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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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 city lights to Con Dao's island vistas, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Illustrations] The Rustic Charm of South Korea's Mom-and-Pop Shops
While Hallyu fans take an interest in Korean culture because of its massive entertainment industry and eye-catching fashion sense, South Korean artist Me Kyeoung Lee pays homage to the count...
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Saving the City's Soul: The Release of Saigon Supersound, Vol. 1
Despite being subject to a bombardment of ruthless changes, Saigon is surprisingly persistent in its love for all things old, rustic and gritty. For someone who was not born and bred in the bustling m...
[Video] Filmmaker Captures the Many Faces of Vietnam
On a thousand-mile journey from the furthest reaches of northern Vietnam to the hot, sunny streets of Saigon, filmmaker Fabien Echochard captures the optimism of the Vietnamese people in beautiful det...
'Kong: Skull Island' Smashes Box Office Records as Director Considers Move to Saigon
It was a big weekend for King Kong fans in Vietnam, with the giant ape's latest cinematic foray smashing local box office records, while the film's director announced his intention to move to Saigon.&...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From birdcages to bird's eye views, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
American Musical 'Miss Saigon' Returns to Broadway This Month
On the 25th anniversary of its debut, the American musical Miss Saigon will return to Broadway later this month.
Vietnam's Local Screenplays Are Losing out to Cheap Foreign Remakes
In the face of diminishing confidence in Vietnamese scripts, local producers are turning to neighboring countries for a surefire source of profitable movie formulae.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Cho Lon to Ben Tre, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Arts & Culture
3A Station Is Closing in 2 Months
After three years, 3A Station is closing.
Vietnamese Cultural House to Open in France in 2018
Starting next year, Parisians won’t need to travel far to get a dose of Vietnamese culture.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From salt fields to cityscapes, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Illustrations] Check Out This Polish Artist's Watercolor Tokyo Shopfronts
There’s something about urban shopfronts that inspires artists everywhere to break out their canvas and doodle away.
As China Rejects Hallyu, the Korean Wave Is Headed Straight for Southeast Asia
With China blocking South Korean film and television from its airwaves, Hallyu is now headed straight for Southeast Asia.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From traditional temples to colorful graffiti, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
After Major Expansion, CGV Dominates Vietnam's Cinema Industry
As the number of cinemas in Saigon continues to grow, CGV is dominating Vietnam's local moviegoing industry.
At Tết Nguyên Tiêu, a Celebration of the Lunar Year's First Full Moon
Last Saturday, on the first full moon of the first lunar month, members of Saigon’s ethnic Chinese community celebrated Tet Nguyen Tieu, or the Lantern Festival.
Cambodia Is Losing Its Buddhist Monks to Modernization
Rocked by scandals, rapid modernization and a changing society, membership in Cambodia's Buddhist monkhood is on the decline.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From gritty apartment in District 5 to old-school 1960s music performance, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Vietnam is Samuel L. Jackson's Favorite Country for Filming
Recently, legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson – star of the upcoming film Kong: Skull Island – took a little time out of his busy schedule fighting snakes and brewing beer&...
