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 ...
Khôi Phạm in Saigon
Letter to the People I Met as We Hid From the Rain Under a Bridge Together
“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.”— Vladimir Nabokov.
Hanoi's Bát Tràng Ceramic Village Turns Historic Craft Into Global Fame
Bát Tràng has been producing ceramics for over 700 years, but it’s the recent decades that interest me most: a period in which this small village has mirrored Vietnam’s rapid economic growth.
Last Weekend's Downpour Was the Heaviest Rain Hanoi Has Seen Since 1986
On Sunday afternoon, torrential rain following an unprecedented downpour inundated many streets and paralyzed traffic in Hanoi.
Saigon Restaurant Faces Boycott Over Gruesome Poisoning of Stray Cats
Over the past week, animal lovers in Saigon were shocked to learn of a deliberate poisoning aimed at stray cats living in a local apartment complex.
Saigon Plans to Add 10ha of Public Parks by End of 2022
The additional parks are part of a goal to have 3–4 square meters of green space per Saigon resident by 2030.
Controversy Brews Over 'Minh Mạng' Herbal Tea Brand's Song Joong-Ki Packaging
A tea product featuring the face of a South Korean celebrity has turned into a royal pain for its manufacturer.
Đàm Lê Đức, Educator Extraordinaire and Matriarch of 218 Lý Tự Trọng, Passes Away at 91
If there’s such a thing as a celebrity teacher, Madame Đàm Lê Đức would be a shining example of Saigon’s educator extraordinaire.
Facing Another Removal Plan, Will Chợ Cũ Tôn Thất Đạm Survive 2022?
After years of existing on paper, Saigon authorities’ plan to remove chợ cũ might become a reality this year.
Hanoi Woman Survives 7 Days in the Wild After Falling off Cliff During Pagoda Visit
Would you be able to survive a week in the wilderness of Vietnam?
Vietnam Removes Health Declaration Requirement for Domestic, International Travelers
Citing Vietnam's continued success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health announced domestic travelers will no longer need to make health declarations and restrictions will be ea...
Khôi Phạm in Stories
A Letter From Saigoneer
Saigoneers ơi!
Hanoi Envisions 6 More Metro Lines for City Center by 2050
Earlier this week, Hanoi unveiled a general plan for the underground development of the city center which includes adding six metro lines and 81 underground stations.
Inside the Backbreaking Work of Quảng Ninh's Coal Miners
“I am a person with two skin tones.”
Hanoi to Establish Animal Control Squads to Catch Roaming Dogs, Cats
In a city-wide campaign to curb the spread of rabies, Hanoi authorities announced that the city will form squads dedicated to snaring stray dogs.
5 Biggest Cities Told to Restrict Motorbikes From 2030
Will motorbikes in downtown Saigon be a thing of the past in eight years?
Beauty Behemoth Sephora Enters Vietnamese Market With Digital Store
Sephora, the wide-reaching consumer goods retailer, has launched an e-commerce portal for Vietnamese customers, but has revealed no plans for physical stores in Vietnam.
Letter From Ukraine: Kharkiv Is My Home, I Never Imagined That We Could Be Attacked
Editor's note: This article is a personal essay written by Viktoria Grivina, a Ukrainian and friend of a member of our team. While Saigoneer has always focused our editorial content on Vietnam, as Vie...
President Joe Biden Announces New US-Based VinFast Factory on Twitter
Vietnam's domestic manufacturing industry has entered a new era.
Highest Temperatures of the Year to Hit Saigon, Southern Provinces in April
Saigon's latest hottest club is literally the entire city.
New Proposal to Move Tôn Đức Thắng Underground to Make Room for Walking Plaza
It's ambitious, to say the least.
After Initial Success, Saigon's Public Bike Scheme to Expand to 4 More Districts, Hanoi
Pedal power!
Saigon to Launch Investigation Into Rampant Sexual Harassment on Buses
In response to many online accounts from young Saigoneers recounting their traumatic experiences on local buses, the city has announced that it would launch an investigation into the matter.
