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

PM: Vietnam Will Not Host Asian Games

Vietnam will not host the 2019 Asian Games as Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and other government officials agreed that the country lacks both the experience and funds to successfully execute the even...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Japanese Police Release Vietnam Airlines Hostess

Over 7,000 children catch measles in Vietnam; at least 111 die: report [Tuoi Tre] Ho Chi Minh City promotes community-based drug detox [Thanh Nien] Witha ana Eye on TPP Garment Companies F...

in Vietnam

Russian Tourist Undergoes Surgery After Fish Attack in Nha Trang

In a nightmarish scenario, a Russian tourist was attacked by an unknown fish in waters off Nha Trang Sunday morning and remains in critical, reports Tuoi Tre.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s IPO Flops Prompt Questions Over Listing Plans

1st-qtr luxury car sales soar in Vietnam despite economic woes [Tuoi Tre] Projects behind schedule do not receive capital [SGGP] Tycoon on trial as Vietnam counts cost of its rogue bankers...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Hanoi Plans Monorail System to Ease Congestion

HCM City’s dwellers look forward to clean water [VietNamNet] Hanoi plans monorail system to ease congestion [Vietnam Plus] Vietnam Pop Stars Sing to Start Anti-Poaching Campaign [Bloo...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Green Light for Vietnam Casino

Green light for Vietnam casino [Brisbane Times] Rising sea levels threaten farmers' livelihoods in Vietnam [SBS] Vietnam police probe soccer match-fixing [Yahoo]

in Vietnam

17 Tourists Escape Burning Ship in Ha Long Bay

A tourist boat operated by Cuu Long Tourist Boat Co. Ltd. went up in flames last Thursday on the waters of Ha Long Bay. 23 people, including 15 foreigners were rescued and no injuries were reported, r...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Ho Chi Minh City Parking Lots at High Risk of Fire

Ho Chi Minh city bakery figures out the ABC of burger bun success [The Guardian] Ho Chi Minh City parking lots at high risk of fire [Tuoi Tre] Coffee exporters expect to earn 3 billio...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Woman Falsely Reports $42,700 Theft on Flight

Vietnam considers USD475m support for small farmers [BlackSeaGrain] Major airlines of Vietnam to open new international flights [VietNamNet] Vietnam 3G customers beef about lower quality d...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Students to Compete at Global Energy Contest in France

Vietnam hospital lab awarded international accreditation [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam Eximbank deploys fingerprint authentication for POS, ATM transactions [Bio Metric Update] Vietnam ponders on dec...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Brewing Storm Bringing Rain to Vietnam

Bus slips over on central Vietnam muddy road, 13 hurt [Thanh Nien] Education sector incorporates an anti-corruption program in curriculum [SGGP] Govt official says Vietnam needs to comprom...

in Saigon

HCMC to Build 30 Lakes to Prevent Flooding

As the realities of HCMC’s vulnerability to climate change are becoming increasingly apparent, the city is finally taking serious steps to address chronic (and worsening) flooding.  

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Asking for Directions in Saigon Now Costs VND5,000

Asking for directions in Saigon now costs VND5,000 [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam PM could pull plug on Asian Games [Thanh Nien] U.S.-Vietnam Naval Exercises Begin Amid SE Asian Tension [Bloomber...

in Saigon

300 Motorbikes Destroyed in HCMC Parking Lot Fire

A fire roared through a District 8 parking lot on Saturday afternoon destroying hundreds of motorbikes, leaving a scene that resembled a warzone with hundreds of burnt out bike frames littering the sc...

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: HCMC Releases 450000 Fish Into Recovering Canals

Ho Chi Minh City releases 450,000 fingerlings to nature [Vietnam Plus] Saigon Hub co-working space shuts down, unclear if it will be able to reopen [TechinAsia] Nick Vujicic returns to Vie...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s GDP Could Grow 13.6% in 2025, says Harvard Professor

Vietnam’s GDP could grow 13.6% in 2025, says Harvard professor [VietNamNet] Vietnam Electricity promotes energy saving solutions [SGGP] Central Vietnam featured in ancient Japanese scrolls...

in Vietnam

Millions of Viet Kieu Set to Lose Vietnamese Citizenship on July 1

A 2009 government decree requiring overseas Vietnamese to register their Vietnamese citizenship by July 1, 2014 is coming under criticism as only a small number of eligible Viet Kieu have completed th...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Competition Intensifies in Vietnam’s Aviation Sector

Vietnam nurse admits killing newborns [Bangkok Post] Vietnam Mekong Delta Rice Production Hurt by Drought, Salinity [Oryza] Vietnam economy to expand 5.6 pct in 2014: ADB [Thanh Nien]...

in Asia

Polluted Chinese City Imports Bags of Fresh Mountain Air

The air quality in Vietnam’s cities may be worsening at a rapid pace but unlike China, we haven’t reached Spaceballs levels quite yet. In the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, residents lined up to breathe s...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Spends Over $1bn on Infrastructure Per Year

Vietnam IPOs of State-Owned Companies Struggle [Wall Street Journal] Vietnam's southern hub looks to establish tourist police [Thanh Nien] Quality scandals erode Vietnam consumer trust in ...