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Creator

Govi Snell

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Govi Snell is a Ho Chi Minh City-based freelance journalist.

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Stories by Govi Snell

16 stories

Hẻm Gems: At Phở Chay Như, a Banquet of Vegetarian Versions of Iconic Viet Dishes

Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: At Phở Chay Như, a Banquet of Vegetarian Versions of Iconic Viet Dishes

A bowl full of noodles is one of the things that make me feel lucky to be alive, and alive in Saigon in particular.

Govi SnellJul 30, 2026
Learning to Coexist in Peace Is the First Step to Protect Vietnam's Last Remaining Elephants

Environment

Learning to Coexist in Peace Is the First Step to Protect Vietnam's Last Remaining Elephants

A trail of enormous footprints, criss-crossing slabs of cracked concrete, lead to a battered ranger station in Vietnam’s Pù Mát National Park. Park staff say the wild Asian elephant that left the tracks is as friendly as it is lonely.

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Govi SnellJan 19, 2026
Ngõ Nooks: In One of Hanoi's Tiniest Shopfronts, a Phở Chay With Big Flavors

Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: In One of Hanoi's Tiniest Shopfronts, a Phở Chay With Big Flavors

Tree-lined Lò Đúc street is home to Phở Chay: a restaurant so small it could fit in the palm of your hand.

Govi SnellJun 4, 2025
Relive Your Memories of Saigon Water Park via These Photos by One of Its Makers

Saigon

Relive Your Memories of Saigon Water Park via These Photos by One of Its Makers

Although water parks involve a combination of two of the most tedious human experiences, standing in lines and prolonged direct sun exposure, the now-demolished Saigon Water Park was an icon of 2000s Saigon that remains a crucial cornerstone of many city dwellers' memories.

Govi SnellSep 18, 2023
In Đà Lạt, Greenhouses Revolutionize Farming, but at What Environmental Cost?

Environment

In Đà Lạt, Greenhouses Revolutionize Farming, but at What Environmental Cost?

Plastic greenhouses in the city of Đà Lạt may protect farmers from the impacts of erratic weather, but the environmental toll of agri-plastics is building in the agriculture-dependent region.

Govi SnellJul 5, 2022
Just a Love Letter to Saigon's Tropical Fruits

Snack Attack

Just a Love Letter to Saigon's Tropical Fruits

How lovely to have taste buds and to have tasty things to eat.

Govi SnellMay 15, 2022
Nguyễn Thị Định, the Major General Leading Bến Tre's 'Long-Haired Army'

Vietnam

Nguyễn Thị Định, the Major General Leading Bến Tre's 'Long-Haired Army'

Hidden down an alley in Saigon’s District 3 is the house that was given by the government to Vietnam’s first woman general, Nguyễn Thị Định, after the country’s reunification in 1975.

Govi SnellSep 28, 2021
The Story of Hồng Hoàng: From the 1st Vietnamese in Antarctica to a Fervent Wildlife Activist

Environment

The Story of Hồng Hoàng: From the 1st Vietnamese in Antarctica to a Fervent Wildlife Activist

For Hồng Hoàng, a career in environmental activism in Vietnam began with a polar expedition.

Govi SnellFeb 20, 2021
At the Women's Museum in Hanoi, a Celebration of Women at Home and at War

Travel

At the Women's Museum in Hanoi, a Celebration of Women at Home and at War

The Vietnamese Women's Museum in Hanoi is a museum with a mission.

Govi SnellDec 17, 2020
Saigoneer Bookshelf: Portraits of Frontline Workers From Inside Quarantine

Loạt Soạt

Saigoneer Bookshelf: Portraits of Frontline Workers From Inside Quarantine

In Con Đã Về Nhà - I'm Home , Tăng Quang documents his two-week stint in quarantine at Military School Zone 7 in District 12 of Saigon with a combination of paintings and prose.

Govi SnellAug 19, 2020
Hẻm Gems: It Doesn't Get More Coconut Than This Streetside Ice Cream

Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: It Doesn't Get More Coconut Than This Streetside Ice Cream

Head to Tân Bình District if the idea of coconut ice cream served in a coconut with a crunchy coconut topping excites you.

Govi SnellAug 1, 2020
How Music and Art Empower Vietnam's Efforts to Contain Covid-19

Music & Arts

How Music and Art Empower Vietnam's Efforts to Contain Covid-19

"Even if it's small, it is very cruel. Many have died because of it...We definitely got to stay alert."—'Ghen cô Vy' by ERIK and MIN.

Govi SnellJul 18, 2020
In Search of Charming Cafes Along Saigon's Train Alleys

Saigon Hẻm Gems

In Search of Charming Cafes Along Saigon's Train Alleys

Compared to Hanoi’s now-restricted Phung Hung “Train Street,” the neighborhoods bordering the railway in Saigon have neither the romanticism nor goosebumps-inducing adrenaline rush that turned the former into a world-renowned tourist attraction.

Govi SnellJun 29, 2020
Already Ubiquitous, Face Masks Become the Symbol of Vietnam's 'New Normal'

Culture

Already Ubiquitous, Face Masks Become the Symbol of Vietnam's 'New Normal'

What image will come to mind when you look back on 2020?

Govi SnellMay 17, 2020
To Learn How to Love Your Jeans Sustainably, Talk to Saigon's Denimheads

Culture

To Learn How to Love Your Jeans Sustainably, Talk to Saigon's Denimheads

I never feel better than when I am ensconced in denim. This love for jeans is caught up in my genuine adoration of the cowboy aesthetic, the particular beauty of a denim-clad ass and the snug hug of a jean jacket, cocoon-like and comfortable.

Govi SnellApr 5, 2020
[Illustrations] A Playful Look Into Vietnamese Ingredients by Lucia Pham

Food Culture

[Illustrations] A Playful Look Into Vietnamese Ingredients by Lucia Pham

Lucia Pham has created a set of four illustrations of Vietnamese cuisine featuring whimsical, personified ingredients.

Govi SnellMar 22, 2020