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.
Vinhomes to Build Ha Long Complex Full of Shophouses
Ha Long Bay is about to get its first urban development, courtesy of Vinhomes.
Brian Letwin in Development
[Photos] District 2 Just Got a Fresh New Park
Green space has long come at a premium in Saigon, especially as some public areas – see District 1’s Chi Lang Park – have lost out to the city’s breakneck development.
Chinese Government Bans 'Weird' Architecture
Modern-day China's epidemic of creative buildings has come to an end, as the government recently placed a ban on “weird architecture”.
Apple to Invest $1bn in Hanoi Data Center
Global tech giant Apple is planning to invest US$1 billion in a Hanoi-based data center.
Vietnam's Elderly Population Increases by 500,000 a Year
With its elderly population increasing by a half-million people each year, Vietnam is on the fast track to becoming an aged nation.
Vinhomes to Transform Ba Son Shipyard Into Mega Development
The first few renderings of Vinhomes' Ba Son complex construction have recently surfaced online, stirring hope for proponents of the mega development and sorrow for those who fear the loss of an ...
Viettel Is Now Offering 4G...in Africa
If you're a Viettel user, we've got some good news: the military-run telecommunications provider is now offering 4G. The catch? It's in Burundi.
Vietnamese-Made App Wins Top Prize at SXSW
The Vietnamese creators of English-language pronunciation app ELSA took home the top prize at SXSWedu's 2016 Launch Startup competition last week.
[Renderings] The Hamptons Are Coming to Ho Tram
Saigon city dwellers can soon look forward to a Hamptons-style holiday, as a Vietnamese rendition of the famed American destination is set to reach completion in 2018.
500 Startups Launches $10m Microfund in Vietnam
As of last week, 500 Startups is open for business in Vietnam.
Studio8 Architects Win Contract to Design Khai Tower in PMH
After beating out 15 other competitors, local architecture firm Studio8 has won the contract to design District 7's newest ultra-modern office building.
Urban Vietnam Reckons With Its Air Quality Dilemma
There's a lot going on in the world of Vietnamese air quality these days. From Hanoi reaching Beijing-level pollution earlier this month to Saigon getting its first publicly accessible real-time air q...
Saigon Planning Underground City Beneath Ben Thanh Market
Ben Thanh Market, tourist shopping hub and icon of old Saigon, may one day have some competition beneath its feet.
A Vietnam-Laos Railway Could Be on the Horizon
Late last month, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong announced the launch of a feasibility study which will explore the possibility of a railway connecting Vientiane with coastal Vung Ang in...
[Video] Shanghai Tower Timelapse Packs 4 Years of Work Into 3 Minutes
When construction of China's Shanghai Tower began in 2009, filmmaker Joe Nafis made it his mission to capture the structure's rise above the rest of the city skyline.
Saigon Children's Shelter Struggles to Stay Open
Everyday is a new challenge for the Green Bamboo Warm Shelter, a non-governmental organization which assists former street boys aged eight to 16.
[Photos] Vietnam's Folded Roof House: The Epitome of Cool
Thirty kilometers northwest of Hanoi lies TOOB STUDIO's Folded Roof House, a two-story structure whose location away from the downtown urban center allows for a little more breathing room than th...
[Photos] Join Vietnam's Fanciest Gym for Just $24,000 a Year
Though it takes some willpower to get there, nothing beats a trip to the gym. You work out, you unwind in the sauna, you take advantage of the free shampoo, and by the time it's all over, you leave fe...
Thailand Is Closing Its Controversial Tiger Temple
Thailand's controversial Tiger Temple is set to close down as a tourist attraction, as local authorities are now removing animals from the facility.
Vietnam Is Getting a Pro Basketball League
For Vietnamese hoopsters, “a league of their own” will soon be more than just a movie starring Tom Hanks and Madonna.
