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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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...
[Illustrations] An Ode to Sữa Ông Thọ and the Games of Our Saigon Childhood
To assess how important condensed milk is in Vietnamese culture, think of cà phê sữa đá, Vietnam’s national drink that wouldn’t exist without a dollop of Sữa Ông Thọ (Mr. Longevity milk).
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 12: Life in the Capricious City
Who hasn't skilled moods that shift quick as clouds dashing throughout Saigon's skyline?
Thi Nguyen in Film & TV
Examining Vietnam's Modernity Through the Lens of South Asian Independent Documentaries
The idea for Moving Reels: A Social Dialog formed in 2016 as the result of a dialogue between Dr. Shweta Kishore, a scholar, documentary filmmaker, film and media lecturer at RMIT University, and Zoe ...
Chris Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 6: Hoa Sữa by Any Other Name Would Still Smell as Caustic
The fragrance of hoa sữa, or milk flower, is so deeply embedded in the mythology of Hanoi’s autumnal days that singers, poets and authors alike have all sung its praises.
Saigoneer Podcast: English as an Official Language; Vietnam Cliches in Foreign Media; and Food Writer Soleil Ho
We're back in your podcast feed with a packed episode!
[Video] In 'Công,' Suboi Delivers Full-Throated Anthem for Young Vietnamese Women
After the great success of 'N-Sao?' in August, Vietnamese rap queen Suboi has returned and riled up her audience once again with her brand new song, 'Công.'
A Night of Revelations at the Saigon Opera House
A concert of Brahms' Symphony No. 4 held on a Sunday night last month at the Saigon Opera House presented a series of somewhat startling revelations.
From Entrepreneur to Organic Farmer: A Hmong Woman's Quest to Better Sapa
“You forgot to say ‘Uno’!” Lang Giang cheerfully exclaims before covering her mouth in laughter. It’s the twelfth time she’s caught me this trip and blocked me from winning. By this point in our trek,...
[Photos] Local Photographer Creates Hilarious Tetraptychs of Hanoi's Common Traffic Offenses
Through the lens of photographer Pham Thanh Long, random acts of traffic law violations look almost...artistic, as ironic as that may sound.
Khoi Pham in Culture
[Photos] A Quiet Saturday at Saigon's Greenest Tomb, Lang Ong Ba Chieu
Going from central District 1 into Binh Thanh in northern Saigon, you might have spotted the compound before: a spacious tree-lined temple flanked by four streets just a stone’s throw away from Ba Chi...
Saigoneer Podcast: The Retro/Vintage Aesthetic Trend and a Street Food Update
We're back with a new episode!
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
German-Vietnamese Artist Linh TNX Blends Trap and R&B in Latest Single 'S.O.S'
Linh Tran, a German-Vietnamese singer who goes by the artist name Linh TNX, has debuted her first music video produced in Saigon since moving to the city two months ago.
[Photos] An Ancient Scroll Depicts the Wondrous World of Japanese Bakemono
Bakemono refers to preternatural monsters in Japanese folklore that shapeshift.
[Video] The Eerie, Misty Quietude of Hanoi's Lakeside Parks
More often than not, videos about Hanoi focus on the dynamically frenetic city streets, leaving anywhere with a state of stillness overlooked: namely, hidden nooks in the capital's numerous lakes and ...
[Photos] What's Inside Beloved Binh Tay Market's Glorious Comeback?
Binh Tay Market is the central market in the heart of Cho Lon, sitting on the very edge of District 6 along Thap Muoi Street.
[Photos] This Instagram Account Is A Visual Ode to Walls in Japan
A Japanese graphic designer finds beauty in the mundane.
Chris Humphrey in Music & Arts
Q&A: Six Austin, Texas Musicians on the Excitement of Playing Quest Festival
Quest Festival is just around the corner, and this year sees a curious new addition – Project ATX6, a music documentary project that sends six emerging Austin musicians to perform at three internation...
Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnam's Beauty Pageant Obsession; Bad Behavior by Vietnamese Abroad
The latest episode of the Saigoneer Podcast is online now!
Chris Humphrey in Music & Arts
In Bac Ninh, New Residency Program Unites International Artists With Local Artisans
In a country with surprisingly few artist-in-residence programs, live.make.share represents a rare opportunity for cultural symbiosis and artistic development by giving international artists the chanc...
Paul Christiansen in Loạt Soạt
Saigoneer Bookshelf: A Touch of Magical Realism in 'The Cemetery of Chua Village'
Vietnam transitioned to a market economy like an old train lurching to life: momentous shakes and shudders, steam bursting out busted gaskets, disheveled cargo tumbling from luggage racks, sparks shoo...
