Great Vietnam Resurrects Nguyễn-Era Fashion, One Traditional Costume at a Time
In the last four to five years, ancient Vietnamese costumes have gained more visibility, becoming a welcome sight among young locals thanks to the efforts to reproduce and promote historic fashion from a number of designers, brands, and interest groups that appreciate the country’s history and traditions.
In the Mekong Delta, Đồ Bộ Is Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Despite its humble beginning as something worn just for convenience’s sake, đồ bộ has entered every minute of life in the Mekong Delta as a staple fashion choice that’s both flexible and colorful. Đồ bộ means “set outfit” in Vietnamese, a type of female casualwear made of soft, thin fabrics that often comes in a top and long bottom combo. They’re sometimes referred to as “Vietnamese pajamas,” but these comfortable sets can be worn at any time of the day and even outside, not just reserved for sleep like pajamas.
Nguyễn Đổng Chi's Classic Retelling of Vietnam's Fairy Tales, Now in English
Folklorist and anthropologist Nguyễn Đổng Chi dedicated decades to weaving a significant portion of Vietnam’s folklore tapestry. He collected, researched, and rewrote over 200 Vietnamese folktales from all corners of the country. His work, initially scattered across five volumes published individually and consecutively over 25 years, appeared as a complete anthology in 1982. Guided by a comprehensive treatise of Vietnamese folktale, Chi’s Kho tàng truyện cổ tích Việt Nam (Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales) might be daunting for readers drawn to Vietnamese folklore but disenchanted by rigorous academic discourse.
Kit Humphrey in Travel
In Thổ Hà Village, Rice Paper Spills Onto the Streets and Wraps Around Daily Life
A few hours after sunrise in the small village of Thổ Hà, Bắc Giang Province, alleyways morph into picturesque tunnels of drying rice paper, while ladies toast crackers over fire in the streets.
Carol Kim Brings to Life Rare Performance of 'Tại Vắng Anh' Thanks to Saigon Jazz Revival
The rich, bluesy ‘Tại vắng anh,’ written by Tuấn Khanh, was performed by Carol Kim this past November at Saigon Jazz Revival's inaugural concert in New Orleans.
Cliché or Parody? Orientalist Readings of Nam Le’s ‘36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem’
One may be surprised to learn that Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel The Sympathizer was rejected by 13 out of 14 publishers before its eventual publication. He describes in an interview why he believes his novel was rejected by all but one publisher he submitted to: “I knew in writing the novel that I was deliberately not doing what I was supposed to do as an Asian American writer, which is [...that] you have to end on a note of Americanization. You have to end on an embrace of the American dream, explicitly or implicitly. And the novel does not do that.” He comments elsewhere along similar lines, “I refuse[d] to subscribe to dominant American narratives and mythologies that allow someone like me a very narrow space to speak.”
Pete Walls in Travel
Watching the Sunset From Lai Châu's Fansipan, the Roof of Indochina
Conquering Mount Fansipan’s 3,147 meters was once a feat reserved for those willing to take on the potential multi-day hike from Sapa to the summit and back.
Vietnam Arrests 7 Suspects Behind Streaming Site HiAnime on Piracy Charges
As part of the current crackdown on intellectual property infringement, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security recently took down a major network of websites providing illegal anime streaming.
Saigoneer Podcast: Traditional Vietnamese Culture's Role in Pop Culture; Dessert Fight
The latest episode of the Saigoneer Podcast is out now!
Khoi Pham in Film & TV
6 Vietnamese TV Classics That Should Be on Netflix Instead of 'Hậu Duệ Mặt Trời'
Gone were the days of timing one’s bathroom dash exactly during commercial breaks and gathering around a neighbor’s old television set, the only one in the entire alley, to relish every minute of a ho...
[Illustrations] An Emptier Side of Tokyo in Naoki Tomita's Oil Paintings
One thing that can safely be said about Tokyo is that it is not under-represented visually.
In 'Ba Lan,' a Photographer Maps the Diverse Identities of Poland's Vietnamese Diaspora
Poland is a largely mono-ethnic country with a negative immigration rate and has one of the lowest rates of foreigners in the European Union. Even migration specialists are often shocked to hear about...
Saigoneer Podcast: The Lure of the 'Promised Land' and the Collapse of Mon Hue
We're back after a little break!
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
District 105 Leads Saigon's Metal Scene Into a Bright, Loud Future
"You don't listen to music like this usually, right?" Huynh Hoang Huy asks before he and his bandmates rip into another hard-driving song from their catalogue.
Vietnamme Project Explores How Vietnamese Culture Transformed Through the Eras
The Vietnamme Project aims to reinterpret ancient Vietnamese cultural traditions with a contemporary outlook, via artistic and visual practices. Ahead of our first major event on December 15, we'd lik...
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
Review: On Ngọt’s Newest Album, Urban Loneliness Lingers on Mellow Strings
Ngot’s latest album brilliantly captures the band’s most appealing quality: the ability to walk the fine line between playful brightness and bitter profundity.
How The Learning Hub Creates a Space for Positive Change
Hanoi, like most big cities in this age of shared spaces, boasts a growing collection of co-working spaces and work-friendly cafes. But few take their mission as a catalyst for positive social change ...
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
Review: In Ngọt’s Album '3,' Urban Loneliness Lingers on Mellow Strings
Ngot’s latest album brilliantly captures the band’s most appealing quality: the ability to walk the fine line between playful brightness and bitter profundity.
Matca's First Periodical Captures Vietnam's Only Photography Museum
Matca, a Hanoi-based photography exhibition space and an online journal, has just brought out its first physical publication, a bilingual periodical titled Có Một Làng Nghề Nhiếp Ảnh — A Vietname...
Re-Mixing DJ Gender Ratios: How Maggie Tra Gets Women on the Decks
In Hanoi’s male-dominated music industry, Maggie Tra offers an oasis for females.
Institute of Vietnamese Costumes Officially Opens in Saigon With Discussion on Áo Dài Lemur
Historical fashion enthusiasts might find the newly minted institute a choice destination to explore Vietnam’s past clothing trends.
Institute of Vietnamese Costumes Officially Opened in Saigon With Discussion on Áo Dài Lemur
Historical fashion enthusiasts might find the newly minted institute a choice destination to explore Vietnam’s past clothing trends.
In a Career First, Rapper Den Vau Announces Solo Concert This November
Tickets for the concert will be available for purchase starting from 8pm today.
Photography Exhibition Highlights Southeast Asia's Emerging Young Talents
The exhibition ‘we will have been young’ features no less than 12 emerging Southeast Asian photographers.
Vietnam to Unite Local, International Filmmakers With New Film Association
Last week, Vietnam announced the launch of its new film commission, the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), during the Busan International Film Festival.
Singer Kacey Musgraves Draws Ire of Netizens for Sexualizing Áo Dài
The popular American singer may want to use her tour earnings to buy some pants.
[Photos] In An Giang, Buddhist Devotees Gather to Observe Uposatha Day
In September, Buddhists in An Giang Province gathered at Tuk Phos Pagoda in Tri Ton District to observe Uposatha day together.
Despite Drama at Home, Vietnamese Film 'Rom' Wins Important Award at Busan Film Fest
Despite legal issues at home, Vietnamese feature film Rom was awarded the top prize in the New Currents category at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) last week.
