in Architecture

In the Era of Constant Rebuilding, We Turn to Vietnamese Modernism for Nostalgic Comfort

For two years now, I've checked the Vietnamese Modernist Architecture Facebook group almost every day. Here, members post ...

in Environment

How Laos's Dams Are Powering Vietnam, Other ASEAN Nations Despite Mekong Concerns

Following a spate of foreign investment in the 1990s, Laos began producing surplus electricity and looked to export it. Today, around 80% of its energy, largely from hydropower, is sold to neighbors. Electricity exports from Laos generate around US$2.6 billion for what is one of the poorest nations in mainland Southeast Asia. Across the region, neighbors including Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia have become reliant on hydropower from Laos. Slowly but surely, however, this is changing.

in Architecture

A Pop-up Night Park Brings the Joy of Playing in the Rain to Phú Mỹ Hưng

A lack of public spaces and activities has been a chronic problem plaguing Saigon’s urban planning since the city experienced its first population boom a few decades ago. If you happen to be near District 7 in the next two months, a pop-up park could be a new option for children, and perhaps some particularly exuberant adults, to frolic in the rain and the evening.

Elise Luong

in Environment

Living, Learning, Loving From the Earth at Ninh Bình's Lá Library

A stone's throw away from Cúc Phương National Park in Ninh Bình Province sits Lá Library, an education center promoting sustainable living through sustainable agriculture farming, earthen building techniques and the art of chilling out.

in Architecture

The Saigon House That Swapped Its Front Door for a Moat

Does a house need walls?

Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

Is the Yeti Vietnamese? This Ancient Ape Might Hold the Answer.

Can you name a Vietnamese animal that hasn’t been hunted to the precipice of extinction or become a commodified item whose flesh, fur, or feathers are only deemed significant in relation to their practical use by humans?

in Architecture

This Suburban Hanoi House Answers 'Yes' to 'How Many Windows Do You Want?'

Do you love the tropical summer? Does bathing in the warmth of the sun spark joy in you? How many windows are enough to solar-power your everyday life? If you, too, are toiling with these existential concerns on a daily basis, perhaps this recent residential project might provide some inspiration.

in Health

A Hanoi Duo Crafts Intricate Silicone and Clay Prostheses for People With Disabilities

“The products we make are fake arms, legs, noses, ears… from silicone. The value we create is emotional healing, giving our customers confidence in themselves and their lives — the things they lack after surgeries,” Phúc shared while introducing their products. 

Back Society

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.

in Environment

Hanoi Starts Cleaning Hoan Kiem Lake 2 Years After Beloved Turtle Died From Pollution

Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake will be cleaned up two years after its famous reptile resident died in its polluted waters.

in Tech

Vietnamese From Rural Regions Are Using Smartphones and Facebook More Than Ever

Thanks to reductions in smartphone prices, these devices are now increasingly popular among Vietnamese all over the country.

in Tech

Sharks, Anchors & Red Tape: Why It Takes Forever to Fix Vietnam's Broken Internet Cables

Are the sharks all to blame, or should other aquatic creatures also be held responsible for Vietnam’s sluggish internet?