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?
Weekend News Roundup: Foreign Breweries Tap Vietnam’s Draft Beer Market
HCMC to offer online diagnosis service [Bizjournals] New code-share flights link Vietnam and India [Thanh Nien] Foreign breweries tap Vietnam’s draft beer market [Vietnam Net]
Supermoon Will Be Visible In Vietnam Next Week
In the early morning of August 11, observers in Vietnam will be able to see a supermoon, an astrological phenomenon wherein the moon will be 14% closer to earth and 30% brighter, reports Vietnam Net.
HCMC Authorities Issue Ebola Guidelines
After the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has ordered preventative health centers in the city to take precautionary measures to combat an outbreak of th...
HCMC To Install Surveillance Cameras On All Downtown Streets
City authorities have announced that a $12.7 million network of security cameras will be installed around District 1 to improve security and to crack down on traffic violations, reports Thanh Nien.
Morning News Roundup: Foreigners Visiting Vietnam For Medical Treatment
Ho Chi Minh City Opens First Comics Institute [Bernama] Saigon Co.op among top 500 Asia-Pacific retailers in 2014 [SGGP] Vietnam cuts gasoline prices further amid global drops [Thanh Nien]...
Taxi Driver Fatally Stabs Xe Ôm Over Parking Space In Front Of Saigon Zoo
Yesterday morning, a Vinasun taxi driver fatally stabbed a xe ôm driver in front of the Saigon Zoo, reports Zing.
Public Phones Set To Return To Saigon
Two years after being removed, public phone booths are about reappear on Saigon, mainly for tourist use, reports Vietnam Net.
Like Saigon, Hanoi Will Cut Down Old Trees to Make Room for New Metro Line
Following in Saigon’s footsteps, Hanoi will soon cut down swaths of old trees to make room for its new metro line.
U.S. Senate Considers Lifting Vietnam Weapons Embargo
In a recent visit to Hanoi, U.S. Senator Bob Corker said that the U.S. Senate is considering overturning the 40-year-old lethal weapons ban embargo on Vietnam, reports Tuoi Tre.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Takes Preventive Measures Against Ebola
City unveils list of top polluting firms [Vietnam News] High-speed Railways between China and Thailand Through HCMC Approved [CRIEnglish] Childhood obesity in HCM City on sharp rise [Vietnam Ne...
HCMC Needs $122 Billion For Infrastructure Development Over The Next 6 Years
At a meeting last Friday, Bui Xuan Cuong, deputy director of the city Transport Department, said that HCMC needs $122 billion for traffic infrastructure development by 2020. That’s about VND2,562,000,...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Replacing China As Counterfeit Goods Hot Spot
Vietnam to compile encyclopedia [SGGP] Vietnam replacing China to become counterfeit goods hot spot [Vietnam Net] Danang prepares for fireworks extravaganza [DTI News]
Weekend News Roundup: Top Vietnamese Music Site Faces Lawsuit Over Copyright Infringement
The Top 10 Cities for Digital Nomads [Tech.co] Top Vietnamese music site faces lawsuit over copyright infringement [Thanh Nien] Ho Chi Minh City to host support industry mega-expo [VNS]
Facebook Changes Notification Icon To Match Your Location
When you logged into Facebook yesterday, you may have noticed something a bit different with the notification icon. TechinAsia reports that the world’s largest social network is now displaying differe...
18,000 Vietnamese Marry Foreigners Every Year
At a seminar held by the Ministry of Public Security and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in My Tho on July 30, it was announced that on average, 18,000 Vietnamese marry foreigners e...
Morning News Roundup: Dishonest Travel Firm Disappears After Duping 100 Tourists
A flea market at Saigon's center [Vietnam Net] District 5 sees no low income households [SGGP] Dishonest Vietnamese travel firm disappears after duping 100 tourists [Tuoi Tre]
British Embassy Marries Gay Couple In Hanoi
At 9:30 Monday morning, British citizens, Yein Kai Yee and Sutpreedee Chinithigun, were married at the British Embassy in Hanoi.
57 Trees To Be Chopped Down For Bến Thành Metro Station
City authorities announced yesterday that they would cut down 57 more trees located in 23/9 Park, adjacent from Bến Thành Market, to make way for the new metro station, according to Tuoi Tre.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Recognizes 106-Year-Old Man, 100-Year-Old Woman As Oldest Couple
Poor Health Education Blamed For High Teenage Abortions In Vietnam [Bernama] Trees with exported beans ‘massacred’ in central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre]
5 New Motorbikes Hit Vietnamese Dealerships This Month
Suzuki, Yamaha and Benelli have just released a new set of motorbike offerings, ranging from reasonably priced to bad-ass.
