Paul Christiansen in Sports
Thống Nhất Stadium Offers Unexpected Opportunities to Reflect Upon the Soul
Where do you find revelation?
Forum Theater Brings Real-Life Situations to the Stage, and You Are the Actors
In Vietnam, a novel form of theater is quietly making an impact, not just on stage, but in classrooms, communities, and people's lives. Known as Forum Theater, this interactive art form transforms audience members from passive viewers into active participants. Developed by Brazilian threater practitioner Augusto Boal, Forum Theater was created as a space to “rehearse for real life,” allowing theatergoers to step into the shoes of others, explore difficult situations, and test out new possibilities.
Paul Christiansen in Environment
The Overwhelming Presence of Nature's Most Inspiring Sound: Cát Tiên's Gibbon Call
What is your favorite sound?
Văn Tân in Natural Selection
Hoa Bưởi's Fleeting but Fragrant Season Teaches Us to Find Beauty in Impermanence
Every year during this time, I can’t help but hanker for a taste of sugarcane infused with hoa bưởi, or pomelo blossom. Only hoa bưởi’s tender aroma can accentuate the flavor of this humble snack several folds.
A Botanical Illustrator Captures Vietnam's Flora on Paper, One Species at a Time
When science and art commingle in a botanical illustration, it’s as if a magical world appears, where colors, brushstrokes, and lighting work together to not only replicate but also breathe life into nature’s best creations.
Lúa Ma, the Mekong's Ancient Wild Rice Varieties Holding Secrets to Climate Resilience
“It’s been so long I can barely remember. It’s delicious, fragrant, soft but not sticky,” says Trần Văn Lựa, 53, a farmer from Đồng Tháp Province, south-west Vietnam, recalling the taste of wild rice. As a child, he would harvest the grain during flood season, when wild rice flowers. Today, however, it is a rare sight.
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Cầy Mực, the Fluffy Bearcat Whose Pee Really Smells Like Popcorn
Vietnam is home to a diverse range of species, from the elusive sao la to Hanoi's pungently fragrant hoa sữa. As an ode to the wondrous nature of the country, we're introducing a new article series, Natural Selection. Each article will feature a species of plant or animal native to Vietnam — starting with the laidback cầy mực (binturong).
As Saltwater Intrudes More of Mekong Delta, Durian Farmers Struggle to Stay Afloat
Nguyễn Văn Quại, 63, walked slowly on the muddy dirt path in his yard, his hands clasped behind his back. He stopped beside a tree split in half, its branches dipping into the stagnant water of a narrow moat, and gestured towards the rest of his leafless crop — their trunks yellow, their bark cracked and brittle.
Do Hanoi's Derelict Factories Have Cultural Values? Experts Believe So.
On October 21, Livable Hanoi (Vì Một Hà Nội Đáng Sống) is hosting a webinar to discuss the idea of repurposing Hanoi’s industrial factories into creative and cultural spaces.
Michael Tatarski in Society
How Social ChangeMakers Brings People Together to Create a Better Future
In this pandemic era, sometimes we need a little help connecting with other people.
Made-in-Vietnam Dating App Fika Secures $1.6m in Seed Funding
Created as a female-focused alternative to Tinder and Bumble, the dating app Fika recently got financial backing from international investors.
New Bridge Project Sparks Controversy Over 'Confusing' Indochina Design
Tran Hung Dao Bridge, an upcoming project across the Red River, has recently received mixed reviews around its Indochina-inspired design.
Ánh Viên, Vietnam's Most Decorated Swimmer, Wants to Resign From National Team
Citing a desire to spend more time with her family and a drop in her performance, Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên reportedly reached the decision after returning from the Tokyo Olympics this past summer.&nbs...
Michael Tatarski in Natural Selection
Chó: The Four National Breeds of Vietnamese Doggos
It’s an inarguable fact that dogs are the purest of animals.
[Photo] An Open-Air Cafe in Hoi An to Catch the Morning Sunlight
"I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?” said renowned artist Vincent Willem van Gogh. Perhaps coffee should have been added to the list.
In Pre-Pandemic Central Vietnam, the Stages of Life Are in Full View Outside
The multiple stages of life are never far from view on the streets of Vietnam.
[Video] The Fiery Spectacle of Vietnam's Professional Wrestling Scene
In skimpy shorts, menacing facepaint, and sometimes even impressive props, members of the Vietnam Pro Wrestling (VPW) club engage in energetic “battles” that incorporate flying acrobatics and dynamic ...
Ná Nả: How a Grassroots Initiative Enriches the Lives of Ethnic Minorities
Khang A Tủa is attending university in Ho Chi Minh City, but he took the last semester off to run a project supporting people of the H’Mong ethnic minority.
Vietnam Announces New App to Unify All Previous Covid-19 Apps
One app to rule them all.
Mầm in Tech
The Unexpected Lure of Watching Streamers Drive a Truck Across a Virtual Vietnam
As the months-long lockdown drags on — though with some light at the end of the tunnel — and with in-person programs being canceled or put on indefinite hiatus, demand for virtual entertainment has na...
Khôi Phạm in Tech
Review: Vietnamese Indie Game 'Hoa' Is a Soothing Oasis in the Age of Anxiety
There is an exquisite but hard-to-name feeling that engulfs me every time I finish watching a particularly outstanding movie. It’s a lingering mixture of awe, fulfillment, wistfulness, anguish, contem...
In Lockdown, Saigoneers Draw Strength From an Unexpected Wealth of Support: Each Other
They largely didn't know each other, except for their flatmates. Then the COVID-19 outbreak began, and they got closer. They are now more accommodating, caring and loving.
How Hanoi Residents and Collectives Look out for the City's Most Vulnerable
“He was so happy to be given rice. And he didn’t have a smartphone or anything like that. I felt I had helped someone that really needed help, and I felt very happy about that.”
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Voi: From Hai Bà Trưng's Fearsome Companions to Tourism Servants
Does art need a purpose?
[Photos] D2's Okkio Cafe Is an Architectural Homage to Wong Kar-Wai
Today's architecture feature will be familiar to frequent visitors of Thao Dien.
UNESCO Recognizes Nui Chua, Kon Ha Nung as Vietnam's New Biosphere Reserves
They are in Ninh Thuan and Gia Lai.
Vietnamese Company Buys 50m Doses of Spanish Covid-19 Vaccine
Another vaccine will come to Vietnam in the future.
Uyên Đỗ in Society
Love in the Time of Corona: Long-Distance Relationships When You're Just 1km Apart
In an ever-moving world, “long distance” has become a well-established concept in modern relationships. It’s easy to spot couples with one half living in a different time zone among our social circles...
