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 ...
Khôi Phạm in Saigon
Letter to the People I Met as We Hid From the Rain Under a Bridge Together
“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.”— Vladimir Nabokov.
Hanoi's Bát Tràng Ceramic Village Turns Historic Craft Into Global Fame
Bát Tràng has been producing ceramics for over 700 years, but it’s the recent decades that interest me most: a period in which this small village has mirrored Vietnam’s rapid economic growth.
Final Merging Plan Brings Vietnam's Locality Number From 63 to 34
After extended working sessions to gather insights from experts and locals, Vietnam’s state government has announced the final version of the country’s administrative map.
Múa Lân Is Officially Recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage
In Chợ Lớn, every Tết, amid the aroma of burning joss sticks and an onslaught of red-color decorations is the echoing beats of lion dance instruments. For generations of Saigoneer, the presence of múa lân, or lion dance, is a sign of festivity and celebration.
Uyên Đỗ in Saigon
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.
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Vinamilk Gets Approval to Export Dairy Products to US
Vinamilk, Vietnam's favorite dairy brand, has been given the go-ahead by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin exporting products to the US – a first for the Vietnamese dairy industry. U...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Weapons Grade Uranium Removed from Da Lat
A joint American and Russian program has removed the last remaining, highly enriched uranium from Da Lat’s nuclear research facilities. Over the last 6 years, the US and Russia have shipped out 35 po...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Introduces Digital Textbooks at Select Schools
- Foreign giants hunt for retail space in HCM City [VietnamNet Bridge] - Vietnam introduces digital textbooks at select schools [Thanh Nien] - US: Vietnam's weapons-grade uranium remo...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened This Weekend? 9 Stories You May Have Missed
While you were busy this weekend checking out emerging Vietnamese artists and trying to stay dry, you may have missed this weekend’s news: - Vietnam Devalues Dong for First Time Since Decem...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Reckless Driving Turns Vietnam's Highways into Horror Show
- Two Africans expelled from Vietnam for conning locals [Thanh Nien] - Lethal injection “is still being prepared” [VietnamNet Bridge] - Vietnam Economic Growth Quickens as Inves...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: US citizen caught at airport with giant heroin haul
-US citizen caught at Vietnam airport with giant heroin haul [Thanh Nien] -Heineken ‘absolutely on top’ of fake beer threat after Vietnam gang bust [Beverage Daily] -Drunken man sleeps on highw...
Brian Letwin in Stories
Vietnam Airports Charging Premium Prices for Low-Quality Products
We’ve all been there – in the rush to get to the airport on time, you forgo a necessary meal. You arrive only to find that your (insert budget airline here) flight has been delayed 2 hours. Maybe ther...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: A Look Inside Male Brothels
Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: -A look inside male brothels [Tuoi Tre] -Clean cafés emerge in city, outplay sidewalk rivals [Tuoi Tre] -HCM City: River “swallows” seven hous...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Cops to Mass Produce Fishnet Launchers to Catch Traffic Violators
Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: -Vietnam cops to mass produce fishnet launchers to catch traffic violators [Thanh Nien] -Drug makers accused of collusion [Vietnam Ne...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
What the Phở Happened This Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
While you were busy this weekend checking out the Indochina Project and waiting for the SuperMoon to appear, you may have missed this weekend’s news:
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Weapons Workshop Uncovered in Hai Phong
If there's a will, there's a way. When you own a workshop and are a drug addict, this could lead you to running a gun-making operation as in the case of Duong Minh Nhat. The 38-year-old and his wife ...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Don't Panic: SuperMoon is on Its Way
It’s about that time again. On June 23, the year’s largest supermoon will be visible above the Saigon skies. A supermoon occurs when a full moon lines up with the Earth and the sun at a specific poin...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: 550 Houses Built Illegally in HCMC in One Month
- Vietnam to reduce corporate income tax rate to help businesses [Bloomberg] - Vietnam planning new north-south air route [Thanh Nien] - UNESCO vows help for Vietnam’s sustainable develo...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Thai Monks Traveling on Private Jet Cause Uproar
Three Thai monks have landed in hot water after footage of the trio flying on a private jet, wearing sunglasses and earphones and carrying Louis Vuitton bags emerged on YouTube. The video has caused ...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam Drags Feet on Single Visa for Mekong Region
- Alarming rise in accidents by drunken drivers in HCMC [SaigonGP Daily] - Vietnam drags feet on single visa for Mekong region [Thanh Nien] - Agency questioned after travelers left stranded in...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Lost Cambodian City Found Using Frickin' Laser Beams
Apparently Ankgor Watt is a piece of a larger puzzle. Using frickin' areal lasers, archaeologists have identified a sprawling city around the 1,200 year old temple complex, revealing how the area’s ne...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: 701 Vietnamese Travelers Abandoned in Thailand
Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: - Prostitution ring targeting foreigners busted in Vietnam metro [Thanh Nien] - Gold Premiums in Vietnam Hit $217 Over Spot In Heavy Demand [Go...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: New Plan to Curb Drunk Driving Unpopular
Here's what's making news around Vietnam this morning: - Power outage at Tan Son Nhat airport affects 1,000 flyers [Tuoi Tre] - Vietnam Stocks Fall to Three-Week Low on Gasoline Price Increase [Bloo...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
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Friendly Between Arsenal and Vietnam in Jeopardy
The friendly between Arsenal and Vietnam is in a state of limbo after stadium owners raised fees for the match. Touted as the first Premier League team to visit Vietnam, Arsenal had planned to play t...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
New Ho Chi Minh Statue for Downtown
The iconic statue of Ho Chi Minh, which has made its home in front of the HCMC People’s Committee building, will soon be moved and replaced by a new bust of Vietnam’s most beloved national hero. The ...
