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in Vietnam

How the National Lottery Reflects Vietnam's Socio-Economic Realities Through Time

For nearly a century, lottery tickets and their strings of lucky numbers have occupied a special role in Vietnamese society: both as a lifeline for dreams of better fortune and as a mirror reflec...

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...

in Society

Diving (Literally) Into Hoàng Hoa Thám's Mountains of Secondhand Clothes

In a hẻm, clothing sprawled out on platforms lined with the plastic sacks the clothing came in, overspilling onto the tarmac road. This was just a glimpse of the thrifting scene in Vietnam.

in Architecture

A New Company Headquarters Brings a Green Respite to Industrial Đồng Nai

Hammocks, koi ponds and mature trees are not typically associated with industrial parks.

Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

An Ode to Lục Bình, Vietnam's Invasive, Destructive, Beautiful Aquatic Jerk

Knotted gnarls of lush stems, leaves, vines; a verdant scrimmage of tangled plant matter kept afloat by buoyant bladders accented by pleats of pink petals that resemble the skirts of ballerinas trappe...

in Music & Arts

Cá Hồi Hoang to Disband After National Tour Marking 10 Years of Making Music

On the cusp of their current nationwide tour, indie band Cá Hồi Hoang abruptly announced that they would disband after touring finishes.

in Saigon

Inside the Sawdust Alley in D8 Where Old Furniture Goes to Get Repurposed

My lungs began to heave with raspy coughs as I ventured deeper into the alley of 124 Phạm Thế Hiển.

in Culture

Giang Brothers Hits Milan Streets for Sleek Fashion Shoot After Setting New World Record

After establishing another Guinness record in Milan, Vietnam’s acrobats extraordinaires, the Giang Brothers, collaborated with local photographer Quỷ Cốc Tử to produce a mesmerizing fashion shoot that...

in Travel

Beach Camping and Bamboo Rafting in Northern Vietnam's Largest Wetland

An overnight stay in Xuân Thủy National Park, Nam Định Province means potential bug bites, snake encounters and pungent ocean air, but also a rewarding quest into the wild wetlands of northern Vietnam...

in Environment

Scuba Diving at Nha Trang Island Temporarily Banned Due to Poor Coral Health

Hòn Mun, a 5-square-kilometer square island about 10 kilometers off the coast of Nha Trang, will be closed to swimmers and divers indefinitely to protect the area's severely damaged coral.

in Environment

Lê Xuân Ái, Vietnam's Dedicated Turtle Conservationist, Passes Away at 63

Last week, Lê Xuân Ái, the former director of Côn Đảo National Park, passed away at the age of 63 after years of battling cancer. He had made great contributions to the revival and preservation of sea...

in Health

World Economic Forum Names Vietnam Health Startup Among Promising Tech Companies

Selected because of its contributions to digital health care, Docosan was one of 100 companies globally to receive the distinction.

in Vietnam

Inside the Backbreaking Work of Quảng Ninh's Coal Miners

“I am a person with two skin tones.”

in Tech

Ride-Hailing Changed How We Commute. Can Ve Chai-Hailing Change How We Recycle?

Mentions of ve chai might evoke images of uncles and aunties pushing around their cart or perched on bicycles, ferrying a host of plastic bags and scrap metal, and occasionally calling out: “Đồng nát ...

in Tech

Vietnam's Undersea Internet Cables Break on Average 10 Times Annually, Experts Say

Vietnam’s internet is inconsistent, but very affordable when compared with regional peers, according to experts at the recent Vietnam Internet Day 2021 conference.

in Sports

Acrobatic Giang Brothers Shatter Guinness World Record in Stair-Climbing

Next step: finding a practical application.

in Tech

Tiki Receives $258m in New Investments for Further Growth

The funding pushes the company close to unicorn status.

in Architecture

[Photo] An Open-Air Cafe in Hoi An to Catch the Morning Sunlight

"I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?” said renowned artist Vincent Willem van Gogh. Perhaps coffee should have been added to the list.

in Vietnam

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.

in Environment

Dr. Plastic, the Hanoi Duo Who Give New Life to Single-Use Plastic

Plastic pollution is considered one of the main environmental threats to our planet’s health.

in Architecture

[Photos] Renovation Project Brings Comfy Classrooms to Remote Son La School

It's hard to nourish the mind when the body is suffering.

in Asia

Pandemic Pushes 80m People in Asia Into Extreme Poverty, ADB Data Shows

The global pandemic has undone decades of economic improvement in some nations.

in Food Culture

Covid-19 Outbreak Dampens Saigon's Trung Thu Spirits as Bakeries Forgo Moon Cakes

It will be a Trung Thu like no other this year in Saigon, as the city undergoes the strictest movement curbs yet.

in Ton-sur-Ton

Enjoy the Simple Things: The Essence of Hanoi's Gian Don Clothing Store

Gian Don is not much of a commercial fashion brand but a "family shop," where Diệu spends her days delivering stories on "friendly" fashion, and puppies are “employed” as sales associates. I visi...

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.

in Architecture

Vietnamese Architects Are Leaders in the Architecture of the Information Age

Over the past few years, Vietnamese architects have been developing a new architecture beyond modernism for small projects such as houses and schools. Architects around the world are taking notice and...

in Environment

Living From the Earth at Ninh Binh's Lá Library

A stone's throw away from Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh Province sits La Library, an education center promoting sustainable living through sustainable agriculture farming, earthen building tec...

in Culture

A Lotus 'Startup' in Hanoi Goes Back to Its Roots

For Lã Quang Khanh, a resident of Me Linh District, the term khởi nghiệp, or startup, has nothing to do with technology.

in Environment

This Earth Day, Try Insect Snacks, Electric Bikes at D2's 'Sustainability Matters' Event

What better way to celebrate Earth Day?

in Vietnam

IMF Predicts Vietnam's Economic Growth Rates Will Top ASEAN in 2022

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts Vietnam's economy will grow 7.2% in 2022, making it the strongest in ASEAN.

in Architecture

[Photos] New House in Bat Trang Village Pays Homage to Its Pottery Traditions

The unique house in suburban Hanoi showcases a new way that buildings could lionize the raw beauty of bricks.

in Architecture

[Photos] New House in Bat Trang Village Pays Homage to Its Pottery Traditions (2)

The unique house in suburban Hanoi showcases a new way that buildings could lionize the raw beauty of bricks.

in Vietnam

Standard Chartered Predicts 7.8% GDP Growth for Vietnam in 2021

It's going to be a good year, according to a recent report.

in Vietnam

Vietnam's Textile Industry Exported 1.37bn Face Masks in 2020

During a year when Vietnam’s textile industry was hurt by plummeting demand, local producers found a silver lining in face masks.

in Environment

Vietnam Traffic Police Introduce Bamboo Nozzles for Breathalyzers

Vietnam’s nascent green movement is hitting the streets in a unique way.

in Vietnam

Vietnam's 2020 Economic Growth Lowest in 10 Years

But it still performed exceptionally well in the global context.

in Culture

[Photos] Bask in the Festive Spirit at Hanoi's Holiday Decoration Street

With Christmas just around the corner, businesses and public places in Hanoi are awash in red and winter-themed paraphernalia. Crowds of young Hanoians flock to Phố Hàng Mã, one of the city’s major kn...

in Vietnam

Vietnam's Brand Value Increases 29% Thanks to Good Pandemic Response

Thanks in large part to Vietnam's stellar response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's national brand value rose 29% to US$319 billion in the past year.

in Music & Arts

Crate-Digging for Audio Gold at the Second Hanoi Records Day

In September of this year, Quan Cam played host to VOC Record’s second Hanoi Records Day. Saigoneer met with the organizers and collectors to learn more about Vietnam’s growing culture of crate digger...

in Vietnam

1.1m People Have Left the Mekong Delta in the Past Decade, Report Says

The impacts of climate change, hydroelectric plants, and a faltering economy have resulted in an exodus of people from the Mekong Delta.

in Ton-sur-Ton

Tarp, but Make It Fashion: A Saigon Trio Upcycles Canopies Into Backpacks

With a love for the environment and ample creativity, Kiều Anh, Trang, and Tú Quân have built a unique fashion brand named Dòng Dòng Sài Gòn. The line of bags and other items created from recycled tar...

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Hidden Gem, the Cafe that Recycled Knick-Knacks Built

It is difficult to describe Hidden Gem Café without paraphrasing its name, but I have not found a better way to characterize this wonderful establishment.

in Architecture

[Photos] An Aerial View of Viettel's Futuristic New Headquarters in Cau Giay

The telecommunication giant's new offices place sustainability at the forefront of its design.

in Environment

Dams, Sand, Rice: The Life and Possible Death of the Mekong Delta

What would Vietnam be without the Mekong Delta?

in Architecture

[Photos] On Phu Quoc Island, Jungle-Tucked Bungalows Bring People Closer to Nature

Concrete jungle < actual jungle.

in Hanoi

Hanoi Aims to Reach $12,000 in Average Income in Next Decade

Hanoi is aiming to double the city’s per capita income in the next 10 years by leaning on the encouraging economic growth rates of recent years.

Paul Christiansen

in Postcards

Saigon Postcard No. 26: Urban Decay

What happens after the cho thuê nhà signs go up?

in Society

Vietnam Ranked 2nd in ASEAN in Efforts to Reduce Inequality: Report

Only Thailand rated higher than Vietnam in the region.

in Vietnam

Even With Stellar Pandemic Response, Vietnam's Consumer Confidence Drops Sharply

A recent survey found that the figure fell to its lowest point in roughly 20 years.

in Saigon

Saigon Aims to Reach Over $12,000 in GDP per Capita by 2030

Saigon's GDP per capita in 2019 was US$6,862.

in Vietnam

Covid-19 Could Cost Da Nang Tourism $1.1bn This Year

Life in Da Nang is slowly returning to normal after the third wave of COVID-19 infections, though economic ramifications will remain.

in Architecture

[Photos] The Saigon Factory Whose Walls Are Made of Plants

Sign us up for a job here.

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Youths Hardest-Hit by Employment Crisis During Covid-19 Pandemic

Unemployment amongst youths in Vietnam is expected to double as a result of the economic havoc caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

in Environment

Bring Your Own Containers, We're Going Grocery Shopping

Above a peaceful coffee shop on the quiet road of Nguyễn Khắc Nhu lies a small zero-waste refill shop trying to advocate change.

Khoi Pham

in Saigon

[Photos] Inside a Ben Thanh Devoid of Tourists, Forlorn Kiosks and Mass Closures

Plump mangosteens, cheap iPhở shirts, freshly ground coffee, and paper cut-outs of city landmarks — there was a time when the northern gate of Ben Thanh Market was lined door-to-door with dynamic shop...

in Vietnam

Over 30m Workers in Vietnam Impacted by Pandemic: Labor Ministry

While Vietnam has thus far avoided serious public health impacts from the coronavirus pandemic, it has not escaped the economic ravages of the global emergency.

in Environment

Hanoi Public School Becomes First in City With Solar Power System

It is part of a program to install solar panels at local schools.

in Film & TV

[Video] Hanoi Studio Turns Local Student's Drawings Into Kickass Earth Day Animation

Don’t you wish that every time 10-year-old you came up with a kickass comic, a team of veteran artists would step in to turn it into a professional animated short?

in Vietnam

The Week in Focus: Social Distancing Regulations Eased Off

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.

in Vietnam

IMF Predicts 2.7% GDP Growth in 2020 for Vietnam as Other Economies Contract

The COVID-19 pandemic will dampen Vietnam’s economic growth for 2020, though the country will be in a better position than most of its better-off peers.

in Vietnam

This Week in Focus: New Cases Slow and Social Distancing Fines

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each week, we digest the most important stories from the capital, the rest of Vietnam and beyo...

in Vietnam

Planning Ministry Earmarks $2.6bn of Financial Aid for Workers Affected by Covid-19

Some major sectors of Vietnam’s economy have had to close to limit the spread of Covid-19, sending scores of workers into temporary unemployment. How will they be supported during this period of hards...

in Health

Saigon, Hanoi to Discharge 30 Covid-19 Patients Today, Including Case 17

As the number of Covid-19 cases in Vietnam continues to rise, many patients across the country have also recovered.

Linh Phạm

in Hanoi

A Personal History of Hồ Tây: Romance, Colonial Rule and Subsidy-Era Fishing Heists

My father-in-law has spent decades visiting Hồ Tây (West Lake). His personal story both contrasts and reflects Vietnam's history as a whole and, as a result, offers a profound insight into the im...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Moves up 23 Spots in Economic Freedom Index

The country ranked 105th out of 180 nations.

in Travel

Vietnam Launches Campaigns to Revitalize Tourism Industry Hit by Coronavirus

The campaigns are the effort to compensate for the losses in tourism revenue due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

in Travel

Almost 2m Foreign Tourists Visited Vietnam in January, a Record Number

Vietnam's tourism industry saw unprecedented growth in international arrivals last month, though the timing of this success — right in the middle of a coronavirus outbreak — is unfortunate.

in Environment

Air Pollution Is Costing Vietnam's Economy $10.8–13.6bn a Year, Research Shows

Air pollution has been a daily annoyance for many Saigoneers, but how does this urban ailment translate into economic terms?

in Vietnam

Vietnam Should Aim to Become High-Income Nation by 2045, PM Says

After Vietnam finished 2019 with impressive growth rates, leaders are optimistic that the country is on a stable trajectory to join the ranks of upper-middle-income or even high-income nations within ...

in Culture

[Photos] Giant Caves and Animatronic Santa: Saigon Goes All out on Festivities

By this time of year, many expats living in Saigon have made the annual decision: return home to catch up with loved ones, or stay put in Vietnam. Those who stay in Saigon for Christmas may try to cel...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Down 10 Places in Global Gender Gap Index, Ranks 10th in Asia-Pacific

Vietnam’s gender equality ranking has dropped during the past year compared to 2018, but most Asian countries also share the same fate.

in Vietnam

Vietnam’s Economy Expands by 6.8% in 2019, World Bank Says

In a press conference held Tuesday, World Bank officials said Vietnam’s GDP has expanded by 6.8% in 2019, while public debt has fallen by almost 8% since 2016.

in Architecture

Vo Trong Nghia Studio Wins Dezeen’s 'Architect of the Year' Award

Vo Trong Nghia and his studio have established a reputation both in Vietnam and elsewhere for incorporating local and inexpensive materials in their designs.

in Architecture

[Photos] Viettel's New Offside Studio Is a Fusion of Geometry and Nature

Viettel is one of Vietnam’s largest telecommunication companies. Mentions of its name usually conjure up the vision of a steadfastly traditional conglomerate that’s omnipresent but uninteresting. That...

in Architecture

[Photos] Vo Trong Nghia's Latest 'House for Trees' Is an Urban Garden on a Budget

The latest in the "House for Trees" project, Vo Trong Nghia Architects' new structure fills a tight space with greenery on a budget.

Michael Tatarski

in Music & Arts

In Saigon's Latest Indie Workshop, a Heaven for Eco-Friendly Risograph Prints

Nestled above inpages in Thao Dien, a new print studio is offering artists and other creatives a new way to express their ideas and visions.

in Architecture

[Photos] Vo Trong Nghia's 'Bamboo House' Is a Green Oasis in Sweltering Saigon

The latest addition to Vo Trong Nghia Architects’ "House for Trees" series is a fusion between bamboo and a typical Saigon tube house.

Brian Letwin

in Food Culture

Can Coffee Save the Vietnamese Economy?

As inefficient state-owned business drag down Vietnam’s economy with bad debt, other sectors must pick up the slack. In times of economic stagnation, the country has one fallback - agriculture.