How Exotic Pole Dance Challenges Both Personal Limits and Gender Stereotypes
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- Published on 06 July 2022
- Written by Yui Nguyễn. Photos courtesy of Quân Bùi. Top graphic by Hannah Hoàng.
Flashing flares of neon lights hug the body of a dancer who’s spinning around a pole in the raucous thrum of music and sensuous gasps. In the mind of the average Vietnamese, pole dancing is often associated with more sordid corners of society. On the contrary, in the past decade, this performing art has slowly earned a respectable place in the country as not only a mesmerizing spectacle, but also a formidable sport.
Vietnam Surpasses South Korea as World's No. 1 Consumer of Instant Noodles Per Capita
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- Published on 06 July 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
Vietnam’s penchant for mì gói has propelled us to the top position among the world’s instant noodle consumers.
In Đà Lạt, Greenhouses Revolutionize Farming, but at What Environmental Cost?
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- Published on 05 July 2022
- Written by Govi Snell. Photos by Thịnh Doãn and Govi Snell.
Plastic greenhouses in the city of Đà Lạt may protect farmers from the impacts of erratic weather, but the environmental toll of agri-plastics is building in the agriculture-dependent region.
Mang Thít, Vĩnh Long's 'Kingdom of Brick Kilns,' Is on Its Last Legs
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- Published on 04 July 2022
- Written by Hiếu Y. Photos by Ninh and Luân Nguyễn.
Along the rivers and canals of Mang Thít, clouds of smoke from the Mekong Delta’s last brick kilns languidly stream into the air.
Hẻm Gems: Hide From the Monsoon Rain at Đặng Thị Nhu's Lost & Found Cafe
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- Published on 03 July 2022
- Written by Hoa Đỗ. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên. Top graphic by Hannah Hoàng.
Lost & Found Café is a newly opened sister establishment to the popular Lost & Found Bar. Both adopt a pre-1975 Saigon vibe that I, as a Gen-Z Saigoneer who is nostalgic for old Saigon, immediately click with.
[Photos] This Buôn Ma Thuột House Is a Cottagecore Dreamland
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- Published on 30 June 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
In recent years, the Central Highlands has slowly become one of the most sought-after regions in Vietnam for young people to travel and live in.
Hiimhii Used to Struggle at Karaoke, so He Decides to Write His Own Songs
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- Published on 28 June 2022
- Written by Ann Ann.
Despite his late entrance in the music scene, Hiimhii and his trusty ukulele has quickly won the hearts of many Vietnamese indie fans with his mellow, contemplative compositions.
In Seattle, a Vietnamese Jewelry Maker Finds Comfort in the Quirky and Queer
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- Published on 27 June 2022
- Written by Khóa Fa. Photos courtesy of XYZ Style Co. Top graphic by Hannah Hoàng.
The big, bold, and fun accessories with an air of mystique that Đinh Nguyễn Song Khanh and their spouse, Meiyin, create under their brand XYZ reflect their definition of queer fashion in the US, where they now live with a bunch of cute and mischievous cats.
Review: 'Maika' Is What Happens When You Take Children Seriously
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- Published on 24 June 2022
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
Maika is a loving tribute to Vietnam’s childhood icon of the 1980s, but for those who didn’t grow up with the original Eastern European series, what’s in it for us?
Đom Đóm: Why the Light Is Going Out for Fireflies in Vietnam
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- Published on 23 June 2022
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Graphics by Hannah Hoàng and Phan Nhi.
Much like their brief existence on Earth, once-common fireflies are quickly disappearing from Vietnam’s natural and oral histories.
In Ninh Thuận, a Bamboo Scientist Builds the 'Great Green Wall' to Protect the Soil
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- Published on 21 June 2022
- Written by Annigje Jacobs and Brice Godard.
In Ninh Thuận Province, not far from the South-Central Coast, Dr. Diệp Thị Mỹ Hạnh, a botanist, is growing a "wall" of bamboo.
Retracing Biệt Động Sài Gòn Hideouts, Where Grenades Were Just Below Your Feet
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- Published on 20 June 2022
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Elements of Saigon’s wartime espionage efforts once relegated to secret basements, hidden crawl spaces and elaborate double lives lurk throughout downtown to this day.
Hẻm Gems: 60 Years of Guangdong-Style Chinese Food at Chợ Cũ's Chuyên Ký
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- Published on 17 June 2022
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Brandon Coleman and Alberto Prieto. Top graphic by Hannah Hoàng.
Besides being the “it” place to obtain imported goods, Saigon’s chợ cũ, or Old Market, is also a treasure trove of hidden eateries.
Review: 'U Linh Tích Ký' Shows Made-in-Vietnam Animation Prowess, but Is Light on Narrative
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- Published on 16 June 2022
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
Premiered less than 24 hours ago, a made-in-Vietnam animation project has quickly become the talk of the town in the local cybersphere thanks to its high production values and intriguing concept.
Vietnamese Students Win Earth Prize for Dragon Fruit Peel Biodegradable Sanitary Pads
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- Published on 15 June 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
A trio of Vietnamese high schoolers claimed the top prize in the environmental awareness competition The Earth Prize 2022 thanks to their project which turned dragon fruit peels into biodegradable sanitary pads.
In a D6 Hẻm, Saigon's Last Remaining Broom-Making 'Village'
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- Published on 13 June 2022
- Written by Tuyết Nhi. Photos by Tuyết Nhi.
Nestled in a hẻm on Phạm Phú Thứ Street, District 6 is Saigon’s last remaining broom-making village.
How to Navigate Coming Out to Your Parents With the Help of 3 Fairy Tales
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- Published on 10 June 2022
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
Sometimes stories can articulate what we cannot put into our own words. Fairy tales can function as long-form proverbs that allow people to identify and pass on important values, expectations and experiences regarding love, loss, longing, fate and hardships. Children often learn about the adult world through these stories, but they retain their value throughout one’s entire life.
Award-Winning Children's Book on Conservation to Release Sequel Tomorrow
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- Published on 10 June 2022
- Written by Saigoneer.
Saving H'non: Chang and the Elephants, a sequel to the critically acclaimed children’s book by Trang Nguyễn, is scheduled to hit shelves on June 11 following the success of Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear.
Saigon's Mobile Laminators Preserve ID Cards, Licenses, and Occasionally, Memories Too
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- Published on 09 June 2022
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
How much would you pay for a memory? What is it worth to ensure that you’ll forever be able to recall a certain moment of happiness, important gathering, or achievement? What if I told you that all you need is a couple of bucks and some good timing?
From Commercial Releases to Heartfelt Docs: A Brief History of Vietnam's Notable Queer Films
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- Published on 06 June 2022
- Written by Linh Do. .
Personally honest, socially important and commercially sexy, modern movies about gay and transgender people are among the better works of contemporary Vietnamese cinema.
