All Aboard Bus 146, Home of Plushies, Rubber Chickens and a Side of Humanity
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- Published on 24 June 2022
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Photo by Albie Prieto.
“Cute” doesn’t seem like a fitting descriptor for any mode of public transport, but a bus in Saigon is driving straight into the heart of Saigoneers for being the quintessence of “smotheringly adorable.”
Review: 'Maika' Is What Happens When You Take Children Seriously
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- Published on 24 June 2022
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
Maika is a loving tribute to Vietnam’s childhood icon of the 1980s, but for those who didn’t grow up with the original Eastern European series, what’s in it for us?
Charles Phan's Bánh Mì Is Not Here to Take You Down Memory Lane
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- Published on 23 June 2022
- Written by Tam Le.
“Charles Phan had more impact on Vietnamese food than any other chef in the country.” — Michael Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle.
Đom Đóm: Why the Light Is Going Out for Fireflies in Vietnam
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- Published on 23 June 2022
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Graphics by Hannah Hoàng and Phan Nhi.
Much like their brief existence on Earth, once-common fireflies are quickly disappearing from Vietnam’s natural and oral histories.
In Ninh Thuận, a Bamboo Scientist Builds the 'Great Green Wall' to Protect the Soil
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- Published on 21 June 2022
- Written by Annigje Jacobs and Brice Godard.
In Ninh Thuận Province, not far from the South-Central Coast, Dr. Diệp Thị Mỹ Hạnh, a botanist, is growing a "wall" of bamboo.
Retracing Biệt Động Sài Gòn Hideouts, Where Grenades Were Just Below Your Feet
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- Published on 20 June 2022
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Elements of Saigon’s wartime espionage efforts once relegated to secret basements, hidden crawl spaces and elaborate double lives lurk throughout downtown to this day.
Hẻm Gems: 60 Years of Guangdong-Style Chinese Food at Chợ Cũ's Chuyên Ký
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- Published on 17 June 2022
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Brandon Coleman and Alberto Prieto. Top graphic by Hannah Hoàng.
Besides being the “it” place to obtain imported goods, Saigon’s chợ cũ, or Old Market, is also a treasure trove of hidden eateries.
Review: 'U Linh Tích Ký' Shows Made-in-Vietnam Animation Prowess, but Is Light on Narrative
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- Published on 16 June 2022
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
Premiered less than 24 hours ago, a made-in-Vietnam animation project has quickly become the talk of the town in the local cybersphere thanks to its high production values and intriguing concept.
Vietnamese Students Win Earth Prize for Dragon Fruit Peel Biodegradable Sanitary Pads
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- Published on 15 June 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
A trio of Vietnamese high schoolers claimed the top prize in the environmental awareness competition The Earth Prize 2022 thanks to their project which turned dragon fruit peels into biodegradable sanitary pads.
In a D6 Hẻm, Saigon's Last Remaining Broom-Making 'Village'
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- Published on 13 June 2022
- Written by Tuyết Nhi. Photos by Tuyết Nhi.
Nestled in a hẻm on Phạm Phú Thứ Street, District 6 is Saigon’s last remaining broom-making village.
How to Navigate Coming Out to Your Parents With the Help of 3 Fairy Tales
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- Published on 10 June 2022
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
Sometimes stories can articulate what we cannot put into our own words. Fairy tales can function as long-form proverbs that allow people to identify and pass on important values, expectations and experiences regarding love, loss, longing, fate and hardships. Children often learn about the adult world through these stories, but they retain their value throughout one’s entire life.
Award-Winning Children's Book on Conservation to Release Sequel Tomorrow
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- Published on 10 June 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
Saving H'non: Chang and the Elephants, a sequel to the critically acclaimed children’s book by Trang Nguyễn, is scheduled to hit shelves on June 11 following the success of Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear.
Saigon's Mobile Laminators Preserve ID Cards, Licenses, and Occasionally, Memories Too
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- Published on 09 June 2022
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
How much would you pay for a memory? What is it worth to ensure that you’ll forever be able to recall a certain moment of happiness, important gathering, or achievement? What if I told you that all you need is a couple of bucks and some good timing?
From Commercial Releases to Heartfelt Docs: A Brief History of Vietnam's Notable Queer Films
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- Published on 06 June 2022
- Written by Linh Do.
Personally honest, socially important and commercially sexy, modern movies about gay and transgender people are among the better works of contemporary Vietnamese cinema.
Rec Tour Returns This July With Month Full of Live Music Across Central Vietnam
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- Published on 06 June 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
From a humble audio recording studio, Rec Room went from a small close-knit community of like-minded music lovers to organizing multi-event live performance tours spanning provinces.
In Chợ Lớn, Leaf-Wrapped Rice Dumplings Abound Every Tết Đoan Ngọ
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- Published on 03 June 2022
- Written by Mervin Lee. Photos by Mervin Lee.
The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar is a day of great importance in Chinese communities all over Asia.
Left Foot Brake, Right Foot Gas: Hanoi's Go-Kart Track Is Fast and Glorious
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- Published on 02 June 2022
- Written by Linh Phạm. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Moments before the engine started, I became aware of the fact that just a few centimeters of metal and plastic separated my butt and the asphalt.
Hẻm Gems: Eggs? On My Bánh Cuốn? It's More Likely Than You Think.
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- Published on 28 May 2022
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
The simplicity of an egg is an underrated beauty that we often take for granted.
'My Father’s Bàng Tree': A Poem by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
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- Published on 26 May 2022
- Written by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai. Art by Mình là Đỗ. Top graphic by Hannah Hoàng.
This poem is featured in Volume 1 of In My Ear, Your Voice Still Flickering // Bên tai tôi, giọng người vẫn chờn vờn, a three-part, bilingual collection of works by more than 20 Vietnamese artists and writers, curated by Saigoneer in collaboration with Miami Book Fair.
The Trio of 7UPPERCUTS Exist for the Love of Punk and One Another
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- Published on 25 May 2022
- Written by Tài Thy. Top graphic by Hannah Hoàng. Photos courtesy of 7UPPERCUTS.
Founded in 2017, 7UPPPERCUTS signifies a new generation of musicians who are teeming with youthful and creative energy. 7UP’s music, filled with the rebellious spirit of punk rock, not only delivers happy-go-lucky lyrics, bouncy tunes, and vivacious concerts, but also ushers in a promising era for punk in Vietnam.