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?
Brian Letwin in Asia
Nguyens Set to Conquer Australia's Cities
With over 4,000,000 Viet Kieu, it’s not surprising that Vietnamese culture has made its way across the globe. Vietnamese culinary heroes, such as Pho to Banh Mi, have been popularized from Sydney to N...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: New Council to Decide on Minimum Wage
- CocCoc trying to differentiate itself from Google (Tech in Asia) - Gambler siezed for trafficking elephant tusks (Tuoi Tre) - Experts say Vietnam should focus on improving the standard of living, ...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
VNA A330 Engine Catches Fire After Landing in Saigon
Yesterday at 3:55pm, a Vietnam Airlines Airbus A330, arriving from Melbourne, landed at Ton San Nhat International airport. Soon after, smoke was observed coming from its no. 2 engine.
Brian Letwin in Asia
Kowloon - City in Darkness
We’ve seen some of Hong Kong’s tightest living spaces in a previous post but nothing compares with the notorious Kowloon Walled City. From the 1940s to 1993, this fortress of darkness and poverty hous...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam's Mobile Ad Market is Booming
Here's what's making news this morning: - New updates on the bribe-for-visa scam are emerging (Tuoi Tre) - Teachers and students happy with graduation exam day (SaigonGP Daily) - Lack o...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Saigon Lifts Ban on Public Bus Advertising
Saigon’s 2002 ban on public advertising has been lifted, allowing for advertisements on public buses, taxis and trains. The move has been welcomed by advertisers, seeking to expand their reach, and th...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Quang Nam Principal to Defend his Honor with Genital Examination
Well, it’s Monday so let’s keep things light this morning. A Quang Nam school principal, rumored to have had an extramarital affair, has requested a genital inspection by “relevant agencies” ...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: How to Travel Across Vietnam Without Spending a Dong
Here's what's going on this morning: - PetroVietnam expects profits to increase by 29% in 2013 (Bloomberg) - New book explains how to travel across Vietnam with no money (Tuoi Tre)
Brian Letwin in Asia
Blackouts Across SE Asia Spark Conspiracy Theories
Last week’s blackout was one of many across SE Asia in recent weeks, with large-scale power outages in Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. While the blackouts in Vietnam and Cambodia have...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Hoi An Shipwreck Yields Thousands of Precious Artifacts
Once an international trading hub, ancient pottery from Hoi An has been found as far away as Africa. But a recent, local discovery has proved to be more impressive than the long distances some pieces ...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: France to Help Vietnam to Develop its Urban Railways
Good morning, Saigon. Here's a roundup of what's making headlines: - Vietnamese stocks at 5 year high (Bloomberg) - Authorities released 205,000 fish into newly cleaned Saigon canals...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Chinese Tourists Get a Bad Rep Abroad
It’s been a bad week for the reputation of Chinese tourists. It started with a Chinese vice-premier lamenting the behavior of his countrymen abroad and culminated with news that a Nanjing teenager had...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Vietnam is Ready for Mobile Banking
Here's what's making news this morning: - VietJet Air plans to open a Thai subsidiary (Bangkok Post) - Intel hesitant to expand in Vietnam due to power risks (Tuoi Tre) - The unemployment rate is g...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Why Vietnamese are Boycotting Coca-Cola
When Coca Cola announced a $300 million expansion plan for Vietnam last October, the company faced greater scrutiny of its local operations. Investigators found that by reporting losses since 2010, an...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Another Rare Plant Faces Extinction in Vietnam
Here's the latest and greatest Vietnam news: - Rich Vietnamese are into eating endangered species. (VietnamNetBridge) - According to a recent survey, energy security is a growing public concern...
Brian Letwin in Roundups
Morning Links: Criticism and Confusion over Recently Announced TV Laws
Here are your morning links: - Current business environment uninviting for foreign graduates (Vietnamnetbridge) - Criticism and confusion over recently announced TV laws (ThanhNien) - Vietnam ...
Brian Letwin in Asia
Chinese DIY Projects: A Fine Line Between Ingenuity and Hilarity
Whether it's building the world's tallest building or shadily acquiring a Russian aircraft carrier, the Chinese government, while facing many shortcomings, dreams big. But what about its people? Surel...
Brian Letwin in Vietnam
Vietnamese Painting Fetches Record Price at Christie’s
Nguyen Phan Chanh’s painting, entitled “La Marchand de Riz,” set a new record for Vietnamese art at Christie’s International in Hong Kong this past Saturday. Originally valued at $75 due to a case of...
Brian Letwin in Saigon
Starbucks CEO Says Company Will Open Hundreds of Stores in Vietnam
On the heels of a successful launch in Vietnam, Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, announced that the American coffee chain will open hundreds of stores in the country. Before opening its 2-story flagshi...
Brian Letwin in Asia
China to Build the World's Tallest Building - In Only 7 Months
The Chinese economy may be slowing down, but that’s not stopping Hunan developers from breaking ground on the tallest building in the world – Sky City. The project will not only be taller than the Bur...
