in Development

New Proposal Plans Metro Line Linking Long Thành Airport, Thủ Thiêm

Let the paperwork begin!

Paul Christiansen

in Vietnam

How to Spot a Traveling Vietnamese at the Airport? Boxes With Sharpied Names.

“If you know, you know.”

in Travel

Vietnam Airlines Sells VND14bn Worth of Inflight Bubble Tea Last Year

Gone were the days of brackish peanuts and lukewarm apple juice, today’s flyers can satiate their sugar cravings right in the air.

in Culture

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

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

in Tech

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

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

in Hanoi

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

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

in Vietnam

Airport Officer Suspended After Passenger Brings Knife on Flight to Prepare Mango Snack

A passenger's seemingly innocent in-air fruit snack has called into question the effectiveness of Tân Sơn Nhất's security screenings.

in Saigon

Tân Sơn Nhất Airport's New Terminal Will Have Áo Dài-Inspired Design

After years of existing on paper, Tân Sơn Nhất’s third terminal (T3) has slowly materialized in the form of visual renderings.

Paul Christiansen

in Loạt Soạt

How to Navigate Coming Out to Your Parents With the Help of 3 Fairy Tales

Sometimes stories can articulate what we cannot put into our own words. Fairy tales can function as long-form proverbs that allow people to identify and pass on important values, expectations and expe...

in Tech

Game Concept 'Vệ Thần' Crafts a Magical Realm From Vietnam's Wealth of Folklore

The recent renaissance in Vietnam's game-making market has been strongly driven by independent studios delivering highly acclaimed and anticipated productions.

in Travel

Vietnam Halts Covid-19 Test Requirement for International Travelers From May 15

Were those nose swabs all a dream?

in Vietnam

Hanoi Woman Survives 7 Days in the Wild After Falling off Cliff During Pagoda Visit

Would you be able to survive a week in the wilderness of Vietnam?

in Hanoi

[Photos] Look Back at Hanoi's Nội Bài Airport in 1995

In February, 1995, Yuichi Kobayashi, a Japanese businessman, came to Vietnam with a mission to set up a factory here.

in Stories

Letter From Ukraine: Kharkiv Is My Home, I Never Imagined That We Could Be Attacked

Editor's note: This article is a personal essay written by Viktoria Grivina, a Ukrainian and friend of a member of our team. While Saigoneer has always focused our editorial content on Vietnam, as Vie...

in Travel

New App ConstructionBnB Helps You Explore Vietnam's Beautiful Construction Sites

If you live in Vietnam, chances are you live next to a construction site: hotels, condos, shopping centers, etc. But why see the same old site every day when there are so many different ones out there...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Reopens to International Tourists With No Quarantine Requirement

Bring on the elephant pants.

in Vietnam

Sun Group Launches Premium Airline With Private Jets for Rich People

Let's hope they still have some money to spend on future cable cars.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Purchases New US Embassy in Washington DC for $23.7m

It follows a 2021 deal in which the United States leased land in Hanoi for a new embassy. 

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Remove Limits on International Flight Frequency Tomorrow

Another step toward some kind of normal.

in Development

PM Calls for Faster Progress on Long Thành International Airport

During a visit to the site of the planned Long Thành International Airport in Dong Nai Province last week, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính expressed frustration with the slow progress of the proje...

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Cut Quarantine for Vaccinated Passengers to 3 Days From Jan 1

Promising changes are on the horizon for those wishing to return to Vietnam.

in Hanoi

Hanoi Suffers Vietnam's Worst Air Pollution in 2020, Scientists Say

While many northern provinces scored poorly, Hanoi took the distinction of having the highest average PM2.5 concentration for 2020.

in Travel

Vietnam Airlines Completes First-Ever Direct Flight to United States

Welcome to the big leagues.

in Natural Selection

Bồ Kết: When Nature Dreams of Bubbles and Silky Hair

The first memory I have of bồ kết was when it was concocted into something completely different from its unassuming, modest self.

in Music & Arts

What If Disney Fairy Tales Took Place in Vietnam? A Local Illustrator Wonders.

Cinderella, Snow White and The Little Mermaid are all iconic animated characters whose imagery has left a strong impression on generations of children. What if these stories, popularized by Disney car...

in Vietnam

Bamboo Air to Launch Direct London Flights from Hanoi, Saigon

The routes will only be available once Vietnam resumes inbound international flights.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Pushes for Mutual Recognition of 'Vaccine Passports' With Some Nations

Vaccine passports may soon become part of a “new normal” as more Vietnamese are getting their two shots.

in Saigon

Saigon Police Asked to Facilitate Transport to Airport

That's nice of them.

in Development

Major Upgrade Approved for Con Dao Airport

Yay?

in Environment

Air Pollution is Robbing Hanoians of Roughly 80,000 Years of Life

Due to PM2.5 exposure, Hanoi has suffered 2,855 premature deaths, accumulating to 79,933 years of life lost. 

in Saigon

Tan Son Nhat Ranked Among World's Busiest Airports in 2020

Makes sense.

in Development

HCMC Proposes Rail Link Between Tan Son Nhat, Long Thanh Airports

This is part of the city's suggestions for the Vietnam Railway Authority's railway development plan for 2021-2030.

in Travel

Bamboo Airways Will Start Daily Flights to the US This September

Starting in September, the upstart airline will offer non-stop services from Saigon to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

in Vietnam

VNA Resumes Flights to Sydney, Seoul and Tokyo, Though With Heavy Restrictions

Flights to and from Australia and several Asian nations will begin this weekend, followed (potentially) by the UK in May.

in Environment

After Backlash, Mitsubishi Pulls out of Binh Thuan Coal-Fired Power Plant Project

Global companies face growing pressure to stop backing thermal power.

in Environment

Hanoi Greenlights Pilot Project to Install Solar Panels Atop Dong Xuan Market

Some new additions to the roof of Dong Xuan Market will pave the way for more green developments in the city to come.

in Saigon

No Tân Sơn Nhất Lockdown Despite 24 New Covid Cases Today

The new suspected cases are linked to Tân Sơn Nhất baggage handlers.

in Health

All Airport Staff Nationwide to be Tested for Covid-19

It's the latest step in efforts to combat the pandemic.

in Vietnam

Shift to Cargo Shipping Helped VietJet Turn a Profit in 2020

With a profit of VND70 billion (US$3 million), it is one of the only airlines in the world to not reduce its workforce and remain profitable last year. 

in Hanoi

As Air Pollution Worsens in Hanoi, Heavy Smog Disrupts Flights at Noi Bai

Dark days for residents of the capital as local air pollution gets thick ahead of Tết.

in Vietnam

Ahead of Tết, Vietnam Cuts Repatriation Flights, Requires Full 14-Day Quarantine

Ahead of the Tết holiday next month, Vietnam has decided to tighten regulations regarding foreign arrivals and their quarantine period.

in Vietnam

Vietravel Airlines, Vietnam's 6th Carrier, Officially Starts Flying This Month

The nation's sixth air carrier, Vietravel Airlines, is officially taking off.

in Vietnam

Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai Finish Repairing Runways Ahead of Tet Travel Season

Yay!

in Development

Construction of Long Thanh Airport Commences This Week

The massive project in Dong Nai Province will relieve pressure on Tan Son Nhat once completed.

in Travel

In 2020, Vietnam Only Welcomed 21% of Last Year's Tourist Arrivals

Unsurprisingly, it's been a rough year for the international tourism industry.

in Roundups

Weekend Stories: Contemporary Art Museum Debuts, Vietravel Airlines Flights and Metro Drama

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 Asia

Thailand Reopens for Tourists From 56 Countries, Albeit With Compulsory Quarantine

It is not confirmed yet whether Vietnam is part of the list of countries eligible for the scheme.

in Asia

Vietnam, Singapore Agree to Create Travel Bubble Next Year

Don't get your tourism hopes up though.

in Vietnam

VietJet, Bamboo Airways Request Financial Aid After $520m Bailout for VNA Approved

The privately owned airlines are hoping to receive similar treatment as Vietnam's national carrier.

in Asia

Japan Plans to Ban Sale of Gasoline Cars by Next Decade

By the mid-2030s, all new cars sold in Japan will need to be hybrid gasoline-electric or fully electric.

in Development

Plan for 5 New Rail Lines Linking Saigon to Southern Provinces Approved

Go big or go home.

in Vietnam

VNA Staff Face Abuse; Vietnam Might Prosecute Case 1,342 for Flouting Quarantine Rules

A Vietnam Airlines flight attendant was a key link in the country’s recent cases of community-transmitted COVID-19.

in Saigon

Higher Fee, Worse Pickup Location at Airport Draw Ire of Passengers, Rideshare Drivers

While aiming to reduce congestion at the domestic terminal, a new lane designation policy imposed by the Tan Son Nhat administration has created new inconveniences.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Approves $520m Package to Rescue Cash-Strapped Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines still has to produce a thorough restructuring strategy, but its financial situation will not be as tight as during the worst months of the pandemic.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Airlines Denies Bankruptcy Rumors Amid Huge Losses

Vietnam's national flag carrier, like the majority of airlines around the world, continues to face immense financial difficulties due to the pandemic.

in Development

Hanoi Is Considering Building a Second Airport to the South

To accommodate the capital’s rising demand for air travel, Hanoi officials are considering building a second airport.

in Asia

Singapore to Lift Restrictions on Travelers From Australia, Vietnam Next Week

Starting October 8, the nation will lift arrival restrictions in light of the two country's successful handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

in Vietnam

Hanoi Aims to End Burning of Straw in 2021 to Reduce Pollution

The burning of straw and other agricultural byproducts is a perennial problem for the capital's air quality.

in Travel

Vietnam Resumes Limited Flights to Japan, but Not Vice Versa

After service between Hanoi and Tokyo begins on September 18, flights to and from South Korea, China, Taiwan, Laos and Cambodia are expected to follow.

in Vietnam

Da Nang Resumes Intercity Transport After Week Without New Covid-19 Cases

As of Monday, September 7, all train, vehicle and air travel to and within Da Nang will return to normal.

in Development

Hanoi Proposes More Runways, Terminals in Future Noi Bai Expansions

If the plan comes to fruition, Noi Bai would get two new runways and multiple new terminals in the future.

in Environment

Vietnam Increases Carbon Emissions Reduction Target in Next Decade

The country is now aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9% by 2030.

in Travel

With No Foreign Visitors, Vietnam's Travel Sector Courts Domestic Tourists, but Is It Enough?

As the country slowly opens for tourism, are companies and people adequately prepared?

in Architecture

[Photos] An Airy Home for Those Averse to Air-Conditioning

To some people, air conditioners suck.

in Vietnam

Aviation Authority Proposes Flights From 6 Asian Countries From August

They include China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Laos and Cambodia.

in Vietnam

Vietnam's Coal Imports Reach Record High in First Half of 2020

Demand for electricity in the country is surging.

in Environment

High Chemical Levels Detected in Air Following Warehouse Fire

Heads up, Hanoians!

in Travel

Con Dao to Reclaim Sea for $99m Proposed Extension of Airport Runway

Ba Ria-Vung Tau provincial authorities have identified a runway extension of Con Dao's airport as a key development project for the region's development.

in Saigon

Saigon Reveals Plans to Spend $17bn on Public Transit Over 10 Years

This is part of an effort to increase public transport usage and reduce private vehicle numbers as traffic and air quality continues to worsen.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Unlikely to Resume International Flights in July, Experts Say

Bad, but unsurprising, news for anyone abroad hoping to visit Vietnam in the next few months.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Airlines to Buy Major Stake in Jetstar, Rename It 'Pacific Airlines'

The national flag carrier will buy out the 30% stake that Qantas has in Jetstar Pacific as well.

in Saigon

VietJet Plane Skids Off Runway, Causing Massive Delays at Tan Son Nhat

In the middle of a bout of stormy weather on Sunday, an airplane at Tan Son Nhat International Airport skidded off the runway at landing, causing massive delays to all flights to and from Saigon.

in Vietnam

Karaoke, Nightclubs Become Last Businesses Allowed to Reopen in Vietnam

The moment you've been saving your voice for is finally here.

in Environment

Hanoi to Deploy Water Trucks to Keep Dust, Summer Heat at Bay

Hanoi authorities are planning to re-deploy water trucks to city streets to keep dust and heat at bay in the sweltering summer months.

in Travel

Japan Might Reopen for Vietnamese Visitors With Negative Covid-19 Tests

Vietnam's successful containment of the coronavirus outbreak may mean its people will be able to travel abroad sooner, rather than later.

in Saigon

Tan Son Nhat to Close One Runway for Repairs Starting Next Month

One of the two runways at Saigon's international airport will be shut for six months so needed repairs can be performed, while a new terminal will be unveiled in three years. 

in Travel

Vietnam Extends E-Visa Scheme to 80 Countries; Borders Remain Closed

Starting July 1, citizens from 80 countries and territories will be eligible for electronic visas for future Vietnam visits, though this does not mean that foreign visitors will be allowed into the co...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Reports 24 New Coronavirus Cases, All Quarantined, on Flight From Russia

As Vietnam welcomes more humanitarian flights from epidemic-stricken nations, its third wave of COVID-19 infections begins, though all inside quarantine thus far.

in Vietnam

No New Airlines in Vietnam for Now, Aviation Authority Says

Aviation authorities will temporarily stop considering the licensing of new airlines while focusing on helping existing airlines recover in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.

in Hanoi

Noi Bai Ranked 87th Among World's Top 100 Airports, Skytrax Survey Says

How would you rate the airport?

in Development

Dong Nai Wants to Add More Lanes to HCMC-Long Thanh Expressway

Congestion between Saigon and neighboring provinces has become as clogged as the arteries of the most ardent bột chiên enthusiast.

in Saigon

Tan Son Nhat Plans $85m Upgrade to Runway to Serve Larger Aircraft

The project will cost over US$85 million.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Confirms 17 New Coronavirus Cases From UAE, All Quarantined on Arrival

The patients are Vietnamese nationals who returned on a repatriation flight from the United Arab Emirates last Sunday.

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Organize 13 Humanitarian Flights to Bring Citizens Stuck Abroad Home

In an effort to assist Vietnamese citizens stuck in foreign countries currently ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, aviation authorities have organized more than a dozen outbound flights that will take ...

in Saigon

The Social Distancing Order Is Relaxed. What Happens Next for Saigon?

As of midnight earlier today, all localities in Vietnam, including areas previously deemed high-risk like Saigon and Hanoi, can relax some social distancing restrictions imposed to curb the spread of ...

in Development

Vung Tau Plans New Airport on Go Gang Island to Replace Existing One

Authorities of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province have decided to move forward with a plan to construct a new airport.

in Saigon

Air Pollution in Saigon, Hanoi Reduces Noticeably During Social Distancing Period

In addition to allowing people to finish all of their puzzles and amass Animal Crossing playing time, Vietnam's social distancing campaign has led to air quality improvements in major cities.

in Vietnam

From Today, Vietnam Heavily Restricts Passenger Transport Between High-Risk Provinces

While the majority of its most crowded metropolises enter another week of mandatory social distancing, Vietnam is also putting a stop to intercity buses between high-risk regions.

in Travel

Airlines in Vietnam Prepare to Resume Domestic Flights on Thursday

The two airlines plan to begin offering more domestic routes from April 16, following the scheduled ending of the national social distancing campaign.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Airlines to Suspend All International Flight Routes Until April 30

Due to the worrying escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic, many airlines have stopped certain flight routes connecting Vietnam to coronavirus-infected regions.

in Health

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

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

in Architecture

[Photos] A Bright, Airy House in Saigon That Bridges the Generational Gap

"In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future."

in Travel

Bamboo Airways to Launch Vietnam–Germany Flight Routes From July

The upstart airline will operate flights to Munich from Saigon twice a week and from Hanoi once a week starting July.

in Tech

Grab, German Aircraft Maker to Test Air Taxi Feasibility in Southeast Asia

Air taxis are here to help you fly directly into air pollution.

in Saigon

Saigon Moves Ahead With Plan to Evaluate Motorbike Emission

Authorities received the green light to test and study motorbike emissions in an attempt to improve air quality.

in Travel

Vinpearl Air, Slated for a Summer Launch, Is Suddenly Cancelled by Vingroup

The move comes as Vietnam's largest private company looks to focus on its technology and industry operations.

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 Travel

Google Names Da Nang as 2020's Top Trending Travel Destination

The central coastal city experienced the biggest increase in travel searches, according to Google analytics.

in Environment

Saigon Has 13 New Air Quality Monitors, Mostly at Public Schools

They will provide residents with more accurate air quality readings across the city.