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 Tech

5.4m Mobile World Customers Could Be Affected by Alleged Data Hack

A data leak involving electronic retail chain The Gioi Di Dong (Mobile World) has cast doubt over the way the local company handles customer info.

in Environment

Activist Diep Vuong Named Global Citizen of the Year for Work to Fight Human Trafficking

Vietnamese-American activist Diep Vuong, who used to be a refugee in the US, recently won the prestigious award for her work to stop human trafficking.

in Tech

VinFast to Launch New Electronic Scooter Called 'Klara' This Month

VinFast will start selling its new motorcycle model from November 20.

in Tech

42m Vietnamese Use Facebook Daily, Among Highest Rates in Southeast Asia

Amongst its many existing users, companies and government entities are increasingly turning to the platform.

in Health

Meet The Eye Health Team Behind Some of the Best Technology and Techniques in Saigon

Vietnamese residents have enjoyed greater access to health care in recent years, but eye health and preventable blindness is still an issue.

in Architecture

More Than Just an Identity, Saigon's Modernist Architecture Reflects Past Optimism for a New Era

The last 30 years have seen unprecedented economic development in Ho Chi Minh City. Since Doi Moi relaxed foreign investment laws back in 1986, the city has welcomed change with open arms and increasi...

in Architecture

[Photos] Inside Hue's Award-Winning Dormitory for Students in Need

A quiet courtyard, accentuated by a lone plumeria tree; rows of rooms in wood texture; walls of lattice that dot the interior with mesmerizing patterns every time the sun comes up: welcome to Betania....

in Environment

Dark Time Looms Over Wildlife as China Reverses 25-Year Ban on Rhino Horn, Tiger Bone

The government's reversal on a 25-year ban may prove to be ruinous for the preservation of the endangered species.

in Development

[Photos] D7 Is Getting a Luxury Apartment Complex and Gigantic Egg-Shaped Restaurant

Marina Club House Restaurant is a part of the Evergreen Residential Complex project in District 7.

in Environment

Due to Climate Change, 17% of Saigon Will Be Completely Submerged by 2100

The effects of climate change mean that in less than 80 years, 86.7% of Binh Thanh District will be underwater, while 26.6% of District 2 and 34.5% of Hoc Mon will be permanently flooded.

in Environment

How the Popularity of 'Durian Tours' Is Threatening the Survival of Malaysia's Tigers

In order to meet rising demand for durian, Malaysia plans to convert a large area of the Malayan tiger’s natural habitat into durian plantations.

in Architecture

[Photos] An Oddly Shaped Lot Presents a Creative Challenge for Local Architects

The house, named Hoa House, rests on an irregular parcel of land formed by two square lots unevenly placed next to each other.

in Tech

Vietnamese Ride-Hailing Service Aber Launches in Hanoi

The latest fully Vietnamese ride-hailing service, Aber, launched in Hanoi last Friday, four months after its first appearance in Saigon.

in Tech

Vietnam to Launch Another Homemade Satellite This December

The satellites will help monitor environmental conditions related to climate change and allow for emergency disaster warnings.

in Health

Vietnam Launches Mobile Bus With Free Breast Cancer Screening for 8,000 Women Nationwide

A positive note to kickstart the Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the anniversary of the Vietnam's Women Union.

in Tech

Apple Suppliers Consider Moving Operation to Vietnam to Escape US-China Trade War

Several major Apple equipment suppliers are considering moving production outside of China amidst the US-China trade war.

in Health

Vietnam Ranks 4th Among Countries With Most Liver Cancer-Related Deaths: WHO

Due to heavy drinking, lack of awareness and insufficient early screening, 20,000 Vietnamese die of the liver cancer every year.

in Tech

Unknown in Vietnam, Local Ride-Hailing App FastGo to Expand to Indonesia, Myanmar

Homegrown ride-hailing app FastGo just announced that it’s preparing for a launch in Myanmar and Indonesia.

in Society

[Photos] From Mui Ne to Can Tho: A Visual Exploration of Life in Southern Vietnam

Leaving behind the mountains and valleys of northern and central Vietnam, I was welcomed by the landscapes of southern provinces: beautiful, windy beaches, sprawling rivers in the Mekong Delta and bus...

in Architecture

[Photos] Hanoi Architects Unveil Low-Cost House for Vulnerable Communities

In Vietnam’s rural regions, local homesteads are constantly facing threats of natural disasters like flooding and soil erosion. An architecture firm has recently devised an affordable housing project ...