A Visit to Lê Minh Xuân, a Rare Craft Village Making Incense Sticks Amid Saigon
From inside the workshop, artisans carry bundle after bundle of freshly made incense sticks into the courtyard amid the morning mist. A gentle scent of spices linger in the air.
As Thanh Đa Faces Redevelopment, Writer Dạ Ngân Reflects on What Will Be Lost
To me, my trip to Cư xá Thanh Đa in summer 1982 was a serendipitous encounter. It was Saigon’s largest-scale residential complex in the first half of the 1970s, with nearly 4,000 separate units housing about 50,000 inhabitants. Cư xá refers to a residential quarter reserved for gainfully employed citizens, with a vision to establish a model community with a high quality of life. Here, in their three-bedroom apartments, civil servants, professors, doctors, and military leaders ranked major or higher lived in pride of being a part of a cư xá like that.
Uyên Đỗ in Saigon
How Saigon's Free Water Coolers Quench Thirst and Spread Kindness
In recent years, stories about climate change's impacts on the lives of Vietnamese people have been increasingly making the news.
Inside the Covid Memorial Park at 1 Lý Thái Tổ, Saigon's Brand-New Green Space
As part of Saigon’s latest initiative to increase green space coverage in the city, a number of abandoned land plots were converted into public parks, including a Covid Memorial Park that’s become a beloved destination for Saigoneers seeking a space to jog, reflect, or just simply touch grass.
Uyên Đỗ in Saigon
All Aboard Bus 146, Home of Plushies, Rubber Chickens and a Side of Humanity
“Cute” doesn’t seem like a fitting descriptor for any mode of public transport, but a bus in Saigon is driving straight into the heart of Saigoneers for being the quintessence of “smotheringly adorable.”
Saigon Set to Make Bus Service Free for All to Cut Congestion, Air Pollution
Saigoneers without private vehicles might be happy to hear that the city is planning to make the municipal bus system free to ride in the near future.
Bạc Liêu-94, Cà Mau-69: In Saigon, a Surprising Reminder of Home Lives on License Plates
Once in a while, I bump into a little sliver of my hometown on a random license plate on the street.
Pristine Blue Sky and Memorial Park: Ruminating on What the Covid-19 Pandemic Left Us
Recently, I visited Saigon’s newly inaugurated COVID-19 memorial park . Located at 1 Lý Thái Tổ, Vườn Lài Ward, the park o...
Over 75% of Saigoneers Have Received 2 Shots of Covid-19 Vaccines
After a sluggish start, Saigon has sped up inoculation efforts, becoming Vietnam’s locality with the most vaccine coverage.
Major Typhoon Kompasu to Hit North-Central Vietnam Tomorrow
In preparation for the storm's expected landfall Thursday morning, the government is evacuating 250,000 people in the North-Central Region.
As Cases Drop, Saigon Announces Roadmap to Phase out Covid-19 Field Hospitals
Hospital beds were once a scarcity that became filled as soon as they were set up, but the number of cases in southern COVID-19 hot spots has plummeted to the point that many field hospitals are no lo...
Da Lat Installs First-Ever Traffic Lights to Stem Road Congestion
A new era has begun for the increasingly busy mountain city.
Vaccine QR Codes Are the Hottest New Fashion Accessory in Saigon
Sometimes fashion trends are not born of creativity, but practicality.
Saigon to Resume Flights, Buses, Taxis, App-Based Car Rides in Limited Capacity
Buses, cars and private ride options will resume in limited capacity in Saigon this week.
In Q3 of 2021, Vietnam's Economy Shrinks for the First Time Since 2000
The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, combined with severe lockdown restrictions, has led to Vietnam's worst economic quarter in decades.
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.
Vietnam's NanoDragon Satellite to Be Launched Into Orbit From Japan on Friday
To infinity, and beyond!
Without Income, Saigon Zoo Requests VND30bn in Financial Support From City Authorities
Taking care of its plants and animals costs the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens VND3–4 billion (US$132,000–176,000) a month, while no income has been generated since May.
Saigon Resumes Domestic Tourism in 'Green' Districts for Fully Vaccinated Guests
Domestic tourists will eventually be allowed to enter Saigon if they have been fully vaccinated or recovered from a past COVID-19 infection.
Hanoi Eases Lockdown Restrictions, Reopens Malls, Barbershops
Starting at 6am today, Hanoi began applying social distancing rules under the previous Directive 15, allowing various shops to reopen and businesses to function at 50% capacity.
Over 1,500 Schoolchildren Become Orphans Due to Saigon's Covid-19 Outbreak
The current COVID-19 crisis has crippled Saigon’s economy and disrupted the daily life of millions of people, but most tragically, it has also taken thousands of lives.
Kit Humphrey in Asia
Inside Cambodia's Floating Village, Where 40% of People Are Ethnic Vietnamese
Chong Kneas floating village, only 15 kilometers south of Siem Reap, is one of hundreds that line Tonle Sap Lake. Tens of thousands of families live in these clustered homes, around 40% of whom are Vi...
19 Districts in Hanoi Allowed to Reopen Shops, Takeaway Service
Starting at noon today, districts with no new COVID-19 community transmission cases since September 6 are allowed to reopen various businesses and restaurants.
Vietnam Launches Campaign to Donate 1m Computers to Students for Remote Learning
The free computers, set to be distributed by the end of this December, are part of a larger effort to help the nation's K-12 students during remote learning.
Saigon to Resume Shipping Across Districts From September 16
After weeks of being banned, Saigon will soon allow shippers to deliver citywide.
Saigon's Lockdown to Be Extended, Likely Until End of Month
Hopefully you hadn't gotten too excited about September 15.
Who's Eligible for 'Vaccine Green Pass' and What Activities Are Passholders Allowed?
Fully vaccinated Saigoneers might be able to enjoy more freedom of movement in the future.
As Lockdown Intensifies, Animal Shelters Struggle to Rescue, Care for Abandoned Pets
Even before the pandemic, pet shelters struggled to find the time, money and resources to provide adequate care for their resident animals. But as the COVID-19 crisis worsens, rescue groups are facing...
