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.
5,000 People to Take Part in a Street Festival in Hanoi This Weekend.
Themed ‘The Quintessence of Hanoi – Confluence and Shine,’ the street festival will take place around Hoan Kiem Lake between 8am and 11am on July 29.
Vietnamese Author Nguyen Ngoc Tu Wins German Literary Award for Female Writers
Vietnamese writers are slowly gaining more recognition on the international stage.
With New Single 'N-Sao?', Suboi Becomes First Vietnamese Artist Featured on Apple's Beats 1
Saigon’s reigning rap queen released 'N-Sao?' on Apple’s Beats 1 radio program last week, becoming the first Vietnamese artist to be featured on the 24/7 channel.
Saigoneer Podcast: Reflections From Hanoi, World Cup Madness and Cave Expert Howard Limbert
Episode 22 of the Saigoneer Podcast is in your earbuds now!
[Photos] Japanese Landscapers Turn Tiny Trucks Into Lush Gardens
A kei truck, also called a kei-tora, is a mini-truck that is built to serve a variety of purposes in Japan.
Khoi Pham in Arts & Culture
Lost Type: Capturing the Essence of Vietnam's Street Signage Through Modern Typeface
With just a glance outside your window, you might notice that Vietnam’s metropolises are filled with a hodgepodge of banners, signs and advertising panels of all shapes, design motifs and colors.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 8: The City's Sewer Saviors
Below the busy streets, saintly, filth-submerged sanitation workers strive to un-muck our sewers.
Saigoneer Podcast: The Nhậu Roundtable Special
The Saigoneer Podcast has turned 21!
Thi Nguyen in Culture
Opinion: The Body Politics of World Cup Coverage in Vietnam
In late June, a popular subscription television channel caused controversy by featuring a bikini-clad female show host on a prediction segment aired before a men's FIFA World Cup match. Another televi...
[Photos] An Artist's Rendering of Ant-Man's Vietnam Vacation
If you are a loyal fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there might have been times when you wonder how those superheroes would appear in real life.
Kit Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 3: The Right Side of the Tracks
The third entry in the Hanoi Postcards series, our love notes to the city we call home, depicts a unique neighborhood.
[Illustrations] An Illustrated Guide to Singapore's Food Landscape
Singapore and Saigon both share a diverse, culturally eclectic food landscape, although each has different layers and amounts of influence from varying parts of Asia.
[Photos] Saigon Artisan Turns Scrap Materials Into Miniature Models
Over the past two decades, Saigon native Tran Giang Nam has created over 300 different miniature models with varying levels of details.
[Video] New York Rapper Pays Tribute to Hanoi, Goes Viral
Hanoi has served as the muse of foreign photographers, writers – and even a few rappers.
Hanoi Gets Inked: Expo Showcases Vietnam’s Tattoo Boom
When Link Do was a child in Hanoi, she learned English from an American woman with a tattoo on her hand. Link, who loved to draw, thought the tattoo was beautiful, and began to imagine a future as an ...
Saigoneer Podcast: Transportation in Saigon, Women in Tech and a Singaporean Foodie
We've hit episode 20!
Outdoor Film Screenings Coming this October as Part of Hanoi International Film Festival
The 5th Hanoi International Film Festival (HANIFF) will take place from October 27-31 and showcase some of Vietnam’s finest filmmaking talent.
Intellectual Debate Bridges Communities at Hanoi Philosophy Forum
The answers to life’s burning questions are often found in unlikely places. A cozy ‘birds’ nest’ café at the end of a crumbling alley fits that stereotype rather well. At 7.30 every Wednesday night, l...
For Vietnam's Busy Buddhists, Spiritual Teaching Is Just a Click Away With Online Temples
Boon or bane: spiritual service delivered to your nearest digital device.
Vietnamese Artist Phan Thao Nguyen Wins Top Singapore Art Prize
Nguyen is the first female artist to win the art prize since its establishment.
