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: Mooncakes and 'Rubber and the Making of Vietnam' Author Michitake Aso
The podcast is back after a two-week break!
Khôi Phạm in Culture
A Brief Primer of Asia's Mid-Autumn Mythology in 3 Folk Tales
There’s something for everyone during Tet Trung Thu season, as the arrival of mid-autumn comes with a wide variety of customs and traditional fare.
[Video] Louis Vuitton Seeks Vietnam's Help to Sell Bags in New Campaign
Each year, Louis Vuitton’s "Spirit of Travel" advertising campaign picks a new location for its crew to travel to and film.
Hanoi Pride 2019 to Kick Off Next Week
Hanoi Pride 2019 will take place throughout next week, with numerous events planned as the celebration enters its eighth year.
Nguyen Van Thong, Who Captured Thich Quang Duc’s Self-Immolation, Dies at 94
Although American photojournalist Malcolm Browne is famous for his photos capturing the historical moment in 1963, Browne wasn’t the only one at the scene with a camera.
[Illustrations] Masashi Shimakawa Draws Snippets of Everyday Japanese Life
Each artwork acts as a point through which viewers are transported to a different dimension of reality.
Michael Tatarski in Arts & Culture
Street Photographer Group to Host Saigon Photo Exhibition
The first edition of the Saigon Photo Walk (SPW) exhibition features eight photographers, showing eight different points of view and eight ways of looking at the same city.
[Photos] An Artist's 'Transparent' Paintings Juxtapose Cultural Loss With Modern Freedoms
Should a nation hold on to its cultural traditions, or cast them off and embrace new liberal attitudes?
[Illustrations] Masashi Shimakawa Draws Snippets of Everyday Japanese Life In Colorful Complexion
Each artwork acts as a point through which viewers are transported to a different dimension of reality.
Hanoi to Redo Mosaic Mural Along Nghi Tam Street
A section of Hanoi’s mosaic mural, which entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest mural in 2010, is set to be redone.
The Wholesome Encounter Between Kacey Musgraves and a Vietnamese-Run Vintage Photo Lab
A small mom-and-pop operation in Los Angeles got a massive publicity boost thanks to a happenstance visit from country music superstar Kacey Musgraves.
Vietnam's First-Ever Series on Netflix Is a South Korean Remake
The Korean-made original series released in 2016 was a hit in South Korea and many other countries, including Vietnam.
[Photos] Tinker Tailor Painter Bike: The Quiet Life of Saigon's Older Residents
In this series of film photos taken by Saigon resident and coffee genius Hoang Trung Hieu, citizens of varying stripes are captured in spontaneous action. Some are working at restaurants, others ...
A 'Lao Hac' Adaptation Will Be Vietnam's First Film Starring a Dog
Film adaptations of literary works have been among the most well-received cinematic features in Vietnam in recent years, so it’s natural that ‘Lao Hac’ is coming to the big screen soon.
Saigoneer Podcast: 'The Tale of Kieu,' New Social Networks and Music Writer Thuc Dang
The jam-packed latest episode is online now!
[Video] The Classic Tale of Mid-Autumn Retold Through Dazzling Visuals
The short animated animated short shimmers with millennial style and subversive salesmanship.
Bac Ninh Art Residency Opens Call for Artists
In a country with relatively few artist-in-residence programs, live.make.share represents a rare opportunity for cultural symbiosis and artistic development by giving international artists the ch...
Khoi Pham in Arts & Culture
[Illustrations] An Illustrated Alphabet of Vietnam's Tropical Fruits
Varying climate patterns and geographical topography have bestowed Vietnam with an impressive biodiversity. From temperate fare hailing from the Central Highlands like avocados, coffee and strawberrie...
Saigoneer Podcast: Historical What-Ifs and a Street Food Update
We've hit episode 60!
Coracle Music Festival Returns to Ho Tram for Second Edition
After a successful first edition last year, the music festival will be held on the beach in Ho Tram for the second time November 29–30.
