in Ẽplain

A Brief Primer Into the History of K-Pop Chế in Vietnam

My middle school memories are often peppered with the honking voices of adolescents chanting some silly chorus about household cleaning.

in Development

Saigon Metro Line 1 Announces July Launch Date, Free Rides in Phase 1

Will 2024 be the auspicious year when our legs could finally step on the metro platform for the first time?

in Health

Sweating out My Sadness on the Canal's Exercise Machines

We're all unlucky in love sometimes. When I am, I go jogging. The body loses water when you jog, so you have none left for tears.

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

Charting the Flow of the Nhiêu Lộc Canal From Start to Historical Start

When I fall in love with an album, I seek out the artist's first mixtapes and demos. When I come to admire a poet, I hunt down their early poems and chapbooks. I even linger over the old highlight reels of my favorite football players' college games. Understanding where something starts allows me appreciate it more. So it is with the Nhiêu Lộc–Thị Nghè Canal.

Khôi Phạm

in Society

Nhiêu Lộc Canal Hosted Trudeau's Night Run. Why Is It Not as Famous as Obama's Bún Chả?

You know how much Vietnamese culture revolves around food by the fact that one of the first questions we pose to any foreign visitor is “What’s your favorite Vietnamese dish?” Asking about other aspects of the country could invite honest opinions that some of us might not be prepared to hear. Deep down, more than anybody else, we know that our air quality is subpar and our urban cleanliness leaves much to be desired, but our food is the one thing every Vietnamese can trust to make us proud. What easier way to foster diplomacy than to center the conversation around deliciousness?

in Architecture

In Hanoi, a Family Home Balances Commercial Hustle With Spiritual Haven

If many Vietnamese families often opt to reserve one room in their house plan for ancestor worship, this household in Hanoi decided to dedicate an entire backyard to their family altar.

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

An Homage to the Mekong Delta and Its Bag-Wearing Fruits

Rats, mice, mosquitos, snakes, centipedes, caterpillars, snails, beetles and slugs: the more fertile a region is, the more pests inhabit it.

in Tech

Grindr Once Again Names Vietnam Amongst Nations With Highest Percentage of Bottoms

Started by Spotify, Unwrapped has become one of tech companies’ favorite marketing campaigns in recent years; LinkedIn, Duolingo, and even Vietnam’s own Zalo are amongst some revelers of this trend in recent years. Last year, gay dating app Grindr continued the tradition with their own annual insights, and Vietnam managed to claim a spot in the roundup.

Back Society

in Development

Saigoneer Exclusive: Interview with the Editor of the HCMC MEGA City Photo Book

The TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book examines major themes relating to HCMC's rapid urban development. We sat down with one of the book's editors, Michael Waibel, and asked about how hi...

in Tech

Why Bitcoin Matters in Vietnam - Part 1

In January, Marc Andreesen’s article, “Why Bitcoin Matters” went viral just as Vietnam’s Central Bank, among others, rejected the technology’s legitimacy. In order to move the conversation away f...

in Development

The Evolution of Can Gio – From Desert to UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

It's hard to associate Saigon with one of the biggest and most valuable mangrove forests in Vietnam, and yet it makes sense. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Can Gio, part of the Ho Chi Minh City munic...

in Development

[Slideshow] A Morning on the Bitexco Tower's Helipad

Since it’s rarely (if ever) used for helicopters, the Bitexco Tower’s notoriously underutilized helicopter landing pad has become something of an urban legend. Last month, the editors of the TP. Hồ Ch...

in Development

Hoi An’s $4 Billion Casino Project Back on Track

As Vietnamese authorities continue to debate reducing gambling restrictions on locals, the long-stalled $4 billion casino project appears to be back on track with a US investor recently taking over th...

in Tech

Behold: The Mekong Delta as Viewed from Space

This sweet image of the Mekong Delta is a composite of 3 pictures taken between January and November 2007 by Envisat, an Earth-observing satellite.

in Tech

TechcampSaigon @RMIT

From the organizer: TechcampSaigon is a new evolution in the BarcampSaigon family. Our goal is to create an event that is the most innovative and high quality event in Vietnam around technology.

in Development

Hanoi's 7×18 House: Rethinking Urban Housing in Vietnam

Hanoi-based, AHL architects associates continues to develop designs for sustainable urban housing in Vietnam. Their latest project, the 7×18 house, was built with local materials while taking int...

in Development

Future Saigon: Renderings of Nguyen Cu Trinh Centre

There are big plans in the works to remake the intersection of Tran Dinh Xu, Nguyen Trai, Cong Quynh and Nguyen Cu Trinh in District 1.

in Development

Vietnam Targets 20,000 More PhDs by 2020

One of Vietnam’s many 2020 goals includes producing 20,000 additional PhD holders; one that many doubt is attainable, according to VietNamNet. 

Brian Letwin

in Sports

Vietnamese Football Team Ranked 1st in SE Asia

Vietnam has recaptured 1st place in the SE Asian FIFA rankings which were announced last week. While we applaud the team’s accomplishment, there’s still some room for improvement - they are ranked 17t...

in Development

“Meandering Through the City” Exhibition - Urban Development in Hồ Chí Minh City and Lyon

From the organizer: In the framework of cooperation between the Rhône Alpes region, Greater Lyon and Hồ Chí Minh City, an exhibition featuring urban mutations in the two metropolises will be held fro...

in Tech

This Vietnamese Education Startup Is Using Google Glass to Teach English

According to TechinAsia, Topica, “one of Vietnam’s most successful online learning platforms” has launched new program, Topmito, which employs Google Glass help improve the English speaking skills of ...

in Tech

These Are Probably the Sexiest Electric Bikes We’ve Ever Seen

Electric bikes are typically function-focused, with aesthetics being an afterthought. But in China, the capital of electric bikes, a new startup is seeking to change the perception of what electric bi...

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City - The Soul of the Mega City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos. Tod...

in Tech

Dong Nguyen: ‘Flappy Bird’ May Fly Again

Rolling Stone recently secured an interview with elusive ‘Flappy Bird’ maker, Dong Nguyen. In the long article, which is well worth reading in its entirety, Nguyen hinted that his epically popular gam...

in Development

Future Saigon: Renderings of Lavenue Crown

You may have noticed the quiet parking lot next to Diamond Plaza in District 1 that seems destined to become something more. This is the site of the proposed Lavenue Crown, one of the many victims of ...

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City - Urban Transport in the Mega City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos. Tod...

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City - People in the Mega City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book which was formally released on February 19. It is split into 8 chapters, each covering a major theme related to ...

in Development

Massive Electric Trolleys Proposed for HCMC

VNS reports that the HCMC Transport Department has submitted a proposal for a pilot program that would add 50 electric trolleys to provide better transportation services in the city center.