The Saigon House That Swapped Its Front Door for a Moat
Does a house need walls?
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Is the Yeti Vietnamese? This Ancient Ape Might Hold the Answer.
Can you name a Vietnamese animal that hasn’t been hunted to the precipice of extinction or become a commodified item whose flesh, fur, or feathers are only deemed significant in relation to their practical use by humans?
This Suburban Hanoi House Answers 'Yes' to 'How Many Windows Do You Want?'
Do you love the tropical summer? Does bathing in the warmth of the sun spark joy in you? How many windows are enough to solar-power your everyday life? If you, too, are toiling with these existential concerns on a daily basis, perhaps this recent residential project might provide some inspiration.
A Hanoi Duo Crafts Intricate Silicone and Clay Prostheses for People With Disabilities
“The products we make are fake arms, legs, noses, ears… from silicone. The value we create is emotional healing, giving our customers confidence in themselves and their lives — the things they lack after surgeries,” Phúc shared while introducing their products.
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.
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...
Why Bitcoin Matters in Vietnam - Part 1
In January, Marc Andreesen’s article, “Why Bitcoin Matters” went viral just as Vietnam’s Central Bank, among others, rejected the technology’s legitimacy. In order to move the conversation away f...
The Evolution of Can Gio – From Desert to UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
It's hard to associate Saigon with one of the biggest and most valuable mangrove forests in Vietnam, and yet it makes sense. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Can Gio, part of the Ho Chi Minh City munic...
[Slideshow] A Morning on the Bitexco Tower's Helipad
Since it’s rarely (if ever) used for helicopters, the Bitexco Tower’s notoriously underutilized helicopter landing pad has become something of an urban legend. Last month, the editors of the TP. Hồ Ch...
Hoi An’s $4 Billion Casino Project Back on Track
As Vietnamese authorities continue to debate reducing gambling restrictions on locals, the long-stalled $4 billion casino project appears to be back on track with a US investor recently taking over th...
Behold: The Mekong Delta as Viewed from Space
This sweet image of the Mekong Delta is a composite of 3 pictures taken between January and November 2007 by Envisat, an Earth-observing satellite.
TechcampSaigon @RMIT
From the organizer: TechcampSaigon is a new evolution in the BarcampSaigon family. Our goal is to create an event that is the most innovative and high quality event in Vietnam around technology.
Hanoi's 7×18 House: Rethinking Urban Housing in Vietnam
Hanoi-based, AHL architects associates continues to develop designs for sustainable urban housing in Vietnam. Their latest project, the 7×18 house, was built with local materials while taking int...
Future Saigon: Renderings of Nguyen Cu Trinh Centre
There are big plans in the works to remake the intersection of Tran Dinh Xu, Nguyen Trai, Cong Quynh and Nguyen Cu Trinh in District 1.
Vietnam Targets 20,000 More PhDs by 2020
One of Vietnam’s many 2020 goals includes producing 20,000 additional PhD holders; one that many doubt is attainable, according to VietNamNet.
Brian Letwin in Sports
Vietnamese Football Team Ranked 1st in SE Asia
Vietnam has recaptured 1st place in the SE Asian FIFA rankings which were announced last week. While we applaud the team’s accomplishment, there’s still some room for improvement - they are ranked 17t...
“Meandering Through the City” Exhibition - Urban Development in Hồ Chí Minh City and Lyon
From the organizer: In the framework of cooperation between the Rhône Alpes region, Greater Lyon and Hồ Chí Minh City, an exhibition featuring urban mutations in the two metropolises will be held fro...
This Vietnamese Education Startup Is Using Google Glass to Teach English
According to TechinAsia, Topica, “one of Vietnam’s most successful online learning platforms” has launched new program, Topmito, which employs Google Glass help improve the English speaking skills of ...
These Are Probably the Sexiest Electric Bikes We’ve Ever Seen
Electric bikes are typically function-focused, with aesthetics being an afterthought. But in China, the capital of electric bikes, a new startup is seeking to change the perception of what electric bi...
