Composer Hoàng Việt and a Radical Romance Across the North-South Border
In a country fractured by ideology, Hoàng Việt's love for his wife Ngọc Hạnh persisted like a secret melody carried across closed borders by weak radio signals, and letters that had to circle the globe before finding their way home.
The Cultural Depths in Contemporary Hip-Hop Dance ‘129BPM: Động Phách Tách Kén’
Have you ever witnessed a live performance so powerful that it still lives in your mind weeks later? “129BPM: Động Phách Tách Kén” is not your usual hip-hop breakdance battle, but a contemporary dance performance combining live music with Vietnamese folk elements. It is a journey that requires your full presence and attention to appreciate its fleeting and transformative moments.
New 'Số Đỏ' Movie Announced, Directed by Phan Gia Nhật Linh, Starring MONO
Another classic of Vietnamese literature is heading to the big screen in the near future.
Thi Nguyễn in Loạt Soạt
Revisiting the Delicious Satirical Society of 'Số Đỏ' by Vũ Trọng Phụng
Published in 1938, Dumb Luck , or Số Đỏ , remains one of Vietnam's most popular and controversial novels. Vũ Trọng Phụng was ...
Severine Phương Trần's Debut Exhibition in Saigon Celebrates a World of Colors
Step into Severine Phương Trần’s first-ever exhibition in Saigon, where you can explore the artist’s inner world of vibrant colors and different emotions. To fully enjoy this exhibition, it is best to let your inner child and imagination roam free and allow the flow of colors and different sceneries to guide you through a journey of creativity, self-discovery, and personal artistic transformation.
From Germany to 'King of Rap' Runner-up: How Tuimi Becomes a Hip-Hop Breakout Star
Tuimi, a Vietnamese German singer and rapper, has become one of the most notable female voices in the local hip-hop scene and been making big waves since her return in 2019.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
Ruminate on Our Natural Legacies While Surrounded by Cây Sao at Ao Bà Om
I never pass up an opportunity to reflect on chò nâu and its dipterocarp relative, cây sao. The massive trees that gracefu...
What Will Become of Chợ Quê in the Era of Widespread Online Shopping?
Firmly taking root in everyday life, our hometown markets — chợ quê — are not simply a place to trade, but also puzzle pieces that make up childhood memories, holiday excitement, and even tales of hardships and life milestones of countless people.
[Video] Bún Riêu Chợ Nổi: A Life Spent Selling Bún Riêu In Can Tho’s Floating Market
This short documentary centers on Co Be, who sells soup to the busy workers at the Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho.
[Photos] Saigon Mechanics Unveil The “Mammoth”
A homage to the aesthetics of a classic vehicles, this customized bike, dubbed the “Mammoth,” has been getting a lot of attention for its elephantine look.
Hanoi Declares War On Public "Profanity"
Hanoi’s Deputy Chairman, Le Hong Son, has ordered relevant ministries to crack down on public profanities on the streets of the capital.
[Photos] The Origins Of Caodaism, Vietnam’s Hybrid Religion
Here’s a look at the early days of Caodaism, based on the writings of a French educated Vietnamese during the colonial period. This is all that is known about the author who was deported from Indochin...
[Photos] Behold: The Vietnamese Avengers
25-year-old artist, Nguyen Quang Huy, has put a Vietnamese twist on some of Marvel’s most popular characters.
Behind The Cover: Saigon Artbook Edition 5
The next edition of Saigon Artbook is hot off the press and ready for the art-hungry masses. The book will be officially launched this Thursday evening at the 3A Alternative Art Area, but before you a...
[Map] Vietnamese Is One of the World’s Most Spoken Languages
While there are about 7,000 languages spoken on Earth, more than half of the world’s population speaks one of 23 languages. Where does Vietnamese rank amongst the world’s most spoken languages? Pretty...
Designer Spotlight: Linda Mai Phung
The last couple of months have been exciting for Saigon-based fashion designer, Linda Mai Phung. The young French-Vietnamese designer recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of her eponymous bran...
[Video] Hanoi Road Rage Leads To Epic Jump Kick
Driving can test the patience of even the most cool and collected individuals. For one Hanoi driver, the poor directional choices of a motorbiker led to an epic jump kick to the chest.
[Video] Sài Gòn...Sài Gòn...!
In a departure from Vietnam road trips and timelapse videos, Sài Gòn...Sài Gòn...! shows the city from the perspective of a group of young locals.
5 Totally Reasonable Explanations For The Broken AAG Cable
While officials have blamed everything from sabotage to poor quality materials for its inconsistency, we’ve come up with five completely reasonable, alternative explanations for why the Asia-America G...
[Video] Heartbreaking Film Shows The Hopes And Dreams Of The Mekong’s Boat Children
Last week, Mai Huyen Chi released “Down the Stream,” a short film that explores the lives of boat children in the Mekong Delta.
84% Of Vietnamese Students Admit To Plagiarism
At a conference on academic integrity in Vietnam held on May 29, a university official announced the results of a survey that found 84% of students have plagiarized significant portions of their writi...
Vietnam’s Cities Are Losing A Lot More Than Their Old Buildings: Experts
“A city is enriched by accumulation over generations. Accumulation incorporates destruction but keeps enough fabric to retain cultural identity, while obliteration erases everything includin...
June Movies at Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues
This month’s films show us that it’s possible to make a great sequel from an 80s classic, that Twilight has accidentally done something good for cinema and that Hollywood producers can’t always constr...
Check Out This Hardcore American War-Era Board Game
As the US scaled up their military presence in Vietnam during the mid-1960s, anti-American propaganda followed suit throughout communist nations in Asia. While much of this was manifested in well-know...
[Video] Russian Daredevils (Illegally) Climb China’s Tallest Building
If you’re unfamiliar with On the Roofs (OTR), a group of Russian photographers who double as adrenaline junkies, you need only know one thing – they’re not afraid of heights.
Dragonfly: Setting the Standard for Theater in Saigon
Oscar Wilde, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Samuel Beckett, Rajiv Joseph and now Tennessee Williams - those are some of the figures whose literary works have been brought to Saigon by the only professional...
9 Photos That Perfectly Capture Vietnamese Smartphone Addiction
While smart addiction has become rampant across the globe, the scourge seems to be particularly acute in Vietnam.
[Photos] Dong Nai Farmer Breeds Mussels That Produce Buddha And Jesus-Shaped Pearls
When we talk about humans harnessing nature, it is often on a macro scale, such as dams, solar arrays and reservoirs. One Vietnamese farmer has found a more subtle, but nonetheless impressive way of b...
