This Trung Thu, Learn How to Make Lion Heads From Huế's Lân Artisans
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- Published on 09 September 2024
- Written by Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.
Often seen as the heart of Central Vietnam, Huế is the birthing ground for many traditional crafts. Artisan products from the ancient city often exude its inhabitants' elegance and rustic quality. Among them, the handmade lion’s heads from Huế carry distinctive slivers of beauty within them.
In Bánh Củ Cải, a Curious Slice of Bạc Liêu's Teochew Heritage
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- Published on 08 September 2024
- Written by Thi Nguyễn. Photos by Thi Nguyễn. Illustration by Hannah Hoàng.
You know a dish is special when it can spark conversation with a stranger on a bus. Halfway through the scrumptious bánh củ cải (radish cake) from our last-minute trip to the market, I shared the other half with my mom. "You're full?" asked a lady in the bunk next to us, which was then followed by a long discussion. I came home with several handy tips on how to recreate and elevate the already flavorful treat.
Food, Art, Heritage and Everything of the Essence in My #SaigonSummer
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- Published on 06 September 2024
- Written by Phạm Thục Khuê. Top graphic by Trường Dĩ.
“In summer, the song sings itself.”
― William Carlos Williams
Saigon Powerlifter Lê Văn Công Earns Vietnam's First, Only Medal at Paralympics
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- Published on 06 September 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
Even though Vietnam’s delegation finished the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris without any medals, our Paralympics team managed to clinch one bronze from powerlifting.
Are We Living in the Final Days of Cô Mía?
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- Published on 05 September 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top photo by Alberto Prieto.
They say a person dies twice: once when their heart stops beating and a second time when people stop mentioning their name. If we alter this phrase a bit to include the last time one’s image is seen, Saigon’s beloved cô Mía may soon be receiving last rites.
Aprxel Builds Her Ethereal R&B Dreamscape With 2000s Nostalgia
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- Published on 04 September 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Top graphic by Mai Khanh. Photos courtesy of Aprxel.
“High school was when we all had lots of thoughts and reflections. And I felt like I didn’t fit in with the world around me at that time, so I turned to music as my companion,” Aprxel reflects on the period of time where her connection with music began to solidify, which ultimately set her on the path to become a music artist.
Vy Trịnh Takes Us 'On Da Dream' via Her Solo Exhibition at Galerie Quynh
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- Published on 30 August 2024
- Written by An Tran. Photos courtesy of Galerie Quynh.
Tough-looking, yet elegant metal ribbons spark, spill, move and occupy all corners of the empty space: up and down, left and right, and in countless directions. Through a new series of sculpture works and a site-responsive sculptural installation, Vy Trịnh blurs the lines between the street scene and the exhibition space.
Ngõ Nooks: This Modern Co-op Serves up One of Hanoi's Best Skewer Bánh Mì
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- Published on 30 August 2024
- Written by Gia Nguyễn. Photos by Bạc Hà.
Hợp Tác Xã Thịt Xiên is more than just a bánh mì eatery, it’s a place to rekindle your childhood nostalgia and take in the ambiance of the street.
A Visual Timeline of Hội An's Historic Chùa Cầu Through the Eras
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- Published on 29 August 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
With the recent makeover of Hội An's Chùa Cầu sparking divisive chatter, it's a great time to gaze at the iconic Japanese bridge through the decades.
Saigon's Most Famous Cua Rang Me Is a Tangy Tamarind Party
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- Published on 28 August 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Saigoneer. .
It started with tamarind, and ended with crab.
This Charming Northern-Style Country House Is Made Entirely of Mooncake
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- Published on 27 August 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
Another Trung Thu season is just around the corner, and bakeries across Vietnam are busy at work churning out thousands of mooncakes to be given out as gifts or relish at home with family and friends. One meticulous local baker, however, had a different idea.
Via Webcomics About Sơn Đoòng, Hai Bà Trưng, a Link to Vietnam Across the Ocean
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- Published on 24 August 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top image by Tiên Ngô.
An enormous chim Lạc snatches Mai from her school library in the present day and lifts her high above Sa Pa more than 2,000 years ago.
With Thriving Coffee Culture, Vietnam Has Half a Million Cafes, Data Shows
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- Published on 20 August 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Top photo by Alberto Prieto.
Taking into account global and national chains, small brands, independent cafes and street vendors, a recent report estimates that Vietnam is home to more than 500,000 coffee shops that generate US$1.46 billion in revenue in total.
On Grappling With the Problematic Legacy of 'Miss Saigon' in 2024
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- Published on 19 August 2024
- Written by Camille Lay. Top graphic by Trường Dĩ.
Having been abroad for more than a year, I was excited at the mere mention of Vietnam anywhere, so I was even more delighted when I learned of the popular musical Miss Saigon. Posters of it were plastered up in musical-themed bars in Manchester and different theaters across London. The musical is constantly on tour, having recently been staged in Brisbane, Manila, and Singapore. I was curious to see what about the play created such a cultural phenomenon in western theater and pop culture, especially when all people ever seem to know of Vietnam is the war and phở. The play, however, with its questionable history and writing choices, didn’t live up to my expectations.
Hẻm Gems: An Alternative Cao Lầu in Saigon for Full-Topping Eaters
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- Published on 18 August 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Pete Walls and Cao Nhân.
If I have to use one word to describe the food philosophy of Saigoneers, it would be maximalist. Those who have had the gluttonous joy of hunkering down on a plastic chair on the sidewalk and demolishing a giant tumbler of full-topping bubble tea will know what I’m talking about.
Hẻm Gems: A Long-Anticipated Bowl of D10's Pre-Eminent Mì Vịt Tiềm
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- Published on 16 August 2024
- Written by Dana Filek-Gibson. Photos by Brandon Coleman.
Rarely have I gone into a meal with such anticipation.
Nam Cao's Radical Sympathy and Pursuit of Happiness Are Still Relevant Even Today
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- Published on 15 August 2024
- Written by Thiện Bùi.
What messages would a young writer living in colonial times want to impart to the youth of the 21st century?
This Terracotta Workshop Makeover Sings the Praises of Vietnam's Red Bricks
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- Published on 15 August 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
A Quảng Nam brick kiln that's been operating for over twenty years has received a makeover that allows guests to get a more intimate look at the traditional craft of making terracotta.
One Nation's Beloved Cá Lóc Is Another Nation's Horror Movie
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- Published on 13 August 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top graphic by Tiên Ngô.
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 invading Missouri amid fourth sighting,” “Voracious, invasive ‘frankenfish’ reeled in from Delaware River at Easton,” and “Snakehead Fish Found in Georgia: ‘Kill It Immediately.’”
Vietnamese Staff Member Wins 7-Eleven Japan's Annual Customer Care Contest
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- Published on 12 August 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
A Vietnamese national recently surpassed over 2,000 other contenders to claim the top spot in a customer service contest in Japan.
