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?
Morning News Roundup: City To Restore Hung King Temple In District 1
First Vietnamese movie about super cars [Vietnam Net] Vietsovpetro discovers new oil well offshore Vietnam [DTI] Vietnamese-born tycoons make a name for themselves in other countries [Vietnam Net]
Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Consumers Shun Low-Cost Cars, See Them As ‘Low Quality’
OTT apps to thrive when Vietnam deploys 4G [Vietnam Net] Vietnamese consumers shun low-cost cars, see them as ‘low quality’ [Vietnam Net] VN's second highest tower to open on National Day [Vietnam N...
[Video] Vietnamese Robotics Team Wins International Contest
A student robotics team from Dong Nai Province’s Lac Hong University won the 14th annual ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest (Robocon) which took place in Pune, India on August 24, reports Thanh Nien....
Weekend News Roundup: Rolls-Royce Phantoms Sold Out On First Day In Vietnam
Rolls-Royce sells out of Phantoms on first day in Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Ho Chi Minh City to restore and relocate iconic statues to make way for subway hub [Thanh Nien] Airliners test new direct route...
Draft Decree Requires Vietnamese Make 15mil/Month To Play In Local Casinos
Under the new draft decree on casino management, the Ministry of Finance has proposed that regular members at local casino clubs must make at least VND15 million per month and that irregular patrons m...
Morning News Roundup: Car Import Tax To Be Reduced To Zero By 2018
Car import tax to be reduced to zero by 2018 [Vietnam Plus] Firms urged to disclose information in English [Vietnam Net] Vietnam emerges as promising luxury-car market [Vietnam Net]
The Ice Bucket Challenge Takes Off In Vietnam
The ice bucket challenge has arrived in Vietnam, with even the Minister of Transport being asked to take the plunge, reports DTI news.
Facebook Threatens To Sue HCMC Restaurant For Using Its Name
In a rare example of intellectual property protection in Vietnam, Facebook has threatened to sue a HCMC restaurant for using the social network’s name in their slogan.
Morning News Roundup: BMW Recalls Nearly 1,200 Cars In Vietnam
Vietnam footballer gets 30 months for betting on own Asian game [Tuoi Tre] First Vietnamese wins Innovators Under 35 Award [Vietnam Net] BMW recalls nearly 1,200 cars in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]
Study: Divorce Is Up Significantly In Vietnam
The arrival of Starbucks and McDonald's aren’t the only signs that Vietnam is starting to look more like a developed country. According to a new survey, the country’s divorce rate has skyrocketed over...
Morning News Roundup: McDonald’s To Open Third Restaurant In HCMC
Ho Chi Minh City sappers collect war-era bomb shells [Thanh Nien] Cloud computing services becoming more popular in VN [Vietnam Net] Quang Ngai wishes to be removed from high-income list [DTI]
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Hanoi To Build New Bridge Instead Of Tearing Down Long Biên
Described by one writer as “a misshapen but essential component of Hà Nội’s heritage,” the Long Biên Bridge commands such affection that recent government proposals to relocate or rebuild it had to be...
Heineken Launches Bottles Exclusively Designed For HCMC
For years Heineken has been stepping up its marketing game in Vietnam to take advantage of the country’s love affair with beer. While it’s already made major inroads into the local market, the Dutch c...
[Photos] "Marlboro Boys" Captures The Disturbing Trend Of Underage Smoking In Indonesia
Smoking may be a major public health issue in Vietnam, but in Indonesia, the deadly habit has been taken up by the country’s youth, some of who are taking their first drags at the age of 4.
Starting Next Year, HCMC Bikers May Be Required To Pay Road Fees
Following in the steps of most other Vietnamese provinces and cities, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has recommended that the city start collecting road maintenance fees from its 5.8 mil...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Urban Tap Water Seriously Polluted
Vietnam's urban tap water seriously polluted: health ministry [Thanh Nien] Vietnam team wins Robocon [DTI] Hanoi needs VND3.5 trillion to treat solid waste by 2020 [DTI]
Weekend News Roundup: Vietnamese Businesses Seek Honest, Uneducated Workers: Survey
In Vietnam, residents have used underground water from cemetery for 20 years [Tuoi Tre] Boeing, Microsoft want to foster cooperation with Vietnam: Embassy [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese businesses seek hones...
Morning News Roundup: Radioactive Card Shark Arrested In Northern Vietnam
Radioactive card shark arrested in northern Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s top dairy producer wins global food industry award [Tuoi Tre] Teachers oppose assessment method using comments instead...
[Photos] Incredible Views of Hong Kong's Skyscapers
Hong Kong-based photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrѐze likes to look up. In his recent book Vertical Horizons, he explores an often under appreciated perspective of the city’s skyline.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Laws The Most Complex In The World
Vietnamese laws the most complex in the world, lawyers say [Vietnam Net] Bkav launches nationwide security network contest [Nhan Dan] State employment still favored by most Vietnamese job seek...
