Khôi Phạm in Literature
5 Indie Bookstores in Saigon for Those Who Are Addicted to the Scent of Paper
Most Saigoneers who spent their formative years in the 2000s and 2010s probably grew up amongst the aisles of bookstores, not because we were particularly bookaholic, but because they were pretty much the only third place around with free air-conditioning.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Review: Saigon Soul Revival Returns to Familiar Inspiration on 3rd Album ‘Chốn Ta Về’
More ambitious and self-assured than ever, Saigon Soul Revival (SSR) embraces their own sound and its many influences on their latest album, “Chốn ta về.”
Phương Mỹ Chi's Latest MV Tells Eternal Love Story in Vietnam's Khmer Community
After forays into the worlds of reality TV and cinema, Vietnam’s folk pop princess Phương Mỹ Chi has returned to her roots with a fresh new full-length album, pioneered by the lead single ‘Thiên đường với người thương’ (lit: In heaven with my beloved).
Tracing My Family's Fondness for French Tunes, From Colonial Times to Vietnamese Versions
“Tombe la merde; tu ne viendras pas ce soir [Shit is falling; you’re not coming tonight]”: an outburst of laughter and applause would inevitably fill the room as my dad, in his deep, mellifluous voice, put his own profane twist on Salvatore Adamo’s ‘Tombe la neige.’ This track, like ‘Paroles… Paroles…’ by Dalida or Christophe’s ‘Aline,’ are widely known and adored in both France and my family in Vietnam. My childhood unfolded against these rhythms, melodies, and lyrics, whose origins were so far removed from me, both temporally and geographically.
But What Even Is an Expat: Unpacking the Highly Contentious Term, in Vietnam and Abroad
“Expat is a racist as hell term” — this is the take of Misan Harriman on the popular internet show SubwayTakes. The ...
Adrien Jean in Travel
The Enigmatic Neon-Lit World in the Mist of Sapa
Is there a more atmospheric place in Vietnam than Sapa on a misty night?
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Review: Pieces of Me | Nao Yoshioka (feat. Mỹ Anh)
Mỹ Anh has come a long way since becoming the runner-up of The Heroes in 2021. Five years later, now with a full-length album and a spectrum of singles and extended plays under her belt, the Hanoi-based artist has proven to be one of the most dynamic singer-songwriter-producer of her generation.
Art Exhibition ‘Limerence’ Explores Where Romantic Desire Distorts Into Obsession
Thom Nguyen utilizes portraiture and depictions of mushrooms and organic objects to explore the concept of limerence in a solo exhibition at Permanently Closed Gallery in Thảo Điền, beginning Friday, August 28.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
'Girls Rock Asia' Brings Together Female Musicians From Across Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia isn’t particularly well-known for its live music scene. Major international acts might only play Bangkok or Singapore, if they stop in the region at all. Home-grown acts are common, but...
[Photos] Rainy Season in Vietnam: An Ode to Boats, Raincoats and Flooding
Elsewhere in the world, a heavy bout of rain might not be a big deal. However in Vietnam, where flooding is a common occurrence, the rainy season is a prime occasion for the country’s shutterbugs to c...
'Em Chua 18' Is Vietnam's First Film to Have Foreign Remakes
Foreign filmmakers are seeking to remake Em Chua 18, Vietnam's biggest domestically produced box-office hit to date.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Saigon skyline to Art Deco facades, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Music & Arts
A Present Retrospective: Fusing Past, Present and Propaganda
Work Room Four’s current exhibition, A Present Retrospective, connects past and present in the iconic work of Cuban graphic artist René Mederos and the responses of five contemporary Vietnamese artist...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From the grits of Saigon's chợ cũ to the city from above, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Khoi Pham in Music & Arts
[Video] Saigoneer Session: Ca Hoi Hoang's Paper Dream
The first time I met Ca Hoi Hoang frontman Nguyen Viet Thanh and band leader Nguyen Thanh Minh was in the midst of a sweltering Saigon afternoon.
Cinema Department Attends Cannes to Promote Vietnam as Film Destination
As the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival gets under way, Vietnam is hoping to generate interest among filmmakers and production companies from around the world in its push to become a major movie-makin...
Young Saigoneers Turn Manhole Covers Into Street Art
Street art sporadically pops up in the most hopeless of places, and this time it’s Saigon's lowly manhole covers.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Music & Arts
French Hip-Hop Meets Viet Rap in New Piu Piu Collaboration
As Vietnam’s underground hip-hop scene begins to emerge into the spotlight, one of its rising stars joins forces with an up-and-coming foreign artist to create a track for worldwide release.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Hue's intricate lanterns to a Saigon dusk, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] Kiyohiko Azuma’s Intricate Sketches of Tokyo’s Urban Landscapes
This manga artist creates backgrounds with such extreme attention to detail that they could pass for standalone works of art.
Vietnamese Film Wins Top Honors at ASEAN Film Festival
A Vietnamese film named The Way Station won Best Film, Best Lead Actor and Best Director of Photography (DOP) at the 2017 ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA).
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From a fishing village in Tam Giang to Hanoi's Long Bien Bridge, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] This Artist Creates Ukiyo-e Paintings of Basketball Stars
Edo-ball is what happens when one combines Japanese culture, professional basketball and ukiyo-e paintings.
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...
