Saigoneer | Arts & Culture

Nocturnal Animals Music Livestream Series Unites Artists for Pandemic Relief

matatarski@gmail.com (Michael Tatarski. Top image via Nocturnal Animals.) — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 10:20:00 GMT

While bars and nightclubs remain closed, a special monthly livestream series starting tomorrow will give those of us in Vietnam the chance to experience nightlife without leaving the house.

An Awe-Inspiring Bird's-Eye View of Bình Định's Chăm Towers

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 05:49:21 GMT

What if memories were not collections of chemicals and electrical impulses stored in the fleshy recesses of a mind, but physical objects made of brick and stone?

Can Street Art Help Restore One of Hanoi's Poorest Communities?

khoi@saigoneer.com (Elise Luong. Photos by Bac Ha.) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 07:17:36 GMT

Can street art lead to urban restoration? Or is it wilful gentrification? In February 2020, the Phuc Tan Public Art Project officially opened — the work on display offers engaging art and stirs up intriguing questions in equal measure.

The Zoologist Who Makes Animal Origami out of Vietnam's Banknotes

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Uyên Đỗ. Photos courtesy of Liên Quốc Đạt.) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 06:55:14 GMT

What if you could make art with just VND200?

A Nguyễn Văn Tỵ Artwork Is up for Sale in Hong Kong. His Family Says It's Fake.

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 07:43:42 GMT

Nguyễn Văn Tỵ's family claims he never produced the lacquer screen of a jackfruit tree that was recently put up for bidding.

Phi Nhung, Bolero and Folk Songstress, Passes Away at 51 Due to Covid-19

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 10:17:08 GMT

Over the years, the resurgence in popularity of bolero music in Vietnam has spawned numerous new stars, but Phi Nhung’s place in the genre as a veteran chanteuse can never be replaced.

An Illustration Project Brings Life to the Pages of 16th-Century Literature

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Uyên Đỗ.) — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 08:39:46 GMT

Find yourself immersed in the world of mythical fiction through these enchanting illustrations from the art project Truyền Kỳ Mạn Lục.

'Thần Đồng Đất Việt' Author Lê Linh: 'I Will Never Stop Working With History'

khoi@saigoneer.com (Ann Ann. Top image by Phuong Phan and Patty Yang.) — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:55:45 GMT

For Vietnamese comic fans of the past two decades, the names Lê Linh and Thần Đồng Đất Việt will most definitely ring a bell.

Basket Boats: A Key Part of Everyday Life in Coastal Vietnam

matatarski@gmail.com (Adrien Jean. Photos by Adrien Jean.) — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 03:54:21 GMT

Vietnam’s narrow tube houses come from the feudal era and the tax policy in effect at the time. The feudal state charged a fee based on the width of the street-facing facade to collect taxes, pushing owners to make their house as narrow as possible.

Benefit Concert Featuring Indie Artists Plays Tomorrow to Raise Fund for Vaccines

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 09:23:34 GMT

Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Vaccine-AID-ED, a virtual benefit concert, will broadcast live on Facebook free for all viewers.

Immerse in a Serene Morning at Ngã Năm Floating Market

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 15:02:34 GMT

Floating markets haven’t completely disappeared from Vietnam’s commercial landscape.

An Ode to Gối Ôm, Our Time-Honored Sleeping Companion

paul@saigoneer.com (Lina Tran.) — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 05:15:09 GMT

There’s a scene in The Sound of Music, where Julie Andrews gazes into the future on a stormy night and envisions something holy: play clothes. She wraps herself in her bedroom curtains, a stuffy cream and sage brocade. Play clothes, she seems to resolve, that’s what the Von Trapp children need, their austere father just having interrupted their song and dance.

Born Into Traditional Craft, a Young Sculptor Finds Joy in Carving Pop Culture

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Photos courtesy of Duy Tran.) — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 13:46:18 GMT

“Even though they know deeply that it’s beautiful, they cannot feel it because it’s not familiar to them,” Duy Tran says of younger generations that gaze upon the traditional wood sculptures in his family’s factory.

Đại Việt Kỳ Nhân: When Vietnam's Prolific History Meets Board Game

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Ann Ann. Top Image: Phương Phan.) — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 13:14:11 GMT

After copious exchanges with friends from abroad, Tô Quốc Nghị had a flash of realization: just like his friends’ countries, Vietnam has always had a wicked awesome history, but the dull, uninspiring textbook lessons have misled people into thinking it’s not. Then comes Đại Việt Kỳ Nhân, an art project that aims to retell Vietnam’s glorious past through illustrations and a board game inspired by the country’s heroic figures.

'Lòng Vòng Sài Gòn' Music Video Reminds Us of the Fantastical Magic of the City

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 08:46:20 GMT

There are certain things that we tend to take for granted in life. A standard routine, moments of simple contentment, and that one cơm tấm lady who’s always been at that street corner whenever you reach home at 6pm. We wallow in regret when they are taken away; yearning for past memories and usual comforts.

On the Other Side of the Window: a Peek into Different Worlds

paul@saigoneer.com (Linh. Sketches by Linh.) — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 07:55:01 GMT

[Illustrations] 20th Century Vietnam by Thang Trần Phềnh

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 05:14:13 GMT

Time for a bit of history.

A Lifetime Adrift: Phu Quoc Cruise Ship Crewmen Live and Work On Board

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Ngọc Huynh. Photo by Ngọc Huỳnh.) — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 02:10:46 GMT

In the days before our lives were disrupted again by the pandemic, I was fortunate enough to visit the remote beauty that is Phu Quoc and its many ivory beaches. On my trip, I also had the opportunity to meet with the crew members of a cruise ship whose lives and livelihoods have risen and fallen with the tides of this touristy haven.

Saigon Designer Envisages Classic Vietnamese Transportations With Some Pizzaz

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Images by Thái Minh Triết.) — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 02:56:24 GMT

What if your motorbike had rocket propulsion?

14-year-old Vietnamese Painter Earns $23K from NFT Painting

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 06:18:52 GMT

Xèo Chu, a 14-year-old Vietnamese artist, recently auctioned his first non-fungible token (NFT) painting on the platform Binance with the winning bid of US$22,899.

It All Started With 100 Boxes of Cookies

paul@saigoneer.com (Vina Vo.) — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 11:57:25 GMT

Food is anything but apolitical.

Covid-19 Propanganda Posters Re-imagined as Đông Hồ Paintings

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Saigoneer.) — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 05:21:00 GMT

Sourcing inspiration from the traditional art of Đông Hồ, a group of young artists put a modern spin on classic paintings to deliver anti-pandemic messages through cheeky illustrations.

[Illustrations] Mesmerizing Modern and Mythic Vietnam Re-Imagined

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Illustrations by Brian Hoang) — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 02:28:09 GMT

“I know this is going to sound super corny but I'm going to say it anyways; I left Vietnam, but Vietnam never left me.”

How Vietnam's Street Artists Have Made a Global Medium Their Own

matatarski@gmail.com (Amélie Huynh Le Maux. Top image by Phương Phan.) — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 03:34:53 GMT

Graffiti, street art, urban art…living in Paris before settling in Vietnam, they were part of my daily life and wonder. Riding the metro, graffiti is everywhere along the way. Wandering around the French capital, street art pops out of every corner.

Saigoneer Podcast: Tourist Attractions & Who They're For; The Debate Over 'Essential' Goods

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Top image by Jessie Tran.) — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 02:45:23 GMT

A new episode of the Saigoneer Podcast is now available!

Review: On Debut EP 'Low,' Ho Tram Anh Sings Like a Poet Laureate for the Disconnected

khoi@saigoneer.com (Chris Humphrey. Top photo by Chris Humphrey.) — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 04:28:23 GMT

Is anyone else in Hanoi creating music as stark and affecting as Ho Tram Anh?

The World at Your Fingertips: How Vietnamese Studios Lead the Art of Artisan Keycaps

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Nhật Anh and Thế Anh. Top graphic by Phan Nhi.) — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 06:10:14 GMT

Although custom keycaps are somewhat of a recent development in Vietnam, some local artisan studios have become key players in making these tech-art fusions that bring the world to your fingertips.

Vietnam's Art Spaces Find Silver Linings in Moving Online Amid Pandemic

matatarski@gmail.com (Emma Duester.) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 04:28:17 GMT

When in February 2020, Đỗ Tường Linh’s exhibition "Foliage III," a celebration of Global South-led art, wrapped up at the Vincom Centre for Contemporary Art, so did most other events in Vietnam’s art scene.

Vietnam's Female Comics Show How to Unapologetically Be Yourself on Stage

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Thanh Thanh. Top image by Phan Nhi.) — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:25:05 GMT

In recent years, Vietnamese women have gained a foothold in Vietnam’s comedy scene, despite it largely being dominated by men. But as the industry grows, the evidence of a gender gap seems to be increasingly clear.

This New Vietnamese Lo-Fi Video Is Making Us Feel All Sorts of Emotions

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 09:08:23 GMT

After countless hours spent doing assignments alongside the OG Lofi Girl, Vietnamese netizens might find this new study companion an especially poignant addition to their daily routine.

What Happens When Artists Turn a Fishing Village Into Their Canvas?

matatarski@gmail.com (Adrien Jean. Photos by Adrien Jean.) — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 03:26:28 GMT

Imagine if your home village was suddently transformed into a giant canvas for murals.

Pháo Drops New MV for TikTok Smash Hit '2 Phút Hơn' Featuring Tyga

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 08:29:34 GMT

The song, which became a massive success thanks to its use in TikTok videos, is getting even more attention with the addition of the Californian rapper.

On the Idea of Home: Reflections From Another Covid-19 Summer

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 05:28:31 GMT

I’m writing this to remember another Covid summer. Today, Saigon continues the second round of social distancing.

Missing Saigon? Live Vicariously Through These Tender Illustrations by a Filipino Artist.

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Mầm. Top image: Phương Phan.) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 03:39:08 GMT

Having lived and worked in Saigon for two and a half years, Daniel Ansel Tingcungco, a Filipino artist, created a collection of paintings illustrating 100 beloved views of the city. The project, titled "100 Views of Saigon," was completed after one year and four months and is available to the public on the artist’s Instagram page.

Saigon Artist Đoàn Quốc Takes Watercolor Paintings to Whole New Heights

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Ann Ann. Photos courtesy of Đoàn Quốc.) — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 07:03:41 GMT

As one of the few Vietnamese nationals to have been granted the title of International Watercolor Master, young artist Đoàn Quốc is constantly pushing the frontiers of his creativity to paint a new path for Vietnam’s growing watercolor art community.

A Day in the Life of Madame Xuân, Hoi An's 85-Year-Old Vegetable Vendor

matatarski@gmail.com (Tran Duy Minh. Photos by Nguyen Phan.) — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 10:18:03 GMT

She is not famous but has silently become a part of Hoi An’s cultural beauty for years.

For Vietnam's Millennials, Sneakers Reflect American Ideals, Self-Expression and Nostalgia

khoi@saigoneer.com (Duy Nguyen. Illustration by Hannah Hoang.) — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 04:43:09 GMT

My memories of sneakers date back to when I was halfway through 7^th grade, when a pair of Chuck Taylor All Star 70’s was given to me by my parents to commemorate my good end-of-semester results. The shoes felt awkward, but the sensation of having the same sneakers that the cool kids were wearing was comparable to ecstasy.

Art That Outlives Us: The Paintings of Vietnamese American Artist Ann Phong

paul@saigoneer.com (Quynh Vo. Top graphic by Jessie Tran.) — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 07:49:47 GMT

There are two things that disconcert older-generation Vietnamese Americans in Little Saigon from those around them: fusion food and the arts; both of which evoke nothing but strangeness. Intolerable strangeness.

Sài Gòn Ơi, Let's Meet for Cà Phê Once the Pandemic Is Over

khoi@saigoneer.com (Uyên Đỗ. Graphics by Phan Nhi, Jessie Trần, and Patty Yang.) — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 03:46:51 GMT

For various reasons, some city activities that I’ve long shunned are now replaying in my mind like footage of an old home video during these days of working from home.

With Summer Comes a Glorious Lotus Harvest Season in Hoi An

matatarski@gmail.com (Adrien Jean. Photos by Adrien Jean.) — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 03:38:11 GMT

The farmers we met in these fields near Hoi An have been working their lotus farms since the end of the 1970s. The area has been a hub of lotus production in the decades since.

Glimpses of a Tranquil Hanoi From Inside 21 Days of Hotel Quarantine

matatarski@gmail.com (Morgan Ommer. Photos by Morgan Ommer.) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 10:43:29 GMT

I landed at Noi Bai Airport on May 28, 2021.

How LiveSpace, a New Music Initiative, Aims to Nurture Vietnam's Indie Musicians

khoi@saigoneer.com (Hung Tran. Photos by Visual Light for L'Espace.) — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 04:26:09 GMT

A new joint initiative towards a more realized musical landscape extends the commitment of some of Vietnam’s key cultural players.

Find Literary Divination in This Special Deck of 'Tale of Kiều' Tarot

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Thế Anh and Nhật Anh. Photos by Cecilia Vũ.) — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 03:50:02 GMT

In the world of tarot, each of the 78 cards represents a metaphysical inquiry into life and the human psyche. Meanwhile, in Nguyễn Du’s epic poem, each of the 3,254 verses offers a philosophical exploration into the pain and beauty of the human condition. As a bridge between east and west, Kiều Tarot was born to offer a refreshing take on both of these cultural artifacts.

A Halcyon Hanoi in the Art of Joseph Inguimberty, the Professor Who Taught Lê Phổ

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khoi Pham.) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 05:38:48 GMT

In 1925, Joseph Inguimberty stepped into the tropical humidity of Hanoi for the first time. Despite having been to Italy, Greece and even Egypt, the 29-year-old art professor probably couldn’t imagine that the dynamic, paradoxical, but relentlessly enchanting Southeast Asian city would become his home for the next two decades.

Fantastic Beasts of Vietnam's Mythology Reimagined by Local Student Project

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Ann Ann.) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 04:29:38 GMT

Drawing from Vietnam’s myths and legends, a young artist has created a series of illustrations of figures that pay tribute to the country’s supernatural beliefs.

At Huyen Trang Pagoda, Spirituality, Charity Campaigns and a Home for Stray Kittens

matatarski@gmail.com (Jim Selkin. Photos by Jim Selkin.) — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 01:39:24 GMT

Huynh Tan Phat, spanning many kilometers paralleling the river in District 7, is typical of many bustling streets, filled with the cacophonous rhythms of Saigon. However, cross the bridge at Pham Huu Lau, spanning the Dia Inlet, and it's as if you have entered the countryside.

Meet Tô Đậm, the Young Artists Bringing Mural Arts to Schools in Rural Vietnam

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Quyên Hoàng. Top photo by Bét.) — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 02:30:44 GMT

Tô Đậm is a non-profit organization founded by artists who share one thing in common: they all love to paint and travel. Their collective works cannot be found at any galleries or museums, even if you look. But if you’re keen on taking a cross-country trip, you might catch Tô Đậm’s bright and colorful paintings permanently residing on the walls of schools in remote corners of Vietnam.

On ‘Ếch Ếch Vol. 1,’ a Mosaic of Hanoi’s Underground Music Scene

khoi@saigoneer.com (Linh Pham. Photos by Chris Humphrey.) — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 03:55:00 GMT

Hardcore, indie, metal, folk? The latest compilation album emerging from the capital is as multifaceted as the city itself.

How Quy Nhon's Old Cemetery Slowly Expands up Vung Chua Mountain

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 14:28:38 GMT

You might miss it if you were driving past, but once you walk down a small hẻm off Quy Nhon’s main Tay Son Street, the massive cemetery sprawls in all directions.

Over 130 Artworks by Mai Trung Thứ Will Be on Display in France in June

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 05:12:40 GMT

It will be the first time many of Mai Trung Thứ's oil on canvas, paintings on silk, drawings, photographs, and lithographs will be available for public viewing.