Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Kiến Ba Khoang: Not an Ant, but a Harbinger of Dread and Divine Punishment
People’s skin erupted with horrific boils that burst open, spilling stinging pus across vicious rashes. According to the Christian Bible, along with water turning to blood, frogs, lice, gnats, diseased livestock, hail, locusts, darkness for three days and the killing of firstborn sons, the boils were one of the plagues God sent down to ancient Egyptians to compel them to free the Israelites.
Khôi Phạm in Tech
Review: Horror Game 'Tai Ương' Exposes the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Our Culture
Natural disasters, illnesses, accidents, breakages, or even deaths: when a series of consecutive tragedies engulf a family, it’s often said that tai ương has befallen the unfornate victims. The term is also the name of a recently published Vietnamese horror game that has been making waves amongst gaming communities both nationwide and internationally, thanks to its layered narrative, chilling atmosphere, and meticulously crafted game environment.
Paul Christiansen in Environment
WildAct's Trang Nguyễn Turns to Social Media to Inspire a New Generation to Love Nature
Dr. Trang Nguyễn — a wildlife conservation scientist with a PhD from Cambridge and the founder of WildAct — needs little introduction. She has been recognized as one of Forbes Asia’s 30 under 30, called a conservation “hero” by Sir David Attenborough on BBC’s Planet Earth III, and had her inspiring story, which includes going undercover to bring down illegal ivory poaching rings in Africa after surviving cancer, covered widely. But much of her work has been behind the scenes or at least in corners devoted to conservations. Her recent arrival on the social media scene, amongst memes, music videos, and TikTok challenges, represents a shift in approach.
Phạm Phú Vinh in Architecture
Vietnamese Vernacular Modernism Is a Local Language Created by the Ordinary People
In the history of architecture, rarely have we seen such a challenging movement as Vietnamese modernism. Not only does it show how a culture evolves and expresses itself across historical epochs through its building practice, from the traditional to colonial and eventually modern period, but the language of Vietnamese vernacular modernism also reveals deeper understandings of human creative potential.
How Saigon's V.A.R Building Epitomizes Vietnam's Architectural Autonomy
Completed in 1973, the V.A.R building at 9 Nguyễn Công Trứ Street in Nguyễn Thái Binh Ward, District 1, is a prominent example of Vietnamese mid-20th-century modernist architecture designed by architect Lê Văn Lắm. It not only represents the Vietnamese architectural identity in post-colonial eras, but also exemplifies its cultural autonomy.
Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà Leprosy Village to Be Relocated for Mega Resort Project
Authorities in Gia Lai Province have approved plans to relocate the Quy Hoà leprosy village from its current ocean-side setting in Quy Nhơn to make room for an ambitious real estate and tourism project.
Opinion: Electric Vehicles Are Southeast Asia's Way out Amid the Global Fossil Fuel Crisis
As the Iran war crunches global energy supplies and disrupts prices, Southeast Asian leaders may need to diversify oil and gas supplies in order to protect ordinary people.
Paul Christiansen in Environment
An Ancient Turtle Named After Bánh Xèo Can Teach Us a Lot About Whimsy in Science
Nước mắm — that ruby-hued elixir; that salty, fish-flesh-sweet open secret in your favorite recipe; that indispensable icon of Vietnamese culture and, by extension, identity — owes itself to Commerson’s anchovies. That’s right, if your fish sauce comes from the central region, where it was first developed, the fish pressed with salt to produce it are Stolephorus commersonnii, a species named in 1801 after Philibert Commerson, a white Frenchman. Picture all the hardscrabble village homes suffering under the yoke of colonialism, where one of the day’s few pleasures was a humble meal made delicious by a carefully rationed dash of fish sauce and an ingredient whose name pays homage to their colonizers.
[Photos] Saigon Architects Brighten up Contemporary Office With Bamboo Accents
Inspired by materials common found in rural Vietnam, the creative minds behind KIENTRUC O blended a contemporary office with traditional elements.
[Photos] The Last Remaining Blacksmiths of Bien Hoa
Smithy 12 is a traditional, family blacksmith brand near Bien Hoa’s Don Market, which has been active for almost 100 years. The business is not only one workshop but rather a collection of smithies he...
Saigon Puts an End to Projects to Build Apartments Under 25 Square Meters
Ho Chi Minh City officials have closed the door on a government plan to build small apartments in order to prevent overcrowding and the creation of “elevated slums.”
Vietnam Has the Most PhDs, Fewest Research Works in Southeast Asia: Report
Vietnam’s academia is filled to the brim with PhDs, but the country’s scientific journals and inventions are not catching up with the rising population of PhD holders.
Saigon Bans Western Names, Audio-Visual Tools in Primary School English Classes
Ho Chi Minh City's education department has released a new set of teaching guidelines for English-language classes at primary schools banning the use of audio-visual tools, among other rules.
Saigon Delays Construction of 2nd Metro Line to 2020
While the construction of Saigon’s first metro line has been riddled by delays, things are looking even gloomier for the next line which may take another decade to become a reality.
[Photos] Unique Thai Nguyen Primary School Criticized for Alleged High Cost, Low Attendance
A toxic rumor has cast doubt on a primary school project in one of Thai Nguyen province’s most secluded communes.
Michael Tatarski in Development
A Tale of Two Plans: Thu Thiem, Phu My Hung and Future Saigon
Across the Saigon River from central District 1’s glass-and-steel skyscrapers, the Thu Thiem New Urban Area is slowly – very slowly – taking shape. Named after the swampy peninsula on which it sits, t...
Maneuver Vietnam's Hectic Traffic in This Quirky, Locally Made Minigame
Haven’t gotten enough of Vietnam’s traffic pandemonium in real life? Now you can also experience it virtually through this quirky brand-new mobile game.
Vietnam's 2019 Education Reform Will Take Inspiration From Nordic Countries
Vietnam’s education authorities have started looking northward for ways to improve local schools and curricula.
Scientists Reveal Ambitious Plans to Build Made-in-Vietnam Satellites
Vietnamese scientists hope to build and launch domestically produced satellites within the next two years.
Vingroup Begins Construction of $3.5bn Car Factory in Hai Phong
Vingroup, Vietnam's largest real estate developer, has begun construction of an automobile production plant in an effort to expand the country's auto industry.
Vietnamese Firm Suggests Chinese Power Plant Contractor to Take on Construction of Long Thanh Airport
Although it still only exists on paper, Long Thanh International Airport is already embroiled in its first controversy regarding prospective contractors.
Poorly Planned Development Projects Leave Vietnam's Poorest Minorities Vulnerable to Natural Disasters
Since the beginning of August, flooding and landslides have devastated northwest Vietnam, leaving ethnic minorities living in extreme poverty at the highest risk of property damage and loss of life.
Female Athletes Won Two-Thirds of Vietnam's SEA Games Gold Medals: Sport Official
Vietnam performed well during this year’s SEA Games in Malaysia, finishing third, and just two gold medals shy of exceeding its pre-tournament goal.
Vietnam's Textbooks Lack Gender Diversity, Reinforce Stereotypes: Report
A new study has shown that male-centric content dominates school textbooks in Vietnam, hindering gender equality.
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.
