As Infrastructure Lags Behind, Saigon's Poorest Hardest Hit by Worsening Flooding
In April 2023, in the first downpour of southern Vietnam’s rainy season, the narrow rented room where Mã Thị Diệp and her children were staying in Hồ Chí Minh City was inundated by knee-high water.
Khôi Phạm in Environment
What I Talk About When I Talk About Vietnam's Penguin Trashcans
Compared to the average Vietnamese, I might be thinking about trashcans a smidgen too much — not just any trashcan, but the infamous penguin-shaped trashcans that are ubiquitous at every corner of our public spaces.
Linh Phạm in Parks & Rec
House Dance Hanoi Teaches You How to Free the Body
I stood on the top floor of a building on Khâm Thiên Street, feeling grateful for the cold air. I came out here to take a break from the other side of the floor, which was divided into three rooms — three dance studios.
Inside Saigon's Grassroots Carton and Aluminum Recycling Plants
With plastics claiming many of the headlines worldwide and constituting a major issue in Vietnam, scant attention is being paid to other recyclable materials, namely cardboard and aluminum.
How Táo Xanh Forum Created a Safe Space for Gay Vietnamese Before Social Media
Before Vietnamese could hop on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share our hot takes of the week, there was an era of past cybersphere when online forums were the crucial online space to connect local netizens.
Paul Christiansen in Environment
As Climate Change Threatens, Flood Waters Usher In Sustainable Opportunities for Communities in the Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is developing faster than Google Maps can keep up with. A stretch of road that was too narrow to accommodate cars and required a transition to motorbikes just six months ago was under construction during our August visit. Gargantuan machines for laying pulverized gravel inched aside to let our 7-seater pass so we could reach the home of Nguyễn Thị Thu Thủy to check in on her small fish drying home business.
Khôi Phạm in Natural Selection
10 Species of Lesser-Known Fruits to Get to Know Vietnam's Biodiversity
In the Vietnamese language, the word “cỏ” — meaning “grass” in the literal sense — is often used to signify that something is locally grown, no frills, and charmingly rustic; grassroots, if you will. Chó cỏ is the general term for the adorable mutts, usually mixes between Vietnam’s native dog species, born without the prestige of named breeds, while gym cỏ and net cỏ denote the casual gyms and internet cafes in one’s neighborhood. In the same vein of logic, may I put forth a new name for a special genre of Vietnamese fruits: trái cỏ?
How Vietnamese Architecture Adopted Modernism and Made It Our Own
Ask a person on the street what Vietnam’s distinctive style of architecture is, and the answer you get might be traditional architecture, like the historic curves of northern Vietnam’s village temples or the ornate regality of Nguyễn-Dynasty palaces. This time-honored style is widely accepted as the hallmark of Vietnam’s cultural wealth. What’s more fascinating but lesser-known is how this cultural vestige — which distinguished our architecture from that of China and Japan — has also managed to evolve in the new age, finding ways to exist right in the middle of our modern lifetime.
Readers’ Choice: What Are Saigon’s Best Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods?
As Saigon continues to grow and develop by the day, the city's transformation is more visible in some neighborhoods than others. Earlier this month, we asked Saigoneer readers to let us know which nei...
Japan's Aid Agency Voices Concerns Over Vietnam's Handling of ODA Loans for Metro Projects
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is not happy about how the Vietnamese government manages its official development assistance (ODA) loans.
5 Vietnamese Universities Crack Top 400 Schools in Asia: QS
Five Vietnamese universities were included in this year’s QS Ranking (Quacquarelli Symonds) for Asia. However, their positions are rather humble compared to their regional counterparts.
The Bleak Future of Vietnam's Franchise Football
In the age of franchise football, Vietnamese clubs are struggling to maintain loyal spectators and economically viable teams. Can Vietnam transform its approach to football, fans, and the future of th...
Alibaba Founder Jack Ma to Attend Vietnam E-Payment Forum in Hanoi
Eccentric billionaire and Alibaba founder Jack Ma will attend Vietnam’s E-Payment Forum in Hanoi next month.
Vietnam Considers Amending 2-Child Policy Due to Ageing Population, Low Birth Rates
Vietnam is considering alternatives to its current family-planning policies due to a rapidly aging population and low birth rates.
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...
[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...
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 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...
[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.
Uber Vietnam CEO Dang Viet Dung Resigns
Uber Vietnam’s top leadership role is currently empty.
[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.
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.
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.
[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.
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,...
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.
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.
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.
