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

[Photos] The Last Remaining Blacksmiths of Bien Hoa

Smithy 12 is a traditional, family blacksmith brand near Bien Hoa’s Don Market, which has been active for almost 100 years. The business is not only one workshop but rather a collection of smithies he...

in Development

Saigon Puts an End to Projects to Build Apartments Under 25 Square Meters

Ho Chi Minh City officials have closed the door on a government plan to build small apartments in order to prevent overcrowding and the creation of “elevated slums.”

in Society

Vietnam Has the Most PhDs, Fewest Research Works in Southeast Asia: Report

Vietnam’s academia is filled to the brim with PhDs, but the country’s scientific journals and inventions are not catching up with the rising population of PhD holders.

in Society

Saigon Bans Western Names, Audio-Visual Tools in Primary School English Classes

Ho Chi Minh City's education department has released a new set of teaching guidelines for English-language classes at primary schools banning the use of audio-visual tools, among other rules.

in Development

Saigon Delays Construction of 2nd Metro Line to 2020

While the construction of Saigon’s first metro line has been riddled by delays, things are looking even gloomier for the next line which may take another decade to become a reality.

in Development

[Photos] Unique Thai Nguyen Primary School Criticized for Alleged High Cost, Low Attendance

A toxic rumor has cast doubt on a primary school project in one of Thai Nguyen province’s most secluded communes.

Michael Tatarski

in Development

A Tale of Two Plans: Thu Thiem, Phu My Hung and Future Saigon

Across the Saigon River from central District 1’s glass-and-steel skyscrapers, the Thu Thiem New Urban Area is slowly – very slowly – taking shape. Named after the swampy peninsula on which it sits, t...

in Tech

Maneuver Vietnam's Hectic Traffic in This Quirky, Locally Made Minigame

Haven’t gotten enough of Vietnam’s traffic pandemonium in real life? Now you can also experience it virtually through this quirky brand-new mobile game.

in Society

Vietnam's 2019 Education Reform Will Take Inspiration From Nordic Countries

Vietnam’s education authorities have started looking northward for ways to improve local schools and curricula.

in Tech

Scientists Reveal Ambitious Plans to Build Made-in-Vietnam Satellites

Vietnamese scientists hope to build and launch domestically produced satellites within the next two years.

in Tech

Vingroup Begins Construction of $3.5bn Car Factory in Hai Phong

Vingroup, Vietnam's largest real estate developer, has begun construction of an automobile production plant in an effort to expand the country's auto industry.

in Development

Vietnamese Firm Suggests Chinese Power Plant Contractor to Take on Construction of Long Thanh Airport

Although it still only exists on paper, Long Thanh International Airport is already embroiled in its first controversy regarding prospective contractors.

in Society

Poorly Planned Development Projects Leave Vietnam's Poorest Minorities Vulnerable to Natural Disasters

Since the beginning of August, flooding and landslides have devastated northwest Vietnam, leaving ethnic minorities living in extreme poverty at the highest risk of property damage and loss of life.

in Sports

Female Athletes Won Two-Thirds of Vietnam's SEA Games Gold Medals: Sport Official

Vietnam performed well during this year’s SEA Games in Malaysia, finishing third, and just two gold medals shy of exceeding its pre-tournament goal.

in Society

Vietnam's Textbooks Lack Gender Diversity, Reinforce Stereotypes: Report

A new study has shown that male-centric content dominates school textbooks in Vietnam, hindering gender equality.

in Tech

Vietnamese Entrepreneur Makes Silicon Valley Top 40 Under 40 List

A Vietnamese entrepreneur recently made the list of Silicon Valley’s 40 under 40 this year.

in Architecture

[Photos] Vo Trong Nghia Graces Binh Thanh With 'Glass Box' Office Tower

Saigon’s Binh Thanh District is about to get a flashy new Vo Trong Nghia-designed “glass box” office building.

in Sports

Swimmer Anh Vien Clinches 2 Gold Medals, Breaks Own SEA Games Records

Vietnam's athletes have won an impressive haul of medals over the last two days at the 2017 SEA Games, currently underway in Kuala Lumpur.

in Society

Vietnam's University Graduates Struggle to Find Jobs That Match Their Skills

University graduates in Vietnam have the highest rate of unemployment among young people, a fact that could seriously jeopardize the country’s growth.

in Development

Saigon's 'Ghost Tower' Seized as Collateral After Owners Fail to Repay Debt

The future of Saigon’s most prominent skeleton tower has become even murkier.