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?
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Plan To Hike Water Prices Runs Into Stiff Opposition
HCM City canal remains dirty after $46m cleanup [Vietnam Net] Cheap Vietnam Stocks Are Set to Rise to 7-Year High [Bloomberg] Teenager creates 3D scans of hundreds of Vietnamese mascots on webs...
Authorities Move To Ban Fishing In HCMC Canals
A proposal to prohibit fishing in all canals and lakes in HCMC is being discussed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Developer Pushes To Build Artificial Island For Villas, Golf Course On Ha Long Bay
A powerful real estate developer is attempting to push forward on a massive artificial island project that would bring both villas and a 27-hole golf course to Ha Long Bay.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Man Compensated For Wrong Murder Charge In 8-Year Legal Fight
Made-in-Vietnam chips gaining foothold in domestic market [Tuoi Tre] Petrol prices cut by 1,900 VND per litre [Tuoi Tre] Raising wild animals in farms causes scare in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]
The “Wolf of Wall Street” To Host Workshop In HCMC
Billionaire Jordan Belfort, the subject of the hit film Wolf of Wall Street, will travel to HCMC in March to hold a workshop where he will “share his secrets to success.”
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Pulls Out All The Stops For Samsung
Vietjet Air poised to hold IPO [Vietnam Net] Country’s most modern radiotherapy centre launched [Nhan Dan] HCM City pulls out all the stops for Samsung [VoV]
Repairs To Vietnam’s Damaged Undersea Internet Cable Delayed
Unlike the last time the Asia America Gateway cable ruptured, repairs won’t be completed ahead of schedule this time around.
Morning News Roundup: Central Bank To Impose Immediate Fine On Banks With Out-Of-Cash ATMs
Bachelor’s degrees lose value because of poor training quality [Vietnam Net] Ho Chi Minh City leads nation in export revenue [Nhan Dan] Employers must pay interest rate for late wage payment [SGGP]
[NSFW] Naked Europeans Deported From Cambodia for 'Violating Country's Beautiful Customs and Culture'
Earlier this month, local police arrested three European tourists for riding naked through the Cambodian countryside.
Free WIFI Coming To Downtown Saigon During Tết
The Saigon Postal Corporation (SPT) will install hot spots providing free WIFI all along Hàm Nghi Street for the Tết holiday this year.
26,000 Old Quarter Residents To Be Relocated In 2017
Hanoi authorities have set a 2017 moving date for 26,000 Old Quarter residents who will be relocated to a new residential area in Long Bien District which lies just across the Red River.
Weekend News Roundup: Cops Seize A Ton Of Marijuana Growing In Southern Vietnam
Robotic engineering course launched in primary schools [SGGP] Vietnamese tea industry sees recovery brewing [Nhan Dan] Deforestation continues to deplete nation's wealth [Vietnam Net]
Temperatures In Saigon Reach 21-Year Low?
If you’re a Hanoi native, you’ve probably felt right at home on your commute to work in recent days.
Japan Announces Plans to Build Mind-Blowing Underwater City
A Japanese architecture firm, Shimizu, has revealed its plans to build an underwater city that could be finished as early as 2035. The spherical underwater structure, dubbed the Ocean Spiral, is slate...
Morning News Roundup: Auto Manufacturers Worried About HCMC’s Proposed Restrictions On Cars
WB keeps Vietnam’s GDP growth at 5.6% in 2015 [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam airliner makes emergency landing as Chinese baby develops convulsions [Tuoi Tre] Schools ordered to check students' medical hist...
Morning News Roundup: Separate Jails Proposed For Transgender, Gay Prisoners
Vietnam plans for transport restructuring by 2020 [Vietnam Net] Investigation team on collapsed tunnel in Lam Dong set up [Vietnam Plus] Power group continues proposing power price increase [SG...
Hong Kong Man Detained After Strapping 94 iPhones To His Body
In the grand scheme of things, smuggling electronics is a less risky proposition than say, drugs, but that doesn’t mean it’s an act without consequences as one Hong Kong man learned the hard way.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Airlines Attempts To Bar Striking Pilots From Working For Other Carriers
Changes to area code, digital prefixes to happen in phases [Vietnam Plus] Ha Noi air traffic control centre begins operations [Vietnam News] Samsung requests $15.5 mil tax break to start HCMC factor...
Restaurateur Arrested for Buying Stolen Dogs in Southern Vietnam
Police in Binh Duong Province, just outside of Saigon, arrested a man last Thursday when he was pulled over with 10 dead dogs stacked on the back of his motorbike.
Morning News Roundup: HCMC To Offer Downtown Electric Bus Tour For $1
Rough waves destroy homes in central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam’s Got Talent contestant drinks acid by mistake [DTI News] HCM City to add more 23 CNG buses [SGGP]
