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.
A Visit to Hanoi's Birdsong Clubs: Have You Heard the Call of the Oriental White-Eye?
Birdsong clubs, a tradition originating from China, are one of Hanoi’s hidden gems. If you’re willing to really look for them, it’s possible to find huge collections of birds kept in finely decorated ...
[Illustrations] Saigon's Quaint Chaos in Nguyen Hoang Huy's Black-and-White Sketches
Nguyen Hoang Huy's simple ink-and-paper sketches, which can be found on his Behance page, capture the rough charms of Saigon's cramped dwellings and riverways.
Researchers Discover 1,000-Year-Old Cham Architectural Remnants in Binh Dinh
Twenty years ago, the Cha Ray Temple ruins were identified as an excavation area along with 14 others in Binh Dinh.
[Video] The Drag Queens Firing Up Hanoi's Nightlife
For over two months, a tantalizing new event has been firing up Hanoi's nightlife: drag queens in burlesque outfits death dropping on stage.
Thi Nguyen in Arts & Culture
Feminist Art Project 'Lip Xinh' Is an Archive of Unabashed Intimacies
Located inside a modest space on the fourth floor of a cafe, the Lip Xinh exhibition made its statement the moment you set foot inside the space: the act of simply confronting your private parts ...
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 4: Mourning the Fallen
Saigon has lost some of its oldest citizens recently, and in this installment of our Saigon Postcard series, we pay our respects.
Q&A: Over a Hundred Street Artists Visit Hue for Annual Meeting of Styles Event
Since 2002, a collective known as Meeting of Styles has been organizing street art events around the world. According to its website, it is “an international network of graffiti artists and aficionado...
[Video] Short Film Captures the Diversity of Vietnamese From All Walks of Life
A Journey Through the People of Vietnam depicts the candid moments of a wide range of the everyday lives of Vietnamese across the country.
[Photos] The New, Illusory Trompe-l'œil Murals on Hanoi's Railway Arches
On one end of Long Bien Bridge, so far from the often-photographed main structure that it's considered by many to be a separate attraction in its own right, a massive art project fills the sealed arch...
[Illustrations] Check out These Charming Watercolor Paintings of Traditional Hanoian Cuisine
In a capital city that feels like it’s in constant flux, there’s always one thing you can rely on: the refined art of Hanoian cuisine.
[Video] Vietnamese Acrobat Duo 'Giang Brothers' Wow Britain With Breathtaking Balancing Act
Two Vietnamese acrobats recently became the talk of the nation in the UK after a stellar performance in the latest episode of the reality TV show Britain’s Got Talent.
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.
