Details: Published on 09 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Brandon Coleman.

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.

Vietnamese reporter arrested for extorting businesses in Mekong Delta [Tuoi Tre]

14 officials go on trial over land dispute [SGGP]

New Draft Regulation Would Require All Hanoi Taxis to Have Same Color Scheme

Details: Published on 08 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Hanoi authorities are working on a draft regulation that will significantly impact how the capital’s taxi firms operate in the next few years.

Art Photographer Explores Vietnam's Spirituality Through Muted Conversations

Details: Published on 08 August 2017; Written by Dorothy Lutz. Photos courtesy of Vu Tien Dat.

In his latest exhibition, Muted Conversations, Vu Tien Dat invites his audience to explore the unspoken in Vietnam’s spirituality and superstitions.

Vietnam Has Both the Highest and Fastest-Growing Rate of Diabetes in Southeast Asia: Expert

Details: Published on 08 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Professor Thai Hong Quang, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology (VADE), recently reported that diabetes is affecting roughly 5 million Vietnamese people.

[Photos] Photographer Showcases Hong Kong's Hidden Corners From Above

Details: Published on 08 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Tugo Cheng, a Hong Kong-based architect and photographer, uses drone photography to give viewers a completely different perspective on the famously dense, high-rise packed city.

Vietnamese Cineplex Galaxy Cinema Looking to Exit Movie Market

Details: Published on 08 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Vietnam’s movie fans will be disappointed to find out that one of their favorite cinema chains is leaving the market.

Morning News Roundup: VietJet Named Asia’s Best Employer Brand

Details: Published on 08 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Brandon Coleman.

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.

Vietjet named Asia’s Best Employer Brand [SGGP]

Hanoi eyes standard color scheme for taxis [Tuoi Tre]

Are Electric Cars Coming to Vietnam?

Details: Published on 07 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

As urban Vietnam makes a push toward cars and away from motorbikes, could electric vehicles be on the horizon?

129-Year-Old Nam Dinh Church Destroyed by Fire

Details: Published on 07 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

On Saturday night, a 129-year-old church in Nam Dinh province caught fire, damaging one of Vietnam’s oldest religious structures.

A Sneak Peek Inside Saigon's First Metro Tunnel

Details: Published on 07 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

Deep below District 1, Saigon's first metro line is taking shape out of public view.

Vietnam to Run out of Construction Sand by 2020: Official

Details: Published on 07 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

As Vietnamese cities continue to experience a construction boom, government officials predict the country may run out of construction sand by 2020.

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Forecasts Record Foreign Investment of $16bn

Details: Published on 07 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Brandon Coleman.

Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.

Vietnam forecasts record foreign investment of $16b [Deal Street Asia]

Visa-free travel between Vietnam and Chile [VietnamNet]

Between 2 Worlds: The Dilemma of Vietnam's Foreign-Educated Grads

Details: Published on 06 August 2017; Written by Van-Quang Tuong. Illustration by Andy Tran.

Every six months, Thuy* leaves Vietnam for Sydney to spend time with her two children, Ha* and Quang*. Far from the bustle of Saigon, Thuy enjoys Australia’s pristine environment and the time spent with her children, though she finds life there can grow monotonous.

A Brief History of Curry in Vietnam

Details: Published on 06 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Brandon Coleman.

It is well documented that southern Vietnam’s cuisine has been influenced by the French, but it is also undeniable that the fare has been influenced by another of France’s former colonial hubs: the port city of Pondicherry, India.

Tropical Depression Causes Devastating Flash Flooding, Landslides in Son La, Yen Bai

Details: Published on 04 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

As Vietnam’s rainy season reaches its peak, a recent tropical depression battered the country’s northern provinces, devastating local infrastructure and villages.

According to Tuoi Tre, heavy downpours blasted Yen Bai and Son La provinces early in the morning of August 3, leading to flash floods and landslides. Yen Bai-based Mu Cang Chai town was one of the hardest-hit areas: the flooding killed two, injured eight and left 13 others missing.

Rescue efforts taking place in Son La province.

“This is a historic flood in Mu Cang Chai. Nobody could predict that a seemingly safe location such as the town center can suffer from such a devastating flood,” Vice Chairman of the Yen Bai People’s Committee Nguyen Van Khanh told the newspaper.

Khanh added that apart from the above-mentioned fatalities, the calamity has wiped out most of the small town’s public facilities, including a kindergarten, a middle school, a high school and a training center.

Moreover, 32 private homes were destroyed while 15 others were either flooded or severely damaged. The damage is estimated to worth around VND150 billion (US$6.6 million).

Flash floods destroyed Mu Cang Chai's terraced paddy fields.

Thanh Nien reports that by the afternoon of August 3, local authorities had enlisted around 1,000 personnel to participate in rescue efforts in the affected provinces, 400-500 of which are currently focusing on Mu Cang Chai.

In Son La province, the damage is also severe, as landslides washed away many private houses as well as medical clinics and schools.

Zing quoted a representative from the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting as saying that the torrential rain was caused by both a tropical depression and a low pressure area that enveloped northern provinces. It’s likely that the area will experience more rain until August 6.

Many public buildings were affected by landslides.

[Photos via Zing]

- Warming Seas Have Increased Asian Typhoon Intensity by 50%: Study

- Asia Suffered $83bn in Damage from Disasters Last Year

- Poverty Grows in Vietnam After String of Environmental Disasters

Hẻm Gems: Praise Be to Cheap, Tender, Delicious Chicken by the Mosque

Details: Published on 04 August 2017; Written by Michael Tatarski. Photos by Brandon Coleman.

Thanks to central Saigon's blistering pace of development and the short-lived sidewalk-clearing campaign of 2017's early months, the downtown area can be something of a street food desert.

China Wows Netizens With Panda-Shaped Solar Panel Farm

Details: Published on 03 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

After Kung Fu Panda, China's national animal is sweeping netizens off their feet again - this time as a pioneer in the country’s renewable energy industry.

Saigon Ramps Up Anti-Flooding Effort With Flood-Control Reservoir in Thu Duc

Details: Published on 03 August 2017; Written by Saigoneer.

In yet another attempt to alleviate Saigon’s flood problems, municipal authorities are expediting construction of a flood reservoir in Thu Duc District.