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.
Vietnamese Photographer Nets 2nd Place in Drone Photo Contest
Vietnamese photographer Pham Trung Thanh captured the exact moment the net of an anchovies fisherman's boat hovered atop the surface in Tuy Hoa, like a petal blooming across the dark water.
[Photos] Local Designer Created Incredibly Detailed Swallows From Paper for Tet
As Vietnam goes into full-blown Tet season, it’s impossible to talk a stroll around town without bumping into Lunar New Year imagery.
For the First Time, 2 Vietnamese Designers Will Participate in New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2019 will run from February 6 to February 13.
Saigoneer Podcast: Food Delivery Apps and Where We Think Trump and Kim Should Meet
The Saigoneer Podcast is back after taking a few weeks off!
Asia's Largest LGBT Contemporary Art Show to Take Place in Bangkok in 2019
The art show will feature two Vietnamese artists.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 13: The Modern Exchange Rate
As the rich get richer...
New Art Exchange Project to Connect Sound Artists in Germany, Vietnam
This year will see a new collaborative opportunity for Vietnamese sound artists, which will culminate in performances, sound installations and live acts where the audience takes part in an audiovisual...
Saigoneer's Weekend Event Picks
Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our favorite events happening around Saigon.
[Video] A Longing for Saigon as if Missing a Life Companion in Short Film 'Sài Gòn'
As expressed by the classic Basho haiku, "Even in Kyoto / hearing the cuckoo call / I long for Kyoto," it's possible to miss a place even when there. Saigon is no exception.
[Illustrations] What If Saigon's Street Vendors Were in an 8-Bit Nintendo Game?
If you enjoyed SNES games back in the day, this set of pixel arts depicting Saigon’s street vendors will definitely tug on your heartstrings.
[Photos] Saigon Couple Becomes 'Inmates for Life' in Prison-Themed Wedding Photos
Marriage is sometimes compared to being handcuffed for a lifetime and one Saigon couple has taken the metaphor literal in their wedding photos.
Chicago’s Surabhi Ensemble to Perform in Hanoi With 'Black Panther' Drummer Massamba Diop
This week, the Chicago-based Surabhi Ensemble will perform multiple shows in the capital with Senegalese Tama Drummer Massamba Diop, whose music appears in the soundtrack to Marvel’s Black Panther.
[Photos] A Set of Trippy Collages That Blend Hao Hao Noodles With Mona Lisa
In the universe of local artist Chu Moi, Mona Lisa, Trinh Cong Son and Hao Hao, instant noodles coexist in a harmonious subconscious.
[Video] At FEEL It Festival, a Full Display of Saigon's Vibrant Street Culture
On December 15, Saigon's underground street scene was on full display on a rooftop in District 7, with freestyle skating, vibrant graffitti and local musicians.
[Photos] Saigoneer's Best Original Photography of 2018
From Red River brick factories, abandoned water parks and trash villages in Hanoi to mud wrestling tournaments, Vietnamese spearfishing and Hindu exorcisms further afield, it’s been a remarkable 10 mo...
Paul Christiansen in Loạt Soạt
Saigoneer Bookshelf: Multitudes Contained in 'Red Thread' by Teresa Mei Chuc
Seeking, sucking, tonguing for each scrap of contained marrow: should a book of poetry labor over a single topic the way a mouth savors a soup bone? Or should it be akin to a buffet plate atop which t...
[Illustrations] Four Festive Cards for a Very Saigoneer Christmas
While there is no chance of Saigon experiencing a white Christmas, we'd still like to take this opportunity to spread a bit of holiday cheer.
[Illustrations] Vietnamese Artist Draws Much-Needed Attention to Mental Health Issues
In her 'psychology series', Hanoi-based Illustrator Camelia Pham draws attention to an all-too-often taboo subject in Vietnam: mental health.
With Across the Forest, Space Monkies Display Knack for Impromptu Experiences
Across the Forest was going to be an outdoor music festival set in bucolic Da Lat. The organizer, Space Monkies, wanted to keep things intimate, and capped the number of tickets sold at 30. The festiv...
[Video] Saigon, The City of Contrasts, Where Past Meets Present
A new travelogue video featuring Saigon departs from the glossy sheen of its many travel-focused peers.
