in Saigon

Saigon Presents Detailed Proposal to Ban Motorbikes in Central Districts by 2030

A plan by Saigon authorities to make the city motorbike-free by 2030 is getting closer to becoming a reality.

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 Travel

Vietnam Mulls Visa Waivers for Australians and Indians

Vietnam tourism industry leaders have asked the government to extend and expand the visa waiver program introduced in 2015.

in Vietnam

Hanoi’s Civil Servants Are Getting a New Code of Etiquette in 2017

Starting on January 1, 2017, Hanoi’s new code of etiquette for civil servants will take effect.

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.

in Tech

Japanese Company Plans to Launch On-Demand Shooting Stars

Do you have wishes, but no shooting stars to wish on? Your problem will be a thing of the past once this Japanese startup launches its service in 2018.

in Asia

South Koreans Apologize for Country's Role in American War

Last week, the Korean-Vietnamese Peace Foundation sent a statue known as Vietnam Pieta – The Last Lullaby to the Da Nang Museum as an apology for South Korea’s involvement in the American War.&nb...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon

Street Cred: Bui Vien, the First Vietnamese in America...or Was He?

In today’s Saigon, Bui Vien Street is commonly known as the city’s backpacker paradise, not to mention one of its many nightlife hotspots. It’s unclear whether urban planners in the southern hub had o...

in Heritage

[Map] The Stories Behind Saigon’s French Colonial Street Names

In its relatively young history, Saigon has undergone several makeovers: from quaint colonial town to grand capital of Cochinchina, major metropolis of southern Vietnam and now the buzzing economic hu...

Khoi Pham

in Vietnam

Street Cred: Thoai Ngoc Hau, Dedicated but Misunderstood

For someone whose entire life was dedicated to national progress, Thoai Ngoc Hau really didn’t receive the treatment he deserved for his achievements. Marred by a wrongful conviction, even after his d...

in Arts & Culture

[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Hoang Duc Minh’s Socially Conscious Startup

In its most recent episode, Hanoi’s Renovation Generation podcast profiles techie Hoang Duc Minh.

in Travel

Japanese Budget Airline Opens Routes to Tokyo, Osaka and Okinawa

Budget carrier Vanilla Air now flies between Saigon and three Japanese destinations: Tokyo, Okinawa and Osaka.

in Environment

In Vietnam, Human Migration Intensifies Effects of Climate Change

As Vietnam continues to grow, human migration patterns are exacerbating the effects of climate change in the country.

in Travel

VietJet Will Fly to Hong Kong in December

Beginning in December, VietJet will offer direct flights between Saigon and Hong Kong.

Khoi Pham

in Food Culture

Bánh Trung Thu: From Traditional Festive Fare to Asia’s Answer to Fruitcake

While Saigoneer’s previous installment in our Food History series touched on the evolution of bánh xèo, a light, airy crepe that screams summer with every bite, this week’s dish belongs to t...

Khoi Pham

in Music & Arts

Nhạc Vàng: Bridging the Generational Gap With Retro Saigon Tunes

As the chatter starts to die down and the soft disco lights turn on, peppering the room with a myriad of colors, it seems as if the entire interior of Nguoi Sai Gon cafe has travelled back in time to ...

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 Saigon

Saigon Considering $300m Intelligent Transport System to Alleviate Traffic Issues

With crippling traffic becoming the norm in Saigon, local authorities are seeking ways to address the problem, from trimming sidewalks to banning motorbikes. While these controversial tactics are hotl...

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 Asia

AirAsia Rewards Hoang Xuan Vinh, ASEAN Gold Medalists With Free Flights for Life

It’s a good year to be an Olympic medalist from Southeast Asia, as regional low-cost carrier AirAsia has announced that it will provide “free flights for life” to all local athletes who won a gold med...

in Arts & Culture

[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Hanoi's Viral Cartoonist Xuan Lan

In the thirteenth installment of Hanoi-based English-language podcast Renovation Generation, narrator Maia Do sat down with one of Hanoi's most popular illustrators, Xuan Lan to discuss drawing cartoo...

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...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon

Street Cred: Ho Xuan Huong, a Woman Ahead of Her Time

Despite being one of Vietnam’s most prominent classical poets, Ho Xuan Huong’s existence remains an enigma to this day.

in Vietnam

Pokemon GO Finally Reaches Vietnam, Uses Ho Chi Minh Museum as Pokemon Gym

Drop whatever you’re doing and head outside: Vietnam has finally gained access to Pokemon GO.

in Tech

2 More Weeks for AAG Repairs, Hanoi to Get Free WiFi Network

In the ongoing saga of Vietnam’s temperamental WiFi connection, we’ve got good news and bad news.

in Asia

Pokemon GO Comes to Asia but Not Vietnam

Over two weeks after the game’s initial release in Europe and North America, Pokemon GO has arrived in Asia.