in Trích or Triết

Composer Hoàng Việt and a Radical Romance Across the North-South Border

In a country fractured by ideology, Hoàng Việt's love for his wife Ngọc Hạnh persisted like a secret melody carried across closed borders by weak radio signals, and letters that had to circle the globe before finding their way home.

in Music & Arts

The Cultural Depths in Contemporary Hip-Hop Dance ‘129BPM: Động Phách Tách Kén’

Have you ever witnessed a live performance so powerful that it still lives in your mind weeks later? “129BPM: Động Phách Tách Kén” is not your usual hip-hop breakdance battle, but a contemporary dance performance combining live music with Vietnamese folk elements. It is a journey that requires your full presence and attention to appreciate its fleeting and transformative moments.

in Film & TV

New 'Số Đỏ' Movie Announced, Directed by Phan Gia Nhật Linh, Starring MONO

Another classic of Vietnamese literature is heading to the big screen in the near future.

Thi Nguyễn

in Loạt Soạt

Revisiting the Delicious Satirical Society of 'Số Đỏ' by Vũ Trọng Phụng

Published in 1938, Dumb Luck , or Số Đỏ , remains one of Vietnam's most popular and controversial novels. Vũ Trọng Phụng was ...

in Music & Arts

Severine Phương Trần's Debut Exhibition in Saigon Celebrates a World of Colors

Step into Severine Phương Trần’s first-ever exhibition in Saigon, where you can explore the artist’s inner world of vibrant colors and different emotions. To fully enjoy this exhibition, it is best to let your inner child and imagination roam free and allow the flow of colors and different sceneries to guide you through a journey of creativity, self-discovery, and personal artistic transformation.

in Quãng 8

From Germany to 'King of Rap' Runner-up: How Tuimi Becomes a Hip-Hop Breakout Star

Tuimi, a Vietnamese German singer and rapper, has become one of the most notable female voices in the local hip-hop scene and been making big waves since her return in 2019.

Paul Christiansen

in Travel

Ruminate on Our Natural Legacies While Surrounded by Cây Sao at Ao Bà Om

I never pass up an opportunity to reflect on chò nâu and its dipterocarp relative, cây sao. The massive trees that gracefu...

in Culture

What Will Become of Chợ Quê in the Era of Widespread Online Shopping?

Firmly taking root in everyday life, our hometown markets — chợ quê — are not simply a place to trade, but also puzzle pieces that make up childhood memories, holiday excitement, and even tales of hardships and life milestones of countless people. 

Back Arts & Culture

in Film & TV

'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' by Ocean Vuong Is Being Adapted Into a Movie

A prominent work of contemporary Vietnamese-American fiction is being adapted for the big screen.

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: Our Favorite Non-Pandemic Stories of 2020

It's our last episode of the year!

in Music & Arts

Crate-Digging for Audio Gold at the Second Hanoi Records Day

In September of this year, Quan Cam played host to VOC Record’s second Hanoi Records Day. Saigoneer met with the organizers and collectors to learn more about Vietnam’s growing culture of crate digger...

in Literature

On Deep Reading the Poetic Works of Vietnamese Writer Nhã Thuyên

Reflections on Nhã Thuyên’s poem 'Traces of nothing' and other writings.

in Music & Arts

[Photos] Saigoneer's Best Original Photography of 2020

Is it possible to ruminate on the past 12 months without agonizing over the looming threat of COVID-19 and the grief it has inflicted on global communities? Perhaps not, but if there’s any place in th...

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnamese Christmas Movies and Author Debby Nguyen

Our second-to-last episode of 2020 is here!

in Music & Arts

Wiz Khalifa Drops Visuals for New Song Featuring Vietnamese Farmer Sô Y Tiết

"Usually I make a w**d song. So here goes a w**d song."

Michael Tatarski

in Film & TV

Review: 'Monsoon' Peruses the Chasm Between Past and Contemporary Vietnam

Monsoon is Vietnam-shot film directed by Hong Khaou that was released earlier this year. It is spoken by Lee (David Tran) to Kit (Henry Golding) as they have tea on a Saigon sidewalk and referenc...

in Music & Arts

Chí Tài, Beloved Comedian and Talented Musician, Passes Away at 62

One half of the iconic comic duo Chí Tài-Hoài Linh has left us today.

in Ton-sur-Ton

Tarp, but Make It Fashion: A Saigon Trio Upcycles Canopies Into Backpacks

With a love for the environment and ample creativity, Kiều Anh, Trang, and Tú Quân have built a unique fashion brand named Dòng Dòng Sài Gòn. The line of bags and other items created from recycled tar...

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: Saigon's Covid-19 Cluster; Video Games in Vietnam

We're back!

in Film & TV

Ngô Thanh Vân to Produce Movie Based on Historical Comic Series 'Long Thần Tướng'

One of the most prestigious Vietnamese comic projects is slated for a big-screen release.

in Music & Arts

Vlogger Brittanya Karma Passes Away at 29 Due to Covid-19

Vietnam’s vlogosphere has lost a tireless beacon of positivity this year.

in Music & Arts

Vietnam's Art Fondling Epidemic and the Online Vigilante Policing It

There are many clumsy shoe prints beyond the foot-high metal boundary, next to a small sign that screams out in all caps: "PLEASE, DON’T TOUCH THE ARTWORK."

in Culture

[Photos] Get Set, Row: The Aquatic Exuberance of Soc Trang's Ooc Om Bok Festival

Also called the Moon Worship festival, Ooc Om Bok is one of the liveliest festivals in the Khmer calendar.

in Music & Arts

Citizen Earth Program Returns to Hanoi With Art, Culture, Science, and More

Citizen Earth is a Six Space project exploring art, culture, and education through a community lens. The year-long program brings together artists and researchers from various fields such as history, ...

in Music & Arts

Q&A: A History of Fading Colors — An Interview With Artist Quynh Lam

Nguyễn Đức Diễm Quỳnh (otherwise known as Quynh Lam) is a Vietnamese contemporary artist. She was trained early as a painter and was influenced by her family's traditional photography practices which ...

in Music & Arts

Saigon to Host Major Street Art Festival Next Year

Saigon is banking on the festival's success to draw international visitors back to the city after the COVID-10 pandemic subsides next year.

in Film & TV

[Video] 'Lão Hạc' Movie Adaptation Releases Trailer, to Hit Theaters Next Year

The movie is among a handful of Vietnamese features that have a dog in a starring role.

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: Street Art in Vietnam; Puppetry Artist Linh Valerie Pham

A new podcast episode is available now!