Thanks to our friends at the Japanese-language magazine, Sketch, we have come up with a list of what we believe to be the top 10 Japanese restaurants in town. With so much competition in this city, and well over 200 eateries proclaiming to sell dishes with some sort of Japanese influence, Saigon is a gold mine for anyone who enjoys eating cuisine from the Land of the Rising Sun. In fact, so good is our experience of the cuisine in this country, that when various members of our team have tried sushi, sashimi, ramen and all sorts of other Japanese fare in Europe or North America, they've come away disappointed. So, here goes. Time to get the saliva running and the juices flowing.
Of all the countries celebrating four decades of diplomatic ties with Vietnam this year, Japan may be the most significant. Derek Milroy probes further
into the reasons why Japan is so keen to have Vietnam as a staunch ally and vice versa
This month, Harry Hodge heads to District 2 and finds that, amid the palm trees and villas of Thao Dien, you can still test the limits of fitness in a number of different ways. Photos by Kyle Phanroy and Francis Xavier
Forget eating McDonald’s three meals a day for a month. Seamus Butler agreed to do the opposite and dosed up on a diet of Ben Style food for weightlifters and two weeks’ worth of daily workouts at the Sofitel Gym. Here’s what happened. Photos by Francis Xavier
Based in Vinh Long, Viet Artisans produce beautiful, hand-crafted products that reflect the country’s heritage. The project also provides work and support for women from disadvantaged families. Words by Tess Somerville, photos by Mads Monsen
After one false start, former advertising executive Quynh Anh’s flower arranging business, Padma de Fleur, is starting to blossom. Words by Karen Hewell, photos by Kyle Phanroy and Mads Monsen
Tokyo-based boogie boy Beaten Space Probe has opened for big name DJs like Greg Wilson, Dicky Trisco, and Craig Smith, piloted his own BSP digital imprint and taken the disco-deviance world by storm. On Jun 22, Sound Adventures gets Saigon’s hips swinging to his throwback beats at Vasco’s (74/7D Hai Ba Trung, Q1). Word caught up with the man behind the music before the big night.
Former Arsenal Invincible Freddie Ljungberg was in Ho Chi Minh City in early June to promote the Gunners’ clash with the Vietnam national team next month in Hanoi.
An all-night rave in Vietnam finishing at sunset? Are you sure? Nick Ross meets the team behind Chasing the Sun, the first party to break the mould. Photos provided by Daniel Le
Award-winning actress Porter Lynn made the world take notice last year with her ground-breaking debut performance as nail salon girl Tam in the cult hit Touch. Derek Milroy caught up with her on her latest trip to Vietnam. Photo by Alexandre Garel