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.
Kit Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 6: Hoa Sữa by Any Other Name Would Still Smell as Caustic
The fragrance of hoa sữa, or milk flower, is so deeply embedded in the mythology of Hanoi’s autumnal days that singers, poets and authors alike have all sung its praises.
Saigoneer Podcast: English as an Official Language; Vietnam Cliches in Foreign Media; and Food Writer Soleil Ho
We're back in your podcast feed with a packed episode!
[Video] In 'Công,' Suboi Delivers Full-Throated Anthem for Young Vietnamese Women
After the great success of 'N-Sao?' in August, Vietnamese rap queen Suboi has returned and riled up her audience once again with her brand new song, 'Công.'
A Night of Revelations at the Saigon Opera House
A concert of Brahms' Symphony No. 4 held on a Sunday night last month at the Saigon Opera House presented a series of somewhat startling revelations.
Tam Le in Culture
From Entrepreneur to Organic Farmer: A Hmong Woman's Quest to Better Sapa
“You forgot to say ‘Uno’!” Lang Giang cheerfully exclaims before covering her mouth in laughter. It’s the twelfth time she’s caught me this trip and blocked me from winning. By this point in our trek,...
[Photos] Local Photographer Creates Hilarious Tetraptychs of Hanoi's Common Traffic Offenses
Through the lens of photographer Pham Thanh Long, random acts of traffic law violations look almost...artistic, as ironic as that may sound.
Khoi Pham in Culture
[Photos] A Quiet Saturday at Saigon's Greenest Tomb, Lang Ong Ba Chieu
Going from central District 1 into Binh Thanh in northern Saigon, you might have spotted the compound before: a spacious tree-lined temple flanked by four streets just a stone’s throw away from Ba Chi...
Saigoneer Podcast: The Retro/Vintage Aesthetic Trend and a Street Food Update
We're back with a new episode!
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
German-Vietnamese Artist Linh TNX Blends Trap and R&B in Latest Single 'S.O.S'
Linh Tran, a German-Vietnamese singer who goes by the artist name Linh TNX, has debuted her first music video produced in Saigon since moving to the city two months ago.
[Photos] An Ancient Scroll Depicts the Wondrous World of Japanese Bakemono
Bakemono refers to preternatural monsters in Japanese folklore that shapeshift.
[Video] The Eerie, Misty Quietude of Hanoi's Lakeside Parks
More often than not, videos about Hanoi focus on the dynamically frenetic city streets, leaving anywhere with a state of stillness overlooked: namely, hidden nooks in the capital's numerous lakes and ...
[Photos] What's Inside Beloved Binh Tay Market's Glorious Comeback?
Binh Tay Market is the central market in the heart of Cho Lon, sitting on the very edge of District 6 along Thap Muoi Street.
[Photos] This Instagram Account Is A Visual Ode to Walls in Japan
A Japanese graphic designer finds beauty in the mundane.
Kit Humphrey in Music & Arts
Q&A: Six Austin, Texas Musicians on the Excitement of Playing Quest Festival
Quest Festival is just around the corner, and this year sees a curious new addition – Project ATX6, a music documentary project that sends six emerging Austin musicians to perform at three internation...
Remi: How a Group of Audiophile Friends Built a Premier Place to Promote Live Music
The saxophonist's fingers run up and down the keys like the shiver sashaying a spine when one a cold breeze brushes across bare skin.
Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnam's Beauty Pageant Obsession; Bad Behavior by Vietnamese Abroad
The latest episode of the Saigoneer Podcast is online now!
Kit Humphrey in Music & Arts
In Bac Ninh, New Residency Program Unites International Artists With Local Artisans
In a country with surprisingly few artist-in-residence programs, live.make.share represents a rare opportunity for cultural symbiosis and artistic development by giving international artists the chanc...
[Video] Spanish Filmmaker Captures Hanoi’s After-Hours, Neon-Lit Nightscapes
In a city that often serves as a muse for filmmakers, we are regularly treated to shorts that capture the capital’s allure. Yet it is less common to discover clips portraying the city’s nocturnal char...
[Illustrations] A Watercolor Food Alphabet for the Hungry Typographer
Is this not the most delicious alphabet ever?
Saigoneer Podcast: VinFast's New Electric Motorbike; Adapting Foreign Dishes to Local Tastes
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!
