in Ẽplain

A Brief Primer Into the History of K-Pop Chế in Vietnam

My middle school memories are often peppered with the honking voices of adolescents chanting some silly chorus about household cleaning.

in Development

Saigon Metro Line 1 Announces July Launch Date, Free Rides in Phase 1

Will 2024 be the auspicious year when our legs could finally step on the metro platform for the first time?

in Health

Sweating out My Sadness on the Canal's Exercise Machines

We're all unlucky in love sometimes. When I am, I go jogging. The body loses water when you jog, so you have none left for tears.

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

Charting the Flow of the Nhiêu Lộc Canal From Start to Historical Start

When I fall in love with an album, I seek out the artist's first mixtapes and demos. When I come to admire a poet, I hunt down their early poems and chapbooks. I even linger over the old highlight reels of my favorite football players' college games. Understanding where something starts allows me appreciate it more. So it is with the Nhiêu Lộc–Thị Nghè Canal.

Khôi Phạm

in Society

Nhiêu Lộc Canal Hosted Trudeau's Night Run. Why Is It Not as Famous as Obama's Bún Chả?

You know how much Vietnamese culture revolves around food by the fact that one of the first questions we pose to any foreign visitor is “What’s your favorite Vietnamese dish?” Asking about other aspects of the country could invite honest opinions that some of us might not be prepared to hear. Deep down, more than anybody else, we know that our air quality is subpar and our urban cleanliness leaves much to be desired, but our food is the one thing every Vietnamese can trust to make us proud. What easier way to foster diplomacy than to center the conversation around deliciousness?

in Architecture

In Hanoi, a Family Home Balances Commercial Hustle With Spiritual Haven

If many Vietnamese families often opt to reserve one room in their house plan for ancestor worship, this household in Hanoi decided to dedicate an entire backyard to their family altar.

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

An Homage to the Mekong Delta and Its Bag-Wearing Fruits

Rats, mice, mosquitos, snakes, centipedes, caterpillars, snails, beetles and slugs: the more fertile a region is, the more pests inhabit it.

in Tech

Grindr Once Again Names Vietnam Amongst Nations With Highest Percentage of Bottoms

Started by Spotify, Unwrapped has become one of tech companies’ favorite marketing campaigns in recent years; LinkedIn, Duolingo, and even Vietnam’s own Zalo are amongst some revelers of this trend in recent years. Last year, gay dating app Grindr continued the tradition with their own annual insights, and Vietnam managed to claim a spot in the roundup.

Back Society

in Society

How Facebook Got a War Veteran Home After 40 Years Stranded Overseas

Vietnam’s Facebook addiction can either be a boon or a bane, depending on whom you ask. However, for a family in rural Thanh Hoa province in northern Vietnam, the extensive reach of the country’s cybe...

in Society

[Photos] Early Morning Exploration at Ho Thi Ky Flower Market

Flowers are ubiquitous in Saigon. Everywhere you go, the concrete backdrop of the city is punctuated by beautifully maintained gardens, lotus ponds and elaborate floral arrangements. Saigon’s resident...

in Health

Despite Warning From Experts, Vietnam Delays Ban of White Asbestos in Construction

It’s a well-established fact in recent years that the use of asbestos in construction heightens cancer risks in residents and workers. However, in Vietnam, an asbestos variant is still widely used in ...

in Society

[Photos] An Early Morning Stroll Through D1

As a city that is perpetually either sweltering hot or halfway under water, Saigon weather rarely includes cool breezes or overcast mornings. And yet, over the past few weeks, the city has experienced...

in Sports

In Its Second Season, Vietnam's Pro Basketball League Continues to Grow

Fresh from the success of its 2016 debut, the Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) recently began its second season. In addition to an increase in the league’s number of competing teams, the VBA is al...

in Society

[Photos] A Tour Through District 6's Eerie 'Sinking School'

Right in the midst of District 6’s dense residential area lies an abandoned compound that towers over nearby tube houses.

in Tech

Uber Vietnam CEO Dang Viet Dung Resigns

Uber Vietnam’s top leadership role is currently empty.

in Architecture

[Photos] This Stylish Saigon Hẻm House Is Perfect for a Small Family

Apart from the tiny plot size, this Saigon abode has nothing in common with the city’s typical tube houses.

in Health

Vietnam Sees Increase in Human Rabies Deaths Due to Low Pet Vaccination Rates

The landscape for dog ownership is changing throughout the country as Vietnam aims to reduce or even eliminate instances of dogs spreading rabies to humans.

in Health

Vietnam's Abortion Rates Remain Highest in Asia Due to Lack of Awareness

The frequency of unplanned pregnancies and abortions among young Vietnamese remains high despite government efforts to raise awareness on effective contraception.

in Society

[Photos] Saigon's VietPride Celebration Fills Nguyen Hue With Rainbows, Glitter, Corporate Endorsements

Last Sunday, Saigon’s Nguyen Hue Boulevard was filled with members of the LGBT community and supporters to celebrate this year’s VietPride.

in Society

How Nguyen Became the Most Common Vietnamese Surname in the World

Vietnam’s current prime minister is Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The previous PM was Nguyen Tan Dung. Since we know these men aren’t all brothers, it begs the question: How did almost half of a single ethnicity,...

in Environment

Pollution in Vietnam's Atmosphere Shortens National Life Expectancy by 1.16 Years: Study

A new study on pollution shows that the atmosphere in Vietnam is cutting 1.16 years off its citizen’s life expectancy.

in Development

Chinese-Backed Projects in Vietnam Get Bad Rap for Poor Quality, Rampant Delays

The trial run for Hanoi’s inaugural railway has been cancelled by the Chinese building team, which further perpetuates the stereotype of troublesome Chinese construction projects in the country.

in Sports

100-Kilometer Mountain Marathon in Sapa Crowns First Vietnamese Winner

A Vietnamese runner won the 100 kilometer category of the Vietnam Mountain Marathon in Sapa for the first time last weekend.

in Society

Urban Rewilding: The Ins and Outs of Organic Food in Vietnam

Navigating the intricacies of a healthy, organic lifestyle can be complicated, ever under the best of circumstances. Today, as awareness surrounding organic produce grows both here and abroad, the cou...

in Health

Amid Dengue Fever Outbreak, Vietnam Confirms Cases of 'Super Malaria'

While localities in northern Vietnam are struggling to contain this year’s serious Dengue fever outbreak, epidemiologists just revealed that people living in the southern provinces are facing a strain...

in Tech

Vietnam to Allow Switching Mobile Carrier While Retaining Phone Number This December

If you’ve been thinking about switching to another service provider but are reluctant to change your phone number, there’s some good news.

in Society

Typhoon Doksuri's Aftermath Underscores the Vulnerability of Central Vietnam

Typhoon Doksuri, the most powerful storm to hit Vietnam in a decade, ravaged the central of Vietnam on September 16 and took the lives of six people, drawing greater attention to the layers of harm ca...

in Architecture

[Photos] Saigon Architects Brighten up Contemporary Office With Bamboo Accents

Inspired by materials common found in rural Vietnam, the creative minds behind KIENTRUC O blended a contemporary office with traditional elements.