Nguyễn Bình Phương's Tale of Magical Realism Revels in Absurdity
“Clip-clop, clip-clop.” So goes the sound of the water buffalo hooves pulling a wagon through the highlands against the magenta sky of an unending sunset. The wagon is guided by a nameless driver, and onboard are three travelers: a veteran referred to as “the Man” and two other younger men.
I Grew up Among Ducks in the Mekong Delta. They Always Remind Me of Home.
On a recent ritual walk around my suburb, I was held up by the sight of a middle-aged man with his “fur kid.” I introduced myself and when he heard the word “Vietnam,” his eyes lit up and with a smile as he tumbled out the words: “The Mekong Delta. Ducks.”
In Hien's Debut Album, a Self-Discovery Journey Through Vietnam, Hungary and the US
After a decade writing and gathering materials, Hien recently published her debut album, “Trăng Qua.”
‘Echoes of Tonkin’ Exhibition Challenges Clichéd Narratives of 20th-Century Vietnamese Art
“Echoes of Tonkin: Vietnamese Modern Art” opens in Hong Kong to challenge reductive narratives and clichés about 20th-century Vietnamese art.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Art Project ‘The Lottery of Forgotten Dreams’ Is a Wild Alchemy of Vé Số and Photography
Vé số ticket number 984430 yields a magenta fish contorting atop a ghostly image of an apartment high-rise in Tân Phú in “The Lottery of Forgotten Dreams – Topographies of the Unseen,” an art project by photographer Christian Berg. The experimental project, available to view in full online, employs computer technology to combine photography, numerology, and mythology and playfully reimagine how one visualizes Saigon.
In MARG1N, a Resolute Return to Print Media That Dissects Southeast Asian Cinema
The joy of reading, for most of my life, had been primarily grounded in the joy of learning, feeling, and thinking through words, independent of medium. That is, until college, when I found myself repeatedly longing for Thursday mornings, when the week’s freshly printed student newspaper would arrive neatly folded and stacked, ready to be spread over the dining-hall table like wrapping paper. I came to realize then that the joy of reading was not simply about words; it was also about the tactile touch of paper and of the inexplicable satisfaction of flipping through pages bigger than my hands could reasonably manage.
By Preserving Tradition, Honoring Creativity and Showcasing Sustainability, Young Vietnamese Chefs Excel at Ngon Challenge by Marriott International
The glossy menus, sleek decor, and iconic logos of international hotel restaurants often obscure the human stories behind each dish. While catering to global guests, these restaurants often serve meals with origins in family kitchens and regional culinary traditions. Young, local chefs balance nostalgic associations with contemporary techniques and creative expression to create these menus. Returning for its second year this past September, Ngon Challenge continued to celebrate and nurture Vietnamese culinary talent across Marriott International’s hotels and resorts in Vietnam.
Review: ‘Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell’ Is a Soul-Searching Mission in the Lâm Đồng Mist
On the pastures of slow cinema where Andrei Tarkovsky, Tsai Ming-liang and Theo Angelopoulos reside, Phạm Thiên Ân's debut feature, Bên Trong Vỏ Kén Vàng (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell), has made its mark as a notable entry for its distinctly Vietnamese vistas, tones and essence.
[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.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Music & Arts
A Present Retrospective: Fusing Past, Present and Propaganda
Work Room Four’s current exhibition, A Present Retrospective, connects past and present in the iconic work of Cuban graphic artist René Mederos and the responses of five contemporary Vietnamese artist...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From the grits of Saigon's chợ cũ to the city from above, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Khoi Pham in Music & Arts
[Video] Saigoneer Session: Ca Hoi Hoang's Paper Dream
The first time I met Ca Hoi Hoang frontman Nguyen Viet Thanh and band leader Nguyen Thanh Minh was in the midst of a sweltering Saigon afternoon.
Cinema Department Attends Cannes to Promote Vietnam as Film Destination
As the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival gets under way, Vietnam is hoping to generate interest among filmmakers and production companies from around the world in its push to become a major movie-makin...
Young Saigoneers Turn Manhole Covers Into Street Art
Street art sporadically pops up in the most hopeless of places, and this time it’s Saigon's lowly manhole covers.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Music & Arts
French Hip-Hop Meets Viet Rap in New Piu Piu Collaboration
As Vietnam’s underground hip-hop scene begins to emerge into the spotlight, one of its rising stars joins forces with an up-and-coming foreign artist to create a track for worldwide release.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Hue's intricate lanterns to a Saigon dusk, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
