
How Saigon's Free Water Coolers Quench Thirst and Spread Kindness
In recent years, stories about climate change's impacts on the lives of Vietnamese people have been increasingly making the news.

Inside the Covid Memorial Park at 1 Lý Thái Tổ, Saigon's Brand-New Green Space
As part of Saigon’s latest initiative to increase green space coverage in the city, a number of abandoned land plots were converted into public parks, including a Covid Memorial Park that’s become a beloved destination for Saigoneers seeking a space to jog, reflect, or just simply touch grass.

All Aboard Bus 146, Home of Plushies, Rubber Chickens and a Side of Humanity
“Cute” doesn’t seem like a fitting descriptor for any mode of public transport, but a bus in Saigon is driving straight into the heart of Saigoneers for being the quintessence of “smotheringly adorable.”

Saigon Set to Make Bus Service Free for All to Cut Congestion, Air Pollution
Saigoneers without private vehicles might be happy to hear that the city is planning to make the municipal bus system free to ride in the near future.

Bạc Liêu-94, Cà Mau-69: In Saigon, a Surprising Reminder of Home Lives on License Plates
Once in a while, I bump into a little sliver of my hometown on a random license plate on the street.

Pristine Blue Sky and Memorial Park: Ruminating on What the Covid-19 Pandemic Left Us
Recently, I visited Saigon’s newly inaugurated COVID-19 memorial park . Located at 1 Lý Thái Tổ, Vườn Lài Ward, the park o...

HCMC's Đồng Khởi Among World's Top 20 Most Expensive Retail Streets, Report Says
Saigon’s very own Đồng Khởi has once again made the list of world’s commercial streets with the highest annual rents.

Every Bánh Chưng Season, Vietnam’s Lá Dong Capital Comes Alive With Harvest Frenzy
On the patches of sandy soil by the river in Kim An Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, there’s a tiny village named Tràng Cát, where dong leaves have been embedded in local history, memory, and economy for centuries. Right in local courtyard, these broad green leaves were transformed into bánh chưng, ready for Tết feasts across the country.

Morning News Roundup: Saigon Zoo Tiger Delivers Five Cubs
The nuclear power plan beyond Vietnam’s ability, Russian specialist [VietNamNet] Vietnam zoo tiger delivers five cubs [Thanh Nien] Vietnam Airlines’ flight attendant arrested in Japan ...

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Economists Warn Against Addiction to Foreign Investment
Unknown future for market trains in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] First quarter GDP hits three-year record high [SGGP] A budding alliance: Vietnam and the Philippines confront China [Business Mi...

Dong Thap Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Attacking 4 Colleagues with Acid
Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap have arrested a local teacher for allegedly throwing acid on 4 co-workers, leaving them with serious burns, according to Thanh Nien.

Morning News Roundup: Foreign Tourist Dies After Fall in Nha Trang
Meet Vietnamese, 24, who can speak 8 foreign languages [Tuoi Tre] Breaking bad: Vietnam's female rap stars [AFP] HCM City Steps Up Poverty Reduction Drive [Bernama]

After 23 Years, Lufthansa to Close HCMC Route
Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline, will close its Frankfurt-HCMC route after 23 years, reports the Saigon Times.

Fake Diplomas Continue to Undermine Vietnamese Education System
Once again the issue of fake qualifications has hit the news in Vietnam, and it comes as no surprise that once again the problem seems to be in the state sector, according to Tuoi Tre. What is surpris...

Vietnam is the World’s 4th Largest Consumer of Instant Noodles
Given the huge stocks of instant noodles in the aisles of Vietnamese supermarkets and corner stores, this probably won’t come as much of a surprise: a recent report found that Vietnam is now the world...

Weekend News Roundup: Saigon Woman Wants to Marry a Death Row Prisoner
One more vaccine-related death triggers worries in Vietnam [Global Times] Saigon woman wants to marry a death row prisoner [VietNamNet] Vietnam calls for aviation expansion [TTR Weekl...

Morning News Roundup: Not Allowed to Board, Passenger Threatens to Blow Up Jetstar Pacific Plane
Not allowed to board, passenger threatens to rocket Jetstar Pacific’s plane [VietNamNet] Vietnam expressways get Japan tech [Bangkok Post] Vietnam, Russia to construct $500 mln atomic ener...

Vietnamese Businessman Rescued from Chinese Kidnappers who Demanded $323,000 Ransom
After a month of captivity, a Vietnamese businessman and his interpreter, being held for a $323,000 ransom, were rescued by Chinese police last week, reports Tuoi Tre.

Morning News Roundup: Polluted Rivers, Dwindling Groundwater Threaten Vietnam City Supply
Red tape hinders construction of HCMC underground parking lots [VietNamNet] Polluted rivers, dwindling groundwater threaten Vietnam city supply [Thanh Nien] Exhibition showcases metal arte...

[Updated] End of an Era? Authorities Reportedly Crack Down on Bui Vien Street Drinking
[Update Below] Bui Vien, the land of drunken backpackers and general debauchery, underwent a makeover yesterday when police removed motorbikes and plastic furniture from the area’s sidewalks, accordin...

Vietnam’s First McDonald’s Has Served More than 400,000 Customers
Henry Nguyen, owner of Good Day Hospitality, which operates McDonald's in Vietnam, announced yesterday that the company’s first Vietnamese branch served over 400,000 customers in its first month of op...

Morning News Roundup: Norway’s Crown Prince to visit Vietnam
Vietnam seeks to reduce citizens’ papers with new ID card [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s mobile apps industry starts to toddle [VietNamNet] Study says Vietnam at H7N9 risk as two new cases noted&n...

Survey: 38% of Vietnamese Support Same-Sex Marriage
In a recent survey conducted by Vietnam’s Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment and the Health Strategy and Policy Institute (that’s a mouthful!), more than one-third of respondent...

[Video] Vietnamese Students Cross Raging Floodwaters to Get to School
Education is one of the most valued possessions in Vietnamese society and many children outside of the country’s urban centers expend a great deal of time and energy and, in some cases, risk their liv...

Morning News Roundup: Korean Company Director Found Dead in Vietnam
Big players' entry to hot up Vietnam cable TV market [Thanh Nien] E-payment catches on with Vietnamese consumers [SGGP] Vietnam to Lower Key Policy Rates to Support Economic Growth [B...

Morning News Roundup: 7,000 Vietnamese Inmates Write Apology Letters to Victims
Foreign textile firms invest in Vietnam to take advantage of TPP [Thanh Nien] Too Many Vietnam Seaports Spoiling Terminal Business [Bloomberg] Vietnam’s museums to display artifacts in New...

Morning News Roundup: Ex-bank Official Faces Death in $90 mln Swindle Case
Ex-bank official faces death in $90 mln swindle case [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam to clean river with $4 mil mangroves project [Thanh Nien] China pours more money into Vietnam, raising bigger worrie...

Victim in Deadly Hoi An Accident Identified as Honeymooning Australian
Well, this sad story just got that much sadder. According to The Age, the victim in last Thursday’s deadly Hoi An traffic accident was 26-year-old nurse, Katie Hirth from Geelong, Australia who was ho...

