in Saigon

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.

in Saigon

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.

in Vietnam

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.

in Vietnam

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.

in Vietnam

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.

in Vietnam

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.

in Saigon

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?

in Saigon

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.

Back Stories

in Vietnam

Vietnam Releases Code of Conduct Regarding Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Vietnam has taken the first step to address its weak sexual harassment laws with the release of its first-ever code of conduct on Monday.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Street Vendors Fined For Overcharging Foreign Tourists In HCMC

Vietnam pulls plug on resort part of project that threatens Nha Trang ecosystem [Tuoi Tre] Ho Chi Minh City in $66mn profit sharing dispute over Phu My Hung [Tuoi Tre] CAAV plan seeks to t...

in Saigon

Saigon Will Evacuate 250,000 People For Level 10+ Storms

Saigon officials have authorized an evacuation plan that calls for the evacuation of 250,000 residents ahead of violent storms.

in Saigon

[Video] Deteriorating Saigon Highway Has Become A Potential Death Trap

Peaks and valleys. This may be the best way to describe the condition of Saigon’s East-West Highway that has become a potentially deadly obstacle course for drivers.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese People Spend Over US$12 Mil Daily On Car Imports

'Stop Using Rhino Horn' denies link with stats on horn buyers in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam should give visa fee waiver to all tourists in Jul-Dec: official [Tuoi Tre] 8 foreign companies caught usi...

in Vietnam

Vietnam's Undersea Internet Cable Down Yet Again

Hopefully you enjoyed the last 14 days of unfettered internet access because Vietnam’s notoriously fragile section of the Asia-America Gateway (AAG) cable has faltered once again.

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Are the Most Frugal Consumers in the World: Nielsen

According to a report released last Wednesday by market research company, Nielsen, Vietnamese consumers are the world’s thriftiest.

in Vietnam

Delegation Of U.S. Senators To Visit Vietnam This Week

John McCain And Jack Reed will lead a delegation of American senators to Vietnam later this week to meet with government officials.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC All Set For Illegal Street Racing Season

Thailand's Amata nears key approval for $500 mln Vietnam project [Reuters] Three sites suggested for new nuclear reactor in Vietnam [Vietnam Net] River-encroaching project poses threat to Ho Ch...

in Saigon

Saigon To Demolish 150-Year-Old Sewer In District 1

When the French turned Saigon into an urban center towards the turn of the 19th century, they used the most modern infrastructure technologies available at the time. After 150 years, one of their grea...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Rejects Copycat Claim On Design Of $18.7bn Airport

Tracking shisha trading rings in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam rejects copycat claim on design of $18.7bn airport [Tuoi Tre] Ho Chi Minh City ordered to fix dangerous defect on multi-million dollar roa...

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Petrol Prices Continue to Climb

The days of filling up your petrol tank on the cheap are officially over as the ministries of finance and trade-industry have approved a 6% price hike.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Road Network Collapsing

Vietnam to Sign Free Trade Deal With Russia-Led Trade Bloc Next Week [The Moscow Times] Vietnam's road network collapsing [DTI] Japanese investment in Viet Nam tops $37.5 billion as of April's ...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Bans Romance Novels For Being “Poisonous,” “Filthy”

Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture has ordered local publishers to stop publishing romance novels amid reports that the steamy literature is “poisoning” the minds of the country’s young.

in Vietnam

FPT Launches US$3M Seed Fund That Could Put Vietnam’s Startup Scene On The Map

While plans are in the works for a Vietnamese version of Silicon Valley, an even more promising piece of tech news broke this week.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Begins Free Music Programs At Airports

Remittances to HCM City hit US$1.4 billion in four months [VOV] Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific to operate code-share flights [Vietnam Net] Power saving cartoon contest wraps up [Vietnam Plus]

in Saigon

Nguyen Hue Street to Get Free Wi-Fi Network

Visitors to Nguyen Hue’s new pedestrian promenade will soon have access to a free WIFI network.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Cameras Used To Combat Prostitution In Ho Chi Minh City 'Red Light Districts'

Uncle Ho documents to go digital [VOV] Vietnam detains 2 South Koreans in scaffolding collapse [Yahoo] Hang En to appear in movie Peter Pan [DTI]

in Saigon

New Ho Chi Minh Statue Unveiled In Saigon

The new statue of Ho Chi Minh has finally emerged from its blue cocoon in front of Saigon’s People’s Committee Building.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Raises Compensation For Flight Delays, Cancelations

US is Vietnam’s largest importer [VOV] Vietnamese, Chinese armies to promote border links [VOV] Nha Trang Bay beach under threat from developers [DTI]