A Botanical Illustrator Captures Vietnam's Flora on Paper, One Species at a Time
When science and art commingle in a botanical illustration, it’s as if a magical world appears, where colors, brushstrokes, and lighting work together to not only replicate but also breathe life into nature’s best creations.
Lúa Ma, the Mekong's Ancient Wild Rice Varieties Holding Secrets to Climate Resilience
“It’s been so long I can barely remember. It’s delicious, fragrant, soft but not sticky,” says Trần Văn Lựa, 53, a farmer from Đồng Tháp Province, south-west Vietnam, recalling the taste of wild rice. As a child, he would harvest the grain during flood season, when wild rice flowers. Today, however, it is a rare sight.
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Cầy Mực, the Fluffy Bearcat Whose Pee Really Smells Like Popcorn
Vietnam is home to a diverse range of species, from the elusive sao la to Hanoi's pungently fragrant hoa sữa. As an ode to the wondrous nature of the country, we're introducing a new article series, Natural Selection. Each article will feature a species of plant or animal native to Vietnam — starting with the laidback cầy mực (binturong).
As Saltwater Intrudes More of Mekong Delta, Durian Farmers Struggle to Stay Afloat
Nguyễn Văn Quại, 63, walked slowly on the muddy dirt path in his yard, his hands clasped behind his back. He stopped beside a tree split in half, its branches dipping into the stagnant water of a narrow moat, and gestured towards the rest of his leafless crop — their trunks yellow, their bark cracked and brittle.
Khôi Phạm in Tech
On Vietnam's Internet, You're a Mom, I'm a Mom, Everyone Is a Mom
I am a mom. Well, not in the most conventional meaning of the word — I am childless, and it’s still biologically impossible for men to give birth the last time I checked, but for most of my existence on the Vietnamese cybersphere, I have been using the designation “mẹ” amongst my closest friends.
Khôi Phạm in Architecture
On Phú Quý Island, a Curious Collection of Modernist Houses From Central Vietnam
From the 1960s towards the end of the 1970s, urban centers in southern Vietnam saw robust and widespread growth of modernist influences in architecture. Still, outside the usual foci of the movement like Saigon, Cần Thơ or Mỹ Tho, how has this unique form of vernacular architectural expression been transformed?
Văn Tân in Architecture
An Homage to Courtyards, the Heart of Traditional Vietnamese Homes
This time of the year, the giáng hương tree in my grandma’s courtyard is probably blooming with clusters of golden blossoms, enticing the kids in the neighborhood to gather around it and carefully pick off the prettiest petals to create makeshift jewelry.
Mầm in Parks & Rec
The Young Vietnamese Artisans Breathing New Life Into Animals Carcasses
Skeletons and carcasses are often reminiscent of eerie, spine-chilling scenes in horror movies. But in the taxidermy community, animal corpses are of great value for artisans to create unique works that blur the line between life and death.
Color Me Run @ Phu My Hung
From the organizer: Color Me Run is a unique combination of the most colorful run and music festival. For the first time in Vietnam, you can fully experience a 5Km colorful of running, walking and enj...
[Slideshow] Views from Sunrise City Tower: Massive Suburbanization in District 7
These photos were taken from Sunrise City, a high-rise tower in the new urban area located within District 7 opposite Lotte Mart. Still under construction, Sunrise City will consist of 14 high-rise to...
Bill Gates to Launch 'Vietnam Health Fund': Report
According to VietNamNet, citing VNEconomy, former Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates will start a match-based healthcare fund in Vietnam, following similar initiatives in other SE Asian nations.
New Species: Multi-Colored, Spiked Frog Discovered in Central Vietnam
Even as pollution and environmental degradation are becoming increasingly severe in Vietnam, there are still huge pockets of the country that offer unique biodiversity with new species being discovere...
Harvard Prof: Vietnam Could See 13.6% GDP Growth by 2025
In what would only be described as a dream come true for Vietnamese economists and politicians, a Harvard professor, speaking at a conference in Hanoi last week, said that the country could experience...
After 5 Years, Boy Finally Has Battery Removed from Nose
Doctors in central Vietnam treated a 10-year-old boy in Tam Tri Da Nang General Hospital earlier this week for emitting “unpleasant odors” from his nose, according to Tuoi Tre.
Can Vietnam Inspire a New Generation of Mobile Games?
Recently, Vietnam’s mobile gaming industry was in the global spotlight thanks to Flappy Bird which had over 50 million downloads before being taken down by its creator, Dong Nguyen. Flappy Bird highli...
[Slideshow] Rooftop Views from Saigon Pearl's Ruby Tower
Since you folks seem to love pictures taken from high vantage points in Saigon (so do we!) Michael Waibel, editor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book, supplied us with a fresh set, captured f...
Binh Thanh House Wins ArchDaily's 'House of the Year' Award
Green and sustainable buildings are still in their infancy in Vietnam. However the trend is becoming more popular and slowly but surely, Vietnamese architects are entering this arena with great succes...
Vietnam Airlines (Finally) Announces IPO Date
Well, that only took 7 years. According to Vietnam Investment Review, Vietnam Airlines has finally announced its official IPO for this September.
Vietnamese Consumers Turn to the Internet for Safe Produce
Farmers in Vietnam are using an increasing amount of pesticides to boost productivity and meet food security targets. As Vietnamese consumers become increasingly wary about the safety of produce in th...
[Slideshow] Amazing Views from the City Garden Apartment Towers
The City Garden Towers luxury condominium apartment complex is located in Binh Thanh District within the midst of a seemingly endless maze of the typical low-rise high-density buildings and small bodi...
US, EU Approve $1 Billion Aid Package for Vietnam
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union (EU) have pledged up to $1 billion over the next 6 years to help Vietnam improve state governance, healthcare, social welfa...
Report: Growth of Vietnam’s Ultra-Wealthy Fastest in the World
When Vietnam adopted a free-market(ish) economy in the mid-1990s, it experienced an influx of wealth unlike the country had ever seen. In turn, a substantial wealthy class has taken shape as evidenced...
Why Bitcoin Matters in Vietnam - Part 3
This is the final part of our 3 part series on Bitcoin in Vietnam. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Saigon’s Airport Dilemma: Part 2
This is Part 2 in our series, “Saigon’s Airport Dilemma.” To read Part 1, click here. There are 2 competing solution to Saigon’s airport dilemma – build Long Thanh or expand Tan Son Nhat, with each p...
Vietnam Exports See Massive Growth as Neighbors Lag Behind
There are plenty of issues facing Vietnam’s economy – bad debt, over-reliance on FDI and weak consumer demand. But according to the Wall Street Journal, Vietnamese exports are enjoying tremendous grow...
‘Flappy Bird’ Maker Ranked One of the World’s Most Influential App Developers
He’s probably sitting in his room, cursing them for it, but Dong Nguyen of ‘Flappy Bird’ fame has made Business Insider’s list of “the world’s 11 most influential people working in apps.”
Future Saigon: Renderings of the Majestic Hotel Expansion
Downtown Saigon is riddled with empty lots where plans for massive developments have stalled in the wake of the downturn in Vietnam’s property market. In addition to new construction, plans for "upgra...
Saigon's Airport Dilemma: Part 1
Tan Son Nhat began its life as a French military landing strip in the early 1930s. Since its construction, Saigon’s main airport has evolved from a buzzing military base (during the American War) to V...
