
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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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 ...

Morning News Roundup: State-Run Cinemas ‘Dying’ In Vietnam
Vietnam vows to promote rights of people with disabilities [Vietnam Plus] Book casts light on little known Vietnamese workers in France [Vietnam Plus] Int’l experts urge Vietnam to build rice brand ...

Nguyen Hue Street Promenade To Block Traffic With "Smart Pillars," Reopen By Tet
Nguyen Hue Street, currently closed down for the constriction of a pedestrian promenade, will not be completely closed to traffic when it opens next year, according to city authorities.

Vietnamese Model Named Asia’s Sexiest Vegetarian
Truong Thi May, a Vietnamese model who represented the country at the Miss Universe pageant in 2013, has been named Asia’s Sexiest Vegetarian by the NGO People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PE...

Morning News Roundup: A Vietnamese Depositor Receives 20 Cents For 30-Year Bank Savings
Vietnamese has lowest wages in ASEAN [DTI] Hanoi authorities admit defeat on relocating historic markets [DTI] Transport fees reduce in three big cities [SGGP]

Beware Of The “Frankennote”
Want to make VND1,000,000 from VND520,000? Sure, you could invest in Vietnam Airlines stock, but as rumors have it, you could make your money work for you by splitting it down the middle, literally.

Vietnam Approves Law Allowing Foreigners to Buy Property
In an attempt to boost the country's stagnant real estate market, Vietnamese lawmakers yesterday approved a law allowing foreigners to buy land.

Morning News Roundup: Transport Minister Calls Vietnam's Air Traffic Control Corps 'Low-Quality,' Citing Nepotism
Millions of people expected to join VN’s first Black Friday [Vietnam Net] University teachers, students complain about clothing ban [Vietnam Net] Four more Asian records for Vietnam [Vietnam Plus]

[Photos] Hanoi’s Pedestrian-Only Streets Flooded With Vehicles
Back in October, Hanoi officially launched a plan to keep a number of streets in the Old Quarter free from vehicles. Even though signs and barriers have been installed, many have ignored the new schem...

Lovers’ Feud Causes Delay Of Vietnam Airlines Flight
After a week of major safety hiccups at Tan Son Nhat Airport, a slightly less serious disturbance took place last Friday night when two female passengers engaged in a soap opera-like brawl over a male...

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Named Asia’s Most Attractive Nation For Manufacturing
Vietnam named Asia’s Most Attractive Nation for Manufacturing [Nhan Dan] HCMC underfinanced for evacuation of households on canals [SGGP] Factory workers denounce employers for low-quality meals [DT...

Vietnamese Police Confiscate Thousands Of Stuffed Endangered Sea Turtles
While some Vietnamese are taking steps to save them, the country continues to struggle with protecting its endangered sea turtles.

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Gas Prices Down Further On Global Falls
Shipwrecks reveal ancient trade routes [Vietnam Net] Jobs for Low-Skilled Workers Moving from China to Vietnam [Forbes] Education Ministry plan to rewrite textbooks divides NA legislators [DTI]...

Man Arrested For Allegedly Murdering Vietnamese Woman In Singapore
Yesterday afternoon, Singaporean police responded to a “call for assistance” from an apartment block on Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 and, upon their arrival at the scene, found the body of an unidentified Vie...

3 Massive Statue Heads Unearthed At Cambodian Temple
Last weekend, three massive Angkorian-era statue heads at Banteay Chhmar temple in Banteay Meanchey Province were unearthed.

Civilian And Military Aircraft Nearly Collide Over Tan Son Nhat
Authorities met yesterday to discus an incident in which a military helicopter and civilian passenger jet “narrowly missed” colliding over HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat Airport on October 29.

Morning News Roundup: Alien Species Pose Threat To Vietnamese Wildlife
Vietnam aims to foster space technology [Vietnam Plus] Motorbike expected to be popular in Vietnam for 30-40 more years [DTI News] In Vietnam, foreigners can rent a forest, but can't buy a hous...

HCMC Authorities Scrap Plan For Helipad, Tunnels At New Admin. Center
Plans for a helipad and tunnels within HCMC’s new administrative center have been omitted from the latest proposal.

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Should Not Limit Motorcycles: World Bank
Circular ownership poses threat to Vietnamese school system [Vietnam Net] HCMC sets to market bio gasoline [SGGP] Vietnamese tea not grown in dioxin polluted soil, official [SGGP]

Trung Nguyen Is Finally Going Global: Plans 100 Shops For UAE
After eyeing international expansion for years, Vietnamese coffee giant, Trung Nguyen seems set to take its first step in that direction, starting with the United Arab Emirates.

Morning News Roundup: Residents Blow Whistle On Mangrove Destruction
CNN TV crew to highlight martial art Vovinam [Thanh Nien] Residents blow whistle on sanctioned mangrove destruction in southern Vietnam [Thanh Nien] French photographer shows Vietnam heritage a...

