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?
US Grants Immigrant Visas for Married Gay Couples
The US Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City has declared that it will grant immigrant visas for married homosexual couples, according to VNExpress.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Mekong Delta May Toss Out Rice for Corn, Soybeans
Vietnam women eye World Cup berth via Asian tourney [DTI News] Vietnam’s Viettel Signs Content Deal With Germany’s A Company [Variety] Crowdfunding for Vietnam comic warmly embraced&...
Morning News Roundup: TPP Negotiators Begin Talks in Vietnam in Bid to Conclude a Deal
Vietnam Stocks Tumble to Four-Month Low as China Tensions Rise [Bloomberg] Da Lat to export veggies to South Korea [SGGP] In Vietnam, Japanese investors eager to find local talent [Th...
Weekend News Roundup: Second McDonald’s Vietnam Restaurant Complete
Second McDonald’s Vietnam restaurant complete [VietNamNet] Obama sends Vietnam nuclear deal to Congress [Times of India] Vietnam’s southern province holds int’l kite festival [Tuoi Tr...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Tycoons Lost Over $85 million Yesterday Morning
Japanese expert to manage Vietnam national football team [Nhan Dan] Vietnam launches ‘golden spoon’ contest to promote tourism via cuisine [Tuoi Tre] World Bank approves $106mn credit for ...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
39 New Caves Discovered in Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park
After discovering Son Doong, the world’s largest known cave in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park 5 years ago, a team of researchers has been scouring the area, measuring, charting and photographing 39...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Vietnamese Stocks See Biggest Drop in 13 Years as East Sea Dispute Intensifies
By now, you’re probably aware that Vietnam and China are locking horns over a Chinese oil rig which Hanoi says constitutes a gross intrusion into the Vietnam’s territorial waters. As tensions heat up ...
Morning News Roundup: Toyota to Recall 43,000 Cars in Vietnam
Toyota to recall 43,000 cars in Vietnam [SGGP] 39 new caves found in Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park [Thanh Nien] Cluster bomb kills farmer in central Vietnam [Thanh Nien]
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam, US Sign Nuclear Agreement
Vietnam suffers sharp drop in Mothers’ Index [VoV] Vietnam highlanders have new bridge to stop crossing stream in bags [Thanh Nien] Vietnam's Remote Sensing Satellite Programme Reviewed Af...
Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge Wins International Engineering Award
Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge, probably our favourite (and without a doubt the most badass) modern structure in Vietnam, received international recognition last week at an award ceremony in Washington DC.
Morning News Roundup: VN Prioritizes Solar Energy Development
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi Report Strengthening Economic Numbers [Vietnam Briefing] Vietnam protests China’s illegal operation of drilling rig in Vietnamese waters [Tuoi Tre] Junior colleg...
50 Passengers Bound for HCMC Nearly Flown to Hanoi
On Wednesday night, 50 passengers flying out of Cam Ranh International Airport bound for HCMC were mistakenly put on a flight to Hanoi. Fortunately, the mistake was discovered by ground services at th...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Faces Heavy Rain this Weekend
Vietnam taps Singapore to develop Phu Quoc Island [Thanh Nien] Hanoi spyware gang steals money from 100,000 cellphone users [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s catfish exports to the US still “safe” th...
Saigoneer Holiday Throwbacks
We’re taking the day off to recharge our batteries and will return tomorrow. But in the meantime, here are some of our staff’s favorite articles to keep you entertained.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Traffic Accidents Down in Four Months
Vietnam shipping firm buys dock at $9mn, original price $2.3mn [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam needs affordable housing, not investment properties: minister [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s public debt may rise ...
HCMC to Celebrate Reunification Day with Fireworks Display
In celebration of Reunification Day, a fireworks show will be held at 9:00pm on the Saigon River tomorrow night, according to Tuoi Tre.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Hub Grilled in Heat of up to 37°C
Sugar company fined for polluting environment [VNS] Vietnam cops still tracking Lao fugitive after 'crazy' car chase [Thanh Nien] Vietnam, Laos review border marker planting [Vietnam ...
[Slideshow] The Rainy Season has Arrived in Hanoi
While here in Saigon we’ve seen a few rainstorms over the past week, our brothers and sisters in Hanoi got their first, damp taste of the rainy season last weekend as the capitol experienced massive f...
Ben Thanh Market Celebrates its 100th Birthday
Last Saturday, city authorities held a ceremony to mark Ben Thanh Market’s 100th birthday. Although it is one of the city’s oldest buildings, the market itself is significantly older, tracing its root...
Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam Minister Calls for Indefinite Ban on HCMC Hydrofoils
Vietnam’s first cliff railway opens in Da Nang [SGGP] 97 percent of countryside households have access to electricity [SGGP] Another endangered tiger delivers cubs at Vietnam zoo [Tha...
