in Saigon

Pristine Blue Sky and Memorial Park: Ruminating on What the Covid-19 Pandemic Left Us

Recently, I visited Saigon’s newly inaugurated COVID-19 memorial park . Located at 1 Lý Thái Tổ, Vườn Lài Ward, the park o...

in Saigon

HCMC's Đồng Khởi Among World's Top 20 Most Expensive Retail Streets, Report Says

Saigon’s very own Đồng Khởi has once again made the list of world’s commercial streets with the highest annual rents.

Xuân Phương

in Hanoi

Every Bánh Chưng Season, Vietnam’s Lá Dong Capital Comes Alive With Harvest Frenzy

On the patches of sandy soil by the river in Kim An Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, there’s a tiny village named Tràng Cát, where dong leaves have been embedded in local history, memory, and economy for centuries. Right in local courtyard, these broad green leaves were transformed into bánh chưng, ready for Tết feasts across the country.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

Loneliness Too Waits for the Bus

We are all in this, but not together.

in Saigon

Thoughts I've Had While Stranded in Murky Floodwater on Saigon's High-Tide Days

I’m willing to forgive nearly everything about Saigon. It’s a sign of a sustainable relationship, as I still wish to coexist in peace with this city. To me, Saigon’s midday, even when the searing sun flares the strongest, is when the trees are the most glorious. The sudden bouts of torrential rain are indeed a nuisance, but I tell myself that at least the streets can get a wash after a dusty day. But there’s one thing that never goes away and that I can never write off; something I can’t, for the life of me, find reasons to romanticize or defend. Those are the infuriating floods that submerge Saigon streets every time the tide is high.

in Saigon

Saigon Sees a 10-Year Low of 18°C. What Are the City’s Highest and Lowest Temperatures?

This January, Saigoneers have been enjoying an unusually pleasant stretch of weather, with daytime temperatures hovering around the mid-20s and dipping to 18–20°C late at night and in the early morning.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Bans Unskippable Ads, Requires Skip Button to Appear After 5 Seconds

If things go our way, YouTube’s notorious unskippable ads might be a thing of the past come this February.

in Vietnam

Grindr Year-End Report Names Vietnam as Country With Biggest Top Shortage

Ever since Spotify launched its first global Wrapped function a few years ago, December has turned into an exciting season of stats-driven year-end reviews. “Wrapping” is now a tradition embraced by numerous apps, such as Strava, Duolingo, YouTube, Reddit, and of course, Grindr.

Back Stories

in Roundups

Morning Links Roundup: Peak of 2018's Hot Season Lasts From May to July, Expert Says

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Peak of hot season 2018 lasts from May to July [SGGP] ▪ Online tourism busin...

in Roundups

Morning Links Roundup: Education Ministry Proposes Draft Regulations on Foreign Language Centers

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Education sector calls for help for disadvantaged districts [SGGP] ▪ Draft r...

in Vietnam

In 6 Years, Vietnam's Population of Convenience Stores Has Quadrupled: Report

Saigon is now home to 1,800 convenience stores and small-scale supermarkets.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Successfully Produces Inactivated Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Draft regulations on foreign language centres proposed [DTI] ▪ VN successful...

in Hanoi

Hanoi to Trial New Pedestrianized Street in Tay Ho Starting This Weekend

Following the success of the pedestrianized area around Hoan Kiem Lake, Tay Ho District will see its first traffic-free street open this weekend.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Extends Visa Exemptions for Five European Nations for 3 More Years

Previously, the policy was subject to annual renewal. The current exemptions would have expired in June this year.

in Roundups

Morning Links Roundup: Pedestrians in HCMC Prefer Street-Level Crossings to Footbridges

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Pedestrians prefer street level crossings [DTI] ▪ New traffic signs make nav...

in Asia

At a High School in China, Top Students Are Rewarded With Raw Pork

Is stationery falling out of fashion?

in Hanoi

Hanoi Fines Teacher for Calling Student 'Pig Brain,' Shuts Down English Center

A Vietnamese English language teacher achieved notoriety earlier this week by calling one of her students a "pig brain" after he refused to pay a VND100,000 (US$4.4) fine for failing to hand in his ho...

in Saigon

Saigon Aims to Attract 1.5m Chinese Tourists Annually by 2020

The government has set a goal of hosting 1.5 million Chinese tourists by 2020, a three-fold increase.

in Roundups

Morning Links Roundup: Vietnamese Government Fines Illegal Bitcoin Trading Site

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Travel promotion fair aims to boost Vietnam-India tourism [SGGP] ▪ Vietnames...

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Scientists Will Collaborate With NASA in a New Land Use Research Project

The project could help lead the way for practical applications in urban planning, natural resources protection and disaster prevention.

in Roundups

Morning Links Roundup: Vietnam’s Foreign Reserves Reach Record High of $63bn

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Hanoi to trial new pedestrian street [DTI] ▪ VN’s foreign reserves reach rec...

in Saigon

As Rainy Season Arrives, Saigon Major Flood Barrier Project Stalls

Work has halted on a massive US$440 million drainage system aimed to control tidal flooding that impacts 6.5 million residents in a 570-square-kilometer area in and around south Saigon.

in Hanoi

Hanoi Trees to Be Axed to Make Way for Metro Line

To create space for one of Hanoi's upcoming metro stations, 41 trees will soon be cut down, while another 116 will be relocated to a nearby park. 

in Roundups

Morning Links Roundup: Vietnam’s Art Market Grows, Needs Transparency

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnamese concerned as biofuel proposed to replace traditional fuel [VnExpress] ...

in Vietnam

Construction of High-Rises Should Cease in Downtown Saigon, Hanoi to Reduce Congestion: Vietnam PM

In Saigon and Hanoi, downtown areas are suffering from major bottlenecks due to the boom of high-rise buildings in recent years.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Health Ministry Warns of Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Summer

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Phu Quoc hotel keeps illegal construction on opening day [DTI] ▪ Health Mini...

in Hanoi

Hanoi to Add Car Parks to Major Bus Terminals

In a continuing effort to ease congestion in the capital, Hanoi’s Department of Transport is planning to turn Gia Lam, My Dinh, Giap Bat and Nuoc Ngam bus stations into car parks and major bus interch...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: VNA Considers Creating Cargo Unit to Boost Revenue

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Border guards suspended over major illegal logging case [DTI] ▪ Vietnam Airl...