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.
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...
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
[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.
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.
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...
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
Saigon’s “Golden Land” Remains Undeveloped Despite Opportunities
While major new construction projects seem to appear in Saigon on a daily basis, some of the city’s most valuable real estate remains undeveloped.
[Photos] The Family That Traded Hanoi for Red River Wilderness
Hidden behind dense bamboo thickets on a bend in the Red River is what some would call a peculiar family of three.
Le Thanh Ton Restaurant Brings Slick Design to Japanese Dining
A visit to District 1’s Hachi-Juu Hachi Shouten Restaurant offers more than just Japanese cuisine, but also a unique dining experience created by the building’s sleek architecture.
Hanoi to Launch Book Street by End of the Year
Hanoian bookworms will be happy to hear that the capital expects to unveil a brand-new book street by the end of the year.
Michael Tatarski in Sports
Can Vietnam Become Asia’s Sports Tourism Mecca?
Sports-minded residents in Vietnam’s major cities don’t have it easy: traffic overwhelms the streets and sidewalks; air quality is generally terrible; open spaces are nearly non-existent and it’s alwa...
Vietnamese Universities Not Stacking Up Against Regional Rivals
The current edition of Webometrics, an initiative from CSIC, the largest public research body in Spain, which ranks universities around the world, shows that, despite their consistent national pe...
