An Ode to Vũng Tàu, Saigon's Unwavering Summer Crush
I recently took a trip to Vũng Tàu after a long summer of cultural research, which had me traveling up and down Vietnam. It had been seven years since I’d been back to the homeland, and 19 since I’d last seen the beaches of Vũng Tàu, when I was only 16. It felt like returning to a high school crush, and it made me think of the words of Trần Thiện Thanh, who once wrote, “Nhớ lúc xa xưa mười sáu trăng tròn…” I won’t say I wasn’t looking for something familiar, poetic, and possibly even as sappy.
Paul Christiansen in Literature
5 Books by Vietnamese Authors Centered on Strong Female Protagonists
Literature, more than any other art form, allows people an intimate vantage point from which to witness the experiences, emotions, and thoughts of individuals drastically different from themselves. Books thus hold the unparalleled power to inspire, foster empathy, and expand one’s understanding of the human condition.
Women in Post-Đổi Mới Vietnamese Cinema: From Archetypal to Multifaceted
In Vietnamese cinema, the female figure has long been employed to deliver macro-level messages rather than just mundane narratives.
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
The Multiverse Behind the 1990s Classic 'Người Tình Mùa Đông' by Như Quỳnh
There is a certain timelessness to the song ‘Người Tình Mùa Đông’ by Như Quỳnh, especially in the visuals of its very first performance. For generations of Vietnamese listeners, ‘Người Tình Mùa Đông’ is an icon in the hall of fame of Vietnamese music, but as I have come to discover, the melody that Vietnamese know as ‘Người Tình Mùa Đông’ has lived a life much richer and more transcendent than it might appear.
Vietnamese Creators Teach Kids to Appreciate Rice in 'Con Ăn Hết Rồi' Book Project
If one day, the grains of rice that you frequently put in your mouth suddenly start to move, talk, and give you a rundown on how they were created on the field, would you believe it? This seemingly absurd scenario is exactly what happened to Minh, a little boy who's the main character of Con ăn hết rồi!, a children's book by author Đỗ Nguyệt Hà and illustrator Lê Phương Quỳnh, also known as Buffy.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
In Hội An, Artist Nguyễn Quốc Dân Breathes New Life Into Scrap Materials
The several dozen family altars that formed a hodgepodge pile had each been abandoned in graveyards. For many, this would make them extremely inauspicious. But to artist Nguyễn Quốc Dân, they are perfect for making art.
Enlightening Misery Under French Rule Explored in 'Light Out and Modern Vietnamese Stories'
Light Out and Modern Vietnamese Stories, 1930–1954 offers the contemporary reader an honest glimpse of a period in Vietnam history characterized by corruption, exploitation, dehumanization, poverty, and starvation. The Vietnamese texts, both a novella and accompanying short stories, not only delineate the immediate influence of French colonization on the sociopolitical functions of Vietnam, an enterprise solely designed for its economic potential, but also expose the extending impact on the quotidian lives of proletarians, particularly the peasantry.
What Shipwrecks Can Teach Us About Vietnam's Centuries-Old Maritime History
Deep beneath the ocean surface, colorful ceramic fragments have been scattered and stacked upon one another for centuries. Some remain whole, others broken, many still covered with corals and ocean dust. Once precious commodities, these pieces have become time capsules, carried into the Vietnamese waters by ships that never reached their destinations. What stories might these centuries-old ceramic artifacts hold about Vietnam’s connection with surrounding kingdoms?
Comic Con Is Coming To Saigon Next Month
Comic Con, one of the World’s largest gaming, technology, comic book, anime, manga, and cosplay events is coming to Saigon for the first time next month.
[Video] Daily Café Hustlin': A Digital Nomad’s Life In Saigon
There are plenty of digital nomads in Saigon, those who tote their laptop from coffee shop to coffee shop instead of sitting in a cubicle. But it’s not a life of glamour. It’s a hustle.
[Photos] 21 Outrageous Photos of Vietnamese Vehicles
If you’re from Vietnam, or have lived here for a while, you’ve probably come across some pretty outlandish things on the local roads. But if you think you’ve seen everything, this collection of photos...
November Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues
If you believe that humanity is the essential aspect of cinematic endeavours, you will find plenty of it in this month programme from Saigon’s alternative film venues.
Vintage Vespa: The Extinction Of The Classic
Sadly, Vintage Vespa is now becoming an endangered species. Gregg Mitchell, a Vespa renovator, moved to Saigon where he found an abundance of ‘Vintage Vespas’. He stated sadly, “They just don't make t...
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...
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...
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 ...
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.
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.
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.
[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.
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.
[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...
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.
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...
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.
[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.
[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.
