Khôi Phạm in Film & TV
Remembering Thuy Trang, the First Vietnamese Power Ranger
It was the late 1990s, and I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror of our childhood home, holding my dad’s solid-metal belt buckle up with a pseudo-serious expression on my baby face. Fortunately, I wasn’t doing a YouTuber-style makeup review, but was in fact mirroring the transformation sequence of my favorite TV idols, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
In 'Vietnam Retropunk,' a Young Illustrator Dreams of a Cyberpunk Hanoi
To Đặng Thái Tuấn, the talent behind illustration project “Vietnam Retropunk,” whimsical depictions of robots and animatronics sprouting out from everyday objects and activities embody the space in between the ancient and the futuristic.
A Story of Personal, Political Reckoning in a Singaporean Writer's Fictional Wartime Vietnam
The Immolation first came to me as a bewildering surprise: at a now-relocated bookshop in Singapore, the book caught the eyes of the 17-year-old me. It was not so much the cover’s pale blue background, or the expression of ennui on the author’s post-impressionist portrait, but rather its dealing with the American War. After all, the title directly referenced the iconic protest by the Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức, who set himself on fire on the street of Saigon.
The ISHCMC Advantage: Instilling Leadership, Academic Excellence, and Global Mindsets in Each Student
“These years of my life are very important, they shape the person I'm going to be in the future,” said Danko, a student who just finished Grade 9 at International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC).
Xuân Phương in Culture
Under the Sky, Above the Water: Into the Heat at Ninh Thuận's Salt Fields
A 3,000-kilometer coastline is one of nature’s best gifts to Vietnam, bringing about not just ample seafood, but also a motherlode of sea salt.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Enter the Dreamy Tales Told by the Works of Young Illustrator Thố Đầu • Hổ Vĩ
Being born at the cusp of the Year of the Rabbit (cat) and the Year of the Tiger offers the literal meaning for Hoàng Phúc's artist name, thố đầu • hổ vĩ, but he hopes it carries a metaphorical one, as well: “a humble beginning but a positive end,” he explained to Saigoneer. thố đầu • hổ vĩ’s origins may be humble — he started seriously focusing on illustrations just four years ago when he started university — but he has already reached remarkable achievements, as evidenced by three projects he shared with us.
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.
[Video] Worlds Collide in New Son Tung M-TP Single Featuring Snoop Dogg
You heard that right.
[Photos] The 1970s Girl Gangs That Inspired Japanese Pop Culture and Fashion Rebels
With razor blades hidden under modified school uniforms, sukeban represented both terror and solidarity.
[Photos] A Glossy Design Project Seeks to Make History an Intriguing Subject
Lasting from 1225 to 1400, the Tran Dynasty was a prosperous era in Vietnamese history filled with heralded art, music and culture, in between three victories over Mongol forces.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
[Photos] The Ghostliness That Inspired the Fine Arts Museum's Haunting Rumors
Do humans invent ghost stories to compensate for our inability to come to terms with the brutal, capricious nature of death, or do we spend significant energy suppressing the truth of the supernatural...
[Video] Hoang Thuy Linh's 'Vo Chong A Phu' Video Is a Popping Literature Party
From one of Vietnam’s classic literature works to internet meme to a full-fledged music video: Mi from ‘Vo Chong A Phu’ is truly a cultural icon.
Saigoneer Podcast: One Thing We Would Change About Saigon & Preserving Architectural Heritage
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!
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.
[Video] Hong Kong Ballet Dancers Take Over the City in This Surreal Short
Who said ballet has to be stuffy?
Saigoneer Podcast: The War on Plastic and Our Vietnam Superpowers
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!
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 ...
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...
[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.
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.
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...
[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.
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...
Saigoneer Podcast: 'The Third Wife' Controversy and Vietnam's Protein Consumption
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!
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, ...
