It's Tết: The Liberating Magic of Using Tết as an Excuse for Everything
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- Published on 25 January 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
I hate excuses.
Portrait of a Jubilant Saigon on the Precipice of Tết in 1992
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- Published on 24 January 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos courtesy of Mark Hodson.
Tết in 1992 was an especially fortuitous time to be a foreign arrival to Saigon.
How Choosing My Own Áo Dài Tết Healed My Trauma Over Áo Dài Uniform
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- Published on 24 January 2024
- Written by Ngọc Hân. Graphic by Yumi-kito.
High school can be a frustrating time in virtually every culture, as seen from the myriad of coming-of-age movies depicting the range of clichés, stereotypes and expressions of teenage angst we all go through. To a female high school student in Vietnam like me, a unique cultural feature that adds another layer to the growing pains is the áo dài uniform I must wear every Monday.
From Vintage Album Covers to 'Bolero,' a Set of 6 Typefaces for Nostalgic Souls
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- Published on 17 January 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Images courtesy of Manh Nguyen.
If you’ve paid attention to shop signs and brand visuals across Vietnam’s cybersphere, you’ve probably come across one of Nguyễn Thế Mạnh's typefaces.
Revisiting Vietnam's Bootleg DVD Stores, the Dethroned King of Local Entertainment
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- Published on 13 January 2024
- Written by Thùy Trang.
Once upon a time, it was really, really hard to halt the growth of pirated DVD/CD stores in Hanoi. Nowadays, if you take a peek into the window of Hàng Bài Street’s former counterfeit/bootleg DVD stores, here are a few things you will see: CD covers of Taylor Swift albums before her bleached-haired era, a copy of “Now That’s What I Call Music 54,” a Dawn of The Planet of the Apes knock-off, a recording of “Cats” (the musical album, not the film). The entire store is stuck in a not-so-distant past, without any seller or customer. In a bustling Hanoi, the once so-called “Capital of Bootlegs” now lies humbly, nestled quietly in a dormitory’s front corner.
TIMEZONES Podcast Spotlights Soundscapes, Sound Artists of Hanoi
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- Published on 10 January 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos courtesy of TIMZEONES.
The 18th episode of the TIMEZONES podcast series focuses on Hanoi's soundscape through the lens of three female artists. More carefully produced and artistically arranged than the average podcast, the episode layers reflective musings about sound, noise and artistic practices from Nhung Nguyen, Ho Tram Anh and Hoang Thu Thuy atop electronic warblings and urban noises. The three sound artists share their thoughts on the importance of listening despite sonic pollution; how the capital city's auditory topography has been altered in recent years; collaborative musical endeavors; and coping with ongoing gender discrimination.
From Trash to Treasure: How Sở Thú Studio Crafts Animated Stories From Scraps
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- Published on 08 January 2024
- Written by Văn Tân. Images courtesy of Sở Thú Studio.
From old newspapers, coffee grounds, used styrofoam boxes, sticks, and more, Sở thú Studio, a collective of young creatives, has created many fascinating animation projects.
Vintage French Book Illustrations Depict a Quaint Indochina in 1903
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- Published on 03 January 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
In this rare collection of images from 1903 Indochina, life in the peninsula appears as if in a dream, with rows of colonial-style houses in between heritage trees and natural landscapes that weren’t interrupted by concrete.
Saigon-Based Artist Trần Trung Lĩnh Returns With Pop Art Exhibition
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- Published on 27 December 2023
- Written by Saigoneer. Images courtesy of SiLart Station.
Following the resounding success of his previous exhibition, Saigon-based artist Trần Trung Lĩnh will present a freshly painted collection of paintings at an event this weekend.
The Tale of 2 Vietnamese Christmas Songs: 'Hai Mùa Noel' and 'Bài Thánh Ca Buồn'
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- Published on 23 December 2023
- Written by Ngọc Hân. Graphic by Yumi-kito.
When it comes to local Christmas music, any Vietnamese will hear the melodies of either ‘Bài Thánh ca buồn’ or ‘Hai mùa Noel’ a couple of times every holiday season. Though Christmas is not a native holiday, we adore celebrating it. And of course, Christmas cannot be without music. Though the country has no shortage of festive songs, these two remain pillars of the holiday season. So why not take a trip down memory lane and revisit the songs, or be prepared to have your neighbors karaoke it down memory lane for you.
On the 12th Day of Christmas Saigoneer Gave to Me: 12 Bird Calls From Across Vietnam
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- Published on 23 December 2023
- Written by Alexander Yates. Photos by Alexander Yates. Top image by Mai Phạm.
Almost everywhere we go in the world, birdsong abounds.
How an ABBA Classic Becomes the Anthem of Vietnam's New Year Celebration
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- Published on 20 December 2023
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Top image by Yumi-kito.
Somewhere along the way, an ABBA’s sleeper hit ‘Happy New Year’ has emerged as the go-to musical choice for Vietnamese broadcasters and countdown parties when a new year rings in.
Hem Hem Lights up Saigon With the Electrifying Riffs of Japanese Ska
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- Published on 18 December 2023
- Written by Jae Shin. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
The cheerful ska tunes combined with insanely energetic and quirky dance moves packed every inch of the indoor space of Indika with heat and pure joy.
Something About Xe (Đạp): Olivier Flora's Knack for Fun, Flamboyant Remixes
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- Published on 18 December 2023
- Written by Nguyệt. Images courtesy of Olivier Flora.
The saxophone riff in ‘Careless Whispers’ is not only instantly recognizable due the popularity of the original song by George Michael but has since become an internet fixture — a classic meme.
Saigon, East of New Orleans: The Surprising Global Roots of Vietnam's Funeral Kèn Tây
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- Published on 15 December 2023
- Written by Craig Duncan. Photos by Lee Starnes.
Of all the forms of music one hears on the streets of modern-day Saigon, the sounds of the marching bands accompanying funeral processions stand out as absolutely unique.
Crickets Are More Than Just Chirpy Reminders of Our Childhood
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- Published on 15 December 2023
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Graphics by Yumi-kito.
Cricket song. You read the words and immediately hear the chirping. That thrilling trill of strummed air. Humans have been hearing that quivering echo since we first came into existence. And over time, we’ve attached a variety of meanings to it and the creature that makes it.
DJ Pia and Tumie, the Duo Blending Violin, EDM, and Vietnamese Culture
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- Published on 14 December 2023
- Written by Garrett MacLean.
A black and red “Slave 2 Rave” flag ruffles in the distance while an abundance of laser beams, bubble streams, fireworks, and confetti clouds filled the night’s sky at Ravolution Musical Festival last Sunday. RAVO X DIMENSION welcomed a premiere lineup for its 10th Edition celebration consisting of international artists from around the US, Europe, and Asia, as well as local artists, including a musical duo from Vietnam.
In Remembrance of Saigon Street Calls Past
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- Published on 11 December 2023
- Written by Như Quỳnh. Graphic by Hannah Hoàng and Phan Nhi.
Drowned out by the noises of modernization, sounds that once served as the background to a simpler time have begun to shrink, and eventually become lost in the wheel of progress. Tiếng rao, or street calls, happen to be one of those dying noises, but they remain a poignant reminder of the past for many.
Hẻm Gems: Hủ Tíu Mực Ông Già's Squid Game Is to Die For
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- Published on 10 December 2023
- Written by Ngọc Hân. Photos by Cao Nhân.
It’s safe to say that one of the most authentic culinary experiences one could have in Vietnam is to sit on a stool, in an eatery that feels very much like someone’s house, and slurp on a bowl of piping hot noodles. The noodles here can be any dishes from the plethora of noodle dishes so dominant in Vietnamese cuisine, and this hủ tiếu mực, or squid vermicelli, establishment has got all of the above to offer.
In Dialogue With Trần Nữ Yên Khê on Her 'White Blank' Art Exhibition
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- Published on 09 December 2023
- Written by Thùy Trang. Images courtesy of Galerie Quynh.
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 established as a contemporary artist. In 2019, her sculpture ‘Borderline’ became the first contemporary artwork from Southeast Asia shown at Paris’s Guimet Museum. Upon returning to Vietnam this year, she continues her artistic journey with the solo exhibition “White Blank” at Galerie Quynh in Saigon from October to December of 2023.
