Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Review: Thịnh Suy, Datmaniac Deliver Earnestness in 'Tự,' an Experiment in Spirituality
Following the musical works of Thịnh Suy means always being on alert for sudden song drops, sometimes without even a cryptic social media status update as a harbinger. Thịnh’s latest creation, ‘Tự,’ came to be in a similar fashion: the vocal version was unveiled in August, while a few days ago, another version with a rap verse by Datmaniac came out.
Nguyễn Bình Phương's Tale of Magical Realism Revels in Absurdity
“Clip-clop, clip-clop.” So goes the sound of the water buffalo hooves pulling a wagon through the highlands against the magenta sky of an unending sunset. The wagon is guided by a nameless driver, and onboard are three travelers: a veteran referred to as “the Man” and two other younger men.
I Grew up Among Ducks in the Mekong Delta. They Always Remind Me of Home.
On a recent ritual walk around my suburb, I was held up by the sight of a middle-aged man with his “fur kid.” I introduced myself and when he heard the word “Vietnam,” his eyes lit up and with a smile as he tumbled out the words: “The Mekong Delta. Ducks.”
In Hien's Debut Album, a Self-Discovery Journey Through Vietnam, Hungary and the US
After a decade writing and gathering materials, Hien recently published her debut album, “Trăng Qua.”
‘Echoes of Tonkin’ Exhibition Challenges Clichéd Narratives of 20th-Century Vietnamese Art
“Echoes of Tonkin: Vietnamese Modern Art” opens in Hong Kong to challenge reductive narratives and clichés about 20th-century Vietnamese art.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Art Project ‘The Lottery of Forgotten Dreams’ Is a Wild Alchemy of Vé Số and Photography
Vé số ticket number 984430 yields a magenta fish contorting atop a ghostly image of an apartment high-rise in Tân Phú in “The Lottery of Forgotten Dreams – Topographies of the Unseen,” an art project by photographer Christian Berg. The experimental project, available to view in full online, employs computer technology to combine photography, numerology, and mythology and playfully reimagine how one visualizes Saigon.
In MARG1N, a Resolute Return to Print Media That Dissects Southeast Asian Cinema
The joy of reading, for most of my life, had been primarily grounded in the joy of learning, feeling, and thinking through words, independent of medium. That is, until college, when I found myself repeatedly longing for Thursday mornings, when the week’s freshly printed student newspaper would arrive neatly folded and stacked, ready to be spread over the dining-hall table like wrapping paper. I came to realize then that the joy of reading was not simply about words; it was also about the tactile touch of paper and of the inexplicable satisfaction of flipping through pages bigger than my hands could reasonably manage.
By Preserving Tradition, Honoring Creativity and Showcasing Sustainability, Young Vietnamese Chefs Excel at Ngon Challenge by Marriott International
The glossy menus, sleek decor, and iconic logos of international hotel restaurants often obscure the human stories behind each dish. While catering to global guests, these restaurants often serve meals with origins in family kitchens and regional culinary traditions. Young, local chefs balance nostalgic associations with contemporary techniques and creative expression to create these menus. Returning for its second year this past September, Ngon Challenge continued to celebrate and nurture Vietnamese culinary talent across Marriott International’s hotels and resorts in Vietnam.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Arts & Culture
3A Station Is Closing in 2 Months
After three years, 3A Station is closing.
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.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From salt fields to cityscapes, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[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.
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.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From traditional temples to colorful graffiti, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
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.
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.
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.
#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.
Vietnam is Samuel L. Jackson's Favorite Country for Filming
Recently, legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson – star of the upcoming film Kong: Skull Island – took a little time out of his busy schedule fighting snakes and brewing beer&...
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.
