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

in Architecture

Incredible House In Nha Be District Blends Local Architectural Styles And Modern Design

This brick-based, open-air living space from Vietnamese MM++ Architects taps traditional construction methods to bring this home into harmony with its surrounding environment. 

in Environment

Vietnamese-American Actress Stars In Graphic Video, Visits Vietnam To Save Endangered Species (NSFW)

For many mammals, the world is becoming a harsher place as human’s encroach on the land and hunt them for skins, horns and meat (see this utterly depressing map).

in Environment

Climate Change Will Put 'Many' Vietnamese Cities Underwater: Official

While residents in the Vietnam's central highlands face the worst drought in years, 400km to the north, three people died last month as a result of “unusual” floods, the likes of which have not been s...

in Development

For The First Time, Vietnam Is Recruiting Foreign Scientists To Teach At Public Universities

As Vietnam struggles with a scarcity of qualified local professors, the country is looking outside its borders to reach international university standards.

in Development

Hà Nội: CAPITAL City - The Capital City From Above

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the Hà Nội: CAPITAL City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos and s...

in Tech

AT&T Looks To Expand Into Vietnamese Market

American telecommunications giant AT&T is looking to expand its services into Vietnam, but not in the way that you might expect.

in Health

Saigon’s Golf Course Is Poisoning Local Residents: Experts

Unlike most golf courses, Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat Golf Course is located in the heart of a densely populated urban area where it poses a serious environmental threat to those living nearby. Local reside...

in Tech

Uber’s New Service Promises Cheapest Taxis In Saigon, Hanoi

On April 7, Uber launched uberX, a new service that will be at least 25% cheaper than traditional taxi services in Saigon and Hanoi.

in Development

Interview With the Author of the 'Ha Noi: CAPITAL City' Photo Book - Part 2

Following the successful release of their photo book which chronicled urban development in Ho Chi Minh City last year, Michael Waibel and Henning Hilbert are back with a similar en...

in Architecture

[Photos] New Tube House in Binh Duong Offers A Twist On Traditional Vietnamese Architecture

Tube houses have been popular in Vietnamese cities for centuries due to their ability to build airy abodes on small plots of land. Though architectural style has been steadily falling out of favor, ar...

in Health

Vietnam Begins to Issue Fines for Helmetless Children on Motorbikes

Starting this week, Vietnamese traffic police officers will issue fines to motorbike drivers with helmetless children over six-years-old in tow.

in Health

Medical Musings: Would You Like A Side Of Arsenic With That Rice?

In the last several years, there has been some talk about various chemicals found in the food supply here in Vietnam. You may remember bleach in bún and coconuts, MSG in everything, antibiotics in pou...

in Development

Interview With the Author of the 'Ha Noi: CAPITAL City' Photo Book

Following the successful release of their photo book which chronicled urban development in Ho Chi Minh City last year, Michael Waibel and Henning Hilbert are back with a similar en...

in Tech

Vietnam Delays Launch Of 4G Until 2016

Though many have agreed that 2015 is the “prime time” for Vietnam to launch its 4G services, the country’s deputy minister of information and communications announced last Thursday that licenses for t...

in Architecture

[Photos] Every Corner Of This D7 Home Was Designed For Relaxation And Meditation

The 3x10 House, designed by DD concept, can be found in District 7. Built on a 3×10 square meter plot, the small space forced the architects to "carefully consider the conflicts be...

in Development

15 Projects That Will Change Saigon Forever: Part 3

The area between Bến Thành Market and the Saigon Opera House is undeniably the epicenter of changes to the city’s urban fabric with the construction of pedestrian promenades, subway stations, a new ad...

in Development

Vietnamese Car Sales Skyrocketing In 2015

If you’ve been noticing more cars clogging the streets on your daily commute, you’re not imagining things.

in Tech

[Video] Chinese Company Builds 57-Story Skyscraper in 19 Days

When one talks about the pace of construction in Vietnam, many would liken it to watching paint dry. Due to a plethora of reasons, many buildings remain partially built (e.g. the building at Ham Nghi ...

in Tech

Vietnam to Get Its First Solar Power Plant

EVN is partnering up with a Russian energy company to construct the country’s first solar power plant.

in Development

South Korean Investor Puts In US$5 Billion Bid To Redevelop Saigon's Ba Son Shipyard

The sprawling Ba Son Shipyard that occupies a large swath of prime real estate along the banks of the Saigon River may soon be redeveloped into a mixed-use complex.