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

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From shafts of light in a tiny market to giant fishing nets on the outskirts of Hoi An, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Culture

[Photos] Engl(ish) T-Shirts From Around Asia

As the nuances of English sometimes elude even native speakers, perhaps it’s no surprise that those with a less firm grasp of the language often struggle to correctly identify which words and idioms a...

in Arts & Culture

Vietnamese Designer Fuses Ancient Dyeing Techniques With Modern Fashion

A Vietnamese fashion designer has partnered with a group of women in rural northern Vietnam to use traditional methods to grow and produce natural dyes and fabrics for her clothing line.

Khoi Pham

in Music & Arts

Nhạc Vàng: Bridging the Generational Gap With Retro Saigon Tunes

As the chatter starts to die down and the soft disco lights turn on, peppering the room with a myriad of colors, it seems as if the entire interior of Nguoi Sai Gon cafe has travelled back in time to ...

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From a picturesque lagoon to the gritty textures of District 5's Chinatown, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Culture

[Photos] Vacuum-Packed Japanese Wedding Photos Will Take Your Breath Away

Japan continues to provide plenty of material when it comes to bizarre trends. The latest? Vacuum-packed wedding photos.

in Culture

Inside Quang Nam's Bizarre Cow Beauty Pageant

Last week, a town in Quang Nam Province played host to an unusual spectacle: a cow beauty pageant.

in Music & Arts

[Video] Local Teacher Sings, Dances Awkwardly in English Idiom Music Video

Learning English idioms is not an easy feat. This is especially true for Vietnamese students trying to acquire English as a second language. Fortunately, in this age of YouTube and Snapchat, one can m...

in Culture

[Illustrations] Local Artists Bring Vietnam's Eclectic Shopfronts to Life

A group of Vietnamese illustrators has created a collection of colorful artwork inspired by the architecture of modern Vietnamese cities.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From vendors selling vegetables to hemside barbershops, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Music & Arts

Saigon Skill and the Rise of Alternative Art Projects

Saigon Skill’s first art group show was a vibrant and uplifting display of Saigon’s unheralded talents. Hopes are high that this new project will expose the untapped creatives in the city.

in Music & Arts

Hanoi Wunderkind Wins Major International Writing Contest

In case you need more convincing that Vietnamese students are among the highest-achieving in the world, here’s further proof: an 18-year-old Hanoi student recently won the coveted top prize of an...

in Arts & Culture

[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Hanoi's Viral Cartoonist Xuan Lan

In the thirteenth installment of Hanoi-based English-language podcast Renovation Generation, narrator Maia Do sat down with one of Hanoi's most popular illustrators, Xuan Lan to discuss drawing cartoo...

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From Hanoi to Lang Co to Ho Chi Minh City, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Arts & Culture

BHD vs CGV: The Drama Behind Vietnam’s Latest Blockbuster

Before the movie even hits theaters nationwide, Tam Cam: The Untold and its production team already find themselves at the center of a major controversy.

in Arts & Culture

[Video] Japan Celebrates Summer Olympics With Badass Theme Song

When the Rio Olympics rolled around, Vietnam was slow to get into spirit of the games. Truth be told, the country didn’t really hop on board with the magic of this summer's international competition u...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From the effects of rainy season to renowned Cham poet Inrasara, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Vietnam’s Largest Wax Museum Opens in Ha Long

If you have a free afternoon next time you’re waiting to board a Ha Long Bay cruise, look no further than Vietnam’s largest wax museum for your entertainment.

in Literature

Meet Inrasara, the Poet Keeping Cham Culture Alive

Born in the oldest Cham village in Vietnam, poet and literary critic Inrasara has been keeping Cham literature alive for over 30 years. From textbooks to poetry, literary criticism to publishing, the ...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From national monuments to one of Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lagoons, this is what we saw through our lens this week.