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 ...

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon

Letter to the People I Met as We Hid From the Rain Under a Bridge Together

“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.”— Vladimir Nabokov.

in Hanoi

Hanoi's Bát Tràng Ceramic Village Turns Historic Craft Into Global Fame

Bát Tràng has been producing ceramics for over 700 years, but it’s the recent decades that interest me most: a period in which this small village has mirrored Vietnam’s rapid economic growth.

in Vietnam

Final Merging Plan Brings Vietnam's Locality Number From 63 to 34

After extended working sessions to gather insights from experts and locals, Vietnam’s state government has announced the final version of the country’s administrative map.

in Saigon

Múa Lân Is Officially Recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage

In Chợ Lớn, every Tết, amid the aroma of burning joss sticks and an onslaught of red-color decorations is the echoing beats of lion dance instruments. For generations of Saigoneer, the presence of múa lân, or lion dance, is a sign of festivity and celebration.

Uyên Đỗ

in Saigon

How Saigon's Free Water Coolers Quench Thirst and Spread Kindness

In recent years, stories about climate change's impacts on the lives of Vietnamese people have been increasingly making the news.

Back Stories

in Saigon

[Photos] 15 Incredible Images Of Yesterday’s Storm In Saigon

Yesterday evening, a large storm passed through Saigon just as the sun began to set, resulting in some spectacular photos captured by Facebook users (top photo by Masahiro Ura from Vincom Center)...

in Asia

[Video] Breakdancing Thai Police Go Viral

So what’s the best way for a military junta to appease the populace? Police dance videos, of course!

in Vietnam

Vietnam to Remove 3,300 Requirements for New Businesses Next Month

A new set of law amendments will go into effect next month, removing thousands of requirements for new businesses in Vietnam.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Tourist Beaten By Seafood Vendors In Vietnam's Resort Town

HCM City to spend big on infrastructure [Vietnam Net] Da Nang city to host international marathon 2015 [SGGP] Vietnam Airlines receives first A350 XWB [Vietnam Plus]

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam To Keep Enforcing Two-Child Law, For Now

Vietnamese more open to "non-traditional family" [VietnamNet] Vietnam to consider more oil extraction to ensure GDP target [VietnamNet] Vietnam to Keep Enforcing Two-Child Law, for Now&nbs...

in Asia

Manila Times Gives China The Finger With Its Own “Nine Dash Line” Map

The Philippines’ oldest newspaper recently made what could be considered a provocative gesture towards China regarding its notorious “nine-dash-line.”

in Saigon

Saigon Bus Ridership Drops Dramatically

Saigon is short on public transportation offerings as it awaits the construction of its metro and BRT systems, but that's not stopping people from abandoning city busses at a rapid pace.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Nha Trang Beach To Be 'Privatized' Despite Public Outcry

The tourism crisis: No relief for Vietnam as visitor drop continues [Thanh Nien] 2 men arrested for attacking traffic cops after drinking [Thanh Nien] Nha Trang beach to be 'privatized' despite publ...

in Vietnam

Hanoi Is The Most Expensive Place To Live In Vietnam: Report

Hanoi might be the cheapest place in the world for tourists to visit this summer, but its residents have the highest living expenses in the country.

in Asia

Controversial Chinese Oil Platform Returns To East Sea

Chinese oil platform Haiyang Shiyou 981 has retuned to the East Sea to conduct oil and gas exploration.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Police Reject $550,000 Bribe From Chinese Fugitive

Vietnamese drug addicts still high [SGGP] Dead rivers encircle Hanoi [Vietnam Net] Foreign fast-food chains not performing as expected in Vietnam [Vietnam Net]

in Vietnam

[Photos] Hanoi’s Wavy Metro Tracks Raise Eyebrows

While Saigon’s metro system chugs along, Hanoi’s first urban railway has been plagued by poor construction quality, delays and controversy surrounding its rolling stock. Now you can add wavy tracks to...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Removes Housing Restrictions For Overseas Vietnamese

Starting July 1, overseas Vietnamese will be able to buy property in Vietnam without any restrictions.

in Asia

China Seizes Rotting Frozen Meat From The 1970s Smuggled Through Vietnam

While Chinese are faced with a public health crisis due to poisonous clouds of pollution chocking the country’s cities, they must also be wary of what they eat following a food scandal involving nearl...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Dell To Further Invest In Vietnam

Dell to further invest in Vietnam [Voice of Vietnam] Vietnam lawmakers demand more control of social media [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam Is Having Condom Problems — And That's A Good Thing [NPR]...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Airport Firm Suspends Staff Member For Throwing Passports At Passenger

City to build tunnel near Cat Lai Port [The Saigon Times] Vietnam, France step up defence ties [Asia One] Fabric of a Trade Deal: U.S. Asks Vietnam to Cut Out Chinese Textiles [Wall S...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Delays Son Doong Cave Cable Car Plans Until 2030

When plans for a US$212 million cable car through some of Vietnam’s most spectacular caves were made public last November, they were met with fierce resistance.

in Vietnam

[Video] Heavy Rains Turn Binh Duong Highway Into A River

After heavy storms last Saturday in Binh Duong Province, drivers on Binh Duong Boulevard found that the street had morphed into a river. The high waters flooded the engines of many vehicles, wreaking ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Chinese, Wife Imprisoned In HCMC For Selling Sex Toys, Fake Viagra

Vietnam has chances to supply vaccines for UN agencies with WHO quality certificate [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam’s major blood bank running dry [Thanh Nien] Chinese, wife imprisoned in Vietnam for selling sex...

in Vietnam

Manchester City And Vietnam National Team To Play Friendly In Hanoi Next Month

Manchester City FC, winners of the 2014 Football League Cup Final, will head to Hanoi next month to play a friendly against the Vietnamese national team.