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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
How Fat Are Vietnamese Compared to the Rest of the World?
On a global scale, Vietnam fits into the low risk bucket when it comes to obesity rates with the medical condition afflicting less than 5% of the population.
[Infographic] An Illustrated Guide to Saigon’s Metro System
A few weeks back, Tuoi Tre put together an elaborate infographic laying out the plans for Saigon’s metro system. Figuring that a few of our readers aren’t 100% fluent in Vietnamese, we took the time t...
Police Bust Producer for 'Coffee' Made With 90% Corn, Chemicals
Confirming rumors about the poor quality of some Vietnamese coffee, on January 19, Buôn Mê Thuột Police conducted a search of a local coffee processing plant and uncovered almost 500 kilograms of corn...
Vietnam’s Internet Among Slowest In Asia-Pacific Region
Even before Vietnam’s undersea cable ruptured earlier this month, the country’s internet connection speeds ranked near the bottom in the Asia-Pacific region.
Vietnam Airlines May Start Offering Free WIFI On Domestic Flights This Year
It looks like Vietnam Airlines is finally getting on the WIFI bandwagon with the company announcing that the service would be making its debut on its aircraft this May.
Construction Of Thủ Thiêm Bridge 2 To Begin In February
It looks like the HCMC People’s Committee’s has gotten its wish as its vice chairman announced last week that construction of the Thủ Thiêm Bridge 2 will move ahead next month.
Actual Road to Replace Drainage Pipe Shortcut In The Mekong Delta
In the past 4 years along a stretch Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong expressway in the Mekong province of Ten Giang, many residents have been using a drainage tunnel under the highway as a shortcut. ...
Construction Begins On HCMC's Second Metro Line
As work on HCMC's first metro line steadily moves along, construction on the city’s Urban Railway Line 2 project broke ground in District 12 yesterday.
Parkson's Luxury Shopping Centers In Saigon Deserted
Walk into one of the six Parkson shopping centers in Saigon, and it’s likely you’ll be one of a few people walking through a deserted shrine to commerce.
Once Filled With Shrimp And Fish, HCMC Canal Now An Environmental Disaster
At the center of HCMC's modernization plans have been massive upgrades to the city’s canals. Some, like the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe, have received international press for their miraculous turnarounds. Ho...
New Coalimex Building Brings Sleek Architecture To Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Coalimex has set up shop in Hanoi’s Old Quarter with a sleek new building boasting sustainable and green design characteristics.
[Photos] Could Tokyo’s Skinny Houses Become a Model for Hanoi?
While Hanoi may be famous for its impossibly skinny homes, it isn’t the only Asian megacity where residents are forced to make the best of their small plots of land.
Gogoro: Tesla Technology In Scooter Form
Taiwanese startup Gogoro has raised over $150 Million over the past few years developing the world’s first Smart Scooter. Fueled by the same lithium ion cells used in the Tesla Model S, the scooter is...
Hundreds Of Trees In HCMC's Gia Định Park To Be Chopped Down For Airport Road
A new 650 meter road meant to reduce traffic to Tân Sơn Nhất Airport will be built through Gia Định Park, resulting in the removal of hundreds trees.
Vietnamese Scientists Develop Android App To Help Visually Impaired Use Smartphones
Scientists in Ho Chi Minh City have developed a text-to-voice app that allows visually impaired Vietnamese to use smart phones more effectively.
Drone Video Captures Nighttime Traffic In Saigon
Over the past few decades, Saigon has spent a great deal of money upgrading its transportation infrastructure, specifically its roads (we’re still waiting on you, metro line).
Free WIFI Coming To Vietnam’s Trains This Month
Long trips on Vietnam’s rails are set to become a bit more bearable this month as the country’s railway operator has begun to install wireless internet on north-south express trains.
CNN: Vo Trong Nghia Is Next Big Name In Architecture
Vietnamese starchitect, Vo Trong Nghia, had quite a 2014 with a number of his firm’s designs receiving international commendation. It looks like he’s off to a great start in 2015 as American news netw...
[Photos] World Bank Program Transforms Blighted Canals and Alleys
With urbanization rapidly taking hold in Vietnam, its cities have had a difficult time providing the necessary infrastructure to accommodate it. Flooded alleys, dirt roads and polluted creeks all have...
Vietnamese Patients “Wait To Die” After Slashes To Pharma Subsidies
New Vietnamese health insurance regulations which went into effect yesterday will make potentially life-saving medicine out of reach for many low-income patients. And things are only going to get wors...
