in Society

The Childhood of Côn Đảo's Baby Turtles Caught on Film

In July, I visited Côn Đảo National Park as part of a group of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) sea turtle volunteers to see first-hand conservation efforts aimed at the local sea turtle population.

in Sports

Ward off Your Monday Blues by Joining Me on Beginners' Skateboard Night

Usually in life, niche topics are commonly associated with unpleasant stigmas and misunderstandings — skateboarding in Vietnam is no exception. Once, I admittedly was influenced by such one-sided assumptions.

in Environment

Pure Passion Turns Dark: The Unexpected Dangers of the Wild Turtle Trade

Seeking a companion during quarantine, Khánh*, a 25-year-old Hanoian, bought a baby turtle through a Facebook group. 

Khôi Phạm

in Natural Selection

A Case for the Sweet-and-Sour Tamarind as Saigon's Official Municipal Tree

What is the municipal tree of Saigon? In popular culture, Hanoi is perhaps intricately linked with the paralyzing but often romanticized aroma of hoa sữa, while just over a hundred kilometers to the east, Hải Phòng proudly brandishes the name “the city of red phượng flowers.” Đà Lạt has too many flower varieties to choose just one, and settles for “the city of a thousand flowers.” Down south, Bến Tre’s abundance of coconut trees is famous nationwide. Ask any Saigoneer this question, and you’re likely to get one of two answers: chò nâu (dipterocarp) or me (tamarind).

in Environment

Requiem for a Bàng Tree That Was Cut Down in Front of My Home

Curiosity drove me downstairs into the downpour. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the municipal workers — clad in orange-and-green uniforms, their clothes soaked — gathering around a crane. Their attention was focused upward. Following their gaze, I looked up, and froze.

in Environment

How the Ghosts of iPhones Past Haunt Vietnam's Low-Income Communities

The current e-waste crisis in Vietnam is one example of global environmental apartheid.

in Architecture

Keeping Cool in Thủ Đức With This Humble Abode’s Well-Ventilated Design

Thick multi-layer brick walls, shaded areas, water features, and natural ventilation allow this private home to stay cool amidst the city's stifling heat.

in Architecture

Saigon's VOH Radio Building, a Marvel of Architect Lê Văn Lắm's Modernist Intuition

In the middle of the 20th century, Vietnam grew to become one of the world’s prominent centers of modernist architecture. Saigon at the time was an economic and cultural heart of the region, with many official government structures constructed and designed in the style of modernist architecture. They were created with aesthetics and form in mind, laying the groundwork to usher in a new period of growth for Vietnamese creative independence.

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in Development

New Laos Dam Could 'Kill' the Mekong Delta: Experts

“We can survive without electricity, but without water, we will die.”

in Development

Spain Pledges 3.4 Million Euros For HCMC Metro Line 5

It looks like plans for HCMC’s fifth metro line are getting a boost with the Spanish government pledging 3.4 Million Euros for the upcoming project.

in Development

Future Saigon Update: The German House

More details are emerging on the German House, the 25-story tower going up across from Kumho Plaza at the corner of Le Duan and Le Van Huu Steets.

in Tech

HCMC Seeks To Lure Scientists With $7,015 Monthly Salaries

As HCMC seeks to position itself as the country’s science and technology hub, it is offering massive incentives to lure scientists.

in Development

[Photos] Vietnamese Artist Imagines A More Beautiful Hanoi

There’s plenty to love about Hanoi, but sometimes the electricity wires, dirty canals and abandoned construction sites leave a lot to be desired.

in Health

40% Of Pregnancies In Vietnam End In Abortion: Report

Vietnam’s defunct but lingering family planning policies, poor sex education programs and easy access to clinics has resulted in one of the highest abortion rates in the world, according to a recent r...

in Development

Say Goodbye to the Iconic Statue in Front of Ben Thanh Market

The statue of General Trần Nguyên Hãn that has stood in front of Bến Thành Market for decades is in the process of being permanently removed from the location to accommodate a new metro station.

in Tech

Vietnamese Jeweler Begins To Ship 24k Gold Plated iPads

Some Vietnamese spend months of their salary on iPhones and iPads for a lift in status. But some go a step further, paying more than the value of the actual product to have it dipped in gold.

in Health

Vietnam Ranks First in Southeast Asia for Diabetes

Add diabetes to smoking and drinking on the list of major threats to Vietnam’s public health.

in Tech

Made In Vietnam: La Dalat

Known once as “the pearl of the orient,” Saigon was Indochina’s hub of modern industry and entertainment. This environment spawned the “La Dalat,” one of the first cars to be produced in Vietnam.

in Development

[Photos] HCMC Begins To Chop Down Old Trees On Tôn Đức Thắng

The chopping down of the beautiful old trees on Tôn Đức Thắng Street has begun.

in Health

Hanoi “Running Short” Of Clean Water

According to two water companies that serve the city, Hanoi is facing some serious water shortages.

in Tech

Hackers Tap Into Private Vietnamese CCTV Cameras, Put Feeds Online

In a reminder to avoid passwords like “admin” and “12345,” a group of hackers tapped into almost 1,000 Vietnamese private CCTV cameras and put them on the web for all to see.

in Development

Future Saigon: Vietcombank Tower

The next big addition to Saigon’s skyline, the Vietcombank Tower, is nearly complete after years of construction.

in Tech

VNCam App Taps Into Street Cams So You Can Beat The Traffic

If you’re planning to hit the streets of Saigon or Hanoi during rush hour, VNCam, a new traffic tracking app, should be of great assistance.

in Architecture

[Video] New Film Highlights The Father Of Modern Cambodian Architecture

Vietnam and Cambodia have a shared colonial past and have both endured the peaks and valleys of development and war. For both, the 1960s and 70s were periods of modernist architectural innovation, esp...

in Development

Petition Against Son Doong Cable Car Has Over 10,000 Signatures

After news broke that a $220 million cable car would be built through portions of Son Doong Cave, the response was overwhelming negative. Many were stunned that a plan, meant to lure troves of tourist...

in Tech

Uber Launches In Hanoi

The battle of the taxi apps is set to grow fierce in Hanoi with the arrival of Uber.

in Tech

Apple Set To Officially Enter Vietnamese Market

Instead of opening an official store in Vietnam, Apple has opted to partner with a local retailer to distribute their products in the country.

in Health

Vietnamese Smokers Spend $1bn per Year on Cigarettes

Vietnam boasts 16 million smokers who pay VND22 trillion ($1.05 billion) per year to feed their deadly habit. But the actual cost of smoking is compounded by a nearly equal cost in treatment for commo...