Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

Is the Yeti Vietnamese? This Ancient Ape Might Hold the Answer.

Can you name a Vietnamese animal that hasn’t been hunted to the precipice of extinction or become a commodified item whose flesh, fur, or feathers are only deemed significant in relation to their practical use by humans?

in Architecture

This Suburban Hanoi House Answers 'Yes' to 'How Many Windows Do You Want?'

Do you love the tropical summer? Does bathing in the warmth of the sun spark joy in you? How many windows are enough to solar-power your everyday life? If you, too, are toiling with these existential concerns on a daily basis, perhaps this recent residential project might provide some inspiration.

in Health

A Hanoi Duo Crafts Intricate Silicone and Clay Prostheses for People With Disabilities

“The products we make are fake arms, legs, noses, ears… from silicone. The value we create is emotional healing, giving our customers confidence in themselves and their lives — the things they lack after surgeries,” Phúc shared while introducing their products. 

in Architecture

Listen to the Unique 'Dialects' Found in Regional Vietnamese Modernist Architecture

“It was my uncle who came up with the design. There are no drawings left; everything was improvised back then,” the owner of a modernist homestay in Ninh Thuận told me. No architect, just an idea and a craftsman to pour it into concrete.

in Environment

How Overreliance on Pesticides Traps Thai Farmers in a Vicious Circle of Debt

As the sun rises over the village of Ban Wichit Pattana in north-east Thailand, 62-year-old Chuchart Srithachum does his morning exercise, walking as best he can on his prosthetic leg along the street outside his home.

Khôi Phạm

in Architecture

Illustration Project 'Con Ốc Nhỏ' Archives Southern Vietnam's Diverse Architectural Facades

Riding a motorbike is the most popular mode of transport in Vietnam. Albeit convenient and fast, being on a bike, merging in and out of the ever-flowing, hurried traffic, might not afford you the slow pace needed to fully appreciate the urban landscapes and their hidden gems. Vietnamese artist Bờm Sketcher, on the other hand, is fully in support of walking as the best way to document the most fascinating corners of local streets onto his pages.

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.

Back Society

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.

in Architecture

[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...

in Development

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...

in Development

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.

in Tech

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.

in Development

[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...

in Architecture

[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.

in Architecture

[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...

in Health

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.

in Tech

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.

in Tech

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...

in Development

[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.

in Architecture

[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...

in Development

[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 ...

in Development

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.

in Health

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.

in Development

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...

in Development

[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...

in Tech

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.

in Development

What Does The Future Hold For Saigon’s Skeleton Tower?

The monolithic Saigon One Tower is the most obvious victim of the city's burst real estate bubble (which looks to be finally recovering). Even though the skeleton of the unfinished US$238 million ...