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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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?
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Saigon street at dusk to traditional Chinese decor, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Gambling and Globalization in Old Saigon: A Brief History of Số Đề in Vietnam
Since Vietnam started opening up its economy decades ago, the country has been developing at an impressive rate thanks to the effects of globalization, foreign investment and a constant exchange of cu...
Indonesia's 'Islamic Punk' Movement Marries Religious Faith With Musical Rebellion
In Indonesia, music aficionados are combining two elements that appear to be in complete contrast – Islamic faith and punk – to create positive changes in their community.
[Photos] Masashi Wakui's Colorful Tokyo Vision
There are a lot of things to love about Tokyo: the food, the quirky fashion and the rich history. However, for photographer Masashi Wakui, it’s the city’s nightscapes that fascinate him the most.
[Photos] A Group of History Buffs Have Recreated a Royal Costume From Scratch
A group of young history buffs recently accomplished an impressive feat: reconstructing an old Vietnamese royal costume by referencing an image.
[Photos] A Post-Apocalyptic Look Into 3A Station on Its Last Legs
A month after receiving its closing notice, 3A Station has gone from hip youth culture alley to post-apocalyptic wasteland.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Hoi An's night lanterns to a spectacular Saigon sunset, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Passenger in Infamous United Airlines Video Was an Accomplished Pre-1975 Musician in Saigon
As the story of David Dao, the doctor who was forcefully removed from United Airlines Flight 3411 last Sunday, continues to unfold, Vietnamese media outlets have recounted the Vietnamese-American pass...
[Video] This Is What Happens When You Merge Cai Luong and Justin Bieber's 'What Do You Mean?'
Do: watch this video to improve your cải lương skills. Don’t: use this video to practice English pronunciation.
'A Year with Thirteen Moons' Brings Vintage Style to the Lunar Calendar
“A Year with Thirteen Moons” is Rice Creative’s tribute to Vietnam’s cultural beliefs about numbers, dates and fortune.
Hands-On Vietnam Brings Intensive, Affordable Workshops to Saigon's Budding Filmmakers
In a city brimming with actors, producers and filmmakers, it’s hard to imagine that a communal space for collaboration didn't already exist. Until last week, informal spaces like Facebook groups offer...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From jocular street vendors to modernist buildings, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] Taipei Style: A City of Effortless Cool
Taipei’s street style is an eclectic mix of old Hollywood icons, Japanese minimalism and a whole lot of berets.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From city sunrises to Ba Chieu Market at sunset, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
'The Best We Could Do': A Memoir of One Vietnamese Family’s Journey to America
At a time when the United States is grappling with its stance on immigration, the memoir of a Vietnamese-American writer has given a human face to the country's refugees.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From cyclo drivers to street vendors, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Arts & Culture
Art for You Returns to Saigon
In Vietnam and around the world, Art with a capital "A" can be an intimidating subject. The pressure to "get" abstract or contemporary artwork has a way of deterring some from becoming museum goers or...
Saigon Is Getting a Natural History Museum in D9
Saigon’s cultural scene is getting a facelift soon, as local officials just broke ground on the city’s first-ever Natural History Museum.
[Photos] World-Famous Divas Meet Saigon Street Food
Vietnam’s cybersphere is a magical place.
[Memes] Watch King Kong Stomp Across Vietnam
One week into the release of Kong: Skull Island, the hype surrounding the Hollywood blockbuster may have leveled off in real life – officials are no longer trying to erect a life-sized statue of the g...
