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.
Michael Tatarski in Environment
Huế's Fantastic Herbs and Where to Find Them, Now in Book Form
Have you ever walked past a plant and wondered "Hey, I wonder what that could do?"
Tuk Tuk Ride-Sharing App Launches in Phnom Penh
Passed over by the likes of Uber and Grab, a Phnom Penh company is filling the city's ride-hailing app gap with a program of its own. Oh, and it’s only for tuk tuks.
[Video] Young Vietnamese Aren’t Into Exercise
As Vietnamese are becoming more sedentary, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are putting a strain the health of young citizens nationwide.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Development
Slimmer New MEGA City Book Highlights Rapid Change in Saigon
For many downtown Saigon residents, it’s hard to remember a time when the Nguyen Hue walking street didn’t exist, despite the fact it’s not even two years old. Such is life in the southern hub: i...
Vietnam Sees First Possible Case of Zika-Linked Microcephaly
Vietnam might be the second Southeast Asian country to have a baby born with Zika-linked microcephaly, a condition characterized by small head size in newborns.
[Infographic] The Real Estate Developer That Owns Nguyen Hue
Ever since the city transformed Nguyen Hue’s iconic boulevard into a pedestrian walking street, real estate on the downtown promenade has skyrocketed.
Hanoi Taxi Drivers Fight Against Mandatory Breaks
The Hanoi Transport Association has put forth a request urging the municipal government to drop the current rule that requires taxi drivers to take a 15-minute break after every four hours of continuo...
No Plans to Lay off Vietnamese Workers After Galaxy Note 7 Fiasco: Samsung
In the wake of Samsung’s global discontinuation of its explosive Note 7 model, workers at the South Korean tech giant’s factories in northern Vietnam will be glad to find out the firm is not planning ...
Asia's Megacities Face Development Trade-off
The coupling of massive urban migration with heady economic development is hampering the sustainable progress of East and Southeast Asian megacities.
[Photos] Take a Stroll Through D8's Canal Community
District 8 is undergoing major changes. Bisected by the winding Doi Canal, the area is currently home to half of the slum housing in the city, however as clean-up efforts and new construction projects...
Young Vietnamese Commit Dangerous Acts in the Name of Facebook Likes
Young Vietnamese are performing increasingly absurd and dangerous acts in the name of Facebook likes.
Sustainable Energy Projects Face Hurdles As Vietnam Plans More Coal Plants
While Vietnam holds great potential for reneweable energy sources like solar and wind, a lack of supportive regulations has made it difficult for sustainable energy projects to get off the ground. Mea...
Dong Thap Farmers Are Selling Mango Trees Online
In the struggle towards creating an organic Vietnam, while many consumers are turning to online outlets to purchase safe produce, others are deciding to grow their own food.
Bac Ninh Flush With Samsung Cash, But Is It Sustainable?
Samsung’s investment has transformed Bac Ninh province into Vietnam's second-largest exporting center, dramatically boosting the earnings of the local community.
Hanoi's Air Quality Ranked Second-Worst in the World Yesterday
It’s hard to feel optimistic about Vietnam’s public health these days, what with the country recently making the list of top 10 global alcohol consumers and food safety a continued concern. Now, ...
Da Nang Sues Scholarship Students Who Don’t Return
Da Nang’s municipal government is suing several scholarship recipients, arguing that the students have not fulfilled their contractual agreements.
[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.
