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.
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.
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 ...
The Era Of Red Company Stamps May Be Coming To An End In Vietnam
If you’ve ever had to do commercial paperwork in Vietnam, you’re probably familiar with red company stamps. If Prime Minister Dung has his way, this era may soon be coming to an end, replaced by one o...
Seaplane Operator Seeks Permission To Takeoff From Hanoi’s West Lake
Quang Ninh Province authorities are seeking permission from the Ministry of Transport to allow a Vietnamese aviation company to use the city’s iconic West Lake as a takeoff point for it’s Hanoi-Ha Lon...
SE Asia's Tallest Building Planned For Bangkok
While Saigon may soon be home to Vietnam’s highest building, it looks Bangkok is planning construct the tallest in all of SE Asia with its 615m, 125-story, "Rama IX Super Tower," reports the Bangkok P...
Morning News Roundup: Traffic Cop Knifes Prison Guard For Dirty Look In Northern Vietnam
Traffic cop knifes prison guard for dirty look in Northern Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Nearly 2 mln people in HCMC not accessible to clean water [Tuoi Tre] Headmaster disciplined for using dead person’s di...
Truck Flips After Breaking Through D1 Sidewalk Sewer, Kills Nearby Street Vendor
On Tuesday afternoon, an ice delivery truck flipped over after one of its wheels broke through a sewer cover, killing a nearby street vendor.
Morning News Roundup: Numerous Vietnamese Newswires Hit By Outage
PM Dung begins official visit to Germany [VoV] Vietnam has too few culture and arts colleges, universities [Vietnam Net] London City businesses eye up HCM City’s infrastructure [Vietnam Pl...
Amid Rumors Of Coup, Kim Jung-Un Makes First Public Appearance In 40 Days
North Korean Supreme Leader, Kim Jung-Un, made his first public appearance in 40 days on Monday amid rumors of a possible coup in the international press, reports NK News.
Completion of HCMC’s First Metro Line Delayed 2 Years
While construction seems to be in full swing on Saigon’s first metro line, city officials have announced that completion of the project has been pushed back by two years. Oh, and costs have nearly dou...
7cm Leech Removed From Backpacker’s Nose After Trip To Vietnam
After weeks of nosebleeds, a British backpacker discovered that a 7.63cm leech had been living in her nose for more than a month.
Morning News Roundup: Height Of Vietnamese Lowest In Asia
Vietnam gasoline prices drop further [Thanh Nien] Vietnam capital becoming magnet for luxury automakers [Tuoi Tre] Southern hub to invest $524mn more in environment sanitation [Tuoi Tre]
[Photos] Massive Crowds Gather in Hanoi for 10/10 Celebration
On Friday night, Hanoians took to the streets to enjoy the VND4.5 billion fireworks show to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the city’s liberation. While the fireworks were the main draw, the crowds ...
Weekend News Roundup: Record-High Tide Turns Parts Of HCMC Into River
U.S. firm picked to design new Saigon Tax Trade Center [Vietnam Net] Vietnam students create free crowdsourcing app for street travel [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam's PM seeks to do away with official red stamp...
Morning News Roundup: Thousands Sign Petition To Save Saigon Tax Center
HCM City to use GPS to control radioactive devices [Vietnam Net] TOEFT, TOEIC unaccepted for civil service exam applications in HCMC: Dept [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam Electricity asks to increase power price...
Vietnamese Oil Tanker Recovered After Being Hijacked By Pirates
A Vietnamese oil tanker that went missing 7 days ago after leaving Singapore has been located after being hijacked by pirates.
[Updated] Foreign Woman Killed In D1 Hostel Fire
[Update Below] At 12:45 this afternoon, café-goers in front of the 5-story Budget Hostel on Nguyễn Văn Tráng Street in District 1 noticed a fire but struggled to put it out.
Morning News Roundup: Many Universities Ban Jeans, Slippers From Class
Vietnam official says rule on beer temperatures is for drinkers’ sake [Tuoi Tre] USA-Vietnam nuclear accord takes effect [WNN] CAAV proposes two more 'golden' air routes [Vietnam Net]
Buôn Ma Thuột Man Offered $47,000 For Enormous, 220kg Mushroom
While it’s not unusual for mushrooms to fetch high prices, it’s exceptionally rare for common varieties to reach 5 figures. For a Buôn Ma Thuột man, this exception came in the form of a 220kg Lin...
Morning News Roundup: Wartime Ammunition Cellar In Saigon To Be Turned Into Tourism Spot
Wartime ammunition cellar in Saigon to be turned into tourism spot [Tuoi Tre] Muslim tourists flock to Vietnam for delicious food, cheap prices [Tuoi Tre] EU issues stern warning to Vietnam's veggie...
HCMC Moves To Replace Historic Bình Lợi Railway Bridge
The Ho Chi Minh City Transport Department has put plans in place to replace the 112-year-old Bình Lợi Railway Bridge on Phạm Văn Đồng Street, which links Bình Thạnh and Thủ Đức Districts, re...
Morning News Roundup: Hundreds Of Unexploded Ordnances Found In Quang Tri
Coast guard ship with helipad launched in central Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] First Vietnamese-made microchip debuts in HCMC [Thanh Nien] Hundreds of unexploded ordnances found in Quang Tri [DTI]
