Pure Passion Turns Dark: The Unexpected Dangers of the Wild Turtle Trade
Seeking a companion during quarantine, Khánh*, a 25-year-old Hanoian, bought a baby turtle through a Facebook group.
How the Ghosts of iPhones Past Haunt Vietnam's Low-Income Communities
The current e-waste crisis in Vietnam is one example of global environmental apartheid.
Waste-to-Energy Plants Might Be the Remedy for Vietnam's Struggling Landfills
Lam Van Quyet lives three kilometers from the Tây Bắc waste facility in Ho Chi Minh City, but he knows exactly what time the garbage trucks arrive there.
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
One Nation's Beloved Cá Lóc Is Another Nation's Horror Movie
America has been losing its shit over snakeheads. All summer long my algorithm-led newsfeed has been alerting me to ominous headlines including “‘Horror movie’ snakehead fish that can slither on land ...
Vietnam, Southeast Asian Nations Burst Into the Solar Energy Landscape
Sunny Southeast Asia has made significant strides in solar energy, with solar farm capacity exceeding 20GW across ASEAN countries. Despite this rapid growth and ambitious renewable goals, nations in t...
Huế Becomes 1st City With Dedicated Lanes on Pavements for Bicycles
The growing popularity of biking as a recreational activity in Vietnam has been acknowledged officially by urban planners in Huế.
Paul Christiansen in Environment
Charting the Flow of the Nhiêu Lộc Canal From Start to Historical Start
When I fall in love with an album, I seek out the artist's first mixtapes and demos. When I come to admire a poet, I hunt down their early poems and chapbooks. I even linger over the old highlight ree...
On the 12th Day of Christmas Saigoneer Gave to Me: 12 Birdcalls From Across Vietnam
Almost everywhere we go in the world, birdsong abounds.
In Dialogue With Trần Nữ Yên Khê on Her 'White Blank' Art Exhibition
Tran Nu YênKhê may be most well-known to Vietnamese audiences because of her unforgettable performances in Tran Anh Hung’s Vietnam Trilogy. However, in recent years, YênKhê has become increasingly est...
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
An Ode to Lục Bình, Vietnam's Invasive, Destructive, Beautiful Aquatic Jerk
Knotted gnarls of lush stems, leaves, vines; a verdant scrimmage of tangled plant matter kept afloat by buoyant bladders accented by pleats of pink petals that resemble the skirts of ballerinas trappe...
Another Hoàn Kiếm Turtle Dies in Hanoi, Setting Back Conservation Efforts
It’s reported that a “Hoàn Kiếm turtle” living in Hanoi has died, further impeding efforts by conservationists to keep the species from extinction.
The Mekong Delta Loses Sand Too Fast Due to Extraction, It's Time for a Sand Budget.
Many people will be familiar with the dread when your income no longer covers your expenses; when you’ve exhausted your savings and are sinking ever deeper into debt. In the Mekong Delta, a similar do...
Michael Tatarski in Tech
How Going Digital Could Help Vietnam's Farmers Take Their Produce to the Next Level
In this digital age, farming, especially in developing countries like Vietnam, has maintained a general perception of being an analog, hands-on practice.
Paul Christiansen in Loạt Soạt
The Fraught Human-Earth Dynamics in 'Revenge of Gaia,' a Collection of Vietnamese Eco-Fiction
Stories focusing on the natural world and humanity’s relationships with the environment existed before the term eco-literature became popular in the west in the 1970s, but since its coinage, writers a...
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Khỉ Vàng: The Shit-Stirrer, Snack Thief, and Petty Criminal of Vietnam's Forests
I’m not a fucking idiot — That’s what I thought while looking at the sign hung from the door of my hotel room in Đà Nẵng.
Cô Tô Island District Says No to Single-Use Plastics From September
With insufficient waste management facilities, many island localities in Vietnam face literal barrages of trash.
Xanh Hà Nội Aims to Plant 1m Trees to Improve Hanoi's Living Environment
Amidst glooming effects of global warming, Xanh Hà Nội’s efforts since 2017 have played a crucial role in trailblazing a community-reliant framework for keeping Vietnamese cities green.
Saigon Students Win Science Contest Silver Medals for Bodhi Tree Leaf Teabags
Sustainable teabags made from bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) leaves earned Ngô Trần Thảo My and Nguyễn Thiên Ngân silver medals at an international event that fosters global awareness of environmental i...
Hanoi Students Create Green Material From Durian Rind to Aid Oil Spill Cleanup
A group of university students has created an aerogel material from durian rind which can help clean up oil spills.
In Đà Lạt, Greenhouses Revolutionize Farming, but at What Environmental Cost?
Plastic greenhouses in the city of Đà Lạt may protect farmers from the impacts of erratic weather, but the environmental toll of agri-plastics is building in the agriculture-dependent region.
In Ninh Thuận, a Bamboo Scientist Builds the 'Great Green Wall' to Protect the Soil
In Ninh Thuận Province, not far from the South-Central Coast, Dr. Diệp Thị Mỹ Hạnh, a botanist, is growing a "wall" of bamboo.
Vietnamese Students Win Earth Prize for Dragon Fruit Peel Biodegradable Sanitary Pads
A trio of Vietnamese high schoolers claimed the top prize in the environmental awareness competition The Earth Prize 2022 thanks to their project which turned dragon fruit peels into biodegradabl...
Vietnam Might Fine Supermarkets, Malls for Single-Use Plastic Bags in 2026
Large retailers providing single-use plastic bags could be subject to fines beginning in 2026.
Photography Exhibition Spotlights the Beauty and Perils of Vietnam's Mangrove Forests
Transcending the boundaries of a conventional art exhibition, “Midnight in the Mangroves - Đêm Trong Rừng Ngập Mặn” tackles the beauty and important environmental role of mangrove forests via the lang...
Ever Wonder What Happens to Your Plastic Bags? Ask Vietnam's Ve Chai Army.
Lacking an effective official scheme, Hanoi relies on an army of informal workers to recycle its waste — a situation that hasn't changed over the last four decades.
Michael Tatarski in Natural Selection
Cầy Vằn Bắc: Caught in the Crossfire of the Cà Phê Chồn Industry
While Saigoneer’s Natural Selection series has already covered a number of iconic species and types of animals, including the tiger, Asian elephant, dogs and cats, there’s a good chance most of the pe...
NPO Keep Hanoi Clean Prepares to Collect Plastic Waste After Kitchen God Day
Keep Hanoi Clean is preparing for its biggest event of the year: cleaning up Lễ cúng Ông Táo, or Kitchen God day.
Vietnam to Build Nuclear Research Reactor With Help From Russia
With assistance from Russia, Vietnam will build a 10-megawatt nuclear reactor for researching medical treatments that could be the first step in eventually reviving moribund plans to build nuclear pow...
A Factory Where 'Dead Plastics' Are Reborn as Contemporary Furniture
Saigoneer arrived at PLASTICPeople’s factory on a Friday afternoon after a long-winded ride on National Highway 1A. The sides of the road we took there were casually strewn with unpruned bushes, depos...
UNESCO Recognizes Nui Chua, Kon Ha Nung as Vietnam's New Biosphere Reserves
They are in Ninh Thuan and Gia Lai.
Dr. Plastic, the Hanoi Duo Who Give New Life to Single-Use Plastic
Plastic pollution is considered one of the main environmental threats to our planet’s health.
Michael Tatarski in Ton-sur-Ton
How Local Brand Re.socks Spins Discarded Plastic Bottles Into Comfy Socks
How much thought do you put into socks?
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.
Art That Outlives Us: The Paintings of Vietnamese American Artist Ann Phong
There are two things that disconcert older-generation Vietnamese Americans in Little Saigon from those around them: fusion food and the arts; both of which evoke nothing but strangeness. Intolerable s...
Nguyễn Văn Thái Becomes Vietnam's 2nd Goldman Environmental Prize Winner
He has dedicated his life to fighting wildlife poaching in Vietnam.
Saigon Aims to Remove Plastic Bags From Supermarkets by Year-End
Have you switched to reusable bags yet?
Paul Christiansen in Natural Selection
Cây Đa: A Tree That Contains Multitudes
Two Illustrated Books by Vietnamese Conservationist to Have Global Release
They tell the story of a Vietnamese woman working to rescue a bear and an elephant.
How One Social Enterprise is Strengthening Tra Vinh’s Mangroves
What do you picture when you think of a tree? Perhaps a robust redwood, a whimsical willow, or a perfect pine? How long would it take your mind to reach the muddy mangrove?
Vietnam Ranks Near Bottom of New Sustainable Tourism Index
What are you doing to be a sustainable tourist?
The Story of Hồng Hoàng: From the 1st Vietnamese in Antarctica to a Fervent Wildlife Activist
For Hồng Hoàng, a career in environmental activism in Vietnam began with a polar expedition.
Vietnam's Plan to Plant 1 Billion Trees by 2025 Gains Clarity
Here's hoping for a greener future.
Vietnam Traffic Police Introduce Bamboo Nozzles for Breathalyzers
Vietnam’s nascent green movement is hitting the streets in a unique way.
Vietnam Slightly Advances on UN Human Development Index to No. 117 of 189
Over the last 30 years, Vietnam's HDI (Human Development Index) has grown by 46%, amongst the biggest jump in the world.
Ngõ Nooks: Hidden Gem, the Cafe that Recycled Knick-Knacks Built
It is difficult to describe Hidden Gem Café without paraphrasing its name, but I have not found a better way to characterize this wonderful establishment.
Citizen Earth Program Returns to Hanoi With Art, Culture, Science, and More
Citizen Earth is a Six Space project exploring art, culture, and education through a community lens. The year-long program brings together artists and researchers from various fields such as history, ...
Vietnam Discards 46% More Trash Last Year Compared to 2010: Report
Something smells.
Dams, Sand, Rice: The Life and Possible Death of the Mekong Delta
What would Vietnam be without the Mekong Delta?
Michael Tatarski in Environment
Vietnam's New Nature Reserve, Khe Nuoc Trong, Is a Sign of Hope for Biodiversity
In a move wildlife conservationists are hailing as a victory, Vietnam has established a new nature reserve encompassing critical habitat for numerous species, several of them threatened globally with ...
New Directive Aims to Strengthen Illegal Wildlife Trade Enforcement
On July 23, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc issued a new directive with the aim of tightening control against illegal wildlife trade and consumption.
Bring Your Own Containers, We're Going Grocery Shopping
Above a peaceful coffee shop on the quiet road of Nguyễn Khắc Nhu lies a small zero-waste refill shop trying to advocate change.
High Chemical Levels Detected in Air Following Warehouse Fire
Heads up, Hanoians!
Hanoi to Deploy Water Trucks to Keep Dust, Summer Heat at Bay
Hanoi authorities are planning to re-deploy water trucks to city streets to keep dust and heat at bay in the sweltering summer months.
Drug-Resistant Bacteria Flourish in Southeast Asia's Antibiotic-Filled Sewage
The fetid vapors of a sewer canal may be unpleasant, but what lurks beneath the surface can be a killer.
Saigon's Flooding Is Manageable Now, but Will Wreak Havoc in 2050, Study Says
A new study highlights the grave flood threat facing Saigon if strong mitigation efforts aren't taken in the coming decades.
[Video] Hanoi Studio Turns Local Student's Drawings Into Kickass Earth Day Animation
Don’t you wish that every time 10-year-old you came up with a kickass comic, a team of veteran artists would step in to turn it into a professional animated short?
11 Nests of Rare Sea Turtles Found in Thailand Amid Lockdown
When the cat's away, the mice will play; or in this case, during pandemic lockdown, animals will reclaim the spaces once bustling with human activity.
Central Highlands Coffee Farmers on Tenterhooks as Lack of Rainfall Dries Region
While the Mekong Delta struggles through a historic drought, the Central Highlands is dealing with its own lack of rainfall.
Air Pollution in Saigon, Hanoi Reduces Noticeably During Social Distancing Period
In addition to allowing people to finish all of their puzzles and amass Animal Crossing playing time, Vietnam's social distancing campaign has led to air quality improvements in major cities.
Tracing the Reincarnation of Plastic Waste in Saigon's Informal Recycling Workshops
The text message said to be ready at 4:30am at my street corner, where I would be picked up for the drive to the plastics recycling center. I had been wanting to visit the site for this article and th...
[Photos] A Saigon Studio Made 'Cơm Tấm' Out of Discarded Styrofoam and Sponges
Are you tired of your trash looking plain-ol' trashy and your food too temporal and foody?
To Learn How to Love Your Jeans Sustainably, Talk to Saigon's Denimheads
I never feel better than when I am ensconced in denim. This love for jeans is caught up in my genuine adoration of the cowboy aesthetic, the particular beauty of a denim-clad ass and the snug hug of a...
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.
Saigon Starts $1.5m Project to Clean Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal
Starting from February 26, 122,000 cubic meters of sludge will be removed from the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal and processed to reduce the stench that negatively impacts local residents.
Vietnam Will Have Harsher Dry Season, Fewer Typhoons in 2020, Experts Say
The harsh dry season is predicted to impact all three regions of the country.
Saigon Moves Ahead With Plan to Evaluate Motorbike Emission
Authorities received the green light to test and study motorbike emissions in an attempt to improve air quality.
Environment Ministry Officials Propose Plastic Bag Tax
Would it help break Vietnam's plastic addiction?
Saigon to Focus Restoration Efforts on 5 Severely Polluted Drainage Canals
The municipal People’s Committee said recently that it would focus on the restoration of five canals that comprise the city’s drainage system.
To Combat Smog, Hanoi to Ban Coal Stoves From 2021
The move is part of a major effort to improve air quality and living conditions in the capital.
Survey Fails to Find Two Sea Turtle Species Off Northern, Central Coasts
Bad news for Vietnam's sea turtle population.
Starbucks Closures, Arrests, Confusion: Hanoi's Water Crisis Deepens
Hanoi's ongoing water crisis took several dramatic turns over the last few days.
Cat Lai Area in District 2 Has Saigon's Worst Levels of Air, Noise Pollution, Study Shows
On October 9, the Center of Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring held a press conference reporting its findings on Saigon’s environmental quality.
Vietnam to Launch Its Own Air Pollution App After Netizens' Attack on AirVisual
Following what was described as a 'coordinated attack' by netizens on independent online air quality index monitor AirVisual, the Vietnamese government has announced plans to create its own air p...
Vietnam Receives Funding From ADB to Build Major Floating Solar Power Plant
If all goes to plan, the region's largest floating solar power plant is coming to Binh Thuan Province.
This Saturday, 'Citizen Earth' Event Aims to Address Environment Issues
Citizen Earth, a new project run by Six Space, is set to kick off in Hanoi this weekend.
Michael Tatarski in Environment
Loài Plastic: To Eradicate Plastic Items, Treat Them as Invasive Species
Amid increasing awareness of the environmental and health dangers of plastic, a creative new group has joined the fight against this global scourge.
Michael Tatarski in Environment
How Vietnam's Robusta Farms Could Transform Into Vital Carbon Sinks
Coffee is one of Vietnam’s most important agricultural products, a crop that grows so well in the country’s Central Highlands that it has become the world’s second-largest coffee producer.
Khoi Pham in Society
