Great Vietnam Resurrects Nguyễn-Era Fashion, One Traditional Costume at a Time
In the last four to five years, ancient Vietnamese costumes have gained more visibility, becoming a welcome sight among young locals thanks to the efforts to reproduce and promote historic fashion from a number of designers, brands, and interest groups that appreciate the country’s history and traditions.
In the Mekong Delta, Đồ Bộ Is Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Despite its humble beginning as something worn just for convenience’s sake, đồ bộ has entered every minute of life in the Mekong Delta as a staple fashion choice that’s both flexible and colorful. Đồ bộ means “set outfit” in Vietnamese, a type of female casualwear made of soft, thin fabrics that often comes in a top and long bottom combo. They’re sometimes referred to as “Vietnamese pajamas,” but these comfortable sets can be worn at any time of the day and even outside, not just reserved for sleep like pajamas.
Nguyễn Đổng Chi's Classic Retelling of Vietnam's Fairy Tales, Now in English
Folklorist and anthropologist Nguyễn Đổng Chi dedicated decades to weaving a significant portion of Vietnam’s folklore tapestry. He collected, researched, and rewrote over 200 Vietnamese folktales from all corners of the country. His work, initially scattered across five volumes published individually and consecutively over 25 years, appeared as a complete anthology in 1982. Guided by a comprehensive treatise of Vietnamese folktale, Chi’s Kho tàng truyện cổ tích Việt Nam (Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales) might be daunting for readers drawn to Vietnamese folklore but disenchanted by rigorous academic discourse.
Kit Humphrey in Travel
In Thổ Hà Village, Rice Paper Spills Onto the Streets and Wraps Around Daily Life
A few hours after sunrise in the small village of Thổ Hà, Bắc Giang Province, alleyways morph into picturesque tunnels of drying rice paper, while ladies toast crackers over fire in the streets.
Carol Kim Brings to Life Rare Performance of 'Tại Vắng Anh' Thanks to Saigon Jazz Revival
The rich, bluesy ‘Tại vắng anh,’ written by Tuấn Khanh, was performed by Carol Kim this past November at Saigon Jazz Revival's inaugural concert in New Orleans.
Cliché or Parody? Orientalist Readings of Nam Le’s ‘36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem’
One may be surprised to learn that Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel The Sympathizer was rejected by 13 out of 14 publishers before its eventual publication. He describes in an interview why he believes his novel was rejected by all but one publisher he submitted to: “I knew in writing the novel that I was deliberately not doing what I was supposed to do as an Asian American writer, which is [...that] you have to end on a note of Americanization. You have to end on an embrace of the American dream, explicitly or implicitly. And the novel does not do that.” He comments elsewhere along similar lines, “I refuse[d] to subscribe to dominant American narratives and mythologies that allow someone like me a very narrow space to speak.”
Pete Walls in Travel
Watching the Sunset From Lai Châu's Fansipan, the Roof of Indochina
Conquering Mount Fansipan’s 3,147 meters was once a feat reserved for those willing to take on the potential multi-day hike from Sapa to the summit and back.
Vietnam Arrests 7 Suspects Behind Streaming Site HiAnime on Piracy Charges
As part of the current crackdown on intellectual property infringement, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security recently took down a major network of websites providing illegal anime streaming.
'Napalm Girl' Kim Phuc Awarded International Peace Prize in Germany
Nearly 50 years after the iconic photo of her running from a bombing raid was taken, Phan Thi Kim Phuc has earned Germany's Dresden award for her support of UNESCO and children wounded in war.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Culture
International Photographer Captures Spirit of Đạo Mẫu in Vibrant Photo Book
Tewfic El-Sawy’s introduction to Đạo Mẫu, also known as the Mother Goddess religion, began with music.
[Video] This Cinemagraph Celebrates Hanoi's Endearing Dawn Aerobics
Every single morning, at sunrise, hundreds of Hanoians descend on Hoan Kiem Lake to practice tai chi, aerobics and laughter yoga, or enjoy a morning stroll to ease the aches from their bones.
Popular Art Quarter Sixty Square to Close this Month
The Year of the Pig begins with some sad news for Hanoi’s creative youth. This month will see the closure of one the city’s most popular art quarters. 60 Square, which reopened after the Tet holiday y...
One Artist, 500 Volunteers and 168,000 Recycled Straws: A Clarion Call Against Plastic
Viral photographer Benjamin Von Wong is no stranger to making waves with his mind-blowing photography, often dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues while blurring the lines between ...
Experience: How Becoming One of Hanoi's First Drag Queens Transformed My Life
“Oh my god! You look beautiful! You belong on the runway, why aren’t you on the runway?” said Tamah Lake, the organizer of last year’s RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing party events in Hanoi. She came up to ...
[Illustrations] Rebranding Tết Candied Fruits Using Elements From Vietnamese Mythology
It’s Tet time next week, and you know what that means: heaps of candied fruits, seeds and even vegetables in various shapes and colors.
Burning Paper Bikinis for Deceased Ancestors Is Vietnam's Hottest New Vogue
Some new variations of joss paper in Vietnam are getting too risqué for comfort.
Saigoneer Podcast: A Tết-Themed Nhậu Roundtable Special
It's our last episode before the Lunar New Year!
[Video] The Animation Project That Turns Vietnam's History Into Cinematic Marvels
Viet Su Kieu Hung might be the most ambitious project of its kind to have come out of Vietnam.
Saigoneer Podcast: Superstitions, Real or Fake? and 'The Future is Asian' Author Parag Khanna
Episode 40 of the Saigoneer Podcast is available now!
Art in the Clouds: Into Thin Air 2 and the Promise of Digital Exhibits
As a metropolis of nearly eight million, Hanoi is like many other Asian cities: blooming with people, culture, and hectic lifestyles. Along with rampant development, the city faces concerns such as ai...
Once Invisible, Saigon's Underground Scene Emerges Into Light
In just a few short decades, underground hip-hop and youth culture has gained a massive following, not only within Saigon and Vietnam, but all around the globe.
Vietnamese Photographer Nets 2nd Place in Drone Photo Contest
Vietnamese photographer Pham Trung Thanh captured the exact moment the net of an anchovies fisherman's boat hovered atop the surface in Tuy Hoa, like a petal blooming across the dark water.
[Photos] Local Designer Created Incredibly Detailed Swallows From Paper for Tet
As Vietnam goes into full-blown Tet season, it’s impossible to talk a stroll around town without bumping into Lunar New Year imagery.
For the First Time, 2 Vietnamese Designers Will Participate in New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2019 will run from February 6 to February 13.
Saigoneer Podcast: Food Delivery Apps and Where We Think Trump and Kim Should Meet
The Saigoneer Podcast is back after taking a few weeks off!
Asia's Largest LGBT Contemporary Art Show to Take Place in Bangkok in 2019
The art show will feature two Vietnamese artists.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 13: The Modern Exchange Rate
As the rich get richer...
New Art Exchange Project to Connect Sound Artists in Germany, Vietnam
This year will see a new collaborative opportunity for Vietnamese sound artists, which will culminate in performances, sound installations and live acts where the audience takes part in an audiovisual...
