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.

in Culture

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.

in Film & TV

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?

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.

Back Arts & Culture

in Film & TV

Documentary Project on Vietnam's Motorbike Culture Releases Call for Submissions

Dust & Metal, a documentary film on Vietnam's love affair with motorbikes, is inviting you to take part in their project.

Mầm

in Quãng 8

Meet Hooligan., the Whimsical Pop Star Behind Sleeper Hit 'To the Moon'

‘To The Moon,’ a dreamy pop song that draws on the unlikely fusion of doo-wop and electro, has gained an earworm status among starstruck listeners.

Khoi Pham

in Music & Arts

A Halcyon Hanoi in the Art of Joseph Inguimberty, the Professor Who Taught Lê Phổ

In 1925, Joseph Inguimberty stepped into the tropical humidity of Hanoi for the first time. Despite having been to Italy, Greece and even Egypt, the 29-year-old art professor probably couldn’t imagine...

in Music & Arts

Đỗ Trọng Quý's Art Playfully Tells Viewers to 'Get the Hell out of This Place'

Đỗ Trọng Quý’s first solo show in Hanoi at Mo Art Space (136 Hang Trong), “One Endless Summer,” presents 26 of his most recent works during the past year.

in Film & TV

The Vietnamese Studio That Creates Artworks for Makoto Shinkai, 'Attack on Titan'

Challenging the negative stereotypes surrounding the animation industry, Nam Hai Art opens a route for many passionate animators to pursue both passion and stable income.

in Culture

Fantastic Beasts of Vietnam's Mythology Reimagined by Local Student Project

Drawing from Vietnam’s myths and legends, a young artist has created a series of illustrations of figures that pay tribute to the country’s supernatural beliefs.

in Culture

At Huyen Trang Pagoda, Spirituality, Charity Campaigns and a Home for Stray Kittens

Huynh Tan Phat, spanning many kilometers paralleling the river in District 7, is typical of many bustling streets, filled with the cacophonous rhythms of Saigon. However, cross the bridge at Pham...

in Music & Arts

Meet Tô Đậm, the Young Artists Bringing Mural Arts to Schools in Rural Vietnam

Tô Đậm is a non-profit organization founded by artists who share one thing in common: they all love to paint and travel. Their collective works cannot be found at any galleries or museums, even if you...

Linh Pham

in Music & Arts

On ‘Ếch Ếch Vol. 1,’ a Mosaic of Hanoi’s Underground Music Scene

Hardcore, indie, metal, folk? The latest compilation album emerging from the capital is as multifaceted as the city itself.

in Quãng 8

Kiên, the Happy-Go-Lucky Soul Who Makes 'Children's Music for Adults'

Music gives Kiên confidence, and he chooses to make joyful songs to share positive energy with people.

in Music & Arts

Over 130 Artworks by Mai Trung Thứ Will Be on Display in France in June

It will be the first time many of Mai Trung Thứ's oil on canvas, paintings on silk, drawings, photographs, and lithographs will be available for public viewing. 

Mầm

in Quãng 8

The Tenderness and Intimacy of Mademoiselle's Quiet Lullabies

Mademoiselle has become a familiar face in the indie music community for her signature soft voice and delicate melodies, which fans say typify the singer as a person. Although she isn’t as well-known ...

in Culture

Nha Trang's Whale Worship Festival, as Portrayed in This Stunning Graduation Project

The Cầu Ngư Festival, a whale-worshipping tradition that takes place every February on the lunar calendar, has become a source of inspiration for artist Tường Vân’s graduation and illustration project...

in Literature

18-Year-Old Alexandra Huynh Named US' Next National Youth Poet Laureate

The second-generation Vietnamese-American 18-year-old who considers poetry a matter of self-expression and social justice will help spread and advocate for poetry in America.

in Music & Arts

Vietnamese Agency Wins Dieline Design Award for Guta Rebranding Campaign

The masterminds behind the eye-catching brand identity of homegrown cafe chain Guta have been bestowed a shiny new award.

in Literature

Q&A: Shades of Hanoi, a Diary of Many Authors Writing Their Own Version of the City

For Long, Sơn and the young millennials penning Shades of Hanoi, writing is a brave act of self-reflection.

in Music & Arts

An Ode to Vietnam’s Identity Amidst Modernization via 28 Years' Worth of Photos

Comprising 28 years' worth of photos, the Punk Dragon exhibition makes older visitors feel nostalgic and younger ones pause and think about changes.

Tuyết Nhi

in Culture

Fall in Love With the People of Hai Phong, One TikTok at a Time

Being a late-bloomer who is slow to catch up with social media trends, I only just got TikTok installed on my phone about a month ago. As I've found that the majority of the clips on this platform are...

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnamese Brands Abroad; TV Show Pitches

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!

in Film & TV

Vietnamese Film 'Taste' Wins Berlin Film Fest Award, Is Fined at Home

This is why we can't have nice things.