Khôi Phạm

in Music & Arts

5 Classic Christmas Songs in Vietnamese for Those Craving Nô-en Wistfulness

Christmas celebration in Vietnam is something else altogether.

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...

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Khoi Pham

in Culture

The Discomforting Poetry of Vietnamese Cursed Image

The page description of Vietnamese Cursed Image (VCI) has a single line: “how did you get here?” — a question I find myself asking often.

in Music & Arts

[Video] Hong Kong Ballet Dancers Take Over the City in This Surreal Short

Who said ballet has to be stuffy?

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: The War on Plastic and Our Vietnam Superpowers

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!

in Arts & Culture

Local Filmmaker Thang Soi Launches Vietnam-Centric Stock Footage Service

Thang Soi is well-known for majestic flycam projects such as Vietnam - Dream of Unity (Non Song Mot Dai) and Vietnam From Above. Thang also does commercial work for flag carrier Vietnam Airlines ...

in Music & Arts

Art Experts Call for 'Rescue' of Colonial Era Murals Blocked by Buildings

The murals are the brainchild of the first and second class of students and teachers of the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine (Indochina College of Fine Arts), a French-established school that is no...

in Culture

[Illustrations] A Calendar Created Specifically for Saigon's Wet and Dry Seasons

Saigon is in the midst of a full-on rainy season whose watery mood swings almost make us miss the heat of the dry season.

in Film & TV

Immersive Documentary Storytelling Workshop to Be Held in Hanoi

The School of Slow Media is hosting REMIX Hanoi, an intensive media lab, from June 14 to 16.

Michael Tatarski

in Music & Arts

On Connecting With a City Through Urban Sketching

Louis Barnard, who is originally from South Africa and has lived in Seoul, Hanoi and now Saigon, uses art as a way to connect with the cities he calls home.

in Music & Arts

Another Crossing: Seeking Solace in a Sea of Black Oil Paint

For five days and four nights, Saigon-based artist Bao Vuong will be in sole confinement with nothing but a pen and paper. He will have no food or water throughout this period, except for any rainwate...

Khoi Pham

in Film & TV

Review: 'The Third Wife' Champions Silenced Women, Then Falls Victim to Silencing

Rarely has there been a Vietnamese film that ignited such impassioned, polarizing responses from the public. During its four days in theaters, The Third Wife awed, inspired, saddened, charmed, fluster...

in Film & TV

[Video] Watch the Impressive Trailer of Nguyen Dynasty Historical Drama 'Phuong Khau'

Phuong Khau is an original series set during the Nguyen dynasty, chronicling the life of Empress Dowager Tu Du, the mother of Emperor Tu Duc.

in Music & Arts

5 International Artists of Vietnamese Descent to Add to Your Playlist Now

Although both V-pop and Vietnam's independent scene are on the rise, leading to many interesting conversations about where Vietnamese music is heading, on this playlist we want to instead focus on som...

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: 'The Third Wife' Controversy and Vietnam's Protein Consumption

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!

in Film & TV

Filmmaker Nong Nhat Quang on His New Docuseries 'Queer Asia: Vietnam'

For 22-year-old filmmaker Nong Nhat Quang, growing up gay in Lao Cai Province, a conservative region of many ethnic groups, was tough. Being noticeably camp meant bullying and abuse were commonplace, ...

in Culture

[Photos] After Bánh Mì, Altar Might Be Vietnam's Next Miss Universe National Costume

Remember the bánh mì dress? She’s dead, and this horrible design murdered her.

in Culture

[Photos] How Vietnam's Muslims Celebrate Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr in Chau Doc

Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, yet Vietnamese Muslims represent as little as 0.01% of the country’s population. Most are ethnic Cham, while a few are foreigners and a few converts...

in Arts & Culture

[Illustrations] 10 Endangered Species of the World as Illustrated by a Chinese Designer

In the decade of millennials, putting endangered species on hip T-shirts might be one of the best ways to raise awareness of biodiversity.

in Music & Arts

Le Pho Painting Sets Record for Most Expensive Vietnamese Art Sold at Auction

'Nude,' or 'Nue' in French, is an oil painting by famed 20th-century Vietnamese artist Le Pho. It was recently sold for US$1.4 million, more than 2.5 times its expected value at an auction at Christie...

in Film & TV

Vietnamese Short Awarded Illy Prize at Cannes Film Festival 2019

Director's Fortnight is an independent event running parallel to the main Cannes Film Festival, organized by the French Directors Guild starting in 1969.

in Podcast

Saigoneer Podcast: The Laughing Gas Debate and Our Favorite Sauces

The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!