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.
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...
#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.
