Khôi Phạm in Saigon Hẻm Gems
Hẻm Gems: A Streetcart Named Aoya and the Comfort of Sidewalk Ramen
The first time I tried to visit Aoya Ramen was on a Monday. The pavement where the stall should be was empty, without any trace of noodles or noren. I learned quickly that they’re closed on Mondays. T...
Vietnamese Staff Member Wins 7-Eleven Japan's Annual Customer Care Contest
A Vietnamese national recently surpassed over 2,000 other contenders to claim the top spot in a customer service contest in Japan.
Honda to Cease Production of Super Cub 50cc, Vietnam's Beloved Bike, in November
By the end of 2025, Honda will cease the manufacturing of all motorbikes with 50cc engines, including the beloved 50cc Super Cub, to comply with stricter emission standards.
Hẻm Gems: At Sakaba Sasuke Izakaya, Happiness Is Wrapped in Pork Belly and Grilled
It took a few visits before I noticed that the music at Sakaba Sasuke was always the same.
Hẻm Gems: Tokyo Moon Cafe Introduces Homey Korean Flavors to Japan Town
Stepping into Tokyo Moon is like venturing into a world of wonders, neatly packed within a mere 35-square-meter space.
Hem Hem Lights up Saigon With the Electrifying Riffs of Japanese Ska
The cheerful ska tunes combined with insanely energetic and quirky dance moves packed every inch of the indoor space of Indika with heat and pure joy.
On Japan’s Shonan Coastline, a Wintry Vista of Mount Fuji
It was my first trip to Zushi Beach and the sun was beginning to set.
Hẻm Gems: Trứng's Divine Flan Is What Happens When Saigon Dreams of Japanese Desserts
My slight obsession with Japanese-style flan started in Tokyo, but it’s taken on a new life here in Saigon.
Ngõ Nooks: The Quiet Intimacy of Tree Bar, Where Strangers Become Fast Friends
A group of patrons gossip in thick, fast Japanese. They might all know each other or they might just speak to anyone at the bar as if they already know them. The wizened “master” joins in from his per...
Ukiyo Concert to Bring Iconic Scores of Makoto Shinkai Movies to Life This July
This month, fans of Japanese auteur Makoto Shinkai will have a rare opportunity to watch the soundtracks of his hit movies come alive during three concerts in Saigon and Hanoi.
On Finding Flavors of Home in Takadanobaba, Tokyo's 'Vietnam Town'
A bánh mì stand to the left, signs for Bích Karaoke above an alley across the street, an open shopfront lined with bottles of Chin-Su chili sauce and G7 coffee sachets, a laid back restaurant where wa...
Vietnamese Historical Gay Romance Wins Bronze at Japan International Manga Award
A gay-themed comic from Vietnam recently won a bronze award at the Japan International Manga Award.
Ngõ Nooks: Okachan Shokudo, a Comforting Japanese ‘Cơm Bình Dân’ in Hanoi
If there is a restaurant that is the antithesis of the biting cold of Hanoi, it is Okachan Shokudo.
Hẻm Gems: A Cafe-Snack Bar Hybrid in Bình Thạnh Offers Portals to Japanese Nostalgia
Bình Thạnh’s Ward 19 is snuggled between Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh and Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, creating a surprisingly quiet area just across from District 1. As a neighborhood, it offers an eclectic mix of local an...
Japan-Vietnam Football Manga 'Sơn Goal!' Releases 1st Volume in Vietnamese
If Captain Tsubasa was a treasured part of your childhood, perhaps you can give Sơn Goal! a try.
Saijo, Huế's Sister City in Japan, Adds Bún Bò to School Lunch Program
Another step toward bún bò domination has been taken.
[Photos] Look Back at Hanoi's Nội Bài Airport in 1995
In February, 1995, Yuichi Kobayashi, a Japanese businessman, came to Vietnam with a mission to set up a factory here.
Meet KURROCK, the First Vietnamese Rock Band in Japan
In KURROCK’s songs, one can appreciate a pronounced fusion of two seemingly detached music scenes that are 4,000 kilometers apart.
Vietnam's Virtual YouTubers and the Surprising Bond of Anonymous Friendship
Vtubers have been taking the global streaming industry by storm for several years now, with millions of fans that span the globe, even in Vietnam. Yet despite this obvious popularity, local Vtubers ca...
Khoi Pham in Saigon Hẻm Gems
Hẻm Gems: Curry Shika and 12 Years of Making Memories in Saigon
Unlike a normal human, there is a chance that my body is not 70% water, but 70% curry; and a good 50% of that might actually be Japanese curry.
Vietnam Says No to Proposal to Import 37 Used Train Cars From Japan
Even though the plan to repurpose secondhand trains from Japan might be cost-effective, state officials deem them too old to be imported.
Vietnam's NanoDragon Satellite to Be Launched Into Orbit From Japan on Friday
To infinity, and beyond!
Japan to Launch Vietnamese Microsatellite into Orbit Next March
To the moon!
‘Ethernity’: For Tracy Hyde’s Latest Mark in Tokyo’s Iconic Shoegaze Scene
Despite belonging to the Tokyo shoegaze scene, For Tracy Hyde would rather make you look up at the sky in wonder than down at your feet.
5 Eateries Doing Takeaway to Try Today, as Recommended by Saigoneer Staff
Starting from this week, Saigon officially enters another two weeks of social distancing orders. While staying at home, what do you miss?
The Vietnamese Studio That Creates Artworks for Makoto Shinkai, 'Attack on Titan'
Challenging the negative stereotypes surrounding the animation industry, Nam Hai Art opens a route for many passionate animators to pursue both passion and stable income.
Vietnam's Traditional Indigo Dyes and Kimono Come Together in Kimono Ơi's Designs
Will there be a day when the image of a woman wearing a helmet, clad in a kimono with ripped jeans while driving around the streets of Saigon becomes the next trend?
Inside 'Little Lotus,' the Adorable Japanese Manga Set in Saigon
Images of a Japanese manga with scenes of modern Vietnam have won the hearts of Vietnamese netizens recently.
Ngõ Nooks: A Mom-and-Pop Ramen Experience in Hanoi's 'Japantown'
Anyone familiar with the Linh Lang–Kim Ma–Dao Tan area knows it’s the closest one might get to visiting Japan in Hanoi.
[Photos] For a Day, Winter Convention Brings Kick-Ass Cosplay Back to Saigon
In which universe do Captain America and Cardcaptor Sakura rub shoulders with anthropomorphized, anime-fied white blood cells?
Morning Stories: Japanese Companies Shift to VN from China, Endangered Turtle Optimism and Discount Train Tickets
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...
Japan Plans to Ban Sale of Gasoline Cars by Next Decade
By the mid-2030s, all new cars sold in Japan will need to be hybrid gasoline-electric or fully electric.
Japanese Retail Giant Takashimaya Announces New Real Estate Project in Hanoi
It's not just malls anymore.
World's Largest Trade Bloc Created During Vietnam-Led ASEAN Summit
Vietnam is now part of the world's largest trade bloc.
Binh Thanh Named Among World's 40 Coolest Neighborhoods
Is there another part of Saigon you would consider cooler?
Vietnam Resumes Limited Flights to Japan, but Not Vice Versa
After service between Hanoi and Tokyo begins on September 18, flights to and from South Korea, China, Taiwan, Laos and Cambodia are expected to follow.
[Photos] 1994 Hanoi in the Eyes of a Former Japan Ambassador to Vietnam
On a day like any other in November 1994, some Hanoians might have been curious about the fact that their shop front and daily routine were being photographed by a wandering Japanese man.
Japanese Brand Muji Announces Pop-up Store in Saigon
Following in the footsteps of fast-fashion clothing brand Uniqlo, MUJI will be the next major Japanese retailer to launch in Saigon in the near future.
Japan Might Reopen for Vietnamese Visitors With Negative Covid-19 Tests
Vietnam's successful containment of the coronavirus outbreak may mean its people will be able to travel abroad sooner, rather than later.
[Photos] Urbanist Travel Getaways: The Stillness of Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Taisha at Night
If you visited Kyoto but didn’t snap a snazzy shot of the seemingly infinite row of torii gates, did you really visit Kyoto? Or at least, that’s what common travel conventions seem to suggest.
Trains for Saigon’s First Metro Line Undergo Final Testing in Japan
On April 11, Saigon’s Urban Railway Management Board announced that the trains ordered to serve the city’s first metro line had begun their final technical inspections in Japan.
Ngõ Nooks: Sumptuous Vegetarian Ramen in a Quiet Truc Bach Hideaway
If you’ve ventured to the land of ramen, it’s likely you have a Japan hangover. Vege-ro’s authentic, rich meals could, for a while at least, help you recover.
Uniqlo Is Planning to Open Its 2nd Store in Saigon This Year
Uniqlo Vietnam is reportedly planning a second outlet in Saigon, an abrupt move that comes as a surprise during a time when local shoppers are wary of being out in public places.
Full Catalogue of Studio Ghibli Soundtracks Finally Available to Stream in Vietnam
Are you ready to have the Totoro theme song stuck in your head for days on end?
[Photos] Immersing in a Lonely Japan Outside the Urban Crowds
Japan's cities are known for their dense urbanity and crowded subways, but they can also be isolating.
Japanese Retailer Aeon to Invest $2bn to Build 25 Malls in Vietnam
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met Aeon General Director Iwamura Yasutsugu and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio on February 28 to discuss Aeon’s future in Vietnam.
Hanoi's First Uniqlo to Open Early Next Month
Fast fashion fans rejoice!
Japanese Fast Food Chain MOS Burger Is Coming to Vietnam This Year
Japan’s second-largest fast food franchise, MOS Burger, is arriving in Vietnam this year.
Michael Tatarski in Saigon Hẻm Gems
Hẻm Gems: A Japanese Bánh Mì to Win Over Fusion Food Skeptics
When it comes to discussions of cuisine, I'd argue that "authentic" is the most overused word in writing and marketing, followed closely by "fusion."
Japan Imposes Stricter Visa Process for Foreign Students, Including Vietnam, From April
Due to the increasing number of visa overstays, Japan's Immigration Services Agency will tighten the issuing process for student visas for dozens of countries from April.
[Photos] Japan Releases New Sketches of Upcoming Ghibli Theme Park
A cafeteria containing Spirited Away's ghostly food stalls, a full-size version of the house where Mei and Satsuki lived when they first met Totoro, and an interactive version of the Irontown tha...
Hanoi Students Win Prize at Asian International Children's Film Festival in Japan
The students won the Excellent Prize for their emotional film about friendship.
Japanese Anthology Film 'Angel Sign' Adapts 2 Comics by Vietnamese Manga Artists
A new cinematic anthology by Japanese author Tsukasa Hojo will feature storylines by two Vietnamese manga artists.
[Illustrations] An Emptier Side of Tokyo in Naoki Tomita's Oil Paintings
One thing that can safely be said about Tokyo is that it is not under-represented visually.
Hẻm Gems: On the Road to Ruin, From Budapest to Binh Thanh
The southern edge of Binh Thanh is one of Saigon’s most fascinating areas. More cosmopolitan than the district would have you believe, its maze-like streets hold a heady mix of different influences. W...
Ngõ Nooks: Kamon – Authentic Japanese Cuisine Served With a Side of Persian Rugs
Tucked away amongst a row of cafes on Van Phuc Street is a curious Japanese restaurant – beneath the bright red KAMON sign above its entrance and the usual menus offering sashimi and sushi is an altog...
Hẻm Gems: Inside Le Thanh Ton's Japan Town Lives Saigon's Best Katsu
Inside the unofficial Japanese quarter of Saigon lies scrumptious katsu and oyakodon to suit all palates. For beginners like myself at one point in time, the existence of Fujiro can swing open many ne...
Hẻm Gems: Cozy Autumn Flavors at Tokyo Moon, Japan Town's Korean Cafe
Tokyo Moon's presence is an odd-but-welcoming representation of South Korean hospitality in the heart of Le Thanh Ton's "Japan Town" with its mysterious herbal tonic, sweet potato pastry and pumpkin c...
Hẻm Gems: Mutahiro's Masterful Chicken Ramen
Ramen is often the preferred choice of Japanese comfort food in Southeast Asia, yet finding an impressive offering of the dish in Saigon has proven to be a challenge. The appearance of Mutahiro i...
Out and About in Binh Thanh's Budding Japan Town
Only a ten-minute ride away from Saigon's established Little Tokyo, another Japanese neighborhood is in the making in Binh Thanh District — and it's a whole world apart.
[Photos] Photographer Highlights Tokyo’s Surrealistic Neon-Lit Nightscape
The first time Liam Wong visited Tokyo, he was captivated by the buzzing energy of the Japanese capital. Enamored of its crowded streets and lively nightlife, Wong returned to Tokyo for a second trip,...
