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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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.
[Photos] The Weird Fruits of Tet Are Coming
With Tet fast approaching, Vietnam’s array of strange, misshapen fruits is returning in full force.
[Photos] New Children's Book Introduces Southeast Asia's Animals to the World
A New York-based art director and illustrator recently published a children’s book on the fauna and flora of Laos and Vietnam featuring a host of intricate drawings.
[Music] How Indonesia’s Horn-Honking Became a Hit Among EDM DJs
On the streets of many Southeast Asian countries, vehicle honking presents yet another opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From quiet, waterfront cafes to bustling city corners, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Recording] Listen to Saigon’s Hottest Track From 1900
At the turn of the 20th century, with French colonialism well under way in Vietnam and the age of motion pictures just beginning, Saigon – and much of the rest of the country – became a subject of gre...
Wonderfilled Magazine Explores Saigon’s Sustainable Leather Goods
Ahead of their Saigon issue, Saigoneer presents an exclusive excerpt from Wonderfilled Magazine. Now in its sixth volume, the travel magazine tells stories about creativity around the world. Each issu...
An Illustrated Homage to Saigon Traffic
From old buildings and frenetic traffic to bustling sidewalks and endless construction, Saigon provides no shortage of visual inspiration for the city’s illustrators, artists and graphic designers.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From French colonial mansions to the chaotic traffic of urban Vietnam, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Illustrations] Animals, Explained: 6 Unusual Vietnamese-to-English Translations
When it comes to the gap between Vietnamese and English, there are a lot of things that get lost in translation.
[Photos] Meet Hanoi's Savvy Grasshopper Hunters
For most of Vietnam’s farming community, grasshoppers pose a real threat to fields and plantations. However for a particular commune in Hanoi’s suburban areas, these pesky insects have become a signif...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From cityscapes to seashores, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] Check out This Vietnamese-American Artist's Mesmerizing Portraits
Next time somebody claims that “colored pencils are for kids”, show them the work of Cuong Nguyen, whose intricate paintings are crafted entirely from colored pencils.
As Indonesia Modernizes, a Remote Culture Begins to Fade Away
Far removed from the rapidly modernizing cities of Indonesia, the Mentawai people are struggling to reconcile their traditional way of life with the country's development.
Indie Artists Bring New Sounds to Vietnam's Contemporary Music Scene
The state of current Vietnamese music is complicated. In the minds of the older generation, years of historical turmoil are intricately linked with their personal identity, thus they tend to harbor a ...
[Podcast] Songs From Southeast Asia: Vietnamese Music Through the Ages
Given the country's geography and the many twists and turns in its history, defining a distinctly Vietnamese sound is no easy feat.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From hand-painted signs to nón lá to the quiet coast of Con Dao, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[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...
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.
[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...
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.
