How Vietnam's Muslims Celebrate Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr in Mekong Delta's Châu Đốc
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, yet Vietnamese Muslims represent as little as 0.1% of the country’s population. Most are ethnic Chăm, while a few are foreigners and a few converts. After traveling to Châu Đốc in An Giang Province, where the majority are located, I was mesmerized by the unique cultural mix this community represents.
Văn Tân in Culture
A Brief History of Ông Đồ, Vietnam’s Scholars Whose Calligraphy Is Highly Sought After
To say that Tết gathers together everything most beautiful in Vietnamese culture would not be an exaggeration. More than a threshold between the old year and the new, it is also a time when people feel they can return to, and relive, the traditional values that define them.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
From Dark to Dawn, an Early Morning at Hội An's Duy Hải Fish Market
At 3am, Hội An’s streets resemble dog-gnawed pork bones, licked clean of all scent and viscera. No light, no noise, no movement. But that’s the time you must venture out to witness the Duy Hải Fish Market in action.
Review: 'New Wave' Documentary Is a Surprisingly Personal Dissection of 1980s Nostalgia
Melodic synth-lines and steady electronic drums. Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated. During its high point during the 1980s, however, new wave was hailed as music of the future.
On the Cusp of a Modern New Year, Reflections on a Simpler Tết Past
Every year, as the pages from my block calendar peel off, bringing me towards another Vietnamese New Year, my mind once again fills with nostalgia about an old Tết. Tết in my memory begins with my childhood in a small house nestled under a coconut grove on the outskirts of Bạc Liêu in the Mekong Delta. Those were days of hardship, yet my parents worked hard so that Tết could bloom magnificently for all of us.
A Damaged Masterpiece Reveals How Much We Take Our Cultural Heritage for Granted
A once-damaged national treasure remains on view as if nothing had happened, while other works are displayed with little context — what does this tell us about how art museums preserve Vietnam's cultural heritage and shape our art history narratives today?
In 'Đêm Giao Thừa' EP, a Đàn Tranh Artist Offers Novel Twists on Nostalgic Tết Sounds
Indie đàn tranh artist Brian Bùi has just released Đêm Giao Thừa, an EP containing energetic covers of three classic Tết songs and an original track that pays homage to styles from the 1960s and 1970s.
Khôi Phạm in Culture
Unraveling the Mystery Behind the 'Mùi Việt Kiều' of My Childhood
My favorite candy used to be Hershey’s Kisses. Wrapped in colorful, sparkling foil, these little nubs of decadence made me feel special as a child, not just because of their sugary sweetness, but also because, for much of Vietnam’s contemporary history, you could only enjoy them if you have relatives abroad.
[Photos] Nha Xa: The Remote Village Packed With 30 Colonial Villas
The village of Nha Xa, located in northern Vietnam, is best known for its long tradition of silk weaving. During the colonial period, high demand for the quality product led to a boom for the town’s b...
Check Out This New Instagram Account Dedicated To Napping Saigonese
In Vietnam, there’s no shame when it comes to taking a nap in public as nearly every vehicle doubles as a makeshift sleeping pad. To capture Saigonese at rest, graphic designer Maria Tran Larsen (who ...
[Video] Parody Of American Teacher Mispronouncing Vietnamese Names Goes Viral
When a video like Key & Peele’s “Substitute Teacher” gets over 400,000 hits on YouTube, copycats and parodies are to be expected. One such imitation, “Substitute Teacher in Vietnam,” shows an American...
Viet Pride 2015 Arrives In Saigon
Tomorrow morning, Vietnam’s biggest LGBT festival, Viet Pride 2015, will kick-off in Saigon with a wide-ranging selection of events, from workshops, art shows, and community activities to a large para...
These 11 Infographics Show The Character Of Asian Nations
The Asian Creative Data Map is a project from the Asian Creative Network (ACN) that seeks to decipher how the character of Asian countries are changing due to rapid growth.
Drone Operators In VN Need Permission From Ministry of Defense To Fly
Drones have provided us with some entertaining and sometime mind-blowing views of Vietnam. However, few drone operators seem to be aware that they need permission from the Ministry of Defense to opera...
[Video] Toronto-Based DJ Films New Music Video On The Streets Of Hanoi
Toronto-based DJ and producer, Michael Imperial, recently traveled to Hanoi to shoot the video for his new track, All Night, inspired by martial arts, bowls of noodles and crime-dramas.
New Monopoly Set Takes You Back To Early 1900s Hanoi
The team that brought you 1880 Saigon Monopoly is back with a new edition of the game that seeks to capture the character of turn of the twentieth century Hanoi.
[Video] The Sounds Of Saigon Part 2
The Xúc Xích Đức team is back with part 2 of their series, Favorite Sounds In Saigon. This addition is a bit more ambitious than the first, capturing everything from the melodic cries o...
[Video] Inside The Mind And Shop Of A Saigon Bike Fanatic
Saigoneer has again teamed up with Only In Saigon to bring you stories from the city’s streets. This week, catch up with Linh who owns a vintage bike shop in Phu Nhuan District.
[Video] This Saigon Drone Video Looks Like It Was Directed by Michael Bay
This drone video of Saigon from How to Media has a distinctly Michael Bayesque feel with its sweeping panoramas, quick cuts and dramatic zooms.
August Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues
This month, Saigon’s alternative film venues are offering up a solid selection of foreign films, Hollywood classics and recent hits.
Viet Pride Festival Hits Hanoi This Week
The fourth annual Viet Pride festival will kick-off this week in Hanoi to raise awareness about Vietnam’s LGBT community.
[Photos] Vietnamese Will Try Anything To Avoid The Sun
While Americans and Europeans spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on tanning their pale skin, these photos from Vietnam Net show just how far Vietnamese will go to avoid the sun’s bronzing ra...
American Dubstep Pioneer Skrillex Confirms Saigon, Hanoi Shows
Sonny John Moore, better known by his stage name Skrillex, has confirmed that he will play two shows in Vietnam next month as part of his Asia tour.
Vănguard: Giving a Voice to Saigon’s LGBT Artists
The launch of Vănguard’s second issue last week followed the slow but swelling wave of support for LGBT rights in Vietnam.
Can Tho Launches Cardboard Police Force to Reduce Traffic Violations
Police in Can Tho have devised a basic but brilliant strategy to reduce traffic violations on the city’s streets - cardboard cutouts of themselves.
[Photos] Artist Creates Natural Oasis In Phu Nhuan District
These are images of a painter’s three-story house in Phu Nhuan District built by Truong An Architects back in 2012. The artist recently opened the doors to his home that is characterized by harmonious...
[Map] What Are Vietnamese Most Afraid Of?
Pick a few countries at random and you’re bound to find a number of different concerns shared by their people, from climate change and ISIS to economic instability. According to a recent survey, howev...
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
DJ Ed Davenport On Electronic Music, Life and Saigon
After stops in Singapore and Indonesia, British-born, Berlin-based DJ and producer Ed Davenport is bringing his music to Saigon as part of his Asian tour. He took some time to chat with the organisers...
