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.

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

WildAct's Trang Nguyễn Turns to Social Media to Inspire a New Generation to Love Nature

Dr. Trang Nguyễn — a wildlife conservation scientist with a PhD from Cambridge and the founder of WildAct — needs little introduction. She has been recognized as one of Forbes Asia’s 30 under 30, called a conservation “hero” by Sir David Attenborough on BBC’s Planet Earth III, and had her inspiring story, which includes going undercover to bring down illegal ivory poaching rings in Africa after surviving cancer, covered widely. But much of her work has been behind the scenes or at least in corners devoted to conservations. Her recent arrival on the social media scene, amongst memes, music videos, and TikTok challenges, represents a shift in approach.

Phạm Phú Vinh

in Architecture

Vietnamese Vernacular Modernism Is a Local Language Created by the Ordinary People

In the history of architecture, rarely have we seen such a challenging movement as Vietnamese modernism. Not only does it show how a culture evolves and expresses itself across historical epochs through its building practice, from the traditional to colonial and eventually modern period, but the language of Vietnamese vernacular modernism also reveals deeper understandings of human creative potential.

in Architecture

How Saigon's V.A.R Building Epitomizes Vietnam's Architectural Autonomy

Completed in 1973, the V.A.R building at 9 Nguyễn Công Trứ Street in Nguyễn Thái Binh Ward, District 1, is a prominent example of Vietnamese mid-20th-century modernist architecture designed by architect Lê Văn Lắm. It not only represents the Vietnamese architectural identity in post-colonial eras, but also exemplifies its cultural autonomy.

in Development

Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà Leprosy Village to Be Relocated for Mega Resort Project

Authorities in Gia Lai Province have approved plans to relocate the Quy Hoà leprosy village from its current ocean-side setting in Quy Nhơn to make room for an ambitious real estate and tourism project.

in Environment

Opinion: Electric Vehicles Are Southeast Asia's Way out Amid the Global Fossil Fuel Crisis

As the Iran war crunches global energy supplies and disrupts prices, Southeast Asian leaders may need to diversify oil and gas supplies in order to protect ordinary people.

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

An Ancient Turtle Named After Bánh Xèo Can Teach Us a Lot About Whimsy in Science

Nước mắm — that ruby-hued elixir; that salty, fish-flesh-sweet open secret in your favorite recipe; that indispensable icon of Vietnamese culture and, by extension, identity — owes itself to Commerson’s anchovies. That’s right, if your fish sauce comes from the central region, where it was first developed, the fish pressed with salt to produce it are Stolephorus commersonnii, a species named in 1801 after Philibert Commerson, a white Frenchman. Picture all the hardscrabble village homes suffering under the yoke of colonialism, where one of the day’s few pleasures was a humble meal made delicious by a carefully rationed dash of fish sauce and an ingredient whose name pays homage to their colonizers. 

Back Society

in Development

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.

in Education

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.

in Development

[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.

in Environment

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.

in Environment

Survey Fails to Find Two Sea Turtle Species Off Northern, Central Coasts

Bad news for Vietnam's sea turtle population.

in Development

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.

in Tech

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.

in Environment

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.

in Development

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.

in Environment

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 Sports

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? 

in Environment

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...

in Education

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...

in Tech

Grab Opens New Delivery-Only Service 'GrabKitchen' in Thu Duc

The new service was first launched in Indonesia.

in Environment

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.

in Tech

Vingroup's Smartphones Are Now Officially Available in Russia

Vingroup’s smartphone brand, VinSmart, has hit its third international market.

in Tech

Vietnam Launches New Homegrown Digital Map, Database Project 'Vmap'

Vmap is the newest addition to the cohort of new made-in-Vietnam digital products, including social networks like Lotus, Hahalolo and Gapo.

Michael Tatarski

in Environment

How Campaigns Against Wildlife Trafficking Are Trying to Reset Social Norms

In late January, WildAid and the Ho Chi Minh City-based Center of Hands-on Actions and Networking for Growth and Environment (CHANGE) launched a graphic anti-wildlife trafficking campaign fo...

in Environment

Vietnam Receives Funding From ADB to Build Major Floating Solar Power Plant

If all goes to plan, the region's largest floating solar power plant is coming to Binh Thuan Province.

in Health

With Steady Increase in Healthcare Seekers, Saigon Embraces Medical Tourism

The number of international visitors who travel to Vietnam for medical services is on the rise.