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.
There Are Only 20 Indochinese Tigers Left in Vietnam
Vietnam's population of Indochinese tigers is dangerously low, with only around 20 animals left in the wild.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Tech
[Infographics] Vietnam's Mobile Games Are Taking the World by Storm
Whether you're reading this on a smartphone or tablet, a desktop or a laptop, look up: chances are at least a few other people are also deeply engrossed in a screen of some kind.
[Photos] Central Atrium Transforms Saigon Tube House
In a city like Saigon, space comes at a premium. It's no wonder, then, that Vietnam – and many other Asian countries – have taken to building tube houses, the ultra-skinny residential buildings you of...
Welcome To Vietnam: Southeast Asia's Silicon Valley
In little more than a decade, Vietnam's tech industry has exploded, attracting international attention and showcasing the country's potential, not just as an outsourcing hub but a key player in Southe...
Nha Trang Officials Seeking Permission to Build 60-Story Skyscrapers Along the Coast
Officials in Nha Trang are proposing an increase the height limit on its coastal buildings, pushing the cap from its current 40 stories to 60.
Vinaphone Tops Viettel's 4G Announcement
At long last, 4G is coming to Vietnam, and the battle for customers is heating up among the country's major telecommunications players.
[Photos] Farm Animals Roam Hanoi’s Disappearing Green Space
Hanoi, much like the rest of Vietnam, has come a long way in the last few decades. Today, the capital is filled with skyscrapers, expensive infrastructure projects and an endless stream of honking veh...
[Photos] Inside District 1's Minimalist Hidden Oasis
Downtown Saigon is no place for peace and quiet. However, local architecture firm Kien Truc O has transformed a small, narrow house in District 1 into a miniature oasis.
[Photos] Vo Trong Nghia Unveils Plans to Cover Saigon University in Trees
Saigon will be getting a little bit greener, thanks to the folks at Vo Trong Nghia. The award-winning architecture firm recently revealed its plans for a new FPT University campus in the southern city...
Street Food Vendors May Be Required to Comply With New Food Safety Regulation
Street food could soon get a thorough cleaning, as new regulations proposed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade seek to bring food safety standards to Saigon's roadside dining.
Viettel to Require New SIMs for 4G Service
Starting in October of this year, Viettel will offer its users the option of 4G coverage, reports Zing.
Vietnam Breaks Ground on First Solar Power Plant
Quang Ngai officials broke ground on the construction of Vietnam's first solar power plant this Saturday. The facility, which is expected to be operational by mid-2016, will cover 24 hectares and come...
[Photos] New Bridge Cutting Distance From HCMC To Mekong Delta Opens Tomorrow
Starting tomorrow, city travelers will be able to cut their trip to My Tho from 100 kilometres to 25 kilometres, reports Tuoi Tre.
[Photos] Open-Air Cafe Stands Out On Kontum Waterfront
Kontum is not, perhaps, the first place you'd expect to find a piece of modern architecture, but perched on the Dakbla River is the imposing Kontum Indochine Cafe. Designed by award-winning architectu...
[Video] 3-D Animation Spotlights Thu Thiem 2 Bridge
A new video by Sub Zero Animation posted on REIC brings to life the proposed Thu Thiem 2 Bridge, which is set to reach completion in 2018. The bridge will serve as a direct route between District 1's ...
Old Thao Dien Villa Gets A Modern Makeover
Rather than tear down this District 2 villa altogether, MM++ Architects decided to give its concrete frame a makeover using recycled red bricks and steel frame glass windows.
Female Viagra May Be Coming To A Pharmacy Near You
Last week, the Vietnamese Department of Health announced that it would consider circulating a newly-approved drug call Addyi, which treats low sexual desire in women.
Future Saigon: The Sabeco Tower
Sabeco, the Vietnamese beverage company that has a commanding 40% market share of the domestic market, is in the process of trading in its massive warehouse at Me Linh Square for a shiny new skyscrape...
[Photos] Award-Winning Design Links Nha Trang Restaurant And Sea
When D3 Architects came up with this design for a beachside Nha Trang restaurant, they sought to create a structure with a strong connection to its surrounding environment, in this case, the beach. Gi...
Apple, Inc. Plans to Open Subsidiary in Vietnam
Apple seems to have set its sights on the Vietnamese market with reports that the company is gearing up to open a subsidiary in Vietnam.
