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 Asia

Haze From Indonesia Forest Fires Caused Over 100,000 Deaths: US Study

A new study by researchers from Harvard and Columbia universities has found that last year’s catastrophic forest fires in Indonesia may have caused some 100,300 premature deaths.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Adds 5 New Foreign Languages to Controversial Primary School Syllabus

In a controversial move, Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training recently decided to include Russian, Chinese and Japanese as part of the local elementary school curriculum.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Records a Rare Case of Cri-Du-Chat Syndrome

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam records a rare case of cri du chat syndrome [VnExpress] Vietnam’s new cust...

in Vietnam

Power Demand in Southern Vietnam Outstrips National Output: EVN

Power shortages in southern Vietnam may become commonplace in the future as the nation's electricity supply is falling short of the region's growing demand for power.

in Vietnam

Fining Foreign Traffic Offenders Is Difficult: Police

Police in major cities such as Saigon, Hanoi and Nha Trang are speaking out about the difficulty of fining foreign traffic offenders.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Hits Speed Bump on Road to Motorbike-Free City

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Hanoi hits speed bump on road to motorbike-free city [VNExpress] Fish not entirely...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Has Over 100,000 Sex Workers: ILO

There are more than 100,000 sex workers in Vietnam, according to a recent study published by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Health Ministry Issues Central Region Fish Warning

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Health ministry issues central region fish warning [DTI] Japan to build satellite ...

in Vietnam

For the Third Time, Officials Debate an Increase in Retirement Age

The debate over Vietnam’s elderly workers has returned to the fore as legislators consider a new proposal to increase the country’s official retirement age.

in Vietnam

Vo Trong Nghia Wins Prestigious Prince Claus Award

Vo Trong Nghia, Vietnam’s resident starchitect, recently clinched the coveted 2016 Prince Claus Award, which rewards artists and organizations for their contribution to local culture and development.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Delays TPP Ratification

Vietnam's progress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has hit a speed bump as the national government recently announced that ratification of the trade deal will not be discussed at the country's ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Higher Tax Slams the Brakes on Vietnam’s Car Imports

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Higher tax slams the brakes on Vietnam’s car imports [VNExpress] Vietnam to claw i...

in Asia

Korean Plastic Surgery Clinic Gives Pikachu a Facelift, Creates Monster

In case you don't have enough nightmare fodder, a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul, South Korea decided to give famed Pokemon character Pikachu a makeover in order to showcase the range of services it ...

in Saigon

Saigon Homework Ban to Take Effect Next School Year

Saigon’s tweenagers will be happy to hear that when they return to school next year, homework assignments will be a thing of the past.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: After Appropriating Hundreds of Billions of Dong, Vietnamese Tycoons Flee Abroad

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Vietnam PM says may allow bigger foreign stakes in banks [Tuoi Tre] Appropriating ...

in Asia

Kim Jong-Un Sulks, Bans Sarcasm in North Korea After Being Called 'Fool' by Citizens

In the latest example of Kim Jong-un’s supreme brilliance, the North Korean leader has banned sarcasm in the isolated nation.

in Asia

Obama Vows to Lift Myanmar Sanctions Thanks to Government Reforms

On Wednesday, while hosting Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in the Oval Office, President of the United States Barack Obama revealed that the US is primed to lift sanctions on the Southeas...

in Vietnam

Thanh Nien News Discontinues Its English-Language Site

In a major blow to English-language media in Vietnam, Thanh Nien News shut down its website yesterday.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hydropower Dam Tunnel Collapses in Central Vietnam Flash Floods, Many Missing

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. India PM offers Vietnam $500 million credit line for defense cooperation [Thanh Nien] ...

in Asia

This Notorious Suicide Spot in Japan Is Seeing Fewer Deaths Thanks to Pokemon GO

While Pokemon GO has made global headlines thanks to distracted drivers and pedestrians causing accidents, in one part of Japan the mobile phenomenon may actually be saving lives.