How Tùng Writes Modern-Day Fables in Both His Audio and Visual Arts
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- Published on 10 December 2021
- Written by Huyền Phạm. Top photo by Linh Lê.
Tùng admits that he writes lyrics and sings based on imagery in his imagination. Listening to Tùng’s music or perusing his artworks, one might feel as if they’re being enticed into a poetic world that the musician has created. It’s a space of “a purple-hued heart and self,” as he describes himself in his online bio.
Hoi An Signs Agreement With Four Paws to Cease Consumption of Dog, Cat Meats
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- Published on 10 December 2021
- Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Alberto Prieto.
The move is certainly a step in the right direction, though it remains to be seen which concrete steps local authorities will take to honor their promise.
Lego to Build First Carbon-Neutral Factory in Binh Duong
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- Published on 09 December 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam is set to produce the beloved bricks as regional demand for the Danish toy rises.
A Typographic Tribute to Áo Dài in This Elegant New Typeface
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- Published on 06 December 2021
- Written by Lê Quan Thuận and Uyên Đỗ. Images courtesy of Đỗ Trọng Đạt.
Đạt Đỗ, a graphic designer based in Ho Chi Minh City, is embracing local culture through the release of a brand-new typeface, Vén.
Saigoneer Podcast: Rating 'Bonjour Vietnam,' Plus Waterbus v. Metro
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- Published on 06 December 2021
- Written by Saigoneer. Top image by Phan Nhi.
After a brief Covid-related break, we're back with a new episode!
Hẻm Gems: One Bowl, Two Noodle Dishes, and Heaps of Hometown Glory
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- Published on 05 December 2021
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
On the slope connecting Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan districts lives a small pocket of Quang Nam culinary spirits — in the form of “two-in-one” noodles.
Graffiti Artist Nguyễn Tấn Lực Is Serious About Changing Public Opinion of Street Art
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- Published on 04 December 2021
- Written by Mầm. Photos courtesy of Nguyễn Tấn Lực.
As an art form deeply rooted in the streets, graffiti embodies the liberation of creativity from strict societal framing. But like other street creations, it’s never free from public scrutiny due to its urban origin and settings. Nguyễn Tấn Lực, a local artist with 10 years' worth of "street cred," is here to change that.
Liberation Radio: The Ultimate Message of Peace Through Audio Broadcast
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- Published on 03 December 2021
- Written by Bảo Hoa. Images courtesy of the artists.
An audio-visual installation at Manzi Exhibition Space followed in the footsteps of the American military deserters who opposed the war in Vietnam.
[Photos] This Petite Abode Brings Adaptability and Comfort to the Forefront
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- Published on 02 December 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
Big, spacious homes certainly have their appeal, but sometimes all you need is a cozy little abode.
The Vietnamese Man Who Makes America's Most Sought-After Tofu
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- Published on 30 November 2021
- Written by Tam Le.
Twenty years ago in America, tofu was considered, at best, a bland, tasteless, hippie meat replacement, and at worst, a dangerous, highly processed food product that would allegedly cause men to grow breasts and women to develop breast cancer (even though the opposite is true). It was at that time that one Vietnamese refugee decided he would take back tofu.
[Photos] A Shopping Trip in Ben Thanh Market in 1938
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- Published on 30 November 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
Dried fish? Pomelo? A chicken? Heels? Plates? Perhaps a fizzy soft drink or simple meal on the street? What is on your shopping list when you go to Ben Thanh Market?
A Gia Lai Entrepreneur Brings Her Hometown's Brocade Art to Modern Jewelry
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- Published on 29 November 2021
- Written by Hải Yến. Photos courtesy of theMay.
Vũ Thị Thanh Vân had a simple wish: she wanted to find a well-crafted brocade gift for a friend but the only items she could find were generic, run-of-the-mill fillers sold at tourist sites. Thus began Vân’s dabbling in fashion entrepreneurship three years ago.
Filmmaker Hà Lệ Diễm Wins Best Directing Award at Documentary Film Fest
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- Published on 26 November 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
Children of the Mist (Những Đứa Trẻ Trong Sương) is the debut long feature of Vietnamese documentarian Hà Lệ Diễm.
All Aboard the Languorous Train From Hanoi to Saigon
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- Published on 26 November 2021
- Written by Abdelaziz Ibrahim. Photos by Abdelaziz Ibrahim.
The train connecting Vietnam’s largest cities takes 35 hours. Yet even after the first time I finished the trip, I was already coming up with excuses for why I needed to do it again. For me, the journey is much more than a chance for great views and time to reflect. It’s an exploration of life itself.
[Photos] Đen Đá's Phù Đổng Outlet Sets Itself Apart in a Busy Roundabout
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- Published on 24 November 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
If one is looking for upside in the proliferation of cafe chains across Saigon, we would argue that the more locations there are, the more chances there are for architects to get more creative than your usual coffee spot.
Year of the Tiger Through Tết Artworks by Vietnamese Illustrators
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- Published on 23 November 2021
- Written by Saigoneer. Images courtesy of Tired City.
“Lịch Con Hổ” (The Tiger Calendar) is an initiative to raise funds for Hanoi-based NGO Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. The creative project was brought to life thanks to a young artist collective and merchandise brand Tired City.
An Early View of a Barely Developed Saigon in the 1860s
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- Published on 23 November 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
Dropping a modern Saigoneer into the 1860s version of the city would be a wildly disorienting experience.
Bồ Kết: When Nature Dreams of Bubbles and Silky Hair
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- Published on 22 November 2021
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. .
The first memory I have of bồ kết was when it was concocted into something completely different from its unassuming, modest self.
Not Just Tender and Unostentatious, Mạc Mai Sương Is a Multi-Faceted Gem
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- Published on 21 November 2021
- Written by Ann Ann. Top image by Hải Anh. Photos courtesy of Mạc Mai Sương.
Mạc Mai Sương, with her endearing curly hair and warm tone of voice, has been on heavy rotation in our playlists since she released ‘Mơ,’ ‘Hoa,’ and ‘Mưa.’ But upon delving deeper, one would realize that Sương’s musicality is much more eclectic than the mellow songs she’s known for.
In a Schoolyard, a Close-Knit Community Spearheads Saigon's Archery Scene
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- Published on 20 November 2021
- Written by Mầm and Nhật Anh. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
Laser-focused gazes, shiny bows, colorful targets, and looking cool as hell: these are the components of a picture-perfect post one might find on the Instagram of any budding archer. But social media clout aside, there are other reasons why outdoor archery is slowly becoming a favorite pastime of some Saigoneers in the “new normal.”
