35mm – Film photography makes a comeback

WHILE IN DECLINE in most parts of the world since the 90s, film photography is going through something of a revival in Saigon. Film is still inexpensive and relatively easy to come by for those who know where to look, and developing a standard roll of 36 exposures can set you back as little as … Read more

Into the wild

A trip back to nature at Cat Tien National Park  Vietnam’s gotten a lot of flack in recent years, as complaints are being volleyed by disgruntled tourists. Lousy service, congested roads, botched itineraries and cut-throat vendors and scammers are just some of the reasons there’s now less than five percent visitor return rate here. However, … Read more

Escape the city along the Saigon River

Slow boat rides along rivers and canals may well be one of the last leisurely modes of transportation. Beyond the inviting languid afternoons that pass by at 5mph, this millennia-old form of cruising along the Saigon River guarantees a taste of the local culture – and an up-close view of gorgeous meandering landscapes studded with villas, bamboo … Read more

Holy water

A marriage of the sacred and urbane at Saigon’s latest restobar Entering Shrine (64 Ton That Thiep, D1) is like walking into a neon Khmer temple, but one that serves cocktails and food. Soft, reverent lighting swims over walls of lava stone while primordial ferns rest in their volcanic potted houses and black-garbed staff brush … Read more

Dining Among History

Fabulous cuisine supported by superb delivery, sultry sounds and a landmark view. Review your day and those ahead at Reflections. In a city that changes its clothes as frequently as Ho Chi Minh City, it’s refreshing to know that there are still rare places that maintain a vestige of the Saigon of times long past, where there still lingers a touch … Read more