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?
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]
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.
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]
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...
[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.
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.
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.
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...
Powerful Storm Causes Death and Destruction in Hanoi
Last night, a deadly storm hit Hanoi, causing large-scale power outages and many large trees to be uprooted.
[Video] Bus Beats the Traffic by Driving on the Wrong Side of the Highway
Traffic can be frustrating. If you’re on an agile motorbike, sidewalks and one-way streets are common, albeit illegal alternatives. But this jerk driver applied motorbike mentality when steering his l...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam to Have First-Ever National Wildlife Park by 2025
Farming imports up 20% this year [VNS] Vietnam gains attention in photo contest [DTI News] Vietnam to have first-ever national wildlife park by 2025 [Tuoi Tre]
Morning News Roundup: Chinese Tourists Resume Visits to Vietnam Despite Tensions
Red bauxite sludge covers farms in northern province [VNS] Vietnam music industry hungry for good new songs [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam lifts ship sunk by Chinese vessel attack [Tuoi Tre]
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Lamborghini to Open its First Vietnam Showroom
Start your engines! Vietnam is set to get its first Lamborghini showroom this month.
Morning News Roundup: Heavy Rain Uproots Trees in HCMC Again
Vietnam’s credit ratings remain stable despite East Sea tensions [VietNamNet] Heavy rain uproots trees in HCMC [SGGP] One-Pillar Pagoda repairs put on hold [DTI News]
Brian Letwin in Asia
Man Stuck in South Korea After His Son Uses Passport as Drawing Pad
Kids are notoriously bad at determining the boundaries for their artwork, but this 4-year-old took things to the next level when he used his father’s passport as a canvas, leaving his father stra...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
HCMC University to Start Teaching All Courses in English
One of Vietnam’s major universities, the HCMC University of Social Sciences, has announced that it will start to teach some majors in English, effective immediately.
Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Turns Away 500 Tons of Toxic Chinese Fruit
Vietnam expects Japan coastguard ships next year: vice defense minister [Chicago Tribune] Phu Yen selected as site for US$2.5 billion marina [DTI News] Vietnam turns away 500 tons of toxic...
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Seeks $1.8 Billion for Subway Project
Suspended private Vietnamese airline given deadline for recovery plan [Tuoi Tre] Russia Lays Down 6th Kilo-Class Sub for Vietnam [RIA] Viettel provides free internet access to all schools&...
HCMC Has Stopped Extending Work Permits for Foreign Workers
In yet another blow to foreign workers in HCMC, the city’s labor authority has announced that it will stop issuing work permit extensions.
