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 Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: AAG Submarine Cable Repaired

Vietnamese brewery market to be restructured [VOV] HCM City opens official website on Government’s e-portal [VOV] WB report: Vietnam's GDP to grow 6.5 percent [Vietnam Plus]

in Vietnam

Internet Speeds In Vietnam Will Return To Normal Ahead Of Schedule

Internet speeds in Vietnam should return to normal in the coming days as repairs to and maintenance of the Asia-America Gateway (AAG) will be completed ahead of schedule.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Inspects Major Airports After Baggage Theft Complaints

‘Napalm Girl’ photo sold for $11,750 at Vietnam auction [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese enterprises too fragmented for global, regional economic integration [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam inspects major airports after ba...

in Saigon

Saigon Zoo Will Not Be Torn Down For Commercial Complex: Official

City officials have denied speculation that Saigon’s historic zoo will be torn down and replaced by a commercial complex.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Looks To The West For Fighter Jets, Drones

Vietnam is in talks with US and European contractors to further modernize its air defense systems with new fighter jets, unmanned drones and maritime patrol planes.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's $2.6m Cultural House At Milan Expo A Disappointment

Reports about Vietnam-China trade have conflicting figures [Vietnam Net] Vietnam’s IVF services attract couples from around the world [Vietnam Net] Beware of car accessory theft while parking in Ho ...

in Asia

[Photos] New Asian Trend: Shaving Dogs Into Cubes (And Other Ridiculous Shapes)

Perhaps a sign that Minecraft has become a pervasive cultural force, dog groomers in Japan and Taiwan have begun to apply cubist aesthetics to their techniques.

in Vietnam

Popular Hoi An Beach Has Nearly Disappeared Due to Erosion

While Phu Quoc’s beaches are being ruined by garbage and pollution, Hoi An’s famous Cua Dai Beach is on the verge of being swept into the sea due to erosion caused by human activity.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Journalists Attacked While Filming Overloaded Trucks

Ha Noi city lacks bus stop shelters [Vietnam News] Police seize 20 tonnes of fake food [Vietnam News] Budget overspending exceeds US$3.43 bln in five months [SGGP]

in Saigon

Tan Son Nhat Airport to Be Expanded This Month

As officials continue to debate the merits of Long Thanh Airport, Tan Son Nhat is set to undergo a major expansion this month.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: China To Overtake US As Vietnam's Largest Importer: HSBC

Vietnam’s Hoi An faces imminent risk of losing beach to coastal erosion [Tuoi Tre] Heathrow primary destination for Vietnam Airlines' new 787-9 Dreamliner [eTurbo News] HCMC canal dredging dama...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Court Agrees To Pay $360,000 To Wrongfully Imprisoned Man

Vietnamese argue over bridal photo shoot on university campus [Tuoi Tre] Young Vietnamese build free, low-cost playgrounds for kids from recycled materials [Tuoi Tre] Cost to build road set to hit n...

in Vietnam

Vietnam To Launch Spratly Island Tours

Vietnam has announced a new tour to the Spratly Islands in the midst of growing tensions over territorial claims in the East Sea.

in Vietnam

Repair Date, Maintenance Period Announced For Vietnam’s Broken Undersea Internet Cable

Vietnam’s internet connection should return to normal speeds in two weeks as teams rush to repair the snapped Asia-America Gateway (AAG) cable that lies off the coast of Vung Tau.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Traffic Officer Caught On Video Throwing Driver’s Papers Away

Sexual harassment turns increasingly sophisticated at Vietnam workplaces [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam to promote Son Doong Cave at SEA Games [Tuoi Tre] Hanoi traffic officer caught on video throwing driver’s ...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: First-Day Sales Of Vietnam’s Bphone Hit Almost 12,000 Handsets

Vietnam's Saigon Port plans to raise at least $19 mln in IPO [Reuters] First-day sales of Vietnam’s Bphone hit almost 12,000 handsets: manufacturer [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam scrap vendor finally lays ...

in Vietnam

Ministry: No Power Cuts During Extreme Heat Wave In Vietnam

Rising temperatures are no match for Vietnam’s electricity grid, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Government Tells Local Authorities To Return Beaches To People

Half of Vietnam’s population infected with parasitic worms: doctor [Tuoi Tre] 3,000-Year-Old Axes Found in Vietnam [Archaeology] Vietnam seen becoming more competitive regionally [VOV]

in Saigon

122-Year-Old Saigon Woman Confirmed As World’s Oldest

The World Records Association (WRA) has completed the verification process and officially confirmed Saigon’s 122-year-old Nguyen Thi Tru, as the world’s oldest woman.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Korean Companies Accused Of Exploiting Workers In Vietnam

Vietnam probes child trafficking after Guardian's shocking exposé [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s “chaebols”: The rich and mysterious family of Vingroup [Vietnam Net] WB to help Vietnam’s economic hub w...