Saigoneer | Arts & Culture

Vietnam's Latest Tourist Attraction Is a Glass Bridge and Elevator Near Sapa

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 04:37:42 GMT

At least it's not another cable car?

[Photos] Inside Nhat Tao Market, Saigon's Biggest Informal Recycling Center

nnguyen4@trinity.edu (Nhi Nguyen with photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 09:37:54 GMT

The areas around Nhat Tao Market, spanning the border of District 10 and District 11, are well-known for their bustling economy of second-hand electronics and machines.

[Video] Saigon Studio Creates Endearing Tribute to Teachers in Animated Video

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 07:55:33 GMT

Today, at public schools across Vietnam, a festive mood fills the atmosphere as students and teachers take part in the national celebration of Vietnamese Teachers’ Day.

In November, Two Music Festivals Set to Rock Southern Vietnam

matatarski@gmail.com (Michael Tatarski. Top image by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 10:25:40 GMT

The next two weekends will be huge for live music in southern Vietnam.

Saigoneer Podcast: Our Nguyen Hue Upgrades; We're Loud Fest Organizer Peter Menchetti

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Image by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 09:37:02 GMT

A new Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!

Cà Phê, Stork, Dragon: What Should Miss Universe Vietnam's National Costume Be This Year?

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 13:53:20 GMT

Can this year’s national costume top last year’s perfect bánh mì tribute?

Crickets and Classical Music

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 02:57:45 GMT

Notes leap and prance out of bamboo flute the way a cricket prances between stalks of grass.

[Video] Nas Daily Is in Vietnam to Remind Us Why We're Happy

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 05:52:25 GMT

If you’re not content with your life right now, fret not, for travel video blogger Nas Daily is here in the flesh to remind you why Vietnam is a deliriously happy country.

With Debut Album 'Họa Âm Xưa,' Saigon Soul Revival Brings Back Old-School Cool

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khoi Pham. Photos courtesy of Saigon Soul Revival.) — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 03:20:05 GMT

From covers of old songs from the 1960s and 70s, Saigon Soul Revival now presents their own original music in an exciting debut album, a continuation both in spirit and execution of the silvery vein of nostalgia dominating Vietnamese music in recent years.

Saigoneer Podcast: Traditional Vietnamese Culture's Role in Pop Culture; Dessert Fight

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Collage by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 09:34:49 GMT

The latest episode of the Saigoneer Podcast is out now!

[Illustrations] An Emptier Side of Tokyo in Naoki Tomita's Oil Paintings

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 09:38:19 GMT

One thing that can safely be said about Tokyo is that it is not under-represented visually.

In 'Ba Lan,' a Photographer Maps the Diverse Identities of Poland's Vietnamese Diaspora

matatarski@gmail.com (Zula Rabikowska. Photos by Zula Rabikowska.) — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 12:41:20 GMT

Poland is a largely mono-ethnic country with a negative immigration rate and has one of the lowest rates of foreigners in the European Union. Even migration specialists are often shocked to hear about the substantial community of Vietnamese people who reside in Poland.

After VietJet, Vietnam Airlines Launches Direct Flights From Saigon to Bali

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer. Photo by Alberto Prieto.) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 09:50:49 GMT

The flagship carrier joins VietJet in offering direct flights from the southern metropolis to the Indonesian beach hotspot.

Saigoneer Podcast: The Lure of the 'Promised Land' and the Collapse of Mon Hue

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 09:35:07 GMT

We're back after a little break!

District 105 Leads Saigon's Metal Scene Into a Bright, Loud Future

matatarski@gmail.com (Michael Tatarski. Photos by Alexander Ray.) — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 04:57:03 GMT

"You don't listen to music like this usually, right?" Huynh Hoang Huy asks before he and his bandmates rip into another hard-driving song from their catalogue.

Vietnamme Project Explores How Vietnamese Culture Transformed Through the Eras

matatarski@gmail.com (Vietnamme Talk.) — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 13:40:18 GMT

The Vietnamme Project aims to reinterpret ancient Vietnamese cultural traditions with a contemporary outlook, via artistic and visual practices. Ahead of our first major event on December 15, we'd like to introduce readers to the historical periods we are focusing on.

Review: In Ngọt’s Newest Album, Urban Loneliness Lingers on Mellow Strings

thi@saigoneer.com (Thi Nguyen. Graphic by Hannah Hoang.) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 07:11:42 GMT

Ngot’s latest album brilliantly captures the band’s most appealing quality: the ability to walk the fine line between playful brightness and bitter profundity.

Institute of Vietnamese Costumes Officially Opened in Saigon With Discussion on Áo Dài Lemur

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 07:35:16 GMT

Historical fashion enthusiasts might find the newly minted institute a choice destination to explore Vietnam’s past clothing trends.

In a Career First, Rapper Den Vau Announces Solo Concert This November

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 06:58:43 GMT

Tickets for the concert will be available for purchase starting from 8pm today.

Singer Kacey Musgraves Draws Ire of Netizens for Sexualizing Áo Dài

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 05:11:26 GMT

The popular American singer may want to use her tour earnings to buy some pants.

[Photos] In An Giang, Buddhist Devotees Gather to Observe Uposatha Day

khoi@saigoneer.com (Kim Nhi. Photos by Kim Nhi. Translation by Khoi Pham.) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 09:22:20 GMT

In September, Buddhists in An Giang Province gathered at Tuk Phos Pagoda in Tri Ton District to observe Uposatha day together.

Saigoneer Podcast: Instagram's Impact on Tourism; the Power of 'Made in Vietnam'

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Image by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 03:49:01 GMT

A new Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!

Illegal Hotel on Ma Pi Leng Pass Becomes Center of Controversy

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 08:03:39 GMT

Located in Ha Giang Province, Ma Pi Leng Pass is known for its breathtaking views of natural beauty.

Photographer Hon Hoang on Returning to His 'Foreign Hometown' After 11 Years

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Hon Hoang.) — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 09:08:46 GMT

Saigon is changing so quickly that people who were born here can feel as if they are returning to a foreign land after years away.

Saigoneer Podcast: Victim-Blaming in 2019; the Rising Indie Music Scene

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Image by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 03:49:17 GMT

The latest Saigoneer Podcast is available now!

Through Vietnam's Stories of Coffee and Rice, a Trio Finds Where Art and History Meet

thi@saigoneer.com (Thi Nguyen. Top photo courtesy of Art Labor.) — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 02:19:59 GMT

Without notice, a gust of July rain swept through the museum of animals and plants' foyer, knocking down several paintings, strewing paper coffee cups and shattering the monitor that had been playing a short video.

[Video] Le Cat Trong Ly's New Music Video, a Career First, Is a Love Letter to Africa

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:11:24 GMT

For an artist of Le Cat Trong Ly’s caliber, it’s remarkable that the recently premiered music video for ‘Tám Chữ Có’ (There Were) is the first-ever of her career. But then again, Ly is more special than most.

Tran Huu Trang Theater Stages Free Shows to Draw Audience to Cải Lương

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 11:50:26 GMT

Like many traditional forms of theatrical arts in Vietnam, cải lương faces dwindling viewership in today’s society, a problem that theater owners are trying to rectify by offering free shows.

[Photos] The Vietnamese Origami Master Turning Paper Into Lively Artwork

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 10:05:53 GMT

For the average Joe, a paper crane is perhaps the most advanced foray they could undertake into the intricate art of origami. Artist Nguyen Hung Cuong, however, has managed to transcend the limits of existing origami instructions to create his own designs and become one of Vietnam’s forefront figures in origami.

Saigoneer Podcast: Convenience Stores Take Over Saigon; Social Media Literacy

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 03:49:43 GMT

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!

[Video] Saigon's Silly Little Moments as Seen Through a Tilt-Shift Video Feature

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 06:13:44 GMT

Tilt-shift videos probably aren't new to most readers, but this particular entry in the genre is noteworthy for its playful sound effects and the comical moments it captures.

Saigoneer Podcast: Mooncakes and 'Rubber and the Making of Vietnam' Author Michitake Aso

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Image by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 03:50:06 GMT

The podcast is back after a two-week break!

A Brief Primer of Asia's Mid-Autumn Mythology in 3 Folk Tales

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khoi Pham.) — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 01:35:20 GMT

There’s something for everyone during Tet Trung Thu season, as the arrival of mid-autumn comes with a wide variety of customs and traditional fare.

[Video] Louis Vuitton Seeks Vietnam's Help to Sell Bags in New Campaign

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 08:25:28 GMT

Each year, Louis Vuitton’s "Spirit of Travel" advertising campaign picks a new location for its crew to travel to and film.

Nguyen Van Thong, Who Captured Thich Quang Duc’s Self-Immolation, Dies at 94

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 04:27:22 GMT

Although American photojournalist Malcolm Browne is famous for his photos capturing the historical moment in 1963, Browne wasn’t the only one at the scene with a camera.

Street Photographer Group to Host Saigon Photo Exhibition

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 06:09:11 GMT

The first edition of the Saigon Photo Walk (SPW) exhibition features eight photographers, showing eight different points of view and eight ways of looking at the same city.

The Harrowing History of Vietnam's Rubber Plantations

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Illustrations by Hannah Hoang.) — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:30:11 GMT

"Oh it’s easy to go to the rubber and hard to return, / Men leave their corpses, women depart as ghosts."

[Illustrations] Masashi Shimakawa Draws Snippets of Everyday Japanese Life In Colorful Complexion

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 04:13:39 GMT

Each artwork acts as a point through which viewers are transported to a different dimension of reality.

The Wholesome Encounter Between Kacey Musgraves and a Vietnamese-Run Vintage Photo Lab

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer) — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 03:58:49 GMT

A small mom-and-pop operation in Los Angeles got a massive publicity boost thanks to a happenstance visit from country music superstar Kacey Musgraves.

VietJet to Start Flying From Da Nang to Taipei in December

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 07:35:40 GMT

The low-cost carrier is currently operating eight routes connecting Saigon, Hanoi and Da Nang to four Taiwanese cities including Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung.

[Photos] Tinker Tailor Painter Bike: The Quiet Life of Saigon's Older Residents

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Hoang Trung Hieu.) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 09:30:58 GMT

In this series of film photos taken by Saigon resident and coffee genius Hoang Trung Hieu, citizens of varying stripes are captured in spontaneous action. Some are working at restaurants, others are doing manual labor, and — unsurprisingly — some are simply sitting and reading the newspaper.

Saigoneer Podcast: 'The Tale of Kieu,' New Social Networks and Music Writer Thuc Dang

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Image by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 03:50:34 GMT

The jam-packed latest episode is online now!

[Video] The Classic Tale of Mid-Autumn Retold Through Dazzling Visuals

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 09:39:16 GMT

The short animated animated short shimmers with millennial style and subversive salesmanship.

[Illustrations] An Illustrated Alphabet of Vietnam's Tropical Fruits

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khoi Pham. Illustrations courtesy of Turtle Phuong.) — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 09:47:13 GMT

Varying climate patterns and geographical topography have bestowed Vietnam with an impressive biodiversity. From temperate fare hailing from the Central Highlands like avocados, coffee and strawberries to the Mekong Delta’s smorgasbord of tropical snacks, the country is a veritable paradise for fruit lovers.

Saigoneer Podcast: Historical What-Ifs and a Street Food Update

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Illustration by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 03:50:55 GMT

We've hit episode 60!

Bamboo Airways Receives Nod to Expand Fleet Despite Financial Loss

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 05:31:17 GMT

According to a report from the Ministry of Finance, at the end of April this year, Bamboo Airways recorded a loss of US$14.2 million.

Coracle Music Festival Returns to Ho Tram for Second Edition

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Photos courtesy of Coracle Music Festival.) — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 07:09:51 GMT

After a successful first edition last year, the music festival will be held on the beach in Ho Tram for the second time November 29–30.

VNA to Provide In-Flight WiFi Service Later This Year

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 04:13:32 GMT

What a time to be alive.

Saigoneer Podcast: The Evolution of Pets in Vietnam; the Significance of 'Ghost Month'

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Image by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 03:51:16 GMT

We're back with a new episode!

[Photos] Rare 20th-Century Dong Ho Paintings Depict a Society in Flux

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 05:14:35 GMT

The well-known woodcut folk paintings have always offered unique insights into the times during which they were produced.