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.
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 Nhân., 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.
On a Boat Ride Through Nhiêu Lộc Canal, a Fish's-Eye View of Saigon
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- Published on 20 March 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Cao Nhân,.
Could your life in Saigon be made into a quirky indie film?
Hẻm Gems: While the Day Away Under the Green Canopy of Cỏ Cafe
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- Published on 19 March 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Kevin Lee.
Under a thick canopy of verdant vines and minuscule pink flowers, it’s easy to indulge in the cooling comfort of a glass of iced tamarind juice and while the day away.
The Nhiêu Lộc-Thị Nghè Canal's Comeback Story
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- Published on 19 March 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Water has no hometown.
Galuocad's Artworks Create a Universe of Very-Vietnamese Whimsy
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- Published on 18 March 2024
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Illustrations by Galuocad.
Staying in one place for an extended period can lead to what's known as the "boiled frog effect."
A World of Riveting Medically Inspired Magic in Vanessa Le's YA Debut
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- Published on 15 March 2024
- Written by Stephanie Creamer.
Captured by Butchers, the “blackmarket bogey men who deal in rare goods,” Nhika Suonyasan is caged and auctioned off to the city’s elite. A figure in a fox mask attempting to purchase her is outbid by a rich family that carts her off to a mansion that boasts luxury beyond anything Nhika has ever seen. The family immediately commands her to heal a witness to the wealthy patriarch’s death.
Lemaire's Campaigns Blend Vietnam's Street Scenes, French Fashion
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- Published on 14 March 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
Stuck in traffic on a Honda Cub, but make it fashion.
Hẻm Gems: Come up, We're Watching Old Movies on the Neighbor's Wall
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- Published on 13 March 2024
- Written by Mầm. Photos by Cao Nhân.
“Thank you for contacting Khôngtrung.bar. Our business hours are 6pm to 1am, Monday to Sunday. Open doors. Cocktails, craft beer, outdoor screening — Thursday and Sunday. Thank you and we hope to bump into you in Không!”
Our Toxic Relationship With Saigon Traffic: A Diagnosis
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- Published on 12 March 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top photo by Alberto Prieto.
There is no way to describe Saigon traffic literally and have it understood by someone who has not experienced it.
