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.
Viettel Invests $50m in Fiber-Optic Internet Sea Cable
In an effort to bring stronger internet connections to Vietnam, telecommunications giant Viettel recently sunk US$50 million into the forthcoming AAE-1 fiber-optic sea cable.
[Photos] Saigon Architects Create 3-in-1 House on Bizarrely Shaped Plot of Land
Saigon’s weirdly shaped land plots once again give rise to a unique design in the 3 Houses project, where geometric shapes create a perfect balance between exterior and interior spaces.
[Photos] Inside the Lives of Saigon's Sewer Workers
Many Saigoneers dread the city’s rainy season as it inconveniences our commute to work and douses Saigon’s vibrant colors in dreary wetness. However, not many are aware of the hardship it poses for so...
dumbOt: An Engineering Student's Quest to Bring Robotics to the People
Before graduating from high school, Nguyen Phuong Duy had already done more than most of his peers.
[Photos] New Golden River Renderings Show Saigon Waterfront's Future
The historic Ba Son Shipyard and its colonial warehouses have officially been wiped off the map, leaving Vinhomes with a blank canvas for its massive Golden River development. Recently, the real estat...
Cho Lon's Binh Tay Market May Be Getting a Makeover
Saigon city officials are mulling a VND122 billion (US$5.35 million) project to fully revamp Binh Tay, the 88-year-old market in the heart of District 6’s Chinatown.
Hanoi Requests $14bn to Rebuild 10 Aging Apartment Buildings
Hanoi's government is seeking over US$14 billion in investment to renovate and rebuild 10 old apartment buildings.
[Photos] Form and Function: Dong Nai's LT House
In Dong Nai province's residential Long Thanh District, the LT House is a modest dwelling where form and function come together to create a practical and aesthetically pleasing space out of simple mat...
Saigon to Build $672m, 9.5km Overpass From Airport to Downtown
In an effort to decrease traffic congestion near Tan Son Nhat International Airport, city officials are considering the construction of a VND15 trillion (US$672.6 million) overpass.
China Now Home to World's Most Powerful Homemade Supercomputer
Recent supercomputer rankings have revealed that China not only continues to top this list but is now doing so with 100% domestic technology.
The Story Behind Saigon’s ‘Death’ Projects
A number of large, high-end projects in Saigon have long been stalled, their skeletons constant reminders of the city’s speculative real estate market.
Saigon Housing Is About to Get the Japanese Treatment
As early as next year, middle-class residents in the southern hub will be getting “Japan quality” housing.
Saigon to Demolish Old Apartment Buildings, Construct New Low-Income Housing
With a new set of politicians in office, Saigon's urban housing will see some changes in the coming year.
Hanoi to Get 1m New Trees, 5 World-Class Public Parks
If all goes to plan, Hanoi will be getting considerably greener in the next five years.
Vietnam Could Get a North-South High-Speed Railway
Though it won't be happening any time soon, Vietnam may one day have a high-speed railway line that runs the length of the country.
[Photos] Hanoi Home Seeks to Be One With Nature
It seems like most of the modern residential architecture in Vietnamese cities is focused on reconnecting with nature. A’s House Project in Hanoi is no exception.
Saigon to Launch $441m Anti-Flooding Project This Month
In response to Saigon's rainy season floods, municipal authorities are launching a US$441 million anti-flooding project at the end of this month.
Local Coconut Startup Receives 6-Figure Funding
A local startup has received six-figure funding for its coconut business.
[Photos] This Hidden Nghe An House Packs a Green Punch
Located in central Vietnam's Nghe An province, the Cul-de-Sac House catches the attention of passersby thanks to its unusual structure.
Hanoi Seeks $115.5bn to Become 'Second Singapore'
In Saigon, the unspoken goal of urban development seems to be transforming the southern hub into another version of Singapore. For Hanoi, however, this is no longer an unspoken ambition, as offic...
