Khôi Phạm in Film & TV
Remembering Thuy Trang, the First Vietnamese Power Ranger
It was the late 1990s, and I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror of our childhood home, holding my dad’s solid-metal belt buckle up with a pseudo-serious expression on my baby face. Fortunately, I wasn’t doing a YouTuber-style makeup review, but was in fact mirroring the transformation sequence of my favorite TV idols, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
In 'Vietnam Retropunk,' a Young Illustrator Dreams of a Cyberpunk Hanoi
To Đặng Thái Tuấn, the talent behind illustration project “Vietnam Retropunk,” whimsical depictions of robots and animatronics sprouting out from everyday objects and activities embody the space in between the ancient and the futuristic.
A Story of Personal, Political Reckoning in a Singaporean Writer's Fictional Wartime Vietnam
The Immolation first came to me as a bewildering surprise: at a now-relocated bookshop in Singapore, the book caught the eyes of the 17-year-old me. It was not so much the cover’s pale blue background, or the expression of ennui on the author’s post-impressionist portrait, but rather its dealing with the American War. After all, the title directly referenced the iconic protest by the Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức, who set himself on fire on the street of Saigon.
The ISHCMC Advantage: Instilling Leadership, Academic Excellence, and Global Mindsets in Each Student
“These years of my life are very important, they shape the person I'm going to be in the future,” said Danko, a student who just finished Grade 9 at International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC).
Xuân Phương in Culture
Under the Sky, Above the Water: Into the Heat at Ninh Thuận's Salt Fields
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.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Enter the Dreamy Tales Told by the Works of Young Illustrator Thố Đầu • Hổ Vĩ
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.
The ISHCMC Advantage: Lifelong Learning Begins in Early Years
“Each morning, the gates open to the joyful rhythm of footsteps and confident smiles. Students independently stroll in, waving to friends and familiar adults, ready to begin the day. With great enthusiasm, they engage in conversations, unpack their bags, tuck away their belongings, and proudly ‘check in’ before eagerly venturing off to discover what learning awaits them. This sense of confidence, independence, and joy isn’t an accident; it’s the result of a thoughtfully designed environment and an intentional approach to learning that nurtures essential life skills through meaningful play.”
Khôi Phạm in Travel
Bask in the Morning Sun in the Green Heart of Huế Along the Hương River
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.
Milo Threatens to Sue Ovaltine Over Defamatory Advertising Campaign
Recently, a photo of two billboards from chocolate powder competitors, Milo and Ovaltine, went viral on social media. The Milo copy reads "A champion made by Milo." while the tagline for Ovaltine read...
Hanoi’s First Zine Festival Is Coming up This Week
Beginning this Thursday and stretching over three days, the event taps into a niche, yet growing, subculture in the capital.
Saigoneer Podcast: Nhậu Culture, Street Food Update and an Anthropological Conversation
We've reached episode 30!
'Co Ba Sai Gon' Is Vietnam's Contender for Best Foreign Language Film at Oscars 2019
Co Ba Sai Gon (The Tailor), directed by Tran Buu Loc and Nguyen Le Phuong Khanh, is an homage to áo dài.
Tail Hair Jewelry Is a New Trend That's Hurting Vietnam's Elephants
Add demand for elephant tail hair jewelry, beside habitat loss and ivory poaching, to the list of what will likely lead to the extinction of this incredible creature.
Chris Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 4: The Nudists of Banana Island
The naked truth awaits those who venture beneath Long Bien Bridge…
Vietnam's Award-Winning Documentary About a Trans Woman Will Premiere in Saigon Next Week
A critically acclaimed documentary about a member of Vietnam’s trans community will finally see an official premiere in Vietnam next month.
High School Student Gives Vietnam's History Textbooks a Sleek Makeover
This bold makeover project of Vietnam’s history textbooks might make you wish you were in school once again.
Khoi Pham in Music & Arts
In Saigon Supersound Vol. 2, an Unabashed Celebration of Saigon's Retro Tunes
In less than a year and a half between the releases of the first and second volumes of Saigon Supersound, the highly celebrated compilation’s unique sound hasn’t changed, but the city it celebrates ha...
[Illustrations] Watercolor Paintings of Tokyo, a City That Defies Total Darkness
While it's easy to bemoan the effects of light pollution on what would be a starry sky, for Polish artist Mateusz Urbanowicz, an abundance of light sources brings out Tokyo's unique midnight scenes an...
London Symphony Orchestra to Perform in Ly Thai To Park on October 6
The performance is part of the Inspire Me Festival, a two-day event which celebrates 45 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Vietnam.
The Internet's Hopes for a Queer Romance on 'The Bachelor Vietnam' Dashed by the Bachelor Himself
Premiering in August, The Bachelor Vietnam is the adaptation of its US counterpart in which one titular "bachelor" meets 25 romantic interests who aspire to be his final match. In the Vietnam version,...
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 10: In the Arms of Urban Vines
Humans adapted to fields, birds to branches... and yet, in Saigon...
Updated: Annual Walking Parade, Pride Festival Taking Place in Hanoi on October 6
Hanoi Pride 2018 features numerous cultural events and culminates in the annual walking parade. The parade was originally scheduled for September 23, but will now take place on October 6.
[Illustrations] Revisit Your Childhood Mid-Autumn Memories Through This Hanoi Designer's Artwork
Every season in Vietnam is marked by a festive occasion that gets the entire country into a mood to revel.
Artisan Phan Thi Thuan and the Skill of Weaving Silk From Lotus Stems
As gentle as smoke, as strong as fire – lotus silk provides an alternative to silkworms that could revolutionize silk production in Vietnam.
Vietnamese Director's Debut Feature 'The Third Wife' Wins Award at Toronto Film Festival
The directorial debut from Nguyen Phuong Anh, also known as Ash Mayfair, won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award at last week's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)...
Saigoneer Podcast: Saigon Traffic Plans, Mid-Autumn Festival and Saigonita Founder Tam Le
Happy (damp) Monday! It's time for the latest Saigoneer Podcast episode.
[Photos] An Homage to the Colorful Characters of Hanoi
There you are, waiting on the edge of the sidewalk.
[Photos] In Their Downtime, Superheroes Undertake Household Chores for This Malaysian Artist
Deadpool watering plants, Batman mopping the floor, Hulk helping moving a mattress and Superman pulling fresh underpants from the clothesline: rarely do we get to see superheroes in the domestic spher...
