Lúa Ma, the Mekong's Ancient Wild Rice Varieties Holding Secrets to Climate Resilience
“It’s been so long I can barely remember. It’s delicious, fragrant, soft but not sticky,” says Trần Văn Lựa, 53, a farmer from Đồng Tháp Province, south-west Vietnam, recalling the taste of wild rice. As a child, he would harvest the grain during flood season, when wild rice flowers. Today, however, it is a rare sight.
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Cầy Mực, the Fluffy Bearcat Whose Pee Really Smells Like Popcorn
Vietnam is home to a diverse range of species, from the elusive sao la to Hanoi's pungently fragrant hoa sữa. As an ode to the wondrous nature of the country, we're introducing a new article series, Natural Selection. Each article will feature a species of plant or animal native to Vietnam — starting with the laidback cầy mực (binturong).
As Saltwater Intrudes More of Mekong Delta, Durian Farmers Struggle to Stay Afloat
Nguyễn Văn Quại, 63, walked slowly on the muddy dirt path in his yard, his hands clasped behind his back. He stopped beside a tree split in half, its branches dipping into the stagnant water of a narrow moat, and gestured towards the rest of his leafless crop — their trunks yellow, their bark cracked and brittle.
Khôi Phạm in Tech
On Vietnam's Internet, You're a Mom, I'm a Mom, Everyone Is a Mom
I am a mom. Well, not in the most conventional meaning of the word — I am childless, and it’s still biologically impossible for men to give birth the last time I checked, but for most of my existence on the Vietnamese cybersphere, I have been using the designation “mẹ” amongst my closest friends.
Khôi Phạm in Architecture
On Phú Quý Island, a Curious Collection of Modernist Houses From Central Vietnam
From the 1960s towards the end of the 1970s, urban centers in southern Vietnam saw robust and widespread growth of modernist influences in architecture. Still, outside the usual foci of the movement like Saigon, Cần Thơ or Mỹ Tho, how has this unique form of vernacular architectural expression been transformed?
Văn Tân in Architecture
An Homage to Courtyards, the Heart of Traditional Vietnamese Homes
This time of the year, the giáng hương tree in my grandma’s courtyard is probably blooming with clusters of golden blossoms, enticing the kids in the neighborhood to gather around it and carefully pick off the prettiest petals to create makeshift jewelry.
Mầm in Parks & Rec
The Young Vietnamese Artisans Breathing New Life Into Animals Carcasses
Skeletons and carcasses are often reminiscent of eerie, spine-chilling scenes in horror movies. But in the taxidermy community, animal corpses are of great value for artisans to create unique works that blur the line between life and death.
Ride-Hailing Changed How We Commute. Can Ve Chai-Hailing Change How We Recycle?
Mentions of ve chai might evoke images of uncles and aunties pushing around their cart or perched on bicycles, ferrying a host of plastic bags and scrap metal, and occasionally calling out: “Đồng nát sắt vụn bán nào…” This familiar scene, no matter how nostalgic, might change soon.
Beer Prices In Saigon Among The Cheapest On Earth: Index
According to the 2015 Beer Price Index, Saigon has some of the cheapest been in the world.
Future Saigon: Thu Thiem’s Empire City
Yesterday afternoon, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee held a ceremony to announce the Thu Thiem Empire City development, the crown jewel of the city’s new urban area.
Bphones Recalled Less Than 2 Weeks After Delivery
Two weeks following the release of the Bphone, dubbed “the best smartphone in the world,” by its maker, the company has announced that the handsets are being recalled for a software update and camera ...
[Photos] Vietnamese Solar-Powered, Green-Roofed Toilet Design Wins Architecture Award
A restroom/garden design constructed in Vietnam's northern province of Cao Bang by Hanoi-based H&P Architects has taken home the Social Good Award at the 2015 AZ Awards.
Vietnam Plans to Send 15 Athletes to 2016 Summer Olympics
Following a strong showing at the SEA Games earlier this month, Vietnam has announced that it will send up to 15 athletes to the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games next year in Brazil.
Hanoi's National Assembly Building: Rethinking Modern Vietnamese Architecture
Archdaily recently caught up with GMP Architekten, the minds behind Hanoi’s new National Assembly building who, with their design, attempted to answer the question: “What is Vietnamese building cultur...
Long Thanh Airport Project Gets the Green Light
The controversial US$15.8 billion Long Thanh Airport was approved by the National Assembly this morning, ending years of fierce debates about its necessity and high price tag.
[Photos] Photographer Captures China’s Deadly Air Pollution
Vietnam’s cities may have some work to do when it comes to improving their air quality, but compared to the smog-filled skies of China’s urban areas, we live in a relative biosphere.
Saigon Gears Up For The Construction Of Its 4th Metro Line
Preparations have been completed and railway authorities are getting ready to start construction of Saigon’s longest metro route.
[Photos] Saigon's Old Trees Are Being Swallowed by Urbanization
District 10’s Le Hong Phong, An Duong Vuong, Nguyen Chi Thanh and Tran Phu Streets are fortunate to enjoy the shade of hundreds of large trees that were planted more than 50 years ago. However, many o...
[Video] Vietnam Young Spikes Call For Registration
The Vietnam Young Spikes Competition is the pre-selection competition for teams of young professionals to represent Vietnam and compete at a regional level, at Spikes Asia - the most prestigious Festi...
[Photos] This District 3 House Is Every Saigoneer's Dream
We’ve seen plenty of local architects incorporate traditional Vietnamese aesthetics into their designs, from Chapa brickwork to tube houses. But we’ve never come across something quite as stunning as ...
Ministry Proposes 50 Text Daily Cap To Combat SMS Spam
In an effort to combat the scourge of spam texts, the Ministry of Information and Communications is considering limiting mobile phone users to 50 texts per day.
Don't Blame Sharks For AAG Breaks: Experts
While the Asia-America Gateway (AAG) cable is back up and running, we’re only one shark bite away from being cast back into the internet Dark Ages. Or are we?
Meet The Winners Of Vietnam Young Spikes 2014
Why did you apply for VYS 2014? Chuong: I am very new to the industry and would like to see what it would be like to have the freedom to do creative work instead of following the process and dealing ...
Saigon Seeks to Extend Metro Line to Tan Son Nhat
Saigon authorities are looking to expand one of the city’s future metro lines to Tan Son Nhat Airport.
[Infographic] A Guide to Petrol Prices in Vietnam and Southeast Asia
After months of cut-rate petrol prices, it’s no longer particularly cheap to fill up your tank in Vietnam. But are today’s prices higher than ever? Who sets petrol rates and what exactly are we paying...
Vietnamese Farmers Build Solar-Powered Boat
Four farmers in the Mekong Delta have successfully produced a solar-powered boat that can reach speeds of 20kph.
Did You Know Stopping In The Shade Can Get You Fined?
Driving in the scorching afternoon sun, many seek shelter under slivers of shade provided by trees and buildings. However, under Vietnamese law, doing so could result in fines of up to VND500,000.
70 New Species Discovered In Vietnam: WWF Report
According to a report released by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) last week, 70 new species were found in Vietnam last year, many of which are at risk due to human activity.
