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 Music & Arts
The Children: Earnestness, Heartbreak and Acceptance on Debut Album ‘Con Duong’
On their debut album, Con Đường, the much loved Hanoi outfit bring a darker yet more mature sound that speaks as much about the depths of heartbreak and loss as it does hope.
Paintings by Artist Bui Xuan Phai on Display in London Asian Art Week
Two London galleries are displaying dozens of pieces of artwork by painters Bui Xuan Phai and Nguyen Tu Nghiem as part of the 2018 edition of Asian Art In London from November 5 to 9.
Vietnamese-American Writer Ocean Vuong to Release Debut Novel Next Year
Earlier this year, Vietnamese-American poet and writer Ocean Vuong won the prestigious 2017 T. S. Elliot Prize for his poetry collection Night Sky With Exit Wounds.
[Illustrations] A Halcyon Hanoi Through Artist Pham Anh's Ultra-Realistic Oil Paintings
Living in the same neighborhood for an extended period of time can lead one to take it for granted. But it only requires the perspective of an artistically inclined outsider to make you fall in love w...
Vietnamese Actor Wins Rookie Award at Tokyo Film Festival for Role in 'Song Lang'
Lien Binh Phat has become the first Vietnamese actor to win a rookie award at the Tokyo International Film Fest (TIFF).
Kit Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 5: A Real Cold Fish
This week’s postcard is based on a real-life event: a sweet, thoughtful gesture that turned distinctly fishy.
Saigoneer Podcast: Our Take on 'The Bachelor'; Western Holidays in Vietnam; Combating Human Trafficking
Episode 33 of the Saigoneer Podcast is available now!
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 11: A Steaming Bowl
When dark clouds rumble in a frequency akin to that of an empty stomach, the city transforms into a bowl of soup.
Saigon Welcomes 5 Film Festivals This Month. What Are They and How to Get Tickets?
If you’re a movie buff in Saigon this month, you’re extremely lucky because a handful of film festivals will happen concurrently.
[Illustrations] Polish Watercolor Artist Captures Tokyo's Historic Shopfronts
There’s something about urban shopfronts that inspires artists everywhere to break out their canvas and doodle away.
10 Songs That Exemplify the Rise of Vietnam's Contemporary R&B/Soul Movement
In an industry where singers don’t stick to only one genre, Vietnamese R&B/Soul is often overlooked and sadly underdeveloped. While veteran artists like Mỹ Linh and Hà Anh Tuấn have occasionally profe...
[Video] Local Design Student Wins Graduation Showcase With Surrealistic Short Film
This short film might be the trippiest thing you see today.
Hanoi Proposes Non-Smoking Areas Around Tourist Sites
The proposal was suggested for areas such as the walking streets around Hoan Kiem Lake in an effort to make the area more welcoming to tourists.
Saigoneer Podcast: Drunk Driving and Finding Phong's Depiction of Transgender Vietnamese
Episode 32 of the Saigoneer Podcast is available now!
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
In Saigon's Latest Indie Workshop, a Heaven for Eco-Friendly Risograph Prints
Nestled above inpages in Thao Dien, a new print studio is offering artists and other creatives a new way to express their ideas and visions.
Vietnamese Silk Painting From 1935 Sold for €440,000 at Paris Auction
A painting by renowned Vietnamese artist Nguyen Nam Son recently fetched 440,000 euros at an auction in Paris.
Saigon to Have First-Ever Singapore Film Festival This November
The festival is co-hosted by the Singapore Film Society and Vietnamese media company RICE & Partners.
Kit Humphrey in Culture
[Photos] The Unbridled Joy of Hanoi’s Walking Streets
In a claustrophobic city where cramped houses huddle shoulder-to-shoulder and roads resemble battlegrounds, walking streets provide a rare breathing space for people used to clamor. More importantly, ...
Concert Honoring Nguyen Van Quy, the ‘Vietnamese Beethoven,’ to Take Place on October 30
No other composer since Beethoven has written as many as nine sonatas for violin and piano.
[Photos] Relish this Rare 1894 Edition of 'Truyen Kieu' Through World Digital Library
The World Digital Library allows people around the world to see high-resolution scans of the 1894 edition of The Tale of Kieu, annotated by Paul Pelliot, the famous French Sinologist, who bo...
