Thi Nguyễn in Music & Arts
The Facetious Gender Politics of Gỗ Lim, Hanoi's Feminist Post-Punk Quintet
In an example of cruel irony, October 20 is when we celebrate annual Vietnam Women's Day, and also the anniversary of the passing of Mai Nga (commonly known as Nga Nhí), the lead singer of Gỗ Lim — a Hanoi-based female post-punk band that, albeit short-lived, struck a blow for women’s representation in rock and metal music in Vietnam in 2011 and 2012.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
'Chuyện Của Pao' Turned a Historic H'Mông Home in Hà Giang Into a Tourist Attraction
The photos don’t do it justice. That’s what you’ll often hear from people who visit Hà Giang to cruise its famed highway loop.
How Vietnam's Muslims Celebrate Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr in Mekong Delta's Châu Đốc
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, yet Vietnamese Muslims represent as little as 0.1% of the country’s population. Most are ethnic Chăm, while a few are foreigners and a few converts. After traveling to Châu Đốc in An Giang Province, where the majority are located, I was mesmerized by the unique cultural mix this community represents.
Văn Tân in Culture
A Brief History of Ông Đồ, Vietnam’s Scholars Whose Calligraphy Is Highly Sought After
To say that Tết gathers together everything most beautiful in Vietnamese culture would not be an exaggeration. More than a threshold between the old year and the new, it is also a time when people feel they can return to, and relive, the traditional values that define them.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
From Dark to Dawn, an Early Morning at Hội An's Duy Hải Fish Market
At 3am, Hội An’s streets resemble dog-gnawed pork bones, licked clean of all scent and viscera. No light, no noise, no movement. But that’s the time you must venture out to witness the Duy Hải Fish Market in action.
Review: 'New Wave' Documentary Is a Surprisingly Personal Dissection of 1980s Nostalgia
Melodic synth-lines and steady electronic drums. Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated. During its high point during the 1980s, however, new wave was hailed as music of the future.
On the Cusp of a Modern New Year, Reflections on a Simpler Tết Past
Every year, as the pages from my block calendar peel off, bringing me towards another Vietnamese New Year, my mind once again fills with nostalgia about an old Tết. Tết in my memory begins with my childhood in a small house nestled under a coconut grove on the outskirts of Bạc Liêu in the Mekong Delta. Those were days of hardship, yet my parents worked hard so that Tết could bloom magnificently for all of us.
A Damaged Masterpiece Reveals How Much We Take Our Cultural Heritage for Granted
A once-damaged national treasure remains on view as if nothing had happened, while other works are displayed with little context — what does this tell us about how art museums preserve Vietnam's cultural heritage and shape our art history narratives today?
Hanoi Autumn Book Fair Taking Place This Week
The event will be held from August 22 to 26 at Thong Nhat Park, running from 8am to 10pm every day.
The Horror-Comedy Zombie Flick That's Raking in 250 Times Its Budget in Japan
Made by a group of unknowns, One Cut of the Dead, cost just US$27,000 but is set to earn US$10 million amid international acclaim.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 9: The City's Traffic Shoals
The city's motorbikes move with an effortless grace governed by rules reserved for groups of fish.
[Illustrations] Preserving Hanoi's Old-School Cool in Digital Stamps
When was the last time you sent a letter or used a stamp?
Q&A: How A O Show Creative Director Tuan Le Actualized His Vision for Performance Art in Vietnam
Some may say that modern performance art in Vietnam looks the way it does thanks to the works of Tuan Le and his colleagues. Almost two decades into a series of smashing theatrical successes across th...
Q&A: AO Show Creative Director Tuan Le Had a Vision for Performance Art in Vietnam. And He Built It.
Some may say that modern performance art in Vietnam looks the way it does thanks to the works of Tuan Le and his colleagues. Almost two decades into a series of smashing theatrical successes across th...
[Illustrations] Local Illustrator Captures the Charm of Vietnam in Mini Icons
When asked for the reasons why one loves Vietnam, many might hesitate. There is a lot to love about this chaotic, eclectic, bewildering nation; but there is a lot to frown upon as well.
[Video] Vingroup Premieres First-Ever Animated Series by In-House Studio VinTaTa
Have you ever wondered what a Vingroup-funded animated series would look like?
Sixty Square: Crumbling Colonial Buildings House Hanoi’s Hippest New Art Quarter
Ever since the closure of Zone 9, Hanoi’s young artists have been longing for a new spot to rise from the ashes and fill the hole the defunct art hub left in the capital's creative landscape. Creative...
[Photos] In Minimalist Street Photography, Good Frames Come to Those Who Wait
Photographer Victor Morante is all about the little details in a frame.
Hanoi Queer Film Week Provides Platform for Vietnam's LGBTQ Voices
Starting today and running until Friday, August 17, Hanoi International Queer Film Week 2018 (HIQFW), will include 14 film screenings followed by audience discussions.
Saigoneer Podcast: Seafood Fight, Traditional Medicine and L'Arrange Rhum
We're a quarter of the way to 100 episodes!
[Illustrations] Minimalist Pastel Renditions of Hanoi’s Historic Landmarks
Local illustrator Nguyen Minh Trang brings calming colors and geometric aesthetics to some of the capital’s most striking architecture.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
[Video] Saigon-Based Directors Feature Abandoned Hue Waterpark in New Music Video
A small boat reaches shore and an adventure begins at the wild, abandoned Ho Thuy Tien Waterpark outside of Hue.
Ahead of Its Premiere Next Week, 'The Bachelor Vietnam' Reveals the Bachelor in New Trailer
The Vietnam adaptation of American reality TV show The Bachelor will premiere this month.
Vietnam's Cinema Industry to Receive $50m Financial Boost
Lack of funding has always been an issue for Vietnam's film industry.
Saigoneer Podcast: Exercise in Vietnam, Street Cred and Hanoi Zine Library
Episode 24 is out now!
[Video] Suboi Makes Saigon Nightscapes Her Playground in Latest Music Video for 'N-Sao?'
Saigon's color-streaked nighttime streets serve as background for the hip-hop star's latest music video.
[Illustrations] Hanoi Typography Project Turns Classic Food and Drink Names into Vibrant Designs
When paired with artistic creativity, common food and drink names can become symbols of cultural re-imagination. The following illustrations successfully capture the past while also appearing youthful...
Kit Humphrey in Literature
Alain de Botton Visits Vietnam: 'What I Want to Argue Is That Romanticism Has Been a Disaster for Love.'
It’s not often that a philosopher of Alain de Botton’s status visits Vietnam, so it was no surprise that all 50 seats on the upper floor of Toong Coworking Space were occupied, with most tickets snapp...
