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.
Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà Leprosy Village to Be Relocated for Mega Resort Project
Authorities in Gia Lai Province have approved plans to relocate the Quy Hoà leprosy village from its current ocean-side setting in Quy Nhơn to make room for an ambitious real estate and tourism project.
Opinion: Electric Vehicles Are Southeast Asia's Way out Amid the Global Fossil Fuel Crisis
As the Iran war crunches global energy supplies and disrupts prices, Southeast Asian leaders may need to diversify oil and gas supplies in order to protect ordinary people.
Paul Christiansen in Environment
An Ancient Turtle Named After Bánh Xèo Can Teach Us a Lot About Whimsy in Science
Nước mắm — that ruby-hued elixir; that salty, fish-flesh-sweet open secret in your favorite recipe; that indispensable icon of Vietnamese culture and, by extension, identity — owes itself to Commerson’s anchovies. That’s right, if your fish sauce comes from the central region, where it was first developed, the fish pressed with salt to produce it are Stolephorus commersonnii, a species named in 1801 after Philibert Commerson, a white Frenchman. Picture all the hardscrabble village homes suffering under the yoke of colonialism, where one of the day’s few pleasures was a humble meal made delicious by a carefully rationed dash of fish sauce and an ingredient whose name pays homage to their colonizers.
Michael Tatarski in Environment
Huế's Fantastic Herbs and Where to Find Them, Now in Book Form
Have you ever walked past a plant and wondered "Hey, I wonder what that could do?"
New Species: Multi-Colored, Spiked Frog Discovered in Central Vietnam
Even as pollution and environmental degradation are becoming increasingly severe in Vietnam, there are still huge pockets of the country that offer unique biodiversity with new species being discovere...
Harvard Prof: Vietnam Could See 13.6% GDP Growth by 2025
In what would only be described as a dream come true for Vietnamese economists and politicians, a Harvard professor, speaking at a conference in Hanoi last week, said that the country could experience...
After 5 Years, Boy Finally Has Battery Removed from Nose
Doctors in central Vietnam treated a 10-year-old boy in Tam Tri Da Nang General Hospital earlier this week for emitting “unpleasant odors” from his nose, according to Tuoi Tre.
Can Vietnam Inspire a New Generation of Mobile Games?
Recently, Vietnam’s mobile gaming industry was in the global spotlight thanks to Flappy Bird which had over 50 million downloads before being taken down by its creator, Dong Nguyen. Flappy Bird highli...
[Slideshow] Rooftop Views from Saigon Pearl's Ruby Tower
Since you folks seem to love pictures taken from high vantage points in Saigon (so do we!) Michael Waibel, editor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book, supplied us with a fresh set, captured f...
Binh Thanh House Wins ArchDaily's 'House of the Year' Award
Green and sustainable buildings are still in their infancy in Vietnam. However the trend is becoming more popular and slowly but surely, Vietnamese architects are entering this arena with great succes...
Vietnam Airlines (Finally) Announces IPO Date
Well, that only took 7 years. According to Vietnam Investment Review, Vietnam Airlines has finally announced its official IPO for this September.
Vietnamese Consumers Turn to the Internet for Safe Produce
Farmers in Vietnam are using an increasing amount of pesticides to boost productivity and meet food security targets. As Vietnamese consumers become increasingly wary about the safety of produce in th...
[Slideshow] Amazing Views from the City Garden Apartment Towers
The City Garden Towers luxury condominium apartment complex is located in Binh Thanh District within the midst of a seemingly endless maze of the typical low-rise high-density buildings and small bodi...
US, EU Approve $1 Billion Aid Package for Vietnam
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union (EU) have pledged up to $1 billion over the next 6 years to help Vietnam improve state governance, healthcare, social welfa...
Report: Growth of Vietnam’s Ultra-Wealthy Fastest in the World
When Vietnam adopted a free-market(ish) economy in the mid-1990s, it experienced an influx of wealth unlike the country had ever seen. In turn, a substantial wealthy class has taken shape as evidenced...
Why Bitcoin Matters in Vietnam - Part 3
This is the final part of our 3 part series on Bitcoin in Vietnam. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Saigon’s Airport Dilemma: Part 2
This is Part 2 in our series, “Saigon’s Airport Dilemma.” To read Part 1, click here. There are 2 competing solution to Saigon’s airport dilemma – build Long Thanh or expand Tan Son Nhat, with each p...
Vietnam Exports See Massive Growth as Neighbors Lag Behind
There are plenty of issues facing Vietnam’s economy – bad debt, over-reliance on FDI and weak consumer demand. But according to the Wall Street Journal, Vietnamese exports are enjoying tremendous grow...
‘Flappy Bird’ Maker Ranked One of the World’s Most Influential App Developers
He’s probably sitting in his room, cursing them for it, but Dong Nguyen of ‘Flappy Bird’ fame has made Business Insider’s list of “the world’s 11 most influential people working in apps.”
Future Saigon: Renderings of the Majestic Hotel Expansion
Downtown Saigon is riddled with empty lots where plans for massive developments have stalled in the wake of the downturn in Vietnam’s property market. In addition to new construction, plans for "upgra...
Saigon's Airport Dilemma: Part 1
Tan Son Nhat began its life as a French military landing strip in the early 1930s. Since its construction, Saigon’s main airport has evolved from a buzzing military base (during the American War) to V...
Why Bitcoin Matters in Vietnam: Part 2
This is part 2 of a 3 part series on Bitcoin in Vietnam. You can read part 1 here. What is Bitcoin anyway and why does it matter?
Vietnam Mulls Destruction of Illegal Ivory, Rhino Horn and Tiger Bone
As Vietnam struggles to curtail the import of illegal wildlife products, officials with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development say they are considering “crushing” confiscated rhino horn, el...
Saigoneer Exclusive: Interview with the Editor of the HCMC MEGA City Photo Book
The TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book examines major themes relating to HCMC's rapid urban development. We sat down with one of the book's editors, Michael Waibel, and asked about how hi...
