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.

in Architecture

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.

in Development

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.

in Environment

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?"

Back Society

in Architecture

[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.

in Development

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...

in Tech

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 Environment

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.

in Architecture

[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...

in Development

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.

in Health

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...

in Development

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.

in Tech

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...

in Health

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.

in Development

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.

in Tech

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.

in Architecture

[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.

in Health

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.

in Sports

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...

in Tech

Uber Dodging Taxes on VND1bn in Daily Profits: Official

Vietnam’s battle of the taxi apps has taken another interesting turn: one of the country’s biggest players, Uber, is being called out again for allegedly evading tax payments.

in Society

Saigon's Parking Woes: What to Do When a Parking Lot Loses Your Bike

Saigon’s traffic issues are an extremely tough nut to crack for local authorities. In recent years, the government has come up with a slew of solutions in an attempt to ease traffic woes, with va...

in Tech

Samsung Halts Sales of Galaxy Note 7, Recalls Phones in Vietnam Over Explosion Scare

Samsung Vietnam has announced that it will halt all sales of the new Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, while purchased devices will be recalled.

in Tech

Vietnam Store Leaks iPhone 7 Details Ahead of New Release

Just two days before Apple officially reveals their final version of the new iPhone 7, a store in Vietnam has somehow managed to procure a sample of the top-secret phone.

in Development

Mind-Bending New Skyscraper Becomes Thailand's Tallest Building

On August 29, Pace Development Corp announced the completion of their gigantic mixed-use skyscraper in downtown Bangkok.