Vietnamese Indie Studio Skrollcat Announces 'Hoa 2,' Sequel of 2021 Award-Winning Game
In 2021, the first Hoa title came out just in time to soothe our pandemic anxiety. Five years later, will Hoa 2 be up for the job in this new era of fuel crisis and global instability?
The Aesthetic Yet Functional Role of Shade in the Genome of Modernist Architecture
Since the mid-20th century, Vietnamese architecture has started to be made from industrial materials such as concrete, steel, glass, etc. This resulted in Vietnamese modernism, a branch of global modernism.
Vietnam's Woolly Bat Is Being Hunted to Extinction to Be Halloween Decorations
With hues of orange and black on its wings and a furry, fluffy face, the painted woolly bat is a stunner. But its beauty has become a deadly liability. People want to hang the bats — dead and stuffed — on their walls, display them as collectibles and even set them in jewelry.
In Search of Ba Khía, the Mangrove Crab That Captures the Soul of Cà Mau
The tide is low tonight. The mud flats, enveloped in the mangrove forest’s darkness, are dotted with the sporadic flares of headlamps. On bundles of exposed mangrove roots, shadows cast by black crabs crowd out one another. In my hometown, we call them “ba khía.”
Hanoi Breaks Ground on Sports Complex With World's 2nd-Largest Stadium
Hanoi is currently building the country’s largest sports complex that’s hoped to become Vietnam’s go-to location to host international events and tournaments.
Saigon Approves Plan to Extend Metro Line 1 to Long Thành International Airport
Plans for eventual metro access to the Long Thành International Airport are taking shape.
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
A Brief History of Ngựa, a Non-Native Animal Vietnam Has Made Its Own
Are horses a Vietnamese animal?
In Đồng Nai, a Rustic Abode Emerges Under the Canopies of Cashew Trees
A clear directive was issued before construction of the home: all 26 cashew trees occupying the 100-square-meter plot must be preserved.
Vietnamese Tech Startup of the Month – August Edition
As Vietnamese tech startups gain popularity and increased funding, the potential for growth in this market is massive. TechinAsia, our favorite source for tech-related content in Vietnam, does an exc...
Brian Letwin in Development
Da Nang Taps IBM to Design Advanced Traffic System
Why is it that Da Nang keeps getting all the cool toys? As if free, city-wide WIFI weren’t enough, the city has signed a deal with IBM to install a high-tech traffic management system.
Brian Letwin in Development
[UPDATED]Plan to Move Saigon's Electrical Wires Underground Facing Major Delays
[Update Below] In an effort to clear Saigon’s skies, in 2009, city authorities signed off on a plan to move messy electrical wires underground. But the project, scheduled to be completed by 2015, is f...
Brian Letwin in Development
Vietnam's North-South Railway Set for Major Upgrade
Vietnam’s North-South Railway has been in need of a major upgrade for a long time. Beyond issues of speed and comfort, the system’s infrastructure is in poor condition, causing chronic delays and inef...
Brian Letwin in Development
Vietnam Contemplates Opening Real Estate Market to Foreigners
To boost investment in the ailing real-estate sector, the Ministry of Construction has proposed that foreigners residing in Vietnam be given the opportunity to purchase property. Thanh Nien reports:
Brian Letwin in Development
Proposed Plan Would Completely Reorganize Saigon’s Districts
A new urban administration plan proposed by the HCMC People’s Committee would completely reshape the city’s urban structure. Say goodbye to Districts 2 and 7! According to city authorities, Saigon ha...
Brian Letwin in Development
Inspiring Green Building Planned for Da Nang
We love green design and Vietnam is a great place to put it into practice. While we’ve covered some awesome green residential designs in the past, a planned ABBANK building in Da Nang is taking a slig...
Brian Letwin in Health
[Updated] 75% of Pho Noodles in Saigon Found to Contain Cancer-Causing Chemicals
[UPDATE BELOW] On the heels of yesterday’s news that nearly every street drink contains high levels of bacteria and heavy metals, a new report has found that 80% of rice noodles tested contained ...
Brian Letwin in Health
Study: Majority of Street Drinks Contain Harmful Bacteria and Heavy Metals
Fake coffee isn’t the only think you need to worry about when having a drink at a street café in Saigon. A joint report released by Healthplus in collaboration with the Center for Evaluation and Confo...
Brian Letwin in Tech
Looking for a Toilet? There's an App for That!
My grandfather, like George Costanza, used to boast that, given a location in New York City, he could tell you where to find the nearest public restroom. With the emergence of smartphones, numerous de...
Brian Letwin in Development
Webinar: How to Setup a Business in Vietnam
Viewed as the land of opportunity for those coming from countries with sagging economies, It's not uncommon to find foreigners who want to open a business in Vietnam. But with so many regulations and ...
Brian Letwin in Development
Serious Flaws Plague Vietnam’s Higher Education System
Thanh Nien recently published a very well-written and well-researched article about the state of higher education in Vietnam. From numerous interviews with education professionals, it’s abundantly cle...
Brian Letwin in Development
Saigon to Implement Bus Rapid Transit System
Transit authorities recently conducted feasibility studies for the Saigon’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and hope to complete the project by 2017. Duong Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of the City Depa...
Brian Letwin in Environment
Campaign Launched to End Vietnamese Demand for Rhino Horn
Well, better late than never, we suppose. While rhinos have completely disappeared in Vietnam due to poaching, many Vietnamese are still buying and consuming illegal rhino horn for supposed hea...
Brian Letwin in Development
Slow Going for Vietnam’s First Nuclear Plant
Vietnamese planners and their Russian counterparts are rushing to complete the first stages of Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant. While construction is scheduled to begin in 2014, slow land clearanc...
Brian Letwin in Development
Saigon Bridge 2 Set to Open in November
If your commute takes you over the Saigon Bridge, you may have noticed a massive concrete frame rising next to it. This is Saigon Bridge 2 which, when completed, will ease congestion on Highway 1.
Brian Letwin in Tech
Vietnamese News Sites Targeted by Hackers
As some may have noticed, over the past two weeks, many Vietnamese news sites have been slow or inaccessible. Hacker Vietnam Online (HVA) has announced that they have found the source of the constant ...
Vietnam’s Youth Environmental Movement Takes off
At a ceremony to mark World Environment Day on June 5, Vietnam’s deputy prime minister, Nguyen Thien Nhan, added a sober warning that his country is facing grave environmental problems, and called on ...
Brian Letwin in Development
Interview with HCMC MEGA City Organizer - Part 2
Dr. Michael Waibel, along with Hilbert Henning, have launched the TP. Ho Chi Minh - MEGA City project to visually document Saigon’s rapid urban development. The project is currently being assembled an...
Brian Letwin in Health
Ministry Proposes Nonsensical Fines for Psychological Abuse
Well this is…something. The Ministry of Public Security is considering levying fines up to VND2 million for domestic psychological abuse. Under the proposed legislation, acts of domestic psychologic...
