'Making a Whore' Is Both Less and More Revealing Than Its Reputation Suggests
For the first time, Vũ Trọng Phụng’s novel Làm đĩ is available in English. Originally published in 1936, the novel has been translated by Đinh Ngọc Mai under the title Making a Whore and was released last year by Major Books, an independent publishing house dedicated to making Vietnamese literature more available for the English-speaking world.
Uyên Đỗ in Culture
The Surprisingly Global History of Monobloc, the Chair Vietnam Loves and the West Despises
In 2024, The New York Times published a list of the 25 most iconic pieces of furniture from the past century, selected by a panel of designers, artists, and curators from the world's leading museums. Unexpectedly, the Monobloc, a plastic chair found in almost every corner of Vietnam and across the globe, had somehow secured a seat.
How Richie Fawcett's Saigon Sketches Illuminate a Decade of Change
It’s been hidden right there in the heart of Saigon for over half a decade.
Water as a Metaphor for Trauma, Memories and Unspoken Histories in Quế’s Art
Through installations and animated films, Quế traces the flow of water as they move through personal memories and collective histories, carrying generational trauma amidst urbanization, and even natural disaster.
Insights, Polished History Lessons Await in Hanoi's Massive, Brutalist Military Museum
When I pitched a review of Hanoi’s massive new Vietnam Military History Museum to the Saigoneer editorial staff, I expected to find the museum somewhat boring. After all, although I am a historian, I am not really that interested in military stuff, and I’d been to the original location on Điện Biên Phủ Street several times — how could this new museum improve on the old one? What could this new museum say that the old one didn’t? What could I learn here that I haven’t already learned at Saigon’s War Remnants Museum and Hồ Chí Minh Campaign Museum, at Điện Biên Phủ’s war museum, at Hải Phòng’s naval museum, and at the countless other shrines to Vietnamese martial prowess across the country? Quite a lot, it turns out.
Tourists Generate Up to 3 Times More Plastic Waste Than Locals, UNDP Finds
A recent report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that plastic waste pollution poses increasing pro...
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.
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.
[Video] Finding Solace at Saigon's 'Shutterbug' Hẻm Cafe
Editor's note (August 3, 2018): It is with heavy hearts for us to inform you that Tiem Ca Phe Sai Gon Hem was permanently closed in July. However, we feel incredibly lucky to have captured these momen...
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
On Creating Art With the Water From Saigon's Polluted Canals
A new art exhibition in Saigon looks at the relationship between humans and nature, as well as the importance of clean water in daily life.
[Photos] The 89-Year-Old Japanese Grandma Whose Comical Selfies Will Put Yours to Shame
If you are a frequent user of the Internet, chances are you have come across a series of photos featuring an elderly woman in hilarious and bizarre circumstances. The playful shots, which have generat...
The Surprising Health Benefits Behind the Asian Squat
The Asian squat has been getting lots of attention these past few years, but most recently it has been revealed that there may be health benefits to this sitting position.
[Illustrations] Take a 'Feels' Trip Down Memory Lane via These Icons of 2000s Saigon
Back in the days just after the Internet first made an appearance in the country, Vietnamese youngsters used to spend their free time flying kites, watching TV series on VHS tapes and playing 8-bit ga...
Dragonfly Theater Brings Award-Winning Broadway Comedy ‘Lend Me a Tenor’ to Saigon
On Saturday morning, in a small studio at Asia Music & Performing Arts Education, members of the Dragonfly Theater Company were frantically getting ready for rehearsal. On the floor were makeshift sta...
[Photos] Japanese Taxi Driver Captures Yokohama's Nightscapes in Haunting Double Exposure Photos
Japanese taxi driver Issui Enomoto has a knack for double-exposure photos, as shown by these haunting pictures of Japan’s port city Yokohama from behind the wheel of his vehicle.
Vietnamese Photographer Among 6 in Asia-Pacific Selected for Global Talent Program
Hanoi-based Vietnamese photographer Maika Elan was recently selected as one of six creatives to watch in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Khoi Pham in Film & TV
Short Film 'The Old Ways' Reminds Us Why We Love Vietnam's Northwest
Travelogues are a special genre of video. For those who have set foot in the actual locations featured, perhaps nothing could compare with being able to immerse oneself in the local landscape and cult...
Dana Filek-Gibson in Arts & Culture
A Very Saigon Collaboration: Hey Camel Ceramics and Linda Mai Phung’s Workwear Collection
Saigon breeds unusual collaborations. Take a walk around most neighborhoods and you’ll spot the odd storefront that sells both cơm chiên and motorbike parts, or an entrepreneurial spirit who’s managed...
Exploring the Human Condition Through a Fusion of the Familiar and the Strange
In his most recent exhibition, "Paradise Lost", Hoi An-based artist Hoang Thanh Vinh Phong offers a menacing interpretation of day-to-day life. In a selection of seven works of art spanning multiple m...
[Video] Short Film Retells Vietnam's Origin Story With Sleek Visuals, Impressive Soundtrack
A refreshing take on Vietnam’s most well-known folk tale, this 2017 retelling of ‘Con Rong Chau Tien’ manages to retain the gist of the legend while improving on the traditional storyline with some im...
