
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Vietnam's Startup Scene Aims to Build on a Strong 2020
While 2020 will go down as one of the most grueling years in recent human history, there is positivity in Vietnam’s startup industry. In advance of the annual Saigon Startup Year-End Party on Jan...

[Photos] When Bricks Not Only Form a House's Structure but Also Unique Texture
Gardens and bricks allow Bien Hoa's Wall House to fill its lungs. It is essential we have some in our homes. But not all air is equal.

Construction of Long Thanh Airport Commences This Week
The massive project in Dong Nai Province will relieve pressure on Tan Son Nhat once completed.

Vietnam Is Negotiating to Secure 30m Doses of the UK's Covid-19 Vaccine
We are ready and waiting.

Vietnam Detects First Case of New Covid-19 Variant Discovered in UK
The individual in question was quarantined upon arrival, posing no threat to the community.

Vietnam Traffic Police Introduce Bamboo Nozzles for Breathalyzers
Vietnam’s nascent green movement is hitting the streets in a unique way.

[Photos] Floating Nest Home Re-Imagines the Traditional Vietnamese Tube House
Tube houses have long been a consistent presence in Saigon’s urban fabric - their rectangular designs matching the city’s traditionally narrow lots.

This New Female Cụ Rùa Might Save Its Entire Species From Extinction
Scientists announced that a turtle found in Hanoi's Dong Mo Lake is indeed a Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), the critically endangered species Hanoi's famed Hoan Kiem turtle belonged to...

Grindr Names Vietnam Among Countries With Highest Percentage of Bottoms
Inspired by the clamorous spectacle of Spotify Wrapped, the gay dating app Grindr has come up with their own version of a year-end assessment, with some interesting data.

Vietnam to Allow Female Employees to Take Paid Menstrual Breaks in 2021
It is part of a number of regulations aimed at making workplaces more accommodating for women.

21 Vietnamese Students Test Positive for Covid-19 in South Korea Dorm Cluster
The infections are part of 1,078 new COVID-19 cases reported on Wednesday, the highest single-day total for South Korea.

Vietnam's Covid-19 Vaccine Not Ready for Mass Distribution Until 2022
As they say, patience is a virtue.

Scientists Discover New Species of Rare Iridescent Snake in Ha Giang
The iridescent, subterraneous snake belongs to one of the least-studied types of reptiles in the world.

Plan for 5 New Rail Lines Linking Saigon to Southern Provinces Approved
Go big or go home.

All F1 Contacts of Recent Saigon Covid-19 Cases Test Negative
Saigon health authorities are in the process of testing F2 contacts.

Japanese Retail Giant Takashimaya Announces New Real Estate Project in Hanoi
It's not just malls anymore.

Saigon: 2 New Community Covid-19 Cases; Several Universities Suspend Classes
Both cases are direct contacts of Case 1,347.

2 Buildings in Vietnam Win Dezeen's Urban, Rural House of the Year
A Quang Ngai home with a garden-rich roof and an eco-conscious Da Nang dwelling both snagged 2020 Deezen Awards.

Major Apple Supplier to Divert iPad, MacBook Production From China to Vietnam
The move comes amid major production shifts from China to Vietnam over the last two years.

Phu Quoc Arrests Local Man for Repeatedly Destroying Forest in National Park
Despite previous warnings, the man repeatedly committed major acts of deforestation over the span of more than a decade.



