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.
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.
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...
Saigoneer Podcast: Deadly Fires, Grab Beats Uber and Building 'Green' in Vietnam
It's been a busy news week in Vietnam, and we're here to break down some of the biggest stories.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 2: Traditional Saigon
Saigon Postcards (formerly Saigon Mixtapes) is our series of loving missives to the city we call home. The second postcard imagines what Saigon would be like if we people had never arrived.
Vietnamese Painting Fetches Record Price at Paris Auction
Nguyen Nam Son’s silk painting 'Thon Nu Bac Ky' (Peasants of Tonkin) sold for 205,000 euros (more than VND 5.7 billion VND) which far exceeded its expected price of 35,000-50,000 euros.
Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnamese Cuisine Abroad, Food Writer Andrea Nguyen and Saving Ancient Art Forms
Saigoneer is back in your earbuds with the latest episode of our podcast.
[Illustrations] A Dreamlike Saigon in Loc Xuan Nguyen's Watercolor Sketches
In this series of urban sketches, illustrator and artist Loc Xuan Nguyen sees Saigon through a melancholic lens.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 1: Bitexco's Lonely Helipad
Saigoneer is proud to announce Saigon Postcards, a new series which pays loving tribute to the city we call home through original illustrations paired with text.
The Beautiful Samurai-Cat Friendship of 'Neko Zamurai' Will Warm Your Heart
Hold on to your seats, cat lovers.
[Video] Lanterns on the River at Saigon's Dieu Phap Pagoda
For Saigon’s Chinese community, the first full moon of the lunar year is an event of paramount importance. They believe that whatever you do to commemorate the occasion will have an overarching impact...
Saigoneer Podcast: Spotify Arrives and the Ties That Bind Vietnam & Japan
We're back in your ears with the latest episode of the Saigoneer Podcast.
[Photos] Japanese Artist Transforms Fruits, Vegetables Into Intricate Works of Art
Intricate geometric patterns etched across avocado skin, delicate flowers sliced into apple flesh, and elaborate anime characters alongside traditional designs carved out of a variety of fruits a...
