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?"
Saigon Commences Metro Line, Major Administrative Hub Project in Thủ Thiêm
Municipal authorities in Hồ Chí Minh City are moving forward with a number of infrastructure projects that will majorly transform the peninsula in the future.
From the Ground up Into the Air: The Evolution of Bitexco in 25 Photos
Between Thủ Thiêm's ambitious new skyscrapers, the planned transformation of Thanh Đa Peninsula and a LEED-standard apart...
The Global Waste Trade Fuels the Rise of Waste Colonialism in Southeast Asia
In August 2025, Malaysian campaigner Wong Pui Yi stood outside the UN headquarters in Geneva and made an appeal to Global North nations: “Stop treating the Global South as the rubbish bin for plastic waste you cannot handle.”
Pedaling for a Purpose: The Coastal Cycling Challenge Bringing Homes to Quảng Ngãi
During February and March, a group of volunteers from Saigon spent five days cycling up the coast, starting in Thảo Điền and ending up in the mountainous district of Trà Bông, nestled deep in Quảng Ngãi Province.
Michael Tatarski in Natural Selection
Voọc Cát Bà: The Endangered Primate of Karst Land
Imagine being born one color, and growing up into a very differently hued adult.
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?
Linh Pham in Tech
Say Hello to Sumi, the AI Friend of Vietnam's Gen Z
Sumi, a yellow chick wearing a pilot’s helmet, looks like it belongs on Cartoon Network. However, this character resides on apps like Messenger, Skype and Zalo, and has millions of conversations every...
Landmark New Climate Report Predicts Stronger Typhoons, Flooding in Asia
A major new United Nations report on climate change was released this week, and the news isn't good.
Saigon Told to Control Covid-19 Outbreak by Mid-September
Could September 15 be the day some sense of normalcy returns?
Life on the Last Remaining Ferries in Hoi An
These ferry boat trips may no longer be seen in Hoi An in the future, but they have been reliable partners in daily life and work for years.
[Video] Witness a Heartwarming Moon Bear Rescue Operation
Watch what has been described as "the most challenging operation ever attempted by a bear rescue organization: transporting 101 endangered Asiatic black bears halfway across China."
SOSmap Becomes Virtual Bridge Between Those in Need and Those Who Can Give
After two weeks of expedited development, a new mobile application called SOSmap has become a bridge between those in need and those who can give in Vietnam. So far, the initiative has helped channel ...
[Photos] Stunning Art Deco-Style Cinema in Go Vap Pays Homage to Classic Saigon
The pastel-drenched interior of Beta Cinema finds inspiration in some of Saigon's most famous landmarks and locations.
Tips for Parents Preparing for the First Day of School
Sending children to school for the first time, or to a new school, can be challenging for parents.
24 Live Tigers Rescued From Wildlife Trade in Nghe An This Week
Shocking news from Nghe An Province.
Saigon Expands Vaccination Campaign to All City Residents Over 18
Have you gotten a shot yet?
Hanoi Launches Citywide Vaccination Campaign, Aiming to Reach 200,000 Shots Daily
Recently, the Hanoi People's Committee announced a plan to execute the largest vaccination campaign the city has ever seen. The goal is to get about 70% of the city population vaccinated against COVID...
Hanoi to Spend VND500bn in New Plan to Renovate Old Apartment Buildings
Between 2021 and 2025, Hanoi plans to spend VND500 billion (US$28.1 million) on inspecting and assessing the quality of old apartment buildings in the city.
Vietnamese Scientists Are Developing an AI to Detect Covid-19 via Cough Sounds
Vietnamese engineers are encouraging the community to submit 5,000 different cough recordings. This will be used as data for building AI software — AICOVIDVN — that can detect COVID-19 ...
5 Made-in-Vietnam Inventions Helping the Fight Against Covid-19
Since the arrival of COVID-19, scores of made-in-Vietnam technological innovations have been launched in the hope of supporting frontline workers to fight the pandemic. Furthermore, these innovations ...
[Photos] An Open-Plan Abode That Harks Back to Traditional Homes
With seasonal floodwaters no longer reaching the neighborhood, when it came time to rebuild this home, architects opted to abandon the stilts previously used in the area while seeking to retain a trad...
A Tour of Poverty Relief Efforts in the Mekong Delta [Pt.2]
Outside In: An Indie Studio in Hanoi Releases the Ultimate Friendship Test on Steam
Outside In: The Ultimate Friendship Test is a new Steam game that was developed by a team of independent game designers from Hanoi. The challenging game revolves around a war against a deadly virus. P...
Vietnam Produces First Test Batch of Sputnik V Covid-19 Vaccine
What will this mean for Vietnam's sluggish vaccination campaign?
[Photos] In Quang Ninh, a Dilapidated Park Receives New Lease on Life
The 1990s Quang Ninh Park was nearly abandoned in need of a revamp to attract local exercisers and loafers alike.
Thanh Hoa Groom Runs 19km to Bride's House on Wedding Day
If recent developments in Vietnam’s COVID-19 outbreak have dampened your spirit, here’s a wholesome pick-me-up.
