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?"
Saigon Commences Metro Line, Major Administrative Hub Project in Thủ Thiêm
Municipal authorities in Hồ Chí Minh City are moving forward with a number of infrastructure projects that will majorly transform the peninsula in the future.
From the Ground up Into the Air: The Evolution of Bitexco in 25 Photos
Between Thủ Thiêm's ambitious new skyscrapers, the planned transformation of Thanh Đa Peninsula and a LEED-standard apart...
The Global Waste Trade Fuels the Rise of Waste Colonialism in Southeast Asia
In August 2025, Malaysian campaigner Wong Pui Yi stood outside the UN headquarters in Geneva and made an appeal to Global North nations: “Stop treating the Global South as the rubbish bin for plastic waste you cannot handle.”
Pedaling for a Purpose: The Coastal Cycling Challenge Bringing Homes to Quảng Ngãi
During February and March, a group of volunteers from Saigon spent five days cycling up the coast, starting in Thảo Điền and ending up in the mountainous district of Trà Bông, nestled deep in Quảng Ngãi Province.
Michael Tatarski in Natural Selection
Voọc Cát Bà: The Endangered Primate of Karst Land
Imagine being born one color, and growing up into a very differently hued adult.
[Video] 3-D Animation Spotlights Thu Thiem 2 Bridge
A new video by Sub Zero Animation posted on REIC brings to life the proposed Thu Thiem 2 Bridge, which is set to reach completion in 2018. The bridge will serve as a direct route between District 1's ...
Old Thao Dien Villa Gets A Modern Makeover
Rather than tear down this District 2 villa altogether, MM++ Architects decided to give its concrete frame a makeover using recycled red bricks and steel frame glass windows.
Female Viagra May Be Coming To A Pharmacy Near You
Last week, the Vietnamese Department of Health announced that it would consider circulating a newly-approved drug call Addyi, which treats low sexual desire in women.
Future Saigon: The Sabeco Tower
Sabeco, the Vietnamese beverage company that has a commanding 40% market share of the domestic market, is in the process of trading in its massive warehouse at Me Linh Square for a shiny new skyscrape...
[Photos] Award-Winning Design Links Nha Trang Restaurant And Sea
When D3 Architects came up with this design for a beachside Nha Trang restaurant, they sought to create a structure with a strong connection to its surrounding environment, in this case, the beach. Gi...
Apple, Inc. Plans to Open Subsidiary in Vietnam
Apple seems to have set its sights on the Vietnamese market with reports that the company is gearing up to open a subsidiary in Vietnam.
What Does The Future Hold For Saigon’s Skeleton Tower?
The monolithic Saigon One Tower is the most obvious victim of the city's burst real estate bubble (which looks to be finally recovering). Even though the skeleton of the unfinished US$238 million ...
Construction of Saigon Metro Flyover Above the Hanoi Highway Begins
Work on the above ground section of Saigon's first metro line is in full swing. Along with the construction of a rail bridge across the Saigon River and the installation of concrete girders, ...
Future Saigon: The District 5 Cultural Center
Below are some renderings of a new cultural center designed by HSP International Vietnam and Ardor Architects that will be located at 105 Tran Hung Dao, District 5.
Vietnam Plans To Launch High-Speed Rail Line By 2040
Despite the National Assembly’s opinion that it should be pushed to the back burner, the Transport Ministry is moving ahead with plans for Vietnam’s first high-speed rail line.
[Video] Workers Toss Molten Rivets To Repair Long Bien Bridge
Hanoi’s iconic Long Bien Bridge in the midst of a much-needed renovation to make it safer for pedestrians and drivers. But while one might think that a US$15 million upgrade would be conducted with cu...
Vietnam Moves Ahead With Plans For First Nuclear Power Plant
After years of delays, it looks like plans for Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant are slowly moving forward.
[Photos] Nha4 Architects Designs Flood-Proof Extension For Thai Hoa Home
Given the recent flooding in northern Vietnam, this “flood-proof” house extension seems like a smart addition for many Vietnamese families that face rising waters each rainy season.
[Video] Dirtbiker Glides On Water, Surfs Waves With Custom Bike
When roads across Vietnam transform into rivers during the rainy season, water floods the engines of motorbikes, rendering them useless in the face of the murky currents. At some point, each of these ...
How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Gluten
So you’ve been told that gluten is the antithesis of healthy living. Google searches involving the words “gluten” and “bad” yield thousands of articles branding this highly misunderstood substance as ...
[Renderings] A Look Inside Landmark 81, Vietnam's Future Tallest Skyscraper
In less than three years, the colossal Landmark 81 will rise from what was once a container port next to Saigon Pearl. Once completed, the 461.2 meter structure will be the tallest building in Vietnam...
[Photos] Da Nang Spa Is a Modern-Day Twist on Babylon’s Hanging Gardens
“In this palace he erected very high walks, supported by stone pillars; and by planting what was called a pensile paradise, and replenishing it with all sorts of trees, he rendered the prospect an exa...
Design For Saigon’s Underground Metro Tracks Approved
While the concrete pylons that comprise the above ground portion of Saigon’s first metro have lined the North-South Expressway for years, things are finally ramping up on its subterranean stations.
Up To 54% Of Ice In Saigon Found To Be Contaminated
From trà đá and cafe sữa đá to bia hơi, ice is an important element of beverage culture in Saigon. But according to a new study by the city’s Department of Food Hygiene and Safety, more than half of i...
Car Sales In Vietnam Have Increased 58% Over Last Year
Over the past year, 103,500 automobiles were sold in Vietnam, perhaps signaling the dawn of the car age in a country where motorbikes have long reined king.
