Paul Christiansen

in In Plain Sight

An Ode to Saigon’s Chò Nâu Trees

It’s too cold for chò nâu to grow where I’m from, but we still gave it an English name: dipterocarp.

Mầm

in Music & Arts

Vietnamese Painter Một Quả Tắc Creates an Intimate and Gentle World on Silk

Silk is an inherently finicky, demanding medium. Yet from the very first encounter, Quế Hương had chose to embrace its temperament and has devoted herself to it for nearly a decade.

Mầm

in Ton-sur-Ton

Into the Earthy, Quirky World of Kramahan's Accessories and Clothing

We paid Nhật, the founder of Kramahan.Clothing , a visit on a windy day in Saigon. This room in the heart of the city has ...

in Travel

ACV Proposes Moving 90% of Saigon's Overseas Flights to Long Thành

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has proposed plans to transfer flight operations in Hồ Chí Minh City from Tân Sơ...

Khôi Phạm

in Culture

US Presidents, Russian Mascot, and Tintin: The Surprising History Behind Vietnam's Dog Names

As Vietnamese society progresses, dogs and cats’ role in our families have gradually elevated to worthy life companions instead of mere animal help in previous generations. While the archive of pet names today seems endless and every day you can easily bump into pets bearing hilariously human names, tasty food dishes, or glorious adjectives, the naming conventions of Vietnamese domestic animals in the past had recurring themes that directly correspond to the cultural and historical atmosphere of when they were coined.

Paul Christiansen

in Literature

5 Quixotic Books About Vietnam for When You're Craving a Little Quirky Read

There are too many good Vietnamese books to recommend, let alone read.

in Film & TV

Far From Vietnam: A 1967 French Anti-War Film Grapples With Its Own Contradictions

French cinema experienced a creative renaissance in the 1960s with arguably the most influential movement in its history...

in Loạt Soạt

'Making a Whore' Is Both Less and More Revealing Than Its Reputation Suggests

For the first time, Vũ Trọng Phụng’s novel Làm đĩ is available in English. Originally published in 1936, the novel has been translated by Đinh Ngọc Mai under the title Making a Whore and was released last year by Major Books, an independent publishing house dedicated to making Vietnamese literature more available for the English-speaking world.

Back Arts & Culture

in Music & Arts

Art Talk: Drawing Workshop With Rodney Dickson

Irish-American painter, Rodney Dickson, developed his work based on the atmosphere of abandonment that characterized the post-war era in Cambodia and Vietnam.

in Film & TV

February Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

Classic and witty comedy, the one of the greatest sci-fi epics in recent history, the biggest Oscar contender of the year and a special screening from Saigon-based film festival, Impressions are some ...

Brian Letwin

in Music & Arts

[Video] European Graffiti Artist Tags His Way Across Saigon

We recently caught up with Munich-based graffiti artist, Nasca Uno, who spend five weeks in Vietnam last year, painting beautiful pieces of art in Saigon and Phan Thiet.

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

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

in Music & Arts

[Video] Hanoi Hip Hop Group Mixes Beat Boxing, Rapping And Popping With Traditional Vietnamese Music

Hip hop’s roots delve deep into the crates of soul, funk, gospel and jazz. All of these stem from African forms of music and have created a rich fabric for the enduring art form.

in Culture

[Photos] The Coffee Shops, Train Track Photo Shoots And “Public Bathrooms” Of Hanoi’s Long Biên Bridge

Probably the most iconic and historic bridge in Vietnam, Long Biên Bridge has yet to receive much needed care for its current deteriorating condition (link). However, local residents don’t seem to min...

in Culture

[Photos] 15 Of The Most Ridiculous Signs You’ll Ever See In Vietnam

Whether it be Google translate fails, cultural misinterpretations or outright ridiculousness, these signs, sourced from Another Side of Vietnam, had us shaking our heads, laughing hysterically, and so...

in Culture

Ministry Of Justice Seeks To Punish Adulterers With Fines

A revised decree from the Ministry of Justice contains a proposal to fine members of a married couple that are found to be committing adultery.

in Music & Arts

[Video] "The Road Story Vietnam"

There’s no shortage of videos made by backpackers trekking through Vietnam which tap directly into our wanderlust. But few videos feature the high-level of production value found in "The Road Story Vi...

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

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

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer Presents: Photo Walk With Glen Riley

Saigoneer is happy to announce the first photo walk of the year! Join us on February 1 for a chat, a coffee and a stroll around “south Pham” with photographer Glen Riley.

in Music & Arts

[Video] Vietnamese Editor Uses Pancake Batter To Make Edible Art

45-year-old Le Phong Giao spends his days as an editor at the Youth Publishing House. During is free time, he unleashes his artistic prowess with sand painting, architecture, oil painting and comic bo...

in Culture

Trung Nguyên’s Massive Geography Fail

Trung Nguyên puts out some pretty darn good coffee, providing a solid alternative to corn and chemical based street variety. When it comes to packaging, however, it looks like they could use a bit of ...

in Culture

[Photos] A Sneak Peek Into Saigon’s 2015 Tet Flower Street

There are many changes in store for Saigon’s annual Flower Street this year, from a new location to the use of QR codes and free WIFI.

in Culture

[Video] 80-Year-Old Vietnamese Man Owns Foreigner In Arm Wrestling Match

Looks can be deceiving as one foreign man found out the hard way when he entered into an arm wrestling match with an elderly Vietnamese man.

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

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

in Music & Arts

Artist Spotlight: Thanh Xinh

With her bubbly personality and welcoming smile, one may assume that Saigon Artbook artist Thanh Xinh's journey as an artist has been nothing but smooth sailing. Like anything that is w...

in Music & Arts

Saigon Blog Spotlight: Seen In Saigon

Here comes a new player in your daily surf-for-stuff in Saigon routine.

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

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

in Culture

[Video] Parkour Gaining A Foothold in Vietnam

Parkour, or freestyle walking, follows fixies and skateboarding as the latest international subculture to gain popularity among Vietnam’s young urbanites.