The Childhood of Côn Đảo's Baby Turtles Caught on Film
In July, I visited Côn Đảo National Park as part of a group of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) sea turtle volunteers to see first-hand conservation efforts aimed at the local sea turtle population.
Ward off Your Monday Blues by Joining Me on Beginners' Skateboard Night
Usually in life, niche topics are commonly associated with unpleasant stigmas and misunderstandings — skateboarding in Vietnam is no exception. Once, I admittedly was influenced by such one-sided assumptions.
Pure Passion Turns Dark: The Unexpected Dangers of the Wild Turtle Trade
Seeking a companion during quarantine, Khánh*, a 25-year-old Hanoian, bought a baby turtle through a Facebook group.
A Case for the Sweet-and-Sour Tamarind as Saigon's Official Municipal Tree
What is the municipal tree of Saigon? In popular culture, Hanoi is perhaps intricately linked with the paralyzing but often romanticized aroma of hoa sữa, while just over a hundred kilometers to the east, Hải Phòng proudly brandishes the name “the city of red phượng flowers.” Đà Lạt has too many flower varieties to choose just one, and settles for “the city of a thousand flowers.” Down south, Bến Tre’s abundance of coconut trees is famous nationwide. Ask any Saigoneer this question, and you’re likely to get one of two answers: chò nâu (dipterocarp) or me (tamarind).
Requiem for a Bàng Tree That Was Cut Down in Front of My Home
Curiosity drove me downstairs into the downpour. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the municipal workers — clad in orange-and-green uniforms, their clothes soaked — gathering around a crane. Their attention was focused upward. Following their gaze, I looked up, and froze.
How the Ghosts of iPhones Past Haunt Vietnam's Low-Income Communities
The current e-waste crisis in Vietnam is one example of global environmental apartheid.
Keeping Cool in Thủ Đức With This Humble Abode’s Well-Ventilated Design
Thick multi-layer brick walls, shaded areas, water features, and natural ventilation allow this private home to stay cool amidst the city's stifling heat.
Saigon's VOH Radio Building, a Marvel of Architect Lê Văn Lắm's Modernist Intuition
In the middle of the 20th century, Vietnam grew to become one of the world’s prominent centers of modernist architecture. Saigon at the time was an economic and cultural heart of the region, with many official government structures constructed and designed in the style of modernist architecture. They were created with aesthetics and form in mind, laying the groundwork to usher in a new period of growth for Vietnamese creative independence.
[Video] How Vietnam's Northern Communities Are Gaining Access to Credit
A small microfinance outfit in northern Vietnam is making a huge impact on the local community.
Southeast Asia's Unsafe Air Costs Lives, National GDP
Around the globe, more than nine in 10 people are breathing polluted air, according to a recent study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Faced With Possible Sanctions, Vietnam Re-Assesses Rhino Horn Problem
Faced with the prospect of international sanctions as early as next year, Vietnam is reckoning with its rhino horn trafficking problem.
Saigon's Old Villas Fall to Demolition Epidemic
Due to the delay in creating a classification system for old mansions in Saigon, the city’s many old buildings are being knocked down at an alarming rate.
Vietnamese Men Among World’s Top Alcohol Consumers: WHO Survey
According to a recent survey, Vietnamese men are among the world’s top alcohol consumers.
[Photos] Let There Be Light: Architects Create Bright, Airy Hem House
Once again, a group of Saigon-based architects has risen above their peers and transformed a seemingly disadvantaged plot of land into a sight to behold: the Hem House.
Saigon Unveils Plan for New Bridge Connecting D2, D4
In the future, commuting between District 4 and District 2 will be much easier for local residents as Ho Chi Minh City authorities recently unveiled a plan to construct a bridge connecting the two dis...
Japanese Robots to Aid English Classes in Vietnam
These are exciting times for English-language learners in Vietnam, as a Japanese robotics company just signed a deal to provide the country with English-teaching robots.
In Vietnam, Human Migration Intensifies Effects of Climate Change
As Vietnam continues to grow, human migration patterns are exacerbating the effects of climate change in the country.
[Video] Local Architecture Students Use Traditional Papier-Mache to Create Cocoon Pavilion
Over the summer, architect Nguyen Hoa Hiep of a21 Studio – the firm behind Thu Duc’s M11 house and The Tent in Nha Trang – teamed up with local architecture students to create a cocoon-like pavilion i...
Hanoi to Get More Metro Funding, Hoan Kiem Station
Vietnam has secured additional funding for Hanoi’s first metro line as the government pushes to complete the project.
Guess Which Country Just Made the List of Top 10 Global Alcohol Consumers?
For young adults entering the Vietnamese workplace, drinking is sometimes an indispensable part of their career: if you can’t drink much, then drink a little. It’s common knowledge that drinking is ne...
Saigon Mulls Elevated Highway to Ease Congestion Around Tan Son Nhat
In an effort to alleviate traffic congestion around Tan Son Nhat International Airport, local authorities are considering a five-kilometer, six-ramp elevated highway system.
Yet Another Period of Sluggish Internet in Vietnam As AAG Cable Undergoes Maintenance
It looks like internet users in Vietnam will have to endure yet another bout of sluggish international connections as local telecom companies just announced that the country’s submarine cable is under...
Hanoian Lovebirds Hospitalized After Sex Using Plastic Bag Instead of Condom
A young couple in Hanoi put the “tough” in “tough love” recently when they were hospitalized after using a plastic bag instead of a condom during their passionate first love-making session.
Ho Tram Strip to Get Exclusive Airport for Resort and Casino
VIP guests will soon be able to travel to The Grand Ho Tram Strip faster than ever, as plans are in the works for the construction of a small airport to serve the five-star hotel and casino complex.
Facebook’s Removal of Iconic War Photograph Sparks Censorship Debate
Controversy over censorship by Facebook erupted last week after the social media giant removed a post featuring a famous picture from the American War.
[Photos] MIA Design Studio's Dream Office Erases Boundary Between Interior and Exterior
Located next to the Saigon River in Binh Thanh District, MIA Design Studio's office is simple, open and efficient.
Vietnamese Smoke $1.4b Worth of Cigarettes Yearly: Survey
A recent survey on global smoking habits revealed that Vietnam is home to approximately 15.6 million adult smokers, who consumed some US$1.39 billion worth of cigarettes last year alone.
Weightlifter Clinches Vietnam's First-Ever Paralympics Gold Medal, Breaks Own World Record
Exactly one month after military officer Hoang Xuan Vinh made history with Vietnam’s first and only Olympic gold medal currently, weightlifter Le Van Cong just snapped up the country’s first-ever gold...