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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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?
[Photos] Saigoneers Swamp Bui Vien Last Night to Celebrate Halloween
Ever since District 1's Bui Vien Street was turned into a pedestrian-only zone, the main thoroughfare through Saigon’s backpacker quarter has become a mecca for city dwellers to celebrate any festive ...
Khoi Pham in Culture
Saigon's Creepiest 'Haunted' Places and the Urban Legends Around Them
Saigon has no shortage of eerie stories surrounding the city’s most famous “haunted” locations. Vietnam’s impressive leaps in wealth and modernization haven’t stopped local citizens from leaving a spe...
The Most Popular TV Series of Our Saigon Childhood in Pixel Form
In the age of internet streaming services, gone are the days when our selection of entertainment was limited to what local TV stations broadcasted. These illustrations by Vietnamese artist Tu Bui will...
[Photos] Czech Photographer Showcases Both the Energy and Idyll of Life in Hanoi
Photographer Mate Valter traveled to Vietnam’s capital in February 2016 to document the unique energy of Hanoi's daily life.
With E.P 2.0, Nhung Dua Tre Gives Voice to Hanoi's Youth
Ahead of the Saigon release of E.P 2.0 tonight, Hanoi-based rock band Nhung Dua Tre provides a glimpse into the inspiration behind their latest effort.
Christie's Auctions Its First Made-in-Vietnam Lacquer Artwork in London
A handmade lacquer work designed by Tran Nu Yen Khe was part of an auction at Christie’s in London on Wednesday.
New York Exhibition 'After Darkness' Brings Southeast Asian Art to Light
New York has finally started showing Southeast Asian artists the appreciation they deserve, greatly benefiting the featured, as well as those interested in cross-cultural exploration.
[Video] How Vietnam's Male Fashion Has Changed Through the Decades
Ever wonder how Vietnam’s standards for male beauty have changed over the years?
[Video] A Múa Lân Performer on Becoming One With the Lion
Whether it's the eve of Tet or the Mid-Autumn Festival, the opening of a new business or some other auspicious occasion, Saigon’s lion dance troupes, like their counterparts across the country, a...
Khoi Pham in Arts & Culture
Retro Typeface 'Cotdien' Is an Homage to Vietnam's Old Hand-Drawn Signage
Vietnam’s sense of aesthetics is going through a retro revolution: from niche cafes playing nhạc vàng and an upcoming feature-length film on áo dài artisans to retrofitted album covers of to...
[Photos] Color and Lights: Tet Trung Thu on D5's Lantern Street
Every fall, District 5’s Luong Nhu Hoc Street becomes a melee of lanterns, kids’ toys and dragon dance paraphernalia ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
[Video] When Studio Ghibli's Totoro, Kiki and No-Face Roam Our World
Ever wondered what your life would be like if characters from Ghibli movies exist in the real world?
Dana Filek-Gibson in Arts & Culture
Board Game Van Tich Turns Vietnamese Legends Into Action Figures
Step into Nguyen Huu Tu’s office, and it’s pretty clear from the get-go how he feels about action figures. Running along one side of the room are several display cases, each housing an array of superh...
Vietnam Among First Countries to Screen Van Gogh Biopic 'Loving Vincent'
Local lovers of Van Gogh rejoice as Loving Vincent is announced to be released in October in a number of countries, including Vietnam.
[Photos] Vietnam's National Film Studio Is the Perfect Backdrop for a Horror Flick
Once the country’s most prestigious film institution, the Vietnam Feature Film Studio (VFS) is now a shadow of its glorious past self.
[Photos] Local Designer Puts International Pop Divas on Retro Saigon Album Covers
Vietnam’s crop of sterling photo manipulators strike again with a retro makeover of today's chart-topping female artists.
Katy Perry Showcases 3 Outfits by Local Designer Cong Tri During 'Witness' Tour
Vietnamese fashion designs are getting more and more attention on the international scene recently.
[Photos] Saigon’s Glass Paper Lantern Makers Are Back in Business
In an age where more than a few traditional Vietnamese handicrafts face extinction, a slew of orders have revived District 11’s Phu Binh lantern-making community ahead of this year’s Tet Trung Thu.
With Cambodian Release, ‘First They Killed My Father’ Could Be Eligible for Oscar Submission
As buzz grows around Angelina Jolie’s most recent directorial effort, First They Killed My Father, the film could become this year’s Oscar submission from Cambodia.
Award-Winning Vietnamese Graphic Novel ‘Long Than Tuong’ Released as English E-Book
The first volume of Vietnam’s award-winning graphic novel Long Than Tuong is now available as an English-language e-book.
