Inside the Vivid, Soothing Art Realm of Vietnamese Ilustration Artist Phuongsongdep
Using her keen observation and sensitive art intuition, Minh Phương creates a colorful realm through her brushstrokes, w...
Paul Christiansen in Culture
Learning to Ngồi Chồm Hổm Is a Simple Way for Anybody to Feel More Vietnamese
What is culture? For someone who writes for an arts and culture publication, you’d think I’d have a quick and clean answer, but the more I ruminate, the more I realize it comes down to a sloppy assemblage of habits, ephemera, and minutiae: eating preferences, holiday attire, styles of sneezes, methods for counting on one’s fingers, variety of fruits to gift and an endless string of social norms. Pile enough of these choices together, and you end up with a distinct culture.
Great Vietnam Resurrects Nguyễn-Era Fashion, One Traditional Costume at a Time
In the last four to five years, ancient Vietnamese costumes have gained more visibility, becoming a welcome sight among young locals thanks to the efforts to reproduce and promote historic fashion from a number of designers, brands, and interest groups that appreciate the country’s history and traditions.
In the Mekong Delta, Đồ Bộ Is Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Despite its humble beginning as something worn just for convenience’s sake, đồ bộ has entered every minute of life in the Mekong Delta as a staple fashion choice that’s both flexible and colorful. Đồ bộ means “set outfit” in Vietnamese, a type of female casualwear made of soft, thin fabrics that often comes in a top and long bottom combo. They’re sometimes referred to as “Vietnamese pajamas,” but these comfortable sets can be worn at any time of the day and even outside, not just reserved for sleep like pajamas.
Nguyễn Đổng Chi's Classic Retelling of Vietnam's Fairy Tales, Now in English
Folklorist and anthropologist Nguyễn Đổng Chi dedicated decades to weaving a significant portion of Vietnam’s folklore tapestry. He collected, researched, and rewrote over 200 Vietnamese folktales from all corners of the country. His work, initially scattered across five volumes published individually and consecutively over 25 years, appeared as a complete anthology in 1982. Guided by a comprehensive treatise of Vietnamese folktale, Chi’s Kho tàng truyện cổ tích Việt Nam (Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales) might be daunting for readers drawn to Vietnamese folklore but disenchanted by rigorous academic discourse.
Kit Humphrey in Travel
In Thổ Hà Village, Rice Paper Spills Onto the Streets and Wraps Around Daily Life
A few hours after sunrise in the small village of Thổ Hà, Bắc Giang Province, alleyways morph into picturesque tunnels of drying rice paper, while ladies toast crackers over fire in the streets.
Carol Kim Brings to Life Rare Performance of 'Tại Vắng Anh' Thanks to Saigon Jazz Revival
The rich, bluesy ‘Tại vắng anh,’ written by Tuấn Khanh, was performed by Carol Kim this past November at Saigon Jazz Revival's inaugural concert in New Orleans.
Cliché or Parody? Orientalist Readings of Nam Le’s ‘36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem’
One may be surprised to learn that Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel The Sympathizer was rejected by 13 out of 14 publishers before its eventual publication. He describes in an interview why he believes his novel was rejected by all but one publisher he submitted to: “I knew in writing the novel that I was deliberately not doing what I was supposed to do as an Asian American writer, which is [...that] you have to end on a note of Americanization. You have to end on an embrace of the American dream, explicitly or implicitly. And the novel does not do that.” He comments elsewhere along similar lines, “I refuse[d] to subscribe to dominant American narratives and mythologies that allow someone like me a very narrow space to speak.”
Vietnamese Model To Hold International Fashion Show On Eiffel Tower
Vietnamese model, Jessica Minh Anh, has clearly found her niche - organizing fashion shows at some of the world’s most iconic locations.
An Ode To Saigon’s Rain Showers
Despite the inconveniences that unpredictable rain showers bring to Saigon, they are an essential part of the city’s character.
[Video] Viet Teens Use Mosquito Larva As Inspiration For Amazingly Awkward Dance
Well, not much to say about this video other than: prepare yourself for 4 minutes of wonderful, jaw-dropping awkwardness.
[Photos] Honda Chalys That Have Undergone Extreme Makeovers
Though they’re becoming increasingly rare on Vietnam’s roads, Honda Chalys remain a favorite for local mechanics who out their own spin on the diminutive motorbikes.
What’s So Special About Vietnamese Sơn Mài (Lacquer Painting)?
Sơn mài, or traditional Vietnamese lacquer painting, is not only unique in its fusion of local and French techniques, but also challenging due to the level of complexity and detail needed to create it...
Dan Nguyen and 3A: Organizing the Artifacts of Trauma
Vietnamese American artist and music composer, Dan Nguyen has left yet another mark on the South East Asian art scene; this time, at the rapidly growing 3A Alternative Art Area.
[Video] Saigon Hustlers
For many in Saigon, life is a hustle. From street vendors to motorbike ice delivery boys, everyone is trying to eek out a living. This video, made by Luke Penders, does a great job of capturing those ...
3 Thrilling Vietnamese Games To Play During The Month Of Ghosts
Small trays of colorful cakes are popular offerings for superstitious Buddhists during the Month of Ghosts. But Vietnamese children have a number of other ways to make contact with spirits, including ...
Photographer Spotlight: An Interview With Cuong Do Manh
This is a continuation of our series that presents some of the most influential and prolific Vietnamese photographers. Whether photojournalism or fine art photography, their work investigates Vietname...
Sidewalk DJ Becomes A Hit In Saigon
The motorbike karaoke singers and Michael Jackson impersonators have run into some stiff competition in the form of sexy sidewalk DJs, reports Zing.
[Photos] Event Rewind: Saigoneer Photo Walk With Quinn Ryan Mattingly
Last Sunday, photographer, Quinn Ryan Mattingly led the first monthly Saigoneer photo walk where participants traveled along Thái Văn Lung, Lê Thánh Tôn, Tôn Đức Thắng, and Lý Tự Trọng Streets to capt...
Masters Of Recycling: Saigon Technicians Turn Old Computer Screens Into TV Sets
If you needed anymore proof that Vietnamese are the masters of recycling and reuse, here it is. At District 10’s Nhật Tảo Market, technicians spend their day stripping down old computer monitors to cr...
The Fixie Fad Takes Off In Saigon
Well, it was only a matter of time. After confirming earlier this month that the hipster subculture is alive and well in Saigon (in addition to flying whales, apparently), it looks like one of its def...
4 Unique Saigon Markets
Saigon is full of markets, with each having its own characteristics. Together, they form a kind of community, comprised of everything from the aesthetically pleasing but overpriced Bến Thành to the ub...
The 90-Year-Old Lumberjack Of Hanoi
Though nearly a century old, 90-year-old Hanoi man, Lê Văn Sâm still amazes people with his incredible health and work ethic. Every day for over 70 years, Sâm has cut and transported large trees to ma...
The Differences Between Girls In Saigon And Hanoi
These illustrations, created by blogger Mèo Lười show her view of the differences between girls in Sài Gòn and Hà Nội. From reactions to breakups to eating habits, one can view them as astute obs...
[Video] Professional Vietnamese Tennis Players Trade In Rackets For Stools, Wine Bottles
Having mastered the tennis racket, a group of players in Saigon have decided to replace their normal frames with wine bottles, wooden chairs and even pieces of pattern tile.
[Photos] Architecture Student Builds Sweet Custom Bike
This badass custom, motorcycle-scooter hybrid was not built by a professional mechanic, but rather a student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture.
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
Saigoneer Presents: Photo Walk With Quinn Ryan Mattingly
We’re happy to announce the launch of Saigoneer Photo Walks with the goal of upping your photo game while exploring the city.
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...
