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

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]

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Indian Developer Vows To 'Rebuild' Nha Trang With Controversial Megaproject

Indian developer vows to 'rebuild' Nha Trang with controversial megaproject [Thanh Nien] Vietnamese man arrested for excrement attack on nemesis [Thanh Nien] Vietnam in Asia's top 5 beer drinkers [V...

in Vietnam

Vietnam Ranks Ahead Of US, Much Of EU In International Education Rankings

According to the results of the largest global school rankings ever released, Vietnam ranks ahead of the US and many EU countries when it comes to math and science.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: New Terminal For Da Nang Airport Needs $147.4m

Coffee Farmers in Vietnam Seen Hoarding Most Beans Since ’10 [Bloomberg] Vietnam's Risky Move To Strengthen Exports [Forbes] New terminal for Da Nang airport needs $147.4m [VNS]

in Saigon

“Gangster” Saigon Street Vendors Preying On Unsuspecting Tourists: Report

A recent investigation by Tuoi Tre uncovered a large ring of Saigon street vendors who are exploiting tourists by charging up to VND200,000 for a coconut, sometimes even grabbing money directly out of...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Goes Shopping For U.S. Military Hardware

Ex-chief editor of Vietnamese newspaper charged with ‘abusing democratic freedoms’ [Tuoi Tre] Scholars discuss religious culture role in sustainable development [VOV] Vietnam Goes Shopping for&...

in Asia

U.S. Military May Send Aircraft, Ships To Disputed East Sea Zone

On Tuesday, a Pentagon official said that the U.S. is contemplating the deployment of military assets to the East Sea to ensure freedom of navigation around disputed islands that are claimed by 19 nat...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Police Officers Charged For Torturing Suspects Into False Murder Confessions

Vietnam company makes bullet-proof paint from husks [Vietnam Net] Spooked by unsafe greens, Vietnamese people grow veggies at home [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam begins to use WildScan app for wildlife protecti...

in Vietnam

Repairs To Vietnam’s Undersea Internet Cable Completed

Internet speeds are back to normal in Vietnam following repairs to Vietnam’s branch of the Asia-America Gateway (AAG) cable.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Airlines Passenger Caught Smoking Mid-Flight

While some have claimed ignorance after opening airplane doors, mistaking them for a bathrooms, others, like 28-year-old Nguyen Canh Dinh, knowingly flaunt strict aviation rules.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Resorts Slammed For Acting As If They Owned Beaches

Vietnamese woman conned by 'foreign fiancé’ out of over $40,000 [Tuoi Tre] Government approves plan to adopt 4G [VOV] Vietnam to intensify regional transport connectivity [VOV]

in Vietnam

Repairs To Vietnam’s Undersea Internet Cable Delayed 2 Days

It will take two days longer than expected to fix Vietnam’s branch of the Asia-America Gateway cable (AAG) due to bad weather.

in Vietnam

Foreigners Will Be Able To Own Property In Vietnam For 100 Years: Decree

As the Vietnamese property market will likely heat up in the next few years with the construction of new metro lines in Hanoi and Saigon, it may soon be time to hop back on the real estate bandwagon. ...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Alcohol Is The Leading Cause Of Home Violence In Vietnam

'What's a condom?': Unsafe sex puts Vietnamese factory workers at risk [Thanh Nien] From cheers to tears: Alcohol is the leading cause of home violence in Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Vietnam invites Bollyw...

in Vietnam

Vietnam To Begin Checking Motorbike Emissions In 2018

A draft regulation submitted by the Vietnam Register (VR) to the Ministry of Transport would require motorbike owners to have their bike’s emissions checked every two years.