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.
[Photos] A Converse-Royal Costume Mashup for Vietnam's History Buffs and Sneakerheads
‘Tis the time for wearable history.
Saigoneer Podcast: Decadent Vietnamese Dishes and Marriage in Modern Vietnam
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is ready for your listening pleasure!
Paul Christiansen in Literature
Indigenous Species: Poetry Book Connects Vietnam and Indonesia
Massive fish die-offs, sewage-smothered lakes, natural parks gashed by cable cars, soot-sullied skies and overflowing landfills — when considering environmental issues, it is easy to view them fr...
[Video] Dreamy Slow-Motion Clip Depicts Hanoians Embracing Life on a Rainy Day
Of the countless video montages shot in Vietnam, how many of them are worth a click? This dreamy, slow-motion clip of daily activities near Hoan Kiem Lake certainly is.
Japanese Mega Girl Group AKB48 to Launch Vietnam Sister Group SGO48 This Year
Are you a big fan of Japanese mega girl group AKB48? Now you can be part of the collective right in Saigon.
5,000 People to Take Part in a Street Festival in Hanoi This Weekend.
Themed ‘The Quintessence of Hanoi – Confluence and Shine,’ the street festival will take place around Hoan Kiem Lake between 8am and 11am on July 29.
Vietnamese Author Nguyen Ngoc Tu Wins German Literary Award for Female Writers
Vietnamese writers are slowly gaining more recognition on the international stage.
With New Single 'N-Sao?', Suboi Becomes First Vietnamese Artist Featured on Apple's Beats 1
Saigon’s reigning rap queen released 'N-Sao?' on Apple’s Beats 1 radio program last week, becoming the first Vietnamese artist to be featured on the 24/7 channel.
Saigoneer Podcast: Reflections From Hanoi, World Cup Madness and Cave Expert Howard Limbert
Episode 22 of the Saigoneer Podcast is in your earbuds now!
[Photos] Japanese Landscapers Turn Tiny Trucks Into Lush Gardens
A kei truck, also called a kei-tora, is a mini-truck that is built to serve a variety of purposes in Japan.
Khoi Pham in Arts & Culture
Lost Type: Capturing the Essence of Vietnam's Street Signage Through Modern Typeface
With just a glance outside your window, you might notice that Vietnam’s metropolises are filled with a hodgepodge of banners, signs and advertising panels of all shapes, design motifs and colors.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 8: The City's Sewer Saviors
Below the busy streets, saintly, filth-submerged sanitation workers strive to un-muck our sewers.
Saigoneer Podcast: The Nhậu Roundtable Special
The Saigoneer Podcast has turned 21!
Thi Nguyen in Culture
Opinion: The Body Politics of World Cup Coverage in Vietnam
In late June, a popular subscription television channel caused controversy by featuring a bikini-clad female show host on a prediction segment aired before a men's FIFA World Cup match. Another televi...
[Photos] An Artist's Rendering of Ant-Man's Vietnam Vacation
If you are a loyal fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there might have been times when you wonder how those superheroes would appear in real life.
Chris Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 3: The Right Side of the Tracks
The third entry in the Hanoi Postcards series, our love notes to the city we call home, depicts a unique neighborhood.
[Illustrations] An Illustrated Guide to Singapore's Food Landscape
Singapore and Saigon both share a diverse, culturally eclectic food landscape, although each has different layers and amounts of influence from varying parts of Asia.
[Photos] Saigon Artisan Turns Scrap Materials Into Miniature Models
Over the past two decades, Saigon native Tran Giang Nam has created over 300 different miniature models with varying levels of details.
[Video] New York Rapper Pays Tribute to Hanoi, Goes Viral
Hanoi has served as the muse of foreign photographers, writers – and even a few rappers.
Hanoi Gets Inked: Expo Showcases Vietnam’s Tattoo Boom
When Link Do was a child in Hanoi, she learned English from an American woman with a tattoo on her hand. Link, who loved to draw, thought the tattoo was beautiful, and began to imagine a future as an ...
