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.
Khôi Phạm in Tech
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.
Paul Christiansen in 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.
Phạm Phú Vinh in Architecture
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.
Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà Leprosy Village to Be Relocated for Mega Resort Project
Authorities in Gia Lai Province have approved plans to relocate the Quy Hoà leprosy village from its current ocean-side setting in Quy Nhơn to make room for an ambitious real estate and tourism project.
Opinion: Electric Vehicles Are Southeast Asia's Way out Amid the Global Fossil Fuel Crisis
As the Iran war crunches global energy supplies and disrupts prices, Southeast Asian leaders may need to diversify oil and gas supplies in order to protect ordinary people.
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.
Lack of Space, Booming Tech Scene Drive Saigon's Office Rents to Highest in 5 Years
Driven by a dearth of suitable office space and the flourishing of local companies, the monthly cost to rent an office in central Saigon is skyrocketing.
Fitness, Flexibility and Mindful Meditation: There's Something for Everyone in Saigon's Yoga Scene
During Saigon’s lunch hour, you won’t find Jiva sitting on any street side. That’s because she’s busy leading the city’s lunchtime renegades, a group that sacrifices that precious hour of eating to ge...
Nearly One-Third of All Vietnamese Suffer From Mental Health Problems
Roughly 30% of Vietnamese people are suffering from mental health problems, with depression rating as the most common.
Kit Humphrey in Society
Q&A: New British Ambassador Gareth Ward on Improving Education, Inspire Me Festival and Human Trafficking
Gareth Ward took up his role as the British Ambassador this July. He’s already enamored himself to the Vietnamese public on social media through his Vietnamese language skills, and photos of him havin...
Vietnam Imposes Harsher Penalties on Street Vendors, Eateries to Address Food Safety Concerns
A new resolution will increase fines for street vendors who do not wear gloves as well as organizations that sell diseased animals or use banned chemicals.
Thi Nguyen in Society
With the End of the Tuoi Tre Rape Allegation, Vietnam's #MeToo Sizzles Out. What Now?
In April this year, a sexual assault allegation surrounding a female intern and a Tuoi Tre editor made national headlines and prompted an outpouring of discussions that paved the way for Vietnam's #Me...
[Photos] Former Street Kid Reveals the Reality of Hanoi’s Homeless Youth
I grew up in a very poor family in Nam Dinh Province. When I was 14, I traveled to Hanoi to shine shoes, in the hope that I could earn money and support my family. But after a year and a half working ...
Update: Grab Announces Partnership With Local E-Wallet App Moca
Grab users who have been enjoying the app’s services via cashless payments might need to take note of this new update.
No Turnbuckles, No Ropes, No Problem for Saigon's Pro Wrestlers
Damien Wolfe rained down blow after blow on spindly Phong Tran (not pictured above), with onlookers jeering and questioning his humanity. Then, out of the blue, Phong sprang to life and leapt into the...
Saigon Architects Clinch Sustainability Award at Regional Event in Tokyo
Architecture firm Tropical Space received distinctions in the categories of sustainable design and single family residential project at the Architects Regional Council Asia (Arcasia) Awards for Archit...
Michael Tatarski in Development
[Photos] A Visit to Landmark 81, the Roof of Saigon
Over the last year, Saigon's skyline has become dominated by a skyscraper in Binh Thanh District.
68% of Vietnamese Children Suffer Physical, Mental Punishment From Parents: Experts
Misguided attempts to discipline children can result in real harm to their psychological well-being.
Vietnam's First Gran Fondo Cycling Event a Hit in Hue
For cycling addicts and ‘casuals’ alike, there’s a new event in Vietnam to start training for.
Saigon’s Modernist Apartment Units Get Sleek Makeovers
Through a dark alley off Pasteur Street, a set of scuffed stairs leads up a cramped corridor, past a restaurant's food-strewn kitchen and through a tight hallway where a deep silence replaces the moto...
Cu Chi Is Geting a State-of-the-Art Organic Farming Complex
An eye-catching planned project in Cu Chi will introduce a new type of farming to Vietnam.
Experts Think Building Dedicated Paths for Cyclists, Pedestrians Could Ease Vietnam's Congestion, Pollution
By 2030, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the environment will triple that of 2015's amount.
[Photos] Inside the Beautiful Interior of Uu Dam, Hanoi's Vegetarian Oasis
Located a few blocks from Hoan Kiem Lake, Uu Dam Chay is arguably the most beautifully designed restaurant in town.
Vietnam's Hopes of Making the Asian Olympics Football Final Dashed by South Korea
The journey of Vietnam’s men's football team at this year’s Asian Games has been a miracle, though it didn't have the miracle ending we had hoped for.
Thi Nguyen in Development
[Photos] A Two-Minute Ride on Saigon's Shortest, Most Anticlimactic Ferry Trip
The accelerated urbanization of Saigon has led to the rapid metamorphosis of its landscape. This process, however, is hardly evenly distributed. While residents living in the inner city's center ...
A Month After Launch, Go-Viet Claims 15% Market Share in Saigon, Gears up for Hanoi Debut
Commuters in Saigon are apparently welcoming new ride-hailing service Go-Viet with open arms.
