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's Fast-Growing Middle Class a Juicy Target for Foreign Brands
Due to rapid economic growth and prolonged political stability, urban Vietnamese have become richer in a short amount of time. This boost in purchasing power among the local middle class has created a...
Saigon Seeks Approval for First Phase of $1.84bn Metro Line 5
After much delay, Ho Chi Minh City officials are seeking approval from the National Assembly for the construction of the first phase of Metro Line 5.
Prince William to Visit Hanoi Next Month for Animal Trafficking Conference
Fans of royalty, rejoice: Prince William will visit Hanoi next month to attend the third International Wildlife Trade Conference.
Japanese Company Plans to Launch On-Demand Shooting Stars
Do you have wishes, but no shooting stars to wish on? Your problem will be a thing of the past once this Japanese startup launches its service in 2018.
[Photos] A Bird's-Eye View of Saigon’s MEGA City
Saigoneer is a proud media sponsor of the third edition of TP. Ho Chi Minh: MEGA City, released earlier this month. The compact and concise photo book explores urban development, landscapes and people...
Tuk Tuk Ride-Sharing App Launches in Phnom Penh
Passed over by the likes of Uber and Grab, a Phnom Penh company is filling the city's ride-hailing app gap with a program of its own. Oh, and it’s only for tuk tuks.
[Video] Young Vietnamese Aren’t Into Exercise
As Vietnamese are becoming more sedentary, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are putting a strain the health of young citizens nationwide.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Development
Slimmer New MEGA City Book Highlights Rapid Change in Saigon
For many downtown Saigon residents, it’s hard to remember a time when the Nguyen Hue walking street didn’t exist, despite the fact it’s not even two years old. Such is life in the southern hub: i...
Vietnam Sees First Possible Case of Zika-Linked Microcephaly
Vietnam might be the second Southeast Asian country to have a baby born with Zika-linked microcephaly, a condition characterized by small head size in newborns.
[Infographic] The Real Estate Developer That Owns Nguyen Hue
Ever since the city transformed Nguyen Hue’s iconic boulevard into a pedestrian walking street, real estate on the downtown promenade has skyrocketed.
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...
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 ...
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.
[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...
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.
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...
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.
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.
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, ...
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.
