As Infrastructure Lags Behind, Saigon's Poorest Hardest Hit by Worsening Flooding
In April 2023, in the first downpour of southern Vietnam’s rainy season, the narrow rented room where Mã Thị Diệp and her children were staying in Hồ Chí Minh City was inundated by knee-high water.
Khôi Phạm in Environment
What I Talk About When I Talk About Vietnam's Penguin Trashcans
Compared to the average Vietnamese, I might be thinking about trashcans a smidgen too much — not just any trashcan, but the infamous penguin-shaped trashcans that are ubiquitous at every corner of our public spaces.
Linh Phạm in Parks & Rec
House Dance Hanoi Teaches You How to Free the Body
I stood on the top floor of a building on Khâm Thiên Street, feeling grateful for the cold air. I came out here to take a break from the other side of the floor, which was divided into three rooms — three dance studios.
Inside Saigon's Grassroots Carton and Aluminum Recycling Plants
With plastics claiming many of the headlines worldwide and constituting a major issue in Vietnam, scant attention is being paid to other recyclable materials, namely cardboard and aluminum.
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?
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.
Vietnam Has a New Homegrown Social Media App. It's Called 'Hahalolo.'
The homegrown app promises to bring new experiences to the community of traveling enthusiasts.
Fulbright University Breaks Ground on New 15-Hectare Campus in D9
In three years, District 9 in Ho Chi Minh City will be home to Fulbright University Vietnam’s flagship campus and dormitories.
Dong Nai Removes Entire Commune to Make Room for Long Thanh Airport
From June 1, Suoi Trau Commune in Long Thanh District, Dong Nai Province no longer exists on Vietnam's administrative map.
[Video] Wheels of Steel: Tearing Across Saigon on Japanese Fixies
Just 10 years ago, the fixed-gear bike was an unfamiliar concept in Vietnam; now, there’s a thriving community of riders here in Saigon with enthusiasts from all walks of life.
Public Bicycles Are a Hit in Hoi An, Not So Much in Saigon and Hanoi
In 2018, Hoi An announced that it had officially launched a project to establish a bicycle network to make transport more sustainable.
[Photos] Blending in With Nature at a Rustic My Tho Coffee Shop
Set at canal-level, the serene coffee shop pays homage to the residents of the Mekong Delta who for centuries have built homes and communities betwixt channels, swamps and lakes.
Food Delivery Service Vietnammm Acquired by South Korean Tech Startup
Vietnam's competitive food delivery services landscape welcomes a new player.
Vietnam's Low Birth Weight Rate Among the Lowest in Asia-Pacific: Report
A recently published paper produced by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO) looks at birth weight data in 148 countries from 2000 to 2015.
Cashless Payment Reaches Saigon Public Schools in Pilot Program
'Cashless Schools' is a program established in 2014 at secondary and high schools in Saigon.
How Creativity, Activity, Service IB Projects Prepare Students for University
A bare, multi-color back slips into a river made with dollops of vivid blues and greens.
[Photo] Two Years After Eviction, 3A Station Lot Remains Sparsely Developed
The 2017 flattening of youth culture hangout 3A Station to make room for high-rise projects broke the hearts of many Saigoneers .
[Photos] PR Campaign Stirs Controversy Online for Depictions of Pregnant Rape Victims
After a slew of sexual abuse cases involving children, the topic has entered the public discourse as one of Vietnam’s most contentious issues in the past year.
Measles Cases Continuing to Rise Across Hanoi
Over 1,100 people are currently being treated for measles in Hanoi, a ten-fold increase compared to the same time last year.
Paul Christiansen in Society
How to Juggle Newfound Attention as an Introvert and One of Forbes' 30 Under 30
With a devious grin on her face, Hau snatched the oversized plush pillow resembling a tree trunk from my hands, exclaiming, “Mine! And third steal so no one can take it away.”
Vietnam Drinks 15% More Beer Each Year. A New Alcohol Control Bill Tries to Curb That.
In 2018, Vietnam's total beer consumption reached over 4.67 billion liters, according to Nielsen statistics.
Google Assistant Is Now Available in Vietnamese on Android Phones
After years in development, Google Assistant is now officially available in Vietnamese.
[Photos] Viettel's New Offside Studio Is a Fusion of Geometry and Nature
Viettel is one of Vietnam’s largest telecommunication companies. Mentions of its name usually conjure up the vision of a steadfastly traditional conglomerate that’s omnipresent but uninteresting. That...
LG to Close Factory in South Korea, Move Smartphone Production to Vietnam
The South Korean multinational electronics company has production plants in South Korea, China, Vietnam, Brazil and India.
'Void' Event to Raise Funds for New Mental Health Hotline
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and tomorrow brings an event to Hanoi aiming to raise funds for a new mental health hotline for Hanoi and Vietnam.
Michael Tatarski in Environment
The Fight to Save Cat Ba's Langurs and Unique Ecosystems
While approaching Hai Phong, a major city on Vietnam’s northeast coast, it is impossible to miss signs of the country’s fast-growing economic might. GDP growth hit just over 7% in 2018, and forei...
