BackStories » Saigon

in Saigon

As Saigon’s First Pedestrian-Only Street Prepares To Open, Details and Criticisms Emerge

As construction of Nguyen Hue Street’s pedestrian-only promenade nears completion, new details about its operation as well as critical voices have emerged in the Vietnamese press in recent weeks.

in Saigon

Saigon’s Central Post Office Goes Back To Its Original Color

After complaints from street vendors to architects, the Saigon Central Post Office is finally back to its colonial color scheme following a VND5 billion (US$233,013) repainting.

in Saigon

Video Shows Daily Physical Abuse At Center For HIV-Positive Children In Saigon

Tuoi Tre recently published an exposé cataloguing the abuse of HIV-positive children at a care center in Saigon’s Thu Duc District.

in Saigon

“Haunted” 727 Tran Hung Dao To Be Demolished

606 Tran Hung Dao isn't the only historic building on the street to be threatened by the wrecking ball. In a move that was seemingly inevitable, the decaying apartment block at 727 Tran Hung Dao will ...

in Saigon

Another 'Dead' Saigon Canal Will Soon Be Revived

Running over 10 kilometers through four districts (Tan Binh, Tan Phu, 11 and 6), Tan Hoa is one of Saigon's longest canals. Like many of the city's urban waterways, it has been receiving treatmen...

in Saigon

Nguyen Hue Pedestrian-Only Promenade To Open This Month

It’s been months since crews began to tear up Nguyen Hue Street in order to transform it into the city’s first pedestrian-only thoroughfare. It looks like we’ll only have to put up with this construct...

in Saigon

90,000 Vietnamese Workers on Strike at Factory That Supplies Nike, Adidas

Changes to social insurance laws have sparked a massive worker’s strike in Saigon’s Binh Tan District, shutting down a garment factory that makes shoes and clothes for companies including Nike and Adi...

in Saigon

Saigon McDonald’s Chaos The Result Of “Dud” US$40 Million Marketing Campaign

If you happened to pass by the Dien Bien Phu McDonald’s on Monday night or anytime Tuesday, you probably found yourself in a massive plume of motorbike traffic headed directly for the fast food restau...

in Saigon

[Photos] McDonald’s Giveaway Event Causes “Absolute Chaos” In Saigon

Thousands of people showed up to the McDonald’s restaurant on Dien Bien Phu Street this week for free food and swag, resulting in massive crowds, traffic jams and as one resident described it, “absolu...

in Saigon

The Saigon Post Office Is Being Repainted. Again.

When it comes to urban beautification projects in Vietnam, Hanoi’s recent tree massacre has been getting all the press. However, it wasn’t long ago that the Saigon Post Office’s new paint job was grab...

in Saigon

[Map] The 10 Most Dangerous Intersections In Saigon

The good news first – there has been a significant decrease in the number of accident-prone hotspots in Saigon over the past year. The bad news? There are still 10 left.

in Saigon

VN Aviation Firm Hopes To Offer Sightseeing Flights Over Saigon

Talks between city officials and Hai Au Aviation are hinting at the possibility of aerial tours of Saigon by seaplane.

in Saigon

[Photos] Large Fire Rips Through District 4

A large fire in an alley behind the District 4 People’s Committee yesterday morning destroyed eight homes and damaged two others.

in Saigon

Saigon’s New Electric Busses To Include Service To Pham Ngu Lao

Saigon’s new electric bus service, scheduled to open later this year, will not only serve tourists on Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Le Duan, Nguyen Du and Thai Van Lung Streets, but also Pham Ngu Lao.

in Saigon

Public Karaoke Parties Drive Saigon Residents Mad

If you live in a Saigon alley, you’ve undoubtedly been kept up by loud music blaring from the speakers of your neighbors celebrating a birthday, wedding or funeral.

in Saigon

US$450 Million Allocated To Clean Up Saigon’s Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Canal

Saigon’s most important canal is set to clean up its act with a new round of funding.

in Saigon

Suboi, Tim Doling To Headline CNNGo Episode Featuring Saigon

Saigon will be featured in the next episode of CNNGo, a monthly travel show that seeks to provide an inside look at Asia’s most dynamic cities.

in Saigon

Bus Carrying 20 Tourists Nearly Plunges Into Saigon Canal

A bus carrying 20 foreigners and overseas Vietnamese nearly fell into the waters of the Tàu Hủ Canal yesterday afternoon due to a flat tire.

in Saigon

A Sneak Peek Into Saigon’s New Metro Cars

We might have to wait another five years to ride in one of them (at least physically), but soon you can check out the interior of the carriages that will eventually run on Saigon’s first metro line.

in Saigon

Walls of Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral Being Stained by Graffiti, Urine

Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral is facing something of an aesthetic crisis as sections of the church’s brick walls, which were imported from France well over a century ago, have been defaced by graffiti...