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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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...
[Photos] Parkour Meets Fire Spinning in Abandoned Lideco Neighborhood
Back in 2007, construction began on Lideco, which was supposed to become a paradise for Hanoi's super-rich. Like Ciputra or Royal City, it was intended to be an all-inclusive development, with housing...
Saigoneer Podcast: Fruit Fight, and Saigon Duo
It's the start of a new work week, which means there's a new Saigoneer Podcast available for your listening pleasure.
[Illustrations] An Illustrated Homage to Hanoi's Central Districts
“From Hanoi, with love.”
[Video] Finding Zen in the Art of Bottle Balancing
The level of talent involved will make you feel self-conscious about your past failures at Jenga.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 3: The Best Kind of Air 'Pollution'
The third entry in the Saigon Postcards series, our loving messages to the city we call home, focuses on a simple pleasure.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
Dancers, Visual Artists Collaborate at Unique Saigon Arts Festival
From April 16 to 22, the Krossing Over Arts Festival will bring together artists and dancers for performances across Saigon.
Paul Christiansen in Culture
Whale Worship: Exploring the Role of Whales in Vietnam's Coastal Lore
In 1799, the ferocious Tay Son army forced the first Nguyen Emperor, Nguyen Anh, and his troops to flee to the sea. While making their escape, a great storm engulfed the retreating army. As their ship...
Saigoneer Podcast: Ghost Stories, Vietnam's Super-Rich and Cambodian Rock & Roll
It's time to start your week with a hearty dose of the Saigoneer Podcast.
Paul Christiansen in Literature
Rambutan Literary Gives Voice to Southeast Asians at Home and Abroad
This poem by Jenna Lee appears in issue five of Rambutan Literary and serves as a prime example of the graceful, poignant material that spans its first five issues. Founded in 2016, the magazine featu...
[Video] The Elaborate 'Holy Tower' of Caodaism in the Outskirts of Tay Ninh
In Tay Ninh Province’s Hoa Thanh District, a sizable community of Cao Dai followers lives thanks to the existence of the religion’s major temple, the Cao Dai Holy See.
[Photos] A Trip to District 12's Stunning Japanese-Inspired Monastery
If you’re looking for a peaceful escape not far from the city, District 12’s Khanh An Monastery is just the place for you.
Vietnam to Translate Sanskrit Texts at My Son Sanctuary Into Vietnamese, English
Sanskrit texts inscribed on the steles at the My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Hoi An, will be translated with help from Indian experts.
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
The Legacy of Kak Channthy, Cambodia's Rock and Roll Heroine
For many Cambodian music fans, March 20 was a heartbreaking day because Kak Channthy – the 38-year-old female vocal of the band The Cambodian Space Project – passed away in an accident in Phnom P...
[Illustrations] A Whimsical Collection of Vietnam's Most Iconic Architecture Styles in Pixel Form
Have you ever wondered what Vietnam would look like as the setting of a vintage RPG game?
[Video] District 4's Cheerful Hẻm Painter Breathes Life Into Plaster
Saigon's countless narrow alleys and side streets tend to be rather uniform in appearance, making it difficult for newcomers to navigate the megacity we call home. Thanks to one older gentleman, howev...
Saigoneer Podcast: Deadly Fires, Grab Beats Uber and Building 'Green' in Vietnam
It's been a busy news week in Vietnam, and we're here to break down some of the biggest stories.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 2: Traditional Saigon
Saigon Postcards (formerly Saigon Mixtapes) is our series of loving missives to the city we call home. The second postcard imagines what Saigon would be like if we people had never arrived.
Khoi Pham in Music & Arts
For the Love of Boney M: How a West German Disco Quartet Charmed Vietnam
“You’re gonna make me cry. That’s awesome,” Liz Mitchell exclaimed. Overwhelmed with disbelief, she covered her face and then clutched her black satin dress tightly. It was a rare moment of uplifting ...
Vietnamese Painting Fetches Record Price at Paris Auction
Nguyen Nam Son’s silk painting 'Thon Nu Bac Ky' (Peasants of Tonkin) sold for 205,000 euros (more than VND 5.7 billion VND) which far exceeded its expected price of 35,000-50,000 euros.
Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnamese Cuisine Abroad, Food Writer Andrea Nguyen and Saving Ancient Art Forms
Saigoneer is back in your earbuds with the latest episode of our podcast.
