in Architecture

In a D7 Residence, Natural Wood Textures Hark Back to Vietnam's Traditional Homes

During a new decade when architecture projects in Vietnam are increasingly looking towards the future and influences outside the national boundaries for inspirations, Memories House decided to do the opposite by integrating old heirloom furniture and elements from the past into the living space.

in Environment

Searching for the World's Largest Woodpecker Species in Yok Đôn National Park

You first know she’s approaching by the sound of her wings; her broad shadow flashing across the forest floor. Even from far below, her body looks enormous. At half a meter long, she is roughly five times the size of the woodpeckers seen in the gardens of Europe or North America. She is the largest woodpecker left in the world, and the jewel of Yok Đôn National Park.

Paul Christiansen

in Sports

Thống Nhất Stadium Offers Unexpected Opportunities to Reflect Upon the Soul

Where do you find revelation?

in Parks & Rec

Forum Theater Brings Real-Life Situations to the Stage, and You Are the Actors

In Vietnam, a novel form of theater is quietly making an impact, not just on stage, but in classrooms, communities, and people's lives. Known as Forum Theater, this interactive art form transforms audience members from passive viewers into active participants. Developed by Brazilian threater practitioner Augusto Boal, Forum Theater was created as a space to “rehearse for real life,” allowing theatergoers to step into the shoes of others, explore difficult situations, and test out new possibilities. 

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

The Overwhelming Presence of Nature's Most Inspiring Sound: Cát Tiên's Gibbon Call

What is your favorite sound?

Văn Tân

in Natural Selection

Hoa Bưởi's Fleeting but Fragrant Season Teaches Us to Find Beauty in Impermanence

Every year during this time, I can’t help but hanker for a taste of sugarcane infused with hoa bưởi, or pomelo blossom. Only hoa bưởi’s tender aroma can accentuate the flavor of this humble snack several folds.

in Environment

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.

in Environment

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.

Back Society

Brian Letwin

in Tech

Vietnamese News Sites Targeted by Hackers

As some may have noticed, over the past two weeks, many Vietnamese news sites have been slow or inaccessible. Hacker Vietnam Online (HVA) has announced that they have found the source of the constant ...

in Environment

Vietnam’s Youth Environmental Movement Takes off

At a ceremony to mark World Environment Day on June 5, Vietnam’s deputy prime minister, Nguyen Thien Nhan, added a sober warning that his country is facing grave environmental problems, and called on ...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Interview with HCMC MEGA City Organizer - Part 2

Dr. Michael Waibel, along with Hilbert Henning, have launched the TP. Ho Chi Minh - MEGA City project to visually document Saigon’s rapid urban development. The project is currently being assembled an...

Brian Letwin

in Health

Ministry Proposes Nonsensical Fines for Psychological Abuse

Well this is…something. The Ministry of Public Security is considering levying fines up to VND2 million for domestic psychological abuse. Under the proposed legislation, acts of domestic psychologic...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

Driven to Distraction: New Motorbike First to Use iPhone as a Dashboard

Japanese startup, Terra Motors, is releasing two new motorbikes to take advantage of Asia’s iPhone addiction. Oh, and they’re electric too so they’re good for the environment and stuff.

Brian Letwin

in Development

Poor Logistics Threaten Vietnamese Exports

Even as Vietnam’s exports reached US$114.6 in 2012, a key factor in the country’s economic growth, high logistics costs are limiting the profits and development of the industry. According to Thanh Ni...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

Why Vietnam is on Apple's Shit List

Apple is arguably the most influential luxury brand in Vietnam. When it comes to status, having the Apple logo on the back of your phone can make or break you. The brand is also one of the most copied...

in Tech

Logging Into Facebook in Vietnam - The Elegant Solution

For many of us, words like DNS, proxy and VPN are familiar due to the difficulties of logging into Facebook from inside Vietnam. At Saigoneer, we are aware of this problem and have found a few s...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

The Collapse of the Vietnamese Gaming Industry

“It’s becoming unbearable,” said VNG CEO, Le Hong Minh when discussing the current state of the Vietnamese gaming industry. Since the Ministry of Information and Communication stopped issuing license...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Saigon’s New Airport to Cost $4 – 5.6 Billion

Yesterday, the Transport Ministry held a seminar on the development plan for Long Thanh International Airport which is set to replace Tan Son Nhat by 2020, TuoiTre reports. With a total investment of ...

Brian Letwin

in Health

Beware of Fake Beer in Saigon

After words of caution from Oi Magazine about fake alcohol in Saigon, a Thanh Nien expose has revealed that beer is also being counterfeited as well. In an alley in Tan Binh district, a Thanh Nien re...

Brian Letwin

in Development

The Sad Story of Da Lat’s Disappearing Pine Trees

Known as “the city of a thousand pine trees,” unregulated deforestation and development have taken their toll on Da Lat’s forests and pine tree population. There was once a time when many of Da Lat’s...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Vietnam May Embrace Cars After All

Japanese companies, some of Vietnam’s largest investors, are playing an interesting game these days. For the most part, Japan has taken on the role of older brother to Vietnam, supporting the develop...

Brian Letwin

in Health

Chile to Assist Vietnam in Growing Quinoa

Rice has certainly cornered the market in Vietnam but a new pilot program conducted by Chile's Institute for Agricultural Research and Hanoi University of Agriculture hopes to add quinoa to the countr...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

Electronic Components Now Vietnam's #1 Export

As electronics companies look for cheaper labor, many are moving their production facilities to Vietnam. Electronics production has grown so quickly that in only 2 years, electronic component exports ...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

New iPhone Feature May Deter Thieves (But Probably Not)

Yesterday's WWDC saw some major product announcements, highlighted by an updated Macbook Air, re-designed Mac Pro and new versions of iOS and Mac OSX. Major changes aside, there was one element of the...

Brian Letwin

in Development

Hitachi Selected to Build Vietnam’s First Urban Railway

Japanese mega-corporation, Hitachi, has announced their winning bid to build Vietnam’s first urban railway in Saigon. The $381 million project is slated to begin operation in 2018. Under the contract...

Brian Letwin

in Health

Botched Penile Implants on the Rise

Well, we started this week with the story of a Quang Nam principal who had his penis inspected by local authorities to disprove rumors of an affair. And now, a spate of botched penile silicone implant...

Brian Letwin

in Health

Diabetes Rates Skyrocketing in Vietnam

As Vietnam continues its march to a free market economy, the country is not only importing new brands, but new health problems as well. Even as some begin to embrace organic produce, there are far mor...

Brian Letwin

in Tech

Da Nang to Get Free WIFI Network

In the works since 2003, Da Nang’s $2 million city-wide WIFI network is set to come online this September. The system will rely on 400 transmitters, allowing access so 10,000 users at any given time. ...