Listen to the Unique 'Dialects' Found in Regional Vietnamese Modernist Architecture
“It was my uncle who came up with the design. There are no drawings left; everything was improvised back then,” the owner of a modernist homestay in Ninh Thuận told me. No architect, just an idea and a craftsman to pour it into concrete.
How Overreliance on Pesticides Traps Thai Farmers in a Vicious Circle of Debt
As the sun rises over the village of Ban Wichit Pattana in north-east Thailand, 62-year-old Chuchart Srithachum does his morning exercise, walking as best he can on his prosthetic leg along the street outside his home.
Khôi Phạm in Architecture
Illustration Project 'Con Ốc Nhỏ' Archives Southern Vietnam's Diverse Architectural Facades
Riding a motorbike is the most popular mode of transport in Vietnam. Albeit convenient and fast, being on a bike, merging in and out of the ever-flowing, hurried traffic, might not afford you the slow pace needed to fully appreciate the urban landscapes and their hidden gems. Vietnamese artist Bờm Sketcher, on the other hand, is fully in support of walking as the best way to document the most fascinating corners of local streets onto his pages.
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Kiến Ba Khoang: Not an Ant, but a Harbinger of Dread and Divine Punishment
People’s skin erupted with horrific boils that burst open, spilling stinging pus across vicious rashes. According to the Christian Bible, along with water turning to blood, frogs, lice, gnats, diseased livestock, hail, locusts, darkness for three days and the killing of firstborn sons, the boils were one of the plagues God sent down to ancient Egyptians to compel them to free the Israelites.
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.
Go Vap House Blends Traditional Construction With Contemporary Design
This Go Vap house built by MM++ Architects utilizes low cost materials and combines traditional construction principles with contemporary design for some beautiful results.
$189m Plan to Give 300,000 HCMC Students Tablets Draws Criticism
Last week the HCMC Department of Education proposed a plan to equip 300,000 primary students with tablets for the coming school year, reports Thanh Nien. With a pricetag of VND3 million – VND 5 m...
Brian Letwin in Development
A Look At The Progress Of HCMC's First Metro Line
Now that ground has been broken on the underground stations in District 1, construction of HCMC’s first metro system is in full swing. But with a number of major construction sites across nearly 20km ...
Brian Letwin in Development
Future Saigon: VINATEX Tower (Võ Văn Kiệt Street)
Vietnam Textile and Garment Group recently announced plans for this mixed residential/commercial tower, which will go up at the corner of Võ Văn Kiệt and Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Streets.
Google Street View Arrives In Saigon (Sort Of)
This pseudo Google Street view map of Saigon is the brainchild of photography studio, QuangCao360.
Dengue Fever On The Rise In HCMC
According to Thanh Nien, doctors in HCMC have noticed an alarming rise in the number of dengue fever cases in recent weeks, especially among adults. To complicate matters, the virus is often misdiagno...
‘Watch Your Video’ Virus Hits Vietnamese Facebook Users
Last week, Facebook locked thousands of users accounts following what’s been labeled as the biggest information hack in the history of the internet.
'Flappy Bird' Creator To Release New Game Tomorrow
Well, Nguyen Ha Dong, the Vietnamese app developer who at one point was pulling in $55,000 per day, is officially back in the spotlight. After releasing a new version of ‘Flappy Bird’ earlier this mon...
Design Competition Seeking Your Ideas On How To Make Saigon More Beautiful
Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor for Saigon Makeover, a new design competition for graphic designers, artists and young people at large to share their creative vision of how different parts ...
Zero Gravity Flights Coming To Asia
Ever wish you could float like an astronaut in space? Soon you may be able to do so without having to leave Asia.
Hanoi’s Beautiful 'Greenfall Renovation'
Yeah, we know. Vo Trong Nghia Architects seems to get all the press when it comes to unique housing design in Vietnam, but for good reason. They’re constantly pushing the envelope and seem unafraid of...
Vietnamese Telecos: Don’t Expect 4G Anytime Soon
Hoping to see the text “4G” atop your mobile phone screen? You’ll have to wait a bit longer. Instead of upgrading their mobile data networks to 4G, Vietnamese telecommunication companies are focusing ...
Experts Say Saigon Needs A Plan To Preserve Ancient Trees
Saigon residents voiced their displeasure after 51 trees, some 150 years old, were uprooted and axed to make room for the new Saigon Opera House metro station. This sentiment was echoed by urban tree ...
Facebook Locks Vietnamese Users’ Accounts, Asks Them To Change Their Passwords
This morning, many Vietnamese Facebook users woke up to a surprising message, notifying them that their accounts had been locked and requesting that they change their passwords, reports VN Express.
Future Saigon: The Nexus Complex
One of Saigon’s most desirable areas when it comes to real estate is Tôn Đức Thắng Street. Like in any emerging city, locations along the water are ripe in the eyes of developers. Especially when a su...
[Photos] Views From Vietnam’s Second Tallest Building
At 267m, Hanoi’s new $400 million Lotte Center offers some pretty amazing views of the capital. Recently, Zing sent one of their photographers up to the building's 65th floor where they captured image...
Brian Letwin in Development
Green Dreams: FPT University Administration Building
Vo Trong Nghia architects are back in the spotlight, this time for their FPT University administration building. It's green checkerboard design is so inviting, it almost makes us want to go back ...
Tour de An Phu Bike Ride @ The Bike Shop
From the organizer: This is a fun ride suitable for Adult and Teen riders of all levels. As this is an evening event, and we are sharing the road with other vehicles, for safety reasons it is strongly...
[Photos] Changes Over Time: Saigon's Canals (2005 - 2014) Part III
A major feature of Saigon’s recent urban development has been the implementation of major infrastructure projects including upgrading canals across the city.
Rooftop Vegetable Gardens Catching On In Hanoi
We’ve always thought that Saigon’s rooftops were the perfect place to grow vegetables, especially given the questions about food safety that have cropped up over the past few years. Though they probab...
