How Vietnam's Muslims Celebrate Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr in Mekong Delta's Châu Đốc
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, yet Vietnamese Muslims represent as little as 0.1% of the country’s population. Most are ethnic Chăm, while a few are foreigners and a few converts. After traveling to Châu Đốc in An Giang Province, where the majority are located, I was mesmerized by the unique cultural mix this community represents.
Văn Tân in Culture
A Brief History of Ông Đồ, Vietnam’s Scholars Whose Calligraphy Is Highly Sought After
To say that Tết gathers together everything most beautiful in Vietnamese culture would not be an exaggeration. More than a threshold between the old year and the new, it is also a time when people feel they can return to, and relive, the traditional values that define them.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
From Dark to Dawn, an Early Morning at Hội An's Duy Hải Fish Market
At 3am, Hội An’s streets resemble dog-gnawed pork bones, licked clean of all scent and viscera. No light, no noise, no movement. But that’s the time you must venture out to witness the Duy Hải Fish Market in action.
Review: 'New Wave' Documentary Is a Surprisingly Personal Dissection of 1980s Nostalgia
Melodic synth-lines and steady electronic drums. Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated. During its high point during the 1980s, however, new wave was hailed as music of the future.
On the Cusp of a Modern New Year, Reflections on a Simpler Tết Past
Every year, as the pages from my block calendar peel off, bringing me towards another Vietnamese New Year, my mind once again fills with nostalgia about an old Tết. Tết in my memory begins with my childhood in a small house nestled under a coconut grove on the outskirts of Bạc Liêu in the Mekong Delta. Those were days of hardship, yet my parents worked hard so that Tết could bloom magnificently for all of us.
A Damaged Masterpiece Reveals How Much We Take Our Cultural Heritage for Granted
A once-damaged national treasure remains on view as if nothing had happened, while other works are displayed with little context — what does this tell us about how art museums preserve Vietnam's cultural heritage and shape our art history narratives today?
In 'Đêm Giao Thừa' EP, a Đàn Tranh Artist Offers Novel Twists on Nostalgic Tết Sounds
Indie đàn tranh artist Brian Bùi has just released Đêm Giao Thừa, an EP containing energetic covers of three classic Tết songs and an original track that pays homage to styles from the 1960s and 1970s.
Khôi Phạm in Culture
Unraveling the Mystery Behind the 'Mùi Việt Kiều' of My Childhood
My favorite candy used to be Hershey’s Kisses. Wrapped in colorful, sparkling foil, these little nubs of decadence made me feel special as a child, not just because of their sugary sweetness, but also because, for much of Vietnam’s contemporary history, you could only enjoy them if you have relatives abroad.
Le Brothers: Exploring Identity in Modern Vietnam
Artists Le Duc Hai and Le Ngoc Thanh – known professionally as the Le Brothers, fast-rising stars in Vietnam’s contemporary art scene – stumbled upon their collective name thanks to Starbucks.
[Video] Meet Lisha, Cambodia’s Badass Female Rapper
While Suboi is making headlines around the world as Vietnam’s “Queen of Hip-Hop”, Cambodia has a badass female rapper of its own representing our neighbor to the west.
[Photos/Video] This Vietnamese Artist Makes Delicate Artwork From Dandelions
Botanical artist Duy Anh Nhan Duc picked a rare medium to express his emotions while honoring for the plant kingdom: dandelions.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
During the week-long holiday, our readers were really working their cameras. Here are six of our #wearesaigoneer favorites:
Saigoneer's Weekend Event Picks
Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our favorite events happening around Saigon.
[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.
[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...
#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.
Dana Filek-Gibson 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...
[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.
[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.
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.
[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.
#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.
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.
[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.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From sunsets to fishing nets, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[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...
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.
