Saigoneer | Arts & Culture

Under the Sky, Above the Water: Into the Heat at Ninh Thuận's Salt Fields

khoi@saigoneer.com (Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.) — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 03:36:06 GMT

A 3,000-kilometer coastline is one of nature’s best gifts to Vietnam, bringing about not just ample seafood, but also a motherlode of sea salt.

Enter the Dreamy Tales Told by the Works of Young Illustrator Thố Đầu • Hổ Vĩ

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen.) — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:55:14 GMT

Being born at the cusp of the Year of the Rabbit (cat) and the Year of the Tiger offers the literal meaning for Hoàng Phúc's artist name, thố đầu • hổ vĩ, but he hopes it carries a metaphorical one, as well: “a humble beginning but a positive end,” he explained to Saigoneer. thố đầu • hổ vĩ’s origins may be humble — he started seriously focusing on illustrations just four years ago when he started university — but he has already reached remarkable achievements, as evidenced by three projects he shared with us.

Summer Nostalgia by the Sea: La Veranda Resort – MGallery Unveils a Golden Escape

paul@saigoneer.com (La Verand Resort. Photos by La Veranda Resort.) — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:10:10 GMT

Summer travelers are invited to step into barefoot elegance on Phú Quốc’s storied shores.

Bask in the Morning Sun in the Green Heart of Huế Along the Hương River

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khôi Phạm. Photos by Khôi Phạm.) — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:14:22 GMT

As tourists, it's in our built-in compass to seek out novelties and excitements, if anything, to remind us that our daily humdrum is not everything, and there exists a world out there with multitudes to explore.

More Than Just Prosperity, Ông Địa Is My Personal Patron Saint of Misplaced Things

khoi@saigoneer.com (Ý Mai. Photo by Alberto Prieto.) — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 08:32:30 GMT

I was maybe seven when I first clasped my hands and whispered a plea to Ông Địa.

An Homage to the Sounds of Saigon Past That Are Going Extinct

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khôi Phạm. Graphic by Mai Phạm.) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:34:00 GMT

After someone or something reaches the end of their days, which aspects of their existence in the minds of those who remain would be the first to succumb to the erosive brush of time? Is it sight, smell, touch, taste, or sound?

Chùa Một Cột in Thailand Reminds Me of the Familiar in an Unfamiliar Land

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần. Photos by An Trần.) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:56:51 GMT

On my last full day in Khon Kaen, Thailand, I was on a mission to catch the sunset, although the cloudy and gloomy sky didn’t give me much hope. Instead, I randomly stumbled upon a gate with signs written in Vietnamese. Out of curiosity, I decided to walk in, and the farther I walked, the more clearly I spotted a familiar image from afar: a one-pillar pagoda standing right on the edge of the reservoir.

In Tây Hồ, an Artisan Community Holds Fast to Their Lotus Tea Traditions

khoi@saigoneer.com (Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:38:15 GMT

Every sip of lotus tea encapsulates all the essences of the natural landscapes of Tây Hồ.

New Tarot Deck Uses Traditional Motifs, Legends and Folk Wisdom to 'Speak Vietnamese'

paul@saigoneer.com (Ý Mai. Photos by Nguyễn Hữu Đức Huy.) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:06:24 GMT

Tarot decks can feel written in a foreign language.

'Đây Ngồi Ráp Việt' Pixel Art Project Turns Vietnam's 63 Provinces, Cities Into Model Kits

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khôi Phạm. Illustrations by Callmebu.) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 04:07:40 GMT

How many of us can identify all 63 localities in the current administrative map of Vietnam? Who has been to all of them? Who can name all the 54 ethnicities of Vietnamese across the country? These are all surprisingly hard things to do considering the average citizen doesn’t travel to other provinces often, and if they do, few actually stray from popular tourist destinations.

Between Motion and Stillness, Huỳnh Công Nhớ Explores Memory and Belief in ‘Mắt Nhớ'

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần. Photos courtesy of Gallery Medium.) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 04:42:45 GMT

Drawing on themes of childhood memories, human beliefs and spirituality, filmmaker and painter Huỳnh Công Nhớ moves between the worlds of cinema and painting, inviting viewers on a journey in search for the quiet beauty in life’s simplest moments.

An Ode to Our Childhood Games and the Days of Being Wild

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Thảo Nguyên. Illustrations by Ngọc Tạ.) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:54:10 GMT

This season, chò seeds drift through the air, their tiny wings twirling in the wind before settling softly onto pathways. It feels as if someone, unseen, has scattered a handful of memories across the breeze. I watch from under the eaves as each chò wing tilts and dances. The sight takes me back to a courtyard echoing with the laughter of children, caught up in the games we knew by heart — nhảy dây, bịt mắt bắt dê, ô ăn quan, bắn bi. Summer, in those days, wasn’t only about the blazing sun. It lived in the whirl of chò seeds overhead, the humming cicadas at noon, and the tender chaos of our childhood.

In Chợ Lớn, Leaf-Wrapped Rice Dumplings Abound Every Tết Đoan Ngọ

paul@saigoneer.com (Mervin Lee. Photos by Mervin Lee.) — Fri, 30 May 2025 05:13:23 GMT

The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar is a day of great importance in Chinese communities all over Asia.

Bạch Nam Hải’s Documentary Photo Series Captures Sapa's 7 Years of Transformation

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần. Photos by Bạch Nam Hải.) — Thu, 29 May 2025 10:39:43 GMT

From the town to the depths of the misty mountains of Sapa, Bạch Nam Hải embarked on a documentary photographic journey, capturing the essence of local life, the intimate connections between people and nature, and the contrast between the natural landscape and rapid urban development fueled by tourism expansion.

A Brief History of Hanoi Rock City, a Bastion of the Indie Spirit

khoi@saigoneer.com (Lê Vy. Photos courtesy of Võ Đức Anh and Hanoi Rock City.) — Tue, 27 May 2025 03:32:50 GMT

Hanoi Rock City (HRC) is more than a household name for the youth of Hanoi, especially anyone who’s fond of the “Rock n Roll” culture. Nearly 15 years after its founding, HRC has become a special cultural realm, one that brings musicians and fans closer to one another on its storied stage.

In an Ever-Changing Saigon, Street Artisans Hold Fast to Dying Crafts

julietbaongocdoling@gmail.com (Juliet Doling. Photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Thu, 15 May 2025 08:50:00 GMT

We delve into the lives of Saigon’s artisans — an animal coconut leaf folder, a woodcarver embracing modern influences, an accomplished street corner calligrapher, and an itinerant craftsman to see what they’re doing to keep their art alive.

Inside Chôl Chnăm Thmây, the Festive New Year of Saigon's Khmer Community

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Uyên Đỗ. Photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:28:38 GMT

As April's fickle weather shifts between sunlight and breeze, Candaransi Pagoda sheds its usual solemnity, becoming animated with a festive spirit. The air hums with the resonant sounds of temple bells and the rhythmic beat of the wooden fish drum, a vibrant counterpoint to the warm laughter shared by monks and lay Buddhists. Anticipation builds as everyone awaits the midnight chime, signaling the arrival of the Khmer New Year.

How Music Transcended Political Divides: The Stories of 5 Timeless Wartime Songs

paul@saigoneer.com (Vũ Hoàng Long. Graphic by Ngàn Mai.) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:21:20 GMT

Vietnamese musicians created a musical bridge across political divides, transforming the pain of a fractured nation into melodies that still resonate with both homeland and diasporic Vietnamese 50 years after the war's end.

If Every Province in Vietnam Has a Mascot, What Would Your Hometown's Be?

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Top image by Ngàn Mai .) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:44:02 GMT

Do you know Bé Sen?

Reframing War Memories via the Western-Vietnamese Photographic Perspectives

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần.) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 04:06:31 GMT

War photographs, often viewed as windows into the past tragedies, are believed to offer an immediate representation of reality. But what lies beyond the frame? What purpose did these images serve, and who were they meant for?

For the Love of Boney M: How a West German Disco Quartet Charmed Vietnam

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khôi Phạm.) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:53:11 GMT

“You’re gonna make me cry. That’s awesome,” Liz Mitchell exclaimed. Overwhelmed with disbelief, she covered her face and then clutched her black satin dress tightly. It was a rare moment of uplifting musical goodness when the past and the present of Vietnam’s music scene collided.

In the Latest Issue of 'No One Magazine,' 15 Stories From Vietnam's Queer Communities

paul@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer. Photos courtesy of No One Magazine.) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 06:51:42 GMT

No One Magazine, a print publication about underground queer nightlife around the world, is focusing on Vietnam for its second issue with corresponding launch events in Hanoi and Saigon.

Tranh Kiếng, Southern Vietnam's Glass Painting, Is at Risk of Disappearing

khoi@saigoneer.com (Thu Hà. Top graphic by Dương Trương.) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:26:02 GMT

I’ve always loved marveling at the colorful tranh kiếng hung in our altar room whenever I get a chance to visit my mother’s hometown. Since I was little, the paintings have been an indispensable part of my grandparents’ homestead. Tranh kiếng is present everywhere in people’s houses in the town, but I’ve never thought to ask who created unique art pieces that perfectly encapsulate the soul of the southern community.

In Huế, ‘Allusive Panorama’ Exhibition Reveals a Tender Side of Hàm Nghi Through His Art

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần. Images courtesy of Art Republik Vietnam.) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:37:44 GMT

An exhibition offering a rare glimpse into the artistic life of Hàm Nghi, Vietnam's exiled emperor who dedicated his life to art, with brushstrokes and landscapes reflecting his deep longing towards a distant homeland that he could never return to.

Lý Trực Sơn Exhibition Invites Us to Marvel at Lacquer, Dó Paper, Earth's Material Beauty

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần.) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 04:27:32 GMT

Despite being three distinct elements with their own texture, depth, and presence, lacquer, paper, and earth are all rooted in nature. Rather than searching for hidden meanings, Lý Trực Sơn’s solo exhibition at Vin Gallery invites us to engage with the works instinctively and experience the interplay of pigments, natural elements, and form, shaped by the artist’s innovative process and the passage of time.

In a Hẻm in D8, a Scrumptious Halal Feast Comes Alive Every Ramadan

uyendo@urbanistvietnam.com (Uyên Đỗ. Photos by Jimmy Art Devier.) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 07:35:28 GMT

At noon, we make our way through a narrow alley off Dương Bá Trạc Street (District 8) and stumble into a lively scene of Muslim community life. More than a place of worship, this neighborhood unfolds into a diverse culinary fest, a testament to the cultural crossroads that thrive within the city.

'Living Hanoi' Series by Joseph Gobin Delves Into the Capital's Eccentricities

chris@saigoneer.com (Chris Humphrey. Photos by Joseph Gobin.) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 08:03:08 GMT

Is there a photographic format more suitable for capturing Hanoi's abundantly complex and alluring culture than the crystalline clarity of medium format film?

Vietnam's Central Highlands Imagined in ‘Angin Cloud’ at National Gallery Singapore

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần.) — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 10:06:03 GMT

Amidst shifting social currents, industrialized landscapes, and a fast-paced world, how does a community preserve its heritage, rewrite histories, and confront colonial legacies? In this long-term collaboration with the Jrai community, ‘Angin Cloud’ by Art Labor explores these questions through a multi-floor installation at National Gallery Singapore that poetically intertwines Gia Rai (Jrai) beliefs, traditions, and environmental change.

The Harrowing History of Vietnam's Rubber Plantations

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen. Illustrations by Hannah Hoàng.) — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 03:18:35 GMT

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

Đờn Ca Tài Tử Captures the Soul of Southern Vietnam in Every Melody, Every Word

khoi@saigoneer.com (Thảo Nguyên. Graphic by Ngọc Tạ.) — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:45:31 GMT

“It’s not something unfamiliar, but it’s been a few years since I last heard it. Stumbling upon this beautiful bucolic scene now has made me fall in love with the Mekong Delta’s đờn ca tài tử melodies again.”

Vietnamese American Lo-Fi R&B Star Keshi Adds HCMC Show to World Tour

khoi@saigoneer.com (Saigoneer.) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 04:41:31 GMT

As a pleasant post-Tết gift for fans in Vietnam, a stop in Saigon was announced as part of the Asian leg of keshi’s world tour.

Insights, Polished History Lessons Await in Hanoi's Massive, Brutalist Military Museum

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 03:10:21 GMT

When I pitched a review of Hanoi’s massive new Vietnam Military History Museum to the Saigoneer editorial staff, I expected to find the museum somewhat boring. After all, although I am a historian, I am not really that interested in military stuff, and I’d been to the original location on Điện Biên Phủ Street several times — how could this new museum improve on the old one? What could this new museum say that the old one didn’t? What could I learn here that I haven’t already learned at Saigon’s War Remnants Museum and Hồ Chí Minh Campaign Museum, at Điện Biên Phủ’s war museum, at Hải Phòng’s naval museum, and at the countless other shrines to Vietnamese martial prowess across the country? Quite a lot, it turns out.

In Vietnam, Joss Papers Link Life and Death, Modernity and Tradition

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 04:02:38 GMT

Joss papers and effigies consumed my experiences before I began to even question their meaning. On the anniversary of my grandfather’s death (giỗ), my grandmother routinely set up a large pot in our tiny front yard and burned a stack of replica paper money. It is quite a scene to watch — the fire turned the paper to smoke and ash, and within minutes it was as if the paper never existed.

Every Mùng Một, My Family Organizes Our Own Temple Run to Visit 10 Temples

khoi@saigoneer.com (Phương Nghi. Graphic by Dương Trương.) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:57:21 GMT

According to Vietnamese traditions, the first, second, and third days of Tết are reserved for one’s paternal family, maternal family, and teacher’s family, respectively.

On Hội Xuân, the Harbinger of Tết for High School Students

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khang Nguyễn. Graphic by Dương Trương.) — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 02:36:36 GMT

When I was a high school student, Lunar New Year brought with it a lot of excitement. Not only did we get a week-long break, we also got plenty of fun school activities leading up to the holidays. For me, one of my most anticipated events during this period of time was the high school Tết concerts.

The Tết Board Games That Help Foster (and Destroy) Family Relations

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Saigoneer. Illustrations by Hannah Hoàng.) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 08:50:52 GMT

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as beating all your siblings and cousins in a heated game of cờ cá ngựa.

Bored of the Traditional Zodiac? A Case for the Shipworm as a New Con Giáp.

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen.) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 04:26:07 GMT

From games to sweet treats to flowers to traditional attire, the nostalgic elements of Tết often tug people to the past. Saigoneer writers have reflected on the enticing, acidic aroma of once-legal firecracker smoke; the versatility of tear-off calendar pages; and hours laboring over handmade coconut candies, amongst other fond recollections. However, the holiday has no childhood connections or coming-of-age associations for me. Achieving personal relevance when I was nearly three decades into life, Tết instead offers me an opportunity to look ahead, ponder potential, and imagine what could be.

Between Victory and Sorrow: The Complex Realities Behind Văn Cao's 'Mùa Xuân Đầu Tiên'

khoi@saigoneer.com (Vũ Hoàng Long. Graphic by Ngọc Tạ.) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 02:35:11 GMT

Composer Trịnh Công Sơn once wrote: “In music, Văn Cao is as noble as a king. In the field of song composition, I am like a child dreaming that the sun is a paper kite to play with. Brother Văn's music is the music of soaring fairies. I wander among the human realm. He keeps flying and I keep sinking. Flying and sinking in our private destinies...”

‘Fight or Flight or Float or Fall‘ Takes Viewers on Trip Across Memory, Trauma and Healing

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần.) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 08:30:07 GMT

In Tuan Andrew Nguyen’s new solo exhibition, materials and forms associated with destruction, violence and death are reimagined and transformed into sculptures that evoke healing and resilience. Through sensory elements such as touch, sound and movement, the exhibition guides viewers through layers of memory, and a journey from trauma towards reflection and healing.

Heritage Encounters Contemporary Art in Exhibition ‘Thẩm / Thấu, Thưởng’

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần.) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 04:14:17 GMT

Just before the upcoming Lunar New Year, “Thẩm / Thấu, Thưởng” exhibition takes viewers on a journey to explore the beauty of traditional and folk materials re-imagined in contemporary forms. It enhances the essence of contemporary art through a fresh perspective on how heritage can be reinterpreted within modern creative practices.

5 Classic Christmas Songs in Vietnamese for Those Craving Nô-en Wistfulness

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khôi Phạm. Graphic by Ngọc Tạ.) — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:43:25 GMT

Christmas celebration in Vietnam is something else altogether.

The Cultural Depths in Contemporary Hip-Hop Dance ‘129BPM: Động Phách Tách Kén’

paul@saigoneer.com (An Trần. Photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:26 GMT

Have you ever witnessed a live performance so powerful that it still lives in your mind weeks later? “129BPM: Động Phách Tách Kén” is not your usual hip-hop breakdance battle, but a contemporary dance performance combining live music with Vietnamese folk elements. It is a journey that requires your full presence and attention to appreciate its fleeting and transformative moments.

Severine Phương Trần's Debut Exhibition in Saigon Celebrates a World of Colors

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần. Photos courtesy of 22 Gallery.) — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 09:14:20 GMT

Step into Severine Phương Trần’s first-ever exhibition in Saigon, where you can explore the artist’s inner world of vibrant colors and different emotions. To fully enjoy this exhibition, it is best to let your inner child and imagination roam free and allow the flow of colors and different sceneries to guide you through a journey of creativity, self-discovery, and personal artistic transformation.

Ruminate on Our Natural Legacies While Surrounded by Cây Sao at Ao Bà Om

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen.) — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 13:51:53 GMT

I never pass up an opportunity to reflect on chò nâu and its dipterocarp relative, cây sao. The massive trees that gracefully drag bare limbs upwards to unfurl canopies far above our heads were brought from their native highland terrains by the French in the 19^th century and grown in Thảo Cầm Viên Sài Gòn. From there, they were distributed throughout colonial developments, including Trà Vinh. Today, they not only provide shade and beauty but invite ruminations on legacies of nature's place in subjugation and self-determination.

What Will Become of Chợ Quê in the Era of Widespread Online Shopping?

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 04:30:05 GMT

Firmly taking root in everyday life, our hometown markets — chợ quê — are not simply a place to trade, but also puzzle pieces that make up childhood memories, holiday excitement, and even tales of hardships and life milestones of countless people.

The Sound of Revolution: How Socialist Realism Shaped Vietnam's Musical Identity

paul@saigoneer.com (Vũ Hoàng Long. Top image by Mai Khanh.) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 04:45:49 GMT

In the depths of my childhood memories lies a peculiar ritual: my grandfather feeding me baby powder while Vietnamese revolutionary songs, or “nhạc đỏ” (red music), played in the background. Without these melodic accompaniments, I would refuse to eat.

Resilience, Resistance Reflected in Propaganda Art Exhibition ‘Crafting a Message’

khoi@saigoneer.com (An Trần. Photos by Dogma Collection.) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 04:27:00 GMT

How did daily life on the battlefield look from the perspective of first-generation Vietnamese photojournalists? Why did colorful stamps and propaganda posters play such a significant role in the war and nation-building? Other than their original roles in communication, these historical artifacts tell us a bigger story: of long, turbulent, and resilient histories, and the birth of a nation.

An Argument for Why Võng Should Be a Staple Amenity in Every Home

paul@saigoneer.com (Paul Christiansen.) — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 14:06:39 GMT

Everyone should have a võng in their home.

5 Albums to Put on While Driving Home at 12am Pretending You're in an MV

khoi@saigoneer.com (Khôi Phạm. Top image by Ngọc Tạ.) — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:35:04 GMT

It’s 12:03am in Saigon. You've just finished a movie at the last screening of the day. The asphalt in the parking lot is coated in a layer of golden light from the streetlight. You walk gingerly to your vehicle. A surprisingly cool breeze meets your skin, and you nearly shiver. It’s time to head home. What music do you put on?

Art, Flowers Bloom at Huế’s Hidden Museum, Lebadang Memory Space

guionbajotal@gmail.com (Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.) — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:53:08 GMT

People often think that art is distant and difficult to appreciate, but a garden is different; everyone knows how to admire a flower.