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.
[Photos] A Green Oasis in the Heart of Hanoi
With Hanoi’s environment getting worse by the minute, a group of architects has attempted to create a dash of green scenery to brighten up this Dong Da abode.
Officials Present Dire Environmental Indicators at Hanoi Summit on Air Pollution
Shocking information on the state of Vietnam's environment was presented at a seminar in Hanoi earlier this week.
Facebook Policy Head, Vietnamese Minister of Information Discuss Curbing ‘Toxic Content’
Representatives of Facebook met with Vietnamese authorities this week to explore preventive measures regarding alleged false information on the social networking site.
[Video] Forest in South-Central Vietnam Cleared for Golf Course Without Approval
A forest in Phu Yen province has been cleared to make way for a golf course and resort, despite the fact the project hasn't been approved.
Viettel to Launch New Luxury Smartphone Later This Year
Time to save up, Saigoneers: rumor has it that Viettel will launch a new luxury smartphone by the end of the year.
[Photos] Hanoi's 'Party Apartment' Is Perfect for the Fun-Loving Crowd
Hanoi’s spacious “Party Apartment” is the perfect home for local social butterflies out there.
Brian Letwin in Development
Capital City Series Returns With Edition on Phnom Penh’s Rapid Development
Michael Waibel, the German human geographer, is back with another book in his series that takes a close look at the development of Southeast Asian cities from the perspective of both built environment...
Bear Rescue Center in Northern Vietnam Expands in Effort to End Bile Farming
Vietnam's most well-known bear sanctuary recently expanded, creating more space for animals rescued from bile farming.
Uber and Grab Are Making Hanoi and Saigon's Congestion Worse: Officials
Authorities in Vietnam’s most populous metropolises are now considering limiting operations of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab, accusing them of worsening traffic.
Vietnamese Beekeepers Fight Climate Change With New Initiatives
Beekeepers and researchers in northern Vietnam are looking for ways to combat declines in vital bee populations.
[Photos] A Glimpse Into Binh Thanh's Terracotta Abode
In Saigon, nothing is impossible when it comes to building a home, even when the lot is 40 meters long and wedged in the middle of a tight space.
Apple Warns Unauthorized Local Shops to Stop Using Trademark
In the future, Saigon’s neighborhood phone stores might have to think twice before putting the Apple logo on their front sign.
[Images] Updated Google Earth Timelapse Shows Three Decades of Development in Vietnam
How has Vietnam changed in the span of three decades, as seen through Google Earth?
Social Stigmas in Vietnam Deter Gay Men From HIV Testing and Treatment
Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam still face social and bureaucratic barriers when accessing HIV testing and treatment, a survey has found.
Singaporean Architects Design Hotel Featuring Own Ecosystem
A hotel in downtown Singapore features its own ecosystem and an array of innovative environmental features.
Vietnam to Get Nationwide 4G Coverage by End of April
Under the central government’s ambitious plan to bring Vietnam up to speed with the region's internet standards, local mobile carriers are extending their fourth-generation (4G) high-speed network.
Michael Tatarski in Society
Chasing Pavements: In Defense of Saigon's Sidewalk Economy
As Doan Ngoc Hai, the leader of Saigon’s most aggressive sidewalk-clearing campaign in recent memory, takes a brief hiatus, headlines about towed cars and demolished buildings often obscure the r...
Cambodia to Relocate 5 Floating Villages Along Tonle Sap River to Curb Pollution
Cambodian officials are preparing to relocate five floating villages in Kampong Chhnang province to help reduce water pollution.
[Photos] Torn Paper House Brings Bright, Minimalist Living to Go Vap
A Saigon-based architecture firm has transformed a small plot in Go Vap District into an enviable townhouse.
Vietnam's Pension System to Go Digital by 2018
Vietnam’s pension distribution system is seeking to catch up with the digital age.
