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.
Vietnamese Indie Studio Skrollcat Announces 'Hoa 2,' Sequel of 2021 Award-Winning Game
In 2021, the first Hoa title came out just in time to soothe our pandemic anxiety. Five years later, will Hoa 2 be up for the job in this new era of fuel crisis and global instability?
The Aesthetic Yet Functional Role of Shade in the Genome of Modernist Architecture
Since the mid-20th century, Vietnamese architecture has started to be made from industrial materials such as concrete, steel, glass, etc. This resulted in Vietnamese modernism, a branch of global modernism.
Vietnam's Woolly Bat Is Being Hunted to Extinction to Be Halloween Decorations
With hues of orange and black on its wings and a furry, fluffy face, the painted woolly bat is a stunner. But its beauty has become a deadly liability. People want to hang the bats — dead and stuffed — on their walls, display them as collectibles and even set them in jewelry.
In Search of Ba Khía, the Mangrove Crab That Captures the Soul of Cà Mau
The tide is low tonight. The mud flats, enveloped in the mangrove forest’s darkness, are dotted with the sporadic flares of headlamps. On bundles of exposed mangrove roots, shadows cast by black crabs crowd out one another. In my hometown, we call them “ba khía.”
Mastercard Brings Card Payment To Ben Thanh Market
Now you can use your credit card to buy fake DVD sets and crappy t-shirts at Ben Thanh Market.
Vietnam’s Coral Reefs On The Brink Of Extinction
Coral reefs around the world have been seriously degraded over the past 20 years and Vietnam’s are no exception. These ecosystems, which are vital to sustaining oceanic biodiversity, are very sensitiv...
[Photos] Thu Duc’s Beautiful M11 House
In a reminder that Vo Trong Nghia Architects isn't the only high-end design game in town, a21studio’s M11 house in Thu Duc District could convince us to move 30 minutes into HCMC’s suburbs.
Brian Letwin in Tech
Battle Of The Taxi Apps: Uber Arrives In Vietnam
As GrabTaxi and EasyTaxi make inroads in brining Vietnam’s personal transportation services into the digital age, one of the sexiest names in the space is getting ready to rev its engine in Saigon.
HCMC House Wins 1st Prize At International Design Competition
After winning Archdaily’s House of the Year Award back in April, Vo Trong Nghia Architects have just added more hardware to their collection for their House for Trees in Binh Thanh District.
Endangered Tigers Thrown From Truck Recovering
The two tigers thrown at police during their pursuit of wildlife smugglers last week are recovering from injuries, reports VNExpress.
This Asian Diamond Mine Is Both Impressive and Frightening
The city of Mirny is just like any other in the Republic of Yakutia. Except that it boasts a 525 meter deep, 1.2 kilometer wide hole.
Marketing & Media Network @ Cargo
From the organizer: Join us for July's “M2 – Marketing & Media Network” event for people interested in advertising, digital, marketing, media and technology.
Brian Letwin in Tech
Dreaming Of The Stars, Vietnam Pushes Ahead With Aerospace Center
Associate Professor Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, Director of the Vietnam National Satellite Center (VNSC), has confirmed that the country is building its first aerospace center in Hanoi’s Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park.
Future Saigon: The SSG Tower
You may have noticed the massive building going up in Binh Thanh District on Dien Bien Phu Street, just before the Saigon Bridge. The SSG tower, slated for completion by late 2015, will house offices,...
EuroCham: Vietnam’s GDP Could Reach 21% With EU Trade Deal
Speaking at the Vietnam Business Forum last week, a senior EU official said that Vietnam’s annual GDP could see an additional 15% boost if it reached a free trade agreement with the EU by the end of t...
Brian Letwin in Development
5 Amazingly Designed Homes in Saigon
While Saigon is known for its ubiquitous rectangular houses, the city boasts some fine examples of unique and beautifully designed homes. Some are topped with trees, others allow for the maximum flow ...
[Photos] Changes to Saigon’s Skyline (2003-2014): Part 2
Due to the popularity of previous articles capturing the physical changes of Saigon’s skyline over the past decade, we’ve managed to cobble together a new set of photos.
Brian Letwin in Development
Future Saigon: The Thu Thiem Marina
While there’s still a long ways to go before the Thu Thiem is completed (or started, for that matter), there are plans to build Saigon’s first marina on the southeast side of the new urban area.
Thu Minh Joins Prince William and David Beckham in London to Support Wildlife Campaign
Vietnamese pop singer, Thu Minh, joined Prince William and David Beckham in London on June 9 in support of the new United for Wildlife Campaign’s “Whose side are you on” project.
99 New Species Discovered In Vietnam
A new World Wide Fund (WWF) study, conducted between 2012 and 2013, found 99 new species of flora and fauna in Vietnam, some just outside of major urban centers, reports Thanh Nien.
Vietnam Has a Major Counterfeit Condom Crisis
Health officials expressed concern after a new report warned that nearly half of the commercially-available condoms in Vietnam are of poor quality.
Businessman: Even Bill Gates Isn’t Qualified For A Work Permit In Vietnam
At an economic forum last Thursday held in Hanoi, attendees complained about difficulties in obtaining work permits for their employees due to “stringent” and “unreasonable” requirements that would ma...
Beat the Heat with This Homemade Air Conditioner
Sure, breaking through a CIA firewall is impressive. But sometimes, life hands you a hacking opportunity that’s decidedly analog.
Brian Letwin in Development
Saigon's Folding Wall House
It’s nice to see someone other than Vo Trong Nghia Architects making progressive home designs in Vietnam. This Folding Wall House was built by Nha Dan architects in 2013 and was designed to allow...
