Khôi Phạm

in Culture

An Homage to the Sounds of Saigon Past That Are Going Extinct

After someone or something reaches the end of their days, which aspects of their existence in the minds of those who remain would be the first to succumb to the erosive brush of time? Is it sight, smell, touch, taste, or sound?

in Travel

Chùa Một Cột in Thailand Reminds Me of the Familiar in an Unfamiliar Land

On my last full day in Khon Kaen, Thailand, I was on a mission to catch the sunset, although the cloudy and gloomy sky didn’t give me much hope. Instead, I randomly stumbled upon a gate with signs written in Vietnamese. Out of curiosity, I decided to walk in, and the farther I walked, the more clearly I spotted a familiar image from afar: a one-pillar pagoda standing right on the edge of the reservoir.

in In Plain Sight

I Grew up With Print Newspapers and Magazines. Now, They're Disappearing.

Print media was a crucial part of my childhood and a friend that opened a window into a vivid world of knowledge that was fascinatingly strange in the eyes of young me. But right at this moment when I hit the streets as an adult, the newspaper vendors of those days seem to have vanished, their colorful spread of magazines gone amid the busyness of today. A quiet transformation and farewell has begun.

Xuân Phương

in Culture

In Tây Hồ, an Artisan Community Holds Fast to Their Lotus Tea Traditions

Every sip of lotus tea encapsulates all the essences of the natural landscapes of Tây Hồ.

in Music & Arts

New Tarot Deck Uses Traditional Motifs, Legends and Folk Wisdom to 'Speak Vietnamese'

Tarot decks can feel written in a foreign language.

Paul Christiansen

in In Plain Sight

Pages of Passion Bookstore Epitomizes What It Means to Run a Passion Project

On the sixth floor of an old apartment building on Nguyễn Văn Tráng Street in District 1 stands  Pages of Passion , a...

Khôi Phạm

in Music & Arts

'Đây Ngồi Ráp Việt' Pixel Art Project Turns Vietnam's 63 Provinces, Cities Into Model Kits

How many of us can identify all 63 localities in the current administrative map of Vietnam? Who has been to all of them? Who can name all the 54 ethnicities of Vietnamese across the country? These are all surprisingly hard things to do considering the average citizen doesn’t travel to other provinces often, and if they do, few actually stray from popular tourist destinations.

Back Arts & Culture

in Culture

Vintage Vespa: A Design That Stands The Test Of Time – Part I

When Enrico Piaggio first saw the newly designed Vespa scooter, he exclaimed, “Sembra un Vespa ­ it resembles a wasp!”. (The Vespa means wasp in Italian.) Out of a designer’s personal loathing for...

in Music & Arts

15 Awesome Drone Images of Downtown Hanoi

We’re all about seeing Vietnam from different vantage points, from street level to outer space. But perhaps the perfect middle ground are photos taken from drones which give the viewer a birds eye per...

in Music & Arts

Vietnamese Artist Wins Top Prize For Illustrations Showing The Plight Of Circus Animals

In April, Hong Kong-based animal welfare organization, Animals Asia, launched a painting competition about the lives of wild animals in the circus. Hanoi artist, Dương Đoàn Anh Minh, took first prize ...

in Culture

Chart: Explaining Vietnamese Culture Using The Lewis Model

In Vietnam’s cities, where foreigners and locals interact on a daily basis, both socially and professionally, gaps in cultural understanding are common.

in Culture

The 2014 Vietnam Salary Guide: How Much Should You Make?

HR Research firm, Adecco, has released its 2014 Vietnam Salary Guide which provides salary information for key positions in various sectors.

in Culture

14 Incredible Satellite Photos Of Vietnam

There are plenty of hi-tech ways to show Vietnam’s beauty – time lapses and drone panoramas to name a few. But a less common vantage point is from above. Way above.

in Culture

[Video] This Adorable Kid Washing A Motorbike Will Make You Smile

Not much to see here, just an adorable, chubby little kid having the time of his life washing a motorbike.

in Music & Arts

Event Rewind: Saigon Artbook 1 Year Anniversary Fundraiser

After 4 editions and parties over the past year, the Saigon Artbook team held their 1 Year Anniversary Fundraiser at 3A Station last Thursday.

in Culture

[Video] Da Nang Hair Dresser Uses Samurai Swords In Place Of Scissors

Getting a haircut is an exercise of trust as it may be the only situation where one willingly allows a stranger to wield sharp blades around their head. But if you sit in the chair of this Da Nang bar...

Brian Letwin

in Music & Arts

[Photos] HCMC: City of Contrasts

One of the things that makes life in Saigon interesting is the blurred line between the city and the countryside. This lack of distinction is most obvious when it comes to the city’s urban animals, bu...

in Culture

Expat Survey: Vietnam A Great Place To Live, With A Few Exceptions

HSBC Expat recently hired research company YouGov to conduct their annual Expat Explorer Survey in which almost 9,300 expats based in over 100 countries were questioned between April and May 2014.

in Culture

The Peaceful Corners Of Bustling Hanoi

Although modernization has forever altered the skyline of Vietnam’s ancient capital with gleaming skyscrapers, one can still find moments of tranquility and escape from the city’s traffic-clogged stre...

in Culture

21 Outrageous Photos Of Vietnamese Motorbikers

If you enjoyed our original illustrations of Saigon motorbikers, you’ll get a kick out of these real-life daredevils.

in Culture

[Photos] Floods Bring Seasonal Specialties To The Mekong Delta

While few Saigonese smile at the sight of flooded streets, their Mekong Delta brethren welcome high waters with open arms.

in Culture

[Video] BMX: Saigon Style

The age of the fixie may have dawned on Saigon but another bicycle fad is becoming increasingly popular in the city – BMX.

in Culture

[Video] A Vietnamese Critique Of Social Networking

The Phở Team, which brought us "What does the Phở Say?" and "Differences Between Hanoi vs Sai Gon" is back with a new video critiquing the social network experience.

in Music & Arts

Vietnamese Photographer Wins Award At International Competition

Vietnamese photographer, Ly Hoang Long, was selected as the top photographer from the Asia-Pacific region at the recent CBRE Urban Photographer of the Year competition.

in Music & Arts

Morning News Roundup: Vietnam To Resume Horse Racing On New Track

Vietnam to resume horse racing on new track [Thanh Nien] Company builds road without permission in Ha Long Bay’s peripheral areas [Tuoi Tre] Young man creates street library in Danang [DTI]

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Event Rewind: Saigoneer Photo Walk With Adam Robert Young

Last Sunday, Adam Robert Young led the October Saigoneer photo walk, taking a group of participants around a bustling local market in District 2.

in Music & Arts

Saigon Artbook 1 Year Anniversary Fundraiser

After 4 successful releases of the Saigon Artbook, the team is launching a special 1 year anniversary edition at an open fundraising event at 3A Station on Thursday, October 23 from 5pm – 11pm.