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in Development

New Proposal Plans Metro Line Linking Long Thành Airport, Thủ Thiêm

Let the paperwork begin!

in Development

Saigon Metro Line 1 Announces July Launch Date, Free Rides in Phase 1

Will 2024 be the auspicious year when our legs could finally step on the metro platform for the first time?

in Tech

The People Building a Virtual Vietnam in the Pixelated World of Minecraft

Minecraft is now a modern classic world-building game allowing players to construct elaborate buildings using isometric cubes. Thanks to this endless stream of materials, one can theoretically build a...

in Parks & Rec

In Đà Nẵng, a Close-Knit Surfing Community Rides the Waves

Đà Nẵng does not feel like a surf town. The gaudy beachside nightclubs are a far cry from the bohemian vibes of Hawaii or San Diego, and the coastline is more synonymous with basket boats than surfboa...

in Music & Arts

How Richie Fawcett's Saigon Sketches Illuminate a Decade of Change

It’s been hidden right there in the heart of Saigon for over half a decade. 

in Hanoi

Glide Over Hanoi in the Calmness of the Cát Linh-Hà Đông Metro Line

In many countries, urban metros are a mundane convenience — so ordinary that their users often take them for granted. But until the birth of Hanoi’s Cát Linh-Hà Đông Metro Line, residents of Vietnam h...

in Travel

Vietnam Airlines Sells VND14bn Worth of Inflight Bubble Tea Last Year

Gone were the days of brackish peanuts and lukewarm apple juice, today’s flyers can satiate their sugar cravings right in the air.

in Saigon

Saigon's Metro Line 1 Went on Its First Test Run Last Week

Last week, the Saigon Metro project took a major step in realizing many Saigoneers’ long-awaited dream of experiencing their own urban railway line.

in Literature

Read Saigoneer's Literary Zine, Featuring 20 Works by Vietnamese Writers and Artists

In My Ear, Your Voice Still Flickering // Bên tai tôi, giọng người vẫn chờn vờn is a collection of work from twenty Vietnamese writers and artists released as part of the Miami Book Fair, one of ...

in Travel

Vietnam Halts Covid-19 Test Requirement for International Travelers From May 15

Were those nose swabs all a dream?

in Hanoi

[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.

in Vietnam

Hanoi Envisions 6 More Metro Lines for City Center by 2050

Earlier this week, Hanoi unveiled a general plan for the underground development of the city center which includes adding six metro lines and 81 underground stations. 

in Vietnam

Beauty Behemoth Sephora Enters Vietnamese Market With Digital Store

Sephora, the wide-reaching consumer goods retailer, has launched an e-commerce portal for Vietnamese customers, but has revealed no plans for physical stores in Vietnam.

in Development

FLC Group to Help Build $5bn Railway From Vientiane to Hà Tĩnh

All aboard!

in Development

After Years of Delay, Operating Company of Saigon's 1st Metro Line Is Broke

Years of delay, which has been further compounded by the extended pandemic, have depleted the funding for Saigon Metro's operator.

in Vietnam

Sun Group Launches Premium Airline With Private Jets for Rich People

Let's hope they still have some money to spend on future cable cars.

in Ẽplain

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...

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Remove Limits on International Flight Frequency Tomorrow

Another step toward some kind of normal.

in Saigon

Over 70% of Parents of Grade 1 Students Don't Support In-Person Classes

In-person learning for Saigon's Grade 1 students is set to resume on December 13 for two weeks as a trial program, but more than 70% of parents don't want their children to return to the classroom.

in Travel

Vietnam Airlines Completes First-Ever Direct Flight to United States

Welcome to the big leagues.

in Health

Into the Storm: Saigon's Outbreak Through the Eyes of a Frontline Volunteer

“The best way to overcome fear is to face it,” 33-year-old Hương Nguyễn thought when she decided to volunteer as a frontline worker during Saigon’s most deadly weeks of the pandemic.

in Vietnam

Bamboo Air to Launch Direct London Flights from Hanoi, Saigon

The routes will only be available once Vietnam resumes inbound international flights.

Michael Tatarski

in Society

How Social ChangeMakers Brings People Together to Create a Better Future

In this pandemic era, sometimes we need a little help connecting with other people.

Michael Tatarski

in Music & Arts

Nocturnal Animals Music Livestream Series Unites Artists for Pandemic Relief

While bars and nightclubs remain closed, a special monthly livestream series starting tomorrow will give those of us in Vietnam the chance to experience nightlife without leaving the house.

in Tech

The Unexpected Lure of Watching Streamers Drive a Truck Across a Virtual Vietnam

As the months-long lockdown drags on — though with some light at the end of the tunnel — and with in-person programs being canceled or put on indefinite hiatus, demand for virtual entertainment has na...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Launches Campaign to Donate 1m Computers to Students for Remote Learning

The free computers, set to be distributed by the end of this December, are part of a larger effort to help the nation's K-12 students during remote learning.

in Saigon

Saigon Faces Online Study Woes as Thousands of Students Still Without Internet, Smart Devices

What started as a temporary solution last year became an official measure in the COVID-19 education playbook in Vietnam this year.

in Music & Arts

Vietnam's Art Spaces Find Silver Linings in Moving Online Amid Pandemic

When in February 2020, Đỗ Tường Linh’s exhibition "Foliage III," a celebration of Global South-led art, wrapped up at the Vincom Centre for Contemporary Art, so did most other events in Vietnam’s art ...

in Saigon

Amid Tourism Slump, Saigon's Hotels Provide Free Stays, Meals to Frontline Workers

Amid Saigon’s most devastating outbreak of COVID-19, the city’s various economic sectors have pivoted to supporting frontline workers in their enduring efforts against the epidemic.

in Saigon

Saigon Pilots Home Quarantine for F1 Cases, Albeit With Strict Criteria

To ease mounting pressure on centralized quarantine facilities, Vietnam has agreed to let those who have had direct contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases (F1) in Ho Chi Minh City to isolate at home on...

in Tech

Saigon Releases Update of Map Portal With Local Covid-19 Cases, Vaccination Points

If you still find it difficult to fully grasp the scale and spread of Saigon’s current COVID-19 outbreak, look no further than this new map portal.

in Society

Learning From Stories of Made-in-Vietnam Social Innovation, as Told by 4 Experts

In Vietnam, the term “innovation” is mostly associated with technological and economic development, but what about “social innovation”?

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Netizens Call for H&M Boycott Over 'Problematic Map' of China

A fervent wave of boycott calls directed at Swedish fast-fashion brand Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) has swept social media circles in Vietnam in recent days.

in Vietnam

VNA Resumes Flights to Sydney, Seoul and Tokyo, Though With Heavy Restrictions

Flights to and from Australia and several Asian nations will begin this weekend, followed (potentially) by the UK in May.

in Saigon

Metro Contractor to Restore Le Loi Boulevard's Surface This Year

Will Saigoneers see the return of Le Loi Boulevard this year?

in Development

Saigon Metro's Foreign Experts to Be Paid at Least $23,000 Per Month

Teaching train driving is a bankable field nowadays.

in Vietnam

Shift to Cargo Shipping Helped VietJet Turn a Profit in 2020

With a profit of VND70 billion (US$3 million), it is one of the only airlines in the world to not reduce its workforce and remain profitable last year. 

in Development

How Saigon Moved 2,200km of Electrical Wires Underground in a Decade

So famous they've adorned T-shirts, Saigon's tangles of electrical wires are disappearing.

in Vietnam

Vietravel Airlines, Vietnam's 6th Carrier, Officially Starts Flying This Month

The nation's sixth air carrier, Vietravel Airlines, is officially taking off.

in Roundups

Weekend Stories: Contemporary Art Museum Debuts, Vietravel Airlines Flights and Metro Drama

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...

in Tech

Grindr Names Vietnam Among Countries With Highest Percentage of Bottoms

Inspired by the clamorous spectacle of Spotify Wrapped, the gay dating app Grindr has come up with their own version of a year-end assessment, with some interesting data.

in Vietnam

VietJet, Bamboo Airways Request Financial Aid After $520m Bailout for VNA Approved

The privately owned airlines are hoping to receive similar treatment as Vietnam's national carrier.

in Hanoi

Hanoi Begins Full-Scale Test Runs of Cat Linh-Ha Dong Metro Line This Weekend

At last, some progress.

in Vietnam

VNA Staff Face Abuse; Vietnam Might Prosecute Case 1,342 for Flouting Quarantine Rules

A Vietnam Airlines flight attendant was a key link in the country’s recent cases of community-transmitted COVID-19.

in Saigon

How Much Would a Trip on Saigon's Future Metro Line 1 Cost?

With a train ticketing system that’s a decade old, riders on Saigon’s Metro Line 1 might face inconvenience even before even setting foot on the subway.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Approves $520m Package to Rescue Cash-Strapped Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines still has to produce a thorough restructuring strategy, but its financial situation will not be as tight as during the worst months of the pandemic.

in Development

Saigon's Metro Line 2 Acquires 70% of Land Needed for Construction

Construction on the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong metro line is expected to commence in 2021.

in Development

81% of Saigoneers Plan to Use Metro Line 1 When It's Finished, Survey Shows

Do you plan to use the metro lines in these cities?

in Hanoi

Hanoi's Second Metro Line Welcomes First Train From France

The train cars arrived in Hai Phong after being shipped from France.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Airlines Denies Bankruptcy Rumors Amid Huge Losses

Vietnam's national flag carrier, like the majority of airlines around the world, continues to face immense financial difficulties due to the pandemic.

in Travel

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.

in Saigon

Tan Binh Residents Tear Down Part of Homes for Metro Line 2

Homeowners on Cach Mang Thang Tam and Truong Chinh streets in Tan Binh District have spent the last few days dismantling parts of their homes to make way for the city's second metro line. 

in Health

Vietnam's Healthcare Workers Infected With Covid-19 to Receive VND10m

The funds will go toward healthcare workers who get infected with the novel coronavirus.

in Vietnam

Aviation Authority Proposes Flights From 6 Asian Countries From August

They include China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Laos and Cambodia.

in Saigon

Saigon Commences Training Course for 58 Future Metro Train Drivers

Progress on Saigon's Metro Line 1 is moving into the human resources and training phase.

in Development

Covid-19 Supply Chain Disruptions Delay Delivery of Hanoi Metro Trains to End of 2020

Disruptions in global shipping, shuttered factories and supply chain interruptions mean the trains for Hanoi's second metro line will arrive from France later than expected.

in Development

New Renderings Show Expanse of Ben Thanh Metro Interchange, Plaza

A new set of renderings conjures up a future in which Ben Thanh Station is a both a transportation and commercial hub for city dwellers.

Paul Christiansen

in Postcards

Saigon Postcard No. 24: A Slice of New Saigon

Saigon is a cake with many bakers.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Airlines to Buy Major Stake in Jetstar, Rename It 'Pacific Airlines'

The national flag carrier will buy out the 30% stake that Qantas has in Jetstar Pacific as well.

in Development

Hanoi's Metro Line 3 Faces Delay Due to Site Clearance Hold-Up

The above-ground section of Hanoi’s Metro Line 3 (Nhon-Hanoi Train Station) is essentially finished, though some site clearance issues might drag out the completion date.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Reports 24 New Coronavirus Cases, All Quarantined, on Flight From Russia

As Vietnam welcomes more humanitarian flights from epidemic-stricken nations, its third wave of COVID-19 infections begins, though all inside quarantine thus far.

in Vietnam

No New Airlines in Vietnam for Now, Aviation Authority Says

Aviation authorities will temporarily stop considering the licensing of new airlines while focusing on helping existing airlines recover in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Confirms 17 New Coronavirus Cases From UAE, All Quarantined on Arrival

The patients are Vietnamese nationals who returned on a repatriation flight from the United Arab Emirates last Sunday.

in Saigon

As Metro Line 1 Nears Completion, Saigon Moves Forward With Plans for Line 3A

The 20-kilometer-long Metro Line 3A would run from Ben Thanh Station in District 1 to Tan Kien Ward in Binh Chanh District.

in Saigon

First Floor of Opera House Metro Station Completed Ahead of Schedule

At long last, visible progress on the underground section of Saigon's first metro line has appeared.

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Organize 13 Humanitarian Flights to Bring Citizens Stuck Abroad Home

In an effort to assist Vietnamese citizens stuck in foreign countries currently ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, aviation authorities have organized more than a dozen outbound flights that will take ...

in Music & Arts

An Online Fashion Exhibit Spotlights the Plights of Vietnamese Garment Workers

Part of Fashion Revolution Week, the online exhibition coincides with two presentations this week along with a social media campaign aimed at improving working conditions for women in Vietnam's many g...

in Travel

Airlines in Vietnam Prepare to Resume Domestic Flights on Thursday

The two airlines plan to begin offering more domestic routes from April 16, following the scheduled ending of the national social distancing campaign.

in Development

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.

in Environment

Mekong Delta Slammed by Worst Drought, Saltwater Intrusion in Decades

While the Covid-19 pandemic has understandably dominated the news recently, a disaster is unfolding in the Mekong Delta.

in Vietnam

Coronavirus Concern in Vietnam Drives Major Online Shopping Growth

Many people are turning to online shopping during the surge of coronavirus infections in Vietnam.

in Travel

Bamboo Airways to Launch Vietnam–Germany Flight Routes From July

The upstart airline will operate flights to Munich from Saigon twice a week and from Hanoi once a week starting July.

in Development

Saigon Metro Line 1 Is 71% Complete; First Train to Be Delivered in June 2020

The Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Metro Line is now 71% complete, its management board says.

in Travel

Vinpearl Air, Slated for a Summer Launch, Is Suddenly Cancelled by Vingroup

The move comes as Vietnam's largest private company looks to focus on its technology and industry operations.

in Development

Hanoi's First 2 Metro Lines May Open by End of This Year

Let's begin the new year with updates from Hanoi's much-anticipated urban railway project.

in Development

Hyatt Announces 69-Story Skyscraper in D7 Housing 2 Hotels

At 69 floors, the proposed Park Hyatt hotel tower will be one floor higher than Bitexco; but will it look like a shampoo bottle too?

in Culture

[Photos] Road Safety Campaign Pokes Fun at Vietnam's Traffic Offenses

Titled “Traffic in Wonderland,” a road safety campaign features a series of photos taken on Vietnam’s streets, with added cheeky drawings.

in Travel

Bamboo Airways Is Vietnam's Most Punctual Airline in 2019 (So Far)

But do they play 'Hello Vietnam' on endless repeat while taxiing?

in Saigon

Site Clearance for Saigon Metro Line 2 Expected to Finish in June 2020

While progress on Saigon’s first metro line is somewhat nearing the finish line, the city’s second line is undergoing site clearance.

in Travel

After VietJet, Vietnam Airlines Launches Direct Flights From Saigon to Bali

The flagship carrier joins VietJet in offering direct flights from the southern metropolis to the Indonesian beach hotspot.

in Development

[Photos] The Oddly Comforting Mix of Old and New in Thu Thiem

Directly opposite downtown Saigon, a new city is growing that stretches far beyond what the eye can see.

Brian Letwin

in Tech

Vietnam Ponders Regulations on Free Chat Apps

Free chat apps such as Viber, Wechat, Whatsapp and Line have become extremely popular in Vietnam. Providing free chat and calls, domestically and internationally, these tools appear on the majority of...

Brian Letwin

in Culture

New Report on Vietnamese Online and Mobile Trends

The market research firm, Cimigo, just completed their most recent report on Vietnamese online and mobile trends. The numbers revealed that consumers are becoming increasingly engaged online. The stu...