Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

The Reason to Cry for Cu Li, Vietnam's Deeply Misunderstood Primate

A drop of the animal’s blood renders the soil barren; entire mountains can crumble and collapse where it landed. Be wary of this slow wayfarer of the forest, for if you catch sight of its glowing eyes in the distant darkness, your trip is doomed and should be abandoned immediately. And if someone brings one back to the village, make all efforts to return it to the jungle, lest you invite sorrow and ruin into your home. Don’t let its meagre stature, a mere 500 grams, and slow, cuddly demeanor confuse you; the cu li guards the gates to hell.

in Environment

The Hunt for Vietnam's Dinosaurs Has Found Nothing Yet, but There Is Hope

Why aren’t there any Vietnamese dinosaurs?

in Parks & Rec

In Hanoi, Waacking Is Not Just a Dance, but a Home for Creativity, Gender Fluidity Too

“I get to express my madness.” That is what Trần Khánh Linh, also known as Lyna, says when asked why she has been waacking for the last 10 years. By day, Lyna is a jewelry and gemstone seller, but by night, she joins her friends at the Soul Waackers, a waacking group based in Hanoi, and practices a dance style that allows her a vibrant way to self-express.

Uyên Đỗ

in Tech

There's a Cordial Vietnamese Greeting That Has Been Floating in Space Since 1977

At this very moment, while you're reading these lines, a silver “bird” of human design is hurtling away from the Sun at roughly 60,000 kilometers per hour, slipping past the boundaries of our solar cradle and into the endless quiet of the cosmos.

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

How a Self-Taught Documentarian Spreads His Boundless Enthusiasm for Vietnam's Nature

Why “Sticky Discovery”? This was the first question I asked during my interview with the man behind the YouTube series of...

in Architecture

In a D7 Residence, Natural Wood Textures Hark Back to Vietnam's Traditional Homes

During a new decade when architecture projects in Vietnam are increasingly looking towards the future and influences outside the national boundaries for inspirations, Memories House decided to do the opposite by integrating old heirloom furniture and elements from the past into the living space.

in Environment

Searching for the World's Largest Woodpecker Species in Yok Đôn National Park

You first know she’s approaching by the sound of her wings; her broad shadow flashing across the forest floor. Even from far below, her body looks enormous. At half a meter long, she is roughly five times the size of the woodpeckers seen in the gardens of Europe or North America. She is the largest woodpecker left in the world, and the jewel of Yok Đôn National Park.

Paul Christiansen

in Sports

Thống Nhất Stadium Offers Unexpected Opportunities to Reflect Upon the Soul

Where do you find revelation?

Back Society

in Society

Hanoi Taxi Drivers Fight Against Mandatory Breaks

The Hanoi Transport Association has put forth a request urging the municipal government to drop the current rule that requires taxi drivers to take a 15-minute break after every four hours of continuo...

in Tech

No Plans to Lay off Vietnamese Workers After Galaxy Note 7 Fiasco: Samsung

In the wake of Samsung’s global discontinuation of its explosive Note 7 model, workers at the South Korean tech giant’s factories in northern Vietnam will be glad to find out the firm is not planning ...

in Development

Asia's Megacities Face Development Trade-off

The coupling of massive urban migration with heady economic development is hampering the sustainable progress of East and Southeast Asian megacities.

in Development

[Photos] Take a Stroll Through D8's Canal Community

District 8 is undergoing major changes. Bisected by the winding Doi Canal, the area is currently home to half of the slum housing in the city, however as clean-up efforts and new construction projects...

in Society

Young Vietnamese Commit Dangerous Acts in the Name of Facebook Likes

Young Vietnamese are performing increasingly absurd and dangerous acts in the name of Facebook likes.

in Development

Sustainable Energy Projects Face Hurdles As Vietnam Plans More Coal Plants

While Vietnam holds great potential for reneweable energy sources like solar and wind, a lack of supportive regulations has made it difficult for sustainable energy projects to get off the ground. Mea...

in Society

Dong Thap Farmers Are Selling Mango Trees Online

In the struggle towards creating an organic Vietnam, while many consumers are turning to online outlets to purchase safe produce, others are deciding to grow their own food. 

in Development

Bac Ninh Flush With Samsung Cash, But Is It Sustainable?

Samsung’s investment has transformed Bac Ninh province into Vietnam's second-largest exporting center, dramatically boosting the earnings of the local community. 

in Health

Hanoi's Air Quality Ranked Second-Worst in the World Yesterday

It’s hard to feel optimistic about Vietnam’s public health these days, what with the country recently making the list of top 10 global alcohol consumers and food safety a continued concern. Now, ...

in Society

Da Nang Sues Scholarship Students Who Don’t Return

Da Nang’s municipal government is suing several scholarship recipients, arguing that the students have not fulfilled their contractual agreements.

in Society

[Video] How Vietnam's Northern Communities Are Gaining Access to Credit

A small microfinance outfit in northern Vietnam is making a huge impact on the local community.

in Health

Southeast Asia's Unsafe Air Costs Lives, National GDP

Around the globe, more than nine in 10 people are breathing polluted air, according to a recent study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

in Environment

Faced With Possible Sanctions, Vietnam Re-Assesses Rhino Horn Problem

Faced with the prospect of international sanctions as early as next year, Vietnam is reckoning with its rhino horn trafficking problem. 

in Development

Saigon's Old Villas Fall to Demolition Epidemic

Due to the delay in creating a classification system for old mansions in Saigon, the city’s many old buildings are being knocked down at an alarming rate.

in Health

Vietnamese Men Among World’s Top Alcohol Consumers: WHO Survey

According to a recent survey, Vietnamese men are among the world’s top alcohol consumers.

in Architecture

[Photos] Let There Be Light: Architects Create Bright, Airy Hem House

Once again, a group of Saigon-based architects has risen above their peers and transformed a seemingly disadvantaged plot of land into a sight to behold: the Hem House.

in Development

Saigon Unveils Plan for New Bridge Connecting D2, D4

In the future, commuting between District 4 and District 2 will be much easier for local residents as Ho Chi Minh City authorities recently unveiled a plan to construct a bridge connecting the two dis...

in Tech

Japanese Robots to Aid English Classes in Vietnam

These are exciting times for English-language learners in Vietnam, as a Japanese robotics company just signed a deal to provide the country with English-teaching robots.

in Environment

In Vietnam, Human Migration Intensifies Effects of Climate Change

As Vietnam continues to grow, human migration patterns are exacerbating the effects of climate change in the country.

in Architecture

[Video] Local Architecture Students Use Traditional Papier-Mache to Create Cocoon Pavilion

Over the summer, architect Nguyen Hoa Hiep of a21 Studio – the firm behind Thu Duc’s M11 house and The Tent in Nha Trang – teamed up with local architecture students to create a cocoon-like pavilion i...