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.
New Study Reveals 29% of Primary School Students in Vietnam Are Overweight
According to a recent study by the Vietnam National Institute of Nutrition, the substantial obesity rate among elementary school students is due to a lack of physical exercise and imbalanced diets.
Jakarta's Own Citizens Are Suing Their Government Over Air Pollution
Fed up with air quality that ranks among the worst in the world, 31 Jakarta residents have sued seven Indonesian government bodies — including the presidential office, Jakarta’s gubernatoria...
Airport Authority Proposes $500m Upgrade for Con Dao Airport
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has recommended an upgrade for the airport in Con Dao, one of Vietnam's most popular attractions.
[Photos] This Nam Dinh House Is an Ode to Vietnam's Beloved Banana Trees
Maison A in Nam Dinh Province was built for a client's aging mother. She is very fond of the banana trees that once occupied the space and the new house has the broad-leaf plant in abundance.
Integrating Creativity and Discovery into Saigon Classrooms through Round Square
After seeing whales wash ashore with rubbish-ruined stomachs and reading the startling statistics related to waste, Saigon residents have woken up to the destructive truth of plastic use and started t...
Coca-Cola Removes Slogan Deemed 'Vulgar' by Culture Department
Coca-Cola’s latest promotional campaign has been embroiled in online controversy after it was deemed “vulgar” by a government agency.
What is ‘STEAM’ and Why Are Schools Implementing it?
If you’re familiar with modern education methods you’ve likely encountered the term ‘STEAM,’ an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, art and maths. But what is it, exactly? Some p...
Cases of Dengue in Hanoi Increase Threefold From 2018
At least 548 dengue fever patients have been admitted to hospitals in Hanoi this year, marking a threefold increase from the same period last year.
First-Ever Permanent Blood Donation Center Opens in Hanoi
Last Saturday, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) opened a blood donation center in Hanoi, which marks a first for the capital.
7-Eleven Japan to Replace Plastic Onigiri Wrapping With Bioplastic Version
Bioplastics, which are derived from plant- and animal-based materials, are believed to be less harmful to the environment than petroleum-based plastics because they produce less greenhouse gas.
[Video] In Remembrance of a Green Ton Duc Thang Past
October 2017 spelled the death of Ton Duc Thang Street in spirit after Saigon maintenance workers started slaying its trees to make way for bridge construction.
Soft Skills and Real World Experiences Lure Vietnamese Students Abroad
Because of the potential for a better education and future, many Vietnamese families have little difficulty deciding to send a child abroad for university.
[Photos] This Delta Brick House Eases Modernity into Tradition
The high nail gets the hammer, so this new home in Tra Vinh aims to blend in with the traditional homes surrounding it.
Michael Tatarski in Environment
How Vietnam's Robusta Farms Could Transform Into Vital Carbon Sinks
Coffee is one of Vietnam’s most important agricultural products, a crop that grows so well in the country’s Central Highlands that it has become the world’s second-largest coffee producer.
Vietnam Officials Find No Competition Violations in Grab-Uber Deal
Vietnam's Competition Council (VCC) has ruled that Grab broke no competition laws when it acquired Uber.
Meet the Nguyen Hue Security Guard Who Fixes Bikes for Free
A wholesome story about a cool security guard might be the best way to perk up your day.
Da Nang to Get 2 New Centers for Transplant, Stem Cell Therapy, Neurosurgery
The two centers are going to be located inside the Da Nang Hospital compound.
Water Pollution's Effects on Human Health Can Reduce 3.5% of Vietnam's GDP
If not addressed, pollution alone could cost Vietnam US$12.4–18.6 million a day by 2030, the World Bank warns.
Khoi Pham in Society
Many Homes in Vietnam Lack Toilets. But Thanks to Women, That's Changing.
At daybreak, when crickets croon and Tan Xuan Commune is still awash in darkness, Chung is already awake. “We will support you in getting access to funding,” she chants several times in front of a mir...
Saigon Becomes 55th Vietnam Locality Infected With African Swine Fever
On June 11, the disease, which is disastrous for pork production but poses no health risks to humans, was identified at a farm in District 9.
