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.
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.
[Photos/Video] Saigon's Second-Tallest Skyscraper Is Officially Open
A project several years in the making, Saigon's second-tallest skyscraper to date is now officially open.
Petition Against Mekong Delta Dam Construction Receives Thousands of Signatures
As Laos prepares to move ahead with the construction of its second Mekong River dam, citizens of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are expressing their disapproval of the project.
Vietnam Considering $2.5bn Hanoi-Vientiane Highway
Vietnam is hitting the infrastructure projects hard these days. Just last month, transportation officials unveiled a sleek new expressway linking Hanoi and Hai Phong.
[Photos] Nha Trang Villa Has Its Own Rooftop Park
Continuing along with his trend of creating beautiful, functional modern green spaces, local architect Vo Trong Nghia and his business partner, Masaaki Iwamoto, recently completed our newest dream hou...
Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak to Visit Vietnam Next Month
Next month, one of Apple's founders will come to Vietnam.
Metro Line Contractor Seeks Compensation for Delays
While Saigon Metro's Line 1 has made considerable downtown progress over the last year or so and parts of 19.7-kilometer line are beginning to take shape in District 2, the city's massive public ...
Vietnam Must Invest in Renewable Resources to Solve Energy Crisis: Experts
In order to keep up with its growing energy demand, Vietnam must invest more heavily in renewable energy sources, experts say.
Vietnam Posts Average Ranking Among World's Healthiest Countries
Between pollution, beer consumption and cigarettes, Vietnam faces its fair share of challenges in the health department.
Saigon's Air Quality Report Just Came Out and It's Not Good
As you may have noticed over the past month, Saigon's ambient air pollution is getting worse.
Vo Trong Nghia Is Building a Leafy Green LEED Housing Development in Saigon
Vo Trong Nghia is no stranger to high-profile, cost-effective and environmentally friendly buildings. In the last few years, the Saigon-based architect and his firm have garnered to international reco...
[Photos] This Is What Hanoi May Look Like in 2030
With all the infrastructure projects and construction barriers, housing developments and half-finished skyscrapers, it's hard to imagine what urban Vietnam will look like in five years, let alone 15.
Vietnam's Coc Coc Could Give Google a Run for Its Money
Google owns the world of search engines. When it comes to random online queries, the company's user base is so ubiquitous that its name has become a verb in the English language and attempted to enter...
Antibiotic Resistance Is Growing in Vietnam at a Dangerous Rate
As antibiotic resistance in Vietnam continues to rise, the country faces a growing number of powerful superbugs which experts warn could jeopardize public health.
[Photos] Hanoians Have Mixed Feelings About Their New Metro Trains
Though it's not yet complete, Hanoi's metro construction is much further along than the subway down south.
District 5's Haunted Thuan Kieu Plaza to Reopen
District 5's towering 33-storey Thuan Kieu Plaza is about to get a revamp, as a new owner is swooping in to save the deteriorating complex.
Take a Look at Phu Nhuan's Chi House
Everywhere we turn, it seems, local architects are coming up with new and innovative designs that not only make for some sweet pads but also help to beautify their neighborhoods.
Check out China's Monster Bridge-Building Machine
While Chinese bridges have made big headlines recently – and, later, made terrifying headlines – the technology used to construct China's everyday bridges is pretty impressive.
Cambodia Unleashes Solar-Powered Tuk Tuks
There's a sweet new solar-powered ride on the streets of Phnom Penh.
