Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Review: In Lope Dope's Debut Album, a Summery Fictional World Powered by City Pop
“Tình ca thành phố vịnh,” the first album by Hanoian indie group Lope Dope, might come out at the end of summer in August, but its wealth of city pop exuberance and tropical cheer is enough to power any listener through the dreary rainy season and upcoming winter.
Heartfelt, Queer and Wickedly Witty: How Poetry Collection 'Come Clean' Sparks Joy
Joshua Nguyen lists himself as many things on his Instagram bio — a writer, a PhD student, a boba snob. He received h...
On Searching for Rươi Vendor Street Calls, Hanoi's Harbinger of Autumn
Embedded in the street call of rươi vendors is the conjuring of autumn, when delectable cuisines from across the land of...
Group Exhibition 'Fiction, Fraction' Showcases 6 Artists in Diverse Visual Mediums
From August to October, art organizer Rare Sea brings a diverse group exhibition to Saigon, featuring artworks by six young artists: Lê Đ. Chung, Lê Nguyễn Minh Như, Nguyễn Thị Thanh Mai, Huyền Dương, Thanh Tùng (Ches) and Sophia Mai Brown.
Paul Christiansen in Culture
Inside a Saigon Studio Bringing Lion Dance Costumes to Life
“This passion for lions is in our blood. Many, many kids in the past dropped out of school or quit work just to go,” said Bành Chí Hùng, owner of Saigon’s Thuận Anh Hãng lion dance costume studio.
Khôi Phạm in Literature
5 Indie Bookstores in Saigon for Those Who Are Addicted to the Scent of Paper
Most Saigoneers who spent their formative years in the 2000s and 2010s probably grew up amongst the aisles of bookstores, not because we were particularly bookaholic, but because they were pretty much the only third place around with free air-conditioning.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Review: Saigon Soul Revival Returns to Familiar Inspiration on 3rd Album ‘Chốn Ta Về’
More ambitious and self-assured than ever, Saigon Soul Revival (SSR) embraces their own sound and its many influences on their latest album, “Chốn ta về.”
Phương Mỹ Chi's Latest MV Tells Eternal Love Story in Vietnam's Khmer Community
After forays into the worlds of reality TV and cinema, Vietnam’s folk pop princess Phương Mỹ Chi has returned to her roots with a fresh new full-length album, pioneered by the lead single ‘Thiên đường với người thương’ (lit: In heaven with my beloved).
[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.
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.
[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.
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...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From shipyards to fishing villages, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[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.
[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...
[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,...
