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.
[Illustrations] A Medley of 'Year of the Pig' Depictions From 35 Young Artists Across Vietnam
May your Year of the Pig turn out as plump and sleek as the swine icons featured in the Beheoce project.
'Napalm Girl' Kim Phuc Awarded International Peace Prize in Germany
Nearly 50 years after the iconic photo of her running from a bombing raid was taken, Phan Thi Kim Phuc has earned Germany's Dresden award for her support of UNESCO and children wounded in war.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Culture
International Photographer Captures Spirit of Đạo Mẫu in Vibrant Photo Book
Tewfic El-Sawy’s introduction to Đạo Mẫu, also known as the Mother Goddess religion, began with music.
[Video] This Cinemagraph Celebrates Hanoi's Endearing Dawn Aerobics
Every single morning, at sunrise, hundreds of Hanoians descend on Hoan Kiem Lake to practice tai chi, aerobics and laughter yoga, or enjoy a morning stroll to ease the aches from their bones.
Popular Art Quarter Sixty Square to Close this Month
The Year of the Pig begins with some sad news for Hanoi’s creative youth. This month will see the closure of one the city’s most popular art quarters. 60 Square, which reopened after the Tet holiday y...
One Artist, 500 Volunteers and 168,000 Recycled Straws: A Clarion Call Against Plastic
Viral photographer Benjamin Von Wong is no stranger to making waves with his mind-blowing photography, often dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues while blurring the lines between ...
Experience: How Becoming One of Hanoi's First Drag Queens Transformed My Life
“Oh my god! You look beautiful! You belong on the runway, why aren’t you on the runway?” said Tamah Lake, the organizer of last year’s RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing party events in Hanoi. She came up to ...
[Illustrations] Rebranding Tết Candied Fruits Using Elements From Vietnamese Mythology
It’s Tet time next week, and you know what that means: heaps of candied fruits, seeds and even vegetables in various shapes and colors.
Burning Paper Bikinis for Deceased Ancestors Is Vietnam's Hottest New Vogue
Some new variations of joss paper in Vietnam are getting too risqué for comfort.
Saigoneer Podcast: A Tết-Themed Nhậu Roundtable Special
It's our last episode before the Lunar New Year!
[Video] The Animation Project That Turns Vietnam's History Into Cinematic Marvels
Viet Su Kieu Hung might be the most ambitious project of its kind to have come out of Vietnam.
Saigoneer Podcast: Superstitions, Real or Fake? and 'The Future is Asian' Author Parag Khanna
Episode 40 of the Saigoneer Podcast is available now!
Art in the Clouds: Into Thin Air 2 and the Promise of Digital Exhibits
As a metropolis of nearly eight million, Hanoi is like many other Asian cities: blooming with people, culture, and hectic lifestyles. Along with rampant development, the city faces concerns such as ai...
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...
