in Film & TV

Vietnam Arrests 7 Suspects Behind Streaming Site HiAnime on Piracy Charges

As part of the current crackdown on intellectual property infringement, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security recently took down a major network of websites providing illegal anime streaming.

in Quãng 8

Dropping the Disguise: The Evolution of Punk Band Cút Lộn Towards More Radicality

In recent years, CÚT LỘN has cemented themselves as one of the most recognizable hardcore punk bands to emerge from the Vietnamese underground scene.

in Music & Arts

From TikTok to Bars, a Group of Young Artists Brings Đờn Ca Tài Tử to Unexpected Venues

“If you happen to pass by Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt Street in Hồ Chí Minh City There’s a strange bar with a Mekong theme Where cải lươ...

Khôi Phạm

in Culture

Home Is Where the Bum Gun Is

In the 2010s, my journey to study abroad took me to Singapore. Being a tiny person in an enormous city was a huge undertaking for a teenager, as I had to adapt to countless changes, from minute to major, at once: living in a different language, academic pressures, foreign customs and cuisines, and being away from my family. Gradually, things fell into place. The public transport worked well; the accent got more familiar; and I didn’t miss bánh mì and cơm tấm nearly as much as I thought I would; but there was one thing I never managed to entirely overcome — the bum gun-shaped void in my heart.

in Film & TV

Review: From Czechia, ‘Trường Hè, 2001’ Bridges Family Divides, Both Onscreen and in Real Life

Summer School, 2001, directed by Czech-Vietnamese writer and director Dužan Duong, was first released last year and has received critical acclaim within the Czech Republic and Europe. Now, the film has come to Vietnam, where it is available in Galaxy, Cinestar, and Beta theaters across Saigon, Hanoi and Đà Nẵng.

in Music & Arts

This Wedding Is Too Boring to Nhậu, Let's Put on Some Miền Tây Remix

While phasing in and out of sleep on a coach in the Mekong Delta, have you ever been jolted awake by the bouncing beats of a Vinahouse version of ‘Quê em mùa nước lũ’ (Flooding Season in My Hometown)? Or, a mindless TikTok scroll would bring up the catchy tune of ‘Lấy cây kim may đồ’ (Pass Me the Sewing Needle) that’s trending nationwide.

in Film & TV

Indie Short Film 'Saigon Kiss' Is a Quintessential Saigon Queer Love Story

Is there a meet-cute more characteristically Saigon than a motorbike breakdown and subsequent friendly assist from a stranger?

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in Film & TV

[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.

in Music & Arts

[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.

in Arts & Culture

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.

in Culture

[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.

in Arts & Culture

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.

in Literature

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.

in Arts & Culture

Vietnamese Artisans, US Designer Collaborate for New York Fashion Week

Last weekend, as fashion-forward Saigoneers were lining up around the block to catch a glimpse of Vietnam’s first-ever H&M, one of the country’s own fashion businesses was making waves at New York Fas...

in Film & TV

Thich Nhat Hanh Documentary 'Walk With Me' Out This Month in Global Theaters

Walk With Me is a new documentary centered on Vietnamese Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh. The feature, spanning one hour and twenty-eight minutes, focuses on Hanh's three years of monastic life b...

in Arts & Culture

CGV Opens 50th Cineplex, Plans $200m Expansion in Vietnam by 2020

CJ CGV, the South Korean cinema chain that dominates Vietnam's theater market, plans to invest US$200 million in more outlets by 2020.

in Music & Arts

The Curious Recent Cases of Plagiarism in Vietnamese Art

Plagiarism not only runs rampant in Vietnam’s online creative industry, but also in more traditional art forms such as oil paintings and lacquer.

Dana Filek-Gibson

in Arts & Culture

[Video] Coi: A Creative Plea for Less Horn-Honking on Saigon’s Streets

Vietnamese traffic has a bad reputation among both local and foreign drivers for its chaotic nature. From sidewalk driving to texting behind the wheel and creative interpretations of local street sign...

in Music & Arts

[Video] There's Now a Mekong Delta-Style Remix of 'Despacito,' Because Why Not

Who would have thought that merging ‘Despacito’ with Vietnamese bolero influences would make a great Khmer-sounding hit?

in Arts & Culture

Vietnam's Representative Wins Mrs. Universe 2017

A Vietnamese-American woman was recently crowned Mrs. Universe 2017, making it the first time a Vietnamese participant has ever achieved the title in such a pageant.

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] Japanese Artisan Creates Meticulous Animal Sculptures From Sugar Syrup

These handmade Japanese confections are almost too exquisite to eat.

Khoi Pham

in Arts & Culture

Young Saigoneers Encapsulate the Charm of Ben Thanh Market in Mini Wooden Model

There’s no doubt that Saigon is a charming city. From internationally produced films such as The Quiet American to colorful art projects by local illustrators, the city’s landmarks seem to be popular ...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] Chinese Photoshop Genius Reimagines 'Game of Thrones' Characters as Street Vendors

The most recent season of 'Game of Thrones' may have ended on Sunday, but fans of the show can now visit their favorite characters in China - through Photoshop, that is.

in Literature

Vietnamese, English Versions of Acclaimed Art Book 'The First Journey' Now Available for Order

Fans of 'The First Journey' will be glad to find out that both the Vietnamese and English versions of the book are now available to order.

in Music & Arts

Popular EDM Duo The Chainsmokers to Play Saigon in September

Pop duo The Chainsmokers will perform in Saigon on September 14 as a part of the Asian leg of their “Memories…Do not open” world tour.

in Music & Arts

Ariana Grande Cancels Saigon Concert 4 Hours Before Showtime

Saigon’s Arianators must be feeling devastated at the moment.

Michael Tatarski

in Arts & Culture

How Virtual Life Is Transforming Saigon's Public Spaces

Observe public spaces in Saigon for any amount of time and you'll quickly notice many interactions take place in both the physical world and within the virtual sphere. Whether it’s teenagers taking In...