Dispatch From Udine: Vietnam's Cinema Reaches the World Stage While Rooted in Local Culture
Vietnamese cinema experienced a watershed moment at the 28th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy.
Short Story Collection 'Gills' Pieces Together a Raw and Complex Portrait of Saigon
Saigon’s landscape looks dramatically different from how it did three or even two decades ago. As the country’s economic powerhouse, Saigon has seen rapid urban development: new highrises like Landmark 81 and the Bitexco Financial Tower that now define the city’s skyline, new urban infrastructure like the Ba Son Bridge and Saigon’s first metro line, as well as the city’s expansion into areas like District 7’s Phú Mỹ Hưng and District 2’s Thủ Thiêm. If the west has long viewed Saigon under the shadow of war, it is clear that such a rigid frame fails to contain the Saigon of today, whose entropic inner life seems to constantly overflow; with motorbikes onto sidewalks, loud honks through windows, and rainpour over Saigon’s riverbeds.
Paul Christiansen in Culture
Whale Worship: Exploring the Role of Whales in Vietnam's Coastal Lore
In 1799, the ferocious Tây Sơn army forced the first Nguyễn Emperor, Nguyễn Ánh, and his troops to flee to the sea. While making their escape, a great storm engulfed the retreating army. As their ship’s mast shivered and the hull shuddered, threatening to break it into splinters, a great whale rose from the depths. It lifted the emperor's boat and carried him and his men to safety. To thank the animal, Ánh bestowed upon whales the official title of "Nam Hải Cự Tộc Ngọc Lân Thượng Đẳng Thần," which was shortened to Cá Ông, or “Lord Fish.”
A Special 'Doraemon' Episode Taking Place in Vietnam Will Be Released in May
After decades of watching Doraemon and his close friend groups adventure to all sorts of strange lands from the deepest trenches on Earth to fantastical planets, fans of the beloved cat robot in Vietnam will finally see our country in the cartoon series.
Paul Christiansen in In Plain Sight
An Ode to Saigon’s Chò Nâu Trees
It’s too cold for chò nâu to grow where I’m from, but we still gave it an English name: dipterocarp.
Mầm in Music & Arts
Vietnamese Painter Một Quả Tắc Creates an Intimate and Gentle World on Silk
Silk is an inherently finicky, demanding medium. Yet from the very first encounter, Quế Hương had chose to embrace its temperament and has devoted herself to it for nearly a decade.
Mầm in Ton-sur-Ton
Into the Earthy, Quirky World of Kramahan's Accessories and Clothing
We paid Nhật, the founder of Kramahan.Clothing , a visit on a windy day in Saigon. This room in the heart of the city has ...
ACV Proposes Moving 90% of Saigon's Overseas Flights to Long Thành
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has proposed plans to transfer flight operations in Hồ Chí Minh City from Tân Sơ...
[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.
[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?
