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.
Brian Letwin in Development
Singapore Apartment Building Sets Record For World’s Largest Vertical Gargen
The new Eximbank Tower may be bringing some much needed greenery to Saigon’s skyline but Singapore’s new Tree House condominium building, which has set a Guinness World Record for largest vertical gar...
Future Saigon: Ton Duc Thang Street
Over the past 20 years, Ton Duc Thang has transformed from a tree-lined street of colonial buildings to a strip of high rise offices and hotels. The stretch along the water is of particular value to d...
Vo Trong Nghia Architects’ Amazing Brick And Bamboo Factory Renovation
Houses and schools aren’t the only tricks Award-winning Vo Trong Nghia Architects have in their bag. Completed late last year, their renovation of Viet Vuong Co. Ltd.’s HCMC garment factory is their s...
Report: Vietnam’s Internet Second Slowest In Asia
Even though internet access is everywhere, from coffee shops to public busses, Vietnam ranks near the very bottom in Asia when it comes to speed.
New $1 Billion Plant Will Allow Samsung To Make Nearly All Its Products In Vietnam
Electronics giant Samsung was recently granted an investment certificate for its new $1 billion screen plant in Bac Ninh. While it brings Samsung’s investment in the country to a whopping $6.85 billio...
PM Orders Removal Of Settlements Along Vietnam’s Train Tracks
The famous scenes of life taking place on Vietnam’s train tracks may soon be a thing of the past now that a plan to remove illegal shops and homes has been approved by the Prime Minister.
[Photos] Who Said Pollution Masks Can’t Be Fashionable?
For the throngs of women across Vietnam who sacrifice fashion for health, there may be a solution.
New Design Competition Seeks To Beautify HCMC
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 ...
3 Vietnamese Make “World's Most Influential Scientific Minds” List
3 Vietnamese scientists: Dam Thanh Son, Nguyen Son Binh and Nguyen Xuan Hung, have made Thomson Reuters’ list of the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds.
Brian Letwin in Development
[Photos] Future Saigon: The Thu Thiem Financial Center
British design firm, Foster and Partners recently released renderings for Thu Thiem’s financial center and they’re well, dreamy?
DX Mornings 2: Why Your Products Suck @ The Cube
From the organizer: Tony Ho will show us why our products suck and how we can use design to improve user experience.
Vietnamese Bamboo House Design Highlighted At International Architecture Awards
As one of the top 3 countries most vulnerable to natural disasters, living with floods is a difficult reality for many in Vietnam.
Vietnam Climbs English Rankings In Recent Survey
Vietnam is climbing up the ranks of English proficiency based on a recent survey by Education First.
Saigon Mechanics Make Their Own Vespa 946
A group of enterprising welding technicians in District 11 are trying their hand at making their own Vespa 946. This limited edition bike from Piaggio costs about VND349 million in Vietnam and is the ...
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.
