Unraveling the Mystery Behind the 'Mùi Việt Kiều' of My Childhood
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- Published on 08 February 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Graphic by Ngọc Tạ.
My favorite candy used to be Hershey’s Kisses. Wrapped in colorful, sparkling foil, these little nubs of decadence made me feel special as a child, not just because of their sugary sweetness, but also because, for much of Vietnam’s contemporary history, you could only enjoy them if you have relatives abroad.
Hẻm Gems: In Đà Nẵng, Góc Nhà Tụi Mình Is Where Tea Time Feels Like Home
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- Published on 06 February 2026
- Written by Như Quỳnh. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
As a Đà Nẵng native, I often get asked where and what to eat and drink by friends who are in town. The tried-and-true list of places in my mind always includes Góc Nhà Tụi Mình, which I’ve frequented nearly constantly for the past six years.
Bánh Thuẫn Anchors Central Vietnam Kids' Tết Anticipation and Childhood Joy
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- Published on 05 February 2026
- Written by Thu Hà. Illustration by Ngọc Tạ.
Bánh chưng and bánh tét are the two reigning monarchs of Tết food, representing the north and south of Vietnam. Still, not many know that in Central Vietnam, there are a plethora of Tết treats that are just as iconic, such as bánh thuẫn. To celebrate the new year, central families display a plate of bánh thuẫn in the living room to honor ancestors, entice visitors, and reward kids for their good behaviors.
The First Asian in Space Was Vietnamese. He’s Still Alive Today.
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- Published on 03 February 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
Most Vietnamese schoolkids grew up learning about Phạm Tuân as the first Vietnamese in space, but few know that he was also the first Asian person to clinch the honor.
When Lịch Bloc Is Gone, What Will Vietnam Use to Keep Discarded Fish Bones?
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- Published on 02 February 2026
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
I have never bought a lịch bloc, or tear-off calendar, for personal use, because every new year, I'm bound to be gifted a brand-new one. In Vietnam, a calendar is often something one purchases as a present for others.
The Year of the Horse Gallops into The Grand Ho Tram
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- Published on 02 February 2026
- Written by Grand Ho Tram. Photos by Grand Ho Tram.
Inspired by the spirit of the horse, The Grand Ho Tram encourages you to have a year of success, confidence, and new horizons. Traditional Tết performances and activities alongside special feasts and opportunities for revelry will usher in a year of remarkable achievements and memorable moments.
Hẻm Gems: Beloved in Korea, Dwaeji-Gukbap Is a Hearty Soup for Saigon's Cold Days
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- Published on 01 February 2026
- Written by San Kwon. Photos by Jimmy Art Devier.
When the owner of a popular restaurant in South Korea specializing in dwaeji-gukbap, a dish widely beloved in Korea but little known outside, visited Vietnam for vacation for the first time around a decade ago, he saw a real possibility of bringing and introducing this special Korean dish to Vietnam. Fast forward to today, his vision has materialized into the quite remarkable scene of a restaurant in Thảo Điền bustling with Vietnamese customers who come to enjoy the humble dish.
The Vibrancy of Vietnam's Mundane Depicted by Illustrator Chan-Nhu Le
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- Published on 01 February 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Illustrations by Chan-Nu Le.
“I miss that. When I was young, on the motorbike with my friends, it was like ’hey, you have 15 minutes?’ and we just met up [...], had some street food and did literally nothing; just street watching. It was fun,” Chan-Nhu Le shared with Saigoneer about the inspiration for her illustrations.
In Đồng Nai, a Rustic Abode Emerges Under the Canopies of Cashew Trees
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- Published on 30 January 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
A clear directive was issued before construction of the home: all 26 cashew trees occupying the 100-square-meter plot must be preserved.
The Unquenchable Spirit of Artist Lê Triều Điển
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- Published on 29 January 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto and Nguyên Lê.
“Điển is like a flower; there is no question of growing or not growing.”
Meet Tâm, a Crossing ‘Guardian’ Protecting Saigon Traffic and Trains From Each Other
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- Published on 28 January 2026
- Written by Như Quỳnh. Photos by Jimmy Art Devier.
In a small kiosk overlooking the crowded Nguyễn Trọng Tuyển Street in Phú Nhuận, Nguyễn Thị Tâm routinely checks the clock and reviews the day’s train schedule meticulously. She’s repeated these tasks countless times, a crucial component of a job that she’s done for two decades as a train crossing attendant.
Cổ Động's Live Session Series 'Động Tag' Returns for Season 2 With 9 Vietnamese Artists
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- Published on 27 January 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
Động Tag Live Session, Cổ Động’s series of live recordings aiming to highlight Vietnam’s up-and-coming musicians, is returning with a second season.
My Great-Great-Grandfathers Were in Indochina in the 1880s to Build the Railway
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- Published on 26 January 2026
- Written by Julie Vola.
We often see archival images of old Hanoi, but these photos are different — they are personal. The following shots, which come from a collection of five photo albums, are the only surviving record of my two great-great-grandfathers’ presence in what was then Indochina.
Loneliness Too Waits for the Bus
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- Published on 25 January 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Jimmy Art Devier.
We are all in this, but not together.
5 Cozy Saigon Coffee Shops With Outstanding Cat Residents to Befriend
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- Published on 24 January 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Top graphic by Ngọc Tạ.
I almost never remember the faces of the employees at cafes that I’ve been to, but I am strangely attuned to the existence of their cats. I remember the textures of their fur when I gave them pets, the little squeaks when they jumped up and down the furniture, and the subtle ways they expressed their personality during our fleeting but memorable encounters.
The Artist Preserving Saigon's Cultural Tapestry Through Hand-Painted Signs
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- Published on 24 January 2026
- Written by Như Quỳnh. Photos by Alberto Prieto. Top image by Tú Võ.
"In the early 2000s, the market experienced an exodus of painters due to the shift to digital; it was difficult to retain customers otherwise. I didn't want my craft to be forgotten, so I started everything all over,” Nguyễn Hoài Bảo told me in Vietnamese when I visited his studio.
Vietnam Welcomes 21m Tourists in 2025, Highest-Ever Figure in History
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- Published on 20 January 2026
- Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Alberto Prieto.
Last year marked an impressive year for tourism in Vietnam. A record number of 21.17 million international tourists visited the country in 2025, a 20.4% increase compared to 2024. This far exceeded the global average growth rate of around 5%, as well as that of the Asian Pacific region of roughly 8%.
Learning to Coexist in Peace Is the First Step to Protect Vietnam's Last Remaining Elephants
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- Published on 19 January 2026
- Written by Govi Snell and Anton L Delgado. Photos by Anton L Delgado.
A trail of enormous footprints, criss-crossing slabs of cracked concrete, lead to a battered ranger station in Vietnam’s Pù Mát National Park. Park staff say the wild Asian elephant that left the tracks is as friendly as it is lonely.
Viet Thanh Nguyen's New Essay Collection Is Both Theoretically Sharp and Intimately Tender
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- Published on 18 January 2026
- Written by San Kwon. Graphic by Khanh Mai.
Last year, acclaimed Vietnamese American writer Viet Thanh Nguyen published To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other, a collection of six essays adapted from the prestigious Norton Lectures that he delivered at Harvard in 2023–2024.
An Indie Archival Project Dreams of Time Travel. How? Lots and Lots of Vietnam Maps.
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- Published on 18 January 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top image by Khanh Mai.
Its entrances flanked by ATMs and adverts for international airlines, the Sun Wah Tower on Nguyễn Huệ today appears to be another nondescript testament to the global economy and Vietnam’s enthusiastic place within it. However, on those same grounds only 150 years ago, a guillotine was set up to decapitate people on order of the colonial authorities at the Justice de paix.
