in Loạt Soạt

A Story of Personal, Political Reckoning in a Singaporean Writer's Fictional Wartime Vietnam

The Immolation first came to me as a bewildering surprise: at a now-relocated bookshop in Singapore, the book caught the eyes of the 17-year-old me. It was not so much the cover’s pale blue background, or the expression of ennui on the author’s post-impressionist portrait, but rather its dealing with the American War. After all, the title directly referenced the iconic protest by the Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức, who set himself on fire on the street of Saigon.

Xuân Phương

in Culture

Under the Sky, Above the Water: Into the Heat at Ninh Thuận's Salt Fields

A 3,000-kilometer coastline is one of nature’s best gifts to Vietnam, bringing about not just ample seafood, but also a motherlode of sea salt.

Paul Christiansen

in Music & Arts

Enter the Dreamy Tales Told by the Works of Young Illustrator Thố Đầu • Hổ Vĩ

Being born at the cusp of the Year of the Rabbit (cat) and the Year of the Tiger offers the literal meaning for Hoàng Phúc's artist name, thố đầu • hổ vĩ, but he hopes it carries a metaphorical one, as well: “a humble beginning but a positive end,” he explained to Saigoneer. thố đầu • hổ vĩ’s origins may be humble — he started seriously focusing on illustrations just four years ago when he started university — but he has already reached remarkable achievements, as evidenced by three projects he shared with us.

Khôi Phạm

in Travel

Bask in the Morning Sun in the Green Heart of Huế Along the Hương River

As tourists, it's in our built-in compass to seek out novelties and excitements, if anything, to remind us that our daily humdrum is not everything, and there exists a world out there with multitudes to explore.

in Culture

More Than Just Prosperity, Ông Địa Is My Personal Patron Saint of Misplaced Things

I was maybe seven when I first clasped my hands and whispered a plea to Ông Địa.

in Film & TV

The Charming 1990s Nostalgia in the Phim Mì Ăn Liền Cinematic Universe

If you lurk around online discussions of Vietnamese cinema, you probably have stumbled upon the term phim mì ăn liền, or “instant noodles films.” This popular Vietnamese expression describes local motion pictures with low-effort production value. But the term is not merely a common moniker. It dates back to the 1990s, when a specific type of commercial flick got audiences flocking to the cinema.

Back Arts & Culture

in Culture

18 Country's Flags Reimagined Using Traditional Foods

To help promote the Sydney International Food Festival, advertising agency, WHYBIN\TBWA, designed 18 national flags made from traditional foods.

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

Saigoneer's staff highlights their favorite articles from the past week.

in Music & Arts

[Video] Bandit 9: Motorcycles From "Another Dimension"

Some of Saigon’s homegrown brands are starting to embrace high-quality short films to promote their products.

in Music & Arts

5 Vietnamese Photographers Among Finalists For International Photo Contest

The annual Smithsonian Photo Contest is wrapping up, and, of the 60 finalists, five are Vietnamese photographers.

in Culture

An Illustrated Guide To Vietnamese Slang: Part 2

We’re back with another series of illustrated Vietnamese slang. Part 1 of this series can be found here.

in Culture

5 Of Saigon’s Oldest Temples

Before the arrival of the French and their colonial architecture, Buddhist temples served as the most ornate structures in Saigon. Here is some background on and the locations of five of the city’s ol...

in Music & Arts

[Updated] The Prodigy To Play Surprise Performance In Saigon This Friday

[Update] According to the organizers, the show has been canceled due to logistical issues. 

in Culture

Color Me Run Returns To Saigon

After a successful Saigon debut in 2014 with more than 6,800 participants, the next installment of the Color Me Run will take place in the city this April.

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

Saigoneer's staff highlights their favorite articles from the past week.

in Culture

An Illustrated Guide To Vietnamese Slang: Part 1

We’re back with another series of illustrated Vietnamese slang.

in Music & Arts

[Video] Marou Chocolate's Nifty Stop Motion Commercial

Director Tom Jobbins and a team of animators, 3D model designers and colorists worked painstakingly on this playful 30-second spot to show the abridged story of how Vincient Marou and Samuel Maruta be...

in Film & TV

March Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

This month’s film programme is packed with films that address socio-political issues including gay rights, civil rights and freedom of speech. If that’s not your cup of tea, you have the opportunity t...

in Music & Arts

The Best Cultural Happenings In The Year Of The Horse

As we say goodbye to the year of the Horse, our editorial team looks back at the increasingly expanding cultural scene in Saigon and beyond. From theatre to art exhibitions, these are, in no particula...

in Music & Arts

New Video Shows Why "Da Nang Is Awesome"

Da Nang is Vietnam's posterboy for urban development, sporting everything from free public WIFI to a dragon bridge. Surrounded by rolling hills and pristine beaches, the city attracts plenty of local ...

in Culture

[Photos] Vietnamese Transform Ordinary Cars Into 'Rolls-Royces'

In Vietnam, the land of product copycats, imitation iPhones and Louis Vuitton handbags are par for the course. But now, a new and impressive trend seems to be taking off – modding ordinary cars into "...

in Music & Arts

Vietnam Photo Tips: Lighting Subjects Wearing Nón Lá

One issue photographers often face in Vietnam is taking pictures of people wearing the traditional nón lá, Vietnam’s signature conical hat. It covers so much of the face that your subject may look und...

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer’s February Art Picks

Saigoneer's arts & culture guru, Zelda, highlights some of the best art being displayed and exhibited around town this month.

in Music & Arts

Local Handbag Company Seeks To Empower Minority Women And Preserve Ancient Weaving Techniques

When sustainable fashion designer, Danica Ratte, traveled to the far-flung corners of Vietnam, she was immediately taken with the weaving culture of the country’s ethnic minorities.

in Music & Arts

Exhibition Spotlight: Leonid Keller

Leonid Keller is the first and only exhibition in Saigon by Berlin-based artists Julia Ossko and Eugen Schulz.

in Culture

[Photos] The Mekong’s Grandest Flower Village In Full Bloom

Last week, the oldest and largest flower village in the Mekong Delta, Tân Quy Đông, was in full bloom.