Thi Nguyễn in Music & Arts
The Facetious Gender Politics of Gỗ Lim, Hanoi's Feminist Post-Punk Quintet
In an example of cruel irony, October 20 is when we celebrate annual Vietnam Women's Day, and also the anniversary of the passing of Mai Nga (commonly known as Nga Nhí), the lead singer of Gỗ Lim — a Hanoi-based female post-punk band that, albeit short-lived, struck a blow for women’s representation in rock and metal music in Vietnam in 2011 and 2012.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
'Chuyện Của Pao' Turned a Historic H'Mông Home in Hà Giang Into a Tourist Attraction
The photos don’t do it justice. That’s what you’ll often hear from people who visit Hà Giang to cruise its famed highway loop.
How Vietnam's Muslims Celebrate Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr in Mekong Delta's Châu Đốc
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, yet Vietnamese Muslims represent as little as 0.1% of the country’s population. Most are ethnic Chăm, while a few are foreigners and a few converts. After traveling to Châu Đốc in An Giang Province, where the majority are located, I was mesmerized by the unique cultural mix this community represents.
Văn Tân in Culture
A Brief History of Ông Đồ, Vietnam’s Scholars Whose Calligraphy Is Highly Sought After
To say that Tết gathers together everything most beautiful in Vietnamese culture would not be an exaggeration. More than a threshold between the old year and the new, it is also a time when people feel they can return to, and relive, the traditional values that define them.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
From Dark to Dawn, an Early Morning at Hội An's Duy Hải Fish Market
At 3am, Hội An’s streets resemble dog-gnawed pork bones, licked clean of all scent and viscera. No light, no noise, no movement. But that’s the time you must venture out to witness the Duy Hải Fish Market in action.
Review: 'New Wave' Documentary Is a Surprisingly Personal Dissection of 1980s Nostalgia
Melodic synth-lines and steady electronic drums. Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated. During its high point during the 1980s, however, new wave was hailed as music of the future.
On the Cusp of a Modern New Year, Reflections on a Simpler Tết Past
Every year, as the pages from my block calendar peel off, bringing me towards another Vietnamese New Year, my mind once again fills with nostalgia about an old Tết. Tết in my memory begins with my childhood in a small house nestled under a coconut grove on the outskirts of Bạc Liêu in the Mekong Delta. Those were days of hardship, yet my parents worked hard so that Tết could bloom magnificently for all of us.
A Damaged Masterpiece Reveals How Much We Take Our Cultural Heritage for Granted
A once-damaged national treasure remains on view as if nothing had happened, while other works are displayed with little context — what does this tell us about how art museums preserve Vietnam's cultural heritage and shape our art history narratives today?
Once Invisible, Saigon's Underground Scene Emerges Into Light
In just a few short decades, underground hip-hop and youth culture has gained a massive following, not only within Saigon and Vietnam, but all around the globe.
Vietnamese Photographer Nets 2nd Place in Drone Photo Contest
Vietnamese photographer Pham Trung Thanh captured the exact moment the net of an anchovies fisherman's boat hovered atop the surface in Tuy Hoa, like a petal blooming across the dark water.
[Photos] Local Designer Created Incredibly Detailed Swallows From Paper for Tet
As Vietnam goes into full-blown Tet season, it’s impossible to talk a stroll around town without bumping into Lunar New Year imagery.
For the First Time, 2 Vietnamese Designers Will Participate in New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2019 will run from February 6 to February 13.
Saigoneer Podcast: Food Delivery Apps and Where We Think Trump and Kim Should Meet
The Saigoneer Podcast is back after taking a few weeks off!
Asia's Largest LGBT Contemporary Art Show to Take Place in Bangkok in 2019
The art show will feature two Vietnamese artists.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 13: The Modern Exchange Rate
As the rich get richer...
New Art Exchange Project to Connect Sound Artists in Germany, Vietnam
This year will see a new collaborative opportunity for Vietnamese sound artists, which will culminate in performances, sound installations and live acts where the audience takes part in an audiovisual...
Saigoneer's Weekend Event Picks
Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our favorite events happening around Saigon.
[Video] A Longing for Saigon as if Missing a Life Companion in Short Film 'Sài Gòn'
As expressed by the classic Basho haiku, "Even in Kyoto / hearing the cuckoo call / I long for Kyoto," it's possible to miss a place even when there. Saigon is no exception.
[Illustrations] What If Saigon's Street Vendors Were in an 8-Bit Nintendo Game?
If you enjoyed SNES games back in the day, this set of pixel arts depicting Saigon’s street vendors will definitely tug on your heartstrings.
[Photos] Saigon Couple Becomes 'Inmates for Life' in Prison-Themed Wedding Photos
Marriage is sometimes compared to being handcuffed for a lifetime and one Saigon couple has taken the metaphor literal in their wedding photos.
Chicago’s Surabhi Ensemble to Perform in Hanoi With 'Black Panther' Drummer Massamba Diop
This week, the Chicago-based Surabhi Ensemble will perform multiple shows in the capital with Senegalese Tama Drummer Massamba Diop, whose music appears in the soundtrack to Marvel’s Black Panther.
[Photos] A Set of Trippy Collages That Blend Hao Hao Noodles With Mona Lisa
In the universe of local artist Chu Moi, Mona Lisa, Trinh Cong Son and Hao Hao, instant noodles coexist in a harmonious subconscious.
The Art of Living Explored at Passion Week
When you see a flower, you must not see only the flower, you must see its seeds and fruits, the loamy soil it grew from and will return to; you must smell the sweet scents it emits to attract pollinat...
[Video] At FEEL It Festival, a Full Display of Saigon's Vibrant Street Culture
On December 15, Saigon's underground street scene was on full display on a rooftop in District 7, with freestyle skating, vibrant graffitti and local musicians.
[Photos] Saigoneer's Best Original Photography of 2018
From Red River brick factories, abandoned water parks and trash villages in Hanoi to mud wrestling tournaments, Vietnamese spearfishing and Hindu exorcisms further afield, it’s been a remarkable 10 mo...
Paul Christiansen in Loạt Soạt
Saigoneer Bookshelf: Multitudes Contained in 'Red Thread' by Teresa Mei Chuc
Seeking, sucking, tonguing for each scrap of contained marrow: should a book of poetry labor over a single topic the way a mouth savors a soup bone? Or should it be akin to a buffet plate atop which t...
[Illustrations] Four Festive Cards for a Very Saigoneer Christmas
While there is no chance of Saigon experiencing a white Christmas, we'd still like to take this opportunity to spread a bit of holiday cheer.
[Illustrations] Vietnamese Artist Draws Much-Needed Attention to Mental Health Issues
In her 'psychology series', Hanoi-based Illustrator Camelia Pham draws attention to an all-too-often taboo subject in Vietnam: mental health.
