Meet Th.ink Room, the Tattoo Collective Bringing New Life to Old Artworks and Onto Skin
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- Published on 07 June 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Jimmy Art Devier. Top graphic by Dương Trương.
Tattoo Therapist, dr.99hz, cd.cadao, goc.viet, Solarist and Baby Nepotism: listing the artists that call Th.ink Room home feels like shouting out the members of a rap clique. Indeed, tattoo artists, more than any other visual artists, are akin to rappers in their use of pseudonyms, so to employ a common hip-hop refrain, Saigoneer became interested in Th.ink Room because “game recognize game.”
How Saigon's V.A.R Building Epitomizes Vietnam's Architectural Autonomy
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- Published on 05 June 2026
- Written by Phạm Vinh. Photos by Alberto Prieto and Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
Completed in 1973, the V.A.R building at 9 Nguyễn Công Trứ Street in Nguyễn Thái Binh Ward, District 1, is a prominent example of Vietnamese mid-20th-century modernist architecture designed by architect Lê Văn Lắm. It not only represents the Vietnamese architectural identity in post-colonial eras, but also exemplifies its cultural autonomy.
A (Literally) Brief History of Vietnamese Representation in 'Mean Girls' (2004)
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- Published on 05 June 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
Written by Saturday Night Live alum Tina Fey and premiered in 2004, Mean Girls is often heralded as a sharp, self-aware comedy that was ahead of its time, yet still holds up surprisingly well today. Alas, its depiction of Asians has aged a little more poorly, even though at the time of its release, the Asian representation was shockingly accurate for its time, despite some haphazard characterizations.
A Visit to Lê Minh Xuân, a Rare Craft Village Making Incense Sticks Amid Saigon
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- Published on 03 June 2026
- Written by Lã Khánh Giang. Photos by Alberto Prieto and Jimmy Art Devier.
From inside the workshop, artisans carry bundle after bundle of freshly made incense sticks into the courtyard amid the morning mist. A gentle scent of spices linger in the air.
Cà Rem Cây, Kem Chuối and the Frozen Tickets to Our Childhood
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- Published on 01 June 2026
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Graphic by Mai Phạm.
Sometimes, when I hear the distant sound of a tinkling bell, fond memories of summer days from my wonder years come flooding back to me.
On Shooting an Entire Movie on 35mm Film: The Curious Case of 'Quán Kỳ Nam'
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- Published on 31 May 2026
- Written by Irving Ly.
“Let’s go to Vietnam!” declared Sabrina Baracetti, president of the Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, Italy, as she wrapped up her introduction for Leon Lê's Quán Kỳ Nam (Kỳ Nam Inn). Sitting in the Teatro Nuovo, watching Quán Kỳ Nam unfold for the first time, I felt an overwhelming surge of pride.
Tracing the History of 'Hello Vietnam,' the Overnight Sensation From Europe
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- Published on 29 May 2026
- Written by Tom Phạm. Top graphic by Khanh Mai.
Most people who have flown with VietJet are probably familiar with the song ‘Hello Vietnam’ or its Vietnamese version ‘Xin chào Việt Nam.’ As it's often played during landing, tourists might mistake the song for a cute jingle of the company, but the meaning behind the song lyrics is much more nostalgic. It’s about a person of Vietnamese descent longing for their ancestor’s homeland, a place they’ve never been — a story that can certainly strike a chord with many Vietnamese people. Few know, however, that this song was originally a French-language song, one that was almost never released.
How Bách Tùng Diệp Became a Saigon Park From Earmarked Consulate Land
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- Published on 29 May 2026
- Written by Tim Doling.
In 1927, after being abandoned for more than 60 years by its Spanish owners, the “Jardin d’Espagne” — known today as Bách Tùng Diệp or Lý Tự Trọng Park — seemed set to become the new home of the British Consulate General in Saigon… but it was not to be.
Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà Leprosy Village to Be Relocated for Mega Resort Project
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- Published on 28 May 2026
- Written by Saigoneer. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Authorities in Gia Lai Province have approved plans to relocate the Quy Hoà leprosy village from its current ocean-side setting in Quy Nhơn to make room for an ambitious real estate and tourism project.
The Little Moments of Stillness on Hanoi Streets via Artist Hoàng Hiền's Illustrations
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- Published on 27 May 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Illustrations by Hoàng Thanh Hiền.
Whether they're from Saigon, Hanoi or Đà Nẵng, urbanites in Vietnam have all grown up amid the chaos of local street culture, where the pulses of civic life churn with every vendor, family business, and gig worker. "Moment of Stillness," a collection of colorful illustrations by artist Hoàng Thanh Hiền, was born of the artist's keen observations of the familiar scenes in her immediate surroundings.
Hẻm Gems: Indonesia's Ayam Penyet Is a Smashing Celebration of Spices
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- Published on 25 May 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên.
The most straightforward definition by which to explain ayam penyet to the Vietnamese layperson is perhaps “cơm gà Indo.” It’s technically not wrong: the dish has rice and chicken, and originates from Indonesia. But once you've actually sunk your teeth into this special fried chicken, the translation seems unfairly reductive because ayam penyet is so much better than the sum of its parts.
Dispatch From Udine: Vietnam's Cinema Reaches the World Stage While Rooted in Local Culture
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- Published on 24 May 2026
- Written by Hanhee Oh.
Vietnamese cinema experienced a watershed moment at the 28th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy.
Short Story Collection 'Gills' Pieces Together a Raw and Complex Portrait of Saigon
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- Published on 22 May 2026
- Written by San Kwon.
Saigon’s landscape looks dramatically different from how it did three or even two decades ago. As the country’s economic powerhouse, Saigon has seen rapid urban development: new highrises like Landmark 81 and the Bitexco Financial Tower that now define the city’s skyline, new urban infrastructure like the Ba Son Bridge and Saigon’s first metro line, as well as the city’s expansion into areas like District 7’s Phú Mỹ Hưng and District 2’s Thủ Thiêm. If the west has long viewed Saigon under the shadow of war, it is clear that such a rigid frame fails to contain the Saigon of today, whose entropic inner life seems to constantly overflow; with motorbikes onto sidewalks, loud honks through windows, and rainpour over Saigon’s riverbeds.
Whale Worship: Exploring the Role of Whales in Vietnam's Coastal Lore
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- Published on 22 May 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Paul Christiansen. Top illustration by Hannah Hoàng.
In 1799, the ferocious Tây Sơn army forced the first Nguyễn Emperor, Nguyễn Ánh, and his troops to flee to the sea. While making their escape, a great storm engulfed the retreating army. As their ship’s mast shivered and the hull shuddered, threatening to break it into splinters, a great whale rose from the depths. It lifted the emperor's boat and carried him and his men to safety. To thank the animal, Ánh bestowed upon whales the official title of "Nam Hải Cự Tộc Ngọc Lân Thượng Đẳng Thần," which was shortened to Cá Ông, or “Lord Fish.”
Opinion: Electric Vehicles Are Southeast Asia's Way out Amid the Global Fossil Fuel Crisis
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- Published on 21 May 2026
- Written by Putra Adhiguna.
As the Iran war crunches global energy supplies and disrupts prices, Southeast Asian leaders may need to diversify oil and gas supplies in order to protect ordinary people.
A Special 'Doraemon' Episode Taking Place in Vietnam Will Be Released in May
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- Published on 19 May 2026
- Written by Saigoneer.
After decades of watching Doraemon and his close friend groups adventure to all sorts of strange lands from the deepest trenches on Earth to fantastical planets, fans of the beloved cat robot in Vietnam will finally see our country in the cartoon series.
Ngõ Nooks: At Bún Bò Huế Thu Thùy, a Broth That Bridges Hanoi Taste and Huế Flair
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- Published on 18 May 2026
- Written by Hà Tạ. Photos by Long Nguyễn.
In only three places have I enjoyed truly sumptuous bowls of bún bò giò heo: in its hometown of Huế, in Hội An and at Bún Bò Huế Thu Thùy in Hanoi.
Grab a Cold One: The Thirsty Colonial History of Ice Production in Vietnam
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- Published on 17 May 2026
- Written by Tom Phạm. Top graphic by Ngọc Tạ.
Walking through Saigon nowadays, you will notice that ice is so omnipresent, it’s part of the scenery. From trà đá, cà phê sữa đá to sinh tố, every drink is consumed with ice in order to combat the intense heat. Before the French brought ice factories to Vietnam, in hot, tropical cities like Saigon, you wouldn’t expect to find ice. Controlling the cold chain is now an important part of our logistics, be it for healthcare or food storage, opening the door for any cuisine to expand with new ingredients. A few centuries ago, however, it was once a thriving business catering to French colonists.
An Ancient Turtle Named After Bánh Xèo Can Teach Us a Lot About Whimsy in Science
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- Published on 15 May 2026
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top graphic by Dương Trương.
Nước mắm — that ruby-hued elixir; that salty, fish-flesh-sweet open secret in your favorite recipe; that indispensable icon of Vietnamese culture and, by extension, identity — owes itself to Commerson’s anchovies. That’s right, if your fish sauce comes from the central region, where it was first developed, the fish pressed with salt to produce it are Stolephorus commersonnii, a species named in 1801 after Philibert Commerson, a white Frenchman. Picture all the hardscrabble village homes suffering under the yoke of colonialism, where one of the day’s few pleasures was a humble meal made delicious by a carefully rationed dash of fish sauce and an ingredient whose name pays homage to their colonizers.
What Does the ‘Tower of Hanoi’ Puzzle Have to Do With Vietnam?
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- Published on 15 May 2026
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
What is the Tower of Hanoi? While this official name might sound mysterious, if you’re an avid consumer of adventure media and role-playing games or just simply a curious former child, it’s likely that you’ve seen or even played this game without knowing what it’s called.
