in Architecture

Modular Shading, Sliding Doors Blur the Line Between Interior, Exterior at Bà Rịa House

Located 130 kilometers from Saigon, this humble housing project in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu is a prime example of living enough rather than living large. Even though the family owns a lot spanning a total area of 1,000 square meters, the house itself only covers 62.8 square meters, utilizing locally available materials and craftsmanship on a budget of US$19,000.

in Natural Selection

Is Dã Tràng Vietnam's Cutest Sand Artist or a Folk Symbol of Fruitless Pursuits?

Strolling along Vietnam’s beaches when the tides are low, one might encounter a number of whimsical patterns created by countless sand pellets. These are the works of a tiny species of crustacean called dã tràng. Not only are these little crabs fascinating, thanks to their sand-sieving mechanism, which is how they obtain food, but they are also the subject of an intriguing folktale that often leaves readers pondering its philosophical implications. 

in Architecture

5 Iconic Buildings in Saigon That Showcase Vietnamese Modernist Architecture

Take a stroll along any random street in downtown Saigon , one is bound to bump into a hodgepodge of architectural styles....

in Parks & Rec

I Know Where the Caged Bird Sings: The Joy of Saigon's Birdsong Competition

One by one, motorbikes arrived, carrying the tell-tale cages covered with cloth and parked in the gravel lot beside the coffee shop where Saigoneer sat listening to the caged birds suspended above a patch of scrabbly grass.

in Architecture

A New Reading Space in Trà Vinh Creates Comfort From Recycled Materials

“A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us,” according to famed Czech writer Franz Kafka.

in Ẽplain

Vietnam's Trendiest Way to Flaunt Your Social Status Is a Meme Lychee Tea

Lychee tea can be found anywhere and anytime around Saigon, from street stalls to artisanal cafes. Averaging VND20,000–50,000, it’s a popular choice among Vietnamese youths. However, Thái Công Cafe prices their version of the fruit tea at around VND160,000 on their rather pricy menu. Yet, the drink remains extremely popular at the cafe and even went viral amongst Gen Z-ers on TikTok. The reason behind this virality is actually a meme.

in Sports

Saigon Powerlifter Lê Văn Công Earns Vietnam's First, Only Medal at Paralympics

Even though Vietnam’s delegation finished the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris without any medals, our Paralympics team managed to clinch one bronze from powerlifting.

in Society

Diving (Literally) Into Hoàng Hoa Thám's Mountains of Secondhand Clothes

In a hẻm, clothing sprawled out on platforms lined with the plastic sacks the clothing came in, overspilling onto the ta...

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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...

in Development

Facing Delay, HCMC Pushes To Build Thủ Thiêm Bridge 2 In 2015

The main prerequisite for the large-scale development of Thủ Thiêm is infrastructure - roads, tunnels and bridges that serve as arteries into the new urban area.

in Tech

GrabTaxi Launches GrabBike, Bringing Xe Ôms Into the Digital Age

With companies such as EasyTaxi, GrabTaxi and Uber, it’s never been easier to summon a car or cab in Saigon. However, xe ôms have been left out of the digital transportation revolution. That is, of co...

in Development

[Photos] Behind The Blue Walls: A Look At The Progress Of Saigon’s Pedestrian Promenade

Reddit user, WeAllWantToBeHappy, recently visited a number of spots around District 1 to see what was going on behind the large blue walls where a new pedestrian promenade is currently under construct...

in Development

A Goodbye To Steam At Thái Nguyên Steel Works

Wednesday 22 October 2014 was officially the last day of steam locomotive operations at Thái Nguyên Steel Works. Tim Doling takes a look at the history of this extraordinary industrial plant, which ow...

in Development

Authorities Consider Preserving Elements Of Tax Center Following Public Outcry

When news broke in August that Saigon’s historic Tax Center was to be demolished, many experts and locals took to public forums to call for the preservation of certain elements of the building.