For a Horror Film About an Ageless Portrait, 'Mười' Hasn't Aged Well
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- Published on 28 April 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
It’s undeniable that Mười: The Legend of a Portrait has left a lasting impression in the minds of a generation of Vietnamese, as the first collaboration between Vietnam and South Korea’s cinema industries. Watching this contemporary classic in 2024, however, made me realize that Mười has not aged well.
Hẻm Gems: At D7's Tía Tô, Home-Cooked Korean Comfort Food for the World-Weary
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- Published on 25 April 2024
- Written by Jae Shin. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Growing up in South Korea's extremely competitive and high-stress education system, combined with strict Asian parenting, my relationship with my parents has never been easy.
Hẻm Gems: Tokyo Moon Cafe Introduces Homey Korean Flavors to Japan Town
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- Published on 24 April 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
Stepping into Tokyo Moon is like venturing into a world of wonders, neatly packed within a mere 35-square-meter space.
An Ode to Photo Booths, the Korean Trend Preserving Our Memories in Time
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- Published on 24 April 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Cao Nhân.
How can photo booths be a new trend if they’ve been around forever?
Hidden in the Heart of D5, an Architectural Vestige of 1970s Vietnam-Korea History
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- Published on 22 April 2024
- Written by Leo. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên. Graphics by Hannah Hoàng and Phan Nhi.
For years now, the verdant pine green pavilion in the heart of Hòa Bình Park in District 5 has been a familiar landmark for denizens of Chợ Lớn.
The Life, Death and Legacy of 7 Pillars of Vietnam's Quốc Ngữ Literary Wealth
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- Published on 22 April 2024
- Written by Linh Phạm. Top graphic by Phan Nhi.
When I first started as a writer, I noticed that I couldn’t write in Vietnamese very well, despite the fact that I was born here. Most of my English vocabulary comes from books, so in order to improve my mother tongue, I began reading Vietnamese texts. The first one I chose was Hà Nội Băm Sáu Phố Phường, or The 36 Streets of Hanoi, by Thạch Lam. This book had been lying on my bookshelf for a long time, but that day was the first time I picked it up.
Thành Đồng's Music Is a Breath of Fresh Air in the Era of Overproduction
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- Published on 17 April 2024
- Written by Hải Yến. Photos courtesy of Thành Đồng.
Inspired by life 's simple joys, Thành Đồng delivers a sense of familiarity, earnestness, and narrative richness with every song.
Hanoi's Largest Indoor Aquarium Is Surprisingly Impressive for a Mall Attraction
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- Published on 15 April 2024
- Written by David J. McCaskey. Photos by David J. McCaskey.
I am a champion of the public aquarium. For many people, the aquarium is the only place where they can meet marine life outside of perhaps a wet market or seafood restaurant. Some research suggests that watching fish swim around can reduce stress and lower blood pressure, and that seeing marine life in their (simulated) habitats can inspire people to care more about these endangered species in their besieged environments. For the serious study of marine life, aquaria allow biologists to observe the behaviors of animals that are otherwise difficult to observe in nature. Vietnam has a few public aquaria: the Viện Hải Dương Học and Trí Nguyên Aquarium in Nha Trang, the Vinpearland-branded aquaria in Hanoi, Phú Quốc, and Nha Trang, and a handful of others. When Vietnam’s newest aquarium opened at the end of last summer, I had to go take a look.
Đà Nẵng Is Michelin's New Destination for 2024 Version of Vietnam Guide
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- Published on 12 April 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
After Saigon and Hanoi, Đà Nẵng will be the next Vietnamese city with its own Michelin Guide selections.
Social Commentary, Empathy in Nguyễn Quang Thân's Short Story Collection
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- Published on 11 April 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Nguyễn Quang Thân passed away on March 4, 2017, several weeks before I moved to Saigon. So of course I never met him, but I feel like I know him. My first introduction was via An Insignificant Family, the fictionalized memoir written by his wife, writer Dạ Ngân, which includes a description of the 10 years they spent apart, writing letters to one another from opposite ends of the nation, followed by their life together. In the years since I first interviewed her about that novel, I’ve been blessed to be adopted as her son; one of the greatest gifts of my life. No visit with her goes past without him being mentioned. For years, Nguyễn Quang Thân has simply been Ba Thân.
Postcard-Ready Vintage Album Highlights a Lonesome Hanoi in the 1920s
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- Published on 08 April 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
Looking at past albums of our cities today, I’m always stricken by a bewildering vastness — every street, every square, every building seemed to have been constructed in a ghost town, serving lonesome phantoms and nonchalant horse-drawn wagons.
Hẻm Gems: Flan by the Canal, a Cute, Affordable Date in the Age of Inflation
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- Published on 05 April 2024
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Photos by Uyên Đỗ.
Skip the formal attire, a bit of loose change is all you need for a waterfront rendezvous in Saigon.
At Bùi Chát's Painting Exhibition, a Freedom to Feel Without Preconceptions
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- Published on 04 April 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos courtesy of Bùi Chát.
Contemporary art can intimidate viewers. People often think they need familiarity with certain histories, theories, philosophies and biographies to appreciate a painting. I have friends who do not have a formal art education or extensive art background and thus think visual art is not for them.
Saigon Metro Line 1 Announces July Launch Date, Free Rides in Phase 1
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- Published on 03 April 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Photo by Michael Tatarski.
Will 2024 be the auspicious year when our legs could finally step on the metro platform for the first time?
Every Morning, I'm Grateful for My Carless Ride to Work on Hoàng Sa Street
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- Published on 28 March 2024
- Written by Brian Letwin. Photos by Brian Letwin.
In the decade-plus of Saigoneer’s existence, we’ve had six offices strewn across different parts of Districts 1 and 3. Over that period, my homes have been located in Bình Thạnh and Thảo Điền, requiring significant commuting time.
Sweating out My Sadness on the Canal's Exercise Machines
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- Published on 27 March 2024
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Photos by Cao Nhâ., Illustrations by Vĩ.
We're all unlucky in love sometimes. When I am, I go jogging. The body loses water when you jog, so you have none left for tears.
Charting the Flow of the Nhiêu Lộc Canal From Start to Historical Start
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- Published on 26 March 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Paul Christiansen.
When I fall in love with an album, I seek out the artist's first mixtapes and demos. When I come to admire a poet, I hunt down their early poems and chapbooks. I even linger over the old highlight reels of my favorite football players' college games. Understanding where something starts allows me appreciate it more. So it is with the Nhiêu Lộc–Thị Nghè Canal.
Nhiêu Lộc Canal Hosted Trudeau's Night Run. Why Is It Not as Famous as Obama's Bún Chả?
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- Published on 25 March 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Graphic by Tiên Ngô.
You know how much Vietnamese culture revolves around food by the fact that one of the first questions we pose to any foreign visitor is “What’s your favorite Vietnamese dish?” Asking about other aspects of the country could invite honest opinions that some of us might not be prepared to hear. Deep down, more than anybody else, we know that our air quality is subpar and our urban cleanliness leaves much to be desired, but our food is the one thing every Vietnamese can trust to make us proud. What easier way to foster diplomacy than to center the conversation around deliciousness?
How Nam Cao Almost Ruined My Favorite Canal Cafe
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- Published on 22 March 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Spoilers for an 80-year-old story that every student in the nation is required to read: the dog dies, the old man dies, his son's misfortunes show no sign of abetting. Simply, misery abounds at the end of “Lão Hạc.”
Hẻm Gems: In a D3 Hẻm, 40 Years of Bún Ốc and Other Northern Treats
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- Published on 21 March 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
As a resident of Saigon, I’m well-acquainted with the city's vibrant food scene, which features cuisines from various regions of Vietnam, and how these dishes blend local recipes with flavors that resonate with Saigon locals. But Bún Ốc Thanh Hải is quite the opposite. Its dishes, snacks, drinks, and even atmosphere carry a distinct northern identity, so much so that upon visiting the place, I felt as if I was on a culinary adventure within my own city.
