Xuân Phương in Hanoi
Every Bánh Chưng Season, Vietnam’s Lá Dong Capital Comes Alive With Harvest Frenzy
On the patches of sandy soil by the river in Kim An Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, there’s a tiny village named Tràng Cát, where dong leaves have been embedded in local history, memory, and economy for centuries. Right in local courtyard, these broad green leaves were transformed into bánh chưng, ready for Tết feasts across the country.
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
Loneliness Too Waits for the Bus
We are all in this, but not together.
Thoughts I've Had While Stranded in Murky Floodwater on Saigon's High-Tide Days
I’m willing to forgive nearly everything about Saigon. It’s a sign of a sustainable relationship, as I still wish to coexist in peace with this city. To me, Saigon’s midday, even when the searing sun flares the strongest, is when the trees are the most glorious. The sudden bouts of torrential rain are indeed a nuisance, but I tell myself that at least the streets can get a wash after a dusty day. But there’s one thing that never goes away and that I can never write off; something I can’t, for the life of me, find reasons to romanticize or defend. Those are the infuriating floods that submerge Saigon streets every time the tide is high.
Saigon Sees a 10-Year Low of 18°C. What Are the City’s Highest and Lowest Temperatures?
This January, Saigoneers have been enjoying an unusually pleasant stretch of weather, with daytime temperatures hovering around the mid-20s and dipping to 18–20°C late at night and in the early morning.
Vietnam Bans Unskippable Ads, Requires Skip Button to Appear After 5 Seconds
If things go our way, YouTube’s notorious unskippable ads might be a thing of the past come this February.
Grindr Year-End Report Names Vietnam as Country With Biggest Top Shortage
Ever since Spotify launched its first global Wrapped function a few years ago, December has turned into an exciting season of stats-driven year-end reviews. “Wrapping” is now a tradition embraced by numerous apps, such as Strava, Duolingo, YouTube, Reddit, and of course, Grindr.
When Donations Are All Womenswear, Men in Flood Zones Turn Necessity Into Fashion
Vietnam’s South-Central Coast region is going through an especially grueling time of the year as both the local people and authorities have to deal with the aftermath of historic rainfall and flooding. Still, amid the mourning and strenuous rebuilding efforts, moments of levity shine through — a testament to the resilience, optimism, and incredible humor of the Vietnamese people in the face of hardships.
Đắk Lắk, Khánh Hòa Are Next Victims of 2025's Historic Flooding. Here's How to Help.
After nearly a week of constant downpour, many provinces of Vietnam’s Central Highlands and South-Central Coast regions have suffered severe flooding and landslides, causing catastrophic damage to local infrastructure, economic activities, and deaths. This has been yet another month of loss and destruction for Vietnam in 2025, which is shaping up to be the most devastating year in recent history due to consecutive powerful typhoons and atypically high rainfall.
HCMC Archbishop Impersonated by Scammers in Notre Dame Donation Fraud
The archdiocese at the Notre Dame Cathedral emphasizes that there is only one official call for donation to the cathedral’s renovation fund made by Father Bui Van Doc.
Morning Links Roundup: Binh Duong Cooperates With Japan Firm to Build Smart City
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Remains of 17 fallen Vietnamese soldiers found in Laos [DTI] ▪ Vietnam provi...
Saigon Starts Seeking Investors for Metro Line 5
While Saigon’s first metro line is still very much under construction, municipal authorities are hoping to get the ball rolling on the city’s Metro Line 5.
Morning Links Roundup: Retail Sales, Services Revenue Sees Year-on-Year Rise of 11.05%
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Mobile Wallets And Tech-Savvy Youth Driving E-Commerce Growth In Vietnam [Forbes] ...
Vietnam Ranks 87th Out of 119 in Talent Attraction: Index
Vietnam leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to treatment of talent, a report shows.
It's Official: Uber Sells Southeast Asia Operations to Grab
Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will also be joining Grab’s board of directors.
Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam, South Korea Agree to Do $100bn in Bilateral Trade by 2020
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ City needs to VND 10 bln to build three new bus stations [SGGP] ▪ Vietnam, S...
Google Japan Debuts Adorable Dog Version of Street View as Tribute to Hachiko
It was only a matter of time before dog lovers in the town of Odate, Japan strapped a live feed to the lead harnesses of their Akitas.
D8 Apartment Fire, Saigon's Worst in 15 Years, Kills 13, Injures 28
Last night while most Saigoneers were sound asleep, a fire broke out in a high-rise apartment complex in District 8.
Morning Links Roundup: Vietnam’s Business Environment Changing for the Better
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Emirates Airlines launches cheap flights from Vietnam to int’l destinations [SGGP]...
Morning Links Roundup: Asia a Key Battle Ground in Fight Against Killer Air Pollution
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ HCMC plans to build logistic centers [SGGP] ▪ Asia a key battleground in fig...
Japanese Companies Irate About Lengthy Import Times and Over-Sampling of Seafood
The importers claim their profits are harmed by unnecessary food inspections.
Facebook Appoints Le Diep Kieu Trang as National Director for Vietnam
The new director for Vietnam will be working at Facebook’s Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore.
Morning Links Roundup: Traffic Accidents in HCMC Increase in Jan-Feb
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ HCM City police nab major drug trafficking ring [SGGP] ▪ Traffic accidents i...
VinGroup Taps Cornell University as Partner in VinUni Project in Hanoi
In order to build the VinUni project from scratch, VinGroup has enlisted the help of American Ivy League college Cornell University.
Morning Links Roundup: Vietnam’s Growth in 1st Quarter Forecast to Hit 6.23%
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnam trying ex-Politburo member over oil giant’s losses [Washington Post] ▪&nb...
In the Mekong Delta, Excessive Sand Mining Is Destroying Local Homes
The sand dredged from the Mekong Delta is mostly used as materials for construction in Saigon and other southern provinces.
Weekend News Roundup: HCMC May Fall Short on Old Apartment Restoration Target
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. ▪ Vietnamese surgeons succeed in lung transplant from brain dead donor [SGGP] ▪&nbs...
Paul Christiansen in Asia
Celebrity Endorsements Might Be the Key to Combating Poaching in Asia, Campaign Shows
International conservation organization WildAid is teaming up with the world’s largest outdoor advertising company, JCDecaux, to help save some of the planet’s most endangered species.
Vietnam, UN Collaborate to Build Storm-Proof Houses in Coastal Provinces
300 free houses are expected to be built by the end of this year.
