Dispatch From Udine: Vietnam's Cinema Reaches the World Stage While Rooted in Local Culture
Vietnamese cinema experienced a watershed moment at the 28th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy.
Short Story Collection 'Gills' Pieces Together a Raw and Complex Portrait of Saigon
Saigon’s landscape looks dramatically different from how it did three or even two decades ago. As the country’s economic powerhouse, Saigon has seen rapid urban development: new highrises like Landmark 81 and the Bitexco Financial Tower that now define the city’s skyline, new urban infrastructure like the Ba Son Bridge and Saigon’s first metro line, as well as the city’s expansion into areas like District 7’s Phú Mỹ Hưng and District 2’s Thủ Thiêm. If the west has long viewed Saigon under the shadow of war, it is clear that such a rigid frame fails to contain the Saigon of today, whose entropic inner life seems to constantly overflow; with motorbikes onto sidewalks, loud honks through windows, and rainpour over Saigon’s riverbeds.
Paul Christiansen in Culture
Whale Worship: Exploring the Role of Whales in Vietnam's Coastal Lore
In 1799, the ferocious Tây Sơn army forced the first Nguyễn Emperor, Nguyễn Ánh, and his troops to flee to the sea. While making their escape, a great storm engulfed the retreating army. As their ship’s mast shivered and the hull shuddered, threatening to break it into splinters, a great whale rose from the depths. It lifted the emperor's boat and carried him and his men to safety. To thank the animal, Ánh bestowed upon whales the official title of "Nam Hải Cự Tộc Ngọc Lân Thượng Đẳng Thần," which was shortened to Cá Ông, or “Lord Fish.”
A Special 'Doraemon' Episode Taking Place in Vietnam Will Be Released in May
After decades of watching Doraemon and his close friend groups adventure to all sorts of strange lands from the deepest trenches on Earth to fantastical planets, fans of the beloved cat robot in Vietnam will finally see our country in the cartoon series.
Paul Christiansen in In Plain Sight
An Ode to Saigon’s Chò Nâu Trees
It’s too cold for chò nâu to grow where I’m from, but we still gave it an English name: dipterocarp.
Mầm in Music & Arts
Vietnamese Painter Một Quả Tắc Creates an Intimate and Gentle World on Silk
Silk is an inherently finicky, demanding medium. Yet from the very first encounter, Quế Hương had chose to embrace its temperament and has devoted herself to it for nearly a decade.
Mầm in Ton-sur-Ton
Into the Earthy, Quirky World of Kramahan's Accessories and Clothing
We paid Nhật, the founder of Kramahan.Clothing , a visit on a windy day in Saigon. This room in the heart of the city has ...
ACV Proposes Moving 90% of Saigon's Overseas Flights to Long Thành
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has proposed plans to transfer flight operations in Hồ Chí Minh City from Tân Sơ...
New Digital Typeface L'Hanoienne Preserves Classic Hanoi Hand-Painted Fonts
Hanoi streets' handprinted signs haven't been replaced with neon like in other Asian metropolises, yet; but when they are, their traditional lettering will not be lost forever.
'Despacito' Star Luis Fonsi to Headline Music Festival in Da Nang This July
The international Latin hit will be performed live in Vietnam this July.
'Star Wars' Actress Kelly Marie Tran Quits Instagram After Months of Online Abuse
After enduring months of vile online racism and bigotry, the Vietnamese-American actress has shut down her Instagram account.
In Binh Duong, This Ficus-Motorbike Entanglement Is a Local 'Celebrity'
Who would have thought that neglect and general wear and tear could result in a wonderfully weird local attraction?
[Illustrations] Local Artist Turns Saigon Street Snapshots Into Wholesome Postcards
If you’ve been fond of our Saigon Postcard series, you’ll come to love these wholesome illustrations by a local comic artist.
Kit Humphrey in Culture
[Photos] In Tho Ha Village, Locals Work From Dawn to Create Rice Paper
A few hours after sunrise in the small village of Tho Ha, alleyways morph into picturesque tunnels of drying rice paper, while ladies toast crackers over fire in the streets.
Saigoneer Podcast: Fake News Euphemisms, Vegetable Fight and Stand-up Comedian Vu Minh Tu
We're celebrating our sweet 16 this week!
The Evolution of Vietnamese Beauty Through Old Ads
Vintage cosmetic advertising and magazine covers depicting perceptions of Vietnamese beauty tell not only Saigon's, but Vietnam's feminine spirit in years gone by. Whether plain or in full color, each...
[Illustrations] This Artist Creates Ukiyo-e Paintings of Basketball Stars
Edo-ball is what happens when one combines Japanese culture, professional basketball and ukiyo-e paintings.
[Video] Saigon Electronica Ep. 3: Delving Deeper Underground With Asian Rave Connection and Chillgressive Saigon
The freetekno movement originated in Europe in the 90s. It was a movement that promoted free techno parties organized within the community at locations that were not limited to urban settlements and t...
Quyech: Mischief Merchants on Trees, Artist Archetypes and Rules for Creativity
Thanks to a minor miscommunication, the three members of Quyech who participated in this interview (more on the fourth later) arrived at different times.
Q&A: Six Space Founder Le Giang on the Hard Work of Contemporary Vietnamese Art
Hanoi-based visual artist Le Giang is an educator and co-founder of Six Space, an artist-run venue dedicated to exhibitions, workshops, film screenings and talks. Her practice spans installations, scu...
In Bắc Giang, 'Mudball' Is a Centuries-Old Festive Sport
Held once every four years, the mud wrestling festival in Vân Village in Bắc Giang Province is one of the most dramatic and unique festivals in all of Vietnam.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 6: Bus Beatitudes
With the subway years away, taxis too expensive, ride-share apps maddeningly inaccurate, motorbikes impossibly dangerous and walking beneath the sun akin to mobile self-spit-roasting, many Saigoneers ...
[Photos] What Happens When Marvel Superheroes Are Given Vietnam Makeovers
We probably don’t need to convince you that Vietnam’s online culture is a wonderfully weird place. The wits of local netizens have brought us joy on many occasions, like the many adventures of Hai Pho...
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
The Masterminds of Saigon's Most Memorable Concerts Join Forces to Create a Brand-New Beach Festival
The organizers of some of Saigon's most legendary recent concerts are combining forces to bring a new music festival to Ho Tram later this year.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
The Masterminds of Saigon's Most Memorable Concerts Joined Forces. A Brand-New Music Festival Was Born.
The organizers of some of Saigon's most legendary recent concerts are combining forces to bring a new music festival to Ho Tram later this year.
Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnamese Folk Tales and Artist Quynh Lam
It's Monday, meaning it's time for the latest Saigoneer Podcast episode.
[Video] Saigon Electronica Ep. 2: The Dreamers From Behind the Decks
When Tran Huu Tuan Bach decided to embark on his DJ career at the beginning of this decade, he had already established himself as a film composer in Vietnam.
Kit Humphrey in Music & Arts
Sirens of Ha Long: Facetiousness and Vitriol on Debut EP ‘Rampant Happiness’
Having released Rampant Happiness, their debut EP, only a few weeks ago, and with a string of live shows lined up to debut upcoming music videos, Sirens of Ha Long are on the rise.
