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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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...
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.
In an Ever-Changing Saigon, Street Artisans Hold Fast to Dying Crafts
We delve into the lives of Saigon’s artisans — an animal coconut leaf folder, a woodcarver embracing modern influences, an accomplished street corner calligrapher, and an itinerant craftsman to see wh...
Saigoneer Podcast: Hanoi During, After the Pandemic; Modernist Architecture With Mel Schenck Returns
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is now available!
[Video] Watch Saigon Shine in New MV 'Alane' by German DJ Robin Schulz
Vietnamese listeners of Robin Schulz’s latest summer release might notice some familiar scenes in the song’s dynamic music video.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 24: A Slice of New Saigon
Saigon is a cake with many bakers.
Red Balloons
This July brings to Hanoi a unique cine-concert experience combining live music and Vietnamese animation archives. Red Balloons: Music For 20th-century Vietnamese Animation, organised by The Onion Cel...
Khoi Pham in Culture
The Art Book That Delves Into the History of Ancient Vietnamese Fashion
Born at the intersection of fashion and history, a new art book by a team of Vietnamese researchers and creatives will take readers on a journey back to the eras of the country’s past royalty.
Michael Tatarski in Film & TV
'Da 5 Bloods' Review: A Vital Message Lost in a Deeply Flawed Film
This article contains major spoilers for Da 5 Bloods.
Saigoneer Podcast: The Gender, Generational Divides of Saigon's Civic Spaces
Episode 87 is ready for your ears!
[Photos] Scaling the Cliffs of Northern Vietnam
Despite its incredible potential, rock climbing in Vietnam still flies relatively under the radar.
'Canh Dong Hoang' Cinematographer Duong Tuan Ba Passes Away at 93
Most famously known for his part in making the film Canh Dong Hoang (The Abandoned Field: Free Fire Zone) in 1979, cinematographer Duong Tuan Ba died of old age at 1:50pm on June 1, 2020, at the age o...
[Video] An Effortlessly Cool Hanoi in Biti's Hunter's New Collection Promo
Hanoi's aesthetic can rightly be likened to a patchwork quilt: a chaotic assemblage of colors, styles, influences, eras and atmospheres.
Award-Winning Film 'Rom' to Hit Theaters in Vietnam on July 31
After eight years in development and months of not knowing whether the movie would be allowed to be screened, the filmmakers behind Rom can now heave a sigh of relief.
Field of Dreams: The History and Future of Baseball in Vietnam
Whenever I tell someone that I am on my school’s baseball team, the immediate reaction is surprise that the school has a baseball team, followed by inquiry about my reasons for joining.
Saigoneer Podcast: The Evolution of Contemporary Vietnamese Cinema
A new episode is available now!
Brian Letwin in Film & TV
[Videos] A 'Stranger Things'-Esque Hanoi Through the Lens of a VFX Artist
Narrow alleys have long been a defining characteristic of Vietnam’s cities, with many tracing their origins to the rice patty embankments that once crisscrossed an agricultural landscape.
Chris Humphrey in Music & Arts
Rooftop Concerts: Electronic Duo Tiny Giant Performs 'Air' (Live in Truc Bach)
Following Limebócx last year, Tiny Giant is now the third act to feature in Rooftop Concerts, Saigoneer's live music video series, and their haunting, dance-driven performance feels like the perfect s...
[Photos] In a Thao Dien Concrete Shell, a Mystery Graffiti Mecca
You never know what you'll find amid the glittering facades of Saigon's new upscale residential developments.
Local Designers Create Typefaces Inspired by a Bygone Era
Local designers are bringing the craftsmanship of Vietnamese typography into the digital world.
Vietnam's London Design Biennale Artwork Now Available for Viewing in Hanoi
On display in Vietnam for the first time, installation work 'Khải' marked Vietnam's first participation in the London Design Biennale.
Spike Lee's New Netflix Film, Featuring Ngo Thanh Van, Premieres in June
The movie was filmed in Vietnam and Thailand last year, and will be released by Netflix on June 12.
