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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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?
Vans x Van Gogh Museum Collection Will Also Be Available in Vietnam
Some of Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh’s most iconic works have been turned into everyday apparel.
[Video] Korean Filmmaker Creates Charming Video Postcard of Hanoi
This short video of Hanoi is vicarious tourism at its finest.
[Photos] Malaysian Artist Encapsulates the Timeless Charm of Asia's Mom-and-Pop Shops in Mini-Models
“There are many ways to help you keep something in mind, through a memo, a voice recorder, or a photo. But miniature is something you can touch and see, to recall your memories.”
[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.
Kit 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.
