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.
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.
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.
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.
Toddler Hospitalized with Poisoning After Parents Fed Him Rhino Horn Powder
Folk medicine still plays a major role in daily Vietnamese life, but inappropriate usage of these ingredients can create serious consequences.
The Transformation of Saigon Through the Eyes of Ride-Hailing App Drivers
Saigon is well-accustomed to change. Having once been part of the ancient Cham empire, ruled by the Nguyen Lords and occupied by the French, Saigon is a city with a rich, compelling history. These var...
The Delicate Process of Helping Bears Recover From Trauma
Bear bile farms, which exist in some Asian countries like Vietnam and China, are a terrible reality for Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus).
Amid Booming Investment, Pollution Elevates Cancer Rates in Vietnam's Villages
While Vietnam's rural areas continue to develop, expand and economically prosper, their environmental conditions have not necessarily improved.
What’s Inside Gapo, Yet Another Made-In-Vietnam Social Network
Joining the likes of Hahalolo, VietNamTa and Biz Time, Gapo is Vietnam’s newest social media platform, aimed at young millennials.
[Photos] This D3 Kindergarten Adds a Pop of Color to the City Canvas
TTC Elite Saigon Kindergarten is located on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in District 3, nestled behind many buildings that neighbor Le Thi Rieng Park and the city’s railway station.
For Real Change, Rhino Horn Must Become a Taboo in Asia
At current rates of loss to poaching, rhino species will be extinct within our lifetimes. The big problem is demand for their horn from Asia. The market for rhino horn is moving from “traditional” med...
Vietnam Hopes to Develop African Swine Fever Vaccine in 2 Years
Despite some positive results, Vietnam is playing catch-up in finding a vaccine to control the outbreak that is devastating the nation's pork industry.
Vietnam's Obesity Rates Increased the Fastest in Southeast Asia in 5 Years
Between 2010 and 2014, the country's number of obese individuals rose 38%.
Why Do Japanese Rent Cars? For Napping, Rapping and Dressing Up For Halloween
Car-sharing and renting is more widely supported in Japan than most parts of the world. One would think the obvious purpose of these services is merely to find a way to get to a certain destination. Y...
How Place Identity Helps Preserve Hanoi's Last Traditional Silk Village
The identity of luxury goods firms is often anchored in the creativity and skill of the artisans behind the objects. A case in point is Hermès, where workers spend years learning to work with precious...
Airports Corporation Completes Feasibility Study for Long Thanh Airport
On July 15, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) announced that it had completed the feasibility study for Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport and submitted it to the Ministry of Transpor...
Vietnam Will Be the First Country to Get Tinder Lite in the Next Few Weeks
Making sure people can get laid even with limited data.
Vietnam Is the First Country to Get Tinder Lite in the Next Few Weeks
Making sure people can get laid even with limited data.
[Photos] A Hybrid Studio in Da Nang Where Business and Pleasure Mix
For many young Vietnamese creatives, establishing a home-based business where one can both relax in familiar comfort and further one’s career is the ultimate aspiration.
Nintendo to Shift Part of Switch Production From China to Vietnam
Nintendo will move production of some components for popular handheld gaming device Switch from China to Vietnam in the coming months.
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.
