In 2014, a group of restless young Vietnamese set up Nirvana, Hanoi’s first-ever punk streetwear store. In a city known for politics, and where the thickness of history constantly reminds us of the past, their brand stood out like flames on a wedding dress.
Thanks to its clean, expansive beachfront, variety of entertainment options, robust nightlife and proximity to cultural sights such as Hoi An and Hue, it’s little surprise that the New York Times listed Da Nang as one of 52 places to go in 2019.
Nestled deep in a dead-end street reached through a warren of alleyways from an almost impossible-to-see entrance is an ancient-looking building. This stunning traditional Vietnamese stilt-house is one of the few remaining structures of its kind in the capital, and houses one of Hanoi’s most inimitable cafes.
Walking up the stairs and into Maison Vie is like entering a neo-classical alternate universe. It almost feels like entering a restaurant onboard the Titanic, with the style appearing in clear contrast to the white colonial walls and green palms of other French eateries in the capital.
All recreational use of laughing gas is now illegal in Hanoi following a decision from the city’s administration.
Within Vietnam’s tallest hotel, you’ll also find one of the capital’s most mouthwatering steakhouses – a restaurant known as much for its lavish beef as for the adventurous four-stage journey guests can enjoy when visiting.
While approaching Hai Phong, a major city on Vietnam’s northeast coast, it is impossible to miss signs of the country’s fast-growing economic might. GDP growth hit just over 7% in 2018, and foreign investors are swarming: Samsung alone has invested nearly US$20 billion here. A high-speed expressway now connects Hai Phong to Hanoi, the capital, and will eventually extend to the Chinese border farther north.
Tet in Vietnam offers a unique opportunity to engage in timeworn traditions. British International School Hanoi (BIS Hanoi) paid homage to the Year of the Pig with a lively assembly which included a plethora of student performances on the legend of Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ and theatrical lion dances.
Being alive today means seeing such an abundance of photos that they can become meaningless, yet these shots of Hanoi’s Old Quarter invoke a feeling that’s hard to define.
The translucent balls one would normally identify as caviar held a secret.
![[Photos] An Eerie Tokyo in the 1970s by Canadian Photographer Greg Girard](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/June/13/girard/90903s.jpg "[Photos] An Eerie Tokyo in the 1970s by Canadian Photographer Greg Girard")
![[Video] A Serene Glance of Ninh Binh](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/June/6/NinhBinhQuietude_SGRs.jpg "[Video] A Serene Glance of Ninh Binh")
![[Photos] Blending in With Nature at a Rustic My Tho Coffee Shop](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/May/22/cafe1/cafe4s.jpg "[Photos] Blending in With Nature at a Rustic My Tho Coffee Shop")
![[Photos] The Mekong Delta on the Brink of a New Decade](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/May/27/TienGiang/1970Vietnam_Stewart_SGRs.jpg "[Photos] The Mekong Delta on the Brink of a New Decade")
![[Photos] The Hustle and Bustle of Maritime Life in 1995 Quang Ninh](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/June/5/quangninh/QuangNinh0s.jpg "[Photos] The Hustle and Bustle of Maritime Life in 1995 Quang Ninh")
![[Photos] On Hanoi’s Streets in 1979: Trams, Bicycles, Buffaloes and Peace](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/urbanisthanoi/article-images/2019/05/1979Hanoi/1970sgr-2s.jpg "[Photos] On Hanoi’s Streets in 1979: Trams, Bicycles, Buffaloes and Peace")
![[Photos] Take a Ride on Da Lat's Lost Railway](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/h0kRZa2s.jpg "[Photos] Take a Ride on Da Lat's Lost Railway")
![[Photos] The Small-Town Placidity of Hue in 1966](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Mar/25/hue-0s.jpg "[Photos] The Small-Town Placidity of Hue in 1966")
ASEAN Countries Confirm Bid to Co-Host FIFA World Cup 2034
On June 22, a meeting between representatives of ten ASEAN countries was held to discuss the prospect of co-hosting the FIFA World Cup.
![[Photos] This Delta Brick House Eases Modernity Into Tradition](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/June/21/house/house3l.jpg)
Vietnam Officials Find No Competition Violations in Grab-Uber Deal
Vietnam's Competition Council (VCC) has ruled that Grab broke no competition laws when it acquired Uber.
The Discomforting Poetry of Vietnamese Cursed Image
The page description of Vietnamese Cursed Image (VCI) has a single line: “how did you get here?” — a question I find mys...
![[Photos] The People of 1880s Indochina Captured in a Series of Striking Portraits](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/IMtXbHvs.jpg)
[Photos] The People of 1880s Indochina Captured in a Series of Striking Portraits
When French photographers Hippolyte Arnoux and Émile Gssel traveled to Indochina in 1880, they documented not only its la...
Ngõ Nooks: Hearty Banh Mi From a New-Fashioned Hanoi Co-Operative
Hop Tac Xa Thit Xien is more than just a bánh mì eatery – it’s a place to rekindle your childhood nostalgia and absorb the...
Experts Warn Against Building Hydropower Plants On Red River
Lao Cai Province authorities have proposed building two hydropower plants on the Red River.
How Vietnam's Robusta Farms Could Transform Into Vital Carbon Sinks
Coffee is one of Vietnam’s most important agricultural products, a crop that grows so well in the country’s Central High...
Upcoming Events
Today
20:00
The Wednesday Night Pub Quiz @ The Snug
20:00
Unplugged @ The Click
21:00
Dj & hiphop night @ Solist Pub
21:00
OPEN MIC at HRC (#EveryWednesday) @ Hanoi Rock City
Tomorrow
18:00
Weekly Meditation Healing Class @ Zenith Yoga Au Co
21:00
Disco 2000 with DJ Richie Lionel @ Solist Pub
21:30
HRC Thursday Disclosure @ Hanoi Rock City
Soon
28/06
Friday Flex with DJ Spectrum @ 7Fridays Westlake Hostel
28/06
Art Exhibition - Sergiu Moise @ Urban Gentry
28/06
Friday Night Live - On Ni /James Moore w/ Fat_Benn / David Fryer @ Urban Gentry
28/06
Friday Rooftop Party: TrinhNu @ Kobala Bar Restaurant Rooftop
28/06
Casey Anderson-live (Typhoon 8, HK) & Barke @ Savage
29/06
Hanoi Dance Fest: FeMale / Vòng lặp / Đa chiều @ Youth Theatre
29/06
Afro House and Dancehall @ Docker Natura Pub
29/06
Wet // Drag Night // Drag Me By The Decade @ The Sidewalk Hanoi - Bar & Grill
Full Events Calendar
Arts & Culture
The Discomforting Poetry of Vietnamese Cursed Image
The page description of Vietnamese Cursed Image (VCI) has a single line: “how did you get here?” — a question I find myself asking often.
Q&A: In Conversation With 'The Future Cries Beneath Our Soil' Director Pham Thu Hang
Do communities inherit the sorrows of war? Is trauma re-experienced by the sons and daughters of those who suffered? How does life prevail a...
[Photos] Capturing the Unexpected Amid Vietnam’s Mountainous Landscapes
![[Photos] Capturing the Unexpected Amid Vietnam’s Mountainous Landscapes](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/urbanisthanoi/article-images/2019/06/news/77s.jpg)
The Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, a smiling lady in a conical hat: human nature practically guarantees that even the most iconic image will e...
Eat & Drink
Da Nang Just Made Vietnam's Biggest Bánh Xèo, Feeding 200 People
The world has never stopped obsessing over giant food, and Vietnam is no exception.
Ngõ Nooks: Come for the Coffee, Stay for the Aesthetic
Apparently, the owners of Chon want people to find their café. However, you wouldn’t assume as much when attempting to navigate the narrow, ...
Ngõ Nooks: Hearty Banh Mi From a New-Fashioned Hanoi Co-Operative
Hop Tac Xa Thit Xien is more than just a bánh mì eatery – it’s a place to rekindle your childhood nostalgia and absorb the style of the street...
Partner Content
Breakfast — Anywhere, Anytime — Yoga and a Beach View: A Stay at Fusion Suites Da Nang
Thanks to its clean, expansive beachfront, variety of entertainment options, robust nightlife and proximity to cultural sights such as Hoi A...
A Historic Venue Allows for an Exploration of Saigon’s Sizzling Music, Art and Fashion Scenes
“Just experiment with your eyes and your ears,” Headless clothing brand founder Quang Minh answered when asked to describe Saigon’s art scenes...
For Chef Thierry Pannier, Fine French Cuisine is a Tale of Tradition
For head chef Thierry Pannier, a dish at Maison Vie isn’t just a meal to be consumed, but a story to be told. As we sit down to roasted pigeon...
The Future of Saigon’s Housing on Display at De La Sol
Architectural design inspired by a piano, guitar and chimes
Vietnamese consumers have fallen in love with the concept of shared economies, as...
Stories
Hanoi Metro Drivers Undergo Training in Beijing
Over the last year, drivers who will work on Hanoi's upcoming Cat Linh–Ha Dong metro line have trained for the job in Beijing.
How a Vietnamese Fishing Boat Saved 22 Filipino Victims From a Shipwreck
The group of Vietnamese fishermen includes ten people working on a fishing boat belonging to Tien Giang resident Ngo Van Theng.
ASEAN Countries Confirm Bid to Co-Host FIFA World Cup 2034
On June 22, a meeting between representatives of ten ASEAN countries was held to discuss the prospect of co-hosting the FIFA World Cup.
Old Hanoi
[Photos] On the Cusp of a Tourism Boom, a Pristine Sapa of the 1920s
![[Photos] On the Cusp of a Tourism Boom, a Pristine Sapa of the 1920s](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/Apr/22/sapa-laocai/Sapa0s.jpg)
During the last decade of the 19 th century, French colonists occupying northern Vietnam (then Tonkin) decided to conduct a census survey on t...
[Photos] The People of 1880s Indochina Captured in a Series of Striking Portraits
When French photographers Hippolyte Arnoux and Émile Gssel traveled to Indochina in 1880, they documented not only its landscapes , but a...
[Photos] Saunter Across Hanoi's Old Quarter Streets in 1896
![[Photos] Saunter Across Hanoi's Old Quarter Streets in 1896](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/urbanisthanoi/article-images/2019/05/1986hanoi/8s.jpg)
Being alive today means seeing such an abundance of photos that they can become meaningless, yet these shots of Hanoi’s Old Quarter invoke a...
Society
[Photos] This Delta Brick House Eases Modernity Into Tradition
![[Photos] This Delta Brick House Eases Modernity Into Tradition](http://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/2019/June/21/house/house3s.jpg)
The high nail gets the hammer, so this new home in Tra Vinh aims to blend in with the traditional homes surrounding it.
Vietnam Has a New Homegrown Social Media App. It's Called 'Hahalolo.'
The homegrown app promises to bring new experiences to the community of traveling enthusiasts.
Da Nang to Get 2 New Centers for Transplant, Stem Cell Therapy, Neurosurgery
The two centers are going to be located inside the Da Nang Hospital compound.
