in Hanoi

I Keep My Connection to My Family's Hanoi Tết Traditions in a Tiny Quất Tree

I am not a plant person. So when even I notice the abundance of vườn kiểng — a place selling a myriad of plants — it must mean that Saigoneers truly love buying plants. Some of my friends, who are also Hanoians, asked me one day to visit these vườn kiểng and look for Tết plants: “Let’s celebrate Tết the way northerners do, you know?” And somehow, being amongst the plants brought me right back to Quảng Bá Flower Market in Tây Hồ.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

How to Curate the Best Playlist to Listen to While Riding the Saigon Metro

When you get a new toy, it's only reasonable to take it out to play with as often as possible.

Paul Christiansen

in Vietnam

Đi Bão Is Vietnamese Culture at Its Most Jubilant, Raucous, and Fervent

Dustbins, tree branches, advertising stands and tarps, leftover Christmas decorations, whatever pot, pan, ladle or utensil left unattended in the family kitchen, and at least one street vendor’s bánh khọt mold: whatever wasn’t bolted down got caught up in the wave of đi bão that filled Saigon’s streets last night. 

in Saigon

Life in Saigon's Old Tenements, the Remaining Vertical Villages of Past Decades

Is “out with the old, in with the new” the new motto when it comes to Saigon's real estate scene?

in Saigon

A Merry Memory of a Mid-2000s Middle-Class Christmas in Saigon

As my palm felt the glossy wrapping paper for my Secret Santa gift, I was transported to my early childhood Christmases — filled with warmth, wonder, and the bubbling discomfort of class insecurities.

in Saigon

Watching Snowfall in 'Home Alone' Is My Saigon Christmas Tradition

Christmas is so globally celebrated that even in Saigon, as the coldest time of the year approaches, you can hear Christmas hymms echoing from homes in the alley, and spot houses adorned with Christmas trees, Santas, snowmen, regardless of their cultural relevance to Vietnamese culture. For me, one of the activities that truly embodies this global spirit of Christmas is watching Home Alone (1990). 

Paul Christiansen

in Vietnam

‘Công tử Bạc Liêu’ Asks: ‘What Would You Do if You Won the Lottery?’

They say you don’t buy a lottery ticket because you think you’ll win; you buy one so that you can fantasize about winning.

in Vietnam

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

The water reached my shoulders, and when I stepped into the street I suddenly felt the current trying to pull me into its invisible grasp. A familiar feeling that set off an alarm inside my head: “Be careful! It looks like nothing, but don’t get caught in it.”

Back Stories

in Saigon

Saigon to Renovate Bến Thành Market, Replace Metal Roof With Tiles

The 110-year-old market will receive a new tiled roof, as well as infrastructure and gate upgrades.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Records Highest-Ever 47,000 New Covid-19 Cases on Sunday

Over the past few days, Vietnam has consistently reported new records in the total number of daily COVID-19 cases, signaling a possible upcoming wave of infections.

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 Saigon

Saigon's First Electric Bus Line to Debut This Quarter

The wheels on the (electric) bus go round and round.

in Vietnam

Cracked Glass Panel on Tourist Bridge a Feature, Not a Bug, Owner Says

Maybe just don't build glass bridges?

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Remove Limits on International Flight Frequency Tomorrow

Another step toward some kind of normal.

in Hanoi

Photo of Hanoi Flower Vendor Wins Sony World Photography Award

With a photo of a flower vendor biking on Hanoi’s ceramic road, Nguyễn Phúc Thành was chosen to be a winner in the National Awards program of Sony World Photography Awards 2022.

in Hanoi

Hanoi Cinemas Finally Allowed to Reopen After Nine Months

Earlier this week, city authorities gave official permission for all cinemas and art venues to resume operations. 

in Saigon

Saigon Records Zero Daily Covid-19 Deaths for First Time in Months

On February 9, 2022, no Saigon resident passed away because of COVID-19.

in Vietnam

Nguyễn-Era Fighting Arena in Hue to be Restored

Are you not entertained???

in Hanoi

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

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

in Hanoi

Hanoi Confirms First Omicron Covid-19 Case in the Community

The capital city confirmed its first case of community-transmitted Omicron COVID-19 variant on January 26.

in Vietnam

Buddhist Peace Activist Thích Nhất Hạnh Passes Away at 95

The Vietnamese Zen master passed away at age 95 after an influential life promoting mindfulness, compassion and nonviolence.

in Vietnam

Sassy Tiger Statues in Bạc Liêu Get Makeover to Be Less Sassy, Turn Sullen Instead

‘Tis the season of peculiar animal statues.

in Saigon

Saigon Confirms First 3 Omicron Covid-19 Cases in the Community

Does the appearance of the highly transmissible variant in the community mean another wave of the pandemic for Saigon?

in Saigon

Food Bank Warehouse for Saigoneers in Need Opened in Saigon

The warehouse is aimed at streamlining the food distribution process between donors and Saigoneers in need.

in Saigon

Saigon Announces Plan to Give Poor Residents Smartphones to Aid Digitization

As more municipal administrative procedures migrate online, underprivileged citizens without smart devices are often left behind.

in Hanoi

NPO Keep Hanoi Clean Prepares to Collect Plastic Waste After Kitchen God Day

Keep Hanoi Clean is preparing for its biggest event of the year: cleaning up Lễ cúng Ông Táo, or Kitchen God day.

in Vietnam

Culture Ministry Asks Cities to Cancel Tết Fireworks to Minimize Covid-19 Risks

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has requested relevant provincial and municipal authorities under its jurisdiction to cancel firework displays for the Lunar New Year to avoid a spike in CO...

in Saigon

Saigon Records Fewest Covid-19 Deaths in Over 5 Months

Only 21 people passed away from COVID-19 on January 6 in Saigon.