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 Tech

Vietnam’s Video Game Market Ranks 28th Globally in Total Revenue: Report

With spending on video games in Vietnam expected to hit US$365 million in 2017, the country is quickly becoming a lucrative market for game makers.

in Society

Hanoi’s 'Ex-Market' Provides Post-Breakup Solace for Local Youths

This isn't your usual flea market: here, one man's, or woman's, unwanted mementos and emotional baggage from previous love affairs may just be another man's treasure.

in Environment

In 10 Years, Da Lat Might Run out of Clean Water Due to Pollution

The popular Central Highlands city of Da Lat may run out of clean water in the next 10 years, according to a local official.

Dana Filek-Gibson

in Society

At Hanoi’s Fury Room, Young Vietnamese Relieve Stress Through Destruction

Next time you’re in the capital and looking to unwind, you could opt for the standard walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and an ice-cold bia hơi. Or you could break something.

in Development

Vo Trong Nghia Brings Low-Cost Prefabricated S Houses to Northern Vietnam

Could Vo Trong Nghia's low-cost prefabricated S House provide a sustainable solution for Vietnam’s architectural needs?

in Development

[Renderings] What the Nhon-Hanoi Metro Line Will Look Like in the Future

As the capital's Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway inches closer to the finish line, construction on the Nhon - Hanoi Station route has once again been prolonged to 2021.

in Architecture

[Photos] Quang Binh's Light, Airy Abode: When an Architect Experiments on His Own House

A local architect in Dong Hoi has created a distinct, airy house that stands apart from more traditional houses in the city.

in Society

Saigon's Tattoo Culture Flourishes Thanks to Changing Attitudes

Danis Nguyen remembers the first time he saw a tattoo. It was on TV, in a world far away from his childhood home in Nha Trang: a world of rebellion, electric guitars and round sunglasses. At 18, ...

Dana Filek-Gibson

in Health

In Vietnam, Taboo and Tradition Hinder Contraception Awareness

With many urban Vietnamese waiting longer to get married, the country’s younger generations are recognizing the need to open up about sex education in the conservative country.

in Society

[Photos] A Bird's-Eye View of Saigon's Remaining Green Spaces

As Saigon’s downtown area is slowly being filled with construction projects, a crucial part of its charm and scenery is also being compromised: green spaces.

in Architecture

[Photos] Backyard Atrium Brings Radiance Into This Saigon Tube House

A back-of-house atrium and a well-designed staircase help to optimize natural lighting and ventilation in this Phu Nhuan tube house.

in Society

Vietnam’s First Professional MMA Fighter to Make Professional Debut in August

This August, Vietnam’s first professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter will make his debut.

in Society

Vietnam's Gender Imbalance to Have Major Consequences by 2050: Report

As the United Nation’s World Population Day approaches on July 11, Vietnam must face its ongoing struggle with gender imbalance throughout its population.

in Development

[Photos] Thuan Kieu Plaza Receives Makeover, May Open Again This September

One of Saigon’s most iconic landmarks of the early 2000s – Thuan Kieu Plaza – is receiving a makeover.

in Society

Hanoi's Traditional Chicken Feather Duster Vendors Feel Pain of Mass-Produced Competition

Cheap, mass-produced dusters are putting Hanoi's traditional chicken feather duster vendors under financial pressure.

in Architecture

Vietnamese Architects Clinch Awards for 'Most Friendly and Inclusive Designs'

The International Union of Architects (UIA) announced the winners of the 2017 edition of the “Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards,” with Vietnamese firms Vo Trong Nghia Architects and H&P Architects ...

in Tech

Cyber Security Breach Exposes 66,000 Vietnamese Personal Accounts

Approximately 66,000 Vietnamese Facebook, Gmail and Yahoo accounts have been stolen in a newly discovered cyber heist, experts recently revealed.

Brian Letwin

in Development

[Photos] The Last Vestiges of Saigon's Natural Landscape in District 2

On the eastern edge of District 2’s An Phu lies one of the last vestiges of Saigon's wilderness, a shrinking area that is slowly being chipped away for new infrastructure projects and dense developmen...

in Society

Saigon Welcomes New LGBT-Friendly Health Care Service

Vietnam is inching toward a more gender-inclusive society with a new LGBT-friendly health center.

in Tech

Binh Thanh Debuts New App to Help Residents Report Legal Violations

An app which lets residents of Binh Thanh District submit legal violations to local authorities has been successful in a pilot run.