Listen to the Unique 'Dialects' Found in Regional Vietnamese Modernist Architecture
“It was my uncle who came up with the design. There are no drawings left; everything was improvised back then,” the owner of a modernist homestay in Ninh Thuận told me. No architect, just an idea and a craftsman to pour it into concrete.
How Overreliance on Pesticides Traps Thai Farmers in a Vicious Circle of Debt
As the sun rises over the village of Ban Wichit Pattana in north-east Thailand, 62-year-old Chuchart Srithachum does his morning exercise, walking as best he can on his prosthetic leg along the street outside his home.
Khôi Phạm in Architecture
Illustration Project 'Con Ốc Nhỏ' Archives Southern Vietnam's Diverse Architectural Facades
Riding a motorbike is the most popular mode of transport in Vietnam. Albeit convenient and fast, being on a bike, merging in and out of the ever-flowing, hurried traffic, might not afford you the slow pace needed to fully appreciate the urban landscapes and their hidden gems. Vietnamese artist Bờm Sketcher, on the other hand, is fully in support of walking as the best way to document the most fascinating corners of local streets onto his pages.
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Kiến Ba Khoang: Not an Ant, but a Harbinger of Dread and Divine Punishment
People’s skin erupted with horrific boils that burst open, spilling stinging pus across vicious rashes. According to the Christian Bible, along with water turning to blood, frogs, lice, gnats, diseased livestock, hail, locusts, darkness for three days and the killing of firstborn sons, the boils were one of the plagues God sent down to ancient Egyptians to compel them to free the Israelites.
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.
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...
Developer Proposes Saigon River Park and Underground Mall
Local developer Van Thinh Phat Group has submitted to city officials a proposal to build a new public park and underground trade center along the western bank of the Saigon River.
Da Nang Locals Call for Inspection of Industrial Park Accused of Pollution
Locals in Da Nang's Lien Chieu District are calling upon authorities to investigate a nearby industrial park whom they have accused of polluting local rivers and damaging public health.
40 Dead Tiger Cubs Discovered in Tiger Temple Freezer
Last Wednesday, authorities made a grisly discovery while shutting down Thailand's controversial Tiger Temple, recovering 40 dead tiger cubs from an on-site freezer.
