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 ...
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.
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.
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.
The Saigon House That Swapped Its Front Door for a Moat
Does a house need walls?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
[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.
[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.
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, ...
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.
[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.
[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.
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.
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.
[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.
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.
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 ...
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.
[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...
Saigon Welcomes New LGBT-Friendly Health Care Service
Vietnam is inching toward a more gender-inclusive society with a new LGBT-friendly health center.
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.
The Battle Is on to Save Cambodia's 'New Khmer Architecture' Legacy
Much of Cambodia’s most impressive and culturally rich architecture is under threat of demolition or ruin as Cambodia’s upcoming generation faces a new kind of war: the battle to preserve Cambodia’s c...
Work Set to Resume on Saigon's Largest 'Ghost Tower'
Saigon's most prominent unfinished skyscraper is finally set for completion thanks to a new investor.
Child Labor to Surge in Vietnam Due to Climate Change: Experts
As climate change wreaks havoc on Vietnam, more children will be forced to work from an early age, experts say.