How Richie Fawcett's Saigon Sketches Illuminate a Decade of Change
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- Published on 28 September 2023
- Written by Garrett MacLean. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
It’s been hidden right there in the heart of Saigon for over half a decade.
Phan Thiết's Vibrant Whale Worship Festival Reflects Vietnam's Rich Animist Traditions
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- Published on 27 September 2023
- Written by Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.
Whale worship started from a folk belief harbored by fishermen seeking help from the gods to endure the arduous days spent at sea, but over time, it grew to become one of the most prominent spiritual practices of Vietnam’s fishing communities, especially in Phan Thiết. This reverence of whales reflects the people’s fervent passion for life, and a benevolent coastal culture that seeks harmony between mankind and nature.
Tàu Cánh Ngầm: The Curious Case of Saigon’s Lost Soviet Hydrofoils
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- Published on 25 September 2023
- Written by Brian Letwin. Top image by Dennis Jarvis.
Not long ago, hulking “creatures” glided atop the waters between Saigon and Vũng Tàu. Like the dinosaurs that came before them, they slowly disappeared, until all that was left were their skeletons.
Shrimp Fishing in Thanh Đa Is Fun Even When You Don't Catch Anything
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- Published on 24 September 2023
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
If it weren’t for shrimps, developing taste buds would have been an outrageous waste of evolutionary time and resources. Truly, without the potential for boiled, grilled, fried, baked or even raw shrimp, I find little point to getting out of bed with my tongue still in my mouth.
Review: 'Bến Phà Xác Sống' Is the 2nd-Worst Movie I've Ever Watched. I'm Sad It's Over.
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- Published on 24 September 2023
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
The day when the Saigoneer team organized a little get-together to watch Bến Phà Xác Sống in the cinema, I was running seriously late.
In the Mekong Delta, Ferries Are Childhood Friends and Daily Companions
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- Published on 22 September 2023
- Written by Morgan Ommer. Photos by Morgan Ommer..
The Mekong Delta is called Đồng bằng Sông Cửu Long in Vietnamese — the Nine Dragons River, for the way the mighty Mekong splits into multiple strands as it nears its final destination, the East Sea.
An Ode to Lục Bình, Vietnam's Invasive, Destructive, Beautiful Aquatic Jerk
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- Published on 20 September 2023
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Graphic by Mai Khanh.
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 trapped inside music boxes: the water hyacinth.
In Gò Vấp, a 'Floating Temple' Stands the Test of Time and River Currents
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- Published on 19 September 2023
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
On an isle amid the Vàm Thuật river in Gò Vấp District, Phù Châu Temple, colloquially known among locals as the “floating temple,” has welcomed religious practitioners looking for a serene quarter in fast-paced Hồ Chí Minh City for over three centuries.
Relive Your Memories of Saigon Water Park via These Photos by One of Its Makers
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- Published on 18 September 2023
- Written by Govi Snell. Photos courtesy of Marcel Lennartz.
Although water parks involve a combination of two of the most tedious human experiences, standing in lines and prolonged direct sun exposure, the now-demolished Saigon Water Park was an icon of 2000s Saigon that remains a crucial cornerstone of many city dwellers' memories.
Hẻm Gems: Trứng's Divine Flan Is What Happens When Saigon Dreams of Japanese Desserts
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- Published on 17 September 2023
- Written by Rhianna Morris. Photos by Mervin Lee.
My slight obsession with Japanese-style flan started in Tokyo, but it’s taken on a new life here in Saigon.
On the Hunt for One-of-a-Kind Treasures in Saigon's Thriving Thrift Shops
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- Published on 15 September 2023
- Written by Elyse Phạm. Graphic by Mai Khanh.
In the summer of 2021, Hương Nguyễn decided to pivot away from her office job and launch an online thrift store called Vintage Hearts. She was motivated by how difficult it was to find clothing in Saigon that reflected her personal style — what she used to describe as “inspired by foreign pop singers on Pinterest,” she tells me, but what is now known as “Y2K,” or “year two thousand.”
Hội An Reports 91 Food Poisoning Cases Linked to Famous Bánh Mì Phượng
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- Published on 14 September 2023
- Written by Saigoneer.
Bánh Mì Phượng, Hội An’s most famous bánh mì eatery, recently made national headlines again, but for unfortunate reasons.
Ocean Vuong Brings Vietnamese Text, Original Photos to Helmut Lang Collection
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- Published on 13 September 2023
- Written by Saigoneer.
Peter Do, the recently named Creative Director of the storied fashion brand Helmut Lang, enlisted writer Ocean Vuong to provide text and photos for his debut collection.
Just 12km From Huế, a Hidden Lake Welcomes You to a Night of Stargazing
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- Published on 12 September 2023
- Written by Tuyết Nhi. Photos by Nguyễn Hữu Bảo.
If you’ve been meaning to embark on a trip to escape from the chaos of daily life but aren’t quite keen to plunge straight into the wilderness, Huế might be the perfect next destination. The city center embodies calm, quietude and a sense of poetic beauty — these are all great qualities that have long drawn visitors to it, but not many are aware that there’s an entirely different side of Huế if one just takes a short ride away from the urban heartland alongside the Perfume River.
In Huế, an Interdisciplinary Exhibition Opens Literal and Metaphorical Doors
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- Published on 11 September 2023
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Trần Quang Trung.
“I cannot stop opening doors,” Phan Lê Hà said in regard to the physical objects that reappear throughout her creative works.
Saigon Heat Wins Intracity Rivalry Over HCMC Wings, Closing Out VBA Regular Season
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- Published on 10 September 2023
- Written by Garrett MacLean. Photos by Alberto Prieto and Cao Nhân.
Families of fans filed into the “Fire Pan” on September 3, wearing red, white, and black jerseys. The atmosphere hums with anticipation.
Ngõ Nooks: The Quiet Intimacy of Tree Bar, Where Strangers Become Fast Friends
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- Published on 09 September 2023
- Written by Oliver Newman. Photos by Chris Humphrey and Nguyệt.
A group of patrons gossip in thick, fast Japanese. They might all know each other or they might just speak to anyone at the bar as if they already know them. The wizened “master” joins in from his perch beneath the liquor shelves, as salarymen shuffle in and out of back rooms.
Hà Giang's Thôn Khun Is a Soothing Oasis for the World-Weary Traveler
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- Published on 07 September 2023
- Written by Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.
Located in the heart of a valley surrounded by verdant stretches of forest, the little hamlet of Khun retains much of its pristine natural charms. From the enigmatic beauty of the local Bó Mỳ Cave to babbling creeks, Khun is a must-visit destination during northern Vietnam’s sweltering summer season.
The Artist Preserving Saigon's Cultural Tapestry Through Hand-Painted Signs
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- Published on 05 September 2023
- Written by Như Quỳnh. Photos by Alberto Prieto. Top image by Tú Võ.
"In the early 2000s, the market experienced an exodus of painters due to the shift to digital; it was difficult to retain customers otherwise. I didn't want my craft to be forgotten, so I started everything all over,” Nguyễn Hoài Bảo told me in Vietnamese when I visited his studio.
Ngõ Nooks: Hanoi's Long Waits Jazz Club Dreams a Little Dream of Jazz
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- Published on 04 September 2023
- Written by Nguyệt. Photos courtesy of Long Waits.
Long Waits, a self-proclaimed “modest jazz club,” is the culmination of many dreams that merged and shifted before finally giving Hanoi a modern yet quaint jazz experience.
