This Tết, I'm Finally Learning Our Family Recipe for Candied Coconut 'Flowers'
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- Published on 01 February 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Khôi Phạm.
Tết is the perfect occasion of the year to go ham on the sugar.
On Warmly Welcoming the Whimsy of Wonky Tết Zodiac Statues
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- Published on 29 January 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Image by Yumi-kito.
Every Tết arrives accompanied by netizens sharing collections of poorly constructed statues of the year’s zodiac animal. Viewing the online collections with colleagues is one of my favorite holiday traditions.
When Lịch Bloc Is Gone, What Will Vietnam Use to Keep Discarded Fish Bones?
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- Published on 27 January 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
I have never bought a lịch bloc, or tear-off calendar, for personal use, because every new year, I'm bound to be gifted a brand-new one. In Vietnam, a calendar is often something one purchases as a present for others.
It's Tết: The Liberating Magic of Using Tết as an Excuse for Everything
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- Published on 25 January 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
I hate excuses.
Portrait of a Jubilant Saigon on the Precipice of Tết in 1992
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- Published on 24 January 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos courtesy of Mark Hodson.
Tết in 1992 was an especially fortuitous time to be a foreign arrival to Saigon.
How Choosing My Own Áo Dài Tết Healed My Trauma Over Áo Dài Uniform
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- Published on 24 January 2024
- Written by Ngọc Hân. Graphic by Yumi-kito.
High school can be a frustrating time in virtually every culture, as seen from the myriad of coming-of-age movies depicting the range of clichés, stereotypes and expressions of teenage angst we all go through. To a female high school student in Vietnam like me, a unique cultural feature that adds another layer to the growing pains is the áo dài uniform I must wear every Monday.
In 1992 Vietnam, the Streets Were Brimming With Love and Life
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- Published on 18 January 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos courtesy of Mark Hodson.
How has your life been transformed in the past 30 years? Changes might materialize overnight, but some tend to creep up on you at a glacial pace. Through this collection of images from 1992, mull over how Vietnam as a country has grown with every 12-month cycle.
From Vintage Album Covers to 'Bolero,' a Set of 6 Typefaces for Nostalgic Souls
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- Published on 17 January 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Images courtesy of Manh Nguyen.
If you’ve paid attention to shop signs and brand visuals across Vietnam’s cybersphere, you’ve probably come across one of Nguyễn Thế Mạnh's typefaces.
Revisiting Vietnam's Bootleg DVD Stores, the Dethroned King of Local Entertainment
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- Published on 13 January 2024
- Written by Thùy Trang.
Once upon a time, it was really, really hard to halt the growth of pirated DVD/CD stores in Hanoi. Nowadays, if you take a peek into the window of Hàng Bài Street’s former counterfeit/bootleg DVD stores, here are a few things you will see: CD covers of Taylor Swift albums before her bleached-haired era, a copy of “Now That’s What I Call Music 54,” a Dawn of The Planet of the Apes knock-off, a recording of “Cats” (the musical album, not the film). The entire store is stuck in a not-so-distant past, without any seller or customer. In a bustling Hanoi, the once so-called “Capital of Bootlegs” now lies humbly, nestled quietly in a dormitory’s front corner.
TIMEZONES Podcast Spotlights Soundscapes, Sound Artists of Hanoi
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- Published on 10 January 2024
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos courtesy of TIMZEONES.
The 18th episode of the TIMEZONES podcast series focuses on Hanoi's soundscape through the lens of three female artists. More carefully produced and artistically arranged than the average podcast, the episode layers reflective musings about sound, noise and artistic practices from Nhung Nguyen, Ho Tram Anh and Hoang Thu Thuy atop electronic warblings and urban noises. The three sound artists share their thoughts on the importance of listening despite sonic pollution; how the capital city's auditory topography has been altered in recent years; collaborative musical endeavors; and coping with ongoing gender discrimination.
From Trash to Treasure: How Sở Thú Studio Crafts Animated Stories From Scraps
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- Published on 08 January 2024
- Written by Văn Tân. Images courtesy of Sở Thú Studio.
From old newspapers, coffee grounds, used styrofoam boxes, sticks, and more, Sở thú Studio, a collective of young creatives, has created many fascinating animation projects.
Vintage French Book Illustrations Depict a Quaint Indochina in 1903
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- Published on 03 January 2024
- Written by Saigoneer.
In this rare collection of images from 1903 Indochina, life in the peninsula appears as if in a dream, with rows of colonial-style houses in between heritage trees and natural landscapes that weren’t interrupted by concrete.
Saigon-Based Artist Trần Trung Lĩnh Returns With Pop Art Exhibition
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- Published on 27 December 2023
- Written by Saigoneer. Images courtesy of SiLart Station.
Following the resounding success of his previous exhibition, Saigon-based artist Trần Trung Lĩnh will present a freshly painted collection of paintings at an event this weekend.
The Tale of 2 Vietnamese Christmas Songs: 'Hai Mùa Noel' and 'Bài Thánh Ca Buồn'
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- Published on 23 December 2023
- Written by Ngọc Hân. Graphic by Yumi-kito.
When it comes to local Christmas music, any Vietnamese will hear the melodies of either ‘Bài Thánh ca buồn’ or ‘Hai mùa Noel’ a couple of times every holiday season. Though Christmas is not a native holiday, we adore celebrating it. And of course, Christmas cannot be without music. Though the country has no shortage of festive songs, these two remain pillars of the holiday season. So why not take a trip down memory lane and revisit the songs, or be prepared to have your neighbors karaoke it down memory lane for you.
On the 12th Day of Christmas Saigoneer Gave to Me: 12 Bird Calls From Across Vietnam
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- Published on 23 December 2023
- Written by Alexander Yates. Photos by Alexander Yates. Top image by Mai Phạm.
Almost everywhere we go in the world, birdsong abounds.
On Searching for Rươi Vendor Street Calls, Hanoi's Harbinger of Autumn
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- Published on 22 December 2023
- Written by Thùy Trang. Graphic by Mai Phạm.
Embedded in the street call of rươi vendors is the conjuring of autumn, when delectable cuisines from across the land of Vietnam come together on a dinner table.
How an ABBA Classic Becomes the Anthem of Vietnam's New Year Celebration
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- Published on 20 December 2023
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Top image by Yumi-kito.
Somewhere along the way, an ABBA’s sleeper hit ‘Happy New Year’ has emerged as the go-to musical choice for Vietnamese broadcasters and countdown parties when a new year rings in.
Hem Hem Lights up Saigon With the Electrifying Riffs of Japanese Ska
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- Published on 18 December 2023
- Written by Jae Shin. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
The cheerful ska tunes combined with insanely energetic and quirky dance moves packed every inch of the indoor space of Indika with heat and pure joy.
Something About Xe (Đạp): Olivier Flora's Knack for Fun, Flamboyant Remixes
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- Published on 18 December 2023
- Written by Nguyệt. Images courtesy of Olivier Flora.
The saxophone riff in ‘Careless Whispers’ is not only instantly recognizable due the popularity of the original song by George Michael but has since become an internet fixture — a classic meme.
Saigon, East of New Orleans: The Surprising Global Roots of Vietnam's Funeral Kèn Tây
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- Published on 15 December 2023
- Written by Craig Duncan. Photos by Lee Starnes.
Of all the forms of music one hears on the streets of modern-day Saigon, the sounds of the marching bands accompanying funeral processions stand out as absolutely unique.
