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?
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap dies [Tuoi Tre] Efficiency Needs to Play a Bigger Role in Vietnam’s Fast-Growing Cities [GreenTechMedia] MetLife Expands Asian Growth Ambitions To Vietnam...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam’s Coffee Industry Rumored to be Collapsing
Vietnam’s New Crop Coffee Premium Seen 58% Below 2012-13 Beans [Bloomberg] Vietnam considers selling a bank to foreigners [Vietnam Net] Vietnam state firm chief cops golfing ban for whacki...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Builds First Power Plant Fueled by Rice Husks
Vietnam builds first power plant fueled by rice husks [Vietnam Net] Vietnam reports 124 mln USD trade deficit in 9 months [Global Times] Big test for ageing economic system [Vietnam N...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Japanese National Killed at Ben Thanh Bus Station
In what seems to be a worrying trend, another foreigner has died in Saigon, this time a Japanese lecturer on her way home from school. The 50-year-old victim was a teacher of Oriental Studies at ...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Cop Arrested for Shooting Boss Dead
Tropical storm Wutip brings rain and winds to Vietnamese coast, leaves 75 fishermen missing [Washington Post] Vietnam ranks 7th worldwide for economic growth potential [Thanh Nien] V...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Central Vietnam Braces for Superstorm Wutip
Superstorm Wutip, currently around 200km off Vietnam’s central coast, is expected to make landfall at 4pm this afternoon. With maximum winds of 149kph, local authorities in Ha Tinh are in the process...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- Hanoi hosts first street performance festival [Nhan Dan] - 40 years on: When Fidel Castro came to town [VNS] - “White gold” plants encroach on forest’s territory [Vie...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam has More Than 300,000 Obese Children
- Nok Air has Vietnam in sights [Bangkok Post] - Vietnam man arrested for car accident that drowned 5, including 2 kids [Thanh Nien] - HIV/AIDS transmission rate in Vi...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Gender Inequality in Vietnam at Alarming Rate: Official
- Economic growth at 5.14 percent in first nine months [SGGP] - Vietnam's VietJet seen close to major Airbus order [Reuters] - Vietnam city to apply new English language te...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Traffic Cop Allegedly Shoots Colleagues in Vietnam
- Vietnam’s bad debt attractive to some investors, but regulations still unclear [Washington Post] - Typhoon Usagi kills 24 in Vietnam [IOL News] - Little good news as Vietn...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Vietnamese Exec Beats Caddy Unconscious. Keeps Golf Club Membership.
Even with its slow pace, golf can bring out your competitive side. A missed putt or journey to a sand trap can boil the blood of even the most patient player. But that’s no excuse to beat your caddy w...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Authorities to Crack Down on Illegitimate Diplomatic Cars
You know all those fancy diplomatic cars speeding around District 1? Well, as it turns out, chances are the occupants are not diplomatic officials, but rather locals who bought the car and never trans...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
VNA Flight Attendant Arrested for Smuggling 50 iPhone 5s
Vietnamese airline employees have been known to cause a stir from time to time. Earlier this year, actress Ly Nha Ky got a VietJet flight crew into hot water when she was invited into the cockpit...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Cops Accused of Torturing Suspects in Dog Thieves Murder Case
- 7 arrested for robbing Ukrainian in central Vietnam [Thanh Nien] - Vietnamese favor super-expensive mobile phones [Vietnam Net] - Vietnam intends to grant husbands paterni...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Hue's Refurbished Airport Reopens
As Saigon waits for its new, massive airport, some of Vietnam’s smaller cities are focusing on renovations rather than starting from scratch. Hue’s Phu Bai airport, which was reopened yesterday a...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Foreigner Dies After Jumping Off Roof of Ford Dealership
Last week an unidentified foreigner snuck into the Ford showroom on Cao Thang Street in District 1 and jumped to his death in what authorities are calling a suicide.
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- Vietnam students give history a modern twist [Thanh Nien] - The most famous family run economic groups in Vietnam [VietnamNet] - Foreigner commits suicide by jumping off a...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Achieves 2013 Foreign Investment Goal
- 5 missing after car swept away in Vietnam flash flood [Tuoi Tre] - Vietnam achieves 2013 foreign investment goal [Thanh Nien] - Vietnam’s 1st ao dai museum to open in HCMC...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vinashin to Lay Off 14,000 Workers
- Mass evacuations ordered as storm nears [VoV] - Prehistoric traces found in Thai Nguyen [VNS] - Big names set to draw crowds at motor show [VNS] - 11 Vietnamese...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Map: More Than Half of the World's Population Lives Within This Circle
It’s well-known that Asia is the world’s population center (thanks, China and India!) with 51% of the global population. But this fact is slightly mind-blowing when illustrated visually. Reddit user, ...
