Khôi Phạm in Literature
5 Indie Bookstores in Saigon for Those Who Are Addicted to the Scent of Paper
Most Saigoneers who spent their formative years in the 2000s and 2010s probably grew up amongst the aisles of bookstores, not because we were particularly bookaholic, but because they were pretty much the only third place around with free air-conditioning.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Review: Saigon Soul Revival Returns to Familiar Inspiration on 3rd Album ‘Chốn Ta Về’
More ambitious and self-assured than ever, Saigon Soul Revival (SSR) embraces their own sound and its many influences on their latest album, “Chốn ta về.”
Phương Mỹ Chi's Latest MV Tells Eternal Love Story in Vietnam's Khmer Community
After forays into the worlds of reality TV and cinema, Vietnam’s folk pop princess Phương Mỹ Chi has returned to her roots with a fresh new full-length album, pioneered by the lead single ‘Thiên đường với người thương’ (lit: In heaven with my beloved).
Tracing My Family's Fondness for French Tunes, From Colonial Times to Vietnamese Versions
“Tombe la merde; tu ne viendras pas ce soir [Shit is falling; you’re not coming tonight]”: an outburst of laughter and applause would inevitably fill the room as my dad, in his deep, mellifluous voice, put his own profane twist on Salvatore Adamo’s ‘Tombe la neige.’ This track, like ‘Paroles… Paroles…’ by Dalida or Christophe’s ‘Aline,’ are widely known and adored in both France and my family in Vietnam. My childhood unfolded against these rhythms, melodies, and lyrics, whose origins were so far removed from me, both temporally and geographically.
But What Even Is an Expat: Unpacking the Highly Contentious Term, in Vietnam and Abroad
“Expat is a racist as hell term” — this is the take of Misan Harriman on the popular internet show SubwayTakes. The ...
Adrien Jean in Travel
The Enigmatic Neon-Lit World in the Mist of Sapa
Is there a more atmospheric place in Vietnam than Sapa on a misty night?
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Review: Pieces of Me | Nao Yoshioka (feat. Mỹ Anh)
Mỹ Anh has come a long way since becoming the runner-up of The Heroes in 2021. Five years later, now with a full-length album and a spectrum of singles and extended plays under her belt, the Hanoi-based artist has proven to be one of the most dynamic singer-songwriter-producer of her generation.
Art Exhibition ‘Limerence’ Explores Where Romantic Desire Distorts Into Obsession
Thom Nguyen utilizes portraiture and depictions of mushrooms and organic objects to explore the concept of limerence in a solo exhibition at Permanently Closed Gallery in Thảo Điền, beginning Friday, August 28.
Saigoneer Podcast: Victim-Blaming in 2019; the Rising Indie Music Scene
The latest Saigoneer Podcast is available now!
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
Through Vietnam's Stories of Coffee and Rice, a Trio Finds Where Art and History Meet
Without notice, a gust of July rain swept through the museum of animals and plants' foyer, knocking down several paintings, strewing paper coffee cups and shattering the monitor that had been pla...
[Illustrations] Vibrant Woodcut Prints Highlight Hoi An's Colorful Aesthetic
Attitudes towards Hoi An differ wildly, yet whether one considers the town a Disneyfied playground or a genuine haven harking back to a bygone era, its aesthetic appeal is undeniable.
This Saturday, 'Citizen Earth' Event Aims to Address Environment Issues
Citizen Earth, a new project run by Six Space, is set to kick off in Hanoi this weekend.
How Real Clothes Expanded from a Small Family Business to a Major Clothing Company
The whir of a sewing machine accompanied Thao’s childhood mornings.
[Video] Le Cat Trong Ly's New Music Video, a Career First, Is a Love Letter to Africa
For an artist of Le Cat Trong Ly’s caliber, it’s remarkable that the recently premiered music video for ‘Tám Chữ Có’ (There Were) is the first-ever of her career. But then again, Ly is more special th...
Tran Huu Trang Theater Stages Free Shows to Draw Audience to Cải Lương
Like many traditional forms of theatrical arts in Vietnam, cải lương faces dwindling viewership in today’s society, a problem that theater owners are trying to rectify by offering free shows.
[Photos] The Vietnamese Origami Master Turning Paper Into Lively Artwork
For the average Joe, a paper crane is perhaps the most advanced foray they could undertake into the intricate art of origami. Artist Nguyen Hung Cuong, however, has managed to transcend the limits of ...
London Symphony Orchestra to Play at Ly Thai To Park on October 5
The famed London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is coming to Hanoi for their third performance in the city.
Saigoneer Podcast: Convenience Stores Take Over Saigon; Social Media Literacy
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!
“Made in Vietnam” Reinvisioned via Pretty Simple’s Sustainable Vegan Leather Bags
The term “Made in Vietnam” adorns clothing and accessories enjoyed by millions of people around the world, as Vietnam’s textile industry generates a whopping US$40 billion a year, constituting...
[Illustrations] Whimsical Vignettes of Everyday Hanoian Street Scenes
The menacing, irritating presence of a black SUV in a narrow alleyway, rain-soaked commuters, bird-like characters riding motorbikes in the capital; Olivier Blanchin's vision of Hanoi is quotidian and...
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?
