Paul Christiansen in Environment
Saigon's Weather Dude Is Dedicated to Keeping Saigoneers Dry This Rainy Season
Why is it raining in Saigon? Because it’s the rainy season. Sure, but if you want to be more specific, you can cite conditions in the Bay of Bengal, more than 2,500 kilometers away. It’s there that the wind conditions form that flow across the Gulf of Thailand, sucking up the moisture that drenches Vietnam’s southern metropolis.
In the Era of Constant Rebuilding, We Turn to Vietnamese Modernism for Nostalgic Comfort
For two years now, I've checked the Vietnamese Modernist Architecture Facebook group almost every day. Here, members post ...
How Laos's Dams Are Powering Vietnam, Other ASEAN Nations Despite Mekong Concerns
Following a spate of foreign investment in the 1990s, Laos began producing surplus electricity and looked to export it. Today, around 80% of its energy, largely from hydropower, is sold to neighbors. Electricity exports from Laos generate around US$2.6 billion for what is one of the poorest nations in mainland Southeast Asia. Across the region, neighbors including Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia have become reliant on hydropower from Laos. Slowly but surely, however, this is changing.
A Pop-up Night Park Brings the Joy of Playing in the Rain to Phú Mỹ Hưng
A lack of public spaces and activities has been a chronic problem plaguing Saigon’s urban planning since the city experienced its first population boom a few decades ago. If you happen to be near District 7 in the next two months, a pop-up park could be a new option for children, and perhaps some particularly exuberant adults, to frolic in the rain and the evening.
Elise Luong in Environment
Living, Learning, Loving From the Earth at Ninh Bình's Lá Library
A stone's throw away from Cúc Phương National Park in Ninh Bình Province sits Lá Library, an education center promoting sustainable living through sustainable agriculture farming, earthen building techniques and the art of chilling out.
The Saigon House That Swapped Its Front Door for a Moat
Does a house need walls?
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Is the Yeti Vietnamese? This Ancient Ape Might Hold the Answer.
Can you name a Vietnamese animal that hasn’t been hunted to the precipice of extinction or become a commodified item whose flesh, fur, or feathers are only deemed significant in relation to their practical use by humans?
This Suburban Hanoi House Answers 'Yes' to 'How Many Windows Do You Want?'
Do you love the tropical summer? Does bathing in the warmth of the sun spark joy in you? How many windows are enough to solar-power your everyday life? If you, too, are toiling with these existential concerns on a daily basis, perhaps this recent residential project might provide some inspiration.
Saigon Slowly Pushes Ahead With 12km Tramway Line
While Saigon’s future metro system grabs most of the headlines, these trains aren’t the only rail-based mode of transportation in the city’s master infrastructure plan.
Vietnam's Very Own Disneyland Is Coming To Ha Long Bay
When the news arrived earlier this week that Vinpearl Ha Long is set to open this November, your reaction was either a celebration of joy...or a facepalm.
Here's Why Saigon Is Missing From This Pollution Map
If you've ever taken a deep breath during rush hour, you know clean air is not exactly abundant in Saigon.
[Photos] Local Architects Transform One Half of This Twin House Into Green Office Space
In rapidly-developing Hanoi, like most Vietnamese cities, green space is increasingly rare. But for landscape development company Mein Garten, an office with plant life was of utmost importance.
Saigon Eyes Japanese Funding For Two More Metro Lines
As work on Saigon’s first metro line chugs along, city authorities are seeking Japanese loans to fund the construction of two more major lines running through the heart of the city.
Ba Son Should Be Preserved, Not Destroyed: Experts
If you've driven along Ton Duc Thang any time in the last week or so, you might have noticed the large corrugated partition that's gone up just south of Le Thanh Ton. As the area overlooking the Saigo...
[Video] Saigon to Get Another LEED Certified Building Next Year
Saigon’s District 8 will soon be home to a LEED standard apartment project, one of the first in the country to meet the international green building benchmark.
[Photos] Vinpearl Halong Bay Opens This November
Halong Bay, the crown jewel of northern Vietnam's many UNESCO World Heritage sites, is about to receive a new landmark.
There Are Only 20 Indochinese Tigers Left in Vietnam
Vietnam's population of Indochinese tigers is dangerously low, with only around 20 animals left in the wild.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Tech
[Infographics] Vietnam's Mobile Games Are Taking the World by Storm
Whether you're reading this on a smartphone or tablet, a desktop or a laptop, look up: chances are at least a few other people are also deeply engrossed in a screen of some kind.
[Photos] Central Atrium Transforms Saigon Tube House
In a city like Saigon, space comes at a premium. It's no wonder, then, that Vietnam – and many other Asian countries – have taken to building tube houses, the ultra-skinny residential buildings you of...
Welcome To Vietnam: Southeast Asia's Silicon Valley
In little more than a decade, Vietnam's tech industry has exploded, attracting international attention and showcasing the country's potential, not just as an outsourcing hub but a key player in Southe...
Nha Trang Officials Seeking Permission to Build 60-Story Skyscrapers Along the Coast
Officials in Nha Trang are proposing an increase the height limit on its coastal buildings, pushing the cap from its current 40 stories to 60.
Vinaphone Tops Viettel's 4G Announcement
At long last, 4G is coming to Vietnam, and the battle for customers is heating up among the country's major telecommunications players.
[Photos] Farm Animals Roam Hanoi’s Disappearing Green Space
Hanoi, much like the rest of Vietnam, has come a long way in the last few decades. Today, the capital is filled with skyscrapers, expensive infrastructure projects and an endless stream of honking veh...
[Photos] Inside District 1's Minimalist Hidden Oasis
Downtown Saigon is no place for peace and quiet. However, local architecture firm Kien Truc O has transformed a small, narrow house in District 1 into a miniature oasis.
[Photos] Vo Trong Nghia Unveils Plans to Cover Saigon University in Trees
Saigon will be getting a little bit greener, thanks to the folks at Vo Trong Nghia. The award-winning architecture firm recently revealed its plans for a new FPT University campus in the southern city...
Street Food Vendors May Be Required to Comply With New Food Safety Regulation
Street food could soon get a thorough cleaning, as new regulations proposed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade seek to bring food safety standards to Saigon's roadside dining.
Viettel to Require New SIMs for 4G Service
Starting in October of this year, Viettel will offer its users the option of 4G coverage, reports Zing.
Vietnam Breaks Ground on First Solar Power Plant
Quang Ngai officials broke ground on the construction of Vietnam's first solar power plant this Saturday. The facility, which is expected to be operational by mid-2016, will cover 24 hectares and come...
