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.
Khôi Phạm in Natural Selection
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.
MobiFone's 4G Users Unimpressed by New Service
The recent rollout of MobiFone’s 4G trial service left much to be desired as early subscribers reported choppy reception and a hefty price tag.
Heart Disease on the Rise Among Young Urban Vietnamese: Experts
Young Vietnamese city dwellers are increasingly at risk of heart disease, according to local health officials.
Hanoi Approves Controversial Hoan Kiem Hotel Project
Hanoians will soon see a new hotel overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, and not everyone is happy about it.
Vietnamese Spend 3 Working Days a Week Online: Report
On average, Vietnamese internet users spend over 24 hours a week online.
Quang Tri Considers Another Solar Power Plant
Not long after breaking ground on its first solar power facility, Quang Tri province is considering another sun-powered clean energy plant.
[Video] Nghe An Man Builds Helicopter From Car Parts
Some people enjoy reading in their spare time; others enjoy a good game of cards, a walk in the park or an evening nhậu. Fifty-year-old Le Van Thoa is none of those people.
UNDP Urges Greener Aviation Industry in Vietnam
At a consultation workshop held last May, the UN Development Program (UNDP) urged Vietnam’s civil aviation sector to step up green measures in order to achieve global goals in reducing the aviation in...
The Mystery Behind Vietnam’s Top-Notch Test Takers
A recent paper by the World Bank has managed to provide at least some insight into Vietnamese students’ notably high academic performance.
[Photos] Life in a Saigon Tube House
If you think your living conditions are cramped, you haven’t been to Nguyen Phi Vu’s house.
[Photos] Losing Ground: Binh Thuan Village Swallowed by Sea
In the small village of Tien Duc perched on Vietnam’s south-central coast, over 300 homes have been swallowed by rising seas.
Officials Push for Long Thanh Airport Construction to Start in 2019
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has called upon the Ministry of Transport to begin construction of the long-awaited Long Thanh Airport by 2019 at the latest.
[Photos] Vietnam’s Police Officers Get Flashy New Uniforms
If you haven’t been pulled over in the last month or so, you may not have noticed the new threads on many of Vietnam’s police units.
Saigon Students Win National Contest With Water Leak App
Students from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology took home the top prize last week at the Swedish embassy’s Smart Water Innovation Contest in Hanoi for an app that maps leaks in the city’s ...
Ministry of Transport Needs $10.58bn to Build Cross-Country Highway
Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport is seeking VND235.95 trillion (US$10.58 billion) for the completion of a cross-country highway that would run from Hanoi to Can Tho.
Khoi Pham in Tech
Busted: A 3D Printing Adventure in Saigon
My journey with 3D printing begins with me mishearing “bust” as “butt.”
[Video] University Lecturer Lights up Hanoi Slums With Clean Energy
On the banks of the Red River, one Hanoian professor is bringing clean energy to some of the capital's most vulnerable residents.
Vietnam to Get FASTER Internet Connection
Internet users in Vietnam will soon be able to enjoy the swift connection speed provided by FASTER, the speediest undersea internet cable in the world.
Saigon Seeks $376m for Elevated Monorail Project
Saigon's municipal authorities are seeking national aid for a VND8.4 trillion (US$376.5 million) elevated monorail.
[Video] Young Engineers Push Hanoi's Tech Startup Scene
While cities like Singapore have dedicated a great deal of money toward incubating its tech startup scene, some enterprising young Hanoians have began to lay the foundations without any outside fundin...
Teenagers Account for 70% of Vietnam's 'Secret Abortions'
A new survey conducted by Vietnam’s General Statistics Office reveals that 70% of the country’s "secret abortions" involve teenagers aged 13 to 19.
