Paul Christiansen in Environment
Saigon's Weather Dude Is Dedicated to Keeping Saigoneers Dry This Rainy Season
Why is it raining in Saigon? Because it’s the rainy season. Sure, but if you want to be more specific, you can cite conditions in the Bay of Bengal, more than 2,500 kilometers away. It’s there that the wind conditions form that flow across the Gulf of Thailand, sucking up the moisture that drenches Vietnam’s southern metropolis.
In the Era of Constant Rebuilding, We Turn to Vietnamese Modernism for Nostalgic Comfort
For two years now, I've checked the Vietnamese Modernist Architecture Facebook group almost every day. Here, members post ...
How Laos's Dams Are Powering Vietnam, Other ASEAN Nations Despite Mekong Concerns
Following a spate of foreign investment in the 1990s, Laos began producing surplus electricity and looked to export it. Today, around 80% of its energy, largely from hydropower, is sold to neighbors. Electricity exports from Laos generate around US$2.6 billion for what is one of the poorest nations in mainland Southeast Asia. Across the region, neighbors including Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia have become reliant on hydropower from Laos. Slowly but surely, however, this is changing.
A Pop-up Night Park Brings the Joy of Playing in the Rain to Phú Mỹ Hưng
A lack of public spaces and activities has been a chronic problem plaguing Saigon’s urban planning since the city experienced its first population boom a few decades ago. If you happen to be near District 7 in the next two months, a pop-up park could be a new option for children, and perhaps some particularly exuberant adults, to frolic in the rain and the evening.
Elise Luong in Environment
Living, Learning, Loving From the Earth at Ninh Bình's Lá Library
A stone's throw away from Cúc Phương National Park in Ninh Bình Province sits Lá Library, an education center promoting sustainable living through sustainable agriculture farming, earthen building techniques and the art of chilling out.
The Saigon House That Swapped Its Front Door for a Moat
Does a house need walls?
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Is the Yeti Vietnamese? This Ancient Ape Might Hold the Answer.
Can you name a Vietnamese animal that hasn’t been hunted to the precipice of extinction or become a commodified item whose flesh, fur, or feathers are only deemed significant in relation to their practical use by humans?
This Suburban Hanoi House Answers 'Yes' to 'How Many Windows Do You Want?'
Do you love the tropical summer? Does bathing in the warmth of the sun spark joy in you? How many windows are enough to solar-power your everyday life? If you, too, are toiling with these existential concerns on a daily basis, perhaps this recent residential project might provide some inspiration.
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.
[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.
