Great Vietnam Resurrects Nguyễn-Era Fashion, One Traditional Costume at a Time
In the last four to five years, ancient Vietnamese costumes have gained more visibility, becoming a welcome sight among young locals thanks to the efforts to reproduce and promote historic fashion from a number of designers, brands, and interest groups that appreciate the country’s history and traditions.
In the Mekong Delta, Đồ Bộ Is Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Despite its humble beginning as something worn just for convenience’s sake, đồ bộ has entered every minute of life in the Mekong Delta as a staple fashion choice that’s both flexible and colorful. Đồ bộ means “set outfit” in Vietnamese, a type of female casualwear made of soft, thin fabrics that often comes in a top and long bottom combo. They’re sometimes referred to as “Vietnamese pajamas,” but these comfortable sets can be worn at any time of the day and even outside, not just reserved for sleep like pajamas.
Nguyễn Đổng Chi's Classic Retelling of Vietnam's Fairy Tales, Now in English
Folklorist and anthropologist Nguyễn Đổng Chi dedicated decades to weaving a significant portion of Vietnam’s folklore tapestry. He collected, researched, and rewrote over 200 Vietnamese folktales from all corners of the country. His work, initially scattered across five volumes published individually and consecutively over 25 years, appeared as a complete anthology in 1982. Guided by a comprehensive treatise of Vietnamese folktale, Chi’s Kho tàng truyện cổ tích Việt Nam (Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales) might be daunting for readers drawn to Vietnamese folklore but disenchanted by rigorous academic discourse.
Kit Humphrey in Travel
In Thổ Hà Village, Rice Paper Spills Onto the Streets and Wraps Around Daily Life
A few hours after sunrise in the small village of Thổ Hà, Bắc Giang Province, alleyways morph into picturesque tunnels of drying rice paper, while ladies toast crackers over fire in the streets.
Carol Kim Brings to Life Rare Performance of 'Tại Vắng Anh' Thanks to Saigon Jazz Revival
The rich, bluesy ‘Tại vắng anh,’ written by Tuấn Khanh, was performed by Carol Kim this past November at Saigon Jazz Revival's inaugural concert in New Orleans.
Cliché or Parody? Orientalist Readings of Nam Le’s ‘36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem’
One may be surprised to learn that Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel The Sympathizer was rejected by 13 out of 14 publishers before its eventual publication. He describes in an interview why he believes his novel was rejected by all but one publisher he submitted to: “I knew in writing the novel that I was deliberately not doing what I was supposed to do as an Asian American writer, which is [...that] you have to end on a note of Americanization. You have to end on an embrace of the American dream, explicitly or implicitly. And the novel does not do that.” He comments elsewhere along similar lines, “I refuse[d] to subscribe to dominant American narratives and mythologies that allow someone like me a very narrow space to speak.”
Pete Walls in Travel
Watching the Sunset From Lai Châu's Fansipan, the Roof of Indochina
Conquering Mount Fansipan’s 3,147 meters was once a feat reserved for those willing to take on the potential multi-day hike from Sapa to the summit and back.
Vietnam Arrests 7 Suspects Behind Streaming Site HiAnime on Piracy Charges
As part of the current crackdown on intellectual property infringement, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security recently took down a major network of websites providing illegal anime streaming.
[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.
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...
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.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From stunning seascapes to freshwater springs, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Video] Indonesian TV Show Depicts Diabolical Hello Kitty Murder
In every country, in every culture, there are good people who love bad television.
[Video] Honda Celebrates Saigon's Super Cubs With Charming TVC
Is there anything more reminiscent of 1990s Saigon than a Honda Super Cub?
[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.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From sand dunes to freshwater lagoons, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From cityscapes to island life, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
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.
[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,...
How Your Phone Number Affects Your Fortune
“Too many nines,” Diep scoffs. “And you think it’s good? It’s not, honey.”
