Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

The Reason to Cry for Cu Li, Vietnam's Deeply Misunderstood Primate

A drop of the animal’s blood renders the soil barren; entire mountains can crumble and collapse where it landed. Be wary of this slow wayfarer of the forest, for if you catch sight of its glowing eyes in the distant darkness, your trip is doomed and should be abandoned immediately. And if someone brings one back to the village, make all efforts to return it to the jungle, lest you invite sorrow and ruin into your home. Don’t let its meagre stature, a mere 500 grams, and slow, cuddly demeanor confuse you; the cu li guards the gates to hell.

in Environment

The Hunt for Vietnam's Dinosaurs Has Found Nothing Yet, but There Is Hope

Why aren’t there any Vietnamese dinosaurs?

in Parks & Rec

In Hanoi, Waacking Is Not Just a Dance, but a Home for Creativity, Gender Fluidity Too

“I get to express my madness.” That is what Trần Khánh Linh, also known as Lyna, says when asked why she has been waacking for the last 10 years. By day, Lyna is a jewelry and gemstone seller, but by night, she joins her friends at the Soul Waackers, a waacking group based in Hanoi, and practices a dance style that allows her a vibrant way to self-express.

Uyên Đỗ

in Tech

There's a Cordial Vietnamese Greeting That Has Been Floating in Space Since 1977

At this very moment, while you're reading these lines, a silver “bird” of human design is hurtling away from the Sun at roughly 60,000 kilometers per hour, slipping past the boundaries of our solar cradle and into the endless quiet of the cosmos.

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

How a Self-Taught Documentarian Spreads His Boundless Enthusiasm for Vietnam's Nature

Why “Sticky Discovery”? This was the first question I asked during my interview with the man behind the YouTube series of...

in Architecture

In a D7 Residence, Natural Wood Textures Hark Back to Vietnam's Traditional Homes

During a new decade when architecture projects in Vietnam are increasingly looking towards the future and influences outside the national boundaries for inspirations, Memories House decided to do the opposite by integrating old heirloom furniture and elements from the past into the living space.

in Environment

Searching for the World's Largest Woodpecker Species in Yok Đôn National Park

You first know she’s approaching by the sound of her wings; her broad shadow flashing across the forest floor. Even from far below, her body looks enormous. At half a meter long, she is roughly five times the size of the woodpeckers seen in the gardens of Europe or North America. She is the largest woodpecker left in the world, and the jewel of Yok Đôn National Park.

Paul Christiansen

in Sports

Thống Nhất Stadium Offers Unexpected Opportunities to Reflect Upon the Soul

Where do you find revelation?

Back Society

in Architecture

VTN Architects Bring Vietnam's Bamboo Design to China in Massive Restaurant Project

Vietnam's architect extraordinaire is adding his signature design style to various international destinations.

in Sports

Vietnam Is Southeast Asia's Top Football Team in 2017: FIFA Ranking

Vietnam is officially Southeast Asia’s top football team as of 2017.

Brandon Coleman

in Society

[Photos] Catholic Neighborhoods in Saigon Celebrate Christmas With Elaborate Nativity Scenes

Unlike most of the western world, Saigoneers see Christmas as less of a time for cozy gatherings at home with family and friends but more as an oppotunity to take to the street to bask in the festive ...

in Health

Vietnam PM Directs Education Ministry to Ban Sales, Advertising of Soft Drinks in Schools

Are soft drinks to blame for Vietnam’s impending child obesity epidemic?

in Society

[Video] In Saigon, the Christmas Spirit Lives in Tuan's Garbage Cart

Is this Saigon’s most festive garbage cart?

in Tech

How the Creater of Zalo, Vietnam's Home-Grown Chat App, Went From Hacker to Manager

Vietnam's popular chat app and social media platform, Zalo, was born from its creator's curiosity about hacking.

in Environment

Scientists Discovered 65 New Species of Plants and Animals in Vietnam in 2016: WWF Report

The Greater Mekong region continues to prove its important role as one of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems.

in Society

[Photos] Inside Binh Thanh's Xóm Nước Đen by the Cau Bong Canal

In recent years, development in Saigon has exploded, giving rise to towering skyscrapers, office towers and residential complexes throughout the southern hub. But even as the city’s modernization hits...

in Architecture

[Photos] Chau Doc's 'Corrugated Metal' Home by the River

After a makeover, a once-precarious home in Chau Doc has been transformed into a contemporary home without looking out of place in a traditional riverside neighborhood.

in Tech

A Cafe in Hanoi Is Replacing Its Waitstaff With a Robot

Are you sick of human interaction? This café in Hanoi might have just the solution to your blight.

in Development

[Video] Take a Ride on the Saigon Waterbus

Now that the Saigon Waterbus has been open for a few weeks, the service is starting to settle into a rhythm, with six daily trips from each terminus.

in Society

Vietnam's Generation Z Earns Little, but Loves Eating Out: Report

Despite having little money, many members of Vietnam’s Generation Z spend a large percentage of their budget on eating out.

Michael Tatarski

in Development

On Preserving Laos' Botanical Diversity in the Garden of Luang Prabang

In a region where rapid urbanization, hydropower development and resource demand is devastating natural ecosystems, a dedicated team is working hard to preserve Laos’ unique plant species.

in Health

Almost 2m Vietnamese Children Under 5 Suffer From Malnutrition: Nutrition Institute

Despite considerable national health progress in the recent decade, nearly a quarter of Vietnamese children under the age of five currently still suffer from malnutrition.

in Society

On the Vietnamese Language’s ‘Cuk Cak’ Conundrum

Is there room for improvement in the way we write Vietnamese? According to a project by a local academic, the Vietnamese language might be due for a major overhaul.

in Health

Pasteur Institute Tests Find E. Coli in 100% of Meat Samples Taken From Saigon, Dong Nai

According to a recent test, a worrying amount of meat samples from provinces in Vietnam's southeast contained traces of E. coli.

in Tech

The Story of Giang Nguyen, Grab's First Blind Coder

Saigon native Giang Nguyen was born completely blind, but that hasn’t stopped him from succeeding as a coder for Singapore-based ride-share app Grab.

Thi Nguyen

in Society

Saigon's Coworking Movement and the Rise of the City's Creative Class

I like working in cafes: every visit, I find myself a comfy seat, plug in my laptop, get the WiFi password and camp out for the whole day. But while this sounds nice, it’s only the sugar-coated versio...

in Architecture

[Photos] In D3, an Owner Transforms Her Childhood Home Into an Colorful Tube House

After a recent major renovation, this tube house in District 3 is now a spacious living quarter for a multi-generational family.

in Society

Vietnamese Men Are Most Likely to Favor Good Looks Over Personality: 20-Country Survey

A new survey of people from 20 countries found that Vietnamese men were the only respondent group that's more likely to value their partner's appearance over their personality.