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?
Da Nang Restarts Social Distancing After Cases of Covid-19 Community Transmission Emerge
Over the weekend, Vietnam recorded five new COVID-19 infections, four of which are community transmissions, putting an end to the country’s 99-day streak without local infections.
Weekend Stories Roundup: Street Rename, Bus Crash, and Covid-19 Updates
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: Covid-19 Vaccine, Central Heatwave, and Expressway Deterioration
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...
In 2020, Northern Vietnam Sees Longest Heatwave in Years; Earlier, Colder Winter
Feeling like this summer has been excruciatingly long? It’s not just you.
Stuck in Africa, Vietnamese Workers Forced to Work Despite Rampant Covid-19 Cases
On the afternoon of July 11, the people of Lãng Thanh Commune (in Yên Thành District, Nghệ An Province), rejoiced as Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc announced that Vietnamese workers in Equatorial Gui...
Morning Stories Roundup: Art Museum, Economic Growth, and Offshore Wind Project
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...
The Delay Continues for Saigon's Parking Lot Project Under Tao Đàn Park
Ten years after it was first approved, construction of the parking lot below District 1's Tao Đàn Park has again been delayed.
Is Vietnam Ready for Its New Place Among the World's Fastest-Ageing Societies?
Vietnam is among the world’s most rapidly changing countries, by virtually every metric.
Morning Stories Roundup: Ha Giang Floods, HCMC FC, and Noise in Airport
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: Truck Collision, Domestic Tourism, and Private Vehicles
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...
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.
