Nguyễn Bình Phương's Tale of Magical Realism Revels in Absurdity
“Clip-clop, clip-clop.” So goes the sound of the water buffalo hooves pulling a wagon through the highlands against the magenta sky of an unending sunset. The wagon is guided by a nameless driver, and onboard are three travelers: a veteran referred to as “the Man” and two other younger men.
I Grew up Among Ducks in the Mekong Delta. They Always Remind Me of Home.
On a recent ritual walk around my suburb, I was held up by the sight of a middle-aged man with his “fur kid.” I introduced myself and when he heard the word “Vietnam,” his eyes lit up and with a smile as he tumbled out the words: “The Mekong Delta. Ducks.”
In Hien's Debut Album, a Self-Discovery Journey Through Vietnam, Hungary and the US
After a decade writing and gathering materials, Hien recently published her debut album, “Trăng Qua.”
‘Echoes of Tonkin’ Exhibition Challenges Clichéd Narratives of 20th-Century Vietnamese Art
“Echoes of Tonkin: Vietnamese Modern Art” opens in Hong Kong to challenge reductive narratives and clichés about 20th-century Vietnamese art.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Art Project ‘The Lottery of Forgotten Dreams’ Is a Wild Alchemy of Vé Số and Photography
Vé số ticket number 984430 yields a magenta fish contorting atop a ghostly image of an apartment high-rise in Tân Phú in “The Lottery of Forgotten Dreams – Topographies of the Unseen,” an art project by photographer Christian Berg. The experimental project, available to view in full online, employs computer technology to combine photography, numerology, and mythology and playfully reimagine how one visualizes Saigon.
In MARG1N, a Resolute Return to Print Media That Dissects Southeast Asian Cinema
The joy of reading, for most of my life, had been primarily grounded in the joy of learning, feeling, and thinking through words, independent of medium. That is, until college, when I found myself repeatedly longing for Thursday mornings, when the week’s freshly printed student newspaper would arrive neatly folded and stacked, ready to be spread over the dining-hall table like wrapping paper. I came to realize then that the joy of reading was not simply about words; it was also about the tactile touch of paper and of the inexplicable satisfaction of flipping through pages bigger than my hands could reasonably manage.
By Preserving Tradition, Honoring Creativity and Showcasing Sustainability, Young Vietnamese Chefs Excel at Ngon Challenge by Marriott International
The glossy menus, sleek decor, and iconic logos of international hotel restaurants often obscure the human stories behind each dish. While catering to global guests, these restaurants often serve meals with origins in family kitchens and regional culinary traditions. Young, local chefs balance nostalgic associations with contemporary techniques and creative expression to create these menus. Returning for its second year this past September, Ngon Challenge continued to celebrate and nurture Vietnamese culinary talent across Marriott International’s hotels and resorts in Vietnam.
Review: ‘Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell’ Is a Soul-Searching Mission in the Lâm Đồng Mist
On the pastures of slow cinema where Andrei Tarkovsky, Tsai Ming-liang and Theo Angelopoulos reside, Phạm Thiên Ân's debut feature, Bên Trong Vỏ Kén Vàng (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell), has made its mark as a notable entry for its distinctly Vietnamese vistas, tones and essence.
A 60-Year-Old Trash Chute Is Saigon's Latest Most Checked-In Place on Instagram
Editor's note: Happy April Fools' Day! This article was part of Saigoneer's 2019 April Fools' Day celebration. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, a...
Saigoneer Podcast: Listener Mailbag
Happy April Fools' Day!
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
The Return of Krossing Over Arts Festival: Deeper, Bolder, Wider
Now in its third edition, the Krossing Over Arts Festival begins later this week and is expanding both in scope, with more events planned, and reach, as Hanoi is now on the schedule as well.
'The Song of Kiều' Is the Newest Addition to Penguin Classics Series
Originally written in Nôm script and lục bát (sixth-eighth) verses, Nguyen Du's epic poem Truyện Kiều has always been a quintessential reading for many Vietnamese across generations.
[Video] 2016 Documentary 'Xẩm Đỏ' Is an Ode to Vietnam's Last Xẩm Singer
Ha Thi Cau was born in 1928 and has been singing xẩm, a type of Vietnamese folk art often performed by blind artists and accompanied by đàn nhị or đàn bầu, since she was eight years old.
'Hai Phuong' Becomes Highest-Grossing Vietnamese Movie of All Time
Hai Phuong landed US distribution rights from Well Go USA Entertainment, and has been played in 28 cities in America and Canada since March 1.
Slow Craft: How a Photo Artist Built a Home for Analog Photography in Saigon
The digital age is in full swing, and photography its loyal servant. The last century has seen the art form seamlessly transform several times, allowing itself to be reframed and repurposed time ...
Spike Lee Starts Filming Next Movie 'Da 5 Bloods' in Vietnam, Thailand
Da 5 Bloods follows four African-American Vietnam veterans as they return to Vietnam to find their squad leader's remains and pursue the possibility of a buried treasure.
Khoi Pham in Culture
Bưu Hoa Stamp Project Is an Online Chronicle of Vietnam's Philatelic History
Among the best ways to learn of a country’s culture and history is looking at its stamp design through the ages. These paper tokens follow their owners’ letters to all corners of the world, serving as...
[Illustrations] Kaleidoscopic Renditions of Hanoi's Famous Landmarks and Streets
With its striking contrast between historic buildings and contemporary design, Hanoi is home to an impressive medley of architectural styles and is arguably one of the most charismatic and charming ci...
Saigoneer Podcast: Our Favorite Vietnamese Poems; Perceptions of Foreign Cuisine
A new week means a new Saigoneer Podcast episode!
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
Affordable Art Fair 'Art For You' Returns to Saigon Next Week
Art For You, the art fair organized by Hanoi-based Manzi Art Space and Workroom Four aimed at art enthusiasts who can't afford to shop at high-end galleries, is coming to Saigon next week.
Award-Winning Photo of Hmong Woman Raises Questions Over Photography Ethics
On Match 12, Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA) 2019 announced that a photo of a Hmong woman carrying her two children, taken by Malaysian participant Edwin Ong Wee Kee in Vietnam, won its ...
[Video] A Quan Họ Classic Meets a String Quintet in a Psychedelic Video
'Muoi Nho' is a famous song written in the Vietnamese quan họ folk performance art.
Grammy Award-Winning Conductor to Lead Hanoi Concert This Friday
This week, a unique concert comes to Hanoi.
Saigoneer Podcast: The 5 National Senses of Vietnam, Local Street Cred
The newest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!
Iconic Comedian Tom Green to Perform in Saigon
Tom Green’s antics are legendary.
[Illustrations] An Idyllic Southeast Asian Childhood Through a Thai Artist's Illustrations
Thanks to the region’s similarities in biodiversity, climate and society, a childhood in rural Thailand isn’t that far off from that in the countryside of Vietnam.
Vietnamese Short Wins Best Director at 48 Hour Film Festival, to Be Screened at Cannes
The movie unfolds the story of a little girl kidnapped by two criminals, which is later discovered to be a personal conspiracy.
Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnamese in Reality TV Shows and Domestic Tourism Boom
We're back with a brand-new show!
