The ISHCMC Advantage: Lifelong Learning Begins in Early Years
“Each morning, the gates open to the joyful rhythm of footsteps and confident smiles. Students independently stroll in, waving to friends and familiar adults, ready to begin the day. With great enthusiasm, they engage in conversations, unpack their bags, tuck away their belongings, and proudly ‘check in’ before eagerly venturing off to discover what learning awaits them. This sense of confidence, independence, and joy isn’t an accident; it’s the result of a thoughtfully designed environment and an intentional approach to learning that nurtures essential life skills through meaningful play.”
Khôi Phạm in Travel
Bask in the Morning Sun in the Green Heart of Huế Along the Hương River
As tourists, it's in our built-in compass to seek out novelties and excitements, if anything, to remind us that our daily humdrum is not everything, and there exists a world out there with multitudes to explore.
More Than Just Prosperity, Ông Địa Is My Personal Patron Saint of Misplaced Things
I was maybe seven when I first clasped my hands and whispered a plea to Ông Địa.
The Charming 1990s Nostalgia in the Phim Mì Ăn Liền Cinematic Universe
If you lurk around online discussions of Vietnamese cinema, you probably have stumbled upon the term phim mì ăn liền, or “instant noodles films.” This popular Vietnamese expression describes local motion pictures with low-effort production value. But the term is not merely a common moniker. It dates back to the 1990s, when a specific type of commercial flick got audiences flocking to the cinema.
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.
Revisit the Legend of Hoàn Kiếm via Stunning Illustrations by Artist Rồng Phạm
At the heart of Hanoi is Hồ Hoàn Kiếm with a legend that has been told countless times.
Horror Flick 'Người Thì Thầm' Bags Awards at International Film Festivals
Another Vietnamese film gets lauded overseas.
Saigon Artist Đoàn Quốc Takes Watercolor Paintings to Whole New Heights
As one of the few Vietnamese nationals to have been granted the title of International Watercolor Master, young artist Đoàn Quốc is constantly pushing the frontiers of his creativity to paint a new pa...
Ảo Ảnh: Art Show by Lê Brothers Explores Violence History and Connections
“Ảo Ảnh," or “Illusion," an independent exhibition by the artist duo Lê Brothers, will be running at Mơ Art Space from July 18. The Quang Binh-born, Hue-based artists — Lê Ngọc Thanh and Lê Đức Hải — ...
For Vietnam's Millennials, Sneakers Reflect American Ideals, Self-Expression and Nostalgia
My memories of sneakers date back to when I was halfway through 7th grade, when a pair of Chuck Taylor All Star 70’s was given to me by my parents to commemorate my good end-of-semester results. The s...
Oliver Newman in Music & Arts
‘Ethernity’: For Tracy Hyde’s Latest Mark in Tokyo’s Iconic Shoegaze Scene
Despite belonging to the Tokyo shoegaze scene, For Tracy Hyde would rather make you look up at the sky in wonder than down at your feet.
Art That Outlives Us: The Paintings of Vietnamese American Artist Ann Phong
There are two things that disconcert older-generation Vietnamese Americans in Little Saigon from those around them: fusion food and the arts; both of which evoke nothing but strangeness. Intolerable s...
Mầm in Quãng 8
MINH Epitomizes a New Generation of Introspective, Worldly Vietnamese Musicians
Dressed in a casual white tee and black jeans, when I met MINH he gleefully opened up about the development that was taking place on his musical path.
Chúng Ta Đang Nghịch Gì: Exhibition Explores How the Young Generation Perceives Life
“Chúng ta đang nghịch gì?”, or “What are we tricking?,” a multimedia exhibition currently showcasing at the Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA), presents 125 different artworks by over 100 artis...
Uyên Đỗ in Culture
Sài Gòn Ơi, Let's Meet for Cà Phê Once the Pandemic Is Over
For various reasons, some city activities that I’ve long shunned are now replaying in my mind like footage of an old home video during these days of working from home.
Artist Trần Lâm Bình Moves Beyond the Shadow With Lacquer
Trần Lâm Bình’s new experiment with lacquer, sơn mài, offers a refreshing perspective into life during the pandemic, and Vietnamese identity in the context of globalization.
The Rec Room Anthology: A Tribute to Hanoi's Hibernating Underground Music Scene
Remember live music?
Q&A: In Conversation With 'The Future Cries Beneath Our Soil' Director Phạm Thu Hằng
Do communities inherit the sorrows of war? Is trauma re-experienced by the sons and daughters of those who suffered? How does life prevail amidst the normalization of loss? Pham Thu Hang’s debut film,...
Tuyết Nhi in Ton-sur-Ton
From Discarded Denim, a Young Vietnamese Designer Crafts Artisanal Fashion
Dương Hoàng Hảo founded Perfect Vintage Stuff, a secondhand clothing brand to provide sustainable fashion that aims to pave the way for circular consumption. But far from your average off-the-rack thr...
Enjoy the Simple Things: The Essence of Hanoi's Gian Don Clothing Store
Gian Don is not much of a commercial fashion brand but a "family shop," where Diệu spends her days delivering stories on "friendly" fashion, and puppies are “employed” as sales associates. I visi...
'Ròm' Star Trần Anh Khoa Wins Best Actor at Asian Film Festival in Rome
Trần Anh Khoa was honored at the Asian Film Festival in Rome on June 24.
Paul Christiansen in Loạt Soạt
Saigoneer Bookshelf: 'A Thousand Times You Lose Your Treasure' Speaks Many Voices
When I first met Hoa Nguyen several years ago in Hanoi, it was her first trip back to Vietnam since she left as a child.
How LiveSpace, a New Music Initiative, Aims to Nurture Vietnam's Indie Musicians
A new joint initiative towards a more realized musical landscape extends the commitment of some of Vietnam’s key cultural players.
[Illustrations] Art Project 'Đất Bắc' Celebrates Craft Villages of Northern Vietnam
"Đất Bắc" is an awe-inspiring art collaboration between 56 Vietnamese artists, started by the Facebook page Practicus. The project seeks to honor some of northern Vietnam's most notable traditional cr...
Find Literary Divination in This Special Deck of 'Tale of Kiều' Tarot
In the world of tarot, each of the 78 cards represents a metaphysical inquiry into life and the human psyche. Meanwhile, in Nguyễn Du’s epic poem, each of the 3,254 verses offers a philosophical explo...
