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.
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.
Turtle Lake to Become Pedestrian Area, Nguyen Thuong Hien to Turn Into 'Snack Street,' D3 Says
Known among Saigoneers as havens for bánh tráng trộn, two areas in District 3 are being transformed into the district’s first pedestrian-only areas.
The Story of Vietnam's Urban Energy and Aspirations Told via Southern Modernist Architecture
The following article is an edited excerpt from the recently published book Southern Vietnamese Modernist Architecture, presenting the history of the style, and how it contrasts with modernism in nort...
Air Pollution Is Costing Vietnam's Economy $10.8–13.6bn a Year, Research Shows
Air pollution has been a daily annoyance for many Saigoneers, but how does this urban ailment translate into economic terms?
Saigon to Build Broad Environment Survey System Measuring Air, Water, Land Data
The project costs VND495 billion (US$21.3 million).
Vietnam Jumps 10 Places in WEF's Global Competitiveness Report
This year, the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Competitiveness Report ranks countries on the new Global Competitiveness Index 4.0 introduced last year.
Holiday Stories Roundup: Group Wedding, Bui Vien Brawl and Asanzo
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...
[Photos] Urbanist Travel Getaways: Pastoral Scenes of Pindaya, Myanmar
Myanmar is no longer the secret of Southeast Asia. With tourist numbers increasing, its dusty country roads, seemingly endless parades of monks and crumbling colonial architecture are now officially a...
Urbanist Travel Getaways: Exploring the Izakayas of Japan
“I always liked side-paths, little dark back-alleys behind the main road,” Dostoyevsky writes in his 1879 novel, The Brothers Karamazov. “There one finds adventures and surprises, and precious metal i...
[Photos] The Rugged Beauty of Indonesia's Komodo National Park
Most people think of dragons when they hear about Komodo. While the world's largest lizards are one reason to journey to this remote corner of the world, the rugged vistas and incredible biodiver...
Saigon Might Put Underground Towns Beneath D1, Thu Thiem
City officials insist that underground expansions are necessary because the city is developing its metro network.
Saigon to Auction off 'Ghost Tower' at Starting Price of $286m
Will Saigon’s notorious “ghost tower” escape its doomed destiny?
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam in Top 10 Destinations for Americans Aged 55, Above
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ HCMC authorities make efforts to revitalize canals [SGGP] ▪ Vietnam in Top 1...
Morning News Roundup: Huge Foreign-Invested Real Estate Projects Remain on Paper
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Why Vietnam football fans celebrate Asian Cup semi like a World Cup win [Tuoi Tre]...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Peacekeeping Force Plans Hospital in South Sudan
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam’s peacekeeping force plans 70-strong hospital in South Sudan [VnExpress] ...
Lam Dong Officials Want to Revive Da Lat's Lost Railway With $172m
Train enthusiasts, rejoice!
Morning News Roundup: Toyota Stops Sponsoring Vietnam’s Top-Flight Football League
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Visitors crowd Phu Quoc Walking Street on opening day [Tuoi Tre] ▪ Toyota st...
Morning News Roundup: HCMC E-Bike Rental Plan Raises Concerns
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ HCM City’s e-motorbike rental service raises concerns [DTI] ▪ New tropical s...
Weekend News Roundup: Mu Cang Chai Named Among World's 19 Most Beautiful Mountains
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Remains of Vietnamese kidnap victim return to Vietnam [Inquirer] ▪ Mu Cang C...
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Hopes to Open More Pedestrian Streets
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ HCM City hopes to open more pedestrian streets [VietnamNet] ▪ HCMC scraps pr...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Stock Index Jumps to 10-Year High
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam stock index jumps to 10-year high [VietnamNet] ▪ Booking.com, Agoda ...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Airlines Welcomes 200 Millionth Passenger
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam Airlines welcomes 200 millionth passenger [DTI] ▪ Vietnam struggling...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Puts Brakes on Controversial Toll Station Following Public Backlash
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam puts brakes on controversial toll station in wake of public backlash [VnEx...
[Photos] The Hair-Raising Experience of Exploring South Korea's Creepiest Psychiatric Hospital
While accounts on the history of Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital are hazy, the facility was allegedly abandoned in 1996 and left to decay on a hillside outside the town of Gyeonggi-do, about an hour and ...
Citadel Saigon: The Latest Spot Gaining a Reputation as Saigon’s Go-to Place for Vietnamese Cuisine
The founders of Michelin-Star chef’s favorite Saigon steakhouse B3 recently opened Citadel Saigon, a Vietnamese restaurant in one of the city’s most storied alleyways. Two of the owners, Pierre and Ho...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Tourists Stranded on Bali With Volcanic Eruption 'Imminent'
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnamese tourists stranded on Bali with volcanic eruption 'imminent' [VnExpress]...
Morning News Roundup: Cuc Phuong National Park Threatened by Illegal Logging
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Senior man commended for returning $2,200 to owner in southern Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] ...
Morning News Roundup: 474 Firms, Individuals in Vietnam Named in Paradise Papers
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Saigon's mayor says prolonged meetings are a waste of time [VnExpress] ▪ 474...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Launches Government Website for Startups
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam launches government website for startups [Tuoi Tre] ▪ Top three sma...
Morning News Roundup: ASEAN, China Agree to Protect Marine Environment in East Sea
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ ASEAN, China agree to protect marine environment in East Sea [VietnamNet] ▪ ...
Morning News Roundup: Japan Sends Water Purifiers to Support Flood Victims in Vietnam
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Japan sends water purifiers to support flood victims in Vietnam [DTI] ▪ Typh...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Needs $10.2bn for Clean Water Supply Projects
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ New US ambassador to Vietnam hits the ground running [VnExpress] ▪ Vietnam n...
Morning News Roundup: Japanese Film Festival to Begin in Vietnam Next Week
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Int’l school accountant victim of acid attack in Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] ▪&nb...
Saigon's Annual Per Capita Income to Reach $9,800 by 2020: Official
Saigon’s impressive economic growth might help its residents achieve US$9,800 in average annual income soon.
Morning News Roundup: VNA Delays Flight After 3 Dogs 'Invade' Runway at Cam Ranh Airport
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam Airlines flight delayed after dogs ‘invade’ Cam Ranh airport [Tuoi Tre] ▪...
Safe Cities Index Ranks Saigon 56th Out of 60 Global Cities
Moving down ten spots from last year, Ho Chi Minh City ranks 56 out of 60 global cities in safety, according to a recent report.
Saigon Begins Removing Trees Along Ton Duc Thang for Bridge Construction
Saigon recently started cutting down or relocating 258 trees on Ton Duc Thang Street to prepare for construction of a new bridge connecting District 1 and District 2.
Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Airlines Makes $100m in Profit in First 9 Months
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Airlines makes 2.3 trillion VND profit in nine months [SGGP] Saigon's 'sma...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s GDP Grows by 7.46% in 3rd Quarter 2017
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s GDP grows by 7.46% in Q3 2017 [Tuoi Tre] Experts fear as coal ash, slag...
Morning News Roundup: Wealthy Asians Spend Millions of Dollars on Property in HCMC
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Wealthy Asians spend millions of dollars on property in HCM City [VietnamNet] Man ...
Morning News Roundup: Vann Molyvann, Architect Who Shaped Cambodia’s Capital, Dies at 90
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vann Molyvann, Architect Who Shaped Cambodia’s Capital, Dies at 90 [The New York Times]...
Morning News Roundup: Smart Pumping System Starts Trial Run to Alleviate Saigon Flooding
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Smart pumping system starts trial run to cope with street flooding [SGGP] Petrol p...
Morning News Roundup: Traffic Cops Collect Unofficial Fines From Commuters Near HCMC Airport
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Traffic cops collect unofficial fines from commuters near Ho Chi Minh City airport [Tuo...
Morning News Roundup: Microsoft, Bosch Replace Local CEOs With Foreigners in Vietnam
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Microsoft, Bosch replace local CEOs with foreigners in Vietnam [VnExpress] Rough G...
Weekend News Roundup: Hue Imperial Citadel Receives 20,000 Visitors on National Day
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hue Imperial Citadel receives 20,000 visitors on National Day [SGGP] HCM City tria...
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Leaders to Spend 2 Days a Month Meeting Citizens
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCM City leaders to spend two days a month meeting citizens [DTI] Vung Ang attract...
Morning News Roundup: 51 Bankers, Businessmen on Trial in Vietnam for Fraud
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 51 bankers, businessmen on trial in Vietnam for fraud [Tuoi Tre] New Saigon ‘food...
Morning News Roundup: Over 700 Houses Damaged as Typhoon Hato Batters Northern Vietnam
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Over 700 houses damaged as Typhoon Hato batters northern Vietnam [VnExpress] Vietn...
Saigon's 'Ghost Tower' Seized as Collateral After Owners Fail to Repay Debt
The future of Saigon’s most prominent skeleton tower has become even murkier.
Saigon's Official Population Hits 13m: Mayor
If Saigon seems especially crowded these days, there's a good reason why, as the city's population has officially reached 13 million people.
Morning News Roundup: Female Archer Clinches Vietnam’s 1st SEA Games Medal
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Female archer clinches Vietnam’s first 2017 SEA Games medal [Tuoi Tre] Drug ring l...
Morning News Roundup: Flooding Threatens Flights at Tan Son Nhat Airport
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Flooding threatens flights at Tan Son Nhat Airport [DTI] Hanoi chairman admits to ...
Weekend News Roundup: Saigon to Remove 100 Trees to Make Room for Traffic Near Airport
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Another 100 trees will fall in Saigon as city wants to clear traffic near airport [VnEx...
Aviation Authorities to Blame for Vietnam-US Direct Route Delay
Travelers might have to wait until the end of this year to start flying directly from Vietnam to the US due to issues with the Southeast Asian country’s aviation authorities.
Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Handle Unfinished Construction Projects in Downtown Area
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC to handle half done projects in downtown area [SGGP] Storm Sonca ravages nort...
Weekend News Roundup: 2 Dead, 10 Injured in Multiple-Vehicle Crash in HCMC
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Two dead, 10 injured in multiple-vehicle crash in Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] Poli...
Morning News Roundup: 5-Star Luxury Just Gets Cheaper at Saigon's Top Hotels
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 5-star luxury just gets cheaper at Saigon's top hotels [VnExpress] Vietnam cuts le...
Military Unit Admonished Over Controversial Construction Project in Ha Long Bay
Authorities in Quang Ninh province have halted a construction project near Ha Long Bay carried out by the Vietnamese Navy.
Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Named Among World’s Fastest Growing Travel Destinations
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam named among world’s fastest growing travel destinations [VnExpress] Vietna...
Jetstar Pacific to Fly Directly From Hanoi and Da Nang to Osaka This Fall
Globetrotters on a budget will soon be able to jet off from Vietnam to Japan via Jetstar Pacific's new direct routes.
Morning News Roundup: UN to Assess Vietnam’s Readiness for Peace-Keeping Activities
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. UN team assesses Vietnam’s readiness for peacekeeping activities [DTI] Developers ...
Weekend News Roundup: 10,000 Vinasun Cabbies Seek Permission to Rally Against Uber, Grab
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 10,000 Vinasun cabbies seek permission for rally against Uber, Grab in Vietnam [Tuoi Tr...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Electricity Tops Country’s Debtor List With $9.7bn in Liabilities
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Electricity tops country’s debtor list with $9.7bn in liabilities [Tuoi Tre] ...
'Brain Drain' Is Taking Its Toll on ASEAN Workforce and Economy: Study
Highly skilled members of the ASEAN workforce are pursuing more lucrative opportunities outside of their home countries.
Brian Letwin in Society
[Photos] This Binh Duong Warehouse Is a Treasure Trove of Vietnam's Automotive Heritage
In a dusty Binh Duong warehouse lies one of the world’s largest collections of Citroën Traction Avants, a car commonly associated with Vietnam’s late colonial era. One might hazard a guess that the co...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam, Japan Ink $22bn Worth of Trade Deals at 'Historic’ Conference
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam, Japan ink $22bn worth of trade deals at ‘historic’ conference [Tuoi Tre] ...
Morning News Roundup: Hue Bans High-Rises Within Historic Garden Houses
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Huế bans high-rises in its garden houses’ territory [DTI] Community culture space ...
Morning News Roundup: Controversial Tourist Zone on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang Delayed
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Controversial tourist zone on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang delayed [Tuoi Tre] Viet...
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.
Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Finishes 3rd in Southeast Asia Race for Tourist Dollars
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam finishes third in Southeast Asia race for tourist dollars [VnExpress] In V...
Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Woman Handed 1-Year Flight Ban After Ruckus With Flight Attendants
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. New Vietnam-Cambodia border markers unveiled in Dak Lak [Tuoi Tre] Hanoi woman han...
Khoi Pham in Music & Arts
[Video] Saigoneer Session: Ca Hoi Hoang's Paper Dream
The first time I met Ca Hoi Hoang frontman Nguyen Viet Thanh and band leader Nguyen Thanh Minh was in the midst of a sweltering Saigon afternoon.
Weekend News Roundup: VNA Celebrates 10,000th International Flight to Da Nang
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Airlines celebrates 10,000th int’l flight to Da Nang [SGGP] Two arrested f...
Morning News Roundup: Rumors of Cable Car System to Islet Near Hoi An Rejected
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Rumors of cable car system to islet near Hoi An rejected [Tuoi Tre] Local authorit...
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Thirsty for Skilled Tourism Workers
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCM City thirsty for skilled tourism labourers [DTI] General Department of Fisheri...
