Thi Nguyễn in Music & Arts
The Facetious Gender Politics of Gỗ Lim, Hanoi's Feminist Post-Punk Quintet
In an example of cruel irony, October 20 is when we celebrate annual Vietnam Women's Day, and also the anniversary of the passing of Mai Nga (commonly known as Nga Nhí), the lead singer of Gỗ Lim — a Hanoi-based female post-punk band that, albeit short-lived, struck a blow for women’s representation in rock and metal music in Vietnam in 2011 and 2012.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
'Chuyện Của Pao' Turned a Historic H'Mông Home in Hà Giang Into a Tourist Attraction
The photos don’t do it justice. That’s what you’ll often hear from people who visit Hà Giang to cruise its famed highway loop.
How Vietnam's Muslims Celebrate Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr in Mekong Delta's Châu Đốc
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, yet Vietnamese Muslims represent as little as 0.1% of the country’s population. Most are ethnic Chăm, while a few are foreigners and a few converts. After traveling to Châu Đốc in An Giang Province, where the majority are located, I was mesmerized by the unique cultural mix this community represents.
Văn Tân in Culture
A Brief History of Ông Đồ, Vietnam’s Scholars Whose Calligraphy Is Highly Sought After
To say that Tết gathers together everything most beautiful in Vietnamese culture would not be an exaggeration. More than a threshold between the old year and the new, it is also a time when people feel they can return to, and relive, the traditional values that define them.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
From Dark to Dawn, an Early Morning at Hội An's Duy Hải Fish Market
At 3am, Hội An’s streets resemble dog-gnawed pork bones, licked clean of all scent and viscera. No light, no noise, no movement. But that’s the time you must venture out to witness the Duy Hải Fish Market in action.
Review: 'New Wave' Documentary Is a Surprisingly Personal Dissection of 1980s Nostalgia
Melodic synth-lines and steady electronic drums. Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated. During its high point during the 1980s, however, new wave was hailed as music of the future.
On the Cusp of a Modern New Year, Reflections on a Simpler Tết Past
Every year, as the pages from my block calendar peel off, bringing me towards another Vietnamese New Year, my mind once again fills with nostalgia about an old Tết. Tết in my memory begins with my childhood in a small house nestled under a coconut grove on the outskirts of Bạc Liêu in the Mekong Delta. Those were days of hardship, yet my parents worked hard so that Tết could bloom magnificently for all of us.
A Damaged Masterpiece Reveals How Much We Take Our Cultural Heritage for Granted
A once-damaged national treasure remains on view as if nothing had happened, while other works are displayed with little context — what does this tell us about how art museums preserve Vietnam's cultural heritage and shape our art history narratives today?
Khoi Pham in Arts & Culture
Pot-au-Phở: On the Remnants of French Influence in Vietnam's Daily Lexicon
There’s a noticeable generational difference between the way young and old Vietnamese converse.
Saigoneer Podcast: Unique Hobbies, Mental Health and Nomadic Notes
This week we moved into a recording studio, and we're excited about the much better sound quality listeners will be able to enjoy moving forward!
From the Underground: DJ Nina Nova and the Rise of Saigon's Techno Scene
The rising star delves into her love of techno, industry double standards and Saigon’s growing underground scene.
Inside the 170-Year-Old Homestead of Vuong Hong Sen, Vietnam's Famed Historian
This noble house is one of Saigon's dormant treasures. Dating back to 1848, it once hosted a notable Saigoneer, Vuong Hong Sen, and his family now calls it home. The lives of its current inhabitants i...
Khôi Phạm in Arts & Culture
The Unsolved Riddle Behind Cô Mía, Vietnam's Sugarcane Juice Muse
“Oh this drawing?” chị Liên shouted in Vietnamese over the juicer’s raucous purring. “I don’t know who she is. Isn’t it just an advertisement?”
[Photos] Parkour Meets Fire Spinning in Abandoned Lideco Neighborhood
Back in 2007, construction began on Lideco, which was supposed to become a paradise for Hanoi's super-rich. Like Ciputra or Royal City, it was intended to be an all-inclusive development, with housing...
Saigoneer Podcast: Fruit Fight, and Saigon Duo
It's the start of a new work week, which means there's a new Saigoneer Podcast available for your listening pleasure.
[Illustrations] An Illustrated Homage to Hanoi's Central Districts
“From Hanoi, with love.”
[Video] Finding Zen in the Art of Bottle Balancing
The level of talent involved will make you feel self-conscious about your past failures at Jenga.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 3: The Best Kind of Air 'Pollution'
The third entry in the Saigon Postcards series, our loving messages to the city we call home, focuses on a simple pleasure.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
Dancers, Visual Artists Collaborate at Unique Saigon Arts Festival
From April 16 to 22, the Krossing Over Arts Festival will bring together artists and dancers for performances across Saigon.
Paul Christiansen in Culture
Whale Worship: Exploring the Role of Whales in Vietnam's Coastal Lore
In 1799, the ferocious Tay Son army forced the first Nguyen Emperor, Nguyen Anh, and his troops to flee to the sea. While making their escape, a great storm engulfed the retreating army. As their ship...
Saigoneer Podcast: Ghost Stories, Vietnam's Super-Rich and Cambodian Rock & Roll
It's time to start your week with a hearty dose of the Saigoneer Podcast.
Paul Christiansen in Literature
Rambutan Literary Gives Voice to Southeast Asians at Home and Abroad
This poem by Jenna Lee appears in issue five of Rambutan Literary and serves as a prime example of the graceful, poignant material that spans its first five issues. Founded in 2016, the magazine featu...
[Video] The Elaborate 'Holy Tower' of Caodaism in the Outskirts of Tay Ninh
In Tay Ninh Province’s Hoa Thanh District, a sizable community of Cao Dai followers lives thanks to the existence of the religion’s major temple, the Cao Dai Holy See.
[Photos] A Trip to District 12's Stunning Japanese-Inspired Monastery
If you’re looking for a peaceful escape not far from the city, District 12’s Khanh An Monastery is just the place for you.
Vietnam to Translate Sanskrit Texts at My Son Sanctuary Into Vietnamese, English
Sanskrit texts inscribed on the steles at the My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Hoi An, will be translated with help from Indian experts.
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
The Legacy of Kak Channthy, Cambodia's Rock and Roll Heroine
For many Cambodian music fans, March 20 was a heartbreaking day because Kak Channthy – the 38-year-old female vocal of the band The Cambodian Space Project – passed away in an accident in Phnom P...
[Illustrations] A Whimsical Collection of Vietnam's Most Iconic Architecture Styles in Pixel Form
Have you ever wondered what Vietnam would look like as the setting of a vintage RPG game?
[Video] District 4's Cheerful Hẻm Painter Breathes Life Into Plaster
Saigon's countless narrow alleys and side streets tend to be rather uniform in appearance, making it difficult for newcomers to navigate the megacity we call home. Thanks to one older gentleman, howev...
