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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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 Culture
Doraemon and 25 Years of Fostering Friendship in Vietnam
To a generation of young Saigoneers, there are many things that might conjure up fond memories of childhood. Those remnants of past decades could take the form of once-popular TV series about time-tra...
Khoi Pham in Film & TV
Co Ba Sai Gon: A Reverent Homage to Áo Dài and a Feast for the Eyes, but Not Much Else
When the poster of Co Ba Sai Gon (The Tailor) was unveiled for the first time, you could almost hear the sound of Old Saigon fans’ panties dropping all over town.
Bill Gates Includes 2 Vietnamese-American Authors in List of 5 Top Books in 2017
Bill Gates has included two books by authors with deep connections to Vietnam in his recent list of five great titles he read this year.
Leica Opens First-Ever Vietnam Store in Hanoi
Vietnam’s photography enthusiasts might be glad to find out that German high-end camera brand Leica Camera AG has established an official store in the country.
Meet Kelly Marie Tran, the Asian Hero of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'
Kelly Marie Tran, a Vietnamese-American, was cast in a major role for the upcoming blockbuster Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Vietnamese Comic Series 'Long Than Tuong' to Have Spanish Release Next Year
One of Vietnam’s most decorated comic series is now being translated into a Spanish version, set to be released next year.
[Video] Finding Solace at Saigon's 'Shutterbug' Hẻm Cafe
Editor's note (August 3, 2018): It is with heavy hearts for us to inform you that Tiem Ca Phe Sai Gon Hem was permanently closed in July. However, we feel incredibly lucky to have captured these momen...
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
On Creating Art With the Water From Saigon's Polluted Canals
A new art exhibition in Saigon looks at the relationship between humans and nature, as well as the importance of clean water in daily life.
[Photos] The 89-Year-Old Japanese Grandma Whose Comical Selfies Will Put Yours to Shame
If you are a frequent user of the Internet, chances are you have come across a series of photos featuring an elderly woman in hilarious and bizarre circumstances. The playful shots, which have generat...
The Surprising Health Benefits Behind the Asian Squat
The Asian squat has been getting lots of attention these past few years, but most recently it has been revealed that there may be health benefits to this sitting position.
[Illustrations] Take a 'Feels' Trip Down Memory Lane via These Icons of 2000s Saigon
Back in the days just after the Internet first made an appearance in the country, Vietnamese youngsters used to spend their free time flying kites, watching TV series on VHS tapes and playing 8-bit ga...
Dragonfly Theater Brings Award-Winning Broadway Comedy ‘Lend Me a Tenor’ to Saigon
On Saturday morning, in a small studio at Asia Music & Performing Arts Education, members of the Dragonfly Theater Company were frantically getting ready for rehearsal. On the floor were makeshift sta...
[Photos] Japanese Taxi Driver Captures Yokohama's Nightscapes in Haunting Double Exposure Photos
Japanese taxi driver Issui Enomoto has a knack for double-exposure photos, as shown by these haunting pictures of Japan’s port city Yokohama from behind the wheel of his vehicle.
Vietnamese Photographer Among 6 in Asia-Pacific Selected for Global Talent Program
Hanoi-based Vietnamese photographer Maika Elan was recently selected as one of six creatives to watch in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Khoi Pham in Film & TV
Short Film 'The Old Ways' Reminds Us Why We Love Vietnam's Northwest
Travelogues are a special genre of video. For those who have set foot in the actual locations featured, perhaps nothing could compare with being able to immerse oneself in the local landscape and cult...
Dana Filek-Gibson in Arts & Culture
A Very Saigon Collaboration: Hey Camel Ceramics and Linda Mai Phung’s Workwear Collection
Saigon breeds unusual collaborations. Take a walk around most neighborhoods and you’ll spot the odd storefront that sells both cơm chiên and motorbike parts, or an entrepreneurial spirit who’s managed...
Exploring the Human Condition Through a Fusion of the Familiar and the Strange
In his most recent exhibition, "Paradise Lost", Hoi An-based artist Hoang Thanh Vinh Phong offers a menacing interpretation of day-to-day life. In a selection of seven works of art spanning multiple m...
[Video] Short Film Retells Vietnam's Origin Story With Sleek Visuals, Impressive Soundtrack
A refreshing take on Vietnam’s most well-known folk tale, this 2017 retelling of ‘Con Rong Chau Tien’ manages to retain the gist of the legend while improving on the traditional storyline with some im...
For Saigon's Circus Performers, Money Is a Problem. But the Lack of Viewers Hurts the Most.
Nestled in a corner of Phu Nhuan District’s Gia Dinh Park, the Phuong Nam Circus is hidden under a canopy of towering trees. The main facility is an old, patched-up canvas that’s seen better days, whi...
[Video] This Quirky Stop-Motion Video Shows the History of Women's Fashion in Vietnam
Not long ago, we introduced you to the different styles of Vietnamese men through the years, now it’s time for a history lesson on female fashion.
