in Music & Arts

Reframing War Memories via the Western-Vietnamese Photographic Perspectives

War photographs, often viewed as windows into the past tragedies, are believed to offer an immediate representation of reality. But what lies beyond the frame? What purpose did these images serve, and who were they meant for?

Khôi Phạm

in Music & Arts

For the Love of Boney M: How a West German Disco Quartet Charmed Vietnam

“You’re gonna make me cry. That’s awesome,” Liz Mitchell exclaimed. Overwhelmed with disbelief, she covered her face and then clutched her black satin dress tightly. It was a rare moment of uplifting musical goodness when the past and the present of Vietnam’s music scene collided.

in Culture

In the Latest Issue of 'No One Magazine,' 15 Stories From Vietnam's Queer Communities

No One Magazine, a print publication about underground queer nightlife around the world, is focusing on Vietnam for its second issue with corresponding launch events in Hanoi and Saigon. 

in Music & Arts

Tranh Kiếng, Southern Vietnam's Glass Painting, Is at Risk of Disappearing

I’ve always loved marveling at the colorful tranh kiếng hung in our altar room whenever I get a chance to visit my mother’s hometown. Since I was little, the paintings have been an indispensable part of my grandparents’ homestead. Tranh kiếng is present everywhere in people’s houses in the town, but I’ve never thought to ask who created unique art pieces that perfectly encapsulate the soul of the southern community.

Paul Christiansen

in Loạt Soạt

Sao La, Self, Hmong Identity: The Many Layers of Poetry Collection 'Primordial'

A book of poetry all about sao la?

in Music & Arts

In Huế, ‘Allusive Panorama’ Exhibition Reveals a Tender Side of Hàm Nghi Through His Art

An exhibition offering a rare glimpse into the artistic life of Hàm Nghi, Vietnam's exiled emperor who dedicated his life to art, with brushstrokes and landscapes reflecting his deep longing towards a distant homeland that he could never return to.

in Music & Arts

Lý Trực Sơn Exhibition Invites Us to Marvel at Lacquer, Dó Paper, Earth's Material Beauty

Despite being three distinct elements with their own texture, depth, and presence, lacquer, paper, and earth are all rooted in nature. Rather than searching for hidden meanings, Lý Trực Sơn’s solo exhibition at Vin Gallery invites us to engage with the works instinctively and experience the interplay of pigments, natural elements, and form, shaped by the artist’s innovative process and the passage of time.

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in Culture

[Photos] The Fabulous Lives of Hong Kong's Shop Cats

Life as a cat in Hong Kong’s shops is fabulous.

in Culture

[Photos] The Discomfort of a Rush Hour Ride on Tokyo's Metro

Though it’s not (yet) a reality for Saigoneers, there are certain discomforts inherent in a rush hour commute by metro.

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] This Thai Cosplayer Is the Light the World Needs

If you’re still looking for costume ideas this Halloween, look no further than Toffie, Thailand’s schoolgirl cosplayer extraordinaire.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From boats and bicycles to the epic landscapes of the Central Highlands, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Culture

[Photos] 3D-Printed Chess Set Features Famous Figures From Vietnamese History

A trio of RMIT students are turning heads after creating a custom chess set featuring famous figures from Vietnamese history.

in Arts & Culture

Youth Culture Library Finds Niche in Saigon Cafe

The Youth Culture Library sets out to become an outlet of self-expression for young people and non-commercial artists through the ultimate form of alternative culture: zines.   

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From countryside farms to Saigon street food, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

Dana Filek-Gibson

in Film & TV

[Video] Mini-Documentary Weaves Visual Portrait of Ta Oi Artisan

As urban Vietnam charges into the future, connecting to the global economy during its modern development, the traditions of rural Vietnam stay alive through a handful of artisans.

in Arts & Culture

[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Plaaastic, Fashion Blogger Extraordinaire and Queen of Virtual Emo

In this installment of Renovation Generation, the Hanoi-based podcast team sits down with Plaaastic, the mysterious mind behind one of the region’s most popular fashion blogs.

in Music & Arts

Saigon Dance Crew Breaks It Down on Nguyen Hue

Since opening in April 2015, Nguyen Hue walking street has become the “it” place for young Saigoneers to take a stroll and hang out with friends. But for Good Morning Vietnam, a group of six energetic...

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From shipyards to fishing villages, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Culture

[Photos] National History Museum Celebrates 90s ‘Luxury Items’ From Hanoi

In the age of Instagram, selfies and social media, it’s easy to forget how much Vietnam has changed in the last few decades.

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] Saigon Stormaggedon Gives Birth to Epic Memes

As torrential downpours flood the city for the third straight day, Saigoneers are finding solace – or, at the very least, entertainment – by way of the internet.

Brian Letwin

in Arts & Culture

‘Co Hau Gai’: Horror as a Vessel for History

Vietnamese cinema is entering a new stage of development, one in which Vietnam-based directors are seeking to create compelling storylines that keep up with the industry’s ever-increasing production q...

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] Photographer Highlights Tokyo’s Surrealistic Neon-Lit Nightscape

The first time Liam Wong visited Tokyo, he was captivated by the buzzing energy of the Japanese capital. Enamored of its crowded streets and lively nightlife, Wong returned to Tokyo for a second trip,...

in Arts & Culture

[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Hoang Duc Minh’s Socially Conscious Startup

In its most recent episode, Hanoi’s Renovation Generation podcast profiles techie Hoang Duc Minh.

in Arts & Culture

#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From waterfalls to power lines to a sea of umbrellas, this is what we saw through our lens this week.

in Music & Arts

After Curatorial Shift, Saigon Artbook Delivers Best Exhibition to Date

Founder Dang Thanh Long and curator Shyevin S’ng talk about the work behind Saigon Artbook’s sixth edition and what the future holds for the local nonprofit art initiative.

in Film & TV

Vietnam Submits 'Yellow Flowers' to Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film

Will Vietnam’s wistful childhood film do as well on the Oscar stage as it did at home?

in Arts & Culture

[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week

From an Art Deco train station in Da Lat to Mui Ne's pristine sand dunes, this is what we saw through our lens this week.