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: Workers Building Samsung Factory Riot in Vietnam
Vietnam becomes world’s No1 pepper exporter [VoV] Workers building Samsung factory riot in Vietnam [Washington Post] 55 corruption cases detected in Vietnam in 2013 [Global Times] VN...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Richest Families Earn Money from Property, Finance Sectors
Over 400 Vietnam state-owned firms dissolved or bankrupt in 2013 [Jakarta Post] Vietnam upholds life sentence for Malaysian woman for drug smuggling [Thanh Nien] Minister urges p...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Disgraced Vinalines Boss Says Senior Official Tipped Him Off to Arrest
Vietnam's disgraced Vinalines boss says senior gov't official tipped him off to arrest [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam Raises Foreign Bank Ownership Caps to Aid System [Bloomberg] Vietnam develops “wi-...
Morning News Roundup: Chinese Tourists Caught Parading Illegal Map Through Vietnam
Chinese tourists caught parading illegal map through Vietnam [Thanh Nien] $188 mln swindle case by bank staff now on trial [Tuoi Tre] First Hospital Opens In HCM City Hi-Tech Medical Compl...
Hanoi Man, High on Meth, Cuts Off Sister’s Foot With Fruit Knife
Here’s another good reason to stay away from methamphetamines – they may lead you to cut off a family member’s limb. Hanoi police arrested Tran Thanh Duy last week for severing the leg of his sister,...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Man Finds 1,000-year-old Coins Buried in Garden
Peddling banned but still prevalent in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese man finds 1,000-year-old coins buried in garden [Thanh Nien] Vietnam receives first Russian-made submarine [Zeenew...
Morning News Roundup: Twins in Hanoi Born From Deceased Dad's Frozen Sperm
Twins in Hanoi born from deceased dad's frozen sperm [Tuoi Tre] Bus owners hold schools ransom over subsidies [SGGP] Hanoi kilo submarine to enter operation on January 3 [VoV]
Saigoneer's Top 20 Stories of 2013
1. Vietnamese Architects Unveil Awesome Modular Bamboo Home Design H&P has produced a demo of their long-promised bamboo houses which are designed to endure flooding and powerful...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam's Middle Class Set to Double
Vietnam PM wants property market open to foreigners [Thanh Nien] HCM City: seven students die in beach accident [SGGP] Vietnam eyes improvements to labour force [Vietnam Net] Cities ...
Video: Driver Rams Thieves who Stole Side Mirror
It's like any other sunny afternoon - you're out driving your car, listening to the radio when, all of a sudden, a dubious pair steals your side mirror and speeds off on their motorbike. What do you d...
Saigon Experiencing Coldest Weather in 10 Years
Sapa isn’t the only part of Vietnam dealing with record breaking cold weather. Over the past few days, morning and night time temperatures in Saigon dropped to their lowest points in a decade.
[Updated] Slow Internet? Broken Cable Might Not Be Fixed Until February
[Update Below] If you've been experiencing internet problems since Friday evening, you're not the only one. The $560 million Asia America Gate Way cable, Vietnam's international internet connection, h...
Morning News Roundup: Seven Camping Students Missing at Sea
Vietnam's biggest telcos scam users by embedding services, concealing fees [Thanh Nien] Lexus makes its Vietnamese debut [Vietnam Net] Russia backs Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant [VoV...
Starting Tomorrow: Big Fines for Peeing in the Street, Scolding Your Spouse, Selling Sex
A new decree that goes into effect tomorrow will raise fines for a number of ‘social evils’ already on the books while adding a few new ones.
Morning News Roundup: Nearly 200 Kids Hospitalized for Suspected Poisoning
Annual GDP growth projected to reach 5.42 per cent [Vietnam Net] Paint smell may have caused elephant to attack trainer [UPI] Vietnam ranks third in world for shrimp production [VRI]
Morning News Roundup: Death Sentence for Machete Gang’s Young Boss
Death sentence announced for machete gang’s young boss [Tuoi Tre] First submarine on the way to Vietnam [VoV] Vietnam authorities continue probe into dubious 3G fee hike [Thanh Nien]
Morning News Roundup: Sinkholes, Shaky Building Cause Panic in Vietnam Court
Sinkholes, shaky building cause panic in Vietnam court [Thanh Nien] GDP up 5.42% in 2013 [VoV] Police propose publishing traffic violators’ names [Tuoi Tre]
Vietnam's First McDonald's to Open in HCMC After Tet
Last Friday, international burger giant, McDonald’s confirmed what has been predicted for years – its opening its first store in Vietnam, just after Tet.
Morning News Roundup: 12 Tons of Two-Year-Outdated Beef Found in Saigon Warehouse
Vietnam diplomat briefly held in Germany over $20k [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam decree allows cops to shoot at resisters in self defense [Thanh Nien] Saigon: 12 tons of two-year-outdated beef in sea...
Businesses Raise Alarm Over New Foreign Labor Rules
A November decree on foreign labor in Vietnam has businesses seriously concerned about their ability to fill vacancies for skilled workers. Numerous changes, including the diminished length of work pe...
