Saigoneer

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Lee Starnes

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 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 Saigon

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.

in Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Metro Experts, 2020 Army Games, and Rice Claims

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Parking Lot Fire, Roadworks, and Mekong Delta Ferry

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Online Shopping, Cải Lương Writers, and Community Lockdown

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 Architecture

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...

in Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Covid-19 Vaccine, Central Heatwave, and Expressway Deterioration

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Ha Giang Floods, HCMC FC, and Noise in Airport

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Open-Top Buses, Áo Dài Festival, and Cashew Export

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Covid-19 Layoffs, Theme Park, and Bus Ads

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Faux Fashion, Wind Power, and Air Travel Discounts

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Football Award, Average Height, and Bus Subsidy

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Flood Risks, Post-Pandemic Optimism, and New Train

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Thu Thiem Bridge, Japan Flight Routes, and Consumer Optimism

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Inflation, Da Nang Festival, and 3 COVID-19 Recoveries

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Post-Holiday Congestion, Volcanic Rocks, and Relapses

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Online Book Festival, Illegal Logging, and Cat Lai Bridge

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Golden Kite Awards, CNN Ads, and Downpour

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Covid-19 Cases, Earth Hour and Air Quality

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Covid-19 Updates, Can Tho FDI, and Tokyo Olympics

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Red Cross Society Supports Drought-Affected People

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Gas Price Drops, Bui Vien, and Water Shortage

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Covid-19 Updates, Slowing Growth and Martial Arts

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Hung Kings’ Temple Festival Cancelled Over Covid-19 Concerns

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Repatriation, Poisonous Snails and New Field Hospital

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Rice Exports Seen up 6% This Year to 6.75m Metric Tons

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Hot Season, Weightlifting Record and Covid-19 Updates

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Flood Tides Forecast to Submerge Many Areas in HCMC

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Bamboo Airways Becomes Sponsor of National Football Cup

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Saltwater Intrusion in Mekong Delta to Ease by April

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 Environment

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?

in Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC Airport Prepares for Peak Travel Season

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC Plagued by Serious Shortage of Social Housing

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Air Quality of HCMC, Hanoi Reaches Alarming Levels

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Wins 15 Golds at Maths-Science Competition

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 Environment

Saigon to Build Broad Environment Survey System Measuring Air, Water, Land Data

The project costs VND495 billion (US$21.3 million).

in Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: SEA Games, Solar Panels and Olympiad in Hanoi

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: New Tropical Depression Changes Direction Towards Philippines

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Takes Over ASEAN Chairmanship From Thailand

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Motor Show, New Racecourse and Hanoi Metro

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

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.

in Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Japan, Taiwan Top Places for Labor Export in 2019

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Mercury Cleanup, Hoi An Homestays and Music Fest

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: All Vietnamese to Get New 12-Digit ID at Birth From 2020

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam, Thailand Settle for Goalless Draw in Opener of World Cup Qualifier

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

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...

in Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: F1 Race, Mid-Autumn Festival and Cat Lai Bridge

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC Education Department to Check Food Safety in Schools

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Saigon Approves 2 Waste-to-Energy Plants

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Japan-South Korea Tensions May Hit Vietnam, Report Shows

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Wins Bronze Medal at Asian Futsal Club Championship

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC Plans More Transport Infrastructure in Southern 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 Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...

in Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Landfill Woes, Miss World Vietnam and Rhino Horns

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Demand for Organic Food Soars in HCMC

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: UN Project Helps Da Nang Develop Sustainable Development Planning

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Vietnamese Rice Exporters Look for New Markets

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Woman Arrested for Unintentionally Starting Wildfire in Central Vietnam

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: HCMC’s CPI Goes Down Slightly in June

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Vietnam Airlines Makes Emergency Landing for Ill Patient

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC Attracts $2.77bn in FDI in 5 Months

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Da Nang Bus, Hanoi Food Festival and Student Hackers

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC's CPI up 0.58% in May

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Vam Cong Bridge, Murky Tap Water and Massive Tuna

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: 6 People Sentenced for Violating Regulations on Rare Animals

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Center for Visa Applications to Europe Launched in Da Nang

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: 124 Kids Found to Have Tapeworms in Northern Vietnam

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC Attracts Over $1bn in FDI in Jan-Feb

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Official Visit to Set Historic Milestone in Vietnam-North Korea Relations

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: Reduced School Fees, Solar Panels and Kim Jong-un Arrival

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC Plans to Sell 7,000 Resettlement Apartments

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Vung Tau-Bound Bus and Reviving Old Railway Route

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: 9 Vietnamese Victims of Egypt Bomb Attack Return Home

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: More Bus Routes in Hanoi and Football Winning Streak

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Ly Son High-Speed Boats and Qatar Airways Direct Flights to Da Nang

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: HCMC to Host Flower Street for 7 Days During Tet

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: AFF Final, Canal Blockage and Bui Giang Painting

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Facebook’s Country Director in Vietnam Resigns

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 Travel

[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...

in Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: Increased GDP per Capita, Inflation and Saigon Real Estate

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 Roundups

Weekend Stories Roundup: More Prehistoric Artifacts, Wasteful Textbook Use and Walking Street Expansion

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 Roundups

Morning Stories Roundup: More Prehistoric Artifacts, Freed Turtles and Vietnam's UN Peacekeepers

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 Travel

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...

in Travel

[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...

in Saigon

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.

in Saigon

Saigon to Auction off 'Ghost Tower' at Starting Price of $286m

Will Saigon’s notorious “ghost tower” escape its doomed destiny?

in Roundups

Morning Links Roundup: HCMC to Spend Over $100m Raising Public Sector Pay in 2018

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ US-Vietnamese tie up to develop $50-million recycling facility [DTI] ▪ Ho Ch...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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]...

in Vietnam

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] ...

in Vietnam

Lam Dong Officials Want to Revive Da Lat's Lost Railway With $172m

Train enthusiasts, rejoice!

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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 ...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Travel

[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 ...

in Vietnam

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]...

in Vietnam

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] ...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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] ▪ ...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Saigon

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.

in Vietnam

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] ▪...

in Vietnam

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.

in Saigon

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.

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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 ...

in Vietnam

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]...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Development

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.

in Saigon

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.

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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 ...

in Vietnam

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...

in Travel

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.

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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. 

in Vietnam

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...

in Travel

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.

in Vietnam

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 ...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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] ...

in Asia

'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...

in Vietnam

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] ...

in Vietnam

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 ...

in Vietnam

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...

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

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...

in Vietnam

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.

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

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...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Illegal Wood Exploitation Rampant at Cuc Phuong National Park

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Illegal wood exploitation rampant at Cuc Phuong National Park [VietnamNet] Draft d...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: President Trump Invites Vietnam PM to Visit US

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. President Trump invites Vietnam PM to visit US [Tuoi Tre] An uphill battle with il...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Tourists Are as Bad as Chinese Visitors, Official Says

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Dong Nai farmers lose crops due to wild elephants [DTI] Beauty contest moved from ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: ‘Saigon, I Love You’ Wins Top Prize at Vietnam’s Golden Kite Awards

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ‘Saigon, I Love You’ wins top prize at Vietnam’s Golden Kite Awards [Tuoi Tre] Thu...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Tour Operators Bump Prices Ahead of Peak Season

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese tour operators bump prices ahead of peak season [VnExpress] Tourism fir...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: ACV Picks Coconut Leaf Design for Long Thanh Airport

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ACV picks coconut leaf design for Long Thanh International Airport [DTI] Vietnames...

in Development

Officials Investigate ‘Shaking’ Phenomenon in Downtown Saigon

Saigon officials are investigating the cause of a shaking phenomenon which occurred last month in the downtown area.

in Environment

Hanoi, Saigon to Ramp Up Environmental Quality Monitoring

In an effort to tackle the country’s severe air pollution, municipal authorities in Hanoi and Saigon are upgrading their monitoring game.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hackers Attack Southern Vietnam Airports’ Websites

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hackers attack southern Vietnam airports’ websites [Tuoi Tre] Overcrowding persist...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam-US Direct Air Routes May Begin in 2018

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam-US direct air routes may begin in 2018 [VietnamNet] Environmental issues a...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: District 1 Continues ‘Sidewalk Clearing’ Campaign With Firm Measures

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Saigon’s District 1 continues ‘sidewalk clearing’ campaign with firm measures [Tuoi Tre...

in Travel

Saigoneer 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...

in Arts & Culture

3A Station Is Closing in 2 Months

After three years, 3A Station is closing.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Suspected Chinese Missile Launch Pads Put Vietnam on Alert

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Suspected Chinese missile launch pads put Vietnam on alert [VnExpress] Vietnamese ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Samsung Display Gets License to Invest $2.5bn More in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Samsung Display gets license to invest $2.5 billion more in Vietnam [Reuters] Fore...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam's Foreign Visitors Hit All-Time High

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam's foreign visitors hit all-time high [VnExpress] Vietnamese spend big on f...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Notorious Undersea Internet Cable Ruptures Again

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City alleys ‘invaded’ by autos [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam’s notorious undersea...

in Development

Saigon’s Riverfront Park to Receive Upgrade, Host Weekend Market

City officials are planning to revamp the long, narrow park bordering the Saigon River in District 1 and host a weekend market at the site.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 3 Cab Drivers in Hanoi Fined for Peeing in Public

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam vows to develop national rice brand [VietnamNet] World Vision Internationa...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Deputy Minister in Spotlight As Huge Personal Assets Discovered

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam deputy minister in spotlight as huge personal assets discovered [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Become World's 20th Biggest Economy in 2050: Report

According to a new report, Vietnam could become the 20th largest economy in the world by 2050.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Notorious Internet Cable AAG Finally Back Up to Full Speed

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s notorious internet cable AAG finally back up to full speed [VnExpress] P...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi to Display ‘Fireworks’ on Giant Screens for Lunar New Year

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi to display ‘fireworks’ on giant screens to see in New Year [VnExpress] Liter...

in Vietnam

Saigon, Hanoi Among 10 Most Dynamic Cities in the World

For those Saigoneers stuck in traffic this week as they head to the airport on Tet holiday, just remember this while you're trapped in the gridlock: Saigon is the second most dynamic city in the world...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Proposes Hiking Environmental Protection Tax on Gasoline

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam proposes hiking environmental protection tax on gasoline [Tuoi Tre] HCMC o...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Natural Disasters Cost Vietnam $813m in Losses

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Natural disasters cost USD813m in losses [DTI] Ho Chi Minh City to give public bus...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Still Want to Buy Galaxy Note 7 Despite Explosion Problems

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam aims to cut 2 percent of government jobs every year [VnExpress] Giant roos...

in Food Culture

Saigon Among Top 10 Most Vegan-Friendly Cities in Asia: PETA

PETA Asia recently named Saigon among the top 10 most vegan-friendly cities in Asia.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Airport Nightmare Starts Before Tet for Vietnamese Flyers

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Tropical depression to hit East Vietnam Sea this week [Tuoi Tre] Teachers struggle...

in Saigon

Saigon Plans to Eliminate Poverty by 2020: Official

As part of the city’s sustainable poverty reduction program, Saigon is aiming to lift all households out of poverty by 2020.

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: Three Vietnamese News Outlets Fined Over Pro-Child Molester Stories

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Three Vietnamese news outlets fined over pro-child molester stories [Tuoi Tre] 50k...

in Saigon

Saigon Considers Altering Work Hours to Tackle Traffic Congestion

As Saigon’s traffic problems get progressively worse, municipal authorities recently announced that they’re considering a handful of proposed solutions that were previously tabled, including an adjust...

in Environment

Environmental Problems Likely to Hamper Vietnam's Future Economic Growth

According to a new report by Vietnam's National Center for Socio-Economic Information and Forecast (NCIF), the country's economic growth is being hindered by a host of environmental hiccups, including...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: 80 Projects to Be Executed in Saigon to Curb Congestion in 2017

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 80 projects to be executed in Saigon to curb congestion in 2017 [Tuoi Tre] Road ac...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 7 Uplifting Stories From Vietnam in 2016 That Will Make You Smile

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam suffers first slowdown in economic growth for 4 years [Tuoi Tre] Hundreds ...

in Architecture

How Vietnam Created Its Own Brand of Modernist Architecture

Throughout the 20th century, as Vietnam underwent dramatic historical and political changes, a unique brand of modernist architecture developed in the country, transforming its present-da...

Khoi Pham

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Getting Your Fried Chicken and Noodle Fix in D4

“When in doubt, have chicken.” – Saigoneer proverb

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: New Cold Spells, Floods to Hit Northern, Central Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. New cold spells, floods to hit northern, central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam raises...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi’s BRT to Offer Month of Free Travel

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi’s maiden BRT to offer month of free travel [Tuoi Tre] Ho Chi Minh City mulls...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam to Launch First Home-Built Radar Satellites Into Space

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam to launch first home-built radar satellites into space [VnExpress] HCMC to...

in Saigon

Saigon Officials Blame Skyscrapers for Traffic Congestion

As traffic congestion in downtown Saigon continues to grow, the city’s legislators are putting the onus on high-rise buildings.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi, HCMC Rank Low in 'Livable’ Index

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City rank low in 'livable’ index [VnExpress] Vietnam province r...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Wants Elevated Road to Tan Son Nhat

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam contractor provides lifeline for deaf-mute construction workers [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 200 Rare Turtles Die on Smugglers' Boat Heading From Malaysia to Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 200 rare turtles die on smugglers' boat heading from Malaysia to Vietnam [VnExpress] ...

in Saigon

Poor Urban Zoning, Traffic the Main Causes of Saigon's Noise Pollution: Research

Although most Saigoneers have accepted excessive noise as an unavoidable part of life in Saigon, the consequences of the city’s noise pollution are having a serious impact on the health of local resid...

in Development

As New Emission Standard Deadline Approaches, Vietnam May Not Be Ready

Even though Vietnam has already set a deadline to comply with European level 4 exhaust emission standards (Euro 4), whether the new legislation is feasible remains unclear.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Wins Seat on UN Culture Committee

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam wins seat on UN culture committee [VnExpress] Chilly weather to hammer cen...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: False Fish Sauce Survey Sponsored by Ogilvy Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. False fish sauce survey sponsored by Ogilvy Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Don't push the enve...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Announces a Day of Mourning for Fidel Castro

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Quang Ninh: 2,000 year-old tombs discovered [DTI] Bankrupt firms continue to rise&...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Among 10 Countries Most Exposed to Hacking Risk, Report Warns

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam among 10 countries most exposed to hacking risk, report warns [VnExpress] ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Works Finish on First Phase of $48.6m Wind Farm in Central Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Works finish on first phase of $48.6mn wind farm in south-central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Scraps Huge Nuclear Power Plant Projects

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam scraps huge nuclear power plant projects [Bangkok Post] Dong Nai: 2,000 ye...

in Saigon

Saigon Plans Golf Course in UNESCO-Protected Can Gio

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Urban Planning and Architecture recently proposed the construction of a golf course in Can Gio District near a UNESCO-recognized world biosphere reserve.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Pledges Tough Action Against Illegal Wildlife Trade

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam pledges tough action against illegal wildlife trade [VnExpress] Government...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Natural Disasters Could Cost Vietnam $6.7bn

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. More steel projects needed for sustainable development: Vietnam trade minister [Tuoi Tr...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Fails Consistently at Marine Tourism Development

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam fails consistently at marine tourism development [DTI] Thailand’s Central ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Obama Administration Gives Up on Pacific Trade Deal

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Surveillance cameras prove effective in keeping order for Vietnam’s Sapa [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: More Vietnamese Students Study Abroad, But Few Foreigners Enroll in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. More Vietnamese students study abroad, but few foreigners enroll in Vietnam [VietnamNet...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Donald Trump Is America’s 45th President

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi prepares for Rapid Bus Transit test run [VietnamNet] UNICEF helps improve sa...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Massive Batch of War-Era Ammunition Unearthed in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam eyes law to combat misuse of mother tongue [Tuoi Tre] China firms eye 'Mad...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Compensation Starts to Reach Fishermen After Formosa's Toxic Spill

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Compensation starts to reach fishermen after Formosa's toxic spill [VnExpress] Ho ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Reports First Microcephaly Case Likely Linked to Zika

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam reports first microcephaly case likely linked to Zika [Tuoi Tre] Heavy rai...

in Development

[Photos] A Bird's-Eye View of Saigon’s MEGA City

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 Saigon

Central Government Asks for Higher Share of Saigon's Income Under New Budget

As the national government discusses its 2016-2020 budget, local lawmakers are fighting to keep Saigon’s income for spending on projects in the southern hub.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Ministry Officials Claim to Be Happy After State-Owned Car Budget Cut

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ministry officials claim to be happy after state-owned car budget cut [VietnamNet] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej Dies After 70-Year Reign

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej dies after 70-year reign [The Guardian] Samsung Vietn...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 30 Provinces and Cities Formulate and Implement Green Growth Plan

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 30 provinces and cities formulate and implement green growth plan [VNS] Hoi An to ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC May Get Tough on Smoking, Drinking in Government Offices

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC may get tough on smoking, drinking in government offices [VnExpress] Hanoi la...

in Society

Dong Thap Farmers Are Selling Mango Trees Online

In the struggle towards creating an organic Vietnam, while many consumers are turning to online outlets to purchase safe produce, others are deciding to grow their own food. 

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: In Vietnam, Ex-Inmate Seeks Redemption Through Photography

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. In Vietnam, ex-inmate seeks redemption through photography [Tuoi Tre] Mekong Delta...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: US Warships Make First Visit to Vietnam Base in Decades

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. CITES ivory trade vote bares divisions on saving elephant; 300 kg of tusks seized in Hanoi&n...

in Health

Southeast Asia's Unsafe Air Costs Lives, National GDP

Around the globe, more than nine in 10 people are breathing polluted air, according to a recent study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

in Travel

Phu Quoc Grapples With Fresh Water Shortage as Tourism Grows

Currently welcoming a staggering 1 million visitors a year, Phu Quoc is having a bittersweet moment. On the one hand, this figure marks an important milestone in the island’s tourism development; on t...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam to Spend Over $4.5m Building Eco-Industrial Parks

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. In Africa, Vietnam's rice exporters see a rising market [VnExpress] Thieves pinch ...

in Travel

[Photos] Time Stands Still on Sri Lanka's Colonial-Era Trains

The train from Colombo to Ella rolls along Sri Lanka’s undulating hills on a set of uneven tracks. Aging passenger cars, hot and crowded, click-clack past a patchwork of verdant tea plantations and qu...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Central Bank Wants to Forbid Foreigners From Opening Savings Accounts in Local Currency

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam central bank wants to forbid foreigners from opening savings accounts in local curre...

in Travel

VNA to Buy 10 New A350 Airbus, Fly Nonstop to LAX

It looks like Vietnam is pushing to make nonstop flights to and from the United States a reality as Vietnam Airlines just signed a deal with Airbus for a fleet of 10 aircraft built especially for long...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Chinese Chemicals Flood Vietnam's Agricultural Sector

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. SAM Media ‘leeches’ $10mn from Vietnamese users, fined $2,400 [Tuoi Tre] Facebook ...

in Asia

Haze From Indonesia Forest Fires Caused Over 100,000 Deaths: US Study

A new study by researchers from Harvard and Columbia universities has found that last year’s catastrophic forest fires in Indonesia may have caused some 100,300 premature deaths.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Records a Rare Case of Cri-Du-Chat Syndrome

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam records a rare case of cri du chat syndrome [VnExpress] Vietnam’s new cust...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Hits Speed Bump on Road to Motorbike-Free City

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi hits speed bump on road to motorbike-free city [VNExpress] Fish not entirely...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Health Ministry Issues Central Region Fish Warning

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Health ministry issues central region fish warning [DTI] Japan to build satellite ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Higher Tax Slams the Brakes on Vietnam’s Car Imports

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Higher tax slams the brakes on Vietnam’s car imports [VNExpress] Vietnam to claw i...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: After Appropriating Hundreds of Billions of Dong, Vietnamese Tycoons Flee Abroad

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam PM says may allow bigger foreign stakes in banks [Tuoi Tre] Appropriating ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hydropower Dam Tunnel Collapses in Central Vietnam Flash Floods, Many Missing

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. India PM offers Vietnam $500 million credit line for defense cooperation [Thanh Nien] ...

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: 6 Products of Coca-Cola Vietnam Fail to Meet Labeling Standards: Health Ministry

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam government to have $7 billion by selling 12 big SOEs [VietNamNet] Becamex ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 25 Free-WiFi New Buses Run in Hanoi

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Huế sets out plan to build a museum street  [VietNamNews] Bullets trump rehab as A...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vinamilk Seeks to Buy Second US Dairy Company in Growth Push

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City determined to become smart city: chairman [Tuoi Tre] Vinamilk see...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Samsung Provides ‘Smart School’ for Ho Chi Minh City Medical University

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Samsung provides ‘smart school’ for Ho Chi Minh City medical university [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Eat & Drink

McDonald's Faces Stagnant Growth in Vietnam As Local Fast Food Fad Cools Down

Back in 2014, during its first month in Vietnam, McDonald’s seemed set for success, as its first location in Saigon managed to attract some 400,000 curious patrons to sample its American dishes.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Airlines Order 40 Airbus Jets Worth $6.5 Billion

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese airlines order 40 Airbus jets worth $6.5 billion [Reuters] Vietnamese a...

in Saigon

Saigon Apartment Prices to Rise, But Remain Cheaper Compared to ASEAN Neighbors

In the next three years, the cost of buying an apartment in Saigon is predicted to increase by 5 – 10% annually, according to a new report.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam on Alert As Zika Virus Threatens to Spread From Neighbors

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Moody’s: Domestic demand supports Việt Nam’s growth outlook [VNS] Why Vietnam high...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: 2,100 Inmates Freed, Thousands Enjoy Reduced Terms on Vietnam National Day

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 2,100 inmates freed, thousands enjoy reduced terms on Vietnam National Day [Thanh Nien]...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: New Route Open to Alleviate Congestion at HCMC Airport

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Formosa pays $500 mil compensation for marine disaster in central Vietnam [Thanh Nien] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Says All Will Lose in Any East Vietnam Sea War

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi says all will lose in any East Vietnam Sea war [Tuoi Tre] Chinese man gets j...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Nearly 4,500 Vietnamese Renounce Citizenship in 2015

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Schedule announced for Hollande's visit to Vietnam next month [Thanh Nien] Ca Mau ...

in Saigon

Saigon to Shell Out $3.5m to Replace Derelict Air Monitoring System

In an effort to make the city’s air quality assessment process more efficient, Ho Chi Minh City's environmental department has requested US$3.5 million from the city budget to replace its broken air m...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Inconsistency the Only Consistency in Reports on Fish Quality in Central Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Inconsistency the only consistency in reports on fish quality in central Vietnam [Tuoi ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Tailplane Damage Causes Vietnam Airlines to Cancel Flight

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi's hotel occupancy rate hits five-year high [VnExpress] Vietnam's resort town...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 58-Year-Old Vietnamese Gives Birth to Healthy Child in First-Ever Case

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Fish quality in central Vietnam remains unclear following mass deaths [Tuoi Tre] 5...

in Vietnam

Facebook's "Safety Check" Used in Vietnam for the First Time

Last Friday, after Typhoon Dianmu's aftermath, Facebook activated its "Safety Check" feature for the first time in Vietnam.

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 Tech

[UPDATED] Apple Finalizing Plans to Open $1bn Data Center in Da Nang

[UPDATE] On August 11, Chairman Huynh Duc Tho of the Da Nang People's Committee informed reporters that Apple, Inc. has not confirmed plans to construct a US$1 billion data center in the central city,...

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 Travel

[Photos] Cool, Calm and Collected: Life in Cau Hai Lagoon

Forty kilometers southeast of Hue, Cau Hai Lagoon is among the largest freshwater lagoons in Southeast Asia. Tucked between the East Sea and the mountains of central Vietnam, its placid waters are hom...

in Saigon

Saigon Dept of Transport Proposes $58m Green Public Lighting Plan

Saigon's streets will soon be illuminated by energy-saving lights if a new public lighting plan gets the go-ahead.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Chinese Hacker Group Denies Involvement in Vietnam Airport Cyber Attack

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Football Federation website hacked [VnExpress] FPT’s employees asked to us...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Karate Kids to Protect Tourists in Saigon

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Karate kids to protect tourists in Saigon [VnExpress] Saigonese embrace Khmer-styl...

in Vietnam

Vietnam's Aging Population to Triple in Next 24 Years

A recent report by the World Bank revealed that by 2040, the number of people aged 65 and older in Vietnam will reach 18.4 million, tripling the current amount of 6.5 million.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Flight Delays, Cancellations Show No Sign of Letup in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese workers have lunch with maggots at Taiwanese-invested factory [VnExpress] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: ‘First Annual Apologize to China Contest’ Attracts Many Sorry Satirists

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ‘First Annual Apologize to China Contest’ attracts many sorry satirists [HKFP] Vie...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From street vendors to old-school shipyards, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Vietnam

1.2m Vietnamese Move to Cities a Year: Report

Up to 1.2 million Vietnamese migrate to cities each year, according to a recent report.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: After 16 Years, Stolen Scooter Returns to Hanoi Owner

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Forbes announces most valuable brands in Vietnam [DTI] Vietnam firm sells iPad by ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Ha Long Bay Driver Fired for Sailing Cruiser With Feet

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Da Nang customs chief goes easy on subordinates as more ‘lubing’ cases begin to emerge ...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From city skylines to beachside prayers, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Travel

[Photos] Down From the Mountains: Da Lat to Nha Trang by Motorbike

The winding northern route which snakes between Da Lat and Nha Trang is full of pine forests, mountain jungles and coastal plains.

in Saigon

PM Delegates Greater Financial, Administrative Power to Saigon

The southern hub is to receive greater financial and administrative autonomy from the national government.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Airlines Aircraft Hits Jet Bridge at Hanoi Airport

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam Airlines aircraft hits jet bridge at Hanoi airport [Thanh Nien] Hanoi to d...

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.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: ANA Group Buys 8.8% Vietnam Air Stake

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese inventor launches mini-submarine on first ocean trials [VnExpress] Half...

in Saigon

One of Saigon’s Oldest Buildings Demolished to Make Way for Hilton Hotel

Another day, another historic Saigon building wiped off the map. This time, we said goodbye to one of the city’s oldest structures, the first Chambre de Commerce de Saïgon.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: 85% of Vietnamese Employees Dissatisfied With Current Job

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam makes one of biggest red tape cuts ever [Thanh Nien] Pavements heavily damaged in HCMC [Tuoi T...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Enter the Bánh Đúc Jungle

While many of our culinary adventures take us out of our downtown comfort zone, there are a few gems hidden among the office buildings and skyscrapers of District 1.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam May Remove Airfare Cap as Market Becomes 'Competitive': Official

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Investment for HCM City’s hospitals approved [VNS] Vietnam sentences 73-yr-old Aus...

in Saigon

Saigon to Bury All Electrical Wires by 2020

Saigon’s iconic electrical wiring may soon be a thing of the past as city officials work to bury power lines underground by 2020.

in Tech

dumbOt: An Engineering Student's Quest to Bring Robotics to the People

Before graduating from high school, Nguyen Phuong Duy had already done more than most of his peers.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: In Vietnam, GBP, EUR Keep Falling 3 Days After Brexit

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. UAE eyes Vietnam’s untapped potential [The National] Vietnam becoming a magnet for...

in Development

Cho Lon's Binh Tay Market May Be Getting a Makeover

Saigon city officials are mulling a VND122 billion (US$5.35 million) project to fully revamp Binh Tay, the 88-year-old market in the heart of District 6’s Chinatown.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Set to Gain From Brexit

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese entrepreneur wins first place in US competition [Vietnam News] Manchest...

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 Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Gambling-Mad Vietnamese Put Their Houses on Euro 2016

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam, Laos boost cooperation in scientific research [VietnamNet] Small size, lo...

in Development

The Story Behind Saigon’s ‘Death’ Projects

A number of large, high-end projects in Saigon have long been stalled, their skeletons constant reminders of the city’s speculative real estate market.

in Development

Saigon Housing Is About to Get the Japanese Treatment

As early as next year, middle-class residents in the southern hub will be getting “Japan quality” housing.

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 Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Chinese Man Burns Vietnamese Money in Da Nang Bar

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Free waves: Southern beach town Vung Tau now gives away Wi-Fi to tourists [Thanh Nien] ...

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: Vietnam Jet Goes Missing While Searching for Lost Pilot and Fighter Jet

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 5 Vietnamese universities named in Asia's QS list [Thanh Nien] Vietnam: Innovation...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Man Arrested for Pretending to Be Cop to Rob Foreigners in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam's north-south train services to be restored this month [Thanh Nien] Chines...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Maison Marou: The House That Chocolate Built

Across from Ben Thanh Market sits a massive, open pit that will eventually serve as the base for a set of gleaming, modern towers housing the likes of a six-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel. But just beyond th...

in Asia

At Angkor Wat, Groundbreaking Research Upends Cambodian History

Today, all eyes in the archaeology world are on Cambodia, as new evidence suggests a lost city near Angkor Wat which upends many of historians' assumptions about Southeast Asian history.

in Food Culture

Hanoi World’s Greatest City for Food: Telegraph

While the international press has been fawning over Vietnamese cuisine long before US President Barack Obama shared a few bowls of bún chả with Anthony Bourdain in Hanoi a few weeks back, the visit ma...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Talk Show Triggers Fresh Outrage With Controversial View on Charity

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Facility selling chemical-doused pork as delicacy busted in HCMC [Tuoi Tre] HCMC a...

in Vietnam

19 Vietnamese Cities to Provide Air Quality Readings by 2017

Next year, residents in 19 cities across Vietnam will have up-to-the-minute air quality readings, according to the central government.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Foreigner Falls Victim to Another Robbery by Fake Cop in HCMC

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Former Norwich schoolboy reported missing in Vietnam, family fly out to join the search and ...

in Development

Developer Proposes Saigon River Park and Underground Mall

Local developer Van Thinh Phat Group has submitted to city officials a proposal to build a new public park and underground trade center along the western bank of the Saigon River.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Province Fells 3,000 of Hanoi's Favorite Trees Over Foul Smell

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese interpreters in US courts [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam province fells 3,000 of Ha...

in Travel

Saved by Street Art: Penang's New Lease on Life

Of the 1,031 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the planet, Penang manages to stand apart from its peers.

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Fine Drivers Using Mobile Phones

Starting August 1, drivers in Vietnam will be fined for using their mobile phones while on the road.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Anti-Flooding Proposal Rejected

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. White House releases video of Obama’s trip to Vietnam, Japan [Tuoi Tre] Company fi...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: In Vietnam, Public Servants, Unskilled Workers Drink the Most Alcohol, Beer

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. In Vietnam, public servants, unskilled workers drink the most alcohol, beer [VnExpress]...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Sunny Spells to Return to Southern, Central Vietnam This Week

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Civil servants' base salary up 5% [SGGP] Can anyone hold a candle to Walmart if it...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Foreigner Introduces Paddle Board Taxi Service to Flooded Hanoi Street

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Suspended public works leave HCMC residents in limbo [Vietnam News] Foreigner intr...

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 Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Lack of Iconic Buildings Is About to Change, Says Design Expert

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s lack of iconic buildings is about to change, says design expert [Property Rep...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Obama Weighs Historic Decision on Whether to Lift Vietnam Arms Ban

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Safe food chain to be expanded in city [SGGP] Short film raises public awareness o...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Saigon's Street Food Unicorn

Not only are unicorns real, they are edible. In fact, these beauties are an animal of such mythic deliciousness that you should count yourself lucky to even catch a glimpse of one, much less feast on ...

in Travel

[Photos] Con Dao: From Prison to Paradise

Fast earning a place on travelers' radar, sleepy Con Dao is home to pristine beaches, ornate rock formations and some of Vietnam's best diving. Pair these natural attractions with the island's trouble...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Da Nang to Build 2 Green Urban Projects in Q2

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Da Nang to build 2 green urban projects in Q2 [VIetnam Plus] Foreign scientists he...

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 Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Canals May be Used to Regulate Floods

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam a new hot spot for tech startups [The Nation] Ancient arms museum re-opens...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Truck Crushes Street Sweeper in Thu Thiem Tunnel

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Development at a cost: How Nha Trang has changed over the last 10 years [Thanh Nien] ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Educators Debate on When Sex Education Should Start

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Educators debate on when sex education should start [VietnamNet] Over 4 million in...

in Travel

[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: A Laid-Back Morning in the Delta

While Can Tho has grown exponentially in population over the last 40 years, the capital of western Vietnam still retains much of its Delta charm. Here, the Hau River dictates local life, slowing down ...

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 Travel

Quang Ninh to Ban Overnight Cruises in Ha Long Bay 'Soon'

Spending a night on Ha Long Bay will soon be a thing of the past, according to Quang Ninh authorities.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Shines in the Ranking of ASEAN's Top 100 Banks

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Train crash blocks North-South railway [Vietnam News] One more international air...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Cambodian Airplane Slides off Runway at HCMC Airport

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam network security at high risk: experts [VietnamNet] Cambodian airplane s...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

[Video] Hẻm Gems: D4’s Supreme Street Sushi

There’s no shortage of solid international fare in Saigon. From Italian to Japanese, Indian to Korean, local diners are well covered. However, since most options in this category are relegated to indo...

in Development

[Photos] Tracking Saigon’s Development From Its Rooftops

Over the past decade, Saigon has transformed almost beyond recognition.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Starts Hygiene Campaign

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC starts hygiene campaign [TR Weekly] Drought in Vietnam will become 'dangero...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: More New Airlines to Operate in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC to manage pavement encroachment [Vietnam News] Controversy over Lenin Park ...

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 Travel

[Photos] Time Stands Still Around Long Bien Bridge

Hanoi’s iconic Long Bien Bridge, once described as a “misshapen but essential component of Hanoi’s heritage”, has spanned across the Red River for over 100 years. It has been – and will continue to be...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: A Decade on, Vietnam’s ‘Bomb Market’ Finally Begins to Fear Death

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam's first juvenile court to be formed in HCMC [Thanh Nien] Russian cars, b...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnamese Still Held Captive by Somali Pirates for 4 Years

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese farm produce exports should prosper in 2016 [VOV] Vietnam's southern d...

in Society

Vietnam's Elderly Population Increases by 500,000 a Year

With its elderly population increasing by a half-million people each year, Vietnam is on the fast track to becoming an aged nation.

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 Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC to Crack Down on Panhandling

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam state TV dodges copyright dispute [Tuoi Tre] Debate heats up over school s...

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 Travel

[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Pastoral Scenes of Pindaya, Myanmar

Myanmar is no longer the secret of Southeast Asia. With tourist numbers increasing every year, its dusty country roads, seemingly endless parades of monks and crumbling colonial architecture are now o...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Silicon Valley's 500 Startups Starts Fund in Growing Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi will need $20 billion to fix its ‘alarming’ congestion [Thanh Nien] Silicon ...

in Society

Saigon Children's Shelter Struggles to Stay Open

Everyday is a new challenge for the Green Bamboo Warm Shelter, a non-governmental organization which assists former street boys aged eight to 16.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Women Still Expected to Sacrifice Career for Family: Study

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC offers ‘instant’ business registration [Vietnam News] Cold spell to hit north...

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 Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Woman Names Son Born Mid-Air After Captain

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam woman names son born mid-air after captain [Tuoi Tre] Businesses eager to ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Suffer 3-Year Road Excavation for Canal Cleanup

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Google Play carrier billing comes to Vietnam and Kuwait [Android Police] HCMC to s...

in Development

[Photos] Vinhomes Central Park Rises From the Dust

While some of the city's construction projects are lagging – see, for instance, the skeletal riverside tower at the end of Ton Duc Thang – Vinhomes Central Park has breezed ahead, rising by the d...

in Music & Arts

Wowy Goes LIVE!: Saigon Rapper Aims to Raise 50k for New Show

There are a few things you should know about Wowy.

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 Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Now World’s 8th Largest Arms Importer

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese student jailed for helping grow cannabis in Australia [Thanh Nien] Viet...

in Stories

Morning News Roundup: World Bank Unveils Plan for Vietnam to Reach Upper Middle-Income Status by 2035

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. HCMC enterprises need 26,000 recruits in March [Vietnam Plus] 4 key product groups...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC to Open Bus Priority Routes

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Body of Hanoi giant turtle remains in cold storage as preservation plans undecided [Tuo...

in Environment

Vietnam Ranks 131 of 180 Countries on 2016 Environmental Protection Index

Every year, American university Yale releases its Environmental Protection Index (EPI), rating the ability of individual nations to protect both human health and the ecosystem. In 2016, the numbe...

Brian Letwin

in Culture

[Photos] Preview: Nguyen Hue Flower Street

Saigon’s celebrated flower street returns to Nguyen Hue Boulevard next week to ring in the Year of the Monkey.

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 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 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 Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Dropping the Flavor Bomb With Vietnamese Comfort Food

Given that most of the spots that show up in our Hẻm Gems series are full-on meals, we decided it was time to explore the vast world of small, snack-like Vietnamese dishes. There are plenty of great ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Toughens Penalties for Street Food Safety Violations

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Vietnam needs road map for ending 2G service [Hanoi Times] Vietnam to develop new envi...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Bun Thit Nuong in a Street Foodie's Paradise

For those who don't know, Co Giang is a rugged street located in the middle of District 1's well-groomed downtown neighborhood. Despite its extremely central location, the short, narrow road manages t...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Power Price to Go Up by VND21.4 Per kWh

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Vietnam’s power price to go up by VND21.4 per kWh [SGGP] Walmart to meet local supplie...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Man Criminally Charged for Breaking $120 Wine Jar

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Concern as high-rises pop up along Da Nang beaches [Thanh Nien] Hanoi's new chairman d...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Schools Remain Dangerous for LGBT Youth in Vietnam

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Mobile police asked for absolute safety for major events [VOV] New bridge opened to tr...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Winter Shortens, Summer and Drought Lengthen in Vietnam: Meteorologists

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Hanoi parents queue overnight for limited vaccines [DTI] Japanese culture festival com...

in Saigon

Nguyen Hue Traded a Colonial Shophouse for a McDonald's

As Saigon's one and only motorbike-free, picnic-free, pet-free walking street protected by rollerblading police, Nguyen Hue is already a popular gathering spot. But starting today, the good people of ...

in Development

Construction Begins on New Downtown Saigon Skyscraper

Earlier this month, developers broke ground on the Saigon Me Linh Tower, adding yet another skyscraper to District 1's riverside Me Linh roundabout.

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 Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Dike Construction to Protect Hoi An Begins

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Dike construction to protect Hoi An begins [Vietnam News] Policemen in Da Nang to patr...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Packed Cities, Empty Villages: Vietnam’s Migration Dilemma

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Largest jack-up drilling rig launched in Ba Ria-Vung Tau [Vietnam Plus] Out-dated vehi...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Students Hire Impersonators to Sit in English Exams

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Vietnamese Flappy Bird creator pays 14% of purported $446k tax: official [Tuoi Tre] St...

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 Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC is Almost Ready to Launch Electric Bus Services

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Students from low-income families to have university fees waived [DTI] Vietnam health ...

in Development

[Images] Construction Starts on Thu Thiem's Fancy New Exhibition Center

If you've taken a drive along the Saigon River lately, you may have noticed some construction on the other side of the water in District 2's Thu Thiem.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Promises to Ease Visa Policy for Australian, US Citizens

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City targets reduced traffic jams, flooding next year [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam's...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Hopes to Eliminate HIV/AIDS in 2020

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Ho Chi Minh City needs interconnected public transport system: Swedish official [Tuoi Tre] ...

in Music & Arts

Event Rewind: Saigon Soul Pool Party @ The New World Hotel

As the Saigon rains yield to hot and dry weather, the time is right for the return of the Saigon Soul Pool Party.

in Health

Vietnam’s Air Quality Among the Worst in the World

We’ve known for a while that air quality in Vietnam is less than stellar. Based on recent readings, we know for sure that breathing in Saigon is a risky proposition, but new statistics released by Yal...

in Development

Rent in Saigon More Expensive Than Dubai, Bangkok

Hanoi may be the most expensive place to live in Vietnam, but commercial rent in downtown Saigon ranks amongst the most expensive in the world, according to recent statistics compiled by commercial pr...

in Saigon

Saigon to Layoff 14,000 City Employees

It looks like Vietnam’s state-owned enterprises aren’t the only ones feeling the effects of efficiency-focused reforms as Saigon has announced that it plans to lay off 13,927 employees between now and...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: NA Mulls Whether Legal Adult Age Should Be 16 or 18

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. Vietjet holds interesting activities to celebrate new route connecting HCMC and Seoul [Than...

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 Development

Vietnam Looks to Add Another Airport Near Saigon

Amid approvals for massive new airports and expansions/upgrades to existing ones, it seems like the airport money tap is wide open in Vietnam. Seeking to jump on the bandwagon and boost tourism access...

in Development

[Photos/Video] Saigon's Second-Tallest Skyscraper Is Officially Open

A project several years in the making, Saigon's second-tallest skyscraper to date is now officially open.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: $50,000 Mobile Phone Found in Vietnam Airlines Plane 1 Month After Loss

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. $50,000 mobile phone found in Vietnam Airlines plane 1 month after loss [Thanh Nien] E...

in Travel

British MP: Tourists Won't Visit Vietnam If They Know About Dog Meat Trade

For whatever reason, last week Britain's House of Commons decided to discuss the number of dogs killed annually in Asian countries like China (20 million), Vietnam (5 million) and South Korea (2 milli...

in Vietnam

Saigon Will Reduce Its Carbon Emissions 10% by 2020

Good news is coming for environmentalists this week, as city officials have pledged to reduce Saigon's carbon emissions by 10% by 2020.

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 Development

Metro Line Contractor Seeks Compensation for Delays

While Saigon Metro's Line 1 has made considerable downtown progress over the last year or so and parts of 19.7-kilometer line are beginning to take shape in District 2, the city's massive public ...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: We Found Xôi Gà in a Hopeless Place

Stand outside a market at closing time and you'll bear witness to the daily routines of its swift, unceremonious demise. After sunset, Binh Thanh District's Ba Chieu Market transforms before your eyes...

in Health

Saigon's Air Quality Report Just Came Out and It's Not Good

As you may have noticed over the past month, Saigon's ambient air pollution is getting worse.

in Music & Arts

Event Rewind: Halloween Hẻm Jam

While people across the city embraced this weekend's Halloween festivities, 3A Station was especially lively as Saigoneer joined forces with GiantStep Gallery and iLL Beats Saigon to put on the first-...

in Vietnam

Attack of the Monsoons: Part 2

In the final installment of his two-part series, cultural and environmental anthropologist Jacob Weger explains why rainy season is getting more unpredictable and what the future of Southeast Asia' mo...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Tan Dinh's Hue Food Heaven

The area around Hue O Xuan is pretty busy, making it easy to miss the address amid its neverending traffic. Though the local chain that takes up two storefronts opposite Tan Dinh Market at 18 Nguyen H...

in Saigon

Architects Lament the Demolition of Saigon's Old Buildings

With limited space in downtown Saigon, it's pretty well-known that the city's heritage buildings are often in danger of being lost to newer, flashier development projects. More than a few historical s...

in Travel

Tourists Are Ruining Ha Long Bay With Cave Graffiti

Ha Long Bay, the crown jewel of northern Vietnam's tourism industry, is looking a little worse for wear these days. Between the toxic slurry flowing into its waters earlier this year and the ghos...

in Stories

Saigon's Haze Will Stick Around Until Late November

These days, it's pretty much a given that breathing during rush hour is hazardous to your health. What with the exhaust fumes and the standstill traffic, taking in a lungful of that hot, dusty, smog-f...

in Vietnam

HSBC: Expats Think Vietnam Is Great

Global banking giant HSBC recently released their annual Expat Explorer survey and it turns out foreign residents of Vietnam are very happy with their adopted home.

in Vietnam

Hanoi Kicks Floating Restaurants, Tour Boats Out of West Lake

Say goodbye to those romantic dinners on the murky waters of West Lake.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Government Proposes Higher Tax On Vehicles

Vietnam to divest $2.5 bln share in top firm Vinamilk [Reuters] Government proposes higher tax on vehicles [Vietnam News] HCM City seeks private funds for projects [Vietnam Plus]

in Music & Arts

Event Rewind: Beer Fest @ Saigon Outcast

Last Saturday, crowds of thirsty Saigoneers flocked to Saigon Outcast for its first-ever Beer Fest, which celebrated the city's growing number of craft beer producers.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Cracks Down On Massage Parlors Providing Sex Services

Southern Hanoi satellite urban area planning announced [SGGP] Vietnam to include doctor wages in hospital fees, upsetting uninsured patients [Tuoi Tre] Japanese airline eyes 10% stake at Vietna...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Illegal Houses On Canals Cause Serious Flooding In Ho Chi Minh City

Illegal houses on canals cause serious flooding in Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam's 'black gold' fuelling growth but raising health concerns [Channel News Asia] Young forests sold to China...

in Saigon

The Saigon Post Office May Soon Get Its Own Coffee Shop

After a few false starts and several coats of paint earlier this year, the 130-year-old Saigon Post Office may soon receive a brand-new addition to its surroundings.

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 Saigon

[Photos] Saigon Choked by Poisonous Smog

For the past three days, a blanket of smog has engulfed Saigon, resulting in not only poor visibility, but also potential health risks.

in Travel

The Guy Who Visited 198 Countries Thinks Hanoi Is Great

Everyone in Vietnam is, of course, partial to their hometown. For locals, it's the place they grew up; for foreign residents, it's where they first fell in love with Vietnam. But for one intrepid trav...

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

Weekend News Roundup: Recalculation Shows Vietnam’s Public Debt At 66.4% Of GDP

Recalculation shows Vietnam’s public debt at 66.4% of GDP [Vietnam Net] TV ads most trusted in Viet Nam [Vietnam News] Hanoi proposes emergency water pipeline [DTI]

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam To Stop Collecting Road Fees From Motorbike Owners In Early 2016

Reservoir anti-flooding plan still on hold in HCM City [Vietnam Net] Survey finds most Vietnamese respondents want to legally gamble at home [Tuoi Tre] Hanoi building near Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum tall...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Fast-Growing Ho Chi Minh City Misses Most Environmental Targets

Vietnam's economic growth accelerates as exports beat peers [Bloomberg] Urban dilemma: Fast-growing Ho Chi Minh City misses most environmental targets [Thanh Nien] Foreign experts offer su...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Tops Lists Of Ideal Investment Destinations: Cushman & Wakefield

Vietnam recalculates public debt, and it now exceeds safety limit: report [Thanh Nien] 25 bridges to be built with JICA loans [DTI] Vietnam tops lists of ideal investment destinations: Cushman & Wak...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: High Tide, Rainstorm Likely To Inundate Ho Chi Minh City This Week

Tourists say visa waiver too short [Vietnam News] Ministries declare new vision standards for motorbike drivers [Vietnam Plus] Vietnam lowers dollar deposit interest rates [DTI]

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 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 Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Hủ Tiếu With A Side Of Attitude

You know those vendors who are so good at what they do that no matter how rotten they may be to their customers, people still turn up in droves? Fickle as the world of street food may be, at the ...

in Music & Arts

Meet the Man Who’s Rewriting the Rules of Traditional Vietnamese Calligraphy

More often than not, the best things in Saigon take place on the sidewalk. Whether moonlighting as a parking lot or a restaurant, a barbershop or a spa, the lề đường is a rich eco system of all things...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Bánh Bao Chiên @ Lý Chính Thắng Street Cart

Imagine it's around 4pm and a sprinkle of rain is just starting to fall outside. You sit in the office thinking about how wonderful it would be to have a small snack by your side.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Most Vietnamese Ignore Nutrition

‘Black Monday' for VN stocks [SGGP] Minimum pay increase for 2016 yet to be fixed [VOV] Ferrari worth $750,000 damaged in crash in HCMC [Thanh Nien]

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 Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Bún Thịt Nướng Bà Tám @ 299 Võ Văn Tần

Though this indoor hem gem loses a few points for the bland, sanitary, air-conditioned environment, it starts to make up for the snooze fest in design with excellent renditions of some of Saigon’s mos...

in Vietnam

Phu Quoc Authorities Want to Wipe out Forests, Farmland for Development

Famous for its beautiful (and sometimes polluted) beaches, the island of Phu Quoc has become one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations with arrivals increasing by 20% every year. As a result,...

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 Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Government To Pursue $500.8M Museum Despite Funding Problems

Experts criticise uncontrolled Mekong crocodile breeding [Vietnam News] Government to pursue $500.8mln museum despite funding problems, criticisms [Thanh Nien] Foreign coloring books for adults...

in Vietnam

Population Explosion: Hanoi Adding 200,000 New Residents Each Year

It’s no secret that the populations of Vietnam’s urban centers are quickly growing, but in Hanoi, this phenomenon is occurring at a rapid pace as the city adds 200,000 new residents each yea...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Mì Vịt Tiềm @ Mì Gia Tân Tòng Lợi

You can tell Mì Gia Tân Tòng Lợi has been around for a while by the faded hủ tiếu cart greeting you at the entrance. The eatery specializes in Chinese-style egg noodle soups and fried duck dishes...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Foreign Retailers Drive The Rise Of Convenience Stores In Vietnam

Vietnam Widens Dong’s Trading Band After China Devalues Yuan [Bloomberg] Dozens of houses owned by disgraced Vinashin official seized [DTI News] PM welcomes US Supreme Court Justice [...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Chocolate Coconut Smoothies @ Le Thi Rieng Smoothies

On a hot night of street food hunting, it was time for a pit stop, one that would not only satisfy our thirst, but also our sweet tooth.

in Travel

Saigoneer Getaways: Hue

In our latest addition of Saigoneer Getaways, we bike through Vietnam’s former Imperial capital, Hue. Despite rapid modernization throughout Vietnam, Hue has somehow retained is 'charm.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Police Probe Elevator Free Fall That Injures 10 People At Da Nang Luxury Hotel

Police probe elevator free fall that injures 10 people at Da Nang luxury hotel [Thanh Nien] 3 policemen jailed for protecting illegal casinos in southern Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Lao Cai ranked in top 1...

in Music & Arts

Central Vietnam Photography Workshop With Saigoneer’s Lee Starnes

This August, Saigoneer photographer Lee Starnes will be leading a central Vietnam photography workshop alongside Pics of Asia founder, Etienne Bossot.

in Saigon

Saigon Embarks On Slum Demolishing Spree

Saigon has come a long way when it comes to removing the slums that once lined nearly every intercity waterway, but tens of thousands of dwellings still remain. As the city pushes ahead with moderniza...

in Saigon

18,600 Trees to Be Cut for Tourist Road Through Can Gio

Saigon authorities have given the go-ahead for a US$8.7 million road through the UNESCO recognized Can Gio biosphere reserve that will necessitate the felling of 18,600 trees.

in Tech

Apple Music Launches in Vietnam at Absurdly Low Price

Vietnamese users can now enjoy Apple’s new streaming music service at a significantly lower price compared to the U.S., poising it to steal business away from both Spotify and Vietnamese web-based mus...

in Saigon

This Saigon Art Deco Gem Will Shine Once Again

The area around Ben Thanh Market is quickly becoming an epicenter for development. As new buildings rise, such as The One Ho Chi Minh City and the Eximbank Tower, old colonial structures are seemingly...

in Travel

Hanoi Ranked Cheapest Destination In TripAdvisor Index

Hanoi has been named the cheapest destination in TripAdvisor's latest TripIndex Cities cost-comparison study.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: AAG Submarine Cable Repaired

Vietnamese brewery market to be restructured [VOV] HCM City opens official website on Government’s e-portal [VOV] WB report: Vietnam's GDP to grow 6.5 percent [Vietnam Plus]

in Tech

Meet The Winners Of Vietnam Young Spikes 2014

Why did you apply for VYS 2014? Chuong: I am very new to the industry and would like to see what it would be like to have the freedom to do creative work instead of following the process and dealing ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Korean Companies Accused Of Exploiting Workers In Vietnam

Vietnam probes child trafficking after Guardian's shocking exposé [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s “chaebols”: The rich and mysterious family of Vingroup [Vietnam Net] WB to help Vietnam’s economic hub w...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Ring Selling Sex For Up To $20k Busted In Vietnam, Pageant Winners Involved

Vietnam, China back South Korea’s opposition to Japan’s UNESCO bid [Japan Times] Vietnam puts the squeeze on counterfeit goods [DTI] Viet Nam needs more apartments for low-income individuals [V...

in Saigon

New Ho Chi Minh Statue Unveiled In Saigon

The new statue of Ho Chi Minh has finally emerged from its blue cocoon in front of Saigon’s People’s Committee Building.

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 Music & Arts

An Interview With Jazz-Fusion Trio The Drops

Forming in 2008, with Guitarist Frederico Casagrande, saxophonist Christophe Panzani, and percussionist Tom Poor, Casagrande and Panzani sought to continue a previous partnership in a new band. After ...

in Saigon

Saigon Begins to Move Its Power Lines Underground

Saigon has begun to move its notorious tangled nests of electricity wires underground.

in Travel

Saigoneer Getaways: Can Gio and the Mekong Delta

A chorus of horns, makeshift mobile loudspeakers announcing "bắp xào đây!" to four city blocks, the never-ending construction sounds of “progress”: these make up the everyday soundtrack of Saigon. It’...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Ha Noi Wants Vendors, Temporary Markets Gone

A book street for Ho Chi Minh City, why not? [Tuoi Tre] Hazards from games for children at funfairs in Vietnamese parks [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam to reform its aviation sector by 2020 [Vietnam Net]

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Craft Beer Makes Its Debut In Saigon: Pasteur Street Brewing

Nestled down a hẻm in District 1 are many a gem to be found by either stumbling upon them or through an awesome bit of advice from a friend. Whether it be your favorite bánh mì stand or a hidden coffe...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: BKAV to Produce Truly Made-In-Vietnam Smartphones

Vietnam proposes allowing foreigners to wholly own listed brokerages [Reuters] Vietnam Top Global Outsource Market as Chinese Labor Cost Rise [World Property Journal] Seedcom.vn is a new f...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Restaurateur Threatens To Burn Gov’t Office After Officials Delay Paying Bills

Proposal to combat overloaded vehicles [Vietnam News] Electricity price in nuclear power-era remains unpredictable [Vietnam Net] Vietnam launches hotline to handle questions, complaints from tourist...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Collects Residents’ Opinions On Subway Train Design

Growing green-label trend in Vietnam [Vietnam Plus] Agribank employees charged for stealing over $1 million for gambling [Thanh Nien] Hanoi adds more traffic cameras to put brake on violations ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Hackers Steal 50,000 Accounts From Local Telecom Giant

Vietnamese high-tech products conquer world market [Vietnam Plus] Taxi cab robberies become violent [Vietnam Net] Vietnam’s PC market is the only one in Asia still growing [Vietnam Net]

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Cosmetics With Human "Stuff" Banned In VN

Cartoon campaign launched against littering [Vietnam Plus] Woman writer likens men who avoid sharing housework as "pigs" [DTI] Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air fined for flight delays [DTI]

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 101-yr-old Vietnamese Asked To End Vain Hunt For 4,000 Tons Of Gold

Vietnam faces economic concerns on fuel and power price hikes [DTI] Viettel eyes global status by 2020 [SGGP] Vietnam to host ASEAN traditional music festival 2015 [SGGP]

in Travel

Saigoneer Getaways: The Melting Pot Of The Philippines

Over the Tet holiday, our photographer, Lee Starnes, tried to capture the melting pot of the Philippines. Traveling to Palawan, Bohol, and Southern Luzon, the remnants of Spanish and American coloniza...

in Asia

Cambodia Deports 3 French Men for Nude Photoshoot at Angkor Wat

Three Frenchmen were deported from Cambodia last weekend after they admitted to taking nude photos of themselves at the popular tourist destination of Angkor Wat.

Brian Letwin

in Music & Arts

[Video] European Graffiti Artist Tags His Way Across Saigon

We recently caught up with Munich-based graffiti artist, Nasca Uno, who spend five weeks in Vietnam last year, painting beautiful pieces of art in Saigon and Phan Thiet.

in Society

Parkson's Luxury Shopping Centers In Saigon Deserted

Walk into one of the six Parkson shopping centers in Saigon, and it’s likely you’ll be one of a few people walking through a deserted shrine to commerce.

in Travel

[Photos] Phú Quốc: An Idyllic Beach Getaway…For Now

A short 45-minute flight from Saigon takes you away from the city’s frenetic energy and drops you in a place where the sounds of waves hitting the sand replace the endless honking horns of busses and ...

in Vietnam

Restaurateur Arrested for Buying Stolen Dogs in Southern Vietnam

Police in Binh Duong Province, just outside of Saigon, arrested a man last Thursday when he was pulled over with 10 dead dogs stacked on the back of his motorbike.

in Saigon

Saigon Post Office To Be Repainted Yet Again Following Complaints

Following public outcry and criticism from street vendors, historians, artists and tourists, Saigon Central Post Office officials have announced that they will repaint the iconic building after consul...

in Travel

48 Hours In Tam Cốc-Bích Động

As you approach the small town of Tam Cốc-Bích Động, limestone karsts jump out of the endlessly flat terrain like monuments to the days of yesteryear.

in Saigon

Everyone Seems To Be Unhappy With The Saigon Post Office’s Makeover

Over the past few months, one of Saigon’s most beloved old buildings has been undergoing a serious makeover, trading in its subdued, light pink paint for a bright, golden yellow coat.

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 Development

[Photos] 13 Old Saigon Villas to Be Demolished

According to Tuoi Tre, 13 villas in Districts 1 and 3 are scheduled to meet their demise in the near future. Though the city's Villa Classification Council is attempting to preserve many of these buil...

in Travel

[Video] How to Spend 36 Hours in Phnom Penh: NY Times

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

in Vietnam

[Photos] The Vietnamese Soldiers Of WWI

Whereas the story of World War I traditionally filters through the lens of the major European powers, colonial ties produced a transcontinental story with the militaries of France and Britain comprise...

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 Eat & Drink

The Hidden Gems of Binh Tay Market

Among the busy streets of District 6, Binh Tay, Cho Lon’s central market, sits in all its hectic glory.

in Development

Future Saigon: Vietcombank Tower

The next big addition to Saigon’s skyline, the Vietcombank Tower, is nearly complete after years of construction.

in Food Culture

The Different Faces Of Bánh Cuốn

A favorite breakfast for many Vietnamese, bánh cuốn (steamed roll) is a quick and delicious day starter. While the traditional is always a crowd pleaser, let’s take a look at some interesting ren...

in Saigon

[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Part 1

We’re back with a new series of “Then and Now” photos of Saigon featuring the Continental Hotel, the city’s former opium refinery and a few other iconic places you may recognize.

in Saigon

[Photos] The Saigon Post Office Is Getting A Makeover

If you’ve passed by the Saigon Post Office in recent days, you’ve probably noticed work being done. The iconic building is getting a makeover, trading in its dull pink façade for a fresh coat of colon...

in Culture

Saigoneer Dispatches: How a Phnom Penh Youth Center is Using Hip Hop to Empower Street Kids

Through an unassuming alley in a slum of Phnom Penh, the deep beat of a bass line rings. One and two and three and four echoes off its dusty walls. Kids are dancing. Breakdancing.

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