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.
Nha Trang to Release 1m Dengue-Fighting Mosquitoes
Nha Trang may soon be on its way to becoming dengue-free.
Increasing Plastic Bag Taxes by Weight Could Backfire: VCCI
A recent draft of changes to Vietnam’s Environmental Protection Law has become the subject of debate as many experts believe that proposed policies could be ineffective in the long run.
Construction Begins on Overpasses to Ease Congestion Around Tan Son Nhat
In hopes of alleviating congestion in the area surrounding Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Saigon recently broke ground on two overpass projects in Go Vap District.
Flappy Bird Creator Teams up With Japanese Firm to Release Ninja-Themed Mobile Game
Last week, Flappy Bird creator Nguyen Ha Dong and Japanese firm OBOKAIDEM Games introduced a new, yet familiar, eight-bit game, Ninja Spinki Challenges, to mobile users around the globe.
[Photos] Local Architects Weave Functional Design Element Through Saigon Tube House
Sometimes all it takes to spruce up a home is just one design element.
Facebook Is Vietnam's Favorite Way to Shop: Surveys
While Vietnam’s goal of becoming a cashless society by 2020 seems like a lofty one to say the least, some Vietnamese are well on their way toward embracing technology for shopping, according to three ...
[Photos] Verdant Waterfalls Grace Facade of Vo Trong Nghia Hoi An Hotel
Located in Hoi An’s Old Town, the Atlas Hotel Hoian is the latest hospitality project from Vietnam’s notable firm Vo Trong Nghia Architects.
Taiwan Ranks 1st, Vietnam Moves Up 4 Spots in Expat Quality of Life Survey
It’s no secret that Saigoneer has been crushing on Taiwan for quite a while, from its futuristic tech parks to sprawling fish markets. Our love for the island nation was affirmed by a recent survey th...
[Photos] A Rare Sight of Saigon's Serene Side
Loving Saigon is not difficult: the city is home to some of the country’s most amazing people, culinary creations and rich history. However, because the southern metropolis is such a welcoming place, ...
Hanoi Breaks Ground on New 6-Star Four Seasons Hotel
On January 7, Intimex Vietnam commenced the construction of the Four Seasons Hotel, a six-star accommodation overlooking Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Environment
Southeast Asia's Air Pollution Deaths Could Triple by 2030
A new Harvard-backed report is predicting the future of Southeast Asia’s air quality, and it does not look good.
[Photos] Hanoi Salon’s Architecture Appeals to All the Senses
Though residential dwellings seem to be the most common subject of Vietnam’s modern architecture efforts, H&P Architects was recently tasked with renovating a run-down hairdressing salon in Hanoi’s Va...
[Video] Vietnamese Workers Take Center Stage in Japan Government Video
The lives and work of Vietnamese health professionals in Japan were recently highlighted in a video feature from the Japanese government.
Saigon-Phnom Penh Expressway Project Moves Forward
Plans to build a Phnom Penh-Saigon expressway are moving forward.
[Photos] Check Out Saigon's Snazzy New Children's Hospital
A brand-new children's hospital in Saigon’s Binh Chanh District opened its doors on January 16.
Vietnamese Students Face Exploitation When Working Abroad
In recent years, study abroad has become a popular option among young Vietnamese, however life in foreign countries isn’t necessarily all it's cracked up to be.
[Photos] Half Roof House: A Marriage Between Old Design and New
A team of Saigon-based architects seeks to attain a harmonious balance between traditional Vietnamese aesthetics and modern design elements in their latest creation, the Half Roof House.
Long Thanh Airport Likely to Be Shaped Like a Lotus
While the traffic nightmare at Tan Son Nhat International Airport continues to wreak havoc on Saigoneers’ travel plans, the design of Long Thanh International Airport is currently being finalized...
Father of Vietnamese Environmentalism Passes Away at 87
Vo Quy, considered the father of environmental conservation in Vietnam, has died at age 87.
Vietnamese Parents Should Decide How Many Children to Have: Health Ministry
Future parents in Vietnam may be able to decide how many children they have, as health officials are currently in the process of revising the country’s loosely enforced two-child policy.
