But What Even Is an Expat: Unpacking the Highly Contentious Term, in Vietnam and Abroad
“Expat is a racist as hell term” — this is the take of Misan Harriman on the popular internet show SubwayTakes. The ...
Adrien Jean in Travel
The Enigmatic Neon-Lit World in the Mist of Sapa
Is there a more atmospheric place in Vietnam than Sapa on a misty night?
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Review: Pieces of Me | Nao Yoshioka (feat. Mỹ Anh)
Mỹ Anh has come a long way since becoming the runner-up of The Heroes in 2021. Five years later, now with a full-length album and a spectrum of singles and extended plays under her belt, the Hanoi-based artist has proven to be one of the most dynamic singer-songwriter-producer of her generation.
Art Exhibition ‘Limerence’ Explores Where Romantic Desire Distorts Into Obsession
Thom Nguyen utilizes portraiture and depictions of mushrooms and organic objects to explore the concept of limerence in a solo exhibition at Permanently Closed Gallery in Thảo Điền, beginning Friday, August 28.
How Vinahouse Fosters Sonic Belonging in Modern Saigon's Queer Collectives
If you spend a night wandering along Bùi Viện Walking Street and its dense concentration of bars and clubs, you will almost certainly hear the same sound spilling from multiple directions: fast, pounding basslines layered with Vietnamese pop melodies, punctuated by dramatic buildups and explosive drops. If you fall into the right algorithm on TikTok, you might encounter these same sounds circulating as background audio. This music is Vinahouse. Its ever-presence in both physical and digital spaces makes it one of the most recognizable yet least critically examined musical forms in contemporary Vietnam.
Xuân Phương in Culture
Inside Tế Tiêu, Home to Vietnam's Rare 'Land Puppet' Performances
Bidding goodbye to central Hanoi, I took the National Road 21B to reach Tế Tiêu Neighborhood, a small community in Đại Nghĩa Township of Hanoi’s Mỹ Đức District. This fertile patch of land by the Đáy River is the cradle of a unique form of traditional folk art: Tế Tiêu puppetry.
How Quy Nhơn's Old Cemetery Slowly Expands up Vũng Chua Mountain
You might miss it if you were driving past, but once you walk down a small hẻm off Quy Nhơn’s main Tây Sơn Street, the massive cemetery sprawls in all directions.
All Aboard the Languorous 35-Hour Train From Hanoi to Saigon
The train connecting Vietnam’s largest cities takes 35 hours. Yet even after the first time I finished the trip, I was already coming up with excuses for why I needed to do it again. For me, the journey is much more than a chance for great views and time to reflect. It’s an exploration of life itself.
[Photos] 19th Century Japanese Scroll Depicts Raucous Fart Battles
Though some may try to deny it, everyone loves a good fart joke, and it seems the 19th-century Japanese were no different.
Saigon Spaces: Huy Nguyen's Home for Repurposed Vintage Treasures
Huy Nguyen’s lovingly restored colonial-era bolt-hole, tucked away above a hẻm off Nguyen Hue, is a masterclass in making the best use of small spaces. As the owner of Mountain Retreat restaurant, Ngu...
Ariana Grande to Bring Dangerous Woman Tour to Saigon
Arianators in Vietnam assemble: your favorite American pop sensation is making her Saigon debut in August this year.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From serviced apartments to cozy izakayas, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
In Search of Lost Time: The Story of Vietnam's Single-Screen Cinemas
Once upon a time, like the rest of the world, Vietnam’s metropolises were home to a plethora of single-screen cinemas. Unfortunately, with the arrival of television, VCRs and DVD players, these relics...
[Photos] Cambodian Artist Breathes Life Into Intricate Sketches With Digital Enhancement
Watch closely as flora and fauna, the sun and stars are brought to life under the hands of Cambodian artist Visoth Kakvei.
[Photos] Local Artists Create Colorful, Lively Traffic Safety Illustrations
A group of local artists has created a traffic safety project which uses colorful illustrations to educate the public on how to drive properly.
[Photos] Taiwanese Art Project Turns Dirty Water Into Frozen Popsicles
These popsicles will make you sick, but they’ll also teach you a valuable lesson about water pollution.
[Photos] Artist Captures Old Edo's Remnants in Busy Tokyo
Shinji Tsuchimochi's ukiyo-e illustrations breathe nostalgia into Japan's cool and modern capital.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Saigon hẻm life to fish baskets, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
$350,000 Vietnamese Painting Sold at Christie's Allegedly a Fraud
According to art dealers and collectors, rampant counterfeits may devalue Vietnamese paintings on the international market.
[Photos] A Tour of Hong Kong's Cramped 'Kowloon Walled City'
Today Hong Kong is known for its sleek modernity and space-age skyscrapers, but not long ago it was home to a massive unplanned residential block known as Kowloon Walled City.
Khoi Pham in Literature
Award-Winning Vietnamese Children's Book 'The First Journey' Finally Released
It’s been over a year since we wrote about The First Journey, the award-winning children's book that clinched the top prize at 2016’s Asia-wide Scholastic Picture Book Award competition.
[Illustrations] 'Sai Gon 3 Met Vuong' Is a Love Letter to Our Saigon Childhood
Within a three-square-meter block in Saigon, one can neatly fit in many things: an entire mom-and-pop shop, a barber shop, or even the dining area of a street food stall.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From a morning in Thi Nghe Market to a duck noodles stall in the rain, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Japanese Photographer Releases Photobook on Tokyo's Stray Cats
In Masayuki Oki’s book, when it comes to cats, personality is more important than typical cuteness.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
'Girls Rock Asia' Brings Together Female Musicians From Across Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia isn’t particularly well-known for its live music scene. Major international acts might only play Bangkok or Singapore, if they stop in the region at all. Home-grown acts are common, but...
[Photos] Rainy Season in Vietnam: An Ode to Boats, Raincoats and Flooding
Elsewhere in the world, a heavy bout of rain might not be a big deal. However in Vietnam, where flooding is a common occurrence, the rainy season is a prime occasion for the country’s shutterbugs to c...
'Em Chua 18' Is Vietnam's First Film to Have Foreign Remakes
Foreign filmmakers are seeking to remake Em Chua 18, Vietnam's biggest domestically produced box-office hit to date.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Saigon skyline to Art Deco facades, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
