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.
Both Hanoi and Saigon Will Face Extensive Flooding by 2050, New Data Shows
A new research paper from Climate Central reveals an even more harrowing future for coastal cities around the world, including in Vietnam, compared to previous predictions.
Southern Vietnam, Including Saigon, Will Be Submerged by 2050, New Data Shows
A new research paper from Climate Central reveals an even more harrowing future for coastal cities around the world, including in Vietnam, compared to previous predictions.
Vietnam Among Top 15 Countries With Lowest Average Height, Official Says
All heights are beautiful.
Marvel Mobile Game Unveils New Southeast Asian, Including Vietnamese, Superheroes
The three Southeast Asian characters were created exclusively for the mobile game Marvel Future Fight.
Saigon Metro Construction Avoids Halt as Cost Revisions Approved by Ministries
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has been trying to increase the cost for both of the city's first two metro lines for a while.
An Afternoon in the Life of a BAEMIN Delivery Driver
Every few seconds, Phong’s thumb tapped his smartphone screen, waiting for the assignment that would send him racing across the city to cure someone’s mid-day cravings.
[Photos] The Oddly Comforting Mix of Old and New in Thu Thiem
Directly opposite downtown Saigon, a new city is growing that stretches far beyond what the eye can see.
Binh Dinh Suspends Wind Energy Project Over Destruction of 140 Hectares of Forest
Despite years of construction, the wind farm project is nowhere to be seen, while the nearby protection forest has been severely damaged.
Survey Fails to Find Two Sea Turtle Species Off Northern, Central Coasts
Bad news for Vietnam's sea turtle population.
Long-Delayed 'Twin Towers' Project Near Ben Thanh Resumes Construction
After years in limbo, one of Saigon’s long-stalled projects has recently resumed construction.
Grab Dabbles in Long-Distance Trips With Buses Between HCMC, Vung Tau
GrabBus is Grab’s newest addition to transform itself into a super app in Vietnam, offering an array of everyday services in one place.
Dong Thap's Number of Sarus Cranes Has Shrunk by 100 Times Since 1998
Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap Province is a wetland area reserved for a waterfowl habitat under the Ramsar Convention.
Vung Tau Suspends New Aquarium Project After Residents Complain
After receiving complaints from local residents, Vung Tau has halted construction of a new tourism project, pending further environmental assessment.
Cat Lai Area in District 2 Has Saigon's Worst Levels of Air, Noise Pollution, Study Shows
On October 9, the Center of Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring held a press conference reporting its findings on Saigon’s environmental quality.
In Its 2nd Edition, Coupe de Hue Features Bach Ma Mountain Trail, World-Famous Cyclist
Vietnam is opening itself up as a destination for international-standard competitive cycling events. But can the momentum last?
Vietnam to Launch Its Own Air Pollution App After Netizens' Attack on AirVisual
Following what was described as a 'coordinated attack' by netizens on independent online air quality index monitor AirVisual, the Vietnamese government has announced plans to create its own air p...
Preparing High School Students for Post-Graduation Success
“I’m adulting now,” Milly says with a laugh when explaining what she has been doing since graduating from Australia International School (AIS) this past spring. After receiving one of the highest scor...
Grab Opens New Delivery-Only Service 'GrabKitchen' in Thu Duc
The new service was first launched in Indonesia.
Only 13% of Vietnam's Urban Sewage Is Treated Before Discharge
With a long coastline and elaborate river systems, Vietnam’s water environment is extremely susceptible to pollution, which is caused by untreated waste that’s discarded straight into the water.
Vingroup's Smartphones Are Now Officially Available in Russia
Vingroup’s smartphone brand, VinSmart, has hit its third international market.
