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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

- More than 1 millions blood units collected in HCMC in 2018. [SGGP]

- HCMC welcomes first visitors in 2019. [SGGP]

Vietnam

- Vietnam Promises Big Privatization Push For 2019, But Reality May Fall Short. [Forbes]

- Vietnam opens new international airport 50km from Halong Bay. [Inquirer]

- Vietnam braces for first tropical storm of 2019. [VnExpress]

- Nine Vietnamese victims of Egypt bomb attack return home. [VnExpress]

- 81 die in road accidents during last three days of 2018 in Vietnam. [Tuoi Tre]

Other

- Elections in Southeast Asia signal uncertain future for democracy. [Nikkei Asian Review]

- Southeast Asia 'smart cities' redesign roads and grids with Japan. [Nikkei Asian Review]

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