The Wildlife Artist Who Paints the Beauty of Vietnam’s Endangered Nature
Dao Van Hoang, a self-taught painter, welcomed us into his studio at Le Petit Musée in Paris. Surrounded by watercolors of exotic plants and paintings of wild animals, he shared with us his life story. Or, how he fell in love with nature from a young age, continuously trained to become a recognized artist, and got involved in wildlife conservation.
Meet Cam, the Idiosyncratic Rapper Telling Stories Through Music
Born from the streets, rap/hip-hop often features confrontational lyrics and intense performances. But to Lê Văn Toàn, who goes by the stage name Cam, rap is like a canvas to bare his heart; chronicle the many stories that he has witnessed and imagined; and express the feelings that surface after watching a good film or book.
[Photos] The Incredibly Eye-Catching, Organic Signage of Sa Đéc
Signs are like voices.
Short Story: 'Left-Eared' by Trần Thị NgH
'Left-Eared' (Người Thuận Tai Trái) is a short work of fiction originally written in Vietnamese by author Trần Thị NgH and translated with her assistance for Saigoneer.
[Photos] For a Tết Full of Rich Traditions, Head to Saigon's Hoa Community
Up until 2011, I thought that everybody in Saigon had the same Tet every year, with apricot flowers in the living room and bánh chưng or bánh tét on the altar, and family trips to the Nguyen Hue flower street and prayers to Buddha at pagodas.
[Photos] A Stroll Through Eclectic Chợ Lớn
Until fairly recently, Chợ Lớn was its own city, long inhabited by người Hoa who carved out an economic hub along the banks of the Saigon River over 200 years ago.
[Photos] Watching the Sunset From Fansipan, the Roof of Vietnam
Conquering Mount Fansipan’s 3,147 meters was once a feat reserved for those willing to take on the potential multi-day hike from Sapa to the summit and back.
How DiaCritics Creates a Platform for Diverse Vietnamese Voices From Abroad
“Vietnamese communities can sometimes/often demand conformity and tradition of people in order to feel a part of things; I have always seen diaCRITICS as an opportunity to trouble the definitions, push the boundaries, to include the atypical voices and stories and viewpoints.”
Epic Road Trip: Ha Giang to Ca Mau
If you’re like us, slaves to the internet and our computer overlords, it can be easy to forget that Saigon is an urban bubble. In a reminder that there’s a whole other Vietnam out there, 4 friends – C...
Stand-up Saigon presents: The Best Comedy in Town
From the organizer: We’re a collection of aspiring comedians who are dedicated to making you piss yourself...figuratively speaking of course.So, the million Dong question is are you ready to laugh?
Beer Paradise: Vietnamese Beer Ranked Cheapest in the World
Thrillist, using crowd-sourced data from cost of living site, Numbeo, just published a list of the countries with the world’s cheapest beer. Somewhat surprisingly, our fair Vietnam took the crown with...
New Year Gala Concert “Mozart and Tchaikovsky”
From the organizer: You are invited to the NEW YEAR GALA CONCERT with the participation of violinist Nguyen Huu Khoi Nam, who is considered the pride of Vietnam in France. The program is choreographe...
Laurent Judge: The Evolution of a Graffiti Artist
“It’s like a nightmare where everything is in slow motion, some lights will appear, then shadows and creature, which could be real but they are abstract.” This is how Parisian painter and graffiti art...
30-Day Visa Exemption for Foreigners Visiting Phu Quoc
Starting March 10, international travelers to Phu Quoc will enjoy a 30-day visa exemption. The visa waiver is part of decision No. 80 signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on December 27 with the ...
10 Awesome Traditional Vietnamese Songs
Petites Planètes compiled a wonderful sampling of traditional Vietnamese music, from funeral songs to those played in Hue's Imperial Citadel, and put the playlist online.
Sci-Fi Cosplay Party @ Cargo
From the organizer: Are you ready for fun night of live music, dancing, drinking and dressing up as your favourite Sci-Fi characters? Join us for the biggest Sci-Fi party… ever in Vietnam! Project ...
Proposed $1/Day ‘Tourism Fee’ Draws Severe Criticism
As Vietnam seeks to boost its tourism industry, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has proposed a plan that would charge tourists an additional $1 per day on top of the cost of thei...
Photography Courses with Quinn Ryan Mattingly
From the organizer: Do you have a great camera or editing software but not sure how to get the most from it? Saigon School of Imaging is here to help. With current courses in Lightroom, Photoshop and...
New Years Eve Party @ The Observatory and Broma
From the organizer: People of Saigon! The time has nearly arrived for us to say bye bye to this bizarre year, and to start getting excited about meeting the next one because it's gonna arrive with a ...
Video: Words of a Generation Vietnam
After centuries of social instability due to colonial occupation and war, Vietnam's younger generation (those born between 1975 and 1986) is finding its voice. But how does this group view themselves ...
The Observatory: Bringing Fresh Art and Music to Saigon's Masses
If you are thinking “another bar in town,” think again. Last month, The Observatory officially celebrated its opening, with the photographic exhibition of Mai Huyen Chi and an incredible lin...
Video: Now This How to Count in Vietnamese
A bit rusty when it comes to Vietnamese numbers? No worries, this guy will show you how it's done.
Sunday Garage Sale @ Saigon Outcast
From the organizer: Remember the jumble sale and garage sale that Saigon outcast did last year? Where they collected a lot of toothbrushes and some other necessities for the orphanage in bien hoa?&nb...
Deaths and Abuse Reported at HCMC Daycare Centers
In a week hit by scandal of 2 nursery ‘baby-sitters’ abusing the children in their care, more light is being shed on illegally operating businesses that are left to care for the city’s children. And i...
How a Viral Video is Challenging Vietnam’s Traditional Gender Roles
It’s an age-old story – a couple breaks up and someone asks to be repaid for various expenditures made during the relationship. This scene was captured in 2 recent YouTube videos which quickly went vi...
A Closer Look at the Images on Vietnamese Banknotes
Vietnamese banknotes are characterized by beautiful colors and illustrations that capture some of Vietnam’s most famous locations (and Ho Chi Minh, of course). We've previously written about their his...
Canvas & Wine: Monet and The Impressionists
From the organizers: The Impressionist movement changed forever the concept of painting. The effect of light and color and the use of clear brush strokes played a main role in the paintings. With the...
Slideshow: Spectacular Color Photos of 1914 Hanoi
Over the next 2 weeks, Hanoi-based French Culture Centre (L’Espace), will be holding a “Hanoi Colour” exhibition, featuring 60 color images taken by French photographer, Leon Busy, between 1914 and 19...