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.
Lego to Build First Carbon-Neutral Factory in Binh Duong
Vietnam is set to produce the beloved bricks as regional demand for the Danish toy rises.
Over 70% of Parents of Grade 1 Students Don't Support In-Person Classes
In-person learning for Saigon's Grade 1 students is set to resume on December 13 for two weeks as a trial program, but more than 70% of parents don't want their children to return to the classroom.
Hanoi Looks Into Banning Motorcycles in City Center From 2025
Authorities are researching a plan to ban motorcycles in the city center from 2025 onward.
Public Bike Rental Service to Launch in Saigon on Friday
Saigoneers are about to have a new way to get around town.
A Vietnam Representative Won Miss Grand International for the First Time
Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên has become the first Vietnam representative to win the crown at Miss Grand International.
Hanoi Suffers Vietnam's Worst Air Pollution in 2020, Scientists Say
While many northern provinces scored poorly, Hanoi took the distinction of having the highest average PM2.5 concentration for 2020.
[Photos] Dilapidated and Abandoned, Hồ Tây's 'Floating Castles' Are Finally Dismantled
After almost five years of rotting in abandonment, a few of the cruise boats on West Lake are finally being dismantled.
Southern Vietnam to Experience More Cold Spells Until Christmas: Experts
If you’ve enjoyed Saigon’s “wintry” mornings this past week, there’s more to come.
Homegrown Vaccine Covivac Suspends Testing Due to Lack of Unvaccinated Volunteers
Citing a lack of unvaccinated volunteers for necessary human trials, the third phase of testing for Vietnam's Covivac COVID-19 vaccine has been indefinitely suspended.
Felled Heritage Trees on Nguyen Binh Khiem Cause Outrage Among Saigoneers
Over the weekend, some Saigoneers were shocked to see images surfacing online showing city maintenance workers chopping down heritage trees along Nguyen Binh Khiem Street.
As Cases Rise, Da Nang to Establish Walk-in Covid-19 Vaccination Site
As Da Nang experiences its highest new COVID-19 case numbers in two months, city leaders are ramping up vaccination efforts.
After Each Flood, Hoi An Picks Itself up, Just Like It Has Always Done
Every year, Vietnam braces for dozens of tropical storms coming from the East Sea. Localities along the coast in central Vietnam have to bear devastating destruction caused by Mother Earth whenever se...
Bars, Cinemas, Ride-Hailing Return to Saigon in Low-Risk Districts
Many previously suspended activities are allowed again in Saigon depending on their district’s COVID-19 risk assessment.
Thief Breaks Into Anti-Theft Device Store in Binh Duong
In a sweet stroke of irony, a security equipment shop in Binh Duong Province couldn’t stop a criminal from infiltrating their own stronghold.
Saigon Proposes 2 New Waterbus Routes Linking Districts 1, 7
Saigoneer's favorite form of transportation has just proposed adding two new routes linking District 7 and District 1.
Brown, Princeton Universities Offer First-Ever Vietnamese-Language Classes
The two Ivy League colleges are collaborating on beginner and intermediate Vietnamese language courses after high demand from members of their student bodies.
Hanoi's First Metro Line Will Officially Open Tomorrow
Hanoi's Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line will be the first metro system in Vietnam to commence operation.
Delta Variant Accounts for 100% of Cases in Saigon's Current Outbreak, Data Shows
The Delta variant of the novel coronavirus was the main reason that the current outbreak in Saigon was so fast-spreading and severe, a recent report shows.
Oxford University's Linacre College to Be Renamed After Donation From VietJet CEO
In response to a £155 million (VND4.8 trillion) donation via the SOVICO Group, which Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo is president of, Oxford University's Linacre College plans to change its name to Thao C...
Bamboo Air to Launch Direct London Flights from Hanoi, Saigon
The routes will only be available once Vietnam resumes inbound international flights.
