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

Weekend News Roundup: Public Skeptical About Plan To Axe 6,700 Trees In Hanoi

Vietnam Is Becoming the 'New China' With Foreign Manufacturers [The Street] Homeland Spring 2015 for overseas Vietnamese to be held in HCMC [Tuoi Tre] Ho Chi Minh City to offer Tet allowance to...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: EVN Could Go Bankrupt If It Cannot Raise Electricity Prices, Ministry Says

EVN could go bankrupt if it cannot raise electricity prices, ministry says [Vietnam Net] VNPT, MobiFone prepare for overseas investments [Vietnam Net] Russian-made submarine arrives at Cam Ranh port...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Bach Dang Wharf To Close In April

Ho Chi Minh City struggles to clear land for its first subway, again [Thanh Nien] Vietnam sees positive change towards gay people: survey [Thanh Nien] Ho Chi Minh City picks fight with SMS spammers ...

in Saigon

Crew Feared Dead After Military Helicopter Crashes In HCMC

[Update Below] A military helicopter crashed in HCMC’s Bình Chánh District this morning after departing from Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport and its four crew members are feared dead.

in Asia

[Video] New Reality Show Puts Fashion Bloggers To Work In A Cambodian Sweatshop

A new Norwegian reality show set to air this April strays from the typical nature of the genre, transplanting three 17-year-old bloggers into Cambodian sweatshops for one month.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC To Spend Big To Beautify Road To Tan Son Nhat

Female trafficking a growing problem in Nghe An Province [DTI News] VNU-HCMC hopes to offer world-class courses in next decade [Vietnam Plus] Vietnam’s exports look to shine for 2015 [VoV]...

in Vietnam

[Video] Topless Tarzan Swings From Trees, Causes Traffic Jam In Hanoi

Hanoi’s trees may be slowly disappearing, but it seems like one local is still making use of them.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Pulls Plug On So-Called Electric Cars

Education-universalization law prevents teachers from doing their job [Vietnam Net] Architects discuss new coat for Saigon Central Post Office [SGGP] Vietnam promotes sending guest workers to k...

in Vietnam

79 Vietnamese Pilot Trainees Abandoned In California As Training Center Owner Flees

The abrupt closing of a U.S. pilot training program being attended by 79 Vietnamese pilot trainees who are now out $80,000 a piece after its abrupt closure.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnamese Spent At Least $3.1 Billion On Beer In 2014

Low oil prices can boost Vietnam’s economic growth [Nhan Dan] Code of conduct discussed to prevent sexual harassment at workplace [Nhan Dan] Vietnamese aviation training poor [DTI]

in Vietnam

Vietnam’s Undersea Internet Cable Repaired Ahead Of Schedule

After 18 days of slowed internet access to international websites, connections are back to normal in Vietnam after repairs to the Asia-America Gateway Cable were completed late last week.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Plan To Hike Water Prices Runs Into Stiff Opposition

HCM City canal remains dirty after $46m cleanup [Vietnam Net] Cheap Vietnam Stocks Are Set to Rise to 7-Year High [Bloomberg] Teenager creates 3D scans of hundreds of Vietnamese mascots on webs...

in Saigon

Authorities Move To Ban Fishing In HCMC Canals

A proposal to prohibit fishing in all canals and lakes in HCMC is being discussed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

in Vietnam

Developer Pushes To Build Artificial Island For Villas, Golf Course On Ha Long Bay

A powerful real estate developer is attempting to push forward on a massive artificial island project that would bring both villas and a 27-hole golf course to Ha Long Bay.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Man Compensated For Wrong Murder Charge In 8-Year Legal Fight

Made-in-Vietnam chips gaining foothold in domestic market [Tuoi Tre] Petrol prices cut by 1,900 VND per litre [Tuoi Tre] Raising wild animals in farms causes scare in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]

in Saigon

The “Wolf of Wall Street” To Host Workshop In HCMC

Billionaire Jordan Belfort, the subject of the hit film Wolf of Wall Street, will travel to HCMC in March to hold a workshop where he will “share his secrets to success.”

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Pulls Out All The Stops For Samsung

Vietjet Air poised to hold IPO [Vietnam Net] Country’s most modern radiotherapy centre launched [Nhan Dan] HCM City pulls out all the stops for Samsung [VoV]

in Vietnam

Repairs To Vietnam’s Damaged Undersea Internet Cable Delayed

Unlike the last time the Asia America Gateway cable ruptured, repairs won’t be completed ahead of schedule this time around.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Central Bank To Impose Immediate Fine On Banks With Out-Of-Cash ATMs

Bachelor’s degrees lose value because of poor training quality [Vietnam Net] Ho Chi Minh City leads nation in export revenue [Nhan Dan] Employers must pay interest rate for late wage payment [SGGP]

in Asia

[NSFW] Naked Europeans Deported From Cambodia for 'Violating Country's Beautiful Customs and Culture'

Earlier this month, local police arrested three European tourists for riding naked through the Cambodian countryside.