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.
After Years in Limbo, Saigon's Metro Line 2 Is Officially Breaking Ground in Jan 2026
After years under development limbo, Saigon’s Metro Line 2 has finally gotten an official date for breaking ground, but will this timeline stick?
Outlaw Ostrich Arrested in Bình Dương for Disrupting Public Order
In case you need a pick-me-up on this dreary rainy Friday, here’s a dose of “độc lạ Bình Dương” quackery.
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...
Cambodian Police to Keep 70% of Traffic Fines Under New Regulation
Starting next year, a new traffic law will be implemented in Cambodia that not only raises penalties five-fold, but also allows police to keep 70% of the fines they dole out.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Completes TPP Negotiations With All Parties
Vietnam Airlines’ first 787-9 arrives in Hanoi [Flight Global] Massive imports of Chinese trucks raise concerns [Vietnam Net] Educators say national-exam failure rate shows better discipline, l...
Saigon Bans Pets, Picnics on Nguyen Hue Promenade
Saigon authorities are clamping down on a number of activities that have been taking place on the city’s new pedestrian promenade.
[Photos] Ha Long Bay Being Overrun By Toxic Slurry Following Heavy Flooding
Weeks of heavy flooding in northern Vietnam has not only resulted 17 deaths and the loss of millions of dollars in damages, but also besieged Ha Long Bay with toxic slurry from nearby coal mines.
Weekend News Roundup: Duo Arrested For Facebook Page That Tells Drivers How To Avoid Cops
Man City friendly sponsor declares big losses [DTI] Hundreds brave persistent rain at LGBT rally in Vietnam [Channel News Asia] VN tops ASEAN with number of new domains [Vietnam Plus]
Da Nang’s Image Threatened By Rip-Offs, Thefts
Da Nang has long served as a poster child for a Vietnamese urban development. It is clean and modern (free WIFI!), sports beautiful beaches and offers great seafood. However, a growing number of touri...
7-Eleven Is Officially Coming To Vietnam
Vietnam’s convenience store market is about to get a bit more competitive with 7-Eleven announcing that it will open its first location in the country by early 2018.
Morning News Roundup: VN Greenhouse Gas To Double By 2020
Vietnamese teens jailed for phone card fraud [Thanh Nien] Naval ship to rescue 1,500 tourists stranded on island near Ha Long Bay [Tuoi Tre] David Cameron becomes first serving British PM to vi...
These Cutting-Edge Japanese Rice Cookers Cost Up To US$1,000
Not all rice is cooked equally, or so goes the thinking behind a slew of new rice cookers in Japan that can fetch prices of almost US$1,000.
Vietnamese Celebrity Fined For Letting Her Child Urinate In Vomit Bag
You can add singer Le Quyen to the list of Vietnamese celebrities that have stirred controversy due to their in-air faux pas after she allowed her 4-year-old son to urinate in an airsic...
Morning News Roundup: Around 0.057% Of Population Borrows Books From Public Libraries
Hanoi: 17,000 people have 30m2 of playgrounds [Vietnam Net] Vietnam pays heavy price for petrochemistry industry [Vietnam Net] Da Nang introduces speed limit on key bridge [Vietnam News]
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Will Pay A Visit To Vietnam Next Week
The U.S. Department of State has announced that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will make a stop in Vietnam next week as part of a five-country trip to the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
