Brian Letwin

in Saigon

Every Morning, I'm Grateful for My Carless Ride to Work on Hoàng Sa Street

In the decade-plus of Saigoneer’s existence, we’ve had six offices strewn across different parts of Districts 1 and 3. Over that period, my homes have been located in Bình Thạnh and Thảo Điền, requiring significant commuting time.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

The Nhiêu Lộc-Thị Nghè Canal's Comeback Story

Water has no hometown.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

Our Toxic Relationship With Saigon Traffic: A Diagnosis

There is no way to describe Saigon traffic literally and have it understood by someone who has not experienced it.

in Hanoi

Sweating for a Good Cause at the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation Walk in Hanoi

I learnt of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in my first year living in Hanoi, through friends that had worked for the fantastic organization, or that were regular donors supporting it. This year, I was super excited to see their “Blue Dragon Marathon Walk” annual fundraiser announced, with the main Hanoian event looping around Thống Nhất Park's lake. Embracing the opportunity to contribute, I put my hand up for a 10K walk and enticed friends and family from around the world to send donations to the wander-for-a-cause.

in Vietnam

In the Mekong Delta, Ferries Are Childhood Friends and Daily Companions

The Mekong Delta is called Đồng bằng Sông Cửu Long in Vietnamese — the Nine Dragons River, for the way the mighty Mekong splits into multiple strands as it nears its final destination, the East Sea.

in Hanoi

Glide Over Hanoi in the Calmness of the Cát Linh-Hà Đông Metro Line

In many countries, urban metros are a mundane convenience — so ordinary that their users often take them for granted. But until the birth of Hanoi’s Cát Linh-Hà Đông Metro Line, residents of Vietnam had enjoyed no such air-conditioned, traffic-immune method of transportation.

Back Stories

in Vietnam

A Vietnam Representative Won Miss Grand International for the First Time

Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên has become the first Vietnam representative to win the crown at Miss Grand International.

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 Hanoi

[Photos] Dilapidated and Abandoned, Hồ Tây's 'Floating Castles' Are Finally Dismantled

After almost five years of rotting in abandonment, a few of the cruise boats on West Lake are finally being dismantled.

in Saigon

Southern Vietnam to Experience More Cold Spells Until Christmas: Experts

If you’ve enjoyed Saigon’s “wintry” mornings this past week, there’s more to come.

in Vietnam

Homegrown Vaccine Covivac Suspends Testing Due to Lack of Unvaccinated Volunteers

Citing a lack of unvaccinated volunteers for necessary human trials, the third phase of testing for Vietnam's Covivac COVID-19 vaccine has been indefinitely suspended.

in Saigon

Felled Heritage Trees on Nguyen Binh Khiem Cause Outrage Among Saigoneers

Over the weekend, some Saigoneers were shocked to see images surfacing online showing city maintenance workers chopping down heritage trees along Nguyen Binh Khiem Street.

in Vietnam

As Cases Rise, Da Nang to Establish Walk-in Covid-19 Vaccination Site

As Da Nang experiences its highest new COVID-19 case numbers in two months, city leaders are ramping up vaccination efforts.

in Vietnam

After Each Flood, Hoi An Picks Itself up, Just Like It Has Always Done

Every year, Vietnam braces for dozens of tropical storms coming from the East Sea. Localities along the coast in central Vietnam have to bear devastating destruction caused by Mother Earth whenever se...

in Saigon

Bars, Cinemas, Ride-Hailing Return to Saigon in Low-Risk Districts

Many previously suspended activities are allowed again in Saigon depending on their district’s COVID-19 risk assessment.

in Vietnam

Thief Breaks Into Anti-Theft Device Store in Binh Duong

In a sweet stroke of irony, a security equipment shop in Binh Duong Province couldn’t stop a criminal from infiltrating their own stronghold. 

in Vietnam

Vietnam Designates November 19 National Day of Mourning for Covid-19 Victims

Thousands of Vietnamese lives have been claimed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

in Saigon

Saigon Proposes 2 New Waterbus Routes Linking Districts 1, 7

Saigoneer's favorite form of transportation has just proposed adding two new routes linking District 7 and District 1.

in Vietnam

Brown, Princeton Universities Offer First-Ever Vietnamese-Language Classes

The two Ivy League colleges are collaborating on beginner and intermediate Vietnamese language courses after high demand from members of their student bodies.

in Hanoi

Hanoi's First Metro Line Will Officially Open Tomorrow

Hanoi's Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line will be the first metro system in Vietnam to commence operation.

in Saigon

Delta Variant Accounts for 100% of Cases in Saigon's Current Outbreak, Data Shows

The Delta variant of the novel coronavirus was the main reason that the current outbreak in Saigon was so fast-spreading and severe, a recent report shows.

in Vietnam

Oxford University's Linacre College to Be Renamed After Donation From VietJet CEO

In response to a £155 million (VND4.8 trillion) donation via the SOVICO Group, which Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo is president of, Oxford University's Linacre College plans to change its name to Thao C...

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 Saigon

Saigon Begins Vaccinating Students to Prepare for School Reopening

The city aims to administer Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to approximately 780,000 children aged 12 to 17.

in Saigon

Saigon Restaurants, Cafes Resume In-Person Dining at 50% Capacity

What's the first restaurant on your list?

in Vietnam

Covid-19 Cases Multiply in Mekong Delta as More Return From Southeast Region

While Vietnam's overall COVID-19 situation has improved dramatically in recent weeks, a few provinces are seeing record numbers of new cases.