A Brief History of Hanoi Rock City, a Bastion of the Indie Spirit
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- Published on 27 May 2025
- Written by Lê Vy. Photos courtesy of Võ Đức Anh and Hanoi Rock City.
Hanoi Rock City (HRC) is more than a household name for the youth of Hanoi, especially anyone who’s fond of the “Rock n Roll” culture. Nearly 15 years after its founding, HRC has become a special cultural realm, one that brings musicians and fans closer to one another on its storied stage.
Hẻm Gems: Cleopatra Restaurant Adds Egyptian Flairs to Saigon's Dynamic Food Scene
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- Published on 26 May 2025
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
As of 2024, Saigon remains Vietnam’s most densely populated metropolis, playing host to 9.5 million residents. In the quality of life discourse, this crowdedness is often singled out as a weakness deterring many from living their best life in the city. While this is absolutely a valid concern, as someone who grew up in Saigon and has adapted to urban denseness, I would be the first to point out that this population is also a strength, for without it and a sense of southern generosity, Saigon’s cultural diversity would not be the same.
These 5 Uncommon Bánh Canh Bowls Celebrate Vietnam's Regional Diversity
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- Published on 25 May 2025
- Written by Thu Hà. Illustrations by Ngọc Tạ.
Bánh canh is a quintessential Vietnamese dish. Its chewy rice noodle strands and light broth full of umami thanks to simmered pork, beef, chicken and seafood have stolen the hearts of generations of Vietnamese.
The Overwhelming Presence of Nature's Most Inspiring Sound: Cát Tiên's Gibbon Call
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- Published on 24 May 2025
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Graphics by Ngọc Tạ.
What is your favorite sound?
Letter to the People I Met as We Hid From the Rain Under a Bridge Together
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- Published on 22 May 2025
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Alberto Prieto and Pete Walls.
“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.”
— Vladimir Nabokov.
Nguyễn Thị Thành, Saigon's Beloved 'Lunch Lady,' Passes Away at 59
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- Published on 21 May 2025
- Written by Saigoneer.
Nguyễn Thị Thành, one of Saigon’s rare internationally renowned food icons known as the “Lunch Lady,” passed away earlier this week.
Revisit 1990s Saigon in 'L’Amant,' the Film Adaptation of Marguerite Duras' Famous Novel
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- Published on 20 May 2025
- Written by Tim Doling.
When filming the movie adaptation of Marguerite Duras’ 1984 autobiographical novel The Lover, French director Jean-Jacques Annaud made extensive use of Saigon locations. Here’s a run-down of the local landmarks to watch out for when you view the movie.
Has the Saigon Metro Made Suối Tiên Relevant Again in the 2020s?
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- Published on 19 May 2025
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Has Vietnam outgrown Suối Tiên Theme Park?
Hoa Bưởi's Fleeting but Fragrant Season Teaches Us to Find Beauty in Impermanence
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- Published on 18 May 2025
- Written by Văn Tân. Illustration by Ngọc Tạ.
Every year during this time, I can’t help but hanker for a taste of sugarcane infused with hoa bưởi, or pomelo blossom. Only hoa bưởi’s tender aroma can accentuate the flavor of this humble snack several folds.
In an Ever-Changing Saigon, Street Artisans Hold Fast to Dying Crafts
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- Published on 15 May 2025
- Written by Juliet Doling. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
We delve into the lives of Saigon’s artisans — an animal coconut leaf folder, a woodcarver embracing modern influences, an accomplished street corner calligrapher, and an itinerant craftsman to see what they’re doing to keep their art alive.
Hanoi's Bát Tràng Ceramic Village Turns Historic Craft Into Global Fame
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- Published on 14 May 2025
- Written by Nat Wilkins. Photos by Nat Wilkins.
Bát Tràng has been producing ceramics for over 700 years, but it’s the recent decades that interest me most: a period in which this small village has mirrored Vietnam’s rapid economic growth.
Vibrant Watercolor Paintings Take Us Back to Northern Vietnam in 1890
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- Published on 13 May 2025
- Written by Saigoneer.
Way before colored photography appeared, generations of our ancestors had to rely on the finesse of painters to create visuals records of their everyday routines. This collection of watercolor paintings from the 1890s is a particularly vivid example of that, depicting lively scenes of Vietnam two centuries ago that are full of humor and personality.
A Touch of Magical Realism in ‘The Cemetery of Chua Village’ by Đoàn Lê
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- Published on 12 May 2025
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Vietnam transitioned to a market economy like an old train lurching to life: momentous shakes and shudders, steam bursting out busted gaskets, disheveled cargo tumbling from luggage racks, sparks shooting off wheels screeching across warped rails and a whistle ripping into the placid sky.
Ngõ Nooks: From Praying for Good Grades to Opening an Eatery Together, the Story of Màu
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- Published on 11 May 2025
- Written by Meg Houghton-Gilmour. Graphic by Dương Trương.
In the soft morning light, three teenagers once stood before the Temple of Literature, whispering hopes for exam success into clasped hands. A decade later, that same trio — Triết Nguyễn, Tùng Nguyễn and Dương Nguyễn — have channeled their youthful aspirations into MÀU, a gastro wine bar directly opposite their old place of pilgrimage.
A Botanical Illustrator Captures Vietnam's Flora on Paper, One Species at a Time
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- Published on 10 May 2025
- Written by Lã Khánh Giang. Top graphic by Ngọc Tạ,
When science and art commingle in a botanical illustration, it’s as if a magical world appears, where colors, brushstrokes, and lighting work together to not only replicate but also breathe life into nature’s best creations.
Mèow Lạc on Growing up in Hanoi Rock City and Giving Voice to Cats
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- Published on 09 May 2025
- Written by Phương Phạm. Photos courtesy of Mèow Lạc.
Having just finished recording their new album, Mèow Lạc is temporarily taking time apart to focus on individual development so that, when they regroup, fresh ideas can come through.
Lúa Ma, the Mekong's Ancient Wild Rice Varieties Holding Secrets to Climate Resilience
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- Published on 07 May 2025
- Written by Lê Quỳnh.
“It’s been so long I can barely remember. It’s delicious, fragrant, soft but not sticky,” says Trần Văn Lựa, 53, a farmer from Đồng Tháp Province, south-west Vietnam, recalling the taste of wild rice. As a child, he would harvest the grain during flood season, when wild rice flowers. Today, however, it is a rare sight.
Hẻm Gems: The Unbearable Lightness of Eating Bò Lá Lốt Alone
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- Published on 06 May 2025
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
There are certain activities that are best not undertaken alone: karaoke, barbeque, watching football and feasting on ốc. The consensus, however, is still out on bò nướng lá lốt mỡ chài, so I decided to take one for the team and venture into Saigon’s thriving bò lá lốt scene as a lone wolf.
From North to South: Memories of 1990s Vietnam via the Lens of a French Photographer
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- Published on 05 May 2025
- Written by Saigoneer.
What do you miss most about the 1990s?
Cầy Mực, the Fluffy Bearcat Whose Pee Really Smells Like Popcorn
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- Published on 04 May 2025
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Graphics by Hannah Hoàng and Phan Nhi.
I won’t bury the lede. If you are wandering Vietnam’s jungles and suddenly get a whiff of an odor that transports you to the entrance of a CineStar movie theatre, don’t ready yourself for another clichéd Marvel flick. Instead, look into the trees for a cầy mực (binturong).
