The Forgotten History Behind Saigon's CEE Colonial Substations
Woven into the fabric of modern-day streets, the aging electrical substations of Saigon stand as quiet witnesses to a historical era shaped by the complex legacy of French colonialism.
Exploring the Power of an International Community at International School Ho Chi Minh City
Success at the International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) can be measured according to many metrics. From IB DP test scores well above the world average to impressive academic careers post-graduat...
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
5 Albums to Put on While Driving Home at 12am Pretending You're in an MV
It’s 12:03am in Saigon. You've just finished a movie at the last screening of the day. The asphalt in the parking lot is coated in a layer of golden light from the streetlight. You walk gingerly to yo...
New Proposal Plans Metro Line Linking Long Thành Airport, Thủ Thiêm
Let the paperwork begin!
'Slow/ed/ing Architecture': When Architects Ruminate on Architecture Together
The super cute duo that make up the design studio “Exutoire” are Bùi Quý Sơn and Paul-Antoine Lucas. Life and work partners, they moved back(ish) to Vietnam from Oslo last year, and are currently prep...
Huế Becomes 1st City With Dedicated Lanes on Pavements for Bicycles
The growing popularity of biking as a recreational activity in Vietnam has been acknowledged officially by urban planners in Huế.
Starting from Day One: How NLCS Primary Students Prepare for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) readies students aged 16 to 19 for the world’s top universities and a fulfilling, successful future.
Paul Christiansen in In Plain Sight
On a Boat Ride Through Nhiêu Lộc Canal, a Fish's-Eye View of Saigon
Could your life in Saigon be made into a quirky indie film?
Why La Petite Ecole May Be a Great Starting Point for Families Looking for the Right School in Saigon
For Saigon parents, finding the right school for their children is an important and simultaneously daunting task. The undertaking can be particularly challenging for expats and mixed couples who must ...
From Digital Societies and Theatre to Environmental Systems, Sport and Computer Science: BIS HCMC’s Wide Range of IBDP Subjects Prepares Students for Exciting Futures
When you picture secondary school students absorbed in their coursework, you are unlikely to envision them learning about Digital Societies, Computer Science, Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS)...
Unlocking Potential from a Young Age: The Advantages of Enrolling Children in International Education at BIS HCMC
The path to becoming a lifelong learner begins early.
Saigon Heat Wins Intracity Rivalry Over HCMC Wings, Closing Out VBA Regular Season
Families of fans filed into the “Fire Pan” on September 3, wearing red, white, and black jerseys. The atmosphere hums with anticipation.
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
The Simple Pleasures of Kite-Flying in Thủ Thiêm
One of the most elegant means to observe the textured heft and untethered strength of otherwise-invisible wind — there is plenty one could say about the poetry of flying kites.
Plan to Put Canopy Over Treeless Lê Lợi Pavement Sparks Debate
Late last week, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Architecture unveiled a proposal to install canopies across Lê Lợi Boulevard’s pavement.
Ở đó ở đây Sài Gòn — A Love-Hate Letter to the Maze of Paradoxes
Editor's note: Adrien Jean is a Saigon-based photographer and a frequent contributor to Saigoneer's Darkroom series. His photos often depict the precise moments in time when the visual elements of our...
On Its 12th Birthday, a Brief History of Hanoi Rock City, a Bastion of the Indie Spirit
Hanoi Rock City (HRC) is even more than a household name for the youth of Hanoi, especially anyone who’s fond of the “Rock n Roll” culture. Twelve years after its founding, HRC has become a special cu...
How a Simple Dream for a Daughter’s Education Flourishes 25 Years Later at BIS HCMC
Saying Saigon has changed a great deal in the last 25 years is quite an understatement and the rapid development the city has experienced is not only evident by sprouting skyscrapers and large infrast...
Illustration Series 'Phố Trong Hộp' Preserves Our Street Corners in a Tin Can
The cheeky illustration project “Phố Trong Hộp” (City in a Box) was conceived when its author Khánh Băng started merging Vietnam’s quaint street corners with some of the country’s most iconic FMCG pro...
Bình Dương Gang Drives Car, Steals Mooncakes, Eats Almost Everything Before Arrest
If you ever feel overwhelmed by mooncake gifts this Trung Thu, remember that there are underprivileged others who might have to resort to driving their car to steal bánh Trung Thu.
At Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge's Launch, Exuberance and Selfies Galore
After seven years under construction, the Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge officially opened for traffic at 5pm, April 28. This was a much-anticipated project for Saigoneers, with over VND3.1 trillion in investment...
Michael Tatarski in Natural Selection
Mangroves: The Everyday Superheroes Protecting Vietnam Against Climate Change
When you think of ways to combat the inevitable ravages of climate change and sea level rise, what comes to mind?
Enormous 'City Within a City' Planned for An Phú, Thủ Đức City
It will feature a wide range of building styles and features.
Adorable Metro Illustrations Take Viewers on a Joyride Through Saigon
As fans of Vietnam’s busiest city, graphic designers An Nguyễn and Học Nguyễn launched a mock communication campaign to create prospective visual branding for the upcoming Ho Chi Minh City Metro. The ...
Tản Mạn Kiến Trúc Propels the Architecture Discourse Into the Age of Social Media
Architecture Excursions - Tản Mạn Kiến Trúc is a grassroots media project founded by a group of young Vietnamese who share a simple goal: to shed light on Vietnam’s vast and often undiscussed architec...
How Students at The British International School HCMC are Preparing to Transition Back to In-School Learning
In recent weeks, Saigon has experienced a return to relative normality in many regards, and schools may soon resume in-person classes.
Two People, 54 Ethnic Groups, One Photo at a Time
Through their photography project, Vietnam the People, Alden Anderson and Nguyễn Thị Yến Trinh have documented most of the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam.
Paul Christiansen in Quãng 8
Kim Chi Sun and Charles on the Evolution of Good
"I haven’t lost myself yet, but there are many new angles of me, new realizations; there are some new feelings, new vibes I want to share with you. I want to open up to you," Kim Chi Sun says to her l...
'Lòng Vòng Sài Gòn' Music Video Reminds Us of the Fantastical Magic of the City
There are certain things that we tend to take for granted in life. A standard routine, moments of simple contentment, and that one cơm tấm lady who’s always been at that street corner whenever you rea...
Saigon Expands Vaccination Campaign to All City Residents Over 18
Have you gotten a shot yet?
Saigon Has Imposed Over $50,000 in Fines so Far to Enforce Lockdown Rules
Huge amounts of fines have been levied since Directive 16 went into effect in Ho Chi Minh City.
How the British International School HCMC Instills a Sense of Direction for Students Applying to University and Beyond
“Instead of thinking of a destination to this journey, think about the direction.”
Linh Pham in Tech
Wonder How Much Air-Con Costs You This Summer? A Homegrown App Can Help.
Vietnam is facing a serious electricity shortage, yet we have no idea how much energy we use everyday.
New PM Supports Plan to Let HCMC Retain More Budget Revenue
The city currently has the lowest budget retention rate of any locality.
How Sixth Form Prepares British International School Students to Thrive
“It’s not just about getting into university, it’s what you’ll do there, and after, will you thrive?” Sean O’Neill, Headteacher at British International School, Ho Chi Minh City explains.
Morning Stories: Supply Chain Cyber Attack, More F1, F2 Identified and Thu Duc City Announcement
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
Over 5,000 Solar Systems Were Installed in Saigon This Year
Let there be sun!
Ho Chi Minh City Hall Receives Recognition as National Architectural Monument
The Ho Chi Minh City Hall has been one of the metropolis’ most recognizable landmarks since the period of French rule.
Morning Stories: Vinasun Layoffs, Hanoi-Taiwan Flights Reopen and New R&D Hub
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
[Videos] Get up Close and Personal to Hanoi's Myriad of Urban Textures
To walk through Hanoi is to move simultaneously forwards and backwards in time.
Saigon Aims to Reach Over $12,000 in GDP per Capita by 2030
Saigon's GDP per capita in 2019 was US$6,862.
Get to Know Vietnam's 54 Ethnic Groups via These Adorable Emojis
If only these adorable emojis existed back when we were toiling over our geography homework years ago.
Vietnam Reconsiders Nuclear Power Options in Decade Energy Master Plan
Previous plans to build nuclear power plants in Ninh Thuan Province were scrapped in 2016, but the projects might be coming back in the near future.
Vietnam's Coal Imports Reach Record High in First Half of 2020
Demand for electricity in the country is surging.
As Epidemic Subsides in Vietnam, Return of VBA Not an ‘If,’ but a 'When’
Rebooting professional basketball during a global pandemic is no slam dunk.
Hanoi Public School Becomes First in City With Solar Power System
It is part of a program to install solar panels at local schools.
[Photos] An Other-Worldly Wander Through a Human-Less Hanoi at Night
Tracing Hanoi’s spirit: that was the initial goal of the photographic project I set out to do from November 2018 onward.
Vietnam Considers Scaling Back Plans to Build New Coal Power Plants
The move comes as thermal power plants are increasingly difficult to finance, while their detrimental environmental impacts are impossible to ignore.
Vietnam Aims to Double Power Generation by 2030 to Fuel Fast-Growing Economy
A fast-growing economy and rising income levels have strained the country's power grid.
Vietnam Inks Deal to Buy Massive Amounts of Electricity From Laos
The move comes as the Vietnamese government works to avoid projected power shortages in the near future.
Binh Duong to Build 'World Trade Center' With Link to Saigon Metro
Binh Duong has unveiled plans to construct a massive commercial complex in hopes of boosting the local economy and investment opportunities.
New Proposal Seeks to Pedestrianize More Old Quarter Streets
Perhaps Hanoi's Old Quarter streets won't be such a nightmare for pedestrians in the future.
Paul Christiansen in Sports
On Dreaming of a Time When Vietnam Loves Basketball as Much as Football
How lucrative is being a professional basketball player in Vietnam? To help make ends meet, “some work at fast-food restaurants,” admits Ho Chi Minh City Wings small forward Nguyen Ky Quan.
What is ‘STEAM’ and Why Are Schools Implementing it?
If you’re familiar with modern education methods you’ve likely encountered the term ‘STEAM,’ an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, art and maths. But what is it, exactly? Some p...
Saving Reefs and Servicing Communities at British International School
A whale with trash spilling out its busted belly, a seagull with feathers soaked in sticky oil, horses galloping in terror: a group of students circled around a computer peer over images of sculptures...
Exploring Juilliard’s Collaboration with the British International School
The students became water. Or rather, buried beneath blankets and waving sheets, flicking flashlights on and off, mouths shushing and humming, they acted out “The Water’s Journey” as inspired by an An...
A Modified UK Education Model is the Key to Student Success at BIS
The United Kingdom was recently ranked the #1 country in the world for education.
The Value of Connected, Collaborative Education in Vietnam
Saigon is constructing new office towers, financial buildings, malls and luxury apartments at a frantic pace, but the building frenzy is not all about commerce and housing, as exemplified by the Briti...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
The Story of Tan Son Nhat Airport
As the plan for Saigon's massive Long Thanh Airport moves forward (despite some objections), we thought we'd take a minute to look back at the long history of old standby, Tan Son Nhat.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
How Much Do You Make? New Report Finds Growing Salaries in HCMC
Ever wonder what you're worth? The recently released 2013 Robert Walters Global Salary Survey shows moderate growth in salaries for workers in the financial, supply chain, engineering, HR, IT, s...
Brian Letwin in Film & TV
Films Coming to Vietnam This August
We know we’re a few weeks late, but here’s a list of films being released in Vietnam this month. Descriptions from IMDB.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Check Out This Badass
In the time before Ducatis and Yamaha FZ16s were the hottest things on two wheels in Saigon, the Honda Cub 67 reigned supreme with local cool kids. Even though many of the old 67's are still around, ...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Massive Fire Drill at Diamond Plaza this Morning
If you're wondering why emergency crews, including 2 helicopters are running around Dimond Plaza this morning, fear not, for it's only a drill! The city fire, police and health departments along with...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon Picture of the Day: Saigon Railroad Building
Not too long ago, the park across from Ben Thanh Market was the location of the city's main train station. Even though the station moved to District 3 following the American War, remnants of the old ...
Latin Music With Soul
With many options available, it seems that a large number of Vietnamese youth are getting more and more into Latin music - Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia and Reggaeton. From Salsa clubs like La Salsa and Xsa...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: A Look Inside Male Brothels
Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: -A look inside male brothels [Tuoi Tre] -Clean cafés emerge in city, outplay sidewalk rivals [Tuoi Tre] -HCM City: River “swallows” seven hous...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Cops to Mass Produce Fishnet Launchers to Catch Traffic Violators
Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: -Vietnam cops to mass produce fishnet launchers to catch traffic violators [Thanh Nien] -Drug makers accused of collusion [Vietnam Ne...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Weapons Workshop Uncovered in Hai Phong
If there's a will, there's a way. When you own a workshop and are a drug addict, this could lead you to running a gun-making operation as in the case of Duong Minh Nhat. The 38-year-old and his wife ...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Don't Panic: SuperMoon is on Its Way
It’s about that time again. On June 23, the year’s largest supermoon will be visible above the Saigon skies. A supermoon occurs when a full moon lines up with the Earth and the sun at a specific poin...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
7 Old Pictures of Saigon Street Vendors
The buildings and streets of Saigon can change in the blink of an eye. Gone are the streetcars, French street names and ox-drawn carts. As the economy continues to develop, the old Saigon is being rep...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Thai Monks Traveling on Private Jet Cause Uproar
Three Thai monks have landed in hot water after footage of the trio flying on a private jet, wearing sunglasses and earphones and carrying Louis Vuitton bags emerged on YouTube. The video has caused ...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Lost Cambodian City Found Using Frickin' Laser Beams
Apparently Ankgor Watt is a piece of a larger puzzle. Using frickin' areal lasers, archaeologists have identified a sprawling city around the 1,200 year old temple complex, revealing how the area’s ne...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: 701 Vietnamese Travelers Abandoned in Thailand
Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: - Prostitution ring targeting foreigners busted in Vietnam metro [Thanh Nien] - Gold Premiums in Vietnam Hit $217 Over Spot In Heavy Demand [Go...
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
Call for Submissions - Ho Chi Minh MEGA City
If you love Saigon, it’s time to grab your camera and take some shots of the city! The photo book, “TP. Ho Chi Minh MEGA City,” is currently being assembled and the authors are seeking submissions. C...
Brian Letwin in Development
Vietnam May Embrace Cars After All
Japanese companies, some of Vietnam’s largest investors, are playing an interesting game these days. For the most part, Japan has taken on the role of older brother to Vietnam, supporting the develop...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
The Remarkable Tale of Ben Thanh Market
Large markets have been the cornerstone of many Vietnamese neighborhoods for over a century. When Saigon was still a collection of small towns, central markets acted as vital commerce centers where lo...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
[UPDATE] Broken Wire Leaves Southern Vietnam Powerless
Tuoi Tre is reporting that a section of the 500 KV wire that connects the power grid between north and south, “fell apart,” cutting power to 22 provinces in southern Vietnam. While power has returned ...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Saigon's New CNG Busses to be Produced in Vietnam
Locally-produced CNG (compressed natural gas) busses may be an increasingly common sight over the next 12 months. On April 18, Duong Hong Thanh, deputy director of the City Department of Transport, a...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Old Saigon: Pictures from Life Magazine
When looking at old pictures of big cities, what usually strikes us is how different yet similar things are today. Back in the 50s, Time Magazine ran some great pictures of Saigon, capturing its initi...