Tracing the History of 'Hello Vietnam,' the Overnight Sensation From Europe
Most people who have flown with VietJet are probably familiar with the song ‘Hello Vietnam’ or its Vietnamese version ‘Xin chào Việt Nam.’ As it's often played during landing, tourists might mistake the song for a cute jingle of the company, but the meaning behind the song lyrics is much more nostalgic. It’s about a person of Vietnamese descent longing for their ancestor’s homeland, a place they’ve never been — a story that can certainly strike a chord with many Vietnamese people. Few know, however, that this song was originally a French-language song, one that was almost never released.
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
The Little Moments of Stillness on Hanoi Streets via Artist Hoàng Hiền's Illustrations
Whether they're from Saigon, Hanoi or Đà Nẵng, urbanites in Vietnam have all grown up amid the chaos of local street culture, where the pulses of civic life churn with every vendor, family business, and gig worker. "Moment of Stillness," a collection of colorful illustrations by artist Hoàng Thanh Hiền, was born of the artist's keen observations of the familiar scenes in her immediate surroundings.
Dispatch From Udine: Vietnam's Cinema Reaches the World Stage While Rooted in Local Culture
Vietnamese cinema experienced a watershed moment at the 28th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy.
Short Story Collection 'Gills' Pieces Together a Raw and Complex Portrait of Saigon
Saigon’s landscape looks dramatically different from how it did three or even two decades ago. As the country’s economic powerhouse, Saigon has seen rapid urban development: new highrises like Landmark 81 and the Bitexco Financial Tower that now define the city’s skyline, new urban infrastructure like the Ba Son Bridge and Saigon’s first metro line, as well as the city’s expansion into areas like District 7’s Phú Mỹ Hưng and District 2’s Thủ Thiêm. If the west has long viewed Saigon under the shadow of war, it is clear that such a rigid frame fails to contain the Saigon of today, whose entropic inner life seems to constantly overflow; with motorbikes onto sidewalks, loud honks through windows, and rainpour over Saigon’s riverbeds.
Paul Christiansen in Culture
Whale Worship: Exploring the Role of Whales in Vietnam's Coastal Lore
In 1799, the ferocious Tây Sơn army forced the first Nguyễn Emperor, Nguyễn Ánh, and his troops to flee to the sea. While making their escape, a great storm engulfed the retreating army. As their ship’s mast shivered and the hull shuddered, threatening to break it into splinters, a great whale rose from the depths. It lifted the emperor's boat and carried him and his men to safety. To thank the animal, Ánh bestowed upon whales the official title of "Nam Hải Cự Tộc Ngọc Lân Thượng Đẳng Thần," which was shortened to Cá Ông, or “Lord Fish.”
A Special 'Doraemon' Episode Taking Place in Vietnam Will Be Released in May
After decades of watching Doraemon and his close friend groups adventure to all sorts of strange lands from the deepest trenches on Earth to fantastical planets, fans of the beloved cat robot in Vietnam will finally see our country in the cartoon series.
Paul Christiansen in In Plain Sight
An Ode to Saigon’s Chò Nâu Trees
It’s too cold for chò nâu to grow where I’m from, but we still gave it an English name: dipterocarp.
Mầm in Music & Arts
Vietnamese Painter Một Quả Tắc Creates an Intimate and Gentle World on Silk
Silk is an inherently finicky, demanding medium. Yet from the very first encounter, Quế Hương had chose to embrace its temperament and has devoted herself to it for nearly a decade.
[Video] A Day in the Life of Vietnam's New Storytellers With Tilo-Kay
Saigon’s creative industry has flourished in recent years, giving rise to a range of new job positions that were few and far between in past decades.
[Photos] Is Saigon's Latest Teen Attraction, Zone 87, the Descendant of 3A Station?
Apart from shopping malls and the odd food court, there are not many dedicated spaces in Saigon for the city’s younger residents to hang out.
[Photos] The Hottest Beauty Trend in 1920s Vietnam Was Ridiculously Long Nails
In 2018 Vietnam, excessively long nails are usually considered a sign of evilness, thanks to the influence of foreign horror flicks. However, not many know that decades ago, this body feature was wide...
Thi Nguyen in Literature
On Reading Thi Bui's Illustrated Memoir 'The Best We Could Do' in Saigon
One of my favorite pastimes during summer holidays was reading through the textbooks for my next school year. History textbooks were the most interesting and fun to read: they were like the Harry Pott...
[Video] Teh Dar Brings Central Highlands' Rhythm and Sound to Saigon
From the same team that brought us A O Show and Lang Toi, Teh Dar will take audiences on a trip to the mountain ranges of the Central Highlands.
[Photos] Tatsuto Hibata: Finding Beauty in the World's Dense Urbanscapes
The oeuvre of Japanese photographer Tatsuto Shibata includes an eclectic mix of subjects: streets tangled in neon signage, claustrophobic alleyways thrumming with commerce, sweeping city panoramas and...
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
Collective Remembrance Project Delves Into Artists' Personal Connection to Saigon
In his comprehensive work The Past is a Foreign Country, American historian and geographer David Lowenthal contends that, even in spite of historical accounts, recollections and relics that contribute...
Watch Ngo Thanh Van Kick Ass in This Latest Netflix Action-Fantasy Flick
2017 has been a good year for actresses of Vietnamese descent on the international stage.
The Saigoneer Podcast Is Here!
Just in time for Christmas, Saigoneer is excited to announce the launch of the Saigoneer Podcast!
Hiep Thi Le, Star of 1993 War Drama 'Heaven & Earth', Passes Away at 46
Vietnamese-American actress Hiep Thi Le, the breakout star of Oliver Stone’s 1993 war drama Heaven & Earth, recently passed away.
Saigon Couple Adds a Pre-Doi Moi Style Twist to Wedding Photos
Ask any Vietnamese person to describe a typical wedding album from memory and the answer is likely to be the same each time. The bride wears a floor-length gown or a full áo dài khăn đóng getup, the g...
A Vietnamese-American Actress' Journey From Refugee Camp to Golden Globe Nomination
Hong Chau, a Vietnamese-American actress, recently made the leap from relative obscurity to being a Golden Globe nominee.
Acclaimed Novel 'Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass' Was Released in Japanese Last Month
One of Vietnam’s most beloved novels, Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass), was released in Japanese not long ago.
[Photos] Saigon's Quirky Signs Display the City's Character
It’s impossible to talk about the charm of Saigon without mentioning the diverse range of its colorful signage.
Khoi Pham in Culture
Doraemon and 25 Years of Fostering Friendship in Vietnam
To a generation of young Saigoneers, there are many things that might conjure up fond memories of childhood. Those remnants of past decades could take the form of once-popular TV series about time-tra...
Khoi Pham in Film & TV
Co Ba Sai Gon: A Reverent Homage to Áo Dài and a Feast for the Eyes, but Not Much Else
When the poster of Co Ba Sai Gon (The Tailor) was unveiled for the first time, you could almost hear the sound of Old Saigon fans’ panties dropping all over town.
Bill Gates Includes 2 Vietnamese-American Authors in List of 5 Top Books in 2017
Bill Gates has included two books by authors with deep connections to Vietnam in his recent list of five great titles he read this year.
Leica Opens First-Ever Vietnam Store in Hanoi
Vietnam’s photography enthusiasts might be glad to find out that German high-end camera brand Leica Camera AG has established an official store in the country.
Meet Kelly Marie Tran, the Asian Hero of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'
Kelly Marie Tran, a Vietnamese-American, was cast in a major role for the upcoming blockbuster Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Vietnamese Comic Series 'Long Than Tuong' to Have Spanish Release Next Year
One of Vietnam’s most decorated comic series is now being translated into a Spanish version, set to be released next year.
