Latest Stories

Development

Saigon Unveils Plan to Build 2 Pedestrian Bridges Over Tôn Đức Thắng Street

Tourists will soon lose one of their favorite “crossing Saigon streets is so crazy!” filming locations when two new pedestrian bridges connecting to Bạch Đằng Wharf are completed.

SaigoneerDec 18, 2025

Arts & Culture

5 Vietnamese Brands for Christmas Gifts That Celebrate Local Creativity and Culture

Even though Christmas is arguably the most important holiday of the year in the west, it is not a traditional special occasion in Vietnam, at least not in the same way Vietnamese go gaga over Tết.

Khôi PhạmDec 16, 2025

Snack Attack

From Cháo Lòng to Teochew Treats: How Vietnam's Regional Cuisines Embrace Offal

In his essay collection Miếng ngon Hà Nội (Hanoi Delicacies), Vũ Bằng raves about one of his favorite snacks: “Though they’re all inside the pig, each organ is tasty in a completely different way: the liver is both savory and bitter, even aromatic when enjoyed with basil; the heart is soft and supply in the mouth; the stomach is clamorously crunchy; the uterus has an incredible bite; while the intestine is just fantastic, chewy at first bite, but then turns tender.”

Literature

In Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's New Novel, Saigon's Rhythms Hum in the Background

“I’m always homesick for Vietnam. To write is to return home. That's why I had to bring Vietnam alive onto the pages. I had to hear the people speak, I had to listen to the music, to the language; I had to smell the food, see the landscape — that's my way of returning home. Whenever I’m homesick, I just return home via my writing.”

Paul ChristiansenDec 15, 2025

Vietnam

Slices of Life in Saigon, Huế, Hanoi in 1989 on Film

What is it about coming across old photos that tugs on our heartstrings so much, even when they depict a time when some of us weren’t alive yet?

SaigoneerDec 15, 2025

Literature

'Đời Gió Bụi,' Vietnamese Version of Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's Novel 'Dust Child,' Released This Week

Originally written in English and already translated into more than 15 languages, Đời gió bụi (Dust Child ) was released in Quế Mai's mother tongue on December 8.

SaigoneerDec 10, 2025

Travel

In Search of Hội An’s Lesser-Known and Overlooked Charms

Hội An, one of Vietnam’s top domestic and international tourist destinations, is in danger of developing a negative reputation.

SaigoneerDec 10, 2025

Travel

Just 50km From Hanoi, Đường Lâm Village Is a Charming Historical Relic

If one were to strike out west from Hanoi and follow the Red River for some 50 kilometers, there they will find Đường Lâm Village — a quintessence of rural Vietnam.

SaigoneerDec 9, 2025

Resorts

Festive Season Fun, Entertainment and Dining Arrives Nearby Saigon at The Grand Ho Tram (2)

Resorts

Festive Season Fun, Entertainment and Dining Arrives Nearby Saigon at The Grand Ho Tram

Hotels

Festive Season Sprinkles Magic Throughout Hotel Indigo Saigon The City

The festive season arrives in local style at Hotel Indigo Saigon The City.

SaigoneerDec 8, 2025

Education

European International School Strengthens Global Pathways for Every Learner with Prestigious WASC Accreditation

The European International School Ho Chi Minh City (EIS) has officially been awarded accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) , one of the world’s most respected international education authorities.

SaigoneerDec 8, 2025

Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Okachan Shokudo, a Comforting Japanese ‘Cơm Bình Dân’ in Hanoi

If there is a restaurant that is the antithesis of the biting cold of Hanoi, it is Okachan Shokudo.

Linh PhạmDec 7, 2025

Film & TV

Review: Quán Kỳ Nam Is an Instant Classic of Contemporary Vietnamese Cinema

Quán Kỳ Nam is a cozy, languorous film that might elude some viewers who don’t have the patience to sit around sipping on tea while waiting for hoa quỳnh to blossom. Still, just like waiting for those petals to unfurl, if you manage to sit still until the end, the result is a tender beauty whose scent will linger on even after the flower is gone.

Khôi PhạmDec 7, 2025

Eat & Drink

Thirty 59 Brings Saigon Kitchen Sessions: A One-Night-Only Spectacle of Food and Music

Over the past decade, An Khánh Ward (formerly Thảo Điền) has developed its own F&B ecosystem, becoming one of Saigon’s most diverse culinary landscapes. A relative newcomer, Thirty 59, opened its doors in April 2025 and, despite its slightly hidden location, has become a vibrant intersection of not only food and drinks, but also music, art and culture.

SaigoneerDec 4, 2025

Architecture

Inside Quảng Nam's School for Children From Ethnic Minorities, Designed by VTN Architects

Can a school protect against harsh climate conditions and foster productive academic and social activities in a sustainable and affordable way, while paying attention to the aesthetic values of the region?

SaigoneerDec 4, 2025

Society

On Finding Packaged Existential Relief at Saigon's Convenience Stores

When running away from life’s many grievances, I often find myself at the convenience store.

Saigon

Saigon Demolishes 3 Heritage Villas to Make Room for Covid-19 Memorial Park

As part of a plan to build a dedicated space to commemorate victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saigon authorities recently demolished several heritage buildings from the 1950s, sparking concerns about the city’s loss of architectural heritage.

SaigoneerDec 2, 2025

Vietnam

What a Set of Art Homework From Long Xuyên Teaches Us About 1930s Vietnam

Much like their descendants today, schoolchildren of 1930s Vietnam also took art classes as part of their syllabus. In this rare collection of what was essentially our grandparents’ homework, we can surprisingly learn a lot about the daily life of Mekong Delta residents from nearly 100 years ago.

Eat & Drink

The Man Bringing a Michelin Reputation to Phú Quốc’s Pink Pearl: Olivier Elzer

Just before reaching the sand, the sky awash in soft, late afternoon pastels, you’ll arrive at the Pink Pearl, which now bears a sign announcing it as the Pink Pearl by Olivier E. But who is Olivier E.?

SaigoneerNov 30, 2025

Saigoneer Getaways

Cát Tiên National Park Is the Perfect Cure for the Festering Wounds of Chronic Urban Life

What’s new? What’s trendy? What haven’t I explored? Such questions often dictate our travel plans, but sometimes, we’d be better off asking the opposite: What’s old? What’s impervious to being in style? Where have I been before and loved?

Paul ChristiansenNov 30, 2025