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

Brian Letwin

in Music & Arts

5 Funky Illustrated Maps of Vietnam

They Draw & Travel is a website for artists to express that passion, and for readers to discover their creations by creating their own artistic maps.

in Culture

[Photos] Saigon’s Rooftop Bonsai Gardens

Growing bonsai trees is becoming an increasingly popular business in Saigon. The Japanese plants, revered around the world, can fetch billions of đồng but take 2 to 3 years to grow.

in Arts & Culture

Live Music - Jeremy Ginsburg @ deciBel

Jeremy is back to rock the house at Decibel for another performance.

in Culture

A Short History Of Vietnam And Palestine

Israel is (yet again) attempting to bomb Palestine back into the stone age. At the time of writing, the Palestinian death toll is at least 98 (the Israeli death toll is 0), which leads me to suspect t...

Brian Letwin

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Propaganda Postage Stamps From North Vietnam (1965 – 1972)

With the American War escalating in the 60s and 70s, North Vietnam produced its famous propaganda posters (which have become popular purchases for tourists) to win the hearts and minds of the people.

in Culture

[Video] This Old Vietnamese Woman Can Dance Better Than You

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen old Vietnamese women get down, but it’s definitely the most sensual dancing display we’ve encountered. We can only hope that we're this energetic when at her age.

Brian Letwin

in Film & TV

10 Movies Set To Hit Vietnamese Theaters This Month

Tired of watching crappy DVDs from local shops or torrents of cam rips? Here are 11 movies that are making their way to Vietnamese cinemas this month with short descriptions and ratings courtesy of IM...

in Music & Arts

[Photos] The Erotic Animal Art Of Thái Nhật Minh

The progressive works (both in inspiration and material) of Vietnamese contemporary artist, Thái Nhật Minh, have made their first public appearance at Manzi Art Space (14 Phan Huy Ích, Hà Nôi) where t...

in Music & Arts

Vietnamese Artists Highlighted At New York Origami Exhibit

Pioneering origami exhibition, “Surface to Structure,” held a showcase, “Folded Form,” at New York’s Cooper Union earlier this month, featuring the works of international artists including 5 Vietnames...

in Music & Arts

Saigon Artbook Call For Donations

Saigon Artbook is calling for donations to support the launch of the series’ 4th edition.

in Music & Arts

The Amazing Story And Art Of Chau Diem

It is fair to say that every work carries, willingly or unwillingly, the story and life of its maker.

in Music & Arts

[Photos] A Look Back at the 'Golden Age' of Vietnamese Music

Between 1960 and 1975, South Vietnam’s music scene underwent many phases, eventually culminating in a "Golden Age" of music. This rich musical ecosystem featured different genres and offered something...

in Culture

A Brief History of Hunting in Vietnam Since the 19th Century

While hunting was probably popular among Vietnamese nobles before the arrival of the French, it was the colonialists who popularized big game hunting in the country when it was still a land of wildern...

in Culture

Fashion Market @ The House Of Saigon

From the organizer: All about fashion, accessories, art and craft - calling brands, designers who want to exhibit and sell your products at our Fashion Market on Saturday and Sunday, July 12...

in Culture

The Vietnamese Millionaires Of Angola

Wherever Vietnamese go, they strive and thrive. While the Vietnamese diaspora is best know for its success in North America, Europe and Australia, there is a small, but influential contingent in the ...

in Music & Arts

[Photos]: Vu Huu Nhung’s “Life” Exhibition

Vũ Hữu Nhung, an heir of Phù Lãng pottery experts, is holding an exhibition of his cutting-edge sculptural artwork in Hanoi.

in Music & Arts

[Photos] 1,600 Papier-Mâché Pandas Invade Asia

Artist Paulo Grangeon began making papier-mâché pandas back in 2008 to support World Wild Life Fund activities in Europe. While popular on his home continent, he had no idea the excitement they would ...

in Culture

Vietnamese Model Organizes Fashion Show At NYC’s Tallest Building

Vietnamese model, Jessica Minh Anh, continues her quest to hold fashion shows at iconic locations. After erecting runways in places like the Grand Canyon and the Petronas Towers, Anh held a multicultu...

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Vietnam’s World Famous “Aquascapists”

Surprise fact: Vietnam is a perennial powerhouse when it comes to aquarium design.

Brian Letwin

in Culture

This Is What Happened When A Woman Was Photoshopped In 25 Different Countries

We know that standards of beauty differ from country to country, but we never would have imagined that they fluctuated this much.