But What Even Is an Expat: Unpacking the Highly Contentious Term, in Vietnam and Abroad
“Expat is a racist as hell term” — this is the take of Misan Harriman on the popular internet show SubwayTakes. The ...
Adrien Jean in Travel
The Enigmatic Neon-Lit World in the Mist of Sapa
Is there a more atmospheric place in Vietnam than Sapa on a misty night?
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Review: Pieces of Me | Nao Yoshioka (feat. Mỹ Anh)
Mỹ Anh has come a long way since becoming the runner-up of The Heroes in 2021. Five years later, now with a full-length album and a spectrum of singles and extended plays under her belt, the Hanoi-based artist has proven to be one of the most dynamic singer-songwriter-producer of her generation.
Art Exhibition ‘Limerence’ Explores Where Romantic Desire Distorts Into Obsession
Thom Nguyen utilizes portraiture and depictions of mushrooms and organic objects to explore the concept of limerence in a solo exhibition at Permanently Closed Gallery in Thảo Điền, beginning Friday, August 28.
How Vinahouse Fosters Sonic Belonging in Modern Saigon's Queer Collectives
If you spend a night wandering along Bùi Viện Walking Street and its dense concentration of bars and clubs, you will almost certainly hear the same sound spilling from multiple directions: fast, pounding basslines layered with Vietnamese pop melodies, punctuated by dramatic buildups and explosive drops. If you fall into the right algorithm on TikTok, you might encounter these same sounds circulating as background audio. This music is Vinahouse. Its ever-presence in both physical and digital spaces makes it one of the most recognizable yet least critically examined musical forms in contemporary Vietnam.
Xuân Phương in Culture
Inside Tế Tiêu, Home to Vietnam's Rare 'Land Puppet' Performances
Bidding goodbye to central Hanoi, I took the National Road 21B to reach Tế Tiêu Neighborhood, a small community in Đại Nghĩa Township of Hanoi’s Mỹ Đức District. This fertile patch of land by the Đáy River is the cradle of a unique form of traditional folk art: Tế Tiêu puppetry.
How Quy Nhơn's Old Cemetery Slowly Expands up Vũng Chua Mountain
You might miss it if you were driving past, but once you walk down a small hẻm off Quy Nhơn’s main Tây Sơn Street, the massive cemetery sprawls in all directions.
All Aboard the Languorous 35-Hour Train From Hanoi to Saigon
The train connecting Vietnam’s largest cities takes 35 hours. Yet even after the first time I finished the trip, I was already coming up with excuses for why I needed to do it again. For me, the journey is much more than a chance for great views and time to reflect. It’s an exploration of life itself.
The Horror-Comedy Zombie Flick That's Raking in 250 Times Its Budget in Japan
Made by a group of unknowns, One Cut of the Dead, cost just US$27,000 but is set to earn US$10 million amid international acclaim.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 9: The City's Traffic Shoals
The city's motorbikes move with an effortless grace governed by rules reserved for groups of fish.
[Illustrations] Preserving Hanoi's Old-School Cool in Digital Stamps
When was the last time you sent a letter or used a stamp?
Q&A: How A O Show Creative Director Tuan Le Actualized His Vision for Performance Art in Vietnam
Some may say that modern performance art in Vietnam looks the way it does thanks to the works of Tuan Le and his colleagues. Almost two decades into a series of smashing theatrical successes across th...
Q&A: AO Show Creative Director Tuan Le Had a Vision for Performance Art in Vietnam. And He Built It.
Some may say that modern performance art in Vietnam looks the way it does thanks to the works of Tuan Le and his colleagues. Almost two decades into a series of smashing theatrical successes across th...
[Illustrations] Local Illustrator Captures the Charm of Vietnam in Mini Icons
When asked for the reasons why one loves Vietnam, many might hesitate. There is a lot to love about this chaotic, eclectic, bewildering nation; but there is a lot to frown upon as well.
[Video] Vingroup Premieres First-Ever Animated Series by In-House Studio VinTaTa
Have you ever wondered what a Vingroup-funded animated series would look like?
Sixty Square: Crumbling Colonial Buildings House Hanoi’s Hippest New Art Quarter
Ever since the closure of Zone 9, Hanoi’s young artists have been longing for a new spot to rise from the ashes and fill the hole the defunct art hub left in the capital's creative landscape. Creative...
[Photos] In Minimalist Street Photography, Good Frames Come to Those Who Wait
Photographer Victor Morante is all about the little details in a frame.
Hanoi Queer Film Week Provides Platform for Vietnam's LGBTQ Voices
Starting today and running until Friday, August 17, Hanoi International Queer Film Week 2018 (HIQFW), will include 14 film screenings followed by audience discussions.
Saigoneer Podcast: Seafood Fight, Traditional Medicine and L'Arrange Rhum
We're a quarter of the way to 100 episodes!
[Illustrations] Minimalist Pastel Renditions of Hanoi’s Historic Landmarks
Local illustrator Nguyen Minh Trang brings calming colors and geometric aesthetics to some of the capital’s most striking architecture.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
[Video] Saigon-Based Directors Feature Abandoned Hue Waterpark in New Music Video
A small boat reaches shore and an adventure begins at the wild, abandoned Ho Thuy Tien Waterpark outside of Hue.
Ahead of Its Premiere Next Week, 'The Bachelor Vietnam' Reveals the Bachelor in New Trailer
The Vietnam adaptation of American reality TV show The Bachelor will premiere this month.
Vietnam's Cinema Industry to Receive $50m Financial Boost
Lack of funding has always been an issue for Vietnam's film industry.
Saigoneer Podcast: Exercise in Vietnam, Street Cred and Hanoi Zine Library
Episode 24 is out now!
[Video] Suboi Makes Saigon Nightscapes Her Playground in Latest Music Video for 'N-Sao?'
Saigon's color-streaked nighttime streets serve as background for the hip-hop star's latest music video.
[Illustrations] Hanoi Typography Project Turns Classic Food and Drink Names into Vibrant Designs
When paired with artistic creativity, common food and drink names can become symbols of cultural re-imagination. The following illustrations successfully capture the past while also appearing youthful...
Kit Humphrey in Literature
Alain de Botton Visits Vietnam: 'What I Want to Argue Is That Romanticism Has Been a Disaster for Love.'
It’s not often that a philosopher of Alain de Botton’s status visits Vietnam, so it was no surprise that all 50 seats on the upper floor of Toong Coworking Space were occupied, with most tickets snapp...
Vans x Van Gogh Museum Collection Will Also Be Available in Vietnam
Some of Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh’s most iconic works have been turned into everyday apparel.
