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?
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.
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.
New Tarot Deck Uses Traditional Motifs, Legends and Folk Wisdom to 'Speak Vietnamese'
Tarot decks can feel written in a foreign language.
The ISHCMC Advantage: Going Beyond Grades to Prepare Future-Ready Graduates
Leadership isn’t just taught, it’s lived at International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC). With a legacy spanning more than 30 years, ISHCMC has helped generations of students gain entry into top global universities and thrive as leaders in their fields while contributing to their communities. As it continues to elevate its academic vision, new Head of School, Marco Longmore, is providing the ISHCMC community with fresh guidance.
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.
August: The Month Of Damned Spirits
The 7th lunar month, which usually falls in mid-August, is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world as the Month of Ghosts. Known as Vu Lan month in Vietnam, it is marked by large religious celebrat...
[Photos] Man Creates Incredibly Detailed, Miniature Version Of Hue In Saigon
Ready to be impressed? Nguyen Thanh Tung who hails from Hue, but lives in Saigon, found a creative way to avoid homesickness – over 7 years, he created a 1,000 square meter model of his hometown, down...
New Book Shows Saigon’s Strong Contrasts Through Photos
Saigon is a city of contrasts so it’s fitting that a Vietnamese writer, Linh Cu and graphic designer, Mai Nguyen got together to create a photo book, Contrasts of Saigon.
Brian Letwin in Culture
[Video] Beware Of The Tobacco Bong (Điếu Cày)
The tobacco bong (điếu cày) is a popular companion for everyone from café-goers to parking attendants in Vietnam who are looking for a greater high than normal cigarettes provide, or simply a strong d...
Brian Letwin in Culture
[Video] This Is What Happens When Tourists Are Asked To Speak Vietnamese
A hard a time as expats in Vietnam have pronouncing the local language, after a while, most of us are able to learn the basics. But as we see in this video from Nguyen McHung, the language was not des...
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
[Video] “Enter Pyongyang” Hyperlapse Offers A Look At Life In North Korea’s Capital
You may remember the Rob Whitworth’s award-winning film, Traffic in Frenetic HCMC, Vietnam (2012), a culmination of 10,000 RAW images and multiple shots which perfectly captured the energy and spirit ...
CreativeDrinks #2 @ 3A Station
From the organizer: "Sure, everyone knows what a brand is. Coke, Pepsi, McDonald’s. But that buzzword is getting thrown around a whole lot in career and job search conversations these days, too. And y...
Photographer Spotlight: Dinh Q. Lê
Photography has been, over the past 180 years, one of the most misjudged artistic mediums. Some consider it a way to simply record the surface of reality, indiscriminately used by the masses. After al...
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
Event Rewind: Saigon Artbook Edition 4
After three successful releases of the Saigon Artbook, the team held a launch event at The Cube last Thursday to celebrate the 4th edition of the book that celebrates local artists.
Where to Find Disappearing Old Books in Saigon
There is a German proverb – "Alle guten dinge sind drei" – which refers to the joy gained from one’s efforts. Living in the digital age, we are blessed – or cursed, depending on your point o...
[Photos] Wealthy Yen Bai Man Builds Extravagant Mountain Tomb
Taking a page out of the book of the Egyptian Pharaohs, a Yen Bai man is constructing a massive, VND15 billion tomb on the side of a mountain.
[Video] Local Students Make Impressive 3D Film On Retro Saigon
This local indie film, “Balloon” is worth 4 minutes of your eyes, ears and mind.
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
Finger Food: Sushi Nail Art Is A Thing In Japan
Recently Nails have become a popular canvas for artistic expression, displaying everything from circuit boards to Grumpy Cat. But leave it Japan to take things to the next level.
Brian Letwin in Culture
[Video] A Day in the Life of a Saigon Street Masseur
You’ve no doubt heard ringing bottle caps, the calling card of Saigon’s street masseurs, outside your door in the evening hours. These men ride around the city till the morning light, hoping to put a ...
[Photos] Optimus Prime Appears In Saigon In Motorbike Form
On the morning of August 3 at a coffee shop on Trần Phú Street (District 5), pedestrians were shocked to find a transformer disguised as a Yamaha Exciter.
Brian Letwin in Film & TV
[Video] Help Fund A New Documentary On Hanoi’s Zone 9
You’re probably familiar with Zone 9, a group of former factory buildings that were converted into shops, bars and art spaces early last year. But just as the complex was hitting its stride, all of it...
Narrow The Gap: Increasing Access To Education In Vietnam
Founded to support local not-for-profit organizations, volunteers and donors to have an equal chance to contribute their time to improve ongoing social issues, Narrow the Gap Community Fund is LIN’s (...
Brian Letwin in Culture
[Video] Day Dreamers: A Day in the Life of a Saigon Hipster
As Vietnam becomes increasingly connected to global trends, the country’s 20-somethings have embraced everything from rap to graffiti art.
Startup Seeks To Change The Way You Experience Hanoi And Beyond
Soundwalk is a location-based audio tour: as you walk around the city, you hear sounds as you pass through the streets, presenting a fundamentally different urban experience.
[Video] "Memories Of Vietnam" Shows The Country Through A Poetic Lens
Earlier this yeah, Léo Bigiaoui and his friends traveled across Vietnam for a month, filming in Sapa, Hanoi, Cat Ba Island, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An and Phu Quoc.
