Old Saigon Building of the Week: The Three-Legged Bridge of Cho Lon
Saigoneers born after the 1990s might be familiar with the term dân chơi cầu Ba Cẳng, or “the daredevils of Ba Cang Bridge”. However, not many are aware of its starting point, which originated from a ...
Khoi Pham in Saigon
Street Cred: The Ill-Fated Power Couple of Vietnam's Literary Scene in the 1980s
It’s been almost three decades since that fateful day in 1988 when, in a blink of an eye, Vietnam’s literary scene was robbed off two most beloved talents. Luu Quang Vu and Xuan Quynh’s death was some...
Old Saigon Building of the Week: Hotel Majestic Saigon
The 92-year-old Hotel Majestic has seen many incarnations, most notably becoming the first Vietnamese managed five-star hotel in Saigon. But the rest of the building’s nine-decade existence has been j...
[Photos] Saigon Then & Now: Chợ Cũ
In today's Saigon, Chợ Cũ on Ton That Dam Street might appear like a derelict wet market, but in its heyday, the street used to be home to a bustling commercial area where merchants from all over...
Saigon Notre Dame Basilica Set to Receive $4.4m Makeover
Though there is not yet an official start date, Saigon's Notre Dame Basilica is set to undergo a major renovation in future.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Street Cred: The Tumultuous Life of Dinh Tien Hoang
Dinh Bo Linh – also known as Dinh Hoan or Dinh Tien Hoang – was a sterling emperor who is one of the main figures in Vietnam’s long history of struggle against occupying Chinese forces. In today'...
Tim Doling in Saigon
Saigon’s Famous Streets and Squares: Me Linh Square
The square known today as Quảng Trường Mê Linh has been home to five different monuments since its inception in the 1860s.
[Video] Trading Places: The Story of 42 Nguyen Hue
With 42 Nguyen Hue facing an uncertain future, RICE and Saigoneer set out to share the stories of residents of one of Saigon's most popular "cafe-apartment" buildings.
Khoi Pham in Saigon
Street Cred: Thich Quang Duc, the Monk Who Set Himself on Fire
Despite his peaceful nature, Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc is known today as “the monk who set himself on fire”, serving as a symbol of protest against religious discrimination. In today’s ...
Khoi Pham in Saigon
Street Cred: Alexandre de Rhodes and the Birth of Chữ Quốc Ngữ
Among Saigon's many streets, there are only four roads named after foreigners: Yersin, Pasteur, Calmette and Alexandre de Rhodes.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Saigon
Street Cred: Nguyen Du, Father of Vietnamese Literature
Even if you’re in need of a refresher on Vietnamese history, chances are you know the name Nguyen Du. The 19th-century statesman and poet is often known as the father of Vietnamese literature, and his...
[Photos] How Saigoneers Enjoyed Christmas in the 60s and 70s
With Christmas just around the corner, Saigoneer takes a look at how past city dwellers enjoyed the holiday season.
Notre Dame Cathedral to Undergo Major Roof Renovation
With the recent approval of the municipal government, Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral will begin a major roof renovation project as early as next year.
Tim Doling in Saigon
A Throwback to Saigon's Original Tramway Network
As ever-increasing levels of traffic congestion and air pollution turn many of Ho Chi Minh City’s road junctions into choking bottlenecks, many hopes are pinned on plans to construct a new urban railw...
Street Cred: Ut Tich, Vietnam's 'Mother With a Gun'
A woman with an indomitable spirit for combatting oppression, Ut Tich’s tenacity lives on in the minds of Vietnamese as “the mother with a gun”.
A Brief History of Saigon's Independence Palace
Fifty years ago today, South Vietnam’s then-president Nguyen Van Thieu inaugurated the city’s Independence Palace on October 31, 1966.
Street Cred: Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Gia Dinh's Downtrodden Poet
Many Vietnamese recognize Nguyen Dinh Chieu as one of the country’s greatest poets whose nationalist and anti-colonist works depicted the dream of a society of integrity and benevolence.
[Video] Meet Saigon's Man of Poetic Photography
In the latest episode of Sai Gon Vi Vu’s documentary series Saigon’s Gentlemen, viewers are given a glimpse into the life of Tao Dan Park’s resident photographer.
[Photos] A Final Look at Binh Tay Market Before Its Renovation
Will a major upcoming renovation affect Binh Tay Market’s distinct Chinese-style architecture?
[Photos] What's Left Inside Saigon's Iconic Tax Center
The Saigon Tax Center, a historic icon of old Saigon, has been reduced to a metal skeleton and heaps of rubble.
