Paul Christiansen in Saigon
Loneliness Too Waits for the Bus
We are all in this, but not together.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
71 Years After His Death, Alexandre Yersin Gets Vietnamese Citizenship
One of the most respected foreigners in the annals of Vietnamese history, Alexandre Yersin, has posthumously been awarded “honorary Vietnamese citizenship.”
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Remittance Expected At US$5 Billion
$40mln hospital with helipad debuts in southern Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] A Vietnam-Italy Fashion Council founded [DTI] Vietnam still plagued by sex-selective abortions [Thanh Nien]
Brian Letwin in Asia
How Saigon’s Floating Hotel Ended up in North Korea
There was a time, not too long ago, when Saigon wasn’t full of tourists and backpackers. In the late 1980s, Vietnam had just opened its doors to the west and was rushing to renovate its decrepit colon...
FPT Blames “Below-Standard” Design For Constant AAG Breaks
Some blame sharks while others conjure up Chinese conspiracy theories, but FPT officials fault “below-standard technical design” for the regular breaks in the Asia-America Gateway (AAG) cable which wa...
American Coach Of Saigon Heat Dies After Accident
Jason Rabedeaux, coach of the Saigon Heat, Vietnam’s first professional basketball team, passed away on Monday, just a day after his team took fourth place at the Asian Basketball League Championship....
Morning News Roundup: Schools In HCMC To Provide Free Wifi
Schools in HCMC provided free internet access [SGGP] Vietnam’s longest expressway opens, cutting Hanoi-Lao Cai travel time in half [Tuoi Tre] HCM City: Activities held in response to Clean Up the Wo...
Foreigner Killed After Driving Motorbike Into Wall In HCMC
On Sunday morning, a foreign man was killed at the intersection of Điện Biên Phủ and Đinh Tiên Hoàng Streets in District 1, reports Thanh Nien.
Leaked Photos From Racy VietJet Photo Shoot Cause Online Firestorm
Last Thursday, images from an alleged VietJet Air promotional photo shoot featuring a number of lingerie-clad models were leaked online. The album of racy photos quickly went viral, causing an Interne...
Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Expelled 9,700 Chinese Boats In Past Decade
Vietnam expelled 9,700 Chinese boats in past decade [Thanh Nien] Vietnam lags behind 5 ASEAN countries in creative productivity: ADB [Tuoi Tre] Da Nang visitors get free postcards [Vietnam Plus...
7 Gunmen Arrested After Failed Rooster Robbery In Binh Thuan
A rooster robbery gone wrong resulted in gunshots and a police chase in the Southern province of Binh Thuan on Thursday night, reports Thanh Nien.
Chinese City Creates Special Lane for Cell Phone Addicts
It may not be an issue in Saigon since it’s anything but a walking city, however those of us who have lived in pedestrian-friendly metropolises are all too familiar with the scourge of zombie-like cel...
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Court Sends Russians To Jail For ATM Scam
HCM City downs ad flyers, billboards in foreign language [Vietnam News] Vietnamese American businessman makes Forbes World's Billionaires list [DTI] Norway backs Vietnam-EU free trade deal [VoV...
Hong Kong Tycoon Places Record $20mil Order For 30 Rolls-Royce Phantoms
Stephen Hung, a Hong Kong investment tycoon, has placed an order for 30 Rolls-Royce Phantoms. 2 of the cars will feature interior and exterior gold-plated accents, making them the most expensive ever ...
Broken AAG Cable Won’t Be Repaired Until Next Month
FPT Telecom general director, Nguyen Van Khoa, told Thanh Nien that repairs to the Asia-America Gateway Cable would not be completed until October 6.
Morning News Roundup: Bus E-Tickets To Be Piloted In Hanoi October
First-ever "Made in Vietnam" international music festival to take place in October [DTI] Standard Chartered invests $35 million in Vietnamese restaurant chain [DTI] World Bank project upgrades Mekon...
[Photos] Thousands of Dead Fish Choke Hanoi Lake
Since Monday, dozens of workers have been removing tons of dead fish that from Hanoi’s Thien Quang Lake, reports Vietnam Net.
[Video] China’s Hair Highway
In China, human hair is a renewable resource, where it is fused with natural resins to mimic everything from tortoiseshell to polished horn to exotic hardwoods.
[Photos] Typhoon Kalmaegi Causes Death, Destruction In Northern Vietnam
Typhoon Kalmaegi touched down in Vietnam last night, uprooting trees, destroying homes and sparking mass evacuations.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Unemployment Rate One Of The Lowest Worldwide
Vietnam’s unemployment rate one of the lowest worldwide [Vietnam Net] Northern localities brace for storm Kalmaegi [Nhan Dan] Fire in Ho Chi Minh City kills seven [Vietnam Plus]
Asia-America Gateway Cable Broken Again
If you’ve noticed particularly slow Internet speeds for international websites today, you’re not alone. According to Zing, the Asia-America Gateway cable (AAG) has broken down yet again in what i...
