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Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them into short, accessible links so you can easily keep up with current affairs.

Saigon

- HCMC cracks down on illegal sand exploitation. [VietnamNet]

- The Sense Market under the 23/9 Park is going to be shut down as the authorities plan to reorganise the park. [Dan Tri]

Vietnam

- CNN has announced its list of top five up-and-coming Asia-Pacific destinations to visit this fall, including Phu Quoc Island. [VietnamNet]

- Vinh police seized 1,500 ecstasy pills on September 11 as part of a major drug bust. [VOV]

- Vietnam scored the fastest growth in tourist arrivals in SEA last year, receiving some 2.9 million international visitors. [Dan Tri]

- CAAV has reported a deterioration in the on-time performance of several airlines in a recent report. [VnExpress]

- Northern, central Vietnam brace for an impending storm that hits this Friday. [VnExpress]

Other

- Chinese authorities have drafted sweeping new regulations that would severely restrict religious content online. [Straits Times]

- Nagoya was voted the least appealing city in Japan by Japanese nationals. [Asian Correspondent]

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