Pete Walls in Travel
For the Freshest Fish of the Day, Head to Hội An's Coast Before Sunrise
The alarm goes off at 3am. By 3:30am, scooters laden with empty crates and baskets are already moving through the dark lanes and sandy passages towards Hội An's coast. Long before the old town wakes, the beaches along the shore are coming alive with engines, head torches, waves, and fishermen preparing to return to land. Thankfully, coffee is readily available almost anywhere.
From the Mind of 'Mekong Review' Comes ‘Yellow,’ a New Lit Mag Focused on SEA
“Cooped up in my apartment-cage in Tân Định, I created, with scissors and glue, dummy after dummy of a cosmopolitan rag positively pumping with scandals and half-truths. I was having a lot of fun dreaming of a magazine that I would never be able to do. And buried somewhere in that detritus on the floor—advertising cutouts and newspaper clippings—was Yellow … Once I knew I had the name, the magazine more or less made itself, as though the name determined the rest, ie, form and content,” writes Minh Bui of the birth of Yellow, his “what-do-I-do-after-Mekong Review magazine.”
In Saigon's Bửu Long Pagoda, a Meditative Escape and Pan-Southeast Asian Architecture
It all started with a sparkle on the horizon, a beam of solar brilliance bouncing off a garish metallic surface.
On Reading Ocean Vuong and Thinking About the Sniff Kisses of My Family
Having always been a little brother, I had to learn to be a big one when I was 10 years old. In the midst of the confusion of this new role, I found myself pressing my nose to this newborn’s head and inhaling as hard as I could. This “sniff kiss” was not an action I invented. Rather, it was an instinct forged through mimicry: I started noticing from this point that my father and grandmother both did the same thing to me.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Meet Th.ink Room, the Tattoo Collective Bringing New Life to Old Artworks and Onto Skin
Tattoo Therapist, dr.99hz, cd.cadao, goc.viet, Solarist and Baby Nepotism: listing the artists that call Th.ink Room home feels like shouting out the members of a rap clique. Indeed, tattoo artists, more than any other visual artists, are akin to rappers in their use of pseudonyms, so to employ a common hip-hop refrain, Saigoneer became interested in Th.ink Room because “game recognize game.”
Khôi Phạm in Film & TV
A (Literally) Brief History of Vietnamese Representation in 'Mean Girls' (2004)
Written by Saturday Night Live alum Tina Fey and premiered in 2004, Mean Girls is often heralded as a sharp, self-aware comedy that was ahead of its time, yet still holds up surprisingly well today. Alas, its depiction of Asians has aged a little more poorly, even though at the time of its release, the Asian representation was shockingly accurate for its time, despite some haphazard characterizations.
On Shooting an Entire Movie on 35mm Film: The Curious Case of 'Quán Kỳ Nam'
“Let’s go to Vietnam!” declared Sabrina Baracetti, president of the Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, Italy, as she wrapped up her introduction for Leon Lê's Quán Kỳ Nam (Kỳ Nam Inn). Sitting in the Teatro Nuovo, watching Quán Kỳ Nam unfold for the first time, I felt an overwhelming surge of pride.
Tracing the History of 'Hello Vietnam,' the Overnight Sensation From Europe
Most people who have flown with VietJet are probably familiar with the song ‘Hello Vietnam’ or its Vietnamese version ‘Xin chào Việt Nam.’ As it's often played during landing, tourists might mistake the song for a cute jingle of the company, but the meaning behind the song lyrics is much more nostalgic. It’s about a person of Vietnamese descent longing for their ancestor’s homeland, a place they’ve never been — a story that can certainly strike a chord with many Vietnamese people. Few know, however, that this song was originally a French-language song, one that was almost never released.
[Photos] The Fabulous Lives of Hong Kong's Shop Cats
Life as a cat in Hong Kong’s shops is fabulous.
[Photos] The Discomfort of a Rush Hour Ride on Tokyo's Metro
Though it’s not (yet) a reality for Saigoneers, there are certain discomforts inherent in a rush hour commute by metro.
[Photos] This Thai Cosplayer Is the Light the World Needs
If you’re still looking for costume ideas this Halloween, look no further than Toffie, Thailand’s schoolgirl cosplayer extraordinaire.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From boats and bicycles to the epic landscapes of the Central Highlands, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] 3D-Printed Chess Set Features Famous Figures From Vietnamese History
A trio of RMIT students are turning heads after creating a custom chess set featuring famous figures from Vietnamese history.
Youth Culture Library Finds Niche in Saigon Cafe
The Youth Culture Library sets out to become an outlet of self-expression for young people and non-commercial artists through the ultimate form of alternative culture: zines.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From countryside farms to Saigon street food, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Film & TV
[Video] Mini-Documentary Weaves Visual Portrait of Ta Oi Artisan
As urban Vietnam charges into the future, connecting to the global economy during its modern development, the traditions of rural Vietnam stay alive through a handful of artisans.
[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Plaaastic, Fashion Blogger Extraordinaire and Queen of Virtual Emo
In this installment of Renovation Generation, the Hanoi-based podcast team sits down with Plaaastic, the mysterious mind behind one of the region’s most popular fashion blogs.
Saigon Dance Crew Breaks It Down on Nguyen Hue
Since opening in April 2015, Nguyen Hue walking street has become the “it” place for young Saigoneers to take a stroll and hang out with friends. But for Good Morning Vietnam, a group of six energetic...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From shipyards to fishing villages, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] National History Museum Celebrates 90s ‘Luxury Items’ From Hanoi
In the age of Instagram, selfies and social media, it’s easy to forget how much Vietnam has changed in the last few decades.
[Photos] Saigon Stormaggedon Gives Birth to Epic Memes
As torrential downpours flood the city for the third straight day, Saigoneers are finding solace – or, at the very least, entertainment – by way of the internet.
Brian Letwin in Arts & Culture
‘Co Hau Gai’: Horror as a Vessel for History
Vietnamese cinema is entering a new stage of development, one in which Vietnam-based directors are seeking to create compelling storylines that keep up with the industry’s ever-increasing production q...
[Photos] Photographer Highlights Tokyo’s Surrealistic Neon-Lit Nightscape
The first time Liam Wong visited Tokyo, he was captivated by the buzzing energy of the Japanese capital. Enamored of its crowded streets and lively nightlife, Wong returned to Tokyo for a second trip,...
[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Hoang Duc Minh’s Socially Conscious Startup
In its most recent episode, Hanoi’s Renovation Generation podcast profiles techie Hoang Duc Minh.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From waterfalls to power lines to a sea of umbrellas, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
After Curatorial Shift, Saigon Artbook Delivers Best Exhibition to Date
Founder Dang Thanh Long and curator Shyevin S’ng talk about the work behind Saigon Artbook’s sixth edition and what the future holds for the local nonprofit art initiative.
Vietnam Submits 'Yellow Flowers' to Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film
Will Vietnam’s wistful childhood film do as well on the Oscar stage as it did at home?
[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From an Art Deco train station in Da Lat to Mui Ne's pristine sand dunes, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
