BackStories » Saigon

in Saigon

Saigon Bans Pets, Picnics on Nguyen Hue Promenade

Saigon authorities are clamping down on a number of activities that have been taking place on the city’s new pedestrian promenade.

in Saigon

Saigon To Get $5.9m River Bus System

Saigon has long neglected the potential of its waterways for public transportation, a trend that the city’s Department of Transportation hopes to reverse with river busses.

in Saigon

Vietnam Breaks Ground on Country’s Highest Bridge in Saigon

Work on Phuoc Khanh Bridge began in Saigon last Saturday, which, once completed, will have the highest vertical clearance of any bridge in Vietnam.

in Saigon

Saigon Embarks On Slum Demolishing Spree

Saigon has come a long way when it comes to removing the slums that once lined nearly every intercity waterway, but tens of thousands of dwellings still remain. As the city pushes ahead with moderniza...

in Saigon

Saigon’s 130-Year-Old People's Law Court to Get $15m Renovation

Saigon has given many of its stately colonial buildings some love in recent months. The latest to join this list is one of the city’s most impressive historical gems – the 130-year-old People's Law Co...

in Saigon

18,600 Trees to Be Cut for Tourist Road Through Can Gio

Saigon authorities have given the go-ahead for a US$8.7 million road through the UNESCO recognized Can Gio biosphere reserve that will necessitate the felling of 18,600 trees.

in Saigon

Lightning Strike Forces Closure Of Tan Son Nhat Runway

One of Tan Son Nhat Airport’s two runways will be closed for four days after being damaged by lightning on June 30.

in Saigon

[Photos] Bridge Collapses In Saigon After Being Struck By Barge

On the morning of July 12, a barge struck the Cai Tam Bridge in Saigon’s Binh Chanh District, causing its spans to fall into the Cho Dem River below.

in Saigon

[Photos] 15 Incredible Images Of Yesterday’s Storm In Saigon

Yesterday evening, a large storm passed through Saigon just as the sun began to set, resulting in some spectacular photos captured by Facebook users (top photo by Masahiro Ura from Vincom Center)...

in Saigon

Saigon Bus Ridership Drops Dramatically

Saigon is short on public transportation offerings as it awaits the construction of its metro and BRT systems, but that's not stopping people from abandoning city busses at a rapid pace.

in Saigon

Nguyen Hue Rents Jump 20%, Hurting Struggling Businesses

Now that it has a fancy new pedestrian promenade, landlords that own buildings along Nguyen Hue Street are hiking rents, putting the hurt on business that are just starting to recover from slow sales ...

in Saigon

Saigon’s Abandoned 707 Being Removed From Its Resting Place

After 30 years spent fossilizing in an open field behind the HCMC Aviation Training Center, an antique Boeing 707 is being chopped up and removed from its resting place.

in Saigon

Tan Son Nhat Air Traffic Control Loses Contact With Planes For 18 Minutes

Air traffic officers at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat Airport had quite a scare yesterday morning when they lost radio contact with incoming aircraft for 18 minutes.

in Saigon

160 Wood Benches Being Added To Nguyen Hue Street

The trees that were cut down last July during construction of the metro station in front of the Saigon Opera House are making a comeback in the form of benches.

in Saigon

Hamleys, The World’s Oldest Toy Store To Set Up Shop In Saigon

District 7’s VivoCity will soon be home to Vietnam’s first Hamleys, the world’s oldest toy store.

in Saigon

Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral Set to Get First Ever Makeover

Over the next few years, Saigon’s 135-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral will undergo extensive upgrades for the first time.

in Saigon

Saigon Zoo Will Not Be Torn Down For Commercial Complex: Official

City officials have denied speculation that Saigon’s historic zoo will be torn down and replaced by a commercial complex.

in Saigon

Tan Son Nhat Airport to Be Expanded This Month

As officials continue to debate the merits of Long Thanh Airport, Tan Son Nhat is set to undergo a major expansion this month.

in Saigon

122-Year-Old Saigon Woman Confirmed As World’s Oldest

The World Records Association (WRA) has completed the verification process and officially confirmed Saigon’s 122-year-old Nguyen Thi Tru, as the world’s oldest woman.

in Saigon

Saigon Police Make Record US$4.5 Million Cocaine Bust

Last week, customs officers at Saigon’s Cat Lai Port found millions of dollars worth of cocaine hidden inside a shipment of wood pallets from South America.