'Longings' Brings 22 Stories by Vietnamese Female Writers to the World
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- Published on 11 May 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Where are all the female writers?
Monotonous Viet-Dubbed K-Dramas Were the Soundtrack of My Childhood
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- Published on 09 May 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Graphic by Tiên Ngô.
When I was growing up, my family owned a broken TV whose screen would unexpectedly go black while the audio continued to play. Turning it off and on again a couple of times would fix the problem, but it was such a hassle that sometimes we just let it be. It was stationed in our dining room, and my parents loved putting on Korean dramas when we were eating. So whenever I reminisce about my childhood, the sound of dubbed K-dramas always plays the background.
On Returning to K-Drama, the Glue Bringing My Mom and Me Close Together
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- Published on 06 May 2024
- Written by Ngọc Hân. Top graphic by Tiên Ngô.
Before Squid Game became an international phenomenon and put K-dramas on the world map, audiences in Asian countries including Vietnam were enthralled by Boys Over Flowers, The Medical Brothers, Terms of Endearment, Dae Jang Geum — all of which are classics that we still look upon with nostalgic affection.
Hẻm Gems: Sip on Mugwort Lattes, Make Ceramics, and Unwind at Haru Cottage
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- Published on 03 May 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Cao Nhân.
“I’m basically Demi Moore from Ghost,” this intrusive thought plagued my mind occasionally during our visit to Haru Cottage to participate in the cafe’s ceramic class.
What to See, Taste, and Do on a Late-Afternoon Walk in Phú Mỹ Hưng
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- Published on 03 May 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Cao Nhân. Top graphic by Trường Dĩ.
There are probably Saigoneers who will grow old without ever setting foot in Phú Mỹ Hưng, just like how several of my relatives living in District 8 have never visited Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street. Having grown up in the southern district too, I’ve gone three decades without visiting Cần Giờ or District 12, though our proximity with District 7 means I’ve gotten a few chances to get to know Phú Mỹ Hưng.
Ngõ Nooks: Bingsu, Folk Crafts, and Hanboks at Hanoi's Hayoon Cafe
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- Published on 02 May 2024
- Written by Oliver Newman. Photos by Oliver Newman.
“What inspired you to open a Korean cafe?” I ask Giang, the manager of Hayoon Cafe in Nam Từ Liêm, a popular Korean district in Hanoi.
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.
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.
