Xuân Phương in Hanoi
Every Bánh Chưng Season, Vietnam’s Lá Dong Capital Comes Alive With Harvest Frenzy
On the patches of sandy soil by the river in Kim An Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, there’s a tiny village named Tràng Cát, where dong leaves have been embedded in local history, memory, and economy for centuries. Right in local courtyard, these broad green leaves were transformed into bánh chưng, ready for Tết feasts across the country.
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
Loneliness Too Waits for the Bus
We are all in this, but not together.
Thoughts I've Had While Stranded in Murky Floodwater on Saigon's High-Tide Days
I’m willing to forgive nearly everything about Saigon. It’s a sign of a sustainable relationship, as I still wish to coexist in peace with this city. To me, Saigon’s midday, even when the searing sun flares the strongest, is when the trees are the most glorious. The sudden bouts of torrential rain are indeed a nuisance, but I tell myself that at least the streets can get a wash after a dusty day. But there’s one thing that never goes away and that I can never write off; something I can’t, for the life of me, find reasons to romanticize or defend. Those are the infuriating floods that submerge Saigon streets every time the tide is high.
Saigon Sees a 10-Year Low of 18°C. What Are the City’s Highest and Lowest Temperatures?
This January, Saigoneers have been enjoying an unusually pleasant stretch of weather, with daytime temperatures hovering around the mid-20s and dipping to 18–20°C late at night and in the early morning.
Vietnam Bans Unskippable Ads, Requires Skip Button to Appear After 5 Seconds
If things go our way, YouTube’s notorious unskippable ads might be a thing of the past come this February.
Grindr Year-End Report Names Vietnam as Country With Biggest Top Shortage
Ever since Spotify launched its first global Wrapped function a few years ago, December has turned into an exciting season of stats-driven year-end reviews. “Wrapping” is now a tradition embraced by numerous apps, such as Strava, Duolingo, YouTube, Reddit, and of course, Grindr.
When Donations Are All Womenswear, Men in Flood Zones Turn Necessity Into Fashion
Vietnam’s South-Central Coast region is going through an especially grueling time of the year as both the local people and authorities have to deal with the aftermath of historic rainfall and flooding. Still, amid the mourning and strenuous rebuilding efforts, moments of levity shine through — a testament to the resilience, optimism, and incredible humor of the Vietnamese people in the face of hardships.
Đắk Lắk, Khánh Hòa Are Next Victims of 2025's Historic Flooding. Here's How to Help.
After nearly a week of constant downpour, many provinces of Vietnam’s Central Highlands and South-Central Coast regions have suffered severe flooding and landslides, causing catastrophic damage to local infrastructure, economic activities, and deaths. This has been yet another month of loss and destruction for Vietnam in 2025, which is shaping up to be the most devastating year in recent history due to consecutive powerful typhoons and atypically high rainfall.
You Can Now Travel From Saigon to Phan Thiet in a New Luxury Passenger Car
On September 2, Saigon Railways unveiled a newly renovated car on the SPT8 train running from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet, right on time for the country’s national day celebration and the 80th...
Weekend News Roundup: 2,100 Inmates Freed, Thousands Enjoy Reduced Terms on Vietnam National Day
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. 2,100 inmates freed, thousands enjoy reduced terms on Vietnam National Day [Thanh Nien]...
Durian-Flavored Condoms Are Now a Thing in Southeast Asia
It was bound to happen sooner or later: durian, one of the world’s most divisive fruits, is making an appearance in bedrooms throughout Southeast Asia.
Saigon Considering $300m Intelligent Transport System to Alleviate Traffic Issues
With crippling traffic becoming the norm in Saigon, local authorities are seeking ways to address the problem, from trimming sidewalks to banning motorbikes. While these controversial tactics are hotl...
Morning News Roundup: New Route Open to Alleviate Congestion at HCMC Airport
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Formosa pays $500 mil compensation for marine disaster in central Vietnam [Thanh Nien] ...
There's Now a Netflix-Like Streaming Service in North Korea
North Korea is currently among a handful of countries and territories in the world, including Crimea, Syria and China, where Netflix is not available. However, the reclusive East Asian country ha...
French President to Visit Vietnam for the First Time in Early September
French President Francois Hollande will pay a visit to Vietnam from September 5-7, the French Embassy in Hanoi announced late last week.
Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Says All Will Lose in Any East Vietnam Sea War
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi says all will lose in any East Vietnam Sea war [Tuoi Tre] Chinese man gets j...
Bill Gates Foundation Pours $12m Into Vietnam Stock Market
Earlier this month, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust announced an injection of US$12 million into Vietnam Enterprise Investment Ltd (VEIL), Vietnam’s largest investment fund.
High Heaven: Phu My Hung’s Special Stink
Residents of Saigon’s southern neighborhoods, such as Phu My Hung and Binh Chanh, have been dealing with a pungent daily smell for the last month, reports Tuoi Tre.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Woman Killed in Pokemon Go-Related Accident in Japan
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Disturbing smell enshrouds southern Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] Heineken buys a br...
Hanoi Extends Late Night Hours, Bans Vehicles Around Hoan Kiem Lake to Boost Tourism
In an effort to increase its appeal to both visitors and residents, Hanoi will allow bars and restaurants to remain open later and ban vehicles from the Hoan Kiem Lake area on weekends.
Weekend News Roundup: Nearly 4,500 Vietnamese Renounce Citizenship in 2015
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Schedule announced for Hollande's visit to Vietnam next month [Thanh Nien] Ca Mau ...
[Photos] Downpour Turns Saigon Into Swimming Pool
Though Saigoneers are no stranger to heavy rainfall, many were undoubtedly taken aback by the vigor of the downpour that occurred yesterday evening which paralyzed the southern hub’s road system ...
Saigon to Shell Out $3.5m to Replace Derelict Air Monitoring System
In an effort to make the city’s air quality assessment process more efficient, Ho Chi Minh City's environmental department has requested US$3.5 million from the city budget to replace its broken air m...
Philippines Police Banned From Picking Nose, Taking Selfies While on Duty
If you just can’t live without picking your nose, it’s probably wise to avoid a career in law enforcement in the Philippines: the country just banned its police force from messing around with their na...
AirAsia Rewards Hoang Xuan Vinh, ASEAN Gold Medalists With Free Flights for Life
It’s a good year to be an Olympic medalist from Southeast Asia, as regional low-cost carrier AirAsia has announced that it will provide “free flights for life” to all local athletes who won a gold med...
Morning News Roundup: Inconsistency the Only Consistency in Reports on Fish Quality in Central Vietnam
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Inconsistency the only consistency in reports on fish quality in central Vietnam [Tuoi ...
[Video] Powerful Earthquake Damages at Least 185 Ancient Bagan Pagodas
On Wednesday, a powerful earthquake struck near Myanmar’s ancient capital of Bagan, killing at least three people and damaging nearly 200 Buddhist pagodas in the area, reports Wall Street Journal.
Hanoi Responsible for Nearly Half of Traffic Violations in Vietnam
If Hanoi officials ever go through with a proposed plan to completely remove motorbikes from many downtown streets, the city’s revenue will certainly take a hit, as nearly 50% of traffic violation cas...
