On Grappling With the Problematic Legacy of 'Miss Saigon' in 2024
Having been abroad for more than a year, I was excited at the mere mention of Vietnam anywhere, so I was even more delighted when I learned of the popular musical Miss Saigon. Posters of it were plast...
Khôi Phạm in Saigon Hẻm Gems
Hẻm Gems: Sip on Mugwort Lattes, Make Ceramics, and Unwind at Haru Cottage
“I’m basically Demi Moore from Ghost,” this intrusive thought plagued my mind occasionally during our visit to Haru Cottage to participate in the cafe’s ceramic class.
In Hà Nội, a Martial Arts Master Preserves the Century-Old Tradition of Dragon Dancing
In Vietnam, during festive occasions such as Tết Nguyên Đán (Lunar New Year), mesmerizing dragon dance performances serve to eloquently spell the people's aspiration for fortune, abundance, and p...
Sparkling Oysters: Champagne Meets Caviar at Social Club Restaurant
Caviar, oysters and Veuve Clicquot champagne are all special on their own, but imagine them combined in one luxurious mouthful.
Beautiful Jade Tiger Abalone Arrive at Hotel des Arts Saigon for a Good Cause
Jade Tiger Abalone is amongst the world’s most prized kinds of seafood. Requiring several years to grow exclusively in Australia’s frigid, nutrient-rich waters without the use of any hormones, antibio...
C'est Cheese, the Ultimate After-Work Destination For Cheese-Lovers
Sometimes happiness is as simple as a plate of cheese and meat. At least, it's possible to believe that during a visit to Hôtel des Arts’ monthly C'est Cheese. The stunning spread of imported cheeses,...
After 4 Years, Krossing Over Arts Festival Returns to Saigon With a Week of Events
After a four-year hiatus, performing art extravaganza Krossing Over Arts Festival (KOAF) officially makes a comeback this April with a week of events to delight Saigon’s art lovers.
Strategies for Success in High-End Hospitality Shared by Hôtel des Arts Saigon's GM
“Not everyone likes champagne, some guests prefer fresh mangos,” explains Hôtel des Arts Saigon’s General Manager, Philippe Le Bourhis, when discussing what type of personalized attention guests at th...
The Holiday Spirit is in the Air and on the Plates at Hôtel des Arts Saigon
Gingerbread houses, those delicious-looking cookie constructions are an unmistakable sign that the holiday season has arrived. While they originated in Germany hundreds of years ago independent of Chr...
How Young Artists Are Bringing Mural Arts to Schools in Rural Vietnam
On their fifth journey off the beaten paths, Tô Đậm is heading to the highland of Ma Bó, Lâm Đồng Province for a new season of lessons, stories, and adventures previously unfolded.
Hôtel des Arts Saigon’s Brunch is a Feast to be Enjoyed like Artwork in a Gallery
Works of art are often appreciated for the sum of their parts. A painting’s subject matter, the artist’s legacy and the context in which it was produced can be just as important as the aesthetics of t...
Losing Myself (and My Work Stress) in the Wacky World of Jazz Dance
Since I started my foray into jazz dance, the most common question I’ve gotten has been “What, you can dance to jazz?”
Vietnamese Masters Contribute to Hôtel des Arts Saigon's 1930s Indochine Aesthetics and Timeless Grace
An antique phone placed in the elegant ground-floor lounge at Hôtel des Arts Saigon, Mgallery invites visitors to Call back in time. Paintings by esteemed Vietnamese artists from bygone decades i...
Saigon Zoo Starts Making Chemical-Free Paper From Elephant Poo
One kilogram of elephant dung yields about 20 sheets of paper for use in Saigon schools.
Linh Phạm in Parks & Rec
Left Foot Brake, Right Foot Gas: Hanoi's Go-Kart Track Is Fast and Glorious
Moments before the engine started, I became aware of the fact that just a few centimeters of metal and plastic separated my butt and the asphalt.
A Feast for Your Eyes, Ears and Soul in Culinary Frank's ASMR Cooking
Based in Melbourne, a Vietnamese chef-turned-YouTuber has been cooking up a delicious storm of homey dishes and global cuisines imbued with ASMR, inspiring home cooks to go on culinary adventures in t...
Have an Interest in Creating? Saigon's Ươm Art Hub Welcomes All.
“There’s nothing much to say of Ươm except for the fact that it’s a collective of zany 20-somethings aspiring to do something that one might sort of categorize as ‘creative.’” — This is how Ươm Art Hu...
Inside Á Space's Residency Program Where Emerging Artists Shine
Founded in May 2018, Á Space offers a safe haven for burgeoning young Vietnamese artists, offering them a platform to actualize their ideas while inviting them to participate in Hanoi’s contemporary a...
A Photographer's Quest to Document Vietnam's Provinces From Two Angles
Hanoi-based photographer Justin Mott has taken a unique approach to depicting Vietnam in his ongoing photo series.
Vietnam's Female Comics Show How to Unapologetically Be Yourself on Stage
In recent years, Vietnamese women have gained a foothold in Vietnam’s comedy scene, despite it largely being dominated by men. But as the industry grows, the evidence of a gender gap seems to be incre...
Ahead of the Hanoi Return of 'Les Misérables,' a Talk With Director Trần Ly Ly
Directing the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet with a tender iron fist since 2018, Tran Ly Ly pushes her artists and the company towards a daring new image by revisiting classic works and promot...
[Photos] Saigon Architects Turn Old French Villa Into Judo Dojo
A team of local architects has transformed a French building into a practice hall for martial arts.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 28: Embrace a New Fashion
What if cải lương tuồng cổ costumes became a new trend?
Month of Arts Practice Returns to Hanoi With Virtual Lectures, Livestreamed Talks
For its fifth consecutive year, the annual “Month of Arts Practice” (MAP) is currently running from its base in Hanoi with a series of online events and a final exhibition opening on November 21.
On the Road With One of Vietnam's Last Traveling Cải Lương Troupes
Most Saigoneers know cải lương as a form of television entertainment usually enjoyed by their parents or grandparents, but not many are aware of the art form’s important role in the nightlife of resid...
HCMC Fine Arts Museum Is Sinking Due to Nearby Skyscraper Construction
Saigon’s Fine Arts Museum is facing some serious structural problems that could pose a threat to passersby and visitors.
In 'Xem Đêm, Càng Đêm,' a Night Rendezvous Between Architecture and Visual Art
‘"...In the distance the stars Nearby, fireflies..."—Phùng Cung
France Awards Order of Arts and Letters to Two Vietnamese
The awards were conferred to Nguyen Ngoc Lan and Tran Vuong Thach.
Remembering Anthony Bourdain and His Passion for Southeast Asian Food
Anthony Bourdain meant many things to many people.
[Video] Meet Ta Anh Dung, Tao Dan Park's One-Legged Martial Arts Master
As one of Saigon’s few remaining green spaces, Tao Dan Park is a choice location for athletic city dwellers to hone fitness skills, catch some fresh air or relish the coolness of the park’s extensive ...
[Photos] Inside the Non-Stop Action of a Muay Thai Fight Night in Saigon
I arrived with eager anticipation on Sunday, December 29 at the Tao Dan Sports Center for the start of the club matches.
In a D5 Gym, a Soft-Spoken Muay Thai Legend Trains Future Fighters
I first encountered Muay Thai on a photo assignment in Bangkok a number of years ago, and this graceful, devastatingly lethal martial art has piqued my curiosity ever since. After returning to the Uni...
Art and Creativity at the Core of Social Club’s New Menus
When people think of masterpieces, they don’t immediately imagine soft, floral-laced fragments or a perfectly blended drink but carefully crafting aromas and tastes is truly an art form.
Hôtel Des Arts Brings Augmented Reality to Saigon
It’s incredible to witness a familiar piece of wood be slowly shaven down to one of the world’s most admired instruments.
[Illustrations] The Tet Board Games That Help Foster (and Destroy) Family Relations
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as beating all your siblings and cousins in a heated game of cờ cá ngựa.
Hôtel des Arts: Where Stays Are Curated like Artwork
For Hôtel des Arts Saigon, art is more than just a trendy word to include in their motto. It navigates every aspect of a guest’s experiences. From architecture to performances, dining, and service, th...
