Saigoneer in Culture
[Photos] For a Day, Winter Convention Brings Kick-Ass Cosplay Back to Saigon
In which universe do Captain America and Cardcaptor Sakura rub shoulders with anthropomorphized, anime-fied white blood cells?
Michael Tatarski in Travel
At Da Lat's Biological Museum, a Demented Homage to Vietnam's Vanishing Wildlife
Sometimes when traveling, you come across something so utterly odd that you simply don't know what to make of it.
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Year in Review: Saigoneer's 20 Picks for Best Vietnamese Music of 2020
Despite the uncertainties and upheavals of 2020, Vietnamese artists have continued to produce excellent music that defies genres, merges past influences, and exceeds expectations.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 27: Santa Claus Is Coming to Quarantine
Vietnam makes no special safety-protocol exceptions for Santa Claus.
Christophe Robert in Literature
On Deep Reading the Poetic Works of Vietnamese Writer Nhã Thuyên
Reflections on Nhã Thuyên’s poem 'Traces of nothing' and other writings.
Saigoneer in Music & Arts
[Photos] Saigoneer's Best Original Photography of 2020
Is it possible to ruminate on the past 12 months without agonizing over the looming threat of COVID-19 and the grief it has inflicted on global communities? Perhaps not, but if there’s any place in the world where that might be possible, it’s Vietnam.
Michael Tatarski in Film & TV
Review: 'Monsoon' Peruses the Chasm Between Past and Contemporary Vietnam
"They went through so much to leave here, and now you bring them back."
Paul Christiansen in Travel
At Da Lat's Secluded Da Phuoc Temple, Insights Into Cao Dai Teachings
Perched on top of a hilly area, Da Lat's Cao Dai temple is a towering structure of vibrant aesthetics and intriguing mysticism.
Dang Bui in Culture
The Cursed, Monk-less Phuc Quang Pagoda
Built in 1734 under the reign of King Long Duc III, Phuc Quang pagoda in Bac Giang Province has been mysteriously monk-less for nearly 300 years.
Dang Bui in Culture
The Last Letter Writer of the Saigon Post Office
As I travel through life, meeting new people, I sometimes get the feeling that some have a story to tell. When I discover such a person, I secretly feel special and cool to be one of the few who perce...
Brian Letwin in Travel
Russian Tourists are Abandoning Mui Ne
Mui Ne, long considered a haven for Russian tourists has been experiencing a drop in visitors from the Motherland as they seek out “easier accesses” destinations, reports Thanh Nien.
Dang Bui in Culture
Very Superstitious: 3 Popular Vietnamese Superstitions
As is the case in many cultures, superstition plays an important role in our society. It can dictate when to take a vacation, how to do business and even cure bad luck. In this monthly column, we take...
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
[Video] Physically-Challenged Mekong Woman Paints with Her Feet
For those of us who possess little to no artistic talent, we know that creating anything more than a stick figure is a daunting task. That makes the work of 36-year-old Huynh Thi Xam incredibly i...
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
4 Great Places to Buy Art Supplies in Saigon
Saigon-based design website, dxMAG recently made a great post about where to find art supplies in the city. Here are some shops where you can pick up sometimes hard-to-find tools for illustration, pai...
Dang Bui in Music & Arts
Vietnamese Man Covers his House with Antiques
Obsessed with antiques, a Vinh Tuong man, Nguyen Van Truong, collected 8,000 of them over 30 years and found an ingenious way to show off his collection - using them to coat the walls, gates and garde...
Dang Bui in Film & TV
Documentary on Vietnamese LGBT Singers Screened at French Film Festival
The Last Journey of Madame Phung – a film project from Nguyen Thi Tham that highlights a group of wandering LGBT Vietnamese singers, was recently screened at the 36th Cinéma du Réel Festival in Paris ...
Dang Bui in Culture
Saigon Urban Legends: Spirits, Curses and Sunken Ships at Thuan Kieu Plaza
Located in the heart of Saigon’s busy Chinatown, the three-unit, 33-story tower complex known as Thuan Kieu Plaza was an icon of prosperity when it was completed in 1990. During the day, it looks no d...
Brian Letwin in Culture
4 US States are Dominated by Vietnamese Speakers (Kind of)
While the Nguyens might be taking over Australia, the US claims a sizable Vietnamese population as well. Using census data, Slate created a revealing state-by-state map showing the most commonly used ...
Dang Bui in Travel
Escape From the Tourists: 5 of Vietnam’s Underrated Islands
You want to have a lazy holiday on a tranquil beach, but Nha Trang and Mui Ne is a bit too touristy for your taste. We’ve come up with a list islands that should offer some relief from the throngs of ...
Saigoneer in Culture
Pictionary Battle Night! @ deciBel
From the organizer: A night of networking and gaming where illustrators and creatives of Saigon can come together to battle it out for Pictionary glory!
Brian Letwin in Culture
[Photos] Vietnamese Motorbikes and the Things They Carry
With more than 37 million of them, Vietnam is truly the land of the motorbike (for now). As we see on a daily basis, they’re not only the preferred method of transportation for people, but also for th...
Brian Letwin in Culture
Ancient Village Regulations Uncovered in Hoi An
A 19th century draft of village rules and regulations has been discovered by a Vietnamese historian in Hoi An, the first of its kind, reports Vietnam News.
Dang Bui in Music & Arts
Event Rewind: Postiljonen
Last Sunday, Stockholm ‘dream pop’ trio, Postiljonen, swung by La Fenetre Soleil as part of their Asian tour.
Brian Letwin in Culture
[Video] Teaser: The Banditas of Hoi An
To avoid a dark complexion, many Vietnamese women wear body-encompassing garb when out about town. Some call them ‘ninjas’ and others ‘mummies.’ Sydney-based filmmaker, Kearon de Clouet, recently trav...
Saigoneer in Travel
NY Times: Here’s What You Should Do with 36 Hours in HCMC
The New York Times recently visited HCMC for one of their popular “36 Hours” columns where they present a list of recommendations for things to do and places to go if you're short on time.
Dang Bui in Music & Arts
Event Rewind: The Saigon Projects 5 Year Anniversary Party
There may have been a mixture of complexions and languages, but the crowd at The Saigon Projects 5 year anniversary party shared one love for the growth of graffiti art and underground hiphop in ...
Brian Letwin in Travel
Thailand Amends Controversial Border Procedures for Vietnamese Tourists
After public outcry from Vietnamese tourists and tourism officials, Thai customs authorities have announced that they will amend “offensive” signage and procedures requiring proof of funds at the...
Dang Bui in Culture
Vietnam's Fading Black Smile
Contrasting black and white is not a modern aesthetic. For a long time, it was a standard of grace for Vietnamese women for whom traditional beauty was judged by “white skin, black teeth.”
