in Trích or Triết

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.

in Music & Arts

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.

in Film & TV

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 ...

in Music & Arts

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.

in Quãng 8

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...

in Culture

What Will Become of Chợ Quê in the Era of Widespread Online Shopping?

Firmly taking root in everyday life, our hometown markets — chợ quê — are not simply a place to trade, but also puzzle pieces that make up childhood memories, holiday excitement, and even tales of hardships and life milestones of countless people. 

Back Arts & Culture

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer's Weekend Event Picks

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our favorite events happening around Saigon.

in Culture

[Photos] A Slice of Traditional Tet in Hanoi Village

To celebrate this year’s Tet, an online collective of history buffs recently held a New Year festival in suburban Hanoi, complete with a variety of traditional Tet rituals and delicacies.

in Culture

[Video] Saigon Artists Craft Beautiful, Handmade Lucky Money Envelopes

With the lunar new year just days away, everyone is scrambling to complete their last-minute Tet preparations, from getting a haircut to re-painting the house to stocking up on those ever-important lì...

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From a poetic Da Lat sky to a shrine on Con Dao Island, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Culture

The Story of Ông Táo, the Kitchen God Who Rides a Carp to Heaven

This evening, as Saigoneers continue their many Tet preparations and young revellers head out for a night on the town, Ong Tao is packing his bags for his annual trip to heaven.

Michael Tatarski

in Literature

How Mekong Review Aims to Connect Southeast Asia Through Literature

First published in late 2015, The Mekong Review has quickly garnered a sterling reputation in a region short on quality print publications. Minh Bui Jones, its founder and editor, talks to Saigoneer a...

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Saigon's Oldest Street Artist Jazzes up the Hẻms of D4

For the last two years, a few remote hẻms in District 4 have slowly been covered in the city's most adorable graffiti.

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From Saigon's dingy hẻm to the serenity of life in Tam Giang Lagoon, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Arts & Culture

Vietnamese Comic ‘Dia Nguc Mon’ Earns International MANGA Award

For the second year in a row, a Vietnamese comic has won one of Japan’s prestigious International MANGA Awards.

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] Colors of Saigon: Xanh, Sạch, Đẹp

From its ambitions and its people to the general color palette of daily life, Saigon is a bold city.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From sunrise in the city to Mui Ne's magnificent sand dunes, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Film & TV

Vietnam Unveils New Film Rating System

As of January 1, Vietnam’s new film rating system allows the local movie industry to screen adult content.

in Literature

[Illustrations] Young Illustrator Breathes New Life Into Work of Vietnamese Poet

Poet Tran Dang Khoa’s most beloved collection of children’s poetry is receiving a makeover, thanks to young illustrator and graphic designer Pham Quang Phuc.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From sunsets to fishing nets, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] The Godfather of Saigon's Water Puppets

While Saigon’s younger crowd is busy picking up the hottest new foreign trends, like parkour or wearing bean sprouts on your head, artisans from older generations have held fast to their traditional c...

in Arts & Culture

Meet The Girl in Reuters' 2016 Vietnam Photo

For its recent One Photo, One Country, One Year series, Reuters picked a snapshot from Vietnam depicting an áo dài-clad lady posing on an ornamental peach tree plantation in Hanoi.

in Culture

[Photos] The Weird Fruits of Tet Are Coming

With Tet fast approaching, Vietnam’s array of strange, misshapen fruits is returning in full force.

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] New Children's Book Introduces Southeast Asia's Animals to the World

A New York-based art director and illustrator recently published a children’s book on the fauna and flora of Laos and Vietnam featuring a host of intricate drawings.

in Music & Arts

[Music] How Indonesia’s Horn-Honking Became a Hit Among EDM DJs

On the streets of many Southeast Asian countries, vehicle honking presents yet another opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From quiet, waterfront cafes to bustling city corners, this is what we saw through our lens this week.