Saigoneer | Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Podcast: The Food Authenticity Debate

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Image by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 04:10:23 GMT

The latest podcast episode is available now, and we've got a new recording sound!

Vietnamese Version of Michelle Obama’s Memoir Released in Vietnam

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 04:44:39 GMT

On July 16, First News - Tri Viet officially released the Vietnamese version of Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming.

[Illustrations] The Illusory, Colorful Retro Japan of Kyoko Nakamura

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 07:28:28 GMT

These eye-catching illustrations articulate Japan's hyper dualities.

[Video] Watch the Cheeky Anti-Plastic PSA That's Taking Vietnam's Cybersphere by Storm

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 08:23:02 GMT

A plastic bag’s life is five times that of an average human.

[Video] Sidewalk Barbers: A Glimpse of Old Saigon

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Anh Nguyen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 06:00:00 GMT

Sidewalk barbershops are a symbol of old Saigon. In the face of globalization and its demands for westernization, the sight of a simple chair placed beneath an awning where one can get an affordable trim just a few meters from a busy street is gradually vanishing.

Saigoneer Podcast: Nhậu Roundtable Special & Laiday Refill Station Co-Founder Quyen Nguyen

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Illustration by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 05:19:06 GMT

The new Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!

Over 77% of Foreign Tourists in Vietnam Are From Asia, Statistics Office Says

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 04:55:16 GMT

Tourists from the Americas make up the second-largest group of foreign arrivals in Vietnam.

Vingroup Establishes New Airline Vinpearl Air, Aviation Training Centers

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 04:25:02 GMT

The Vietnamese conglomerate continues its relentless expansion.

[Illustrations] The Beauty of Saigon Street Carts Through the Eye of Its Beholder

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 10:34:26 GMT

It’s easy to take Saigon street cart culture for granted, but it only takes the discerning eyes of an artist to remind us once again why these carts are the cornerstone of our urban tapestry.

Saigoneer Podcast: Domestic Tourism's Rise & the Son Tung-Snoop Dogg Music Video

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Illustration by Hannah Hoang.) — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 04:36:37 GMT

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!

Inside 'Summer Rolls,' the First British-Vietnamese Play in the UK

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 08:14:33 GMT

Summer Rolls is currently being staged at the Park Theater in London until July 13.

Vietnam Airlines Increases Carry-On Weight Limit From 7kg to 12kg

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 03:54:15 GMT

The national airline has increased the carry-on luggage weight limit from seven to 12 kilograms for economy tickets.

[Video] Disney Releases Adorable Short Set in Thailand's Floating Markets

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 04:55:21 GMT

It's fried rice versus pineapple when Micky and Minnie Mouse battle in this Walt Disney short that has spawned a variety of memes.

[Illustrations] A Calendar Features Famous Phantoms in Vietnamese Folklore

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 07:15:38 GMT

Demon henchmen, a vampire and even a hero get their own month alongside the year's lunar animal in this colorful calendar.

Saigon Postcard No. 17: Our Love and Hate for the Rainy Season

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Illustrations by Hannah Hoang.) — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 05:27:13 GMT

The monsoon season's heavy clouds carry a chaos of conflictions.

Sunju Hargun, Anh Vy, Datodeo and Boris @ The Observatory

no_email@example.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 08:09:56 GMT

We’re happy to welcome another first-timer into our booth: Sunju Hargun has been making waves and interesting sounds in our region for quite a while now, and is an undisputed, key-driver of the Bangkok electronic scene.

VietJet Announces New Direct Flights From Saigon, Da Nang to Tokyo

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 04:48:58 GMT

Direct routes will connect Tokyo with Da Nang and Saigon.

[Video] Worlds Collide in New Son Tung M-TP Single Featuring Snoop Dogg

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 07:42:08 GMT

You heard that right.

[Photos] The 1970s Girl Gangs That Inspired Japanese Pop Culture and Fashion Rebels

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 16:27:36 GMT

With razor blades hidden under modified school uniforms, sukeban represented both terror and solidarity.

[Photos] A Glossy Design Project Seeks to Make History an Intriguing Subject

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 07:46:28 GMT

Lasting from 1225 to 1400, the Tran Dynasty was a prosperous era in Vietnamese history filled with heralded art, music and culture, in between three victories over Mongol forces.

[Photos] The Ghostliness That Inspired the Fine Arts Museum's Haunting Rumors

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 07:53:42 GMT

Do humans invent ghost stories to compensate for our inability to come to terms with the brutal, capricious nature of death, or do we spend significant energy suppressing the truth of the supernatural while, despite our best efforts, tales of the paranormal continue to seep out?

[Video] Hoang Thuy Linh's 'Vo Chong A Phu' Video Is a Popping Literature Party

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 10:27:48 GMT

From one of Vietnam’s classic literature works to internet meme to a full-fledged music video: Mi from ‘Vo Chong A Phu’ is truly a cultural icon.

Saigoneer Podcast: One Thing We Would Change About Saigon & Preserving Architectural Heritage

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Illustration by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 07:15:41 GMT

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!

The Discomforting Poetry of Vietnamese Cursed Image

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khoi Pham. Graphic by Hannah Hoang.) — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 08:13:55 GMT

The page description of Vietnamese Cursed Image (VCI) has a single line: “how did you get here?” — a question I find myself asking often.

[Photos] Tractors and Cabbages: A Different Da Lat Away From Urban Chaos

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 09:07:02 GMT

Not looking for a fancy destination, I sought out Da Lat for a different perspective that’s comfier, simpler and quieter.

[Video] Hong Kong Ballet Dancers Take Over the City in This Surreal Short

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 08:01:24 GMT

Who said ballet has to be stuffy?

Saigoneer Podcast: The War on Plastic and Our Vietnam Superpowers

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Illustration by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 05:39:55 GMT

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!

Local Filmmaker Thang Soi Launches Vietnam-Centric Stock Footage Service

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 04:26:45 GMT

Thang Soi is well-known for majestic flycam projects such as Vietnam - Dream of Unity (Non Song Mot Dai) and Vietnam From Above. Thang also does commercial work for flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and creates other tourism promotional content.

[Photos] An Eerie Tokyo in the 1970s by Canadian Photographer Greg Girard

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 05:23:23 GMT

Born in 1955, Greg Girard is well-known for his photography work in some of Asia's largest cities.

National Assembly Member Suggests Imposing Departure Tax on Citizens, Tourists

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 06:08:01 GMT

The implementation of a departure tax, an elector of the National Assembly argued, could bring in additional revenue to improve Vietnam’s tourism infrastructure.

Art Experts Call for 'Rescue' of Colonial Era Murals Blocked by Buildings

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 09:16:23 GMT

The murals are the brainchild of the first and second class of students and teachers of the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine (Indochina College of Fine Arts), a French-established school that is now the Vietnam Fine Arts University.

[Illustrations] A Calendar Created Specifically for Saigon's Wet and Dry Seasons

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 05:21:10 GMT

Saigon is in the midst of a full-on rainy season whose watery mood swings almost make us miss the heat of the dry season.

[Photos] The Island in Hong Kong That's Completely Free of Traffic

matatarski@gmail.com (Michael Tatarski. Photos by Michael Tatarski) — Sun, 16 Jun 2019 03:44:25 GMT

Hong Kong is famed for its incredible population density and vertiginous skyline, where streets are hemmed in by concrete canyons of towering high-rises.

On Connecting With a City Through Urban Sketching

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 04:10:48 GMT

Louis Barnard, who is originally from South Africa and has lived in Seoul, Hanoi and now Saigon, uses art as a way to connect with the cities he calls home.

[Video] A Serene Glance of Ninh Binh

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 10:05:27 GMT

Towering karst formations, light seeping in through the watery entrance to a cave, bananas sold out of shoulder-slung bamboo baskets by an old lady: clichés about Vietnam exist for a reason, and it can sometimes be satisfying to embrace them.

Review: 'The Third Wife' Champions Silenced Women, Then Falls Victim to Silencing

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khoi Pham.) — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 04:38:51 GMT

Rarely has there been a Vietnamese film that ignited such impassioned, polarizing responses from the public. During its four days in theaters, The Third Wife awed, inspired, saddened, charmed, flustered, inflamed and enraged its audience (and non-audience) like never before.

[Video] Watch the Impressive Trailer of Nguyen Dynasty Historical Drama 'Phuong Khau'

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 11:14:42 GMT

Phuong Khau is an original series set during the Nguyen dynasty, chronicling the life of Empress Dowager Tu Du, the mother of Emperor Tu Duc.

5 International Artists of Vietnamese Descent to Add to Your Playlist Now

matatarski@gmail.com (Thuc Dang. Graphic by Hannah Hoang.) — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 04:00:58 GMT

Although both V-pop and Vietnam's independent scene are on the rise, leading to many interesting conversations about where Vietnamese music is heading, on this playlist we want to instead focus on some international artists who happen to be of Vietnamese ancestry.

Vietnam's Homestay Boom Brings About Both Promise and Perils

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 10:47:32 GMT

As tourism booms, people across the nation are transforming their homes into rentable accommodation, a potentially lucrative but also risky endeavor.

Saigoneer Podcast: 'The Third Wife' Controversy and Vietnam's Protein Consumption

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Illustration by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 10:42:33 GMT

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!

[Photos] After Bánh Mì, Altar Might Be Vietnam's Next Miss Universe National Costume

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Fri, 31 May 2019 03:36:55 GMT

Remember the bánh mì dress? She’s dead, and this horrible design murdered her.

[Illustrations] 10 Endangered Species of the World as Illustrated by a Chinese Designer

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 29 May 2019 11:02:14 GMT

In the decade of millennials, putting endangered species on hip T-shirts might be one of the best ways to raise awareness of biodiversity.

Le Pho Painting Sets Record for Most Expensive Vietnamese Art Sold at Auction

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Wed, 29 May 2019 04:03:46 GMT

'Nude,' or 'Nue' in French, is an oil painting by famed 20^th-century Vietnamese artist Le Pho. It was recently sold for US$1.4 million, more than 2.5 times its expected value at an auction at Christie's in Hong Kong last Sunday.

Vietnamese Short Awarded Illy Prize at Cannes Film Festival 2019

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 28 May 2019 05:43:48 GMT

Director's Fortnight is an independent event running parallel to the main Cannes Film Festival, organized by the French Directors Guild starting in 1969.

Quang Binh Homestay Owners Struggle in Price War Against Major Hotels

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Mon, 27 May 2019 08:52:42 GMT

Price reduction by companies with deep pockets disproportionately harms homestay proprietors, who used to be farmers living near Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park.

Saigoneer Podcast: The Laughing Gas Debate and Our Favorite Sauces

matatarski@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Illustration by Hannah Hoang.) — Mon, 27 May 2019 04:12:37 GMT

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!

[Photos] How a Taiwanese Grandpa Used Art to Save His Village From Demolition

ducbaotran00@gmail.com (Saigoneer.) — Sat, 25 May 2019 07:08:50 GMT

An abandoned 1,200-household village in Taichung, Taiwan was about to be torn down, but its last resident ended up transforming it into a huge, well-known masterpiece.

Saigon Postcard No. 16: Rainstorm Inspiration

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Illustrations by Hannah Hoang.) — Sat, 25 May 2019 04:58:28 GMT

While the rainy season's flooded streets, soaked satchels and delayed appointments can make one curse its arrival, sometimes when the torrent hits the neon storefronts just so, it becomes a source of inspiration.

[Photos] Saigon Boulevard: The 9 Buildings You Miss in Saigon

thi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Thu, 23 May 2019 14:15:57 GMT

Lys Bui is a Saigon-born illustrator who is currently living in New York.

Saigoneer Bookshelf: Direct Routes to Whimsy in 'Ticket to Childhood'

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Photos by Kevin Lee.) — Wed, 22 May 2019 08:35:46 GMT

Children can “hear the music and see the colors of letters on a page — magic portals to a wilderness without fixed meanings… all adults see are the neat rows of black lines, the building blocks of definitions,” according to the narrator in Ticket to Childhood. Nguyen Nhat Anh's book reminds readers how wonderful it was to see the world with such an imaginative vision.