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.
[Photos] Vacuum-Packed Japanese Wedding Photos Will Take Your Breath Away
Japan continues to provide plenty of material when it comes to bizarre trends. The latest? Vacuum-packed wedding photos.
Inside Quang Nam's Bizarre Cow Beauty Pageant
Last week, a town in Quang Nam Province played host to an unusual spectacle: a cow beauty pageant.
[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.
