in Asia

ASEAN Welcomes East Timor, Asia's Youngest Nation, as 11th Member

Time for infographic artists and geography teachers in the region to update their work on ASEAN.

in Saigon

Into the Infernal Heat of One of Saigon's Last Remaining Forges

It's no exaggeration to say that working in a forge is akin to being in a fiery sauna.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

The Origin of the Strange Lights You See Before Landing in Saigon

What are those astonishingly bright lights seen from an airplane window when approaching Saigon at night? I’ve had visitors ask me this on the drive home from the airport, and the question appears on Reddit every few months. I remember being befuddled myself the first time I witnessed the patchwork radiance.

in Vietnam

My Mom’s Care Packages Remind Me That Home Can Fit Inside a Box of Food

“What do you guys crave? I’ll send some.”

in Vietnam

New 12,000-Year-Old Skeleton Breaks Record of Oldest Human Remains Found in Vietnam

After analysis, scientists believe that a 12,000-year-old set of human remains found in Ninh Bình belonged to a prehistoric man who died from infection after being struck by a quartz-tipped projectile.

in Saigon

As Saigon Moves Forward, Xích Lô Lag Behind as Nostalgic Remnants of a Past Era

Among Bùi Viện's assortment of xe ôm drivers and street food vendors, Bible-toting religious enthusiasts and other colorful personalities, 66-year-old Nghĩa stands out for his kind eyes and walrus-like mustache.

Khôi Phạm

in Vietnam

Wipha, Yagi and Luc-Binh: How Are Tropical Storms Named in the Pacific Region?

Wipha was the latest typhoon to batter Vietnam this year, sweeping through northern provinces like Hưng Yên, Ninh Bình, Nghệ An, and Thanh Hóa and causing dangerous floods. It was 2025’s third and probably will not be the last that Vietnam will have to endure this year.

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 ...

Back Stories

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Official Gets Downgraded For Striking Another With Beer Glass After Drinking

Vietnam official gets downgraded for striking another with beer glass after drinking [Tuoi Tre] Japan provides 44 Toyota Camry Hybrid cars for Hanoi police [Tuoi Tre] Ministries hinder ‘green' ...

in Asia

[Video] A Look Into the Lives of South Korea’s Food Porn Superstars

It’s been a while since we checked in with the latest food trends in South Korea as Japan typically captures our gaze when it comes to outside-of-the-box food styles in Asia. But today, instead of arg...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: BKAV to Produce Truly Made-In-Vietnam Smartphones

Vietnam proposes allowing foreigners to wholly own listed brokerages [Reuters] Vietnam Top Global Outsource Market as Chinese Labor Cost Rise [World Property Journal] Seedcom.vn is a new f...

in Vietnam

Hanoi Suspends Uprooting of 6,700 Trees After Public Outcry

The chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee has asked that the plan to fell a quarter of the city’s trees be put on hold following public outcry.

in Vietnam

[Photos] Outrage As Hanoi Begins To Uproot 6,700 Trees

On Wednesday morning, Hanoi launched its plan to cut down more than a quarter of the trees that line the city's streets. Both experts and the public have taken to the press and social media to express...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Restaurateur Threatens To Burn Gov’t Office After Officials Delay Paying Bills

Proposal to combat overloaded vehicles [Vietnam News] Electricity price in nuclear power-era remains unpredictable [Vietnam Net] Vietnam launches hotline to handle questions, complaints from tourist...

in Saigon

[Map] The 10 Most Dangerous Intersections In Saigon

The good news first – there has been a significant decrease in the number of accident-prone hotspots in Saigon over the past year. The bad news? There are still 10 left.

in Saigon

VN Aviation Firm Hopes To Offer Sightseeing Flights Over Saigon

Talks between city officials and Hai Au Aviation are hinting at the possibility of aerial tours of Saigon by seaplane.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Realty Giant Breaks Ground On NYC Central Park-Inspired Garden

HCMC police consider legal actions in boy's fatal fall from kite [Thanh Nien] Vietnam exhibition displays skeletons in gay people's closets [Thanh Nien] Social media should confirm govt network site...

in Vietnam

Number Of Vietnamese “Super Wealthy” Set To Double By 2024

As Vietnam’s economy continues to grow, so is the number of ultra-high-net worth individuals (UHNWIs) - people who have US$30 million or more in total assets.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Collects Residents’ Opinions On Subway Train Design

Growing green-label trend in Vietnam [Vietnam Plus] Agribank employees charged for stealing over $1 million for gambling [Thanh Nien] Hanoi adds more traffic cameras to put brake on violations ...

in Saigon

[Photos] Large Fire Rips Through District 4

A large fire in an alley behind the District 4 People’s Committee yesterday morning destroyed eight homes and damaged two others.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Hackers Steal 50,000 Accounts From Local Telecom Giant

Vietnamese high-tech products conquer world market [Vietnam Plus] Taxi cab robberies become violent [Vietnam Net] Vietnam’s PC market is the only one in Asia still growing [Vietnam Net]

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Man Among 100 Finalists For Mars Mission

A 32-year-old Vietnamese man has been selected as one of the final 100 candidates for a one-way ticket to Mars.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Cosmetics With Human "Stuff" Banned In VN

Cartoon campaign launched against littering [Vietnam Plus] Woman writer likens men who avoid sharing housework as "pigs" [DTI] Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air fined for flight delays [DTI]

in Saigon

Saigon’s New Electric Busses To Include Service To Pham Ngu Lao

Saigon’s new electric bus service, scheduled to open later this year, will not only serve tourists on Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Le Duan, Nguyen Du and Thai Van Lung Streets, but also Pham Ngu Lao.

in Vietnam

[Photos] “French Village” to Open in the Hills Above Da Nang

The outskirts of Da Nang are about to get a significant, yet somewhat odd tourist attraction – a “French Village” that looks like something straight out Louis XIV’s Versailles. 

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 101-yr-old Vietnamese Asked To End Vain Hunt For 4,000 Tons Of Gold

Vietnam faces economic concerns on fuel and power price hikes [DTI] Viettel eyes global status by 2020 [SGGP] Vietnam to host ASEAN traditional music festival 2015 [SGGP]

in Vietnam

[Video] Mekong Man Uses Feet to Drive Motorbike Down Highway

If the Darwin Awards were an actual thing, this Mekong man would probably make the short list.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Fuel Retail Prices Rebound, Following Environment Tax Hikes

German media firm pumps $14 mln into Vietnamese browser developer [Thanh Nien] Young Vietnamese man dreams of conquering Mars [Vietnam Net] Exhibition on LGBT community opens in Hanoi [Vietnam ...