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.
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...
Brian Letwin in Health
Report: Vietnamese Spend $1 Billion a Year on Tobacco
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health reported that Vietnamese smokers spend over VND22 trillion ($1.04 billion) a year on tobacco products, reports Tuoi Tre.
HCMC Schools Burn Millions of Dollars on Unused Electronic White Boards
Schools in HCMC yet again face scandal, allegations of corruption and incompetence, and uncertainty about how best to use technology in the classroom, according to Thanh Nien.
Brian Letwin in Development
[Video] City Planners Release Epic Plans for Future Saigon
And we thought the plan to reorganize downtown Saigon was ambitious. This new video from The Department of Planning and Architecture of HCMC shows what it envisions to be the future of Saigon.
BBGV Inter-Company Football Charity Tournament @ RMIT
BBGV would like to take this opportunity to announce the first BBGV Inter-Company Football Tournament for Charity in HCMC. The event will bring 16 company teams together to compete for the ...
Brian Letwin in Tech
[Video] Apple Taps Into Vietnam’s Beauty for New iPad Commercial
Vietnam is a beautiful country that happens to be obsessed with Apple products. While we’re still waiting for the first legit Apple store to open, the tech giant has picked Vietnam as setting for its ...
Brian Letwin in Development
Future Saigon: the Eximbank Tower
As The One Ho Chi Minh City moves along at a slow pace, behind it, the Eximbank Tower has begun its gradual climb towards the Saigon sky.
