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.
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.
[Illustrations] Here Are Some Standout Picks From Collaborative Art Project 'Ve Ve Hat Boi'
Even after Ve Ve Hat Boi ended, the project's success shows that there’s still space for Vietnam’s ancient art forms in today’s ever-changing world.
'Crystal Cloud' Art Installation in Mu Cang Chai Stirs Controversy
Stunning.
Kit Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 1: Hom Fabric Market
This week, Saigoneer is proud to announce a new series: beautifully crafted illustrations, in the form of postcards, celebrating everything we love about this city. Every couple of weeks, we’ll reveal...
Saigoneer Podcast: Fakes in Vietnam, Kick-Ass Millenials and a Deep Dive on Thu Thiem
It's Monday morning, which means it's time for the latest Saigoneer Podcast episode!
Vietnamese Student Wins Top US Interior Design Award With Bamboo-Inspired Community Center
Tran Thach Thao, a native of northern Vietnam, was recognized with a prestigious award from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for her plans for a community center that connects elderly...
Over 20 Bands, Artists to Join Epic Musical Bus Tour of Vietnam
Anyone who plays music in Hanoi will tell you it doesn’t pay. Anyone who hosts shows in Hanoi will tell you that doesn’t pay either. Anyone who has toured in Vietnam or the region will tell you it doe...
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 5: The Rainy Season Has Awoken
As last week's storms attest to, the rainy season is about to once again menace the city.
[Photos] Photographer Shin Noguchi Revels in the Oddities Lurking in Quotidian Japan
The same way one doesn’t notice the ease in which air enters one’s nose until getting sick, we too often take for granted the strangeness that surrounds us.
[Video] Stop-Motion Animation Project Retells Vietnam's Starfruit Tale With a Horror Twist
As a common saying goes: "tham thì thâm" (grasp all lose all).
Hanoi’s Rising Techno Scene: Local Artists Strive to Bring Underground Music to Wider Audiences
Underground music in Hanoi is flourishing, and Vietnamese artists are at the forefront. After years brewing at venues like Hanoi Rock City (HRC) and Cama ATK, the city now enjoys huge house and techno...
Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnamese Movies, Digital Subcultures and One Journalist's View of Vietnam
It's Monday, which means it's time for the latest Saigoneer Podcast episode.
[Video] Saigon Electronica Ep. 1: Creating a Community With Heart Beat and HRBR
Editor's note: Over the next few weeks, Saigoneer will feature Saigon Electronica, a video documentary series about the city's vibrant underground music scene, starting with the first episode this wee...
Here Are the First Images of Japan's 2022 Ghibli Theme Park
The beloved Japanese animation studio released images of the much-anticipated theme park, set to open near Nagoya, Japan in 2022.
[Video] Travel Back in Time to Ancient Vietnam Through Animated Series 'Loa Thanh Ruc Lua'
Vietnam’s ancient history has once again proven to be a rich and valuable muse for local storytellers.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
[Illustrations] Mariano di Guglielmo's Vivid Watercolors of Saigon Street Scenes
For Mariano di Guglielmo, an English teacher who has lived in Saigon for about four months, every street is a potential canvas.
