Paul Christiansen

in Sports

Thống Nhất Stadium Offers Unexpected Opportunities to Reflect Upon the Soul

Where do you find revelation?

in Parks & Rec

Forum Theater Brings Real-Life Situations to the Stage, and You Are the Actors

In Vietnam, a novel form of theater is quietly making an impact, not just on stage, but in classrooms, communities, and people's lives. Known as Forum Theater, this interactive art form transforms audience members from passive viewers into active participants. Developed by Brazilian threater practitioner Augusto Boal, Forum Theater was created as a space to “rehearse for real life,” allowing theatergoers to step into the shoes of others, explore difficult situations, and test out new possibilities. 

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

The Overwhelming Presence of Nature's Most Inspiring Sound: Cát Tiên's Gibbon Call

What is your favorite sound?

Văn Tân

in Natural Selection

Hoa Bưởi's Fleeting but Fragrant Season Teaches Us to Find Beauty in Impermanence

Every year during this time, I can’t help but hanker for a taste of sugarcane infused with hoa bưởi, or pomelo blossom. Only hoa bưởi’s tender aroma can accentuate the flavor of this humble snack several folds.

in Environment

A Botanical Illustrator Captures Vietnam's Flora on Paper, One Species at a Time

When science and art commingle in a botanical illustration, it’s as if a magical world appears, where colors, brushstrokes, and lighting work together to not only replicate but also breathe life into nature’s best creations.

in Environment

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).

in Environment

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.

Back Society

in Development

Nha Trang To Be “More Beautiful Than Hawaii," "More Developed Than Hong Kong": Official

Officials have big plans in store for Nha Trang, presenting an urban development plan that they claim would make the coastal city “more beautiful than Hawaii” and “more developed than Hong Kong.”

in Environment

Report Finds 77% Decrease in Vietnamese Rhino Horn Buyers

It looks like the anti-rhino horn campaigns are finally paying off in Vietnam with a new report finding that there has been a 77% decrease in domestic buyers and a 66% drop in the number of people who...

in Tech

[Photos] Inside Vietnam's Only Nuclear Reactor

Vietnam has operated a nuclear reactor on-and-off since 1963 when the Americans helped create the Da lat Nuclear Research Institute. There, a General Atomics-built TRIGA-Mark II reactor was installed ...

in Health

Fake Rice Made With Plastic Has Allegedly Made Its Way To Vietnam

As if we didn’t have enough to worry about when it comes to local food safety, reports have surfaced that fake, plastic-based rice may have found its way into our food supply.

in Development

[Photos] New Renderings Of Binh Thanh District’s Central Park Complex

Between the Saigon and Thu Thiem bridges in Binh Thanh District sits a large plot from which steel skeletons are slowly emerging. If things go according to plan, by 2017, a massive, dense urban area w...

in Tech

Vietnam’s Internet Speeds Ranked 99th Globally In New Report

The latest “State of the Internet” quarterly report found that while Vietnam ranks toward the back of the pack when it comes to internet speeds, things are looking up.

in Development

Future Saigon: The Gold View

District 4’s waterfront is about to get a major addition with a sprawling mixed-use complex across from downtown Saigon.

in Development

New Tata Deal Could Drop Car Prices To US$2,500 In Vietnam

While high prices put cars out of reach for the majority of Vietnamese, the emergence of low-cost “city cars” could soon make the four-wheeled dream a reality for the masses.

in Development

Hà Nội: CAPITAL City - People In The Capital City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the Hà Nội: CAPITAL City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos and s...

in Development

Da Nang Is 'Vietnam’s Singapore': Bloomberg

A recent article in the Bloomberg paints a very rosy picture of Da Nang, going as far as to call it “Vietnam’s Singapore,” due to its good governance, business-friendly policies, strong IT backbo...

in Health

Vietnam Moves to Ban Smoking at Weddings and Funerals

In a move to combat climbing smoking rates in Vietnam, heath officials have proposed banning the act at weddings and funerals.

in Development

[Infographic] Car Prices In Vietnam Compared To Its Neighbors

Buying a car is a notoriously expensive proposition in Vietnam due to the exorbitant taxes levied against them. This handy infographic further illustrates this point by comparing car prices in Vietnam...

in Architecture

[Photos] Inside Saigon’s Abstract 2H House

Truong An architecture and 23o5Studio recently teamed up an this abstract house in Saigon’s Thanh My Loi new urban area. The structure was designed to allow light to proliferate throughout, paint...

in Tech

US$40m Earmarked For Saigon’s Silicon Valley

Looking to capitalize on Vietnam’s growing tech industry, a group of investors has been granted a license to develop "Saigon Silicon City," a project modeled after the Bay Area’s Silicon Valley.

in Development

Hà Nội: CAPITAL City - Architecture & Housing

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the Hà Nội: CAPITAL City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos and s...

in Tech

Vietnam’s Mobile Internet Speeds 2nd Slowest in the World

According to a recent survey by global bandwidth testing company Ookla, Vietnam's 3G speeds are some of the worst on Earth.

in Development

Hà Nội: CAPITAL City - Change Over Time - Part 2

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the Hà Nội: CAPITAL City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos and s...

in Development

Metro Line May Cause Saigon Property Values To Skyrocket: CBRE

According to a report, Metro Line: Changing the Face of the Property Market, released by CBRE last Wednesday, Saigon’s first metro line may cause a significant uptick in for the city’s property values...

Brian Letwin

in Development

[Photos] Saigon’s New Pedestrian Promenade Is Open For Business

Work has been completed on schedule for Saigon's new US$20 million pedestrian promenade on Nguyen Hue Street.

in Architecture

National Assembly HQ Wins Grand Prize At VN Architecture Awards

While architecture in Vietnam has taken some major strides over the past decade, it’s rare to see a government building receive high praise for its design. It looks like Hanoi's recently complete...