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: Condom Fashion Collection Earns Vietnam Guinness Record
Vietnam makes remarkable progress in HIV/AIDS control [SGGP] Customs did not check the shipment containing 230kg of heroin [Vietnam Net] Digital ad market booming in Vietnam [Thanh Ni...
Morning News Roundup: Air Pollution Cause of Chronic Diseases in Big Cities in Vietnam
Vietnam ministry seeks gov’t approval to limit personal vehicles [Thanh Nien] Vagina massage services freely advertised in Vietnam [Tuoi Tre] New Hemiphyllodactylus gecko species discovere...
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam’s Public Debt May Reach 95% of GDP
Diabetes goes boom in Vietnam [Thanh Nien] Poor transport holds Delta back [VNS] Vietnam Airplane lands on fuselage [Vietnam Net]
Morning News Roundup: Bill Gates Foundation Brings Free Internet to Rural Vietnam
Gold prices hit record low [VoV] Vietnam probes 229 kg heroin case busted by Taiwan [Tuoi Tre] Racehorse owners scrambling since closure of Vietnam’s lone track [Thanh Nien]
What the Phở Happened This Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
US$36 billion funded for nationwide poverty reduction [Nhan Dan] Giant sinkhole found in Vietnam street [Thanh Nien] Sleeping with call girls earns $24-$237 fines: decree [Tuoi Tre]
Number of Vietnamese Women Marrying Foreigners per Year? 100,000 and Rising.
At a recent conference in Hanoi, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Vietnam Women’s Union released figures showing that 100,000 Vietnamese women marry foreigners annually.
Morning News Roundup: Thai Tourist Motorcycles Seized in Vietnam
New penalties on inappropriate public cultural behavior [SGGP] Thai tourist motorcycles seized in Vietnam [Vietnam Net] Hanoi approves massive transport project [Nhan Dan]
Morning News Roundup: Strange Skin Disease, the First Ever in World, Found in Vietnam
Crunch time as Vietnam set for education shakeup, again [Thanh Nien] Vietnam steps into an era of mobile data explosion [PC Advisor] Strange skin disease, the first ever in world, found in...
Morning News Roundup: Tourism Sector to Hit Goal Two Years Ahead of Plan
Death toll in Vietnam flooding raised to 41, with 80,000 people displaced [Edmonton Journal] Vietnam’s 5 tons of relief goods reach Philippines [Tuoi Tre] Fire kills 6 in Vietnam capital&n...
31 Dead; Hoi An Deep Underwater After Massive Flooding Hits Central Vietnam
At least 31 people have died and 3 are missing after massive flooding on Vietnam’s central coast last weekend. According to the Central Highlands Center for Floods Control and Prevention, 13 were fou...
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
Chinese woman receives life sentence for drug trafficking [Vietnam Net] Singer fined $165 for flaunting breast onstage [Tuoi Tre] Low-pressure system moving toward southern Vietnam [T...
Morning News Roundup: HCMC’s Diabetics Rise by 300% in 10 Years, Quadruple World Level
Vietnam court sentences Chinese meth smuggler to life [Thanh Nien] Japan to put on film festival in Vietnam [AJW] Saigon to have two new theaters [Vietnam Net] HCMC’s diabetics rise ...
Morning Links: Same-Sex Weddings Officially Permitted in Vietnam
House approves two new Deputy Prime Ministers [Tuoi Tre] Same-sex weddings officially permitted in Vietnam [Vietnam Net] Vietnam holds anti-corruption dialogue with int'l donors, business ...
Dunkin’ Donuts Prepares to Open in Saigon
Watch out, Starbucks, there’s a new coffee chain coming to town. Dunkin’ Donuts, America’s leading coffee seller is preparing to open its doors in Phu My Hung in the next month.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Man Caught Cooking Tiger Bones
Russian President Putin visits Vietnam [Vietnam Net] Vietnam man caught cooking tiger bones [Thanh Nien] 51 traffic accidents per day over past week nationwide [Tuoi Tre]
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam Suffers 14 Deaths, but Spared the Worst of Typhoon Haiyan
Vietnam has strong retail market with high potential [SGGP] Vietnam asks Australia and US for spying explanation [Vietnam Net] Market for luxury cars growing in Vietnam [Thanh Nien]
List: 20 Vietnamese Foods You Really Should Be Trying
Buzzfeed community member, Christina, just published a list - 20 Vietnamese Foods You Really Should Be Trying. It’s pretty comprehensive and seems to cover most of the staples though we probably would...
What the Phở Happened Last Weekend? 10 Stories You May Have Missed
Vietnam, US talk on intellectual property issues [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam considers reusing 2G to upgrade 3G services [Vietnam Net] Power motorbikes given green light [Vietnam Bridge]
Morning News Roundup: Super Typhoon About to Enter East Sea, Heading for VN
Vietnam courts orders fresh probe after ten-year convict exonerated of murder [Thanh Nien] Vietnam: “Still much to do” on factory fire safety [Just Style] VN textile & garment firms ma...
[UPDATED] Massive Storm Predicted to Hit Saigon Later Today
[Update Below] Don’t let the sunny skies fool you. A massive storm is predicted to arrive in Saigon later today with heavy, torrential rains. According to the latest report of the National Center for...
