From 'Freeze' to 'Avcngcrs': Inside the Wacky World of Vietnam's Bootleg Toys
- Details
- Published on 01 July 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
In Vietnam, you can find a Lego set in official Lego stores or any big toy shops at high prices; but if you take a different route, you can find Lego sets being sold by small vendors for much cheaper. But those sets are a little bit different; they are branded as “Lele'' or “Lepin,” or just white Chinese characters on a red square. For decades, these bootleg toys have been a widely popular option for Vietnamese kids.
Honda to Cease Production of Super Cub 50cc, Vietnam's Beloved Bike, in November
- Details
- Published on 27 June 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Top image by. .
By the end of 2025, Honda will cease the manufacturing of all motorbikes with 50cc engines, including the beloved 50cc Super Cub, to comply with stricter emission standards.
The Unhinged Genius of the Caty Dragon Fruit Noodles Meme
- Details
- Published on 26 June 2024
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Graphic by Tiên Ngô.
-
Dragon fruit has existed in Vietnam for hundreds of years, but it wasn't until the 21st century that it made its debut in instant noodles.
Easybadwork's Free Spirits Are Rooted in Nature and the Underground
- Details
- Published on 24 June 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Cao Nhân.
A sparrow swooping across a special-edition can of Coca-Cola, the illustrations featured in the artworks of Ngọt's Grammy-nominated album boxset, or perhaps even the tattoo on a stranger you pass on the street: you have probably seen the work of Khim Đặng, the man behind Saigon fashion brand easybadwork, without knowing it. His graphic designs have graced a variety of commercial and collaborative works in Saigon, but easybadwork is his hobby business. “A true business makes you money, a hobby business makes you happy,” he told Saigoneer.
In Suburban Hanoi, With Summer Comes the Red-Purple Cascade of Mulberries
- Details
- Published on 21 June 2024
- Written by Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.
In suburban Hanoi, this is the season when mulberry branches heavy with bright red fruits dangle in the summer wind.
New Renderings Show Saigon's Plans to Revamp Quách Thị Trang Square
- Details
- Published on 21 June 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
At an estimated cost of VND157 billion (US$6.17 million), the controversial renovation work on the square in front of Bến Thành Market is set to begin this fall and be completed by April 2025.
The 1st Vietnamese Song With 1bn Views on YouTube Is About Ducks
- Details
- Published on 19 June 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
It’s not Hoàng Thùy Linh’s catchy dance track ‘See Tình’ or the crossover Mekong Delta hit ‘Con gái miền Tây,’ the first Vietnamese song to amass one billion — or bill-ion, if you will — on YouTube is a children’s song about ducks.
Revisiting the Coats of Arms of Vietnam's Major Cities Under French Rule
- Details
- Published on 18 June 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top graphic by Trường Dĩ. .
Did you know that several Vietnamese cities have coats of arms?
Sấu Ushers in a Hanoian Summer of Sweet-and-Sour Nostalgia
- Details
- Published on 17 June 2024
- Written by Văn Tân.
A former coworker called me to playfully nag me about my previous plan to visit Hanoi: “Are you waiting for all the sấu to drop before making a move?”
Live Music, Sports, Art and Activities Fill District VUI with Summer Fun
- Details
- Published on 17 June 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos by The Grand Ho Tram. .
Vietnam’s south-central coast is blessed with warm sunshine, cool waves, and relaxed vibes all year round, creating a perpetual vacation atmosphere. With school breaks and summer holidays, there is no better time to explore the tropical regions at the nexus of forest and sea.
Get to Know the Dynamic Local Art Scene Alongside 'Saigon Art Journey'
- Details
- Published on 12 June 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Urbanist Travel. .
“This is not a tour, remove that word from your minds. This is an interacting and exploring journey,” explained Angeline Gong, an experienced art host known by Saigon’s artists and galleries as Z-Gong.
10 Species of Lesser-Known Fruits to Get to Know Vietnam's Biodiversity
- Details
- Published on 11 June 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Top graphic by Trường Dĩ.
In the Vietnamese language, the suffix “cỏ” — meaning “grass” in the literal sense — is often used to signify that something is locally grown, no frills, and charmingly rustic; grassroots, if you will. Chó cỏ is the general term for the adorable mutts, usually mixes between Vietnam’s native dog species, born without the prestige of named breeds, while gym cỏ and net cỏ denote the casual gyms and internet cafes in one’s neighborhood. In the same vein of logic, may I put forth a new name for a special genre of Vietnamese fruits: trái cỏ?
Gỏi Đu Đủ Reflects the Mekong Region's Culinary and Cultural Wisdoms
- Details
- Published on 10 June 2024
- Written by Văn Tân. Graphic by Tiên Ngô.
As the cicadas begin to sing in the tamarind canopies along Pasteur Street after the first monsoon rain, vivid scenes from my formative years flash by in my mind. My cheeks became flushed and my eyes teary, but not from the harsh sun and wind, nor the frustration of losing multiple marble games; it was the sight, or rather, the scent of a papaya salad enveloped in Cô Ri pungent anchovy sauce.
Hẻm Gems: In D5, a Family Durian Xôi Xiêm Recipe Inspired by Cambodia
- Details
- Published on 08 June 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
At first glance, xôi xiêm sầu riêng — or sticky rice with egg custard and durian — may appear plain-looking, but apart from being a tasty sweet treat, this simple dish also holds stories of life during Vietnam’s post-war period.
A Pilgrimage to Sơn La, Vietnam's National Mận Capital, as a Devoted Fan
- Details
- Published on 07 June 2024
- Written by Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.
There’s a kind of sweet, sour, and slightly tannic fruit that never fails to make our mouths water every summer.
These 5 Vietnamese Poems Pay Homage to the Complexities of Local Fruits
- Details
- Published on 06 June 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top image by Mai Khanh. Motion graphic by Nhã Lê.
Fruit and poetry: the two things I love most.
Xe Trái Cây: If You Can't Find Lovingly Sliced Fruit at Home, Cart-Bought Is Fine
- Details
- Published on 03 June 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Cao Nhân.
Nature has numerous ways to make itself known: male peacocks fan out their glorious tail made up of iridescent eye-patterned feathers to attract peafowls; blue-ringed octopuses don’t need to invent any dance, just their menacing aquamarine coat is enough to warn predators about a poisonous death should they dare to take a bite; on the chaotic streets of Saigon, xe trái cây flaunt their colorful mosaics of freshly peeled tropical fruits, as plump and juicy as the divine offerings of Zeus’s banquet, to entice heat-stricken riders to stop by for a refreshing respite.
Banana Is a Paragon of Neutrality. I Propose Using It as a Metric to Rank All Fruits.
- Details
- Published on 03 June 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Line up all the world’s fruits, best to worst, taking into account every rateable aspect imaginable including taste, appearance, price, reliability and seasonality — the banana rests at the exact middle. So I've personally used it as the ideal threshold to rank every fruit I've ever eaten.
An Ode to Dried Fruit, Vietnam's Parent-Approved Way for Children to Sugar Load
- Details
- Published on 03 June 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
I first knew dried fruit as a category of munchy snacks that had my parents’ approval.
We Should Offer Gỏi Măng Cụt a Full-Time Position in Saigon's Food Scene
- Details
- Published on 30 May 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
The mangosteen salad trend hit TikTok in 2023, creating a demand that led locals to quit their jobs and take on more lucrative full-time fruit-peeling duties.
