in Asia

ASEAN Welcomes East Timor, Asia's Youngest Nation, as 11th Member

Time for infographic artists and geography teachers in the region to update their work on ASEAN.

in Saigon

Into the Infernal Heat of One of Saigon's Last Remaining Forges

It's no exaggeration to say that working in a forge is akin to being in a fiery sauna.

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.

in Vietnam

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.”

in Vietnam

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.

in Saigon

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 ...

Back Stories

in Saigon

Saigonese Take To The Streets, Web To Protest Removal Of Tôn Đức Thắng Trees

After 51 old trees in front of the Saigon Opera House were felled back in July, 84 mahogany trees on Tôn Đức Thắng Street are encountering a similar fate. Refusing to stay silent about what they perce...

in Vietnam

Cover Of Vietnamese Law Book With Topless Comedian Atop Fireball Sparks Outrage

A book on Vietnam’s Civil Code and its guiding documents is drawing flack for its cover which shows a smirking Vietnamese comedian holding the scales of justice while standing atop a fireball. Not onl...

in Asia

Man Racks Up $1200 WIFI Bill On Singapore Airlines Flight

In a reminder to always read the small print (and forego airplane WIFI?), a Canadian man was charged $1,200 for WIFI on a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore last week. The customer has...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Non-Lethal Weapons Illegally Sold In Ho Chi Minh City

FPT users in Vietnam lose control to hacked Chinese modems [Thanh Nien] Hanoi struggles to manage ‘leaping frog' street markets [Vietnam Net] Ceremony held in remembrance of traffic accident vi...

in Vietnam

[Video] PM Dung Meets With US President Obama

At last week’s East Asia Summit in Myanmar, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung and U.S. President Barack Obama met with the press and discussed strengthening relations between their countries.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: New Taxi App Uber Frustrates Officials

FPT users in Vietnam lose control to hacked Chinese modems [Thanh Nien] HCMC leader demands results or resignations at water authority [Thanh Nien] Vietnamese coffee chain Trung Nguyen to enter...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Central Highlands Elephants On The Verge Of Extinction

Vietnam flick ‘flaps’ to Hollywood film fest [Tuoi Tre] Ho Chi Minh City to organize $1.5mn pyrotechnic, light shows on New Year’s Eve [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese could have 9 days off for Lunar New Year,...

in Saigon

[Video] Woman Narrowly Escapes Death By Truck With Acrobatics

For those who haven’t had one, it’s hard to imagine the feelings of terror followed by euphoria after a near-death experience. For this Saigon woman, the later must have been particularly satisfying a...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Over 1,600 Investors Register To Buy Vietnam Airlines Shares

Saigon Co.op makes Asia Pacific top 10 retailer list [DTI] Black boxes show speeding on the rise in Viet Nam [Vietnam News] Vietnam's taxi firms to cut fares as fuel prices fall [Thanh Nien]

in Saigon

HCMC To Build 100 More “5-Star” Toilets

HCMC is stepping up its toilet game with plans to add 100 more “5-Star” public lavatories around the city.

in Saigon

New Saigon Bikewash Offers Customers Free WIFI, AC And Massages

VietWash, a new, high-end carwash chain has just launched in Saigon and offers both customers and their motorbikes some pretty nifty amenities.

in Saigon

$100,000 Diamond Allegedly Vanishes From Woman’s Finger In HCMC Hotel

A Hanoi woman claims that she was drugged at a HCMC hotel last weekend and awoke to find that a $100,000 diamond had been pried from her ring.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam To Raise Minimum Wage By Up To $18.9 Per Month

Traffic accidents kill 25 people every day in Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Vietnam joins Boeing, Airbus industry supply chains [Vietnam Net] Rapid response team for traffic accidents debuts in HCMC [Tuoi Tr...

in Saigon

International Fashion Week Coming To HCMC Next Month

Prep your wardrobes. Fashion Week is coming to HCMC next month.

in Vietnam

David Beckham Arrives In Hanoi To Massive Crowds

Retired star footballer, David Beckham, arrived in Hanoi yesterday afternoon where he unsurprisingly caused quite a stir.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 78% Of Vietnam Children Under 6 Use Digital Devices

78% of Vietnam children under 6 use digital device: survey [Tuoi Tre] Luxury car market booming in Vietnam [Vietnam Net] Vietnam: Lack of Credit Cards Not Stopping Pursuit of E-commerce [VOA]

in Vietnam

Director Of Noi Bai Airport Apologizes For Poor Service, Promises To Improve

Following a negative review of Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport last month, its director has issued a public apology and vowed to improve services, according to Thanh Nien.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Vietnam’s Productivity Rate Remains One Of World’s Lowest

Vietnam’s productivity rate remains one of world’s lowest [Vietnam Net] HCMC plans nearly VND16 trillion for Tet goods [SGGP] Water plant project initiated to save polluted river [DTI News]

in Saigon

HSBC, ANZ To Close HCMC Branches Ahead Of New Operating Model

7 foreign banks, including the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp (HSBC) and the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ANZ) “finalizing procedures to close their branches in two biggest cities...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC To Spend VND4 Trillion Removing Households On Canals

HCMC to spend VND4 trillion removing households on canals [SGGP] Hanoi moves to control sex ratio at birth [Vietnam Plus] Med-tech Firm Fined by US for Bribes in Russia, Vietnam, Thailand [Indu...