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?
New Admin. Center Behind People’s Committee To Include Heliport, Underground Passageways
The massive re-development of downtown Saigon (goodbye Tax Center and old trees, hello new metro station) will also include a new administration center in the area around the historic People’s Committ...
Morning News Roundup: 2 Nigerians With Flu-Like Symptoms Arrive At Tân Sơn Nhất
Vietnam to buy 10,000 Ebola protective clothing [Vietnam Net] Poorly dressed customers not welcomed at luxury shops [Vietnam Net]
Tân Sơn Nhất Airport Ramping Up Procedures For Ebola Detection, Quarantine
After issuing guidelines for preventative health centers in HCMC to take precautionary measures to combat an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in early August, The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Heal...
Vietnam Grants Licenses To Monsanto, Others To Grow Genetically Modified Corn
The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has granted licenses to 2 companies, Syngenta Vietnam Co., Ltd and Monsanto’s Dekalb Vietnam Co., Ltd to grow genetically modified c...
Metro Line Construction Forcing Nearby Businesses To Downsize, Close
Construction on the underground portion of Saigon’s first metro line may have just started, but businesses in the surrounding area are starting to feel the pinch, complaining that sales are down as mu...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Cuts Petrol Prices for Third Time in 3 Weeks
U.S. CDC supports Vietnam’s emergency center over Ebola outbreak [Tuoi Tre] Two provincial educators in Vietnam dismissed for shaking down test takers [Thanh Nien] Vietnam looks for ways to regulate...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Say Goodbye to Saigon's Tax Center
Another one of Saigon’s most iconic buildings is set to bite the dust. This time it’s District 1’s 90-year-old Tax Center that will be demolished later this year to make way for a 43-story tower.
Study: Vietnam Is One Of Only 11 Countries Free From Conflict
The latest study from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) found that only 11 countries in the word are not involved in conflict of one kind or another. And one of them happens to be Vietnam.
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Family On Motorbike Crushed By Falling Tree In D1, Mother Fatally Wounded
36-year-old Nguyen Thi Dung died Sunday afternoon when a tree fell on her family’s motorbike due to fierce winds in downtown Saigon.
Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Announces Four Days Off For National Day
Vietnam to host first-ever Asia- Europe music festival [Vietnam Plus] Deputy PM requests Ho Chi Minh highway acceleration [SGGP] HCMC announces four days off for National Day [SGGP]
Hanoi Authorities Confiscate 2 Tons Of “Rubber” Squid Imported From China
Dried squid is by nature a bit tough to chew, but authorities in Hanoi knew something was amiss when they inspected 2 metric tons “squid” on its way to HCMC.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Waits 7 years To Address Toxic Oil Outside Ha Long Bay
Vietnam waits 7 years to address toxic oil outside Ha Long Bay [Thanh Nien] HCMC to host boat festival on Saigon River [SGGP] Royal Brunei Airlines restarts HCMC service [TTG Asia]
Morning News Roundup: WHO To Assist Vietnam In Testing For Deadly Ebola Virus
Vietnam tops the world for low-cost travel in 2014 [Vietnam Net] Vietnam has too few culture and arts colleges, universities [Vietnam Net] WHO to assist Vietnam in testing for deadly Ebola virus&nbs...
Vietnam Set to Lift Casino Ban for Locals
After years of debate, it looks like Vietnam is on the path to removing casino restrictions for locals, pending approval from Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
Morning News Roundup: Primates Face Extinction In Vietnam
Viettel tries 42-Mbps high-speed 3G [Totaltele] Air quality control plan still largely up in the air [Vietnam Net] HCM City goes on building new-style rural areas [Vietnam Plus]
Bus Literally Cut In Half By Overpass In Bạc Liêu
At 10pm on August 8, a bus traveling through Bạc Liêu City was ripped open when it passed under a flyover half its height, critically injuring 6 passengers, according to VN Express.
Sabeco Becomes First Vietnamese Brewery To Offer Non-Alcoholic Beer
As foreign brewers arrive in Vietnam, adding some diversity to the country's beer scene, Vietnamese mega-brewery, Sabeco, has announced a new addition to its large portfolio of beverages - non-al...
Morning News Roundup: Foreign Players Dominate Vietnam’s Thriving Ad Market
Foreign players dominate Vietnam’s thriving ad market [Tuoi Tre] World Bank approves $500mn loan to improve Vietnam’s power transmission [Tuoi Tre] Trinh Cong Son copyright controversy [DT...
Vietnamese Designer To Present Áo Dài Collection At New York Couture Fashion Week
Vietnamese designer, Võ Việt Chung, will present his modern áo dài collection at Couture Fashion Week New York on September 6.
Free WIFI Could Soon Be Coming To Vietnam’s Trains
Vietnam’s railway industry is officially entering the digital age. After announcing that it was working with FPT on a VND170 billion e-ticketing system, free WIFI may soon be coming to the countr...
