in Asia

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.

in Saigon

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.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

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.

in Vietnam

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.”

in Vietnam

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.

in Saigon

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.

Khôi Phạm

in Vietnam

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.

Paul Christiansen

in Saigon

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 ...

Back Stories

in Vietnam

[Video] Check Out The Vietnamese Police’s Fishnet Gun In Action

Vietnam’s infamous fishnet guns are ready to go! The launchers were developed by the Weapon Design Institute (Vietnamese version of DARPA?) under the Ministry of Defense over the past year.

Brian Letwin

in Stories

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Students Create ‘Formula 1’ Car With Used Car Parts

Vietnam Launches Child Drowning Awareness Campaign [Bernama] PM receives Dutch counterpart, vows strategic partnership on agriculture [VNS] Vietnam dog thieves surrender, admit to killing ...

in Vietnam

[Video] You Can Score A World Cup Trophy In Vietnam For Just $3

For those of us who lack the athletic skill to make it to the World Cup, worry not, for there is a cheap and easy way to get a World Cup trophy of your own for the low, low price of VND70,000 (and a p...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Up To 44% Of Vietnamese Infected With Parasitic Worms

Rising sea levels could affect one-fifth of HCM City by 2100 [VietNamNet] MobiFone's value seen at $3.4 bln, brokerage HSC says [Reuters] Vietnam's Mekong Delta pays huge ecological toll f...

in Saigon

Fleeing Scene, Dog Thieves Shoot and Kill 3 in HCMC

As if electrocuting, stealing and selling dogs weren’t bad enough, dog thieves allegedly shot and killed 3 pursuers on Saturday night in Cu Chi District.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Fall In Road Accidents In Vietnam

Tobacco without picture-based warnings rampant in Vietnam despite ban [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam wins FIAP silver award [DTI News] Hundreds of property projects might be halted in HCMC [SGGP]...

Brian Letwin

in Vietnam

[Video] Apparently It Only Takes 15 Seconds To Steal A Honda SH

In a friendly reminder that locking your bike creates a false sense security rather than actually security, this CCTV footage shows a thief stealing a Honda SH in just over 15 seconds.

in Vietnam

Flight Delayed, Man Fined $2,360 After Bomb Joke at Noi Bai

A VietJet flight was delayed for over 3 hours yesterday morning after a passenger joked that he had a bomb in his carry-on bag.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Mobifone No Longer Belongs To VNPT

Light pollution causes traffic accidents, health issues in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam braces for dengue fever surge: officials [Thanh Nien] Mobifone no longer belongs to VNPT [SGGP]

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese-Made World Cup Trophies Selling Like Hot Cakes

Vietnamese-made World Cup trophies sell like hot cakes in Hanoi [DTI News] Vietnam Coffee: Prices slide amid slow sales, thin demand [B Recoder] Businesses see more opportunities from less...

in Vietnam

Leaking Acid Burns Pedestrians in Hanoi

A leaky acid container being carried on the back of a truck in Hanoi caused serious burns to many pedestrians Monday evening. After a police chase, the driver was apprehended but not before spewing ac...

Brian Letwin

in Stories

Morning News Roundup: Six Killed by Dengue Fever in Vietnam

Six killed by dengue fever in Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Good Times Ahead For Vietnam's Hotel Industry [Bernama] Samsung Reportedly Mulls $1 Bln Investment In Vietnam [RTT]

in Vietnam

Da Lat’s Historic Map Factory Goes Up In Flames

Da Lat’s historic maps factory, one of the city’s most important historical buildings went up in flames in the early morning hours of June 9.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Tourism Grows In May

Vietnam’s tourism grows in May [TTR] 40 injured in Vietnam truck-coach collision [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s No. 1 e-commerce brand to be dethroned? [VietNamNet]

in Vietnam

Vietnam’s Longest Bridge Opens to Traffic

Vinh Thinh Bridge, the longest in Vietnam, opened to traffic yesterday morning according to Tuoi Tre. The 5,487 meter, four-lane bridge on Highway 2C spans the Hong River and connects Hanoi with...

in Vietnam

[Video] Strong Flashfloods Cause Massive Damage In Lai Chau Province

At 2pm on June 5, heavy rains in Lai Chau Province caused strong flashfloods which resulted in massive damage.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: WB Approves $500m Credit for VN Reform

WB approves $500m credit for VN reform [SGGP] 117 truck, bus drivers test positive for heroin in Vietnam metro [Thanh Nien] Vietnam asks China to investigate contaminated fruit imports&nbs...

Brian Letwin

in Saigon

[Video] Kids Use Taxi To Water Ski Down Bui Vien

While recent storms have caused serious damage in Hanoi and Saigon over the past week, some kids on Bui Vien took the opportunity to make up an extreme sport – Taxi water skiing.

in Vietnam

3 Vietnamese Universities Make Asia’s Top 300 List

3 Vietnamese universities made the cut in in the latest top Asian university rankings released by QS (Quacquarelli Symond), reports VietNamNet.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Nine Vietnam War-era Bombs Cleared from Laos-Vietnam Rail Link

Work Begins on Vietnam’s Sixth Submarine [Ottawa Citizen] Vietnam pushed to use Mitsubishi reactors [Enformable] Nine Vietnam War-era bombs cleared from Laos-Vietnam rail link [N...