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.
Brian Letwin in Development
Green Dreams: FPT University Administration Building
Vo Trong Nghia architects are back in the spotlight, this time for their FPT University administration building. It's green checkerboard design is so inviting, it almost makes us want to go back ...
Tour de An Phu Bike Ride @ The Bike Shop
From the organizer: This is a fun ride suitable for Adult and Teen riders of all levels. As this is an evening event, and we are sharing the road with other vehicles, for safety reasons it is strongly...
[Photos] Changes Over Time: Saigon's Canals (2005 - 2014) Part III
A major feature of Saigon’s recent urban development has been the implementation of major infrastructure projects including upgrading canals across the city.
Rooftop Vegetable Gardens Catching On In Hanoi
We’ve always thought that Saigon’s rooftops were the perfect place to grow vegetables, especially given the questions about food safety that have cropped up over the past few years. Though they probab...
Da Nang Launches Free, City-Wide WiFi Network
In the works since 2003, Da Nang’s free WIFI network has been officially launched after a successful year-long trial, reports DTI News.
[Photos] Vietnam’s Second Tallest Building Set To Open
The second tallest building in Vietnam, the Hà Nội Lotte Center, is in its final stages of construction and is set to open for public use on September 2 after 5 years of construction, according to Zin...
Brian Letwin in Tech
Dong Nguyen Brings 'Flappy Bird' Back To Life
Get ready for an uptick in your blood pressure. Flappy Bird is back.
M2 Marketing & Media Networking @ Cargo
From the organizer: Join us for August's “M2 – Marketing & Media Network” event for people interested in advertising, digital, marketing, media and technology.
PM Approves High-Speed Rail and Airport Upgrades in Massive Transportation Overhaul
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued a sweeping plan to overhaul Vietnam’s transportation infrastructure through 2020, covering everything from high-speed rail to airport upgrades reports Vietnam...
7 Vietnamese Tech Products That Have Become International Hits
TechinAsia recently posted a list of 7 remarkable Vietnamese technologies that have become international standouts. From robots to iOS apps, Vietnam is slowly but surely reaching impressive technologi...
Brian Letwin in Development
House 81: An Urban Oasis In District 2
This beautiful District 2 home, built by architecture firm, REALarchitecture, has some pretty impressive design elements that erase the distinction between indoor/outdoor spac...
Intel Plans To Produce 80% Of Its Processors In Vietnam By Next Year
Yesterday, Intel announced that by this time next year, it hopes to be producing 80% of its semiconductor chips in Vietnam, reports Tuoi Tre.
A Look At Hanoi’s Stalled $1 Billion Metro Line
Hanoi’s first metro line, approved 6 years ago, is planned to be completed in 2017. However, unlike its Saigon counterpart, very little progress has been on the 12.5km line, reports VN Express.
Expo Milano 2015 To Feature Võ Trọng Nghĩa’s Lotus-Inspired Pavilion
World Expo 2015, an international event that embraces technology, innovation, culture, traditions and creativity will be held in Milan, Italy next year and renowned Võ Trọng Nghĩa Architects will...
Microsoft Is Shifting Its Phone Production From China To Vietnam
As part of Microsoft’s restructuring plans for its Nokia operations, the company is planning to move the bulk of phone production from China to Vietnam, according to ZDNet.
Construction Of Saigon’s First Metro Terminal In D1 Starts Today
It’s actually happening. After subtle hints over the past few weeks, authorities have announced that construction on the underground section of Saigon’s first metro line will begin today, reports Tuoi...
Canadian Artist Reimagines Saigon's Architecture
Stories have recently surfaced about historical buildings in Saigon that have been or are on their way to being destroyed to make room for new, modern offices and luxury apartments.
Infiniti Makes Vietnam Debut
Yet another luxury brand has set up shop in Vietnam to take advantage if the population’s growing wealth, this time Japanese carmaker Infiniti.
[Photos] 2030 Phu Quoc Master Plan Approved
Saigon isn’t the only place eying a 2030 makeover. The Phu Quoc People’s Committee has approved a master plan that hopes to make the island a center for tourism and commerce.
Apple Sets Its Sights On Vietnam
After basically ignoring the Vietnamese market for years, Apple is stepping up its game in the brand-obsessed country, partnering with FPT to distribute its products, reports Bloomberg.
