From a small village populated with adobe houses to one of the wealthiest areas in Hanoi, all in 25 years. Jesse Meadows tracks the rise of Tay Ho

Specialising in all things past, the future of Saigon’s self-styled Antiques Street looks bleak. Words by Matt Cowan. Photos by Bao Zoan

The development in Saigon is not just eating up green land and turning it into high-rises, it’s also annihilating the city’s history. Words by Matthew Cowan. Photos by Bao Zoan

From sleepy backwater to one of the most innovative and creative areas in Saigon, Thao Dien is in lift-off mode. Nick Ross crosses the Saigon Bridge to investigate a village-like enclave with its sights firmly set on the future. Photos by Bao Zoan and Vu Ha Kim Vy

Like so many other businesses in Hanoi, Tan My is one of those that is all about the family. In this instance, three generations of family. Words by Edward Dalton. Photos by Theo Lowenstein

The night market under Long Bien Bridge is more than just a market, it’s a way of life. Words and photos by Jesse Meadows

From a canal to the first pedestrian-only street in Saigon, Nguyen Hue has become a phenomenon since it was opened last year. Words by Vu Ha Kim Vy. Photos by Bao Zoan

Vietnam’s urban expansion hasn’t always gone to plan and some areas, particularly on the outskirts of Hanoi, remain uncompleted and unoccupied. They’re not ghost towns, but they might as well be. Photos by Julie Vola. Words by Jesse Meadows

You’re wealthy, you live in Vietnam and you’ve got money to invest. So what do you do with it? With so many restrictions on taking money out of this country, your options are limited; gold, the stock market, business (the popular option these days is F&B) and real estate. While the expansion of the new suburbs is focused on creating new housing for a modern Vietnam and on relieving the pressures of high urban population density, there’s another motive at work — investing in real estate.

Living with HIV also means living with a stigma. Pham Thi Hue has gone out of her way to change attitudes towards the 250,000 people who have been infected in Vietnam. Words by Eduardo Culbeaux