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Development
Between Thủ Thiêm's ambitious new skyscrapers, the planned transformation of Thanh Đa Peninsula and a LEED-standard apartment complex that looks like Marina Bay Sands , Saigon's skyline seems to change every other day.
![[Photos] Saigoneer Getaways: Laos' 50 Shades of Green](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/tMf9yBwb.jpg)
Travel
The first thing you notice when you arrive in Laos is the green: it’s everywhere. It’s not the buildings that catch your eye but the landscapes: untouched wilderness, valleys, trees, fields, all of it subtle shades of green.
Society
The gate to Masjid Niamatul Islamiyah does its best to hide the shaded, green garden behind it from street view. On the outside, you’re more likely to notice the motorbike repair shop next door spilling out onto the sidewalk than the high, faded gray-green metal gate in the background. Peek over the fence and the courtyard doesn’t seem like anything special, either, until you begin to notice the pastel-hued headstones floating between plants at the back of the complex and the green-and-white lettering above its modest prayer hall on the left.
Vietnam
There is an automotive epidemic in Vietnam as domestic sales of motorbikes and cars have increased 8% and 31%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
![[Photos] Exploring Saigon’s Sun-Deprived Hẻms](https://media.urbanistnetwork.com/saigoneer/article-images/legacy/xsQr7G9b.jpg)
Culture
Saigon is full of interesting, undiscovered places. While many people have explored the alleys in their own neighborhoods, few are willing to brave the narrow, crumbling side roads that look a little darker. The dimmer alleys perhaps pose a certain risk, but if you muster your courage and take a stroll down some of the more forbidding-looking hẻm s in the city, these hidden places can show you a whole different side to Saigon.
Saigon
While cars seem to be taking over the streets these days, Saigon is without a doubt a city of motorbikes...and it's getting out of hand.
Saigon
In the last few months, Saigon's traffic has gone from bad to worse. These days, you might as well stay put when 5pm hits, as congestion on the city streets has become near unbearable. But while local officials acknowledge the problem – and are trying to help by trimming sidewalks and redefining the term ' traffic jam ' – Saigon's traffic monster continues to grow.
