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.
Vietnam Launches Ambitious Encyclopedia Project
Vietnam has initiated its largest encyclopedia project yet, but several hurdles stand in the way.
YouTube Might Get Fined for Failing to Comply With Vietnam's Advertising Rules
YouTube is in trouble with two ministries in Vietnam over advertising on the video site.
Traffic Safety Committee Releases Special Helmets for Thai Women With Traditional Hairstyles
After two years of planning and development, women from Vietnam’s Thai ethnic community can finally enjoy the protection of helmets catered specifically to their traditional customs.
[Video] Check out This Design for a Lotus-Shaped Cultural Center in Hanoi
Australian firm deciBel(Architecture))) recently debuted its proposal for a multipurpose public space in Hanoi, and it’s pretty impressive.
Saigon Will Have Better Medical Facilities Than Singapore by 2020: Health Official
Last week, an official from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health claimed the southern hub could have better medical facilities than Singapore by 2020.
Vietnam Aims to Bring Internet Access to 80-90% of Population
Vietnamese IT officials are hoping to bring internet access to as much as 90% of the local population.
Vietnam's Wind Energy Development Hampered by Low Profits
Though Vietnam’s renewable energy production shows great potential, high overhead costs and low energy prices are deterring investors from cashing in on wind power.
Vietnam to Punish 11 Environmental Officials Over Formosa Scandal
On Wednesday, the Vietnamese government released a list of 11 state and industry officials responsible for the Formosa environmental scandal which occurred in central Vietnam last year....
Women Face Gender Bias in Vietnamese Media: Report
A new report by non-profit organization Oxfam has drawn attention to gender bias in the Vietnamese media.
Proposed Hoi An Resort Sparks Environmental Concerns
A decision by Hoi An authorities to once again greenlight a tabled multi-million dollar resort project has sparked concern among local residents.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Sports
Vietnamese Athletes Head to the Start Line in First-Ever Asian Winter Games
This week, even during Saigon’s cool, dry season mornings, people across the city will face 34-degree heat on their morning commute, many of them heading toward air-conditioned offices and shaded pati...
Vietnamese Couples Are the Most Fulfilled in Asia: Report
Hong Kong-based financial security provider Prudential recently released a report on the best places in Asia to develop healthy personal relationships, and Vietnam is at the top.
PlayStation Debuts First-Ever Vietnamese-Developed Video Game
Video game fans can now try out the first-ever PlayStation game ever developed by a Vietnamese company.
[Video] Long An Football Team Throws Tantrum
Last week, the Long An football team pitched a pretty entertaining temper tantrum after disagreeing with a referee's controversial decision.
Check out the Green 'Forest City' China Is Planning
As China attempts to bring environmental sustainability in line with its economic goals, one architect is hoping to reduce air pollution by implementing a radical urban planning strategy.
The Invincible Nokia 3310 Is Making a Comeback Later This Month
One of Nokia’s most iconic products – the 3310 cell phone – is set to make a comeback later this month.
Saigon’s Riverfront Park to Receive Upgrade, Host Weekend Market
City officials are planning to revamp the long, narrow park bordering the Saigon River in District 1 and host a weekend market at the site.
Vietnam Ministry Rejects Uber's Transportation Pilot Scheme for 2nd Time
Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has once again turned down Uber Vietnam’s official proposal to carry out a ride-hailing pilot scheme with local drivers.
[Photos] This Quang Ninh Community Center Is Made From Bamboo and Earth
An architecture firm in Vietnam has proven once again that you can create something aesthetically pleasing and highly useful from the most humble and commonplace materials.
Startup-Rating Firm OddUp Arrives in Saigon, ASEAN’s Future Silicon Valley
As the buzz over Saigon’s tech scene continues to grow, startup-rating website OddUp has arrived in the southern hub.
