Meet the Vietnamese Creators of 'Centuries and Still,' a Short Decrying Anti-Asian Racism
- Details
- Published on 31 August 2021
- Written by Michael Tatarski.
How much history are you aware of?
Born Into Traditional Craft, a Young Sculptor Finds Joy in Carving Pop Culture
- Details
- Published on 30 August 2021
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos courtesy of Duy Tran.
“Even though they know deeply that it’s beautiful, they cannot feel it because it’s not familiar to them,” Duy Trần says of younger generations that gaze upon the traditional wood sculptures in his family’s factory.
Sao La: The Real-Life Unicorn of Vietnam
- Details
- Published on 29 August 2021
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Disney’s Aladdin, Super Nintendo, digital fingerprint technology: the outside world was familiar with all these by 1992. Sao la, however, remained unknown.
How Local Brand Re.socks Spins Discarded Plastic Bottles Into Comfy Socks
- Details
- Published on 28 August 2021
- Written by Michael Tatarski. Graphic by Phan Nhi.
How much thought do you put into socks?
Đại Việt Kỳ Nhân: When Vietnam's Prolific History Meets Board Game
- Details
- Published on 25 August 2021
- Written by Ann Ann. Top Image: Phương Phan.
After copious exchanges with friends from abroad, Tô Quốc Nghị had a flash of realization: just like his friends’ countries, Vietnam has always had a wicked awesome history, but the dull, uninspiring textbook lessons have misled people into thinking it’s not. Then comes Đại Việt Kỳ Nhân, an art project that aims to retell Vietnam’s glorious past through illustrations and a board game inspired by the country’s heroic figures.
'Paris by Night' Host Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn Announces Retirement Next Year
- Details
- Published on 24 August 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
Come 2022, fans of the variety show Paris by Night will miss the dulcet tones and witty banter from its veteran host Nguyễn Ngọc Ngạn.
[Photos] Memories of Hue, Quang Tri in 1967 Through the Lens of Edward Palm
- Details
- Published on 23 August 2021
- Written by Saigoneer. .
Empty streets, lines for food, shuttered shops: the last few weeks have certainly provided some strange scenes for Saigon residents.
A Lifetime Adrift: Phu Quoc Cruise Ship Crewmen Live and Work On Board
- Details
- Published on 20 August 2021
- Written by Ngọc Huynh. Photo by Ngọc Huỳnh.
In the days before our lives were disrupted again by the pandemic, I was fortunate enough to visit the remote beauty that is Phu Quoc and its many ivory beaches. On my trip, I also had the opportunity to meet with the crew members of a cruise ship whose lives and livelihoods have risen and fallen with the tides of this touristy haven.
On the Other Side of the Window: a Peek into Different Worlds
- Details
- Published on 20 August 2021
- Written by Linh. Sketches by Linh.
Saigon Designer Envisages Classic Vietnamese Transportations With Some Pizzaz
- Details
- Published on 19 August 2021
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Images by Thái Minh Triết.
What if your motorbike had rocket propulsion?
Maia Resort Reimagines Quy Nhon’s Culinary Landscape
- Details
- Published on 18 August 2021
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
While Quy Nhon is known for its seafood, one resort is trying to expand the city’s culinary reputation.
Quy Nhon has gained more attention in recent years as a peaceful town with stunning beaches and fantastic local cuisine, but its accommodation options largely consist of small local hotels, and very few of the luxury variety. The opening of Maia last fall, however, reveals a shifting landscape in that regard.
Saigoneer has made numerous trips to Quy Nhon over the years and we wanted to witness first-hand what a high-end stay would be like, and thus visited earlier this month to take advantage of the Maia Original package which includes a daily spa treatment, breakfast, and complimentary lunch or dinner for two. A short 40-minute flight from Saigon and a quick 20-minute drive down a newly constructed highway allowed us to appreciate one of our favorite Vietnamese cities in a new way.
Small details often make resort visits memorable. After resting for a few minutes and enjoying the complimentary nuts, cookies and chocolate tarts waiting for us in our room, it was off to Vẽla Spa, where special touches abound, including the entryway’s depictions of ancient coins reminiscent of those found in the nearby Tay Son treasury of Nguyễn Nhạc. The coins enabled him and his younger brother, Nguyễn Huệ, to unite the country in the 18th century. The vast majority of spas in Vietnam tend to smell like lemongrass so it was a delight to be met with aromatic, homemade cinnamon bark while sipping on a signature pandan leaf and butterfly flower welcome drink. Spa manager Vi Tran explained they use pandan because “locals here use a lot of pandan leaves in their cooking and we want to bring some of Quy Nhon to the experience.”
The subtle incorporation of Quy Nhon’s aesthetics are seen throughout Maia’s private villas, two dining rooms, and lobby. While sitting together in one of the spacious dining rooms, Maia Resort Quy Nhon General Manager Marc Bittner pointed out metal lotus artwork behind us and said they were made from repurposed oil drums, while the rooms have wooden pieces made from retired coracle boats one sees up and down the coast. “It’s easy to just pick items from a catalog to decorate your hotel,” he went on, “but we wanted to reclaim as many items as possible while using local artisans.”
These details certainly make Maia unique from other luxury resorts we have visited, but the starkest difference is the property’s aspirations to be a foodie destination. “Your food is representative of your entire hotel and the core of any property’s identity,” Bittner said. Noting the evolution of Vietnam’s dining landscape and increased interest in new and unique foods, he explained that he hopes that people will not come here just for the comfortable amenities and relaxing beach, but because it offers a world-class dining experience.
Saigoneer experienced that dining potential during dinner at Vị (“taste”), the resort’s culinary centerpiece. One expects to find Vietnamese classics and western standards at Vietnamese resorts, but not a panoply of Indonesian flavors. We were thus thrilled to learn that one of the dinners offered as part of the Maia Original special was Indonesian Rijsttafel (a Dutch word meaning "rice table"). The platter of dishes included an exceedingly rich Javanese-style creamy coconut lamb curry, braised mackerel with Balinese raw sambal, slow-braised pork ribs in a galanggal reduction, a spiced chicken stew and turmeric rice with coconut milk and pandan leaves.
Head chef Komang Widarta learned how to cook in Bali from his father, who was also a chef, so there is no surprise that the Indonesian items on the menu shine. But when working in kitchens as far-flung as New York and Spain, as well as throughout Southeast Asia, Widarta learned not only new recipes, but also the joys of using what is available nearby. This means that some of the menu’s stand-outs include a jellyfish salad that Quy Nhon is famous for, tuna tartar, and of course, the catch-of-the-day from the market just a few kilometers up the coast.
Pandan leaves make an appearance in the kitchen as they are incorporated in the rice we enjoyed, revealing Maia’s incorporation of local ingredients. Sourcing nearly everything from local farms and producers not only provides much fresher and more flavorful dishes, but also results in new and creative flavors. For example, at lunch we found Vietnamese shrimp chips and central Vietnam’s ubiquitous rice crackers to be the perfect vessel for dipping into Indonesian sambal, which is offered as a complimentary appetizer.
The rapidly developing tourism industry in Vietnam is opening up a number of new destinations for those that prefer to stay in luxury. Quy Nhon is the perfect example, and Maia is currently one of the few such options for people looking for that experience. And even when others inevitably follow in their footsteps, Maia will be able to stand out thanks to their emphasis on unique cuisines. The ease of the journey and packages like Maia Original is sure to entice people to give the up-and-coming coastal town a look.
Maia Resort Quy Nhon's Website
Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, Cat Tien, Phu Cat, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh, Vietnam
The Flob, a Band of '6 People Playing Together'
- Details
- Published on 18 August 2021
- Written by Mam. Top photo by Hoang Nguyen.
The Flob — a band of six guys who are still in college — has chosen to turn the most memorable chapter of their lives into music.
Decoding the Language of Vietnamese Modernist Architecture
- Details
- Published on 17 August 2021
- Written by Phạm Phú Vinh. Top photo by Alberto Prieto.
There is a common confusion between Vietnamese modernism and international modernism that doesn't include vernacular modernist structures in the historical discourse.
Saigoneer Bookshelf: 'Luminous Nights' Explores the 20th Century Literary Landscape
- Details
- Published on 16 August 2021
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Why haven’t some of Vietnam’s most famous early 20th-century short stories been translated into English?
How One Group Is Working to Keep Children Mentally Stimulated During Lockdown
- Details
- Published on 15 August 2021
- Written by Madeleine List. Top image by Patty Yang and Le Quan Thuan.
During Vietnam’s first COVID-19 wave, the charity organization Saigon Children worked to make sure vulnerable households had access to necessities like food, medicine and drinking water.
Cò: The Symbolic Soul of Vietnam's Countryside
- Details
- Published on 14 August 2021
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Is Chim Lạc based on a real bird?
Phạm Gia Quý, the Gen Z Film Maker who Took on International Festivals
- Details
- Published on 13 August 2021
- Written by Ann Ann. .
Phạm Gia Quý is a young filmmaker born and raised in Saigon and an alumnus of the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design.
Say Hello to Sumi, the AI Friend of Vietnam's Gen Z
- Details
- Published on 12 August 2021
- Written by Linh Pham. Top illustration by Patty Yang.
Sumi, a yellow chick wearing a pilot’s helmet, looks like it belongs on Cartoon Network. However, this character resides on apps like Messenger, Skype and Zalo, and has millions of conversations everyday.
[Illustrations] Mesmerizing Modern and Mythic Vietnam Re-Imagined
- Details
- Published on 11 August 2021
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Illustrations by Brian Hoang.
“I know this is going to sound super corny but I'm going to say it anyways; I left Vietnam, but Vietnam never left me.”
Life on the Last Remaining Ferries in Hoi An
- Details
- Published on 10 August 2021
- Written by Tran Duy Minh. Photos by Nguyen Phan.
These ferry boat trips may no longer be seen in Hoi An in the future, but they have been reliable partners in daily life and work for years.
