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.
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.”
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.
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.
Hanoi Family Finds Long-Lost Daughter in Quarantine After 24 Years Missing
In the time of unprecedented hardships, a family in Hanoi found the light at the end of the tunnel.
Weekend Stories Roundup: ASEAN Film Week, Illegal Construction, and Phu Quoc
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
Morning Stories Roundup: Bus App, Match-Fixing, and Son Tung M-TP
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
Aviation Authority Proposes Flights From 6 Asian Countries From August
They include China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Laos and Cambodia.
Saigon Commences Training Course for 58 Future Metro Train Drivers
Progress on Saigon's Metro Line 1 is moving into the human resources and training phase.
63% of Vietnamese Women Abused by Husbands at Least Once in Their Lifetime
In a recently published report, data shows that Vietnamese women are frequently abused by their husband, and these instances of violence happen to a significant portion of the female population.
Vietnam's Coal Imports Reach Record High in First Half of 2020
Demand for electricity in the country is surging.
Morning Stories Roundup: New Tunnel, Phu Cat Airport, and Hotels for Sale
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
Morning Stories Roundup: Train Ticket App, Domestic Air Routes, and Repatriation
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
Saigon Approves Plan to Charge Cars Fee to Enter Downtown
To improve downtown Saigon’s traffic situation, city authorities are planning to boost public transportation while imposing more hurdles on private vehicles entering the area.
Weekend Stories Roundup: 2 New Imported Cases of COVID-19 Raise Total to 372
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
Thai Cabinet Approves Bill to Legalize Same-Sex Partnerships
Thailand is on its way to allowing same-sex unions.
Morning Stories Roundup: High-Speed Boat, Case 91 Updates, and Tourism Festival
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
Saigon Reveals Plans to Spend $17bn on Public Transit Over 10 Years
This is part of an effort to increase public transport usage and reduce private vehicle numbers as traffic and air quality continues to worsen.
Taxis, Ride-Hailing Cars Must Switch to Yellow License Plate, New Policy Says
In the future, car drivers for ride-hailing apps will have to get a new license plate in a whole new color.
Morning Stories Roundup: Runway Repairs, Pawnshop Fire, and Gold Price Hike
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
Khoi Pham in Saigon
[Photos] Inside a Ben Thanh Devoid of Tourists, Forlorn Kiosks and Mass Closures
Plump mangosteens, cheap iPhở shirts, freshly ground coffee, and paper cut-outs of city landmarks — there was a time when the northern gate of Ben Thanh Market was lined door-to-door with dynamic shop...
Foreign Students With Online-Only Courses May Need to Leave the US, ICE Says
A notice from the US' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency announced that if a university shifts to online-only education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, non-citizen students would n...
Morning Stories Roundup: Blood Donations, 5G Tests, and New Health Minister
Stay connected with Saigoneer on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. Each morning, we select some of the most important stories from Saigon, the rest of Vietnam and beyond, and digest them...
Saigon Announces Large Natural Eco Park for Thu Thiem
Will this major green space project come to fruition in Thu Thiem?
