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 Saigon
Police to Fine Parents Blocking Traffic Outside of Schools
Packs of parents, idling on motorbikes, waiting for their children to finish their school days, are a common sight in cities across Vietnam. Hundreds of parents jockey for position, yelling and waving...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Severe Power Shortage to Hit Next Dry Season
- Vietnam vehicle sales up 20% in August [Justauto] - Forests destroyed to grow rubber [VietnamNet] - Authorities fail to tackle pollution woes [VietnamNet]
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
[Updated] Nha Trang Effectively Bans Motorbike Rentals for Foreigners
[Update Below] On August 21st, the Khanh Hoa Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a decision to ban tourist companies from renting motorbikes to foreigners who don’t have Vietname...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Hundreds Confess to Killing Dog Thieves in Bac Giang
In an act of solidarity with their fellow villagers, hundreds have signed a petition confessing to the murder of 2 suspected dog thieves who were caught and beaten to death on August 27 in the Hiep Ho...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: 1 Dead, 7 Missing at Ship Collision Offshore Vietnam
- Tax incentives likely for tech-savvy enterprises [VNS] - Vietnam wants US contributions to Asian security, development [VoV] - Japan investment in Vietnam metr...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- Vietnam up in FIFA rankings [VietnamNet] - Vietnam's auto import continues to slide in August [East Day] - Vietnam’s rice productivity may reduce 10% on climate chan...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Airports to Cut Fees by Half to Attract Foreign Carriers
- Vietnam airports to cut fees by half to attract foreign carriers [Thanh Nien] - Deal between Tony Blair and Vietnam gov’t not yet finalized [Thanh Nien] - Hue specialties ...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Bill Gates Posts Picture of Vietnam Wires on Facebook, Sparks Fly
American billionaire, Bill Gates, recently took to Facebook to express his concerns about rising electricity demands in developing countries. To illustrate this, he used a picture of tangled electrica...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Bill: Job-Seeking Foreigners Must Have Work Permit Before Entering Vietnam
Vietnam seems to be overhauling their immigration policies this week. In addition to yesterday’s news that foreigners working in Vietnam without a work permit will be deported, Tuoi Tre is reporting t...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Crime on the Rise in HCMC
- Vietnam lifts radiation inspection on Japanese food imports [Global Post] - Vietnam’s farm produce exports remain precarious [VietnamNet] - Will threat to pull out of Viet...
Brian Letwin in Asia
China's $1.9 Billion Mooncake Industry
Vietnam might consume a lot of mooncakes during the mid-autumn festival, but it has nothing on China. The country of over one billion has more than 10,000 mooncake manufacturers which produce over 28...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Slideshow: Gang of Taxi Drivers Destroys Truck Driver After Accident Near Tan Son Nhat
Yesterday at 11:30, a battle royal occurred near Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat airport between a truck driver and gaggle (we’re pretty sure this is the technical term) of taxi drivers.
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Decree: Foreign Workers Without Work Permits to be Deported
Following in the footsteps of other ASEAN nations like Malaysia, a new government decree, set to go into effect on November 1st, includes provisions for deporting foreign workers in Vietnam who d...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
5 Arrested in Massive Saigon Nike Theft
Vietnam may be the land of Nike but the company’s pricey shoes make them a prime target for thievery. Earlier this week, A Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced five men to up to 15 years in prison for ste...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Unfinished Billion Dollar Casino Projects
- Shiseido Vietnam builds US$30 million plant in Dong Nai [VoV] - Bulgarians held for stealing money using fake ATM cards [Tuoi Tre] - PM flags off work on 2.9km cable...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
American Teacher Killed by Truck in District 7
An American English teacher was hit by a truck and died this morning on Luu Trong Lu st. in District 7.
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
- State firms pay highest wages [VietnamNet] - Tony Blair strikes new deals to advise Vietnam and Peru [The Telegraph] - Authorities revoke license of clinic with Chin...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Vietnam, Neighbors Pledge to End Dog Meat Trade
At a recent meeting in Hanoi, the four governments agreed in principle on a strategy to end the trafficking of dogs between Vietnam and its neighbors, which is estimated at 5 million animals annually....
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Saigon From Above
Photographer Gian Thanh Son is completing a book and preparing a special exhibition, "Discovering Saigon from the air." With the help of special forces helicopter Regiment 917 (Air Division 370), Son...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Vietnam: The Land of Nike
According to AmCham Vietnam, 98% of Nike footwear is produced in Asia with Vietnam leading the pack followed by China and Indonesia. In the 2013 fiscal year, Vietnam, which houses at least 10 Nike fa...
