'In Art We Trust,' a Propaganda Art Exhibition for Gender Equality
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- Published on 18 January 2022
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos by Linh Pham.
Last weekend, Heritage Space and Ơ Kìa Hà Nội held the exhibition “In Art We Trust” — a collection of propaganda art on gender equality — at the Goethe Institute.
A Tale of Two Rượus
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- Published on 17 January 2022
- Written by Tam Le. Graphics by Phan Nhi and Hannah Hoang. .
The first time I bought rượu, it was from Lang Giang, my tour guide in Sa Pa. We were staying in a Red Dao village known for its rice liquor production, and that night I received three water bottles, stripped of their original labels, each filled with a mysterious liquid.
Finding Fun and Revelation Aboard Saigon's Wayward Waterbus
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- Published on 13 January 2022
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Michael Tatarski.
Cement, clay, clapboard, spackle, rebar, piping, plaster smears, paint drips, pencil scrawlings: to witness the rise of a building, observe its innards, is to marvel at the pretense of an ego, for what are those constructed with?
The Weird, Whimsical, Wondrous World of Art Toys in Vietnam
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- Published on 10 January 2022
- Written by Hải Yến. Top image by Phan Nhi.
At the end of 1999, Hong Kong artist and designer Michael Lau presented the “Gardener” toy collection, an amalgamation of his interests in G.I. Joe action figures and street culture. The launch is widely considered the birth of a new movement in toy-making: designer toys, also known as art toys.
Saigoneer Podcast: We Rate 2021; Lunar New Year or Gregorian New Year?
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- Published on 10 January 2022
- Written by Saigoneer. Top image by Phan Nhi.
A belated Happy (Gregorian) New Year from the Saigoneer Podcast team!
Year in Review: Saigoneer's 30 Picks for Best Vietnamese Music of 2021
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- Published on 31 December 2021
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Graphic by Phan Nhi.
Despite the drab outlook enveloping the entertainment industry for most of 2021, this year saw a boom in new faces across genres and the release of many pandemic albums.
A Feast for Your Eyes, Ears and Soul in Culinary Frank's ASMR Cooking
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- Published on 30 December 2021
- Written by Nhật Anh. Photos courtesy of Phạm Thế Phương.
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 their own kitchens during a year of immobility.
[Photos] At Hanoi's Astronomy Park, an Earth-Bound Journey to the Stars
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- Published on 29 December 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam's major cities are infamously short on green space, so any new park is noteworthy — particularly when they are as uniquely designed as the Astronomy Park in Hanoi's western suburbs.
Year in Review: Saigoneer's Picks for Favorite Features (and More) of 2021
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- Published on 29 December 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
In 2021, it seems impossible to browse the news anywhere without coming across a COVID-19 update. While pandemic news is crucial to get people informed, we can all concur that reading grim information day after day has taken a toll on our mental health. For much of the latter half of the year, Saigoneer hunkered down at home as our city locked down, so we did not have much chance to write about street food or photograph Saigon sights as we would have liked.
Saigoneer's Favorite Original Photography of 2021
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- Published on 28 December 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
If Vietnam was able to skirt the worst of the pandemic in 2020, that was no longer the case this year, which saw major localities in the country battered by waves of COVID-19 deaths and extended bouts of economic downturn.
On Its 100th Birthday, a Brief History of Hanoi's Theater Scene
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- Published on 27 December 2021
- Written by Chi Phạm and Đức Cầm. Top graphic by Vũ Hải Anh.
Hanoi is home to many kinds of art forms, but to me, theater is the most special — an art that blends charisma, brilliance, and elegance. When I was growing up in Hanoi, my father used to take me to the Old Quarters to have Trang Tien ice cream and catch the plays at the Hanoi Opera House. No one in my family is an artist, but we have been in love with the stage for the past 20 years.
Cá Chuồn: The Fish That Dreams Beyond Its Realm
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- Published on 24 December 2021
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Insects, pterosaurs, birds, and bats: flight evolved on Earth independently four times, so why do you think it’s so unlikely that you’ll find love again?
A Series of Live Sessions That Add a Classical Flair to Pop Favorites
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- Published on 23 December 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
Continuing with their goal to bring to the table a different musical experience, 8 the Theatre returns this month with a new project to combine classical music with a contemporary stage.
Tản Mạn Kiến Trúc Propels the Architecture Discourse Into the Age of Social Media
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- Published on 23 December 2021
- Written by Ann Ann. Photos courtesy of Architecture Excursions.
Architecture Excursions - Tản Mạn Kiến Trúc is a grassroots media project founded by a group of young Vietnamese who share a simple goal: to shed light on Vietnam’s vast and often undiscussed architectural scene. Through their digital archive, the group has given followers glimpses into not only some of the country’s most iconic buildings but also the rich histories behind them.
Heartfelt, Queer and Wickedly Witty: How Poetry Collection 'Come Clean' Sparks Joy
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- Published on 22 December 2021
- Written by Brendan Ryan.
Joshua Nguyen lists himself as many things on his Instagram bio — a writer, a PhD student, a boba snob. He received his MFA from the University of Mississippi, where he is currently studying for his PhD.
Saigoneer Podcast: The (Brief) History of 'Day of Phở'; and Weddings or Rooftop Bars?
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- Published on 20 December 2021
- Written by Saigoneer.
The last regular episode of the Saigoneer Podcast for 2021 is out now!
Have an Interest in Creating? Saigon's Ươm Art Hub Welcomes All.
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- Published on 20 December 2021
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
“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 Hub, Saigon’s brand-new creative commune, describes themselves.
Inside Á Space's Residency Program Where Emerging Artists Shine
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- Published on 19 December 2021
- Written by Bex Hughes. Photos courtesy of Á Space.
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 art scene.
Seeking Solace in the Fantastical Adventures of Dungeons and Dragons
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- Published on 18 December 2021
- Written by Thế Anh. Top photo by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
Contrary to popular belief, Dungeons and Dragons isn’t just a geeky hobby, to me, it's a form of “group therapy” that is slowly taking shape in Vietnam, bringing fun and memorable bonding moments to the tabletop.
Ngõ Nooks: A Salted Coffee in Gạt Tàn Is Not What It Sounds Like
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- Published on 18 December 2021
- Written by Bao Hoa. Photos by Bao Hoa.
Is it not just the weirdest combination ever, coffee and salt?
