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?
Weekend News Roundup: Re-Edited "50 Shades Of Grey" Hits Vietnam Theaters After Premiere Setback
McDonald’s continues expansion in Vietnam [DTI] Thousands of poor labourers given free trips home for Tet [Vietnam Plus] Gun found in cargo at Tan Son Nhat airport [Vietnam Plus]
[Video] Tornado Tears Roofs Off Homes In District 7
When you think of inclement weather in Saigon, tornados are about the last thing that comes to mind. But residents of District 7’s Tan Thuan Tay Ward may want to add some extra nails to their roofs af...
New Nguyen Hue Walking Street To Be Vehicle Free On Weekend, Holiday Nights
The Nguyen Hue phase of the $20.2 million promenade that will eventually connect downtown Saigon to Thu Thiem will be closed to vehicle traffic on nights, weekends and holidays when it opens later thi...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam To Become World's 22nd Largest Economy By 2050
Central Highlands focuses on sustainable poverty reduction [Vietnam Plus] Minister urges transport firms to lower fares [DTI] VN should discard conservative views on pig-chopping rite: Ministry of C...
18 Incredible Photos of 1950s Hong Kong
Like Saigon, Hong Kong has long been one of Asia’s most important commercial centers and both had been shaped by European colonial powers for nearly a century before being captured by the Japanese dur...
Morning News Roundup: World Bank Blacklists 8 Projects In Vietnam For Tardiness
Three condemned to death for smuggling 11kg of heroin in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam-Laos border marker planting to be completed this year: officials [Tuoi Tre] World Bank blacklists 8 proj...
[Video] 11 Injured After Car Crashes Into Crowd at Tan Son Nhat
Last night at 7:15pm, a black Audi A8L crashed into a crowd in front of the international terminal at Tan Son Nhat Airport, injuring at least 11 and damaging nearby cars and billboards.
Morning News Roundup: Despite Criticism, Vietnamese Villagers Make Blood Oath To Protect Pig Slaughter Fest
High-tech geriatric facility inaugurated in Hanoi [Vietnam Net] Hanoi to get disabled taxi service [Vietnam Plus] Solid waste piles up as country industrialises [SGGP]
Vietnamese Cities Launch “Taking Drunkards Home” Service
Feeling a bit too drunk to drive after an all-night nhậu session? Don’t worry, there’s a service for that.
Cambodia Deports Another Group of Tourists for Nude Angkor Photos
Another week, yet another group of international tourists was deported from Cambodia for taking “nude pictures” at the holy temples of Angkor Wat.
Morning News Roundup: Counterfeit Goods Undermine Vietnam’s Economic Prosperity
Fake labels on foreign alcohol flood Tet market [DTI] Counterfeit goods undermine Vietnam’s economic prosperity [Voice of Vietnam] Hanoi set ambitious goal on new-style rural building by 2020 [...
Italy Offers to Train Vietnamese Traffic Police
At a meeting with a Vietnamese delegation in Rome last week, an official from Italy’s Polizia Stradale offered his organization’s assistance in providing Vietnam’s traffic police with training to impr...
Numerous Streets In Downtown Saigon To Close For Tết Festivities
As if it weren’t challenging enough navigating downtown Saigon with the construction of the pedestrian promenade and metro station, numerous streets in the area will have been or will soon be closed t...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Most Modern Expressway Opens To Traffic
HCM Ciy flower fairs start next week [Vietnam Plus] Vietnam's most modern expressway opens to traffic [Thanh Nien] Japan gifts patrol ship to Vietnam after upgrade [Thanh Nien]
[Photos] Event Rewind: Saigoneer Photo Walk With Glen Riley
Last Sunday, Glen Riley led our first photowalk of the year through the hẻms around Phạm Ngũ Lão. We met at The Hungry Pig at 144 144 Cống Quỳnh, had a morning coffee, and headed out to expl...
Driver That Drove Bus Up Cần Thơ Bridge Fined Only VND350k
If you were to drive a bus up the arch of a bridge, causing a 10km traffic jam, you’d probably be concerned about getting slapped with a hefty fine. Apparently, you’d be worrying over nothing.
Morning News Roundup: Apartment Builders Skip Waste Treatment For Profit
Vietnam finds evidence of ancient volcano in central region [Thanh Nien] Vietnamese toddler abandoned on taxi reunites with his family after 2 months [Thanh Nien] Local group takes over, upgrades MT...
Vung Tau Restaurant That Overcharged Japanese Tourist By VND19.8 Million Shut Down
It’s always a good idea to check your bill before leaving a restaurant as one Japanese customer learned the hard way at a Vung Tau eatery last month.
40% of the Mekong Delta Could Disappear by 2115
The future of the Mekong Delta is growing increasingly uncertain due to the pressures of climate change and increasing development of hydroelectric power upstream in Laos, China and Cambodia.
Morning News Roundup: First Green School Model Makes Its Debut In Ho Chi Minh City
Fireworks displays planned for Lunar New Year [DTI] Vietnam may reduce lending rates with new housing stimulus package [Thanh Nien] Made-in-China trucks dominate Vietnam market [Vietnam Net]
