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.

in Saigon

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.”

in Saigon

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.

in Vietnam

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.

in Saigon

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...

in Saigon

HCMC's Đồng Khởi Among World's Top 20 Most Expensive Retail Streets, Report Says

Saigon’s very own Đồng Khởi has once again made the list of world’s commercial streets with the highest annual rents.

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.

Back Stories

in Saigon

Ben Thanh Market Is Getting Fancy Air Conditioned Toilets

The hot and muggy toilets at Ben Thanh Market will soon be a thing of the past as the city has ordered that air conditioners be installed to appease tourists.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Plans $5.5 Billion For Transport Projects Through 2020

Vietjet's operational safety is now internationally ensured [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese businesses ‘shy away’ from Thai market [VoV] Asian forex slips as China extends losses, Vietnam devalues curren...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Devalues Dong For Third Time In 2015 On Yuan Fallout

Vietnam spends over $4 billion to import animal feed [Vietnam Net] Experts warn against mass investment in waste incinerators [DTI] Health goods removed from Ha Noi drugstores [Vietnam News]

in Saigon

Saigon-Vung Tau Hydrofoil Service To Resume In November

Hydrofoil service between Saigon and Vung Tau will resume in November with a fleet of new boats.

in Vietnam

Phu Quoc Authorities Want to Wipe out Forests, Farmland for Development

Famous for its beautiful (and sometimes polluted) beaches, the island of Phu Quoc has become one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations with arrivals increasing by 20% every year. As a result,...

in Vietnam

[Video] Enraged Foreigner Confronts Vietnamese Driver On Hanoi Pedestrian Street

A video of a foreign man scolding a Vietnamese motorbike driver on a Hanoi walking street surfaced on the internet recently, sparking widespread debate on whether or not he was out of line.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Ho Chi Minh City To Set Up Special Economic Zone

Vietnam ranks 12th for at-risk public debt [DTI] Ha Noi to cut jobs in state-funded organisations [Vietnam News] Universities nationwide increase working time to serve students [SGGP]

in Saigon

[Photos] Hanoi Launches 'Friendly' Bicycle Police Force

Nguyen Hue Street’s rollerblading security guards have been getting a ton of press over the past week for their unique mode of transportation. Not to be outdone, last Wednesday, a squad of police in H...

in Asia

22 Killed, 120 Injured In Blast At Central Bangkok Shrine

A massive explosion tore through a popular Hindu shrine at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok last night, killing 22 and injuring 120 more.

in Vietnam

Former US Consulate Employee Imprisoned For Selling Visas At Up To $70,000

After years of investigation, a former State Department employee has been sentenced to 64 months in prison for his role in selling US visas to Vietnamese citizens who had previously been denied them f...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: VN Coffee Growers Near Bankruptcy

Vietnam's $2.6mln stall at Italy expo fixed 2 months after criticism [Thanh Nien] Vietnamese DJ listed among world’s top 50 [Vietnam Net] Vietnam is in top destination of South Korea’s investors&nbs...

in Vietnam

Parking Space Prices Hit US$50,000 In Hanoi

High demand and low supply have resulted in astronomical costs for parking spaces in Hanoi, some of which exceed the cost of the cars themselves.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Government To Pursue $500.8M Museum Despite Funding Problems

Experts criticise uncontrolled Mekong crocodile breeding [Vietnam News] Government to pursue $500.8mln museum despite funding problems, criticisms [Thanh Nien] Foreign coloring books for adults...

in Vietnam

Population Explosion: Hanoi Adding 200,000 New Residents Each Year

It’s no secret that the populations of Vietnam’s urban centers are quickly growing, but in Hanoi, this phenomenon is occurring at a rapid pace as the city adds 200,000 new residents each yea...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Craft Beer Explodes In Saigon

Vietnam moves to weaken currency after China devaluation [Asian Correspondent] Craft beer explodes in Saigon [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s deputy prime minister just got serious about startups [Tech i...

in Asia

[Video] 44 Dead, 500 Injured In Massive Explosion At Chinese Port

A series of explosions ripped though a port facility Tianjin late Wednesday night, killing 44 and injuring 500.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Foreign Retailers Drive The Rise Of Convenience Stores In Vietnam

Vietnam Widens Dong’s Trading Band After China Devalues Yuan [Bloomberg] Dozens of houses owned by disgraced Vinashin official seized [DTI News] PM welcomes US Supreme Court Justice [...

in Vietnam

[Video] Coffee Shop Owner, Seeking “Cool” Ride Drives Taxi Into Hanoi River

Last Friday afternoon, a Hanoi taxi driver parked his car to buy a drink at a roadside stall. A few minutes later, he found his vehicle submerged in a nearby river after the stall’s owner “borrowed” i...

in Saigon

7,200 Saigonese Share The Same ID Card Numbers

Due to mistakes by local police departments, as many as 7,200 Saigon residents have identical identity card numbers, making it hard for them to get passports, bank accounts and tax codes.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Baggage Truck Tears Off Aircraft Wing After Collision At Vietnam Airport

US Navy Ships to Move to Vietnam for Asia’s Largest Annual Humanitarian Mission [The Diplomat] HCM City Procuracy apologises for wrongful convictions [Vietnam News] Bangladesh, Viet Nam to boos...