Uyên Đỗ

in Arts & Culture

Strangevisuals Is an Archive of Daily Life on Postcards of Rice and Dó Papers

What are our memories made of?

Paul Christiansen

in Loạt Soạt

Within the Shocking Brutality of Queer Novel 'Parallels' Rests Poignant Poetry

Parallels by Vũ Đình Giang shocked me. While I refrain from spoiling its plot, allow me to share my experience when reading this novel, as translated by Khải Q. Nguyễn, to better explain how the book jolted me from expectations and why the experience provides a unique and valuable addition to the array of Vietnamese novels translated into English.

in Music & Arts

‘129BPM’ Carries the Contemporary Hip-Hop Heartbeat From Vietnam to Malaysia

Under the shared heartbeat of “129BPM,” the dancers channeled their emotions through movement, navigating between individuality and collectivity both on and off stage. Extending beyond Vietnamese audiences, the piece has now been presented on an international platform at George Town Festival 2025 in Penang, Malaysia, marking a significant milestone for Vietnamese contemporary hip-hop performance on the international stage.

in Trích or Triết

Trần Dần, the Literary Maverick Teaching Us How We Should and Can Be an Artist

In the mind of many Vietnamese readers, the name of writer Trần Dần has been inextricably linked with artistic experimentation and innovation. His poetic voice feels nothing like those of writers I learnt back in high school: there is something so different, refreshing and oddly contemporary about it. As I consider every page of his bulky posthumously published anthology Thơ (Poetry), I find his legacy remains inspirational even for contemporary readers — especially other young Vietnamese — on what it means to “be an artist.” This does not only entail one’s appreciation and production of Vietnamese art, but also their adoption of an artist’s mindset into daily life.

in Travel

A Tribute to the Incredibly Eye-Catching, Organic Signage of Sa Đéc

Signs are like voices.

Linh Phạm

in Travel

On a Walking Tour, Mulling Over the Glorious Past and Odious Present of Tô Lịch River

We began our journey in front of a bank where the street Trần Nhật Duật turned into Chợ Gạo.

in Music & Arts

In 1920s–1940s Paris, Vietnamese Artists Painted Through the Interwar Period as the 'Others'

How did Vietnamese artists navigate the complex tides of social and political changes, and mark their own position in the art world as the “Others” during interwar Paris — which was celebrated as the “City of Lights,” yet also a stage for both colonial propaganda and a ground for anti-colonial resistance?

Back Arts & Culture

in Arts & Culture

[Illustrations] Award-Winning Comic Depicts Favorite Pastimes of Ancient Vietnamese Elite

In its latest volume, Vietnam’s award-winning comic series Long Than Tuong shines a light on the country’s favorite pastimes during the Tran Dynasty, including Go, wrestling, kite-running and, surpris...

in Film & TV

Iconic Hanoi Cinematheque Closes Doors to Make Way for Mall

The Hanoi Cinematheque, an independent movie house and cultural icon of the capital, closed its doors yesterday to make way for a shopping mall.

in Film & TV

[Video] A Celebrity YouTuber's Heartfelt Father-Son Vietnam Documentary

In the opening of The Vietnam Notebook, narrator Casey Neistat flips open a fat, worn out Moleskine and holds a magnifying glass against the hasty scribble on the book’s bottom corner: “Experience doe...

in Culture

Vietnamese Designer Sparks Debate With Modernized National Costume

Miss Vietnam's national costume for the 2016 Miss Supranational beauty pageant, created by designer Le Long Dung, has sparked debate over its cultural accuracy. 

Dana Filek-Gibson

in Arts & Culture

In His Second Feature, Viet Max Leans on Hip-Hop Roots, Unconventional Style

Viet Max is a man of many talents. At 37, the Hanoi native has managed to parlay his eclectic skill set into a breakdancing career, a street fashion brand and, more recently, work as a feature film di...

in Music & Arts

From Vandals to Vanguards: Saigon’s Graffiti Artists Take on Fine Art Venues

This weekend, as Saigon’s street artists converge upon The Factory Contemporary Arts Center for a two-day showcase of rap, hip-hop, breakdancing and graffiti, SubyOne has something to prove.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From stunning seascapes to freshwater springs, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Film & TV

[Video] Indonesian TV Show Depicts Diabolical Hello Kitty Murder

In every country, in every culture, there are good people who love bad television.

in Arts & Culture

[Video] Honda Celebrates Saigon's Super Cubs With Charming TVC

Is there anything more reminiscent of 1990s Saigon than a Honda Super Cub?

in Music & Arts

[Video] Malaysian Artist Creates Singaporean Mural With Chopsticks

Next time you order take-away phở, don’t throw away your bamboo chopsticks; turn them into art.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From sand dunes to freshwater lagoons, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From cityscapes to island life, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Arts & Culture

Group Behind Whimsical Saigon Pop-Up Book Launches Crowd-Funding Campaign

A team of creative Saigoneers has turned the city’s most recognizable landmarks into a quirky pop-up book.

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] A Ride on North Korea's Glamorous Subway Trains

From unveiling a Netflix-like entertainment service called “Manbang” to banning sarcasm, North Korea is known worldwide for its bizarre antics. Therefore, it’s rather surprising to see that its metro,...

in Culture

How Your Phone Number Affects Your Fortune

“Too many nines,” Diep scoffs. “And you think it’s good? It’s not, honey.”  

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From Vung Tau's sandy beaches to Phu Quoc's ethereal sky at dusk, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Music & Arts

Free Online Exhibition Embedded South(s) Showcases Vietnamese Visual Artists

The work of eight Vietnamese visual artists will be included in Embedded South(s), an online exhibition of moving images that opens today.

Dana Filek-Gibson

in Arts & Culture

International Photographer Captures Spirit of Đạo Mẫu in Vibrant New Photo Book

Tewfic El-Sawy’s introduction to Đạo Mẫu, also known as the Mother Goddess religion, began with music.

in Arts & Culture

'Vietgone': New Play Brings Vietnamese Refugee Love Story to Life

Qui Nguyen’s play Vietgone, which opened earlier this month, marries raw, intimate anecdotes about the life of refugees following the American War with modern storytelling techniques such as hip-hop a...

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From sand dunes in Mui Ne to waterfalls in Da Lat, this is what we saw through our lens this week.