Khôi Phạm

in Music & Arts

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

Christmas celebration in Vietnam is something else altogether.

in Trích or Triết

Composer Hoàng Việt and a Radical Romance Across the North-South Border

In a country fractured by ideology, Hoàng Việt's love for his wife Ngọc Hạnh persisted like a secret melody carried across closed borders by weak radio signals, and letters that had to circle the globe before finding their way home.

in Music & Arts

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

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.

in Film & TV

New 'Số Đỏ' Movie Announced, Directed by Phan Gia Nhật Linh, Starring MONO

Another classic of Vietnamese literature is heading to the big screen in the near future.

Thi Nguyễn

in Loạt Soạt

Revisiting the Delicious Satirical Society of 'Số Đỏ' by Vũ Trọng Phụng

Published in 1938, Dumb Luck , or Số Đỏ , remains one of Vietnam's most popular and controversial novels. Vũ Trọng Phụng was ...

in Music & Arts

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

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.

in Quãng 8

From Germany to 'King of Rap' Runner-up: How Tuimi Becomes a Hip-Hop Breakout Star

Tuimi, a Vietnamese German singer and rapper, has become one of the most notable female voices in the local hip-hop scene and been making big waves since her return in 2019.

Paul Christiansen

in Travel

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

I never pass up an opportunity to reflect on chò nâu and its dipterocarp relative, cây sao. The massive trees that gracefu...

Back Arts & Culture

in Music & Arts

[Video] Saigon Electronica Ep. 2: The Dreamers From Behind the Decks

When Tran Huu Tuan Bach decided to embark on his DJ career at the beginning of this decade, he had already established himself as a film composer in Vietnam.

Chris Humphrey

in Music & Arts

Sirens of Ha Long: Facetiousness and Vitriol on Debut EP ‘Rampant Happiness’

Having released Rampant Happiness, their debut EP, only a few weeks ago, and with a string of live shows lined up to debut upcoming music videos, Sirens of Ha Long are on the rise.  

in Arts & Culture

[Illustrations] Here Are Some Standout Picks From Collaborative Art Project 'Ve Ve Hat Boi'

Even after Ve Ve Hat Boi ended, the project's success shows that there’s still space for Vietnam’s ancient art forms in today’s ever-changing world.

in Music & Arts

'Crystal Cloud' Art Installation in Mu Cang Chai Stirs Controversy

Stunning.

Chris Humphrey

in Postcards

Hanoi Postcard No. 1: Hom Fabric Market

This week, Saigoneer is proud to announce a new series: beautifully crafted illustrations, in the form of postcards, celebrating everything we love about this city. Every couple of weeks, we’ll reveal...

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: Fakes in Vietnam, Kick-Ass Millenials and a Deep Dive on Thu Thiem

It's Monday morning, which means it's time for the latest Saigoneer Podcast episode!

in Arts & Culture

Vietnamese Student Wins Top US Interior Design Award With Bamboo-Inspired Community Center

Tran Thach Thao, a native of northern Vietnam, was recognized with a prestigious award from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for her plans for a community center that connects elderly...

in Music & Arts

Over 20 Bands, Artists to Join Epic Musical Bus Tour of Vietnam

Anyone who plays music in Hanoi will tell you it doesn’t pay. Anyone who hosts shows in Hanoi will tell you that doesn’t pay either. Anyone who has toured in Vietnam or the region will tell you it doe...

Paul Christiansen

in Postcards

Saigon Postcard No. 5: The Rainy Season Has Awoken

As last week's storms attest to, the rainy season is about to once again menace the city.

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] Photographer Shin Noguchi Revels in the Oddities Lurking in Quotidian Japan

The same way one doesn’t notice the ease in which air enters one’s nose until getting sick, we too often take for granted the strangeness that surrounds us.

in Arts & Culture

[Video] Stop-Motion Animation Project Retells Vietnam's Starfruit Tale With a Horror Twist

As a common saying goes: "tham thì thâm" (grasp all lose all).

in Music & Arts

Hanoi’s Rising Techno Scene: Local Artists Strive to Bring Underground Music to Wider Audiences

Underground music in Hanoi is flourishing, and Vietnamese artists are at the forefront. After years brewing at venues like Hanoi Rock City (HRC) and Cama ATK, the city now enjoys huge house and techno...

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnamese Movies, Digital Subcultures and One Journalist's View of Vietnam

It's Monday, which means it's time for the latest Saigoneer Podcast episode.

in Music & Arts

[Video] Saigon Electronica Ep. 1: Creating a Community With Heart Beat and HRBR

Editor's note: Over the next few weeks, Saigoneer will feature Saigon Electronica, a video documentary series about the city's vibrant underground music scene, starting with the first episode this wee...

in Arts & Culture

Here Are the First Images of Japan's 2022 Ghibli Theme Park

The beloved Japanese animation studio released images of the much-anticipated theme park, set to open near Nagoya, Japan in 2022.

in Film & TV

[Video] Travel Back in Time to Ancient Vietnam Through Animated Series 'Loa Thanh Ruc Lua'

Vietnam’s ancient history has once again proven to be a rich and valuable muse for local storytellers.

Michael Tatarski

in Music & Arts

[Illustrations] Mariano di Guglielmo's Vivid Watercolors of Saigon Street Scenes

For Mariano di Guglielmo, an English teacher who has lived in Saigon for about four months, every street is a potential canvas.

in Music & Arts

[Illustrations] Artist Captures Old Edo's Remnants in Busy Tokyo

Shinji Tsuchimochi's ukiyo-e illustrations breathe nostalgia into Japan's cool and modern capital.

in Arts & Culture

Central Vietnam Festival Bài Chòi Recognized as UNESCO Intangible Heritage

A night of celebrations, songs and games was held in Quy Nhon on May 5, as artists and official delegates acknowledged bài chòi's recognition as a UNESCO intangible heritage.

in Film & TV

'Dao Cua Dan Ngu Cu' Actress Ngoc Thanh Tam on Her Craft and Feminism in Vietnamese Cinema

The young talent explores her transition to acting, its hectic yet colorful challenges, the films she took part in and anticipation towards the future of Vietnamese cinema.