In 2022, Vietnam's Domestic Tourism Flourished, but International Arrivals Lagged Behind
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- Published on 30 January 2023
- Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Khôi Phạm.
The most recent Tết holiday witnessed an outstanding performance by Vietnam’s domestic tourism sector, while international tourism had a year of underwhelming figures.
Living it up at The Grand Ho Tram Strip
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- Published on 18 January 2023
- Written by Saigoneer.
The resurgence of tourism in 2022 has provided a strong foundation for The Grand Ho Tram Strip to build upon and get back to doing what it has always excelled at – providing the ideal environment for domestic and international travellers to create everlasting memories.
Saigoneer's Picks of Saigon's 5 Best Cafes to Poop At
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- Published on 17 January 2023
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Cao Nhân. Graphic by Homicille.
What brings you to coffee shops? Novelty beverages, mellow playlists, a feeling of home, proximity, or just simply convenience — all are valid attributes that have endeared me to many of my favorite cafes in Saigon. But what about those unnerving times when you’re out and about, minding your own business, when it quickly dawns on you that your business is about to become everyone’s business if you can’t find a bathroom, stat? Which cafes would you turn to?
From Architecture to Folklore: 5 Indie Book Projects for Vietnamese Culture Buffs
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- Published on 12 January 2023
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
In our years of writing about Vietnam, Saigoneer has had the pleasure to meet many passionate, inquisitive individuals whose creative and academic projects inspired us to appreciate the many facets of Vietnamese culture. Sometimes, we are lucky enough to see this labor of love being turned into physical books for us to cradle in our hands, delicately turn the pages, and heave in that heady aroma of freshly minted tomes.
Year in Review: Saigoneer's Picks for Favorite Features of 2022
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- Published on 11 January 2023
- Written by Saigoneer.
In 2021, we decided to expand on the enduring appeal of our food series Hẻm Gems by coming up with new collections of articles zooming in on specific aspects of Vietnamese society and culture. Last year was a time for delving deeper into these series.
How a Film Turned a Historic H'Mông Homestead in Hà Giang Into a Tourist Attraction
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- Published on 10 January 2023
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top graphic by Hannah Hoàng.
The photos don’t do it justice. That’s what you’ll often hear from people who visit Hà Giang to cruise its famed highway loop.
Amid a Resort, This Thatched Hut Houses a Zero-Waste Water-Bottling Plant
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- Published on 06 January 2023
- Written by Saigoneer.
A humble production hut built with recycled bottles, local timber, thatched roof and simple granito concrete floors is used as a bottling facility for drinking water.
New Board Game Set Puts an Aesthetic Feline Touch on Bầu Cua Tôm Cá
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- Published on 05 January 2023
- Written by Saigoneer. Images courtesy of Maztermind.
In two weeks’ time, we can temporarily put down our laptops, shut away documents, and set up holiday auto-replies to slip into a bánh chưng-induced coma for a week.
Thanh Long: How Dragon Fruit Proves Beauty Is Only Skin-Deep
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- Published on 04 January 2023
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Illustration by Hannah Hoang, Graphics by Tiên Nguyễn’.
Of all my accomplishments in life, my greatest may be the creation of The Banana Line. This is a ranking tool, based on the belief that if all fruits were lined up from worst to best, taking into account taste, availability, price, consistency, portability, ease of consumption, versatility, etc., the banana would represent the exact middle; the precise median. The dragon fruit (thanh long) falls well, well below the banana line.
Hẻm Gems: We Found Huế's Roast Pork Chè in Saigon, but It's Complicated.
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- Published on 29 December 2022
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Cao Nhân.
When the parent ingredients are such top-tier performers in their respective categories, it’s natural to feel disappointed that the resulting combination is so subpar.
Vietnamese Historical Gay Romance Wins Bronze at Japan International Manga Award
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- Published on 29 December 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
A gay-themed comic from Vietnam recently won a bronze award at the Japan International Manga Award.
Saigoneer's Favorite Original Photography of 2022
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- Published on 28 December 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
If our Saigoneer moments in 2021 were marred by catastrophes and heart-breaking departures, 2022 has been a year of rediscovery and picking ourselves up.
Khô Mực Studio Releases Surreal Calendar Featuring Art From 12 Local Artists
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- Published on 27 December 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
For the 2023 calendar, 'Robots vs. Flowers,' twelve young Vietnamese artists were each given a month and tasked with creating an image responding to the question: "Can technology and nature survive together?"
Saigon's Metro Line 1 Went on Its First Test Run Last Week
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- Published on 26 December 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
Last week, the Saigon Metro project took a major step in realizing many Saigoneers’ long-awaited dream of experiencing their own urban railway line.
[Photos] Katinat Cafe's Gò Vấp Location Is an Industrial Glass Fortress
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- Published on 22 December 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
Cement, air, water, sand, and gravel: concrete is a simple material. Same for glass, that spread of super-heated quartz sand.
Learning About Life and Death From the Stories of Funeral Directors in Vietnam
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- Published on 21 December 2022
- Written by Ann Ann. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
Sitting down with Hương Thủy and Đức Thịnh, I was able to listen to a plethora of fascinating anecdotes about Vietnam’s funerary practices.
Đà Nẵng Cafe Sparks Heated Online Debate for Refusing to Serve Children Under 12
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- Published on 19 December 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
A seemingly innocuous notice by a coffee shop in Đà Nẵng has sparked polarizing responses from netizens across Vietnam.
What to See in a Landlocked Country? How a Detour to Laos Made My Heart Feel Full.
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- Published on 17 December 2022
- Written by Alex Tran. Photos by Alex Tran. Graphic by Homicille.
Editor's note: This essay by Alex Tran won 1st place in the Editor's Choice category of Saigoneer's first-ever essay writing competition, "2 Years of Memories," in collaboration with Urbanist Travel. We felt that the author went beyond just chronicling the play-by-play events of a trip, and gave the portrayal of Bolaven Plateau characters, genuine interactions, spirits, and most importantly, poignant human connections.
It's (Almost) Always Sunny in Saigon: A Glimpse Into Street Fashion in the Early 1970s
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- Published on 16 December 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
You can deduce a lot from a photo.
The Nocturnal Thrill of Capturing Vietnam's Elegant Fauna in Wildlife Photography
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- Published on 14 December 2022
- Written by Jean Ramiere. Photos by Jean Ramiere. Graphics by Hannah Hoàng.
For most people, walking in the jungle at night would sound like a bad idea. A lack of knowledge and many misbeliefs, unfortunately, create bad assumptions about the wilderness after dark. And snakes, species that seem to be conjured by our nightmares, only reveal themselves when the sun is on the other side of the planet. But they are simply wild animals, with important roles in the ecosystem. With that acknowledgment and a respectful approach, we can start…
