in Parks & Rec

I Know Where the Caged Bird Sings: The Joy of Saigon's Birdsong Competition

One by one, motorbikes arrived, carrying the tell-tale cages covered with cloth and parked in the gravel lot beside the coffee shop where Saigoneer sat listening to the caged birds suspended above a patch of scrabbly grass.

in Architecture

A New Reading Space in Trà Vinh Creates Comfort From Recycled Materials

“A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us,” according to famed Czech writer Franz Kafka.

in Ẽplain

Vietnam's Trendiest Way to Flaunt Your Social Status Is a Meme Lychee Tea

Lychee tea can be found anywhere and anytime around Saigon, from street stalls to artisanal cafes. Averaging VND20,000–50,000, it’s a popular choice among Vietnamese youths. However, Thái Công Cafe prices their version of the fruit tea at around VND160,000 on their rather pricy menu. Yet, the drink remains extremely popular at the cafe and even went viral amongst Gen Z-ers on TikTok. The reason behind this virality is actually a meme.

in Sports

Saigon Powerlifter Lê Văn Công Earns Vietnam's First, Only Medal at Paralympics

Even though Vietnam’s delegation finished the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris without any medals, our Paralympics team managed to clinch one bronze from powerlifting.

in Society

Diving (Literally) Into Hoàng Hoa Thám's Mountains of Secondhand Clothes

In a hẻm, clothing sprawled out on platforms lined with the plastic sacks the clothing came in, overspilling onto the ta...

in Architecture

This Terracotta Workshop Makeover Sings the Praises of Vietnam's Red Bricks

A Quảng Nam brick kiln that's been operating for over twenty years has received a makeover that allows guests to get a more intimate look at the traditional craft of making terracotta.

Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

One Nation's Beloved Cá Lóc Is Another Nation's Horror Movie

America has been losing its shit over snakeheads. All summer long my algorithm-led newsfeed has been alerting me to ominous headlines including “‘Horror movie’ snakehead fish that can slither on land invading Missouri amid fourth sighting,” “Voracious, invasive ‘frankenfish’ reeled in from Delaware River at Easton,” and “Snakehead Fish Found in Georgia: ‘Kill It Immediately.’” 

in Environment

Vietnam, Southeast Asian Nations Burst Into the Solar Energy Landscape

Sunny Southeast Asia has made significant strides in solar energy, with solar farm capacity exceeding 20GW across ASEAN c...

Back Society

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.

in Health

300 Years to Clean up 800,000 Tons of Unexploded Ordinance in Vietnam: Official

At a conference on unexploded ordnance in Vietnam, an official announced that it may take up to 300 years to clear the country of the deadly war remnants that are still inflicting casualties to this d...

in Tech

Should Smart-Phones and Tablets be Allowed in Vietnamese Classrooms?

With rapid growth of the availability of technology in Vietnam, especially smartphones, tablets and phablets, teachers and authorities are starting to question their use by students in the classroom, ...

in Development

UK Tapped as Development Partner for Thu Thiem

Last Thursday, David Puttnam, the Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy to Vietnam, met with the HCMC mayor’s office to discuss “cooperation with the city in developing its new Central Business District,” rep...