Ngõ Nooks: On Hàng Bài, Golden Bún Cá Thái Bình in a Hole in the Wall
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- Published on 28 August 2026
- Written by Hà Tạ. Photos by Long Nguyễn.
When a friend of mine returned home after living abroad last year, he longed for a bowl of bún cá. I suggested the classic Hanoi dish, with satisfyingly oily deep-fried fish, but he had other ideas — a fresh feast originally from Thai Binh, located almost 100 kilometers from the capital.
From Fine Dining to Comfort Food: Why Chef Thierry Mounon Followed up La Villa with La Fontaine
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- Published on 27 August 2026
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos by La Fontaine.
“Beyond awards or recognition, a restaurant is about welcoming people, creating memories and bringing joy around a table,” explains Chef Thierry Mounon of his decision to expand from French fine dining into comfort food.
Review: Pieces of Me | Nao Yoshioka (feat. Mỹ Anh)
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- Published on 27 August 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
Mỹ Anh has come a long way since becoming the runner-up of The Heroes in 2021. Five years later, now with a full-length album and a spectrum of singles and extended plays under her belt, the Hanoi-based artist has proven to be one of the most dynamic singer-songwriter-producer of her generation.
Exploring Chợ Quán Asylum, Saigon’s Oldest Prisoner-of-War Camp
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- Published on 26 August 2026
- Written by Tuyết Nhi. Photos by Tuyết Nhi.
In a secluded corner of Saigon’s Bệnh viện Nhiệt đới, or Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a prison continues its century-long existence hidden from public memory and discourse.
Art Exhibition ‘Limerence’ Explores Where Romantic Desire Distorts Into Obsession
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- Published on 25 August 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
Thom Nguyen utilizes portraiture and depictions of mushrooms and organic objects to explore the concept of limerence in a solo exhibition at Permanently Closed Gallery in Thảo Điền, beginning Friday, August 28.
How Vinahouse Fosters Sonic Belonging in Modern Saigon's Queer Collectives
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- Published on 24 August 2026
- Written by Đỉnh Nguyễn. Top graphic by Vi Nguyễn.
If you spend a night wandering along Bùi Viện Walking Street and its dense concentration of bars and clubs, you will almost certainly hear the same sound spilling from multiple directions: fast, pounding basslines layered with Vietnamese pop melodies, punctuated by dramatic buildups and explosive drops. If you fall into the right algorithm on TikTok, you might encounter these same sounds circulating as background audio. This music is Vinahouse. Its ever-presence in both physical and digital spaces makes it one of the most recognizable yet least critically examined musical forms in contemporary Vietnam.
Is the Yeti Vietnamese? This Ancient Ape Might Hold the Answer.
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- Published on 23 August 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top image by Ngọc Tạ.
Can you name a Vietnamese animal that hasn’t been hunted to the precipice of extinction or become a commodified item whose flesh, fur, or feathers are only deemed significant in relation to their practical use by humans?
Inside Tế Tiêu, Home to Vietnam's Rare 'Land Puppet' Performances
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- Published on 21 August 2026
- Written by Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.
Bidding goodbye to central Hanoi, I took the National Road 21B to reach Tế Tiêu Neighborhood, a small community in Đại Nghĩa Township of Hanoi’s Mỹ Đức District. This fertile patch of land by the Đáy River is the cradle of a unique form of traditional folk art: Tế Tiêu puppetry.
How Quy Nhơn's Old Cemetery Slowly Expands up Vũng Chua Mountain
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- Published on 20 August 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen and Phuong Pham. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
You might miss it if you were driving past, but once you walk down a small hẻm off Quy Nhơn’s main Tây Sơn Street, the massive cemetery sprawls in all directions.
What Cooking Bún Chả for My Birthday Abroad Taught Me About Vietnameseness
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- Published on 18 August 2026
- Written by Khuê Anh. Graphic by Dương Trương.
“Hot summer night, mid-July, when you and I were forever wild,” Lana Del Rey croons every July 15 to celebrate my birthday. Those melodramatic words consistently evoke three specific elements in my mind: Heineken or Tiger beer cans on the floor; the sweet smoky smell of bún chả and nem enlaced with the rainy air of a darkening Saigon sky; and my friends and family under the LED-lit roof of an iCool karaoke room. Such pillars uphold what I consider the quintessential Vietnamese birthday experience.
Into Saigon's Charming Hidden Third Spaces in the Shade of Bridges
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- Published on 18 August 2026
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Photos by Nikolai Sokolov.
Third place (noun): A space outside of one's home and workplace, where people meet and interact socially.
This Suburban Hanoi House Answers 'Yes' to 'How Many Windows Do You Want?'
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- Published on 18 August 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
Do you love the tropical summer? Does bathing in the warmth of the sun spark joy in you? How many windows are enough to solar-power your everyday life? If you, too, are toiling with these existential concerns on a daily basis, perhaps this recent residential project might provide some inspiration.
Vietnam's First Authentic British Boarding School Opens
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- Published on 16 August 2026
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos by ACVN
Lào Cai: the name conjures images of expansive natural fields in the shadows of harsh mountains as well as ethnic minority communities and traditional lifestyles. Many may know that this diverse location challenges people’s assumptions about Vietnam, but few would imagine it is the setting for Vietnam's first authentic British boarding school
A Hanoi Duo Crafts Intricate Silicone and Clay Prostheses for People With Disabilities
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- Published on 14 August 2026
- Written by Diệu Anh.
“The products we make are fake arms, legs, noses, ears… from silicone. The value we create is emotional healing, giving our customers confidence in themselves and their lives — the things they lack after surgeries,” Phúc shared while introducing their products.
Hẻm Gems: Where Fish Sauce and Soy Sauce Are Not Condiments, but Gelato Flavors
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- Published on 13 August 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Jimmy Art Devier.
Living in central Saigon as a diehard fan of ice cream and all frozen sweets, I fondly remember the late 2010s–early 2020s as the age of abundance. Back in the day, across downtown, there was always a little something for ice cream fans of all preferences.
An Early View of a Barely Developed Saigon in the 1860s
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- Published on 10 August 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
Dropping a modern Saigoneer into the 1860s version of the city would be a wildly disorienting experience.
All Aboard the Languorous 35-Hour Train From Hanoi to Saigon
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- Published on 07 August 2026
- 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.
Short Film 'Mud Below, Sun Above' Reveals Daily Trials of Hanoi's Scrap Collectors
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- Published on 06 August 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
Đồng nát translates to “junk; broken materials,” but it is also a term used in northern Vietnam to describe the recycling workforce, 90% of whom are elderly women, that operate in a nation that produces 68,000 tons of solid waste every day.
Inside the Vivid, Soothing Art Realm of Vietnamese Illustration Artist Phuongsongdep
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- Published on 05 August 2026
- Written by Phương Quỳnh. Illustrations by Minh Phương.
Using her keen observation and sensitive art intuition, Minh Phương creates a colorful realm through her brushstrokes, with dynamic human figures, animals, florals, fruits, and familiar street antics. Using striking visuals as trusty companions, she expresses a hearty affection for mankind and life itself, as well as local culture and self-compassion.
Vietnam's 1969 Street Fashion Story as Told Through Honda Cubs
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- Published on 03 August 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
The very definition of cool was established decades ago in Vietnam, and it was badass women in áo dài dashing on the street in slick sunglasses.
