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.
[Video] Local Teacher Sings, Dances Awkwardly in English Idiom Music Video
Learning English idioms is not an easy feat. This is especially true for Vietnamese students trying to acquire English as a second language. Fortunately, in this age of YouTube and Snapchat, one can m...
[Illustrations] Local Artists Bring Vietnam's Eclectic Shopfronts to Life
A group of Vietnamese illustrators has created a collection of colorful artwork inspired by the architecture of modern Vietnamese cities.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From vendors selling vegetables to hemside barbershops, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Saigon Skill and the Rise of Alternative Art Projects
Saigon Skill’s first art group show was a vibrant and uplifting display of Saigon’s unheralded talents. Hopes are high that this new project will expose the untapped creatives in the city.
Hanoi Wunderkind Wins Major International Writing Contest
In case you need more convincing that Vietnamese students are among the highest-achieving in the world, here’s further proof: an 18-year-old Hanoi student recently won the coveted top prize of an...
[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Hanoi's Viral Cartoonist Xuan Lan
In the thirteenth installment of Hanoi-based English-language podcast Renovation Generation, narrator Maia Do sat down with one of Hanoi's most popular illustrators, Xuan Lan to discuss drawing cartoo...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Hanoi to Lang Co to Ho Chi Minh City, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
BHD vs CGV: The Drama Behind Vietnam’s Latest Blockbuster
Before the movie even hits theaters nationwide, Tam Cam: The Untold and its production team already find themselves at the center of a major controversy.
[Video] Japan Celebrates Summer Olympics With Badass Theme Song
When the Rio Olympics rolled around, Vietnam was slow to get into spirit of the games. Truth be told, the country didn’t really hop on board with the magic of this summer's international competition u...
[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From the effects of rainy season to renowned Cham poet Inrasara, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] Vietnam’s Largest Wax Museum Opens in Ha Long
If you have a free afternoon next time you’re waiting to board a Ha Long Bay cruise, look no further than Vietnam’s largest wax museum for your entertainment.
Meet Inrasara, the Poet Keeping Cham Culture Alive
Born in the oldest Cham village in Vietnam, poet and literary critic Inrasara has been keeping Cham literature alive for over 30 years. From textbooks to poetry, literary criticism to publishing, the ...
[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From national monuments to one of Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lagoons, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Video] Local Orchestra Performs World’s Most Organized Flashmob in Hanoi
In a country where most parts of your day can feel like a flashmob, sometimes an organized performance is even more surprising.
[Video] Chilling South Korean Zombie Flick Hits Vietnamese Screens Next Week
While Vietnamese cinema is just starting to ramp up its production of horror flicks, South Korean filmmakers have long been fans of the genre, creating some truly spine-tingling movies.
[Podcast] Renovation Generation: The Incredible Talents of Mew Amazing
For their latest episode, the crew behind Hanoi-based The Renovation Generation made a trip down to Saigon for a coffee with Mew Amazing, the singer-songwriter behind Truc Nhan’s pop hit “That Ba...
[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From frenetic traffic to historic cathedrals, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Video] Áo Dài Takes Center Stage Among Asia's Most Beautiful Wedding Dresses
When Vietnam is mentioned around the world, the country often conjures up images of phở, bánh mì, streets of jam-packed traffic and áo dài.
[Video] TV Commercial Provides Graceful Glimpse of Saigon's Outer Districts
This stunning commercial for Coca-Cola’s energy drink Samurai is a love letter to Saigon’s strange mix of urban chaos and beauty.
[Video] Vietnam Gets Its Close-Up in Kong: Skull Island Trailer
The folks behind Kong: Skull Island, the Hollywood blockbuster filmed in Vietnam earlier this year, just released the film’s first trailer, and Vietnam plays a starring role in the action.
