Văn Tân in Culture
A Brief History of Ông Đồ, Vietnam’s Scholars Whose Calligraphy Is Highly Sought After
To say that Tết gathers together everything most beautiful in Vietnamese culture would not be an exaggeration. More than a threshold between the old year and the new, it is also a time when people feel they can return to, and relive, the traditional values that define them.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
From Dark to Dawn, an Early Morning at Hội An's Duy Hải Fish Market
At 3am, Hội An’s streets resemble dog-gnawed pork bones, licked clean of all scent and viscera. No light, no noise, no movement. But that’s the time you must venture out to witness the Duy Hải Fish Market in action.
Review: 'New Wave' Documentary Is a Surprisingly Personal Dissection of 1980s Nostalgia
Melodic synth-lines and steady electronic drums. Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated. During its high point during the 1980s, however, new wave was hailed as music of the future.
On the Cusp of a Modern New Year, Reflections on a Simpler Tết Past
Every year, as the pages from my block calendar peel off, bringing me towards another Vietnamese New Year, my mind once again fills with nostalgia about an old Tết. Tết in my memory begins with my childhood in a small house nestled under a coconut grove on the outskirts of Bạc Liêu in the Mekong Delta. Those were days of hardship, yet my parents worked hard so that Tết could bloom magnificently for all of us.
A Damaged Masterpiece Reveals How Much We Take Our Cultural Heritage for Granted
A once-damaged national treasure remains on view as if nothing had happened, while other works are displayed with little context — what does this tell us about how art museums preserve Vietnam's cultural heritage and shape our art history narratives today?
In 'Đêm Giao Thừa' EP, a Đàn Tranh Artist Offers Novel Twists on Nostalgic Tết Sounds
Indie đàn tranh artist Brian Bùi has just released Đêm Giao Thừa, an EP containing energetic covers of three classic Tết songs and an original track that pays homage to styles from the 1960s and 1970s.
Khôi Phạm in Culture
Unraveling the Mystery Behind the 'Mùi Việt Kiều' of My Childhood
My favorite candy used to be Hershey’s Kisses. Wrapped in colorful, sparkling foil, these little nubs of decadence made me feel special as a child, not just because of their sugary sweetness, but also because, for much of Vietnam’s contemporary history, you could only enjoy them if you have relatives abroad.
When Lịch Bloc Is Gone, What Will Vietnam Use to Keep Discarded Fish Bones?
I have never bought a lịch bloc, or tear-off calendar, for personal use, because every new year, I'm bound to be gifted a brand-new one. In Vietnam, a calendar is often something one purchases as a present for others.
Event Rewind: GLAM
Last night saw the first installment of GoGo City’s GLAM, a new art and music party, at Q4. Live artistic expression was the name of the game - guests joined artist Yanneth Albornoz to paint huge mur...
Vietnamese Horror Film Reviewed by New York Times
Earlier this year, the government announced plans to overhaul Vietnam’s film industry. Looking to copy the success of Korea and Japan, officials are planning to invest over US$300 million of the state...
Fundraiser: How you Can Help the Victims of Typhoon Nari
Saigoneer has partnered with Venus Café to raise money and collect goods to help the victims of last week's Typhoon Nari which devastated central Vietnam. To help families rebuild their lives and get...
Um Kafe: Adding a Bit of Jazz to Saigon
Don’t you love it when, almost by accident, you discover cosy, out of the way music venues? Even more so if the music in question is jazz, a rarity in Saigon. Jazz musician and painter Zan (Truong Gi...
GLAM: Bringing Exciting New Art and Music to Q4
Get in the holiday spirit this Friday with a little dress up, great entertainment, and exciting new art! GoGo City presents GLAM, an event that celebrates art and self-expression in its many forms. T...
The Saigon Players Present: Rocky Horror Halloween Madness!
The Saigon Players are a non-profit community theater group who aim to uphold the arts while giving to charity. All the proceeds from their performances go towards a charity that the members personall...
Saigon Blog Spotlight: SoJournaling Vietnam
Wanting to reconnect with his ancestral homeland, Kyle, a 23-year-old Viet Kieu from California, packed his bags and moved to Vietnam a few years ago. He has been traversing the country ever sinc...
Event Rewind: Saigon Artbook Party
Last Thursday's Saigon Artbook Party was a hit. From 6 – 11, La Brasserie de Saigon, on the corner of Hai Ba Trung and Dong Du was packed with both locals and foreigners who turned out to support this...
Words: Loaned by the French, Borrowed by the Vietnamese
From pho and banh mi to motorbike culture, elements of French influence can still be found throughout Vietnamese society. The Vietnamese language also contains dozens of French 'loan words' that, whil...
Wine for Cats now Available in Japan (Yes, Really)
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in with our Japanese neighbors who always seem to be one-upping the world when it comes to whacky products. We present to you – cat wine.
Slideshow: On the Red Carpet of "Am Muu Giay Got Nhon"
On Monday, Saigoneer attended the premier of the highly anticipated film, "Am Muu Giay Got Nhon" ("How to Fight in Six Inch Heels"). Since the movie was directed and produced by Viet Kieu and focuses...
Manga and Cosplay in Vietnam
Vietnam is a melting pot for Asian culture and loves to imitate the trends of its neighbors. From economics (China/South Korea) to music (South Korea/Japan) Vietnamese are truly masters of emulation, ...
Brian Letwin in Culture
Street Signs: Nguyễn Huệ - Part 1
In this edition of “Street Signs,” we take a closer look at Nguyen Hue, one of Vietnam’s most prominent folk heroes and successful military commanders. While he died before his vision for Vietnam was ...
Escape Party: Enchanting Circus
From the organizer: a dOSe of ESCAPE – Summer Dance Music Festival in June 2013 at Diamond Island was considered a great music Festival with more than 10,000 participants, and it has created a ...
Behind the Cover: Saigon Artbook
Should art be luxurious or cool? Should it be for the masses or limited only to the educated elite? Should it be displayed only by established galleries or be exhibited in various venues around the ci...
Brian Letwin in Film & TV
Win up to VND20 million for Your Short Film on Vietnamese Street Food
If you enjoy making short films and have a place in your heart for Vietnamese street food, a new competition, "Vietnamese street cuisine" should be right up your alley. Oh, and the winning films will ...
Interview with Award-Winning Filmmaker Ham Tran
"Am Muu Giay Got Nhon" ("How to Fight in Six Inch Heels") is an upcoming, fashion-focused romantic comedy directed by Viet Kieu filmmaker, Ham Tran, his first in Vietnam. Saigoneer sat down with Ham d...
Brian Letwin in Culture
Mayhem: The Age of the Thrift Shop Begins in Saigon
In Vietnam, the land of cheap clothes, western-style thrift shops have yet to take off. Mayhem, a new shop located just behind Ben Thanh Market is looking to change this, offering up stylish, imported...
Brian Letwin in Culture
Vietnam to Remove Ban on Same Sex Marriage
A new government decree, set to go into effect on November 11, 2013, will remove the current fines associated with same-sex marriages in Vietnam. While an important step for LGBT rights in the country...
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
Interview: Pierre Ogeron, Creator of the 'Saigon Sail' Time Lapse
Yesterday, we posted Pierre Ogeron’s awesome time lapse film of Saigon which proved to be quite a hit. We got in touch with Pierre who was kind enough to answer some of our questions about his motiva...
