Paul Christiansen in Literature
In Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's New Novel, Saigon's Rhythms Hum in the Background
“I’m always homesick for Vietnam. To write is to return home. That's why I had to bring Vietnam alive onto the pages. I had to hear the people speak, I had to listen to the music, to the language; I had to smell the food, see the landscape — that's my way of returning home. Whenever I’m homesick, I just return home via my writing.”
'Đời Gió Bụi,' Vietnamese Version of Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's Novel 'Dust Child,' Released This Week
Originally written in English and already translated into more than 15 languages, Đời gió bụi (Dust Child) was released in Quế Mai's mother tongue on December 8.
Just 50km From Hanoi, Đường Lâm Village Is a Charming Historical Relic
If one were to strike out west from Hanoi and follow the Red River for some 50 kilometers, there they will find Đường Lâm Village — a quintessence of rural Vietnam.
Khôi Phạm in Film & TV
Review: Quán Kỳ Nam Is an Instant Classic of Contemporary Vietnamese Cinema
Quán Kỳ Nam is a cozy, languorous film that might elude some viewers who don’t have the patience to sit around sipping on tea while waiting for hoa quỳnh to blossom. Still, just like waiting for those petals to unfurl, if you manage to sit still until the end, the result is a tender beauty whose scent will linger on even after the flower is gone.
Paul Christiansen in Literature
Meet Dạ Ngân, the Author of the Most Important Vietnamese Novel You've Never Read
When the wind strafes Dạ Ngân’s window, seedpods shake and rattle like spent bullet casings in the tamarind tree that Americans planted decades ago. They also built the large apartment complex where she now lives. It’s an ironic place to call home, considering Dạ Ngân was a resistance fighter in the south during the American War.
Khôi Phạm in Culture
What Can Vietnamese License Plates Tell You About the Vehicles and Who Drives Them?
There was a game I used to play with my dad whenever we would stop at a traffic light. He would point to a random license plate in front of us and quiz me on where it came from.
Mũi Né Among Top 10 Trending Travel Destinations Globally in 2026, Booking Says
Travel site Booking.com dubbed Mũi Né “one of 2026’s trending travel spots,” reflective of the international attention and domestic emphasis the beach city is currently receiving.
Euphoria, Ruin, Nostalgia: Tracing Hanoi's Changing Skyline by Its Soundtrack
From loudspeakers broadcasting construction anthems during wartime to melancholic ballads mourning vanished street corners, Hanoi's soundtrack reveals a city that has never quite learned to live in its present tense.
Hoa Van Dai Viet: A Very Vietnam Take on Adult Coloring Books
As globalization transforms Vietnam’s cultural landscape, a group of young history aficionados have taken it upon themselves to keep old traditions alive.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From amused fishermen to forlorn coracle, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Local Artist Challenges Japan's Stigma Against Tattoos in Modern Era
In tattoo-averse Japan, a case heading to court in Osaka could help determine whether anybody will be able to get their body inked in the country in the future.
[Video] Vietnamese Animator Creates Wistful Reel of Saigon Memories From Pencil Sketches
Sometimes our childhood memories exist as little pieces of wonder.
[Photos] Vietnamese-American Artist Helps Create and Share 'Made by Refugee' Stickers
If you’ve come across a “Made by Refugee” sticker in Saigon, know that they’re the brainchild of artist duo Kien Quan and Jillian Young, created in an effort to raise awareness of the global refugee c...
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
City Rising: Richie Fawcett’s Intricate Saigon Panoramas Hit L’Usine This Week
Saigon-based artist Richie Fawcett is back with an extensive new collection of drawings that will soon be on display at L’Usine Dong Khoi.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Saigon street at dusk to traditional Chinese decor, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Gambling and Globalization in Old Saigon: A Brief History of Số Đề in Vietnam
Since Vietnam started opening up its economy decades ago, the country has been developing at an impressive rate thanks to the effects of globalization, foreign investment and a constant exchange of cu...
Indonesia's 'Islamic Punk' Movement Marries Religious Faith With Musical Rebellion
In Indonesia, music aficionados are combining two elements that appear to be in complete contrast – Islamic faith and punk – to create positive changes in their community.
[Photos] Masashi Wakui's Colorful Tokyo Vision
There are a lot of things to love about Tokyo: the food, the quirky fashion and the rich history. However, for photographer Masashi Wakui, it’s the city’s nightscapes that fascinate him the most.
[Photos] A Group of History Buffs Have Recreated a Royal Costume From Scratch
A group of young history buffs recently accomplished an impressive feat: reconstructing an old Vietnamese royal costume by referencing an image.
[Photos] A Post-Apocalyptic Look Into 3A Station on Its Last Legs
A month after receiving its closing notice, 3A Station has gone from hip youth culture alley to post-apocalyptic wasteland.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Hoi An's night lanterns to a spectacular Saigon sunset, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Passenger in Infamous United Airlines Video Was an Accomplished Pre-1975 Musician in Saigon
As the story of David Dao, the doctor who was forcefully removed from United Airlines Flight 3411 last Sunday, continues to unfold, Vietnamese media outlets have recounted the Vietnamese-American pass...
[Video] This Is What Happens When You Merge Cai Luong and Justin Bieber's 'What Do You Mean?'
Do: watch this video to improve your cải lương skills. Don’t: use this video to practice English pronunciation.
'A Year with Thirteen Moons' Brings Vintage Style to the Lunar Calendar
“A Year with Thirteen Moons” is Rice Creative’s tribute to Vietnam’s cultural beliefs about numbers, dates and fortune.
Hands-On Vietnam Brings Intensive, Affordable Workshops to Saigon's Budding Filmmakers
In a city brimming with actors, producers and filmmakers, it’s hard to imagine that a communal space for collaboration didn't already exist. Until last week, informal spaces like Facebook groups offer...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From jocular street vendors to modernist buildings, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] Taipei Style: A City of Effortless Cool
Taipei’s street style is an eclectic mix of old Hollywood icons, Japanese minimalism and a whole lot of berets.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From city sunrises to Ba Chieu Market at sunset, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
