ASEAN Welcomes East Timor, Asia's Youngest Nation, as 11th Member
Time for infographic artists and geography teachers in the region to update their work on ASEAN.
Into the Infernal Heat of One of Saigon's Last Remaining Forges
It's no exaggeration to say that working in a forge is akin to being in a fiery sauna.
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
The Origin of the Strange Lights You See Before Landing in Saigon
What are those astonishingly bright lights seen from an airplane window when approaching Saigon at night? I’ve had visitors ask me this on the drive home from the airport, and the question appears on Reddit every few months. I remember being befuddled myself the first time I witnessed the patchwork radiance.
My Mom’s Care Packages Remind Me That Home Can Fit Inside a Box of Food
“What do you guys crave? I’ll send some.”
New 12,000-Year-Old Skeleton Breaks Record of Oldest Human Remains Found in Vietnam
After analysis, scientists believe that a 12,000-year-old set of human remains found in Ninh Bình belonged to a prehistoric man who died from infection after being struck by a quartz-tipped projectile.
As Saigon Moves Forward, Xích Lô Lag Behind as Nostalgic Remnants of a Past Era
Among Bùi Viện's assortment of xe ôm drivers and street food vendors, Bible-toting religious enthusiasts and other colorful personalities, 66-year-old Nghĩa stands out for his kind eyes and walrus-like mustache.
Khôi Phạm in Vietnam
Wipha, Yagi and Luc-Binh: How Are Tropical Storms Named in the Pacific Region?
Wipha was the latest typhoon to batter Vietnam this year, sweeping through northern provinces like Hưng Yên, Ninh Bình, Nghệ An, and Thanh Hóa and causing dangerous floods. It was 2025’s third and probably will not be the last that Vietnam will have to endure this year.
Paul Christiansen in Saigon
The Simple Pleasures of Having Your Hair Washed at the Hairdresser’s
I get my face shaved by sidewalk barbers; stop at every roving laminator I pass to have ticket stubs, photos, and doodles ...
[Video] 44 Dead, 500 Injured In Massive Explosion At Chinese Port
A series of explosions ripped though a port facility Tianjin late Wednesday night, killing 44 and injuring 500.
Morning News Roundup: Foreign Retailers Drive The Rise Of Convenience Stores In Vietnam
Vietnam Widens Dong’s Trading Band After China Devalues Yuan [Bloomberg] Dozens of houses owned by disgraced Vinashin official seized [DTI News] PM welcomes US Supreme Court Justice [...
[Video] Coffee Shop Owner, Seeking “Cool” Ride Drives Taxi Into Hanoi River
Last Friday afternoon, a Hanoi taxi driver parked his car to buy a drink at a roadside stall. A few minutes later, he found his vehicle submerged in a nearby river after the stall’s owner “borrowed” i...
7,200 Saigonese Share The Same ID Card Numbers
Due to mistakes by local police departments, as many as 7,200 Saigon residents have identical identity card numbers, making it hard for them to get passports, bank accounts and tax codes.
Morning News Roundup: Baggage Truck Tears Off Aircraft Wing After Collision At Vietnam Airport
US Navy Ships to Move to Vietnam for Asia’s Largest Annual Humanitarian Mission [The Diplomat] HCM City Procuracy apologises for wrongful convictions [Vietnam News] Bangladesh, Viet Nam to boos...
North Korea To Set Clocks Back 30 Minutes To Create Its Own Time Zone
On August 15, all the clocks in North Korea will be turned back 30 minutes, signaling the creation of “Pyongyang Time.”
[Photos] 3 Rare White Tiger Cubs Born at Saigon Zoo
Last month, two rare Bengal white tigers at the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens became the proud parents of three healthy cubs.
Morning News Roundup: Cable Car System To Be Built In Phu Quoc
Third suspect in massacre of six people in Vietnam arrested, one month on [Tuoi Tre] Cable car system to be built in Phu Quoc [SGGP] VN hospitals need to reduce error rate [Vietnam News]
Police Fine Women Who Scheduled Nguyen Hue Street Fight
The two women responsible for drawing hundreds of spectators to a Nguyen Hue street fight last Monday have been fined VND750,000 each.
[Video] Much Of Bangkok Could Be Underwater In 15 Years: Report
A recent study conducted by the Thai government found that large swaths of the city could be underwater in 15 years. While climate change and rising sea levels are the main actors in the tragedy,...
[Video] Saigon Unleashes Rollerblade Security Force on Nguyen Hue Promenade
The security guards patrolling the Nguyen Hue pedestrian promenade just got an interesting addition to their green uniforms – rollerblades.
Weekend News Roundup: Young Vietnamese Prefer Facebook Chat To Going Out With Friends
Young Vietnamese prefer Facebook chat to going out with friends [DTI] Viet Nam thanks ODA for making the nation richer [Vietnam News] Viet kieu receive car tax break [Vietnam News]
Vietnam And EU Sign Off On Sweeping Free Trade Agreement
Days after concluding Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, Vietnam and the EU have signed off on a sweeping free trade agreement that has been two and a half years in the making.
[Photos] Plans To Build Vietnam’s Largest Museum Draw Criticism
Plans to build the biggest (and perhaps most expensive) museum in Vietnam have come under fire for its exorbitant costs.
Morning News Roundup: Children’s Opinions To Be Taken Into Account In Policy Design
Seminar highlights copyright and related rights [VOV] Danang issues tourism code of conduct [DTI] Children’s opinions to be taken into account in policy design [VOV]
Plan For US$66m Ho Chi Minh Statue In Son La Sparks Debate
Son La’s proposal to build a massive VND1,400 billion (US$66 million) Ho Chi Minh statue has put provincial authorities in the spotlight and caught the gaze of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung who has r...
Morning News Roundup: New Rule Allows Vietnam's Top Leaders To Have Any Car They Want After Retirement
New rule allows Vietnam's top leaders to have any car they want after retirement [Thanh Nien] Beach town blacklists seafood restaurant after rip-off complaint [Thanh Nien] Poultry, livestock industr...
[Video] Nguyen Hue Promenade Descends Into Chaos As Scheduled Street Fight Draws Hundreds
When city officials said they were looking for ways to enliven the Nguyen Hue pedestrian promenade, I don’t think this is what they had in mind.
Don’t Panic: The Phu My Bridge Is Not Falling Apart
A picture on Facebook showing a one-meter crack in Saigon’s largest cable-stayed Bridge has raised safety concerns among local residents even as city authorities say not to worry.
Uber To Accept Cash In Vietnam, May Expand To Da Nang, Nha Trang
After a year of bumpy roads for Uber in Vietnam, the international taxi service seems to have righted the ship and is planning to expand to new Vietnamese markets in addition to offering a cash paymen...
