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.”

in Music & Arts

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).

in Music & Arts

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.

in Culture

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.

in Music & Arts

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.

Back Arts & Culture

in Arts & Culture

[Memes] Watch King Kong Stomp Across Vietnam

One week into the release of Kong: Skull Island, the hype surrounding the Hollywood blockbuster may have leveled off in real life – officials are no longer trying to erect a life-sized statue of the g...

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From city lights to Con Dao's island vistas, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Music & Arts

[Illustrations] The Rustic Charm of South Korea's Mom-and-Pop Shops

While Hallyu fans take an interest in Korean culture because of its massive entertainment industry and eye-catching fashion sense, South Korean artist Me Kyeoung Lee pays homage to the count...

Khôi Phạm

in Music & Arts

Saving the City's Soul: The Release of Saigon Supersound, Vol. 1

Despite being subject to a bombardment of ruthless changes, Saigon is surprisingly persistent in its love for all things old, rustic and gritty. For someone who was not born and bred in the bustling m...

in Film & TV

[Video] Filmmaker Captures the Many Faces of Vietnam

On a thousand-mile journey from the furthest reaches of northern Vietnam to the hot, sunny streets of Saigon, filmmaker Fabien Echochard captures the optimism of the Vietnamese people in beautiful det...

in Film & TV

'Kong: Skull Island' Smashes Box Office Records as Director Considers Move to Saigon

It was a big weekend for King Kong fans in Vietnam, with the giant ape's latest cinematic foray smashing local box office records, while the film's director announced his intention to move to Saigon.&...

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From birdcages to bird's eye views, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Arts & Culture

American Musical 'Miss Saigon' Returns to Broadway This Month

On the 25th anniversary of its debut, the American musical Miss Saigon will return to Broadway later this month.

in Arts & Culture

Vietnam's Local Screenplays Are Losing out to Cheap Foreign Remakes

In the face of diminishing confidence in Vietnamese scripts, local producers are turning to neighboring countries for a surefire source of profitable movie formulae.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From Cho Lon to Ben Tre, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

Dana Filek-Gibson

in Arts & Culture

3A Station Is Closing in 2 Months

After three years, 3A Station is closing.

in Culture

Vietnamese Cultural House to Open in France in 2018

Starting next year, Parisians won’t need to travel far to get a dose of Vietnamese culture.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From salt fields to cityscapes, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Arts & Culture

[Illustrations] Check Out This Polish Artist's Watercolor Tokyo Shopfronts

There’s something about urban shopfronts that inspires artists everywhere to break out their canvas and doodle away.

in Arts & Culture

As China Rejects Hallyu, the Korean Wave Is Headed Straight for Southeast Asia

With China blocking South Korean film and television from its airwaves, Hallyu is now headed straight for Southeast Asia.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From traditional temples to colorful graffiti, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Film & TV

After Major Expansion, CGV Dominates Vietnam's Cinema Industry

As the number of cinemas in Saigon continues to grow, CGV is dominating Vietnam's local moviegoing industry.

in Culture

At Tết Nguyên Tiêu, a Celebration of the Lunar Year's First Full Moon

Last Saturday, on the first full moon of the first lunar month, members of Saigon’s ethnic Chinese community celebrated Tet Nguyen Tieu, or the Lantern Festival.

in Culture

Cambodia Is Losing Its Buddhist Monks to Modernization

Rocked by scandals, rapid modernization and a changing society, membership in Cambodia's Buddhist monkhood is on the decline.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From gritty apartment in District 5 to old-school 1960s music performance, this is what we saw through our lens this week.