
The Rise and Fall of Phượng Vĩ, the Summer Icon of Our Teenage Dreams
I was a teenage cliché. No matter how much I try to rack my brain to find any other personal connection to the incandescently red tree that is phượng vĩ, I keep going back to my middle school crush and that one tree in the front yard of our school.

Another Hoàn Kiếm Turtle Dies in Hanoi, Setting Back Conservation Efforts
It’s reported that a “Hoàn Kiếm turtle” living in Hanoi has died, further impeding efforts by conservationists to keep the species from extinction.

The Rustic Beauty of Hanoi's Red River Brick Factories
Living in a city as culturally rich and absorbing as Hanoi, it’s not unusual to discover new secrets in a place you thought you knew completely. The depth of the capital really is astounding. And yet, I wasn’t quite prepared for the striking, rustic beauty of the brick factories on the Red River’s north shore.

The Ugly Truth of the Life and Impending Demise of the Hoàn Kiếm Turtle
Everyone knows the mythological story of the Hoàn Kiếm turtle.

I Went Cloud-Hunting and Found Peace Atop Đà Lạt's Tea Hill
Northern California is blessed with serene nature. Growing up there, pathless trails and cloudy mountain peaks were my safe havens, and when returning home on break from college, it was a tradition to visit my favorite hideout place: a curvy hill near my old high school. Sitting atop the hill and looking down at the city offer a peaceful means to recharge and quiet my mind. The appearance of clouds adds more to the valley’s awe-inspiring nature.

I Saw the World's Most Handsome Bird Right in Vietnam's Hidden Backyard
Everywhere I go in Vietnam, I keep my eyes peeled for the incredible birds that call this country home. Sometimes I don’t even realize that I’m doing it. I scan the horizon above low hills for migratory hawks. I stare into breaks in the foliage for passing buttonquail. I peer into rice paddies, fingers crossed for a cryptic snipe. And, of course, there’s Facebook. I refresh Facebook over and over again, waiting for the arrival of the mandarin duck. Its scientific name is Aix galericulata, which one assumes means “prettiest goddamn duck in the world.”

Amid Bảo Lộc Hills, a Wooden Cafe Floats Amongst the Clouds
In the middle of nowhere Bảo Lộc, perched on the side of an alternative national road is the wooden carapace of Nguyen Coffee, a veritable “Noah’s ark” welcoming travelers in for a short break to enjoy its drinks and spectacular view of the Đá Bàn Stream below.

Amid a Resort, This Thatched Hut Houses a Zero-Waste Water-Bottling Plant
A humble production hut built with recycled bottles, local timber, thatched roof and simple granito concrete floors is used as a bottling facility for drinking water.

How Saigon's V.A.R Building Epitomizes Vietnam's Architectural Autonomy
Completed in 1973, the V.A.R building at 9 Ho Tung Mau Street in Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1, is a prominent example of Vietnamese mid-20th-century modernist architecture designed by architect L...

Hanoi Puts Finishing Touches to Get First Metro Line Running by End of April
Fingers crossed!

The Average Height of Vietnamese Children Increased, but So Did Obesity Rates
Vietnam's children are getting taller, but also wider.

The Quotidian Hẻm Life Along the Railway Track in District 3
I have made multiple trips up and down the hẻm along the railway from Le Van Sy to capture the moods both during the week and on weekends. As the hẻm serves both pedestrians and ...

Vietnam Officially Forms National Baseball, Softball Federation
Batter up!

Architect Association Urges Hanoi to Preserve Decades-Old Cung Thiếu Nhi
With the commencement of a new youth center in outer Hanoi, many can’t help but wonder about the fate of the existing structure on Ly Thai To Street.

[Photos] New House in Bat Trang Village Pays Homage to Its Pottery Traditions
The unique house in suburban Hanoi showcases a new way that buildings could lionize the raw beauty of bricks.

[Photos] New House in Bat Trang Village Pays Homage to Its Pottery Traditions (2)
The unique house in suburban Hanoi showcases a new way that buildings could lionize the raw beauty of bricks.

Saltwater Intrusion Might Damage 40,000ha of Crops in Mekong Delta, Experts Say
Saltwater intrusion will threaten huge stretches of fruit plantations in the coming days and weeks.

Vietnamese Modders Create Drivable VinFast Car in Grand Theft Auto V
Curious about VinFast’s vehicles but can’t afford one? Well, now you can (kind of) drive around one of these flagship cars in Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V).

[Photos] A Rustic Hue House as Charming as Grandma's Cottage
Who doesn't want a getaway home nestled in a garden?

HCMC FC Player Suspended, Fined for Brutal Tackle That Broke Opponent's Leg
Last night, Saigon’s football fans witnessed one of the most violent tackles in contemporary history, one that will likely put both involved parties out of commission for a long time.

On Phú Quốc, New Program Links Waste Pickers, Factory to Reduce Low-Value Plastic
Not all plastics are treated equally.

Vietnam Ranks Near Bottom of New Sustainable Tourism Index
What are you doing to be a sustainable tourist?

Vietnam National University to Add Golf to PE Curriculum in Pilot Program
Fore!

Dầu Gió, a Poignant Link Between My Family Legacy and Traditional Medicine
This is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of the book Pills, Teas, and Songs: Stories of Medicine Around the World by Debby Nguyen, republished with permission. Debby's family of pharmacists and doc...

Three Nha Trang Residents on How Covid-19 Affected Their Livelihood
Normally, Nha Trang is one of Vietnam’s most famous tourism destinations.

[Photos] Colorful New Coffee Shop Brings Cargotecture to Can Tho
Do you sometimes find vintage coffee shops too cluttered and just want to experience something different?

Architecture College to Renovate Da Lat's Abandoned Franciscan Mission
Recently, the University of Architecture HCMC (UAHCMC) announced plans to renovate Da Lat’s abandoned Franciscan mission. Due to the popularity of the complex among locals and tourists, the building’s...

Vietnam Begins Covid-19 Vaccinations With Hospital Staff in Hanoi, Saigon, Hai Duong
Less than two weeks after the first batch of vaccine doses landed, Vietnam officially began its national vaccination campaign against COVID-19.