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 Sports

International Marathon To Take Place In Sa Pa

A marathon through the hills of Sa Pa is set to take place on September 20 and 21 with more than 450 athletes from 43 countries having already registered.

in Development

[Video] How Poverty Is Stopping Vietnamese Girls From Obtaining An Education

From doing chores around the house, running a ferry service to harvesting crops, for many young girls in Vietnam, bringing in income for the family trumps education. This video captures the reality of...

in Development

Number of Vietnamese Super-Rich Has Increased by 400% Over the Past Decade

A World Bank report released earlier this week found that the number of super-rich, has rapidly increased over the last 10 years. I guess this explains the fugly castle phenomenon.

Brian Letwin

in Development

Singapore Apartment Building Sets Record For World’s Largest Vertical Gargen

The new Eximbank Tower may be bringing some much needed greenery to Saigon’s skyline but Singapore’s new Tree House condominium building, which has set a Guinness World Record for largest vertical gar...

in Development

Future Saigon: Ton Duc Thang Street

Over the past 20 years, Ton Duc Thang has transformed from a tree-lined street of colonial buildings to a strip of high rise offices and hotels. The stretch along the water is of particular value to d...

in Architecture

Vo Trong Nghia Architects’ Amazing Brick And Bamboo Factory Renovation

Houses and schools aren’t the only tricks Award-winning Vo Trong Nghia Architects have in their bag. Completed late last year, their renovation of Viet Vuong Co. Ltd.’s HCMC garment factory is their s...

in Tech

Report: Vietnam’s Internet Second Slowest In Asia

Even though internet access is everywhere, from coffee shops to public busses, Vietnam ranks near the very bottom in Asia when it comes to speed.

in Development

New $1 Billion Plant Will Allow Samsung To Make Nearly All Its Products In Vietnam

Electronics giant Samsung was recently granted an investment certificate for its new $1 billion screen plant in Bac Ninh. While it brings Samsung’s investment in the country to a whopping $6.85 billio...

in Development

PM Orders Removal Of Settlements Along Vietnam’s Train Tracks

The famous scenes of life taking place on Vietnam’s train tracks may soon be a thing of the past now that a plan to remove illegal shops and homes has been approved by the Prime Minister.

in Health

[Photos] Who Said Pollution Masks Can’t Be Fashionable?

For the throngs of women across Vietnam who sacrifice fashion for health, there may be a solution.

in Development

New Design Competition Seeks To Beautify HCMC

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor for Saigon Makeover, a new design competition for graphic designers, artists and young people at large to share their creative vision of how different parts ...

in Tech

3 Vietnamese Make “World's Most Influential Scientific Minds” List

3 Vietnamese scientists: Dam Thanh Son, Nguyen Son Binh and Nguyen Xuan Hung, have made Thomson Reuters’ list of the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds.

Brian Letwin

in Development

[Photos] Future Saigon: The Thu Thiem Financial Center

British design firm, Foster and Partners recently released renderings for Thu Thiem’s financial center and they’re well, dreamy?

in Development

DX Mornings 2: Why Your Products Suck @ The Cube

From the organizer: Tony Ho will show us why our products suck and how we can use design to improve user experience. 

in Architecture

Vietnamese Bamboo House Design Highlighted At International Architecture Awards

As one of the top 3 countries most vulnerable to natural disasters, living with floods is a difficult reality for many in Vietnam.

in Development

Vietnam Climbs English Rankings In Recent Survey

Vietnam is climbing up the ranks of English proficiency based on a recent survey by Education First.

in Tech

Saigon Mechanics Make Their Own Vespa 946

A group of enterprising welding technicians in District 11 are trying their hand at making their own Vespa 946. This limited edition bike from Piaggio costs about VND349 million in Vietnam and is the ...

in Tech

Mastercard Brings Card Payment To Ben Thanh Market

Now you can use your credit card to buy fake DVD sets and crappy t-shirts at Ben Thanh Market.

in Development

Vietnam’s Coral Reefs On The Brink Of Extinction

Coral reefs around the world have been seriously degraded over the past 20 years and Vietnam’s are no exception. These ecosystems, which are vital to sustaining oceanic biodiversity, are very sensitiv...

in Architecture

[Photos] Thu Duc’s Beautiful M11 House

In a reminder that Vo Trong Nghia Architects isn't the only high-end design game in town, a21studio’s M11 house in Thu Duc District could convince us to move 30 minutes into HCMC’s suburbs.