation: Meet Vietnam's Post-Đổi Mới Movers and Shakers

Thirty years after the inception of Đổi Mới, Vietnam is night and day compared to its former self. Following the tragedy of war, this 1986 economic reform wholly transformed the country into what it i...

in Heritage

Saigon on the Silver Screen: The Quiet American, 1958 and 2002

Graham Greene’s acclaimed anti-war novel The Quiet American has been filmed twice, on both occasions using Saigon locations. While Phillip Noyce’s 2002 remake is a far more faithful adaptation of the ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Eat Your Way Through Nguyen Hue's Secret Street Food Alley

Nguyen Hue's heritage has been badly degraded over the years. Thanks to the city's neverending development, its older buildings have either been torn down, used as air-conditioning unit pedestals or t...

in Development

[Photos] 'Da Nang: COASTAL City' – People in the City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of Da Nang: COASTAL City, a large-format photo book exploring the urban development, landscapes and people of Central Vietnam. Produced with the su...

in Music & Arts

'Farmers Got Power': A Satirical Look at Social Upheaval

Satire and humor have long been recurring tropes employed by artists to deal with uncomfortable topics, to challenge people to discover on their own the object and meanings of their satire. Nowhere co...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Old French Planter Villas

Despite the ongoing destruction of colonial buildings in Saigon, there’s still a small quarter of District 3 where it’s possible to identify villas which were once occupied by rich French rubber plant...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Perfect Saigon Breakfast

Most days, I roll out of bed 15 minutes after my alarm has stopped ringing, stumble downstairs, brush my teeth and leave the house just in time to grab my morning dose of caffeine before heading to th...

in Music & Arts

Technology Has Officially Entered Saigon’s Art Scene

From the invention of farming to the advent of military drones, technology has shaped the economy, politics and culture of every society. It was inevitable that such a vital element of our lives would...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Vingroup Wins Triple Asia Pacific Property Awards

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Security camera nemesis of HCMC criminals [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam eyes ending floodin...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Favorite Churches: Huyen Sy Church

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful churches in the city, the Église Huyện Sỹ in District 1 was constructed in 1902-1905 on the corner of Rue Frère Louis (now Nguyễn Trãi Street) and Rue Frèr...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: On Eating (Chicken) Ass

Let’s play a game. I tell you a word and you tell me the first thing that comes to mind. Here goes: chicken.

in Development

[Photos] On the Move: Saigon's Changing Transportation

Once the domain of bicycles, Saigon's narrow roads have become jam-packed over the last two decades with increasingly modern vehicles. Following a boom of motorbikes in the 1990s – first described to ...

in Film & TV

April Films at Saigon’s Alternative Movie Venues

A filmmaker fights censorship, an architect’s endeavors reassess the leftist ideology and documentarians raise awareness about contemporary capitalist practices as well as development. From fictional ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: First Bus Ads for HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s startups step to the fore [Wall Street Journal] Hanoi accepts invitati...

in Development

[Photos] Vinhomes Unveils Golden River, Its Ba Son Development

If you've recently driven along District 1's Ton Duc Thang recently, chances are you've seen the large, glass-front building going up on the corner of Nguyen Huu Canh Street.

in Saigon

The Saigon-My Tho Line: Indochina’s First Railway

Inaugurated on July 20, 1885, the Saigon–Mỹ Tho line was the first railway line in French Indochina.

in Music & Arts

'Tokyo, Blind': Eerie, Black-and-White Images From a Saigon Photographer

In Tokyo, Blind, the first solo exhibition in Vietnam by Saigon-based photographer Ryan Neilan, men and women emerge as ghostly bodies, depicted either as a composite of fragmented shadows or as isola...

in Architecture

[Photos] A Farewell to Saigon's War-Era Water Towers

Saigon Water Company (Sawaco) is drawing up plans to destroy seven of the eight large war-era water towers scattered across the city.

in Saigon

Marshal Joffre’s 1921 Visit to Saigon

French government photographers have left us a detailed photographic record of Great War hero Marshal Joffre’s December 1921 visit to Saigon.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: MobiFone to Pilot 4G Services

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Cold spells hit Hanoi while HCMC remains hot [SGGP] David Beckham comparisons OK...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

[Video] Hẻm Gems: D1's Not-So-Secret Snail-Grilling Operation

At first glance, Oc Dao looks like a factory. A giant, secret snail-grilling operation tucked behind several twists and turns along a narrow downtown alley, where plates of fresh crustaceans are churn...

in Arts & Culture

Urban Distortions: Contemporary Dance Comes to Saigon

It's mid-morning on a hot, humid Sunday in Saigon's Botanical Gardens, and the audience in front of the main stage represents an eclectic cross-section of Vietnamese society. Parents field phone conve...

Brian Letwin

in Development

[Photos] District 2 Just Got a Fresh New Park

Green space has long come at a premium in Saigon, especially as some public areas – see District 1’s Chi Lang Park – have lost out to the city’s breakneck development.

in Heritage

Saigon on the Silver Screen: The Lover, 1992

When filming the movie adaptation of Marguerite Duras’ 1984 autobiographical novel The Lover, French director Jean-Jacques Annaud made extensive use of Saigon locations. Here’s a run-down of the local...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

[Video] Hẻm Gems: The Merits of Chè Dim Sum

If we're being real, I would not break an appointment for chè.

in Culture

The Twilight of Saigon’s Cyclo Drivers

Among Bui Vien's assortment of xe ôm drivers and street food vendors, Bible-toting religious enthusiasts and other colorful personalities, 66-year-old Mr. Nghia stands out for his kind eyes and walrus...

in Culture

[Photos] Exploring Saigon’s Sun-Deprived Hẻms

Saigon is full of interesting, undiscovered places. While many people have explored the alleys in their own neighborhoods, few are willing to brave the narrow, crumbling side roads that look a little ...

in Arts & Culture

Q&A: Thai Artist Bends Reality With Kaleidoscopic Saigon Photo Collage

Saigon is the latest city to join the urban landscape photo collage series by Thai artist and graphic designer Pariwat A-nantachina, also known as Big. With drastic perspective compositions, rich deta...

in Arts & Culture

A Tribe of Survivors: The Ethereal Jewelry of La Fiancée du Facteur

The new collection by Saigon-based jewelry designer La Fiancée du Facteur is an ode to human strength where the mystical and the mythological merge in wearable original art pieces.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

[Video] Hẻm Gems: The Lazy Man's Bánh Xèo

I have a confession to make: my spring roll game is embarrassing.

in Arts & Culture

Drawing Saigon: How One Artist Is Preserving the Downtown Skyline

Tawny brown, a few inches thick and secured with a cord, the leather binder lands on the bar with a thud. Midday sun beams into the pop-up whisky library atop Centec Tower, a room that could pass for ...

in Heritage

The Story of Saigon’s 'Jardin d’Espagne'

In 1927, after being abandoned for more than 60 years by its Spanish owners, the “Jardin d’Espagne” (today’s Lý Tự Trọng Park) seemed set to become the new home of the British Consulate General in Sai...

in Saigon

Dragons Torch Saigon Heat, Advance to ABL Finals

Two steps forward, one step back for the Saigon Heat.

in Sports

Vietnam Is Getting a Pro Basketball League

For Vietnamese hoopsters, “a league of their own” will soon be more than just a movie starring Tom Hanks and Madonna.

in Film & TV

March Movies at Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

Transporting a novel or news story from the page to the big screen does not always have to be disastrous, as Carol,Room, High Fidelity andSpotlighthave demonstrated. Saigon's March film program shows ...

in Vietnam

Mapping the French 'Line of Pagodas'

At the start of the French conquest in 1859-1860, colonial forces converted four ancient temples into fortresses with the aim of protecting Saigon and Chợ Lớn from attack by Vietnamese royal troops. A...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Heavenly Hủ Tiếu on Co Giang

Many count Co Giang Street among their favorite Saigon street food corridors. Featuring a long stretch of stalls, which serve everything from chè and bún riêu to magical bowls of Chinese-style hủ tiếu...

in Arts & Culture

Inside THE BOAT: Phnom Penh’s Floating Art Space

Last October, Phnom Penh's ambitious floating art center, THE BOAT, announced its plan to renovate a majestic but disused vessel docked where the Tonle Sap River meets the Mekong. Earlier this mo...

in Saigon

Date With the Wrecking Ball: The Catinat-Ciné Mosaics

Over the past 12 months, a great deal of attention has been paid to the fate of the 1924 Moroccan mosaic staircase in the lobby of the Tax Trade Center. Yet that great work of art is not the only mosa...

in Film & TV

Readers' Picks: 20 Best Films From the Year of the Goat

We asked both our readers and regular moviegoers at local alternative film venues like DeciBel and Saigon Outcast to weigh in on the top three films from the Year of the Goat. The results are in and A...

in Arts & Culture

Nuoc 2030: Inside Vietnam's Visually Stunning, Character-Driven Sci-Fi Flick

A wonderfully shot love story set in a water-logged dystopian world, Nuoc 2030 is the first Vietnamese sci-fi film produced to international standards. Filmmaker Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh discusses t...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese-American Actress to Star in 'Star Wars 8'

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Pangolins under threat in Vietnam [DW] Hanoi deals with parking lots violating regulat...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Businesses Will Need 19,000 New Workers After Tet

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.  Visitors to Hanoi increase by 17% during Tet holiday [Hanoi Times] HCMC drainage...

in Heritage

Pierre Coupeaud and the Great Cyclo Trial of February 1936

Banned from an ever-increasing number of city streets, the cyclo is rapidly becoming an endangered species. But spare a moment to appreciate this much-maligned form of transport, invented by Phnom Pen...

in Film & TV

Saigoneer’s Picks: 20 Best Films From the Year of the Goat

Life Itself, a film about the life of the late film critic Roger Ebert opens with one of his quotes: “We are born with a certain package. We are who we are [...], we are kind of stuck inside that pers...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: District 1's Cơm Trưa Food Court

If you've ever driven along Ton Duc Thang during rush hour, there's a strong chance you've almost run over a street food tout just north of the Le Thanh Ton-Nguyen Huu Canh intersection. While I have,...

in Film & TV

February Movies at Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

This year's controversial awards season is drawing to an end. With the BAFTAs and the Oscars still to come, Saigon's February program includes two long-awaited biopics, one of the most revolutionary a...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: More Cold Spells to Strike Vietnam Ahead of Tet

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese man wanted by Interpol on smuggling charge [Vietnam News] Vietnam tuna auct...

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer’s December and January Art Picks

Between Christmas and Tet, everything slows down in Saigon's art world, but a few venues have still found time to put on new shows. Here is some of our favorite work from the holiday season's exhibiti...

in Film & TV

City of Mirrors: A Local Filmmaker's Crowdfunding Quest

For his first-ever feature film, Truong Minh Quy spent two months waiting around for it to rain.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Cơm Tấm, Breakfast of Champions

There are three kinds of people in this world: early birds, night owls and the perpetually tired. Try as I might to adapt, I am the third.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam to Stop Licensing New Coal-Fired Power Plants

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese central bank to soon clarify regulations for property loans [DTI] Congress ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Obama to Push to Clear Leftover Vietnam-Era Bombs

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Illegal piers pose problem in Delta [Vietnam News] Vietnam Will Use New Polio Vaccine ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Saigon's 100-Year-Old Vegetarian Quán

A mellow hideaway amidst the hastening traffic near Ben Thanh Market, Tin Nghia vegetarian restaurant is a time capsule.

in Saigon

Icons of Old Saigon: The First Governor's Palace

It’s often assumed that the Norodom Palace (1873) was the first colonial governor's palace to be built in Saigon, but it was in fact preceded by a much humbler structure, the Hôtel des Amiraux-Gouvern...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Saigon Man Allows Residents to Rip Money From Suit

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. HCM City urged to recruit non-natives for gov't posts [Vietnam News] Rotten dog, cat m...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Begins Planting Genetically Modified Corn

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Vietnam defines Asean priorities for 2016 [The Nation] Vietnam welcomes record high FD...

in Saigon

Up to 8.5 Million Motorbikes Flood Saigon’s Streets Each Day

While cars seem to be taking over the streets these days, Saigon is without a doubt a city of motorbikes...and it's getting out of hand.

in Film & TV

January Movies at Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

With both the Golden Globes (you can find a full list of nominations here) and the Oscars looming, it is an (almost) all-American program this month at Saigon's alternative film venues. From a sci-fi ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Chị Hiền's Cơm Sườn and the Single Greatest Fish Sauce of All Time

As an accomplished eater and failed cook, I spend a lot of time scouting street food venues.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Reveals New Drone for Patrolling the South China Sea

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Hundreds hospitalized in mass Vietnam food poisoning [NDTV] Vietnam reveals new drone ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Check out the New Street Food Mecca Behind Ben Thanh Market

Barely more than a week old, Ben Thanh's brand-new street food market is already turning heads with its souped-up version of the standard roadside dining experience.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam GDP Hits 8-Year High

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Four Vietnamese chosen as globally influential scientific minds [DTI News] Vietnam bac...

in Saigon

Icons of Old Saigon: The Belt Canal (Canal de Ceinture)

Commissioned in 1862 to facilitate French gunboat access around north and west Saigon, the Belt Canal was never completely navigable.

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes To The Gallery: Hope

From social critique and political satire to the celebration of human strength, Hope – the inaugural exhibition of Craig Thomas Gallery's new downtown location – is the most personal exhibition to dat...

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer’s Picks: 10 Places to Buy Artsy Gifts in Vietnam

From rich textile traditions to innovative contemporary art, ethnic minority handicrafts and dozens of local and international designers, there's far more to shopping in Vietnam than conical hats and ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Universal Truth of Fish Sauce Fried Chicken

There are few indisputable facts upon which good, reasonable people the world over can agree. Here are three: the sky is blue, the earth is round and fried chicken, in any form, is delicious.

in Music & Arts

Soul Archive Captures Vietnam’s Spirit Through Its Photographers

A quick Google search is all it takes to learn that photography about Vietnam is still predominantly linked to the war or, if not, dominated by images of the country’s iconic landscapes. Yet anyone li...

in Saigon

Icons of Old Saigon: The Pont Tournant (Swing Bridge)

Many people are familiar with Eiffel's Pont des Messageries Maritimes (Cầu Mống), yet few remember its neighbor, the Pont Tournant (Swing Bridge), which was built by Eiffel's successor company Levallo...

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer’s November Art Picks

With Saigon's first-ever affordable art fair taking place last month as well as three exhibitions from two of the city's major galleries, November left art lovers spoiled for choice. Here are sev...

in Music & Arts

Event Rewind: Melting Pot 7 Festival @ Saigon Outcast

Last weekend, Saigoneers young and old turned up at District 2's Saigon Outcast for another installment of the Melting Pot Festival, a two-day music and art event which raises money for local children...

in Music & Arts

Inside Award-Winning Vietnamese Children's Book 'The First Journey'

A couple months back, we wrote about Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien, a pair of Vietnamese children's book authors who took the top prize at this year's Asia-wide Scholastic Picture Book Award&n...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Ham Nghi Boulevard, Part 2

Home to a tramway terminus, a grand hotel and the first United States Embassy in Saigon, Hàm Nghi's 20th-century story mirrors Vietnam's tumultuous journey. This is the second installment of a two-par...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Ham Nghi Boulevard, Part 1

Once a downtown canal, a breeding ground for crocodiles and the heart of Saigon’s own Chinatown, Hàm Nghi is one of the city’s three widest boulevards.

in Film & TV

December Movies at Saigon's Alternative Film Venues

The awards season has officially started and for once, we welcome the razzle-dazzle that will come in the next three months, after a very dull summer, which was rescued only by independent cinema. The...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Official Probed for Posing With Endangered Animals in Facebook Pics

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. City chairman: Economy back to stable growth [Saigon Times] HCM City to spend VND 50 b...

in Saigon

Icons of Old Saigon: The Artists’ Pagoda and Cemetery in Gò Vấp

The Artists' Pagoda (Chùa Nghệ Sĩ, also known as Nhựt Quang Tự or Phật Quang Tự) and Cemetery in Gò Vấp is the last resting place for practitioners of cải lương ("Reformed Opera"), a popular form of t...

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes to the Gallery: In Opposite 2

Ngo Van Sac presents a fragmented and polarized reality in his latest solo exhibition In Opposite 2. Magic and reality, tradition and capitalism, nature and fabrication are the opposing elem...

in Vietnam

Saigon Considers Preserving Ba Son Shipyard

Earlier this month, the vice chairman of Saigon's Culture and Sports Department, Ton Thanh, announced that the city is considering a proposal to protect parts of the historic Ba Son Shipyard.

in Music & Arts

Maison Kenji: Emerging Designers Push the Vision of Fashion in Vietnam

As one of the newest players in the town, Maison Kenji brings a Euro-Asian flare to Saigon’s fashion scene. These Japanese-inspired, modern and ethically conscious threads distinguish this new indepen...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: District 1's Delightfully Decrepit Bia Hơi

UPDATE: It is with heavy hearts that we inform our readers that the Thi Sach bia hơi has permanently closed. We will miss its regular crowd and grimy, beer-stained walls. In a city that pretty much r...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Police Probe Poisoning Deaths of 13 Dogs at Saigon Pet Café

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Rising demand for Uber cars, cheap loans boost car sales in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] VietJet...

in Saigon

Icons of Old Saigon: The Lost Paris Foreign Missions Society Chapel

Hidden behind the Department of Foreign Affairs building at 4-6 Alexandre de Rhodes is the last surviving relic of that neighbourhood’s long association with the Roman Catholic Church – an abandoned c...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Bánh Căn and the Elixir of Life

In the world of hẻm gems, gritty is a good thing. The more battered the tables, the more precarious the seating, the more dubious the location, the more we feel at one with the chaos of Saigon street ...

in Saigon

Saigon Registers 900 New Vehicles Everyday

In the last few months, Saigon's traffic has gone from bad to worse. These days, you might as well stay put when 5pm hits, as congestion on the city streets has become near unbearable. But while local...

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes to the Gallery: The Power of Semiosis

French-based Japanese artist Yohei Yama lights up Vin Gallery with a feast of colorful Op art canvasses during his debut exhibition, The Power of Semiosis.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: Phương Nam Mansion at 110-112 Võ Văn Tần

After being sold at the astronomical price of US$35 million, it’s beginning to look like one of the city's most exquisite works of colonial architecture has been saved for future generations.

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer's October Art Picks

October saw several Saigon debuts of emerging, mid-career and established artists from a variety of artistic backgrounds. Here are the pieces that caught our attention over the previous month.

in Saigon

Officials Approve Demolition of French Mansion at 606 Tran Hung Dao

Permission has now been given to demolish another of the city’s old French buildings, the former SAMIPIC mansion at 606 Trần Hưng Đạo.

in Film & TV

November Movies at Saigon's Alternative Film Venues

As award season approaches, November might be the last chance you have this year to dive into the world of alternative and low-budget films, which is dominated by French and American productions.

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes to the Gallery: Jack Clayton Solo Exhibition

Fragmented images of a bustling Saigon, Vietnam’s past and present, the theories of Francis Bacon and Carl Jung – all find a place within the intricate woodcut prints and ink illustrations of Jack Cla...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: YouTube’s Growth in Vietnam Reaches 120%

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. City's first rapid bus line to start in 2017 [Vietnam News] Social protection centre heads ...

in Vietnam

Slingers Spook Heat in Halloween Home Opener

Even a gym full of Heat fans decked out in Halloween regalia couldn’t keep the Singapore Slingers from terrifying Saigon’s pro hoops squad, as the visiting team came out with a 86-74 victory against t...

in Music & Arts

Saigon's First-Ever Affordable Art Opens This Week

Following two successful events up north, affordable art fair Art for You is coming to Saigon with the help of Hanoi-based galleries Work Room Four and Manzi. We caught up with the fair's organizers t...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Italian President to Visit Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. South’s weather the most extreme in last 40 years: scientists [Vietnam Net] Vietnamese...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Six Teens Nicked for Stabbing, Robbing Foreigners in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Vietnam ranked in top ten countries in Cyber Maturity 2015 [Hanoi Times] Icelandic Pre...

in Development

[Photos] The Evolution of Bitexco in 25 Photos

Between Thu Thiem's ambitious new skyscraper, the planned transformation of Thanh Da Island and a LEED-standard apartment complex that looks like Marina Bay Sands, Saigon's skyline seems to chang...

in Stories

A Look at Saigon’s Interesting Definition of ‘Traffic Jam’

When it comes to Vietnamese traffic management, the fun never ends. Between Hanoian officials telling drivers in the capital to be more like the Saigonese, Saigon officials insisting there are no...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Province Reports H5N6 Bird Flu Outbreak

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. HCM City circus wins international award [Hanoi Times] Vietnam agreement supports nucl...

in Tech

The Story Behind Google's First-Ever Made-in-Vietnam Ad

Director Bao Nguyen explains the story behind Google's first-ever TV commercial made for Vietnamese audiences.

in Saigon

Date With the Wrecking Ball: Thu Thiem Parish Church and Lovers of the Holy Cross Convent

Two of Saigon’s oldest Roman Catholic institutions, located across the river in Thủ Thiêm, may soon be gone.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Coca-Cola Vietnam Finally Pays Tax After Claiming Losses For 20 Years

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Coca-Cola Vietnam finally pays tax after claiming losses for 20 years [Tuoi Tre] Vietn...

in Music & Arts

Islands, Archipelagos and Other Liquid Territories: Exploring the High Seas with Map Office

Acclaimed Hong Kong-based artists Laurent Gutierrez and Valerie Portefaix of Map Office bring to Dia Projects their first solo show in Saigon, titled Islands, Archipelagos and Other Liquid Territories...

in Heritage

Icons of Old Saigon: The Gambetta Monument

This week, we trace the saga of colonial Saigon’s monuments to French republican statesman Léon Gambetta (April 2, 1838 – December 31, 1882), whose statue was commissioned twice by mistake and th...

in Vietnam

What Phu Quoc Was Like in 1907

A translation of Pierre Rev’s description of Phú Quốc island from his 1907 book, Dans le Golfe de Siam.

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer's September Art Picks

After the city's gallery scene took a summer hiatus, Saigoneer is back with our art picks for the month. September was off to a good start with a variety of exhibitions, employing everything from urba...

in Music & Arts

New Edition Of Standpoint Theories Will Hit Saigon This Month

Multi-disciplinary production company Standpoint Theories returns to Saigon with three performances of Legends of Vietnam: Remix, an evolution of last year's Legends of Vietnam. The new and improved p...

in Saigon

Date With The Wrecking Ball: The Customs Directorate Building

The Customs Directorate, one of the city’s best-loved colonial landmarks, is the latest in a series of government buildings to face the threat of redevelopment.

in Film & TV

October Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

It is not Halloween without a dose of horror. Check out which spooky films made the list this year at Saigon's alternative movie-viewing venues. If zombies, ghosts and paranormal activity are not your...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Thái Văn Lung Street

One of the city's oldest thoroughfares, the street we know today as Thái Văn Lung bore the name Pasteur Street for over half a century.

in Vietnam

Vietnam To Phase Out Its Print Media

In case you haven't heard the news, print is dying.

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes To The Gallery: Khói Sóng

Khói Sóng, Ha Manh Thang’s new exhibition and his second at Galerie Quynh, is part of the artist's ongoing Vietnam Landscapes (2010 – present) project, in which his reflections on Vietnamese...

in Music & Arts

The Story of the Greatest Female Pirate Retold via Cinemagraph

When it comes to brave, daring women, Asia has no shortage of badass heroines. In Vietnam alone, historical figures like Vo Thi Sau and the Trung sisters are hailed for their courage and str...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: The Lunch Lady You Haven't Met

In Saigon, there is no such thing as a one-stop shop. It's part of the city's charm: coffee in one place, lunch in another, dessert three blocks down and two alleys away. You can turn a single outing ...

in Development

Ba Son Should Be Preserved, Not Destroyed: Experts

If you've driven along Ton Duc Thang any time in the last week or so, you might have noticed the large corrugated partition that's gone up just south of Le Thanh Ton. As the area overlooking the Saigo...

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes To The Gallery: Urbana

When I arrived at deciBel Lounge last week, ready to meet two of the three artists behind photography project Urbana: City View, I was dreading what I would see. Too often, urban-themed artwork turns ...

in Music & Arts

Metiseko: How One Local Designer Created An Eco-Friendly Brand

When it comes to fashion, sustainability is not always a high priority in Vietnam. These days, Vietnam is beginning to see more campaigns which aim to raise public awareness around environmental issue...

in Tech

[Infographics] Vietnam's Mobile Games Are Taking the World by Storm

Whether you're reading this on a smartphone or tablet, a desktop or a laptop, look up: chances are at least a few other people are also deeply engrossed in a screen of some kind.

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets And Squares: Trần Hưng Đạo Boulevard

One of Saigon’s youngest major boulevards, Trần Hưng Đạo was built in 1911-1913 over former swamp land to provide a more direct route between the cities of Saigon and Chợ Lớn.

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes To The Gallery: A Material History Of Man And Animal

Cave paintings, the Latin poet Lucretius, the slavery of consumerism and, more prominently, the evolution between mankind and nature are some of the ingredients effortlessly intertwined in the rivetin...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets And Squares: Hai Bà Trưng Street

One of Saigon’s longest and busiest streets, Hai Bà Trưng is a thoroughfare of great antiquity which dates back more than 200 years.

in Film & TV

September Movies At Saigon's Alternative Film Venues

This month’s film line-up ranges from stories centered around the world of music to the tale of post-civil war Mali, an animal uprising and a biopic of the painter that would change landscape painting...

in Saigon

Icons Of Old Saigon: The Maison Centrale de Saigon

One of the most hated government buildings in colonial Saigon, the Maison Centrale de Saigon (Khám Lớn Sài Gòn), or Saigon Central Prison, was a truly grim institution where thousands of unfortunates ...

in Asia

What Happened When the South Korean Government Invested in K-Pop

Long before Psy sang about 'Gangnam Style', K-Pop was spreading like wildfire across Asia and around the world.

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Pasteur Street

Known for most of the colonial period as Rue Pellerin, Pasteur Street has grown from ancient inner-city waterway to one of the city’s most desirable streets.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: 86 Võ Văn Tần

The ornate mansion on the corner of the Bà Huyện Thanh Quan and Võ Văn Tần junction was once the private residence of celebrated photographer Fernand Nadal, whose old sepia postcard images of the city...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Lê Duẩn Street

When it was first laid out in 1870, the broad avenue we know today as Lê Duản was christened boulevard Norodom, after the Cambodian monarch who in 1863 had entrusted his kingdom to the protection of t...

in Film & TV

August Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

This month, Saigon’s alternative film venues are offering up a solid selection of foreign films, Hollywood classics and recent hits.

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets And Squares: Tôn Thất Thiệp Street

One of the oldest streets in Saigon, Tôn Thất Thiệp street was known in the early French colonial period firstly as rue No 9 and then from 1863 as rue de l'Église, after Saigon's ill-fated first Roman...

in Health

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Gluten

So you’ve been told that gluten is the antithesis of healthy living. Google searches involving the words “gluten” and “bad” yield thousands of articles branding this highly misunderstood substance as ...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Quách Thị Trang Square

In this, the first of a new series about the history of the famous streets and squares of Saigon and Chợ Lớn, Tim Doling looks at the history of Quách Thị Trang square.

in Music & Arts

Vănguard: Giving a Voice to Saigon’s LGBT Artists

The launch of Vănguard’s second issue last week followed the slow but swelling wave of support for LGBT rights in Vietnam.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Wants Longer Visa Exemption For European Tourists

Hanoi aims to offer top welfare services by 2020 [Vietnam Plus] HCM City monorail line No 2 gets new costly project quotation [SGGP] Huge FDI projects withdraw from Vietnam and the consequences [Vie...

in Saigon

Saving Saigon Tax Trade Center’s Mosaic Staircase, 'A Priceless Work Of Art'

Six months after the Hồ Chí Minh City People’s Committee’s promise that both internal and architectural and design features of the old Saigon Tax Trade Centre would be preserved and incorporated into ...

in Music & Arts

San Art Laboratory Launches Kickstarter Campaign

Saigon-based non-profit art organisation San Art has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for their Laboratory.

in Music & Arts

Fashion Is Art At Dzung Yoko’s First Solo Exhibition

While in Paris the Helene Bailly Gallery is hosting an art show by designer Maurizio Galante and Viktor & Rolf are dressing models in canvasses, here in Saigon, we have the city’s very first show that...

in Saigon

Date With The Wrecking Ball: Maison du Combattant

Yet another piece of old Saigon heritage faces the wrecking ball following the recent public auction and sale of the former Maison du Combattant “gold land” site at 23 Lê Duẩn.

in Music & Arts

“One Country” Celebrates 15 Vietnamese Contemporary Artists

Vietnamese fine art is often looked through a geographic lens (South, Central and North) or by groups of artists rather than individual ones.

in Vietnam

Tourists Charged $37 For 2 Bowls Of Phở In Hanoi

At a meeting where the deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism failed to recall the city’s rip-off hotline number, the official rattled off a list of instances in which ...

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer's June Art Picks

Two video installations from the 6th San Art Laboratory, a sculpture from one of Vietnam’s most prolific artists, photographs depicting life in Vietnam and the works from the latest Saigon Artbook are...

in Saigon

Date With The Wrecking Ball: The Former Collège de Can-Tho

Over the past week, Facebook has been awash with articles about the planned demolition of a much-loved Cần Thơ institution, the Châu Văn Liêm High School (Trường Trung Học Phổ Thông Châu Văn Liêm).

in Music & Arts

Vietnamese Performance Artist Featured At The Artists’ Film International in London

Vietnamese pioneer performance artist, Tran Luong, continues to attract huge interest abroad. His video, Lập Lòe/Welts, is currently being shown at White Chapel in London (UK) as part of Artists’ Film...

in Film & TV

July Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

Dinosaurs, androids, socio-political documentaries and juicy indie films from around the world make up this month’s menu at Saigon’s alternative film venues.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Nha Trang Beach To Be 'Privatized' Despite Public Outcry

The tourism crisis: No relief for Vietnam as visitor drop continues [Thanh Nien] 2 men arrested for attacking traffic cops after drinking [Thanh Nien] Nha Trang beach to be 'privatized' despite publ...

in Saigon

Saigon's Endangered Heritage Buildings: The Top 10

We’re now over half way through 2015, and what better time to update that depressing list of Saigon built heritage in imminent danger of destruction.

in Music & Arts

Esoteric And Reimagined Religious Rituals Lay The Ground For “Carne Vale” At Galerie Quynh

Greco-Roman ruins and imaginary masked characters set the stage for “Carne Vale,” the new exhibition by Nadege David and Sandrine Llouquet at Galerie Quynh.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Dell To Further Invest In Vietnam

Dell to further invest in Vietnam [Voice of Vietnam] Vietnam lawmakers demand more control of social media [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam Is Having Condom Problems — And That's A Good Thing [NPR]...

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer’s Recent Art Picks

The haunting installation by a Saigon-born writer/artist; a visual diary of Vietnamese portraits; a visual map of Saigon’s urban changes and the opening of the first urban gallery in town are among ou...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Chinese, Wife Imprisoned In HCMC For Selling Sex Toys, Fake Viagra

Vietnam has chances to supply vaccines for UN agencies with WHO quality certificate [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam’s major blood bank running dry [Thanh Nien] Chinese, wife imprisoned in Vietnam for selling sex...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: The Hùng King Temple

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 honour the memory of Vietnames...

in Culture

[Photos] The Origins Of Caodaism, Vietnam’s Hybrid Religion

Here’s a look at the early days of Caodaism, based on the writings of a French educated Vietnamese during the colonial period. This is all that is known about the author who was deported from Indochin...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Facebook Now Has 30 Million Monthly Active Users In Vietnam

Hoi An man develops free guidebook app for tourists [Thanh Nien] Vietnam launches 700-ton boat for offshore patrol, rescue [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s efforts to promote rights for children&nbs...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Tap Water In Hanoi Filtered With 100-Year-Old Technology

Tap water in Hanoi filtered with 100-year-old technology [Vietnam Net] Deputy PM says corruption fight continues [Vietnam News] German hailed as ‘hero’ for warning motorcyclists about slippery ...

in Music & Arts

Designer Spotlight: Linda Mai Phung

The last couple of months have been exciting for Saigon-based fashion designer, Linda Mai Phung. The young French-Vietnamese designer recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of her eponymous bran...

in Culture

Vietnam’s Cities Are Losing A Lot More Than Their Old Buildings: Experts

“A city is enriched by accumulation over generations. Accumulation incorporates destruction but keeps enough fabric to retain cultural identity, while obliteration erases everything includin...

in Film & TV

June Movies at Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

This month’s films show us that it’s possible to make a great sequel from an 80s classic, that Twilight has accidentally done something good for cinema and that Hollywood producers can’t always constr...

in Saigon

A Second Chance For Tân An Communal House

With so many old buildings being destroyed in the name of development, it's encouraging to learn that one of the city's oldest communal houses, the Đình Tân An at 26 Bis Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm in Đa Kao, h...

in Music & Arts

Dragonfly: Setting the Standard for Theater in Saigon

Oscar Wilde, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Samuel Beckett, Rajiv Joseph and now Tennessee Williams - those are some of the figures whose literary works have been brought to Saigon by the only professional...

in Saigon

The 'Leaning Cathedral' Of Saigon

Soon after its completion, Saigon’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral developed an embarrassing tilt.

in Development

Hà Nội: CAPITAL City - People In The Capital City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the Hà Nội: CAPITAL City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos and s...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: 136 Ly Tu Trong

Owned during the colonial era by the Roman Catholic Church, the two-storey French villa at 136 Lý Tự Trọng in District 1 is one of just a handful of surviving French villas on that busy street.

in Music & Arts

The Incredible Origami Art Of Nguyen Ngoc Vu

In addition to digital art and stop motion films, Saigon-born Nguyen Ngoc Vu has also found success with one of Japan's most prolific analog art forms – origami.

in Saigon

Ancient Tombs of Saigon: Phan Tan Huynh Tomb

Hidden away at the end of an alley in Phu Nhuan is the forgotten tomb of Marshal Le Van Duyet’s deputy, Phan Tan Huynh.

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer Chats With Suboi, Saigon’s Queen of Hip-Hop

Suboi recently returned from a series of successful US shows and wall-to-wall American media coverage. ­We sat down with Saigon’s “Queen of Hip-Hop” to ask about her experiences in the US, whether...

in Film & TV

May Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

There’s a bit of everything in store this month at Saigon’s alternative film venues, from some recently acclaimed independent films and genre classics to the two most talked about documentaries from t...

in Saigon

Ancient Tombs of Saigon: The Lâm Tam Lang Tomb

Described by one local expert as “a rare surviving vestige of its era,” the tomb of Lâm Tam Lang and his wife in Tao Đàn Park is one of the city’s abiding mysteries.

in Saigon

Saigon Begins to Move Its Power Lines Underground

Saigon has begun to move its notorious tangled nests of electricity wires underground.

in Saigon

In Search Of Saigon’s US Vestiges: Part 2

As the international media descends on the city for the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, travel companies report a growing demand from returning American veterans for tours which point out the ...

in Saigon

In Search Of Saigon’s US Vestiges – Part 1

As the international media descends on the city for the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, travel companies report a growing demand from returning American veterans for tours which point out the ...

in Film & TV

Film Screening: March: Art Walk Presents “Ánh” and “Mùi”

Part of Sao La and Freeland’s community art project, March: Art Walk, aims to bridge the gap between Saigon’s contemporary art scene and the general public. To that end, on March 11, the project scree...

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer’s March Art Picks

Last month was, without a doubt, the most extravagant (artistically speaking) in the past four years; Saigon was a theatre unto itself with a variety of art shows and exhibitions. Here are some of our...

in Saigon

What Does The Future Hold For Petrus Ky’s Mausoleum And Memorial House?

Not yet recognised as a heritage site, the Mausoleum and Memorial House of Pétrus Ký, one of Việt Nam’s greatest intellects, has fallen into a state of disrepair.

in Music & Arts

Forgotten Vietnamese Communities Come To Life At Sao La

Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai’s latest thought provoking and socially conscious exhibition, Day by Day, is currently on view at Sao La.

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes To The Gallery: World in My Mind

For his first exhibition, The World in My Mind, now on view at deciBel Lounge, Saigon-based concept designer and illustrator Hoang Trung has assembled nine medium-scale digital paintings inspired by h...

in Saigon

Date With The Wrecking Ball: 606 Trần Hưng Đạo

The grand old villa at 606 Trần Hưng Đạo, one of Chợ Quán’s few remaining heritage buildings, is currently threatened with redevelopment.

in Film & TV

April Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

As we slowly move away from the awards season, our local film venues go back to what they do best: indie and cult cinema. 

in Health

Medical Musings: Would You Like A Side Of Arsenic With That Rice?

In the last several years, there has been some talk about various chemicals found in the food supply here in Vietnam. You may remember bleach in bún and coconuts, MSG in everything, antibiotics in pou...

in Saigon

Date With The Wrecking Ball: Ba Son Shipyard

According to a recent article in Thanh Niên newspaper, the Ba Son Shipyard – Saigon’s oldest and most important maritime heritage site, recognised by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1993 as...

in Music & Arts

Three Saigon-based Artists Bring Their Diverse Urban Art To Vin Gallery

This evening, American illustrator and street artist Kristopher Kotcher AKA Frenemy is bringing his work back to Vin Gallery with a new exhibition, Trialogue. It has been almost a year since his first...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: 32 Hàm Nghi

Notwithstanding its 1939 makeover, the flat iron building at the corner of Hàm Nghi and Hồ Tùng Mậu street is still one of the city’s most attractive colonial relics.

in Culture

[Photos] Remnants Of Old Saigon

Often coming across as bustling and chaotic, Saigon’s entangled streets make for one hell of a first impression. Saigon’s charm, however, lies underneath the surface and only unveils itself when time ...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: The Former Grall Hospital

One of the oldest hospitals in Asia, the Children’s Hospital 2 (Bệnh viện Nhi đồng 2) at 14 Lý Tự Trọng began life as a French military hospital.

in Culture

Saigon's Instant Street Furniture

Public space in Saigon can be easily understood as an endless source of spontaneous, if not random, design solutions.

in Culture

An Illustrated Guide To Vietnamese Slang: Part 2

We’re back with another series of illustrated Vietnamese slang. Part 1 of this series can be found here.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: The Municipal Theatre

Built by the French at the mid-point of historic rue Catinat, the Municipal Theatre is one of Saigon's most iconic landmarks.

in Health

Medical Musings: Beware Of Fake Alcohol In Vietnam

Vietnam drinks a lot of alcohol. In fact, it tops the list in Southeast Asia at nearly 3 billion liters yearly. While beer is the alcoholic beverage of choice for many, spirits are also a popular opti...

in Culture

An Illustrated Guide To Vietnamese Slang: Part 1

We’re back with another series of illustrated Vietnamese slang.

in Film & TV

March Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

This month’s film programme is packed with films that address socio-political issues including gay rights, civil rights and freedom of speech. If that’s not your cup of tea, you have the opportunity t...

in Music & Arts

The Best Cultural Happenings In The Year Of The Horse

As we say goodbye to the year of the Horse, our editorial team looks back at the increasingly expanding cultural scene in Saigon and beyond. From theatre to art exhibitions, these are, in no particula...

in Saigon

Icons Of Old Saigon: The Canal Bonard

Though now little more than a rat-infested sewer, the former canal Bonard was once a busy waterway which made an immense contribution to the economic prosperity of Chợ Lớn. As work begins to restore t...

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer’s February Art Picks

Saigoneer's arts & culture guru, Zelda, highlights some of the best art being displayed and exhibited around town this month.

in Health

Medical Musings: Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is the most common mosquito-transmitted viral illness in the world. It is seen in Vietnam and over 120 other sub-tropical and tropical countries, wherever the Aedes aegypti mosquito is fo...

in Saigon

Icons Of Old Saigon: The Église Sainte-Marie-Immaculée

The Sun Wah Tower at 115 Nguyễn Huệ stands on the site of Saigon’s first Roman Catholic cathedral.

in Music & Arts

Exhibition Spotlight: Leonid Keller

Leonid Keller is the first and only exhibition in Saigon by Berlin-based artists Julia Ossko and Eugen Schulz.

in Saigon

Date With the Wrecking Ball: Saigon Hospital

The Saigon Hospital at 125 Lê Lợi was originally built in the late 1930s as the Polyclinique Dejean de la Bâtie. The French named it after French doctor Théodose Déjean de la Bâtie, who devoted his li...

in Music & Arts

Galerie Quynh and San Art Announce Relocation Plans

On January 31, Galerie Quynh permanently closed its original location in 65 De Tham, leaving the new downtown gallery on Dong Khoi as its sole exhibition space.

in Culture

[Photos] Vintage Vietnamese Matchboxes

The images on Vietnamese matchbox covers before 1975 varied from the traditional - drawings of zodiac animals - to the modern – brand advertising and popular singers of the day.

in Saigon

Icons Of Old Saigon: The Electricity Building

The recently-rebuilt EVN Hồ Chí Minh City Power Company building at 72 Hai Bà Trưng stands on the site of Saigon’s very first electricity station.

in Film & TV

February Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

Classic and witty comedy, the one of the greatest sci-fi epics in recent history, the biggest Oscar contender of the year and a special screening from Saigon-based film festival, Impressions are some ...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: The Grand Hotel

One of the city’s most historic hotels, the Grand is better known as the former Saigon-Palace, one of the leading hotels of the 1930s.

in Development

Design Competition For Saigon's New Administrative Building Kicks Off

Over the weekend, Hồ Chí Minh City residents were given the opportunity to view 11 shortlisted designs for the new City People's Committee Administration Building and to vote for the scheme they felt ...

in Saigon

Icons of Old Saigon: The Casino de Saigon

Founded by French businessman Léopold Bernard, the Casino de Saigon was the city’s earliest cinema.

in Architecture

Saigon Xưa: Breaking Down The Architecture Of Old Saigon

Lê Hưng Trọng, creator of the upcoming illustration book about the architectural aesthetics of old Saigon, “Saigon Xưa”, talked to us about the varying styles of houses across the city.

in Saigon

Icons Of Old Saigon: Établissements Bainier Auto Hall

While foreign visitors still flock to the famous Rex Hotel, few have heard of the Établissements Bainier Auto Hall which preceded it, a building once feted as the greatest automobile dealership in Asi...

in Music & Arts

Artist Spotlight: Thanh Xinh

With her bubbly personality and welcoming smile, one may assume that Saigon Artbook artist Thanh Xinh's journey as an artist has been nothing but smooth sailing. Like anything that is w...

in Music & Arts

Saigon Xưa: A Closer Look At Lê Hưng Trọng’s Dreamlike Creations

Author and artist Lê Hưng Trọng picks his favorite illustrations from his upcoming art book, “Saigon Xưa,” to give us a closer look into these fairytale-like drawings.

in Vietnam

Major Changes Announced For Vietnamese Phone Numbers

On March 1, Vietnam will change up the area codes of 59 provinces and restrict mobile phone numbers to 10 digits.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: The “Y” Bridge

Built by the French during the latter years of the colonial era, Chợ Lớn’s “Y” Bridge became the focus of several important battles during the two Indochina Wars.

in Music & Arts

Behind The Curtain: Standpoint Theories

Brimming with creative ideas, the multi-disciplinary Standpoint Theories, which first made an appearance last year at Cargo Bar, will grace Saigon once more for three days in January.

in Saigon

2014: A Turning Point For Conserving Saigon's Historical Buildings?

In the future, 2014 may be remembered as a watershed year in which a popular urban conservation movement emerged to champion the cause of Hồ Chí Minh City’s fast-disappearing built heritage.

in Music & Arts

All In: Vietnamese Artists Put A Beautiful Twist On Playing Cards

With an obsession for peace signs, adoration for the hippie lifestyle and an open mind, two young artists, Đinh Công Thành and Ngô Đình Lệ Thuỷ, have started a creative project called “Bài Ta” (Vietna...

in Music & Arts

Saigon Xưa: Young Artist Makes Incredible Drawings to Show Love of Old Saigon

Although born in Ninh Thuan province, Le Hung Trong has grown intimately attached to his second home, Saigon. Working as an architect for past three years, he has put together a collection of drawings...

in Saigon

Date With The Wrecking Ball: The Vietnam Railways Building

Featured earlier this year as a Saigoneer "Building of the Week," the 100-year-old Vietnam Railways Building at 136 Hàm Nghi is the latest of Hồ Chí Minh City's historic buildings to be threatened wit...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: 70 Years of Hủ Tiếu Down a Saigon Alley

At the corner of a dead-end alley and the crowded pub street of Ton That Thiep among neon signs of nearby bars and restaurants, an eatery with an old hand-painted sign reading “Thanh Xuan” might come ...

in Saigon

Date With The Wrecking Ball: The Nguyen Van Cua Imprimerie de l'Union Building

Located close to the Saigon Post Office, the unassuming two-storey white shophouse building at 49-57 Nguyễn Du was once the headquarters of one of the most successful colonial-era printing companies.

in Music & Arts

Artist Spotlight: Tonstartssbandht

Tonstartssbandht is one of those bands which occupy that very rare dimension in music defying categorization. Psychedelic-rock, pastoral vocals, pop undertones, rock-n-roll and lo-fi are all terms tha...

in Film & TV

December Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching but our alternative film venues have more in store for you than just Christmassy-flicks. Philosophy in cinema, the first Saudi Arabian film in history and a...

in Culture

An Illustrated Guide to Old Saigon Slang: Part 2

Mã tà! Nhà dây thép! Đi bum! Do these phrases look familiar? No? Don’t worry you’re not alone. This old Saigon slang is derived from mispronounced French words, the names of locations and plenty of me...

in Culture

An Illustrated Guide to Old Saigon Slang: Part 1

Mã tà! Nhà dây thép! Đi bum! Do these phrases look familiar? No? Don’t worry you’re not alone. This old Saigon slang is derived from mispronounced French words, the names of locations and plenty of me...

in Travel

[Photos] Spiritual Sites Of Vietnam – Part 1

Much of Vietnamese culture is based in spiritualism, dictating everything from the day one picks for their wedding to how one lives their life. These 12 spiritual sites, scattered across the country, ...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: 93-95 Đồng Khởi

One of the most elegant old colonial buildings in the centre of the city, 93-95 Đồng Khởi – originally 93-95 rue Catinat – is believed to have been constructed in the period 1900-1910.

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes to the Gallery: Mr. Bastian the Time Traveller

Mr. Bastian The Time Traveller opened last week at the majestic HCMC Museum of Fine Arts, where Sri Lankan-born, Australia-educated Kumkum Fernando brought to Saigon this year’s most electrifying and ...

in Culture

The Fading Legacy Of Lê Công Kiều’s Camera Shop

Renowned among local photographers and cameras aficionados, the Phạm Thê Camera Repair Shop, which opened before 1975, has stood the test of time. But behind the façade of customer’s smiles sit the wo...

in Saigon

Date With The Wrecking Ball: Cercle des Officiers

Last week it was announced that yet another old French civic building, featured earlier this year in Saigoneer as an “Old Saigon Building of the Week,” will soon be demolished.

in Food Culture

Herbs: The Unsung Heroes Of Vietnamese Cuisine

People travel to Vietnam from all over the world for the country’s culinary magic. But while broths, meats and noodles are often play the leading role, the unsung heroes of Vietnamese cuisine are fres...

in Tech

Made In Vietnam: La Dalat

Known once as “the pearl of the orient,” Saigon was Indochina’s hub of modern industry and entertainment. This environment spawned the “La Dalat,” one of the first cars to be produced in Vietnam.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: 128 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai

In the early 20th century, the colonial villa at 128 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai (the former rue Chasseloup-Laubat) was home to one of Saigon’s best-known Corsican families, the Canavaggios.

in Film & TV

November Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

If you believe that humanity is the essential aspect of cinematic endeavours, you will find plenty of it in this month programme from Saigon’s alternative film venues.

in Saigon

Icons Of Old Saigon: The Hotel de L’univers

Contrary to what many tourist websites would have us believe, the Grand Hôtel Continental was not Saigon’s first up-market hotel.

in Music & Arts

Vietnamese Artist Wins Top Prize For Illustrations Showing The Plight Of Circus Animals

In April, Hong Kong-based animal welfare organization, Animals Asia, launched a painting competition about the lives of wild animals in the circus. Hanoi artist, Dương Đoàn Anh Minh, took first prize ...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: 39 Trần Quốc Thảo

One of District 3’s grandest old colonial mansions, the Quận ủy (District council) building at 39 Trần Quốc Thảo (the former rue Eyriaud-des-Vergnes) was once the plush managerial residence of the Lyo...

in Saigon

Dragons Move On Despite Feisty Effort From Heat

“Everything has to come to an end, sometime.” ― L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of Oz

in Vietnam

38 Beautiful Illustrations Of Hanoi Street Vendors And Their Melodic Cries

These days, the melodic cries of Hanoi’s street vendors are drowned out by the city’s constant buzz of activity. But 85 years ago, these songs, which announced a seller’s goods or services, made up th...

in Development

A Goodbye To Steam At Thái Nguyên Steel Works

Wednesday 22 October 2014 was officially the last day of steam locomotive operations at Thái Nguyên Steel Works. Tim Doling takes a look at the history of this extraordinary industrial plant, which ow...

in Saigon

Heat Provide Little Resistance Against Bangkok As Both Teams Eye Playoffs

“The playoffs are the playoffs. You just play who is put in front of you.” – Steve Nash After Friday’s season finale against HiTech Bangkok City, the Saigon Heat may be glad they don’t have to face t...

in Food Culture

The Best Amarone Wine In Saigon

If you like wine, especially the Italian variety, you must try Amarone, one of those gems that was discovered by accident (think champagne).

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: St. Paul’s Convent

Occupying a large, leafy compound on Tôn Đức Thắng street in District 1, the Convent of Saint-Paul de Chartres is another rarely-visited haven of peace in busy Hồ Chí Minh City.

in Saigon

Heat Come Out Swinging Against Slingers

With their backs against the proverbial wall, it was put-up-or-shut-up time for the Saigon Heat with their playoff hopes on the line.

in Saigon

Tạ Dương Minh – Thủ Đức’s Founding Father

Built in 1879-1880 by the French, the historic Thủ Đức Market has in recent years become an increasingly popular destination for Hồ Chí Minh City residents wishing to stock up with the delicious local...

in Saigon

The Lost Inner-City Waterways of Saigon and Cho Lon: Part 2

When the French arrived in 1859, both Saigon and Chợ Lớn were criss-crossed by networks of canals and creeks, making it possible for boatmen to travel right through both city centres without stepping ...

in Film & TV

October Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

With Halloween coming up soon, expect some horror and gothic films at Saigon’s alternative film venues this month. Alongside titles that pay homage to the much-loved remembrance of the dead, these pro...

in Food Culture

Happy Meals: An Afternoon At Saigon’s VND2,000 Restaurant

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity." - Joseph Addison

in Heritage

Saigon’s Tour de l’Inspection - Part II

An essential feature of life in early colonial Saigon, the Tour de l'Inspection was not so much a sunset promenade as an event designed to showcase wealth and power.

in Saigon

Saigon’s Tour de l’Inspection - Part 1

An essential feature of life in early colonial Saigon, the Tour de l'Inspection was not so much a sunset promenade as an event designed to showcase wealth and power.

in Vietnam

22 Photos Of 1994 Cần Thơ

The rustic beauty of Cần Thơ was captured through the lens of a Belgian photographer, Harry Gruyaert, on his visit to Vietnam in 1994.

in Saigon

Saigon’s Tax Center to Close Today, 5 Days Earlier Than Planned

You have about 2 hours to say your last goodbyes to the interior of Saigon’s historic Tax Center.

in Sports

Young H’mong Boy Steals The Show At Sapa Mountain Marathon

The second Vietnam Mountain Marathon took place over the weekend of 20-21 September, with almost 400 runners from 40 nations descending on the mountains of Sapa to take on trails of 10, 21, 42 and a m...

in Saigon

Lê Văn Tám Park – The Former Massiges Cemetery - Part II

Cleared in 1983 to create the Lê Văn Tám Park, the former Massiges or European Cemetery (Cimetière Européen) was the most famous French cemetery in Saigon. To coincide with the release of hitherto uns...

in Saigon

Lê Văn Tám Park - The Former Massiges Cemetery - Part I

Cleared in 1983 to create the Lê Văn Tám Park, the former Massiges or European Cemetery (Cimetière Européen) was the most famous French cemetery in Saigon. To coincide with the release of hitherto uns...

in Culture

Modernization Of A Holiday: The Mid-Autumn Celebration In Saigon

Today’s Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival) has become a “modernized” affair with plastic lanterns vendors and mooncake shops sprouting up on every corner, selling their wares a month beforehand. But ther...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: Ho Chi Minh City General Sciences Library

Housed in one of the city’s most outstanding modernist buildings, the former South Vietnamese National Library was the culmination of over 100 years of library development in the southern metropolis.

in Travel

[Photos] Sunset Over Hanoi’s Hồ Tây (West Lake)

Hanoi’s West Lake, one of the signature lakes of the Vietnamese capital, has been an important part of the city’s history for over a thousand years. Hanoians have long revered the Lake, inspiring seve...

in Music & Arts

'Licence 2 Draw': UuDam Tran Nguyen Brings Robotic Art to Vietnam

Software-based creations are increasingly populating the 21st century art scene, which sees smart phones, websites, digital moving images and software used to investigate and address the most varied t...

in Culture

Saigon’s Non-War Museums

I remember that exciting day in my childhood when I was taken to a museum for the first time. It was the War Remnants Museum, and my excitement quickly gave way to horror for having seen its exhibits ...

in Asia

[Photos] Takazawa’s Edible Art

No outdoor sign and a dining room with a capacity of 10 people, yet inside Chef Yoshiaki Takazawa’s restaurant – Aronia de Takazawa – awaits a potentially life-changing culinary experience.

in Saigon

The Cinemas Of Old Saigon

Formerly known as “Pearl of the Orient,” Saigon once shone with elegance and prosperity, reflected in sun-soaked cafes, shiny cars parked on clean streets and crowded entertainment spots like discos a...

in Film & TV

September Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

This September, our local, alternative film-venues are sharing their love for the silver screen through their own selection of both new titles and films that you will not find in mainstream cinemas ar...

in Food Culture

Ramos Pinto Wines Arrive In Saigon

Alfredo de la Casa is a wine expert who runs the blog wineinvietnam. In order to increase awareness about wines available in Vietnam, Alfredo periodically stops by to profile some of his favourit...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: The Former Lycée Chasseloup-Laubat

The Lê Quý Đôn Secondary School (Trường Trung học Phổ thông Lê Quý Đôn, www.lequydon.edu.vn) at 110 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai street is the city’s oldest surviving educational establishment.

in Music & Arts

What’s So Special About Vietnamese Sơn Mài (Lacquer Painting)?

Sơn mài, or traditional Vietnamese lacquer painting, is not only unique in its fusion of local and French techniques, but also challenging due to the level of complexity and detail needed to create it...

in Vietnam

[Photos] The Hiệp Hoà Sugar Refinery (1927)

Covering 200 hectares of land, the Hiệp Hoà Sugar Refinery was one of the first of its kind in Vietnam when it was constructed.

in Music & Arts

Photographer Spotlight: An Interview With Cuong Do Manh

This is a continuation of our series that presents some of the most influential and prolific Vietnamese photographers. Whether photojournalism or fine art photography, their work investigates Vietname...

in Saigon

The Story Of Saigon’s "Graveyard Of Traitors"

Under a windy dusk towards Mả Ngụy. Clouds and clouds of souls reign on. These words are from an old poem that depicts the ghostly atmosphere of a graveyard which was located in the area of present ...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: St Joseph’s Seminary - Part 2

This is Part 2 of Old Saigon Building Of The Week: St Joseph’s Seminary. For Part 1, click here.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: St Joseph’s Seminary - Part 1

One of the first Roman Catholic institutions founded by Bishop Dominique Lefèbvre following the French conquest of 1859, the rarely-visited St Joseph’s Seminary offers a unique oasis of calm in a busy...

in Culture

August: The Month Of Damned Spirits

The 7th lunar month, which usually falls in mid-August, is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world as the Month of Ghosts. Known as Vu Lan month in Vietnam, it is marked by large religious celebrat...

in Music & Arts

Photographer Spotlight: Dinh Q. Lê

Photography has been, over the past 180 years, one of the most misjudged artistic mediums. Some consider it a way to simply record the surface of reality, indiscriminately used by the masses. After al...

in Literature

Where to Find Disappearing Old Books in Saigon

There is a German proverb – "Alle guten dinge sind drei" – which refers to the joy gained from one’s efforts. Living in the digital age, we are blessed – or cursed, depending on your point o...

in Film & TV

[Video] Local Students Make Impressive 3D Film On Retro Saigon

This local indie film, “Balloon” is worth 4 minutes of your eyes, ears and mind.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: Former Foyer du Soldat et du Marin

Originally founded in the 1890s by General Théophile Pennequin (1849-1916), Commandant supérieur des troupes de l'Indo-Chine, the Foyer du Soldat et du Marin (Soldiers and Sailors Club) was initially ...

in Saigon

Palais Norodom: A Palace Without Purpose

Though now nearly half a century old, the current Reunification Palace was conceived as a modern replacement for the Norodom Palace, a much grander French building which had stood on the same site bef...

in Development

Expo Milano 2015 To Feature Võ Trọng Nghĩa’s Lotus-Inspired Pavilion

World Expo 2015, an international event that embraces technology, innovation, culture, traditions and creativity will be held in Milan, Italy next year and renowned Võ Trọng Nghĩa Architects will...

in Food Culture

[Video] Vietnam’s 300-Year-Old Food Forest

7 hours south of Hanoi, in the province of Hà Tĩnh exists a 300-year-old, 2-acre food forest, one that has been tended by 28 generations of a single family.

in Travel

5 Remarkable Places To Discover In Lai Châu

Blessed with cloudy peaks, enchanting valleys and stunning rice paddies, one can marvel at Lai Châu’s beautiful scenery without spending a fortune.

in Food Culture

Spanish Bodegas Castano Wine Lands In Vietnam

Since good wine is still slowly trickling into Vietnam, I was pleased to hear that Bodegas Castano has finally made its way to Saigon.

in Architecture

Canadian Artist Reimagines Saigon's Architecture

Stories have recently surfaced about historical buildings in Saigon that have been or are on their way to being destroyed to make room for new, modern offices and luxury apartments.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building Of The Week: The Second Chambre de Commerce Building

Originally founded on 3 November 1867 in temporary accommodation in the compound of the Direction de l’Intérieur, the Chambre de commerce de Saïgon (Saigon Chamber of Commerce) moved into 11 place Rig...

in Saigon

Lệ Hải: Saigon’s Gangster Queen

Before 1975, Saigon’s underground was controlled by gangs and mob bosses. Yet all those criminal minds were vulnerable to the intoxicating smile of one woman, Lệ Hải, whose name fittingly translates t...

in Saigon

The Story Of Saigon’s Soap Millionaire

80 years ago, if you asked a Saigon resident to name a soap brand, you would get only one response - Cô Ba. The brand’s popularity extended throughout Indochina and its success made its owner, Trương ...

in Travel

11 Photos of Vietnam’s Amazing Bac Son Valley

Called Văn Lan during the reign of the Lýs, Bội Lan under the Minhs, Văn Quán under the Nguyễn’s and finally Bắc Sơn after 1945, this mountainous region in north Veitnam is the home to 6 of Vietnam’s ...

in Music & Arts

[Photos] The Erotic Animal Art Of Thái Nhật Minh

The progressive works (both in inspiration and material) of Vietnamese contemporary artist, Thái Nhật Minh, have made their first public appearance at Manzi Art Space (14 Phan Huy Ích, Hà Nôi) where t...

in Saigon

Saint-Saëns In Saigon

One of the great figures of western classical music, French composer, conductor, organist and pianist Camille Saint-Saëns is remembered for a range of works, including The Carnival of the Animals, Dan...

in Travel

[Photos] Tràng An: Getting To Know Vietnam’s Newest UNESCO Site

Highlighted by the ancient capital of Hoa Lư, rich wildlife and the heavenly Tam Cốc – Bích Động and Bái Đính temple complex (the largest of its kind in South East Asia), Tràng An is Vietnam’s newest ...

in Music & Arts

The Amazing Story And Art Of Chau Diem

It is fair to say that every work carries, willingly or unwillingly, the story and life of its maker.

in Saigon

12 Pictures Of 1962 Saigon

The 60s always seem to conjure up nostalgia in the minds of those who lived through the dramatic changes to Saigon over the past 50 years.

in Music & Arts

[Photos] A Look Back at the 'Golden Age' of Vietnamese Music

Between 1960 and 1975, South Vietnam’s music scene underwent many phases, eventually culminating in a "Golden Age" of music. This rich musical ecosystem featured different genres and offered something...

in Culture

A Brief History of Hunting in Vietnam Since the 19th Century

While hunting was probably popular among Vietnamese nobles before the arrival of the French, it was the colonialists who popularized big game hunting in the country when it was still a land of wildern...

in Music & Arts

[Photos]: Vu Huu Nhung’s “Life” Exhibition

Vũ Hữu Nhung, an heir of Phù Lãng pottery experts, is holding an exhibition of his cutting-edge sculptural artwork in Hanoi.

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Vietnam’s World Famous “Aquascapists”

Surprise fact: Vietnam is a perennial powerhouse when it comes to aquarium design.

in Architecture

Vietnamese Bamboo House Design Highlighted At International Architecture Awards

As one of the top 3 countries most vulnerable to natural disasters, living with floods is a difficult reality for many in Vietnam.

in Music & Arts

The Only Cross-Dressing Dance In Vietnam

Against the backdrop of Vietnamese gender sensitivities that are based on a feudally influenced culture, it is ironic that one of the country’s most unique dances, one that is over 1,000 years old, is...

in Travel

4 Beautiful Rock Formations Along Vietnam's Coast

While Phu Yen’s cliffs of stone plates (Ghềnh Đá Đĩa) may be particularly unique, we dug up a few other rocky beauties along Vietnam’s coast.

in Food Culture

Coffee Styles in Saigon Then and Now

Photo via truyenthongtuonglai. In Saigon, coffee can be consumed on the sidewalk or in a fancy coffee shop, out of a plastic cup or one made of fine porcelain. Regardless of location or vessel, this ...

in Music & Arts

New Art Initiative In Saigon: Sao La

Here is a new addition in town that art lovers will welcome with open arms. Sao La is a non-profit initiative by the well-established Gallery Quynh, located on the ground floor of the HCMC Fine Art Mu...

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Local Artist Creates Beautiful Aluminum And Wood Bird Sculptures

Interweaving the arts of sculpture and installation, Thai Nhat minh’s solo exhibition last year, “The Birds” captured feelings of captivity and yearning for freedom through his wooden and aluminum bir...

in Saigon

A Date With the Wrecking Ball: The Catinat Building

According to a recent article in Dân Trí newspaper, the Catinat building at the corner of Đồng Khởi and Lý Tự Trọng Streets sits on a so-called “gold land” block which has been earmarked for rede...

in Vietnam

[Photos] Old School Vietnamese Education

An elephant in Biology class? Now that would have made me actually pay attention in school. Apparently Vietnamese education used to be a lot more hands-on back in the day compared to our current world...

in Culture

A Guide To Honking In Vietnam

Saigoneer contributor, Eric van der Vorst, created this playful list to help us decipher the meaning behind the symphony of honks and beeps that echo through Vietnam's roads and cities. 

in Development

HCMC House Wins 1st Prize At International Design Competition

After winning Archdaily’s House of the Year Award back in April, Vo Trong Nghia Architects have just added more hardware to their collection for their House for Trees in Binh Thanh District.

in Travel

6 Great Pit Stops For Your Saigon - Nha Trang Road Trip

Driving along the coastal roads from Saigon to Nha Trang on motorbike is a beautiful journey, but also a bit of a grind. Here are 6 great places to stop between the 2 cities that will help break up th...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: Former Institution Tabert (1890)

With its prime location in one of Hồ Chí Minh City’s numerous “đất vàng” (gold land) areas, many wonder how long the former Institution Tabert, now the Trần Đại Nghĩa Specialist High School at 53 Nguy...

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Dull Saigon Alley Gets A Graffiti Facelift

In bustling downtown Saigon, where it seems like development dictates aesthetics, alleyway 15B on Le Thanh Ton Street is among the few public places in the city where art is accessible to residents of...

in Travel

5 Of Vietnam’s Most Beautiful (And Terrifying) Mountain Roads

With both potentially deadly turns and stunning natural beauty, these 5 mountain passes can simultaneously strike awe and fear into the hearts of drivers.

in Music & Arts

Artist Paul Frank Wagner To Exhibit In Con Dao

Less than two weeks ago, I attended the opening of Sao La. While in the midst of the hustle and bustle typical of the opening of an art space, I found myself chatting away with artist Paul Frank Wagne...

in Culture

4 of Vietnam’s Most Beautiful Schools

Well-known for both their elegant, classic architecture and the quality of education they provide, these 4 Vietnamese schools have stood the test of time.

in Culture

10 Incredible Churches in Nam Dinh

While they get the most attention, the Cathedrals in Saigon and Hanoi pale in comparison with Nam Dinh’s. Not only does the province boast this magnificent architectural specimen, but also a plethora ...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: Former Nestlé Headquarters

The Swiss company Nestlé, founded in 1905 following the merger of Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé (1866) and the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company (1866), established its first trading office in Saigon in 1912.

in Food Culture

Why Vietnamese Wine Gets a Bad Reputation - Part II

Why Vietnamese Wine Gets a Bad Reputation - Part I The rainfall in the Northern grape growing regions is much higher than that of Ninh Thuan (where many vines have been planted). Annual rainfall in t...

in Food Culture

Why Vietnamese Wine Gets a Bad Reputation: Part 1

Most people know that Vietnam is a global leader in the production of rice, coffee, tea and even cashew nuts, but what about wine?

in Culture

Hue’s Eunuch (Thái Giám) Graveyard

7 kilometers from Hue’s Imperial Citadel and hidden in a wooded area full of green pine trees one will find Duong Xuan hill. Sitting on its top is the Tu Hieu pagoda which is among the most historic a...

in Film & TV

5 Great Ways to Watch Independent Films in Saigon

I spent my childhood in a family that worshiped cinema, all sorts of films, from Disney cartoons, unsuitable films such as All that Jazz (way too early, I was 8 at the time), art films – Cinema Paradi...

in Culture

Mùng 5 Tháng 5 – Tet’s Little Brother

Yesterday was Mung 5 Thang 5 (Tet Doan Ngo) - a Vietnamese half-year Tet celebration which takes place on the fifth of lunar May (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month). We take a closer look at this...

in Saigon

Bót Catinat: Saigon's "Gold Land"

Located on a prime site in one of Hồ Chí Minh City’s numerous “đất vàng” (gold land) areas and already earmarked for redevelopment, the headquarters of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism at...

in Culture

American School of Vietnam Teacher Gets a $6,000 Haircut

In a refreshing alternative to stories about crazy things wealthy Vietnamese spend their money on, Michael Barrs, a teacher at The American School of Vietnam, promised his students that if they raised...

in Music & Arts

Zelda Goes to the Gallery: Art Basel Hong Kong

Last week, Art Basel Hong Kong proved itself worthy of its older siblings (Art Basel – Miami and Art Basel – Switzerland) and probably even bested them by becoming the meeting and merging point b...

in Vietnam

Dung Ha: Vietnam’s Lesbian Mob Boss

Among the infamous women of Vietnam’s criminal underworld, Dung Ha was one of the most notorious. Though her reign was short, it was characterized by wealth, power and love affairs that still draw cur...

in Culture

Saigon Urban Legends: Haunted Tao Dan Park

Listed in UK travel guidebook Rough Guides as one of the most haunted places in the world, District 1’s Tao Dan Park is said to the home of young man's ghost.

in Culture

4 Traditional Trades That Are Quickly Disappearing in Hanoi

Last week we heard the story of the Saigon Post Office’s last letter writer, a trade that is unlikely to last much longer. But letter writing isn’t the only traditional occupation endangered by Vietna...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: Maison du Combattant

The project to create a Maison du Combattant (War Veterans Centre) was launched in 1929 by the Amicale Cochinchinoise des Anciens Combattants de la Grande Guerre (Cochinchina Friendly Association of G...

in Travel

The Mekong Delta: Home to 3 of Vietnam's Most Spectacular Mansions

While Hanoi, Hai Phong and Saigon are known for their beautiful colonial architecture, some of Vietnam’s best specimens can be found in the Mekong Delta. Here are 3 ornate buildings known for their mi...

in Culture

The Cursed, Monk-less Phuc Quang Pagoda

Built in 1734 under the reign of King Long Duc III, Phuc Quang pagoda in Bac Giang Province has been mysteriously monk-less for nearly 300 years.

in Culture

The Last Letter Writer of the Saigon Post Office

As I travel through life, meeting new people, I sometimes get the feeling that some have a story to tell. When I discover such a person, I secretly feel special and cool to be one of the few who perce...

in Culture

Very Superstitious: 3 Popular Vietnamese Superstitions

As is the case in many cultures, superstition plays an important role in our society. It can dictate when to take a vacation, how to do business and even cure bad luck. In this monthly column, we take...

in Music & Arts

Vietnamese Man Covers his House with Antiques

Obsessed with antiques, a Vinh Tuong man, Nguyen Van Truong, collected 8,000 of them over 30 years and found an ingenious way to show off his collection - using them to coat the walls, gates and garde...

in Saigon

The Incredible History of Saigon’s Racetracks

Although it closed 3 years ago, for the city’s older citizens, District 11’s Phu Tho Horse Racing Ground represents a bygone era of racing and gambling in Saigon. While an important but fading cultura...

in Saigon

[Photos] Women's Fashion in 1960s and 70s Saigon

Before 1975, fashion in Vietnam differed greatly between North (which preferred traditional styles) and South (which put a spin on customary dress and adopted Western attire).

in Film & TV

Documentary on Vietnamese LGBT Singers Screened at French Film Festival

The Last Journey of Madame Phung – a film project from Nguyen Thi Tham that highlights a group of wandering LGBT Vietnamese singers, was recently screened at the 36th Cinéma du Réel Festival in Paris ...

in Food Culture

Marques de Caceres Wines Arrive in Saigon

Marques de Caceres, another of the top Spanish wineries based in Rioja, working together with the Wine Warehouse, recently chose La Closerie d’Elisa to organise and deliver a fantastic wine dinner, pa...

in Culture

Saigon Urban Legends: Spirits, Curses and Sunken Ships at Thuan Kieu Plaza

Located in the heart of Saigon’s busy Chinatown, the three-unit, 33-story tower complex known as Thuan Kieu Plaza was an icon of prosperity when it was completed in 1990. During the day, it looks no d...

in Travel

Escape From the Tourists: 5 of Vietnam’s Underrated Islands

You want to have a lazy holiday on a tranquil beach, but Nha Trang and Mui Ne is a bit too touristy for your taste. We’ve come up with a list islands that should offer some relief from the throngs of ...

in Saigon

Jean-Baptiste Louis-Pierre: The Father of Saigon's Green Spaces

As traffic congestion and air pollution intensifies, Hồ Chí Minh City’s urban greenbelt has assumed increased significance as the “green lung” which helps to disperse pollutants, check the flow of dus...

in Saigon

Gangsters of Saigon: Dai Cathay - Part 2

In the 1960s, the height of existentialism and hippy ideals in Saigon, many of the city’s wealthy hung out at restaurants, discotheques and drug dens in Districts 1 and 3. Dai became a familiar face i...

in Vietnam

US Grants Immigrant Visas for Married Gay Couples

The US Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City has declared that it will grant immigrant visas for married homosexual couples, according to VNExpress.

in Saigon

Gangsters of Saigon: Dai Cathay - Part 1

"First Dai, second Ty, third Cai, fourth The" was a saying about the 4 'kings' of Saigon's gangs before 1975. This implies that the most badass of the group was Dai, also known as Dai Cathay, who...

in Music & Arts

Event Rewind: Postiljonen

Last Sunday, Stockholm ‘dream pop’ trio, Postiljonen, swung by La Fenetre Soleil as part of their Asian tour.

in Development

Nearly Gone But Not Forgotten: 213 Dong Khoi

The magnificent art deco apartment building at 213 Dong Khoi has nearly been reduced to a pile of rubble to make way for a 14-story City Administration Center.

in Music & Arts

Event Rewind: The Saigon Projects 5 Year Anniversary Party

There may have been a mixture of complexions and languages, but the crowd at The Saigon Projects 5 year anniversary party shared one love for the growth of graffiti art and underground hiphop in ...

in Culture

Vietnam's Fading Black Smile

Contrasting black and white is not a modern aesthetic. For a long time, it was a standard of grace for Vietnamese women for whom traditional beauty was judged by “white skin, black teeth.”

in Culture

Saigon Urban Legends: The Ghost of the Fine Arts Museum

The Ho Chi Minh Fine Arts Museum, an ornate, colonial-era building at 97 Pho Duc Chinh, District 1 stands elegantly and quietly in the less-traveled area of District 1. Beyond housing some of the...

in Literature

Book Box Vietnam: Encouraging People to Spread and Share the Written Word

Inspired by the Little Free Library project, a group of young Saigon residents has launched a book exchange project called Book Box – placing little boxes of free books in public places.

in Tech

Vietnam's Taxi-hailing App Market Heating Up

Vietnam is fast-becoming part of the global apps market. While mobile games like ‘Flappy Bird’ have garnered the most press, more utilitarian apps are becoming popular, especially the taxi-hailing var...

in Saigon

The Curious Case of Saigon's Vanishing Revolutionary Monuments

It’s often assumed that it’s only Hồ Chí Minh City’s colonial-era heritage buildings which are under threat. But during the research for his forthcoming book of walking tours, Tim Doling discovered th...

in Music & Arts

3A Station: Saigon’s Answer to Zone 9?

There is a new area in Saigon, closed off to motorbikes, where artists and creative minds from different disciplines as well as businesses come together. This is the idea sketched out so far behind th...

in Music & Arts

Saigon Artbook Presents: Laurent Judge

Due to high demand, the release party for Saigon Artbook’s 3rd edition will be held over two days at Lê Công Kiều Station starting this evening. For those unfamiliar with the project, it is a quarterl...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: The Signal Mast

A time-honoured landmark on the Saigon riverfront, the Signal Mast (mât des signaux in French, Cột cờ thủ ngữ in Vietnamese) was recently refurbished as the centrepiece of the Saigon riverside park.

in Food Culture

Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro Winery Makes its Vietnam Debut

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ignacio Arzuaga, from Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro, who came to Vietnam to share information about his winery and wines which are now available locally.

in Culture

Event Rewind: Color Me Run

Late Saturday afternoon a quiet suburban area in Phu My Hung, District 7 was transformed into a rainbow of colour. An astounding 6,850 (aprox.) runners descended onto the outside arena near the Saigon...

in Music & Arts

Behind the Curtain: My Village

Aerialists flying through jungles of bamboo sticks, jugglers and acrobats delicately walking on movable bridges; twenty artists and musicians came together to reinterpret the daily life of Northern Vi...

in Saigon

“Củ Chi Lite” – The Secret Tunnels of Phú Thọ Hòa

Very few foreign tourists ever set foot there and it seems that only those living in the area know of their existence. But the pioneering Phú Thọ Hòa Tunnels in Hồ Chí Minh City’s Tân Phú District pla...

in Health

Vietnamese Consumers Turn to the Internet for Safe Produce

Farmers in Vietnam are using an increasing amount of pesticides to boost productivity and meet food security targets. As Vietnamese consumers become increasingly wary about the safety of produce in th...

in Asia

Full Steam Ahead on Cambodia’s Toll Royal Railway

Việt Nam railway historian Tim Doling recently joined a group of British steam enthusiasts visiting Phnom Penh as part of a PTG rail tour http://www.ptg.co.uk/ to travel behind Toll Royal Railway’s pr...

in Saigon

Honest Scrap Collector Hands Over US$50,000 Found in Rusty Box

In late 2013, a complete stranger sold scrap vendor Huynh Thi Anh Hong an iron box for 100,000VND ($4.70). When Hong opened the to see if she could sell it, she found a staggering 5.2 million yen (US$...

in Tech

Why Bitcoin Matters in Vietnam - Part 3

This is the final part of our 3 part series on Bitcoin in Vietnam. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: 48 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu

As demolition of 213 Đồng Khởi gets underway in earnest this week, we take a look at the crumling old Đa Kao headquarters of the company which built it.

in Tech

Why Bitcoin Matters in Vietnam: Part 2

This is part 2 of a 3 part series on Bitcoin in Vietnam. You can read part 1 here. What is Bitcoin anyway and why does it matter?

in Tech

Why Bitcoin Matters in Vietnam - Part 1

In January, Marc Andreesen’s article, “Why Bitcoin Matters” went viral just as Vietnam’s Central Bank, among others, rejected the technology’s legitimacy. In order to move the conversation away f...

in Culture

The Brains Behind Vietnam’s Meme Explosion

Vietnamese netizens have embraced internet memes which employ a mix of humour and satire to create a new lens with which to view everything from daily life to pop culture. In a recent interview, Vietm...

in Food Culture

Wine in Vietnam: Domaine Roux, France

Alfredo de la Casa is a wine expert who runs the blog wineinvietnam. In order to increase awareness about wines available in Vietnam, Alfredo periodically stops by to profile some of his favourites, t...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: Former Clinique Saint-Paul

For those condemned to a long daily commute along that busiest of city arteries, Điện Biên Phủ street, the clean, elegant lines of the Hồ Chí Minh City Eye Hospital (Bệnh viện Mắt, Thành phố Hồ Chí Mi...

in Music & Arts

The Second Portion 'Red' Opens at the Observatory

Upon entering the gallery section, visitors find themselves in a dark space lit only by Le Brothers’ video installations on the wall and by the shiny red reflections coming from the two cage-like scul...

in Saigon

A Date with the Wrecking Ball: 2 Historic Saigon Buildings Slated for Demolition

The proposal to build a 14-storey City Administration Centre behind the Hồ Chí Minh City People’s Committee building promises yet again to transform the skyline of the city’s central business district...

in Asia

[Updated] Malaysia Airlines Flight en Route to Beijing Goes Missing

[Updates Below] A Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777, traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, is presumed to have crashed into waters near Phu Quoc Island in South Vietnam, according to a senior Navy ...

in Asia

E-cigarettes and Shisha Banned in Cambodia

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has banned imports and sales of shisha tobacco and electronic cigarettes for fear they are having a negative impact on the youth, according to the Wall Street Journal....

in Music & Arts

Saigon Artist Spotlight: Jack Clayton

Jack Clayton is an artist from East London who has spent the last four years travelling. His inspiration for his art work is drawn from his experiences around the world and a representation of his env...

in Vietnam

The Long Biên Bridge – “A Misshapen But Essential Component of Hà Nội’s Heritage”

Described by one writer as “a misshapen but essential component of Hà Nội’s heritage,” the Long Biên Bridge has clearly seen better days, but still commands such affection that recent government ...

in Vietnam

Tighter Regulations for Foreign Workers in Vietnam Announced

Foreign workers will be expected to produce even more paperwork to secure a job in Vietnam, reports Tuoi Tre. The document, Circular 03/2014 places emphasis on the Vietnam labour code on foreign worke...

in Music & Arts

The Story Behind the Melting Pot Festival

Last weekend, the Melting Pot successfully celebrated its 4th event as well as its 1st anniversary with art exhibitions and a line-up of musicians and DJs, proving that there is a Saigonese’s experime...

in Saigon

The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Madame de la Souchère, Saigon's Rubber Baroness - Part 2

There can be few more fascinating figures in the history of colonial Saigon than Madame Janie-Marie Marguerite Bertin Rivière de la Souchère (1881-1963), the widow who defied the social conventions of...

in Saigon

The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Madame de la Souchère, Saigon's Rubber Baroness - Part 1

There can be few more fascinating figures in the history of colonial Saigon than Madame Janie-Marie Marguerite Bertin Rivière de la Souchère (1881-1963), the widow who defied the social conventions of...

in Health

Will New Alcohol and Cigarette Taxes Reduce Consumption in Vietnam?

According to Thanh Nien, the government proposal to increase taxes on alcohol and cigarettes won’t stem their consumption. The proposal under the Ministry of Finance would take effect from July 1, 201...

in Tech

Can Vietnam Create its Own Version of Silicon Valley?

According to The Atlantic, Vietnam could be home to the world’s next “tech hub.” The capital recently hosted the country’s first start-up fair, bringing together eager entrepreneurs in the hope of att...

in Vietnam

New US Visa System Streamlines Application Process

The US Embassy in Vietnam has announced that some significant changes will take place with regards to US visa procedures. The US Embassy has said that this is part of the US Department of State’s cont...

in Development

New Restrictions on Female Workers Draw Criticism

Female manual labourers in Vietnam are to be banned from employment in industries deemed too risky and arduous Thanh Thien reports. The new regulation, implemented in December 2013, saw 77 jobs catego...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: 14 Cách Mạng Tháng 8

The art deco style building at 14 Cách mạng Tháng 8 was inaugurated in 1937 as the headquarters of the Cercle Indochinois at 14 rue Verdun.

in Vietnam

Strange Fruit: Old Man Nearly Dies After Squash Mishap

Oh, Tuoi Tre, you sure know how to find the best stories. An 81-year-old Can Tho man hit a bum note when he was hospitalized after putting a squash up his anus to relieve his constipation, according t...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: Cercle des Officiers Building

The grand colonial old pile at 47 Lê Duẩn, right opposite the Diamond Plaza, is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city.

in Development

Vietnam Nuclear Power Plans Delayed. Again.

Vietnam’s plans to build its first nuclear power plant have been imminently delayed. The 2010 target of constructing 8 power plants by 2025 has seemingly now become a distant memory.

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: Liên Thành Fish Sauce Company HQ

Now one of the few surviving heritage buildings in District 4, the ornate colonial edifice at 243 Bến Vân Đồn was constructed in 1922 as the second Saigon office of the famous Phan Thiết-based fish sa...

in Music & Arts

Artist Spotlight: Yanneth Albornoz

There are very few people that you encounter accidentally in your lifetime with whom you can strike a spontaneous four hour conversation as if you have known each other for a very long time. Usually w...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: 141 Võ Văn Tần

The colonial villa at 141 Võ Văn Tần, next door to the Estar office building, is the house where acclaimed French writer Marguerite Duras (1914-1996) spent her last year in Sài Gòn.

in Food Culture

Australian Wine Dinner With The Yalumba Winery

What happens when you put together amazing food, great wines, excellent customer service and a fantastic host? Well the answer is that you feel in heaven, and that was how most, if not all, of us felt...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: French Masonic Lodge Le Réveil de L'orient

Saigon got its first French masonic lodge in the 1870s, when the Société civile le Réveil de l'Orient set up the Hôtel de la Loge Maçonnique Le Réveil de l'orient (Awakening of the East) at 17 rue d’E...

in Saigon

Old Saigon Building of the Week: Former Chambre de Commerce

Over the years, Mê Linh square – known immediately after the French arrived as the Rond-point and later as place Rigault de Genouilly – has lost many of its old buildings, including the imposing Commi...

in Saigon

Saigon's Cầu Mống and the Remnants of Gustave Eiffel's Work in Vietnam

Many people will be familiar with the spurious claims that French civil engineer and architect Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923) was responsible for two of Vietnam’s most iconic buildings, the Long Biên Brid...

in Music & Arts

Laurent Judge: The Evolution of a Graffiti Artist

“It’s like a nightmare where everything is in slow motion, some lights will appear, then shadows and creature, which could be real but they are abstract.” This is how Parisian painter and graffiti art...

in Food Culture

Sava: An Epicurean’s Paradise in District 2

Sava the Gourmet is located in a beautiful villa located in the heart of district 2. Although the company used to focus on wholesale products, it has recently extended its retail arm, bringing gourmet...

in Culture

Watch Your Step! Saigon’s Amazing Concrete Tiles.

Expressions like, "walk with your head held high" or "look forward" don’t always work, at least if you are in Saigon - to look to the floor can sometimes reveal hidden gems.

in Environment

Vietnam Urged to Plan for Climate Change

Vietnam must develop more climate-resilient cities and implement policies that will limit the impact of extreme weather on urban communities, according to three studies presented at last month’s Vietn...

in Saigon Events

'Right Fiction' - Opening Exhibition @ San Art

San art Laboratory has arrived at the end of its third session, and as always, the artists in resedency will mark this moment with a final group exhibition, ‘Right Fiction’.

in Travel

Spain, Land of Churches, Castles and Wine - Part 2

This is part 2 of Spain, Land of Churches, Castles and Wine. Click here for part 1. Of the many Rioja wineries that have opened their doors to wine lovers, we visited one of the best known in in the...

in Travel

Spain, Land of Churches, Castles and Wine - Part 1

Although I grew up in Spain, it’s been nearly 20 years since I left the country to overseas, so this summer I decided to go back and visit family and friends while showing the country to my Vietnamese...

in Health

The Toxic Legacy of Agent Orange

As the US government claims to be worried about the use of chemical weapons all over the world, one question is still waiting for an answer in this country. Although the major issues causing tension b...

in Music & Arts

San Art Laboratory: Open Studio Session 3

Have you ever been in front of a painting, a photograph, a video installation or any other form of artistic creation, for that matter, and asked yourself “What was the artist/author thinking?”, “What ...

in Travel

Wine, Grapes and Relaxation

Although there are many reasons to visit Spain, including good weather, history and food, wine tourism has become one of the latest trends with foreigners and locals alike. You may enjoy drinking wine...

in Travel

Trouble-free Travel with Flight Travel JSC

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, we all hope for a trouble-free experience either to be able to relax or conduct business as planned. However, experience has taught me that in general, and...

in Film & TV

South East Asian Portraits - A Documentary Series

Sunday 5 p.m - I have just finished work and I look outside the window like a child on Christmas morning, hoping that the rain has stopped. No luck. I prepare myself for yet another ride under the rai...

in Music & Arts

Creative Shakes - Where Art Comes to Life

Who defines art? Who can make art? Who is an artist? These questions have been explored, dealt with and talked about by artists and critics since the beginning of the 20th Century. The perception and ...

in Music & Arts

Why You Should go to Future Shorts Tonight

Don's miss out on Future Shorts, tonight at Decibel. Our Arts & Culture contributer, Zelda Rudzitsky, caught the first showing last weekend at Snap Cafe. Here's what she though of this month'...

in Culture

Dutch Lady Versus Vinamilk - A Foreigner and a Local Battle it Out (But Not Really)

Humor doesn't require much knowledge of each other’s language, especially in Vietnam. On a recent sweltering day, I went to a minimart to buy a Coca-Cola just as the store was being supplied. They di...

in Music & Arts

Latin Music With Soul

With many options available, it seems that a large number of Vietnamese youth are getting more and more into Latin music - Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia and Reggaeton. From Salsa clubs like La Salsa and Xsa...

in Food Culture

Bugs & Flowers

On a typical day in Cai Lay District, about 90 KM outside Ho Chi Minh City, farmers toil in the field tending to their rice paddies. But today is special, and like any special day in Vietnam it will e...

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