How Colonial Steamship Transport Transformed into Casual River Cruises in Southeast Asia
The relaxed, historic-looking river cruise ships emblazoned with the Pandaw name that you may witness meandering up rivers in Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and even India have a much stranger backstory than you’d suspect.
All Aboard the Languorous 35-Hour Train From Hanoi to Saigon
The train connecting Vietnam’s largest cities takes 35 hours. Yet even after the first time I finished the trip, I was already coming up with excuses for why I needed to do it again. For me, the journey is much more than a chance for great views and time to reflect. It’s an exploration of life itself.
Short Film 'Mud Below, Sun Above' Reveals Daily Trials of Hanoi's Scrap Collectors
Đồng nát translates to “junk; broken materials,” but it is also a term used in northern Vietnam to describe the recycling workforce, 90% of whom are elderly women, that operate in a nation that produces 68,000 tons of solid waste every day.
Inside the Vivid, Soothing Art Realm of Vietnamese Illustration Artist Phuongsongdep
Using her keen observation and sensitive art intuition, Minh Phương creates a colorful realm through her brushstrokes, w...
Paul Christiansen in Culture
Learning to Ngồi Chồm Hổm Is a Simple Way for Anybody to Feel More Vietnamese
What is culture? For someone who writes for an arts and culture publication, you’d think I’d have a quick and clean answer, but the more I ruminate, the more I realize it comes down to a sloppy assemblage of habits, ephemera, and minutiae: eating preferences, holiday attire, styles of sneezes, methods for counting on one’s fingers, variety of fruits to gift and an endless string of social norms. Pile enough of these choices together, and you end up with a distinct culture.
Great Vietnam Resurrects Nguyễn-Era Fashion, One Traditional Costume at a Time
In the last four to five years, ancient Vietnamese costumes have gained more visibility, becoming a welcome sight among young locals thanks to the efforts to reproduce and promote historic fashion from a number of designers, brands, and interest groups that appreciate the country’s history and traditions.
In the Mekong Delta, Đồ Bộ Is Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Despite its humble beginning as something worn just for convenience’s sake, đồ bộ has entered every minute of life in the Mekong Delta as a staple fashion choice that’s both flexible and colorful. Đồ bộ means “set outfit” in Vietnamese, a type of female casualwear made of soft, thin fabrics that often comes in a top and long bottom combo. They’re sometimes referred to as “Vietnamese pajamas,” but these comfortable sets can be worn at any time of the day and even outside, not just reserved for sleep like pajamas.
Nguyễn Đổng Chi's Classic Retelling of Vietnam's Fairy Tales, Now in English
Folklorist and anthropologist Nguyễn Đổng Chi dedicated decades to weaving a significant portion of Vietnam’s folklore tapestry. He collected, researched, and rewrote over 200 Vietnamese folktales from all corners of the country. His work, initially scattered across five volumes published individually and consecutively over 25 years, appeared as a complete anthology in 1982. Guided by a comprehensive treatise of Vietnamese folktale, Chi’s Kho tàng truyện cổ tích Việt Nam (Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales) might be daunting for readers drawn to Vietnamese folklore but disenchanted by rigorous academic discourse.
Group Behind Whimsical Saigon Pop-Up Book Launches Crowd-Funding Campaign
A team of creative Saigoneers has turned the city’s most recognizable landmarks into a quirky pop-up book.
[Photos] A Ride on North Korea's Glamorous Subway Trains
From unveiling a Netflix-like entertainment service called “Manbang” to banning sarcasm, North Korea is known worldwide for its bizarre antics. Therefore, it’s rather surprising to see that its metro,...
How Your Phone Number Affects Your Fortune
“Too many nines,” Diep scoffs. “And you think it’s good? It’s not, honey.”
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Vung Tau's sandy beaches to Phu Quoc's ethereal sky at dusk, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Free Online Exhibition Embedded South(s) Showcases Vietnamese Visual Artists
The work of eight Vietnamese visual artists will be included in Embedded South(s), an online exhibition of moving images that opens today.
Dana Filek-Gibson in Arts & Culture
International Photographer Captures Spirit of Đạo Mẫu in Vibrant New Photo Book
Tewfic El-Sawy’s introduction to Đạo Mẫu, also known as the Mother Goddess religion, began with music.
'Vietgone': New Play Brings Vietnamese Refugee Love Story to Life
Qui Nguyen’s play Vietgone, which opened earlier this month, marries raw, intimate anecdotes about the life of refugees following the American War with modern storytelling techniques such as hip-hop a...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From sand dunes in Mui Ne to waterfalls in Da Lat, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] Dutch Photographer Captures the Beauty of Hanoi's Street Vendor From a Unique Perspective
Dutch photographer Loes Heerink has launched a Kickstarter campaign to publish a high-quality photo book featuring Hanoi’s colorful street vendors.
[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Vietnam's Flock of Foreign-Educated Teens
In their latest episode, the team behind Hanoi-based Renovation Generation invites not one but four guests to their studio to share their hopes for the future and thoughts on the idea of home.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From lagoons to lettuce farms, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
Three VTV Documentaries Shortlisted for International Broadcasting Awards
State-run television network VTV has made the shortlist in three categories of this year’s Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Prizes.
[Photos] Romanian Photographer Captures North Korean Fashion Sense
A Romanian photographer has released a collection of photographs of everyday women in North Korea taken during a recent trip to the reclusive country.
[Photos] The Fabulous Lives of Hong Kong's Shop Cats
Life as a cat in Hong Kong’s shops is fabulous.
[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.
[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.
#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.
[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.
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.
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From countryside farms to Saigon street food, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
