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: Vietnam, US Sign Agreement for Clearing War-era Ordnance
EU offers €114 million to Vietnam’s health sector [Tuoi Tre] Fund for natural disaster prevention to be established [Vietnam Net] Middle and Affluent Class in Vietnam and Myanmar Will Doub...
10 Beautiful Photos of Sapa's Majestic Snow
Last weekend's snowstorm in Sapa drew photographers from all over northern Vietnam who jumped at the opportunity to capture some great photos of the town's snow-covered hills, roads and residents.&nbs...
Morning News Roundup: Fuel Price Hike Takes Consumers by Surprise
Fuel price hike takes consumers by surprise [Tuoi Tre] Bankers, fat cats charged in massive Vietnam financial scandal [Thanh Nien] Lao Cai suffers estimated loss of VND5 billon due to frost&nbs...
2 Foreigners Arrested for iPhone Snatching
In a reminder that crime transcends race, 2 foreigners were arrested last Friday for stealing an iPhone from a local woman in District 1. The 2 thieves were identified as Sean Douglas, 17, an Austral...
Morning News Roundup: Prisoner Executed by Lethal Injection for First Time in HCMC
HCMC’s labor market has 265,000 jobs in 2014 [Tuoi Tre] VietJet Air agrees $800 million engine deal with GE's CFM International [Reuters] Another $907 mil in ODA pledged as Japan, Vietnam stren...
[Updated] Scottish Botanist Missing in Sapa's Mountains
[Update Below] On October 30, Scottish Botanist, Jamie Taggart left his Sapa hotel to explore some nearby hills. After failing to show up on his schedule flight back home nearly a month later, his fat...
Rare Snowstorm Hits Sapa
Sapa, which is known to get light dustings of snow from time to time, was hit by a rare snowstorm on December 15 causing a massive 5km traffic jam. The snow, measuring between 5 – 10cm, blocked the O...
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
Kerry visits Vietnam, focus on trade, security, rights [Reuters] Drug ring gets death penalty in Vietnam [AlJazeera] App breaks record for largest speed dating event [ABS]
Year’s Best Meteor Shower on Display in Vietnam TONIGHT!
Tonight is the best night of the year to catch a meteor shower according to Nguyen Duc Phuong, from the Vietnam Space Observatory Association.
Morning News Roundup: Nationwide Hunt for Owner of Gucci-Milano Store in HCMC
Vietnamese, 2 Malaysians jailed for credit card fraud in HCMC [Thanh Nien] Nationwide hunt for owner of Gucci-Milano store in HCMC [SGGP] Internet business to earn VND100 trillion in 2018&...
Report: 7-Eleven Coming to Saigon in 2014
Like McDonalds, 7-Eleven has been eyeing the Vietnam market for years. Now that Circle K, Family Mart and Shop & Go have softened the market for convenience stores, the ubiquitous brand is set to ...
Airplanes Blamed for Damaged Roofs in Go Vap
There are many quality of life issues for residents living next to airports – pollution, noise and even increased blood pressure to name a few. But some residents in Go Vap District are encountering a...
Morning News Roundup: EVN Power Monopoly to be Short-Circuited
Kerry to tour typhoon-hit Philippines, Vietnam [Bangkok Post] Local authorities recall deadly spurious liquor [SGGP] Vietnam, UK share atomic energy experience [VoV]
Morning News Roundup: Banner Slamming Beer Looters Hung at Scene
No students, no money, many universities to be closed [Vietnam Net] Vietnam Tightens Land Seizure Law After Farmers Protest [Bloomberg] Vietnam's trade deficit to China surges to near $20 ...
Vietnam Will Soon be Home to Asia’s Biggest Brewery
Czech firm, BTG Holdings, has announced plans to build Asia’s biggest brewery in Vietnam’s Hoa Binh Province. The brewery, with a total investment of US$116 million, should be completed by 2017 and p...
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
Hundreds loot capsized beer truck [Tuoi Tre] High global test scores don’t mean Vietnam’s schooling is OK [Thanh Nien] Per capita income in Vietnam reaches almost USD2,000 [Viet...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Morning News Roundup: Flood-Tide to Reach Peak in 61 Years, Saigon to be Submerged Again
Flood-tide to reach peak in 61 years, Saigon to be submerged again [Vietnam Net] HCMC shows impressive economic growth [SGGP] Vietnam’s aging rate among fastest in the world [Tuoi Tre...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Reviews Human Rights Laws
Vietnam reviews human rights laws [Vietnam Net] Should sexy performances be banned? [VNS] Bag snatchers caught red-handed, recorded by car camera [Tuoi Tre]
Vietnamese Parents Up in Arms About Finger-Chopping Math Problem
Mystery still surrounds claims of a math problem, purportedly asking first grade students how many fingers remain on their hand after chopping some off, as it goes viral on the internet and the educat...
Harley-Davidson's First Vietnam Dealership is Open for Business
World famous motorcycle maker, Harley-Davidson, opened its first showroom in Vietnam last weekend in District 7. The showroom, located in Phu My Hung, opened its doors a day before the government lif...
