
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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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).

‘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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

Saigon's First Electric Bus Line to Debut This Quarter
The wheels on the (electric) bus go round and round.

Cracked Glass Panel on Tourist Bridge a Feature, Not a Bug, Owner Says
Maybe just don't build glass bridges?

Vietnam to Remove Limits on International Flight Frequency Tomorrow
Another step toward some kind of normal.

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.

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.

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.

Nguyễn-Era Fighting Arena in Hue to be Restored
Are you not entertained???

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.

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.

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.

Sassy Tiger Statues in Bạc Liêu Get Makeover to Be Less Sassy, Turn Sullen Instead
‘Tis the season of peculiar animal statues.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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...

Saigon Records Fewest Covid-19 Deaths in Over 5 Months
Only 21 people passed away from COVID-19 on January 6 in Saigon.