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?
$14 Million Approved For Restoration Of Hanoi’s 112-Year-Old Long Biên Bridge
The fate of one of Vietnam’s most beloved and storied structures took another positive turn last week when the government approved a $14 million restoration package for Long Biên Bridge.
Saigon Post Office To Be Repainted Yet Again Following Complaints
Following public outcry and criticism from street vendors, historians, artists and tourists, Saigon Central Post Office officials have announced that they will repaint the iconic building after consul...
Weekend News Roundup: HCMC's Underground Parking Lot Plan Appears To Implode
Foreign banks look local for CEOs [Vietnam Net] MobiFone to offer 2 million new 10-digit numbers [Vietnam Plus] Unemployment rate projected to rise in HCM City [Vietnam Plus]
HCMC Seeks To Set Limits On Cars, Motorbikes
To combat the mind-numbingly horrible gridlock and worsening pollution in the city, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transportation is seeking the government’s approval to limit the flow of personal...
Repair Date Set For Vietnam’s Undersea Internet Cable
The operator of the Asia America Gateway cable has announced that repairs will be completed on January 23.
Major Changes Announced For Vietnamese Phone Numbers
On March 1, Vietnam will change up the area codes of 59 provinces and restrict mobile phone numbers to 10 digits.
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Cabbie Returns $11,600 Vertu Phone To Passenger
Vietnam upholds life sentence in largest-ever white collar case [Thanh Nien] Vietnamese-American wins $46,700 claim against eye hospital [Tuoi Tre] Cabbie in Vietnam metropolis returns $11,600 Vertu...
Vietnamese Taxi Companies Finally Drop Fares As Fuel Prices Plummet
After government pressure, Vietnam’s taxi companies have announced that they will lower their fares to bring them inline with plummeting global oil prices.
Are Sharks to Blame for Vietnam’s Broken Internet Cable?
In the many breaks that have occurred along the Asia America Gateway internet cable since it went online in 2009, Vietnamese telecoms have been unable to determine the culprit. According to The Indepe...
Masterchef Christine Ha Is Eating And Drinking Her Way Through Saigon
Vietnamese-American Masterchef, Christine Ha, is back in Saigon and seems to be eating and drinking her way through the city.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Spends $1.57 Bln On Foreign-Made Cars In 2014, Highest Rate Ever
Vietnam expects to manufacture 200,000 automobiles in 2015 [DTI News] Hanoi aims at green, clean 2015 [Vietnam Plus] City streets named Vietnamese talent artists [SGGP]
Everyone Seems To Be Unhappy With The Saigon Post Office’s Makeover
Over the past few months, one of Saigon’s most beloved old buildings has been undergoing a serious makeover, trading in its subdued, light pink paint for a bright, golden yellow coat.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Airlines Flight Delayed As Escorted Criminal Utters False Bomb Threat
Vietnam introduces measures to regulate online games [Nhan Dan] Petrol prices drop for first time in 2015 [Nhan Dan] Small banknotes come with exorbitant fees [DTI]
It May Take 1 Month To Fix Undersea Internet Cable: Viettel
Get ready for an extended period of snail’s pace Internet.
Morning News Roundup: HCMC Offers $84k Salaries To Reverse Brain Drain
Vietnam hub offers $84k salaries to reverse brain drain [Thanh Nien] Vietnam Fumbles For New Plan To Attract (And Repel) Foreign Funds [Forbes] Technical malfunction forces emergency landing in...
A New Year, A New Break In Vietnam’s Undersea Internet Cable
After numerous interruptions in service in 2014, the notoriously unreliable, 20,000km, $560 million Asia-America Gateway cable has ruptured at multiple points on the segment that lies off the coast of...
Jay-Z And Beyonce's SE Asia Holiday: Motorbikes And $25k Per Night Villas
Star couple, Jay-Z and Beyonce, took a break from their busy schedules to visit SE Asia in recent days.
Weekend News Roundup: 136 Vietnamese Women Freed From Prostitution Den In Malaysia
HCM City: Tourist boats face uncertain future [Vietnam Net] Da Nang to hear out critics of controversial skyscraper [Thanh Nien] CGV opens art house cinemas in Hanoi, HCMC [Thanh Nien]
Phạm Ngũ Lão Pickpocketing Ring Busted
After weeks of investigation, HCMC police have arrested 12 suspects who allegedly targeted tourists in the city’s backpacker area.
Drone Video And Photos Of Saigon’s New Years Celebration
Thousands of people flocked to the streets of downtown Saigon on New Year’s Eve, jockeying for position to catch a glimpse of the elaborate fireworks displays.
