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.
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...
Saigoneer Podcast: Fast Fashion, Bubble Tea Madness Returns and Urban Tales Cholon
Happy Monday! It's time for the latest Saigoneer Podcast episode.
Review: 'Song Lang' Is a Cải Lương Tribute for the Ages
Asia is well-known for its rich history and diverse cultures, with many countries taking pride in distinct styles of traditional art performances.
Vietnamese-Canadian Author Kim Thuy Among 4 Finalists for Nobel Prize Substitute
Vietnamese-born Canadian Kim Thuy joins the ranks of Vietnamese diasporic writers like Thi Bui and Ocean Vuong who are getting recognized by international literary awards.
[Video] A Very Vietnam Guide to Escaping Ghostly Exes and Your 'Forever Alone' Fate
This quirky Vietnamese short video, titled Secret Fate, explaining that ghosts are the cause for Vietnam's "forever alone" community has gone viral.
Khoi Pham in Culture
How Dép Tổ Ong Goes From Timeless Family Keepsake to Millennial Icon
Back in 2014, amid the weekly cycle of news, a particular image was more striking than most: Doctor and Professor Ngo Bao Chau stood in the middle of a makeshift classroom in a rural village in Thai N...
New Excavation Mission in Da Nang Yields Rare 1,000-Year-Old Cham Artifacts
Elephant, snake and bird statues, as well as pieces of a tower, are amongst the 1,000-year-old relics discovered during the third archaeological endeavor in the area.
