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.
Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà Leprosy Village to Be Relocated for Mega Resort Project
Authorities in Gia Lai Province have approved plans to relocate the Quy Hoà leprosy village from its current ocean-side setting in Quy Nhơn to make room for an ambitious real estate and tourism project.
Opinion: Electric Vehicles Are Southeast Asia's Way out Amid the Global Fossil Fuel Crisis
As the Iran war crunches global energy supplies and disrupts prices, Southeast Asian leaders may need to diversify oil and gas supplies in order to protect ordinary people.
Paul Christiansen in Environment
An Ancient Turtle Named After Bánh Xèo Can Teach Us a Lot About Whimsy in Science
Nước mắm — that ruby-hued elixir; that salty, fish-flesh-sweet open secret in your favorite recipe; that indispensable icon of Vietnamese culture and, by extension, identity — owes itself to Commerson’s anchovies. That’s right, if your fish sauce comes from the central region, where it was first developed, the fish pressed with salt to produce it are Stolephorus commersonnii, a species named in 1801 after Philibert Commerson, a white Frenchman. Picture all the hardscrabble village homes suffering under the yoke of colonialism, where one of the day’s few pleasures was a humble meal made delicious by a carefully rationed dash of fish sauce and an ingredient whose name pays homage to their colonizers.
Michael Tatarski in Environment
Huế's Fantastic Herbs and Where to Find Them, Now in Book Form
Have you ever walked past a plant and wondered "Hey, I wonder what that could do?"
Viettel's 4G Trial Service Starts Today in Vung Tau
Just as Japan wraps up testing on its brand-new 5G network, the 4G service Vietnam has been talking about since 2013 is finally here.
Vietnam Delays First Nuclear Plant Until 2020
Vietnam's much-discussed nuclear power plant will be delayed yet again, as officials announced last week that the construction of Ninh Thuan 1, the first of two nuclear power facilities planned for th...
Saigon's Rifle-Wielding Urban Hunters Are Killing Off the City's Wildlife
The Ho Chi Minh City Forest Ranging Department is struggling with an unusual issue these days. According to the exasperated forestry arm of Saigon's municipal government, local residents are visiting ...
[Images] Construction Starts on Thu Thiem's Fancy New Exhibition Center
If you've taken a drive along the Saigon River lately, you may have noticed some construction on the other side of the water in District 2's Thu Thiem.
Future Saigon: Binh Thanh May Get Another Massive Skyscaper With Sky Tower
Feast your eyes upon this massive skyscraper, dubbed Tan Tao Sky Tower (or not...more on that later), that may soon go up near the intersection of Nguyen Huu Canh and Dien Bien Phu Streets in Binh Tha...
Food Panda is Closing its Vietnam Operations: Report
Food Panda, one of the major players in Vietnam's online ordering space, has announced that it is shutting its doors this month due to a “financial situation” and “many difficulties.”
Japanese Firm Successfully Tests 5G Network
Japan always seems to get the best stuff first – the cure for Agent Orange, rice paddy art, train cars where you can sleep off a night of sake (or cat wine) drinking and now, 5G internet.
Saigon Needs Another $50m+ to Revive Historic Canal
Saigon has been working hard to revive the Hang Bang Canal with the project currently entering its third and final phase. But, like many other large-scale public infrastructure projects in the city, a...
Vietnam’s Air Quality Among the Worst in the World
We’ve known for a while that air quality in Vietnam is less than stellar. Based on recent readings, we know for sure that breathing in Saigon is a risky proposition, but new statistics released by Yal...
Rent in Saigon More Expensive Than Dubai, Bangkok
Hanoi may be the most expensive place to live in Vietnam, but commercial rent in downtown Saigon ranks amongst the most expensive in the world, according to recent statistics compiled by commercial pr...
Mel Schenck in Architecture
New Facebook Group Highlights Vietnamese Modernist Architecture
Facebook has proven to be a capable tool for those looking to raise awareness for the preservation of Saigon's historic buildings.
Vietnam Car Imports Nearly Double in 2015
Last month, we all groaned in collective agony when we discovered that nearly 900 new vehicles are registered in Saigon everyday.
Phu Quoc Is Finally Building a Waste Treatment Plant
The days of a pristine Phu Quoc are long gone. Its coral reefs are dying; the island is starting to clear forests and farms to accommodate an ambitious master plan for 2030; and untreated waste is bei...
2.5 House: A Modest Dream Home in a Tan Binh Alley
Given the expenditure often required to build out a well-designed home, most of those featured on Saigoneer are anything but modest. That’s why we were particularly stoked to come across this small bu...
Japan Tech Could be The Key to Scrubbing Agent Orange From Vietnam
Agent Orange contamination, along with unexploded ordnance (UXOs), have proven to be the two most harmful legacies of the American War in terms of public health. While experts say it could take an est...
FPT Gearing up for Massive Global Expansion
The future looks bright for FPT, one of Vietnam's largest telecommunications companies. Over the past 13 months, firm has opened its largest international office in Los Angeles, California; was dubbed...
Future Saigon: District 5’s Dragon Riverside City
Vo Van Kiet is quickly becoming a favorite thoroughfare for Saigon developers with a number of large-scale projects planned for the road that runs from District 1 to the edge of the Mekong Delta.
China Embarks on Quest to Build World’s Largest Supercollider
After bolstering its space agency, China is looking a bit farther afield but closer to home for its next great scientific leap forward.
Vietnam Looks to Add Another Airport Near Saigon
Amid approvals for massive new airports and expansions/upgrades to existing ones, it seems like the airport money tap is wide open in Vietnam. Seeking to jump on the bandwagon and boost tourism access...
Wrong Turn Adds 7km to Bangkok Half-Marathon
As runners set out on what was meant to be a 21km half-marathon in Bangkok last weekend, many were surprised to find a significant addition to their route.
