in Ẽplain

How Táo Xanh Forum Created a Safe Space for Gay Vietnamese Before Social Media

Before Vietnamese could hop on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share our hot takes of the week, there was an era of past cybersphere when online forums were the crucial online space to connect local netizens.

Paul Christiansen

in Environment

As Climate Change Threatens, Flood Waters Usher In Sustainable Opportunities for Communities in the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is developing faster than Google Maps can keep up with. A stretch of road that was too narrow to accommodate cars and required a transition to motorbikes just six months ago was under construction during our August visit. Gargantuan machines for laying pulverized gravel inched aside to let our 7-seater pass so we could reach the home of Nguyễn Thị Thu Thủy to check in on her small fish drying home business.

Khôi Phạm

in Natural Selection

10 Species of Lesser-Known Fruits to Get to Know Vietnam's Biodiversity

In the Vietnamese language, the word “cỏ” — meaning “grass” in the literal sense — is often used to signify that something is locally grown, no frills, and charmingly rustic; grassroots, if you will. Chó cỏ is the general term for the adorable mutts, usually mixes between Vietnam’s native dog species, born without the prestige of named breeds, while gym cỏ and net cỏ denote the casual gyms and internet cafes in one’s neighborhood. In the same vein of logic, may I put forth a new name for a special genre of Vietnamese fruits: trái cỏ?

in Architecture

How Vietnamese Architecture Adopted Modernism and Made It Our Own

Ask a person on the street what Vietnam’s distinctive style of architecture is, and the answer you get might be traditional architecture, like the historic curves of northern Vietnam’s village temples or the ornate regality of Nguyễn-Dynasty palaces. This time-honored style is widely accepted as the hallmark of Vietnam’s cultural wealth. What’s more fascinating but lesser-known is how this cultural vestige — which distinguished our architecture from that of China and Japan — has also managed to evolve in the new age, finding ways to exist right in the middle of our modern lifetime.

Uyên Đỗ

in Society

On Grappling With Our Complicated Bond With Single-Use Raincoats

Like many Vietnamese, I have owned more crumpled raincoats than I can count. They're the disposable kind, cinched with a few rubber bands, folded into a misshapen rectangle, then stuffed unceremoniously into a scooter’s under-seat compartment or a desk drawer.

Elise Lương

in Architecture

To Teach Children the Importance of Play, First Bring Playgrounds Back to Hanoi

In rapidly developing urban Hanoi, finding engaging outdoor play areas for young children is near impossible. But since 2014, the social enterprise Think Playgrounds has colored public spaces across Vietnam with wildly unique and legitimately sustainable designs, engaging with local communities to give children back their right to play.

in Environment

As Wind Power Struggles to Thrive in Southeast Asia, Vietnam Leads With Early Momentum

Countries in mainland Southeast Asia have stark differences in renewable energy strategies, balancing them with ample but controversial hydropower and entrenched interests. While solar power has become accessible and cost effective, many of these nations have struggled to make wind power an essential part of renewable energy strategies, despite having locations with high potential. Meanwhile, others have become regional wind power leaders, such as Vietnam. In this explainer, we explore how various mainland Southeast Asian countries are engaging with wind power development.

in Parks & Rec

How a Dance Project Is Reframing Deaf Identity in Saigon via Movement Art

Lắng Nghe Điểm Chạm is a project aiming to expand exposure opportunities and application potentials of performing arts into the life of marginalized and minority communities of Vietnam.

Back Society

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City - Urban Transport in the Mega City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos. Tod...

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City - People in the Mega City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book which was formally released on February 19. It is split into 8 chapters, each covering a major theme related to ...

in Development

Massive Electric Trolleys Proposed for HCMC

VNS reports that the HCMC Transport Department has submitted a proposal for a pilot program that would add 50 electric trolleys to provide better transportation services in the city center.

in Health

300 Years to Clean up 800,000 Tons of Unexploded Ordinance in Vietnam: Official

At a conference on unexploded ordnance in Vietnam, an official announced that it may take up to 300 years to clear the country of the deadly war remnants that are still inflicting casualties to this d...

in Tech

Should Smart-Phones and Tablets be Allowed in Vietnamese Classrooms?

With rapid growth of the availability of technology in Vietnam, especially smartphones, tablets and phablets, teachers and authorities are starting to question their use by students in the classroom, ...

in Development

UK Tapped as Development Partner for Thu Thiem

Last Thursday, David Puttnam, the Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy to Vietnam, met with the HCMC mayor’s office to discuss “cooperation with the city in developing its new Central Business District,” rep...

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City - The Village in the Mega City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos. Tod...

in Tech

‘Flappy Bird’ Creator Working on a New Game

To the delight of mobile gamers across the globe, ‘Flappy Bird’ creator, Dong Nguyen, is working on a new game, reports GamesInAsia.

Brian Letwin

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City - Demolition & Vision

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be giving you an overview of the book's fantastic photos. Tod...

in Health

[Video] Fatal Head-on Collision Caused by Drunk Driver

While the Vietnamese government has launched campaigns to curb drunk driving, it remains a serious problem across the country. This video, posted by Thanh Nein, shows the deadly consequences of this r...

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City - Housing in the Mega City

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book which was formally released on February 19. The book, edited by Michael Waibel and Henning Hilbert, was produced...

in Development

Authorities Push to Meet Deadline for HCMC’s First Metro Line

We’ve been waiting for this news for a while – HCMC autorities are pushing hard to complete the city' first Metro line by early 2018, according to the Bernama.

in Tech

'Flappy Bird' Isn't the Only Hit App Made in Vietnam

Our favorite TechinAsia writer, Anh Minh Do, recently published a guest post on Mashable, telling the world that there’s more to Vietnam’s app ecosystem than just Flappy Bird.

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City - Change Over Time

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book which was formally released on February 19. The book, edited by Michael Waibel and Henning Hilbert, was produced...

in Tech

Slow Internet Warning: AAG Cable to Undergo Maintenance Next Week

The notoriously fragile, 20,000km, Asia American Gateway cable - SE Asia’s main internet connection to the West - will undergo maintenance next week so expect “shaky connections” through March 9, repo...

in Development

ADP Approves $60 Million Loan for Sustainable Urban Transport in HCMC

Construction of the $1.3 billion, 20 kilometer Metro Line 2, is expected to go into full swing this year, starting with an underground maintenance and metro station in District 12. To “improve accessi...

in Health

Will New Alcohol and Cigarette Taxes Reduce Consumption in Vietnam?

According to Thanh Nien, the government proposal to increase taxes on alcohol and cigarettes won’t stem their consumption. The proposal under the Ministry of Finance would take effect from July 1, 201...

in Development

TP. Ho Chi Minh: MEGA City – The Mega City From Above

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City photo book which was formally released on February 19. The book, edited by Michael Waibel and Henning Hilbert, was produced...

in Tech

Bitcoin Forbidden in Vietnam

Bitcoin may be grabbing headlines across the globe, but the controversial digital currency won’t be making a foothold in Vietnam anytime soon as the State Bank of Vietnam, along with the Government, h...

in Development

TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City Book Launch Event

Saigoneer is proud to be the media sponsor of the TP. Hồ Chí Minh: MEGA City Photo Book. On Sunday, February 23, there will be launch event for the book at Highland's Coffee on Phạm Ngọc Thạ...