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.
Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà Leprosy Village to Be Relocated for Mega Resort Project
Authorities in Gia Lai Province have approved plans to relocate the Quy Hoà leprosy village from its current ocean-side setting in Quy Nhơn to make room for an ambitious real estate and tourism project.
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?"
Construction Of Thủ Thiêm Bridge 2 To Begin In February
It looks like the HCMC People’s Committee’s has gotten its wish as its vice chairman announced last week that construction of the Thủ Thiêm Bridge 2 will move ahead next month.
Actual Road to Replace Drainage Pipe Shortcut In The Mekong Delta
In the past 4 years along a stretch Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong expressway in the Mekong province of Ten Giang, many residents have been using a drainage tunnel under the highway as a shortcut. ...
Construction Begins On HCMC's Second Metro Line
As work on HCMC's first metro line steadily moves along, construction on the city’s Urban Railway Line 2 project broke ground in District 12 yesterday.
Parkson's Luxury Shopping Centers In Saigon Deserted
Walk into one of the six Parkson shopping centers in Saigon, and it’s likely you’ll be one of a few people walking through a deserted shrine to commerce.
Once Filled With Shrimp And Fish, HCMC Canal Now An Environmental Disaster
At the center of HCMC's modernization plans have been massive upgrades to the city’s canals. Some, like the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe, have received international press for their miraculous turnarounds. Ho...
New Coalimex Building Brings Sleek Architecture To Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Coalimex has set up shop in Hanoi’s Old Quarter with a sleek new building boasting sustainable and green design characteristics.
[Photos] Could Tokyo’s Skinny Houses Become a Model for Hanoi?
While Hanoi may be famous for its impossibly skinny homes, it isn’t the only Asian megacity where residents are forced to make the best of their small plots of land.
Gogoro: Tesla Technology In Scooter Form
Taiwanese startup Gogoro has raised over $150 Million over the past few years developing the world’s first Smart Scooter. Fueled by the same lithium ion cells used in the Tesla Model S, the scooter is...
Hundreds Of Trees In HCMC's Gia Định Park To Be Chopped Down For Airport Road
A new 650 meter road meant to reduce traffic to Tân Sơn Nhất Airport will be built through Gia Định Park, resulting in the removal of hundreds trees.
Vietnamese Scientists Develop Android App To Help Visually Impaired Use Smartphones
Scientists in Ho Chi Minh City have developed a text-to-voice app that allows visually impaired Vietnamese to use smart phones more effectively.
Drone Video Captures Nighttime Traffic In Saigon
Over the past few decades, Saigon has spent a great deal of money upgrading its transportation infrastructure, specifically its roads (we’re still waiting on you, metro line).
Free WIFI Coming To Vietnam’s Trains This Month
Long trips on Vietnam’s rails are set to become a bit more bearable this month as the country’s railway operator has begun to install wireless internet on north-south express trains.
CNN: Vo Trong Nghia Is Next Big Name In Architecture
Vietnamese starchitect, Vo Trong Nghia, had quite a 2014 with a number of his firm’s designs receiving international commendation. It looks like he’s off to a great start in 2015 as American news netw...
[Photos] World Bank Program Transforms Blighted Canals and Alleys
With urbanization rapidly taking hold in Vietnam, its cities have had a difficult time providing the necessary infrastructure to accommodate it. Flooded alleys, dirt roads and polluted creeks all have...
Vietnamese Patients “Wait To Die” After Slashes To Pharma Subsidies
New Vietnamese health insurance regulations which went into effect yesterday will make potentially life-saving medicine out of reach for many low-income patients. And things are only going to get wors...
Future Saigon: Saigon Centre Phase 2
After years of inactivity, construction on the massive plot next to Saigon Center at the corner of Lê Lợi and Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Streets is finally underway.
[Photos] The Striking Differences Between Chinese And Đà Lạt Produce
Fears over the safety of Chinese produce have been increasing over the past few years with stories like the “immortal apple” becoming common in the Vietnamese press.
Hanoi To Move 26,200 Residents Out Of The Old Quarter
Hanoi’s 82-hectre Old Quarter, described by some as “among Asia's best-preserved urban hubs of traditional commerce,” is about to lose nearly 40% of its residents, as city authorities seek to reduce t...
Vo Trong Nghia Unveils Modular, Low-Cost Housing Concept For Vietnam
If you caught the article we featured on Vo Trong Nghia’s “Rebel Architecture” last week, you may remember the architecture firm’s low-cost housing project in development that would cost around $3000 ...
Only 16% Of Wastewater Released Into Dong Nai River Is Treated
In what is yet another environmental challenge to the health of Vietnam’s river ways and its people is the discharging of untreated wastewater from factories and homes.
