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.
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.
[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.
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.
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.
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.
82-Year-Old Japanese Coder Creates Apps for the Elderly
Masako Wakamiya, an 82-year-old Japanese woman, has shown that mobile phone app developers don't always fit the mold of Silicon Valley stereotypes.
Wushu Martial Artists Earn Vietnam's First Gold Medals at SEA Games 2017
Vietnam’s delegation at this year’s SEA Games competition is off to a good start after wushu martial artists clinched the country’s first two gold medals late last week.
Vietnam's Female Business Owners Upend Gender Stereotypes
Although there are still issues surrounding gender roles and perceptions of women in Vietnam, the country is in some ways more progressive than its regional neighbors when it comes to gender diversity...
Korean Giant CJ Group Invests $63m to Build Frozen Food Factory in Saigon
CJ Group, a Korean conglomerate, has announced plans to expand its presence in Vietnam's food market.
Massive Long An Theme Park Project Abandoned Due to Debt
Once set to become the largest theme park in all of Southeast Asia, Long An province's Happyland entertainment complex may never open to the public due to debt.
Cash-Strapped University Students in Vietnam Resort to Platelet Donations Despite Health Risks
A wave of Vietnamese students who experience economic hardships have resorted to selling their platelets regularly in order to make ends meet.
A Brief Primer on Vietnam’s Football History
How Vietnamese teams made the jump from small-time local leagues to national franchise football.
The Trials and Tribulations of Life in Saigon's Hẻms With Multiple Slashes
For some, Saigon's hẻms are a treasure trove of hidden urban gems. But for those living in these alleyways, they can also be a relentless source of inconvenience and frustration.
Meet the Man Who Owns Vietnam's Largest Collection of Seashells
While traditional hobbyists often pursue items such as stamps, coins or old records, a Da Nang native has a passion for an item which some may brush aside as a children’s toy: seashells.
[Photos] Bamboo Bridges the Gap Between Indoor and Outdoor Space in Hanoi Home
In the midst of the chaos and pollution of Hanoi, A House in Trees offers a sanctuary to its residents.
Vietnam Has Both the Highest and Fastest-Growing Rate of Diabetes in Southeast Asia: Expert
Professor Thai Hong Quang, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology (VADE), recently reported that diabetes is affecting roughly 5 million Vietnamese people.
[Photos] Photographer Showcases Hong Kong's Hidden Corners From Above
Tugo Cheng, a Hong Kong-based architect and photographer, uses drone photography to give viewers a completely different perspective on the famously dense, high-rise packed city.
Are Electric Cars Coming to Vietnam?
As urban Vietnam makes a push toward cars and away from motorbikes, could electric vehicles be on the horizon?
Between 2 Worlds: The Dilemma of Vietnam's Foreign-Educated Grads
Every six months, Thuy* leaves Vietnam for Sydney to spend time with her two children, Ha* and Quang*. Far from the bustle of Saigon, Thuy enjoys Australia’s pristine environment and the time spent wi...
[Photos] Vietnam's Best-Looking Bridges
Bridges have always been an indispensable part of Vietnam’s infrastructure, as rivers and streams spread across the country’s geographic formations.
