Watching Snowfall in 'Home Alone' Is My Saigon Christmas Tradition
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- Published on 24 December 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Graphic by Dương Trương.
Christmas is so globally celebrated that even in Saigon, as the coldest time of the year approaches, you can hear Christmas hymms echoing from homes in the alley, and spot houses adorned with Christmas trees, Santas, snowmen, regardless of their cultural relevance to Vietnamese culture. For me, one of the activities that truly embodies this global spirit of Christmas is watching Home Alone (1990).
5 Classic Christmas Songs in Vietnamese for Those Craving Nô-en Wistfulness
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- Published on 23 December 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Graphic by Ngọc Tạ.
Christmas celebration in Vietnam is something else altogether.
Composer Hoàng Việt and a Radical Romance Across the North-South Border
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- Published on 22 December 2024
- Written by Vũ Hoàng Long. Top image by Mai Khanh.
In a country fractured by ideology, Hoàng Việt's love for his wife Ngọc Hạnh persisted like a secret melody carried across closed borders by weak radio signals, and letters that had to circle the globe before finding their way home.
The Childhood of Côn Đảo's Baby Turtles Caught on Film
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- Published on 20 December 2024
- Written by Hoàn Phan. Photos by Hoàn Phan.
In July, I visited Côn Đảo National Park as part of a group of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) sea turtle volunteers to see first-hand conservation efforts aimed at the local sea turtle population.
The Cultural Depths in Contemporary Hip-Hop Dance ‘129BPM: Động Phách Tách Kén’
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- Published on 18 December 2024
- Written by An Trần. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Have you ever witnessed a live performance so powerful that it still lives in your mind weeks later? “129BPM: Động Phách Tách Kén” is not your usual hip-hop breakdance battle, but a contemporary dance performance combining live music with Vietnamese folk elements. It is a journey that requires your full presence and attention to appreciate its fleeting and transformative moments.
Hẻm Gems: CAM Coffee Serves up a Chill Ambiance With a Side of Bánh Cam
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- Published on 16 December 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Ben Nguyễn.
Bánh cam, or sesame doughnuts, has been my beloved snack since childhood.
‘Công tử Bạc Liêu’ Asks: ‘What Would You Do if You Won the Lottery?’
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- Published on 15 December 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
They say you don’t buy a lottery ticket because you think you’ll win; you buy one so that you can fantasize about winning.
Ward off Your Monday Blues by Joining Me on Beginners' Skateboard Night
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- Published on 12 December 2024
- Written by Phương Nghi. Photos by Ben Nguyễn.
Usually in life, niche topics are commonly associated with unpleasant stigmas and misunderstandings — skateboarding in Vietnam is no exception. Once, I admittedly was influenced by such one-sided assumptions.
New 'Số Đỏ' Movie Announced, Directed by Phan Gia Nhật Linh, Starring MONO
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- Published on 12 December 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
Another classic of Vietnamese literature is heading to the big screen in the near future.
Pure Passion Turns Dark: The Unexpected Dangers of the Wild Turtle Trade
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- Published on 12 December 2024
- Written by Tommy. Illustration by Hannah Hoàng.
Seeking a companion during quarantine, Khánh*, a 25-year-old Hanoian, bought a baby turtle through a Facebook group.
The Forgotten History Behind Saigon's CEE Colonial Substations
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- Published on 11 December 2024
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Photos by Cao Nhân.
Woven into the fabric of modern-day streets, the aging electrical substations of Saigon stand as quiet witnesses to a historical era shaped by the complex legacy of French colonialism.
Revisiting the Delicious Satirical Society of 'Số Đỏ' by Vũ Trọng Phụng
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- Published on 10 December 2024
- Written by Thi Nguyễn.
Published in 1938, Dumb Luck, or Số Đỏ, remains one of Vietnam's most popular and controversial novels. Vũ Trọng Phụng was fined by the French colonial administration in Hanoi in 1932 for his stark portrayals of sexuality. Dumb Luck, along with most of his works, were banned in 1954 until the late 1980s. Today, Vietnamese who attended public high school are no stranger to Vũ Trọng Phụng as an excerpt from the book, titled “The Happiness of a Family in Mourning,” is included in the official literature curriculum.
Severine Phương Trần's Debut Exhibition in Saigon Celebrates a World of Colors
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- Published on 08 December 2024
- Written by An Trần. Photos courtesy of 22 Gallery.
Step into Severine Phương Trần’s first-ever exhibition in Saigon, where you can explore the artist’s inner world of vibrant colors and different emotions. To fully enjoy this exhibition, it is best to let your inner child and imagination roam free and allow the flow of colors and different sceneries to guide you through a journey of creativity, self-discovery, and personal artistic transformation.
Hẻm Gems: An Alternative Cơm Tấm From Long Xuyên for Thịt Kho Trứng Fans
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- Published on 06 December 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Pete Walls and Ben Nguyễn.
When it comes to cơm tấm, most people are familiar with cơm tấm Sài Gòn, featuring grilled pork ribs as the vedette topping. But since the dish’s creation, and as it gained popularity across the Mekong delta and southern Vietnam, another cơm tấm variant emerged alongside cơm tấm Sài Gòn. This version became so cherished by the locals that it was named after its birthplace — cơm tấm Long Xuyên.
From Germany to 'King of Rap' Runner-up: How Tuimi Becomes a Hip-Hop Breakout Star
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- Published on 06 December 2024
- Written by Mầm.
Tuimi, a Vietnamese German singer and rapper, has become one of the most notable female voices in the local hip-hop scene and been making big waves since her return in 2019.
A Case for the Sweet-and-Sour Tamarind as Saigon's Official Municipal Tree
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- Published on 05 December 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Top graphic by Dương Trương.
What is the municipal tree of Saigon? In popular culture, Hanoi is perhaps intricately linked with the paralyzing but often romanticized aroma of hoa sữa, while just over a hundred kilometers to the east, Hải Phòng proudly brandishes the name “the city of red phượng flowers.” Đà Lạt has too many flower varieties to choose just one, and settles for “the city of a thousand flowers.” Down south, Bến Tre’s abundance of coconut trees is famous nationwide. Ask any Saigoneer this question, and you’re likely to get one of two answers: chò nâu (dipterocarp) or me (tamarind).
Ruminate on Our Natural Legacies While Surrounded by Cây Sao at Ao Bà Om
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- Published on 04 December 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
I never pass up an opportunity to reflect on chò nâu and its dipterocarp relative, cây sao. The massive trees that gracefully drag bare limbs upwards to unfurl canopies far above our heads were brought from their native highland terrains by the French in the 19th century and grown in Thảo Cầm Viên Sài Gòn. From there, they were distributed throughout colonial developments, including Trà Vinh. Today, they not only provide shade and beauty but invite ruminations on legacies of nature's place in subjugation and self-determination.
For Hội An Residents, Learning to Live With Floods Is a Fact of Life
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- Published on 03 December 2024
- Written by Alden Anderson. Photos by Alden Anderson.
The water reached my shoulders, and when I stepped into the street I suddenly felt the current trying to pull me into its invisible grasp. A familiar feeling that set off an alarm inside my head: “Be careful! It looks like nothing, but don’t get caught in it.”
Hanoi's Soviet-Style Khu Gia Binh and Life Amid Vietnam's Growing Pains
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- Published on 02 December 2024
- Written by Lã Khánh Giang. Illustrations by Ngọc Tạ.
Hanoi is often known in Vietnam as the land of a millennium-old civilization, a living archive of past Vietnam life. Each tiny alley within the capital can evoke a strong sense of nostalgia in visitors, as those locations encapsulate both wartime memories and charming quotidien moments. There’s one special place in Hanoi that has contributed to the city’s languid pace of life amid the nation’s rapid developments — khu gia binh.
Hẻm Gems: Amid Saigon's Heat, a Wintry Ambiance in Xocoati's Cozy Cocoa Drinks
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- Published on 29 November 2024
- Written by Thái An. Photos by Ben Nguyễn and Jimmy Art Devier.
Amidst Saigon’s year-round scorching heat, I crave coziness — a feeling that often comes with snuggling under heavy blankets in my Hanoian winter. I was searching for some comfort and “winter vibe” spots when one review, in particular, sparked my curiosity by mentioning (in my opinion) the greatest combination known to mankind: cocoa and Harry Potter. Brimming with expectations, I weaved through Saigon’s usual frantic roads to find a small alley, which surprisingly led to a spacious apartment complex.
